"Pfft..."
Wrapped in her blanket on the bed, Ellen had clearly heard Fairy's "commentary." She couldn't help but let out a tiny giggle, her shoulders shaking slightly. She buried her face in the pillow, trying to hide it, but the trembling blanket and the shark tail gently thumping the mattress in delight gave her away completely.
"Ellen! Don't laugh!"
Luna Belle, both embarrassed and annoyed, turned toward the bundle of blankets on the bed to protest.
"Mmh... I'm not laughing..." Ellen's voice came out muffled from under the blanket, but the suppressed laughter that still leaked out made her words entirely unconvincing. She poked half her head out, her red eyes sparkling with mischief, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably. "I just think... Fairy's description was quite apt... Right now, Belle, you really do look like you're about to start smoking."
"You're still talking!" Luna Belle grabbed a pillow nearby and made a move to throw it.
Ellen immediately and nimbly ducked back under the blanket, leaving only a stray lock of black hair sticking out, though her muffled laughter became even more obvious.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you." Ellen's voice came through with a hint of a smile. Having seemingly laughed her fill, she slowly crawled out from under the blanket again, patted the empty space beside her, and let out a yawn. "Okay... isn't it time to sleep now? Aren't you tired, Belle?..."
At her mention, a wave of intense exhaustion instantly washed through Luna Belle's entire body. From the VCR explosion to the ambush in the wilderness, and then carrying Ellen all the way to White Thorn City, this series of thrilling experiences had long since drained her energy.
"Yeah, let's sleep." Luna Belle nodded, walked to the other side of the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down.
Just as Luna Belle adjusted her position, she felt Ellen rustle beside her. Then, a warm body naturally leaned over; an arm habitually draped across her waist, and a head snuggled into the crook of her shoulder, finding a comfortable spot. That heavy shark tail also flopped over, pressing warmly and softly against her leg.
Luna Belle's body stiffened slightly at first, but she soon relaxed to the sound of Ellen's steady breathing. The girl's faint sweet scent and the freshness of her recent bath lingered at the tip of her nose. The warm, soft touch through the thin pajamas made her cheeks start to redden again.
She carefully turned her head, using the faint sunlight filtering through the curtains to look at Ellen's sleeping face so close at hand. Those red eyes that always looked weary were now quietly closed. Her long, thick eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath them, and her usually sharp features had become exceptionally soft.
A warm current surged from the bottom of her heart, dispelling the unease of arriving in a strange world. Though the future was uncertain, at least for this moment, she wasn't alone. She had Ellen, who would stand before her and snip away danger, and Fairy, who, while a bit unreliable, always proved useful at critical moments... Thinking of this, she couldn't help but call out softly in her mind.
"Fairy?"
"At your service, Master." Fairy's voice immediately rang in the depths of her mind, its volume thoughtfully lowered.
"Today... thank you." Luna Belle thanked her softly. Whether it was summoning Ellen through the gacha or providing storage and navigation, Fairy's presence was undoubtedly the key to their smooth arrival here.
"It is Fairy's duty." Fairy's voice seemed to carry an imperceptible ripple of joy. "Please rest assured; Fairy will continue to monitor the surroundings to ensure safety."
"Mmh." Luna Belle gave a soft reply, her last bit of worry fading away.
Intense sleepiness, like a warm tide, completely submerged her consciousness. Feeling the warm weight on her shoulder and the comforting heaviness of the tail on her leg one last time, she slowly closed her eyes. Only the steady, long breaths of the two girls remained in the room...
While on the other side of the city, another girl was still busy. White Thorn City, inside the City Lord's study.
In the study, only the slight crackle of wood burning in the fireplace and the rustle of turning pages could be heard. The young City Lord of White Thorn City, Cecilia Vesta, sat behind a large desk. The heavy cloak symbolizing her status as City Lord had been removed and draped neatly over the back of a nearby chair. She lowered her head slightly, her long silver hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, a few strands falling softly onto the documents she was reviewing.
All her attention was focused on the report in her hands. Her ice-blue eyes swept across the lines of text at high speed, her long silver eyelashes drooping like snow-covered wings, casting faint shadows on her fair, flawless cheeks. The report before her detailed the events of the Goblin incident at the city gate from start to finish.
Cecilia stood up and walked to the large map hanging on the wall. The map clearly marked White Thorn City and its surrounding areas, including the peril-filled Gloomy Forest and Misty Mountains. Several red markers were scattered around the outskirts of the town, representing recent monster harassment or abnormal events.
"Monster activity is becoming more frequent, and their methods of infiltration more cunning... Someone must be directing them from behind." Her gaze sharpened. "Relying solely on the city defense force and those inconsistent adventurers, I'm afraid..."
Her thoughts returned to the two strange travelers. She trusted Captain Sterling's judgment; he believed those two were not ill-intentioned. Especially the strength displayed by that maid named Ellen—if she could be recruited... "Perhaps... this really is an opportunity to break the deadlock."
Cecilia pondered, a flash of decisiveness crossing her ice-blue eyes. "I must find a way to contact them and confirm."
She returned to the desk, picked up a quill, and quickly began writing on a piece of exquisite stationery. Her handwriting was elegant and fluid. She briefly explained the incident at the city gate, described the appearances of Luna Belle and Ellen—especially Ellen's conspicuous shark tail and giant scissor weapon—and mentioned the strength they had displayed.
She continued writing.
"President Katerina, I hope to use your keen observation to perform a preliminary understanding and assessment of these two travelers named 'Belle' and 'Ellen,' without alerting them. This matter concerns the safety of White Thorn City. Please ensure your subordinates keep their distance, performing only long-range observation and information gathering. They must not make contact or test them rashly, lest it cause unnecessary misunderstanding... We need friends, not enemies."
She carefully checked the contents of the letter, and once satisfied, she took a small silver seal from a drawer, dipped it in red ink, and solemnly pressed it onto the signature line...