A Rainy Day’s Interruption

Today was a day of rain.

A gentle drizzle drifted from the sky, landing softly on the ground and transforming the once loose earth into clinging mud. Perhaps it was due to this persistent rain, but the weather was exceptionally cold; even a single breath would materialize into a plume of white mist.

South Creek sat alone by the window, gazing listlessly at the sky. Earlier in the day, Elise had hurried into town, reportedly for some urgent matter. Consequently, South Creek found herself alone at home.

In the past, South Creek might have been excited to have the house to herself, but today, with the unexpected rain, venturing outside had become quite troublesome. The drizzle carried a bone-chilling cold, and lingering in it would surely lead to catching a severe cold. Staying indoors was, therefore, the wisest choice.

However, South Creek had already spent two consecutive hours reading. Now, she could not think of anything else to do. Practicing magic seemed like a decent option, but only if she were outside. If she accidentally lost control and blew up the house, her backside would surely face the painful consequences.

Besides the magic textbook, the house contained numerous storybooks and poetry collections that Elise had amassed. Some of the storybooks were quite interesting, while others were utterly tedious. As for the poetry collections, they were even worse; South Creek vowed she would never touch them again in this lifetime. The unfortunate truth was that South Creek had already read every single one. She could practically recite the plot of each storybook by heart. To force herself to read them again would be nothing short of torture.

Thus, South Creek was currently in a state of utter idleness.

Nearly half a month had passed since she last watched the sunrise. After that day, the villagers had found a new location for their autumn hunt and returned safely, bringing with them a plentiful haul of game. As Elise had made significant contributions to both hunts, she naturally received a generous share. This allowed South Creek the rare pleasure of enjoying a bowl of fragrant meat porridge at dinner—a luxury she might even be able to savor throughout the entire winter.

Jack, meanwhile, had been recuperating at home since that day. People said that his relationship with his mother had improved immeasurably during this time; some had even witnessed an exceptionally rare smile on Mrs. Beard’s face. Fanny, on the other hand, had recovered completely after just two days of rest, becoming her usual self, full of life and vigor. However, she had not dared to mention going to town again.

If only Fanny, her chattering companion, were here now, South Creek thought. At least she could chat and alleviate her boredom.

“Hmm…”

A chilly sensation once again touched her chest. It was the necklace. Ever since Elise had given it to her, South Creek had worn it constantly. In fairness, the necklace was indeed beautiful, its exquisitely carved amethyst sparkling under the light. The problem, however, was that Elise adamantly refused to let anyone else see it, leaving South Creek to appreciate its beauty alone. Furthermore, the irritating trinket often inadvertently poked her chest, making sleep quite uncomfortable. Heaven knew how Elise had managed to wear such a thing for ten years.

All in all, today was an unremarkable day. South Creek expected to pass it in a drowsy stupor. Just then, she spotted a furtive figure outside her window.

“What are you doing?”

“!”

The person was indeed startled. They looked up to find South Creek sitting by the window, watching them with a smile.

“Little South Creek, it’s you… You scared me to death.”

It was Wede. He had stealthily made his way here at some point, draped in a burlap cloak for rain protection. Yet, his drenched appearance clearly indicated the cloak’s futility. Ignoring the rain beating against his face, Wede offered South Creek a sheepish grin.

“So, why are you sneaking around here when I’m home? What are you doing?”

“Well… Is Pastor Elise around?”

South Creek raised an eyebrow at Wede, who was clearly being evasive. She replied, “Sister Elise went out on some business today. Only I’m here.”

“Oh, is that so…”

Seeing his exceptionally unnatural demeanor, South Creek grew increasingly suspicious. This sturdy young man usually interacted with others in an open and straightforward manner, so why did he seem so… shifty today?

“You still haven’t answered my question. If you were looking for Sister, you should have just come through the main door of the church, right? I didn’t even lock it.”

“I know, I know, but I’m looking for the Pastor today about something rather special.”

“Something special? Can’t you be a little clearer?”

“Since the Pastor isn’t here, then I’ll be taking my leave, haha.”

Faced with South Creek’s questioning, Wede awkwardly chuckled, then, embracing the rain, he fled as if escaping.

‘This guy… why is he so strange today?’

South Creek thought, frowning, as she watched Wede disappear. She was somewhat perplexed, but her intuition told her there had to be some unspeakable reason behind his behavior.

‘Forget it, I should just stay put.’

Sighing softly, South Creek decided to dutifully lie low inside the house. Despite Elise ultimately approving of her actions last time, South Creek couldn’t escape a severe scolding. Not much time had passed since then, and she certainly didn’t want another lecture.

“When will this rain ever stop?”

The rain had been ceaseless since yesterday, showing no sign of abating. If it continued like this, she would truly be driven mad.

‘Forget it, I’ll just sleep.’

Deciding to simply toss the book aside, South Creek lay directly on the bed. She wriggled, seeking the most comfortable position, then promptly settled into stillness.

****

“Thump-thump, thump-thump-thump—”

South Creek was suddenly startled awake by an urgent knocking, unsure how long she had slept.

“What is it…”

Having just roused from her dreams, she was in a liminal state between waking and sleeping. She vigorously patted her cheeks, then struggled to rouse herself from the bed and looked towards the door.

South Creek and Elise’s home was connected to the church, but most of the time, those who came to pray would quietly sit in the chairs. Very few people would knock on their door, a testament to Elise’s prestige in the village. This situation was exceptionally rare. As time passed, the knocking grew increasingly frantic. The last time someone had knocked with such urgency was when a village elder suffered a sudden, life-threatening illness.

‘Could it be time for my grand debut?’

The thought suddenly flashed through her mind. If someone truly needed saving, and Elise wasn’t home, the number of people in the village capable of healing was few and far between. This might just be South Creek’s opportunity to wield her magic.

With this thought, South Creek bolted to the door. She unlocked it and forcefully pushed it open.

“What is it, what is it?”

“It’s me, South Creek.”

South Creek froze, gazing blankly at the person before her. The words poised on her tongue caught in her throat. The visitor was none other than the village chief, Mr. Reed.