But then it quickly clicked to me that this monster was just that, a monster.
It's getting late.
I should get going.
[You're not accepting my deal...?]
"No."
[Strange.]
[Very strange.]
Its voice got deeper, until finally...
[I see. You are a strange hybrid. I await your return tomorrow, then.]
Huh.
I couldn't really figure this thing out.
Did this monster like it when I attacked it?
Either way, it soon closed all of its eyes, and since I had nothing I wanted from it, I decided to make my way out as well.
It took me a few hours of navigating the sewers to finally find my way out, but when I did, I realized that the sun was close to setting, and the full moon would soon emerge.
So I spent the next few hours helping out people with my Mikael persona.
When the full moon came out, I discreetly left the city and began heading toward the forest where the 'fairy' was spotted.
It didn't take long for me to get there, but it looked like I wasn't the only one.
"Uaaaah! Do you really think we'll get to see the fairy?"
"Of course, idiot. Today's the full moon, so she'll come out."
"Mmm... I can't wait."
A lot of people gathered here.
Turning back to look at the forest, I let out a chuckle.
It seemed like she had an actual reputation for herself.
Though... I wondered if with this many people here, would I still be able to see her?
The curious people went into the forest first, and the more cautious bunch followed after them.
I was with the curious group.
The forest was dark, and the ground was soggy.
Did it rain recently?
The deeper into the forest I went, the fewer people were beside me.
They either scattered in different directions, or were too scared to go further.
Eventually, I was all alone.
It was quiet.
There should've been a soothing melody.
There wasn't.
Was I lied to?
Yet just as I had that thought, I heard some footsteps behind me.
When I turned around, there was nothing.
My Mental Resistance was way too high for that to just be an illusion.
Someone was here.
"Clementine?"
No answer.
"I know no one else is there, otherwise I would've seen them. If you're here, which I'm pretty sure you are, come out already. It's me."
I doubted she had forgotten my voice.
It was still the same as before after all.
Only my appearance was slightly different.
She was also someone who could see someone's soul.
That also meant she could remember what mine looked like.
So as I patiently waited for someone to come out, only to realize no one would, I let out a sigh.
I could so easily uproot this entire forest.
But just why was Clementine not coming out?
I waited.
Then I waited some more.
I got a little tired of waiting.
But as I was about to give up, a certain pair of words flashed through my mind.
I felt like an idiot.
I had forgotten something very crucial.
The last time we saw each other, she told me to remember three words.
And I remembered them very clearly.
"Fire, butterfly, mermaid. You know, you could've chosen a bit better words. I'm cringing a little."
The moment I said that, the presence from earlier came back.
I could feel it very clearly now, and soon enough, a melodic voice that resembled an angel's resounded.
It was a voice I remembered very well.
I followed it through the darkness.
Every now and again, I ran into a few people.
They were all passed out cold.
The closer I got, however, the clearer and more enchanting the music became, until eventually, amidst the darkness of the forest, I saw light.
A wooden hut.
...A very uneven wooden hut, rather.
At least there was a door, and even some windows.
Bonus brownie points for that.
Regardless of the little house there, I was more impressed by what surrounded it.
The forest had been so dark, yet this place was anything but dark.
Thousands of miniature fireflies surrounded the trees, and in the distance, there was a large waterfall.
The water looked like it was pouring down from the sky.
It was strange how I hadn't noticed it when I did my search.
Even so, I liked this place.
So with slow steps, I approached the wooden hut, and after taking a deep breath, I knocked twice.
I waited a little, then knocked again.
The uneven door slowly creaked open, and through the small gap, I saw a single obsidian-colored eye and a few strands of crimson hair.
My expression immediately softened, and with a wave of my hand, I undid the appearance modification.
As my hair returned to the previous black color, and my eyes to snow white, I smiled at her warmly.
"Hello Clementine."
"..."
Was she shy?
I glanced around.
"Did you build all of this?"
She kept up her shy act for a little while longer before slowly nodding, not fully revealing herself yet.
"It's pretty nice. I can see you put in a lot of effort. Though, I kind of expected you to just get a big mansion somewhere."
I didn't expect her to reply, but she quietly did.
"Do you not like it?"
Before I could answer, she added:
"I thought you died."
"Hmm? What made you think that?"
Her brow furrowed slightly.
"I traveled a lot... and one day, I heard that a meteorite had fallen in Aldraazan, and your name was on the list of casualties."
She lowered her head.
"The news also said that you were the one who dropped that meteorite onto Aldraazan..."
Hearing all these baseless rumors, I couldn't help but sigh.
On one end, I was glad that people thought I had died.
But damn.
What a way to rub salt into my already horrible identity.
Regardless of that though, Clementine must've been scared.
She thought I had died.
Taking another deep breath, I approached the door and placed my hand on the frame.
"Can I come inside?"