Years passed by. Something annoying had happened. It seems that the barrier was quite dormant in its first year.
Any mention of anything related to the barrier or the bitch goddess gave us an extreme headache. It also didn’t allow Paul and Paula near me without them getting that same effect. They tried to toughen it out but I had decided to distance myself from them to make sure that they wouldn’t be in pain constantly. There was good news. It seems like Paul wasn’t aging so that wasn’t a problem for now. We had attempted to kill the creature together. We did succeed but it summoned another creature which was tougher than the last.
We had tried to keep in contact but it was different now that we couldn’t stay close together. So, we naturally drifted away. People had gathered around our 2 farms. We told them about the barrier. We couldn’t do anything now that they had already entered. I had mustered up a familiar that would warn any humans that were about to enter the barrier. The humans didn’t mind strangely. I do agree this was a pleasant place to live if you’re not forced to, but it becomes exactly that. They will be forced to stay here now.
They did come to me because they saw me as the leader of this community. They wanted me to become the official leader and name our settlement. I had yet to decide on how to name myself and they want me to name this settlement. I just gave them the first name that came up. ‘Boshi’
And thus, our small settlement had been named Boshi Town. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I just said and did what I thought was best. We needed materials to stay afloat so I sent some to hunt, some to chop wood, some to fish, some to mine and so on. Paul and Paula also helped out. It didn’t take long before we became fully self-sufficient. The humans had discovered something. It was possible to leave the barrier!
I notified Paul and Paula and we observed how some passed through the barrier. We tried to go outside but we got blocked. What is the difference? It took us months to discover the secret. For these humans, their home was here so they would always return. Paula, Paul, and I, however, would never come back the moment we could escape. It was only possible to leave the barrier if the intent was to eventually return. Our sliver of hope was instantly crushed.
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50 years had passed since we had been sealed away. Because it was possible to leave the barrier and return, Boshi town had set up trade with other cities. We had also spread the word about the barrier in the hope of attracting people to attempt and break it or to warn them to stay away. A lot of humans had flocked to our town at the start. We had put up quite the reward for those who could break the barrier. But we’re still here after 50 years so all attempts have been in vain. Paul, Paula, and I had become way stronger. We had managed to destroy all adversaries that got summoned in that cave. I had dispelled all the seals and we had destroyed the root. We thought that was a big step and that we would only need 6 more but… Time had rewound to before we had started fighting the guardian of the root. What is even worse, the guardian had came back stronger than before.
I still remember Paula’s reaction. “Aaagh! That stupid bitch and her stupid item! How are we supposed to ever lift this seal?”
To which Paul replied, “Unfortunately I think that she had no intention to give us a chance to break free…”
I didn’t like what Paul said but I agreed. Her intention for her was for us to be trapped here for eternity.
A generation came that had forgotten about the founders of this settlement. I didn’t mind. I wasn’t interested in leading these humans. All I wanted was to be free… I had spent all the time I had in improving the skills I had and loosening the seals that bitch had put on me. It allowed me to become stronger than a human but it was not by much. Maybe I could get there slowly but surely and one day command enough mana to force this seal off me and break open this prison.
I kept getting nightmares about the day we had gotten sealed away. I always woke up crying and wondering if I should have ever been born in the first place. Because I couldn’t interact often with Paul and Paula, I became quite lonely. Any attempt to make friends was unsuccessful. I had started to get those envious looks again. And the men seemed to have ulterior motives. I slowly descended into the situation that I was in Witchaven. There were individuals who I could befriend of course but my lifespan is different from humans. They would grow up, marry, and take their distance if they were men or be too dedicated to their families if they were women, always leaving me alone again. I had many nights that I cried myself to sleep.
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I woke up one morning and opened the small potion shop I had set up. The whole of Boshi town had grown with my house as the center. It wasn’t a farm anymore but a spacious shop and house in one.
A young girl walked in.
“Hello, can I buy some candy?” I smiled and grabbed an assortment of sweets that the humans liked.
“Can I have that one?” I handed the girl a lollipop. She put 1 silver on the counter.
“Oh no sweetie, for you this is free.”
