Chapter 14

As the sky was dyed orange at dusk.

In the garden of the Hageru family's annex.

“Waaaah… Auntie Ogata…”

A young girl—four-year-old Amelia—ran to a woman, sniffling.

The woman had the same hair color as Amelia.

It was Amelia's mother, Sophie.

“Oh dear, did you fall?”

Sophie bent her knees to meet Amelia's eye level. With a nod, Amelia's tear-streaked face confirmed it.

Sophie noticed that Amelia's knee was scraped and bleeding.

“Oh dear… that must hurt, doesn’t it?”

Sophie smiled softly.

“Wait a moment.”

Sophie took a small bottle from her pocket and sprinkled its contents on Amelia's knee. The blue liquid dripped and sparkled like magic in the orange sunlight.

“Make the pain go away, make the pain go away!”

As Sophie said this, Amelia's expression quickly brightened.

“How does it feel?”

“…It doesn’t hurt anymore…”

“Great!”

Sophie gently stroked Amelia's head.

“Wow, wow, wow! Mom, how did you do that?”

“Hmm, maybe it was magic?”

“Magic! I want to be able to use it too!”

“Sure thing.”

Sophie's eyes narrowed.

“You want to be able to use magic, Amelia?”

Amelia nodded vigorously, a stark contrast to her earlier state.

“Then you need to study a lot.”

“If I study a lot, will I be able to use ‘make the pain go away, make the pain go away’?”

“Of course.”

Sophie smiled warmly.

“Amelia, you like collecting flowers and herbs, right?”

“Yeah! I love it!”

“Actually, this magic can be done by mixing the flowers and herbs you like.”

“Mix them up! Is that what I need to do?”

“Yes! Mix them up!”

Sophie demonstrated with an exaggerated reaction, and Amelia laughed joyfully.

“Can Dad and Melissa use this magic too?”

Melissa was the maid in charge of the annex. At Amelia's question, Sophie's face darkened.

“…I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“This is a special magic that only those who work very hard can use.”

“Really! Mom, are you not going to teach Dad and Melissa the magic?”

“…No, I can’t teach them.”

Sophie said this as if trying to convince herself, while Amelia tilted her head innocently.

“Why not?”

Sophie, stroking Amelia's head, continued.

“The people here… might misuse this magic and do bad things.”

“Misuse…”

“Maybe you don’t understand yet.”

Sophie, patting Amelia's head, went on.

“I will teach you all of my magic, Amelia.”

“Really!?”

“Yes, of course. Then…”

Looking at her innocent child with a loving gaze, Sophie said:

“In the future, when someone who truly cares about you appears… use a lot of magic for them.”

“Okay, I understand!”

At this moment, Amelia probably didn’t fully understand her mother's words. But that was fine. Sophie thought to herself that the time would come when she would understand.

“Good girl.”

Sophie smiled contentedly and stroked Amelia's head again.

“Shall we go back and study now?”

“Yeah!”

Holding Sophie's hand, Amelia headed towards the house.