"...Lyca...you...must live..." A beautiful voice, weak and trembling, and oddly familiar.
"Gasp...!" Lyca woke up in her bed. Gasping for air while her eyes wide open.
"You awake. So...how did he get you?" A man with crimson hair sitting on his chair beside her bed with his arms crossed.
"...I...I don't know. His movement were too fast for me to follow." She explain, slowly regaining her calm.
The man watching her reaction thoroughly, recalling the image of her slumping in the alley.
"...Is it magic?" He asked again, trying to get more clue.
"...No. I didn't hear him casting. He just... vanished and reapprearing next to my blade."
Hearing her hesitant words, he think to himself as he remembering Nein's file.
"Did you smell something...off?"
Hearing the question, her ears twitch once as she recalled that off-burning smell of flesh as he looming over her.
"Yes...there's an odd...smoky air coming out from him." She hesitating as she looked at the man.
"...I see. Seems the file stating the truth after all. I'll tell the Lord about this and notice him to immediately turn down the duel."
"Nathan, wait!"
Her hand grabbing his wrist firmly, forcing him to stay.
"I...I can take him on. I-I only need time to prepare so... please don't tell Lord Winterbell about this."
Her voice dropping, her ears flat against her skull as she plead him to keep her defeat a secret.
"...I won't. Now get up, time to work." He said before pulling his arm away and walking to the door.
The silence of the room is deafening, her defeat is nothing like she ever experienced before. It was instant, not even her instinct managed to react in time.
"I suggest we refuse Nein's request for a duel, sir." Nathan said to Ruffen, reporting everything happened in the bedroom.
"So he's not bluffing after all. How's Lyca doing?"
"She's...a bit confused. Seems Nein really got her so easily to make her slumping like that on the street."
Nathan explanation made him looking at Nein's file again and finally understand nothing in that were exaggerated.
"Haa...this is giving me headache. I thought he just a man with free heart, turns out he's a weapon with human skin."
Nathan agreed with his words, though neither of them saw it on field, they already know that they're poking a bear.
"... Should I accept his word on changing the contract?" Ruffen muttered after placing the file down.
"... We basically lost the bet. And sir, he's too much for you to handle. So I suggest we put him in the field he meant to be."
Their discussion comes to an end. Ruffen let go of his desire to having Nein as a part of his force and decided to just put him to dealing with his problem.
Meanwhile, in a small bedroom of an inn far away from the manor, Nein listening to their conversation as he lay down on his bed, waiting for the sun to rise.
"He's not bad, to know when to retreat despite aware for the loss. Now I know how Winterbell merchant group able to stand so big." He muttered as the smoke curling back to him.
"Nunc te parare debes, Nein."
"I know, let's see what really happened and get the job done so I can go back home and rest."
He hop off the bed, materialized his coat and exit the room to enjoy the fresh air of morning.
"... Father. When will we go home?" Cloe asked.
The family's currently enjoying their breakfast together.
"We shall leave Fanis tomorrow after I set the terms with my business partner. So enjoy your time here while it lasts." He smiles at her before eating.
Outside the warm and cozy atmosphere however, Lyca's confronting Nathan for breaking his promise in the hallway.
"The Lord demanded it. Besides, he doesn't seem mad because of it. You're worrying for nothing." He said with calm tone despite her fierce glare.
"But he want you to keep a close eye on him. So focus with protecting the young lady with him." He added before walking past her.
Her eyes narrowed, she doesn't call after him and just returned to the shadow.
"Good morning." Nein greet at the front door.
"I'll trust her in your hand Nein, keep her safe." Ruffen said with a polite smile as he let Cloe walking out the house.
"Of course, that's why I'm here anyway. Come on, Cloe." He said while letting her holding on his hand.
"Bye father!" She grinned as she let Nein guide her away.
With a wave of hand, Ruffen watch her go. His smile vanishing the moment they're not in his view.
"I want to rest of the file on my desk at noon. Tell those people to be quick with the deal before I decided to stop and terminate the contract." He said to Nathan behind him. Returning to his businessman side instantly.
Nein took Cloe walking around the town, following whenever she take him to. Ruffen already gave her enough money to keep her busy for the day.
"Say, Cloe...how long did you know Lyca for?" He start as they're sitting on the bench, eating sweet bread.
"Lyca? Well... it's when I was on this place near the mountain range two years ago, where I see her hurting and weak. I took her with me and father doesn't seems to like her at first. But after I insisting so hard, she finally becoming my guard." She explain with innocent smile on her face.
"Ah...I see. So that's why she really care about you." He pointed out while munching.
"Did you meet her already?"
"...I did. We have a bit of talk too." He muttered as he glance away toward Lyca who's hiding somewhere.
He can feel the intensity of her glare behind his back as Cloe keep talking about her.
"But..." She pause while looking at the half eaten bread with sad expression.
"...I wish she could at least walk with me together. She always watching over me somewhere but never really talk or play." She whimpered before looking at him, as if he knows the answer.
"Well...she has her own reason. But maybe it's because you never really told her that you're lonely. I'm pretty sure she'll agreed to play with you as long as you're asking her first." He said while patting her head.
He's familiar with Lyca's way of thinking and he also know the feeling to be alone.
"... Really? If...I asked her that, will she play with me too?" A glimmer of light flickering in her eyes.
"Well... It's never hurt to try. Right?" The implications were meant for Lyca.
"Hehe, you're a good guy Nein." She said before continue eating her bread with a wide smile.
Meanwhile, apart from the warm exchange, Lyca simply watching them from afar, considering his words before she shake the thought away and focused on her job.