The streets of Adalan were alive with the dynamic energy of an afternoon city in full swing.

Edris and Ives walked side by side, weaving through the bustling crowds that filled the wide avenues. The air was thick with the exclusive aromas of Adalan, a heady mix of spices and sizzling meats that wafted from the food stalls lining the streets.

Yukioe’s other patients were awaiting him at the Healing Faction, so he had left early this morning for work.

As they walked down one of the more prominent streets, Edris noticed the seven-year-old glancing around, her eyes flickering with curiosity. The young girl took in everything—the colours, the sounds, the people—with a dazed wonder that was finally fitting for someone her age.

“First time in Odeen?” Edris asked, his voice carrying over the hum of the crowd.

Ives nodded, still absorbing the action around her. “First time out of Nolmes. I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

“Indeed, Odeen is unlike any other city.” The dark-haired man smiled, understanding her awe. “It’s the heart of Adalan, but it’s nothing like Nolmes, where people and lives run at a much faster pace. People there all try their best to follow the orders and ways of society.”

In contrast to the order-focused Nolmes, in Odeen, everything was bursting with colour and life, like a never-ending night market.

“The energy here is infectious, but it’s easy to get lost if you’re not careful.”

Ives listened intently, her gaze thoughtful as she took in his words. She quickly grabbed the rim of his sleeve at his warning, her small hand clutching the fabric tightly.

At her immediate reaction, Edris gave the seven-year-old a look of amusement.

“Good call,” he said, his tone light. “Stick close, and you won’t get swept away.”

As they continued to walk, the flow of people around them seemed to swell, the crowd growing thicker as they approached a more congested part of the city.

Out of nowhere, a man, distracted and hurried, headed towards them. The side of his body collided with Ives, his momentum nearly pushing her into the current of civilians surging down the street.

Before she could stumble, Edris reached out and caught her, his hand closing around her wrist with a firm grip. The palm of his hand felt like ice as it enveloped Ives’s entire hand, leading the latter to jolt up with a shiver.

“I told you to hold on tight,” he said, his voice composed and eyes peering forward.

Ives looked up at him, her cheeks flushing from both embarrassment and relief.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

Under Edris’s lead, the two weaved through the throng of people. The dark-haired man kept his pace slow, mindful of Ives’s shorter strides, and the latter held on tightly this time, her tiny fingers gripping his hand as they safely navigated down the street.

After a few turns, the number of civilians visibly decreased as they reached a more tranquil part of the city.

As they continued walking, Ives looked up at Edris with a question in her eyes. “Mister Edris, where are we going?”

“The Moons,” Edris hummed a reply, his tone nonchalant but with a hint of a peevish undertone.

It had been two days since he got out of the Labyrinth, and despite everything that had happened, he still hadn’t heard from Celio’s family. That said, he figured it was time to pay them a visit instead.

After all, they were the ones who had forced him into the Labyrinth in the first place; a reminder of their promise wouldn’t hurt.

“I hope Celio doesn’t get into too much trouble,” Ives mumbled under her breath. “He told me he’d stolen the coupon from his family treasury.”

Edris shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “He’ll be fine. Knowing the Moons, it was probably his parents who secretly instigated it in the shadows. They’ve always wanted a competent successor, and manipulating everyone around them—including their own son—is just their style.”

“Hm.” Ives had a small frown on her face. “Poor Celio.”

As they continued towards the Moon’s, Edris couldn’t help but glance around, searching for any sign of Ace. He’d tried to contact him through the Distributor earlier today but couldn’t sense his presence.

He wasn’t too worried, though. Knowing Ace, the man was probably out and about somewhere, doing whatever it was that he did when he disappeared without a word.

They soon arrived at the entrance to the Moon’s dwelling, a grand courtyard manor hidden away from the bustling city. The guard seemed to be expecting them. Edris recognized him as the one who had protected Celio in Nolmes.

The guard gave them a formal bow, offering a curt nod before leading them down the familiar path.

“Sir Edris, Miss Ives, please come this way.”

