Chapter Text
Chise was now twenty-three and done with University. She had spent the last four years in school working towards a future she wasn't sure would happen. That uncertainty was what kept her going, to push past her predetermined fate and achieve a life worth something. Since Chise's parents left her alone at roughly five, she had to fend for herself to survive. At points, it was damn near impossible. Life was a constant uphill battle, and Chise found herself waiting for the right moment to escape the monotony. Hopefully, this conversation would lead her there.
"Why would I go back to school? I just graduated…." She asked the scarred man in a suit, who appeared to be missing an arm.
"Oh- Do you not know? You're a sleigh beggy; you probably have little time left."
"What?" She asked as a chill overtook her spine; it was times like these she was glad she learned English in University. The people around them likely couldn't understand their conversation.
"We can help you." He said while handing her a business card that Chise carefully looked over. It was a standard off-white card with a tasteful thickness and a watermark.
"How... Ren—fred?" Chise said, trying her best to pronounce his name. While reading over the card, she asked, "And what is a s-sureigh beggy?" To be honest, she knew the answer to her question. It had been a while since she had discovered it in her University library, but hearing someone else talk about it only confirmed her fears. After all, she planned to feign ignorance until the bitter end.
He looked uncomfortable, regret painting his face, "A sleigh beggy such as yourself is someone with unlimited magical potential at the price of their body. They relentlessly absorb and produce magic until, one day. Their bodies can no longer handle it. I am here to help, I promise. I was told to at least inform you of the possibility of treatment for your condition. Our benefactor would even cover it."
"You plan to experiment on me?" Chise asked, unsure of his intentions, "From what I've heard, there's no cure for this, and if there was, there's no way anyone would do it for free."
"So you knew…." He frowned, a sour taste settling in the back of his throat.
Chise remained silent, unwilling to confirm or deny, "Answer my question." She said with a grimace.
"Well- Honestly, you're rare, and some individuals would do about anything to get their hands on you. You should count yourself lucky that he wanted to find you first."
Chise remained silent, trying to process everything before responding; this was sketchy. There was no way she would endanger herself despite everything that had happened, and this was far from an exception.
"Look, you have maybe three years tops if left alone. It's ultimately up to you, but I promise we will do everything possible to preserve your life." He said with a severe tone, sincerity taking over his scarred face.
"You expect me to believe the words of a stranger? And who is 'he'?" She asked firmly, her resolve unwavering; she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
"Ah, right… He's a Mage. Somethi- Someone that's very old. Someone who knows how to help you, even if it's for his selfish curiosity." Renfred spoke as if he was biting his tongue, something Chise picked up on.
"So, I might get to live because some old dude wants to use me as an experiment? How did he even find me? I thought you said that there was a treatment?"
This was all too much. It sounded too good to be true, but if it was? She couldn't lie, her body grew frailer with each day, and deep down, Chise knew she couldn't go on like this.
"The fae talk about you a lot, and they like to harass him- My guess is he got either sick of hearing about you or was curious enough to pay us to find you." Renfred avoided answering her second question.
Fae? Is that what westerners called those demons? That was way too pretty of a name to use for them. Bile threatened to escape her stomach at the idea. 'He's rich, huh?' Chise thought while imagining the girls from her high school who always talked about finding some old rich guy to mooch off. It wasn't a bad deal, but there were too many variables.
"You should go; who knows? He might be able to help." Ruth said from her shadow, through their bond, he always had to be the voice of reason.
"Come on, do you think this doesn't sound too good to be true?" Chise questioned her familiar, "You know just as well as I do that we don't get handouts."
"What do you have to lose? You and I both know you don't have much time left." Ruth pleaded.
"Fine… You're probably right." Chise admitted that he had never steered her wrong since they met in that cemetery. She had no idea where she would be right now if not for Ruth's friendship. He practically saved her life all those years ago.
"Okay…" Chise said, "You said this is all free, right? I am flat broke."
"Yes, the Mage has agreed to pay for everything; he is even allowing you to stay at his house free of charge." Renfred sighed; he didn't expect to get this far. "There are a few formalities we must go through, but other than that, this whole process should be rather simple for you."
"How do you expect me to move in with someone like that?" Chise questioned, condescending, lacing her tongue; she couldn't help but remember the neverending cycle of abandonment.
"I understand your concerns and agree, but this mage is an anomaly. I can assure you he is harmless, or at least won't do you any harm." Renfred lied; he wasn't even sure of that himself, but with the college's five-million pounds paid in full, he couldn't afford to lose her or let her waste away in her current state.
Despite this, the feeling of guilt swelled in his gut because if the stories were true, he sent this girl to live with a monster devoid of human emotion. At least he was contractually bound, and the Fae couldn't lie, so she'd be fine, and maybe he would care for her.
