Chapter 5. Soul Detection (2)
Before long, Ubeto saw Zania climb back up the ladder.
“You’re sure this one came out of a woman’s womb, right?” The woman set her empty cup on the table.
“Why ask that?”
“The energy in her soul is too much for a little girl, if that’s what she is. There’s no fluctuation in it, unnatural. To be honest, maybe she doesn’t even have a soul—what’s inside could be some demonic formula… In short, this isn’t the kind of soul you can diagnose.”
“You mean she’s an artificial being?” Ubeto stroked another empty cup.
“If such great alchemy existed in the world, you’d be its inventor. My guess—she might be a child of Erthonso. You know Erthonso? A vast creature, unimaginably complex in body structure, and every part as intricate as you. He should carry within him a soul like this little one’s, otherwise he’d have burned his own soul out long ago.”
“Bang.” A noise came from the basement.
“Oh, I hope she didn’t hit her head. Anyway—as you said, I don’t think a child like this could be born from anyone. And it’s not the amount of alcohol talking.”
“Do you know the Hartman family?” Ubeto stood to ask.
“Which are they—the ones in some city of Fumon, or the lunatics hunted by the kingdom for evil experiments?” Zania climbed back down and brought the girl up. “I thought I’d let you sleep longer.” She crouched, touched the girl’s head, brushed back her hair.
“Not entirely. If you’d met some Hartmans, you’d marvel that this child carries their aura, even if she doesn’t look like them.”
“Mm.” Zania’s eyes nearly pressed against the girl’s. She didn’t seem to care about his words.
“Thank you for everything.” Ubeto pushed the girl aside. “We’re leaving.”
“You’ll bring her again, won’t you?” The woman rose, clearing cups at the table. “I don’t want to run all the way to you.”
“If you stop putting Diletta in danger.”
Ubeto opened the door and left, the girl trailing behind.
“…Not that serious,” Zania muttered, closing the door.
…
Watching Diletta dart about the backyard, Gillis comforted himself—at least she wasn’t lying on the ground.
“Mr. Gillis.”
“All finished drying? Good.” Gillis turned, producing a sealed letter. “Take this to the caravan. Thank you, Saimon.”
The young man nodded and went to change. The old man looked back at Diletta, who was waving at him. He walked forward under the blazing sun, though she seemed not to notice it.
“Look!”
He bent closer—a ladybug perched on a cabbage leaf.
“Mm… A ladybug. I think it’s harmless.” He glanced at her skirt, as if checking for another insect.
“Can it fly?” Diletta squatted, half afraid, half excited. “Eh? Where’d it go…?”
Just as she nearly pressed herself to the ground, the old man caught her collar.
“What is it?” Startled, she looked up at Gillis.
“…It doesn’t want us so close. To it, we’re too huge.”
She scratched her head, then ran to another corner of the yard.
“Miss, perhaps you can help me prepare lunch.”
“Oh…”
Before going inside, he dusted the dirt from her skirt.
Diletta didn’t dislike cooking. On special days, she’d seen neighbors fill their tables with food, and heard voices around them that lingered long.
As a little girl, what she could do was limited. Gillis finally let her use a knife. Though it was only the smallest one, she wasn’t much interested in the bigger kitchen knives. The kitchen was stone-laid, some blackened by smoke. The old man fed firewood into the hearth while she tossed ingredients into the pot.
“Mm… I think you’re doing well.” He remembered to praise her.
“As good as Elina?”
“You should call her Grandma Elina. She’s very old.”
Diletta cut an apple, unsure if she would add it to the pot.
“Will she come back?”
“Perhaps… Please don’t throw the ingredients, Miss.”
“But… It’s too hot near the hearth.”
…
Not long after lunch was ready, Ubeto and Zerxi returned. At the meal, Ubeto seemed distracted. Gillis offered steady encouragement, but Diletta’s attention was fixed on his right side, hard for her to see clearly. The girl there used her utensils with natural grace—far more elegant than Diletta.
After lunch, Ubeto went upstairs to his room without a word. Gillis rose to clear the table. Diletta noticed Zerxi still sitting, unmoving.
“Zer… uh… Little Black Shadow?” Diletta rose to approach, but the girl stood as soon as she noticed.
“The water is ready.” Gillis appeared without warning. “Call if you need anything—but louder, or I won’t hear.”
“Mm, I know.”
He went back to tidying, as always.
Zerxi seemed to understand, quietly following Diletta into a small room by the kitchen. Inside was a large wooden tub filled with hot water. On a nearby shelf were fine linen cloths for towels, clean clothes, and some purple flowers. The room was hazy with steam, carrying lavender’s scent.
When the door shut, my heartbeat grew loud. The black-haired girl was right beside me—perhaps the first time I’d been this close to someone my age. As we drew nearer, I felt the magic in her, and nearly lost myself.
“Diletta.” Her sudden voice made me jump. “I remember you.”
“Sorry, I forgot your name…” I hadn’t expected her to recall mine in one go, and began to think she was sharper than I’d thought.
“Not yesterday. Much earlier.”
Zerxi’s voice rustled like the wind, as though telling a story.