Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Huh?”
Cheyenne’s eyes widened at the sight of the child.
He let out an indignant cry.
“Why are you letting her off easy? She’s a vagrant.”
The people who’d been shouting with fire in their eyes just moments ago as he headed toward the shop entrance had all gone quiet now.
More than that, the crude curses they’d been spilling moments before had vanished entirely, replaced by friendly, neighborly smiles.
“This child is different.”
“Different, yes.”
“How is she—”
The shop door creaked open.
“Yulia.”
“Sister.”
Seres emerged from the shop, and the child’s pace quickened at once.
She nestled snugly into Seres’s arms.
“She’s the owner’s sister.”
“Ah…”
Now knowing the child’s identity, Cheyenne also regarded her with fresh eyes.
Those bright green eyes were particularly endearing.
“Sister, are you busy today?”
“Why?”
Seres led the child inside the shop.
She didn’t bother repeating that worn-out lecture about not coming here anymore—the girl wouldn’t listen anyway.
“Would you come to Dave’s house with me?”
“Dave’s house? What for?”
She’d run away with her mother, hadn’t she?
Could she have come back in the meantime?
“I need to bring him some belongings he left behind.”
Items that had been in his locker at the Academy—Yulia had picked them up today on his behalf. A teacher had asked if someone could deliver them, and she’d volunteered.
“You never know. There might have been word from him. If we know where he lives, we could at least send a letter.”
“…I suppose.”
It hardly seemed likely that someone who’d run off in a fit would bother sending word.
But seeing the hopeful gleam in Yulia’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say as much.
“Once I’m done with the rush, we’ll go together.”
“Okay!”
“Now sit quietly over there.”
A nod.
Seres settled the child in her designated spot and disappeared back into the kitchen.
In the meantime, countless patrons continued to flow in and out.
“One stew, please.”
“Yes. One moment, please.”
Cheyenne finally entered the shop as well, took his seat, and placed his order.
“Huh?”
Yulia, bouncing on her feet and watching the customers as always, suddenly fixed her gaze on Cheyenne.
Their eyes met just as Cheyenne happened to be looking at her too.
She bolted up.
“Mage, it’s not that hard!”
At Yulia’s sudden outburst from her seat, the shop fell silent.
While the other patrons looked startled, wondering what had gotten into her, Cheyenne’s eyes widened for just a moment before he swept his long hair back with a brush of his hand and broke into a radiant smile.
“Yes, that’s right. I am the great mage Cheyenne, author of that very book.”
“Wow!”
Yulia clapped her hands as she watched Cheyenne strike the exact same pose as the one illustrated in the book.
His smile deepened, and he continued in an elaborately refined tone.
“So then, does this cute little lady dream of becoming a mage? Is that why you read my book?”
“No. I only read it because everyone else was reading it.”
“Ah… well, that’s understandable. So, did you find the book entertaining? Did magic pique your interest?”
“Not at all.”
“What?”
“It was incredibly boring. It was just full of things about how great the Tower Master is.”
……
So you two really are sisters.
“Next time you come by, sign the book for me.”
“You said it was boring. Why do you want a signature?”
Cheyenne huffed and turned sulky, but Yulia opened her eyes wide as if he didn’t even know that, protesting her case.
“People don’t buy that book for entertainment or scholarship. They buy it for the illustration on the first page. Some kids even tear out just the front page and carry it around.”
“…Thank you.”
For liking my face at least.
“Still, I didn’t tear up the book. You paid such a ridiculous amount for it that I’d never be able to resell it secondhand if it got damaged, so I take good care of it like you told me to.”
…….
The way she zeroed in on painful truths, landing one blow after another, left no doubt they were sisters.
* * *
“Is that it over there?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you know?”
“I came here before. Dave’s mom even gave me a snack. Strawberry cake!”
“I never heard about that.”
“Going to my boyfriend’s house, you know? I asked him not to tell you.”
“Colin…….”
True to his word, Cheyenne took Yulia to Dave’s house during a quiet lull at the shop.
