A Wish
For the Things I Cannot Prevent

Stein confronted the winged man, “As you can see, a failedwater spell.”

The winged man nodded ever so sarcastically, “I can seethat.”

“It’s all my fault.” Stein said, “Now if you’re going tocharge me, I suggest we should just keep quiet about this so no one will beblamed.”

“Dear sir...” Stein threw a glittery powder at the winged man’sface. He looked dumbfounded the first second then confused by the next, “Whatam I doing here?”

“You were supposed to clean my floor...” Stein raised abrow, “I take it that they sent you with that in mind, right?”

“O-O-Of course! I’ll go clean it right away!” With that thewinged man came inside the house and started to clean the floor.

Risette gave Stein a look, “Did you really have to do that?”

Stein shrugged, “It’s better than having my magic clean thismess.”

Moments later, another visitor came by. She had blue eyesand over flowing blonde hair. She had a pale skin and if anything, she wasbarely wearing anything. She only had metallic cups to cover her chest andseriously short shorts. She worebelow the knee black boots and stockings that were held by a garter belt,“STEIN!” She greeted.

Stein ignored the voice, “You should change into dryclothes...” He said to Risette. He subtly shook his head when Risette was aboutto mention the lady by the entrance, “My minions should’ve hung your clothes todry by the second floor.” Stein made this ‘shoo’ gesture so he could finallyhave Risette go up and not have bothered while dealing with the other annoyingperson. She turned around to meet the visitor, “What brings you here today,Lisa?”

“Oh my! Cold as ever!” She squealed. She strutted inside theroom. She crossed her arms just below her large chest then gave Stein aseductive look, “This body is going to expire soon!”

“So?”

Lisa put her hands by her hips, “I’m gonna turn into a prunyold lady!” She said.

Stein just turned around and continued to fixing the itemsin his desk, “Hmm... Good for you.”

Annoyed, Lisa grabbed Stein by the shoulder and roughlybanged him against his desk, “LISTEN! No one’s willing to look at an oldbooger! That’s why I need a new body!”

“I think I remember saying that you’re responsible forbringing in a new vessel.” Stein carelessly replied, completely unaware that hewas already pushing the buttons of the lady, “You see... there is a pretty goodreason why you need the friction, succubus” He didn’t even thought of releasinghimself with the hold because he knows all too well that he will get torn apartby that person’s insane amount of strength, “Do you really hate it that much?”

“I wouldn’t be even doing this if not!” She hissed. Shetwisted Stein to another position so they could meet eye to eye, “I have animage to keep! Because unlike you! I age and grow old!”

“Because you keep rejecting seeds from men.” Stein added in defence. “Aging and growingold are beautiful things. There is no point in living for a long time with noobjectives in mind.” Stein replied. He felt the hand loosen their grip on hiswrist. He looked at Lisa’s distressed look, “There is a reason to why we have functionswithin our life span.”

Lisa scowled and returned the grip on Stein’s wrists, “Youdon’t have the right to say that to me!” She closed the gap between her andStein, “I don’t want to hear those words coming from a puppet!” She scowled,“You speak of life spans but you, yourself, don’t have that!” She heavilypressed her forehead against Stein, and gave him a scarring glare, “Don’t speakas though you know the importance of life!”

“I know.” Stein simply said. Lisa was taken aback. Steindidn’t have the intention of fighting back, but there were some points that hehad to clarify on his behalf, “I stay here to watch others go ahead. I stayhere and watch creatures go ahead of me. I remember every people who used tocome here but time tells them to pack up.” Stein felt the grip on his wristsloosen. He gently got out of the grip. He held the face of indifference as hecontinued, “Time does not exist for someone created by the hands of anotherperson.” Stein looked outside to see that a rainbow had formed by themountains. There was this gaze akin to longing for something unattainable, “Ifdeath was offered to me, I would probably welcome it with open arms.” Hereturned his gaze back at Lisa, “While you are here wishing to have your lifeextended, others are constantly wishing that they die the moment they sleep...”Stein looked by the stairs, “Did I get some parts right, Risette?”

Lisa looked by the stairs to see a dumbfounded Risette. Thegirl was looking in awe at Stein’s words. Risette went closer to the wall soshe can lean for support. She stared wide-eyed at Stein, “I...” Risette ranback upstairs.

Stein shot a look at Lisa, “I can still redo you if youbring a vessel, but I need you to think about it first since injecting seeds toyou is bad for your health!” He said as he ran after Risette.

Lisa, who was left to her own devices, giggled to herselfthen let out a good-natured smile, “Well that’s a first...” She commented thenfelt grossed out after feeling this intense stare. Lisa looked by the entranceto see a winged man staring at her with such intensity. Lisa scowled at theguy, “And you are?”

The winged man stood up, throwing away the damp rug in theprocess, “I’m Luke! I was sent here to clean this guy’s wet floor!”

Lisa internally laughed. Stein was good with pullingstrings. This guy was apparently a messenger that’s why he has wings in thefirst place. Stein probably did something for this to happen. Lisa flicked herhair as she walked past Luke and out of the house, “Hmm... I see.”