“Really?! Thank you miss. Ehh. What is your name pretty lady?”
“I don’t have a name.”
“What a weirdo! Why don’t you have a name?”
“I haven’t decided on one.”
The girl looked puzzled. “Isn’t a name something your parents give you?”
“Yes, my parents did give me a name but that name doesn’t suit me anymore.”
“Then why don’t you come up with a new name?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“My mom says that as long as she remembers, you haven’t had a name and my mom is suuuper old!”
I smiled. “Something like a name is very important. It’s not something you can just decide on without thinking.”
“You are a weird pretty lady! Thank you for the candy!” She walked off.
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“Hey wait! You forgot your silver coin!”
She turned around. “I didn’t! I will keep coming here and I will pay every time I come here and you don’t have a name. Cya pretty lady with no name!”
The girl left and I looked at the silver coin.
“She could’ve bought 20 lollipops with this…” Deciding that I would return the money to her mother when she would appear I put it in a special jar.
The same girl entered the shop a week later.
“Good morning pretty lady, what is your name?”
“I haven’t decided yet, what is your name?”
“My name is Aya!”
I reacted but didn’t let it show on my face. “What a wonderful name that is. What do you want today?”
“I want 2 lollipops!” She put 1 silver on the counter.
“You do know that you can buy 20 lollipops with this right?”
“I do yes! I still want 2 lollipops!”
“How about you take them for free?” The girl shook her head.
“I will if you give yourself a pretty name!”
“Ugh, when did kids get so tough?”
I tried to give her 20 lollipops but she only took 2 and ran off. “Cya pretty lady!”
I put another silver coin in the jar.
The jar had filled at the end of the year so I decided to give her mother a visit and return all the silver.
“Hello, are you the mother of Aya?”
“Oh, you’re the sexy lady! Do you remember me? I used to visit your shop when I was young. I’m a bit envious of your youthfulness.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, as you already have guessed I’m older than my looks suggest.” I pushed the jar with silver coins to her. “Aya keeps paying too much for the candy she buys. I came to return it.” She pushed the jar back.
“She has explained the situation. It is her pocket money and she decides what she does with it. I also agree with her.” She reached out to my hair.
“You used to be even sexier than this. Have you stopped caring for yourself? Are you really putting in the effort to find a name for yourself? I know that there are a lot of people that don’t like you but there are still some that care about you.” I tried to fight the tears back.
“Aww, I’m glad that your heart hasn’t frozen over completely.” She braided my hair. “I had heard that you like your hair braided. But I am telling you this. Aya will continue overpaying as long as you don’t find a name for yourself. I might step in too if you take too long.” She smiled and went inside and closed the door.
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A year passed. 2 years passed. 10 years passed. Aya hadn’t missed a single week of overpaying. My jar had turned into barrels.
A young woman entered the store.
“One lollipop please.” She put one silver on the counter.
“Aren’t you too old to still buy lollipops?”
“Aren’t you too old to not have a name yet?"
“I see puberty has made you more gutsy, I can kick your ass in a heartbeat you know?”
“Yup! But more will take my place if I fall!”
“Huh, what does that mean?” Two more young ladies entered the store and put 1 silver on the counter. They both wanted a single lollipop.
“I brought my cousins! Give up sexy lady! You can’t win this! I hope you have a bigger barrel!”
“So persistent!”
I had decided that it was time to visit their parents. I [levitated] the 2 barrels and went to their parents.
A woman opened the door. I recognized her. Time hadn’t been kind to her.
“Oh, sexy lady.” She reached out and braided my hair. “My answer is the same as the last time you came here. I’ve heard that Aya has recruited Hilda and Bella. I would recommend that you find a name before you run out of space.” She grinned and went back inside.
I was at a loss for words. I brought the barrels back to my shop, closed up for the day, and headed over to Paul and Paula. They had been breeding like rabbits. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren ran around the large house they had.
Paula saw me, clutched her head but ran over to give me a hug. She had 3 cute kids that were clutching onto her long skirt.
“Great to see you! How long has it been? 12 years?” I nodded.
