Episode 5
Was Layla really that skilled?
Easton gently touched the place on his forehead where there had been a bump. The bruise, the redness, and the swelling were all completely gone.
“Is this… even possible?”
He couldn’t believe it. The herbs Layla had told him about were ones he had learned when studying herbology. Those herbs did have healing effects, but not this fast or this strong. If they were that powerful, they would be worth much more in the market. How did she get such results with such common herbs?
Easton wanted to go back to her cottage right away to ask her, but he held himself back and lay down on the bed.
‘Hello? I just lent my umbrella to someone who needed it… and treated someone I accidentally hurt. That’s all.’
‘I just want to help.’
What kind of magic was this? She really was a curious woman.
“If I meet her again by chance… I’ll ask her then.”
He looked at the bandage sitting on the table. No need to rush. Once the rain stops, he’ll find the herb Aiola, and then Psyche’s pain will end. With a deep sigh, Easton finally closed his eyes.
“Something’s wrong! Please help!”
A scream made Easton jump out of bed. He rushed downstairs to the inn lobby.
A middle-aged woman was standing there, soaking wet and crying.
“What’s going on?” Easton asked quickly.
“My granddaughter, Sarah, is missing!”
She sobbed loudly.
“She said she wanted to eat Merryberry from Mount Vensberia a few days ago…”
“She went to the mountain alone? In this rain?”
Everyone around sighed heavily. They wanted to help, but the rain was too strong, and they didn’t have the strength to search in such bad conditions.
Just then, someone opened the inn door.
“I’ll go look for her,” said Layla, wearing a yellow raincoat.
She gently comforted the crying woman.
“Don’t cry, ma’am. I’ll find her. She couldn’t have gone too far.”
“But what if you get hurt?” the woman asked.
“I’m still young and strong. And I’ve been climbing that mountain since I was little.”
Easton stepped forward, frustrated.
“It’s pouring out there! It’s dangerous to go up the mountain right now.”
“A child is missing. We have to find her,” Layla said calmly, fixing her raincoat.
“Are you sure you’ll even find her?” Easton asked.
“Yes,” she said firmly.
“…What?”
“I have very good luck,” she smiled.
She turned her back to him and held the old woman’s hand.
“When I was sick and my nanny disappeared, you took care of me. I still remember your kindness.”
Her warm voice calmed everyone.
“Go home and wait, okay? I’ll bring her back.”
She smiled, adjusted her coat, and headed toward the door.
Easton stepped in front of her. “It’s dangerous.”
“Everyone here is like family to me. I don’t want anyone I care about to be hurt.”
“So it’s okay if you get hurt?”
She was being foolish. Sacrificing yourself for others wasn’t smart.
“I’ll be careful.”
“Let me go with you.”
“No, I can’t cause you more trouble.”
“You helped me, so now I’ll help you. Isn’t that what helping each other means?”
Layla looked unsure but didn’t stop him. Just then, the sound of heavy rain started to lessen.
“The rain’s letting up! We have to go now!”
Layla grabbed Easton’s wrist and ran into the rain.
Even though he’d only been here two days, it had never stopped raining, not even once. But now, just as they were about to search for the child, the rain was easing. Was it luck? Or something more?
“Over here!”
It was still dark because of the clouds, but Layla confidently led the way toward the mountain.
“The trail is slippery, so the child couldn’t have gone too high!”
At the entrance, she paused and looked around. There were no footprints—probably washed away by the rain. Easton looked around too, trying to help.
After a while, they started to feel cold from being in the rain too long.
“This way!” Layla shouted suddenly.
“Did you find something?” Easton asked.
“No. It’s just a feeling.”
“A feeling?”
“I’ve always had a good sense of things.”
She remembered the day her nanny disappeared. She had felt uneasy, and later her nanny was found dead.
She shook her head. Now was not the time to think about that. She had to find the child. And her gut told her they were close.
“Waaah…”
Suddenly, a child’s cry came through the sound of rain.
They looked at each other, then quickly moved toward the sound.
Soon, they found the little girl hiding in a tree hollow.
“Sarah!”
“Layla! Wahh…”
“Let’s go. Your grandma is worried.”
Layla gently patted Sarah’s head and put her raincoat around the child.
Then Easton took off his own coat and placed it over Layla.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“…Okay,” Layla said softly, her cheeks turning red.
Just as they were about to go down the mountain, they heard a loud cracking sound.
“Watch out!”
Layla pushed Sarah into Easton’s arms and shoved him away.
“Layla!”
Easton fell back with Sarah in his arms.
But Layla was buried under the debris sliding down the mountain with the rain.
