Chapter 27 - Blanchet the White Cat

[Meow.]

The black cat that had returned without Azriel’s knowledge cried around her feet. The shaggy large dog that had been rolling on its back in the yard had snuck up on the terrace as well. The white cat sat on the railing and watched her. Azriel, who had only seen arm-sized sewer rats, alley cats, and yappy wild dogs, was scared of animals. She grabbed the blanket like a shield and hunched in the rocking chair. While the cats were watching, the dog approached her casually and put his big head on her crouched legs. Scared, Azriel was stiffened. It blinked its huge, black eyes and gently wagged its tail.

Azriel narrowly afforded to ease the strain as the dog only kept on wagging its tail. It’s mild eyes seemed to be smiling. She carefully reached her hand out of the blanket. The dog did not move until her hand like a maple leaf reached its nose tip and licked it when she touched.

“Oh!”

It was warm and damp. Azriel took her hand off in surprise. The dog shook its body and put down its head on her leg at once again. Its black eyes blinked and shut completely. Its yellow, long fur shined in gold reflecting the sunshine. Azriel possessedly reached out her hand and caressed the dog. The fur that wrapped around her fingers was softer and warmer than the blanket. She smiled in spite of herself.

The black cat that watched it turned its body as if it was upset and jumped up on the railing. It tapped the white cat. Soon, the two cats got entangled with each other and began playing.

“Azriel.”

A cup was held out before her eyes again. The dog glanced back and stepped aside. Rhema was looking at her with his still face. This time, it was a sweet-scented, dark brown liquid. “It’s chocolate.”

Azriel did not know what a chocolate was, but took the cup without a fuss as she took and drank the unknown green liquid. The liquid which she sipped expecting a bitter taste, was warm and sweet. The giddy sweetness started from the tip of her tongue, filled inside her whole mouth, and spread a blissful sensation to her entire body.

Rhema watched her widened golden eyes being filled with surprise and joy in full view. It was a color similar to one stretching. He unwittingly laughed a little. “Do you like it?”

“Th, th, this… What is this?”

“It’s chocolate,” he repeated. Azriel’s small lips moved. Her eyes sparkled. Rhema liked those eyes.

“It’s good! It’s so so good! I’ve never had this before. Is this… heaven in here?” Azriel spoke with a little bit of tears in her eyes. Rhema pulled up the tunic that had slipped down and covered her thin shoulder. “No, from now on, this is your house.”

Azriel blankly opened her mouth. “My… house?”

“Yes.”

“Are you saying that I get to live here?”

“Yes, if you want to.”

“Can I do that? I, I’m useless. What do I need to do?”

“You don’t have to work.”

“Then why me…” Azriel’s small, carefree face was instantly terrorized. 

Turning pale, she dropped the cup. At the moment she missed it, Rhema reached out his arm and caught it. Not noticing such a spectacle scene, Azriel got away from him as far as she could and buried herself in the chair. His shadow being casted over her reminded her of something. Her sparkling eyes were shaded, which Rhema did not like.

“Th, th, then, umm, oh, uh, I, I…” She began shaking. She recalled the rough hands that spread her legs. She did not remember what happened afterwards. So, she got even more scared. From the edge of her toes, an unpleasant feeling creeped up. She was stifled. Looking down at the girl who turned pale into blue, spoke slowly so that she would not be scared. “This is my house, and you chose to come with me. So, this is your house, too, now. You can learn magic from me here.”

“…Magic?” Azriel’s trembling stopped at the idea that she had never thought of. Rhema solemnly nodded as if he was talking to an adult. “I’m curious how far your potential will reach. That’s why I reached out my hand to you. I thought you accepted it…” he slurred the end of his words as if confused. Those were difficult to understand for a seven-year-old girl who had been living in the back alley. Azriel asked him back with her own understanding. “Are you going to teach me magic?”

“Yes.”

“Then, if I learn it hard, will this be my house?” Azriel asked in desperation. Rhema blinked his eyes. Her desperate eyes seemed to be clingy. He did not understand such desperation but could see that she wanted to stay. “Yes, if you learn magic, this is your house,” he replied. Azriel took a deep breath. She knew what a wizard was. Wizards all wore nice clothes, lived in nice houses, and ate tasty foods. No one treated wizards badly. She had seen the bakery owner, who kicked her and poured filth on her, smiling friendly to a wizard. Such a wizard was offering to accept and teach her. It meant to train her as a wizard. It was a miraculous fortune. Shades were gradually lifted up from the girl’s face. Her thin and hollow face was filled with hope and bloomed like a young bud. “I will work hard! I’ll do my best!” Rhema Reshith watched the change still. His grey eyes like shaved metal turned a little softer. “Does this make you that happy?”

“Of course! I’m so happy. Thank you!” Azriel beamed from ear to ear. He stared at her as if he was not sure how to treat such a girl and looked down at the cup of chocolate. There was still a lot left, so he handed it to her again. Azriel took the cup. The sweet scent of the wavy brown liquid filled her nose. It was a sweetness that marked the beginning of a new life.

***

‘…Yes, I started liking chocolates from then on.’

Azriel opened her eyes at the same time she thought of it. Sunshine had filled the inn room. She could feel the soft and smooth bed, not the feeling of a bed made from a crumbly stack of straw covered with a coarse blanket. Then she could smell something sweet. It was the smell of chocolate. Azriel slowly got up from her seat.

[Meow.]

It was a thin cry of a cat. A white cat that was curled up around her feet had lifted her head up and was watching her with its jewellike blue eyes. Azriel recognized the cat. It was the cat she saw in the dream, no, in the first page of her memory just a moment ago.