The next morning, Séraphine opened her eyes and stared at her bedroom ceiling. Her body felt strange and somewhat stiff, but she was too drowsy to think clearly at first. Then, she remembered.
"I didn't sleep alone!" When she turned her head to the right, she saw a head of blonde hair. Élodie was still asleep and had hugged her arm during the night, pressing it against her body as she breathed slowly.
Unlike Francisca, the blonde had to borrow clothes from Séraphine, so she was currently wearing a white shirt that was long enough to cover most of her upper body and part of her thighs.
The witch stared at her silently for a long time, even smiling softly. Despite her tiredness and sleepiness, she had stayed up chatting with Élodie and Francisca all night, falling asleep quite late in the early morning hours.
This was actually the first time the three of them had an open conversation, and even better, it was the first time the warrior and the witch spoke at length.
Although they had danced and chatted two nights ago, that conversation had been short and unimportant in comparison. However, last night, they were finally able to get to know each other.
Without the risk of a dangerous environment or the threat of an enemy who could split them in two with a single move, Séraphine was able to learn a few things from Élodie, either by hearing them directly or by noticing them with her keen eyesight.
As a detective, she should know how to read people. She wouldn't normally use that ability during a nighttime conversation, but lately, she had realized that she was paying a lot of attention to the blonde.
She paid attention to the gestures she made at key moments: how she touched the edge of her lip when she was about to tell a funny story, how she blushed when the conversation turned to spicy topics, and how she blinked exaggeratedly yet naturally when she heard something amazing.
These details caused Séraphine's smile to grow wider until it suddenly became stiff. Why? She didn't understand her current emotional state. Wasn't it simply that Élodie was pretty? She had seen many beautiful women in her life!
But her feelings upon seeing her in person were not just a reaction to the warrior's beauty. Although she studied the Immaterial and had a lot of social experience, there were some things she could not understand or identify because she had not experienced them herself.
Without the risk of a dangerous environment or an enemy who could split them in two with a single move, Séraphine could learn a few things from Élodie, either by hearing or by noticing with her keen eyesight.
As a detective, how could she not know how to read people? Of course, she wouldn't normally use that ability during a conversation at night, but lately, she had realized that she was paying a lot of attention to the blonde.
She noticed certain gestures she made at key moments: how she touched the edge of her lip when she was about to tell a joke, how she blushed when the conversation turned to spicy topics, and how she blinked excessively when she heard something amazing.
This made the smile on Séraphine's face grow wider until it suddenly became stiff. Why? She didn't understand her current emotional state. Wasn't it simply that Élodie was pretty? She had seen many beautiful women in her life.
But her feelings upon seeing Élodie were not just a reaction to the warrior's beauty. Although she studied the immaterial and had a lot of social experience, there were some things she could not understand or identify because she had not experienced them herself.
'I'm not sick, so why is my heart racing, and why do I have these strange feelings in my stomach?' thought Séraphine. She let out a sigh and felt slightly uncomfortable since the blonde had been standing on her arm for quite some time.
The witch tried to pull her arm out and succeeded. Then, she stroked the warrior's blonde hair and felt those unfamiliar sensations come back stronger than before.
'Maybe I should explore this further. Isn't this how those silly characters in novels feel? Will this help my research?' the brunette wondered, smiling slightly again as she found a way to make her situation seem less strange.
She was not yet mentally ready to accept the implications of those emotions, but seeing how Élodie continued to sleep peacefully while she combed her hair made her heart skip a beat.
She decided to turn her head to look to her left and saw Francisca. Unlike Élodie, Francisca had wrapped her legs around Séraphine's body and was still asleep.
At that moment, however, as if sensing the witch's gaze, the redhead's eyes opened and made eye contact with her. Séraphine realized that the alchemist's eyes were black, not red as she had always seen them.
"Is this the first time you've seen me without my contacts?" Francisca murmured, her eyes half-closed and her voice sleepy.
Her hair was tousled, and her long locks spread across her body and the bed, even more abundant than the witch's and the warrior's. In this respect, she far surpassed the other girls.
"Actually, yes. I thought your eyes matched your hair," Séraphine replied softly. This caused the redhead to smile playfully.
