Companionship is Far Too Great
“D-Don’t hurt him!”
Right before the Lawachurl’s fist met the Traveler’s bade, an unfamiliar voice suddenly reached their ears. Unfortunately, due to the momentum of their attacks, neither party was able to stop in time, causing both attacks to hit the newcomer at once.
“Ah..!!!”
As the Traveler backed a few steps away, their eyes were filled with guilt and wariness as they watched the white-haired girl clutch their bleeding hand. From the corner of her lips, blood also dripped out, probably from the impact of the Lawachurl’s punch that landed on her thin frame.
Similarly, the Lawachurl that was originally angrily attacking the Traveler, paused after the contact, as if it was regretful of its actions.
“He’s not… He’s not an enemy,” the girl said with a wince, raising her quivering gaze to meet the Traveler’s eyes, “This… This place is home. He’s only protecting it, so please don’t hurt him.”
“Wait, who are you?” Paimon asked from behind the Traveler, “Do you know this Lawachurl?”
“I’m Aina. I guess you could say that I’m a… frequent visitor to this place,” the girl hesitantly introduced, prompting a growl from the Lawachurl, “I’ve found that this Lawachurl is named Ukko, and he’s been guarding this place ever since I could remember. He’s… only doing his job.”
Aina once again flashed the pair a smile, but the way she grew more nervous and melancholic following another growl from the Lawachurl made the Traveler and Paimon confused. While neither of them felt that the girl was lying, they also felt like there was something off about the situation.
Indeed, there were some truths Aina had hidden away from them. She could be considered as a visitor to Dragonspine, but she was not an outlander to these mountains that were once Vindagnyr. Likewise, while she did only find out later on that the Frostarm Lawachurl that bowed to her was the same scribe that faithfully followed her father and sister, it was far from the usual implications you’d get from her phrasing – one that points to her only finding out through research.
These half-truths were also the reason why Ukko kept growling, as if protesting against her words. But while Aina understood, and even if Ukko had the ability to speak and clear things up, Aina would never call themselves companions or friends. While they knew each other from thousands of years ago, when they were still a princess and a scribe, they weren’t friends. And even if they developed a deep bond from the way they only had each other, Aina didn’t think it was something that reached a point of companionship.
After all, they only happened to be two people, two souls from Sal Vindagnyr that were in the same boat.
If it weren’t for her actions back then, and if it weren’t for this curse of wilderness that was bestowed upon Ukko, she would be nothing but a fleeting presence, the ever-so-unspeakable princess, to the beloved scribe.