(Bonus chapter for "Little Kongkong Has Water to Drink," 1/5)
Night had fallen. With a beat of her blood-red wings—wider and more graceful than Murphy remembered—the still-petite young lady flew toward her people. The gusting wind ruffled their clothes, and then she landed in the Blood Eagle Clan's signature "death-from-the-sky" style.
Her black hair billowed in a way that seemed just as familiar as it had been when she left a few days ago. But Murphy noticed keenly that she seemed to have grown a little taller.
She now reached from his chest to his shoulder, though she was still a tragically tiny person.
"You've grown taller?"
Lady Triss asked in surprise, confirming that Murphy's eyesight was fine and hadn't gone blind from changing class to "real-time strategy player."
"Mm. Lord Payen helped me retrace the power of my bloodline. When I broke through to the Silver rank, the blood of sin in me was purified again. I could actually have grown a little taller, but I'm used to this appearance, so I held it back."
The young lady answered with the same composure she'd shown before.
But compared to her old, distant coldness, her expression now held much more warmth. She seemed more like the lively girl her age ought to be, though the young lady was actually already thirty.
She glanced at Adele, winked at her good friend, then took a deep breath and bowed to Triss.
"I am Femis Cecilia Lasombra, a Silver-rank psychic master. I pay my respects and report for duty, Your Grace. Please allow me to return to the family ranks."
"Of course, Countess of Andmar. Transia will always be your home. We have a great deal of rebuilding ahead of us, and we need your strength."
Triss toyed with the luxurious Nocturne cane