"Bleargh!"

"Gah!"

Alfonse flew across the room and tumbled painfully into the wall opposite of Kiran.

Kiran, who was standing with Breidablik outstretched and its barrel smoking.

"Alfonse!" Kiran shouted in alarm. They holstered their relic before rushing over, quickly looping an arm around Alfonse's waist. Alfonse got up with a pained grunt. One of Kiran's eyes flickered shut in a wince. "Sorry! I, uh, never thought I would have been on the receiving end of a sneaky surprise."

"And yet you are the only one who turns around and blasts the visitor in the face," Alfonse groaned. He waved off Kiran's concerned look. "What are you doing up and about at this hour?"

"Couldn't sleep," Kiran admitted. "Something bothers me about our three-night sleep, but I can't quite figure out what. What are you doing out so late? I'd imagine tackling insomniac is your idea of fun.

Alfonse shook his head. "I am here because there have been reports of a ghost roaming these halls. Commander Anna thinks that the ghost will scare away visitors during the winter festival, so here I am."

"Vistors?"

"Another get rich quick scheme of her's, I am afraid."

"Joy," Kiran said dryly. "Is this ghost the same ghost that's been leaving presents in the hero's rooms?"

"And the guests," Alfonse confirmed. "The guards have been sent running far too many times over panic about the small boxes."

"I have a strong suspicion on who it is already," Kiran sighed. "No need for alarm. Just a hero trying to be nice, I am sure. Leave it to me. I'll see that the guests are not disturbed any longer."

"I don't understand," Thrasir said. "Is this not what people enjoy?"

"Supposedly," Lif inhaled. His eyes reopened, focusing on the summoner. "But I forgot how jittery people could be by the smallest unknown."

"Still," Kiran cooed. "It was really sweet of you two to do this."

Lif huffed and turned away. "If you have nothing else to say, go chat up another hero."

Thrasir turned towards her Askrian counterpart. "Lif? Are you blu- okay, okay." She held up her hands in surrender as Lif turned his steely gaze onto Thrasir.

"You're almost as bad as Felix," Kiran said. They stopped for a moment at the doorway, before adding one last comment.

"Tsundere."

Summoning Mercedes was a mistake, Kiran thought gingerly. Fjorm's lecturing didn't need another person added on.