Raindrops tapped against the window glass outside, occasionally bringing soft, intermittent pattering sounds.
The rain had been falling all day.
Ray didn't know exactly how long he had been unconscious, only aware that the sky outside had long since darkened, sinking into a gentle indigo blue.
The room was quiet. Besides the soft breathing of the young lady beside him, there was only the rhythm of the wall clock interwoven with the sound of rain, one beat after another.
"How long did I sleep...? It's already pitch dark outside."
He slowly sat up, supported by his arms, his gaze falling on the still-sleeping Carlotta.
Her long lashes fluttered lightly, filtering the lamplight. Lively, star-like eyes remained tightly closed.
Actually, the Second Young Miss...
is really cute.
Even if she is indeed a bit short.
Perhaps his movements disturbed her dream. Carlotta let out a vague, soft murmur, her eyelashes trembling a few times before slowly opening her eyes.
Sitting up in a daze, she rubbed her not-yet-fully-awake eyes with her small hands, blinking as she sat there, looking like she hadn't quite come back to her senses.
After a moment, she seemed to suddenly jolt awake, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked at him.
"Ray...? You're... you're awake?! Are you alright?!"
"Sorry for worrying you, Second Young Miss." Ray offered a slight smile. "I'm fine now."
"You really scared me." Seeing he was alright, the tension that had been tightly wound in Carlotta's heart finally eased considerably. She patted her chest lightly, letting out a long sigh. "You suddenly fainted, and no matter how I called, you didn't respond... After the doctor examined you, he only said it might be due to overwork and suggested letting you rest properly."
'Overwork?
That doctor's excuse... they found a pretty considerate one for me, huh?
Could following this lead perhaps result in a stroke of luck, like paid leave?
If Zani found out, she'd probably be jumping with envy.
Though thinking this, Ray had no intention of hiding the bizarre experience he'd just had.
"Second Young Miss," he began softly, his tone growing a bit more serious. "Actually, during the time I was unconscious, I seemed to have gone to a very strange place, more accurately, I seemed to have turned into a fragment of frequency and entered a Sonoro."
"A Sonoro Sphere?" Carlotta tilted her head in confusion.
"Mm," Ray nodded, continuing, "There, I met a girl. She said she had been living there alone for over ten years. Her name is Cartethyia."
"Cartethyia..." Carlotta repeated the name softly, her brow slightly furrowing. "I don't think I've ever heard of this person in Ragunna. Do you know where that Sonoro actually is?"
Ray shook his head. "I asked her, but she said she couldn't remember. Due to certain reasons, she has lost many memories, even the name of that land."
"I see..." Carlotta pondered briefly before saying, "Alright, I'll remember this name. I'll ask the family to keep an eye out for any clues related to her."
With that, she stood up, seemingly ready to leave, but then paused and turned back.
"Your current assignment has concluded."
"But that doesn't mean our collaboration is over."
"Before a new task arrives, you should rest properly."
She spoke softly, gently placing a gemstone with an unusual shimmering luster into his palm.
Ray looked down at the gem in his hand, a puzzled expression on his face. "This is...?"
"As I mentioned before, every member of the family has their own codename."
Carlotta explained quietly, then leaned in slightly closer, lowering her voice near his ear.
"This is your codename, Cat's Eye."
"This isn't an illusion simulated by my ability; it's a genuine gemstone, as real as they come."
She stepped back half a step, a faint smile in her eyes.
"Be sure to take good care of it."
"The relationship between us... isn't over yet."
"Cat's Eye."
...
...
Morning.
Ray slept exceptionally soundly that night, undisturbed by dreams.
Perhaps because... everything he had personally experienced was already more disorienting and elusive than any dream.
A colossal tower inverted in the sky, the silent struggle between the true and false deities, and the girl who had wandered in loneliness and despair for over a decade...
He slowly sat up in bed, his gaze falling on the Cat's Eye gem in his palm.
Morning light filtered through the windowpane onto the gem's surface, refracting into shimmering, brilliant halos.
"...Cartethyia."
He softly uttered the name again, as if by doing so, delicate threads still connected him to that encounter beyond frequencies.
Afterward, he carefully put away the Cat's Eye gem, keeping it close to his person.
This was the second gift Carlotta had given him.
As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity.
So then... what should he give the Second Young Miss in return?
Thinking this, Ray couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed. Although he had known Carlotta for some time, he knew nothing about her likes or even her birthday.
Tap, tap, tap—
Just as he was lost in thought, a soft, rhythmic knocking came from the door.
Ray quickly gathered his thoughts and looked toward the door. "Who is it?"
"Good morning, Mr. Ray." An unfamiliar, respectful voice came from outside the door. "As per Miss Carlotta's instructions, we have prepared breakfast for you."
Ray immediately got up and dressed, opening the door to greet the guest.
A neatly dressed butler stood outside, accompanied by several attendants.
He elegantly pushed a dining cart into the room. "This is a traditional Ragunna breakfast. I hope it suits your taste."
Ray glanced at the sumptuous meal and then asked, "Where is the Second Young Miss?"
"The Second Young Miss went out before dawn. She specifically instructed that you take this time to rest well and not worry about work-related matters."
...
...
After finishing breakfast, Ray didn't remain at the Montelli estate.
Of course, if he wished, he could have continued enjoying the hospitality here.
But it was a rare break from work; wouldn't it be a shame not to go out for a stroll?
He wandered to Ragunna's docks, leaning against the railing to watch the churning waves, thinking to himself: Should I take this chance to visit Septimont? I hear the gladiatorial matches there are quite spectacular...
But what if he went too far and the Second Young Miss couldn't reach him if something came up?
No, no, better not.
He turned around, looking up at the sky.
Perhaps because it had rained all day yesterday, the sky now appeared exceptionally clear and azure.
Ray glanced at the people fishing intently by the dock, and a sudden idea struck him.
Why not... go fishing at the Riccioli Islands?
Just then, a somewhat familiar, slightly timid voice sounded softly nearby.
"Um, excuse me... would you be willing to give me a ride to the Riccioli Islands?"
This voice is...
Phoebe?
.
.
.
.
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