Klee's eyes opened to familiar wooden beams and the smell of old paper. Her whole body ached like she'd been thrown against a wall, but the pain was distant now—a memory rather than an immediate threat.
She blinked at the ceiling, piecing together what had happened. The beach. No, wait—Windrise. The tree. Amber had touched her necklace and then—
Pain. Red lightning. Darkness.
How long had she been asleep?
Voices drifted through her door. Quiet, conspiratorial. She recognized them immediately: Albedo's measured tones and Sucrose's nervous higher pitch.
"—absolutely certain the measurements are correct?" That was Albedo.
"Y-yes, Captain. I've triple-checked the ratios. But are you sure this is wise? If Acting Grand Master Jean discovers we're—"
"She won't. Not if we're careful."
Klee sat up slowly, testing her limbs. Everything worked. The necklace rested warm against her chest, pulsing its steady rhythm. She glanced at the window—early afternoon light, judging by the angle. She'd lost most of the day.
Dodoco sat on her pillow, button eyes watching her with their usual inanimate patience. For a moment, she could have sworn he looked... knowing. But that was silly. Dodoco was a toy.
Wasn't he?
The voices continued outside her door.
"The invincibility potion will provide temporary protection," Albedo was saying. "If properly formulated, it should last approximately six hours—long enough for the remainder of the Ludi Harpastum festival activities. Jean insisted we have countermeasures available after what happened at Windrise."
"But the materials..." Sucrose's voice dropped lower, harder to hear. "Wolfhooks from Wolvendom, Sweet Flowers from the northern fields, and Luminescent Spine from Whispering Woods. It'll take days to gather everything, and we need them fresh for maximum potency."
"I'm aware. That's why we'll need to—"
Klee slipped out of bed, padding silently to the door. She pressed her ear against the wood. The conversation was clearer now.
"—divide the tasks," Albedo continued. "I'll handle the synthesis once we have the components, but the gathering itself will require multiple trips. We can't risk another incident while Jean is exposed during public ceremonies."
"Should we inform the Acting Grand Master about the potion?"
A pause. "No. Not until it's complete. She'll ask questions we're not prepared to answer. Questions about why we need such measures in the first place."
They're still keeping it secret, Klee realized. They're not telling Master Jean about the curse.
She should have felt relieved. Instead, guilt sat heavy in her stomach like a stone.
"The Wolfhooks will be particularly challenging," Sucrose was saying. "Wolvendom is dangerous even for experienced knights. The wolf pack, the Rifthounds, the Abyss activity in that region—"
"I know. I'll go myself if necessary."
"But Captain, your research—"
"Can wait." Albedo's voice held an edge Klee rarely heard. "Klee's safety takes precedence over everything else. If this potion can provide even temporary protection, it's worth the risk."
Klee's chest tightened. He was doing this for her. Risking himself, lying to Jean, gathering dangerous materials—all because she'd accepted a cursed necklace from a trickster fox.
She made a decision.
Taking a breath, she pushed open the door.
Albedo and Sucrose both jumped. They'd been huddled over Albedo's portable alchemy station in the hallway, papers and vials scattered around them. Sucrose nearly knocked over a beaker.
"Klee!" Albedo was at her side in an instant, hands hovering like he wanted to check her for injuries but was afraid to touch. "You're awake. How do you feel? Any pain? Dizziness? Nausea?"
"I'm okay," Klee said. And surprisingly, she was. Tired, yes. Sore, definitely. But okay. "I heard you talking about materials. The potion. I want to help."
"Absolutely not." Albedo's response was immediate. "You need rest. What happened at Windrise was—"
"Was scary and bad and I don't want it to happen again," Klee interrupted. "Which is why you need the potion, right? To protect Master Jean during the festival. But you said it yourself—gathering the materials will take days. And Wolvendom is dangerous."
"Which is precisely why you won't be going anywhere near it," Albedo said firmly.
