A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

"This invitation is unexpectedly elegant," Gretel murmured, turning the thin rectangular card between her fingers.

The invitation was crafted from thick white parchment that felt almost silky beneath her gloved fingertips. Along its edges ran gold embossing, and across its center, written in graceful, flowing script, was a single word.

Worthy.

The simplicity of it somehow made it feel even more exclusive.

Gretel studied it for another moment before carefully lowering it onto the table.

She and Paimon had returned to the inn’s lower dining hall early that morning. Fresh sunlight spilled through the tall windows, bathing the floors in light. Unlike the previous evening, only a handful of patrons occupied the spacious room.

Fresh cups of coffee rested before both girls and across from them sat Goiim.

Even seated, the Nil carried herself with composure. One slender leg remained elegantly crossed over the other, her posture straight, pale eyes calmly observing the two girls.

"Those particular invitations," Goiim explained evenly, "are issued to guards, attendants, and household servants." Her fingers lightly rested against the tabletop. "They provide access to the estate without drawing unnecessary attention. The one called Mikoto received something different." Her pale gaze shifted between them. "His invitation belongs to a category reserved for noteworthy individuals. Guests personally recommended by influential third parties."

Paimon carefully tucked her own invitation into the folds of her cloak before looking back up.

"But..." She blinked curiously. "Isn’t he just going to hand it to that friend he mentioned?" She tilted her head. "He keeps talking about this mysterious friend." A thoughtful smile appeared. "I wonder what kind of friend an Angel has."

"Yeah..." Gretel replied dryly. "...’Friend.’"

There was just enough emphasis on the word that Paimon looked at her in confusion. Gretel clearly knew something she didn’t; she chose not to elaborate. Instead, she turned her silver eyes back toward Goiim.

"So the banquet begins this evening, and it’ll continue for several days after that?"

Goiim gave a small nod.

"Correct, there will be more than enough opportunities to gain Duke Bluebeard’s attention." Her voice remained as steady as ever. "Once you successfully locate the treasury, I shall inform you which specific artifact I require."

The answer wasn’t particularly satisfying.

Gretel lowered her gaze.

("So she’s still refusing to tell us.") Her fingers idly traced the edge of the invitation. ("Robert and Shuten-dōji won’t be coming inside. That leaves us two capable fighters. Our... mutual friend will already be there.")

She almost smiled.

("Though who knows what sort of chaos he’ll create.") Another thought followed almost immediately. ("There’s Echidna too...") Her expression became slightly more serious. ("...but letting her wander openly through a noble banquet sounds like the worst possible idea.")

She quietly exhaled.

"I suppose..." She looked back toward Goiim. "...there isn’t much reason to delay. We can leave now?"

"They should already be admitting guests," Goiim confirmed.

"There is little advantage in arriving late." Gretel nodded; she pushed herself to her feet. "Let’s get moving, Paimon."

As she stood, she instinctively adjusted the rapier resting against her hip.

Paimon immediately rose as well.

"Mhm!" She gave an energetic nod. "I’m coming."

The two girls made their way toward the inn’s entrance.

Neither noticed Goiim watching them for several long moments after they left. Her pale eyes followed their retreating figures until the front doors finally closed behind them.

Only then did her gaze slowly lower.

Outside, the morning air greeted them with a pleasant chill. Pulchritudo had only just begun to awaken. Compared to the bustling crowds they had grown accustomed to, the streets felt almost peaceful. Shopkeepers were still opening shutters while merchants arranged fresh goods outside storefronts. Workers hurried through the roads with sleepy expressions, and only the occasional carriage rolled over the stone streets.

Paimon adjusted her red hood as they walked.

"I..." She laughed nervously. "...I kind of feel like we’re spies. "Her voice remained low. "As strange as it sounds, agreeing to all of this feels secretive."

Gretel gave a small nod.

"It is." Her answer came without hesitation. "This is definitely the sort of work people would call shady."

Her silver eyes briefly wandered toward a nearby sweet shop as they passed. Fresh pastries sat neatly arranged behind polished glass.

The sight reminded her of someone.

A smile almost appeared.

Instead, it became a thoughtful frown.

"I’m still not entirely comfortable with what we’re doing." She admitted it honestly. "But we’re desperate. If Goiim truly knows something about the dragons, then we don’t have many alternatives."

Paimon hummed quietly.

"I suppose..." After another few steps she suddenly brightened. "Oh! That actually reminds me." She turned toward Gretel with obvious curiosity. "How did you even end up travelling with..." She smiled broadly. "...a really cool Angel knight?" The excitement in her voice was impossible to miss.

Gretel couldn’t help smiling.

Paimon’s enthusiasm really was infectious.

"Well..." She laughed quietly. "It’s a very long story." She looked ahead as memories resurfaced one after another. "And honestly I’m still not completely convinced about the Angel part. Mikoto doesn’t exactly enjoy talking about himself. If anything, he goes out of his way not to." Her voice softened. "I found him in an abandoned section of a forest. It wasn’t all that long ago. He didn’t seem to understand much about the world. He was unbelievably capable. But also completely clueless, so I helped him."

