Chapter 27: Piggy Tales & Quiet Thoughts
Oswin emerged from the water, droplets cascading off his body as he took a deep breath. The river wasn't too wide, nor too narrow—just average, flowing steadily with clear, cool water.
He dove back in, letting the chill embrace him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't in pain, wasn't struggling to survive—just floating, weightless, his body finally allowed some relief.
"Damn, it feels fucking good to relax in a cold pool of water," Oswin muttered, his voice half-lost in the river's gentle current. "This river is a god's blessing. Or should I say… a spirit's blessing?"
He let out a short laugh at his own terrible joke. Not because it was funny, but because he needed to. He needed something to cut through the stress tightening his chest.
The water felt good against his skinless arms. Instead of the usual discomfort of air against raw flesh, the cold water soothed it. It felt right. Almost like his body was supposed to be submerged.
Oswin frowned at that thought but shook it off. He wasn't about to start questioning the one good thing happening to him.
"If I follow this river, I should reach the settlement," he reasoned. "Settlements are built close to rivers, right? Or at least there'll be some signs of activity near the banks."
It was a solid plan. The settlers had to be nearby. He had no idea how much farther he had to go, but at least now he had a clear direction.
"But before heading out, I'll stay here a little longer," Oswin muttered, stretching his arms above his head. "I love it here."
With that, he took another deep breath and plunged back into the river. The cool water enveloped him, muffling the sounds of the world above. Down here, everything was peaceful—no scorching heat, no aching body, no raw flesh stinging against the air. Just silence, weightlessness, and the gentle current carrying him along.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself relax.
***
Aria walked alongside Arthur, taking in the strange sights of the settlement. She had only been with him for a few hours, but he had already grown on her. His gossipy nature and lighthearted attempts to cheer everyone up made him an easy companion, and she found herself appreciating his presence more than she had expected.
It was unusual, though, that he was spending his free time with her. Arthur was a member of the Church, just like Ignis. He should have been with her. But instead, he was here, walking through the settlement with her as if they were old friends. Not that she minded. His playful nature made their time together feel less like a chore and more like an escape from the heaviness of everything around them.
They passed by several of the huts, many of which were simple and humble in design, much like the one Aria had been assigned. Wooden walls reinforced with mud, furnished with basic but functional furniture. It was clear that the settlers lived simply, but there was a sense of community in everything. It felt oddly comforting.
Arthur's voice buzzed in Aria's mind, as he cheerfully continued his gossip about the settlement. His tone was light, almost playful, trying to lift the mood between them.
"So, did you know that the pigs here have a really strange habit? They seem to only eat certain types of leaves, and not just any—only the ones that grow near the old barn by the river. It's as if they're picky eaters, but then again, pigs are always a bit strange, aren't they?"
Aria half-smiled, feeling a bit of the weight on her chest lift as Arthur's words filled the silence. She appreciated how effortlessly he made the bleakness around them seem a little less oppressive. His constant talking about little oddities in the settlement was oddly comforting, like a distraction from everything else.
But despite the light tone of their conversation, a small part of Aria remained melancholic, a quiet heaviness in her heart that Arthur seemed to sense. His voice in her mind softened, a shift in his usual gossipy nature.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked, his concern coming through clearly even though he didn't speak a word–at least physically.
Aria hesitated, unsure if she wanted to burden him with her thoughts. But the words flowed from her mind anyway.
"It's just... anybody here, at any time, could be taken in by the fiends to be experimented on," she shared, her voice quiet even though it was only in thought. There was a vulnerability in opening up like this, but for some reason, she felt safe sharing it with Arthur.
Arthur gently grabbed Aria's hand, his grip warm and steady. He could sense the weight of her thoughts, the quiet anxiety that lingered beneath her words. He didn't say anything for a moment, just gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, silently offering his support.
"Let's go to the place where the farm tools are made. You know, the tools here are mostly crafted from wood, rocks, and copper. It's an interesting place to check out. Maybe you'll find something you could do there."
Aria nodded, her thoughts clear. "I suppose we should go. Maybe I could see what job would suit me there."
She allowed her thoughts to meld with his, sharing a brief glimpse of her own curiosity. It wasn't just about the tools—it was about finding her place in this strange world, making herself useful.
Arthur seemed to pick up on her shared intention, his energy only growing as he practically dragged her toward the workshop. His pace quickened, eager to show her the place. It was clear he was excited to share this part of the settlement with her, though it also felt like he was trying to distract her, knowing her melancholy hadn't completely lifted.
"Come on, it's this way!" Arthur's excitement practically radiated, as he pulled Aria along with him through the winding paths of the settlement.