"But I can help!" Klee looked up at him with her most serious expression. "I know Wolvendom. I've been there before with Razor. And I'm really good at finding things! And if we all work together, we can get everything faster, right?"
"Klee—"
"Please." She grabbed his coat with both hands. "I know you're trying to protect me. But I feel useless just lying in bed. I want to help fix this. Even if it's just gathering plants."
Albedo looked at her for a long moment, his teal eyes searching her face. Then he glanced at Sucrose, who was studying her feet intently.
"I... suppose Wolvendom would be safer with Razor's assistance," Sucrose ventured quietly. "And Klee does have experience in that region. More than either of us, actually."
"Sucrose—"
"And she's clearly feeling better," Sucrose continued, gaining confidence. "Barbara's healing was effective. And keeping her confined when she's recovered might cause more stress, which could be counterproductive to—"
"Fine." Albedo held up a hand, cutting off what was clearly becoming a scientific justification. He looked at Klee. "But you follow my conditions exactly. Understood?"
Klee nodded vigorously.
"First: You take Razor with you to Wolvendom. You don't go alone, and you don't engage any threats without him. Second: You stay within the designated safe zones. No wandering off to 'explore' or 'test new bomb configurations.' Third:" His expression hardened. "If anything feels wrong—if you feel pain, if the necklace reacts in any way, if you sense danger—you return immediately. No heroics. No risks. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" Klee was already mentally cataloging which bombs to bring.
"And Klee?" Albedo crouched down to her level. "I mean it about the necklace. If anything happens—anything at all—you come straight back. I won't lose you to another incident."
The weight in his voice made her throat tight. "I promise, Brother Albedo."
He studied her face for another moment, then nodded. "Sucrose, prepare a list of exact specifications for each material. Quantities, preferred harvest locations, and handling instructions. Klee—" He stood, moving back to his alchemy station. "You'll need proper supplies. Come here."
Over the next twenty minutes, Albedo transformed into his "field preparation mode"—the focused, methodical version of himself that emerged during dangerous expeditions. He outfitted Klee with a reinforced gathering pouch, a compass, emergency signal flares, a basic first aid kit, and a canteen of purified water.
"The Wolfhooks should be ripe clusters, preferably from the northern section near the wolf pack's den," he instructed. "Razor will know the best locations. You'll need approximately twelve of them—gather fifteen to account for any damage during transport."
"Got it!" Klee was already checking her bombs. Six left after Windrise. She'd need to be careful with her ammunition.
"For the Sweet Flowers, focus on specimens from the northern fields near Starfell Valley. Eula often patrols that region—if you encounter her, inform her of your task. She'll likely assist."
"Okay!"
"And the Luminescent Spine from Whispering Woods—that's the trickiest. They're a specific species of lamp grass that only grows in deep shade. Look for the darkest groves, near water sources. The grass should emit a blue-white glow even in daylight."
Sucrose added nervously, "Please be careful with the Luminescent Spine. They're quite fragile. If the stems break, they lose their alchemical properties within minutes."
"I'll be super careful," Klee promised.
Albedo handed her a leather-bound field journal. "Mark each location where you harvest materials. Include time of day, weather conditions, and any notable observations. Proper documentation is essential for—"
"For reproducible results, I know." Klee tucked the journal into her pouch with a smile. Albedo had been teaching her alchemy principles since she was old enough to hold a beaker without dropping it.
He almost smiled back. Almost. "Go. Daylight's wasting. And Klee?"
"Yes?"
"Be safe. Please."
"I will!"
She hugged him quickly—careful not to let him touch the necklace through her shirt—then grabbed Dodoco and headed for the stairs.
Behind her, she heard Sucrose whisper, "Are you certain this is wise, Captain?"
And Albedo's quiet response: "No. But keeping her locked up while she's healthy enough to help would only make her feel more trapped. And right now, she needs to feel useful. Needs to feel like she has control over something."
Klee pretended not to hear. But the words settled warm in her chest as she descended to the main hall.
