The Lucids

Chapter 2 – Teach me how to dream

It was a long, long wait before Yaris and Lillac’s turn came around. Yaris kept himself entertained by watching the waitress and counting how many people were accepted or rejected; Lillac only grew more anxious. As they neared the Group Counselor’s desk, she fidgeted and tried to make conversation, but Yaris’s attention remained elsewhere, much to her indignation.

At last, they stood before the Group Counselor. He was sorting papers on his desk with his large, muscular hands, a relieved look on his face. “All right, everyone!” he exclaimed in his deep voice, still looking down. “This will be our last application! Once this group has been processed, I’m going to have to ask the rest of you to…”

When he finally looked up, he saw Yaris again—this time accompanied by a young woman. He glanced back and forth between them with concern.

“Young man…” He leaned forward. “Don’t tell me you swindled this poor woman for some cash?”

“Swindled…?” Yaris repeated, a blank expression on his face. He thought for a moment, then nodded. “Well, I suppose you could say that. I put in great effort to convince her to give me my missing 5,000 Yuni, after all.”

“Guards!” the Group Counselor exclaimed.

“Wait!” Lillac cried, nearly falling over the desk. “What the hell are you saying, Yarees?!”

“Yaris,” Yaris corrected.

“Y-Yaris! Anyway! Mr. Group Counselor, sir, I gave this man the money he asked for of my own volition. I intend to join the group he… plans to create…”

The Group Counselor smirked. “Well, I can’t say it’s exactly a smart choice… But if you’ve got the money in those bags, then I suppose I can’t logically turn down the group’s creation…”

Lillac turned toward Yaris with a happy expression, and Yaris nodded in return.

“Well, then,” the Group Counselor said, taking out a small sheet of paper and a quill pen. “Though your group can certainly be created, I assume you still want to enter the entrance exams for the DBA, correct?”

The pair nodded.

“I see. Okay, then. Why should I let you two participate?”

Silence fell between them. Lillac looked to Yaris, desperately hoping he had some speech prepared, but his irritatingly simple, perplexed expression told her otherwise. When the Group Counselor started to speak again, she knew they were losing their chance.

“I-I am Lillac Webster,” she announced in a cold sweat, presenting herself with one hand on her chest. “M-my family has been known for its strength and magic for centuries. We have even had Dreamers in our lineage… I believe that if I prove myself—if we prove ourselves capable in the entrance exams—we are sure to shine in the DBA…!”

The Group Counselor squinted. “Hm… the Webster family, huh…? Yes, I have heard of that family name before…”

A relieved smile came to Lillac’s face.

“However, if I recall correctly, the last person of note with that name died over 250 years ago… Furthermore, if my research is correct, your family transitioned into the merchant trade rather than continuing as a line of Dreamers… Is there anything you have to say about that?”

A small smirk crossed the Group Counselor’s face, and Lillac flushed with deep embarrassment. Yaris looked at her inquisitively and leaned in. “Is this true?”

“S-shut up!” Lillac exclaimed in fury. However, she quickly looked around, realized she was causing a scene, and covered her mouth in shame. She lowered her head a little, her eyes growing wet. “Y-yes… That’s true… I was hoping to reestablish our family legacy… I didn’t mean to deceive you…”

The Group Counselor sighed. “Well, don’t worry about it. It’s as noble a reason as any, though I’m unsure whether ‘hoping’ to do anything makes a strong enough case for participating in the entrance exams.” He turned to Yaris. The empty expression waiting for him made the counselor rest his head in one hand and sigh.

“…And you?” he asked at last.

“I’m the best there is,” Yaris said plainly. “The DBA would be quite foolish not to consider me for the entrance exams.”

At his words, Lillac nearly fell over. “It’s over… It’s over… It’s over… And I gave my money to this guy…” she mumbled, sniffling between her chants. Her hands were over her head in pure disbelief. “Why did I put my hopes in him…”

The tears gathering in Lillac’s eyes only confused Yaris. Maybe she was brought to tears by how amazing I am? he wondered. The Group Counselor tossed his hands into the air.

“I’m sorry, you two,” he said. “However, I will have to deny your request…”

“Ah, wait,” Yaris interrupted. He rummaged through his pockets and, after unfolding a small slip of paper, handed it to the Group Counselor. “Here. I was told to give this to you.”

The Group Counselor grumbled. “As much as I appreciate letters of recommendation, there isn’t a single person in this world who would recommend you without me hearing about it beforehand…” Despite his words, he unfolded the paper, already chuckling at whatever idiot might have recommended Yaris. Then he read its contents and froze. The color drained from his face, and he began trembling as he tried to speak.

“T-T-T-This is…!” he stammered, holding the slip of paper so tightly that another movement might cause him to rip it in half.

Hearing the commotion, Lillac removed her arms from her head and looked at the Group Counselor. She had never seen such a big, burly man look as terrified as he did now. “Hey… what did you give him? Was it his home address or something…?” she asked, a hint of fear in her own voice. “Just what kind of scammer are you…?”

“It’s nothing like that.” Yaris sighed, confused by both of their reactions. “It’s just as he said—a letter of recommendation.”

“I-I thought… no… but how…?” The Group Counselor continued to stammer, bringing the slip closer to his face and turning it this way and that, as though it were some phantom whose reality he was trying to discern. “I-It just can’t be…! I thought he was—”

Before he could finish, his eyes widened. He covered his mouth and slowly placed the paper inside his drawer, as though it might explode. After several deep breaths, he wiped away sweat and looked toward Yaris in pure disbelief.

“…You have the money, correct?” he said at last, his voice still quivering.

“Yup,” Yaris said plainly.

“Just leave the required amount here. I will complete your group’s registration and give you the location and date of the entrance exams in private.” He quickly brought out a small note card, hastily scribbled something upon it, and thrust it toward Yaris. “Congratulations. You’re the last group… Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need some time to myself…”

“Don’t you want to check the money?”

“I wouldn’t even care if you were 80,000 Yuni short…” the Group Counselor grumbled, one hand covering his mouth. With that, he rose and disappeared deeper into the building. The entire lobby fell silent—even the patrons who had been laughing at the display.

Yaris set the large drawstring bag on the desk, then counted 5,000 Yuni from Lillac’s smaller bag and placed the coins beside it. He left the remaining 500 Yuni inside the smaller bag and retied it at his hip.

“W-what…?” Lillac squeaked. “D-did we just get… accepted…?”

Yaris brought the note card to his face. “Yup. Seems like we should meet him tomorrow at—”

Lillac quickly covered Yaris’s mouth with her hand, a panicked expression forming on her face. She was deeply flushed, and Yaris could feel her hand trembling against his mouth. “Not here! Not here! Quickly, let’s go! Before everyone else realizes what just happened! Ah, jeez! This makes no sense…!”

She dragged him out of Dream Catchers by the arm, having no idea where she was running. As soon as they left, yelling, cursing, and screaming erupted from within, loud enough to follow them down the street.

* * *

It was late evening. Unsure where else to go, Lillac had dragged Yaris to an inn at the edge of Polisar so they could rest and gather their thoughts. Yet even in a warm, bubble-filled bath, she could not settle down. She sank deeper into the water, replaying the day. “As happy as I am to have a shot at the entrance exams…” she mumbled, blowing bubbles in the water. “Is this really how it’s supposed to happen…? I thought Mr. Group Counselor would hear my story and be impressed… Then he had to go ahead and know the truth… and then that bastard Yaris…! He didn’t even have a plan or anything prepared… If he hadn’t had that piece of paper…”

She paused. Yes, the two of them had been accepted—saved, even—by that piece of paper…

“What exactly was on that paper, anyway? And if whatever was on it was so serious that it caused Mr. Group Counselor to accept us right away…”

She rose from the tub with a great splash, her whole body shaking.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT BONEHEAD YARIS DOING WITH A LETTER LIKE THAT, ANYWAY?!”

* * *

Yaris was waiting on the top bunk—the bunk Lillac had forced him to occupy—for her to finish bathing. He had begun drifting off, but Lillac’s hollering and the sound of splashing water awakened him. He sighed, clutching his head. “I guess that means she’s done…”

He climbed down from the top bunk and finally looked around. Yaris had never stayed at an inn before. The warm yellow light, comfortable temperature, and surprisingly soft bunk impressed him more than he wanted to admit. A floral scent drifted through the tiny wooden room—possibly Lillac’s soap—and the outskirts of Polisar were so quiet that almost nothing reached them from outside. After taking it all in, he slowly started climbing back up.

…Maybe I’ll sleep after all… he mused.

“Hey,” Lillac said sternly, interrupting his thoughts. He looked over, and there stood a flushed, irritated-looking Lillac wearing a plain white T-shirt and purple shorts. Yaris had noticed it earlier, but Lillac was a rather… well-endowed woman… and the T-shirt and shorts seemed to present those features more prominently than even her ‘battle gear.’ Yaris looked her up and down. Her face reddened further, and a look of disgust began to form.

“Be careful of creeps,” Yaris said at once. He was sure that if he wasn’t careful, his first and only group member would be taken away from him.

“You’re the only creep!” Lillac exclaimed, pulling him from the ladder leading to his beloved top bunk. “I need to talk to you. Right now. We should go down to the cafeteria and talk over some food. Understood?”

Yaris hummed in confusion. “I thought I was supposed to be taking a bath after you?”

“That can wait. I’m afraid that if I wait even a moment longer, I’m going to become so irritable that I might just choke you in your sleep… There are too many things about you I just don’t understand. Come on, now.”

Yaris couldn’t help but think about how troublesome this first group member of his was. Would all of them be like this? I didn’t know being a leader came with so many difficulties…

Despite his thoughts, he let Lillac pull him downstairs. The receptionist pointed them through a wooden door beside the lobby, and the smell of grease, pork, and seasonings hit them immediately. The cafeteria was small and homey: a five-seat bar, two corner tables, and one patron at the far end who glanced over, blushed, then returned to his plate. The bartender turned from the counter with a smile. “Welcome! Please feel free to sit anywhere, you two. I’ll bring you both a menu in just a moment…”

The bartender hummed as she turned back toward the counter. They must not get patrons often… Lillac mused.

Just then, a loud, shameless grumbling came from Lillac’s abdomen. Yaris watched her face grow redder by the second as she bit her lip fiercely, head lowered and eyes closed. “…You shouldn’t be bringing pets into places with food,” Yaris said plainly, looking at her with light surprise. After all, she had never told him she owned any pets. He wondered what kind of animal made a noise like that.

“Are you fucking with me…?” Lillac grumbled in agitation. She grabbed Yaris by the hand and dragged him to a corner table. They sat across from each other, Lillac studying his plain, clueless face with great indignation and disbelief.

What should I do with this guy…? Is this guy really my leader…?

She had gotten into the entrance exams, but she still had plenty of reasons to doubt Yaris Rogue. Nobody at Dream Catchers had known the self-proclaimed “best” when she asked; some had laughed at the question. Then there was his money. Ninety-five thousand Yuni was believable, but carrying it around as a huge bag of gold coins was ridiculous when nearly everyone used pay stamps. And then there was the biggest problem…

“So, what’s this about not having a group until today?” she asked suspiciously. “I can tell you aren’t exactly the clever type, but waiting to register your group until the busiest time of the generation is far too risky and outlandish. What would have happened if you couldn’t register your group, or if there were some prequalification you needed but didn’t know about? Did you have any plan for that sort of thing?”

Yaris hummed. “…Nope. I just figured they had to accept me, and they did. Plus, I only arrived in Polisar last night… What-ifs are pointless when the end result has already happened, y’know? Maybe I should make a new rule for my group… Rule Number Two: Do not fret over what was or what could be…”

“That’s no good at all!” Lillac exclaimed, slapping the table. “As a leader, you need to be more proactive, more thoughtful! That’s the least you could do, right?! As ‘the best’ or whatever the hell?!”

Lillac was screaming in his face by then, but Yaris was already tuning her out. The least I could do, huh… He put a hand over his mouth. I suppose she has a point… Hm… as a leader, huh…

“Hey, are you listening…?” Lillac bellowed, grabbing Yaris by the collar.

Yaris could not help but think that he still had much to learn.

“Excuse me, you two…” the bartender interrupted, a troubled look on her face. “As common as lovers’ quarrels are in a place like this, we have to ask that you keep it down for the sake of our other patrons…”

She nodded toward the man sitting at the far end of the bar. The flush on his face only deepened, and he seemed to be gritting his teeth and clutching his silverware tightly in agitation.

“L-lovers…?!” Lillac sputtered, red in the face.

“We apologize,” Yaris replied with a nod.

“That’s great! Well, then, here are your menus… Once you’re ready, just call me over. I’ll be behind the bar, as before…”

With that, she walked off, grinning to herself in amusement. “You… why didn’t you correct her…?” Lillac spat, her face red with anger. “I would never want to be associated like that with someone like you…”

“Hm? She said ‘lovers’ quarrels’ were common…” Yaris muttered, tilting his head in confusion. “Obviously, it’s some sort of cultural thing… Wouldn’t it be rude to try to correct her? What do they call it… cultural appropriation… or something…?”

Lillac clutched her head in her hands, muttering something negative. Yaris was again reminded of how troublesome his first member was.

After calming down, they turned to the menus. Breakfast was crossed out, leaving three choices each for lunch and dinner. Yaris chose number five; Lillac, number nine. She raised a hand, and the bartender came over to take their orders. “Thank you. They’ll be out shortly,” the bartender said with a bow. She called the two numbers through the door behind the counter, then returned to polishing glasses.

“…What did you get?” Lillac asked after a moment, breaking the silence between her and Yaris. He figured she did not enjoy awkward moments very much.

“…It’s a secret,” Yaris said, trying to be funny. He got no laughter from her; instead, she looked at him sternly and with great exasperation. He figured he would have to train his sense of humor, too.

“…What did you get?” he asked in return.

“So I can’t ask you, but you can ask me…?” she sighed, resting her head on the table. She seemed to pout a little. Yaris studied her for a moment as she took several deep breaths.

…I suppose she can be kind of cute when she isn’t glaring at me, he thought. Like a kitten… No, maybe that’s too kind… like a pet mouse…

“Hey,” she said, still resting her head on the table. “I feel like you’re thinking something very insulting… Do I need to hit you?”

“No…” Yaris conceded, indeed not wanting to get hit.

They sat in silence for several minutes. Inner-city inns were another matter: most visitors came for sex, illicit goods, partying, or because they had no other option, so rest there was practically impossible. Here on Polisar’s outskirts, none of that was present. The silence was awkward at first, but eventually they settled into it.

Soon a bell chimed behind the wall, and the bartender returned carrying two large plates. Sweet and savory smells—garlic, parsley, sizzling meat—filled the room. Yaris and Lillac sat up at once. Yaris even heard the animal Lillac had apparently snuck in make another sound, bringing the color back to her face.

“Number five…” the bartender announced, setting down Yaris’s plate. Fried fish sat beneath country gravy beside buttery mashed potatoes, green beans, and two sweet rolls. Brown gravy coated the potatoes, and the slice of butter melting over the top made for a truly erotic, spectacular sight. Bits of onion and ham dotted the shining beans, their juices running together as though coating each other in love. The glistening sweet rolls practically begged to be dipped into the potatoes. Trembling, Yaris obeyed. A tear slipped from his eye.

“Tears…?” Lillac breathed, an astonished look on her face. She truly had no idea what kind of man Yaris Rogue was. She knew only one thing for certain: he was a bona fide idiot.

“And number nine for you, miss…” the bartender continued, placing the final plate in front of Lillac.

Lillac swallowed at the sight of her plate. Yellow, glistening noodles slid and jiggled beneath deep-red marinara, the sauce further lubing the pasta into an almost ridiculous amount of slippage. Ground beef weighed the whole mess together. Off to the side sat the bystander: a piece of garlic bread, shyly soaking up the juices it had tried to avoid. Lillac could not stand its shyness. She loaded it with pasta, sauce, and beef, then took a bite.

“Tears…?” Yaris said, eyeing Lillac with wonder. “You truly are a strange one.”

“What?!” Lillac choked, food still in her mouth. “You were crying too just now!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Do you see any tears on my face?”

Lillac had no clue how he had done it, but indeed there were no tears on his face. Instead, only his blank, absentminded expression remained. She had never felt more humiliated in her life.

“Well, then, if everything is good, please enjoy!” the bartender said with a bow. “If you need anything, be sure to let me know…”

They were both far hungrier than either wanted to admit, and for several minutes, the only sounds were chewing and forks against plates. There was nothing awkward about the silence now; all their attention belonged to the food. Eventually, Lillac remembered why she had dragged Yaris downstairs. Realizing she had hardly paused between mouthfuls and was not eating very ladylike, she wiped her mouth, gave a small cough, and waited until he looked up.

“…So,” she said, raising an eyebrow. This was what had truly been on her mind. “Tell me—what exactly was on the slip of paper you gave Mr. Group Counselor? Surely it had to be something damning… like some sort of blackmail? I’ve never seen him look so… astonished? Scared? I can’t even describe the look on his face…”

“I told you already, didn’t I?” Yaris responded in a muffled voice as he stuffed yet another sweet roll into his mouth. “It was a letter of recommendation. Am I really so unreliable that you cannot believe me, your leader? To be frank with you, Member Number One, Lillac Webster… I’m hurt.”

“What’s with all that talk…?” she asked with a sigh. “Well, whatever…”

Yaris clearly had no intention of offering specifics. Lillac let the question go. They had made it into the entrance exams; she had a more immediate problem to ask about.

“…Do you have any plans to prepare? For the entrance exams, I mean?” she asked at last.

Yaris froze mid-chew. A cold sweat broke across his face as he slowly looked away. He chewed once, carefully, swallowed, and finally answered.

“…No.”

It took everything in Lillac’s power to stop herself from screaming at him. Instead, she settled for leaping over the table and grabbing him by the cheeks, deeply flustered and fed up as tears gathered in her eyes. Yaris knew he had upset her again.

“N-now hold on… Wait a moment, Lillac,” Yaris said, his cheeks beginning to hurt. “W-why do we need to prepare? The entrance exams are no problem… I’m sure we’ll pass just fine… We don’t need to worry at all…”

“How could you say something like that?!” Lillac protested, spit flying onto Yaris’s face. “First of all, if it wasn’t for that slip of paper, we wouldn’t even have been considered! Do you think all the other groups that got accepted also just had some sort of magical paper? No! They are well-known, well-established, true candidates! They are one thousand times more capable than fakers like us! Do you understand?! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”

“Augh…!” Yaris groaned in pain. “I get it, I get it… just let go of me already…”

Lillac released him, though she was still deeply flushed and pouty. She crossed her arms and waited for Yaris to collect himself, obviously wanting a response.

“I get it… Truly,” Yaris said, rubbing his cheeks. “Then, how about this… Tonight, I’ll enter your dream, and we can train together… How does that sound?”

“Finally, a logical answer from you…!” Lillac huffed. Then she jolted, as though remembering something. She placed her hands in her lap and fidgeted from side to side. She lowered her head, her gaze darting rapidly between Yaris and the floor.

“Well, the truth is…” she said in a low, soft voice. It was like she had become an entirely different girl—one who had regressed to a middle schooler. “I… don’t really know… how to… dream… all that well…”

Yaris blinked. Beginners commonly sought the DBA, but even their training assumed one basic skill: recognizing and controlling a dream. The abilities and Techniques used within dreams—and how effectively they transferred into the real world—depended on that prerequisite. So that would mean…

“You want to become a Dreamer, and you don’t even know how to dream…?” Yaris asked at last, his voice plain but airy.

“Y-you’re too loud!” Lillac hushed him, looking around. She seemed relieved to find that nobody was listening to their conversation. “T-that’s why I was going to ask if I could join your dream instead… It’s a simple solution, right…?”

“Absolutely not,” Yaris refused.

“WHY?!”

“You can’t. I told you I was the best, right? Simply put, you won’t be able to handle my dreams.”

“W-what kind of bullshit is that…?”

“However,” Yaris said, raising a finger. “It’s not as though we don’t have any options. As your leader, I, Yaris Rogue, will teach my first member, Lillac Webster, how to dream. Yes, yes. That’s nice and proper, fitting of a leader, huh?”

Lillac blinked, still embarrassed at having confessed her dysfunction. “I-I suppose so… but doesn’t learning how to dream take many months, at the very least? Is it possible that someone… like me… could learn how to do so before the entrance exams?”

“Of course,” Yaris said confidently, taking a large bite of his fried fish. “I am the best, after all.”

With that, Yaris, seemingly relieved of his duties and Lillac’s pestering, began enjoying his meal again in full. Lillac eyed him with doubt. Still demoralized by admitting her inability, she could do nothing but eat slowly in silence.

This guy… can he really teach me how to dream? she wondered. All her life, she had hated the fact that she never truly knew how to dream properly. And now, before her stood an opportunity to learn—even if it was from a man named Yaris Rogue. Well, I suppose… I can try it out…

She put another forkful of pasta into her mouth. It was so, so good.

Chapter 3 – How to Dream

“I get you’re excited…” Yaris conceded in a soft, low tone. “However, I don’t understand why you had to take the rest of my money after I went through the gracious act of paying for us…”

“Do you mean my money?” Lillac huffed. “You’re the one who tried to sneak off with it, thinking I wouldn’t notice after everything that happened back at Dream Catchers… You’re terrible!”

“I thought you had given it to me to begin with… You didn’t have to snatch it from me…”

“Well?” Lillac continued, looking about her, ignoring the dejection coming from Yaris. “Is this where we’re supposed to be training…? I obviously don’t know too much about the subject, but… I would assume that if you were to teach me how to control my dreams, I would need to be in a bed or comfy chair or something, right… So I can, y’know… dream…?”

After their meals were paid for, Yaris led Lillac to a large, open field some distance from the inn. Few lights reached the area, leaving the night sky brilliant while each gust carried the scent of greenery. Fireflies and other small insects stirred from the damp grass around their feet. It was quiet enough that either of them would notice another presence at once, which made it perfect for their session.

“That’s what you may think at first,” Yaris said, bending down to touch the grass. He waved his hand in a circular motion. “However, for someone like you, it’s easier to control your dreams the more discomfort you’re in. We wouldn’t want you falling asleep before you’re prepared, would we?”

Lillac nodded, twirling her hair with an embarrassed look on her face. “I-I suppose so…”

Yaris suddenly sat atop the grass, placing his hands on his knees. He studied Lillac for a long moment as she gazed back with curiosity and concern. “You too. Sit,” he said at last.

“Huh…? You know the grass is wet, right? I don’t even have any pants on or anything like that… And I just showered… Can’t I stand?” Lillac complained, kicking the grass beneath her.

“If you think you can stand while sleeping, then I don’t mind…”

“Ugh… I swear, this better work out… I hope you aren’t playing some mean prank on me…”

With more hesitation than Yaris could understand, she slowly lowered herself into the grass. Once seated, however, the wince left her eyes, replaced by surprise. She ran one hand through the blades and pressed the other against them.

“Huh…?” she stammered, her mouth agape. “It’s not wet… But it was just…”

“I told you that you needn’t worry,” Yaris replied, resting his head on one hand. “I hope you’re not forgetting rule number one already…”

Lillac couldn’t help but wonder if Yaris had done something to the grass, but she figured that was giving him too much credit. It was Yaris, after all.

“Whatever…” she replied. “Well… what now…?”

Yaris said nothing, only staring deep into her eyes. Lillac stared back as confusion settled across her face. After a full minute, she could no longer stand it. “H-hey… what now?”

“Sorry,” Yaris sighed, fixing his posture. “It’s my first time teaching someone how to do this, so I was thinking about how I should go about it…”

“Y-you don’t even know what you’re doing…?” Lillac grumbled through gritted teeth.

Yaris knew only a few things about Lillac. First, she had to be some sort of fighter. As unorthodox and strangely cliché as her “battle gear” was, it suggested she was no magician or spellcaster—though appearance alone proved nothing. Second, she was very fit for a woman. Her stature, posture, and build suggested that most men would have trouble with her in a fight.

“Alright,” Yaris decided, standing. He studied Lillac a moment longer. “What are you doing? You stand up too.”

“Seriously…?” Lillac huffed. “You just told me to sit down…”

Yaris crossed his arms, a stern expression settling over his face. Lillac had never seen such a carefree, terribly unserious, and unrespectable man look that way. The sudden shift stiffened her body, and she held her arms at her sides. As much as she hated to admit it, she was the one being taught. She waited, struggling to meet his eyes.

“…What do you know? Yes, let’s start there. A pop quiz. What do you know about Magic, Spells, and Techniques—the three categories of abilities Dreamers are capable of? You probably won’t see many entrance-exam applicants capable of all three, but you should know the difference. Let’s call this program… Basic Understanding 101. Now… go!”

Lillac blinked, her body relaxing at Yaris’s words. “Huh…? A quiz? I thought we were going to be training…”

“The first part of training is understanding how to train,” Yaris said, nodding. Lillac could tell he was feeling very proud of himself. “So? Can’t you tell me?”

Lillac grumbled; however, she held up her fingers. “Well… Magic is usually used to attack or defend. It can take forms like elements, pure force, and light or dark energy. Spells alter oneself, another person, or one’s surroundings. Techniques are developed for particular situations. If two Magic users fought with wind, for example, a Technique might let one overpower, outperform, or trip up the other by doing something unexpected… Well?”

Yaris nodded many times. “Not bad at all, Lillac. I thought you would have no clue.”

“W-what do you take me for…? Do I even deserve to become a Dreamer if I didn’t know that much…?”

“Okay, round two,” Yaris continued, ignoring Lillac’s complaints. “Out of all those things, what makes someone more powerful than another person? Is it experience? Innate ability? Training?”

“I don’t get why you’re asking me all these simple questions…” Lillac sighed. “However… um… what was it? It’s something like ‘levels,’ right? Is that what it’s called…? I don’t remember, but it’s something like that… That should earn me passing marks…”

“What you’re referring to are stages,” Yaris corrected. “They could be thought of as levels, yes. Now, how many stages can Magic, Spells, or Techniques have…?”

“…Three,” Lillac replied, a slight note of annoyance in her voice. She turned away, kicking at the grass again. “Seriously, do you even know what you’re doing? How is a knowledge quiz going to—”

“Wrong.”

Lillac froze, then turned sharply toward Yaris in disbelief. He wore his usual expressionless face. It irritated her for some reason, and she stepped toward him.

“What do you mean? Isn’t everyone taught this in school? Stage Three is the maximum amount of power any Spell, Magic, or Technique can have! It’s the goalpost, is it not?”

“For average people, yes. But not aspiring Dreamers. That knowledge… you really didn’t know? I thought it was standard… Well, I suppose you can’t know everything. Allow me, your leader, to inform you…”

Lillac could not believe the haughty words coming from his mouth, but she crossed her arms and listened. Everyone learned the basics in school as a safety measure—like sex education: useful to know, dangerous not to. Those lessons taught that Stage Three was the ceiling. Yaris was saying otherwise, and she could not help hearing this insane man out.

“People are taught that they can only reach Stage Three at any given point to limit them,” Yaris continued, holding up a finger. “After all, it would be very dangerous if common folk were running around using Stage Three abilities, no? Do you want to know what Stage the officers in public defense and safety can reach?”

Lillac gulped.

“Five.”

“Five?!” Lillac exclaimed, nearly falling backward. “H-hey, you’re kidding, right…? Stages aren’t linear—they grow exponentially, depending on the person! Even if that’s true… it feels like you’re telling me something illegal!”

“It’s true,” Yaris said, his voice flat and sure. Her heart pounded at the certainty in it. “Though that one… is more ‘niche’ knowledge, if you will. You can find it with some digging. However, if you want to know something real illegal…”

Yaris leaned in, covering his lips as if to whisper. Lillac glanced around as though they might truly be caught doing something terrible, then leaned in with her mouth dry.

“Five is not the limit, either,” Yaris said at last.

“A-alright! That’s enough!” Lillac shouted, backing away from him. “R-really, you have to stop! Five is insane enough, but even further is…”

“The truth is, there is no limit,” Yaris said, holding up his fingers. “Three, five, seven, ten… No matter what maximum someone gives you, it is false. Those are mental limitations meant to keep you from becoming too powerful. However, now I’ve taught you! That means you can grow without issue. The next step is…”

“W-wait a moment!” Lillac stopped him, holding her hands out in front of her. “So… if there is no limit… then what are Dreamers capable of…? Why haven’t any aspiring Dreamers said anything about this? Do they not know?”

“Well, I don’t know what they teach at the DBA…” Yaris hummed, placing a hand on his chin. “I think the highest recorded was Stage Seven… or was it Eight? Something like that. Even then, the actual highest ever performed might be higher… After all…”

Stage Three was already considered plenty strong. Lillac could just about believe Yaris’s claim that public-safety officers might reach Stage Five, but Stage Ten was beyond anything she could imagine. The possibility of still more made her head spin.

“Ah, jeez! I don’t know anymore!” she exclaimed, stomping the ground. “Fine, I’ll believe your crazy words until I learn something more credible at the DBA. However… tell me! How do you know all this?”

“Hm?” Yaris tilted his head. “I was taught. Just like how I’m teaching you…”

“As vague as ever…”

Lillac let out a long, loud sigh.

“Anyhow, the next step…” Yaris continued. “Tell me, Lillac. What are you capable of right now?”

“M-me?” Lillac stammered, pointing at herself.

“Are there any other Lillacs around here?” Yaris said, his head tilting even further. “You’re so strange.”

Lillac grumbled, pressing her arms tightly to her sides. “W-well… I’m not capable of much… I only have… one Technique right now…”

“Only one? How do you even survive in the wild?”

“Shut up!”

Yaris knew it was not uncommon to specialize in one category. That was why there were Magicians, Fighters, Healers, Supporters—all sorts. Still, most people learned at least three abilities before proudly claiming one of those titles. Having only one was…

“Kind of pathetic,” Yaris whispered.

“What did you say…?”

A terrible, deadly aura seemed to radiate from Lillac. Yaris stepped back and tried to make himself small. She was looking at him like prey now.

“Nothing…” Yaris bowed. “Anyhow… if you may… show me.”

Lillac jolted. “…Huh?”

“Show me your Technique.”

Lillac bit her lip, frustrated. She looked at Yaris with great indignation, and he was sure it was because of what he had said. He thought back to their dinner conversation and opened his mouth.

“You don’t have to be ashamed of what you’re capable of right now, Lillac,” Yaris said. His earlier comment had not helped. Even if he did not understand the full extent of it, her family name and limited abilities clearly weighed on her. Trusting someone she had just met—especially him—must have taken courage. This was the least he could do.

“You’re bound to grow. Though you may only know one Technique right now… that doesn’t mean you cannot learn more. It doesn’t make you less capable than anyone else—even the people you might see in the entrance exams…”

Yaris paused. He stepped toward Lillac, who was averting her eyes. “I’ll tell you what,” he continued. “Show me your Technique. I’ll teach you how to dream. Then… though I wasn’t planning on it… I think I’ll teach you your first Spell.”

Yaris saw the light return to Lillac’s eyes and felt relieved. “…You can do that?” she asked, finally looking at him. She still seemed unsure what to make of him, but earning more of her trust would take time.

“Of course,” Yaris replied. “Do I even have to say it?”

Lillac frowned. “I really don’t like you saying that. It feels like you’re setting me up for disappointment…”

Silence fell between them. After a moment’s pause, Lillac drew a deep breath. “Okay… here goes…”

She closed her eyes, tilted her head toward the ground, and held her body stiff. Her face tightened in focus, her jaw shifting left and right as she tried to produce her Technique. After a few seconds, a bright light glowed around the flower pin atop her head, and a simple letter-rune formed at the pistil of the mock flower. The rune vanished, leaving the flower to emit a small, subtle blue glow. At last, she relaxed, a little sweat forming on her face, and sighed.

“Whooo…” She placed a hand on her chest. “So… what do you think?”

“…A stealth Technique, is it?” Yaris deduced, placing a hand on his chin. “I see… so you must really be a fighter after all…”

“Y-you guessed it?” Lillac gasped in surprise, her eyes widening. “I-Is it really that simple…?”

“Well, I can just tell,” Yaris said plainly. “The aura around you is different, and your presence is concealed, though not completely. Complete concealment is difficult for anyone, so don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m sure it has uses outside combat too…”

A thought suddenly came to Yaris. He dropped his hand from his chin, and an astonished look crossed his face. “Don’t tell me, you…”

“H-ha ha…” Lillac chuckled, placing a hand sheepishly behind her head. “Y-yup! That’s how I was able to sneak up behind you in that alley…”

“Well, I wouldn’t say you snuck up behind me…” Yaris interjected, waving his hand. “It was like I had mistaken you for a stray dog or something…”

“Hey, now…”

“However, I noticed that you used a lot of energy while performing your Technique. I also noticed… that it was only Stage One.”

“Y-you’re right…” Lillac admitted, lowering her head. “I-I know it becomes easier the more you use it, but… w-well, there aren’t many chances to practice something like this unless you’re a thief! A-also, I thought Stage One was good enough, since Stage Three wasn’t far away…”

“But now you know Stage Three isn’t the limit,” Yaris replied with a satisfied huff. “So you can practice it every day without issue, right? As leader of the Lucids, that will be my first requirement for you.”

Lillac nearly groaned, but covered her mouth with both hands before it could escape. “I-I suppose…”

Yaris crossed his arms. “If it’s any motivation for you… you’re surprisingly close to reaching Stage Two…”

“H-huh!” Lillac gasped. “H-how can you tell that? D-does it say something like that? Ugh… I can’t check because it’s on top of my head…”

“I’m able to tell because I’m me, of course,” Yaris said bluntly. Disbelief returned to Lillac’s face. “However, you shouldn’t worry about it too deeply right now. You can deactivate your Technique. You’ll need the energy for when I teach you how to control your dream, after all.”

“R-right…” Lillac nodded, then closed her eyes in deep focus. After a moment, the flower pin’s glow disappeared, and another sigh escaped her.

“…Normally, you can choose anywhere as the place for your Technique’s activation,” Yaris hummed. “Why did you choose the flower pin? It isn’t exactly hidden enough to serve as the activation point for a stealth Technique…”

“T-That’s… secret…”

Lillac turned away and crossed her arms. Even Yaris knew not to press personal matters, though he hoped she remembered the advice if she developed more Techniques.

“…Alright,” Yaris said. “Now… I want you to run as fast as you can for ten seconds straight. I’ll be timing you.”

“Okay… W-wait, what?”

Lillac searched his face for some hint that he was joking and found none. He genuinely wanted her to run.

“M-may I ask why…?” Lillac begged. It was not as though she had any problem running… But it was late at night, and she had just showered…

“It’s a secret,” Yaris replied. “Just know it’s important. You’ll see why soon.”

Lillac sighed, stretching awkwardly and with much hesitation. “I… I guess… Just don’t expect me to be slow or anything… You’ve done enough picking on me already, so I’ll show you that I’m actually pretty proud of my physical capabilities…!”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

His face showed nothing of the sort, which agitated her. After a few reluctant stretches, Lillac took off. Her footsteps struck the damp ground, scattering fireflies as she counted to ten. When she stopped, Yaris was a small figure in the distance. She puffed out her chest with pride.

“Well?!” she hollered, directing her voice toward Yaris. “What about it? I’m pretty fast, huh? I bet I could dust you in a race!”

When no answer came, she realized he probably could not hear her from that far away and jogged back, considerably less proudly. Yaris watched her the whole way.

“W-well…?” she asked again. Yaris sat with his arms crossed, nodded once, and lifted a dismissive hand.

“It wasn’t bad. It could be faster.”

“Y-you!” Lillac bellowed. “I bet you couldn’t even run like that! C’mon, let me see you run!”

Yaris ignored the challenge and motioned for her to sit across from him. Offended but curious, she obeyed.

“I’ll talk more about that… at a later time,” Yaris said, clasping his hands. “Now… it’s time to dream.”

“R-right now?” Lillac stammered, nervousness swelling within her. “D-don’t tell me you had me run to get me tired or something…?”

“Uh, no? If you got tired from simply running for ten seconds… I might have to start looking for new members sooner than I thought…”

How infuriating, this guy! Lillac thought, gritting her teeth. However, she shrank back, drawing up her legs and resting her head on her knees.

“Okay…” Yaris sighed, looking toward the sky. “Let’s see… Let’s see… Okay. Yeah, we’ll do it like that.”

Lillac had no clue what he was working through, but the nervousness in her chest doubled. Am I really about to control my dreams? she thought, fidgeting in the grass. W-why is this so stressful…? I thought it was simple, but… he has me doing all this random nonsense! That’s why! It’s Yaris! He’s putting me on edge, not the dreaming! No sir!

Her fidgeting briefly distracted Yaris. She… really isn’t sick, is she? he wondered, then returned his attention to the sky.

For those capable of it, controlling a dream was simple in theory: fall asleep intending to control it, then regain awareness inside. Without that awakening, a Dreamer might be swept along by the dream or find the environment too difficult to change before waking and trying again.

Lillac faced both problems. She could not reliably choose her environment, and first she had to become aware at all. Otherwise her subconscious would lead her wherever it pleased—which, considering her temper, did not comfort Yaris. Once he considered that, he reached a conclusion.

“Yup,” Yaris announced, snapping Lillac out of her trance. “Let’s do it like this. We’ll use a safe word. I want you to say this word one hundred… no, five hundred times, with the intention of remembering that you’re trying to control your dream when you hear it. Understood?”

“Saying a word five hundred times?!” Lillac screamed. One look at Yaris told her he meant it. She wanted to protest, but this was her only real chance to learn before the entrance exams. With a small sigh, she shrank down and looked at him with disbelief and anxiety. “…Okay. What word is it…?”

“Let’s use something unusual… I plan to say it once I enter your dream, after all. It will be my way of trying to restore your consciousness, just in case you aren’t able to control it immediately. Then… how about acatalepsy?”

“S-such an odd word… Is that even a word? Did you make that up?”

Yaris said nothing. Lillac sighed and began repeating the word.

“Now… don’t look at me like that, and don’t slow down your counting. You must process my next words while remembering what the word is for.”

“While repeating it, think about the scenery around us. Remember every detail you can, then attach all of it to the word. That’s all. I’ll leave you be until you’re finished.”

Lillac’s frustration, confusion, and exhaustion only deepened, but she kept repeating. Ten grueling minutes later, she stopped and grabbed her jaw with a groan.

“Man…!” she whined, moving her hand from her jaw to her throat. “What kind of practice is that… I thought I was going insane… That was some sort of torture!”

“It’s necessary torture,” Yaris replied with a hum. “We’re trying to accomplish a lot in a short time. You should be happy to have someone capable of speeding up the process this much… Aren’t I such a good leader?”

Lillac only gritted her teeth. Her throat hurt too much to answer.

“Okay… now, get comfortable. If you have to lie down, that’s fine too. It’s time to sleep. I want you to repeat that word in your head, along with everything you attached to it, until you lose consciousness. I’ll talk to you in your dream.”

“Huh! S-so soon?” Lillac cried, then winced and gripped her throat again. Yaris had already turned his back to her, arms crossed.

Jeez… she thought, patting the area around her before lying down as instructed. I even washed my hair too…

She had a few more grievances, then repeated the word in her head as instructed, her heart pounding. At first, she thought her anxiety would never let her sleep. But as the silence grew and the warm breeze and night sounds passed over her, she naturally relaxed, still holding onto the word.

Without looking at her, Yaris remained still until she was truly asleep. He wanted his presence to affect her as little as possible, though he had his own special ways of doing that. Her inexperience still called for one small intervention. She might be disappointed if she ever learned the truth.

At last, Yaris sensed her drift off. He stood, turned, and leaned over her. The focus he had expected was gone from her resting expression, and she was even drooling a little. He immediately knew that she had no control over the dream.

“This girl…” he sighed. “Excuse me, Lillac, but I’m going to touch you just a little.”

He placed a hand on her forehead. “This much should be okay… I’m sorry you couldn’t do it alone, but it’s my job as leader to help when you need it.”

Yaris sat beside her, keeping his hand on her forehead. Dreams could be crossed accidentally or purposefully. Accidental crossings were rare and could happen under intense emotions—sadness, grief, rage. The proper and best-known purposeful method used intention.

The dreamer had to know whom they were accepting, while the entering Dreamer focused every intention on joining the dreamer’s consciousness. It worked on the same strange logic that let familiar faces appear in dreams without being invited. A stranger’s dream could also be brute-forced, but that was unnecessary here.

Yaris focused on Lillac—her personality, the feelings she had carried that day, the sensations she might feel on her skin or through her hair, what she held dear, and what she hated. How did Lillac Webster think? What did it mean to be her? All of these questions came to him in an instant, and as he considered them, he imagined his consciousness as a brisk wind. It moved from his mind, through his arm, into his hand, and finally into Lillac’s head. Just then, he felt his consciousness begin to fade away.

* * *

“Hey! Wait for me!” Lillac exclaimed, chasing after a big, green bouncing Jello. It slapped against the ground loudly as it hopped away from her, and Lillac gave chase with two forks in her hands. “Stop running! I’m so hungry…!”

The Jello seemed very upset by her words. With a startled face that should not have belonged to any food item, it began bouncing away faster. Lillac quickened her pace into a full sprint. Unable to escape the crazed maniac known as Lillac Webster, the Jello tripped over itself. Lillac tackled it and began shoving pieces into her mouth with her comically large forks.

“Delicious!!!!” she exclaimed between bites.

Yaris stood off to the side in disbelief. Really…? He looked around. The green Jello seemed to reflect the grass surrounding them in the waking world, and it was indeed nighttime. The ground, however, was made of letters and numbers with legs, running over one another and kicking anything in their way. It was surreal enough that Yaris kept his distance. He disliked yelling, but he had no intention of joining Lillac’s bizarre fantasy. He sighed, cupped his hands around his mouth, and drew a deep breath.

“Acatalepsy!”

Lillac, still atop the green Jello and eating maniacally with a wide smile, suddenly opened her eyes wide. The ground beneath them began to shift. One by one, the letters and numbers under Yaris disappeared with increasing speed. Even the large Jello Lillac had been enjoying so passionately began to fade. The ground transformed into simple green grass, and fireflies—though shining an odd blue—rose from it. Only green grass and a night sky surrounded the entire world now, but Yaris figured it was good enough. Lillac, her eyes still wide, turned toward him, startled by the noise. Before she could react, the Jello vanished beneath her. She fell with a faint scream, and the sound of her body hitting the ground took over. Yaris winced and placed a hand on his chin.

…Maybe I should have waited a little longer, he thought. However, he did not have much time to consider it and hurried toward Lillac, who lay face-planted on the ground in her usual battle gear.

“Ugh…” she muttered, holding her head. As she tried to gather herself, she looked around, her face pale and confused. Finally, her eyes landed on Yaris.

“Acatalepsy,” Yaris said again, gritting his teeth. He hoped he would not have to leave immediately.

Lillac stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. “Acatalepsy…?” she repeated. Then, as though his prayers had been answered, her face relaxed and color returned to her skin. “Ah! Acatalepsy! Yaris! Is that really you? Like, for real? You’re not a dream Yaris, are you?”

Yaris sighed, a small smile forming. “Nope. It’s me—the real, one and only Yaris. I would be very concerned if you were naturally dreaming about me, anyway.”

“Ah…! This is awesome! That is totally something you would say! So I’m controlling my dream for real, then! Wow! I’m amazing… Lillac Webster controls her dream in one night! While others need months! Yahoo!”

Lillac pumped her hands into the air ecstatically, and Yaris could do nothing but smile. He had helped her a little, but only by heightening her awareness with a simple Spell. He decided he could let her take the credit this time.

“Though… this is it?” Lillac said, looking around. “I thought I could at least add some buildings or something, but… this is just grass and sky… And those fireflies are blue!”

“It’s your first controlled dream, Lillac,” Yaris replied, looking around as well. “Don’t be so disappointed. This is a good environment anyway. The simpler it is, the more you can focus on the next part.”

“The next part?” Lillac murmured, looking strangely bright and energetic. She seemed truly happy, and it brought a warm feeling to Yaris as well. He truly felt like a leader.

“Yes,” Yaris continued. “I’m going to teach you a Spell, remember?”

Lillac’s face brightened further, and a wide smile spread across it. “M-my first Spell! W-wow!”

A thought seemed to come over her, and she looked at Yaris with concern. “But… is it possible for me to learn a Spell just like this? I thought something like that required more time… As a matter of fact, I thought that’s what you meant when you told me you were going to teach me! I thought you meant sometime in the future…”

“Nope,” Yaris denied, shaking his head. “The entrance exams are almost here. We need you in tip-top form. Well, we were already going to pass one hundred percent anyway, but now it’ll be like… one hundred and ten percent.”

“I only add that much?!” Lillac exclaimed.

“However, we don’t have much time,” Yaris said sternly. The world trembled, its lights and colors dimming and brightening unnaturally. “It’s great that you became conscious and shifted the environment, but this is still your first time.

“Soon you’ll lose consciousness again, and I’ll be kicked out. And I don’t know if I want to see you become a maniac again…”

Lillac became flustered, as though she suddenly remembered the contents of her original dream. “Y-you saw that! N-no you didn’t! I bet that wasn’t even my actual dream! You probably imposed that upon me! Made me have a dream like that! I’m not a glutton! I’m not!!”

Yaris grabbed Lillac’s hands, then placed one over the other. “I want you to think about becoming stronger. A small amount—maybe half again as much or even double the strength you have right now.”

Yaris’s sudden seriousness startled Lillac. The world was already behaving strangely. She nodded and focused on his words.

“Keep your focus in your hands. Think long and hard about it, then apply it to a set of runes. Have the runes circle one another, as though trying to form a circle of their own. Keep thinking of strength. Strength, strength, strength… Make those runes mean strength. Their existence, their color, the way they float around one another… They all mean strength.”

The world around them vibrated chaotically now, and everything was losing its color. Yaris knew he did not have much time.

“Now, keep these words in your head. ‘With this, I will become stronger.'”

“With this, I will become stronger,” Lillac repeated, her face tight with focus. Sweat poured down her face, and her hands and body trembled. A small glow began to emit from her hands. “With this, I will become stronger. With this…”

A crack started forming in the middle of the ground. Yaris had run out of time. He felt his consciousness fade as everything went to black.

* * *

Yaris looked around. The grass was green, the fireflies glimmered a proper yellow, and the inn stood in the distance. He had returned to the waking world. Though he had helped Lillac gain control of her dream, it had not been enough. A conflicted feeling welled within him as he got to his feet.

I wanted to be careful, but… Yaris thought, frowning. Maybe I should have given her a stronger push…

“Y-Yaris!” Lillac called from behind him.

He stood with his back to her, deep in thought. He had expected her to sleep much longer, but the voice was unmistakably hers. Nervous guilt rose in his chest as he turned. “Lillac… I’m sorry. I really thought I could teach you a Spell tonight…”

“L-look!” Lillac exclaimed as Yaris turned to face her. Even someone like Yaris, who figured he had seen it all, could not help opening his mouth in surprise.

Chapter 4 – Of the Entrance Exams

All people were known to possess the capacity to produce abilities. Merchant, laborer, grocery clerk… and finally Dreamers. With enough dedication, any of them could produce Magic, Techniques, or Spells. Dreamers differed from the common riffraff in one major way: they could use their dreams to create stronger, more potent abilities in far less time.

In both waking and dream worlds, abilities relied on intention—not merely will, but energy produced and emitted by the body. It was the baseline for abilities and what Dreamers used to enter and control dreams. Creating or training abilities could burn through it quickly, especially for someone of ordinary talent. After seeing how briefly Lillac had controlled her dream, Yaris had been sure she could not conjure the Spell he wanted. However…

“Look! Look!” Lillac exclaimed, her eyes reflecting the sparkle of the circling runes in front of her. They shone a brilliant orange, while the aura surrounding them held a darker, more ominous red. They spun slowly, neither Yaris nor Lillac able to take their eyes off them.

…Lillac, despite being so inexperienced, managed to conjure her first Spell… How interesting… Yaris thought.

Yaris’s thoughts were cut short as the Spell in Lillac’s hands began to vibrate and flicker like a dying light bulb. Lillac’s hands trembled. “W-what do I do?! Yaris! Yaris…!”

“Quickly!” Yaris shouted, pointing into the distance. “Do you remember how I told you to run as fast as you could for ten seconds last time? Do it again! Quickly, before it goes away!”

“R-right!” Lillac nodded and took off into the distance. Her hair whipped in the wind, each stride striking the ground hard. The Spell in her hand flickered and dimmed until, right at the ten-second mark, it vanished. Lillac planted her feet to stop, but the speed she had built sent her tripping over herself and face-first into the grass.

“Bwah!” she cried, lifting her head. There was no pain or embarrassment in her face; instead, she immediately looked back the way she had come. Yaris was nearly a speck in the distance, barely recognizable as a person at all. Flushing with excitement, she cupped her hands around her mouth. “Yaris!” she shouted. “How did I do?!”

Her voice carried across the empty field and finally reached Yaris. He did not like to yell. This had been a known fact to him ever since he was a young boy. Regardless, he cupped his hands around his mouth as well.

“You ran about twenty percent faster than last time!” Yaris exclaimed, his heart thumping. “The Spell worked! Great job!”

