Side Story — Colic and a Walk Among the Stars

As an Immortal, I’m always aware of the auras around me, even when I’m sleeping.

As a result, I can instantly react when Lain, who sleeps in the room next to me, awakens in a fussy mood.

It’s currently the middle of the night, and as such is an hour of the day where, even if you don’t go to sleep at sunset like I do, most people are likely to be abed. However, thanks to the dedicated nursemaid watching over her, Lain is quickly picked up by a reassuring pair of hands.

“Thank you for your concern, but this is my task. Please, return to your rest.”

As I enter the room where Lain and the nursemaid are, the nursemaid stops me. It’s an understandable reaction, of course, given that this is her job. Still, I’d sworn to my Master that I would raise this baby. While I’ve arranged for her to be raised in a good environment, I don’t want to just leave her care to other people and just pay the bills.

“I realize it’s an indulgence on my part. However, she doesn’t need her diaper changed, nor is she hungry. So, based upon that, allow me to hold her for a little while.”

“...Very well. Please, go ahead.”

Given my request, she doesn’t have much reason to refuse, and so she hands the still-crying baby over to me.

“I’ll be back shortly, so if you could wait here a while...”

“Certainly... I do ask that you avoid disturbing His Lordship or the others, though.”

Sure, no doubt a crying baby is an annoyance to some people. Even if they didn’t mind, it would still cost them their sleep. It’d be quite a problem if that interfered with the process of governing, and then it’d end up being this poor nursemaid’s fault.

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll be stepping outside for a bit.”

I open the room’s window, stepping out into the night sky.

“O-Oh my...”

There are mages in this world who can fly. As such, it’s not unnatural for someone like me to just fly out of the room. The nursemaid is surprised, but not to the point of raising a fuss.

“Alright, Lain. Why don’t we take a walk among the stars?”

As an Immortal, it’s more accurate to say I’m floating in midair, rather than actively propelling myself into the great beyond. It’s not suited for rapid movement, but it’s also very safe. Since I’m just floating like a balloon, Even if were to I trip and fall to the ground, since I’m just floating like a balloon, the worst-case scenario is that I’d just dirty my clothing. It’s like floating around in null gravity, or in water.

“The night breeze is pleasant, isn’t it, Lain?”

The baby in my arms has mostly stopped crying. Lit by the moonlight and starlight, the night sky is very peaceful. With no electricity, there are few people awake at night. Almost everyone was asleep. That was no concern for the natural world, of course, with many nocturnal animals going about their nightly routines.

“That’s a good girl. There’s a bit of a breeze tonight, so why don’t we have it carry us a bit?”

The night sky is still quiet, and we’re gently floating along in it. Perhaps it’s because she’s being held by someone, but Lain has almost completely calmed down. I can feel her unease fading with each moment.

“Lain, she might not have been your mother, but there was a woman who died trying to protect you.”

It might have been her actual mother, but it also could have been a nursemaid, like the woman back at the estate.

“Your mother might still be out there looking for you. But neither my Master nor I know enough to help you in that regard. If your mother appears in those woods looking for you, no doubt my Master will come find me.”

I’ve dedicated myself to protecting you until that time. I have at least that much admiration for my Master.

“That person gave her life to protect you. I don’t know the reason, and I honestly don’t care. What I do know is that she brought you to us.”

If she was a nursemaid, she must have had a reason to defend the baby, regardless of the consequences.

If her mother, then it may have just come naturally to exchange her life for her daughter’s. That’s not something that humans do alone. Many creatures will give their lives for their offspring. Given that, perhaps it’s not a particularly remarkable thing.

Still, it was her dedication that brought this child’s life to us. Even if it was something that anyone could do, it doesn’t make what she did any less noble.

“I know nothing about this world, but I know that many people have raised children. Over the five hundred years I spent swinging my wooden sword next to my Master, many lives appeared and disappeared. I always thought that was a remarkable thing. I never thought I would be participating in it myself, but...at the very least, I will protect you until you’re ready to stand on your own.”

Of course, when actually thinking over it, I was born in Japan, a peaceful country, and raised without a care or worry in the world. I was only brought here due to divine error.

Then Master Suiboku took me on his apprentice, due entirely to God’s introduction, and spent five hundred years training me without asking anything in return. In comparison to that, helping and raising a child who just happened to wander into our woods wasn’t much of a price at all.

“Ah, about time for you to go back to bed.”

Floating in the air and taking a walk as the wind directs... It’s pretty enjoyable in its own way, but no doubt a baby can’t understand what’s so fun about this.

It’s not like I can move rapidly or use any sort of thrust to move forward, so no doubt Lady Douve would complain that it’s not enjoyable, as it’s mainly a method to kill time in a leisurely way without any thrills or sense of speed.

“Suppose I’ll head back... Hm?”

An unnatural presence, the presence of wind generated by magic, approaches.

“Sansui! To fly with a baby in your arms! Have you no sense of caution?!”

My colleague, the wind mage Blois, comes bearing a lecture. As she flies using wind to propel herself, she appears in front of me at remarkable speed. I must admit that I’m surprised to see her.

“I’m surprised you found me up here.”

“It wasn’t easy, I assure you! Land, so we can continue this on the ground.”

“Alright, alright... Could you back off a bit? You’re buffeting me with your wind gusts.”

As an Immortal, I can float in the air through hurricanes and blizzards, unbothered by the rain and snow. However, the unnatural wind and water created by magic tend to badly disrupt my positioning.

I slowly lower my altitude and Blois descends slowly in turn. Both of us land without any fuss.

“Did your master not teach you that, ‘flight is dangerous, so don’t carry any burdens’?”

“Calm down, Blois. I float using my Immortal Arts. There’s nothing particularly dangerous about it. Even a sudden gust of wind won’t cause me any issues.”

“Even then, it’s not something to do while carrying a baby! And what if Lady Douve demands that I fly while carrying her?”

She makes an inarguable point. I suppose a dressing-down is about right for carrying a baby while flying, especially since there wasn’t any actual need to fly.

“Look, at the very least we’re walking back to the house, alright?”

“Fine, alright...”

It was extremely reassuring to have a colleague willing to fly up and make certain Lain and I were safe.

I may have much to learn about being a father, but it’s times like this I realize I’m blessed to have good co-workers. It reminds me to acknowledge my shortcomings and be willing to ask for help when I need it.