Our footsteps echoed like low thumping heartbeats, as we walked down the empty hall. Mereli led the way, while I followed closely behind, a dazed and absentminded expression dotting my face. The initial shock from her earlier revelation still rang through my ears, even after five minutes had passed.

I mean, isn’t it normal to be shocked? Homunculus. I’m apparently a homunculus. That, something like that isn’t human. Rather, from what I can remember, homunculi were artificial humans.

Homunculi; artificial humans created through a process called alchemy. If I remember correctly, it should be something from Islamic or Christian folklore. Or was it European? No, maybe it was Ancient Greek… Regardless of where it came from, in essence, a homunculus was a fake human.

Even though I was a supposed fake, I still remember being a real human. At least, I think I do.

I wasn’t too certain, on the account of my memories being a bit obscured, but there was a certain part of me that had the impression that I was human. More so, I don’t even think homunculi are real, or rather, they aren’t supposed to be real. A homunculus was a thing of legend and myth. It may have been popularized by books and tv shows, but fundamentally, it was something that existed only in imagination.

At least, that was what my common sense was telling me. Although, then again, within that supposed ‘common sense’ of mine, I don’t exactly recall there being anything about little girls with horns and a black tail that resembled a demon’s. In fact, ever since I woke up, the common sense in my head didn’t seem all that common.

Were those memories false, then? Did my soul happen to cross over to another world, and flow into the body of a homunculus when I died? Was I in a world where my common sense was worthless? That was probably the most likely answer, but then again, is a homunculus even capable of having a soul in the first place?

Unaware of my current inner turmoil, Mereli continued further down the hallway. She nimbly traversed over the rubble and debris, all the while humming a song that I did not recognize.

Seeing this happy go lucky little girl only filled my head with further doubts. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how a child like this had somehow created me. I shook my head, as I hurried to catch up with her surprisingly agile movements.

I took a deep breath, and looked at things from a different perspective.

Whether I’m a homunculus or not doesn’t matter right now. In the first place, I shouldn’t just blindly believe in whatever Mereli tells me.

Although she might not mean any harm by it, there existed the possibility that she was lying. As for why, I could only begin to guess. Maybe it was something like a game. Children do that all the time, after all. Like playing house or pretending to be a superhero.

It isn’t Mereli’s fault, rather, it’s mine.

My vulnerable mindset was what made me so responsive to her previous words. If I hadn’t been so riled up, maybe I wouldn’t have reacted in such a big way. Looking back on it, it’s a bit difficult to believe her words, especially on the account that I look no different than a regular human. My limbs and body feel fine, and visually speaking, they appear “normal.” Even my little friend down there looks okay too. Aside from the fact that I woke up naked, I was completely normal, and appeared “human”. While I haven’t seen my face, just from the touch alone, that too, appeared “normal”.

On that note, after I woke up, I was lucky enough to find an old curtain, which I was currently using to cover myself.

As expected, for now, the best option is to simply ask more questions.

Let’s question her nicely. Something like an old family relative, or a friendly neighborhood big brother from across the street… Okay, let’s go with that sort of feeling in mind.

“Hey Mereli,” I called out from behind her. “Did you really create me?”

Mereli nodded her head and responded with a light “Yep!” There was no pause nor hesitation in her words, as she carefully climbed over a particularly large slab of white marble that had broken off and fallen from the ceiling.

“Then, how did you create me?” I continued to ask. My eyes unconsciously drifted towards the hard-bound book that Mereli hugged close to her chest. It was ancient looking, with leather bindings and a dark, almost murky green cover.

Mereli stopped for a moment, and tilted her head to the side, while a pained expression flashed through her face. It wasn’t that she couldn’t answer, but more that she didn’t know how to answer. She thought for a while, before giving a vague response. “Um… this and that. It was easy.”

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“Easy? Really? Are homunculi that easy to make?” I flashed a doubtful frown towards the clearly carefree seven-year-old. Was a homunculus something akin to a convenient, ready to make servant? I mean, if someone like a clueless little girl could make me, then I probably wasn’t anything grand or special. A production line that could churn out dozens of fresh homunculi at the flip of a switch… something like that doesn’t exist, right?

Even though my mind told me that I was once human, so I shouldn’t pay it any heed, I couldn’t help but feel a bit despondent.

Ignorant of my momentary existential crisis, Mereli vigorously nodded her head as she patted the book in her arms.

“It was super easy!” She exclaimed. “The hardest part was reading the words. You see, Mereli can’t read well yet. Even though the teacher said Mereli was really smart, I still can’t read the books that Father reads. She was probably a liar… ah, but I tried really hard, and I was able to do it after a few weeks. Aren’t I great?”

