“Whew! We’re finally back! Now I can finally take a proper break!”
Lavine cheered excitedly in the manor hall, hoping to lighten up the strange atmosphere lingering in the team.
But unfortunately, she was the only one doing so. As soon as they returned, everyone else scattered to mind their own business.
Seeing this, Lavine’s body stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
She looked around the hall, then trotted over to stand by Liyami’s side.
“Ah! Liyami, you—”
“Sorry, Lavine. I have something important to do in a bit, so I don’t have time to chat with you here.”
With that, Liyami melted into the shadow at her side and quickly slipped away, looking like she really did have something urgent to handle.
Of course, Lavine had no idea what Liyami was up to, but she had a feeling it had something to do with Colin.
Why did she think that? Because on the way back, the whole team was shrouded in a strange atmosphere—even Lavine couldn’t ignore it as usual.
During the journey, Liyami kept her head down and didn’t look at anyone, lost in her own thoughts. Colin wore a deep frown, clearly troubled by something. Sifny marched at the very front with a face that practically screamed “Don’t talk to me,” but who knew who she was upset with. As for Elinor, she kept glancing at Colin and Liyami, her eyes darting back and forth between the two, leaving Lavine completely puzzled.
In the midst of all this, Lavine was the only one still trying to lighten the mood, even if it was all for naught. And as for why they returned at all, Lavine herself was confused.
They had been staying at the Holy Knights’ camp, but Liyami and Sifny said there was no point in staying any longer, so they all came back.
That alone was enough to puzzle Lavine. After all, hadn’t they gone to the Holy Knights’ camp to help Liyami find a way to change back faster? Why suddenly say there’s no need to stay? Had they found a way?
But that couldn’t be, since Liyami didn’t seem any different—still looking every bit the beautiful young girl she was before. No sign at all that anything had changed.
Or was it that they couldn’t find a way to change back? In that case, Lavine could somewhat understand the strange mood in the group. But it didn’t seem like that was the only issue—otherwise, what was up with Elinor?
If Liyami couldn’t turn back, of course everyone would be a bit sad and upset, but Elinor didn’t look sad at all. If anything, she seemed suspicious.
Did something happen between Liyami and Colin? And what did Sifny have to do with all this?
The more Lavine thought about it, the more confused she became, and decided she might as well go straight to the source. But just as she was about to ask Liyami what was going on, Liyami ran away.
With no other option, Lavine decided to ask the others what was happening.
But to her surprise, she was met with closed doors everywhere.
Colin only gave a vague answer to her questions: “I’m not really sure either.” Lavine didn’t believe him, of course, but if Colin didn’t want to talk, there was no way to force it out of him.
Sifny simply shot back, “Don’t bother me! Go ask them yourself!” and locked herself in her laboratory. Lavine had no idea why Sifny was so angry, or why she reacted so strongly whenever Liyami was mentioned. Had Liyami done something bad to her?
Unable to figure it out, Lavine tried her luck with the last person who might know something: Elinor. But all she got was a perfunctory reply.
“Something happened? I wouldn’t know~ After all, I’m just an ordinary Saintess, not some prophet or oracle. You should ask them yourself~”
Elinor clearly cared about what was going on! Yet she told me she didn’t know! Even if she truly didn’t know, she could’ve shared some of her own guesses! Am I really that untrustworthy?!
Slamming down the wine glass in her hand—so full it was about to spill—Lavine fumed inwardly. But soon, she let out a sigh and lost her spirit.
She knew Elinor wasn’t wrong. If it was just a guess, it was better not to share it carelessly, lest it stir up unnecessary worries.
But does that really count for me?! I’m the one who cares about everyone in the team the most! Telling me shouldn’t cause any problems!
Like this… like this… isn’t this just like before? Just like that time…
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Lavine slowly closed her eyes. Before long, the soft sounds of her snoring could be heard.
In the end, Lavine wasn’t able to get to the bottom of things from anyone. But maybe that was for the best. Maybe, this way, things could keep going a bit longer as they were. Maybe things wouldn’t fall apart so quickly. Maybe…
Sleeping Lavine muttered some strange words in her dreams, leaving no one able to guess what she meant. But even if her meaning was unclear, it was obvious—she didn’t want things to change.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t something she could decide. The flow of the story is not so easily changed by those within it. And in the end, who can say if change is better, or if things are better left as they are.
Kitte City’s suburban cemetery. Liyami returned here for the first time in ages.
She stepped slowly into the center of the graveyard, and sure enough, Ivy, president of the Shadow Veil Society, was already sitting atop the central headstone, waiting for her.
The instant she saw the president, Liyami swiftly used her altered assassin’s mark to transmit a coded signal. Once she received the president’s response, Liyami finally emerged from the shadows behind a tombstone.
“What now? It’s only been a little while and you’re already this cautious again? Did something happen?”
Ivy’s tone carried a hint of teasing as she spoke to Liyami. She said this because Liyami had never bothered with such precautions in their previous meetings, probably thinking there was no need.
After all, if anyone dared to impersonate the president, they’d need to be strong enough to back it up. Even Liyami wouldn’t stand a chance if that happened.
Liyami, hearing the president’s banter, didn’t say a word. She simply walked forward and dropped to one knee before the president, awaiting further instructions.
Liyami knew full well—even if the president was only teasing, she couldn’t just answer casually. If she upset the president, there’d be nothing but trouble in store for her. It was a lesson learned from a childhood spent in the Shadow Veil Society.
As for why she had suddenly become so cautious, it was because of that dream she had in the “Iyuu” labyrinth. In that dream, even though the president looked exactly the same, Liyami couldn’t shake a strange feeling, as if the president wasn’t really the president at all.
Because of this, she had, for the first time, sent a coded signal to confirm the president’s identity.
Luckily, the person before her was indeed the real president. And the president didn’t get angry over such a small breach of etiquette—just teased her a little.