Chapter 255: Side Quest: Dulce de Leche

There wasn’t a better time in all the year to visit Leche. It was the tail end of spring, and the warm sun played as the perfect counterbalance to the cool wind. A gentle breeze caught the reeds of wheat, blowing specks of golden brown into the air.

Lara ran through the wheat field, her golden-blonde hair billowing behind her. Wind was happy today—happier than usual, in fact. As Destiny trailed behind in hopes of catching her sister, Lara occasionally caught the whispers of Wind advising her of where Destiny was next.

Of all the Elements, Lara got along with Wind the best. Wind was fickle but valued beauty, competency, and speed. Lara liked to run a lot, so Wind was often by her side when she and Destiny played games together.

“Left,” a wispy, feminine voice whispered. Lara looked over her shoulder. Between the gaps of reeds was Destiny’s figure. Despite Wind’s advice, Destiny had closed the distance—goodness, was she fast. “Hurry,” the voice encouraged.

“Okay!” Lara cried back.

“Are you talking to yourself again?” Destiny’s voice asked as it grew more and more distant.

Lara’s trait was a unique one, eliciting furrowed brows and concerned murmurs. To her knowledge, all catgirls were blessed with an affinity for an Element. Determining one’s Element was never an exact science, and from what she’d been told, discovering your affinity was cause for celebration. So, why wasn’t anyone celebrating that Lara could speak to all of them?

“I’m gonna getcha!” Destiny cried. Her voice was getting closer.

Wind was beginning to lose her patience. “As I said, left.”

Lara frowned. Despite Wind’s solid advice and admiration for Lara’s penchant for running, Wind was also exceptionally impatient. Lara didn’t need to see her to know she was irritated. But Lara didn’t have Destiny’s stamina, and her breathing soon came in rasps.

A breathy sigh filled Lara’s ears as she folded them against her head in shame.

“I gotcha!” Destiny’s tiny arms wrapped around Lara’s torso, binding her arms to her sides. “Destiny’s suplex special!”

As strong as she was, Destiny could never quite pull off the suplex she was so enamored with. Lara fell to the side, and the sisters rolled and rolled, bulldozing reed after reed. They came to a stop on their left side, Destiny’s arms still firmly clamped around Lara. Their laughter filled the air, and soon Lara forgot all about the disappointed Wind.

“Mmm,” Lara hummed, basking in the warm sun with her sister. She bent her arms back, clamping Destiny’s arms against her chest. All felt right with the world. “I could sleep.”

“Huh? Ya just woke up from a nap an hour ago. It’s time to play!” said Destiny. “Oh! I know!” She let go and sprung up like a spring. Lara couldn’t fathom how her sister had so much energy. “Let’s go see Mom!”

Lara sat up, yawning. She massaged the bridge of her nose. It was becoming harder to leave the comfortable bed of wheat with every second that passed.

“Okay,” Lara murmured.

“C’mon, sleepyhead! Let’s go!”

The wheat fields parted as Lara and her sister returned home. Destiny led the way, as usual, pausing and slowing down when Lara needed it. At moments like these, Destiny had to be careful not to lose Lara. Too easy was it for Destiny’s ambitions to get the best of her, often leaving Lara lost to herself. Despite being twins, Destiny often took it upon herself to act as the older sister—something Lara was grateful for.

Leche was a small village reputed for its farmland. It was off the main road and served as a hub for novelty food and spices. Citizens of Anyona and Catania served as Leche’s most common customers, often praising Leche for its unique ingredients and peculiar tastes seen nowhere else on Shi Island. 

Destiny and Lara came to a stop just outside of the wheat field, Destiny throwing her arms into the air. “Who’s the fastest?”

“You’re the… the fastest,” Lara wheezed. Beads of sweat sparkled in the sunlight as she looked up at her sister, envy in her chest for the girl with limitless energy. “Can… can we nap now?”

“Wha?” Destiny spun on her heel to face Lara. “No way! We’re just startin’! Now we run to Mom!”

But I’m so tired.

Lara knew it was pointless to put up a fight when Destiny wanted to run. At the very least, Mom wouldn’t be far away now. With Leche being the smallest village on Shi Island, its population reflected that. It was a quaint town where the residents worked hard, played hard, and everyone knew one another.

“Destiny! Lara!”

Destiny turned around before running off into the distance. Another girl, Samantha, beckoned to the sisters. She sported cropped chocolate-brown hair and caramel eyes. Her skin was slightly tanned by the sun. If there was someone who could give Destiny a run for her money, it was Samantha.

Samantha carried a spunk not unlike her sister. She and Destiny got along like they’d known each other their whole lives. Of all the catgirls in Leche, Samantha was Destiny’s favorite to play with—well, barring Lara, of course.

“I’ll race ya!” Samantha said, her hands balled into fists on her waist. The sunlight captured the outline of her body, creating an imposing figure. Imposing to Lara, anyway.

“You won’t beat me!” Destiny cheered, dashing off like the blue blur she was. Lara counted herself lucky that Samantha managed to grab Destiny’s attention. This meant Lara could sneak off for a bit to relax, maybe grab a cool glass of nyapple cider.

While Destiny and Samantha raced each other between houses, Lara found solace beside her mother. With all the enthusiasm of a zombie, she wobbled her way over until finally resting against her mother’s side.

“Oh, goodness!” her mother exclaimed as she finished hanging one of the shirts on the clothesline. Wind blew against the clothes, eager to be rid of Water. Lara listened to Wind and Water argue while Misty—Lara’s mother—ran her hand across Lara’s head, scratching her scalp periodically. Lara wanted so desperately to fall asleep like this. “Did Destiny run you through the wringer again?”

