Chapter 41: Believe Me!Beads of sweat ran down my face. I didn''t think that Leyhna would actually have a way to figure things out.

    "Maybe they didn''t put my name up in the directory yet...?" [Solace]

    I was met with a fist to the stomach. Leyhna really wasn''t in the mood for jokes.

    "Oof! Can''t you take a joke?!" [Solace]

    "Can''t you take a hit?" [Leyhna]

    I groaned in agony on the floor, clearly still feeling the attack.

    "Tell me who you are, and what you''re doing here." [Leyhna]

    ("This isn''t good. I''m getting beaten black and blue, for basically no reason. Should I actually just say that I''m Fina''s familiar?") [Solace]

    Just as I was pondering about my choices, I snapped back to reality via punch to the face.

    "Ow! What was that for?!" [Solace]

    "You were too quiet. I thought you were planning something." [Leyhna]

    I looked at her with disbelief. It was either that Leyhna had incredible intuition, or that she''s just an idiot.

    "Are you going to answer or not?" [Leyhna]

    Raising another fist, she indicated another punch.

    "Woah, woah! I''ll answer!" [Solace]

    Due to the fact I kept getting hit, I decided to just come clean.

    "I know you might not believe me, but I''m actually Solace. Fina''s familiar." [Solace]

    I was pretty worried if she would believe me, but I placed my hopes in her.

    "..." [Leyhna]

    Remaining silent, I got another taste of her knuckle sandwich.

    "Agh! Why?!" [Solace]

    "Why? Because you''re lying. You don''t look like Solace." [Leyhna]

    When she puts it like that... Leyhna was right. My |Mimic| form was very different from my spirit form.

    "I evolved! My looks changed after I evolved!" [Solace]

    I dispelled my |Mimic| and reverted back to my little spirit form. This allowed me to escape from being pinned down, but I was instantly snatched out of the air.

    "Y-You''re crushing me! You''re crushing me!" [Solace]

    Considering the amount of points in my stats, I was pretty confident in my physique. Turns out, it still hurts when squeezed inside someone''s palm.

    "This color... a spirit?" [Leyhna]

    "Uh, yeah? Can you maybe um, I dunno, let me go?" [Solace]

    Leyhna ignored my words. Instead, she inspected me.

    "Hm... I''ve never seen a spirit speak before." [Leyhna]

    "Then I guess I''m pretty special. Anyway, have you considered letting me go?" [Solace]

    Leyhna ignored me once again.

    "Do you have any proof that you''re Fina''s familiar?" [Leyhna]

    "Does being able to make myself look like my previous form count?" [Solace]

    "...I''ll let you try." [Leyhna]

    She released me from her grip, allowing me to fly freely.

    "|Mimic|." [Solace]

    White mist swirled around me, eventually revealing a little yellow ball of light upon vanishing.

    "Oh, you really can turn back." [Leyhna] sea??h thё Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    I tried to agree with her, but then I realized I couldn''t speak again.

    ("Dispel |Mimic|.") [Solace]

    White mist surrounded me once again, this time, it reverted me back to my yellowish human spirit form.

    "Huh? Why''d you change back?" [Leyhna]

    "I can''t speak when I''m like that. You see, there''s a reason why people have mouths." [Solace]

    Leyhna shrugged. I guess she didn''t have any complaints about that.

    "So, I''m going to assume you are Fina''s familiar. Is that correct?" [Leyhna]

    "Yep." [Solace]

    "And you are supposed to protect her, correct?" [Leyhna]

    "Yes...?" [Solace]

    I didn''t really know where she was going with this, but I just followed along.

    "Then why is it that I find it so unbelievable when I remember you untying Fina''s necktie while naked?" [Leyhna]

    Now I saw where she was going with it.

    "Well, you see... There were... many things going on. I have my own circumstances." [Solace]

    "Like?" [Leyhna]

    "I can''t transform with clothes on. That''s literally it." [Solace]

    There really isn''t much to explain, so I answered bluntly.

    "...I''ll believe that for now. Can you refrain from transforming into a human for a while?" [Leyhna]

    "Why?" [Solace]

    "I''ll bring something to help with your... lack of clothing. By the way, does Fina know you can turn into a human?" [Leyhna]

    "No, I''ve been keeping my previous appearance around her." [Solace]

    Leyhna looked at me with a puzzled expression. It seemed that she didn''t understand my intentions.

    "...Is there a reason why?" [Leyhna]

    "I don''t know her situation yet. From what I''ve seen she''s bullied at school when you''re not around." [Solace]

    "What?!" [Leyhna]

    The flames around her flared, and her eyes narrowed. Pretty sure she just got pretty mad.

    "Who was it?! Tell me!" [Leyhna]

    "Woah! Watch the fire!" [Solace]

    "Oh." [Leyhna]

    She took notice of her ability, causing her to dispel it.

    ("Thank god... One thing to not worry about.") [Solace]

    "The bullies were uh... I don''t remember their names." [Solace]

    "..." [Leyhna]

    She stood up and sighed. Without another word, she headed to the door.

    "Huh? Where are you going?" [Solace]

    "Outside." [Leyhna]

    "Wait, you''re leaving me here? Alone? With Fina? I thought you didn''t trust me." [Solace]

    Leyhna stopped at the door. She then turned towards me while pointing two fingers at her eyes and then to me.

    "I trust you a bit now. Just know that I''m still watching you." [Leyhna]

    She then left the room and closed the door behind her.

    ("Leyhna really left like that?") [Solace]

    Just as I thought that, the door reopened and Leyhna peeked her head through.

    "I''m warning you, don''t do anything weird to Fina." [Leyhna]

    "Uh... I know." [Solace]

    Leyhna gave me a little glare, but then eventually left.

    ("She really came and went like a storm.") [Solace]