In an alleyway enshrouded in shadows, two figures emerged from the void. Mel shuddered a little at a certain forewarning. That's odd. As a Witch, she rarely feared anything or anyone, other than a Witch of Wrath, a smiley Saintess, and 'colorful' cookings by Sis Saria. She hoped to face the former two rather than eat a single 'dinner' by the lazy, retired Knight.
Unaware of her Master's turmoil, the catgirl maid dangled the skeleton with one hand like a piñata to her. "Master, where should we dump this body?"
The Witch's 'rightfully' concerned worry shifted, as she squinted her eyes at the cat maid. "Back to the carriage, Nyxie. And give him a Disguise Artifact as well."
Nyxie, after her spywork and some specific instructions from Mel, has collected an assortment of artifacts and information from the capital. Several of them include an Artifact that disguised one's appearance, for her spywork, of course.
The maid tilted her head. "Which one?"
"
She patted the cat girl's hair, smiling. "There would be an end-of-month party on 28 May to celebrate our journey to the capital. Would you care to join?"
The Witch admired how Nyxie's cat ears perked up, clearly in an unexpected joy that her master had just invited her.
"Gladly, Master."
And with that, she disappeared again into the void, along with the skeleton.
Desummoning the Gatebearer, Mel stretched her limbs while yawning. "What a tough day, huh, System?"
[ Definitely! The Host deserved a well-earned rest! ]
"So," she glanced lazily at the panel. "Is there something you're hiding from me? Or do I have to ask it of you?"
[ ...the Host deserved a well-earned rest! ]
Mel's lips curled up to an annoyed, strained smile. The System was her only companion; it had witnessed her journey in these 10 years, both ups and downs.
It was there when she first panicked at the sudden, strange world she was thrown into. It was there when she first 'begged' Saria to take her to this Heima Village. It was there when she first made friends with Lila in the middle of the mountains.
Little need to say, she cared for this companion, and...
"I never asked, but even I have my limits."
The Witch pressed a finger to her chin, her tone scornful and doubtful. "On my first day as a Witch, I was grateful for how much you have guided me. Even warned me once when I scrambled for a poison herb out of hunger. So, where's that caution gone now? Why are your warnings conveniently absent during this time?"
The panel flickered in front of Mel, like a sinned child contemplating an answer for her goddess.
In the end, only one text appeared.
[ I am sorry, Host. I do not want to attract the Saintess's gaze. ]
Mel's brows raised, the implications behind the System's words were not unfounded. During her 'completely fair and mutually beneficial' business deal, it showed how the Witch of Pride sensed her after all.
Did the Saintess, however, bear a similar ability as the Witch of Pride? Mel was dealing with the Merchant, so she didn't find it weird how Pride noticed her, but what about the Saintess? Maybe the Saintess's
"Somehow I just ended up with more questions..." Mel sighed, giving up the questions for later. "In any case, we have more important tasks to deal with."
The Witch counted in her mind. About one hour. All of what just happened amounted to merely one hour.
Switching back to her human form, Mel poked her hand into the System's inventory, took out the Cure, and left the alleyway.
"Forgot to ask. Is the cure a real deal?"
[ Absolutely. ]
"Fantastic."
Now, let's start the real first step in Lila's heart, and more importantly, heal the most important guests at their wedding.
Despite the anxiety for the anomaly known as the Saintess, a relieved smirk adorned the Witch's face.
-------------------
Lila POV
Leia's room was tidy and well-scented with herbs and flowers at the bedside tables. In the middle of the tables lied a heaving Leia on the bed, with Lila sitting beside her cutting an apple's skin. The sisters have been facing each other for almost an entire hour, never leaving each other bored as they chatted and bantered.
Even without Mel to liven up the atmosphere, Leia was always here to rile her up with conversations, particularly about-
"You should know, Sis." Lila's finger sank deeper into the knife's handle, the apple's juice seeping out. "Not yet. I'm not ready to answer Mel's advances yet."
Leia poked her sister, the weakened strength from within bearing a complaint. "Come on. It has been 10 years, and you two still have not made progress. At least tell the girl to stop if you don't wanna."
