Alyssa ultimately failed to catch up with Gonijiaer. After cresting a hill, the girl had vanished without a trace. Head drooping in defeat, Alyssa trudged back along the path she’d come.

Meanwhile, at Nevia’s home.

Nina slumped listlessly over her chair, pouting in silent irritation. Beside her sat Celia, a mage-robed girl basking lazily in warm sunlight. Her beautiful blue hair spilled carelessly over the chair beneath her. Within arm’s reach stood a small table holding delicate pastries and a pristine porcelain teapot filled with jasmine tea.

She preferred the light, floral scent of jasmine over the bitter depth of black tea.

*What a peaceful day,* Celia mused.

Faint voices drifted down from upstairs. Nina tilted her head, straining to listen.

"Mom, I’m really fine now," Nevia insisted. Her afternoon cold had lifted, but she lay in bed, gazing up at her mother with big, watery eyes that betrayed her unhappiness. "See? I’m so healthy I could eat a whole ox!" She thrust her tiny arm upward, striking a bodybuilder’s pose to prove her point.

"I’m afraid there’s no ox for you to eat," her mother said firmly, pressing Nevia’s arm down and tucking it back under the warm blankets. "Just rest quietly. That’s what you need right now."

"But—" Nevia started to protest.

"No ‘buts’," her mother cut in, unyielding. "You’re not going out to play today."

"Fine," Nevia sighed, shooting her mother a wounded look before settling down obediently.

"Good girl." Her mother gently stroked Nevia’s hair. Then she rose, picked up a glass of murky brown liquid from the vanity, and held it out.

Nevia instinctively turned her head away—only to find her mother smiling as she brought the cup to the girl’s lips. The sharp herbal scent of medicine filled the air.

Medicine was bitter, whether on Earth or in another world.

Nevia scrunched her face unhappily, refusing to open her mouth.

"It’s sweetened with honey. Not bitter at all," her mother murmured, as if reading her thoughts. She blew softly across the surface of the pale green liquid, sending tiny ripples dancing across it. Then she took a small sip herself, tasting it carefully. After a moment, she smiled, eyes crinkling. "See? Delicious." She offered the cup again.

Hesitantly, Nevia extended her pink tongue and gave it a tentative lick. Sweetness bloomed—no bitterness at all.

Reassured, she began drinking.

*Was this… kinda like an indirect kiss?*

The sudden thought flushed Nevia’s cheeks pink. She turned her face away.

Her mother’s hand settled gently on Nevia’s forehead, stroking her hair. Nevia glanced back and saw something new in her mother’s eyes—something she’d never noticed before.

Then her mother pulled her into a tight hug, nuzzling her cheek against Nevia’s small head.

Silence wrapped around them. Sunlight poured through the window, gilding the two figures curled together.

Nevia’s hands tightened slightly on her mother’s clothes as she closed her eyes.

"Nina… she’s a good child… Promise you’ll get along with her, alright?"

"Mm."

○

The calm, lazy day soon gave way to night. To avoid disturbing Nevia’s rest, Nina was taken away by her mother and Celia to stay elsewhere. Nina, however, wore a satisfied smile—it seemed this arrangement suited her just fine.

After a night’s rest, Nevia woke the next morning nearly fully recovered. With her mother’s permission, she finally regained her freedom. After breakfast, she dashed out with Nina straight to Kaelen’s house.

Yesterday’s day in bed had nearly driven her mad with boredom.

She burst unceremoniously into Kaelen’s home. The guards at the gate knew the little girl well; not only did no one stop her, they bowed in greeting. Along the way, several kind-hearted older sisters even pointed her toward Kaelen.

It took her only moments to find him.

The weather remained perfect.

Kaelen sat in a sunlit room cluttered with magical apparatus. He held an ornately bound spellbook, a crimson magic gem resting on the table before him. Wisps of faint red mist curled around it—a clear sign of its rarity. Scrolls, notes, and other trinkets lay scattered nearby. His palm rested on the gem, thin tendrils of red vapor seeping into his skin.

