Haniel

Invisible Bonds in the Profound Darkness

A strange sensation washed over Haniel. Despite the complete darkness surrounding her, she began to faintly discern the outline of a figure. It was the first time this had ever happened, and she couldn't help but be astonished and afraid at the same time. However, a warm feeling of security quickly enveloped her, soothing her fears.

"(What is this sensation, and who is this strange figure?)"

The silhouette that had formed in front of her seemed to be composed of magical particles with a soft, almost invisible, white hue against the absolute darkness. Given her own condition, she had a vague idea of what a person's shape might be, but what she was experiencing was completely different from what she had imagined.

"(..Who is this person..?)"

Unable to find an explanation for what was in front of her, a hint of doubt crossed Haniel's face. Her only option to discover the identity of the person before her was to ask directly. However, before she could do so, an unfamiliar sound took the lead.

"Woof! Woof!"

"Huh..? Woof...?"

Seeing that the mysterious silhouette moved in sync with that indescribable voice, Haniel couldn't help but tilt her head slightly, her expression now reflecting even deeper confusion than before.

"I'm sorry if my companion startled you, miss."

"She's Sera, a Siberian Husky."

Haniel remained perplexed, which was entirely understandable since she had no knowledge of what a "Siberian Husky" was in her current state. Her expression was now colored with an honest and innocent curiosity before her voice was heard once more.

"Siberian Husky..?"

"Yes, she's a very friendly dog. Would you like to try petting her?"

This mysterious man posed the question while maintaining a friendly smile, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Feeling relaxed once again, much like she had when she was with the nurse, Haniel contemplated asking more questions about Sera. Or, at least, that's what she intended to do, as her body unconsciously moved to stroke the adorable dog, who appeared to be taller than her.

"(..She's so fluffy..)"

"(Very fluffy!)"

Haniel began to pet the dog in such an unusual way that a bead of sweat trickled down the cheek of the mysterious man. It seemed like his dear companion had made a new friend. A couple of minutes had to pass until the little girl was satisfied with the attention she gave to the dog, and now she was taking a brief break. Seeing that she wouldn't be interrupted further, it was the perfect moment for him to introduce himself politely.

"By the way, miss, I apologize for the late introduction; my name is Mikael."

For some strange reason, Haniel couldn't react immediately. Her mind went momentarily blank, and after regaining her composure, she inclined her head slightly toward Mikael.

"My.. My name is Haniel!"

Haniel's manners may have seemed a bit abrupt, but her tone was genuinely friendly. Mikael squinted his eyes and observed the young girl in detail, but his gaze seemed to be seeing more than just her physical body.

"(..I feel as if something is surrounding me..)"

Mikael's gaze caused the temperature in the air to drop, creating a slight discomfort for Haniel. It appeared to be a habit he was aware of but couldn't control, so he apologized appropriately to her.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Miss Haniel."

"I sometimes cause discomfort in people."

Despite feeling that something was amiss in Mikael's words, Haniel couldn't muster any questions, as she didn't know how to broach such a conversation. But she didn't want to remain silent, so she tried to think of a common topic. Fortunately, there was something simple that had piqued her curiosity.