A Commoner and a Farmer

Taking a step in the opposite direction of the village, Free sighed, a part of him wishing he could go back.

Was it really so bad in the orphanage?

He had free food, shelter, and education.

Plenty of children would risk their lives for something like that, yet Free had thrown it all away for a gamble.

With a massive bald spot in the middle of his hair, a result of his pulling, illuminated by the stars, he took a step forward.

Yet, at that moment, a soft and clearly strained voice, like someone speaking on their deathbed, sounded from behind him.

"Y-you!"

Thinking he was hearing things, Free halted and quietly looked backward.

And there, under the stars, was...a celestial white dress?

A ghost!?

Slowly shifting his gaze upward, Free almost fell backward, seeing a familiar strand of snow-white hair.

Rapidly turning around, he pointed at her and screamed out, his eyes wide.

"Y-YOU!?"

Why is she here...!? And, why... is she dressed like that?

N-no, it can't be.

I warned her that a Lunite was targeting her specifically...she wouldn't continue searching for an end crystal after that, right!?

She must have left after the blood-moon ended...she could be part of the search party looking for me, right? Right?

There, in front of him, stood the exact girl Evangel had betrayed him for.

Unfortunately, that wasn't even the biggest problem.

Opening his mouth, Free broke the silence and yelled out, but in unison, so did she, in a much softer voice.

"WHAT ARE YOU WEARING!?"

"w-what are you wearing!?"

Even an Eclipser like her shouldn't have access to such a luxurious...silk dress!

Stepping out of the darkness and under the light of the stars, her dress flying back and revealing her pale legs, the girl paused before finally muttering to herself.

"n-no, no way."

Not giving Free any time to even respond, she rushed forward.

"d-don't tell me...did you find a crystal!?"

Like a story game, two imaginary text bubbles popped before Free, each waiting to be chosen.

To lie or not to lie.

Looking down at the suit, Free tried to think of a way to clear himself, but what was he supposed to say?

Oh yeah, I just decided to come for a nice stroll in the middle of the desert, miles away from the village, in a suit that is probably worth more than me!

Suddenly, another text bubble appeared before him.

Run!

Why did he have to stand here and explain himself to her?

He had free will!

Running seemed like the easiest and best option, yet Free remained still.

This girl had a relic...she was clearly knowledgeable about Eclipsers and might be able to explain how he could acquire "Space Crystals."

If he ran right now, he could very well not run into any people for days...even weeks.

Free would remain in this pitiful state, lacking the strenght or knowledge to solve his dream.

As Free was about to attempt to negotiate with the girl, she suddenly yelled out...or at least attempted to.

The volume of her voice measured about the same as a classmate whispering to another during a lecture.

"Don't lie; I saw you reading the air in front of you earlier. That's a menu! Only second-stage Eclipsers receive those..."

Raising his hands, Free finally got a word out as he spat out in a clear provocation.

"Alright, I touched a crystal! Are you jealous?"

Free had seen this girl training nonstop outside to touch a crystal, while he had done so with no experience.

This was exactly what had happened with Evangel!

"..."

However, the girl remained silent, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Dozens of mutters left her mouth, only some Free could understand.

"Two crystals in this desert...impossible. He must have somehow killed a beast and received a relic, getting a screen."

...it's more likely to her that my weaponless and clothless ass killed a beast than touching some shining crystal!?

A moment later, though, she seemed to regain her composure, letting out a dry cough before seriously saying.

"Stop lying."

"...? What!? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TOLD ME I TOUCHED A CRYSTAL!?"

Letting out a sigh, the girl busily glanced around, making sure no one was in the area, before answering.

"I guess I can tell you since everyone in town will know soon enough...but I touched a crystal."

...is she lying straight to my face!? Is she ashamed!?

Ah, she must have left the village and hid under a dune from the moon in this area to avoid dying!

Taking a step closer to Free, the girl continued.

"So, just tell me what you're doing here. I already let you off once for taking the blood fragment."

"..."

At this point, Free couldn't help but yell back, his fists clenched.

"TAKING? I FOUND I-"

Interrupting the yelling Free mid-sentence, the girl shook her head and said.

"It doesn't matter if you found it."

Pausing and pointing straight at his chest, ironically where the blood-red fragment had glowered during his fight with Lunite Seren, the girl announced, the loudest yet she had spoken during their conversation.

It's wasted on you."

"The fragment should have gone to someone who could actually touch a crystal and become a second-stage Eclipser."

"It's like a commoner without any experience stumbling upon a precious berry. If a farmer had found it, he could grow and duplicate it.

"But a commoner will simply eat it, wasting its potential. The farmer can properly utilize the berry and help every party involved."

"That's why it's better if the commoner hands the berry to the farmer, who then grows multiple berries to help everyone."

"You're a commoner who's wasted a fragment, when a farmer could use it and advance to a second-stage Eclipser, who can eventually enter the Origin Realm and help everyone with their power."

Faced with the girl's logic, Free could understand her point of view, yet there was just one small...or rather, a gaping hole in her argument.

"I'M NOT A COMMONER! I'M THE FARMER!"