“You could look a little less like you’re waiting for your execution, you know,” Kirara’s voice rang out. Kaede turo see her striding toward her, a grin on her face that was equal parts pyful and smug. Dressed casually yet stylishly, Kirara’s ensemble seemed effortlessly put together.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Kaede replied, though her tone cked any real bite.
Kirara smirked, hooking her arm through Kaede’s without asking. “Yeah, yeah. Like, you say that now, but let’s see how long you st. I’ve got pns for today.” Without giving her a ce to protest, she pulled Kaede into the crowd of people.
Their first stop was a shop overflowing with racks of clothing in every color and style imaginable. Kirara immediately dove in, flipping through fabrics with the efficy of someone who clearly had dohis many times before. Kaede, meanwhile, lingered he door, trying hard not to steal a gnce.
“Kaede,” Kirara called, holding up a flowing emerald-green cloak. “What do you think? This would make you look all mysterious and cool. You know, the silent warrior type.”
Kaede g it, biting back a cheer. “It’s… fine.”
Kirara let out an exaggerated groan, hanging the cloak back up with a dramatic fir. “You have the fashion sense of a rock.” She turned back to Kaede with a determined look. “Alright, time to fix that. e here.”
Relutly, Kaede allowed herself to be pulled deeper into the shop. Kirara rummaged through a nearby rad pulled out a short leather jacket with subtle red ats. “Now this screams ‘badass adventurer.’ Try it.”
Kaede hesitated but eventually slipped the jacket on. It fit surprisingly well, the material light but sturdy, the cut giving her a sleek silhouette. She turo the mirror, tilting her head.
“See? You look awesome,” Kirara said, grinning. “Now all you need is a pair of sungsses, and you’ll be unstoppable.”
Kaede rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the er of her mouth. “Red Is my colour. Alright, fine. I’ll take it.”
“That’s the spirit!” Kirara beamed, her enthusiasm iious.
Kaede let herself be dragged from shop to shop, only chiming in when Kirara pressed her for opinions.
In one shop, Kaede spotted a pair of gloves with reinforced knuckles and a sleek design. Without prompting, she picked them up, testing the fit. “These might actually be useful,” she said, showing them to Kirara.
Kirara blihen grinned. “Ooh. They would totally go with my nails.”
At a stall selling scarves, Kaede tried on a vibrant red one and made an exaggerated show of flipping it over her shoulder. “How do I look?”
“Like a dork,” Kirara said with a ugh, though there was a bit of warmth ione.
They moved on to an accessory shop, where Kaede insisted out various hats. She donned a wide-brimmed one and tilted it low, striking a pose. “Mysterious enough for you?”
Kirara burst out ughing. “Okay, I’ll admit—that’s pretty good. You might have some style after all.”
By the time they reached a stall selling small tris and charms, Kaede ractically boung from one dispy to the . She picked up a small wooden carving of a fox and tur over in her hands, her eyes lighting up. “This is cute. Do you think it’d look good on a bag?”
Kirara leaned against the ter, smirking. “Look at you, ag like a kid in a dy store. Who are you, and what have you doh Kaede?”
Kaede shrugged, a pyful grin on her face.
The rest of the day flew by in a whirlwind of ughter and exploration. They stopped at a vendor to refuel, their arms den with bags of clothing, accessories, and a few practical items Kaede had picked out for herself.
As they sipped their drinks, Kirara leaned ba her chair, looking at Kaede with a satisfied expression. “See? Shopping isn’t so bad, is it?”
Kaede smirked, taking a sip of her tea. “I guess not."
The shopkeeper approached their table, carrying a woodeh the tally chalked onto it. His face was lined with age and wear, but his eyes held the sharpness of someone who had been dealing with ers for decades. He pced the ste dowween them with a practiod, his voice warm yet firm.
“That’ll be four silver a copper for the tea and sweets,” he said, his tone polite but leaving no room fotiation.
