Tale Of The Half-Blood Wizard

The magnificent buildings along this street did not trouble me to see a small alley to my house. In a glimpse, I saw a little girl who was riding her red bicycle and looked cheerful. 

At that time, the cold morning weather did not stop that little girl and her boyfriend was going to school. She smiled sweetly and laughed joyfully. And everything in Zie was clearly caught in my mind. 

"Are you crying?" Erick's voice abruptly pulled me from my unforgettable memory I badly wanted to get rid of. I knew exactly that it was just a past time which now became my memory. 

I was not aware how long had I wetted my cheeks, "Sorry," I wiped my cheeks fast. .

Erick was just silent. He cleared his throat and continued focusing on the street. 

The sky had changed the colors, the combination of gray and orange painted on a magnificently huge white background welcomed our coming to Mr. Stone's shop. 

Erick got out of the car with the bag full of money for Mr. Stone. He looked so happy and worried at the same time, "I hope I am not laid off," He was hoping. 

I was chuckled to hear him but of course, I was hoping the same for him. 

Once I stepped into the shop, I just saw some dolls inside. It was not as many as when I first came here. Erick did tell me that Mr. Stone had sold many of his doll collections to get the money, it was to reimburse the lost marionette where Zie's spirit was stuck. 

"My little daughter," Mr. Stone welcomed me warmly. He hugged me. Erick just smiled ridiculously seeing me get confused, "I will give it back to you. I promise," 

I was still confused with what Mr. Stone talked about, but I simply nodded, "Relax Mr. Stone," 

Mr. Stone took us inside that was likely the living room. He left again for some cake and drinks for us, while Erick explained shortly why Mr. Stone thanked me. 

"You are just requested to return it half of it as long as someone is still allowed to work here," I said. Mr. Stone went in by carrying—perhaps cakes he had and two glasses of orange juice. 'I still made a big profit though due to that loot, Sir, but, perhaps your marionette will not come back I said by heart. 

Mr. Stone's expression was surprised, "Did this boy blackmail you, Tha?!" His voice rose, "Did he threaten you?! Tell me, Tha!" he sounded upset, punching Erick. 

I could not hold my laughter anymore looking at Erick was in pain from Mr. Stone punch. "No, you are very kind, that is why I wanted to help you," I tried to cool him down, "And Erick loves working here, so please don't lay him off," 

Never did I think that my visit to the old house of mine at that would change the story of my life completely. 

I heard Mr. Stone tell us a story so enthusiastically. He said he had sold some of his dolls cheaply in order to refund the lost marionette that belonged to one of his customers. He even almost lost his only car and the jewelry that belonged to his late wife. His sadness was even worse when he realized his cat, Mickey, was also gone. I did not say anything because I was afraid I would unintentionally reveal the truth about what exactly had happened.

After dinner, we said goodbye to Mr. Stone. He actually wanted to hold me at his for a night, but I had a plan to go back to Azalea's place the next morning. Moreover, Hana was waiting for me at home with Kerberos, so I had to go home soon. 

"You will take me home, won`t you?" I looked at Erick, half threatening him. 

"Yes, your majesty," he replied with a funny smile, then he opened the door for me, "Please be my guest," I grimaced when he bent his body slightly in front of me and gestured me to go into the car, his left hand was folded at his back.

"Thank you, Sir," I said and grinned. I was happy because I did not go home by bus because that meant I could save my monthly expenses. Moreover, Erick would be damned if he refused to take me home while it was getting darker. 

"We will drop by for a second at the shop somewhere here. It is a sweet shop that has just been opened recently," He said as he ignited the car engine. The car moved at medium speed. I knew Erick liked sweet food, so I simply nodded, "I will reward myself after all my problems are resolved," I looked at him in flat gaze when he showed off his annoying smile. 

…

We stopped at a small shop that was located not far from my old school. I still remembered very well that the shop was used to be stationary. And after so long time I did not live here, I just thought that there had been a lot of changes in the end. Across the street, there was a seven store building with such elegant gate for access in and out of that building.

After getting some sweets he wanted, Erick was standing in a queue at the cash register. I sent him signals I wanted to get out of the shop for a moment. When I saw him nodding as the answer I quickly left the shop. 

.

The street was quiet. Perhaps it was not the main road to the city, and Sa'bah was a small village in the outskirt of the city. I crossed the street to my old school, took out my mobile phone, and took some shots at the closed gate. The building was highlighted with lights that were still on from the classes. It looked beautiful when it was seen from the outside. 

Enough enjoying the memory of the school time, I kept the picture. Then I walked to the left side of the building, it was building for a kindergarten. I used to spend my break eating and skipping my school lessons with Zie. It felt so long time ago since the last time I was here. I looked around, and many had changed, indeed.

I sat down on one of the wooden benches under a big tree, "I believe there was a slide over here," I ran my eye around that place. 

In this park, that horrible incident took away Zie's life, on a bench in this park not far from where I was sitting at the moment. I stared at the empty place. My thought flew to that incident, a young man was standing there, then suddenly he fell down right in front of me with a hole in his head.

I could not imagine if it had been me. How my feeling would have been like when I woke up and I had been a spirit. Even I as the survivor could not take the fact of what had happened, 'Did Zie accept the fact that he had died? I asked myself. 

Getting up from the bench, I walked slowly to the place where Zie was standing at that time, then I turned around to face the park. I saw four see-saws painted in green, a wooden bench on the corner under the tree, and four swings in blue painting were arranged in a row. 

I remembered very well that there used to be a red slide in this park, but now it was replaced by wooden chairs arranged in a row, and there was a new slide in here, made in elephant shape and placed near the entrance.

I looked at that park very closely, feeling it like I realized something, "Is this the park?" I asked myself. I opened my notebook and started inspecting the characteristics of the place I got from Antonie, "The slide," I muttered when I started remembering that there used to be a red slide over here. 

I walked to the swings, especially to the one on the left side. There was something a bit different the one on the left from the others, it seemed that it was broken, "How possible?" I said in confusion, "Is it a coincidence?" 

"Tha," Erick's voice penetrated into my ear membrane. I turned my head and saw him a pretty distance away from where I was standing. He lifted two bags with the name of the sweets shop which was located in front of my school. He had gotten what he wanted. 

"Can come over here?" I yelled at him, "Hurry up!" 

When he was getting closer, I directly asked him, "Was there and slide over here?" my finger pointed at the row of benches in that park. 

"Hm?," He seemed to crack his memory to reply to me, "I guess there was, but I am not sure with the color," He opened a jar of the sweets he bought and ate it.