Nicole frowned, moving a little closer to Zane, giving him a once-over.
"Zane, why do I feel like you've changed... You seem a little unfamiliar somehow..."
Zane chuckled.
"Haha, I didn't expect you to be this perceptive, Nicole. It's a shame you're not using that talent to earn some Dennies."
"You could help people with their troubles. Ever thought about becoming a counselor?"
Nicole grinned slyly.
"Ah, that's where your thinking is limited, Zane."
"Who told you Hare's House doesn't offer that kind of service?"
"It's a jack-of-all-trades shop. Since it's a jack-of-all-trades shop, our services cover everything."
She stood up, hands on her hips, and looked at Zane.
"So? Want to place an order?"
"Friends get a 20% discount!"
Zane couldn't help but laugh.
"Nicole, honestly, shouldn't I be getting it for free? You're only giving me a discount? And just 20% at that..."
"Oh, Zane, you're such a generous man. Surely you wouldn't quibble over something so small..."
Nicole tried flattering him again.
"Nicole, that's not going to work on me..."
"Ah, it doesn't matter—you're not going to place an order anyway, so whether it works or not doesn't matter. Right?"
In Nicole's mind, given Zane's current state, there was no way he needed counseling. And even if he did, she knew she wasn't up to the task.
She was very aware of her own "skills." All those counseling-related commissions at Hare's House were half real, half bluff...
Hearing this, Zane paused for a moment, then laughed out loud.
"What makes you so sure I won't place an order? You're a little too confident, Nicole..."
"Haha, of course I am. I am Nicole, after all..."
Instead of acting modest, Nicole simply laughed along with him.
After chatting for a bit, Nicole eagerly started sharing some of her childhood mishaps—embarrassing, a little sad, but also amusing.
Clearly, after spending time together and getting a better sense of Zane's personality, she was far more open about her past, as if speaking of someone else's story.
Perhaps it was because she felt comfortable with Zane that she could talk like this.
Zane simply sat beside her, quietly listening, occasionally responding with a few words—offering a little "comfort" to the girl who had once run through this courtyard.
His expression was calm, his face softened with a gentle smile. Under the starlight, he looked quietly composed.
A heart and actions as clear as a mirror.
That was what he wanted to achieve. And maybe, after this visit to the orphanage, he would take another step forward.
Thinking back on everything, Zane had long since figured out Nicole's reason for bringing him here.
The night wind hadn't stopped. The dead branches of the crooked tree still swayed, as if interacting with the world—neither alive nor dead.
The night was ink-dark, yet moonlight and starlight scattered across the sky.
Though the world held suffering, there were still lights flickering in the darkness.
Just as Nicole finished speaking and Zane was about to bring up something serious, a ripple of energy came from the distance.
Zane looked up instinctively.
A swelling flash of black light blazed across the sky.
It was... a Hollow!
"Meow—"
The little black cat, resting quietly before, instantly sprang up, fur bristling. It stared fearfully at the expanding "black hole" in the distance. One by one, the other cats stirred as well—driven by their instinctive sense of danger.
"Nicole, get the children out of here—there's no time—"
Before Zane could finish, the Hollow had already expanded to the courtyard, towering before them like a massive black wall.
"Damn it, we're too late!"
Whoosh—
...
Inside the Lamia Hollow.
"Meow, meow, meow—meow, meow—meow—"
In the courtyard, the little black cat was trying to calm the panicked cats. Zane's expression was grim as he sensed the thickening Ether around them. His gaze darkened.
"Zane, what's going on?"
The disaster had struck so fast that Nicole was still in shock. Instinctively, she turned to Zane for an answer.
"The situation's obvious—we've got a Hollow disaster."
"First priority is getting the kids out of here!"
Zane strode toward the orphanage rooms. His voice steadied Nicole—she felt like she had found an anchor—and she quickly nodded and followed.
"This Hollow is expanding far too fast. This isn't a companion Hollow event. It has to be a secondary outbreak of an existing Hollow—and something's definitely wrong here."
As he woke the children, Zane analyzed the situation aloud. Then something occurred to him, and he turned to Nicole.
"Nicole, you know this area better than I do. Has there been a Hollow disaster here before?"
The orphanage was nearly at the edge of the Janus District, an area Zane knew little about. As a local, Nicole should know more.
"Yes, there was one two years ago—called the Lamia Hollow. It was suppressed afterward. The Hollow didn't cover a large area and wasn't very dangerous or profitable, so not many people paid attention to it."
Nicole answered quickly, holding nothing back.
"Lamia Hollow?"
A thoughtful look flickered in Zane's eyes as he led the last two children out and into the courtyard.
Siena was comforting the children. Though afraid herself, she didn't let it show in front of them.
But her efforts weren't having much effect. The oppressive atmosphere weighed on them mentally, and the Ether erosion pressed on their bodies. Under this double pressure, it was hard for the children to hold on.
Pixie stood calmly among them, but she was one of the few. Cries and noise still filled the air.
Seeing this, Zane turned toward the children and spoke calmly.
"Don't be afraid. Just listen and do as we say. Trust the adults—we'll get you to safety."
His words carried a strange reassurance, and gradually, the courtyard quieted.
A faint growl reached Zane's ears. His expression didn't change—he simply flicked his fingers. A white flash lit the distance and quickly faded.
Ethereals... already?
"Zane, did you just do something?"
Nicole looked worried. Unlike the others, she could sense the strange Ether fluctuation from earlier.
"Don't worry. Just some bugs."
Zane shook his head and continued,
"Nicole, get the kids on the truck. There's no cargo taking up space—we should be able to fit everyone if we squeeze in."