• Chapter One

    The days that followed were very quiet and peaceful. Ria noticed that Ame often spent her time reading and studying, absorbing all the knowledge she could from her library. Ame was very relaxed and trusted Ria enough to go about as she wished.
    There was however, a time Ria caused trouble. That even Ame had to take action and punish Ria by organizing ALL of Ame’s book, and didnt let her leave the house, and had to cook everything for the rest of the month.
    “I’m telling you the chicken explode by itself...” whined Ria, chopping up the carrots.
    “And as such, your causing the poultry farm to suddenly be swarmed by walking sticks of dynamites is not punishable?” spoke Ame as she entered the kitchen for tea.
    Ria pouted.
    “It was an accident though! I’m not good with magic!”
    “Then this shall teach you disipline and patience needed to learn.” Said Ame in a final tone.
    Ria pouted.
    “Okay…”

    Moments later, as Ria finished cooking, both sat on their little dinner table to eat. Ria cooked onion, carrots and potatoes with boiled chicken and rice. Ame nodded, satisfied.
    “If you are able to cook this, you are capable of controlling your magic.”
    Ria looked at her, a bit confused on how cooking and magic were related..
    “I don’ get it…”
    Ame looked at her.
    “When you cook, does it not take you time to head up the oven and marinate the meat?”
    Ria nodded.
    “Yes...”
    “And that takes practice, experience, and patience, does it not?”
    “Yeah...”
    “It is the same with magic. In order to excel you must practice tactics daily, have experience to use stronger spells, and incredible patience to not have anything go wrong or not being prepared enough. If you have the qualities to cook, you have the qualities to learn magic. And be good at it, you have a natural talent for it it seems.”
    Ria still seemed uncertain, but nodded and smiled.
    “I guess it makes sense...”
    Ame took a sip of her water as she stood up.
    “I am in the mood for curry tomorrow.”
    Ria looked at her, I used up all the carrots and potatoes… and there isn;t any curry base…
    “Someone should go shopping. Unfortunately I have plenty of work to do.”
    Ria seemed lost, then began to smile hopefully.
    “Maybe I could…”
    Ame looked up thinking.
    “You are still being punished.” Ria began to frown. “However, I supposed this would count as “cooking duty”, don’t you agree?”
    The little one’s grin spread across her face.
    “YAY!” She tackle hugged Ame, who was tossed back a bit as she is physically fragile, and patted her back.
    “There is money in my black jacket, I trust you to take what is needed and return the change.”
    She nodded. “Yes ma’am!!!” she shouted as she skipped across the little home to get the jacket, Ame walked out to go to her room.
    “I shall be in my room when you return.”
    Ria gave a thumbs up.
    “Got it!! Be right back!!!” She grinned as she skipped out.

    * * *

    After about an hour of roaming the city looking for the ingredients for a fish curry, Ria was finally satisfied with her gathered inventory and began her scurry back to Ame.
    As she ran she suddenly felt something slam into her body, and for a short while, everything went black.
    When she came too, she was surrounded by different items. A bag of potatoes was opened and potatoes were sprawled everywhere. Carrots were scattered across the grass and her dress, and the curry base landed perfectly on her stomach so as to knock the wind out of her.
    “Ugh..” Escaped a quiet groan as she built herself up to sitting up. In front of her was a girl who wasn’t spared of the onslaught of runaway foods, with a fish on her head and bag of rice spilled all over her and her dress… She had it worse than Ria did.
    Ria couldnt help but giggle at the sight.
    “Are you okay?” She asked holding back a chuckle.
    The girl sat up removing the fish from her shiny black hair, her bangs her covering ler left eye completely, her right eye showed deep amethyst irises, and under all the rice was a black vest with a fairly short pink dress underneath, pink thigh high socks, and black boots to finish up the outfit.
    “Yeah… Just… Covered in food that makes me glad there are no hawk or wild pigeons around.” Spoke Fish Girl as she began to stand and brushed off the rice, Ria stood up, frowning at the realization that her shopping had gone to waste.
    “So, sorry about all this.. I should get going…
    She began to walk away as Fish Girl returned to her senses.
    “Wait!!” shouted the girl, Ria was too busy remaking the list in her head to listen, she repeated.
    “Waaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!” She shouted as Fish Girl grabbed Ria by the collar and dragged her away, Ria was shocked as she was suddenly and literally being dragged away.

