The horse-drawn carriage clattered along the trail leading toward the Lumen guild. Amidst the rhythmic beat of the hooves, the atmosphere between Nasuki and Yurika was no longer awkward like the night before, but unexpectedly lively. Yurika leaned her head against the side of the carriage and asked curiously:
-"Is the Lumen guild... truly like what people say?"
Nasuki offered a faint smile, a rare expression filled with pride:
-"It's even more than that. There, you'll find people who are so kind it's almost hard to believe."
Yurika nodded eagerly, her heart brimming with hope: "Then that's good..."
When the carriage came to a halt, a grand stone gate stood before Yurika's eyes, with the word "LUMEN" carved upon it, glowing brilliantly under the sunlight. She suddenly froze, her hands interlaced tightly in anxiety:
-"What if they don't accept me... what should I do?"
Nasuki shook his head and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat:
-"What the hell are you worried about? I was once just like you—someone with nowhere to go."
Yurika lowered her head in silence, but his words felt like warm water flowing through her heart, washing away part of her fear.
As soon as they stepped through the massive gate, a bustling atmosphere rushed over them. Sister Riko—a woman with long, silky black hair—spotted the familiar figure and teased immediately:
-"Well, well, is Nasuki finally bringing his 'wife' home to meet the guild?"
Both of them turned beet red and panicked, shouting in unison:
-"It's not what you think!"
Just then, a warm, deep cough echoed. Mr. Kaito—the Guild Master with hair and a beard as white as snow—leisurely stepped down from the main hall. His eyes were as gentle as a grandfather looking at a grandchild returning from afar:
-"Welcome to the Lumen family, child."
Yurika was flustered, her voice barely a whisper: "Y... yes."
Riko quickly stepped forward and took her hand as if to rescue her:
-"Please, Master, let me help her get acquainted with everyone first."
Riko led Yurika to her private room. The space was filled with the faint, pure scent of tea.
-"What is your name?" Riko asked softly.
-"My name is Yurika Souma."
-"Yurika... what a beautiful name. And I am Riko Tanaka." Riko squeezed her hand gently. "You want to join the guild, right? I believe this will be the best decision of your life."
Riko asked about her family to make it easier to visit them later, but when she saw Yurika look down, her shoulders trembling as she choked out the words: "I... I don't want to go home anymore," Riko froze. A silence filled the room. She understood that feeling. Riko was also an orphan who had lived through the coldness and beatings of a stepmother. Looking at Yurika, she saw her former self—a small bird with tattered wings searching for a nest.
To dispel the sorrow as tears began to roll down Yurika's cheeks, Riko excitedly changed the subject:
-"In a bit, I'll ask Mr. Kaito to arrange a private room for you!"
Yurika waved her hands in panic: "That would be too much trouble for everyone, I wouldn't dare..."
Riko smiled mischievously:
-"Don't worry, nobody stays here for free! You'll have to pay 20 pounds a month for rent. Let's just say we're roommates, okay?"
Yurika nodded slightly, her heart feeling much lighter.
-"Come on, I'll take you to the guild's flower garden. It's magical, you'll definitely love it."
The moment she stepped into the garden, Yurika felt as though she had wandered into a fairy tale. In the center stood a classic white stone fountain, its jets of water shooting high and falling back down, sparkling like diamonds in the sun. Around them, thousands of roses of every color were in full bloom, releasing a rich fragrance into the wind.
Butterflies fluttered around the two of them, landing on petals damp with morning dew. Yurika closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the burden she had carried for so long suddenly vanished. She smiled—a truly peaceful smile. Riko said:
-"You know, whenever I feel lonely or tired, I hide out here." Riko spoke while pulling Yurika down to sit on a wooden bench beneath the canopy of an ancient tree.
Afterward, Riko sneaked off to see the Guild Master to tell him about Yurika's situation and ask Mrs. Sanjo to prepare a cozy room. After hearing the story, Mr. Kaito only let out a sympathetic sigh: "Poor girl, she has nowhere to go... life has been so unfair to her."
When Riko returned to the garden, she saw Yurika sitting quietly, her eyes fixed intently on the deep red velvet roses. At that moment, she looked both pure and tinged with sadness. Riko gently tapped her shoulder:
-"Hey!"
Yurika startled: "Where did you go?"
Riko smiled brightly and grabbed Yurika's hand to pull her up:
-"Come on, I'm going to take you to another secret place. Let's go!"