Eve Story | Judgment Fable | Ella and Yoru | Episode 2: Probably, Mostly, Fine
She, who fell from the sky, called herself Ella.
It seems her job is to draw maps.
She draws very accurate maps, but something is off.
The closer I get to her, the more things go off-kilter.
I am Yoru.
I still don't know anything about Ella.
But, it's probably fine.
That's how I felt at the time.
Ella and Yoru Episode 2
[Probably, Mostly, Fine]
I was in the forest, looking at the map Ella had shown me.
"It's off, as I thought."
When I muttered that, Ella laughed.
"Well, as long as it's mostly right, it's fine!"
I let out a sigh.
"More importantly, what do you mean you were watching from above?"
I looked up.
The trees of the forest covered the sky.
"When I say above, I mean above."
Ella looked up at the sky and pointed.
I could see the sky through a gap in the trees.
Clouds were drifting slowly.
I sighed again.
"So, how were you there!"
My voice had gotten too loud.
—How awkward.
Ignoring that feeling, Ella continued.
"Hmm. I wonder how?"
—Is there anything you don't know?
Such words crossed my mind.
"Yoru, you're pedantic, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"Because you care more about where I was seen than what I saw."
"That's only natural, isn't it?"
"Probably, no matter what I say, you'll ask 'why?'"
"Why?"
"See!"
I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand.
—Again.
Talking to this person throws off my rhythm.
Talking to Ella, I feel like something is going off-kilter.
—Why?
"Besides..."
Just as Ella started to say that, her expression changed.
A shadow jumped out from the bushes.
A high-pitched cry rang out.
Faster than I could notice, a blade drawn from Ella's waist slashed at the shadow.
Before my eyes, a wolf lay motionless.
"Yoru. We'll talk later."
Saying that, Ella drew another blade from her waist.
It was a sword I had never seen before.
It was a bit short, with a crescent-shaped edge.
Ella held the sword with both hands and lightly rotated her wrists.
The bushes moved slowly.
One.
Two.
Three.
Before I knew it, we were surrounded by a pack of wolves.
"Three, huh."
Ella said that.
However, it seemed the rustling of the bushes didn't end there.
"Puppies. Are you hungry?"
Ella said that and grinned.
The wolves slowly closed the distance.
I remained frozen, still holding my self-defense knife.
"Come on, then. Big sister will play with you."
Saying that, Ella dove into the pack of wolves.
The wolves' fangs couldn't reach Ella.
One lunged.
Ella dodged nimbly and ran her blade through it.
A short yelp echoed through the forest.
The next wolf tried to bite from the side.
But Ella's body was no longer there.
Swinging her blade as if dancing, she slashed one, then another.
—Is she dancing?
Her movements were efficient.
Yet, it also looked somewhat dangerous.
The wolves that approached Ella fell one after another.
When it was over, all the wolves were motionless.
Ella flicked the blood off her blade and sheathed her sword.
"That was surprising, wasn't it?"
It was true that I was surprised, but the meaning was different.
—This person is incredibly strong.
I was stunned.
I couldn't do anything; I could only watch.
Even though I should be scared, my heart was stirred even more.
—Why?
I was looking down, thinking.
That was when it happened.
Another one jumped out from the bushes.
Fangs closed in on my neck.
At the last moment, Ella's fist struck the wolf.
The blown-away wolf let out a small cry and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
"Huh? Was there another one?"
"..."
I tried to open my mouth, but the words wouldn't come out well.
"Well, whatever."
Ella was nonchalant.
"Thank you. You saved me."
I said honestly.
"For what?"
Ella replied, looking puzzled.
"The wolves! You saved me, didn't you?"
"Oh, right. Then, give me a reward."
Ella smiled mischievously.
"I don't have any money."
I muttered quietly.
At those words, Ella laughed.
"I'm joking. They were targeting me too."
—What is this person?
I was saved.
I know that.
But for some reason, irritation was building up in my head.
"I'll do anything except give you money! Tell me quickly."
I couldn't be honest.
Ella smiled.
"Anything..."
Seeing Ella's face as she said that, I gasped.
"Then, help me draw the map."
"Eh..."
"For some reason, my maps are a little off."
"A little?"
"Mostly fine. Sometimes, though."
"Sometimes?"
"So, if it's off, Yoru, tell me."
—Why?
This time, I stopped before saying it out loud.
I find myself a bit amused that I'm so conscious of it.
"That's expensive."
After saying that, I was a little surprised myself.
My voice sounded lighter than I thought.
"Whyyy?"
Ella pouted and replied.
"And the wolves. There were four from the beginning."
"Really?"
Ella looked at me with suspicion.
"Who knows?"
I was happy to have gotten a little bit of payback.
I don't remember the exact number.
But, I might be okay with continuing this kind of conversation a little longer.
"Which one?"
Ella looked troubled.
"Is the number off too?"
"The number isn't off."
"Then, it's thanks to me."
"How so?"
"I don't remember either. But you were curious, right?"
Ella wore an expression that didn't seem convinced.
"Then, from now on, tell me if the number is off too."
Saying that, Ella turned her back to me and started walking.
I stopped for just a moment.
This person is dangerous.
She's irresponsible, hard to understand, strong, and talking to her throws me off.
Even so.
I felt like there were things only I could notice about this person.
I exhaled softly and decided to follow her.
*
After walking through the forest for a while, we came to an open area.
A small stream was flowing.
Ella took out her map and wrote something down.
"What are you writing?"
"A place to rest. There's water, and it's open."
"It's probably safe here."
On the map, it was marked as a campsite.
"Probably..."
It might be safer compared to being in the forest.
However, Ella's vague thinking bothered me.
"What do you think, Yoru?"
I was stumped by the sudden question.
I looked around.
A small river.
Few trees, and it's open.
Visibility isn't bad either.
But...
The wind felt a little heavy.
And then, I noticed.
"Doesn't something smell?"
A pungent odor.
I looked around nearby.
There it was.
A deer carcass.
"Ah, this is no good."
Ella corrected the map she was writing.
—Water source available. However, signs of beasts present.
—Rest only. No camping.
After adding that, she put the map away and started walking.
"It really helps having you around, Yoru."
"It just smelled."
"Noticing smells is also important."
"You're just too unobservant."
"Sometimes."
Ella laughed.
Seeing that smile, I was thrown off balance again.
After repeating things like that for a while, we made it out of the forest.
The sun was about to set.
In the distance, the lights of a town were flickering.
"That's it for today. Let's stay there."
Ella said that and headed toward the town.
I stared at her back.
We made it out of the forest.
That was supposed to be all for today.
But, that's probably not true.
Something I don't know is surely starting from here.
"Probably, mostly, fine."
I remembered Ella's words, and when I muttered that, I smiled a little.
—I couldn't have moved forward if I didn't think that way.
However, the moment I saw the town's lights.
I didn't know yet.
That what lay beyond the forest would be much more troublesome.
▶️ Click here for the story of the two who are off-kilter
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