Kibo stood a few paces away, tense, his hands balled at his sides as minutes dragged. Syl worked with relentless care, her brow furrowing deeper as the glow of her magic slowly eased the girl's breathing. The Ironfur mother shifted, her rumble deepening, forcing Kibo to hold his ground, to keep his distance. Her eyes, sharp and gleaming, watched him with unblinking warning.
Ben pressed against Syl's arm, chittering in frantic bursts, whines and growls tumbling from him.
At last Syl let out a low breath. The light in her hands dimmed as the elf's breathing steadied, her fragile frame sinking into an exhausted sleep against Lily's embrace.
"Slavery," Syl said quietly, but the word rang with cold weight, as if it poisoned the air.
Kibo's eyes hardened. He already understood, though he hadn't wanted to speak it. His lips parted, but Lily's voice cut through first.
"Why don't we take her inside first?" Her words were soft, desperate to shield the girl from the open air.
Kibo's mouth had barely opened in agreement when Ignis's voice roared within him, sharp and vicious.
"Brat, are you that stupid? This is an elf! You heard the word 'slavery' with your own ears! Do you want to bring an army of murderers crashing onto this house? This is not your burden!"
"What is the problem in helping an elf?" Kibo thought, his expression steady, refusing to shift.
"The problem is trouble, brat! You are blind! Do not play the hero here. This reeks of a trap. She reeks of a trap!"
Kibo ignored the venom in his head, turning his focus outward. He faced Syl directly. "Can you ask Ben's mother what happened?"
Syl glanced at him, ready to speak, but the Ironfur mother was already moving. Her massive head lowered until her muzzle brushed the ground. A deep, urgent hum rumbled from her chest, low and mournful, carrying weight far heavier than words. She nudged Ben forward, her breath huffing in sharp, deliberate bursts.
Ben responded with frantic energy, his little body wriggling as he chittered and growled, the sounds tumbling into a pattern almost too quick to follow.
Syl's eyes widened, her face caught between confusion and sorrow. "Ben says… his mother and some other beasts tried to rescue the elves." Her gaze dropped to the sleeping girl in Lily's arms, her voice softening. "But they only managed to save her."
Kibo's brows knit together. His voice was low, unsettled. "They tried to save them?… So she isn't the only one…" He paused, the question dragging at him. "…What made them do that?"
"I don't know," Syl admitted, shaking her head, strands of hair falling loose around her face. "From what Ben told me, they acted on instinct. As if… as if something commanded them."
Kibo's eyes narrowed, tension settling heavy in his chest. "Ignis, do you have any idea how that could have happened?"
Silence lingered like a heavy curtain. Ignis, ever ready with his venom, offered no response. Kibo's face tightened, his jaw stiff as his frown deepened.
"Kibo… please, can we let her stay?" Lily's voice cracked softly, a desperate plea woven through every word.
Kibo hesitated. His eyes shifted to the unconscious elf girl, then back to Lily. "…I don't know. Aunt Sora might not agree to this."
"But she has to!" Syl's voice rose, sharp with conviction, though her eyes betrayed her own fear.
"Easier said than done," Kibo muttered, his gaze locked on the frail girl lying in Lily's arms. "If we do this, we might be inviting trouble straight to our doorstep."
Lily's arms tightened protectively around the elf as if shielding her from his words. "But, Kibo… she needs rest. Just for some few hours. And when she wakes, she can explain to us what really happened. Please… don't turn her away."
Syl stepped forward, her tone steadier than Lily's but just as unyielding. "Kibo, let's just help her. She's an elf. That alone should be reason enough to care for her."
Kibo glanced at her, then back at the girl. "Even if she wasn't an elf…"
"Brat, let the elf girl stay." Ignis's voice erupted suddenly in his mind, its usual venom muted into something almost calculating.
Kibo froze, caught off guard. "Oh, so now you agree? Weren't you just lecturing me a moment ago?"
