Is It Possible To Fill This Empty Space In Ourselves?
Chapter 2

After seeing the door closed along with the departure of the woman named Arsyana then Ernest had time to observe the room where he was now.

This room only measures less than 1 ru (1 ru \= 14m square), there was a simple one-door wooden cabinet in one corner of the room under his feet and a table as well as a chair in the upper corner that Ernest saw a few feet from his sword leaning against the wall. Looking up slightly, Ernest could see several ends of the book and paper on it.

The rest of the room is empty.

Satisfied with watching this room, Ernest began to examine the wounds on his body. The worst wound he remembered receiving from yesterday's fight seemed to be a sharp weapon scratches on his calf and hand. Ernest pulled his right leg to the chest wanting to examine it just to see the twists of the bandage cloth there. Ah, that woman really took care of him.

Ernest hesitated to touch the side of his head to feel the texture of the bandage there. That was the reason why when he woke up he felt uncomfortable in his head. Did his fall last night hurt his head from being hit?

Ernest sighed in acceptance of the fact how much trouble he might have caused to Arshana, inwardly promising to pay for it immediately.

Continuing to examine the other wounds, Ernest found some bruises here and there and a few other small scratches but there should be no major problems. His tragic circumstances last night led to more fatigue and blood loss. There should be no permanent damage.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ernest dropped his body back on the mattress and lay down. Staring blankly at the dilapidated wooden ceiling above, he was somewhat curious as to who Arsyana was. Seeing how his wounds were cleaned and sewn, yes he was sure the wound needed stitches given how deep the tear was and the amount of blood flowing, as well as the way the bandage cloth was wrapped around it, the woman was clearly aware and was no stranger to wound care as well as having enough equipment to do so.

Besides thinking about where she fell yesterday, it was obvious the woman had the ability to bring her to this room.

But it looks like he didn't have any malicious intent or I died last night. It should be fine.

In his wandering mind, Ernest again closed his eyes to rest.

*

For the second time Ernest opened his eyes, he immediately realized the light in the room had dimmed from before. Raising his body and sitting on a mattress, Ernest pressed his forehead to eliminate the pulse caused by most sleep.

Raising his head to look at the sky through the still open window, he realized that although the horizon was still blue but not as clear as before, it began to wander as the sun slowly moved to its horizon.

Feeling the pressure in his bladder, Ernest stood up slowly with his left foot as the main footing. Walking out in an awkward half-chopped motion was also sluggish, Ernest getting himself to be in a place like a passageway that was actually quite wide. On the right side that is not far from him there is a door frame that is usually owned in the house while on the left side with a longer distance there is a whole door that is currently open.

Ernest suspected that if he went to the right, he would go to the room last night, so he stepped to his left side.

Passing through the door and looking inside, Ernest instantly learned that this was the back room of the building. Finding a furnace and some hanging and clearly manicured cookware made him feel a sense of shock. Although he knew that someone was living here but saw clearer evidence still dealt a real blow to his realization that the building was not abandoned as he had expected, and he had broken through it recklessly.

In addition, Ernest also found a small pile of raw yams with cloth near there and a closed crock where the height reached the hips. There were several other things as well such as a bench and a table with a hunchback on it, but his attention was now diverted to another door frame not far from the entrance earlier, which was not far from the entrance, another room that if he is right means right next to the previous room.

Standing outside the skeleton of the door, Ernest could see a mess of either dust or rotten wood inside. It was clearly an unattended room. So where did that woman sleep last night?

Ernest felt his heart beat faster thinking of a possibility and blushing in shame at it. He shook his head eliminating the image on his head that made him feel like an asshole.

“What do you do?”

Ernest flinched and almost fell down if not reflexively using his hands against the wall to hold the weight. Grimacing as she felt her wound throbbing from the sudden pressure, she turned her head and saw Arsyana standing outside the door of the other side of the kitchen that seemed to be pointing outside the building.

“You surprised me!” yell Ernest shy.

