Leca sprinted away from Mia's neighborhood, heading toward the downtown area near the university. It was a nightlife district, ablaze with lights even at night.
Mia ran after him, panting heavily.
Leca stopped in front of a club.
"It seems Mithys is inside," he said to Mia, about to enter immediately.
But a staff member at the entrance blocked his way.
"ID, please."
"...!"
An unexpected hurdle.
Leca turned to Mia with a face that said, What does that mean?
Mia had no words. Of course Leca wouldn't have anything like that!
Mia quickly pulled him aside.
"Uh, I don't think you can get in, Leca."
"I have money," he said earnestly.
"No, it's not about money. You need something called identification."
Only then did Leca seem to grasp the situation somewhat.
"But if Mithys didn't have an ID, how did she get in? Are you sure she's inside?"
At that, Leca nodded firmly.
"I'm certain. I feel her presence very strongly."
Mia couldn't make sense of what he meant, but decided to just go along with it for now.
"Then I'll go in. You wait here, okay?"
"Will you be all right?"
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Mia."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I keep causing you trouble."
Leca looked at Mia with those earnest, dog-like eyes.
Mia coughed awkwardly, feeling a little flustered.
At some point, she had become unable to properly respond when Leca spoke to her like that.
What is this. Do I… like you? Ugh.
"A-Anyway, Mithys is my friend too."
"If anything happens, or if you can't find Mithys, please come back immediately. I don't want you to stay in a place where I can't protect you."
Oh no… why are you doing this to me…
Face burning, Mia hurried into the club.
The blinding lights contrasted sharply with the dark interior, making her blink as she looked around.
Then—
She spotted a strikingly flashy man surrounded by women.
Long blond hair braided to one side cascaded down to his waist, and a red bandana was tied around his forehead.
From the ear opposite the braid dangled a large, long gemstone earring.
His appearance was peculiar, almost surreal.
A celebrity?
But somehow… he gave off the same aura as Leca and Mithys.
At that moment, the man lifted his head and locked eyes with Mia.
Apparently he had felt her gaze.
The moment her eyes met his vivid green ones, Mia panicked and looked away.
Oh no, what if he thinks I was staring because I'm interested?
…And it seemed he did.
The golden-haired, celebrity-like man parted the crowd like Moses and approached her.
"Hey there, pretty lady," he said, smiling warmly.
Mia stared at him, utterly mesmerized.
She had never seen someone this handsome before.
No, not just handsome—he was beautiful.
His yellow green eyes sparkled like jewels, and the earring swinging from his ear was the same mesmerizing shade.
His honey-blond hair seemed ready to melt into syrup.
"Is there something on my face?" he asked, breaking her trance.
Mia shook herself awake.
Right! I'm here to find Mithys!
Flustered, she looked around like a startled meerkat instead of answering.
But Mithys was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe I should check the bathroom.
Thinking so, Mia gave the man a polite nod.
"I'm sorry, I'm looking for someone. Have a nice night."
She bowed and turned away.
She could feel his gaze prickling the back of her neck, but she forced herself to walk faster.
The moment she entered the bathroom, she saw a long line.
Only one of the two stalls had a queue.
From the stall without a line, the sound of violent vomiting echoed.
Something felt off.
Could it be… Mithys?
She couldn't be sure, but an eerie feeling crawled up her spine.
Mia knocked on the door urgently.
"Mithys? Are you in there?"
"...Mia... ugh."
Just as I thought.
Mia clicked her tongue.
"Can you open the door?"
"I… I can't… don't know how… urgh, it won't open…"
Mia sighed and rushed to the luggage storage counter, speaking to the woman there.
"Excuse me, could you help open a bathroom door? My friend's stuck inside."
The staff member, seemingly used to this kind of situation, followed Mia back without much surprise.
—Click.
"Mithys!!!"
Inside, Mithys was collapsed over the toilet, her long, rainbow-colored hair sprawled across the floor.
