"Finally… we've reached the Tenth Floor City."

Alina bent forward, her hands resting on her knees as she caught her breath. Her long pink twin tails swayed behind her as she gazed at the distant city walls rising hazily under the afternoon sun.

"Come on! Hurry up and get inside," Liyue urged, grabbing Alina's arm and pulling her forward. "If that strange ghost catches up again, we're finished."

The two of them had barely escaped alive. Since leaving the Feng Tribe, they had been relentlessly pursued by a terrifying ghost. If not for their experience surviving in the wild, they would've already become its prey.

More than once, the monster had found them. They'd fought from a distance two or three times—once, trapped inside a cave, nearly unable to escape.

Now, finally, civilization loomed before them.

Liyue stopped at the city gate and raised her eyes. "So this is the Tenth Floor City…" Her voice carried both curiosity and disappointment. "It doesn't look that impressive."

The wall was less than five meters tall, patched with uneven stone and streaked with dust. Compared to the towering walls of the Little Black Tortoise City—almost a hundred meters high—it looked almost… pitiful.

Alina straightened, glancing at her with disbelief. "You're too picky. Being able to build a city at all is already amazing."

Liyue gave a small, mysterious smile beneath her mask. "You don't understand."

Alina blinked, a little offended. "Then explain it to me."

Liyue only shook her head. She didn't need to explain. She'd already found a better home—a cleaner, safer, warmer one. Once you've seen something that perfect, everything else feels small.

All along the road, Alina had been curious. The usually calm white-haired girl had been acting strangely—smiling to herself, sighing softly, sometimes even spacing out mid-conversation.

"Hey," Alina said suddenly, narrowing her pink eyes. "You've been acting weird ever since we met up. All mysterious and dreamy, smirking like you've got a secret."

Liyue's silver eyes flickered. "What are you talking about?"

Alina leaned in, studying her companion's face through the mask. "Liyue… you're hiding something."

"…What are you looking at me like that for?" Liyue tried to sound calm, but her gaze faltered.

"Hmph!" Alina folded her arms, her tone teasing. "You've fallen for someone, haven't you?"

The white-haired girl froze. Her fair cheeks, barely visible behind her mask, flushed faintly pink. "N-no! You're imagining things."

"I knew it!" Alina's eyes sparkled with mischief. "The way you've been acting… dreamy, distracted. Don't tell me—while we were apart those few dozen days, you actually fell for someone?"

Liyue turned away, her silence betraying her.

Alina frowned. From what she knew of her companion, this shouldn't have been possible.

If anyone among them were to fall for someone first, it should've been Euphyr—simple, gentle Euphyr, who'd always been softhearted. That silly, absent-minded researcher who never paid attention to romance, yet could fall for anyone who smiled kindly at her.

As for the second… Alina thought for a moment. It would've been either herself or Liyue. But Liyue? Falling in love? That was unexpected.

"So?" Alina pressed. "What happened? What did you experience while we were apart?"

Liyue's lips curved faintly. "You'll know soon enough."

She didn't want to explain now—not yet. It would make more sense once Luciel and the others arrived.

Alina wasn't satisfied. "Don't tell me you really like someone!" she cried, stepping in front of her.

"I don't," Liyue muttered, eyes darting away.

"You so do!" Alina groaned, dragging her hands through her hair in frustration. "Liyue, you're hopeless! Totally hopeless!"

"I'm fine." Liyue smiled softly, her voice unexpectedly tender. "It's not over for me."

Alina's expression darkened. "You and I… we're monsters, Liyue. He'll never accept us. Humans don't accept people like us."

She wasn't trying to be cruel—it was the truth. Better to break her friend's heart now than let her drown in impossible hope.

But Liyue only shook her head gently. "No," she said, touching the armband Luciel had given her. "He'll accept me."

Alina blinked. "Wait, so it's a crush, then?" That made more sense. Secret love was safe. From afar, you could imagine anything. You didn't have to fear rejection.

"Crush?" Liyue tilted her head, confused.

"Yes," Alina said seriously. "He doesn't know what you look like, right?"

"He does," Liyue replied softly.

"…What?" Alina's jaw dropped. "You mean he's seen you?!"

