Lance, Amani, and Ariador walked down the spacious hallway, the caramel walls gleaming with soft candlelight. The air reeked of phenyl, alluding to the cleanliness of the floor, adding a sense of calm as the sound of their footsteps echoed.

Lance stretched his arms, before glancing over at Amani, who strode beside him like a colossus, making Lance awe at the size of the hallway. Before stepping in, he was pretty concerned Amani would have to bend down the whole time.

Lance side-eyed Ariador, who was on the opposite extreme, humming happily as he rode his reindeer beside them. The dwarf barely reached his hips, making him wonder about the rumoured Garden Gnomes, who were said to be even smaller.

Lance shook his head, bringing his focus back onto the upcoming battle. From everything Ariador had told him, Astrape was not a foe to be taken lightly. He had earned his position through sheer hard work, patience, dedication, and ability... unlike Lance, who unknowingly skipped straight to the highest ranked assignments. He cringed a little, feeling slightly guilty, but it was too late for regrets.

The thought of being struck down in front of an audience was not appealing, but Lance wasn't particularly worried. He had gone through worse in his homeland. Of course, he didn't plan to lose; the sceptre and the grimoire were still at stake.

However, as Lance walked alongside Amani and Ariador, he felt a strange calm. A feeling brought by a sense of company, as opposed to the alienation he had been experiencing ever since he left his home. Enjoying this familiar feeling, Lance smiled, feeling relaxed as he walked.

Sadly, as they were heading to the arena to prepare, the calm evaporated as they approached the front desk of the hall.

There was a commotion. A girl, not much older than Lance, stood there trembling. Her hands clutched a small pendant at her throat, her eyes darting back and forth between the towering man in front of her and the exit on her left.

As Lance approached them, he recognised the girl to be the receptionist from earlier, the pendant likely being the crescent moon in purple he saw her wearing last time.

“I– I don’t have a– anything else to give you,” the receptionist stammered, taking a half-step back as the man leaned forward.

“You’ve had several years to pay this off, woman,” the man said with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Lance noted that the man had tanned skin, a towering stature, and boasted short, honey blonde hair. He also had caramel brown eyes, all things suggesting that he wasn't a native to this land.

Lance halted where he stood, Ariador and Amani stopping right behind him, observing the situation unfold. The man did not notice them, as he continued, “Your father’s debts don’t just disappear because he’s dead. Now, give me the damned pendant."

“I— I can’t,” she choked out, her fingers clutching the necklace tighter. “It... It was my mother’s… it’s all I have left.” Her eyes were teary and bloodshot as she spoke.

The man, however, did display the slightest hint of empathy, declaring, "It’s not yours anymore; only the debt is.” With that, the man's hand shot forwards, as if to rip the pendant from her throat.

Abruptly, a ray of icy blue light shot forth, separating the girl fron the man. The ray shot past them and struck the wall, creating a thick layer of frost, the wall beneath cracking from the thermal stress. The man sweatdropped, realising he would have suffered a horrible frostbite had he been caught in the blast.

“That’s enough.” A deep voice commanded, attracting both their attentions. The man turned his head towards the voice, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the dwarf he spoke, the reindeer he sat on, and the beside him.

"A Ranger..." He muttered, slowly stepping back. A moment passed as they stared at each other. "This is official business matters. You have no power here, and collecting debt in completely legal." Still, the man did not back down.

"What isn't legal is assault and damage to mental health. You are well aware of your actions, Mister Midnight." The dwarf laughed, his voice muffled by his beard, but this time, it sounded cold and a little apathetic.

"I am collecting the only thing she has of value. She's in debt and unwilling to pay. Since I do not wish to suffer a loss, this is my only option." The man recited indifferently, stepping towards the woman again, or at least trying to.

At the same time, Lance raised his sceptre, his eyes flickering with the barest hint of magic as he whispered, "Vitrification."

A white magic circle emerged, surrounding the man’s feet, shimmering as it spawned a thick, glassy liquid from the floor. The man looked down in confusion as his boots sunk into the thick layer of molten glass, rapidly burning through his footwear. His eyes widened, but before he could even react and try to remove his feet, Lance flicked his wrist, casting a follow up spell, 'Kryozone.'

