Part 1
Kaito walked leisurely down the cobbled streets of Astralis.
His destination: the carriage station to Aldoria.
Though the sky shone with a warm hue and the breeze was gentle, he couldn't shake off a strange feeling.
—Am I being followed...?
He turned subtly, but saw no one. Just merchants opening their stalls, children running around, and a pigeon or two too busy pecking at crumbs.
And yet...
At every corner he turned.
With every shadow he passed.
He kept hearing the same faint murmur behind him.
Soft footsteps. Small. Persistent.
He pressed his lips together and came to a sudden stop.
The footsteps stopped too.
Kaito spun around, and for a split second, caught sight of the edge of a tattered cloak... hiding behind a barrel of oranges.
—You again... —he muttered, sighing.
He crouched down, pretending to tie his shoelace.
—You could at least try harder, you know? If you're going to follow me, maybe don't step on every dry leaf in the street —he said out loud, not turning around.
Silence...
—Not going to say anything?
Nothing...
Kaito stood back up and kept walking. Ten steps later, he heard the footsteps again.
—Yep. Still following me...
She didn't seem dangerous. Didn't even seem to know why she was doing it.
But there she was.
The same hooded figure from the plaza.
The one who had said "thank you."
Kaito sighed and looked up at the sky.
—This is what I get for being nosy...
He turned as he walked.
—If you're going to hide, at least do it right. You're making me feel like a fool, like I can't see you.
She was still there, behind the same barrel of oranges. Poorly hidden. Her silhouette was completely visible, as if she only wanted to hide her face.
No response.
—You're hopeless... I already told you, I'm not your enemy. And you don't need to thank me for what happened yesterday.
Then, the figure stepped closer. Slowly, sizing him up with curiosity. One step. Then another. She started circling around him.
—You... —she said in a soft voice.
—You?
—Aren't you afraid of me?
—Afraid?
Kaito frowned as he watched her walk around him, like she was analyzing him.
—Tell me... why would I be afraid of a kid?
—Tch! —she clicked her tongue in annoyance and, without warning, kicked him in the leg.
—Wha—?! What was that for!?
—I'm not a kid! —she snapped, pulling back her hood with a huff.
And there she was.
A girl, clearly younger than Kaito, with messy hair, a slightly dirty face, and a fierce expression caught between indignation and pride.
Her clothes were worn, and her eyes had that strange glint... like someone who had learned to survive, but not to trust.
Her pointed ears made it clear she wasn't human, and a small sharp fang peeked from between her parted lips.
Her gaze... was like an unyielding flame.
—All right, all right, I'm sorry! How was I supposed to know with that hood on? Besides, your silhouette looked like—
He froze.
She brought her hands to her chest, eyes wide and face flushed red with embarrassment.
—How rude! —she snapped, visibly indignant. —I'm still growing, okay?! I'm a young and healthy elf!
Kaito suddenly crouched down, pressing his forehead to the ground.
—I'm really sorry! I didn't mean it!
—Hum... it's okay —she mumbled, still blushing. —It's not that big a deal...
—But... you're still not afraid of me? Even though I'm human?
—Huh? Why would I be? I still don't get what the problem is.
She raised her hand. With a small gesture, a flame danced gently at the tip of her finger.
—Because I'm a fire elf... —she said quietly, almost timidly.
—And that's supposed to be a bad thing? —Kaito replied with a smile. —Sounds pretty awesome to me.
She looked at him. For a moment, her eyes trembled.
For the first time in a long while... she felt accepted.
—You're not lying, right?
—Why would I?
—I don't know... but ever since I got to Estelaris, humans have been avoiding me.
—I didn't know elves had that kind of trouble... Why don't you go back to your tribe? Elves live in tribes, right?
—Yeah, but... I got kicked out for not being able to control my fire. Fire elves are supposed to be great warriors... but I'm a mage.
—You do see the irony?
Kaito recalled a card one of his classmates had summoned—an SSS-rank fire elf.
—Now that you mention it... you're right.
—The description said fire elves were fierce warriors, super muscular, hand-to-hand combat experts... and also pretty...
He stopped.