Wolvendom was exactly as Klee remembered: wild, dangerous, and beautiful.
Ancient trees stretched toward the sky, their canopy so thick that the forest floor existed in permanent twilight. Wolf howls echoed from somewhere to the north. The air smelled like pine and damp earth and something wild that made her Pyro vision pulse with alertness.
She'd run most of the way from Mondstadt, energy burning through her after being bedridden all morning. The city gates, the Dawn Winery road, the fork toward the northern wilderness—all familiar territory.
And now, standing at the edge of Wolvendom proper, she cupped her hands around her mouth and called: "RAAAAZOR! RAZOR, ARE YOU HERE?"
Silence. Then, from deeper in the forest, a responding howl—not quite wolf, not quite human.
Minutes later, Razor emerged from the underbrush like he was part of it. The wolf-boy moved with animal grace, his pale hair wild, his eyes sharp and cautious. He wore his usual minimal clothing despite the chill, and his Electro vision crackled faintly at his hip.
"Klee!" His face lit up—Razor's version of a smile, which meant his expression shifted from wary to merely serious. "You come to Wolvendom. Good to see Lupical."
"Hi, Razor!" Klee bounced over to him. Razor called everyone he liked "Lupical"—it meant family in wolf-speak. "I need your help! I'm looking for Wolfhooks. The ripe ones, from the northern section. Brother Albedo said you'd know where they are."
Razor's nose twitched. He was literally sniffing the air, processing information. "Wolfhooks. Yes. Many grow near den. Pack guards them. But Razor knows path. Pack trusts Razor."
"Can you take me there? I need about fifteen of them."
"Fifteen." Razor counted on his fingers, lips moving. "Lot of Wolfhooks. Why need so many?"
Klee hesitated. How much should she tell him? Razor was trustworthy—fiercely loyal to his friends—but he was also innocent in a way that made lying to him feel worse than lying to adults.
"Brother Albedo is making a special potion," she said carefully. "A protection potion. For Master Jean. For the festival."
Razor accepted this without question. "Jean is good. Protect Jean, good idea. Come. Razor show way."
He turned and loped into the forest. Klee hurried after him, careful to step where he stepped, avoiding the thorny undergrowth and hidden roots that could trip her.
They moved deeper into Wolvendom, past landmarks Klee recognized—the fallen log where she'd once gotten her foot stuck, the stream where Razor taught her which water was safe to drink, the clearing where she'd first met him and thought he was going to eat her before realizing he just wanted to share his berries.
"Razor?" Klee asked as they walked. "Are there lots of monsters today?"
"Some." Razor pointed northwest. "Hilichurls make camp there. Three. Maybe four. And—" His expression darkened. "Rifthounds come sometimes. From Abyss. Smell wrong. Taste wrong. Pack avoids them."
Rifthounds. Klee had only encountered them once, during a training exercise with Eula. They were fast, vicious, and their attacks caused a strange corrosion that conventional healing struggled to address.
"We'll be careful," Klee said.
Razor stopped suddenly, head tilted. "Hear that?"
Klee listened. At first, nothing. Then—voices. Rough voices, speaking in Hilichurlian. And the clank of weapons.
"Hilichurls," Razor confirmed. "On path to Wolfhooks. Must go through them or go around. Around takes long time."
Klee considered. They needed to be efficient—Albedo was expecting her back before evening. And she had six bombs left. And Razor was here.
"We go through them," she decided.
Razor grinned—actually grinned, teeth showing. "Good. Razor likes Klee. Klee brave."
They crept forward until the hilichurl camp came into view: three hilichurls and one mitachurl, gathered around a cooking fire. The mitachurl was massive, nearly eight feet tall, its axe resting against a log.
"Klee uses bombs," Klee whispered. "Razor uses lightning. We hit them fast, okay?"
"Fast. Yes." Razor's vision was already crackling, electricity dancing across his fingers.
