Nemo ran.

She liked running. She liked to feel the speed on her cheeks and kicking up dusts for those racing her to eat. However, when the person racing her wanted to eat her instead of her dust, like chew her up with sharp bladed teeth, then there really wasn’t much to enjoy.

It all started when Nemo fished her daily routine begrudgingly after being caught by Demon Lady. She took off her work clothes and changed into something more comfortable.

[Maximum HP lowered. Maximum HP 360 -> 3]

Nemo didn’t care much about that. She once debated with herself whether it was worth it, but she never felt much different when running or climbing when she took off her uniform, so she chose the more comfortable option. She just had to be careful not to fall.

Nemo began exploring the mansion, and this time she would find an adventure. Like always, she would attempt to sneak into areas the Count forbade her to. He said her level was too low, whatever that meant, and would be at risk due to the dangers present in those areas.

Nemo didn’t want to die, but it wouldn’t be much of a risk if she just took a peek, right? She had to know those dangers in order to avoid it after all.

The endeavour had been mostly unproductive. Nemo was confined within the mansion as a person cannot leave or enter without the Count’s permission and he sure as heck didn’t want Nemo getting into trouble. She was confident that if she begged and pouted enough the Count would relent, but since he was busy helping her find a way home, she decided against bothering him.

Maybe until when she gotten really really bored.

So Nemo spent most of her days ditching work, getting caught ditching work, trying to go to places she shouldn’t have, and getting caught going to places she shouldn’t have.

Thankfully, the one catching her had business elsewhere and this meant today was the perfect time to explore!

Nemo was excited for the opportunity. The only adventure she had in this mansionso far was the climb on to the White Titan and delivering tea to Green Lady and then escaping her increasingly dangerous ranting.

After searching for some time, she stumbled upon a new adventure, and this time it was something she herself discovered, like opening a mysterious present box to see what was inside. The unknown and surprise was something she wanted to experience.

It was what Nemo lived for.

When she was about to end the day and return to her room, she saw gleaming purple quills rising and falling ever so slowly in the crack of a wall. She approached the familiar figure after squeezing through the tiny opening and saw Violet Beast, the one that threatened to eat her, sleeping soundly. The six-legged monster was slumbering and her gleaming eyes were tucked within her talons. The coat of quills laid low like a funky blanket.

Violet Beast and the Duchess were the two house guests Nemo tried to avoid as much as possible, yet when time passed, she found her curiosity overwhelming her fears and wanted to meet the two house guests that showed open hostility towards her once more.

Now Nemo had the chance. When Violet Beast wasn't threatening to eat the child, she looked kind of cute and Nemo wanted to pet her.

That was a mistake.

Now, Nemo was running for her life.

Thanks to her small size and familiarity with the layout of the mansion, Nemo managed to avoid capture by using shortcuts, exits, and techniques she honed through running away from Demon Lady everyday. She failed to escape every time, but Violet Beast was no Demon Lady, who knew the mansion inside out.

The chase continued and Nemo found her advantage diminishing. The distance she gained with each shortcut lessened and with every turn the Violet Beast approached faster. No matter how much she tried she couldn’t shake Violet Beast off her trail.

Nemo had to think of something.

Usually Nemo would make a fuss and break some stuff to get Demon Lady’s attention, but since the housemaster wasn't in the mansion today, Nemo had to use one final trick.

If Nemo couldn’t outrun or fight off Violet Beast, have someone else do it!

Nemo ran deliberately now instead of being unpredictable. She knew the White Titan’s strolling habits and knew he was close.

Earthshaking footsteps were heard in the distance in front of her and swift thumping ones followed closely behind Nemo. After a few more corners she turned into a giant walking ever so slowly like always. She sensed that Violet Beast was just behind her so she sprinted.

The sight of the White Titan might’ve given Violet Beast a moment of pause, that was the only explanation why Nemo still felt her head on her shoulders.

Nemo sprinted forward. She pulled a small pebble out of her pocket and flung it towards the body of the White Titan.

The White Titan paused, steam leaked out of the plates before red glowed in between them and steam gushed out. His plates transformed and stacked unpredictably and then shot out like hovering slabs of metal waiting to smack everything in its vicinity.

“What?” she heard Violet Beast stammered, her voice like vibrating echoes.

A smug smile crept up Nemo’s face and she took advantage of Violet Beasts caution. Her pursuer had no idea how many times she had to duck and dodge the giant while cleaning, the many times she got smacked when she tried to conquer the giant’s height, and the effort needed to go through whatever defensive mechanism the giant had.

With swift and practised motion, Nemo made it past the giant to the end of the hallway.

A low growl, a sound that chilled her bones, reached her ears and Nemo turned around. Violet Beast glared at her, as if mocked by Nemo’s success. The beast pounced forward, using pure agility and physical senses to dodge every slab of metal that danced and crushed in the air. The beast ducked, the beast jumped, the beast retreated, and the beast came closer.

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Shoot.

