Ilaya already had a traumatic experience from helping people. And when this child showed up, her trauma reared its ugly head again. But, she realized that it's not the same as that one time she helped
'This was just a lost child. I mean, what could go wrong?'
Ilaya's smile froze at that thought, she started to sweat as she exclaimed in her mind
'I take that back!'
The little girl was confused by her silence and became scared. She started trembling. Ilaya noticed this as she said softly
"Alright. Let's find you mommy. Do you remember what direction you walked?"
The little girl looked down and shook her head. Ilaya sighed as she reached out her hand
"Let's go. Well look for her"
The little girl hesitated but grabbed her hand. Of course, she noticed that on her other hand, there's a buzzer. Ilaya's mouth twitch but didn't say anything
'A personal safety alarm. It's good that she had one. But don't set it off when I'm with you or we're going to have a problem! I don't want that police officer to laugh at me!'
Ilaya lampooned as they started walking around. People look at them from time to time and Ilaya notices their amusement. As Ilaya passed an elderly, the old woman smiled at her and continued on her way. Ilaya stopped and looked back. She was confused
'Why are they looking at me like that? And what's with that warm smile?'
Ilaya looked at the little girl and it hit her. Her face reddened as she thought
'Did… the people mistaken me for her mother?'
The little girl looked up to her and wondered why she stopped. Ilaya saw the purity in her eyes as she smiled and pat her little head. Then, she continued walking while pondering
'Looking for her mother in this people infested area will be a nightmare. Maybe a little trick will solve it'
Ilaya inhales and enhances her sense of hearing. She's much more comfortable in using just one of her powers compared to using them all at the same time. She felt a slight dizziness, but her hearing expanded rapidly. She immediately sorted out all the sounds and only focused on a distressed breathing, shouting, and crying. That's the state of a mother losing her child, so she focused on that
However, as all kinds of sound entered her ears. At this time, only then Ilaya realized that despite the lively appearance and atmosphere of the city, there's so much suffering happening here! Hidden in homes of people!
The amount of sobbing, crying, and wailing almost sent Ilaya toppling to the ground. Her hair stood on end as she vividly heard and felt the heavy emotions contained in each of cries. Ilaya's eyes widened as her mood turned gloomy. For the first time, she caught a glimpse about the distressing nature of powers
'Curses were terrible enough. But… Using power to unknowingly peek at the dark side of the world is truly horrific. Maybe I was right all along'
Ilaya closed her eyes
'That power is also a curse. There's no power, only curses'
Ilaya heard a yelp and she looked back. The little girl was frightened and she was started to sob. Ilaya looked at her hand and saw that she's gripping the little girl's hand. She hurriedly let go and started to panic. She calmed down the sobbing girl
"I'm sorry little one. Your big sister was just in pain. It's okay"
Ilaya patted her head and the little girl sobbing slowly stopped. To distract her, Ilaya said
"Little one, I know how to find your mommy. Do you have something that your mommy always carries?"
The little girl thought for a bit before reaching down in her pocket. She took out a handkerchief and said to Ilaya
"Mommy gave this to me a while ago"
Then, the girl started crying
"I missed mommy"
Ilaya sighed. Despite her attempt at stopping her from crying, she still cried in the end. For some reason, she saw herself in this child. A lonely one, who wants to find her comfort and happiness. And also a crybaby
Ilaya knelt and hugged the little girl. Then, she rubbed her back as she said tenderly
"It's alright. We'll find your mommy for sure. Leave it to me"
Then, she stood up and took her handkerchief. She activated her senses of smell as she took a sniff at the fabric. She smelled a kind of cologne and her mother's smell. She looked around a felt that somehow, she know how to differentiate smells
Each smell had its own characteristics. The pleasant smell was light. The smell of things and objects was still, not changing. But the pungent smell was heavy. Toxic waste was really the reigning king in a city. But, among all of the smell, she picked up a nice scent. The one similar to the smell of handkerchief
She looked to her right and she felt that the smell turned into a tread that's leading somewhere. Ilaya looked at the little girl and said
"I found your mom. Let's go to her"
The little kid turned happy as she immediately agreed
"Okay!"
Ilaya and the little girl walked across the road and followed the scent. Along the way, she lost count of her mistaking other smells from her target. She sniffed the fabric from time to time in order to remember the smell. The little girl giggled at Ilaya and said
"Bis sister. You're like a dog. Are you sure we can find mommy by smelling"
Ilaya laughed and said to her
"Of course. I'm using my magical power to locate your mother. I'm a magical girl you see, and I'm powerful"
The girl's eyes widened and she excitedly asked Ilaya
"Wow! That's so cool! Did you also defeat a bad guy?"
Ilaya's smile faltered, but she said to her excitedly
"Of course! I once defeated a very bad guy. And I made sure that he's not going to disturb the peace of this world"
The little girl eyes sparkled and asked while they walked
"You're amazing big sister! I want to be a magical girl too, but I don't have powers. Did you send that bad guy to prison?"
Ilaya nodded and said
"Yes. He's going to be there for the rest of his life"
'If you count a coffin as a prison I guess'
Then, Ilaya was cut off from thinking as she smelled the target she was looking for. The smell was heading inside a building. Then, she noticed the logo outside and looked at the surveillance camera
"It's a police station. We're here"
The little girl looked around and didn't see her mother. She asked
"Where? I don't see mommy"
Ilaya looked at her and smiled. She pointed at the entrance of the station
"Head inside the door. Your mother is inside"
Then, Ilaya suddenly crouches and hugs her tightly. She then said
"You don't need to have powers to be a magical girl. If you make people around you smile, you have power. To make people smile"
Then, Ilaya let go of her and handed her the handkerchief. She looked at her pure eyes
"Live happily. Little one"
After saying that, she stood up and waved at the little girl. Then, she turned around and vanished in the sea of people. Away from the child's vision