"Do I at least get to meet him before I just show up?" She would at least like to meet him if she were bunking with a stranger.
"I believe we can have that arranged." Renfred spoke while reaching into his pocket and sending what looked like a text to an unknown recipient.
"And lastly, what about Ruth? My familiar?" She asked while glancing in on her shadow. She could never leave him behind.
Renfred followed her eyes, "That won't pose a problem." he said before returning his eyes to her own. They seemed to pierce his own.
"Good; when do we leave? I need to pack my things." Chise said while glancing in the direction of her apartment despite it being a fair amount away.
"As soon as possible, I can have your things transported, and we will take care of the legal side of things; you just need to sign some documents, and you'll be on your way." He spoke formally like he was doing a job and Chise was a customer.
"Well, I guess you should probably come with me back to my apartment; as much as I'd like you not to know where I live, I don't have a choice," Chise said with a sigh and began walking towards the next train station.
"W-wait!" Renfred said while chasing after her, "Allow me to go with you! I don't speak Japanese." He said with a nervous tone, afraid of being lost again.
"Seriously? How did you even find me?" Chise inquired. He seemed at least a little more friendly.
"Would you believe me if I said It was luck?" He asked, still unsure of her intentions.
"Fine, you don't have to tell me, but no talking when we get on the train. Just follow me." She said while turning around and heading down the street to Shibuya Station, if they travelled together, it would be best to avoid any altercations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train ride was largely uneventful, aside from the stares. Chise didn't care. She was beyond used to it, and Renfred didn't care either. She should give him more credit.
Eventually, after about thirty minutes, they arrived at their last stop, "We get off here." She whispered while standing from her seat; it was nice to be her in times like these. No one wanted to sit next to her, so she always had a few empty seats.
Renfred stood and nodded before following her through the train door passed the gawking passengers. Perhaps it wasn't because he didn't care, but that he didn't notice their staring, Chise questioned with a smirk and headed up the escalator with Renfred close behind.
"Y'know, I have an apprentice around your age in England. Maybe you two can be friends." He said in an attempt to make small talk to ease the tension.
"Im only going to get better," Chise said while showing the rail guard her ticket they had purchased back in Shibuya, allowing her to exit through the yellow turnstile. It was a daily routine.
"It could be good to make friends while your there; who knows how long you'll be in England for." He said while doing the same.
Chise sighed, "Fair point. Maybe I'll give it a shot after I settle in." It was exhausting thinking about social interactions.
"You'd better." Ruth said from her shadows, "You need friends."
Chise ignored his comment, but that didn't matter as he could sense her feelings. Deep down, Ruth knew she was excited at that prospect; maybe it was time she met new people and lived free from the fear of death.
"So, what is he like?" She asked while heading up the escalator.
"Who? The Mage?" Renfred asked while shifting his weight.
"Yeah."
"Boney." Renfred retorted with a laugh, knowing he'd likely get a lecture for that if the mage ever found out what he said.
Confusion laid itself onto her face, "What's that supposed to mean?" Chise inquired while leading the foreigner outside back to the streets of Tokyo.
"You'll see when you meet him." Renfred smiled, this time genuinely, "He's a hermit, doesn't like being around people much." They may get along. They were similar in that respect.
"Why?" Chise asked out of blatant curiosity and maybe some pity. She knew that feeling a little too well.
"My guess? After likely centuries of being treated the way he looks and probably acted at one point, he grew tired and hid away. You know how people can be… When they see something—- Different?" Renfred inquired, a shameful expression appearing momentarily on his face.
Chise nodded; humans were awful for that, and she could relate.
"Despite this, he can be Polite? As long as you don't piss him off anyways." A shiver crept down his spine, remembering the descriptions his colleagues embellished.
"Noted." Chise had planned to reserve all judgment until after she met him. Still, she couldn't help but fabricate composite images of what she remembered from the few anime she watched as a kid, combining many different kinds of magical girls into one. She guessed: 'Maybe a… Tall colourful man who was somehow boney.'
"There's no way that's what he looks like," Ruth said while stifling a laugh. He could see exactly what she imagined.
"Get out of my head, Ruth." She smirked, "But could you imagine?"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The streets of Tokyo finally came to what seemed like an end to Renfred as they entered her old apartment building lobby that smelled slightly of mould, something Chise hated but accepted as there was no cheaper place. Japan was becoming harder to live in due to inflation and climate change, but she supposed this might be the last time she was here for a while.
'At least the elevator was running today,' Chise thought as they arrived at her floor and shortly after her front door, "It's small, so there's not much for me to pack. Make yourself at home." Chise said while taking her shoes off.
"Thank you." He said while latching the door shut.
