To Murder Fiends, “companions” is as distant as stars behind mist. They share no kinship, rarely align—each a lone blade chasing storms, sometimes turning that blade inward.

“But there’s a certain lord,” Blood Dancer said, voice like silk over steel, “who, with power like thunder and pay like gold rain, secretly tamed many Murder Fiends for his own use.”

“He can tame Murder Fiends? That lord… is he really that strong?” The blue-haired girl’s words fluttered like sparrows in sudden wind.

“Hmph.” Blood Dancer’s smile was a crescent of red moonlight. “I’m not worthy to face him head-on. But they say one flick of his finger could erase you and me.”

She licked her lips, red as peonies after rain, eyes glittering like shards of ice.

“That— that’s impossible…” Yue Liuyi drew in a cold breath, sharp as winter air crossing reeds.

“Thousand Night Snow, I admit you’re strong,” Blood Dancer purred, voice like a knife under velvet. “But I promise, you are absolutely not her match.”

“Um… I already said, I’m not Thousand Night Snow. She’s over here.” Yue Liuyi’s hand fluttered, awkward as a kite snagged in branches. Explaining you’re not yourself is a strange dream, a mirror misting over.

“You only know after crossing blades!” The blue-haired girl folded her arms, trying to look stern, but her posture was a willful young miss stamping in rain puddles. “Blood Dancer, you didn’t bend just to power, did you? What did that lord promise you?”

“I asked for ‘an ageless face and a forever-young form.’” Her eyes rippled like black water. “For every woman, isn’t that the dream under the moon?”

“Ugh… it is, but how could that be real?” The blue-haired girl’s doubt was fog over lantern light. “From any angle it feels like an empty check.”

“Of course it’s possible.” Blood Dancer’s tone rang like iron in a cavern. “Die and return, flesh rebuilt. By that lord’s power, Nightmare Rust has revived more than once—his wish was immortality, a strength that steps over death.”

“—” Yedie Snow’s brows knit tight, like frost laying lines across a lake. She had killed Nightmare Rust with her own hands, yet he had crawled back from dusk. Life and soul magic are deep seas among schools of sorcery—mysteries still drift there like uncharted reefs. If that “lord” can truly raise the dead, he’s a foe as dreadful as night swallowing the shore.

(I need to deliver this intel to headquarters—like sending a flare before dawn.)

Yue Liuyi gave Dixue time to think, then pressed on, voice steady as a lantern in wind: “Even so… why go after Chulei and Zaocun? Why insist on that Red Rainbow Magic Round?”

“Because… the lord ordered it.” Blood Dancer’s answer fell like ash upon coals.

“Only an order?” Yue Liuyi saw unfinished words trembling like a trapped moth and pursued.

“… The lord wants to secure entry rights at the Black Fortress.” Her whisper slithered like oil.

“Black Fortress!? The Rainbow Sanctuary…” Yue Liuyi’s heart stirred, a heron taking off from reeds. The twelve Rainbow Fortresses each open in different ways; the Black Fortress opens by the simplest ritual—slaughter. That fortress, hidden in blood and flesh, is an arena that drinks lives like wine; only winners earn breath. Losers’ blood and life are the only sacrifices to unseal its gate.

(Even the Murder Fiends’ leader has gone into the Rainbow Sanctuary? This is bad—storm bad.)

“Don’t be afraid, Xiao Yue.” Dixue clasped Yue Liuyi’s hand, warmth like charcoal under snow. “We don’t have to go to the Black Fortress. And Rangers Lodge isn’t scared of them. Nightmare Rust got truly killed, didn’t he? So rest easy, LittleSnow~”

“Thanks…” Yue Liuyi thanked the blue-haired girl, her voice a small stream. Her hand, without thinking, reached out.

“Eh? Xiao Yue wants to pat her own head?” Dixue’s bright blue eyes blinked, like lake-light under sun, and she leaned closer.

“Eh? N-no!!” Yue Liuyi snatched her hand back, heart fluttering like a startled skylark. She had just reached to touch her body’s head—those azure strands were too smooth, like silk sliding through fingers, inviting a sure and simple stroke.

“You two, are you done?” Blood Dancer’s mood spiked again, storm gathering at the edge of her gaze.

“Okay, okay~” Dixue waved lightly, a willow branch asking the wind for calm. “If that lord is that strong… why doesn’t he act himself?”

“Because he’s not on this ship,” Blood Dancer said. “He only contacts us through a messenger bird.”

“Mm. Got it.” Dixue’s tone turned crisp, a blade rinsed in stream water. “One last question… you’re working with the Third Princess, aren’t you?”

“W-What are you saying? Th-Third Princess? Who is that?” Blood Dancer’s eyes flickered, like lamps under a sudden draft.

“Her underground title should be the Puppetmaster of Fire. Does that ring any bells?” Dixue’s smile cut quietly, like frost on bamboo.

“—!” Blood Dancer’s shock flashed, a firefly caught midflight. That look was answer enough.

==============================================================

“Whew~ All done~” Dixue, pleased and glowing like a lantern after rain, handed a stack of interrogation notes to Xiang Xiaoyan waiting outside.

“Liuyi, I’m truly grateful for your help.” Xiaoyan’s voice was gentle, a fan closing in twilight.

“I’m Dixue.” The correction hopped like a sparrow.

