Chapter 18
WITH THE KORPOKKUR SISTERS’ precise guidance, Mira and the others returned to where Noland awaited and reported their success.
“Ooh! We noticed that the fog lifted—so, that was you after all! Beautifully done!” Noland called as they approached. He shouted for the cargo-recovery team to get ready.
“Really, it’s all thanks to our friend and summoner, Mira,” Cyril said.
“Ah, of course! A temporary member of Écarlate Carillon, and a summoner at that! Rare indeed. Thank you for all you’ve done, young friend. You’ve saved the day!”
Cyril’s words carried weight, and Noland thanked Mira without doubting her abilities for a moment, sparing her the disappointment of summoning’s present reputation.
“Don’t mention it. I was simply helping out my friends, so there’s no need to thank me,” Mira responded, puffing her chest out proudly nonetheless.
“You’re well connected, eh, Cyril?” Noland said mysteriously before swiftly turning his attention to the cargo team.
“Huh?” Mira froze, head cocked in puzzlement.
***
With the cargo collected, the gang returned to Hunters’ Village. Mira went to the inn first, whereupon the pure rabbit immediately hopped across the table and into her arms.
“Whoa! Affectionate today, aren’t you?” Mira smiled as she caught the pure rabbit and petted its belly. Flicker writhed as she watched, desperately trying to self-insert as the rabbit.
“Welcome back. Good to see you’re all safe.” The proprietor offered the group drinks on the house, which they gratefully accepted. Everyone was in high spirits thanks to their job well done.
After wetting their whistles, the gang stepped back to the main street to say their goodbyes.
“Well, Mira, see you again someday,” said Cyril.
“I haven’t gotten enough Mira yet!” Flicker cried as Emella shoved her back into the carriage.
“See ya.” Zef winked.
“Bye-bye, Mira!” Emella called, trying to close the carriage door behind her.
“Indeed. Good to see you all again!” Mira called. “Safe travels.”
Cyril had offered to report what happened in the forest to the Adventurers’ Guild Union, so no doubt a more permanent fix would happen sometime soon. The party would also sell the monster parts they had obtained and send Mira her cut through the Union network.
Even in such a big world, chance reunions happened. Fate worked in mysterious ways, but Mira knew she would meet Cyril’s group again. She wondered what stories they might be able to share when they saw one another next.
After waving to her friends, Mira found a secluded place to summon Pegasus and left Hunters’ Village.
Once aloft, Mira heard only wind and wings. Grassland stretched out below, and in the distance behind her, she saw the Elder Tree through the haze. Traversing the endless blue skies, Mira continued on her way—though she made sure to look carefully at any big clouds she spotted.
***
A few hours after her departure from Hunters’ Village, Mira sat in the middle of the vast grassland and gazed at a map, leaning against Pegasus.
I can wait until tomorrow to report in, I’d say.
Even traveling by Pegasus, Mira’s fatigue built up over successive days. Although Pegasus was the one doing the hard work, she felt the need to rest for a half hour now and then after long stretches of flight. Next to her, the pure rabbit worriedly licked her finger.
“I’m just so sleepy…”
Pegasus shifted its neck to support Mira’s tired body. She patted the gentle creature and nestled in further, pulling the pure rabbit into a hug in the process.
“Sorry. Let me stay like this a while,” Mira mumbled as she rested against Pegasus. Its big, white wings enveloped her. As she was embraced by the wings’ pulsating warmth, sleep washed over her.
***
Mira’s nap lasted for the better part of an hour. When she awoke, she saw little birds peeking through Pegasus’s white wings.
The winged horse’s wings slowly unfurled. Before Mira was a vast flock of multicolored birds. Yet not one made a sound; they simply surrounded Pegasus in silence. All Mira heard was the rustling of the wind.
“You’ve got a real audience.” Mira smoothed Pegasus’s mane and laughed at the crowd it had drawn, even bigger than the one by the lake. “Aren’t you popular?”
Pegasus neighed comfortably and pressed its head into the smiling Mira’s chest. Likewise, the pure rabbit happily squeaked in her lap.
“I feel a lot better now. Thanks,” Mira said, and Pegasus neighed in acknowledgement.
Instantly, the once-silent grassland was a symphony of chirps. The many birds’ little voices joined to make an uproar, waking Mira up fully after her nap.
“Were you good while I slept, sweetie?” she cooed, lifting the pure rabbit with both hands. It squeaked gleefully as she pressed it against her chest. “I think I slept too long. Let’s get going. Pegasus, I’ll need your aid again.”
Her fatigue banished for the moment, Mira stood energetically. The birds resting atop Pegasus’s back scattered at the sudden motion, all taking flight at once. The sight was as beautiful as a blizzard of cherry blossoms. In the middle of the colorful display was the snow-white Pegasus.
***
In the evenings, the plaza before the Linked Silver Towers saw few sightseers. Mira alighted in the middle of Silverhorn, soothing Pegasus as she dismissed it.
The big gate opened, and nine towers stretching into the sky welcomed Mira. It was a grand sight—though perhaps not as grand as the Elder Tree. Mira squared her shoulders like a returning hero and stepped forward, walking quickly without realizing it.