"I had to make them match. I've used them so much that people don't realize my eyes are like anyone else's in my home country," the alchemist said, looking down and noticing that she was very close to the witch, their legs touching.
Luckily, she was wearing pajamas consisting of a brown blouse and pants decorated with colorful squares, which prevented her skin from touching Séraphine's and making the situation even more embarrassing.
"Your normal eyes are beautiful," the witch complimented her. It was actually true, and because of her sincerity, Francisca laughed softly and covered her mouth with her hand.
"It seems you have a strong charm, Séraphine! Do you want to wrap me up, too? I already ended up in your bed with another woman," replied the redhead in a lilting tone. This caused Séraphine to roll her eyes. She understood the subtext, and she also laughed because she found it funny.
"So, I've achieved more than many people. I know some who would be envious of my current situation," the brunette said, taking advantage of Francisca's words to boost her own ego. This caused the redhead to click her tongue.
"I saw how you were staring at her. Do you like that girl?" the alchemist asked bluntly, trying to interrupt the witch's self-congratulation.
This question made Séraphine fall silent and tense. Something clung to her right arm again, making it feel tight. However, her mind was too chaotic to think about that detail.
"I like her. I just... There are things I don't quite understand," the brunette replied sincerely but vaguely. However, this was enough for Francisca, who sat on the bed looking at Élodie, who remained with her eyes closed.
"Well, I suppose that's the best answer I can get for now since you've only just met. But... I'll be watching~" commented the redhead as she patted Séraphine's slightly visible abdomen. Her blouse couldn't completely cover her torso.
Séraphine wore only a pink blouse and shorts to sleep, which were comfortable enough for the night. The witch's long, black hair scattered around her head, adorning the scene before the alchemist's eyes.
'Damn beautiful. Is this the charm of a witch? It doesn't seem like a special ability. It's just her inherent nature, fascinating.' Francisca's eyes narrowed slightly while Séraphine, still feeling nervous, sat up in bed.
She noticed that someone had grabbed her arm. When she shook it, there was a lot of movement that ended up "waking up" Élodie, whose cheeks were red and who seemed quite lucid, even though she had been sleeping just a moment ago.
She sat down next to the other women on the bed, crossed her legs, and yawned. Francisca smiled at her, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Séraphine glanced at her bare legs.
Élodie's physique was impressive! As a warrior, her muscles were more visible and pronounced than Séraphine's, but she wasn't overtrained. Her body retained its beauty, giving her a wild temperament.
Her long legs always caught the witch's attention, something she couldn't deny. After all, she had been quite impressed by them when she saw them in the newspaper.
In fact, Séraphine noticed that the blonde's appearance generally caught her attention. It wasn't that she was picky; she had even found Madeleine attractive. However, she was more aware of her incipient emotions, which made the witch feel her face flush.
The warrior rubbed her eyes as she looked around. With her tousled blonde hair and blue eyes still showing traces of sleep, she looked like a tigress preening herself.
"I'm still exhausted. I want to keep sleeping," the blonde complained, yawning and stretching her arms while arching her back. This caused her white blouse to rise, revealing her blue panties.
"How can you be sleepy when you slept like a log for hours?" Suddenly, Sasha's voice echoed in the room, and something clicked in the minds of the three women.
They had forgotten Sasha existed until she spoke! However, no alarm bells went off in their heads, especially when they saw the fairy flying toward them with her hands on her hips and her tiny cheeks puffed out.
"It's already noon! Aren't you going to eat or something?" Sasha asked, making Séraphine feel embarrassed. But first, Séraphine wanted to satisfy her curiosity about her memory.
"Okay, Sasha, let us get ready first, okay? I'll make you whatever you want. But I have a question. Why did I forget you?" the witch asked, approaching the fairy and using a soft tone to convince her.
Sasha snorted but couldn't resist Séraphine. She landed on the brunette's shoulder, crossed her legs, and fixed the strand of her short pink hair that was bothering her.
She wore a black dress that accentuated her colors. She was barefoot, and her foot tapped constantly as if following an invisible beat. Her wings fluttered gently a couple of times before resting, showing how relaxed she was.