He wasn’t a genius—but he worked hard.

Watching him, Nevia found herself thinking, *He’s actually… not so bad.*

"Hey!" Nevia called softly. Kaelen didn’t react. She raised an eyebrow, cleared her throat, and shouted: "Kaelen!"

The boy jolted violently, spinning around as if startled from a dream. Seeing Nevia, he exhaled in relief. "It’s just you. You scared me half to death."

"Ha! You didn’t forget our agreement, did you?" Nevia tilted her chin up.

"Agreement?" Kaelen’s face flushed crimson, his expression turning awkward.

"Our duel! At the abandoned mine!"

"Ah—right!" He scratched his head, blinking as if waking up. "Of course I didn’t forget."

"What an idiot," Nevia muttered, rolling her eyes.

Kaelen took a few deep breaths, clearly weighing the consequences of arguing with her. He swallowed his annoyance and instead called out to the dual-wielding warrior approaching in the distance: "Sewein! Let’s go."

"Hold on," a honeyed female voice interrupted. "You visit so rarely… won’t you come see your sister, Nevia?"

○

"What would you like to drink?"

The voice was gentle, yet carried an unconscious, almost musical lilt that made it feel like warm honey sliding over the senses.

Tyna Wells fluttered her crimson eyes, gazing at the little girl with open affection.

Kaelen’s older sister was stunning—crimson eyes, fiery wavy hair spilling freely around her shoulders. Anyone would stare. She had many charms: a lovely face, a tall and alluring figure, vibrant energy. Her every word and gesture radiated mature grace. A single teardrop mole near her eye only deepened her allure. But her true masterpiece was her smile—a breath-stealing thing.

"Ah, just black tea, thank you, Sister Tyna."

As Nevia spoke, Tyna suddenly reached out and grasped both her hands.

Startled, Nevia blinked, then offered a polite smile while subtly pulling her hands free. Warmth was nice, but this constant hand-grabbing on every meeting was… uncomfortable.

"Same for me," Nina said coolly from beside her. Though her relationship with Nevia had thawed recently, she maintained her haughty, swan-like poise around strangers. She watched the scene silently, but her brow furrowed slightly when Tyna seized Nevia’s hands—*far* too forward.

"No need to be so formal with me. Treat this place like your own home," Tyna chirped, utterly oblivious. She winked, brought over the tea, and couldn’t resist pinching Nevia’s cheek—earning glares from both Nina and Kaelen. The boy even blurted out, "Hey, Sister!"

"What?" Tyna arched an eyebrow, annoyance flickering in her voice. "Is there something you need?"

"...I’ll handle things here. Isn’t Mother waiting for you?" Kaelen took a deep breath, his eyes flashing a clear warning at his sister.

"Is she? I hadn’t heard." Tyna studied her brother’s face, caught the look in his eyes, and suddenly laughed. "My, my. Kaelen’s grown up."

With that loaded remark, she stood to leave. But as she passed her brother, she clapped a hand firmly on his shoulder and whispered just loud enough for him to hear: "Go get her, little brother. I’m rooting for you."

Kaelen, who’d been glaring不服气 at Nevia moments before, flushed scarlet. "Sister, I’m not—" he stammered.

"Shh…" Tyna pressed a finger to her lips, gave him a knowing *I-see-everything* look, and mouthed, "Don’t worry."

Nevia had seen the whole exchange but had no interest in family drama. She feigned indifference and turned to Kaelen. "So… about our duel?"

"..."

Kaelen’s eyes darted away. He looked… guilty?

*What’s wrong with him?* Nevia wondered. But his next words pulled her thoughts elsewhere.

"Let’s talk about that later. Do you… remember that game from our last duel?"

"Game?" Nevia paused, then realization dawned. "You mean Gomoku?"

"Yeah. I found it fascinating. I had a board made just like the one we used. Want to try it?" Kaelen’s voice held a strange tension, his gaze avoiding hers. He added quickly, "I wasn’t satisfied with how I lost last time."

"Huh?" Nevia studied his flustered face and instantly understood.

