A Wandering Ronin

The Old Book

Whenever Berna is asked to shop for groceries at the village market, he is always excited. Because he is smart, when he walks to the market, Berna calculates the money given by her nanny and what groceries to buy written on a piece of paper.

"If I'm good at bargaining, I have leftovers to buy a book," said Berna as she walked away and looked at the list of foods to buy on a piece of paper.

Arriving at the market, Berna made a bargain. Almost every groceries he bought, he bargained as low as possible. He even studied the movements and habits of the women who bid in this market. After everything was bought, Berna got the rest of the money. He immediately rushed to the bookstore and chose a book that appealed to him.

The bookstore looks very old and a bit run down. Just like the owner who has entered old age. The owner smiled sweetly when Berna opened the door and saw a lot of books on display.

"It's rare for a child to come to an old bookstore," said the shop owner, whose skin was already wrinkled.

"Uncle, I want to find a book that can add insight," said Berna, carrying groceries.

"Please choose. Especially for you, I give a discount."

Berna walked through the collection of books in this shop. Lots of books ranging from stories, politics, procedures, even cooking. After nearly ten minutes of looking around, Berna suddenly glanced at an old book with a thick cover. Berna came closer and took a closer look at the old book. On the cover it says "Ethias".

“Uncle, this book is for sale?” asked Bernah, pointing at the book.

"Of course. This is the first time someone has asked for the book. Usually, people don't care,” replied the shop owner.

"Indeed, what does this book contain?"

"I've been reading for a while. That book contains how to learn alchemy.”

“Alchemist?”

Berna thought and wondered what an alchemist was. Without thinking, Berna bought the book at a discounted price according to the shop owner's promise. He tucked the book in his pants so he wouldn't be caught. Arriving at the orphanage, Berna hid the book under the bed.

Every night, Berna secretly read the book and studied its contents. Only need to read once in each chapter, he immediately understood and mastered it. When he finished reading half of the book, he understood what an alchemist was. Until one night, he secretly went out through a secret little door he made and went into a forest not far from the orphanage.

When he got there, he made a strange circle on the ground with a twig. Then prepare the materials as described in the book. Berna stood in front of the circle then she crouched down and put her hands on the ground. Suddenly the strange circle gave off light and sparks came out.

"Luckily I have this book," said Berna who was shocked but also amazed by what he had done.

Not long after, there was the sound of footsteps. Berna quickly hid all the ingredients in the bushes. From the darkness, a figure was seen approaching. Then the figure slowly became clearer in the moonlight. It turned out that a girl with blonde hair approached. The girl wears a yellow dress and short hair.

"What did you just do?" the girl asked.

Berna didn't answer because he was scared. Then he shook his head.

"I saw you kneel before then fire came out of the ground."

"I...I don't..." Berna didn't finish her sentence.

"That's so cool," the girl's eyes lit up.

Berna then fell silent and said, “Really?”

The girl nodded with a smile.

"Want me to show you again?"

"Is it possible?"

Now it was Berna's turn to nod. He then made a circle on his palm then knelt down and placed his palm on the ground. Suddenly his palm glowed and the ground he touched turned into a flower.

"Wow, cool!" The girl's eyes lit up at the flower from the ground that Berna made.

Berna just scratched his head shyly.

"Uh, where do you live?" asked the girl.

"I live in an orphanage."

"Tomorrow, let's play, shall we?"

Reflexively Berna nodded.

"I'm waiting for the afternoon at the village park, okay?"

Once again Berna nodded.

When returning home to the orphanage through a secret door, Berna went straight to his room. All night, he could not sleep thinking about the girl. His face was still in the shadows. Even when he closed his eyes, his face was visible. Berna rolled around on the bed like someone who had just received a gift.

As usual, he had to clean the dining room in the morning before having breakfast. There were ten orphanage children in total, already gathered in the dining room when Berna finished cleaning it. Not only that, he also has to prepare plates and cutlery. After everything was ready, the orphanage children who were all boys immediately ate their breakfast.

