Chapter 93

── If someone who will cherish Amelia appears in the future... when that time comes, use a lot of magic for them.

A voice echoed.

A nostalgic voice.

I can vaguely remember when and from whom these words were spoken.

In a garden somewhere, dyed by the twilight.

It’s probably the garden of the annex.

"Uuuu... Oga-san..."

Young Amelia, with a hurt knee, was crying with tears streaming down her face.

Mother Sophie took a small bottle from her pocket and sprinkled the liquid inside onto Amelia’s knee.

"Make the pain go away!"

The effect was immediate.

"It... doesn’t hurt anymore..."

Amelia’s eyes widened.

"Amazing, amazing, so amazing! Mom, how did you do that?"

"Hmm, maybe it’s magic?"

"Magic! I want to be able to use it too!"

"Then you have to study a lot."

"If I study a lot, will I be able to use 'Make the pain go away'?"

"Of course."

As if to reassure her, Sophie said to Amelia,

"I’ll teach you all of my magic."

"Really!?"

"Yes, of course. Then..."

Looking straight into Amelia’s eyes, Sophie gave her these words.

"If someone who will cherish you appears in the future... when that time comes, use a lot of magic for them."

"Okay, I understand!"

Amelia nodded strongly at her mother’s gentle smile.

── Suddenly, the scene changes.

The familiar annex of the Haggle family comes into view.

A dilapidated house that other nobles would hesitate to step into, considering it unclean.

For Amelia, it was a precious place filled with memories of her mother.

Snow was falling steadily from the dim sky, accumulating around the area.

The scene changes again.

"Mom! Please! Wake up!"

A child’s voice can be heard.

A girl’s voice.

It’s Amelia’s voice.

Inside the dilapidated house.

On a shabby bed, Sophie lies.

Compared to earlier, Sophie is now emaciated like a skeleton, her hair in tatters.

Her face has lost all vitality, and she seems to be on the verge of disappearing.

Amelia is desperately calling out to Sophie, her consciousness dimly realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Look... Mom! Medicine made with Regina and Neo-Leaf!"

Amelia, with a face wet from tears, shows a small bottle to her mother.

"Mom, you said this medicine would cure your illness... So please, drink it..."

Sophie slightly lifts her eyelids and, with trembling lips, speaks into the air.

"Am... elia..."

"What? Mom, if there’s something I can do, tell me! I’ll do anything to make you better..."

Sophie’s hand rises weakly and gently caresses Amelia’s cheek.

"I’m glad you were born... Thank you."

Sophie smiles softly.

The gentle smile she has shown Amelia countless times.

With a smile that Amelia loved so much, Sophie spoke from the depths of her heart.

"I love you, Amelia..."

These were the final words she gave to her beloved child.

Her hand, which had been caressing Amelia’s cheek, fell weakly.

"No... Mom... Wake up... Open your eyes...!"

Amelia clung to Sophie, who had closed her eyes and remained motionless, and cried out.

But no matter how many times she called, Sophie did not open her eyes again.

Even as a child, Amelia knew she would never again exchange words with her mother.

She would never again see that gentle smile.

Unwilling to accept this cruel reality, Amelia continued to call out to Sophie over and over again.

Over and over again, until her voice and tears dried up, until she could no longer breathe, until she was exhausted.

Over and over again, over and over...

The scene of the two of them gradually faded away.

It grew gradually darker, and eventually the view was enveloped in darkness.

── Don’t leave me alone...

A voice, as if from nowhere, was heard.