“Aeriea!”

“Aeyyy!”

Hearing my name, I remember my abandoned friends and gasp. Running out the entrance, I see my friends looking for me in a frenzy and feel myself soften with appreciation at their worry.

“Hey, I’m over here!” I’m all smiles as I wave them over.

Fen walks over to me with purpose in his step, a little faster than the other two.

- Before knocking me on the head.

“Ow!” It doesn’t hurt but I dramatically yell anyways.

“What are you doing running off in such a crowd! Are you an idiot!”

“That-”

He irritably squishes my cheeks together with one hand so I can’t speak.

Mrrrrgggghhh!

“Hahaha! Incroyable! It is as if I’m seeing a petit version of you, Jul!”

“You’re annoying, Trais.”

Seeing the two new faces, Fen relaxes his grip.

“Do not worry, little fox. We took good care of her.” Trais hugs me.

...Hmn?

Everything is dyed in a rosy haze, my body begins moving before I can think. The next thing I know, my face is snuggled against her chest.

Fenrir and Horusha’s face go cherry-red.

Hahaha~ their expressions are so funny~!

“W-Wh-What are you doing, Aeriea?” Ru tries to carefully pluck my hands off without touching anything himself.

My eyes are a little bleary, but I feel light as if I don't have a care in the world. “Hehe, so flat~”

“I’m s-so sorry about her, she’s normally not like… This…?” Fen pauses. “Actually wait, that other Ceres girl…”

Vani doesn’t speak and just holds my chin up, sniffing my breath. “She’s drunk.”

“EH?!” The other two jolt and send suspicious glares at Trais and Jul. “What did you do to her!? Intoxicating a young girl, that's messed up!”

“W-What sort of indecent things were you planning on doing to her!?”

Even Vani seems to silently flare up.

“Er- No, we didn’t do anything of the sort…” Jul places his hands up defensively, but then give Trais a weary glance. “Unless you…”

“I didn’t do anything of the sort! What in Twice, have some faith in your longtime friend!”

“Haha, that candy was so yummy~”

“…”

“...What did you eat, Aeriea?”

“A nice lady let me try one of her liqueur candies.”

“…Intoxication from a single piece of candy… Is that even possible?”

“Hehehehe~” I can't help but giggle.

*

When I next awaken, I find myself tucked into a cozy couch filled with an assortment of lush blankets and throws.

Lazily stretching, I feel really refreshed! Sitting up, I see the five are playing a card game. “Good morning!”

“Oh, Aey…” Fen tiredly exhales, but smiles and cuts me some cards.

Ru's chimes jingle as he chuckles behind his sleeves, “Good morning, although it is not yet dawn.”

“Don't drink again.”

“Hmn? What do you mean? Water is an essential necessity of life, Vani.”

I hear sighs all around the table. Hmn???

“Anyways, it is getting quite late. Now that Aeriea has awakened, you four should head back to the University grounds.”

“As much as I hate to agree with this bore of a man- That was probably more than enough adventure for you tonight, petite vixen.”

“Aw, but we didn't even get to explore the majority of town!”

“Says the one who passed out!” Fen teasingly musses my hair until it's a bird's nest of straw.

“Wah! Hey! Stop-”

I see Ru place down a winning hand and chuckle at Vani’s frown. Grinning, an idea pops into my head. Sneakily catching Fen's attention, I point towards Ru with a mischievous glint to my eyes.

Ru seems to notice though, he freezes and his bells stop jingling. “P-Please don't…!”

“Let's go, Sergeant Aey!”

“Affirmative, Major Fen!”

We both tickle Ru and muss his hair up.

“W-wahhhh…”

Vani and Jul wordlessly judges us, while Trais chuckles.

“If only I could see such cute things everyday… Alas,” Trais stands up and urges us out the door. “Shoo shoo now, little kittens. Make haste and do not wander so far from your burrows next time.”

“Okay! Bye Trais, bye Jul!” Waving our goodbyes, we start to head back to the plaza at a slow pace. Today being a week-end meant we could afford to sleep in.

As we walk and talk, I begin to feel something… Uncomfortable pull at my consciousness.

I stop dead in my tracks.

It's as if darkness is creeping down the street, clouding up the light and bustle.

Fen and Ru don't notice though and continue happily chatting while walking up ahead.

“Hey… Do you feel something… Odd in the air…?” I breathe out to Vani.

Vaniriel's golden irises flicks towards me, her gaze blank, yet intent.

The other two look back towards us in confusion. However, Vani just looks ahead, her tone growing serious. “Keep walking. Don't look back.”

Dread fills me at her sentence. I can feel it heavy on us now. It drips with hunger and greed, a base terror squeezes my chest.

The three of us instinctively trust her. We keep walking, step by step, one foot in front of the other without a glance behind. It feels like moon-cycles pass as we walk, although it couldn't have been more than a fraction of a sun-tick. Taking one slow step at a time, we force our gazes forwards.

Heft of flesh, a tangle of limbs. Mangled images flash through my mind's eye. Dark strands coalesce around. I can feel it winding around my body, trying to ensnare and pull us back towards it.

My breathing grows shaky now, it feels as if I'm choking for air. Tears are unwillingly welling up, my pulse irregular.

What is it? It's calling to me… I want to go back… it's there… I need it. I need it. I need it. I NEED IT. I-

And then we step out of the alleyway.

My mind and lung clear with thought and air. Looking down, I see my fingers trembling. I try to hold my hands together, but they continue to shake.

I look to the side. Fenrir is tense, hairs standing on edge. Horusha looks completely unnerved. Vaniriel is...

Huh?

Where's Vaniriel?