The Baby Isn’t Yours

[To my dearest Simon,

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve ever written a letter to you. It’s quite ironic, considering we’ve known each other for over 20 years… but better late than never.

Truth be told, if it weren’t for that day, I might not even be able to write you a letter, let alone share stories with you.

Isn’t fate fascinating?

Yes, indeed. Saving you on that day… it wasn’t just your destiny I saved, it was mine.

If I hadn’t saved you that day, I believe I would have perished long ago. A six-year-old child all alone in that back alley without anyone to protect – the odds weren’t in my favor.

My memories of that day have become quite hazy, but I still vividly recall a sound that I heard as I sat there for hours, motionless. It was a chilling sound, as if something was scratching or gnawing at something.

When I finally raised my head, what I saw were several gray rats nibbling on my toenails. It seemed it thought I was dead, and it might have been halfway right, as I hadn’t eaten for days, and my mind wasn’t functioning properly.

Then, out of the blue, I saw a one-eyed man carrying you away. It seemed like an urgent matter, as he hadn’t even prepared a bundle to wrap your small body in – just hurriedly wrapped you in a small piece of fur and rushed you down the alley.

Beyond that fur was a tuft of shiny black hair and a beautiful white face.

I didn’t mention this to you back then, but I really thought you were some sort of fairy or angel. Haha, isn’t that funny? Mistaking the worst-tempered and grumpiest magician in the world as an angel.

(Hey, smile a bit. You must be frowning again and emitting that cold aura of yours again. Relax a little, Simon.)

I was somehow drawn to you, like I had to save that child. It was as if fate whispered to me that I had to do it.

I never told you but the moment I saw you, I was fascinated by you. It felt like your body was radiating a dazzling light. The only thing on my mind was to save you.

I must save that child, no matter what.

Something, fate perhaps, whispered to me.

In any case, that decision I made back then might be the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, even if it means saving you was more like salvation for me.

So, Simon…

You are my savior.

I am thankful that I was able to save you that day.

I was so happy to become your friend. I was happy to have a brother. I was happy to share every joy and sorrow with you.

I understand if you feel betrayed by my sudden departure without any farewell. But please, just this once, in light of our 20 years together, forgive me for not being able to say anything to you.

Please understand that this decision was not just for my sake.

My instincts – no, my destiny – led me to believe that it was time to leave.

Just like that day when I saved you…

I promise it was a decision that wasn’t just about me but about you, me, and everything related to us.

Even though I’m leaving now, you don’t have to look for me too hard.

Just know that I’ll come back when the time is right. With many surprises.

I bid you farewell.

P.S. Oh, and let me say it one more time, I’m really sorry for that day.

But I must admit… you were amazing!

With love, from your Kalia.]

* * *

Kalia tore two scrolls apart as soon as she left the capital.

One was a scroll that erased traces, and the other was a teleportation scroll.

With a brief incantation to set the destination, she tore the teleportation scroll, creating a spherical, transparent barrier around the carriage.

At the same time, space in front of the carriage tore apart just like the scroll she had torn.

“We’re moving.”

She murmured quietly, and at that moment, the carriage was sucked into the created space.

Allen and Hemmie were astonished by the experience of teleportation and opened their eyes wide in surprise. The horses snorted and pranced in excitement.

The teleportation was almost instantaneous, lasting just a fraction of a second.

“Is it… over?”

Hemmie, feeling a little woozy, asked, patting herself to check. Kalia glanced out of the carriage and nodded.

‘We really teleported? That was it?’

For a moment, it felt as if her body was floating but just as quickly as the feeling came, it disappeared. 

Hemmie quickly opened the carriage door and peered outside.

She saw a similar forest, albeit a little different from the one they left behind. Turning her gaze back to Kalia, she asked:

“Did we really teleport, Miss Kalia?”

Kalia replied with a brief nod:

“Check under the carriage, Hemmie. There should be a marking that indicates it’s a teleportation spot if you don’t believe it.”

“Ah, I see!”

Hemmie’s face brightened. She hopped out of the carriage and bent down to inspect underneath. Around the carriage, she found a large magic circle marked on the ground, indicating it was a teleportation spot.

Hemmie’s face brightened

“Wow, we really teleported!”

Like a child excited by the idea, Hemmie, who had been aboard the carriage, hurriedly rushed in.

Kalia found Hemmie’s enthusiasm amusing. If they had more time, she would have let Hemmie enjoy herself a bit more, but…

“We don’t have much time, so we’ll move again right away.”

