It wasn’t long before the door opened again, and Kirine returned, unexpectedly offering an apology. “Sorry about that—I had to discuss something about the project.”
“It’s fine,” Ares replied, keeping his voice neutral.
“So, have you made up your mind?” she asked, her eyes steady on him.
“I’ll think about it…”
She didn’t push, but the silence that followed spoke volumes. Ares could tell that if he outright refused, Kirine was fully prepared to drink it herself.
Well, I guess he has every reason to be wary, Kirine thought. She couldn’t blame him for his hesitation. She recalled how Ares had been thrown into chaos last time, suddenly turned back into a child. Now she was asking him to drink a different potion, one that might have unpredictable effects. It was only natural for him to be wary of it. A pang of guilt tugged at her as she sipped her tea, wondering if she should just take the potion herself.
“Wait a second!” Ares suddenly slammed his hands on the table, rising to his feet in a burst of panic.
“What? What’s wrong?” Kirine asked, alarmed by his sudden outburst.
But as Ares’s gaze shot to the table, she immediately realized what had happened. Her eyes went wide. The vial was empty.
“No… did you spike my tea with it?” she asked, her voice rising in disbelief.
Ares didn’t respond right away, his face flushing with embarrassment.
“Seriously? Sneaking it in like that is a new low!” Kirine exclaimed.
“That’s why I told you I was thinking about it!” Ares shot back, trying to defend himself, though guilt edged his words.
He quickly reached for the cup, intending to move it away, but Kirine was faster. She took the tea in one swift motion and drank it, staring at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Ares could only stare in horror.
“You’ve got some nerve, yelling at me after you’re the one who messed up! If anyone’s got the right to be angry here, it’s me! Me!” Kirine shot back, her voice tight with frustration.
Ares, taken aback by her fiery response, stood there, his mouth opening and closing, trying to find a retort. He’d never expected this turn of events.
“Come on, shouldn’t we at least be upfront with each other?” Kirine continued, her arms crossed. “Aren’t we supposed to be on the same team?”
“Sorry,” Ares muttered, sounding almost sheepish.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it!” Kirine snapped, her eyes flashing. “And if you’re going to apologize, put some heart into it!”
“…I’m really sorry,” Ares said, his voice quieter, almost resigned.
“Fine.” Kirine nodded, though she wasn’t entirely satisfied. But before she could say anything else, a wave of drowsiness hit her, and she paused, blinking slowly. I feel… so tired.
She couldn’t tell if it was the potion’s effect or just the sleepiness of the moment, but her body seemed to drag. The weight of exhaustion settled in, and the only thing she could focus on was the idea of falling asleep.
“I’m going to take a nap. Keep an eye on me,” she murmured, barely able to keep her eyes open.
“You’re really sleeping on the job?” Ares asked, incredulous.
“It’s your fault,” she replied, her voice heavy with sleep.
“Sleep well,” Ares said with a quiet sigh, his attitude softening unexpectedly. Kirine chuckled weakly at the sudden shift in his demeanor before her eyelids finally fluttered shut, and she succumbed to the pull of sleep.
***
What’s your name?
It was a long time ago, back when Kirine was living in a small village, one that didn’t even appear on most maps. She had met a girl her age there, and the girl was so adorable—so full of life—that even as another girl, Kirine couldn’t help but think she’d break hearts when she grew up.
Kirine had wanted to get to know her, and wanted to learn her name. But the girl hesitated, and after a long pause, she opened her mouth slowly.
“Aria.”
“Aria?” Kirine repeated, curious.
The girl shifted uncomfortably, looking away for a moment. Then, after a breath, she leaned in, as if preparing to share a great secret.
“Well, that’s not my real name. My real name is…”
Just as Kirine thought she’d finally hear it—
“Kirine. Kirine!”
A voice broke through, yanking her back to the present.
Startled, Kirine snapped awake and blinked irritably, only to find herself staring into a pair of piercing blue eyes so close to hers that their noses nearly touched.
What… what’s going on?
She jerked back, wide-eyed, and to her surprise, Ares looked even more flustered than she was.
“This is bad,” he muttered, his face pale.
Before she could ask what he meant, Ares scooped her up with such ease that she felt as light as a doll in his hands. She opened her mouth to demand an explanation, but something about her body felt…different. Unfamiliar.
Ares tilted his chin toward a nearby mirror.
“Take a look—you’re a cat.”
She was about to retort, but as soon as her gaze caught her reflection, the words died in her throat.
In Ares’s hands, she saw herself—a small black cat, her eyes wide and her fur sleek.