Zane arrived outside the Ballet Tower, squinting slightly as he gazed at the sky already brightening. The sky within the Hollow remained hazy; perhaps only after leaving could one behold the brilliant dawn... Of course, the same held true for the Twin Sisters.
He stood quietly outside. At this hour, Victoria Housekeeping and Belle had already withdrawn. After waiting a moment, a voice called out from behind him.
"Mr. Zane."
"Sir!"
Augetta raised a hand, smiling as she approached. However, perhaps because she had only recently regained her human form and was still unaccustomed to it, she nearly twisted her ankle. Fortunately, Augilia's timely support prevented any injury. After steadying herself, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you certain you're prepared?"
Zane turned to look at the Nette twins, his gaze lowering slightly as he asked softly.
"Hm? Is there anything else we need to prepare?"
Augetta lifted her pretty face, looking at Zane with some confusion. Her golden short hair fell loosely. Having heard Zane mention it was quite cold outside, she had already wrapped two extra layers over her performance costume.
"Mr. Zane is referring to mental preparation."
Augilia, standing behind her, patted her sister's shoulder and explained softly. Unlike Augetta, she had long hair, also pale gold, giving her an exceptionally cool and distant appearance.
"Mm-hmm! Ever since I turned back into a human, I've been mentally prepared!"
Augetta's face beamed with a smile, her expression a mix of excitement and thrill, clearly eager for the upcoming departure from the Hollow. Seeing Augetta's expression, a faint smile touched Augilia's cool features.
"Alright, let's go. Stay close to me."
"Otherwise, you'll get lost in the Hollow."
Zane nodded, turning to lead the way. Since mastering spatial power and growing increasingly proficient over time, his reliance on Belle had diminished. With prior experience now gained, leaving the void no longer required the Proxy's guidance.
"Get lost?"
"If you were still Twin Ethereals, you wouldn't get lost. But you're human now. With the separation of the Ether, you've long since lost your Ethereal abilities."
Zane shrugged, explaining Augetta and Augilia's current state.
Augetta, trailing closely behind Zane, pondered for a moment before asking curiously, "Then, sir... could you be... a Proxy? How else could you move freely within the Hollow... But sir, where's your carrot?"
Hearing the girl's inquisitive words, Zane furrowed his brow slightly, unsure how to respond. He couldn't very well tell them he was just like them. Without any psychological preparation, it would probably scare them.
"Um... it's a secret. All you need to know is that I'm very powerful."
Hearing Zane's words, Augetta's clear, captivating eyes brightened. A faint blush, tinged with a hint of chill, spread across her pretty face, her eyes filled with admiration. Indeed, everything Mr. Zane had spoken of, along with his ability to restore her to human form—he was undeniably an extraordinary individual... Clearly, after spending time with Zane, Augetta was showing signs of becoming his devoted little fan...
Augilia, trailing behind, observed this exchange. She blinked, paying it little mind. Both emotionally and logically, there was nothing wrong with this. For her and her sister, Zane's actions were nothing short of a life-saving favor. His help to their grandfather alone was enough to earn her and Augetta's respect and gratitude, let alone everything that followed.
Walking along the ground, Augilia lowered her gaze to her arm, suddenly overcome by a sense of unreality. She lifted her head and fixed her gaze on Zane, and that sense of unreality intensified. What was happening to her and her sister now felt like a dream... incredible, filled with wonder.
Or rather, encountering someone like Zane was itself an utterly fantastical occurrence... Because of her and her sister's kindness, he wanted to give them kindness in return? Such a person... truthfully, she'd heard of them... but this was truly the first time she'd ever met one. He knew so much, possessed formidable abilities, and seemed so gentle... Augilia considered herself someone who'd encountered many people, yet someone like Zane was exceptionally rare in her eyes. That such a unique individual would care so deeply for her and her sister simply because of the word "kindness"...
It felt like a dream. He even mentioned sealing the Twin Hollow and asked her to persuade Augetta... Precisely because of this, she truly didn't want to trouble Zane any further—and Augetta must feel the same.
As Augilia's thoughts swirled, a sudden tug on her arm pulled her sideways, and she was steadied by someone's hand.
"Hm? What are you spacing out about?"
"We've already turned the corner, yet you're still heading toward the spatial fissure. If you get lost in the Hollow, you truly won't be found..."
Zane released her hand, looking at Augilia with a hint of exasperation. He couldn't fathom what she was thinking, being so careless. Shouldn't she be exercising extreme caution now, treasuring every single second? Look at Augetta—in less than a few minutes, she'd already chattered away, asking him at least ten questions...
Augetta stood beside Zane, also watching her sister with curiosity, puzzled by her earlier behavior. The sisters shared a telepathic bond, their thoughts closely aligned, yet not identical, and they possessed no mind-reading abilities.
"Mr. Zane, I'm sorry."
Augilia murmured softly, slightly embarrassed, turning her head away, unsure what to say next.
"Why so tense? I was merely reminding you."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zane's eyes before he shook his head slightly. Turning to Augetta beside him, he spoke, "Your sister doesn't seem well. Take care of her and stay close to me."
His fingers flickered, effortlessly piercing several approaching Ethereals with Ether crystals. His expression remained calm as he turned to continue leading the way.
"Mhm!"
"Sister, let's go."
Augetta nodded, listening to Zane's words, then glanced at Augilia with a hint of concern.
"I'm fine, Augetta."
Augilia shook her head, flashing a reassuring smile before following closely behind. Her gaze returned to the figure ahead. Augilia's expression softened considerably, ripples of emotion flickering across her usually cold eyes.
"Hey? What's gotten into you, sis?"
Augetta hurried to catch up, pulling close beside Augilia with confusion. How could she have been lost in thought just moments ago and now seem perfectly fine? She was a bit bewildered.
"Oh, I was just daydreaming. It's no big deal. Why are you hounding me about it..."