When sickness passed, the language learning resumed. Emerys continued to journal her progress, even as her nose hung onto the last of the illness. After shedding her symptoms, Emerys found herself making Gudrun and Ingrid breakfast. In studying what they normally ate, she presented them a board with bread, herring, cucumber, and tomato.

The women would sit in silence as they ate. At least, until Emerys spoke again.  

“I think I want to hunt,” Emerys said. “Six coins is not enough. I should find someone to help.”

Gudrun said. “Where will you train?”

“I should find the hunters from the market,” Emerys said

After breakfast, she left the hut and made her way to the town square. She had seen the hunters on the first day in the village, and then as the solstice drew near. For a brief moment, she worried she might not find him, her recent illness stealing he memory. In rounding the corner from Ingrid and Gudrun's shop, it revealed a man two heads taller than her with a long brown beard. Emerys stood still, not sure what to say. The man looked up from his post and gave her a polite nod.

“You are the newcomer, are you not?” He asked.

“I am,” Emerys said. “I am called Emerys.”

"Welcome," he said. "It's a little strange."

Emerys remained silent, trying to remember what Gudrun and Ingrid had attempted to teach her. Her heart raced, and upon wiping her palm on her outfit, the fabric dampened from the sweat. "I know."

“I am called Jarl,” He said. “My son left a few days ago. No word. Gone in minutes, and he stood in front of me when he left.”

“I arrived two weeks ago. I don't know how to call it in your language, but the sky changed.” Emerys said.

"It changed here also."

“I would like to become a hunter,” Emerys said. "if you look for help."

“Have you trained?” He asked.

“No,” Emerys said. “Unfortunately not.”

“My wife and I wish to look for our son,” he said. “The two of us are partners, and we were teaching our son. We could work with help. Can you cook and clean?”

“I love cooking.”

“We need someone to help us cook and clean. Can you travel with us?”

“I think so.”

“Maybe you can eat dinner with us.We can talk about the hunting in full. Maybe we can test your cooking.”

Emerys left feeling a mixture of emotion. She should have been satisfied, as she’d found herself closer to acquiring a job than she had been a month ago. But a thin tendril of doubt coiled through her, telling her she was wrong for this. Most job opportunities would ask more questions. Furthermore, although she had understood him, there were a few words and phrases which hadn't registered.

Rounding upon their market stall, she found Ingrid and Gudrun once more.

“They are testing me for the job. I should join them for dinner, but I should say goodbye first.”

“Good,” Ingrid said.

Emerys then took out a silver coin and gave it to Ingrid. “I should give you this, then. For your help.”

Ingrid took the coin and nodded. “Thanks.”

“Thank you. I hope I can return here one day.”

Emerys packed her satchel and left the hut. She should have been beaming, but a lump lingered in her throat. She was certain she would miss her time with Gudrun and Ingrid, even if she visited their market stall. Upon finding Jarl in the market, she would follow him back to his hut.

Upon meeting Helja, she gave a brief nod. Meaning to give a verbal greeting besides a simple hi, she opened her mouth, and then closed it. Shaking Helja's hand had reintroduced her manners, even if she had forgotten a simple pleasantry.

Releasing Emerys' hand, Helja spoke to Jarl in quick succession. Picking out the words she recognized, the meaning of their conversation had become a puzzle. Somehow, it wasn’t the words and her lack of understanding which caused her confusion.  

It was the strange amount of warmth in their mannerisms toward each other. There were the smiles on Helja and Jarl's faces. When they jested with one another the teasing tones were never unkind. Emerys had often compared Jakob to Lydia's husband. But they still had their arguments, and each joke had been met with a certain stiffness. Afterwards, even though Emerys had been confident Lydia had been in love with her spouse, there would still be times where they would complain about her.

Such a conversation would have had Emerys running to Lydia for the gossip. She had no desire for a certain relationship yet, but there had been a connection she had lost in this world. In these times, Emerys, would practice what she would say to her best friend, and then shortly afterward, she would often spend long periods sitting next to the window in Ingrid and Gudrun's abode. The river, as well as the trees nearby, had become quite familiar to Emerys during her moments of contemplation during the past few weeks.

