+++ Alfon’s Perspective +++

“How do you keep beating me... I don’t get it?”

Nina and I were in the game room playing card games again, since I forgot to bring my books with me.

We were playing Cheat, and I was... not winning.

After we finished lunch mother said she was going to be busy whilst Hilar just up and left. She was nice enough to cover our tab though.

Anyway, with nothing much to do I opted to practice some magic... but I couldn’t shake the warning I was given.

‘Your talent for magic is not your own.’

‘The more you use it, the more influence his soul has over yours. Find your own ground to stand on, your own talent.’

I honestly have no clue what it really meant in terms of specifications.

It obviously didn’t mean a complete restriction on casting spells, as I had unwittingly recited a water spell during lunch.

So did it mean that I shouldn’t overdo it on the quantity of spells? Or is it a ceiling on the volume of mana I should use? Is it a fixed restriction? Or maybe it refreshes every day? Month? How do I differentiate between this consequence and the natural consequence of using too much mana?

Honestly, I wished my alternate self would have been a bit more specific, would it kill him to give some concrete rules? Then again maybe he doesn’t know himself.

Anyway, I’m still quite apprehensive about magic casting so I decided to not overdo it if not necessary.

“Ah, sorry,” I had met Nina’s gaze and realized it was my turn, “I was thinking about something.”

Nina said nothing as I took my turn.

“Hey Nina... did I do something wrong to you?” I asked. Nina hadn’t been talking to me recently, or doing the things she normally does. It felt a bit strange honestly. Perhaps I had gotten used to her affection.

She continued to say nothing and just play her cards.

“If I did, I would like to apologize. It hurts quite a bit when you treat me coldly.”

She stopped.

“Alfy. Weird now.” She spoke softly.

“Huh?”

“Strange. Body, one. Life... more.”

“You... know?” I whispered slowly, “About the original Alfon?”

How did she know?

Nina shook her head, “don’t know. Feel. Alfy feel strange when out church. Nina...” She hesitated, “Nina not sure if Alfy still like Nina.”

“Nina, of course I still like you.” I tried to reassure her, but she shook her head.

“Nina can’t tell. Alfy fuzzy.”

“How can I get you to trust me?”

Nina looked up and blinked twice, as if surprised I would say something like that. She then dropped her smile before speaking: “Why?”

“Why? Why what?” She was honestly really scary when she wasn’t smiling, even with her horns and tail hidden behind her illusion spell. She had the complexion of a ghost and her eyes looked bottomless. It was like staring into the abyss, but nonetheless I couldn’t let myself be intimidated by her appearance.

Not when she’s done so much for me.

“Why you want trust?”

“It's... lonely otherwise. The journey we’ve taken since Avenstron wasn’t easy by any means. Camping out all the time, sleeping in the cold, hiding in the cart during monster attacks. But I felt at ease knowing I wasn’t the only one going through that. So I’d like you to feel at ease with me.”

Nina gave me a questioning glance, “Other with us. Rafine and friends.”

“Yeah, but it's not the same kind of trust. There’s a lot of things I can’t tell them that I can tell you, because you listen to me the most I think.” I argued, “Plus it's just nice knowing someone the same age is next to you. I would have hated it if I was the only kid. So thanks for just being there.”

She also reminded me of my sister sometimes, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to divulge that secret yet.

We sat staring at each other for a few moments before Nina held her hand out, “Prove. Trust. Hand. Pain, little. ”

“Oh, sure.” I wasn’t quite sure what she wanted me to do, but I was willing to go along with it.

“Hand.” She said again.

“Okay.” I put my hand in hers, but she just shook me off.

“Hand. Left.” She repeated.

I quickly followed her commands and put my left hand in hers.

She leaned in close and put her other hand over my mouth before whispering in my ear, “Hold. Still.”

Stab.

Her nails punctured my palm.

I say nails but it felt more like a claw, anyway it hurt.

But, I didn’t say anything.

I had a really big urge to scream for sure, but I managed to hold it in.

“Alfy. Look me.”

I tentatively opened the eyelids that had shut tightly at the sudden onset of pain, I wish she had given me something to bite on before doing this.

She was staring at me so hard, I saw my own eyes reflected in hers.

“Alfy. Stay with me?” She posed it as a question.

I nodded quickly, wanting to get this over with. As if picking up my intentions, she shook her head. “Focus much on pain. Can’t feel. Concentrate words. Emotions.”

