“…Are they the kids that everyone is talking about?”

“…There are not many other Wanderers of their age in the Lost City…”

“…Unbreakable records…”

“…I heard some people say that he can surely become a Mystic Wanderer…”

“…Just a Mystic Wanderer? This is unbreakable records we are talking about…”

“…becoming a Grand Wanderer is not so simple…”

“…What about the others?”

“…The girl in white should also be…”

“…Not so sure about the Serpian though…”

“…Even her clan has abandoned her…”

Alnea hurriedly reached out, and held Cecilia by her shoulders, forcing her to say in her position. These ignorant Wanderers…

“Ignore them, Cecilia,” Vestia said, comforting Cecilia with pursed lips. “They are just jealous of your talent. Most of them would not even be able to reach the True Rank. They might even be kicked out of the city at any moment. For them, being kicked out a little earlier would not make any difference. But if you break the rules…”

“…Who is the woman?”

“…You do not know?”

“…Erwen Forests…”

“Erwein Forest? Which Erwein Forest?”

“There is only one Erwein Forest.”

“You mean…”

“…That’s right. She is a vixen of the Erwein Forest.”

“…Another woman.”

“…Ilea’s favour…”

“I would not be so sure…”

“She is a vixen…”

“…I have heard…”

This time, it was Cecilia’s turn to hold Vestia, tying her down.

“They are just jealous of you… Do not fall for their traps.”

“Traps? These brainless idiots can still lay traps? I do agree that they are jealous of me though…”

“As expected of a Weina,” Yuri said, nodding at Vestia. “You have such strong will… I dare say that just in terms of will, few of our peers can match you. Still, ignoring the insults being directed at you is easier said than done.”

“If the women of Erwein Forest were the kind to care about what some insignificant people think about us, we would not have spread our reach through the world. At least in Tes Domain, few, if any Supreme clans can match our influence. Do you think their words, rife with envy and jealousy, can affect me? In any case, you do not have to worry. I will not lose my cool over people like them.”

“That’s good,” Yuri said, before turning her gaze towards the Wanderers floating on their small platforms, before glancing at the crowd in the stands. “Are you sure that you want us to announce our team in front of everyone?”

“What are you embarrassed about?” Vestia said. “I did not see you hesitating when you challenged the Lotus clan in front of everyone.”

“That was different…”

“I do not see any differences.”

“…We can announce our team after we complete a few more Trials.”

“We have already discussed this. You have cleared enough Trials. The things you have achieved… Your names are now ringing in every corner of the city. What you need now is not more fame, but more teammates. Companions whom you can trust.”

“But it was my turn this time…”

“…It will still be your turn when you do the Trials in the future. But you truly cannot afford gaining even more fame than already have. Since you have declared war against the Lotus clan, they surely would not let you off easy. Especially after what you did before coming to the Lost City… The more fame you gain, the more talent you appear to have, the more ferocious will be the Lost’s clan’s attack. They might even ignore all reasons and attack you within the city.”

“We are not afraid of them breaking the rules. Rather, we want them to break the rules.”

“…I am sure that your confidence is coming from the elders who brought you to the city, and they might even have the strength to keep you safe from the counterattacks of the Lotus clan. But have you ever thought about the consequences of such rampant behaviour?”

“…What do you mean?”

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“I mean that Orthodoxies, no matter how much in decline they might be, are not so easy to deal with. After all, the connections that they have built over the countless years are not just for show. Even if they break the rules, at best, they will just be slapped with a few fines. But you… I cannot say much about you, Yuri, but I can see that Alnea is not from any Orthodoxy.”

“…Am I so obvious?” Alnea said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“…Your manners are impeccable, and your abilities are even more outstanding, but some things just cannot be covered up. Like the way you deal with things. Or your reactions… Even the air of arrogance. The scions of Orthodoxies… they have a certain arrogance ingrained in their blood. Whatever they do, they will always carry this arrogance with them.

“Take Cecilia for example. I have not known her for long, but I can say for sure that she must inherently carry a sense of disregard for her enemies in her blood. She may feel fear, she may lose, and she may even despair, but no matter what, she will never lose the disregard for her enemies. Because she is a daughter of the Serpent of Infinity. As for Yuri… I do not know much about her, but I can feel an air of indifference around her. As if she is just a spectator of the world… This is her ‘arrogance’.”

“…I am not so sure of what you said about Yuri, but that disregard part does sound like what Lia would do.”

“Hey, when did I ever disregard our enemies?”

“Do you want me remind you what you said to the old bastard?”

“…I was trying to help you back then. That does not count.”

“Then what about the times—

“Idiot,” Cecilia cursed, and kicked him in his shins, before turning back towards Vestia. “So this idiot is not from an Orthodoxy. What about it? How does it change anything?”

