Glancing around the dark surroundings, there were no other Hyacinthums other than the ones up above, which was a bit of a shame. I would have to remember this location and return to it some other day; preferably tomorrow, given how ripe they are. Perhaps it would be best to pick them on Sunday, or early Monday morning, so they are as fresh as they can be when I bring them to the shop. Although, these flowers will not have a long straight stem to go along with them, since they were blooming along the winding vines rather than the ivy branching across the forest floor.
“They always seem to bloom a certain number before they stop spreading altogether.”
“Don’t want to spread their resources too thin, right?”
“Mm, that wouldn’t be a problem. All types of ivy are generally able to root themselves wherever they spread and crowd out the rest of the competition. But this one just doesn’t do that to the extent of the others.”
Checking the forest floor one last time, under the constellation of the glow orbs, I did not see any flowers. I leaned forward a bit and squinted, peering into the shadows just to be sure. It appeared as if the blooms above took up the entire capacity of this cluster. That is, if the plant functioned in such a manner.
“Well, on our way, then.” I straightened, turning to face a wryly grin.
“That’s quite metaphorical, isn’t it? I can think of plenty of human ivy.”
“…? Oh, I see.” With a short breath, I chuckled along. “Well… if you look hard enough, there’s a plant for everything.”
“Took you a bit, there,” she ribbed
“Yes, sorry.” And we continued with our walk.
“Do you write a lot? ”
“No, not really.”
“Then what do you do with all your alone time?”
“I read.”
“Over and over?”
“Pardon?”
“The same books?”
“Mm… Some of them. I purchase new books from time to time.”
“Oh, right.”
Under the hazy light, I saw a patch of white or yellow Honeysuckles, a lovely flower to point out. But just as I raised my arm and opened my mouth, Sophia shot me another query.
“Not even a journal?”
“A—Huh?”
“Some of my old friends who live out in the middle of nowhere would keep a journal to themselves.”
“Oh. No.”
She continued her blabber. “Seemed like something lonely people would do.”
“No, I don’t have one.”
“Sorry, not lonely. Solitary. Solitary people. Keep themselves talkin’ to somebody, even if it’s themselves.”
“I don’t really feel that way, I suppose. I have Abbey… and—” The tip of my boot glanced off a root or something, sending me into a bit of a stumble.
Sophia laughed. “Chat with a cat, you say?!”
“And I have a friend who stops by every week for a chat.” I kept my gaze down on the ground, seeing a few more roots dimly illuminated.
“Ah. That’s good to hear.”
“I still practice, I suppose.”
“Practice what? Chattin’?”
“Writing.”
“Ah! What about?”
“Little stories I wish to remember.”
“Really?! So you do write journals?”
“Are they? They’re not, like… real.”
“Oh. So, fantasies.”
“Just so often.”
“What’ll you do with them?”
“Well… Nothing particular.”
“Nothing? You won’t share them or anything?”
“If you want to see them, you’re welcome to.”
“But not like, publish them?”
“Oh, no.” We were back to this. “They’re nothing that polished.”
“Oh! What matter does that make?”
I looked up. “Besides, women aren’t allowed to publish?”
She turned her head and blinked. “Really? They’re not?! Why?!”
“It’s not a written rule. And I think there are some women who still do it, but you pretty much have to give up your writing or adopt a pseudonym.”
“Wha…” she stammered. “W-why?”
“Sells better. Who would risk taking on a female author?”
“Really? I’ve never heard of such a thing! I’ll have to ask George sometime.”
It seemed like her time away from the city really insulated her from the complexities of society. “There’s always been quite a disparity in publishing. Just like everywhere else, for that matter.”
“Well, that seems like a problem, right?”
I shrugged. “It is not my duty to have an opinion.”
“Wh—” With a flail of an arm, Sophia thoroughly expressed her difference. “What? But that’s…” she stuttered, before, abruptly, regaining her voice. “I’m sorry, but that’s the stupidest response you could have given!”
For an instant, the forest fell silent. I held my breath and instinctively braced myself as her emphasis rang loud and clear. If any animal did lurk nearby, they would have surely been stirred.
“Of course everyone has an opinion! And not voicing it just leads to your own demise!”
I stared at her shadowed face, taken aback by this response. The orbs floated by, unphased.
“You’ve got to assert yourself, Elisa! Show them your worth! I mean… I haven’t seen your writing, but from the way you talk, it probably isn’t that far off!”
“… I… but I don’t want to… appear as a complete loudmouth, either.”
“The only way to get things done is to be loud!” She flailed both arms this time, though a bit playfully. There was a hint of a smile, as though she was laughing at herself for being so over the top. “Those men who sit high up the hill, they can’t see us! They can’t even hear us! Not unless we shout! We’d be nothing but the squeak of a mouse if we don’t scream and shout!”
“…”
“So I say you do it! And if they won’t let you, speak out about it! Shout about it! Is it really not your opinion that this is wrong?!”
“Fine!” I exasperated, a little louder than I wished. My hands sprung up, begging her to yield. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Fine… I will have an opinion… But publishing a book… it really is the lowest of my priorities… just not worth the effort…”
“Really, don’t let these men depreciate you! Or depre… deprec… Whatever that word was you used. It doesn’t help the rest of us, either!”
I blankly stared ahead into the darkness. Mute for a good moment. “… Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Okay. Fair enough. I see your point… But… screaming is just not my way of doing things.”
Sophia nodded. “I’m not asking you to curse or be an absolute witch like me. But being quiet and pleasing won’t get you far.” She clenched a fist in front of her. “You need to be forceful when making your point loud and clear.”
I evasively nodded along, carefully choosing what I should say next. We clearly were not coming to an agreement, and I did not wish to continue the conversation any longer. I watched the ground roll beneath me, avoiding her gaze. Perhaps a comment about how overgrown this path was from all the roots, although that was too obvious of a shift. Then, I realised the mindlessness of my steps and looked around, no longer able to recognise this part of the forest under the shroud of darkness.
“Ah. We should turn back at some point. I’m not familiar with these parts.”
“Oh.” Her response was detached, but contained a hint of disappointment. “… Right.”
Turning on our heels, the walk back was mostly silent, our conversation swallowed by midnight chirps. Fortunately, being a single-tract path, we made it back to familiar parts of the forest without any trouble. I gave the Hyacinthums one last glance as we passed them by once more. In retrospect, I realised we did not walk too far from the cottage. Only a few minutes and we were back where we started. As the clearing came back into sight, Sophia slowed to a stop. I halted a few steps ahead, glancing back.
“Mm?”
She seemed speechless. There was a twist of horror in her expression that brought a chill down my spine. Finally, she muttered, “Hey… am I seein’ things?”
I spun around, glaring where she gazed. I inhaled, maintaining my composure. I was being paranoid about the spirit again. “What? Is there a bear?”
I felt a sharp tug on my shoulder. The sudden act jolted me in place. An arm raised in front of me as Sophia drew herself close to my arm, pointing up to the sky. “Over there on the roof…”
Looking up, I froze. For a moment, I was in disbelief as well.
“Is that… that’s a girl, right?”