Chapter 21:

[21 — Ashes]

Reincarnated into My Favorite Game, But I Forgot Everything I Knew About It

>Year 338 — Kingdom of Lisarya: City of Karsten (six months ago)<

It was Sunday.

I could've slept in if I wanted, but I couldn't resist the wonderful smell of Mom's pancakes.

I got up and poked my sister on the top bunk. Finally, I'd beaten her and woken up first.

"Still alive?"

She pulled the pillow over her head.

"Ugh, Sera, cut it out. Just a little longer."

Guess she was fine if she could still be that lazy first thing in the morning.

"Tch, you're really gonna stay in bed, Saya-nee? If you take too long, there won't be any pancakes left."

"What did you just say?" She leapt out of bed. "Mom made pancakes?"

Both of us ran to the kitchen still in our pajamas.

Mom still had her back turned.

"Shh," Saya-nee whispered.

We looked at each other and crept closer, tiptoeing carefully so Mom wouldn't notice.

"Sera! Saya! Come get— huh?! What—"

"Hahaha! Good morning, Mom!"

"Good grief! You two nearly made me drop the pancakes. What on earth were you thinking?"

"Hehe… sorry." I hid behind Saya-nee.

Mom sighed.

"Mo... what am I going to do with you girls? Go wash up, breakfast is on the table."

After washing our hands and brushing our teeth, we sat down. Mom had made two huge, soft, round pancakes for each of us. They looked delicious, but something was still missing.

"Hm…" I glanced around the table.

"What is it, Sera?"

"Saya-nee… I don't see the jam."

"J-jam? H-how strange."

…That was a little suspicious.

"Wait! What's that you're hiding behind your back?!"

"Who's hiding— Oi! Get off me, Sera. What are you doing?"

"Aha!"

Just as I thought.

"Can't you two behave at the table?"

Mom scolded us again.

But even as she said it, she wasn't angry. In fact, she was smiling.

Before I knew it, the pancakes on my plate had vanished.

"They were so good!" My tummy was completely stuffed.

"Sera, are you still heading to the square today?"

"Yeah, Mom. I promised to play with Anis at the park. Do you want me to bring back anything?"

"Uh… if you could grab some potatoes." She pulled a few coins from her pocket. "Here."

"Got it. If I don't forget, I'll bring them, hehe."

Just as I was leaving the kitchen, Saya-nee grabbed me from behind.

"Little sis, are you sure you don't want your onee-chan to go with you?"

"Ew, get your face away from me! I'm big enough now. I don't need you tagging along anymore."

"Sniff… they grow up so fast."

"Tch." I'll never understand why she always acts like that.

After changing and slipping on my walking shoes, I headed toward the city center.

The day was beautiful and sunny. A soft breeze brushed my face and made my hair sway. The birdsong was lovely and comforting.

Saya-nee once told me this kind of chirping was from sparrows, but I still wasn't too good at telling one bird from another. Even so, it was really nice to listen to.

Our house wasn't too far from the square, maybe a twenty-minute walk.

Which meant… I was already running late. If I didn't hurry, Anis would get mad.

After passing the last windmill, I finally spotted the park.

"Hey! Sera!" Anis was sitting on one of the swings.

"Anis!"

I ran and sat on the swing beside her.

"You're late, Sera. Lost track of time again?"

"L-late? I was only a few minutes."

Anis crossed her arms and pouted.

I think she was mad…

"Sorry. Mom made pancakes. I couldn't leave before finishing."

"Hmph! You and your pancakes. Don't you know eating too much in the morning makes you gain weight faster?"

"W-what? Is that true?"

"Of course! My aunt told me."

"I… I didn't know." I lowered my head.

Anis touched my shoulder.

"Don't worry. If you didn't know, it's fine. Just… be more careful next time."

"..."

"Hahaha."

We tried, but we couldn't hold back our laughter.

"Hey, Sera. Did you see any blue butterflies on the way here?"

"Hm… I think I saw a green one… but blue… maybe not. Why?"

"Huh? Are you really asking me that?"

Her face made me even more curious.

"Was it something I should've noticed?"

"Ah…" She sighed. "I don't know what to do with you, Sera. You're always so oblivious to the world around you."

…Every time I saw Anis, she had a new word to throw at me.

"Let me tell you something. Blue butterflies aren't really blue. My aunt told me they're actually white butterflies, and the reason they look blue is because of some powder sprinkled on top of them."

"Powder? Who sprinkles powder on them?"

"Who else? The gnomes! That's why you should never rub your eyes after touching one."

"T-that's scary. Anis, you're so smart."

"It's not that I'm smart, Sera. You're just really naive. It's fine… you're lucky you have me."

"Haha… you're right."

Anis seemed to know everything.

"Well, time to do what really matters." She started stretching.

I gripped the swing tightly.

Anis pushed me, and I heard the ropes groaning against the frame. I was scared I might fall, but I kept going.

It was so much fun.

