Everything went well without a hitch.

The first shop Tyrus went to was the one Fiona showed him before: Merchant's Exchange. The shopkeeper Clive had recognized Tyrus immediately and assisted him in acquiring a new sword, which was a replica of his previous one; same weight and feel. And since it was a copy, it only costed six sil, making it an affordable price.

After he bought the sword, Clive did the usual sales pitch about the numerous medicines and toys he had in stock. Tyrus declined the offer, using the excuse that he was pressed for time and that Fiona was waiting for him nearby.

The shopkeeper seemed to have gotten the message and pestered him no longer as Tyrus and Igneal strutted toward their next destination. It was a shame Ivy wasn't there to greet, but Tyrus didn't mind it all that much. They'd cross paths again, eventually.

From there, he had gone to a tailor shop that wasn't too far away, a place he visited with Fiona. While there were a few shops of the same kind, they were scattered across the entire city. What was special about this one was that not only were the fabrics of great quality, but the seamstresses and tailor create garments of all sizes without needing the measurements. They create an entire set by noting which measurements were quite common and sell them by the standard size. If a size wasn't there, then the customer could send their measurements and paying a little extra.

That wasn't the only thing the tailor shop was capable of. They also took commissions and created unique, custom clothing for a customer. That was the reason Fiona had taken him to that specific one instead of a dozen other tailor shops. If Tyrus wanted something distinct, then Common Tailoring was the place to go.

Once Tyrus had gotten the usual garments from the nice shopkeepers and left the shop with lighter pockets, which pained him somewhat, he and Igneal were on their way back toward the Explorer Guild.

The sun had begun to dip, coloring the sky a taint of orange. Valis' streets were busy as ever, humming with chatter and activity. A group of guards patrolled the sidewalks, pushing the crowds aside, while the city's carriages moved about with haste. The smell of cooked meats and herbal spices wafted through the air as a slight chill breezed by. Getting some fresh air and relaxing after the last few days was truly bliss.

"Ah, he returned," Igneal suddenly spoke, pulling Tyrus away from his thoughts.

Tyrus was about to ask who he was referring to until he noticed a familiar man standing tall in front of the guild. After a closer look, Tyrus frowned as he recognized the man as Sir Wayne, Igneal's grumpy servant that clearly disliked Tyrus' guts. The reasoning for that was unknown, and he had no plans to ask, let alone care.

"Young Master Igneal, welcome back," Sir Wayne said with a slight bow., completely ignoring Tyrus. "I see the deliberation has been taken care of. Did everything go smoothly?"

Igneal waved dismissively. "It went just as I expected it to. I'll tell you all about it at a later time. Have you completed the task I asked you to complete?"

"Of course. A carriage from Lockhart territory has already been sent over to Lady Selena's residence alongside the servant you requested."

"Good. Bring the carriage alongside Yeven so that you two may await outside the guild. There's a meeting I must attend."

Sir Wayne nodded. "As you wish, Young Master Igneal. I will wait here after I return with the carriage."

The man stepped aside, giving Igneal one final bow before disappearing into the crowd. Tyrus followed the man with his eyes, a frown plastered across his face.

"Why do you have a carriage over at Selena's residence?" Tyrus asked.

Igneal gave him a skeptical look, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Don't you keep your possessions wherever you call home? It's obvious that I'm staying with Aunt Selena while I attend the academy. I wouldn't settle for a dingy tavern or inn. Even though Aunt Selena's place is smaller than the Lockhart territory, it'll have to suffice."

"Oh, okay," Tyrus replied, making his way inside the guild. Of course Igneal would stay over at a family members home. If Tyrus wasn't so dense, he would have realized it a long time ago. Selena seemed like the accommodating type if it involved people close to her, like Igneal or Fiona.

Now that he pondered on it, he couldn't help but wonder where Fiona resided. Was she staying at an inn currently, or did she also live with Selena? If it was the latter, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Fiona having to share a living space with Igneal. The thought of those two constantly bickering over small matters was unimaginable.

Setting aside his pity for Fiona, Tyrus looked around the building. The inside of the guild was the same as always: filled with explorers chatting, drinking, and having a good time. They were all in groups, most likely celebrating their success or commiserating after a failed commission.

