Water droplets fell off the nearby roof, the steady drip keeping Emerys company as she continued to journal about her experiences. As she used her quill and ink, she sketched the nearby gray alder trees, as well as her thoughts on the eternal daylight.

Nearby, a small, unlit candle sat on a small table, as well as several wooden carvings of a face. With the bowls around, Emerys identified different herbs. Rosemary, sage, juniper, and mugwort had been placed into different bundles. Smoke drifted from the juniper plant.

The offerings here consist of plants rather than clear crystals.

Moving to the bear pelt, Emerys crossed her legs. Her eyes closed, she inhaled a deep breath. In Pelios, sounds of the bustling city would linger in the background, providing challenge for her meditation sessions. It would take two breaths for her to relax here. Bees buzzed nearby, accompanied by the breeze shifting through lavender providing its smell through the open window. Energy flowed through her body in quick succession.

The women returned, talking to each other in a very rapid tone. Emerys released her breath, opened her eyes, and felt desire to be able to speak to the women more clearly. The questions she longed to ask, but was unable, would bother her for some time. Ingrid settled into a nearby chair. Gudrun—the second woman—boiled water nearby and infused an herbal tea into it. When finished, she handed Emerys a warm drink before sitting down opposite to Ingrid.

Peppery wintergreen flavors melted into Emerys' tongue. The tea provided a subtle warmth when she pulled it to her chest. Sitting on the bear pelt, she forced herself to relax her shoulders. A nearby bird sang out with a mixture of warbles and repeated notes. In closing her eyes, the sounds of the river accompanied the birdsong.

She should have felt wrong about the situation, as she was stuck with some strange people in a strange world. But for all of her admonisments about how she felt, Emerys would remind herself she did not have much to go back to in the old world. The day before, she found herself in the new world, she lost everything. When Jakob found her after the divorce proceedings, he told her she would enjoy the streets best.

During their final year of marriage, he would often complain, announcing that her cooking was her only skill. Emerys would make her famous lamb stew for holidays, with cinnamon, allspice, tomato flavoring the dish. She would shape fresh orzo for completion. Throughout the last few months, the meal became her favorite peace offering while she hoped to salvage what she had.

If she stayed in her old world, she would have continued to study astrology, but with the guilt that her instructor, Verina had been a controversial figure. Eventually, Emerys herself would be branded a sorcerer. Whether she could find a career would depend on how much education she had, which in that world, she would not find. In other essences, her decision to run off to a controverial astrologer had further distanced her from the potential to rebuild her old life.

To think that she found herself in a new village. The catalyst had been feared days before, but it had given her new life. Here, there was the possibility she could find a fresh start. Eventually, she would hope to forget about the old world. Relief had settled where she should have been concerned instead.

Ingrid would go on to cook some fish stew, paired with leeks, turnips, and spinach. The hunger pangs would intensify as Emerys waited. Gudrun sat down with her, her gaze intense. Upon noticing Emerys' journal, her brow furrowing. Hand trembling, Emerys handed the journal over. It wasn't like Gudrun could understand what had been written anyway. When Gudrun gave it back to her, she nodded and flipped through. In tracing her finger across the alphabet Emerys used, she would pause frequently. When she spoke to Ingrid, Gudrun's voice had become startled.

When Ingrid served a bowl, Emerys would pull it into her lap. She smiled at the comfort. In her old world she expected to bite into something with vibrant seasoning. Her discussions on cooking had taught her the herbs and spices were absolutely essential. In this stew, there was a delicate flavor. The fish, paired with the softness of the leeks had brought warmth she hadn't expected. She turned back to Ingrid and gave a brief nod, mouthing her thank you. Emerys wished, of course, that she could have given a more verbal thanks.

Upon serving herself, Ingrid sat on a chair adjacent to Gudrun's. While they ate, the three women would point to different things then say what that thing was in their own language. By the end of the night, Emerys had learned at least twenty words in the new language. By the end of the week, she could make out basic phrases. The pattern of pointing to different items and practicing the words would become a nightly routine.

However, in journaling about the sunset and sunrise, she had found her curiosity. From the daylight growing shorter and shorter, Emerys could deduce that they had not yet reached the summer solstice. Additionally, although the sun would disappear, the twilight would not grow dark enough to bring forth the stars.

In two weeks, there would be a night where Ingrid and Gudrun had brought Emerys to a community bonfire. The community brought their communal sticks boasting of a feast made of pork, apples, and then blackberry pies alongside what Emerys had learned to call waffles. The waffles had a heart shape to them, and when pulled apart, the steam would billow into the night sky. A soft song danced between different villagers.

The darkness has not come, but twilight has lasted only a short while. With all of the celebrations, it can be concluded that this was the summer solstice. 

Mead would be one of the predominant drinks. The raspberry and lemon flavors lingered throughout. Emerys took part in the festivities, even if she didn't understand much. She would still spectate. Many of the villagers would chatter with their neighbors or their family members. Emerys would continue to eat and watch the food.

Later in the festivities, a dull fever overtook her body. She had monitored her drinks, but this sickness seemed different. Slipping back to the new hut, she found the bear pelt once more and collapsed. Her head swam. A violent sickness overtook her. Emerys took a deep breath, trying to will herself to sleep. Drafts of cool air had been a blessing, but for a brief moment. A chill wracked her body and spread throughout as she returned to the floor.

Something has made me terribly ill, and I am not certain of what that is yet. 

She panted, rolled onto her back, and attention to the underside of the sod and birch roof. The patterns would keep her company. Her sickness tormented her for quite some time, even when she gathered some fresh air periodically.

An hour or two passed before Gudrun and Ingrid entered the house. Emerys flushed. Back home, it would have been normal to go back to a friend's house unnannounced. At least, if Emerys had problems after a late night at a bar, she could go home to her friend Lydia to sober up. Would these women take offense to her here?

Ingrid knelt, placing a hand on Emerys' forehead. Turning to Gudrun, she spoke. Gudrun boiled the water for tea, humming to herself frantically. A small platter would appear on the floor next to Emerys, complete with some lavender tea and a small towel with moderately warm water. Grabbing the towel, Emerys placed it onto her forehead.

The night passed with violent dreams of her being ripped from her new life. After being torn from the village, she found herself facing Jakob once more, who would call her pathetic. After one week in the new world, she could easily convince herself that she might be dying, and it was likely punishment. Whether it was from the gods or the universe as a whole had yet to be discovered. Emerys trembled, her entire body convulsing throughout the night.

The next morning, she felt worse. Her ability to sleep had dwindled, robbed by the throbbing pain in her forehead, as well as the fever. Unfortunately, the condition would worsen over the next few days. Whereas she had stepped outside to gather fresh air days before, her muscles would succumb to a fatigue which left her unable to leave the bear pelt.

Gudrun monitored things closely, giving Emerys a wide range of teas. This time, when she would work with the plants, she would use dried herbs and ground them before placing them water. She then gave the medicine to Emerys. There was one word between them. Sleep. After finishing the tincture, Emerys would drift off into a deep sleep. By the time she reawoke, it was as if she had merely caught the common cold.