Immediately, all heat was drained from the glass, the molten mass cooling instantly, locking the man in place. The man tried to move out of instinct, but found his feet firmly trapped. A ripple of panic flickered across his face as he lost balance, flailing for a few seconds before he fell backwards, his butt kissing the ground.

"What...?" The lady whispered to herself, confused. Just now, she was being assaulted for her necklace, and the tables had turned way too fast. Finally snapping out of her stunlock, she turned her eyes to look at her saviours. One of them was a Ranger, which relieved her immensely. While the other two...

Her eyes widened in recognition, as she blurted out, "You are the...?" However, she immediately caught herself, as disclosing information learn during the sign-up was illegal without consent. Lance lightly nodded at her, while Ariador and Amani gloated at the man from the side.

The man's face flushed red with embarrassment, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. “A bit excessive, don’t you think?”

“Don't worry, you’ll live... probably,” Lance replied, smiling cheekily. His expression irked the man, which made Lance smile ever wider, however, he then ignored the and turned to the receptionist.

"Is everything alright?" He questioned, his eyes scanning the lady for signs of wounds. The lady smiled and shook her head. "I am fine, thanks to you."

While they talked, Amani stepped up beside Lance, his eyes reminiscent of a rivulet of blaze. He crossed his arms, casting a glance down at the man’s feet encased in glass. “Raising your hand in a lady isn't exactly a gentleman's code, Midnight Capulus."

The man’s gaze snapped to him, and for the first time, his arrogant expression faltered. “The Caldera,” he muttered, recognizing Amani. Meanwhile, Lance quietly noted both the names Midnight Capulus and Caldera for later.

Ariador stood at a slight distance, the dwarf's hand resting lightly on his heavyweight bow, his eyes scanning the man’s every movement. The ranger didn’t speak, but his presence alone cemented the gravity of the situation. While Lance loved to clown on the little man, as a Ranger, he was indeed the law here, and everyone knew it.

The receptionist now had a smug look on her face as he looked at the man on the ground, sticking her tongue out as she placed a hand on her hip.

The man, still trapped, and on the ground, grit his teeth. “What are you, seven? Playing the hero won't get you anywhere. That girl owes a heavy debt." The man raised his voice, but ceased his violent tone the moment Ariador withdrew an arrow from the quiver, threatening to aim it at his face. Inhaling deeply, and now with a more controlled tone, the man whispered, "You’re not saving her by stepping in now. You’re just prolonging her suffering.”

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Then maybe we can work out another way." Pausing for a second, he added, "Immediately resorting to violence is a horrible course of action."

The man glared at him, clenching his fists he tried to keep calm while speaking, “There is no other way. She either gives me the pendant, or she pays with something else." Switching his glare to the girl, who swallowed a lump in her throat, he added, "And she has nothing else. It isn't a negotiation.”

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Lance studied the man for a moment, before turning to the girl. “What exactly does he want?”

The girl’s smugness faltered, her tone slightly sad as she spoke, “It’s… the debt my father left behind. He drank himself to death, but before that, he borrowed a lot of money from people like him.” She gestured toward the man, not even paying him a glance. If it were to annoy the man, it worked very well. “I’ve spent years trying to pay it off. I thought I was close, but now he says I still owe more.”

Lance nodded, before asking gently, not wanting to hurt the girl any further, “How much more?”

The lady smiled with a tinge of helplessness, confessing in a soft tone. “Everything I have wouldn’t be enough, and..." She hesitated, before adding, "It would take me six to seven years to pay it off with my current job, but even then, I wouldn't be able to deal with the interest rate. So... he wants this instead.” She touched the pendant around her neck.

Amani glanced at the pendant, and then back at the man, before musing out loud, “A pendant to pay off such a heavy debt? That’s quite a generous offer, don’t you think?”

The man scoffed, "She has quite literally nothing else of value." The man sneered at the lady as he responded, "Slavery isn't allowed in this continent, and prostitution is outlawed in this country. Any other form of service would take decades to pay off the debt."

