Embracing the witch's waist beside the bonfire under the moonlight, Shard momentarily did not know what to say:
"Miss Aphrola, thank you for your... appreciation."
She chuckled, stepping back with the beat, and Shard, careful not to tread on those beautiful black patent leather high heels, advanced in pursuit, retreating again after three beats.
"I don't know what Miss Galina has promised you, but if you..."
"Please don't go on, Miss Aphrola."
Shard stopped her in time:
"Miss Galina and I, it's not merely a relationship of interest."
"I knew it, that haughty woman will be moved one day."
The eyes behind the mask looked at Shard. The witch in her high heels even stood slightly taller than Shard. The weather tonight was splendid, with the Star Ocean glittering brilliantly above Midshire Fort Mechanical Academy, near Sicarl Mountain. The bonfire and the stars provided embellishments for those attending the festival banquet, while three moons together watched over this place, over the witch and the Outlander by the bonfire.
"She has what I have, power, wealth, and even a whole manor full of beautiful girls, if you're willing..."
Both pairs of eyes locked onto each other as the witch with the brown wavy long hair laughed lightly, controlling the pace as Shard twirled her around:
"But I know you won't leave Galina, will you?"
"Miss Galina and I, we have many stories."
"Does that include the well-proportioned maid, Tifa Servet?"
She asked with a smile, and seeing the slightly embarrassed expression on Shard's face, she already knew the answer:
"So that's what I'm saying, Galina always gets what she wants, that maid is really something... Nonetheless, I'd be somewhat disappointed if you agreed. Thus, it's quite the conflicting feeling."
She laughed as she stepped lively, the violin solo had already begun:
"If you have time to visit Carsonrick, I can introduce you to my apprentice, my niece. I've mentioned this to Granny Cassandra, and we can't keep a man hidden from those young apprentices forever. So, instead of letting the young girls speculate wildly, it's better to just tell them."
"Alright, if I ever have time to visit Carsonrick, I will come to see you."
Shard nodded slightly, and the witch returned to her usual relaxed demeanor, enjoying the bonfire ball:
"However, have you discovered anything new about your relationship with witches recently?"
"Not for the moment."
"Have you tried learning the Incantations of other witches?"
"Miss Galina has mentioned it, but I haven't had the time to learn yet."
"Whether or not you can learn it, it's always good to have more knowledge."
"While I am staying at Midshire Fort, you can also consult with me. Of course, Granny Cassandra is also a good choice, she may only be of the Ten Rings, but she is definitely the most knowledgeable among us, aside from the Speaker. She had a good teacher."
"Miss Aphrola, you've met Granny Cassandra's teacher too? The Miss Helen Black."
"Yes, she claims she isn't a Witch, but she always looks so young. Not only young in appearance but even her mental state is youthful, and I sometimes even wonder if she's been drinking the Mermaid's Elixir of Youth or some other Magic Potion like water. Also, besides Helen Black, she sometimes calls herself Grace White."
The witch with the brown hair smiled meaningfully:
"According to the records left by the previous Speaker and the words of the current Speaker, this change of name happens about every 22 years."
As the teacher of the oldest Grand Witch in the Witch Council, the Council couldn't possibly be uninterested in this "teacher," so clearly, the Council had long noticed her anomalies.
"Grace White and Helen Black, huh? They have indeed abandoned their family names."
Miss Aphrola raised an eyebrow:
"Have you seen them before?"
"Yes, at a banquet. At the time, I did not realize that we would develop a wonderful connection in the times to come."
"Look, Knight, the girls always like you."
The music was about to end, and the Witch's gaze became wistful again:
"I want to ask you a question—Knight, have I ever kissed you?"
Shard immediately started searching his memories for an answer, prompting the Witch to reach out and reveal Shard's neck, before kissing it.
The burning bonfire was beside them, the roaring flames being the only proof that time had not stood still in that moment.
Hevy Aphrola took the initiative to kiss Shard, and she was also the one to let him go. The firelight reddened both of their profiles, so no one knew for certain why their faces were flushed:
"Your skills are really lacking."
She repeated what an unknown number of girls had said to Shard before, laughing as she flicked a card to him:
"Sweet dreams, Detective. This is your Fire Worship Festival gift. I must be going now; I have to explore the ruins left by the Witches tomorrow."
"Sweet dreams, Miss Aphrola... thank you for the kiss."
The two separated, and the Witch, accompanied by the two Maids waiting nearby, prepared to leave. Facing Shard, she walked backward with her hands behind her:
"Remember, never say 'thank you for the kiss' or anything like that to a girl you've kissed."
Even the two Miss Maids chuckled at that, and Shard touched his ear, laughing to himself:
The Witch left, and the people who started dancing again to the music obscured Shard's view. The Outlander standing alone by the bonfire looked down at the card in his hand beneath the firelight—
The Queen of Flowers, "History of New World Exploration: Winds of Exploration."
"Wasn't this bought by a merchant from Carsonrick... When she went to touch up her makeup just now, was it to repurchase this card?"
Shard looked up again towards the retreating figure of Hevy Aphrola, "her" soft whisper resonating gently in his ears:
"If you chase after her now and agree to her, there's a fifty percent chance you'll have a decent night."
"Only a fifty percent chance?"
"The other fifty percent, you'll be struck dead by an unseen Iluna Beath with a Sunlight Gun."
This time, Shard genuinely laughed out loud, thinking about the time—it was eight fifty-six, and the rendezvous he had set with Iluna was drawing near. So he slotted the Roder Card into his deck and turned to walk toward the agreed meeting place.
He had arranged his schedule well, and because of that, he felt he was truly steeped in sin.
"I have to go to Sin Mansion tomorrow; is this thought somewhat ominous?"
Looking up, he saw the seventeen-year-old girl who had changed into a dance dress, already waiting for Shard at the brightest spot by the bonfire ahead.