The Fog and the Road Ahead

The rain drizzled, diffusing through the air and splattering onto the ground, leaving scattered wet marks.

Mist began to rise from the mountains, making the surrounding landscape as unpredictable and fluctuating as human emotions.

Sally stood silently in this hazy, rainy mist.

The brim of her low-slung hood, unable to bear the accumulated rainwater any longer, began to drip slowly.

As Sally gazed at the world reflected in those falling droplets, she once again confirmed that her dear friend had truly passed away.

A small stone tablet was embedded in the overgrown, weedy earth, bearing a few somewhat sparse words carved upon its surface.

To our most beloved, kindest, and most valiant hunter, may the glory of God be with him.

Derek Adi

This stone tablet and its brief inscription were the last remaining traces of the old hunter in the world.

‘Heh… God, or whatever, they probably abandoned this world long ago to seek more energy-rich realms, didn’t they? There are plenty of evil gods, though, who just love to drive people insane…’

The silver-haired puppet shook her head with a soft sigh, then approached the solitary tombstone standing amidst the trees.

Her slender hand, clad in a white glove, retrieved two glass cups and a bottle of fruit wine from the basket slung over her right arm.

The amber liquid arced through the air, falling into the rain-kissed glass cup and reflecting dreamy colors.

Yet, for some reason, amidst the hazy drizzle, this alluring sheen carried a faint hint of sorrow.

“Old friend, I’m sorry. I never thought I’d miss your final moments, and it’s already been three days… Did you not want me to see your withered face, ravaged by age? Honestly…”

The glass cup, filled with wine, clinked against the sturdy stone tombstone, emitting a pleasant sound.

“My heart isn’t that fragile. A friend’s passing, leaving only my solitary self… it’s not the first time I’ve experienced it. Though three days have passed and your soul’s aura has dispersed, what remains is a feeling of complete warmth… It seems you departed with no regrets. That’s good, truly good!”

Lifting her snow-white neck, she poured the wine from the cup into her mouth.

As the clear, sweet fruit wine, now mixed with rainwater, slid down her throat, Sally sighed deeply once more.

“Ah… with you gone, I have no reason to come to this village anymore. In a few days, I’ll be setting out on a journey; I hope my travels are smooth! One last glass! Cheers!”

Though it was only low-alcohol fruit wine, the silver-haired puppet still felt somewhat tipsy.

In her blurred vision, a few shadows from the past seemed to vaguely appear.

“Ha… even as a Saint, I still can’t shake this feeling of melancholy. Oh? Someone’s coming?”

Sally raised an eyebrow in surprise, then turned her head to see two figures approaching.

–”Hamos! Hurry up! Grandpa’s waiting for us!”

–”Coming, coming! This time I brought your grandpa’s favorite wine! He’s sure to be happy this time!”

‘Oh… it’s Fanny and Hamos, those two youngsters.’

Listening to the approaching clear voice of the young girl and the honest voice of the boy, a realization dawned on Sally.

‘There wasn’t much sorrow in their voices… It seems the youngsters aren’t steeped in grief. That puts my mind at ease.’

“Hey! Look! There’s such a spooky person in a black cloak over there!”

“Could it be one of those rumored necromancers who dig up corpses?! Look how sneaky they are!”

“What?! No way! What will we do, Grandpa…? (sobbing)”

“It’s fine, watch me sneak closer to them… (whispering)”

A string of inexplicable dialogue dispelled the sentimentality and melancholy that had settled in Sally’s heart.

‘Necromancers? Grave robbers? What nonsense! These two kids…’

The two, creeping closer with exaggerated stealth, had no idea their supposedly secret conversation had long been heard crystal clear by the puppet.

It even caused a vein to throb in a cross shape on the puppet’s forehead.

“I say, you two youngsters… have you been reading too many adventure novels? And necromancers…”

Hearing the magnetic and ethereal voice of the dark figure, who had her back to them, both youngsters shivered involuntarily.

“Fanny, run! I’ll protect you!”

“Ah… no need, Sister Sally… I’m sorry.”

Hearing that familiar voice, the young girl, like a child caught red-handed after causing mischief, awkwardly lowered her head to hide her flushed face, burying it like an ostrich.

“What are you doing, Fanny! That person’s about to turn around! Run!”