Kaede instinctively reached for her pouch, patting her hip where it was usually tied. Her fingers froze mid-motion as a sinking realization hit her. She had most of her leftover s in the suite, the ones she brought, she spent the st of at the glove stall earlier. She g Kirara, who was rummaging through her own bag with exaggerated nonce.
Kirara pulled her hand out, holding up ay pouch with a sheepish grin. “Uh… slight ht on my part. Turns out someone might have gone a little overboard today.”
Kaede raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable but her lips twitg as if suppressing a sigh—or a ugh.
Kirara threw up her hands in modignation. “Hey, you’re the one who wahat fancy jacket and those gloves! Not to mention the scarf."
The shopkeeper cleared his throat, his gaze boung betweewo. His polite patience was beginning to wane. “Ladies, I trust you have some way to settle the at?”
Kaede stood up straight, her face calm as if the situation was entirely under trol. “Of course. We’ll… figure something out.”
Her eyes darted around the marketpce, her quick mind w overtime. “Alright, how about this?” she whispered to Kirara, leaning in spiratorially. “We offer to work it off. Like, wash dishes or… I don't know, carry stuff?”
Kirara gave her a ft look. “You 't be serious. Wash the dishes, as if. Like, do you see my nails? Besides why do we have to pay? We're part of the military you know. Like, important. You should be happy to serve us."
The shopkeeper crossed his arms, clearly not in the mood for any more stalling. “If you ’t pay, we have a system for this sort of thing. You’ll work until the debt is cleared.”
Kaede nodded once, her stoicism unwavering. “Fair enough. What do you need us to do?”
Kirara bristled. "What do you mean fair?" If looks could kill, the shopkeeper would be dead three times over.
The man studied them for a moment before jerking his thumb toward the back of the shop. “You start by helping with the stoew crates of tea leaves and sugar just arrived, and they need s.”
Kirara groaned cursing under her breath but didn’t argue, following Kaede as the shopkeeper led them to a small ste room behind the ter. It was cramped and filled with sacks and crates, the air thick with the st of spices and dried herbs.
“Get to it,” the man said curtly before disappearing back to the front.
Kaede rolled up her sleeves without hesitation, already lifting one of the heavier crates as if it weighed nothing. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Kirara sighed dramatically but followed suit, albeit with far less enthusiasm. She grabbed a smaller sad carried it to the er, grumbling under her breath. “I swear, if not for this damn curse, that shopkeeper would be lig my feet.”
Kaede frowned as she stacked another crate. “Why's that?"
Kirara shot her a mock gre but didn’t answer, instead fog on the work.
As they worked, the distant hum of the marketpce filtered in, a reminder of the world tinuing outside. Kirara eventually broke the silence. “My unique skill won't work without Razen's exclusive permission. Stupid old man.”
Kaede turo Kirara. Even though she wasn't watg the girl, she would think she was g. 'Artificia, is that possible?'
'I think those mages called it a log curse.'
By the time they fiheir hands were dusted with tea powder, and Kirara's muscles ached slightly from the repetitive lifting. The shopkeeper ied their work with a critical eye before nodding in approval.
“Good enough,” he said. “Your debt is cleared. Try not to overspeime.”
Karde gave him an exaggerated salute. “Lesson learned, boss!”
As they stepped out of the shop, the cool evening air greeted them. Kaede g Kirara, who was seething.
Kaede stayed silent as they walked down the market road, letting Kirara’s frustration bubble to the surface. The red glow of the setting sun painted long shadows across the cobblestones, casting an almost ethereal light over the bustling crowd. The lively hum of merts closing shop and the chatter of townsfolk filled the air, but it barely registered for Kirara.
“This is such bullshit,” Kirara fumed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “I could’ve had that guy groveling in seds. But no, that senile bastard!”
The rest of her words died ihroat and she stiffened as she felt strong arms around her from behind. "Like, what are you doing?"
"It just felt like you needed a hug." Kaede said, moving her hand to pat Kirara's head.
"What are you talking about? Like, I don't need a hug. What I need... What I need-" Kirara shook, trying to wiggle out of the hug but Kaede held firm.
