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Living in solitude has become a norm for Mafuyu Asahina. Formerly a young prodigy of a mage who gave up her rank in serving royalty with her abilities, a particular tragedy had led her to isolating herself from society by living within the forbidden woods. No one ever visits and she has all resources to herself as she pleases, though, it's mainly for research…
Mafuyu has been transferred into the herbalogy department in the Mage’s Association, after the fiasco from a couple years back. She conducts research and explores the uses of the various floras in the forest, which gives her some form of comfort to be able to commit to something rather than nothing. Her main speciality has never been about herbs; she was originally seen as a valuable asset for war. It's something she chose to detach herself from being associated with, and she made an oath to never use her abilities for violence. To never be used to hurt others ever again.
It's a little different now, though. Maybe not little, actually. The usually quiet and gloomy cottage has some life, with flower pots arranged neatly at the entrance, where a tint of pink paints the typically monotonous forest with a stark contrast, gently swaying while hums of a familiar tune can be heard. Mafuyu closes her grimoire, settling it aside before heading out, wanting to check on the woman.
The woman, Emu, was someone she met a couple months back. It was… a bit of a strange meeting, given her circumstances, which lead to Mafuyu now cohabitating with her. It was a decision made on a whim, but she didn't necessarily regret it now. She never did, in fact, she's pleased.
“Ah, Asahina-san,” Emu stops watering the flowers, directing her eyes to Mafuyu's way with the same bright smile she always carries.
The mage finds it both endearing and admirable that she held so much resilience, despite being in the middle of nowhere (in a sense) and accompanied by only one person. Emu hops over the stone plates on the path to close their distance.
Mafuyu has a habit of sometimes patting the shorter woman's hair. It's not something she'd even think of ever doing to anyone, but Emu just had such a strong charm and pull that sometimes Mafuyu can't resist. The softness that runs along her fingers felt satisfying, too. It makes a little mess, but it just makes her look cute.
“Thank you for watering the flowers.”
“No problem! I want to help out Asahina-san as much as I can!”
Mafuyu thinks for a moment before making up her decision. “Then, do you want to help me sort some herbs?”
Emu, as always, nods with an enthusiasm that Mafuyu doesn't even know if she'll be able to match. She simply let out a small chuckle at her antic before bringing Emu to the workshed nearby.
The smell of herbs was overwhelming. Mafuyu glanced to Emu’s side, watching her amusingly while the other woman’s forehead was all scrunched up. She gave her some instructions before doing their own parts respectively. Emu would hum some familiar tunes while they work, which Mafuyu quietly found comfort in. Working feels more bearable and a bit fun when someone is there to accompany you. After all, Mafuyu can be lonely, just like any other person and yearned for companionship, too. She can never tell that to anyone, even Emu herself, though.
They spent the afternoon sorting herbs and Emu watching Mafuyu crush and grind them, making some sort of concoction she's unfamiliar with with rapt attention. For Emu, who grew up in a household that never bothered with what they'd call “dirty work” and mostly spent her life studying about business and management (which became useless when she was wed off) didn't know much about what magic can do to someone's wellness. Mafuyu would teach her about them and sometimes it's helpful when the mage isn't around in the case where Emu felt ill or so.
Mafuyu likes the fascinated expression Emu has, how her mouth opens in awe whenever she explains a property of a herb, or the “blegh!” she makes after drinking a terribly bitter sample, or how she sneezes after accidentally inhaling some grinded particles. Every single little detail cracks a small smile out of Mafuyu, softening the rough edges of her typically cold demeanor.
When the sun is setting down, Mafuyu would carry a basket of some of her gatherings that could be used as an ingredient for cooking. Some of them are a little unconventional compared to the seasonings and vegetables the market closest to them would sell, but they make a good replacement. Some of it can be replanted fairly easily, which is why Mafuyu wants to build a garden so that she doesn't have to go out just to look for them. And, it makes it safer for Emu as going out in the woods is literally seeking for death without any magical prowess.
