Weesa village, as far as Felis remembered, was still the same as the last time when she left without saying goodbye almost four months ago. Smoke billowed from every resident's house. But there's no sign of fire. Everything Felis saw now was far from her worst expectation. The teak forest, the road in front of her house, and her family's cowshed are still intact.
Of course Felis felt fooled by Deluna. But there was no use chasing the old woman. She must have been far away, since arriving at the boundary of the pine forest they immediately said goodbye. Turning their backs on each other to meet their respective goals. After all, Felis was already here. There's no reason to go anymore—except for Candramawa. Maybe Candramawa is dead, Felis hopes that worry about her mother can cover up her guilt. Temporary.
Although she wasn't sure what to say if Marlon asked about his daughter. Unless Felis has confirmed that her mother is really in good condition, he will return for Candramawa. Because part of her was sure that the girl would not give up and die that easily.
Arriving at the front of the house, Felis ran towards the door. "Mother..." Felis called while knocking. Preferably Mrs. Furla was at home because Felis missed her so much.
Felis heard footsteps approaching. Twice the sound of 'clicking' from the keyhole being played. Then the door handle moves down from number nine to number seven. A pair of eyes looked through the gap in the door in front of her.
"Gosh, you're home, Felis!" Her mother immediately widened the hole she had made in the recess of the door, pulling Felis' hand inside. A smile bloomed on Felis' face, she hugged her mother. Gratitude rose to the top of her head, across her chest and up her throat. The feeling was like a wave of heat, making her tears pool at the tips of her lids.
"You stink!" Mrs. Furla snorted, she said honestly, but full of affection.
"I'm too lazy to take a bath," Felis answered without reducing her smile, her voice sounded like a dog's grimacing.
Mrs. Furla narrowed her eyes. Staring at her daughter's face from the tip of the forehead to the chin, repeatedly. "You are, your eyes are—" she snapped without continuing.
"I'm fine," Felis said. She glanced at the furniture cupboard with a glazed lid. Her eyes are gray, a red dot replacing the former dark brown pupil color. Instantly she remembered Candramawa. And the blue dot in the girl's pupil.
"I want to take a shower first..." Felis immediately separated herself from her mother's embrace.
"Candramawa, has she reached home?" Mrs. Furla asked suddenly.
Felis pretended to kick the stairs accidentally, she groaned to divert the issue.
"Not long ago, you already do not know this house," grumbled Mrs. It was Furla who managed to divert her focus.
"Sorry, I'm kinda tired. I'm going to take a shower and then get some rest." Felis ran up. Ignore whatever her mother's complaints.
Then Felis opened her bedroom door. A pair of one-armed sofas. Felis felt the hole Candramawa made there. It seems Mrs. Furla has patched the tear so it doesn't get bigger. Felis was stunned for a bit, then dismissed her doubts about the green mist.
Pipes on the table. The bed, the traces of blood on the sheets that don't disappear even though they seem to have been washed. This smell—Felis remembered that girl again. All the things Candramawa did for her. Her kindness. Her patience with Felis. All the help. Everything. From the start Candramawa had never been mean to her. And what has Felis done to repay her?
Felis sat facing the window. From there, you can see the edge of the teak forest at the border of Weesa village. The sun was dipping in the west, making the scene before her even darker.
The sound of dusk begins with the flapping wings of a colony of birds returning to their nests. Then deaf insects such as crickets sounded one by one, like a choir, then a solo and then the others greeted like cannons who shouted back, followed by a refrain of a four-voice composition. Frogs—complements this orchestra with rhythmic bass sounds.
As the night wore on, he felt increasingly restless. How stupid Felis was, easily pitied and fooled, until she attacked Candramawa, then left her alone in the pandanus forest. What if—
Felis began to weep over her own infidelity. As great as Candramawa is, now it is hurting. And Felis caused it. Now Candramawa is alone in a place without a roof. Felis doesn't even know if Candramawa is still alive.
"Felis..." Mrs. Furla appeared suddenly.
Felis turned around, she just realized that she hadn't turned on the room light. Her eyes do not need a lamp to see in the dark. She turned to the doorway, to her mother.
"Have you showered? Eat first."
Felis answered only with a nod, then faced forward again, until the sound of her mother's footsteps disappeared. She closed the door of her room hastily, then jumped to the window. To find the old tree—Alfrore. Maybe Candramawa has come home too. Doesn't Candramawa have magic to heal herself?
Felis really can't hope that in four months the situation in this city will be peaceful. Maybe some of the Lumons who sided with the Coalition are still looking for her whereabouts. Ever since she killed Jesse, she disappeared and didn't hear anything about the news from this city, let alone the Coalition.
The pine forest is still as cold. Just as dark, just as lonely. Felis jumped from one tree to another. The memory brought her to relive the memories with the girl named Candramawa. How her indifferent nature, changes as time goes by.
When Alfrore was visible from her perch, Felis stopped. It reduces the effect of noise that may be caused by her feet. Sitting there, listening with full concentration to the conversation of the two women.
"Laureen, it feels so long."
"Since you disappeared, how come you haven't died yet?" Laureen greeted Deluna with a tone of voice that was colder than hers.
"I told you, I'm a lucky person." Deluna smiled proudly.
Lauren looked away. And Alfrore wouldn't let go of his branch from Laureen's body.
"Then what made you risk your luck right now?" It was hard to tell whether Laureen was drunk or not. Basically, her tone always sounded as reckless as a drunk.
"A lot, so it looks like I have to stay at your house for a while." Deluna propped up her chin with a fist, she hooked her elbow in the other arm that crossed in front of her chest.
Lauren immediately disagreed. “That way you're risking my luck as well. Can't. Find another place.”
"Is that how you return the favor? We are family…”
“Your brother is dead, and—”
"Hey, I'm took—" Deluna cut in,
A cricket got into Felis's collar, startled her and slammed her to the ground. Then Laureen and Deluna's conversation stopped.
"Go, someone is watching us!" Lauren hissed.
Deluna immediately no longer heard her voice.
"Who is there?" Laureen screamed—worried that Jesse's incident would repeat itself. And maybe now she will be the victim. She deliberately screamed loudly, Afrore twitched in panic. Holding Laureen's body with a branch, pulled her close, then built a wall to fortify her.
Felis ran as hard as she could, afraid that someone from them would follow her, then started looking for trouble because she deliberately overheard.