"Good morning everyone!" Sophia's ethusiastic greetings as she walks down on the stairs. She was followed by Claustrine who brushing her eyes with her hand.

Just like yesterday. Grand Ecstasy starts the day by drinking coffee. Sophia, Shirna and Beltrand are full of anticipation as they wait on what they going to do today.

.

.

.

But their excitement are completely shattered when Mateo finally tell today's plans.

"N-no way..." Sophia is in disbelief.

"I expected that you going to say that Mateo." Clautrine's unsurprised reaction.

"But why we need to learn this world's language to begin with?" Beltrand's question with a hint of protest.

Mateo didn't answer and just shows a tagalog text he written himself.

"Read."

The three raises their eyebrows.

"Come on bro! We know that we can't read languages here. But, is this really necessary?" Beltrand complains.

"Yeah yeah! It's not like we're going to always chat to citizens of this town or country." Sophia agrees to Beltrand.

"No complaints. You guys need to learn the language because I can tell that your stay here is not just a short vacation." Mateo insist on his proposal.

"Mateo is right. We might seen as anomaly on this world if we looked like we understand the languages of the people around us yet we can't communicate with them." Claustrine's explanation.

"All languages Trinne. You guys can understand any language in this world regardless on how rare it is." Mateo's correction.

Him and Claustrine already tested the accuracy of the auto-translator by using languages from around the world using google translate, and Claustrine understands all the sentences the Google bot spoken to them.

"Fine fine. We going to study... for now." Beltrand just accepted defeat. Shirna and Sophia sighs.

"I just remember my days as an apprentice." Sophia remembers her past, reading lots and lots of books as a form of training on becoming a cleric. She gives another unsatisfied sigh.

And thus, Grand Ecstasy spends the day learning the language. Mateo and Claustrine alongside Ligaya and Beatrice acts like teacher for the other three.

Thankfully for everyone. Due to coincidence, Grimael's alphabet is almost identical to modern English with only slight variations like unque symbols that combines two vowels and using a long dash as replacement for space. So Claustrine creates a table showing Grimael letters and symbols with its corresponding alphabet in English while Mateo writes English and Tagalog words into Grimaelian with guide on how to pronounce them. If there's words that the three can't understand, they can ask Mateo who gives short explanation.

But Beltrand, Sophia and Shirna are not geniuses like Claustrine who manage to adapt and learn the basic. And the fact that their teachers are just first time teaching just shows that it might takes a very long time before the three learns to speak and read Tagalog and English.

"This is a lot difficult than I imagined." Mateo says which Claustrine agreed upon.

"Well. It's not like we're rushing anyway. We still have a lot of time." Beltrand's opinion.

"Beltrand is right. So, should we explore outdoors to get some fresh air?" Shirna's sneaky suggestion but Mateo and Claustrine didn't buy it. The two just looked at Shirna with slight dissapointment.

"Should we ask Joan for help?" Ligaya's suggestion which caught the attention of Mateo's friends.

"Joan? You have another sister?" Claustrine asked.

"Yeah. But she's currently living with her boyfriend. Also, ma. I don't want to take her time as a teacher. She's busy enough for us to ask for her time."

"How about you ask for Joan's help during summer break?" Ligaya's follow-up suggestion.

"Thats... A good idea ma. But its still one month before the summer break starts. Right now, they should try to learn the basics so it becomes easier later." Mateo accepts Ligaya's suggestion.

Mateo stands up and picks her things before walking towards the door.

"Mateo? Are you going somewhere?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah. I need to do some things so just continue your studies. Anyways, do you want some food?"

His friends' eyes lights-up when they hear the magic word.

"I want pizza also milktea!" -Sophia.

"Burgers and fries for me." -Beltrand

"Anything spicy for me!" -Shirna.

"I didn't expected that teaching is this tiring. Mateo, I want doughnuts and coffee. Thanks in advance."

"Ok got it! Just wait for them to get delivered here."

And thus Mateo says her farewell and leave.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

"Mateo? Isn't this too much?" Ailan's surprised reaction as he put his gaze on the small sack of gold coins.

Mateo returns to Glimmer & Co. to exchange gold coins. But the amount that he wants to trade surprised Ailan.

"When is the last time you exchanged this much money? Ah right, when you needed funds for the construction of your new house." Ailan says as he starts to count the gold coins.

"Yeah. But I wonder if it's ok to get huge amount of money right now?"

"There's no problem. But I'm just curious on the reason why you need it in the first place?" Ailan's serious question.

Mateo stands up and go to the water dispenser nearby.

"I just thought that maybe its time to get a better transport vehicle." Mateo's answer then he drinks a glass of cold water.

"The tricycle and motorcycles are not enough? Your family is using them for yea- ohhhhhhhh..." Ailan finally realizes Mateo's thinking.