Celeste was doing her usual duties of assisting patrons at the desk while another one, who he hadn't seen before, was busy polishing tables and serving food and drinks to the customers. No sign of Reo or Grant anywhere, though. They must be somewhere on the second floor or in one of the rooms.

As Tyrus was about to make his way toward the stairs, the air in the building gradually shifted. What used to conversations about commissions or the weather were now about him. The explorers didn't try to hide their stares directly toward Tyrus; one of the few conversations he heard was mostly about him.

"Hey, isn't that the Demi-human that got nabbed by the royal knight yesterday?"

"Just look at him, walking in as if nothing happened. I heard there was an interrogation held and a few explorers were present. Even Emperor Johan and Captain Kalavan were there."

"Seriously? Two big shots were there? But why were the emperor and captain there? Was it really that serious? I'd ask him, but that Lockhart is following him around..."

The conversations around the building slowly became more and more audible, the explorers not bothering to be subtle. Tyrus couldn't even take a step forward without his ears picking up a conversation. Even when he brushed past the tables and was near the stairs, he could still feel a dozen pair of eyes melting through his skin.

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Other than that, it seemed like everyone had already heard of what happened to him, which was understandable given that a few explorers were present. Emperor Johan also expected word to spread around quickly, but Tyrus didn't expect it to reach their ears this fast. The appearance of a black tiger rounding up this much trouble was something Tyrus didn't account for. This kind of attention following him around was bound to cause headaches.

"So annoying," Tyrus muttered as he ascended the stairs, Igneal and Sir Wayne right behind him.

When they reached the second floor, he was surprised to find Reo and Grant already there. The two were sitting at a table at the far wall, conversing. It seemed like they were waiting for him, as Grant noticed them approaching and waved.

"It is nice to see you safe, Tyrus. I take it you had no problems arriving here?"

Tyrus nodded and sat himself next to him. "The head butler led us back to the guild inside a fancy carriage."

"Yeah, we heard," Reo said, leaning his chair against the wall. "Those guys down there wouldn't shut up about it. I was tempted to shout at them before I ripped me ears out. You guys caused quite the stir."

"What about you?" Tyrus asked. "Did you arrive without issue?"

"We had to travel back to the guild on our own two feet," Reo said. "We were offered a carriage by what's-her-name, but Grant's father refused. He made it a point that its best for an Augmentation Sorcerer to walk to his destination. Calls it a great way to train the muscles. Personally, I think he enjoys watching others suffer in the name of training."

"A little exercise will not hurt you, Reo," Grant said, glancing over at him. "You know the type of person my father is."

Reo groaned. "Your old man has an unhealthy obsession with training. Didn't you say that you've been doing strength exercises every day since you were seven? I'm surprised you haven't broken down from all the stress on your body."

"And I thank him for that. I wouldn't be standing here today if I did not undergo such an ordeal. A strong body leads to a powerful mind. If you have the opportunity, join us, Reo. I believe you will benefit greatly from my father's lessons."

"I'll pass. I want my legs to still be functional well into old age." Reo looked over at Tyrus and grinned. "Why not offer your invitation to Tyrus instead? Since he's a Demi-human, his body should handle any rigorous training you throw at him."

A flash of amusement lit up Grant's face. "That is a great idea. Tyrus, you seem like a hard worker that aims to improve themselves. Would you like to join? My father can prepare a training regimen that would compliment your skills nicely. It's not every day that you can learn from a royal knight directly."

Learning from a royal knight seemed like an enticing idea that few would pass up on. Since they were the best Lethos could probably offer, Tyrus had little knowledge about them specifically. But what he did know was that each one of them had the strength to back up their titles.

When he first laid eyes on the royal knight's back when he was being interrogated, he used mana sense and felt firsthand just how strong their mana was. But when he did comparisons, he found it odd that their mana reservoirs were around the same amount as Emperor Johan, yet their mana completely dwarfed his in terms of thickness.

He was aware of this because whenever he approached another sorcerer, there was a noticeable pressure in the air, as if it had become heavy. Of course, the intensity varied from person to person, but when there were numerous powerful sorcerers in the same room, Tyrus couldn't help but be threatened, fearing that he would be crushed under the weight of their combined presence. That's why he could finally relax once he left that cramped room.

