Back on the street, freed from their stuffy doll costumes, the girls felt much more comfortable. At one of their suggestions, they bought ice cream to enjoy.
Zane wasn't sure how they had managed to find ice cream in New Eridu, especially with the heavy snow just past and the air still freezing cold, but he was happy to accept it. After all, he got a share too.
"Hah... feels a lot lighter now."
Zane smiled faintly as the sweet ice cream melted in his mouth. Perhaps running into Ellen and the others today was just a lucky coincidence.
No... maybe it was inevitable.
Not the encounter with Ellen and her friends, but the "gains" he had made now. After all... the Proxies siblings, Qingyi, the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, the staff at Hare's House... He really did have many wonderful things.
As he murmured to himself, Ellen glanced at him.
Relieved? Oh, she thought—he must mean the costume. Anyone would feel better after getting out of that stuffy thing... But could Zane really feel weighed down by something suffocating? She always thought someone as strong as him was invincible...
But no, this was right. That made him feel more like a real person...
Collecting her thoughts, Ellen glanced at Zane again.
"Hm? What is it?"
Noticing her gaze, Zane raised an eyebrow.
"Which do you think is better—lollipops or ice cream?"
The sudden question caught him off guard. He hadn't expected Ellen to ask that, but thinking about it, it did fit the moment.
"Both are good, as long as the flavors aren't weird."
"What strange flavors...?"
Ellen rubbed her chin. She couldn't recall ever tasting lollipops or ice cream with odd flavors. Or rather, to her, no flavor truly seemed strange at all...
"What about you?"
Zane shot back. After a short pause, Ellen answered,
"Same as you. But ice cream isn't easy to carry, so I usually eat more lollipops."
Talking casually as they walked, they soon reached the riverbank to enjoy the night view.
The river cutting through New Eridu was wide and grand. Under the night sky, yachts drifted slowly across the water, their lights glimmering like scattered stars on the dark surface.
"Wow! Look at that building—it has a light show! I never saw that last time I was here..."
Ruby leaned against the railing, her golden hair blowing in the night breeze. The distant glow of streetlights reflected off her hair, making it shine brilliantly.
"Who knows? I've never been over there."
Unlike Ruby, who leaned forward on the railing, Lynn rested against it with an easy confidence, her youthful beauty carrying a hint of bold "big sister" charm.
"Lynn, you mentioned the 'White Hollow' incident earlier... want to tell us more about it?"
Monna turned to Lynn, curiosity in her tone.
"Huh? Didn't I already tell you?"
Lynn blinked in confusion. When they were all together, there was always plenty to talk about—especially stories like Ruby running into the magician, or her own "White Hollow" encounter.
Monna smiled, then glanced toward Zane, signaling slightly with her eyes. Lynn caught on immediately.
"Alright, I'll tell you more... but I don't actually know much."
"Just share what you do know... it's not like we can cut into their conversation anyway..."
Monna pursed her lips, lowering her voice.
Glancing at Ellen and Zane nearby, Lynn gave a small nod.
"Yeah, fair enough..."
The night breeze was gentle, but its chill slipped through the gaps in their clothes, brushing against the skin. Sitting on a nearby bench, Ellen instinctively pulled her clothes tighter. Her shark tail shifted from behind her back and rested across her lap.
"Cold?"
Zane rested one arm on the back of the bench, his forearm hanging loosely. Noticing her small movement, he lifted his hand near her and gave a casual wave.
A ripple of fire elemental energy spread out, warming the air instantly. Ellen raised an eyebrow at him.
"That's convenient."
"Just elemental energy. Don't you have it too? You can only make things colder with your ice anomaly. If you had fire instead, you could do the same."
Ellen's lips twitched slightly.
"You can't compare us... the way you use elemental energy is completely different from me. The effects aren't even close..."
"By that logic, I could start a shaved ice stand. Low costs, easy money..."
Feeling the warmth, Ellen relaxed and rolled her eyes at him.
"You've got a point..."
Zane nodded faintly, as if agreeing, though his expression made it look rather perfunctory.
"Hey, have you been free these past few days?"
Ellen's gaze lingered on him, curious, ignoring his half-hearted look.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because that's the impression I get..."
Ellen shrugged, then continued,
"If you had important business, you wouldn't be wasting time with us. And if that were really the case, once I realized it, I wouldn't bother you..."
"How are things going lately?"
Her voice softened, carrying a touch of concern.
She knew Zane was involved in something big. Given their unique connection, she felt she owed him. But after seeing that sea of fire in the Dead End Hollow, she had dropped the thought. Unless Zane asked, she couldn't help anyway.
Her question now was her way of signaling him. The unspoken message was clear: if you need me, just say the word.
"It's alright. I just don't know what's waiting for me ahead."
Zane lowered his arms, crossing one over his chest while propping his chin with the other. A quiet sigh slipped out, tinged with resignation.
"Zane, you actually worry?"
Ellen caught his expression, smiling softly in mild surprise, her charm shining through.
"I wouldn't call it worry. We'll deal with whatever comes. But people always feel something strange about the unknown."
Zane waved a hand lightly. The truth was, he didn't care much about himself—what weighed on him was the thought that others might get dragged into what was coming.
After all, if even he couldn't make it through, then worrying about the others was pointless. Maybe a swift end would even be the kinder fate...
"Then this means..."
Ellen frowned slightly, studying him. After a moment of thought, realization struck.
"So... you're worried about the people around you?"