The cobbled stones beneath their feet were cool and uneven, worn smooth by years of use. The entire trip was silent, the only sounds breaking the quiet were the gentle flow of water in the log canals that ran alongside the path and the soft rustling of the willow trees surrounding them.

Edris and Ives walked side by side, the serene atmosphere almost at odds with the foreboding tension in the upcoming meeting. The memories of his last encounter with the Moons replayed in his mind—their windless, calculating demeanour, the way they would manipulate situations to reach their goal.

Edris let out an inaudible sigh.

Up ahead, the familiar tea pavilion entered his view. The structure was elegant in its simplicity, with a thatched roof and open sides that allowed the breeze to pass through freely. The scent of fresh tea leaves lingered in the air, and the sound of a bamboo fountain filled the quiet space with a gentle rhythm.

The last time he’d stepped foot here was less than ten days ago. Except instead of two figures that previously awaited his arrival, there were four.

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Celio was there, formally seated at the side of the low table, though Edris could see the tension in his posture. The boy lifted his gaze as they approached, his eyes meeting Edris’s with a mix of relief and apprehension.

“Master!” Celio shot up, his voice steady but with an underlying uncertainty. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Naturally,” Edris said. “And you?”

“It’s just as they say. I don’t remember a thing.” Celio rubbed the nape of his neck, dismay present on his face. “Mother and the Commander. They’re waiting for you inside.”

Edris glanced at Ives, giving her a reassuring nod before turning his attention back to Celio. “Well, we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

The Moons had orchestrated this entire situation. Now, it was time to see what they had in store for him next.

“Oh, he’s here!”

As Edris stepped into the pavilion, the atmosphere was markedly different from their last encounter. The previous cold, calculated air had been replaced by a space of warmth and hospitality.

Grace Moon immediately waved them over with a cheery smile, her demeanour as inviting as the fragrant maple corn tea that filled the pavilion. Beside her sat Evans Moon, imposing an authoritative aura as usual.

“Come, come. You three! Have a seat,” Grace called out, her voice light and welcoming.

At the invitation, Edris gave a half-hearted nod. His attention was momentarily captured by another presence in the room.

Seated across from the Moons was a figure cloaked from head to toe in a gigapelt rob, the rims of its fur collar burying half his face, and a hood covering the second half. Every inch of his skin was hidden except for a pair of sharp brown eyes that seemed to pierce through the layers of fabric.

The masked man appeared to be wrapping up a report of some sort, speaking in low, controlled tones to Moon leaders.

Just as the figure stood to leave, Edris caught the briefest of glances from him—an intense, probing gaze that seemed to lock onto Edris for a second longer than necessary.

The moment passed quickly, and the man turned, escorted out by a servant. But the weight of that gaze lingered.

…What was that?

Edris lowered himself onto one of the cushions, making himself comfortable. The two children each sat on one side, Celio to the left and Ives to his right. As he settled in, servants appeared with plates of snacks, laying them out with practised courtesy.

Grace beamed at him, her smile as sweet as the desserts before him. “Celio mentioned you have a fondness for sweets,” she said, gesturing to the array. “I had a variety prepared—some Adalan specialities and a few from Zacriya. I hope they suit your taste.”

Edris glanced at the vibrant spread of colours, then at the boy beside him.

Celio looked down at his hands, an apologetic expression on his face. Edris could see the guilt weighing on the young man—after all, it was Celio’s actions that had ultimately led to Edris’s entry into the Labyrinth.

Contrary to the boy’s bubbling guilt, Edris had long since gotten over it. The laveric diamonds, now securely resting in his spatial pouch, were a satisfying reward.

He reached for a small pastry, a jam-filled nimblet, and handed it to the seven-year-old beside him. Ives examined the nimblet, then at Edris for approval. As she bit into the pastry, the filling exploded in his mouth, covering his tastebuds with content.

For a moment, the people present only watched in silence as the young girl chewed.

Grace and Evans Moon exchanged a glance. The latter cleared her throat.

“Traveller Edris, you have our thanks,” Evans began, his voice steady and formal. “Your performance in the Labyrinth was commendable.”

The Commander spoke as if he knew what went on in the Labyrinth. He probably did know, with the Lucid Clan on his side.

