In the evening quiet of her room, Marina was getting ready to head to the Thirteenth House. As she put on the gray coat issued with the attire of the children of Ien, a strange object on the bed caught her attention. A carefully sealed letter, her name elegantly written on the outside.
There was no doubt it was the work of Mr. D'Agostini, with his typical modus operandi of relying on the Augurielli, the house sprites, to deliver important messages.
With a mix of curiosity and anxiety, she grabbed the letter and broke the seal, then grimaced.
"Dear Marina, in agreement with the divine Aena, I ask you to give a lesson this Friday morning at exactly ten o'clock. The main topic of the lesson must be the geography of the worlds, but also make sure to mention the third generation and its leader. We have informed Shirei as well. He will be required to accompany you as a student and collaborator. Thank you again for the dedication you offer us every day. I hope that, sooner or later, even the gods may take it into account in evaluating their successors."
After carefully reading the contents, she gently closed the letter again and slipped it into her pocket.
Three days, she thought, the time needed to prepare a good lesson.
Without hesitation, she got up and left her room to reach the house of the children of Cragar.
Dahlia was waiting for her inside. The girl nearly tripped over the peplos she was wearing. Made from a light and flowing fabric, its cream color shimmered under the moonlight filtering through the windows.
The soft fabric fell gracefully along her body, wrapping her in a light and delicate embrace. The flowing folds of the peplos created a wave-like effect that gave her figure an air of grace. The hems were finely finished with decorative patterns, embroidered with barely shimmering golden threads. The wide and fluid sleeves moved perfectly with her arms, adding a touch of elegance. The peplos was adorned with subtle still-life details along the border and around the neckline. The gold threads woven through her hair formed a rather old-fashioned hairstyle.
"Damn clothes…"
The daughter of Ien laughed. "Why are you wearing that thing?"
"I thought it would be appropriate for the occasion…" the girl replied, touching the dress as she spoke.
Marina smiled awkwardly and sat on the unmade bed she had slept in the day before. Only then did she realize whose place this was, and she blushed.
Her thoughts drifted back to that morning and the situation that had unfolded with Shirei.
The daughter of Ien buried her head in the pillow and screamed.
"Wait! What's bothering you?"
The Blendbreed sat back up. "Nothing."
"You've been acting strange lately. I'm starting to think spending too much time with my brother isn't good for you."
Dahlia moved the long dress aside and turned her back. She rummaged through the wardrobe and pulled out a huge terracotta amphora.
"Luckily, I have the perfect solution."
It was carefully crafted, its walls smooth and glossy to the touch. The dark surface barely reflected the moonlight streaming through the window, creating a sharp contrast with its elegant form.
Along the upper rim, small cracks bore witness to the passage of time and the effects of the elements. Its size was generous. The base of the vessel tapered gently toward the bottom, giving the structure stability without compromising its elegance.
Marina approached it with curiosity. Dahlia set the vessel down on the floor, handed a silver cup to her friend and kept one for herself, then proposed a toast. Marina burst out laughing.
"What is this?"
"Do you think I know what's inside? Not my business!" the girl replied with a grin. "To us!"
"I don't think we should—"
"To our masked parents!"
With those words, the cup was filled and promptly emptied in a large sip. Marina knew it was all just a show. She only wanted a distraction from the fact that Aena had imposed a curfew on her. Being locked within those walls was probably nerve-wracking for someone like her.
That doesn't give her the right to drink to forget.
She moved closer in an attempt to make her stop. "Dahlia! We shouldn't—"
But she didn't have time to finish—Cragar's daughter had already moved on to the second glass.
"To the dear half-brother who left us this gift!"
Dahlia kept drinking despite Marina's attempts to dissuade her. The daughter of Ien looked at the vessel and, driven by her cursed curiosity, decided to take a sip.
She lifted the cup, watching the golden liquid ripple gently on the surface from the trembling of her hand. She brought the cup to her lips and inhaled the enveloping scent, catching a sweet aroma with a subtle hint of spices.
A sip of the golden liquid slid down her throat. Marina closed her eyes to fully absorb the sensation. The flavor of fermentation spread across her tongue, delicate and enveloping, as a gentle warmth bloomed in her chest.
The complex, rich notes of the liquid danced across her palate. Its sweetness was balanced by the light acidity of the fermentation, creating a harmonious equilibrium of flavors.
A feeling of well-being wrapped around her as she continued to savor the golden drink, letting herself be carried away by its taste and scent. Some of her siblings used to say that the haute cuisine of the Mortal World should never be seen as mere food.
It's a unique sensory experience, she found herself thinking.
Their very words. Though she had grown up used to refined dishes, this was the first time she felt that emotion— as if the cup carried with it a story told through taste and fragrance.
There was something strange about that wine—perhaps it wasn't wise to drink it, but Marina was too drawn to it. She kept thinking something was off, yet she continued despite that awareness.
Then a doubt struck her: What if… what if only the gods were meant to taste it?
Dahlia kept laughing. She thought it was time to stop her completely. Dahlia was just a girl—she shouldn't be drinking this much.
