“…Though it looks like I was already doing the work of the team’s captain, since you have chosen to place your trust in me, then I will also do my best to not fail you as your Captain,” Alnea said, glancing at everyone in the hall, while putting on a solemn face. “Next, let us get back to what we were discussing. Linking our interests with each other’s.

“Earlier, I was planning on explaining my idea in detail, but we have already wasted too much time, and there is still so much we have to discuss, so let us skip the unnecessary parts, and let me get straight to the process. We will now each briefly introduce our motivation behind going to the inner city. Keep it short and concise. There is no need to go into details, or expose your secrets, but be honest. That is all I ask. Is that alright with everyone?”

Seeing everyone nod to his question, Alnea nodded back in return, and said, “Let me go first to set an example anyway… The reason I want to go the inner city is because I want to meet with someone. And maybe, to prove myself to that person that I am strong enough to take care of myself… Does everyone understand how to explain their motivation? Good. Then, let us go one by one around the circle, starting from you, Lia.”

“Me? Well… If I have to say it in a couple of sentences like you, then… I also want to prove myself to someone… And I do not want to be left behind…”

“Good. What about you, Zain?”

“…With my talent, I—

“Be honest, Zain. That is all I ask.”

“…I want to prove myself to everyone in my clan, and to everyone in the city, that I am also a talented Wanderer… That I can also reach the peak on the path of Wanderers…”

“Thank you, Zain,” Alnea said, nodding at Zain with an appreciative smile, before turning to the grey robed man sitting next to him. “Karl, you know the rules…”

“…I want to survive…”

“…That is very vague, Karl…”

“…Then let me put it in a better way… I want enough strength and means to survive anything…”

“…That is quite an ambitious aim,” Alnea said, nodding in appreciation once again, before turning towards the brown robed man. “Ralph…”

“…I am not as ambitious as the two of them,” Ralph said, shaking his head with a wry smile. “Besides, most of you should have already guessed my intentions. That is right, I want everyone from my clan to recognise me, and welcome me back…”

“…They will, Ralph. We believe in you,” Alnea said in a solemn voice, before turning to the red robed man. “Norren…”

“…I am not so complicated as the rest of you,” Norren said, shaking his head. “I just want to walk as far on the path of Wanderers as I can. And entering the inner city can obviously help me walk further on my path.”

“…It is still a worthy goal,” Alnea said, not belittling the red robed man’s dreams whatsoever. After all, no dreams were small. Only the effort that people were willing to put behind their dreams differed from person to person. And clearly, the effort that Norren was willing to make for the sake of his dream bordered on the edge of desperation.

Such desperation… Such dedication… Maybe there were things that the red robed was not willing to tell them. But that was his secret, after all. Alnea did not expect, or even want to know the secret. All he wanted was honesty, which he got. Besides, even if there were no secrets, such dedication alone was worthy of respect. Nodding at Norren in appreciation, Alnea turned to the green robed man next to him.

“…Fran…”

“…From the look on your faces, some of you must have already guessed my situation,” Fran said, in his usual hoarse voice. “That’s right. I am from one of the cities that the Heterodox Wanderers destroyed in the Green Lightning Valley. And unlike the city in Rianra, which had Lady Serena to defend against the invaders, no one was there to protect my city. To protect my family…

“Sometimes, I wonder, if it was Ilea’s blessings, or Inkah’s curse that I survived that day. Nonetheless, since I am alive, I am not going to let my life be in vain. My motivation… I am not as noble or pure as everyone else… I just want power for revenge. And like the buff guy next to me said, the inner city can give me greater strength. That’s it.”

“…We are sorry—

“No need. Just continue as normal.”

Alnea sighed at the cruelty of the world of Wanderers. He did not show any pity to the green robed man though. As someone who had once burned in the flames of vengeance, he knew all too well how it felt like to have others pity on him. Rather than sympathising with the man, he just nodded to show his understanding, before turning towards the pink robed man next to him. That was the best he could do for Fran.

