Four Seasons Apothacary, Radz-at-Han ~ A Chilly Morning
Perspective - Natsuki Fuyo
"Irrashaimasse~!"
Even though we were far from Doma, it was still how we greeted customers here at the Four Seasons Apothecary in Radz-at-Han. Our signature, so to speak, and a reflex whenever we heard the opening bell. This morning it was just me at the front desk, my eyes glued to a ledger taking inventory an unable to look up at the pair of feet that entered.
"Iie...tadamaisu..."
A familiar whispery voice pulled up from my paperwork. I should have known by that distinct rattle of metal buckles who it was.
"Ah...? Fuyu-chan?" I replied, suprised. I still looked up even though I knew what sight I expected, though it seems like there were a few details that I had missed. Indeed, the red bandanna she wore last time she was in Han was replaced by the white lily as Haru-nee had said. And on her shoulder was her shikigami. Indeed the name of 'Higanbana' seemed a bit odd when I had first heard about it, but after seeing the red tints over winged girl's body, it did make sense.
"...mn...Natsu-neesama." Fuyuki replied with a stiff nod, raising her hand slowly as I walked around the desk to give her a hug. As usual, she tensed up as if I had punched her, but almost immediately returned the hug, her shikigami flying around her to make room. In a way, this little sister was always like that, but given the much faster reaction, it seemed like the girl she had found in Eorzea was doing wonders in thawing her out.
"Okaerinasai, Fuyu-chan. How can I help you?" I asked cheerfully, letting go of her and walking back to the counter, gesturing for her to follow. Unsurprisingly, my little sister didn't follow, taking out that monstrous grimoire of hers and immediately ruffling through the pages. I really was glad to see my little sister, truely, but she really needed to learn how to relax.
"Well..can you or Ane-ue teach me how to make our older aether purification toni- Hawawawawa?!"
I grinned as I walked back to my too-serious little sister, reaching out to her left horn, near where it attached to her skull, and lightly tugged on it horizontally. It was enough to off-balance her without hurting her too much, and in an instant that focused and serious voice gave way to a much more natural and even relaxed outburst.
"Yes we can, little sister." I said, releasing her horn and gesturing once more to come behind the counter and take a seat. "But first, you need to calm down, okay? You're wound up so tight you're bound to snap. Again."
This time, Fuyuki obediently followed, pulling out one of the many stools nearby and sitting on it, allowing me to disappear into the backroom to grab the recipe book containing the tonic she was asking for. To be honest, I had thought that her magical ability would be a sufficient alternative, but I figured there must be more to it. As I walked back into the main area of the shop, Fuyuki seemed to be meditating calmly, her shikigami apparently sleeping atop her head.
"As glad as I am that you are continuing the proud Fuyo tradition of alchemy, I'm pretty sure you're not doing this out of mere curiosity." I said, opening up the recipe book to find the proper page. From the corner of my eye, Fuyuki nodded and started to explain
"Right...well, to start from the beginning..."
...Even with how much Fuyuki had summarized for the sake of brevity, it was still so much to take in. Though I found it a bit ironic that, after all the magicks she had learned in Eorzea, she had returned to geomancy.
"Hm. Even the Geomantic exorcising spells failed? You had the effect go off, was actually deflected?" I asked, focusing on the main issue. Fuyuki nodded in confirmation. "Hm. I doubt a spell like would be merely 'deflected'. Your taget need to take some active measure against it. And of all people, I doubt you are lacking in force."
"It's the opposite, really," Fuyuki replied, adding, "I was...holding back. I didn't want to harm her. But...I really couldn't...tone it down in a manner that would still let the spell be effective."
I nodded in understanding. "Well, subtly, or lack thereof, was the reason why the shinobi life never agreed with you in the first place, right?"
Without shame, my sister nodded, and asked, "So, what do I do now?"
"Well, there are times where you need a scalpel, and times where you need a sledgehammer." I replied, finding the page I wanted and pulling out my inventory ledger. "Just because you need to use one over at one occasion doesn't invalidate the usefulness of the other.
"So, what do I do now?" Fuyuki repeated, starting to frown. I knew I didn't answer her question directly, and in turn that she understood the point I was trying to make. It was rather admirable, how direct her was.
"The same thing you did when you left for Eorzea," I said, much to Fuyuki's growing frustration. With my list of ingredients all figured out, I started to walk to the cabinets continuing to talk as I pulled out ingredients. "You knew better than to force yourself into something you weren't good at. Sure, father protested, I protested, but in hindsight, you were right."
"So. What. Do. I. Do. Now?" Fuyuki repeated, punctuating how rapidly her patience was waning. She knew the answer already, but just wanted me to say it properly.
"Well. You'll always need to have some level of precise control. It's good to be well-rounded, yes. But you have a gift that none of us have, and it's in your sheer magical force. So focus on perfecting that. It may not be needed now, but...in the future, I am sure you and your friends will find it useful."
My arms full, I returned to the space behind the front desk, setting it all down and starting to arrange things.
"But if I focus on optimizing the magnitude of my spells...what about for when finesse is needed?" Fuyuki asked, hopping out of her seat to look over my shoulder.
"Well, you aren't doing this all on your own right?", I replied, smiling and looking back to her. "You have the rest of your nakama filling in where you can't, and you are filling in where they are lacking." I narrowed my eyes at her as a wry grin spread across my face. "So. Trust them."
I watched Fuyuki's expression run the gamut of emotions, clearly struggling at the notion. Unsurprising really, given how long she had to fend for herself, even in the myriad of missions she had told me and Haruka about. I reached up with my right hand to tug at her left horn again, though much lighter, and it was enough to break her out of the mental trance she was falling into.
"Fuyuki. Can you trust them?" I asked, my voice soft but serious. My little sister took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. A moment passed, and she nodded determinedly. "Then trust them."
"Y-yes. I will trust them," she replied, her grey and blue eyes opening slowly and with a frown.
"Good girl," I replied, ruffling her hair. "Now, as for the tonic. C'mon. Get your work robes on."
I pointed behind me to the storeroom and my little sister's eyes lit up with excitement just before she bolted away...using Shukuchi. I laughed and shook my head; Haruna did say that Fuyuki was refreshing her memory of ninjutsu.
But how much she remembered now meant little to me. I knew that once she had learned what she needed from me, she'd have to leave for Eorzea. There were people there that needed her, and I knew better than to delay her for my own selfish desires. Still, my little sister was home, and I intended to enjoy every moment I could of it.
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