"Speaking of which... I suddenly got curious about something."
Miko said it just like that — as though a thought had suddenly surfaced from nowhere.
But the expression on her face carried a visible hesitation, which left Acheron, sitting across from her, genuinely puzzled.
"What kind of something?"
Watching Miko, Acheron found herself curious about what could have produced that peculiar look.
"It's about Kiana."
Miko glanced at her briefly, then said it plainly.
Because it was Acheron, she could afford to be direct. With anyone else, she absolutely would not have said it so bluntly.
Kiana?
Acheron hadn't expected Miko's thoughts to be on Kiana right now. She asked, "What about her?"
She could roughly guess that Miko was probably thinking about Kiana's identity — but she asked anyway. Better to hear what Miko actually said before drawing conclusions. It might turn out to be something else entirely.
"It's just..." Miko still seemed to be wrestling with herself. She looked at Acheron for a long moment before finally getting it out: "Do you think she'd be the same as you — completely unbothered by Kaito being out there with other women?"
She kept her eyes on Acheron after that, as though she was genuinely looking forward to the answer.
She's asking about...
Acheron had not anticipated this at all. She'd guessed wrong.
"Well... I'd imagine she wouldn't mind, but I can't say for certain."
She thought it over briefly before offering that hedged reply.
She had no choice. She'd been presenting herself as someone who didn't know Kiana particularly well, so she could only give an uncertain answer now. If she suddenly had confident, detailed opinions on Kiana's inner feelings while claiming ignorance about everything else, that would be inconsistent — and suspicious.
She could explain it away if pressed, but it was better to stay vague for now. Miko had probably expected exactly this kind of answer anyway.
"I just keep feeling like she might do something to me."
Miko murmured it — whether to herself or to Acheron was hard to tell.
Don't worry...
I'm not going to do anything to you...
Acheron held the thought quietly to herself before speaking aloud: "Why would you think that? I don't think you really understand Kiana at all."
Regardless of anything else, she'd hear what Miko had to say first.
"You're right, I don't understand her — and that's exactly why I'm a little worried." Miko gave a small nod, conceding the point, but turned it around into the very reason for her concern.
After a beat, she felt her explanation hadn't been complete enough, so she added: "There's also the fact that she looks so much like that... that Sustainer. I can't shake the feeling that she's dangerous somehow."
When exactly did I come across as dangerous?
Just because I look like the Sustainer?
Acheron couldn't help turning that over in her mind. She even genuinely tried to recall whether Kiana had done anything threatening the times she'd appeared — and came up with nothing.
Could it just be because Kiana shows up so rarely?
No matter how she thought about it, that was the only explanation she could land on. Because she truly could not understand why Miko would arrive at that conclusion otherwise.
"Is the Sustainer really that dangerous?"
She'd already formed an idea of what to say next — something that would bring Kiana over — but Acheron wasn't in any rush. She let the question come first.
"Somewhat, yes," Miko said, nodding as memories of vanished nations drifted through her mind.
"Then why don't the two of you meet? I think once you do, you'll stop feeling like she's dangerous."
Seeing how Miko felt about it, Acheron went ahead and voiced what she'd already been thinking.
Meet with Kiana...
Hmm...
Well — why not!
After a moment's thought, Miko decided to go along with Acheron's suggestion.
Because, if she was being honest, she still felt there was a real possibility that Kiana truly was the Sustainer — which meant she did need to see her in person.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then, Mei." Mind made up, Miko gave a firm nod.
"Then I'll go get her now."
With that, Acheron rose from her seat and walked toward the door.
"Wait — Mei." Just as Acheron reached the doorway, Miko called out after her.
"What is it?"
Acheron turned back, visibly puzzled.
"Just — don't tell her I said she seemed dangerous, alright?" Miko said it slowly, holding Acheron's gaze.
Whatever happened, it was better if Kiana didn't hear the way she'd just described her. That would only make things awkward.
"Mm."
Acheron gave a single nod and walked out.
She just... left like that...
You'd better not actually say it, Mei...
Miko stepped outside and looked around — Mei was already gone, not a trace of her in sight.
She couldn't help feeling uneasy. That single "mm" had been far too noncommittal for comfort.
But now that Mei had already gone to fetch Kiana, all Miko could do was wait.
—
The inn.
How should I act when the time comes?
Kiana had stepped out of her room and was making her way toward the inn's exit, turning the question over in her mind.
Acheron hadn't come to get her yet — but there was no reason she couldn't head over early on her own.
After all, they were the same person. And with no one else around right now, there was no need to wait for the formality of being "summoned." That kind of thing only mattered when there were other people watching.
When there was an audience, playing different roles and keeping up the act was necessary. Right now, temporarily, it wasn't.
"Oh — Kiana!"
Paimon's voice floated over from nearby.
"You're all by yourself?"
Kiana looked up at Paimon for a moment, then asked in her usual unhurried tone.
She'd decided to play dumb — to act as though she knew nothing — so that was the line she went with.
"Lumine and Kaito went to Liyue and left me behind," Paimon answered, sounding genuinely put-upon.
She really did want to go to Liyue — but on her own, it would take forever. And knowing her luck, she'd probably arrive just as Lumine and Kaito were already on their way back, which would make the whole thing even more of a mess.
"I see. They'll probably be back soon enough then."
Kiana had a feeling Paimon had come looking for her because she wanted a ride to Liyue — so she kept her response deliberately vague and non-committal.
"Oh, so Kiana doesn't know when they're coming back either, huh. So... could you take me to Liyue? Hehe."
Exactly as Kiana had expected, Paimon came right out and asked.
It wasn't much to ask, really — but if Paimon showed up in Liyue, it would make things considerably more complicated for Kaito and Lumine.
____
👻🔥Read More: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Reincarnated as Mahito, Watch Me Manipulate Everyone
✅ Access up to 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Receive exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnut-chan