Irene stared at the sky on her windowsill, watching the rain gradually slow to a gentle drizzle. It's time. She knew the time had come to return the child to the village. Perhaps she had lived in solitude for so long, as the thought of losing her presence in her cabin filled her with bereft and a reeling thought of longing. She was not meant to care for a child, not her own but a mere stranger, but somehow, her past few days had been brighter all because of her clumsy and petty attitude, which somehow warms her heart. With a deep breath, she steeled herself and quietly opened Erza's room. There, she found the child asleep at the small desk by the window, a faint smile on her peaceful face as she saw Erza clutching the quill in her hand.
"She's even writing the name I've given her," she smiled as she watched the letter engraved on the parchment.
Irene carefully lifted Erza from the desk, cradling her small, warm form against her chest. Erza stirred slightly, instinctively clinging to Irene's warmth. With gentle steps, Irene carried her to the bed; the child's soft breaths rhymed against her own heartbeat. She laid Erza down gently, tucking the blanket around her petite body. She was aware that it was all temporary, right? She thought to herself, remembering the contract she had said to the child a few days ago as she found herself gently brushing a strand of hair from Erza's forehead.
The next morning
As they sat down to breakfast, the warm rays of the morning sun filtered through the window, casting a golden glow over the table. Her fidgeting hands apparently replaced Erza's usual cheerful demeanor. Instead of her usual bright smile, Irene noticed the troubled atmosphere around her. She did remember. Irene thought as she watched her slightly wistful gaze. Unable to bear the overwhelming guilt in her heart, Irene forced a smile and decided to lie.
"How would you feel about going to town today? I heard a caravan of talents visiting the town this evening, and it would be fun for you to see it.
"That sounds amazing, Lady Irene!" Erza's eyes lit up with excitement, momentarily forgetting her worries.
Irene smiled before swallowing the lump in her throat.
It was already half past noon, but they were still walking. Erza's initial excitement began to wane, her small legs growing tired from the long walk. Sensing her exhaustion, Irene knelt down and offered a reassuring smile.
"Hop on, Erza," she said gently.
Erza's eyes lit up, but she hesitated at first, only after Irene convinced her, causing her to climb onto Irene's back, wrap her arms around her neck, and rest her head on Irene's shoulder. Irene stood up, adjusting her grip to support the child's weight.
"I'm sorry, I ate a lot," Erza said, blushing in embarrassment.
Irene inadvertently chuckled as she heard her words. She could use her magic to lift her up and appear in the village in a few minutes, but she chose to walk like any mortal would not to shock the child. After taking a detour, the village came into view, nestled in the valley below. Colorful banners and festive decorations adorned the streets, and the distant sound of music and laughter floated up to greet them.
"Woah!" she exclaimed.
As Irene gently lowered Erza from her back, the child's face lit up with a bright smile. She ran a few steps forward and beamed as she watched in awe. After reaching her pace, Erza took Irene's hand and asked her to watch the dancing festival in the corner.
"Look, Lady Irene!" Erza pointed at the magician before them.
Irene was not amused by the petty tricks of the human before her, but Erza's laughter was infectious, and Irene couldn't help but smile. She bit her lower lip as she remembered her agenda. After the sun had set, the theater play was about to begin, and Irene asked Erza to stay on the bench while she bought some bread across the street. The festival was flooded with people, so Erza was hesitant, but she nodded, thinking it was not masked with any other motives.
"I'll wait for Lady Irene here," she said as she smiled and felt Irene's hands on hers.
The play had ended, and Erza stood among the dispersing crowd, her eyes scanning the sea of faces for any sign of Irene. The colorful banners fluttered gently in the evening breeze, and the once-bustling streets of the village began to quiet down as festival-goers made their way home. Erza's heart pounded as she realized she couldn't find Irene. She bit her lip, torn between two choices. Should she stay put, hoping Irene would return to the spot where she had left her, or venture into the unfamiliar streets in search of her? The thought of getting lost in the village without Irene filled her with dread, but the fear of being left behind was even more unsettling.
"Did she remember about the contract?" Erza asked herself, remembering their promise.
Tears darting across her cheeks, she decided to wait a little longer. She wiped her eyes and looked around, darting from one direction to another, hoping to glimpse Irene's familiar figure. The streetlamps began to flicker on, casting long shadows across the cobblestones.
"I guess I'm abandoned again," she thought to herself, unable to contain the sobs she was repressing.
Irene returned to her house, and the familiar creak of the door felt different; it sounded lonelier. She moved Erza's room, paused, and took a deep breath before pushing the door open. She folded the blanket and dusted the shelves, clearing any traces of the child in her old and empty house. As she cleaned the desk, she noticed a piece of parchment partially hidden under a book. She pulled it out, and her breath caught in her throat. It was a drawing of two figures, the other with a long scarlet hair braided, symbolizing herself and a little child holding her hands. Erza had drawn herself holding Irene's hand, both figures smiling brightly.