Arsyana grunts and sneers, “for someone who wanders by yourself aren't you too often unwary?”

Ernest was stunned to hear that.

“Yight you did not realize my existence and made yourself fall and faint because of it,” said Arsyana with a scornful tone, “and currently want to repeat it again?”

Ernest wanted to argue and say that the incident last night was mainly caused by an overly dark environment, but feel if he really uses it as an excuse the woman will only be more unimpressed and tend to look down on him more.

Finally Ernest just decided to change the topic, “I need to go to the booth.”

If Arsyana realizes that she deliberately switched the conversation at least the woman did not mention it, after all Ernest did not lie. He really needs to empty his bladder.

“Outside.”

Hearing that answer, Ernest continued his limped steps to where Arsyana was standing. Carefully passing through the short parapet under the door he stopped next to the woman who had pulled over to give him space.

He looked at the place in question, not too far away but also not so close to the main building and actually somewhat leading into the forest.

“You can go by yourself right?” arsyana asked, either concerned with Ernest's health or just for flirting.

“Of course!” replied Ernest.

Amused grunt, Arsyana advised casual, “careful your bandage wet.”

Ernest only responded with a nod before leaving to settle his urgent affairs.

*

After finishing his needs and getting out of the narrow cubicle then Ernest had a chance to look around the outside of the back of the building.

Ernest found that this parchment is clearly managed even though it is somewhat close to the direction of entry into the mountain forest. A patch of land was used to grow the yam and he could see the lush green of the leaves, it seemed like it had only been planted in the range of 3 months.

Not only cassava, there are some other food plants that are grown although not in large quantities like the farmers generally, but also in the community, some of them are even only cultivated in pots (pots) but obviously enough if consumed only for one person. Even Ernest saw some types of spices that were easy to grow there. Has Arshana lived here for a long time?

Thinking of the woman Ernest looked at her back which was a bit far from where she was standing and with a staggered motion approached to see more clearly what she was doing.

Standing a few steps behind, Ernest was stunned to realize that Arsyana was lifting a clothesline.

“What are you doing standing there?”

Ernest heard the woman ask without even turning to look at her.

“Nothing,” cleared his throat to ease awkwardly, Ernest low-pitched, “just bored to go straight into.”

“Then find a seat there,” Arsyana glanced at it flatly, “I don't want to re-treat the wound on your leg if it breaks.”

With a little daze reply, “ah, ya—certain.”

“There is a wooden board near the door,” said Arsyana told, “you can sit there.”

Without waiting for a response, the woman left with a clothesline in hand heading into the house leaving Ernest. Feeling stupid if he continued to stand there he saw the board that meant Arsyana, the object was one step beside the entrance and attached to the wooden wall of the house. Several layers of multipurpose wood that are long and wide are now arranged and can be used as a seat.

Just before turning around and heading there, his attention was slightly distracted by the lampit swaying on the clothesline. With a certain thought in his head Ernest who was feeling a little dazed managed to sit himself on the board without adding to the discomfort of the wound on his leg.

Struck from his daydream, Ernest broke out in cold sweat noticing his indiscretions. He could have accidentally made his leg wound open because he did not pay attention when walking earlier.

Sighing annoyed, Ernest felt confused too often. Perhaps he had been living alone for too long so was not used to having other people in the same room. Ernest wonders if Arsyana feels it too, the discomfort of having someone else in her personal space. That thought made Ernest feel guilty.

Looking blankly at the dull sky in the afternoon, Ernest pondered at the thought of the last time he had anyone other than a passing face while working here and there. Even when he was in his village first, among all the care the villagers showed him, most of the time his growth remained self-reliant. Especially since leaving the village he was busy surviving with odd jobs or looking for shelter.

In good days he can get enough gilden (a designation for currency) to look for lodging and food for a week or so even keep the rest to spare whereas in bad days he should leaning on the kindness of mother earth. Wild fruits and game animals are at least enough to let it live. Also the dilapidated building was empty due to the rest of the war.