Emu helps chop some greens for their dinner menu. Mafuyu starts the fire with a flick of her wrist to cast magic, waiting for the pot of water to boil to make some tea as company for their stew. When she went to check the freezer, she noticed that their protein supply was running low. It's either she has to reluctantly visit the village nearby, or she hunts on her own. Both sounded a little tedious, but Mafuyu wouldn't want either of them to lack certain nutrients in their diet.
“We're running low on meat, huh?” Emu notes, peeking beside Mafuyu.
“Yes.”
“I can visit the market tomorrow! There's something I want to look out for…”
It seems like she'll have to go to the market.
“We can go together.”
“Okay!”
Dinner was quickly done with extra hands. They sat on the dining table together, eating the hotly served more-veggies-than-meat stew with rice while Mafuyu watched Emu attentively. Mafuyu only eats to survive, but it's different for Emu who can taste flavours unlike her. When the woman makes a pleased hum, Mafuyu finally relaxes before continuing to eat. Emu, on other hand, would talk about what she had done in the morning and her training with magic. The mage listens intently, nodding and replying occasionally with short affirmations or answering her questions.
“Say, Asahina-san…” Emu starts, her tone carrying the slightest bit of hesitance.
“You don't… really plan on having me here for long, right?”
Mafuyu pauses, tilting her head, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Um, well, you've lived alone for a long time. I dunno what you think of me, too. I don't want to burden Asahina-san too much.”
Is it because the meat supply has run out quicker than usual when she lived alone?
“Do you want to return to your family, Otori-san?”
Emu picks on her food with her spoon as she shakes her head.
“No, not really. I don't think they know that I'm… ‘dead’. Or maybe they don't care, because the marriage is only business stuff.”
Those round pink eyes shrunk so much. It looked completely different when she was being her bubbly self. Mafuyu had nothing to reply— no, she does, but what would be of help for her situation?
“... I don't mind if you want to stay here longer.” She says, after a moment of silence.
“You can think of this run-down place as your home. You can do anything you want to, learn whatever you'd like. You can go anywhere you'd like, and I'll bring you there.”
Emu drops her spoon, the utensil making a light clattering noise in the half empty bowl. She seems to be surprised with Mafuyu’s words. It was the first time she spoke so much to her before.
“But you might want something from me, right?” Nothing ever comes for free, after all.
“I…”
Mafuyu trailed off, feeling hesitant to utter these words she had kept deep within her heart. She takes a deep breath, murmuring her words in a small voice.
“I want you to stay.”
Emu can feel heat gathering in her cheeks at her words. The admittance came heavier than she thought. Mafuyu feels her chest tightening at her own honest words, not knowing what to do now that her true feelings had leaked out in an awkward manner. Her eyes peered up to Emu, a tinge of anxiety making her heart pound quickly as she anticipated her response.
That was stupid, selfish, so selfish, or her. Who is she to plead for the presence of someone she knew for only a few months? Who does she think that makes her feel like she deserves a companion in this dingy, awful lodging with barely any human presence? Nothing ever stays. No one would go so far for someone like her. No one would think of her with such personal importance. Can she even carry the responsibility of someone's life after that event? Does she even have the right for it?
All thoughts were about to consume Mafuyu’s mind, making her unaware of her own surroundings until she felt the warmth of an embrace behind her.
“Asahina-san is making a scary face. You're overthinking… right?”
Mafuyu finally snapped out of it, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
“Then… if Asahina-san wants me to stay, I will. I want to stay with Asahina-san, too. I want you to teach me all sorts of things, and help me with developing my magic, and eat tons of tasty dishes, all of that. Let's do that together, can we?”
Mafuyu’s chest tightens, but not in a suffocating way. She tilts her head to see Emu, whose eyes held such tenderness she didn't know she would see again from another person. Her hug felt… so warm. Warmer than the pot of tea she had brewed. Warmer than the heat of the fireplace that crackles.
“... We can.”
Even if food stocks run out quicker, even if there will be more trash than usual, even if laundry piles beyond the basket, it wouldn't really matter when Emu’s warmth gives her the chance to experience living as a human again.
Maybe, meeting Emu was the blessing that God could give after she had fallen into the hands of the devil a few years back.