This was a spur-of-the-moment idea from Nearl, not something prepared well in advance. After all, she hadn't expected to run into Ardan at all, so how could she have prepared anything ahead of time?
But that didn't matter. In the time it took Ardan to step out for dessert, Nearl had already fashioned a proper little ornament on the spot.
"A small decorative jade piece. It would go nicely as an accent on your earring."
As she spoke, Nearl extended her hand. Resting in the center of her fair palm was a modest piece of jade-like material, quietly glowing with a gentle, harmonious light.
It wasn't large—too small for a pendant, in fact—but just right as an adornment for an earring.
Its shape wasn't perfectly regular or smooth, yet anyone who saw it for the first time would admire its natural beauty, the kind that instinctively brings joy to the heart.
Right now it shone with a soft, warm amber hue, as if the sunlight of summer had been gathered and sealed inside this tiny stone—truly a marvelous sight.
"Oh! May I really accept this? I've never seen such a translucent piece of jade before. Isn't it too precious?"
Ardan asked hesitantly, yet her eyes told a different story—they were filled with clear delight. Her hand lifted slightly on instinct, but well-mannered restraint held her back.
"I found it by a river once. It might just be an unusual pebble. Please, take it."
Nearl was lying, though in a sense she wasn't. She really had discovered how to create this substance by a river near the orphanage long ago, but the one she gave Ardan was made fresh today.
She'd clipped a strand of her own hair, wrapped it in a drop of her blood, then infused it with her Radiance. That was what transformed it into the object she now held.
This wasn't just a simple accessory.
From material to form, it was intimately tied to Nearl herself—an extension of her being.
Things like absorbing warmth in summer and radiating heat in winter were basic functions. More importantly, it contained the compressed power Nearl had poured into its creation.
That power could gently nurture the wearer's body over time, and in the event of severe injury, it would shatter on its own to repair the damage.
So if you tried to put a price on this gift, it would be priceless.
If not for the limitations of the materials, Nearl would have loved to give one to every Uma Musume. Sadly, even creating this one was no small burden for her.
"Thank you, Nearl. I truly love this gift."
Ardan accepted it, carefully removing the delicate loop from her ear and tying the jade to its red silk ribbon.
"How does it look? Is it pretty? Does it suit me?"
Standing up, Ardan leaned in close to Nearl, tilting her head slightly to offer her right ear for inspection.
The pale blue down on her ear was soft and fine, lying smooth and neat against her skin.
The ear itself seemed almost alive, flickering gently before Nearl's eyes—twitching side to side, swaying forward and back, sometimes curling slightly, sometimes stretching out. It was like a shy girl, carefully trying to express her feelings.
Something that adorable was now only twenty centimeters away. Even Nearl felt a sudden, strong urge to reach out and give it an affectionate ruffle.
"It suits you perfectly. Its glow is as gentle and clear as your heart, Ardan."
"Hehe, I'll gladly accept that compliment."
Though she felt a tinge of regret that Nearl hadn't touched her ear, Ardan was already overflowing with happiness, so she let it go gracefully.
'It's fine. One day, I'll get Nearl to touch my ears.'
The thought flashed through Ardan's mind.
Breakfast time ended, and now Nearl was walking Ardan home. The cheerful atmosphere between them continued along the way.
"I see… so the doctor said you have tendonitis and need to rest until the second half of this year?"
On the walk back, the conversation turned to Ardan's physical condition.
"Mhm, it can't be helped. Everyone in last autumn's Tenno Sho was a true talent. When you're competing with all your heart, you don't hold back, no matter what."
Ardan's face wore her usual gentle smile, without a trace of regret or shadow.
"The chance to win lasts only an instant. The race unfolds in countless unpredictable ways. I couldn't afford not to give my all just because I might get hurt."
"After all, the only thing I can decide is the present—that one moment. The future feels too distant to dwell on."
"Don't worry. The Three Goddesses will bless you. Perhaps you'll recover even faster than the doctor predicts."
"Then I'll have to thank the Three Goddesses properly."
Ardan didn't really believe Nearl's words—she didn't think the Goddesses would intervene in such small matters—but that didn't stop her from feeling the warmth of Nearl's care.
"Oh, Nearl, do you remember the paintings we made that night? I've framed them. This time, take one home with you—but only the one I painted of you."
"But what if I want the one I painted myself?"
Nearl teased lightly, and Ardan caught on immediately, putting on an intentionally indignant expression.
"Not allowed! That one's mine!"
"Haha…"
"Hehe…"
They looked at each other and laughed together—bright, melodious laughter that carried far into the distance.
--+--
"Nearl, in a few days, the doctor will allow me to visit Tracen Academy. I'll come see you then. For now… goodbye for a little while."
At the gate of the Mejiro estate, Ardan handed Nearl the painting she had made, and they said their farewells.
Ardan stood there, her slender frame lingering long after Nearl had walked away, watching until the figure vanished from sight before finally turning back.
"Ardan, you changed your hair accessory today!"
Mejiro Ryan, passing by, had keenly noticed the amber stone now adorning Ardan's right ear.
"Yes, a friend gave it to me. Do you think it's beautiful too?"
Ardan turned slightly, offering a better view for Ryan to admire it.
"It really is. A natural kind of beauty. The jewels I've seen before seem almost garish in comparison."
Ryan couldn't help feeling both curious and a little envious.
Though she wasn't particularly interested in accessories, she could genuinely feel an allure emanating from this stone, something that spoke to her heart.
"Did a friend give this to you? Was it a boy or a girl?"
"A girl. I wouldn't just accept gifts from boys, you know."
Even so, seeing how genuinely happy Ardan looked, Ryan could read between the lines.
'Sounds like even if it's a girl, Ardan sees her as far more than just an ordinary friend.'
"Oh, Ryan, your next race is the Yayoi Sho, right?"
Ardan suddenly recalled.
"That's right! And I'm in peak condition right now!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.