Ernest's face hardened as his native village flashed through his mind, recalling the thing he had been deliberately avoiding. How long has it been? Five or six years? The smell of smoke and rancidness was still evident in his mind as well as the lingering look of fear, anger, and despair in the empty eyes of familiar faces but had turned paper-white.

Sometimes in his empty days he wondered if he was lucky or even unlucky? From childhood it becomes what remains at the end.

Upon sensing the presence of others Ernest realized he had been pensive for quite a while, glancing at his right side he found Arsyana coming out of the door with a tray in his hand. The woman passed by and sat on the left side of the still-empty board, the tray placed between them. Two cups, one pitcher of water, and a plate of boiled beans.

Ernest looked at Arsyana's astonishment.

The woman did not even glance at him but rather just took a handful of nuts and stared at the grove of trees that led to the interior of the mountain.

“So, what's the reason for your injuries?” ask Arsyana and add, “I think I'm entitled to know in anticipation of problems that might arise later.”

Ernest was stunned for a moment before grieving and coming to pick up boiled beans on a plate, “just sloppy.”

“Ingin explain? I don't want someone to suddenly storm this place.”

“No,” Ernest frowned when reminded of that possibility, “impossible. They're just losers.”

“That makes you half dead.”

Ernest stopped in the middle of his movement to put the beans he had opened into his mouth before continuing them and chewed them ferociously, “this place is always avoided.”

“Because there is no sign indicating there is someone living here,” Arsyana let the pea skin fall to the ground, “but it will be another story if they know you are here.”

“They don't know. I kicked them out first before coming here.”

A light snort became a response. Looking up and looking straight at him, the woman firmly said, “listen, if this is out there, I won't care even if I see you dead on the road, but now you are here, in this place, and I want to know why you are fighting so that I can decide to let you or kill you to ensure my safety.”

Ernest saw that the brown eyes hardened and realized the seriousness of Arshana and the truth in his words. The woman would not hesitate to kill him if she judged him as a threat. Ernest subconsciously grinned, realizing one of the reasons why Arsyana dared to stay alone in the dilapidated house that was almost inside the mountain.

“I wasn't deliberately looking for trouble, yesterday afternoon when I was in the sub-district market one of them tried to rob me,” honestly Ernest explained, “I just defended myself. Just not expecting the afternoon the man brought his friends and confronted me while looking for a place to spend the night in the nearby village.”

For a while only silence responded to his explanation but Ernest could feel Arsyana's critical gaze, probably judging the truth of the story.

“Then you are just a fool,” the woman comments in the end.

Ernest of course defended himself, “I was just a little sloppy.”

“Yes sure, a carelessness that doesn't get you nearly killed. Extraordinary.”

The sarcasm in the irony sentence made Ernest feel an annoyed twitch on his forehead.

“Yes, I have learned it at a considerable price,” in the end Ernest just sighed and admitted his stupidity, “by the way did you stay here long ago?”

“Some months.”

“But the items here are quite complete.”

“Since the beginning has been here, I just need to clean and fix some things.”

“Ah,” Ernest nodded in understanding and felt it was reasonable to see the state of this building but was stunned when he realized something, “what do you mean already here?”

Arsyana glanced at him a little confused, “I mean? About stuff?”

“Ya.”

“Moreover what I can mean other than if the items are from the previous owner.”

“You mean the deceased owner of this house?”

“Clear.”

Ernest felt his body stiff and stared blankly at the woman who was currently pouring water from the jug into the two cups that were on the tray, “including this equipment?”

Arsyana at a glance gives a strange glance at him, “ya.”

“Aren't you afraid of being cursed?”

“Cursed who?”

“Owner.”

The woman chuckles, “are you scared?”

Ernest blushed in embarrassment at the laughter, “I'm just careful with the taboo!”

“As you thought I was a ghost?”

It felt like Ernest buried and hid himself from the amused wavings that were thrown at him.

