"Is it good?" Haruko asked with a wide grin on his face as he watches me eat the parfait served by the café waiter. It was delicious, there was no doubt about it. But how can he enjoy something like this after witnessing the sight that was right outside the walls of this town?
"Let's just get into the point. What does the Whitebeards want from me at the moment? Did they run into trouble again?" I placed the spoon gently on the surface of the table and looked at the man sharply. He just laughed loudly making me cover my ears with my two hands and ignore the stares given to us by the other customers inside the shop.
"Oyaji doesn't have anything to do with me being here. I am here for a job given to me by the Revolutionary. You see, we kind of heard about the Celestial Dragons planning to come here so I am being stationed here." my brow raised in confusion.
"Revolutionary? Aren't you a Pirate?"
"Oh no! I'm not a pirate. I'm also not a revolutionary. I'm just a leech that sticks to anything that could sustain me and let go if I am already satisfied. Aren't I cool?" a sigh left from me. How can this man be so positive about these kinds of things? What a bothersome fellow.
"I understand. So now tell me what do you need from me Haruko." a big grin was all over his face. It was quite relieving to see such smile… because that kind of smile is something that has no sinister schemes behind it.
"Chaos, you need a new vessel right? Something that can contain half of your magic."
"…" it seems that he noticed. It's quite impressive for a human to do so, since not all are capable of seeing sprites. Maybe it's because of Claytonia's effect to his body… either way, I am discovered.
"…indeed, I am in need of a new vessel. Why do you ask?" Haruko pulled out a small green gemstone from his pocket. It was an emerald, a good quality one that is. But this kind small stone cannot help me.
"Chaos, do you want to know what I researched about after you sealed Claytonia away?" he pinched the rock which got my attention on what he was about to do. At that moment, sprites came emerging from his fingers… signifying that this man can use magic.
"What are you—"
"Needlecrafting." he pulled out a green string out of the stone, glittering beautifully as it was stretch to the air. The people around us saw this which made me blow my pipe and send my bubbles towards them, putting everyone but the two of us asleep. This fool!
"What do you think are you doing?!" he only laughed making my face red in anger.
"Master, why are you so mad? Did you forget that humans are normally unaware of the existence of sprites?" I threw the spoon that was right next to my desert towards him.
"That is not the point! Haruko, you almost turned into an evil god by merging with Claytonia… It seems that you didn't learn your lesson. Your soul is still recovering from the damage you had from getting an immense amount sprites removed. How reckless can you be?" and here I am, scolding an old man who is pouting like a child. Really, how many old men in this world are childish?
"How about you Chaos? What do you think you are doing? Even though I am not the person who accompanied you all throughout your journey as a Magus, I still have the memories of the person who cared for you and looked up to you. I know you are suffering… seeing that amount of sprite overflowing from your body… You are carrying the pain of hundreds of people that died from your island… aren't you?" ahhh… I knew it… I knew that this day will come.
"It is none of your concern Haruko. This pain of mine is something that only I could carry. Please do not interfere with something that you shouldn't poke yourself into."
"Ha! Then don't tell me what to do with my body. I can learn magic any time I want. I'm in a borrowed time anyway. In about 5 years, I will die am I right? So before I could go, I will leave you a small gift with the remaining of my life." these words made me shut my mouth and look at my shoes. I didn't know what to say… I always don't know. Things regarding to the extent of existence is something too sensitive for me to talk about. Haruko seems to know about that fact too.
"This magic… I'm going to use it to tailor your clothes." I slowly looked up to meet the man with eyes filled with determination.
"…tailor my clothes..?"
"That's right. I learned the magic of Needleworks in order to tailor clothes that will serve as your vessel. The materials that I will be using will be the ones that are compatible to you. Emerald, Dandelion, and Adam… I will be searching for those things and turn them into threads. This way, I can create a clothing that will not only help you suppress that strong leakage of sprite but also will bring harmony to your magic." Haruko stood up from his seat and then moved next to me, giving me a warm hug.
"Don't worry Chaos, I won't become an evil god. Because I know you will be there to stop me whenever something happens." I closed my eyes and let a tear drop with all of my worries.
"You idiot. How ignorant can you be… Claytonia?"
|…To Be Continued…|