" Hey, cous, you okay? "
Seeing Avner lost in thought, Miyeon called out.
" Huh? Oh. Yeah, it's nothing. I guess I just got lost in thought. "
Miyeon and Amabilis looked at each other and grinned evilly, then turned back to Avner.
" Ohh… got lost in thought… I see. I wonder what you were thinking about to forget about your cousins. "
Amabilis asked, to which Miyeon didn't fail to add,
" I bet it was Nephthys. "
" I wasn't. And why do you even know her name? "
Avner defended himself, even though they were right. He was thinking about her—but not in the way his cousins were implying.
" Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to know her name. "
" So that is her name. That's quite a pretty one, and it even fits with his name—the light and the dark. It's like you're meant to be. "
" I never said you weren't allowed to… sigh… never mind. I should go rest now. "
Avner then stood up and started walking away.
" Of course, you should go rest. "
" You have an important appointment tomorrow. "
" Be careful, cousin. I heard a lot of men fancy her. It's tough out there. "
Amabilis and Miyeon made sure to tease their cousin until the very last second.
Once Avner was far enough away that he could no longer hear them, he muttered,
" A lot of men fancy her… that's some bullshit. "
He couldn't help but think about Amabilis's last words.
" Only weirdos would fancy a grim reaper like her. Brr… I get cold just thinking about her. That's right—why is there always cold coming off her? It's like the temperature drops every time she enters the picture. Isn't she cold, though? Ahhh, why would I care if she's cold or not? I should just go to sleep. "
" What is this? "
Avner cleared his throat.
" It's a shawl. "
" I can see that. I'm asking why you're giving it to me. "
" Well, you know… you looked cold. "
" Is that so? "
" Yes. "
" But this shawl doesn't look very warm. "
" Oh. "
Now that he took a better look at it, it really didn't look very warm. It was rather thin—but it was the only black one he had managed to find in his mother's closet.
Seeing his disappointed expression, Nephthys decided to accept it anyway.
" Here. Hold this. "
" Why are you giving me your sword? "
Avner was confused, but seeing Nephthys look annoyed, he stopped asking questions.
" Yes, Master. "
He held her sword in one hand while still clutching the shawl in the other.
" Give me this. "
She was referring to the shawl.
" This? "
Avner pointed at it, and Nephthys simply took it from his hand.