Crumbled Clay (Part 1)

“…”

“…”

The clay lays limply on my hands, completely deformed. I think after the twelfth attempt, I stopped counting on how many times I failed from making a decent shape. There are times where I got close to making the shape just right, but my excitement causes me to lose focus which resulted in a failure.

“Uhh… kid…?”

“…I already know what you’re going to say, so just say it…”

“Haah…” The old man stands up and unties his hair. He then sits down on the wooden floor ledge. He pats the wooden floor next to him, signaling me with his head to come over.

“Can’t we just do it on the chair?”

“I feel restless when I’m on a chair, so a floor works best for me.” The old man said as he brings his right foot up, resting his right arm on it.

“…”

Ahh what the heck… Floor or chair doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to get yelled at.

I settle quietly onto the floor, my gaze fixed on the expanse of concrete between the wooden floor ledges.

“…Hey kid,” The old man says. His tone of voice devoid of sarcasm, “…What were your parents like?”

“Huh?”

I immediately switch my gaze over to him, meeting his eyes.

“Were your parents rich?” The old man suddenly leans towards me. His eyes dilated and then he pulls back, “Ahh wait, you said earlier that your family was normal. Even if they’re normal, do they make a lot of money?” The old man asks.

“Haahh?? Decide on a single question first old man.” I glanced away from him.

“Then… do your parents make a lot of money? If so, how do they do it?” The old man asks, his right hand on his chin.

“Haah…” I scratch my head and continue, “…We make a decent amount to keep us going. Not sure how much is decent though…” I bring my legs together and sit in a crossed position, “They just work at normal desk jobs making a bit more than usual due to their position…”

“Desk job? Position?” The old man tilts his head.

“They basically help sort and compile important documents. For position, let’s just say they’re appointed to an important role that allows them to make a bit more than usual.”

There’s technically more that goes on, but I’m not bothered to give a proper explanation. Doubt this guy would understand either.

“The village chief tends to ask us for paperwork if there’s a request or suggestions that we want to make. Is it something like that?” The old man asks.

“More or less.”

I don’t really get what they do, but it should be close enough to what my parents do.

“I see… Your parents are pretty impressive…” The old man looks off into the distance.

“I wouldn’t go that far…” A question popped into my mind, so I look at the old man and ask, “By the way, what’s with the money questions? Are you in debt or something?”

“Huhhh?? Of course not! I just like having more money in me, that’s all!” The old man exaggeratedly answered.

“That so…”

Not sure if I’m looking too deeply into this, but I feel like there’s a reason why he wants to make more money. Not that I have any right to pry into his reasons, but I can’t help but be curious now…

“Excuse mee~! Is Crutz in here?” A woman’s voice calls out from outside the shop.

“I’m coming!”

The old man stands up and lightly jog towards the front door, leaving me behind in this room.

“…I have nothing better to do, so might as well…”

I slowly stood myself up—

“Helloo~~”

“Wahh!”

The door suddenly opened, which led to me losing my balance and falling on my back.

“Ow!”

“S-Sorry! I didn’t think you’d be that shocked…” Celicia said as she helps me get back up.

“Please don’t do that next time!” I yelled out, rubbing the back of my head.

“Y-Yeah… My bad…” Celicia slightly lowers her head.

“Anyway, what are you doing here? Weren’t you doing deliveries?” I ask as I walk towards the pottery wheel.

“I just finished, so now I have nothing better to do,” Celicia looks at me curiously and sit down on the table next to me, “Were you learning how to shape?”

“Yeah… Not going well of course…”

I gather a handful of dried clay from my previous unsuccessful attempts, placing it at the center of the pottery wheel. I switch on the machine, adding small increments of water to initiate the process. Slowly, I begin to coax the clay upward, forming it into a tower-like shape. Delicately, I apply pressure, attempting to mold the clay into the desired form.

However, before the clay can conform to my intentions, the shape begins to crumble, causing the material to disperse in erratic swirls. In a chaotic display, the clay fragments scatter across the desk.

“Haah… Maybe I’m rushing it?” I muttered.

“Ohhh?” Celicia intently looks at the clay as if she’s analyzing it.

“I get it, okay? It’s my first time after all…” I slump my shoulders.

“Hey kid! I’ll be going to the blacksmith! You can practice or take a break, do whatever you want!” The old man screamed from the hallway.

“Okaaaay!” I yelled back towards the hallway.

Then, the sound of a door getting closed came from the hallway, the place became silent.

“So… What are you gonna do?” Celicia asks.

“I have nothing better to do, so might as well…” I grab a lump of clay and put it on the pottery wheel, making sure that it’s centered. I motion my finger to flick the switch—

“I can teach you how to do it.” Celicia gives a confident smile, her chest puffed up.

“…You can?” My finger stopped on top of the switch.

“What’s with that doubtful look? It may have been a few years since I last did this, but I still got it in me!” Celicia said with a sour expression.

“…”

“F-Fine! I’ll show you!”

With a determined grip, Celicia seizes a handful of clay and positions it deftly at the center of the pottery wheel. She extends her hands, breathing deeply as if to clear away her previous frustration.

“…”

The clay slowly shaped itself into a tower in a smooth motion, completely different from the way the old man handled it. Then, the clay gradually goes down, shaping itself into a bowl—

“Kgh!”

“What are you so proud of? You’re basically on the same level as me—”

The clay's motion becomes erratic, causing the table to devolve into a chaotic scene. Beads of sweat form on Celicia's forehead, her complexion turning a deep shade of red as she wrestles with the unpredictable swirls of the clay.

“Celicia?”

As she begins to lose her balance and teeter on the edge of the chair, I react swiftly, reaching out to steady her. Her face is drenched in perspiration, her brow furrowed with wrinkles. Her breathing became heavy with her face straining.

“Hey! Are you okay?!” I lay her down on the wooden floor.

Her eyes gradually open as she tries to stabilize her breathing.

“Y-Yeah… I’m f-fine…”

“W-Water… I’ll go get you some water…” I stand up and sprinted towards the kitchen.

Returning with a glass of water and a bowl full of refills, I make my way back to the workshop. There, I find Celicia still reclined on the wooden floor, her complexion gradually improving as her breathing steadies.

“Here you go…” I hand her a glass of water.

“…Thanks.” Celicia sluggishly grabs the glass and drank all of it in a single go, “One more…” She said as she thrust the glass onto me.

“Okay…”

Pouring water into the glass, I watch as Celicia drains it in a single gulp. While her condition has improved, her head continues to sway gently, reminiscent of Newton's Cradle in motion.

“…Let me take you to your room…”

Extending my right hand, I offer it to Celicia. After a moment of confusion, she nods and accepts my hand, her gaze still somewhat unfocused. Gently, I help her to her feet, her unsteady body swaying slightly toward me. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around her, offering support.

“H-Heavy!” I instinctively push her to keep myself from falling over.

“Don’t say that!” She lightly smacks my chest, “I used up all of my magical energy, so this is what happen…”

“…For now, let’s just get you to your room,” I put her right arm around my shoulders and push myself upward to fix her position, “Can you walk?” I ask.

“A bit…”

“Okay… Just hold on for a bit…”

After that, we left the workshop.