Aside from being larger and missing her wings, she looked the same.
"Ah… Mia."
Mithys lifted her head weakly.
Her mouth was smeared with pale vomit.
The staff left silently, her job apparently done.
Mia tore off some toilet paper, gently wiping Mithys's mouth, then slung Mithys's arm over her shoulder to help her out.
"I can't believe you. What happened to you?"
The people in line watched the two girls with curious eyes.
"Let's get out of here. Leca's waiting."
The humid night air hit Mia's nose as they stepped outside.
Leca immediately took Mithys from Mia and carried her on his back.
"You were later than expected. I was worried," he said.
"It was so crowded inside," Mia replied.
"Is Mithys all right?"
"Does she look all right to you?"
Leca and Mia silently walked home.
Mithys, now seeming more at ease, slept soundly on Leca's back.
And from a distance—
Two men watched the disappearing trio.
One had long blond hair, the other had brown hair. The brown-haired man spoke with concern.
"Are you sure you don't want to go meet her?"
"Why would I? Look at her. She's a wreck," the blond man sneered.
"But still, shouldn't you…"
"My mother ordered me to meet Mithys. It wasn't my idea."
"Then why…"
"I just wanted to see. What my future wife looks like."
"Mmm… ungh…"
Mithys tossed and turned, sweating as if trapped in a nightmare.
Suddenly, Leca reached out into thin air and conjured a small transparent flask filled with a purple liquid.
With practiced ease, he pried open Mithys's mouth and let a few drops slip in.
Gradually, Mithys opened her eyes and gasped for breath.
"Where… am I?"
"You're home now," Leca said gently.
"Ah… why am I here? I was sure I…"
"You collapsed in the bathroom after throwing up. Don't you remember?"
Mia asked, and Mithys sat bolt upright.
"I... I drank from a glass offered by a woman. Right after I took a sip, I felt sick and rushed to the bathroom."
"A woman offered you a drink?"
"Yeah. She was so nice about it… but after one sip, I felt awful."
Mia's eyes widened.
"You shouldn't drink from strangers! And how did you even get into the club without an ID?"
"She probably used a charm spell,"
Leca said calmly. Startled, Mia turned to him.
"charm spell?"
"It's a magic only those of the Peridot bloodline can use in Sibareth. They bewitch the eyes of others and bend them to their will."
Mia opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Leca cut her off coldly.
"Please do not use such tricks again."
Mithys huffed and turned her back to them, pulling the covers over her head—a clear signal to leave.
Leca, still courteous, turned off the light and tiptoed out. Mia, too, felt a sudden wave of exhaustion.
She hadn't even showered yet. When she entered the bathroom, the greenish water in the tub seemed to greet her.
I'm so tired… maybe I'll clean it tomorrow.
No, if I leave it, it'll turn into a moldy mess in this heat.
Resolving herself, Mia emptied the tub and scrubbed it clean with a brush.
Just as she was finishing—
—Gurgle.
A strange sensation twisted in her stomach.
Am I coming down with something?
Mia doubled over and threw up violently.
Hearing the noise, someone came running.
"Mia!"
She turned to Leca as he rushed toward her, trying to pat her back.
The moment she looked into his eyes—
Something strange happened. It felt as if time and space froze. Her gaze seemed to suck him in.
She felt like she could command him, bend him completely to her will.
Without thinking, Mia whispered:
"Hold my hand..."
Leca's eyes lost their focus.
His large, warm hand closed tightly over hers.
It was comforting. Safe.
No. This isn't right.
A strong sense of rejection surged from within her.
At that instant, a sharp sensation snapped through the air, and time seemed to return to normal.
Leca's eyes regained focus, looking down at her with deep concern.
"Mia, are you all right?"
Ah…
Earlier, Leca had given Mithys some sort of purple potion that made her better.
Maybe if she drank that too…
And at that moment, Mia saw it—
the same purple flask Leca had conjured before, now floating gently in the air.
And Leca's eyes widening in shock.