Just then, Loren was trying to push Reflection Naclis back into the shadows, but he couldn’t, causing yet another misunderstanding.
“Naclis…”
Loren tried to explain, but he really had no idea how. He stammered for a long time without managing to say anything.
In the end, Naclis closed her eyes and lay back down on the bed, trying to pretend that everything before her was a dream.
“Go back already!”
Loren tried to pull Reflection Naclis away. If he was too rough, he might hurt her, or even hurt himself, so he failed for a while. Then Naclis opened her eyes again and saw the scene once more.
“Are you playing some new game?”
Naclis suddenly put on an innocent expression and even clapped her hands.
“She’s starting to deceive herself!”
Even Reflection Naclis managed to spare a moment to quip before continuing what she was doing.
“No, wait. Stop for a second.”
Loren was genuinely starting to panic. He hadn’t expected to find himself in this situation, and he had no idea how to face Naclis.
With some effort, Loren finally managed to pull Reflection Naclis away.
“I’ll be going, then. You two carry on.”
After being pulled away, Reflection Naclis left him with those words, then slipped back into the shadows.
“Naclis…”
Loren had just started straightening his clothes when Naclis grabbed his hand.
“I want to, too.”
Naclis’s movements were stiff as she went to the spot where Reflection Naclis had just been and began imitating her.
But she had the form without the spirit.
“Naclis, wait a moment…”
Loren quickly pulled Naclis away. The situation was getting even stranger.
“I saw the photos. Do you love Anna and my reflection more than you love me?”
Naclis looked up at Loren, her golden eyes reflecting his face.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and the hurt expression on her face made Loren’s heart ache.
“This…”
Naclis’s words left Loren speechless. He truly didn’t know how to answer.
For a long time, Loren had tried to treat them all equally, never letting them feel that he favored one over the others. Until now, none of them had ever thought that way.
This was the first time. Perhaps this had hit Naclis particularly hard.
Anna and her reflection had been around for who knew how long. She was the only one who didn’t have one.
In the end, Loren gave up resisting. With Anna as precedent, he was better able to accept it, though he had thought this day would never come. After all, Naclis was so innocent.
After a while, Naclis decided that wasn’t enough, so she had Loren lie down. Recalling what she’d seen in the photos, she began to recreate it.
The process proved a little more difficult than she had imagined.
In truth, Naclis didn’t understand what they were doing. She was only imitating Anna.
…
“You’re finally out. Where’s Naclis?”
As soon as Loren stepped outside, he saw Anna eavesdropping.
“She’s inside.”
“That took longer than usual. Naclis has way more stamina than I expected.”
“…”
Loren didn’t reply. He simply grabbed Anna by the scruff of the neck and lifted her up.
“This is all your fault.”
“I helped Naclis fulfill her dream. What did I do wrong?”
Anna was still grinning until Loren smacked her on the backside. Only then did she shut her mouth.
“Sigh… This situation is getting more and more complicated…”
Loren sighed and set Anna down.
Maybe Anna and Naclis could really team up someday, perhaps even with her reflection joining them.
In a way, that would make them twins…
“Where’s Mirrorheart? Have her clean up.”
“I’ll take care of the cleaning myself. After all, it was Naclis’s first time, so it’s worth remembering…”
“You’re not planning to keep the bedsheets and things like that, are you?”
“If Mirrorheart can do it, why can’t I?”
“Wait… you two…”
Loren was at a loss for words, but before he could say anything, Anna slipped into the bedroom and went to Naclis.
She then skillfully cleaned up the unconscious Naclis and changed the bedsheets.
Anna carried off the clothes and sheets they’d taken off.
“Don’t you think that’s kind of gross…?”
“Not at all. It’s really meaningful as a memento.”
After hearing Anna’s answer, Loren said nothing more.
If Anna was happy to do it, he’d let her.
“Naclis has finally taken that step.”
After Anna left, Mirrorheart came over to Loren.
“Why are all of you so concerned about this sort of thing…?”
“Maybe it gives me a sense of accomplishment. After all, I was the first.”
Mirrorheart took Loren’s hand and pressed it to her cheek, then sucked on his thumb.
“…”
Mirrorheart’s teasing left Loren feeling restless.
He simply picked her up and carried her toward her bedroom.
The room was arranged just as it had been before. The bookshelves were filled with manga Mirrorheart had drawn herself. The secret passage leading underground was still there, and beneath it lay the Dungeon.
…
Naclis didn’t wake until the next day. Everything that had happened the day before felt like a dream.
But the pain had been far too vivid to be a dream. Recalling the scene, Naclis smiled.
She was grateful that she’d found the courage at the crucial moment instead of being as timid as she used to be.
If she’d let this opportunity pass, who knew how long it would take before she could take another step forward?
When Naclis got up, she felt refreshed, and even looked healthier than before.
After putting her worries behind her, Naclis wasn’t as cold as she used to be. She even smiled at the others, leaving them quite surprised.
“What’s going on with Naclis? Why is she suddenly so nice?”
Laila leaned close to Loren’s ear and asked.
“Ahem… It’s a little complicated…”
Loren had no idea how to explain it to Laila. He was too embarrassed to tell her the truth.
Luna was the most affected. She used to be quite afraid of Naclis, but it was obvious that Naclis had changed.
“Good morning.”
That morning, Naclis took the initiative to greet everyone. Before, she wouldn’t say a single word to the others.
Aside from Anna, Naclis really wasn’t close to any of the other witches.
Naclis sat down naturally beside Loren and put an arm around his. She looked at him as though her eyes were filled with hearts.
Even Loren hadn’t expected Naclis to change so much, but it was a good thing.