A plant with long leaves and red flowers clustered on its stalk, caught Arisa's attention as she examined the area filled with tall green vegetation.
She quickly approached the plant that looked vivid in between the green and yellow environment.
"I can't believe it," she whispered, touching the plant that reached her hip.
She then kneeled, sensing the sweet scent of the flowers as she curled her fingers around the stalk. As she gently attempted to remove the plant from the dark brown ground, she couldn't help but be amazed. Throughout the years she was allowed to hunt medicinal herbs, Arisa never saw a Rakta Chitrak, one of the many rare plants in her region.
She remembered how her grandmother would order medicines based on that plant to help the people in need. She sometimes would tell her that if the Rakta Chitrak grew in their region, it would solve a lot of problems since its roots had many medicinal properties.
As she successfully picked the plant, Arisa examined the finger-shaped roots that were covered with dark, moist sand. She smiled, looking forward to seeing how her grandmother would use its properties to prepare another medicine.
"Arisa," called a soft voice. "Arisa."
"Yes?" Arisa slowly stood up.
When she turned around, her gaze met a child with two-toned hair that was tied in a braided ponytail. The girl's light brown eyes gazed back at her with wonder.
"What is it, Mimi?" Arisa smiled.
As Mimi showed Arisa the green plant she was holding around her pinkish fingers, another child approached her. She looked exactly like Mimi, the difference being that she was a bit slim and her two-toned hair was tied into two pigtails.
"Well," said Mimi, "Momo and I were playing a little game to see who picks up more medicinal herbs. Since I'm at an advantage, she thinks that this is a regular plant. Can you confirm it?"
"You and Momo competing," said Arisa, receiving the plant. "It's not every day I see that."
Mimi giggled. "Well, Stupid Brother is not here to irritate, so I thought I would mess with Momo for a bit."
As Momo sighed, Arisa giggled, remembering that Kazuya and her grandfather had left the house to fetch water. She then examined the plant carefully.
In between the long, thin dark green leaves, Arisa spotted a small solitary flower with white colored florets. She rubbed the leaves, trying to remember the many plants she had seen in her grandmother's books.
"It is," she finally said, her tone a bit unsure. "If I'm not mistaken, the plant is called Bhringraj and some of its benefits include treatment of skin problems and aid for scorpion bites."
"Really?" asked Momo, her tone amazed.
Arisa nodded. "Yes. It has other benefits that I don't remember clearly."
Arisa scratched her dark head, telling herself to find a day to revise her grandmother's books. After all, she wanted to follow her footsteps, once she would be done with her quest as a Guardian.
A slight disappointment struck her heart as she remembered her quest. It had been a month since she inherited her powers and she still was stuck in Celestia. She had hoped to travel around the worlds to find her friends right after she spoke to Kazuya about their mission.
But after she told her family about her mission, they suggested for her to test her new skills for at least a week. After all, there were high chances that she could cross paths with the other Guardians during her journey and she couldn't face them unprepared.
She gazed at the red plant she had picked. What am I doing?
"See? I told you that it was a medicinal herb." Mimi's cheerful voice washed away Arisa's thoughts. "I'm still at an advantage."
"Not for long," said Momo. "I'll catch up to you in no time."
Momo quickly left the area, looking for the perfect spot in the vast garden.
"Like I'll let you win." Mimi immediately followed her sister.
As the girls lost themselves, looking for plants on the other side of the garden, Arisa had seat, sighing.
"Is something bothering you?" asked a gentle voice.
As Arisa gazed at the person standing by her side, she saw a woman in a long bright dress, holding a basket filled with various plants. Her short, wavy dark hair that had shades of gray, swayed through the light breeze.
"Grandma," said Arisa, looking back at her front. "No. I'm fine."
From her distance, the simple light brown house of one floor looked so small. The edifice looked so lonely as it was the only building that could be seen in the green land that had a small number of trees scattered around it.
