"Hah..." I sigh.

"Are you certain you wanted to do it this way, Aria?" Kiku wanders up to my side.

I shrug and doubtless look whimsical.

"There is no good way, Kiku. I'm just resigned to the fact that a good man is not something a young girl like me can keep to myself." I sigh.

"Fufufu... Don't pin your dreams on a man, is it? Master always said this to me, but it is not something I understood until very recently with the boy." Seria quips.

"Um... it is good advice, though... hehe... if difficult with Nii." Kiku nods.

"It’s stupid, really. Elijah is... well... the opposite of what girls want, right? Not strong, not rich, not proud, not amazingly handsome." I say.

"And yet the boy always defies expectations. Always gets knocked down and rebounds. Full of dreams. Knows just when to nudge you in the right direction. And if he was not so blastedly honest, I would honestly think him a master of guile and manipulation."

Seria looks exasperated, but there is a distant fond look in her eyes as well. I doubtless have a similar look.

"Um... to be honest, I am most surprised that Rishya suggested this way. She was ever so scathing when interrogating me before." Says Kiku.

"Despite everything, Rish is a kind girl. The kindest. She helps everyone. I know that best of all." I smile wryly.

"Fufufu... and because of that, the most terrifying." Seria involuntarily shivers.

I never got the full story about why Rishya put the fear of the gods into the Sage of all things. But despite my curiosity, part of me constantly suppresses my urge to ask. It's likely a dangerous story considering it resulted in Seria losing her virginity. And I know myself that Rish's ability to bring out people's true feelings is horrifying.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Kiku still looks moderately confused, but appears to also think better of asking.

Suddenly, a metal face with mismatching eyes jumps into my vision and I recoil involuntarily.

"Un... Aeris doesn't understand!"

She nods, giggles happily, and dashes off again, flapping her arms as she dashes out the doorway.

I had entirely forgot she was still here...

"What the hells is wrong with that spirit..." Seria mutters under her breath.

"If you don't know what makes you think the rest of us do?" I exclaim, raising an eyebrow.

The two days after Elijah was out, his spirit never left his side. If we tried to move her, she would turn so heavy even I had trouble hoisting her.

That sounds utterly stupid if I say it like that now. Of course a spirit won't leave its master in a time of crisis.

Hah, I guess it feels different because spirits can't normally manifest like this. Can't normally leave at all. Rishya talking to Michael is rather abnormal already, hence her hiding it from most people. Only her grandfather, Yuuzu, and I knew about it originally.

Having a permanent object residence is fairly normal, like Michael, and so is a spirit inhabiting your body directly, like mine and Seria's. But it becoming a separate entity?

"Mmmm... I'd love to dissect it." Seria licks her lips.

"Can you even dissect a sword? Is it really a girl at all?" I wonder.

"Impossible to tell unless I try." Seria grins.

"Eh wot!? Y-you c-can't do that!" Kiku exclaims, balling her fists.

"Fufufu... I don't think the boy would approve anyway." Seria laughs and I join her. Kiku looks distressed. She's surprisingly innocent when it comes to Seria's type of humour, but I'm used to it from Melody.

Elijah being in a coma really honestly did frighten me. I couldn't not slap him and then kiss him when he woke up. Losing two people I care about in the same sort of way was just too much.

Kali actually knocked me out with a punt to the back of the head yesterday since I had rings under my eyes and wouldn't stop pacing a rut into the floor. She apologised when I woke up, but I finally got the message, and slept for a while properly.

"I'm always worrying others, aren't I? It’s no good like this. I need to become more dependable. It's why I resolved to do this in the first place."

Kiku looks at me with a gentle expression. I then realise I said that out loud. Gods!

"Um... Aria, being more dependable... means being able to depend on others as well."

Seria closes her eyes and nods.

"Heh... I think... more than anything... all three of us has gradually learnt that in our time together, right?" Kiku grins, shrugging.

I sigh deeply, then start laughing. The other two laugh as well.

When we stop, we decide to go and prepare some food and continue our chat. Well... more like me and Seria will help Kiku prepare food, but alas.

After all, Elijah, Kali and Kaede will be very hungry soon, right?