Seeing the box pried open, Velvet leaned over, peeking at the insides. Inside were tubes with inscriptions interconnected between them by thin gears filled it, standing still.

Tristan pulled out the thickest metal cylinder, which was positioned right in the middle until seconds ago. She unlocked it, taking off the metal coverture to reveal a scroll.

The scroll was numbered, which could only mean that it was part of a whole series.

Therefore, the scroll only revealed part of the formation used to build the wall.

Makes sense, the box is too small to hold a register for the whole barrier.

Tristan opened the scroll, but simply glanced over it uninterested. She couldn’t replicate a whole formation, that’s why the magic cylinders she used were bought and imported from other mages and places.

But Velvet was a knowledge mage, so she might have some use, even when the cylinder just contained a fragment of the formation.

“Huh,” Velvet started, analyzing the symbols. Just that singular scroll showed how immense the work behind the barrier’s existence was. “The barrier must consume a lot just to remain active.”

“Of course.” Tristan answered. “Now, shouldn't you go back home? It’s getting late, and the hilarious thing you remembered might be waiting.”

“Ehe.” Velvet said, smiling sheepishly. “See you in four days then?” They still had to talk about the incursion, and polish the details.

Tristan got up, dusting off her long skirt. “Yes. You can close the box on your own, right?”

“Yes, yes, I remember how you did it.” She simply said, slowly repeating Tristan’s steps in reverse, putting the box back together.

“Good.” Going back to the mechanic suit, Tristan went back to work, as Velvet picked up and cleaned the table to leave.

Once everything was cleaned, she went to the exit.

“Oh, right.” Tristan stopped her. “Next time, bring spicy food. I like beef.”

Of course! Just pay me for it first! Was what Velvet wanted to say.

“Okay.” Was what she ended up saying.

…

The trip back to the hut was dark, the moon being already out.

By what Hyde had told her, Igern hadn’t entered her hut, choosing to wait outside.

He’s probably smoking. Ah, I want to wait until he’s about to leave and surprise him…

Even when she was thinking of doing that, she still walked towards her hut at a stroll pace.

…

Igern hadn’t left yet, and, effectively, he was leaning against a tree, smoking. Just as Velvet got her paper figurines ready.

Spending one to copy Lox’s spell, she fell into the ‘Ignored’ state. She then used two more, one to create a copy of herself and one to make the copy also fall on the ‘Ignored’ state.

This was the same thing she did against Lox and Doireann, except the part of hiding her copy.

Even if she didn’t want to fight, Velvet wasn’t wasting an opportunity to test her new skills.

…

Igern took a puff of his cigarette, realizing it was almost consumed. He put it off, pressing the tip with his fingers, befor-

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Snap!

Turning around instantly, he grabbed the air to his left, instants before a hand touched his face.

“Oh…” ‘Velvet’ said. “Seems like I can’t approach all the way.”

He noticed my presence before reacting, but waited until the last moment to stop me… Igern, you sneaky little thing, trying to mislead me… Since her real body was further away, Velvet could observe Igern’s micro reactions, uncovering the trap.

The fake Velvet smiled sheepishly when Igern didn’t release the hold on her wrist. “Were you waiting for me? That’s so cute!”

Igern looked at her in silence, looking from her hand to her face, before squinting. “You’re fake.”

Ah, caught.

“But my feelings for you are real!” The fake Velvet said, as Igern’s hand emitted a faint blue light.

Velvet shut down her connection to the paper figurine, dispelling the illusion before the curse Igern was doing reached her.

The abandoned paper figurine floated down slowly, and Igern turned to look around the forest, trying to find where the real Velvet was hiding.

Clearing her throat, Velvet revealed herself, away from him. “Hello! Did you bring me flowers? A box of sweets?”

Igern grimaced. “I-”

“Just so you know, Alrai brought me a cake, so you should do better than him!” Interrupted by Velvet, Igern frowned.

Biting back some comments, probably threats, he tried to speak again. “I’ve just come here to take the box.”

“Without paying? I mean, your company is priceless, but I only take deals in cash or info!” Velvet said, smiling, as Igern’s frown deepened.

“I’ll pay.” Igern was confident in his skill to overpower Velvet, what he wasn’t confident on was that Velvet wouldn’t break the box out of pettiness. “How much do you want?”

The moment he finished speaking, a bad feeling crept through his back, as Velvet leaned forward and grinned. “You’re bad at negotiating, aren’t you?”

Igern squinted at her. “I am more adept at beating smug mages up.”

“I’m sure you are!” She made sure to put her smuggest smile before saying that. “So, tell me… how much money did they give you to negotiate?”

“That's none of your business.”

“Oh, in that case, I hope you’re not in a hurry, because I plan to negotiate for the whooole night.” Velvet motioned to her house. “You might even want to go inside, I’ll even serve tea.”

“I do not.”

Why are you so difficult… Velvet wanted to sigh. “The solution is at the tip of your fingers. Or I can just simply open the box’s offer at a million auris, and you can start lowering.”

“It isn’t worth that much, and you know it.” Igern said between his teeth.

“I don’t know… What price are you thinking about?” In Velvet’s opinion, the box was worth around 7000 auris, but she hoped Igern carried 10000 to negotiate.

Igern fell silent, and Velvet saw him, for some reason, clench his hand as if he was carrying a weapon.

Why is your patience so short… I kind of understand Dianthus. If I also was immortal, I would tease you relentlessly…

“Five thousand?” Igern dragged the answer, as if he was forcing himself to talk.

“No way.” Velvet pulled out the box, repeated the motions Tristan did to open it and showed the insides to Igern. They were still far apart, so he couldn’t simply jump and snatch the box. “Without taking into consideration the materials and the skill employed to fabricate this artifact, inside there is months of work.”

She wasn’t sure of the months thing, but the box was probably unique.

Igern didn’t look very impressed, or interested, truth to be told, but the box wasn’t for him. “Seven thousand?”

“Did you pick the money yourself or did a superior give it to you?”

Igern let out a sigh, before taking out a black ball and tossing it to Velvet. “That’s all the negotiation money.”

Picking the ball, Velvet was almost right. Inside, 8500 auris waited. “Aww, thanks for your patronage!” Igern’s eyebrows twitched. “Sorry, sorry, I’ll return the box now.”

While closing the box, so that it wasn’t damaged, she asked. “Anyway, why does Arhontissa want to copy the Mergifari’s barrier? Do they need to seal something?”

Her attention was on the box, but she still observed Igern’s expressions. He showed confusion for a few seconds, before widening his eyes, his expression going totally pale.

“Wh-” Velvet was going to ask, but she sensed an extreme hostility, jumping back.

Igern had summoned one of his ice lances, and was gripping it so tight his knuckles went white.

Both of them stared at each other for a few silent seconds, before Igern unsummoned the weapon.

He took a deep breath, before extending his hand. “The box.”

Velvet finished closing the box, put it on the floor and took several steps back.

Igern picked the box in silence, and left without saying goodbye.

He wanted to destroy the box. Velvet thought, looking at Igern’s disappearing figure.