Unlock new chapters and exclusive illustrations at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish.
On the third floor of Twilight Manor, the morning sunlight began to seep through the gaps in the window curtains, which had not been fully drawn. In one of the rooms, the faint creaking of a bed could be heard as someone stirred awake.
Raul Nord, the hardworking yet mediocre High Novice, lazily opened his eyes. He let out a wide yawn, one hand rubbing his face while the other scrubbed his still-sleepy eyes. His spiky black hair looked like the aftermath of a storm—messy and sticking out in all directions.
"Haaahhh... morning again..." he murmured softly, then began straightening his bed, pulling the blanket half-consciously and arranging the pillows haphazardly. The room was still quiet, with only the gentle sound of wind slipping through the window cracks.
Once finished, Raul walked to the window and pulled the curtains aside. He pushed the window open with a bit of effort, allowing the cool morning air to rush in. The fresh air immediately invaded the room, waking him up slightly.
However, as his gaze drifted into the distance, toward the back area of the manor usually used for physical training, he saw something that made his eyebrows shoot up.
"...Huh?"
Far in the distance, in the rarely noticed back area of the manor, there was something... unusual. Brightly colored balls floated high in the air—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, like a rainbow blooming in the form of a floating circle.
And beneath the cluster of large balloons was a small figure... or more accurately, a black dot dangling below them. It was too far away to make out clearly, but it was definitely not something seen every morning from the third-floor window.
Raul rubbed his eyes, thinking he was still half-asleep and hallucinating. But after rubbing them again, no, the vision remained. He tilted his head, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"Huh?! What the heck is that?!"
In an instant, the remnants of sleepiness evaporated from his body. He rubbed his eyes once more, harder this time, as if hoping his vision was just a trick from sleeping too soundly. But no. The image was still there. Giant floating balls. A small figure floating. Behind the manor.
"Could it be... a flying monster from the Dungeon? Or... an intruder from Evilus?!"
His body tensed. His mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. Are they kidnapping someone? Or spying from the air? This is bad! Really bad!
Without further thought, Raul grabbed his jacket and threw it on while running out of the room. His voice echoed down the hallway as he shouted, "EMERGENCY! THERE'S SOMETHING FLOATING BEHIND THE MANOR!"
The usually cautious adventurer was now like a walking alarm. Unbeknownst to him, what he had seen was merely the morning experiment of Shirou and Riveria... aided by seven colorful balloons.
Light footsteps approached as Raul, still panicked and half-wearing his jacket in haste, emerged from his room. From the hallway leading to the stairs, a cat-eared woman with black ears appeared, stopping in her tracks upon hearing the shout.
"Raul?!" Anakitty—or Aki, as she was more commonly called—sounded sharp yet calm. Her cat ears twitched alertly, her tail flicking slightly to the side. She quickly approached Raul with brisk steps. "What's going on?!"
Raul, still slightly out of breath from panic, pointed toward his bedroom window. "Behind the manor! I saw something... flying!"
Aki blinked, straightening her posture. "Flying? You mean a monster?"
"Maybe!" Raul answered quickly. "I'm not sure... But it looked weird! It was definitely not a bird! And there were... these big colorful things floating! And a small figure hanging below them!"
Aki tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes studying Raul with scrutiny. They had been in the same Familia for a long time, and Aki knew all too well that Raul was the type to act fast... and panic just as quickly. She raised an eyebrow, softening her tone to calm the chaos in her friend's mind.
"Okay, take it easy, Raul," she said soothingly. "You said there's something flying, but can you describe it in more detail? What did it look like? Wings? Shadows? A monster with many eyes?"
Raul bit his lip, his eyes glancing at the ceiling as if trying to recall. "Uhm... it was... round things, big, like—maybe airbags? But they were all different colors... red, blue, green, yellow, so many!"
He moved his hands upward, mimicking the motion of something floating. "And they were connected by... some kind of rope? And at the bottom end was someone! But they were tiny from here, like a dot!"
Aki narrowed her eyes. "Round, colorful things? Floating? But not a monster we know from the Dungeon...?"
Raul nodded rapidly. "Yeah! I've never seen a monster like that before!"
Aki crossed her arms, her ears twitching. "In that case... it could be a new monster. Or is it some kind of enemy magic tool? But who would do that behind the manor?" She glanced toward the nearest window, her gaze sharp. "We should check first."
Raul nodded firmly, though his face still showed confusion. In his mind, the strange object he had seen remained inexplicable—flying without wings, not a bird, and far too colorful to be a typical Dungeon creature.
And more importantly, who would dare to intrude like that... in Loki Familia's territory?
The two of them hurried toward the backyard, unaware that the "colorful floating things" were merely Riveria's little dream.
Hasty footsteps echoed down the spiral staircase of Twilight Manor as Aki and Raul descended from the third floor at a speed almost as if they were being chased. Aki's cat ears twitched, picking up sounds around them to ensure no unnecessary panic was caused.
As they reached the second floor, a girl with light brown hair in casual morning attire stood hugging a thin book. Lefiya, who had just stepped out of her room, frowned upon seeing her two friends rushing down with panicked expressions.