"I shouldn't be attached to any mortal ever again," Irene thought as tears welled up in Irene's eyes as she traced the drawing with her fingertips.
"Remember what happened the last time you trusted a mortal, Irene." A male voice echoed in her mind, causing her to remember a scene that often haunted her in her dreams.
The silhouette of a long-haired man standing before her made her uneasy. The shadows obscured his features, but the image was unmistakably etched into her memory.
She remembered her form, much younger, crumpled on the ground and sobbing uncontrollably. She could see herself clutching the hem of his clothing, begging him about words she couldn't remember.
Erza waited anxiously for Irene, her eyes scanning every passerby, hoping to see her familiar face. Suddenly, she noticed a red-haired lady across the street. Her heart leaped with hope, and without a second thought, she hurried after her, convinced it was Irene. The streets of the village quickly gave way to the dense forest as Erza followed the figure, her small legs struggling to keep up. The forest was darker and more foreboding than the lively village, with shadows stretching long under the canopy of trees. The path became less distinct, and the figure ahead seemed to disappear into the thick underbrush. Erza's feet began to ache from the relentless pursuit, and panic started to set in as the forest grew quieter and more unfamiliar. She realized she had ventured too far. Exhausted and disoriented, Erza stumbled over a root, falling to the ground and wounding her knees. The pain and the sense of abandonment brought tears to her eyes.
"Am I really abandoned again?" she asked herself, tears dropping to her own tiny hands.
"If I'm only a little bit more useful, will Lady Irene not abandon me?" she asked herself, hoping to find an answer. The only response was the rustling of leaves, and the distant calls of forest creatures answered her. Erza hugged her knees, feeling utterly alone and frightened, as she had no idea how to find her way back.
"Lady Irene," she sobbed as she grappled with the crushing realization that she might have been truly abandoned.
Suddenly, a new sound reached her ears, sending a chill down her spine—a faint, slithering noise coming from the underbrush nearby. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest, and looked up, eyes wide with fear. Through the dim light filtering through the canopy, she saw the unmistakable movement of a snake gliding over the forest floor, its sinuous body making its way toward her. Panic surged through Erza, her breath hitching as she struggled to remain completely still. The snake's forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air as it drew closer and closer. Erza's mind raced, every instinct screaming at her to run, but her body felt paralyzed with fear. The snake's smooth, scaled skin shimmered in the dappled light, and its unblinking eyes seemed to fix on her as it approached. She couldn't move, couldn't cry out for help; all she could do was watch in horror as the creature inched ever closer.
However, just as the snake was about to strike, a blinding golden light suddenly materialized before Erza, forming the shape of a human figure. The radiant glow intensified, casting a protective aura around her and illuminating the surrounding forest with an otherworldly brilliance. The snake, momentarily blinded by the light, recoiled and then vanished into the thin air with the magic. Erza shielded her eyes from the intense light. As the golden radiance began to subside, she caught a glimpse of a man standing before her. His long, flowing blue hair shimmered like the night sky, and his eyes were locked into her before vanishing into the thin air. The striking tattoo on his face stunned her. Who is he? She asked herself, awed by such a sight.
Irene hurried back to the town, hoping to see Erza again; each step seemed to echo her growing fear for Erza's safety. How could she have decided to leave the child alone? The bustling town was empty, but it felt like a labyrinth as her worries washed over her. She reached the spot where she had last seen her but couldn't find any trace of the little girl. Irene's frustration and anger at herself for leaving Erza alone boiled over. She clenched her fists as she attempted to use her magic to sense Erza's presence.
"Damn it," she cursed.
Her frustration gnawing at her with each passing moment. She is one of the most powerful sages in the empire, yet her magic has failed to locate the presence of the child. Even if the child had no mana, she could easily spot anyone using her magic, but it seems like something is preventing her magic from seeing Erza. This time, Irene hurriedly ventured into the deep forest, her heart pounding with hope and fear. She navigated through the underbrush and around towering trees. Irene's ears strained for any sound that might indicate Erza's presence. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs made her heart race. She pushed through branches and waded through thick foliage, and after what felt like an eternity, she heard it—a faint, hiccupping sound in the distance. Irene's heart leaped, and she quickened her pace.
"Erza?!" she exclaimed.
Her eyes widened as she saw Erza sitting on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest, her small frame shaking with sobs.
"L-Lady Irene?" she asked as she lifted her head, tears streaming down her face.
Irene knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around Erza and pulling her close. "I'm here, Erza. I'm here," she murmured.
Erza clung to her, sobbing into her shoulder. "I thought you abandoned me," she cried as Irene held her tighter.
"I'm sorry. It will never happen again," Irene reassured as she rubbed her back, consoling the child in her arms as she buried her face into her warm embrace.
A/N: Thank you for following this story. It has been a while since I updated; I hope you enjoy this update. Thank you for reading.