His voice reached her, and she jumped up and down excitedly with her hands in the air. From so far away, Yaris could only catch pieces of her light squeals and cheers. Some sounded more like the chirp of a bird or rodent, though he figured she still had not gotten rid of the animal she brought to dinner. He decided not to comment on it.

After a few more moments of cheering, Lillac jogged back. The return took about thirty seconds, and by then she had worked up a good amount of sweat.

“Yaris!” she huffed, a wide though faltering smile on her face. “That was… amazing! I-it worked for real! My very first Spell…! I can’t believe…”

A flush grew on her face, and she seemed to shrink a bit. “…That you taught me something like that.” Though shaky and very obviously apprehensive, she bowed. “I couldn’t have done it without you…”

Yaris, at the sight, could not help but hum. “That’s right.”

Yaris had no clue what he had done wrong. Lillac sprang upright, eyebrows furrowed despite the wry smile still on her face. “Y’know, you really tend to get ahead of yourself sometimes…” She crossed her arms and sighed. “And I even was starting to respect you a bit…” she added in a low tone. Yaris missed the last part and assumed she was saying something cruel again.

As happy as Yaris was that he had taught her a Spell as promised, her condition worried him. They would not have much more opportunity to continue today.

“I apologize…” Yaris said blankly, not knowing exactly what he was apologizing for. “Though, there’s still a lot more to do. You know how your Spell deactivated without your control, right? You don’t have enough energy to sustain it for very long, especially after learning it so quickly…”

“…intention, right…?” Lillac breathed. She was dripping in sweat and teetering back and forth as though a gust of wind might knock her over, yet she did not seem to notice how bad her condition was.

“…Yes, intention,” Yaris said quietly. He was seriously concerned that even his own breath might cause her demise. “…And it seems… that you’ve just run out of it…”

Just as the words left Yaris’s mouth, Lillac fell flat on her face. He could not help but think she seemed to do that a lot.

He knelt and poked her cheek. She was out cold. Thankfully, she did not seem to be in great pain; her breathing remained steady, though sweat covered her body and an occasional deep breath came with a small shiver.

I suppose she worked hard today, Yaris mused, stretching. Well, I guess this will have to do…

* * *

Lillac awoke with a small gasp and lay still for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She was back at the inn, tucked beneath the thin complimentary cover. As her memories returned, so did a deep exhaustion and an ache through her mind—not quite a normal headache—that faded before starting up again.

“Maybe I overdid it…” she mumbled, clutching her head. She stepped out of bed and peered into the top bunk. There was Yaris, sleeping soundly with his brow furrowed. “Did he… carry me here?”

Warmth overcame her. She had known Yaris for less than a day, yet he had already taught her more than she expected. Despite her first impression, she could not help feeling grateful. A smile came to her face through the throbbing in her head, and then she noticed a small folded paper hanging over the bed rail. It read:

“You passed out. I expect you to practice your strength Spell and controlling your dreams daily from now on. As I’ve said before, I will be relying on you in the entrance exams. Also, you smell. Please shower when you wake up. You also drool in your sleep.

– Yaris”

Lillac’s head began throbbing all over again, though this time she was sure it was not from overexertion. “This from a guy who has a RBF in his sleep… Jeez…” she grumbled, smelling herself. Realizing she really could use a bath only annoyed her more. With little consideration for the sleeping Yaris, she stormed into the bathroom and slipped into lukewarm water. It felt like heaven on her still-warm, sticky skin.

“…I’m going to become something real amazing,” she murmured, holding her hands in the air and looking at them. A small chuckle came to her lips. “After all… I learned how to control my dreams in one night~ I learned a new Spell too~ I’m seriously great…”

She dipped her head beneath the water and resurfaced a moment later. Baths had relaxed her since childhood, and the effect was proving useful even now. With a sudden burst of energy, she sat upright and held one hand over the other. Anxiety filled her chest. Despite her trembling, she closed her eyes and focused. Strength, strength, strength…

A sudden feeling of vigor came over her, and her eyes flew open in excitement. They were met only by the faint, dying glow of the Spell she had seen before. Though she tried her hardest to keep it alive, its sparks died the very next moment, and it disappeared all at once like a malfunctioning electrical device.

Lillac leaned back into the tub, suddenly exhausted, and sighed. “Stupid Yaris… You expect me to do this every day…?”

Now that she had time to think, Yaris’s knowledge bothered her. She had been too focused during training to question his methods. Lillac would still take full credit for learning her first Spell and controlling her dream in one day, of course, but… did other people know how far the Stages could go? Was everyone at the DBA like that?

She dunked her head beneath the water again, staying under even longer this time. I have a lot to learn… she thought. Then another thought came to her, and agitation began to swell. But Yaris is an insane man… Well, I’ll learn things the proper way. Not whatever nonsense he tends to spout… Even if he is a decent teacher…

* * *

Yaris awoke to the smell of food. For one panicked moment, he feared he had dropped Lillac off in the cafeteria and fallen asleep there himself, but he was still in the inn. Relieved, he climbed down from the top bunk, nearly slipping on the steps. He could see why Lillac had fought him so hard over the bottom bunk.

His vision was still coming to as he rubbed his eyes and stumbled around. He could hear grease sizzling, and as his senses returned, he made out the smell of bacon and seasoned eggs. A figure moved busily some distance away.

“Ah… It’s you,” Lillac’s voice said. For some reason, she sounded irritated with him. Maybe he had left her in the cafeteria after all.

“Good morning, Lillac…” Yaris yawned. “Who’s cooking…? You shouldn’t go bringing people into our room without permission… Assassins are still a thing, y’know…”

“Gosh!” Lillac cried. Now that Yaris could see properly, there she was with a small spatula in one hand and a frying pan beside her. She had somehow made the comically small kitchen work despite it being little more than a counter, plug-in stove, and sink. “Is it really such an impossible idea that I could be making breakfast? Shouldn’t you be more thankful? I know all boys are good-for-nothings who can’t cook…”

The pan held bacon and eggs. It smelled okay, and Yaris had to admit he was a little grateful that his first member had thought of him. However…

“There’s too much oil…” Yaris mumbled, coming up beside her. “You should cook the eggs first, especially before deciding to throw your bacon into the same pan. The bacon has been sitting too long… You should’ve taken it out a while ago. The same goes for the eggs. There’s also too much in this one pan… You’re practically overfilling it. Also—”

Lillac made a noise akin to a scream, though Yaris was unsure whether he could truly call it that. “That’s enough! What are you, Borgun Ramsoy? You’re pissing me off! I bet you’ll eat it all the same, anyway!”

“I was just trying to help…” Yaris sighed.

His words seemed to get to her anyway. In a huff, Lillac removed the pan from the stove and divided the food between two plates. She set them on opposite sides of the small table, and the two sat down. Yaris could not help feeling as though he were being glared at.

“…You’re insufferable,” Lillac sighed, slowly chewing a piece of bacon. “You wake up and the first thing you do is critique me. Where are your manners?”

“…I apologize,” Yaris mumbled, unsure what to say. He remembered hearing somewhere that women were sensitive about having their cooking judged, though he had not expected that to be true of his first group member as well. A little hesitant, he brought some eggs and bacon to his mouth. It was not bad, but… that was it. It just was not bad. He ate quietly.

“…Well?” Lillac asked, pouting.

“…It’s good.”

“See! I told you! You whine for no reason…”

“If you had followed my instructions, though, it would have been… about five times better,” Yaris added, unable to help himself. Lillac sighed and brought more eggs to her mouth.

“What do you know about cooking, anyway?” she said, pointing her fork at him. “I absolutely refuse to believe someone like you knows anything about making anything. And even after I went out of my way to buy ingredients and utensils too… I’m sorry for being grateful…”

Yaris had no clue what she was going on about, but he felt as though he had offended her somehow. “I learned when I was a child. I had to cook nearly every day. The person I was cooking for was very strict, too… Nearly everything I made wasn’t good enough. It was only around age twelve that I finally started to have acceptable cooking skills. I’d say…” Yaris took another bite. “Yours is about how I was at age nine.”

Lillac threw her hands into the air, then slowly lowered them while scowling at Yaris. Her cheeks puffed as she drew more food into her mouth. “Whatever…” she said, muffled. “I’m not listening to you anymore…”

“I can teach you, if you’d like.”

“I’m not listening to you anymore!”

“Well, that’d be problematic… I was just about to tell you something important too…”

Though she had been flustered only moments before, Lillac widened her eyes and held her breath. Yaris looked at her for a moment, humming.

“Well, don’t be so uptight,” Yaris continued. “It’s just that the Group Counselor is going to meet with us this afternoon, at twelve. The note said to meet in his office at Dream Catchers. It’s no big deal, really—”

“NO BIG DEAL?!” Lillac exclaimed, slamming her hands onto the table hard enough to jostle some of the eggs from their plates. “Yaris! It’s nearly eleven right now! We have one hour before we’re expected to be there!”

Yaris blinked, his jaw dropping. “…Eh?”

“Jeez!” Lillac groaned, stuffing her mouth full of food. She chewed with inhuman haste and swallowed everything in one tremendous gulp. It was truly an amazing feat. “I still have to brush my teeth… Do my hair… Yaris! How could you…!”

The woman who had been sitting across from him was suddenly running frantically around the room, doing this, that, and the other. Yaris brought a hand to his chin and closed his eyes. “…I suppose I screwed up a bit, huh…? Ah, well. I’m sure it’ll be okay…”

* * *

“E-excuse me!” Lillac cried the moment they entered Dream Catchers, swinging the door open. “W-we’re here to meet the Group Counselor…!”

Despite her announcement, there were hardly any people to hear it. The building seemed to be closed for the day; the only person there was the waitress they had seen while paying their group fee. She held a small broom and swept sheepishly, but Lillac and Yaris’s sudden entrance made her turn red and begin to shiver. Lillac seemed to feel bad for the girl and slowly entered with her shoulders drawn in. “Um… excuse me?”

At Lillac’s words, the waitress yelped and clutched her broom. Her little black-and-white cap slipped, and she scrambled to catch it before pressing it to her chest. “Y-yes!” she answered at last.

“She’s like a small animal…” Lillac mumbled.

Yaris stepped closer. She was the same older woman from yesterday, though now he could finally see her clearly—probably no more than twenty-five, pale, rosy-cheeked, with thick eyebrows, long brown twin-tails, and vibrant green eyes. Her frilly black-and-white maid outfit ended around mid-thigh above white stockings. He kept staring until he realized he had gotten quite close to her face.

“Yaris!” Lillac exclaimed. “How long do you have to look at her before saying what needs to be said?!”

“Ah, right…” Yaris mumbled. He looked the waitress in the eye, making her jolt.

“…What’s your name?” Yaris asked at once. He thought he could hear someone facepalming behind him.

“…P-Paula…” she mumbled, her lips quivering.

“Ah, Paula… Yes, Paula…” Yaris trailed off, looking her up and down. Suddenly, a heavy slap landed on his back. Despite his confidence in his tolerance for pain, even he had to admit that one hurt a little.

“How much longer are you going to be a creep?!” Lillac exclaimed, stepping beside him. “Excuse me, miss.” She placed a hand on her chest. “We have a meeting with the Group Counselor. We would like to see him as soon as possible…”

“A-ah! Yes! The Group Counselor!” Paula said, looking around frantically. “H-he was just asking me about some energetic, strange kids… Ah! N-not that you two are! I-I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Yaris replied. He looked at her a little longer. “I’m sorry, the outfit you’re wearing… It’s very distracting for some reason.”

Lillac slapped him again.

“Please go get him right away…” Lillac grumbled, forcing Yaris into a bow with one hand on his head. She bowed alongside him.

“…What’s this for…?” Yaris managed to squeeze out from the uncomfortable position.

“Just shut your mouth…” Lillac said through gritted teeth. “Even in a time like this…”

“O-of course!” Paula squeaked, running deeper into the lobby.

Strange… Yaris thought. I suppose maids get special privileges, huh…? Then I suppose it makes sense that the rest of the building gets cleaned, too…

The two rose, and after a short moment Paula returned with an awkward look on her face. “He… would like to see you now. Please follow me…”

Yaris thought he heard Lillac gulp.

“F-follow you…?” Lillac breathed. Yaris swore he could hear her heart pounding.

“Yes… Ah, don’t be nervous… The building is empty, and his office isn’t far… It will just be a short walk…”

Unable to say anything else, Lillac made a small sound of affirmation, and the two followed Paula.

The Dream Catchers lobby was much as Yaris remembered it: the dining area to the left, the high-scale bar and table games to the right, and the front desk down the center. Most of the building had always been hidden beyond that ordinary public space, reserved for certified Dreamers and other authorized people.

Now Paula led them past the front desk and into it. A long hallway stretched ahead, its tiled floors and marble walls glimmering beneath chandeliers. Posters of men and women of almost unimaginable power and influence covered the walls, and doors branched deeper into parts of Dream Catchers neither Yaris nor Lillac had been allowed to see before.

They could not help but look around, starstruck. Lillac whispered a soft “wow…” at every opportunity, while Yaris found himself unusually fascinated by the glass of the chandeliers. Their steps echoed down the hallway until it split left and right. Lillac’s throat went dry, and she finally leaned toward Yaris.

“H-hey, isn’t this crazy?” she whispered hurriedly. “We’re totally… about to go where all the big wigs go!”

“…Yeah,” Yaris mumbled. Even he could feel something rising in his chest.

Suddenly, Paula stopped and turned right, bringing all three of them before a small door in the middle of the hall. On its glass window were the words “Ken Jonar’s Office.”

“Mr… Mr… Group Counselor…!” Paula exclaimed, though it came out more like a loud sigh. “I’ve brought them…”

Paula turned to them, gave a great bow, and excused herself before hurrying back toward the lobby.

“What… It’s right here…?” Lillac whispered, dejected. Then heavy footsteps sounded from the other side of the door. A large figure appeared through the window, and a moment later the door opened to reveal the Group Counselor. He wore a strangely formal suit, almost like a military official. After looking at them for a long moment, he waved them inside. Lillac glanced at Yaris, but his blank expression offered no help. Her shoulders slumped.

The Group Counselor took his place behind a fittingly large desk, while Lillac and Yaris sat in the two chairs opposite him. “You’re late,” he said sternly, arms crossed. His tone was harsh, though his face looked almost perplexed—perhaps even abashed.

“All the turmoil you’re putting me through, the least you could do is show up on time…”

“Ken Jonar,” Yaris said, holding up a finger. “It’s important not to sweat the details so much. After all, we’re here, aren’t we?”

“Don’t go around using my first name as though we’re close…” Ken barked. “Ah, whatever… I can’t handle kids. Especially you… If it wasn’t for… Goddamn it… And what’s up with you two? Were you late because of some hanky-panky? You especially, young lady. You look like a mess.”

Ken seemed increasingly troubled, which only confused Lillac more. She sank lower, red-faced, fingers gripping the pants of her battle gear. She had not had time to groom properly, and the rush to Dream Catchers had left her hair everywhere. Yaris, in his usual hat and simple clothes, had little to worry about. Ken sighed at them both.

Yaris looked around Ken’s office. For a man like him, it was surprisingly decorated: memorial posters, figurines on hanging shelves, and a bookcase packed with books. Various papers, a quill, a pen, and a small picture frame faced Ken on the desk, keeping its image hidden from Yaris. The room smelled of apple cider. Yaris figured Ken must be quite the stylist.

“Even if you two did get accepted…” Ken continued, bringing his large arms to the desk, “we have a process for these kinds of things. You’re lucky that Yaris here… I can’t even say it… is a bit of a special case. Anyhow, I have two things to show you.”

He dug through his papers, found one sheet, and flipped it toward them so sloppily that Yaris barely caught it before it fell from the desk. He read the large, bold, underlined words. “Details of the Entrance Exams…” he mumbled.

Ken rested his head on his fist. “The Entrance Exams start tomorrow. Two p.m. From here… if you prepare to leave around five today, you should reach the location on that paper around ten tomorrow morning. That leaves plenty of time for fuckups, as well…”

“T-tomorrow?!” Lillac exclaimed, shooting out of her chair. She had been meek and downtrodden only moments before, but now sweat formed at her temples as she snatched the paper from Yaris with quivering hands. “T-tomorrow! Tomorrow! B-but I’m not ready!”

Ken laughed heartily and gestured for her to sit. Lillac returned to her seat in an instant. “Of course it’s tomorrow! Do you know how much influence and presence the DBA and the Entrance Exams have? Anyone would be lucky just to go! The least you sorry sacks could do is show up… Most people would’ve been given proper notice, but groups that decide to enter on a whim… like you two… well, there’s not much that can be done, is there?”

Lillac trembled all over. “I didn’t expect you to be such a scaredy-cat,” Yaris said.

“S-shut up!” Lillac exclaimed, then immediately covered her mouth. She gave Ken an apologetic look. He only returned a tired one and sighed.

“It’s located in the remote area of Yonagold,” Ken said, rummaging through his papers again. “There’s a small tourist town there, though almost nobody actually lives there. Expect a lot of forest. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the settlement and a large square building taking up most of it. Furthermore…”

He withdrew a smaller sheet, analyzed it for a moment, then slid it toward the pair. Near the top was a blank line labeled “Group Name.” Beneath it sat eight empty squares, four on top and four below, with a small circle beside each one.

“This is your official group sheet.” Ken dipped the quill on his desk in ink and handed it to Yaris. “First, decide on your official group name. Once you decide, write it on that line at the top… Don’t tell me…”

Before Ken could finish, Yaris wrote “The Lucids” in the empty space with neat penmanship and handed the quill back. Ken’s lips curled in agitation. He gave Yaris and the group sheet an exasperated look before returning the quill to its glass ink bottle with a grumble.

“Now I need to take both of your pictures…” Ken continued. He opened a desk drawer and withdrew an older-style camera. “One at a time, so I’ll need the leader first. Little lady, step outside for a moment, and don’t think about wandering around. I’m sure you know the consequences…”

“Y-yes…” Lillac conceded, quickly leaving her seat and the room. It was just Yaris and Ken now.

Ken rose and came around the desk as Yaris stood. He was an imposing figure—not a gargantuan by any means, but nearly a whole foot taller than Yaris. Yaris found the comparison more interesting than intimidating. Ken, meanwhile, wore a deeply concerned expression one could almost mistake for contempt.

“Yaris… Is it really just a letter of recommendation?” he asked, scrutinizing him. “I just wanted to ask one more time.”

“Yup,” Yaris said plainly. He still did not understand why Ken was so curious.

Ken took a deep breath and instructed Yaris to stand against the wall. “It’s your picture, so pose any way you like,” he said, positioning the camera. Yaris had no clue what he meant and simply stared at the object pointed toward him. Its flash was so blinding and nerve-racking that Yaris thought Ken had disabled him. Soon enough, though, his vision returned.

Ken looked at the camera, pressed a button, and a small film photograph slid out. He turned it toward himself, a small chuckle escaping his lips. “A-all right… go get your partner in here. It’s her turn next. J-just wait outside until she’s done… pft…”

Yaris did as instructed, though he could not help analyzing Ken’s behavior. Was it a laughing device? he wondered as he left the room and let Lillac enter. If that’s the case… I’m not laughing at all. It must not be able to handle someone like me.

Yaris waited outside until Lillac let him back in. The two returned to their seats.

“All right,” the Group Counselor said. “Now that that’s out of the way, allow me to explain your group sheet.”

A small ink pad sat on the table beside it.

“This is how you’ll make members of your group official,” Ken continued. “I’ll put each of your photo cards in a square for facial confirmation. Using this ink pad, you’ll stamp your thumbprint in the circle beside your square. Yaris, as leader, you take the first slot. Young lady, you take the second. Any new members go left to right until you reach the group limit of eight. Eight isn’t mandatory, so don’t think you have to gather that many anytime soon. Now, go on.”

Ken looked at Yaris expectantly, but Yaris only stared back blankly. Frustration came over Ken’s face. Grumbling something surely mean-spirited, he grabbed Yaris’s hand and pushed his thumb into the ink pad for him. “Now press it in the first circle.”

Yaris did as instructed. When he lifted his hand, his thumbprint had been successfully stamped onto the paper. Ken moved the ink pad toward Lillac.

Lillac gulped and pressed her thumb into the ink pad. She held her hand above the group sheet, trembling. After a moment of hesitation, she finally pressed down and left her own print. Ken closed the ink pad, took the group sheet, glued their two small photo cards into place, then handed the sheet back to Yaris face down.

“That’s all,” Ken said bluntly, crossing his arms. “Remember, the Entrance Exams are tomorrow at two p.m. sharp. I suggest you arrive early. A moment late and they won’t let you in. You’ll need that group sheet in order to participate. Now get out of my face.”

Ken shooed the two of them out and closed the door with a loud thud. He waited until their footsteps faded down the hallway, sighed, and returned to his desk. After covering his face with both hands and taking a deep breath, he opened a drawer and pulled out the small “recommendation letter” Yaris had given him the day before.

“That kid…” he grumbled, one hand still covering his face. “I can’t believe this… I know it says not to, but… I absolutely have to consult someone…”

* * *

By the time Yaris and Lillac reached the lobby, Lillac had trembled the entire way. Yaris paid her little mind at first, too busy examining the group sheet and making a few observations of his own.

“…You look funny,” Yaris said, bringing the sheet closer to his face. “And your thumb is kind of fat, no?”

Yaris expected a quick jab in return, but nothing came from Lillac. Even he was surprised. When he finally looked at his newfound official member, he saw her face flushed deeply, her arms wrapped tightly around herself and her lower lip caught between her teeth.

“…Lillac?” Yaris called. When they first met, he had worried she was terribly sick. Maybe she had a stomachache instead?

“…Yaris…” Lillac said, her head hanging low. “I’m… scared. The Entrance Exams start tomorrow, and I don’t even know if I’ll be able to perform well…

“Even though you taught me that Spell, I still can’t control it very well… What if I end up completely useless…?”

Yaris could not see her face clearly, but he saw a small stream of tears run down her right cheek. He thought for a moment, then handed her the group sheet.

“Don’t worry about that,” Yaris said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll do fine. You’re a member of ‘The Lucids’ after all. Even if you aren’t able to perform, I’ll take care of you. Though, I wish you had more faith in yourself. I’m seriously impressed by how much you accomplished in such a short time. Who knows? Maybe you’ll impress yourself more than you know. You’re my first member. You’re bound to be just as amazing… Well, maybe a bit less amazing, since I am.”

Yaris thought back on his words. Maybe that was not what Lillac needed to hear. “I’m sorry, what I mean is—”

A stifled laugh suddenly escaped Lillac. Yaris’s heart sank into his chest; he definitely had not expected his carefully crafted leader speech to get that reaction. For a moment, he wondered if he had driven her insane.

“Y-Yaris…” Lillac chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand. “Y-you look so stupid… Why didn’t the Group Counselor tell you anything…?!”

She held up the group sheet and pointed to Yaris’s picture. He truly did look like a deer in headlights.

“…Are you serious?” Yaris said blankly. “Weren’t you crying just now? And don’t I look completely normal? That’s me, after all…”

“Ha ha! No, that’s not normal… Why are you flinching so hard?!”

Lillac was practically doubled over with laughter. Yaris was unsure how to feel about it. For some reason, he felt disrespected.

“But thank you, Yaris,” Lillac continued, wiping her tears. “Though, after all this talk, we better pass! I won’t forgive you if we don’t…!”

“…Of course,” Yaris replied. “However, we ought to get ready… I’m sure there’s some stuff you want to grab before we head over to Yonagold. We have to get moving by five, after all…”

“Ah, you’re right!” Lillac said, grabbing Yaris’s hand. She handed the group sheet back to him. “C’mon, let’s go!”

The two stormed out of Dream Catchers. Paula, quietly cleaning behind the bar, watched them leave.

“Good luck, you two…” Those quiet words slipped from her mouth.

Chapter 5 – Yonagold: Home of the Entrance Exams

Yaris waited outside their inn room, arms crossed. He had never known preparation could be so exhausting, and he was beginning to think his lack of foresight might not be such a bad thing after all. Immediately after leaving Dream Catchers, Lillac had dragged him to multiple shops across Polisar. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, snacks, an outfit… Merchant after merchant, he had been unwillingly dragged along, and the only things she had gotten for him were a small bag of beef jerky and a simple mouth-hygiene kit—which he dangled in front of himself with a scrutinizing eye.

“This is just enough for one day…” he mumbled, putting the products in his pocket. He opened the bag of beef jerky, however. “Shouldn’t she be treating her leader better?”

He was waiting outside because, allegedly, it was important that she change and “look good” by the time they arrived at Yonagold. It was getting dangerously close to 5 p.m., the time they were supposed to consult the traveling agency about renting a carriage, and the clock on the wall ticking away did not put Yaris at ease. Despite his apprehension, he knocked on the door, dropping two pieces of jerky into his mouth.

“Aren’t you done yet?” he called. “Weren’t you just grilling me for being late with Ken? If it’s your fault this time, I’m not going to show you any mercy, y’know?”

“I’m almost done!” she cried. “There’s a method to this sort of stuff… Someone as basic and unstylish as you wouldn’t understand! Sheesh, we need another girl member already…”

Yaris sighed. Quite frankly, he thought he was quite stylish.

Just then, footsteps approached from inside the room. With the slow creak of the door, a grinning Lillac stepped out, a black bag over her shoulder. She wore blue jeans with a plain tank top and a small, cheap necklace around her neck. Her eyebrows and eyelashes seemed thicker somehow, and her hair was combed so sleek it could have been compared to silk. As she stepped in front of Yaris, the smell of perfume drifted past his nose. He had a sudden urge to sneeze.

“See?” Lillac announced, a smug look on her face. She put another hand atop her bag. “Now I won’t look like some sort of crude barbarian… I look like a mature prospect, don’t you think?”

“…You don’t think they’ll make us change into something more suited for battling or physical exertion?” Yaris rebutted. Looking down, he could see she was wearing heels. “What if they disqualify you?”

“Y-you think they would do that for real…?” Lillac stammered. “W-well, I’m sure it’s fine! I have my gear in my bag, after all… Yeah, it should be no problem… Plus, first impressions are more important, anyway! Now they’re going to think, ‘Ah, that girl Lillac—the only notable member of The Lucids… She seems so confident and capable, don’t you think?’ or something like that! Meanwhile, you look like you just got out of bed! What’s with that?”

Yaris ignored her comment about the nature of their group and instead noticed that he was, indeed, still wearing his blue fleece and black sweats. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t been able to properly wash his clothes in nearly a whole day.

“…Do I smell?” Yaris asked.

“For right now, no…” Lillac said with a scoff. “Well, if you absolutely need it, I suppose I can spray you with some of my perfume… Who knows, you might even catch the attention of some boys…!”

“Maybe. Do you think they would join our group?”

“Seriously…?”

Yaris looked at the clock again. It was now ten minutes past five. According to Ken, if they had left ten minutes earlier, they would have reached Yonagold around 10 a.m. tomorrow. They should still have some time, but Yaris was in no mood to get berated by Lillac again, so he pointed at the clock.

“Shouldn’t we get goin-“

“Ah! Shoot! We have to get going!” Lillac exclaimed, rushing toward the stairs. “Follow me! If we’re quick enough, we can still book a carriage…!”

She broke into a sprint and immediately stumbled over herself, slamming into the wall.

Silence fell between them. For a moment, it was as if the whole world had stopped.

Lillac regathered herself, patted the dust off her pants, and slowly continued down the hallway toward the stairs, the clack of her heels reverberating throughout the building. Yaris watched from behind, unmoving. Her face was bright red.

“…You really are a klutz…” he muttered, following her.

“Shut up!”

* * *

The traveling agency was a rather outdated service in a world where most people had their own horse or vehicle, but strays like Yaris and Lillac were exactly the type of customers who kept it in business. Travelers, people with particular needs, smugglers, and those trying to move quietly all used it for the same reason: it would take them wherever they needed to go, no questions asked. The simple roadside stand served mostly as a transaction point; the carriages and workers waited in the large wooden stable behind it.

For that reason, Yaris was surprised by how comfortably Lillac walked up to the stand, small bag in hand. He decided to remain some distance off to the side.

He watched her hand the vendor a sheet of paper he could only assume contained the entrance exam information Ken had given them. Her expression shifted from confidence, to worry, then despair. Still, she nodded along as the man held up a finger and spoke with the stern expression of someone lecturing her.

It didn’t matter much to Yaris. He had found himself talking far more than usual lately, and, quite frankly, his throat was beginning to hurt.

…I wonder if more pains are going to come the more members I get… Yaris thought, crossing his arms. Why didn’t anyone tell me being a leader was so exhausting?

Finally, Lillac walked back toward him, counting the coins left in her hand before returning them to the small bag tied at her hip. Her head hung low, and her lips quivered almost comically.

…Well, maybe she has it worse than me, after all… he thought. I forgot kids don’t have such a good time talking to adults… I should give her some encouragement…

Once Lillac got close enough, Yaris put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up.

“I know it’s scary talking to grown-ups,” Yaris said in a soft, child-like tone. “But you did great. Good job!”

Lillac slapped his hand off her shoulder. “What are you talking about?!” she cried. “That’s not why I’m sad, idiot! And don’t try and comfort me with that dead-fish expression! I’m seventeen, mind you!”

…Hm? Yaris thought.

“Anyhow, we can get the carriage…” Lillac continued, her voice quivering. “But… it cost extra! He nearly charged me a fifty-percent increase! Because it was past three! Why didn’t we leave sooner…!”

Lillac shook Yaris around as she vented, but he had another thing on his mind.

…She’s older than me? he thought, a hand on his chin. He wasn’t the type to get nervous, but somehow… this fact greatly bothered him. I’m the leader, and she’s older than me…?

“Hey, are you listening?!” Lillac wailed. “And after I already spent so much, too! I only have about 100 Yuni left!!”

…I have a feeling I need to keep this secret, Yaris concluded. He looked at Lillac, who was practically bawling while shaking him around. Yes, she would definitely… make fun of me.

“Excuse me, you two…” a husky voice called.

It was enough to make Lillac stop shaking him. Yaris directed his gaze toward a stout, bald man in a green T-shirt and work trousers, both stained with dirt and other earthly contaminants. With one plump hand, he removed the cigarette from his mouth and blew the smoke into the air.

“I’m your driver for today.” He pointed off to the side. “Your carriage is right there…”

Following his finger, they found a small carriage with a single horse harnessed to it. Unlike most of the open-air carriages on the street, this one was enclosed, with proper doors, windows, and even blinds mounted inside. Its body was painted a glimmering black, with silver accents along the sides and rails, all of it sitting atop yellow-painted wooden wheels. The horse itself was a beautiful light chestnut, its mane tossing aimlessly as it shook its head and whinnied.

Yaris had taken many carriages in his life, but nothing quite like this. He glanced at Lillac, who looked equally surprised. Her mouth was hanging open.

“H-hold on!” Lillac exclaimed, raising her hands. “T-this… is too special! Didn’t I only pay two hundred Yuni? T-this should be at least three hundred!”

The driver brought his cigarette back to his mouth, inhaled, and blew out another long stream of smoke. “Normally, you’d be right… but your salesman over there said it’s a special upgrade since you two are going to the entrance exams and all. Hoped it’d help promote the business. Look, there are even stickers all around the damn thing.”

Indeed, several bright stickers read, “THE POLISAR TRAVELING AGENCY!” alongside chibi illustrations of horses and paper airplanes.

“I-I see…” Lillac stammered.

“Anyhow, hurry on in,” the driver said with a cough. “If you want to make it on time, that is. Salesman wants us to arrive early anyhow, before it gets all busy and the like. If you have to piss on the way there, just ring the bell and I’ll stop ol’ girly by some bushes or something…”

“Bushes…?” Lillac whispered anxiously to herself.

She stepped toward the horse and slowly stroked its mane. It made low, soft huffing sounds, drawing a giggle from Lillac. Then she moved around the back of the carriage, climbed the steps, and disappeared inside.

Yaris remained a short distance away, staring at the horse with wonder in his eyes.

“Yaris!” Lillac called. “It’s so cool in here! It’s like a mini-room! Yaris! C’mon!”

It seemed his fascination would have to wait. He followed her calls around to the back and climbed inside. A soft silk curtain, rather than a door, separated the entryway from the cabin. With a wave of his hand, he pushed it aside and found Lillac starry-eyed, her face practically pressed against one of the windows.

It really was like a tiny room. A couch-like seat was bolted to the floor opposite the entrance, with small platforms beneath the windows for holding food or drinks. A plush red goatskin carpet covered the floor, and overhead sat a radio, an audio speaker, and the bell the driver had mentioned.

“Isn’t it cool…?” Lillac sighed. “I feel like royalty… like a princess…!”

“…Yeah…” Yaris said softly, sitting on the couch. “Is this what spending Yuni can get you…? Maybe I should have kept some of yours for myself, after all…”

“Absolutely not!” Lillac shouted. She sat beside him, propping an arm on the platform beneath the window and resting her chin in her hand. “After all, there’s no way you would’ve been able to organize this on your own. But still, thank you. It’s because of you and your… methods that we’re able to have a shot at the entrance exams…”

She looked over at the man she had been talking to and found Yaris asleep, his head leaned against the back of the couch, hands in his lap. His brow was furrowed, a disgruntled expression on his face despite the slow rise and fall of his chest and his soft breathing.

Lillac’s face reddened. She crossed her arms and turned away in a huff.

“I’m going to get grey hairs because of this jerk…” she sighed.

Just then, a whip cracked outside, followed by the horse’s light whinny. The carriage lurched into motion, and their journey officially began. If Lillac’s calculations were correct, they had nearly seventeen hours before they were expected to reach Yonagold.

Polisar slowly passed beyond the windows, and anxiety began to well in her heart again. This time, however, she had a plan.

She withdrew a small ginger shot from her bag and, bracing herself, downed it in one go. A sound of disgust escaped her involuntarily. She set the bottle away, got comfortable, and took a deep breath.

“…Acatalepsy…”

* * *

Yaris woke with a yawn. He hadn’t intended to fall asleep until much later, mainly so he could talk with Lillac in preparation for the entrance exams, but it seemed his body had other plans. He looked to his left and found Lillac asleep as well, though a fair amount of sweat dotted her face and neck. It wasn’t terribly hot in the carriage, so he figured she simply ran warm while resting. He had his own particular sleeping quirks, after all.

He stood as the carriage rolled softly along, the occasional bump in the road shaking his balance. The blinds were drawn, so he moved one aside and peeked out. It was definitely nighttime, and thick green oak trees surrounded them. They were deep into the wooded route toward Yonagold.

After a moment, Yaris rang the small bell overhead. Its chime made him glance back at Lillac. She was still sleeping soundly, though she stirred a little. Soon, the carriage slowed to a stop.

Yaris stepped outside carefully. Toward the front, he could see the faint glow of the driver’s cigarette.

“Need to piss?” the driver asked, stifling a cough as Yaris approached. “Lucky for you, there’s plenty of trees around. Just don’t take all night…”

“You aren’t tired?”

“I’ve been doing this a long time. Plus, you can hardly say I’m doing shit besides staying awake. Ol’ girl here is the one doing all the work. But if it bothers you so much, most of the time we’re lazing around doing jack shit. It ain’t bad to get sleep-deprived every now and again…”

“Hm…”

“Anyhow, go ahead and handle your business. It’s about five in the morning right now. You need to get there timely, don’t you? We still got some ways to go.”

Yaris put a hand to his chin and approached the horse. He hesitantly raised his hands, then stroked its mane in slow, careful movements. Its eyes were drawn toward the ground, and its head hung low. Yaris observed it for another moment before a small glow began to emit from his hand, bringing Illumination to the three of them.

“A-ack! Hey, what are you doing…?!” the driver yelped, dropping his cigarette. He grabbed Yaris’s wrist and sharply thrust it away from the animal. “If she’s hurt, you’re going to be paying extra! Ain’t nobody else ever pulled something like that before!”

The horse gave a soft whinny, then straightened, its eyes wide. It clicked its hooves against the ground, ears perked, and gave its mane a quick shake before standing at attention.

The driver stammered and jumped down from his perch. “Ah, Lessy! Are you all right?!” he exclaimed, stroking the back of the horse’s mane.

Lessy answered with a loud, lively whinny. The man’s eyes widened. With a sigh, he withdrew another cigarette and a lighter from his chest pocket.

“Well, she seems happy enough…” he muttered, lighting it. He inhaled. “What did you do, anyway? It’s almost as if she just woke up or somethin’…”

“…She seemed tired,” Yaris said plainly. “I just helped her out, was all.”

The driver brought a hand to the back of his head as he exhaled. “This is why I don’t get involved with Dreamers like that… all of you are insane, doin’ whatever you please…”

“I had a question for you, actually,” Yaris continued. “How many people do you see come back from the entrance exams? I know this time of year is special for the DBA, but the entrance exams run semiannually, don’t they? I’ve been meaning to ask for a while now.”

“Hm… well, for the most part, all I do is drop people off. They find their own ways back home. But if it’s worth anything, all the people I trudge on over there… I see ’em right back in Polisar, working some labor or merchant job or the like.” A smile came to his face, his eyes squinting in a somewhat mocking expression. “What, are ya nervous? Don’t worry! I don’t give a damn if you come back a failure! It ain’t my business anyway!”

Yaris shook his head. “You needn’t worry about that. It’s impossible for us to fail. I’m me, after all…”

The driver stared at Yaris for a moment, wide-eyed, before sighing and walking toward one of the trees. He disappeared behind it, letting out a loud groan.

The sound of falling water reached Yaris’s ears. He looked toward the sky and held out a hand.

“What are you doin’?” the driver grunted, waddling back over with a hand at his crotch. “Is this another one of your weird tricks? It’s late at night. Stop that shit.”

“Well… I was just checking for rain,” Yaris replied, his hand still raised. “It sounded like it was heavy, but… maybe I was mistaken?”

“…You’re a strange piece of work, y’know that?”

Yaris lowered his hand and watched the driver climb back onto his perch. Once seated, the man shot him a sharp but inquisitive look, his lips jutting outward in an awkward expression.

“Kid… what’s your name?” he asked, shifting in his seat.

“Yaris Rogue. Do you want to invest in our group? Lillac—my first member—said she was short on—”

“None of that…” he groaned. “You can call me Dean. I just ain’t never met someone like ya before, all aloof n joint. But I’ll guess I’ll be seeing ya again soon enough, after the entrance exams, of course.”

“You don’t gotta worry about that. I thought I told you?”

“Yeah, yeah… Get your ass back in the carriage so we can get a move on…”

Yaris did as instructed. His steps clacked through the woods, followed by the light movement of the carriage rocking when he climbed back inside.

Dean brought the cigarette to his mouth, but it had long since fizzled out, its ashes suddenly falling onto his leg. He tried his lighter again, though this time it took a while to reignite.

“…Silly kid.”

* * *

“Lillac…” Yaris said softly, nudging her shoulder. “We’re here.”

Lillac’s eyes slowly drew open, and she squinted at him. “Yaris…” she whined, turning her head the other way. “Just five more minutes… Stop poking at me, would you…?”

“But we’re here,” Yaris said again plainly, coming closer to her face. “We’re here. In Yonagold… The entrance exams. We’re here.”

“What?!” Lillac screamed, jumping from the couch. She looked left and right, then ran to the windows with a shocked expression.

Numerous people dressed in all kinds of gear were huddled throughout the streets: tall muscular types, thin agile types, and everything in between. Their equipment ranged from magical staffs and swords to books and brass knuckles. It was as though every single person was prepared for battle.

A flush came to Lillac’s face, and a light squeal escaped her lips.

“Oh my god! We’re here! It’s the entrance exams!” Lillac cried, jumping up and down.

Just then, the slowly rolling carriage came to a complete stop, sending her tumbling backward onto the couch.

“Hey! No jumping!” Dean shouted from outside. “You’ll break the damn thing! The hell is wrong with you?!”

“S-sorry…!” Lillac called back sheepishly.

She turned to Yaris, who was looking at her with his usual aloof expression.

“I-isn’t this amazing, Yaris?!” she awed. “D-do I look okay? A-am I still sweating? Do I look like a dead man?”

“Yes, yes, and… probably not,” Yaris answered, a hand on his chin. He adjusted the hat on his head, stretched, and began toward the exit. “Either way, we should get going. I haven’t asked what time it is yet, and judging from the amount of people… It’s definitely later in the day, don’t you think? Though I’m sure we still have-“

“Ah! I have to pee!” Lillac suddenly stammered, clutching herself and bouncing up and down. “O-out of the way! Ah, jeez! Why isn’t there a restroom in here…!”

All at once, Lillac disappeared out of the carriage and into the streets. Through the window, Yaris watched her hurry from person to person until someone pointed her in a direction. She ran off while still clutching herself.

With a sigh, Yaris exited the carriage and walked around to the front, where Dean was stretching while still seated on his perch.

“…What, kid?” he asked, giving Yaris a sharp look.

“What time is it?”

Dean chuckled, throwing his hands behind his head. “Hm… last I checked… about one? I ended up taking a little nap after I finished talking with you early this morning. Hope you didn’t mind, he-he…”

“…Ah,” Yaris said aloud.

And to think he had asked Dean if he was tired, too. It seemed the man couldn’t stand being sleep-deprived for too long, after all.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll be fine, ain’t that right, kid?” Dean continued mockingly. He pointed toward a small shop along the edge of the street. “Anyhow, your partner—Lilly, was it? She ran off over there. Well, it ain’t my problem. It’s about time I take my leave. Man, I need a drink…”

“…Thank you for your service,” Yaris said with a bow.

Dean cracked his whip lightly, turned the horse around, and started off.

Yaris tilted his cap down and looked around. There was truly a surplus of people; it wouldn’t have been a stretch to compare it to Polisar when he had first paid Ken. Everywhere he looked, there was one collection of people or another. If he stretched both arms out, he was sure he’d touch someone by accident.

“Well,” he whispered to himself, “I ought to go get her…”

He wove through the crowd, careful not to bump into anyone. Perfume, cologne, and even more… unpleasant aromas crossed his nose. His lips pressed together, his brows furrowed, and he began moving faster. Before he knew it, he was holding his breath.

Chatter struck his ears from every direction, while the lack of room to move began to wear on him.

…Maybe it would be okay if I just start pushing people… Yaris thought. Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine… Yeah… Yeah…

Just as he was reaffirming the idea to a dangerous degree, he spotted an opening and escaped the crowd in one big leap. Freed, he ran until he reached the shop he figured Lillac had entered, flung the door open, and slammed it behind him.

He leaned against it as though trying to keep everyone else outside. Through a small window in the door, he saw the crowd beginning to clear. Slowly, he slumped down and let out a long sigh.

“It’s rough out there, huh?” a voice called.

Yaris stood at attention and turned his head. “Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a ruckus,” he apologized. “I’m just looking for my group member…”

He turned to meet the speaker. Based on her smooth, confident tone, he had expected someone much older. Instead, he was met with an unmistakably young girl, quite possibly around his age.

She had thick, curled green hair that fell to her chest, glistening skin, and clear lip gloss. Her eyes were sharp and almost plain, reflecting a deep hazel. A loose white top with open shoulders stopped just above her waist, leaving a thin strip of skin exposed between it and the sash around her hips. A thin brown choker circled her neck. Its short sleeves gathered into small frills beneath the openings, bouncing whenever she moved. Beneath it hung a long brown skirt, wide and light enough to sway around her legs, with the hem falling just past her knees. Thin leather bracelets wrapped both wrists, and shimmering silver hoop earrings danced as she approached him.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” she continued, extending a hand. “I’m Yulith Opal. It’s nice to meet you. I assume you’re here for the entrance exams, yes?”

Yaris took her hand. Though he tried to be considerate, she had quite the firm grip herself. After a light shake, the two separated.

“Yaris Rogue. Yes, I was just about to head over to the main building myself… Do you know where it is, perchance? I haven’t had much time to look. We only got here moments ago.”

“I see… Ah, you mean the monolith? Yes, well, I know there’s a fair amount of people outside, but it really is impossible to miss. Once you leave, look to the right and you’ll pretty much see it immediately. It’s at the very end of this impossibly wide road, ha ha! If you’d like, I could walk you?”

“I’ll take you up on that,” Yaris said plainly. “I thought we’d be the only ones arriving so late, but I’m happy we aren’t. My member would’ve probably talked my ear off…”

“Well, we got here around 10 a.m.,” Yulith corrected. “It’s better—and more entertaining—to wait until the last minute. Most of the people clear out, and the DBA has a surprisingly fast process… Plus, I can buy stuff like this!”

She held up a small bear keychain with the letters “DBA” stamped across its torso.

“…How much was it?” Yaris asked, poking it with a finger. It swung cheaply from side to side.

“Hm… about twenty Yuni.”

“…Uh-huh…” Yaris hummed.

Even he knew that was quite the price.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yaris caught two people approaching quickly. One of them, a girl, wore a stern expression as she glared at him. For some reason, he thought he was about to be attacked.

“I assume… these are your group members?”

“Ah, yes!” Yulith cheered, turning around.

Behind her stood one male and one female. The man looked around their age, wearing a thick black jacket over a white tank top and a beanie on his head. His shorts, if they could even be called that, nearly reached his ankles. Despite his fierce-looking attire, his expression was meek. When Yulith turned toward him, he looked at the floor before meeting her and Yaris’s gaze again.

“This is Winter,” she said, gesturing toward him.

Then she motioned to the girl. She wore a pink oversized t-shirt stamped with the words “FIGHT ON!” and a simple gray skirt. Her yellow hair was pulled into a single long ponytail, and her sharp, disinterested eyes stayed fixed on Yaris as she blew a pink bubble from her mouth. It finally popped, giving Yaris a small jolt.

“And this is Nova.” Yulith smiled. “These are two members of my group, The Copper Vale. We have six members total, but the other three aren’t much for tourism, so they said they’d wait for me by the monolith. You two, this is Yaris Rogue.”

Yaris bowed. “I am the leader of The Lucids. It is nice to meet you.”

“Such a generic name…” Nova groaned, chewing on something loudly. “Why even go out of your way to introduce us, Yulith? This guy is obviously going to amount to nothing…”

“It’s not about that,” Yulith said with a slightly stern tone. “It’s about being amiable with everyone. We’re all here for the same reason, after all. There’s no need to make enemies.” Then she smiled. “Friends are much better. Plus, don’t you think you’re being rude to someone you just met?”

Nova huffed, crossed her arms, and looked away. Winter gave Yaris a small nod before directing his gaze out the window, an awkward expression on his face.

Yaris looked around the shop. Ken had said the area was more of a tourist center than an actual town, and his words seemed true. T-shirts, candy, pendants, magnets, and every other kind of cheap trinket filled the place. Some showed the shape of Yonagold’s territory with “DBA” stamped beside it; others depicted the monolith and overly animated aspiring Dreamers hurling Magic at one another or dramatically punching each other in the face.

“As for your member…” Yulith said, breaking the tense atmosphere. “If she was the hasty girl I saw running to the bathroom a little while ago, then I imagine she should be done any minute now…”

“Ah, Yaris!” Lillac’s voice sounded.

Yaris turned and saw her emerging from around a corner. She hurried through the racks of merchandise toward him, face flushed with embarrassment.

“Ah… you found me… I’m sorry, I just really had to use it…”

“It’s no problem,” Yaris said. “Y’know, if you had to pee, why didn’t you just tell the driver to pull over? He said he could, after all?”

“I’m a girl, Yaris!” Lillac exclaimed. “I can’t just do that like how boys do! That’s gross and unhygienic, anyway!”

Yaris covered his ears at her volume. “…So complicated…” He grimaced.

Yulith chuckled, catching both their attention. “Ah, nice to meet you,” she said at once with a light bow. “You must be Yaris’s member. I’m Yulith Opal, leader of The Copper Vale. The two people behind me are my members.”

“A-ah! Nice to meet you…!” Lillac bowed. “I-I’m sorry for being a disturbance, you see, my leader can be a bit…”

She sneakily punched Yaris in the forearm.

“…Much, sometimes…”

“It’s no worry at all. I find your banter quite humorous,” Yulith said with another chuckle. “I had a conversation with Yaris here, and he said he was fine with me walking you two to the monolith, where the entrance exams are taking place. Do you have any issue with that?”

“Ah… no. Thank you very much, but…”

Lillac leaned into Yaris’s ear and grabbed him by the collar of his fleece. “I’m gone for one moment and you start talking to women? And this girl is a real beauty, too! What kind of maniac are you? Do you need to be neutered?”

“…She called out to me first…” Yaris whined, though his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Great!” Yulith said, clasping her hands together. “Then we should get going. I believe it’s already past 1:30… and who knows how long the line will be.”

“R-right!” Lillac exclaimed. “I forgot all about that! I didn’t know it was so late…! Ah, thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver…! Yaris!”

Yulith chuckled. “Not at all.”

The five of them exited the store and began walking down the wide, now-barren road. Despite the crowd only moments earlier, the long road making up nearly the entirety of this populated area of Yonagold was almost empty. Only a few groups stood off to the sides with concerned expressions, as though trying to stay out of the way. Some argued amongst themselves, while others clasped their hands together and chanted some sort of incantation.

