In the end, Cecilia’s request for a practice match against Zain was ruthlessly rejected by both Yuri and Vestia alike. Alnea did not think that they could hold her off for long though. No, not just Cecilia. With how vicious Zain’s mouth was, even Yuri and Vestia were bound to lose their inner urges at some point. There was no doubt about that. It was just a matter of when. The real question was, of the four of them, who was going to beat up the loud mouthed man first.

Fortunately for Zain, he was perceptible enough to shut up after making a few grumbles about how unreliable his new teammates were, wondering if he had made a mistake in joining such a team. Despite all his grumblings though, after Zain learned that they were going to wait until the time they had set was up, he decided to wait on the stairs with them. And while he was at it, he even offered to explain how teams worked in the Lost City.

“No need,” Vestia said. “I was going to explain these things anyway, so you might as well let me do it.”

“Then why have you not explained it to them till now?”

“…I joined the team just yesterday—

“You had an entire day.”

“…And then, after the accident that happened in the Arena—

“Accident? What accident? Why have I not heard of it?”

“…She is talking about the Wanderer I killed in the Arena.”

“What? It was an accident? I thought you killed the man because he was from the Lotus clan.”

“…In any case, things were in a mess last night, so the explanation got delayed until now.”

“Mess? Why? Did the Lotus clan attack you? Did you kill even more people? Were the guards of the city involved? Why have I not heard of these things?”

“…Because none of those things ever happened.”

“Then what kind of mess—

“Just shut up and listen to what I am saying.”

“…I thought a team was supposed to work with the unity of a group, and not on the whims of its leader.”

“…I am starting to understand why those people decided to kick you out of their team after just a day.”

“…Can you feel my overwhelming talent already?”

“Will you shut up already? Or do I have to shut you up myself?”

“…Fine.”

“…Just ignore him, Vestia,” Alnea said to a clearly annoyed Vestia. Although he had not known her for long, this was only the second time that he had seen her make such a face. Not so surprisingly, both those times had been because of Zain. What a talent he had…

“Tell us about how teams work in the Lost City.”

“…Thank you, Alnea,” Vestia said after taking a deep breath, flashing her dimples at him. “Now, coming back to what I was about to say, everyone should already know what a team means.”

“A team is a group of Wanderers who work together for certain missions,” Yuri said. “However, not all group of Wanderers working together can be called as a team. Only when the Wanderers working together can trust each other can they be worthy of being called as a team.”

“…What you are describing is a team in a more traditional sense. In other words, that was how teams used to be when they first came into conception. Over time, things have changed. People have changed. Wanderers have changed. And their aims have changed. Trust, which used to be one of the basic necessities for survival, is no longer sanctified. Interest reigns supreme. This is the Age of Wanderers, the time for the prosperity of Wanderers, but also the time for the decay of Wanderers.”

“…You are being dramatic once again, Vestia.”

“…What is the problem in being a little dramatic?” Vestia said, giggling at Yuri. “It is not as if there is somewhere that we need to go. Since we are going to sit here for a while, you might as well listen to my story.”

“…Women,” Zain mumbled, but chose to remain quite for the time being.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“…You really are not as cute as Alnea,” Vestia said, finally giving in to Yuri’s stare. “Coming back to the point, teams are not what they used to be. Nowadays, as long as you can establish a common goal, and have enough understanding, you can form your own team. As for trusting each other with their lives… that is a privilege that few can have. Even in the Thrall Domains, there are very few teams that can truly trust each other with their lives. So, how can a place—even if it carries some secret legacies— in a remote corner of the world have such teams?”

“…Then our team?”

“It is naturally of the second kind. A team which is based more on interest rather than trust.”

“…That is not true. I can trust both Yuri and Cecilia with my life.”

“But the Star Seekers is not just about you three anymore. Tell me, Cecilia. Can you trust me with your life?”

“…No.”

“What about Zain?”

“Never.”

“And what about other teammates that might join us?”

“…I do not know.”