"How do you think I avoided capture by those greedy humans? A fairy like me has her tricks! One is to use magic dust to cloud people's minds.
You were affected when I used it on those people before going back to your house, Séraphine. But this ability has its downside. If they hear my voice, they'll remember me.
By then, however, I'll be able to use the magic powder for other means of concealment. A queen like me has many resources at her disposal," Sasha replied arrogantly to the witch's question.
The brunette nodded, her eyes shining with interest because she was greatly interested in topics like this. The fairy's ability directly affected people's cognition.
It was part of the immaterial topic she was researching. Besides, who says she can't research this ability and turn it into a spell? Just imagining what she could learn and achieve in this regard excited her.
Of course, the result probably wouldn't be as powerful because it would be an imitation of something intrinsic to a special entity like a Fairy Queen. However, in her hands, it would undoubtedly become an essential tool for her future research.
"There are no records of a Fairy Queen having such an ability. They must be hiding it quite well. Why are you telling us this?" Francisca asked in a serious tone, prompting Élodie, who had finished stretching after waking up, to speak up.
"Because we're partners! I mean, we faced a tough situation together yesterday, and those things bring people together," commented Élodie, who used her experience to explain.
Not only that, but she also felt that her connection with Séraphine had grown stronger and that she had developed a friendship with Francisca. She barely knew them! But fighting together against something terrible had obviously created a budding bond of trust between them, and because of her past affiliation, Élodie was most aware of this.
"What the silly blonde said," added Sasha, causing the warrior to glare at the fairy as if to say, 'I helped you, and this is how you repay me?'
"If used for atonement, it sounds like a very powerful ability, don't you think?" Séraphine asked this pointed question to get more information from the fairy, but Sasha laughed.
"It's a defense mechanism. Similar to the horrible smell of skunks. The magic dust must be made especially for this ability, which consumes aether," Sasha replied. To prove her point, she waved her hand and produced a golden dust that floated in front of her.
"Our magic dust is the bane of fairies, but for me, it's a survival and hiding tool..." The little woman's tone turned somber at this point, and the girls decided not to comment.
The fairies' current situation was troubling, to say the least. They were intelligent; that was beyond doubt. They weren't hostile toward other sentient species or harmful to the environment. They didn't even need a specific habitat to thrive.
Yet, they had been reduced to mere decorations or producers of magical dust. This dust was used in many fields, but was also inhaled by some people due to its strong hallucinogenic effect. It gave consumers a strange and vivid feeling of weightlessness.
Why? Because fairies can't speak. If you can't make yourself heard, you won't be respected. If you don't have respect, you will be degraded. Without a voice, you have no rights, and without expression, you have no opportunity to complain about abuses committed against you.
The fairies understood this truth in the worst possible way. Even when the Tower strove to free these captured beings, they always ended up trapped again.
Of course, there were places where they could officially "work"; Séraphine had seen fairies at O'Connor's bar. However, sadness and pain had permeated this species so deeply that the new generations had never seen a fairy smile.
"We're here for you. Even though you weren't beaten, you were there when they attacked us. How could we let anyone hurt you?" said Élodie, showing her determination on the matter.
"I agree with the police, who are stupid. I couldn't stand by if I saw you in danger. Even if you don't pay me, I'll help you," Séraphine added, putting her hand out to invite Sasha to lean on it.
"Haha, don't you know that I'm the leader of a group that some people might consider a gang?" When Francisca asked this question, she glanced sideways at the police officer present, who looked away as if ignoring her, although the amused smile on her face said otherwise.
"If you're my partner, I'll defend you against anyone, no matter who they are," said the redhead. She watched as Sasha crossed the witch's palm before glancing at each of them.
"I... damn it, I barely met them yesterday. Why do I feel like crying when I hear such corny words?" Sasha murmured with tears in her blue eyes. Both her cheeks and pointed ears turned red as if she were imitating Élodie.
Despite being on the verge of tears, a smile appeared on her face. It was a genuine expression that came from the bottom of her heart. She didn't know these women, but she had fought alongside them. Since they had declared that they would protect her...
"I'll help you with everything I can, too!" Sasha shouted, and, just like before, her voice echoed throughout the room.
