Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre exited the Adventurer's Guild, discussing the mission they had just seen. The clear skies of Arcadia and the peaceful atmosphere outside the guild contrasted sharply with the unease brewing in their minds after the earlier encounter.
"So, what do you think about the missions there?" Pierre asked, loosening his light armor. "Everything seems pretty ordinary."
"I still don't understand how they assess difficulty without a level system. It feels like we've been thrown back to the past," Catherine replied, folding her arms, her face showing a hint of irritation.
Thomas chuckled lightly. "You sound like the Navigator now. But yeah, it's odd. We'll need to be more cautious when picking missions here."
As they headed toward the exit, a soft, friendly voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Oh, you're from Astral Point too, aren't you?" The long-haired girl they had noticed earlier stood next to Catherine, smiling brightly. Her elegant attire, adorned with royal patterns, made her stand out, especially amidst the bustling streets of Arcadia. Behind her stood a knight in golden armor, maintaining a vigilant stance.
Catherine turned slowly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. Before she could respond, the Navigator's panicked voice echoed in their minds.
"Leave that place immediately! Run as far as you can now!"
There was no time to think. Usually calm and composed, Catherine turned abruptly and grabbed Thomas's arm.
"Go now!" she commanded firmly. Pierre, though confused, followed without question. The three bolted, weaving through the busy streets of Arcadia in a frantic dash away from the girl and her knight.
"Hey, wait! What's going on?" Pierre shouted, trying to keep up with Catherine and Thomas.
"The Navigator told us to leave! That's enough for me!" Catherine replied without looking back, her voice tense.
Behind them, the girl sighed deeply. "I'm really tired of this," she muttered, her voice soft but clear enough for the knight beside her to hear. Her glass shoes clicked against the cobblestones as she moved.
The knight, who had seemed disinterested in the situation earlier, finally spoke. "I expected this. Of course, they'd flee as soon as you approached them."
"I just wanted to learn more," the girl replied nonchalantly as she resumed walking. But after only three steps, her body vanished in the blink of an eye.
The knight remained still, sighing as he watched Catherine, Thomas, and Pierre disappear into the distance. "This always happens," he murmured before turning and strolling off in another direction.
On the other side, Catherine, Thomas, and Pierre ran until they felt they were far enough from the guild. Stopping in a narrow alley, they panted heavily.
"What was that?" Thomas asked, bent over as he tried to catch his breath.
"Navigator, explain! Why did we have to run?" Catherine demanded, frustration evident in her tone.
"She's a combat unit belonging to another player. Judging by how she approached you, I'm sure she knows who you are. I didn't want to risk a confrontation, especially since you're not prepared," the Navigator explained.
Pierre wiped sweat from his brow, his expression still confused. "A combat unit? So, she's like us?"
"Exactly. But their level is higher. Stay alert. I'll try to gather more information about them," the Navigator replied firmly.
Catherine scoffed, glancing at Thomas and Pierre. "Did you hear that? We need to be more careful from now on. Don't draw attention to yourselves."
Thomas nodded. "Alright. But honestly, I feel like there's something odd about that girl. She didn't seem like an immediate threat."
"That's exactly what makes her dangerous," Catherine retorted coldly.
Their breaths were heavy, Catherine's face reflecting a mix of disbelief and irritation, while Thomas tried to think clearly despite his trembling body.
"Navigator, are we safe now?" Thomas asked in his mind, trying to calm his nerves.
"Don't let your guard down. Make sure no one is following you," the Navigator replied, still firm but slightly relieved.
The calm was short-lived. The sound of distinct footsteps echoed from behind them. Unlike the usual shuffle of people, these steps were precise, the sound of glass shoes deliberately tapping against the stone floor. Catherine, with her sharp instincts, immediately turned toward the sound. But before she could say anything, the girl with the glass shoes was already standing behind them.
"Hello again. Where were you running off to? I wasn't finished talking," she said with the same friendly smile, which did little to hide the undercurrent of danger.
Thomas's eyes widened in alarm. "Navigator, what should we do now?" he whispered internally, panicked.
"Stay calm. Don't attack or make her suspicious. Wait for her next move," the Navigator instructed swiftly.
"You're from Astral Point too, right?" the girl repeated her earlier question, her tone cheerful but laced with a sharp curiosity.
Catherine murmured softly to herself, "No way. I heard her footsteps coming from another direction. How did she appear here?" Her mind raced with possibilities of magic or some strange ability she couldn't comprehend.
Meanwhile, Pierre stayed silent, observing the girl closely, hoping to glean some clue about her intentions.
The Navigator finally gave a command. "Thomas, tell her the truth. There's no point in lying now."
Thomas took a deep breath before responding. "Yes. We're from Astral Point."