And neither should I.
She looked at her cup and found it completely empty.
How much time had passed? How much had she actually drunk? What was happening?
A pain rose in her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her throat was swollen, almost irritated.
I have to… I have to get out of here.
As if gripped by panic, the strange sensation took hold of her and seized control of her body. Before she even realized it, she had given Dahlia a faint wave goodbye and fled. She was now darting across the park square like a bullet, without even knowing where she was going.
Marina! Get a grip!
It was useless.
She kept running like she was possessed. She tripped a couple of times, but reached the pinewood and passed through it, coming to her senses on the beach, gasping for air.
She shouldn't have drunk—so why had she?
She placed a hand on her forehead.
Her head was spinning. The pain was becoming unbearable.
She let herself collapse to the ground and closed her eyes—the sand was surprisingly soft.
Maybe… maybe I deserve a nap.
She curled up and yawned, a smile lingering on her lips from the gesture.
"Did you fall asleep out here?" whispered a familiar voice.
Marina shot up and saw Shirei.
Shirei? She nodded to herself. Shirei, the son of Cragar.
"Thank Emion! It's you, Ghost! And for the record, I wasn't asleep!"
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she was breathing heavily. Shirei inspected her for a moment, then, to confirm his suspicion, asked: "Are you sure you're that happy to see me?"
"Of course! I don't know, why are you asking that? You're weird… but yes!"
The boy leaned closer to her lips with his nose. Marina smiled and cupped his face with both hands, closing her eyes slightly as she waited for him to come nearer.
She understood why he was there—he wanted to kiss her. It was obvious.
"You're drunk," the boy said instead.
Marina huffed and pushed him away. "Over a single cup? Come on! Since when do you even know what being drunk means? And anyway, I'm serious…!"
"So am I. You drank Miula's mead."
"The goddess of wine?"
"Yes. Someone must have hidden it in my wardrobe—probably a past child of Cragar. Did Dahlia open it and convince you to drink it?"
The daughter of Ien realized—it made perfect sense.
"N-no, I was just curious… so I drank it. And I'm telling you, I don't kno-… I'm not, really… at least… not so much that I don't know what I'm doing!"
She didn't realize it then, but a part of her already knew she would regret that encounter within a few hours.
Shirei looked at her, seeming amused. "Alright, I'm taking you to drink something normal this time. If you stay out here, you'll catch a cold."
"Okay!"
Cragar's son extended a hand to help her up. Marina was a bit surprised that he cared about her well-being, but she pretended not to notice and stood up. Shirei slowed his pace and walked beside her.
The two Blendbreeds strolled toward the dining hall, which was completely deserted. The boy headed straight for the thirteenth table.
"So, are you buying me a drink?" Marina asked with a sarcastic tone.
Shirei stared at her. "I'm getting you some milk."
"I don't mind…"
Lorenzo happened to be passing by, looking for a snack before heading back to the lab. When he saw Shirei and Marina, he decided to come over, worried about her. After everything that had happened, he didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone with Cragar's son.
"Lore!" greeted the daughter of Ien.
The boy sat down and showed the box he was carrying.
"I finished the first prototype for the magnetic gun. But aside from that—are you okay? Why are you here, alone, with Shirei?"
Marina smiled wide-eyed, then leaned closer and whispered, "Lore… Shirei wants to kiss me."
"What?!"
"Don't yell…!" she smacked his shoulder. "Don't say anything—let's see what he does."
Cragar's son came back shortly after and handed her the milk.
"H-hi, Shirei."
The boy gave a nod in greeting, immediately noticing the box. "You've improved it?"
"You pulled it off? That's awesome!"
Lorenzo took out the multi-tool and placed it on the table just in case.
"It's not done—it's just a first version," he replied. "It's probably not very powerful, but it should work to start with."
"So it works?"
The son of Ien nodded. "I can fire a single shot."
"That's more than enough."
The violet-eyed boy turned to the blonde, still sipping her milk.
"You're not actually planning to get shot, are you?"
Shirei didn't reply, but his expression made the answer obvious.
"Are you insane? With your wounds, a bullet could kill you."
The Blendbreed ignored him. He stood up and walked about five meters away. Lorenzo immediately grabbed the box, but Marina had already taken the gun.
"I'm not going to use my inventions to shoot another Blendbreed."
The daughter of Ien smiled as she looked at the weapon.
The newly crafted pistol lay in her palm—a creation of craftsmanship and ingenuity. Every detail reflected her half-brother's meticulous care and patient work.
The polished wooden grip revealed natural grain patterns, giving the weapon a unique character. Hand-carved engravings ran along the barrel. The gleaming metal of the cylinder and muzzle shone under the dining hall lamps.
"You two are insane!"
"Ready, Ghost?" the girl asked.
Lorenzo stepped between them and grabbed the barrel of the gun, trying to redirect the trajectory and avoid the risk of Shirei getting shot.
The son of Cragar closed his eyes. Shadows around him began to swirl, threatening to swallow him in darkness, but he remained still.
