Cold air sank its chill into Reiko's skin as she sat at the back of the cart.
Yet she didn't feel the coldness. Perhaps her heart was even colder that night.
The cart jumped as it hit an uneven road of rarely passed path to the next big city.
Knights rarely patrol there, merchants would never dare passing this route.
Even more so at midnight, where monsters usually lurk behind shades of trees.
A raven descended from the nearby trees and landed at Reiko's lifted wrist like a trained animal.
Her other hand reached for sunflower seeds from her pouch.
She splayed her palm, offering the price to the cawing bird.
It eagerly pecked the seeds one by one. Until none were left. Then it cawed again.
"Mr. Gazelle, slow down at the next corner and turn the lights off."
"Will do."
The tree lines beside her moved slower. The raven flew at the last seed pecked.
She crouched, looking directly at the moving ground. She actually did it. All of it.
Erika…
Her lips trembled.
Ursula…
Pauline…
She gritted her teeth. Her shoulders shook. Desperate not to make a sound.
Yet the tears dripped anyway.
I'm sorry…
As she cried, a hand caressed her back. Calloused, strong, firm, even over the fabric she wore.
She looked back, to see the face of the man she loved.
"This is the least I can do…"
Beringar's eyes were fixed somewhere behind her. The same place they always went.
Yet she knew it wasn't her. It was never her.
She leaned into him anyway.
She knew he would push her shoulder away, as always, yet she couldn't stop herself.
Her eyes widened as her cheek met his chest, and his arms wrapped around her back.
Tears flooded from her eyes like a broken dam. Her arms hugged back, pulling him tight.
She kept her voice shut as she cried in silence. Then her eyes moved up.
Their gaze met. Maybe. Just once. Just this once.
Her face moved forward, closer and closer to his. His expression unchanged.
The lights began to dim. Glyph lamps quietly flickered out.
Darkness claimed more and more of the cart as their faces crept closer.
Slivers of moonlight were the only ones that remained.
Then, her lips finally touched.
She knew. She always knew. Yet she couldn't stop herself.
Her breath hitched. She didn't pull away as the cart strolled quietly in the dark path.
The cart jumped, and jumped again. She kept holding him tight.
For her, this was enough. Even more than he should let on.
Light returned, revealing his palm beneath her lips.
Finally, her arms loosened. Pulling herself away from him.
Their gazes locked, until he cast his away.
"Sorry…"
"Don't… I… shouldn't have done it in the first place…"
Her fists tightened.
"I… probably shouldn't have done what I did…"
His hands wrapped hers. Tender. Gentle. Warm.
"Reiko… I'll make sure I… we succeed."
He turned to his back, towards the sealed coffin sitting behind him.
The runes pulsed their faint glow. Each line wrapped around the coffin like a cross.
"When we bring her back… All will be worth it. I am sure everyone can agree. Her life is way more important than all the gold they had…"
His gaze returned to her.
"I'll also make sure you can return home. For that happy ending, I…"
He stopped and shook his head.
"No… Even if we would never be forgiven… At the very least, the farm will get their light back… I'm sure of it!"
Reiko nodded. He was right. Even if Erika probably would never forgive her.
If it meant Erika got someone who actually cared for her, she wouldn't mind bearing the hate.
Erika deserved someone who loved her for who she was. Not for who she reminded her of.
Even so, it stung her far more than she expected.
The farm would scramble. They took a huge chunk of the gold.
They would have to work hard to cover the loss.
Erika…
She wished nothing like that night would happen again to her, Pauline, especially not Ursula. Not after tonight.
She gripped his hands tighter.
"...I'll do my best to make it happen. Tell me what to do. I'll do it."
His hand landed on her scalp. He caressed her hair, easing the tension she didn't know she had.
"For now, rest. It'll be a new beginning for us. You've done enough for today… More than enough…"
Caw caw caw caw
The ravens along the trees grew restless.
One of the glyph lights at the front flickered.
She leaned close and whispered. His eyes widened. He nodded.
"What a noisy bunch."
Gazelle commented as his eyes focused forward.
"Seems like something big is happening in the forest."
Reiko replied.
Gazelle tugged the rein of his cart.
"Sounds like a bad omen. Well, I am sure you guys can handle a monster or two."
Beringar returned to his seat.
"You sure it's not bandits or something?"
"Who do you take me for, young man? I've been carting around here for years."
Gazelle slowed his cart and turned the light off once more.