"This isn't about saving a pathetic stray, you fool," Ignis spat, though his tone carried a deliberate edge. "This is an opportunity. That elf could be a key for the girl… a link to the Elven Kingdom. Use her. She is not a guest, she is a tool."
Kibo's thoughts spun like storm winds. He looked at Lily's pleading eyes, shimmering with tears, then at Syl's unyielding, fiery gaze. "Ignis is twisted, but… he isn't wrong. Aunt Sora will despise this. Yet if it opens a door for Syl… it might be worth it".
He exhaled slowly, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. "Fine," he said at last, his voice quiet but firm. "We'll take her inside."
Relief broke across Lily's face like sunlight after rain. She gave a trembling smile, and Syl, unable to contain herself, hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Kibo."
Ben's mother rumbled low in her chest, a sound both warning and farewell. She turned and began to lumber away, her massive form fading into the treeline.
Syl pulled back from the hug, watching with a hint of worry.
"She's leaving already?" Kibo asked.
Ben chittered and nudged his mother, a series of agitated, high-pitched barks and chuffs.
"She'll return," Syl said at last, her voice edged with certainty she couldn't fully explain. "But for now, she has… things she must tend to."
Kibo frowned, confusion pulling at him. Still, he pushed it aside and turned to Lily. Gently, he bent and lifted the elf girl into his arms. Her body was so light it sent a pang through his chest. "Come. Let's get her inside."
Lily rose quickly to follow, worry etched into her every step. "But… what will we tell Aunt Sora?"
"Something convincing," Syl answered for him, though her voice carried no ease. "Kibo, do you have anything in mind?"
As he stepped into the cottage, the dim warmth of its walls swallowing him, Kibo answered. "Yes… I'll think of something. But first, this elf girl needs to wake. The sooner we hear her story, the better."
Lily gasped, her face stricken. "But isn't that cruel? She's exhausted already. Forcing her awake when she needs rest…"
Syl's brows knit together in agreement. "She's right, Kibo. It wouldn't be good to push her so soon. She will need time…"
"We don't have time," Kibo cut her off, his voice loud, steady, and unyielding. He carried the girl into the next room, the shadows playing across her pale face. "We need the truth first. Only then can I think of a way to face Aunt Sora. And I promise… I'll be gentle."
Syl followed, Ben close to her legs, his little claws clicking softly against the wooden floor. Lily lingered for a heartbeat at the door, her chest tight, then closed it behind her.
"I'll… I'll prepare a meal for her," Lily said quickly, clinging to a fragile hope. "If she wakes hungry… maybe it will give her strength to speak."
~~~~~~~~
At the same time, in Balmount Kingdom, a chill clung stubbornly to the early morning air. The inn's hallway was quiet, save for the faint creak of the old floorboards. Mira stood there, her posture rigid, a folded letter clenched tightly in her hands. The parchment felt brittle and cold, almost as though the words written upon it carried their own frost. Her eyes darted over the lines again, her breath catching with every sentence.
"The Countess is really insufferable," she thought bitterly, frustration flaring hot in her chest. "Weeks of dodging my meetings that I requested for, and now she suddenly wants me to walk into her precious castle?"
She lowered the letter, her gaze narrowing on Mr. Kaito. His face, calm and unreadable, gave her nothing.
"Is this some kind of joke?" she demanded, her tone cutting through the silence. "What changed her mind?"
Mr. Kaito did not flinch. His voice was soft, smooth, almost too careful. "This is no joke, Miss Mira."
Mira's lip curled. "If it isn't, then why now? After refusing every request I sent, she suddenly opens her doors? At the royal palace of all places?"
Mr. Kaito exhaled slowly, the faintest crease appearing at the corner of his brow. "I know how long you have been waiting. The Countess has simply been… occupied."
"Occupied?" Mira scoffed, her laugh sharp and humorless. "Occupied enough to play ghost, yet suddenly free to host me in the most inconvenient place possible? This reeks of a trap."