"To me, you look as if something is bothering you." Her grandmother had a seat by her side. "Is it because Jin won't let you train today?"
Arisa glanced at her grandmother and met her wrinkled face. She then looked sideways, remembering her grandfather's orders. Today she would take a break from training and would spend the day resting her body and mind.
"Sort of," said Arisa, fidgeting on the leaves of the Rakta Chitrak. "I think we're wasting precious time. If we won't train, then it's better for me and Kazuya to start our quest."
"Look at my princess being anxious about her quest," teased her grandmother, caressing Arisa's dark hair. "I understand the excitement to explore the worlds, but I'm sure there's a reason why he wants you to have a day off. Sometimes taking a break can awaken our greatest potential."
Arisa's gaze met her grandmother's coffee eyes. "You think so?"
Her grandmother smiled and replied with a nod.
"I hope you're right," whispered Arisa, focusing on the green ground.
After spending most of the month perfecting her new skills, Arisa wasn't sure that a day off would miraculously help her to summon her special power easily. Most of the time she succeeded summoning it was because she was under pressure.
Her grandmother raised a brow as she looked at her. "I see that there's something else bothering you. What is it?"
"You never fail to see right through me, grandma," teased Arisa, a small smile forming across her face.
"You're my granddaughter." Her grandmother smiled. "You're like an open book when you're not feeling well; both physically and emotionally."
Arisa giggled. She realized that no matter how she tried to hide her feelings, in an attempt not to worry her grandparents, her grandmother would always find out that there was something wrong.
"So," said her grandmother, "what's wrong?"
For several seconds, only the cheerful voices of Mimi and Momo filled the atmosphere.
"I'm worried." Arisa glanced at her pale hand that was partly covered with sand. "We have been training so hard for weeks, but I still have difficulties summoning the power that is essential to unseal the Elements."
"Hm," said her grandmother. "Your grandfather has told me before that you're having a hard time summoning that power. Maybe that is the reason he's giving you a day off today."
Arisa looked sideways. "Maybe. But I don't believe that will solve anything. I'll just feel lazy to train the next day."
Her grandmother chuckled at her joke. Despite being happy to have lightened the mood, Arisa really didn't believe she would succeed summoning the Crimson Flame so easily. How would she succeed in doing so if she hadn't practiced even more the previous day?
"Ah, medicinal plants," said her grandmother, picking a flower by her side. "What would we do without them. If only they could also aid us in controlling our emotions, then we wouldn't have any obstacles in our daily lives."
Arisa gazed at her grandmother, who was busy picking another flower.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Emotions," said her grandmother, her tone quiet. "They are such a curious part of us mortals that can affect our daily lives. Sometimes they can help us reach our greatest potential at will or at unexpected moments. But they can also block us."
Hearing her grandmother's words, Arisa remembered that in the rare times she was able to summon her special power, she was either stressed or annoyed. Her grandfather had told her not to depend on those negative feelings and release her ability at will.
"What I'm saying is that there's something holding you back, my princess," continued her grandmother. "Tell me, are you still hurt with what happened in the Forbidden Lands?"
Arisa's eyes widened. She then looked away as sad memories rained in her mind. She remembered the inheritance in the Astral Sanctum. She remembered walking out of that white room and meeting the Red Guardian.
I warned you that I would betray you, his emotionless voice echoed.
Arisa could hear her heart thumping upon remembering his words.
If I knew earlier that you were Aries' chosen one, I would have killed you when I had the chance.
Her heart tightened.
I never intended to be friends with you; set this in that stubborn head of yours.
As her hands trembled lightly, Arisa curled her lips, fighting not to let her tears reveal her feelings. Even though a lot of time had passed since then, the scar in her heart hadn't healed yet.
"No." Arisa curled her fingers. "I have accepted everything that happened there. Zen for me is a past; I no longer care about him."
She tried to sound firm as she said those words. Still, part of her broke upon saying them.
