The night arrived and Eve and I finally saw a cave from far, the snow storm had started at the late evening and it was increasing its speed and becoming a little bit dangerous for Eve so it was now more important to find a shelter we got at the right time. Eve and I smiled and I kept on walking ahead and finally Eve started feeling sleepy, she yawned, feeling lazy now and I looked at her and said, "Just ten minutes more, we will stop at the cave, have something to eat and then you can sleep but don't fall asleep for now, I can't disturb you if you fall asleep and you will sleep without having anything." And Eve smiled with closed eyes and nodded her head.
Eve and I moved five minutes more and we were finally in front of a cave. I entered in and tried to fire up the lantern and looked at the cave, the cave was small and didn't look like that anyone would have even stayed here because I couldn't smell anyone's smell or scent left, it was never used cave which I think would be perfect for this night. I kept the lantern on the middle of the cave, lightening everywhere and disappearing the light and then kept Eve down on the floor and she looked at me.
Finally we had something, Eve was having some of the apples and guavas we had and I was also having the same. I looked at Eve and she looked at me, we both looked down and Eve took a bite of her guava, and said, "Big brother...why would have grandparents left us all alone? And where did they go actually? They would be fine...right?"
I haven't told Eve about her birth time, what happened, she doesn't even knows who her parents are. She has grown up at the forest area only, and she doesn't knows that her actual parents are nobles living a luxurious life, she doesn't knows that even her grandparents are nobleperson and they left for to get back what belonged to them, but I still believe that they were actually sold, they lived at the forest in a normal life for ten years, in that ten years they never had any problem, or maybe they were suffocating day by day and a month ago they couldn't stop their sufferings and choose to leave and ran away to live their actual normal life. But Eve doesn't knows much...I think it's better to remain silent and don't tell her about that.
I looked at Eve with a decent smile and said, "They would have moved to southern side as much I know them, and I am sure they would be completely fine, you don't need to worry about them, they will live for around five years more, so don't worry much about them and you enjoy your dinner, I promise I will give you some tasty meals once we reach to the town, ok?"
Eve was surprised...but suddenly she started laughing, Eve laughed loudly and I didn't understand what's the reason for her laugh but I had no problem and just looked at my fruits and continued eating and chewing the bite of the apple. Eve pointed at me, still laughing and said, "...five...years you say...? I didn't expect that you would also say that they will survive and have five years more, but I guess you were just trying to make me feel free from those thoughts, maybe...but thanks."
Oh, was that funny? I thought for a while, but later realized that it's waste to think about it right now and just focus on the fruits.
The night continued and the snow storm had calmed down again, Eve was sleeping peacefully finally taking rest and I was trying to sleep but I couldn't. I woke up, realizing that there's something in my mind which is running--
"Sleep big brother, sleep." But suddenly Eve said and I looked at her, she finally opened her eyes and looked at me and she was also not sleeping. She also woke and I smiled with a sweat and asked from her, "Did I wake you up, Eve?"
Eve shook her head, "No, I wasn't sleeping either, a voice was coming in my ears which was too much low that I couldn't hear but I am sure that there is actually a voice coming from somewhere. Maybe my ears would be listening nothing but feeling like it is listening something."
I was surprised a I tried to hear...and yes, it was a voice which I couldn't listen either, maybe it would be a God trying to talk? Like...God of Time? I smiled, remembering the old days would be fun, I used to fight and argue a lot with God of Time and always ended up cursing when no one was winning on the argument or it was 50-50 chance to win. Anyways...I looked at Eve and snapped my fingers and suddenly Eve stopped feeling the strange thing and she was surprised and she looked around, the strange voice had actually disappear. Eve smiled, thinking that it would just her ears and she lied down again, looking at me and I also lied.
"Big brother..." Eve called me again and I turned towards her and she was curious about one thing and asked, "...but you didn't answer my first question, why did they leave?"
I sighed, turned away, facing towards the ceiling of the cave with my eyes closed and replied to her with a smile, "Eve...you know the answer on your own, don't ask me about that and the day you feel free to tell me then tell me, but don't ask from me, you will answer me."
Eve was surprised, she was asking about the question but now I had given her the task to answer me, she was confused, she couldn't understand how and she started thinking for the answer, but now her mind was lazy, tired of thinking in a moment and she slept in just five minutes. I smiled again, and finally opened my eyes again...and I don't know why but I was in no mood to sleep, my eyes were left opened all the time looking up and I couldn't sleep somehow.
