One day, when Dayton returned home, he was met with an unbelievable sight.
“So… that’s Luke?”
“Uh-huh…”
Despite Yerna’s affirmation, Dayton found it hard to believe.
Platinum blonde hair, eyes shimmering in turquoise and gold, pointy ears perked up above his head, a neat fashion sense that favored a combination of white and black, and an aura that felt immense with magic.
Everything pointed to the fact that this was indeed Luke, but one difference was causing Dayton significant concern.
“That… he looks so much younger!”
Even considering that Luke was only 10 years old, he had become far too small. He looked more like he was about 3 years old!
While Dayton had often seen Luke grow, this was the first time he had seen him regress.
“Well, you see…”
Yerna began explaining the situation to Dayton.
—-
The story Yerna shared went like this.
A few days prior, Yerna had purchased a magic book from a street vendor.
The vendor claimed it was sold cheap because it was no longer readable in an old bookstore, and it looked so worn that Yerna felt it would be something Luke would really like.
However, after purchasing it, Yerna couldn’t help but feel regret.
Her disappointment wasn’t about the content of the book, as Yerna, who wasn’t well-versed in magic theory, couldn’t judge its quality.
The torn pages and areas where the ink had smudged were significant flaws that were evident to anyone, even without magic knowledge, and they were enough for her to feel regret.
Yet, unexpectedly, Luke received the book with shining eyes and commented, “It seems like there’s some hidden parts, so it will be fun to research!”
Feeling relieved about this, Yerna thought they could return to their peaceful daily life.
Then, a fact that would greatly excite Luke was soon revealed.
Through the remaining pages that weren’t torn and the parts where the ink hadn’t smudged, Yerna discovered that the magic book she bought was actually a research notebook from quite a capable alchemist from long ago.
Luke, thus reading and studying the book alone, finally reached the point of creating some potion.
“A potion for extending life.”
Considering that the research notes written by this alchemist had been discarded like trash, it seemed he had failed, but Luke filled in the gaps with his knowledge and theories, and finally completed the potion.
Luke soon felt the need to confirm whether the potion had been made correctly.
However, it’s not wise to give an untested potion to just anyone.
So, without hesitation, he poured it into his mouth.
Even if it turned out to be a deadly poison, he wouldn’t die.
And the result was exactly this.
While Yerna went out to buy the ingredients Luke needed for the potion, Dayton quietly watched Luke, who was sitting in a small box reading a book.
“Well, that means it was successful.”
“No, it’s not a success.”
“What do you mean? You look way younger now!”
“This is a side effect. The original intent was to create a potion that only removes aging. It’s not a potion for reversing growth. And this side effect would have been very fatal for anyone other than a chimera like myself; an ordinary person would have undoubtedly died from sudden changes to their skeleton and organs.”
“Then something must have gone wrong in the creation.” Luke muttered, covering his face with the book again.
“…”
Hearing the explanation from Luke, Dayton shivered slightly.
Honestly, if taking that potion extended one’s life, he would have been quite interested himself.
Wasn’t it the case that even as a human, he could age like the elf Yerna?
But if it meant the possibility of dying from side effects…
That would be completely ridiculous.
“So when will the effects wear off for you?”
“I don’t know, but I’m doing this to reverse it, aren’t I?”
And Luke was quite serious about that.
As his growth regressed, his heart had also taken on an immature form, causing the circles he had inscribed to lose their shape and scatter throughout his body.
Thus, he needed to create a potion that would somehow reverse the effects.
If too much time passed, there was a definite risk of losing his own self.
“Fortunately, the mana of the circles itself hasn’t disappeared, so there’s no issue in keeping consciousness inside, but… I still don’t know what might happen with time.”
As he pondered this, feeling the persistent gaze from Dayton, Luke lowered the book and asked.
“… Why are you still staring at me so intently, Dayton?”
“I was just wondering why your hair got so short all of a sudden. Is that a side effect of the potion too?”
Luke shook his head.
“No, it’s just that I cut my hair a lot for making the potion. I needed it.”
