Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 18

"Last night was beautiful, no?" Melody and Olivia was spending some time together, drinking tea and chatting, when Olivia suddenly brought up a topic Melody was not ready for. "Last night?" Melody tilted her head in confusion. Olivia had a mischievous smile while she traced her finger on the edge of her teacup. "Oh, you know. You and your brother spending time together, and in the end, a passionate night spent together!" Olivia stood up, one hand put on her chest, the other extended to her front. "W-What is it all of a sudden?" Melody very much confused by her friend's antics, and it made her mouth turn into a small smile. Olivia put her hands on her waist and bent her upper body towards Melody. "I saw the two of you going to the fair together. You were so engrossed in one another it made it hard for me to greet you!" Melody took her teacup, and drank the content in one gulp to hide her embarrassment.

Olivia, fully satisfied after seeing Melody's flustered face, sat down and folded her hands on the table. "To be perfectly honest, I was very much jealous of you two. It almost felt like there's no space left for me in his heart..." Olivia sighed sadly, and slumped on the table. Melody gazed at her friend's sad state, and hugged her. "If you don't mind sharing, then I'm willing to share him with you?" Olivia turned her head toward Melody, a furious blush on her face. "Is that so?" Melody nodded, a wide smiled perched on her lips. "That is good... wait, why is it already decided that I have to share with you?!" Melody laughed, seeing her friend's late reaction. Olivia didn't feel as much amusement as Melody though. "Really... suddenly dropping the 'I am actually an adopted child' thing on me was enough to make me lightheaded..." Olivia sighed once more, and supported her head with her right arm.

Melody sat down across her again, and picked up a cookie from the plate on the table. "In any case, I was wondering why my brother suddenly wanted to come here." Olivia straightened her posture and picked up her cup. "He was called here by my mother. It seems that she wanted to teach him how to make medicine that helps Summoners." Melody sighed, and stared at the heart-shaped cookie in her hand. "I wish he would give me as much attention as he give to his research." Olivia stared at Melody and shrugged slightly. "At least the two of you are living in the mansion." Melody smiled, and ate the cookie, as she thought to herself that her friend's words were true.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Trace is reading through a large pile of books and papers. All of them are filled with Lucy's research. Trace read through all of them, but his heart felt heavy. "Is there something wrong?" Lucy's gentle voice rang out as Trace zoned out. He looked up from the book he was holding and gave Lucy a somewhat bitter smile. "I am just wondering if it is really alright for me to read all this... Alchemist are supposed to keep most of their concoction a secret, aside from the ones presented to the guild." Lucy smiled softly, and shook her hand in denial. "You are not wrong, Trace. But I chose to show you my research because you saved my life. So, as thanks, I will let you learn my secrets."

Trace looked at the book he's holding, and at the piles of books on the desk he's occupying. "Well, then I will indulge myself. It still felt wrong though." Lucy laughed softly once more, and put three books on the desk again. "These are my most recent research. I couldn't finish it because halfway through it, I was poisoned." Trace looked at the stack of thick books, and nodded. "I see..." Trace looked out the window, and gazed at the sky. The sky's beauty was not enough to make his mind forget the events of past dates though, for he is still looking into who is the one creating and giving Lucy that poison.

As Trace sinks his mind into solving the mystery, a finger touched his forehead. "You are making a scary expression, Trace." Lucy's gentle voice rang clear in his head, and it shoved away the worry and hostility in his heart. "For someone so young, you are carrying such a heavy burden. Let my husband's men take care of the investigating. I am sure they will find something shortly." Lucy pulled Trace's head closer to her chest, and gently hugged him. "That is why you should not worry so much. Let the grown ups take care of it." Lucy patted Trace's head, as if to calm a crying child. Trace felt the softness of her chest enveloping him, and closed his eyes.

The door swung open, and Olivia came inside. "Trace? I heard you're at mother's study... wait, what are the two of you doing?!" Olivia pointed at her mother. Olivia is visibly angry, for the first thing she saw when he entered the room was Trace blissfully leaning against her mother's chest as her mother hugged him. Trace pulled his head away from Lucy, but he noticed the mischievous smile on her mouth. Uneasy feelings started to stir in his heart, and he was about to beat a hasty retreat, but it was too late. Lucy already circled her arms around Trace's neck, and pulled his head even closer to her chest. "Why, I am only trying to convey my thanks, dear. Is it not basic courtesy to return one's kindness with another kindness?" Olivia's face turned red and she stomped her feet to the floor. "B-But that's no excuse to hold him so closely!"

