Jack of All Trades, Party of None

The air shimmered faintly, like a heat haze.

Eventually, it gained consciousness.

"...Where... am I...?"

That was the first word.

Though hesitant, the voice held a clear intelligence.

"It’s a success."

Another voice nearby spoke, tinged with relief.

"...Who... are you...?"

"My name is Titania. I am called the Fairy Queen. And I am also your parent."

"...Parent... of mine...?"

"You were born by splitting off a part of my power. Whether you could have a will was a gamble, but... I’m glad you have one."

In response to Titania’s feelings, the air gently rippled.

"...Why... can I speak...? I should know nothing... yet I understand many things...?"

"That’s because I gave you a bit of knowledge along with my power. You know language, principles, and the nature of mana."

"I see... Hey, Queen, do I... have a name...?"

At that question, Titania was momentarily at a loss for words.

"...A name, huh. I hadn’t thought about it."

"...I don’t have one...? My name..."

The nameless fairy murmured sadly.

"I’ll think of one now. Just give me a moment."

A quiet presence of thought seeped into the air.

Soon, Titania softly spoke as if murmuring to herself.

"Our fairy names are taken from beings spoken of as myths in the old era."

"...Old era...? Ah... I know from the knowledge... The civilization from before this World of Principles of Techniques was formed..."

"Yes. I was born in that time. An era when humans flew through the sky on iron birds, aiming for the ends of the heavens."

"...It’s unimaginable now..."

"Indeed. But it certainly existed. Now, there’s no human who knows of it. The mana swallowed everything, even distorting history."

A trace of loneliness and nostalgia flickered in Titania’s voice.

That ripple of emotion barely stirred the air.

"The name Titania also comes from the 'queen' spoken of in that time."

"...I see..."

"Therefore, I want to give you a 'fairy name' as well."

The nameless fairy slightly stirred the air.

She seemed to quietly accept the meaning of being given a name — an existence defined.

"'Pixie.' That is your name."

"...Pixie..."

She repeated the name softly inside her mouth, as if rolling it around.

Gradually, it began to fit her own form.

"...That is... me..."

"Yes. From this moment on, you are Pixie."

Inside Pixie, a tiny warmth seemed to light up.

Having a name made her realize she 'truly exists' here.

"...Thank you for giving me a name, Queen..."

"You’re welcome."

Those words unexpectedly lingered in her chest.

At the same moment, words from a former friend flashed through her mind.

"Pixie, from now on, there is something I want to ask of you."

"...Ask...?"

"There is a human girl named Luna Flockheart. She’s about to walk a difficult path."

Pixie listened quietly to Titania’s words.

"I want you to stay by her side. Stay close, watch over her."

"...Watch over...?"

"And when she’s troubled or about to get hurt, gently lend her a hand."

"...Is that... all I have to do...?"

"That’s all. After that, you are free to act as you feel."

Pixie wavered slightly.

But it wasn’t hesitation, it was more like determination.

"...If that is the meaning of my birth..."

As Pixie’s words dissolved into the air, her presence softly lifted.

Without sound or form, yet undeniably there, it quietly drifted away.

Watching the presence depart,

"...Hah, what am I doing, really..."

Titania let out a self-mocking voice.

She had once decided to remain an observer.

She defined herself as an existence that only watches over the fate of this world.

Giving birth to Pixie contradicted the self she had defined in the past.

Still, this Pixie — a similar yet different existence — meddling with the human Luna was not herself.

Telling herself this, she forced herself to remain an observer — a painful excuse she repeated in her heart.

To turn away from such inner conflict, Titania recalled an offhand phrase taught by a friend long ago.

"...A name is the first gift a parent gives to their child. I never dreamed I’d be the one giving a name, Stella."

The wind blew through that empty place.