Perhaps the adventure team was finally complete because the essence of a team is the support and help its members give each other, as well as the bonds of trust that form between them.
Sasha felt safe around a group of humans for the first time, and she was determined to hold onto the happiness this feeling brought her. If anyone tried to take that away from her...
They would feel the wrath of a Fairy Queen!
𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝
"Leonor, your apprentice seems to be surrounded by interesting people," said a female voice that echoed throughout the ostentatious, luxurious room. What attracted the most attention, however, was the woman sitting in front of a mirror.
Her purple hair fell down her back, and her eyes of the same color illuminated her face with a subtle glow. Her lips were painted crimson, and despite the mature air she exuded, she had a voluptuous body with a youthful glow.
Completely naked in the comfort of her room, she revealed a sight any man or woman would want to behold. Her charm seemed imprinted in her bones; every movement, however slight, attracted attention.
She held a brush and ran it through her long hair constantly. In the mirror in front of her, however, was not her reflection but a different image: a dining room where a dark-skinned girl, a blonde, a redhead, and a pink-haired fairy were having breakfast.
This was Séraphine's house! The woman had a subtle smile on her face as she watched the warm moment the witch was sharing with her new friends. Her gaze became maternal as she appreciated that her daughter could relate to others.
"Musu, a witch's charm will always attract people of good and bad character. But... Séraphine relies too much on her supposed spell of confidence. Reality will hit her hard.
It is these simple, warm moments that will anchor her in the future when she faces adversity," the woman said, looking down at Musu the cat, who was resting comfortably on her bare feet, enjoying the warmth.
"I don't understand humans or that nonsense you talk about. I just want Séraphine to remember to feed me. Although you talk about charm, your apprentice has more chest than you," Musu meowed. She let out a mocking chuckle before flexing her body. Then she sat down and licked herself clean.
"Expecting you to understand the human perspective is like asking me to understand pigs, impossible. But you make good jokes." Leonor smiled, then stopped combing her hair and put her brush in the drawer with her other grooming items.
What stood out most, however, was the mirror that showed the private life of her student, Séraphine. Its edges were engraved with golden characters that she gently caressed, causing a change in what the mirror projected.
Several images flashed across the mirror before an aerial view appeared. An island surrounded by fog. The important thing about the image, though, was not the setting, but the colossal creature flying through the sky above it.
A dragon with black scales. As if sensing her gaze, the dragon roared toward the sky. Its body was tinged with a large amount of aether, which caused the moisture in the air to turn into white vapor around its gigantic body.
Eleanor then felt a sharp pain in her head, withdrew her hand from the mirror, and watched as it returned to projecting Séraphine's personal life. However, Séraphine did not appreciate seeing her apprentice enjoying a quiet morning. She began to rub her temples, trying to calm the discomfort she felt.
"Oh, a dragon. Interesting creatures. It's about time someone taught you a lesson, don't you think, Lady Osmond?" Musu said. Her girlish voice in a cat's body caused a strange sensation in anyone who wasn't used to it.
"I didn't expect to run into her. It seems I angered her quite a bit," the woman muttered with a self-deprecating smile.
What were the odds of seeing a dragon? Even with a device like the one she was using, Eleanor never imagined such an incident could happen.
Though rare, dragons were the most powerful sentient creatures on Gliese, the world in which they lived. They were huge, powerful, and intelligent. They could use three forms of aether: physical empowerment, magic, and alchemy.
They were masters of the sky! Masters of the earth! Masters of the sea! They were a truly all-around species. However, their exceptional and powerful nature came at a price: low birth rates.
There were hardly any dragons in the world, bad luck for them and good luck for the rest of the sentient species. If there were more of these beings, they would undoubtedly be the dominant species throughout Gliese.
Still, they deserve a lot of respect because they aren't just terrible lizards, as some children's stories would have you believe. They have been vital throughout history.
"Aren't you tired of watching Séraphine's life? Nothing interesting is happening," Musu asked suddenly before jumping onto Eleanor's lap. She patted his back and stroked his body.
"The entity that watches over my apprentice tells me that, but I like appreciating little Séraph's daily life," Lady Osmond replied, scratching the cat's chin and making her purr.
