**Tatiana's perspective**
As we settled down for the night in our forest camp, I found myself accompanied by a delightful new companion - Lumina, a newly born fairy with long, white hair. We sat in the warm glow of the campfire, Lumina playfully fluttering around me, her ethereal glow adding an enchanting radiance to the scene.
The setting was even more enjoyable with the elegant wooden table set for four, which seemed to have materialized out of nowhere since our arrival. I shot a curious glance at Lily, wondering about the table's origin, but decided it might be best not to ask. Sometimes, it's better to enjoy the magic without asking too many questions.
I noticed Lily and Blanc exchanging glances, their eyes drifting between Lumina and me. The silence in the air was finally broken by Blanc, her tone laced with curiosity.
"Are you going to tell us what that thing is, or should we guess?" Blanc queried, nodding towards Lumina.
Lumina squealed cheerfully in response and snuggled into me. Lily, with a warm smile, chimed in, "I think Lady Tatiana already mentioned that it's her daughter, didn't she?"
"No, no, Lumina is not my daughter. She is my spirit form, born of my heart and soul," I clarified, shaking my head at Lily's jest.
Blanc chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "So, a different kind of daughter then?"
"Blanc!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her relentless teasing.
The night wore on, with the gentle crackle of the campfire and the peaceful sounds of the forest filling the air. We gathered around the wooden table, the warmth of the fire warding off the night chill. Blanc, still intrigued by Lumina, continued her questioning.
"What can it do, anyway?" she asked, her eyes narrowing at Lumina.
Her question caught me off guard. "What can she do?" I mused, turning to look at Lumina. Lumina, seemingly understanding the question, made a show of lifting my finger with all her might. She hugged my finger tightly, her little body straining with the effort.
Her adorable antics sent ripples of laughter around the fire. "Lumina, you're so cute," I cooed, unable to hide my delight.
Lily's eyes twinkled as she watched us, "That was really cute to see."
Blanc scoffed, trying to hide her amusement, "That's as useful as a potato."
Before I could retort, Sakuya interjected. "The spirit form mirrors the state of its originator. Because Tatiana is weak, so is Lumina."
A sense of understanding dawned upon me. "So, if I become stronger, Lumina will become stronger too?" I asked, excitement creeping into my voice.
Sakuya simply nodded in response. Blanc, however, was less than impressed.
"You, stronger? That's a laugh. You're the most delicate rich girl I know. You couldn't hurt a fly, let alone train to become strong," she mocked, much to my dismay.
I felt a mix of determination and embarrassment, realizing that it was true, as I was weak and couldn't fight.
"I'll train you," she offered, her words carrying a resolve that left no room for doubt.
My heart leapt with joy. "Sakuya, you'll do that?" I asked, barely able to hide my excitement.
Sakuya simply nodded, as calm as ever. Lily beamed at me, her support clear as day. "That's a wonderful idea! With Lady Sakuya's strength and experience, she could teach you a lot," she chimed.
Blanc, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled. "Training her is a waste of time," she muttered, although I could detect a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Sakuya," I began, a newfound determination filling my voice. "When we have some free time, I would like you to teach me how to fight. Please."
Sakuya nodded her agreement. "Whenever you're ready, ask me."
The support of my friends filled me with a sense of hope. Lily's cheerful encouragement, Sakuya's silent promise, and even Lumina's happy chirping. They gave me the strength to confront Blanc's skepticism.
"Thank you, Lily and Lumina," I said, a soft smile playing on my lips. "I'll do my best."
Despite the doubt that lingered in Blanc's eyes, I was determined.
We indulged in a feast prepared by Lily, the fragrant aroma of freshly cooked food filling the air. I took a bite and instantly complimented Lily on her culinary skills. She modestly credited the forest for providing fresh ingredients, though I knew better than to press her further. As the meal unfolded, I noticed Lumina fluttering towards the campfire.
"Kyupi…" Her small voice chimed as she approached the flickering flames.
"Lumina, don't go near the fire!" I cautioned, managing to intervene just in time.
