The weight of looks

Kyle returned to the table, where Freya was still waiting for him. She hadn't moved, casually leaning on his elbows, a cup of red wine between her fingers. Her gaze, as sharp as it was calm, followed his every movement like a hawk watching its prey.

He sat silently, his back a little straighter than usual, but his gaze shifty, as if lost in thought.

Freya arched an eyebrow, amused by his silence.

"You don't look so well," she said, slowly setting down her cup. "Is something bothering you?"

Kyle shrugged without looking at her.

"I was just thinking of a way to refuse your offer... while still staying alive."

A burst of crystalline laughter escaped Freya's throat. Not mocking, but rather... intrigued.

"You know, Kyle, I'm liking you more and more."

He finally turned his eyes to her, unsmiling.

"Why do you want a disciple, exactly?"

"To see. To try," she replied simply, sweeping the air with a vague gesture.

 She crossed her legs under the table, the dark fabric of her dress gently dividing the space.

"Of all the members of the Pentagram, I'm the only one who doesn't yet have a successor. I thought... why not you?"

Kyle huffed through his nose.

"That reassures me. I was afraid it was for something serious. A need, a mission, a tragic destiny."

Freya didn't answer immediately. She stared at him for a few seconds, her smile almost fading. Then she said,

"You've changed since you went back to talking to your friends. You speak more confidently now. More... freely."

Kyle tilted his head slightly.

"Do you dislike it?"

She shook her head gently, her hair brushing her bare shoulder.

"Quite the opposite. But I want to know why."

"At first, I was intimidated. You, this place, the titles, the expectations... It all seemed overwhelming."

He paused, then looked up at her.

"And then I remembered I'm not in my own world anymore." Then I can say and do whatever I want."

Freya gave a small, knowing smile.

"Yes... I saw your file. You're one of the 'travelers'. An interesting detail, but it doesn't change my decision. I want you as my disciple."

"I'm beginning to understand what the class system in this world is really based on," he said, resting his elbows on the table.

"Oh? And what is it?"

"Adventure, Mystery, Danger. Whatever I really want, I end up getting."

He leaned slightly toward her.

"And that's something I've noticed about you... In me too, perhaps."

Freya stared at him for a long time, silent. Then she smiled.

"You're wrong. It's not a trait specific to elemental mages. But... you seem convinced." 

"Not at all, it was just a hypothesis," Kyle replied simply.

Freya nodded resignedly, almost theatrically.

"All right. You win. I give up. I don't want you as my student anymore."

"Really?" Kyle said, almost incredulously.

"Really."

She reached out and placed her fingers on his, her eyes shining with a new sparkle.

"But... you're seriously starting to interest me as a man."

Kyle felt a jolt run down his spine. He yanked his hand back so fast he nearly knocked over his drink.

"W-what?"

Freya burst out laughing, this time without restraint. She leaned slightly across the table, her eyes locked with his, her voice becoming softer... slower... more dangerous.

"Are you blushing?" Oh, don't tell me you didn't see that twist coming."

Kyle opened his mouth, then closed it. His throat was dry, and his thoughts... jumbled. He looked away, staring at an imaginary point on the wall behind her.

No. He hadn't seen it coming.

And more importantly... he absolutely hadn't planned to find himself in this situation.

Kyle calmly raised his gaze to Freya. His jaw relaxed a little as he said, measuredly,

"Say... I don't get to say no yet, do I?"

Freya's smile widened, sweet and wicked at the same time, as if savoring a pre-written line.

"As you so aptly put it yourself, Kyle... what I want, I get. Always."

Kyle took a shallow breath, then ran his finger along the rim of his cup before replying,

"I'm flattered, truly. I'm touched by your interest. But I'll politely decline."

He tried to keep his voice neutral, almost relaxed, but his tense shoulders betrayed his discomfort.

Freya leaned her elbows on the table, her head slightly tilted, an almost affectionate twinkle in her eyes.

"That's why I like you. Few people dare say no to my face. Even fewer remain whole afterward."

Kyle gave a fixed smile.

"I think we're going around in circles here. And anyway, I won't be in town long."

"Then I'll follow you," she said.

He started to reply, but the heavy guild doors swung open with a loud thud. The entire room looked away.

 Astrid entered first, elegant and proud, followed by Elias, whose upright posture reminded him of a soldier always on a mission. All eyes were fixed on them, as if drawn by an invisible magnet.

They didn't pause, but headed straight for Freya and Kyle's table.

The latter felt a sort of immediate relief. He straightened slightly.

Here was his chance.

