Sunlight warmed the curtains of their shared inn room, soft and golden—peaceful.
It lasted exactly three seconds.
Because Mika woke up first.
And he woke up angry.
Not loudly. Not violently. Just… radiating silent, simmering irritation like a pot about to boil over.
Lucien, half-asleep in his bed, blinked blearily. "Why do you look like you're about to murder the sun?"
Mika pointed at the corner.
Lucien followed his stare.
Kuro was floating.
Not dramatically—just about a foot above the bed, limp and peacefully asleep, glowing faint white like some ethereal lantern.
Lucien sat up so fast he fell off his bed. "Nope. No. Absolutely not. I didn't sign up for this level of cursed."
Mika rubbed his face with both hands, groaning. "This is why I can't have a normal morning."
[Oh relax, he's just doing his… uh… ghost nap? Spirit recharge? Whatever you call floating like a mystical balloon.]
Kuro drifted slightly in the air, completely oblivious.
Mika hissed at the empty space, "Elvastia, what did you do?!"
[I didn't do anything. You think I know how to make him levitate? If I did, I'd make him spin for fun.]
"STOP TALKING LIKE THAT IS NORMAL."
Lucien pointed dramatically. "Wait—wait—did the voice just say he'd make Kuro spin!?" (Can't hear Elvastia. Just listening to Mika repeating what Elvastia says that we can't see..)
Kuro finally stirred.
His floating body curled slightly, like stretching mid-air… then slowly descended like a feather onto the bed.
He blinked awake, yawning. "...Morning?"
Mika stared at him.
Lucien stared at him.
Even Elvastia seemed momentarily speechless.
Then—
[Good morning, balloon boy.]
Kuro's face went red instantly. "I—I can't control that! It just happens!"
Lucien clutched his chest dramatically. "Just happens?! Kuro, you sleep like a spiritually possessed lantern! Do you know how many heart attacks I almost had!?"
Mika crossed his arms. "You scared the hell out of me."
Kuro shrank slightly. "Sorry…"
[Don't apologize. It's not his fault he's cursed.]
Lucien groaned. "He said cursed—why does he keep saying that like it's a personality trait?"
"It basically is," Mika muttered.
Kuro buried his face in the blanket. "Can we… pretend this never happened?"
"No," Mika and Lucien said in unison.
Kuro sighed.
[Hey, at least it's not as bad as the time you woke up buried in ghost flowers.]
"That wasn't my fault!" Kuro protested immediately.
Lucien blinked. "You WHAT—?"
Mika waved a hand dismissively. "Another time. Right now we need to go downstairs and check if the Guild Master left a message."
Kuro slowly sat up. "Do you think it's about the gate?"
"Probably," Mika answered. "You caused a magical earthquake. They won't ignore that."
Lucien exhaled deeply. "Gods. Morning after nearly awakening ancient evil. And I thought my academy exams were stressful."
They all began getting ready.
Except Kuro.
He wasn't moving.
He was just staring at the floor with a strange expression.
"Kuro?" Mika asked, sensing it. "What's wrong?"
"…It's still there," Kuro whispered. "The presence. The thing from the gate."
Mika tensed. "Right now?"
Kuro nodded slowly.
Lucien stiffened. "Do we need weapons—?"
"No," Kuro said softly. "It's not waking up. It's just… watching."
The room fell silent.
The warmth of the morning suddenly felt colder.
[Well. That's concerning. You're usually not aware of it unless it's trying something.]
Kuro swallowed hard. "I know."
Mika stepped closer, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Then we deal with it later. First we report to the Guild. I'm not letting anything drag you back there alone."
Kuro managed a faint smile. "Thanks."
[He's being protective again. You're going to make him blush if you keep looking at him like that.]
Mika immediately turned away, ears reddening. "Shut up."
Lucien threw up his hands. "I swear, every morning with you all is like waking up on a battlefield made of awkward emotions."
Then—
BANG BANG BANG!
Someone knocked violently on their door.
Mika instantly gripped his sword.
Lucien stepped back, tense.
Kuro felt the presence inside him flicker.
Then a familiar, irritated voice shouted:
"—OI! OPEN UP! I brought breakfast because SOME OF YOU FORGOT YOU ORDERED ROOM SERVICE LAST NIGHT!"
The three froze.
"…Is that—" Kuro whispered.
Mika covered his face with one hand. "Oh no."
Lucien swallowed. "Why does she sound angry?"
[Oh good. It's Mika's favorite person.]
Kuro blinked. "…Who?"
Mika groaned. "My sister."
Lucien choked. "YOU HAVE A SISTER?!"
[This is going to be a disaster.]