"Are you scared?" Kaede whispered. "Of this pce, summoned like this."
"W-who's scared?" Kirara stammered. "Look at you, asking me if I'm scared. Just a few days ago, you were terrified, and you ask if I'm scared."
"It's ok to be scared." Kaede whispered. "You've been here, for way lohan I have, almost a year. I 't imagine what you've been through."
"I'm not scared." Kirara trembled into the hug. "I'm not... I'm not... I just..." Her voice cracked.
People were watg the duo now, talking in hushed whispers about the two girls hugging in the middle of the street.
Kirara’s breathing hitched, and for a moment, Kaede thought she might break entirely. But then Kirara took a deep, shaky breath, trying to repose herself.
“This is so embarrassing,” Kirara muttered, her voice muffled against Kaede’s shoulder. “Like, I don’t even cry, you know? This stupid pce, it’s just—it’s so frustrating.”
Kaede stayed silent, letting her vent. Sometimes words weren’t necessary, and the quiet reassurance of being there was enough.
Kirara pulled back slightly, brushing her hand across her eyes and straightening her posture. Her usual fident smirk was o be seen, repced by a softer, more vulnerable expression. “Don’t think this means you’re allowed to hold this over me,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Kaede smiled faintly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Kirara rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, stepping back to put some distaween them. Her gaze shifted to the crowd still lingering nearby, and her shoulders stiffened. “What are you all staring at?” she snapped, her usual sharpness returning to her voice. “Don’t you people have lives?”
The onlookers quickly scattered, muttering apologies as they hurried away. Kaede couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Kirara tossed her hair over her shoulder, her fidence slowly returning. “Like I said, I wasn’t scared. Just… annoyed.”
Kaede didn’t call her out on the obvious lie. Instead, she gestured down the road. “e o’s head back to the suite. I think we’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
Kirara nodded, falling into step beside her. The two walked in panionable silence for a while, the earlier tensioween them easing with each step.
“Just so you know,” she said, “if you ever tell anyone about this, I’ll deny it. Like, I’ll pletely rewrite history if I have to.”
Kaede chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
Kirara nodded, satisfied, and pushed the door open. The warm glow of the suite’s nterns spilled out onto the street, weling them inside.
For the first time sihey’d left the market, Kirara’s smile was genuine. “e on, Honjou. Let’s see if Shogo’s back so I rub in how much better I look in this scarf than he would.”
Kaede rolled her eyes and made to follow her inside, but paused, watg Kirara leave. "Hey Artificia, that should be enough tact right?... well?"
[Status]
Name: Kirara Mizutani {Soul Brand <
Age: 16
Species: Human
Title: None
Magione
---
[Unique Skills:]
Bewilder
---
"Soul brand, log curse." Kaede murmured. "So ahat's summoned is branded with this huh? Just cruel."
A sudden thought occurred to her and she froze. "Hang on, Artificia bring up my status."
[Status - New World Order: Lord of Fate ainy, Ananke]
Name: Kaede Honjou
Age: 19
Species: Human^
Title: None
Magic: Earth Magic ? Ice Magic ? Poison Magic ?
---
[Unique Skills:]
Absolute Defense
Devour
Bug Urn Curse
---
[Extra Skills:]
Inspire
Hydra Eater
Sheep Eater
Meditation
Bomb Eater
---
[Ultimate Skills:]
New World Order: Lord of Fate ainy, Ananke
Artificia, Lord of Mae
Guanyin, Lord of Mercy
Abaddon, Lord of Seeping Chaos
Persephone, Lord of Abyssal Rebirth
---
[Arts:]
Psychokinesis
Cataclysmic Eruption
Zone Freeze
Crystallization
Earth Wielding
---
Kaede's eyes roamed the ey of the text, over and over. "It's not there." Her voice trembled.
No where oatus was it written that she had been branded by the log curse.
"Hey Artificia,” she said again, her voice firmer this time. “Why am I not branded? Shouldn’t I have this… log curse like the others?”
"Ehh?"