Nice To See You Again

Before Yuuto's eventual encounter with a certain blindfolded woman, he could be seen roaming around the department stores that Solarian had to offer.

The abundance of people crowding the wide streets and the sounds of items being purchased around him reminded him just how successful this planet was as a trading hub.

So far only Yuuto, Welt, March and Stelle were the only ones who decided to get off the Express to do their own things.

Welt had to go to a certain store to buy some materials that he said were used for his activities in his free time.

While March dragged Stelle around to show her some stores that she found interesting during her time browsing from the last time they visited the planet.

"Some simple rations and a few other things…"

Yuuto looked at the bag he carried and checked the items inside once again to see if he was missing anything else.

He had visited a few stores and using his newfound wealth he received just recently, he bought some items that may help him during his next trip to Jarilo-VI.

"I might not consider it a trip since I'll need to face the influence of a Stelleron and some other elements first hand but being prepared wouldn't hurt."

Yuuto counted the items he had one last time before he placed it to his side and wandered around the area.

As he took in the warm sunlight shining down on him, he began to recall the 'memory' or story he found out before through the use of [Clarity] on this planet's true origins.

"I checked the history documents once again just as I was finished shopping and it was all the same saying that a meteorite was the cause of the planet's previous dead state."

Knowing the hidden history alongside the words that came from the old lady he met from last time.

He wondered just how deep the influence people following the path of the Enigmata has caused without having an ounce of people noticing. 

"Maybe I could try and find that old lady again…"

Yuuto thought as he would like to learn more while also feeling a bit hungry after walking around this whole time.

With a new goal in mind, he began to navigate his way through the droves of people while keeping his eyes peeled for a stand that sells meat skewers.

–WOOSH

However as he continued to walk by a few empty alleyways, he noticed that the temperature around him became slightly colder which was odd considering the bright weather the planet was currently in.

"Okay, I swear if I get jumped by a group of people again.."

Yuuto cursed to himself as the mood felt oddly familiar and he began to look at his surroundings carefully, ready to summon his sword just in case.

Turning his head one last time to his right side he noticed that a pair of bright red eyes were shining through the darkness of the alleyway which caused a few hairs to rise on his arm.

"Yeah, I'm out."

A pale silver hue wrapped around his legs and Yuuto began to bolt out of the alley way as he felt the presence of a person or thing staring at him from the darkness.

After running a few meters, he heard the sounds of steps rushing towards him at a quick pace and turned around to see what began to follow him.

A woman with pale white hair alongside red eyes that shined with danger was seen running towards him and Yuuto couldn't help but subconsciously run faster.

"Jingliu?!"

"...."

"Is her mara going off again??"

Yuuto looked around and noticed that only a few people were around them which made him sigh in relief and he turned his head to look at Jingliu once more.

Her expressionless face made it hard for him to see what she was thinking but right now the only thing he thought about was why she was chasing after him.

Leaving the pavement of the city and going towards the vast array of forestry, Yuuto tried his best to give himself some time to think about what he was about to do next. 

Yuuto placed more strength in his legs and a quick burst of speed erupted from him which widened the gap by a bit.

However Jingliu seemingly looked at his speed and instantly vanished before appearing right in front of him.

A wave of cold air surrounded her figure before a flash of light blue ice surrounded Yuuto as if to trap him inside a cocoon exposing only his head.

This all happened in a span of a few seconds and Yuuto stood dumbly as he was frozen in place with Jingliu being a few centimeters away from him.

"...."

"I knew it. I felt like my mind cleared up for some reason and here you are.

"I also missed you too but do you mind removing your ice since I feel like I'll get sick if I stay like this any further…" 

The corner of Yuuto's mouth twitched as Jingliu just stared at him with her crimson eyes not uttering a single word.

Yuuto tried to move by applying strength to his limbs but it was no use as the ice that was surrounding him was dense and offered a chilling cold that stung the surface of his skin.

After a while she waved her hand and the ice surrounding Yuuto slowly receded which caused him to sigh in relief.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you start running after me?"

"You ran first."

"...Okay, fair play."

Jingliu's blunt words sounded pretty reasonable to him but who could blame him.

Seeing a pair of red eyes just staring at you from beyond a dark alleyway would make most people avoid it since who knows what kind of monster they belong to.

Fortunately in this case those eyes belonged to a beautiful woman so it seemed like Yuuto got the better end of the stick.

Dusting off the wrinkles of his clothes, he took one last glance at the person in front of him as a bunch of questions began to flood his head.

"Is Luocha also here with you?"

"He's here. He's just doing something else right now."

'How ominous.'

The monotone voice that Jingliu used added to Yuuto's hunch that something more was going on but he was unsure if it was a good thing or a bad one.

"A few Wingweavers refused to give the item they promised so he had to find some other means to get what he wanted."

Surprisingly Jingliu continued on with the details and spoke how the last few days have been quite troublesome for them.

'She's speaking quite…normally? And I noticed it before but she's not wearing her blindfold right now.'

