It has been three years since I was born.
Although my speech is still a bit awkward, I think Iโve gotten much better at talking.
โDa-u! Go to library. Ride.โ
โWoof!โ
As usual, once I wake up, I ride on Da-u and head to the library.
Now that Iโve turned three, Iโm allowed to leave my room on my own.
Even though Iโm a capable three-year-old who can walk by myself, this house is enormous. Riding on Da-uโs back is much faster.
As I ride on Da-u, I pat his head.
โDa-u, youโve grown so big!โ
โWoof!โ
Da-u wagged his tail proudly.
When we first met, Da-u wasnโt much different in size from me.
If anything, he was even smaller.
But now, if Da-u stands on his hind legs, heโs taller than Father.
As we walk toward the library, we run into my sister Lydia.
My sister is eleven years old. Lately, sheโs been growing taller and becoming prettier and cuter.
Sheโs a sister Iโm proud of.
โOh, Luria. Where are you going on Da-u? Youโre not planning to go outside, are you?โ
โNot outside! Library!โ
The other day, I tried to ride Da-u outside and got scolded badly.
Mother told me itโs because everyone is worried since we were attacked shortly after I was born.
So, I donโt go outside the house without permission.
โYouโre going to the library? โฆBut Luria, you canโt read, can you?โ
โโฆI can read a little.โ
My sister always hits where it hurts.
In my previous life, I was treated like livestock starting at the age of five, so I only received proper education until then.
I can manage picture books, but I canโt read difficult books.
โIt canโt be helped. Iโll read to you.โ
โThank you! Big sister!โ
โWoof!โ
Together, we head to the library.
โSo, what kind of book do you want to read, Luria?โ
โGoats! A book about goats!โ
โGoats?โ
โYes! When I grow up, I want to live with goats.โ
โI seeโฆ I hope you can.โ
โYep!โ
When we reached the library, my sister started looking for a book about goats.
โThere doesnโt seem to be oneโฆโ
โThere isnโt?โ
โBut I found an animal encyclopedia. How about this?โ
โRead it!โ
My sister sat in front of a large reading stand where the encyclopedia was placed.
She let me sit on her lap, and we read together.
โBig sister, what does it say here?โ
โHmm, Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae, Pantheraโฆโ
โThatโs hard. Read it!โ
โAlright. Its primary habitat isโโ
While my sister reads to me, I desperately try to memorize the words.
The ability to read changes the amount of information you can gather dramatically.
โWoof.โ
Da-u, too, was intently looking at the encyclopedia.
Despite her busy schedule, my sister spent a whole hour with me.
โThank you! Big sister. I learned a lot!โ
โIโm glad. If you ever want to read a book, just let me know, my dear Luria.โ
Riding on Da-uโs back and holding my sisterโs hand, we walk together.
โOh, Luria. Youโre as adorable as ever.โ
โBig brother!โ
We run into my older brother, who is wearing athletic attire with a wooden sword at his waist.
My brother, Gilberto, is thirteen. He still has a bit of childishness but is starting to resemble Father.
My sister is heading off to learn etiquette, while my brother is going to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard.
Swordsmanship practice seems much more exciting than etiquette lessons.
As royalty, or rather because weโre royalty, we must learn to protect ourselves.
I thought it wouldnโt hurt to see what swordsmanship training is like.
โBig brother, I want to watch too!โ
โSwordsmanship training?โ
โYes!โ
Until now, Iโve never been allowed in the courtyard or outside.
Father is overly protective.
But Iโm three years old now.
Even if I canโt go outside, I might be allowed in the courtyard.
Thatโs what I thought.
โWell, you are three now, Luria.โ
โYes!โ
โAlrightโฆ If the instructor gives permission, you can watch.โ
โThank you!โ
โWoof!โ
โBut if the instructor says no, you have to give up, okay?โ
โGot it!โ
โWoof-woof!โ
Da-u seemed happy too.
