It had been three days now—three full days since she'd officially become a merchant in Kaida. In that time, Rin had managed to do what she thought would take weeks: distribute honey to almost every merchant in the market. With Ice hauling crates, Akari keeping track of orders, and Rei running messages, it had turned into something surprisingly fun. There were mishaps, sure, but it had felt like an adventure, like she was actually part of something bigger.
But even with all the laughter, there was an ache she couldn't shake. It had also been three days since she'd last seen Selene. Three days of no glimpses, no cold smiles. I'm not mad, Rin told herself for the hundredth time. Why should I be mad? I should be happy she's off doing important stuff. She forced out a small laugh at her own thoughts. "Haha… yeah, happy…" But the truth was she did want to see her. Just her face.
Since early that morning, Ice had been gone too. That, at least, wasn't new. He had a habit of disappearing at dawn, returning only when the sun was already high. Rin had noticed it before, but this time curiosity burned stronger than usual.
When she finally spotted him, she had to rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining it. He was crouched near Shion's door, motionless, like a shadow waiting for its chance to slip inside.
She would've walked past if not for the odd familiarity of it. Ever since the day she'd ridden on Ice's back while he was invisible, something strange had happened. She could sense things she shouldn't be able to. Invisible things. Hidden movements. She still didn't fully understand how. First Mai's lightning strike had given her that spark of power, and then Ice's invisibility had… rubbed off on her somehow? Borrowed? Shared? I don't even know what kind of powers the author gave me at this point, she thought, half amused, half unnerved.
Moving closer without a sound, she let herself fade a little—just enough to blend into the hallway shadows—and crept up behind him.
"What are you doing!" she whispered sharply, leaning close enough to make him jump.
Ice spun halfway around, his eyes locking on hers for an instant. But he didn't flinch. He didn't even look surprised. His gaze flicked back immediately to Shion's door as if nothing else mattered.
Rin frowned, stepping closer. "Why are you spying on Shion?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
Ice didn't answer. He didn't even blink. His eyes stayed fixed on the door like it might explode any second. The silence stretched until the door finally opened and Shion stepped out. She looked straight in their direction but her gaze slid right past them—she couldn't see them.
Ice began moving immediately, silent as a shadow. Rin's brows knit together as she trailed behind him. What is he doing? she thought, her confusion growing with every step.
Shion walked quickly, heading across the grounds until she reached the Hoshino training field. Without hesitation she began her drills, water swirling and coiling around her hands like living threads. It shimmered in the morning light, clear and sharp as glass.
Rin sat down beside Ice, folding her arms. "If this is what you're going to do all day, Ice, maybe I should just go back to bed. The Golden Queen said I get to rest today, and I am not going to skip it?" she muttered, resting her chin on her knees. Ice, of course, didn't reply. His attention stayed locked on Shion.
Bored and frustrated, Rin sighed. "Fine. Suit yourself." She stood, brushing the dust from her clothes. "I'm going back to my room—"
A sudden rush of water cut through the air. Before Rin could react, a wave splashed over her and Ice, drenching them from head to toe. The cold shock tore the invisibility away like paper. They stood blinking, dripping wet, completely visible.
Shion lowered her hand, a faint smirk on her lips as she walked toward them. "Really? You're not going to give up spying on me—and now you've dragged Rin into it?" she said, her voice cool but teasing.
Rin stared, speechless. Her wet hair clung to her face.
"So not only do you have lightning powers now, but you can also turn invisible to secretly look at me?" Shion teased, her eyes glinting.
"No! No, I wasn't spying on you, Shion," Rin blurted, waving her hands. "Don't get the wrong impression! I was just following Ice—he's the one spying, not me!" She jabbed a finger at him.
Ice turned his head slowly, his expression flat but unmistakably irritated, before facing Shion again.
"I don't have the Dark Stone," Shion said abruptly, her tone shifting from playful to hard. "Tell your queen. If that's why you're still here, you can leave. I don't have it."
Rin blinked. Dark Stone? Her curiosity spiked.
"So stop trying to sneak up on me," Shion continued. "Your invisibility doesn't work. I can sense your energy."
"What… what is a Dark Stone?" Rin asked, stepping between them before things got worse.
Shion turned her head to her, brows raised. "It's one of the Stones of Kaida."
"Stones of Kaida?" Rin echoed, tilting her head.
"You don't know them?" Shion gave a faint laugh, but her eyes stayed serious. "The Stones of Kaida are the flow of energy that grants us our powers. Among them are the Moon Stone, Sun Stone, Nature Stone, Soul Stone…" She paused, looking off as if trying to remember. "And two others I can't quite name right now."
Rin's curiosity deepened. "So where does the Dark Stone fit into all this?"
Shion's face darkened slightly. "The Dark Stone is part of the Moon Stone. The Moon Stone has two sides—the light and the dark. The Dark Stone went missing. And the Ice Queen thinks I'm the one who stole it." She glanced at Ice as she spoke, her voice sharpening.
Rin's breath caught. So that's why Selene came that day… why she left Ice here… A dozen questions buzzed in her mind. Is that why Selene hasn't shown up again?
"It must be a misunderstanding," Rin said softly. "I didn't even know Kaida had power stones—or whatever you call them. But why does she think you took it?"
Shion cut her a sharp look. "You're asking too many questions, Rin. I don't know. Ask your dragon." She flicked her hand dismissively. "I'm going back to my training. But tell him—" her eyes met Ice's, steady and defiant—"he should stop following me."
And with that, she turned, the water rising again around her like a living curtain, and went back to her drills.
Rin stood there, dripping and confused, staring at Ice. Her mind was a whirl of Dark Stones, missing Queens, and the strange way Selene had vanished.