Come Back Home (2)
Terra gulped down her hwachae in one go, then reached for the spicy pork stir-fry again.
"Not too spicy?"
[It's fine. I want to try more.]
She seemed fascinated by the novelty of "spicy" for the first time. Terra took a bite of the stir-fry every time, chasing it with three sips of hwachae. But her chopsticks never stopped.
Terra's thirst for knowledge shines even here.
Only after confirming the three spirits were eating well did I scoop up a bite of rice for myself. Dad chuckled softly at the sight.
"Never thought I'd see my boy tending to his little ones before taking his first bite."
He looked pleased to see me looking after the spirits.
"All grown up, huh. Already got three kids—my, my."
The meal passed so enjoyably that we suddenly realized we were out of wrap veggies.
"Oh dear. No lettuce or perilla leaves. My mind must be wandering—I completely forgot."
Mom fussed apologetically, not knowing what to do.
"It's fine. Just give me a sec."
I opened the Spirit Shop. There was something perfect to substitute for wrap leaves.
Aqua's eyes went wide when she saw me pull out the Spirit Tree Leaves, then she burst into giggles.
[You're gonna eat that!? You're such a caterpillar! Hehehe!]
Terra nodded.
[Those are tasty. Nice aroma.]
She must have tried them before. Fitting for an earth spirit who puts everything in her mouth.
My parents and friends didn't bat an eye at me pulling leaves from thin air anymore. The Spirit Shop had become everyday life for everyone. They just figured it was some kind of trait.
"Here, let's try some wrap leaves airlifted straight from the Spirit Realm."
"From the Spirit Realm?"
"They grow wrap leaves there too, huh."
Mom and Dad each took a leaf with curious eyes. Jang Gilsan quietly claimed one too.
"Me too!"
"Senior, me as well!"
The Spirit Tree Leaves resembled pumpkin leaves—broad and perfect for wrapping. We piled on stir-fry, rice, and garlic dipped in sauce, then popped them in our mouths.
"Mmm!"
As teeth met leaf, a fragrant aroma filled my mouth and wafted out my nose. More aromatic than perilla, but not overpoweringly floral—just the pure scent of the Spirit Realm.
"Oh my……."
"Wow……."
Even my parents looked amazed.
"This is……. really……."
Dad waved his tongue and hand in the air, struggling for words, before giving up and wrapping another.
"Here, Terra."
I carefully wrapped one and held it to Terra's mouth.
"Say ahh."
[Ah.]
I slipped it into her slightly open mouth. Even sized small for her, her cheeks puffed out. She chewed diligently and swallowed.
[……Tasty.]
Her eyes widened in surprise.
[Meat and leaves go together so well.]
Terra stretched out her tiny hand and grabbed a leaf. She was going to wrap her own. I moved the distant stir-fry and garlic closer for her.
Her chopstick work was clumsy and slow, but she never rushed, sticking to her pace. Before I knew it, we were all watching Terra wrap her ssam.
"Those fern-like fingers wiggling……."
"So cute……."
Terra finished, looked down at her creation, and nodded—satisfied. She gathered it up and ate.
[Hah.]
It fit perfectly—precise sizing. She chewed and swallowed.
[Fuu…….]
Terra exhaled long, the mix of sauce and leaf aroma on her breath. Her eyes sparkled up at me.
[The human world is amazing.]
I smiled and stroked her cheek.
That was when—
"Terra, try this one too."
"Here, this as well."
Mom and Dad rushed to offer her ssams. Ones with raw fish this time. Terra blinked, then parted her lips slightly.
[Ah.]
They beamed happily as their handmade ssams vanished into her mouth.
"This one's tasty too."
"Try this one."
I realized then how starved they'd been for the joy of feeding someone—Aqua only took liquids, after all.
"Not much to eat in the Spirit Realm, right?"
"Aww, just bones left."
Mom's grandmotherly mutter made me burst out laughing.
* * *
Deep in Yosemite National Park near San Francisco in the American West, a lone cabin stood shrouded in trees, river, and moss. Even at the early hour of 5 a.m., light glowed inside, where one human and one spirit were awake.
[Sia. Have some tea.]
Niagara set a warmly steeped cup in front of her.
"Ah, thanks."
Sia gulped it down. Warmth spread through her body. She savored it a moment before asking,
"How's your body feeling, Niagara?"
[Much better.]
"Visiting the Spirit Realm really helped."
Niagara had depleted his vital energy in his fight with Aqua. He'd recuperated in the Amazon before moving here two weeks ago. But those few days in the Spirit Realm had done more for him than all that time.
