Nivalis, who had been quietly watching from the side, immediately perked up. The tiny dragon's eyes glimmered with curiosity as she stared fixedly at Rita.
Rita's expression didn't change, but the dark shadow that had been playing on the arcade suddenly set the console aside and walked over. It reached out, covering Nivalis's ears with both hands—and then, just to be safe, slid its fingers up to cover her eyes as well.
Nivalis said flatly, "..."
A second later, the shadow released her. Rita's grip on the skeletal hand had already loosened.
Nivalis looked conflicted. "How is that any different from letting me hear the answer?"
"It makes you happier this way," Rita replied lightly, giving the hand bone a flick.
No new skill appeared, but the three SSS-tier skills she had lost earlier reappeared in her panel, still grayed out.