He knew exactly what he had to do.
He exhaled, trying to summon the sensation of the Spectral Travel that carried him into the Interworld. He couldn't be impatient. He had to wait for the exact instant, or he would fail.
He imagined feeling the beat of his heart.
Thump, thump.
All it took was a single heartbeat, those two consecutive tones—
—a wave spreading through his heart, transporting him into the Interworld, only to be overwritten by an opposite, precisely timed command.
He could do it.
Marina took a deep breath and tried to fire, despite Lorenzo holding her arm. The two siblings started to struggle over the object. Before they realized it, a faint metallic sound made them slow down in the heat of the moment.
Click.
The daughter of Ien had pulled the trigger. The shot followed.
Shirei heard it and focused all of himself.
A pulse of pale white light spread from his chest, traveling across his entire body. Soon, a wave of darkness followed, blending with the spectral glow.
A sharp, precise, and fast shot passed through the son of Cragar, as if he were an illusion.
Marina opened her mouth, thrilled. They stood still for a few seconds, then Lorenzo widened his eyes, let out a hysterical laugh, and quickly retrieved the weapon.
The projectile had vanished who-knows-where, probably lodged into one of the beams forming the mess hall's frame.
"You're insane! Both of you are out of your minds!"
The darkness stopped swirling around the boy. He had done it.
I did it! I shot him! Ah! I really shot him! What's wrong with me? How can I be this stupid?
A thousand other questions wandered through the mind of the daughter of Ien in the seconds that followed. She had said she would do it, but she hadn't been serious, even if she'd gotten nervous in that moment. She didn't know where she had found the courage, but she had been certain it would work somehow.
Maybe the divine liquor? Am I still drunk?
With Shirei, she just had to trust.
That completely illogical thing terrified her, but she was grateful he was okay. She cursed herself for being so foolish and blamed her poor sense of judgment for what she had done.
"You two are going to give me a heart attack!"
Marina bounced with joy. "You really became a Ghost!"
She approached Shirei with a wide smile, while Lorenzo went to retrieve the bullet, muttering that it would be better not to leave any trace. Without thinking too much, the girl hugged the violet-eyed Blendbreed.
"Thank goodness, for a moment I feared the worst!"
Shirei tensed—he wasn't used to that kind of physical contact—then returned the hug in a clumsy way.
He didn't really mind it, after all.
"This gun has another good side to it—the bullets can be reused as many times as you want!"
The son of Ien laughed, then noticed the two were hugging and fell silent. Not wanting to make the moment more awkward than it already was, Shirei stepped back.
"Thank you, Lorenzo," said the boy.
"Wait until you see the cannon I'm working on!"
Marina turned pale. "What?"
"You don't ask about my secrets, and I won't ask about yours," replied the son of Cragar.
"Speaking of secrets, Shirei… can I ask where you learned to fight?" said Lorenzo, then immediately realized how it sounded. "I mean—wait! If you want, I can answer your questions about mine too!"
Shirei raised a hand toward him to reassure him. "I know what you meant. I don't really know, to be honest. Since I woke up on the shore of the Uchia, I've always moved on instinct. I think I've just gotten better over time."
Marina took the chance to ask a question of her own. "Specter… why do you train in the Underworld?"
The son of Cragar sat down at the table. "I'd like to clarify that it usually doesn't end up like this morning. Anyway, fighting nonstop and under pressure is a good way to force rapid improvement. Win and survive, or lose and get killed."
"Basically the motto of every Blendbreed from the Otherworld. I guess you've never lost," said Lorenzo with a laugh.
He couldn't be serious—or at least, that's what the son of Ien hoped.
"Okay, but why?" Marina asked.
"Cragar told me I need to be strong, because soon my power will be needed."
The blonde girl stayed silent. She was beginning to regain clarity, but still struggled to piece together thoughts and think rationally. Lorenzo went to grab a cup of ice cream and returned just in time to catch the rest.
"Is there anything else you want to know?" asked the violet-eyed Blendbreed.
"I just have one request," said Marina, after stealing the ice cream her half-brother had brought. "I'm not asking you to swear, not even in the name of Fate, but… if you ever need help… please don't hesitate to call me. I know I'm not as strong as you and I'm not used to Spectral Travel… and I'm no expert in real combat. I just want to help you if you're in trouble… okay?"
She locked her blue eyes on Shirei, but the son of Cragar lowered his gaze. Lorenzo felt like a bit of a third wheel and spun the multi-tool in his hands, looking for a way to leave them alone.
"I know it doesn't seem like it, but I'm an important person in the Otherworld. I can help you!"
"I won't expose you to unnecessary danger."
"Specter!" she scolded loudly.
"Easy!" Lorenzo cut in. "What do you say we continue this another time? It's getting kind of late…"
Shirei nodded. "You're right. I'll go on ahead, then."
Marina lunged toward him. "Don't you dare—"
But before she could finish the sentence, Shirei was engulfed by darkness and vanished into the Interworld.