I was sitting by the window, tossing up potential team names as I had been for the past few days, when a surge of frantic signals suddenly flooded in from the birds I’d left with Alto.
He’d gone out for a walk with Ragi a little while ago. Alto still seemed gloomy, but I hadn’t felt like there was anything in particular to worry about.
He should have Ragi with him.
A feeling of dread twisted inside me. I closed my eyes and directed my consciousness toward the birds. The information streaming into my mind told me that Alto was calling out Ragi’s name over and over again.
I teleported to them without a moment’s delay.
As I appeared, Alto whirled around to face me, looking like he was about to burst into tears. His lips trembled as he struggled to explain. “Master! Gramps… Gramps is…!”
I gently placed a hand on his back to reassure him, then knelt down to check on Ragi’s condition. He didn’t seem injured or sick.
So we’re finally getting to that inevitable time…
I forced down the sorrow rising in my chest and spoke as calmly as I could for Alto’s sake.
“It’s all right. He’s not hurt. He’ll wake up soon.”
“Really?”
I nodded and lifted Ragi into my arms, then used magic to teleport us all back to the house. Alto still looked worried.
“I’m going to put him into his bed. Can you help get it ready for me?”
“Okay.”
Ragi was unconscious but breathing. Once he was lying down, I put a hand over his chest and began to channel healing magic into him—though I didn’t know if it would do any good.
“We can’t turn back time for someone who’s grown old. We can’t bring back the dead. Some things simply aren’t within our power to change…”
The words I’d said to Halman repeated over and over in my mind. I could almost see the unavoidable future taking shape, and it shook me. I shut my eyes and drew a slow, steady breath, trying to quiet my thoughts.
I have to keep it together for Alto’s sake, I reminded myself firmly. I couldn’t show any fear, confusion, or sadness. Nothing that would upset him.
I finally opened my eyes again and saw Alto standing behind me, watching me anxiously.
“It’s all right now, Alto.”
“Okay.” He looked up at me, a solemn look on his face. “Master, is Gramps sick?”
I hesitated for a moment, not sure how to answer. Should I tell him the truth or spare him?
But before I could make that decision, a quiet voice spoke.
“I mustn’t have eaten enough. I just got a little dizzy…”
Alto’s gaze shifted over to the bed, and for the first time in days, he smiled one of those big, radiant grins he kept only for Ragi.
“Gramps!”
“Sorry I worried you, Alto.”
“Are you okay?!”
“Yes. I collapsed because I didn’t have enough to eat. That’s all.” Ragi focused on Alto as he spoke, then glanced over toward me with a sheepish smile. I understood what he meant without him having to say anything. He wasn’t ready for me to tell Alto the truth.
“In that case, I’ll start dinner right away. I’ll make plenty, so eat as much as you want,” I said with a smile.
He nodded and quietly said, “Okay. I’m sorry.”
I shook my head, saying he had nothing to apologize for, then stood up to go make dinner.
Alto looked visibly relieved and immediately began scolding Ragi for not eating enough, though his tail was wagging happily.
I felt conflicted as I watched them and quietly left Ragi’s room.
Alto had fallen asleep while I was cleaning up the dishes, and Ragi carried him to his bedroom.
I wondered if I should stay for our usual chat, but decided Ragi might still be exhausted and that it was better to just let him rest. I was about to say good night when he called out to me.
“Setsuna, would you keep me company a bit longer?” He lifted a bottle of liquor in his right hand. I’d been wanting to talk to him, so I accepted the invitation without hesitation.
“Of course. I’ll make some tea instead, though. You probably shouldn’t drink.”
“Oh, alcohol’s got nothing to do with it. In fact, where I come from, you take a bottle like this as a gift when a friend’s laid up in bed.”
“Is that right? I guess the more important question is, do you still have room left after dinner?”
He slowly sank into his chair and gave me a troubled look. “You should’ve made less food if that’s what you were worried about.”
Since Ragi told Alto he’d collapsed from hunger, Alto had spent the whole meal piling more and more food onto the older man’s plate. Ragi seemed both exasperated and touched as he ate every last bite.
With that light banter, we settled into our usual routine. This was when the adults could chat after Alto had gone to bed. That said, we mostly talked about Alto.
As our conversation finally settled down, silence fell between us. Normally, it would’ve felt comfortable, but tonight it seemed somewhat heavy.
Ragi was the one to break the lull, speaking in a voice so soft it felt as if he was almost afraid to disturb the quiet.
“Setsuna, as I’m sure you’ve already realized…I don’t have much time left now.”
I returned his gaze, taking in his words.
“But before that time comes, there’s something I have to do…”
“What’s that?”
He set his glass down on the table, then stared at me with a piercing look. I blinked, unsure of what he was about to say.
“Will you fight me tomorrow, Setsuna?”
For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard him. I repeated his words in my mind a few times, trying to make sense of them.