"Eh? Raul? Aki?" Lefiya asked, confused, her brow furrowed as she looked at them. "Why are you in such a hurry this early in the morning?"
Raul almost opened his mouth to shout and explain about the "mysterious floating object," but Aki quickly raised her hand to stop him.
"Don't," she whispered firmly to Raul. "Let's confirm first before waking up the entire manor."
Raul swallowed his words, offering Lefiya only an awkward smile. "It's nothing, Lefiya! Just carry on with your morning!"
Lefiya still looked puzzled but eventually nodded slowly, her eyes following them for a moment before she continued toward the hall.
Meanwhile, Aki and Raul swiftly descended to the first floor. Along the hallway, several members of Loki Familia were just beginning to wake up, most still yawning and scratching their heads. The two didn't greet anyone, merely walking briskly toward the manor's back door.
Finally, they reached the back door and stepped outside into the yard. The cool morning air greeted them, contrasting with the heat of their hurried movements.
Aki immediately looked up, scanning the still-clear sky with thin clouds in the distance. Her sharp eyes traced every inch of the sky. But...
"Hmm? Where is it? You said there was something flying?" Aki asked, glancing at Raul.
Raul stepped forward, squinting toward the area where he thought he had seen it—the backside of the manor. But... there was nothing. Just the blue sky, small trees, and not a single trace of the colorful floating balls.
"Eh... it was there earlier... I swear!" Raul muttered, half-confused, half-embarrassed. "But why is it gone now..."
Aki crossed her arms, an amused smile appearing on her face. "Maybe... you were still half-dreaming when you saw it?"
Raul averted his gaze, his expression awkward. But Aki's words made him think. "Hah... maybe. It could've just been a reflection of light... or I jumped to conclusions too quickly."
Aki shrugged. "Because if it were something that big, how could it just disappear? If it were a monster, the other members would've already raised an alarm."
Raul lowered his head slightly. "Sorry, Aki... for troubling you like this."
Aki patted his shoulder casually. "No problem. At least you didn't scream loud enough to wake the whole manor." She gave him a sharp but amused glance. "If you had caused a commotion and it turned out to just be a cloud's shadow... you'd never hear the end of it from Bete."
Raul shuddered at the thought. His face instantly paled. "Oh gods... if that had happened, I wouldn't dare leave my room for two days."
Aki chuckled lightly while patting his back. "Well, lucky for you, I caught you in time. Next time, Raul, look twice before panicking."
Raul let out a long sigh. "Yeah... and thank you, really." Though slightly embarrassed, he was grateful Aki had been there to balance out his panic, as usual.
***
20 minutes earlier...
The morning breeze gently caressed Riveria's face as she slowly rose from the ground, carried upward by seven large, colorful balloons floating high above her. Both hands gripped the balloon strings tightly—not out of fear, but excitement. The wind tousled her neatly tied green hair, making her feel as if she were merging with the sky.
This was her first time flying—and not through magic or a god's flying tool, but in a simple, childish way... and that was precisely why it felt so magical. A warm smile spread across her lips as she gazed at the scenery below.
Twilight Manor looked majestic yet tiny from above, its castle-like structure visible from her height. She estimated she was only slightly higher than the fourth floor—the floor where her room was located. Not too high, but enough to give her a new perspective—one unusual for an elf royalty accustomed to staying on the ground.
Her gaze shifted to the grass and trees stretching below. Everything looked like a miniature garden, shrunk by distance and muted by height. Riveria closed her eyes briefly, inhaling the fresh air from above and savoring the freedom she rarely experienced in her daily life as Loki Familia's renowned mage.
But when she opened her eyes again, something caught her attention—movement below, crossing a small path behind the manor. She turned slightly, and her eyes immediately locked onto a familiar figure: Shirou, pedaling a blue bicycle, following her from the ground.
Riveria's smile softened further. Shirou's face looked serious yet calm, his eyes fixed upward, watching with full concentration. Though no words left his lips, his intention was clear to Riveria.
You're still worried... aren't you, Shirou?
She lowered herself slightly, waving one hand gently toward Shirou from above. In her heart, she whispered, Even though I told you earlier, I wouldn't get hurt falling from this height. Yet you still worry about me...
And for some reason, that simple concern warmed her heart. The balloons carrying her into the sky... paled in comparison to the feeling lifting her even higher—the care from the man now watching her intently from below.
Riveria exhaled deeply, letting the morning breeze sweep over her face and her lightly suspended body beneath the giant balloons. The soft rustling of the balloon surfaces brushing against the air and the taut strings added to the peaceful atmosphere of the morning, not yet filled with the manor's usual bustle.
She noticed the wind now carrying the balloons slowly toward Twilight Manor's main building. Her emerald-green eyes narrowed slightly, carefully assessing the distance and angle before she smiled faintly.
If this keeps up, I might be able to land right in my room... she mused, as if riding a playful ride. She tilted her head toward the fourth-floor window she knew so well—the window of her own room, left slightly ajar last night.