When the swing rose high, I could see over the treetops, down the hill. The view was incredible.

It would be amazing if people could fly like birds. I imagined myself traveling to other towns, tasting sweets and cakes from everywhere. Just thinking about it made my tummy rumble again.

"Okay, Sera! My turn now."

"Already? It hasn't even been five minutes…"

"Yes it has, it's been ten."

I hopped off and began pushing Anis. She pretended not to enjoy it, but the smile covering half her face said otherwise.

Then suddenly, she got dizzy and asked to get down. She sat back on the swing, pale.

Guess I pushed her harder than I meant to.

"Sorry… Anis."

"It's fine. Not your fault. Anyway, Sera… d-don't you have something to tell me?"

She went shy all of a sudden.

"Tell you?" I tilted my head. "What?"

"Y-you know… that thing."

"…!"

She's not talking about what I think, is she?

"Ah, Sera! I mean the thing you told Isabel!!!"

"I— I… I don't know what you're talking about."

Anis clicked her tongue and turned away. That's always how she acted when she didn't get what she wanted.

"Hmph… you tell Isabel everything, but me…"

"..."

"W- what did Isabel tell you, Anis?"

"What else? That thing with your hands."

Ah! I knew it! And she promised not to tell anyone… geez.

"Fine, Anis. I'll show you. But you can't tell anyone, got it?"

"Yay! You're the best, Sera!" She jumped on me, and we nearly fell off the swing.

…So clumsy.

I stretched out my palm and focused on its center. I followed the lines with my eyes until it happened. It was faint, but I could already see the turquoise glow forming at my fingertips.

"S-Sera… that…" She leaned close to my ear and whispered. "Is that magic?"

Gulp.

My little hands started trembling.

So… it really was magic?

"Anis…"

"..."

Her sudden silence scared me. Maybe I shouldn't have shown her.

"Sera! Y-you mustn't show this to anyone else, understand?"

"I—"

"Look me in the eyes, Sera! Forget about this and never play with that light again!"

Her expression gave me chills.

Anis stood up from the swing.

"Ah, it's about time to head home. The sun's already setting."

"A-Anis… I— y-you're right…"

"..."

The farewell felt awkward.

We barely spoke as we walked away from each other. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find the right words. Once I got home, I'd think about it. And also… when I saw Isabel again, she'd better watch out.

Never telling her anything ever again.

After buying the potatoes, I walked home slowly, lost in thought. At this pace, the distance felt a lot longer than I remembered. Maybe it was just hunger. My belly had been full after breakfast, but now it was growling again.

"I wonder what Mom's making for dinner? Hehe… just thinking about it makes me droo—hm?"

Suddenly, I caught a strange smell in the air.

It reminded me of when Mom left a pan on the stove too long, but… much, much stronger. And with every step I took, it grew closer to my house.

"M-Mom forgot the stove again?"

I started running.

As I crossed the street, I heard voices. Lots of them. I couldn't make out what they were saying.

I ran faster.

Just past the sand hill, I'd be able to see my house.

"Ha…ha…ha, that was more tiring than I thought." I leaned on my knees.

Why was it so hot? Sweat dripped down my face. I needed a bath.

When I looked up, I recognized someone near the neighbor's house.

Those twin tails. It had to be her.

Hah… what luck. I really needed to talk to you.

"Hey! Isab—"

I tried to call, but froze.

The potatoes slipped from my hands.

The stench of burning wood filled my nose.

My house…

My house was on fire.

"Burn the witches! Burn the witches! Burn the witches! Burn the witches! Burn the witches!..."

Next to it, two people were tied to wooden stakes, raised above the roaring crowd. Their chants were terrifying, like some nightmare ritual. Some clapped, others swung torches. They stood in a circle, waiting for something.

No matter where I looked, there were people. Children, adults, the elderly… and those men in white. The ones I usually only saw passing by from a distance. A cross-bearing banner stood raised beside my home.

The smoke scratched at my throat, but I couldn't cough. I couldn't even blink.

Why… why were so many of them laughing?

"We gather here for this act of faith…" A man in armor approached the center. Those sacred symbols… An inquisitor. "To condemn any profane acts against God and the holy church."

"...TO CONDEMN ANY PROFANE ACTS AGAINST GOD AND THE HOLY CHURCH!!!"

"By the authority granted to me by Pope Santemus III, I cast out the devil's schemes from this earth… to keep evil from spreading among the faithful… and to honor the blood of the savior shed for us."

He opened a bible.

"Exodus 22:18: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

"THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE! BURN THE WITCHES! BURN THE WITCHES!..."

Everyone looked like they were enjoying it.

This couldn't be real… no…

He took a torch, dipped it in oil, and pressed it against the flames eating through my room.

The motion was so fast I could barely follow. In seconds, he hurled it into the stakes where the two were bound.

The sound of fire devouring everything rang in my ears.

My sister's pajamas.

The red socks I'd given Mom for her birthday.

All of it… until only ashes and smoke remained.

No.