Elysia stirred, her body sinking into something impossibly soft and warm. The gentle weight of Sera's tails curled around her, cocooning her in comforting fluff. She stretched lazily, the feeling reminiscent of waking up from a long, peaceful nap.
But as her fingers brushed against rough fabric instead of fur, her drowsiness faded.
"Mm...? What happened?" Elysia murmured, blinking awake.
The first thing she noticed was the slanted wooden ceiling pressing down like a heavy cloak. Elysia realized she was in attic. The attic was small and cluttered, filled with the forgotten remnants of childhood. Worn wooden toys, stacks of faded storybooks, and threadbare stuffed animals peeked out from dusty crates.
The beams of the moon shone from a small window and a single candle lit the entire room.
"Elysia, are you alright? Here, have something to drink." Agua was the first to approach her.
Elysia turned to Agua who had such a haggard worry on her face. Before she could take the cup a chorus of worried chimes erupted around her as the rest of the sprites flitted closer.
"Drink it! It has gingeria and moonberry leaves," Fig added.
"You look fine. It looks like all your mana just returned" Ember said looking Elysia's mana flowing against her like rekindled flame.
Gale and Paku hugged, their tiny forms trembling.
"We thought you were gone for good!" they wailed.
Elysia shocked at their reaction. She tried to recall the events before she had fallen asleep.
Her mind was still foggy, the last thing she remembered was—
Wait.
Her fingers tensed around the cup.
"Where... are we?" she asked, scanning the attic room again. "Weren't we in the mountains before?"
Sera's elegant voice echoed in her head.
Master, you are awake now. I am glad you are well.
Sera curled around Elysia closer, a low, soothing rumble vibrating through its chest. The beast nuzzled closer, its warmth chasing away the lingering chill.
Elysia gently stroked Sera's head as she sat up.
"Where did Phine go?" Elysia asked after making a head count of her party.
I have sent the pup the retrieve the man who stole your mana, it seems she has failed. Sera's voice resonated in her mind.
Just then footsteps echoed from below. A group of people was approaching the attic.
"Just be quiet! The matron will kick me out if she finds out I let you in here," Hetty whispered urgently. Elysia recognized her voice immediately.
"I can walk on my own, you know. You don't have to carry me," came Rin's voice.
"It's Leif and his companion from the mountains... Did they bring me here?" Elysia murmured, rising from Sera's protective huddle as the approaching footsteps grew louder.
Phine dropped Rin onto the wooden floor with a resounding thump, before bounding toward Elysia. The brown ball of fluff pinned her down, her three-tails wagging furiously.
The sprites burst into a flurry of motion, their voices inaudible to everyone except for Elysia.
"You caught him, Phine! Well done! I'll tie him up!" Fig declared, already darting toward Rin.
"Keep her away from Elysia!" Agua cried, placing herself between them.
Ember, ever the quick-tempered one, conjured floating embers that flared menacingly around Rin. "Thief! I should burn you to cinders!"
"Elysia, I'm frightened!" Gale whimpered, cowering behind a lock of Elysia's hair.
Meanwhile, Phine's telepathic voice rang loud and eager in Elysia's mind.
Master! I have found the thief who stole your mana!
But Sera's voice followed swiftly, colder and sharper.
Hand him to me, Master. I shall carve his heart from his chest for his insolence.
Rin, rubbed his bottom from the impact of Phine's drop - he could hear the sprite siblings ringing around him
Paku, ever determined, heaved a small ingot of gold straight at Rin. "I'll take care of him!"
Their words were lost to him. Instead, he stared at the gold ingot now in his hand. "Why are they so loud? And... what is this?"
Leif said to Elysia "Could you teach Pine—Pin—Payn here some manners?! He can't just go around snatching people off the streets!"
"Her name is Faeh-yn" she helped him pronounced it properly. Completely ignoring the chaos of her familiars.
The sprites on the other took Leif's words as an attack and turned on him.
