We walk hand in hand back to the inn, with Sol proudly holding the bag of candy beside her.
"Did you really just order all that candy so you could give some to Fortune?"
"Sharing is caring, alright?! These candy looked so tasty and I bet he also wants some. Plus I'm going to give half of it to Veroni-ni"
"Yeah, sure."
Perhaps I spoil her too much: but she does have a good heart.
"And, well, I want to leave something to remember me by! I want him to remember me lots and lots!"
"Hm? Isn't the tree you both planted enough?"
"Yeah but what if he forgets about it? What if he won't be able to take care of it? It is a symbol of our friendship; not exactly a gift from me to him."
"Well, candy is sure something that is finite. He might be able to eat it all in one fell swoop, like you."
"Grr... What can I give him then?!"
"Hmm..."
I pluck out the rose hair clip from her headband and present it to her
"You can give him this. Sure they're custom made, but we can order some more. What do you say?"
Sol smiles brightly and holds the hair pin close to her heart
"Yeah! That'll do it! Thank you, papa!"
"Haha, you're welcome, princess."
It's cute how affectionate she is towards Fortune. Perhaps maybe they were destined to meet each other - they're both quite special after all. Rare gemstones amongst the rough.
But... Perhaps Fortune would be the odder of the two. So many events have to collide to create such an anomaly... There must be a reason for it.
We arrive at our room and Sol plops onto the bed.
"Tired?"
"M'yeah"
"You did go all in on Fortune, so you're probably quite beat yourself."
"I didn't want to hold back! He seemed so strong..."
"Well, perhaps on that day, it was his first time realization that he could do all that stuff. You know that the late-bloomers are a concept, don't you - my little girl?"
"Uh-huh. Still... I guess I wanted to show him all of me..." She pouts, pink colour coming onto her pale cheeks.
"Hehe, guess you really like him, huh?"
"Noooooooooo~~~" Sol rolls over, covering herself with Veronia's plushie.
"Just teasing you. If you see him as a dear friend of yours, I don't mind." I ruffle Sol's hair and she shows me her tongue in pique. Such a funny little thing. Perhaps her trying to prepare herself for a more "prince-ly" suitor prevents her from telling it how it is. Kids are kids after all.
"Well then, sweet dreams, sweetheart." I kiss her on the temple and she can't help but giggle "Thank you, papa."
I exit the inn and decide to immediately book it towards Fortune's house.
If my suspicions are correct - then the answer lies behind these doors
*Knock-knock-knock*
"WHO'S THERE?!"
"I assume this is Mr. Fortune, right? It's Oswald Emerade, the researcher of--"
"The hell you want, pansy? Where the hell is my son?" A large figure opens the door and I fix my tie
"I do not know about the whereabouts of your son, sir. As his guardian - it should've been your responsibility to---"
"Shut up, you!" The man immediately grabs my neck and proceeds to choke me.
"You were lucky that the crowd was still around. Now that you're in my domain, I'll do whatever I want with you..."
"... F-Forbidden... Act... G-Geomanteia...
Cauda Draconis..."
*THUD!!!*
"ARRRGH!!"
From the grains of earth I've dropped, the rock spears emerged, knocking the man out and causing him to drop his grip.
"Shit!!! Aurgh..."
"You know, I would consider myself lucky that magicians aren't allowed to kill people unprovoked."
"... Tch. The hell you want?"
"It's about your son. I would like to know certain details regarding him. If you're willing to co-operate that is.
Geomanteia Populus" The spears crumble and turn into floating sharp stones
"... Fine."
"I appreciate it. Now let's take a seat. Oh, and to keep you honest."
"Grah!..."
"It's in your best interest to be completely truthful to me. I would rather not get my hands dirty when it's unnecessary."
...
"So, what's the deal with my son?"
"You've witnessed it too, right? The power to control time. That's not something some average kid can possess."
"Ah, so that's what it's all about. Don't see any issues. I mean, what's so damn special about it."
"You seem to not understand the gravity of the situation. Fine. Let me pull up something."
*Chk... Chk... Chk...*
"Hm. It seems you're a human too."
"The hell?"
"And a very average one at that. Tch. What about Mrs. Fortune, then?"
"W-What kind of question is that?! Of course she's a damn human! The hell are you waffling on about?!"
"Because your son... Isn't a human."
"Hweh?"
"Unless your wife happens to be a witch - how come your son is a spawn of a daemon? Unusual vitality, fast recovery that is even more boosted by his temporal curse, weakness to sunlight. Even when tracking the MEO... The detector was acting quite unusual. Should I had more advanced detector, it would've told me exactly what's wrong with your son."
"... Well she ain't a witch, so what?"
"Don't. Play. Dumb. If she isn't a witch, then how did she got impregnated by a Daemon? This area is inhabited by rather weak daemons and adherents, so how come she gave birth to a cambion - and a high quality one at that?"
"..."
"Do any of you have any history of contacting a Daemon?"
"..."
"I take that silence is a yes?"
"No---! GWAAAAAARGH!!!"
"Tch. And given your wife "ain't a witch" - I take it as that YOU are the one with a history with daemons, isn't it - Mr. Fortune?"
"..."
"... I see. If Fortune exists - then it makes it all clear to me. And if what Sol told me is true..."
"H-Huh?... Hey! Where the hell are you going?!"
"Oh, just to document some stuff. I don't particularly feel safe with a daemon roaming around, so I'll be away in the safety of our inn."
"HEY!!"
Well, it all makes sense now.
Then I suppose my gift to him is much more meaningful now.
And unfortunately it's not my responsibility to break the curse. If his silence is of any indication - I guess there's a good reason why no one is involved in it yet.
I'm an ordinary magician after all, my brains far outweigh my brawn.
And if that aura I felt from him was of any indication.
Only HE can break the curse.
Haha... Khahahaha!