“Ah… sorry, I forgot.” Xiang Xiaoyan gave a wry smile and smoothed her hair, like reeds combed by wind. “Tonight, I’ll cook everyone a banquet.”

“Eh? Xiao Yan’s cooking herself!?” The surprise rang like chimes.

“Dixue moved forward, so I can’t stand still.” Her eyes held resolve, a blade wrapped in velvet.

“Senior Xiang…” Yue Liuyi watched quietly, her gaze soft as moonlight on rice fields. She didn’t know what Dixue and Xiaoyan were to each other, but the closeness glowed warm, a hearth in winter.

“Liuyi, I’ll trouble you from now on.” Xiaoyan’s tone was solemn, like a tea ceremony. “Please stay by Dixue’s side. She’s… actually a girl afraid of solitude.”

“Xiao Yan!!!! What are you saying!!!!” Alarm shot through Dixue like a startled deer; she lunged to cover her bestie’s mouth.

In the scramble, Dixue forgot she now wore Yue Liuyi’s body. Her usual agility was gone, and that frilly lolita dress barred motion like vines. She leapt forward, missed the mark, and lost balance—like a willow in a gust.

“LittleSnow!!” Yue Liuyi felt her body light, wind under feet—she stretched out her arms and caught Dixue.

Beauty fell into her embrace, soft as water without bones.

Dixue’s face flushed at once, peach blooming in spring.

“LittleSnow, you okay?” Yue Liuyi’s voice was a blanket over snow.

“I’m fine… no, this is a perfect chance!” The blue-haired girl whipped out her phone, gleam like a star on black water, and tapped the selfie button.

“Eh? LittleSnow… what are you doing?” The silver-haired girl froze, eyes round as full moons, as the blue-haired mischief made faces at the lens like a fox at twilight.

“Act helpless. Then I’ll print it, and admire the photo of LittleSnow being hugged forever~” The tease danced, a cat batting yarn.

“Whoa!! How can you use someone else’s body for that! Delete it, now!!!” Yue Liuyi flailed, shame fluttering like paper in wind.

“Not deleting, ever~” The sing-song answer twirled like a ribbon.

…

The night breeze came soft and clean, like silk rinsed in rain.

Dixue opened the balcony windows; distant noise drifted in like river song. Storm passed, night washed bright. People, long cooped up, flowed onto the deck, strolling the planks and tasting sky and wind.

“Celebrate the victory—cheers~” Glass clinked like stars touching.

“Cheers~” Joy rose like lanterns.

Inside the Skyship, dreamy like a painted tale, six “girls” with hair in six colors sat around a round table, glasses of juice catching light like amber pools. They celebrated the sweet relief of winning a fight.

They celebrated more than beating Murder Fiends; it was also Zaocun’s first visit—welcome was warm as morning sun.

Golden fish-shaped sweets rested on plates, gleaming like sunlight on scales. Spring rolls, wrapped in crisp skin around pork and cabbage, shone under lamps like lacquered wood.

“What’s this fish-shaped thing? It looks so good!” Curiosity wove like mist.

“Senior Xiang specially prepared taiyaki! And spring rolls—just like Zaocun’s name!” Playfulness rang like bells.

“Wow, so good!” The catfolk girl took one bite, then couldn’t stop—devouring like a whale gulping waves.

“Hey, Zaocun, leave me some.” Whine came sweet, like a flute.

“Nope. First come, first served~” Her grin flashed, fox-bright.

“Then I’m grabbing too!!!” Zero Wei lunged, a hawk snatching.

“…” The purple-haired girl didn’t speak, but a smile curled at her lips, a crescent under clouds.

“We finally get Xiao Yan cooking again, and those two imps wipe the plate clean…” Dixue hesitated, pride a little thorn in her paw. She wouldn’t fight juniors for sweets, though she loved them like bees love blossoms.

“Don’t worry.” Xiang Xiaoyan’s voice soothed like tea steam. “I prepared special dishes for Dixue and Liuyi.”

“Eh? What? What!” Since stepping into Yue Liuyi’s body, Dixue was even more prone to playful whining—bouncing in place, a blue-sparrow showing off.

(Ugh… I want to stop LittleSnow, but I definitely can’t…) Yue Liuyi sighed, a leaf drifting on a brook, as Xiang Xiaoyan lifted the lid and revealed the treasure.

“Tonkotsu ramen. Please enjoy.” Steam rose like morning fog over a village.

“Eh! Looks amazing! But… why only one bowl…” Yue Liuyi leaned in, eyes like lakes catching stars. Slick noodles, tender char siu, delicate wood ear, and broth rich as melted bone—all but begged to be swallowed whole. Yet there was only one bowl.

“Not just one bowl. There’s only one noodle.” Xiang Xiaoyan’s smile was impish, a cat behind a fan. “So… please slurp together.”

“Wow! My dear Xiao Yan knows my heart!” Joy sparkled like frost.

“O-One noodle! W-What are you doing—what kind of eating is that!” Yue Liuyi sputtered, blush climbing like dawn.

“Don’t run, Xiao Yue! It’s Xiao Yan’s rare heartfelt gift—accept it~” Dixue tugged lightly, red string of fate disguised as wheat.

“Uu…” The sound was a pebble dropping in a pond.

Dinner was merry, round as the blue moon at the rim of the sky, full and perfect.