Falia was suddenly startled, as if abruptly jolted awake from a deep nightmare. She quickly looked up, her movement so swift it even stirred a slight breeze. The corners of her sky-blue eyes were clearly flushed, her long eyelashes wet with tears, and tear stains still lingered on her fair cheeks.
A flicker of panic and embarrassment crossed her face after her vulnerability had been glimpsed. She looked at the blue-haired, green-eyed girl squatting before her; the other's face held nothing but pure concern. She glanced at the plain handkerchief being offered to her, hesitated for a moment, and finally accepted it with a whispered thanks.
"Thank you..."
Her voice sounded somewhat raspy and muffled from her recent crying. She wiped her face carefully with the handkerchief, her movements still possessing a soldier-like precision. Luna Belle did not rush her or press for answers, simply waiting quietly by her side.
Falia took several deep breaths, struggling to steady her breathing and calm her racing heart. Clutching the handkerchief tightly, she avoided Luna Belle's concerned gaze, her eyes falling on the grass ahead as she explained in a low voice.
"I'm fine... I just... remembered some things from the past."
Her tone was flat, deliberately downplaying the overwhelming pain and memories with a casual remark. Luna Belle looked at her tense profile; she didn't ask "what things," but instead gave a gentle smile, attempting to change the subject to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"I see... As long as you're okay. I'm the owner of this store, you can just call me Belle." She pointed to the "Random Play" beside her.
Falia glanced at the shop in the direction she pointed and said, "Belle, this shop of yours... is very novel..." She paused, then added, "The... videotape in the store is very special."
"I'm so glad you like it!" Luna Belle's eyes crinkled as her smile grew more sincere. "Our store hasn't been open for very long, and you're our first customer to find us on your own! How was it? Did Little Eighteen take good care of you?"
Thinking of that round little fellow, her tone couldn't help but carry a hint of affection.
"Little Eighteen?" Falia was stunned for a moment before she realized. "You mean that... small, talking golem? It was very enthusiastic." Recalling the way Little Eighteen gesticulated while explaining, the lines of her face softened slightly.
"That's good then!" Luna Belle then warmly extended an invitation. "Since you're here, it must be fate! Why don't you come inside and sit for a while? I just bought some ingredients and can make some snacks and flower tea. Consider it... well, a welcome for a new friend?"
Falia looked at Luna Belle's clear, warm smile, like morning sunlight in a forest, and saw the pure kindness and invitation in her eyes. It felt as if a small pebble had been tossed into the frozen corner of her heart, sending out a faint ripple.
In this unfamiliar small town, facing this girl she had just met, she found that she couldn't bring herself to refuse. Perhaps it was because she had just vented some of her pent-up emotions while watching 100,000 Heartbeats, or perhaps her current vulnerability made her need a bit of warmth from others more than usual... She remained silent for a moment, her fingers clutching the handkerchief loosening slightly. Then, leaning against the wall, she stood up with somewhat stiff movements and brushed off the grass clippings clinging to her knight's uniform.
"...Alright," she replied softly; her voice was still a bit low, but it had steadied significantly. "Then... sorry for the intrusion."
"It's no intrusion at all! Let's head inside; it's still a bit chilly out here."
Luna Belle led Falia toward the back door of the video rental store. Outside the back door was a wooden corridor connecting the wooden house where Tineva had stayed to the video rental store. Luna Belle led Falia through the door of the wooden house, and a wave of warmth greeted them.
In the living room, Ellen was lazily curled up in a cushioned recliner, seemingly dozing off again. Her large Demi-human shark tail hung over the edge of the chair, swaying slightly every now and then. Alice was sitting by the window, engrossed in a book she had borrowed from Silvana. Tineva wasn't in the living room; she was likely in the woods out back, tending to her slime friends.
Hearing the door open, Ellen's ears twitched imperceptibly. Without even opening her eyes, she just muttered vaguely, "...You're back?"
Alice looked up, her heterochromatic eyes turning toward Luna Belle and the unfamiliar blonde knight behind her, and waved at them.
"I'm back!" Luna Belle placed her basket on the low cabinet by the door and introduced them to Falia. "This is Ellen, and this is Alice—they're both my companions. Ellen, Alice, this is... uh..." Only then did she realize she didn't know the other woman's name yet.
"Hello, everyone... I am Falia." The knight girl spoke up at the right moment, giving her name. She performed a standard knight's salute to the two in the room, her movements fluid and elegant, with a precision honed through a thousand trials. "Pardon the intrusion."
Ellen finally lazily lifted her eyelids. Her red eyes swept over Falia before quickly closing again as she gave a vague response. "Hello..." It served as a greeting.
Alice set down her book, stood up, and returned the salute elegantly. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Falia. I am Alice Timefield." The screen at her waist switched to a welcoming (･ᴗ･) expression.
After the brief introductions, Luna Belle pulled Falia over to sit at the log dining table in the living room. "Have a seat for a moment. I'll go get Tineva and have her help prepare something to eat!"
Falia sat somewhat stiffly in her chair, hands placed on her pressed-together knees in a standard knight's sitting posture. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the furnishings of the living room. Everything here was completely different from the orderly knight barracks or the cold manor of the Lancelot Family. This place was filled with an atmosphere so warm it was almost... casual. This atmosphere felt foreign to her, yet strangely, it wasn't off-putting.
Before long, Luna Belle returned from the back door with Tineva. The water spirit girl was wearing a clean apron and holding a wooden spoon. Seeing Falia, she gave a slightly shy but friendly smile.
"Miss Falia, this is Tineva!" Luna Belle introduced her with a smile.
Tineva nodded happily and said, "Welcome! You've come at a good time... Belle brought back the ingredients, so I'll let you all taste my cooking in a bit!"
Falia bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for the trouble."
Once Tineva turned to go into the kitchen, Luna Belle sat down across from Falia, resting her chin in her hands. "By the way, Falia, you're a knight, right? Looking at your attire, you must be a very powerful one."
Falia instinctively straightened her back. "I am indeed a knight. However, I wouldn't say I'm 'powerful' yet; I still have much to improve."