A stranger stares back from the mirror. Tempe Storm stood before the sink, studying her own face. The pale aquamarine hair that should have been there was fading back. But the length still reached her shoulders, and her voice came out slightly higher. The golden eyes hadn't changed color, so overall she was "mostly Tempe"—but something felt subtly off. (Somehow... I don't look like my old self as much as I thought.) A strange sensation. Not that she disliked the change. Not that she wanted to go back. Just that her outline had shifted slightly over seven days, and the mirror was honestly reflecting that. 《Tempe Storm. Full recovery of your body's changes will take approximately six more hours.》 The Great Sage's voice echoed quietly in her mind. It had come back completely. That period when it only returned fragmented numbers felt like a lie now. It spoke to her normally again. "[gentle]Six hours... understood." 《Currently, your emotional state is difficult to classify.》 "[sarcastic]Shut up." She'd meant to answer only in her mind, but the words came out aloud. But laughter drifted from down the corridor, so it seemed she wasn't the only one being strange. Out in the hallway of the Arashi Palace, the guards were checking each other's faces. "You're back already?" "Oh, the scales are gone." "Finally the voice is normal again."—voices came from everywhere. The complete opposite of the panic that had erupted here seven days ago. Today everyone was smiling. Tempe Storm gazed out the window into the corridor. The streets of the capital city of Rimulus were bathed in morning light. Market voices drifted from the direction of Galatea Square. (Standing in the same place as seven days ago, but everything's changed.) She couldn't quite put into words whether that was good or bad. Probably both, she thought. --- Before noon, everyone gathered in the Round Table Council chamber. Four people—Benimar, Souei, Mirim, Shuna—in the same room for the first time in a while. Just that alone made Tempe Storm's shoulders relax a little. Souei sat with bandages still wrapped around her arm. Jet-black long hair with one streak of red mesh draped over her black-clad shoulders. Her expression was as always—completely blank. But her complexion was still slightly pale. Mirim swung her legs from the chair. Purple bob cut with two small horns gleaming, odd eyes of red and gold scanning everywhere. She muttered "I'm still a bit short, aren't I?" while checking the floor her feet couldn't reach. Shuna read the report aloud. White semi-long hair fell across one eye, silver gaze tracking the documents. His voice was calm, but there was a pause each time he spoke—a moment where he seemed to check his own voice. Benimar listened with arms crossed. The arms that had been covered in wounds were now cleanly bandaged and back to normal. Sitting quietly, but occasionally trying to stand, shifting weight slightly, making the chair creak. She pretended not to notice. Tempe Storm smiled quietly to herself and read the report. "[serious]The Uragaeshi Tsubo has been transferred to the sealed section of the underground ruins. Verde's custody has been handed over to the Round Table Council's appointed magistrate, and proceedings have begun. Body changes throughout the kingdom continue to recover, with full recovery expected to complete today." Everyone nodded. "[serious]Regarding future management of ancient magical artifacts—access to the underground ruins will remain under Round Table Council authorization, and investigation of unexplored sections will proceed only after assembling a specialized team. This concludes the handling of this incident." "[serious]Approved." "[serious]Likewise." "I'm in favor too." Benimar nodded. Tempe Storm was about to move to the next agenda when it happened. Benimar pulled back her chair and stood. "[serious]Tempe Storm. May I have a moment?" That tone was different from usual. Not an agenda confirmation or a report. The other three noticed. Shuna's hand stopped on the documents, Souei's eyes shifted, Mirim stopped swinging her feet. A small tension ran through the room. --- "[serious]About what happened in the underground chamber three days ago—I'd like to speak about it again." Tempe Storm understood everything from that one sentence. Because she understood, she forced a smile and started to stand from her chair. "[sarcastic]Ah, today I have plans—" Without a sound, Souei was standing in front of the exit. When she'd moved, Tempe couldn't tell. She just realized the expressionless figure was blocking the door. "[cold]...That's how it is." Mirim grabbed Tempe Storm's arm with both hands. "[excited]You're not going anywhere!!" Shuna stood in the corner of the room with arms crossed, unmoving. His face looked troubled, but his feet hadn't budged an inch. Tempe Storm looked around. Benimar in front. Souei behind. Mirim on the left arm. Shuna on the right. 《Encirclement complete.》 (I know.) "[serious]Palmo Lake. That night." Benimar spoke quietly. "[serious]I still haven't received an answer to what I told you then." Tempe Storm felt her cheeks heat. She remembered that night. Benimar standing in the water up to her knees on the shore, speaking in a quiet voice. It had been in her chest ever since. "[cold]I am in the same position." Souei cut in, expressionless. "[cold]Regarding the matter at Kagutsu Sand Dunes—I haven't received an answer." "[excited]That's not relevant! Tempe is mine!!" "[serious]It's very relevant, Mirim." Benimar and Mirim glared at each other. Mirim's red and gold odd eyes gleamed with stubbornness. Benimar stood firm with arms crossed. "[gentle]Everyone, in order—" Shuna tried to mediate. But his voice was slightly higher. Everyone in the room heard it. Benimar looked at Shuna. "[surprised]...Shuna, do you perhaps have something you want to say too?" "[cold]Not particularly." "Your eyes are darting around." "[serious]They are not." "[surprised]They totally are!" "[serious]They are not." They absolutely were. Tempe Storm watched the scene and felt something deep in her chest slowly unwind. Seven days came back to her. Benimar's profile waiting on the shore of Palmo Lake that night. Souei's hand not letting go even as consciousness flickered at the sand dunes. Mirim's small body clinging to Tempe's arm as she slept. Shuna supporting everything alone in the capital while waiting. Words she couldn't return had piled up in her throat. They'd been there all along. "[serious]I'll say it properly, so listen." She spoke it aloud. Everyone went quiet. --- Tempe Storm looked directly at Benimar first. "[gentle]I've been thinking about that night at Palmo Lake this whole time." Benimar stiffened slightly. "[gentle]I'd gotten used to you being there—but I realized this past seven days that it's not something to take for granted." Benimar started to look away. "[serious]Look at me properly." Benimar stopped. Then she faced forward. Her ears were red. Next, she looked at Souei. "[gentle]Protecting me through all three sections, taking all that rubble—thank you isn't enough." Souei was quiet for a moment. "[cold]...If Tempe Storm is safe, that is sufficient." Her voice was lower than usual. Just slightly—only Tempe could tell. Turning to Mirim, Mirim was still holding Tempe's arm, staring intently at her. "[gentle]Having Mirim there—there's definitely a part of me that could keep going because of that." Mirim's face flushed bright red, and she buried it in Tempe's arm to hide it. "[whispers]...You're stupid." It was her best attempt at hiding embarrassment, so Tempe gently stroked her head. Finally, she looked at Shuna. "[gentle]Waiting alone in the capital, supporting everything—I trusted you the whole time." Shuna paused for a moment. "[gentle]...If I could be of service, that's all that matters." His voice was clearly higher. Everyone heard it. Benimar looked at Shuna like she was seeing something rare. "[surprised]Shuna, your voice..." "[serious]I just coughed." Shuna cleared his throat. No one believed him. Tempe Storm looked across all four. "[gentle]My feelings for each of you are different. But they're all real." A quiet voice, but clear. She wasn't planning to give any more answers right now. But she wasn't running away anymore either. Both of those things were in that one sentence. --- For several seconds, no one said anything. Benimar started to speak, then stopped. Souei sighed quietly, expressionless. Mirim lifted her face from Tempe's arm and said with a sulky look. "[serious]...Does that mean everyone's the same?" "[serious]That's not what I'm saying." "Then what?" "[sarcastic]Ask one at a time, come on." Shuna gave a wry smile, his face relaxing slightly. Tempe Storm was about to say something, at that exact moment. 《Tempe Storm's statement has caused all four individuals' heart rates to simultaneously increase by an average of nineteen percent. However, the priority order of each individual's emotions remains unclear.》 Tempe Storm held her head in both hands. "[angry]What kind of analysis is that!!" "[serious]...What kind of analysis is that." "[cold]The numbers are accurate, are they not." "[excited]My heart rate went up too!? Tempe check!!" "[gentle]This isn't a conversation for the council chamber." All four were saying completely different things in four different directions. But the air in the room was somehow the most peaceful it had been in seven days. Tempe Storm laughed while holding her head. "[laughing]...Once the body fully recovers, let's have a celebration." "[excited]I'm in! Food!!" "[serious]Let's leave the preparations to Shuna." "[serious]Why am I the only one assigned?" "[cold]I will handle venue security." Immediate answer. Tempe Storm lifted her head and looked out the window. The capital city of Rimulus lay in the afternoon light. Voices drifted from Galatea Square—guards laughing, merchants calling, children running. Everyone's bodies were coming back. 《Tempe Storm. Full recovery of your body's changes will complete in twenty-three minutes.》 Tempe Storm heard those words and, still gazing out the window, smiled softly. What had changed in seven days and what hadn't. It was all here. Loud, lively, nothing solved—but still, right here. That was enough for now.