The Newborn Star

ลำดับตอนที่ #3 : Working Weekend

The sky gets brighter and brighter, slowly. As the brightness increased, so did the temperature. The warm sun shone into the room of a girl in pink pajamas with heart patterns.  Soon, it had gotten too hot to continue sleeping. She wiped her messy blonde hair off her face as she opened her eyes.

“Ah… it’s morning…”

She said to herself in quite a sleepy voice. Right at the moment she realized it has gotten hot, she remembered something from last night. There was a mysterious cold wind in Summer. Even though it was late summer, there shouldn't be THAT cold wind. From what she felt, it was bone chilling... By nature, it's impossible, but yes, she knew it. This world is magical after all. It has to be a magic of some kind. What troubling her wasn't that however, it was the question that who used it and why. The creepy speech and laugh at that time as well, troubling her as much. "

"At long last....You finally return..." What does it mean by I finally return??"

She couldn't stop thinking about that. Suddenly, something broke her concentration on the matter. It was fluffy white Persian cat coming in to her from the window, with help of a tree nearby.

"Oh Furball..."

She said as she hold him and put him down from her bed. Then, she kicked her blanket off and picked up her cross-shaped computer that she placed it on the table next to her bed last night and turned it on. Again, she accessed the site with title of MAEH Official Site. She seemed to be looking at a list of some sort then closed it. When she looked at the time on the bottom right corner of her screen, she yawned once and sighed. It was 11 o’clock of Saturday. The girl got off her bed and closed the curtain so that she could change. However, she decided to go downstairs to get her breakfast first. Like last night, her grandmother was waiting for her, smiling, and with her breakfast and tea. She hugged her grandmother before eating. After that, she put some cat food into cat’s bowl and went upstairs. She began to change her clothes. From a pajamas to a dress, exposed legs to white socks, messy hair to tidied up hair and braids, also two ribbons on each of her braids. Something was different from usual, however. Her dress today is dark blue and have frilled apron. The end of sleeves and skirt part also has frills. She looked at herself in the mirror and checked if she properly dressed.

“All check, ready to go! It's time to work!”

Just when she was about to walk out of her room, she realized she had forgotten things. She was quite annoyed about the fact. She walked back to her table and checked something on her computer. Then, she wore it as a cross pendant once more and put it under her dress. She also picked up her straps with knife holders then wears it on her legs under her skirt. As usual, she also put her knives in all of the holders. Then, she picked up her bracelet and wore it. It was white, has a yellow triangle-shaped gem on it and a red tag with her name, a set of numbers, and a logo of some sort on it. After she had finished double-checking things, she went downstairs. As she reached, her grandmother asked her

“Where are you going today, my little cutie?”

She looked at her grandmother and gave a happy, sincere answer.

“Going to work~! Today I work I at Maid Cafe in the afternoon and Terro’s Mansion in the evening. I will be back on Sunday morning… about half past eleven in the morning? I think~”

Both of them smiled at each other and waved. Granny appeared to to think that her grandchild enjoys working at the cafe. Mortia then opened the door and left her house. Through streets and buildings, from clock tower to the west of the town to the clock tower to the north, she walked until she reached a building. Not too large, not too small. Signboard says “Maid Cafe”. She checked herself once again then went inside.

Inside there were tables and maids. The maids were either taking orders from customers or serving food or drinks. For some reason, they wore black maid dress as opposed to Mortia's dark blue. Mortia walked straight to the maid who was checking the number of other maids. Mortia just went to her for attendance check and nothing else. Afterwards, she walked to the behind of the cafe and picked up a mop. "

It's always the same..."

Mortia thought to herself as she starts to mop the floor on the part without customers to keep it shiny all the time. She sighed quietly, not letting others know. She was never allowed into the kitchen and there has never been a customer trying to hit on her, despite many saying that her appearance is cute. "

Or was it because what I did back then not so long after I started working?"

