Chapter 13: Wandering and Realizations
Golden sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, and I slowly stirred awake, my eyes fluttering open to the unfamiliar room around me. The bed beneath me was impossibly soft, and the silky blankets seemed to embrace me with warmth. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books whose spines shimmered faintly with runic engravings. A soft hum of magic filled the air, and glowing artifacts rested on nearby surfaces, their faint light casting playful shadows across the floor.
For a moment, I felt peaceful—safe, even. But then, like a crashing wave, the memories came flooding back. The sanctuary, its divine streams glowing faintly, shattered under the weight of invading shadows. Kuzunoha’s realm, once a harmonious haven, fell to chaos as sacred fox warriors were struck down one by one. And Aya—strong, unyielding Aya—stood at the heart of it all, her silver hair catching the dim light as she shielded me with everything she had. Her final moments replayed in my mind—Aya’s blood staining the ground, her voice trembling but resolute as she whispered words I couldn’t quite remember.
My chest tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes as I clutched the blanket close. “Aya… you’re gone,” I whispered, my voice cracking as sobs overtook me. I curled up tightly on the plush bed, the warmth of the room feeling distant against the cold ache in my heart.
“You promised you’d always protect me,” I murmured, my words trembling with grief. “But you’re not here anymore… you left me.”
I don’t know how long I lay there, tears soaking into the fabric, but slowly my breathing steadied, the sharp pain dulling into a heavy ache. Wiping my cheeks with trembling hands, another face surfaced in my mind—Elara. Her sharp gaze and silver hair had sparked something unfamiliar in me: a flicker of hope. But it was fleeting, and confusion clouded it.
“She looks so much like Aya,” I thought, my fingers tightening around the blanket. “But she’s not her. Aya’s gone, and no one can replace her.”
That thought gave me the resolve to sit up. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool floor. Taking one last glance around the room, I stood and made my way to the door, not knowing where I was going but feeling an undeniable pull—like something or someone was calling me.
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The hallways of Nexus Academy were alive with motion, bustling with students of all ages. My golden hair shimmered faintly as I walked, and I could feel curious eyes following me wherever I went. Young children darted past, their laughter ringing through the halls, while older students strode purposefully, their robes flowing behind them. The air buzzed with energy, alive with mana and the hum of countless conversations.
I wandered aimlessly, my steps light and soundless against the polished floors. Whispers followed me, faint but persistent.
“Who is she?”
“She doesn’t look like a student.”
“She’s so cute… but why does she look so lost?”
I ignored the murmurs, my focus fixed on the faint pull in my chest. Everything around me felt too close yet too far away, as if I were walking through a dream.
As I walked, my thoughts churned with memories of Aya. I could see her clearly—smiling softly, guiding me with patient hands, standing tall and unyielding even in the face of impossible odds. The ache of loss flared anew, but alongside it came a heavy realization: Aya was gone. Nothing could change that.
“She’s not Aya,” I thought, my blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “But she gave me this body… does that make her my second mum?” The thought lingered, strange and unfamiliar, but it steadied me somehow.
Quickening my pace, I followed the faint sound of Elara’s voice. It resonated like a beacon, growing clearer with every step, until I found myself standing outside a large, open doorway.
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The lecture hall was enormous, its vaulted ceilings adorned with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with mana. Rows of students filled the seats, all of them focused intently on the woman standing at the front. Elara’s silver hair shimmered under the ambient light as she gestured confidently, her voice firm and commanding as she explained the intricate foundations of spell-weaving.
“…And that’s why the principles of mana flow are critical to stabilizing your spell structures,” she said, her voice ringing clear through the hall. “Without proper control, even the most basic incantations can lead to catastrophic results. Now, consider this—what happens when you disrupt the mana matrix mid-cast? Anyone?”
Several students raised their hands, and Elara pointed to one in the second row. “Yes, Amari?”
“It would destabilize the spell, potentially causing a mana feedback loop,” the student replied confidently.