"You easily get what I'm thinking. So pre? Do you know any good place to buy brand new cars?"

Ailan scratches the back of his head.

"I known someone but they're specialized on second hand cars. Also, I didn't really trust them. But if it's about cars, I think its better if you just ask your Brother Shiva for opinions."

"Ah..." Mateo's slightly shocked reaction.

"Really? Pre, are you really close to your brother or any family member in particular?" Ailan says then gives a sly grin.

"I just forgoten ok? And I spend most of my time adventuring in Grimael and rarely visit Earth these days so I forgot some details." Mateo's defense of himself.

"Yeah yeah that's why you also missed some important events here. But you should speak about getting a car with your brother or your family so they have an idea and be prepared."

"I understand. So, how much money I get for that?" Mateo asked as he points on the bag of gold coins.

Ailan proceeds to wear his glasses and use the calculator on his side. After few seconds...

"2 Million Pesos. I believe its more than enough for what you trying to buy."

"Yeah. There's more funds remaining to be used for the garage."

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"You truly think everything in advance. Perhaps caused by your life in Grimael."

"If you live in a world of magic and monsters. You would also become prepared on anything."

Ailan smiles then he stand up and walk on his room. After some time, Ailan returns and now holding a bag containing bundles of 1,000 peso bank notes.

"Here's your 2 Mil. But I want to remind you."

"I know I know. I can't exchange gold coins for a while. I going to stay in Grimael for a a long time anyway."

"That's one thing, but there's one I want to add now."

"What is it?"

"Tell to Shiva that he should buy the car in installments instead of buying in full payment, more preferable if more than 1 year plan. So your family can avoid getting unwanted attention."

"I understand. But I bet that whatever shop Shiva buys the car, they probably prefered Installments anyway." Mateo shrugs while Ailan laughs after hearing Mateo's words.

"They're not like whatever motorcycle shops that you thinking right now."

Mateo also laugh.

"Phew. That was fun. Anyways, I got go now. See you next time."

Before Mateo leaves the room, Ailan stops her.

"I almost forgot. Mr. Del Paz wants you to visit his shop on Friday, don't forget."

"Thanks a lot pre."

Mateo leaves and returns home. The moment he enters the house, he was greeted by his friends and family eating the foods he ordered before he visits Glimmer & Co.

"Oh Mateo welcome back!" Beltrand's greeting.

"Yeah."

Mateo sits alongside his friends.

"You ordered too much food." Claustrine says as she munch the doughnuts she loves.

"I know how large your appatites are so I ordered more just in case. And also my family can eat if they want." Mateo says then she picks a cheesy slice of pizza and eat with gusto.

The door chimes rings...

"Hmmmm... Something smells good."

Shiva just got home and he instantly follows the smell.

"Oh welcome home Bro Shiva. Want some?" Beltrands invitation.

"Thanks!" Shiva goes closer and picks a burger.

"Shiva... Can I talk to you later?" Mateo asked.

"Hmmm sure." Shiva just say, curious on what Mateo wants to say.

.

.

.

.

Mateo gives the bag to Shiva who is surprised to see the huge amount of money.

"B-Brother? What's on your mind?"

"I want you to buy a car, a van with big capacity to be exact."

"Ohhh I understand. Anything you want me to buy?"

"To be honest, I don't know thats why I leave it to you as a car mechanic."

Shiva smiles as he appreciates that his brother trust him.

"Ok Brother. Leave it to me."

"Also, buy a car in Installments. Also, tell with ma and pa about it and find a crew that would construct the garage."

"Noted."

Grand Ecstasy continued their language studies while eating snacks. The Auto-translator is proven to also be a hindrance as they can't naturally assimilate themselves on the new world.

The road to mastery might be long and grueling but its just another challenge Grand Ecstasy face.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

"Hmmmm..."

Gilberto is just looking on Mateo, Shirna and Beltrand seriously. After few seconds, he nods.

"Ok. Everything looks perfect."

Friday morning, last day of Grand Ecstasy's vacation. Everyone is currently on Del Paz Tailoring as they excited to try the suits crafted to them.

"All of you looks stylish and regal!" Crisalyne's compliment. Eyes brimming with awe.

"True. You guys are killing it with style." Sophia commented.

Beltrand walks in front of the huge mirror. Posing with her new suit.

"I think I just found my favorite suit. It looks so amazing to me."

Shirna walks beside Beltrand and observe himself wearing the toxedo.

"I like it..." Shirna says with a smile.

"Claustrine, catch!"

Mateo throws his phone to Claustrine who easily catch it.

"So you want to take pictures?"

"Of course! It's not like we can do that during the ceremony."

Claustrine stand up.

"True. Ok lets start."

