Narya: It wasn't too late for them to come home. Ed rushed out as soon as he heard the door, nearly hitting Tess as she jumped inside.

"Calm down, calm down, little pony~" Tess leaned lightly, her cheerful tone as if singing. She whistled at Ed with a smile and jumped into the house backwards with her hands behind her back. The little mongoose crouched on her shoulder waved its paw at Ed, and the moonlight fell on its dark eyes, showing a little relief that had not been seen in a long time.

“...... Is there anything good?" Seeing that Tess was gone, Ed turned to ask Naria, who was walking behind.

"Sort of. Naria listened to the ridiculous whistles in the room, but her smile was a little sad.

She stopped, and Ed stood still. When he realized that Narya didn't seem to want to step into the brightly lit room at the moment, he boldly took her hand and sat down on the steps.

Through the narrow porch, the warm yellow candlelight shone through the door behind them, casting Tess sneaking her head out to peek at them and casting their shadows on the ground.

They heard her low laughter, watched her shadow make a gesture that made Ed blush and heartbeat, and listened to her leap up the second floor on the creaking stairs.

Naria sighed lowly. Her depressed mood and Tess's excitement were too stark contrasts.

"What the hell is going on?" Ed asked her in a low voice.

"Desiree, old Joey's friend, a mage...... Bring a way that would allow Norway to have another body—a body that would better accommodate his soul. Of course, she didn't know who it was for...... We haven't told her yet. ”

Ed was silent for a moment.

"A golem?" he said.

Naria looked up in surprise, "You know?"

Ed nodded: "I thought about it...... If he can't get his body back from Ankland, this is probably the only way Norway can accept it. ”

He certainly couldn't have let his friend's soul be trapped in the body of a mongoose forever...... Even though it seems pretty cute. But the body of that little animal simply could not hold the soul of an elf for long. Norway has a very tenacious will, and he seems to be awake all the time, but from time to time, and even more often, he unconsciously shows the instincts of a mongoose.

When Ed remembered the slow-moving, spell-casting, and tea-making Wood Golem in the Valley of Ambiji, he discussed with Iss the possibility of creating a golem that would incorporate Norvi's soul.

Theoretically, that is possible, although it takes another soul to sustain it...... Tess would be more than willing to take on this role.

However, there are dangers. Mulder's soul is simple and pure, but Norway is an elf who has lived for more than three hundred years. This spell was originally created only to allow the Golem to have some autonomy, not to carry an overly complex, true soul.

"That could ruin his soul...... Or make it incomplete. Ed said.

So he never said it – he wouldn't try to do it with his friends until he found a way that was safe enough.

"Desirée says she has a way to ......" Naria said, shaking her head and smirking at herself, "I still can't figure out the magic or anything...... Maybe you can talk to her. ”

"Of course. Ed replied, suddenly feeling a little aggrieved, "Why don't you come and ask me about this kind ......of thing first?" And Is, at least our knowledge of magic is better than that of the vast majority of spellcasters in this world. ”

Naria turned her head and glared at him.

"Ed Singhal!" she said, "I haven't asked me why you didn't tell me that Norvi's soul can't stay in a mongoose's body like this—you already know, don't you?"

And she, if it weren't for Rosa reminding her before leaving, and then she went to ask Tess fiercely, I'm afraid she would have been hidden for a while before she found out.

"I ......" Ed Ai, "I don't want you to worry about ......"

"And I," Naria pursed her lips, awkwardly looking away, "I don't want to rely on you for everything...... Besides, you weren't there then, and I don't know when you'll be back......!

She bit her lip.

"And if I don't come up with a way soon, Tess might sneak away again...... She always felt that it was her own business, and that it was already terrible for her not only to be unable to help, but to take care of herself when we were all busy with other more important things...... But what could she do herself? She had been so bent on reclaiming Norvi's body, but now, even if there was a possibility of creating another body for him, she was already happy to do so......"

The stubborn red-haired girl had to back down a little, because she really didn't see much hope. But she was still always smiling, refusing to let them see her tiredness and dazedness.

“...... I'm sorry. Ed muttered guiltily.

Naria glared at him again unhappily.

"Didn't I tell you?" she said, "I hate it when you apologize like this, whether it's your fault or not!"

She paused, and quickly interrupted Ed before he could speak: "Anyway, this matter, even if we are all wrong...... It's flat!"

“...... All right. Ed couldn't help but laugh, "It's flat." ”

Naria snorted meaninglessly, but didn't answer. But when Ed sneaked closer to her, so close that he touched his shoulder, she didn't glare at him again.

For a while no one spoke again. There is a faint fragrance of osmanthus floating in the cold air of the autumn night, melting in the hazy moonlight, like a sweet dream that is about to be shattered.

So no one wanted to move until Naria's head rested heavily on his shoulder.

She fell asleep. Ed sat motionless, counting her breath and her own heartbeat, which staggered and mingled into a gentle and sweet rhythm...... The most wonderful rhythm in the world.

.

Isis didn't return until midnight.

He climbed into the room through the window, not making a sound, but the next moment a little fire lit up in the darkness, and the lit candle shone out of Ed's very serious face.

“...... What are you hiding in my room?!" Iss growled in exasperation, not wanting to admit that he was taken aback.

"This is also my room. Ed replied dryly.

Iss finally remembered that this place was not as big as the Singal family's house, and since Mock lived here, they had to share a room again.

“...... Then what the hell are you sitting here in the middle of the night pretending to be?!" He was even more annoyed, but he didn't dare to make any louder noises.

"I just wanted to ask you," Ed replied, "the 'contract' in your soul...... What the hell is it?"