Klee pulled out one of her precious bombs—a Jumpy Dumpty, her favorite design. She wound it up, took aim, and whispered, "One... two... three!"
She threw.
The bomb bounced once, twice, then detonated directly in the center of the camp. Fire and force erupted outward. The hilichurls screamed. The mitachurl roared.
"Go!" Klee shouted.
Razor was already moving, a blur of silver and purple. His Electro energy crackled as he slashed with his claymore, each strike leaving trails of lightning in the air. A hilichurl went down. Then another.
The mitachurl charged Klee, axe raised.
She threw her second bomb directly at its feet. The explosion staggered it—not enough to kill, but enough to slow it down. Razor hit it from behind, his blade biting deep into the creature's shoulder.
The mitachurl spun, faster than something that size should move. Its axe caught Razor across the chest. He yelped and stumbled backward.
"Razor!" Klee's hands moved on instinct. Third bomb. Fourth bomb. She threw them both in quick succession.
The explosions lit up the forest. When the smoke cleared, the mitachurl was down, dissolving into black mist and leaving behind a few rough wooden masks.
Klee ran to Razor. "Are you okay? Did it hurt you?"
"Little hurt." Razor prodded his chest, where a bruise was already forming. "But okay. Razor heal fast. Like wolves."
"I'm sorry. I should have been more careful with the timing—"
"No." Razor shook his head firmly. "Good fight. Klee strong. Brave. Like Lupical should be."
The praise made her cheeks warm. "Come on. Let's get those Wolfhooks before anything else shows up."
They pressed deeper into Wolvendom, past the scene of the fight, until the trees opened into a clearing dominated by massive, gnarled bushes heavy with crimson fruit. Wolfhooks—clusters of them, ripe and ready.
And lying in the center of the clearing, watching them with amber eyes: wolves.
Not just any wolves. Razor's pack. The Lupical.
There were five of them, ranging from adolescent to ancient. The largest—a scarred male with graying fur around his muzzle—rose to his feet, alert.
"Is okay," Razor said quickly. He made a sound—not quite a bark, not quite a word. The wolf's ears swiveled forward. Razor made another sound, more complex, and gestured to Klee.
The wolf stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, it settled back down. The others followed suit.
"Razor told them," Razor explained. "Told them Klee is Lupical. Told them Klee needs fruit. They understand."
"Thank you!" Klee bowed to the wolves, not sure if it was appropriate but wanting to show respect. "I promise I'll only take what I need!"
She moved carefully into the clearing, Razor at her side, and began harvesting. The Wolfhooks came away easily—she was careful to leave plenty for the wolves and for future growth, just like Albedo had taught her. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen.
Perfect.
She packed them carefully in her gathering pouch, wrapped in cloth to prevent bruising.
"Thank you, Razor," she said warmly. "You really helped a lot!"
"Lupical helps Lupical." Razor walked her back to the edge of Wolvendom. "Klee go safe. Come back soon. Bring food next time."
"I will! I'll bring steaks! Big ones!"
Razor's tail—he didn't have a tail, but sometimes Klee swore she could see one wagging—practically wagged. "Good. Razor likes steaks."
She hugged him quickly, then set off toward her next destination.
Two materials down. One to go.
The northern fields near Starfell Valley were a patchwork of windmills, small farms, and wild meadows where Sweet Flowers grew in abundance. The afternoon sun was warm on Klee's face as she crested the hill and saw the familiar landscape spread out before her.
And there, in the middle of the largest meadow, conducting what looked like solo sword drills: Eula.
The Spindrift Knight moved with lethal grace, her claymore cutting precise arcs through the air. Ice crystals formed and shattered with each swing—she was practicing her Cryo-enhanced techniques, freezing imaginary enemies mid-strike.
"Lady Eula!" Klee called out, waving.
Eula stopped mid-swing, turning with her usual aristocratic poise. When she saw Klee, something in her expression softened. "Klee. What brings you to the northern fields? Shouldn't you be resting after..." She paused delicately. "After the incident."
