Tomorrow, my sister and I will return to our original bodies. After my class, I went to Switch's magic shop. Ervine was there, arranging their merchandise, and he seemed to be doing well.
"Ervine! How are you?" I greeted him as I entered the magic shop.
"Oh, it's you. Mom didn't come here, she went to Alemeth!" he replied.
"A-Alemeth?" I asked, sitting next to him and observing him wipe the surfaces.
"Alemeth is the magical world of witches, warlocks, and other beings with powers. That's where Mom gets the ingredients for making magic potions. I've only been there once because ordinary people like us are not allowed in their world."
We left the magic shop, and Ervine closed the roll-up door. While we were walking towards his house, Ervine mentioned his plans for the day.
"The shop will be closed for now because I'm also going somewhere. Do you want to come along?" he invited me.
I had a suspicion about where he was going, but I wasn't sure. I just nodded in response. When we arrived inside their magical house, Ervine took out his magic wand and waved it in the air. A magic portal appeared, and I had no idea where it led.
"Thank you for coming with me. I really need your help!" Ervine said, giving me a sad look.
"Don't worry, no matter what happens, I will never leave you!" I reassured him.
Before fully entering the portal, Ervine attached a small pouch to his pocket and reached out his hand to hold mine. Hand in hand, we stepped into the portal.
"I was seven years old when Mom revealed the truth about my parents to me. Since then, all I've done is search for them. I learned all the magic taught by Mom, and when I was capable of creating a magic portal, I searched for them. Using this 'Magic Mirror,' I easily found them. It's a magic item that only needed a strand of hair. Through it, I discovered who my real parents are. When I found them, I didn't show myself or introduce myself. I just watched them from afar and took pictures. My heart tightened, and I couldn't breathe during those moments, mixed emotions overwhelmed me. That's when Mom revealed the curse I carry, which Switch cast on me when I was just a baby, in order to keep me alive."
In exchange for my freedom, the ability to love and have emotions, I hid my presence as a human. I drink the 'Presence Potion' to conceal myself from people."
I listened quietly to Ervine. When we reached in front of the gate of a large and fancy house.
***
We were outside the gate, and I was nervous for him. No one knew what would happen on this day.
"Hey, kids, what are you doing there in front of the gate?" shouted a tall man, thin and dressed elegantly. He approached us and gave us some money.
"Oh, here's some alms, now leave this place, you're blocking the way!" the man said grumpily.
Ervine returned the money and spoke up. "We're not begging, I just wanted to..."
He suddenly stopped speaking, probably unable to express his true intention.
"W-What is it?"
"Charlotte?! Is that you?!"
Someone inside the gate suddenly shouted.
I couldn't speak as a girl of the same age as me came out, and she looked familiar.
"Anita? Is that you? Wait, you live here?" I asked in surprise.
I couldn't believe that Anita Gonzales, my classmate from elementary school, would be living here.
"Yes, come inside for a moment. Papa, she was my classmate in elementary, Charlotte!" Anita introduced me to her father. I couldn't believe they lived here.
"Sorry, I thought you were beggars. Come in, kids," her father said.
Ervine and I didn't look like beggars. We were dressed decently, so I don't know why we were mistaken for beggars. Ervine remained silent, seemingly tense as we entered the house.
"By the way, why did you end up here? You're from Parañaque, right? Did you come to Baguio for a visit?" Anita asked.
"T-That's right, and I'm with my sister. She's in a hotel right now. By the way, this is Ervine, my friend."
I introduced Ervine to them, but I lied about my sister being with us.
"Hi! Is he your boyfriend, Charlotte?" Anita jokingly waved.
"N-No!" Ervine quickly defended himself.
Anita burst into laughter at Ervine's amusing behavior. While we were having a good time chatting, a beautiful woman, Anita's mother, arrived.
"Oh, she's my aunt, Aunt Lucy. Aunt, this is Charlotte, my elementary school classmate, and her friend Ervine," Anita introduced us to her aunt. I thought she was Anita's mother, so I politely greeted her, only to notice Ervine. His whole body was trembling, and he could hardly look at Anita's aunt.
"Is your companion okay, dear?" Aunt Lucy asked with concern.
Ervine was cold with sweat, and I was afraid he might suddenly collapse and faint again.
"I-I'm okay, please don't worry!" Ervine replied, his voice trembling. His lips quivered, and he leaned against my shoulder, struggling to catch his breath. It was evident that he wasn't okay, and my anxiety grew stronger.
"Oh, it seems like your friend is unwell, Charlotte! Would you like to lay him down in the guest room so he can rest?" Anita offered.
I was truly grateful that Anita lived here. She was kind and thoughtful.
"Thank you so much, Anita."
I guided Ervine, and Anita and her aunt accompanied us to the guest room where Ervine could lie down temporarily.
While walking, with Ervine leaning on me, he whispered in my ear, "S-She's m-my m-mother..." his voice barely audible.
It crossed my mind that they did look alike. So Aunt Lucy was Ervine's mother? Anita was his cousin. Fate was truly interesting. Anita and I weren't that close in elementary school, so I didn't know much about her. I never expected that Ervine's mother would turn out to be Anita's aunt.
"Charlotte, take this calm potion. Give it to me if my condition worsens. It might spill if I hold it myself," Ervine whispered as he handed me the calm potion.
"Okay, sure." I took the calm potion he gave me.