It was some time before Leona was able to leave, it was already evening. Her face said it all with a tired expression and slumping shoulders, but nevertheless she needed to walk back to the inn.

“I’m sorry, she tends to go all out whenever it involves new technology.” The calm male voice caught her attention as she left the office. It was Lawrence holding what seemed to be a ceramic mug with a dark hot beverage with a red stained white bandage around his head. “Here you go.”

Leona grasped the mug but was unsure of what it was, the smell seemed a bit too strong for her taste.

“What’s this?”

“Coffee. I put some extra sugar in it.”

Even though the smell was somewhat dizzying. She felt bad for not even trying, she took a sip and before long the mixture of sweet and bitter taste energized her tired body.

“It’s… good, but this doesn’t seem to be local ware otherwise I would have probably heard about it.”

“It was imported before they began limiting the entry of foreign goods.” He sighed whilst scratching the side of his eyes, he seemed much more tired than how he looked a few hours ago. “I fail to understand how making the people suffer will help in fighting death angels. Then again, this sounds more like the minister’s plot rather than the council.”

‘I feel like I can tell who this minister is.’

Leona thought before asking.

“Interesting. Could I know your opinion?”

“It’s probably Jakob Arc. He is known for wanting to keep Londrian knowledge to the kingdom rather than letting it be partaken from others. A pathetic way to think in my opinion, as a scientist it pains me to know that many out there could be contributing to humanity’s cause if they had the knowledge that we possess, as limited as it may be.”

He sighed deeply, although Leona didn’t know what exactly his meaning of ‘knowledge’ entailed she did relate to the restriction of scholarly education since only nobles could afford entering the Grand Academy back in Arcadia.

“It’s the same back in my kingdom, the tuition is so high it’s almost impossible to enroll without being a noble.”

“I just wish they could see the advantages of having more skilled individuals working together towards a set goal. Me and Athena made huge leaps in improving the hot beverages and heat system using electricity but both our minds have a certain limit on how creative we can get with our problems.” He touched the mug of coffee with his right hand and chuckled innocently. “Sorry I’d like to talk more but I need to get this one to Athena. It was nice chatting with you, Leona.”

“The pleasure is mine, thank you for the drink. Where should I leave this?”

She motioned by raising the mug and he simply extended his hand.

“I can’t let our guests hold on to empty cups now can I? I’ll have it cleaned afterwards.”

After handing the empty mug to Lawrence, Leona made her way towards the entrance of the building, while the wooden double doors were closed to keep the cold air from entering, she could see the darkened sky through the blurry glass window.

‘Thankfully the inn isn’t too far away.’ As she opened the right door a freezing breeze hit her face which made her entire body shiver in reflex ‘I’m still not used to this stillness…’

The stagnancy of the ambient mana felt like it was sapping her strength, by concentrating her senses she could see small amounts of her own mana being drained away.

Before she could take another step, a familiar male voice came from behind where she came from.

“Ah! Miss Leona! A moment before you go!” Lawrence seemed out of breath as if he had run back and forth through the workshop before seeing her. He was holding what seemed to be another reinforced glass container similar to the soldier Henry had on him early the same day filled to the brim with the same reddish liquid. “Here you go, I forgot to give you this.”

He handed the mildly warm glass to her.

“Oh… thank you Lawrence.”

“I heard from Athena that you wanted to talk more about the mana conditions around the kingdom, if you have time to spare tomorrow I would love to hear from someone who isn’t from here.”

“Sure, tomorrow it is then. What time?”

“How about… at lunch in Jano’s inn?”

Leona nodded once.

“Fine by me. Thank you again for this.”

She raised the reinforced glass container and gave a bit of a shake.

“Oh don’t mention it. It’s just a small token of appreciation for all you’ve done for us. If you or your group need more you can talk directly to me and I’ll provide them during your stay.” He placed both hands on each of his thighs and bowed. “Thank you once again for saving her and bringing us the blueprints from Akrapocalis, this means more to us than you’d imagine.”

After saying her goodbyes, Leona decided to go back to the inn, only now realizing she never knew its name.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

‘I can do that when I get back.’ She slowly turned her head up towards the darkened sky, bereft of stars as only clouds loomed over the great expanse. ‘I hope tomorrow will be uneventful.’

She continued walking, the snow gently crunching beneath her feet as she did, the street suddenly lit up in an orange glow as the lamps began to light up one after the other, it had a certain cozy feeling to it even with her body shivering from the cold.

‘This place… it’s much more advanced than Arcadia.’ She noticed a few workers wearing heavy looking clothes to fight against the cold as they entered a building, apparently a bar of sorts. Even with the freezing temperature, there were people walking around the street carrying baskets and bags of groceries back to their homes. ‘...and more lively.’

She sighed in satisfaction and began to pick up the pace, the sleet however was dangerously slippery and by the time she reached the inn she already had about a dozen close calls.

“Haah… I need a better pair of boots.”

Out of breath, she held onto the side of the wooden doorway as she removed the disgusting mixture of mud and ice off the soles of her footwear with a nearby snow shovel. After removing the heavier crust and tapping the tip of her feet against the ground to shake off the rest, she opened the door.