Trace tried to pull away, but Lucy's hold was tighter than he thought at first. "Now, now dear. Isn't it alright every once in a while?" Lucy looked at Trace and winked. "Mom! Get away from him!" Olivia stomped her way toward her mother, and pulled Trace away from Lucy. Trace was finally free from Lucy's hug, but as he thought that he was save, his head was pulled closer into Olivia's chest. Olivia glared at her mother, the corner of her eyes slightly teary. Lucy laughed softly and patted her daughter's head. "I was only joking, dear. Although if I was 20 years younger, and I was not married, I would give him more than just a hug." Lucy's mother winked, and left the room, leaving Olivia who is blushing from ear to ear.

Trace stirred because he had to bend over when Olivia forcefully pulled his head closer to her chest. Olivia finally realized that she's still holding Trace, and released him. "I-I am sorry for forcing you like that..." Trace massaged the back of his sore neck, and shook his hand. "It's alright." Trace straightened his posture and cracked his neck. Olivia gazed at Trace from the side, and felt her heart skip a beat. She turned around, and shook her head furiously. "Olivia? Are you alright?" Trace's voice made her heart race even faster, and she turned around after taking a step forward. "Yes! Yes, I'm alright!" Trace smiled and turned toward the mountain of books on the table. He picked the book one by one, and stored it inside a magic bag. "Then I'll be taking these books. Your mother was kind enough to let me study her past research, so I have to give her a satisfactory result so she won't be disappointed." Olivia nodded as she gazed at Trace's back, deeply longing to embrace him, although embarrassment held her in place.

Night came, and Trace and Melody was ready to go home. Trace and his sister was escorted to the front gate by Olivia, but she was oddly silent the whole way. "Brother, did you do something?" Trace scratched his cheeks, trying to remember what he did wrong, but nothing came to mind. In the end, he shrugged with a sigh. Melody stared at her brother, and looked at Olivia. Her back felt very lonely, making Melody ran a few steps ahead of them. "I'll be going somewhere first before going home, so you should go home first, brother!" Melody winked at the confused Olivia before running off into the darkening streets. Olivia folded her hands in front of her chest, and closed her eyes. She thanked Melody in her heart, and turned toward Trace. "I have something to tell you, Trace Redfate." Trace saw the determination in Melody's eyes and nodded firmly.

Olivia took Trace to a gazebo, and sat down in silence. Olivia only stared at her hands folded on the table. Trace didn't say anything though. He only silently waits for Olivia to speak. Olivia looked up, and saw Trace staring at her, and the lock in her heart was opened. Instead of agitation, she saw patience. Instead of discomfort, she saw gentleness. Trace would sit down for hours, only to wait for her to speak up. Olivia closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She stood up from her seat, and walked to Trace's side. She gazed deep into Trace's eyes, and pulled his face closer to hers. She closed her eyes, and put her lips on top of his. After a moment, Olivia finally pulled her face away from his, but what she saw sent an unknown sadness in her eyes. "Why?" Olivia's word was shaky, but it was enough to send guilt into Trace's heart. Trace turned his face away from Olivia, escaping her gaze. Olivia shook her head as her feet unconsciously took a few steps back, before she ran inside her mansion.

Trace sat down at the gazebo for a long time as he stared at the dark sky above him. The sun was nowhere to be seen and the moon had already taken its place. Trace looked at the mansion he was once in, and stood up. His body felt heavy, but his heart was heavier. He dragged his feet away from the mansion, not looking back. He feared that the guilt in his heart will crush him if he does. His feet stopped moving, and he covered his eyes with his palm. "Why?" He uncovered his eyes, and looked to the side, to a store with glass window. He can clearly see his own expression, and it sent pain through his chest. The face of regret. That's what he saw. He rested his hand on the window and looked down at his feet. "I wonder why myself?" He took a deep breath and walked home, with heart that felt much, much heavier than it did before.