Chapter 27.2 Play With Fire,

Jul forcefully drags me towards Trais who’s standing by the counter. She also wasn’t there a second ago.

“You, you are but a small child, what are you getting yourself into!?”

“I-I, you two weren’t there earlier…” The words he throws at me doesn’t process. Could Vani have vanished like these two?

Trais furrows her brows and eases Jul. “I do not think she is what you are thinking, Jul.”

He seems to intrinsically trust her and eases up a bit, “Then speak. Explain why you came back and grabbed that vial in particular.”

“I- We, our friend, Vani disappeared in the alleyway suddenly. I-It was like the darkness just consumed her and took her away… I thought I could come back and ask if you knew anything. I only grabbed that, because of… Intuition…?”

They glance at each other, their eyes seeming to communicate something. “Where are your friends now?”

“Fen! Ru!” I shout, but they don’t appear. “Huh? They were here just a moment ago… What’s going on tonight…?”

“Your nickname… Aey.” Jul suddenly stiffens, his demeanor growing distant again. “Aeriea… Aeriea Newlyn of the Newlyn household, correct? Your father is the Minister of Interspecies Relations.”

“Y-Yes.”

How does he know who I am?

“That would explain the compulsive pull I felt from you... I thought you a Fairfolk noble perhaps.” He sighs, massaging his forehead as if in particular stress.

“Child of Sunira, you are in an In-Between of night and day, caught between the living and the spirit. Today so happens to be the Seelie Court's revel, celebrating the coming of the Summer Solstice.”

“Perhaps your friend was spirited away by one of the more malicious beings.” Trais furrows her brow in worry.

“Anyways, it is dangerous here. We’ll find her, so quickly leave. Actually, Trais you escort her back to the University.”

Trais looks at Jul in shock. “Don’t be ridiculous! I can’t leave your side unguarded!”

“Then what do you suppose we do? I already made a mistake in sending those kids off by themselves, and one of them got… Lost.”

“H-Hold on! I-I also don’t want to leave until I’ve found my friend!” I begin protesting.

Jul shuts me up with a frosty look. “You have no say in the matter.”

T-They're only five constellation-cycles older than me! Yet, I’m being treated like a petulant child, I think sourly.

He notices my scathing looks and sighs. “I am Juler Frey, the first-in-line to the Freyjr throne. This is one of my knights, Trais Roilèn.”

The new information is disarming, my eyes going wide.

“We’re here on a highly important investigation. So if you understand, then quickly go home and patiently wait.”

“W-Wait! Y-You…!” I look at Trais in alluring makeup and hair tied up in the exquisite fashion of high-end dancers. “You’re Este’s older brother!?”

“Oh my. You know my cute, baby mouse of a sister?”

“A-And you’re First Prince Juler…!” The story of the First Prince being of Seelie descent surfaces in my mind. “I deeply apologize for any liberties I may have taken against you two tonight!”

Juler looks at me impatiently before pushing Trais and I out. “Just hurry up and leave!”

“Aey!” Suddenly Fenrir and Horusha appear from the top of a small, spiraling staircase. “There you are! Where did you disappear off to again?”

At this point, Juler looks like he’s about to have a stroke. “Just one annoyance after another…!”

But before they can come down the stairs... At the entrance where Prince Juler, Sir Trais, and I are standing… A sickly-sweet smell brushes past my nose.

The same one that came from the quick whiff I had of the powder. I feel a mild heat caress my face, before an explosion suddenly sears everything around me.