Fig's glow flared angrily. "How dare you defend a thief after feasting upon the fruits of my garden?"
Agua gasped in betrayal. "I gave you water, and yet you turn against Elysia?"
Ember's flames roared higher. "Shall I burn this one too?"
Gale fluttered anxiously near Elysia. "Elysia, are you unharmed?"
Rin groaned, clutching his ears as the intensity bell-like voices intensified. "They're surrounding you now," he muttered to Leif as the glowing sprites swarmed Leif in fury.
Before Leif could react, thunk! Another ingot sailed through the air—this time striking him squarely on the forehead.
"What where?" Leif started to swat the air blindly.
"Shhh! Keep your voices down or else the Matron will hear you" Hetty hushed.
A sharp voice echoed from below.
"Hetty, have you returned?"
Everyone froze.
"It's the matron! Everyone hide!" Hetty pushed them further into the dark corners.
"Ember!" Elysia whispered under her breath. And Ember's flames went out.
"Hetty! Are you deaf, child?" the Matron's voice echoed up the stairwell, sharp and impatient.
Hetty stood up straighter. "Sorry, Matron. I just got back."
"Where's Glisinda? Don't tell me the two of you are making a habit of sneaking in after dark."
"She's still at the inn," Hetty answered carefully.
"At this hour? Don't tell me she's off wasting time with that beastkin again. I've told her—repeatedly—she'll lose her position here if she keeps running after that scruffy mutt. You remind her of that."
"Yes, Matron," Hetty murmured.
The Matron stepped closer, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You're not hiding up here to skip out on your dues, are you?"
"No, Matron. I wasn't trying to— I just... wasn't paid today."
Smack.
Hetty's head turned with the blow, a red mark already blooming on her cheek.
"Do I look like a fool to you?"
Hetty kept her voice steady. "The innkeeper was arrested. Imperial guards took him. I didn't get a chance to—"
"And what about that Eastian-haired girl you've been trailing after?" the Matron interrupted, sneering. "The one making waves in the Gilded Ledger? Don't pretend you're not cozy with her. Don't tell me she can't spare a few coins. A girl like that shows up in your life, and you don't find a way to benefit from it?"
Hetty didn't answer.
"You should be begging her for scraps, kissing her feet if you have to. Girls like you don't get lucky often. When opportunity knocks, you open the damn door. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Matron."
"Useless," the woman muttered. "You bring me no coin, then don't expect so much as a bite of bread tonight. I'm already doing you a favor letting you stay in the attic. You're not a child anymore— do not be a burden to me and this orphanage."
With that, the Matron turned and slammed the door behind her.
The sound echoed in the silence that followed.
Hetty didn't move. She just stared at the floor, fists clenched at her sides, jaw tight. A single tear welled in her eye—but she blinked it back before it could fall.
The candlelight flickered, and from the shadows, soft voices stirred.
"What the— No-good matron!" Leif muttered, his voice low but unable to hide the anger simmering beneath his words. "The likes of her should be buried under rubble."
Rin said nothing. He simply reached into his bag and offered Hetty a handkerchief, his gaze averted—pretending not to notice the tears beginning to well in her eyes.
Elysia, voice barely above a whisper for fear of drawing that horrid woman back up the stairs, called softly, "Hetty... are you alright?"
"Miss!" Hetty turned to her, relief flooding her features. "Thank Deu - you're safe." Without thinking, she rushed forward and embraced her.
"I'm fine," Elysia said gently, trying to comfort the crying Hetty. "But I asked first—let me see?" Her brows furrowed with quiet concern as she tilted Hetty's face to inspect the angry red mark across her cheek.
From her storage ring, Elysia drew out a soft silk cloth, folding it delicately in her hands before lifting her gaze toward the air.
"Agua, Gale," she whispered.
"What is Chillmint Fig?" she asked aloud. "If it helps with swelling, then it should do."
Rin tilted his head as he watched Elysia speaking to the dancing orbs around her, "Ah... So she really does talk to them," he murmured.
