Time Healer Ceres

Magic... Can I really learn magic? I want to learn. I really do... But does what I want even matter?

“If I... learn magic, would you be happy, Ceres?”

Would learning magic help her? Would she be happy?

Then... would she not abandon me?

“That’s your choice, Zein. What I think doesn’t matter.”

...It doesn’t matter?

The orphanage director always said that his opinion was the only one that mattered... that Zein’s own thoughts were completely worthless...

“I told you before. If you want to do it, then do it. If you don’t, you don’t have to. It’s up to you.”

Once again, she was leaving the choice to him.

Is it really... okay for me to choose?

His heart raced. For a moment, the ring on his finger seemed to glow.

“...I’ll learn magic.”

***

“That kid’s a genius.”

“A genius?”

Cheion had stopped by the shop for the first time in a while. As soon as he sat down, he started talking about Zien, his new apprentice. Since Ceres was curious about the boy’s magic talent too, she listened.

“You teach him one thing, and he already knows ten!”

“Zien is pretty smart.”

Even at home, it was obvious that the boy was exceptionally bright. Whenever she taught him something, he understood it right away and often already figured out what to do next.

He’s also quick to read the room.

That still bothered her. He seemed far too attuned to everyone around him, though perhaps that was better than being completely oblivious.

“He’s as smart as my Julia.”

“He’s way beyond that!”

“...Are you looking down on Julia?”

“N-No, that’s not what I meant.”

“My girl already knows all her letters.”

“...Yeah. Julia is smart as well.”

Ceres was usually so indifferent to everything, yet the moment her younger sister came up, she got excited.

With an awkward smile, Cheion quickly changed the subject.

“What I’m saying is, Zein’s magic talent is extraordinary.”

“I know.”

Arti wouldn’t give his ring to just anyone.

“He was practically born to learn magic!”

“Yeah, I get it. So, are his lessons going well?”

“It’s not about the lessons! I’m telling you, he’s incredible!”

“Okay, okay. Do you want some tea? I just got some new honey.”

“...Yeah. Put a lot of it.”

Cheion quietly gave up. Ceres already went back to her usual indifferent self, apparently satisfied as long as Zien was doing well in his lessons.

“Everything else is fine, but that kid is a little rude.”

“Rude? Zien?”

“Yeah.”

Ceres clicked her tongue as she set a cup of tea down in front of Cheion.

“He’s not rude. He just doesn’t talk much, so it comes across that way.”

Cheion hardly knew what the boy had been through. Ceres didn’t want to talk about Zien’s past without his permission, so she couldn’t blame him for getting the wrong impression.

“Sure, he doesn’t talk much, but that’s not the only thing. I’m telling you, the kid comes off a little rude.”

“He’s just timid.”

“...Timid?”

That doesn’t seem right.

Cheion had realized from their very first meeting that Zien wasn’t much of a talker. But during magic lessons, he answered his questions without hesitation and was quick to respond with a nod.

The problem is...

It was what happened after the lessons ended.

“That’s all for today.”

bow.

“Do you want to grab something to eat, Zien?”

“......”

“If you don’t feel like eating, how about cake? I found a great dessert café recently.”

“......”

“Um...”

“.......”

“...See you later.”

bow.

Once the lesson was over, Zien wouldn’t answer a single question. He just stared at Cheion in silence, his expression utterly indifferent. If anything, he looked like he was finding him a nuisance.

At least he’ll look me in the eye.

According to Luca, Zien wouldn’t even glance at anyone else, much less speak to them. He simply ignored them and walked right past as if they weren’t there.

“He’s probably still getting used to things.”

“Getting used to...?”

...I don’t think that’s it.

“Zien is actually very polite and easygoing.”

“Polite? Easygoing...?”

...Definitely not.

Jingle.

The shop door opened, and Zien walked in.

“I’m... back.”

He still seemed awkward about greeting people, his face slightly red as he lowered his head. Ceres found him adorable and walked over to pat his head.

“I told you to go straight home.”

“...I’ll help.”

“Help with what? You’re supposed to go home, study, and play.”

Ever since Zien started attending the academy, he had been stopping by the shop after school and insisting on helping out. He would clean, carry dishes, and stubbornly find something to do even when Ceres told him not to.

Setting his bag down, he immediately grabbed a rag and started wiping things down. Every time he came near, the mercenaries eating nearby would flinch.

“Fine. Just finish that, then go home.”

“All right...”

After hearing his answer, Ceres took off her apron.

“I’m going out for a bit.”

“Where?!”

“Why are you going out?”

“Why? Why?!”

“......?”

Ceres, who was talking to Jay, turned around in bewilderment. The mercenaries in the shop had all started shouting at once, asking where she was going.

...What’s gotten into them?

Where she went was none of their business.

“Where are you going, Milady?”

Jay gave the mercenaries a pitying look before asking Ceres on their behalf.

“I need to pick up a few things at the market.”

“I’ll go.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m less busy than you are, anyway.”

They were running low on a few ingredients, so she figured she should pick them up before the evening crowd came in.

“No!”

“I-I’ll go buy it!”

“No, I will!”

...Geez, what’s wrong with them?

Ceres stared at the mercenaries in disbelief as several of them eagerly raised their hands. Why were they so determined to go to the market?

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Ceres simply ignored them and left the shop, with Zien and Jay seeing her out.

“Ah...”

A collective sigh escaped the mercenaries.

Zien stood there waving until Ceres was out of sight, then slowly glanced around the shop. The mercenaries stiffened under his gaze.

“.......”

Thump!

“Eek!”

The rag in Zien’s hand flew beneath the chair of one of the mercenaries. A bit of stew, broth and all, had spilled underneath it.

“W-Wait. I didn’t mean to spill it... W-Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

The mercenary barely got the words out before he suddenly found himself floating in midair.

Urgh.

Here we go.

Hey, hurry up and clean that!

Who spilled that?!

It wasn’t just the mercenary. His chair and table floated up with him, leaving Zien free to duck underneath and scrub the floor.

Whoosh.

Once he was done, everything settled back into place.

“Haa... haa.”

The mercenary trembled after his unexpected trip into the air, but he was mostly relieved that he had never let go of his bowl of stew.

My hangover stew... I saved it!

Swish.

Zien looked around for somewhere else to clean, and the mercenaries immediately tensed up again.

Whenever Ceres was around, he never used magic and acted like the sweetest, most well-behaved child. The moment she was gone, though, this was what happened.

Look at how his whole expression changes!

They could hardly believe he was the same boy who had smiled shyly and blushed in front of Ceres just moments ago. Now, his expression was ice-cold.

Whoosh!

“Aaagh!”

Another mercenary was lifted into the air.

Swish, swish.

Zien busily cleaned the spot underneath him.

“......”

Cheion watched the whole thing in stunned silence before chuckling quietly.

As expected of my genius apprentice. He’s putting that spell I taught him to good use.

He casually wiped up the tea he’d spilled earlier with his foot.

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