“Okay, just a moment.”

Allen hastily grabbed Kalia’s hand and stood up.

“Kalia, the recommended daily limit for using scrolls is two.”

Kalia suddenly remembered a piece of ‘common sense’, seeing the concern in Allen’s expression.

For ‘ordinary’ individuals, the recommended maximum usage for scrolls was indeed two per day.

Using scrolls required a certain amount of magical power, and using more than two scrolls in a day could strain one’s magical reserves, leading to adverse effects, such as physical exhaustion or even falling ill for days.

However, Kalia didn’t fit into that category. To reassure Allen, she replied casually.

“I’m fine.”

“What? You’re fine? What do you mean…”

“I mean it quite literally. I’ve used up to ten in a day before.”

Allen’s expression turned almost as pale as a sheet.

Up to ten…!

As far as he knew, even magicians with abundant magical power didn’t exceed five scrolls per day. Granted, that might not apply to Archmage or higher-ranked individuals, but Kalia was not even a magician.

Even with her physical superiority, her mental fortitude was equally astonishing.

However, it was challenging to believe that Kalia had truly used ten scrolls in a day.

‘Although she wouldn’t lie… this is still too unbelievable.’

Still, it was not a fact that could be easily believed.

At such a young age, she had accomplished numerous momentous achievements with her remarkable skills. Despite her arduous past, filled with countless deaths and suffering, her eyes remained tranquil and calm.

She was physically superior but what was strange was that her mental solidity was also commendable.

‘If this was the average person, they would long be so physically and mentally drained that they’d collapse … How could she be so strong?’

So while Allen was preoccupied with confusion towards Kalia’s extraordinary toughness, she tore apart a 3rd and 4th scroll.

The feeling of floating took over her body again and she sensed her mana being drained as the teleportation happened.

Again, surprise bloomed in Hemmie’s eyes as she stared out the carriage window.

“It’s the sea!”

Humming exclaimed, jumping out the carriage in her excitement at seeing a lighthouse by the sea.

She jumped out of the carriage and gushed with excitement.

“Wow! This view is amazing!”

For Hemmie, who had lived inland since she was young, witnessing the sudden seascape was exhilarating.

Kalia decided to rest for a few more minutes, watching Hemmie enjoy the view. She also saw people nearby laughing and chatting, looking at Hemmie.

Usually teleportation scrolls were very expensive so it was mostly just aristocrats who used them or a big group of them would use one together. Those who were gathered were precisely the latter kind of people.

“It looks like she’s seeing the sea for the first time. Her reaction is so adorable.”

“I felt the same when I first came here… but now, I’ve become so used to society that I don’t get surprised or excited anymore.”

“Is that so… Oh! Did you hear that story?”

“What story?”

“They say that for the first time in two years, a pink pearl was auctioned today. An outsider bought it, and they say they paid tens of thousands of gold on the spot without hesitation!”

“Tens of thousands of gold on the spot? Well, they must have been a romantic lover.”

“But… what’s more surprising is what they were wearing.”

Listening to the chattering of those around them, Kalia and Hemmie looked at the sea together.

A gentle breeze tousled a few strands of hair that had slipped from the large hat Hemmie had tied up.

Kalia unconsciously touched her lower abdomen, which still felt a bit unfamiliar but filled her with a sense of excitement.

The distance she had to go was beyond this sea; it was a far distance that could be reached only after travelling hundreds of kilometers.

‘Let’s do our best, my baby.’

As she made a silent pledge with a flushed face, Kalia gently nudged Hemmie, who was gazing at the sea.

“Shall we go now, Hemmie? We don’t have much time.”

“Oh, sure.”

Reluctantly, Hemmie, with a lingering gaze, turned around and got back into the carriage.

Allen, concerned that Kalia might still be hurt, extended his hand carefully, as if to reassure her.

“Hold on.”

Kalia felt the soft fringe of her clothing brushing against her legs and, when someone reached out their hand, she sensed it and took it. The hand holding hers felt comforting as she stepped into the carriage.

Smiling playfully and giving a reassuring look, she pulled out two more scrolls.

“You really are okay with this, right?”

Doubt still lingered in Allen’s mind as he asked Kalia.

Matching gazes with Allen, Kalia responded with a grin and confidently tore apart the scrolls to show that she was perfectly fine.

Rip!

As space tore apart, the carriage, with them inside, was gradually pulled into it.