Minutes stretched.
The house remained quiet, save for the faint creak of old wood adjusting to the afternoon heat.
On the couch, the girl's mana circulation gradually slowed.
The subtle distortion in the air around her faded completely.
Her breathing evened.
Then—
She opened her eyes.
Sharp.
Alert.
She uncrossed her legs and shifted, sitting properly now, hands resting lightly on her knees.
Across the room, Aldric noticed immediately.
He was leaning near the kitchen entrance, arms folded, irritation not entirely gone.
He tilted his head.
"Well?"
His gaze slid toward her.
"Brat. You done?"
She blinked once, expression neutral.
"Yes. My reserves are stable."
He pushed off the wall.
"Good."
She stood smoothly.
"Is there something you require assistance with?"
Aldric began walking toward the door without answering.
"Yeah."
She followed a few steps behind.
"What is it?"
He didn't turn.
"Come along."
She paused mid-step.
"Come along for what?"
Aldric stopped.
Slowly turned his head just enough to look at her from the corner of his eye.
"Do you ever not question everything?"
"I prefer to understand objectives."
He rolled his eyes.
"Objective is simple."
He gestured toward the door.
"You. Me. Outside."
She frowned slightly.
"For what purpose?"
He exhaled sharply.
"You talk too much."
"That is not an answer."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice just a fraction.
"Listen carefully."
She looked up at him without flinching.
"Shut up."
A beat of silence.
"And come along."
She held his gaze a moment longer.
Then nodded once.
"Understood."
She moved toward the door.
Aldric stared at her back for half a second.
"…Huh."
Lyriana, standing near the hallway, spoke calmly without looking at them.
"Do not attract unnecessary attention."
Aldric waved a hand dismissively.
"When have I ever?"
Lyriana did not reply.
The girl reached the door and waited.
Aldric stepped past her, opened it slightly, and scanned the street.
Clear.
He stepped outside.
She followed without another word.
The door closed softly behind them.
Inside, the house returned to stillness.
Outside—
Aldric glanced sideways at her.
"Try not to make this complicated."
She looked straight ahead.
"I will act as required."
He smirked faintly.
"Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of."
They walked several streets without speaking.
Afternoon traffic drifted around them—vendors calling, doors opening and closing, the muted rhythm of a town easing toward evening.
She followed half a step behind, posture straight, gaze observant.
Eventually, Aldric slowed.
"There."
Ahead stood a small corner store—modest and cramped, its front window cluttered with faded labels and stacked goods.
He pushed the door open.
A small bell chimed overhead.
Inside, shelves were tightly packed with basic supplies—drinks, dried food, preserved snacks, cheap utensils.
Aldric immediately began grabbing items.
A couple of bottled drinks.
Packaged snacks.
Anything edible that didn't smell questionable.
The girl remained near the entrance at first, watching.
After a moment, she spoke.
"…This is where we were coming?"
Aldric didn't look at her.
"What do you think?"
She glanced around at the shelves.
"You required my presence for this?"
He tossed another item into his armful.
"Sharp, aren't you."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"If you needed supplies, you could have said so."
"And miss the look on your face?" he replied dryly.
She stared at him.
He grinned faintly.
Once he had what he wanted, he headed to the counter.
The clerk—a middle-aged man with tired eyes—began scanning and tallying the items. The small device clicked softly as it calculated.
"That will be—" he read the total aloud.
Aldric didn't glance at the number.
Instead, he slowly turned his head toward the girl.
Then jerked his chin toward the counter.
"Pay up."
She blinked.
Once.
"…Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
The clerk looked between them awkwardly.
The girl stared at Aldric.
"So this was the reason you required me?"
Aldric tilted his head.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Silence.
"You brought me here to finance your consumption."
He gave her an exaggerated look of disbelief.
"What did you think this was? A field trip?"
The clerk cleared his throat lightly.
"Uh… the total is still—"
Aldric raised a hand without looking at him.
"Yeah, yeah."
He leaned slightly toward her.
"Well?"
She did not move immediately.
Her expression remained calm—but there was a faint tightening around her eyes.
"You possess no currency?"
Aldric smiled lazily.
"I searched the ghoul. Nothing."
"That is not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She exhaled quietly.
"So this entire excursion—"
"—was to get supplies without me paying."
He spread his hands slightly.
"Efficiency."
The clerk shifted uncomfortably.
The girl reached into her sleeve.
A small pouch emerged.
She placed it on the counter.
Coins.
Enough.
The clerk quickly began counting.
Aldric leaned against the counter, satisfied.
"See? Teamwork."
She looked at him.
"This was manipulative."
He shrugged.
"It was effective."
The clerk handed over the change carefully.
"Thank you for your purchase."
Aldric grabbed the bag.
"Pleasure's all yours."
He turned toward the door.
The girl followed after a brief pause.
Outside again, she spoke quietly.
"You could have simply asked."
Aldric glanced sideways.
"And miss the opportunity to irritate you?"
A faint pause.
"…Childish."
He smirked.
"Yeah."
He shifted the bag in his grip.
"But we've got drinks now."
She looked forward again.
"You are insufferable."
He laughed lightly.
"And yet—you paid."
They continued down the street as the late afternoon sun began its slow descent behind the rooftops.