"I'm feeling better!" Klee jogged over. "And Brother Albedo sent me to gather materials. I need Sweet Flowers—the really good ones from this area. Can you help me find them?"
Eula sheathed her claymore, considering. "Sweet Flowers. For one of Albedo's concoctions, I assume?"
"A special protection potion! For Master Jean! For the festival!"
"I see." Eula's lips quirked—not quite a smile, but close. "Then this is a matter of duty. Very well. I shall assist. Though I must insist you mark this in your records: Eula Lawrence provided material assistance to the Spark Knight in her time of need. This debt shall be remembered."
Klee giggled. Eula always talked about debts and vengeance, but everyone knew she was actually really nice. "Thank you, Lady Eula!"
"Don't thank me yet. These Sweet Flowers won't harvest themselves."
They spent the next hour combing through the meadows. Eula had an excellent eye for quality—she'd point out individual flowers and explain why they were superior specimens: fuller petals meant higher concentration of essential oils, deeper color indicated proper sun exposure, intact stems ensured freshness.
"This one," Eula would say, indicating a particular bloom. "Note the symmetry. The fragrance. This is what you're looking for."
Klee carefully harvested each one, adding them to her pouch. She'd gathered about ten when she heard footsteps and turned to see Amber jogging up the path.
"Klee! Eula!" Amber was breathing hard, like she'd been running. "I saw you from the ridge. What are you doing out here?"
"Gathering materials for Brother Albedo," Klee explained. "We're almost done!"
Amber's expression flickered with something complicated—relief, maybe, or lingering guilt. She'd been avoiding Klee since the Windrise incident, Klee had noticed. Probably felt bad about triggering the curse.
"I can help," Amber offered. "I know these fields pretty well. And I owe you—" She stopped herself. "I mean, I'd like to help."
"Amber, it's okay," Klee said gently. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. It was an accident."
"Still." Amber knelt down, meeting Klee's eyes. "I'm sorry. For what happened. And I want to help make things right."
"Then help us find the best Sweet Flowers!" Klee grabbed her hand—carefully, keeping Amber away from the necklace. "You have good eyes!"
The three of them worked together, Eula providing expertise, Amber providing enthusiasm, and Klee providing bomb-based encouragement when she spotted a particularly nice cluster on a steep hillside ("I can just blow up the hill and the flowers will fall down!" "No, Klee." "But it would be faster!" "No.").
By the time the sun was beginning its descent toward evening, Klee's pouch was full of perfect Sweet Flowers—twenty of them, more than enough.
"One more stop," Klee announced. "Whispering Woods. For the glowing grass."
"Luminescent Spine?" Eula frowned. "That's delicate work. And the deep woods can be dangerous at dusk."
"I'll go with her," Amber said immediately. "I know Whispering Woods like the back of my hand. We'll be quick."
Eula considered, then nodded. "Very well. But be cautious. Both of you. And Klee—" She placed a hand on the little girl's shoulder, careful not to touch anything else. "You've done well today. Your mother would be proud."
The unexpected praise made Klee's chest warm. "Thank you, Lady Eula!"
"Don't thank me. Vengeance will be mine for making me waste an afternoon on flower-picking." But Eula's small smile said otherwise.
Whispering Woods lived up to its name.
The wind moved through the leaves with a sound like distant voices, and the ancient trees seemed to lean in close, protective and watchful. It was darker here than in the open fields—the canopy blocked most of the remaining sunlight, leaving everything in twilight.
Amber led the way with her bow at the ready, senses alert. "The Luminescent Spine usually grows near the stream," she said quietly. "In the shadiest groves. Stay close, okay?"
"Okay!" Klee stuck close to Amber's side, Dodoco tucked under one arm.
They moved deeper into the woods, past gnarled roots and moss-covered stones. The stream babbled somewhere to their left. And there—in a particularly dark grove where the trees grew so close their branches interwove—a faint blue-white glow.