"Freya," Elias said as he reached the table, "nice to finally see you again."

"Mr. Richard finally gave me a break. It's about time."

"Freya," Astrid said with a polite smile.

"Astrid."

Freya answered her with the same neutrality. A brief exchange of nods.

Kyle spoke, taking advantage of the interruption.

"Fine. I'll leave you to talk in peace." 

"Oh, you're not disturbing us," Elias replied calmly.

"I insist," Kyle said, sitting up.

But as he started to stand, Freya's soft voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Stay a little longer."

Her tone remained courteous, but a cold pressure accompanied it. Her gaze shone with an almost predatory gleam. The air around her seemed to have grown heavier.

Kyle hesitated. Then sat back down, slowly, without saying a word.

Astrid and Elias took their seats. Freya looked at them in turn.

"So, what brings you here?"

"We wanted to talk to Richard about Caleb," Elias replied. "You know, him leaving suddenly... it's strange."

"He said he was thinking about retirement, right?" 

"Yes, but... he's barely back from demonic territory, and he vanishes immediately. It all seems far too convenient to be credible."

Kyle was no longer following the conversation. Eyes seemed to be fixed on his every movement. The whispers formed a suffocating fog around him. He wasn't a member of the Pentagram. He hadn't even asked to sit there. And yet, there he was, between them. Too visible.

His fingers tightened on his thigh, almost mechanically. His knee trembled, betraying a tension he was trying to contain. A shiver ran down his spine. Heat rose to the back of his neck, his ears buzzed slightly. To reassure himself, he rubbed his palms together, repeating this gesture like an anchor. His eyes searched for a concrete detail: a crack in the slab in front of him, a pattern on the table. He clung to it, staring at this tiny point to distance himself from the tumult of voices and gazes that oppressed him.

Each breath seemed shorter, faster. The other people's sentences turned into confused echoes. He felt his limits approaching, the dizziness of a world too stimulating, too noisy. He had to hold on, breathe, remain... invisible, despite his place at the center of attention.

Astrid, leaning toward him, frowned.

"Kyle... are you okay?" 

He looked away, tense

"It's nothing. It happens to me sometimes. It'll pass."

Freya turned to him as well.

"Are you sure?"

Kyle tried to laugh. A short, humorless sound.

"I think I've reached my tension quota for today."

"You'd better go get some rest," Freya suggested, not looking at him this time.

He nodded. He stood up, this time without resistance. He left the room, stiff, without another word.

The cool breeze from outside hit his face. He took a few steps away, then crouched down near a low wall. His breathing quickened despite himself. He placed a hand against his chest, trying to slow it down.

His fingers were shaking.

 Light footsteps on the cobblestones echoed behind him.

"Kyle?"

It was Lys.

She knelt down beside him, silently, casting a worried glance at his tense profile.

"Hey... are you okay?"

He nodded without answering, still crouching. His panting breaths couldn't even out.

Lys glanced quickly at Kyle, his face half-plunged into shadow.

"Are you okay?"

He remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes lost in space, then slowly raised his head with a slightly too-perfect smile.

"All's well in the best of all possible worlds."

Lys raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but didn't comment. She sat down next to him, crossing her arms.

"I'll stay a little, don't mind." 

Kyle briefly glanced at her, his expression detached.

"Shouldn't you be better off going back to the others?"

"We're done for today. I can keep you company."

He gave a small smile and moved closer, resting his forearms on his knees.

"That's very kind of you."

Lys didn't flinch this time. Her gaze remained fixed on his, steady.

"And with Freya? Were you able to clarify things?"

"No. It's actually gotten more complicated."

"What do you mean?"

"If I sum it up correctly... she wants me to be her partner. Not on a mission this time. On a life partner."

Lys blinked in surprise, before looking away slightly.

"And you? What do you plan to do?"

"I must admit," he said, drawing out his words, "that she's a very attractive woman. Very."

"That's not an answer," Lys groaned, a little stung.

"Maybe. But it's a factor to consider, isn't it?"

She nodded slowly.

"Okay..."

But her voice had lost its warmth. Kyle heard her.

"Anyway, I don't plan on staying here anymore."

"Why are you so obsessed with leaving? Do you always need to move?"

"What do you think? That in my world I was like this? No." 

He straightened his chest a little, then continued in a more serious tone:

"Unlike Kaito, Kyle is lucky enough to experience all of this."

"Did you say 'Kaito'?" she murmured.

