"What exactly do you want?"
Iluna asked somewhat impatiently:
"I don't like guessing riddles, and I like staying in this stinking place even less."
This was a sewer, after all, and the only illumination came from the light sphere Iluna had summoned.
The girl pointed at Shade.
"I want his blood."
"My blood?"
Shade, who had remained silent at the side, raised an eyebrow. Before Iluna could object, he asked:
"I can give you my blood, but you have to answer me first. Why do you need my blood?"
He frowned slightly.
"I once used a peculiar relic to identify my bloodline. As far as I know, I'm one hundred percent human."
The young flower girl pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing, lest the Moon fall from the sky and hit her while she was walking at night.
"I'm just a flower-selling girl. I don't understand what you're talking about. Give me your blood. It won't take much, and then I'll leave this city. Twisted soil and the hot blood of one of high virtue will water the most beautiful flowers. That's all I want."
"Shade, the Witches said you only just recovered from a serious illness a few days ago."
Iluna looked at Shade hesitantly. Shade shook his head and continued speaking to the girl.
"If you won't answer me, then you've actually already told me the answer. What makes my blood different from anyone else's?"
The girl blinked.
"Well, there's a great power in your soul, so your blood has gained a power unlike that of mortals. That's all. Yes, don't get any strange ideas. You're an ordinary human, and my words absolutely haven't given you any answers."
She spoke as though frightened. The "her" beside Shade's ear laughed, though this time the laughter sounded