"Ugh, finally," Ruth said while escaping the shadowy prison he'd usually spend all day in.
"A black dog." It was his first time seeing one in person, let alone as someone familiar. Renfred said, "You've got yourself quite the familiar."
"You know your stuff," Ruth said while wagging his tail at the compliment.
"Yeah… He's something." Chise joked while heading to the cupboard to unearth the old backpack and suitcase she buried deep within, along with her bad memories. Avoidance was her favourite coping mechanism.
"Hey!" He said while sharply turning his head.
"Just kidding." Chise smiled at the sulking dog before returning her attention to the cupboard and her things.
"Nice place…" Renfred said while glancing around the tiny flat. "I'm sure you'll like it in England. I'm told that The Mages house is pretty nice. It's out in the country…." The alchemist said as he made his way through the kitchenette.
Honestly, her flat was as barren as it could be. There wasn't even a bedroom or furniture, but it was the place she called home, the grey carpets she tried so hard to clean, the white walls that were painted over who knows how many times. And the small kitchenette she used to cook for her and Ruth, even if it was cheap, they had many pleasant memories here.
"Where do you sleep, anyway?" He inquired while glancing around, noticing the lack of a bedroom.
"On my futon," Chise said while neatly shoving as many pieces of clothes as she could into her suitcase. Thank the Gods, it was massive, taking up a third of the closet's volume.
"I'm sure Thorn will have a bed for you."
That was the first thing Chise thought sounded nice out of this deal; it was almost enough to clear her worries. Having an actual bedroom wasn't something she ever had. It could be nice.
"That's his name?" Chise paused, forgetting about the possible bedroom for now, her attention glued to the name almost missed.
"That's what the fae call him, but he goes by a human name."
"What is it?" She stared.
"Ainsworth." The name felt strange, not because he didn't use it much, but because he'd only spoken about him with his colleagues, and they opted for the name "Pillum Murialis." It was best she didn't hear that name and accidentally use it.
"Ainsuworsu?" It was the first she had heard of such a name. Chise said, her mind venturing back to the image she conjured earlier while trying to pronounce the name.
"I'm sure he will introduce himself properly when you meet; he's strangely formal in that regard…."
"Right." Chise said before she returned to packing what little she had, "So, do you have a flight booked or something?"
"Sort of." He said, "we'll travel using a less conventional method."
"Can you ever give a straight response?" She asked, tired from the tip tow way Renfred was talking.
"You'll see what I mean. It's a lot easier than explaining." He wasn't lying. Explaining teleportation to someone who likely had never seen it before would be tedious and pointless. It would be better if Chise experienced it for herself.
"Wow, mysterious." Chise joked, "I've seen a lot of weird shit so far. I guess that's my life." It had been a long time since she had to face the mischievous Yokai.
"Like what? To my knowledge, you're a normal girl, besides being a sleigh beggy, and you're familiar…."
"You didn't see those things out there on the way here?" Chise inquired. They left her alone since she met Ruth, but he couldn't stop their vicious and hungry gazes.
"No? Usually, we humans can't unless given permission." Renfred said while remembering the rare occasions he'd seen the Fae. It was news to him that Chise had the sight. In truth, he didn't know much about Chise besides that she was a sleigh beggy.
"Well, it doesn't seem I have their permission, and they can't hide from me…." Chise said with a sombre tone. It reminded her of the times before Ruth and her family.
Renfred couldn't begin to understand what she went through until that point, but knowing what his apprentice went through, it was easy to understand why Chise had so many walls put up when they first met.
"That's it. We are good to go." Chise said while slinging her backpack over her shoulders and grappling the suitcase.
"Hold on, as I said before, you just need to sign these," Renfred said before pulling papers out of the suitcase Chise neglected to notice earlier.
"Oh, r-right." She said while setting her things down again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Now, with everything signed, we should get going. We shouldn't keep everyone waiting; I've been looking for you for weeks; I'm glad my job is almost done."
"Really? Chise asked, almost feeling bad. Japan had many people, but only a few looked like her, maybe because of the language barrier.
"Okay, so just hold on to my shoulder, close your eyes, and we can get going," Renfed explained.
Chise placed her free hand onto the shoulder of his missing hand; with Ruth now in her shadow, she firmly closed her eyes as her heart rate began to climb. The fear and uncertainty were catching up.
A bright light permeated her eyelids, and a cool breeze ghosted her neck. This was a strange way to move, but Chise didn't question further, wanting to find out herself after Renfred was adamant about it.
"You can open them; just watch yourself. It can be disorienting on the first few times." Renfred instructed the redhead.
"W-what?" Chise questioned while opening her eyes, nausea threatening to overwhelm her senses; she didn't expect it to end.
