"It's poison, isn't it?" Cedric's voice cut through Jett's thoughts like a blade.

"How long did he know?" Jett froze. He turned toward him, unsure if he had heard right or if Cedric meant something else.

"There's no real reason to have Marcella handle that for you," Cedric continued without looking up. His tone was calm, hands busy adjusting the casing of a smoke bomb. "She's a poison fanatic, ironic when you realise she makes the best healing potions. And you never told me what your plan actually was. You only said you had one."

He pointed with a tool toward the table. "Pass me that monster core."

Jett complied silently, placing the glowing core beside him. He opened his mouth, trying to find the right words.

"Hey, about that..."

"It's alright." Cedric cut him off with a faint smile. His eyes softened for a moment. "I get it. I get why you didn't tell me everything."

Jett stayed quiet, caught off guard.

"If it were a few weeks ago," Cedric went on, still working, "I would've refused. But right now, I trust you. Whatever you're planning, I believe it's for the best possible outcome."

Jett blinked. Hearing those words from Cedric felt strange, almost unreal. The timid guy who always followed orders was now calm, focused, and oddly confident.

"Alright, who are you, and what did you do to the real Cedric?" Jett asked, narrowing his eyes.

Cedric burst out laughing. "Guess people change when you stop seeing them as dead weight."

"What are you talking about?" Jett asked. "You're a valuable member of our team. No one would ever call you dead weight."

Cedric gave a dry laugh. "You say that, but sometimes it feels like I'm only here because you let me be."

Jett frowned. "That's not true."

For a moment, silence hung between them. The room felt heavier, quieter, the kind of stillness that carried unspoken thoughts.

"You know," Cedric said softly, eyes fixed on the floor, "back when we first got here, I always thought I was holding everyone back. You, Rosa, Freya, even Rey... you all had something special. And I never believed that my talents could help."

'Well that makes sense, it's a prouction class, it's not usually seen as anything special. But still, he's line of thinking definately started even before the got reincarnated. Jett leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "And now?"

Cedric looked up, hesitant. "Now I'm starting to think maybe I do. Maybe I'm not as useless as I thought."

'You're importance literally can't be quantified.' Jett smiled as a thought came to him but he brushed it off saying it wasn't time yet.

"You're not," Jett said. "You've grown a lot, Cedric. The way you handled the forge, item production, all of it, you're not the same kid who used to flinch at every decision."

Cedric smiled faintly. "You really think so?"

"I know so," Jett replied. "You're the kind of person who learns quietly but leaves a big impact. You make sure things work. People like you hold teams together."

The weight in Cedric's eyes seemed to ease. He looked both grateful and emotional, his lips pressing into a shaky smile. "Thanks, Jett. That means more than you think."

"Good," Jett said, straightening. "Because we'll need your steady head going forward. No room for self-doubt."

Cedric nodded. "I'll be ready."

Jett gave a short nod, satisfied. He turned toward the door, the soft creak marking his exit. The air outside felt cooler, carrying the faint scent of salt and smoke from the docks. He had one last check to make before nightfall.

As he walked down the narrow corridor, lost in thought, he turned the corner and collided with someone.

"Ouchhh," a familiar voice complained. The figure stumbled back, holding her face. "You should really watch where you're going."

Jett blinked. "Freya?"

"Jett?" Freya's voice softened as recognition hit. They were roommates; she could tell his voice anywhere. "Is that really you?"

"Well..." Jett started, but before he could finish, Freya threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest. The impact pushed them both back until they crashed onto the floor. Jett instinctively pulled her close, taking the fall so she wouldn't hit the ground.

"Where have you been all this time?" Freya's voice shook with relief, threaded with worry. The tone caught him off guard. For once, he couldn't bring himself to be sarcastic.

He simply sighed and placed a hand on her head, brushing through her hair with slow, steady strokes. She stayed still, breathing unevenly against his shoulder. A quiet thought crossed his mind.

'This feels... nice.' He immediately shut it down, forcing himself to stay composed.

Then came the sound of boots on wood. Sharp, rhythmic. Someone was coming their way.

Jett began to shift, ready to stand, but Freya tightened her grip. "It's okay," she whispered.

{Translucent}

A soft glow shimmered around her, faint as moonlight on glass. Her body released a pulse of pure light, and the air around them rippled. The glow spread like a veil, wrapping them both in a translucent shimmer before fading into nothing.

Jett blinked, glancing down, only to realize he could see through his own hand.

The footsteps drew closer. Two guards entered the hall, their torches lighting the corridor. They looked around briefly, talking in low voices, but their eyes passed right over Jett and Freya as if they weren't there.

Freya stayed still, her breath light against his chest. Jett didn't move either, watching silently as the guards walked past and disappeared down the corridor.

When the last sound faded, Freya let out a slow breath. The shimmer dissolved, and their forms came back into view.

"You…" Jett began, raising an eyebrow.

"Light refraction," Freya said quietly, a faint smile on her lips. "One of the many spells I've been working on."

Jett gave a small, impressed nod. "Remind me never to play hide and seek with you."

Freya chuckled softly, the tension between them easing as the last traces of magic faded into the night.

*

*

*

I'm not teasing anything

(⁠ノ⁠｀⁠Д⁠´⁠)⁠ノ⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