Chapter 9: A Lesson Beyond Magic
878 Words
The morning sun slowly peeked over the endless sea of trees.
Golden rays slipped through the leaves...
Gently knocking on the windows of Dorothy's little cottage.
"Good morning..."
Echo stretched as he stepped outside.
A cool breeze brushed against his face.
"...It's another beautiful day."
His peaceful moment lasted exactly three seconds.
"...Where's Kodie?"
Dorothy, who was calmly watering the herbs beside the cottage, didn't even look up.
"The usual place."
Echo blinked.
"...There's a usual place?"
She smiled.
"Go see for yourself."
Echo searched behind the cottage.
Nothing.
He checked beside the stream.
Still nothing.
Inside the storage shed...
"...Nope."
He let out a sigh.
"Kodie!"
...
Silence.
"...Kodie!"
...
Nothing.
Just as Echo was about to give up—
Snore...
Echo slowly looked upward.
"...You're kidding."
High above...
On the sturdy branch of an ancient oak...
Kodie was sleeping peacefully.
One arm hanging freely.
A squirrel was using his stomach as a pillow.
Two tiny birds had built themselves a comfortable seat on his shoulder.
Even the enormous Fenrin lying beneath the tree looked as if it had accepted this as part of its daily routine.
Echo covered his face.
"...How do you even get up there?"
Without opening his eyes...
Kodie answered.
"...Practice..."
Echo couldn't help laughing.
"...That's not an answer."
After breakfast, Dorothy placed three woven baskets on the table.
"Today's lesson..."
She paused just long enough to catch their attention.
"...will be outside the forest."
Echo's eyes sparkled.
"...Really?"
Dorothy nodded.
"We're visiting a nearby village."
Kodie raised his hand lazily.
"...Can I sleep on the way?"
"You may..."
His eyes brightened.
"...If you walk while doing so."
"...That's impossible."
"Exactly."
Echo laughed.
"...I think I'm starting to understand you, Ma'am."
Dorothy simply smiled.
"Give it another year."
The forest slowly faded behind them.
Soon...
Small cottages appeared beyond the hills.
Children laughed as they ran across the dirt roads.
Farmers greeted one another with cheerful smiles.
Smoke curled lazily from stone chimneys.
Echo stopped walking.
"...It's peaceful."
Dorothy glanced around the village.
"It didn't become peaceful on its own."
She smiled softly.
"Many people worked hard to make it this way."
As they entered the village...
An elderly farmer suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
"...M-Ma'am?"
Dorothy waved gently.
"Good morning."
The old man immediately straightened his back.
"It's wonderful to see you again!"
Dorothy looked toward his fields.
"...You're watering the eastern crops too much."
The farmer scratched his head awkwardly.
"...You noticed."
"I always do."
Echo quietly leaned toward Kodie.
"...Does everyone know her?"
Kodie shrugged.
"...Pretty much."
Echo looked at Dorothy.
"...Who exactly are you, Ma'am?"
Dorothy laughed.
"Just an old teacher."
Then she continued walking.
The lesson began.
Not with spells.
Not with swords.
But with work.
Echo helped repair broken fences.
Kodie carried sacks of grain as if they weighed nothing.
Together, they helped an elderly woman bring water from the village well.
A little boy waved excitedly.
"Thank you, Mister!"
Echo smiled.
"...You're welcome."
Hours passed.
No monsters appeared.
No battles were fought.
No magic circles illuminated the sky.
Yet...
The smiles of the villagers never disappeared.
Echo finally asked,
"...Ma'am."
Dorothy turned around.
"I thought today's lesson was about magic."
She looked at him quietly.
"...Who told you it wasn't?"
Echo blinked.
"...But..."
"We haven't cast a single spell."
Dorothy picked up a worn wooden watering can.
"This..."
She carefully watered a small flower growing beside the road.
"...Is magic."
Echo frowned.
"I don't understand."
Dorothy smiled.
"Magic isn't measured by how many spells you know."
She looked toward the villagers laughing together.
"It's measured..."
"...by how many lives become just a little brighter because you exist."
Silence.
A gentle breeze passed through the village.
Echo lowered his eyes.
Those words...
Felt strangely warm.
As if...
His blessing had been waiting to hear them all along.
As the sun slowly disappeared beyond the mountains...
The villagers gathered near the entrance.
A little girl timidly approached Echo.
In her hands...
A tiny bracelet woven from wildflowers and colorful threads.
"This..."
She looked down shyly.
"...is for you."
Echo accepted it carefully.
"...For me?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"You helped Grandpa."
Echo smiled.
Not a forced smile.
Not the polite smile he wore after his exile.
A...
Real smile.
"...Thank you."
He looked at the bracelet for several moments.
Then reached for the small leather pouch hanging from his waist.
Inside...
Were tiny keepsakes.
Simple gifts.
Small memories.
Things most people would have forgotten long ago.
Carefully...
Very carefully...
He placed the bracelet beside the others.
Every gift.
Every memory.
Every kindness.
None of them were ever forgotten.
Kodie quietly watched.
"...You treasure everything."
Echo scratched his cheek.
"...Someone once told me that kindness should never be wasted."
Kodie smiled faintly.
"...I like that."
On the journey home...
The evening sky turned shades of orange and crimson.
Dorothy walked a few steps ahead.
She looked back at the two boys laughing over something completely unimportant.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"...Good."
She whispered quietly.
"So that's what your smile looks like, Echo."
The wind carried her words away...
Before either of them could hear.
Not every lesson is taught inside a classroom...
And not every form of magic begins with a spell.
Sometimes...
It begins with kindness.
- Writer
