Rin leaned back on the bench, stretching her arms above her head.
"You know," she said casually, "the palace guards take themselves way too seriously."
Lilith glanced at her. "…They do."
Rin smirked. "Which makes them fun to mess with."
Lilith's head tilted. "Mess… with?"
Rin's eyes sparkled. "Pranks."
Lilith considered the word. "Is that… like deception?"
"…Yes," Rin admitted, "but the harmless kind."
Lilith processed that very carefully.
"…Define harmless."
Rin laughed. "No blood. No broken bones. No trauma."
Lilith frowned. "…That narrows my options."
Rin snorted. "You're something else, you know that?"
Rin leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Okay. See that guard over there? The tall one with the ridiculous mustache?"
Lilith's gaze flicked instantly to him. She memorized his stance, patrol rhythm, breathing pattern.
"Yes," she said. "He walks like his armor weighs more than his thoughts."
Rin covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Exactly him."
She tugged Lilith by the sleeve. "Come on."
Lilith stiffened. "Where?"
"To ruin his day. Quietly."
They slipped behind a marble pillar. Rin peeked around the corner, then pulled out a small pouch.
"Pepper dust," Rin whispered. "Kitchen stuff. Makes you sneeze like your soul is trying to escape."
Lilith stared at it. "…You carry weapons."
Rin grinned. "I prefer tools."
The guard stopped near a decorative hedge, adjusting his belt and yawning.
Rin nudged Lilith. "Okay. I distract him. You sprinkle this into his helmet when he sets it down."
Lilith blinked. "…You want me to approach undetected."
"Yes."
"…Without killing him."
"Yes."
Lilith nodded once. "I can do that."
Rin paused. "Why did that sound terrifying?"
Before Rin could rethink it, Lilith was gone.
Not moved.
Gone.
She flowed between shadows like she belonged there, presence erased so completely that even the air forgot her. The guard removed his helmet and placed it on the stone ledge beside him.
Lilith appeared behind him silently, dusting the powder inside with perfect precision.
She vanished again.
Moments later, Rin watched the guard put his helmet back on.
One second passed.
Two.
Then—
"Hh—HHH'TSHOO!"
The sound echoed through the garden.
The guard stiffened. "What the—H'TSHOO!—damn it!"
Another sneeze. And another.
He stumbled back, eyes watering. "Who's messing with me?!"
Rin burst out laughing, doubling over behind the pillar.
Lilith watched him calmly.
"…Is this success?" she asked.
Rin wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh gods, yes—this is perfect."
The guard sneezed so hard he dropped his spear.
Lilith felt something strange.
Her lips twitched.
"…Rin," she said slowly.
"Yes?"
"…I think I am… enjoying this."
Rin grinned widely. "Congratulations. You've discovered fun."
Lilith observed the guard storming away, cursing everyone and everything.
"…It feels," Lilith admitted, "lighter than revenge."
Rin smiled at her gently. "Yeah. It usually does."
They slipped away before anyone noticed them.
As they walked, Rin suddenly grabbed Lilith's hand and pulled her into a run.
Lilith stiffened for half a heartbeat—
Then ran.
Not fleeing.
Not chasing.
Just running.
Rin laughed loudly, carefree, dragging Lilith through the halls until they finally stopped, breathless and hidden behind a tapestry.
Rin rested her hands on her knees. "Okay… okay… that was worth it."
Lilith stood there, chest rising and falling.
Her heart was pounding.
Not from fear.
Not from rage.
"…Rin," she said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"…Can we do this again sometime?"
Rin looked up at her—really looked—and smiled brighter than before.
"Absolutely.