Percia woke to a light breeze brushing over her skin. The sun felt warm against her face and the air carried the sweet scent of flowers.
She opened her eyes, squinting against the bright sky.
Huh... has the night passed already?
"Not yet."
Her fingers raked through soft petals as she sat up.
The view was wrong.
An endless field of blooming flowers stretched in every direction beneath a cloudless sky. A gentle summertime breeze danced through the blooms.
This was not the Northern Plateau.
"No, but don't worry. We aren't too far from it."
She finally turned toward the voice. A boy sat beside her, sky-blue hair catching the sunlight, radiant eyes crinkled with a small smile. A mole rested beneath his left eye.
He looked vaguely familiar.
He tilted his head at her blank stare. "You have no idea who I am, do you?" A dramatic sigh followed. "Has humanity already forgotten my handsome face? All my hard work, for naught."
"...Have we met?"
"No, I suppose not."
Percia wasn't sure how to respond. The runes should have taken only a couple of hours. She was supposed to wake in the forest clearing with Milliarde nearby.
"Where am I? Where is Milliarde?"
The boy looked down at the flowers, idly plucking one. "I can't tell you where you are, but I can tell you that you're safe here. I mean you no harm. Your friend is fine too."
He tilted his face toward the sun with a lazy grin. "I just couldn't pass up the chance to meet you. I'll probably get in trouble for this… but you'll be fine." He plucked another flower and began weaving them together. "Just relax!"
Percia frowned. "…That's easier said than done." She couldn't pinpoint where she was; she had never been to a place like this.
That alone was unusual.
"I suppose…" He glanced at her. "What you did was rather reckless. You haven't used those runes since the Forgotten Era."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. This boy clearly knew more than he should. "And how exactly do you know that?"
He shrugged. "That's just what I've heard."
He held up the finished flower crown and reached over, gently placing it on her head. Percia stilled. "There — now make me one."
Percia blinked at his expectant face.
"It's tradition!" He gestured at the field with a grin. "And it fits the mood, no? I'd suggest we run through the flowers, but I have a feeling you'd blast me into the ground."
Percia's face crinkled slightly at the thought.
He chuckled. "Yeah… that's the same expression she made back then, too."
"…If this is all, send me back. This is a waste of time."
"Never knew time was so important to elves," he teased. "What's a few more minutes?"
"You know what?" He smiled mischievously, "I'll send you back is you make me a flower crown!"
This had to be some bad joke.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"But why not? What's there to lose?"
"No."
He sighed dramatically. "You're even more stubborn than her…"
"You keep saying 'her' like I'm supposed to know who that is." Percia frowned and reached up, removing the flower crown. "Perhaps you should bring 'her' here instead."
"I can't." A fleeting shadow crossed his face before it vanished. "But that's okay. I can wait."
She regarded him quietly. "You are only human. Waiting will only chip away at you."
"That's okay too."
He turned to her, eyes soft and knowing. "I just wanted to thank you."
Percia frowned. "Thank me? I have done nothing."
He simply smiled. "You took on this burden for her. That is more than nothing."
"Thank you for caring for her."
---
"You're back."
Percia groaned at the familiar voice. She couldn't open her eyes yet — her body felt heavy, every nerve screaming.
She felt horrible.
"You caught me by surprise, you know," Milliarde said from beside her, tone flat. "I didn't think you'd just chop your head off like that. Next time, give me a heads-up… or maybe just keep your head on."
Percia scoffed weakly. "Sounds like a plan…"
"But these runes — they're rather fascinating. I've never seen anything work so efficiently." Milliarde's voice carried lazy curiosity. "Can you believe it's only been three hours? And you're already stitched back together perfectly."
"It doesn't seem to be working efficiently enough," Percia muttered, wincing as she forced herself upright. Her body was stiff, her head throbbed — from the alcohol or the runes, she wasn't sure.
Milliarde snorted. "What else did you expect?"
Percia didn't bother replying.
"Your barrier is impressive too," Milliarde continued, humming thoughtfully. "Lacing it with a spell to deter people from approaching… it works on untrained minds, sure. But for it to affect Frieren as well?" She chuckled softly. "You really do have quite the trove of old spells."
"...Frieren?"
"Don't worry. She still thinks you're sleeping at the inn. She went out to help a villager collect firewood." There was faint amusement in Milliarde's voice. "She was rather on edge, though. I think she could smell the blood."
Percia's fingers twitched. She became acutely aware of the sticky warmth beneath her. Glancing down, she saw her clothes were soaked through, ruined. "…Perhaps I should have gotten naked for this."
A quiet spell washed over her — warm water gently sweeping the blood away. She shivered as a cloak settled over her shoulders.
"You can have mine," Milliarde said, flicking the bloody water toward a nearby pond. "I suggest you bathe as soon as you get back. You smell like a corpse."
Percia rolled her eyes. "Thanks." She shrugged the cloak on without ceremony and cast a gentle warming spell to dry her clothes underneath. "What do you want, then?"
Milliarde tilted her head in slight confusion.
"I owe you now," Percia said, smoothing the fabric.
Milliarde hummed, considering. "I don't think you have anything I want… unless you happen to have some ancient alcohol on you?"
"...Unfortunately not."
"Well then, let's consider it a standing offer." Milliarde stood, stretching lazily. "I'll think of something eventually." She glanced down. "I'll be taking my leave now."
Percia watched her walk away. A small, tired smile touched her lips. This was exactly why she had asked Milliarde — that perfect, uncaring detachment.
It was strange. There used to be plenty of people she could turn to for something like this. Now it was just Milliarde.
More people seemed to care for her now than at any other point in her long life.
---
Frieren knocked quietly on the door before cracking it open. "Percia?" she whispered.
Percia sat on the edge of the bed, running her fingers through still-damp hair. "Frieren." A small smile curved her lips. "How was the festival?"
"It was fine." Frieren crossed the room and settled beside her. "Have you sobered up a bit?"
Percia hummed. "Maybe a bit too much. I feel a tad hungover now."
Frieren picked up the towel beside her and reached for Percia's head. "Let me."
Percia blinked, then turned slightly. Frieren gently ran the towel through her dark hair. It carried the faint scent of lavender — and something sharper underneath.
"You know," Frieren said softly as she worked, "I went into the forest to gather wood for a villager." Her fingers smoothed the strands. "The air smelled of blood back there."
"You don't happen to know what that was about, do you?"
Percia stilled under her touch.
"I do." She glanced back, eyes heavy with something Frieren couldn't quite name. "Do you want me to tell you what happened?"
Frieren pursed her lips. Part of her wanted to press — curiosity and worry warring — but she didn't want to overstep. Percia didn't owe her anything.
"Do you want to?"
Percia turned fully toward her, gaze sweeping slowly over Frieren's face. After a long moment she spoke. "I don't think it would be wise."
"Then don't." Frieren looked down at Percia's lap, noticing how her hand had curled tightly. "I trust you."
The unfamiliar cloak lingered at the edge of her gaze. Frieren's fingers tightened on the towel for half a heartbeat—trust and unease twisting together—before she forced her expression to stay calm.
There was no point thinking about it.
Percia didn't answer with words. Instead she lay back on the bed and extended her arms.
"Come."
Frieren hesitated only a second before sliding into the embrace. Percia's arms wrapped around her, holding her steady. Frieren's eyes fluttered shut as she pressed closer, the tension slowly easing.
This was easier.
"I'll tell you one day," Percia whispered against her hair. "Just not now."
"Okay." Frieren snuggled closer, voice soft. "I can wait."