"There!" Klee whispered, pointing.
The Luminescent Spine was beautiful. The grass grew in clusters, each blade emitting soft bioluminescence that pulsed gently, like breathing. It was almost magical, watching them glow in the darkness.
"Remember," Amber cautioned, "stems intact. No breaking."
"I remember!" Klee approached the first cluster carefully. She knelt in the damp earth, pulled out the specialized harvesting knife Albedo had given her, and began cutting with painstaking precision.
Each stem required perfect technique—cut too high and you'd damage the light-producing nodes, cut too low and you'd harm the root system. It was delicate work that required focus.
Cut. Wrap carefully in protective cloth. Store in the padded section of her pouch. Repeat.
She was on her eighth stem when Amber whispered: "Klee. Don't move."
The tone made Klee freeze. "What is it?"
"Slimes. Big ones. Cryo and Hydro." Amber's bow was already in her hands, an arrow nocked. "They're between us and the path out."
Klee turned her head slowly. There—visible through the trees—were five large slimes, bouncing their way through the grove. The Cryo ones left trails of frost. The Hydro ones dripped and shimmered.
"Can we go around?" Klee asked quietly.
"Not without leading them back toward the road. And they're heading toward Springvale. We need to deal with them."
Klee looked at her pouch. Two bombs left. And delicate plant specimens that would be destroyed if they got caught in an explosion.
"I'll distract them," Amber decided. "You finish gathering the grass. Fast as you can. When I give the signal, you run for the path. Got it?"
"But—"
"No arguments. You're the one with the materials Albedo needs." Amber's expression was firm. "I'm the Outrider. This is literally my job."
Before Klee could protest, Amber was moving—silent, professional, an arrow already flying. It struck the largest Cryo slime dead center. The slime let out an indignant bloop sound and bounced toward her. The others followed.
Amber led them away from Klee, toward a more open section of the grove. Her arrows flew in rapid succession—fire, fire, fire. Each shot precise, calculated to draw aggro without killing. She needed them focused on her, not wandering back toward Klee.
Klee worked frantically. Ninth stem. Tenth. Eleventh. Her hands were shaking—from urgency, from fear for Amber, from the pressure of needing to be perfect and fast simultaneously.
From somewhere in the trees, she heard Amber shout, followed by the sound of explosions. Baron Bunny—Amber's signature move. The stuffed rabbit would taunt the slimes while Amber repositioned.
Twelfth stem. Thirteenth. Fourteen.
"Klee!" Amber's voice, strained. "Whenever you're ready!"
"Almost done!" One more cluster. Just one more. Klee's knife slipped and she nearly cut too high—recovered at the last second—got the angle right—
Fifteenth stem. Done.
"Got them!" Klee shoved the last cutting into her pouch and sprinted toward Amber's voice.
She burst into the clearing to find Amber backed against a tree, three slimes closing in. The Outrider was breathing hard, quiver nearly empty, and there was ice forming on her left arm where a Cryo slime had gotten too close.
"Incoming!" Klee threw her second-to-last bomb directly at the slimes.
The explosion was perfectly timed. Fire met ice. Steam erupted. The Cryo slimes popped, their internal matrices disrupted. The Hydro slimes scattered.
Amber didn't waste the opening. She fired two arrows in quick succession, taking down one Hydro slime, then another. The last one attempted to flee.
Klee's final bomb caught it mid-bounce.
Silence fell in the grove, broken only by their heavy breathing and the gentle babble of the stream.
"Everyone okay?" Amber asked, checking herself over. The ice on her arm was already melting.
"I'm fine!" Klee checked her pouch. All specimens intact. "All the grass is safe too!"
"Good." Amber slumped against the tree, exhausted but smiling. "That's good. Mission accomplished."
"Thank you for protecting me," Klee said seriously. "You're really good at your job, Amber."
"Just doing my duty as an Outrider." But Amber looked pleased. "Come on. Let's get these materials back to Albedo before it gets full dark."