“Easy for you to say. Can’t you warn me before doing stuff like this?” I think... I understand now. She has some ability to read emotions or something. I took a few deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain, before responding: “I will stay with you.”

She nodded this time before continuing: “Alfy. Like me?” Her claws dug a little bit deeper.

“I do.” Deep breaths, in and out, your left palm definitely isn’t bleeding profusely.

“Alfy. Love me?”

Oh, that question was a bit more tricky, but there is only one right answer in this scenario.

“I do.”

She finally let go of my hand and I quickly brought it up to my face. There were two cuts in my left palm that were leaking blood. Not wanting anyone to notice, I stuck the hand over my mouth and licked the wound.

When I finally had the wits to look at Nina she was smiling at me, like usual.

“Liar.”

“Huh? What do-” I looked down to realize she had flipped over my card in the game of cheat, “Oh. Okay fine, you win.”

I’m starting to understand why I can never beat her... though, her ability didn’t explain why she also beat me in skill-based card games.

Was there more to it?

While my thoughts danced between her strange ability and whether or not I should be asking for medical assistance, she threw her arms around me and gave me a hug.

“Alfy. Liar. But Nina will be fool for you.” She rubbed her head against me, I could feel the horns that her illusion spell hid.

“Thanks. Does that mean we are good now?” I asked.

“Mmhm.”

+

Okay so we have a problem on our hands.

It’s all well and good that Nina now trusts me like usual after that strange ritual that she did. But she left some noticeable wounds on my hands that mother would definitely be worried about.

Master Rafine wasn’t kidding when she said outlanders are really different from humans, maybe I shouldn’t associate with them too much in the future.

Though that thought process sounds suspiciously like racism.

Anyways I needed to get my hand fixed before mother gets back or Nina is going to be in some deep trouble. I’m pretty sure mother had a bad impression of her already, so I was quite worried that she may just decide to leave her behind.

Of course, I could ask Glyake, but there was a high chance that he’d also inform my mother. And since I could perform this action whenever I decided to go with the other option.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Fortunately I remember mother and Prisilla carrying extra potions in their satchels. If I could make it back to the inn I would be able to heal my hand.

The extra bonus is that I’d be able to bring the book of prophecy here and read it, which was very enticing given that we were about to set off to Halyis soon.

“I don’t mean to bother you guys, but where is the supervisor?” I had asked the older girl, Belserai, about where the usual guard watching us was, since I didn’t see him this time.

“Oh, you mean Sir Hubert? He’s helping papa at the moment.” She looked up at me from the book she was reading, her headdress covering her eyes. I peeked over and noticed the book was written in strange bumpy dots.

Braille, I think it was called. I’ll have to ask master Rafine for the translation in common tongue.

I can’t say I wasn’t curious about the contents of that book, that being said I’ll have to ask later.

“Oh... umm, do you know if I can step outside for a moment?” I had some priorities at the moment.

“Outside?”

“Yeah, out of the shop.”

“Couldn’t you just go out through the front door?” She looked at me confused.

“Is there... any other way?” I asked.

“If you wanted to, I suppose you could go out through the back entrance. It’s through the place where they store the rice.” She pointed to one of the doors leading out of the room.

“Bella, why are you talking to him?” The girl with the blue hair, Saphira, strode towards us and stood in between me and Belserai, all the while shooting me a petrifying gaze. The boy, Gabriel, wasn’t here today, so she had been playing alone.

“Oh, he just wanted to go outside for a bit and I was telling him how.”

“He wants to go outside? Why.” She worded that last part less like a question and more like a threat.

“I forgot something at the inn and wanted to go pick it up. It’s not too far away.” We walked here today and it only took about ten minutes or so.

I wasn’t lying, per say, but Saphira didn’t seem to believe me regardless.

As I was withering from her gaze, she suddenly spoke: “I’m coming.”

“What? Why?” I was at a loss as to why she’d want to come.

“I don’t trust you. And I was going out anyway.”

She was?

“Saphira, it doesn’t need to be today.” Belserai took the girl’s hand into hers. “We can eat it together another time.”

“No we can’t! We’re leaving soon. I heard dad talk with the scary lady.” Saphira pouted, “and Hubert said he wouldn’t let me...” Oh right, they were coming to Halyis as well huh?

