I Can Do It!

“Are you sure you’re okay, Lirhilde? That’s a nasty looking bruise.” Selena fretted. “It’s nothing.” The swan woman rubbed the solid black mark on her forehead. “It aches, but it doesn’t hurt the way it did last night. Elfrida-Chan used me as a test dummy to teach Ma-Chan some healing magic. They did some sort of spell that gives the kind of anti-swelling effect that ice has on an injury, only it’s stronger and happens all at once. A form of accelerated healing, basically. It means I skip the worst of the pain, but I’m still going to have this lovely mark while it finishes healing completely.” She sighed and wrapped her hands around her coffee mug.

“I earned it with my own stupidity. I can’t believe I didn’t ever consider the possibility of them attacking us! If they could jump like that and were backed into a corner, of course they’d fight to save their own ass.” Lirhilde buried her face in her hands. “It’s not your fault.” Selena reassured her. “It’s easy to forget that we’re in a completely different world, sometimes. You can’t be blamed for not knowing what to expect in a world where anything you could imagine is possible.” She took a slurp of her own coffee. “Though, I can understand why getting your butts kicked by something as mundane as a petty thief would be frustrating.

The two women were sitting at Aqua’s table, drinking their morning coffee and reflecting on the chaos of the night before. A loud yawn announced Elfrida’s approach before she even appeared on the stairs. “Mornin’,” the dwarf mumbled as she rubbed her eyes. She looked and felt like she hadn’t slept a wink, despite having slept soundly. “Geez, Elfrida-Chan, you look rougher than me!” Lirhilde pointed her thumb towards the kitchen. “There’s coffee. Aqua and Ma-Chan are grabbing some things from the greenhouse to make breakfast.” A blurry-eyed Elfrida toddled into the kitchen. “Coffee sounds great...”

“Thanks for going out with Ma-Chan" Selena offered Lirhilde her gratitude. “She had great time, aside from the whole pick-pocketing incident. I'm trying to follow your advice to give her some freedom, but I’m still glad there’s people I can trust her with, and she’s very fond of you three. It’s a bit odd because of the range of ages, but my daughter finally has some friends, so I’ll take it!” Lirhilde grinned. “My pleasure! Ma-Chan makes me feel like I’m young again! Well...I am young again, aren’t I?” She paused in confusion. “Man, it still doesn’t feel real to me. It’s not as confusing as becoming an animal the way you did, but it’s still shocking for me and my husband! On the one hand, it’s not like our fundamental personalities have changed, but then again, old parts of ourselves have come back to the surface. The parts of ourselves that we gave up when we got too old for our hobbies and dreams...” Elfrida shuffled back into the room and hopped onto the chair next to the swan woman.

“Sounds like you’re feeling the dissonance between your mental age and current physical age.” The librarian stirred her coffee. “I guess I am.” Lirhilde let out a puff of air. “How do you deal with it, Elfrida-Chan? Being so old but looking...like you do?” Too tired to take offense, Elfrida shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s too early for this crap.” “How is it that you’re the one who’s tired?” Lirhilde quipped. “I could barely sleep with your snoring last night!”

“Well, a lot happened last night.” Mahannana called as she entered the kitchen with a basket of fruit and vegetables. “I don’t blame her for being tired. Oh, Mr. Aqua said we’re having omelets!” “How’s Aqua doing?” Selena called to her daughter. “He seemed frustrated this morning.”

“Oh, I’m still plenty frustrated!” Aqua grumbled as he joined Mahannana in the kitchen. “That asshole is going to pay!” “Aqua, I already told you to give it up.” Elfrida sighed as she took a deep drink from her cup. “We have no idea what they looked like and, anyway, your money is probably long gone.”

“But the stupid money isn’t the issue...” Aqua muttered and ground his teeth as he banged dishes around in the kitchen. Mahannana flinched. “I’m sorry, Mr. Aqua! I should have been faster and I could have used my magic to grab your wallet back while they were distracted by Elfrida-Chan and Lir-Chan!” Mahannana knew that she had done her best, but she still felt like dirt, seeing how upset Aqua was and being unable to do anything to help cheer him up. “Oh, I’m not upset at you!” Aqua patted her on the shoulder. “You tried to help, and me wiping out was my own fault for not watching where I was going. Could you start dicing the veggies, please?” 

Mahannana nodded and took the cutting board and knife off the wall as Aqua began cracking the eggs into a large bowl. “Still, though, what rotten luck I have, right?” Aqua shook his head at himself. “One of the few times I leave the house for pleasure, and I get robbed! At least I didn’t bring much money with me.”

Mahannana stared at Aqua's back as she grabbed the basket of produce. ‘But, if he doesn’t care about the money, then why is he still so upset? He can’t just be sulking because he feels embarrassed about us failing to get it back?’ “Why are you frustrated, if you didn't lose much money?” Aqua paused, staring down at the bowl, but gave her no reply. Respecting his privacy, Mahannana turned to continue prepping breakfast. “The wallet.” Aqua said suddenly.

“It was my father’s. It’s the only thing I have left that belonged to my parents. The debt collectors took everything with the tiniest bit of value after they died and, since I was so little, I got kicked out of the house and had nowhere to go. I couldn’t take much with when I left my hometown...I can’t even remember my parents faces anymore and that wallet was the only thing I had but it’s gone now...” He gripped the edge of the counter tightly.

Mahannana’s heart sank. She couldn’t imagine being in Aqua’s situation. ‘Would I even survive without my mama? I can’t imagine being completely alone without anyone...’ 

“I’ll find your wallet!” She promised, despite having no idea how she could follow through on it. Aqua turned and smiled. “I appreciate the sentiment, Ma-Chan, but it’s okay. I know there’s no way I'm ever seeing it again.” “No, I’m serious!” She insisted. “I don’t know how but...I’ll figure something out! I’ll find the thief and convince them to give the wallet back! I promise! I’m a mage; if I can’t do something that small, then I’m a loser!”

Aqua couldn’t help chuckling. ‘It’s hard to stay upset around her for long! I don’t wanna get my hopes up...but if there’s the slightest chance of me seeing my wallet again, I’m sure she’s the one who can make it happen.’

“I’ll be counting on you then, Ma-Chan!” Aqua smiled at her as he returned to beating the eggs. “Don’t worry! I got this!” Mahannana promised, thumping her chest with her fist. “I’ll do some nosing around while I make deliveries this afternoon!”

“Aquuuaaaa! I’m hungrryyy!” Lirhilde whined from the dining room. “Have some patience, Mrs. Lirhilde!” Aqua groaned. “How can she be hungry after she ate so much last night?” Mahannana shrugged and began dicing an onion. ‘As soon as Lir-Chan and Elfrida-Chan go home, I want to go back to that alley. There has to be some clue to point me towards the thief.’