But when she did this, strange distortions appeared on her body. Colorful squares covered half of her body, and a strange chirping sound came from Musu.
Anyone would be scared to encounter something like this and would feel uncomfortable because of the cat's peculiar sound, but Eleanor was fine. She simply tapped the animal's forehead, and it returned to normal.
"Musu, your purring hurts my ears," Lady Osmond complained playfully, causing the cat to meow loudly before vanishing into thin air. However, Lady Osmond knew the cat had surely gone to spy on Séraphine.
She put her hand on her chin and rested her elbow on her dresser. She watched her apprentice have fun with her new friends. The subtle purple glow in her eyes grew stronger, creating two streaks of light that emerged from her eye sockets.
"I'm waiting for you to mature completely so you can see as deeply as I do," Eleanor murmured lovingly. The world, which had previously maintained its normal shape, became distorted, revealing incomprehensible things behind the veil of reality.
The room transformed into a plain filled with impossible geometric shapes as if forced into a smaller dimension. Multicolored lines defined all the objects and creatures, as if they were the basis of their existence.
The only living entity apart from her was a large being. If Séraphine were here, she would recognize it as the giant who bothered her a couple of days ago during her curse's attack.
"You dared to try to lay your hands on my little student. I know beings like you are dangerous, but you have a defined form, unlike the most special ones, don't you?" At that moment, her sensual and deliberate temperament abruptly changed to something much more threatening.
A smile appeared on her lips like a wild animal showing its teeth to its prey. Although she was naked, small, and clearly just a simple human, a great pressure emanated from her body. The giant let out a warning roar in response.
"Yes, I know you're drawn to the scent of the curse about to ripen, but... You almost crossed the line. Be thankful it's me and not those five." Lady Osmond raised her index finger and pointed upward. Even though the sky at that moment was only a huge red eye covered with millions of enormous tentacles waving senselessly around, the giant understood.
The human was referring to the five entities of the Spirit World. The three dimensions rarely interacted, which is why people with 'Deep Vision' are so prized by entities such as this one.
Yes, it lived in this distorted, strange world full of oddities straight out of a child's or madman's imagination. However, it knew its limits since, despite being a special existence compared to the inhabitants of the earthly world, it still possessed them.
"Go away. Respect the limits when you act again," Leonor declared authoritatively. The giant nodded and retreated step by step before vanishing into thin air.
Lady Osmond looked up at the sky and stared directly at the large eye that watched all this indifferently. As if in response, one of the tentacles descended and gently settled beside her as if inviting her to climb aboard.
"Oh, let me get dressed first. I can't chat with you like this." Leonor turned slightly, showing that she was practically naked. The tentacle waved gently as if in response.
"Yes, I know you want to chat, but I must be presentable. It's not for nothing that I have so many pretty clothes." Lady Osmond shook her head, denying the entity's request.
As a witch, how could she visit a friend without being presentable? Even if that person was an incomprehensible entity, a witch's glamour and dignity could not be lost.
𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝
"I still can't believe you have so many jars of jam in your cupboard," murmured Élodie as she spread strawberry jam on a slice of toast with a knife, enjoying the process with a small smile.
"It's necessary!" What if I crave blueberries one day? I'd have to search for them! That's why I have several types," Séraphine replied before taking a sip of coffee to start her day off right.
"That's why I have a cellar full of wine," Francisca replied. She was eating her own food with wooden chopsticks, a utensil from her homeland. The witch and the warrior were fascinated by her ease with them.
By this time, the three of them had already showered and gotten ready for the day's tasks. Lacking clothes to wear, Élodie received an outfit from Séraphine. The blonde ended up wearing a knotted green shirt that showed off her toned stomach and short jeans.
Francisca, on the other hand, wore a blue, mid-length blouse and tight sweatpants. Her red hair was styled into two buns that adorned her head, contrasting with the fact that her hair was actually quite thick.
Séraphine chose one color to wear: black. Both her jeans and her wool sweater were black. Although she wasn't wearing her hat, it would have been the cherry on top of her outfit.