Hearing his answer, the girl's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands in delight, as if hearing wonderful news. "Really? Oh, I'm so happy to meet you all! I didn't think there were others here besides me and that silly knight."
Catherine, Thomas, and Pierre exchanged glances, their confusion plain on their faces. Catherine even shot a sharp look at the girl, trying to discern if this was some kind of trap.
From the shadows behind the girl, the knight in golden armor emerged. His voice was deep and commanding. "Tofu has ordered us to eliminate all Astral Point units we encounter."
The tension in the atmosphere spiked immediately. Thomas scanned the area for an escape route, while Catherine's hand gripped the edge of her gown, ready to fight if necessary.
But the girl quickly turned and scolded the knight. "Be quiet! Don't say such mean things to my friends."
"But it's Tofu's order…" the knight tried to explain, but her sharp glare silenced him.
"I don't care what Tofu says. They're my friends now. Don't even think about bothering them," the girl stated firmly, her tone hard yet accompanied by a friendly smile as she turned back toward Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre.
Pierre whispered softly to Catherine, "Are you sure this isn't a trap?"
"Nothing is certain, but let's play along for now," Catherine replied coldly.
Thomas decided to speak cautiously. "Why are you so excited to meet us? What's your purpose?"
The girl only smiled mysteriously. "No specific reason. I just feel happy to meet friends from the same place. That's all."
Yet behind her smile, Thomas felt an inexplicable unease, a strangeness that made his spine tingle.
Catherine regarded the girl before her with a sweet, calculating smile. The girl's apparent innocence was a perfect opportunity to gain the upper hand. With a soft, friendly tone, Catherine stepped forward.
"It seems we have an interesting connection. You seem so cheerful and pleasant—I like that. I'm Catherine. May I know your name?" she asked, her warm smile appearing genuine.
The girl seemed momentarily surprised but quickly beamed. "Oh, of course! I'm so glad we can be friends. My name is…" She hesitated briefly before continuing, "Cinderella!"
The Navigator, listening through Catherine's thoughts, barely held back laughter. "Oh, this is rich. I know all about her," the voice said in Catherine's mind. "Play this carefully, and we'll get all the information we need."
Thomas and Pierre exchanged confused glances, bewildered by Cinderella's seemingly excessive enthusiasm. Soon, they heard the Navigator in their thoughts. "Follow Catherine's lead. Let her control the conversation."
"Oh, Cinderella, that's a beautiful name," Catherine complimented gently. "I've never met anyone like you. From the way you talk, it seems you're from an extraordinary place. Could you tell us more about yourself?"
Cinderella's smile widened, delighted by Catherine's interest. "I come from an incredible flying castle, but someone named Tofu claims to be the Navigator and keeps bossing us around. It's a bit annoying. But it seems we don't have much choice but to obey, right? Aren't you the same?" Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
The knight standing behind Cinderella sighed softly. "You're talking too much," he muttered, but Cinderella simply waved him off nonchalantly.
"Oh, let it be. They're my friends now, anyway," she said cheerfully.
Pierre, who had been mostly silent, cautiously asked, "What brought you to Arcadia, if I may ask?"
Cinderella nodded enthusiastically. "I love new places. Besides, Arcadia has a different vibe from that flying castle. And… oh, I'm looking for something, but I'm not sure what it is. Maybe a fortune teller? Or a witch? I wasn't paying much attention to what Tofu said back at the castle," she answered with a mysterious smile.
The Navigator spoke again in Catherine's mind. "Push her further. Ask about other people from Astral Point. We need more information."
Catherine leaned in slightly, feigning genuine curiosity. "Cinderella, you mentioned we're from the same place. Are there others from Astral Point here as well?"
Cinderella paused to think. "Oh, yes, of course! There's Tofu. He's quite busy keeping an eye on someone named Blanchette. He's very fond of that quiet girl, you know? I often feel Tofu is too overprotective. And then there's another odd girl named—"
The knight behind Cinderella interrupted, this time with a more assertive tone. "Cinderella, stop talking so much. Tofu won't be pleased if he finds out you're sharing this information."
Cinderella huffed. "Oh, come on. Tofu won't know. Besides, I'm just being friendly. They're my friends now," she said with a small clap of her hands.
Thomas, feeling the situation grow stranger, quietly asked, "Catherine, what do we do now?"
"We keep going. She's already talking," Catherine replied in her thoughts. Then, aloud, she said, "Cinderella, I feel like we'll get along so well. You have such a delightful aura. Is there any place in Arcadia you think we absolutely must visit?"
Cinderella thought for a moment before responding. "Oh, of course! There's a beautiful garden in the city center. I love going there to relax. If you'd like, I can show you the way sometime!"
Catherine smiled broadly. "That's a great idea. We'll consider it. Thank you, Cinderella."
***