“See? Though you can trust Alnea and Yuri with your life, you cannot do the same with the other members of the team. This shows that our team is also based on interests. Rather, it is only because a team can be based on interests that we can welcome Zain into our team. And it is also the reason why we can expect other Wanderers to join our team. Because we can bring them enough interests.”

“…Why is the world of Wanderers so complicated?” Alnea mumbled.

“Because that is just the way it is,” Vestia replied. “Did you understand what I was trying to say?”

“Maybe…” Alnea mumbled before shaking his head. “I am not sure.”

“…Let us check how much you understood then,” Vestia said, giggling at him this time. “What is a team?”

“A group of Wanderers working towards the same goal. Or at least a unified goal.”

“And what is the thing that brings a team together?”

“…Their unified goal?”

“Try again.”

“…Interests,” Alnea said after thinking about it for a few moments. “Be it a unified goal, or even their personal goals, everything could be considered as interests. As long as there is enough interest, everyone will naturally come together.”

“…Interesting way to put it,” Vestia said. “Can we control our interests then?”

“…Maybe,” Alnea mumbled after a brief moment of silence. “Interests are like our desires. As long as our will is powerful enough, we should be able to control our interests.”

“So, you are saying that interests can change, right?”

“…I did not exactly say that, but I guess you are right. Interests can indeed change.”

“Then tell me, Alnea. How can you ensure that a team remains a team even after the interests that brought them together changes? For example, Zain chose to join us seeking help in entering the inner city. But what if he suddenly decides that he does not want to enter the inner city? That he wants to help the Lotus clan get their revenge?”

“I would never do that!”

“…This is just a hypothetical question, Zain. Be patient.”

“Still…”

“…I don’t know.”

“…Do you still not get it? Did I really join the wrong team?”

“…Zain.”

“…I was just talking to myself,” Zain mumbled, and wisely chose not to argue anymore.

“So, Alnea, tell me, how do you ensure the loyalty of your team?”

“I really don’t know… But if I would have to guess, I would say either some Arcanas, or some Glyphs. Without enough interests, only restrictions from the Mysteries of the Origin Sea could help hold a group of Wanderers together.”

“…You are right, in a sense,” Yuri said, raising her brows in amusement. “Only the Mysteries of the Origin Sea can restrain a group of Wanderers with no common interests from fighting or betraying each other. Though, if a team ever reaches a point where its members have to rely on such means to keep them together, it cannot be called as a team anymore.

“Still, precautions have to be taken. And this is why every team must register with the city. With the means of the city, it will ensure that the members of a team do not betray each other. At least not until they are under the jurisdiction of the city. So, now do you understand why we have to register our team in the Blood Hall?”

“…This whole registration of team, and all its restriction, it makes it feel as if we cannot even trust our teammates, but I guess I can understand what you are trying to say. We can never trust other people, at least not those who are working together with us just for their interests.”

“Everyone is always working for their interests, Alnea. It is just that some interests are immediate, while others can be long term, lasting longer than our entire lives.”

“…What about you? What are your interests in working with us?”

“…My interests… That is something that you will have to find out on your own,” Vestia said, winking at him, while flashing her dimples. “But do not worry, I plan to work with you for a long time. Long enough to gain your trust, and never lose it.”

“…Right, what about the teams in the Thrall and Heterodox Domains?” Alnea said, changing the topic away from himself, trying to diffuse the awkward atmosphere around him, while dodging Yuri and Cecilia’s glare. “How do Wanderers ensure the loyalty of their team members in those places?”

“…The teams in the Thrall Domains are another matter altogether, and not something that you should worry about now,” Vestia said, laughing at his embarrassed face. Even his Aspects could not fool her. And she always knew the right things to say to get him hooked to her words. But then, she would always do something that would earn him Yuri and Cecilia’s ire…

Vestia Weina. She truly was a formidable opponent. But he was not going to give up. He was Alnea Oathkeeper. And he was going to become the greatest Wanderer. He was going to become an Origin Wanderer. And once he would have an advantage over the blue robed woman, he would surely have his revenge…