The Reunion of Past Friends

Enjoy the moments you have with people, as you may come to want to go back. You'll never know you're having a good time until it becomes a memory.

Location: Gelu Hallow - Engler Og Fangehull Tavern

The air inside the Engler Og Fangehull Tavern was warm, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

Valentine slammed down his mug, roaring with satisfaction as Iria coughed after failing to match him in their drinking contest.

"Hah! Told you, Iria! You can't beat me at something I'm built for!" Valentine grinned.

"You're impossible..." Iria muttered, her cheeks flushed red as the others laughed.

Kaide was already slumped over, cheeks puffed out, softly snoring as Reiku gently patted his shoulder.

"Lightweight," she chuckled.

Rez was busy stacking empty mugs into a wobbling tower while Vax kept adding more with a mischievous grin.

Rikushi and Hoshina sat close together in a quiet corner, enjoying the peace after the storm. Blaidd, meanwhile, sat near the back wall, resting his head against it, his eyes half-closed as the noise blurred around him.

But then--

A whisper.

Soft, Distant, yet Familiar.

"blaidd... Blaidd... BLAIDD."

His eyes shot open.

Blaidd stepped out into the bitter cold of the Gelu night. Snow softly drifted in the moonlight, and the streets were eerily empty. His breath fogged in the air as he tried to calm himself.

"Who's there?" he whispered.

A voice responded, gentle yet persistent.

"Come this way... follow me, Blaidd."

Footprints appeared in the fresh snow ahead of him, forming a trail toward the distant hills.

Against every instinct, Blaidd followed.

After a steep climb, a small wooden cabin came into view, its window faintly glowing with warm light.

He knocked.

The door creaked open, and standing there--smiling softly--was a girl.

"Hey, Blaidd. It's been a while," she said.

Blaidd froze.

"...Mysha?"

"It's been a while since the attack, hasn't it?"

The flood of memories hit him like a tidal wave:

His mentor falling.

Mysha disappearing that dreadful night.

His own failure to protect her.

Tears welled up instantly.

"I... I thought... you... you died..."

Mysha gently pulled him inside, cradling him against her chest by the fireplace.

"I'm here now. That's what matters," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair.

The warmth, the familiarity, the impossible comfort--Blaidd let his guard down for the first time in years.

Location: Gelu Hallow - Mysha's Mountain Cabin:

The next morning, Blaidd woke up in the same spot--the chair by the fireplace.

"Strange... when did I fall asleep?"

He looked around, but Mysha was nowhere to be seen.

Panicking slightly, he rushed outside--only to spot her near the trees, holding a spear, her posture sharp.

"Mysha!" he called.

Startled, she spun around.

"Oh! I forgot you were here, hehe." She giggled strangely and tossed her spear aside with casual disinterest.

"Sorry... I like to hunt alone sometimes."

There was something... off about Mysha.

She didn't seem to remember calling out to him.

She avoided answering any deeper questions.

Her eyes occasionally glazed, as if she was listening to someone else.

Still, Blaidd ignored his gut and allowed himself to stay.

That night, they cuddled again in front of the fireplace, his exhaustion taking him under once more.

As dawn approached, Blaidd slowly woke up to a sharp stinging pain on his back. He touched behind him and felt a long scratch across his skin--right where Mysha had held him last night.

Confused, he turned around--

Standing perfectly still near the door was Mysha, her face unreadable, staring directly at it.

Then, the door opened.

A girl carrying a deer over her shoulders walked in, panting slightly.

"Phew! That took me a long time to get back with food."

Blaidd's blood ran cold.

His eyes darted back and forth--between the Mysha standing inside, and the girl who just entered.

She was the... real Mysha.

His breath caught. His heart pounded.

Something very, very wrong was happening.