When the Dust Settles, Light Emerges

The battle ended the instant it began.

With a light thud as she landed, the sword-wielding girl with fiery hair and a black dress landed behind Kal'tsit, on the back of the large tree she was leaning against.

She had her back to the big tree, and also her back to the tree.

"Kal'tsit." Miss Surtr's voice was light, but contained a hint of helplessness.

"Is everything done?" the Flame-haired maiden asked softly, deliberately steer the conversation toward a place that had nothing in common with the previous scene.

"Yes, it's done." Kal'tsit nodded gently, then leaned against the tree behind her—the originally fragile wooden structure suddenly seemed indestructible. It was as if it wasn't a tree, but a sturdy tower.

"Okay, sure." The girl behind the tree spoke with an approving tone. "About what happened between me and Ren..."

"That's a good thing," Kal'tsit interjected before he could choose his words. "Congratulations, Surtr. That young lady seems like a good girl. Don't let her down."

"Hmm?... Hmm." The girl behind the tree hesitated for a moment, but finally continued the conversation.

"What do you plan to do, Kal'tsit?" she asked softly, her tone hesitant.

The reason for the hesitation is that the method of handling the situation is being considered.

"If you find this journey boring..." Surtr said somewhat uncertainly, "Perhaps I could put you..."

She was interrupted a second time.

Just then, Kal'tsit, her steps somewhat hurried, left from behind the tree and headed towards the charred areas.

"These creatures exhibit strange behaviors. Even though only remains are left, they seem to share similarities with the priests in the Sunken Church ... Are they something from the abyss? Surtr, and these knights, who are they?"

She tried hard to change the subject, to erase the impact of her sudden departure.

However.

Her efforts ultimately only earned her a sigh from a young girl.

"Kal'tsit," Miss Surtr said calmly.

However, the lynx felt as if it had been hanged.

"Yes, yes...?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"Let's talk about something more important," Miss Surtr said slowly, enunciating each word carefully.

Updated at midnight, so painful _(:з"∠)_

Ah... I have some things to take care of tomorrow. I'll start paying off my debts the day after tomorrow _(:з"∠)_

I feel like the cats already have enough screen time.

Chapter 205: Dust Settles, Then Light Arises

Time seemed to stand still. The air became as thick as glue. Miss Surtr's tone was filled with an undeniable seriousness. And that meant that nothing could be changed.

Kal'tsit clenched her fists so tightly her nails almost dug into her flesh—she had a premonition that something terrible was about to happen. But she still wanted to make one last effort.

"Did... did I make you angry?" She pursed her lips slightly, her voice hoarse—she still held onto a sliver of hope, because she knew that Surtr would never be so ruthless towards those around her.

However, reality dealt her a heavy blow.

"You really made me angry." Surtr's voice was flat and devoid of emotion.

A sudden tightness gripped her chest.

"I can change... I won't do it again next time!" She forced a smile, but her face turned deathly pale.

Why do you want to change it?

"Because...because I..." The green-haired girl took a soft breath. "...Because I'm your friend. So I shouldn't make you angry..."

"Because you are my friend, you shouldn't make me angry." Surtr repeated Kal'tsit's words briefly, reading them twice.

Her voice, as she repeated the words, was so indifferent that it sent chills down Miss Lynx's spine.

The support behind her suddenly vanished, and the large tree that had blocked their contact burned to ashes in an instant. Kal'tsit nearly fell backward, but realizing that no one would catch her this time, she struggled to regain her balance.

She turned around and looked behind her. Surtr was a meter away, facing her and staring at her. The ends of the Flame-haired Girl's hair moved without wind, and her Flame-haired Girl purple eyes were indifferent.

"W-what's wrong?" Kal'tsit forced an awkward smile, trying to change the subject. "Surtr, you're scaring me a little..."

"Is this how friends should interact?" Surtr asked calmly. Her voice was simply a question, devoid of any other meaning.

Kal'tsit lowered her head, her voice muffled.

"Because I always made you angry in the past... so I felt I should make it up to you."

"You call this compensation." Surtr rubbed his temples. The mask of emotion covering his face seemed on the verge of shattering, yet it ultimately reformed into solid ice.

"You call this a friend." She took a step toward Kal'tsit instinctively wanted to step back but struggled to keep her body still.

The distance of one meter was reduced to half a meter.

Miss Lynx felt her heart pounding, but her unease grew stronger.

"Mmm." She nodded gently.

She didn't notice at all that Surtr had used a statement rather than an interrogative sentence.

Then, she felt a finger gently pressing against her chin, forcing her to lift her face towards the person in front of her.

A secret joy welled up inside her; she even felt her lips were about to receive a sweet breath. However, the moment her gaze met the girl's eyes in the air, the unease that had been building up deep within her intensified.

There was no trace of herself in those scarlet eyes.

There was no gentle breath between those thin, sharp lips.

She felt as if she were being watched by a giant dragon, but there was no material desire or appetite in the dragon's scrutinizing gaze.

The thought that the offerings had been rejected suddenly crossed her mind.

Then, I heard a familiar voice speaking.

"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?" Surtr asked softly. Though it was a simple statement, it was filled with an irresistible pressure.

Kal'tsit instinctively tried to dodge, but she couldn't muster any strength in her body. She couldn't even turn her head away; she could only barely manage to look at her own nose.