When she pushed open Solitär's door, Fíliya's heart sank.
She didn't see the scene she had imagined. After all, whenever she used to enter Solitär's room, Solitär would always look at her immediately. But not today.
So she quietly crept up to Solitär's side and, after a moment's hesitation, placed her hands on Solitär's shoulders.
Solitär offered no reaction, but for Fíliya, that was enough.
Solitär didn't resist the physical contact, which meant things probably hadn't reached the worst-case scenario.
So she leaned down again and rested her chin on top of Solitär's head; it was, after all, one of her favorite things to do when they were together.
"Is your hand better?"
Solitär asked, looking at Fíliya's completely restored left hand. She was asking the obvious, apparently not wanting the atmosphere to drop to a freezing point.
"Yes, I've completely deciphered this Gold Transformation."
Fíliya's tone was casual, as if what she had accomplished wasn't some great feat, but a simple, ordinary chore.
"Is that so... Then what are you planning to do next."
The unease in her heart grew stronger. Solitär felt incredibly anxious, so much so that she didn't want to hear what Fíliya was about to say. Her intuition told her that whatever it was, it probably wouldn't be good news.
"Well, I've been away for a year and a half now. I promised Sense I'd be back in time for the First-Class Mage test, so... I want to make a trip back to the City of Magic."
Just as I thought... The moment Fíliya spoke the first half of her sentence, Solitär gently bit her lip, thinking that her premonition had indeed come true.
"First-Class Mage... that's a human evaluation system, isn't it? Is there any point to it?"
Although Solitär was in a terrible mood, she managed to maintain her composure.
"Hmm, it doesn't seem to be very useful..."
Fíliya put on a thoughtful expression. For humans, the greatest value of being a First-Class Mage wasn't the title itself, but the fact that once you became one, you could obtain a long-coveted magic from Serie. For a mage, this was a temptation almost comparable to having a dream come true.
Unfortunately, Fíliya had already wasted that opportunity, so for her, being a First-Class Mage really didn't seem to have much use.
"A First-Class Mage is more or less an in-name-only disciple of Serie. Though not a true apprentice, you can get some pointers from Serie when she's in the mood. There are also some economic and reputational benefits, but those aren't very significant either."
"Come to think of it, after becoming a First-Class Mage, you also have to help Serie solve problems... Being ordered around by an old hag who's lived for ten thousand years is a pretty tiring affair... Looked at this way, there really are no benefits to being a First-Class Mage, and it's actually a bit of a loss, at least for me."
Fíliya analyzed the situation with a serious face.
"Then, if there are no benefits and it's just going to be a hassle, why do you still want to take this test?"
Solitär pressed on. Her mind was unusually active at that moment, desperate to find some reason to persuade Fíliya to stay.
"It's simple. Because Sense wants me to become a First-Class Mage, and I promised her I would."
Fíliya replied with a light smile.
Solitär had to admit, this was the first time she didn't want to see that smile on her face.
Is it just my imagination? Every time Fíliya mentioned that human named Sense, her smile was exceptionally brilliant—so brilliant it was blinding.
It was hopeless.
Solitär came to this conclusion after some thought. She knew very well the place that human, Sense, held in Fíliya's heart.
If Fíliya had to go back because she had promised Sense... there was truly no way she could make her stay.
"Solitär?"
At this point, Fíliya began to realize something was wrong with Solitär's mood. After all, her mind was constantly notifying her that she was gaining emotion points.
But at a time like this, she would rather not have such an unexpected gain. She just wanted Solitär to calm down.
So she spoke.
"Hey... it's no big deal, right? I'm just going to take a test. It won't take long. I'll come back to see you when I get the chance. Our promise hasn't expired."
Fíliya tried to gauge Solitär's reaction as she spoke, but Solitär kept her head down, hiding her expression, which troubled Fíliya slightly.
She sighed, leaned in close to Solitär's ear, and whispered softly.
"Please... Solitär... big sister?"
...After Miss Fíliya used this trump card, the cold feeling emanating from Solitär did indeed lessen considerably, but she clearly wasn't going to give up so easily.
"How long is 'when I get the chance'? You just said that after becoming a First-Class Mage, you have to work for that Serie... So when will you remember me?"
...Huh?
Now Fíliya finally understood what was troubling Solitär.
So, she's afraid... of losing me?
Reaching this answer, Fíliya felt both happy and helpless.
She moved from behind Solitär to stand in front of her, then slowly knelt down.
This was because Solitär stubbornly refused to lift her head. To see her eyes, Fíliya had no choice but to lower herself.
Finally, whether Solitär wanted to or not, Fíliya met her gaze.
"I really don't understand you... Solitär. You've endured decades... hundreds of years of solitude. Why would you be afraid of such a brief separation? Have I ever broken a promise to you? I said I would definitely come back to see you. Why can't you try to believe me?"
Fíliya's words only made Solitär feel more agitated.
Aren't you the one who turned me into this... Can't you just take responsibility for it properly, she thought.
As a timid member of the Demon Race, there was only one reason that had sustained Solitär through her reclusive life.
It was that she had never possessed anything. Because she had never had anything, she was fearless.
In her long life, apart from the goal of 'studying humanity' that she had found for herself to pass her boring demon existence, she truly had nothing.
And now, for the first time, she had received something from another living being. This person who had never had anything, once she truly obtained that thing, became incredibly timid and terrified.
She admitted she was afraid of losing Fíliya. Although she believed Fíliya's promise, once that person was out of her sight, countless unknown possibilities could occur.
After all, human lives were so fragile... Who knew if Fíliya might die inexplicably somewhere she didn't know about?
Even though Fíliya had become a capable powerhouse, Solitär still wanted to tie Fíliya to her side. The reason was also very simple.
As the older sister, isn't it my job to properly 'protect' my little sister?
With this thought in mind, Solitär seemed to have made some kind of resolution.
___
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