Chapter Text
Poetry, songs, stories and even petroglyphs; these were one of the many ways history or any important event that had occurred in la città perduta, the lost town, were preserved. Besides the singing, the voice of the locals, or their traditions, seeing and experiencing the culture in person was more impressive for a tourist.
However, before even thinking of joining the hustle and bustle of the people where all the culture of the lost town resided, or even entering the place itself, there was one last path to take. The path was adorned with several bluestone monoliths that were distributed on the sides of the road. That meant she was very close to arriving. If she looked further ahead or around her, similar monuments were scattered in the distance or as far as her eyes could see.
The monoliths may not be large, but they were so beautiful that they were hard to ignore.
With slow steps and without taking her eyes off the pair of stones on her right, the traveler went down the sloping path, tempted to touch the engravings. She would have all the time in the world, or almost, since it would not be long before she reached her destination. Resting from the long journey in an inn was the first step of her plan. However, when she came across those monuments, her top objective was overshadowed. If she recalled correctly about what she had read before arriving, those stones—slightly shiny, flat, and with a bluish tint—were part of the attraction of that area, the first of many. She wanted to take a moment to find out what they said.
Carved on the surface of each one of them were preserved fragments of the history and legends of the town, which was surrounded by water and vegetation, so as not to be lost with the passage of time. Thus, enchanted and taking each step almost unconsciously, she scanned her eyes over those letters carved in the stone. Despite how worn the engraving was, since it was a variation of ancient Italian, she could almost identify some of the letters. Below each of the stones were small metal signs that translated what they could into modern Italian. With them, she could better understand what they were saying, or almost, since she did not fully understand the modern language itself. Nevertheless, she was amazed that the signs, although contemporary, looked more deteriorated than the stones.
It was a very perishable material, apparently.
She noticed a pattern with the placement of the stones. Each one was only separated by a difference of ten or fifteen big steps. From her understanding, the monuments told a story about a very distant legend, but it seemed a bit too fanciful to be part of the town's real history.
Thoughtful and attentive to the stones, she was tempted to run her fingers over them. She did not know if that was allowed, but she did not see any warning signs prohibiting it.
As she reached out slowly to touch them, a sharp pain came over her feet, begging her to stop. She turned her attention away from the beautiful monoliths and instead on her tired body. Of course, she was long aware of her exhaustion; she had just wanted to admire what was around her. Knowing that she was alone on this path, she wanted to finish her journey with a peace of mind. Not for nothing did she want to enjoy every part of the lost town after such a long journey. However, it seemed that physical exhaustion was interfering in her decisions for this occasion.
Well, what other remedy did she have? Rest was always important.
She gave herself one moment more to look at the carved legend before her sight gave way to the front. Better accommodating the travel backpack on her back, she headed down. She wanted to arrive at the town as soon as possible and to find the nearest inn with haste. The pain in her feet couldn't be ignored for long.
To tell the truth, she was also starving.
The sun was beginning to set, and the orange sky was starting to turn purple, indicating that night would soon blanket the entire town and its surroundings. Inwardly, she was thankful that she had heeded her exhausted body, for perhaps the cold and darkness would have frozen her halfway.
Even though it was about to get dark, the townspeople seemed to be livelier than in the daytime, for the bustle she was now witnessing was truly unexpected.
The female traveler stood just under the wooden arch that indicated the entrance to the town, her hands gripping the straps of her huge backpack, watching with surprise as people came and went as if time was not enough for them. She looked ahead, wanting to enter. It seemed that no one had noticed her, for the rush they were in was too great. They prioritized finishing whatever they were doing rather than watching a newcomer sniff around in all the commotion.
From what she could see, it seemed like they were setting up decorations, lights of different colors (mostly warm colors), food stalls, games, and so much more that she could not identify. People of all ages were helping, although she noticed that the younger ones were playing amongst themselves while the elderly were quietly observing the others.
Without a doubt, they were celebrating something.
She had barely taken a step inside the town, and already the agitation among the people was quite a spectacle to behold. It seemed she had arrived just in time for something big without meaning to.
She thanked her lucky stars, for it was a good opportunity to be part of whatever their tradition was or what they would be celebrating. That was the main goal of her trip, to feel as if she was part of something. She believed she could feel something like that in this place, a sense of belonging.
Breathing in the sweet aroma of the atmosphere, she drew air in and out of her lungs, motivated. Not wanting to waste time, as she still hadn't forgotten the exhaustion in her body, she searched for a building that resembled a guesthouse or anyplace that would allow her to rest, bed and bath included. According to what she had read before even putting on her travel backpack, the town had a small inn.
However, she couldn't make out anything like that. All she could see were dwellings of the same structure. Hence, she decided to ask someone who appeared unoccupied enough. With haste, she spotted and approached a very old woman who was sitting near one of the many houses.
"Hello," she said with some timidity, for she was not entirely fluent in Italian. She caught the woman's eye, who immediately looked up at her with a smile.
"What can I do for you, young lady?" She spoke in a slightly gravelly voice due to her old age, but the traveler understood perfectly.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for the local inn. Could you tell me where it is?" she said slowly, worried that she might sound impolite. Her fears were for nothing, however, as the older woman responded kindly.
"It's no bother, princess. The inn is right behind me. My family owns it." Surprised, the young woman took a better look at the building she now knew was the inn. It looked like any other house there, but she noticed a small wooden sign next to the entrance, announcing that it was for lodging only. "You look very tired. I guarantee that my son will take good care of you."
"Thank you very much. Have a good night." She wanted to leave as soon as possible, but she was stopped by a gentle grip on her left hand. Turning around, she found the old woman now standing and looking at her with joy.
That puzzled her.
"It's a pleasure to have you here, my dear. You arrived just in time. I hope you will stay as long as you can and make yourself feel as comfortable as possible."
The traveler blinked a couple of times. The old woman was either referring to the festival or the fact that she was visiting their town. This must mean they did not have many tourists usually. Yes, she was on time; that's what she thought as soon as she saw the people in an uproar. She wouldn't miss it for the world. She felt her palms being covered by the old woman's wrinkled hands.
"Thank you. I will never forget your kindness, ma'am," she said tersely, for she didn't know how else to answer. She gently let go and turned to walk where the older woman indicated.
'That was a bit strange,' she thought. Unbeknownst to her, behind her, the older woman was still looking at her with a big smile on her wrinkled lips.
She didn't think much about it further. Finally inside, the only thoughts in her mind were about resting a little. She quickly managed to identify the reception desk. Relieved that she would soon be able to groom herself, she approached the man standing behind the wooden furniture, who immediately noticed her arrival.
Greeting him as she knew how to do in Italian, the receptionist attended to her.
"Good evening, miss. Are you looking for lodging?" he asked politely. The young woman nodded her head. "I can assign you a room that overlooks the square. Would that be all right? Or would you prefer a quieter room where the noise won't reach?"
He spoke rather quickly; it seemed that he was also in a bit of a hurry like everyone else there.
"No, the first option is fine with me," she said at once.
The gentleman turned his back to her, searching in the key cabinet. Then he returned, taking out a pen and small piece of paperwork.
"I have to ask you to register your personal information and the days you plan on staying. Here are the prices for each night's stay..." He showed her each point of the form to fill in. She read through it first before writing anything down. She noticed that the price was very cheap; they definitely must not receive too many visitors in the lost town.
The services were simple, but it was enough for her.
"Here you go." She finished and pushed the paperwork across the cabinet towards the receptionist. Receiving it, he checked the document before presenting the key.
