I'm not too sure when or even how I fell asleep. The last thing I remembered was killing my first- what was it called again? My mind went hazy at the time so I find it quite hard to remember, especially since instead of finding myself waking up in that cave, instead I'm laying down on an unfamiliar bed.
Upon sitting up, I feel a familiar weight on my head, and as I go to check with my hands, I realize that I'm wearing the mask... Just what happened? But looking around the room I'm in, it doesn't look like there's anyone that can answer my questions.
But right as I thought that, the door to this room opened up. I expected to see Charlotte, which got my heart beating, but surprisingly, it was her auntie instead; Luna.
"Ah! Shiro!"
Her eyes widen in surprise after seeing me in bed as she quickly makes her way to the side of the bed.
"H-how are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, uhm... Where am I?"
"Ah, this is the guest room inside my house."
So that means I'm still in the magic world?
"Where's Charlotte?"
"Oh, she had some business to do with Lisa at the other world. She said she'll be back later. She asked me to take care of you if anything happens."
Take care of me? Wait-
"H-how long was I asleep for?"
"...About a full day."
Looking out the window inside the room, the outside still appears to be bright out, but to think I whole day and night had passed since then...
"What happened?" Of course, this would be the next question to pop in my mind as I immediately ask, seeking some sort of explanation.
"..."
But instead of getting a response, I'm met with an unexpected silence from Luna. What made it more uncomfortable was the look on her face as she averts her eyes. Could it be something happened to me?
I quickly end up checking my body just in case but it doesn't look like I have any injuries. Of course there wouldn't be considering I heal almost instantly, but I just had to make sure.
"You just fell unconscious in the cave is all." After some silence, Luna ends up replying with a vague response.
"How did I-?"
"Your body collapsed soon after you killed that grobbe. The rest of us quickly killed the rest before they could harm you."
Wait! Then wouldn't I have troubled them? Did I seriously fall unconscious after that grobbe? Well... My memory is quite hazy so it does make sense, but to hear that I fell unconscious right then and there... I can't help but think that something's wrong with me...
"It's alright. Grobbes are nothing to worry about. No one was injured."
"I see... That's good..."
I end up letting out a soft sigh of relief after hearing that. But even still, I did become a burden for them...
"I- I'll try and not do it again."
"Hehe. You don't need to worry about it so much."
Gently, Luna pats the top of my head. Unlike Charlotte or anyone else, Luna's hands are extremely gentle, almost like she's treating me like I'll break if she presses down too much. It's quite pleasant...
"You thirsty?"
"Huh?"
"Hehe, I'll whip us up some tea. Just rest up in here for a bit longer, okay?"
"Nn..."
I watch as Luna proceeds to step out of the room with a smile on her face.
Now back to being alone, I think back on what Luna said and the last memory I had in the cave... It looks like Luna doesn't know exactly why I fell unconscious back there, but we both know it had something to do with the grobbe... Do grobbes have some sort of connection to me? Thinking back on them, I don't look alike to them at all so that doesn't really make sense, but if just the sight of them would cause me to collapse, then what? Also... Why am I wearing the mask?
"I'm back~"
After some time alone with my thoughts, Luna eventually came back into the room with a tray carrying two cups of tea. I already can smell the familiar scent of it as it's the same tea I'd make for Charlotte.
We both sat down, with Luna sitting down on a nearby chair and me simply sitting up in bed. Of course I made sure not to spill any of the tea on the bed as I let the heat from the cup warm my palms.
"Thank you, Luna."
"No problem~"
We both took a sip in sync with one another as the pleasant warmth that was spreading on my palm was now also building up in my chest.
"Delicious..."
"Hehe, thank you."
"I still need to practice more." Even now as I take a second sip, I realize that I'm still not at the level of Luna.
"Ah, well I did use blood from a more powerful creature this time around, so I wouldn't compare this to yours, Shiro."
"More powerful creature?"
"Mhmm! This one is made with Lagiasus blood. It's an underwater serpent lives out at the deep sea. they're quite hard to catch so i don't have much of they're blood.
"Underwater..."
"Yup! Oh, but they can come up on land, but it's rare for them. You only see them do that in winter. Oh! Thank you for reminding me, haha. I need to start planning for the upcoming winter in the coming months..."
Sounds like Luna is quite busy, running this shop while also hunting out at the ocean, but I am curious about this Lagiasus that she mentioned.
"Could I also come? Ah- with Charlotte as well?"
"Mmmm~ Can you even swim, Shiro?"
"I..." Swim?
"Fufu, it's okay. I'll teach you. But we'll wait for when Charlotte gets back."
"O-okay..."