The inn "Weathercock" was located just off the Starfall Circle, in the heart of Fontaine. A three-story wooden building. Its signboard bore the painted image of a weather vane. At its entrance, Hikaru stopped. Their red hair swayed in the breeze. (*It's fine. It's totally fine. Everyone should be here.*) They told themselves that, silently. Right now, they were in a boy's body. Taller now, with a deeper voice. What would everyone say? "[excited]Anyway, I'm going in!" They threw the door open with force. *Clink, clink.* The door bell chimed lightly. The first floor was a common room where meals were served. Normally bustling with adventurers and travelers, it was quiet at this afternoon hour. There, by the window in the common room. Bathed in the soft light before dusk, a single woman stood. Hikaru's feet stopped dead. Long, black hair. Lustrous black locks, reaching all the way to her waist, were tied back in a single tail. A straight, elegant posture. Long lashes cast shadows over downcast eyes, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The person was fidgeting slightly, hands pressing down the hem of her skirt. "...Lantis...?" Their voice trembled. The person slowly raised her head. Deep blue eyes. The same eyes of the taciturn swordswoman they knew. But something was different. She's become beautiful, Hikaru thought. They'd always thought she had lovely features, but now she was even more so, somehow like a woman— "Hikaru." Lantis's voice was slightly higher too. A softer resonance than usual. The moment they heard that voice. *Thump.* Deep in their chest, a heavy pulse. (*Huh...?*) Hikaru placed a hand over their heart. It was beating strangely. Just from looking at Lantis? Why? "[surprised]Ah, um... your, your hair got long!" Flustered, they blurted out the first thing that came to mind. Lantis took a strand of her long hair in her hand. "...Yes. It's a bit of a nuisance." The gesture was strangely alluring, and Hikaru's heart pounded again. No good, no good! Th-this is the curse's fault! It has to be! "[angry]It's the curse! This is definitely the curse's fault too!" Before they knew it, Hikaru was shouting at the wall. They couldn't look Lantis in the face. "...Curse?" Lantis looked puzzled for a moment, then averted her gaze in a completely random direction. "...I see." What do you mean, "I see"?! Explain it so I understand! "You've gotten taller too, Hikaru. And your voice is deeper." "[surprised]Huh!? Oh, uh... yeah, I guess so? Ahaha..." An awkward silence hung between them. Lantis looked out the window. Hikaru stared at the wood grain of the wall. (*What do I do? Talking to Lantis has never made me this nervous before.*) That's when it happened. *Thump, thump, thump.* From the second floor came the sound of something falling on the floor. A pillow. "[angry]I don't want to see anyone anymore!" A childish voice rang out from a guest room upstairs. The voice snapped Hikaru back to reality. Right, Umi! "[excited]Sorry, Lantis! I gotta go check on Umi!" Hikaru fled up the stairs. Behind them, they thought they sensed Lantis open her mouth as if to say something, but they pretended not to notice. They opened the guest room door without knocking. "[excited]Umi! Are you okay!?" The room was dim. The curtains were drawn, blocking out even the pre-dusk light. In front of a large full-length mirror, a single girl sat slumped on the floor. Her blue hair, which should have reached her waist, was now shortened to the middle of her back. Her sapphire-blue eyes were brimming with tears. She looked about ten years old. This was the current form of Umi, once so proud and more mature than anyone. "[crying]Hikaru... don't look at me..." Umi clutched tightly at the sleeves of her oversized clothes. "Looking like this... I'm just a child...!" "[gentle]No, I mean, well... I think you're cute?" The moment Hikaru gave their honest impression— "[angry]Don't call me cute!" Umi grabbed a nearby pillow and hurled it at Hikaru with all her might. *BAM!* "Gwah!" It hit them square in the face. Incredible force. Even smaller, her arm strength was still that of a swordswoman. "But you really are cute! Right now, your cheeks are all squishy and everything!" "[sad]Stop it... Look at my hands. With a body like this, I can't even swing a sword anymore..." Umi stared at her own small palms, murmuring through her tears. "With hands this small... I can't protect everyone..." Hikaru caught their breath. Umi wasn't just afraid of her appearance changing. What she feared most was being unable to protect her comrades. "[gentle]Umi..." Just as Hikaru was about to crouch down beside her— *Flash.* A swirl of rainbow light appeared in the air of the room. "[laughing]A-ha ha ha! Enjoying your awkward widdle weunion!?" Fluttering wings like a rainbow butterfly, a tiny fairy burst forth. Atop its head, a pink and light-blue mohawk bobbed gently. "Puppet!" "[teasing]Umi-chwan, you're as cute as a pwincess! That pouty face is just gweat!" "[angry]Wh-what did you say!?" Umi's anger hit its peak. With her small body, she tried to lunge at Puppet. "[laughing]Oops, can't catch me!" Puppet fluttered lightly out of the way in midair. Umi's momentum carried her forward, and she tumbled onto the floor. *Thud.* "[crying]Ugh... that's so mean... everyone's making fun of me..." Still sitting on the floor, Umi hung her head, looking on the verge of tears. "[serious]Puppet! Stop bullying Umi!" When Hikaru glared, Puppet sat cross-legged in the air. "[serious]I'm not bullying anyone. Puppet just wants everyone to be honest." Its eyes didn't have their usual mischievous sparkle; they were strangely serious. "The fragments of truth can't be gathered alone. The trials that will move everyone's hearts are about to begin!" "[surprised]T-trials... what are you planning to do!?" "[laughing]That's a surprise for after they start! Ah, but I'll tell you the first one as a special treat." Puppet flew right up to the tip of Hikaru's nose and winked mischievously. "[whispers]'If you're too shy to say how you feel, just shout it out!' ...is what it is." "[surprised]Wh-whaaat!?" "[laughing]Well, Puppet's off now! Gotta prepare the next trial! Ahh, I can't wait!" With those parting words, Puppet turned into a rainbow light and vanished with a *whoosh*. Silence returned to the room. Left behind were a dumbfounded Hikaru and a tiny Umi, sitting on the floor and sobbing quietly. "[sad]...I'm just a child anyway..." (*Wh-what am I supposed to do about this!?*) Hikaru clutched their head. Looking at Lantis made their heart pound, Umi was this depressed, and Puppet was talking about starting some incomprehensible trials. Anyway, they had to cheer Umi up. But before that—what on earth was this pounding in their chest? "[whispers]It's the curse... right?" Their small murmur reached no one, fading into the room as the presence of dusk drew near. Downstairs, Lantis stood alone, silently gazing out the window. Her hand gripped the hilt of her beloved sword tightly. Her long black hair swayed gently in the breeze coming through the window. Dusk was about to fall upon the inn "Weathercock." The first half-day of their three-day time limit was quietly slipping away.