"Bandits don't operate at this hour. Merchants travel at broad daylight, monsters lurking at night."
He looked at his left and right.
"Besides, there are no guards to begin with. They'd rather spend their nights sleeping."
The cart jumped violently. Gazelle yanked the rein, stopping the cart.
"Something happened?"
"Wheel probably got stuck on something."
He jumped from the driver's seat and disappeared from view.
Yet his footsteps were heading away from the cart.
Reiko formed a sequence of hand signs. The lights flickered once.
The faint whispers of the wind became clearer, faint rustles became loud crunches.
You sure they're no mages?
Nah, an alchemist and a physical combatant. I saw zero magic being cast.
Alright, boys! Round 'em up! We're feasting gold tonight!
Good job, old man!
"They're coming…"
Beringar nodded.
Armed men started pouring from the sideline, surrounding the cart.
"Come out of the cart! Hand over the gold and the woman! If you wanna live!"
Her hand found the tanto on her belt. The sais hung beside it.
"You stay here, I'll handle them."
"Wait…"
Beringar pulled out red potion vials and handed them to her.
"At the very least, take these."
Reiko nodded, took them, and stepped out of the cart.
Outside, one of the men and Gazelle stood inside the circle.
"We trusted you…"
"Trust has a rather steep price, young lady. Don't you think so?"
The bandit beside him stepped forward.
"The young man's not going to come out? What a coward! If you wanna fight, at least fight with her, ya hear me!?"
The man grinned at Reiko.
"Also, old man, you never said anything about a beast folk. That's like double the gold they have! A virgin one fetches triple, even!"
"Really!? Hey, I was the one who brought her, you'd at least give me some, right?"
"Well, we'll see…"
The man raised his hand.
"Boys! Don't injure her too much!"
A few of the men began to step closer.
"Don't resist, lady, and we'll make it as pleasant as possible."
One of the stepping men drew his short sword.
"Else, we'd have to get rough."
Reiko took a long breath and drew her tanto. Then she formed another sequence with her hands.
"What are you-"
Before the bandit finished, Reiko vanished like a gust of wind.
Slash
Right on the neck. The bandit's face was still, eyes widened as he fell to the ground.
"MAGIC! SHE GOT MAGIC!"
"That's impossible! The mana counter was normal throughout the road!"
"Everyone regr-"
Slash
She stepped like a wind and slashed a second throat, the one beside Gazelle.
"Boss!"
"You-"
Swish! Slash! Fwoosh! Slash! Swoosh! Slash!
Body after body fell to the ground as Reiko disappeared and reappeared to and from the cold night wind.
Eventually, only one was left. Gazelle himself.
She materialized right before him.
Gazelle fell to his back, raising his palm towards Reiko.
"W-wait! Let's talk about this!"
Reiko closed the distance.
"You said trust has its price, didn't you? I completely agree."
She flicked her tanto, the blood splattered onto the ground as if being spat.
"But I have a say in that…"
She crouched and yanked his hair upwards.
"Wait! Please! I'll do anything! Take anything but-"
Slash
She let the body go and flicked her blade once more, splatter joined the pool of dark red.
Betrayal has a steeper cost
That's what her heart said. Yet she couldn't form it into her mouth and say it.
She had no right to. Not anymore.
They took Gazelle's cart through the dark forest path. By morning, they arrived.
Outside of the city wall, they managed to find a lone abandoned hut.
Right beside it, a river flowed away from the city.
Inside, the hut was moldy, overgrown with moss and vines.
No warmth of the glyphs, food, fireplace, and the former family.
Not anymore. Not since they lost something precious.
Her eyes drifted to the corner of the room. Coffin sat on it, runes pulsing under the dawn light.
Her eyes sharpened as she reminded herself that they were here to restore that light.
Reiko slid into her long skirt and put on her hood, covering both her tail and her ears.
Beringar prepared himself, bringing his dagger and the hefty gold bag.
"I'll be off to the city. I heard they have Cedric's book in this town. I'll look for it…"
"Then, I'll make this place more comfortable for us."
"Oh, one more. Your name would be Ellena Straub from now on, I'll be Lumen Straub."
He grabbed the door handle and pulled it open.
"Also, try to rest. You've gone through much just this one night."
With the door closed, the room went silent once again.
Beringar would go into the city by dawn, and he would always return by dusk.
Reiko would clean, buy food at the front gate market, tend to Marlene as instructed, then cook dinner for both.