For a few seconds, her grandmother examined her curiously.
"I see," she said, breaking the silence. "Sometimes admitting something can be helpful."
Arisa gazed at her grandmother. "You think I'm lying?"
Arisa curled her fingers even more. She didn't want to pointlessly worry everyone just because her heart was broken. She wanted to show, at least on the outside, that Zen no longer meant anything to her.
"No. I'm just saying." A chuckle escaped her grandmother's lips. "Lying to ourselves won't take us anywhere. We have to work on what's bothering us to move on and be free. Maybe that's what will finally let you summon your power at will. Think about it, my princess."
Her grandmother patted Arisa's shoulder as she gazed at her. Before Arisa could say anything, Mimi's and Momo's cheerful voices filled the atmosphere as they welcomed their brother.
"Seems like Kazu and grandpa are back," said Arisa, standing up.
Not far from their area, Arisa spotted a tall white-haired boy talking to his little sisters.
"Great!" Arisa's grandmother slowly stood up. "We can finally have lunch; Elise had told me it was ready half an hour ago."
"Okay, then," said Arisa, offering a hand to hold the basket, "let's go."
--♐♑♓--
The cold water relaxed Arisa as she immersed her hands in the red bowl, cooling down the temperature of this unusually hot day.
She placed the clean plate by the sink and grabbed another one in yet another process of washing dishes. She wasn't a fan of this activity since whenever she was about to finish, someone would always bring an extra item wash.
After the family had lunch, Arisa offered herself to wash the dishes. Despite disliking washing dishes, she wanted to help with housework somehow, since she spent most of the time practicing her new abilities with her grandfather and Kazuya.
As she went on with her activity, she gazed outside the open window in front of her. A peaceful scenery feasted her view, exhibiting a large green garden. Several meters away from the area, the afternoon sun awarded the trees of various types a vivid green color, hinting the beginning of a forest.
Memories played in Arisa's mind as she remembered the many times her curiosity led her to that forest, only for her grandfather to catch her before she reached the trees.
More memories flooded her mind as she remembered the times she spent with her family in that vast garden. They would find a place to have a picnic or she would lay on the grass while her grandmother read her a story. Her lips formed a smile as she saw her little self playing with her grandfather.
She sighed, wishing she could return to those peaceful and fun times.
"Want help?" asked a soft voice.
A clattering sound made Arisa glance by her right side. She saw a little girl in a simple knee-length blue dress. Her two-toned colored hair that had shades of dark brown and white was tied into pigtails.
Momo didn't wait for her reply and immediately started to dry the dishes with a white cloth.
"Thank you, Momo." Arisa smiled.
"You're welcome," said Momo. "It must be tiring to wash so many dishes every day. Back at home, my siblings and I only washed like four plates and cups."
Arisa examined her left side; she saw a pile of dishes and pans waiting to be cleaned.
She exhaled. "Well, two families live under the same roof; it's normal that work has increased. I'll get used to it."
She grabbed another item, missing the days she only had to wash a few dishes.
"Hi there, my princess." Her grandmother's cheerful voice lightened the atmosphere. "I hope you don't mind washing this as well."
Arisa saw her grandmother placing a wooden cup on the sink's surface. She stared at her with narrowed eyes.
Her grandmother chuckled. "Blame your grandpa."
Arisa looked away and went on with her activity, her gaze meeting the bright blue walls of the kitchen. She shook her head a little, trying to move away the strands of hair covering her face.
Warm and delicate fingers touched her soft face, moving strands of her dark hair to her ear.
"Your hair has grown," said her grandmother. "Doesn't it bother your eyes?"
"It does," Arisa replied. "But whenever I push it away, strands of hair always come back to cover my face."
Her grandmother chuckled as she played with Arisa's hair. "You should tie them then."
"My hair isn't long enough to fit in a perfect ponytail," said Arisa.
