- Shari -

That wasn't mature of me. I acted too emotionally and didn't think through my response to Nia's thoughts at all. In the first place, it was something I read in her mind. I can't hold her own thoughts against her. I mean, who can even control their own thoughts? That's like controlling one's very self.

On the other side, she knew what she was doing when she suggested linking, intentionally revealing herself to me. But this doesn't make it right to just refute her deep desires. Especially, as she's still a child, a street urchin at that, and it makes sense that she would feel familiar with someone who proved to her that they have her interests in mind. Well, maybe not exactly this familiar. She knows we aren't truly family. Nonetheless, she longs for this kind of relation and is projecting this expectation into whatever bond we share.

But, but I'm not this. I'm certainly in no position to play her mother. I'm just the weirdo who came and turned her whole life upside down! Right from the start, as even the injury that led to all this was caused by me!

…Sigh. I'm the worst.

. . .

"Hey, Shari!" (Liqu)

It's like whenever I need time for myself, this slime shows up. Right now standing in the doorway to my room. And I'm rather sure I locked that one before, to have some privacy for my musing. Hell, what does this green menace want from me now?

"Liqu, didn't I tell you that I'm not in the mood!?" (Shari)

"Well, someone wants to talk with you." (Liqu)

Someone? She makes way, and there is... Nia? I'm perplexed. With the way she left off, I didn't expect anyone to be able to budge her from that room for a while, not to mention get her to speak with me so soon. Just how? The way Liqu is presenting Nia to me, it seems that she's responsible for this situation. Yet this would mean... Did this slime comfort this child?! Successfully?!! Well, gawking won't be the right response here. Even with high-speed processing having been activated due to this onslaught of weirdness, this silence threatens to stretch on for too long.

"Uh, hey." (Shari)

"You two should talk about your feelings. I'll leave you alone for this. I don't think this is about me much." (Liqu)

Being perceptive, reasonable, and considerate. Who the heck is this?!! She truly leaves us alone now. Just what happened while I took my break? Now I'm here again with Nia. Just like last time. Still without knowing what to say.

Thankfully, she breaks the silence first.

"She basically dragged me up here. Not, not like I disagree with her, but I, uhm, don't know what to say now. It was easier when linking." (Nia)

I'll just act as if I didn't hear that last part.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Yet I get it. Talking about one's feelings isn't as easily done if you're at a loss for words. In the end, there's nothing to be done, other than being honest. But this time I need to act more diplomatically.

"Nia, I'm sorry. I was inconsiderate to you. I shouldn't have said what I did. It's just that I'm at a loss about how I'd even begin to find a way that satisfies everyone." (Shari)

It truly was wrong. The way I learned about her innermost feelings, I shouldn't have trampled on her deepest desires.

"Well, it, it hurts when you act like you're only helping us because…I, I don't know, because you think we're a burden you took up when you did what you did. We don't matter the same as your other stuff! Isn't that so?!" (Nia)

This is difficult to answer. I suppose it started out this way. I caused harm and wanted to remedy myself. Yet things are definitely different now. It's still the responsibility, but the two grew on me. As isn't uncommon when you spend enough time with someone. Nia, in particular, as she might be the only one in this world who might be able to understand my issues and struggles in this form. Liqu might as well, to a degree. At least she's trying hard to obtain my viewpoint. However, truly, there is only this girl in front of me.

"No! No, you are no burden. And I certainly want to take care of you. Yes, I feel like I carry a certain responsibility to you, but that does not mean you matter less to me than anything else. It's just that I'm neither mature enough nor in a sufficiently stable life situation to meet the requirements to do so." (Shari)

"I know. I know that you don't leave for fun, but because you have to." (Nia)

If she understands this much, I'm not quite sure why she's still angry. And I'm sure she does, from all the little things there are to notice about her demeanor. How she doesn't question the things she just said. How she seems like she was able to think this through. How she came back here in the first place.

"Then what are you expecting from me?" (Shari)

"I don't know! Grah! Can't I just be a little frustrated?! I don't need to be fine with everything, do I?!" (Nia)

Well, no.

"Nia, I'm trying, I really am. I always wish to do what feels right. Be this caring for you and your brother or committing to my duties as an agent. Though, the latter is mostly obligation. Hell, I'm not even that much of a patriot. I mostly act because I chose that way." (Shari)

"Because you need to meet your duties or you'd get punished for failing them, I get it. Also, I know you already did plenty for me. You even continue to give so much to me that I'll never be able to repay you. You do so much more than anyone ever did before for me, without having to do so. It's crazy!" (Nia)

"No problem. Also, Liqu is probably right. I'm responsible for your current form and am your senior. This puts me in the position that I have at least to ensure your survival. You can be sure, I'll do all in my power to protect you. Yet this means I also have to do stuff you won't like. Such as leaving you here for a time, in order to keep you out of danger." (Shari)

"…Okay. That's fair, I guess. But you have to come back, okay?! I'll be very mad at you if you die in some faraway place!" (Nia)

That wasn't really in my plans.

"I promise, I will return. But I do hope you will be self-sufficient by then. Maybe if you've grown up a little by the time I return, we may meet not as parent and child, but as equals who watch out for each other." (Shari)

"Yeah. I think I can do that." (Nia)

"Great. Then you as well, don't die on me, or I'll be insufferably displeased." (Shari)

At this, she smirks. Well, as good as she can with a liquid mouth that she operates with only somewhat proficient control.

"I'll do my best." (Nia)

"Then I'll do the same." (Shari)

Mostly in the spur of the moment, without having thought through the associated implications, I extend my fist to her. Yet now it's too late to pull back. Nia does the same, and the moment they bump, we share a fleetingly short moment of mutual understanding. That's actually quite nice.

"Shari! How could you?! Waah!" (Liqu)

"Liqu! Where are you?! And what are you doing?" (Shari)

Her voice is coming from a hole in the wall. I should've known.

"I was watching! I saw everything!" (Liqu)

Sigh, figures.

"You can't only do it with others! What about me?!" (Liqu)

Oh no. I know that mood. You need to give her something, or she won't stop quarrelling.

"I tell you what. If you behave astonishingly well, we may do this to celebrate." (Shari)

"Yay!" (Liqu)

And so she leaves again out of sight.

"I guess that's not settled." (Shari)

"Yeah, she can be quite intense. But you can believe me, she's only thinking about you." (Nia)

Uh, I always find it a bit hard to entertain those thoughts. Best I change topics.

"Alright, now that that's settled, how about we start doing some alchemy?" (Shari)

"You, you'll still...? I mean, yes! Thank you! I, I appreciate it." (Nia)

"Well, then let us get started!" (Shari)

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.