“It’s a very stressful time,” Yulith said, noticing the same thing. “Especially this close to the Dreamer certifications. There’s a lot of fear and doubt in people’s minds, with the competition getting so fierce…”

“But aren’t the entrance exams semiannual?” Lillac asked. “Shouldn’t they have signed up a year or two beforehand, if that’s the case? Yaris and I are special cases, and you three seem pretty young, but what about the older folks?”

“Normally, the DBA holds entrance exams twice a year. The certification cycle itself is much rarer. For roughly thirty years, the academy keeps accepting new students while groups train, compete, and establish themselves. Then, following the final round of entrance exams for that cycle, admissions close for three years while the DBA officially tallies group performance for the World Building Certificate.

“Because of that, people usually call it a once-every-thirty-years event, even though the full cycle is technically closer to thirty-three. Once the three-year certification period ends and the winning group receives the certificate, admissions reopen and the process begins again.

“Getting into the DBA is difficult even outside certification season. It costs a lot, competition is constant, and aspiring Dreamers are always fighting to improve their standing. Still, these final entrance exams are especially stressful. Fail now and you can’t simply try again in six months—you’ll have to wait three years for the academy to reopen. It’s practically a lose-lose situation if you aren’t confident…”

“I-I see…” Lillac replied, her shoulders shrinking back.

Yaris watched her as she spoke with Yulith. It seemed he would have to help her out more than he wished.

Just then, he bumped into someone and teetered backward before catching himself.

“I’m sorry,” Yaris said, redirecting his gaze. “I wasn’t paying attention…”

“Yeah, I can see that, dickwad!” a crude voice exclaimed, a finger pointed at him. “All this empty space, and you can’t even watch where you’re going?! Are you some kind of idiot?! This is what I get after standing around all damn day…?!”

The angry voice belonged to a young man with red hair and a muscular frame. He wore a fitted red long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and a small bag over one shoulder. His face was lean and defined, and his eyes shone a passionate crimson.

He looked at Yaris with great offense. After a moment, however, his expression relaxed into a small smirk. He scoffed and started to turn away.

“Ah, whatever. You’re so soft-lookin’, you’re not even worth the trouble. You’re lucky the signup period for the entrance exams is almost up.”

Yaris had no clue what the man was talking about. He glanced back at Lillac. She was shaking slightly, but her face was stern, her lip caught between her teeth as though preparing for something. One foot was planted ahead of the other, and her fists were balled tight.

“There’s no need for that,” Yulith said, stepping forward. “It was obviously an accident, and he already apologized. Anything more would be unnecessary.”

“Huh?!” The man glared at her. “What are you getting in my business for?” His eyes moved over her. “What are you, some kind of prostitute? Don’t go around defending random clients. I’ve seen people get killed for that.”

Yulith shook her head. “I just don’t think we need to fight.” She held her hands up near her chest as though pleading for peace. Despite the man’s demeanor, there wasn’t a tremor in her body or a quiver in her voice. She looked him directly in the eyes.

He scoffed. “Whatever, lady. I got better business to attend to than arguing with randoms. But if I get the chance to face off against you…” He suddenly pointed a thick finger at Yaris. “I’m on your ass. You better believe it. Ha ha!”

He walked off, hands in his pockets.

A sigh escaped Lillac’s mouth. “…People like that are the worst…!” She huffed and moved to Yaris’s side. “Are you okay? Don’t let assholes like that get to you…”

“I’m perfectly fine…” Yaris said plainly. “I just don’t understand what he was talking about. ‘On my ass’? Should I be reading more books…?”

“Y’know, that obliviousness of yours is going to get you in trouble one of these days…”

“If it were me, I would’ve punched him right in his throat,” Nova said, raising an arm. “You don’t gotta let people push you around, Yareess. They’ll eat you up in there if you do. But I suppose it doesn’t matter. I can’t see you in the DBA, anyway…”

Yulith shot her a look, and Nova receded with an annoyed expression.

“Well, as long as it’s over,” Yulith said with a sigh. “The monolith is coming into view now, anyway. Do you see it? It’s just beginning to show its size… just wait until we get even closer. It truly is huge.”

As the five continued down the road, the top of a structure so wide it nearly covered their entire field of view began to rise ahead of them. It was made of old, solid concrete and shaped almost like a perfect rectangular prism. It was so plain, so devoid of decorations or windows, that it was no wonder Yaris hadn’t noticed it earlier. It looked as though it had been made for one purpose and one purpose only—the entrance exams.

By the time they could see the entrance doors, the monolith towered nearly ten stories above them, and it would have taken a decent sprint just to reach either side.

A lone man stood at the front doors, a clipboard in hand with a thick stack of papers attached. He was speaking with the red-haired man they had just collided with. After a few short nods, the red-haired man passed through the doors.

Lillac gulped. “I’m surprised they don’t have guards or security surrounding this place…” she murmured. “Especially with dangerous guys like him around…”

“You would have to be a… special type… to try and cause trouble here…” Winter said suddenly, his voice low and shivering. “You’d be sure to get a bounty on your head, and with so many aspiring Dreamers here… you’d get caught almost instantly… Everyone wants to make a name for themselves, after all…”

“Well, I suppose we should go on ahead.” Yulith bowed. “The rest of my groupmates should be waiting for me inside, and I’m sure you have some things you’d like to talk about amongst yourselves. I truly hope to see you two again.”

Yaris and Lillac watched as the three of them approached the attendant. After a few short words, Yulith withdrew the group sheet from her skirt pocket. The attendant looked it over, made a few quick marks on his papers, and nodded. Yulith turned, gave the two of them a small wave, then disappeared inside along with Winter and Nova.

“L-let’s go, Yaris…” Lillac said, beginning to step forward, though her pace remained slow.

“…Yes,” Yaris replied, stepping up beside her.

Lillac studied his face and posture. He truly seemed as though he didn’t have a single worry on his mind. Soon, he overtook her, though not by much.

She took a deep breath and brought her thumb to her mouth, biting down hard.

“…All right!” Lillac whispered to herself, putting on a brave face.

Then she caught up to Yaris and matched his pace.

Chapter 6 — The Entrance Exams: Round One — Target! Hit! Defend! (Part One)

Yaris and Lillac approached the attendant. Upon seeing them, he checked a small watch on his wrist before returning his attention to the pair. Once they were within talking distance, Yaris thought he could hear him mumble something along the lines of, “Do people take anything seriously these days…?”

“Hello,” Yaris said at once. “We would like to sign up for the Entrance Exams.”

A short sigh came from the man’s lips. “Your group sheet, please.”

Yaris dug through his pocket for a moment before withdrawing the group sheet and handing it to the man. He accepted it with a lazy hand and, after skimming over it with scrutinizing eyes, handed it back to Yaris before flipping through his papers.

“…Yup, you’re good to go, alright,” he said in a low, almost tired tone. “Just in time, too. It’s nearly 1:57, y’know?”

“Y-Yikes…” Lillac aired.

“Well, it doesn’t matter much now. You made it on time. Once you go through these doors, to the right and left of you will be tables filled with devices for you to put around your wrists; you only need one each. Once you’ve both grabbed one and attached them to yourselves, enter the main coliseum through any of the stairs and find a seat. It would be preferable if you left at least one seat open between your group and another group.” He then leaned toward them. “It would be advantageous, even, if you were able to separate yourselves further. However, I doubt you guys will get so lucky. That tidbit of information is complimentary, after all.”

Yaris and Lillac gave a light bow before stepping through the doors. Immediately, they were hit by bright overhead industrial lights. Only a short walk in front of them was a wall that seemed to scale nearly as tall as the entire building, warping horizontally left and right as if forming some sort of oval. Every few yards was a break in the wall, allowing a small flight of stairs to be accessed. The two of them could hear the light murmur of conversation, though it was nowhere near the volume it had been outside.

To the left and right of them were tables, just as they had been told. However, on said tables were undoubtedly small, high-tech circular devices; they seemed almost entirely made of metal and were about two inches thick. A small red light slowly brightened and dimmed, accompanied by a faint beeping sound.

“…Is this what he wanted us to put on our wrists?” Lillac asked, picking one up. It was heavy—easily about five pounds. “…Seriously? This looks like it would start eating your body…”

…Click!

A loud click sounded from behind her, and Lillac sharply turned around to see Yaris already wearing the device on his right wrist, moving his arm around as he inspected it. The light that had been pulsing red turned green.

“…It’s kind of uncomfy,” Yaris said plainly, bringing his arm back down and turning to Lillac. He had a look on his face that seemed to say, Go on.

Lillac grimaced. “…I seriously worry for you sometimes… You’re way too carefree…”

Despite her complaints, she slowly separated the magnetic latch that seemed to be holding the device together and, with a small gulp, began applying it to herself. It quickly clicked shut, and after a moment, its red light also turned green. She waited another moment, holding her breath, before letting out a deep sigh of relief and lowering her arm.

“…So I guess…” she began, looking toward the many sets of stairs that stood before them. “The only thing left to do is go on, huh…?”

“Yup,” Yaris said, beginning to walk forward.

“W-wait!” Lillac cried, grabbing hold of his shoulder. “A-are you sure we shouldn’t discuss or anything? Come up with some sort of plan…?”

“We can’t exactly come up with a plan if we don’t know what they’re going to have us do, y’know?” Yaris replied with a raised eyebrow.

Lillac opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Yaris looked at her for a moment before putting a hand of his own on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lillac,” he began. “I told you already. Our chances of succeeding are 110%. If you believe that, then it goes up to… 115%.”

Lillac huffed, removing her hand from his shoulder and slowly swatting Yaris’s hand from her shoulder as well. “I suppose…” she mumbled, crossing her arms.

“I’m sure we don’t have much time left, anyhow,” Yaris said in a low, thoughtful tone. “It would be bad if we were to arrive late…”

Lillac nodded, now following Yaris as he observed the many sets of stairs they could take. They all seemed to lead to the same area, and as they got closer, they could see numerous clumps of people sitting together in groups—though you couldn’t say it was crowded. In fact, there seemed to be enough seats for everyone to comfortably leave space between each other.

“…You ready?” Yaris asked, turning to Lillac one last time. She jolted at Yaris’s sudden addressing of her, but after pursing her lips and furrowing her brow, she gave a slow nod. Finally, the two of them began ascending the steps.

Immediately, they were met with a large, open arena, akin to a coliseum for a large game or sports event. Everywhere they looked were rows upon rows of seats, some descending closer to the middle of the arena and some going all the way up, as though they were approaching the ceiling. They hadn’t been able to see the true scale of the participants before, but now that everything was revealed to them, there were easily more than 200 groups present. Some were small, like theirs, containing only two people, while others obviously had the eight-member cap. Regardless, people of all colors and archetypes could be seen; even the rarer demi-humans, with their own mix-and-match features.

At the very ground level in the center of the arena stood a large, circular podium, so tall that it reached nearly halfway up the arena. A small, elevator-like platform was attached to its side, and upon the podium was a large round table, open in the middle, allowing six intimidating figures to sit within it and face toward the seats, their hands clasped together. In the middle opening was yet another podium, though much smaller, with enough space for someone to walk back and forth easily. There stood one woman behind an equally sized lectern, microphone in hand, with a very serious expression on her face.

“It is now 2 p.m.,” she suddenly announced, her voice reverberating throughout the entire arena. The slight conversation happening beforehand ceased, and everyone’s head turned toward her in anticipation. “If you have not yet found your seat, or have not yet settled down, I kindly ask that you do so.”

Yaris and Lillac quietly made their way to the closest open area, which happened to be around the middle level of the arena. They secured seats a good distance apart from the two other groups sitting to either side of them. As they sat, members of both groups gave them questioning, almost mocking looks before returning their attention to the woman atop the podium. Lillac grumbled, unknowingly tightening her fist against her lap.

“…Thank you,” the woman said after another beat. Yaris couldn’t help but imagine she was looking directly at them. “I would like to confirm that everyone has the wrist device attached to their person. If you do not have said device, or it is not currently equipped on you, I will ask that you leave. You may not come back. Please talk to the kind man who admitted you for more details.”

Light gasps and murmurs erupted throughout the arena, and even Lillac hurriedly checked her wrist again before sighing at the realization that the device was indeed still there. For only a moment, nothing stirred. Then, one after another, groups began to leave with their heads lowered in deep shame. Everyone couldn’t help but watch them, and indeed, there were no devices on their wrists. By the time nobody else seemed to be moving from their seats, it looked as though about ten groups had left.

“…Makes you not so nervous about putting it on now, huh?” Yaris whispered, his head and eyes still focused on the podium.

“S-shut up…” Lillac jeered in a quick stammer.

“Alright, with that out of the way…” the woman began, standing tall. “My name is Helda, and I will be your organizer and host for today.” She then held out her hand, circling the entire podium. “And… Welcome! To the Entrance Exams! The final Entrance Exam before the three-year period leading up to the choosing of the World Building Certificate—the path to Dreamer certification!”

There were no cheers. However, rounds of applause sounded throughout the arena. They continued for only five seconds before coming to an abrupt end.

“Before we officially begin, I’m sure you all have a lot of questions on your minds,” the woman said, looking around at everyone. Somehow, it felt as though she had managed to look everyone in the eye all at once. “I hope to answer some of them. First, if you would all like to examine the device on your wrist…”

Yaris and Lillac did as they were told, holding their wrists up and looking upon the devices with scrutiny.

“Do not be alarmed. I am merely going to explain its use. As some of you may know, to safely create and explore dream worlds, there is still one important prerequisite—you must be asleep. This is true whether you are the host or a guest. Though the exceptional are able to fall asleep on command, it would be wrong of the DBA to assume that all of you are able to do so—and we do not plan on making it a strict prerequisite in the future. These devices emit a small pulse that stimulates your nervous system into a resting state, allowing for much easier sleep. They also contain a sensor able to tell when you have successfully fallen asleep. As much as we would love to be patient, everyone will only be given a maximum of ten minutes to fall asleep. If that timeframe passes, the light on the device will flip from green to red, turning it off. You will then be asked to leave.”

Murmurs sounded all around, but the woman raised her hand, and all was silenced.

“Secondly, the devices you all hold specifically act as children to the one I hold.” She held up her other hand, where a similar device blinked with a faint green light. “As you fall asleep and focus your intention on me to successfully join my dream, it will pulse my heartbeat back to you, though faintly. This will act as a sort of indirect way for you all to enter my dream. Though it is possible to join others’ dreams without any contact at all, I can confidently say that none of you are at the level to do something like that just yet. Even at the DBA, I would estimate only 10% of people are able to do such a thing, and that at the very least requires knowing a person’s name and having talked to them. That is all in regards to the device… Now.”

She suddenly stood still and straight, her expression laced with seriousness and gravity. Everyone seemed to stiffen in response, and a deep tension began growing in the air. Lillac felt as though something was stuck in her throat and, in a desperate attempt to calm herself, swallowed her own spit. She glanced at Yaris, who looked as unaffected as ever.

“As much as we try to promise safety in the Entrance Exams, the nature of entering a dream that is not your own is inherently dangerous… That is, death.”

The arena froze.

“We cannot guarantee that no casualties will take place here. If you understand that, then you may stay, and I will begin explaining the first round of the Entrance Exams. Those who do not wish to take that risk may leave. As with the groups that dropped out before the start, you will receive a partial refund upon dropping out. However, once Round One begins, no matter how upset you may be, or whether or not you place high enough to be considered for the DBA, you will not get any money back. I will give you all approximately five minutes to make up your minds.”

She then seemed to press some sort of button on the microphone before walking off the podium and talking to the other six people seated around her. For a full minute, nobody stirred, and quiet whispers, shouts, and low, quivering voices could be heard all over.

“…I guess this is really serious, huh…?” Lillac asked in a shaky whisper. “Ah, man… I always knew it was a possibility, but… Hearing it said to you… It’s like a whole different feeling.”

Yaris crossed his arms, giving her a sidelong glance. “Well, it doesn’t apply to us, anyway. When I decided I was going to be the leader of The Lucids, I had already decided that not one member of my group will ever die. I will simply not allow it to happen.”

“Isn’t such a thing out of your hands, though…?” Lillac sighed. Her heart was pounding inside her chest, and her hands were shaking. “There could be really strong people out there… Who knows what might happen…”

As she said this, her eyes drifted toward Yaris’s face. His nose, his mouth, his eyes. Every feature she examined showed not even an ounce of fear or concern. The pounding in her heart began to slow.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Yaris said in a condescending tone. “I won’t let it happen. Why are you such a worrywart? Did you already forget rule number 2?”

“Y-Yaris!” Lillac hissed, her face red with embarrassment. She turned her head, bringing her hand to her face in an attempt to shield it from Yaris. What’s wrong with this guy?! she thought, her face unknowingly turning into a scowl. Why does he always have to make me feel like some kind of idiot?! Wait… am I taking his words seriously?!

As Lillac dealt with herself, Yaris scanned over the arena. Groups chatted amongst themselves, brows furrowed and deep frowns on their faces as they bit their lips. Some clutched at their chests, breathing hard as though they were hyperventilating. The discussions started as whispers.

“Are we going to be okay?”

“Don’t be scared, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

“Death…? Could we really die here?”

All sorts of things could be heard as Yaris closed his eyes and listened. The whispers began to rise in volume until, like a sudden tidal wave, nearly everyone was speaking as loudly as they had outside. A flurry of voices barraged his ears—reassuring, frightened, anxious; every possible reaction to the danger seemed to be expressed all at once.

“I can’t do this!” a loud, feminine shriek sounded. The arena went quiet. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t! I’m… I’ll be leaving!”

The frail-looking woman gave a bow to what could only be assumed to be the rest of her group. She sharply stood, her body quivering as she looked around with a deep flush on her face, before bolting through the rows of seats and down the stairs leading back to the entrance, the sound of her shoes echoing throughout the arena.

“I’m sorry,” another more masculine voice said. “I’ll be leaving, too…”

It came from elsewhere, another group. He too gave a light bow, though he wasn’t nearly as flustered as the woman before him. Instead, he wore a slight grimace, his eyes filled with apprehension as a cold sweat formed on his forehead. More slowly, he too left.

“I’m sorry…” another voice sounded.

“I can’t risk me life for this shit…” said another.

“Death is just… it’s too much…”

All around them came some variation of the same refusal to risk dying in the Entrance Exam. Lillac watched with her mouth agape as person after person left, and even an entire group of six began to rise from their seats and slowly make their way out of the arena, their heads down.

“A-a lot of people are leaving…” Lillac stammered, her eyes wide. “It’s… It’s gotta be at least half, right?”

It was like watching dominoes; each person who left seemed to make way for another. A flurry of footsteps and disappointed jeers filled the next three minutes, until finally one last person rose from their seat and left the arena. The arena went quiet, not a single person daring to utter a word. Everyone either stared straight ahead at nothing, deep in thought, or kept their eyes frozen on the stairs leading to the entrance, still stuck on how many people had left.

“…There seems to be only…” Yaris began, putting a hand on his chin and leaning back in his chair. “…About ninety or so groups left…”

Another minute of silence followed. There were no murmurs, no whispers, no cries. Now that there were substantially fewer people, Yaris could see Yulith and her group, and even she wore a slight frown. Winter had his eyes shut, his lips moving, while Nova crossed her arms with her eyes closed and her head tilted downward. They were with three more people, undoubtedly the other three members Yulith had mentioned earlier, though Yaris couldn’t see them well from where he was sitting.

He also saw the well-built, red-haired man from earlier. A light smirk sat on his face, while the other seven people with him all seemed shaken up, some quivering slightly or clutching themselves tightly. Yaris couldn’t help but hum.

The woman returned to the central podium and quickly pressed something on her microphone. A whining sound came from it, and she gave the microphone a quick pat.

“…I see,” she began, looking around. “Well… is it safe to assume that these are the real participants?”

Not a word was said.

“…Then…” she began. “Allow me to explain the rules of Round One. If you are familiar with the game ‘capture the flag,’ you will find this game similar. I ask that you save all discussion until the end of my explanation, at which point you will have five minutes to discuss before I ask that you all prepare to join my dream. I hope this is understood.”

She stayed silent for a moment. Again, not a word was said.

“…Brilliant. This round will be a simple game testing your ability to strategize. The rules are simple…”

Suddenly, the arena went dark, drawing audible gasps from nearly everyone. Just as quickly, as though it were made out of some sort of magic, a projection appeared on the ceiling, displaying a simple target and a stick figure. The target moved dramatically onto the stick figure’s back.

“Wow…” both Yaris and Lillac aired.

“This will help you all visualize the rules,” the woman continued. “One person from every group will be assigned the visual mark of a target on their upper back. The only way to confirm it is to peek at their back, either by lifting their shirt or otherwise. The person marked by the target will be responsible for one thing and one thing only—protecting themselves from being ‘hit.’ In the name of safety, a ‘hit’ requires only simple contact. Even a finger poke will suffice. Once the marked person is hit, the target symbol on their back will disappear.”

The stick figure with the attached target suddenly duplicated, one moving to each side of the visible projection. Then, seven more stick figures appeared beside one of the targeted figures.

“The other members in your group,” she continued, “have one of two jobs, depending on your strategy. They may either protect your target from being ‘hit,’ or go out and attempt to find another group’s target themselves. If your target is hit, or if your group finds and hits another group’s target, your entire group will be forcibly removed from the dream, whether you succeed or fail. There is also a third outcome. If you successfully protect your target for the full one-hour timeframe, even without hitting another group’s target, you will still be awarded Favor. Here is the amount of Favor you will receive depending on your outcome.”

The projection shifted, and a short list appeared. It read:

Successful ‘Hit’ on another Group: 100 Favor

Successful ‘Defend’ of your target within the allowed timeframe: 50 Favor

Your Group’s target hit; Unsuccessful Defend: 0 Favor

“As you can guess, the amount of Favor you have at the end of the three rounds will determine your admittance into the DBA,” she said. “However, some of you might be wondering: how do you tell which person has a target on them? Here is where we will also test your deductive reasoning—that is to say, knowing your opponent. There are two ways to do this…”

The projector again shifted visuals, now showing a variety of complex expressions ranging from fear to anxiety to apprehension. Each showed someone who, if one did not know any better, appeared deeply troubled.

“First, you can tell based on behavior or body cues. For instance, if you approach someone and they seem scared, try to run off, or appear as though they are preparing to fight you, you may be able to safely assume they could be a ‘target.’ However, this is not guaranteed. Now, for the second way…”

A small device appeared on the screen. It looked like a small plastic ring, with a tiny bulb of light that switched from purple, to yellow, to red, then repeated.

“After forty-five minutes have passed, you will all find yourselves suddenly equipped with this ring. Its light will change based on how close you are to a target. Purple can safely be assumed to mean not close at all, yellow can be interpreted as reasonably close, and red is the telltale sign that you are more than likely within viewing distance of a target. As I’m sure you’re aware, this allows for multiple strategies. Now, for my final point…”

The projector shifted again, this time displaying a simple number one.

“Each person in a group who is not the ‘target’ has only one chance to guess a potential target by attempting a ‘hit.’ If your guess is wrong, you will be forced to sit out, with a small X-shaped illumination appearing above your head. You will not be kicked out of the dream. Instead, you will be ordered to return to a certain area, which will be shown on the projector here momentarily, where you will join anyone else from your group who has also been disqualified. There, you will share a small walkie-talkie-like device. Upon your disqualification, your group members who remain active will receive a similar device, though much smaller. You may exchange information as you wish. A compiled overview of all I’ve covered will now be shown.”

“That is all for the rules. When Round One starts and you all enter my dream, you will be given a small slip of paper explaining them as well—just in case you did not absorb everything here. With that out of the way, please allow me to show you a map of where you will all be participating.”

The projector showed a different image, this time a collection of mountains and plains, the mountains covered in green patches. At the very end of the map were two roads labeled ‘disqualification paths,’ which led to what appeared to be a building at the end of the plains. The building was labeled ‘disqualified huddle zone.’ Along the top and bottom, aligned like a grid, were letters and numbers marking off twelve square miles. Yaris’s eyes widened. He looked at Lillac for a moment, seeing her astounded reaction. Even so, her eyes remained glued to the projector, unblinking, and she seemed to be mouthing something back to herself. He hummed.

“This is your ‘battleground,’ so to speak. It is large enough to allow free movement, though not so large that someone can tuck themselves away in a corner and get free Favor. I will only say three things. One: it is absolutely forbidden to attack or harass disqualified members in any way. Disqualified members have fifteen minutes after disqualification to arrive at the huddle zone. Failure to do so means your group will forfeit 10 Favor, regardless of success or failure. Two: the mountains, though offering plenty of cover, are hard to traverse and lead to plenty of dead ends. Three: the plains will resemble a mini-city, with neighborhoods, streets, buildings, and even a mock college. Use this information as you wish. Upon entry, I can guarantee that each group will be placed approximately 500 meters apart from one another, and you will all drop into random locations. A smaller version of this map will also be available in your pockets upon entering my dream.”

She then cleared her throat, straightening her posture. “Unfortunately, I will not accept any questions. You now have five minutes to discuss amongst yourselves.”

As soon as her explanation was over, whispers and murmurs broke out all across the arena. It seemed everyone wanted to waste no time discussing strategies and plans. Lillac shuffled in her seat just as quickly, turning to Yaris.

“Yaris!” she exclaimed in a hush, her hands clenched tightly into fists. “What do you think? That was a lot of rules, wasn’t it? Do you have any ideas on what we should do?!”

Yaris shook his head. Lillac began reddening, and Yaris could tell she was taking in a breath to yell at him. However, he quickly grabbed her by the shoulder and covered her mouth, causing her to muffle a scream.

He leaned toward her ear, looking around. “Lillac… There are all sorts of people here,” he began, keeping a scrutinizing eye on the groups in the arena. He caught Yulith glancing at them for a moment, a small smile coming to her lips before she continued her discussion with her group members. “We could very well be heard. It’s better we wait. We’re not the only ones, either. Look.”

Lillac followed Yaris’s eyes. Indeed, some groups were not engaging in any conversation, including the group of the red-haired man from earlier. A smirk was still present on his lips.

“We have to be careful,” Yaris concluded, looking her in the eye. A deep exhale came from Lillac before she slowly nodded. Yaris removed his hand from her mouth and receded into his seat, a small sigh coming from his lips. Lillac too sank back into her chair, and though she had a conflicted look on her face, she lifted her head toward the ceiling, deep in thought.

There were so many voices that it would be hard for anyone to discern one and trace it back to a specific group. Even so, as Yaris listened, some ideas came to mind.

“Alright!” the woman announced after five minutes. The arena instantly fell silent. “We are going to begin. The devices on your wrists will begin pulsating—not only to stimulate your nerves, but to feed you my heartbeat as well. Now, I will tell you these things about myself. My name is Helda Aspin. My favorite food is chicken, and I enjoy watching TV shows and movies. I consider myself a fun, yet serious person. I have two beautiful children. Now…”

She began setting the microphone down, her finger hovering over the small button upon it. “I ask you all to close your eyes and focus your intention on me.”

She shut off the microphone and set it down. Gripping the sides of the lectern, she closed her eyes. Just then, a faint pulse began in Yaris’s wrist. Though he had slept earlier, he suddenly felt a deep urge to close his eyes. He knew they would soon be transported. He looked at Lillac, whose eyes were already beginning to droop softly. “Helda Aspin… Chicken… Kids…” she whispered. Yaris gave her a light bump, jolting her. She turned to him with a shocked expression, though upon seeing his straight, blank face, her expression softened. Yaris gave her a nod. Lillac nodded back, her teeth clenched.

The two of them closed their eyes. What kind of person was Helda Aspin? What does she feel? How does she feel? What does she think about? What does it mean to be Helda Aspin?

The pulse in both of their wrists grew softer and softer. As they thought about this, they imagined their consciousness as a brisk wind. It went from their minds, down their arms, into their hands, and into the air. Then, into the mind of the woman named Helda Aspin.

Then, they felt their consciousness slowly fade away.

* * *

A rush of air consumed Yaris. He felt as though he was running, or being thrown, or…

Falling

Yaris was falling. He looked around, and to the right of him, in her battle gear, was Lillac. Her eyes seemed closed, her face relaxed. Then she made a slight movement, and her eyes suddenly shot open. She looked around hurriedly, at Yaris, and then… down.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” she began hollering. She clutched at the open air as though trying to climb some sort of invisible ladder. Of course, it was to no avail, and their freefall continued.

Yaris continued observing his surroundings. In the far distance, he could see a few other groups falling as well. He couldn’t tell if they had also noticed him, but it seemed like they were just barely beyond the 500-meter range.

He looked down, and his vision was quickly filled with the sight of trees and rocky terrain. They were being thrown into the mountain area.

“…Are they trying to kill us…?” Yaris said aloud. A sharp yelp came from Lillac.

“T-This is crazyyyyyy!” she screamed. “W-we’re going to die…!!!!!”

Suddenly, a green runic circle began developing on the ground below them. It spun slowly, and upon closer observation, Yaris could see small pebbles levitating around it. He turned to Lillac.

“Lillac! Land on your feet!” he shouted.

“What?! If I do that, I’m going to die for sure!” she cried back. “Ah! I’m dead! I’m dead…!”

“Just trust me!” Yaris shouted again, this time more firmly. He began positioning himself and extended his hand. “Trust me!” he repeated.

Lillac looked at him with teary eyes for a moment before shutting them tightly and grabbing Yaris’s hand. He pulled her close into a carrying position and braced for impact. As they approached the runic circle, its glow intensified, and Lillac’s screams only rose in volume. Suddenly, it shone blindingly bright, and the two of them began to slow. As though they were feathers, they floated toward the ground, and upon contact, the runic circle disappeared.

“Lillac…” Yaris mumbled. “We’re safe…”

“…A-are we?” Lillac mouthed, her eyes still wincing. “H-holy shit! That was crazy…! Was that wind magic…?!”

“Lillac…” Yaris repeated. “Please… you’re squeezing me too tight… I’m going to die for real…”

Lillac opened her eyes to see her arms tightly wrapped around Yaris’s neck, his face turning blue. All at once, she released him and jumped backward, her face growing red.

“A-ah! I’m sorry!” Lillac cried. “I-I didn’t mean to…!”

“I-It’s fine…” Yaris groaned, massaging his throat. “Anyway…”

The two of them looked around. No matter where they turned, they were surrounded by rock and greenery. There was a sun in the sky, though it shone dark orange, seeming to mimic dusk. Upon it, strangely enough, was a timer. It already read fifty-nine minutes.

“It seems it’s already begun,” Lillac mumbled. Yaris nodded.

“Quickly,” he said. “Lift up your shirt.”

“E-eh?!” Lillac cried, backing away. She held herself tight as though to shield her body from something. “N-no! What is that all about?!”

“We’re the only two members of our group,” Yaris said calmly, approaching Lillac. She was still backing away. “We have to see who the target is…”

“E-even so!” Lillac cried. Suddenly, she grabbed Yaris by the shoulder and quickly flipped him around. “L-let’s check your back first instead…!”

She flipped his fleece almost completely over his head. She had done it so quickly that she hadn’t even realized she was practically undressing him, revealing his surprisingly muscular, toned back. A warm feeling came to her face. “A-ah, sorry…” she mouthed. But as her eyes focused elsewhere, they widened, and her lips suddenly went dry. They were the only two members, so it was inevitable that one of them would be the ‘target.’ The reality of the situation began to hit Lillac hard as her heart pounded and her hands trembled.

“Y-Yaris…” she mumbled, an audible gulp escaping from her lips. “You’re… the target…”

Chapter 7 – The Entrance Exams: Round One – Target! Hit! Defend! (Part Two)

Lillac backed away from Yaris, her hands trembling. Yaris’s fleece, which had just been lifted nearly over his head, fell back down as he turned. He tugged at the back of his collar and looked over his shoulder, trying to examine himself. Though the angle made it difficult, he could still make out the faint glow of a target symbol on his back.

“…It seems you’re right,” he said, dropping his collar. He turned to face Lillac, who was holding her head in her hands.

“Ah… Ah… Ah…!” she groaned. “T-That means I have to protect you…! Me…! W-what has the world turned into…?! Shouldn’t it be the man protecting the woman…? Yes… Yes… This world is twisted… Ah… T-They’re coming! They’re coming!”

Yaris clapped his hands together, catching Lillac’s attention. “Please stop freaking out,” he said, looking her in the eyes. “You’re scaring me.”

Lillac gasped, putting her hands tightly to her sides. “…Y-you’re right… B-but! It still remains true! Yaris! We shouldn’t do any fighting at all! We should run and hide! Until the timer runs out! That’s fifty Favor, right?!”

Yaris brought a finger to her lips, then to his. Lillac shut up, her eyes wide, and watched him carefully.

“You’re worrying too much,” he said, leaning against a nearby tree with his arms crossed. “Do you remember what Helda said? Any form of touch, no matter how small, is considered a ‘hit’.”

“Of course I remember that…” Lillac trailed off. “But…”

“That means,” Yaris interjected with a raised finger, “that no matter what you do, even a light shove or swat of the hand would be considered a ‘hit’.

“Because of that, most groups are more than likely to avoid conflict. After all, if everyone simply avoids hunting one another, everyone is guaranteed at least fifty Favor, correct? She never explicitly said we had to hunt. It was just an option.”

Lillac brought a hand to her chin. “And even then… It’s not like hunting is guaranteed to warrant you anything… If anything, it only puts you at risk… You could be hunted as well, and trying to defend yourself could result in an accidental ‘hit’.”

“Exactly,” Yaris said with a sigh. “So, there’s no need to worry. We can simply wait until the timer runs out.”

Lillac put a hand to her chest, exhaling. “I-I see… I suppose you’re right…” Then she stepped up to Yaris and poked him on the forehead. “Despite how you look, you’re actually pretty smart, huh?”

Just then, the two of them heard rustling some distance away. Silence fell between them, and their eyes instantly flew toward the sound. It was subtle at first, then grew louder. Soon, the thumping of footsteps was approaching them.

From behind the trees, as though they had been waiting specifically for them, emerged five people. A rival group.

“…Hm,” one of them said, rotating his shoulders as though stretching. “We heard that right, didn’t we? The plain-looking one in the hat is the target?”

“That’s right!” another exclaimed, looking Yaris up and down with a wide grin. “Man, when I seen two folks some distance over while we were falling, I figured we could just sacrifice one of ourselves for the sake of the process of elimination, but… It seems we won’t even have to do that!”

“Aren’t you lucky…” another one said in a more monotone voice. “Well, I didn’t want to run around playing ‘guess who’ anyhow. If you would, sir, let’s end this quickly…”

The five of them slowly approached Yaris. Lillac stood beside him with one hand raised, as though shielding him.

“Y-Yaris…” she whispered. “This is… really bad, isn’t it…?”

“…Yes,” Yaris admitted. “So much for everyone being peaceful… I suppose… Since we only have two people… it would be quite easy to guess who the ‘target’ is… huh?”

“D-Did you seriously just realize that…?!” Lillac hissed.

The group of five crept closer, tension building in the air. Yaris watched their faces tighten and their feet dig into the ground. Their upper bodies twisted into ready positions, one hand farther forward than the other, their eyes glued to his every movement.

How troublesome… Yaris glanced at Lillac. I didn’t expect the time to come so soon, but I suppose I don’t have much choice. I’m not a big fan of the alternative…

“Lillac,” he whispered. “You still know how to use your stealth Technique?”

“H-huh?” Lillac stammered. “Y-Yes, of course. Do you have something planned…?”

“Well, not for us…” He dug his feet into the ground as well. “I want you to use that… to secure us a ‘hit’. I’m placing all of my faith in you. No matter what, we must get 100 Favor.”

“W-why?!” Lillac nearly cried aloud. “I-Isn’t fifty Favor enough?! Are you really being greedy in times like this?!”

Yaris turned. “Because ‘The Lucids’ is the best group, after all. That means we need to aim for the best results.” He gave her a light two-finger salute. “I’m counting on you.”

In one quick motion, he darted off in the opposite direction, leaving a trail of smoke and rocks in his wake. For a moment, everyone stood still, listening to the rumbling thumps of Yaris’s feet as he fled and the bushes and trees rustling behind him.

Lillac blinked.

But… He was just in front of me… Lillac stared in the direction he’d disappeared. What… the hell is he? Did he do some sort of Olympic running when he was a kid…?

The color began to drain from the five contestants’ faces. Nearly as quickly, they darted off after him.

“Wait! Goddamn it! How did we let him get away! He’s fast as fuck! Wait…!” one of them exclaimed.

Similar jeers followed as they darted through the woods, until finally silence fell around Lillac again. She stood still for nearly an entire minute, her hands shaking and a dumbfounded expression on her face. Slowly, she approached a large rock, patted the dust off it, and sat down.

“…My leader is a madman…” she mumbled. “A madman…”

* * *

“I’ve always been quick on my feet…” Yaris mumbled with a hum. “But… maybe I should have paid a bit more attention to the map…”

He dug into his pockets, withdrawing the sheet of paper that was supposed to act as a replica of the environment. He turned it left, right, and upside down. Slowly, he returned it to his pocket and put a hand on his chin.

“Yup…” he started, putting both hands on his hips. “I have no clue where I’m at.”

Mountains. Trees. Rocks and pebbles. The same scenery that had surrounded him with Lillac now stretched in every direction. He would have liked to visit the ‘neighborhood-like’ area, as Helda had described it, but he figured his chance was long gone.

“I’m sure news will spread that I’m a ‘target’ in no time…” he said with a sigh. He pulled his cap tighter onto his head. “Well, I suppose this is as good an opportunity as ever…”

He started walking off by himself, slowly traversing the steep cliffs and moving between wide trees. He looked toward the sky. Even in a dream world like this, the sun was continuing to set, and it was indeed getting darker. He was sure visibility would be quite low by the time the timer reached zero.

Forty-five minutes remained.

…Amazing… So the DBA is able to have competent enough dreamers that they can construct mechanics like this, as well?

A certain feeling began to well up inside him, and he quickened his pace. A light smile came to his lips, but it was instantly quelled when he spotted a lone figure in the distance, along with the flickering, soft light of what appeared to be a fire.

He slowed, creeping behind trees and bushes as he approached. When he figured he had gotten as close as he could without being noticed, he knelt behind a sizeable boulder and peeked over it. Close enough now to study the figure, he found a short woman with green hair and some sort of white outfit sitting atop a large tree stump.

“Yulith…” he mumbled. “What is she up to…?”

She watched the fire flicker and sway in front of her with a soft smile on her lips, her eyes dazzling with a strange sort of appreciation. It was almost akin to love.

She seems quite peaceful… I suppose I could use a Spell to get closer… But…

He suddenly stood and casually walked toward her.

The moment Yaris passed the boulder he’d been hiding behind, Yulith’s gaze turned toward him, her eyes wide with surprise. Yaris lifted a hand in a light wave. Yulith’s expression softened as she closed her eyes and offered a wave of her own.

Neither of them said anything as they waited to enter a comfortable talking distance. Yaris stopped about five feet in front of her, standing beside the fire she seemed to be maintaining.

“Hey,” he said plainly. “You made this?”

Yulith chuckled, bringing a closed fist to her mouth. “Yes… quite frankly, I tend to run a bit chilly. I just wanted to make something to keep me warm as I wait for time to pass… Do you care to sit?”

Yaris looked at her, then at the fire. “I’m unsure.”

Yulith’s eyes were soft and relaxed, as though she were looking at someone she had known for years. It was a strange sense of comfort. Her shoulders weren’t tense. Her feet weren’t set in an active position. There wasn’t even the slightest bit of apprehension or curiosity on her face.

It was as though she were in her own house. She was completely comfortable.

…Such an interesting girl, Yaris thought.

Yulith shuffled to the side, making room on the tree stump. “It’s your choice, of course,” she continued. “However, the offer still stands… and so do you… pfft…”

Yaris raised an eyebrow and approached her. “You’re a comedian, too? If I’ll be honest with you, I found it of moderate humor…”

Yulith’s suppressed giggling only increased in volume. “Ah, Yaris…! Stop it… I’m not supposed to be laughing this much… You’re funny…!”

Yaris sat. “I don’t understand that, either… Lately all kinds of people have been telling me all kinds of things about myself…”

“Well,” Yulith said, finally gathering herself, “that just means that you’re somebody unique. I think so, too.”

Silence fell between them as they watched the fire flicker and dance. Yulith shifted slightly, causing Yaris to turn his attention to her. When he did, he found that she was quite close. Despite her plain face, she had very delicate, smooth skin, and she smelled of cinnamon.

He didn’t know what to think of this.

“…You’re a ‘target’, aren’t you?” she said at last.

Yaris’s eyes widened, though he did not move. A small, cheeky smile rested on her face. Seeing that he said nothing, she made a satisfied huff before backing up and putting some distance between them.

“…And how did you figure that out?” Yaris asked, slumping his back as he leaned forward. “I had only been chased away some time ago… I didn’t think news spread so quickly.”

Yulith chuckled. “It’s not that at all… I wasn’t told by anyone, per se. It’s quite simple if you think about it. You and Lillac are the only members of your group. You are more competent than her. If she were the target, then surely you would have stayed behind to help fend off anyone who tried to hunt her, correct?”

She held up a finger, a smug look on her face, then tapped her head. “It’s simple deductive reasoning. I’m quite the wiz myself, y’know?”

Yaris hummed. He could think of several particulars that applied to his case that would cause Yulith’s deduction to fall through. For instance, Lillac could be using her stealth to hide away while he was simply parading around. However… that kind of advantage would only serve to put them in a compromising position, so he decided not to speak on it.

The truth ended up being that she was right, after all.

“…Then?” Yaris asked with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t you want to ‘hit’?”

Yulith frowned. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Huh?” Yaris mouthed.

Yulith shook her head, a smile returning to her face. She sighed. “Well, it’s just unnecessary, isn’t it? If everyone merely left each other alone, we could all get fifty Favor. Of course, it’s no 100, but… It’s an easy way to avoid unnecessary stress, isn’t it? That’s why I’m here, simply enjoying the fire I made for myself. If only the rest of my group was more agreeable…”

Yaris tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

Rustling sounded in the distance. Two figures emerged from behind the dense trees with slow, heavy footsteps.

One was a blond-haired girl wearing a military-looking cap and a green crop top, with a foreign-looking school uniform worn loosely over her shoulders. Despite its buttons, she wore it open, her arms not through the sleeves. The only thing holding it onto her frame was the collar, buttoned loosely around her neck. Her long, baggy pants shifted with each step, and the moment she saw Yaris, her face turned sour.

“Seriously…” the girl muttered, hastening her steps. “Yulith, you’re impossible…”

“…Hello, Nova,” Yaris said with a nod.

Nova clicked her teeth.

Another figure followed a few steps behind her. They had the build of a man, though they wore a long, dark leather trench coat, its hood covering most of their face. Their movements were much slower and less confident than Nova’s.

“Nova…” they said in a hushed whisper. “C’mon, that’s not necessary… You know what Yulith—”

“I don’t give a damn what Yulith said!” Nova exclaimed, storming farther toward Yaris and Yulith.

“To you too, Winter,” Yaris said, nodding toward the trench-coated individual. He could tell from his shaky, low voice who the wearer was. “Hello.”

“A-Ah,” Winter stammered. “H-Hello… U-Um, Nova… I mean we…”

“So you’re a ‘target’, huh?” Nova said with an outstretched finger. She pointed to Yulith. “We overheard everything… Seriously! You’re too soft! You have the highest amount of Favor sitting right in front of you, and you do nothing?! You’d rather flirt with this idiot?! How can you even call yourself our leader?!”

Yulith stood, a deep frown on her face. “I already told you the plan, Nova,” she said sternly. “This is the best and easiest course of action. Plus, you’ve seen for yourself how hard it is to get a successful hit off. You came back from your expedition empty-handed, after all.”

Nova clenched her fist. “Don’t give me that! I went out because I know what it takes to get into the DBA… and it’s not being a pansy!”

“Nova,” Yulith said, her voice sharp.

Nova’s eyes widened for a quick moment before her face twisted into a deep scowl.

“Nova…” Winter said, coming up behind her. “I really think you should listen… It would be much easier if we just—”

“No! No! NO!” she cried, shoving Winter back. She did so with such strength that the poor man nearly toppled over himself. “Both of you are crazy! This punk is right here, standing in front of us, free for the taking!”

She moved toward Yaris, but Yulith quickly stepped between them, her arms outstretched.

“No,” she said plainly, her brows furrowed as she looked at Nova in contempt. “I told you what the plan was.”

“Fuck the plan!” Nova exclaimed.

She planted a hand on Yulith’s shoulder and shoved. Yulith caught Nova’s arm, matching her with equal strength. Nova gritted her teeth and leaned harder into her. Yulith shifted her feet into a stronger position, holding her ground.

The two strained against each other. Though Yulith was resisting reasonably well, Yaris could tell she wouldn’t last much longer.

“Winter!” Nova cried, looking over her shoulder. “Get behind him, that Yaris guy! We’re not letting him get away!”

“B-but…!”

“Do you want to die?!”

Winter paused, shaking. Then, though hesitantly, he crept around behind Yaris with his hand outstretched.

Yaris stood.

“I-I’m sorry…” Winter mumbled. “Nova, she’s… a bit of a rough case… I don’t… want to deal with her if I don’t do what she says…”

There was only about ten feet of space between Yaris, Nova, and Winter. Yaris observed the tussle between Yulith and Nova. Yulith was losing ground considerably, and Winter, though much less eager, was beginning to get within arm’s reach.

Either one of them could leap at me at any moment… I could run, but if Nova were to jump at me from that distance… I could get caught unless I exert myself more than I was planning to.

“Nova!” Yulith exclaimed. “Stop!”

“Not a chance! Move it! I’ll show you how to get results…!”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Winter mumbled.

Yaris sighed. “I suppose… I might have to do something, huh…”

He lifted both hands, one toward Yulith and Nova, and the other toward Winter.

“Sorry…” he whispered.

* * *

Lillac wandered around the forest with her arms crossed. Sweat was beginning to form on her forehead, though she wasn’t particularly tired. A light glow emitted from the pistil of her flower, and her footsteps were nearly soundless as she traversed the rocky terrain.

She looked up toward the timer.

Forty-five minutes remained.

“Seriously…” she grumbled, her head hung low. “What is Yaris thinking, having me out here all by myself… How am I supposed to find a ‘target’…?”

Lillac had kept her Technique active for quite some time now, following Yaris’s instructions. Though she found herself quite warm, she wasn’t nearly as spent as she had been when she first showed off the Technique. She couldn’t help but be thankful for that. Even she knew, however, that at this rate she would be exhausting herself unnecessarily.

“…Ugh…” she groaned. “Why can’t someone just show themselves… Announce, ‘Hey! Pretty lady! I’ll let you ‘hit’!’ Ah, jeez…! This is ridiculous!”

Lillac froze and turned. Nobody was behind her.

Slowly, she faced forward again, pursing her lips. “That’s weird… I swore I heard something…”

She continued walking, but then she heard it again. Voices. Faint, almost indescribable voices.

Lillac gave both of her cheeks a light slap and listened.

“I’m not going crazy…” she said with a sigh, her heart thumping. “I’m hearing… a group of people talking.”

She tiptoed in the opposite direction.

Then Yaris came to mind.

Lillac brought both hands over her face and, with a deep scowl, slowly walked toward the sound instead. She had no real clue where it was coming from, but every so often she paused to listen as she traversed the mountains.

The voices grew louder. Soon enough, though still unintelligible, they sounded like quiet murmurs. Lillac could make out faint, shadowy figures in the distance, all huddled around one another.

There were six of them.

She couldn’t make out any faces or body types, but none seemed to have noticed her yet. She crept closer, carefully balancing her body to keep her steps as soundless as possible.

“I told you! We almost caught him!” a voice rang out.

It hit Lillac’s attentive ears like a bell. She leapt behind a large tree, cold sweat forming on her back, and froze. For a moment, she didn’t even dare breathe.

Silence.

Shit! Lillac cursed herself. Did I get caught?! Was I too loud?!

She closed her eyes tightly and gathered her courage. Then she peeked from behind the tree.

The group of six was still there. None of them was saying anything.

Then a loud, exaggerated sigh came from their direction.

“Almost isn’t good enough…” a tired voice grumbled. “There were five of you! And you couldn’t catch one man? And you all even managed to sneak up on him? Are you serious…?”

Another voice coughed. “Well, to be fair, sir… He was quite fast…”

A shrill yell rang throughout the woods. “Ah! I don’t want to hear it! We’re trying to get 100 Favor, and we’ve been lucky this whole time that nobody approached us! How long do you think it will take before people start finding out I’m the target?! Huh?!”

“Well, if you’re yelling like that, people are going to find out in no time…” another voice huffed. “Seriously, you’re stressing yourself out too much. Our leader isn’t worried at all… And yet here you are, complaining… She’s even letting you stay behind and hide like a pussy…”

Lillac’s eyes widened. Instinctively, she focused harder on her Technique and began hopping from tree to tree, trying to get closer to the group.

If I can just recognize who said they were the target… Lillac thought, her teeth gritted. Then I can finally get out of this hell hole… Please! Don’t fail me now…

She finally landed behind another large tree, just close enough to avoid being noticed. She swallowed, then slowly—like some sort of sloth—began peeking her head around the trunk.