"Well, Miss Irene, here is your key. Your room is on the second floor, almost to the end of the hallway." She accepted the bronze key. The receptionist then took out a couple of towels from under the cabinet. "If there is anything you need, please ring me up on the phone next to the bed, and I will attend to you immediately. Do you have any questions?"
He spoke so quickly, Irene was a little dazed, as her Italian comprehension tried to keep up with him. She nodded her head in thanks but was then tempted to ask a question she had had since her arrival.
"I only have one question, sir," she said, holding the pair of towels in her hands. The man looked at her, ready to listen. "What are you celebrating?"
He looked at her confused, as if he did not understand what she had just said. Irene, thinking that she might have formulated her question wrongly, was about to rephrase when the receptionist finally replied.
"Excuse me, I thought it would be a question about our service." He apologized, realizing that his silence might have been uncomfortable for her. "I thought you came here for the most important festival of our town. The few tourists we receive come for only our festivals. For the rest of the year, we don't receive foreigners here. In case you are wondering, counting you, we currently only have two guests here and you are probably the only foreigners here."
Irene had not expected that. It was only by coincidence that she happened to arrive on the special day the receptionist and the owner of the inn spoke about.
"I didn't know. I just came to get to know your culture. I guess it's lucky that I arrived today."
"Well, you are a foreigner, so it's normal that you wouldn't know much. Be that as it may, make yourself comfortable. If you wish, you can join our party too. There are games, food, and shows that tell the history of our ancient rulers and the reason for our festival."
Encouraged by the courtesy, she nodded cheerfully.
"Of course, sir. Thank you for all your kindness." Saying no more, she finally moved. Her gaze went to the stairs leading to the second floor.
Lugging her huge backpack, the key, and the towels, Irene thought again about how lucky she was. However, she was somewhat puzzled as to why she had not managed to find this very important detail about the lost town she had long been planning to travel to. She had thought her research was thorough, but that seemed not to be the case. Nevertheless, she was anxious and excited to get to the room and take a bath before going out to the longed-for party in the huge square.
Engrossed in her own thoughts, she suddenly felt her shoulder and left arm hit something obstructing her passage. She quickly realized that she had collided with someone going in the opposite direction. As she lost balance, she became somewhat worried that the towels were going to fall out of her hands, when she felt a grip on her body.
"Excuse me."
"Excuse me, miss."
They both spoke in unison. As they regained the balance in their bodies, they stopped and looked at each other for the first time, or so they tried, not knowing what to do in such an unforeseen moment. Irene could see the other's arm holding the towels that the receptionist had lent her, which, perhaps but for that arm, would have fallen to the floor. Then she shifted her attention to the person in front of her, somewhat curious. It was also out of politeness, as looking directly into his face was the least she could do aside from apologizing. It was a young man with straight black hair who was slightly taller than her. His physiognomy was different from hers, with eyes that were not quite western.
Yes, that was her first thought.
"Sorry, I was distracted," Irene said, wanting to break the strange tension. She stared at him, just as he was with her.
"No, it was my fault. I noticed that they were going to fall, so I tried to grab them."
At the mention of the towels, Irene smiled, bringing out her joviality, transmitting a calm and polite energy.
The young man also smiled, but a very slight one, without leaving that seriousness that he showed from the beginning, despite bumping into her.
There was nothing more to say, so without further ado, the young man withdrew his arm from her, breaking their gaze, and each continued on their own way. However, Irene suddenly had the urge to turn for a second to look where he was going. She could see him already a little further away, arriving at the stairs, and observed his back as he went down the first step.
The receptionist had mentioned that there were only two guests in the inn. Surely, that was the second one he was referring to, or rather, the first one, since she had arrived after.
Maintaining the curvature in her mouth, she turned back around and hurried to her door, opening it with ease. The noise of the keys and the turning doorknob caught the attention of the young man of oriental features, who turned to look at her. He stared at her profile that was soon to disappear, as the young woman was already entering her room.
He stood there, looking at where Irene had disappeared, as if thinking about something. But then as if he had absolutely no interest in her other than the short moment of curiosity, he turned to continue on his way, his footsteps echoing on the wooden stairs.
"Finally! A bed." Throwing her backpack on the floor, Irene plopped down on the small but very fluffy bed. She quickly hugged the single pillow.
Lying there, she released a sigh of relief and happiness, thinking she could sleep for two whole days straight. However, she paused and immediately sat up. If she were to continue lying there and actually fell asleep, she would not be able to go and enjoy the lost town's great festival. In fact, she could already hear music playing.
Standing up again, only to get a little dizzy due to the sudden movement, she went to the window to pull back the curtains and open the wood-framed glass. As she slightly stuck her head out, she perceived a totally different atmosphere than when she arrived. People no longer looked rushed, and the hustle and bustle now seemed like a festival.
Her face and eyes lit up at the festivity, which had a rather rustic and cultural touch. A big, excited smile split across her face, the merriment urging her to be there already. Turning her head inward and quickly closing the window almost with a slam, she immediately turned and took off her boots and jacket, which she tossed onto the bed. Then she headed to the bathroom as she untied her braid and pair of hair buns.
Not caring the slightest as to where to leave her stripped clothes, she soon found herself inside the bathroom in only her white t-shirt and underwear. She didn't even stop to look at herself in the mirror or to brush her hair, because the water faucet seemed to already be on. Paying no attention to whether it was hot or cold, she stripped off the rest of her clothes and finally climbed into the shower, wanting to wash herself as soon as possible.
Pulling back her hair, which was already starting to get soaked, her muscles began to relax in the warm water. Yes, she had needed this and she hadn't even noticed it, as her only intention had been to just wash off the sweat and dirt accumulated after the long journey.
However, she would hurry because now she was focused on joining the big party.
Irene didn't take long; it only took her a couple of minutes to soap and rinse herself before she was wrapped in a single towel that covered her from her chest to her thighs. Releasing the steam from the shower, she opened the small bathroom window and stepped out, drying her hair in a fussy manner.
She didn't look too hard for what to wear. Just a little white dress and some rather simple sandals; perfect for a festival such as that. However, what she would never forget was her digital camera, which recorded everything she passed by, keeping a more graphic memory.
The device meant a lot to her and not just for its utility, as it was also her last birthday present from her parents before she went on the trip. Perhaps it was a strange feeling to associate with a digital camera, but when she carried it, it was as if they were there with her.
She picked it up, a little self-absorbed, before changing her mind and putting it aside until she finished brushing her hair and styling it as she knew how. Not liking to do complicated styles, she felt very comfortable with her current hairdo.
Once she was done, she grabbed the camera, which she would hang around her neck, and the cream-colored bag that carried money and whatever else she would need for the night.
And so, without further ado, she left with some haste, not running into anyone in the building again as she left. It seemed to her that she was the only one missing from the festival.
Finally setting foot outside, totally renewed with the pleasant air touching her still damp hair, she soaked in the environment that a moment ago she could only witness through the window of her room.
Seeing the people calmer and smiling invited her to be part of it as soon as possible. Without any reservations, she approached the first thing that caught her attention; a food stand, more specifically one that sold some kind of pastry, as indicated by the aroma that her nostrils perceived. The smell of chocolate whetted her appetite, causing her stomach to roar for food. She hadn't tasted anything since morning.
Irene moved with a rather slow pace towards the stall. A great number of people, especially children, were lined up very disorderly, waiting excitedly to buy one of the pastries.
She was patient, moving among them as best she could. However, for a moment, she feared that if she didn't get to the man serving those delicious pastries behind the stand soon, she wouldn't be able to buy one at all. She had never eaten one before, so she wished to try it. Just when she was about to give up due to the quite noisy and untidy children, she felt a couple of taps on her shoulder that slightly startled her.
