Morning light stretched across the high balcony.
Arin stood before Caelum.
"I need to tell you something."
Caelum regarded him calmly.
Arin exhaled.
"Cutie spoke."
Silence.
Caelum's expression did not change immediately.
Then—
"…It spoke?"
Arin nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Hmmm."
Caelum turned slightly, thoughtful.
"Interesting."
That word again.
Arin swallowed.
Even Caelum didn't know.
Which meant this wasn't normal.
Which meant—
This was bigger than he thought.
Caelum stepped forward.
"So."
He glanced toward the central spire of the palace.
"Shall we go?"
Arin stiffened.
"…Yes."
---
The throne hall opened before them once more.
The air was heavy.
Still.
Timeless.
Caelum knelt.
Arin followed.
"My Lady," Caelum began smoothly, "the human has reported a development."
The Goddess' golden eyes rested upon them.
"The entity accompanying him… has spoken."
A faint shift in the atmosphere.
Caelum continued.
"It expressed remorse for failing to protect him."
"And displayed signs of diminished luminosity."
Silence followed.
Then—
A faint smile curved her lips.
"So."
"It can speak."
Her voice carried a subtle note of interest.
"Interesting."
Her gaze shifted to Arin.
It fell upon him completely.
And Arin felt it.
Like being held in place by the weight of eternity.
He lowered his head slightly.
He could not hide this.
He could not pretend it hadn't happened.
Then—
She spoke.
"Show me."
The words were simple.
But absolute.
Arin hesitated for half a second.
Then slowly raised his hand.
"Cutie…"
A soft glow formed.
Small.
Fragile.
The light materialized.
But the moment it did—
The Goddess' gaze sharpened.
Cutie flickered.
And then—
It moved.
Not floating passively.
Not hovering above his palm.
It darted behind him.
Hiding.
Clinging to the back of his shoulder.
Arin froze.
"…What?"
He hadn't known it could move like that.
The Goddess watched silently.
Her expression unreadable.
Arin awkwardly reached behind himself.
"Cutie… what are you doing?"
"Come here."
"Let the Goddess see you."
The small glow trembled.
And refused.
Arin forced a nervous laugh.
"My Lady… forgive me."
"It seems this is Cutie's first time seeing you."
"It's… very shy."
A small voice came from behind him.
"I… not… shy…"
Arin's soul left his body.
"Sh…e… is scary."
Time stopped.
Arin's head snapped back.
"Shhh—!"
"Be quiet, Cutie!"
The glow flickered stubbornly.
"B…ut… it's the tr…uth…"
Caelum's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
He did not breathe.
Arin's mind was collapsing internally.
First, it spoke.
Then it moved.
Now it was openly calling the Goddess scary.
Why.
Why today.
Why in front of her.
He turned forward quickly.
Sweat forming at his temple.
"My Lady—"
He bowed deeper.
"I believe this is a misunderstanding."
"My companion lacks awareness of divine decorum."
Internally he screamed:
What do I even say?! Why are you trying to kill me, Cutie?!
The glow behind him pulsed faintly.
Muttering something unintelligible.
The hall remained silent.
Dangerously silent.
The Goddess did not look angry.
She did not look amused.
She simply observed.
Her golden gaze shifted slightly—
Not at Arin.
But at the small trembling light behind him.
And for the first time—
Her aura shifted.
Not outwardly.
But subtly.
Ancient recognition.
Not fear.
Not threat.
Recognition.
Then she spoke.
Her voice calm.
Almost curious.
"Come here."
Not a command.
Not forceful.
But inevitable.
The glow trembled harder.
And pressed closer against Arin's back.
Refusing.
The air thickened.
Arin braced himself.
But instead of wrath—
The Goddess leaned back slightly on her throne.
"How intriguing."
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
"It resists me."
Caelum's gaze flicked subtly toward her.
That should not be possible.
Not here.
Not in this realm.
Not before her.
Arin blinked.
"…Resists?"
He didn't fully understand.
But he understood one thing clearly.
This wasn't normal.
The Goddess' smile deepened just slightly.
And this time—
There was unmistakable interest.
Very real interest.
"Human."
Her gaze returned to him.
"Tell me."
"Do you know what you are carrying?"
Silence fell like a blade.
And for the first time—
Arin realized something terrifying.
Maybe Cutie wasn't weak.
Maybe it wasn't helpless.
Maybe—
It was hiding.
And not from him.