The group was still deep in argument, shouting all kinds of complaints at one another.

“Shut the fuck up!” one cried. “You’re not the one responsible if we get nothing! Why don’t we just sit around and wait, like I said we should?!”

“They said that the amount of Favor we have directly corresponds to our placement in the DBA…” another said, though with less vigor. “It only makes sense we go out and try to find ourselves a target. Insurance, you know?”

“We shouldn’t be fighting…” a feminine voice rang. “We’re going to draw attention to ourselves. I thought the rest of you got along well, considering you’ve all been a part of this group longer than I have, but it seems as though I’m being proven wrong…”

Lillac scanned the group members. She hadn’t remembered the voice of the person who had outed themselves well enough to connect it to a body, so she studied their faces and behavior instead—how relaxed some were compared to the animosity between others.

Her lips pouted and her eyes strained with focus, but she remembered another crucial part: none of those emotions were guaranteed proof of a target.

And if I’m wrong… Lillac thought, a concentrated frown coming to her face, then we’re going to lose our shot at that 100 Favor for sure…

In her concentration, Lillac stepped farther and farther from behind the tree.

A loud snap sounded beneath her. She looked down.

A fallen branch had broken beneath her foot.

Her face went pale. The arguing stopped.

All six of them turned toward her.

Lillac’s mouth hung open awkwardly as a shiver ran through her entire body.

“…Shit,” she said aloud.

“H-Hey!” one of them cried. “There’s a spy! Get her! Don’t let her get away! Lord knows what kind of information she’s going to spill…!”

“G-Goddamn it!” another bellowed. “Lady! Come here! We just want to talk to you!”

Five of them suddenly darted toward her, runic circles appearing on their hands and feet.

One stopped short, planted his feet, and thrust the hand bearing a runic circle forward, sending a sharp blast of water toward Lillac.

She scrambled to move and leapt into the air, barely avoiding it.

A sharp crack sounded below.

Lillac looked down in horror as the tree she’d just been hiding behind toppled beneath the water blast and crashed to the ground.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Lillac cried, looking all around her, trying to keep track of everyone moving to surround her. “If that would’ve hit me, I would’ve been out cold! What is wrong with these guys?!”

“There she is, in the air!” the man who fired the water blast exclaimed, pointing at her.

Another runic circle formed in his hand, glowing a bright blue hue. A second blast hurtled at her.

Lillac twisted sharply. The water barely grazed her chestplate before she came tumbling down and landed on her feet.

“After her!” voices sounded from behind.

The light hum of another runic circle came from behind her. Lillac turned, expecting another blast of water.

Instead, a light brown glow appeared on the ground ahead.

A runic circle.

Rock and rubble shifted as the terrain began rising into a wall. It curved as it grew, wrapping around her.

It’s trying to close me in! she thought, her jaw tight. Damn it! These guys mean business!

Lillac veered and sprinted along the unfinished edge as the wall continued curling into a circle. The opening narrowed behind her. By the time she neared the point where the wall had first risen, less than two feet of open space remained.

She gritted her teeth and threw everything into her legs.

Lillac slipped through just before the circle sealed and jumped into the branches of a tall tree, panting heavily.

“Ha ha!” one of the members laughed. “They said direct contact is a hit—but they never said anything about the use of Magic! It’s not direct contact, after all!”

“Where are you, missy…!” another voice whistled. “You’re cute, too! Come on out! Maybe we can settle this more peacefully, if you catch my drift…!”

Lillac steadied her breathing, trying her best to remain hidden. The five who were after her were all on the ground beneath her, four of them packed close together.

If I were to jump down right now… she thought, squinting. Then they’d start chasing me all over again… I need to find out who the target is…!

She searched for the sixth person—the one who wasn’t after her. He stood some distance away with his arms crossed, one foot tapping against the ground.

There! Lillac positioned herself to leap. They have some crazy Magic, but I’m certain not one of these guys can outrun me… If I can just get the jump on him…

She paused.

Though the man had clearly been left behind, there wasn’t an ounce of fear or concern on his face.

Instead, he seemed bored.

Wait… Lillac thought, settling herself. If he was really the target… shouldn’t he be more stressed out? Even if he was particularly good at hiding his emotions, this is a new experience for everybody… The only person I know who would be able to keep calm in a time like this is Yaris…

She looked back toward the group below. Some were drawing closer to her tree, but one man hung a considerable distance away from the rest. He lazily searched behind trees and boulders with a concerned expression on his face. Every so often, he checked behind himself, as though expecting something.

Lillac readied herself again.

“Damn it, Yaris…” she said, biting her cheek in deep focus. She focused all of her energy into her legs. “If I’m wrong… and we end up not getting into the DBA… I’m going to slap you silly…!”

She drew in a deep breath and leapt from the branch in one strong movement.

The force of her jump caused the entire tree to sway left and right. The group members below gasped in awe as they followed her darting figure.

“There!” one of them exclaimed, pointing. “Wait, where is she going?!”

“Fuck!” another voice cried. “Goddamn it, you said it would work!”

The man Lillac was flying toward didn’t notice her at first, but at the shouts of his group mates, his already concerned expression twisted into pure fear. The color drained from his face.

“G-Guys! S-she’s here! She’s here! Somebody stop her! Shit! Shit!”

Lillac landed only twenty feet away from him. In another strong burst, she jumped toward him with her hand outstretched.

“F-Fuck! F-Fine! Take this!” the man exclaimed, dropping to his knees and putting his hands to the ground.

A purple runic circle began to form. Thick leaves rose into a wall between them.

“I’m not letting you get away!” Lillac cried. “I’m going to show that bastard Yaris… that smug Group Counselor… that the Webster family isn’t to be messed with!”

She flattened her hand and swept it through the mass. The fresh stems split and tore apart beneath the force, revealing the man’s shaking body. His face nearly turned blue as he screamed with all his might.

Lillac made one final leap toward him, her index finger outstretched as far as she could manage.

* * *

Small runic circles began to form across both of Yaris’s hands.

Yulith heard the light hum of their summoning and turned sharply, horror on her face.

“Hah!” Nova cried, a toothy smirk coming to her face. “You think some baby force Magic is going to stop me?! Go ahead, try it! I dare you!”

“Y-Yaris!” Yulith cried. “D-Don’t! You don’t have to! I don’t want the relationship between our groups to be hostile! I can calm them down! Just give me a moment…!”

“Sorry, Yulith,” Yaris continued. “I have a member who’s relying on me. It would be in bad taste for the best leader to lose so early on. I don’t have negative feelings toward you all, though.”

Nova scoffed. “You hear that, Yulith! You’re the only delusional one here!”

Yulith gritted her teeth.

“Winter!” Nova cried. “Get him! Now!”

Winter suddenly jumped toward Yaris, his hand lightly outstretched.

In less than two seconds, contact was sure to be made.

It’s a shame I have to do this so early… Yaris thought. But oh well. I’m the leader, after all.

Just then, his consciousness faded away.

* * *

“W-What…?!” Winter cried, falling on his face.

The man he’d been about to touch had suddenly vanished.

Nova noticed it too, and all at once the strength in her body left her. She released Yulith and wandered toward Winter. Yulith, still wincing from the struggle, made a light sound of surprise as she turned sharply.

Yaris was gone.

“W-what?!” Nova exclaimed, patting the ground and the air around her. “W-what the hell! H-he was just here! He was just…!”

Yulith watched the two of them scramble to make sense of what had happened. Despite the strain Nova had put her through, she brought a fist to her mouth as a small smile formed on her face.

Nova heard the stifled noise and turned sharply toward her, a deep scowl on her face.

She groaned. “Ugh! Seriously, this is what’s wrong with you! You can’t take anything seriously, and now that bastard got away! What do you have to say for yourself…!”

Nova stepped up to Yulith and grabbed her by the shoulders. Despite this, Yulith continued chuckling into her fist.

“Whew…” she sighed, looking at Nova with upturned eyes. “I’m just so relieved… I thought we were going to make enemies with our first friends…”

“Hah…?!” Nova aired. “That’s ridiculous! What is wrong with you?!” She kicked at the dirt, sending up a small cloud of dust. “Goddamn it! Now how am I going to find another target…”

Yulith returned to her stump, the fire still flickering freely in the wind. “It’s simple, Nova,” she said breathlessly. “You don’t. Now come here and relax. You’re sweating. We tired each other out, after all.”

Nova grumbled, touching her forehead. Indeed, she was sweating.

“G-goddamn it…” she mumbled. “Fine! But only because I’m tired! Damn it, Yulith! You exhausted me for no reason! We wouldn’t even be spent if you wasn’t trying to wrestle with me…!”

Yulith chuckled as Nova sat down on the stump beside her. “I’m glad to see that you’re still plenty feisty after all these years.”

“Y-You…! And after all these years, you’re still insufferable…”

Despite that, Nova allowed herself to sink into silence as the two sat together. Winter approached the other side of the fire, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he held his hands out.

* * *

Yaris’s eyes slammed open.

He was back in the arena.

To his right sat Lillac. A deep grimace covered her face, her eyes squeezed shut and one shaky hand outstretched.

“N-No way…” a quiet voice came from across the arena.

Across the arena, the five who had originally chased him were there, along with a sixth member—the owner of the voice. All six looked increasingly dejected, holding their heads in their hands or scolding one another in hushed whispers.

Yaris returned his attention to Lillac. Her hand was still outstretched, her body shaking.

He tapped her.

Lillac jolted, her wide eyes immediately locking onto him.

“Y-Yaris!” she whispered. “D-Did anyone touch you?!”

Yaris thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Nobody should have.”

A smile came to Lillac’s face. She looked across the arena and recognized the group of six.

“T-Then…!”

She returned her attention to Yaris, grabbed his hands, and bounced up and down in her seat.

“Y-Yaris! I got the target! I got the target! Oh my god! This is amazing! You should have seen it! They weren’t holding back, either! And I did it…!”

Yaris didn’t know how to react as he watched Lillac celebrate. He hadn’t witnessed whatever she was talking about, but as she continued explaining everything that had happened, a small smile came to his lips.

“…It seems you did something great in my absence,” he said with a nod.

Lillac chuckled haughtily, rubbing her nose. “You know it!”

She raised a hand toward Yaris.

Yaris stared at it with a blank face, then tilted his head.

Lillac’s smile faded. Her cheeks puffed as she pouted at him.

Then she grabbed his hand and slapped it against her own.

“A high-five, idiot!” she nearly yelled. “Jeez! I went through all of that stress and you’re still as dumb as ever…”

She crossed her arms and turned away from him.

“I’m sorry,” Yaris replied plainly, looking at the hand Lillac had just forced into a high-five. “You did great.” He then crossed his arms. “Well, we do still have two more rounds…” he hummed, looking around the arena.

Some other groups seemed to be awake too—some proud and haughty, others gravely disappointed.

“It’s a bit too early to celebrate… But I’m glad my instructions served you well… Now we just have to wait until it’s all over.”

“Y-your instructions…?” Lillac huffed.

Then a thought came to her.

W-well, I suppose I did remember what Yaris told me back then… Lillac turned away. I’m never admitting that to him, though! He’d make fun of me…!

Yaris could tell that Lillac was thinking something quite rude about him, but paid it no mind.

Instead, his eyes drifted toward the sleeping Yulith, as well as her five other members.

…How interesting.

Chapter 8 – The Entrance Exams: Round 2 – The Deep Dark (Part One)

Though Helda, standing at the center of the podium, was still asleep, all the other members seated at the tables surrounding her were wide awake, watching the arena carefully. As more groups began to awaken—some pleased, others displeased—one of them stood.

“We are glad that some of you are capable of finishing Round One early, for better or worse,” he began, holding out a hand as he spoke. “However, we ask that you keep your conversations amongst yourselves to a minimum. Though someone waking from that alone is unlikely, it would be unfortunate if we had to hold any of you responsible for interrupting the process. There are approximately thirty minutes left.”

Yaris turned to Lillac, who nodded when she met his eyes. Even the few groups that had been talking amongst themselves began to settle down, leaving little to do but wait for the round to end.

One by one, about every three minutes or so, another group awoke. Yaris watched them jolt upright, look amongst themselves, then toward another group. The result was always the same—either immediate happiness or immediate depression. Some seemed far more frustrated than others, several members frowning and scowling despondently, dread apparent on their faces.

Helda said that disqualifications could cost a group Favor… Yaris thought as he continued his survey. …I wonder if it can go negative…

Yaris also noticed that some groups awoke groaning and wincing as though in pain. They rubbed their arms, shoulders, and torsos, massaging them.

He looked over at Yulith’s group, still sound asleep.

After some time, another person seated at the round table stood. “There are fifteen minutes left.”

A minute of silence passed. Then, all at once, multiple groups awoke. Sharp gasps and curses flew into the air, while cheers rose from the seemingly fortunate groups. Among them was the red-haired man, who immediately looked toward another group, a large smile on his face. His own group members seemed relieved, though conflicted.

A man from the group he was staring down suddenly stood and pointed sharply at him. “Hey! You bastard! You cheated! We were supposed to have an alliance…!”

The red-haired man waved a dismissive hand. “Cheated? Why would I care about any of that? You simply trusted me, and I took advantage of you. It’s as simple as that. You’re a true idiot, though. The moment the rings popped up and I seen that brilliant red, and your ass just happened to be standing all alone, I knew it was over for you.” He began laughing heartily. “Your group managed to get quite a few disqualifications, too! Why would I ever take an alliance with dumbasses like you seriously?”

“You…” the other man grumbled, his face burning red. “You…!”

“Silence, please,” another man at the round table said. “There will be no talking unless permitted. Please remain silent until Round One is finished.”

The angered man looked up at the podium with apprehension but still returned to his seat, his body trembling and his face strained. The red-haired man looked at him again, smirked, then closed his eyes and crossed his arms.

“…It seems he’s a bigger scumbag than we thought…” Lillac mumbled. Yaris nodded. Yulith’s group remained sound asleep. Though he could have been imagining it, Yaris thought he saw a faint smile on her face.

More groups awakened, though with ten minutes remaining, the pace began to slow. For nearly all of that time, none of the others stirred—about half the remaining participants were still asleep.

Lillac shuffled in her seat. “…It seems you were right,” she said in a low voice, careful not to disturb the members of the round table seated atop the podium. “Most people decided to just leave each other alone… I wonder if that was the better choice after all…” Her eyes drifted upward in thought. “After all, if we didn’t manage to get a Hit on a group… and you got Hit instead…”

Yaris held up a finger. “Well, the result is that we did get a Hit,” he said simply. “You’re worrying about what could have been again. I’ll need to make some sort of punishment for members who break the rules of our group…”

“Hey…” Lillac sighed. “It’s not that I’m not glad about our result… I’m just trying to think forward…” She frowned, looking away. “It’s not like you have much skill in that area… someone has to make up for the slack…”

Yaris wasn’t quite sure what she was mumbling about; however, the two of them continued to wait. A short while later, all the other groups awoke at once, including Yulith’s. She, Nova, and Winter scanned the arena, their eyes eventually landing on Yaris. Nova gave him an angry look, while Winter bowed his head. Yulith simply waved.

The last to wake was Helda, her head hanging low. Her eyes slowly opened, as though weighed down by something, and then she straightened all at once. She surveyed every corner of the arena with narrowed eyes, picked up the microphone resting atop the lectern, switched it on, tapped it, and brought it to her mouth.

“It seems as though everyone has managed to finish Round One,” she announced. Everyone in the arena turned toward her, mixed emotions visible across their faces. “…Before I let you all know your results, I have a few things I want to say.”

She fixed her gaze on a group of six, a deep scowl on her face. Everyone followed her eyes. Lillac seemed especially interested, her eyes widening as she leaned forward in her seat and glanced at Yaris. “…Hey,” she began. “That’s… that’s the group who we were going against earlier…”

Yaris tilted his head. “Is it? I don’t remember, to be honest…”

Lillac turned sharply toward him and frowned. Yaris wondered how much more he could anger Lillac before she finally did something to him.

“…Though I did not explicitly say that you could not use Magic against one another,” Helda began, “there are limits to what you are allowed to do. I will take the blame this once, as I had not stated it earlier…” She returned her gaze to the whole arena. “If you use Magic, you are expected to use a ‘reasonable amount of force.’ Using enough force to knock someone unconscious…” She looked at the few group members who were massaging themselves. “…or cause grave bodily harm is grounds for disqualification from the Entrance Exams. It seems as though not much damage was done; however, I will not accept another mistake like this. You have been warned.”

Audible gulps came from the groups she had warned. She sighed, bringing two fingers over her eyes as she shook her head. Then she cleared her throat and brought the microphone to her mouth again.

“…As previously discussed, I will now show you your current Favor. Please look at the devices on your wrists.”

Everyone did as instructed and looked at their devices. Suddenly, small holograms appeared above them, displaying numbers. On both Yaris’s and Lillac’s devices, the number was ‘100,’ colored a faint green.

“Wow…!” Lillac breathed. “That’s amazing…!”

“Looks like we got 100 Favor after all,” Yaris hummed. “Well, as expected of the soon-to-be best group. I never had any doubt…”

“I sure as hell did…” Lillac interjected. “Look, though… there are groups that have different colored numbers… Yellow… Red…?”

Yaris looked around. Indeed, the numbers faintly projected above others’ watches glowed in different colors and showed different totals. Groups that earned 50 or 100 Favor had green numbers, while those with 0 through 49 had yellow numbers. However…

“There are some with negative numbers…” Yaris mumbled. “…And their color is red.”

Those unfortunate enough to see negative totals stared at their devices with terrified, shocked expressions. Some clutched their heads, stammering in disbelief. Helda, observing this, hung her head slightly.

“As I’m sure all of you can tell,” she began, “this is where you currently stand in Favor. I would like to remind you not to get too comfortable with either your presumed defeat or presumed victory. There are still two rounds left, and each can offer more than enough Favor to turn the tide. I suggest you all relax. However…”

She looked toward several groups. They shuddered under her glance. All had negative numbers, and cold sweat broke out on their faces as their lips curled tightly. No matter how hard they tried to hide it—turning away or shrinking deeper into their chairs—it was obvious they were deeply disturbed.

“For groups at -50 Favor or lower,” she continued, “I will be asking you to leave. As much as we value fair competition and proving yourselves after a setback, your initial performance has been deemed too poor to warrant continued participation. Please excuse yourselves promptly.”

At her words, the arena went silent. Lillac struggled to contain her shock as her eyes darted from Helda to the groups with negative numbers, trying to determine which groups she meant. A minute passed without anyone moving; the affected groups only breathed and trembled more heavily. Finally, one group rose and began making its way toward the exit, their bodies stiff as they walked. Just as they were about to descend the stairs, however, one of them suddenly turned around and reached out a hand. A yellow runic circle began to form.

“How dare you kick us out after we spent all this damn money…!” he cried through gritted teeth. “Fuck you! Fuck the DBA! Take this, bitch…!”

“W-what are you doing?!” one of his group members cried, turning sharply. She suddenly leapt onto him, grappling him from behind as she tried to force his arms down. “D-don’t do it! You’ll get yourself killed…!”

Lillac screamed as she watched, covering her mouth with her hands. She was far from the only one; many groups voiced their concern, trying to say anything they could to stop the man from doing whatever he was about to do. Yulith watched the scene silently, a frown on her face. The red-haired man still had his eyes closed, his arms crossed.

“…Silence!” Helda exclaimed into the microphone. The arena fell silent immediately, despite the tension in the air. Everyone gazed at her with wide eyes as she turned toward the offender, who shook under her gaze. However, his eyes hardened, and he glared at her while the woman behind him struggled to pull his arm down.

“Do as you wish,” Helda began, turning to him. “However, I will tell you two things. One, you will accomplish nothing. I am far more capable than an immature creature like you could ever dream of being. And two, if you do whatever you’re planning, your capture will be swift—if you are not executed immediately. You have been warned.”

The members of the round table also watched the man, though with far more scrutiny and hostility than Helda. They remained seated, their sharp glares fixed on his hand as though anticipating his next move. They were completely still.

The man gritted his teeth while the woman behind him whispered in his ear. A short silence followed before the runic circle faded from his hand. Sweat poured down his face, and all at once, he collapsed to his knees. “Damn it…” he mumbled, tears streaming down his face. “Damn it… Damn it…!”

“You guys…!” the woman screeched, looking behind her. “Help me get him out of here…!”

The rest of the group surrounded him. After a good bit of struggling, they managed to carry him down the stairs.

The arena remained still. Lillac grabbed Yaris by the shoulder and began shaking him rather roughly. He turned to her and saw the fear in her eyes.

“…Did you expect me to do something…?” he mumbled.

“W-well! I just thought something bad was going to happen…!” Lillac cried. “That was super dangerous…!”

“I wouldn’t worry so much,” Yaris replied plainly.

“What…?!”

Helda tapped the microphone, the sound from the speakers interrupting any thoughts they might have had. “I apologize for the disturbance,” she said gravely. “However, I must express another point. I apologize for any anger or apprehension felt by those being asked to leave due to their negative Favor count… Regardless, I still require that you obey. Anyone who does not leave within the next minute will come under legal scrutiny. That man’s actions have put me in quite a bad mood, so this will be my last time asking. Please choose your next actions carefully.”

Any hesitation among the affected groups disappeared, and one by one, people began to leave. Everyone was gone in under a minute.

“…That was nearly fifteen percent…” Yaris hummed.

“That means everyone here must be somewhat formidable…” Lillac murmured. “We have to be careful.”

Helda looked around, confirming that everyone who needed to leave was truly gone, then sighed. “Great,” she said plainly. The numbers displayed above the watches disappeared. “Now, we can move on to the next round. I do not have anything fancy to show you this time, as the rules are simpler than the last round’s. However, here is what you must know…”

The arena went dark again. A projection appeared on the ceiling.

“This round will test your ‘call to action,’ so to speak. You will be faced with a situation, and your response will determine how much Favor you receive. You will have approximately fifteen minutes from the moment the situation presents itself. By undisclosed means, we will track how quickly you recognize what is required of you and act accordingly.”

The projector displayed a simple chart matching response times to Favor rewards.

“As you can see here, the highest possible score is 450 Favor. From the moment your situation begins, thirty Favor will be deducted for every minute that passes before you take an appropriate course of action. If you respond appropriately, the trial will end, and you will be returned to reality.

“When I accept you into my dream, I will separate you according to your assigned groups and place each group on its own isolated island. You should not encounter another group. If you do, awaken and inform one of the officials up here immediately. That is all. You have five minutes to discuss.”

The projection disappeared, and light returned to the arena. Lillac glanced at Yaris as the other groups immediately fell into discussion. After a moment, he turned to her, one eyebrow raised.

“Well?” he began. “Don’t you want to talk?”

Lillac jolted. “Y-you just said last round that we could be giving away our strategy! Now you want to have a team huddle?!”

“Well, obviously that was when it mattered,” Yaris said while shaking his head. “Didn’t you listen? There should be no chance we run into other groups. Therefore, there’s no harm in talking amongst ourselves.”

Lillac brought a hand over her face. “…You’re unbelievable… Truly…” She then shuffled in her seat until her whole body faced him. Still, she wore a slight frown. “Well? What do you think?”

Yaris put a hand to his chin. “…Honestly, not much. It’s hard to know what we should do without being presented the ‘situation’ or whatever it is we’re being tested on…”

“Well, yeah…” Lillac hummed, putting her hands behind her head. “It could be anything… It could be a search and rescue, eliminating a threat, being told off by your mother for breaking the cookie jar…”

“That last one seems quite specific,” Yaris interjected.

“I-I’m just throwing out ideas!”

“Either way,” Yaris continued, “all I can say right now is to be ready. Regardless of the situation that presents itself, we should simply act in accordance with it. It’s hard to always know exactly what to do, but what you can do is your best.”

Yaris held up a finger as he spoke. Lillac listened with wide eyes. A smile came to her face, and she chuckled. “Huh. You actually do know how to talk nice and proper.”

“I always talk nice and proper,” Yaris rebutted. “You just don’t notice because you don’t listen.”

“I take it all back.”

Helda tapped her microphone, silencing the arena. “If you are all willing, then let us begin Round Two. Once again, you will feel a small pulse against your wrists. Please relax, focus your intention on me, and good luck.”

Yaris and Lillac nodded to each other. They leaned back in their seats, relaxed their bodies, and focused their intention on Helda…

* * *

Yaris found himself in a dark, foggy forest. He looked up at a full moon and cloudy skies, the smell of mildew hitting his nose. “Well, this is quite the environment,” he said aloud, digging his foot into the damp soil. “…It’s like we’re in a Miguel Mehers movie…”

As he grew more accustomed to his surroundings, he felt something on his arm. Looking over, he found Lillac shaking terribly, clutching him tightly, and looking around like a frightened mouse.

“…Are you serious?” Yaris asked. Lillac turned sharply toward him, her face red as her expression contorted.

“W-what do you mean?!” she hollered. “I-It’s scary out here! This looks just like a horror movie! I-It’s so dark…! What were they thinking…?!”

“Calm down…” Yaris began, trying to console her. Before he could get another word out, however, loud, heavy footsteps began to sound in the distance. With each step, they grew closer, the tree branches hanging above them shaking with every impact. Green smog began creeping toward them, and Lillac tightened her grip on Yaris. Her nails were nearly digging into him.

“Y-Yaris…!” she cried. “W-what the hell is that…?!”

Trees began toppling as the footsteps grew closer.

“…Something big.”

Chapter 9 – The Entrance Exams: Round 2 – The Deep Dark (Part Two)

“Something big?! Of course it’s something big!” Lillac cried. She was seriously digging into Yaris’s arm at this point—he was beginning to think that soon he would have no arm left for her to grip. “Look at how those trees are falling! Did she put us in with some sort of gargantuar?!”

The footsteps continued to resound, crows cawing as they flew from the trees and into the distance. The two of them stood their ground, Lillac’s eyes glued to the path being cleared by whatever was approaching them.

The final few trees acting as a barrier between them and it crashed to the ground, and as the green smoke began to waft into their faces, the being that had been approaching them finally revealed itself. Its tall, muscular frame stood nearly as high as the trees themselves—surely at least fifteen feet tall—and pointy, bone-like tendrils all along its back creaked and twitched with every motion. The fangs hanging from its mouth were covered in some sort of slimy fluid, and its long tongue writhed with each groan. Eight beady eyes settled on Yaris and Lillac with a sort of glint. Lillac could not take it anymore. She screamed with all of her might.

“Hey, you’re way too loud…” Yaris complained as he brought a finger to his ear. He looked on at the creature despite Lillac’s screaming, watching as the monster’s eyes darted all over the place before finally settling on them.

Gross… Yaris thought. I hate bugs…

The creature continued to approach, each step leaving a noticeable crater in the ground.

“I-It’s getting closer!” Lillac screamed, stating the obvious. “W-what should we do…?!”

Yaris sighed. “Maybe we should try standing still and doing nothing. It could be sensitive to sound, and your screaming could have disturbed it…”

Despite how flustered she looked at Yaris’s words, Lillac did as she was told, staying quiet. The bellowing the monster made was loud and low, as though it were some sort of generator. Lillac closed her eyes tightly, refusing to look at it. Regardless, it did not falter in its approach.

“Y-Yaris!” Lillac whispered. “I-It’s right there, isn’t it…?!”

“…Well, it is getting quite close.”

The monster was nearly right in front of them. If Yaris were to take even a few steps forward and reach out an arm, he was sure he could touch it. Just then, it paused, its large frame towering over the two of them as Yaris met its eyes. After a moment, the monster turned its head towards Lillac, who was still shuddering with her eyes closed tightly. Suddenly, it began to move, reaching out a hand.

“…Ah.” Yaris breathed. “It’s reaching out towards you. Do you think it wants a handshake—”

“DON’T LET THAT THING TOUCH ME!!!!!!!” Lillac cried, suddenly jumping away. She did so with such speed and efficiency that she just barely managed to dodge the monster’s large arm as it swatted past Yaris. Yaris thought he would be next, and he braced himself in a defensive position. Despite his expectations, however, the creature completely ignored him and began to step after Lillac at a pace a bit faster than before. Suddenly, a timer appeared above its head. It had just begun counting down from fifteen.

“…I see…” Yaris said, putting a hand to his chin. “Well, I suppose as the leader I have to do what I can to help her out… Though she’s overreacting quite a bit, isn’t she?”

Lillac, who had managed to hop a great distance away, trembled as she watched the monster approach her. “H-hey! Look over there!” she said, pointing towards Yaris. “H-he’s much more of a nutcase than me! Wouldn’t you rather pummel his face in, big nasty monster guy?! Hey?!”

“I thought you were supposed to be on my side…” Yaris mumbled. He continued to observe the monster. Its muscles were beginning to tense dramatically, and the smoke coming out of the side of its face was becoming more intense. Lillac seemed too frightened to react properly, and despite the fact that he felt no particularly strong feelings towards the beast, Yaris figured he had to do something.

“…Uh…” Yaris began, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Uh, Lillac! You might want to move…!”

Lillac turned, her face still pale as she stood dumbstruck. “H-huh…? What do you mean…?”

Suddenly, with an absurd amount of agility for its size, the monster leapt into the air, its large hand balled into a fist. Yaris thought he could literally see Lillac’s eyes popping out of her head as she watched the spectacle, screaming with all of her might. Just before its heavy body came slamming down, Lillac managed to dodge out of the way, with the rubble tossed up by the impact just barely catching her. She looked behind her, seeing the crater the monster had dug into the ground, and all at once she became as white as a ghost.

“N-NO!!!!!!!” she cried, running off into the forest. The monster fumed and rose again before dropping to the ground on all fours, using the tendrils on its back to support itself. It started crawling, as if it were a spider, terribly fast towards Lillac.

“W-WHAT THE FUCK????!!!!!!!!” she shrieked. She closed her eyes tightly as she ran, just barely managing to outrun the creature as its tendrils slammed into the ground, making her jump with every impact. “Y-YARIS!!!! DO SOMETHING!!!! WHAT ARE YOU STANDING AROUND FOR?!!!!!”

Yaris tilted his head, his arms crossed. “What… exactly do you want me to do, though…”

He watched as Lillac ran deeper into the forest, the monster following closely behind. He was so distracted by the absurd way the monster chose to give chase that he had let the two of them get a considerable distance away from him.

…I suppose I should go after her, Yaris thought, doing some light stretches. Well, I suppose it all makes sense, then…

Helda had stated that they would be tested on their reactions to certain situations. Plenty of people would probably assume that meant seeing how they performed under stress or anxiety, and, from what Yaris had seen so far, this seemed no different. The monster had completely ignored him while giving chase to Lillac so relentlessly…

“We’re being tested on our response to fear,” Yaris said aloud as he prepared himself to give chase. He couldn’t see them anymore and could only hear the sound of tendrils and Lillac’s screams. “Though, this is quite the predicament. Isn’t there anything the DBA can do to excite me? How come Lillac gets all the fun… Maybe this is the burden of a leader as well…”

With those final thoughts, Yaris took off, holding his cap down as he ran. He didn’t have much to go off of at that point, but Lillac’s high-pitched screams were more than enough of a sound cue for him to pinpoint her location. After only a short while, he began to see the hind legs of the monster, still crawling on all fours as it tore through numerous trees after her. It was truly a disgusting sight for Yaris, and he suddenly found himself slowing down, holding his mouth shut as he gagged.

It doesn’t help that it’s spewing all this smoke… Yaris thought as he winced, leaning against a tree. It reminds me of… Ugh…

“YARISSSSS!!!!!” Lillac continued to cry in the distance. Yaris sighed as he shook his head and further settled his cap, taking off again. He had lost sight of them, but he figured he would still be able to use the sound of the monster’s violent movements and Lillac’s screams to find them. However…

“…It’s gotten rather quiet, hasn’t it…?” Yaris mumbled. The thundering sound of the monster’s crawling and Lillac’s screams were no longer heard. Suddenly, Yaris felt his heart drop, and his breathing accelerated. “…No way something like that would happen, right…?”

A terrible, ear-piercing shredding sound rang through the whole forest. Immediately, Yaris turned towards the sound and sprinted. Only a few seconds later, he came upon the back of the monster. It was leaning over something, its body shuffling around and its head bobbing up and down. It was as though it were eating something…

Yaris took a deep breath. He was rather certain that the DBA would not employ dreams that could prove fatal without outside interference. The idea was—so to speak—inconceivable for an organization of this scale. He also knew, however, that dreams were rather complex—and Helda had already stated that she could not guarantee there would be no deaths. Even still… the idea unsettled him greatly. He found himself gritting his teeth as his face hardened. He had hoped he would not have to cause a spectacle.

Thinking that, a small runic circle began forming in his hand. He began creeping around the monster, his heartbeat only growing louder and more intense as he got closer to its head. He took a deep breath and finally reached the front of the beast, his eyes fixed ahead. It had pinned down a large tree and was using pointy, chainsaw-like teeth to tear it up. Lillac was nowhere to be seen.

Yaris sighed. He walked up to the monster, the runic circle in his hand disappearing. “…Hey…” Yaris waved. The monster did not so much as glance at him. “Do you know where the lady you were chasing after just now is?”

The monster almost seemed to shake its head ‘no’, though Yaris could have very well imagined it. The timer above its head was nearing the ten-minute mark. It seemed they didn’t have much time left.

Yaris looked around, but it was so dark that he couldn’t see much beyond the many trees that occupied the area.

…Well, then, Yaris thought. I suppose it’s a good thing she’s not here to see this. It would probably freak her out…

Yaris opened his eyes wide, allowing two runic circles to form in them for only a brief moment before his irises changed to a light ivory. As he expected, the darkness around him seemed to clear. Everything appeared black and white, and he could see through layer after layer of trees.

“…It’s nice to know that this Spell still works…” Yaris said with a sigh. To call it X-ray vision would be a bit too simple—it allowed him to see through all manner of things and highlight them as though they were rough sketches. It wasn’t a high-level Spell in practice—and if you were to explain the concept to someone, they might be able to create something similar. It did take up a good deal of energy, though—at least for the average person.

“Ah, there she is…” Yaris said, finally locking onto Lillac’s frame. Somehow, she seemed to have found herself a small shack only a short distance away. It wouldn’t take long for him to get there. Though, he couldn’t help but wonder about some things on her frame, as well as…

“…Oh,” Yaris mumbled as he let his Spell deactivate. He already knew where she was located, so he figured there was not much benefit in keeping it active if he wished not to be caught. However, there was another thing he was distracted by.

“…I forgot it could see through clothes…”

Well, he figured he would just keep that part to himself. What Lillac didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, after all. Plus, time was running low. He supposed he had some duties to fulfill as a leader, after all.

After a short journey, he found himself confronted with Lillac’s hiding place. It was a small, two-story shack—one you might find standing all alone on the side of a lake, selling numerous goods; a sort of hut, if you will. It was covered head to toe in green moss, and it smelled of rotting fish. Regardless, Yaris stepped inside.

* * *

Lillac steadied her breathing as she hid under the bed. Slow, eerie footsteps sounded from the floor below her, and she brought her hand to her mouth as she trembled. T-this sucks… she thought, tears welling up in her eyes. Just how persistent is this thing…? It must’ve shrunk itself down to get me in here! Does it really want me that badly?! Ugh!… Yaris… Can’t you help me already…?!

Her ears followed the sound of the footsteps as they climbed up the stairs. Slow and heavy, as though they were purposefully trying their best to make her accidentally slip up and make a sound. She closed her eyes tightly as they drew closer, and eventually they stopped right in front of her.

I’m even using my stealth Technique, and it still managed to find me?! she cursed in her head, feeling her heart pounding so hard that she was sure it would nearly break through the floor. For nearly thirty seconds, not another sound was heard—though she could still feel a presence right in front of her. Slowly, she began to open her eyes…

“Lillac.” Yaris’s voice sounded from beside her. Lillac jumped up and screamed with such ferocity that she managed to flip the entire bed over, sending it slamming into the adjacent wall. Turning to look, she found Yaris on the floor, right next to where she had been hiding under the bed.

“Y-Yaris!” she cried. “H-how the hell did you get right next to me without a word?! A-are you crazy?! I-I thought you were…!”

Just then, a loud growl could be heard in the distance. The sound of trees being ripped from the soil grew closer, louder and louder by the second.

“Lillac,” Yaris said again, standing. “We only have about eight or so minutes left. We’re going to lose our chance at any Favor from this round if this keeps up…”

Lillac trembled at Yaris’s words, biting her lip. “I-I know that! B-but… look at that thing! What could I possibly do against that?!”

Yaris put both hands on her shoulders. “You can do more than you know. This entire time, the monster has been tossing you around—and you’ve been letting it do so. Haven’t you, even for a single moment, thought about what might happen if you decided to fight back? Not let it win? Maybe it won’t be nearly as difficult, or scary, as you think…”

Lillac looked into Yaris’s eyes, which were filled with a strange type of passion. If she didn’t know any better, she might have been foolish enough to believe it came from a place of experience… if she didn’t know any better.

Lillac hung her head, thinking. “So what you’re saying is…” she began, slowly turning her head towards the terrible sound ringing from outside. “That the DBA… wants me to face that thing? Despite how…” she gulped. “S-scary it is…?”

Yaris tilted his head. “Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it scary… But I do believe they want us to do something like that, yes.”

“Y-Yaris…” Lillac whined. She brought her hands over her face, slumping against the wall. “I-I don’t know if I can do it… What if it wants to eat me for real? What if it’s actually better to just run away and do nothing? I… I don’t know what to do…”

Yaris observed Lillac as she mulled over her own thoughts. He only knew a few things about Lillac so far: she was false-pompous, yet determined. Though Yaris felt no particular feelings toward the creature that had been tormenting her, he figured this was Lillac’s first time dealing with the sort of monsters that could be concocted in dreams, especially with death as a real risk. Still…

“It’s okay to not know what to do sometimes,” Yaris said at last. “What I know, however, is that you are quite capable. If anything, that monster should be more scared of you than you are of it. You even scare me, sometimes…”

Lillac stayed silent.

“It’s up to you what to do, Lillac,” Yaris continued. “As your leader, I am destined to support you. Right now, I can only promise that standing here, doing nothing, letting the monster harass you until time runs out… will give us zero Favor for this round. Whatever happens after that, whether or not we get accepted into the DBA… I will stand behind it as your leader.”

Lillac looked at Yaris, her eyes glossy. She still saw his usual expressionless face, though it seemed softer and more confident than usual, as though he truly believed every word that came out of his mouth.

…That’s right, she thought, her hand clenching tightly into a fist. In order to do what I need to do… In order to keep my promise to him… I have to stay strong… If I can’t even face some ugly, reeking, gas-spewing monster… Then I could never hope to become a Dreamer…!

She stood up straight, though still shaking. “Fine…” she began, her voice low. “I’ll try…”

Yaris nodded. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he continued. “I’m right there with you.”

The hut began to tremble as the slamming sound got closer. Lillac gave one more look to Yaris, who, despite his plain and expressionless face, gave her a determined nod. Together, the two of them went down the stairs and stepped out of the house. As soon as they opened the door, they were met with the towering frame of the monster, its tendrils swaying about as it eyed Lillac with a glint in its eyes.

Lillac instinctively began backing away; however, she suddenly felt Yaris’s hand on her back, as though to prevent her from running. She looked at him one more time. This time, however, Yaris gave her a more questioning look, as though he were saying, ‘What are you doing?’

“…Idiot,” she mumbled. “I’ll show you…”

Fueled by this newfound irritation, Lillac faced the monster, which did nothing but look at her with all eight of its eyes. Though shaking, she slowly walked forward, one step at a time, until she was nearly right under the monster’s large frame. The timer above its head was now nearing the seven-minute mark.

It raised its large, muscular arm slowly, its hand flat as though it intended to swat her away. Lillac planted her feet into the ground, took a deep breath, and flexed her arms…

“G-Get the hell away from me, you freak!!!!” she cried, giving the monster a strong yet unstable push. Despite that, she somehow managed to push herself back rather than the monster, which stood unmoving with its arm still raised as Lillac held her arms out, her eyes shut tightly.

“…Ah,” Yaris mouthed.

Another moment passed, and suddenly, as though a certain being had snapped his fingers and made it be so, the monster disintegrated into ash, its remains flowing into the wind with a whooshing sound. Hearing this, Lillac opened her eyes in shock, turning to Yaris one last time, a wide smile on her face.

…I wonder if this is how it feels to raise children, Yaris thought, his consciousness fading.

Chapter 10 – The Entrance Exams: Round 3 – Race! (Part One)

When the two of them awoke, they found more than half of the arena looking at them, though only for a short moment before looking away. Lillac, despite the sweat on her face and her rather labored breathing, felt as though she needed to point it out.

“…Everyone…” she began, looking around. “It seems as though they’ve been up for quite some time…”

“It’s not unnatural,” Yaris replied. “It seemed from the start that it would be a rather short round. Though… it is surprising. I wonder just what the other groups experienced…?”

His eyes naturally drifted toward two familiar faces—Yulith and the red-haired man. Both seemed rather unstressed and unbothered.

One of the members of the round table tapped on a microphone. “It seems as though the remaining groups are beginning to awaken,” she said in a plain, soft tone. “As we’ve said before, I request your silence until everyone has awakened—or, in the case of any groups that fail to complete the trial, until the fifteen-minute limit has elapsed. I appreciate your patience.”

“…Doesn’t this mean we’re one of the last ones?” Lillac asked. Yaris debated saying something; however, the sweat on her face was beginning to pool as though she were standing in the summer sun. Her chest rose and fell slowly, though with a slight tremor. He thought it would be best to let her relax for the time being.

A few short minutes passed before the last remaining groups stirred awake. Finally, Helda, who was again standing at the podium with her eyes closed, slowly stirred from her sleep. She looked around, confirming that all of the groups present were awake, and flipped a switch on her microphone.

“Congratulations, everyone,” she began, a light smile on her face. “Despite the difficulty we’ve had in the earlier rounds, it seems as though all of you are still here for Round Three. Before continuing, I would like to express how much of an accomplishment in and of itself it is to make it this far. Please, pat yourselves on the back.”

A small round of applause arose from the seats; even Lillac gave a soft clap with a slight smirk. Soon enough, all was silent again.

“Going into Round Three, there are a few important subjects I would like to touch on.” Helda held up her wrist to reveal the device. “If you all would, please…”

Everyone turned their attention to the devices. Just as before, a projection with numbers appeared. However…

“W-what…?” Lillac breathed. “This…! It’s… yellow…”

“…Yeah.”

Though the number displayed on their devices was 340, the number itself was Yellow. If they were to go off what the colors represented last round, then that meant…

“As some of you may have noticed,” Helda began, looking around, “the color on your projections may have changed from the previous round. Some may have gone from Yellow to Green, Red to Yellow, or any of the opposites—mix and match them as you like. However, all of this is to say that the thresholds for your current standing have changed after Round Two. A Green Projection, ranging from 350 to 550 Favor, means your group currently stands within roughly the upper half of remaining participants. A Yellow Projection, ranging from 210 to 340, places you below that threshold, though outside the bottom twenty percent. Anything below 210 is Red—and places your group within the bottom twenty percent. Though this is true for those of you who have acquired green numbers as well… I especially advise the rest of you who hold yellow and red numbers to step up your game and pay close attention to the rules of Round Three.”

Murmurs of excitement and worry erupted into the air at once, and conversation broke out all around them. Helda watched with a troubled yet soft expression, as though she were tolerating the behavior. Yaris closed his eyes, hoping to drown out some of the noise until everyone calmed down.

“…I’m sorry.” A low, familiar voice sounded. He opened his eyes and turned to Lillac. Her head was lowered, so he could not see her eyes. “…It’s my fault that we’re not in the green anymore, right…? If… If only I wasn’t so afraid at that time… We could have been better off…”

Yaris said nothing for a moment before letting out a long, loud sigh. Lillac immediately looked at him sharply, an offended look on her face.

Yaris met her sharp eyes with a sidelong glance. It was a strange look on someone like Yaris, but it almost looked as though he were pouting a bit. “…You keep forgetting Rule Number Two: Do not fret over what was or what could be.” He then crossed his arms. “You heard it from Helda yourself, didn’t you? She didn’t say it was over for us—just that we need to perform well in Round Three. Now, if you let whatever setback happened the round before impact your performance—what do you think will happen then?”

Lillac looked at him for a while, then brought her hand to her face, wiping the sweat off her forehead with her wrist. “…Really… you… You’re impossible… Can’t you see that I’m just worried?”

Yaris held up a finger. “No matter what, we’re going to be admitted to the DBA,” he said firmly. “This is my promise to you. It is also a part of Rule Number One: Have faith in Yaris Rogue.”

Lillac scoffed. Though she still seemed rather offended, the troubled, self-doubting expression on her face seemed to have subsided, even if only a little. Instead, a fiercer look came over her as she tried to control her breathing, and she watched attentively as Helda waved her hand in the air, ordering the arena to be silent. All followed her instruction.

“…If you’re all done,” she began, “then allow me to dive into Round Three, our final round of the Entrance Exams. I will state this simply and resolutely. By the end of Round Three, your group must possess at least 1,000 Favor. Any Favor you have earned in the previous rounds will count toward that total. Reach 1,000, and your admission into the DBA is secured. I see you are all beginning to stir. Please settle down until I explain the rules of Round Three. Though the rules pertaining to the other rounds were indeed simple too, this one is by far the most straightforward. If you would please direct your attention to the projection on the ceiling…”

The arena went dark, and on the ceiling was a notably small projection. There were no rules—only a simple map, with one quarter divided by a thick black line. Within that quarter were depictions of plains, as well as merchant stalls and stands. Past that black line was barren land, as though it were a desert. At the very end of the barren land was another red line, marked with the word ‘finish’ alongside it.

She took in a deep breath. “For Round Three—though some of you may be disappointed at the lack of originality—I will simply be putting you all through a race. Yes, a race. It is simple—you will have one hour in this dream world to do as you wish: talk amongst yourselves, enjoy some leisurely time, rest… For the sake of good sportsmanship, there will also be some food stands where you may pick up some refreshments, though I’m sure all of you are aware that it will not replace actual food. Some of you may think about trying to get ahead; however, a large, tall barrier will be in place to stop you from doing so. The purpose of this hour of peace is for you all to get to know your potential fellow students better—as well as build connections with each other outside of the DBA. Though I’m sure admission is most, if not all, of your goals here, there are plenty of other career paths an aspiring Dreamer could put their talents toward. I hope you will all view this experience as a good and necessary one.”

“Now, after the hour of peace is up, the barrier restricting you all from officially beginning the race will disappear. As you all have seen in the projection, your goal is to cross that red line, which, for you all, will be a large, tall red hologram similar to the barrier you will see. It will be impossible to miss. There is no strict time limit for the race itself. However, we expect Round Three as a whole to conclude within roughly three hours. Now, for how you all will achieve your Favor…”

Another projection appeared. Placements from 1st to 15th were displayed alongside their respective Favor rewards, with a small continuation symbol beneath the list. What accompanied those numbers, however…

“F-five hundred Favor…?!” Lillac couldn’t help but cry aloud. This came as a shock to everybody, who instantly stirred and gave her curious yet disapproving looks. She immediately covered her mouth in shame as she shrank into her chair. Helda, though not much of her face was visible, let out an amused sigh into her microphone.

“…Yes,” she said plainly. “Favor works just like this. Whoever completes the race first will be awarded 500 Favor, and for each placement after that, 10 Favor will be subtracted. Each participant is ranked individually, and those individual rewards count toward their group’s total. That means, though I wouldn’t count on it as a win condition, it is well within the realm of possibility for a six-person group to achieve more than 2,000 Favor in this round alone. Even for those of you in dead last, the minimum amount of Favor you can acquire for completing the race is 50. Once the reward reaches 50 Favor, it will not fall any lower. That is why, even for those who feel as though all hope is lost, I ask you to keep your head up. There is more than plenty of opportunity to make it into the DBA.”

The lights returned to the arena, and all was silent. “…For the next five minutes, if you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer. However, I cannot say that my answer will be one to your satisfaction. This is a courtesy I am only allowing for Round Three. You may talk amongst yourselves as well. That is all.”

Despite what Helda said, silence still filled the arena.

Yaris relaxed in his seat. …I suppose it’s to be expected, he thought.

With so much time set aside for conversation once they entered the dream—and after everything they’d just endured—it was no wonder everyone wanted a little silence first.

Yaris took a deep breath and rested his hands behind his head.

Me included…

Suddenly, a shuffle came from his right. He opened his eyes slightly and found Lillac rising from her chair with her arms raised, looking determinedly at Helda in hopes of catching her attention. After a short while, Helda finally noticed her and nodded in her direction. Lillac put her hand down.

“…Is…” she began, her voice shaking slightly. However, she shook her head and looked Helda in the eyes. “…Is the group size disadvantage present in this round… on purpose?”

Helda looked at her for a long while, then glanced off to the side and closed her eyes. “…Yes.” She opened them again. “I am glad you pointed it out, but yes, the blatant disadvantage smaller groups have is intentional. Though it may seem unfair to some of you, the ability to gather a sustainable group roster is just as important to being a Dreamer as any other skill. Having numerous people from different backgrounds and with different sets of skills can only benefit you—and a leader’s ability to gather those people, as well as make sure they are a good and beneficial fit for the group, is a valuable skill in itself. It is only proper that the DBA reward such abilities. I hope this answers your question.”