Without any forewarning, a movement not within the pattern Nemo memorized began in motion. The White Titan grabbed onto the tail of Violet Beast, the movement so fast a gust of wind broke every window to the side, and flung the beast backwards and outside a shattered window.

Nemo tumbled backwards but quickly stood back up. She gave the White Titan a thumbs up, who replied with glowing green lights that felt like a wink and a sigh, and walked away from the disaster area. She would have hell to pay later on, but for now she decided she needed to find a secure room to hide.

After searching for some time, and her instincts telling her that Violet Beast was still looking for her, Nemo found an unlocked room and entered it.

Nemo saw a small ball of fluff hovering over something. She approached closer and saw that it was Rainbow Fluff reading a picture book. The cute little thing was colourful and full of vibrant energy, its outline moving widely as if reacting to what was in the book. However, it stopped after awhile and lowered onto the book, its limbless body struggled to flip the page.

Nemo walked over and helped him flip a page. The fluff turned towards her with a smile before his eyes widened in horror and he trembled in fear.

Rainbow Fluff let out a small yelp and Nemo felt as if she was pushed by a tornado and her body smacked into a wall.

[Damage sustained. HP: 3->2]

Ouch.

Nemo rubbed her head and shook off the dull pain. Next time she would remember not to startle the jumpy ball of colour. She wondered what she could do though given that she was mute. She made a mental note to herself and stood up.

Rainbow Fluff was trembling in the corner, the colours of its body turned pale and in a shade that felt much like fear. Paper scatted among fallen furniture and Nemo felt bad. She didn’t mind cleaning up the mess later on or being scolded by Demon Lady, but she didn’t like ruining the fun of other’s. She scared the poor thing and most likely made his day worse. Rainbow Fluff was having fun and Nemo ruined it.

There was only one thing for Nemo to do now.

Nemo spent the next hour or so scouring the room for the torn pages and reassembled them in the correct order. After she was done, she cautiously approached the scared ball of fluff and laid down the shoddily reassembled picture book behind him and tiptoed away.

When there was no response, Nemo gently tapped the floor a couple of times. Rainbow Fluff stopped shaking and turned towards the source of the sound cautiously, retracting its face back into the corner whenever he met Nemo’s eyes.

Nemo tried once again but this time she smiled and pointed towards the book.

Rainbow Fluff slowly left its corner and cautiously hovered to the book. After realizing nothing was going to happen, his smiled return and began to once again read the book, dancing in the air as he reacted to whatever was on the page.

Nemo observed Rainbow Fluff and realized he was struggling to turn the scattered and poorly reassembled pages. The vibrant colours on his body dimmed and his hovering drooped.

Nemo debated with herself whether to help the skittish creature that blasted her in to the wall, but when she saw the sadness in his eyes and that he was about to give up, Nemo made up her mind. She crawled forward, the little ball too depressed to pay any attention to her. When she was near she gently tapped the floor again and waited for a response. The fluff looked up with watery eyes and Nemo smiled while pointing at herself.

Nemo made sure not to make any sudden movements when her hands reached out towards the pages. She slowly turned the page, the new pictures within it caught his attention and Rainbow Fluff was engrossed by it instantly.

The two fell into a routine as Rainbow Fluff became more comfortable with Nemo’s presence. He would tap a page he was finished reading and she would flip to the next page. The two shared a quiet afternoon, sometimes the fluff would even look up and excitedly show Nemo something interesting on the page.

Time flew by quickly and so did the door.

With a loud bang Violet Beast stomped into the room.

“I found you,” she hissed.

Nemo and Rainbow Fluff instantly clung onto one another, both of them trembling even harder than what she thought was possible. Nemo was terrified, and judging by the darting eyeballs and fluttering colours, so was Rainbow Fluff. However, one thing she noticed was how soft and fluffy her companion in fear was.

At least his name wasn't misleading, unlike Green Lady.

Whelp. Nemo was going to die today, but at least she got to experience a heavenly soft and comfy hug before being bones in a monster’s stomach.

“You think you can make a fool out—” Violet Beast stopped and stared at the frightened child, or rather what she was hugging. With a growl, she stomped away, grumbling obscenities Grandpa would most definitely scold Nemo for saying.

It was a few moments before both Nemo and Rainbow Fluff moved. They stared at the empty room and then at each other.

Nemo and Rainbow Fluff cheered. She hugged the cute little ball and then both danced in circles. They were comrades now, both having survived death and came out unscathed. Whatever misgivings Rainbow Fluff had with Nemo disappeared. She was someone who overcame trials with, and the bond they now share would never be broken.

Nemo held up Rainbow Fluff swung it in circles, both of them smiling and one of them also laughing, a giggling so squeaky and cute Nemo wished she could’ve laughed with him.

It was a joyous time. That was the case until Demon Lady stomped in the room and saw paper scattered everywhere, furniture toppled, and a door stuck in the wall.

Rainbow Fluff zoomed out of the room and left Nemo alone to face the wrath of the housemaster.

I can explain!

Wait…

Nemo spent the entire night cleaning up and learning how to install door frames.