He stood in front of her, hands spread wide as he exclaid, "Pick up, Mama!"
"....."
We all looked at Willis in confusion as I walked toward him, but before I could reach him, Christina scooped him up.
"Mama is here!" she chirped, her voice sweet as she gently pinched his cheeks with one hand while supporting him with the other.
Willis, who still looked like a three-year-old boy, was easy for her to carry around.
"Uh... This mama..." Willis whimpered, trying to get the other girl's attention as he reached out to her.
"Willis," Christina whispered, grabbing both his hands and tucking them close to his body. "She is not your mama."
"Mama..." Willis mumbled, his voice frail as if he would cry at any mont.
Now I stood close to Christina, trying to grab Willis by the back of his neck.
"Give him to , Christina." But before I could, the raven-haired girl extended her hands toward Willis.
Christina was still reluctant, but when Willis tried to reach out to her with a bright smile, she gave in and passed the boy.
"Mama." A blissful smile adorned his baby face as he mumbled softly, placing his head on her shoulder.
.....Wait.
"Did he just talk?" I abruptly asked, shifting my focus back to Christina.
Her face was sullen as she glanced at , replying, "...Yeah, he did."
"... Should I head back?" My gaze shifted to Ashlyn as she asked ekly, nodding toward Christina.
"...Ashlyn, would you please accompany her for a while?" Christina said with a light smile, grabbing my hand. "I want to talk with Az for a while."
"Sure," Ashlyn agreed, nodding and walking toward the girl and Willis.
And I was dragged to a corner of the hotel where no security was present.
"How many girls has Willis ever called Mama?" she asked, her hands folded, eyes narrowed.
"....I don't know," I replied, deliberately keeping my answer vague while lowering the mask I was wearing.
"Tell , Az," she pressed further.
"I don't k—"
"Azariah."
"Okay, fine." I gave in, averting my gaze as I replied softly, "....Four."
"I see, I see." She mumbled, letting out a hollow chuckle and glaring at . "Did you teach him to do that?"
"Why would I do that?" I replied with a small frown, feeling a bit annoyed by her accusation.
"....I don't know." She shrugged, her narrowed eyes never leaving . "Maybe you like making every other girl Mama of your child," she grumbled.
"....That sounds so wrong, Christina." I grimaced, roughly running my fingers through my hair.
"Did you have that fetis—"
"Stop accusing , will you!?" I groaned in frustration, slapping her head lightly.
She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples as she mumbled, "I don't know what to do, Az."
"What happened?" I asked, sensing her weariness. "Is it related to that girl?"
"Yeah," she nodded, glancing back at the girl.
"Who is she?" I asked, following her gaze, observing the raven-haired girl who was gently rubbing Willis's back.
"One of my friends," Christina replied, her blue eyes staring at , "from Akasha."
"Wait, what?" I asked, my brows knitting together in confusion.
"...Yeah," she sighed again, "you heard ."
"What is she doing here?" I pressed further, tapping my leg on the ground.
"She ran away from her ho," she revealed, placing one hand on her waist.
"Apparently, there is an uproar in Akasha because Alfheim is getting invaded once again."
"...The fuck is going on?" I mumbled, feeling sowhat anxious about it.
The ga had no ntion of the land of elves getting invaded around this ti.
No, Alfheim should be safe for more than a year from now.
'...Did sothing else change without knowing?'
I wondered but quickly threw those thoughts away.
The safety of elves is none of my concern; they could die for all I care.
"Is she a High Human?" I asked, looking at Christina.
"...No," she denied, shaking her head.
"Then is she from another great race?" I probed further, squinting my eyes.
"You seem quite interested in her," she comnted, a glowering look on her face.
"I am asking because I don't want to make any rude comnts about her race," I reasoned, looking at her.
"Just stop being racist, then," she grumbled, eyes glaring at .
I shrugged, refusing to comnt on that topic.
"She requested to not disclose her identity," she replied, taking out her phone, "...and there goes my plan to spend ti with you."
"You're going to accompany her?" I asked, and she nodded in reply.