Lillac slowly nodded, sitting down with a quiet “Yes…” Yaris continued to eye her, and once her eyes met his, she gave him a sharp, almost cursing glare. Yaris had no clue what he had done; however, he decided he would worry about it another time, resting his head back once more.

…Or that is what he would have done, if another particular person hadn’t raised his hand as well… The red-haired individual he had run into when he first arrived in Yonagold. He didn’t stand from his seat, instead settling for lazily holding his hand in the air. Soon enough, Helda caught sight of him as well and nodded toward him in the same manner she had Lillac.

“…Helda…” he began, a smile creeping onto his face. “…Are we able to intercept other group members as they attempt to reach the finish line?”

A tense air filled the arena. Nearly everyone, if not everyone, looked at the man with offense, as though he had said something terrible. It was no exaggeration to say that the frustration was clear on their faces—and another group, the one he had been seen arguing with after Round One, looked at him with particular hatred.

“…Yes,” Helda said at last. “Though unreasonable force is sure to be punished. However, for this round, we do permit more… physical forms of interception. Anything that results in a participant being gravely injured or rendered unconscious is sure to warrant swift punishment… I hope that is understood.”

The red-haired man waved his hand. “But of course. Nobody would want that, after all…”

Despite saying that, he had an ominous, windlike tone in his voice. Though he was looking toward the ceiling, Lillac couldn’t help but feel as though his attention were fixated on her. A small shiver ran through her body as she glanced over at Yaris; however, it seemed as though he did not notice. For some reason, she couldn’t help but feel extremely angry.

The rest of the minutes were filled with silence. It seemed as though nobody was in the mood to break it, and thus, as quickly as they began, the five minutes were up.

“Well, then, everyone,” Helda began, straightening her back. Somehow, everyone else in the arena seemed to subconsciously follow suit. “This is the round that will determine your admission. Though we had some setbacks, it has truly been a pleasure. As before, you will feel a slight pulse in your wrists from the device. If you could all focus your intention on me…”

Yaris looked at Lillac, who was already leaning back with her eyes shut.

She seems quite serious about this… he thought. Well, I suppose I should get serious too. There are some things I would like to do, after all.

He began to feel his consciousness fade away.

Plus… I’d like to have some fun, too.

Chapter 11 – The Entrance Exams: Round 3 – Race! (Part Two)

When Yaris regained consciousness, the first thing to greet him was the smell of food sizzling over warm grills. All around him were food stands, small sections set aside for events, and tables. It was as though he was standing in the middle of some sort of fair.

Not far off in the distance, as Helda had expressed, there was a tall, ever-wide, nearly see-through black barrier that flickered as people inquisitively reached out to touch it, quickly withdrawing their hands afterwards. They would blow on their hands as if to cool them down.

Such a curious design, Yaris thought, subconsciously finding himself walking toward the construction. It’s nearly like a thin wall of smoke.

“Hey.” Lillac’s voice sounded sternly from behind him as a hand fell on his shoulder. Naturally, the hand was hers as well. Yaris was beginning to think she did that fairly often. “Are you seriously thinking about going over and touching that thing…?”

“…I want to see if I can get through it,” Yaris said plainly. Lillac could still see the odd child-like determination in his eyes. She sighed, releasing him as she threw her arms up in the air.

“…You’re unbelievable…” she huffed. “Didn’t you just see those people get shocked or whatever by that thing? Even if you do get through it, I’m sure it will get us disqualified or something… You should be more careful.”

Yaris observed Lillac for a moment as she slowly crossed her arms. She seemed pouty; however, there was another layer of sternness on her face, as though she was thinking deeply about something. Finally, he opened his mouth. “…Are you nervous?”

Lillac leapt at him and grabbed him by the collar. “Of course I am! Were you listening to what she said?! We need to get 1,000 Favor to be considered for the DBA! We only have 340! If we don’t do something this round, we’re screwed! Is there anything going on in that head of yours…?!”

She began shaking him intently back and forth as though she were trying to listen to whatever might rattle around in his skull. He allowed it for a moment before begrudgingly waving her off. “There you go, worrying again,” he sighed. He then lifted something up in his hand. It was a grilled pork skewer soaked in soy sauce, the meat steaming off the stick. “Do you want one?”

Lillac’s eyes bulged at the sight. “W-where did you get that…?” she jested, her hand reaching toward it despite her words. However, she suddenly covered her mouth with her hands. D-damn! she thought. If I had been a moment too late, drool would’ve begun pouring out of my mouth… This guy would’ve laughed at me…!

She quickly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, making a sort of “egack” sound. “N-no… I don’t need to eat right now… Plus it will only make me hungry when we actually wake up… I don’t want my stomach to growl…”

Yaris didn’t know what she was mumbling about; however, he continued to look around. Despite the concessions available, many groups seemed to stick with themselves. If they interacted with other groups, it was within very small circles, a sense of familiarity in their eyes as they conversed.

It seems as though this round is stressful for everyone else as well. He took a large bite of the skewer. It was surprisingly delicious. I suppose it’s rough having to be in a place of anxiety for a whole hour before any fun begins.

In the distance, he saw Yulith chatting freely with another disgruntled group, with a standoffish Nova and timid Winter at her side. The other members of her group had not accompanied her, which brought a few questions to Yaris’s mind; however, he decided not to dwell on it too much. It’s not as though he would be able to recognize them anyway. He did notice, however, that the red-haired man was nowhere to be seen. His group members stood around one another as though to guard each other, way off to the side of the field. It made him realize just how large the entire area was. Though the plains where this fair-like setup was situated were lush green, with plenty of flowers and nice smells, the desert area that spanned past the border was vast, and in the far, far distance was another red flickering wall, though much smaller and harder to see. It too spanned nearly all the way to the sky.

“…It’s quite the run,” Yaris and Lillac said at the same time.

“…You were looking around too, right?” Lillac said somewhat shyly. “Why are you looking at me like I’m doing something weird…? I’m just surveying the area before the race starts… I-If anything, you’re too relaxed…!”

Yaris could tell that Lillac was beginning to go on, so he stuffed another skewer that he had in his other hand in her mouth. “Stress impacts the body’s performance. Why don’t you go look around a bit? I believe I saw a caramel apple stand somewhere over there…”

“W-where?!” Lillac cried while chewing, the skewer still in her mouth as she turned. “I-I don’t see it…”

When she turned back around, Yaris was gone.

* * *

Sorry, Lillac, Yaris thought, long gone. Somehow, his heart twinged a bit—he felt as though he had just sent his kid off to their first day at daycare. I have my own matters to attend to, after all.

There were several things he wanted to do before the Entrance Exams ended. Though it wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if Lillac came along, he figured—and with great imagination, too—that she would be all loud and rowdy about it. That was why he had pulled off such a stunt. It shouldn’t be any real problem; he was sure she would be able to entertain herself just fine. It was too late now, anyhow. He had already found what he needed.

At a glance, he probably wouldn’t have noticed it. However, as he continued walking beneath it with his eyes fixed on the sky, something began to look strange. The clouds covering the structure didn’t quite shift with the rest of the sky. It was almost as though someone had taken a little square out of the sky and forgotten to make it move with everything else.

Yaris did some stretches, swinging his arms widely and performing some light jumps. I always wondered where the DBA liked to hide out in order to observe the events they host. It’s quite conspicuous once you find it; however, most people probably aren’t too concerned about this sort of thing. It could even be true that other groups or contestants know about its existence as well, but simply just don’t care. Well, that would only be the case if you couldn’t get to it, of course.

…If.

* * *

Helda, sitting in a quiet little black room, at a quiet little black table, played with a small fidget toy, pressing down its bubble-like bumps one after another before flipping it over and starting again. A small smile was on her face as she did this, and occasionally she would look up and swipe her finger along the holographic screen in front of her, showing different angles of the green plains from above.

“…They don’t all have to be so uptight,” she said aloud with a sigh. “The least they could do is talk a little… Though I suppose it’s real competitive times… Could they all really want the certification that badly…?”

Just as she was musing, a loud metallic bang sounded directly outside, as though something had hit the room she was in. A serious expression came to her face, and her heart dropped. …Are they already throwing Magic around? In the pregame? But… She swiped through the holographic display again. Nothing of note. No… Then what the hell…?

Despite her concerns, she got up from her cushioned chair and slowly made her way toward a certain section of a wall in the room. With a slow hand, she pressed against the wall. At her touch, a rectangular section just large enough for a person began to fade away. She listened for a moment, then poked her head out of the room into the open sky. She looked to her right—nothing. She looked to her left.

“Oh, hey,” a brown-haired young man said, his body pressed flat against the cube she had designed. He looked ridiculous, as though he had run flat into thin air. “Uh, I missed a bit. Do you think you could let me inside…?”

“…What are you doing…?” Helda mumbled, a runic circle forming in her hand. Another one formed behind the young man, and with a small blow, she used wind Magic to blast him toward her. She swiftly caught him with one of her arms and sat him gently inside. Once she did so, she stepped back along with him, made a quick wave with her hand, and the section of the wall that had been gone only a moment ago reformed. The young man looked around with his hands on his hips, a bored look on his face.

“…It’s kind of plain,” he said. “Can’t you at least hang up posters or something?”

“…Though I have no real issues with you being in here, seeing as it is the grace period and all…” Helda began with a sigh, looking at him skeptically. “Do you have some sort of business with me? Surely you know that this is a specially constructed place. If you didn’t look so silly and out of place out there earlier, I would have just dropped you off.”

The young man put his hand to his chin, then stuck out his hand. “…My name is Yaris Rogue. I didn’t mean to bother. I was simply curious about how the DBA likes to structure their dreams. Is that so wrong?”

Helda waved her hand again, and two cups with liquid in them quickly took shape on the table behind them. She walked over, grabbed both of them, and handed one to Yaris. “It’s hot cocoa. You seem like the type that doesn’t like bitter things,” she said somewhat mockingly. She then sat back down in her chair, sipping on her own drink. It was a bit too black for her tastes, but she’d rather not admit such a blunder after the comment she had just made. “Anyhow, I’m in a surprisingly good mood,” she said as she glanced at her fidget toy. “If you couldn’t tell already, this is a surveillance room. It is more or less the standard procedure for monitoring the dreams we construct—that way we don’t have to involve ourselves in the crossfire of everything that tends to happen out there. Is that a satisfying answer to your curiosity?”

Yaris nodded. “Pretty much.” He sipped on his hot cocoa. “Lukewarm…” he couldn’t help but mutter. One look at Helda’s face and it was obvious she heard him.

“…How did you get up here, anyway?” Helda continued on, a more scrutinizing look in her eye. “It’s not a foolproof disguise—it’s just our standard procedure. However, it is rather high up in the sky. I answered your question, so if you could please…”

Yaris looked Helda over. He was close enough to be able to examine her features, and she truly was a mature woman, her grey hair just long enough to touch her upper back, though it was disheveled (probably from all of the sleeping and waking she had been doing, especially while standing). She had some wrinkles on her face which were made more prominent by the skeptical frown that she was showing Yaris; however, her dark eyes were somewhat soft and patient, as though she saw him as no real threat, but rather a troublesome child. The black suit she wore was fitted around her body, and though her skin was rather pale, it seemed soft and moisturized.

This mature look of hers made Yaris feel as though he had to impress her somehow. After racking his brain for a short moment, he lifted a finger up. “…I used a Technique with wind Magic to propel me into the air, then slam me into this structure.” He nodded twice. “Yes, yes. That’s certainly it.”

Though I’m sure it wouldn’t cause any harm to tell her what I actually did… I feel as though I have a certain responsibility as Leader to make my group look good. It could cause her to join the group, as well…

Instead, Helda gave him a very blank, unamused stare. She popped a few more bubbles on her fidget toy, then sighed. “…Look, I don’t care what games you play, but please leave me—and future hosts—out of it.” She stood. “If you don’t mind, I will have to ask you to leave now.”

Yaris nodded. “Of course.”

He followed her to the wall again, and again she made a slight waving motion, allowing the section of the wall to be empty again. “You’re quite good at controlling your dream,” Yaris said plainly. Then, with a sympathetic tone, “I’m envious.”

A small smile came to Helda’s lips. “It’s expected. This is the DBA, after all. I trust that you can handle yourself from here?”

“Yes. If you’ll excuse me.”

Helda didn’t know what she was expecting; however, she watched carefully as Yaris began stepping toward open space. I’ll get to see how he got here for real, she thought, her arms crossed. However, much to her dismay, Yaris simply kept walking, seemingly with no intention of stopping. No runic circles were forming around him, and suddenly she began to feel very worried.

“…Uh… Yaris, was it?” she interrupted. Yaris stopped. “Are you… planning to just jump down…?”

Yaris looked at her for only a small moment. “Yup.”

With that, he made a small leap from the room, propelling himself straight downward. Helda nearly tripped over herself chasing after him; however, she did not jump down with him, and instead leaned out and looked down as she watched him fall, his body now flipped toward her, giving her a small wave.

“…He’s crazy,” she mumbled. She returned to the table after closing the wall behind her, sitting down. “Well… I suppose people are allowed to injure themselves if they really want to.” She returned to her fidget toy. “Yes. Completely out of my hands.”

* * *

I’m seriously starting to get pissed off… Lillac thought as she walked around in a huff, her cheeks puffed out. Just how many times does that guy plan on leaving me alone to fend for myself…?

Even though she had managed to walk quite a distance away, he was still nowhere to be found. She supposed it wasn’t the worst thing in the world, since they still had some time left before the race started. Looking up, she saw that thirty minutes remained on the timer. The race would soon begin.

“Still, though…” she couldn’t help but mumble aloud, wiping the sweat off her forehead. “I don’t like that hardly anyone is talking to each other. Especially since interception is going to be allowed… I should rest up and prepare myself.”

I don’t know if I’ve hidden it well. But using my stealth Technique and so much intention… I’m quite worn out. Yaris hasn’t seemed to notice how tired I am, so I suppose I’m still in the clear, but…

“Well, the end is near… Still, I’ll give it my all!”

Suddenly filled with a particular determination, she closed her eyes and clenched her fists tightly as she cheered herself on.

“I know that’s right, girl!”

Another voice called out to her—close. She quickly opened her eyes and looked around, but was unable to see anyone. For a moment, she wondered if she had some sort of secondary voice in her head for the sole purpose of motivation.

“Well, don’t be a stranger! Come on over!” the voice rang out again. It was cheery and full of life.

Lillac, though anxious, followed the voice. It led her just behind a small hill on the plains, and as she began to descend, she found the top of a tall girl’s head. Her black, combed hair seemed unbothered by the blowing wind, and the smell of peppermint perfume began to reach her nose. “Ah, hey…” Lillac said sheepishly, coming around in front of the girl with an awkward wave. “I didn’t mean to bother, I was just musing a bit out loud.”

“Not a bother at all.” The girl shook her head. She then smiled, her face full of pure friendliness. “Well, what are you waiting for? Sit down! We’re two girls all alone, after all. Let’s talk a bit!”

The girl Lillac spoke to had glimmering pink eyes, and the lashes and makeup on her face were so masterfully done that even Lillac couldn’t help but blush a bit. She wore a pink flannel with fitted blue jeans, and as Lillac approached her, ready to sit down, she leaned back on her hands, giving Lillac a side glance as she rearranged her hair. “Ah, you’re a cutie, too! It’s nice to meetcha! I’m Natalie!”

“…Hello,” Lillac said. However, even though she wanted to be cautious, Natalie’s smile turned out to be too much for her, and she ended up smiling herself. “I was just wandering around. My leader… He walked off all on his own… Haha…”

Ahhhh damn it… Lillac thought. I messed up… She totally thinks we’re some thrown-together group now! She has the aura of someone actually capable… Damn you, Yaris…

A small snicker came from Natalie’s mouth. “Ah, you don’t need to worry about that! Maybe he just wanted some alone time! I disappeared from my group too, after all. I plan on sitting right here, enjoying the sights and smells, until the race starts. Compared to the other two rounds, this one is actually pretty peaceful… Who knows what will happen once the race starts, though.”

Lillac tilted her head. “Are you not worried about your placement? We’re a good ways away from where we’re supposed to start… Doesn’t it put you at quite the disadvantage?”

Natalie put a finger to her lips in a teasing motion. “Well, don’t let anyone tell you, but…” She looked around dramatically, then leaned in. “I’m actually a bit too good for my group. I’m confident I’ll get into the DBA, no matter how they place. After all, once I’m inside, I plan on joining another group, anyhow.”

Lillac’s eyes widened. “…You can do something like that?”

Natalie seemed proud for some reason, and she crossed her arms and tilted her head toward the sky. “It’s not necessarily smiled upon, but yup! My sister got into the DBA a year ago, and now it’s my turn! The only reason I’m here is to inevitably join up with my sister! I’m sure my current group will be sad, having a talent like me go, but…”

Her eyes suddenly became sentimental, yet proud. “My sister is even more amazing. I gotta join her before everyone else realizes it and her group fills up! If I make it, I should be the eighth member! What do you think?!”

Her eyes were beaming—it was as though she had stars in them. Lillac couldn’t do anything but chuckle at her excitement. “That’s great! It sounds like your sister is pretty reliable…”

Her mind instantly went to Yaris. Unlike someone else I know.

“Yup!” Natalie said with a nod. “Well, that’s enough about me. What brings you here… Uh… I’m sorry, I should have asked first, but what’s your name?”

Lillac brought a hand to her mouth as she laughed. Somehow, she felt some of her tiredness fading away. “Lillac…” she said, trailing off.

“…I have someone I want to make proud,” she continued sentimentally. She then put her hands up, excusing herself. “Not that it’s anything real sad, or anything! But yeah…”

Natalie looked at her for a moment, then fell backward onto the grass, lying down. Her arms were spread wide as she looked up at the sky. “…I think, more or less, we all do, huh? Whether it’s ourselves or other people… That’s why we should give it our best, don’t you think?”

She looked at Lillac with a smile. Lillac’s heart began thumping as energy began to surge within her. She looked up toward the timer. Twenty minutes remained. Considering how long it had taken her to walk all the way over here, it was about time she prepared to leave.

“…Yeah,” Lillac said as she stood. “It’s nice to meet you, Natalie. I think… I’m gonna go make that person proud.”

Natalie showed her a toothy grin. “Then do that, girl. I’m rooting for you.”

Lillac gave her a nod as she began walking off. Though she was subconsciously quickening her pace, she had to remind herself to slow down to preserve energy. Her face tightened.

…Even if I don’t rush, I should be at the start zone right before the race starts, she thought, steeling herself. …I don’t know where Yaris is, but since our placements are independent of one another, it shouldn’t matter as long as he places well himself… For now, I have to worry about myself. I’m not sure how many people are going to commit to intercepting others, and obviously groups with more members can divide their strategies further, especially if they’re a rather high-performing group. It’s well within expectations that they can split up and have different focuses. Meanwhile, me and Yaris don’t have that privilege… I’m glad I did what I did on the way to Yonagold. I’ll be sure to put it to use…

By the time she returned to the black barrier, many groups had begun to gather around it. Some were farther off in the distance, seeming to separate themselves from the denser areas, while others looked at other groups skeptically or with fierce eyes, as though they were targeting them. Lillac’s flower pin began to glow a light blue as she activated her stealth Technique, and she put a large distance between herself and the other groups. It wasn’t ideal; however, she figured she needed to take such a precaution. She looked up. There was one minute until the race started.

Yaris was nowhere to be found; however, she couldn’t afford to think about that right now. She looked off into the distance, gazing at the red wall. If her usual running pace still held true…

It’s about a ten-minute run…

She gave one last look around. Still, Yaris was nowhere to be seen.

…You better place well, you idiot.

Chapter 12 – The Entrance Exams: Round 3 – Race! (Final Part)

5…

Left and right, no matter where Lillac looked, groups were lined up along the black border, their faces serious and their bodies tense. Any moment now, no matter what happened next, it was sure to be intense. Lillac dug her feet into the floor.

4…

Sweat was beginning to form on her forehead. Though the one-hour break gave her some time to recover, she could still feel the fatigue from the previous rounds, not to mention her current use of her stealth Technique. No matter what, she needed to end this quickly.

3…

The goal she had concocted in her mind was simple: run. Run as fast as she could, and dodge as much trouble as she could. If she could get to the end with a decent placement and without any complications, that would be ideal. She felt her throat begin to dry.

2…

Somehow, though, she had a bad feeling, as though she needed to be ready for anything. Knowing the nature of the third round and the intense aura in the air, she decided to trust those instincts. She had something up her sleeve herself, after all…

1…

Still, Yaris was nowhere to be found.

The moment the timer hit zero, the black barrier instantly faded, and all around her came war cries and the thumping of feet. She bolted, keeping a lean as she went and tightening her core. The humming of runes and slamming of Magic impacts resounded throughout the field—the desert instantly turned into a warzone. Lillac narrowly dodged a blast of fire, stepping slightly to the side with a wince before continuing her sprint.

This is it… She ducked under a whip of vine. Seriously, was everyone just throwing shit around? No matter what, I have to place high… I have to…!

“Hey…!” she heard from the side. She saw someone, their arm outstretched, a runic circle beginning to form in their hand. If she didn’t do something quick, especially with the lack of cover in the desert, there was a good chance she would get hit from such close range. She bent down, picked up some sand, and with a light apology threw it into the man’s eyes. He stumbled toward the ground, his runic circle deforming as he tended to himself. Lillac looked back at him for only a moment before continuing on.

It hadn’t even been a minute, and sand was already everywhere—the air mimicking a yellow fog. It was beneficial for her, especially with a stealth Technique, but it also had its downsides. Yaris had said it himself—it wasn’t a perfect disguise. Those who could see her… had already seen her. It wasn’t as likely that she could see them.

Tall glass walls began to surround her… they had the properties of mirrors. They blocked her left, then her right, overlapping in a way meant to disorient. It didn’t seem to be just her, either. Looking around, she could see them surrounding people in no particular order. She jumped over one, and another formed again. It was relentless.

They’re trying to wear us out… Such bastards! Don’t you have your own placement to worry about?! She hopped onto one of the glass walls, taking only a second to look around. She didn’t know much about the real nature of runic circles, but one thing was relatively common: for the sake of ease, most people tended to have their runic circles mimic the color that suited their purpose, either physically or psychologically. Her stealth Technique was light blue because it made her feel cool and relaxed; Magic involving fire or heat was more often than not a shade of red. More importantly, whoever was trying to box her in had to be decently close. With anything involving constructions, the farther away you were, the more intention it took to form or change something from a distance. The way these glass walls were popping up…

There was no point looking far into the distance with the amount of sand that had been kicked up. She looked to her immediate left and right, seeing a few groups suffering the same fate, panicked expressions on their faces. However, there was one person who, despite being crouched down, seemed relatively focused and intense. She, too, was looking around, and…

She had clear runic circles in her hands.

Lillac jumped down from the glass wall and began bolting toward her, trying to make herself as loud and imposing as possible. In less than five seconds, the woman noticed her. The glass around the woman shattered, freeing her as she took off. Runic circles still in her hands, she began forming glass beneath her feet and climbing it like stairs. With each step, a glass platform shattered beneath her—surely so nobody could chase her.

Lillac turned on her heel. As if I’m chasing you! She subconsciously stuck her tongue out. I just wanted you to stop being so annoying! You can go screw with the others…!

Lillac was running faster now, hoping to make up the time lost from her slight detour. She took a quick glance around. There were a few people in front of her, which she expected, and several behind her. However, there seemed to be nobody directly to either side.

Alright… If I can just keep this pace.

WHOOSH

A large trail of dust kicked up close to her—it was as though it were forming a wall. The blast of wind that blew past ruffled her hair and clothes, and she nearly fell over from the impact. As quickly as it came, it disappeared. She coughed and waved her hands in front of her face as she tried to reorient herself. “W-What was that?!” she hacked. She slowly opened her eyes despite the sand and looked into the distance, where the trail was still continuing toward the red barrier. “…I never knew there was Magic that strong…” She checked herself. It didn’t seem as though she was harmed…

“Hm… it was almost as if we got a visit from the roadrunner…” A deep, masculine cackle sounded to the side of her. Though it was threatening and made her heart sink, there was a sort of familiarity in it, as though she had heard it before. Sweat beaded on her chin as she turned. As the sand in the air settled, his silhouette and frame became more visible. His head was tilted downward, his eyes remained pointed at her, and his arms were held tightly at his sides as though he was containing himself. It was the red-haired man.

Lillac tried to side-shuffle past him, but he quickly held an arm out, blocking her way. “…Hey. Why be so much in a rush? Can’t you relax a bit…?”

Lillac tried shuffling again. He put another arm out, putting his other one down.

“I advise you don’t try that again. I’d rather not have to stop you myself,” he said sternly.

Lillac froze, her eyes wide at his words. A chuckle came from his lips, and with a sigh he wrapped his arm around her, stepping to her side. His arm was so large and heavy that she felt he could choke her at any moment. She shivered at the thought, looking at the back of his head as she listened to the chaos around her. It was a surreal scene.

“Normally I wouldn’t go out of my way to pick on someone weak like you…” he began, his voice low and personal. With the chaos surrounding them, it was as though he were whispering in her ear. “However, the stunt you and your… leader pulled earlier today… It still got a bit on my nerves. You see, I’m actually a pretty sensitive man. I tend to hold grudges, whether I like it or not… You can say it’s a sort of mental condition.” He tilted his head closer, his mouth right up to Lillac’s ear. Then, in a teasing tone: “You can’t blame me too much for that, right?”

Lillac swallowed. “…Who are you?”

The man released her, stepping back. They were now face to face, less than a foot apart. Lillac could hear the footsteps of people passing by, as well as those approaching. She gritted her teeth as she watched the man in front of her simply stare at her, a smirk on his face. He was deliberately wasting her time.

“…Since you’re a girl, I suppose I should have the decency to introduce myself,” he said haughtily. “I am Valetin Moro, leader of the Prime Order. I don’t know about your leader, but your name… is Lillac, correct?”

She shivered.

He chuckled. “Well, that’s as far as introductions go.” He crossed his arms. “You know, I’ve been doing this for quite some time before I finally ran into you. I ran into… let’s see… four groups, and eight individuals? They put up a bit more of a fight than you have… I can’t say it was a wise choice for them.”

His clothes, though not badly damaged, were obviously worn and stretched, as though he had been on the receiving end of some impacts. He had small scuffs on his face and hands, but despite that, he seemed perfectly fine.

“…That’s great and all,” Lillac began. She slowly shifted her body in another direction, seeing that Valetin’s arms were crossed. It didn’t seem like he noticed. It seemed that her stealth Technique was useful even after she was noticed, after all. “But what does that have to do with me?”

“Well, surely—”

Lillac turned roughly on her heel, kicking up sand as she bolted in another direction. She got maybe two or three strides off before suddenly finding that her feet were no longer connected to the ground. The sky was before her, specks of sand getting into her eyes. Again, she could see the ground—only this time it was above her, and the sky was the floor.

WHAM

Pain vibrated through her back, spit flying out of her mouth as the wind was knocked out of her. Over her, grabbing her by the collar, was the red-haired man, who had her pinned to the ground. He gave her a mocking, sadistic look before releasing her and backing off.

“Huh?” he mumbled. He was truly sick. “What’s wrong? It seemed as though you had somewhere to be? Well, don’t let me interrupt you… By all means.”

Lillac, despite her pain, watched Valetin carefully as she got back to her feet. Seeing the glare that must have been in her eyes, Valetin put his hands up and backed away slowly with a smug look on his face before stopping and crossing his arms again. Lillac gave him one more look before planting her feet and bolting off in the other direction…

She saw it only for a moment, but a red blur came toward her in an instant. Again, she met the sky. Another thud, much louder than the last, resounded as she was slammed into the ground much harder this time. She couldn’t help but let out a light scream as she was left writhing on the floor. The smile on Valetin’s face was more prominent this time, his white teeth on full display. Again, he began stepping back.

“You seem quite clumsy!” He could hardly contain his excitement. “You’ll never get to where you need to be if you keep falling like that… Come on… Get up.”

Lillac winced. Damn it! she cursed, feeling the pain begin to spread through the rest of her body. This is the last thing I need right now… It feels like I’m running off four hours of sleep!

She started to pretend to struggle as she got to her feet, slipping over herself and moving slowly. She needed to buy some time.

“…Hm. Do you need some help?” Valetin suddenly grabbed her tightly by the shoulders. It was as though he were trying to crush them. He brought her up in one quick motion, and all at once she was standing on her feet.

He saw through that?! This guy… what kind of monster is he?!

He again stepped back, putting out a dismissive hand. “Well, now there should be no issue. If you would…”

Am I really going to have to fight this guy? No, there’s no way I can let this escalate into a fight. It’s obvious that he’s already stronger than me. But I can’t allow myself to get beat up either… She cast a sidelong glance toward those around her. Several people, even those she had been far ahead of just a moment ago, were beginning to pass her. It had definitely been about five minutes. If this goes on for much longer… This bastard…!

“No need to give me such a harsh look…” he said teasingly. He then opened his arms. “Here, do you need a hug?”

He quickly approached, leaping at her. Lillac deactivated her stealth Technique, seeing that her previous theory was wrong in this scenario. With the small relief of no longer maintaining it, she ducked under and around his arms, flying past him as she ran. “Hey?! Where are you going?!” he cried. “This isn’t how you make friends…!”

I already know he’s much faster than me… Lillac thought, sweat all over her forehead. She needed to end this quickly. Running isn’t going to do me any good. The only option I have is to find a large enough opening where I can lose him again… I’ll have to play aggressively…!

When she sensed he was close enough for her to act, she quickly turned, ducked under him again, and landed two quick body shots to his abdomen. His frame was so sturdy it felt like hitting a punching bag, and her punches were quicker than they were powerful. Still, it seemed to throw him off enough that he stopped and turned to look at her, a dramatically pained expression on his face. Lillac rose from her crouch, studying him.

“That really hurt, you know…” he began brooding, rubbing his side. A true liar. “Well, I’m a believer in balance… What you give… You must get…!”

He suddenly lunged forward, his big hand curled into a fist and aimed directly at Lillac’s stomach. His fist came too fast for her to dodge. Instead, she crouched down in a panic and used both arms to shield the blow. On impact, she was launched back nearly three yards. She stumbled in the sand as she fell, quickly trying to regain her feet. Valetin was on her again almost immediately, racing toward her with his arms swinging.

Just before his hand managed to land another hit, she moved her body to the side and slipped around his frame. I just need an opening! She dodged another one of his hits. They were strong, yet slow—as though he were playing with her. He must have been able to see that she was beginning to feel exhausted as well. Just one opening! Then I can use it to get the hell out of here!

Though his movements seemed deliberately slow and the large toothy grin on his face was very real, Lillac began to notice something. He was good at identifying where she was and striking there, but he wasn’t very good at predicting where she would be. He didn’t try to cut her off or intercept her next dodge. Instead, he threw punch after punch, focused only on landing one. If she could just use that…

Suddenly, Valetin took a large inhale, his chest expanding. He opened his mouth, a runic circle beginning to form.

He screamed with all of his might, and an intense shockwave followed, rippling through the sand around Lillac as she covered her ears from the fierce noise. I-It can’t be! Sound Magic?!

“You think you’re slippery, huh?!” he screamed, intense, near-boomburstic soundwaves still emitting from his mouth. “Well, try and dodge this…!”

This is dangerous…! Lillac thought, struggling to keep herself steady as she was pushed back. The sound was seriously beginning to hurt her ears, too. It was a piercing pain, and no matter how tightly she pressed her hands over them, it still managed to bleed through. I’ve heard stories of hearing loss and paralysis from this type of Magic… How hard is he trying to go…?!

She had to do something. She looked at the sand flying past her, but it only succeeded in hindering her vision. If only there were something she could shut him up with…

She looked at him. His mouth was wide open, but there was nothing convenient enough nearby to throw into it. She was also unsure whether that would be too violent under the rules. However…

His eyes were closed.

He was putting so much force into screaming that he was closing his eyes. This was her only chance.

“Alright!” Lillac screamed, her voice drowned out by Valetin’s. There was no way he heard her. “I have to put everything into this…!”

One of the petals on her flower pin began to glow. A brilliant orange runic circle formed over it, and upon its completion, a darker red aura surrounded her. She felt a burst of vitality, as though she were nearly half again as capable as before. She focused. She needed more. Just a bit more.

Putting everything she had into her body, she leaped out of the way of Valetin’s screaming, finally leaving the prison of his boomburst. Not wasting any time, she quickly ran up to him, her feet slamming into the sand as she cocked her arm back. Just before she got a foot in front of him, he opened his eyes and noticed her approaching. He smiled and ducked down, going for an uppercut.

“…That would never work on me!” Lillac cried, leaping over him. It happened so quickly that before he could even turn around to face her, Lillac had already grabbed him by the back of the neck. She twirled around, a war cry coming from her mouth as she lifted him into the air, then with all of her might threw him in the opposite direction of the red barrier.

Now…! I just need to last a bit longer!

With Valetin tumbling through the air, trying to reorient himself as he began to fall, Lillac took off, her face and back covered in sweat. Her vision was beginning to grow hazy; however, each person she passed restored something within her, and she continued to stomp forward as she got closer and closer to the red barrier. She didn’t know how many people had managed to make it at this point, but enough time had been wasted.

This Strength Spell… she thought, her breath ragged. It still takes a toll on me, but… I can use it… I can use it to win…! No matter how much it takes, no matter how much it hurts… I need to… I need to win…!

For another minute, she ran. Every muscle in her body ached, and her throat burned. Even with her Strength Spell active, she unwillingly began slowing down. She did not know how fast she had been running, but the red barrier finally seemed within reach. Just a bit more…

I need to… I need to…

She no longer felt the vigor she had felt a minute prior. Though it felt like she was still running, she was certain she had slowed to a jog. Almost there. It was less than one hundred feet now.

I… need…

She was met with sand. She couldn’t see, but she could feel it drifting into her nose and mouth. She had faceplanted.

No… No… I need… to get up…

She tried to move her body, but it wouldn’t respond. She was absolutely worn out.

Damn… it…

Suddenly, the light hum of runes sounded next to her. It lasted only a brief moment, and then the sound disappeared.

An attack?! she thought, leaping to her feet. However, looking around, she found nobody near her, nor was anything coming hurtling toward her. Wait…

“I’m… standing?” she questioned, looking at herself. Her body ached; however, she could now move her limbs when only moments before she couldn’t move a muscle. She looked around, seeing the red barrier within reach. Oh yeah, that’s what she meant to do…

She suddenly heard footsteps in the distance. To her right, another participant was also trying to reach the red barrier. She forwent all thought and, with a speed that far outmatched the other participant, leaped into the barrier. It accepted her gracefully, and she phased past it with no problem, joining the other participants. The person she had been trying to beat followed shortly after, looking annoyed.

She began to count the people she knew had crossed before her, ignoring the participant who had come through just after.

1… 2… 3…

Her head was pounding, and a few of them were clustered together, but she eventually reached thirty-four.

Thirty-four people… so that would make me…

“34th…”

Her heart sank. Even after all of that… she would only be getting so much Favor. Valetin had succeeded in ruining her chances at a higher placement. At this realization, she couldn’t help but clench her fists tightly.

…Where was Yaris?

Her eyes grew glossy when suddenly a hand came upon her shoulder. She slowly turned.

“Thirty-fifth, actually,” Yaris said. “There were thirty-four people ahead of you. I was wondering where you were.” He then tilted his head, looking her up and down. “You seem quite beat up… Are you okay—”

Lillac grabbed him tightly by the collar. She didn’t know what emotion she was feeling; she just knew she felt deeply betrayed. What had he been doing this entire time? What if his placement wasn’t enough? After everything she had just gone through, were they actually going to miss the DBA?

“Yaris…” she grumbled through gritted teeth. Tears were streaming down her face. “I can’t… believe you…”

Yaris tilted his head again, raising an eyebrow. “Huh? I got here first. I get 500 Favor. If you’re 35th, then you get 160 Favor. That brings us to a smooth 1,000.” He slowly backed away from her, removing her hands from his collar. “Seriously, where is the trust…”

Lillac’s expression went blank. She was processing everything he said. He… got here first.

“H-HUHHHHHHH?!!?!?!?!?!”

Chapter 13 – Second Member

Lillac stared in disbelief at the man in front of her. Of course, this man was Yaris Rogue, who had just made the ridiculous claim that he had completed the race first. As of right now, he was staring at her with eyes of “What’s your deal?” while playing with his ear, seeming to try to get sand out of it. She could feel her eye twitch.

“W-What? No, no. I hadn’t seen you at all the whole time I was out there! And that’s no short run, either! There’s no way you could have gotten first…!”

Yaris shrugged. “It’s really not my fault if you have bad eyesight. I’m failing to understand your logic here.” He then brought a finger up as though he had come to some sort of conclusion. Lillac could already feel herself grow irritated. “Ah, I see. You must be jealous. It’s okay, not many people can come close to the running power of Yaris Rogue.”

Lillac directed her gaze down with a long sigh. Yaris watched as she fidgeted around, playing in the sand with her foot. “Then… Can you promise?” Lillac said slowly. “Can you promise you got first…? If you do that… Then I can forgive you.”

Forgive me for what? Yaris thought. Regardless, he shook the thought out of his head before he could bring himself to speak on it. “I promise I got first. There was no way anybody was here before me. It’s simply impossible.”

“S-Somehow that makes me not want to believe you…” Lillac confessed. She then crossed her arms, pouting. “But… I suppose we’ll just see when this is all over…”

She turned to look off into the distance at the rest of the competitors. It seemed they still had some time left until everyone completed the race. It was wild, seeing all of those competitors continue to duke it out. After being in the warzone herself, looking from the outside in, it seemed absolutely insane that she managed to get through all of that relatively unscathed. Well… almost.

That’s right. Something unsettled stirred in Lillac’s chest. Someone had helped me earlier. At least… that was the only explanation I had. Right after I’d heard that rune hum, I’d suddenly been able to move again.

She turned to Yaris and looked him over. He seemed distracted, looking at another group, so now was the perfect chance to begin her analysis of her suspect. Despite undoubtedly being in the same environment as her, he didn’t have a single scratch or scuff on him. If someone passed by and gave him the same look she was giving him now, they would certainly think, What the hell? Did this guy even do anything? That was exactly what Lillac was thinking, and it only irritated her more. The most you could say was that he had some sand on his clothes and hat… Completely, utterly normal and uneventful.

“Hey, Yaris,” Lillac said. She was shocked at how crudely the words came out. “…You’re a weird guy, so just give it to me straight…”

She walked up to him with a particular sort of gusto, her hands on her hips. Even Yaris, who normally wasn’t intimidated, felt a strange reluctance to engage with her. It brought him back to their first meeting in that alley.

Yaris backed away from her. “…Are you sick?”

Lillac made some sort of growling sound. How terrifying.

“I won’t ask you the details on how you got here first… but…” She pressed a finger against his chest. His chest was surprisingly hard. “You must have seen me on the floor earlier, right? Was it you who healed me?”

Yaris stood still for a moment, saying nothing. Lillac thought she could see his eyes wavering. Got him.

“…No,” Yaris said at last. His words were so plain and direct that Lillac swore he was lying. However, one look at his uninterested face showed that there wasn’t a hint of… Well, anything. “I did, however, see you use your Strength Spell.”

Though Lillac was the one who was supposed to be grilling him, she suddenly froze up. She felt her heart begin beating faster, though there was no possible way she could explain why. She looked away, only to look right back at him with wide, unaccepting eyes. “Y-You noticed that?” she began. “A-Ah… I thought I chose a good spot for it, too… Do you think it has to be more discreet?”

Yaris shook his head. “No, the petal you put it on is just fine…”

“I-I see…”

Lillac found herself smiling a little. Then, a realization came to her.

“…Hold on…” she began, raising an eyebrow. “How did you see all of that, anyway… D-Don’t tell me… Did you see my entire fight with that guy?!”

Yaris nodded. “I saw enough of it. I was worried when he slammed you into the ground, but after watching you for a while, it looked like you were working something out.”

“W-Why didn’t you help?!” Lillac cried. The racing she felt in her chest was replaced with a sort of twinge. “I… I really struggled back there, y’know? Even… if I managed to get out of it… Who knows what could have happened…!”

Lillac glared at Yaris, trying her hardest to make it apparent on her face. Despite everything… That was still a scary time… Even though I’m glad I made it out okay… Does this guy have some sort of belief that women should handle themselves?! Is he no gentleman?!

As she found herself raving at these thoughts, Yaris closed the distance between the two of them. Suddenly, she found herself unable to think as she looked up at him with a mix of indignation and another feeling that she couldn’t quite describe. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Valetin… but he was rather tall.

“Well, I was already across the finish line,” Yaris said plainly. “I don’t think I could have come to help even if I wanted to.”

…Oh.

“And also… Because I knew you would handle it,” Yaris said at last. “I could tell by looking at your face, your movements, how you reacted every time the situation changed… I could tell you had something planned.” Yaris put a hand on his chin. “Though, I had no clue you had managed to find a way to sustain your Strength Spell for such a long time… Even I was truly impressed.”

He… was impressed?

“Well, either way,” he continued. “Please don’t hold secrets like that again from me. Even though I said I had faith in you, there was an ounce of concern that something really might happen to you. Though I’m still trying to build the greatest group, I would rather not have to find another second member, y’know.”

Lillac felt her face grow warm and scrunch, however no words came from her mouth.

This guy… First he claims he didn’t heal me, and now he wants to casually say that he saw the entire exchange between me and Valetin… Is everything no big deal to him or no mystery at all?! Does he not care about me?! Ugh, this is so frustrating! After all the money I forked over, too!

“…Also,” Yaris said, interrupting her thoughts once more. “Your Strength Spell… It’s gotten stronger, hasn’t it?”

Lillac jolted. “Huh? Um… I’m unsure. It was so much in the moment… that I didn’t really pay attention.”

“…Hm.”

Normally, most people take a considerable amount of time to show real improvement in an ability after first learning it, Yaris thought as he watched Lillac. She too seemed to be deep in thought about something. …For someone like Lillac, who only knew a basic Technique until a short while ago… How interesting.

There’s still a lot about this guy I don’t know, Lillac thought, looking around. She scanned the crowd, but no one seemed to stand out. But… I can question him all I want later. For right now… who could have possibly wanted to help me?

“Lillac.”

“Eep!” Lillac jumped, not expecting Yaris’s touch on her neck. “W-What?!” she cried as she shot him an accusatory glare.

“Once this is all over…” he said with a hint of seriousness. His eyes seemed particularly focused as well, as though he was determined about something. “Me and you… We should go to an inn. Just the two of us.”

Lillac blinked. “…Huh?”

“H-HAHHHHH???!!!!!”

Lillac could hardly stop the burning coming to her face. “W-What are you saying?! Yaris! Y-You have some nerve! Do you think just because we got somewhat comfortable with each other that you…! You…! Ahhhh I can’t believe you…!”

Lillac raised her palm and swiftly brought it toward Yaris’s face. However, just before it made impact, he caught it. Not only did he have the gall to make such an obscene comment toward her… but he was also going so far as to catch her strike?!

Lillac’s body trembled. “Y-You… You…!”

Yaris, however, looked her very seriously in the eye and brought a finger to his mouth. He looked off behind her, towards where the red line marking the finish of the race was. He had a casual yet firm look on his face, as though he had seen something that caught his eye. “…He’s coming.”

Lillac turned sharply around. Walking up to them slowly, his hands in his pockets and a small frown on his face, was Valetin Moro. Speckles of sand covered his clothes, and plenty of scuffs marked his skin. Even his short hair was rather ruffled. As he got closer, his face, whether he meant for it to or not, seemed to morph into some sort of dastardly, mocking smile. “Oh? What’s this now?” he muttered, approaching them. “It seems as though I’ve run into some stray dogs. How ugly they are, the poor things.” His eyes briefly shifted toward Lillac. “You, though… That little throw of yours… Who knew a woman could get so burly?”

Yaris could see Lillac tense up. He could only study her for a moment, however, before he was met face to face with Valetin. In no time at all, he had managed to get within a foot of him. Yaris looked up at his smug face, and in return Valetin blew a long exhale right into his face.

“…Minty…” Yaris mumbled, wincing.

“…I was wondering when I would run into you again,” Valetin continued with a toothy grin. “Ah… man. If only I had caught you when we were out in the field…”

A sudden glint came to his eye as though he was some sort of predator. “I would have torn you to pieces.”

Yaris said nothing.

“Ah… There’s no need to be so on guard! You know…” He leaned in close. “I’m something of a leader myself, you know? Though I was handling business of my own, my other members… They succeeded in getting places 22nd through 28th… Impressive, ain’t it? We’re practically guaranteed a spot in the DBA…!”

He began laughing maniacally, his eyes on Yaris the whole time. Yaris backed up. “What? No need to be frightened of little ol’ me!” Valetin continued, stepping closer. “After all, if you make it into the DBA… We’ll be seeing plenty more of each other…!”

Lillac, seeing Yaris’s troubled face, stepped up ever so slightly. “H-Hey! Cut it out!”

“…Yeah…” Yaris said slowly, swatting the front of his face. “…You’re spitting all over me… If you get me sick, it’s gonna be a real hassle, you know?”

It was as though the tense atmosphere had been drained from the air by a typhoon. Valetin’s eyes widened, and he looked at Yaris with a dumbfounded expression. Did I really say something that outrageous? Yaris thought, turning to Lillac. She too seemed flustered, though her eyes remained carefully fixed on Valetin. Then her eyes shot wide open, and she made a sort of yelp as Yaris felt a strong breeze fly past his face, his hair following the flow. He turned back to Valetin and was met with his big, burly fist just inches from his nose. If Yaris were to so much as lean forward, he would make contact.

“…My name is Valetin Moro, leader of the Prime Order,” Valetin said in a low, harsh tone. It was lower than anything he had displayed with Lillac, and this gave her a slight shiver. “…Yours.”

“…I am Yaris Rogue,” Yaris said plainly. “Of The Lucids.”

Valetin lowered his fist, his deathly serious expression fading into a sinister, anger-filled smirk. “…I’ll be seeing you.”

With that, he walked off into the distance. Yaris and Lillac watched his retreating back, Lillac finally stepping up closer to Yaris after a small moment.

“…Are you okay?” she said at last, her voice somewhat meek. “I’m sorry… If I hadn’t run into him out there—”

“No worries.” Yaris intercepted. “Despite how I may seem, I don’t mind making friends. Even I can do this much. What do they call it? Networking…?”

“…Ha…?” Lillac breathed. A slow, tired participant crossing the red barrier caught her eye. Behind him, out in the far ‘battlefield’, there appeared to be no one. He took a final leap across the barrier, and her consciousness began to fade…

* * *

Even though it was sudden, and Lillac nearly leapt out of her seat in surprise, the two of them indeed awoke back in the arena. Yaris’s eyes unconsciously drifted to the man named Valetin, who returned his gaze with a flat glare before scoffing, closing his eyes, and tilting his head down. Yaris hummed, though he wasn’t quite sure what emotion had caused it. This time, he tried to be a little sneakier when he glanced at Yulith. Apparently, he wasn’t as discreet with his looking as he’d thought. She caught him as well and gave him a small wave, though she seemed as though she was anticipating something. Nova and Winter gave him a light look as well, though they quickly redirected their gazes to Helda, who stood atop the podium.

He turned his gaze to her as well and found that she was giving him a curious, yet somehow pitiful sidelong glance. It feels like I’m being scolded somehow… Yaris thought.

“…It seems as though Round Three has officially concluded,” Helda began after tapping on her microphone. She looked the arena over, a somewhat tight expression coming to her face. Yaris understood why; quite a few participants seemed to be aching or in pain. He turned slightly toward Lillac, hoping not to be noticed. She too rubbed her arms and lower back, though she didn’t seem to be paying much attention to Helda. Yaris leaned in closer, and upon noticing him, Lillac shivered and tried to put distance between them despite being seated right next to him. Yaris tilted his head, and Lillac shot him a flustered yet mean look. It seemed as though she had thoughts of her own.

“…I would like to remind you all that this is an inevitable part of pursuing Dreamer certification,” Helda continued. “Though… I’m sure you’re all well aware. First and foremost, congratulations on completing the Entrance Exams. I hope that you all can realize how much of an accomplishment it is, not only to be here, but to complete all three rounds. Now then…”

She straightened herself. Even with her serious demeanor, Yaris couldn’t stop imagining her playing with her toy as she had been earlier… Now that he thought about it, she seemed a bit sad—as though she missed it. “…Let’s get to the meat and potatoes, shall we? I told you all earlier that if your group has accumulated at least 1,000 Favor by the end of Round Three, you have officially qualified for admission into the DBA. So…”

Before Helda even gave the instruction, everyone began to stare at their wrist devices fiercely.

“…Please check your devices.”

Lillac looked down at her wrist sharply, biting her lip. Her eyes were wide, and they seemed to dart from Yaris, to her wrist, to the floor ten times a second. Yaris looked down too, and after a small moment the clean number 1,000 projected above their devices in green font.

