After their rest, they resumed the climb up the stairs, which still seemed to have no end as they cut through the deep wilderness. Ard and Eva kept their eyes locked on Beatrice and Adeline, who were walking ahead with Peggy fluttering playfully between them. Naturally, their constant focus on the two girls caught the attention of Alicia, Milia, Mirea, Claudia, Pyria, and Rosalind, who were all trailing behind.
"Hey... why do you two keep staring at Beatrice and Adeline?" Milia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"She's right. I've noticed your eyes haven't left them since we left the pavilion," Alicia added.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it," Ard replied casually, though his gaze never shifted from the path ahead.
"I'm just afraid they'll pull some kind of stunt," Eva added, her eyes also fixed forward.
"Hmm... suspicious," Claudia muttered, striking a pensive pose.
"Drop it, let's not talk about this anymore. The important thing is that we just keep an eye on them," Mirea said.