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“…Aren…”

“…Revenge… I wish I could have that…” Aren said, going silent for a couple of moments, before continuing with his words. “But I don’t even know what or whom I should direct my revenge at. At this point, I just want to know the truth… Only the inner city can give it to me… And gaining some strength would also help me in what I want to do after understanding what happened back then…”

“…Planning ahead of what you will do after reaching your goal… It looks like you are more thorough in your thoughts than any of us, Aren,” Alnea said, nodding in appreciation once again, before turning to the blue robed woman.

“Vestia…”

“You already know what I want,” Vestia said, winking at him, only to be glared at by Cecilia and Yuri, while receiving a helpless smile from Alnea. “Alright, alright… I cannot be too greedy right away… Let us start with smaller goals… How about a promise to let me follow you when you leave the Lost City?”

“No!”

“Absolutely not! No promises!”

“…What are you two getting excited for? I just want a promise. It is not like I am snatching him away from you…”

“No promises,” Cecilia said, still adamantly refusing Vestia, while Yuri regained her composure, staring solemnly at the blue robed girl sitting next to her.

“Why not?”

“Just because I said so.”

“…Can you be more reasonable?”

“…Let me do it instead,” Cecilia said after some hesitation. “I will promise you instead of him.”

“But I do not want your promise…”

“…Do not force me, vixen.”

“…It is just a promise… It is not as if I can force him to do anything…”

“That’s because—

“Cecilia,” Yuri said with a sigh, reminding Cecilia what to say, and what not to say, before turning towards Vestia. “Have you decided already?”

“…Can I not?”

“The time is too short…”

“And that is one of the reasons why I came to my decision so early,” Vestia said, with the edge of her lips curling upwards in a smile. “I have seen the progress he has made, especially in the last two days… A Wanderer with potential is tempting, but a Wanderer with potential who knows how to work hard, and is also smart… Of course, I cannot deny that he has a few little faults. But that is what makes him even more charming, is it not?”

“…He is not going to join your clan.”

“I am not asking him to join my clan either,” Vestia said, shaking her head. “If my clan had been so domineering, it would have stopped existing long ago.”

“…Then what do you want?”

“…A backer for my clan.”

“…Yours is already one of the strongest Grand clans.”

“So?”

“How can a boy be your backer?”

“…He may be a boy now, but he is going to be one of the strongest Wanderers in the future.”

“…Are you so sure of him?”

“Are you not?”

“…You two… I am sitting right here, you know?”

“…I will not give him up.”

“I am not asking you to,” Vestia said, shrugging her shoulders. “I am asking for just a promise.”

“…When did you notice?”

“Notice what?”

“…Forget it, Yuri,” Alnea said, stretching out his right hand to hold Yuri’s left hand, asking her to stop speaking, before turning back towards Vestia. “Are you sure that you want just a promise?”

“…I am sure.”

“…Very well,” Alnea said, nodding solemnly at Vestia. “I promise you that I will take you with me when we leave the Lost City.”

“You cannot abandon me after taking me out,” Vestia added with wide, innocent, and wary eyes.

“…I never abandon my companions, Vestia,” Alnea said, staring directly into Vestia’s eyes. “Never.”

“I know you will not abandon me, Alnea, but you have also seen how your two companions hate me…”

“…Vixen.”

“See?”

“…I promise you that I will not abandon you, Vestia.”

“…Thank you, Alnea. And I am sorry…”

“…It is fine,” Alnea said, shaking his head, both to reassure Vestia, and to clear his headache. It looked like not abandoning Vestia was going to be hard. “Although I have known you for only a week or so… If you are sincere enough, a week is enough to earn someone’s trust. And I have seen your sincerity. I have seen how much you trust me. And I have also found myself beginning to trust you… You are worthy enough for me to make a promise for you.”

“…I… I am really sorry, Alnea…”

“Relax,” Alnea said with a sigh, before smiling back at Vestia. “I like you more when you smile.”

“…You said the same thing to me too.”

“…Because it is true!”

“…Then whose smile is better?”

“Yours, of course. No doubt. Nothing can compare to your smile. Not even Orn’s beauty, or Enn’s radiance.”

“…You are becoming more and more slick with your tongue.”

“…Are you not angry about the promise I just made?”

“…A little, but you made the right choice. There was nothing else you could do. Besides, I believe in your judgment. Since you think she is worthy enough for you to take an Oath, there is no need for me to stop you.”

“…Thank you, Yuri.”