Chapter Text
"So, what you're trying to say is..." the floating child made one last attempt to understand the woman who saved her.
"You... came from the stars? Another world? And..." she waited for the young woman to finish tracing the sand. "You were with someone..."
Paimon rubbed her chin curiously, slowly putting the puzzle pieces together in her mind. To try and guess someone's life story without speaking the same language was difficult, but she had a hunch she managed just fine.
The young woman slumped right next to her, on the other hand, probably thought the opposite for herself. The frustration was evident on her face; she wanted to snap the twig she was using to draw in two.
Once the dark brown lines formed a bigger picture on the shore, the young woman's expression twisted into something Paimon couldn't identify. Was she ready to cry? And if she was, what were the tears for?
Or rather, for whom? If the lines were any indicator.
Before Paimon could even utter a guess as to what the final drawing meant, the young woman threw herself on her back like a turning turtle would, utterly defeated.
"Hey, hey, don't do that," Paimon floated beside her, nudging her to get up. "I think Paimon gets what you're trying to say, so, there's no need to act like this."
The young woman raised an eyebrow.
"You really don't understand a word Paimon is saying, do you?" she exhaled, placing a hand on her head. "Boy, this will be harder than Paimon thought..."
The floating child twirled a tuft of her white hair, contemplating her next move. Just this morning, she was rescued by this mysterious stranger from drowning, and for all she knew (despite feeling grateful) she was nothing but trouble.
She spoke none of the known dialects in this world, and not to mention Paimon couldn't tell where she was from just by looking at her clothes. Was she really an outlander?
Doubt began to seep into her heart, something she wished would go away. Because, even if it were dangerous to believe this person, Paimon could sense her frailty and exhaustion from her appearance alone. She was definitely as lost as she was.
If she were to leave this stranger right then and there, would it be the right decision?
With all the strength her tiny body could muster, Paimon pulled the young woman from her auburn locks, evoking a loud, painful yelp. She started yelling in her native tongue, which made Paimon roll her eyes.
"Look, Paimon gets you're probably sad and all, but if you want to live you gotta get up and do something!" the floating child yelled back, pointing in the opposite direction of the coast. "See that forest? It leads to a city nearby, Paimon will guide you there."
The young woman was stunned, as if at that very moment, she finally understood what Paimon was saying to her. As if she listened for a sign that this fairy-like creature meant well, regardless if she was yanking her hair a second ago.
Not long after, the young woman got up, wiped the sand from her body, and hesitantly walked towards the forest's entrance. Paimon immediately swanned over, trusting her instinct that she was doing the right thing.
The pair exchanged a wistful glance before stepping into the vast canopy. Neither of them knew this at the time, but they were being observed by someone who was more than knowing.
"To think you found a way to communicate without my intervention," the unknown figure smiled at the girls. "Your story has yet to begin. Now, onward with the prologue, outlander who caught the wind."