"Are you okay?", asked a male voice.
"Yes.. thank you..", Akari replied.
"You lost your friends, now what are you gonna do?", he asked.
"I don't know.. maybe I could die off somewhere..", Akari's reply surprised the person.
"If you go back to Rosing (Akari's town), you'll be hated upon. You can come with me to my town Blooming.", the man offered.
"But what about my parents...?", Akari asked.
He sighed, "So you can die off somewhere without worrying for your parents but you can't come with me in the same case.."
"W-Well.. I guess.. I can come then.. but who are you?", Akari again asked.
"I'm Sena. Luminas is pretty popular throughout Fairy Garden. Since we lived in different towns, I never got to meet you in person.", Sena said.
"U-Uh! Sena-sama! It's good to meet you!", Akari greeted and bowed politely.
"You don't have to be formal. Just call me Sena.", Sena said.
"Hai, Sena!", Akari smiled.
"But what are you doing here? Weren't you prohibited from coming here?", Sena asked.
"W-Well.. I-I... Me and my friends to explore the mysteries behind this magical forest...", Akari explained stuttering.
"This forest isn't magical. Actually it has creatures called animals of different species and fairies have never encountered them before. So they are rumored to be magical creatures. The deer and bear you encountered were animals. There are many other kinds of animals here like rabbits, elephants, lions etc. Some are very nice while others are wild and evil.", Sena explained.
"I see..", Akari nodded.
"I'll keep it a secret from everywhere else.. about you.. but you have to keep a secret from others too for me.."
"What is it?", Akari asked curiously.
"I'm going to leave this country next week. I'm sick of my life.", Sena replied.
"But why?!", Akari was shocked.
"I... I'm getting engaged to my cousin, Madoka.. she's a real brat to be honest.. I hate her.. I don't want to marry her. My wedding date is set for next month. I want to escape as quickly as possible.", Sena explained.
Akari was shocked. "So can I come with you?"
"Of course you are coming with me.", Sena agreed.
Akari smiled brightly. Then they set off to Blooming. After half an hour of flying, they reached it. Sena took Akari to a beautiful abandoned home.
"You can stay here. I'll be sure to bring you food everyday. It's better to make some friends rather than stay here all day. That would make everyone suspicious about you.", Sena advised.
"I understand! Thank you for everything!"
"And for one more time, don't tell this to anyone!"
"I know.. Let's pinky promise then!", Akari suggested.
Sena blushed at this, "A-Are you sure?"
"Un un! (yes yes)", Akari replied happily and let out her pinky finger in front of Sena.
Sena then sighed then agreed.
"Finger cut-off, ten thousand fist-punchings, whoever lies has to swallow thousand needles."
TO BE CONTINUED
That pinky swearing is the way how Japanese do it.