The taps were a little strong, perhaps because the person was standing further away from her. He seemed to be trying to speak to her, but it was difficult to hear him over all the noise. Instinctively turning her face towards the voice, she found a serious face with vaguely familiar straight black hair up ahead; it was the young man with oriental features that she had met several minutes earlier at the inn. Despite not being too far away, due to the crowd of children and couple of adults in between, he had to shout a little so that she could hear what he had to say.
The young man was further ahead of her to her left, almost reaching the pastry seller. Curiously, at no time had she noticed him. It seemed that she was so engrossed in her desire to eat something that she had not noticed her surroundings at all. The black-haired man kept trying to say something to her, raising his voice. She did not understand him, but when she saw him hold out his hand, she could only try to decipher his meaning.
Feeling unsure, Irene took out her purse, which confused him. She removed a couple of bills and stuffed them in his outstretched hand. The black-haired man felt the paper money; assimilating what she had understood, he preferred to do what she implicitly asked.
He would buy her the pastry, although what he originally intended was to take her hand and pull her to where he was so that she could get it on her own. Even if it was a different plan, it served the same purpose. He certainly didn't mind doing her that favor.
Irene stood still, waiting for the children and other people to keep moving. Soon, she saw the one with oriental features' turn arrive. As she watched him ask for two pieces of pastry, she was left wondering what he had really meant. Had he wanted to buy her the pastry? Or did he just want to help her get out of there? He couldn't really know for sure if she was even there to buy a pastry.
As doubt came over her, she was a little embarrassed when thinking of the possibility that he might have bought her a pastry against his will. The thought was quickly diminished, however, when the black-haired man approached her with the two pastries in his hands.
"Miss." He offered one to her. As she slowly took it, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the same bills she had handed him a few moments ago. "Here."
"No, keep it. You're the one who bought them."
"Consider it a courtesy on my part. You looked a bit desperate there in the crowd, and I wanted to help you, which is why I took your money."
Yielding, Irene accepted it and saw a tiny smile appear on the young man's face.
"Thank you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience; maybe it wasn't your intention to buy me a pastry. I couldn't quite hear what you were trying to say."
"It doesn't matter. If we're being honest, we were all there to buy one of these. They're very popular around here, especially when this festival takes place. It was not hard to imagine that you wanted to try one, or am I wrong? I saw you and noticed your frustration; regardless of what I meant to say, my intention was to help you."
The young man said enough to convince Irene to accept his kindness. However, she was a little flustered by his sincere attention since they were strangers to one another.
"Thank you very much." She smiled back at him.
"It's nothing. Enjoy the festival."
Just like that, the young man looked away from her face and continued on his way again, going in the opposite direction to where she was facing. As Irene watched his retreating back, mingling more and more with the crowd, she had a sense of déjà vu; she became more certain of herself that that was what was really happening to her. Her first encounter with him at the inn had been a very similar experience. He had helped her and then she watched him leave.
After finishing her delicious chocolate-filled pastry, Irene discreetly licked her fingers before looking around. It seemed that all the attractions offered were mostly for children, but adults were also encouraged to participate in the games. It looked fun from watching, and for a second, she was tempted to join. However, she was not sure if she should, even though her initial reason for coming to the town was to be part of them in all that they did.
Was it just the insecurity of being a foreigner? Surely, that was the case, especially since she wasn't fluent in their language like a native. Just then, something caught her attention. The same children who had been crowding around the food stall a short while ago now grouped together near where several chairs were arranged facing what looked like a children's theater. Some parents accompanied them and sat next to the little ones. With that, she knew that she could also enjoy the spectacle as if she were just another child.
Without thinking twice, she headed over and searched for a seat as best she could without bothering anyone. She found herself a quite acceptable one in the back that would not obstruct the view of any child. Other adults also sat in that same back row. They didn't have to wait too long; the decorative lights in the area went out, signaling that the show was about to begin.
It was a little dark, but not too much so that they couldn't see anything. Then came a rumbling of drums and symphonic music that made her skin crawl, creating a spectacular atmosphere on the small stage that highlighted an illuminated white cloth, simulating a screen. Inside it, she could see the interposition of a couple of objects between the light sources, which projected the shadows of what appeared to be the characters and the background, such as a castle and a couple of surrounding trees.
Irene understood that it was a shadow play with puppets. She did not particularly like those kinds of shows, but it seemed nice. The children, especially, seemed to be excited and attentive to what the narrator of the play was saying.
Even though they had synchronized the story with the puppets' movements to ease the dynamics between the characters, for some reason, she did not fully understand what the narrator was saying. She knew little of what the characters were doing; she only saw a castle, trees, a princess, and what seemed to be a knight. Other than that, she did not understand anything else.
She could hardly understand Italian, the country's official language, and they spoke very fast and with what seemed to be too many idioms, which frustrated her. She really wanted to learn and know more about the people, including this legend or epic tale of theirs.
"Dammit, I don't understand anything..." she whispered in English, sure that she would not be overheard by the narrator over the music.
She was startled when she heard a faint murmur and felt a warm breath in her right ear.
"It was more than ten thousand years ago, according to the narrator. The story of an ancestral hero with the duty to protect the princess and, at the same time, the woman he loves..."
Irene leaned away slightly, looking at the person next to her. She again recognized that face and that extremely serious voice, but the language he was speaking this time was not the one she heard when they met or when he bought her that pastry.
"Sorry, did I scare you? I didn't mean to."
"How long have you been sitting here?" she said to the young man with slightly narrowed eyes, trying not to speak loudly.
"Since a while before you came to sit here, miss," he said, still speaking in English. "You were the one who sat next to me. I thought you knew."
She was surprised, as she didn't remember seeing him sitting there when she arrived.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Honestly, it scared me when you spoke to me like that right in my ear." She wasn't upset, but she had to admit that it was a bit weird.
"I apologize. When you said you didn't understand anything, I thought you were talking to me," he said calmly. Unlike the expression he had during their previous encounters, he now showed an embarrassed face: eyebrows knitted together, eyes wide, and mouth formed into a small grimace.
"No, I mean, it's okay. It was a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to be rude or anything like that. I was just startled," Irene said in a softer voice, noticing his abashed air.
His countenance changed to a more serene one. They leaned closer to each other so as not to bother the others with their talking.
"If you really want to know about this legend, I can translate a little of the narration for you, if you don't mind," he chivalrously said in a softer voice, just as he should have done from the very beginning.
Irene was delighted and nodded her head. But first, she wanted to make sure that no one would be bothered by the two of them or overhear them.
Both she and the narrow-eyed young man checked to see if anyone was shooting them angry looks. Fortunately, no one seemed to. The narrator of the play was speaking quite loudly and everyone else appeared to be very attentive to the stage directions and the characters moving and talking.
"Please, I'd be very grateful if you could help me understand this play," she said, not wanting to say more so she could appreciate each scene. The black-haired man nodded. Moving his body a little nearer to Irene's, he brought his mouth close to her ear, neither of them taking their eyes off the show.
"Time does not pass in vain, even if it is ten thousand years, as the wind of this country sings," he began, speaking as softly as possible while still being sufficiently audible to Irene. "The story of the ancestral hero with golden hair that simulated the rays of the sun, who completely dedicated his life to the kingdom and to the princess of mythical beauty." Some music could be heard in the background, playing a rhythm that followed what was happening and what he was telling her. "The courage and determination of the warrior shone among all the soldiers of the kingdom, making him the one chosen to always escort the maiden heiress of the prosperous kingdom."
Irene, better understanding the context of what she was seeing, could now clearly see the figures of the princess and the knight, who carried a sword while following the lady closely.
