We stand there watching as the fight is about to unfold. A soldier turns and looks behind.

  He gazes at Melissa. He gazes for too long. The other soldier and Jiaolong stop their tension.

  The appearance of Melissa was certainly eye-catching. Even the crowd who were focusing on the confrontation is now looking at her. It's as if she did all this on purpose.

  "They recognized me." Those words came from Melissa.

  She makes a movement with her eyes before running toward the back of the crowd at a fast pace. I barely manage to follow her.

  Not far behind us, the guards follow.

  "Hey you, over there!" they scream.

  When I look back, both of them are behind us.

  "You're all dressed like an elephant walked over you. No wonder they recognized us," I tell her.

  We run, jumping over a carriage.

  "You whine a lot. Just keep running."

  Going through ceilings, streets, and alleys, we finally make it to a safe place at a park.

  We hide inside the bushes, laying on the grass. Melissa sighs in satisfaction.

  "Why are you so relieved?" I question.

  "Now we made one ally."

  Her response sinks into my brain. Her presence was strong enough to get the attention of the soldiers and the crowd, but even if Jiaolong is on our side, we have no idea where he is right now.

  I raise the question. "We might've helped him out, but we have no idea where he is right now."

  She smiles with her right hand forming an 'L' with her fingers, tongue out. "How do you think we found him so easily?"

  Now that I recall, she was walking with no hesitation. Was it because she already knew?

  "Hmm… what is your spirit, Melissa?"

  She places her finger on her lips. "That's your job to discover."

  "But we're working together. Can't I know about it?"

  She looks away. I can see her profile. "For all I know, you're just a tool for me to use at the moment."

  She keeps eyeing the area. Then she walks, scratching the ground.

  "What are you doing? Have you become a dog?"

  She doesn't pay me any mind. Looking closely, that part of the soil is loose, like it's already been turned around.

  She finally finishes. Inside the hole, there are wrapped tissues.

  "If you're going to use this to change your clothes, then it's not a great choice."

  The wrap is actually very dirty.

  She pulls it out of the hole. "Now then, we can go." She begins leaving.

  "To where?" I chase her. "Don't you think we need some dresses too to blend in or hide our faces?" I suggest.

  "Hiding our faces will make no difference. The guards are already on alert. They'll be more suspicious of people hiding their faces."

  "At least let's change into something more decent."

  "Arghhhh… don't you get it? They started chasing us today. The more we waste time, the less we have to actually catch them. Are you trying to help or kill my momentum?" Her face frowns before she continues her walk.

  "Sorry…" My voice comes out cracked.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Why do I keep making dumb decisions and giving dumb suggestions?

  She doesn't say anything, but I'm sure she's more bothered than she's showing.

  As we make it out of the park, she makes no attempt to increase the pace.

  "Why don't we run now?"

  "Observe the area. There's no one hostile to us."

  Looking at the area, there's really no sign of soldiers. Only citizens looking at Melissa in a weird way.

  Those eyes are for pity and confusion. The bag she carries doesn't help either. Wrecked clothes and a dirty bag. The image of a poor, lazy girl is probably what's been made of her.

  But still, why doesn't she feel nervous walking around looking like this?

  Walking around without hindrance weighs more on my mind than when there were actually obstacles. I have to always be on alert, but my troubles about walking come to an end.

  Melissa suddenly stops at an alleyway, a box in front of her. On the box, 'Meeting spot' is written with water, faintly visible. As she puts her wrapped bag down, the water disappears.

  "What just happened now?!" I yelp.

  "I too want to know." A voice from behind us gets closer.

  We turn, seeing it's Jiaolong who is the owner of the voice.

  "I came here and I saw that. Strange, don't you think?" He points at Melissa. "It's just like someone wanted me to get here. All over the way, I got drops of water pouring around, and when I ignored them, they fell on me. I found it odd. It wasn't hostile… then I remembered you had a mermaid, so I figured you tried helping me." He spreads his arms. "Still, your ability is strange. How could you know where I was?"

  Melissa lowers her head with a smirk. "You managed to get here. That's wonderful. But I don't understand…" She places her hands on her waist. "I helped you, so why do you sound irritated?"

