WEERR 02

chapter 02

“Did I mistake him for someone else?”

Trisha’s sharp eyes scanned the boy’s outfit.

It wasn’t flashy, but the clothing was made of soft fabric with delicate craftsmanship. It was immediately clear that he was the child of a noble family.

She tilted her head slightly.

Having spent most of her life holed up in the academy before growing up, and later in the Mage Tower, there was no way Trisha would have formed a friendship with a young noble boy like this.

So he must have mistaken her for someone else…

Yet the boy’s gaze was far too resolute for her to simply think she was seeing him wrong.

“What are you doing here?”

The boy asked as if he had truly been looking for Trisha.

“You… know me?”

“Of course I do.”

“I don’t know you.”

For the first time, a look of confusion flashed across the boy’s face.

“You don’t know me?”

“Huh?”

“That can’t be. Think carefully—do you really not know who I am?”

“Well, it’s just that…”

As the boy stepped closer, the desperate tone in his question made Trisha’s head spin.

Who is he, really?

Who could he be to look at her with such a desperate expression?

“Hey, is there a problem here?”

Trisha, hesitating, lifted her head sharply.

The voice that cut between her and the boy was one she knew all too well.

This voice… this person…!

Trisha quickly turned. There was no mistaking it.

She saw a man.

His face was half-hidden under a deeply pulled hood, but Trisha could immediately recognize him.

“Need some help?”

A cold, authoritative voice with a subtle undertone of kindness. Trisha knew this voice perfectly well.

It belonged to one of the companions who had fought alongside her against the Evil God—Asha Forrest.

“Asha…?”

“You know me?”

The name slipped out of Trisha’s mouth unconsciously, making Asha flinch. Then he removed his hood.

His striking face was exactly as she remembered.

But had Asha’s hair always been this long?

It used to barely reach his shoulders, yet now it extended far past his waist.

Well, maybe he used some growth-enhancing potion!

But that wasn’t the important part.

Trisha, brushing it off, quickly tried to remove her own hood to reveal her face. She wanted to show herself.

However…

“Don’t.”

The boy’s hand stopped her.

His gaze was utterly serious, fixed on her.

“You’ll regret it, for sure.”

“From what I can tell, you two don’t even know each other.”

Asha intervened, speaking for the boy whose expression left Trisha at a loss.

Trisha snapped back to reality.

“Why are you interfering?”

“I don’t know the details, but as a fellow noble, I can’t just watch one noble oppress a commoner.”

“Oppress? Me? Ridiculous. Getting involved without knowing anything.”

Before she knew it, the two were glaring at each other.

“Stop! Both of you!”

Trisha panicked and stepped in.

“What are you doing with a child, Asha?”

“A child…”

Asha murmured quietly, echoing Trisha’s scolding. Trisha stared at him before turning back to the boy.

“And you, don’t just grab someone like that…”

Trisha’s reprimand was cut short—the boy was gone.

“Where did he go?”

“He used a scroll and disappeared quietly.”

“What?”

She looked at Asha in disbelief.

He just let him go? Asha simply shrugged.

There was no reason to hold him if there was nothing to hold on to.

Sigh, fine.

Trisha decided to withdraw her attention from the vanished boy. He had been acting suspicious, but that was all. She had more pressing matters at hand.

She removed her hood as planned, intending to reveal herself and check on her companion safely.

Anyway, Asha… you’re alive. That’s a relief.

She wanted to ask.

What’s happening?

Her voice wouldn’t come out!

For some reason, it felt like her throat was blocked. She couldn’t speak.

It wasn’t just that her voice was gone—her lips were sealed tight as if cursed, unable to open.

A chill ran down her spine, and Trisha shivered slightly.

“You…”

Asha’s eyes wavered as he looked at her face.

Having spent over five years together, Trisha could tell that his unusual expression meant he was genuinely startled.

Asha knelt on one knee and came close to examine her face as if analyzing it.

Trisha felt hope stir in her eyes as she met his gaze.

It’s you…

Yes, Asha! It’s me! Trisha Vinz! Your companion! Your friend!

She desperately wanted to shout it out but had to swallow the words.

It’s okay. Asha will recognize me.

She clung to that hope as she looked up at him.

After a long while, Asha finally spoke.

“Trisha.”

“…!”

Of course! Of course! I knew Asha would recognize me!

Trisha looked at him with joy, thinking that no matter her childlike appearance, a companion who had survived life-and-death trials with her would surely recognize her.

But Asha’s next muttered words froze her.

“You had a daughter, huh.”

Was that even a sentence?

Trisha had to question her ears.

So now he thought she wasn’t Trisha herself, but her daughter?

Utterly absurd.

She had gone straight to the Mage Tower after graduating from the academy, working relentlessly, never indulging in romance, let alone an arranged marriage! And now, a daughter? A daaaughter?!

Asha, you shouldn’t say something like that!

Asha had been her childhood friend, academy classmate, and companion against the Evil God. They had shared almost their entire lives together. And…

Why haven’t I married yet at my age?!

Though she had kept it secret, Trisha had harbored a childhood crush on Asha. And she had believed he felt at least somewhat similarly.

Now, to hear that he mistook her for “Trisha’s daughter” was shocking beyond measure.

“No!”

“You abandoned your daughter without even revealing your identity?”

Trisha strongly denied it, but Asha seemed entirely unconvinced.

I’m not a daughter—I’m Trisha herself!

She wanted to shout, but her voice refused to obey. Frustrated, she grabbed her hair.

Meanwhile, Asha removed the dirty, worn robe she had been wearing and draped his own over her small frame.

“Let’s head to a nearby city first. I’ll take you there.”

Yes, for now, she would follow Asha. If possible, she hoped he would take her all the way to the capital.

The reason I can’t speak, the change in my magic, even why I’ve become a child… following Asha to the Mage Tower is the fastest way.

The robe that fit Asha perfectly was far too long for Trisha. At her current height, her head barely reached his waist. Walking like this would mean tripping every step, turning her knees and the robe into a mess.

Asha, having observed her for some time, seemed to realize the same thing and remained silent.

“You don’t need this.”

“Hmm, no. Just a moment, please.”

Trisha’s words to return the robe were cut off as Asha bent down and lifted her tiny body into his arms.

“…!”

“Relax. I’ll take you there safely.”

Relax?

His gentle, childlike tone pricked Trisha’s heart.

Well, I do look like a child right now…

Trisha cautiously held onto his shoulder, her fingertips twitching. She had many questions.

What happened to the other companions? What has occurred since I got involved?

Asha… Asha… Asha.

She had so much to ask, yet no words came out.

Giving up, Trisha quietly closed her eyes, feeling the tension in her body ease just slightly.