"It is said that they loved each other in secret, but it seemed that their love was impossible since the knight did not belong to the nobility. But in spite of that, they swore with their hearts to be faithful to each other no matter what the future might bring."
In the shadows, you could see how both characters came together, imitating a kiss, but at the same time, they conveyed a sad image due to not being able to be together as they would like.
"However, just when everything seemed to be peaceful in the kingdom and between the lovers, then came darkness that overshadowed the sunny days. Everyone fought to defeat the invaders who longed to conquer their lands and liquidate the sovereigns, but most fell."
Irene saw the representation of a war and the princess secured inside the castle.
"But that was not an impediment for the knight. He bravely faced all the invading mass, keeping in mind the mission to protect his land and the woman he loved. He did not care if he was the last one standing; if his duty was to offer his life to the end, then so be it."
She could see that the knight seemed to be the last one to face the enemy.
"His clothes, his hair, and even his skin tore as he boldly faced more soldiers. Maybe for him, it would be honorable to die for his beloved princess, but not for her. Of course not."
In the shadows, the princess could be seen descending until she reached the dying warrior.
"Regardless of the risk, the maiden stepped onto the battlefield, unable to bear the anguish and desolation of seeing her love about to faint. Standing by his side, regardless of the peril of drowning in the clouds of death, her delicate hands held the warrior's exhausted body."
Sensing the tense atmosphere within the spectacle, she could see the shadow of the saddened princess carrying her beloved knight as they were about to be attacked by the enemies. But at that moment, it seemed that the maiden looked at the invaders, making them retreat.
"And before such a proof of love, the sovereign managed to stop the enemy. But how? In what way? No one knows, but perhaps the maiden herself and her beloved personal escort. And without waiting for the hero's skin to finish withering, both disappeared mysteriously."
Irene witnessed the two protagonists suddenly disappear from the stage, followed by the enemy army that left the battlefield in defeat whereas others died right there.
"Thus, thanks to the legendary love that stopped the destruction of the ancestral lands, we now live in peace and autonomy. However, it does not end there, for it is believed that soon the lovers will return, for as a reward for that great sacrifice, the spirit of the hero will resurface from among these ruins with the arrival of his princess."
With that, what was once a castle then became rubble and a lot of vegetation.
"It is not known how or when, but that is what the legend has said for ten thousand years."
Irene stopped feeling the young man's breath in her ear as the shadows on the white screen disappeared and the lights came on again. The narrator went silent. Immediately after came loud applause and the excited shouts of children, which almost deafened her, but that was a signal to quickly clap in unison with the others and the young man.
As she processed the story, she realized it was somewhat familiar to her. Then she remembered the blue stones located on the road that led to the town, those she wanted to touch and could hardly understand when she read.
So, it was that legend.
"Well, what do you think?" he said aloud, no longer needing to come closer for her to hear him. "I hope that my translation was sufficiently understandable and that you enjoyed the show." Although Irene had heard him clearly, she was still thinking about that story, so she turned to look at him without stopping her clapping and without showing a new expression.
"It was very good. Thank you," she said almost automatically. Finally finished processing everything she had seen and heard, she witnessed a faint smile in the young man of oriental features. He seemed to be either proud of his translation or his mastery of both languages. "I mean, excellent. Everything was very clear to me."
"I'm glad. For a moment, I thought my accent would pose a problem."
"Not at all! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially for troubling you to translate for me when you also came to enjoy the creative theater yourself."
"No problem. Believe me, since I arrived, I haven't stopped hearing about this story. Everyone is always talking about it. You can feel rest assured; I didn't really miss anything."
Irene was surprised because she had not imagined it would be so famous. Although, she should have guessed it since the legend was even carved on the stones just outside the town. And it seems that in addition to its culture and traditions, the lost town's history and legends were also very well-rooted. Although, she had no intention of mentioning her observation, as it was only her own musing.
She once again thanked the young man for his kindness, but then, she suddenly felt that the place was a little empty. She realized that the two of them were the only ones still seated among so many chairs, now vacant. All of those enjoying the festival seemed to be moving rather quickly.
"Shall we continue enjoying the festival?" The black-haired young man implicitly invited her to stand up. It seemed that he had also realized that they were almost alone, for he stood up and extended his hand for her to stand as well.
Appreciating his chivalry, she accepted his hand, letting go as soon as she was almost standing at her full height. Without another word, both left the small children's theater, walking together among the locals without having any intention of separating. It was only natural for them to continue talking.
"Do you live here?" Irene asked curiously, wanting to know more about the black-haired man. That threw him off, however.
'Live here in this town?' he thought.
"I say this because of the ease with which you understand Italian," she said. Seeing his face, she could see his confusion, but then he denied with a certain grace.
"Oh no! I'm a tourist like you. Maybe I just have a penchant for speaking the language. Not to brag, of course," he said with irony and embarrassment, showing modesty, something that made Irene laugh and feel a certain tenderness. She believed him, not only because he spoke fluently and understood very well, but because despite having left that little theater, he still spoke to her in English, her mother tongue. He seemed to be a real smart person, as well as reserved. "I've been studying Italian for a long time. I think I've also been here far longer than you."
"Well, it's my first day here, or I should say, my first night. It's only been a few hours since I arrived, but I'll admit I didn't know there was going to be a festival. By the time I set foot in this town, there was already chaos," she said with a shrug.
"This place is hardly known or visited, but boy is it rich in culture. You're fortunate to be here."
"Yes, it is. It's funny that before coming here, I researched all about this country and the lost town, but I still didn't see anything about this very important festival. You should have seen the receptionist's face when I asked about the reason for the festivity."
"I can imagine. If I were a local, I would be too, I guess. But don't be sorry. It's not just the fact that the few tourists who show up here almost only come for the festival. For the locals, this town is their whole world. Assuming the age of the receptionist and that he's lived here all his life, for him it must be astonishing," he told her in a reassuring way.
Irene had not thought of it that way. Although, the same man had told her before that since she was a foreigner, it was natural that she didn't know too many things.
"Yes, well, that's true. Unless I know that they are a foreigner, I suppose if someone asked me something obvious in my own country, I'd be surprised at their ignorance too."
"I sincerely doubt it. Here, the people are special in the sense that their customs are very ingrained in them. It's almost an offense not to respect them; of course, that is if you were born here, as I mentioned before. But other than that, you seem nice. I don't think you would overreact to something like that."
"To be honest, it seems a bit over the top to me." She scratched her cheek a bit, blushing at how he had described her. "And thank you. How nice of you to think of me that way, even though you don't know me." It sounded like sarcasm, but it was not. Irene simply didn't know how to respond to a compliment. The man knew this when seeing the embarrassment on her cheekbones. "But asking is never a bad thing, no matter how silly others may think the question might be."
Feeling at ease with the young man, she walked with him through the warm hubbub. Despite being so serious, he was open somehow and gentle. Thinking about it, she immediately felt that something was missing.
"I've told you about a little dilemma of mine and you've helped me out several times now, but we still haven't introduced ourselves." Irene stopped her gait, halting the man's as well. "My name is Irene Cujoh." She extended her hand, and he reciprocated, transmitting formality.
"Haruno Shiobana. It's a pleasure, Irene."
Finally hearing his name, Irene felt more comfortable somehow. She was surprised by the slight bow that he made after introducing himself. For a second, she thought he would kiss her hand.
"The pleasure is mine, Haruno." Imitating his action, she curtsied as if she had on a dress, delicately raising one of her hands while the other was still held by the young man.
Straightening, they continued on their way together, seeing and exploring every attraction or stand in the square. Unbeknownst to them, people nearby stared at them. They stopped to watch every step the pair took. Even the greeting each made did not go unnoticed by the locals.