Besides that, Tyrus had been so busy with the exam and other troublesome events that training had become an afterthought. Just last week, he was in Wildwood, running around hunting rock spiders to strengthen his spellcasting and body.

Sure he improved during the exam, but that only lasted a few hours. In order for him to improve in the future, he would need to continue to fight stronger opponents and hone his techniques. Fighting the earth spirit had opened his eyes on where he stood regarding magic.

"That'd be great," Tyrus said. "I want to be the best I can, whether it be through casting spells or being just as good as Igneal with the sword."

Igneal proudly puffed out his chest and confidently declared, "It's only natural that I set the gold standard for individuals my age. I'm not implying that you can match my skills in swordsmanship, but you can certainly come close."

Reo eyed Igneal carefully. "I'm surprised to see you here. Shouldn't a meeting like this be beneath you?"

"I am a member of Blue Dawn, just like the rest of you. My presence here is needed, just like the rest of you. Also, this is a meeting that deals with my friend here, so it's only natural that I'm here to listen. More than likely, the conversation will be about that."

It slipped Tyrus' mind for a moment on why they gathered at the guild. Talking and thinking about training really steered away from the main reason for meeting up. The nerves from dreading this very moment was starting to soak in.

"And now his ears are twitching," Reo remarked. "I'll be the first one to say it: don't worry too much about it. Our opinion of you won't change, and it never will, unless you turn bad or leave Blue Dawn for good. Pretty sure Fiona thinks so as well. "

Grant placed a hand on Tyrus's shoulder reassuringly. "Everyone has secrets they wish to keep close to their heart. There are secrets that are minimal, and there are those that can corrode the mind if left to fester. Regardless, whatever secrets you may have, we will stand by your side. Do not be afraid to rely on us. You are among friends."

Tyrus nodded slowly. He couldn't help but admire the two's sincerity and willingness to ease his doubts. He was worried they'd look at him differently if they found out he used an element seen as evil, but those fears were thankfully squandered.

It was also nice that he could get some of the stuff he was carrying off his chest. A secret as big as finding out a companion of yours was actually connected through the Great Lineages through the black tigers was not one to take lightly, he suspected. He saw how everyone reacted to the news, and those were people who knew nothing about him.

Fear and a lack of knowledge influenced how they treated him, resulting in their harsh attitudes and actions. Many people likely shared the same perspective as the nobles, so it wasn't an unrealistic thought. The Beastfolk now had a terrible reputation with Lethos, and it was because villages and cities on the outskirts were being attacked by the Beastfolk Kingdom. As much as Tyrus hated to admit it, he could see where they were coming from.

That didn't mean he'd forgive those scum. They could fall over and die for all he cared.

"Fiona won't be back until sunset, so we might be here for a while," Reo mumbled. "There's a lot to unpack there at the deliberation, and I have a few questions to ask Tyrus about his answers during the whole thing."

"That can wait until Fiona returns and that we are in a more remote location," Grant said, watching Sir Wayne, who was standing nearby with his eyes closed. "I would imagine Tyrus would not like others to hear more of our conversation."

Igneal quickly understood Grant's implication. "You don't need to be concerned about Sir Wayne. We can speak freely in his presence. As my personal knight, he is bound by his oath to honor my desires. He will speak not a word to anyone."

To confirm Igneal's words, Sir Wayne nodded in agreement, not opening his eyes. "Young Master Igneal is correct. I will not share any of your conversations, even if my life depended on it. Speak freely as if I was never here. Dishonoring the young master's wishes is the same as dishonoring my title and the Lockhart name."

Reo shrugged. "Well, whatever the case is, we can just save the important bits for when Fiona gets here. There's nothing better to do except talking about the commission. We got plenty of time to kill. Tyrus, how about you get yourself something to eat?"

At that moment, a quiet growl rumbled from Tyrus's stomach. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't eaten since last night. "Yeah, I could go for something to eat. I'll be right back."

"Bring me a mug of water while you're at it," Reo called out to him.

Tyrus nodded and stood up from his chair, already making his way down the stairs and toward a guild worker manning the tables.