Please Save Me!
She seemed amazed by the straw I'd conjured from the banana milk itself, looking almost reluctant to drink it, but the moment she put her lips to it, it must've suited her taste better than expected because she started slurping it up with gusto.
Sucking on the straw pulled up the banana milk from below at the same time, letting her savor both textures in one go.
"Hey! How'd you do that?!"
"Uh, y-yeah?"
How'd I do it? By using magic properly, obviously.
Oh. Come to think of it, awakeners each got their own unique abilities, and I'd never seen any of them use straight-up magic like this.
So it wasn't that weird if she assumed it was just some awakener power. Not a stretch at all.
I wondered how to explain it, but then I figured, eh, she's just a kid—no harm in telling her.
"Well, the thing is... I'm actually a witch."
Her eyes went wide at my words, like she was asking, A witch? What's that supposed to mean?
I grinned and decided to show her something else. Witches usually had a bad rep, but luckily, this kid didn't seem to have any preconceptions.
"A tiny witch like this?"
"..."
Sorry for being small.
I couldn't snap at a kid, though, so I swallowed my irritation and started pondering. What did modern kids think of when you said "wizard"? I had no clue—I'd been holed up alone in the mountains for a year.
Still, worth a shot.
"You know Harry Potter?"
I doubted it. If we're talking popular wizards even kids would know, Harry was the only one that came to mind for me. And he was big back in my day—who knew what kids thought now?
As I racked my brain for other examples just in case, the girl piped up.
"I know him!"
Huh? Didn't expect that.
"Even kids these days know it."
"Aren't you a kid these days?"
Ah, she heard that.
Part of me wanted to protest that I wasn't some "kid these days"—I was in my early-to-mid twenties, thank you very much—but with this body, what could I say? No proof, and it stung my pride, but I had to concede.
"Y-yeah... sure."
Couldn't help feeling down about it, though.
She tilted her head at my slumped shoulders, looking worried. What's wrong?
Of course she didn't mean to upset me. As the adult here, I should just shake it off.
Even if I'd lived nearly twenty more years than her.
Getting treated like a kid by an actual kid didn't feel great.
"S-so, think of me like one of those wizards from the books."
"Whoa! So you can use magic?!"
"Didn't I just do it?"
"That?"
She pointed at the straw I'd made.
"That's magic?"
"..."
Ugh, words fail me. I was a great witch, you know.
Made me mope again.
"S-still pretty cool, right?"
She poked at the straw in her banana milk, her face lighting up with wonder. It was like she was prostrating herself in awe or something.
"I can make stuff like this too!"
I couldn't stand being dismissed. With a flick of mana, I conjured a brooch-like trinket out of thin air.
It looked simple, but embedding beautiful gems made it tricky magic! With more tweaks, you could add effects—basic enchanted item crafting.
I handed it over proudly.
"What's this?"
She stared at the brooch in her hand.
I thought she'd be amazed.
"Not cool?"
"Not at all?"
"Oh... really?"
Guess not.
"What do I do with it?"
"Just keep it..."
Sigh.
She admired it, turning it over—so pretty, like something a princess would wear—thanking me profusely, but I barely registered it.
Did my magic look that cheap? I'd researched it hard...
Made me mope harder.
"Hey."
"...?"
What now? More teasing?
"This is made from banana milk, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"Then why doesn't it get milk on your fingers?"
She wouldn't get it even if I explained. The mana had solidified it—no sticky mess.
"It's already a straw now."
"Huh? So I can't eat it?!"
Her eyes widened at my answer.
Oh. Right, locking the mana like that made it undrinkable.
It was all mana anyway, so the amount didn't change, but kids hated even a tiny bit less. She'd freak if she thought it was less.
"W-wait a sec!"
I hurriedly released the mana hold. The straw collapsed, and the whole thing splattered on the floor.
"Ah."
Disaster.
My heart pounded. I glanced up nervously at her.
"Wahhh..."
She wasn't mad at me—just teary-eyed over the spilled milk, on the verge of a meltdown.
If I left it like this, she'd wail loud enough to summon her mom or dad, who'd chew me out.
I didn't want to show my dirty laundry like that.
"D-don't cry... hold on just a bit..."
Please don't cry.
She hitched a sob but calmed down, staring at me with big, shiny eyes.
Seemed better, but only because she trusted me. Stall too long, and meltdown round two. Had to act fast.
I swept the spilled milk up with mana—pure banana milk only, no floor grime.
It might not look like magic, but that's what it was: manipulating phenomena with mana.
She gawked at the floating milk.
At least the tears stopped.
I motioned for her empty pack. She nodded eagerly, holding it out.
The milk funneled back in, forming a proper clear straw this time.
"Whoaaa..."
"Go ahead and drink."
How'd it come to this?
Normally no one would drink floor-spilled milk, but she trusted me and latched right on, slurping happily.
Amount was the same, but she seemed satisfied. Crisis averted.
Hmm.
I eyed her suspiciously. A kid this young in patient clothes—with that familiar vibe, she'd been here a while. Not common for kids to live in hospitals.
"Hey."
Hm?
"You're in the hospital... and you look weird... are you sick or something?"
Same question on her mind, apparently. She paused mid-sip, counted on her fingers at me, then asked cautiously.
I shook my head—no illness here.
She smiled in relief, like good. Made me curious too.
"Then why're you here? What's wrong?"
"Huh?"
She pondered, then beamed innocently.
"Dunno!"
Figures. I sighed inwardly—kids, right?
"But y'know..."
Thought that was it? Nope.
Her voice shifted in an instant. I looked over—her face crumpled into heartbreaking sadness.
"I've... seen Dad struggling so much because of me..."
"Huh?"
Oh right—that uncle who mentioned his daughter my age, stuck in this hospital behind us. Mana corrosion, long-term patient.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Wasn't this a dangerous spot?
"I always feel sorry to Dad..."
A voice called my name from afar.
Perfect timing—work's done!
"Hey, gotta go."
"Aww? Stay a bit longer?"
She tugged at me, but it felt like a water ghost dragging me under.
Shouldn't have given her candy!
"N-next time, promise!"
"But..."
"Sorry!"
Run!
Her still being here meant my potion hadn't fully worked, right? Dad might be plotting revenge for fooling him.
If he found out I was here—big trouble!