"You know, excuse my boldness, but despite having an Asian name and surname, your English seems native, though not American," she said. She feared that she sounded imprudent, but Haruno did not take offense. He answered without any impediment.
"I'm actually British-Japanese. That's why I have the facility to talk to you despite my thick accent, which is almost like a combination of those two languages." He shrugged his shoulders as if speaking about his origin was something very simple for him, but in a way, it impressed her. "I live with my mum in Japan, and although I hardly coexist my father, I can perfectly understand British English as my second native language."
"Interesting, how wonderful it must be to have two nationalities, to belong to two different worlds." Irene remembered her parents. "My mom is like that too. She's Italian-American. It's probably obvious that I'm from the US."
"It's nothing special. If I'm being honest, it's really simple. From the time you're a baby, you get used to it. I didn't really stop to think about it before, whether you were American or not. But now that you mention it, it's true that you have an accent and idioms in your speech that only Americans use."
"Actually, my dad is half-Japanese too," she said.
Now it was Haruno's turn to be a little impressed. He moved closer to Irene to scrutinize her face, which embarrassed her a little.
"At first glance, you don't look like it, but it's true. You have features like mine or my mum's, but only a little," he said.
"Of course, I feel more American than anything else, but at least we can say that we have something in common, don't you think? Besides both of us being here in such a remote town obviously."
"And sharing a language. I'm grateful to be able to understand each other. Even if I can speak the language of the people here, sometimes it's not easy to start a conversation. I'm not someone who socializes a lot, but being here for ten months while practically not talking to anyone is a bit tedious. I'm glad we ran into each other."
Irene was encouraged by such kind words since she felt similar in some ways. However, she was surprised by one detail.
"Wait, ten months? You've been living in this town for almost a year? You told me you were a tourist like me." Now she could see why he spoke the locals' language so well.
"It wasn't a lie. I'm residing here as a tourist and pay for my lodging at the inn from time to time. Yes, most of the people may already be used to my presence, but I won't be staying forever. In fact, I'll be leaving here in two days back to Japan. I planned to leave a week earlier, but I decided to stay a little longer."
"And why did you decide that? What was the reason for your trip, Haruno?" Really curious, she did not notice that her questions were perhaps a little abrupt or imprudent. Even if there was no more shyness in talking, they were still too unfamiliar with one another for her to pry like that about his motives or decisions. Haruno didn't take it like that, but he lowered his gaze in sorrow and thought.
"I'm sorry, but I can't say..." he said apologetically. Irene blinked in a confusion. "Don't take it the wrong way, please. It's kind of like a secret for me, something very personal."
Not having expected that, Irene rubbed her arm surreptitiously.
"Oh, I..." She was embarrassed and ashamed but soon realized her indiscretion. The exaltation had overshadowed her good manners. She shouldn't have asked in that way or demanded answers. "No, excuse me. I shouldn't have done that. I respect your privacy, Haruno. That was not my intention."
"Relax, we're just having a conversation, and asking questions is part of the process. I like that. Don't feel bad. What I can tell you, though, is that I'm in love with this culture. Discovering a little more about this town was part of my decision to stay here."
Irene listened, no longer feeling embarrassment.
"I see..." Although she said that, she was afraid of being indiscreet or untimely with her questions again, so there was some silence between the two of them.
Haruno knew this. Continuing to walk inside the festival, he wanted to have his turn to inquire.
"Tell me something, Irene." Calling her attention, both faces met again, looking into each other's eyes. Haruno was able to appreciate the mixed features of the traveler. Her face was beautiful, something he had not noticed before at all. "If it's no indiscretion on my part, what is the reason for your trip? Not for nothing do I think you're here, in such a small and obscure place, as you referred to it before. Here in a country that's so far away from your own."
Unlike the black-haired young man, she took in some air before answering. She would also need to gather inspiration to speak to him with energy, for it was something personal and important to her as well.
"I've been traveling around for a long time actually, almost ten months, for as long as you've been here. Besides wanting to get to know other cultures or people, I…"
She stopped, an embarrassed blush covering her cheeks. Haruno didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but she continued.
"It might be silly, but I'm in search of something. On my birthday, I received a present from my parents, which is this camera." She pointed to the object hanging from her neck. "I decided to go on this trip. And yes, I've come into contact with a lot of cultures, traveled several regions, and even made some new friends, but for some reason, I don't feel satisfied. Sometimes when I tell my reasons, people make fun or consider it to be weird. I don't know if I can make myself understood. Maybe it really is something strange, but I don't know how to explain this feeling."
Irene held her chest with some distress. Haruno listened attentively; inwardly, he had a feeling that he could understand what she was saying. Shaking his head, he gripped her shoulder supportively and shortened the distance between them. They stared at one another, feeling each other's warmth.
"What you're doing is admirable, Irene. What does it matter what others say? They don't know what you feel, so they wouldn't understand." Haruno squeezed her shoulder lightly. Looking into one another's eyes, they slowly brought themselves closer until he even smelled her perfume. That was not what hypnotized him, however, but her gaze full of determination that injected him with confidence. "Although many people would like to travel as you do, they can't. I think it's very brave. Not just anyone can travel to different places for ten months." He spoke about it as though he knew that same feeling of searching.
Irene little understood the moved feeling he managed to instill in her with his kind gesture and how comfortable it made her. She reciprocated his touch by resting her palm on his hand that held her shoulder.
She showed a huge smile, but not just with her lips or teeth, as her eyes projected gratitude and security towards Haruno too. He caught that energy, his lips curving a little more than before.
"I'll admit it, this is the first time someone has said something like that to me. Only my mom ever encouraged me to buy the plane tickets. Even if my dad doesn't quite agree, he helps me in some ways too." Moved, she remembered her supportive parents. Even from so far away, she felt them close. "I'm so grateful that someone outside of my own world can understand and wants to encourage me to follow what I feel. My journey has been worth it, after all."
Irene expressed elegantly with feeling, something perhaps rare, for she almost never spoke like that. It was as though the young man had an energy that invited her to do so.
"Don't be in a hurry if you don't want to tell me your reasons," she said. "I understand, and in the same way, I hope you can fulfill the goal of your trip, whatever it may be."
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Irene," Haruno said with sincerity.
Listening and understanding each other and not only because of the language, but sentimentality, made them feel supported and even safe in some way. Thus, they continued together. There was a connection there that made them not feel like strangers to one another. They felt so familiar that they were not afraid to express themselves to each other with their eyes or their gestures. They were not afraid to open up, despite having only known each other for a few hours and belonging to such different countries.
Likewise, that familiarity was not only felt by the two of them. As had been the case for quite some time, young and old residents of the town watched the pair. They didn't know if it was because they were foreigners or tourists.
Something about them gave the residents a strange feeling, but it was nice to see the pair walking among them...
The night was dark and somewhat cold. The clouds overshadowed the stars, and there was a somewhat chilly wind that could burn the cheeks, but it would not at all affect the seemingly never-ending festival.
Irene and Haruno walked and ran around everywhere, sweating, because of the agitated noise. Several times, their laughter from the fun caused them to double over. The one who was serious before showed much more glee than even he realized, but of course, he was still more calm compared to her, who held and hugged him from time to time to avoid falling due to their heavy laughter.
They integrated very well with the residents of the town, who on several occasions also invited them to play various games. They accepted like the other children.
Irene, sometimes forgetting herself, shouted and cursed in her own language, although for the others, it did not matter. She gave off such pleasant energy that those around her applauded her, encouraging her to continue participating. Haruno, in turn, was infected by that energy too. He was much more cautious, however. Although Irene did not stumble or even drink a drop of alcohol, seeming to be relatively calm, this young woman he had just met incited a protective instinct in him. Perhaps it was just a mere precaution of his since she was a woman traveling alone.
