Seido floated quietly in the apartment room.
By the time they settled in this village, he'd seen at least half a dozen new races—each stranger than the last. There were the winged Sylphs who danced in the wind, the stone-skinned Golems that lumbered through mines, and the ethereal Nymari who glowed faintly in the moonlight. He'd even heard whispers of the deepwater Merkin colonies upriver, though few adventurers returned from their realm to tell the tale.
Curiosity tugged at him, so he often went to the village library to pore over scrolls and tomes about these races, their histories, and their magic. Still, no sign of Emma.
He glanced at the shelf lined with trophies. "We've done well for ourselves," he murmured. "A cozy apartment, steady work, and a few adventures worth remembering."
"Yeah, and I can't believe we made it to A-rank in just ten years!" Haruy beamed, holding up a dusty, old trophy. "And this apartment? Totally worth it."
"It's really been that long?" Seido muttered, reminded of the eighty-nine years still waiting before he must face the hero. He stared at the ceiling as Haruy's laughter faded into quiet nostalgia.
"Remember when we saved that merchant from those wolves?" Haruy smiled, brushing dust off the trophy. "The city gave us this. Though we also had to deal with that wandering band of Lithekin—they're not exactly friendly unless you share food."
Then—a jolt. Like lightning slamming through their veins, freezing their bones. Seido stiffened. The air thickened, humming like a thousand wings. The magic didn't just touch—it remembered.
"Did you feel that?" Haruy asked, eyes wide.
"I did…" Seido replied, stunned.
It couldn't be her… he thought, his orb-body pulsing. I thought she was gone… unreachable. But maybe…
"What do you mean by 'her'?" Haruy glanced over.
"I said 'hurt,'" Seido stammered. "It's been a while since I felt pain."
Haruy eyed him but let it go, rising from the bed.
"Let's check it out," Seido said, peering through the window—hesitant. How would he even talk to her after all these years?
"Alright. Let's chase this mystery," Haruy grinned, setting the trophy down. "Just another adventure!"
He burst through the door. Seido followed, floating silently behind. A faint purple aura painted the sky—ominous, familiar. In the streets, he noticed a dwarf carrying a basket alongside a traveling Kitsune with three tails flicking in the evening breeze. The village, though small, was a crossroads of many lives.
"Who could that be?" Haruy asked.
"I don't know," Seido answered. But deep down, his thoughts screamed: It can't be her… can it?
They weaved through alleys, dodging horses, merchant carts, and townsfolk, drawn toward the aura's heart. The guild loomed ahead. Haruy threw open the door—
—and there she stood.
A girl. And beside her… a familiar.
Seido froze. Memories crashed through him: Emma. When he first met her. When he helped her escape.
"Emma…? Is that you?" Seido whispered.
The spirit orb turned slowly.
"Seido???" it replied.
aIt says as it looks up.