Sorcerer’s Handbook

So fast.

Pedestrians rushed by on either side, neon lights turned into streaks, and the wind roared as it covered them. Lise leaned on Ashe’s shoulder, like a little girl holding onto her doll.

The speed was so fast, it felt like falling.

Lise hadn’t really thought things through; she just realized she had to find an opportunity to spend some time alone with Ashe, so she ordered him to take her away. But when Ashe picked her up, all her thoughts disappeared, and her mood became as fizzy as a newly opened soda—sweet and effervescent, like a child who loves relying on adults, feeling confident even after causing trouble.

When they stopped, she heard Ashe say, “Two, please… oh, here you go, Lise!”

Lise turned her head and saw that they had run to an ice cream shop. The server had already prepared a plain ice cream cone and a milk-flavored cone with honeydew, chocolate, vanilla, and pineapple flavors for them in advance. She carefully took the super-sized cone and ate only the chocolate ice cream ball.

“Do you want to walk by yourself?” Ashe asked as he accepted the plain cone, “To be honest, you’re not exactly light…”

“No, I’ve been walking in Wonderland World all day and I’m really tired!”

“All right then.”