Of course, they accepted and ate whatever the locals offered. Irene also took advantage of every occasion to snap photos of things that she liked, of course including Haruno in them. The young pair caught their breath from time to time. The hours passed without them noticing until several yawns assaulted them and some booth tents closed.
"It looks like it's time to go, Irene."
Although they were both sitting on a wooden bench, she seemed to want to rest her face on Haruno's shoulder, as she was almost nodding off at his side. For a second, Haruno was tempted to tenderly take her head so that she would finally decide to lean on him. In the end, he didn't.
"What? But it's still too early," Irene said with a slight yawn, rubbing one of her eyes. "If you want, you can go and rest. I'll stay a little longer."
"But everyone is already leaving. You'll just be out here alone in the cold." Wanting to motivate her to leave, Haruno stood up and, as he did before, offered his hand to her. She only looked at him with tired eyes.
Irene suddenly felt a sharp pain in the soles of her feet. It hurt more than before when she arrived. Although she would have liked to get up to leave, which she was already considering doing, she wanted to try and stand without his help this time so as to concentrate on not thinking about the pain.
Haruno watched bewildered as she tried to support herself with wobbly legs. Could she be too tired to walk? She had been fine a while ago though. His thoughts were interrupted when Irene stumbled. Before she could fall on her knees, Haruno grabbed her, wrapping both his arms around her.
"Hey, are you okay?" A little worried, he could see that she stood on her tippy toes and her expression was wrought with pain. "Irene?"
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that my feet hurt a little."
It wasn't just a little though. They were killing her. She didn't think she would be able to take another step. Before she could say more, Haruno scooped her into his arms and started walking towards the inn.
"Ha-Haruno..." Irene barely processed that he was carrying her before she secured herself to his body by wrapping her arms around his neck.
"If I asked you, you would have refused for sure."
'Or at least I think so,' he thought.
"Well, yeah, because I'm sure you're very tired too."
"Take it as another courtesy. After all, we've spent the whole night together. It would be unforgivable to let you walk around like that, let alone leave you here alone." Haruno winked at her with a tender smile, which brought a small blush to her face. Though it may have been faint, it was very noticeable to him.
Feeling a little cold, Irene cuddled deeper into Haruno's chest. As she began to feel warmer, sleep gradually overtook her.
The walk was quite short, but for some reason, Irene would have liked for it to last longer, or at least for his company to have been prolonged. She hadn't realized it at first, but perhaps that was why she hadn't wanted to leave the festival earlier.
With her eyes closed, still in Haruno's arms, she sensed the warmth of the inn. They were already inside and soon they would have to part ways.
She was very comfortable, feeling as if a dashing prince was carrying her, almost like how her father used to do it with her when she was little. It had been so long since anyone had cuddled her like this in their strong chest. She felt like a princess, not wanting to wake up from the beautiful fairy tale, like the one they played in that puppet show. She remembered it with delight, along with how Haruno had translated for her.
Everything was silent. The receptionist seemed not to be present. She did not even bother to open her eyelids, as she felt very snug like that. Then the young man's footsteps went up some stairs, moving so slow that she suspected he was doing it so as not to wake her up or disturb her in any way. They were already in the hallway, which meant they would soon have to separate.
"Irene..." he whispered very quietly close to her face. She seemed to be asleep, though she wasn't quite yet. For a second, she wanted to pretend to be. "Irene, we're here. It's time to go to bed."
Not wanting to make him wait so long, she finally opened her eyes and blinked, trying to get rid of her drowsiness.
"For a second, I thought I was dreaming..." she muttered to herself.
"What?" He hadn't heard her and thought she was asking him something.
"Nothing..." Haruno held one of her arms and helped her stand up carefully before walking her to her room, knowing that her feet might still hurt. "Thank you, Haruno."
"You're welcome. It was a great pleasure spending this evening with you. The one who should be giving thanks is me."
"Of course not, you did so much for me today. You're so thoughtful."
"Will I see you tomorrow?" He deflected the conversation, wanting to make sure he would see her again. "After all, tomorrow is my last day here in la città perduta and also Italy and…"
"Sure! I'd love to spend the day with you from the start," she immediately said, completely willing to spend another night with Haruno and this time a morning and afternoon too. Although, she had a small sense of sadness, knowing that it would be her second but last day with him.
"Well, then. Good night, Irene," he said.
The sore traveler waited to receive a kiss on the cheek. That was how they greeted and said goodbye in Italy and many other countries. It did not come, however, as he only gave her a tiny smile. He could no longer sustain himself from the tiredness to generate any more contact.
"Good night." That was all she said when she saw his retreating back like the several times before, but now it had a different meaning, knowing that it wouldn't be the last time she saw him. She opened her door and went inside. As she closed it, she saw Haruno doing the same with his.
After closing her door, Irene leaned back against it and threw herself on the bed, extremely happy. Her feet could finally rest because she was about to sleep. But first, she needed to release some of her pent-up energy.
"He's such a gentleman!" She hugged one of the pillows excitedly.
Well, she couldn't fool herself. She had been charmed by the young man with straight black hair of semi-oriental appearance. It was a pity, though, that she would only see him for one more day.
It shouldn't matter. He wasn't the only person she had met on her entire trip; parting ways was normal. She had promised herself to focus mainly on her own goal: finding herself. Likewise, she was grateful for meeting him, as he helped her so much throughout the day. Seriously though, she couldn't help but be charmed by him.
With that thought, she unhooked her precious camera from her neck. Before going to sleep, she wanted to take another bath. However, when she was about to leave her device on the furniture, she immediately thought of everything she had experienced at that festival even before running into Haruno.
She turned on the screen of her camera, wanting to quickly see the photos she had taken that night at the fair; most of them showed Haruno, but there was also some of the locals, the children, and other decorations. She looked at each one carefully, as if she wanted to memorize the moments recorded for the rest of his life and relive them right there. However, in the last one Irene took, she saw a close-up of Haruno sitting with one hand supporting his cheek. Even she didn't remember taking it at all. Almost unconsciously, she wanted to admire him. Yes, he was handsome, and despite how messy he looked in the picture, he seemed adorable to her.
That alone had specifically caught her attention in the photo, but before she turned off the camera, something else caught her eye too. There was something behind Haruno; a bright bluish glow amidst all the icy gloom of the town's landscape.
Even in the distance, it seemed somewhat large. The structure was a little familiar. Maybe she had seen it before online, on brochures, or some articles when she was researching information on Italy.
Once she came to know about that place, she would make it one of her destinations. She wanted to learn about the thing that shone under the moonlight.
Irene would ask the next day.
The next day
The air blowed in a different direction as nature made its way; the birds echoed that it was the start of a new morning. Irene was already awake, with her body feeling more refreshed. She had opened the window a while ago and leaned on the frame, observing the quiet landscape. The few people in the square were so silent that the civilization's existence seemed to not at all overshadow the natural scenery of the whole area. It was as if she was still trapped in the past of the lost town, so rustic and beautiful.
Everything was so quiet, she sighed peacefully. Still a little sleepy, she hadn't taken off the bathrobe that covered her after her nice bath. She continued to fix her sight on certain ruins that since last night caught her attention thanks to that photograph she had taken. She could almost have sworn she had dreamed of the ruins and all that had happened at the festival the night before. Now that she saw the ruins under the light of the morning sun, she observed it much more clearly. It certainly wasn't the only one, as there seemed to be more of these ruins spread out over the landscape. The one she was looking at only seemed to be the closest to her.
