Zeeta and the Wizarding World
Her dream

Several days have passed after the events of Zeeta's “disappearing” in the forest. The family heads had also had a meeting with the Village Chief to discuss what had really happened. In their conclusion, Zeeta's disappearance must have been related to the Elves they couldn't see, because Zeeta came back mysteriously and too suddenly.

At the meeting of the family head, Arthur also explained that the reason for allowing Zeeta to go into the forest was to want the Elves to realize the existence of Zeeta.

No more, and no less.

Unfortunately, the estimate is wrong. The Elves lowered their hands to Zeeta. Arthur added that he had interrogated Zeeta what happened after he drank water from the river, but Zeeta had no recollection.

This is also another point why Arthur and the other family heads agree that the Elves have intervened, because only magic can make Zeeta forget. Moreover, magic that makes a person forget certain events specifically needs no less.

The heads of the family realize that they only have three more years to keep the secret of their birth mother and the secret of the obligations that Zeeta has to do. This is not easy for them to do, because Zeeta has been part of the Lazuli family since she was a baby.

Although the real conditions are no longer too peaceful, Zeeta is still having fun with friends her age. Sometimes they also practice magic together guided by the only person who has the largest mana in the village of Lazuli—Arthur.

Zeeta's days are getting more colorful with her getting used to helping Arthur in the tavern. Zeeta is also increasingly famous to neighboring villages for his agility while helping Arthur even though he is still five years old.

Almost similar to the results obtained by Danny whose daily helps Recko hunt— which makes him accustomed to carrying heavy loads and also shooting techniques that are quite great for his age—Zeeta also get these results. But the difference is, Zeeta has a talent in cooking, plus everyday she always practices magic with Arthur.

......................

One afternoon, while the weekend and the A n' Z tavern were on holiday, Zeeta looked gloomy and only sighed repeatedly even though in front of her was her favorite drink, hot chocolate. This of course made Arthur question mark. Without waiting and hesitating, he immediately sat down next to his daughter.

Arthur started the conversation by asking, “What's wrong with you? Later the glass will smell with your bad breath, you know.” Arthur interspersed a little joke.

“Leave it! This is my favorite glass anyway. So whatever I want to do, ‘kan!” Zeeta replied to her father in a resentful tone.

“Hmm .. does this have anything to do with your workouts?”

Hearing him, Zeeta turned her head to another corner.

“Uugh... how can Dad know..?” ask Zeeta who is grumbling a little.

“Because I'm your father, son. So, what made you get like this?”

Zeeta finally wants to tell her. He changed his sitting position by looking directly at Arthur.

“So I've been playing with friends. We were racing for speed to raise Aunt Grilda's renjie.

"Everything takes only five seconds and I can't raise any fruit at all! Raising something is not difficult and I even train with Dad almost every day!

"But ... why?”

Tears began to fall slowly on the little girl's cheeks.

Arthur let out a little sigh and stroked his son's hair. “Should I tell you how many times, son? If magic doesn't match what you're expecting, there are two causes.

"Your imagination is unclear or your magic is lacking.”

“But I usually always manage to use my magic when helping Dad, but why can't this time?!”

Arthur was silent for a moment and his eyes looked suspicious. Then, he replied, “Maybe your imagination is not clear.

"I should say this, but actually renjie won't just grow with imagination to make it big.

"Why is that?

"Because renjie fruit is part of nature, then the way is not the same as using magic in your daily life. Maybe it's still hard to understand for you, but look at this..”.

Arthur moved out of his chair to pick up the vegetables in the refrigerator.

“This tomato is still freshly picked this morning and you can still make it grow big even though it is not embedded in the ground anymore. In other words, you can bewitch him,” said Arthur as he walked over and sat back next to Zeeta.

“But tomatoes are also the same as renjie—part of nature. To bewitch something from nature that already has its own mana, you need a more detailed imagination than just want him big,”

“Hah...? What do you mean, Dad?”

“Take careful attention.