As the familiar chime ringed, the big muscular manly figure came to greet her on the doorway.

“Welcome back Miss Leona. What can I help you with this fine evening?”

Jano elegantly bowed with his enormous arm folded in front of his chest.

“Ah, good evening Jano. I’m heading back upstairs for some rest, but I’ll come here for dinner after.”

“Very well. I shall be waiting with bated breath.”

Leona gave a short bow before heading back to the room they were assigned to in the beginning of the hallway. She knocked twice, waited for a second then a third time.

She looked around the hallway and after ascertaining no one was nearby, she whispered near the door.

“It’s me.”

“Come in.”

Phoebe’s muffled voice came from inside, promptly making the tactician let out a sigh of relief. Upon entering the room she noticed most of the window was blocked by the curtain while the only source of light inside the room was a small candle on the nightstand beside Krieg’s bed. Phoebe was sitting against the wall beneath the window holding both daggers one in each hand.

“Isn’t it awfully dark like this?”

Leona questioned as she sat on the edge of her own bed.

“I felt like I was being watched this afternoon. I stayed here until you came back but nothing really was out of the ordinary.”

“Being watched huh?” She scratched her nose. “Do you think it might be someone from Arcadia?”

“I can’t tell, but I saw a glint coming from the tower in the middle of the city.”

“A telescope?”

“Most likely. They made a mistake trying to look with the sun up. But we can’t know much from only that alone.”

“Then…”

She was about to suggest for her to investigate but the high elf stared at her that even in the dark she could tell she didn’t look happy.

“Princess, with all due respect. Sticking with the original plan and not involving yourself more than needed in this city seems to be the best approach regarding Londria, this is after all the city of inventions and inventors. If anything it might be too dangerous to go snooping around uninvited.”

“I know, but I can’t as well just leave things half finished. If what captain Oliver said is true, even Athena might be in danger.”

Leave her then. Or at least was what Phoebe wanted to say, but she knew the soft hearted princess couldn’t just abandon people knowing their plight. After sighing deeply and closing both eyes for a moment, the high elf muttered begrudgingly.

“I’ll look for whatever I can find. But promise me you won’t do anything harsh. I can barely imagine what I would say to queen Eleonora if anything happened to you.”

Leona nodded once.

“Thank you Phoebe. I’ll be extra careful from now on, don't worry.”

“I feel like I’m losing a few years with these requests.” She stood up and carefully took a peek outside. “So, do you have any leads as to where to start?”

“That tower you spoke of seems promising. Although I would rather have some more information before you go there, if it’s anything like Athena said, it’s best if we tread carefully.”

“Indeed. There is a lingering dread in the air that is almost tangible, though that may be because of the death angel menace or at least I want to believe so.”

“I don’t know…” She hesitated for a moment when she remembered Frey’s words back in Akrapocalis. ‘The Arc family. They are the reason why death angels exist.’ “If it’s only that.”

“Did you say something Princess?”

“No, nothing. Best if we get some rest after dinner. It’s late after all.”

Phoebe agreed with a nod. After setting up the same alarm of sorts on the doorway, both of them headed downstairs for some food prepared by Jano.

Back in the castle of the capital city of Arcadia, Alexander was wearing his usual wine red suit alongside the fancy looking pants of same color, he folded his left leg on top of the right one to show off the glimmering polished dark leather shoe as he got comfortable in the throne. A stone statue of a demi-human with thick horns was shattered along the red carpet that preceded the ornate throne. Beside it there were two royal guards wielding spears and metallic tower shields standing at the ready.

“So, you said you’ve lost track of her in Akrapocalis?”

The ruler asked a hooded man kneeling in front of him with a clear sign of annoyance in his voice.

“I-I’m sorry my king but after she was brought in by the Loraexion household we lost all track of her, it seems that she fled.”

“IT SEEMS?! YOU INCOMPETENT FOOL!” Alexander violently slammed the armrest of the stone throne which promptly surprised everyone in the room. “I SHOULD HAVE YOU BEHEADED FOR THIS!”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please give me another week and I’ll-”

“Another week won’t cut it. I want you to find her now! Do whatever you must to know where she went, I even declare war against Akrapocalis if I must! Unless you want me to have you thrown to the amalgis.”

“No please! Anything but that!”

“THEN GO! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!”

“Aieee!”

The hooded man turned up and left running down the hall, tripping against the broken statue and almost falling before vanishing through the double doorway.

“These imbeciles.” Alexander muttered under his breath before turning to the royal guard on his left. “Go fetch the captain for me, tell him to meet me in the war room.”

“My king with all due respect- declaring war at a neighboring kingdom at a time like this-”

“Did I stutter?”

“N-no my lord. I apologize for my unworthy words.”

“Good. Then go.” After the knight left he sat up straight before hunching forward with both hands intertwined near his mouth. “Damn you Leona Crossford. I swear I’ll make all of you pay for what you’ve done. No demon has the right to live on this planet as long as I live.”