“…Ah…” Lillac breathed. Yaris turned to her. “…Ah… Ah… AH… AH… AH…!!!!!!”

Yaris hummed. “What are you, a monkey—”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” Lillac exclaimed at the top of her lungs, jumping out of her seat. “AHHH! YARIS! YARISSSSSS!”

She grabbed him by the collar, shaking him all around in his seat. Despite her apparent soreness and the small beads of sweat on her forehead… she was roughing him up quite good. He could quite literally feel his brain shaking around in his skull.

“We did it!” she continued to cry, jumping up and down. “We did it!”

Yaris, though he was sure that his brain was turning into mashed potatoes at this point, couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, yes,” was all he could manage to say. How could he speak when he was being blended up, after all?

Lillac was not the only one celebrating. All sorts of cheers could be heard throughout the arena. He even thought he could hear Yulith and Nova giving congratulations of their own.

“As for those of you who did not reach 1,000 Favor…” Helda spoke into the microphone. Though she didn’t order it, the entire arena seemed to grow quiet, and even Lillac, who had just been hopping up and down while terrorizing Yaris, felt an overwhelming need to sheepishly return to her seat. “You’ve all fought hard. Though it may feel as though everything you worked toward ends here, and that Dreamer certification has moved beyond your reach for this cycle, I would like to remind you that there are other avenues to pursue. Public safety, healthcare, therapy and psychiatry, teaching, arts and humanities… there are far more avenues available to you than the DBA alone. Though I must ask that you all leave for this next part, I hope you can take these words with you as you continue your lives. That is all.”

Gasps filled the arena. Hands behind her back, Helda bowed deeply. The members of the round table, too, shuffled to their feet and bowed with her. Yaris and Lillac’s attention naturally fell back to the arena as they scanned the affected groups. Unlike during the first round, no outburst came. The affected groups wore heavy expressions and cast their gazes downward as they slowly began standing and making their way out of the arena. Some tried to console one another, while others merely walked off on their own, seemingly deep in thought.

Their footsteps were the only thing that filled the silence for a few minutes, until there were none left. The whole time, Helda and the members of the round table stood bowing. After a long beat with no more footsteps, they all slowly raised themselves back up, the members of the round table returning to their seats. Helda looked around, then opened her mouth to speak.

Suddenly, someone who was still sitting quickly stood, their feet tapping against the concrete floor so loudly that it resonated throughout the entire arena. Everyone turned to look at the woman who had caused the disruption. Her silky blue hair was slightly disheveled, and her thick eyebrows and eyelashes seemed to tremble with some sort of nervousness. She clutched at her dress with one hand while shooting the other high into the air. “U-Um! Excuse me!” she exclaimed. “M-My leader… He’s…!”

Slumped over in the chair beside her, his head leaning back, was none other than her leader. Despite the dream sequence undoubtedly being over, he was still sitting there, unmoving. His mouth hung open, and drool seemed to be pooling as it crept out of his mouth.

“Another group…!” the girl continued. “They… He was already tired…! It was… too much!”

Lillac’s face tightened into a frown. Of course I knew this could happen… They told us from the beginning. She turned slightly to look at Yaris. Despite his expressionless face, there seemed to be a slight waver in his eyes. But actually seeing someone just… not wake up… If they die in their dreams…

“…Though individuals who die in dreams die in real life,” Helda began quietly, a somber note in her voice. “We cannot jump to conclusions. The medical team is already on its way. From what I observed, I did not see any obvious excessive force on the battlefield. If there was something I missed… I am deeply sorry.”

The girl kept her head down, her shoulders trembling. “…We… We managed to get over 1,000 Favor…” she said, weakly holding up her wrist device. “We… We’re only a two-person group… If… If the worst is to come…?”

Helda took a deep breath, then nodded. “Yes… Unfortunately, if your leader is unable to continue, your current two-person group would no longer meet the minimum membership requirement for final enrollment…”

The girl looked up in horror, tears beginning to form in her eyes. She slumped back into her chair and buried her head in her hands, trembling all over.

“…I’m sorry for what happened today,” Helda continued. “I know it must be hard on you for this to happen to someone you were just fighting alongside. If you can contain your grief, the medical team should reach him momentarily—”

“D-Damn it…!” the girl began muttering in a deep, raspy voice. The change in tone was such a shock to everyone that a stiff silence filled the arena, and Helda, who had just worn a sympathetic and worried look, suddenly stiffened in shock. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why?! Why did you have to die on me, you useless prick?! I busted my ass through all three rounds! I practically carried us through this entire exam, and at the end you couldn’t even live?! What kind of sick joke is this?!”

She was absolutely raving, raking her hands through her hair as her face warped into one of rage.

“Fuck…! Fuck…! Goddamn it all! GODDAMN IT ALL!!!!!” she continued, arching herself backward in her chair. “My DBA Dreams… My DBA DREAMS!!!!”

Helda stood with her mouth agape for a moment before furrowing her brow and bringing a finger to her temple. “…You know… if that’s what you’re worried about…” she started in an irritated voice. “Since your group already qualified, your own qualification still stands. All you need to do is find another qualifying group willing to accept you and register the roster change before enrollment. Your ‘DBA Dreams’ can still be fulfilled…”

The girl suddenly stopped mid-arch, and her eyes went wide as a quiet “Ah” escaped her mouth. She sat up, then stood, brushing dust off herself—though there wasn’t any dust in the arena, Yaris figured. She combed her hands through her hair as though to straighten it, then brought a fist to her mouth and cleared her throat. She slowly brought one hand up from her dress to her chest, the other still combing through her hair as though she were posing for some sort of model picture. “Oh…” she began, her voice much softer. You could practically hear the swoon in it. “Oh, if anyone would want to take me in as a member of their group, I would be so grateful… I am just a heartbroken maiden whose dear leader has fallen tragically ill! Oh, please, if someone can help me…”

Despite her act, everyone seemed to look away as the girl’s eyes quickly darted from person to person. It was like a game where nobody was willing to make eye contact for more than a split second. Even Yulith seemed to be looking off somewhere, whistling some sort of tune.

“P-Please!” The girl was spiraling now. She began approaching group after group, her hands clasped together. “Please! Just take me in! I can’t lose this opportunity! I’ll do anything!”

Still, groups would not dare even look her in the eye. Yaris watched the scene with a hand on his chin. Despite the frilly dress the girl wore, she was surprisingly good at moving around. Maybe her claim that she’d practically carried them through the entire exam had some merit? he thought. He felt a tug on the hem of his fleece.

“Y-Yaris!” Lillac hushed. “S-Stop looking! She’ll come over here…”

“Huh? What do you mean—”

Lillac’s warning seemed a tad bit too late. As if on cue, when Yaris returned his gaze to the girl, she had already locked eyes with him… and it had been more than a second. She looked him up and down, and a confident look came to her face as she flipped her hair aside. She put her hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly as she slowly walked over, her head tilted down bashfully. Yaris did not take his eyes off her the whole time.

“Oh, aren’t you such a strong man…?” she hummed, coming up to the side of him. She brought an index finger to his chest, twirling it around in circles. “It’s truly unfortunate what happened to my leader, but… If someone like you were to take me in… I’m sure I would be so grateful…”

Yaris is an idiot… Lillac thought, watching the scene through squinted eyes, her head turned away. However… there’s no way he would fall for a ploy as simple as this! This girl definitely means trouble…!

“So… what do you say?” the girl sang, leaning in closer to Yaris’s face. Her lipstick seemed to shine under the arena lights, and she had a floral fragrance. He wondered if it was customary for all of the people he ran into to have some sort of scent. He turned to Lillac, who, upon noticing his glance, shook her head and held up a big X with her arms.

“…Sure,” Yaris said plainly. “Welcome to the Lucids.”

The entire arena, already silent, seemed to go completely still at his words. A moment passed, and he thought he could hear a Yulith-like chuckle.

“A-Are you…” Lillac stammered. Her face was flushing completely red. “ARE YOU SERIOUSSSSSSSS?!!!!”

Yaris tilted his head. “Of course I’m serious. We need people, after all. It’s just the two of us.”

The girl’s face seemed to light up, and a thin smile formed as she let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness! I thought I would have to start upping the ante…”

She skipped back over to her leader and began rummaging through his pockets. Gasps filled the arena, and Lillac looked on in complete disbelief as she held her arms out toward the scene while turning her head to Yaris. The girl withdrew his group sheet and, after toying with it for a moment, tore one of its sections free. Then she began skipping back over while humming some sort of tune.

“Okay!” she said, returning to Yaris. She held out a small, ragged square of paper toward him, bearing both her photograph and thumbprint. “This is straight from my leader’s group sheet! Now, if you may…”

She held out her hand, her fingers making a ‘come on’ motion. Yaris lazily withdrew his own group sheet and put it in her hand. With a dramatic “SLAP,” she pressed the torn section over the third slot, right next to Lillac’s, apparently satisfied with the arrangement.

“And now, it’s on your group sheet!” she said in a happy tone with a chuckle. “Thank you for saving me, leader.”

“Gah… Gah… Gah…!” All sorts of noises were coming from Lillac’s mouth. …I wonder if she has batteries? Yaris thought.

“W-Well…” Helda began in a low tone. It sounded as though she had bad food in her mouth. “I-If… If you all are done with that business… I should clarify that the transfer will still need to be formally registered before—”

Just then, gasps and several variations of “Look!” came from the arena. Yaris, Lillac, and the girl turned in the direction everyone was pointing, and the girl’s original leader, who had just been lying motionless, began to stir, clutching his head with one hand. “Ugh…” he grumbled, wincing. “Someone… someone knocked me out cold… What… What happened…”

The girl immediately returned her gaze to Yaris, a cold sweat forming on her forehead. Even so, she tried her best to show him a crooked yet obviously concerned smile. “L-Let’s get along together, new leader…!”

“…Yeah,” Yaris said. “Let’s.”

“ABABABABABABABBAABBABABABABABA”

Not a single person in the world could name the sound Lillac had begun making.

Chapter 14 – The Lucids

Helda always found it amazing how empty the arena felt after the entrance exams. Only hours ago, its seats had been filled with buzzing participants—nervous ones, confident ones, and everything between. Now the stands sat empty. The cries and cheers that had bounced from the concrete walls were gone, leaving only the rap of papers as Helda tapped a stack against the table. With a sigh, she tucked them under her elbow. She stepped onto the elevator platform. The pulley groaned overhead, and slowly, she descended.

“…Of all the entrance exams I’ve hosted…” she mumbled, two fingers rising to massage her forehead. “For something like that to happen… I never would’ve expected it.”

That boy, Yaris. She had already found him strange after the stunt he’d pulled in Round Three, but accepting a new member like that—without even a moment’s hesitation?

“…That can of gung-ho foolishness is unlike anything I’ve ever seen…” she said with a sigh. The elevator platform finally came to a stop, and with slow steps did she step off of it. “…Well, it’s not my problem… I just hope he doesn’t cause trouble in the DBA…”

She found herself grumbling. Applicants really were getting stranger every year.

Just then, interrupting her thoughts, soft, almost polite-sounding footsteps began to ring out in front of her. Though her eyes were closed as she mulled over the future of the next generation, she couldn’t say she expected any visitors. Skeptical, she allowed her eyes to be opened, and with an impatient look on his face stood a familiar tall, burly man: Ken Jonar.

“…Oh?” Helda uttered. “Shouldn’t you be in Polisar? This year’s entrants should be flooding back to you very soon, you know?”

Ken said nothing, instead looking around the arena, his lips pursed as though in deep thought. Finally, he set his gaze back on Helda. “…I’m sorry,” he began, somewhat bashfully. “But… There’s something I need to ask you. It’s about a boy. Decently tall. Usually wears a hat. Kind of a flat face—the sort you’d expect to be bad in school. Plain voice. Completely basic and uninteresting—”

“Woah, woah…” Helda held up both of her hands. “You’re going on a bit of a tangent, Mr. Jonar… All of this right after the entrance exams… Surely you know I’m quite tired?”

Ken put his hand on his head. “…Sorry. Let me be more plain. It’s a boy… named Yaris. Have you met him at all?”

Helda’s eyes narrowed slightly. “…Yaris, huh? I interacted with him briefly during Round Three. I’ve certainly seen enough of him besides that, though.”

At the mention of Yaris, Helda noticed Ken’s eyes widen as though he had been activated. In a sort of rush, he stepped up to her with his large frame, quickly grabbing hold of her hands. The papers she had been keeping so safely tucked under her elbow fell to the floor, scattering all over. The tension in her temple seemed to return all at once.

“R-Really?!” Ken exclaimed. “P-Please! If you have any impressions on him… Let me know! I need to know!”

“…Back off of me, you brute… Don’t you see you’re way too large to be doing things like this…?” She swatted his hands away from hers, a look of shock coming to his face. “You made me drop my papers, too… What is with you? The Ken I know normally isn’t so prone to such excitable emotions…”

“U-Ugh…” Ken mumbled. Helda thought she could see a sort of redness coming to his face. He truly must have gone insane. “…I apologize.”

Helda picked up her papers with a deep sigh. “…He’s a curious boy. He managed to find the place I was using to observe Round Three, and we spoke briefly. It was unusual—I told him as much—but nothing so absurd that I took him for anything more than a perceptive troublemaker. A perceptive kid, maybe, but a troublemaker. Does that answer your question, Ken Jonar?”

Ken flushed even more; however, he receded and gave a slow, deep bow. “…Yes. I apologize for bothering.”

“…Was there something I should have been aware of?” Helda asked.

Ken froze. A few seconds of silence passed between them, until Ken found himself only bowing deeper. He gave a small shake of his head. “…No.”

Helda said nothing. After gathering all of her papers and rearranging them back into a nice stack, she began to slowly walk off past him.

“…If you are so curious…” Helda said faintly. If it wasn’t for the empty arena, there was no way Ken would have heard. “Why don’t you go to the DBA and see for yourself?”

Ken caught himself before he let out an audible gasp. Helda seemed to make a sort of sound of her own, even if mocking.

“…Whatever that boy is to you,” she continued. “I hope you do not let it too gravely interfere with our work as DBA representatives. Even this, showing yourself here so suddenly… I cannot help but question you.”

“…Yes,” Ken answered. His voice was deep and sincere, and that seemed to be enough for Helda to finally leave him to his own devices. After waiting a few more moments, Ken straightened himself, bringing a hand over his eyes.

“…What am I getting myself into…?”

* * *

“…Zeal Sheath,” the girl in front of Yaris and Lillac said, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed somewhere away from the two of them. Whatever excitement she’d shown earlier appeared to have vanished. “My name is Zeal Sheath.”

“Z-Zeal…” Lillac said timidly, her hands on her knees. “Aren’t you worried about your ex-leader? For us to leave so quickly after he just woke up… I don’t know… I’d feel bad…”

Zeal, waving a hand through her long blue hair, scoffed. “Him? I don’t care what happens to him! Plus, plenty of people were already crowding around him when we left!” She then made an OK sign with her hand. “What’s it matter to you, anyway?”

Lillac’s face tightened, and Yaris swore he heard some type of growl come from her. “Yaris…” she mumbled. “Are you sure accepting this girl is the right choice…?”

“Of course it is.” Yaris nodded. “We need members, and look what we have now? A member.” He closed his eyes and nodded his head. “It must be fate. I knew all along that Dreamer Certification was destined to be ours. Plus, she said she was quite capable, didn’t she?”

“You bet your asses I am,” Zeal said sharply. “See, you get it. If only the other girl was more understanding—seriously, you’re lucky to even have someone like me. With that in mind… Waiter!” she cried, her hand raised. “May I have another strawberry banana parfait?! Thank you~”

Seeing an affirmative nod from the male waiter, Zeal gave him a wink. It instantly struck him, and with a small skip in his step did he go off towards the kitchen.

“H-Hey!” Lillac cried. “Just because Yaris had us come here for so-called ‘introductions’ doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want! I’m paying for all of this, you know?! Yaris! Do something!”

“It’s okay,” Yaris said, waving his hand. “It’s important for team unity. Think of it as our group expenses…”

“BUT IT’S COMING OUT OF MY POCKET?!”

“Gosh, such a rowdy woman. Is this who you like to hang around, leader?”

Lillac began ruffling her hair, her head lifted towards the air. Well, she did have a sort of cinnamon pancake herself, Yaris thought, putting a hand on his chin. Maybe she’s having a bit of a sugar rush.

Beyond that, Yaris studied the girl named Zeal Sheath, the second member of his group. Her hair was silky and smooth, and despite her display earlier it had returned to its perfectly groomed form, as though it had been affected by a sort of Spell. The blue dress she wore, too, was miraculously clean, and her thick eyelashes fluttered with each blink. It was as though she was some sort of princess.

“…I am Yaris Rogue,” Yaris said after a silent moment. “I am the leader of our group.” He then directed a small hand towards Lillac, who was slumped over her chair in defeat. “And this is Lillac Webster. My first member. We are happy to have you.”

“Hm… Lillac and Yarees, huh…” Zeal said in between bites of her parfait. “I see, I see…”

“…Not even a ‘nice to meet you’, huh…?” Lillac sighed. Yaris was more concerned about the pronunciation of his name. He felt wounded.

“Well?” Zeal continued. “Tell me the name of the group I’m supposed to be joining. When it comes time for me to make it official, I at least want to know if I’m going to be a part of something with a name as elegant as mines.” She leaned over the table. “Well? Come on? Out with it.”

Lillac became a bit flustered, turning her head in another direction as she scratched her cheek. “Ah… Well…”

“The Lucids,” Yaris said plainly. “You are going to be a part of ‘The Lucids.’”

Zeal gave him the meanest look he had ever seen in his life. It had the potential to rival even Lillac’s faces whenever she was angry. “…Are you serious?”

Yaris nearly choked on his words. “…Yes. It’s cool, right?”

“…If you’re seven, maybe…” Zeal huffed. She then let out a long sigh as she put another spoonful of her parfait in her mouth. “And you put up with this guy? Just what kind of woman are you?”

“…I feel like you’re insulting me more than you are him…” Lillac grumbled. Yaris thought he could see a vein begin to protrude on her forehead.

“Well, whatever,” Zeal scoffed. “It doesn’t matter anyway… If all else fails…”

She trailed off, and Yaris tilted his head. “If all else fails?”

She shook her head. “Anyway, let me see that paper that you were given? The one that Helda handed out to everyone who passed? Someone here has to start thinking about the future.”

Yaris nodded and withdrew a rather large paper from his pocket. Zeal took it, and after unfolding it and trying to flatten it out against the table as best she could with a discontented look on her face, shifted it in a way so that all three of them could see it. Even Lillac, who was still pouting slightly, leaned over to look at it.

“…Congratulations, you have passed the Entrance Exams! Five days from now, a welcoming ceremony will be hosted in the main auditorium. You will learn the layout of the DBA upon arrival; however, we ask that you be there at least a day before the welcoming ceremony, as classes will begin immediately after. This allows you enough time to move in and get settled. You will have your own dorms, and plenty of amenities will be provided. You will also learn about Jobs, Sponsorships, and how to Fund your School Life. Here is the location of the DBA—if you are found to share this with anyone outside of your group, reprimands will be in order:”

“…Alui?” Yaris murmured. “Where is that at?”

“…You don’t know basic geography either…?” Zeal choked. “Sheesh, am I going to have to carry a set of invalids now instead of one?”

“Hey…” Lillac huffed.

Zeal leaned back in her seat, giving the two of them a stern look as she tilted her head. “Alui is a large province in the north. Any knowledgeable person would know that that entire area is owned by the DBA, and, would you believe it? It holds the school grounds of the DBA! It’s astounding, isn’t it?”

“…Yaris…” Lillac said through gritted teeth. Her heel began tapping beneath the table. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Yaris shook his head. “After we go back to Polisar and register you, how long would it take us to reach the DBA from there?”

Zeal closed her eyes for a brief moment. “Almost definitely a whole day and night, if not more. It’s quite out of the way—almost like it’s trying to be a secret base. And that’s not factoring in any sort of due process when we get there.”

She suddenly stood, throwing used napkins in her half-eaten bowl of parfait. Lillac watched her with her mouth agape, the color draining from her face. “That means,” Zeal continued, giving Lillac a sidelong glance as though she were trying not to smile, “we should be prepared to leave very soon, if not immediately. After our preparations, which I’m sure you both would like to make, we should get there the day before the ceremony. It’s a perfect plan, don’t you think so? Aren’t you grateful for a one-of-a-kind woman like me?”

Yaris nodded. “Well, if that’s the case, then I see no reason as to why we shouldn’t leave right now. Lillac, if you may…”

I know some of the Lucids fund is coming out of your pocket… Yaris thought, turning away from Lillac, who was beginning to transform. But that doesn’t mean you have to turn into a monster and glare at me like that… After all, you already paid for the carriage…

Carriage…?

Yaris, though halfway through standing, suddenly froze. He stood motionless as he looked at the table with no particular expression; however, when Lillac and Zeal peered at his face, he was definitely breaking out into a cold sweat. Lillac, too, suddenly found herself freezing. “…Yaris…” she murmured, her eyes blank as the corner of her mouth twitched. “Don’t tell me…”

“…Ah…” Yaris breathed. “Yes… Yes, without a doubt. It appears as though… I haven’t prepared a carriage.”

Silence fell over the group as an awkward air began to form between them. After a moment, a long-winded exhale came from Zeal, and Yaris and Lillac couldn’t help but turn slowly towards her.

“…I’m glad I have standards…” Zeal said at last, rummaging underneath her skirt. Lillac flushed; however, seeing Zeal withdraw a rectangle-like device, she couldn’t help but gasp.

“…Is that a phone…?!” she nearly squealed; however, she covered her mouth, narrowing her gaze. She already knew what was coming next, and Zeal instantly put on a smug face and waved the device in the air.

“Oh? Why yes, my dear unfavored, this is a ‘cellphone’. It is a magical device in which you can contact anyone at any point in time, as well as take photos and videos. Ah, but I’m sorry—I understand it must be complex technology—”

“All right!” Lillac cried. “I get that it’s expensive and only so many people can afford one, jeez! Just how are you going to use it to help us out?”

Zeal gave a small chuckle. “Well, I was afraid that when it was time to depart I would have to ride in my old leader’s cheap carriage again. The first trip had my back aching so bad that I could hardly stand it, and given a free moment I simply arranged for another carriage more my style to come. Thankfully, one was in the area, not too far away since so many people had been dropped off for the entrance exams, and I managed to scoop one up.” A small electronic ping sounded from her device, and she returned the device back under her skirt. Lillac really hoped she had some sort of pocket under there. “It seems like it’s right on time, as well.” She winked. “Are you prepared to be amazed?”

With a particular grandeur, she left the table and began strutting towards the exit, Yaris giving Lillac—who was, with tears in her eyes, putting several Yuni coins on the table—a quick glance before the two of them followed after her. Yonagold was essentially a large road of shops and commodities, but even with the size of the area, the carriage that took up the space demanded attention—and the few individuals who were also loitering around stood with their jaws hanging open at the sight. It shimmered and shone all types of gold and silver, with depictions of women and knighted men along the sides and a brilliant white horse at the forefront. On its perch was hunched an older gentleman, who upon seeing the trio only gave them a small look before sheepishly directing his attention back in front of him.

“W-Wow…” Lillac breathed. She jolted a bit, giving Zeal a quick glance. Thankfully, she wasn’t paying her any mind and was approaching the driver with her hands on her hips.

“You’ve already received the payment, correct?” Zeal asked with a sort of offness in her voice. The driver merely nodded, and Zeal made a small hum before going around back and entering without any hesitation.

Lillac gave one more look around before stepping up to the carriage driver herself. “H-Hello…” she murmured, her eyes darting around nervously. Yaris stepped up beside her. “…It’s nice to meet you. We’re accompanying Zeal today…”

The man simply nodded, keeping his focus in front of him.

“D-Does he think we’re so poor that we’re not even worth talking to…?” Lillac sulked as she slumped to the floor. Her back was twitching as she sobbed.

“I’m sure he’s just deaf…” Yaris mumbled as he waved his hand in front of the driver. Still, no reaction. “Maybe blind, too? He must be quite competent. Do you think—”

“Ah, enough! Everyone is looking at us…!” Lillac suddenly appeared behind him, grabbing him by the shoulders. “A-Aren’t we in a rush, anyway?! Let’s go, let’s go…”

“I think they’re only looking at you…” Yaris grumbled; however, he allowed himself to be dragged by Lillac into the carriage. Upon stepping in, they were again met with luxury—polished wood walls, plush cushion seats, tables and counters and drawers. There was even a nice collection of fruits, meats, and cheese on the center table, as well as a set of bunk beds to the right. Lillac… you gotta stop stammering, Yaris thought.

Upon seeing their reactions, Zeal flicked her hair in a prideful boast. “Well? It’s okay, allow yourselves to be amazed. I know people like you don’t get to see something like this very often. Go on! Take a seat! We should get moving any moment.”

She herself was sitting rather comfortably on the couch, dropping grapes into her mouth. Yaris followed, sitting on the far side near the wall of the carriage, leaning his head back as he sank his hand into the cushion. “…Oh wow.”

“Oh wow is right!” Zeal exclaimed, hand on her chest. “I hope you know what my standards are now, Yarees. I don’t plan on doing this often! It’s not like a lady of my caliber to be treating… Though, since you were so intelligent to allow me to join your group, I suppose I can indulge for a while.”

She then turned to Lillac, who was still standing, shuffling around. A grin came to her face. “Ah, well, don’t be shy, Lillac… I know some ladies have never had such luxury before… Don’t feel bad! Sit! Sit!”

Lillac’s face turned red as Zeal’s expression became meaner, her hands gesturing for Lillac to come over. “I-I swear…!” she growled. “Y-You better pull your weight…!”

“Hmph! As though you should be the one talking! I can tell already that you’re nowhere near my caliber! Though I suppose it isn’t unnatural for people like you to dream of being better than a talent such as myself…!”

“Huh?! I don’t want to hear anything like that from such a crass, rude girl!” Lillac crossed her arms and tilted her body to one side. “Do you even know the kinds of faces you were making back in the arena? Ha! Is that what it means to be a girl of ‘high caliber’!”

“Why, you…!”

The two of them were gripping each other’s hands, scowls on their faces as they wrestled.

“Leader! Tell this girl to back off!”

“Yarees! Tell this broad to stay in her place!”

The two of them looked over and, his head leaning against the wall, found Yaris asleep. He had quite the disturbed look on his face. The two girls backed off of each other, and Zeal sat down with a ‘hmph’. Lillac, having no place else to sit that wasn’t immediately next to Zeal, sat down on the bottom bunk, crossing her legs. She gave a small scoff.

“…Why doesn’t the driver outside speak?” she said at last, breaking the silence. “Me and Yaris tried talking to him and he just… doesn’t react.”

Zeal made another rude noise. “Well, obviously because I told him to. He’s just a driver—I have no use for anyone outside of their given jobs. That’s just standard.”

Lillac’s eyebrow began to twitch. “…You’re more cruel than I thought…” she said in a low tone. Zeal gave her an annoyed glare.

Silence filled the carriage for a minute. The only sounds that could be heard were the soft breaths of the sleeping Yaris. Zeal had been looking at him for quite some time.

“…Is he always that ugly when he sleeps?” Zeal asked. Lillac lifted her head up, figuring the question was directed at her; however, Zeal did not meet her gaze.

“…I’ve only ever seen him sleeping a few times,” Lillac said in a low voice. “I think he’s just like that… I try not to think about it too much…”

“…You know,” Zeal said suddenly, turning to Lillac. “Looking at both of you… You don’t really have any sense of style, do you?”

“…Do you want to pick a fight again…?”

Zeal tilted her head upwards. “Why, the both of you! He seems like the type that cannot be convinced to change, but I cannot be caught dead wearing the same colours as him! As for you… You dress like a mom! Like you never figured out your own style! Those jeans with that tank top plus heel combo… How are you supposed to attract any boys like that?”

“B-Boys..?!” Lillac stammered. “I-I don’t need to worry about boys! I just want to focus on the DBA!”

Zeal scoffed. “Hell no! What if, for instance, one of the boys you talk to ends up becoming some super rich bigwig? Do you know what kind of people enter into the DBA? Plus, you seem like the type of girl who hasn’t had any romance even once in her life. Don’t you think it would be fun?”

Lillac blushed, bowing her head down as she toyed with her thumbs. “I-I guess… W-Wait! Why am I agreeing with you?!”

When she looked back up, Zeal was right in front of her face, putting a finger in front of her lips. It caught Lillac so much by surprise that she nearly choked trying not to yelp. “…Our leader is sleeping, so now’s the perfect time… We’re going to go on a small trip together, me and you… We’re going to knock the boys out their socks when we get settled into the DBA! You don’t have a choice, if I’m going to be a part of your group. You understand?”

Zeal winked. Lillac was flushing such a deep red that words could not seem to come out of her mouth.

* * *

Yaris opened his heavy eyes to the sight of the carriage’s interior. He made a small groan before directing his gaze to the window. It was dark outside.

“Ah, Yarees.” Zeal’s voice sounded to the left of him. “You’re awake. Sheesh, how many times have you woken up just to fall asleep again? Well, no matter. We just arrived in Polisar anyhow~”

“…Ah, I see…” Yaris mumbled. He rubbed his eyes and fixed his hat before directing his gaze to the sound of Zeal’s voice. Beaming, with a large satisfied smile on her face, stood Zeal, plenty of shopping bags around her feet. Immediately next to her, also with shopping bags surrounding her feet, was Lillac, who was slumped over with her hair completely disheveled. It looked like she would fall over at any minute.

“Why… Would you leave me… With her…” she mumbled, her voice as though she had been deeply betrayed. “Tor… Torture…”

“…It looks like you two had fun,” Yaris said plainly, though he wasn’t too sure what they could possibly need so many bags for, or where they had even gotten them. It would do him no good to question it. He was unfamiliar with girls, after all. He was sure only good things happened.

“It’s late at night, so I had the driver drop us off at an inn,” Zeal said with a wave of her hand. Lillac’s eyes suddenly shot wide open as her face grew red, and she directed her gaze at Yaris as a mouse-like squeak escaped her. Zeal paused with a disgruntled look on her face before shaking her head slightly. “It’s on the outskirts, so we don’t draw too much attention. Plus, they have one luxury room just for me! It’s perfect! Ah, I’m going to have you two share a room, of course. I’ve treated you enough, wouldn’t you say?”

“Ah, yes,” Yaris said plainly, stepping up to them. He turned to Lillac, who was shying away from him, her body twitching. He tilted his head.

Oh no! Lillac screamed internally. I had forgotten all this time, but… Yaris said he wanted to do something at an inn together?! Isn’t this too perfect?! But…

Resolving herself, she leaned in towards Yaris. “H-Hey, you know, Zeal is here… We… We shouldn’t do… You know what you said earlier…?”

Yaris’s head tilt only deepened. “Hm? The fact that Zeal is here is even better for what I want to do with you. In fact, it’s really convenient. I’m sure it’ll make the experience better.”

“A-AHHH!”

After her short outburst, it seemed as though Lillac’s head caught on fire. Yaris could literally see smoke coming out of Lillac’s head.

“Ah, Zeal,” Yaris said, turning to her. “I’m going to need you and Lillac tonight. I had originally only planned it for Lillac, but…”

“W-What?” Zeal cried, stepping back from him. “T-Then just keep it to Lillac! Why do you gotta involve me in…! In! In whatever kind of shit you’re into?!”

Yaris put a finger up. “As much as I’d rather you two have free will as my dear members, this is something I absolutely must do.” His voice was rather stern, and his eyebrows furrowed as his expression turned into one of seriousness. “…As someone who is soon to be our member… I hope you can comply?”

Zeal turned an even deeper shade of red than Lillac as she glared at him, biting her lip. She looked really angry, though Yaris couldn’t understand why. Again, he tilted his head.

Zeal brought her head down, hiding her face. “…Fine,” she said at last, clenching her fist. “…Let’s sort the bags first.”

“Sounds good,” Yaris answered, picking all of the bags up. Despite the absurd amount of bags in his hands, he somehow managed to fit all of them through the door of the carriage and stepped outside. “Ah, it’s the same inn we were at before… This is perfect. The familiarity will make this easier…” his voice sounded from outside. Lillac and Zeal were left standing inside of the carriage, their faces red and their bodies trembling.

“I-Is this really happening…?!” Lillac whispered, her hands coming to her face as she kneeled down. “J-Just what is he thinking…! T-There’s no way… Right…?!”

Footsteps sounded outside, and the two girls instantly stood to attention. Yaris poked his head in through the doorframe. “Sorry for rushing, but I was already directed to our rooms and put the bags up. I just… can’t wait any longer. If you would please…”

Lillac was stammering uncontrollably at this point, and Zeal was gritting her teeth so hard that she was nearly turning purple. Are all women this dramatic? Yaris thought as he raised an eyebrow.

Chapter 15 – Next Steps

The driver left shortly after Zeal and Lillac exited the carriage, leaving the two blushing girls officially stuck with Yaris. “Well, then,” Yaris said plainly, turning on his heel and walking towards the entrance of the inn. The two girls glanced at each other, their faces red, and followed. Zeal’s scowl was particularly deep.

“Excuse us,” Yaris said plainly as they entered the lobby. The receptionist lifted his attention from his book. His gaze quickly darted over to Lillac—a familiar smile forming—however, upon seeing Zeal, his face flushed and his book fell onto the counter. Yaris thought he made some sort of choking sound. “Though it may be some time after,” Yaris continued. “If it isn’t too late, we’d like to eat in about an hour. Could you prepare three seats for us?” He looked back at the two girls, Lillac averting her gaze and Zeal giving him a glare. “…Yes, about an hour.”

“A-A-Ah…” the receptionist stammered, looking around the room. “R-Right! Um… I’ll pass the information over…!”

He suddenly leapt from his chair behind the counter and bolted through the wooden door leading into the cafeteria, mumbling something as he went. Yaris caught something about “lucky bastard” before the door swung shut. Lucky? I suppose getting a table this late is quite fortunate, Yaris thought. Then, aloud, “I hope we’re not bothering them too heavily.”

Lillac, too, made a choking sound. I thought allergy season passed already? drifted through Yaris’s mind. Regardless, after waiting a moment, he began ascending the stairs situated on the left side of the lobby, leading to the rooms. Besides the creaking sound of their footsteps, the trio were silent. Lillac fidgeted as she looked from Yaris’s back to Zeal, though Zeal would not give her any gaze in return and only looked sharply at Yaris’s back. They finally reached the room floor and, after a short while, stood in front of a door with the number 5 labeled on it. Yaris rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a key.

“I would give you your key,” he said, turning to Zeal. “But I’m afraid you would run away, quite truthfully. I feel it’s best right now that I avoid that if possible.”

Lillac could hear the literal grinding of Zeal’s teeth. “…Right,” she hissed. Her cheeks were a deep rosy red. Lillac couldn’t help but gulp.

They entered the room. The lights were already on, and the bags were settled neatly into a corner of the room. Yaris stepped deeper in, stretching his back, while the two girls stood at the entranceway. Yaris turned. “What are you doing? Close the door.”

Lillac jolted, her arms outstretched as she turned her body this way and that. “O-Oh! Y-Yes! Uh… Uh…!”

She had somehow ended up by the wall. The door isn’t over there, you know?

Suddenly, a loud slam could be heard, and with the noise causing Lillac to snap out of it, she turned to Zeal, who had her hand planted firmly against the now-closed door’s surface. “…There,” she said in a tense voice, her sharp eyes still planted on Yaris’s face. Yaris gave her a thumbs up.

“Great,” he said plainly. He strutted over to the bathroom, a small ways past the kitchen area. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to wash up in the tub first… Ah, but don’t worry about bathing yourselves. It would be preferable if you didn’t, especially considering what we’re about to get into. This is in consideration for you two, by the way.” He had a satisfied look in his eye. “Quite considerate, huh?”

The two girls said nothing, Lillac’s mouth agape.

Yaris nodded. Glad to know they understand. He then pointed to the large bed that was situated in the middle of the room against the wall, right next to a midsize couch. After following his finger, Lillac let out a sound similar to a squeaky toy. T-This was not the room we had last time…! She immediately turned to Zeal, who had her eyes closed as she gritted her teeth.

“Y-You!” Lillac whispered, her voice as though she had a dose of helium. “W-What the hell were you thinking?! Why is there only one bed?!”

“I-I don’t know!” Zeal hissed. “I told them beforehand that it was a room that a boy and a girl would share! I-I didn’t even consider Yaris a man, so I didn’t bother to say it was between friends or anything! Maybe they assumed something!”

“Z-Zeal…!”

Zeal scoffed as she looked away, her eyebrows twitching. Yaris tilted his head. “I know you two may not be too comfortable with the idea, but you can see it as a chance to bond. Anyhow, I’ll be going ahead—I don’t want to waste too much time. If you two could, please take a seat…”

With that, Yaris disappeared into the bathroom. The two girls could hear the sound of clothes hitting the floor before a small splash of water reverberated throughout the room. The splashing continued in intervals.

Lillac stared absentmindedly at the floor, her lips moving fast despite not a single word coming from her mouth. Again, her internal turmoil was interrupted by a resounding plop behind her. She turned and found Zeal on the bed, her arms crossed with a snarl on her face. Zeal met her with an intense look. “Don’t think you can get out of this one, too! Sit your ass down…”

Somehow, Lillac quickly allowed herself to be intimidated and sat down on the bed alongside Zeal, her hands on her knees. The two of them fell into silence as they listened to the splashes in the bathroom.

Is this really happening…? Lillac felt the warmth in her face. I… I was always told people would do anything to become Dreamers but… S-Should I really be waiting here? I mean… What will happen once Yaris steps out of the bathroom… I… I’m still a young flower…! S-Should I just run?! B-But where would I even go?!

Lillac let out a small squeal as she put her hands on her cheeks. Zeal scoffed, giving her a look with an upturned head. “You could have told me from the start if your leader was a pervert. If I knew it would come to this, I would’ve found some other idiot to wrap around my finger… I didn’t know my charms worked that well…”

“W-Well!” Lillac hushed. “H-He’s never done anything like this before with me! I-I could have never expected that something like this would happen so soon after the Entrance Exams!”

Zeal looked her up and down. “Well, I suppose I can see why…”

Lillac’s forehead tightened, and she opened her mouth wide to begin another vocal onslaught, when suddenly the water that was splashing around in the bathroom came to a halt. The two girls felt electricity run through their spines as their ears perked to the sound of Yaris shuffling around inside. A small humming could be heard, and after a short minute the door clicked open, revealing Yaris. His hair was slightly damp, though otherwise he was perfectly dry. He held a small bag in one hand that seemed to contain his towel.

“Well, then…” Yaris mumbled, putting the bag off to the side.

“W-Wait!” Zeal suddenly cried out, both hands in front of her. “W-Wouldn’t it be better if you washed your clothes first? You shouldn’t be wearing the same clothes so many days in a row! I-It’ll cancel out—”

“Ah, don’t worry,” Yaris said, fanning his shirt and showing a bit of his chest. “It’s clean already. See?”

He continued his motion, and indeed, his clothes looked fairly spotless. The two girls even thought they could smell some sort of fresh linen scent. How the hell did he do that?

“Now… if you would please,” Yaris said, approaching the two girls. Lillac shivered at each step he took, until finally he was in front of them both. He looked down at them with an expressionless face.

Wait, no… It’s not expressionless! Lillac thought in a panic. There’s an evil glint in his eye, as though he was a predator eyeing his prey!

As Lillac trembled, Zeal gritted her teeth, her face set in a deep scowl. She made a scoffing sound before fidgeting with the shoulders of her dress. “…You better burn this sight into your eyes…” she said, lowering the top of her dress from her shoulder. “…You’ll be the first man I’ve ever done this for…”

Despite her murderous look, she continued drawing her dress down her shoulder, her pale glossy skin seeming to reflect the light. Lillac’s hands were covering her face, only peering at the scene through the gaps in her fingers. However, when her eyes darted to Yaris, she found that he had his head tilted and an eyebrow raised. W-Why is he looking like that…? D-Don’t tell me he was actually considering it…!

Just as Lillac was mulling over what to do, Yaris opened his mouth.

“…What are you doing?” Yaris asked plainly. Zeal stopped. “…What does it look like I’m doing…?” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m… undressing.”

“…What do you have to do that for? I wanted you two to get up so we can head outside. I want to test Lillac’s abilities. Me and her had done similar last time we were at this inn.”

Silence.

“…What, did I not say so earlier? What did you think was going to happen…?”

Lillac’s head practically exploded, and steam began to rise from atop it, her eyes shaking violently as she glanced off in another direction. One could have mistaken her for a peach. “A-Ah! W-Well! O-Of course… U-Um…!”

She was completely illegible, so Yaris turned to Zeal. Though blushing slightly herself, she had a much meaner expression on her face.

As Yaris got more and more confused, suddenly Zeal stood and, with her cheeks puffed up, raised her arm into the air with her hand flat—

* * *

“You know…” Yaris said, rubbing his cheek. It was quite red—who knew Zeal was so strong? “For someone who isn’t telling me what I did wrong, I believe that was quite the harsh punishment… Especially for your brand new leader…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Zeal said with a pout, her arms crossed. She was standing a good distance from him now. “Just be a man and take it! Have you never heard that women are always right?!”

Yaris sighed. Ignoring Zeal for the moment, he returned his gaze to Lillac, who had insisted on changing out of her jeans for some reason. They were once again outside, in the large open field that was situated near the inn. Truthfully, it was quite dry, and no fireflies seemed to be about. It was the perfect scenario for focus. She stood off from the two of them, a bit farther into the field so they could see the side of her frame. She put her arm in the air and waved, and Yaris gave her a thumbs up. A serious expression came over her face, and she did a few light stretches before crouching down into a running position.

“…What are you testing, anyway?” Zeal asked, though she still didn’t turn her head towards Yaris. He felt wounded. “It is quite the open field, but even then isn’t it unsafe to try and use magic out in the open?”

“We’re testing a Spell of hers that she managed to conjure only a short while ago,” Yaris said dejectedly. “…A Strength Spell.”

“Hah? No wonder she’s so feisty! She’s been doping herself up!”

“What’s interesting is,” Yaris continued, observing Lillac. A petal on her flower radiated a brilliant orange. Slowly, a red aura began to envelop her. “That she learned her Spell only a few days ago… Considering that, she has had a fair bit of growth. When we were first out here, her Strength Spell allowed her to run approximately 20% faster than her baseline in the waking world… In the Entrance Exams…”

Zeal finally turned to him, unimpressed. She still stared at him as though he was some shameful thing. “Was she stronger in the dream?” She then sighed. “That’s only natural, though. All abilities are considerably more proficient in dreams.”

Yaris shook his head. “That’s true, but… She was considerably stronger, and significantly more capable too. More than normal.”

Zeal scoffed. “Do you even know what normal is…?”

Regardless, she returned her gaze to Lillac. A red aura had now enveloped her completely. Yaris raised his arm.

“3… 2… 1…” Yaris began counting down. He watched Lillac dig her feet into the ground.

Then, with a sharp downward swing of his arm, “Go!”

Lillac took off, leaving a small patch of dirt flying in the air. Yaris thought he could feel the wind of her movements. Once Yaris’s internal timer reached seven seconds, Lillac had covered roughly the same distance as before and came to a strong halt, her heels digging into the soil. As she slowed, she lost her balance for a moment, her arms flailing wildly as she tried to steady herself. Despite her teetering, she managed to finish upright, her chest rising and falling. When she turned around, she could see the true distance she had run. Yaris and Zeal were only small specks.

“…So?” Zeal asked.

“…She managed to run the same distance in a fraction of the time,” Yaris said, putting a hand on his chin. “It doesn’t seem she got twice as strong, though… More like she got better control of her Spell. If I had to guess… she’s closing in on being one and a half times as capable in the waking world.”

Zeal grunted. “So? I’m easily twice as capable with my abilities in the waking world. Seriously, what is with you making a big deal—”

“No.” Yaris cut her off somewhat firmly. He looked her in the eye, which caused Zeal to step back a bit. “Very recently, she was just that strong in the dream world.”

Zeal said nothing for a moment, before a slight flush returned to her face as she closed her eyes and looked away from him in a huff. “…Still! You’re wasting my time by bringing me out here! I don’t care about some novice’s growth! I’m going to get bit by bugs…”

Yaris returned his gaze to Lillac. This growth… How interesting.

Lillac ran over, still glowing red. Sweat was beginning to form on her face, and her tank top appeared lightly damp. “I-I can feel it…!” she panted, hunching over and putting her hands on her knees once she arrived in front of the two of them. “I-I feel stronger! B-but… Damn! I’m so tired…! Hah…!”

Yaris’s eyes widened. “…Your Strength Spell is still active,” he said. “Unfocus your intention.”

A jolt came over Lillac, and when she looked at herself, she indeed found that she was still surrounded by her red aura. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The red aura around her slowly began fading away, and the orange glow on her flower petal disappeared. Some of the strain seemed to leave her body, and she stood up straight in surprise with a hand on her chest.

“O-Oh wow… I didn’t even notice… That feels so much better…!” she exclaimed, relief coming over her. She then stepped up closer to Yaris, her head tilted downward as her eyes shifted bashfully. Despite that, anxiety lingered in her eyes. “So… how did I do?”

Yaris gave her a thumbs up. “You’re definitely improving.”

Lillac pumped a fist, a smile coming to her face. “Alright! I knew that training was worth it!”

“Good. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how much further you grow.”

For some reason, Lillac seemed to shy away. “Ah… Yeah,” she uttered with a nod. Then, in a voice too low for Yaris to hear, she added, “Maybe I’ll have to buy more ginger shots in the future…”

Zeal trotted up to them both. “Well, now. If you’re done with your little novice excursion, can we go eat? I’m hungry and increasingly bored. Especially bored. I was expecting at least a Stage Two Spell, but you couldn’t even give me that?” she huffed. “Am I going to have to carry another group?”

“Hah?! I’d like to see you do better!” Lillac exclaimed, flaring up. She pointed a finger at her. “That’s right! You haven’t shown or displayed a thing! I bet you’re just dead weight! How dare you look down on me?!”

“I don’t have to prove anything,” Zeal scoffed, approaching Lillac. Lillac did the same. “All I know is that I’m five times more useful to the group than some anemic!”

“Why, you…!”

The girls were now so close that they were pushing their foreheads up against one another. What were they, goats?

“Enough,” Yaris said plainly. “Zeal is right—we should eat, then get some rest.” There was a slight commanding tone in his voice. “We have a lot of things to do tomorrow. We can save the bickering for later.”

The two girls faced Yaris, catching the seriousness in his expression. Even though he was directing his words to them, his focus was elsewhere. It was such a bizarre thing to see that the two girls had no choice but to back off one another, though they did so with a huff. A bit separated, they walked past Yaris and made their way back to the inn.

Such growth in such a short amount of time… Yaris thought, eyes on his feet as he followed after the two of them. He then shifted his attention to the back of Lillac’s frame. It’s impressive. Truly impressive. It’s like she doesn’t even know it herself.

Either way, Yaris knew he would have to keep a tight hold on his first member.

* * *

“Ah… That was so good…!” Lillac sighed, her hand on her stomach. Yaris knew that she had just finished exerting herself quite a bit; however, to eat so much… He would need to find a way to get more funds soon. “Though, the bartender kept giving us strange looks… She was nearly completely red, too…”

Zeal put up a hand. “Well, obviously it was because she was stunned by my presence! A girl like me is a rare sight to see, after all!”

“Ugh… I’ll let it pass since you paid…” Lillac said, crossing her arms. “…Even if it was just to make a show of yourself…”

They had climbed the stairs and were in the hallway leading to the rooms. Yaris, digging in his pocket, withdrew another key. It had the #4 on it. He handed it to Zeal. “Here is your room key,” he said simply. “Sorry I didn’t give it to you sooner, considering you paid and all.”

Zeal took it. “Mhm. Anyhow, before that… I have something to show you in those bags you brought in. You can’t look inside all of them, so let me into your guys’ room real quick and I’ll give it to you.”

Yaris tilted his head; however, with Zeal pushing him along, he allowed her and Lillac into the room. Though Lillac stood in the doorway, Zeal immediately went into the corner of the room and rummaged through the bags.

“…What are you doing?” Yaris asked as he turned to Lillac. Her head was tilted down and she had a light flush on her face.

“Oh, uh…” she began, stammering. “W-Well, there’s still only one bed… S-So… It’s… kind of awkward, isn’t it?”

“Ah,” Yaris began, bringing one fist into his open palm with a soft plop. “Don’t worry about any of that. I’ll sleep on the couch. Plus, you need to shower anyway, so it wouldn’t do any good for us to sleep together.”

“…Are you saying I smell?” Lillac hissed. Thankfully, Zeal had just come back with a bag in her hand.

“I got you a pair of clothes,” she said, handing it to him. As soon as Yaris accepted the bag, a proud look came over her and she raised a hand. “Don’t misunderstand—I simply cannot have you parading around with me in those scrubs you have on. What you do in your free time is up to you, but when you’re with me… You understand what will happen if you don’t comply, don’t you?”

