Ronin cleared his throat to gain back her attention.

‘She seemed to be a rational-minded and sensible, no-nonsense girl at first, but all it took was one look at a pretty boy to get her stunned. Disappointing.’

“Where’s your friend now, Edelweiss?” He asked, walking further from Rabuka and Cermin.

“Oh.” Edelweiss also regained her composure. “I think she’s right over there.”

The person she was pointing to resembled Klio, but not in appearance. More like in terms of clothing style and aura.

The person also wore spectacles over the bridge of her nose, and an oversized shirt, except instead of it being a Scholar’s uniform, it was a heavy wool vest.

The puffiness made her look like an innocent lamb. She also had a shy and meek presence like Klio, and Roni was starting to suspect that the reason Edelweiss befriended Klio in the first place was that she reminded her of this friend.

Her skin was the most interesting feature about her. This was the first time Ronin saw a Heartstone hybrid in person._.

People with different Heartstones marrying each other were not uncommon, but it was avoided and seen as taboo. It was precisely because of hybrids like this girl.

One half of this girl’s face was green, and the other half was white. An Emerald-Pearl hybrid.

An interesting combination, as emerald was part of the beryl family and have a more crystalline texture to it, while pearls were the only gemstones that were made organic process within clam shells and had a smooth and more rounded texture.

Emerald people usually live in the upper class plains, while Pearl people leave near the sea quite far from them.

It also made sense now that she and Edelweiss were friends, they must have lived nearby on the same beach.

“Lily!” Edelweiss called out to her friend.

“E-Edel? What are you doing here, don’t you have classes?”

Her voice was high and soft. One would even mistake Edelweiss as the older one between the two, when she’s sitting and slumped like that.

But she was taller, and had….. bigger endowments.

“We’re doing a project for History about cultural influences. I chose to discuss about your solo performance, as you have mastered the art.” Edelweiss said. “Well, SHE had mastered the art.”

“O-Oh, I see.” Lily nodded. “It’s nice to meet you all. I-I’m Calla Lily Naemhnaid. You can call me Lily when I’m not performing.”

Ronin raised an eyebrow. “What about when you’re performing?”

Lily yelped from his voice. “Y-You….. brought a boy to watch me perform?”

Edelweiss sighed. “Ronin is not like the others, Lily. You can be rest assured.”

“A-Alright then, if you say so….” She fidgeted with her fingers. “That’s Calla. She’s not very likable, I’d rather if she stays asleep.”

“Asleep?” Klio was thoroughly confused. “But… aren’t you also Calla?”

‘Split personality?’ Ronin frowned. ‘Quite an old-fashioned take on it too. One only appears when needed, it’s not like that in real life.’

Lily went teary-eyed, clutching at Edel’s clothes. “Edel came here for Calla, right? I wanted to see you for a long time, we haven’t been in touch ever since you got into the Academy.”

“Well… I got busy and there were examinations all the time.” Edelweiss looked at her apologetically. “But I’ll make it up to you after this favor. I’d rather not have you show Calla either, but we needed it for the project.”

“O-Okay…. But Edel owes me seafood casserole next time for this.” Lily said, taking off her wool vest.

And what was left was her thin, lacy black shirt, with off-shoulder loose sleeves revealing her body’s great shape.

She took off her spectacles and undone her tied-up hair. Then, she closed her eyes.

And when she opened them, it was evident that she had changed.

“Edelweiss, my princess!” She said, in a much more mature and playful tone. “Ah, I have been dying every day to see you! My heart was stuck inside an iceberg and you alone are the warm light that unfreezes it!”

She went immediately to tackle Edelweiss into a hug, and the Opal girl avoided it immediately. “You know already why we came here, Calla. Just get it done with then we’ll ask you some questions to prepare for the report.”

“Ah, you are still as cold as the deep blue sea!” She said dramatically. “How can you catch the attention of any suitors if you stay uptight like a widow, my beau?”

“I have no interest in suitors, unlike you.” Edelweiss answered pointedly.

“That is true, that is true.” Calla continues to wave her hands flamboyantly for no reason at all. “Well, if you would not have any suitors, I can act as one for you! Just like as we do as wee children!”

Klio was really terrified of this new person in front of her. She whispered to Edelweiss. “Is she… You know….. A lunatic? Does she have a condition in the mind?”

“No. Calla is still Lily, she is also aware of it. She is currently acting right now in itself.” Edelweiss answered with a sigh. “She had just made the persona of Calla so she could perform better and get rid of her stage fright.”

Ronin was much more interested in her saying she can act as a suitor. “What exactly makes your solo performances more special than anyone else’s?”

When she turned to Ronin, he suddenly felt a sort of…. wary expression on her face. Accompanied by her thoughts of:

(What is she doing with a boy? She dislikes men with much passion, why must she partner with one in a project?)

But she just wore a sweet smile at Ronin, and flipped away his cloak faster than he could react, pushing him to the seats of the Amphitheater!

“I never made such claims in the first place. You see, I’d rather have my audience decide whether or not what I can do is ‘special’.” She said, grinning from ear to ear. “And so, I would like you to tell me.”

“Tell you what?” Ronin scowled, not liking that her hands with long, green and white nails were holding on to his shoulders.

“Whether you find what you see ‘special’.” She said mischievously, and suddenly—

He was transported to an entirely different place!