"We're here," Renfred explained.
"H-how?" Chise asked while looking around the building, noticing the many different students in uniform rushing around the campus. "A school?" was beyond comprehension, but after everything she saw growing up with Ruth, she guessed this wasn't too far off.
"It's teleportation Alchemy." Renfred said, "I'll try my best to answer any of your questions on the way, so for now, follow me."
"Gotcha." She said while watching him expectantly like a child listening to their grandparents telling stories of the past.
"Oh, and Ruth? You're free to come out here." Renfred smiled before turning toward what Chise assumed would be where she might meet her new 'old and rich' roommate.
"No thanks, too many people." He admitted, despite his earlier complaints.
"Fair enough," Renfred said, walking Chise in tow, "This way."
Chise noticed the diverse population of students, some of which weren't even human. They all seemed to be wearing the same brown uniform, "Wow, so we can teleport? How?" Chise asked with an excitement Renfred didn't expect.
"I used your mana with this," He flashed her a small necklace pendant that looked almost like a lightbulb. "I didn't expect us to make it in one jump, but I guess that's the power of a sleigh beggy."
"Wow, I never knew things like that were possible… Does that mean I could do that too?" Chise asked like a child on Christmas eve begged their parents to open at least one gift.
"I'm sure with the right training, you might be able to do it without this." He spoke to her in a tone that reminded her of a teacher. Conversing with someone from the same world was almost refreshing, "Anyways, we are here." the alchemist said while pointing at a tall brown door. It seemed excessive for a College, more in line with what an aristocrat would have.
While observing the door, her thoughts were cut off by a deep voice from behind, "I don't have time to humour your customs." it echoed. He sounded displeased, hopefully not because of her.
Chise felt her heart rate rise with anticipation, and, without warning, Renfred opened the door, exposing two white sofas, a wooden coffee table in between paired with a Tea set, and what appeared to be a fancy rug underneath. The room seemed incredibly cozy, unlike what you'd expect at an old College.
Shortly after taking in the office's appearance, Chise noticed the tall-robed figure facing away from the door. Immediately, she saw the man's horns and a veil that covered his face; he was imposing but intriguing nonetheless. Definitely not human.
"Ah, Renfred!" The female human opposite the tall figure said, bringing the robed figures' attention to the pair who stood at the door, "You're back!" she sounded more relieved than excited.
Chise could feel his eyes fixed on hers; even if she couldn't see them, she could sense it. However, unlike the gaze of disgust she was used to, they felt curious. Not ones that would pick apart her appearance, but ones that were taking it in.
"Yes, this is Chise-" Renfred said while trying to remember her last name from the papers signed earlier.
"Hatori." Her attention shifted to the human, but the robed man was still watching her and remained seated while the human stood and greeted Chise with a handshake.
"It's great to meet you. I'm sure this whole ordeal has been rather confusing… My deepest apologies. You are a rather unprecedented case." She smiled, "My name is Liza Quillyn. I'm the headmistress of the college."
"It's fine. This has been rather easy for me so far." She lied, trying to be friendly. It would be best to avoid a wrong impression of the headmistress if she visited often.
"We will try our best to be accommodating. Right, Ainsworth?" She asked with a knowing smirk.
"Yes." He nodded before sipping his tea, "Now, I am sure you have many questions, please. Have a seat, and I will do my best to explain." He spoke as if they were the only ones in the room, "Have a seat."
'Finally.' Chise thought while she made her way to the sofa across from him.
"You may leave," Elias said politely to Renfred and his Liza, but Chise could tell it was more of a command.
"But—" Renfred objected.
"It's fine," Chise said while waving them off, returning her gaze to the mage sitting across; this time, she could see him in much more detail. He looked nothing like she imagined, well, except tall. Way taller than anyone she'd ever seen.
First, she noticed how his robes almost seemed to be a part of him, flowing like a river in the dead of night, paired with a pristine suit, snow-white gloves, and a veil that hid his gaze. There was silence, Chise had no idea how to begin a conversation with him, and it seemed he was waiting for her initiative but quickly gave up.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, finally." He said while lifting the veil from his face, exposing an animal's skull and two crimson lights for eyes. "I sent Renfred over many weeks ago…" He sighed, his eyes seeming to dim slightly.
'That's what he meant.' She thought, remembering Renfreds earlier description, "Yes." Chise said while reaching out, "I'm sure you heard my name earlier, so what's yours?" she asked, avoiding redundancy.
"Elias Ainsworth." He responded while shaking her hand. He felt stiff yet warm in her grasp, almost as if he had rehearsed for hours but could not progress.
"Nice to meet you." Chise smiled and released her grasp.
"Likewise." Elias's baritone reverberated.