Chapter 16 : It’s a misunderstanding
——If not for your status, I’d really want to scold you.
——Idiot, Qianyu you.
“Wait, you already scolded!”
Qianyu hurriedly retorted, noticing something odd.
The girl’s mouth never opened.
Yet she clearly heard the voice.
Whether it was hers—debatable.
Only them here.
No other voices or sounds should appear.
—
Telepathy, a magic to convey information.
Quickly catching Qianyu’s confusion,
the mysterious voice explained again.
—
Speaks directly in consciousness.
—
No need to write for you now, convenient.
“So that’s it. Hear without sound.”
On Earth, similar fantasy terms for telepathy.
Even without explanation, Qianyu would realize.
(Hiss, wait, she just said…)
“Write for me? You’re!”
Qianyu exclaimed.
Pointed at the naked, unfamiliar girl.
—
Xingyao, the name you gave.
With the voice, she nodded blankly.
Familiar motion—undoubtedly her.
“Eh eh, ehhh?”
“Qianyu, Xingyao, what happened!”
Before she could explain,
attracted by canyon-wide chaos earlier,
worried for teammates,
Del flashed to shore.
Looked down around,
saw puzzled Qianyu beside—
crouched, body submerged,
only half face above for breath, unknown girl.
“Del?”
“Enemy?”
Del asked, palm open, green whirlwind spinning above,
merged into longbow shape.
She spun grip, pulled to chest,
tornado arrow nocked, aimed at Xingyao.
“S-Stop stop—she’s no enemy, it’s Xingyao!”
“Xingyao? Fooled by disguise magic, how’s this her.”
“Doesn’t look! But, but she is Xingyao.”
“Proof? At least convince you.”
“This…”
Qianyu hesitated, eyeing her submerged since Del arrived.
Like timid groundhog.
“What are you doing.”
—
No clothes.
Voice came,
she shook head, arms crossed in X.
“Ah, sorry. Guess I’m the culprit.”
Rather, eyes never left before Del.
Embarrassed Qianyu smiled shyly, scratched head.
“Staring whole time, mm…”
Hearing apology,
Xingyao kept pose, shook head.
—
Master’s fine.
—
Tell Del miss what follows.
“O-Okay. Say it.”
“Mm? What’s this?”
Del wary of Xingyao, brow furrowed confused.
“Del, the wa— she in water wants me say.”
“What. Trust depends on content.”
“Alright, then—”
Qianyu mimicked word for word, even complaint tone:
“On road, secretly used wind magic lighten Master’s luggage.
Stole her job, now plan attack me who. With sh…”
“P-P-P-Pass pass pass! Pass!”
Del suddenly panicked, stopped Qianyu.
Already finished.
“S-She is Xingyao, mm. I guarantee.”
“Quick change, Del.”
“Not important, a-alright, finish bath quick back camp.
Earlier anomaly might lure beast.”
Del hid something, left first.
“True. Here, Xingyao towel and old clothes.”
—
Thank you.
Qianyu to shore, got prepared luggage.
Turned—Xingyao still prone in water, no come.
—
One more favor, Master.
Caring Qianyu returned without annoyance.
“What?”
To her, small matters.
Xingyao seemed fish something from bottom.
Threw out.
Qianyu saw—split collar.
Like Xingyao’s old, yet different.
Felt magic, not steel.
—
Please put on me.
Qianyu took without hesitate,
but unmoved by request.
“I’ll keep for now.”
Thought briefly, spoke slow:
“If after time, you still want.”
This world’s common master-servant,
for modern-raised Qianyu,
not one-two days accept.
But for Xingyao, willing change.
First step, future promise.
—
Okay, Master.
Qianyu from another world, Xingyao with hidden past.
Even knowing almost nothing.
Even met one day.
…
…
Redressed, cleared traces,
returned to Del’s effortless magic camp.
Near dusk, orange sunset through thick clouds.
“Fake new body, hide inside?”
Xingyao explained change via telepathy.
“So yesterday, this morning body?”
—
Magic shells
—
Old, water rinse breaks.
“C-Can do that.”
(Magic amazing.)
Hometown proverb “seeing believing.”
Not here.
With magic,
trust no seen reality.
But unrelated to her.
Her outsider talent—
fire, words near limit.
“Haah, rest.”
Qianyu lay on grass, wind and sunset.
Much today, not over.
Overtime—
if “rabbit” appears.
—
You, not ask more?
In Qianyu’s old casual dress, ribbon white strap.
Xingyao hands on knees, leaned staring Qianyu’s face.
To question, same answer.
“When you want say, like now fine.”