They walked back through Whispering Woods side by side, the last light fading from the sky. Klee's pouch was heavy with precious materials, and her body was tired in the good way that came from a productive day.
She'd fought monsters. Gathered rare plants. Worked with friends.
She felt useful. Capable. Strong.
The necklace pulsed warm against her chest, steady and present, and for once, it felt less like a curse and more like a reminder: Yoimiya was out there somewhere, wearing the matching pendant, connected across all the miles.
I hope you're okay, Klee thought. I hope you're not hurting. I hope you're safe.
The crystal pulsed once, almost like an answer.
But that was probably just her imagination.
Albedo was waiting at the Knights' headquarters when they returned, pacing in front of the building with barely concealed anxiety. The moment he spotted Klee, relief flooded his features.
"You're back. Thank the Archons." He hurried down the steps. "Did you—"
"Got everything!" Klee held up her pouch proudly. "Fifteen Wolfhooks from Wolvendom, twenty Sweet Flowers from the northern fields, and fifteen Luminescent Spine from Whispering Woods! All perfect specimens!"
Albedo took the pouch carefully, opened it, and examined the contents with a critical eye. His expression shifted from skeptical to impressed.
"These are... exceptional quality," he admitted. "The Wolfhooks are perfectly ripe. The Sweet Flowers show no damage. And the Luminescent Spine—Klee, these are still glowing at full intensity. How did you manage to harvest them without damaging the nodes?"
"Very carefully!" Klee beamed. "Just like you taught me!"
"She did great," Amber added. "We ran into some slimes in Whispering Woods, but she stayed focused and finished the job. Very professional."
Albedo's gaze sharpened. "Slimes? You engaged in combat?"
"Just a little!" Klee said quickly. "And Amber protected me the whole time! And I only used two bombs! Well, four if you count the hilichurls in Wolvendom. But Razor helped with those. And—"
"Hilichurls?" Albedo's voice had gone very quiet.
"And a mitachurl. But it's okay! We won! And nobody got hurt! Well, Razor got hit by an axe but he said he heals fast like wolves do, and—"
"Klee." Albedo closed his eyes briefly, gathering patience. When he opened them, his expression was carefully neutral. "We will discuss the definition of 'staying in safe zones' later. For now..." He held up the pouch. "You did excellent work. These materials will produce a high-quality potion. Thank you."
The praise made all the danger worthwhile. "You're welcome, Brother Albedo!"
"Go get cleaned up. And have Lisa check you over—I want to make sure there are no lingering effects from the combat. And eat something. And rest."
"But don't you need help making the potion?"
"Sucrose and I will handle the synthesis. Your job is done." He hesitated, then added more softly, "You did well today, Klee. Really well. I'm... proud of you."
Klee's throat went tight. Albedo wasn't usually demonstrative with his emotions. Hearing him say he was proud meant everything.
"I'll go rest now," she promised. "But you'll tell me how the potion turns out, right?"
"Of course."
She hugged him—quick and careful—then headed inside with Amber, leaving Albedo standing on the steps with a pouch full of rare materials and a complicated expression.
Inside, the headquarters was settling into evening routines. Knights finishing shifts, cleaning weapons, filing reports. Lisa was in the library organizing books. Klee waved to her as she passed.
Her room was exactly as she'd left it: bed made, Dodoco on the pillow, her few possessions neatly arranged.
She set Dodoco in his usual spot, changed into her nightclothes, and climbed into bed even though it wasn't that late yet. The day's activities had caught up with her—every muscle ached pleasantly.
The necklace rested warm against her chest. She touched it through her nightshirt, feeling its steady pulse.
But not tonight.
Tonight, she just let herself drift toward sleep, warm and safe in her own bed, while somewhere in Inazuma, another girl touched an identical necklace and wondered what her friend was doing.
The crystals pulsed together, synchronized across the miles, two hearts beating as one.