Without a moment's hesitation, I quickly leapt over the fence. My pants got caught for a brief moment, causing me to stumble and fall. Even the hood I was wearing slipped off. I paid no mind to it, swiftly rising to my feet and rushing past the wide grass field beside the building. There was only a dim lantern lighting the area, but its glow wasn't enough to reveal everything. It was as if whatever lay ahead was glowing on its own, not reflecting the lantern's light.
It was eerily similar to an event from a year ago. That moment by the river, when a strange object's light forced me to pick it up. Could it be the same one? Could it lead me back to my original world?
However, my hopes were dashed instantly. The light flew away as I drew closer, darting around like a fallen leaf caught in the wind. It hovered near my face before landing on my nose.
"A beetle?"
I had no idea what it was called. It was the first time I'd seen an insect like this. It resembled a firefly but was the size of an adult's thumb. After lingering for a moment, the creature flew off, leaving me disappointed, feeling like the biggest fool. How naïve I was to think that the same event would happen twice and bring everything back to the beginning.
"Hey, you fool! What are you doing there? Didn't I tell you to come here?" Dimas's voice suddenly called from the end of the corridor.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming," I replied with irritation. He could have asked politely instead of yelling like a jungle monkey.
"And why is your hood off, idiot? Put it back on before someone sees you!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Not wanting to be scolded further, I quickly stood up, grabbed my fallen hood from the bushes, and put it back on. I left my curiosity and hope behind and followed Dimas down the hall, where he led me to a set of large double doors. This was the first time I'd entered this building. Usually, whenever I came here, I only reached the pharmacy and the front yard.
The room was spacious. There were enough chairs for at least two long tables. Crystal chandeliers hung securely from the ceiling. There were few decorations or furnishings, making the space feel empty, too simple. But what made the room come alive was the sound of children eagerly waiting for dinner, their voices loud as they chattered. The children, ranging in age from three to twelve, sat in their seats at the tables, making noise as they played with their utensils.
Yes, you heard correctly. In addition to serving as a clinic and pharmacy, Aunt Saantya also took care of dozens of orphaned children who had nowhere else to go. She occasionally took in street children abandoned by their parents or victims of slavery. Her caring and loving nature earned her the title of "The Holy Woman" by everyone in town.
My eyes scanned the children. Most were between four and ten years old. They laughed, played with their friends, or made noise with their utensils, their voices deafening. Some of the caregivers tried to quiet them down, but as children do, they ignored the reprimands. As I passed by, several children looked at me and giggled. I had no idea what was so funny, but seeing them laugh so freely, without a care, made my heart lighter. I couldn't help but smile and wave at them.
Dimas led me to one end of the long table, where the adults sat, waiting for dinner. I recognized some of them as the orphanage's caregivers and the pharmacists. Some seats were empty, likely because they were either helping prepare the food or calming down the noisy children. Dimas pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. I frowned, looking at him curiously. When did he start caring so much about me? But since the atmosphere was good, I decided not to dwell on it.
Next to me, there was a middle-aged woman wearing a pharmacist's uniform, white as cotton, with large buttons on the top. I gave her a small smile and a slight nod.
"Thank you for inviting us to dinner, Aunt Saantya!" I said quietly.
"It's no trouble, little girl! I already consider you one of us," she replied with a soft laugh. "Don't be shy! You needed a temporary place to stay, right?"
"Yes. Is it alright if I stay here?"
"Of course, sweetie! You can stay here as long as you need. This place is big enough; it's no problem adding one more person."
"Thank you again." I bowed deeply, my feelings torn between the embarrassment of imposing and the relief of being accepted.
Soon, someone entered from the corridor leading to the kitchen, pushing a food cart filled with various dishes. Upon closer inspection, I saw roast chicken, mushroom soup with black grass, butter-fried mushrooms, and other delicious-looking meals. Steam rose from the food, much like smoke from a steam engine. It wasn't just that one person; there were four others pushing food carts behind them.
To feed thirty people, one cart wouldn't be enough, would it?
The five people placed the food on the long dining table. Among them was Shella. It was a fortunate coincidence that she was the one serving the food at this end of the table, so I had a chance to greet her, albeit briefly. Before finishing, she handed an extra bowl of meat soup to Dimas. Everyone else was served one portion, but he got two.
"Thanks for helping me," Shella said, giving Dimas her best smile.
I sighed. Well, I was trying to bring them closer, but it seemed like they were already interested in each other without my interference. Just look at the way she looked at him! It was deep and intense. I had never seen Shella give such an expression to a man before. Usually, she was just indifferent to all the guys, including a noble son who had recently been trying to flirt with her.
For now, I decided to step back and let their feelings simmer. Characters that didn't belong in the main plot should stay in the background.
I focused instead on what lay before me on the table. Now, how was I supposed to finish a portion that was double the size of what I usually ate? Everyone had their own serving, and if a guest didn't finish their food, it would be considered rude. That was the custom here. In my confusion, I turned to the side.
I slid a bowl of asparagus soup and a piece of roasted chicken over to Dimas. "For you. You know my usual portions, right?"
Without a word, he dug in, devouring the food in front of him. I was taken aback. I had never imagined he would show such gluttony, especially in front of Shella, Aunt Saantya, the children, the caregivers, and the pharmacists. His teeth chewed quickly, his mouth making sounds that drew the attention of those around us.
I elbowed him and laughed. "Look who's being shameless now!"
"Shut up! This is just how I eat," Dimas snapped.
