Chapter 75 Present
The dining room had a big window. It looked out at the garden. Strange plants I didn't know grew there, all neat and healthy.
I wondered if Mr. Elmer was taking care of them. Were they medicinal herbs? I was chewing my toast, lost in thought, when Yuruyana asked me something.
"Hey, what happened with that Arcane Bicycle? You can't even ride, master, can you?"
He seemed to have just remembered something from last night.
"I was gonna give it to Momota, but giving it to Tsukumo is pretty much the same, right?"
I was surprised when I saw it in the warehouse next door last night. He said he was going to give it to his grandfather, and he bought it over ten years ago.
"I didn't even know that was in the warehouse..."
"I covered it so it wouldn't get dirty. That's why you didn't see it."
But the Arcane Engineer from Suuroi checked it regularly, so it worked fine right away. I wish I'd had time to talk to that engineer.
"You never give your disciple any presents."
"I did, the herb grinder."
"It was a broken old one. It wouldn't have been fixed if Tsukumo wasn't here."
He pouted, stirring his soup. It seemed to be working fine since the repair.
"That reminds me. I had something else I was going to give to you, Yuruyana."
Mr. Elmer looked like he'd completely forgotten. He stood up suddenly. "Where did I put it..." He went to the next room and started rummaging around.
And then, as I finished my second piece of toast,
"Here it is."
He came back, brushing the dust off a small box.
"What is it?"
Yuruyana tilted his head, moving his plate to avoid the dust.
"Open it."
He handed me a box with detailed carvings. I opened it with a suspicious frown. Suddenly, I heard a high, "Plink!"
"This is..."
When I opened the lid, a music box began to play a song I didn't know. Not Arcane Machinery. It was a wind-up type, and it was very old.
"What? An accessory case?"
Peering inside, Yuruyana found several goldsmith's accessories. His eyes widened in shock.
"...That's the music box Mom had."
"Huh...?"
"No mistake. It's got a broken tooth, so it skips a note. And I've seen that earring before, the one with the little red gem."
The earring with the small red gem sparkled as it reflected the light in Yuruyana's hand.
"Why does the master have these?"
"Of course, I went looking for them. Stolen goods eventually show up on the market, right?"
Thieves would gather anything that could be sold for gold, but crossing borders means getting searched. Valuables stand out.
Stuff from locals is easy to trace, but a merchant's goods? Not so much.
So Yuruyana guessed his parents' stolen items were sold in Suuroi. He searched whenever he had time.
Since the jewelry wasn't super expensive, only the craftsmanship got noticed. Looks like it ended up in an antique shop as is.
"But why are these Mom's...?"
"She'd sing that tune sometimes. An old Norvalen lullaby. I thought it was just a neat song."
"But that's not all..."
He pokes his cheek and chuckles mischievously.
"Open the drawer."
"Drawer?"
"The bottom part. It's designed to open."
It's a hidden drawer, cleverly disguised with carvings. A light touch on the almost-invisible groove, and it slides open smoothly. A craftsman's touch.
"No way!"
Inside, there's a single sheet of paper. Yuruyana carefully unfolds it, tense.
"Ah..."
It's a photo. A young couple is smiling happily, holding a small child. Seemingly untouched by sunlight, it's well-preserved.
"Mom and Dad..."
The man has dark brown hair and gentle, golden eyes. The woman has the common Norvalen red curls and green eyes.
In the middle of the two, a toddler around one or 2 years old has a spaced-out look. Doesn't seem to realize they're having their picture taken. Of course, with silver hair and golden eyes.
"I thought there was nothing left..."
"Turns out there are things left. Evidence of people living, you know."
Yuruyana's voice trembled as he kept his face down.
I just finished eating and decided to take the plate to the kitchen.
* * *
After the meal, I'll check on the washing machine.
There's no space inside, so I spread a sheet in the garden and moved it out there. Next to Yuruyana, whose eyes were still a bit red, Mr. Elmer watches me work.
"Is something stuck?"
The cause was just something hard jammed inside – looks like a ring.
Must've forgotten I put it in my pocket and washed it together. Seeing the room and the way he acts, I can see Mr. Elmer doing that.
"It's okay, I can fix it. ...What is it?"
I look up and see both of them staring right at me.
"You look like you're having fun, just like back then. Brings back memories."
Mr. Elmer smiles, eyes crinkling. Then Yuruyana shifts his gaze and asks,
"Is that, like, a habit?"
He lets out a big sigh. What's he talking about?
"Once the washing machine is fixed, you two are leaving? You could take it easy, you know."
"I left the shop to come here, so..."
I locked up for now, but in this season, even stored veggies can go bad quick.
Plus, I take breaks on the way back, so if I take even more days off, my magic storage will run out.
"I've got medicine deliveries too."
"Right. You're doing great."
"All thanks to you."
Then they both laughed, hehehe, hahaha.
They may not say much, but in some ways, they understand each other better than the parents around here.
After fixing the washing machine, I decided to help wash and dry the sheets and towels I used, then head out.
"Next time, I'll go to the capital. When the weather gets a bit nicer."
"So, in about three years?"
"Why do you have so little faith?"
"Ask yourself that."
Until their playful banter ended at parting, I leisurely waited while tuning up the Arcane Bicycle.
I carefully wiped down the black body, which had made its harsh debut on an unpaved grassy field.
It's an old, discontinued model. Compared to the latest version, its fuel efficiency is poor, but its sleek design has a cult following.
A nearly unused beauty like this would probably fetch a higher price than when it was first bought. Not that I'd sell it.
After parting ways with Mr. Elmer, I picked up Yuruyana and headed to the hotel where Luka and Thomas were staying.
"On sunny days, this might be better than the Arcane Car."
"Right?"
His silver hair tangled in the wind, but he didn't mind, enjoying the scenery.
"Hey, no nightmares this morning?"
"Now that you mention it, no. Maybe the medicine Mr. Elmer gave me is still working."
"Got it. I'll adjust the prescription when we get back."
Already thinking about what to do when they return, Yuruyana must really love his work as a pharmacist.
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