Gacha Gacha Hero

Ave held the dog shaped figurine in her hands. It was roughly the same size and shape as Eins had been when the canine was ‘alive’.

“Did he… turn into a statue?” Luke examined the dog shaped statue.

“Not a statue really. But yes, looks like a rock.” Belbuk looked over his shoulder.

“How, did, this, even, happen?” Ave said haltingly.

Belbuk started wiping down the table. “I told you before. Spirits aren’t really living creatures. They’re made of mana. They can turn their bodies into different things. Even inorganic things. Typically they look like animals.”

Belbuk looked at Deus. The goose nibbled a wooden spoon in its beak.

“Or, well, kind of like animals.” Belbuk shook her head.

Ave set the dog rock on the table. “How do we change him back?” she asked.

“That might be difficult.” Belbuk said.

Luke leaned in. “Eins? Eins can you hear me buddy? We’re sorry for fighting. You can change back.”

Ash tapped the statue. “Eins? Can you hear us? *Whistle* Are you in there?”

“You guys can stop. You are literally talking to a rock.” Belbuk waved her hand at them.

“Will he get better?” Ave asked.

Belbuk tapped the dog rock with a spoon.

“Hard to tell.” She mused. “Completely stone now. No eyes or ears. No sensory organs of any kind. You’re going to have to wait. Whether Eins turns back or not isn’t up to us right now.”

#

Dinner was over.

Luke finished pushing the table and chairs out of the way in the living room of the Cabin.

Deus waddled into the pile of bedding in the corner. The goose sat down and started to preen its feathers.

Luke put down his blanket on the floor next to Deus’ makeshift nest.

“What are you doing?” Ash sat up on his mattress.

“Getting ready for bed.” Luke replied.

“You’re going to sleep on the floor?”

“I thought that it might be better, after everything.” Luke shrugged.

“Don’t be daft.” Ash pulled out his bedding. “Get over here.”

“I don’t want to be an inconvenience.” Luke paused.

“Just shut up and grab your pillow. It’s cold.”

Wind rattled the window panes. It was cold.

#

Ave stood next to Belbuk in front of the kitchen sink.

The plates *Clattered* as Ave washed them. The pots *Shooped* as Belbuk dried them.

Ave stared at a spoon. “I’m sorry about before.”

“Hmmm?” muttered Belbuk.

“All of us down in the living room, shouting like that. It was rude. I’m sorry.” Ave picked at a fork.

“It’s fine. Children often throw tantrums. I’m used to it.” Belbuk wiped down a lid.

“I shouldn’t have let Deus get me so upset. The boys are still young, but I’m older than them. I’m an adult.” Ave put her whole arm into a grease stain.

Belbuk smirked.

#

Luke rolled over on the mattress. He stared up at the ceiling of the Cabin. He listened to Deus snore.

*Snore* “Honk, honk, honk.”

Luke whispered.

Ash rolled over. He also starred up into the darkness of the living room. He listened to Deus snore.

*Snore* “Honk, honk, honk.”

Deus snored in the corner.

Ash whispered.

Luke asked.

*Snore* “Honk, honk, honk.”

Ash replied.

Ash pointed out.

Luke said.

Luke nodded.

Ash admitted.

Ash cut him off.

Ash mentioned.

Luke agreed.

“Ave, I’m sorry!” yelled Ash.

“I’m sorry too!” yelled Luke.

“Great! But I’m trying to sleep!” Was the return yell from upstairs.

#

Belbuk tucked and rolled down the stairs into the living room. She yawned into the morning light streaming in through the Cabin’s windows.

Ash, Luke, and Ave were seated around the living room table. Deus was *Gobbling* up a bowl of porridge. The goose was the only one eating.

“Belbuk we think that…” Luke started.

“Nope.” Belbuk held up a hand. “Coffee?” She inquired.

Luke pointed to the kitchen.

Belbuk grumbled as she entered the kitchen.

*Clatter*Clatter*Pour*

Ash, Luke, and Ave waited in the living room. Deus continued to gorge on porridge.

Belbuk exited the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hand. She blew comfortingly on the contents.

*Sip*

Belbuk looked around at the others gathered in the living room. “Okay. So can anyone join this pity party or is it by invitation only?” she sneered.

Ave cleared her throat. “We decided that it was probably best if we left. You’ve been an excellent host but it’s time we got going.”

“You could have just left in the middle of the night.” Belbuk said dryly.

“I wanted to.” Ash blurted.

“It would have been rude.” Luke chided. “We didn’t want you to think that we weren’t grateful for your hospitality.”

Deus looked up. Porridge dripped off of the goose’s beak. “I hope that it was not something that I said?”

“No Deus, you’re… fine?” Luke turned back to Belbuk. “You have been very accommodating to us.”

Belbuk *Slurped* her coffee.

“Well then you should probably get going.” She said.

“Yes. We probably should.” Luke agreed.

“Back on your aimless, foolish journey.” Belbuk added.

“That’s right?” Luke agreed?

“And as you leave I’m not going to give you any kind of sage advice. Nope. Nothing.” Belbuk rambled on.

“Uh…” Luke waffled.

*Sssiiippp*

Belbuk threw up her hands. “Ah shit, here I go. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.”

She pointed at Ash. “Even if it’s embarrassing.”

She pointed at Ave. “Or if it doesn’t work out how you thought it would.”

She pointed at Luke. “It happens to everyone.”

Belbuk pounded back her coffee then slammed the cup down on the table. “Mistakes are how we learn. You have to fix them. Not run from them.”

Belbuk made eye contact with everyone. She made extended eye contact with Deus. Deus looked away.

Belbuk sat down at the dining table. “Also you can’t leave yet.”

“Why not.” Luke asked.

*Looonnnggg Sigh* “Because you’re not done with your alchemy training yet.”

Luke's smile stretched across his whole face and then some more.