Despite the distractions of the children's chatter and Dimas's chewing, this dinner could be considered perfect. After all, the bastard Grussel, the tight-fisted old man, had never provided us with anything good to eat, even though I had earned him plenty of money. The best he'd ever given us was dry chicken, spoiled vegetables, and other meager fare that even a cat would avoid. If I could cry, I would be shedding tears of joy now.
After dinner, I helped wash the dishes and leftover utensils. I wasn't used to housework, but I had to do this. It was the least I could do to thank Aunt Saantya for taking me in. As long as I was allowed to stay here, I had to help with any chores I could.
By nine o'clock, I crawled into bed. I was sharing a room with Shella since the room had two beds, both unoccupied. She didn't mind at all. In fact, she seemed happy to have someone to keep her company at night. Now it was just the two of us in the room. Dimas had already returned to the Dark Night Hunter's base. Since only I had been kicked out by the old bastard, he didn't face the same fate. Suddenly, I remembered Grussel's disgusting expression. Disgusting. I hoped a lizard would fall into his mouth while he was snoring.
I tossed the bedspread and pulled the blanket up to my chest. The mattress was comfortable and soft. It was warm, making all my fatigue and weariness disappear instantly. Usually, I stayed up late. But here, everyone seemed to go to bed at exactly nine. I had to follow this unspoken rule. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And that's what I did now.
"Anggi... are you still going to wear that hood?" Shella asked quietly, glancing at me from her bed.
"Oh, right. It's just a habit." I chuckled and took off the hood, which resembled a cap worn by villa touts in the Puncak area. But this hood was specially designed to blend with my leather jacket. It was made of thick fabric.
This hood was the only thing that hid my true form, the Haier-Elvian. I wore it to cover my long ears. Human-Elvian relations had never been friendly. They would discriminate against me if they knew I wasn't human. That's why I always wore the hood whenever I went out. Only Dimas and the other hunters knew my secret.
I placed the hood on the small table next to the bed and tidied my hair, letting it fall freely to my back. Then, I threw myself back onto the soft mattress. My eyes were about to close when I noticed Shella's gaze fixed on me.
"What's wrong?" I turned to look at her, feeling uneasy under her stare.
"Nothing. I'm just envious of your long, soft hair. And with your beautiful face, you're absolutely stunning!" she said without hesitation.
Hearing her words, I squinted my eyes. Stunning? I suddenly sat up on the edge of my bed.
"I think you've forgotten that this isn't my true form. I was just an ordinary girl before. You shouldn't be complimenting me because I feel—." My words faltered. I couldn't bring myself to say more.
"Feel what?" she asked eagerly.
"Every time I look at myself, I feel like this isn't truly me. I don't know if I've become Haier-Elvian, or if I'm actually a Haier-Elvian with amnesia who's gained memories from Anggi Widya Damayanti. I really don't know what I am now!"
"Whether you're human or Haier-Elvian, you're still Anggi to me. As long as you still have Anggi's memories, you are Anggi! So forget those useless thoughts for now."
I fell silent, trying to absorb Shella's words.
"Are you still not giving up on finding a way back to your original world?" Shella asked again softly. She slowly moved closer and sat beside me.
I shook my head. I was reluctant to speak. Then Shella took both my hands and gently stroked them.
"I think... you're the most persistent one among us, Anggi. While everyone else has started to give up and forget about returning, you still keep looking for information. No matter where or how long, you'll go search for it, even if it's at the ends of the world. Honestly, I've placed a little hope in you. Though, not too much.
"And I'm sure the others feel the same. When I first found out that I had been thrown into another world, it was terrifying. I feared I wouldn't be able to see my parents, my little brother, and my friends again. Being in a strange place was so frightening. They aren't like the people in our town. Their language is strange, and I felt so out of place.
"But you gave me strength. You said everything would be fine. You even joined that hunter group so we could have a place to stay in this world. You taught us how to speak, read, and write their language. In the end, I adapted to this world. I even found a job and lived a normal life.
"It's all because of you. I'm so thankful for everything you've done. You're like a hero to me, Anggi."
Shella smiled warmly. That smile was genuine, pure, like moonlight shining through the darkness of night. I sat there for a moment, stunned, trying to understand her words.
Yes, I did all of that. The reason was clear: I was the only one who could do it. Who else among us could speak this world's language? Who else among us had abilities beyond humans, which is why Grussel—the Old Bastard—was interested in recruiting me into his group? These were the roles I had to play, whether I liked it or not.
I used to curse myself for being reborn as a Haier-Elvian, thinking it would bring nothing but bad luck. But now, I felt relieved. It had actually helped my friends here. Because of it, my life in this world had become easier. In addition to speaking several languages, I could see clearly in total darkness. I could hear sounds from far away. All my senses and physical abilities felt enhanced. It was like I had become a superhero often seen in movies. Yes, it was all thanks to this body.
"Don't worry about it, Shella. I'm just doing what I can for all of us," I answered quietly. She looked at me thoughtfully, then smiled.
After that, we talked for a long time. About our friends who had left the hunter group and chosen their own paths. The twins, Vian and Vani, had become chefs and waiters at a restaurant in the city. Meanwhile, Kak Indra, Kak Erik, and some of the other male members had joined the royal army in the capital. Everyone had their own path now, stepping forward in this world without fear.
The night grew late. Shella asked for permission to sleep first. My body was still fresh. I was used to hunting at night and staying up until morning. But I forced myself to sleep after a while, thinking about things that didn't matter.