She questioned herself but she would never get answers as the she never know of the answer. She sighed and continued mopping. The image that happened throughout the day repeated over and over. About four in the afternoon, Mortia's work here was over. She walked and told the same maid she did attendance check with, then put the mop back to its place and left.

But before she exited, one maid came to her, and asked

"Mortia, about the matter back then, the manager is considering it."

Mortia seemed quite surprised. She didn't think the manager of the cafe would consider anything about it. She thought back to the time of the incident.  She sighed and looked down, as if everything was really her fault.

"Oh.. tell him that I'm really sorry... My hands slipped and I couldn't control myself.."

The other maid nodded and left, leaving her alone. Mortia exited and took a deep breath. Then, she madly stomp the ground and pouted.

"It wasn't my fault!! That ugly man touched a maid's arse first!! The rules didn't say I can't hit uncultured customers!! Idiot manager! Idiot!"

And then... she continued stomping the ground for a while... After she calmed down, she took out a card. On one side it has a picture of a magic circle while another was plain black. She held it with her right hand and activate power in it. The card glows and a small magic circle appears under her feet, around her. Then, she slowly used her hand which is holding the card to make an arc. Right then, she and her small circle disappeared from the spot, faster than a blink of an eye. Mortia reappeared on another circle near a large mansion with all, if not, most windows closed. The air around this mansion is slightly eerie and cold, for some odd reason. That didn't seem to bother her much however. Even though she had been here several times, it is mostly dark already so she didn't notice that the mansion was painted red. To be exact, in shade of rather dark crimson. Thinking back, her friend's last name is "Crimson" and it would make sense if crimson is the color of their family, she thought. As she is a person who normally likes red, almost any shade of red, she couldn't resist to take a picture of her friend's crimson-colored mansion. She took out her computer and snapped several pictures before she put it back and went inside with joy.

As expected, the inside was dark. There were lights, but they were all off. Mortia walked through the dim rooms and hallway until she reached a room. However, she was not afraid by a single bit during the time she walked through the darkness. The room looked like an office of some sort. In there, was a woman. She was wearing pinkish red maid dress or at least that was what Mortia could see. She couldn't see very well in dark, unlike her friend who owns this mansion. She also appeared to have light blue hair and yellow eyes. Somehow, she always think of moonlight when she look at her. Then, she asked the woman

"Hey Tsukiko, I'm here, what's my duty today?"

Normally, Mortia calls strangers or her year mates with their title or last name...or awful nicknames she assigned for them. Though, with her, she didn't, and she even said it with a slight smile. Tsukiko looked at her, then at the paper on her table and looked at Mortia again.

"Well hello Mortia, there isn't anything left for you today, well except for making tea for young master"
"Oh... but hey, isn't that your duty?"
"Yes it is, but we can do it together"

Mortia was very surprised by the her reply. She thought back and forth if she should accept it or not. She thought about how it is Tsukiko's main duty and the "young master" dislike to be disturbed from anyone except the head maid Tsukiko.

"Really... should I? I know how he is...  but he.. wouldn't mind right? I'm his friend and he wouldn't mind me being close!"

With that, she reached the conclusions and said

"Alright then, understood, head maid"

She politely said her words and showed her sincerity. She expressed it with smile. The two then went to kitchen. While Mortia prepared the plate and the cups, the head maid prepared tea. For some unknown reason, the tea was unusually red, and has odd smell. Mortia was curious, but decided not to ask. She thought the question was insignificant and let go of it. But, in truth, she was wondering if it was actually blood or something. She actually wanted to try it out, but never got a chance.

After the tea was done, they were placed on the plate and Mortia carried it. Although, only person who is allowed into the young master's personal rooms was Tsukiko. Mortia had to wait outside. She was rather disappointed. She thought she could go inside and meet him personally a little. But she soon shrugged it off since she will meet him later on, at school anyway. Soon, Tsukiko came out of the room with the empty plate. They then head towards maid's quarters. While they were walking back after they did their work, they happened to discuss something. It started with Tsukiko's question to Mortia.