"In order to grow these tomatoes, you must imagine growing the seeds, size, and taste you want. But, because tomatoes are part of nature, if you give him too much magic from humans.

Arthur practices it right in front of Zeeta.

The tomato that was previously fresh red in color, slowly withered and turned purple.

“This tomato will not be a tomato anymore. So, what you have to do to bewitch something from nature, you have to imagine it more clearly.

"Remember these three if you're going to do it any time. What you should imagine more clearly is the outside, inside, and the contents.”

“Outside...in.. and fill....

"All right!"

“But keep this in mind as well," Arthur interrupted who immediately attracted Zeeta's attention, "where man will not fit into any of nature. If you give him too much of your magic, then he'll be broken. However, if you are loved by nature, then everything will be different.”

“Love nature...?” Zeeta seemed to remember something.

“As long as I live, I have never seen a human being loved by nature.” a small figure vaguely flashed across his mind.

.

.

.

.

“...Uh...!"

"Zee...!"

"Zeeta!”

Her father's voice resuscitated Zeeta.

“I-iya?!”

“What's up? Do you understand now?”

“Uhm! Very understand! That means I'm just training less, right?”

Arthur smiled. “Hahaha. You're right.”

Arthur then walked over to the trash can and threw away the rotten tomatoes. He thought tonight's short lesson would end when Zeeta fell silent, but he was wrong.

Arthur saw his daughter hugging her hot brown glass with her tiny hands.

“Become a chef? Of course can.”

“I also want to be a chef.. but .. can I be good at using magic like Dad?”

“Hmmm Arthur seems to be thinking, but Zeeta thinks it is a doubt.

“Can't, yes...? After all, all this time, the magic I could use was just to help Dad carry things..” Zeeta is sad.

Feeling responsible for his attitude earlier, Arthur corrected the answer he should have said.

“You can do it, son. If you keep practicing and continue to hone your imagination, then you can be like me. It might even be past my ability!

"But, son, even though you can't be the same as me, you still have many other dreams you can go to. Remember that Dad won't make a big deal if you're not as good at using magic as I am.

"Understand?”

Zeeta pensively lowered her head. “Good...” He answered slowly.

“Then let's sleep. Tomorrow we will be preoccupied with customers!” shortly after Arthur ascends to the second floor, Zeeta stops her father.

“I am ... still want to be like Dad! Ja-so .. can I take time off to help Dad tomorrow so I can practice by myself?”

Arthur smiled. “Of course, don't go home too late, yes!” Arthur continued his footsteps to climb up. After Zeeta is relieved, she follows her father to sleep as well.

......................

The next morning, at eight o'clock in the morning, Arthur flipped the "close" sign on his shop door to "open". Then, he walked into his kitchen to wear a white apron, after which he tied up his long hair. This handsome man continues his activities by cooking supplies for Zeeta bring training later.

While she is busy with her activities, on the second floor, Zeeta is also replacing her pajamas with dresses and trousers in addition to her fashion. After he finished changing, he jumped himself into the bed.

“There are still many things that I have to learn before I can be as proficient as Dad.....” Zeeta is plagued with vague memories of the little creature. “If the fairy tale of his village is true, then the legend about the witch's curse is also true...!

"Then, is there anyone other than that witch whom nature loves?”

Zeeta got up from her bed and stood up in a waist pose. “Now is not the time to think about that! I'll prove that I can be as good as Dad!” he clenched his hands and was ready to train today.

“Zeeta, what are you doing above? Your hot chocolate will cool if you take too long!” His father's voice that sounded small because from the first floor, made Zeeta a little waver when she heard her favorite drink would be cold.

“I-i-iya, I'm down!” Zeeta jumps out of her bed and runs to pick up her hot chocolate.

After drinking half a glass of hot chocolate, he was spoken to by his father. “What are your plans today?” ask Arthur while preparing raw materials such as meat, vegetables, and spices with his magic.

“I'll ask for one renjie from Aunt Grilda, then try what Dad taught me last night. I have to make sure if I can or not. If I can't, I'll practice straight away!” it appeared from Zeeta's face that he was really serious.

