"Sweetie, do you feel bad about being an anomaly?" my mother once asked me.

Just another training session had ended; some moments before, I had been dueling against her with my single spell active. She blocked me with ease each time, not a single drop of sweat on her forehead. Then we sat right outside our humble house, relaxing and enjoying the breeze caressing our skin, while at the same time it dried my sweat.

"Well... not particularly," I replied after chugging a whole glass of water down my throat. "I would like to have some more spells, though..."

She warmly smiled, ruffling my hair. "One day, you shall, sweetie..."

"It's just a bit boring using the same one all the time..." I lamented.

"I see."

I glanced at her. "How many spells do you have, mom?"

She brought a finger to her chin, her eyes looking upward. "Hmm... I have some."

"I've never seen you use your codex though... Why don't you use it to train me?"

"It is not necessary. Magical items are more than sufficient to train you, sweetie."

I stared at my glass of water. It was empty... just like me. "Can I have some more water?"

"Of course, sweetie."

It took me little time to finish that second glass of water. I really felt thirsty that morning, and I filled my stomach with nothing but water after that training.

"Argenta..." she softly called.

I turned my head towards her. "Yes, mom?"

"Do you believe in fate?" she asked me.

"Fate?"

"Fate."

I turned my gaze back to the empty glass, letting it swing in my hands as I thought of an answer. "Hmm... I'm not sure. Why?"

"I told you to believe, but to never expect anything... What would you do if you were fated to have no spells aside from the only one you already possess?"

"Huh..." I was quite taken aback by such a question... A possibility I had never considered, and it troubled me just thinking about it. "Well... I don't know... I wouldn't be happy about it."

"How would you react?"

"I would do my best to defy it... I want new spells."

She smiled at that.

"What even is fate, exactly?" I then asked her, tilting my head.

"Fate..." she murmured. "One can view it in many different ways, and from different angles."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"The purview of the Deities, perhaps? The awareness that every action is already predetermined, the outcomes inevitable and set in stone? Mankind's doom?"

"That doesn't sound reassuring... How can I face such a thing if I truly were to be fated?"

My mother giggled, and her lips curled into a warm smile as she leaned in, cupping my cheeks. "Flip the script."

"Hm?"

"If it ever comes to that... you mustn't worry, sweetie. There is always a way to escape the chains of destiny, to break them link by link."

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling doubts slowly gnawing at me.

"I'm certain of it."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we are more than mere playthings of fate."

...

"Why do you work this way?!"

Thinking back... perhaps a part of me regrets it now.

"It doesn't make any sense!"

Back to when it was 'easy'... Back to when, without even knowing it, I was 'happy'. I had a single spell, I knew it, and I was confident with it. I still had the affection of a loving mother, and the awareness that, no matter what, I knew what my place in this nasty world was, despite everything...

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Now, instead, I had nothing but doubts. How have the tables turned?

"Why do you have to work like this?!" I shouted while I punched my codex in anger and frustration.

This new spell was another mystery... Days had gone by in a flash while I tried to study it. And what did I get from it? Nothing... Not a single, tiny, significant piece of information. Not a shred of sense.

"How do you even work?!"

Every time I used it, just like my third spell at the beginning, I would lose consciousness. I didn't even realize it at first. With this spell, however, it was different... Thankfully, it didn't give me the worst headache I'd ever experienced. But at the same time, each time I used it, some time passed by. I figured as much... I even brought an hourglass to better understand exactly how much time passed while I was mentally gone. But... that solved nothing...

"Why is it different each time?! And the cooldown of the spell doesn't make sense either! First, it's six hours. Then, I had to wait twelve! Then eighteen. The following time, a whole day! Every time six hours are added! Why?! What even is this logic?! This is not how spells are supposed to work!"

I threw my codex into the air.

"WHY AM I SO COMPLICATED?!"

And I kicked it as it descended, making it fly elsewhere in the grass. Then, just like a furious baby, I threw myself face down onto the ground.

"Why..." I groaned before rolling onto my back, now facing the sky.

It was cold... winter was nearly upon us. The worst season, and not because I dislike the cold; I enjoy it, actually. I love seeing trees bare of their leaves, just as much as I love stepping on them and hearing their satisfying crunch. I love cozy fireplaces. I also love long, comfortable, and warm sleeves. Sometimes I'd also stretch them and play with them; it helps with the stress. I love hot chocolates as well; perfect in this season. So, overall... I do like winter. What I don't like about it... is the fact it brings along the worst memory of all.