"Hey Mortia, can I ask something?"

Mortia was quite surprised when she was asked with that question. From her memory, Tsukiko never asks permission to ask something. She thought it might be serious matter, or worse, personal matters. Mortia never liked being questioned, especially personal matters unless she can brag something from it. She looked away because of her unsureness and replied

"Oh sure... eh.... what is it?"

Tsukiko having noticed that Mortia looked away. She instantly knew that she felt uncomfortable. She lightly patted her in order that she would feel better... in which it seem to have worked as she expected. While doing so, she said to her

"It's fine if you don't want to answer my question. I'm just being curious about this cute girl I'm talking to"

Mortia felt more or less flattered as she heard the word "cute girl".

"Of course I'm always cute!"

...Was what she wanted to reply, but decided better not to. She wouldn't know what would happen if she said it out loud to the person who paid her money every time she worked in this mansion. She let the head maid pat her for a while and carried on to her question.

"Why did you decide to become an Evil Hunter? From your performance, you would be a great maid. Also, if you work here, you would be a second head maid"

She giggled a bit on the second part. She felt so good getting a compliment. Mortia then look at her and blinked. This was the first time this question was asked to her, not counting the time she went to take a test to become a hunter as that was part of application process. She would like to brag a lot on this matter... if it wasn't because of it never went well until she was finally accepted. She looked at the red tag that was attached to her bracelet and replied.

"Ah... it's my lifelong dream. I'll tell you the whole story, but not in a dark or dim rooms please, I don't like it."

They both looked at each other for a short while before the head maid guided Mortia back to her office, which is also her room. After the lights was turned on, they both took a seat on the bed. Mortia looked at her tag as she started her long story of why she decided to become a hunter.

"It all began four years ago, when I was in second year of Eternal Flame Magical School. Back then, I was weak and know very few magic. Three to be exact, Illumina, Light Sword, and Swirling Light. At that time, I didn't have real best friends, but I was close to that tall bully, Patricia. I'm not sure why, but maybe because I was quite tall and she used to be nice to me back then. On that day, all students of second year went to the "green classroom". Well, it's a greenhouse dome... a quite big one, if I say. We went there to study about magical plants and herbs, I think. But that wasn't when things were bad, it was on the way back..

While we were walking in the fields, a Needlevine appeared from nowhere and grabbed me and some other students... You know what Needlevine is right? That many-vines plant with needle or scary spike on tip of each of its vines. It was so sudden and I was in state of fear... I tried to escape but for whatever reason I don't even know.. when I see it clearly, my entire body froze. It was as if my everything stopped responding, well, just like when programs freeze. All I could feel is my fear. It's strange... I don't normally have fears. Well, I guess I was overridden by my own fears that I could no longer do things or think straight.

That plant come to all of us and attempted to catch all of us.. but everyone ran so I was the only one who stayed close to it. I was even more scared... The closer it is.. the more I feel the fear. Right, I was an easy target so it caught me first. It then head for other nearby students. Most escaped the reach though...

Soon after I was caught by it, the needles were stabbed into me... If you ask how that feels... it hurts, a lot. Though, it wasn't vital parts so I'm still here today. And... really.. the needles hurt a lot already, but that's not the end of it. Needlevines eat lifeforce, some people call it life energy but it's the same. And yeah, the needles was the part it use for sucking life out of the prey. It was so painful.. really painful... I couldn't say that enough times. I was screaming and crying, literally crying, all the time.But then, I noticed the colour of my blood and my scream died down... I'm not sure why. It was purple... how lucky of me, that Needlevine was also poisonous. I know that I would only die. There weren't any teachers around the area and others were too scared to take action. I was so helpless.. hopeless.. weak.. flailing around with almost no force, trying to escape and in vain.

