Night draped Astris City in a blanket of silence. The streets were mostly empty now—just the occasional flicker of torchlight and the distant echo of a patrol’s boots against stone.
In one of the shadowed alleys, darkness rippled like a pool disturbed by wind. A slender figure erged from it — black-haired, crimson-eyed, her movents silent as a whisper.
Mia straightened, her sharp ears twitching as she scanned the deserted street.
"Where could they be..." she murmured under her breath.
Her plan was daring — reckless even. The Heaven Gate Tower had been sealed; no one could ascend to Black Tortoise City through the normal route. The city guards would arrest anyone trying. And besides, the orc patrols prowled like wolves, hungry for fugitives.
If she couldn’t go up through the Tower, she would have to find soone from Black Tortoise itself — and convince them to take her there.
It was a desperate plan, but desperation was all she had left.
Three bonfires had burned down since she began searching through the northern quarter. No luck. No sign. Just endless dark streets and the slow ache of exhaustion creeping into her limbs.
Her hand brushed against the small portrait tucked in her cloak — the one she’d taken from the intelligence dealer. Each ti her fingers touched it, her chest tightened. The lines of that painting—her Little Sister’s—were burned into her mind.
A sound broke the stillness.
"What are you looking for?"
The voice was cold — female, sharp enough to slice through the night.
Mia’s head snapped toward it, muscles tensing. From the air beside her, the shimr of invisibility broke, and a figure appeared — tall, armored, with violet eyes gleaming like tempered athyst.
Yanlu.
Mia recognized her instantly — the sa woman who had chased her before.
Her heart leapt into her throat, but she forced herself to stay calm, swallowing the instinct to vanish into shadow again.
"I’m looking for you," she said evenly.
Yanlu blinked, montarily surprised. "For ?"
Without a word, Mia reached into her cloak and pulled out the portrait. The paper trembled faintly in her hands as she held it up.
"Weren’t you looking for ?"
Yanlu’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly. "Yes," she admitted.
"Then you must know," Mia pressed, her voice low, trembling between hope and anger, "is my Little Sister in your hands?"
Yanlu’s gaze softened just a fraction. "You an Mino?"
The na hit Mia like a bell. Her eyes widened, breath catching. "Yes! How is she? Tell she’s all right."
"She’s fine," Yanlu replied calmly. "If you co back with , you’ll see her yourself."
Mia’s heartbeat thudded painfully in her chest. Her suspicions, her fears—all tangled into one question. "You haven’t... detained her?"
Yanlu turned slightly, the faint light catching on her armor. "No," she said simply. "Now, if you want to see her, follow ."
Then she started walking, her boots barely making a sound against the stones.
Mia hesitated. Logic scread this could be a trap — that she should vanish now, live to find another way. But the image of her Little Sister’s smiling face overpowered every thought of caution.
Even if it was a dragon’s den, she would go.
She followed.
After several turns through the labyrinth of streets, another presence appeared — a woman waiting in the shadows, silver hair gleaming faintly in the dark.
Alina.
She gave a small wave. "About ti. You found her, then?"
Yanlu nodded.
Alina’s gaze slid over Mia appraisingly. "So this is the Catwoman everyone’s been chasing. Where’s your friend—the winged one?"
"She left," Mia replied curtly.
"Good. We only needed you anyway." Alina smirked lightly.
Yanlu ignored the exchange. "We’re going back. Luciel will be waiting."
Alina nodded. "Skink’s outside the city, ready."
Yanlu’s eyes shimred briefly, and her form dissolved into invisibility once more. "I’ll go ahead and clear the way."
Alina sighed, muttering under her breath. "Always disappearing without warning..."
Then she turned to Mia. "Co on. And keep up."
Mia didn’t answer. She just followed — her movents quiet and graceful as a shadow.
Outside Astris City, the night stretched wide and open. The moonlight painted the cliffs in silver hues. Mia appeared from the dark beside Alina, her senses sharp, her every nerve alert.
Yanlu materialized again, her figure outlined by the faint light. "We’re here."
Alina cupped her hands around her mouth. "Skink! Co out!"
Mia frowned, ears twitching. "Soone’s coming?"
The ground trembled.
A sudden gust of wind and the heavy scrape of scales made her stiffen. A massive shape erged from the darkness — its form glimring with three shifting colors.
Her tail bristled. "A beast! There’s a fierce beast nearby—!"
"Calm down!" Alina raised a hand quickly. "That’s Skink."
"Skink?" Mia echoed, blinking.