It seemed Yulia had been there a few times before with the butler Colin.
Knock-knock.
Upon arriving at Dave’s house, Seres rapped on the door.
But no answer came, even after a long wait.
Knock-knock.
“…Doesn’t seem like anyone’s home.”
“So what do we do?”
“I don’t know. Should we leave the items with the neighbors?”
“I don’t think that’ll work. The teacher said to deliver them to Dave’s house specifically.”
Well, you had to give her credit for being stubborn.
In the end, Seres knocked once more.
Would she have to come back tomorrow?
Creak!
“Who……?”
The door finally opened, and Dave’s father stood in the doorway.
His eyes filled with surprise at the sight of Seres and Yulia standing before him.
“You…….”
“Hello.”
Dave’s father seemed to have seen Yulia before; he recognized the child right away.
“Ah, Miss Yulia. What brings you here?”
The man greeted the girl warmly with a gentle smile.
Though he held only the title of nobility without the substance, his manner of speech was quite formal, perhaps because he was aware that Yulia was from a noble house.
“The teacher asked me to bring Dave’s things.”
“Ah…….”
As the man accepted the small bag, his face betrayed unmistakable sadness.
At that somewhat wistful expression, Yulia’s face grew downcast too.
“Thank you.”
“Has there been any word from Dave yet?”
“No. I’ve been waiting to hear from him too.”
The man bent his waist to meet Yulia’s eyes.
“You were quite close with our Dave, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“If by any chance Dave gets in touch with you, would you be sure to let me know as well?”
“I will.”
“Thank you. I’d like to offer you some refreshment, but the house is in such a state……. Please, take care on your way.”
After finishing his conversation with Yulia, the man waved and moved to close the door.
Click.
But in that moment, Seres, who had remained silent until now, caught the closing door.
“Why, why are you doing that?”
Seres stepped closer to the bewildered man, her eyes briefly sweeping over his appearance.
“You were cleaning.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The man halted, finally noticing his own appearance, and his face flushed with embarrassment. His trousers and sleeves were rolled up haphazardly, bunched at the limbs.
Water clung to his hands and feet—anyone could see at a glance that he’d been in the middle of cleaning.
“Yes, the house was rather untidy.”
“I see.”
“Then please take care on your way. Thank you for bringing those things by.”
The man offered Seres and Yulia a final farewell and stepped back inside.
“Hmm.”
Yet even after the man disappeared, Seres found herself reluctant to turn away from the closed door.
“Sister?”
At Yulia’s call, Seres stepped back from the door and clicked her tongue.
“There’s a smell.”
“A smell? What kind?”
“The sort of thing Healers favor—medicinal compounds.”
“What?”
“Such things exist.”
Seres took one last look at Dave’s house, then hurried toward the Restaurant to prepare for the evening service.
* * *
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
As Aide Del opened the door and entered, he found Kainel buried beneath mountains of paperwork covering his desk.
Since arriving in the Capital, his workload had multiplied exponentially—all the tasks that had accumulated and been deferred were now crashing down upon him without end.
Most of it concerned resources found only in the Northern Region, matters far too crucial to dismiss or overlook.
“I’ve brought your meal.”
Kainel removed the glasses he’d been wearing and shot Del an irritated look. He’d made it clear just moments before that he needed no dinner today.
“You hardly ate anything yesterday either. I’ve prepared something special—please, try just a little of it for my sake. At this rate, you’ll truly collapse.”
“You’ve been talking more lately.”
“Ha, I suppose I’ve grown old.”
“Did you really just complain about your age to my face?”
“My apologies.”
“I’ll eat it later. Leave it and go.”
“You will actually eat it, won’t you?”
……
“Understood. Please do eat it.”
Noticing Kainel’s gaze growing sharper by the moment, Del hastily withdrew.
Watching him go, Kainel let out a soft click of his tongue.
Had he really grown old? These days, advice and fussing he’d never indulged in before seemed to creep in more and more.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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