PAID

A strong wind swept through the vast *Erin's Canyon*. The person I encountered at the summit made me hesitate.

I knew that woman.

Danger.

Why?

I had just barely calmed Chris down, and I couldn’t risk showing her that I was interacting with another woman—especially someone I knew. My connection with *Skada* had ended when the sub-character raid team disbanded. There was no reason for us to get involved again.

*Click.*

I turned around, trying to quietly slip away from the high, open cliffside. But on this elevated ridge with no cover, there was no way Skada wouldn’t notice me.

Skada turned her head, her eyes widening in surprise.

"...Oh? Rain?"

"Hiiik."

*Thud, thud, thud.*

I scrambled down the rocky slope like a mountain goat, quickly making my way toward the basin at the bottom of the canyon.@@novelbin@@

Sorry, Skada.

I can’t involve any more women in my life.

Chris would lose it.

"...Rain! Wait, that’s dangerous!"

*Thunk.*