"Your meal," Elric announced, setting the plate before her. He settled into the opposite chair, his gaze steady. Acacia's smile, bright and practiced, flickered as she looked down.

  The aroma, pleasant but unremarkable, did little to stir her appetite. She took a deliberate bite, chewing slowly. 'Not Kel's,' She thought, the comparison brought a silent ache. 'Good enough.' She forced another smile, a delicate nibble. 'Can't be too eager. Can't let him get suspicious if I act too different.'

  She ate with a delicate precision, a practiced rhythm ingrained from countless meals with her mother, where a single misstep could send her mother into a fragile, anxious state. 'Wait.' The thought hit her like a jolt. 'It's strange. I should miss them, shouldn't I? But... I don't. Have I been so preoccupied that I've just... forgotten? Forgotten my own parents? How odd.'

  "Is the food not to your taste?" Elric asked in curiosity.

  "Oh no, sorry the food was so good it took me back. It felt like I remembered something even though I don't remember anything." Acacia shook her head and took another bite. 'I got a bit distracted there.'

  "That's good, it was actually your favorite. It's good that you still feel something." Elric had a small smile tugging his lips.

  'No it's not my favorite, bastard. But it did make me feel rather unpleasant.' Acacia offered another fake smile.

  "That means I might remember who I am soon! I can't wait." Acacia chuckled and turned her focus to her food. She occasionally glanced at Elric as he ate, his face was as blank as usual. 'How can I make someone dependent on me? Want me to the point of no return? Acting cute would not be enough, I would need more information.'

  "I wanted to ask, how did we become friends?" Acacia asked with curiosity.

  "We met when we were kids and clicked from there." Elric answered while focusing on his food.

  "Now I feel bad, we've known each other for so long but I can't remember anything." Acacia said in a somber tone and sighed.

  "It's not your fault, you are alive and safe. That's all that matters." Elric replied, he raised his head to look at her.

  "That made me feel a bit better," Acacia grinned and took a small sip of water. "What of my family? Do I have a dad? Siblings?"

  "....your family are well but live very far away." Elric's jaw clenched for a moment before it relaxed.

  'Oh? There seems to be a little strained relationship between him and her parents.' Acacia assessed his expressions.

  "That's a shame, I wonder if I can meet them soon." Acacia acted saddened by his words.

  "....sure but after you get memories, I will help you locate your family." Elric turned his gaze back to his food.

  "You're the best." Acacia smiled and took another bite of her food. 'This guy has something hidden but what could it be? I don't care about the girl's history but it might help.'

  Acacia's thoughts spiraled, and she barely registered finishing her meal. Elric's gaze, sharp and unwavering, tracked every movement: the delicate sips of water, the precise placement of her fork. "Don't drink too fast," he cautioned, his voice low. "You might choke."

  'Mind your business.' She seethed inwardly, she slid her right hand beneath the table, the index finger twitched in betrayal of her emotions. "Thank you." she replied, her smile, a practiced mask of gratitude.

  "I was wondering... where will I be staying?" Acacia asked, a slight hesitation in her voice.

  "The guest room. Feel free to make it your own." Elric indicated a door down the hall.

  "Thank you." Acacia nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. A room of my own. She picked up her plates and carried them to the kitchen. "Good night, Elric." She gave a quick wave.

  "Good night, Erla," Elric responded, his gaze lingering a moment longer than necessary as he watched her disappear into the guestroom. He finally looked away and carried his own dishes to the kitchen.

  With a grateful sigh, Acacia sank into the yielding softness of the bed, stretching her aching limbs. "So much better," she murmured, the memory of hard mats fading with each passing second.

  "These curls a bit bothersome though, how does one maintain them?" Acacia brushed strands of the blonde hair from her face. 'He did say we will go shopping. He'll be my personal wallet, I'll need to buy lots of things to maintain this illusion. And then, a look at the city. I need to assess the changes. My brother's adaptation is... impressive but this whole 'commander' and 'elite hero' thing? It's all so new. Just S-ranks and E-ranks before. The world has completely shifted.'

  "Oh well." Acacia pulled the blanket tight, the silence a fragile shield against the day. Just as her eyelids began to droop, the rhythmic tick-tock of a wall clock sliced through the quiet. Her eyes snapped open, fixed on the clock’s relentless sweep. Each tick echoed in the stillness, a hammer blow against her skull.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  'Too loud. Why is it so loud?' A cold sweat prickled her skin. The clock was a predator, its ticking a taunt. She moved, not consciously deciding, but driven by a primal urge. She wrenched the clock from the wall, the plastic case cracking as she forced it open. Two blue crystals tumbled out, and the ticking ceased. A strange calm washed over her as she placed the silenced clock on the table and retreated to the bed, the silence now a heavy, suffocating blanket.

  The soft blanket, once a comfort, now felt like a suffocating layer against her skin. She kicked it away, the sudden coolness a small relief. She drew a deep, shuddering breath, trying to quell the lingering tremor of unease. She decided to focus on her mana and moved the mana through her veins to focus. Finally, the silence settled, deep and undisturbed. She closed her eyes, the edge of sleep a fragile truce.

  Acacia rose before the sun, choosing a simple green dress and a practical ponytail. Elric was wearing an equally more casual outfit. As they left the apartment and walked through the courtyard, the training facility came into view. Acacia’s eyes scanned the shadows of movement inside. She then closed the gap between them, her hand slipping into Elric's. Elric made no comment, his expression unreadable.