“Correct,” Elara said, adjusting her glasses. “And that’s exactly why precision is key when crafting spell matrices. A single miscalculation—”
She stopped mid-sentence as her sharp gaze snapped to me standing in the doorway. Whispers erupted almost immediately.
“Who is that?”
“Why is she interrupting Professor Elara’s lecture?”
I ignored the murmurs, my blue eyes fixed on Elara. My steps were hesitant but deliberate, carrying me closer to the woman who had sparked that fragile flicker of hope. When I stopped directly in front of her, I tilted my head up to meet her gaze and slowly raised my arms.
“Mamma,” I said softly, my voice trembling but clear.
The room went utterly still. The students exchanged shocked glances, their whispers abruptly silenced by the weight of my single word.
Elara’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, clearly startled. “What did you just say?” she asked, her voice softer than usual, laced with uncertainty.
Elara’s sharp demeanor softened, though confusion and emotion flickered in her eyes. She glanced briefly at the rows of students, who were now hanging on her every word and movement. “Class dismissed,” she said firmly. “We’ll continue this lecture next week.”
The students hesitated, their curiosity evident, but Elara’s voice cut through the room with a sharp, commanding yell. "OUT!" she barked, her tone leaving no room for argument. The students jumped at her sudden outburst and scrambled to gather their belongings, filing out quickly, though their eyes lingered on me as they passed.
Once the room was empty, Elara knelt down in front of me, her sharp eyes now filled with a mix of concern and panic. “Setsuka,” she said quickly, pushing up her glasses with a nervous motion. “Why are you here? You should be resting. This is a lecture hall, not a place for… for…”
I looked down, fidgeting with my hands. “I was looking for you,” I admitted softly.
Elara’s face turned bright red as she stammered, clearly overwhelmed. “I-I’m not— I mean, you can’t just— calling someone… M-Mamma, that’s… that’s not proper! I’m your professor, not—” Her hands fluttered uselessly, trying to gesture some kind of explanation.
I tilted my head, watching her with quiet curiosity. “But you feel like Aya. She’s gone, but you gave me this body. Doesn’t that make you my second mum?”
Elara froze mid-motion, her lips parting in stunned silence. “W-what? That’s— No, absolutely not! That’s ridiculous! I—” She paused, her frantic denial faltering as my lower lip began to tremble, tears welling in my eyes.
She groaned, burying her face in her hands for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. “Fine. Fine! Just—just stop looking at me like that! I don’t know how to deal with crying kids, alright?”
I smiled faintly, stepping closer and wrapping my arms around her waist. “Thank you, Mamma,” I said softly.
Elara stiffened, her face flushing even brighter as she glanced at the empty doorway, clearly mortified. "Alright, alright," she muttered, patting my head awkwardly. "But only here, got it? No saying that in public! People will think I’ve gone soft. And besides, I’m too young to have a child!"
Relief washed over me, and I leaned into her embrace, resting my head against her chest. For a moment, her flustered movements stilled, and she hesitated before finally wrapping her arms around me in return, her grip surprisingly gentle.
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Elara helped me to my feet and guided me out of the lecture hall. As we walked through the quiet corridors, her sharp tone returned. “You’re a lot of trouble, you know that? Wandering the halls, interrupting lectures…” But her words lacked their usual bite, and I could hear the faintest trace of affection in her voice.
“I’m sorry,” I said, clinging to her arm. “I just didn’t want to be alone.”
She sighed again, glancing down at me with a look that was equal parts exasperation and something softer. “Let’s get you back to my quarters,” she said. “And for the record, I’m still not your mum. But… I’ll take care of you for now.”
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips as I leaned into her side. For the first time since waking, the ache in my chest felt a little lighter, the hope inside me a little brighter. But as we walked, an idea began to form in my mind—a plan to make her admit what I already felt in my heart. She might not realize it yet, but she was my Second mum now, and I was determined to make her see it too.