Monster Harem In The Tower

Validia’s fingers gently moved over the worn fabric of the stuffed rabbit. The faintest glimmer of green light seeped from her palms, shimmering like a soft glow around the toy. As her hands worked, the fraying stitches slowly tightened, and the fabric, once ragged, became smooth again.

The rabbit, though, didn’t look brand new. Its fur regained some luster, but there were still signs of its age—a certain softness that only time could give it. The repair wasn’t perfect; it was a restoration, not a replacement.

Lily’s eyes lit up as she took the rabbit back in her hands, holding it up to her chest. A small smile tugged at her lips, but there was a hint of confusion in her gaze. She could tell it was fixed, but... it wasn’t quite the same.

"It’s... it’s perfect!" she exclaimed, her voice soft with relief, but there was a trace of uncertainty in her smile. She tilted her head, staring down at the rabbit. "But... it’s not like new. It feels... different. Like, it’s been cared for, but not completely changed."

Validia gave a small, knowing smile as she leaned back on her futon. "Some things are better left with their history. A new toy wouldn’t have the same meaning, would it?"

Lily blinked, still holding the rabbit close. She turned it over in her hands, running her fingers over the stitches, feeling the faint, almost imperceptible warmth of the fix. It was true—it wasn’t perfect, but that imperfection made it feel... familiar.

She gave a small, contented sigh. "Yeah... You’re right. It’s just..." She hesitated, glancing at Validia, then Sophia, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It’s strange. It feels... more real this way."

Sophia’s eyes softened as she watched Lily, a rare moment of tenderness in her gaze. "Sometimes the things that are imperfect are the ones that hold the most value."

Lily smiled, her hands cradling the rabbit as if it were a treasure. "Thanks, Lilia. It’s just... it feels like it’s been with me all along."

The room fell quiet again, the weight of the moment settling over them, a shared understanding passing between the three.

Lily, cradling her newly restored rabbit, soon began to feel the weight of sleep pull at her. Her eyelids grew heavy as she snuggled deeper into the futon, the warmth of the blankets cocooning her. She shifted slightly, her breathing evening out, and before long, she was fast asleep, the stuffed rabbit still pressed against her chest.

Validia didn’t move, her expression unreadable as she quietly observed Lily. The green light from her earlier work faded, leaving the room in the calm stillness of night.

Sophia, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to shake the strange sense of camaraderie that had begun to settle between her and Validia. She glanced at the sleeping Lily, then quickly flicked her gaze away, folding her arms. "Tch. Not like I care or anything, but... I guess I’m happy she’s okay with you. Not that I’m jealous or anything."

Validia’s lips quirked into a faint smile, her eyes still on Lily. "Oh, don’t worry. You’ll never be forgotten. Nathan probably won’t even notice you tonight."

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "What the hell are you talking about?" She shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Validia’s gaze. "Like... I don’t matter? Whatever, I’m sure he’s too busy with his... his... stuff. Who cares?" She crossed her arms tightly, her posture stiff as if to ward off any further teasing.

Validia chuckled softly, a sound that was almost too warm for the moment. "Relax, Sophia. You’re not invisible. It’s just that Nathan’s too wrapped up in his own world. He’s a complicated one, after all."

Sophia scoffed, trying to hide her flustered reaction. "Nghh... What’s your deal? Why’re you always so calm about everything?"

"Because I’m not in a rush to prove anything," Validia said, her tone light but with an underlying edge of amusement. She glanced at Sophia with a knowing look. "But don’t worry. Nathan will always have a place for you in his... tangled little world."

Sophia shifted, biting her lip, her pride a little bruised. "Ugh, whatever... What do you even know about him, huh?"

Validia leaned back, her voice casual but her eyes still sharp. "Enough to know he doesn’t need to be coddled, but you don’t mind doing it, do you?"

Sophia’s blush deepened, but she quickly masked it with a forced, sarcastic laugh. "What’s it to you?"

