Rayish
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Chapter 153
🕑 Added 2025-07-12 07:26:47 +0000 UTCAs soon as Aiz returned to the water, it felt as though the world had become lighter. All the pressure from quests, training, and even the l
As soon as Aiz returned to the water, it felt as though the world had become lighter. All the pressure from quests, training, and even the looming threat of the monster that had just appeared—everything vanished, swallowed by the sound of rippling water filling the air.
Lefiya initially sat at the edge, idly kicking her feet in the water, but she couldn't resist for long after seeing Aiz floating gracefully on the pond's surface thanks to Little Ariel's wind. "I'm joining in!" she exclaimed before pushing herself into the water with a big splash.
Splash!
The water danced as Lefiya landed, splashing Aiz, who was floating peacefully, causing her to squint and shield her face. Instantly, Aiz turned to Lefiya and retaliated with a splash of her own, using the palm of her hand.
"Hey!" Lefiya laughed loudly before splashing back twice as hard. "You wanna start a war, huh?!"
Floating calmly, Aiz narrowed her eyes and, with her usual serene expression… raised both hands, summoning a gentle breeze from Little Ariel to create a small whirlpool.
Whoosh!
The water formed a tiny current that showered Lefiya from above like sudden rain. The elf girl coughed while laughing, "Cheater! Using magic?!"
"Not cheating," Aiz replied flatly, though the corners of her lips curled slightly into a faint smile.
From the sidelines, Shirou stood with his arms crossed, watching them with a mix of amusement and confusion. "You do realize… this is the Dungeon. We're underground. You're way too relaxed."
But before he could finish, Lefiya quickly turned to him, grinning. "Oh yeah?" she said before swinging her hand swiftly—SPLASH!
Water splashed directly onto Shirou's face.
"Hk—" Shirou closed his eyes as water dripped from his hair. He stood still for a moment. Completely still.
Lefiya laughed cheerfully. Aiz watched Shirou, resting her chin on the water's surface.
And then…
Calmly, Shirou walked to the edge of the pond, set down the magic stone hanging from his waist, and jumped in.
SPLOOSH!
Water was sprayed in all directions. Lefiya shrieked while covering her face, and Aiz was pushed back by the small wave. Then, from beneath the water, Shirou emerged slowly, like a creature from myth. He smirked.
"My turn now," he said flatly.
And with those words, the water battle began.
The three of them—who were usually in life-or-death situations, whose daily lives were filled with heavy duties and exhausting training—were now just three teenagers in a pond, splashing water, laughing, dodging, and sometimes letting themselves get hit on purpose.
At one point, Lefiya tried hiding behind Aiz. "Protect me, Aiz!"
"Can't," Aiz replied, dragging Lefiya back to the front and pushing her toward Shirou, who already had both hands ready to splash.
"AIZ!" Lefiya shrieked before being thoroughly drenched.
After they'd had their fill of playing in the water, the three of them leaned against the edge of the pond, letting their bodies float in silence. Only the sound of dripping water and the gentle flow around the pond accompanied them. Their hair was wet, their swimsuits clung to their bodies, but none of them felt uncomfortable.
Aiz gazed up at the glowing ceiling of the Dungeon, her eyes squinting slightly from the faint light of the crystals above.
"This pond… is more fun than I expected," she murmured softly.
Shirou nodded. "Sometimes, the Dungeon can be a place to relax. If you find the right spot."
Lefiya brushed her hair back, still smiling. "Let's not rush back… just a little longer."
And in that rare moment of tranquility, the three of them let time slow down. No sounds of monsters. No pressure from the expedition. No burdens as adventurers. Just three hearts opening up… in a small pond where new memories were being made.
Several peaceful hours passed. The laughter and ripples of water had faded, leaving only calm in their wake. The three of them finally decided they'd had enough. Their bodies were starting to feel cold, their skin wrinkled from the water, and their stomachs were slowly signaling hunger.
With lazy movements, they climbed out of the Dungeon's small pond one by one.
Shirou was the first to stand on the rocky edge of the pond. He raised his hand—a flash of blue light flickered across his palm—Trace, on—and in an instant, a large gray towel appeared in his grasp. He began drying himself, starting with his dripping hair before moving to his shoulders and damp chest.
Not far away, Aiz quietly made her way back to the small gray tent they had set up earlier. She pulled the entrance flap aside, carrying a towel and a change of clothes. A few seconds later, the faint sound of fabric rustling could be heard from inside.
Meanwhile, Lefiya remained standing near the pond, half-dazed… or more accurately… mesmerized.
Her gaze was fixed on Shirou's exposed back as he wiped the water from his body. The light from the Dungeon's ceiling crystals reflected off his damp skin, accentuating the lines of his shoulder and arm muscles. Lefiya knew she should look away. But… it was too hard.