  'No resistance.' Acacia notes as they passed through the doorway, Acacia observed the corridor's inhabitants: a mix of rigid figures in gleaming white armor, sharply dressed individuals in form-fitting suits, and a few who stood out in their casual wear. The atmosphere felt charged, a blend of formality and quiet intensity.

  Elric stopped in his tracks, his gaze drawn to Cerais, who was walking alongside a man of imposing height. The man's dark blue hair and intense black eyes commanded attention, and his simple white suit, adorned with a golden feathered brooch, spoke of understated authority. Acacia noted the gleaming metal of Cerais's prosthetic arm.

  "Captains," Elric acknowledged, his tone clipped.

  "Good morning!" Acacia chirped, her wave a touch too enthusiastic. 'How is your arm, Cerais?' Acacia snickered in her head as she smiled at the captains.

  "Elric and who is this?" The man acknowledged Elric's greeting and glanced at Acacia with a raised brow.

  "Her name is Erla, She is a friend of mine and I'm currently taking care of her." Elric replied.

  "Nice to meet you, Erla." Cerais extended her good arm and Acacia shook her hand eagerly.

  "Nice to meet you too." Acacia replied and stopped shaking her hand.

  "Hello, Miss Erla." The man nodded at Acacia and turned his attention back to Elric. "I wanted to talk to you about that woman that Cerais told me about. When you are free come to my office later today."

  Elric hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, sir."

  "See you later." The man walked away with Cerais following closely behind him.

  Elric and Acacia left the Flow Society building, joining the crowd of pedestrians. The streets thrummed with life, shops displaying their wares, a picture of normalcy. Only the scarcity of cars, a subtle reminder of the city's reliance on crystal energy, but it betrayed the lingering shadow of the Ruins. It was a near-perfect facade, a world where Encer's scars seemed to fade into a distant memory.

  "Let's explore the city before shopping!" Acacia suggested, her eyes sparkling.

  "I don't see the point," Elric replied, his tone dismissive. "There's nothing of interest."

  "Please, Elric," she pleaded, tugging his arm gently. "You've seen it all, but for me, it's like seeing it for the first time."

  Elric glanced at her, a sigh escaping his lips. "Fine," he conceded. "Let's go."

  Elric wove through the crowd of people, crossing the street with a practiced ease. Acacia followed, her senses overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city. She stopped at various stalls, savoring the aromas of street food, her reactions childlike in their enthusiasm. By the river, she watched the water ripple beneath the bridge, and her eyes traced the lines of the city's towering structures, a ripple of laughter escaping her as she shared a moment with Elric.

  Acacia's laughter faded as the sound of a band playing in a nearby park reached her ears. She gripped Elric's hand, pulling him towards the music. "We're dancing!" she announced, her eyes sparkling. Elric, caught off guard by her boldness, stood unmoving. Acacia, ignoring his stiffness, took his hands and began to dance, her movements graceful and uninhibited. The band, charmed by the unexpected display, played with heightened enthusiasm.

  In the midst of their dance, a genuine light flickered in Elric's brown eyes, a sight that made Acacia's smile bloom. 'He's falling for it.' she mused, a quiet sense of control settling over her.

  After their little awkward dance at the park, Elric dropped a tip before they left for the boutique and he gestured for her to pick what she wanted.

  'Let's not act too greedy,' Acacia thought to herself as she headed towards the clothing racks. She selected a few casual pieces, then a couple of extravagantly priced dresses. "Absolutely dreadful," she muttered, wrinkling her nose at a garish blue dress, pushing it aside. She sought out simpler, more youthful styles, ones that would suit Erla's supposed tastes.

  "I'm done!" Acacia called out and Elric walked towards her. His gaze stuck on the clothes in her arm. He collected it from her and headed towards the cashier.

  'How utterly generous.' Acacia's grin widened as Elric paid without a flicker of hesitation. Leaving the boutique, they moved on to shoes and jewelry, where she selected delicate, understated pieces. As they finished, she noted Elric carrying the weight of their purchases.As they exited the final shop, she noticed Elric's arms laden with bags. With a feigned sense of responsibility, she stepped forward and took a portion of the load.

  "I can handle it—" Elric quickly said when he noticed that she took some bags from his hands.

  "Hush! Let me do something nice for you." Acacia silenced him and tightened her grip on the shopping bag.

  A quiet melody escaped Acacia's lips as they walked, the weight of his unspoken observation, a tangible presence beside her. 'Is he buying it?' She questioned inwardly, her outward demeanor perfectly composed. The setting sun cast long shadows as they re-entered the Flow Society building, and back in his apartment, Acacia's eyes sparkled as she surveyed their haul, a material reward for her performance.

  "I have to go right now. I'll be back soon." Elric dropped the shopping bags and was about to leave when Acacia quickly brought out a small box.

  "Wait! This is for you, it's a wristwatch since I don't know what guys liked." Acacia stretched the box to him.

  Elric looked down at the box and hesitantly took it in his hands. Inspecting the box. "Thank you..." He said curtly and left the apartment without a second thought.

  Acacia waited for five minutes before she stood up and locked the door. 'Smiling for so long is making my cheeks hurt.'

  "Let's see what they want to talk about." Acacia brought her finger to her teeth and but at the flesh. A butterfly formed and left the apartment.