Chapter 5: Water, Wind, and Forgotten Names

NICO'S POV:

I'm feeling extremely guilty. That was definitely something I wasn't supposed to hear.

Yes. I, Nicolau Britton, was definitely not supposed to hear that argument.

I'd been flying around freely when I heard the shouting. I got too close. Heard every word.

I don't want to take sides. I don't even want to know whose fault it was. I just want to clear my head.

In my past life, my parents had a big argument once. I was about five years old, and even though I didn't hear my name mentioned, I felt guilty just for being there.

Don't get me wrong—they got along well. It was just a normal couple's fight.

There is no excuse for me to act like that.

This is a second chance, right? Hm, who gave me this chance? It must have been a god, right? I mean, if no god existed, there would simply be nothing after death. But there is. A new world. So some kind of god exists!

But then why does he hide?

...I think I am getting carried away.

Anyway. I shouldn't eavesdrop. I shouldn't be nosy.

If I go home now, they might suspect I heard. I don't want that.

Maybe continue training? But I'm not in the mood. I just feel like... I don't know, going to sleep—

"Nico!" A shout from somewhere in the distance.

I turned toward the sound. Eva was waving, a wide smile on her face, already running toward me.

Behind her, Pata was running a little slower.

By modern standards, it might look strange to let two children—6 and 2—wander off alone. No supervision, doing whatever they please.

But this is a very peaceful village. The biggest crime committed here in the last decade was Eva stealing a book.

It's a safe place.

And if anything happens, I will protect them. Like a good gentleman.

They stopped in front of me. Eva bent over with her hands on her knees, too winded to speak.

"What is it?" I asked.

She looked up.

"I-I learned two- I mean a magic spell! My daddy finally managed to teach me one!!"

The words came out with the kind of joy that doesn't know what to do with itself. She was practically vibrating.

"Oh, how cool..." I said.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen any magic since I was born. Well—there was that healing magic Dr. Flamber used on me a few years back. But I'm curious about the full scope of it. Can anything be done with mana? Could there be a spell that summons a tsunami? Or a spell that—

"Stop living in the clouds! I need to show you, right now!"

Jeez, she's impatient...

Better not set expectations too high—

Oh, right. There's something I need to show her too.

"Ah, wait. I also learned something really cool. I learned to fly—"

She didn't listen. "Water Magic I:"

She planted her feet wide and leveled one firm finger at my face.

And then the biggest shout I had ever heard:

"Squirt!!!"

From the tip of her finger, a green sphere flickered for less than a second—shifting blue, then water.

Which hit me on the head.

Splash.

A tiny squirt. Barely a drop, gone before my head was even wet.

...That was it.

"Yay!!" Eva started jumping, as if this were the best day of her life. "I did it! I learned magic! I really am going to become a wizard!! Hahaha!!"

Ah, what an honest smile.

I have no idea if someone who learns a spell at 6 is considered a prodigy. A tsunami, maybe. A squirt of water? Probably not that hard.

Watching closely, I caught a flicker of green energy shifting into water. That must be mana. I assume you spend mana to cast spells—or rather, transform mana into what you intend to do.

But if there's a spell for earthquakes, it wouldn't make sense to transform mana into an earthquake. Maybe you apply it instead?

Or maybe there are two or more ways to use mana—applying and transforming—depending on the spell. Maybe that "I" she called out is related to it?

And where does Dr. Flamber's healing magic fit? Does it apply mana to heal? Or transform mana into flesh?

Hm, if I had to guess—

Ah, damn it, stop theorizing. Maybe one day I'll know everything.

Eva was still jumping and laughing, completely unbothered by my internal monologue.

Be nice.

"Wow, Eva. That was really impressive. I never thought you would actually cast a spell."

"I know, right?! I am incredibly incredible, aren't I?!" She turned to me with a smug smile. "But don't worry—I wouldn't mind teaching you... for a fee, hehe."

I bet it would be for a four-leaf clover...

It might actually be worth it. It would be interesting to feel mana flowing through my body and—

She jabbed a finger at me. "I agree to teach you as long as you accept that I am better than you!!"

...She really is a child.

Sometimes I wonder if there's another visitor from Earth somewhere in this world.

But she's definitely not one.

...And I would never admit that!!

"Huh?! Do you really think I, Nicolau Britton, would accept such a humiliation?!"

"You don't have the courage to refuse! I'm sure you've never seen anything this cool and you're dying to learn!"

S-She's not entirely wrong... I do want to learn magic.

But I can't give in so easily—

Ah, damn it! Why am I being childish—

"Water Magic I: Squirt."

Splash.

A few drops of water on my forehead. But this time, the finger wasn't Eva's.

It was Pata's.

She'd been quiet the whole time, just watching. And now, without warning, she used magic on me.

"W-What?!" Eva nearly fell backward. "I-It can't be... I-I took almost a week to learn that! W-Were you spying on daddy and me?!"

"No," Pata answered. "I just did it right now."

Eva sank to the ground.

"I-It can't be... You really learned in an instant what took me a week..."

Yeah. That's what a prodigy looks like.

"Don't feel bad, sis."

Pata crouched down beside her. And in a rare moment, cracked a smile.

"I can teach you a few tricks."

"Oh, damn you!!"

Ah, what a healthy sisterly relationship. I wish I'd had that—

...I do have that.

Right. It's time.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat. "Well, girls. It turns out I also have a power."

Eva's defeated expression snapped away instantly.