    After a moment they arrived at an alley. Ria was nervous.
    “Uhm…. I don’t like this setting…” She looked around as she watched Fish Girl, who was giving her a very.. Off putting grin… Ria began running away when Fish Girl grabbed her shoulders.
    “My name is Evi!!!” Shouted the girl as she hugged her. “And you are adorable!!!” she squeeled as she hugged Ria tight, Ria was even more terrified.
    “Please let go…” Whimpered Ria as she tried to wiggle free.
    Evi looked at her. “Who wants to hear a story?”
    Ria’s eyes widened and she wiggled more.
    “Pretty please let me go!!!”
    Evi gave her a long, almost frightening look.
    “.... It’s about the Ameino…”
    At this, Ria seemed more anxious than ever before.
    “Just… Please hear me out…. I’m sorry if I frightened you… Just listen…”
    Ria still seemed nervous, then slowly nodded, Evi smiled and began.

    She told a story of how long ago there was a psuedo-god, she was not a god, she was not a human. In fact, she ascended both. She was Ameino, she was a new being. Respected by the humans she helped, and feared by the gods she attempted to compromise with. One day, in secret, she met a man by the name of Sorin. Sorin was also a being like Ameino, however, he did not require magic, nor destruction. All he needed were words and his strong body, the very things that attracted a young Ameino into his arms. Their child is their only strong link to both bloodlines, and when Ameino was forced to be the generator for magic for eternity, Sorin realized: he had to protect his dearest child. For the bloodline, for his beloved. And so, he did, Sorin’s child had grown up, fell in love, and had many children. Those children spread out and created more children, more descendants. The bloodlines grew once more, and though the tale is known to few, it empowered the descendants on a subconcious level. Despite the spread of the blood, there are very few descendants still alive. It is said, however, that one descendant in particular is meant to allow Ameino to be freed from her prison.

    “... And that is where the woman named Ame comes in.”
    Ria, still entranced by the story, had to shake her head to awaken from the trance.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Ame.. the woman I am looking for… she is the descenant, I know it.” spoke Evi.
    “A-Ame?”
    Evi nodded.
    “Do you know where she is?”
    Ria was silent a moment.
    “... Why’re you asking me this? I’m a stranger…”
    Evi went quiet, as though she had a secret.
    “I just… Do. Okay?” She said with a slight tone of aggression.
    Ria looked down, then finally shook her head.
    “No… I don’t. I don’t know her or were she is…”
    Evi watched her, then as he was about to speak Ria squirmed free and ran away before she could have been caught. With a strange look in her eyes, Evi left quietly.

    * * *
    Ria finally finished her final round of shopping, and was barely able to make it home before it was dark.
    She attempted to walk in quietly, just put everything away then retreat into her room before Ame could see how late she was.
    She tiptoed across the living room… Almost.. Just one.. More…. Step….
    “You are late, very late.” Spoke Ame, FROM INSIDETHE KITCHEN.
    Ria yelped and nearly dropped everything.
    “H-Hi there!!!” She smiled nervously, Ame eyed her suspiciously.
    “What were you up to?”
    Ria got nervous as she searched for an answer. She could not wrap her mind around the Fish Girl, Evi,What she said for some reason made her very, very nervous.
    She knew, she KNEW she HAD to tell Ame… She had to tell her what happened… But part of her… Part of her, a silent, a quiet, a faint voice told her no.
    “Well? What were you up to?”
    Ria looked down and weighed her options.

    “... Nothing… Just a misundertstanding.”