"I don't think you can compare wine to jam," replied Élodie with her mouth full, causing the redhead to roll her eyes.
"They're just crushed fruit, only with a different result. But it's something only adults can drink." The alchemist's words made Élodie stop chewing and take a big sip of orange juice.
"Are you calling me a child!?" the blonde asked loudly. This caused Sasha, who was resting quietly on her shoulder, to become frightened and fly away.
"Stop shouting!" the fairy cried, making the already hilarious situation even funnier to Séraphine, who couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"You're no different. You're the owner of all those jars of candy," Francisca said, abruptly ending the witch's laughter and causing Élodie to burst out laughing instead.
"Shouldn't witches be gloomy? But there you are, living in a normal house and sleeping in pink clothes," the warrior asked, calming down and expressing one of her doubts.
"Have you met many witches? I'm not surprised; there aren't many in the army," the alchemist replied on Séraphine's behalf, having noticed this particular detail.
"Hmmm... I met one on a mission. She showed me her collection of little walking mushrooms. They were much cuter and less dangerous than Nisca, who was a very strange creature," he recalled. The mention of that special characteristic made Séraphine narrow her eyes, reminding her of someone else.
"I can't give many details, but witches know each other. I know who you're talking about. She's a rather peculiar girl. However, those mushrooms are not natural. She modified them herself," said the brunette, her voice betraying her irritation. This made both the warrior and the alchemist curious about this person.
"Oh? Who is it? It seems you don't like her very much," said Francisca, eager to hear the gossip.
"It seems so! When I interacted with her, she was very kind. She even used spells to heal wounds I sustained on a mission," added Élodie, causing the witch to sigh before responding.
"She could be considered my rival... Nadia Gustav is a witch who could also be considered a doctor. She is an apprentice to a friend of my teacher. Although she is older than I am, she has always tried to compare herself to me." Séraphine rolled her eyes as she replied, but this only piqued her companions' interest in Nadia.
"I'm not going to say anything more about that annoying little bitch!" Séraphine growled, noticing the other two's interested looks, before diving into her cup of coffee.
"Then I'll have to meet her and find out more, won't I?" Francisca laughed before taking the last bite of breakfast and squinting her eyes because she enjoyed the food so much.
Séraphine is quite the cook! As an alchemist, she also had a certain skill in preparing food, but she generally didn't have time to make her own meals and usually had to order from restaurants.
It was just a simple breakfast. Francisca had only eaten an omelet, but the taste... The redhead closed her eyes and trembled in her seat, enjoying the lingering aftertaste. Then she took a bottle of wine out of her space ring, causing Élodie to start coughing in surprise.
"Damn! It's too early to drink, don't you think?" the police officer asked with a reproachful tone. Francisca simply shrugged and took a sip.
"Give me a drink," Séraphine asked, showing the redhead her empty coffee cup. The alchemist smiled as she filled it to the brim with wine.
"I can't be the only one to start the day with some fun, can I? Come on, you prude. Give me your glass." Francisca waved the bottle of wine in front of Élodie after giving some to Sasha, who used a thimble provided by Séraphine to hold the drink.
The blonde had already finished her bread and was now drinking the last bit of juice she had left. Seeing that her companions were enjoying the wine, she hesitated for a moment before expressing her doubt.
"Is it really fun to drink early in the morning?" she asked, offering her glass.
"I don't know what you did in the army, but this custom comes from there," Séraphine commented, licking her lips after taking a sip of wine.
"Looks like I missed out on a few things," the warrior murmured before taking a big gulp of the alcohol they offered her.
"Wait, is this your first time drinking?" asked Francisca, astonished by how brazenly Élodie drank the wine. Even she wouldn't drink it that way.
"Why?" asked Élodie, her cheeks flushed but steady. Even her eyes remained clear, only a little brighter.
"Because alcohol is drunk slowly. Even I know that," replied Sasha, who was sitting on one of Francisca's bowels, enjoying the scene unfolding before her.
'Oh, what does it matter? I don't feel drunk,' thought Élodie at that moment. She found the taste of the wine interesting and gestured to the alchemist, hoping she would pour her some more.
It was only a little wine. Nothing bad could happen if she had a little more, right?