Amani’s eyes narrowed, deeply unsatisfied with his response. “Regardless, the way you’re going about it is far too aggressive.”

The man just shrugged, though it was clear his patience was wearing thin. “She owes. I collect. It’s business.”

"And not exactly legal business, Sir Capulus." Ariador's teasing voice echoed from above the reindeer, making the man grimace. "Although there's no concrete evidence, the repeated charges and alleged reports make you highly unfavourable in the eyes of the law."

The man rolled his eyes, though his façade seemed to be on the verge of collapsing as he spoke, "And what exactly is she going to charge me for? She's the one refusing to pay the debt."

"You have broken the city, state, and federal usury laws." The lady suddenly chimed in, her words shocking the man. With a smirk, the lady continued, "I hope you remember what my job is, and where I work. Collecting evidence won't take very long at all."

The man stayed silent. The receptionist, however, kept speaking with a newfound confidence in the presence of Ariador, Amani, and Lance. "I can sue you for physical assault and damages to mental health, and I can also take you to civil court and recover all the money you made me pay over the legal limit."

"Additionally," Ariador chimed in, "You will face criminal prosecution for illegal lending practises."

Seeing the man not speak a word, Lance could help but say, "You know, admitting you are a loanshark and trying to forcibly seize the property of someone who works in the Rangers HQ, inside the Rangers HQ, and in the presence of a bona fide Ranger, may not have been the smartest idea."

A vein popped up on the man's forehead, while the receptionist giggled at his words. However, the man still didn't speak, though it was clear he wasn't satisfied. Despite him not saying anything, they all knew he wasn't going to let it go so easily.

Lance pondered over their options, trying to think of alternatives. They could easily force the man to leave, but that wouldn’t solve the underlying issue, and he would definitely strike again when no one was looking.

Not to mention, something about the pendant seemed... off. The function was definitely different from his own pendant, but there was a familiar scent he couldn't quite put his finger on.

“What if I give you a chance to make this easier for everyone?” Amani abruptly broke the silence, his tone shifting as he attracted everyone's attention. The man raised a brow, and the giant nodded as he continued, “Lance right here is scheduled to face Astrape in the arena. We will bet on the outcome. If he wins, we will pay the debt in her stead with our winnings, and she keeps the pendant. If he loses, the pendant is yours, and the debt still remains, effectively doubling it.”

Lance's and the lady's eyes both widened as they heard the suggestion, before they realised the sheer ingenuity of the plan.

Lance was an utterly unknown figure, a mage who showed up out of nowhere. Compared to Astrape's reputation, it was essentially non-existent, and Lance's current reputation was a 'Nepo-Baby' who got into the high ranks by being in Amani's good books.

Apart from the receptionist and Amani, no one else present knew that he was not just a Nuclear Mage, but a Conduit at that, so Midnight wouldn't even entertain the idea of Lance winning the battle. The plan was built on deceit, and it was seemingly perfect.

While the pair was being awed by Amani's ingenuity, Ariador chimed in, "Of course, if she can't pay the debt now, she definitely can't pay it if it is doubled. So, you get the pendant, and these two pay off the rest of the debt over time."

Hearing the proposal, the man stared at him, and then at Lance, before he burst into laughter. “You think you can beat Astrape? He will fry you where you stand.”

“I won't know until I try.” Lance replied evenly, while careful not to give away any hints of his confidence or power.

A tense silence followed, the man’s smirk wavering as he considered the offer. He could take the pendant now, but the presence of Amani and Ariador complicated things. And moreover, if he insisted on taking the pendant either way, then he might give it all away...

On the other hand, a bet… a public match against Astrape? That was clean. It was legal. And more importantly, he knew Astrape would win. The outcome seemed inevitable. By agreeing, he would secure the pendant without risking enmity or exposure, while also making a huge sum of additional earning... and possibly, a favour from The Caldera.

Sighing, the man glanced down at his trapped feet, then back at Lance. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “I accept your deal. But just so you realise, the pendant is the only thing the girl has that is worth anything. If I take the pendant, and the debt still remains, she'll have nothing to pay me back with, and so I will have to take the girl as a debt slave instead."

