Sunset shone on Calina with a forlorn back; her fingers tapping on the hilt of her sword with hesitation.
Upon a closer look, l spotted another iron sword nearbyl its steel cracked during the Monster Outbreak.
"Calina!" l approached her with light steps.
Calina’s gaze snapped sideways, then sighed at l’s mischievous smile.
"In case you’re wondering," Calina squinted behind l as Lila, Rosana, and, for so reason, Selaria now approached them like a magnet drawn.
"I don’t know any company this ti."
"Oh, relax."
l shrugged off Calina’s groan and strode to her left side, kneeling where the woman’s sword swayed at her hip.
With a frown, the Witchhunter shifted to draw an arm’s distance between them.
l pouted at the gesture. "Hate that much?"
"No-no." Calina stamred, hesitation flickering in her face. "I just need to be alone for a while."
Her lips pursed in silence before continuing. "I distinctly sensed it, sothing that... scared sowhat."
Scared, huh?
l’s nose tingled; just the ashen scent of lava veins.
Perhaps Calina sensed the link between Embervale and the Tortoise. Maybe it was Lila’s . Or...
With a knowing smirk, l plopped down on the ground, legs stretching outward. "Don’t dwell on it. It’s not likely to co out anyti soon."
Calina raised a brow before hanging her head. "It better not be."
Her azure eyes narrowed in focus. "Embervale is my ho, and I dislike it when danger beyond my strength arises here."
"Is it now?" l chuckled as she stretched her arm. "I don’t think you need to worry."
Her face bead as l’s finger tapped Calina’s on the hilt. "Didn’t we just handle all the troubles earlier in no ti?"
"That... can’t be asured up." Calina’s eyes narrowed, yet a hint of cheerfulness sparked in her expression.
"But yes, with your power of earlier, even an army would fall at your rcy."
"Hehe." l’s fingers danced on Calina’s. "That’s the gist! Always be leaving it to your local l!"
The Witch Hunter rolled her eyes. "Overconfidence will dig you an early grave."
"Yet insecurity will rise a late cor." l grinned, stroking Calina’s finger. "With your anxiety just now, we make a good pair, no?"
"Did you just..." Calina’s mouth parted for a wry smile, then she eyed behind her to find a scary pair of erald eyes locked into her eyes.
"Try to... refrain from flirting too much." The Witch hunter hung her head, afraid of the Witches behind her.
"Co on now, it’s in my nature to flirt!"
"Yeah, yeah," Calina juggled her hand away from l’s and her sword. "Embervale’s at danger, so leave it for another ti."
"I would say the ti is as good as any."
Rosana declared, before raising her dress to plop down beside l, skirt spraying at her thigh gracefully.
"Miss Calina always seems stressed," the Witch of Greed smirked. "Can’t keep yourself relaxed otherwise if not for l here?"
"I’m not afraid to admit myself an awkward person," Calina folded her legs, knees pointing upward, and buried her face in her thighs. "Laugh at all you want."
"I don’t, though." Admiring Calina’s sulking gesture, she folded one of her legs and nuzzled her cheek into it.
She flashed a tender smile at Calina. "Anyone would if their ho is at risk."
Those words hit sothing within the swordsman, her eyes narrowing within the confines of her thighs.
[ Calina was deeply sympathetic to your claim! ]
[ Calina favourability: 6 -> 13 ]
Delighted, she petted Calina. "There, there..."
"Stop it." Quiver spread across Calina’s stern voice. "It’s not like I have any family here in Embervale. Even if it was destroyed, I won’t miss it much... probably."
"Aw..." l’s expression softened, her hand ruffling deeper into Calina’s hair. "That’s a sha. Want a hug?"
Then Calina’s head snapped to l with a tired gaze. "Think I don’t know what you really want?"
l’s arms bared open. "Nobody can deny a hug!"
"Well, today, I’ll be the World’s first." Calina’s eyes closed, huffing.
Lila watched from behind, and despite her jealousy spurring within her, a statent arose from l stuck out to her.
Ho... the Heima Village...
The Witch of Envy frowned before she strode and leaned down behind l.
With an embrace, she whispered into l’s neck. "I can give you one."
"Hic." l faked a whimper. "Thank you, my Lila!"
A warmth bubbled inside Lila’s chest as she embraced l tighter.
As Selaria joined the conversation, reassuring Calina while ordering the soldiers to continue tending the students, Lila realised the World was larger than she thought.
If she needed to be honest, she couldn’t care much about Heima Village, or the villagers inside it.
Yet Her World no longer belonged solely to l, her sister, and herself.
Because ultimately, l cared more than she did herself.
And with that, she must also care about more than her world.
To truly belong to l’s was not to tolerate or reluctantly accept, but to understand why l must sotis leave her side.
Only then could the Witch of Envy truly seize her, seize l to beco hers alone.
Lila glanced down, the red marks on l’s neck shimring ever so brightly in the sunset.
She pecked a kiss onto it, before a confident and possessive smile curled up without her knowing.
Maybe she’ll fall into despair, knowing l would never belong to hers.
But at least, she’ll choose the way she feels.
Because she had faith that l’s love would catch her before she plumted into the abyss.
[ Envy Awakening Progression: 95% -> 97% ]
--------------
As Samantha returned, she imdiately sent back the crowd of students and Knights with the after a few dodging explanations.
Another spark, and l found herself... not at the Sky Haven where the Whale landed, but rather inside a familiar room of the Whale.
She glanced instantly at her bed; not ssy with sweats and other fluids like hers and Lila’s, but rather neatly folded at the hands of a servant, or simply magic.
A breath hitched in her throat, as not an elf, but a white-haired nun sat at the side, hair fluttering down to barely cover her slight grin.
"Miss ?"
l gulped; she knew how an archon-ranked could easily adjust the coordinate, so she wasn’t surprised her Partner did so as well.
What she was shocked at was her Partner’s heated gaze and the nightly scenery inside the Whale, when it was supposed to be sunset outside.
"Co now," Maria’s palms patted her thighs. "Sleep here and we’ll talk."
With a slight gulp, l nodded without hesitation.
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