"Can you really see them? What are they doing now?" Leif asked, squinting his eyes he could not see a single light.
"I don't know" Rin shrugged, "To me, they look just floating balls of light with bell sounds," he said as he stared at the orbs doing a flurry of movements.
Two of the glowing sprites—Gale and Agua—spun gently in the air above Elysia's hands. A swirl of frost gathered between them, forming a delicate iced-crystal, cool to the touch and glimmering with faint light.
Elysia softly pressed the silk-wrapped ice against Hetty's cheek.
"Here," she said kindly. "Gently now. Just hold it there for a little while."
"Miss, I don't... I don't deserve this," Hetty whispered between quite sobs—the kind of crying that came from years of hiding tears behind locked doors and quiet corners. "This is my fault. Everything—everything that happened. The inn... Your room... the poor innkeeper..."
Elysia's heart clenched. There was something in Hetty's voice—something achingly familiar. Her older self had this memory before. Quite uncontrollable sobs that you had to keep deep down. In this very moment she could not help but hear a loneliness that echoed in her own soul. She had cried like that too, hadn't she? Behind closed doors, with no one to hear.
"Hetty," she said softly, her voice breaking just slightly, "why wouldn't I help you? You are a dear friend."
"But the inn—your room—it was my fault," Hetty repeated, her shoulders trembling.
Elysia reached for her hands again and held them firmly. "It's alright Hetty. I don't quite understand you. Just start from the beginning. Where are we?"
Hetty sniffled, dabbing at her cheek with the silk compress as she began to recount the events. "We're above the orphanage I used to stay in."
"Used to stay?" Elysia asked.
"They kicked you out already? What you look to be 14." Leif said looking at Hetty's thin frame.
"I am 16 so I used to stay here but I'm no longer one of the orphans." Hetty rebutted
"That matron made you stay here in this dusty old attic and work you to the bone?" Leif asked quite familiar to the orphanage system.
"The matron was kind enough to let me stay so as long as I earn my keep." She explained to no one in particular then turned to Elysia, "I apologize if it's too dusty miss. You were unconscious and I had no where else to turn to - "
"Thank you for letting me stay here Hetty, so this is your room?" Elysia looked at the dilapidated attic. It was unfit for anyone to stay let alone a small girl like Hetty.
"Yes miss - Forgive me for making you stay at such quarters. The room you were staying in... it had been reserved for a merchant the day after tomorrow. But he arrived early—demanded your room on the spot since it was empty."
Elysia's brows drew together as memory stirred. "That's right... I was going to extend my stay once I got back from the mountains." she murmured.
"He brought adventurers with him," Hetty said, voice shaking. "I was cleaning your room when they barged in. They just walked and I... I was too scared. I ran. I should've said something—that you'd be back or that the room was still occupied."
"Oh, Hetty," Elysia whispered, gently brushing the girl's tears away. "You're just a child. You did the right thing by running away. What else could you have done?"
Hetty shook her head, as if trying to chase away the guilt. "Then this morning... you came back—with them," she added, glancing briefly at Rin and Leif.
"You were unconscious," Hetty said gently. "You were lying on Sera's back."
Leif nodded, adding, "That big furball wouldn't leave your side. Hauled you all the way back to Arvandale by herself."
"We left you at the inn," Rin explained. "Since that was the place you were staying at and the innkeeper said he'd handle things with the other guest."
Hetty's voice faltered. "But your room... it was still occupied by that merchant. There was no other available room at the Inn and Mr. Coon—the innkeeper—tried to explain you'd returned and that you'd already paid in full, but the merchant refused to listen. Mr. Coon called for the imperial guards but somehow that Merchant twisted his words and accused Mr. Coon of fraud - " Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes. "They arrested him. The merchant called the Imperial Guards to help, but the merchant twisted his words. Said Mr. Coon was trying to scam him. They took him away for fraud."