Five hours passed and Eve and I were getting ready to now leave, Eve didn't sleep much but it was enough for now because the plan was simple now, we both will finally stop at the town and will stay till tomorrow morning and Eve will take more rest in a hotel we take, the plan was simple. I stood holding the basket on my shoulders and Eve sat on my shoulders and she was holding her own basket and I finally stood properly, looked at the cafe which was clear and we both didn't leave anything and we both finally looked in front and started moving.
The sun was going to come on the sky soon and also the King of North and his ministers were also passing by the same route. The King was walking with his team but his ministers were worrying, they were having the elephant which was following them but still the King choose to walk which they didn't like, they were still discriminating that King has high standards and he should be on the elephant not walking with them but the King always denied.
There's a reason why the northern country is free and powerful, because their own King considers him a normal person like them and the King wants that, it was normal if the royal family or the King himself found walking for the stores and buy something, a few soldiers would be there but the people were free to come in front of him, talk with him normally and speak whatever they want. There is no difference in them and that makes him a better person, a better human who is kind. Ministers couldn't do anything about it, but they at least wanted to show to the other countries that he is special so he was taken on an elephant, they requested him for that and at the end the King accepted but at returning he denied when the ministers asked, because he believes that everyone is equal and there's no one that much special, and he also wanted to know that whether other people would be able to recognize him or not if he doesn't looks like a special guy, and if not then how others will treat him, and that's how he will know how the citizens of the country actually is.
The King continued walking with his team and they all passed by the cave and the King looked in front and ordered, "Take the elephant to the town and give a ride to kids, and at that you all would be there doing the job and only one soldier and one minister will walk with me and my orders will be followed at that as well and no will deny. Think between yourself, who is going to come with me, who will go with the elephant and if anyone wants to take rest, they can. We will stay at the town till the night."
The soldiers discussed between themselves and one was chosen who was having the most strength left, three would be taking care of the elephant and the rest choose to take rest because they were doing their job from the day before yesterday night. Meanwhile in the ministers, everyone was fighting to each other on words that who will come with the King, but there was only one wise who supported to take care of the elephant without any problem and the rest kept on fighting, because the one who will walk with the King, he would have a chance that maybe the King will be impressed by him and they all meant by their profits only. The only nice person were the soldiers, the one and only wise minister and the innocent elephant who wasn't understanding anything but he won't mind doing his job, as the his best friend was a soldier and he was in the team of three.
Eve and I finally took a deep breath, and opened our eyes...and we were at the town entrance. The people were outside, enjoying and talking to each other, the kids were playing by the snow and spoiling the work of cleaner who were clearing the snow but he got a snowball on his face and he finally laughed, the streets of rocks. It looked like the village we used to work at, but there were the difference like the roads were of of rocks. But we just stopped comparing and stepped in the town, a little bit excited and a little bit happy, finally coming out of the cage and finding our real home now.
Eve and I were moving, looking around and Eve was looking everywhere, and at a well from far, Eve looked...and a woman was stunned, I also smiled with a sweat...I was confused by something, I couldn't believe but I didn't want to appear and I looked down with a sweaty smile and the woman was more shocked.
"I...Ichiro...?" The woman recognize me by my actions, I tried my best to act...but I guess she still knows that how I would act on this. Eve was surprised, but she had no idea...I finally stopped and the woman was speechless, "So...it's really you?"
I should have continued walking and I shouldn't stop either! She was still not sure but when I stopped she was confirmed that it's me! I was a fool, and I tried to manage and tried to run--
"Is that another someone with whom you spend your first six years, big bro?" And Eve asked, and I couldn't run either now...I sighed, looking down and nodded my head, "Yes...but I am just surprised that she's here."
The woman came in front of me, her eyes were widened holding tears and she touched my cheeks and I sighed. The woman smiled brightly, dropping tears and said, "It's been a decade...you know that, don't you? You have...really grown up, but still a little boy for me."
After a minute...
"No!!! We will talk, but in my house!!!"
"No!!! I will leave by tomorrow morning!!!"
"So stay at my home till the next morning!!! Don't be shy and just come!!!"
That was what I didn't want, I didn't want to interfere in anyone's life ever again to whom I hadn't met from a long time because I think they are happy without me and if I entered then their life would be spoiled...but she dragged me to her house.
The woman came to her room door and with a bright smile opened the door and said, "Welcome to my little house, my dear little brother."
And Eve was more surprised, "I had an elder sister as well, you never told me that big brother?"
And I sighed...it was somehow a pain, but I just entered, she was also calling me with so much love and I know her very well, she also used to work at the mansion of the nobles where I was born, and from the age of three she used to consider me as her own little brother and there are many things. Eve will maybe enjoy it.