Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 133: Arc 3, - 43: Frozen Tears Part II

"Yeah. But hey, we’re all alive right now and that’s what matters," the blonde held Asobi’s shoulder softly.

Asobi, "Mm..." pondered the thought then nodded. She gleefully sat back up, beaming from ear to ear, "You’re right Jotou! So, what crazy thing happened that time?"

’There we go. It feels much better when she’s smiling.’ Jotou got infected, now smiling as well.

"That time. I didn’t tell you in fear of upsetting you. I shouldn’t treat you like a child, I realize that now. We asked you to make the cart invisible."

"So, we’d make an invisible escape!?" the jade eyes glittered.

"Yeah. You spouted out your magic words, adding flair to the performance. That, pizzazz, that little something that makes everything go pop."

Asobi nodded aggressively, "Yes, yes! You get it! You get it! That little something that makes everything sparkle; that thing that catches everyone’s eye and make them go, WOAAAAHH!"

The starry-eyed elf faced the ceiling, both hands holding her wand. Jotou shook her head, "You’re too much," though she smiled.

"Huh? Jotou, do you not like my awe-inspiring, amazing, spectacular magical performances!?" Asobi popped back down to Jotou.

"I wouldn’t have you any other way Sobi. You’re, phantasmagorical; supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" Jotou threw her arms out.

A tear nearly was brought to the elf’s eyes, "Super-cali-fragilistic-expalley-doshes... So many letters, I don’t even know what it means, but it sounds AMAZING!"

Jotou giggled, "The best words, only for the best magician." ’How can she pick up these odd words and things, but not know simple concepts? Sigh, complicated in her own right.’

"Thank you!"

"You said to me once, not that you’d remember, you’d show me all your tricks. Though, what we learned that day was exactly how you did your tricks..."

"Oh, did I reveal my secrets?"

"In a way. You tested your illusion on a moving cart and we were ready to go, but then you told us we couldn’t go fast because your illusion couldn’t keep up.

You’d have to keep making up illusions along the way for every grass patch, every shadow, every road; also keep an eye on the clouds and cover our tracks for us to be completely undetectable.

Fumeko asked, why you didn’t just make it invisible. After some probing, we realized, you don’t know that there’s a spell for invisibility."

"Wait, there’s a spell for that?" Asobi tilted her head.

"Apparently... It’s not my domain of expertise, I’m not sure what all spells you can do. But we realized that every time you go invisible or make something invisible you’re actively tracking it.

To put it short, you overcomplicate a simple spell and made your own complicated spells that were all essentially doing the same thing; and you concentrated on it a lot to keep it up.

Hair colour, shoes, makeup, everything. The way Hotaru reacted, seems you don’t need to concentrate on many illusions spells, but at the end of the day, we discovered you knew three whole spells."

"That’s not true! I have-"

"Bubbling Butterflies, Dazzling Upsurge, Gleaming Shower, Glitter Gush, Misty Shadow, Copy Me, Fumeko Mask," Jotou named off.

"Silly Jotou! It’s Bubbling Butterflies, Dazzling Outburst, Shimmering Shower, Glitter Burst, Smoky Shadow, Copy Me and Fumeko Masquerade!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Uh..." Jotou squinted. ’Well I got one right at least.’ "Regardless, they were all the different names for the same spells. Sorry I can’t remember them all. But we figured out they were just nicknames for specific patterns of light.

The only spells you had were, light, blinding light and you said, the thing you do with sound... You were just using your affinity to make the light spell over and over.

You got really sad and your illusions started fading. You thought you disappointed us."

"Did I?" Asobi slumped; some of her illusions, protecting her image from sweat disappeared slightly.

Jotou smiled, "No, you didn’t. Hotaru knew the key to your affinity was joy and or being entertaining. She in fact apologized, she was just in shock of how you can do that many illusions with a simple light spell.

Other than just making it brighter or dimmer; even then, your spell must be expert if not, master level."

"Hotaru said that? Even after I disappointed everyone?"

"You didn’t disappoint anyone... You couldn’t if you tried Asobi; you’re too pure and you’re too sweet. Your playfully childish nature brings out all the joy you have.

You’re innocently wise and think of solutions in ways nobody else thinks of. Some may call it dumb or lucky, but we all need a little luck. It’s what makes you, you and it’s not disappointing in the slightest."

Jotou reassured, as the elf’s illusion reignited bit by bit, covering her up... "Jotou... thank you," she smiled, but her illusion did not hide her blushing.

’Huh... I, I said that. Why did I ever think she was a blank slate? Because she didn’t preform well in a battle and followed orders? What kind of monster am I...?

How much did I truly push aside who they were, in wanting to protect them? So much so that I turned them into nothing more than something to protect; to justify any action. I never stopped to think, of what they’d think of me...’