"Sorry. Because of me……."
Sia bowed her head guiltily.
"You'd heal right up if you went to the Spirit Realm alone……."
Niagara stayed in the human world because Sia didn't want him to go.
[Why would it be your fault?]
He gently took her hand.
[I've left you alone too long. It's natural you'd worry if I left now.]
At his words blaming himself, Sia hugged him tight, on the verge of tears. Niagara silently returned the embrace.
After a moment, Sia lifted him onto her lap and rested her chin atop his head. Their height difference wasn't vast like most spirit users and spirits, making it possible. Content like that, they shared warmth in silence.
Gazing at the park's predawn landscape as light began to peek through the window, Sia murmured,
"I wonder what Hyunwoo and Aqua are doing right now."
Niagara glanced at the wall clock.
[Probably having dinner.]
Sia nodded faintly.
"Hyunwoo's such a good guy."
She'd met countless spirit users—all good people. But none comforted and warmed her just by being near, like Kang Hyunwoo.
"He was F-rank when he first met Aqua, right?"
[Mm. Yes.]
His unbelievable growth aside, he'd definitely started at F-rank.
"I kinda get why Aqua chose him now."
A spirit picking an F-rank was suicidal. But Sia thought even if she were a spirit, she'd choose Hyunwoo. He was warm and gentle. Thoughtful and considerate. He'd smoothly guided situations to peace, from Niagara to Pompeii.
Is that what being mature means?
Sia knew not all adults were like that.
The ideal spirit user incarnate.
That's what she'd told him. But her real words were different. Thinking of them made her smile softly.
An S-rank like me saying 'I want to be a spirit user like you' would sound ridiculous, huh?
But it was her true feeling. She'd become Niagara's contractor because she appealed most to him among S-ranks. Compared to Hyunwoo, chosen by Aqua from F-rank, it felt disrespectful even to compare.
How can I become like that?
Sia pictured Hyunwoo. First thing: his tall stature.
"……."
She glanced sideways at the full-length mirror by the door. A pint-sized 140cm kid cradled a spirit her own size.
Gotta chug those supplements harder.
As Sia pondered growing taller, Niagara mulled something else.
The parasites in Sia's body and Pompeii's manga books. Mere coincidence?
Attacks on the Spirit Realm and spirit kings' contractors had overlapped suspiciously. Perhaps the opening salvo of something bigger.
Probably not, but better safe than sorry.
It aligned perfectly with his thoughts that Sia needed a chance to fill her five-year gap.
[Sia.]
"Yeah?"
[Ever thought of visiting the Academy?]
"The Academy……?"
Sia blinked. Dawn was breaking outside.
* * *
We chatted late into the night before scattering to our rooms. I set the spirits I'd carried down on the blanket. Terra had widened it upon arriving, so it was plenty big for all of us.
[Blankets after so long!]
Aqua rubbed her face against it.
[So soft!]
Then she rolled around vigorously.
[Whee!]
[Oh…….]
Terra touched it in awe. The ultimate softness, unknown in the Spirit Realm.
[Terra, try this!]
Aqua demonstrated by rolling hard. Terra watched, then slowly lay down and rolled.
[Oh……!]
Her eyes rounded in delight. They tumbled excitedly across the blanket.
"Heh heh heh……."
I couldn't help laughing at the sight.
[Chit!]
Mandu started grooming his personal pillow-bed, pressing it firm for comfort.
"Aqua, mind helping?"
[Bedtime prep? Of course!]
Whoosh—!
Pure water swirled around me under Aqua's control, then vanished.
[Mm!]
Aqua nodded satisfied at my clean self.
"Thanks. I can sleep like a rock now."
I stretched, feeling refreshed. My hair, free of grease, flowed softly, tickling my forehead. My teeth squeaked under my tongue.
Even that humid body heat's cooled.
As I basked in the afterglow, Aqua doused Mandu.
[Get clean, Mandu!]
[Chit!]
Mandu loved the splash.
[Terra, bath time?]
[Please.]
While Aqua washed them, I smoothed the blanket and set out pillows.
Short one pillow.
One more spirit meant one more head. Leaving them, I headed to the storage for extras.
Sukine's light was on outside—they were still up.
Tomorrow, gotta handle that Healing Water deal.
My Spirit Affinity had hit B-rank, but covering manifestation costs for Aqua, Terra, and Mandu was tough. They were full now post-Spirit Realm, but prep never hurt.
Returning pillow in hand, I clutched my heart.
Angels slumbered on my blanket.