18 – Ariel Loveheim (3)
Mournful cries filled the mountain.
The source of that sound is none other than the immature princess Ariel.
The abrasion on her knee and the pain that came from it kept her busy crying for the world to pass away.
“What a struggle because of that one raspberry.”
“Cee, I wish Ed could have helped!”
Thanks to his childhood friend who was good at talking nonsense, Edgar felt like he was going to have a fever.
A little while ago, the two found raspberries after searching, but unfortunately the location was not good.
It’s a place where even adults can stick out their tongues and turn around saying that it’s not okay.
Edgar had suffered for a while, so he wanted to go back with the raspberries, but decided to give up because the situation was not feasible.
However, this lady of the kiangdak must have been quite eager to take on a challenge, and she was going to bring it on her own, but she fell and got hurt.
It’s fortunate that it ended like this, but if I was wrong, my life could have been really dangerous. Because it was such a dangerous place.
“Retract what you said earlier. Ed won’t make you a wizard.”
“… … .”
I can’t even do it, so what?
Edgar shook his head with an expression that he didn’t know where to start.
In the meantime, judging from the fact that ‘Friend Wizard’ doesn’t say that he won’t make a friend, it doesn’t seem that he’s very disliked.
It’s just a personality that doesn’t want to admit it even though it knows it’s wrong in the first place. Because I wasn’t a child who didn’t even know what was wrong.
Maybe it was her last conscience that only the wizard was mentioned in the friend wizard.
“It’s okay, so just sit still. I need treatment first.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I brought something just in case.”
Edgar, who was rummaging through his bag again, took out a thin cloth and two things that looked like water bottles from inside.
First of all, I had to clean up the dust on the wound because I rolled the dirt floor.
“Even if it hurts, bear with it.”
“I don’t like being sick… … .”
“It’s your karma, you fool.”
“Oh, I told you not to call me an idiot!”
“When are you?”
Never told me not to call him stupid, but never called him stupid.
When Edgar, who was of a similar mental age, poked her tongue out and teased her, Ariel swung both arms and attacked him fiercely.
puck. puck.
“it hurts! Hey, you idiot! You are in treatment!”
“I said I was an idiot again! right! That’s right!”
Cure something like that.
Even if this wound on his knee didn’t heal, he felt like he would only be relieved if he punished this nasty childhood friend in front of him.
In the end, it wasn’t until after a while that Ariel started to pant, exhausted from self-control.
Edgar sighed as he rubbed his head.
It’s a hair that’s not going to be particularly outstanding, but if it gets worse, I wonder if I’m willing to take responsibility.
“I’ll shake off the dirt first, so stay still.”
“Yes.”
Even with first aid, it had to be accelerated, but a considerable amount of time had already passed.
‘It’s my fault for accidentally touching it.’
Turning the fruit to himself, Edgar leaned down and began to wash the outside of the wound with clean water from a canteen.
Ariel narrowed her eyes in pain when the cold water hit her wound, but she tried her best to bear it as much as possible, perhaps feeling sorry for Edgar’s suffering.
“Where did Ed learn this?”
“just… here and there.”
“Huh… … .”
Ariel saw Edgar as a very strange boy.
He didn’t seem to read a lot of books, but he had a very knowledgeable side, and he was very good at handling any situation whenever it happened.
Even though they must be the same age, how could there be such a difference?
It was a feeling closer to admiration or awe than envy or jealousy.
“Is Ed grown-up?”
“… Are you asking me?”
Edgar looked at her as if he was dumbfounded at the words, which may have been an out of the blue sentiment or a question.
“yes.”
“I wonder if anyone will say that it’s right with my mouth.”
“But even my mother often says it. Ed is a grown-up.”
Ariel is often praised by Helene, but even if she’s been called smart or nice, she’s never been called mature.
Maybe that’s why Edgar was amazed at how often he heard compliments from his mother that he couldn’t hear himself.
“Do you think so too?”
“Yes… Actually I’m not sure. I don’t even understand what my mom means by being mature… … .”
At most, you’ll know what it means to be an adult only after you’ve passed puberty and reached an age close to adulthood.
Ariel was still too innocent and too young to understand all the implications of that word.
“Does Ed want to grow up quickly?”
“Nothing. What’s good about being an adult in the first place?”
“You can do anything. You don’t have to ask your mom for permission when you go somewhere, and you don’t have to get scolded.”
A small smile was engraved on Edgar’s lips at the childlike idea.