She broke down then, sobbing. "We couldn't do anything, the cook and footmen couldn't fight off the adventurers. It's my fault, if only I had said something in the beginning then..."
Elysia's expression turned stricken, her hands tightening around Hetty's. "No... No, how could this possibly be your fault, Hetty?" she said, heart heavy with disbelief.
"Exactly!" Leif chimed in, arms flung wide in frustration. "If anyone's to blame, it's that self-important merchant scum."
Rin gave a quiet nod beside him.
The room fell silent for a long moment, save for Hetty's quiet sobs and the faint flicker of candlelight.
Elysia sighed as though she was overwhelmed by a series of chatter "Alright one thing at a time everyone, there's no need to fret."
Rin looked at the floating orbs now fussing about bells ringing louder, "What are these things? And why do they keep buzzing around me?"
"They mentioned something about... stealing mana," Elysia replied trying to gather the sprites back to the terrarium.
Leif spun toward Rin, eyes wide.
Rin looked down, shame in his expression. "I apologize. I believe that was when I was unconscious. I took your hand and I accidentally absorbed her mana."
"You what?!" Leif asked Rin astonished.
"You stole her mana! " Hetty gasped.
"Oh? You can do that?" Elysia asked not really paying attention. Instead she was looking through her storage ring.
"Why are you so relax about this miss. He stole your mana." Hetty's mind placing the puzzle pieces together came to the conclusion, "Is that why she fell unconscious?!"
"That! No!" Leif said thinking the order of events. "If anything it's because you made that Earth incantation."
"Now that you mention it I don't remember anything after we got out of the cave." Elysia said trying to remember.
"Regardless stealing someone's mana to the point of her becoming unconscious is such a dreadful thing! It is a capital crime." Hetty explained.
"You don't have to go that far!" Leif quickly defended.
"I should've left our guild information with you before leaving the Inn. I intended to settle things after we reported to the guild. I apologize" Rin explained.
"We'll pay you in full how much mana Rin absorbed." Leif quickly came to his defense.
But Elysia didn't really absorb anything they were saying. She was quickly searching for her carpet from her storage ring. "It's alright you don't have to bother."
Rin stared at her, surprised by her nonchalance.
Master I recommend you taking his heart and eating it to recover your mana. Sera said her nine-tails sharpening.
"Sera, Phine return to the terrarium and rest first. That's enough about this mana business."
The two Lupinara's obediently followed.
Rin was surprised at how the legendary beasts followed her command like two trained pups. They were full of killing intent a moment ago now they simply retreated.
Leif was baffled. "Hey! Are you serious? He just stole mana from you?! That's like stealing someone's life force!"
"Hey I thought you were on my side - " Rin grumbled.
"Well," Elysia said thoughtfully, "First off, I don't really think it's that drastic as stealing a life because I'm still alive. Plus you two brought me back here safe and sound so I think we should call it even."
"I mean I guess if you put it that way. And you did break my shield." Leif started to think.
"Right! I did break your shield" Elysia said remembering.
"What? A shield over mana? Just how sturdy was this shield?" Hetty said trying to defend Elysia.
"HETTY! WHO ON SWEET SERENDALE ARE YOU TALKING TOO? DID YOU SNEAK SOMEONE UP THERE?!" The matron's voice thundered from below, each word punctuated by the stomp of furious footsteps climbing the stairs.
Hetty gasped, clapping both hands over her mouth.
The matron knows.
She's going to be beaten. Just like Glisinda.
The memory crashed into her—Glisinda, bruised and bloodied, barely able to walk after Mr. Coon escorted her back one night. The matron hadn't asked questions. She had simply beaten her until the purple and blue marks looked like they might never fade. If the matron finds out she snucked two boys in here she won't be able to escape with her life.
Hetty's breath became heavy. The walls seemed to close in. Her ears rang. Silence drowned out the world.
Then—something broke.
A surge of mana surged up from deep within her soul, cold and wild. Her skin turned to ice. Her vision blurred.
