NOVPUBLucius stood and placed one hand behind his back, his eyes watching the group.
"So, we all agree," he said. "We'll welcome her."
Everyone nodded.
Lucius smiled lightly, then turned to Fiona.
"And I think Fiona's idea is the best."
Fiona smirked and gave a playful thumbs-up.
"Hehe, told you I had good taste."
Lucius chuckled.
"But let me be clear."
"Liline already has a full phantom staff system running the castle."
"We don't need more helpers or maids."
Loreia pretended to pout.
"Aw, no bunny maid?"
Lucius ignored her teasing and continued, looking toward Liora.
"And for fighters, we already have you, Liora."
Liora nodded silently.
Lucius added, "Plus, we have the phantom army."
"Liline controls them fully. We're not short on strength."
"So," he concluded, "making her an idol might be the best path for her."
Fiona nodded… but then noticed something in his voice.
"Wait," she said, frowning slightly. "You said 'might.'"
Lucius turned toward her again.
"Yes. Because even if she becomes an idol… she still needs one thing."
Fiona blinked.
"What thing?"
Lucius's gaze softened, but his voice stayed firm.
"She needs an upgrade. And a contract."
Fiona's eyes widened.
"Wait… like me? A contract with… you?"
Lucius nodded once.
"Yes."
Fiona shifted in her seat, unsure.
"But… she's still so scared. So gentle."
"She's not like me."
"I chose this. She didn't."
Lucius took a step closer to her.
"I understand, Fiona."
"That's why I'm saying this now—before anything happens."
"She needs to be safe. For herself… and for us."
Fiona's fingers curled slightly.
"She's not dangerous. Just scared."
Luna finally spoke from her seat near the wall.
"It's a good idea, Fiona."
Fiona looked at her, surprised.
Luna nodded calmly.
"We don't know much about her."
"You heard it yourself, right?"
"She barely remembers anything, and she still feels pain from her past."
Fiona looked down.
"Yeah…"
Luna continued.
"We could help her."
"We're not trying to take her freedom away. You know that."
"We just want her to be strong enough to smile again."
Loreia leaned forward, her elbows on her knees.
"And brave enough not to shake every time someone raises their voice."
"Right now, she's still living in fear."
Lucius nodded again.
"I can remake her gently. I'm not forcing anything on her."
"I just want her to be able to stand tall."
"To smile on stream beside you… without trembling."
Fiona stayed quiet for a long second.
She looked at the table, then looked at the empty chair where Fifi had sat earlier.
"She's already been through so much…"
Loreia smiled softly.
"That's why we help her."
Liora, still standing silently, finally said:
"If she gets stronger… I'll train her personally."
"I'll teach her to protect herself."
Fiona sighed and stood up slowly.
"…Okay."
"Let me talk to her first."
"I want her to decide."
Lucius nodded with approval.
"That's fair."
"No pressure."
"No commands."
Fiona started walking toward the door.
"Let me explain everything clearly."
"If she chooses it herself…"
She paused.
"Then I'll support it."
Lucius smiled again.
"Good."
Luna stood up too.
"And Fiona?"
Fiona looked back.
"She trusts you."
"You might be the first person who ever did that for her."
Fiona smiled faintly.
"Then I won't let her down."
She opened the door and stepped out.
Time to talk to Fifi.
---
Fiona walked through the quiet hallway leading to the Luxoria dining hall.
On the far side of the room, she saw Fifi, sitting by herself at one of the long tables.
A plate of food sat in front of her.
Soft bread, fruit slices, and a warm bowl of soup.
Fifi's ears perked up when she saw her.
She smiled gently. "Fiona!"
Fiona smiled back and walked over.
She pulled out the chair next to Fifi and sat down.
"Hey," she said. "You look cozy."
Fifi nodded shyly. "Liline brought me everything. It's really good…"
Fiona looked at the soup and nodded. "She always knows what people need."
Then her smile faded just a little.
"Fifi, I need to tell you something."
Fifi blinked and tilted her head.
"What is it?"
Fiona took a slow breath.
"The Luxoria family… they want to welcome you."
Fifi's eyes widened. "Really?"
Fiona nodded. "Yeah. As one of us."
"But…" she added, "there's one condition."
Fifi's smile faded. She looked unsure.
"…What condition?"
"Don't worry," Fiona said quickly. "It's not bad."
"It's just a small contract."
"A special one. It makes sure you can't hurt anyone in Luxoria."
Fifi frowned a little. Her ears lowered.
"…Like Aurelius? Like forced loyalty?"
Fiona shook her head fast.
"No, no. It's not like that at all."
"It doesn't hurt."
"It doesn't force you to obey commands or punish you."
"You still have your freedom. Just like I do."
Fifi looked surprised.
"You have a contract too?"
Fiona smiled and nodded.
"Yep. I made a contract with Lucius."
"But I can still stream, joke around, do whatever I want."
"I just can't hurt the family. That's all."
Fifi looked down at her hands, quiet.
"…But why do I need one?"
Fiona gently placed her hand over Fifi's.
"Because they want to help you."
"But they also want to be safe."
"You saw what happened when your powers went wild, right?"
Fifi's fingers twitched.
"…I didn't mean to…"
"I know," Fiona said softly. "But still, it was dangerous."
She leaned in a little closer.
"And Lucius… he wants to help fix that."
Fifi looked up slowly.
"…Fix me?"
Fiona nodded.
"He can remove the pain in your body."
"He can fix your powers so they don't go out of control."
"He can even make it so you never feel that experiment pain again."
Fifi's eyes widened.
"He… he can do that?"
"Of course he can," Fiona said proudly.
"He made me better. He made Liora to be strong like what you saw."
Fifi held her spoon tightly.
"…Will it hurt?"
Fiona looked down for a moment.
"…Yeah," she said quietly. "It'll hurt a lot."
"But only once."
"And after that…"
She looked into Fifi's eyes.
"You'll never have to hurt again."
"You'll be reborn."
Fifi sat silently for a moment.
Her soup grew cold.
Her ears twitched softly.
"…I need to think."
Fiona smiled gently.
"Take your time."
"No one's rushing you."
"I just wanted you to know the truth."
Fifi nodded slowly.
"…Thank you."
And for now, that was enough.