She would go and find out if it was possible to explore those parts; learning more about their history was one of the most important parts of her trip.
Shivering a bit from the morning gusts, she decided to finally let go of the window and close it. With her skin prickling from the cold, all she could think about was getting something warm to drink. Now that she thought about it, had Haruno woken up yet? They had promised to spend the whole day together, and she imagined they would start by meeting over breakfast.
It was just her and her thoughts when she heard a couple of knocks on her door, startling her. She had in mind only the young man with black hair and slightly narrow eyes, but it could also be the man who attended that same inn.
Covering herself further with the bathrobe, she quickly went to the door and opened it to find the one she now believed she had summoned. He greeted her with an extremely serious face, but now looking at her with a slight curve on his lips.
"Irene, good morning." Haruno was elegant and simple in his way of dressing, not like at the festival when he was dressed loosely in a white shirt and brown pants.
"Haruno, how are you? Good morning."
She observed him discreetly. His clothes were more sober and even elegant; that simple detail combined well with his reserved personality, which was also projected in his outfit. Then she remembered that she had not even combed her hair. She narrowed the door, barely peeking out.
"I'm sorry to introduce myself this way. Give me a few minutes and I'll be right out." And without even letting him respond, she closed the door, causing his hair to flutter.
Haruno was a little surprised, having not even noticed that she was not ready yet. Thinking of her state of dress, a slight blush assaulted him when he recalled her bare legs and her very exposed chest through her light garment—or was it a bathrobe? Plus, her hair appeared to be damp.
Maybe it had been inopportune for him to knock on her door. Was it still too early? The time difference could still affect the girl as it had previously done to him, as people who had lived far away on totally different continents.
Feeling his face burn hot with embarrassment, he decided to leave. Maybe he should go back to his room and come back later. He did not want to rush her or make her uncomfortable by his unexpected arrival. The desire to be in each other's company all day had overtaken him very seriously.
Had he been too obvious? Now he regretted coming so soon.
With that thought, Haruno turned his body towards his door, intending to lock himself in and wait patiently for her, but then, the sound of her room's doorknob alerted him. He turned his gaze to see the door already opened, revealing a better-groomed Irene.
She was dressed somewhat similarly to the night of the festival, but now in a skirt and blouse while holding a purse.
'That was quick,' he thought.
"I'm ready now. Sorry for the delay," she said with more color in her skin and a sparkle in her eyes. He came closer.
"A moment ago, I was thinking I might have come too soon." He was sincere, as the lady seemed to be embarrassed that he saw her with only a bathrobe on. However, she quickly denied.
"It's not that. After taking a bath, before you knocked on my door, I was watching the scenery from my window and got distracted. I was the one who was late." Inwardly, she admitted to herself that she hadn't known what time of day the two of them would meet again. She was glad, though, that it was early in the morning before breakfast.
"I'm sorry anyway. It's not like a gentleman to rush a lady," he said.
That cheered Irene up somehow. His politeness was very pleasant.
Forgetting the matter, both left the inn as soon as possible to once and for all get their food. They were hungry and a little cold, so Haruno, being the one who knew the town better, led the way while Irene followed him, amazed by every corner of those beautiful cobblestone roads.
They hardly spoke. It was not that they felt uncomfortable, but Irene seemed to get distracted every now and then and Haruno let her wallow in her amazement. It was certainly not a long way, as his aquamarine eyes quickly caught sight of a place full of tables and chairs; small but cozy.
Irene soon felt her nostrils take in a sweet smell that almost made her feel like a hungry puppy about to drool. She loved sweet things, and for some reason, Haruno could guess that she would.
"It smells delicious." A bit flushed, maybe because of the morning sun or because of her excitement, Irene was already walking ahead. Haruno was following her closely.
"Good morning, come in. You're welcome inside." As soon as she saw the pair, a young woman invited them in with a beautiful smile. Although she already knew Haruno, knowing that they were both foreigners, she spoke in English as best she could.
"Thank you very much," Irene said cheerfully before taking a seat at a table with two chairs. Haruno only nodded politely and followed her.
"It's a nice place, isn't it?" He was not only referring to the almost empty restaurant, but about her excitement on their way there.
"It is! When I arrived, it was already nighttime, so I barely had time to get ready and enjoy the festival. I'm surprised how quiet it is here, not like in the city."
"It is very rustic here, but it is also recommended for people who need therapeutic treatment. The natural environment is very present around here, so you'll probably love your whole stay."
"Hello, sorry for the delay. My name is Atroe, and I will be the one to attend you today." A young woman with light blue eyes and an apron arrived, sweet and polite. "Would you like to order right now, or would you just like something to drink?"
"I would like to order now," Irene said without hesitation. She was really hungry; breakfast was important to her.
"Me too," Haruno answered in the same way.
"Well, I can offer you..." The waitress pulled out a wooden board with a printed paper that was the menu on it. It was not much compared to other restaurants, but it was sufficient. They even had a section for traditional local dishes and Italian food in general.
Irene carefully looked at each option. The prices were not excessive at all, which again showed her that they received almost no tourists.
Haruno, without delay, ordered himself a soup and a flavored water for both that they had agreed on. The waitress called Atroe noted it calmly.
"Well, what would you like to eat, miss?" she asked Irene. She was not sure, so she ordered the same as Haruno with the addition of a slice of chocolate cake. He was happy for some reason.
"Excellent, I'll bring you your order right away." Not wanting to delay, the waitress left, leaving them alone. There was really no one else but them and a couple of others in the background that looked like residents.
"I don't know why, but I was almost sure you would choose the cake. It's really good," Haruno said, making Irene laugh. "I'm not a big fan of sweets, but the desserts here are something special."
"Surely, or maybe you guessed it from the pastry you bought me yesterday." Putting a hand on her cheek, she smiled at him.
"It could be..." he said, also smiling. As the wind swayed their hair, both looked at each other without noticing the icy gust. Their noses reddened due to the cold, but it didn't seem to matter.
It was curious perhaps, why after only one night of knowing each other, they felt so comfortable with one another. They did not feel obliged to talk about something deep or anything like that. It could be that being the only outsiders there, they felt comfortable sharing something together within that town.
"Excuse me!" Atroe came, interrupting them. "There have been a lot of winds lately. Sorry if it bothered you." She closed the window near them, which neither of them had noticed. And without meaning to, Irene could see those ruins again. She had not noticed them before, maybe because of her hunger, but now, the desire to go there overcame her again.
"Miss, a question!" Without warning, she called the attention of the waitress, also surprising Haruno.
"Yes?" Approaching them, the blue-eyed one thought Irene sought trouble.
"Those ruins, what are they?"
The other two were surprised with the sudden question. Atroe turned to look at what Irene was referring to before turning back to her.
"It's said that these are the ruins of what was once the kingdom of our people. I don't know how much you know about our history, but legend says that ten thousand years ago, it was a huge kingdom and this town was just a small part of what was once the citadel."
Irene listened attentively, from time to time looking out the large window of the small restaurant.
"The ruins are also a tourist attraction, but it's recommended to go with a guide. No one really knows what might be inside. Some say it could be the sleeping princess or some mythological monster. Parents like to tell their children who sleep late that the monster will come for them."
Irene was surprised and, at the same time, amused by the last fact. That was a classic technique used by parents with their children; it was interesting to see how they integrated their culture and stories in it.
"Of course, I doubt there is anything in there, other than more ruins, of course. If you're interested in going, we have information about some guides here that can help satisfy your curiosity," said Atroe with a charming smile to Irene.
"Thank you very much, Atroe. We will tell you if we require one," Haruno said. He had gone ahead and answered because now he seemed interested in the great fascination Irene showed toward the place covered with vegetation and stones.