*Not satisfied? Wants a rematch? He must’ve trained hard. Too naive. But… this is more like him.*

"Fine. I won’t lose anyway," she declared, emphasizing the word *lose*. She nodded fearlessly.

Plenty of time to spare—and fun was never a bad idea.

She stuck out her tongue playfully. "So where’s this board?"

Truthfully, Nevia had only come to Kaelen’s house to kill time. That "agreement"? She hadn’t given it much thought.

"Ah! Wait right here—I’ll get it!" Kaelen nodded eagerly. Nevia had the distinct impression he was desperate to escape her presence.

*Am I really that scary?* She unconsciously touched her own cheek.

"Oh—and my sister—" Kaelen stood up but halted after a few steps, rushing back as if remembering something urgent. He opened his mouth, then hesitated, clearly struggling to voice whatever was on his mind. "She—"

Nevia cut him off with a swift wave of her hand—clearly uninterested. Kaelen snapped his mouth shut with a sigh, his expression a mix of frustration and relief, before practically fleeing the room.

"Nevia?" Nina leaned forward once Kaelen was gone, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Your life is… quite lively."

Annoyed by the comment, Nevia scowled. "My life is none of your business."

"Don’t you sense anything?" Nina shrugged.

"Are you talking about Kaelen or Sister Celia?" Nevia frowned slightly.

"Both, actually. Don't you think they're both acting weird?" Nina pursed her lips before asking.

"What do you mean?" Nevia's tone sharpened with displeasure. "I may not like Kaelen much... but he's no weirdo. And Sister Celia? She's been so warm taking care of us. Do you really think she's strange?"

"I mean... their attitudes toward you feel off."

Nevia waved dismissively. "It's perfectly normal. You're just overthinking it."

"Maybe." Nina fell silent, lifting her teacup for a sip of black tea. "Anyway, it's your business. I was just giving friendly advice."

"Thanks for the concern..." Nevia sighed. "Though... we are blood relatives after all. Mom wouldn't approve of us like this."

"That's exactly why I brought it up. If you hadn't mentioned your aunt's daughter..." Nina muttered, unsure if she was speaking to Nevia or herself. "This princess wouldn't bother with you otherwise."

Nevia froze for a moment, then gave a soft, indignant "hmph," turning her gaze away.

Soon, Kaelen returned, carrying a wooden chessboard and black-and-white pieces.

"Want to play?"

After setting up the board with Kaelen, Nevia hesitated, then turned to Nina. "Join us?"

"Sure." Nina agreed without hesitation, surprising Nevia.

"Alright then..." Nevia steadied herself, grabbing the black pieces. "I'll go first! Fair enough, Kaelen? That's gentlemanly manners, you know."

Though phrased as a question, her tone left no room for refusal.

"Fine." Kaelen didn't mind—or seemed utterly indifferent—and nodded, picking up the white pieces.

They clashed for several rounds, until Nevia cornered him with a double-four winning formation.

"Game over. I win."

Nevia gathered the pieces, clapping her hands.

"Ah, lost again..." Kaelen wore a resigned expression, but no real frustration. He'd probably expected this outcome.

"So... your turn?" Nevia looked at Nina. One-sided games lost their fun; a new opponent was a welcome change.

"Hmm, alright." Nina's expression remained haughty, making Nevia roll her eyes inwardly. *Let's see how smug you are after I crush you.*

"Who starts?"

"You go first," Nina took the white pieces, gesturing for Nevia to use black. "Same as before."

"Going first gives an advantage," Nevia said, surprised. "Take black instead. Don't want you thinking I'm bullying a newbie."

"No need." Nina smiled confidently. "I'm actually quite skilled at this."

"Really?"

Nevia studied Nina skeptically, then placed a piece with a decisive *clack* at the board's center—her resolve clear.

○

"Sweat beaded on Nevia's forehead as her eyes darted across the board. Her piece hovered, unsure where to land.

*Did I lose?*

The thought crept in, unbelievable yet undeniable. Before her lay a tangled web of moves, but every path spelled defeat.

