Heavy.

Every step felt heavy as I moved down the Academy market aisle.

Rows upon rows of goods were presented before my very eyes as I just randomly picked up whatever bar I could find.

At the front, I could feel the staff's sharp gaze on me.

I knew that I was close to reaching the daily limit of bars that I could purchase.

But it couldn't be helped, this was for Delilah.

"Haa."

Recalling what had happened a few moments ago, I could only sigh.

Nothing.

Pressing the third leaf, nothing happened.

Delilah looked a bit disappointed by that, saying something along the lines of, 'I didn't feel anything. Did you try something?'

I was helpless.

The third ability was still new to me.

At least, I now knew that it couldn't be activated so easily.

"There's fifteen minutes left, I better hurry."

Checking my watch, I hurried to the counter.

Classes were going to start in a bit. I needed to get this delivered before class started.

"Thank you for your purchase. Have a good day."

"Thank you."

Drip. Drip.

It was drizzling outside.

The sky donned a somber gray, casting a moody ambiance all around. It perfectly reflected my inner feelings.

"Haa... I should've brought an umbrella. My clothHm?"

My feet came to a sudden stop as I felt a slight tug of my coat. Unknowingly, the rain that had been pouring down from the sky just moments prior had disappeared.

"How may I help you...?"

I lowered my gaze, and two deep black eyes blinked back at me. Before me, an expressionless little girl stood, her clothing appearing quite tattered. She also seemed on the skinnier side as her clothing seemed rather loose.

"Hm? Where did you come from?"

She didn't look like someone who belonged to the Academy.

I was confused and looked around me.

"....!?"

But the moment I did, I was stunned to see that I was no longer on the Academy grounds. I was somewhere else entirely.

They looked like... slums.

"H-how?"

Before I could panic, something tugged my coat again and I looked at the skinny little girl.

Without answering, her gaze wandered over the bag in my hand.

"Are you hungry?"

Nod. Nod.

Thinking for a moment, I opened the bag and took out the first thing I could grab.

"Ah."

But that thing turned out to be the one thing I couldn't exactly give away.

Delilah's bar.

"Hmm, I can't give you this, how ab..."

I stopped myself from speaking. Staring at the pack, the little girl was already salivating. Alternating her gaze between me and the chocolate bar, she rubbed the corner of her mouth.

"Take it."

'Whatever, it's Delilah's money anyway.'

She could afford this little loss.

With visible sparkles in her eyes, the little girl took the chocolate bar from my hand.

"Let me help."

Seeing her struggle to open the pack, I offered her a hand.

"Here."

Num. Num.

She dove right into the bar and for some reason, her image overlapped with Delilah's. Of course, she was obviously not her. She was skinnier than her, and her clothing was also a lot more tattered. Not only that, but her hair was also a mess.

However, the twinkle that appeared in her otherwise lost eyes and the way she was devouring the chocolate bars so eagerly made me think of her.

"Tha...nk you."

She spoke for the first time.

Her voice was brittle.

"Does it taste good?"

"Mhm."

"Here, clean your hands with this."

"...?"

"It's not good if you eat with your hands dirty."

Before I knew it, I was cleaning her hands with a tissue. A habit I'd developed back when taking care of my brother.

I raised my head and looked around.

"... Where are your parents?"

The street was empty with just the two of us standing. The surrounding buildings were broken and tattered, with newspapers scattered across the ground.

I wanted to meet her parents so that I could get a better idea of where I was.

This entire situation was strange.

"Parents?"

"Yes, mom and dad. Where are they?"

"H... home."

The young girl replied in a hushed tone. As if she suddenly remembered something, her hand, which was digging the chocolate bar suddenly stopped.

"I go."

"You're leaving?"

"Um."

"Wait."

I grabbed her hand before she could leave.

Looking around me and checking my watch, I spoke,

"Let me come with you."

The area looked unsafe. For an eight to nine-year-old girl to roam around like this all alone didn't sit well with me. But besides that. There was something about the little girl that bugged me.

I wasn't exactly sure what it was, but a part of me refused to leave her alone.

She reminded me too much of a certain someone.

So I decided to accompany her on the way back.

"Oh, right."

I looked at the little girl who was tightly holding onto the chocolate bar as if it were her most prized treasure.

"What's your name?"

"..."

The girl blinked her eyes and raised her head. Her face, which seemed expressionless, showed a slight change as if she had rediscovered a hint of feeling.

Her response came shortly after.

"Delilah.. My name is Delilah."

***

His face was scary, but he was kind.

He gave Delilah chocolate, so he must be a good man.

A strange but kind man.

Creaaak!

Her little hands pushed the familiar door leading up to her house. The door opened like it was welcoming her with open arms.

"Oh, you're back Delilah?"

A warm and gentle voice greeted her at the entrance of her house.

The room was bright. It was flooded with brightness as the sun's rays poured in through the large windows, making it difficult to see ahead.

It was so bright she could hardly make out her mother's features.

"Mom."

A familiar warmth embraced her as she felt her mother's hug.

"Have you had fun playing around? Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Mhm."

Delilah brought forth the chocolate bar she received from the strange but kind man.

"Oh, what's this?"

"Food."

Her small hand squeezed the chocolate bar.

So delicious.

"...And who gave you this?"

"Him."

Delilah pointed at the strange but kind man. He was still standing by the door.

