“Ana, no matter what, do not engage in any conversation with those researchers and hunters. I don’t want you to be a part of any dangerous groups…we’ll stay here, where it’s safe.”
Anastasia nodded, though her eyes and expression still shows no emotions, all her actions are fully dependent on her mother. Whatever she says, she will follow. That’s the way she grows up. The night passes without any incidents, the village stays the same as ever, quiet and full of people who are working to warm themselves in this harsh winter.
Anastasia and her mother are no exception. They bring firewoods into the smith and gather herbs that were left alive by the climate and extract it to make potions for them to sell. Fortunately, Anastasia’s mother is a knowledgeable alchemist.
While Anastasia is helping out her mother in their humble stall beside the streets, a figure of a little girl wearing an eyeglass stood in front of their selection. The little girl seems to be studying the contents of the potion just by looking at it, and everyone can tell that she might just be able to come up with the ingredients when given enough time. A scholar so to say.
“What can I help you with, little lady?”
She was disrupted by Anastasia’s mother who is currently looking at her with interest. The little girl, on the other hand, did not respond, instead, she did not move a single muscle whilst thinking. It’s as if she’s too focused on studying what’s in front of her. Noticing this, Ana’s mother narrows her eyes down and lets her be, watching her with keen interest. But then– another interjection had occurred.
“Oh? Little kids these days have such a strong passion for knowledge. It’s admirable, my researcher’s heart is truly elated.”
It was Roderick with his colleagues behind him, warmly smiling towards Anastasia and the little girl. He almost pats the head of the little girl, however, he felt something strange and thought to himself: ‘Hm? My guts are telling me that I should not interrupt what she’s doing. But what’s up with her concentration, it’s too damn keen for a child like her.’
Roderick looks forward, seeing Anastasia’s mother staring at the girl, paying no heed to him and his colleagues, which makes him snicker in silence. By the time Anastasia laid her eyes on the little girl, she blinked. Her saliva just slowly dropped from her lips, but she wiped it off quickly.
“Amazing, it’s only a simple potion, but the way it got brewed is unnatural. Miss, I would like to take up some classes with you.”
“.....”
Everyone present looked at the little girl, speechless. As Roderick’s curiosity piques him, he glanced at the potion and carefully observed it. Nothing, he sees nothing special with it, in fact, he only identifies it as homebrewed cure ailment potion.
‘This little girl might just be a bogus hunter aiming to please alchemists and mages with her sway of words, gaining their trust and wisdom to share. But for her to already be like this at such an early age, I pity you.’
Anastasia’s mouth seems to be slightly open due to awe. Of all people, she’s the one who knows how delicate and magical her mother brews the potions she makes. To be able to see through this, despite not knowing her mother’s background, surprised her a bit.
“The potion was indeed just a normal one…however, I am stern with the process.”
Ana’s mother surprisingly responded in kind. Though, she still hasn’t acknowledged the presence of the other party.
In just a moment, a young male with the look and presence of a normal villager just butted in with a carefree smile on his face.
“Sophia, what are you doing, you're bothering the adults, hehe…”
He rubs the back of his head as he chuckles.
Sophia then relaxed her hands on her waist as she asked Zephyr with a smile drawn on her lips.
“Zep, good timing. Look at the concoctions this alchemist is selling. You think we can match these?”
“Huh?”
Zephyr leans in closer, as if someone who is shopping without the slightest bit of interest about buying the thing he's looking at. He then thinks. ‘What is she expecting me to say? Isn't this just a normal homebrewed potion? Anyhow, I see that she's trying to please this sharp-looking lady. Maybe she's interested in recruiting her to her network? If that's the case, I should praise her work too…but what could I even say…’
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He lifts his head, still displaying a carefree smile.
“Uhh, that's…yeah, an innovative way of brewing, ermm-”
His eyes then fell towards the little Anastasia who is eyeing her like he's a frozen statue. For any other person, being stared at by Anastasia like how she's doing with Zephyr will freak them out, threatened by her sheer gaze. However, for someone like Zephyr, who has been with his abnormal party for a start of two years, he developed quite a resistance to it. He thought to himself: ‘Whoa, those scary eyes…why do I feel like she'll get along just fine with my friends.’
“Hey Zep, don't leave me hanging like that. I know you're not that interested because you already know such things but at least give it more enthusiasm.” Sophia sulks afterwards.
“.....”
