encounter part 2

Lunette stood there, fake tears threatening to spill down her cheeks as she stared at the remnants of her cake. The two boys exchanged panicked glances, unsure how to handle the overly dramatic scene in front of them.

"Wait, we can pay! Don't cry," the angel boy blurted out. His voice was soft but urgent, as though he feared her tears might drown the entire bakery.

Lunette's watery eyes turned to him, taking in his striking appearance. In her mind, he looked just like Itachi from Naruto—only with silverish-white hair and a dark blue highlight running through a small chunk of it.

"Y-Yeah, please, we insist!" the human boy added hastily. His golden-brown eyes shimmered with guilt. To Lunette, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Kyo Soma from Fruits Basket, his messy auburn hair completing the look.

She sniffled dramatically. "It's not payable! I made it with my own hands using the special offer. I used my reservation for it! How can you possibly pay for something so… irreplaceable?"

Both boys froze as if her words had physically struck them. The angel boy fumbled for a response, his silver hair catching the light as he waved his hands in surrender. "Wait, wait—don't cry! W-We'll help you make it again!"

Lunette raised a skeptical brow. "It needs reservations," she replied, crossing her arms like an exasperated judge at a culinary competition.

"Reservations?" the human boy echoed, a sly grin creeping across his face. "We don't need reservations. I own this place."

Lunette's fake tears instantly evaporated as her jaw dropped. "Wah, really?!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up like a child discovering a secret candy stash.

The angel boy groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're always showing off," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ignoring him completely, Lunette's energy did a complete 180. She grabbed both of their hands, her excitement bubbling over like an overfilled pot. "Let's go, then! Do some baking with me, boys!" she declared, dragging them toward the kitchen without waiting for their consent.

"Uh, weren't you just heartbroken over your cake?" the angel boy asked, half-amused and half-annoyed as she pulled him along.

"And now you're dragging us to bake?!" the human boy added, stumbling slightly behind her.

Lunette turned her head to grin at them, her dramatic sorrow long forgotten. "What can I say? I'm a girl of action!"

The angel boy sighed, shaking his head. "And we thought you were sad…" he muttered, casting a helpless glance at his human companion.

The human boy only chuckled, resigning himself to his fate. "I think we've been tricked," he said, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

And just like that, Lunette had her helpers—whether they liked it or not.

The two boys eyed Lunette curiously as they followed her into the kitchen, unable to ignore her unusual behavior. One of them finally blurted out the question.

"Hey, why are you wearing a mask?" the angel boy asked, tilting his head slightly.

Lunette paused for dramatic effect, placing her hands on her hips as though about to reveal a grand secret. "Hmmm, my identity is secret. If my father finds out, I'll be dead meat," she said with mock seriousness.

The boys exchanged confused glances, unsure whether to take her seriously.

"Dead meat? Really?" the human boy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep! Ground to a pulp, cooked over a fire, and served as a side dish," Lunette replied, her voice deadpan.

The angel boy let out a chuckle. "She's dramatic, isn't she?"

"Hey! Less talk, more dough-making!" Lunette commanded, clapping her hands. She handed them aprons and bowls of ingredients.

But as the boys started mixing, it quickly became apparent they had no idea what they were doing. Flour went flying, eggshells were dropped into the mix, and the dough looked more like lumpy cement than anything edible.

"You guys are idiots," Lunette sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose like a frustrated teacher. "Here, let me show you how it's done!"

"Okay, okay!" the angel boy said, holding up his hands in surrender as Lunette swooped in and expertly kneaded the dough.

The boys tried to copy her movements, but it was clear they were way out of their league. As they struggled, the angel boy suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, I saw you using gravity power earlier," he said, watching her closely. "That's kinda rare, isn't it?"

"Yah, yah," Lunette replied dismissively, too focused on perfecting the dough to elaborate.

But moments later, as she reached for a nearby bowl, a gust of wind blew through the kitchen, followed by a faint wave of heat.

"Wait a second… Did you just use wind and heat powers?" the human boy asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"No way! I've also seen her use ice before," the angel boy added, pointing a flour-covered finger at her.

Lunette froze, realizing she'd slipped up. "You guys are delusional," she said quickly, waving them off. "It's just flour dust messing with your heads."

The boys exchanged skeptical glances but didn't press the matter further—for now.

After what felt like an eternity of chaos, the trio finally managed to produce a cake, several jars of cookies, and even a tub of homemade ice cream.

"Thanks," Lunette said, grinning as she opened a glowing portal and tossed all the desserts into her room.

The boys stared, dumbfounded.

"Did she just… open a portal?!" the human boy whispered, his jaw dropping.

"Is she a god? No one can use this many powers!" the angel boy muttered, rubbing his temples as though trying to make sense of it.

Lunette ignored their shock and handed each of them a jar of cookies and a scoop of ice cream. "Here. Thanks for your help," she said cheerfully.

