As usual, after finishing my morning work, I headed back to my house, looking forward to a quiet afternoon. That's when I saw her—right at my doorstep.
She had black hair, which was unique and somewhat ominous in this kingdom, where no one had ever been seen with such hair color. I wasn't one to believe in superstitions, but her appearance certainly intrigued me. Her fair skin and slender physique added to her striking presence.
I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't budge. Noticing her pale complexion and feverish warmth, I quickly carried her inside and placed her on the bed in one of my rooms. I tried to change her strange outfit but hesitated, realizing she was a girl. Embarrassed, I used my magic to change her clothes while keeping my back turned, respecting her privacy.
Once done, I checked her temperature again. It was still high, so I used my magic to freeze a towel, making it cool but not too cold. I placed it gently on her forehead to help soothe her fever.
For three days, she remained unconscious, so I decided to leave her alone and tend to my other duties. When I returned, I found her sitting on my doorstep, fiddling with a peculiar object—something I had never seen before.
When I called out to her, she looked at me with a mix of shock, fear, and anxiety, as if she were lost in this world. And when I saw her cry stirred something deep inside me—an instinctive urge to protect her and offer comfort.
After she calmed down, we went inside. I tried to learn more about her, but all she could give me was her name—Nerina. She claimed to have lost her memories, and given her initial reaction and the confusion she displayed, I had no reason to doubt her.
As the days went by, I got to know her better. She was intelligent, had a passion for cooking despite her small appetite, and showed talent in drawing. One day, I found her asleep at the table with a sketch beneath her. Curiosity led me to glance at it, and I blushed when I realized she had drawn a portrait of me.
I blushed again when I remembered how close we were but she seems to be nonchalant about it. Was she that naive? Maybe I should teach her soon about a thing or two about private matters like that.
However, my curiosity deepened when she showed a profound shock upon seeing magic. In a kingdom where magic is a part of our everyday life, although not everyone can use it. Her reaction was really unusual, as if she had never seen anything like it before
'Who exactly are you, Nerina?'