"Here in Erosanct, we follow the teachings of Alurea, the goddess of Lust," Lyssara said, her tone soft but pointed, as if testing Yuki's reaction. "She embodies passion, beauty, and creativity. Art, music, and love are sacred to us. Every painting, every melody, and every heartfelt connection is a form of worship."

Yuki tilted her head, taking in the ornate murals and statues that lined the streets. "So, like… everything here is about celebrating life?"

Lyssara nodded but narrowed her eyes slightly. "Exactly. It's the foundation of our society. Surely your island had some way of honoring the divine?"

Yuki rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh, yeah. We kinda kept it simple. Not as fancy as this."

Lyssara's suspicion deepened, but she didn't press further, instead shifting the topic.

...

When they arrived at the bustling Market of Whispers, Yuki's mouth dropped open. Stalls overflowed with glittering jewelry, rich fabrics, and perfumes that filled the air with a dizzying array of scents. Merchants called out to passersby, their voices blending into a musical hum.

"This market," Lyssara said, her tone still scrutinizing, "is the heart of Erosanct's economy. Perfumes, textiles, and potions are our pride, drawing traders from across the world. Even the most remote places must have heard of the Market of Whispers."

Yuki blinked at a stall where a sylph was crafting a shimmering scarf that seemed to shift colors in the sunlight. "Wow. This is insane. You guys really go all out."

Lyssara's eyes lingered on Yuki's genuine awe. "Yes. It's part of who we are. Here, appearances matter as much as substance. Though I imagine that might be… different from what you're used to."

Yuki nodded slowly, feeling Lyssara's skepticism like a weight on her shoulders. "Yeah. Totally different."

...

As they walked further, Lyssara continued, though her tone remained cautious. "Our kingdom is ruled by Queen Seraphina Valeria, the Sapphire Rose. She's as brilliant as she is beautiful—an elf with a mind sharp enough to navigate the world's harshest politics."

Yuki furrowed her brows. "Politics? Like… wars and stuff?"

Lyssara's lips twitched at the crude question. "Not wars, no. But other kingdoms often misunderstand us. They see indulgence and freedom and mistake it for weakness or decadence."

"Sounds like their problem," Yuki said with a shrug.

Lyssara raised an eyebrow, though a faint smile touched her lips. "Perhaps. But we maintain harmony here through the Queen's wisdom and the guidance of the Court of Silk—a council of artists and philosophers who advise her. The Silver Sentinels uphold order, ensuring that freedom is not abused."

Yuki hummed thoughtfully, her mind swimming with questions she didn't dare ask aloud.

The suddenly, lively atmosphere of Erosanct's streets suddenly shifted as the sound of clanking armor echoed down the path. Yuki turned to see a group of knights approaching, their polished armor glinting in the sunlight. Their leader pointed directly at her.

"There she is! Arrest her immediately!" the knight barked.

Yuki's hands shot up instinctively. "Wait, what? Arrest me? What for?!"

"You're suspected of harming a knight of Erosanct," the leader declared, stepping closer.

"What? I didn't harm anyone!" Yuki protested, her voice rising.

The knights ignored her, their focus unyielding as they advanced. Lyssara glanced at Yuki with a mixture of concern and confusion.

"Is this true?" Lyssara whispered, her suspicion from earlier creeping back into her tone.

"No! I don't even know what they're talking about!" Yuki hissed back, her mind racing.

The knights didn't seem interested in explanations, their weapons drawn and ready. Yuki glanced around, weighing her options. Run? Fight? Maybe try to talk it out? Her heart pounded in her chest as panic threatened to take over.

One of them reached for her, Yuki instinctively stepped back and gritted her teeth. Her hand moved to the hilt of her sword, gripping it tightly as she prepared to draw it.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Yuki muttered under her breath, her voice trembling with frustration. "But if they're not gonna listen to me…"

Then, she had a thought.

She pulled the blade an inch from its sheath, the faint sound of metal scraping catching Lyssara's attention.

"Wait—what are you doing?" Lyssara whispered sharply.

Yuki didn't respond, her eyes locked on the knights closing in.

Before she could unsheathe her weapon fully, a roaring wave of fire erupted between her and the knights, forcing everyone back. The heat was intense, and Yuki instinctively raised her arm to shield her face, her sword falling back into place.

"What the—?!" Yuki shouted over the roar, her eyes darting to the source of the flames.

Through the wall of fire, a figure leapt down from a nearby rooftop, landing with a heavy thud in front of them.

"Caelric?!" Yuki exclaimed, relief flooding her as she recognized the familiar knight.

He didn't reply. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed Yuki by the wrist, his other hand gripping Lyssara's arm.

"Come on!" he barked, dragging them away from the scene.

"Wait, what about—" Yuki began, but Caelric cut her off.

"No time! Move!"

With surprising strength, he pulled them both into a narrow alleyway, sprinting through the winding streets with practiced ease. The sound of shouts and clanking armor faded into the distance as they zigzagged through Erosanct's labyrinthine back alleys.

