Chapter 01
“Uh-huh, Lor. So then, the princess—”
Lor nodded eagerly, eyes fixed on the picture book.
Reading bedtime stories together, lying side by side in bed, was the mother and daughter’s favorite part of the day.
Elaine smiled softly as she watched Lor become absorbed in the story.
Those chubby, round cheeks. The pouty lips sticking out in concentration. She was Elaine’s daughter, but really—how could anyone be this adorable?
Rosy, flushed cheeks. Emerald eyes that sparkled like jewels. Golden hair that shone like the sun.
When Lor smiled, Elaine’s whole world lit up.
“Mm…? Mommy…?”
The little girl blinked slowly and turned her head when her mother’s voice suddenly stopped reading.
Though her eyes were wide, they were already half-lidded with sleep—it was getting late.
Elaine gave a gentle chuckle at the sight of her drowsy daughter’s sleepy little face.
“Do you like when Mommy reads to you?”
“Yup! I love Mommy’s voice!”
Lor giggled and snuggled against Elaine’s side.
Elaine pulled her daughter into a hug, smiling brightly. But even that radiant smile couldn’t hide the pallor of her face.
Her skin had a bluish hue, and her eyes were rimmed with darkness.
Even in her frailty, she was beautiful—but Lor’s heart hurt every time she saw her mother looking so pale.
“Mommy loves you too, Lor— cough, cough!“
Elaine trembled with violent coughs as she stroked Lor’s back. Her pale cheeks turned red as she struggled for breath.
Startled, Lor scrambled away from her mother’s arms.
“M-Mommy, s-sorry! I-I made you read—!”
“No, Lor, it’s fine— cough!“
“I-Is your magic going wild again? W-What do I do…?”
All Lor could do was grasp her mother’s hand with her tiny fingers and stare at her face in fear.
One time, the doctor had come to their house and said Mommy’s sickness came from something called magic overload.
Lor didn’t know what magic was, or what it meant to go wild—
But every time Mommy got sick, Lor hated that stupid magic more than anything.
Why did it have to hurt Mommy?
‘What do I do now? What am I supposed to do…?’
What had the doctor said again? Lor wracked her brain, but she couldn’t remember. Her lip trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.
Elaine struggled to comfort her daughter, even as her coughing worsened. But it wouldn’t stop.
“I-It’s… late now… cough cough Lor, you should go to bed…”
Mommy’s okay. Her hand soothing Lor’s back seemed to be saying that in place of the words lost in her coughing fit.
Every time her magic overloaded, Elaine’s condition worsened drastically.
And though Lor didn’t know it, Elaine didn’t have much time left.
“Elaine!”
Her father burst into the room, alarmed by the sound of her coughing. He rushed to the bedside drawer and pulled out a potion, helping her drink it.
Elaine slumped back, her eyes beginning to flutter closed.
There was no cure for her magic overload.
All they could do was give her a strong sleeping potion to keep her from feeling pain.
“Sweetheart, can you go to bed on your own tonight?”
The old man asked gently, laying Elaine down and adjusting her blankets.
Elaine had grown weaker with every passing day.
She was fading too quickly now. It hurt him too much to speak with his usual bright tone.
If Lor were just a little older, he’d let her go to her room herself—but he usually walked her there every night.
Still, he couldn’t leave Elaine’s side now, not even for a moment.
“Uh-huh! I’m a brave girl!”
Lor nodded, grabbed the bunny doll from beside the pillow, and hopped down from the bed.
The fluffy pink bunny, Toto, came up to Lor’s waist. Toto was her beloved friend.
‘I can go back to my room all by myself!’
Lor was a brave girl! She wasn’t going to make Mommy or Grandpa worry.
“Good night, Mommy!”
She called out cheerfully and walked out of the room.
Click.
The door shut behind her, and moonlight faintly lit the long hallway.
‘Hmmph—this is nothing!’
Lor clutched Toto tightly to her chest.
Okay, maybe her legs were shaking. It kind of felt like ghostly white hands might pop out of the windows and grab her legs any second.
‘N-No! There are no ghosts!’
That’s what Grandpa said! No ghosts! Lor wasn’t scared!
But her body kept trembling.
And just then—of all times—she remembered what Hailey had said.
That mean kid who always picked on Lor had once said there were ancient ghosts wandering the mountain near their village.
She only said that to tease Lor because her house was in the woods. Lor had kicked Hailey in the shin for it.
But why now of all times did that memory have to pop up?
‘Ugh…’
Lor glanced back at Mommy’s door with teary eyes. If she went back and said she was scared, Grandpa would hold her tight. He’d walk her to her room.
But…
‘Then… Mommy would be alone…’
Thinking about Mommy lying in bed all alone made it impossible to call Grandpa.
So Lor hugged Toto even tighter and took a bold step forward.
One, two, three, four, five…
Counting each step helped her fear fade a little.
But then—problem.
Twenty-seven, twenty-eight… twenty-nine… what came after twenty-nine? Thir…ty?
‘Waaah, I forgot what comes next!’
Grandpa had taught her to count to one hundred, but she’d forgotten!
Whoooosh—
A gust of wind whooshed from behind the wall, making Lor shiver.
She had to get back to her room and jump under the covers!
She picked up her pace—but then froze.
Wait… was that a window open?
Why was there wind?
If the window was open… what if bad people got in?
‘Then… what about Mommy? Grandpa…?’
What if the bad people hurt them?
Scary thoughts grabbed hold of Lor’s ankles.
‘T-The… the window… I have to close it…’
Trembling, Lor turned back for a peek behind her.
Huh? What was that?
She opened her eyes wide.
The shadows at the end of the hallway… they were rippling.
Then—suddenly—a shadow burst out of the darkness and rushed toward her!
‘Aaaaaaah!’
W-What do I do!?
It’s a shadow monster!!!
Lor bolted for her room.
The door had a nameplate that read Lor. Inside was her familiar, cozy space.
‘What… what was that!?’
Lor rolled her eyes around, ears perked for sound. Silence.
She’d shut the door—so the shadow monster couldn’t get in.
That’s what she told herself as she climbed into bed and wriggled under the covers.
‘I-I’ll hide here… then the shadow won’t find me…’
Toto was here too. She’d be fine.
Lor buried her face in Toto’s soft tummy.
Her little body trembled.
And then—
Swish…
A black shadow slipped through the crack under the door.
Gasp!
Lor raised her head, frozen in place.
The dark mass gathered into a lump—then suddenly began to glow gold.
Before her eyes, it transformed into a huge book!
It was nearly as big as Lor’s upper body, bound in deep blue leather with a delicate gold emblem on the front cover.
Its spine and corners gleamed with golden trim, casting a radiant halo of light all around.
‘W-What is that…!? Oh my gosh…!’
Gasp!
Lor slapped both hands over her mouth and scooted back.
The book fluttered open.
But there was nothing written inside.
Just blank pages.
Huh? Maybe it wasn’t a book?
Maybe because it was glowing so brightly, it didn’t feel scary at all. Just… magical. Curious.
Still clutching Toto, Lor peeked at it sideways, then finally made up her mind.
‘It doesn’t feel dangerous.’
With careful steps, she crept up to the book.
And just then, words appeared across the blank page.
[Congratulations! This is a gift for good children!]
