The Distant Trail of Ciara Badvia

Prologue: In the Depths of the Lily Mountains
Part 1: A Snowy Night in Spring

PLANS FOR TOMORROW

“Was Well there?” Rosa asked, still knitting with her needles.

Tyril nodded slightly in response. Rosa remained silent, ending the exchange there, so Tyril opened her book and resumed reading again.

Well came downstairs when she had finished about two pages. Pretending to read, Tyril was watching him from the corner of her eye. He silently sat by the fireplace, as was usual, but didn’t engage her or Rosa in conversation, though it seemed like he was simply searching for the right time rather than being deliberately unfriendly.

If he has something to say, he should just say it already. 

Tyril felt frustrated with Well’s reluctance to voice out his thoughts, which were rarely heard to begin with.

“Um, er, Mother…” Well began. “I was thinking of going into town tomorrow. So, uh, is there anything you want me to buy for you while I’m there?”

He finally opened his mouth, only for him to ask such a trivial question. Tyril was disappointed, having expected more than that.

“Let’s see…” Rosa finally stopped knitting and looked up. “Some spring items might line the market soon. If there’s something you want to eat, please buy it. Let’s make tomorrow’s dinner a bit more extravagant.”

“Mhm. Got it.”

Tyril’s heart leaped with excitement at Rosa’s words.

Yes! Tomorrow’s going to be a feast!

Life in the mountain being what it was, they didn’t often get to eat delicious food. It was mostly tough dried meat, salted vegetables, and preserved food. Although she was sad about the season of snow ending, she’d be happy if it meant it’d be replaced by the season of delicious food.

“Tyril, want to come along?”

Well suddenly turned the conversation to her while she was having such greedy thoughts. Distracted with it, Tyril was caught off guard and immediately responded with a silly expression on her face.

“Huh…?”

“You don’t have any plans tomorrow, right? Let’s go shopping.”

“Er, well… I don’t know…”

Tyril tilted her head and thought for a moment. While it was true that she didn’t have any plans, she’d actually already gone to town the day before yesterday. She’d received a letter from her father at the post office and went through the new books at her favorite second-hand bookstore. Plus, she was done preparing Well’s present for his approaching birthday. Tyril didn’t really have much to do in the town.

“I was hoping to finish reading this book tomorrow.”

“I want you to come along if you can. You can read a book anytime, right? Or… is that not okay?”

For some reason, Well’s eyes were filled with a pleading, forlorn look to them.

Tyril was still dumbfounded, but when he put it like that, she couldn’t refuse. “If you want to, I don’t mind, but…”

Instantly, Well’s expression brightened, though it seemed like what shone through was more a sense of relief than joy.

Why do you want me to come that badly…?

She ultimately didn’t ask the question in her head and decided to tease him instead. “Then, in return, you treat me to lunch.”

To her surprise, Well’s reaction was stronger than expected. His head recoiled, and he almost sprung up, half-shouting, “What? That’s what you want?”

“I’m changing my plans to go with you tomorrow, so isn’t it only fair?”

“Ngh…”

“Oh well, if you really don’t want to, I won’t force you…”

“Fine, fine! I get it! I’ll treat you to lunch!”

He sounded so resolute, as if this decision was about buying some precious gem. Tyril didn’t think lunch would cost much, but then, it was her who was going to be treated here. Feeling mischievous, she clapped her hands in front of her chest.

“Really? Yay! Then let’s go to Mirroux and get their potato gratin!”

“Huh? Mirroux? That very expensive restaurant along the main street?”

“Yes. Since it’s your treat, shouldn’t we go to a place we wouldn’t normally go to? It’d be a waste otherwise.”

“… As the one buying, I think it’s better to show a bit of restraint. You know, to leave a good impression for the future and such.”

“Come on, Well. It’s just you, so there’s no need to worry about impressions or anything, right?”

Their usual banter continued. It was a mundane and brazen conversation that the timid and reserved Tyril could only have with Well.

It might look like he’s hiding something, but it’s probably nothing significant.

Thinking of that, Tyril felt relieved as she smiled at Well’s bitter expression.

*****

It was a quiet night.

Tyril opened her window slightly to peek outside. The snow had already stopped, but that was only natural. Despite the drop in temperature, it was still much warmer compared to mid-winter.  There was never going to be enough snow to pile up.

The cold wind brushed against her body. Shivering a bit, she closed the window and collapsed onto her bed, pulling the blanket over her head. She needed to sleep early since tomorrow was going to be an early day.

Well was still downstairs. He wasn’t doing anything other than sitting by the fireplace, looking restless.

Tyril had told him earlier that she was going to bed before heading upstairs. Well should have gone to bed early too, yet his footsteps didn’t follow hers.

Eventually, without the sound of it ever reaching her ears, Tyril fell into a daze and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

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Edited on October 10, 2023.

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For more from the author, visit:
Narou: https://mypage.syosetu.com/1258514/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inui_takafumi

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Revisions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS9QeSLaJfl6P_-Gl-zAY0dnKPep3or9fUl-HPukc9g/edit?usp=sharing