"Yeah. It's me. Well... it was me. Back there. But here, I have another name. Another life. Another freedom. Kyle can decide. Kaito... he's paralyzed, stuck in his silences, in his fears. He lives in an invisible cage. And I'm that unchained version. A liberated form."

Lys frowned, not sure she understood.

"I don't get it all... but what matters is being yourself, right?"

"But if 'yourself' is incapable of asserting itself... is that really better?"

He stared at his hands.

"The real me is torn between reason and desire." So who I am here... that's what I should be. What I want to be."

She looked at him for a long time, then breathed,

"Even if I don't understand how important this is to you... I'll encourage you as best I can."

He turned his gaze to her, his gaze softer.

"That's really sweet. And you know what? If I were looking for someone to accompany me... you'd be the most obvious choice."

Lys, slightly flustered, looked away with a wry smile.

"That's very... thank you. Now what do you want to do?"

He jumped up, stretching.

"I already did one collection today. I'm going to walk around town for a bit."

"Can I come?" she offered, half curious, half worried.

"No. I need to be alone." 

She nodded, understanding.

"All right. I'll see you later, then."

"Yeah. See you later, Lys."

He walked away slowly, hands in his pockets, while she stood there, watching him walk into the shadows of streets lit by a few hanging lanterns.

Lys pushed open the guild door behind her, the familiar sound of conversation and laughter filling the air. Her footsteps echoed lightly on the worn stone floor as she walked toward the reception area. But her gaze was quickly drawn to a figure she hadn't expected to see there: Tristan, sitting at a table, surrounded by the members of the Pentagram.

She swallowed, not wanting to join them, and turned around, determined to join the girls—Elena, Anne, and Iris—who were chatting quietly with Eris nearby. However, before she could move away, a familiar voice stopped her.

"Lys!"

Tristan stood there, a smile almost too friendly on his lips. She hesitated for a moment, then walked over to him.

When she reached her, Tristan introduced her with a broad gesture to the others:

"Lys, this is Master Elias, Lady Astrid, and Lady Freya."

In turn, they gave her polite but cold glances, betraying their usual wariness.

"So, what's going on?" Tristan asked curiously, breaking the silence for a moment.

Lys lowered her gaze for a moment before replying softly, "Kyle wasn't feeling very well. He decided to go for a walk in town to clear his head."

Freya frowned slightly, a hint of worry crossing her dark eyes.

"I hope it's nothing serious." 

Astrid, frankly, slipped into an almost guilty smile.

"It's probably your fault."

A shiver ran through Lys at this remark. Freya, visibly troubled, lowered her head, a hint of remorse crossing her features.

"Maybe so..."

Tristan tilted his head, intrigued.

"What if it's because of that?"

"What?" Lys asked, suddenly curious.

"I don't know if I can say," Tristan murmured, as if afraid of breaking a pact. "But Kyle confided in me that he has a certain disorder that affects his emotions and social interactions."

Lys felt her heart race. What she had perceived during their conversation suddenly made perfect sense.

Astrid turned a questioning look on Elias.

"You, what do you think?" 

Elias shrugged.

"Why me?"

"Because you have knowledge in many areas," Astrid insisted.

"That's true," Elias replied, "but this is the first time I've heard of a problem like this."

"It probably comes from his world," Lys murmured, as if to herself.

Elias nodded.

"Indeed. And from what he told me, his world is much more advanced than ours."

Freya clenched her fists, her gaze shifting.

"I probably made his condition worse."

"Why did you make all these offers?" Lys asked, a hint of reproach in her voice.

Freya let out a breath, her tone tinged with sweet nostalgia.

 "Kyle reminds me a bit of my younger brother... It's been a long time since I've had this kind of teasing exchange with someone."

Elias shook his head, annoyed.

"That's no reason. She always acts like this, and it's a real problem."

Freya shrugged defiantly.

"What can I do? I promised I'd do what I want. I'm not going to change for so little."

Astrid looked at Elias, her expression serious.

"It's okay now."

Elias nodded.

"That's true. I apologize, Freya, for bringing up those memories."

Freya waved her hand, relaxed.

"It's nothing. I don't even think about it anymore." 

Tristan observed Freya for a moment, as if he had just uncovered a dark part of her past that she wanted to forget. Quickly changing the subject, he asked,

"Shall we pick up where we left off?"

"What were you talking about?" Lys asked, surprised.

"We were talking about Caleb, my master," Tristan replied, a serious expression on his face.

Lys took a step back, ready to move away from the table where Tristan had resumed his place among the members of the Pentagram. She gave Elias, Astrid, and Freya one last neutral glance, then calmly said,

"I'll leave you to discuss this in peace."

