A/N: Inspiration on Zoe's room, but much bigger and with higher ceiling :D

***

The group turned to the platform behind the mahogany counter and watched as a young girl in faded jeans and oversized blue T-shirt went down the narrow stairs. The moment she noticed them, her eyes examined one person after another and finally stopped at Zoe. She instantly halted and averted her gaze.

"Maevis!" Reonan shouted as though she was on the other side of the cliff. "There's someone we would like you to meet!"

The plump girl gingerly approached the group, her braided black hair swished from side to side. Zoe quickly swallowed her food and wiped her mouth with the tissue as Maevis took the seat beside Dilinjer, not giving any of them a second glimpse.

"Maevis, this is Zoe," Reonan said, gesturing with his fork, "Zoe, this is Maevis. She's staying at the Eastern wing, which is seven rooms from yours."

The other girl's attention remained pin on the ground that Zoe was forced to tilt her head, only to see nothing but her broad forehead and bulging cheeks. She was far from how she imagined. She pictured Maevis as someone a few years older than her, bearing the same confident aura like Krista, the smart appearance like Nox, and a carefree mentality like Ty. Yet she was like Hubert, but a much timid version.

Or perhaps she was being too judgemental.

"I think Da-- Jao mentioned something about her." Hearing her own voice say his name awakened the butterflies in her stomach.

Was it because of his weird name?

Before she could dwell on the sensation, the other girl looked up at her, regarding her with a pair of bright emeralds glistering with shock and curiosity.

"What?" Maevis croaked. "Did that Squirrel bad-mouthed me?"

Zoe choked back a laugh and tried to muster the sincerest expression she could, which was the hardest thing she did ever since she arrived at Mamoria. "Oh no, it's nothing like that," she answered, her hand suddenly itched with a pang of pain as though she just slapped him again. "We passed by your room this morning and he said I'd meet you much later today because you're in the Academy, working with requirements."

The smaller girl nodded thoughtfully.

"But why Squirrel?" Zoe chuckled, pushing down the memory of her greatest mistake.

Her face brightened. She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted when Reonan cleared his throat. He already finished his cake and started gathering his plates, imitating Dilinjer's example.

"You should join Zoe for dinner," he said, the sound of a wooden chair scraping the floor echoed in the room as he got to his feet. "Dilinjer and I would be in the kitchen." He patted both their heads and received a mixture of scowl and snigger from both girls. "Eat a lot, duckies, so you'd gain more height."

The two grunted in response and watched the two older men disappeared behind the kitchen door.

Zoe slowly stood and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Maevis."

Stars.

She could see them twinkling in the other girl's eyes. Her cheeks bulged with a pinkish glow as she beamed at her, and Zoe swore that she heard a throttled squeal.

Maevis leaped to her feet and took her hand with such gentleness as if it was an artifact, then shook it while staring at her with awe.

"I've heard a lot of things about you and-- and--" She took a deep breath and fanned herself with her other hand. "I never expected to shake your hand. I mean . . . wow! I uh-- I'm glad to meet you! The merging of light and dark soul isn't supposed to be possible and yet . . . here you are, so real and solid."

Then she turned to their hands, still moving up and down. "But your hand is so soft, even though I heard that you defeated the former King of Lumirecia, King Algerone, which is totally awesome! Not that I'm against him or anything, but--"

Her eyes widened and immediately let go of Zoe's hand. "I'm really really sorry. I- I was just carried away. I mean, I'm always awkward and like that, but I hope . . . you know." She directed her attention to the floor and started shifting weight from side to side as if dancing in one rhythm. "W- would you like . . . to be my f- f- fr- friend?"

Friend?

The last time Zoe used that word was when she still have Rikuki - her pet Labrador. But prior to that, she already tried befriending their servants. However, the boundary between them never ceased to exist that their friendship always felt forced with so much uneasiness, as though the servants did it out of respect, or pity, or because they had no choice.

Although other nobilities her age became her friends, she knew it was heavily influenced by their wealth. She exerted effort and strive to know them, and yet, it was never fun as if someone was stabbing her when she wasn't looking.

And now, after her long journey on the lonely road of finding friendship, it was finally being offered to her. Something so precious that her heart almost blew up from happiness.

"I don't see why not," Zoe answered with a smile and was surprised when Maevis ran to her side and gave her a hug. She attempted to return the gesture, but the other girl was tightly embracing her arms.

***

Minutes turned into hours and the two never get tired of talking, mainly about Earth and Maevis's childhood memories with Darcy and the others.

"You should have seen him when he was still a boy!" Maevis said, crossing her legs. "He got huge frontal teeth that were the center of attention every time he laughs! But since he's a prince, no one dared to point it out!" She laughed, her ears flushing red. "Except for me, of course. The first time I told him about it, he chased me 'til the edge of Mirall Forest!"

Zoe hauled her chair closer to the table, her face flustered from laughing and her nose was glittered with perspiration. "Then what happened? Did he caught you?"

"Oh, dude! That Squirrel is persistent! The moment he caught me, he stuck Moon Berry jam on my hair! Can you believe that?" Maevis shook her head. "But after that, he received a good scolding from Uncle Dilinjer, about how men should be protecting girls and whatnot. If only I could show you his face, it was one in a million!"

Zoe tried to imagine a smaller version of Darcy and a ball of fur rolled in her stomach.

Was it from too much laughing?

She pushed back his image and wiped her tears and nose as she settled her breath. "So you guys grew up together? I didn't expect this Inn to be that old."

"They bought it even before you and I were sperm cells," she chortled. "Jao and the others used to stay here during school breaks, but after they got their badge to wield a weapon and run their own ship, they always left to do quests and whatnot."

"That's amazing! Do you also come with them?"

The younger girl made a loud, fluttery sound that reminded Zoe of a snorting horse. "I'm not carved for that kind of thing," she said. "I'd rather stay in the library and read all day."

"I also love to read, but as of now, I would love to explore Mamoria." She picked up her fork and started playing with the vegetables on her plate. "So are you guys related? I was wondering why you don't have golden eyes like Darcy."

"We're not related by blood, except for Nox, Krista, and Uncle Lucio, but we consider each other as a family." She paused. "And now, you're also a part of that."

Zoe slowly met her gaze, running her words in her mind for the fourth time, unsure if she heard her right. And without her knowing, her lips curved up. The thought of being born in a normal family, having normal parents and siblings, and living a normal life. She had dreamed about it for so many times that her fingers were no longer enough to count. Somehow, she wanted to think that Fate was playing nice or trying to make up for the mess she did.

"I'm glad to be a part of it," Zoe finally answered, breathless.

"Welcome to the family!"

And once again, they shook hands while laughing.

***

Dedicated to hafsahkhanam

***

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider voting :D

XOXO