Chapter 42
THE spinning out of control world mixed with her vision painted over by whiteout. Everything sounded like it was projected through a loud speaker, threatening to split her head. Amid the chaos Yuki’s mind was undergoing, she heard one voice clearly as if it were the voice of reason.
“What? The person has been asleep for three days straight? Since you found them collapsed in front of a water fountain…they may be a refugee. Are you willing to accept them into your facility here?” Yuki’s eyes snapped open at the familiar sound of that voice. “All things considered, why am I the one stuck doing this?”
“Now, now. Just goes to show how shorthanded we are. Look on the bright side, we get out of having to take part in the sticky military affairs and our great country gets free manpower without the costs. It’s a good deal.”
Forgetting the pain and her poor health, Yuki shot up in bed at the speed of light. She found herself in a room lined with beds like a school’s health office. The other beds appeared unused. Voices came from right outside the room. Their voices traveled easily through the thin walls.
“I understand why you have to do it, Gys. You are still a boarding student, but I am a royal advisor…”
“Don’t calmly dis me, you bloody elite! The great thing about debase jobs like these is that they have a way of giving birth to better jobs and encounters!”
“…I’m aware you do your work with ulterior motives, but I think you should be careful announcing it to the world.”
“C’mon, lighten up, man! Who knows, the refugee could be a cutie!”
Someone tossed the door open.
“Oh, looks like our guest is awake.” A young man with dark-brown hair and devilish facial features gawked at Yuki. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes. Yuki couldn’t take her eyes from the young man wearing glasses behind him.
“…Ain…” The name slipped from her lips like a drop of water on an eerily silent lake.
“What? Ain is this someone you know?” asked the other man with an out-of-place cheeriness.
A surprised Ain entered the room. Upon spotting Yuki, his brow furrowed quizzically. “I am Ain, but…who are you?” He carefully looked her over, but was puzzled when she didn’t match anyone he knew.
“It’s me! You might not believe me because of how I look right now, but I’m Yuki! Yuki! I came to see Luca,” she said quickly. Then it finally occurred to her.
Why didn’t I think of this until now? It’s obvious Ain would be in Adolunde! Ain is Luca’s civil advisor and his close aide!
“Have you already met up with Nasette and Tita? Where is everybody?” Yuki asked with a smile.
How nostalgic! Is everyone back in Adolunde now? I want to see them all again!
Pure shock colored Ain’s face. “…Why do you know about that?”
“What do you mean?”
Perplexed, Yuki looked herself over again. Vivi had aged her body to sixteen and changed her violet eyes to black. There were vestiges of her younger self still there, but at a glance it would be hard to think she was the one and same person.
“I know because I’m Yuki. Hear me out. After I last saw you, the Witch changed my appearance and then—”
“Please stop this nonsense!” he yelled.