Yet, I didn't mind... I had other troubles on my mind to care about the weather. Either way, I couldn't feel cold with how much my veins were boiling with anger. Ever since I returned to Zafferbridge, it's been like this. I had made no progress whatsoever with the Silver Witch matter, nor with this new spell.

Not that I could make any progress with the Silver Witch matter even if I wanted to... How does someone even search for information about someone who's already dead without openly admitting it?! Eavesdropping led nowhere, and I had no one to turn to, nor anywhere specific where to investigate for answers, so I had to untangle this mystery on my own. And my mother was already an overly secretive woman. If she even had a secret identity... I don't even want to think about it! Just how much is the difficulty increasing?! It feels like trying to get straight to the last Matryoushouka doll without opening all the others!

I groaned heavily at the mere thought.

Sure, as far as the spell was concerned, asking for help was an option. I could ask Joey to help me figure out how this spell worked, but without knowing its effects... it was better to avoid it. Even asking that crazy girlfriend of mine was out of the question. First of all, because she disappeared. Where to? Good question... And second, asking her didn't sound reassuring. Likely, something happened while I was unconscious, since every time I came back to my senses I was still on my feet.

Unless, for some reason, I had become incredibly good at standing while my mind was shut off. But I highly doubt this was the case. The question is: what happened?

I sighed. "No point standing here... For the first time, I have to say it... I give up."

No other options. No other ways. No other paths. No other ideas. Nothing. Nothing at all.

"The area around me doesn't undergo any changes; my body feels the same, everything stays the same... I'm tired of thinking... I give up... You win, spell. You win, Deities... I have run out of options, and I have no clue what it does. You win..."

I got up from the cold grass, and dragged myself back to my guild. I... wanted some company. I needed some company; mainly to distract myself. And some sweets, too. Something able to grant me some happiness, however feeble and ephemeral it might be, so I could finally move on again with my tasks.

As I entered the guild, Joey was there, sitting in the lounge drinking some tea.

"Joey, do you know where Crimson is?"

He shook his head. "She still hasn't returned. She's probably still trying to contact Carolina."

"Still...?" I groaned. "They both disappeared..."

I decided to stay with him for a bit, and sat beside him. "Hey, Joey... would you like to go for a walk this evening?"

He nodded, turning his head towards me. "Sure. Are we going somewhere specific?"

"I want to eat something cold and sweet... maybe ice cream?"

He frowned. "An ice cream in this cold?"

"What, you're too weak to handle it?"

"No, no... I'm fine with it." He then returned to his tea, staring at it as his eyes turned gradually sadder. "It's... that time of the year again, isn't it?"

My body followed his exact same demeanour, resting both my arm and head on my knee as I propped my leg on the settee. "The anniversary of my mother's death..."

"What will you do? If Crimson and Carolina return, you'll have to go into that dungeon."

"I don't care about the dungeon..." I murmured. "I'll go visit her tombstone."

In reality, I did care about it, partially. But at the same time... my mother has always been my top priority. The clear of Silveandria took too much time, unfortunately.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Sorry, I'd rather go alone this time. There's... a lot of things I want to tell her..."

"It's alright. Just know that I'm here if you ever need anything."

- - - - - - -

"Joey, where are you going?"

I was getting ready to go out with Argenta, when Elizabeth suddenly caught my attention.

"Ah, I'm going out for a walk with Argenta. Do you want to tag along?" I replied.

She shuddered. "Huh... I'd like to, but..."

She stopped, her mouth unsure of what to do, her eyes low, darting everywhere. Despite the movements, not a word came out.

"But...?" I asked.

"But..."

"What's wrong?"

"I... I don't know if Argenta is fine with it," she finally managed to murmur.

"Why wouldn't she? Did something happen between you two?"

She shook her head. "No, nothing happened... But, you know... Crimson..."

I slowly approached her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder; her eyes were still downward. "Do you want to join?"

After a long time dwelling on it, she slowly nodded.

"Then, let's go. I'm sure Argenta wouldn't mind some more company."

"A-alright..." she stammered. "Just give me a few minutes to change, please."

"Sure. I'll wait for you. Take your time."

She smiled, and with an expression seemingly much more relaxed than a moment earlier, she headed off to her room.