"Welcome to Turmeric Village, siblings Togata, I'll introduce you to the chief of our village so please come with me!" Miss Charlotte says.
The four of us walk through the village gate with the sun high in the sky. The village looks wonderful! The gate was part of a large fence wall made up of logs circling the village, making it hard to see its true scale from the outside.
When we walked through, Kenji and I gasped. This truly looks like a place straight out of a historical re-enactment or an anime. We saw rows of houses made of clay with straw roofs.
"This place is called Turmeric Village because of the Turmeric plant that grows around here. It's our main export to the nearby town along with Charlotte's magic tools!" Meeka says with a bright smile pointed directly at Kenji.
Miss Charlotte makes magic tools? And she sells them? That's so cool! She's awesome, I knew it. Way more awesome than Kenji who's about to do something that's going to be taken entirely the wrong way.
"That's great! We had turmeric where we were from and it was quite good." Kenji says, patting Meeka's head. The small fox girl blushes lightly, looking down so Kenji doesn't notice. Small one, Kenji was never going to notice, he is a moron.
Kenji is the densest person I know. He's like osmium. I am 99% sure that it is impossible for him to notice the romantic emotions of others unless they directly say, "I am in love with you, Kenji Togata."
I am sorry Meeka of Turmeric Village, you have embarked on the unending journey to getting Kenji to notice your feelings. I suppose I am also on a similar journey in confessing to Miss Charlotte, but my problem stems from my lack of general communication skills. I need to strengthen my resolve, I think, tying an imaginary victory headband in my mind.
"Miss Charlotte, so you make magical tools? That's incredible! We didn't have any magic tools where we came from, so I'm interested in learning more about what you do!" I say, trying to convey that my interest in her goes deeper than just the tools.
I think she understood, because her smile widened and she blushed slightly. She nods and says, "I'd love to have you in my workshop Miss Aria. It's connected to my bedroom so there's a bonus." What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck. How does this person say things like this. I didn't know it was possible to be so bold. The resolve I had built up is entirely shattered in an instant.
"I don't think it's appropriate to invite somebody you've just met into your bedroom Miss Charlotte." Kenji says. What are you doing brother? I said I liked her and that I was fine with the teasing.
"Um, uh, I-I'd li-like to take you up on your o-offer Miss Charlotte." I stutter. My face is red. Very red.
Did I just hear Miss Charlotte say 'cute?'
Meeka walks up to me and whispers in my ear, "Miss Aria, do you like Charlotte?" My face had just started to calm down, but now I'm right back up to the maximum levels of blushing as I turn to face Meeka. This rascal. You shouldn't just go asking people questions like that. Especially when you've already obviously fallen madly in love with that person's brother. "Heh, I thought so," she giggles.
As we're walking into the town square, many fox eared citizens are going about their respective businesses and welcoming Miss Charlotte and Meeka back.
"Hello you two girls, how was the expedition? Oh, have you brought back friends? That's good for you." One villager says to Miss Charlotte with a wave.
"Hello Auntie Cass, I've brought back the woman who will be my wife!" Miss Charlotte says puffing out her (large) chest. I am so, so happy right now, I'm smiling so wide.
"Oh is that so Charlie, I wish you two happiness then. I'm sure a lot of boys in the village will be disappointed though." The auntie chuckles. Thank you for wishing for our happiness, I will try to not let you down. I salute her in my mind.
Miss Cass mentioned that Miss Charlotte was popular with boys, and it's obviously true. With her figure and personality it'd be surprising if any of the boys didn't fall for her.
"Kenji, Auntie Cass runs an inn for travelers and merchants who pass through our village. That's where you'll be staying. Miss Aria, I'd be happy to buy your magic stones from you as due to your circumstances I assume you have no money." Miss Charlotte says with a frown.
"Miss Charlotte, where exactly will my sister be staying?" Kenji asks angrily.
"She'll be staying with me, of course? Why did you feel the need to ask?" Miss Charlotte says with a malicious smile that's shooting daggers into Kenji. Do you guys hate each other or something? She walks over to me and grasps my hand. My heart starts beating faster and faster until it's probably audible to her. She tilts her head with a cute smile. "Miss Aria, would you like to stay with me?"
I'm completely tongue-tied and can't even say a word. I decided to just nod my head strongly looking down. A smile creeps up on my face no matter how hard I try to suppress it. Kenji has an aura of resignation now.
"M-Miss Charlotte, I think we'd like to sell you the stones. We have four of them. We have three goblin magic stones, and the ogre one as well."
"Oh my? You children killed an ogre? That's incredible!" Auntie Cass says with a smile.
"Yes, they did. On me and Meeka's investigation, we ran into a blue ogre." Miss Charlotte says as Auntie Cass's face starts to show fear. "We were rescued by Mister Kenji and the beautiful Miss Aria who killed the ogre in one attack!" She says as she brushes my hair with her hands. She's looking straight down at my crimson face. I think I heard her mutter 'precious' but I'm not sure. I hope she did.
"Oh well, um. I suppose I did kill the ogre, but it was scary, because Kenji was fighting it up close, and I attacked it from far away."
"Oh my Miss Aria, are you a mage?" Auntie Cass asks.
"Y-yes, but I only have a couple of spells, so I was lucky to be able to hurt the ogre with my magic."
"Don't look down on yourself Miss Aria, you're a beautiful and talented mage, I'm sure of it." Miss Charlotte says to me with a calming smile that is most assuredly not good for my heart. She's so pretty I want to tease her too.
"Miss Charlotte, you m-may say that, but I think that you are also quite beau…" I say, shutting my mouth and turning away in embarrassment. Why did I think this was a good idea, I want to curl up into a ball again.