“It changes everything. Like I said, Orthodoxies, even the declining ones, like the Lotus clan, have a lot of connection. Sure, they will get punished for breaking the rules. But if you retaliate against them outside of the rules, then they will use their connection to get you punished too. And though your clans may be able to save you, what excuse will they use to save a commoner?”

“Alnea is not just a commoner!”

“…Lia—

“And I will not allow anyone to touch him!”

“…Yuri—

“This time, I am with Cecilia. You are not just a commoner. You are Alnea. And I will not let anyone touch you.”

“…You two can never let me rest,” Alnea said, scratching his head in confusion. He did not know whether he should feel happy or frustrated. Still, he at least knew the girls enough to know how to deal with them.

“Calm down, Lia. Things have not reached that point. Besides, Vestia is not wrong.”

“You are taking her side again,” Cecilia said, kicking his other shin. “Why don’t you just go live with her.”

“…Technically, we are all living together. But that’s not my point. Have you forgotten the situation we are in? Or do you want everyone to know about Yuri.”

“But—

“No but. We must—

“You do not have to worry about me,” Yuri said, snorting at him in dissatisfaction. “After what happened in Anneve, big sis Nyssa has been making some preparations. If need be, we will be able to leave all dangers in no time.”

“But we cannot leave Rianra yet.”

“And whose fault is that?”

“…It’s my fault, but things have already reached this point. Why don’t we look for solutions, rather than thinking of what we should have done? Besides, you two have not forgotten that we are still in the Arena, right?”

“…It’s all your fault,” Cecilia said, as she turned her face away from him. Thankfully, she did not kick his shin again. Did she not know how strong she was?

“…I was wrong,” Vestia said, smiling at her teammates in amusement. “Your indifference… it is not your arrogance, but just a small part of it. My interest in you has increased once again.”

“…I would prefer it if a Weina would not be interested in me, or anyone close to me for that matter.”

“…We Weina are not so scary,” Vestia said, smiling helplessly, before turning towards Alnea. “Since you understand your situation, you should know what you have to do.”

“…Not show the Lotus clan any more of my abilities than I already have?”

“Not just the Lotus clan. You should not show your abilities to anyone.”

“…Then the Trials…”

“Do not take any more Trials. Especially the Arcanist and Scholar Trials. This is holds for the two of you too. And for me. And anyone else who might join our team. The Trials are not going to go anywhere anyway. We can just take them after we are done accumulating Arena and Black Desert Points.”

“…That’s so boring.”

“You can still vent your frustrations in the Arena, Lia.”

“But Forne always completes the fight before I do anything…”

The dumb cat chose that exact moment to purr, and stretch out its limbs, as if getting ready to fight… Poor Cecilia.

“About that… you should restrain your cat a little, Cecilia. At least try not to attract too much attention. You too, Alnea. Remember to not jump around in front of Lotus clan.”

“…What if the Lotus clan accepts the challenge that we made yesterday?”

“If that happens, then just defeat them as swiftly as you can, without showing any more of your abilities. And try not to humiliate them.”

“…Defeat them in one move. Got it.”

“Not one move, but as swiftly as possible,” Yuri said. “If we face stronger enemies, then unless we reveal a bit more of our strength, we might not be able to defeat them in just one move. It might even take a few hundred moves.”

“…At this point, I do not know who is angrier at the Lotus clan, me, or you two.”

“Alnea Reckless would of course not be angry for himself.”

“He just jumps into danger for others and expects no one to do the same for him.”

“A brainless idiot.”

“A pervert.”

“…I admit to being a little reckless, but what is with that last accusation?”

“…If I recall correctly, then on the day we left Anneve—

“Stop!” Cecilia said, jumping on Yuri to close her mouth, with all of her blood rushing to her face. “Whose team are you on?”

“…What is this about the day we left Anneve?”

“…Pervert!” Cecilia yelled, refusing to let go of Yuri’s mouth until she promised not to reveal their secret. Alnea, of course, did not wish to let go of such a good opportunity to tease Cecilia. He even tried talking directly to Yuri through their rings, but she refused to say anything. In the end, defeated, and tired of being falsely accused as a pervert, he could only turn back towards the blue robed woman.

“We just have to announce that we established our team, right?”

“And that we are looking for people to complete the Black Desert Trials with.”

“Do not forget to mention the place and time for recruitment.”

“…I am not dumb.”

“And the quota of team members that we have planned.”

“…Anything else?”

“…Try to be more respectful. We are trying to recruit Wanderers, not antagonise them.”

“…You are so long winded,” Cecilia said impatiently, before turning back towards the stage. “Looks like it is finally our time to play.”