He remembered the card illustration way too clearly.
She looked at him suspiciously.
—That face again! I bet you were thinking something rude like: "She's so flat compared to other elves," weren't you?
Kaito slowly turned his face to the side.
—Hehe... no, come on. That's just your imagination...
—I knew it!
—Okay, let's move on —he said, trying to change the subject. —You still haven't told me your name, stalker.
—Stalker?! —she protested, puffing her cheeks. —I just wanted to thank you for yesterday...
—And for your information, my name is Seri Flames.
—Nice to meet you, Seri. I'm Kaito Amakawa.
—And you don't need to thank me —he added with a small smile. —I just did what I thought was right. It's not okay to pick on others...
—Even so... I wanted to thank you —she said, with a sincerity that caught him off guard.
—It's fine... take care, okay? —he replied, starting to walk again.
—Wait! —she exclaimed, grabbing the back of his shirt. —Where are you going?
—Well... I'm done here, so I'm heading to Aldoria.
—Would it be okay... if I came with you? —she asked, lowering her head. —I don't have anywhere to go... no money... no one.
—I promise I won't be a burden... chi? —she added, wearing the face of an abandoned puppy.
Those words hurt more than he expected.
He couldn't just leave her behind.
He looked up at the sky in resignation.
For a second, he imagined his father's face forming among the clouds, giving him a thumbs-up with a smug grin.
—I hate you so much, Amakawa... —he muttered to himself.
—All right —he sighed. —I'm heading to the noble academy. I don't mind if you come with me. We'll figure things out along the way.
He paused briefly. Looked her up and down... until his gaze stopped at her messy hair.
She immediately reacted, covering herself with her arms, blushing.
—W-What are you planning, Kaito?
—It's not what you think, I swear —he said, looking away, a bit flustered.
—I'm just saying... you could use a bath and a change of clothes. You stink, you know?
She squatted down, drawing circles on the ground with her finger, defeated.
—Why do you have to say it so bluntly...?
—Okay, okay... sorry —he said, raising both hands in peace as he pointed to a nearby inn.
—I'll rent two rooms here. You're going to take a bath, we'll have a proper meal, and then we'll go buy you some clothes. Sound good?
She nodded firmly, as if it were a life-or-death mission.
—Good. Let's go —Kaito said, starting to walk. —And don't expect anything fancy, okay?
—I already told you my budget is very limited...
They returned to the same inn with a tavern that Kaito had left that morning. The innkeeper gave him a curious look upon seeing him return... this time with company.
Kaito placed a few coins on the counter, feeling his budget shrink with every clink.
—Two rooms, please. And make sure the bath has hot water.
The innkeeper nodded without asking questions.
Not long after, Seri disappeared behind the bathroom door, holding a towel and some borrowed clothes. Her expression was a mix of excitement and nerves.
Meanwhile, Kaito took the chance to head to the shopping district. He wandered through a few stores, examining outfits with the face of a self-proclaimed expert.
—Hmm... this should go well with her style... or at least with her attitude —he muttered, picking something simple, comfortable, and—according to him—fitting for her personality.
Back at the inn, he left the change of clothes outside the bathroom door and headed down to the common area.
There, he sat and began eating a simple meal with chopsticks, mentally reviewing his plan for Aldoria.
But when he saw her come out...
—Wait—that's you?! —he blurted, nearly choking on his rice.
Seri stood there, her clean hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, wearing simple clothes that suited her perfectly. Her pointed ears peeked out from between the strands, and for the first time... she looked like a normal girl.
—W-What is it? Does the outfit not suit me?
—No... it's just... you looked like a completely different person —he said, still stunned.
She lowered her gaze, unsure of how to react.
—Well... thank you for everything you've done for me —she whispered. —I promise I won't let you down.
Kaito smiled, his shoulders relaxing.
—As long as you don't kick me again, we're good.
Seri puffed out her cheeks again, but couldn't help letting out a small laugh.
—Hey! You started eating without me!
—Sorry, sorry! Waiter, two more portions, please!
And just like that—without saying it out loud—both of them knew that, from that moment on, they wouldn't be alone anymore.