The walk back to Primordia should've felt victorious.
After all, they'd survived a mutated Troll Hunter, unleashed a fraction of divine power, and lived to tell the tale.
But instead, the forest was too calm… almost mockingly peaceful. Sunlight dripped through the leaves in warm, speckled gold, birds chirped overhead and a lazy breeze rustled the branches as if the world had already moved on while Yukio's body still felt like it was halfway in the grave.
Kaede trudged ahead, swinging her hammer across her shoulder as she replayed the battle in her head. Every so often she would look back at Michibiki… and the unconscious boy slumped on her back.
Michibiki carried Yukio with the grace of someone holding a sleeping cat rather than a grown adventurer. Her expression was calm, but any person who paid enough attention would have noticed the hints of worry in her eyes every time his breathing hitched.
After almost ten minutes, Kaede finally cracked.
"Alright, Michibiki,"
She said, stepping beside her.
"Time to spill it. Who exactly are you?"
Michibiki tilted her head, innocently.
"I am Yukio's companion."
Kaede made a face.
"No rookie mage can obliterate a high rank monster and summon a fight made of light. That power you used… that wasn't normal magic."
Michibiki let out a soft sigh, her lips curling into a gentle smile. She shifted Yukio slightly, making sure he rested comfortably.
"Well,"
She said slowly,
"Yukio and I are new adventurers."
Kaede's eye twitched.
"That doesn't explain ANYTHING!"
Michibiki's lips arced into a smug grin.
"We only met you yesterday, Kaede. Why do you want to know so much?"
Kaede stepped in front of her, walking backward so she could face her.
"Because we're friends! I already feel like I grew up with you two! I mean-we did a life-or-death quest, had bonding moments, almost got turned into mashed potatoes together! That counts for something!"
Michibiki giggled,
"Great, Yukio got experience… and almost died. And you? You would've been Troll food once you got tired."
Then she flashed a wicked grin.
"And even though I wasn't part of the bet, you two are buying my drinks and favors."
Kaede screeched.
"NO! You weren't even IN THE BET! THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
"Life's unfair,"
Michibiki said primly.
"Accept it."
Kaede dramatically groaned.
"Ugh… your impossible."
---
Somewhere deeper in the realm between consciousness and dreams, a familiar dark void stretched endlessly.
Yukio floated upright in space, blinking slowly.
"…Back here again?"
He looked around.
"Did I get knocked out?
A soft, cheerful voice echoed behind him.
"Nope, you fainted. Again."
A giggle.
"Seriously, Yuki, get your stamina up."
Yukio froze.
"…Who said that?"
Out of the blinding white light, a small silhouette emerged: light, fluttering, playful.
"The Wheel?"
Yukio asked uncertainly.
"Are you… alive and just messing with me? "
"Yep!"
The voice chimed.
"And yes, I'm totally messing with you."
Yukio's eye twitched.
"Great. Even my skills bully me."
"You bully yourself!"
The girl huffed.
"You don't trust me. Only trust your luck. That's why your spin goes wrong. Wheel and gambler must work together. Teamwork, baby. This is a two man operation."
Yukio tried to argue.
"I spun you five times and you almost killed me three,"
"Because you didn't listen,"
She cut in sharply.
"You don't read hints. You charge in blind. You gamble without thinking."
Her tone softened.
"But I'm here to help you. So trust me. Place your bets on me… and I'll make it worthwhile."
Light surged around him, flooding the void.
"Trust me, Yukio."
---
Morning in Primordia
Yukio's eyes snapped open.
He wasn't dead. Or floating. Or glowing.
He was lying in a bed. At the inn. Warm sheets. A soft pillow. Morning sunlight through the curtains.
Birds chirping.
Peace.
Until
Kaede's face was about two inches from his.
"MORNING, SLEEPYHEAD!"
She shouted.
Yukio jolted.
"WHAT THE?!"
Kaede burst out laughing.
"Oh man, you should've seen your face!"
Yukio groaned, rubbing his temples.
"My melon. what happened?"
Michibiki slid into view, perched on the edge of the mattress with her posture perfect.
"You fainted from the HP backlash,"
She explained.
"You slept for twelve hours. Emera almost had a heart attack."
Kaede leaned back in her chair.
"She thought you died. She ran into your room, screaming 'NOOOO, YOUR THE ONLY THIRD ADVENTURER I MANAGE!'"
Yukio tried to sit up - then froze.
His eyes widened.
His face turned scarlet.
Yukio suddenly realized that he was completely naked beneath the blanket.
"Uh… Michibiki? Why am I not wearing clothes?"
Michibiki coughed lightly and lifted a hand.
"That would be my fault."
Kaede immediately pressed closer.
"Oh? Ohhh? Do tell."
Michibiki shot her a glare, before returning to Yukio, her cheeks tinted pink.
"Your body wasn't responding to standard healing magic,"
She explained.
"Your mana flow was unstable-completely out of rhythm because of the backlash. So I had to use… a different technique."
Yukio narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of technique?"
Michibiki looked away, embarrassed.
"A… mana-conduction method. It's old. Very old. It requires skin contact so mana can circulate directly."
Kaede blinked.
"Skin contact? Like…?"
"full skin contact,"
Michibiki replied quickly.
"It helps synchronize the patient's mana with the caster's internal flow. Very effective. Very awkward."
Yukio's face flushed bright red.
"So you?!"
Michibiki silenced him.
"It was purely medical. A necessary method. Nothing else."
Kaede almost choked as she laughed.
"She cuddled you to life basically!"
"KAEEEDE!"
Michibiki yelped, mortified.
Yukio buried himself under the blanket.
---
The dining hall of the inn bustled with life: clanking utensils, loud laughter, sizzling pans, and the smell of bacon.
The three sat at a corner table.
Kaede dug into her food as if she hadn't eaten in several days.
"So,"
She said with her mouth full,
"Why's your room only got one bed? That's so weird"
Michibiki calmly ate her toast.
"We're comfortable sharing."
Yukio almost choked on his juice.
"I... I mean! I would prefer my own,"
Michibiki shot him a sweet but terrifying smile.
"We're happy with a single bed. Aren't we, Yukio?"
He swallowed noisily.
"Y-yeah…"
Kaede stared between them.
"Are you two, like… together?"
Both Yukio and Michibiki all but screamed:
"NO!!"
Kaede raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Sure. Totally believable."
She took another bite.
"Damn cowards."
Yukio groaned into his hands. Michibiki avoided eye contact, her ears tinted pink.
---
At the Forge
Noise billowed from Kaede's family forge: metals clashing, furnaces roaring, sparks dancing in the air.
She led them straight to the workbench, on which Yukio had placed his armor.
Kaede stared at it, letting out a low whistle.
"…Yuki-boy. This armor is an insult to metal."
She poked at the breastplate. It bent.
Yukio winced.
"Yeah, the troll stomped me."
Kaede smirked.
"And pumbled you. And threw you like a ragdoll. And,"
"Stick to the point, please."
Kaede lifted the armor and let it droop over one arm.
"Trying to reforge this would be like polishing a turd. So."
She grinned.
"…how about I forge you a brand new set?"
Yukio blinked.
"You'd… do that?"
Kaede planted her hammer in the ground, resting on it with pride.
"For my party? Absolutely. I'll forge something worthy of a magic fighter. Better than my old man's work."
She smirked.
"So, Yuki-boy… want something custom-made?"
Yukio stared at her-at her confidence, her fire, her excitement-and then at the forge glowing behind her like a promise.
He smiled.
"Yeah. I'd like that."