"Hey, Ray. I’ve come to play!"
Lydia announced as she stepped inside the room.
The boy’s name was Ray. He was five years old. That was the extent of the information they had. Even when asked for his family name, he would only mutter softly that he didn’t remember.
They purposefully avoided pressing him for any more details. This was, after all, out of consideration for his mental state. Forcing him to recall those events would only cause him further pain.
Their investigation had already confirmed that every person in that village was dead. This meant that all of his relatives had perished as well. It was unclear if he fully understood that fact yet, but they had collectively decided it was best to leave him be for the time being.
Their dispatch mission to this minor nation was drawing to a close, and the plan was to take him back to the Kingdom. Whether he would then be placed in an orphanage or given to a family wishing to adopt was a matter they had yet to decide.
"Hm? Carol. What were you up to?"
"Heh-heh! See, Ray-chan likes Caro-caro too! I was reading a picture book to him today!"
"...I see."
A gentle smile played across Lydia's lips.
Within the unit, Carol was the one who looked after Ray most devotedly. Of course, the other members visited to check on him as well, but they had agreed that it was better not to overwhelm him with too many people at once. Thus, Carol had taken on the primary role of keeping him company.
This wasn't something forced upon her; she had volunteered for the task, and she possessed the highest aptitude for it.
Initially, he had only shown a reaction to Lydia, but now he was beginning to respond to Carol's voice as well.
"Hey, hey, Ray-chan. Can you say my name?"
Carol suddenly posed the question. She offered him a bright smile, encouraging him to speak.
After a moment, Ray murmured the name in a small, hushed voice.
"...Carol."
"A-Are? T-That’s strange. Even though I said you could call me Caro-caro, you know? Come on, Ray-chan. Try saying Caro-caro?"
Whether she truly favored the nickname or was simply being persistent, Carol pressed him once more. But Ray gave the exact same response.
"...Carol."
Seeing this, Lydia doubled over, howling with laughter.
"Pfft... Ahahaha! Ray, you really know how to handle Carol, don't you!"
Her laughter echoed throughout the room. Carol, finding it entirely unamusing, puffed out her cheeks.
"Honestly! You laugh too much, Lydia-chan! Really!"
Though she feigned anger, Carol enjoyed this atmosphere. Then, the two of them suddenly noticed something.
They had the distinct impression that Ray was smiling.
"Ah, you just smiled, didn't you!?"
"Yeah. It looked that way to me, too."
"..."
However, his expression immediately reverted to its usual somber state. It would take much more time for him to truly open his heart. That was a reality everyone in the unit understood.
"All right, Ray. Today, I'll tell you one of my heroic tales."
Lydia pulled over a chair and sat by his side.
For the past several days, Lydia had been constantly recounting her own exploits. Part of the reason was that those were the only interesting stories she felt she had to tell... but Ray happened to respond well to Lydia.
And so, today as well, Lydia regaled him with stories of her heroism.
"Lydia. How was he?"
As Lydia was eating later that day, Abby approached her. Lydia glanced up and gave her usual confident smirk.
"Hehe. I felt like Ray smiled just a little bit today. Besides, he knows exactly how to deal with Carol. Actually—"
She recounted the interaction that had taken place earlier.
Abby, who rarely laughed, actually let out a genuine chuckle.
"Ahahaha! That’s a masterpiece!"
"Right? It was the absolute best... Heh heh."
Lydia let out another soft laugh as she remembered. Then, the two of them turned the conversation toward the future.
"Lydia. Regarding the schedule, we’re slated to return to the Kingdom in two weeks."
"...I see."
"And about Ray’s situation."
"Did you find one? A place to take him in?"
"No, not yet. The circumstances this time are quite unique, after all. Besides, there’s something bothering me about him."
"You mean that matter?"
"Yeah."
The concern they shared.
It involved the ritual rumored to have been performed in that village. The goal had allegedly been to summon a god, but the more they investigated, the more the reality of the situation became shrouded in mystery.
The boy named Ray was a survivor of that village. Furthermore, there was no doubt that he possessed a unique Prima Materia. They all knew they had to be cautious regarding his future.
"It’s only a possibility, but he might have been a subject of that ritual in the village."
"And you think that’s the true nature of his Prima Materia?"
"It’s just speculation. I’ve discussed it with the Major as well, but the truth remains unknown."
"This is just based on my intuition, but Ray’s Prima Materia is definitely special. Honestly, it might be similar to mine."
"Lydia, you aren't like ordinary sorcerers."
"Yeah. In my case, it seems I have an abnormally high adaptability to Code."
It was a well-known fact that Prima Materia differed from person to person. This became especially prominent when applied through Code Theory. In Lydia’s case, her adaptability to Code was extraordinary.
On the other hand, their research had shown that Ray possessed traits similar to Lydia's. Because of this, the unit was still debating how to handle him.
Should they proceed with placing him in an orphanage, or should they continue to look after him themselves?
Deep down, they all knew the answer. The logical, correct decision was to entrust Ray to an orphanage or a similar institution. No matter how much potential he had or how many mysteries surrounded him, he would undoubtedly become a hindrance to their future missions.
However, when Lydia looked at Ray, she felt as though he wasn't just some stranger. It could have been described as pity... but in reality, it felt more like a profound sense of sympathy.
That first encounter.
Lydia couldn't believe their meeting had been a mere coincidence.
"What do you think... we should do with Ray, Abby?"
"Logically, he should be put in an orphanage back in the Kingdom or taken in as an adoptee."
"Right..."
She knew. She understood.
She was still just a sixteen-year-old girl herself. No matter how close she was to reaching the pinnacle of her craft as a sorcerer, she wasn't equipped to raise a child.
That was a logical argument, not an emotional one. On the other hand, her emotions were screaming at her. They told her she must not let him pass into the hands of a stranger.
It was a premonition.
A lingering sense of unease within Lydia's heart.
"Don't tell me you're actually thinking of taking him in?"
"Even I'm not thinking that far ahead..."
She said the words, but her expression betrayed her. She looked deeply troubled, yet Abby chose not to press the issue.
That was because Abby felt much the same way. Moreover, it was obvious that Carol would be devastated if they simply sent him away. However, it was irrational for them to become so emotionally invested.
He was a complete stranger. No matter how much they sympathized with his plight, that fact remained unchangeable.
The two of them continued to tell themselves that.
However, the situation was about to take an unexpected turn.