"Y-you still don''t agree? But why?"


    "Jerry and I make a good team. I believe we would be able to function more efficiently if we are ced together."


    I nearly screamed in frustration.


    Ciara was so stuck on her convictions that I couldn''t see a way to convince her at all. I nced at Jerry for help, but he didn''t seem capable of rendering any assistance.


    ''What to do?''


    Ciara was very important for this mission. Her Magic abilities ced her at the top tier of our team''s fighting power. Plus, her Arcana seemed particrly useful.


    ''Should I just risk it and drag Jerry along? I could keep a fragment of his Soul to resurrectter, so there shouldn''t be any problems... right?''


    In case any member of the team died, I could still rely on The Hanged Man. The Original was with Jane, but I still had it recorded in my Memoir.


    "You know what, Ciara? Why don''t we—"


    "I''ll be going to the Elf Kingdom. I agree with Jared. This isn''t the time to be selfish." Jerry''s voice echoed across the vast field.


    Hearing his mature, thoughtful voice made me nearly break into tears of joy. Finally, someone understood.


    "But, I''m not being selfish. We''ll function better as a team. Isn''t that for the benefit of all?"


    "Function better how? We were literally running around throughout our search for the Arcana. If we hadn''t... k-k-k-kissed, we wouldn''t have found it."


    It seemed Jerry''s voice took a nosedive during the second half of his statement, but I heard something like a ''kiss''?


    ''They kissed during a mission?!''


    "D-don''t misunderstand! It was essential for finding the Arcana!" Jerry quickly raised an objection once he noticed my expression.


    Well, looking around, I was certainly not the only one who gave an odd reaction to the news I was hearing.


    "You don''t need to exin, Jerry." Ciara interrupted, sighing.


    "W-well... ahem." Jerry coughed.


    After a while, hisplexion returned back to normal, and his firm conviction was evident on his face as he made the same statement as before.


    "I agree with Jared, Ciara. It''s best we split ways."


    "Really? You would really—!"


    "There''s a lot I need to think about... apart from you. It''s best we spend some time away from each other."


    ''Oh, snap!'' My thoughts echoed as I looked at both Jerry and Ciara.


    ''Is this... what I think it is—ow!'' I felt a knock from behind me.


    It came from Maria, and she gave me a tired sigh.


    ''What was that all about? What did I do?''


    "What are you even talking about, Jerry?" Ciara gave a nonchnt shrug as she stared at the braved.


    "I... after our experience back then... the kiss... a lot had a been going on in my mind. It''s all jumbled up, and I think I need time to sort things out. It''s best we spend this time apart."


    "The kiss? But that''s not a big deal. It was just to dispel the barrier and—"


    "Well, it''s a big deal for me! I can''t stop thinking about it, and it''s driving me crazy. It''s best we spend some time apart. How is that so difficult to understand?!" Jerry''s voice rose to an unprecedented degree, surprising even me.


    When he said all of these things, I couldn''t help but wonder if this was the appropriate time to divulge such information.


    ''I mean, you could have done it secretly or something...''


    But, I still had to admire Jerry''s fortitude and courage.


    "What are you saying, Jerry?"


    "I... have a lot to think about. But, I promise you, Ciara..." He approached her with gentle, slow steps.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Jerry actually ced both his hands on her shoulders, and the feisty girl seemed stuck in ce.


    Not only did she not move a muscle, but she also seemed dazed as heck! It fascinated me to no end.


    ''I still can''t understand their rtionship!''


    "... Once I''m done sorting these thoughts and feelings out, I''ll let you know." He gave a gentle smile.


    For a moment, awkward silence permeated the atmosphere.


    The tension was high, and I could see everyone awkwardly staring at each other. Ana''s eyes were especially teary, and Maria looked touched by the whole thing.


    Edward kept ncing at Lemi for some reason. And the worst part? She was also ncing at him!


    ''I... what''s all of this?!''


    Ultimately, the crazy atmosphere made me even more confused, throwing my ns for the rest of the day into chaos.


    "Let''s stop our meeting here. You are all dismissed." It was almost evening anyway. Everyone had things to attend to, considering training officially started the next day.


    "You should all prepare well for tomorrow."


    I nced in the direction of Ana and Beruel—who seemed to have gotten surprisingly close, considering their difference in race, age, and gender.


    "We''ll be leaving for Jane''s ce soon."


    Unlike everyone else, these two weren''t going to be training with us. They had to spend the whole week with my fairy bestie.


    ''That way, the project will bepleted as quickly as possible.''


    "Alright, Jared. But are you sure about this?" Beruel asked once more, a nervous expression breaking out on his face.


    "Is Jane that scary?" Ana asked him with a curious gaze.


    "The scariest." He whispered.


    "Get ready in five. Say your goodbyes if you want to... well, I meant that in a positive way." I chuckled faintly.


    Beruel didn''t seem to understand my joke, and Ana didn''t seem to particrly care.


    We hadn''t exchanged a single word since the incident, and that in itself made the conversation weird.


    ''I should follow Jerry''s example and save this difficult conversation forter. We both have a lot to think about and sort through, after all.''


    Thus, I left the two and walked away, in order to get a well-deserved five-minute break from everything.


    As I prepared to teleport, I could hear Lemi, Edward, and everyone else wishing Ana farewell.


    Their excited voices tickled my ears, and I felt a tinge of loneliness. Just a tinge.


    Maria was also bidding Ana farewell, so there was that.


    ''Isn''t this the time when Aloe usuallyes to cheer me up?'' I joked to myself.


    Just to humor my thoughts on the issue, I nced in her direction. Once I thought of it, I realized that I didn''t really pay much mind to her in our meeting.


    "She''s just staring at everyone nkly. She has a smile on her face, but..."


    Something about her gaze felt very simr to mine. She looked lonely—no, more than that.


    Somewhat nostalgic... or was it my imagination?


    "Oh, well..."


    Blue sparks appeared around me, and I let myself be swallowed by space.


    >VWWWWUUUUMMM<