Well, because I had similar thoughts when I was younger.
When I became an adult, I only knew how to be free, I thought I could achieve anything, and I believed that the power I didn’t have would suddenly rise.
‘What should I do?’
First of all, from the perspective of a childhood friend who has become an adult, what should I say to her?
Should we face reality, saying that being an adult is not as good as we thought?
In order to protect our innocence, should we argue that you are right?
As she thought about it, the first aid was done before she knew it and a thin cloth was wrapped around her lap.
Edgar stepped forward without saying a word, got down on one knee, and sat down with his back facing him.
Realizing what the action meant, Ariel said that she was right and went over to him and put her body on his back.
“Isn’t it heavy?”
“It’s fine.”
Still, it wasn’t as heavy as usual, probably because it was trained quite a bit.
I haven’t measured it accurately since he came to this world, but it seems that his strength and physical abilities are quite outstanding compared to his peers.
As we trudged down the mountain path we had walked, the sunset was already setting on the other side.
It seems like a lot of time has passed.
‘If I go back to the mansion, I’ll be sure to listen.’
I can’t help it. Because he himself was an accomplice.
“Ariel.”
“yes?”
As she was carefully stepping down the steep slope, Edgar suddenly called her name.
I thought about it for a while, but it seemed that it would be difficult for me to leave anything meaningful to her.
However, as a friend, I wonder if I can give you this much advice.
“Being an adult means that. It means losing something precious in exchange for something precious.”
“precious thing? what is that?”
“I don’t know. What is important to you?”
precious thing?
Ariel thought for a moment at Edgar’s question.
My parents, my friend Edgar and the people of the Bilhark family, and my nanny who took care of me.
Even favorite toys and picture books. There were many valuable things.
“Do I have to lose?”
“No, that’s not it. It would be more correct to see it change rather than lose.”
Edgar kept reciting things that Ariel considered precious.
Picture books, toys, jewelry, etc. that she said were her most cherished things. The number of branches was very large.
“But when you become an adult, they might not become precious before you know it.”
“Why? Is it my favorite thing?”
“Perhaps it’s because something more valuable has come up. Something more precious and valuable than a picture book or toy.”
Ariel had a hard time understanding what Edgar was saying.
But at the same time, I thought it might be.
If I were to ask myself to give up either a picture book or Edgar, I would give up the picture book.
If you ask them to give up either their mother or their toys, they will give up their toys.
Perhaps Edgar’s growing up means that the more precious things increase, and the things he cherished in the past are slowly fading away.
“Does Ed have anything precious?”
“Me too. My parents are important, the people in the mansion are also important… … .”
He recited quite a few things, but for some reason, Ariel’s name was not even mentioned.
Deeply anticipating, she opened her mouth and hunched his shoulders and asked with all her might.
“Ah! Why are you biting and making a fuss!?”
“Why am I not there! Ed is an idiot!”
“that’s… … .”
I couldn’t say that I was too shy to mention it.
In the end, Edgar waited for an answer and then asked once more.
Once again, strong screams echoed throughout the mountain, and the incident was settled with a belated comment.
As they descended halfway up the mountain, a reddish sunset enveloped the two of them.
It seemed more intense than before.
Ariel poked her head out to check Edgar’s profile.
His face was also red and ripe like autumn leaves, and his gaze at the sunset felt lonely yet cool.
Condak. Condak.
‘yes? Why are you like this?’
The moment I was conscious of this, my heart suddenly started to beat a little bit faster.
Ariel tilted her head at the sensation she felt for the first time in her life and carefully placed her hand on her chest.
Why are you doing this? Did your body hurt anywhere?
I was about to ask Edgar, but for some reason my mouth didn’t come out well.
It was as if someone in my heart was telling me, ‘Don’t do that!’
“You know, Ed.”
“Why?”
“Even when I grow up, I will cherish Ed. certainly.”
“… so? That is good news.”
I’m still not sure. What it means to be an adult.
But the heartbeat I felt for the first time in my life when I saw his profile told me.
Even if things that were important to her changed as she grew up, it would not be as good as this boy.
Ariel quietly replied, ‘Yes,’ to someone in her heart so that no one could hear.
I’m sure it will. Ed and I are friends.
pounding. pounding.
Then my heart beat again, as if to shout that it wasn’t like that.
‘What the hell are they doing?’
It’s my body, but it’s a strange feeling to not listen to me.
But for some reason I didn’t like it.