  Jiaolong's face turns blank. "…Wait… did I sound irritated?"

  "Really interesting bunch of idiots, but at least you are useful." She claps her hands with a grin.

  Jiaolong and I are confused, probably having the same thoughts. She's scary.

  After a brief moment, the matter gets back on the table. Jiaolong raises the question as to why we're getting chased, and so we sit down while Melissa gives him all the details about what we know.

  He places his fingers on his chin. "If I get it right, there are bad guys out there, and one caused a massacre to get all of us added to a suspect roster. Am I omitting something?"

  "No, you got it all fine. I'm surprised." Melissa comments.

  "I'm not dumb, you know?!" He frowns.

  Melissa giggles. "Sorry. You might be delusional, but you sure can think right."

  I feel chills in my heart. She's mocking me, but it only serves things right. After all, I've been of no use, so I can't retort to that. But why is Jiaolong saying nothing? I could only think he felt the same since he hasn't helped yet, but that is soon about to change.

  Jiaolong raises his hand. "So, what are we going to do now?"

  "Now?" Melissa smiles, unwrapping that dirty bag she has. Inside are armors looking like those of the ones chasing us.

  Thinking of it, I remember the one that knocked me out.

  "Don't tell me you did that…" I voice nervously, feeling my face turning red.

  The deep look she gives back confirms my suspicions.

  "I knew it. You're a-"

  I'm not finished talking, but the death glare she shoots me is enough to make me back up.

  Jiaolong stares in confusion. "What are you guys talking about?"

  "Nothing important you need to worry about." Melissa sways her left hand. "More importantly, let's get back to business."

  "Right."

  She places the dirty tissue on the ground. With the water and waste on the ground, she draws something resembling a map of the city, marking crosses at some places on it.

  "That looks like a city map," Jiaolong remarks.

  "Exactly." Melissa pulls back from what she's drawing. "I'll need you to go get me the people at these areas." She passes it to Jiaolong.

  He takes it reluctantly. "Why me?" He scoffs.

  Melissa stands up. "You're the best suited for it and astonished everyone at the recruitment. They'll be more likely to follow you than…" Her eyes look at me. "Go now and get everyone. I'll be here to monitor everything and tell you if it's safe to come back."

  Jiaolong looks conflicted for a moment as to why he should go, but then he gives a nod of approval. "I'll do my best." He stands up. "How many people are you planning to put on the mission? You only marked eight areas. Should I assume that's all?"

  Melissa gives him a thumbs up.

  I try getting up before Melissa interrupts me.

  "Where do you think you're going?" she asks.

  My throat dries for a moment. "I thought I'd have to go and help him."

  I am confused about that question. Jiaolong is equally confused.

  "I think he'll be of great help. After all, the more the merrier, don't we say?" Jiaolong nervously interjects.

  "Absolutely not." The words come out sharp like a blade. "Haven't you realized it yet?" Melissa places her index finger under my chin, her face centimeters away from mine. "You're my decoy. In absolutely no circumstances will I let you leave me alone."

  I can barely talk back. All I can hear are mumbles coming out. Defeated, I just comply.

  "Well, if everything is fine with you, I'm going to go then." Jiaolong's awkward voice signals he's about to leave.

  "Come back here when you're done."

  "Roger, captain." Jiaolong gives a salute, grinning before hurrying to leave the place.

  There's a silence I can't bring myself to break after Jiaolong leaves.

  Melissa sits back down, curling her legs. "Everest… don't think I asked you to stay here just for us to slack." She gazes my way. "Jiaolong might be smart, but you two are the same. Naive. That's why I can tell your naivete is what brought you to the situation you're facing right now."

  I look at her, confused about what she just advanced. "What are you talking about?"

  "Your strength is abnormal for a human of your caliber. There's no denying you manifested a spirit. My question is why haven't you ever been able to summon it, even in dreadful circumstances. At first, I thought you were just being secretive, but in truth, you just can't call it." She gets closer. "My answer is you did something out of impulse, completely disrupting any established connection."