Anastasia’s mother and Sophia then noticed that the two, Ana and Zep have been staring at each other for a while now, which results in Sophia to pull Zephyr’s cheeks. With a frown on her face, she crosses her arms and questions him: “Zep, don't tell me, you're–” which then Zephyr immediately retracted as he thinks he knows what she's going to say.
“No no no no, it's not that, I mean–”
As the two continue talking, Anastasia’s mother looks at her daughter, pondering: ‘That boy, he was staring directly at Ana’s eyes yet he hadn't faltered nor even felt anything at all. He immediately jumped his attention from the potion towards her as soon as he knew that my daughter is even more special than any potions I brew.’ She holds her daughter by her shoulder and points her head towards their hut, signifying an order to go home. Without any words of refusal, Anastasia nods and turns her back towards them, she then walks away after taking a final peek towards Zephyr, which her mother noticed. ‘Anastasia…’
“Ekhem.”
Roderick cleared his throat to finally make his presence known once again, but then he just left smiling with his group, not saying anything after patting Zep and Sophia’s shoulders.
Anastasia's mother squints as she sees them leave just like that, though she did not give it much thought and went back to Zephyr.
‘This little boy, his attention switched instantly to my daughter. Does he know anything about- no, that's impossible, he's just a little kid.’ She then turns her gaze at Sophia to give her a response regarding her statement back then.
“I'm sorry young lady, I do not accept apprentices, I would never and I'm not qualified to.”
“That's a shame. You have the necessary means to become a great teacher, I'm confused why you're rejecting such authority. If I were to see an opportunity, I would grab it and never let go.” Sophia commented, showing an upset expression.
“Err, don't be like that Sophia. We can't just push people into things they don't want to become.” Zephyr commented as he was massaging his cheek that was pinched by Sophia.
“....” “Is that so?”
Ana’s mother remarked after a brief pause. She turns her gaze back at Zephyr and asks him an unusual question.
“What do your eyes tell you when you look at my daughter?”
Sophia raises a brow after hearing her query. She then squints as she also turns her gaze towards Zephyr who is quiet at the moment. Inside the head of the future {Fate Threader} was: ‘Wait, does she think I'm trying to chance up her daughter? She's beautiful alright, but I can feel my bones freezing just by looking at her, it's quite scary like my teammates!’ Zephyr scratches the back of his head as he chuckles to give off some relaxing vibe.
“Haha, it's just that…well, she gives me an atmosphere with a sense of familiarity close to my friends so…”
“Just like your friends you say. They must not be normal then–”
She just blurted it out without any thoughts which resulted in her to immediately put a halt to her own words.
‘Bingo! You nailed it Madame!’
Sophia then assumes a thinking pose.
‘Zep…don't tell me, he saw a hidden potential towards that mysterious girl with just a glance at her eyes. To compare her with our friends, that must mean–’
“I see it now, Zep. Sorry for not comprehending your mind faster.” Sophia whispered.
“What? What do you mean?”
“Zep, I mean it, sorry…so you can drop the act now.”
“No no no, I don't–”
“Weren't you afraid? Did your bones freeze?”
Ana’s mom interjected, asking Zephyr yet another unusual question whilst eyeing him like she's studying his whole personality.
‘You tell me Ma’am. Like I said, she has the same qualities of my abnormal friends, but I can't really say that…’ Zephyr chuckles a bit.
“I did feel something, but it's a thing I'm used to. Hahah…”
“.....”
Ana’s mom was speechless. From the beginning, she already accepted the fact that their generation, starting from her, will be left alone in the dark, being unwanted by many yet wanted by wicked people. She does not feel either any ill intent or devious aspects towards the little Zephyr. Instead, she feels like everything he says is his honest feeling. With this realization, her hope for Anastasia to finally be with someone that accepts her has come to light. Sophia, on the other hand, understands the situation and gives off a relieved smile as if she's expecting a new member for their little group.
“What's your name, little boy? And what are you?”
“My name's Zephyr Gersche. I'm just a normal hunter who just wants to live a normal life and just wants to spend time without worries.”
Sophia then chuckled.
“Alright, normal hunter, Zephyr.” She says it with a hint of sarcasm as she thought that Zep is just being humble. She then continues-
“I have a bad premonition relating to this town– and the other people who recently came in. I feel bad entrusting this to a kid, but I can already see how promising you are.”
She picks up a satchel underneath the counter and offers it to Zephyr.
“If anything does happen…please, watch over my child for me.”