“Can you please not go?”

Saphira looked to the side before replying, “but I want to...”

Belserai sighed, “Okay okay, I don’t think I can stop you anyway. Alfon, was it? Could you please watch over her? She wanted to buy some treats nearby.”

“Sure. You can count on me. Could you keep Hubert distracted in the meantime?” Oh well, I hope her detour wasn’t going to take too long. Maybe she’ll be nice enough to share some with me.

“I’ll say you two were playing upstairs,” She covered her mouth as a soft smile formed on her lips, giving her an ephemeral aura, “Thank you my little knight.” I was stricken by her soft, transient beauty for a second before Saphira snapped me out of it.

“Come on already.” She tossed an order my way before storming off.

“Hey wait.” I yelled back before turning to Nina, “Nina stay here okay? This won’t take too long.”

She gave me that smile she usually does, it’ll have to be good enough.

I dashed after Saphira, “Do you even know the directions?” For a kid she sure runs fast. It definitely has something to do with the accelerated growth of this world.

+

“Hey hurry up, we need to get back now.” We had spent 15 minutes getting back to my inn and grabbing my backpack after persuading the innkeeper that it was indeed my room. The security wasn’t that good if I’m being honest, they just asked me for the name, date, and duration of the registration. Then it took another five or so minutes to head to the market where Saphira bought the candies.

I wasn’t sure when mother would be back so I was just a tad bit worried.

What complicated this even further was that I completely forgot potions don’t actually heal my hand.

You needed a potion and also a healing spell.

And as if I wasn’t done making mistakes, I realized again that if I did bring my backpack and mother picked me up, she’d notice I went back to the inn.

All in all, it was an absolutely terrible plan that I’m embarrassed I didn’t realize sooner.

Ultimately I decided the extra reading time was worth the scolding so I brought my backpack anyway.

“Yeah, yeah.” I muttered back as I drudged along, “I’m coming.”

“God, you’re so slow.” She shouted back, irritated, “Even with my shortcut this is taking so long. I could have done this myself already.” Saphira was a lot faster than I was, I chalked this up to her legs being a lot longer than mine, but apparently we were the same age.

As we turned into a backstreet I wallowed in puddles of sorrow, while thinking about how to explain the wound on my hand to my mother.

Top contender is me tripping and scraping my hand on some rocks. I think that might work.

I took a deep sigh.

This whole trip was just sad.

“Oof.” Kneedeep in my thoughts, I didn’t notice that Saphira had stopped moving and ran headfirst into her, almost knocking both of us over, “Hey what’s wrong?” Thankfully she stood firm.

“What do we have here? A noble child and her attendant?”

...

That... wasn’t Saphira.

I looked up and noticed a skinny man blocking the way in front. He wore clothes that needed washing and his face resembles someone who ate a single meal a day for his entire life. That being said, he’s still taller than a four-year old.

“Hehe, looks like we got ourselves a catch today.”

I whipped my head around, there were three more thugs. Two of them looked similar to the one in front, but one of them covered his face with a cloth and was quite well built. He struck me as particularly intimidating.

“Hands up, and no one gets hurt.”

Oh.

Great.

Dejavu.

What is this? The second time now?

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse.

I slowly put my hands up, but Saphira stood still and didn’t move. A single sideways glance told me all I needed to know. She was frightened senseless.

I understand that this situation isn’t the most pleasant, but considering her personality I expected her to snap back. Her fear seemed abnormal.

Or maybe it was me that was abnormal.

Hmm let’s see, two kids stuck in a back alley surrounded by four thugs.

Yeah maybe it was just my experience keeping me calm.

“Oi,” the man in front pulled a kitchen knife out, “Didn’t you hear me?”

Still, his whole act seemed quite comical, given he didn’t even sound that confident in his own words. The way he’s holding his knife makes it seem like he hasn’t fought a single day in his life.

Compared to Orily these guys were circus clowns.

Though, he can probably still beat up a child.

“Hurry it up!” He shouted.

Upon his demand, Saphira slowly began raising her hands. The bag of cookies slipped from her grasp and spilled all over the muddy ground.

“I-I..’m sorry. P-Please, go away. O-Or I-I’ll sc-scream.” She stuttered.

“Look at the mouth on this one? Go away? You think we’ll just listen to you?” He put his face right up against her, to the point where I could even smell his breath.

Disgusting.