The angel boy blinked at her. "You're welcome… but seriously, what's your name?"

Lunette gave him a mischievous smile, her blue eyes sparkling like the sky. "No telling," she said, and before they could protest, she stepped into another portal and vanished.

The boys stood in stunned silence for a moment.

"Her blue eyes were mesmerizing," the angel boy finally said, breaking the quiet.

"Her hair was fabulous," the human boy added, nodding in agreement.

They each took a bite of the cookies, their expressions lighting up immediately.

"These are the most delicious cookies I've ever eaten," the angel boy said, savoring the flavor.

"Same," the human boy agreed.

As they stood there in the now-messy kitchen, they couldn't help but wonder who the mysterious girl with the mask—and far too many powers—really was.

Lunette strolled into the shapeshifter district, her hood pulled low over her head to avoid unnecessary attention. Her steps led her to a particular shop she had heard about—a quaint yet well-known store reputed for its rare metals and gems. However, as she approached the entrance, the shopkeeper immediately barred her way.

"You can't enter," the shopkeeper said sternly, blocking her path.

"Why? I'm a customer. I'll pay," Lunette argued, crossing her arms.

"The shop is reserved," he replied, standing firm.

Lunette raised a brow. "Oh? Does the queen come here or something?"

"Ma'am, please understand—" the shopkeeper started, his tone exasperated.

"You know what my father always says?" Lunette interrupted, smirking mischievously. "Never listen to anyone except myself."

Before the shopkeeper could respond, Lunette snapped her fingers and teleported past him into the shop.

Inside, a young shapeshifter with sharp, striking features and piercing blue eyes was seated, watching her with an amused smile. His presence radiated an air of quiet confidence.

"My lady, your performance was epic," the shapeshifter said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Lunette turned toward him, sizing him up. "So, you're the special guy, huh?"

The shopkeeper rushed in, looking pale. "Sir, I'm so sorry! I tried to stop her—"

The shapeshifter raised a hand to calm the panicking man. "It's fine. Let her stay."

"I wasn't asking either of you," Lunette said, brushing past them with a smirk. "Now, show me the stuff."

The shapeshifter leaned back, still smirking as he observed her boldness. "And what is it you desire, my lady?"

"Coal," Lunette replied casually.

The shopkeeper blinked in confusion. "Coal? Why on earth would you need coal?"

The shapeshifter tilted his head, intrigued. "Yes, why coal? Planning to fuel a fire, my lady?"

Lunette finally turned to properly look at the shapeshifter. He had an air of rugged strength about him, reminiscent of someone who could tame the wildest of beasts. His short, thick blue-black hair had streaks of vivid blue highlights, adding a touch of uniqueness to his already striking appearance.

"I'm going to make diamonds out of it," Lunette said matter-of-factly.

The shapeshifter chuckled, his smirk widening. "Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"

"Do you want to see?" she asked, her tone playful.

Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he nodded. Lunette stepped closer to the pile of coal, her hands glowing faintly as she applied intense heat and gravity-like pressure. Within moments, the coal began to compress and glimmer, transforming into a flawless diamond.

"I'll say, I'm impressed, my lady," the shapeshifter admitted, his expression equal parts awe and amusement.

Lunette grinned smugly. "I'm just too impressive."

"But what do you need it for?" the shapeshifter asked, tilting his head curiously.

"I'm making earrings. Male ones," Lunette explained.

The shapeshifter raised a brow. "You have a lover?"

Lunette snorted. "No, it's for my father."

"Ah, I see," the shapeshifter said, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "And how are you planning to craft them?"

"Want to watch?" Lunette said, her tone daring.

She gathered a piece of metal from the shop, heating and molding it with practiced precision. She shaped the earrings into an intricate yet masculine design, setting the diamond in the center as the final touch. The result was stunning.

"Wow. You're a quad-power user—and two of those powers are gravity? That's incredibly rare," the shapeshifter said, clearly impressed.

"Yeah, yeah. Just another day in the life of being me," Lunette replied nonchalantly, brushing invisible dust off her hands. "Well, my work here is done. Wanna take a walk around this part of the kingdom? I've always heard it's beautiful."

The shapeshifter looked surprised for a moment before a faint grin returned to his face. "Why not? But why are you hiding your face under that hood?"

Lunette gave him the same vague excuse she'd given the others. "My identity's a secret. If my father finds out I'm out here, I'll be dead meat."

He chuckled but didn't press further.

They spent the next hour wandering the shapeshifter town, its vibrant marketplace bustling with life. The streets were lined with colorful stalls offering everything from exotic animal pelts to handmade jewelry. Lunette and the shapeshifter exchanged stories as they walked, her curious and animated personality perfectly balanced by his calm and teasing demeanor.

For Lunette, it was a rare chance to explore and connect with someone outside her usual circle—and she found herself enjoying every moment of it.