Aoi hurried through the academy halls toward the library, carrying Ren in her bag as if he were just another ordinary plush toy. She had decided that if she wanted to understand what was going on with the strange talking puppet, she needed to do some research. Though she'd never say it out loud, the thought that Ren might be cursed or possessed worried her more than she wanted to admit.
Ren, hidden inside the bag, couldn't see anything, but he could hear Aoi mumbling to herself.
"Damn it… why did I have to get involved in this mess? This is ridiculous! I skip the opening ceremony and now I'm digging through books about curses. What a disaster…"
When they arrived at the library—a silent, majestic space filled with rows of ancient and modern books—Aoi let out a sigh and headed straight to the section on basic magic and forbidden objects. I might have skipped the first day, but at least this school has something useful, she thought as she flipped through a magical catalog.
Aoi didn't care much for school. Her magic was basic: she could make small flames float in the air, but not much else. Compared to the other students, who could summon elementals or cast impressive spells, her power felt like a cheap parlor trick. Because of that, she preferred to stay out of the spotlight. In fact, some girls in her class often made fun of her.
"There goes candle girl," they'd laugh—teasing that had caused Aoi to develop a distant, disinterested attitude toward the academy.
But now, with Ren in her hands, something inside her was pushing her to dig deeper.
---
After searching for a while, Aoi finally found a book titled "Cursed Objects and Their Nature." She sat at a table in a quiet corner, pulled Ren from her bag, and set him beside her like a decoration. Just to be safe, she looked around to make sure no one was watching.
Ren, unable to speak or move without Aoi's touch, remained still, though he watched as she flipped through the book seriously. The situation was frustrating for him. If I could move, I could help her… but this is all I can do.
Aoi read in a low voice:
> "Cursed objects are those imbued with dark magic, whether by accident or intention. These items are usually banned from magical institutions due to their unpredictable and dangerous nature…"
Her eyes lit up as she found a section on puppets:
> "Enchanted puppets are rare. Some are designed to assist in magical tasks, but others—especially cursed ones—may harbor trapped souls or wandering spirits. These puppets can only interact through a bond with their bearer, often requiring direct magical contact to activate."
Aoi glanced up from the book and frowned at Ren. "A trapped soul? Is that what you are, Ren?" she whispered, though she didn't expect a reply. She paused for a moment and, hesitating slightly, slid her hand inside Ren again.
As soon as Ren felt the contact, he came back to life. He immediately tried to wave his arms to greet her, which almost made Aoi drop the book in shock.
"Hey, calm down! It's me, Ren!" he said quickly, trying to soothe her.
Aoi looked at him with a mixture of frustration and curiosity. "So it's true? You're a trapped soul or something?" she asked, pointing at the book.
Ren hesitated. "I don't know… I don't remember anything like that. I just know I used to work in an office, lived a normal life, and then… I ended up here, trapped like this." He paused, then added, "But that part about direct contact makes sense. I can only move and speak when someone's touching me… and I guess your magic, even if it's simple, is enough to activate me."
Aoi frowned, a bit irritated by the mention of her "simple" magic. "Tch, don't mock me. It might not be much, but it's still useful, right?" she said with her usual tsundere tone, crossing her arms.
Ren lifted his plush hands in apology. "I didn't mean it like that. Honestly, thanks to you, I can actually do more than just lie around. Really… I appreciate it."
Aoi turned her head, her cheeks faintly red. "Tch, stop saying dumb things. It's not like I'm doing this for you or anything… I just want to figure out what the hell is going on!"
But before she could say anything else, a familiar voice echoed near the library entrance.
"Oh, look who finally showed up to class. If it isn't candle girl…"
Aoi gritted her teeth as she recognized the voices—some of her classmates, known for being the most talented and arrogant in school. She turned to Ren and whispered quickly, "Stay still and don't do anything weird." Then, she put the book away and stood up, pretending not to have heard them.
Ren watched from his limited perspective, sensing something shift in Aoi's demeanor. Maybe she didn't care about school, but those girls clearly struck a nerve. As Aoi walked away from the library, Ren couldn't help but think that she, too, was trapped in a form she couldn't escape—just like him.
End of Chapter 6.