Finally, Caelric came to a stop in a shaded courtyard, releasing both of them roughly. Yuki stumbled forward, catching herself on a stone bench.

"Caelric! I—" she began, but froze when she saw his face.

His normally calm expression was gone, replaced by a scowl that could have cut through steel. His piercing gaze locked onto Yuki, and she could feel the sheer anger radiating off him.

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"What the hell did you do?" he snapped, his voice low but seething.

Yuki recoiled slightly. "What do you mean, what did I do? I didn't do anything!"

Caelric's glare didn't waver. "The knights were ready to arrest you on sight. That doesn't just happen for no reason."

"I don't know why they're after me!" Yuki shot back, her voice rising defensively. "I haven't done anything wrong! I was just walking around, minding my own business!"

Caelric took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You've been here, what? A day? And somehow you're already on their wanted list."

Lyssara, still catching her breath, looked between the two of them, her earlier skepticism now mixed with frustration. "If you're innocent, then why are the knights so certain it's you?"

"I don't know!" Yuki cried, throwing her hands up. "Maybe it's a mix-up? A case of mistaken identity? Or someone's framing me!"

Caelric's gaze narrowed. "We'll find out soon enough. But until then, keep your head down and stay out of trouble. You're lucky I was nearby, or you'd be in a dungeon right now."

Yuki crossed her arms, scowling. "Yeah, well, thanks for the rescue, but maybe don't act like this is all my fault."

Caelric let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. "We don't have time for this. We need to figure out why they're after you, fast. And until then, you don't go anywhere without me."

Yuki frowned, muttering under her breath, "Not like I planned on running around solo anyway…"

Lyssara, now calmer, folded her arms and addressed Caelric. "You seem to know her well enough to leap into fire for her. Care to explain who exactly she is? And why she's such trouble?"

Caelric shot Yuki a look before turning back to Lyssara. "Long story. One I'm not in the mood to share right now."

Yuki groaned, rubbing her temples. "Great. Just great. First I get summoned, now I'm wanted. What's next?"

"summoned?" Lyssara noticed of what Yuki said.

The tense silence lingered as Yuki rubbed her temples, muttering, "Great. Just great. First, I get summoned, now I'm wanted. What's next?"

Caelric let out a deep sigh, his scowl easing slightly as he turned to Lyssara. "Apologies for dragging you into this… mess," he said, his tone softer but still tinged with irritation.

Lyssara straightened, brushing her hair back with an air of calm. "It's fine," she replied, her voice measured. "Though I'd appreciate an explanation."

Caelric hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'm Caelric Vaelwyn. I've been tasked with… guiding Yuki here."

Lyssara's skeptical gaze shifted to Yuki, who grinned awkwardly, flashing a big thumbs up. "Yep! He's my guide. Totally legit," she said with exaggerated enthusiasm.

For a moment, Lyssara looked between the two of them, her expression unreadable. Then, she gave a small nod, her demeanor relaxing. "Well, if that's the case, I suppose you have your hands full, Mr. Caelric. Best of luck to you both."

"Thanks… I think," Caelric muttered under his breath.

Lyssara inclined her head politely. "I'll leave you to sort out whatever trouble you've found yourselves in. Do try to stay out of any more."

Yuki waved cheerfully. "No promises!"

As Lyssara turned and walked away, her graceful steps soon disappearing around the corner, Caelric shot Yuki a withering look. "A thumbs up? Really?"

"What? It worked, didn't it?" Yuki replied with a cheeky grin.

Yuki and Caelric crouched behind a stack of crates in the dimly lit alley, the hum of Erosanct's bustling streets faintly echoing around them. Caelric paced back and forth, his irritation simmering just below the surface.

"You can't just go around causing problems everywhere you go," Caelric growled, jabbing a finger at her. "Do you have any idea what happens to people who mess with the knights here? We're not in some backwater village where they'd just fine you or toss you in a cell for a day. These are the Queen's men! They could've dragged you straight to the Court of Silk for trial, and do you know what happens if they decide you're guilty?"

Yuki crossed her arms defensively. "For the last time, I didn't do anything! They came after me for no reason!"

"People don't get hunted down by knights for 'no reason,'" Caelric shot back, glaring down at her. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I told you already!" Yuki snapped. "I didn't attack anyone. I didn't steal anything. I didn't—"

As Caelric launched into another lecture, Yuki's attention drifted. Her eyes wandered over the bustling streets visible beyond the alley, the vibrant colors and elegant figures of Erosanct's citizens moving in harmony. That was when she saw her.

At first, Yuki thought she was imagining it. A figure, walking casually down the street, stood out to her in a way she couldn't immediately place. It wasn't just the confident stride or the way they carried themselves. It was something deeper, something… familiar. Then it hit her like a thunderbolt.

The woman had her face.

