13 Side Story 2: The Warmth I Longed for

[Fina's POV]

Today, I'm practicing magic.

Sera: "Yes, yes. That is correct. You have to feel the Crysaztel around the air and make them yours. Circulate that feeling around your chest…"

I do as Mama told me.

She instructs me as I follow every steps. I have my hands raised forward, my palm open wide. Closing my eyes, I imagine my body absorbing these orb like thingies.

I heard from Mama that they're Crysaztel.

They are the basic element of every living being.

The soul of a person uses Crysaztel to form.

And with that, we can borrow the power from our soul to create magic. Well… That's basically it. I'm not good at thinking. Teehee.

Fina: "Mumumu…"

Sera: "Do your best, sweetie!"

Mama and Papa accepted me even though I'm someone from another world. Even though I'm someone who isn't actually their daughter.

That's why, I want to do my best for them.

…

..

.

Fina: "I'm someone who reincarnated…! My name is Chloe and I came from another world…"

Sera: "…"

Fina: "I… I'm sorry…"

There…! I said it!

I don't know why, but I felt like apologizing. I feel guilty. For being someone who isn't their daughter.

Sera: "Why are you apologizing?"

I was afraid to look up.

I hanged my head down. I don't know why, but if I saw her devastated face right now, I feel like I'll lose my will to do anything. I feel like my confidence will crumble… So I don't want to look up right now…

Mama… If you're angry… sad… or disappointed… please tell me so.

But let me just hang my head down for now.

Sera: "Fina. Look at me."

Mama…

Sera: "Fina."

Her voice had conviction in it. It wasn't long enough to get used to her voice when I came to this world. But this is the first time, I hear her voice sounded so serious.

I hesitantly moved my head and looked up. I had my eyes shut down this whole time, but I tried to open them up, expecting a devastated expression from her.

Fina: "… Eh…?"

But when I looked at her, it wasn't the devastated expression that was shown on her face.

Instead…

Fina: "Why… are you still smiling, Mama…?"

Her usual, gentle and warm smile. It's not replaced by a sad or disappointed expression. It's still a smile… the smile, as if she's looking at her most precious…

Sera: "Why would I not? I'm looking at my precious daughter~"

She took the words from my mind.

Or is that just how a mother's mind works? I don't know… But… I feel like my heart would explode right now…

Fina: "B-But… I'm…"

Sera: "It's true that you're someone from another world. Your Papa and I already knew."

Fina: "Eh?"

They already knew?? How??

Sera: "You sometimes talk to yourself, saying such things we don't understand. You can eat by yourself as soon as we let you hold the spoon. You walked earlier than the average toddler. And many other more. To be honest, fufu, its surprises after another."

Fina: "Myu?!"

I-I was doing that…? Muu… I didn't realize…

If they both know already about my situation… then why…?

Sera: "… But, you see~ That doesn't change the fact that you are our daughter. Our precious daughter. The only one in the whole world."

Fina: "…!"

I could not hold my emotion any longer. I covered my face, not because of shame but because of my tears, relentlessly falling down my cheeks. And there, my mother, who loves me unconditionally, hugged me tightly. I cried and cried…

I don't know how I'm feeling so much from this even though I'm already an adult. Including the years from my former life, I'm already 21. But…

Relief… Comfort… My burden being lifted off… Bottle feelings for this past three years… Including the emotion of leaving the world where that guy is. Everything…

Everything bursts out like a broken damn.

Sera: "I don't know how you feel about this. But… When I hear you call me Mama… and you call your father Papa, I really feel that I've really become your mother. Ever since then… It's my greatest joy to be called your Mama."

Fina: "I… I will call you Mama for how many times you want… You are my mother. And if it's okay with you… I want to always be your daughter…"

I forced a smile out of my crying face.

Sera: "Fina… Of course~"

Tears have begun trickling down her cheeks as well. Even though it's painted with tears, her smile was the brightest I've seen so far.

And that time, I swore to myself. That I will be the best daughter that I can be for them.

