Five years ago, Rikka was at Lillen School, a school that taught magic, talked about animals, and had lots of delicious food.
Rikka: "Huh..."
Student: "This is the new one... Rikka..."
Female student: "Hmm... she's cute... but doesn't seem particularly lucky or talented..."
Magic teacher: "Now Rikka... what do you like?"
Rikka: "Huh?"
Magic teacher: "Go ahead... say hello."
Rikka: "Hello... I... am Rikka Pricilia Green... I am 13 years old and I like cooking, crafting... and... traveling?"
The students started laughing.
Student: "Hahaha... cooking? Crafting... why do you want to learn magic then!"
Magic teacher: "Quiet... (cough)... sit down, Rikka..."
She sat on a chair in the middle.
Rikka: "Hmm."
Female student: "Oh... hello, Rikka..."
Rikka: "Oh, hello..."
Female student: "I'm Rose... nice to meet you, Rose Petterson."
Rikka: "Oh... hello... I am Rikka Pricilia Green."
Rose: "I already heard that, hehe..."
Rikka: "Why do you... have a body like a toy?"
She had doll-like eyes that looked like buttons.
Rikka: "Hmm?"
Rose: "I come from the Doll Kingdom... hehehe..."
Rikka: "I see..."
The school was quiet, and after class, Rikka wanted to take a walk.
Rikka: "Hehehe... can you actually go outside?"
Rose: "Hmm, no. You have to stay on school grounds..."
Rikka: "Huh, since when have you been following me..."
Rose: "Hehe... I followed you..."
Rikka: "What do you mean we have to stay inside... there's no crafting here... or gathering plants or cooking..."
Rose: "No... not that I knew..."
Rikka: "Mmmm..."
She pouted.
And so began her time... but for Rikka, it was unfortunately not very successful.
(Splash!)
Magic teacher: "Rikka... damn... your water magic is very weak. You can only defeat weak opponents..."
Rikka: "I'm sorry... I can only use my fist and the wave... and I use it either for watering or... for... showering..."
Magic teacher: "Hahh... you didn't pass this test either... Rikka Pricilia Green, I warn you! This does not look good..."
For Rikka, her water magic was only for watering, since her family had been farmers. It wasn't easy for her. This made it very hard, but she managed to pass the basics of her first year. She was good with animals and contract spirits and gained Eugene toward the end of her first year at school.
Magic teacher: "So Rikka... show me who your contract spirit will be. Hold out your hand... and close it... wait until one of these creatures lands on your hand."
She did this and felt something land on her hand.
Magic teacher: "Ugghh... impossible..."
Rikka: "Huh."
She opened her eyes, and there was the owl, Eugene.
Magic teacher: "But the owl should... only someone with a lot of magic and mana can take it... why... why did it choose you..."
Eugene: "Good morning, miss. My name is Eugene... Eugene Tinsworth... pleased to meet you."
Rikka: "Rikka, Rikka Pricilia Green..."
The next year
(Hohhhmmmmm!)
Magic teacher: "Hmm. The wind is strong today..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... hehe."
Bell: "Huh?"
Rikka: "Huh?... oh... I see you for the first time... are you new here?"
Bell: "Oh... yes..."
Rikka: "Hello... my name is Rikka Pricilia Green. Just call me Rikka..."
Bell: "Bell Delsworth..."
Rikka: "Hmm... what is your magic?"
Bell: "Flowers... and crystals..."
Rikka: "Ughhuh... really... that's cool..."
Bell: "And... I'm cursed... I cannot... age..."
Rikka: "Ohh... you too?.. I'm also cursed... didn't expect to meet someone else here who is cursed... tell me, who did it?"
Bell: "Lilliane..."
Rikka: "Oh, for me it was Barbara, the Witch of Wrath... hehehe... interesting."
Lilliane, Witch of Lust; Barbara, Witch of Wrath; Kiko, Witch of Sloth; Mona, Witch of Gluttony; Malificient, Witch of Greed; Lagerse, Witch of Pride... these are the witches in the world of Tenya.
Rikka: "Hmmm..."
Bell: "I... um... don't really know why... I think it's because of my family..."
Rikka: "For me, it was because I entered the forbidden forest searching for my cat when I was around 5 years old..."
Bell: "Oh... I see... hmm? This clock... is cool."
Rikka: "Ugh... right? I made it myself. I love crafting..."
Bell: "Oh really?..."
Rikka: "I love crafting... and it's really fun."
Bell: "Ohh... I love it too, hehe... my father had one... hehehe..."
Rikka: "Had?"
Bell: "Oh yes... my parents... are... dead... hehe... it's been a long time..."
Rikka: "Ohh... mine too..."
They looked at each other.
Rikka: "Hmm..."
Bell: "Hmm... how old are you?"
Rikka: "14..."
Bell: "I am 13..."
Rikka: "Oh... I see, hehehe..."
They said nothing.
Bell: "Hey... um... I think... we should meet sometime and talk more... do you think that's okay?"
Rikka: "Oh yes... gladly..."
End of memory
Shane: "So, that's how you met Bell?"
Rikka: "Yes... after that we met several times, and when I finished school... after two years I could choose nature and cooking magic as subjects... those were easier for me... then I left the school... I could have continued to get a teaching certificate, but I didn't want to become a teacher... hehehe..."
Shane: "I see..."
She stroked Shane's head.
Rikka: "So... there you have it... as you know... I am also human... that's why I believe humans have the right to enjoy crafting or magic... or both... hehehe..."
Shane: "Mhm... I think so too..."
Rikka: "Now sleep, Shane..."
Shane: "When is Bell's birthday?"
Rikka: "Hmm?... You mean when he was born, hehe... today was his birthday... but he still needs 3 weeks... until he gets his magic pass... you only get a magic pass at 18 and in the fifth year... he was a year below me, so there's also the witch pass... but that's from the eighth year... then you can become a teacher... or just a witch... Lillen School is really huge..."
Shane: "And Rose?"
Rikka: "Rose... hmmm... I haven't seen her in a long time... I wonder if she's doing well?..."
Shane: "In 3 weeks you'll meet Bell... then you can kiss him..."
Rikka: "Ughh... Shane! (blushes) we are only... partners, okay!"
Shane: "Lies..."
Rikka: "Hmmmmmm..."
She pouted.
Shane: "But be happy, Rikka... at least you have another human like you by your side... that's rare..."
Rikka: "Huh?... mmm..."
Shane: "Hmm?"
Rikka: "Yes... I... see... so you think the same..."
Shane: "Huh?"
She got up a little.
Rikka: "I'll sleep on the sofa... you can sleep here..."
Shane: "Rikka?"
She left the room.
Rikka: "...Am I really... that annoying? Like a brat?..."
She went to the sofa and lay down.
Rikka: "Hmmm... I have to go back so Shane doesn't think he said something mean..."
She returned... Shane opened the door just then.
Rikka: "Huh."
Shane: "Rikka... I'm sorry... did I say something mean?"
Rikka: "(sweating)... probably too late... hehehe... no, you didn't."