I sheepishly turn to look at Miss Charlotte and her eyes are glittering with happiness. I cover my face with my hands to try and stop her from seeing me blushing.
"Now now Charlotte, you should stop teasing your new girlfriend, we need to go talk to the chief. I think if you keep it up she'll die for real." Thank you Meeka, you are my savior. I take this time to calm myself.
"Ugh, alright Meeka. I suppose we should get to reporting the events of today to the chief. Miss Aria, Sir Kenji, please come with us." Miss Charlotte holds my hand, gently pulling me with her. Her hands are so soft and warm, I hope my hands don't get sweaty and ruin it. Kenji and Meeka follow behind us, with Kenji scowling violently for some unknown reason.
We're walking through the village past houses that all look similar, past people living their days happily. I smile at the thought of living a peaceful life like this. Maybe even living it with Miss Charlotte.
We arrive at the biggest building we've seen so far. I guess this is where the village chief lives or works.
Miss Charlotte knocks on the door. "Chief Varner, this is Charlotte and Meeka, we've returned from our mission and brought two travelers with us."
"Understood Charlotte, come on in," a raspy voice yells from the other side of the door.
She opens the door and my eyes are treated to a wide array of books, maps, and the like. The four of us enter, the floorboards creaking beneath our weight. Miss Charlotte, still holding onto my hand, leads the three of us up a spiraling flight of stairs, built on top of a bookshelf made to accommodate the incline.
"Chief Varner, we've arrived."
"Hello Chief!"
"Welcome back Charlotte and Meeka. I'd like to greet the two travelers who've come with you. I assume you found them on your mission."
"Yes that is the case. The beautiful woman here's name is Aria Togata, and her brother's name is Kenji. They've suddenly arrived from a faraway land and we did meet them during the mission. We were unable to find the source of the large mana discharge, as along the way we ran into a blue ogre."
"A Blue Ogre?! Are you okay?" Chief Varner asked concernedly.
"Um, I think I know what that mana discharge was," I say.
"Oh?" Miss Charlotte and Chief Varner say.
"Oh, um, yesterday when me and my brother were fighting goblins, he used a powerful spell, and a bolt of lightning came down and released a mana shockwave."
Kenji nods his head, finally realizing that his actions had consequences.
"I see, so these two were the source of the mana discharge. Charlotte, what were you saying happened with the blue ogre?"
"Yes chief, Meeka and I were leaving the village and we had been traveling south for about thirty minutes when we reached a clearing in the forest when a blue ogre revealed itself. I tried to get us away, but it noticed us and was preparing to attack. Suddenly, these two appeared to attack the ogre. Sir Kenji attacked it with a club and was attempting to hold it off. Miss Aria used magic to lift a small fallen tree that the ogre had knocked over. She then launched the tree at the ogre, piercing its head and killing it instantly."
"Incredible, so the young miss is a mage of considerable power." Chief Varner says, looking at me with approving eyes. "My daughter seems to have taken an interest in you Miss Aria. I'm thankful for you and your brother saving her life. As a reward, I'd like to throw a festival in your honor!"
"D-daughter? You're Miss Charlotte's father?" I say, bowing repeatedly. "It's wonderful to meet you sir, your daughter is very nice and kind. W-wait a second, did you say festival? Oh, you really don't need to do that haha." I say nervously. A festival in me and Kenji's honor. Chief Varner is Miss Charlotte's dad too?
"Don't reject their hospitality Aria, they're genuinely happy that we've helped them with a dangerous monster. You're the one who killed it, so take a little bit of pride in yourself. That's your achievement, not mine." Kenji says.
He's right, this is my achievement. My magic, my [Telekinesis] was what killed the ogre. I killed a dangerous monster all on my own! It was me, Aria Togata! It wasn't Kenji.
"I'd love to go to the festival with you Miss Aria," Miss Charlotte says to me, patting my head. I can't help but smile and blush a little. "Since we've reported everything to Chief Varner, let's go, just the two of us, and we'll look at my workshop because you're so interested."
"Y-yes!" I say, grinning.
"Meeka, it would be wonderful if you took Sir Kenji around town and showed him the sights."
"Yes Charlotte!" Meeka says, grateful for the opportunity to act as a tour guide for the boy she likes.
The two pairs, me and Miss Charlotte, and Kenji and Meeka, run down the stairs, out of the building and into opposite directions.
Miss Charlotte walks with me to her house and welcomes me inside. It's a wonderful home and it's very cozy. I see her bed and can't help but blush, thinking back to what she had said earlier. She has a look of wonder in her eyes as she drags me into her workshop, describing her tools, such as an item that acts as a washer and dryer, one that acts as an oven, and even a few that act as weapons, throwing out balls of fire or blades of wind. I talk to her about the electrical appliances we had back home, and she's interested.
"So you used something like lightning magic to power your machines, that's incredible!" She says giddily, holding my hands excitedly. She's so cute it's incredible.
It's getting late now and Miss Charlotte changes into some clothes for bed, luckily not in front of me, as I would have gotten a nosebleed.
"Miss Charlotte, since I'm a ghost, I don't really need to sleep, so if possible, I'd like to go to the library." I point towards the door, but Miss Charlotte hugs me from behind.
"Don't go, just sleep, you can go to the library tomorrow." She says, gently guiding me to her bed where she lays me down. She crawls under the covers with me and falls asleep holding me.
My night training is important, but I think that every once in a while, something like this might not be so bad. I'm smiling incredibly hard right now. I can go to the library tomorrow, she's right. I'll go with Kenji. I wonder how he's doing. I slowly drift to sleep in the arms of the woman who had stolen my heart.
Yeah, let's learn about the world we're in tomorrow.