Lila's eyes darkened a little. The thought of Mel not flirting with her? Unthinkable.
She shook her head at her irrationality, feeling surprised. The Witch of Envy was aware of how the seemingly playful Mel felt, how the stubborn Mel would reject her rejection should she prompt it, but somehow, the slight possibility that she would respect it instead made her scared.
She set aside the cut apple on the plate, frowning deeply. "Sister. I admit that I... I..."
Did she have feelings for Mel? Lila was not so sure. Mel bore an irreplaceable spot in her heart, not only as her first but also as her only friend. Like a doubt that festered in her, she worried that her friend's playfulness was not an act, that she merely thought of her as a 'friend' to play with, a 'friend' to tease with.
"Oh." Leia leaned her cheek onto her palm, observing her sister's hesitation. "You're afraid, huh, sister?"
Lila looked away from her older sister's piercing gaze. It is always like this with Mel too, her emotions apparently out in the open for her older sis and friend.
So in the end, she again confessed, as usual. "Yes. Sister. I am afraid Mel treated flirting with me like a game. But I only hate it because I'll be… disappointed how I seem less important than I actually am to her."
At the very least, Lila was sure of this insecurity. 10 Years. For 10 Years, Mel has incessantly expressed her affection for Lila. Those affections were bound to pile up for Lila, causing her to overthink and question Mel.
Lila's hand scrunched up the robe's skirt, brows knitting together in frustration. "It's not that I'm smitten sick either. It's just I... I don't know Mel well enough to make up my mind about her."
Her friend was a genuine, kind friend, but Lila is not a blind maiden. She has lightly suspected Mel's obsession with her since their first encounter, and over time, she could almost see how Mel shaped her behaviours to seduce her as well.
Her friend was hiding something. Or would she really approach a dull girl like her?
As if her last assumption stirred a lingering resentment, her eyes were cast downward, another futile effort to hide her emotion.
"Lila." And like usual, her older sis's resolute voice boomed in her head. "Usually, when people claim as such, it only means they knew all there is to deduce about their friends. Mel hid secrets, but feelings? Have you ever noticed the way she latched onto you?"
The Witch of Envy's mood further soured. "No matter. I won't date anyone before you get better anyway, Sister."
Leia sighed, exasperated. "Again with that excuse..."
Lila's guilt pricked at her chest. Her sister was right. She is a hypocrite who dared to use her family's illness to dodge her feelings.
Mel wouldn't blame her, in any case. She has once told her the same answer, only to be laughed at as a 'sis-con'.
The Witch of Envy's cheeks bloated into a pout. Right. 'Sis-con', she is. Of course, she deserved the title after taking care of her sister for almost 10 years! In fact, she wore it with pride, and she would not allow even her friend to make fun of that!
"Did I miss anything?"
"Nothing. We're just talking about how you were playing with me-"
Lila paused, her eyes turning to the door with a certain pink-haired teen standing. She had an excited grin on her face, her cheeks slightly reddened as if receiving the most exciting news as of yet.
Treating this as another of Mel's antics, Lila scowled a little. "Were you there the whole time?"
"Woah!" Mel put a hand over her lips. "How do you know?"
"...since when?"
"Anyways. I'm here bearing the best news you could ever hear!"
"Oi. Don't ignore me!"
Ignoring her friend's grumbles completely, Mel brought out a green vial, the substance within glimmering with promises of vitality and recovery.
"This is the cure for your illness, Leia."
Lila's jaw dropped, the shocking news perpetuating in her ear like an echo chamber. Cure? For Older sis? The word 'cure' bounced in her mind, her heart thumping at Mel's unexpected news.
She took a peek at Leia, who merely nodded with a knowing smirk that mirrored Mel's.
The Witch of Envy's scowl deepened. At this point, she was more confused than happily surprised. Was she left out of something again?
[Favourability: 39 -> 37 ]
Ah. Mel blinked at the System panel. That's not how I imagine it to work.
In contrast to her imagination of tearful gratitude, her 'shocking' news, naturally, only brought more shocks than touched kisses and hugs.