The same messy black hair. The same glasses perched on her nose. The resemblance was uncanny—down to the faint scar above her left brow. But what made Yuki's blood run cold was the clothing. The woman wore leather armor and a scarf draped around her shoulders. It was identical to what the female demon thug had been wearing in the alley.

"What the…" Yuki whispered, leaning forward, squinting as she tried to make sense of it.

"Yuki, are you even listening to me?" Caelric's voice snapped her back to reality, but her eyes stayed locked on the figure.

Her mind raced. How is this possible? That demon looked nothing like me before. Did she somehow… change into me? Mimic my appearance?

Without a second thought, Yuki stood and bolted from the alley, her sights set on the doppelgänger.

"Yuki!" Caelric shouted, exasperation and confusion mixing in his voice. "Where are you going? Get back here!"

She ignored him, her focus narrowing as she closed the gap between herself and the woman. The demon turned just as Yuki approached, her false face—Yuki's face—twisting into an infuriatingly smug smirk.

"Well, look who it is," the demon drawled in Yuki's voice, her tone dripping with mockery. "The little brat who thinks she can play tough just because she got lucky once."

Yuki stormed up to her, her blood boiling. "What the hell are you doing looking like me?!" she demanded, pointing an accusing finger at the demon. "You think you can just steal my face and get away with it?!"

The demon crossed her arms, tilting her head as if Yuki were an amusing sideshow. "Steal your face? Sweetheart, it's not stealing if it's just a little fun. You should be flattered—I've improved on it."

"Improved?!" Yuki nearly shouted, her hand already twitching toward her sword.

The demon rolled her eyes. "Relax, princess. You should be more worried about what you did. You think you're slick, beating up my buddies in the alley and getting away with it?"

Yuki froze for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait… that's what this is about? You're using my face to frame me for something you did?"

The demon shrugged nonchalantly. "And? So what? We're even now."

"Even?!" Yuki's voice rose, her temper flaring. "You're seriously trying to ruin my life just because I defended myself from your goons? What kind of twisted logic is that?"

The demon's smirk turned icy, her eyes narrowing. "Twisted logic? Coming from the idiot who doesn't know when to quit? Cute."

Yuki's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword. "You're nothing but a lowlife thug. You think stealing people's faces makes you special? It just makes you a coward who can't stand on her own."

That struck a nerve. The demon's smirk vanished, replaced by a flash of fury. In one swift motion, she punched Yuki square in the jaw, sending her stumbling back.

"Yuki!" Caelric's voice echoed from somewhere behind her, but she barely registered it.

Recovering quickly, Yuki glared up at the demon, but before she could retaliate, a sharp tug yanked her forward. The demon had grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to meet her eyes as Yuki's glasses almost fell out of her face.

"Let me give you a piece of advice," the demon growled, her voice dripping with venom. "Just because luck was on your side back there doesn't mean you're some big shot now. I don't know what power fantasy you're playing, but if you think you can cross me twice and get away with it…" She leaned in closer, her breath hot against Yuki's face. "You've got another thing coming."

Yuki struggled against the demon's grip, her mind racing. She couldn't rely on brute force—this wasn't a fight she was can win easily nor with luck.

A shadow loomed over them both.

"Get your hands off her."

Caelric's voice was low and dangerous, his sword already drawn and shimmering with a faint, fiery glow.

The demon hesitated, her grip faltering for a split second. That was all the time Yuki needed to twist free and stumble back toward Caelric.

"Oh, this is cute," the demon said, her smirk returning as she looked between the two of them. "Your little knight in shining armor, come to save the day. How heroic."

"Leave. Now." Caelric's voice was ice, his blade sparking to life with a fiery glow.

The demon clicked her tongue, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll play nice. For now." She shot Yuki one last glare. "But don't think this is over, little miss hero."

With that, the demon turned and walked walked away.

Yuki took a deep breath, adjusting her hair. She turned to Caelric, who appeared less than delighted.

"Mind telling me what that was about?" he asked, sheathing his sword but keeping his eyes narrowed at her.

Yuki barely had a moment to process what had just happened when the mimic demon suddenly turned back around, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Actually," the demon said, her smirk twisting into something far darker, "why not?"

Before Yuki or Caelric could react, the demon lunged toward Yuki with lightning speed. In her hand gleamed a dagger, its blade wickedly sharp and aimed straight for Yuki's stomach.

"Yuki, watch out!" Caelric shouted, stepping forward to intervene, but it was too late.

Yuki's instincts kicked in, and she stumbled back just as the demon struck—but instead of actually stabbing her, the demon's hand whipped toward Yuki's wrist, forcing the dagger into her grasp. With an almost theatrical gasp, the demon spun away, clutching her side as her body shimmered.

In the blink of an eye, the demon's form reverted to her original appearance—a pale-skinned, horned figure with crimson eyes and sharp features. She staggered dramatically, then collapsed to the ground, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"She stabbed me! Someone help!" the demon wailed, her voice echoing through the crowded street.