Four days had passed since Ebia’s visit, uneventful and utterly ordinary.

"Hm? Where’s Aefina?" I scanned the room. Only Nia and Mo Mo were there—Aefina had vanished. She’d been here just moments ago. I’d only stepped out to use the bathroom.

"She felt a bit unwell and went to sunbathe outside," Nia replied, eyes still on her book. Mo Mo perched atop her head, reading along. "She meant to tell you herself, but you took so long..."

"Can’t blame me—you built the bathroom *way* too far. Is she outside?"

"Mm. Probably on the lawn near the house. If you can’t find her, call Mira. She’ll track her down."

I nodded and headed out. A faint unease prickled my chest—like the first day in a rearranged classroom. Everything seemed familiar, yet the subtle shifts felt... off. I didn’t realize this was the first time since meeting Aefina that we’d parted without warning.

Before, when she’d left to gather ingredients, she’d always explained first. And that one night she’d gone hunting? I’d been asleep. This—this unplanned separation—was new.

As I left, Nia snapped her book shut. She and Mo Mo locked eyes.

"Well?" Nia asked first.

"You were right. It’s begun."

"Earlier than I expected."

"Does that mean she cares less?"

"No. It means she cares *more*."

"Emotions are so hard to grasp..." Mo Mo sighed.

"Don’t worry. They don’t understand us either." Nia’s comfort was oddly pragmatic.

"Hmm... What now?"

"We watch and wait."

"Alright..."

"By the way—is Lilith coming today?" Nia suddenly asked.

"85th day of the month. Should be today."

After that cryptic exchange, Nia reopened her book. They resumed reading as if nothing had happened.

Outside, I spotted Aefina instantly—her true form basking on the sunlit lawn. She noticed me the moment I approached.

"Luo Sa." Her voice was soft. Her long tail swayed like a cat’s, betraying her tangled emotions.

"Nia said you weren’t feeling well. What’s wrong?" I circled her, and she turned her head to follow me.

"Nothing serious. I’m about to shed my scales..."

As near-perfect beings, Great Dragons had no obvious weaknesses. Unlike reptiles that grew fragile during molting, dragons shed scales seamlessly. Their bodies layered thick scales that naturally sloughed off as new ones grew beneath—no vulnerability, no decline in strength. Only a touch of lethargy.

But dragon shapeshifting was different. Their innate magic let them take only one human form—age-locked to their true years. Other Monstrous Beasts could alter appearances freely, but dragon magic preserved far more of their power. That’s why they scorned lesser transformations.

Unless shedding scales. Then, staying human caused discomfort. The longer the shift, the sharper the ache. And it hindered the molting process. So dragons rarely took human form during this time.

Aefina lay glittering under the sun, silver scales blazing. I knelt beside her forelimb—easiest to reach—and stroked the smooth, warm plates.

"Nice weather today," I said after a while, settling against her claw.

"Mm." She coiled around me like a sleeping dog.

"Huh? Nia and Mo Mo are outside?" I blinked at the golden figure and blue-tipped head by the door. Nia often wandered out, but Mo Mo? She *hated* leaving the house. In all these days, I’d only seen her outside twice: once to examine Aefina’s true form (too big for indoors), and once to greet the noble Ebia. Her library *was* her sanctuary. When Nia went for walks, Mo Mo summoned Mira to escort her to the library, waiting there until Nia returned.

Aefina carried me over. "What brings you out?" I asked.

"Lilith’s arriving soon. We’re waiting for her," Nia said.

Mira stepped out then, hefting a massive black beach umbrella. *Why on earth...? Is this Episode 7’s swimsuit fan service arc?*

"Lilith?" I recalled Nia mentioning her when we first met.

"We visit each other often. Today’s her turn."

"How are you so free?" I blurted. "Aren’t you supposed to guard Rajeno Forest from the Dark Scar’s undead?" That’s what Ilan had claimed.

"Human rumors?" Mo Mo cut in.

"Yeah. My old adventuring party said the Phantom Beast patrols near the Dark Scar, blocking undead incursions." I repeated Ilan’s theory.

Nia burst into laughter, rolling on the grass. Mo Mo stifled giggles.

"...So humans think that? I should visit their cities sometime."

"What’s so funny?" I frowned. Even Aefina tilted her head curiously.

"You know the Dark Scar’s origin, right?" Mo Mo asked as Nia wheezed. We nodded. "Transmigrators have missions. Nia’s was to stop an imminent Underworld invasion."

"But it failed! That lich opened a portal underground—"

"*Because* Nia messed with the ritual," Mo Mo revealed. "The misfired portal collapsed the invasion. Her mission was complete. She’s been retired ever since."

"*That’s* how you save the world?"

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Nia sat up, grinning smugly.

"...Okay, you win this round."

"The unstable portal flooded the area with Underworld energy," Mo Mo continued. "It spawned endless undead—and inevitably, a regional boss. Normally, it’d lead its horde to attack the living... only to be destroyed. Then a new boss would rise. Rinse and repeat."

"And *that* counts as mission success?"

"Because the Dark Scar’s ruler is *me*."

A smooth, unfamiliar voice cut through the air. I nearly tumbled off Aefina’s back. Who could sneak past her senses?

I looked down. Black umbrella. *Mira’s* umbrella. The figure beneath it was hidden. Before I could speak, Aefina gently lowered me. Now I saw her—and understood why Aefina hadn’t warned me.

Mira held the umbrella, but beside her stood a stunning, eerie woman. Jet-black hair cascaded to the ground. A tailored black gown hugged her figure, lace-trimmed and elegant. Her eyes were pure obsidian, her skin unnaturally pale. She looked like an antique photograph—monochrome, as if color itself had abandoned her.

"Liliiiiith~!" Nia’s joyful cry confirmed her identity.

"This is Lilith, Princess of Wraiths and sovereign of the Dark Scar," Mo Mo introduced. Lilith gave a graceful noble’s bow. Only then did I notice her faint translucence. Mira had escorted her—no stranger, hence no warning.

"The undead obey Lilith," Mo Mo explained. "Since they’re friends, no battles happen. Mission accomplished."

"She’s my best friend~ I even named her!" Nia beamed, introducing us to Lilith.

"Why'd you pick such a name? Your taste in names is awful," I grumbled.

"Isn't it common knowledge that ghosts are named Lilith?" Nia shot back.

"Hmph, that's for vampires or the Spider Queen," I sneered at her.

But now everything made sense. The Phantom Beast—that was Nia—only appeared deep in the forest because her home was there. She was often seen near the Shadow Scar because she and Lilith were close friends. She visited Lilith frequently to play, explaining the sightings... Damn, this scheme was too intricate. The intel being so wrong wasn't humanity's fault.

"Let's head inside. Lilith hates the sun," Nia said, opening the door.

I glanced at Aefina. She had already shifted back to human form and walked to my side. I took her hand and followed.

"You two haven't known each other long, have you?" Lilith suddenly asked me.

"Hmm... less than a month," I instinctively replied. Why did she ask that all of a sudden?

"One... month? So you really are from the same world as Nia. Never mind, I just asked on a whim," Lilith said, blinking. She didn't elaborate.