Little Pink Starfish

Just now, Eira had downed the potion he’d only just tested on the dummy. The result of exhaustion and sleep deprivation dulling his reason.

“Just five minutes, really!”

He cried urgently, then vanished into thin air. Yanu raised an eyebrow. He strode forward, but where Eira had stood, nothing remained. Unlike the dummy, not even the slightest noise was left behind.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Yanu’s brow furrowed for a moment, memories of chasing Eira down in the past flashing through his mind—like when he’d been hiding in the labyrinth tower or in the shelters scattered around the territory. That sensation of being unable to locate his mate, like his existence had blurred from the world, had been anything but pleasant. But this time, it wasn’t quite like that. It wasn’t that Eira had disappeared from existence—just that he was currently untraceable.

Five minutes passed.

Yanu strolled idly around the lab. Then ten minutes. He softly called the name:

“Eira?”

Ten more minutes passed before Yanu finally sensed something was wrong.

Eira was usually the type to follow through with what he said—especially because he was responsible for the lives of so many people.

When he sharpened his perception again, it wasn’t that same vague absence like when stealth magic erased someone’s presence. But something about it was still unpleasant, and Yanu’s lips twisted in mild irritation as he scanned the room. The soft bubbling of liquids and rising steam was all that could be heard. Beneath his clothes, his scales rustled like a wave before settling. He decided—for now—not to destroy the tower.

“…Eira?”

Just then, the window of the lab clicked open.

Yanu quickly rushed over, but only the biting winter wind brushed his face. Looking down, he saw a patch of snow dented in the shape of a footprint.

Without hesitation, Yanu leapt out the window. A thud echoed as snow swirled around him. His dense, resilient body took the fall effortlessly. Scanning the surroundings, he noticed a human-shaped shimmer in the snowstorm—exactly Eira’s size.

Reaching out, his fingers brushed something soft and familiar. Soon after, a strand of silver hair was caught between his fingers.

“Just invisible, huh.”

Now sure that Eira hadn’t physically disappeared, Yanu casually popped the hair into his mouth and followed the trail. He had no idea where Eira was going without a word, but at least he seemed unharmed, so he let it be. Eira often did nonsensical things, but they usually had some reason. And once Yanu caught the trace, it was easy enough to track him.

Eira, saying nothing, slowly headed into the city.

When Yanu stepped onto the snow-covered street to test things, his body left a clear crash mark—flattened like someone had fallen. But Eira only kicked up a few flakes and continued on, leaving neat footprints behind.

A side effect of the potion?

Yanu tilted his head, then deliberately blocked Eira’s path. Instead of bumping into him, Eira gracefully stepped aside with a crisp crunching of snow underfoot. Surprised, Yanu looked at the footprints and the spot where Eira was likely walking, rubbing his chin.

Eira’s steps were slightly wobbly, but otherwise smooth. He followed the usual inspection route he took around the city and even managed to avoid colliding with people. Still, with how densely populated the area was, he occasionally bumped into passersby, causing them to yelp and look around wildly for the invisible force.

After completing a full city circuit, Eira even stopped by the steamed bun shop. Curious, Yanu watched as a monster hunter, alerted by the dragon’s presence, came running out of the shop. Their scent was always a bit odd, so Yanu twitched his nose.

“Well, what brings the great dragon here alone?”

Though smiling, the hunter’s body was visibly tense. Just as Yanu instinctively sensed monsters, they instinctively feared and braced around him. Even after ten years as Eira’s subordinate, that hadn’t changed. Yanu, unfazed, lazily replied.

“Just passing by.”

“Would you like a bun?”

Speaking as though to a hungry beast, Hera held out a piping hot bag of buns. Yanu saw no reason to refuse.

“Sure.”

Despite facing a dragon, the kind-hearted hunter handed him the whole bundle. As Eira quietly resumed walking, Yanu followed. From behind came Hera’s mutter, “Wait, where’d the other buns go?” while Yanu heard Eira munching beside him on the stolen buns. Side by side, both shoving buns into their mouths, Yanu suddenly noticed something missing.

“Wait, where’s that thing?”

The round little fellow that always followed Eira night and day was nowhere in sight. Must’ve turned invisible too.

After wandering about for a while, Eira finally returned to the castle. He rustled about for a bit before letting out soft, steady breathing. Yanu, roughly patting the carpet, located Eira’s body, yawned, and lay down beside him. Stretching his hand, he pulled a blanket over his mate.

When he woke up, the castle was in chaos. At some point during the night, Eira had burrowed into Yanu’s arms, seeking warmth. Still sound asleep, Yanu absentmindedly patted and poked him while people outside frantically searched for their lord. He grabbed a bag of jerky from the table and, chewing slowly, slipped a few pieces into Eira’s mouth.

While Yanu strolled around the castle with Eira tucked under his arm, retainers scurried everywhere looking for the missing lord. They searched the library, the lab, every corner of the castle, stealing nervous glances at Yanu—but like most humans, they didn’t dare speak to him. Only the knight commander, fiercely devoted to Eira, dared ask.

“Have you seen the lord?”

Unlike others, his eyes burned like fire, always watching for any sign that Yanu might harm his master. Staring into those cult-like eyes, Yanu answered dryly.

“Nope. Haven’t seen him.”

After all, being invisible meant he technically couldn’t be seen.

While walking, Eira began wriggling like he wanted to escape, so Yanu let him go—he had a feeling if he didn’t, Eira would start hurling spells. As much as he liked a fight, he didn’t want him to vanish mid-battle.

Now freed, Eira hummed some vague tune and wandered the castle. Wherever he went, humans jumped in fright, frantically looking around before fleeing the area. After a suitable walk, Yanu brought him to bed, fed him, and tucked him in.

And so, a whole day passed with the castle in uproar. It wasn’t until Eira jolted awake, mid-hallway, that things changed. He let out a startled gasp and rustled about, mumbling in confusion.

“Huh? What… did I doze off?”

Soon after, the invisible spirit reappeared, stretching and fluttering around Eira’s head. Strange symbols flashed across its body. Eira stood silently for a moment, trying to grasp the situation, then sighed.

“Yanu… the castle’s in chaos, and you didn’t say anything?”

“Didn’t seem necessary?”

Yanu replied coolly. He’d realised the humans were panicking over Eira’s disappearance. But with experience, he knew the territory could run just fine even if Eira vanished for a month. Since it wasn’t an invasion or anything serious, he felt no need to interfere.

Eira, knowing his mate well, didn’t scold him. Though unseen, Yanu was certain he’d just shrugged and started checking his own condition.

“So what happened? Side effect?”

“Seems like it. I got really sleepy after drinking it. Felt like a full night’s rest… Did I dream? Yeah. I had a dream.”

“You were walking around the whole time, though.”

“I was?”

Eira asked Yanu for a detailed account of what had happened. Instead of being worried, he mumbled with curiosity.

“Sleepwalking, maybe? That fits. Strange. Maybe the dummy didn’t show that symptom because it can’t sleep. Or maybe…”

A scratching sound came as he started writing again, only to snap out of it with a gasp. Only then did he seem to remember he needed to reassure his retainers. Yanu, as always, remained calm, listening as Eira popped open a bottle of antidote with a pop and gulped it down.

“I’d better get back to work.”

“Eat first.”

“Right. I am kind of hungry.”

“But Eira.”

“Mm?” Eira replied distractedly.

Yanu finished, amused:

“You’re still invisible.”