White Night stepped in front of Iris and spoke softly.
I'll open the cage in a moment—don't be afraid.
...Mm.
Iris answered slowly, her voice barely audible, but White Night didn't mind; she knew Iris's timidity and fear, so she wouldn't rush her.
Good girl.
Without another word, White Night gathered mana in her hand and crushed the metal lock on the cage in one grip.
The lock shattered with a piercing metallic screech. Iris flinched, her small, delicate frame trembling.
It's all right—it's over now.
White Night opened the cage and reached out to Iris.
Come, out you go.
Iris hesitated, as if she couldn't believe it, but when she saw White Night's gentle, sincere smile, she knew at last: this wasn't a dream—she could truly leave this cage!
Take my hand.
White Night's voice was soft, her movements careful, as though handling fragile porcelain.
She knew Iris felt no sense of safety, so she did everything possible not to startle her.
Th-thank you...
Iris cautiously extended her tender little hand and clasped White Night's.
For no reason she could name, warmth flowed through her the moment their hands met; the unease and despair in her heart eased, and she felt a long-lost warmth return.
Are you hurt anywhere?
Iris wasn't tall; standing straight, she barely reached White Night's shoulder. She looked perhaps fifteen or sixteen, frail and pale to the point of seeming sickly.
Perhaps because she saw in Iris the abandoned child she herself had once been, the girl's delicate, melancholy look struck a deep chord in White Night.
Though they were practically strangers, she instinctively treated the fragile girl with the utmost tenderness.
Does anything feel wrong? If it does, you must tell me.
White Night was always gentle, but today she was almost too gentle.
Iris simply looked too much like... like the girl she had been when she was thrown out to die in the snow. "Your clothes are in tatters—you must be freezing."
The auction hall was underground, and night had fallen; it was indeed cold. White Night quickly pulled a spare robe from her spatial ring and draped it over Iris.
Wear this for now. When morning comes, I'll take you to buy proper clothes.
White Night clasped Iris's hand and found it icy; she cupped it between both of her own.
Hah~hah~ Better?
Uuh...
Wrapped in the robe, Iris felt White Night's concern spread warmth through her body.
At last she couldn't hold back; the emotions she'd bottled up burst free. She threw herself into White Night's arms and sobbed.
Uuh—I was so scared, so scared...
Tears streamed down Iris's delicate, pale cheeks, soaking White Night's clothes.
White Night didn't mind; she held Iris and let the tears soak her robe.
It's okay now, really okay.
She gently stroked Iris's head, comforting her in the softest voice.
White Night knew the desperation of being utterly alone. Iris needed to let it out; only after this storm of tears could the despair begin to fade.
I'm here. No one will hurt you again.
Iris cried for a long time. She had been abducted months ago.
She'd thought she would spend the rest of her life locked in that gloomy cage, used as a toy for others' pleasure, her future nothing but despair.
Never had she imagined the Silver-haired Girl before her would pull her from that abyss.
White Night was like a knight from a fairy-tale, arriving at her darkest, most helpless hour.
Thank you... thank you for saving me.
Only after a long while did Iris's sobs quiet.
Though her eyes still glistened with tears, the despair and gloom were gone; her expression was no longer wooden but alive once more.
Don't cry. It's over. No one will hurt you again.
White Night reached out and gently wiped the tears from Iris's eyes.
Where is your home? How did those people bring you here?
That mattered; White Night needed to know what Iris had endured and whether she still had a place to return to.
Only then could she decide what to do next.
My home is in Nuokan Territory. Traffickers kidnapped me.
At the memory, Iris's tears threatened to spill again.
I've been gone so long... Mother and Father must be frantic.
From her words, White Night was sure Iris had a home waiting.
That simplified things; she wouldn't need to find another way to settle Iris—she could simply take her back.
Nuokan Territory... What a coincidence—it's right on my way.
White Night wore a gentle smile as she stroked Iris's hair.
"How about I take you home?"
"R-really?"
Hope flooded Iris's eyes; of course she longed for someone to see her safely home, yet she knew the Silver-haired Girl before her owed her nothing.
After all, being rescued was already more than enough—she couldn't dare ask for anything else.
"Of course it's true. If you'll let me, I'll deliver you to your door without a scratch."
"I—I will!"
"Good." White Night chuckled and took Iris's hand. "But it's late; we'll leave at dawn."
"Th-thank you… what should I call you…?"
"Just call me White Night."
The night deepened, though places like inns were still open for business.
White Night led Iris out of the Flower District and found them lodging.
The innkeeper thought it odd that two girls would check in so late, yet a customer was a customer and he asked no questions.
After a quick registration he showed them upstairs.
"Here are your rooms—right next to each other."
The owner rubbed sleepy eyes; at this hour he was exhausted.
"The bedding's new and there's hot water in the showers. I'll leave you be—make yourselves at home."
Yawning, he bade them good-night and went back down; the inn would soon close, and after tidying up he could finally sleep.
"Off to bed now. Tomorrow I'll take you home."
Hearing this, Iris didn't move; instead she twisted her sleeve and said in a trembling voice,
"I… I don't want to sleep alone…"
"Oh? Why not?"
"…I'm scared."
White Night hesitated; she knew Iris felt unsafe, but hadn't realized the girl couldn't even sleep by herself.
"Then would you like to sleep with me?"
Blushing, Iris gave a small nod.
"…Mm."
White Night gave a wry smile—she had only meant to ask, yet Iris truly wished to share the room.
She wasn't sure it was right; sleeping together felt somehow wrong. Yet looking into Iris's hopeful eyes, she couldn't refuse.
Whatever, she thought; she was a girl now anyway.
"All right, then."
In the end White Night decided to stay with her; the girl had just been rescued and was fragile, and White Night wanted to grant whatever comfort she could.
She led Iris inside, flicked the switch by the door, and lit the room.
This world had no electricity, yet lighting needed no candles—transparent crystals glowed with mana.
Fashioned into lamps, they looked just like electric bulbs.
Once the crystal lamp brightened the room, White Night hoped it would give Iris a sense of safety.
"Go bathe first; you're all sticky."
"C-can we bathe together?"
"What's wrong—can't bathe alone?"
"…Mm."
Iris's voice was barely audible; she felt useless for being unable even to bathe by herself.
"It's all right. I'll wait right outside."
"Really?"
"Really. I won't lie to you."
White Night tapped Iris's nose.
"Tell me: Iris can bathe by herself, can't she?"
Perhaps not wanting to seem helpless, or perhaps heartened by White Night's encouragement, Iris hesitated, then nodded.
"Mm!"
Iris truly lacked security: she feared the dark, cramped spaces, and being alone.
Locked in a cage, she had endured enough; now that she held White Night's hand and felt safe again, she refused to let go.
"Sister Bai Ye, you'll stay outside, right?"
Wrapped in a towel, Iris still begged for reassurance before stepping into the bathroom.
"Relax. I'll be here waiting."
White Night smiled with utmost gentleness, showing no impatience; she understood Iris's need for care and company.
Before meeting Angelie, White Night's own life had mirrored Iris's so closely she could feel every pang the girl felt.
She sympathized too deeply to refuse any request Iris made that lay within her power.
"Promise you'll wait, Sister Bai Ye."
"I promise—if I lie, may I turn into a pig-headed ogre."
"N-no, I don't want Sister Bai Ye to become anything like that…"
Iris finally entered the bathroom, leaving the door ajar—not for any other reason than to hear White Night's voice.