"Why'd you do it, anyway?" Linnie asked.
The two of them were walking along the semi-crowded streets. The large explosion, while contained by Alwyn and the knight, had still brought a load of attention.
Most people, though, were still watching and participating in whatever nightly festivities that were going on. Apparently, they were even more interesting than a large fireball in the middle of the city.
"Huh? Do what?" he asked.
"Cast that big spell and destroy the entire town."
"...Oh, that? Why're you asking me now?"
"Well, today, Marielle and The Prince asked me about it. How I became your apprentice. Liora and Aliza don't know either, I think. And, I was also reminded of it from my own spell I accidentally casted. But I couldn't tell them, then. Because then you'd look crazy!"
"Ah, so that was it. So, do you think I'm crazy for doing that, Lin?"
"Ehhh, no. Well, maybe a little. I just don't know why you did it. Sure, we were getting attacked, but was destroying the entire town—with all the people in it—really the only option? Not that I really care, but..."
"Lin, I think it's important that you know that I've done things like that many other times. And worse. And I'll probably do more. Hey, don't tell anyone else that, okay!? It's a secret! But... would you believe me if I said it was all for a good reason? You trust me, don't you?"
"Trust you? I don't know about that..." Linnie hesitated for a second, scratching his cheek and deciding whether or not to say his next few words. "I think it's more of a... loyalty? I just mean that... you don't have to worry about me."
Alwyn raised an eyebrow.
"You've given me, uh, everything." It was kind of embarrassing, since the boy had never truly expressed his gratitude for anyone before. "So, yeah, I guess. I trust that you're not completely crazy. No, you're definitely crazy, scratch that! I just don't think you're evil or anything."
"Ha! Evil, huh?" Alwyn wrapped his arm around Linnie's shoulder. "You're a good aprentice, Lin. Ahem, I've gotta go, now. See you later."
Before Linnie realized it, they had arrived at the front gates of the estate.
"Wait a second! I have a question!"
"...Go on, then. What is it? I've really got to go, so make it quick."
Linnie ripped his hat off his head and pointed to it.
"These hats, there's supposed to be an empty void inside them, right? Just like yours! That's what I assumed would be in mine, but it's got a room!"
Alwyn looked at him, confused. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally, he spoke:
"Your assumption was correct, that's exactly what's inside of my hat, and should be what's inside of yours. And all of them, for that matter. You're telling me... that there's a room inside of yours?"
"That's right... isn't it weird?"
Linnie felt curiosity well inside of him. He wanted an answer!
But, the truth was much simpler than he had expected.
"Ah, well, it's not completely unheard of. It's not very common, but some wizards decorate the inside of their hats. Whoever owned your space before must've done the same. As long as it isn't anything strange, there's nothing wrong with it. I can even get rid of it if you'd like."
"No, there's nothing strange. Actually, I kind of like it. It's just a small room with a rug and a mirror, and some books. Wait, did you say someone's owned it before!? My hat's a hand-me-down!?"
"What're you getting so heated over? Relax, the hat's new. Well, un-worn. It's the space inside that was once used—inside a different hat."
"...I don't get it."
"Thanks to the nature of the spell, these spaces are usually reused once the owner dies or sells it off. Some wizards don't even bother getting one, opting to get a magic purse instead. Those, of course, have their own drawbacks—such as limited storage, which the hats don't have.
But the drawback of the spell used in the hats is the limited 'spaces.' The spell was made by a wizard from a damn long time ago, and his method has long since been lost. As in, there's only one enchantment left, used on each hat. Theoretically, if we figured out how to replicate the original enchantment, we could double, or triple, or even infinitely scale the spell—but, alas. So, everyone's space has been used before, pretty much."
"How's there a limit if the space is infinite? That makes no damn sense!"
"Idiot, the rooms are infinite. There aren't infinite rooms. The spell has a select amount of rooms, each of which have infinite space. What's so hard to understand about that?"
"Damn it, whatever! I understand! See you later, then!"
Linnie turned away and approached the gate. When he turned back, Alwyn was gone.
'I guess that makes sense. If it was owned by an old wizard, that explains the magic mirror.'
A guard opened the gate for him and, to his annoyance, escorted him inside.
"Where's the cat?" the woman asked.
"What cat?"
"The lady told me to make sure you didn't bring a cat inside when you got back."
"Oh. She's exploring. Don't look at me like that! Where would I even hide her? Inside my hat?"
The guard squinted her eyes, wondering if he really could hide a cat in his large hat. Linnie took it off, though, showing that no animal was hiding on his head.
She shrugged, and allowed Linnie inside. Immediately, he walked towards his room. Unlike earlier, servants were everywhere, rushing to and fro along the halls.
'Busy night?'
He reached his room and, once he got inside, threw his hat onto the bed and started undressing.
'These clothes are so annoying!'
After a few minutes, he finally jumped into his bed.
'What a long day... oh man, I wish I could just fall asleep in this awesome bed' he thought, yawning.
Strangely, he had the urge to revisit the small room within his hat. He climbed inside and was greeted by the fireplace once again.
He landed on top of the pillow Lady was, somehow, still sleeping on. She yelped and hissed.
"Sorry! Why would you sleep right under the entrance!? That's completely your fault, idiot!"
The fire was warm and comforting, and the rug soft and inviting. So, he crawled in front of the mirror.
'I still look like a monster. Cool.'
It wasn't cool.
And, somehow, something moved behind him. In the mirror, that is. He made sure by spinning around in the real world, where nothing else was inside the room but him.
He turned back to the mirror, and squinted, trying to make out what it was. It was just barely in frame. An... arm?
Then, it jolted up, as if the owner of said arm had sat up quickly off the ground. It moved out of the mirror's view for a second, and then, the soft thudding of footsteps could be heard in the room.
The figure walked in front of the frame, fully revealing herself.
"What!? S-shadow girl!?"