But before she could take another step, Freya stood up with a quick, almost instinctive movement.

"Wait, Lys. Can we talk... in private?"

Lys turned slowly, visibly surprised. She hesitated. Freya's tone wasn't threatening, but it wasn't harmless either. With the attention of the other members of the table, she couldn't really refuse without creating discomfort.

"...Okay," she finally replied.

They moved away to a table further back in the guild, abandoned by the adventurers. The place was quiet, far from the laughter and the clinking of tankards. Freya sat down elegantly, while Lys stood for a moment, wary, before taking a seat opposite.

"So, what do you want to talk to me about?" she asked, her tone cold but polite.

Freya rested her elbows on the table, clasping her fingers in front of her, an almost imperceptible smile on her lips.

 "I just want to... learn a little more about you."

"Why?" Lys replied, frowning slightly.

"Because you're interesting. As interesting as Kyle can be?"

Lys froze for a moment. She hadn't expected this kind of remark. It wasn't the first time she'd been called "interesting," but coming from Freya... it sounded different. More charged. Less neutral.

She stood up slowly.

"I think I'll go."

But the moment she tried to take a step, her feet seemed to slip in a light layer of fresh snow, as if a frosty dusting had discreetly covered the floor beneath her chair. She looked down, confused.

"...What's that?"

Freya, still seated, had moved closer, leaning toward the table. Her gaze, both intense and amused, never left Lys.

"You know... I've always had a thing for girls like you."

Lys looked up suddenly, taken aback. The mood had shifted. The air felt a little heavier, laden with a subtext she hadn't planned on encountering tonight.

"Freya... you shouldn't say things like that. It's... ambiguous. And it could be misinterpreted."

Freya shrugged slightly, finally straightening, a smile on her face.

"Take that as you will."

Then she gently looked away, as if she'd just placed a piece on an invisible chessboard and was waiting to see Lys's next move.

Lys, however, remained silent, her lips pursed, her thoughts in disarray. One thing was certain: this discussion was going to haunt her longer than expected.

Lys stood there, motionless, arms clasped around herself, her brow furrowed. Freya, opposite, kept that slight smirk at the corners of her lips, as if savoring her interlocutor's discomfort.

"You look completely lost," Freya murmured mockingly, almost sweetly.

Lys looked away. She wanted to speak, but her tongue seemed to have stuck to the roof of her mouth. Freya took a step closer, her face tilted, as if she were observing a fascinating creature.

"Tell me, what's your relationship with Kyle?"

Lys blinked, shaken by the question. She frowned.

"We're just... friends."

"Hmm..."

Freya slowly crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.

 "You say that, but... it sounds like you want it to be a little more than that, doesn't it?"

Lys opened her mouth, then closed it. Her fingers tightened against her own arm.

"Yes... But what can I do?" she breathed. "It's not that simple."

Freya let out a weary sigh. Her smile faded, replaced by a disappointed look. She shook her head gently, as if to herself.

"I thought you had more bite... I was wrong, apparently."

She straightened abruptly and turned away.

Lys took a step toward her, extending a hesitant hand.

"Wait! What do you mean by that?"

Freya stopped but didn't turn around. Her voice echoed, calm but firm.

"If you continue to remain so passive, you'll regret it later. That's all I have to say."

Without another word, she resumed her walk, leaving Lys alone with her tangled thoughts.

Freya re-entered the group with a steady stride, taking her place smoothly. She glanced quickly at her companions, her face already devoid of any emotion.

Astrid leaned slightly toward her, looking feignedly curious.

"So, what were you telling the kid?"

Freya shrugged, feigning innocence.

"Oh, nothing too bad. Elder advice, let's say."

She fixed her gaze on Elias's.

"So? Where were we?"

Elias tapped the table with his knuckles.

"We were listening. Tristan has some news."

Tristan raised his head. His expression was more tense than usual.

"According to the latest information... my master is still in the demonic territories."

Freya tilted her head, looking skeptical.

 "What's he doing there, seriously? He didn't need to quit his job for that."

Elias crossed his arms.

"Exactly. If he's giving up everything, it's because it's very important."

Astrid frowned.

"Do you think he's in danger?"

Freya narrowed her eyes slightly, thoughtful.

"Not impossible. In any case, we can't just stand here and do nothing."

Elias sighed.

"The problem is, we don't know exactly what area he's in."

Freya grimaced, a look of annoyance on her face.

"Of course. Always disappearing without warning. He has a knack for causing us problems."

"And this habit of wanting to save everything that moves," Astrid grumbled, crossing her arms.

