The first floor of Shia's Blood was as lively as ever, yet the residential areas on the second and third floors were still able to maintain a silence, a credit to the administrators.

"Emile, you stay in the room, I'll ask."

I stood in front of Nalesha's room and said to Emile.

"Eh?" She stretched her tone, "Why?"

"You-say-what?" I pinched her cheek, "You're the one who grabbed her, right? You're the one who hypnotizes her, right? You're the one who charmed her and forced her to reveal the truth, right? What would I play if you got in?"

"...... am I that excessive?"

"Much more excessive than what I said."

Emile was speechless.

I tap her forehead, gesturing for her to go back to her room, then take a deep breath and try to knock on Nalesha's room-

"-come in."

A gentle but not overpowering tone.

My hand that wanted to knock down slowly, then turned knocking into pushing.

Honestly, I thought she would definitely leave Shia's Blood after what happened, but I didn't expect her to not only still be there, but also to accept our visit.

I walked in and closed the door.

"That ......Tassili ...... or Nale ......?"

Looking at the teenage girl dressing like a boy sitting on the couch, I didn't know which name to use.

"Just call me Tassili, please sit down."

She smiled warmly, with a light curve at the corner of her mouth.

"Hmm."

I responded obediently, then sat down across from her.

Nalesha rubbed the ring on her right ring finger with her left pinky finger and looked at my face.

"......"

A terrifying silence.

Shit ......I don't know where to start ......

"I'm an elf, I’m here to find someone and something."

Nalesha took a sip of the tea in her hand and bluntly said.

"......"

So blunt that I was a little shocked.

"Please keep my secret if you can, and, as I'm sure you're well aware about the walls, it wasn't me. Well ...... do you have any more questions?"

"Uh, there should be no more."

"That's great, please leave if there's nothing else, I'm getting ready to rest."

She lifted her slanted bangs to the back of her head, signaling that she was about to go to bed.

"Wait, I ......"

Nalesha's eyes suddenly turned cold and she said word by word.

"Anything-else?""......"

She gripped the fabric of her seat tightly, her knuckles clacking.

It seemed Nalesha wasn't as calm as she appeared.

It wasn't time yet.

"Nothing, please take care of me tomorrow."

I stood up, bent to her as a sign of apology, and slowly retreated to the door.

"By the way-"

As I was about to leave, I turned around and smiled gently at her.

"Can we make friends after this performance?"

"......" Her stern eyes suddenly froze and she looked at me blankly, "What?"

"That’s the deal!"

I closed the door and ran quickly back to my room.

---------- ----

"Yo, how'd it go?"

Emile asked languidly as she lay on her bed yawning incessantly.

I followed Nalesha's pose and ruffled my bangs -

"Everything is under control."

---------- --

Nalesha froze and looked at the door of the room, recalling the words asked by the young girl with a red face just now.

"Friends ...... be friends ......"

--- ---------- -