These days, it was Charlotte’s habit to get ready to go out into the woods straight after breakfast.
“I’m heading out!” she said, scurrying to the door. But before she could dash off, her mother stopped her.
“Wait a moment, Charlotte.” Her mother smiled warmly as Charlotte squirmed. “Could you show me what you’re bringing with you?”
“U-Umm...okay.” She hesitantly held out a piece of bread wrapped in a handkerchief. It was leftovers from her breakfast—she had barely touched it, just a tiny bite on the edge. Since her mother looked closely at it, she hastily made up excuses. “It’s a nice day, so I wanted to eat it outside. Can I...?”
“You can...” With a kind smile, the mother caressed her daughter’s head. She opened the cupboard and took out a bright red apple. “If that’s what you have in mind, take this too.”
“Oh! Really?”
“Of course. You’ll get hungry with just that piece of bread.” Her mother wrapped the bread and the apple in a fresh, clean cloth, then handed it to Charlotte. “So, you made a new friend? What color?” she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Umm... White...and black?”
“Ah, a spotted one. Must be an adorable little friend.” Her mother smiled broadly and saw Charlotte out the door. “I hope you’ll introduce me sometime. Oh, careful not to go too far, dear.”
“How come?”
“I heard there was some sort of incident in one of the nearby towns. So if you see anyone strange, don’t go near them. Okay?”
“Okay!” Charlotte waved to her mother as she ran off toward the stream. Just like the other day, the woods were empty. Glancing around her, Charlotte took a deep breath and called out his name. “Allen! I’m here!”
“Ugh...you’re so loud.” The bushes by the stream rustled a little, and the boy poked out with a sullen face. For the past week or so, this had been their morning routine. She sat down next to him in the bushes like she always did. When she gave him the bread and apple, Allen hesitated, but soon started eating.
Since that snowy day, Allen had been hiding in the woods around here, and his wounds were completely healed now. Delivering food to him had become Charlotte’s daily custom. It was also part of her custom to sit by his side, all smiles, and watch him gobble up whatever she brought. When she told him what her mother had said that morning, he frowned mid-bite.
“I bet she thinks I’m a dog or a cat...”
“You think so?” Charlotte’s eyes went round, and Allen heaved a great sigh. She tilted her head quizzically. “Are you sure I can’t tell Mom about you, Allen?”
He squeezed out his reply with a scowl. “Don’t tell any grown-ups. Ever.” He bit into the apple in silence and gazed at the stream, his face too grim for a child’s. It was the same look he wore when they’d met and he’d tried to shoo her away.
He had frightened her that time, but now Charlotte thought, He looks...sad... Even after a week, he hardly told her anything about himself. With each passing day, he spoke a little more, but still, the only thing she knew about him was his name. I should be kind to people who’re in trouble. That’s what Mommy always says! She wanted to help him somehow.
So she nodded solemnly in response. “I won’t tell anyone about you. I promise.”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that.” The corners of his lips curled sarcastically. He wolfed down the rest of the apple, then tossed the leftover scrap in the air. Pointing his finger straight at it, he cast a spell. “Flare.”
Fire consumed the scrap, and by the time it fell on the ground, it had already turned to black ashes. The wind swept it away.
“Wow!”
Allen turned to Charlotte and said menacingly, “Listen. I can do that to you anytime I want. So don’t you dare—”
“You’re a wizard, Allen?!” She cut him off and leaned close to him.
Allen was stunned to silence. When she squeezed his hand, his face turned bright red. She didn’t notice, though. She just looked at him with sparkling eyes.
“That’s so cool! What other spells can you do?!”
“Just as I thought...you’re a weirdo,” Allen muttered offhandedly. He shook off her hands and flumped back on the grass. Stretching out his hand to the sky, he narrowed his eyes as if the sun was too bright for him. “My magic is nothing to go wild about,” he said absentmindedly. “There’s plenty of people around the world who’re a lot stronger than me.”
“But it’s still amazing! You can use magic even though you’re so little.”
“I’m nine. I’m not little. I’m four years older than you, you little shrimp.”
“I’m not a shrimp, I’m Charlotte.”
“Whatever, shrimp.”
“Mrrr...”
He rolled over on his side so that his back was turned to her. Charlotte tilted her head quizzically. “Doesn’t your mom say you’re amazing when you do stuff with magic?”
If Charlotte could cast a spell, her mother’s eyes would go round in surprise, and she would pet her head and sing her praises. Her mother always said her father is a kind man, so she had a feeling he would cheer for her too. In her world, that was simply what parents did.
Still keeping his back to her, Allen murmured, “I...don’t have any parents.”
“Oh!” Charlotte blinked.
“No parents, no family, no one. I don’t have a place to go back to anymore either... Uh, hold on.” He noticed something when he turned back to look at her. What he saw made him grimace. “Why are you crying?”
Big teardrops rolled down her face. “B-Because...!” She was imagining how she would feel if she ever lost her mother, or her father never came to get them, and she was left all by herself. She couldn’t bear it. Her heart tightened to think of how Allen must feel.
She wiped away her tears and made up her mind. “I-I know!”
“Know what?”
“I’ll be your family, Allen!”
“Huh...?” His eyes widened at her declaration.