Chapter 12

"Alright," my father said, though he was still hesitant about hiring Hakim.

Then, my mother, who usually spoke little, began to persuade my father fervently. This was the first time I had seen her speak so much.

"You. It's time to stop locking Alesia up like a bird in a cage by distrusting everyone. Do you plan to raise her without letting her interact with the world?"

"No, I don't mean to..."

"It's necessary to keep Alesia's powers a secret, but she's growing up. Do you want to raise her in isolation, without friends or even a lover, leading a lonely life? We will grow old and die before her. Serio, have you thought about Alesia's future after we're gone?"

My father lowered his gaze and said nothing. Then Uncle Nathan joined in.

"Actually, having an extra pair of hands would be a big help. If he only works during the day, it's less likely that the relationship between Rain and Alesia will be noticed. I've never seen Alesia beg like that before. Serio, have you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Alesia's obedience is not normal. I've never seen her act selfishly. I think she's holding back in everything because she feels she's causing us trouble with Rain."

"..."

"We are the ones benefiting from Alesia's help. I don't want her to feel inferior. For Alesia, who is usually so well-behaved, to cry and beg is unusual. I want to hire this Hakim."

"Yes. If we continue to raise her in isolation, who knows what kind of bad person might take advantage of her in the future. I am also anxious about letting others in, but I think Alesia should learn how to live among people. Hakim can be the first one."

"..."

"Growing up without knowing how to interact with people, never falling in love, and living in hiding—would that be a happy life? It's not much different from being locked up and used by someone powerful."

"You're right... You're right. It's cruel to tell her to live without interacting with anyone to protect herself."

"Yes, you're right. Let's think about Alesia's future more."

The discussion concluded with my mother's words. I had misunderstood her. I thought she was just kind, but she was more than that. She was a wise mentor who taught me important things.

...

"Hakim, would you like to work here? Not every day, but we're short on hands."

"The vegetables and fruits keep growing, so we're in a bit of a bind."

Uncle Nathan and Aunt Benita were trying to recruit Hakim.

"If you work here, you can have lunch and dinner with us."

"Or is your job as a water seller too important to give up?"

My parents were also inviting him. Hakim, who had only come to ask for water, was confused.

"If I work here, I'll have a steady income, which would be a big help. But I'm worried that you're feeling sorry for me because my family is poor. I don't want any misunderstandings, so let me explain our situation."

The adults nodded.

"My family consists of my mother, my sister, and me. My father passed away a long time ago. My sister has been sick for a long time and needs medicine. The cost of the medicine is essential, so on days when I earn less, my mother skips meals to make ends meet. It's not just me skipping meals; we try to make sure my sister gets some porridge or soup."

"You've been working hard at such a young age. I'm impressed."

My mother covered her mouth, her voice trembling with tears.

After explaining, Hakim agreed to work for us with a smile. He would work six days a week, earning two small silver coins and five large copper coins per day, plus lunch and dinner.

My father showed him the rainwater barrel and said, "We collect rainwater here, but we need to use it for the fields, so I can't give you enough to sell. I'm sorry."

"Oh, I see. I understand."

In reality, we don't water the fields, but if we sold that delicious water, it might attract too much attention.

Hakim, who started working at the farm, was a diligent worker. He often said, "Farming is fun. The more you work, the better the vegetables and fruit grow, which makes it very rewarding," making the adults happy.

At thirteen, Hakim was strong for his age. Despite his thin frame, he could handle heavy work as well as my father. He was never late and worked until the last minute in the evening.

He also enjoyed the meals my mother and I prepared. We secretly made extra food for dinner and said, "We made too much. If you want, you can take some home as a gift," and let him take food back with him. I hoped this would make his family's life a bit easier.

Hakim said, "Thank you. My mother and sister are very happy to eat it," and accepted the food without hesitation.

Everything was going smoothly except for my water magic, which still didn't work as I intended. I still couldn't even create a glass of water.