Oh my gods, why does he… look so cool like this? she panicked internally. When we first met, he seemed plain and ordinary… but now… huh…
Her gaze lingered a little too long on Shirou's abdominal muscles, and for some reason, she started imagining things she shouldn't. Her cheeks flushed.
Then, suddenly…
"Hm?" Shirou turned his head, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Lefiya, what's wrong? Is there something weird on my body? Dirt?"
His voice nearly made Lefiya choke on air. "E-Eh?! No! I mean… not… that… not because of you… I mean, not your body… or your muscles… I mean, I wasn't paying attention to that—!"
Shirou only tilted his head, clearly not catching half of Lefiya's flustered rambling.
Lefiya quickly racked her brain for an excuse. Her eyes landed on Shirou's bangs, which were dripping water and partially covering his eyes. Like magic, she found a saving grace.
"Ah! Your hair! Your hair's… gotten so long now!" she blurted out.
Shirou blinked, then raised a hand to his bangs and pulled them down. His red hair fell almost to the tip of his nose.
"Huh… yeah, I guess it has," he murmured softly. "I probably need a trim."
Lefiya sighed in relief, then took half a step closer with a smile. "You look different, you know. When you first joined the Loki Familia, your hair was like… a hedgehog. All spiky and rough. Now it's softer and falls down. Are you using special shampoo?"
Shirou shrugged lightly. "Not really. I just use the hair oil Syr gave me."
"Syr…?" Lefiya repeated, slightly intrigued.
But before she could ask more, the sound of the tent flap being pulled aside interrupted them. Aiz stepped out with quiet footsteps. She had changed, now wearing a clean white outfit paired with light armor on her shoulders and chest. Her golden hair was still slightly damp but neatly combed back. As usual, she looked like a warrior from a painting—cold, beautiful, and untouchable.
Aiz glanced at Lefiya and asked flatly, "Aren't you changing?"
Lefiya turned quickly, her eyes widening.
"Ah! Right! I'll… go to the tent first!" she stammered before hurrying off to the tent, covering her face, which was now burning—not from embarrassment at being told to change, but because she'd just realized… she'd been caught staring at Shirou for way too long.
Once Lefiya emerged from the tent, now wearing her new outfit—a light mint-green tunic with short sleeves and embroidered leaf details on the right side—she looked much fresher. The ends of her hair were still damp, but she had braided it, making it more practical for the journey back.
"Done!" she said cheerfully, patting her cheeks as she approached Aiz and Shirou, who were packing up their equipment.
Shirou turned and gave a small nod. He raised his hand, and a faint blue light enveloped the tents around them. Within seconds, the sturdy gray and blue structures that had stood moments ago faded, shrinking and dissolving into particles of light that dissipated back into prana.
"Done," he said simply, then slung a large supporter's bag over his shoulder, filled with leather pouches containing quest materials and loot from their journey. He glanced at the two girls. "Ready?"
"Ready," Aiz replied succinctly, standing straight as usual.
Lefiya nodded firmly. "Let's go home."
Their journey back to the surface began. They ascended from the 25th floor, and for some reason, everything felt faster than when they'd descended. Perhaps because the weight on their hearts had lightened. Two quests were complete: the coral from the hidden pond and the Minotaur's blood from their earlier battle. No tension, no lingering pressure.
The monsters that appeared were few, and when they did, they were dealt with efficiently. Aiz only drew her sword when necessary. Shirou is helping from a distance with projected arrows. Meanwhile, Lefiya, though rarely using magic, stayed vigilant in the rear, guarding the group's defenses.
Before they knew it, the white light of the ascending path welcomed them.
By the time they emerged from the spiral staircase and returned to Orario, it was already midday. Gray clouds hung in the sky, casting a gentle shadow over the city, but it didn't dampen the lively atmosphere. The streets were bustling as usual—merchants shouting, adventurers wandering, and the sound of cart wheels mingling with the laughter of children running around.
On their way to Twilight Manor, Shirou paused for a moment, patting the bag on his shoulder and looking at the two of them.
"You two go ahead," he said. "I'm stopping by the Guild for a bit. Need to submit the report and hand over the Minotaur blood and coral to the receptionist. So the quests can be officially closed."
Aiz looked at him for a moment. "Want me to come with you?"
Shirou shook his head. "No need. You must be tired too. Rest first. I'll catch up later."
Lefiya seemed like she wanted to say something, but ended up just nodding. "Then be careful, Shirou."
"Always." Shirou gave a faint smile before turning and heading toward the Guild office, his steps steady as he carried the fruits of their hard work.