Liyue nodded.

Alina's eyes went wide, her pink brows knotting. "Then—he's not afraid you're infected by the ghost? You didn't… tell him, did you?"

"He's not afraid of me," Liyue said quietly, almost shyly. "He even touched my face."

Alina froze, utterly speechless. "…He what?"

She could hardly believe it. A man… who dared to touch her face? Who wasn't afraid?

"Who is this person?" Alina asked at last, half in disbelief, half in awe.

Liyue smiled under her mask, her silver eyes glowing faintly. "He's incredible. Strong… clever… and kind."

"Wait—don't tell me he's just a boy?" Alina blurted. Only children were that naïve, unafraid of danger, unbothered by infection.

"How could he be a child?" Liyue shot back, a little exasperated. "He's older than me. By several years."

Alina frowned, rubbing her temple. "Then that's even stranger."

"Enough," Liyue said, tugging her arm. "Come on. Let's get inside before dark."

The guards at the gate barely paid attention to them. There was no inspection here; the outer city welcomed anyone with coin or labor to spare. Only those heading for the inner city faced strict checks.

As soon as they entered, a foul stench hit them.

"Ugh, it stinks!" Liyue raised a hand to her nose—then remembered she was wearing a mask. The smell still seeped through.

The streets were grimy, littered with refuse. A line of ragged slaves sat slumped against the walls, waiting to be kicked awake by their overseers and forced to work again.

"This is normal in big cities," Alina muttered, wrinkling her nose.

Liyue shook her head faintly. "It doesn't have to be."

Her mind flashed to the shining streets of Black Tortoise City—the clean air, the clear water, the peaceful people. Compared to that, this place felt diseased.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Alina asked.

"You'll understand tomorrow," Liyue replied softly. Her heart ached with longing for the home she'd left behind.

People feared comparisons. Once you lived in beauty and comfort, it was hard to bear the filth again.

Alina sighed. "Tomorrow, tomorrow… you keep saying that. What's happening tomorrow?"

"Something," Liyue said simply.

Alina gave her a suspicious glance but decided to drop it. "Fine. Then tell me this—what about Yufei?"

"She'll arrive tomorrow," Liyue said, her tone growing gentle. "We agreed to meet after ten days. It feels like a year has passed already."

"She's coming alone?" Alina frowned. "That girl gets lost even inside a tent. What if she takes the wrong path?"

"Do you really think she's that stupid?" Liyue asked, half amused.

"Almost," Alina said flatly. "She's smart only when she's fighting or doing research. The rest of the time, she's a walking disaster."

Liyue chuckled softly. "Someone's coming with her."

"Someone?" Alina looked intrigued. "Who?"

"That person," Liyue said shyly, her eyes glancing away.

Alina's mouth dropped open. "Don't tell me—it's the one you like?! He's escorting Yufei here?"

Liyue's lips curved. "Mm."

Alina groaned, clutching her head. "You've got to be kidding me. This is too much. Too fast. Too…" She trailed off, completely at a loss for words.

Liyue couldn't help but laugh at her expression. The pink-haired girl barely reached her shoulder, her face scrunched in exasperation.

"Forget it," Alina muttered at last, letting her hair fall back into place. "I'll see for myself tomorrow."

Her eyes shifted toward the heart of the city, where tall towers glimmered faintly in the distance. "So," she whispered, "about those Angel Wings we came for… they're in the inner city, right? Maybe we should get Yan Bing to help us steal them."

Liyue shook her head. "No need. Yufei'er will bring them with her tomorrow."

"What?" Alina's eyes widened. "She has them already? Then why did we even come here?"

Liyue coughed lightly, looking away.

"…You're acting weird again." Alina narrowed her eyes.

"Just wait one more day," Liyue said. "If I start explaining now, it'll take forever."

Alina huffed, folding her arms. "Fine, fine. But tomorrow, I will find out what you've been hiding."

She jabbed a finger toward her companion, muttering under her breath. "So secretive. So annoying."

Liyue just smiled, her silver eyes reflecting the flickering lantern light. Tomorrow would come soon enough—and with it, the arrival of Black Tortoise.

And when it did…

the entire Tenth Floor City would tremble.

.

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