Less than twenty minutes and much awkward silence later, there's a knock on Gerard's office door. Sensing two rabbit-kin outside it, I smile.
"Come in!" (Mizuki)
Gerard glares at me.
"It's still my office, you know?" (Gerard)
Ignoring him, I watch as the door opens to reveal a familiar dark-haired bunny woman – Melena. Behind her are Levi and Zara, while Sadhara is wrapped around her neck, wearing a beaming smile. It's clear from the two rabbit-kin's reddened eyes that they've both been crying. The sight makes the question of their relationship a moot point.
I give them a warm smile.
"Melena, good to see you again! It's been awhile. I take it that you and your little sister had a pleasant reunion?" (Mizuki)
Melena becomes flustered, her eyes darting between me and a nearby wall.
Honestly, I don't find that reaction particularly surprising. Melena has only spoken to me once, when I was just a random, strangely dressed teenager stumbling into the guild at night. Now, though...I can only imagine what rumors she might have heard about me. It's not impossible that she knows as much as Gerard – I'd want both my receptionists fully aware of potential threats if I was him.
And if she knows that much, well...it'd make anyone nervous in my presence. Except Gerard, apparently.
"M-Mizuki, uhm...hi. Yes, thank you...I don't know how to thank you." (Melena)
I hold up my hand.
"That's good, because it's unnecessary. I was deeply indebted to Sadhara, after all. I trust we're even now, Boss?" (Mizuki)
I direct the last question to Sadhara, who lets out a satisfied hum.
"Yes! You found Big Sis just like you promised, so no more debt!" (Sadhara)
I chuckle to myself, then give Melena an amused smirk.
"See? There you have it." (Mizuki)
Melena gives me a nervous smile, glancing between me and her sister.
"Right...uhm, can I talk to you, Mizuki? Alone?" (Melena)
I raise my eyebrows, my curiosity piqued.
"Sure. Everyone...Gerard...do you mind?" (Mizuki)
I see the others shake their head, but Gerard just holds my gaze with an annoyed expression for several moments. Eventually, he groans and rises from his desk, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Why not...I mean, it's not like it's my office or anything." (Gerard)
I watch with a smirk as Gerard and the others slowly filter out of the office. Melena hands a reluctant Sadhara off to Zara, and soon, it's just the two of us. She smiles nervously, and I gesture invitingly at the spot next to me on the couch. After a moment, she hesitantly takes a seat next to me. An awkward silence ensues.
While she's looking away nervously, I discreetly summon my item box behind the couch and pull a single platinum coin from it.
"Ehem...err, so before we talk about whatever it is that you wished to discuss, take this." (Mizuki)
Melena's gaze snaps to me, just in time to see me presenting the platinum coin to her. Her pupils constrict as she processes what it is, accepting it with a trembling hand. She stares at me in bewilderment.
"W-what...is this for?" (Melena)
I smile at her sympathetically.
"For you...and Sadhara. Honestly, dropping this whole situation onto you without notice wasn't my first choice. Obviously, you left the rabbit-kin settlement and haven't returned because you have a certain vision for your future. One that probably didn't include the stress of caring for a little girl.
"I know money doesn't fix everything, but...it should help alleviate some of the burden. Provide for things you two may need, and allow you to hire a caretaker for Sadhara while you're at work, if necessary. That said...I'd understand if you still aren't ready for this kind of responsibility. I'll help however I can...even if that means taking Sadhara back to your village." (Mizuki)
Melena's face stiffens, clearly stunned. After a moment, she looks away with a sad expression, falling silent for several moments. When she eventually speaks, she still can't meet my gaze, and her voice is much more subdued than before.
"Is it...true? My parents..." (Melena)
My expression darkens, and I try to soften my tone.
"I'm afraid so...sorry for your loss." (Mizuki)
Her shoulders start to tremble slightly, her eyes moistening until a few tears roll down her cheeks. After a few seconds, she wipes her eyes hurriedly, and gives me a sad smile.
"Thank you...for bringing Sadhara to me. I appreciate you saying everything that you did, but...I'd rather she stays here with me. It may not be what I wanted originally, but she's my only family now. I can't just leave her to grow up alone. Plus, I still missed her...even if I wanted space." (Melena)
I breathe a huge sigh of relief. It's obvious that some of my concerns about her situation weren't unfounded, but...it's also clear that she genuinely wants to step into the role of Sadhara's guardian. Which is honestly what I consider best for Sadhara.
I nod at Melena approvingly.
"I understand. In that case, I won't comment on it further. I'll make sure the other rabbit-kin learn of your decision, too." (Mizuki)
She nods appreciatively. Then, her eyes widen as she seems to remember the platinum coin in her hand. Her gaze snaps to me.
"Uhm...are you sure about giving me this? It's...quite a lot of money, and I haven't done anything for you..." (Melena)
I wave dismissively, as though I'm used to platinum coins appearing from thin air. Because, well, I am.
"Yeah, I am. Don't tell anyone, but...I'm actually filthy rich. In fact, if you two need more money, you shouldn't hesitate to ask. Also..." (Mizuki)
My gaze softens.
