After finishing our desserts, unsurprisingly Stella's mouth was craving for more. I decided to ask her because she would never ask herself. "Do you want to order something else?"
Stella blushed and covered her mouth with a tissue. "Ah. Sorry, I just love eating sweet things."
"That's fine, you should order something. Afterall, the final bill is 50 percent off." I lightly tap at my pocket which has the exclusive badge of the bakery.
Excited, Stella gets up and grabs the menu from a different table. "Then, I want to eat this and for you…"
"It's fine, I am full."
"Really?"
"Yes. You can eat."
Stella calls out for Mr. Red and this time he comes back rather quickly. "Ah, Mr. Red. I want to order something else. This-"
That's when, Mr. Red stops Stella from speaking. "Before that, I have request for you." He then turns to me.
Curious, I raise my eyebrow as he continues speaking. "My wife Marie and Madison want to meet you, Altaris. They want to properly thank you for your efforts in saving me."
I quickly get uncomfortable with the odd request. 'Thanking me? I don't much time to go along with your meet and greet. I have to cross freaking half a globe to reach home.'
Stella's ears perks up as she heard Mr. Red. "Maddy wants to meet? That's great. Altaris, she is super sweet girl and aunt Marie is also nice. You should definitely meet them."
"I don't know…" I avoid eye contact as I think of an excuse.
"Please Altaris, it is not everyday Madison asks for something. Ever since she caught the plague, her body is tied to the bed which limits her interaction with other people."
Caught in an unfavourable position, I notice Stella glaring at me. 'She won't like it if I refuse… Well, I guess just meeting won't take too long.' I sigh in inwardly and agree to meet Mr. Red's wife and daughter.
"Thank you, Altaris. Madison would love to talk with you."
"Y-Yeah."
As I get up from my seat, Stella gets up as well. "I want to meet her too!"
"No. It just talking anyway, you should just enjoy the cakes. Mr. Red, Stella wants to order something."
"Oh? Tell me." Between me and Stella stands Mr. Red's tall stature, he cracks his knuckles as if getting ready to beat someone up.
'Chill out, she wants to place an order not an assassination request.'
In the end, Stella pouts and orders her next cake. After taking her order, I follow Mr. Red to the long corridor and further to the back door which leads us to the main kitchen. The kitchen was big and clean, utensils neatly nailed onto the walls and the entire kitchen smelled like strawberries for some reason. "MARIE! I BROUGHT HIM!" Mr. Red yelled so loudly that it might have been heard by the neighbours through 10 inch thick walls.
CLICK! CLACK!
Suddenly the floor opens up and a masked individual pops it's head out. It was so unexpected, that I almost jumped by it. A concerning amount of steam was coming out of trap door. "Ha! Ha! I didn't scare you, right kid?"
The masked individual question as they walk out. 'Is that Mr. Red's wife? Marie was it?'
Marie takes off the heavy sweat dumped suit and hands it to Mr. Red. "I was just warming the oven up."
'Holy shit, she is huge.'
She is only a head smaller than Mr. Red, who was already easily 190+ cm. Marie takes off the mask and let loose her fiery red hair. Her face was straight and perfectly proportionate which matched her sharp features and the beauty mark below her lips. "Are you Altaris?"
"Yes, I am." Marie smiles at me and extends her hand towards me.
"Then allow me to show my gratitude for saving my husband."
"No, no. It was just a kind gesture that's all." I held her hand. 'Such a strong grip and rough touch. She has to be a warrior.'
"My husband did tell me that you were kind but I can see that myself now. Pardon me for asking, but how old are you?"
"Around 10 or 12."
"Younger than Maddy. You are quite tall for your age."
I let out a customary giggle to fit the act.
"You came with someone?"
"Yes, I came with Stella. I believe that you know her."
Marie smiles as she remembers her most talkative customer. "Ah, that girl. She is a real gem. Are you her relative by any chance?"
"No, we just-"
Mr. Red cut me off while in middle of making Stella's order, he didn't even look at us. "Marie, I know you have 1000 questions to ask him but can you go and meet Madison first? She has been waiting for him in her bedroom."
Marie rubs her forehead, her eyes closed. "You are right. Come kid, we go upstairs and talk while sipping some juice."
I nod and follow her back to the corridor. We walk further into a wooden staircase which leads us to the third floor. The floor consist of small passage with only two doors, one read [Laundry] and other read [Madison's room]
Marie walked ahead and opened Madison's room. "Maddy! Look you have a visitor."
As soon as I stepped into the room, I felt overwhelmed by the large amount of wild magic in the air. My pupil dilated as I felt nauseous. The entire room was decorated with child's toys. There were no windows, no way of sunlight entering the room and no furniture besides the large king sized bed. On the bed, lied a skinny almost skeleton like human. Well, it hardly resembled a human.
The bald girl creepily turned her towards me, she was wearing loose bunny themed cotton shirt. With a poker face, I waved at the girl. Marie walked forward and kneeled, holding her daughter's hand. "My love. Look. Altaris is here to see you."
For a split second, I thought I saw the girl moving her lips but no sound was heard. With a smile on face, I approach her. "Hey there. I am Altaris."
The girl's eyes visibly shined as she moved her lips. "She is saying her own name." Marie tells me on her behalf. "My name's Madison. But my family and friends call me Maddy. I heard you saved daddy. Thank you for that. Can we be friends? You can call me Maddy."
I identified as the source of such unstable mana is her. 'If I could just… touch her.'
Just as I move my hand, Marie catches my hand. "What are you doing?"
Realizing my own action, I tell myself that this will be the last time. "Her body is not functioning properly because of unstable mana. Her immune and nervous system seems to have collapsed. I dealt- I knew someone who dealt with these situations. If I could touch her, I can identify the problem."
Marie who was still very cautious, pulls me away from Madison. "What are you even saying?" She tightly holds my neck.
'High emotional distress, Judging by black eyes and the situation Maria appears tired from baseless cures and constant promises that something will make her daughter better.'
"Don't overstep yourself! I only brought you here because my husband suggested that you can be a good friend for Maddy. We even gave you the exclusive badge to make sure you come back."
I coldly stare into Marie's eyes. "I know you think this as planned gimmick. But you have to believe me. Let me just diagnose-"
"WHY SHOULD I??" Marie yells and breaks down. "I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER YEAR NOW! LISTEN TO EVERY DAMN WORD!"
Her grip loosens as she crumbles on her knees crying, still holding collar. "I-I just want to see my daughter well. Just once. Please."
I gently raise her hand off my collar and fix my coat. "As a parent, you shouldn't hope in front of your children."
THUD!
"Or this will happen."
Marie looks to the bed and sees Madison crawling on the floor. "Ma- Ma- Ma-" She was giving her all to utter a single word.
The mother jolts to hold her daughter. "My Love. My Love. Don't cry please."
The daughter still moving her lips, tears strolling down her hollow cheeks. This time I narrate for Madison. "Mother, am I burden?"
"Please. Stop it."
"Why do you cry? Is it because of me?"
"Please. Don't."
"Should I kill myself? Will that bring you happiness?"
"No! No! Stop!"
"Then, mother. Please, don't cry."
I sense a presence closing in at a rapid pace. I slowly walk towards Madison and crouch down. My hand touched her cold face. "Feel blessed, Maddy. You have such loving family and now I am your friend."
BOOM! Mr. Red broke down the door and an entire section of the wall.