Zeal delivered a terrifying glare. Yaris shivered, nodding. It seemed he would need to find some opportunity for alone time as well.

Zeal quickly looked through the other bags, and gathered more than half of them before heading towards the door. “Oh, and also,” she began, giving a small look over her shoulder. “I’ve treated you all enough for today. Tomorrow, I expect you to gather a carriage for me, one of acceptable prestige.”

“A-Ah?!” Lillac cried. She was stepping off to the bathroom with her head down only a moment ago, but hearing Zeal’s comment made her snap around. “H-How are we supposed to do that?”

“No, how is Yarees supposed to do that?” She shot Yaris a smug look. “He is our leader after all.”

With that, the door shut behind her, leaving Yaris and Lillac in the room in silence.

“Ugh, she’s unbelievable!” Lillac groaned. “Don’t worry about it, Yaris. I’m sure we’ll figure it out tomorrow…”

Yaris said nothing as she disappeared into the bathroom.

* * *

Cicadas chirped excitedly as a cool breeze swept through the streets of Polisar. It was the middle of the night, and Dean sat along the side of the road with a cigarette between his fingers. Behind him rested his old but reliable carriage, hitched to his equally old—and equally reliable—horse, Lessy.

“Good lord…” Dean took a long drag from his cigarette. As he exhaled, a deep trail of smoke came from his mouth. “Do people have no respect these days? Is it necessary for everyone to fuck no matter where they are…”

Earlier that night, a couple he’d been transporting had decided to get frisky halfway through the ride. It had taken everything in him not to throw them both onto the road.

As he was mulling over this, he began to hear footsteps from the side of him. He closed his eyes. “I’ve worked enough tonight. Find somebody else.”

“Well, I don’t necessarily need you to work tonight.” A plain, irritable voice sounded. Dean’s eyes shot open. “Though, I would prefer during the daytime, if possible.”

He turned sharply. He was met with the young, energetic, simple boy he had met earlier; Yaris Rogue.

A smirk came to his face. “Ah, well, what did I say?” he scoffed. “It’s alright, kid. These things happen for a reason. There’s not enough honest workers in the world, anyway. I know a good labor firm just a ways away…”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I wanted to tell you that we passed the Entrance Exams,” Yaris muttered. “If you would like, I’d like to strike a business deal with you.”

Dean, whose lips had been curled in a mocking snarl only a moment ago, suddenly went blank as he turned sharply to Yaris, his face pale. “W-What did you say…?” he said in a low tone. If Yaris didn’t know any better, he would have figured Dean was mad at him for something.

Though, now that he thought about it, it was very possible that he didn’t know any better. With a small gulp, he opened his mouth. “We passed the Entrance Exams. We qualified for the DBA. We’re preparing to leave soon.”

Dean was taking an extremely deep drag from his cigarette at this point. Any longer and he would have demolished it in one breath.

He exhaled. “…Listen, kid,” he began, standing. “Even if you did get into the DBA or whatever, don’t go expecting that you’re some amazing hot commodity you can use to swindle people.”

He stepped up to Yaris, pointing his cigarette butt at him. “People get into the DBA all the time. Lord knows what sad saps are actually going to get certification.”

Yaris put a hand on his chin. “That is true… but,” he put up a finger. “I don’t want much from you at all. I just want a nice carriage for me and my group to ride around in. We got an extra member recently, and it seems she’s quite picky. If you have anything with… uh… pillows? And… uh… comfort…? Yeah, that would be great…”

As Yaris said this, Dean looked at him with wide, almost disbelieving eyes. He brought his cigarette to his mouth, but finding that it was indeed only a butt, he tossed it with some roughness and rummaged for another one in his pocket. “…And even if I were to provide you with that… What would I get in return? From your display earlier, it’s not as though you have a lot of money…”

“Right. However, you’ll get to be associated with the guaranteed winning group, ‘The Lucids.’ That’s quite the appeal, don’t you think?”

A satisfied look came over Yaris’s face. Seriously, how insane was this kid…?

Dean lifted his head up to the sky, mumbling to himself.

“Well, we’ll be at Dream Catchers tomorrow morning.” Yaris gave a dismissive wave as he turned on his heel. “If you decide to agree, you can see us there… But I really hope you do. For my sake…”

Yaris trailed off on his last sentence, so to Dean all he heard was some sort of sad mumbling. Before he could say anything in return, Yaris had already created quite a distance between them. As quickly as he came, he left. All was still once again.

Lessy gave a happy whinny, clicking her hooves against the ground softly. Dean sighed. “Ugh… I know… I know…”

Suddenly, a small chime came from Dean’s pocket. Rummaging through it, he withdrew a small flip phone. A number was displayed on its outer screen, along with a name—Mio.

He quickly flipped it open, pressing it to his ear. “Ah, Princess!” he cried, a wide smile coming to his face as he blushed. “Daddy’s coming home right now, okay? Though, you should be asleep! Don’t worry, I’ll be there in no time…!”

“Dad! Dad!” a small voice on the other line cried. “I just had a dream! A dream! I was throwing electricity everywhere, like BAH! BAH!”

“Aha! That’s great, honey… Now, you should lay down…”

“Dad! If I become a Dreamer, can I do that for real?”

“Uh… Maybe! Who knows what you’ll be able to do?” Dean laughed awkwardly. “But if you wanna become a Dreamer, you can do anything you set your mind to.”

“Hey, dad…!” the girl whined. “Whatever happened to that weird Dreamer boy you told me about?! Is he a Dreamer yet?! Can I meet him?!”

Dean choked. “A-Ah! Don’t worry about him… H-He’s odd! Apparently he made it to the DBA, but—!”

“HE DID?!!!” came a shriek. Even with all his love for her, Dean had to bring the phone away from his ear. “CAN I MEET HIM? CAN I MEET HIM?!”

“M-Mio!” Dean exclaimed. “Ah, jeez! Don’t worry about it! I’ll be home soon, so go to bed, okay?!”

It took a bit more back and forth, but eventually Dean managed to get off of the phone. He gazed at it a long while before putting it back in his pocket with a sigh. “…Damn it.”

* * *

“I know I’ve asked several times already…” Lillac trailed off. “But… Are you sure we’re going to be fine carrying all these bags around? My arms are getting tired…”

“Not to worry,” Yaris answered with a confident glint in his eye. “If all is well, here is the last place we’ll have to drag them all to. If all is well…”

“I don’t see why you’re complaining anyhow,” Zeal interjected. “I bought all of the clothes, so it’s only natural that I shouldn’t carry them! It’s common courtesy.”

“…These clothes are pretty tight on me, though…”

At Zeal’s insistence, Yaris was wearing black jeans with a white short-sleeved button-up. In Zeal’s words: “It’s basic and stylish enough that even someone like you can pull it off. Isn’t it nice to look proper for a change?”

Yaris had no clue how to interpret those words, but he did not want to be an outlet for Zeal’s frustrations again.

As for Zeal herself, it seemed she had found another dress to wear. It looked nearly identical to the blue one she had before, but, again in Zeal’s words: “I would rather be dead than be accidentally caught matching that blue fleece of yours. I threw the blue one out!”

Again, Yaris had no clue how to interpret those words. Apparently, it was some sort of designer brand that neither he nor Lillac would ever be capable of understanding. Regardless, it seemed to give her a new sense of confidence, and she walked with a bit of pep in her step.

Lillac, however, was different. She wore a pair of black-and-white sneakers with pink shorts, and a tight cardigan-like crop top coloured purple and black. Unbeknownst to Yaris, Zeal had dolled her up quite a bit with makeup, too, and the two girls seemed to shine in tandem.

“D-Do you think this is a bit much…?” Lillac asked as she stepped into Dream Catchers, Yaris holding the door open with his body. Zeal followed suit. “W-What if the Group Counselor thinks we’re being too lax?”

“Ha!” Zeal scoffed. “That is exactly what an old woman would say. I’m glad I made you look more your age. At least your appearance can keep up…”

“Why, you…! You…! You…! Ugh! I don’t even know what to say to you…!”

“Ha! Some girls are better off keeping their mouths shut.”

Yaris tuned out their playtime. It was rather early in the morning. The sun had just begun shining on the town of Polisar, so there weren’t many people in Dream Catchers. The few that were there seemed to be casual patrons who only gave the trio slightly jealous looks before returning to their idle chatter and meals. There was some dejection in their eyes, as though they had undergone a bad experience.

Before stepping in himself, Yaris turned back to the street, looking around. “…I really hope all is well…”

He quickly turned back around, stepping into the lobby. “Where’s the receptionist?” Zeal complained, her hands on her hips. She looked around, though indeed there was no receptionist to be found—

Just then, behind the front desk, a small clatter of various metallic objects could be heard. Maybe Yaris hadn’t slept well, but he also thought he heard the sound of a hissing cat. The trio gave each other a look before stepping up to the counter and peering behind it; there, on her hands and knees, was a distraught Paula, her face beet red as she scrambled to clean up her mess.

“A-Ah!” she stammered, noticing them. “E-Excuse me! O-One moment please! A-Ah!”

As she was picking things up, they fell immediately back to the floor. Such a scene was a bit too pitiful to watch, so the three of them backed up and allowed Paula to gather herself. Five minutes later, she slowly rose, her head tilted downward with her arms drawn closely in front of her. Her eyes were closed shut as she spoke.

“W-Welcome to Dream Catchers!” she exclaimed, her voice shaky. “H-How may I help you?!”

“Paula,” Yaris said plainly. Upon hearing her name, Paula’s eyes shot up. “We passed the Entrance Exams. It seems your good luck wish was helpful after all.”

“H-Huh?!” Paula shrieked. “Y-You heard that?! W-Wait! Y-You guys made it?!”

Yaris nodded. “Anyhow, we need to meet with Ken so I can officially register my second member…” He made a gesture towards Zeal, who was only a few paces behind him. “Pretty cool, right?”

“O-Of course!”

Though she said that, Paula was hiding behind the counter for some reason. “I-I’ll go get the Group Counselor right away…!” she cried, scurrying off.

Yaris turned to Zeal. “…Don’t tell me you go around smacking everyone?”

“Oh? It seems like a man named Yarees would like another serving…”

Yaris turned away. In the distance, coming out of a room, Paula bowed in her frilly maid outfit before coming back towards the trio.

“H-He said he will see you now…” Paula murmured. “T-This way, please…”

The trio followed her into the hallway past the front desk, and, like last time they were here, they were directed to a room set into the side wall. Paula, seeming to keep some distance between herself and Zeal, knocked on the door with the back of her hand. “G-Go ahead…” she whispered, opening the door. Immediately, the three of them were met with… Ken? Or at least, they thought it was Ken. However, the bags under his eyes were so severe that one might have mistaken them for makeup. He seemed to have lost some colour in his face, too. His office was in complete disarray, with papers and sticky notes scattered everywhere. It looked like a madman’s den.

“…Before your group members come in,” he started, raising a palm. “…I would like… Actually, no, never mind. Just come in, all of you…”

After muttering this, he rested his forearm on the desk and leaned his head on his hand, rubbing his forehead.

“…Please don’t tell me you’re sick,” Yaris said with a hint of worry in his voice. Ken gave him a deep scowl.

Chapter 16 – Prelude to Homecoming

Ken was murmuring with his eyes cast downward, his fists curled tightly. It was almost as though his body was shaking. “Am… Am I really losing my edge? To become all out of whack because of this kid…” he mumbled. Yaris immediately understood. It must be hard being a parent.

Zeal leaned in toward Yaris and Lillac. Her eyes drifted over the mountain of scattered papers, then toward Ken’s pale face and the deep bags beneath his eyes.

“Hey…” Zeal whispered. “Isn’t this… a bit much for a DBA official?”

She looked around the room until her eyes landed on a glaring Ken. With a small yelp, she looked away and started whistling. Yaris supposed even for someone like Zeal, you couldn’t necessarily just do whatever you wanted in the face of authority. Ken sighed.

“…Normally,” Ken began, rubbing his eyebrows. “When groups come here after the Entrance Exams, they come to ask for advice… ‘What is the DBA like? What type of stuff do I need to bring? How do I handle funds and expenses?’ That sort of thing…”

However, one look at this particular group…

“You’re not here for any of that, are you?” Ken asked as he felt his head grow heavy. Seriously… The boy, Yaris, was giving him a deadpan expression, the black-haired girl was flustered and looking all ashamed as though she had done something, and this new overenthusiastic girl…

They’re all too much…! Ken thought as his head fell into his palms. What happened to the integrity of the DBA?! Even the other group who came in earlier, with that green-haired girl… Is this generation really so casual?!

“Well, it’s not as though we didn’t come to ask for anything…” Yaris began with a tilt of his head. He then directed a small hand over to Zeal, who put a hand on her chest and wore a self-assured look. “This is our newest member. She was previously part of another group, but she decided to join ours instead.”

“I am Zeal Sheath!” she announced. “I know it’s impossible to forget someone like me, Mr. Group Counselor, but know that despite me changing groups, I–”

Ken and Yaris had already returned to muttering with each other, and Zeal’s face twitched in a mix of shock and anger. What is this girl’s problem? Lillac thought. Is it really necessary for her to make a scene anywhere she goes…?

Yaris withdrew the group sheet from his pocket. “This has happened…”

Ken took it from him. “…You know, you can’t just go around doing whatever you want so haphazardly like this…” he lamented. “Thankfully the group sheet itself… well, it seems fine… But if it weren’t… It would be a 5,000 Yuni fine…”

“Five… Five thousand…” Yaris muttered. He turned to Lillac, who began violently shaking her head with a disagreeing look on her face. …It seems I’ll have to be more careful.

“Well, like I said, that’s if it weren’t.” Ken searched through his desk, and after a short while pulled out some sort of plastic tool that looked like a razor. He began scraping at Zeal’s fingerprint and the stolen square, a wave of focus coming over him. The three of them could not help but watch silently.

It took a minute, but once he was done, he wiped his brow with an exhale. “There… now, all that needs to happen is for… Zeal… to take her official picture, and give a fingerprint…” He rested his head on his knuckles as he leaned over the table. “What she did isn’t technically the wrong way to go about it, as by definition she had her photo and fingerprint on your group sheet… But you would still have to formally document the change before enrollment anyhow. Plus, what she had done… was extremely tacky. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to show anyone that with any air of seriousness… Please, for my sanity, if you have any more members, just bring them here and I can help with the process…”

Again, the three of them could do nothing but stand and listen.

Wait… Isn’t this a bit too normal for a group containing these types of people…? Ken thought, a cold sweat coming over him. It’s as though… It’s as though…

“…You can be pretty official sometimes, huh?” Yaris said in a flat tone.

“…You guys are insane.”

* * *

Yaris and Lillac were shooed out while Zeal was taking her pictures. It had already been two minutes, and inside, Zeal was shouting things about ‘doing them over’ and ‘make sure to get my good side’… Either way, it seemed the two of them would be hanging tight for a while.

“…How do you feel, Lillac?” Yaris asked suddenly. Lillac turned to him in surprise; she wasn’t used to him asking questions like that.

“…Ah, well… It’s all a bit surreal…” she began, rubbing her arm. “Even though I said it was something I wanted to do… Even just entering the DBA… It’s an accomplishment in and of itself…” Then, a sentimental look began to form in her eyes. “I can’t help but think that… I’ll have to work harder… It’s going to be intense in there, but… If I want to make my family proud…”

Lillac blinked. Suddenly, a wave of guilt came over her.

“A-Ah, Yaris…?” she asked, turning to him. She noticed that he already had his arms crossed, a serious look on his face as he nodded up and down. “Yes, yes, I understand… I was wondering where you were going with that talk… but it all makes sense…”

“R-Really?” Lillac questioned. Yaris really did look quite serious. Was it possible that even someone like him could be reliable at times…?

“Yes… Though it’s a rather roundabout way of confirming… Just as I thought…” He then held up a thumb. “You’re hungry, right?”

THUD

Lillac, flushing, threw a very strong fist into Yaris’s back. Don’t tell me she’s picking up these tendencies from Zeal… Yaris prayed. Seriously. He did not need to have his group members one day ganging up on him.

“O-Of course not!” Lillac exclaimed. “Look…”

She then shrank back, leaning against the wall. The air around her became sentimental, and even Yaris knew he would have to listen. Following her, he too leaned back against the wall, head up.

“I… I haven’t seen my family since I came to Polisar,” Lillac started. “…With me joining your group, as well as everything with the Entrance Exams… Even now, even though it seemed impossible at first, we somehow gained a third person… Even if the means are… very unconventional and crude…”

Ah, there it was. She had somehow managed to find a way to give him a small glare. He would need to figure out exactly how women worked… Regardless, he listened.

“Z-Zeal already made some point of it, but I don’t have a phone or anything of the sort to keep in contact… A-And with how dangerous the process to Dreamer certification naturally is… I’m sure they’re worrying…”

“…You want to see them,” Yaris said bluntly. Lillac’s eyes widened, a look of surprise coming over her. Yaris tilted his head. “Don’t be so surprised. Isn’t that what you were leading up to?”

“Ah, but even if so…” Lillac continued, looking resigned. “…It’s a bit too late now, isn’t it? I mean… with so much we have to do and think about before the DBA… It would be better to prepare for the future…”

Yaris put a hand on her shoulder. The sudden contact made her jolt, and she immediately began trying to swat him away. “S-Seriously, Yaris!” she hushed. “D-Don’t worry, I’m fine…”

But Yaris didn’t let go. His expression had gone solemn, and when she met his eyes, his grip tightened. Lillac tensed.

“…No,” Yaris uttered. “You need to keep your family close.”

For several seconds, Lillac couldn’t look away. She began to fidget until she could no longer take the heat rising in her face, and with a slow, deliberate sidestep, she somehow managed to escape.

“Don’t worry,” Yaris said, holding a thumb up to himself. “I called upon the best of the best to be our carriage driver. Even if we take several detours on the way… I’m sure we’ll arrive in Alui with no issues.”

Lillac turned to him. His expression softened.

“Allow me to meet your parents, Lillac,” Yaris said at once. Lillac burned up.

“W-Woah!” she cried, holding her hands out in front of her. “I-I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but that is going a bit far! Y-You don’t have to meet anyone! That’s something you save for… m-m-marriage!”

Yaris tilted his head. “…Well, I’m your leader, aren’t I? Isn’t it important that your parents meet the man that’s going to be taking care of you?”

“P-Please stop with this wording!” she cried. “E-Even if you’re a bonehead who doesn’t understand the obscurities that come with that stuff… M-my parents… They’ll immediately jump to conclusions! You don’t have to meet them!”

She then tucked her shoulders into herself. Somehow… she was beginning to bow slightly. “B-But still, thank you… I… I thought I was a bad daughter for a moment there… I’m… I’m glad I can have them see me off! To the DBA!”

Yaris gave a sigh of relief. He felt himself smile. “…That’s good.”

“Alright!” Zeal exclaimed, slamming the door open. It gave Lillac quite a jump… She’s all the way to the ceiling… Yaris thought.

“J-Jeez! Don’t go being all loud like that!” Lillac fussed. “Especially since you were taking so long! I thought you would never come out!”

“Hmph! You know perfection takes time! Anyway, Mr. Group Counselor said to come in. Let’s wrap this up.”

Though it was on Zeal’s orders, the two of them followed her back inside. Ken was already applying glue to the back of the photo card, and with an irritated hand, he stamped it onto the group sheet. It was a really irritated hand. Yaris would have liked to stick up for his member, but…

“Now,” Ken started. He withdrew the thumbprint pad. “If you would please.”

He gave a look to Zeal, who was standing right in front of the desk, staring at the thumbprint pad. Despite Ken’s orders, and despite her usual excitement, she remained motionless, as though she were in some sort of daze.

“Um, Zeal?” Lillac questioned, stepping up beside her and waving a hand in her face. It seemed to be enough to snap her out of it, and with a small stammer, Zeal leaned down and pressed her thumb first onto the pad, and then onto the group sheet.

…It wasn’t exactly unwarranted. She had joined them awfully quickly. And if Yaris was being fair, neither he nor Lillac had exactly given her much proof that the Lucids would amount to anything yet.

Yaris tilted his head down. …Then I’ll just have to ease her worries.

Ken handed the group sheet back to Yaris. He let out a long exhale of exasperation. “With that, your group registration is officially complete. Is there anything else you need from me? If not, please leave…”

“Sorry, Ken,” Yaris said. How strange. It seemed as though Ken grew a bit irritable and wary at his words. Nah, it’s probably nothing. “But I have just one more thing to ask.”

Ken lifted his head. Yaris had an oddly responsible air about him, as though he were about to ask something personal—something grave.

…Here it comes, Ken thought, readying himself. He stood, his large frame towering over the three of them, but it did nothing to ease his uneasiness. He watched Yaris closely. I figured I might have to pay the price for snooping around, but… Well, it’s to be expected. No matter what words come out of his mouth… I’ll be sure to react with the air of a DBA official… No matter what his connections are…!

“…How can we gain money while in DBA?” Yaris pleaded.

Immediately, Ken nearly fell back into his seat… Wait, he really did fall, which got some gasps and yelps from the two girls.

“G-Group Counselor!” Lillac exclaimed. “A-Are you alright…?!”

“Tsk…!” Zeal clicked her tongue. “Of course you just had to go and embarrass us… Don’t you know anyone worth their salt in the DBA has already acquired a handful of funds through sponsors and the like…? Not many people even think about trying to go for work right off the bat…!”

“W-Well, that’s true too…” Ken said as he gripped onto the desk, struggling to get back up. He looked quite irritated. “But… if that is your question… The DBA has all sorts of events and tasks that aspiring Dreamers can participate in… Think of it as internships. Gah! I’m exhausted… Just go, just go! Does that answer your question?”

“Ah, yes…” Yaris nodded. Ken really did seem tired, so he felt it would be bad for them to continue pestering him any longer. “Well, I hope to see you again, Ken.”

“…Don’t look so proud rhyming my name…”

With that, the trio left, and a small click could be heard from the door as Yaris closed it behind the two girls. Ken could hear some small bickering from the other side. He brought his hands to his face and sighed.

* * *

Zeal had managed to snatch away the group sheet as the three of them walked. By the time the trio returned to the lobby, the pile of shopping bags they had left beside the front desk was still waiting for them. Lillac’s expression fell the moment she saw them.

“…Ugh, seriously…?” Zeal complained, holding up the group sheet. “Is this what your two pictures came out like…? Yarees looks as though someone pointed a flashlight right in his eyes, and Lillac… Yours looks like an elementary school photo! This is not flattering for my picture at all!”

“H-Hey!” Lillac shrieked. “I-I was nervous, okay! I don’t even think it looks all that bad! I-I just look like a young aspiring Dreamer who’s a bit tense! Isn’t that the sort of thing people appreciate?!”

Zeal shook her head with a finger raised. “No, no, no. A real aspiring Dreamer, especially for a young lady, is supposed to be confident, looking as though she’s ready to take the reins and prove to everyone she’s exactly as expected! That sort of thing! You look like your mom made you wear some sort of embarrassing outfit for a school dance!”

“Ugh, enough already!”

As the two of them went back and forth, Yaris somehow managed to regain the group sheet. Three people were a part of the Lucids already, huh…?

Yaris put the group sheet in his pocket. Fueled by some sort of determination, he snuck peeks outside the window to see if all was well… Well, thankfully, it seemed as though he wouldn’t have to rely on his second plan. He didn’t know how Lillac and Zeal would handle being tossed in the air, after all.

“Ah, that reminds me,” Yaris said aloud. Though in the midst of their argument, the two girls turned to him. “I want to take Lillac to see her family before we head off to the DBA. Are there any objections?”

Ah, damn it, Yaris! Lillac cursed. W-Why did you have to go ahead and tell Zeal?! I’d much rather us just show up and have her be all angry and stuff then! Now she’s gonna be all apprehensive…

…and I might not be able to see my family after all…

“…Huh? Isn’t that natural?” Zeal said matter-of-factly, flipping her hair. Yaris and Lillac looked at her in shock, though upon seeing her irritated expression, the two of them turned away.

She stepped up to Lillac. “You think you’re the only one who has family she wants to see?” She put a finger in Lillac’s face, which made her flinch a bit. “I’ll have you know that I have family that would like to see me off as well! I’ll have you know that as a great prospect, they are absolutely dying to hear the news that Zeal Sheath will be entering the DBA! They don’t find me presumptuous, and they aren’t happy to get a break from me whatsoever!”

We didn’t say anything like that, though… Yaris and Lillac thought.

“Anyhow, regardless of what we need to do and where we need to go before the DBA, it’s all for naught if you don’t have a carriage!” Zeal shouted, glaring at Yaris. “So? Where is it?”

“Ah, you should trust in your leader a bit more,” Yaris said, his head held high. He figured he deserved to be proud—it seemed that everything worked out. “The best driver in the entirety of Polisar is outside, with surely the best carriage as well. I have to gather the bags, so why don’t the two of you go meet him?”

“Oh… it seems as though you are more capable than a dog after all,” Zeal muttered, walking off. She seemed interested, and Lillac followed after her with a “Hey, now…”, though she gave Yaris a skeptical look before walking out of Dream Catchers.

“…Paula.” Yaris addressed Paula, who was silently—but diligently, how impressive—mopping off to the side. At his words, she jolted and held her mop tightly.

“Y-Yes?!”

Yaris stepped up to her, getting close. Paula grew increasingly flustered, though she didn’t step back. …She must have some use with the opposite sex… Yaris thought. …It’s perfect… It’s everything I don’t have… Yes, she will be perfect for learning the anomaly that is ‘women’.

He shuddered. Especially if it will help with Lillac and Zeal…

“…U-Um, sir?” she stammered, her eyes blinking rapidly. Yaris was staring at her rather hard, after all. “D-Do you have some business with me…?”

“Oh, yes…” Yaris murmured. He stepped back a bit. “Sometime, I plan on coming back here… If you’re free… Would you like to go somewhere with me?”

“Oh, um, sure… W-Wait, what?!”

“Great. Then it’s settled. I’m unsure when I’ll be able to return, but I don’t plan to keep you waiting too long… At the first free opportunity, I’ll come back here and pick you up. I’m in a bit of a rush, so I’ll be going now… Thank you!”

He gave her a send-off wave before gathering all of the bags by the front counter and quickly heading toward the door. After all, there was a great deal of yelling coming from Zeal and Dean… Now that Yaris thought about it, they were quite the rough match, huh…?

Watching Yaris’s retreating back, Paula suddenly knelt down and brought her hands to her cheeks. “N-No way…” she muttered. She could feel the heat of her face in her hands. “D-Did… I just get hit on?”

B-But it happens all the time already, doesn’t it? But… Normally it’s by guys who’ve had something to drink! After all, someone like me… B-But he’s too young! He’s definitely just a kid! What am I getting all flustered for…!

“T-That’s right!” she nodded. “I-I’ll tell him it’s no good! That it’s not right! Even if it’s puppy love… It’s my responsibility as an adult!”

Convinced, she resumed her mopping. Though suddenly, she paused.

…S-Should I show off…?

* * *

It was some time after the trio left. Ken… was exhausted. He brought a hand to his mouth, deep in thought, but his heart could not be set at ease.

“…It just makes no sense,” he uttered. He rummaged through the drawer of his desk, revealing Yaris’s ‘recommendation letter.’ “After all…”

“I thought you were dead, Troy Almonion.”

Chapter 17 – Lillac's Homecoming (Part One)

When Yaris walked out of Dream Catchers… Well, what did he expect?

“There’s no possible way I could ride with someone like you!” Zeal exclaimed, a finger stuck out as she poked and prodded and Dean’s stomach twice. “You reek of booze and smoke! And you’re bald and sweaty! What’s with this getup, anyway?! You’re probably some sort of kidnapper! I don’t care how midrate your carriage is!”

“Hey, brat?! Don’t you think you’re going too far?! Haven’t your parents ever taught you to respect your elders?!” Dean was spitting everywhere as he hollered. “What makes you think I want anything to do with you, anyway?! I was talking to the other girl!”

“H-Hey… no need to fight…” Lillac squirmed, however the sparks flying between the two of them were too much to handle, and she somehow found herself backing away despite trying to act as a mediator… You really need to show some more spine, you know?

“Well, it seems as though all is well.” Yaris sighed as he approached the two offenders. At the notice of his presence, the two of them turned to him, their eyes white with rage.

“Hey, Yarees! Tell this bastard to leave me the hell alone!”

“Hey, kid! Tell her to screw off already and go to hell! She’s annoying!”

“…Well, I can’t quite do that…” Yaris muttered, dropping the bags by the carriage.

“Dean, this is the person who joined my group recently, and Zeal… this is the carriage driver who you asked me to get. He’s the best in the region, can’t you tell?”

Dean and Zeal looked at each other, then back at Yaris. They did this a few more times, their expressions becoming more grave and upset with each pass. Hm… It seems as though I didn’t consider the fact… Yaris began to think, putting a hand to his chin.

“Ah, you’re the kid’s new member?! Such a brat like you?! Why the hell would someone so plain like him pick up someone like you?! Does he have a screw loose or some shit?!”

“Ah, you’re the carriage driver he was supposed to get?! W-Why the hell would he choose someone so grotesque for someone as elegant as me! H-He truly is an idiot!”

…That these two might not be a good match for each other…

What did they say? Fire and fire only makes more fire? Something along those lines… Well, Yaris had figured since Dean was an adult, he would be able to handle himself a bit better when it came to someone like Zeal but…

“Shut your mouth brat! You’re annoying! Agh, goddamn it! If I knew I’d have to put up with a whiney brat I wouldn’t even come!”

“Huhhhh?! What makes you think you’re going to be putting up with anything?! I’d rather be dead than even be seen with… that!”

…Yaris supposed even adults have their limits.

“Kid! What the hell were you thinking?!” Dean said, stomping over. Veins were protruding out of his bald head—Yaris never knew someone could look so angry. “Why didn’t you tell me you had people like this riding along with ya?! This is the type I hate the most, goddamn it!”

“A-Ah, sorry…” Yaris apologized. He didn’t understand what he was so mad for, but being shaken around by the shoulders… he wished he would stop soon.

Dean growled while digging in his pocket. Of course, a cigarette was withdrawn. “Whatever… I already made my decision…”

Yaris blinked. “…So you’re accepting my offer after all?”

“…Well, originally it was going to be yes, but…” He turned to Zeal, who was glaring at him with a monstrous look in her eye… Yaris even thought she was growling. “After seeing what I might have to deal with… I want a deposit at least.”

Yaris tilted his head. “…A deposit…?”

At his words, Dean took a very, very long drag of his cigarette. Was that necessary? Yaris didn’t know Zeal had so much of an effect on him.

“A deposit!” Dean boomed once he was finally done. “An initial sum of money in exchange for goods to solidify trust! Goddamn it, kid, how are you even going to survive in this world? Do you even know percentages or any of that shit?!”

Yaris’s tilt only grew deeper.

Dean sighed. “Well, that’s how it’s gotta be. Since the decision was so sudden, I’ll let you throw me an offer, and depending on what I hear… Well, we’ll see.”

Yaris perked up again. “Ah, well, if that’s it…” He pointed a finger at Lillac, who was still standing off to the side, seeming to try and say some consoling words to Zeal, who was still pouting. “…Then how about all the money that girl has?”

Dean’s cigarette nearly fell from his mouth as he made some sort of choking sound. “A-All of it?!” he coughed. “C-C’mon, kid, I don’t know what kind of relationships you have with these girls… but just what kind of racket are you running…”

Yaris shrugged. “She’ll understand. I’ll go talk to her.”

Saying that casually, Yaris walked off towards the two girls, leaving Dean alone.

Ah… Maybe I underestimated him? Dean began to think as his expression tightened. The kid really was speaking to her. He seems like such a simple and plain guy… But maybe he’s some sort of secret weasel? He does always have that ‘I don’t really care’ type of expression going on… Tch! That type of stuff was bad enough in my day… Look, she’s even yelling at him… Ah, but she somehow managed to recede… H-Her whole bag..! Kid?! Who’s raising you…?! Ah, it seems he’s coming over… But he left that girl with such an angry expression… Mio, please choose carefully when you get older…!

Once Yaris got close enough to the praying Dean, he held out the bag. “Here you are,” he said. There was no guilt in his expression at all, that guy. “Everything Lillac has left.”

“…Well, it’s your choice after all…” Dean said as he slowly took the bag. He began to open it up and rummage inside it. “…Yeah, you can’t meet this guy at all, Mio…”

Suddenly, a surprised look appeared on Dean’s face. His hand was so deep inside the bag but… There was hardly anything left in there. In a panic, he flipped it over and began dumping the contents into his hand.

“…E-eighty Yuni?!” he bellowed, looking quickly from Yaris to the bag. “W-What the hell! You made it seem like this was gonna be worth my while? What the hell was I worrying for?!”

Yaris gave a thumbs up. Despite his plain face, Dean could definitely tell… He was smug. Dean gripped onto the bag tightly, shaking with a particular anger that kids shouldn’t rouse out of adults.

“A deal is a deal, right?” Yaris confirmed with a nod.

* * *

“So, you want me to pretty much just drive you around when you need it?” Dean grunted. Lessy seemed to be doing well, happily tugging the carriage along. She would occasionally fwip her head back towards Yaris, which would often bring an ‘easy, girl’ from Dean. “You know I’m still a businessman? I can’t go around trollying people every goddamn day… Especially people that ain’t got shit to pay.”

“Not every day,” Yaris clarified. “Just when we need it. Though, I would like to take up some of your time for the next couple of days. We have some stops…”

“Stops, he says! Look at this fucker…”

The carriage had a small door that led to the porch, which Yaris was thankful for. It made communication to Dean much easier. Yaris fwipped back inside, seeing the two girls. Zeal, who was lying on the simple bed reading a book, and Lillac, who was lying on the couch, a thoughtful expression on her face while she twirled her hair.

“You two.” Yaris started. They looked up at him. “Please give Dean directions to your homes.”

Zeal scoffed. “And this is supposedly his luxury carriage? It’s spacey, sure, but it hardly has half of the stuff mine did! And I wouldn’t even call that one top of the line! It’s just my average commuter!”

“…And here the one I bought from him didn’t even have a bed, let alone a table…” Lillac mumbled. Regardless, the two of them stood.

Dean’s carriage was as Zeal had said, though Yaris felt it more comfortable than the one they had ridden in prior. Lessy was manning it, of course. That was his conclusion on the matter.

It was made of a nice polished dark wood, riding on six wheels for added suspension and comfort. It was long, and that was due to the small shower-like structure that was located near the back of the carriage, with an elementary toilet and sink accompanying it—it was like a miniature bathroom. In Dean’s words: “Don’t go using it all willy nilly. The water is electrically heated for the shower, but it’s stored in a small tank. Plus, I have to dump all the wastewater afterwards—so be goddamn considerate.”

Yaris thought it was his usual banter at the time, but he did seem to be glaring pretty harshly at Zeal during said talk. Oh well.

Anyhow, as Lillac had pointed out, situated in the middle between the bed and couch was a large table with four chairs, easily enough to seriously eat on in the case of a long trip. When Yaris asked why there were four chairs and only one bed, Dean only responded with ‘young and naive, huh?’ Considerately, outside of the small area where the minibathroom was located, the floor was plush with a simple carpet.

As far as the exterior, it did not look too much different from the first carriage Yaris and Lillac had ridden in from Dean, except it lacked any sort of brand association. It did, however, have some exterior candles lit–’for safety’.

I knew I could trust him. Yaris thought as the girls followed him through the door leading to the porch. Dean, you truly are–

“And where the hell did you even get something like this anyway?” Zeal whined. “It has so many weird design choices—it’s almost completely impractical…!”

“…You’re lucky I’m nearly through an entire pack of smokes today…” Dean grumbled. Whites were beginning to occupy his entire eye again.

“First,” Yaris began, giving a small hand shove to Lillac’s back as he let her move up to the front. “We need to go to Lillac’s home. She wants to see her family.”

“Huh?” Dean snarled as he turned to her. Lillac jolted, however took another step forward.

“…Yes. Before I go to the DBA, I… want to see my family.”

Dean looked at her a long while, before turning back to the front. “Well? Where is it? I’m only going to be doing this for the short while up until I drop y’all off at the DBA, so I don’t want to waste any time.”

“A-Ah! It’s…”

As Lillac was giving him directions, Yaris brought Zeal back inside. A confused look was on her face, but Yaris brought a hand to his lips as he silenced her.

“…Zeal,” he began. Zeal crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. “…If you can… When we get to Lillac’s house…”

“What?! You think I have no self-control?!” she exclaimed. She was loud as ever, and the carriage seemed to rattle a bit. She must have frightened Lessy.

“…Well, not that, but…” Yaris continued. “Lillac seems sincere. I just want it to be a good experience.”

Zeal gave him a raised eyebrow, then turned away with a hmph. She returned to the bed and opened up her book again.

“…Aren’t you supposed to be telling Dean where your home is?” Yaris questioned. Zeal did not answer him. Paula would definitely be needed in the future.

* * *

Lillac’s home… It wouldn’t be a far ride at all. Despite Polisar being the capital, like most large regions, around it was… well, to be frank, countryside. It was those countrysides where Lillac was born and raised—in a small town a small distance to the east. This area, if you were to point to it on a map, was named Fyinlot. Lillac was unsure of the exact number, but she was sure that there were probably only five hundred or so people who occupied this area. Of course, living in such a small town in the modern world could not be sustained forever… and this was evident in the scenery as she passed by.

As a child, she remembered playing outside on the packed dirt roads with the other girls and boys… She was quite chunky then, and she would always dread the possibility of her getting picked on. Days like that, she would go to the local ice cream shop down the way in an attempt to cheer herself up before returning home at dusk… Ah, she might have just made a correlation… Well, anyhow, now… The streets were very empty. There were businesses and merchant stalls of course, with an older couple manning them contentedly as they wore hats to block out the sun. They wore jackets as fall would soon be approaching, and as the carriage passed by they looked with great inquisitiveness as though they had seen a rare sight. Lillac couldn’t help but smile.

The only ones walking the streets now were older folks, those who had decided that they would more or less be staying there for the rest of their lives. They carried worn baskets with smiles on their faces… Lillac thought she even recognized some of them. She wondered what they would think of her, now…

“…I never knew you lived so close…” Zeal muttered. She was looking out of the window on the other side of the carriage, her chin resting in her hand. “It was only about a two-hour ride.”

“Ah, yeah…” Lillac trailed off. “It’s a good thing, really. Otherwise… I wouldn’t even know how I would get to Polisar to begin with.”

Zeal put on a wide smirk. “Huhhhhh? Does that mean you walked all the way over from here to Polisar? Ha! I can imagine the look on your face… You probably looked like a lost kid!”

“Ugh… shut up!” Lillac cried. Eh? Wait, now that I think about it… My feet were getting pretty tired that day… I was whining a lot, too… Huh? Did I really…

She saw something out of the corner of her eye, interrupting her train of thought. It was a small shrine, worshiping an ancient fox god. There, a demi-human was dropping something into the small well that was situated in front of it, clasping her hands together. Her thick, long matted hair ran down her back and was tucked under her shirt, symbolizing what sort of demi-human she was—a fox.

“…To think they still do that…” Lillac muttered. However, this proved another thing to her—she was close to her family home. She began to shuffle in her seat as she got ready, and Zeal suddenly came over and nearly climbed over her to look out the window as well.

“…Such old-timer madness!” she scoffed. “Even if demi-humans are descendants of these so-called long-past gods… Look at her! She’s nearly trembling with how hard she is praying–”

Lillac, though not saying anything, was giving Zeal a very sharp look. Her eyes trembled and a small blush was on her face. Zeal too gave her a squinted look in return, but with a small ‘hmph’ did she return back to the bed and opened her book.

“…The ancient gods are like parents to demi-humans.” Yaris cut in. He was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed one over the other, his hands crossed as well. He looked like some sort of sage monk, with his blank expression. “Just because you don’t understand something–”

“I understand it plenty!” Zeal exclaimed. “You don’t gotta go telling me every damn thing! I was just joking! It’s been a while since I seen a demi-human, let alone one praying!”

Yaris said nothing, and instead turned to Lillac, seeing her prepare and fix her hair and inspect her clothes. “…Are we close?”

“…Yes.”

The carriage rolled quietly along. Lillac looked attentive out of the window as house after house passed them by. Finally, one seemed to have gotten her particular attention, and with a certain air did she rise from the couch she was sitting on and stumble over to the door leading to the porch. There, with a cigarette in his mouth (of course), was Dean. At her entrance did he turn his head slightly towards her.

“…It’s that one coming up,” Lillac said. She seemed so much softer at that moment—Dean couldn’t help but think of her as a child.

“…Sure. Just don’t take all day. It doesn’t seem like there’s much to do in this town…”

Lillac made a small chuckle.

* * *

“Ah… I’m so nervous…” Lillac shivered, stepping up to the walkway of her family home. It was a small, one-story house with a modest garden in the front and a stone walkway leading to the front door. She remembered the times she would dig in the backyard—with her hands, much to the dismay of her parents. Her parents had always been the laid-back type, so Lillac often found herself stuck with the duty of washing the exterior of the house—but since she had been gone…

“…It’s built up this much grime already…?” she muttered. She heard footsteps behind her, and coming up were Yaris and Zeal, coming from some ways down the street. Lillac had been dropped off first, as Dean wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of waiting outside of someone’s home for a few hours. Zeal originally protested the idea of having to walk and insisted that she be dropped off with Lillac.

“…She probably wants some time to soak in her family home,” Yaris had explained. He had this sentimentality to his voice—and it was because of this voice that Zeal couldn’t do anything but huff and give him the cold shoulder. Such an irritating guy… she thought.

Zeal… Lillac thought while analyzing the girl. She’s quite the character but… maybe she isn’t so bad?

“Hm…” Zeal approached Lillac’s side, her arms crossed. “It’s just as drab and old-timey as I figured!”

“Y-You…!” Lillac hissed. “I-I take back any mercy I had for you…!”

Zeal tilted her head. “So? Aren’t you gonna knock on the door? Or do you plan to just stay out here the whole while? The grass can’t be that appetizing, you know?”

“J-Just give me a second!” Lillac exclaimed.

It would be her last time seeing this home for quite some time. Of course, she knew deep down in her heart that she would be sure to visit… But for the first time in her life, she could say that she would be moving out of the nest… Her fist balled up as her mouth scrunched and tears began to form in her eyes.

Mama, are you proud of me?! she telepathed. Yaris and Zeal gazed at this display with much skepticism.

Finally, after a small series of deep breaths, Lillac approached the door. She brought her fist up, hesitated for a moment, then flipped it around. She rapped on the door with the back of her hand five times. She waited with bated breath, and even Yaris had to admit that he was feeling some sort of pressure… but…

A minute passed and nothing came. Lillac nearly glanced at Zeal and Yaris before she coughed loudly into her fist, and again did she rap the door with the back of her hand. Silence, still.

“…Is it possible they’re not even home?” Zeal asked. “D-Don’t tell me you have bad timing, as well!”

“A-Ah! No! T-There’s no way they’re not home right now, w-what could they possibly be doing?!” Lillac cried. “J-Just give it a moment…”

Zeal said nothing as she raised an eyebrow.

Lillac knocked again, though this time using the front of her fist. It was much more impatient and needy than the last two times.

“Agh! What are they doing!” she exclaimed. She brought her face close to the door, putting her ear up against it. Then, with a strong whoosh, the door suddenly opened, and Lillac faceplanted onto the floor inside. Rounds of laughter could be heard from a cheery individual, and a stifled, though noticeable chuckle sounded as well. Of course, it had to be…her parents.

“Ha ha! Lill, you’re as clumsy as ever!” the man exclaimed. It was almost as though he was laughing too hard.

“Ah… D-Dear… it’s not good to play p-pranks on her…” the woman mumbled. Her hand was pressed so hard against her mouth that you would think she was holding back some sort of regurgitation. Zeal watched the scene with an astonished expression, her body nearly going limp.

“A-and here I was trying to be all sincere…!” she grumbled. “Y-Your parents bully you way more than I do!”

“M-Mom! D-Dad…!” Lillac whined. She was clutching at her nose as she rolled around on the floor. “Y-You’re embarrassing me…!”

Her dad leaned over to pick her up, dusting off her shoulders. “Sorry, sorry! Don’t worry about it! What, we can’t miss our Lill at all, hm…?” he teased. “Oh! You’re dressing a bit more mature now as well!”

“Ah… but I miss when you would always want to dress like me…” the mother sighed. “You’d be like ‘mama! Mama! You’re the prettiest!’ and things like that… are you becoming your own woman at last…?”

“Gh! Gh!” Lillac was very red in the face. Yaris watched on in silence.

“Well, let’s not keep your friends waiting…” the father said, finally turning towards Zeal and Yaris. Though with her usual offhanded pride, Zeal stood at attention. “…Come on in!”

Chapter 18 – Lillac's Homecoming (Final Part)

“Ah… and be sure to look at this one!” Lillac’s mother squealed. She held her cheek in the palm of her hand, adoration in her eyes. It was hard to say her excitement wasn’t infectious, and Yaris and Zeal leaned closer over the photo album. “This is her when she was three! You see that plushy she took with her in the bath? One of those Zanbio characters? Ah, even though that one was called Iromi, she liked to call it ‘big sister!’ she always wanted a sister, you see–”

“M-mama!” Lillac cried. She was on the other side of the three of them being held back by her father on a separate couch, his hands around her stomach with a smile on his face. She was squirming so fiercely; it was honestly quite a surprise to Yaris that her father was even managing to hold her back. “W-What the hell are you showing them?!”

Though Yaris couldn’t quite understand what Lillac was reacting so strongly to, he did notice something… That flower pin… She’s been wearing it for so long?

Like the outside of the house, the inside was equally simple. The living room, where they were situated now, was arranged with two couches opposite each other and a table in the middle. Along the wall was an entertainment center with a TV mounted atop of it. All around the walls, no matter where you looked, were family photos, all some variation of the two parents and of course, Lillac.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine!” the mother insisted. “You were just a baby after all! In fact, I have another, where you managed to escape outside of the house when we were changing your diaper…”

“E-Enough!” Lillac managed to escape from her father’s grasp at last, and she leapt over the table and snatched the photo album away, much to the dismay of her mother. “L-Lillac…!” she sobbed. “How could you…!”

“Y-You’ve had enough fun…!” Lillac fumed. “Y-You didn’t even introduce yourselves yet…!”

“Hm… I suppose you’re right…” the father mumbled, nodding his head up and down matter of factly.

“If it was so obvious, then why didn’t you do it in the first place…” Zeal couldn’t help muttering to herself. She then shot a look at Lillac, a mischievous grin coming to her face. Lillac stuck her hands out almost as though to shield herself from some sort of attack.

“Ah, but Lillac, you’re quite the cute baby, huh?” Zeal cheered. Yaris could instantly see sparks begin to light in Lillac’s mother’s eyes—she had been reactivated. “To think that that cute thing turned into such a brute…”

“I know, right!” Lillac’s mother squealed. “She used to be all like ‘Mama… I wanna hold your hand…!’ Now she’s mrghmem?!”

Lillac had covered her mother’s mouth with her hand, an angry flushed look on her face. After some time, her mother began to tap on her arm, and with a skeptical look did Lillac finally release her. “L-Like that…” she sighed, putting a hand to her chest.

The father laughed heartily. “Really, I’m so glad Lillac found herself such a good group! To be honest, I was real nervous when Lillac began spouting about her aspirations for the DBA, especially with her lack of funds… But it feels like she landed up just where she needed to be…!”

He continued to laugh as he said this, however Yaris noticed that his eyes would be darting to him every now and again—it was as though he was somewhat cheeky. Even the mother, who was going back and forth with Lillac, was shooting him looks… He figured it was his cue to introduce himself, so he stood, and with a deep bow…

“I am Yaris Rogue, leader of the Lucids. I am happy to have your daughter in my care.”

Yeah… I think that was pretty good. Yaris thought. All of these new experiences seemed to have honed his sense, and, to be honest, he was feeling himself. Now, to raise my head and then introduce Zeal…

However, when he did finally raise his head, her parents were both covering their mouths with their hands, exchanging glances from him to Lillac. Her mother seemed to be making some sort of high-pitched noise, and her father was nodding up and down with a “mhm, mhm.” Lillac was muttering something while waving her hands frantically. It seemed they received him well.

“And this,” Yaris continued, putting a hand towards Zeal. “Is my second member to join my group. She joined sometime after Lillac. Her name is Zeal Sheath, of the Lucids. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Zeal put a hand to her chest, opening her mouth to speak. But just before any words came out of her mouth she managed to catch Lillac sneaking a look at her, Lillac’s eyebrows raised with her lips upturned in some sort of pout. Zeal relaxed her body with a sigh and closed her eyes, giving a small bow.

“It is nice to meet you both,” she said simply, with a restrained smile.

“Ohhhh… Lillac…” the mother leaned in to her daughter. Lillac moved closer so her mother could whisper to her. “…It seems you have some fierce competition, huh..? You better not lose, girl…!”

“I-I told you, it’s not like that…!”