Rin being attuned to mana felt it immediately. Mana was pouring out of her in waves. He saw her shadow stretch unnaturally across the floor, tendrils slithering and curling around her legs like smoke trying to claim its source. She stepped back—no, something was about to pull her back.
"She's coming! Hetty quick let's go!" Elysia's voice broke through Hetty's fearful trance.
Rin looked at Elysia then back at Hetty, the shadows we're gone.
"What are you doing?" Leif oblivious to what had happened to Hetty, hissed at Elysia as she threw open the attic window.
"What do you think I'm doing? That crazy old lady slapped Hetty across the face," Elysia snapped, as if leaping out the window of a four-story orphanage was the most logical thing to do.
"You planning to jump to your death?!" Leif reached out to stop her, panic in his voice.
"Hetty let's go, I'm getting you out of here. Gale!" Without hesitation, Elysia leapt out of the window.
"Be careful!" Rin warned, already moving.
Rin moved fast—faster than either of them expected. He followed her out the window, but the narrow ledge outside threw him off balance.
"Miss!" Hetty cried, horrified as she watched Elysia vanish below the frame.
"Are you insane?!" Leif yelled after them.
In a heartbeat, Rin caught Elysia mid-air, pulling her into his arms. He quickly positioned her above him and away from the ground.
Elysia's breath caught as her body collided with Rin's chest, her fingers instinctively gripping the fabric of his shirt. A jolt passed through her—like electricity. Hot. Immediate. Alive.
She looked up, eyes wide. What was that?
Rin felt it too. A warmth bloomed beneath his skin, a strange, thrumming sensation that spread from where her hands touched him. It wasn't just the adrenaline. It was something else—something unfamiliar, pulling at him like a current.
They were falling, yet it felt like time had stopped. Her face was close, her hair tangled in the wind, her eyes glowing faintly with mana. For a fleeting moment, the world shrank to just the two of them, suspended between earth and sky, danger and desire.
Then—softness.
They didn't crash.
"Are you alright?" Elysia asked, pushing herself up slightly, her face hot against the cold summer night.
They locked eyes, Rin was breathless. The world fell away in that suspended moment.
Rin felt heat rush to his cheeks. He blinked, stunned—and realized they weren't falling at all.
They were floating.
On a flying carpet.
"I—...?" he stammered, releasing her quickly.
"Hey! This is not the time to get cozy, you two!" Leif shouted from the window above.
"HETTY! YOU STUPID GIRL! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU—!" the Matron's voice came.
"Quick Hetty jump I'll catch you!" Elysia quickly made space for Hetty.
Hetty hesitated her heart pounding. Then, with the courage of someone choosing freedom over fear, she leapt—eyes wide, faith first. It wasn't just a jump. It was a choice to chase her future.
"Hey don't just leave me here!" Leif said, jumping and landing at the empty space of the carpet.
"Gale!" Elysia commanded the wind and a single sprite lifted them up into the night sky.
"HETTY, YOU STUPID GIRL! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!"
The matron's shrieked, fading into the distance as they swerve the sky.
In the speed Leif had nearly fallen off the edge in the sudden speed —he was now dangling by one arm. On one edge of the carpet, cursing under his breath as his feet flailed mid-air. "Hey get me down from here!"
"How are we up this high!" Hetty clung to Elysia like a terrified cat, her arms locked around her waist, eyes squeezed shut as they soared above the rooftops.
Rin, silent and composed but clining to the carpet keeping the balance steady. He narrowed his eyes. There wasn't a single mana stone embedded in this carpet. Yet it flew.
Curious, he activated his mana vision—and froze. In the veil of night, Elysia's body blazed with light. Streams of radiant mana flowed from her hands, her back, her very breath—infusing the carpet, controlling the wind, weaving impossible flight from raw power alone.
Above her, five tiny figures shimmered in formation.
"Who are you exactly?" Rin had whispered more to himself, completely in awe.