“Mhm,” Lara muttered as she snuggled against Misty’s long skirt.

Like many who lived in Leche, Misty was a hardworking woman. She was strong, fast, reliable, everything Destiny was and everything Lara wasn’t. If it weren’t for Lara’s facial structure, Lara would’ve guessed Misty wasn’t her mother. Destiny and Mom were practically twins, yet Lara had somehow ended up with golden hair and a poor constitution. Her mother had stressed she was just as unique as Destiny, attributing her golden hair to Lara’s father.

At times, Lara sure didn’t feel special.

“Excuse me,” came a voice behind the clothesline. Lara and Misty looked up to see a catgirl who wore exquisite clothes. The dress was long and black, made of a decorated material Lara couldn’t put a name to. Frills of white billowed from beneath the skirt while buttons of ornate copper held the dress firmly together. The woman parted one sheet away from her face while she spoke. “Are you Misty?”

Misty tilted her head. “I am. What can I do you for?”

The older woman’s nose wrinkled. “My name is Liz. You can explain to me why an order of wheat was infested.”

“Infested? I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” said Misty. She gestured for Lara to sit on a nearby stump—the remainder of the nyapple tree Mom had cut just days ago.

“Of course you don’t,” said Liz. She neared, parting the clothes as she grew closer. Lara couldn’t help but think the hat and net combo she wore on her head wasn’t doing any favors for her greying hair. “Look. I’ll explain slowly so you can understand.”

Lara’s heart sped as Misty crossed her arms, frowning. “I’m listening,” said Misty.

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“Why does my wheat have bugs in it?” asked the older catgirl.

“That couldn’t have been ours,” Misty retorted. “We check our deliveries inside and out before we send them.”

Liz threw her arms into the air in frustration. “Look, is there someone else I can talk to? Someone who might understand better?”

“I manage the wheat packaging, so no. You don’t have to take that tone with me, by the way. I understand you plenty fine, ma’am.”

“Apparently not! I did not order a swarm with my wheat!” Liz’s voice rose rapidly, and soon Lara fidgeted with her fingers and toes.

“Yes, I agree,” said Misty. “But I don’t appreciate your tone. If you would tell me what—”

“I want you to fix it! Do you not understand that?” The older woman shook her head in disbelief, hands on her hips. Lara didn’t quite catch it, but she knew she heard the words ‘Leche’ and ‘idiots.’

“I don’t appreciate your word choice. Can you please—” Misty started.

“No. No, I’ve had quite enough. I do not want any more business with your kind.” The woman turned to leave, but Misty caught her arm. Liz looked down at her grip as if she regarded a wretched insect. “Let go of me.”

“We got off on the wrong foot,” Misty said calmly. “Can we please start over?”

“What’s there to start over?” Liz shook Misty’s hand away. “I required your assistance in receiving a refund of Bells for the wheat batch you botched, yet here I receive nothing but resistance!”

“Ma’am, I have been very—” Misty tried again.

“And I am constantly interrupted! This is why Leche is doomed! None of you understand even a speck of decency!” She waved her hand in front of her, nearly hitting Misty. It was a good thing Misty had such strong reflexes. “When I return—”

Lara blinked, and suddenly Destiny had latched herself onto the older woman’s forearm!

“Get off of me, you wretch!” The woman screamed and shook Destiny off of her with ease. She backed away like she’d been attacked by a wild Encroacher, shaking her arm with wide eyes.

“Destiny!” Misty yelled, grabbing her daughter by the arm. “Why did you do that?” She pulled her closer. “Answer me!”

Destiny pouted, averting her gaze. 

“Apologize to Miss Liz,” Misty demanded.

“But… she was bein’ mean to ya,” Destiny whimpered.

“The girl can’t even speak properly,” the woman muttered.

“Alright. We’re done here,” said Misty. “You can leave, Miss Liz.”

“You’re just going to throw me away like that? I’ll have you know—”

“I’m sure you have a plethora of answers for illiterate people like us. But I don’t care.” Misty pointed over the hill in the distance. “Now, please leave.”

Liz passed looks between Misty, Lara, and Destiny. “This isn’t the end of this. Mark my words. One day this village will become the dirt it sits upon.”

The woman walked away, muttering all kinds of colorful words Lara didn’t understand. Lara rushed to Destiny’s side, gentle hands on her shoulder.

“Sister, why did you do that?” Lara asked.

“She was pickin’ on Mom. She was gonna hit her,” said Destiny.

“Destiny,” Misty started. Destiny locked eyes with her mom. “Please don’t do that again. Do you understand?” Destiny slowly nodded. “We don’t attack people like that. Trust me.” Misty smiled and lowered her voice. “Besides, between the two of us, she would’ve been the one to go down.”

Lara took Destiny’s hand. The two glanced at one another, half-smiles decorating their features.

Misty offered a warm smile. “Now. Why don’t the two of you go relax? The butterflies should be coming in soon.”

Destiny and Lara’s features lit up immediately. The Watching was Leche’s favorite time of the year. Of all the cities and towns on Shi Island, Leche was proud to receive the largest passing of the little creatures. Waves of blues and violets would fill the skies in the shapes of butterflies while Leche’s residents watched in awe.

Destiny gasped, pointing to the top of Lara’s head. “You got a friend!”

Lara gently swept her hand over the top of her head. The tiny body of a butterfly stopped her from making any sudden movements. When the gentle legs crawled upon her skin, she pulled her hand level to her face to see a purple butterfly stretching its wings on the top of her hand. Lara smiled wide and giggled.

There was truly no place like Leche.

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