Perhaps Lydia would have called her insane, especially with the notion that Emerys had found herself in a strange place. Even still, at least Emerys could tell someone–anyone–exactly how she felt. Even with her time immersing herself into the language, she could not convey that which only served to grow heavier. There was a loneliness to the new world, even though she had been surrounded by people who had displayed kindness which had been unfamiliar back in Pelios.

I long to go home, even though I am certain I have nothing to go back to. Even as I try my best to explore this new world.

After a long discussion, Helja turned to Emerys, giving a cursory glance at the notebook. Emerys held it out for a second, then she placed it into her leather bag.

“We should go tomorrow early morning,” Helja said. “But we should teach you the basics of archery now.”

Moving to an open field, they faced the small targets at the end of it. Helja then gave Emerys a bow. Emerys took it, imagining she were one of the huntresses from mythology.

Helja displayed how to use the bow. Attempting to mimicked it, Emerys' first attempt earned a headshake from the woman. A moment later, after adjusting, there was a nod. Emerys beamed.

Emerys took an arrow and she leveled at the target. When she released the arrow, it flew to the edge of the target. She turned back to Helja, who gave a polite, quiet applause. Helja leveled her own bow. The released arrow lodged itself in the center, leaving to Emerys mimic Helja's aim.

Instead of targeting the tree trunk which had been cut up and painted, she was aiming for Jakob’s head. After releasing the arrow, it found its way to a hay bail nearby. She slumped. Even when she imagined herself hitting the man, much less killing him, she missed. Tension worked its way into her practice.

“You must work on your aim,” Helja said. “Have you ever held a bow before?”

“That I have not,” Emerys said. “I worked at a shipping dock for a few years, so I know of hard work still.”

“You train quickly,” Helja said. “Your stance, for the first time working with a bow, isn’t bad.”

Insode the kitchen, Emerys found herself working with peppers for a base, with carrots and lamb to accompany her. The memory of the meal worked its way through her movements. Cutting out what was meant to be orzo out of flour, egg, and salt, she would then roll the edges for the precise shapes. Her practice in a kitchen had lended to her speed. In those moments, she was back in a commercial kitchen as she prepared the food. Pinching and rolling the edges would have helped, but she did not have time. Upon finishing, she presented her meal, although a few ingredients had been missing.

"This is food from home," Emerys said.

"It's rather impressive," Helja said. "did you cook much when you were home?"

"For the festivities," Emerys murmured.

“We should hire you for your food. Many who come to work with us tell us they cook, but they can't,” Helja said. “When you work with us, you will receive a share of the goods and the coins.”

Emerys hesitated. She should have celebrated, but bitterness lingered. Toward Jakob. She should have attempted to go back home, rather than taking work here. Even without the mess of her divorce, she stole a stone from Verina. In pausing, she moved her hand into her satchel to touch the stone. She did not yet have the mind to tell either Helja or Jarl about it. Telling employers you had taken things from a previous workplace rarely went well.

She remained at their property through the evening. Instead of sleeping, she would go outside to meditate. This time, negative thoughts returned. Guilt pained her stomach. A tear escaped, but she wiped it off, took a few breaths, and ignored it for the rest of the session.

Twilight had grown longer, even if it was by a little. A meticulous record kept track of sunset and sunrise. Should she ever return back to her old world, she would likely use these entries to explain where she had been. Or, at the very least, maybe she could donate them to a university.

Throughout the period, she could be certain Helja and Jarl had fallen asleep. She then took out her stone and studied the patterns of the light. Subtle shimmers traveled across the sphere. Inhaling, she held the stone in one hand, then she clenched her other fist. The light dimmed within the stone. After a brief pause, she exhaled, the light intensifying at the command in her breath. Placing it in the bag, her fingers tingled.

I can control the light in this stone. When I contract my hand, the light dims, and when I expand it, the light grows. All of these developments have occurred since the catalyst. Furthermore, the more I use my abilities, the stronger they seem to come.