Lilia's Tale

Chapter 75: Alice

Recently, familiars had been mentioned quite often. I first read a book about it, then everyone kept mistaking the summon on my head to be my familiar due to the attention I give to it.

Thinking back on it, I did give it special attention. While I was careful with each of my summons, I was particularly so with this one. Most notably, I cared about it more and wanted it around more than any other. I felt a bit bad about not realising beforehand, but simply told myself it was due to the difficulty in having a back seat on your own action.

"Master?" she suddenly said, seemingly worried.

"Ah, yes?"

"You feel bothered. Is something the matter?"

"Ah, well... I'm a bit confused on what happened to you, to be honest."

"So, like how you didn't know how to summon...Elemental Moths, was it?"

"Not quite the same, no. With elemental moths, I was trying to find an idea and a solution. In this case, I'm trying to find what happened."

"I don't really get it..."

"Whenever anything happens, there is a before and after, right? Before it happens is called the cause, it's what made it happen in the first place. What comes after is the consequence. That makes for three different phases of anything. The cause, event and consequence. Right?"

"Hum...yes."

"When I was trying to summon more elemental moths, I knew of the event, so I was trying to find the cause. This way, I can make the event happen all the time."

"Oh, I see what you mean. You want more elemental moths, so you were trying to find how to create elemental moths."

"That's exactly right. In your case, however, I'm searching for...I guess I know the consequence and I'm searching for the event? I also know the cause, after all."

"So it's not the same thing?"

"It's not. It might seem like it is, but it fundamentally isn't."

"I see. Master is really smart!"

She felt really happy, and her praising surprisingly made me quite happy too. It felt similar to Father praising me, rather than people I have little to no attachment towards.

"Well, I have to say I'm used to it."

I went back to thinking about what could have happened and failed to find anything. I wasn't knowledgeable about this matter, so I needed some help. However, since Koko-sensei had turned around instead of coming back to the academy recently, I thought she wouldn't be in here. I decided to go back to what brought familiars to my attention in the first place: the book in the library.

I didn't have the key, to my knowledge at least, though the fact I had three keys and only knew the use for two prompted me to try to open the library up with it. Or maybe it was already open. I would have to enter alone regardless, so I thought taking the book and reading it in the training area might be better.

"Say, can you wait here for some time? I need to go somewhere and I'm not sure if you're allowed."

"Yes, Master!"

She flew off my head in both enthusiasm and sadness and landed in the middle of the training area, immobile.

"Thanks and sorry. I shouldn't be too long."

I then went to the library to check it. It was open, so I didn't need to ask for the keys or check the one I have and instead went directly to the section I was looking for. I found the book relatively quickly and went back to the training area.