It's been a few weeks since Momo-san's death and the battle with insane Gina. Iruk, unable to bear the bitter sensation in his chest, immediately returned to work.

I was wiping dust from the third-floor candlesticks. God really can't clean it? I was moaning more abuse at those pigs that look like people when I heard their voices. Their door was slightly ajar. As quietly as I could, I approached them and listened.

“Do you think what Gina said was true?"

"I'm sure it is. Driads really have a great sense of smell to recognize beings and their origins." Aki replied to Haru.

"But how come we didn't notice? Was it some will of a higher power to come to us? What is he, then?" He spouted questions from Natsu and they were quite spot on. And the others had no answers.

It's Iruk. Nothing about him has changed. He's still the same guy we hired."Aki said matter-of-factly.

"Fuyu... Do you think Iruka knows?" He asked Haru with a serious expression.

"What am I supposed to know?"

Oh, shit. I said it out loud. Absent-mindedly, I pushed open the door and asked straight away*. That wasn't a good idea.*

"Actually . . . can I dust here?"I tried a weak smile and scratched nervously at the back of my head.

Everyone was staring at me in amazement. I looked at them and had strange feelings about their expressions. Natsu was grinning as always. Haru smiled pleasantly at me. Aki had his quiet, vague expression. And Fuyu? I shouldn't have even looked at him. He had that strange darkness about him again, rippling. And his eyes were like the eyes of the devil.

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"Eeeee! I'd rather go elsewhere. Or you know what? I'll pop into town to do some shopping. Bye." I started to run away, but Fuyu grabbed me from the back of the collar and pulled me back.

That's my death. Momo-san, I'm coming to you. Fuyu threw me into a chair and sat back in his seat. All eyes were on me. God, why are they staring? I just stirred a little, and they immediately added to the intensity of their gaze. Fuyu cleared his throat, drawing attention to him.

"Iruka?"

"Yes?”

"What do you remember about your parents? Do you remember anything outside the children's home?"

That question completely derailed me. She hasn't been asked in a long time. When was the last time? 11 years ago? My fear was gone, replaced by sadness. I hung my head and settled more into the chair.

"I don't know."I whispered after a moment of silence.

How much I wanted to remember their faces. How much did I look like them? Why did they leave me? They didn't love me? I was the waste that made life difficult for them. I was just a mistake in their lives. I'm nothing to anyone. I felt a touch on my knee. It was Haru's hand. He smiled at me, and wiped away a tear as carefully as he could. I didn't even notice I was crying.

"I don't remember anything. I have only fragments for voices and for faceless figures. But I don't know if they're just fabrications or real memories. I don't know how or why I found myself there. I just woke up there outside the door."

Aki nodded meaningfully. Fuyu rested his chin on his hand, thinking. Natsu stared at the ground. Haru squeezed my knee a little and made me look at him.

"It doesn't matter that you don't remember. We didn't know you had that." He soothed me with words.

There was a pause. No one wanted to go on, but I have a lot of questions. I was gnawed by what Gina said about me. I needed to know. It's time for answers.

“W-what do I know?"I asked, my voice a little shaky.

“Why did Gina call me an apprentice? What does that mean?" I went on with a slightly firmer voice.

There was silence. I waited to see who would answer. I watched Fuya because I knew he would answer me, but he had a strange expression. Was there fear behind that stony face? What's going on?

"Y-you're not human . . . y-you are."Haru's voice broke. He couldn't pronounce it.

“You're a wizard."Aki said, loud and clear.

Wait... what? It can't be..