05 Age Ten – Consolation for a Pair part 1

—A red motif.

That was Urie's initial impression.

Long flowing red locks with a few strands falling right between the bridge of her nose, neatly tucked over her right ear. Wearing a quaint white dress, and an adorned blue cardigan that hid pale skin— her eyes a shade of crimson complimenting her hair, met with his icy blue.

—I-I'm a boy... am I not!?

For the first time in his life, such an absurd question popped up in his head. Urie was unsettled. It wasn't his appearance being mirrored on the water. He had neither red eyes nor red hair. He was even wearing a shirt and some loose pants.

“Uhm—“ his lips quivered as he hesitated to speak. Who would try to start a conversation with his own reflection? Inwardly, he mocked himself. It was just that. A reflection.

The young girl portraying a picture of glum indifference, for some reason, Urie could tell was a painting of a facade. Like himself, he felt something weighing heavy on her heart, and this urged from him a moment of thought.

—I-I've been wearing the same expression, haven't I?

A solemn tear slid down the girl's cheek and at the same time, Urie felt two fall down slowly on both of his. Soon after, the feelings he had felt so suffocating cascaded from his eyes like floodgates that had just burst open.

—Ah? Why? Why now?

Urie had kept it together, repeating to himself that crying would change nothing. Yet, faced with an image of his own emotions in front of him, he buckled under his own frailty.

Nevertheless, he felt it a welcomed release. Crying with a companion eased the burden on his chest it seemed. Maybe now, he could let go of magic. Maybe tomorrow, he could face things with a brighter perspective.

—I could learn how to wield a weapon. A sword maybe? A spear? Magic isn't the only way to face mana beasts. And even then, I'll have to convince mother to allow me to go to the wall!

Leaning onto positive thoughts, Urie noticed how dark it had gotten. Even during this unusual event, his mother's instructions— for him to go home before dark, had slapped him on the back of the head.

—Ah! I need to go home quickly, lest I might incur mother's wrath... But... I'm curious...

Freed from gloomy haze, a tingling sensation began to trouble Urie. His attention returned to the young girl's reflection on the fountain. The color of her hair was striking but conflicted with her demeanor.

—Who is this timid-looking girl?

No person nor family in Daerin, none that Urie had seen possessed red hair— Was she not from the city? Then where was she from? Could there be a place other than Daerin that existed outside of the Erden wall?

A tuft of Urie's ashen hair pointed upwards as he was eager to know. He felt it—

“An itch I have to scratch!” his arm stretched out to the reflection of the girl. The first thing he thought to make sure was that he was at least sane.

—She couldn't be me, so... what would happen if I touch her?

His eyes met with the young girl's and she reached for him the same. And then, at the point where their fingertips had met, what had resulted was a single ripple.

—Ah... An illusion, is it? Of course...

Urie uttered a hollow laugh. Nothing had happened.

—I guess it's time to wake up Patty...

He poised to leave, but a faintly audible gasp from the fountain reclaimed his attention.

“Wha—?”

Dipped in the water— the cool feeling wrapped around his fingertips slowly extended upwards. A splash then made it to his face, a gurgle to his ears, and finally, silence as he fell into the water's cool embrace.

—Something pulled me in! Was the fountain ever this deep!? My head should've hit the bottom by now! I can't breathe! Will I drown here!?

Urie panicked and flailed but soon found his struggle pointless. No longer able to hold his breath, the air from his lungs inevitably escaped, but it seemed that even underwater, he could still breathe.

—I... I can breathe?

In fact, he even thought that the water was calming. Just until an impact from a hard surface hit his forehead, causing him to jerk his head backward and out of the water.

“Hah! What happened...!?” a mouthful of air entered his lungs. He propped himself up with his hands and knees as the waterline drew only up to his thigh.

“Hmm!?” Urie raised his head and after a glance at the surroundings, he noticed a strange discrepancy with the scenery he was supposed to be familiar with.

—Something's off about everything...

The night appeared deep, yet there were no stars to illuminate the sky. The moon above his head raised doubts about its peculiar appearance. The oil-lit streetlamps unlit when they had recently been kindled. And the bench— the bench with an unconscious sprawled maid...

“Patty, where are you!?” Urie called out, for the maid was absent.

—What is going on!? Is this still Daerin? Everything looks unnatural!

His mind cluttered, beyond his notice appeared a sinister shadow in front of the fountain. An unusual outline on the ground that, lacking an object to validate its presence, appeared like a pitch-black puddle on the pavement.

Urie was blind to it. To the current him, the being slowly emerging from that shadow was completely imperceptible. It was unfortunate that the lack of an awakened mana seed and roots was just the requirement needed to detect the creature drawing towards him.

—The buildings don't look right... Should I try to go home first?

While Urie hesitantly climbed out of the fountain, the shadow took its chance. A sinister specter full of unknown intentions struck at his chest. There was nothing he could do. He wasn't even aware that he was in harm's way, so how could he defend himself? As luck would have it, however—

[Bah—! How troublesome, Undine! This thing you have done!]

Urie was in the presence of someone who could.