Despite the ambush, Tisinate snapped to, like a doe hearing thunder.
She lifted her gem-longsword, a shimmering wall sealing every opening up front.
But—
Ugh!
Pain burst from her chest, like ice blooming under her ribs.
She didn’t even see the strike; she was hurled back like a leaf in a gale.
(What… happened?)
The elf girl stared at her chest, horror rising like winter through silk.
A mortal wound. Her heart was pierced by a pitch-black blade, like night driven into dawn.
Crimson blood fountained out, flooding her vision like a storm of petals.
The stab in her heart was pure despair, like a cold river swallowing light.
It was icy and razor-sharp, leaving no room for rescue, like a door sealed by frost.
(Did I fail?)
Tisinate’s pupils blew wide, like midnight irising open.
Her sight blurred, fog closing on a mountain path.
Ailuna struggled nearby, like a fawn caught in brambles.
Their companions pounded closer, footsteps drumming the ground.
But it was already too late, like dusk falling mid-song.
The foe was the senior Canary Queen, who knew every weakness of the Silverwing Elves like a hunter reading tracks.
Being one-shotted by her should’ve been expected, like lightning finding the tallest tree.
Still, at least let Ailuna—
As Tisinate gathered the last of her strength for a dying strike at the dark elf, like a candle flaring at the end—
A steady hand cradled her back, like a shore catching a wave.
Warmth poured into her heart, a gentle spring breeze, clean and soft.
?
Yikes, almost too late!
A petite blue-haired girl popped into view, catching Tisinate mid-flight and setting her down gently, like a bird on moss.
A drone glowing green skimmed to her chest, needles and micro-scalpels unfurling, treating the Elven Queen like a surgeon born of starlight.
Tisinate, don’t worry. You’ll be okay!
You’re… Yue Liuyi…?
Mm-hm!
Yue Liuyi nodded and snapped open the Stellar Moon Compass. Moonlight filled the space, warding ambush, while its gravity field drew floating dust, keeping the emergency work clean.
…
On the other side, Dixue’s silhouette flickered into being, frost on a taut bowstring.
The silver-haired archer drew and loosed without mercy, an arrow hunting the dark elf’s back like a white comet.
The shot was blindingly fast, packed with unrivaled force. No phasing trick could slip past it.
A silver-white beam speared the dark elf’s shoulder and burst into dazzling light, like moonfire splitting stone.
Ailuna, at arm’s length, wasn’t touched at all, like a blossom spared by hail.
One-hit kill was Dixue’s home ground, like a hawk pinning prey mid-air.
Back when they hunted Nightmare Rust, Dixue felled that stubborn foe the same way. Now she simply did it again, winter-steady.
The dark elf tried to raise her blade for Ailuna’s throat. The silver arrow tore her whole arm away, and her body locked like stone.
The tide flipped in a heartbeat. Ailuna tore free and ran forward, a startled swallow taking wing.
Sister, honored sister!
Lady Ailuna, are you unharmed?
Kashiya rushed in, hugged Ailuna, and hid her behind like a living shield.
But Ailuna refused the shelter, struggling toward Tisinate like a moth to its lamp.
Sister Tisinate!
Ailuna, don’t worry. It’s okay now.
Yue Liuyi steered the Stellar Moon Compass, opening a clear path for the pink-haired girl, like reeds parting in a stream.
R-really… she’s okay?
Yeah.
Yue Liuyi nodded and showed Tisinate, cradled in her arms, to Ailuna.
Sure enough, after the drone’s care, Tisinate’s condition steadied. Even the severed artery was patched by nanobots, like silver ants bridging a gap.
Aside from pallor from blood loss, no other problem remained, like a storm spent.
Uu… r-really okay… uu…
Tears finally fell, a soft rain breaking.
In a breath, Ailuna was a figure of tears, porcelain under a waterfall.
I’m sorry… it’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have wished Sister to become the way I like… it’s because Ailuna’s trash, a freak…
Her tears poured like a waterfall, soaking Yue Liuyi and Tisinate’s clothes, rain on silk.
Um, Ailuna?
I-it’s okay…
Tisinate lifted a hand, fingers trembling, and brushed the pink-haired girl’s cheek, wiping tears like dew off petals.
In that moment, Tisinate was no longer the regal Elven Queen, no longer the calm, wary guardian of the World Tree.
Facing Ailuna, she was just an elf girl in love, a spring swallow finding her nest.
B-but… Ailuna is sinful, she’s—
About Ailuna… I know it all.
Tisinate let a small smile bloom. She didn’t care what the dark elf had said. She believed Ailuna was kind; and even if the Canary’s tale was true—
Then sacrificing herself didn’t matter, like tossing a lamp into night so someone else could see.
Because from the very start,
she had decided so, ink sealed on silk.
Not only because it was her duty,
but more importantly—
…
…
…
Youyou’s door swung open.
A-anyone here?
Tisinate, still a little girl, tiptoed in, trembling. Earlier that day, her mother had said she’d meet a playmate.
But who was the playmate? The little elf’s gaze swept the room like a cautious sparrow. Nothing stirred.
It was daytime, yet the room lay dim, dusk behind gauze.
Pink curtains veiled everything. Table, bed, and floor were piled with plush toys and delicate dolls, like a festival frozen mid-laughter.
Little Tisinate eyed the dolls, nerves fluttering. Each was kept perfect, in pretty dresses, with tiny tables and chairs, a tea party paused in time.
They sat together in harmony, cozy as a winter hearth.
Among them, one looked especially lovely, a star at first light.
Long pink hair fell to her waist, cherry petals spilling.
Her petite body was even smaller than Tisinate’s, a sparrow beside a finch.
Her dress was ornate, layered in exquisite ruffles and patterns, clouds folded over silk.
She wore a sleeping face, and those soft cheeks made Tisinate want to poke, like testing a ripe peach.
That poke woke the pink-haired girl from a long dream, a bell ringing under water.
Huh!?
Huh!?
Pale amber eyes opened. Their faces pressed close; both girls startled, cats jolted by thunder.
Ah! The doll came alive!
U-uh! Please don’t bully me!
Seeing little Tisinate, the pink-haired girl grabbed a plush bear and hid behind it, a rabbit ducking behind a stump.
Two eyes peeked out from behind the bear, stealing looks at Tisinate, fireflies behind leaves.
Huh…? You’re not a doll?
Only then did little Tisinate stand, heart still quivering, realizing the cute doll was a living girl, a storybook whispering awake.
Mm… I’m not a doll! So please don’t bully me…
Ailuna poked out, trembling softly. In her pale amber eyes, honeyed dew seemed to glimmer, morning light in a cup.
Tisinate had never seen a girl so shy. She gathered courage and walked up gently. Um… I won’t bully you…
R-really?
Mm… yeah…
She nodded. For some reason, looking at the pink-haired girl made her fear melt, snow under sun.
Of course! I’m Tisinate. What’s your name?
A-Ailuna…
The pink-haired girl nodded, voice small, a sparrow peeping.
