The moment I stepped outside, a blinding light swallowed me whole. I squinted against its intensity, my heart pounding, trying to make sense of what was unfolding. Before I could fully grasp the situation, the house—Lumera's house—had vanished. There were no walls, no furniture, no traces of the warmth of the fire or the lingering scent of soup. It was as if the house, and Lumera herself, had been erased from existence.

A chill crawled down my spine.

Was this how they kept paradise spotless? By erasing anything messy? The thought made my skin crawl, unsettling me more than I cared to admit.

Scarlette was out there somewhere, and if they could do this to Lumera, what was stopping them from doing the same to her? What if she had already vanished? If anyone stood out, it was her—too wild, too untamed to blend in. And I hadn't been there to help her.

"Rogue Love Fairy, where are you?" I whispered, gripping the emerald tightly. The smooth stone dug into my palm, a sharp reminder of everything at stake. I couldn't lose her, not when it was clear this place was capable of hiding far more than I could imagine.

With renewed urgency, I turned down the road. The path ahead was unclear, shrouded in uncertainty, but there was no turning back. I had to find Scarlette—and uncover who was truly pulling the strings behind it all.

The town around me seemed untouched, serene even. People walked past, their faces lit with smiles, humming cheerfully as if nothing could possibly disrupt their peace. It was eerie—too peaceful, too perfect.

"Good day, sir!" A group of Light Fairy children chirped as they passed, their voices sweet and innocent, as if the very air around them glowed with purity.

They were so... innocent, so well-behaved. Too innocent, too well-behaved.

Then I saw them: the Love Fairies. Scarlette wouldn't be caught dead with them—she hated her own kind for some reason. Still, I couldn't help but watch as one of them—a woman with delicate wings fluttering behind her—approached a group of Light Fairies.

Her voice was sickly sweet as she offered, "Hey, want some Love Fairy Herbs? They're great for healing."

It seemed harmless enough. A trade, perhaps?

But before the Light Fairies could even respond, another Love Fairy—standing a little off to the side—raised a wand. The tip shimmered faintly, and with a subtle flick, a thin stream of magic unfurled from it. The effect was immediate.

The Light Fairies, once standing in a small, innocent group, suddenly paired off, their movements shifting from friendly to intimate. Their bodies moved like puppets, mouths colliding without hesitation. The innocence was gone—replaced by something cold and calculated, like affection on a leash.

It was madness.

I stepped back, my mind struggling to process what I had just witnessed. Was this the kind of magic Scarlette had warned me about? Was this the manipulation she feared? Was this even legal, or just a twisted abuse of power?

"Alright, your turn fellow Love Fairy," came a smug voice from behind me, thick with satisfaction.

Fellow Love Fairy? Of course, I was still disguised as freaking Ravos.

I spun around to face one of the Love Fairies, his tone smug and self-assured, clearly pleased with the chaos he'd just unleashed.

Was this really what Scarlette had been warning me about?

"So much for free will... shared experiences, strife, communication," a familiar voice called out behind me.

It was Scarlette.

Relief rushed through me like a wave, but it was quickly followed by an undercurrent of doubt. I wanted to pull her into a hug, but I held back. Part of me wasn't sure if I should be relieved... or worried.

"Sorry for not believing you," I muttered, the words heavy with guilt.

"So you do know how to apologize?" Scarlette raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a half-amused smirk. "That must be a lot for you," she teased, her tone playful, though the disbelief was clear in her voice.

The Love Fairy from behind scrambled off whispering to his peers about Scarlette as she came.

No matter, I turned to face her properly, finally meeting her gaze. "I—" My words faltered, caught in the weight of what I had to say. I had never been good with words, especially when the guilt over my previous dismissal of her hung heavy in my chest. "I'm sorry," I repeated, more sincere this time, the words thick with regret. It was strange hearing myself say them. Apologizing wasn't something I did often. But with her here, everything felt different. SScarlette carried danger in every word, every move—and I couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Something's very wrong with this place," she said, her voice suddenly serious as her eyes scanned the unnervingly perfect town around us.

"Yeah, no kidding," I replied bitterly, the unease thick in my tone.

We were both trapped in this mess, and Scarlette understood it better than anyone. She saw it too—the lie, the illusion of perfection. But even with her here, I wasn't sure how much we could do to change it.

"Where do you think Lumera's house went?" Scarlette asked, her gaze narrowing as she took in the scene.

I blinked, her question hanging in the air. Hadn't I been wondering that same thing?

"Notice how they've wiped out everything unpleasant in town? No trash, no bad news, no deaths. Even the place we stayed in is gone," she continued, a gleam of that dangerous spark in her eyes.

She was right. I'd noticed it before, but hearing it from her made it feel more real. More twisted.

Everything ugly had been wiped clean. No mess. No sorrow. No truth. Just a hollow town dressed in smiles.

"What if we create bad news? What if we become the thing that ruins this perfect illusion?" Scarlette mused, her voice low and dangerous.

I paused, her idea settling into my thoughts.

"That's brilliant," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

"Now, it's time to make a scene," Scarlette grinned, her voice cutting through my thoughts with purpose.

Of course—one of her wild, unhinged ideas.

"Scar... what exactly are you planning?" I asked, my heart racing. Unease crept beneath my skin, but a part of me couldn't look away from the chaos she was about to unleash.

"Want to find out where Lumera's house went?" she grinned, her expression mischievous.

She didn't wait for an answer, just smirked and walked off.

No. No way. What if we couldn't get back?

"Scar... wait, are you saying we could see where everything goes when we become the problem?" I asked, my voice faltering as the weight of the situation sank in. The tension between us thickened, hanging heavy in the air.

She smirked—oh, that smirk. The one that made my stomach twist.

"Scarlette… what if we don't come back?" I whispered, my voice quiet, uncertain. "We need a plan."

"Hush now, we'll figure it out later," she dismissed, waving me off. "Stop being a coward," she tossed over her shoulder, heading straight toward the Love Fairies.

I wasn't a coward. But I wasn't reckless either.

"Scarlette, you're being reckless," I hissed, my eyes scanning the crowd, hoping no one had overheard.

"Charlotte!" I called out, raising my voice just a bit too much in the moment. "Get back here!"

Her name slipped from my lips with urgency, and I couldn't help but feel the burn of frustration. I turned, catching the curious gazes of the Light Fairy children.

"Please," I added, softer now, my voice edging on desperation.

I sighed, hesitating for just a moment before reluctantly trailing after her. I wasn't about to let her charge into whatever came next alone.

Ugh, Scarlette….What are you up to now?