Theo awoke from his brief slumber to find the sun high in the sky, its peak brilliance engulfing the Embassy Enclave in midday. He freshened up swiftly before stepping out of his room.

In the main hall on the ground floor, a gathering had already convened around a rectangular table. As he descended the spiraling staircase, each face turned to regard him, their expressions varying widely.

Liliana’s gaze was impassive, devoid of emotion, as she barely acknowledged his presence. Emma’s look held a veiled discomfort, as if his very existence was a thorn to her, though she masked it adeptly.

Agnes and Gildor offered him a simple glance before their attention snapped back to the discussions at hand. The elven warrior watched him with a stern expression, while Linwe, standing behind the aged Canorian, Gildor, flashed Theo a warm, welcoming smile, as though seeing an old friend.

Unperturbed by the cold reception, Theo settled into one of the vacant chairs beside Arwen.

Linwe leaned in closer to Theo’s side and whispered, “Don’t worry, you’re not late…”

Theo gave a friendly nod to Linwe, who eased his concern that he had not missed the important conversation.

Agnes recaptured the room’s focus and commenced the discussion. "The situation here is critical. We are facing a severe shortage of food and medical supplies, leading to an outbreak of common diseases that we are ill-equipped to fight. Elemental warriors among the Canorians are rare, and healers even rarer—making them virtually nonexistent in our community."

Gildor picked up the narrative, his brows furrowed somberly. "There's also the constant threat of aggression from other regions of Feralon. As a countermeasure, we're attempting to erect a defensive structure on the southern perimeter. This fortification is crucial to stand against any worst-case scenarios should war break out."

Liliana listened intently, her expression composed, yet her eyes held a trace of coldness. After a moment of contemplation, she addressed the room, "Both concerns are critical. We cannot predict when an attack might occur, and ensuring the health and sustenance of your people is equally paramount."

She turned to Gildor, "I wish to survey the progress of your defensive constructions personally. Understanding the town’s fortifications firsthand will aid in our strategic planning."

Then, glancing toward Emma, she continued, "Emma, accompany Agnes. Assess the situation regarding the food and medical shortages. See what sustainable measures can be implemented to alleviate these issues."

Emma nodded in agreement, her expression shifting to one of resolve.

Theo, feeling somewhat sidelined in their strategy, asked, “Should I be marking my calendar for sightseeing then?”

Liliana remained silent to his question, but Emma retorted, "No sightseeing. You will join me. Let's see if you can be of any help."

Theo felt an unfamiliar sting of bitterness. Liliana hadn't glanced his way once, and he puzzled over why her attention mattered so much. He didn't harbor romantic feelings for her—at least, nothing hinted at love in the purple diary that revealed their shared past. Yet, her care for him was undeniable in those pages, even if they were merely friends. Why, then, did his heart yarned for her attention? It was a mystery that gnawed at him quietly.

Determined not to be swayed by such inexplicable emotions, Theo resolved to treat her with the same detachment she afforded him. After all, the mission's success and preventing the outbreak of war were what truly mattered now, not the whims of his heart.

Once Liliana had departed with Gildor and others to survey the defensive structures, Theo also left with Agnes and Emma. They conversed among themselves, oblivious to his presence, treating him as nothing more than an excess baggage.

Agnes and Gildor knew he was an insignificant first-year student from the outer court, thinking Theo was merely there to observe and learn from his more experienced seniors from famous inner court.

Their fifteen minutes walk led them to a slightly larger house, interconnected with other wooden structures, which seemed to serve as a makeshift infirmary. Inside, several beds housed Canorians in various states of recovery. Some of the patients cast curious glances at the trio as they entered.

Emma barely stepped inside before recoiling back to the doorway, a look of disgust crossing her features. "What’s that stench..." she complained, wrinkling her nose in discomfort.

Agnes, with a tone of apology, explained, "It’s the smell of medicine prepared from local herbs. It's quite potent and admittedly unpleasant, but you get used to it after a while. The Canorians actually find the odor comforting, so they don’t complain."

"That explains why there are survivors inside," Emma retorted dryly, implying that the stench alone was potent enough to be lethal.

Theo couldn't help but agree with her assessment. The idea of stepping inside and proving his bravery was quickly overshadowed by the overpowering smell. He decided against venturing further into the pungent infirmary.

As they stood outside the infirmary, away from the overwhelming stench of medicinal herbs, Agnes turned the conversation toward the pressing issues at hand. "The health condition of the patients here is stable for now. We have dedicated nurses tending to their needs, and many improve with good care. However, there are cases with high fevers and injuries that simple care cannot mend. For those, we desperately need health potions or an elemental healer."

Emma replied, "That doesn’t sound too daunting. We could either stockpile health potions or bring a healer to the town."

Agnes nodded, acknowledging Emma's suggestions but tempering them with the harsh realities they were facing. "Yes, that would normally solve our problem. However, no one wants to come to this city given it’s on the verge of an attack. As for the health potions, all trade routes have been blocked—they've sabotaged our resources and food supplies. Our options are severely limited."

Emma remained silent, her expression revealing that she wasn’t particularly concerned about the subject at hand. It was clear she found the issue less pressing than Agnes did.

While Emma and Agnes continued their discussion, Theo's thoughts drifted briefly back to Liliana.

‘Why does she pop up in my head like an unwanted ad?’ he mused, shaking his head slightly. He reminded himself to focus on the task at hand—there were bigger battles to prepare for than those of a confused heart.

Clearing his thoughts, Theo noticed that Agnes and Emma had resumed their walk, gradually distancing themselves from him. With a deep exhale, he decided it was time to stop merely following along. It was becoming increasingly difficult to stay engaged with people who seemed uninterested in sharing their plans or valuing his input.

Reflecting on his interactions with Emma and the group, Theo felt a sting of relief that he had declined the marriage proposal arranged by Count Eldwin for political gains—a proposal that had failed to spark any interest in him from the start. Although Emma had not openly mentioned her affiliation, Theo had spotted a black fist tattoo on her wrist, confirming his suspicion that she was from the Ironfist family.

Determined not to dwell on these complexities, Theo decided to take matters into his own hands and explore the town solo. Given his mission to address the Canorians' challenges, it made sense to start with a problem that seemed more within his reach.

Theo stood by the lake, surveying the vast tract of land where bamboo and sugarcane were diligently cultivated. The cultivated area was at least ten times larger than his own demonic farm. Yet, despite its vastness, he felt a growing frustration about how poorly they were capitalizing on such an abundant resource.

"It's foolish to dedicate so much land to just bamboo and sugarcane when your people are starving," Theo murmured to himself. "There has to be a better way to use this land to meet the urgent needs of the town."