Lily stirred slightly in her sleep, muttering something incomprehensible, but neither Sophia nor Validia paid much attention. Their conversation was wrapped in unspoken tension, both of them pretending to ignore the tiny shift in their relationship as the night wore on.

Sophia shifted her posture, looking away with a slightly smug expression. "I’m probably stronger than even most S-rank Hunters now. Doesn’t matter what rank you slap on me—I’ve got the experience and skill to match it."

Validia let out a quiet, almost inaudible chuckle. She didn’t answer right away, instead letting her thoughts wander for a moment. Humans. So weak, so fragile... yet they keep pushing forward. It’s their greatest strength, and also their biggest flaw.

She glanced back at Sophia, her gaze unreadable. They move so easily based on their emotions. Their feelings are like the wind—constantly changing, unpredictable. But it’s that very unpredictability that makes them interesting, I suppose. Still, I wonder if they’ll be enough to win this Dimensional War. It’s a war where the stakes are higher than any battle they’ve faced before.

Sophia huffed, sensing that Validia wasn’t responding in the way she expected. "What? You don’t think I’m stronger than those so-called S-rank Hunters?" she prodded again, her tone laced with a challenge.

Validia didn’t bite. Her lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as she shrugged, her eyes distant as if she were contemplating something far beyond this room.

"You’re strong, Sophia," Validia finally replied, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "But don’t let your confidence cloud your judgment. Strength isn’t everything. There’s more at play than you realize."

Sophia’s expression tightened, but she said nothing. She was used to people not taking her fully seriously, but something about Validia’s unshaken composure made her feel... off-balance.

Validia’s thoughts returned to the looming war, the one that would soon consume them all. They have their emotions, their bonds, their stubbornness. Maybe that’s what will carry them through. If they can harness those things—if they don’t let them tear them apart first—they might just stand a chance.

She looked back at Sophia, her smile gone but her eyes carrying a quiet understanding. "Just remember, in the end, it’s not about who’s stronger. It’s about who’s willing to keep fighting when it all falls apart."

Sophia said nothing more, but her gaze softened, as if considering the weight of Validia’s words.

Sophia’s jaw tightened, clearly frustrated. She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing at Validia. "You’re really something, huh? Always acting like you’ve got it all figured out," she said, her tone sharp with a hint of irritation. "It’s like you’re always playing the role of the wise one, like you know better than everyone else."

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Validia simply tilted her head, her expression still calm and composed. She had no intention of fueling the argument any further, but her mind shifted as she observed the subtle shift in Sophia’s demeanor. Ah, humans. Their egos are so fragile, so easily pricked.

For a moment, she found herself silently amused, though she knew better than to show it. The human spirit was so volatile—one wrong word, one misstep, and the whole world would come crashing down on them.

Sophia’s brow furrowed as she waited for Validia to respond, her patience wearing thin. "I don’t need some ’wise’ lecture from you. You’re not as perfect as you think you are."

Validia blinked slowly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. I almost forgot... she thought, her gaze softening as she observed Sophia’s agitation. I need to be careful. I’m pretending to be one of them, after all. To blend in, to avoid suspicion, I have to play by their rules. Human egos are so fragile—they can snap at the slightest provocation.

She let out a soft exhale, as though pondering something far deeper than the words exchanged. "You’re right, Sophia," she said quietly, her voice smoother than before. "I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve learned that sometimes, it’s not about knowing everything. It’s about knowing when to listen and when to speak."

Sophia’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, her irritation not fully gone but simmering down. "Hmph. Whatever."

Validia’s smile faded as she turned her gaze toward the window, her thoughts drifting once again to the future. If only they knew how easy it is to provoke them, how quickly their emotions can spiral...

She gave a final glance back at Sophia, her tone casual yet carrying a hidden weight. "Just remember, Sophia, when you’re in the heat of it all... don’t let your ego get in the way. You’ll be too busy defending it to notice when the real danger is right in front of you."