BOOK 1 - JUST ANOTHER DAY?


(3rd Person)

?: "Hey! I need a hand over here!"

?: "C-Coming! One s-second!"

When you are at work, people tend to except the best from you. Do this, rework that and check these. It was never easy, except when your job allowed for it.

?: "TAHIMI! GET OVER HERE!"

Aiko: "AH! S-S-Sorry boss!"

Sadly, mine wasn't one of them. I guess...I'll just introduce myself as I'm running to my boss. Hello! I'm Aiko TAHIMI, 18 years old, grew up in isolation, work at a library-

Customer: "Hey, what's a child doing here, wearing the shop's uniform?"

...And am the size of a small kid.

People say I have dwarfism, but they're wrong! I just...haven't had my growth spurt yet, yeah! At least that's what my friends told me.

Aiko: ‚Just around the corner and- B-BOSS!'

Boss: "Fill out these papers! And no more slacking off, got it!?"

Aiko: "R-Right..."

Honestly, it felt weird to be this tiny. I'd sometimes see adults coo at me while pointing at my short, black hair. Other times at my face as they towered over me. A female caretaker even hugged me once from behind as she proclaimed my ‚cuteness'. I never understood why...

*Ring*...*Ring*

Aiko: "Huh?"

Grabbing the small Nokia from my shorts' pocket, I immediately smile as I see the name of the known woman in my life pop up on the screen.

*Beep*

Aiko: "H-Hello Kuruko-san!"

Ms. Smith: "Aiko-chan! How's my little flower doing? Haven't got to talk with you since we filled out those papers last time!"

Right. Once the government declared luminal for real and created the ‚Cultural Exchange Program', many people wanted didn't want to sign up for it at first. Now it's definitely gotten better. I never understood why so many were reluctant at first, but if we can take in so many guests now, then I'm happy for them!

As for me, I...initially didn't want to partake in it either. BUT NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO OFFER HELP! Rather...due to my size and all. I thought there would be way better choices than me. Yet Kuruko-san...uhm, politely pressured me into signing the papers 3 weeks ago.

Aiko: "W-Why the call?"

Ms. Smith: "Ah, right. Sorry for getting carried away. Just, Dar- ...I met another host not too long ago."

Aiko: "N-No wo-worries."

She awkwardly coughed on her end of the call...but I could feel her shifting into her infamous serious tone.

Ms. Smith: "We might have found a few candidates for your application. We're still reviewing her information but she'll probably be ready to move in tomorrow!"

Aiko: "T-Tomorrow!? B-B-But Smi-"

Ms. Smith: "I know, I know. This may seem way too sudden, but it'll be alright! There's a few reasons why I trust you with this."

Even as I was filling out the stupid delivery notes on the break room's table, my mind wandered off to what she could've meant. Sure, I tried to be responsible when possible and act like a proper adult...but there's times where throwing a fit is unavoidable.

Regardless, no one ever took me serious. Not even a bit! I mean, who takes a ‚kid' serious...

Plus, I was kind of a scaredy cat. Can't even talk in public without stuttering, may it be on the phone or face to face.

Aiko: "I-I re..."

Ms. Smith: "...Nervous?" And there is the caring tone back."

Aiko: "Mmhm."

Ms. Smith: "I assure you, I didn't want you to sign up the application for my own gain alone."

...

Somehow, I couldn't take her words seriously this time. The sudden silence on both ends seemed to strengthen that.

Ms. Smith: "Just don't break your head over it! I'm sure we well- Oi! OI! Z-Zombina! Let go of the-"

*Beep*

I...couldn't help but feel a bit sad. Not about her breaking the call! Though, I never got to make too many friends since my parents wanted me to stay in the walls of our old home.

So she (along with a few exceptions) was very important to me. Very.

Aiko: "...Guess I'll have to bring these back to my boss for now."

At least I unconsciously filled out the required paperwork. Getting off the children sized chair that Kuruko got for me last year (in a light blue tone and a cute cartoon rabbit on it), I made my way through the rows of books-

*CRASH*

Aiko: "OWW!"

?: "Urgh, my shins..."

The neatly piled stack of papers was thrown all around me, littering the ground with them. But that wasn't my worry!

There was the other person that fell down!

Aiko: "A-Are you alright!?"

