“Here you go,” Sol said as she approached with a tray balanced effortlessly in her hands. The aroma of freshly fried potatoes wafted through the air as she set down two plates in front of Yuzu and Catherine. Each plate had a neat stack of golden, crispy potato cubes, glistening slightly with oil and sprinkled with herbs. Beside them sat two tall glasses filled with a refreshing-looking drink, condensation forming on the surface.

  Yuzu’s ears perked up immediately, her tail swaying behind her. “Bery snack!!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement. Without hesitation, she picked up a potato cube, blew on it a little, and popped it into her mouth.

  Catherine, on the other hand, inspected the food with an amused smirk before taking a casual bite. “Mmm, not bad,” she remarked, nodding approvingly as she took a sip of her drink. “Nice and crispy.”

  I glanced over at them from the chessboard, noting how they both seemed perfectly content sitting on the sidelines, enjoying their snacks while Viola and I continued our match. They were watching us intently, but with the relaxed air of spectators enjoying a show rather than competitors waiting for their turn.

  Sol, after making sure everything was in order, gave a small nod before straightening up. “Let me know if you need more,” she said before turning on her heel and heading back toward the kitchen.

  Meanwhile, Yuzu reached for another potato cube, her eyes flicking between me and Viola. “Bery continue battle,” she muttered, her mouth still half-full.

  I rested my chin on my palm as I studied Viola’s movements. The game was progressing steadily, our pieces engaging in a quiet battle of wits, yet my mind couldn’t shake the nagging curiosity behind her actions.

  "Hey, Viola," I said, my voice casual yet laced with genuine curiosity. I slid a knight forward, subtly pressuring her defenses. "Why are you doing this?"

  Viola, who had been scanning the board with sharp, calculating eyes, blinked at my question. She tilted her head slightly, her purple locks shifting under the weight of her hat. "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone unreadable, though there was a flicker of intrigue in her gaze.

  I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I observed as she took a moment to reposition a rook, reinforcing her defenses around her king. She was playing cautiously, trying to block any potential openings I might exploit.

  Leaning back slightly, I met her eyes. "Corrupting the Inari Shrine," I clarified, my words slow and deliberate. "And trying to get fox spatial magic or… whatever it is." I gestured vaguely with my hand before letting it rest back on my lap. "I mean, that’s the gist of what I got. I still don’t fully understand how magic works in this world, but it’s obvious you’ve been up to something."

  Viola didn’t react immediately. Instead, she traced her fingers over the rim of her hat, her lips pressed together in a thin line. The candlelight flickered around her, casting wavering shadows over the polished floor.

  "You make it sound so sinister," she finally said, sighing as she moved another piece to fortify her defenses. "It’s not that simple."

  I raised an eyebrow, tapping my fingers against the side of the table. "Oh? Then why don’t you enlighten me?"

  Viola exhaled softly, her fingers adjusting the brim of her witch hat as she leaned back slightly. "The color of a soul," she murmured.

  I tilted my head, confusion knitting my brows as I tried to grasp the meaning behind her words. The flickering candlelight reflected in Viola’s eyes, making her expression even harder to read. Was she speaking metaphorically, or did she truly see something beyond the visible spectrum?

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  Viola leaned back slightly, adjusting the brim of her witch hat with a slow, deliberate motion. Her eyes, sharp and unreadable, locked onto mine as if searching for something. Then, in a quieter tone, almost as if speaking to herself, she murmured, “Do you know what color it is?”

  Viola leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table as she studied me with quiet amusement. "Everything has color. People, places, magic... even thoughts. But souls?" She tapped a finger against her arm. "They’re the most interesting of all."

  I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of her words. "So, what? Are you saying you can see them?"

  Viola smirked. "That depends."

  "On what?"

  "On whether or not you believe in the unseen," she replied cryptically, moving another piece into position. The chessboard, glowing ever so faintly with its magic, reflected the candlelight in a way that made it feel almost alive.

  I stared at her, my mind racing. "And what does that have to do with the shrine?"

  Viola exhaled through her nose, a small, tired sound. "The shrine... the foxes... the magic, it's all tied to the essence of souls. I was merely trying to understand something. Or perhaps, reclaim something."

  Her words carried a weight I couldn’t quite grasp. The soft glow of the enchanted chess pieces flickered in the dim candlelight, casting shifting shadows on the polished wooden floor.

  "You’re being awfully vague," I muttered, eyes narrowing. "Are you saying you need fox magic for something?"

  Viola didn’t answer right away. Instead, she studied the board, the flickering light making her expression unreadable. "Let’s just say," she said finally, moving her rook into a defensive position, "I’m looking for a specific color."

  I frowned. "A color?"

  Viola's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "And so far, I haven’t found it."

  I studied her expression, searching for any hint of what she truly meant. Viola always had this way of speaking, half cryptic, half teasing, never quite revealing her intentions outright. It was frustrating.

  "A specific color?" I repeated, "And what color is that?"

  Viola let out a small chuckle, adjusting her hat again as if she were stalling. "That," she said, moving her knight into an aggressive position, "is something only I can see."

  I let out a slow breath, trying to make sense of her words. "So... you’re saying souls have colors, and you’re looking for one in particular. But why?"

  Viola’s smirk faded slightly, her eyes drifting toward the enchanted chessboard as if the swirling light within the pieces held the answer. "Because," she murmured, almost too softly to hear, "there’s a color I lost long ago."

  A silence stretched between us. The only sounds in the room were the faint rustling of Yuzu’s tail as she twitched beside me, the distant clinking of dishes from the kitchen, and the soft crunching of food. I glanced to the side, spotting Yuzu and Catherine both munching absentmindedly, Yuzu with her ears twitching as she nibbled on a potato snack, and Catherine chewing on a piece of fruit, her expression unreadable as she listened in on our conversation.

  I tightened my grip around my queen piece, or at least, I imagined doing that in my head, my mind running in circles. What did she mean by that?

  Before I could press her further, Viola leaned back, her usual smirk returning. "But enough about that," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "It’s still your turn, Mashiro. And if you keep hesitating like that, I might just win."

  I exhaled sharply, shaking off my thoughts. Fine. If she wanted to be mysterious, I’d let her, for now.

  Still, as I moved my next piece, a thought lingered at the back of my mind. What kind of color could she be looking for?

  "Anima," Viola muttered, her voice just above a whisper, yet it carried a weight that made my spine stiffen. "The essence of life itself. When enough of it gathers in one place, it has the potential to take form... to be reborn into something entirely new."

  I blinked, caught off guard by the gravity of her words. "Hm? What do you mean?"

  Viola's fingers hovered over her next move, her expression shadowed by an unsettling calm. "The war between elves and humans, it's only a matter of time before it erupts in full force." She finally shifted her piece, the chessboard pulsing faintly with magic. "And when it does, the battlefield, soaked in the blood and essence of countless souls, might just have enough energy to..." Her violet eyes flickered toward me. "Give birth to a new demon lord."