>>48036014
The glint of the mild waves splashing below Renko occasionally pierced the mid-day fog of Misty Lake like stars shining through storm clouds. The Ice Fairy certainly had the gusto to carry her far & above the surface of the waters at first, though now that they were halfway to the other side it seemed apparent that Cirno had begun struggling more than she was holding her own. Renko's ankles were nearly scraping the tops of the fog pools, the occasional jerky readjustment from the Fairy above like a drone with faulty propellers only serving to keep the Physicist's previously-triggered nerves awry. It was certainly no 50ft. drop, but those waters still had to be freezing cold this time of year.
"U-Uh, you sure you'll be able to make the distance here, Miss..?" Renko nervously looks over her shoulder at the phantasmal strobing of Danmaku still visible from the western wing of Remilia's Mansion while holding her damaged parcel close.
"Cirno! Ugh, just call me Cirno..! Don't worry, haaah...I save people like this all...the time!" She figured that was a good enough excuse for some 'bunny' girl, though she really wished she'd practiced more of those stretching exercises Meiling had been showing her so she'd have been properly prepared for this.
Looking back ahead as the looming mist began to part, Renko thanked her lucky stars that the southern banks of the Lake really weren't too far ahead after all. The college girl took one last tentative look at the waters passing below only to hitch her breath at the murky sight of what nearly seemed to be some large fish trailing their flight path below the surface. Something that size surely had to be ferocious in nature, Marisa never did give an exact number to the missing persons around here...perhaps it was ancient in origin? Or maybe it wasn't even entirely fish-like at all..? Whatever the case, Renko wasn't able to make out much as the shadow seemed to stop in its tracks and plunge further into the depths not long after being spotted. Another mystery for another time...
With a few more grunts, Cirno had her runaway safely touch down onto the marshy sands of the shoreline before sputtering off with a wheeze like a deflated balloon, collapsing into the nearby long grass. The chill coming off the water sent shivers up Renko's spine, even through her relief at the fact that the Scarlet Devil Mansion was now little more than a distant silhouette too far away to be showing any visible activity. That crimson book she plucked from the Library still remained safely tucked away in her bag, as well as the other random assortments and non-essentials she kept in there, though the outer leather had been fairly scuffed and even scorched in places. The strap was rendered useless in its severed state, leaving the Physicist with little convenient options when it came to keeping her hands free while carrying it. 'Just something I'll have to worry about later', she thought to herself.
"Phew..! Jeez...well, you're welcome! Those vamps can get real scary...you must sure feel lucky right about now."
"Yeah, you can say that..."
Her various pains beginning to settle within her bones aside, Renko also quickly realized she wouldn't have any easy way to get the rest of her belongings back if Marisa doesn't...well, make it out. For lack of any softer way of putting it. Those fights /are/ designed to keep the mortality rate around here down, right..?

Marisa's a strong girl, she'd make it out alright in the end and find her way over here.
"Surely..."

"Who's Sherly?"
Renko nearly jumped at the sound of Cirno suddenly sitting right beside her in the silt. Her knees were tucked in as she did her best to imitate Renko's stoic thousand-yard stare out into the open water. There was so little outer stimuli now besides the gentle rolling of the waves...the college girl hadn't even realized she was that lost in thought already.
"No, I mean...(sigh), it's really not important."
"Eh, if ya say so."
"Look—Cirno, right?"
The Ice Fairy nods as she stands, crossing her hands behind her head. She barely even came up to Renko's shoulders, bow included.
"You wouldn't happen to, well, I don't know. Have a place I could...stay for a while..?"
"Oh! Like a secret hideout to keep yourself in if anyone comes looking?"
"Yes, exactly! I'd really owe you one in the future for it, it wouldn't be for any longer than a day or two."
"Hmph~! There really is no one better that could've been waiting for you at that gate. Onward - to shelter!"
The little Fairy points triumphantly up a small hill not far from where they've landed, Renko finding it difficult to fully stifle a giggle in the face of Cirno's antics. At least she's earnest, though the fog ahead is still too thick to see exactly what's being pointed at. She begins marching forward towards their destination, expecting Renko to follow wholeheartedly without saying a word. The Physicist really had no other choice anyways; the more secluded the better in the end.