"We need Richard," Elias declared. "It is up to him to decide on the maneuver."

Freya rolled her eyes.

"Him? When I went to see him, he was still drowning in files. Literally."

Astrid smirked.

"Let's hope he can get free. We'll need him, that's clear."

Tristan spoke, more hesitant.

"But... do we even know if he's really in danger?"

A silence.

Freya crossed her arms, her gaze darkening.

"He didn't say so. Not clearly."

Elias nodded slowly.

"But if he disappears like that, without warning, there's a problem. He never does anything without reason."

Tristan nodded, his gaze serious.

"Yes... that's true." 

Lys stood alone for a moment, motionless, her arms crossed against her chest as if holding something fragile within. Freya's words still swirled in her mind, like embers that couldn't be extinguished. Then, after a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders slightly and turned to join the girls.

When she arrived at the reception desk, Iris looked up immediately, a slight smile on her lips.

"What were you and Freya talking about?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.

Lys looked away briefly, then shrugged with a smile that sounded a little false.

"Oh, nothing important," she replied neutrally.

Iris didn't press the point, respecting the silence in her friend's eyes.

"You left so quickly earlier," Elena remarked, leaning slightly toward her.

 "I saw Kyle wasn't feeling well... So I wanted to join him."

"Is he better?" Elena asked sincerely.

"Yes, well... a little better. He went out for a walk in the city," she said, nervously fiddling with a strand of hair.

"Were you able to talk to him about it, at least?" Anne asked, a hint of hope in her voice.

"Not yet..." Lys murmured, her lips pursed.

"Okay," Anne said simply, without judgment.

Lys took a calmer breath this time, then added,

"And what were you talking about?"

"Recruitment," Iris replied, crossing her arms. "We're starting to think about recruiting new members."

"It's true... that soon you'll need new members," Lys said, nodding.

"Eris suggested Harry," Elena explained.

 "With what happened recently, he's all alone now..."

"I hope he accepts," Anne said thoughtfully.

"It would be great if he joined us! We'd have all the Pentagram students united in one team!" Iris added with an enthusiastic chuckle.

Eris, who had remained silent until then, turned her head towards Lys.

"Besides, now that you're back, you could go up to the guild master. He's waiting to discuss your request."

Lys nodded, a little taken aback.

"Okay. I'll go right away," she said, breaking away from the group, her steps becoming more confident as she walked upstairs, towards Richard's office.

Lys stood straight, her hand frozen just above the handle. Her palm was clammy. She swallowed discreetly, inhaled slowly... then entered.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, Richard looked up at her. His fingers stopped turning the pages of a file, which he closed calmly before indicating a seat opposite him.

Lys sat down cautiously, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, her shoulders tense. She instinctively avoided his gaze.

"As you can see, I'm very busy." Her voice was dry, but not aggressive.

"Thank you for having me despite this," she replied restrainedly, her tone lower than usual.

Richard crossed his arms.

"I'll be brief. Normally, it takes much longer before new adventurers are granted complete freedom of movement. You've only been active for a few weeks." 

Lys nodded slightly, her lips pursed.

"I understand. So... my request will be rejected."

A slight frown crossed Richard's brow. He raised a hand.

"I'm not finished."

He paused, then sighed.

"You say your departure is prompted by a summons from the Holy Empire. And even if their influence doesn't officially extend this far, ignoring such a summons could harm you later."

He finally looked her in the eye.

"That is why your request has been accepted."

Lys remained frozen for a few seconds. Her eyes widened slightly, then she bowed her head in sincere gratitude.

"Thank you... master."

She started to stand when his voice, once again, stopped her.

"Wait." 

She froze and sat back down slowly, her hands on her thighs.

Richard picked up another document and looked at it briefly before speaking:

"You were part of Kyle's group, weren't you?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Even if his intentions are unclear, his power is undeniable. And since he's not from our world..." He hesitated briefly, as if weighing his words. "...his request has also been accepted."

Lys blinked, as if the information hadn't yet had time to sink in. Her breath caught for a brief moment.

Richard finished, without emotion in his voice:

"You are now free to go wherever you please."

A simple "Okay" left Lys's lips.

She stood up, this time for good, and left the office without another word. Her steps slowed as soon as she closed the door behind her.

Her hands were shaking slightly. She clutched them against her dress, then placed one hand on her chest.

> "It's done. It really happened..."

She descended the stairs slowly, her gaze unfocused, her thoughts foggy. Each step seemed to pull her downward.

Her heart, however, remained at the top. Where everything had just changed.