"Really? What is it?!"

"Very simple. I can fly now—"

No. Not right now.

"I-I can predict the future!"

Silence. They looked at each other. Then back at me, with identical frowns.

"What a liar! You're just saying that to look better than me!" Eva snapped.

"It's impossible to predict the future! Mommy says only God can!" Pata added.

"No, seriously."

Together: "Then prove it!"

"Sure, no problem."

I have a plan to convince them I'm a seer. I don't even gain anything from this. But for some reason, I want to put them in their place.

"Pata, you're blonde, right?"

"Yes," she answered, her long hair tied with a red ribbon. Same color as her eyes.

"Well, using my powers—I am 100% certain your hair will turn dark brown before you turn 8. Just like your sister's."

Yes, Eva's hair is dark brown now. And it used to be very light blonde.

That's a natural process in many children—pigmentation changes. A lot of kids are born blonde but their hair gradually darkens to brown or black. Because it happens so early, many adults have no idea they were born blonde.

It happened to me in my past life.

And it happened to Eva. She was born very blonde. My memories of someone biting me are blonde. But her hair is dark brown now—and of course she doesn't remember being blonde. She was a baby. I'm betting the same will happen to Pata.

That's it. My perfect and unbreakable plan.

...Actually, I'm overthinking. These are just children. What am I trying to win here?

"M-My hair will turn dark brown?!"

Pata's hands flew to her head. Her eyes welled up, her whole body trembling with them. And soon the tears spilled—followed by a full tantrum, crumpling to the ground and pulling at her hair. A typical 2-year-old.

"Pata?!" Eva scrambled upright, alarmed.

Then she figured out who was responsible.

"Nico!" She spun on me. "Why did you make my little sister cry?!"

H-Huh?! That's my fault?!

...Well, kind of, yes. I am feeling a bit guilty.

"Pata—why do you want to stay blonde forever?" I asked.

"B-Because..." she sobbed. "It's prettier. Much better than brown!"

"Hey!" Eva cut in. "Are you saying my hair is ugly?!"

"I-I don't know... But I want to be blonde! Waaaaah."

I'd better do something.

"It's okay."

I stepped closer, slowly. Gave her a calm smile. She stopped yelling for a second.

"One day you can use a potion or a spell to make your hair blonde again."

"R-Really?"

"Of course. They might be expensive or hard to find, but they exist."

In reality, I have no idea. But whatever—a few years and she'll forget.

"Cool!" And just like that, Pata was back on her feet, eyes bright.

"I want that! It's decided—when I grow up, I'm going to find that potion!"

I really hope it exists...

"Wait." Eva turned to me. "Does it really exist?"

"Yes... obviously."

"Then there must be a potion to turn my hair red! Or blue, or green!" Eva announced. "I'd be different from everyone!"

"Cool! Then I want green hair too!" Pata chimed in.

"Hey, you already said yours would be blonde! Stop copying me!"

And then the two of them were deep in a passionate argument.

I really hope that potion exists.

I never thought I'd be so entertained by a conversation between children. It's strangely enjoyable from an adult's perspective.

In my past life, my sister dyed her hair green around age 14. I think she was going through a phase. My parents were upset because she did it behind their backs—but I didn't say anything. Not out of respect for her choice. It just didn't interest me. We had no relationship; watching her was no different from seeing a stranger on the street. I didn't care about her. The same went for my parents.

I was a terrible older brother, wasn't I? Thank goodness Gustavo isn't like that.

My younger sister... I wonder how she is. Her, my sister named—

...Wait.

Named...

...

What was her name?

No. No, no, no, you've got to be kidding.

I lived my whole life with her. How can I forget? It's on the tip of my tongue, damn it—it was... her name—

"Nico, is everything okay?" Eva asked, tilting her head.

"Yes..." I shook it off. "My head was in the clouds."

"You're very good at that. Hey Nico, do you want to come to our house?"

"I'm sorry. I have something to do."

"Ugh, really?" Eva sighed, looking down. "Please, I don't want to spend all afternoon with this little kid. I wish I had been born in the royal city, then there would be so many more kids my age!"

Pata answered flatly, "You are also a little kid, sister."

"Not like you!"

"Well, I really need to go."

Eva waved at me, smiling. "Then I'll see you later. Take care."

She grabbed her sister's hand. "Come on, Pata, let's go."

"Okay." Both turned and walked off into the distance.

I turned around, taking my first step toward home.

First and last.

"Hey, Nico!"

I glanced over my shoulder. Eva was grinning at me. She held out one hand, not pointing a single finger as she usually did, but her whole palm toward me.

"Wind Magic I: Gust!"

Wait. Another one?!

A sudden, invisible gust of air slammed into my chest. It was not near enough to hurt, but enough to force me to take several steps back. My hair whipping wildly across my eyes.

"Haha!" She stood proud. "I had actually learned a surprise spell too! One that Pata could never do!"

"I guess I can." Pata replied.

"No, you cannot."

Wow, she got me there. Two spells at six years old. She really is a hard worker.

But watching her run off, my mind changed.

I don't have time to lose.

Aside from my main goal, I want to discover and explore this world. And to do that, I can't forget who I am. Where I came from. Earth cannot just fade from my memory.

I need to archive all of it. And clear my head.

And as I made my way home, I caught Eduarda through the window—watching me, a warm smile on her face.

She loves seeing me have fun. What mother doesn't?

I wonder how she'll react when she finds out I'm a Totalizer.