The place the man had pointed to wasn’t hard to find.
Felyn walked along the western street, past a fountain and a stretch of lawn, then down a long flight of pristine white stairs.
By now, he was already quite far from the concert hall. Even Zervanie’s singing had grown faint.
The streetlights cast a soft, warm glow, stretching Felyn’s shadow long and thin.
"How did that guy even manage to get lost all the way out here? He’s worse than I am," Felyn muttered to himself as he looked around.
The note in his hand described the man's friend in three simple traits: Pink hair, expressionless face, and very cute.
That description made Felyn think of someone he knew. But… could it really be that much of a coincidence?
Soon enough, Felyn spotted a small figure in the distance—pink-haired and alone.
At the base of the winding white staircase stood a solitary streetlamp, quietly casting its faint, unnoticed light.
Beneath the light sat a small figure.
Maybe it was because of the distance, or maybe it was because the girl herself was petite, but she seemed delicate, almost fragile.
Her long pink hair caught the light and softly glowed, tinting the area around her with a dreamy hue.
It was as if an invisible wall surrounded her, keeping the noise and bustle of the concert far away.
The girl sat curled up on the steps, hugging her knees tightly, making herself as small as possible.
Felyn felt like he had been walking forever, yet still hadn’t reached her.
He paused on the stairs and looked down at her.
There was no doubt in his mind.
“That’s Viloti.”
Tonight, she wore a white blouse with a sleeveless gray sweater over it, and a short black skirt.
The chill of early autumn had already set in, and the night breeze was cold.
Viloti had her head resting on her knees, trying her best to keep warm. Strands of her pink hair fluttered in the wind.
If Adeline was here, it made sense that Viloti would come too. After all, they were close friends.
But why was she here alone?
Felyn stuffed his hands into his pockets, lightly tapping the ground with his shoes.
He knew Viloti well enough to guess the reason.
She probably couldn’t handle the noise and crowds and had chosen to escape to somewhere quiet.
Still… if she disliked crowds so much, why even come to the concert?
And if she couldn’t stay inside, why not just leave? Why was she sitting out here alone instead?
His hand brushed against the 3,000 crowns in his pocket—the payment for taking care of the man’s “friend.”
Now that he knew that friend was Viloti… should he still approach her?
Felyn already felt like tonight had been chaotic enough. He didn’t want to drag Viloti into it.
He let out a long sigh, folded the note, and stuffed it deep into his pocket.
…
Viloti shifted her legs slightly. The pressure had left red marks on her knees.
“It’s a little cold…”
She rubbed her hands together, but it didn’t help much.
She had been sitting here for over an hour.
Earlier, a strange man had approached her and said a few words. She’d simply pointed him in the right direction, and he left.
Now, Viloti curled up tighter, listening to the faint sound of Zervanie’s voice drifting from afar.
She kept repeating the same thing she’d been trying to do for the past hour: muster the strength to stand up, walk back to the concert, and finish watching the show.
But once again, she failed.
Her small leather shoes stayed flat against the ground, unmoving.
She just couldn’t bring herself to return to that noisy place.
“This isn’t working…”
She inhaled deeply and gently rested her cheek against her knees.
She hadn’t known that Felyn would be at Zervanie’s concert.
But truthfully… she had come because of him.
Viloti was aware of her own problems—afraid of crowds, uncomfortable with human contact.
Felyn had never said anything about it, but she still felt like her condition was… "abnormal."
If she and Felyn were to be together someday, would she even be able to accompany him to busy places?
Wouldn’t that just hold him back?
And…
Viloti thought of Zervanie.
Maybe Felyn preferred someone more outgoing, someone bright and lively?
So she’d decided to come to the concert—to try to get used to that kind of chaotic, noisy environment.
But she had clearly overestimated herself.
Barely a few minutes into the show, she was already overwhelmed. Her past traumas seemed to resurface all at once.
So she fled to this quiet place and hid.
She turned her head slightly, gazing at the concert hall lit up in sky blue.
The lively atmosphere inside contrasted starkly with her quiet isolation.
If I could go back in there… if I could blend into the crowd… would that mean I’m cured?
Would that make me normal?
And if I were normal… would Felyn want to spend more time with me?
The night wind gently lowered the temperature.
Viloti rubbed her bare legs, staring at her feet.
It was getting colder. Wearing sandals in this weather really wasn’t suitable anymore.
But if she stopped wearing sandals… then Felyn wouldn’t be able to see her feet.
“…Felyn,” she whispered his name softly.
"Hmm? You noticed me without even turning around?"
A familiar voice reached her ears.
Before Viloti could react, something warm draped over her cold legs.
She looked up—and there he was. The very person she had just been thinking of.
"Felyn? Aren’t you cold?"
Her first reaction wasn’t surprise or joy—it was worry.
Felyn was only wearing a white dress shirt. Wouldn’t the night wind make him sick?
"I’ve got long sleeves and pants on. That’s way warmer than what you’re wearing."
Felyn sat beside her and followed her gaze to where she had just been looking.
He had hesitated earlier, standing at the top of the stairs, but in the end, he chose to come.
After all, he’d accepted money for this. Professionalism mattered.
Besides, when he saw how Viloti looked, he’d thought maybe her past trauma had resurfaced, so he wanted to check on her.
Honestly, the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he’d undercharged Silafiel.
It had been ages and he was still providing after-sales service!
“What were you looking at just now? You seemed really focused.”
“Nothing, really.”
“The view here’s actually quite nice. I never noticed this spot before,” Felyn said, glancing around.
“The concert’s way too loud anyway. It’s not a bad idea to take a breather here.”
He didn’t ask why Viloti had left the concert, or if someone had upset her.
Instead, he tried to see things from her perspective and meet her where she was.
Viloti nodded softly.
Felyn’s jacket lay on her lap, warming her legs.
She gently ran her fingers over it, careful not to let it slip to the ground.
She always took good care of anything that belonged to Felyn.
Because ever since the graduation banquet—ever since their contract ended—she hadn’t had many chances to be close to his things.
(End of Chapter)