บท 20: 20: And her name is...

It was quite a hilarious sight seeing the girl all confused and flustered upon witnessing the bizarre phenomenon of a woman transforming back to her original man self.

"Haha, you sure turn girlie into one big hell of a mess." Nekowa laughed inwardly.

"Yeah, better explain it to her, then." Liam scratched his head sheepishly.

Both then began addressing the elephant in the room by giving a girl a brief explanation about what a Magical Girl is. Nekowa emphasized how Magical Girls were enforcers of justice who serve and fight for the people while Liam pointed out the perks and wonders of being one, but at the cost of him as a real, biological man turning to the opposite sex.

Like an attentive student, the girl listened intently. All her attention was glued towards the pair and her eyes never once shied away.

This was the first time that the girl actually displayed genuine positive emotions even when the blank expression on her face said so otherwise. Her body language indicated natural childlike curiosity while her violet eyes sparkled with interest. It was certainly like night and day from the air of suffocating depression that she was breathing not just too long ago.

Indeed, children should act like this, enjoy themselves to the fullest while they are still of a young and innocent age. Liam could never forgive Matilda for depriving the girl of such a basic child privilege.

"You like that, huh." Liam grinned cheerfully at the girl. Inspiration suddenly kicked his head, and he asked a question at the cat, "Hey, Nekowa, can a kid like her become a Magical Girl?"

"In other circumstances, yes." Nekowa said, which earned a look of confusion from Liam at which she instantly clarified, "The white gem that you used to transform, currently, it is only one of its kind. Unless I am to be granted access to a source of huge Mana like the Fountain of Magia back home so I can craft more of them, then I'm afraid we're out of luck. Precious magical gems like those do not just grow from trees, you know."

"Bummer." Disappointment was clear on Liam's voice, "It would be a whole lot convenient if the girl could defend herself at least."

The girl too shared the same sentiment and her head sulked down as she was back to her gloomy self.

"Hey, cheer up, kid." Liam patted the girl's head, "You really wanted to be a Magical Girl too, huh? Since this world is literally filled with Witches and magic, then it's not farfetched for us to unlock some kind of Mana source as what kitty cat here mentioned."

"Yeah, so don't feel down, little girl!" Nekowa joined in at assuring her, "I'm going to craft the best quality of a gem, just for you, turning you into the cutest Magical Girl to ever live!"

The feeling of affection and love was all too new for the girl who was imprisoned in the cramped cage of the dungeon. For she only knew the coldness of the dark, devoid of any light. Fear, hunger, and weakness was all she constantly felt by the hands of the evil Witch and her bandit followers.

She was left all alone inside, with no one to talk to, to ask for support. To make things more smothering, the cage was so cramped, barely enough to fit her tiny form who was sitting with her little legs tucked.

Even the Witch Matilda, the only woman figure she knew so far, would treat her with contempt and at times, an unnatural fear for reasons that were unknown to her.

If she was to be freed from her cage, then it was only for a brief respite, all for the Witch to tamper and experiment with her fragile little body, taking blood samples before eventually being hauled back to the small cage yet again.

Never once in her lifetime that the girl think that she would be feeling this kind of tenderness. While she was now unable to express her joy in her face, a characteristic that was forcefully taken away from her during her times in the dungeon, she nonetheless appreciated them and simply nodded in response.

"Yeah, her voice box is really screwed." Liam muttered with a sad tone, "So, do you know how to write, at the very least?"

The girl's reply came with the shaking of her head.

"A no, then." Liam contemplated while stroking his chin, "Writing your name is out of the picture, I suppose. Can't have us calling you kid or girl every time now, can we?"

"No, we can't have that." Nekowa agreed, "But what name shall we call her?"

"Do you have a name?" Liam wanted to make sure as to not take away that original part of the girl's identity, but the same head shake was answered from her once more, "Guess not. Figures, that Witch did not even bother naming her."

Liam and Nekowa took a sit at the chairs nearby as they both brainstormed at what the girl's name was going to be.

A few minutes passed and the girl could only look back and forth at the two partners arguing like parents who were about to name their newborn.

"And I told you, Alex is what we are going to call her." It was like a heated discussion happening as Liam said so with passion.

"Alex? Talk about being lame and lazy." Nekowa disagreed vehemently, "Like what, you just thought of a gender-neutral name and decided to call it a day?"

"Hey, hey, apologize to every parent out there who named their child Alex!"

"I will do no such a thing! I mean, if you are going to name your child, then don't be lazy and name them properly according to their sex! I say we name her Ana, lovely and simple."

"Oh, like you are one to talk! Who's really the lazy one when the fact that you thought of such an uninspiring name! Sure, slap the usual feminine name that ends with an a, why don't you?!"

The child in question could only sweat dropped at witnessing such a low IQ moment between her two saviors. Sure, she's thrilled to finally have a name, an identity that she can proudly call and introduce herself to.

But was it necessary for them to lash out and make a big deal out of it? Sometimes, she wondered about the many types of adults that were in this world, with evil, kind, and the most recent one right here, stupid, that was in front of her.

In the end, the two eventually grew tired of their arguing and were in a deep impasse about the whole naming thing.

"This is… harder than I imagined." Liam thought with a grimace.

"I agree. Who would have thunk that naming a child is like opening a can of worms." Nekowa looked like she was in a mid-life crisis, based on her troubled look.

"Fine, how about this." Liam said and sought a solution to end this argument of theirs, "We each present a name to her, and if she finds it agreeable, then that name shall be final, period."

"You're on!"

The challenge was accepted, and the naming of the girl commenced once more, much to said girl's utter bewilderment.