"Oh, my."

As if realizing that someone was standing at the door, her mother made a surprised look.

"How rude of me. Please come on in. Come in."

"..."

But the man didn't move and just stood where he was. His expression was scary.

He only snapped out of it when Delilah tugged his clothes.

"Mama said to come in."

"Oh."

The floor creaked under his step.

"Please, come and sit here. We don't have much, but I hope you find yourself comfortable, and thank you very much for helping Delilah."

"Sit there."

Delilah pointed toward the living room table.

With a nod, the strange but kind man sat on one of the chairs around the table.

"One for you, and one for you."

Delilah snapped the bar into multiple pieces.

One for the strange but kind man and the other for her. The rest was for her mother and father. Satisfied, she patted her hands which were mixed with melted chocolate.

"Mommy, when will Dad come out?"

Delilah's gaze wandered over a certain door.

It was the door that led to her father's room.

Her dad was there, but she wasn't allowed to enter.

'No matter what, you mustn't enter the room,' he said to her.

"Your dad will join us later. Eat your food for now."

"Um."

When the topic of food came up once more, her gaze shifted away from the door, returning to focus on the chocolate bar.

"Eat. Eat."

She devoured the chocolate bar.

So sweet. So tasty.

But that was when she noticed something.

"Why you... no, eat?"

"I... I've already eaten enough."

The man pushed his chocolate toward her.

"You eat it."

Blink.

Delilah blinked her eyes.

She could eat it?

Staring at the man to make sure he wasn't lying to her, only after seeing him nod did Delilah happily eat the chocolate bar.

What bliss.

Creaaak!

Hearing a familiar creaking sound, Delilah turned her head to see a tall figure walk in.

"Daddy!"

She spent no time running to the man.

"Ho, ho. There's my little princess."

"Hehehe."

Giggling, Delilah hugged her father tightly.

"What have you been up to, Delilah?"

"Eating."

"Oh? What are you eating?"

"Chocolate. Very delicious. I gave it to Mom too."

"Mhhh."

Her dad suddenly went quiet.

"Dad?"

"...Delilah."

In the gentlest voice he could muster, he spoke to her.

"Your mom..."

"Yes?"

She was in the living room.

"She's... in a faraway place. It's been a year now. I need you to realize this."

Blink.

The brightness that was engulfing the room started to dim.

Slowly, the surroundings started to turn dark.

"I know you miss your mom. I miss her too. More than you can imagine, but..."

Rotten walls. Broken windows. Mold. The house's true appearance started to reveal itself.

"...you need to move on. You will eventually see her. It's just that... the time isn't right yet. There will be a time when you will see her again. It's a promise."

Delilah cocked her head as she stared at her father.

Despite the light dimming, it was still difficult for her to see his features.

"But dad..."

Blink.

The brightness dimmed once more, and her gaze wandered over a certain room.

"...Will I also see you again? You still haven't left your room."

Blink.

The brightness disappeared completely.

What remained was an eerie silence as the girl stood alone in the darkness.

Just her.

And herself.

.

.

.

.

'Just what is this...?'

Rather than being shocked... I just didn't know how to react. How was I supposed to react to this?

The dilapidated walls, the pervasive mold, the cracks zigzagging across the walls, and the lingering scent of decay filling the space...

I clenched my teeth.

'Just what is this?'

How could anyone live in such conditions?

And...

"...Will I also see you again? You still haven't left your room."

I got up from my seat and walked up to Delilah.

My gaze fell on the door she was looking at.

"Is that where your father is?"

"Um. He's busy working."

"How long has he been working?"

"Hmm."

Placing her finger near her mouth, she pondered.

"A long time?"

"Do you know how long exactly?"

"No."

She shook her head.

"When mom left, he said that he suddenly had a lot of work to do."

"Ah."

My heart clenched.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes."

She nodded immediately.

But the more she was like that the more my heart squeezed.

"So... why aren't you smiling?"

Delilah raised her head. I thought that she had always been expressionless, but now that I got a closer look at her. She seemed more like an empty shell than just expressionless.

A lot of things started to make sense.

'.....I also want to be good at Emotive Magic.'

'I'm adopted.'

'They're fine.'

'Working.'

Each word she said struck me deeply into my chest.

"Smile?"

"Like this."

I tugged the corners of my lips up with the aid of my fingers.

"Eh...?"

Imitating me, she tugged the corners of her mouth.

"Like this?"

"Like that."

I held out my hand to her.

"Do you want me to bring you somewhere nice?"

"But..."

Her gaze wandered over to a certain room. Trying my best to keep myself calm, I opened my palm.

"Let's not disturb your dad for now. Maybe, when you return, he'll be out of the room."

"Really?"

"Really."

My heart gripped even more tightly. I wasn't sure if this was an illusion or not. In fact, I was still struggling to understand what was going on.

But that didn't matter to me. At the moment I only had one thought.

I needed to bring her back with me.

She couldn't stay here any longer.

"Mister."

I felt something grasp my hand as my head lowered. Delilah was looking up at me, her large black eyes blinking.

"Yes?"

"...Thank you."

And it suddenly got bright.

"Thank you for being kind to me."

All of a sudden my hand felt empty as the world turned bright.

I stood by myself in an endless light.

"..."

Just me.

And myself.

Lvl 2. [Sadness] EXP + 15%