Vale stared up at Nym from his tilted chair, his body leaned dangerously far back while the front legs hovered several centimeters above the stone pavement. For a brief moment he simply froze, his mind failing to catch up with what he was seeing. The warm sunlight behind her gave the edges of her dark hair a faint silver outline, while those familiar emerald eyes watched him with restrained amusement.
His own eyes widened slightly.
Of all the people he had expected to find here, Nym had not even crossed his mind.
Beside the table, she shifted her weight onto one leg and rested a hand against her waist, staring down at him with a peculiar expression that balanced somewhere between smugness and curiosity.
Vale finally snapped out of his confusion.
"Nym?" he blurted. "Why are you here?"
The sudden movement proved catastrophic.
His foot instinctively kicked against the ground in an attempt to steady himself, but instead the chair slipped completely backward beneath him. Vale's eyes widened in alarm just before gravity won the argument entirely. The chair crashed onto the stone floor with him still sitting in it, the impact echoing loudly through the café terrace.
A few nearby customers turned to stare.
Vale groaned faintly, lying there in complete defeat with the overturned chair beneath him.
Nym stared down at him for only a second before a grin spread across her face, She casually pulled out the chair beside him and sat down with effortless elegance, leaning her cheek against one hand while her elbow rested atop the table.
"You've definitely grown clumsier," she remarked, her tone rich with mockery.
Vale slowly opened one eye from the ground and looked up at her in silence.
Then, despite himself, he let out a quiet chuckle.
"At least you seem more like yourself than last time we met."
He finally rose, dragging the fallen chair upright before sitting opposite her. Dust clung stubbornly to parts of his armor, and he brushed at it halfheartedly while studying her across the table. Nym simply stared back with that same infuriating grin, clearly enjoying every second of his embarrassment.
Vale eventually folded his arms.
"So," he said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "what exactly are you doing here?"
Nym's expression flickered for the briefest instant, as though she had not expected him to ask so directly. Still, her confidence returned almost immediately.
"Oh, nothing serious," she replied casually. "I was just passing by and happened to see a handsome boy sitting all alone. And honestly, what kind of woman would I be if I ignored an opportunity like that?"
Her voice dripped with exaggerated sarcasm.
Vale narrowed his eyes further before leaning back slightly with a low laugh.
"Well," he replied smoothly, "you're not exactly lacking options yourself, so why pick this boy out of everyone else?"
Nym rolled her eyes dramatically, clicking her tongue in fake annoyance before briefly looking away toward the sunlit street. A moment later, however, she snapped her gaze back toward him and lightly snapped her fingers.
"Maybe," she said, her lips curving upward, "I just happen to like this option the most."
Vale held her gaze silently.
Something about her suddenly felt strangely familiar. It was not just her eyes anymore. The black hair, the way she carried herself, the confidence hidden beneath casual humor, now that he looked closely, there were similarities he should have noticed far sooner.
His expression slowly lost its playful edge.
"Nym," he said carefully, "are you the vice commander of the Royal Guard?"
For the first time since arriving, Nym looked genuinely caught off guard.
Her eyes widened.
Silence settled between them.
For one fleeting second, Vale genuinely thought he had figured it out.
Then a calm voice interrupted from behind him.
"You have quite the imagination if you believe me to be this woman."
Vale turned sharply.
Standing behind him was the vice commander herself, clad in her white military uniform and demonic mask. Her hands rested neatly behind her back while strands of black hair drifted lightly in the ocean breeze. Now that Vale saw them side by side, the differences became clearer. Similar coloring, perhaps, but entirely different presences.
The vice commander radiated controlled authority.
Nym radiated pure and utter chaos.
"Vale," the masked woman said calmly, "that is your name, correct?"
Vale nodded slowly, still mildly stunned by the timing of her appearance.
"Yeah. That's me."
The vice commander glanced briefly toward Nym before sighing quietly beneath the mask.
"I was ordered to inform you that Commander Ares wishes to speak with you today. Once you are finished here, you are to accompany our cadet to headquarters."
Vale's stomach tightened instantly.
'Ares wants to see me?'
A dozen possibilities immediately surged through his thoughts.
'Did he find out about Illu? About the prison break? About Siegfried?'
A light wave of panic crawled through him before he could suppress it. Ares had always unnerved him in a way few others could. The commander was simply too capable. Smarter than him. Stronger than him. Faster than him. Every instinct Vale possessed screamed that trying to deceive a man like Ares was dangerous.
Fortunately, the vice commander spoke again before his thoughts could spiral further.
"He wishes to discuss the upcoming gala," she clarified, "as well as the current state of Irea."
Vale visibly relaxed.
His shoulders lowered slightly as he released a quiet breath.
"I see…"
The vice commander gave a small nod before already turning away.
Nym watched the interaction carefully before tilting her head.
"So," she said slowly, "you're going to the gala too?"
Vale looked back toward her with mild surprise.
"Yeah, seems like it. You are as well?"
Nym immediately straightened proudly in her chair, thumping a fist lightly against her chest.
"Of course. I'm an important member of the Royal Guard."
Vale smirked.
"Really? You don't exactly act like one."
Nym's eyes widened theatrically.
"Well… I'm not exactly normal."
"What are you then?" Vale asked jokingly. "A Sentinel?"
Nym paused.
For a moment she genuinely seemed to consider how much she should say.
Then she sighed dramatically.
"Something like that."
Vale stared at her for a second.
Then he burst into quiet laughter.
Nym blinked in irritation.
"What's so funny?"
Vale raised a hand apologetically while trying to stop laughing.
"Sorry, sorry," he said between breaths. "I just forgot how you act sometimes."
He finally stood from his chair, stretching one arm over his shoulder while regaining composure.
"I should probably get going though," he admitted. "If Ares specifically asked for me, keeping him waiting sounds unhealthy."
He smiled lightly at her.
"I'll see you again at the gala."
Vale turned and had barely taken two steps when,
"Wait!"
Nym's voice cut through the noise of the café enough to stop him in his steps.
Vale turned back with a puzzled expression.
Nym had risen from her chair now. The joking look she usually carried had faded almost entirely, replaced by something far more serious. Her emerald eyes locked onto his without wavering.
"Is something wrong?" Vale asked cautiously.
Nym remained silent for several long seconds.
Then she pointed directly at him.
"I want you to go on a date with me."