She looked next to the Tower of Evocation and noticed that there was no wagon.
Hrmm… Cleos must be away.
Mira was currently awaiting the completion of her own specialized wagon. She had hoped she would come home to find it waiting, so seeing the street in front of the tower empty was a little disappointing. Finally cheering herself up with the knowledge that there was always tomorrow, she raised her pure rabbit aloft before the tower.
“This is your new home, little friend.” The pure rabbit squeaked cheerfully, perhaps understanding Mira’s words, or perhaps just satisfied with the attention it was getting.
Mira headed inside to her apartment on the highest floor. Using her Master Key, she opened the door to her rooms, threw her coat on the sofa, and set the rabbit down.
“Stay here a moment, please.” She ran to the bathroom. Seconds later, the sound of water flowing could be heard.
Feeling like a new woman, Mira looked at the changing-room door that led to the bath.
“Why don’t we freshen up together?” Scooping up her pure rabbit, she threw open the door, anticipating a soothing bath. “What the—?!”
“Miss Mira, welcome ba—!”
“S-sorry!” Panicked, Mira slammed the door shut. The afterimage of an underwear-clad Mariana was burned into her memory.
Once upon a time, the sight of a half-naked maid would have been the stuff of dreams. When it came to Mariana, though, she just felt guilty.
While Mira struggled with the mix of remorse and desire, Mariana opened the door and greeted her anew. “Miss Mira, welcome back.” The maid’s smiling cheeks—still rosy from the bath—complemented her bound blue hair and plain white robe.
“Right. Thank you.” The maid’s smile brought Mira back to her senses as Mariana’s eyes stopped on the bunny in her arms.
“Why do you have a rabbit with you?” Mariana gazed at the pure rabbit and reached her hand out slowly. The bunny reacted with uncertainty at first, but it seemed to sense that the blessing within Mira came from Mariana. It leaned to press its cheek against her hand.
“It followed me home from the forest. Erm… Can we keep it?” Mira pleaded, like a child asking her mother. Though she was the lord of this tower, she would be leaving the rabbit in Mariana’s hands. She had to appeal to the fairy’s good nature.
“Of course. I’d be glad to take care of it while you’re away.”
“Really? Thank you!”
At that, Mariana headed back into the changing room and took off her robe.
“Wh-what’re you doing?!” Mira shouted, averting her eyes. In her peripheral vision, Mariana had already stripped down to her underwear again.
With total composure and a touch of eagerness, Mariana replied, “You are going to bathe, yes? I will wash your back for you.”
“Right… But… Very well.”
It was impossible to stop Mariana once she was in service mode. Resigned to her fate, Mira skipped the token resistance and trudged into the changing room. Like last time, Mariana helped her strip, piling the dirty clothing in a laundry basket.
“Do you have any other laundry, Miss Mira?” After putting Mira’s underwear in the basket, Mariana looked at her expectantly.
“Ah, actually, yes,” Mira remembered and removed a worn pair of underwear from her bag. “Here you go. Thank you.”
With that, she tried to swiftly enter the sudsy water to save herself from the agony of being nude in front of Mariana. But a hand on her shoulder held her firmly in place as Mariana’s gaze locked onto Mira’s head.
“Miss Mira? What happened to your hair?” She ran her fingers through Mira’s beautifully tied silver locks. They were still in pigtails from when White had taught Mira to dry her hair using magic. The maid’s fingers paused on the white ribbons.
“Oh—I met a girl named White in my travels, and she, um, helped me with my hair.”
“Is that so?” Mariana said curtly as she unfastened the pigtails, pursing her lips in jealousy. Mira, however, was too busy averting her gaze to see it.
***
Once in the bath, Mariana washed her from head to toe. The sponge in her hand was slick and soft, covering Mira in tiny bubbles.
Despite the awkwardness, Mira relaxed as the fatigue from her journey came back in full force. Mariana smiled as she gently poured hot water across her master’s body to wash the bubbles away.
Next, it was the pure rabbit’s turn. It received the same treatment—and, amazingly enough, it didn’t resist. Mira held its ears down to stop water from getting inside, and Mariana gently washed the rabbit’s blue fur.
Mira patted down the pure rabbit with a towel while Mariana tied Mira’s wet hair up. “That does it. Miss Mira, have you had dinner yet?”
The question made Mira realize that she was hungry. “No, not yet. Could I bother you to prepare something?”
“But of course. I’ll get dinner ready right away. Rest easy until then.”
Mira snuck a glance at Mariana as the maid walked off cheerfully to make dinner; then she headed to the large bath. Within was a tub made from black pyroxene, a high-quality stone with patterns like stars floating in space. It was a popular home-decor material.
The tub was full of hot water, clear as could be. When Mira sank into it, the water overflowed a little.
“Ah, paradise…” The water tickled her skin all over.
This bathtub was so wide that ten people could have stretched out their legs and relaxed. Mira starfished and bobbed on the surface. The pattern of the stone made her look like she was floating effortlessly in space.
“Aaahh… True bliss.” She basked in luxury with an apple au lait in hand, humming to herself as she enjoyed sublime comfort alongside her pure rabbit.
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