It was already the next morning, sunlight bled softly through the mansion's tall windows, filtered by pale curtains that fluttered with the faint breeze.

I woke up early today by pure chance, and was accompanied by Anshur—who expressed her satisfaction to the fact that I've stopped messing around with the Sonders the past week—to the balcony of the mansion.

The sight of sunrise was still as captivating as the day it left my mind.

And at times I would ponder… If one day I'm gone, would anyone take thrill in the fact?

"You've been here for an hour," Anshur spoke as she approached me, she been using a more respectful tone these days for no reason that I know of, "Time for breakfast, Ms. Smith."

"Very well." I nodded, before sighing to the thought of having to walk all the way to the dining hall a few floors below "Sometimes I wish I have a wheelchair like Hailie…"

The scent of toasted bread and chamomile tea filled the dining room, mingling with a familiar sweetness of Eirlys's favorite berry jam.

I sat there at the table with my arms folded almost in a cross, trying not to look as poor as I felt. I've been here long enough to realize that I should have my elbows below the table, everything else from fingers to lower arm was acceptable though.

I looked down at myself… Huh, this morning, I picked this colorful pink dress without thought and put it on so naturally, I didn't even think twice. I felt Pavlov-ed, especially when I noticed that my hair's growing past my shoulder blades and they're quite smooth with all of the Sonders' quality feminine haircare products.

I digress.

It had been a week since I said anything during breakfast beyond a muttered "thank you" or "salt please."

A week of silence, of pretending my head wasn't full of the images I couldn't erase, from the underground lounge, the awkward threesome, to Ann's smirk as she grasp me in her hands, and everything I did there that should've never happened. God, is this post nut clarity? I didn't even nut, and on that note why did I even take the offer?? I'm one dumbass motherfucker aren't I.

But now… now that I had a note sitting in my inventory, a face to maybe confront, it felt wrong to maintain my silence. So, like an idiot trying to start a conversation in a funeral, I awkwardly cleared my throat and asked,

"So, uh… how's everyone's day been going?"

The silence that followed was as brittle as glass.

Eirlys looked up first, spoon halfway to her lips.

Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the morning light, but her expression didn't move. She just stared for a few seconds longer than normal, as if trying to read something between my words, before going back to her breakfast.

"Not much, just work. And thank you for your prior contributions to our bug-patching department, Cory."

Maybe I'm just being sensitive, but that felt quite cold… Well, I guess I deserved that. She'd probably noticed how I'd been avoiding Hailie all week by not using the game room that often, locking myself in my room for hours long session, pretending to be busy when I wasn't.

Hailie, thankfully, was her usual sunshine self, which made me feel kind of guilty because no matter the rude things I said or done, she'll always be trusting...

Hell, I wonder what would happen if I just start talking political right now.

"What about you, Hailie?" I turned to her.

She looked up from her scrambled eggs, face lighting up like she'd been waiting for someone to ask.

"Everything's great!" Hailie said, smiling wide enough to make my guilt physically ache once more, "I'm taking the Goethe-Zertifikat test next month."

"...The what now?" I blinked.

"Oh! Um… It's a test for me to attain a German language certificate," she said with that patient tone she always used when explaining normal people things to me. "You know, for international recognition and all that. It's supposed to be taken in-person at one of their centers and I'm not supposed to be accompanied by anyone to prevent cheating, but…"

"Yeah, I can figure out the rest." I chuckled, glancing at the wheelchair beside her seat.

She nodded but didn't look sad, she had probably been through this conversation a million times, what was left were just determination.

"So we asked if I could take it here, in a private setup. They actually agreed, surprisingly! They're sending an examiner here next month."

"That's… really impressive," I said, meaning it. "Guess your charm worked on them again."

Eirlys made a small, quiet hum, half amusement, half reminder that she was still listening.

The conversation drifted after that, mostly Hailie talking about her classes on advanced physic theories, the German vocabulary she was studying, her teachers, the new reading materials.

I just listened, chiming in here and there when she looked at me for a response, mostly because I was too uneducated for this conversation. Her voice filled the air easily, warm and unforced.

And before I knew it, the words left my mouth.

"Hey, uh…" I started, trying to sound casual. "You wanna play tonight? I'm… Done with my stuff and, I wanted to ask you something in-game."

Hailie's eyes widened, practically sparkling as both of her hands went up to her cheeks

"Really?!" she asked, her fork clattering softly against the plate.

"Yeah." I forced a shrug. "We haven't had a session in a while, figured it's about time."

"Yes! Yes, I'd love to!" she said, almost bouncing in her seat, mostly her upper body for obvious reasons.

The joy in her voice made the entire room feel lighter, I caught a glimpse of Eirlys smiling faintly at the sight, her gaze flicking from Hailie to me like she was silently approving but cautious.

I smiled back at them both, though something twisted faintly inside me. I didn't tell them why I wanted Hailie online tonight. Didn't mention the folded note in my inventory, or the way Ann's words replayed in my head like a ticking clock. The guy in the dungeon, supposedly, should be there from seven to seven-thirty.

But for now, I just lifted my tea and took a sip, pretending it was an ordinary morning and not the calm before something that might change everything.

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