"Excuse me, I'll bring your orders." The waitress nodded and left.
Watching her leave, Haruno turned his attention to Irene, who seemed quite lost. Her gaze seemed far away, but he was almost sure that her attention was on what was displayed through the glass, that which was perhaps once a castle.
"I didn't know you were so interested in going there." He didn't have to say anything more to snap her out of her trance. She seemed to be a little embarrassed.
"I wasn't before. But then last night, I was looking through the pictures I took with my camera and it's like it suddenly lit up. I don't know, it sounds silly. Anyway, I'm here to learn. I'm willing to explore every nook and cranny, even going all the way down there to find out if the monster exists," she said wryly, laughing at her own joke. Haruno looked at her, only somewhat amused.
"Then I'll go with you."
Surprised by his words, Irene blushed for some reason.
"What? Really?"
"Yeah, sure, if you don't have a problem with going today. It's my last day here, and that's the only place I haven't visited, even though I've been here for quite some time."
"Actually, I was thinking of going today too. Of course, I would have asked you first since we agreed to spend the day together."
"Don't worry, I didn't have a specific plan anyway, if I'm honest," he said, winking at her. Irene was elated. "I'll ask Atroe to give us information on a guide."
Haruno was about to raise his hand and call out to the said woman when Irene, to his surprise, grabbed his other hand and held it a little tightly.
"Wait, I don't want a guide."
Her seriousness puzzled the black-haired man. He immediately lowered his hand, arching an eyebrow.
"Are you sure? It could be risky."
"We're not venturing through some jungle full of tigers. Besides, the lady said it was only advisable. I don't intend on doing anything more than visiting it from the outside, that's all."
As she let go of his hand, Haruno was thoughtful. Maybe Irene wanted a more personal visit. It wouldn't be so strange since she had traveled from so far away by herself to Italy, to this town.
"I don't know. Even if it is a tourist attraction, without someone to guide us, we could get lost."
"But it looks so close from here. If you want, we can take a map or something." Wanting to persuade him, Irene took out her cell phone and quickly searched for something. "Look, I have experience taking these kinds of trips without a guide. I always inform myself before going anywhere."
She showed him her screen, which displayed a road, their possible arrival time, and the nearest routes. Haruno could see that it wouldn't even take twenty minutes to get there. From some photos, their path looked like a forest road, but it was clear enough for tourists.
"It would be like a walk in a park," she said.
Despite the somewhat stilted example, she somehow managed to convince him. He would look up the information himself on his own phone later, but from what Irene showed him, the journey they would need to take seemed pretty straightforward.
"All right, but we'll go with great care and caution." The good thing, Haruno thought, was that he would accompany her.
The young waitress finally arrived with the food for the pair of foreigners. Irene happily commented how delicious the food looked and tasted, especially the slice of cake Haruno had mentioned before. The black-haired man, however, ate in silence, thinking about what he would take for the little trip with his friend.
To tell the truth, the intrigue about those ruins managed to catch on, but above all was his fascination with Irene's curiosity and fearless way of wanting to go.
Quite some time passed. Irene finished putting on her boots, which would be useful for walking and crossing the vegetation they would soon be entering. Standing in the door frame of his room, Haruno waited for her, leaning back with his arms crossed. He was ready, dressed almost the same way as her aside from a small backpack filled with contingency supplies and travel utensils that he carried.
Minutes before, he had verified the information about those ruins on his phone. It stated that taking a guide was only a recommendation, that it was nothing dangerous in itself. Despite still being a little unconvinced, he wanted to believe in the information and in Irene.
"I'm ready! Let's go." As if running short on time, Irene didn't even wait for her companion to answer her or step up beside her. He couldn't imagine how excited she was to see those piles of stones. He was excited too, of course, but his level didn't seem to match hers.
"Yes, but don't go so fast. We have all day."
Following her closely, they left the inn again, now heading in a different direction. It took very little time to arrive at the town's exit, where they could see a road that led to their destination. It was just as it looked like on the internet, but now they were seeing it better. Fortunately, it really did not seem so far away from where they stood. At least the stones closest to them, referred to as ruins, were just what Irene wanted to go and see.
Moving away from the slight bustle of the town residents and now listening only to nature more closely, they perceived certain songs of some birds and the leaves of the huge trees clashing together thanks to the wind that has been blowing. It was a very pleasant atmosphere, without a doubt, in part due to the tall trunks that shaded them from the sun.
Their bodies, that perhaps would have been tense, were already quite relaxed in such a beautiful scenery and pleasant atmosphere. Haruno, who had been most worried about the lack of a guide, felt his fears crumble.
"It's really nice here." Irene, who was in front of him, breathed in the natural air. It was fresh. They felt as if there was no town or civilization nearby. It felt very special, as if it was just a city in ruins before the winds, with the sun's rays shining and watching over every surface.
"How come I didn't come here sooner?" Haruno thought aloud, arriving at the same time as Irene. "It seems that we are almost here."
Irene looked to where he referred, and indeed, they slowly realized how big it really was. Excited, she went on her way, without thinking or waiting for him.
"Irene, wait!" He wanted to take her hand or arm to follow carefully, but she sped up her pace.
"Come on, Haruno!" she said as if she were a stubborn child. Stubborn she was from what he could see. He followed her, almost running.
As he trotted along and saw Irene's back slowly getting closer, he worried that she might have tripped over a stone or something. That desire to protect her suddenly overcame him, making him feel a sort of déjà vu. But in what way? The sweet, flowery wind hit his face as his legs nimbly dodged any obstacle in his way. Feminine laughter flooded and penetrated him in such a familiar way, while at the same time mixing with the sound of the wind. He felt that he had already lived through something like this, going after a woman of slender build whose emotion was contagious in a certain way, although his concern and reason to protect her was greater.
"Irene, wait for me!" Seconds before, he thought he was about to catch up with her, but she ran even faster until she almost disappeared from his sight. "Irene!"
"Haruno, look!"
He could hear her calling out to him from the distance. It seemed she had gotten a closer look at what she longed to see.
She would reach the ruins first, that was for sure. It wasn't that it was a race or anything, but for some reason, he was very afraid of losing sight of her. The branches and trees that surrounded them didn't help much. From time to time, he would be unable to see her. Only thanks to her footsteps and laughter could he keep up with her, but only barely.
"Irene, I said wait for me!" Getting tired of her foolishness, he decided that as soon as he arrived at the ruin, he would rest and take a breath before scolding her for her reckless and dangerous action. Everything may be very quiet, but it was still an unknown place for them.
A little while later, he could no longer see her. He could only hear the noise of the plants crunching, not knowing if it was because of him or because of her.
"Irene..." he called out, taking the last steps to finally climb up and reach the desired place. He expected to find her there looking at the ruins like a little girl in an amusement park. But when he finally stepped on one of those rocks that once constituted the supposed castle, he did not see her. He went around the place, hoping to see her panting after having run so much. "Irene?" He kept calling for her, hoping to see her on the other side, but when he could not reach her, he began to feel scared. She had only wanted to come right here, so where did she go? "Irene!"
He began to get more and more desperate. His chest rose and fell, not only from tiredness, but because of his increasing stress and worry for Irene.
"Irene!" Calling her louder and louder, his echo seemed to make it clear to him that she was no longer near him, though that could not be possible.
Looking towards a pile of rocks and vines covered in very green leaves, he could see that they hid something that looked like a door. It had a hole-like entrance that was filled with many more stones.
Had she gone that way? Although he tried with his hands to make his way through the stones and other plants, he simply could not. There was no way she could have been able to enter either.
Frightened, there was only one thing left to do...
"Irene!"