Yuuto quietly listened to her talk and stared at her face that was unhindered by the black blindfold she had worn before. 

"Is something the matter?"

"Nothing really, I was just wondering what happened to your blindfold you had on before."

Posing this question, Jingliu turned quiet for a bit and looked deeply at Yuuto.

A small glass container was pulled out of a secret pocket she had and inside was bits of white crystals that emitted faint specks of mist off them.

"Oddly ever since my encounter with you, my mind that has been plagued by mara has calmed down considerably and formulating thoughts is now easier."

"I see now."

Yuuto's eyes flashed white as he took a glance into her [Nexus] and saw the crowding fragments that filled the space.

Structures that resembled thorny vines also filled the crevices of these fragments.

Just by glancing at it was enough to let him understand just how much pressure being mara stricken has on the mind. 

But the faint mist radiating off the white crystal turned that situation into something completely different.

Fragments converged and organized themselves while others were basked in that white energy which gradually shrunk the thorny vines into more smaller branches.

"So an item such as a blindfold was not needed anymore thanks to this."

Jingliu waved the container she had and Yuuto felt strange as it looked like she was a person casually talking about a drug prescription.

"However…"

She took a few steps towards Yuuto and placed the tip of her nose above the crux of his neck.

"It seems like the feeling is more prominent when I'm near you."

Her cool breath lightly brushed upon the skin of his collar.

'Okay, this is getting dangerous in more ways than one.'

Yuuto thought to himself as he placed his hand on her shoulders before creating a bit of distance from him since he noticed an unknown glint beginning to form in her eyes.

"Well I'm happy that you seemed to be better despite me not doing anything directly but first this sort of distance is pretty easy to misunderstand, you know."

Jingliu looked at the arms that held her shoulders and a face that seemed to understand and at the same time didn't appeared.

"Is that so? It's been a while since I conversed with someone with my mind unhindered so I'm still not familiar with some etiquette."

She said as her memories of her time on the Loufu began to surface.

'People used to rejoice when shaking my hand after a sword tournament but I guess that doesn't apply here…'

Years have passed since she last felt like this so she must have been too straightforward with this person who had brought this opportunity for her.

She continued to look at Yuuto and after intently looking at his facial movements she came to the conclusion that it seemed like he didn't mind.

'He's not part of the Cloud Knights and also not a person I'm all too familiar with so…"

Jingliu turned silent as she contemplated, which made Yuuto smile at her serious face and let out a faint chuckle.

"It's fine actually. Just take my question as something rhetorical and just use whatever distance you think is alright."

"I understand…"

Jingliu subconsciously nodded her head and watched as Yuuto walked a bit to the side and sat under a tree.

"Come here and sit with me. Since you've said it had been a while since you conversed with someone properly why don't we have a conversation? I have some refreshments that we can have and I'm actually thrilled to have the chance to speak with you once more."

A few snacks came out of nowhere which made Jingliu wonder where he pulled them out from.

She stood still for a bit before walking towards Yuuto and bent her knees to sit beside him.

"Here I have some biscuits and a few other treats I recommend trying."

Slightly overwhelmed with the amount of food he had brought out, Jingliu just took one she found appealing and bit into it.

"It's good."

"Right? A clerk tried her best to sell them to me but I had to stay…."

Jingliu looked at Yuuto as he began to lead the conversation and tell her about his experience with a certain clerk.

The sounds of leaves rustling and the feeling of wind caressing the tip of her hair felt oddly soothing to her as she began to feel her body slightly relax.

She leaned her body against the tree and took in this experience that she had taken for granted years ago.

'I..enjoy this..'

Even with a past that haunted her to this day, this fleeting moment that she was currently experiencing was one that brought a sense of calmness that she wished to never leave behind.

A few minutes began to go by where the two spoke about a few experiences and shared some thoughts they had with them.

"I noticed that you used a sliver of moonlight in your movements when you ran away from me."

"Pffft!?"

Yuuto almost choked when Jingliu suddenly spoke on his movements from before.

"I thought I was mistaken but the way that energy circulated through your legs I knew right away that the silver light was similar to mine."

"Ahem.. well.. I was captivated by the way you used the moon when you fought before so I had a bit of inspiration from it…"

"Hmm."

Jingliu turned silent as she ate the remaining bits of food she had and Yuuto waited to see what she wanted to say.

"What sort of art are you using the moonlight for?"

"I use swordsmanship."

"I see then…"

Jingliu stood up and patted her knees to get rid of the dirt that stuck to her before a deep wave of frost appeared in her hand.

"Why don't we have a spar? I wish to see what kind of art you're using for your sword."

A thin sword made out of light blue ice formed and Jingliu's red eyes stared at him waiting for his answer.

'Isn't this a good opportunity..?'

Yuuto thought as he also stood up and created a similar sword to hers but instead it gave off a prismatic white sheen.

"Please instruct me well, Master~!"

"I don't remember taking in another disciple…"