The little girl spoke proudly, tooting her own horn without reservation, as she smiled a toothy smile. But despite her cheery voice and brighter than light attitude, all I could muster was a twitching smile. I felt a sudden severe pain in my heart.

I was created by her… I was created by a little girl who can barely read.

Even though I just told myself not to easily believe Mereli’s words, for some reason, I had the sinking feeling that the girl in front of me was telling the truth.

A weak, hollow chuckle leaked out from my throat, before I shook my head, and forcibly calmed myself down. Whatever the process of her actions may be, none of that mattered now. After all, I was made successfully. There shouldn’t be any unforeseen defects, at least, hopefully. Probably… there was probably nothing wrong with me.

I shook my head again, and redirected my gaze back towards Mereli. “Then, can you tell me a little bit about how you made me?”

She nodded her head enthusiastically, before she proceeded to clumsily explain her process. “Um, um, it was difficult…” As if she realized what she had just said, she suddenly widened her eyes, and frantically shook her head. “Just… just kidding! It was actually really, super easy.”

She paused for a moment, mumbling her words in an incoherent babble, before she spoke up, “Just that, the jars were a bit, only a tiny bit, heavy! The orb thingy too, it was hard to find… but I actually found it really easily, so it was easy hard, but not really hard. So more like, easy, easy… and father’s horn was…”

Listening to her explain, I couldn’t help but let out a mild sigh. This girl was so quiet and subdued when we first met, but now she was talking so much, it was almost impossible for me to but in. Was she the type of person who warmed up to strangers easily? This wasn’t really a good trait for her, considering she was only a little girl. Who knows how many bad guys out there would be more than willing to take her away. It was a bit discomforting, but right now, her open attitude was helpful.

The moment she reached the topic regarding something about a horn, her words suddenly trailed off. Looking at her expression, I could see that a slight shadow had fallen across her face.

“Your dad’s horn…” I began, my vision moved to the two protruding horns that dotted her head.

After a slight pause, she hurriedly nodded her head. “Father’s horn was important. Also, after I was done, I felt really tired for some reason, but now I feel better.”

Although it was clumsily done, I could still tell that the little girl before me was trying to change the subject. Right now, all I could do was nod my head and go along with her little ruse.

I repeatedly nodded my head, all the while muttering, “I see, I see.” In truth though, my mind was filled with more questions than answers. Although she tried hard, it wasn’t really a good idea to trust a seven-year-old to explain a complicated process like creating life, even if that life is artificial.

“Ah, but I liked doing the drawing part.” She stated with a mirth giggle.

“I see, Mereli likes drawing, huh? I bet your really good at it.” I smiled in resignation.

“Yup!”

Seeing her all too adorable smile that was completely directed at me, I felt as if someone had just fired a cuteness cannon directly to my chest. I shook my head, and rubbed the crown of her head, which was basically just asking to get patted.

At first, Mereli’s shoulders were tense, but after a few seconds, they relaxed while an aura of satisfaction practically leaked out from her skin. A goofy smile floated to her lips.

We continued walking for some time. I don’t know since when, but Mereli’s hand was firmly locked onto mine. If it was just normal handholding, then I could have brushed it aside, and treated the whole incident like I would a school teacher walking a lost kindergartner to her class, but the weird part was, that Mereli wasn’t just holding my hand. For some reason, she was forcing my palm onto the top of her head. She held my hand down and locked it in place with her own.

Seeing the blissful expression scribbled on her face, the desire to protest died down no sooner than it had appeared. I couldn’t do anything, so I just wearily consented.

“Oh, yeah, Mereli, where are we going?” I suddenly remembered that I actually didn’t know where this little girl was taking me.

“Home.” She curtly answered.

“This castle isn’t your home?” This came as a genuine surprise to me. Although this little girl was hanging around such a delipidated place like this, for some reason, I had assumed from the get go that she lived here. In retrospect, it would have been weirder if she actually did live here, on the account of how generally uninhabitable this ruined castle was.

Mereli shook her head. “This castle is Father’s work place. Mereli lives somewhere else.”

“I see, I see…”

Despite all the questions floating in my head, I decided not to pry any further. For one, I had quickly realized that Mereli wasn’t very gifted in the art of explaining. Asking for questions would only lead to even more questions. Who was Mereli’s dad? Why was she in a place like this? How in the heck was she able to “create” a homunculus?

If I asked her these questions, then without a doubt, rather than answers, I would only come out more confused than before.

Harboring all my doubts and desires and burying them somewhere deep in my heart, I quietly followed Mereli as we walked even deeper down the castle halls.