His eyes flicked toward her, unbothered by her rising suspicion. "I am only a humble servant," he replied smoothly. "I pass along messages. Nothing more." He leaned closer, lowering his voice until it was barely a whisper. "However… since you have shown such patience, I will share what I should not. The Countess wishes you to meet with the Queen herself."
Mira's pulse quickened. She narrowed her eyes, suspicion tangling with intrigue. "The Queen? No… this cannot be just idle talk. What are you planning, Countess?"
"If that is truly the case," she said aloud, her tone measured, "then I will be there."
Mr. Kaito inclined his head but interrupted before she could speak further. His voice carried a subtle weight this time. "I would suggest you bring your subordinates. The Queen is not only interested in words. She will want to see what her allies are capable of."
Mira's chuckle was dry, almost mocking, though it held no true amusement. "That will not be a problem." She folded the letter with deliberate care. "When is this grand meeting?"
"You need not worry about that," he said, his smile faint but immovable. "I will come for you myself. Until then… prepare your people."
He turned to leave, but Mira's sharp voice halted him mid-step.
"Mr. Kaito," she called. Her tone was deceptively calm. "The knights that were stationed here. What of them?"
He paused, glancing back just enough for his eyes to catch hers. "Nothing, Miss Mira. They are tending to other duties."
"Right," she said coolly. "If you stumble across them, tell them I said hello."
'I will,' he said, his voice even and unreadable. He disappeared into the hallway as he walked downstairs.
The silence he left behind pressed in on her. Mira let out a long, steady breath, the letter crumpling slightly in her grip. She reached for the doorknob of her room, her mind circling. "So it begins. If this is truly a meeting with the Queen, then every step I take from now on must be precise."
Her hand touched the knob—then froze as a loud metallic crash erupted inside the room.
Mira's instincts flared. She flung the door open, bracing for danger. What greeted her was… not quite that.
Takashi was perched stiffly on the bed, both hands frozen mid-air as he clutched the corner of the window curtain like a thief caught in the act. His wide eyes met hers, and a pitiful gasp slipped from his throat.
In the corner, Mael was half-kneeling, shoving something under a chair with frantic determination. Astrid was beside him, giggling uncontrollably, her hand clamped over her mouth in a desperate attempt to muffle the sound.
Beside the desk, Nina stood with all the poise of an angel caught red-handed. The desk itself was toppled, a shattered teacup scattered across the floor at her feet. She glanced up at Mira, her eyes wide and innocent, and flashed a smile so pure it was almost criminal.
"Captain," Nina chirped brightly, clasping her hands together, "are you done with your talk?"
Mira folded her arms, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Her expression was carved from stone, a perfect mask of disappointment. "You all," she said, her voice calm but edged with weight, "are really bad at pretending."
Nina's smile faltered, slipping from her face as though it had never been there. "What… what do you mean, Captain?"
"You heard her right!" Mael blurted out before he could stop himself, his finger shooting toward Nina like an arrow. "She knows you were listening in on her conversation!"
"I didn't do anything!" Nina cried, her voice cracking under the weight of panic.
Astrid let out a theatrical sigh, shaking her head with mock disappointment. "Oh, Nina," she said, her tone deliberately slow and pitying, "you are lying now."
"I am not!" Nina yelped, clutching at her chest like she'd been struck with a blade. Her voice broke again, pitiful and desperate.
Mael's eyes darted to Astrid, his gaze screaming silently. Way to go! You're really quick on this!
Astrid's calm, straight stare shot right back at him. Why wouldn't I be? Nina was far too sloppy. Listening in felt like a private show, and she didn't position herself well.
A low chuckle slipped from Mira's lips, surprising all of them. "Oh, is that so? And you both expect me to believe you weren't a part of it?"
"No, Captain!" Mael burst out again, his voice bordering on a desperate plea. "Astrid and I would never do something like that!"
"Yes, Captain," Astrid added smoothly, her face the picture of seriousness. "Mael was simply telling me about… something important before he wanted to show me something. As you saw."
