The people of Septimont never let sorrow linger for too long. With songs and blessings, they send the souls of the departed up to the high heavens.
"I... I'm not drunk... I can still drink... huff... huff..."
Most of the hunters were already hazy with drink. Though the fruit wine wasn't strong, drinking heavily all night was enough to make anyone unsteady on their feet.
Ray watched Lupa's swaying figure and let out a helpless sigh. He stepped forward and gently supported her by the waist.
"Mmm... who's touching me?" Lupa turned her head dazedly, and upon recognizing the figure, broke into a grin. "Partner... hehe... you... smell so nice..."
The wolf-tailed girl murmured as she leaned close to his neck, sniffing lightly like a little animal.
"Just how much did you drink?" Ray looked at the drunken wolf-tailed girl in his arms and sighed helplessly. "I remember that fruit wine isn't that strong. Even Anby downed several cups without any problem."
Well, that comparison wasn't quite right.
After all, Anby's stomach wasn't like anyone else's.
Even the Dark Tide was just a little snack to it. What was a bit of fruit wine?
"Hmph, I... I'm not drunk." Lupa struggled to straighten up from his embrace. "See, I'll... prove it to you."
She tried to stand steady, to prove it to Ray, but her wobbling body wouldn't obey.
In the end, Ray caught her just in time before she tumbled face-first to the ground.
"Alright, alright, I believe you. You're not drunk."
Ray softened his tone like coaxing a child, his arm steadying the swaying wolf-tailed girl.
"Come on, I'll take you back to your room. It's late, time to rest."
"I'm... not sleepy yet..." Lupa mumbled against his shoulder, her struggling movements light as if she were sleepwalking. "I don't want to sleep..."
"Good gladiators should go to sleep on time." Ray coaxed softly, then paused as if suddenly remembering something. "Come to think of it... did Luno arrange rooms for us? I haven't seen her or the Second Young Miss all night. What are those two up to, being so mysterious?"
Thinking of this, he pulled out his terminal and contacted Luno. Afterward, she told them to find somewhere to wait temporarily; she'd be right there.
So Ray, supporting Lupa, came to a secluded cliff and sat down beside her.
Stars twinkled in the deep night sky, dotting the heavens like exquisite diamonds embedded in boundless darkness.
From here, the entire Sanguis Plateaus could be seen at a glance.
But at this moment, Lupa had no heart to appreciate the starry sky.
She just rested her head obediently on his shoulder, her lips murmuring indistinct, dreamlike words.
"Hehe... partner..." Lupa leaned against his shoulder, her tipsy breath gently brushing against his neck. "Your skills... are so good..."
"You're... not at all like you said... not good at fighting..."
She rubbed against him drowsily, then murmured again. "I wonder... if Miss Carlotta... will agree to my request..."
Carlotta?
Request?
What did that mean?
What were those two plotting behind my back again?
"Request? What are you and the Second Young Miss scheming about now?" Ray deliberately asked.
"It's nothing really..." Lupa lifted her face, bathed in starlight, her lashes fluttering with a smile. She raised a limp finger and poked his cheek. "I was just discussing with Miss Carlotta... if I could borrow you... for a while..."
Ray couldn't help but laugh. "You two, do you think I'm some kind of object to be lent back and forth?"
"So... will you team up with me?"
"If I get the chance, definitely."
"Is that so... then it's settled..." The young woman's voice gradually faded. As the last word fell, she had already rested her head on his shoulder, letting out faint little whimpers like a small wolf as she sank into a deep sleep.
Ray gazed at the sleeping girl in his arms. Without disturbing her, he simply turned his head quietly and looked out at the distant Hunting Grounds.
Before long, light footsteps sounded behind him.
He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"Have you been waiting long?" Luno sat down lightly on his other side, her skirt swaying gently in the wind. "Oh, is Lupa already asleep?"
Ray carefully maintained his position, afraid to disturb the sleeping girl on his shoulder. "I told you she drank too much. But what about you and the Second Young Miss? You two were missing all night. What were you up to?"
Luno gently swung her fair legs, looking up at the moon in the sky. "Carlotta was feeling a bit unwell from the Dark Tide. I took her to the Tetragon Temple for some calming medicine. She's already asleep now."
"Is the Second Young Miss okay?" Ray unconsciously lowered his voice.
"Don't worry," Luno shook her head. "She's much tougher than she looks. It's just that her first exposure to the Dark Tide caused a stronger physical reaction."
"Is that so? Good."
Hearing this, Ray relaxed slightly.
Moonlight flowed through the flowers, adding a touch of gentle vitality to the night over the Hunting Grounds.
A soft breeze blew, lightly touching the young woman's hair, bringing with it a faint, elegant fragrance.
Luno stared at Ray's profile, an unreadable glimmer swirling in her eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ray asked.
Luno was momentarily taken aback, instinctively hugging her arms and turning her face away. "W-Who was looking at you? I was just... thinking about something."
"What?"
She hesitated for a moment, then cupped her face in both hands and let out a soft sigh, her expression a bit downcast. "You should know... about an Oracle Maiden's ability, right?"
Ray nodded. "Of course. Gazing into the future."
Luno turned back, her expression suddenly turning serious. "What if I told you I already know your future?"
Those words, paired with her meaningful expression, made Ray's heart sink.
He swallowed hard and tentatively asked, "You didn't... foresee my death, did you?"
An Oracle Maiden's prophecy was absolutely correct.
Once fate was anchored, there was no turning back.
Luno started to shake her head, but when she saw the panic on Ray's face, a sly smile immediately curled at her lips. "Oh, I didn't expect you to be scared too?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Ray sighed helplessly. "Who in this world isn't afraid of death? Death means nothingness. All your bonds, all your past, they'll vanish like the wind."
"Don't worry," Luno said softly. "What I saw wasn't your death. And besides... it wasn't me who foresaw it; it was Grandmother Lillibet. Your future... is a blank."
"Blank?" Ray frowned in confusion. "What does that mean?"
Luno pouted. "It means exactly what it says. We simply can't see your future at all. It's completely blank."
She paused for a moment, then offered another guess. "Your future can't be anchored or observed at all. That means the outcome is still unknowable. Your future holds infinite possibilities."
"Even though I don't really understand, it sounds impressive." Ray smiled. "But fate has always been something elusive anyway. If you just believe in fate blindly, that's when you truly lose to it."
"Oh, I didn't know you were so philosophical." Luno looked at him with interest. "It just occurred to me Carlotta calls you 'Cat's Eye,' Lupa calls you 'Partner,' so I need a special name for you too! Blank One? Hmm, decided. From now on, I'll call you 'Blank'!"
"...Isn't that decision a bit too random?"
"How is it random! It's such a unique name." Luno gave a light hmph, a playful glint in her eyes. "Too late. From now on, that's what I'm calling you, Blank."
"..."
"Blank?"
"..."
"Blank!"
"...Here."
"That's more like it."
Fireflies flickered with faint light, following along. The stars were hidden behind dark clouds.
Yet in this pitch-black world, there was still the moon for company.
Someone's heartbeat was lost, swallowed by the shadows of the moon and the night.
...
...
In the room.
Carlotta slowly stirred from her slumber.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes. She felt as if she'd had a nightmare in her daze, and waking left her feeling hollow, like something had been carved out of her.
'It's... probably just my imagination, right?'
She murmured softly, then slowly lay back down on the pillow, letting the lingering sleep wrap around her once more.