"Ugh..." She bit her lip, hand pressed to her temple. No comeback seemed possible.

"Alright, I'll play here."

After Nevia moved, Nina's pale fingers traced the board, hovering over the fatal winning spot. Nevia's heart leapt to her throat, tension tightening her face.

"Hmm?" Nina smiled, as if spotting something amusing, and shifted her hand elsewhere.

Nevia exhaled in relief.

"Where to play next?" Nina mused aloud, drifting back to the original spot.

"Here?" Nevia tensed again.

"Here it is." But at the last second, Nina placed her piece on a harmless square.

"...Huh?" Nevia relaxed, then blinked in surprise.

*Does she not realize she's already won?*

She glanced up—only to catch Nina winking playfully, triumph gleaming in her eyes.

*No... she deliberately let me off.*

"Shall we call it a draw? No clear winner after all this. Continuing is pointless."

For reasons unknown, Nevia nodded without hesitation.

"Another round?"

"No." Nevia shook her head firmly. She'd given her all, yet Nina remained effortlessly composed.

"Kaelen... why don't you play Nina next?" Nevia turned to the boy, who'd been watching their match with stars in his eyes.

"Huh?" Startled, Kaelen scratched his head. "Uh... maybe not. It looks way too complicated."

"True. It'd be too hard for you anyway." Nevia rarely agreed with him—especially on things he disliked.

"So... what now?" Her gaze drifted back to Kaelen.

Sensing it, he jolted upright, glancing around nervously. "Ah! Right—Mom called for me earlier. Gotta go!"

"Hey, wait!" Nevia reached out, but Kaelen slipped away like an eel, vanishing through the door with a wave.

"That... jerk!" Nevia stamped her foot in frustration.

"Scared him off?" Nina murmured, eyes narrowed at Kaelen's retreating figure.

"Tch. Coward..." *Running like that. I just wanted to spar with you... correction... beat you up.*

Nevia stood, stretching her arms with a sigh. "Earlier... why did you..."

"If a beginner crushed you right away, you'd be humiliated in front of that boy, wouldn't you?" Nina answered, shaking her head slightly at Nevia's stunned look. "No matter what, you're still my beloved aunt's daughter. That'll never change."

"Mm." Nevia nodded, turning her face away. "Thanks."

○

After a short rest, Nevia, Kaelen, and the others headed for the mine shaft. It wasn't far from the village—just a fifteen-minute walk through the hills.

Once an iron mine, it had been stripped bare from over-mining. Only a maze of tunnels remained underground, alongside abandoned wooden shacks on the mountainside. Miners had lived there during the boom, but as ore dwindled, merchants left, taking the workers with them. Quiet returned, though the empty houses now sheltered stray animals nesting inside.

Stepping over fallen logs and avoiding overgrown weeds, they crunched on gravel. Nina gazed around curiously.

"We're here," Nevia told her.

Pushing through dense thickets, they faced a circular entrance—three to four meters wide. The wooden supports had mostly collapsed; one hung limply like a dying man's arm.

Peering down, darkness swallowed the depths.

"Coming with me?" Nevia asked Nina.

Nina shook her head, refusing. Savien wanted to join, but Kaelen glanced between Nevia and him.

"If Nevia dares to go alone, so can I."

Savien nodded in understanding.

The mine held countless tunnels. But it also had an emergency exit—a backup escape route if the main entrance caved in.

Nevia and Kaelen would race to find that exit first.

Nevia pulled out a magic lantern. Packed with mana, it was pricey but wouldn't sputter out underground like a regular torch. She also carried a torch—not just to scare off animals, but as a safety measure. In oxygen-poor zones, humans couldn't sense thinning air until it was too late. A torch would gutter out first, warning them. It also meant that path didn't lead upward; surface air would only thicken, not vanish.

Lantern in her left hand, torch in her right, Nevia stuck out her tongue at Kaelen, similarly equipped.

Savien watched them descend into the mine. He turned to Nina. "Let's head to the finish line."

They took a surface path while flickering torchlight vanished into the mine's depths.