“You scream and we’ll cut you up.” I heard one of the pigs behind me squeal.

“Hur hur. Hand over your cash already, noble girl like you’s got ta have some good coins.” The other one this time.

Under duress, Saphira slowly took out the change she got from the bakery from her pockets, which the thug in front swiped.

“You kidding me? This is nothing!” He shouted angrily as finished counting.

I’m starting to think that I should just do away with this fool. A simple offensive spell would certainly bring him down.

Though...

‘Your talent for magic is not your own.’

Sigh.

“Oi, mess with me one more time and I’ll gut you.” He threatened.

“T-This is all I have. I w-was b-buying c-c-c...” A scared Saphira stammered.

Ah.

Was she crying?

“Uh huh?” His face curled up into an ugly smile, “Then you’ll be fine if I’ll jus’ search you myself.” He held a dirty hand up towards her direction.

There was a lot going through my mind as I judged my options.

But when I saw that scene in front of me.

I was reminded by something a while back. Something I couldn’t stop back then.

That I could now.

“Icicle Shard.” A lopsided shard of ice responded to my call and flung itself forward, directly at his head.

Okay.

That was it.

I was done.

“What the?” Looks like the man was more agile than I gave him credit for because he snapped his head to the side like he was ready for it.

But so was I.

Two more shards came at him from the side and pinned him to the ground. The spells felt good in my hands, the pain was gone and it felt like my mana was flowing a lot smoother. I felt like I could take on the whole lot of them. Though given he was already dislodging himself, maybe I was being overzealous.

Man this awakening was worth every cent that I didn’t pay.

Looking around, it looks like the three behind me were dumbfounded, however, given that the tough looking guy already had his hand on his sword, I shouldn't stick around to gloat.

I grabbed Saphira’s hand as hard as I could and started running.

“H-Hey!” I heard one of them shout, “Get back here!”

Two more shards struck the ground behind me, spreading ice over the pavement.

+

“Ha... ha... ha... I think they’re gone” I stopped, out of breath. We had made our way back to the main roads, given that there were a lot of people around I was sure we were safe.

“Y-you okay?” I expected Saphira to say something, but she stood there, still petrified. Well, I was grateful she took the hint and ran with me. If she had tripped it would have been a disaster.

“Well, let’s head back. I don’t think your sister can keep them distracted that long, prepare yourself for a scolding.” I moved away from her, trying to gauge the direction of the eatery, but as I tried to let go of her hand, she held on.

Fingers gripped tight around my wrist, unwilling to let go and her sky blue hair casting a shadow over her eyes. Her face was contorted into a tight frown, like she was trying to stop herself from crying.

Didn’t work much, given that tears had started flowing already.

“Ah... wait a minute.” I reached into my bag with one hand and pulled a scarf I had for camping nights, “It’s not really a handkerchief, but this should help.”

She snatched it from my hand and started wiping her face. “It’s rough and dirty.” She complained.

“Sorry about that.”

We stood for a few moments whilst she composed herself.

“Do you know the way back?” I asked, completely clueless as to our whereabouts.

She nodded, a bit more energetically.

+++ ???’s perspective +++

“Damn, that kid was nasty.”

“Tell me about it,” the man turned to look at the tallest one in their group, “I know you said he could cast magic, but that fast? Shouldn’t we get extra pay for this?”

“Don’t push your luck, ruffians.” His suggestion was shut down with a glare.

“Woah, someone certainly is high and mighty. Must be nice to be born into money huh Mr. Knight?”

Hubert scowled at the other three, disgusted. He wasn’t sure why he had been given such a task, and nor did he enjoy tormenting children.

But a Knight follows orders without asking questions.

He flung a bag of coins in their direction and marched away without another word, unwilling to associate with people of their class any further.

As his boots struck the pavement he internally apologized to the young lady, though it did little to alleviate his guilt.

+

“Wooo, we’re eating good tonight huh?”

“You said it. Wait... there’s someone else coming.”

“Huh is it the guard? Dam, let’s get out of here.”

“Naw bra’h, i’s a girl. She’s alone.”

“Seriously? This day can’t get any better.”

+

“Hands up girlie, and no one gets hurt.”

“Man, what’s with that creepy smile? You right in the head?”

“..ther.”

“What was that?”

“Don’t. Bother.”

“Wha-”

CRACK.

SNAP.

CRUNCH.