“Hey Paula, what would be a good name for me?”
“That is something you should decide! Don’t think I don’t know about the story about Aya. I might send my great-great-grandchildren over if you don’t decide!”
“But I thought maybe you could help me.”
“Hmm, if you had come earlier, like 12 years earlier I would have but now that you have this arrangement with Aya, it’s on you to find a good name for yourself. Also, Aya’s mother, her auntie and I have formed a small council. We will veto any bad name you come up with so don’t half ass it!” Paula smiled and picked up 2 of her grandkids. Or were they great grand kids? I had lost any sense of time.
“Carlos! Get your sons! I only have 2 arms! Sorry I need to go” Paula smiled. A young man came running and got scolded by Paula. I got a strange feeling in my chest. I also wanted something like that. But I can’t even come up with a name. How can I bond with anyone if I don’t even have a name?
I returned home and thought of different kinds of names. I couldn’t decide on one. I should have asked Paula how they came up with all the name for their kids. Does this come naturally? They look at their child and instantly know what name to give? I looked into a mirror. I seemed to have lost my glow due to lack of care for myself. I was still sexy but nowhere compared to what I was in my prime… My prime… was it my prime? I am extremely young for a Misha. I might have been able to become even stronger but I have wasted that opportunity now.
Time flew by. Boshi Town had established itself as an important settlement in Hjuva. Hjuva’s new capital was Gittrian. I can’t say that I’m surprised. That place was friendly towards anyone. That would have been my personal first candidate.
3 women and their 5-year-old children walked into the shop. They bought various potions and they paid for them. Each of them put 1 silver on the counter afterward.
“You know the deal.1 lollipop.” I gave them their lollipop.
“Just curious, do you have any intention on marrying? You obviously have the looks.”
I looked at Aya. She was 29 years old now. I sighed. “I have thought about it but I can’t commit to someone if I can’t even find a name for myself.”
“Don’t forget that there are still people that care for you.” Aya and her cousins waved goodbye and left.
I sat down and put my head in my hands. What am I doing with my life? I had given up on everything. All I did was brewing potions and cooking spices or making candy to sell in my shop. I had stopped improving my magic skills or escaping. I’m not the only one. Paul and Paula had also given up. There was no trace of the battle that had played off in this location which seemed to have been 314 years ago. It has been 314 years already... Nobody knows who I was besides Paula and Paul. The people here just see us as anomalies. We are lucky that strange things tend to happen around Boshi town so some inhabitants never aging is quite normal to them.
More time went by. But my assistance was required. I ran over to the edge of the barrier. Aya had been attacked by a flying wolf. I hugged her and tried to heal her. I was still bad at healing. I still needed maximum body contact.
“It’s ok Aya, you will be fine.”
Aya was wheezing heavily. I don’t think she will be fine but I just hope my healing will make it on time. The wolf had bitten into her windpipe. I was surprised she was still alive. But this means that she will be fine as long as she holds on. Aya reached her fist to me. It was shaking and bloodied. She dropped a coin stained with blood in my hand.
“O...one lolli…pop” I tried to speed up my healing.
“Don’t talk please! Just hold on longer!”
“Name…please…”
“I will! Just hold on!” I willed more magic to speed up her healing. Despite the agony she must be in she asked for my name again.
“My name…Uhh, Uraya! How about that?!”
“Beautiful…” She smiled as the light slowly left her eyes.
“Aya! No! please! I finally have a name! you can’t leave now!!” I continued trying to heal her but nothing happened. My sight became blurry.
“Stupid tears! Aya please!” More people arrived later. They pulled me away from Aya!
“Noo! Let me heal her!” The surrounding townspeople all had a grim look on their face. Aya’s cousins were here too. Aya’s son was here too. He walked over to me.
“Thank you for fulfilling my mother’s wish before she passed.” I looked at Aya’s son. When did he get so tall? Am I really this indecisive? He looks like he is in his early 20’s. This made me cry even more.
“But Uraya, eh? That is a wonderful name.” Aya’s son walked back to his deceased mother. His words struck me. Those were words that I hadn’t heard in forever. ‘A beautiful name…’