Just then, a hunter appeared. He cut off most of the vines that hold other students, but the plant used me as a shield so he couldn't do much to it at that point. Let alone freeing me. And reminder, the plant was still sucking my life energy. I felt so much weaker by that time..about the point that screaming or moving was hard...and too tiring. I couldn't clearly hear what others said, but I felt like someone was telling me to try a spell to get myself free. So, I tried using Swirling Light. To tell you, it was very hard to focus and spin around myself with all those needles and vines holding me. It was successful though, I broke free and fell to the ground as that hunter quickly took action and killed it.

Yep, I was watching him kill it. It was spectacular! And he was shining! It was right then when I was inspired to become a hunter. Not only because I liked him, it's also because I want to know how deal with all those dangerous monsters to give myself some protection. With my very weak body, I stood up and said to him "Hey mister! I want to be a hunter! What do I have to do?" But.. the response wasn't what I expected... he laughed, patted me, and tell me I'm too young for it. But what's worse... Patricia... she said that I have to learn how to not be unlucky first! And also... I will never ever be able to do anything of the kind because I'm too weak for the world.. and that I should die... I was so shocked to hear such a nice person like her saying that and that was the day I knew how she really is... She tricked me into thinking that she was nice all along... How dare she! I wish the plant caught her and killed her off at that point! Oh after that...because of the shock and poison, I fainted.

I don't know who carried me to the hospital tower, but when I woke up, I saw two person. One was your young master, my friend, Terro. And another was my another best friend in the present, Alice. I don't know why but I felt like I could trust them, even back then I didn't even know them. I told them what happened, how I felt, and cried.. so much. The two calmed me down and made me felt better. And they told me to not mind the words much.. especially from the kind of person like Patricia. Terro gave me the triangle thing that now I wear as a bracelet on that day. It was a symbol of our meeting and us three started talking to each other everyday and... became best friends, just as you see now.

Throughout the past years, I almost gave up several times because I was insulted and ridiculed almost everyday, mostly by Patricia and her bully gang. But thanks to Terro and Alice, they always cheer me up and.. eventually.. with my hard work and (sort of) experience, I was accepted in... And, that's the story. I will keep the event that made me accepted for later... I'm tired for today"

Mortia was looking at her bracelet and tag for the entire time. Tsukiko also looked at it and noticed how the triangle gem on the bracelet shine. She appeared to be very surprised and went deep into her thoughts. Mortia noticed it and asked her

"Eh..? Tsukiko? What's the matter?"

Mortia's voice snapped her out of the thoughts realm. She glanced away for a second then returned to the normal state. She took a subtle deep breath and replied

"Oh, nothing. Your triangle gem looked truly pretty."

And once more, Mortia felt great. She was able to wear such a pretty gem. Furthermore, it was given to her by her best friend so she admire it to the extreme.

"Why thank you! This gem is very pretty and no other gem have the value to me as much as it!"

As she replied, she rubbed it with care. It was really an important to her

Afterwards, Tsukiko and Mortia started conversations on several matters, but mostly, regarding the mansion where they are currently in or the young master Terro. It took a long time. So long that when Mortia glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already 10:45 pm. Tsukiko was looking as well when Mortia realizes it's her bedtime. She decided to end the conversation and get some sleep.

"Ah excuse me, it's already fifteen to eleven in the night... I must sleep"
"Alright then, you may use the room next to this one"
"Thank you very much"

She was very thankful that Tsukiko always prepare a bedroom she could use whenever she comes to work here, even though she was only a part-time, and having no fixed schedule. Mortia went out from Tsukiko's room and hopped onto the bed. She thought of the the story she told to the head maid today and started to think of the Needlevine she saw back then. To this day, she still wasn't sure why she fear it so much. And worse, later on, she found out that she fears any of the lifeforce-eating, flesh-eating, and scary moving plants. She tried thinking of the reason for a while, but all she drew was blank. Thus, she became tired and decided to sleep. However, right before she fell asleep, she heard the same mysterious voice again, but this time, saying

"I wonder, will you die because you could accomplish your goal...? keh keh keh..."

Like last time.. there was cold wind...  Mortia felt a chill to her spine, but wasn't because of the wind at all... it was the words...