"Hey Berna, you're doing a great job," teased a kid who was the biggest.

“Usually a mess,” said another.

Suddenly all the children laughed. Berna who did not accept, he stuck his right index finger under the table. Suddenly the plate containing the food belonging to the biggest child was lifted and hit his face.

"There are ghosts!" he shouted which made all the children now laugh at him.

"Guro, stop it!" said the nanny as she brought the potato soup.

Meanwhile Berna just smiled a little because now she could take revenge in secret.

***

In the afternoon, Berna kept his promise to meet the girl in the park. When he arrived, he saw the girl sitting on the swing. Before meeting the girl, Berna smoothed his hair and suddenly his cheeks turned red. He took a deep breath and walked closer.

"H...hi," said Berna, throwing a glance to the right.

The girl stood up and turned around and smiled. Berna even more embarrassed to see the sweet smile of the girl.

"You came," said the girl, holding out her right hand.

"Eh," Berna was confused.

"My name is Ellie," said Elie.

With trembling hands, Berna shook Ellie's hand. It felt so soft when his hand touched Ellie's.

“I…I'm…Berna,” Berna immediately let go of her hand and cast a glance to the right in embarrassment.

"You're funny," Ellie chuckled.

Berna also laughed while scratching his head.

"So, can you show me your magic trick again?" Ellie asked.

Berna nodded with a happy smile. He then spewed fire from his hands, turned earth into puppets, and even made metal necklaces just by grasping a pick of earth.

"Cool!" Ellie's eyes lit up when she saw the metal necklace that Berna had made.

"Ah, it's normal hahaha," Berna was humble but in her heart she liked being praised.

"May I use it?" asked Ellie.

"O...of course," answered Berna.

Berna then put a necklace with a heart-like pendant around Ellie's neck with a red face. After putting it on, Ellie looked so happy and even prancing around.

"I got a necklace from the magician master," said Ellie with a sweet smile.

Suddenly three boys came. Turns out they are Zaru, Veda and Nandi.

"What are you doing here, Berna?" asked Zaru in a snapping tone.

"You two know each other?" asked Ellie.

"He wants to be our friend but he is too weak," said Weda.

"But I think we should give him a chance," said Nandi.

Suddenly Veda hits Nandi on the head.

"Ouch, it hurts, you know," Nandi rubbed his head.

"You have been silent," said the Veda.

Zaru looked at Berna with a sharp gaze then said, "You want to annoy my sister, don't you?"

Berna suddenly gasped in surprise when he found out Ellie was Zaru's little sister.

"I...I don't bother..."

"Berna can do magic tricks," Ellie interrupted.

"Huh, magic?" Zaru is confused.

"Come on Berna show me your trick," Ellie pushed Berna from behind.

Berna instead fell silent while sweating because he was being glared at by Zaru.

"Huh, seriously you can do magic tricks?" asked the Weda.

"Wow, that's really cool," Nandi smiled, raising a thumbs up.

Berna then glanced at Ellie. But Ellie nodded indicating that Berna had to show his magic trick.

"All right," said Berna.

Berna then twisted her hands like he was taking out a move. Suddenly from the palm of his hand fire came out which made Zaru widen in surprise. His eyes almost popped out when he saw Berna's palm emitting fire.

"Great," said Nandi with sparkling eyes.

"Great right?" said Ellie.

"Where did you learn magic tricks from?" asked the Weda.

"That’s my secret," answered Berna.

"It doesn't matter where he learns from. Now, Berna is a cool kid," said Ellie, putting her arm around Berna's shoulder.

Immediately Berna became more and more awkward.

"That's just ordinary magic trick," Zaru felt compelled because Berna was now cooler than he was.

"Try showing me another trick," asked Nandi.

Berna is getting more and more challenged. He then styled like he wanted to take out another move. Then he knelt down and put his hands on the ground. His palms emit light and suddenly from the ground surface fire appears and sparks like fireworks.

“Amazing!!” say all of them almost at the same time.

To be continued...