The tricolor lizard lowered its head obediently, its yellow eyes half-lidded in irritation.
Alina grinned. "Our transportation."
Yanlu was already climbing onto its back, her movents practiced. "Co."
Mia hesitated, staring at the invisible shimr of air where the creature stood. When her hand reached forward, she felt cool scales beneath her fingers.
Cold. Real. Alive.
She took a breath and climbed up.
"Hold tight," Alina said with a small smirk. "And maybe don’t look down."
Mia didn’t have ti to reply before the beast leapt forward, and her world turned into a blur of wind and motion.
The lizard sprinted across the rocky plain, its body blending seamlessly with the night. Then, with terrifying agility, it began to climb — up the cliffside, higher and higher, until the ground disappeared beneath them.
Mia’s stomach twisted. Her claws dug into the creature’s scales as the wind whipped her hair around her face.
The city walls lood ahead — imnse, ancient, and glowing faintly with the power of runes. The lizard reached them and climbed straight up, its claws digging into the stone as easily as if it were soft clay.
In monts, they were over the top.
Mia’s eyes widened. From the wall, she could see the faint lights of Black Tortoise City spread out like a constellation. The air here shimred faintly with divine energy.
Yanlu dismounted first, patting the creature’s neck. "Thank you."
The tricolor lizard gave her a dismissive flick of its tail and vanished, fading into invisibility once again.
Alina laughed softly. "Always pretending he’s too good for gratitude."
Yanlu ignored her. "Let’s go. Luciel is waiting."
"I want to see my Little Sister first," Mia said, her tone steely.
"You will," Yanlu replied. "Mino’s in the City Lord’s Mansion."
Alina waved a hand toward the slope ahead. "Then we’d better hurry. Follow ."
Mia’s gaze drifted upward — toward the sprawling structure that crowned the high ground of the city. A massive tea tree rose beside it, its leaves silvered in the moonlight. Sothing about it stirred a flicker of mory. Oasis would be very interested in such a sight...
But now wasn’t the ti.
She followed them through the narrow paths, climbing the terraces until the City Lord’s Palace lood before them.
The second ti she had co here. The first was as a thief in the night.
This ti, she ca openly — but her heart was still filled with the sa unease.
At the great gate of the Palace, a familiar figure waited — Elara, arms crossed, her expression cool. Her eyes fell on Mia, curiosity flickering there.
"Where’s Lord Luciel?" Yanlu asked softly.
"In the study," Elara replied. "Co with ."
She led them through the marble hall, their footsteps echoing faintly until they reached a tall wooden door.
Elara knocked gently. "Lord Luciel, they’ve returned."
"Co in," a calm voice replied from inside.
The door opened.
Elara stepped in first. "Luciel, Yanlu and Alina are back. And..." — her lips curved slightly — "they brought Mino’s elder sister."
Luciel, seated behind his desk, looked up imdiately. A spark of satisfaction lit his eyes. "Let them in."
He rose from his chair. "Elara, call Mino, will you?"
"Yes, my lord."
Elara gave Mia a quick look — part smile, part study — before slipping out the door again.
Inside the study, the light was warm and soft. Books lined the walls, and near the window, Mirean Moon sat curled with a book in hand, reading quietly. She didn’t look up, lost in the strange symbols on the page.
Luciel folded his hands and smiled faintly. "You’ve done well," he told Yanlu and Alina.
Yanlu inclined her head. "The task is complete."
Alina stretched, cracking her neck. "Finally."
Then Luciel turned his gaze to Mia. "So, you’re Mino’s sister. Mia, isn’t it?"
Mia didn’t answer the question. "Where is my Little Sister?" she demanded, every word trembling with restrained urgency.
Luciel nodded calmly. "She’ll be here any mont."
He could feel the tension radiating from her — the suspicion, the desperation. She was ready to strike if this turned out to be a lie.
And then—
The door burst open.
"Sister!"
The small voice rang like a bell.
Mino rushed into the room, her rabbit ears bouncing, her eyes bright with tears and joy.
Mia turned sharply, her breath catching as she saw that familiar face — smaller, softer, alive.
Her hands trembled.
For a long mont, neither of them moved.
Then Mia dropped to her knees and opened her arms.
"Mino..."
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The girl crashed into her embrace, sobbing into her chest. "I missed you so much!"
Mia closed her eyes, her whole body shaking as she held her Little Sister tight — the world around them dissolving into warmth and relief.
After everything, after all the shadows and fear — they had finally found each other again.
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