Several days later, in Poisson...
"Stand closer! Yes, exactly like that! This is exactly what the Luna Caspar Association wants to see!"
"What exactly is the Luna Caspar Association?!" Navia couldn't help but exclaim.
At Navia's invitation, Luna had arrived in Poisson by boat.
Though nominally there to inspect the reconstruction efforts, she had actually come simply to spend time with Navia.
She certainly hadn't expected to be dragged into a photoshoot the moment she entered the town.
Silver pushed up his sunglasses. "The Luna Caspar Association is centered around our Spina di Rosula..."
"Who asked you that?"
Melus sighed, "Please disregard my words, Young Miss. But seeing you two standing there, you truly resemble Mr. Callas and Ms. Clementine in their younger days."
"They do! They look just like them!" Silver nodded repeatedly.
Navia grew visibly displeased. "I've told you, I'll never become like the Old Man. Nor could I ever be like my Mother... I can only be myself."
Luna smiled gently. "I think Monsieur Melus simply meant we look like a married couple?"
Navia flushed crimson. "But... we're both women, right?"
If we look alike, who's the husband and who's the wife?
The thought crossed her mind for no apparent reason.
Hmm, that's a pointless question... Navia shook her head.
"Ahem..." Melus coughed a few times.
"Melus, why don't you go rest? Why push yourself when you have a cold?" Navia asked with concern.
Melus had been feeling unwell lately, but aside from general fatigue, there were no serious symptoms.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Miss, but allow me to take the photographs."
Melus shook his head and sighed, "I reckon I'll have to retire soon."
"After all, I'm getting old. It's getting harder to do things now, and I can hardly keep up with you like I used to when you were little, Young Miss."
"Ah, yes..." Navia murmured wistfully.
Melus had been her father's trusted confidant, watching Navia grow up. But hadn't she also watched him age? In a few more years, he'd likely retire honorably to enjoy his twilight years.
Silver, on the other hand, was still relatively young—or rather, young at heart. He'd even recently gone to see some "Dark Magical Girl" film.
A formally dressed man in sunglasses, sitting beside a group of young girls, watching a children's film together.
It was truly an unimaginable sight.
A flicker of wistfulness crossed Navia's eyes, and she instinctively grasped Luna's hand.
"Still, it's a blessing to be able to live out one's later years peacefully," Luna said with a smile.
Navia nodded in agreement. "That's true!"
If they were all dissolved into the water, they wouldn't even have that.
At this thought, Navia stole a furtive glance at Luna.
"Alright, ladies, please strike another pose."
The reason for the photographs was simple: they would serve as reference for the statues' poses.
Reconstruction efforts in Poisson were still underway when the residents spontaneously proposed a memorial: statues of Callas of the Spina di Rosula and his wife, Clementine, to honor their contributions to the town's development and stability.
Both had made immense contributions to Poisson's development and stability, making them deserving of such monuments.
Naturally, the funding for the statues came from the residents themselves, raised through crowdfunding.
In the past, Callas, wrongfully branded as "Callas the Unfaithful," would have faced eggs thrown and malicious graffiti if a statue had been erected.
But things were different now.
Everyone knew the truth, and Callas had been exonerated.
Coincidentally, Poisson was already being rebuilt, making it the perfect time to construct the statues... though the final poses for the sculptures had yet to be decided.
"Nana, aren't you going to have a statue of yourself made too?" Luna asked, shifting her stance.
Navia mirrored her shift, smiling. "If I do, I'll have to include you too, you know? After all, we're partners, right? I wouldn't want all the attention to be on me."
"I'm fine with whatever," Luna said.
"Lulu, you're truly lacking in humility," Navia teased.
"There's no harm in having one made," Luna replied with a gentle smile.
Silver nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
Melus chimed in, "Should we commission one? We could have it done alongside Mr. Callas's and Ms. Clementine's statues..."
Navia's face flushed slightly. "N-no, let's skip it!"
Melus suggested linking arms, and Navia naturally looped her arm through Luna's.
She looked like a refined lady from a classic painting.
As long as she doesn't speak, she's a lady.
"The Old Man has done so much more, and he's far more impressive. Even if they were to make a statue for me, it would have to wait until I surpass him."
"You underestimate yourself," Luna said bluntly.
"That's not true at all..."
Click. The shutter snapped.
"How was it?" Navia asked.
"Not quite right," Melus shook his head.
"Indeed, we need to try at least a hundred poses," Silver added.
Navia sighed. "At this rate, when will we ever finish?!"
After much deliberation, Navia decided to abandon the motion capture idea.
There are plenty of other options anyway.
Even now, she still couldn't fully understand her father, and her image of her mother remained vague and unreal. Entrusting the task to Melus was the best course of action.
"Come on, Lulu," Navia said, looping her arm through Luna's with a smile. "I'm feeling a bit hungry. How about I make us some macarons?"
But just then, a stranger's voice rang out:
"Melus! Silver! Navia!"
Turning around, they saw a man running toward them, his face alight with surprise.
Luna was certain she had never seen this man in the Spina di Rosula—at least not in its current iteration.
Yet both Navia and Melus clearly showed shock.
"Colter? You're back!" Navia exclaimed in surprise.
"Who's this?" Luna asked.
"He's a member of the Spina di Rosula," Navia explained. "He was exiled to the Fortress of Meropide after being wrongly convicted. But based on clues we've since discovered, we now believe Vacher framed him."
In other words, he was a Spina di Rosula member framed and falsely imprisoned.
But Luna noticed that Silver and Melus seemed more surprised than pleased by his arrival.
Intriguing.
"Yes, I've finally returned from that wretched underwater prison," Colter said.
"Long time no see, Navia... I heard you've taken over Mr. Callas's position. I suppose I should call you 'Boss' now."
His gaze shifted to Luna, standing beside Navia.
"And who is this?"
"My partner!" Navia declared.
Luna smiled. "Just call me Luna."
"Ah! I heard your name on my way back—Fontaine's rising star actress, who even performed with Lady Furina!" Colter said respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you."
Sensing Luna's scrutiny, he tensed slightly, clearly aware not only of her celebrity status but also of some other information.
Fontaine's most prominent star, a renowned detective, and an elite member of the Adventurer's Guild... each title alone would inspire awe.
But his attention quickly shifted to Melus's face.
"Melus, I... I'm so sorry..."
Melus remained silent for a moment, then sighed. "Young Miss, allow me to explain the current situation to Colter."
"Okay."
Navia then leaned in to whisper in Luna's ear.
"Melus and Colter have been close friends for years. They must have a lot to catch up on. Let's go get something to eat first!"
With that, she took Luna's hand and led her directly to her room at Headquarters.