Edris and Ace stood amidst the desolate jungle, which now had a portion of its entirety reduced to piles of ashes and bubbling grounds.

Without an extra moment to spare, Edris shoved the seven-year-old into Ace’s arms, wincing through an exhale. He grimaced at the throbbing pain all over his body that was inflicted by the erratic splattering of black mana.

“Spatial Pouch! Pass me my Spatial Pouch.”

“...”

The white-haired man tossed him a leather pouch, to which Edris immediately dumped all its contents onto the ground. Most of the items were enhancers and elixirs; he had bought them from the capital’s local mercenary right after waking up from the Labyrinth.

A wise choice, to say the least, seeing how quickly he’d ended up putting them to use.

Another wise choice had been his decision to dissect the Calvest. He’d take parts of the vest and reincorporated them into his long boots and gloves for more versatility.

It was thanks to these adjustments that he could diminish the damage from the black mana. Without it, he would have entered paralysis the moment he stepped foot into the puddles. But even then, the Calvest only had a set amount of surface area and failed to counter all the blotches of black mana that came flying his way.

It was a time like this when he was grateful for the Sacrificial Hourglass stripping him of his thermoception, which tampered with his pain receptors. Without it, it wouldn’t have been possible to act with the same composure in front of the seven-year-old, whose keenness was not one to be underestimated.

Edris chugged the potions one after another. Something he liked about the elixirs in Odeen was that they came in a great selection of flavours, ranging from sea salt to maple, satisfying even the most picky taste buds.

Only when he emptied nearly twenty bottles did he feel true revival.

“Ah.” He wiggled his legs, which weren’t able to move just minutes ago. “That was close.”

Breathing out a sigh of relief, he turned to survey his surroundings, only to take in the utterly tattered state of the jungle.

“…”

Scary.

He didn’t know children could be so scary. Having an affinity for black mana was one feat, but if Ives learned how to control it…

He could already imagine the menace the seven-year-old would be among the Awakeneds—no, among humanity.

Internally shuddering at the thought, Edris pulled himself to his feet. As he did so, something slipped from his pocket, hitting the ground with a clink

Edris froze halfway. He bent over and picked up the item. It was a small amulet coin, barely the size of his thumb. The coin rested at the centre of his palm, emitting a light glow.

The Chance Amulet.

Ives had found and gifted it to him from the Nolmes Forest.

“Chance, huh…” Edris stared at the amulet for another second before slipping it back into his pocket.

He proceeded to empty another bottle into his stomach. Strawberry flavoured.

Licking his lips, Edris glanced up to see Ace eyeing him in disdain. Compared to the latter, who somehow managed to remain spotless even after all that combat against the black mana, Edris looked like he came straight out of the sewers.

“Want one?” Despite his internal lamentations, he still offered him a bottle like a gentleman.

Ace stared at the purple liquid, as if contemplating whether it was poisonous. After a silent deliberation, he took the bottle from the dark-haired man and dumped the content down his throat.

His expression grew complicated as he savoured the liquid.

“What type of enhancer is this?”

At his question, Edris gave him a shameless smile. “Limberry juice.”

“…”

“Sorry, I ran out of enhancers already.”

Ace turned his back and started walking, not forgetting to heave the seven-year-old over his back like a piggyback ride. Edris immediately followed, snickering silently.

“Are you angry? C’mon, it was a joke!”

“Shut up.”

“I’ll give you one once we get back. Really! Do I seem like the type to lie?”

“…”

***

Ives stirred, her eyes fluttering open as the warmth of the morning light gently coaxed her from unconsciousness.

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The first rays of the sun crept over the horizon, bathing the world in a soft, golden glow. She blinked her eyes open, groggy and disoriented, her body swaying gently with each step. It took her a moment to realise she was no longer in the jungle but, instead, perched securely on someone’s back, her arms draped loosely around a pair of broad shoulders.

The steady, effortless gait and the familiar white hair told her it was none other than Ace.

Ives shifted slightly, her cheek pressing against the soft fabric of the man's coat as she tried to recall what had happened. Fragments of memories flickered through her mind—the surge of black mana, the uncontrollable rage, an outstretched hand, and then... darkness until now.

She turned her head slightly, peering over his shoulder. In the distance, the sun was rising, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was beautiful, serene in a way that she had never taken the time to notice before.

But when she peered further, she saw Edris strolling a short distance ahead, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, the other swinging a half-filled bottle of purple liquid. The events of the previous night came flooding back to her in a rush, and she stiffened, almost slipping off Ace's back.

"Hold on properly."

Without turning his head, Ace’s voice reached her, calm and steady.

Ives gripped a little tighter, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. She glanced over at Edris again, who had turned around and was now looking directly at her.

"Oh, you’re awake.”

Instinctively, Ives started to avert her gaze, the shame of what had happened pressing down on her.

Halfway through, she stopped, something holding her back.

Perhaps it was Edris's calm demeanour. Perhaps it was the way he looked at her without any additional elements in his gaze—looking just for the sake of looking, looking simply because she was there.

Ives paused, thinking. She flinched slightly as the sun continued to rise, filling the sky with its warm radiance.