Even though they're already the second parent that I will have, I want to treasure my time with them. It's not because they cared for me, or they did what my former parents couldn't do. But because I want to.

I guess, I really did became their daughter in that sense. *giggle*

We, mother and child, cried then laughed for a while until Papa came home with his boots and shirt covered in mud. He immediately asked what was happening and jumped towards us for a hug. Mama and I hugged back and I felt the warmth of a lifetime with only that.

If this isn't happiness, then I don't know what is.

And that is how I, Chloe, fully became Serafina of the Aelven Race.

…

..

.

I was happy. Reeeaaally happy. I can't say I'm not. Never in my second life that I will. Because I'm really happy.

But… It still feel like I lack something. Someone, to be precise.

I know it's useless now to think about him… Even so, all the while, all these years, I still wonder what happened after 'that.' Is he safe? Did he survive the crash? What is he doing now if he did? What if he found a girl that he will love…?

Muuu…!! I can't!! I don't want to think about that!!

For now, I want to treasure my time with my new parents!

I'm sure…

… That's what he'll want for me, too. That's the kind of person he is, after all. Too kind at fault, to be honest.

I can't help but smile, reminiscing my memory about him.

Fina: "… Oh Deity of Meria. Hear the plea of thine daughter and grant us the power of the Origin of the Genesis, Meria Magic: Water Ball!"

Right after shouting the necessary words and shouted the magic name, a small magic circle appeared before my hand and a small ball of water formed just in front of it.

Uhm…

Let me rephrase that… a big ball of water… Okay, let me rephrase that again… a HUGE ball of water!

Sera: "Eh…"

E-Ehh? Ehhh?? Is this size normal?? Should it be this huge when it was that small earlier?? I-I feel like I can't handle something this big…!

Fina: "M-Mama… Am I doing it… Hng… right?"

Just as I thought. It feels heavy in my hand! I had to support my hand with the other to contain the weight…!

Sera: "Fina, release the magic!"

Fina: "Y-Yes!"

After cutting the flow of Crysaztel from my chest to my hand, the magic circle shattered and the huge ball of water dropped to the ground, creating a huge puddle. Or like…

Mumuu?!

I'm also being washed from the wave it created!!

Sera: "F-Fina!!"

Fina: "W-Waaawaaaaaahh!"

I reached out to Mama and she caught me just in time, just before I was almost washed away towards the river. Mama is using a skill called Float right now so we are flying above the ground.

We both stared dumbfounded at the little tsunami I created from the Water Ball I activated just earlier.

*gasp!*

From the looks of things… This is certainly not normal… right? Right?? I mean, I small child like me summoning a huge water ball out of nowhere! It should've been a water ball! Not a water dome!

Sera: "…"

I-I bet Mama is repulsed now… Having an abnormal monster for a daughter…

Sera: "Hnnnng!! That's my daughter for you!! So excellent!"

Mu…?

Fina: "Eh? Mama…? Aren't you repulsed…?"

My expectation was betrayed when a bright… Nope, let me correct that, when Mama's brightest smile appeared on her face.

Sera: "Why would I? Mama is so elated! I'm so proud of you, Fina! You can be a great magician with this just like me~! Ufufu~ I have to tell your Papa about this~"

Fina: "A-Ahaha…"

M-Mama looks so happy… Or like, she looks so excited. More than me…

W-Well. If she's not repulsed then it's all for the better. Muu… Phew…

She hugged me tightly while wearing a bright and kind smile on her face. She snuggles her face on mine, so I returned the same as we land on the ground.

<Water Ball skill acquired>

Mu?

That voice right now… Eh?

A woman's voice?

… It sounds familiar… No. It feels like I'm used to hearing it before.

Just where have I heard it…?

It just said… 'Water Ball skill', right? That was the name of the magic Mama taught me just now… Does that mean I acquired the skill now that I've learned it? But…

Mama didn't mention anything like a voice being heard after learning the magic skill…

Ehhh…??

*gasp!*

Don't tell me…

I'm abnormal!?

…

..

.

Chapter End