[Realm: Álfheimr]
[Location: Heart Kingdom Outskirts]
[Virelheim Mountain Village]
"So… over eighty Heart Kingdom soldiers, and two Nil," Gretel muttered, her voice strained. Her steps crunched lightly against the wooden platform as she led the way through the elevated village. "What luck."
Mikoto, walking a half-step behind her, let out a soft, irritated breath through his nose.
"Maybe don't say it out loud, idiot," he said sharply. "Unless you want everyone to panic like a bunch of dumbasses."
"Sorry, sorry," Gretel chuckled, raising a hand to sheepishly rub the back of her neck. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "It's just… a lot, you know? You'd think the world would give us a break at some point."
Mikoto stared at her for a long moment. Despite everything—the encroaching threat, the numbers, the Nil—Gretel wore that stupid smile of hers. Like none of it mattered.
"You gonna keep up that façade?" he asked almost rhetorically.
