Banners fluttered.
Loki's gaze passed beyond the window, left the tower, and finally settled outside one of the double rooms.
Behind the door, the golden-yellow haired elf had buried her head in her pillow and lay completely still.
"Lefiya, it's already morning, you know? Are you still savoring what happened last night?"
Elfy straightened her clothes and looked at her curiously.
Over a month ago, Lefiya had gotten into the habit of waking up early to train, so staying in bed like this was deeply suspicious.
"Mmmph…"
Lefiya's voice was swallowed by the soft fabric, making it impossible to tell what she was saying.
Based on experience, Elfy judged that her roommate was insisting she was already awake and did not need anyone fussing over her.
"That's pretty suspicious…"
A mischievous smile tugged at Elfy's lips.
Once, while gossiping about Riveria, she had asked the noble elf princess why, at her age, she still had not found herself a partner. Was there some special reason?
The result was that Elfy received a baptism by magic wand.
She had also teased the single Aki with similar remarks. Even now, the cat-claw marks had yet to fade, but Elfy had already forgotten the lesson completely.
With the scent of a romantic scandal right in front of her, she once again failed to keep her mouth shut.
"Lefiya, you came running back yesterday drenched in sweat. You must have crossed that line with the Little Rookie, and that's why you look like this today, right? You can't even get out of bed. The Little Rookie really is something else…"
"Elfy-san?!"
Lefiya shot upright, her face bright red as she glared at the tactless human girl.
Her long, deep-gold hair spilled around her, seeming to carry all her resentment and anger.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Elfy realized she might have gone too far, and her momentum weakened.
"Please don't say any more… just leave me alone…"
Lefiya seemed to remember something, and the anger that had just flared up instantly vanished. She had no strength left to deal with Elfy's teasing.
"I-I understand."
It was the first time Elfy had ever seen Lefiya like this.
In the past, after being rescued by Ais, the golden-yellow haired elf would also feel down for a while, but that had been frustration and unwillingness over holding others back. It was completely different from this strange state she was in now.
Could what she said actually be true?
Had Lefiya and the boy really crossed that line?
But wasn't that a little too fast?
"Um… do you want me to bring you breakfast?"
Elfy held back her surging curiosity and headed for the door.
"No… I'll go eat later…"
Like a puppet with its strings cut, Lefiya collapsed back onto the bed.
Elfy's footsteps gradually faded away. When the door closed, everything around Lefiya fell silent.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, and a cool breeze slipped in through the crack in the window, brushing Lefiya's burning cheeks. She lay on her side in bed, hugging a pillow printed with a white rabbit.
Across the room, the glow of a Crystal Drop lit the curled edges of a book. The calendar beside it had not changed, its pink circle freezing time at yesterday, as if gently reminding her that her promise with the boy had become a memory, quietly settling into her heart.
Everything was strangely quiet. Her own breathing and heartbeat sounded unbearably clear.
Lefiya lightly licked her lips as what happened last night flashed through her mind.
…
After the long-finished "date," Lefiya did not linger outside and returned straight to the Twilight Manor.
While washing herself, she was, inevitably, surrounded by the other women.
"You went out on purpose, so what exactly did you do with the Little Rookie?"
"You already bathed earlier. There's no way it was just a simple walk, right?"
"I heard a woman's chest can grow bigger if a man kneads it. Is that why Lefiya has developed so quickly?"
"…"
Lefiya endured the barrage of words and escaped from that purgatory of shame.
She got dressed, let out a long sigh, and headed to a certain room.
Ever since meeting Bell Cranel, Lefiya had gradually grown used to these embarrassing situations.
She had done many intimate things with the boy, and tonight's physical contact was one of them. Compared to that overwhelming, surging shame, other people's jokes and teasing were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
Just when Lefiya thought she had grown and could overcome her shyness, reality struck her head-on.
"Oh, Lefiya, you're here for a Status Update too?"
Loki let out a long sigh and gestured for her to sit down.
Because of the expedition, the members were all hurrying to update their Statuses during the last two days before departure.
Lefiya, did your chest get bigger again?
The old Loki would definitely have said that, but now her eyes were dull and lifeless, as if she had been crushed by tedious work. None of her usual cheerfulness remained.
"Thank you for doing this."
Lefiya took off her top and entrusted her back to her Familia Goddess.
There was a strict order to this process. Male and female members updated their Statuses in separate places, so there was no need to worry about being exposed.
Lefiya stared blankly at the Magic Stone lamp on the wall, thinking back on what had happened that day.
The promise to teach Concurrent Chanting had come to an end. In its place were sweet and sour memories, as well as a new promise.
Husband and wife, really… that idiot…
Lefiya herself did not notice that, before she realized it, the corners of her mouth had lifted slightly. Even she did not know what that tiny curve meant.
"It's done."
Loki's words pulled Lefiya back to reality.
"Huh…?"
Lefiya blinked in confusion.
The goddess had taken out a sheet of parchment and was writing something on it.
Loki Familia had many members. With Loki alone handling Status Updates, staggering everyone's schedules was not the only measure they used.
Generally speaking, to save time, increases in Status were given verbally. Only when there were special changes would the sacred text be translated into the common tongue and written down on parchment.
"Could it be…?"
Lefiya stared at her Familia Goddess in disbelief.
"You've got it, Lefiya. You've gained a new Skill."
Loki set down her pen and spoke thoughtfully. "To be honest, I'm rather displeased by this. I even considered giving up on developing this Skill."
"I-is it a very dangerous Skill?"
Lefiya unconsciously swallowed.
If Loki was saying something like that, then it had to be a very bad Skill.
"In a sense, yes, it is dangerous. See for yourself."
Loki handed over the parchment.
"…"
Lefiya slowly accepted the paper and lowered her gaze to the newly born Skill.
In only a moment, her cheeks turned bright red.
"W-w-what is this?!!!!!!"
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