v2 Chapter 21: One of the Shining Souls

How enjoyable the journey to the Deep Forest must have been.

“Okay, watch. When you poke it with the stick like this...”

“Whoa, poison came out!”

“If you repeat that twice, then the third time...”

“The poison stops coming out?”

“Then you strike like this.” Shouko demonstrated, slicing the slime.

“Wash this well, and there you go, 500 gil.”

“Snack money!”

And so the two children crouched side-by-side, heads together, hunting slimes. The adults ended up taking several days off from hunting just to watch them.

“This is the best kind of healing,” Leon remarked.

“How cute,” Lyla added.

Dred and Lyla were also unusually relaxed. To Falco, who was watching them with surprise, Lyla said, sounding displeased, “What?”

“No, I just thought you'd say they should just hurry up and hunt properly.”

“I think so too,” Lyla conceded. “That they should just do it quickly with a sword. And Haru could get it in one shot with magic, right?”

“Then why don't you say it?”

“Because isn't it cute how they're fumbling around? Besides...” Lyla said proudly, “Things that don't need to be said, don't need to be said.”

Falco shrugged. She was definitely going to say something else that didn't need saying again soon. Still, Lyla had certainly changed.

“Falco!” Shouko was waving. Watch me? Watch what?

Shouko stood up smoothly and swung her sword swiftly. Using water magic, she quickly retrieved the slime's magic stone and showed it proudly to Falco. Being able to hunt slimes without clouding their magic stones meant one was recognized as an apprentice hunter. Falco's chest swelled with pride.

“Leon!” This time it was Haru. As Leon watched, smiling, Haru swiftly shot fire magic, then washed the magic stone and held it up for him to see.

To Leon, who didn't quite understand, Dred explained, “Some adult magicians can't even do that. It means she's incredibly skilled.” Leon also felt proud of Haru after all.

Haru, who had been hesitant about cooking outdoors at first, quickly got used to it and cooked skillfully alongside Shouko. Just as she'd said, she certainly seemed capable of housework.

Shouko and Haru selling magic stones in each town to run off and buy snacks. Shouko earnestly teaching a nervous Haru how to butcher lizards. Haru patiently teaching magic to Shouko, who hadn't been very interested before. Dred joining in with a surprised look on his face as he watched them. Just having children around was this entertaining. Leon even felt sorry for those folks at the Magic Academy.

Eventually, in the latter half of the journey, the hunters returned to hunting, and after some blissful time spent only with the High Priest, they arrived at the Northern Town.

“It's Shouko!”

“It's the High Priest!”

Spotting the carriage, the town's children ran to tell their friends. When the carriage eventually stopped, not only children but adults from the town too had gathered to catch a glimpse of the new child.

“Hmm, it's hard to get out of the carriage.”

“Shouko, what's wrong?”

“Mm, it's fine, Haru. Stay as you are.” Seeing Haru completely unaware of the crowd's presence, Shouko deliberately said nothing, figuring there was no need to make her unnecessarily nervous.

“Shouko, Haru, get out first.”

“Okay.”

“Yes.”

When the two emerged from the carriage, a stir went through the crowd.

“Two Shoukos?”

“Shouko?”

“They look exactly alike!”

Voices like these were heard. There was no way they looked exactly alike, but perhaps having the same coloring gave that impression.

“No, her hair is straight.”

“How pretty!”

“Shouko's hair is curly.”

There's no need to compare every little detail, Shouko thought. Haru stood frozen in surprise. Beside the frozen Haru, Shouko stood with her arms crossed, her eyes cold. Looking at them side-by-side like that, they certainly were different.

“Her eyes are big, like they're about to spill over.”

“What's with that look, like a startled squirrel?”

“Cute!”

Unintentionally, Haru's cuteness ended up being highlighted. Not that I mind, Shouko thought. She let out a long sigh, “This is Haru, from the Lakes! Be nice to her!” she said in a loud voice.