Arsyana snorted softly at Ernest's embarrassment but did not comment anything and only drank from one of the cups he had just filled, “ the owner of this place died because he had a respiratory disease, he said,” said Arsyana afterwards.

“Not because of being attacked by wild animals on this mountain?” ernest asked recalling the bloody rumors he had heard from the nearby villagers.

“Although at the foot of the mountain but this location has not entered the inside of the forest and there are not many wild animals here so it needs to come down to this extent unless deliberately fished or there is interference inside the mountain that caused the food crisis for them.”

“Where did you know that the owner of this place died from illness?”

“That's because I've met his family.”

Ernest was a little interested in hearing that.

“The family of the owner of this place lives in Wagola Village,” explains Arsyana while putting the cup that was previously held in his grasp, “villages that are next to this Khashmar Village.”

“If the owner of this place has a family who settled in the village why does he stay here by himself?”

Arsyana again enjoyed the boiled beans that are still left, “let alone in addition to deliberately isolating themselves.”

“Because of his illness?” Ernest did not hesitate to drink from the cup that had not been touched and also spent the snacks that were still there.

“Ya, don't want to infect his family.”

“She's a good person.”

“Maybe.”

“But rumors that spread can become very bloody.”

“His family deliberately spread the news,” comments Arsyana.

“Why?”

“Do you think?” ask Arsyana back.

Frowning at what kind of possibility made the family choose to spread fake news about the cruel death rather than the truth then think about what suffered the owner of this place, “because of his illness?”

“They are afraid that others will be infected if anyone comes here carelessly and also with the previous residents only know the owner of this place as a hunter, as well as the previous residents, maybe they are afraid their family will be isolated society if the truth comes out,” the last sentence is spoken in low murmur.

Ernest was silent long enough to hear that but ended up just sighing and asking in a light tone, “you yourself are not afraid of contracting?”

“It has been more than 2 years and also the first time here I clean and dry all the items that are in the sun,” explained Arsyana, “this house itself has a lot of broken parts at that time so that the light enters without any problem. Years in direct sunlight bath should be enough to kill the virus of the disease.”

“Virus?”

“Aah, a kind of something that can make people affected or infected with the disease.”

Ernest nodded in understanding but was a little curious where Arsyana heard that word from.

The two fell silent and temporarily let the silence envelop. Looking up at the crumbling afternoon sky, Ernest could feel a hint of tranquility here. Without other human chatter as a background as is commonly found in populated places. Peaceful but also lonely. Ernest glanced at Arsyana who was using her feet to collect some pea skin scattered outside the small pile of trash on the ground.

“Do you often go or pass through villages around the foot of the mountain?”

“There is another road,” Arsyana shows to the grove of trees which is the direction to go to the interior of this mountain forest, “you can go directly to the district without having to pass through those villages.”

Ernest was surprised by the news, “doesn't it lead to the forest interior?”

“Ya, but there is a shortcut that can be used to directly penetrate to the main road to the regency.”

“You pass it often?”

“More easily pass situ.”

“Why?” Why did it seem to deliberately avoid the villagers?

Arsyana turned her head towards him and blankly said, “you're a boy.”

“Ya, so?” asked Ernest not to understand.

“What do you think could have happened if there was news spreading about a woman living in an abandoned building that was inside the mountains alone?

“Ah.”

“At least the people in the district only thought I was one of the family members of the villagers who came to the market.”

It must be admitted that the woman's thoughts and vigilance are very reasonable and increasingly show her ingenuity in assessing some things that can happen in the future so that first make prevention. Ernest sincerely admired him.

But with such intelligence why choose to stay alone here and not join the villagers alone? It is definitely safer if the woman lives inside the village and is listed as a member there.

Ernest wondered what the reason was.

Looking up only to find the dull sky had previously shifted into a beautiful violet, Ernest realized he had been chatting for quite some time with Arsyana. Even that snack they had finished they enjoyed.

It feels good enough to spend time with someone.

***