Chapter 41 - Believe Me!

Beads of sweat ran down my face. I didn't think that Leyhna would actually have a way to figure things out.

"Maybe they didn't put my name up in the directory yet…?" [Solace]

I was met with a fist to the stomach. Leyhna really wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"Oof! Can't you take a joke?!" [Solace]

"Can't you take a hit?" [Leyhna]

I groaned in agony on the floor, clearly still feeling the attack.

"Tell me who you are, and what you're doing here." [Leyhna]

("This isn't good. I'm getting beaten black and blue, for basically no reason. Should I actually just say that I'm Fina's familiar?") [Solace]

Just as I was pondering about my choices, I snapped back to reality via punch to the face.

"Ow! What was that for?!" [Solace]

"You were too quiet. I thought you were planning something." [Leyhna]

I looked at her with disbelief. It was either that Leyhna had incredible intuition, or that she's just an idiot.

"Are you going to answer or not?" [Leyhna]

Raising another fist, she indicated another punch.

"Woah, woah! I'll answer!" [Solace]

Due to the fact I kept getting hit, I decided to just come clean.

"I know you might not believe me, but I'm actually Solace. Fina's familiar." [Solace]

I was pretty worried if she would believe me, but I placed my hopes in her.

"..." [Leyhna]

Remaining silent, I got another taste of her knuckle sandwich.

"Agh! Why?!" [Solace]

"Why? Because you're lying. You don't look like Solace." [Leyhna]

When she puts it like that… Leyhna was right. My |Mimic| form was very different from my spirit form.

"I evolved! My looks changed after I evolved!" [Solace]

I dispelled my |Mimic| and reverted back to my little spirit form. This allowed me to escape from being pinned down, but I was instantly snatched out of the air.

"Y-You're crushing me! You're crushing me!" [Solace]

Considering the amount of points in my stats, I was pretty confident in my physique. Turns out, it still hurts when squeezed inside someone's palm.

"This color… a spirit?" [Leyhna]

"Uh, yeah? Can you maybe um, I dunno, let me go?" [Solace]

Leyhna ignored my words. Instead, she inspected me.

"Hm… I've never seen a spirit speak before." [Leyhna]

"Then I guess I'm pretty special. Anyway, have you considered letting me go?" [Solace]

Leyhna ignored me once again.

"Do you have any proof that you're Fina's familiar?" [Leyhna]

"Does being able to make myself look like my previous form count?" [Solace]

"...I'll let you try." [Leyhna]

She released me from her grip, allowing me to fly freely.

"|Mimic|." [Solace]

White mist swirled around me, eventually revealing a little yellow ball of light upon vanishing.

"Oh, you really can turn back." [Leyhna]

I tried to agree with her, but then I realized I couldn't speak again.

("Dispel |Mimic|.") [Solace]

White mist surrounded me once again, this time, it reverted me back to my yellowish human spirit form.

"Huh? Why'd you change back?" [Leyhna]

"I can't speak when I'm like that. You see, there's a reason why people have mouths." [Solace]

Leyhna shrugged. I guess she didn't have any complaints about that.

"So, I'm going to assume you are Fina's familiar. Is that correct?" [Leyhna]

"Yep." [Solace]

"And you are supposed to protect her, correct?" [Leyhna]

"Yes…?" [Solace]

I didn't really know where she was going with this, but I just followed along.

"Then why is it that I find it so unbelievable when I remember you untying Fina's necktie while naked?" [Leyhna]

Now I saw where she was going with it.

"Well, you see… There were… many things going on. I have my own circumstances." [Solace]

"Like?" [Leyhna]

"I can't transform with clothes on. That's literally it." [Solace]

There really isn't much to explain, so I answered bluntly.

"...I'll believe that for now. Can you refrain from transforming into a human for a while?" [Leyhna]

"Why?" [Solace]

"I'll bring something to help with your… lack of clothing. By the way, does Fina know you can turn into a human?" [Leyhna]

"No, I've been keeping my previous appearance around her." [Solace]

Leyhna looked at me with a puzzled expression. It seemed that she didn't understand my intentions.

"...Is there a reason why?" [Leyhna]

"I don't know her situation yet. From what I've seen she's bullied at school when you're not around." [Solace]

"What?!" [Leyhna]

The flames around her flared, and her eyes narrowed. Pretty sure she just got pretty mad.

"Who was it?! Tell me!" [Leyhna]

"Woah! Watch the fire!" [Solace]

"Oh." [Leyhna]

She took notice of her ability, causing her to dispel it.

("Thank god… One thing to not worry about.") [Solace]

"The bullies were uh… I don't remember their names." [Solace]

"..." [Leyhna]

She stood up and sighed. Without another word, she headed to the door.

"Huh? Where are you going?" [Solace]

"Outside." [Leyhna]

"Wait, you're leaving me here? Alone? With Fina? I thought you didn't trust me." [Solace]

Leyhna stopped at the door. She then turned towards me while pointing two fingers at her eyes and then to me.

"I trust you a bit now. Just know that I'm still watching you." [Leyhna]

She then left the room and closed the door behind her.

("Leyhna really left like that?") [Solace]

Just as I thought that, the door reopened and Leyhna peeked her head through.

"I'm warning you, don't do anything weird to Fina." [Leyhna]

"Uh… I know." [Solace]

Leyhna gave me a little glare, but then eventually left.

("She really came and went like a storm.") [Solace]