“Well, seeing how much of an upstanding man you are, I feel motivated to reciprocate in kind.” The father stood. Though not as deep as Yaris’s bow, he gave one himself. “I am Joshua Webster; Lillac’s father. My wife, (upon directing a hand to her, she gave a small wave with a cheery smile) is Ruth Webster…”

Her father, though not a tall man, was rather thin with a defined face, his facial hair a bit unkempt. Despite his masculine features, he had rather soft eyes that seemed to be very patient. In that regard, her mother was similar, however she was thin, with a build that suggested she stayed fairly active, though her face had a bit of a plumpness to it.

Her father put his hands firmly at his sides before suddenly giving a deep, complete 90-degree bow. “…Please make my daughter happy!”

The room was silent, and Zeal and Lillac were failing to hide the shocked expression on their faces. C’mon, you two… Yaris shook his head. If your jaws drop any farther your faces might snap in two…

Though, I cannot be too surprised. Yaris raised his head and crossed his arms. As a leader, I have a deep responsibility to not only honor the wishes of my members… but of those who my members care about as well. It is only natural that Lillac’s parents would be concerned about the emotional integrity of her being, and of course, that includes happiness. With that in mind, the only answer is to…

“…Ye–!”

Before Yaris could give him words of affirmation, Zeal suddenly came up from behind him and began pulling at his cheeks, thus silencing him. That, and her sudden action made him bite his tongue. It hurt quite a bit.

“W-What the hell are you doing, you idiot?!” Zeal hissed. “You’re going to end up trapped! Don’t you have a group to lead?!”

“B-but… the wellbeing of my members…” Yaris grumbled.

As Zeal was giving him a lecture Yaris could not quite understand, the two parents ushered Lillac towards the stairwell, seeming to beckon her up the stairs, sneaky looks on their faces. Though Lillac didn’t understand what they were up to (especially after being embarrassed so heavily), she followed.

“W-What is it?” Lillac asked in a huff. Her parents should be quite happy she was somehow managing to control herself.

“…Don’t you want to pack? I’m sure there’s some stuff you left in your room,” the mother said in a low tone. The father nodded.

…Lillac followed the two of them up the stairs.

* * *

It hadn’t been a long time since Lillac had last seen her room, of course. Despite this, she could not help but feel some sort of sentimentality. Though, this pinkness… was she always such a girly girl?

Ugh… Zeal must be getting to me… she thought, picking up her Zanbio character. Though different from the one her mama had embarrassed her with, it was life-sized, about five feet tall…

“I-I wonder if there’s a way to sneak this one onto the carriage… W-would it even fit in the storage compartment under the bed with the rest of the bags…?” she muttered in deep thought. As though instinctively looking for some sort of answer, she turned to her parents, who were by the door. As she turned, her mother closed the door behind them with a click.

“…W-What are you two doing?” Lillac asked bashfully. Even she knew what was to come next, and she felt her eyes begin to water up. Ah… I was trying to avoid this, but… Lillac stepped toward her parents, who met her halfway. I guess… I’m still a little girl.

In the next moment, the three of them were in a deep embrace. The two girls clung to Joshua, their arms wrapped around his chest, while he lowered his head and whispered. “There there, mama bear. Lillac’s finally doing what she wants to do, isn’t that right?”

“…Yes,” Lillac answered meekly.

Some time passed after this embrace, and now the three of them were sitting on Lillac’s bed. Her mother poked at Lillac’s flower pin.

“I bet he would be quite proud of you,” Ruth said with a smile. “You’ve always been so hung up on the stories he used to tell… Even though he was a merchant himself… He was always into Dreamers and the like… He was quite a stubborn old man, now that I think about it!”

Lillac giggled. “…Still, I am grateful for him,” she said in a low, soft tone. “If it wasn’t for him… I wouldn’t have been able to have so much fun… I want… to continue to make him proud.” She then turned sharply to her father, who had his eyes closed with a smile on his face. He seemed to be thinking of something, and didn’t notice Lillac’s gaze. Thus, she reached out to him, giving him a slight touch on his arm. He opened his eyes.

“…Papa,” she began. “I know you wanted me to inherit your merchant stand, but… This is what I’ve decided to do.”

Despite her words, she said this with a smile. Her father’s expression didn’t falter, either. “After all… I qualified for the DBA.”

Joshua’s eyes shot open, and he stared at Lillac, who was beaming with pride. He then reclined in his seat and put a hand over his eyes.

“…Ah… Well of course, huh? What other outcome would it be…?”

Ruth was jumping up and down on the bed, clapping. “Oh, how I was waiting for you to tell us! I already knew! I already knew! You’ve always been so headstrong, Lillac!”

She then gripped onto Lillac’s shoulders, swinging her this way and that. “Stop it..! Stop it..!” was all that could playfully come out of her mouth.

Joshua sighed. “Well, it’s not like there’s any helping it… You were always fascinated with your grandfather’s stories of what the Websters used to be… You know, he used to be an aspiring Dreamer himself…”

His expression grew serious. “…After the death of several of his group members…”

Lillac’s face stiffened. Of course, she already knew. Even her mother, who was just playing with her so heartily, began to back off. Her father took her place, putting his hands on Lillac’s shoulders. He had a firm grip.

“…I’m sure his time was different back then,” he began. “Things… aren’t supposed to be as dangerous as they were back then. Even I am sure of that. But… you must be careful, Lillac. No matter what.”

Lillac nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes, and her father released her. Another sigh came from his lips as he again relaxed. He seemed to sink into the bed.

“…By the way, is any of the ginger in the garden ripe?” Lillac asked suddenly.

“Hm? Oh, yeah, but… it’s not like you enjoyed ginger anyway…” he mused. “What? Being considerate of your papa before you go to bigger things?”

Lillac’s eyes suddenly widened, and a small ‘ah’ escaped her mouth. “Papa, speaking of ginger… Um… Could I borrow some? Before I leave?”

Both of her parents’ jaws dropped in deep shock. Lillac put her hands up defensively out of instinct, but… Did she really say something that crazy?

Tears began to escape Joshua’s eyes as he brought a hand to his mouth. “Ah… my Lill… Has she finally grown to appreciate ginger…? Oh, how long I’ve dreamed of this day…!”

“P-Papa…”

“Of course! Of course I’ll give you some ginger!” he exclaimed all at once. “Just wait here! I’ll go to the garden really quickly…!”

His feet spinning, Joshua escaped from the room and down the stairs. It could have been her imagination, but Lillac swore she heard a Zeal-toned ‘eep!’.

It was just her and her mother now. Ruth crept over and began caressing Lillac’s hand.

“…You’re really trying your hardest, huh?” she said. Lillac turned toward her, mouth slightly open. “Despite you not liking ginger, it always used to give you energy… I remember in grade school, when you were trying particularly hard to study for a quiz, you would ask for your father to cut you up some small pieces before you worked…”

Lillac was surprised she had been seen through so easily. Timidly, she began playing with her thumbs. “W-Well… Now that it’s come to this… Wouldn’t it be wrong for me not to work hard?”

Ruth chuckled. “You sound just like your father.”

Lillac blushed. She opened her mouth to speak, however her mother tapped her nose with her index finger, a cheeky look on her face.

“Now that it’s just you and me…” She leaned in all of a sudden, a teasing glint in her eye. Lillac immediately put her guard up as she began scooting away. “Why don’t you tell me about this so-called ‘leader’ of yours, huh…?”

“N-No!” Lillac exclaimed, crossing her arms into an X. “N-No! H-He’s really just my leader! I promise…!”

“Ah, my Lillac, who used to not even have an idea how to talk to boys..! Though he is a bit plain, if you’re happy, I must be happy as well! Did you guys talk about marriage already?! How many dates did you have?! Does he want chi–!”

“Stop it! Stop it!” Lillac cried, flustered. Her mom writhed as she tried to pry Lillac’s hands off of her mouth… But it was impossible. Lillac had always been a rough girl.

* * *

After the conversation with her parents, Lillac spent a fair amount of time upstairs by her lonesome packing. Yaris and Zeal were entertained by the two adults as they waited for Lillac’s return, and they had plenty of conversation while her mother made dinner. Yaris was sometimes out of touch with the questions they would ask, and Zeal was his main coordinator of this, like some sort of buzzer. If she showed no real reaction, he did well, and if she glared at him… Well, it was easy enough to understand, after all. Dinner was made, and naturally… they were invited to eat before leaving. At this point, three hours had passed.

“But, Zeal?” Ruth said with a half-full mouth, pointing her fork at her. “You’re quite the looker yourself? Are you a princess, perchance? Do you think you could put a good word for us out in the royal world?!”

“Hm… Well, not quite a Princess, though you wouldn’t be wrong to think of me as such!” Zeal said heartily. “No, I’m just from an esteemed family is all… You see, we have quite a strong professional lineage… Therapists, Investigators, Military Officials, Dream Coaches, Architects… Of course, all of these professions benefit greatly from what you can learn in the DBA… but!”

For some reason, Zeal now stood. She seemed very proud, and Lillac could not help burying her face in her hands. “As of yet, there has not been a single member of the Sheath family to obtain a World Building Certificate!” Zeal exclaimed, a hand on her chest. “It is only natural that I do it, for I am the pinnacle of my family. I have an immense natural talent you see—if it weren’t for my ambitions, I would be sure to land any job I pleased!”

Ruth clapped. “Oh! Wow! How amazing!”

“She’s obviously showing off, and yet you’re giving her exactly what she wants…?” Lillac seethed. Zeal gave her a look with a puff.

“I hope you teach our Lill some things,” her father put in. “She’s a bit headstrong and doesn’t like to admit when she’s struggling… So you’ll have to put your foot down in that regard.”

“Hm… I will admit she’s headstrong,” Zeal said as she sat back down. Lillac was nearly shaking with anger.

Yaris made a small noise as he put his fork down on his plate. His plate was empty, and with a slow movement did he stand. “I would like to excuse myself for a moment,” he said plainly, the tip of his hat covering his eyes. “I just wish to step outside and speak to my driver, if that is alright with the household.”

“Ah! No need to apologize, Yaris, was it?” Ruth said with a hand over her mouth. “We know we’ve kept you all for quite some time. Lillac keeps stalling for time, you se–!”

“Ugh! Just go! It’s getting late anyway, isn’t it?” Lillac forced a spoonful into her mother’s mouth. “We’re almost done with dinner, so don’t worry about it. I’ll be all ready by the time you get back…”

Lillac trailed off a bit, but Yaris really had no intention of rushing the family. He was having a good bit of fun himself, but… He just figured now would be a good opportunity to exchange some words with Dean.

Having himself excused, he exited the home, softly closing the door behind him. It was indeed dark out at this point—the sun had long set. In the distance was the carriage, torches illuminating its frame. A trail of smoke could be seen flowing from the front of it—Yaris already knew what that meant, of course.

He made no attempt to hide himself as his feet clacked against the pavement. The moment Dean came into frame, their eyes met, both of them with rather dull faces. They stared at each other for a moment before Dean finally looked away, his lips curled up awkwardly.

“…You really know how to ruin a peaceful vibe, kid.” Dean scoffed. He tossed his cigarette butt on the ground. He was digging in his pocket for another, when…

“…This carriage is yours, isn’t it?” Yaris asked plainly. Dean stopped in his tracks, and slowly turned his head towards him. It was odd—despite the sudden question, Dean was smiling.

“…I was wondering when you were going to ask me about that,” he said. He patted the porch firmly with his hand. “This is the cumulative effort of about two years of savings. Lessy here has always been mine—I bought her a good while back, but… I’ve had this one stored in hopes of busting it out with my own full-fledged business.”

“Is it okay to use it for something like this?” Yaris asked. Dean frowned, squinting at him with an ‘are you serious?’ sort of look.

“Well, though this carriage isn’t directly affiliated with the agency or anythin’… Agh, fuck it. To be honest, I was just excited to get it on the road. Plus, even if there’s no particular design on it… at least when I get to Alui those DBA bastards can recognize my face. I’m sure when I return to Polisar, I’ll get some attention. That was the plan anyway, right?”

Yaris said nothing for a while. Silence enveloped them as the sound of cicadas floated through the air.

“Do you have a design in mind?” Yaris asked at last.

“Hm… Yeah, but I’m not a good artist,” Dean said bluntly. “Perhaps in another year or so I can hire someone to fulfill my vision…”

Yaris again fell silent. Man, if this kid is gonna bug me, the least he could do is talk… Dean thought. He turned his head towards the kid, but… Of course, he was gone. Dean grumbled, pulling another cigarette out of his pocket. “…Makes me feel like some sort of neglected uncle…” he muttered.

* * *

By the time Yaris returned, Zeal and Lillac were helping the family clean up from dinner. Zeal’s participation surprised Yaris quite a bit, but allegedly she was in a ‘good mood’ from all of the parents’ compliments and praise, and felt as though it was ‘her duty’ to ‘offer a skillful hand.’

“Thank you for having us,” Yaris said with a bow at the front door. The two girls were slightly behind him. “I’ve said it before, but I am very grateful to have Lillac in my group. It is no exaggeration to say that she played a large part in our qualification.”

Ruth and Joshua blushed immensely, the former waving her hand across her face. “A-Ah! No need to be so formal! Look at him, dear! He’s so proper!”

“No need to stall much longer,” her father said with a smile. “As long as we can see our Lill on the holidays, that is enough for us. Plus… though she doesn’t have a mobile phone, we gave her the number to our landline anyway so she can reach out as she pleases. Isn’t that right, Lill?”

Lillac nodded, a wide smile on her face. “Thank you so much, mama, papa. I’ll… If I’m able, I’ll be sure to call you as soon as possible!”

With that, the three of them began walking back towards the carriage. How would Yaris describe it? He felt a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere, to say the least. Zeal let out a deep sigh, stretching her arms above her head.

“Well, I suppose your parents aren’t bad cooks…” she said with a satisfied grunt. She then gave Lillac a look. “Though, I doubt it rubbed off at all…”

“…Yeah…” Lillac uttered, her voice dreamy and distant. Zeal let a light smile form on her face as she walked ahead of the two of them. “Ugh! I need to shower! I feel like I smell of grease…”

Her voice and ramblings faded into the distance as Lillac and Yaris were left alone. Though Lillac was originally behind him, he slowed his pace to allow himself to fall back in line with her. They walked side by side for a while, in silence.

“…I see you’ve got quite a few bags with you,” Yaris said, breaking the silence. “Do you think they’ll fit?”

“Um, well, I’m sure it will be fine…” Lillac replied. Her expression fell. “…I wish I could have brought my plushy, though…”

Of course, Yaris had no clue what she was referring to. Lillac suddenly perked up, picking up her pace.

“…I’ve decided,” she said at once. “I’m going to work hard, and catch up to the level of you and Zeal. I… I don’t want to just be an aspiring Dreamer.”

She turned around sharply. Yaris met her eyes, which were full of emotion. “…You’ll see. Both of you.”

She gave a thumbs up. “That’s a promise.”

She had such a devilish smirk. “…I believe you,” Yaris said plainly. He looked past her. “You better hurry along to the carriage. I think Zeal is laughing at you.”

“A-Ah! H-Hey! I-It’s not that weird of a pose…!” Lillac cried, running towards the carriage. Yaris continued to trail behind, walking slowly.

Such a warm feeling… Yaris thought. I hope I learn more about it, as I continue to grow as a leader.

…Speaking of which, he had some business to attend to tonight. He would need some luck but… Now that he knew of it, he was sure Dean wouldn’t mind if he helped out a bit.

Chapter 19 – Zeal's Homecoming (Part One)

“W-what the hell is this…?” Dean muttered. He was blinking and rubbing his eyes so profusely that one would think he had some sort of infection.

Sometime during the night, Dean had pulled over on the side of the road for a few hours of rest before dawn. That was when Yaris decided to strike. Truthfully, he was quite proud of his work.

“Didn’t you say you had some sort of design in mind?” Yaris said with a particular hum in his voice. “I figured that, since you are now to officially be one of The Lucids’ representatives, I could give you something to make you stand out. It promotes you as well.”

“T-This shit is ugly as hell!” Dean exclaimed. “W-What the hell is Dean’s List Carriages?! That’s not even the name I had in mind! I already told you I had a design, too! And then you had to put it alongside your dumbass group name with this ‘X The Lucids’ shit?! What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Yaris wasn’t offended, of course—he often heard that the work of artists was not easily understood by others. In the dead of night, while everyone was sleeping, by means he did not feel like disclosing at present, he snuck out to the side of the carriage and made his wonderful, eye-catching design. The words ‘Dean’s List Carriages’ were coloured a warm, dark brass, with a large X under it in ivory. Then, of course, was the group name, ‘The Lucids’, in blue.

Yaris nodded. “…This is sure to get a lot of attention.”

“Attention?! Of course it will get attention! It’s damn near plastered all on the side of the damn thing!” Dean screamed, shaking Yaris up by the shoulders. Yaris wondered if he was an easily shakable person.

Zeal sighed. “Ugh, forget all of this. We still have some ways to go until we get to my estate. I’m hungry. We need to pull into an adjacent city.”

Dean was growling while trying to scrub Yaris’s design with some sort of rag. “I-It won’t even come off… M-my carriage…!”

Yaris didn’t know his wonderful artwork could have such a profound effect on people. Maybe it was time he got into a hobby.

Lillac, who was inside of the carriage showering up until a moment ago, walked out with a towel over her head. She seemed to have gotten tired of Zeal’s chosen outfit for her yesterday, and now wore a plain white t-shirt and grey sweats for the time being. “Where are we supposed to be going anyway? Last night you just told Dean to head back to Polisar and go northeast…”

“Well, it’s the easiest way to explain it. My estate is in Emral’s upper district—surely even an outskirts girl like you has heard of that?”

“O-Outskirts girl…?” Lillac grumbled.

Zeal wafted a hand. “What, we only made it about an hour and a half outside Polisar? We still have another three hours or so before Emral. So,” she then stepped over to Dean, who had a very forlorn expression on his face as he knelt by the side of his carriage. “That’s why we need to stop somewhere to get some food. I’ll even treat, since I’m in such a good mood. Do you hear all of that, Driver boy? Hey, Driver–”

“Alright! Alright!” Dean erupted. “What is this, a daycare?!”

* * *

As Zeal wished, Dean (though with much complaining, Yaris was sure he heard him spewing curses for nearly forty-five minutes straight) rode into a sizeable city. He claimed it was the city of Fami. Though it was by all definitions a city, its area was so small that you could hardly consider it one, and, according to Dean, ‘nearly half of all people here are just passing through’. Of course, this didn’t affect Zeal and her plans, and with a hurry did she point to a food district and demanded Dean pull over. Unable to withstand her, Dean did as instructed, and after laying out some food and drink for Lessy did the four of them waltz into a fancy-looking shop.

“…Alright,” Zeal addressed everyone at the table. Her sharp eyes scanned over Dean, Yaris and Lillac. “…Yeah, this absolutely won’t do.”

She leaned back and crossed her arms. Lillac looked as though she was about to open her mouth, but Zeal immediately put a hand up, nearly making contact with Lillac’s face. Of course, Lillac gave her an offended look, but said nothing regardless.

“…The old man is probably whatever, I have no intention of him even being seen by my family… But… you two! If you two are to enter my estate, then you absolutely, without a doubt, have to look your absolute best! I know it might be hard for crude people like you, however, it must be said, as the time until we get there–”

“N-now hold on!” Lillac interrupted, leaning forward. “W-What’s this all of a sudden? I thought we just came here to eat?”

Dean had a very annoyed expression on his face. “And when are you going to learn some manners…?”

Zeal shook her head. “Listen, this is nothing like the backwoods of Yonagold or… Fyn… Fyn-whatever that little town of yours was called.”

“F-FYINLOT?!” Lillac cried.

Zeal continued, her eyes directed elsewhere. “Yes, The Sheath estate… Yes, I will absolutely, without any question not be embarrassed by the likes of you two!” She then pointed a finger toward Yaris. “Yes, that includes you, Yarees.”

Yaris was a nonjudgemental person, of course, but he didn’t know how much longer he could act like Zeal’s particular speech impediment didn’t bother him. Though, he supposed that a name that is sure to hold so much weight must be hard to say on the average consciousness.

“So,” Zeal continued. She raised her head high. “This ‘outing’ is going to be a walkthrough on, you guessed it, proper etiquette! Question one!”

Zeal pointed to Yaris, who flinched at her sudden energy. “When you first meet someone of female status, what is the very first thing you should do to make a good impression?”

“U-Um…” Yaris blinked. “G-Give them a hand–”

Zeal immediately reached over the table and swatted the top of Yaris’s hand with a spoon. It didn’t particularly hurt, but for some reason he felt really depressed, and couldn’t help rubbing his hand in consolation. Is this what it’s like to get scolded?

“Wrong!” Zeal boomed. She then fell back into her chair, completely ignoring the shocked looks of Dean and Lillac. “If you ever offer a handshake to my mother, you are sure to be cast out by my father in an instant, and it would take quite a bit of convincing from me for them to allow me to stay a part of your group.” She held up a finger. “My mother is a woman who knows her worth—especially someone as delicate and orderly as her expects nothing less than a graceful hug from what is supposed to be an impressionable young man. Are you remembering this?”

“Yes…” Yaris muttered, still rubbing his hand.

“Then… you!” Zeal pointed a finger at Lillac, who too jolted. Yaris thought she even gulped. “As a lady, how should you be sitting at any dining setting?”

Lillac stammered as she opened her mouth, but her eyes drifted toward her legs. With a small yelp, she pushed them together and moved her hands from the table into her lap.

“Hm… I suppose you’re not as boyish as I thought…” Zeal uttered.

“Y-You…”

Dean leaned his head on his fist. “Isn’t this a bit much for what’s supposed to be a short homecoming? Just what kind of people are your parents, anyway?”

“Though I can’t say I appreciate a non-factor cutting in,” Zeal said with a glare. Dean made some sort of choking sound as he gritted his teeth. “My parents are the least of the other two’s worries. The main test, without a doubt, will be my younger brother…”

Zeal put a hand on her chin as though in deep thought, while the rest of them processed the information that she just gave.

“W-wait!” Lillac exclaimed. “Y-You have a little brother?”

Zeal gave her a look. “Is it so surprising? It is customary of any family to want both a daughter and son—is it not? Though, I suppose if you already have a mix of both…”

“E-enough already!” Lillac shouted, her fist balled up as she shook it around in the air. “J-Just what are you quizzing us so hard for anyway? Is it really that important that we have a perfect first impression on your family?!”

Zeal lifted her head, a small, concentrated frown forming on her face. “…Though my family is of course in support of me reaching the pinnacle of society… As with anyone, they want to make sure I am surrounded by decent people. If not… Well, it is sure to be something—though of course I plan to enter the DBA regardless. I just want it to go smoothly.”

Her glossed lips pouted upward in thought as she closed her eyes.

“…Alright,” Yaris said. All turned to look at him. “I’m not in favor of causing difficulty for my group members. If a ‘proper’ meeting is needed for things to go smoothly, then a ‘proper’ meeting they will get.”

As he said this, he picked up his glass of water that was left untouched on the table. He lifted it to his mouth, however his lips didn’t quite make contact, and water began spilling down his shirt.

“…I really hope so,” Zeal said with a sigh, dragging a palm across her face.

* * *

“Next,” Zeal announced once the three of them returned to the carriage. The food served at the restaurant was quite good, and though Yaris and Lillac were feeling quite tired, they were dragged along by Zeal and had their hands stuffed with clothing—particularly suits and dresses. Dean gave them a mocking look as he escaped to the porch—it was almost certain he was going to take a power nap. It would be no exaggeration to say Yaris was quite jealous, however he returned his focus to Zeal, who was parading back and forth.

“Proper attire is always, always important.” Zeal continued. “I see the confused looks on your faces, and yes, I went out of my way earlier to get this formal attire for the both of you—I knew for a fact that neither of you even considered the possibility of having to wear such things. And do not even think about wearing this again at any other point in your life—the moment you take it off after meeting my family—you will throw it out!”

“T-Throw it out?!” Lillac cried. “T-This?! B-But it’s so fancy! I could easily wear it for several years–!”

“That!” Zeal shouted, poking Lillac on the nose, who nearly dropped her dress as she moved one hand to protect it. “That! That’s the mindset that you need to get rid of! Sure, the first two or three times you wear it, it may be fine, but imagine you saw another girl who was good-looking who previously wore it seven times over? Ten times? Go on, be honest!”

“U-Uh…” Lillac stammered. She then moved her hand, scratching her cheek. “I-I would think ‘S-she must not have any other dresses…’ I guess?”

“Exactly!” Zeal exclaimed. She then put both hands on her hips, whipping her face in another direction as she talked. “There are two things that are the death of all young women—a lack of charm, and a lack of fashion! One may be passable, but you absolutely cannot have both!”

“J-Just what are you trying to say…?” Lillac growled. It seemed that a lot of people are transitioning into beasts today.

“As for you,” Zeal looked Yaris up and down, completely unimpressed. “You’re so plain that I’m not even sure a decent suit would save you, however we can use that to our advantage… Maybe it’s better if you just don’t say anything at all—you can serve the role as my personal attendant!”

Suddenly Zeal seemed very happy, and she clasped both of her hands together. “Ah, yes, that’s perfect! That way I won’t have to announce that you’re actually my leader!”

“B-But I am your leader…” Yaris sighed. He felt quite hurt by this.

“Whatever, whatever! Hurry up and get dressed, Lillac first! If we’re missing anything we can tour around Fami, but it’s not as though we have unlimited time! We still have to make it to the DBA in time for the welcoming ceremony!”

Zeal was pushing Lillac into the washroom. “O-Okay, I get it already, I get it! Just stop shov–”

The moment Zeal had managed to shove Lillac into the washroom, she slammed the door, securing Lillac inside. A ‘Hey!’ could be heard from inside, however Lillac did not seem to be coming out.

Zeal stepped over to Yaris. “…You’ve never worn a suit before, have you?”

Yaris flinched. It was such a sudden thing to say, and for it to be absolutely right… He had to wonder how much Zeal was capable of, really.

She snatched the suit from out of his hands, rearranging it. “First off! You’re not even holding it with any care! You’re going to cause it to get all wrinkled and messed up!”

She made a few more light adjustments, then held both the top and bottom halves of the suit to Yaris’s frame, closing one eye. Yaris stood attentively, though he had to admit that he had no clue what the proper course of action was. Furthermore, being so closely scrutinized like this made him feel rather exposed. At last, Zeal finally seemed to be done and Yaris let out a small sigh of relief.

“…It’s unfortunate,” Zeal said, giving Yaris a skeptical look as her face seemed to slowly become absorbed in contempt. “But… I’m going to need you to change right here. I have no trust that you can even try something like this on your own…”

“…Zeal, you know that’s improper, right?” Yaris said with a tilted head. “Even though you may see me as just a leader, there are natural boundaries between men and women–”

“J-Just shut up! I’m afraid you’re going to rip it or something, and we don’t have enough time to be dealing with your nonsense!” Zeal cried. She turned around on her heel. “I’m not even going to be looking at you, so make it quick!”

Yaris hesitated, standing still in shock with his mouth hanging open, but Zeal did not say another word. He drew back, lifting an eyebrow as he began to undress himself. Are there really so many things you must do as a leader?

He had an odd premonition that if Lillac were to come out of the restroom and he were even the slightest bit undressed, she was sure to have a fit that might result in a bruise or two. Thus, though he did it clumsily, he allowed himself to quickly undress and redress himself. As he put on the suit, he immediately had complaints.

…Aren’t these too tight for pants? he thought. He was frowning very deeply at this point. And this undershirt… ugh… My neck… It feels like it’s choking me… I can barely move my arms… W-what is this…

“Z-Zeal…” Yaris whined as he tried to button up the top layer of the suit. “W-what kind of contraption is this… A-are these even real clothes…?”

“Just put them on. What are you, a dog?” Zeal barked.

Though it was with much discomfort, Yaris did as he was told. Eventually, he felt comfortable enough to utter a low, nearly soundless “Done…” Zeal turned around.

“…Hm…” She stepped up close to his face, then eyed his chest and torso. Immediately, she reached out and began shuffling his clothes around. She did it so roughly that Yaris thought she was going to be the one to rip the suit.

“…Well, you put it on,” she began, still adjusting his clothes. She crouched down and began adjusting the bottom of his pants. “But you don’t have any sense of proper orientation—it’s as though you put everything on at some sort of angle… Are you bad with your sense of balance or something?”

“I-It was uncomfortable…” Yaris muttered. Zeal was behind him now, adjusting his collar. He really wished she didn’t, especially after all of the effort he went through loosening it…

With a swift movement, she tightened it all over again, and Yaris felt a strange need to whine. “I’ll tell you this now—as it is true especially for men. Looking good is to be uncomfortable—if men didn’t need to look good then all of them would be running around in khakis and long sleeves—like some sort of deadbeat dad. Stop being such a crybaby…”

Yaris thought he could hear Dean sneeze, however let it pass. Honestly, he was far too exhausted with all of this new information on ‘etiquette’ and ‘fashion’ that there was little else he could do except let Zeal have her way with him. By the time she seemed done with her alterations, Lillac peeked out of the bathroom.

“H-Hey, is this really okay…?” Lillac asked shyly. “D-Doesn’t this show too much back…?”

“Just get out of there…” Zeal grumbled, grabbing Lillac by the arm and dragging her alongside Yaris. She then stepped back, leaning this way and that as she looked them both over.

“…Ugh! It’s just no use. It’s so obvious that you two have no class whatsoever.” Zeal sighed. “But… I suppose it’s okay. Lillac! Stop frowning at me and show me a smile real quick. You too.” She pointed a finger at Yaris.

The two of them seemed to choke on their words, but regardless they obeyed. As Zeal scrutinized them, Yaris managed to sneak a peek at the dress Zeal had gotten Lillac. It was a light green dress with layered frills along Lillac’s hips and skirt, with small mock gemstones along the back that shimmered even in the carriage.

As for Yaris, it seemed Zeal had picked out a simple black suit with a white undershirt. However, his least favorite part of the whole thing, was the strung black bowtie that was absolutely suffocating him.

“…I guess it will do,” Zeal mumbled at last. “Lillac, since you showered already, you may as well keep yours on all the way until we get there.”

“D-Do I really have to…?” Lillac whined.

“Yaris, you can go ahead in the washroom and take yours off,” Zeal continued.

These words were contenders for some of the best he’s ever heard in his life. They were so liberating that they nearly brought a tear to his eye. “…Thank you… so much…”

“Only to shower, of course.” Zeal cut in. “The moment you freshen up, I’m going to have you put it back on again—that way we have as much time as we need to make sure you look presentable.” A glint then came to her eye. “…I’m sure you have no problem with that…?”

For some reason, Yaris’s cheek began to sting. “…No.”

Somehow, he wanted to sob.

* * *

It took a while longer (with meticulous coaching and alterations by Zeal, of course. Was it customary for women to have such strong hands in dire moments?), but eventually they ended up in Emral. It was midday, and a warm breeze filled the air. As they entered the city, they were surrounded by empty plains, manufacturing plants and farms, making it hard to believe what Yaris and Lillac were witnessing now. Deeper into Emral, however, were nothing but large, private estates—homes with front and backyards spanning far beyond anything they had seen before. Lillac turned to Zeal in shock, but she did not seem impacted or impressed at all and instead quietly manicured her nails. She too had changed outfits, though into the sort of casual dress she seemed to like wearing. In her words: ‘I’m beautiful enough that I can get away with it at any point in time. They are also my family, of course. As for you…’

She was talking to Lillac when she said this. Unfortunately, Yaris had to break the two of them up before all of their hard work getting dressed went to waste.

“…What are those little carriages that they’re driving around in?” Yaris asked, pointing out the window. “…Why are they carrying so many bats and snowballs around with them?”

“They’re motorized carts for golfing, you dunce.” Zeal scoffed. “Have you no class at all? Even this is basic knowledge.”

“B-Basic knowledge…” Lillac murmured. Zeal let out a long sigh.

“Well, I suppose I cannot expect too much from you two. It is more of a sport for gentlemen and women—its common popularity died out many years ago. It’s only natural that two commoners wouldn’t–!”

“I get it!” Lillac cried. It seemed as though she was on edge.

A while longer and the carriage came to a stop. Yaris and Lillac looked out the window…

“…W-wait a second…” Lillac muttered. She was nearly trembling all over. “I-Isn’t this too big…? This is like… ten… no… twenty houses…!”

“…That is big…” Yaris joined her.

Zeal waltzed over, peering out from behind the two of them as they pressed closer and closer to the window in amazement. “…Ah, that seems right. Well, then. I already notified everyone in the home, so it’s best we get going. I gave that old man in front a decent dress shirt and pants for appearances, but I still would rather not have him or his carriage be in the general area for too long… Come, now.”

“H-Hold on!” Lillac cried. “I n-need just a bit more time if I’m going to go in there… D-Does my hair look okay? D-Do I smel–!”

Zeal grabbed onto her ear and began dragging the worried Lillac out of the carriage.

“…What do you even do in a house that big…?” Yaris mumbled. Suddenly, he found himself fixing his suit all on his own.

Chapter 20 — Zeal's Homecoming (Part Two)

Yaris exited the carriage, and there they were—face to face with the mountain which was Zeal’s estate. To say it was a mansion was understating it—pillars resembling pearl, a large front garden with a fountain spewing crystal clear water… there was even a luxury carriage situated right in the front, gold and silver accents all along its frame. Yaris couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to sleep in such a thing.

“Shoo! Shoo!” Zeal ushered, waving her hand towards Dean. He was also dumbstruck at the sight, but at Zeal’s words, he began slowly scurrying off, an awkward expression on his face.

…We’re really out of place here… Yaris thought.

“W-Well… Here I go!” Lillac whispered. She began walking forward robotically along the cobblestone path to what was… the front door? Could you even call something that massive a door? However, Zeal quickly apprehended her with a tight grip on her shoulder. Lillac shrieked upon contact, and quickly turned round, her face flushed and eyes watery. She must really be trying hard to keep it together.

“I informed the butlers and maids that we are outside,” Zeal said harshly. She then raised a finger. “In this scenario, there is nothing worse for the daughter than to go through the trouble of allowing herself into a home. You will stay with me and wait.”

“Y-Yes!” Lillac cried, straightening her back in fright. Yaris did so as well, and sure enough the entrance to the estate began to open, a soft mechanical whir alongside it. The frame of an older man with a rather soft and delicate face, probably no younger than fifty, slowly allowed itself to be seen, and with gentle steps did he approach the trio. “…Lady Zeal,” he said confidently with a bow. Zeal gave a light bow as well, and with hurry did Lillac and Yaris follow.

“Mr. Brown,” Zeal said. She then rose. “I assume you have already told the others?”

At her rising, Mr. Brown followed after, as though he had purposefully waited. “Yes, Madam and Sir Sheath are waiting in the lounging area inside. They have tea and cookies—and are very eager to see the group their daughter has picked out. As for your—”

Zeal held up a hand, interrupting him. “If it’s about him, let’s put that on hold. I’d rather wait until the last possible moment. You know how he gets about… you know.”

Mr. Brown cast a quick glance to Yaris, a small smile coming to his face. “Ah, but of course. Well, if you may… Allow me to welcome you and your group members into the Sheath Estate.”

He gave a light bow to Yaris and Lillac, who returned the favor, uttering a small strained “thank you” in return, and he turned on his heel and began leading the group towards the front doors. As they got closer to the entrance, exotic, almost relaxing smells began to fill their noses, and the true scale of the interior of the estate was revealed to them.

“Welcome,” Mr. Brown said with an outstretched hand as he stood out of the way to allow the group inside. “To the Sheath Estate.”

“Welcome!” sounded from four women. Until they had stepped inside they were just out of view, but now there were two on each side of them, in maid uniforms much more flamboyant and polished than Paula’s, giving deep bows with smiles on their faces. Lillac was making some sort of ‘wahhhh’ sound as she took the sight in, though it was in such a low tone that Yaris may well have been the only one to hear her. He was about to bow and say ‘thank you’; however, Zeal put a small hand out right in front of him before he could begin leaning. It seems his learning would continue here, as well.

“The girls,” Mr. Brown said as he followed in after them, casting a look to Yaris and Lillac. “Will be at your service at any time. They have a wide variety of skills, and Lady Zeal particularly praises them for their massaging abilities.”

“Ohhhh…” Yaris mumbled. Zeal shot him a look. Learning, indeed.

Besides the maids, they were now standing in a large, nearly open room. To the left was a white, plush couch—the length and width of nearly a small house all on its own, sitting in front of a fireplace that crackled softly underneath a large flatscreen TV. A blue rug spanned over most of the floor, with the polished wood underneath only exposed for the sake of an obvious walkway into the next room, though not much of it could be seen from where they stood. The ceiling overhead was lined with sparkling, crystal-like chandeliers and decorations, and to the right was a long, spiraling staircase which led to the second floor… and beyond.

“As for Madam and Sir Sheath…” Mr. Brown continued. “They are in the next room. If you would follow me…”

Mr. Brown again began walking, and the trio followed after him. They went past the first room and into the next, their footsteps reverberating off the solid floor. In the next room…

“Ah, there you are, Darling!” A feminine, proper voice sounded. It was definitely the type of tone and pitch that made you straighten your back and put a soft smile on your face. How would you say it? It was, without a doubt… Womanly.

Turning to the direction of the sound… Woah!

“You must be our Darling Zeal’s leader…!” the woman somehow appeared in front of Yaris, taking his hand. She held it close to her chest, her face beaming with a particular radiance. Yaris couldn’t shake her off even if he wanted to. Plus, she smelled nice—of flowers. “It is nice to meet you! She had called me earlier, saying to expect you… She may have said some unflattering things, but I can see now that it is all untrue, thank goodness!”

He knew Zeal had a tendency for slander, but somehow he was very thankful that the impression she made wasn’t long-lasting. “I-It’s nice to meet you too…” he began to say… but wait… He was trained for this..!

His initial, immediate response was to bow. But thanks to the sergeant which was Zeal (who was glaring, very, very sharply at him in deep reminder), he remembered the most important step when meeting an esteemed lady. Using the leverage of the hand she held against her chest, he maneuvered his free arm around her, using their joined hands to draw her slightly closer. Thus, a hug of truly spectacular taste, he thought, was performed. He even alternated his head from one side of hers to the other for assurance.

When he withdrew himself, the woman wore a large smile on her face, though she was flushing quite a bit. Even Zeal seemed surprised, as her eyes were wide with what was obviously amazed shock. Yes, he did well.

“H-He has quite the way of greeting someone, doesn’t he…?” Madam Sheath stammered, holding a hand to her cheek. Even despite her amazement, she had such control over her emotions. Zeal let out a small groan, as she turned away, pinching between her eyebrows.

“Ah, and you must be Lillac!” she said as she suddenly turned to the trembling and stiff body which was Lillac. Yaris couldn’t help but think she did so a bit hastily, but she then too grabbed her hand, putting it up to her chest. “It is nice to meet you as well! You are so beautiful!”

Lillac instantly gave her an embrace, smiling awkwardly. “N-No! The pleasure is all mine! You’re really stunning, M-Madam Sheath…!”

Madam Sheath giggled. “Oh, don’t worry about that! That is only a name that the butlers and maids call me by. You are just fine using Ms. Sheath!”

Ms. Sheath began twirling Lillac around by the hand, turning her dress this way and that as she analyzed it. “…And this! Did you pick it out yourself? Green suits you so well, especially with your purple eyes..!”

“A-Ah… I don’t really think…”

“Is it so bad to take a compliment every once in a while?” Zeal scoffed. “You’re so dramatic.”

Lillac silently gritted her teeth. Ms. Sheath began giggling, covering her mouth with her hand. “I hope you don’t mind her!” she said as she ushered them along deeper into the room. She glanced at Mr. Brown, who bowed and took a position right outside. “She has always been a rather feisty girl! I hope you can continue to be her friends!”

“F-Friends…” Lillac grumbled.

“Of course,” Yaris said. “We are very happy to have her as a part of our group.”

Ms. Sheath nodded. “Well, do not be shy! Here, sit down! I hope these cushions are to your liking… I have made these cookies myself as well! Sit, sit!”

Lillac and Yaris took a seat on the plush couch side by side, while Zeal followed her mom to the other side of the couch. “Oh, what’s this?” A masculine voice sounded. “It seems as though the house has gotten livelier already. As expected of our Peach…”

“Father…!” Zeal said in stifled excitement. She pranced up to him and outstretched her arms in a hug, which was gracefully accepted by the man. The two hurried over to Ms. Sheath, who was ushering them toward her with soft waves of her hand, and sat down beside her.

Now, Lillac and Yaris were directly across from the three Sheaths. Even though Zeal had picked out suits and dresses for them… To say they were lackluster in comparison would only be the beginning. Zeal’s mother had matching blue hair and similar paleness, but she was, for lack of a better term, more voluptuous. Her hair had more volume, and even the dress she wore—glimmering with all kinds of accessories—took up a decent amount of space on the couch.

Not to mention her smile… Yaris thought. It was honestly quite hard to look at her. …Is this the first time ever I’d feel intimidated?

In a world in which he hasn’t had much experience with women… Ms. Sheath was indeed a womanly woman.

Mr. Sheath was also a rather masculine individual, with a defined jaw and scrutinizing eyes, though his hair was on the whiter side. His suit, however, was a light blue with silver accents, and he had a strong air of… entrepreneurship? Either way, he seemed like someone you would rather have happy than upset with you… Despite that…

“…Is the family’s favorite color blue?” Yaris couldn’t help uttering. Lillac seemed to react in some way, while Zeal instantly made an ugly face. However, the two parents laughed heartily… the type of ‘Ha! Ha! Ha!’ laugh that someone with no worries might make… Yaris figured he should stop with all the comparisons before he turns into someone like Lillac.

“Ah, well not exactly…” the mother said in a soft tone as she picked up her teacup. “But Zeal here… she has always been a fan. When she was younger, she wanted nearly the whole house to match… It’s just that not much has changed since then.”

Zeal waved her hair with a flick of her wrist. “What can I say? It’s an elegant colour for an elegant family.”

Her father leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “So you are the Yaris that my daughter refers to? It is very nice to meet you… I am quite interested in what it means to be the leader of an aspiring Dreamer group. Could you tell me a bit about that?”

…Yaris figured Zeal’s particular speech impediment must be her own after all.

“Ah… Mr. Sheath… is that okay to call you?” Yaris began, picking up his own teacup that was situated in front of him. He took a sip… well, it seems he does not like tea, but Zeal… well, it doesn’t have to be said. It stopped him from making any sort of face at least. “Well, it’s…”

“Ah, M-Ms. Sheath, these cookies are amazing!” Lillac suddenly cried out after quickly snatching up a cookie and stuffing it into her mouth. “Y-You said you made these yourself?”

“Ah, y-yes!” Ms. Sheath also cried out. She must have been influenced by Lillac’s excitement, because even she seemed to realize she had let her proper hostess composure slip, settling back onto the couch with a confused look on her face. “I’m… glad you like them!” She then turned back to Yaris. “But quite truthfully, I too am curious about what it is like to be a leader… I’m sure you have many interesting stories to tell?”

Yaris was confused as to why Zeal wasn’t visually reprimanding Lillac, but it was no matter—the two older Sheaths were curious about his leadership capabilities—of course he had to answer.

“Of course. To start—”

“Y-Yup!” Zeal exclaimed suddenly, a teacup to her mouth. “The tea that the maids make is always great! It really soothes the throat…!”

As she let out a long sigh, the two parents looked at each other with great bewilderment, their eyebrows raised. Their expressions turned serious, though it wasn’t the sort that meant anything grave. In fact, they seemed to be pouting a little bit… It wasn’t impossible to see where Zeal got hers from.

“You two…” Ms. Sheath started, her voice a bit whiny. “Why do you keep cutting off Mr. Yaris? Can’t you tell we’re trying to have a conversation?”

“That’s right,” Mr. Sheath continued. “Isn’t it quite rude?”

Lillac and Zeal turned away, both wearing strained grimaces. Well, that’s what you may think… Lillac thought, slowly beginning to take a glance at Yaris, who was sitting back in his seat with his head tilted down. But… If that guy were to talk…

It would absolutely be no good! Zeal confirmed in her mind. This guy… all that spews out of his mouth is nonsense? How could I possibly be affiliated with him at all?!

Though the two of them were in turmoil, there was no possible way that they could say any of these points out loud, especially with the obvious confusion coming from the two parents. It felt like they were betraying them in a way, and in shame they remained turned away.

“…I do not mind,” Yaris said bluntly, catching the attention of everyone. “I have only been their leader for a short time—so it is natural that someone like Zeal, who takes much pride in herself and in her surroundings, may be wary of me.”

All was silent, and Zeal looked away in a huff.

“…But, though my time with her has been short, she has been a great addition to my group. She is a bit feisty, but she is very knowledgeable, and I have learned a lot from her in our short time together. I can tell that she is a very capable girl, and I hope that she can continue to show me as such.” He then gestured toward Lillac. “As for Lillac, the first addition to my group… Though she is a bit headstrong and, well, loopy, she is a hard worker, and is the reason why we were able to pass the entrance exams. I have learned a lot from her as well, especially in matters of emotions. I hope to continue to be taught, and I hope I can continue to prove myself to both of them.”

His head hung slightly as he said this, his eyes not particularly focused on anything. He had no emotion on his face, but spoke clearly and without pauses. Again, all was silent, except the sound of a small ‘hoh…’ coming from Ms. Sheath.

…Huh. Did I mess up? Yaris began thinking as he looked up.

Zeal had her head turned away slightly, quietly sipping on her tea. Her face was slightly flushed, and her eyebrows were constructed in such a way that you would think she was irritated. It seemed as though Yaris’s suspicions were right.

He turned to Lillac for further confirmation. She had her hands pressed tight against her thighs, also looking away. Somehow, she had managed to smuggle another cookie into her mouth. She was also flushed… Surely out of embarrassment.

To do so bad that they won’t even look at me… Yaris sobbed internally. …I wonder if someone in the DBA teaches speech.

“…I see,” Mr. Sheath said at last. Yaris looked at him, finding a soft smile on his face as he picked up his own teacup. “…I am happy to see that my Peach is in good hands.”

“You’re so well-spoken!” Ms. Sheath said with her hands clasped together, raising herself from her seat. “You have a soft voice, as well! Maybe even someone like Zeal—!”

Zeal was glaring at her mother now, though she was still red in the face. Retreating, Ms. Sheath sat back down, seeming a bit sad.

“So?” Ms. Sheath continued. However, just as she was about to say more, her eyes suddenly darted elsewhere, and her face went pale in a mix of shock and awkwardness. Mr. Sheath began scratching his cheek, an avoidant look on his face.

“Y-You…” Zeal cried out. She didn’t look angry, however… she did look rather embarrassed and shy. “…Didn’t I tell you that I would come to see you shortly?”

“…But how could I wait?” a soft, though unmistakable masculine voice sounded. “…When I heard that my dear, best in the world older sister would be bringing… a man home… I felt as though I absolutely had to make some things clear…!”

Yaris turned, as the voice was coming from directly behind him. There, also with blue hair, though considerably darker than Zeal and Ms. Sheath, was a younger boy… Definitely in his early teens. He, too, wore a dazzling suit, this time pearl white with black accents. His short hair nearly got in the way of his thin eyes, and his slender frame and smooth skin gave off elegance… He was definitely comparable to a model.

“Understand this!” he suddenly boomed, pointing a finger at Yaris. Yaris widened his eyes in surprise. Zeal let out a sigh as she put her face in her palm. “My sister is destined to be the best, most amazing person in the whole wide world! If you even have the slightest thought about marrying into our family and mooching off of her success, you’re dead wrong! I will stop you right in your tracks!”

Yaris looked at him blankly, while Lillac had such an exasperated expression on her face that one would think he was talking to her. All was silent for nearly a minute, as the younger brother’s face only grew more and more red. A chuckle was heard from the mother, and suddenly he flared up, going around the couch and grabbing Yaris by the arm.

“T-That’s it!” he cried. “If you’re going to be like that… then you’re coming with me! We’re going to talk… alone!”

…Yaris didn’t necessarily mean to do this. Honestly, he was just so astounded that he didn’t know what to say. He looked back at the others, who simply avoided his eyes. It seems as though he was all alone on this matter.

Some time after Yaris left with the younger brother, the father let out a deep, long sigh.

“…Hey,” he began, gesturing toward Zeal and Ms. Sheath. “You don’t think… He’ll challenge him to a duel, do you?”

Shock came over Zeal and Ms. Sheath, and even Lillac, who was left alone on the other side.

“D-Darling!” Ms. Sheath cried. “I know he has some fascination with it, but… To do so out of the blue is…”

Mr. Sheath shook his head. “I apologize… but you know… When he was younger, he would always speak on things like that… especially when it came to Zeal…”

The girl in question suddenly rose and stepped over to Lillac. “…Come on,” she said bluntly, her face still slightly flushed. She offered up her hand. “We… shouldn’t leave those two alone.”

Lillac didn’t know what was going on, but the absurdity of the situation was beginning to get to her. Regardless, she accepted Zeal’s hand.

“A-Alright…” she stammered.

…I-Is this what it is like to be wealthy…? she thought.