Tiel and Ian walked, following the fish.
The fish led them through winding corridors, deeper into the mansion. This was a place Ian Dross usually didn't bring Tiel.
"Where are we going?"
"Exactly, where are we going?"
Tiel tilted her head and asked. Ian Dross paused for a moment, as if thinking about something, then firmly took Tiel's hand.
"...Ian?"
"Let's go."
"Why are you suddenly holding my hand?"
"You've pulled me in before."
"That's true, but..."
While Tiel and Ian exchanged light conversation, the fish circled around them, sometimes flying ahead, heading somewhere.
Then, they stopped in front of a door. Ian Dross and Tiel paused, not opening the door immediately.
"What room is this?"
"I don't know either. As you know, there are hundreds of rooms here."
"What if we get stuck like you did, Ian?"
"I'm scared of that too. I don't mind getting stuck alone, but you're with me now."
Ian spoke calmly. Tiel wanted to say that she was also afraid if Ian were to get stuck alone, but she held back.
"But it should be fine this time. Even if we do get stuck, you have your fish..."
As Ian's words finished, the fish swam around Tiel's fingertips in reassurance.
The fins brushing gently over Tiel's fingers sparkled nonstop.
Tiel and Ian looked at each other for a moment, then decided to open the door.
"Should I open it?"
"If you want to, then go ahead."
Ian Dross consented quietly.
Since Ian was ready to open the spatial gate and pull Tiel away to escape if anything happened, it was up to Tiel to open the door.
Tiel cautiously opened the door.
With a click, the door opened. Tiel and Ian Dross did not move into the room immediately but instead looked inside.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
And in the next moment, both of them widened their eyes.
"W-What is this?"
Tiel carefully covered her mouth as she turned to Ian, her eyes filled with astonishment.
Ian Dross was just as surprised.
"What is this?"
What Tiel and Ian saw were walls covered in numerous light fragments.
The light fragments were densely embedded in all four walls, making the room as bright as day.
Even though each fragment didn't have the same strong light as Tiel usually created, it still filled the room with brightness.
The faint lights gathered into hundreds of pieces, forming a strong light that filled the room...
Tiel didn't understand why so many of the light fragments were inside Ian Dross's spatial realm.
"Why...?"
Ian Dross also didn't understand why Tiel's light fragments were so deeply embedded in his spatial realm.
As the two stood there, stunned, the fish that had led them to this point turned into a handful of light and entered the wall fragments.
The fish that had helped Ian wasn't something Tiel had sent, but rather had swum out of Ian's spatial realm...
Though they didn't know why Tiel's ability had collected here, the situation wasn't necessarily bad for them.
"Can you absorb it?"
Ian Dross asked Tiel. Tiel carefully placed her hand on the wall and nodded.
"Yes, I can absorb it."
"Then hurry up and absorb it. You never know what might happen, so keep your abilities."
As Ian's words ended, Tiel placed her hand carefully on the wall and gazed up at the light fragments.
The small, tightly-packed light fragments shone brightly as if pulling her in.
"Hello..."
As Tiel murmured, countless light fragments were absorbed into her hand in an instant.
Her white hair fluttered slightly from the reaction, and a large burst of light emanated from her hand.
However, Tiel didn't absorb all the light fragments in the room.
She left the fragments on the wall where the fish had just entered.
Thanks to this, even after absorbing the light fragments, the room didn't turn dark.
Ian Dross looked at Tiel as if asking why she didn't absorb the fragments from that wall.
The reason Tiel didn't absorb those remaining fragments was simple.
'Just in case something happens to Ian...'
When something happens, she needs the power to save Ian again.𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Tiel somehow felt that the fish from earlier would assist Ian again later.
Ian Dross seemed to have understood some of Tiel's thoughts, as he didn't ask her why she didn't absorb the last fragments.
"Anyway, we've achieved our goal."
In fact, Tiel had absorbed far more power than they had initially aimed for. With this, they wouldn't have to worry for a while.
But what next?
After they used up the ability they just absorbed, what would they do then?
A sense of unease blossomed in both Ian Dross and Tiel's hearts, though neither spoke of it.
"Let's go. There's nothing good about staying here."
Tiel felt strangely sad at those words.
For Ian Dross, his spatial realm had been the [N O V E L I G H T] only place of rest and peace.
Tiel, having read the memories stored within Ian's spatial realm, knew well the significance this space held for him.
For Ian Dross to say, "There's nothing good about staying here," it felt like something had changed.
Tiel silently wished that one day the lights in this space—this mansion—would be lit again.
It wasn't a completely unrealistic wish.
'It used to be a space where not even a single candle could be lit.'
However, Ian Dross's spatial realm allowed Tiel's light. That's why Tiel would often give Ian a relic containing her ability.
And once, she dreamed of using her ability to light up the entire spatial realm...
'Will that day ever come?'
Tiel stared blankly at the empty corridor, where darkness had settled, thinking about it.
Ian Dross, still holding Tiel's hand, drew a large circle in the air.
The space cracked and tore, and an exit linking the spatial realm to the outside appeared.
Ian was prepared to open the spatial gate and pull Tiel out if anything unexpected happened, so he let her go first.
Tiel, not letting go of Ian Dross's hand, stepped outside first.
"...Hmm?"
"Tiel?"
Then, in front of Tiel, stood Ferdie and Ludian.
Tiel rolled her eyes and checked where she had come out.
So, this was... Ferdie's room!
Ian Dross had opened the exit into Ferdie's room. Ferdie and Ludian's gazes simultaneously turned to Tiel's hand, which was tightly holding Ian Dross's.
"...Hehe."
Before long, the owner of the hand revealed himself. Ian Dross stepped out of the spatial realm and frowned as he saw Ferdie and Ludian.
"Why are you two here?"
"This is our room..."
Tiel poked Ian Dross. Only then did Ian shrug his shoulders.
"Really? I must've opened the wrong door."
"How could you open the wrong door? You've never opened a door wrong before."
Ferdie spoke.
Ferdie was right. Ian Dross had never opened a door incorrectly before.
If Ian had opened the exit into Ferdie's room, it would've been a different matter, but from the looks of it, Ian didn't seem to have accidentally opened the door to Ferdie's room.
"My ability is unstable lately."
Ian Dross confessed calmly. There was no point in hiding it since he had already informed the Asterian family of his instability.
"So, I opened the wrong exit. I apologize. But if you had left when the exit appeared, we wouldn't have had to meet so awkwardly."
Ian Dross replied cheekily. Ferdie and Ludian looked at him in disbelief but didn't scold him.
Ludian's gaze slowly shifted to Tiel's hand.
Only then did Tiel realize that she was still tightly holding Ian Dross's hand and quickly let go.