Seeing Ishia run and hide behind Lynda's legs after seeing him, Philekos immediately laughed out loud like someone delighted. "Kuahahaha~ such a perfect, authentic, and characteristic reaction! Reminds me of the initial reactions of humankind when they saw Philekos, the white storm wolf!" he said proudly.
His eyes lit up with full pride and arrogance, while the corners of his mouth curled upward showing a sly grin that made Ishia even more afraid. With his little wolf body floating in the air, Philekos began to fly toward Ishia to scare her.
Seeing the little flying wolf begin to approach her, Ishia ran with all her strength around the room and avoided Philekos who kept chasing her until she hid behind Anastasia's cloak. She gripped that cloak tightly and covered her frightened face with it, making Anastasia—who had been chuckling until then—immediately change her expression and stare at Philekos sharply.
"Stop that, Phil. Don't scare her anymore... I don't want her not to speak to us just because a little floating wolf keeps chasing her." Anastasia said. She stood between Philekos and Ishia with a gentle look, which made Philekos immediately give in.
"Yeah, yeah, I was only playing... It's not like I want to hurt her." Philekos said. He looked into Anastasia's eyes with a relaxed expression.
Knowing her companion was only teasing Ishia, Anastasia took a deep breath with a smile on her face. She then turned and bent her knees slightly, aligning her body with Ishia's before speaking.
"Alright, alright, Phil is only playing, Ishia. You don't need to be afraid of him." Anastasia said. She raised her left hand to the level of Ishia's head, then slowly stroked it.
Feeling Anastasia's warm touch, Ishia slowly lifted her face and looked into her eyes. "R-really? B-but who is he? Why can a puppy fly? Is he a strange puppy?" Ishia asked; she truly seemed to know nothing about Philekos or things concerning great spirits.
Anastasia, hearing Ishia's question, only chuckled softly—she knew Ishia was just an innocent child. Lynda, who watched that moment, also chuckled, but Philekos who heard it immediately stood still with a very flat expression because he knew what Anastasia was about to say.
"Yep, that's right. Philekos—or I call him Phil—is a strange puppy that can fly and talk... He's actually weak, but he really likes to boast." Anastasia said. Her answer, so far removed from the fact, was already anticipated by Philekos.
This kind of event had often happened since their first meeting; Anastasia very rarely revealed Philekos's true identity and had a habit of deceiving gullible children. But the reason Anastasia often deceived little kids like Ishia was to make them braver about something they did not yet fully understand.
Ishia's initial reaction when seeing Philekos was something Anastasia tried to remove from Ishia's mind so she would become braver and closer to her.
"B-but that smile just now?" Ishia asked.
"A smile? Hahaha—he was only being mischievous. How about you make sure yourself?" Anastasia replied with a smile on her face.
"Make sure, myself? W-what do you mean, Lady Anastasia?" Ishia asked with a puzzled expression.
"Like this... Phil, come here." Anastasia glanced behind her for a moment, calling Philekos who slowly flew toward her.
Philekos came with a relaxed expression, his small body floating in the air without burden. His eyes looked at Ishia, then glanced at Anastasia who smiled innocently.
As an arrogant great spirit, Philekos very much enjoyed reactions of fear or surprise from a human, like what Ishia had done. For him, fearful and surprised expressions shown by lower races like humans were one of the highest sources of satisfaction.
But now, with Anastasia constantly hiding Philekos's identity, one of those sources of satisfaction gradually disappeared and he had to act according to what Anastasia said so she wouldn't be angry.
"Now, try to touch and pet Phil's body gently. Make sure you're not too rough when you pet his belly." Anastasia said, with a gentle smile.
Hearing Anastasia's words, Philekos looked at her with an incredulous expression and thought to himself, "Can't you stop deceiving a child just once, and let me see that pure frightened and surprised expression of hers?!"
"I-is it okay? I'm afraid he'll bite my hand if I touch his belly." Ishia asked; she seemed hesitant but still wanted to confirm what Anastasia said.
"Ahahah~ don't worry, Phil will behave... Right, Philekos?" Anastasia asked, with a wide smile on her face that made Philekos shiver all over.
Knowing there was no answer other than agreement, Philekos only nodded his head as a sign of assent and resignation. He let Anastasia hold him, then gave him to Ishia who was still very hesitant to pet him.
"L-lady Anastasia, I think I can't." Ishia said.
Hearing the little girl's hesitant words, Anastasia slowly took Ishia's left hand and brought it toward Philekos's belly. Then, gently Anastasia placed Ishia's hand on the belly covered by soft gray fur and let her feel the comfort of Philekos's body.
The gray color that looked so soothing like winter on Philekos's body made Ishia, who had initially been reluctant, slowly begin to move her hand and gently stroke the little wolf's belly.
Anastasia and Lynda, who had been standing behind her, smiled seeing Ishia begin to pet Philekos's body that she had previously feared. The fear and surprise that had been in Ishia's heart gradually faded, replaced by a comfort much like when her older sister was beside her.
Unconsciously, tears slowly fell from the corner of Ishia's eyes as she stroked Philekos's belly. Memories of her missing older sister began to flood Ishia's mind, making Anastasia and Lynda very surprised and immediately move closer to her.
"Ishia!? What's wrong, why are you suddenly crying?" Lynda asked, immediately kneeling at Ishia's left side.
"Did I push you too hard, Ishia?" Anastasia asked.
"N-no... I-I just miss my sister. I really miss her." Ishia said.
Hearing such weak and honest words from Ishia, Anastasia immediately returned to her original demeanor and asked according to her initial purpose.
"Then, can you tell me... everything you know about your sister and exactly when she was kidnapped? Don't worry, I will help you... Ishia." Anastasia said. She knelt before Ishia and looked at her with her sincerest smile.