Beringar always came home with something.
New book, new brewing gears, some sacrificial stocks, anything that helped him.
In the evening, she would help him brew potions, make sigils, or prepare the necessary magic circles.
Beringar's face grew tenser each passing night.
That night, he stayed up past midnight.
Reiko wrapped her arms around him.
"Beringar… rest. I know time is important… but if you collapse, you won't be able to-"
Beringar clenched his jaw.
"I know… But I have to figure this formula out. I can do fifteen experiments more. The solution had to be in those fifteen…"
"...Then, come home earlier tomorrow. Or go in the afternoon. You still need rest."
"Reiko. The gold is running out… even faster than I thought. The reagent for Marlene got more expensive…"
The chalk he was holding trembled along with his hand.
Her chest tightened as ache crept into her heart.
She didn't know what he knew, nor could do what he did.
Then, the gold. If it meant it would buy him time. She would do anything.
Her hand pressed her lower stomach.
"As for the money… I'll help you out."
His gaze snapped towards her. She returned it with a smile.
"I'll go out working the night shift, that way, I can ease your burden even for a bit."
"You don't have to-"
Reiko shook her head.
"Just like you said, we're here for Marlene. All would be in vain if we can't revive her."
She glanced at the coffin briefly and back to him.
"Because of that, I'll do the night shifts! That way, I can guard and tend her by the day."
Her gaze landed on the alchemy sets behind him.
"But... you'll have to bear the night without me."
He jumped up from the chair and hugged her tight.
"Reiko!"
The force of it stole her breath. Yet it wasn't just that.
Her heart hammered. Each breath came ragged, too fast.
Then she returned the hug.
He hugged her even tighter, her breath hitched.
"I… I don't know what to do! I know I need money… but…"
"You know what to do… Please, let me make it easier for you…"
Her hands cupped his face and pulled him closer to her.
Tears spilled from both of them. Then she felt it. His hands cupped her head back.
Reiko's body jolted. Shivers spread from her spine like a mana surge.
This is it.
I'm sorry, Marlene…
Their lips finally touched.
Her hands slid from his face to his neck. They pulled each other closer.
Her heartbeat filled her ears. Too fast. Too loud.
This was both the scariest and happiest moment of her life.
The moonlight stayed outside. A witness to what bloomed within.
…
The room was warm and the bed was even warmer despite the cold night air.
Both of Reiko's hands wrapped around his palm.
He had been staring at the coffin, still.
Guilt crept in, despite everything.
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't. It's not your fault to begin with…"
His grip tightened around her, before he shifted closer.
His eyes locked onto hers. As if he had decided something.
"Reiko… why?"
She tilted her head, dazed.
"Why… would you go to such lengths for me?"
Her gaze drifted to the moon through the broken window.
"Do I really have to say it?"
It came again. The same heat on her face from the first time she met him.
The same restless hands in her own hair.
"Pffft… hahaha! Your tail! It's wagging!"
Her hands immediately grabbed a pillow and shoved it into his face.
She didn't say anything. She only felt how her face was combusting.
Yet she couldn't help but smile, a bittersweet one. This was exactly how they were as children at the farm.
A sensation on her ribs snapped her back.
"Hyaaaa! Y-you! You know you could just tap my knee or something, right!?"
Beringar grabbed the pillow away from his face, revealing the same bittersweet smile.
"It took me back…"
He glanced at the coffin once more.
"Before she got weakened… All four of us on the farm… Me, Marlene, you, Gerhard…"
His gaze returned to her.
"I think I've made up my mind!"
He pushed himself up, sitting on the bed.
"Reiko, I'll sell the farm formula…"
He gripped her hands, she could see the renewed fire in his eyes.
"That way, you don't have to work."
A pink hue rose to his cheeks.
His hand reached for her shoulder and his expression turned serious.
"Also… I've been thinking about what's next. After Marlene is revived."
Her cheeks glowed redder under the moonlight.
"You know how it is… me and Marlene. If she ended up with me… despite everything…"
He tightened his grip on her shoulder.
"We can… uh… If you want to… I want you to be part of it… If she allows it, of course!"
Reiko's eyes widened, her lips trembled. One of her hands snapped to her mouth.
Tears spilled over her cheek for the second time that night.
"Yes! Of course! I'd love to!"
I'm the worst…
Reiko cried and threw herself at him. He caught her.
She didn't know how hollow the night, the warmth, the promise would feel.