Chapter 21
"All you gotta do is break this pinata and win the prize of your choice~! It's just that simple, folks! So hurry up and line up to win your special someone a prize of their choice," the man explained just as the group saw a guy throwing a small ball, that to Maria resembled a softball, towards the large pink heart pinata.
The guy threw a great toss, though sadly it did nothing to the pinata, that didn't even have a scratch. From behind, Micheal narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Something is not right about that pinata." Standing across from him, Isis mirrored his expression before a smile slowly made its way to her face.
"Yes, but the man is soon in for a big surprise."
When the man, owner of the game stand, saw Mai eagerly holding out her money to take her chance at the pinata, his eyes lit up like a greedy snake that was out to con people out of their money. Maria had wanted to stop Mai but was already too late as the man quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed Mai's money. Though before Mai took a shot at the pinata, she ran over to Maria.
"Maria, pick what prize you want!"
"Huh? Me? Shouldn't you be winning for yourself?"
"Don't wanna! I want to get you something as a symbol of our friends.h.i.+p. So... pick out your prize!" Mai dragged Maria over to the prizes that consisted of a pile of adorable stuffed animals and jewelry. All the accessories were top-notch and dazzling, increasing Maria's suspicions that this was a guy who should not be trusted.
Asking herself just where could such a guy get high-grade jewelry from? Deciding to choose whatever caught her attention the most, Maria chose a pink heart jewel pendant.
"Hmm, that isn't a regular necklace but a low-grade magical item. Which is weird, seeing how magical items are restrictedly sold in magical items shops, not at carnival games." Isis shot the guy a threatening smile, causing the guy to be on his guard, sweating bullets all over his face.
"I-I have n-no clue what you are talking about. T-This is just a regular necklace! Now, little girl, why don't you give it a go at the pinata and win your friend a prize?" The guy put on a fake smile, acting as if he was not caught up in any trouble, and placed the softball in Mai's hand. Looking at it curiously, Mai's handed back the softball and asked,
"Hey, mister, can I use my fist instead of this ball?"
The guy wasn't expecting this demand from such a small girl, sweating harder than before when he nervously tried to talk Mai into using the
"We'll pay extra~!"
"Deal!" The man without any hesitation accepted the deal, once he heard Isis increase the pay.
'Man, this guy is greedy.' Maria shook her head at those greedy eyes, that eagerly took Isis's money without hesitation. With the pinata now in her sight, Mai grinned excitedly as she popped her knuckles.
Reaching her arm back, she got ready to throw a punch, though what caught everyone's attention the most was when Mai's fist started glowing yellow with light magic. Launching it forward, she broke the pinata in half straight in half, causing it to crash to the ground.
Once on the ground, amongst the pile of ribbons, confetti, and other things spilled out, the group of youngster Maria spotted a plate of heavy-duty wood and turned their eyes towards the shady man who was about to make a break for it when his exit was blocked by Micheal and Isis.
"Hey! I did nothing wrong!" the man shouted in his defense.
"Funny cause I recalled my mother telling my something about a thief breaking into one of Astral top magical items stores and got away with a small loot of stolen goods. Then again I could be wrong, so just in case, how about we call the authorities over to check out to see whether I'm wrong or not, ne?"
Isis sweetly asked, even though nothing about her smiling face seemed sweet. Once the authorities were called over, the man was taken into questioning.
"So should I give back the necklace? I don't feel good about taking stolen goods," confessed Maria, only for Isis to rea.s.sure her.
"You can keep it; my mother is good friends with the person this item was stolen from. I'll ask her to put in a good word for you. " Isis winked playfully at Maria as the group continued to find fun activities.
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Before leaving, the group wanted to ride one more ride, a ride that Maria was currently sharing with Julian, which was the Ferris Wheel. Sitting beside the purple-haired boy, Maria became worried once she saw how pale his skin turned.
"Julian, are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah! I-I'm completely fine!" He was lying; there was no way he was fine, judging by how pale his skin had turned added with his body shaking uncontrollably, Maria thought to herself.
"Julian, by any chance... are you afraid of heights?"
Maria knew she hit the nail on the head when she saw his body jerk and felt her heart go soft. Scooting closer to him, she put his head in her lap and began patting his head. "It's okay; you don't have to fret. In a little while, this whole thing will be over."
"...Sorry for once again showing such a weak and embarra.s.sing side of myself. I want to become strong... I'm trying but sometimes it seems so meaningless. Even now, I still pa.s.s out after entering Stella Aurorae gate." A sigh of pity escaped Julian, laying bare his insecurities in front of the person that he wanted to appear strong for.
"People just don't automatically become strong, Julian. Becoming a strong person takes work and patience. Give it time, I a.s.sure you that one day you will become a strong person."
"Do... Do you really mean that? Me of all people?" Julian hesitantly asked, unable to identify this warm bubbly feeling that was growing inside him.
"Of course~! You just got to believe in yourself just as I believe in you." Never had Julian experienced someone putting so much trust in him. Not himself, nor his own parents, fully believed that he could change, that he could, in fact, become someone who was strong and overcame his own insecurities.
"Thank you, Maria, for being such a good friend."
"Anytime, Julian."
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After the whole trip to the carnival came to a close, everyone went their separate ways; Maria returned home with her brother, and life continued on as normal. Maria continued attending Diamond Academy, ignoring the dirty looks that she had by now grown accustomed to.
In cla.s.s, each time Ms.Nunnally would bring up Diamond Academy's annual Graduation Exam, which was growing closer, b.u.t.terflies would set loose in the pit of her stomach. In order for children to graduate and move up a grade in the Elementary Division. The school a.s.signed an exam for them at the end of the year.
Which included them going against low rank, magical beast-type creature, something which made Maria feel scared out of her mind. These fears only got worse when she began having nightmares of being chased around by a Flame Bear trying to set her on fire and an Iron Raven releasing iron blades upon her.
This made it hard for Maria to get an ounce of sleep and be overwhelmed with anxieties. Out of all things, she did not want to fail her exam, but just how was she, a transmigrated first-grader, supposed to fight against a fantasy magical creature!
When Maria talked to her mother about her anxieties over teand-cake time, the beautiful brunette rea.s.sured her daughter with a big hug and smile, and announced, "You are going to visit your grandparents!"
To which Maria couldn't help but ask herself, 'Just how is that supposed to help me?!'