Listening to her companion’s loud shouts, Fanny momentarily wished she could just disappear into a crack in the earth.

In the end, she could only fiercely pinch the soft flesh at Hamos’s waist and whisper:

“Stop it! That’s Sister Sally! She’s my grandpa’s friend… She’s the one who taught me how to make the bread I give you!”

“What? Your grandpa’s friend? The sister who taught you to make bread? Shouldn’t she be a plump, eighty-year-old, wrinkled, hunched old woman? How could it be this person, thin as a stick and with a strange voice! Run!”

“Oh…” Fanny covered her face with both hands and sank weakly to the ground.

At this moment, she felt her heart was utterly weary.

“…Little Fanny, could you tell me why I’ve become a plump, eighty-year-old, wrinkled, hunched old woman with a strange voice?”

The blushing young girl covered her eyes, secretly peeking through her fingers.

She only saw the silver-gray eyes of the silver-haired puppet, with a half-smile on her face, staring right back at her.

‘Ugh… Fanny truly wished she could just die.’

The silver-haired puppet turned around, gently placing the basket from her right arm beside the tombstone.

Then, she turned back and walked towards the two somewhat flustered youngsters in the middle of the path.

Gazing at the exquisite, almost inhuman face beneath the hood, Hamos took in the dazzling silver hair that cascaded to her shoulders.

Her ethereal and elegant demeanor, even amidst the misty rain, was captivating.

Even Hamos, usually so unperturbed, couldn’t help but nervously swallow.

‘Too beautiful…’ was the miller’s son’s only thought at that moment.

Click-clack.

Accompanied by the sound of thick-soled boots hitting loose gravel, Sally walked up to the two.

“It’s fine, little Fanny, I’m not angry. No need to play ostrich anymore, stand up!”

The puppet’s beautiful smile, close at hand and carrying a hint of helplessness yet full of tenderness, made Hamos lose himself once more.

“Ugh… I’m truly sorry, this big oaf speaks without thinking… By the way, are you really not angry?”

The young girl, blushing, stood up and quickly hid behind the tall Hamos.

Only half her head visible, she stammered, looking at the puppet’s helpless expression.

“Haha… after all, hundreds of months of experience aren’t fake. I wouldn’t get angry over a few bad words. What? Is this little guy the one you like? Already defending him?”

Fanny’s already flushed face began to turn purplish-red as she listened to the teasing words.

“Who, who said that? I wouldn’t like this big oaf!”

The puppet stroked her chin, scrutinizing the plainly dressed big young man.

“Hmm… little one, your soul’s aura is very pure; I hope you maintain it. Also, as an old friend of Adi, I warn you to make this unforthcoming girl happy, otherwise…”

“I swear on my soul!”

Hamos, who had been awkwardly chuckling until now, immediately straightened his expression and spoke solemnly.

“Oh my! What are you two talking about!”

Ignoring Fanny, who was stomping her feet nearby, the silver-haired puppet’s lips curved upward as she continued:

“Good resolve… I hope you remember this feeling.”

At that moment, the puppet’s magnetic voice seemed to carry a magical quality, deeply imprinting itself on Hamos’s heart and inexplicably deepening his inner vow.

“And my little Fanny, this is an amulet I made. I originally intended to give it to you directly in the village later, but since we’ve met now, I’ll just give it to you. Make sure to wear it, okay~?”

The tall puppet took something from her embrace, then bent slightly, leaning close to the still-shy girl.

Her slender hand, clad in a white glove, placed a small drawstring pouch on the girl’s delicate neck.

Then, her slightly cool lips gently touched the girl’s forehead.

That soft touch made Fanny slightly stunned.

“You two go pay your respects… I imagine the old man will be very pleased…”

Standing upright, the cloaked puppet walked past the two, brushing shoulders.

“Will Sister Sally come back to the village later?”

The slightly anxious voice of the young girl made Sally’s departing steps pause for a moment.

“Did the old hunter tell you…? Ha, who knows what the future holds? For now, just grasp your present happiness!”

With her back to the two, Sally elegantly waved her hand backward, then stepped into the morning mist without looking back.

A moment later, faint shouts echoed from the direction where the two had disappeared.

“Wish… you… a… pleasant… journey…, and be… happy… too!”

‘Ha… these two…’

Pressing down her hood, a graceful arc curved on her lips in the darkness.