"She had to co at the worst ti," she grumbled softly. "Why now?"
"We can always spend ti later," I replied, not being too bothered.
"But still...." She sighed before turning around to face , her arms wide open. "I need a hug."
"Hug yourself then," I suggested, an impassive look on my face.
"Tch." Christina clicked her tongue, annoyance flashing in her eyes. "Are you going to hug or not?" she demanded.
"I'm not gonna—"
"Coward," she interrupted, a cheeky smile spreading across her face.
"Don't call—"
"Coward."
"Christi—"
"Cowar—"
"Fine, idiot," I grumbled, finally giving in. I stepped closer, closing the distance between us.
My arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her in tightly.
The warmth of her body pressed against mine, and I could feel her heart beating against my chest.
"Wow, you are easy to manipulate," she mumbled as she leaned into , resting her head on my shoulder.
"Shut up," I grumbled, trying to separate, but she held tightly.
"Ten seconds," she mumbled, inhaling my scent deeply.
'...This pervert.'
I sighed, letting her do what she wanted, closing my eyes.
"Am I interrupting sothing?" But we both flinched slightly, separating from each other.
Ashlyn stood behind her, a dejected look on her face.
"You need sothing, Olesia?" Christina asked with a light smile.
Willis curiously looked at , his hands wrapped around Olesia's neck.
'Her na doesn't sound familiar.'
I mused, looking at the girl wearing a black frock.
She might not be important enough to be ntioned in the ga, or maybe it's not her real na.
"Is he your fiancé?" she asked, her adow-colored eyes observing .
"Yes," Christina replied with a light smile, patting my back, "the one and only."
She extended her tender hand, her red lips parting as she mumbled, "Olesia."
I shook her hand, noticing a faint gesture of her trying to show her knuckles. I looked up as I replied, "Azariah."
"Is he your contracted spirit?" she asked, pinching Willis's cheek, making him smile.
"Yes," I replied as I walked closer, "and if you would please return him to ."
I placed my hand around his armpit, snatching him away from the girl.
"Mama!" he cried, trying to forcefully break free from my grip, but I remained unmoved.
"She is not your mama," I grumbled as his head snapped toward , eyes filled with tears.
"Let go!" he cried, using his tiny hands to punch , but I dodged him without any problem.
"Willis," the girl mumbled, her soothing voice calming him down, "we will et again tomorrow. Until then, be a good boy." She coaxed.
"Hmm," he nodded, pouting as he glared at one last ti before turning into a cluster of white light and returning back to my tattoo.
"....."
I closely observed the girl, trying to figure out what was so special about her.
Willis had never behaved rudely toward , nor had he ever said anything apart from 'dada' and 'mama.' But everything changed the mont this girl arrived.
'...Sothing is definitely fishy about this.'
I concluded before glancing at Ashlyn, who stood behind with an awkward look.
"Are you going to stay with her?" I asked, glancing at Christina.
She nodded, not showing any annoyance, "Yeah, I will be staying with her tonight."
"...Guess I will see you tomorrow," I mumbled, handing her the room card I got earlier.
She nodded, her expression softening as she whispered, "Take care."
"Sure," I replied with a smile, glancing at the girl one last ti before walking toward Ashlyn.
"Should we go now?" she asked, a look of impatience on her face.
"Yeah, let's go to the garden," I nodded, putting my mask back on.
****
"Why does ti pass so quickly?" Ashlyn grumbled, eating cotton candy.
Her outfit was entirely different from before; she wore goofy sunglasses and a hairband with bunny ears.
"You think so?" I asked, glancing at her as I carried bags of souvenirs we bought.
"Hmm, hmm," she humd softly, nodding her head.
Evening had arrived as we both returned to the hotel assigned to us.
But as we reached the main door, we were greeted by Professor Daphne standing outside.
She quickly noticed us as she walked forward, "Where were you guys?"
"Did sothing happen?" I asked, noticing the concern in her eyes.
She sighed, looking at , "You will have to stay at the hotel for the rest of the trip, Azariah."
"....What?"
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