Looking up, I saw the other person already standing, their body being way taller than mine as she dusted her drown coat off. The wizard hat on her head was so huge but...so cool-

?: "Curses! Even I am not safe from the back luck of the shadow cats! Damned, they be!"

...What?

Aiko: "Uhm...Miss? What are those ‚shadow cats'?"


(? POV)

This cycle of the sun has truly been mysterious, yes. First my keeper fails to tell me of a possible switch in fate, talking about how my base of safely could be shifted into yet another realm!

...And now, as I was searching the halls of this unimpressive library for any hoarded magical scripts I forcefully collided with a child of this world!

How they looked at me with those little, shining blue orbs that reminded me of pearls...and then their glossy black hair as their head tilted. Then such a pure smile and their adorable tiny hand as it lifted into the air-

CALM YOURSELF! Thou should not scare such innocent youth with your energy! I might as well reveal my identity to spread my family's name.

?: "These creatures aren't of your worry anymore as I, Amoris the Archmage took care of them just a mere sun cycle ago!"

Upon my message, their face shone with such joy as I did my regular pose, one I learned from this important piece of Japanese culture named ‚anime'.

Crouching down as to not be more disrespectful than now, I got a better view at their unique beauty. ‚They are worthy of a painting's eternity!'

Amoris: "Would you be kind to this humble follower of the ancient arts and reveal your own presence?"

?: "O-Oh! M-My name i-is Aiko! T-Tahimi Aiko, Amoris-san!"

Aiko Tahimi...such an elegant name, indeed!

But...their voice was as insecure as the holy sees from the ancient world. It...seems like my act struck into their pure heart...

Amoris: "Then I'll leave you to your own acc-"

Aiko: "That's a pretty hat!"

...What...in the court's divine name...they surely jest.

Aiko: "And your eyes as well! How are they this cool shade of purple?"

Such a youngling was...actually flattering me!? I can already feel the volcanic heat of my fire magic rise to my face, as the desire to desperately pull down my hat over my eyes flares up! How did I land in this dilemma!?

But wait, they're still talking to me! As an Archmage (in training) I shouldn't be this rude already.

Amoris: "Oh, uhm...thank you! I also like yours. They remind me of the trailing rivers of the million year lake's beauty!"

Whatever he understood from this seemed to humor him greatly. Now, I could've taken this as another mockery of me. Yet the laugh that I got as a response...it sounded angelic. He was like a little angel, making my day brighter just as I have the luck to encounter them-

?: "TAHIMI! ARE YOU QUITE DONE YET!?"

Aiko: "U-Uhm, yes! I-I'm sorry Amoris-san but I-I've got to go now!"

Aw curses...seems like my time of emotional riches comes to an end. But what's this!? He was stretching his small body down to collect-

No! As one of the carriers of power I shall not let him waste such precious time on fixing my mistakes! He seemed already tired enough as it is, without my presence included. Maybe I could...

Amoris: "Allow me, little one."

I only got an confused stare as my hand brought out the familiar wooden wand from my cloak, my mind concentrating on the physical recordings as I spoke.

Amoris: "Time flies by, repaint the frozen sky. Heed my call, thou back by the power of my! Reverse!"

All of the scattered papers started to shimmer in an eerie glow of blue before they levitated, seeming trailing back into his hands as my command was fulfilled.

Aiko: "A-Amazing!"

Their blue eyes gazed in so far unrivaled awe, making my heart flutter higher than a great falcon's flight. But now's not the time.

Amoris: "You should hurry towards the court, or else you'll face their wrath!"

Placing my elegant hand on their back, I ushered them towards the voice of that demon with a gentle push. They complied and began running again, but not without turning around and waving at me before sprinting off.

Aiko: "Goodbye, Amoris-san! I hope we meet again!"

...

I do as well, little one. But for now, let's see what the creator has weaved into his strings for me this time.

...Now I just need to report to my keeper as for why I resorted to the ancient arts instead of using my hands-

...Oh oh.


(Aiko POV)

WOW! Their magic was so cool! I never though that she'd be able to reverse time this easily!

Hehe, maybe I was an adult in age but even then I couldn't control my giddiness over things.

Maybe Kuruko-san was right. Maybe having a liminal at my home would be a good thing!

...


(To be continued...)

(Fire Me): If everyone's wandering why my format suddenly changed to drastically, it's because I'm not only writing this story from my phone but also because it orginated from Wattpad where this idea first came to my head.

The Sir's out!