Parting ways with my sister, I headed to the courtyard with my brother.
After getting permission from the swordsmanship instructor, Da-u and I were allowed into the courtyard.
As expected of Fatherโs royal mansion, the courtyard was magnificent.
โItโs so big.โ
It felt much larger than when I peeked from inside.
Looking up, I could see the blue sky. The spring breeze felt refreshing.
I took a deep breath.
How many years had it been since I last inhaled such pleasant outdoor air?
In my previous life, I was usually confined to a livestock shed and transported in cramped boxes when I went outside.
Once on-site, I was forced to use magic through a slave collar.
I had never experienced the sunlight and the pleasant outdoor breeze like this.
โFuu, haa.โ
โWafuu.โ
Da-u and I took deep breaths together.
โDid you enjoy being outside, Luria?โ
โIt feels great! Big brother!โ
โI see. Thatโs good. But listen, Luria, Iโm about to start my swordsmanship training, so you mustnโt come near me, alright?โ
โUnderstood! I wonโt get close to you, big brother!โ
โGood. Youโre such a good girl, Luria.โ
My brother patted my head. Da-u also got a head pat and wagged his tail happily.
I lay down on the ground, using Da-u as a pillow, and watched my brother.
He was diligently swinging his wooden sword.
โHmm.โ
As expected, maybe I should learn swordsmanship too.
There are dangerous people among humans.
The more ways I have to protect myself, the better.
โIโll ask Father about it later.โ
Muttering to myself, I lazily watched my brother.
The coolness of the ground felt nice.
โฆ
โAhhhh! Luria! Are you alright?โ
โHmm? Whatโs wrong, big brother?โ
I woke up to the sound of my brotherโs panicked voice.
It seems I had fallen asleep, lulled by the pleasant sunlight.
โWhat is this?โ
I found myself surrounded by a large number of birds.
There were eagles, hawks, owls, pigeons, sparrows, even parrots.
Smaller birds were perched on my stomach, while larger ones quietly nestled around me.
โWhatโs this? Did you all come to play?โ
I stroked one of the birds nearby.
The birds didnโt run away and stayed still as I petted them.
โCoo-coo!โ
How cute.
My brother, who had rushed over, saw me calmly stroking the birds and seemed to conclude there was no immediate danger.
โAre you really okay, Luria?โ he asked, sounding a bit more composed.
โIโm fine. Theyโre all good kids.โ
They must have come to keep my belly warm while I was sleeping.
Animals are often gentle creatures.
โIt looked like the sky burials they perform in the East, so I was really shocked,โ my brother admitted.
โBig brother, youโre such a worrywart. Hmm?โ
โChirp!โ
It wasnโt just birdsโthere were animals too. Whatโs this?
It looked like a squirrel but was much larger.
โA prairie dogโฆ? Why is there a prairie dog in the courtyardโฆ?โ
My brother stared at the animal, dumbfounded.
โChirp?โ
โI like the courtyard; itโs full of animals! Iโm so happy!โ
โIf youโre happy, then Iโm happy too, Luria,โ he said, though his smile seemed a bit strained.
โโโโ
The birds surrounding Luria in the courtyard were also guardian beasts, just like Da-u, who protected the spirits.
The guardian beasts began gathering near the mansion shortly after Luria was born.
However, they couldnโt enter the mansion, and Luria never came outside.
So, the guardian beasts had been waiting all this time.
Da-u was an exception, having boldly snuck past the mansionโs security to reach her.
โCoo-coo!โ
A guardian pigeon was thrilled to be petted by Luria.
To the guardian beasts, Luria was like a cherished pet to humansโa precious being whose mere presence brought them joy.
Her scent soothed them, and being doted on by her made them ecstatic.
Thatโs why the guardian beasts continued to gather around the mansion, longing to meet her.
Incidentally, the prairie dog had dug its way under the mansion to reach the courtyard.