"You may not remember the night we met, but I appreciated it. You were kind and helpful, and you gave me more latitude than I was owed. Consider this me paying you back with interest." (Mizuki)
That reminds me, I should give that one guard that spotted me a few silver some money, too. I basically forgot about him. Boy...he's going to be in for a huge surprise when I finally see him again.
Melena's expression twists incredulously.
"I remember that night fine...you were a strange customer. And I'm certain that I did nothing worth a platinum coin." (Melena)
I shrug.
"Hey, that's your prerogative, but value is relative. Regardless, that money is yours now...I won't accept you returning it." (Mizuki)
Melena sighs, as if exasperated, but I can see her eyes threatening to water again.
"If you insist...thanks." (Melena)
I grin smugly.
"No problem. Now, let's see if we can bully Gerard into giving you some time off work to spend with Sadhara, shall we?" (Mizuki)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Meanwhile, near the northern coast of the major continent...
Nina glances down at the changing scenery flashing below her, a lightness in her heart that she hasn't felt in recent days.
'Ahh...I really did miss this...'
She flaps her wings once more, relishing in the power of her dragon body and the wind on her face. In the distance, she sees the faint glimmer of the ocean, marking the final leg of her journey. At the same time, her thoughts drift to her earlier conversation with Mizuki.
If she could smile in this form, she'd be doing it now.
'Fufufufu...oh, that was exhilarating. He was even more jealous than when that idiot Veyron was flirting with me! I hope he's not too mad at me for toying with him.'
Even as she thinks that, though, she's already aware that he's not going to hold it against her. She could feel it right after he learned the truth about the minor dragon's origins – more than anything, he was embarrassed about jumping to conclusions.
Truthfully, she was surprised by how...accepting, he was when he thought she'd been lying about her abstinence over the eons. Even though she has zero interest in the other males on this planet, and no inclination to lie to Mizuki, it's nice to know that he wouldn't immediately abandon her over such a transgression.
'Sigh...I really do wish he could have come to this planet sooner.'
Her train of thought moves to her impending encounter with Cerilia. It's been quite some time since she last saw the legendary ice queen, and she can't help but wonder if she's still as eccentric as she remembers.
Cerilia has somewhat of a dual personality – poised, emotionless, and scholarly most of the time, but completely deranged when a powerful opponent is in sight. As of thirty millennia or so ago, at least, Cerilia was reminiscent of a lovechild between Alto and Zara. Perceptive and calculating, while still struggling with her own feelings. At the same time...battle-crazed. That said, only a very worthy opponent gets her excited. Otherwise, Cerilia couldn't care less.
From what Nina remembers, that's actually the whole reason Cerilia came to Azura. She was, by all accounts, of peerless strength on the Elder Dragon home world. Cerilia hoped that, if not right away, then at least with time, she'd meet more worthy sparring partners here. Of course, until a certain someone's recent appearance, Cerilia has been left with only disappointment on that front. There's been nobody she's willing to even spar with in the past hundred millennia.
'I wonder just how bored she's gotten after all these additional millennia without a good fight. If I told her about Mizuki...'
Well, Nina has zero doubt that, not only would Cerilia fly off to challenge him like a madwoman, but once Mizuki inevitably beat her silly, she'd be glued to his side like a cat in heat. On one hand, that makes her want to do it even more – Mizuki's flustered reactions, Cerilia's jealousy of her – it'd be wildly entertaining.
On the other, that spectacle would lose its luster quickly, but Cerilia's obsession would remain. It'd be a source of annoyance for Mizuki, and even herself, eventually. It's not entirely out of the question that Mizuki would grow hostile if Cerilia became too unhinged, and she would feel a little bad if Cerilia got killed by Mizuki on a bad morning.
Some hours later, the weather has slowly transitioned to a biting cold, the ocean below her having given way to the endless ice of the northern Arctic continent. Around her, a seemingly perpetual blizzard rages.
She's finally arrived in Cerilia's domain.
'Ugh...I've never understood why she lives in this forsaken place. Even considering how ornery she is, there's more comfortable areas to isolate yourself.'
Pushing her discomfort aside, she focuses on sensing that familiar presence – the subtle aura of nigh-immortals that first tipped her off to Mizuki's altered lifespan. After a few moments of aimless flight, she feels the first whispers of something towards the center of the ice continent.
'Fufufu...there you are...'
Without delay, she adjusts her flight path, then takes off at max speed, eager to limit her time in the cold. Half an hour later, she can feel the nigh-immortal aura growing stronger, to the point she believes she could communicate telepathically.
Suddenly, a brilliant pillar of light erupts on the horizon, temporarily blinding her. When it fades, the blizzard's intensity has waned slightly, and she sees the shadow of a looming figure through its remnants – nearly double the size of her own dragon form. Then, she hears a voice in her head, far colder than the continent itself.
[So...you've decided to encroach on my domain, you worthless lizard. In that case...PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!]
Before Nina can even respond, she once again sees a blinding, blue light emerging in the distance, from the center of the looming shadow. However, instead of a brief pillar, this one seems to be accumulating at a fixed point, and it's packed with a frightening amount of magic.
Then, the point of light erupts, and a blue beam of destructive energy comes barreling towards her.