With curiosity no less spirited than a teenager's, Riveria began leaning her body to one side, to the right. The balloons above her reacted immediately, shifting slightly with the change in weight distribution. She tried again, this time to the left, and once more, the balloons responded, moving gently at her will.
"Heh..." Riveria murmured, unable to suppress a small, amused smile. Like a living kite. She then tried balancing herself, steering while keeping an eye on the sky and her window's position.
Meanwhile, below, Shirou continued pedaling his blue bicycle along the path circling the manor's back. His gaze remained fixed upward, following the gentle movement of the balloons carrying Riveria. But now, he noticed her body movements looking slightly odd—leaning right, then left, even twisting a little.
"What is she doing...?" he muttered in confusion. But seeing no signs of danger, he only shook his head with a tired smile. Well, maybe that's her way of enjoying the flight.
However, just as Shirou was about to slow down, the air around him began to change.
Whooosh!
The wind direction suddenly reversed. Previously, carrying Riveria closer to the manor, it now blew from the opposite side, pushing the balloons away, not toward Riveria's window, but toward the manor's eastern side, which was more open and lacked cover.
"Hey... wait..." Riveria murmured, feeling her body being carried by the now-unstable wind. Her hair fluttered wildly behind her, and she tried to rebalance herself, but this time, the balloons reacted more erratically, swaying unpredictably in the sudden gusts.
Shirou, watching from below, immediately straightened on his bicycle, his eyes narrowing as he muttered under his breath. "This isn't good..." He pedaled faster toward the eastern side, preparing for the unexpected.
The peaceful morning seemed about to take an unpredictable turn.
Riveria continued floating, her body now truly at the mercy of the increasingly strong wind. Her green hair flew wildly in the air, and the large balloons, once floating calmly, now swayed uncontrollably, dragged by the unfriendly gusts. Yet her face remained composed.
"Haaah..." She sighed, not out of panic but slight disappointment. I was so close to landing smoothly in my window...
But as she looked ahead, through the gaps of the unstable, swinging balloons, her smile slowly faded. In the distance, the manor's rear boundary was already receding, and she could now see the roofs of other buildings outside Twilight Manor's grounds. She was drifting farther than she had hoped. Closer to public areas.
Riveria began to feel a twinge of anxiety. If I stay within the manor's grounds, at least only Familia members would see me. But if I float outside...
She swallowed hard. Images of the gods' faces flashed through her mind—Freya, Ganesha, Hermes... Those are always curious and never hesitant to pry. And she knew it was impossible for mortals to lie before gods. If any of them saw her flying with colorful balloons like this, the news could spread across Orario within hours. Not only embarrassing but also suspicious.
Sorry, Shirou. It seems I have to land now before I cause trouble...
She looked down, her eyes scanning the ground below, which was now moving rapidly. She began bringing her hands to her chest, preparing to release the strings and jump—a simple landing technique, but enough to avoid minor injuries.
But her plan halted when she spotted a very familiar figure.
Right below her, Shirou had abandoned his bicycle. He stood firmly on the grassy field, his eyes locked straight upward. His shoulders were slightly raised, ready to bear whatever fell from the sky. His legs were steady, his posture exuding unwavering readiness and confidence.
Their eyes met.
Riveria froze for a moment.
He's... preparing to catch me? she thought, her heart beating slightly faster.
From nowhere, a shadow flitted through her mind—a dramatic scene once embedded in her dreams. She remembered the night she had fallen asleep soundly in the storage room, her head resting on Shirou's lap, surrounded by the soft glow of candles and the scent of old paper. That night, Shirou had projected a strange yet captivating object: a thick book with a foreign title, a renowned work from his world.
That Noble Phantasm, crafted from the cultural memories of Shirou's world, had transported her into a dream both odd and romantic—she had become Juliet, clad in a white dress with blue sleeves, standing on a high balcony. And Shirou... was her Romeo, standing below in a red military uniform, gazing at her with a look full of promises and courage.
If Juliet jumped from the balcony... would her Romeo catch her?
Riveria opened her eyes again, seeing Shirou below, standing firm, his arms wide open without hesitation.
Not a single doubt lingered in her heart.
My Romeo would surely catch me.
She adjusted her position. Her left hand still gripped the strings of the seven floating balloons, but now she began tilting her body slowly. Instead of descending feet-first, she decided—trusting fully—to drop backward. As if entrusting her entire body... to the person waiting below.
One deep breath.
Then... release.
Her fingers let go of the strings. The giant balloons immediately soared freely into the sky, floating upward, leaving Riveria now in free fall toward the earth.
Her eyes closed.
The air rushed past her skin, her hair flying in all directions, her body weightless as if suspended. A few seconds that felt eternal.
If I fall... I know I'll be fine. Because he's there.
Thud!
A gentle impact welcomed her. She felt no pain. No hard landing. Only warmth. A tight, strong, and calm embrace. Arms that caught her with certainty, as if saying: "I'm here."
She slowly opened her eyes.
Shirou's face was there. Close. His breath was slightly ragged from bearing her weight, but his gaze remained soft. Warm. No complaints. No surprise. Only certainty.
Riveria looked at him... and smiled faintly.
Thank you... my Romeo.