The Lost Child

“Mi-ni-chi, stop playing. Ms. Telly’s waiting for us”, Rimi was very punctual. I could never be. It was a Tuesday and we were going to our stylist to pick costumes for Saturday. It was quite the moment; popular brands like Mike and Yumikuro were sponsoring our outfits. A performance at the Budokan is a spectacle, after all. Not just for the performers but for brands as well.

Rumi, Hataki and I were roommates when we started the band. We never thought we’d get the chance to perform at a stage of such importance so early in our career. Only four to five bands can make it to the Budokan each year. Ms. Telly was supporting us from the start. Formally she was our manager. But, personally she was like a second mother to us. She left her previous job at another agency to start her own. She said she felt sick by the way the agency treated the idols. We were the first band to sign with her. But somehow, we rose to fame too quickly and she has only been managing our band ever since.

From our second year at the university, the four of us moved into an apartment. We built a mini studio where we film our videos, record music and live stream on MewTube to engage with fans. The three of us go to college undercover in the local train to avoid media attention.

“Girls, stop fighting. We’re just about there now”, Ms. Telly gently let us know that we were about to reach the stylist’s salon.

The three of us jumped at the wide variety of outfits around us, all sponsored by major brands. Although we had planned to wear the same thing, the three of us, the overwhelming number of well thought out outfits were too much for us to handle.

“You guys are gonna perform on a national stage. Where is the visual harmony in your outfits? Why is Rimi wearing a beach dress, Minichi in Victorian and Hataki in black leather?” Ms. Telly was bitter.

“But Ms. Telly, won’t it show how diverse our personalities are? And that despite that, we’re all in perfect sync?” I begged her to let me keep my outfit.

“You guys are kids. Right.” Ms. Telly facepalmed herself. “Benny, please dress the girls up properly”, she instructed the chief stylist.

“But Benny, this looks good. Don’t you think so?” We tried our best to convince Benny as she took us to the dressing room.

“Aha! See. We can dress well too!” Ms. Telly’s eyes were shining when we announced ourselves.

“I am sure it’s Benny’s magic, but I will give you girls the benefit of the doubt. You girls look so pretty!” she looked very happy that our outfits got arranged in time.

“Benny is so good at costumes, right? She got these stitches just right. I feel like I have nothing on me at all. It’s so freeing” Hataki is overjoyed as we were admiring our looks in the rear-view mirror of the car. It was Saturday morning. “Whoah! Hataki is on fire today.” Ms. Telly giggled. “Guys, let’s all have a couch party after the performance tonight. Ms. Telly, join us!” Rimi was already planning ahead. “Calm down, calm down. We still have some exciting stuff ahead of us today.” Just as I said that, the car behind us hit ours and we’re out on the other lane.

“It’s been three months since that, huh? I hope the three of them made it out. I will come back soon, guys. Don’t you worry!” Minichi was pondering over her past in the evening. The sun was about to set and the soft breeze was gently brushing against her hair. It was very calm, too calm in fact.

She had begun learning magic spells with her wand. Preliminary textbooks on magic says that there are five kinds of magic: Elemental magic, where the various elements of nature like earth, wind, fire, and water are manipulated; Spiritual magic, which includes sealing spells; Summoning magic which can be used to summon magic beasts that you keep with yourself; Teleportation magic, which can be used to move from one place to another; and Psychic magic, which can be used to manipulate other beings.

Summoning magic, teleportation magic and psychic magic require very high mana capacity in the caster themselves. Minichi’s mana levels were too low to even perform elemental magic. So Mobi made her the wand infused with mana crystals. Her language skills had improved and she could now read primary books. She often accompanied Mobi to his shopping trips to learn about the local people and the magic market.

"Shouldn't we help the kid out?” Minichi pointed to the toddler on the footpath who seemed lost. Even before Mobi could answer, Minichi ran to the lost soul. He was expecting his mother and thus, was delighted when Minichi went to her. But realising it wasn’t his mother, he broke into tears.

“What’s the matter? Are you lost?” she asked the poor child. But he won’t stop crying. But then he suddenly stopped crying and looked cheerful. “Mobi!” he cried out as Mobi approached them.

“Huh? He knows you?” Minichi asked.

“The royalty are well known, you know.” Mobi replied as he kneeled down to speak to the boy. “What’s the matter? Are you lost?” he asked him.

It was a busy day at the market today and the kid was tempted by the candies being sold at a nearby stall. When he turned around to ask his mother, he couldn’t see her at all.

“Why didn’t he tell me that?” Minichi was surprised by the kid’s attitude towards her. “Mum told me not to talk to strangers,” the boy replied. “She’s not a stranger, you know?” Mobi giggled. “Now I know.” the boy smiled.

“What’s your name? Who is your mother, kid?” Mobi asked.

Just then, a man’s voice resonated in the market, “Saito!”

“Papa!” the kid screamed in joy and ran to him. Soon the mother came running, in tears. Unable to find her child, she called her husband.

“I can’t thank you enough, Prof. Mobi? I couldn’t live without him.” The woman bowed to Mobi. “It’s nothing much. Saito was being very brave too. He even ignored Minichi.” Mobi rubbed his hair. “Dieter, I didn’t know you had a kid. How long has it been, buddy? I still feel like it was only yesterday that we were adventurers!” Mobi greeted Saito’s father.

“Thank you miss” little Saito offered a flower to Minichi. “Ow, you didn’t have to. I’m glad you found your parents.” She patted Saito’s head. “Don’t lose mama again, okay?”

“Oi Minichi, let’s go,” Mobi called to her. “Thank you again for your help young lady,” the mother thanked her again. The family waved at them as they went shopping again.

It was past dinner time when a loud explosion came shaking the glass windows of Minichi’s room. She saw the town engulfed in flames with large demonic beasts sprawling and destroying shops and houses.

“Miss Minichi, you need to leave, now!” her lady in waiting came running to her room. “The king is sending us to the City of Zenith. A carriage is waiting downstairs.” She explained as they climbed down the stairs. “City of Zenith?” Minichi asked. “The capital city, where the emperor lives. He allowed us to station you here for the time being. But the danger is too imminent now." "She knows quite a lot for a lady-in-waiting”, Minichi pondered.

In the carriage, she found Mobi waiting. “Ah Minichi. Coachman!” Mobi shouted. The carriage accelerated without losing a moment. Minichi, her lady-in-waiting Lilith, and Mobi leave the town as it burns behind them. The monsters have already swept through this area. “What about the king and the rest of the palace?” Minichi’s voice cracked in fear and shock. “Don’t worry it won’t do much damage. We have been attacked before. Although these Mana beasts look way more ferocious than the previous ones. But don’t worry, they’ll be safe. It’s more important to get you out of here” he looked concerned despite his firm tone.

As they dashed through, they noticed a woman crying with her kid on her lap on the road. It was Saito’s mother. “Coachman, stop!” Mobi ordered. “What happened?”

The mother looked up and then burst into tears and violent screams. “He’s no more! That monster killed him” she was pointing towards their house, which was shattered and burning.

“Come with us” Mobi ordered her. “No! Where do you want to flee while the city burns? Nothing will be spared. I can’t leave Deiter!” The wife is completely broken. Saito has fainted from the heat. “He’s no more. Come with us, we’re going to Zenith”.

Mobi somehow managed to get Saito’s mother in the carriage. As they left the city, they could see the soldiers fighting the beasts in the backdrop. The sky was pink from the fire. This world is at war.