Just Make Water

The old lady instantly noticed him. “Oh, that outfit.” Her eyes scanned all over Sorin: his blonde hair, his amber eyes, the dark grey robes. With his staff in hand, she knew instantly who this was. “I didn't think I would see the esteemed hero in my establishment. But I am not surprised. Nobody else has the guts to come up against a system.”

She moved herself aside, allowing Sorin to enter. There was a lot of plant life in her home, almost too much, so Sorin could not recognise any of it. “You are quite the collector, ma’am.”

“Ho ho, it's nothing really. Just my life spent travelling around. Would you like some tea? I have fresh herbs.” She walked over to a small shelf with a plant with tiny leaves that she was ready to pick. “Not sure what preference you have, but I will try these.”

Sorin instantly rejected. “No, I don't have time, and also I don't want to put you at risk. I have to use teleportation and get back to my base. ”

“That's no fun. Do come soon then. I have some things I want to talk about. I'm an old woman after all, and I have seen this place rise and fall. Seen the moment you were announced and when the ruler of United Acluraria died. Meet me soon if you can.” She moved away from the shelf with the leaves, looking towards Sorin again; her expression was a mixture of sorrow and guilt.

If she has been around here for so long, maybe I can get something out of her. Maybe Ino's family or how they met would help me see if it was shady or maybe about my own story. Why was I given a title I never wanted?

He turned towards her. A genuine smile appeared on his face. “I will try my best. I hope that crazy woman will let me.” Sorin moved around the house with his staff towards the back, where he saw the door seal on the floor. He placed himself above it and got ready to cast magic.

“I will make tea; I suppose it's not much. So bear my mistreatment of a hero.” She then looked out the window. “People were screaming for Sorin's gift. My hope in you has grown, even if we forced this on you. I know you won't disappoint Wulmar's vision.”

Wulmar's vision? I need to ask about this later. Even I don't know; considering we're the same age, this truly is a goldmine, and she knows that. Using such vague words makes me curious.

He got his hand out; his magic was low. Even flowing into the seal was rather consuming. He had to continue this, however. It would be dangerous to linger; he put out all of his magic into the seal, causing it to envelop him in an orange hue like before. He then blinked once, and like expected, he was back at the base.

It was still the same. Chikaru was in the distant corner sketching out more seals for herself like usual, not even aware that he had returned. He completed his mission; one word stuck out.

“Sorin's gift.” He muttered to himself; the word sat right with him. Something he did personally to help. Ino didn't even help with this task, and people are recognizing his efforts. It was almost dreamy.

Chikaru noticed the muttering and leaned her head back instead of turning around. “Oh, your back,” her ash eyes looking towards his legs. “You are all burned up; may I touch? I want to see if you're meaty or just warm.”

“Of course not! What type of person does that? I need something to drink and eat.” His stomach almost grumbled just as his lips dried; the toll of the mission was setting in as the safety started to wash over his adrenaline into calmness.

Getting up from her scribbles, Chikaru went to the shelves, grabbing a wooden basin of water. It was heavy as she had to balance it with her head to keep it afloat with her slim body, but she managed to carry it to Sorin, who grabbed it off her head, putting it down on his lap next to his bed.

He stared down at the reflection of his face; it wasn't something he saw in a while. His natural look, his tired expression, but there was a small thing he saw; it was the happiness behind his eyes. Compared to when he was framed, he's building something that will last this time.

“Can't you just make water?” Chikaru stood next to him, pointing at the staff.

Sorin shook his head. “I'm nearly out of magic; it's best not to use it when recovering. And you had water, so might as well use it.”

“But that was my stock for the next week—”

Sorin's eyes stood up; he looked down at the water. “Do you stock water and food to just bunk it out here? Where do you even sleep.”

“At this bed, of course; when you are gone I rest, and when you are back I work. That way we can take turns sleeping.”

I'm not sure how to reply to sharing; maybe it's time to change the sheets before it gets worse.

The two of them then spent some time talking over what happened. Sorin explained the entire situation and why Ino is absent right now and will be for a couple more moments. Chikaru wasn't one bit surprised.

“She always hated those men; they chased her out so many times, and I would have to hear her death threats for a couple of minutes.” She put her hand on her chin as she sat next to Sorin and curled up slightly.

Sorin nodded back. “Well, hopefully she gets rid of them then for her own good, but—”

“You don't like her killing; you hate killing. You want things to go peacefully. But I want to be honest with you. With the way this is going. I will give you a warning.”

“What sort of warning?” Sorin now leaned slightly; he was clearly interested, but Chikaru seemed hesitant to tell him this. A moment of fear crossed her mind, but she pushed it back.

Meeting his eyes straight on, she finally got it out. “Eventually you will have to kill someone that doesn't deserve it. You told me that you killed that Capolot because you didn't know and it was a death battle, but if someone hasn't. But that won't always be the case. You will kill someone, so stop with your naive ideals.”

The seriousness in her tone left Sorin to ponder alone. The question began to weigh down on him; he knew that the chances of such a thing happening were pretty high for what they are trying to achieve. It would make sense that she's warning him now.

Am I going to have to kill someone? That doesn't just sit right with me.