The girl froze. Noticing this, Lance leaned over, and whispered something in her ear. The receptionist's eyes widened, before she nodded slowly, still a little shaky. "I am... fine with that. If that means I have an opportunity to keep my mother's pendant, then I'll take the chances."

Of course, it was all a darn farce. Lance had just informed her of his status as an advanced mage, making her much more confident about his chances.

Amani uncrossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “Just remember,” he said, his voice deep as a caldera. “The moment you try anything underhanded, the deal is off.”

The man raised his hand in mock surrender, replying with a sarcastic tone, "Oh no, how scary!” The giant huffed a breath of fire in response.

Lance stared at the glass trapping the man's feet, before he turned to the giant. "Amani, could you...?" Lance scratched his head sheepishly, "I didn't think this far ahead. I don't know how to break the glass."

The giant palmed his face, and the man stared at him in disbelief. How did this irresponsible child have the audacity to go against Astrape Svante? Ariador laughed, while the lady let out an awkward, almost nervous giggle.

Amani ignored their antics, and placed his hand on the glass, the mass around the man’s feet starting to glow red and soften. Slowly, it melted away, and the man hurriedly pulled his feet out. He stepped back, his eyes never leaving Lance. “I’ll be watching,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery, with an undertone of threat and menace. “And when Astrape wipes the floor with you, I’ll be right there to collect what is the rightfully mine."

Lance watched him go, his expression unreadable. As the man disappeared down the hallway, the tension in the air seemed to ease. The receptionist, still clutching her pendant, let out a shaky breath.

“Thank you,” she said again, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry."

Lance gave her a small nod. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it.” Pausing for a bit, he explained, "I already bet quite a lot on this match, so losing wasn't an option in the worst place. This isn't adding any additional stress on my part."

Ariador's voices suddenly echoed from the back, his voice calm but firm. “You should be careful, Lance. That man isn’t just a debt collector – he's also a dirty politician. And he’s hiding something.”

“I know,” Lance replied, his expression serious. His gaze shifted to the pendant around the girl’s neck, before he tried to speak, “And, uh, ma'am...?" That moment, he realised he still hadn't got her name.

"Aurora. My name is Aurora Contigo." The lady declared her name out loud, a hint of pride seeping in her voice as she did a playful bow, making the trio smile.

Lance shook his head, and informed the receptionist, "Well, then, Aurora, I think your pendant has more functions than you realise.”

"...what?" Aurora blurted out in confusion, not quite understanding his words. Lance sighed, rubbing his temples as he explained, "I have a magical pendant. Yours is different, but I can still sense a hint of magic." Pausing for a bit, he realised something and added, "Besides, don't you think that waiving your whole debt just for your pendant is a terrible deal on his part?"

The lady's eyes widened, anxiously clutching her pendant as she whispered, "But... it's just a family heirloom. I don't think it has any functions, or my mother would have told me." She lingered for a bit, then admitted, "Or, well, at least used them for herself."

"But what if she didn't know either?" Amani chimed in, before adding, "It doesn't have to be magical in nature. There may be a map inside, or it may serve as a key. Or Capulus could simply be mistaken. In any case, the most important thing is that he's hell-bent on getting that pendant."

The giant crossed his arms again, glancing at Lance as he spoke, “Which means that you better win.”

Lance chuckled, though the weight of the upcoming fight settled heavily on his shoulders. “Yeah,” he said softly. “I guess I better.”

As the team continued to walk towards the dark tunnel at the end of the hallway, the receptionist joined them, now smiling happily as she gossiped with Lance. Soon, they had reached the tunnel, and from here, Lance would have to walk alone.

"Best of luck!" Aurora cheered him on, "Do your best, and... if it gets too hard, just quit it, okay?" She advised in a mix of hope, fear, and concern.

Lance smiled at her. "Don't worry, I will be fine.” Pausing for a bit, he added, "As I said, I also bet my sceptre and grimoire before the battle, so losing is really not an option for me." He laughed dryly, making the girl force a smile.

With these words, he raised his hand to pet the Aurora's head, catching her off-guard. Before she could react, he had already disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.