System Notification: A Magical Tale: A Song of Shadows: Completed!!!
"Liam… are you crying?"
After Nekowa's story was concluded, the storyteller herself could not help but ask the question when she saw the young man, who was now out of his Magical Girl transformation, filled with watery tears in his eyes.
Perhaps it was fortunate for Liam that only Nekowa alone get to witness this kind of emotional vulnerability coming from him since June long since had fallen asleep comfortably and snuggling at his left arm with a serene look.
"No… no I'm not…" Liam denied like a child while wiping said tears from his eyes, earning a small smile from the cat, "It's just… sweat from the heat, hahaha, yeah… that's all."
"Hehe, sure whatever you say, little man." Nekowa truthfully was touched despite her display of amusement. She then scooted a bit closer to him and lay by his side at his right arm, "And Liam, thanks for listening to me. I guess I really needed that."
"No problem, Nekowa." Liam smiled and petted the cat's head gently, earning quite an adorable purr from her. This action alone caused him to involuntarily say the first word that came in his mind.
"Cute."
Since the two still were telepathically connected with one another, it was inevitable that Nekowa heard Liam's comment about her. Never would anyone imagine that a pink face would turn pinker and Nekowa just proved the impossible, earning a small blush from the compliment she received.
"Really Cute. God, you're adorable."
Way to go and up the ante, champ. Liam was not exactly known for his tact, and even more so when he got to witness this adorable side from the cute cat.
"I, uh… thank you, I suppose."
It's one thing coming from her former Magical Girls whose true identities were all women, but it's an entirely different thing when it came from a man. Of course, she had her fair share of suitors back then, but none were as straightforward and daring like this human who she currently shared a bed, and with a child on the other side, no less!!
And because of this, Nekowa was in cloud nine as she leaned and rested her back against Liam's right arm, all for the sole reason to hide her ever growing look of wholesome embarrassment.
Of course, she better not get ahead of herself. She's a freaking cat, damn it! It's not unusual for a human to call a cat cute since cats are naturally adorable creatures by default.
Oops, Nekowa almost forgot. She better cut off the telepathic link between her and Liam hence anymore of her embarrassing thoughts come to leak out. No way in hell would she allow Liam to use that as a leverage to tease her during any banters in the near future.
Liam chuckled heartily in response to the Neko's hilarious act and continued in caressing the cat's head. It's been long since he had someone to share a moment like this.
"Nekowa, huh…"
A true friend indeed. Liam was glad and thankful that he was not alone in this journey, and it was Nekowa of all people who he had the pleasure of accompanying.
Well, together with June, of course. Let's not forget about the little girl, mind you.
In the end, the three slept in peace. And strangely, for the first time after receiving his "Guilt-Driven" flaw, Liam slumbered with a smile on his face, not even a sign of any nightmare showing up in his sleep.
Perhaps what he needed was support emotionally, coming from the two girls who he was being sandwiched at his both sides.
***
And just like that, a week had passed since the arrival of Liam and his companions here at the Ranger Checkpoint Camp.
In all honesty, it did not take long for Liam, correction… Defolta to adjust in such a militaristic lifestyle. As a matter of fact, the Magical Girl felt strangely at home despite her initial interpretation of being confined inside a military camp.
During the first day, she indulged and took advantage of the benefits of being one of the camp's guests together with June Since Defolta and June were not rangers, then they were not restricted by the camp's schedule of calls and were free to roam around the camp at their leisure. Considering the other option of remaining inside the barracks for the remainder of their stay here, it would be best to use their precious time in seeing what the camp had to offer instead.
Since this was a camp, then this call for some training, maybe? Perhaps Defolta could hone or learn a new skill or something during her stay here, at the very least, so her confinement won't be a total waste.
While she and the child were walking, the sound of arrows firing was heard, and Defolta immediately turn her head at where the sound was coming from.
"Hoooold…... FIRE!!!!"
Defolta witnessed a group of rangers firing arrows from their respective bows in a synchronized, military manner. From the drawing of the bow to its release, each Ranger launched their arrows with pinpoint accuracy and the bladed tip would always meet its deadly mark.
"A bow and arrow, huh." Defolta thought with a contemplating expression, "I almost forgot that I actually have one in my Inventory, but I never had the chance to use it because I was never good at it."
"Well, now is the right time, then." Nekowa suggested, her form being invisible from the naked eye, "It never hurts to have a long-range option, especially should melee and magic be thrown out of the bus, for whatever reason."
"Yeah, you're right." Defolta agreed, "If I'm not mistaken, Gregor even said that I'm allowed to join their drills or training. Alrighty then, time to learn the ways of the Bow."
"Heh, Magical Girl: Huntressa would approve." Nekowa commented about one of her former Magical Girls.
As they made their approach at the Archery Range, they spotted a familiar figure among the archer ranks.
"Well would you look at that, it's fox girl." Defolta crossed her arms upon seeing Yolan drawing the string of her bow.
The fox girl assumed quite a demeanor of deadly composure, very much in contrast to the cheerful persona she initially displayed back when Defolta first met her.