Was it a habit from leading an army? Edris internally scoffed at Evans Moon’s patronizing tone, as if it wasn’t them who forced him into the Labyrinth but Edris himself.

Despite his thoughts, he kept a straight face, taking in the rest of the Commander’s words.

“The agreement holds,” Evans said. “In return for your efforts, I, Evans Moon of the Moon family and the Commander of the Imperial Army, will keep our promise. We will have your back for one situation, no matter what it may be.”

If both you and Celio return alive, I, representing the Moon family and the Imperial Army, will lend you any requested support once, in any situation, in any event of your wishing.

Edris recalled the Commander’s words at their previous meeting.

The dark-haired man smiled, bowing his head slightly.

“I’m grateful for your support,” he said, though both sides knew this was no more than superficial pleasantries.

“Master,” the beast tamer spoke up, his voice strained. “I- I’m sorry I dragged you into this.”

“Don’t be,” Edris said. “You weren’t aware of this, after all.”

"But…"

Although neither of them remembered what happened in the Labyrinth, he was more than aware of the low survival rate. When Celio had grabbed the token from the treasury, he’d truly done it with the preparation to lose his life upon entering.

The fact that both he and Edris were back here and alive couldn’t have been an easy feat.

At that thought, Celio’s heart twisted.

His decision to enter the Labyrinth had been a direct challenge to his father’s wishes. Traditionally, as the son of the Commander, his path was bound to mirror that of his father—a future filled with honour, responsibility, and a steady march toward leadership within the Imperial Army.

But Celio had made it clear that wasn’t the path he wanted.

“Mother, Commander. I just want to follow after Master,” Celio lifted his head, his voice quiet but determined. “And once I’ve grown enough, I’ll become a righteous traveller on my own.”

Edris hid his reaction behind a sip of tea, doing his best to outrun the surge of impeding embarrassment after hearing his words.

He wasn’t a stranger to the boy’s blunt earnestness, but this was right in front of Celio’s parents. He felt a tug at his sleeve and lowered his head to see Ives handing him a nimblet.

“...”

Grace, however, seemed surprisingly at ease with her son’s declaration.

“My son’s all grown up,” she mused, a fond smile on her lips. She turned to Edris, her eyes sparkling with insight. “Take good care of him, Mister Traveller. I’ll leave my son in your capable hands.”

Evans Moon made no remarks throughout this entire exchange.

Edris set his teacup down carefully, his tone measured as he replied, “Lady Grace, I’ve never taken care of him in the first place. Celio is his own person and is responsible for himself alone.”

His response, seemingly humble, was a calculated deflection.

As much as he was aware of Celio’s affection towards him, the idea of being responsible for the boy’s future wasn’t something he was keen on. He was a traveller, after all—this wasn’t daycare.

Grace’s smile didn’t waver, though there was a subtle shift in her expression. “…Is that so?”

Edris nodded. Beside him, Ives did the same, her agreement clear. She grabbed another nimblet and offered it to Celio, stretching her arm behind Edris’s back.

Celio took in the seven-year-old’s action with a complicated gaze.

With both sides’ goals checked off, the conversation soon wound to a close.

As they stood to leave, Grace presented Edris with a small, ornate pouch. “This is a personal gift from me,” she explained. “For what you did in the Labyrinth. Celio always worries about how ‘fragile’ his Master is, so I hope you’ll accept this as a token of my gratitude.”

Edris scrutinised the pouch, gauging its weight with his eyes. He nodded in thanks, though he did not reach forth but only carefully probed the intentions of the woman standing before him.

Grace giggled at his reaction. Her actions were like those of a child in adult clothing; one would have no problem mistaking her as a harmless young lady if they didn’t know about her identity as the core figure of the distinguished Moon family.

“They’re enhancers, I assure you,” she said, clearly entertained. Without awaiting his next words, she stuffed the pouch into his hands.

“No additional surprises this time.” Grace let out a cheery laugh.

"Of course not. You sure like to joke."

Edris laughed as well, though the sound was as superficial as the earlier exchange of gratitude. Celio, watching the interaction, frowned slightly while Ives wisely looked away from the entire conversation as a whole.