All the past mornings after a full moon had always been the same for the seven-year-old: a mix of relief at having survived another wave of the mana purge, quickly followed by the urgency to rush back home before Darcie and Gran noticed her absence.

But this time was different.

This time, she had woken up not in the cold solitude of the forest but on someone else’s back, with another person walking alongside her, chatting as if she had just awoken from a long nap.

For the first time in her life, Ives had time to appreciate the sunrise.

As she lifted her head in a daze, something silky brushed against her cheek. Startled, she reached up and grasped a handful of hair—long, thick strands that cascaded well past her shoulders, nearly reaching her waist. The once-short bob cut she’d had was gone, replaced by the long, tangled strands that now reached below her waist.

Ives sighed, knowing exactly what had happened. It always did on full moons.

"Put me down?" she asked, her voice thin from sleep.

Without a word, Ace slowed to a stop and gently lowered her to the ground. Her legs wobbled a bit as they touched down, but she quickly steadied herself, brushing off her dress and running her fingers through the tangled mess of hair that hung around her like a dark curtain.

She had no tools with her—no knives, no scissors—and cutting her hair back to its usual length had always been a ritual after her full moon episodes. Normally, she’d find the nearest sharp object, hack it off, and then go back to Darcie and Gran as if nothing had happened.

"May I get a dagger?" she asked, looking between the two men.

Leaning by a nearby tree, Edris raised an eyebrow. "You’re going to cut your own hair? With no mirror? That’s going to be a disaster."

Ives frowned, her hand still tangled in her hair. "I can manage."

But the dark-haired man waved her off. "I’ve got a better idea."

He turned to the white-haired man, who had been quietly observing the interaction.

"Ace, you should do it."

Ace's dark eyes fixed on him in silence.

"Why not?" Edris mused, pushing off from the tree and strolling over. "I've got no daggers or knives on me, and you’re better at precise stuff than she is. Just follow my instructions."

The man gave him a skeptical look but said nothing, yet his succeeding movements clearly indicated a resignation to the task.

They found a nearby boulder, smooth and flat, and Edris motioned for Ives to sit on top of it. She complied, legs dangling off as she attempted to gather her long locks into some semblance of order. Ace stood nearby, rolling up his sleeves with the air of a man about to undertake some solemn responsibility.

Closing his eyes briefly, the white-haired man summoned a blade of shimmering light into his hand—a manifestation of his mana shaped into a sharp, precise dagger. The weapon glowed softly, illuminating his focused expression.

"Alright," Edris said, stepping back with his arms crossed, as thought he was the one executing the act. "Let’s do this."

Ives sat perfectly still, feeling Ace's hands gently gathering her long hair. He was careful, and though his face remained expressionless, there was a level of focus in his movements. Edris stood to the side, arms crossed as he observed the scene in contemplation.

"Alright, let's see... maybe start by taking off a few inches at the bottom," he said, gesturing vaguely. "Cut it just above her shoulders. Not too short, though. We don’t want her looking a mushroom."

Ace cast him a sidelong glance, clearly doubting the usefulness of his instructions, but he moved closer to Ives nonetheless. Gently, he gathered a section of her hair, measuring the length with his fingers before bringing the blade to it.

"Hold still." His deep voice echoed in her ear.

His mana-infused dagger slicing cleanly through the thick strands of hair. Ives nodded and closed her eyes. Clasping her hands in her lap, she felt the weight lifting from her head as chunks of her hair fell softly onto the ground around the boulder. The only sounds were the gentle breeze and the faint snipping of Ace’s blade.

Edris, meanwhile, continued to offer unhelpful commentary from the sidelines. "Maybe a bit shorter on the left... no, wait, the right. Hmm, actually, perhaps layer it a little?"

Ace's jaw tightened ever so slightly, but he didn't rise to action, continuing his work with meticulous care. He moved around her, adjusting angles and trimming where needed, his concentration unwavering despite Edris's incessant input.

After a few minutes of this, the two men fell completely silent. Ives opened her eyes to find the ground around the boulder was littered with dark strands, and she could feel the weight lifting from her head. The cool morning breeze brushed against the newly exposed nape of her neck, eliciting a small shiver.

Ace stepped back, dissipating the light dagger with a flick of his wrist. He regarded his handiwork with a critical eye, lips pressed into a thin line.

A heavy silence settled between them, causing Ives to fidget nervously.

"How does it look?" she asked tentatively.

Edris was the first to respond, a smile fanning across his face.

"All done," he declared, ignoring the dubious look Ace shot him from the side.

Ives blinked, unsure whether to feel relieved or concerned. "Is it… okay?"

Edris nodded, his grin widening. "You look great."

Ives tilted her head and reached up, running her fingers through the shortened strands that now framed her face. It felt uneven in places, but not terrible.

"...Thank you," she said softly.

"Well then," Edris said, clapping his hands together, clearly eager to move on. "Go home?"

Ives turned her head and peered at him in silence, as if probing the authenticity in his words. Edris didn’t press further, just tilted his head slightly, awaiting patiently for her answer.

After a prolonged second, Ives gave him a small, tentative nod. She hopped off the boulder, feeling lighter in more ways than one.

"Go home."