She shrugged lightly.

"And somehow he decided that meant he owed me." Her silver eyes drifted toward the road ahead. "Even now he still insists he has to repay me." A small chuckle escaped her. "It’s honestly a little ridiculous. He’s younger than I am yet somehow acts like the grumpiest old man imaginable." She smiled again. "But I really do think he’s a good person. He’d probably hate hearing me say that. But it’s true."

Another fond smile appeared.

"And he’s surprisingly wonderful with children."

Paimon listened attentively, then she nodded to herself.

"I can believe that." She folded her hands behind her back. "With a face like his I think most people would feel safe around him before he even said anything." She smiled. "He can be really rude. Like really rude. But..." She smiled sheepishly. "...he’s still incredibly cute. I honestly couldn’t believe he’s a boy."

Gretel chuckled under her breath.

"Yeah..." She shook her head affectionately. "I suppose that’s just Mikoto."

Gretel walked beside Paimon in comfortable silence for a short while.

The morning breeze gently stirred the ends of her hair as the two continued along Pulchritudo’s broad stone streets. Despite the ordinary rhythm of the city, Gretel’s thoughts lingered elsewhere.

On the strange little group she had somehow become part of. And inevitably Gretel’s curiosity, which had been quietly growing since the previous day, finally won out.

She glanced sideways toward Paimon.

"But..." Her voice remained thoughtful. "I’m actually a little curious about something." She smiled apologetically. "I never really got the chance to ask yesterday. Everything happened so quickly that we barely had time to properly introduce ourselves before we were already talking about Dukes and dragons."

She let out a breath.

"So..." Her silver eyes settled on Paimon. "How exactly did you and Mikoto end up meeting?"

Paimon blinked once before smiling.

"Oh." She lightly tapped her chin with one slender armored finger. "Honestly, it isn’t a very long story. I go to this really nice church." There was affection in her voice the moment she mentioned it. "I’ve been attending there for a while. " Her smile gradually weakened. "But yesterday some Heart Kingdom soldiers showed up. They weren’t there to pray."

Her brows knitted together.

"They just started causing trouble." She lowered her hand. "They were loud and rude and kept bothering everyone." Her expression became slightly embarrassed. "So I beat them up." She scratched her cheek sheepishly. "That’s where I first met him. "She laughed awkwardly. "I don’t think that’s exactly the most normal way to meet somebody."

A sigh escaped her.

"But then..." Her blue eyes lowered toward the street beneath their feet. "...I found out those soldiers supposedly served under Duke Bluebeard. " Her shoulders drooped. "And that meant what I did wasn’t just my problem." She smiled sadly. "I ended up dragging the church into it too; I made a really big mess for everyone."

Her voice had become much quieter by the end; Gretel listened without interrupting. Only after Paimon finished did she finally respond.

"Hm..." She smiled gently. "I don’t know." She looked ahead as they continued walking. "I think sometimes really big idiots simply deserve a proper thrashing." The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "So I’d say you did something commendable. You acted and protected people. I don’t think that’s something you should be ashamed of."

Her compliment was sincere. Yet while she spoke, her own thoughts wandered elsewhere.

("The more I hear about the Heart Kingdom...") Her gaze drifted across the grand avenues surrounding them. The immaculate streets, the towering buildings, and the well-dressed nobles. ("...the worse it sounds. Everything here looks beautiful and orderly. And yet there’s something foul beneath all of that. How many people simply accept living like this? Are they really content with a place like this?")

The thought left a bitter taste.

Beside her, Paimon smiled.

"Thank you." Her gratitude sounded genuine. "But I still think I should’ve stopped and thought a little longer before I acted." Her fingers lightly tightened around the edge of her cloak. "I let my emotions decide everything." She looked upward. "And now I just want to help however I can." Her expression gradually steadied. "Even if fixing everything takes a really long time, I’ll keep trying. I just have to convince that Duke."

Gretel regarded her for a long moment; there was something undeniably earnest about Paimon.

It was nice.

"Well..." Gretel smiled warmly. "I’m sure the church will be alright." She spoke with more confidence than she truly felt. "I’m not exactly a devoted follower of any particular religion." She admitted it with a small shrug. "But I’d like to see the church that somehow managed to catch Mikoto’s attention. That alone makes it seem worth visiting."

Paimon’s face immediately brightened; the worry she’d carried only moments before seemed to melt away.

"Oh!" She clasped her hands together happily. "I’d love that." Her cheerful smile returned in full. "I’d be more than happy to take you. I think Father Nicholas and Catherine would really like meeting you too."

She looked ahead toward the road with renewed enthusiasm.

"And I think you’d like the church. It isn’t anything grand, but..." She nodded to herself. "...it feels like home."

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