Haru gave a quick bow. At that, the junior group let out a cheer. Just like Shouko! Shouko had bowed just like that when she first arrived. Immediately, the children gathered around. Shouko smiled brightly, while Haru looked flustered.

Aura observed all of this intently. She seems like a good kid. She's wearing those heavy clothes from the Lakes, but since she's here, I want to dress her in a light Deep Forest tunic. Maybe matching cute Shouko's? Then, she approached Falco, who was watching Shouko with an amused expression.

“Falco.”

“W-what is it?” Falco found Aura a little difficult. Or rather, he found all the girls in the junior group other than Shouko difficult. Though Aura wasn't in the junior group anymore.

“You did a good job, didn't you?” Aura complimented him, perhaps referring to bringing Haru.

“O-oh, well, yeah.” He was rarely praised.

“But hey, look.”

“At what?”

“Even the young men who weren't interested in Shouko before must have noticed her charm now, seeing her paired with Haru.”

“No way.” Thinking that, it did indeed seem like young men were looking at Shouko.

“Your rivals are increasing,” Aura teased. Saying that one line, Aura also moved over beside Shouko and Haru.

Rivals? What is she talking about? Falco shook his head, but he felt a warmth seeing Haru accepted into the Deep Forest so quickly. Because Shouko is here. Because Shouko is here, it's warm. Falco gently pressed his chest.

Since monsters seemed numerous that year, Falco and Leon accepted a request from the Guild and joined the others in the Northern Forest, taking Shouko and Haru with them. There, Haru calmly learned the Deep Forest way of life. By the time spring came and they returned to town, she had even learned simple healing and quickly blended in with the junior group.

The only differences in the Northern Town from the previous year were the addition of one more black-haired child, and one more worrywart guardian. The junior group ran around, the apprentices stretched themselves, and so they grew towards adulthood.

“Shouko, let's go with warm colors this year,” Aura suggested for the festival outfits.

Shouko made a difficult face. “If so, yellow-green is better.”

“Can't be helped. Haru, let's go with this orange.”

“Will it suit me?”

“It will! It's my choice,” Aura declared confidently.

On the day of the Star-Greeting Festival this year, Shouko and Haru would turn 14. The embroidery from the Lakes souvenirs Shouko had brought back was now wildly popular among the girls of the Northern Town; this year, tunics had some kind of cute embroidery on the hems or chests.

“Look, Falco and Leon are here,” Aura noticed. Pushed by Aura, the two shyly approached Falco and Leon.

“Aren't you too old to be spun around now?” Falco asked hesitantly. Their eye levels were a little closer this year too.

“He's spinning someone around right next to you?” Shouko pointed out Leon, presumably spinning Haru.

“Ah, Leon! I was holding back out of consideration for Shouko, and you...? Eh?”

“Okay, spin me,” Shouko offered playfully.

“Really? Here goes!” Falco happily complied.

Soon, they wouldn't be able to do this anymore. They had to enjoy the time they were cherished as children. Bright laughter burst from Shouko and Haru. Of course, Shouko didn't yet know that she would still be spun around even after becoming an adult.

“Here.” A lantern was handed to both Shouko and Haru.

“Wow.”

Now, let's hold hands and go to the rocky cliffs. And quietly wait for night.

Lanterns glow in the darkness. Night, come back. There are many stars on the ground too.

“This is the Star-Greeting Festival...” Haru murmured. What a beautiful, mystical festival. And today, she turned one year older. Finally. Yes, finally, she was able to come to the Star-Greeting Festival. She too had finally become one of the shining souls in this world.

“It gets cold at night.” Leon gently pulled Haru close. His back was warm. Her eyes met Shouko's, who was being held by Falco next to them, giving him a cold look. Seeing Shouko shrug as if to say, 'Can't be helped,' Haru couldn't help but burst out laughing.

“Just keep laughing like that,” Leon said softly.

With these people who look at her with such kind eyes. She would live on. In this world.