~o0o0o~

“Risette!” Stein uncharacteristically shouted. He watchedRisette’s back go farther and farther. She was running upstairs faster than hehad imagined. Before he knew it, Risette was already inside the second floorand locked the door in the process. Stein slammed his palms against the door,“Risette! This is my house! Don’t lock me out of my own room!” He continuouslyknocked the door only to get no response from the girl. He continued to knockbut this time he added more power to it, “Risette please answer me!”

“You...” The rest of Risette’s voice was muffled.

Stein seized his knocking, “Could you repeat that..?”

“You want to die as well..?” Risette’s voice wasexceptionally quiet but it was loud enough for Stein to catch. It was quiveringas though to say that she was ready to cry anytime.

“I’m not allowed to die.” Stein said.

The door opened, revealing a glum Risette. Her eyes wereready to spill some tears, “Why..?”

“I’m the supervisor of this world.”

Tears rolled down Risette’s cheeks. She looked down at herfeet, refusing to raise her head to meet Stein’s eyes, “Will there be a timethat you’ll die?”

Stein looked behind him then pushed Risette further insideso he could get inside the room as well. He stared at Risette for a few secondsbefore removing his top hat then jacket then the cravat...

“What are you doing?!” Risette explained.

Stein continued to strip off his clothing despite seeing theflustered face of Risette.

Risette’s frantic pleads for Stein to stop was suddenlyseized upon seeing hands that seem to be like the hands of a puppet. Steinremoved his shirt, revealing that he had stitches of different body parts. Hehad different skin tones for each stitched body parts. What piqued Risette’sinterest was the stitch by his chest.

Stein touched that part with his two hands, “Something ismissing here...” He looked at Risette, “The people said that this part waswhere the heart is located...” He looked at his flesh by the chest, “I wonderwhy I don’t have such an item...”

Risette cautiously went closer to Stein and touched thatvery spot. She refrain herself from allowing more tears to escape. Stein was ascold as a corpse. She closed the gap between them further as she engulfed Steinwith a hug. No matter how warm she was, it was no match for the Stein’scoldness, “You’ve been living while feeling like this...” She whispered. Shetightened the hug, “It must’ve been hard for you...”

Stein subconsciously responded as he returned the hug, “Youare very warm...” He buried his head by her hair, “Why are you warm?”

Risette just shook her head to hide a little lie, “I don’tknow...” She retracted from Stein after a few moments and smiled regardless ofthe fact that Stein looked indifferent despite of the closure just now. She canunderstand that part. Being alone and isolated from people will make everyone belike him. Stein was just unsure of how to react. Even without a heart, he wouldknow what to feel. Without makes him unable to know how to properly react. Butmore importantly, it was more surprising that Stein was able to live withoutheart. Normally, no one would be able to live on without one. It remains awonder as to how Stein managed to stay after all these times.

“How did you become like that..?” She carefully said.

Stein wore his clothes again, “My master actually createdme... But he died in the middle of the process.” He buttoned up his shirt,“Which leaves me with a heartless vessel connected by magic.”

Risette scrunched her nose, “If you were so heartless, thenyou wouldn’t even look my way...”

“My master’s will was transferred within me...”

“Then why do you have magic..?”

Stein picked up the remaining of his clothes, “My body cangather magic from things...” He wore the jacket, “Oh. I guess that’s why I’mcapable of impromptu spells.” He continued with the remaining of his clothesthen remembered something, “That reminds me...” He grabbed something from hispocket and gave it to Risette.

“A mini notebook..?”

Stein nodded, “In the brief moment I’ve seen within you, Itook the liberty of assuming that you’re the type to hide something from me.”

Risette stared back at Stein with eyes of disbelief, “You’rekidding me, right?”

Stein didn’t falter with his indifferent face, “I’mserious.” He flipped one page of the mini notebook, “It automatically writesdown your trouble—there’s one already...”

Risette looked at the side, knowing that Stein’s going toreplace out what was troubling her.

Stein read the entry. It was rather long but it was nothingbecause his lack of heart might make him too indifferent for the girl, so he’sdoing the effort of TRYING to be considerate.

The entry said:

Today, I went to theannoying guy’s house. He was pretty dense and straight to the point. He knowswhere to strike with his words. I can’t believe such a guy actually exists!

The door opened. Itwas surprising because he actually ran to me and sheltered me from the rain.He’s also a genius with spells. He might actually be a good guy since he tookme to a nice place while waiting for the rain to stop.

I take it back, he’sannoying and easy to provoke! I can’t believe I actually thought he was a goodguy! I’m soaking wet again!

Just a few minutesback, I overheard Stein talk with this lady with big breasts. I heard he’s gotno lifespan. I wonder what this means?

Just now, I just knewthe truth from him. I think I’m gonna cry anytime!

One more thing. I saida little lie... I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I feigned ignorance.

Stein stared right back at Risette, “Was I really thatannoying in your eyes..?”

Risette refused to make eye contact, “Yes and no...”

Stein re-read the entry, “What did you lie about..?”

“It’s something you’re better off not knowing.”