"You’re welcome. And since your smile pretty much makes anyone in the vicinity happy, here’s more things for it; Fumeko mentioned that elves are more potent with magic.

So, you’re really, really powerful. Other elves also don’t tend to live in big cities. We told you we could go find another elf and teach you some magic.

But you were content with us and to let Hotaru teach you new spells. Your magic was already impressive, but you yearned to learn more spells."

Asobi examined Jotou’s face over and over, like a kid listening to bedtime story. "And then, I had to face everything alone." ’She knows what happened, no need to repeat it.’

"I used your wand, and it made my spells pretty powerful and much more shocky. I hope you don’t mind," Jotou looked to her.

Asobi hummed, "No, I don’t mind. This is after I uh..." Asobi shook her head, "I don’t mind at all! I’m glad you could put on a show using my favourite wand!"

’It’s her only wand...’ "Anyways, then comes last loop. I was, really bad this time; I tried not to tell anything, I tried to keep every emotion at bay.

I resisted everything, including the urge to breakdown. It became pretty obvious my head was unstable, even you noticed it. It was the first time I ever saw you fully down in the dumps for so long.

We slept in the same jail cell and you decided to confront me in the morning of how I had been acting all day..." Jotou pursed her lips, taking a breath before continuing. Asobi watched quietly.

"They didn’t allow you do magic and it made me ask you what had you so down, thinking that was the answer. Then you mimicked my voice to ask me the same question...

You had noticed my unusual behaviour which I ignored to keep in check. I told you it was complicated and I began scolding you when you continued questioning me."

"I’m sorry!" Asobi held her wand tight.

"No, I am. You telling me that made me start questioning my own sanity. I said things I shouldn’t’ve ever said to you and asked you to stay away because I believed you couldn’t handle it.

I said you were nothing but a blank slate waiting for orders. I was such an idiot... But after that, when everything went to hell again...

You were the one, the one who talked me out of it. Who still wanted to help me. I gave you a bunch of excuses that I had given up, even though you asked me to try again. I asked you to leave, and go find somewhere else to be happier.

And then... I think you told me something that sealed my fate. You told me, that you were the happiest with all of us... I couldn’t accept it and eventually you convinced me.

You told me, we all need a little luck; but at the end of the day, I realized with what you said, that it’s up to us. What we choose to do will lead to a butterfly effect.

We can’t control everything except the things directly around us. And how we do it, matters the most, not getting the point across. That’s why I’m talking to all of you, one by one—properly.

This is how I’m choosing to do things. And then when I cried for your help, sobbing and apologizing to you, you did the most spectacular show I’ve seen in my life.

Your illusions hurt the enemy as you put on a grand show. You did it. You helped me get to this outcome and I can’t thank you enough for not giving up on me," Jotou bowed slightly whilst sat.

Asobi bowed back gently, "How did my illusions, hurt the enemy?"

"I’m not sure about the how... There’s more to your affinity than you know. We’ll figure it out, together. I only wish I could make you happier to show all my thanks and give all my sorry-s."

"Can I ask for something then?" Asobi sat up.

"Of course."

"Just keep being yourself please! I don’t like the Jotou that scolded me from your story, but she sounds awful. But it’s true; you all make very happy.

Other than Master Zayexiwovu, I’ve known all of you the longest and the thought of losing any of you, it just makes me sad."

"It’s been barely three months..."

"Yes, but we’re really close! Isn’t that amazing!? We’ve spent almost everyday together—we’d eat lunch, breakfast, dinner. The only times we’d ever not see anyone was when you were off training with Master Tensuo.

Even then, it’s not like we never saw you. You’re from another world and you became such a hero even and stayed with all of us; protected us and the house!"

’She’s right. We’ve spent a lot of time together continuously. More than friends who have known each other for years even. Is this just the life of an adventuring party?

It’s like school, but you’re stuck with all your classmates; and you go on cool adventures... My life sounds like a kid’s fiction novel.’ Jotou chuckled.

’How many others would want to be in my position; more importantly, after everything I’ve been through? They’d have to be as insane as, well as me.’

"Because I like this life," Jotou uttered, "And I’d do anything to protect it and continue living it." ’That’s right. It’s so easy to forget when everything becomes so stressful; I end up repeating same mistakes...’

"Mhm! Mhm!" Asobi nodded, "It’s like we’re all one big family and I’d rather be with all of you than anywhere else!"

"Sobi..." Jotou glanced to the elf, her head tilting ever so slightly. Her blonde locks fell, strand by strand, "That’s, really beautiful. Thanks for having me be a part of it."

"You’re one of the stars Jotou! We all are!" illusory stars of white and gold filled the air.

"Of course. And we’ll do this together," Jotou could not help but laugh.