Chapter 21 - New look

As soon as we make a verbal promise to go sightseeing, Calliope and I talk for a bit. I then go sit outside and call an ambulance for myself. Upon their arrival, they warn me that they do not have any [enlightened] with healing abilities or boosters in the local hospital. Nonetheless, they bring me there offering to heal me the good old way. Once we arrive, they install an arm brace on my right arm to prevent further injury and then cover me with bandages. They offer plenty of pain medication. They try to make me stay for monitoring purposes but I tell them that there is no need and they discharge me. When I exit the hospital, I decide to take the long way back to the motel, I have a lot to think about.

Calvin claimed that he was an important part of the tuning pill manufacturing procedure but I do not see how a non-[enlightened] could possibly have anything to do with this type of drug. Also, what does he mean by 'part' of it? Who else is involved in this business? How are they even made? I can't imagine it's in any proper way if they have to sell it so secretly. What's even more surprising about that man, is the personnel guarding him at all times. To some extent, I can understand first stage [enlightened]. However, two second stages is simply ridiculous. Even a sector leader might not have this type of protection, but somehow, a low-life human trafficker does. Like the man with the hat said, there must be some powers at play I do not understand

Additionally, there's the matter with Maestro Lauren. Her reaching the 3rd stage is not something to simply brush aside. Those of a similar level of power would be able to tell immediately and she would not be able to continue her duties as a mere instructor at DaiKar. She would become one of the pillars of the [enlightened] world, a true Virtuoso of her craft. This stage of power is attainable only by the most powerful and talented. As such, each 3rd stage represents the peak of perfection and understanding of ones [melody]. Because of all this, I have a feeling that she has not fully reached it yet, but she may have indeed stepped foot on the border separating the second stage from the third stage. To think that my teacher is such an amazing person does bring me some sense of pride. If one day she truly reaches the 3rd stage, I cannot begin to fathom how terrifying she will become.

Putting that aside, there is the whole situation with Calliope. Before leaving for the hospital, I asked her if she had any sort of family who could take care of her. With a sorrowful smile, she replied that it was just her and her 'granny' for as long as she could remember, but then even she died recently. For a few months, she has had no one to provide for her. She relied on her mysterious ability to access her pure flow to stealthily steal from merchants or protect herself from ill-intentioned people. Well, that is until the auctioneer Moonlight found her, even she cannot do much if true [enlightened] want to get ahold of her. 

I then asked how long she had been able to handle pure flow. She shrugged with a confused expression on her face. I tried to simplify my question and inquired about her special ability to turn concrete blocks into pebbles. She shrugged again and told me that she has been able to do it for a very long time. I then proceeded to asked her if she could play her [melody], but she had no idea what I was talking about, no matter how much I simplified it. 

She is a truly peculiar case, maybe the first in existence. If word of this got out, she might be dissected and studied in an effort to make our country stronger and give us an edge. Because of that, I cannot turn her over to the authorities no matter what. However, I cannot really raise her either. I do not doubt my capacities, but I am not ready to be a father yet. I will have to find a solution eventually. For now, I should focus on enjoying the rest of the mission time with Calliope as much as possible.

Without realizing that I had been walking for quite some time, I arrive in front of the motel once more. Strangely, the front desk is empty, I imagine that the lady must be busy with something. I pay it no mind and head up to my room. There I see Calliope sitting down with the lady, getting her hair braided into two beautiful French braids. She is wearing proper clothes fitting a 9 year old little girl and for the first time, she is smiling. I had not noticed before because of all the dirt, but this fair-skinned girl possesses hair of a peculiar ash brown color, complemented by grey-ish slanted eyes. Her teeth are surprisingly well maintained for someone who's lived in the slums, perhaps related to her ability.

When she sees me walk into the room, she jumps up excitedly, startling the lady and then sits back down, embarrassed. I hold back a chuckle and talk to her.

"Are you ready to go explore?"

Embarrassed, she answers.

"Y-yes... Can we get ice-cream on the way? the lady was telling me about it and apparently it's really good..."

She looks at me with puppy eyes and the front desk lady laughs. I reply.

"Ice cream will be the first and last stop of our trip! As soon as that braid is done we'll be on our way!"

When the front desk lady finishes her hair, she puts on a jacket and stands outside the room, barely able to stop herself from dragging me outside. Before leaving, I ask the lady her name. I feel that after all that she has done for me, I should at least know that much. With a warm smile she answers.

"It's Aria, Now run along, I'll see you both later!"

Calliope shouts while already being down the stairs.

"Goodbye Miss!"

Aria comes out of the room and waves. I close the door and join Calliope. Before exiting the building, I turn back and wave goodbye to Aria.

As promised, Calliope and I stop by the ice cream shop first. She wants to get three large scoops of mango, vanilla and chocolate but I warn her that she might not be able to finish. She looks at me with eyes that make it impossible to say no so I end up getting it for her. The ice cream man is charmed by her cuteness and gives her an extra scoop free of charge. What she now holds in her hand is an obscene tower made of 4 large scoops of ice cream, its stability barely holding on by a thread. As for me, I get one scoop of vanilla, no extra scoop.

"Let's go buy you some nice things shall we?"

Her face is already full of ice a cream, a real mess. 

"Thish ish sho goof Mishter!! Are we goinf to tshe maket now?!"

She has already gulped down two entire scoops

'Now THAT is seriously inhuman'

"Y-yes, we're going to the market Calliope. How about you slow down a little there?"

"But thish ish shoooo gooofd!!"

'This might be more difficult than I thought...'