Even though she knew her hair would tie perfectly in a low ponytail—since it now covered most of her neck—she preferred her hair tied in a high ponytail.
"Then you should pin them," her grandmother suggested. "I'm sure you have a hairpin. I remember you had one when we traveled to the Forbidden Lands. Where is it?"
For a second, Arisa remained silent as her heart sped. She glanced sideways and noticed that the water in the bowl needed to be changed.
"It's in my room," she finally replied, walking to the corner of the kitchen.
"Then you should use it," said her grandmother. "I'm sure you'll have better training without hair bothering your face."
Arisa giggled, bending over to examine the wooden barrel.
"It seems the water Kazuya and your grandfather fetched won't take long to run out," said her grandmother, approaching her. "They'll have to fetch more water tomorrow."
"Poor souls," said Arisa.
"It can't be helped," said her grandmother. "We live away from town."
Arisa sighed. In the last month, they had been living away from society for safety. Throughout those days, they would need to walk to a river to fetch water for their daily needs and most of their food came from the vegetable garden by the house.
Living here only brought extra work for everyone and Arisa wanted to free them from it. Starting her journey would be the first step for that.
"Mrs. Sorano, we might need to visit the town today." A gentle voice filled the room.
Arisa looked over her shoulder and met a tall woman in a light purple dress. The lady's snow-white hair was tied into a single braid.
"We're short of several ingredients for dinner," continued Elise. "We could take this opportunity to buy essential food for the next few weeks."
Arisa's grandmother gazed outside the window. "It's early afternoon. I think we can make it in time to prepare dinner. Yes, let's go."
"Can I go too?" Arisa asked before her grandmother could take another step. She could feel her grandmother's and Elise's gaze on her.
"The point of us living here is to hide you." Elise broke the brief silence. "It would be risky to expose you in town. I'm sure Reiji is on the hunt for you since his son knows your identity."
"I'll wear a cloak. No one will see my face," said Arisa, hopeful that her idea would be taken to consideration.
After waking up in this land, she wondered how the town looked and how its inhabitants lived in it. But she was never allowed to leave the area of their residence for her own safety. Despite understanding the reason, she still was curious about the town.
"Hm," said her grandmother, touching her chin. "I'm not sure. What if your hood is accidentally dropped?"
Arisa giggled. "Grandma, you know there is a very little chance for that to happen. I'll be sure to hold my hood tightly."
"Even so." Her grandmother folded her arms. "It's risky. I'm sorry, my princess, but you're not allowed to leave this place until your journey starts."
"Let her go." A quiet voice joined the conversation.
Arisa glanced at the old man behind Elise. Her chin dropped; she would have never expected her grandfather to be the one to allow her to go.
"Arisa needs a bit of fresh air," said her grandfather. "Who knows, this little trip may calm her and help her with her power."
For a moment, silence fell as doubt filled the atmosphere. Arisa couldn't help but feel uneasy as she was reminded about her powers. She looked sideways, fidgeting her fingers on her apron.
"Well." Elise broke the silence. "If it can help her with her powers, then we'll take the risk."
A bright smile spread across Arisa's face. She rushed to her grandfather.
"Thank you, grandpa," she said, trapping him in her arms.
"Enjoy this opportunity," he said, patting her back. "After you come back, you won't be allowed to leave until your journey begins."
Arisa glanced at her grandfather. "I'll be sure to do that as much as I can."
Looking at him now, Arisa noticed that he was a few centimeters taller than her. She remembered how she had to bend her neck in order to look him in the eyes.
She understood that she had grown, but she never thought she would grow so much to the point of their height difference being a few centimeters. Though, his crooked posture was to blame for his short height.
"Then go grab your cloak, my princess," said her grandmother, defeated. "We're leaving in a minute."
Arisa nodded, removing her apron. "I'll be right back."
With a bright smile forming across her face, Arisa rushed to her room, looking forward to visiting the new town.