Mira tilted her head, her gaze sliding back to Nina with a smirk that was more dangerous than anger. "Oh, my sweet Nina," she said softly, her words dripping with mock sympathy, "why were you eavesdropping on my conversation?"
"Captain, you have to believe me!" Nina burst out, her words tripping over each other as her panic deepened. "Maybe I did what everyone thinks, which I am certain I did not, or perhaps…well…the fact that…"
"Enough," Mira interrupted, raising a hand. Her calm was sharper than a blade. "You don't need to waste your breath trying to explain."
Her eyes shifted, gliding past Nina, Mael, and Astrid, settling firmly on Takashi.
"Takashi," she said, her tone suddenly level and serious. "Do you have any idea who might have been eavesdropping?"
Mael and Astrid froze in unison. Both pairs of eyes widened in horror, darting to Takashi as though he were about to doom them all.
Mael's frantic stare screamed across the room. Say something! Stop him before he talks!
Astrid's gaze was cool, her lips pressed together in silence. And what do you expect me to say? If we lie, she'll carve through us instantly.
Takashi parted his lips, breath drawing in as though he were about to speak.
"No!" Mael suddenly yelped, springing forward like a man throwing himself in front of a blade. "Oh, Captain, I don't think Takashi would have any idea about that!"
Mira fixed him with a stare so flat it could have crushed him. "And why do you say so?"
Mael swallowed, his face shining with sweat. "Well… well…" His voice trembled, his mind racing in a frantic scramble for an excuse that did not exist.
Astrid quickly jumped in, her voice cutting smoothly through the tension. "Because Takashi's mind was not inside the room… but outside."
Mira studied her for a long moment, a weary sigh escaping her lips. She shook her head as though tired of their antics. "I am not ready for another of your ploys to betray your second in command." Her tone shifted, sharp and commanding. "Enough of this. You all need to get ready. We are going to the castle today… to see the Countess."
Her voice lowered, almost like a blade sliding into its sheath. "And the Queen."
Takashi's head snapped toward her, his calm mask cracking. "The Queen?" His voice carried both disbelief and unease.
Nina's usual cheer faded at once, her eyes widening. "Why, Captain?" she asked softly, all trace of innocence gone from her tone.
Astrid's composure wavered, her voice dropping to a whisper. "This is… a first."
Mira folded her arms, her expression unreadable. "I don't know why this is happening," she admitted, her voice heavy with thought. "But we must be prepared."
Mael's face twisted, not with his usual fake dramatics, but with something far more genuine. His lips trembled as he blurted, "This sounds strange and… a little dangerous."
Nina's brow arched, her eyes narrowing like a hawk's. "And how does it sound dangerous, you traitor?"
"Hey!" Mael cried, throwing his hands up. "I am not the traitor here! You are the one who got sloppy…"
His words choked off as his gaze flicked to Mira. Horror dawned on his face as he realized what he had just said. I said too much. He forced a nervous laugh, waving his hands frantically. "I mean… I don't know why it sounds dangerous. It's just a… hunch!"
For a heartbeat, silence ruled the room.
"Mael might be right," she murmured. She turned to Mira, her expression serious in a way few ever saw from her. "Captain… there might be something waiting for us today. Something we cannot see yet."
The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy and unshakable.
Mira did not flinch. Her eyes swept across the room, taking in their fear, their doubts, their childish attempts to mask unease. A grim resolve hardened her gaze. "Even if there is, it does not matter. We still have to go." Her voice dropped, slow and deliberate. "At the very least… we will see the Queen."
The silence that followed pressed against their chests, as if the very walls were listening.
Mira let her eyes linger on each of them — Nina's worry, Mael's trembling dread, Astrid's calculating calm, Takashi's uneasy frown — before speaking again, her words low and final.
"If it is a trap…" She paused, her lips curving into the faintest, razor-thin smile. "I know we can come out of it."