My body suddenly froze.
I couldn't move—not a finger, not even my jaw. Hazel stood over me, positioning herself like she was preparing for surgery. As she leaned closer, I noticed her long ears turning red.
Blushing.
That was… ironic.
She brought a potion to my mouth and tried to force it in. I resisted for a moment, but my strength faded fast. Eventually, she gave up with an irritated sigh.
Hazel: Hi, Xiver. Did Martha and Amelia tell you ab—
Xiver: Wait. Who are you?
Her eye twitched.
Hazel: Didn't anyone teach you manners? When a lady is speaking, you let her fini—
Xiver: How do you know my name?
She snapped.
Hazel: YOU LITTL—
Before she could finish, voices echoed behind her.
Amelia: Hi, Hazel! How are you?
Hazel froze.
Hazel: Don't just come in and ju—
Martha: Hazel…? Oh. Hi.
Hazel's shoulders slumped.
Hazel: Even you too, Martha…
Xiver: Is your friend a narcissist?
Hazel turned toward me, eyes burning.
Hazel: You little—
Amelia: She probably has daddy issues or something, I don't know.
Martha: Hazel… do you have daddy issues?
Hazel: What?! No! Amelia, stop spreading misinformation—
…Amelia?
She turned just in time to see Amelia collapse onto the cave floor, instantly asleep.
I blinked.
How long did they walk to get here…?
Wait—what did we even ride again?
Hazel clicked her tongue.
Hazel: That woman… she pisses me off beyond reason.
Her face flushed again as she looked away.
Yeah.
I know what this is.
She's a tsundere.
That's the ultimate truth.
Once things finally settled, Hazel crossed her arms, expression serious.
Hazel: I didn't explain much earlier, but Xiver… you have cancer.
Silence.
Xiver: …What?
Cancer?
I'm doomed.
Hazel: But there's a cure.
You should've said that first, dumbass.
Hazel: We need to find a half-human, half-dragon.
…Maria?
Hazel: He's my brother. His name is Nestle.
I paused.
Why do names in this world suck so much?
Martha: I'm sorry again.
Hazel: Thanks… but don't worry, Martha. We'll find him.
Xiver: So… do I have eight months, or—
Hazel: Two days.
Yeah. She's messing with me.
Martha: Do you know where he might be?
Hazel: Probably another cave or something.
Martha: Then let's go find him.
Once the sandstorm finally weakened, we carefully stepped out of the cave we had been hiding in.
Only now did I really look around.
The cave wasn't empty.
Shelves carved into the stone walls were stacked with dried meat, strange fruits preserved in glass, and sealed containers filled with liquids I didn't recognize. In the back, crude laboratory equipment stood scattered—alchemy circles scratched into stone tables, vials stained with old residue, notebooks written in languages I couldn't read.
Hazel raised a magical barrier around us as we moved, the wind and sand crashing uselessly against it. Outside the cave, the storm still howled, but inside the barrier, the air felt heavy and quiet.
Near the entrance waited the creature that brought Hazel and me here.
A kappa.
Seeing it up close felt unreal—dark green skin, webbed limbs, and sharp eyes that looked far too intelligent for a mere beast.
So that's what we rode through the storm…
Amelia looked completely drained. Walking all this way with Martha had taken its toll—her shoulders slumped, steps uneven. She leaned against the cave wall, eyes half-closed.
Xiver: Hazel… let's leave Amelia and Martha here for now.
Martha: Huh?!
Hazel turned sharply toward me.
Hazel: W–what? Are you planning to do something to me?
Xiver: N–no! That's not what I meant.
I shook my head quickly.
We don't even know where Nestle is yet. There are caves nearby—no need to push them.
Martha: It's okay. I can still walk.
Xiver: Then come with us—but don't wake Amelia.
Hazel stepped outside the cave first, adjusting the barrier. I followed—but before I could, someone grabbed my sleeve.
Martha.
She stood there, face completely red, eyes lowered, avoiding mine. When she spoke, her voice was quiet—careful.
Martha: I'm… glad we made it here.
Us, I mean.
Xiver: Huh?
She hesitated, then took a slow breath.
Martha: Before you came, Amelia wasn't like this. She wasn't cheerful or carefree. She was serious—ready to do anything to get what she wanted.
Her words painted an image in my mind.
Maria.
Strong. Tough. Unmoving.
So different from the Amelia I knew now.
Martha: She changed after we met you, Xiver.
I didn't interrupt.
Martha: When I first saw you… your eyes looked dead. Like you were always about to cry.
The longer I looked at you, the more scared I felt.
My chest tightened.
Martha: Not because you were dangerous—but because you were empty.
She clenched her hands.
Martha: I felt sad. So sad it hurt. I didn't want to spend time with you. I didn't want to be near you.
I hated you.
The words didn't feel cruel.
They felt honest.
Martha: But that hate is gone now.
She finally lifted her head.
Martha: Maria and Amelia welcomed you into the clan… and even though you acted like you were above us, you still changed everything.
Her voice trembled.
Martha: I miss Maria every day. She was my friend first.
But I love what Amelia has become.
And… I love what you've become too.
Silence settled between us.
Martha: The boy who always looked angry and broken is gone.
And I like that version of you.
She took a small step back.
Martha: After we save Maria… no matter what happens next…
I'm welcoming you to the clan, Xiver.
She let go of my sleeve and turned away.
As I stood there, one thought echoed in my mind—quiet, heavy, unavoidable.
…Have I really changed?