Blanc let out a chuckle, her amusement evident, "It's so like you to leap into danger without a second thought. I guess it really is your daughter."
I could only smile wryly at Blanc's comment, my attention still focused on Lumina's safety.
"Ladies," Lily interjected, her voice carrying an air of authority, "it's been a long day. Finish your dinner and prepare for bedtime."
With dinner completed, we started readying ourselves for sleep. I slipped into my nightgown as Lily neatly arranged my hair for the night. Soon, we found ourselves approaching the single camp set up for the night.
"Lily, why is there only one camp?" I queried, my gaze flitting between Sakuya and Blanc, clearly expecting more than one sleeping arrangement.
"We only have one camp at the moment, Lady Tatiana, so you'll have to share," Lily responded, her voice laced with mild regret.
But who was I to share the camp with? As if in response to my unspoken question, Blanc made her presence known.
"Geez, get out of the way," she grumbled, making herself comfortable.
I gulped, not entirely sure about this sleeping arrangement, and Lumina seemed to share my sentiment.
"Kyupi!" she squeaked, clearly upset.
"Lumina, Blanc didn't mean any harm," I reassured her, holding her gently.
Blanc shot us a warning glance, "Keep your pet under control, or it'll regret it."
My heart pounded in my chest. Blanc's threat, as disconcerting as it was, pushed me to ensure Lumina's safety. But another concern was tugging at my mind - what about Sakuya and Lily?
"But, where are you and Sakuya going to sleep, Lily?" I asked, concerned.
"We will be standing guard around the camp, making sure everything is safe," she responded, as if it was a matter of course.
"But, Lily, won't you be tired?" I implored, worried about her well-being.
She smiled softly at my concern, "If Lady Tatiana insists, I'll rest once I finish up a few tasks. Please ensure that both you and Lumina get a good night's sleep."
Relief washed over me as I thanked her, "I'm glad to hear that, Lily. Have a good night, too."
With Lumina already showing signs of sleepiness, we made our way to the tent. As we settled down for the night, I glanced back one last time, whispering a soft 'good night' to Lily.
"Can't you scoot over a bit more?" Blanc grumbled, her voice laced with annoyance.
"I'm trying, but the tent is just too small," I protested, my efforts at finding additional space futile. Our bodies were pressed against each other, the icy coolness of Blanc's skin contrasting sharply against my warmth. Strangely, I found the chill somewhat comforting.
"Typical," Blanc muttered under her breath, her discontentment aimed at an unknown person.
Her discontentment became more pronounced as our close quarters became increasingly evident. "This has to be intentional," she mused aloud, even as she nudged me for additional space. "Could you, at least, not shove that thing against me?"
Taken aback, I tried to smooth over the situation, "It's not intentional at all, and I'm sorry if I'm taking up too much space."
"Kyupi..." Lumina's small voice chimed in, the fairy sandwiched uncomfortably between Blanc and myself.
"See? Even Lumina is getting squished because of you," I chided, my gaze softening as I watched Lumina's discomfort.
"You…! I helped you reduce that meat from you!" Blanc retorted, visibly irritated as she tried to push me away.
"Wait, Blanc? Be careful where you touch!" I warned her as I felt her hand dangerously close to my clothing, afraid it might accidentally untangle something.
After a few moments of wrestling with the limited space, Blanc finally gave up in exasperation. "Ha... hah... haa... whatever, let's just get some sleep," she grumbled.
I couldn't help but find some comfort in Blanc's proximity, even though she clearly didn't share the sentiment. I clung onto her for warmth and comfort, feeling surprisingly at ease in her presence.
"You're so cold, Blanc, but it feels so comfortable," I murmured, finally drifting off to sleep.
Blanc sighed, seemingly too exhausted to argue further, "What am I doing? And this girl sleeptalking while clinging on to me," she mumbled under her breath.
Despite the initial discomfort, the night slowly passed, and morning arrived. Our unexpected closeness, borne out of necessity, had brought about a curious sense of camaraderie, even if Blanc wouldn't admit it.
-Chapter 28 End-