The next morning, Lucia and I were awoken by the sounds of what apparently were the strange rabbits from before screeching. 

“Are you sure that’s normal?”

I asked incredulously before rubbing my eyes a little.

“It’s a bitch to get used to, but yeah that’s normal.”

“When did you get used to it?”

“I think by the time when I turned somewhere between 8 or 9? I can’t quite remember.”

Lucia replied, after mulling over my question for a couple of minutes.

“I’m surprised that you got used to it at all, seeing how they sound like dying chickens.” 

“Eh, when you live somewhere for long enough, you eventually get used to the strangeness that goes on there. No matter how weird it is.”

Lucia said before shrugging her shoulders a little and getting off of me.

“Anyhow, we should probably get going now. Mom will probably get pissed if we stay in bed for much longer.”

Ah, so that’s where she gets her punctuality from.

“Aight.”

I said, before yawning a little, and sliding out of bed.

“So, what’ll we be doing today?”

I asked with a smidge of curiosity in my voice before looking over to Lucia.

“I was thinking that we could go check out the wishing well today.”

“You guys have a wishing well here?”

“Mhmm, it’s a bit of a local legend. Apparently, if you think of your wish while next to the well, your wish will come true.”

“Huh, interesting.”

I said incredulously.

“You don’t buy it?”

“If the legend was true, wouldn’t more people be coming up here every summer to check it out?”

Last I recalled, for most of the journey, our carriage was the only one on the road.

“Ah, that’s because of the second requirement of the wishing well.”

“That being?”

“For a wish to be granted, it also has to be one that’s pure of heart.”

“Who decides whether or not somebody’s wish is pure of heart?”

I said, after pondering Lucia’s response for a couple seconds.

If this legend is true, there’s gotta be some sort of kind of omnipresent arbiter for this right? 

The world would probably be way worse right now if they were corruptible.

“Honestly, I have no idea who decides it, it’s just kinda decided.”

Lucia said before shrugging her arms and putting on her slippers.

“Now, let’s get outta here and freshen up a little. I think we’ve got another 5 minutes or so until mom bursts in here and yells at the both of us to stop lying around and eat breakfast.”

Lucia remarked before helping me to my feet.

In response, I just nodded before walking to the bathroom with her. 

“Hey, Lucia.”

“Yeah, Otto?”

Lucia replied before handing me the toothbrush that I borrowed last night.

“I didn’t think about it much the other day, but why does your mirror have a miniature scarecrow dangling in front of it?”

I asked before starting to brush my teeth with the toothbrush that I was handed. 

“It’s supposed to ward off crows.”

“How would a crow get in your bathroom?”

“No idea, but according to Ameil, it followed him in.” 

The more I learn about that guy, the less I feel like I know about him… 

“Sure, okay.”

I said, in a somewhat mixed tone of voice before splashing my face with a bit of water.

“Yeah, I didn’t get it either.”

Lucia said before getting back to brushing her teeth. 

A few minutes later, the two of us finished freshening up, and made our way to the dining room.

When we got there, we were greeted with Rosa, Ameil, and Anne happily dining on what looked to be red scrambled eggs and toast. 

“Look who finally woke up.”

Rosa said with a smidge of annoyance in her voice.

“Sorry mom, it took a bit longer than usual because I had to explain to this guy how some things work here.”

“Things like what?”

Rosa asked, slightly curious before handing me and Lucia two plates piled high with eggs and toast.

“You know, stuff like the bathroom scarecrow or the crow that caused it to get put there in the first place.”

Lucia replied nonchalantly before taking a seat at the table and gesturing for me to do the same.

In turn, Rosa just nodded before leaving back to the kitchen.

Afterward, I just followed suit and sat down in the chair next to Lucia’s and looked over to Ameil and Anne, who were sitting across the table from Lucia and me. 

“Hello.”

Anne said with a bit of an awkward smile on her face.

“Mornin.”

Ameil said before putting another forkful of eggs and toast in his mouth.

“Morning to you both.”

I said casually before digging into the eggs that I was given.

“Morning.”

Lucia remarked before taking a bite out of her slice of toast.

“So, what are you two gonna be doing today?”

Ameil asked with a smidge of curiosity in his voice, after thinking for a couple of seconds.

“Going to check out the old well.”

“Huh, not a bad choice.”

Ameil said after pondering Lucia's answer for a couple of seconds.

“The well?”

Anne said, slightly confused.

“Yeah, apparently, there’s a well somewhere in this town that allegedly grants wishes, if they’re not made with bad intentions.”

I chimed in before putting a clump of scrambled eggs on my piece of toast and taking a bite out of the combination. 

“Neat.”

Anne replied nonchalantly before continuing to enjoy her breakfast.

“Anyhow, now that you know what we’re gonna be doing for the rest of the day, what are you planning on doing with Anne, today?”

“Going to the top of the old hill, there’s something there that I want to show her.”

“Oh, aren’t you talking about the-.”

Before Lucia could finish her sentence, Ameil cut her off.

“Hey, no spoilers!”

“Fine, fine.”

Lucia said, dismissively. 

“Aw, I was so close to finding out!”

Anne said with a smidge of disappointment in her voice.

“I’ve had this planned since last week, there’s no way I’m gonna let something like this ruin it all.”

Ameil said before taking another bite out of his piece of toast.

“If you say so.”

Lucia said before shrugging her arms and continuing to enjoy her breakfast.

All the while, I just kinda sat there, taking in the jovial atmosphere. 

“What’s with that smug look on your face, Otto?”

Lucia said with a bit of a grin on her face while pointing at me with her fork.

“Nothing, just enjoying the moment I guess.”

“You can be so weird sometimes.”

Lucia said, while staring at me with a tender look in her eyes.

“You know, It’s really frightening how your demeanor changes whenever you’re with Otto. It’s not like it’s a drastic change, but it’s still definitely noticeable and it freaks me out.”

Ameil said offhandedly while looking at the two of us.

“Oh, shut up Ameil.”