Volume 1. Chapter 21: The Road to the Western Temple. Part 2

Lily and Ken finally stepped out of the house, bathed in the soft light of early morning. The fresh air was invigorating, promising a clear, sunny day - which was especially welcome given the long journey ahead. Lily glanced back at the house, as if checking to make sure everything was in order and that she hadn’t forgotten anything, then turned to Ken.“Before we leave, I need to stop by the neighbors’,” she said. “They’re the closest family we stay in touch with. Sometimes they help me when I can’t be home.”Ken nodded with interest, listening attentively.“They’re the Pur family,” Lily continued. “The father’s name is Rudolf, and the mother’s name is Anna. They have three daughters.”Ken smiled, imagining this family.“The eldest, Martha, was my best friend,” Lily added, her voice growing a little quieter. “But she left for the city six months ago, and I haven’t seen her since. Sometimes she sends letters home, but neither Rudolf nor Anna can read or write.”“Wait… really?” Ken was surprised. He fell silent, realizing how natural reading and writing had always been for him.“Yes, it’s pretty common in our village,” Lily replied. “There are special people who write letters for others. They write down what you say, and then postal workers deliver them.”Ken, deep in thought, suddenly smiled, remembering something from his world.“Sounds like the job of Violet Evergarden,” he said.“Violet… Evergarden?” Lily frowned. “Who’s that?”He froze for a second, realizing he was going to have to explain.“Well, she’s a character… In my world, we have stories that are shown on…” He almost said “screens” but stopped himself, realizing that would mean nothing to Lily. “Anyway, Violet is a girl who writes letters for people and helps them express their feelings through words.”Lily’s brow furrowed slightly, her eyes becoming thoughtful - and in them, something else flickered, subtle but unmistakable.“Uh-huh, so you know this Violet pretty well, huh?” she said, trying to sound indifferent, but her voice betrayed her.Ken noticed her discomfort and, as usual, didn’t miss the chance to tease her.“Of course, I know her. Violet is really… sweet, kind. She has incredible patience with people and makes them happy. Even though she’s not from my world, we kinda… became close,” he added with a playful smile.Lily took a small step back, looking at him with a mix of surprise and suspicion.“Really? You two… became close?” she repeated, her voice trembling slightly with a hint of jealousy. “And why do I get the feeling you know way too much about this Violet?”Ken burst out laughing, enjoying her flustered and annoyed expression.“Lily, are you jealous?” he asked, clearly entertained, knowing full well she’d try to deny it - even if it were true.Lily’s face instantly turned scarlet, her lips pressing into a thin line.“I am not… No, of course not!” she blurted, turning away, but her cheeks betrayed her. “It’s just weird how much you talk about her…”Ken chuckled, pretending to consider her words.“You know, Lily, if it’s that important to you, I can swear I’ve never seen her in real life,” he said, looking her straight in the eyes.Lily turned back to him, her expression a mix of confusion and cautious hope, a small glint of relief appearing in her eyes.“Really? You just made her up?” she asked skeptically.“In a way, yeah.” Ken shrugged. “She’s from my world, but… how do I put it? She’s not real, just a character. So, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”Lily visibly relaxed, and in her eyes, there was a barely noticeable spark of joy.