“Wah, very good, son! But I didn't want you to go near the woods for a while, because when you were hunting with Recko and Danny, you disappeared! I don't want that to happen again, okay? And don't come home too late!”

“Please, Dad, because I won't be alone!”

“Hmm? You're gonna take someone?”

“Uhm. I plan to invite Gerda to accompany me.”

“Oh, his little sister Danny, huh? Yes ... well, since you're bringing a friend means you need two supplies, right?”

“Uhm! Thank you, Dad!”

......................

Under the hot sun, Zeeta is carrying a basket-shaped bag containing two provisions and two drinks that are still warm, namely honey milk.

He had reached the courtyard of the house belonging to Recko and Grilda. Grilda not only gardening from a village-owned estate as income, but she also has her own private garden, which is devoted to renjie fruit. It was sweet and rich in water that he loved!

After waiting for a while in front of the door, Grilda came to greet Zeeta. After informing Grilda of her needs, she was given permission to pluck a renjie and put it in the bag she was holding.

But unfortunately, Gerda who was on the list of plans had to be smeared because it was following Danny and Recko to sell some meat hunted to the village border with the kingdom—gerbang south.

“Alright, thank you, Auntie. I go first!” Zeeta lifted her foot from there and headed for another quiet place to train.

Zeeta has nowhere else to go but to the riverbank. He was lucky because not too many people were there today. After greeting some of the surrounding villagers, he was finally able to loosen his feet on the ground for a moment.

He looked at his right side. It looks like a palace that looks small because it is adrift with the village.

“Saying father, many nobles are often evil to us.... I don't understand why, but if I can, I want to know why they can be evil." he muttered as he looked at the palace.

After looking at his palace for quite a while, he refocused on his goal today. He took out a renjie and began his training. Because the river bank is opposite the village garden, there is a fairy who watches Zeeta from the depths of the garden....

......................

The sun is directly above the head of man. Zeeta has eaten two provisions prepared by her father and is now sitting curled up while shedding his tears. The renjie fruit that was in front of him had not changed at all since this morning. He just abandoned the fruit.

“Ah, here you are apparently!” the voice of someone he knew did not change his position. “I heard from mom, you want me to accompany you to practice. So—“ heard sobs and renjie fruit that he left to make him understand. Gerda, Danny's younger sister, sits next to Zeeta.

Gerda had long blonde hair tied to one braid and placed on her front left shoulder. His eyes were green in gems. It's like a little version of Grilda.

Gerda approaches Zeeta and attaches Zeeta's body to her. “Hei. I knew something silly... Do you want to know?” the question was not responded by Zeeta.

“As you were on your way to the gate, we met a noble who said he was about to take a vacation. The vehicle they rode on was so luxurious! Anyway everything glittered until Danny had to pull me away so as not to bother them.

"They stopped in front of us, interested in buying my father's meat! My dad was great, wasn't he? Up to the nobles, loh, who bought it!”

Gerda's enthusiasm is conveyed to Zeeta. Now he rubbed his tears to listen to Gerda who told him a story.

“But, the silly thing I know is .. The son of the nobleman is so useless!”

“Be...really...? Why that?” along with his whimper, Zeeta asked.

“He was always in his mother's arms! He is as big as us!”

“He? That right? Though we can already help this old man and that.. but the noble is not?”.

“Ask Danny if you don't believe me! After they left, my father told me that we should be proud even from the village. We can already do many things while nobles are just spoiled! Though I thought nobles were scary as our parents said, but it turns out there is something like this.. hahahaha!” Gerda laughed out loud as she remembered the noble boy she was studying for nothing but breathing in her mother's arms.

Zeeta remembered Arthur's words last night. Although he was not good at cleaning, there were other dreams he could go to. He immediately thought of changing all his training plans after hearing Gerda's story.

“Hey, I want to try something, want to help me?” ask Zeeta while Gerda is still laughing.

It seemed that, from the look on her face, Zeeta would do something that she had never done before.