Aiz and Lefiya walked side by side through Orario's cobbled streets, making their way back to Twilight Manor. Their pace wasn't rushed, but it wasn't slow either—a comfortable silence settled between the two friends who had just completed another adventure.
When they arrived at the towering doors of the manor, a soft growl… sounded.
Aiz paused for a moment. Her hand reflexively touched her stomach, which had just made the noise, and her usually expressionless face showed a slight change—her eyebrows lifted slightly, her expression almost pleading.
Lefiya turned and smiled slightly. "Hungry?" she asked, half-suppressing a laugh.
"A little," Aiz replied curtly, but her eyes glanced toward the kitchen as she caught the scent of food.
Lefiya raised her hand, pointing to the small bag slung over Aiz's shoulder—the one containing their swimsuits and towels from earlier. "Let me take your bag to your room. You can head straight to the kitchen."
Aiz looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you."
After handing the bag to Lefiya, Aiz immediately dashed down the manor's hallway. Her movements were quick and light, like the wind—or more accurately, like someone already envisioning a large bowl of hot soup and toasted bread in front of them.
Lefiya chuckled softly as she watched her friend's back disappear around the corner. She then carried both bags to the second floor, where her room was located. Upon entering, she realized her room was empty—Elfy, her roommate, must still be out in the Dungeon or with other Familia members.
She set her own bag down by the bed, then went out and headed to the third floor to place Aiz's bag in her room.
But just as she opened Aiz's door and stepped back out—BUMP!
"Ah! Sorry!" Lefiya exclaimed in panic upon realizing she'd bumped into someone.
The person fell onto their rear, with a relaxed expression and a mischievous grin.
"Oh~? Look who bumped into her own goddess," Loki mused while patting her clothes.
Lefiya quickly bowed. "M-My apologies, Loki! I didn't mean to—"
But Loki only narrowed her eyes and looked Lefiya up and down before chuckling. "Hm~ You've grown, haven't you~?"
Her gaze conspicuously lingered on Lefiya's chest.
Instantly, the elf's face turned as red as a ripe tomato. "W-What do you mean?!" she exclaimed, covering her chest defensively.
Loki grinned even wider. "Relax, relax, I'm just saying you don't look like a newbie anymore~ Besides…" She stood up and clapped her hands. "It's been a while since your last status update, right? Come on, let me see how you've improved."
Lefiya shook her head quickly, her expression awkward. "I don't think… much has changed since last time. It's really not necessary…"
Loki snorted and crossed her arms. "You're picking up Shirou's habits, huh? He keeps putting off his status updates, too. Don't follow his example! You youngsters can be so lazy when it's actually important—"
Before she could finish scolding, Loki grabbed Lefiya's wrist and pulled her along. "Enough excuses. Come on. Let's go to my room."
"E-Eh? W-Wait! I'm not ready!" Half-dragged, half-walking on her own, Lefiya's face grew even redder as other Familia members began glancing their way.
And just like that, unable to refuse, Lefiya was dragged into the goddess's room… for a status update session that was bound to be filled with teasing remarks.
Upon entering Loki's room, it was as chaotic as ever—scattered pillows, a strange sweet scent that could either be the goddess's perfume or leftover wine bottles. Loki herself had already flopped onto her bed lazily.
She patted the spot in front of her and called out, "Come on, hurry up! Your gorgeous goddess is ready to see how much you've grown."
Lefiya took a deep breath, closed the door quietly, and walked slowly to the center of the room. She stood with her back to Loki, undid the light clasp at the neck of her tunic, and let it slide down until only her undergarments remained.
"Woah~" Loki chuckled under her breath. "I wasn't exaggerating, was I? You really have grown."
Lefiya ignored the comment, sighing softly before sitting on the edge of the bed, her back facing Loki. She lifted her light brown hair slightly and unhooked her bra, fully exposing her back.
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew quieter.
Loki, though usually mischievous and full of quips, knew when to be serious. With practiced ease, she took a small needle from the bedside table, pricked her pinky finger, and let a drop of divine blood—Ichor—well up. The thick, crimson liquid glowed faintly at the tip of the needle before Loki touched it to Lefiya's back.
The Falna pattern on the elf's pale skin shimmered softly, the hidden symbols of the gods coming to life under the goddess's touch.
Lefiya closed her eyes.
Her heartbeat quickened—not from embarrassment, but from the unease in her heart.
How much have I really grown?
Had all her training, all her adventures with the Loki Familia… borne fruit?
Or was she running in place? Lefiya clenched her fists on her lap, suppressing the sudden surge of nervousness.
Meanwhile, Loki began reading the shifting numbers and symbols before her, her expression shifting to surprise.
But she said nothing yet.
And Lefiya could only sit still… and wait.