“Oh. What about that clip?”
“I had to use it temporarily because it kept poking my eyes due to cutting it wrong.”
“I see.”
It seemed there were no side effects from losing or shortening hair. That was a relief.
No matter how long his lifespan was extended, if he went bald, that would be a problem.
“Now that your curiosity is satisfied, can you move aside? I need to focus now.”
“Ah, sure. Good luck.”
Dayton decided to ignore Luke and take a nap instead.
——
“Kyaaaak!!”
A moment later, Dayton woke up to some noise.
“What is that, sounds like a cat throwing a fit…?”
Is it the cats in heat?
I have to chase them away from around the house quickly.
Luke would get mad if he can’t concentrate.
Thinking this way, as he opened the door, Dayton realized the source of the noise he had heard before.
“Sis, sis! Let’s play a little more!”
“Let’s play, play!!”
“Kyaaaaak!! Stop it!”
It was Luke making those noises as he was chased around by the children.
As Luke fled with his short legs, Pyris and Diana leisurely followed behind, flailing their arms.
Luke and the kids spun around the living room for a while, only to spot Dayton as they ran past, and Luke came running toward him.
“Wahhh! Dayton!!”
Dayton caught the rushing Luke and asked.
“Luke? What’s wrong? What’s going on all of a sudden?”
Well, I have an idea of what’s happening.
“I was just sitting quietly, and Diana and Pyris keep bothering me!”
“Ah, I see.”
“And they keep tying strange strings in my hair! Even though Diana calls herself my sister, she treated me like a complete nephew until a moment ago!”
It seems like his body shrinking has changed his speech to sound like an adult complaining to other adults.
“Ah, is that so? But you are Diana’s nephew, after all.”
“Dayton! Is this really the time to be saying that?!”
Luke began pinching Dayton’s face, but it didn’t hurt at all.
It seems he has become weaker with his regression.
“Ah, I’m just joking.”
“Ugh! Your reaction is infuriating!”
To change this irritating look on Dayton’s face, Luke needed power, overwhelming power.
And that power wasn’t too far away.
Luke smashed the book he was holding onto Dayton’s head.
“Don’t treat me like a baby!”
– Whack!
“Ugh!”
That did hurt a bit.
—-
After Dayton managed to separate the children away from Luke so as not to disturb his reading and research, Luke knocked on the bedroom door.
“Dayton.”
“Uh, Luke. What’s up this time?”
Luke, wearing a loose pajama with a few buttons undone, spoke.
“I think I’ve made some progress on the antidote research, and I’m about to take a nap while waiting for Yerna, but can you help me button this? My hands are so small now that it’s quite a hassle to do it. The lower buttons are okay, but I can’t see the upper ones so it’s difficult.”
I guess there are those sorts of inconveniences when your body shrinks.
“Ah, I see. Sure, let me do that.”
Dayton complied with Luke’s request and started fastening the buttons for him.
Then, Luke let out a big yawn and nodded.
However, Luke didn’t leave the room right away. He stood there mumbling before finally speaking up again.
“Hey, Dayton.”
“Yeah?”
“The stairs to my room are too high for me to climb, so can I just sleep here tonight?”
Oh right, there are stairs leading to Luke’s room.
It would indeed be quite a workout for him to climb with those short legs.
Thinking this way, Dayton nodded.
“Ah, okay? Well, you can sleep here.”
“Thanks, wake me up when Yerna comes.”
“Got it.”
Luke then approached Dayton’s side and plopped down on the bed.
Since the bed was so wide, there was plenty of space for Luke to lie down but for some reason, he chose to lay right next to Dayton.
“Can I sleep right next to you?”
“…? Why? Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“It’s a bit chilly. It seems that as I’ve regressed, my body temperature has increased, making me feel the surrounding temperature as lower. Is that alright?”
“… Is that so? I don’t really mind.”
“Thanks. Then…”
Luke closed his eyes, snuggling up to Dayton.
“….”
Watching Luke like this, Dayton briefly thought.
Isn’t it better for Luke to be like this in his current state?