Grand Ecstasy takes their moment taking pictures. Even Claustrine and Sophia tries the suit but it its not a fit for them.

"You look like a hanger." Mateo said followed by a chuckle as she look on Claustrine who wearing Beltrand's coat.

"S-shut up." Claustrine blush out of embarassment.

"Sir. Do you also make suit for women?" Sophia asked.

"Of course. We're a tailor shop afterall." Gilberto's answer.

"Now I also want a suit."

"I can't imagine how fabulous you girls are." -Crisalyne.

After taking pictures. They finally give the suits for packaging. Mateo walks to Gilberto.

"Sir, how much we need to pay?"

Gilberto waves his hand.

"No need. Ailan already payed for all of three suits you ordered."

"Eh? He didn't tell me!" Mateo is surprised.

""It's a gift for a my partners he said." The truth is, I also don't undertsand the mind of my daughter's husband." Gilberto said while scratching the back of his head.

"D-daughter's h-husband? Wait?! I-it means..."

Crisalyne walks besides her father.

"I'm sorry if we didn't fully introduced ourselves. My name is Crisalyne Riello, I'm Ailan's wife."

Crisalyne opens her phone and shows a picture of a cute baby girl.

"And I don't really know why he want me to show you this but, this is our daughter. Her name is Dorothy. She's so cute right?" Crisalyne said with pride.

"aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....." Mateo is mindblown.

"He didn't told you?" Gilberto asked as he was confused on Mateo's reaction.

"Y-yeah. That bastard, so thats what he meant by me missing some important events. He didn't even invited me on his wedding or make me a godfather." Mateo's disbelief followed by a laugh.

While his friends are just looking a him with curiousity.

The staff now fully package the suits and give it to Grand Ecstasy.

"Thank you for your hard work Mr. Gilberto." Mateo's gratitude.

"I glad you all liked our works. Please visit our store again if you need suits again."

"We will."

And thus, Grand Ecstasy leaves the house and now waiting for a bus.

"Mateo?"

"Yes Trinne?"

"Who is Ailan?"

Mateo paused for a moment, smiling.

"He's a close friend of mine. A very reliable one."

"Did he also know your secret?"

"Yeah... The only one I told my secret with outside of my family and you guys. But to think that he's already married. Time moves so fast these days."

Claustrine smiles as she looks on Mateo reminiscing his past.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Grand Ecstasy spends their Friday afternoon continuing their language studies while Mateo buys the stuffs they going to bring in the other world.

Night time comes and Grand Ecstasy ended today's study. As they preparing to rest early for tommorow. They noticed something missing.

"Where's Mateo?" Claustrine asked.

"Who knows? Maybe he still doing something outside." Beltrand's unsure answer.

"But we should sleep early so we still enough time to prepare for the ceremony tommorow." Claustrine's opinion.

"Is something wrong?" Ligaya's question.

"Nothing Mrs. l. I just wondering where is Mate- wait." Claustrine stops as she remembered something.

"Iha?"

"A friend of him invited Mateo in someone's birthday."

Aftear hearing Claustrine, Ligaya touch her forehead.

"Sus maryosep. He knew that there's an important event. Jade!"

Jade comes after hearing his mother's call.

"Why ma?

"Guide Claustrine and his friends into your Brother's location? He must be drinking in Aling Emelda's house."

"Got it. Please follow me."

Grand Ecstasy follows Jade on a lenghty walk until they reach a very secluded house hidden with trees and bamboos. Jade calls for someone inside and 3 dogs rushes towards them while barking.

"Pochi! Brownie! Puti! Ease!"

Hearing the command. The went silent and excitely goes to a slim man. His face is confused.

"Who are you?" The man politely asked.

"We're Mateo's friends. I wonder if he was here?" Claustrine asked, speaking in slightly unrefined tagalog.

"Ohhh... Yeah he's here. Please enter!"

The man opens the bamboo gate and Grand Ecstasy enters a small garden only illuminated by a light far from them. When they reach the light, they didn't expected the scene.

Numerous men are just slumped everywhere. Some are laying on the long chairs, one is slumped on the table and one is knocked out on the ground itself with only huge cardboard acting as makeshift bed. Beer and brandy bottles are neatly placed nearby but the table still have plates with foods, water pitcher and cornicks.

Grand Ecstasy can clearly smell alcoholism in the air and easily assumed that the unconcious people are conpletely drunk, except for the one greeted them and another playing on his phone who finally noticed them and as surprised as them.

"So, where is Mateo?"

"There he is. Completely drunk just like the others." The man pointed on a hut where they see Mateo sleeping on the long chair made with bamboo alongside another man sleeping peacefully..

Grand Ecstasy went closer and they can't stop having a huge smile and giggles on their face as they observe the drunk Mateo sleeping like a starfish and snoring.

"This is the first time I see Mateo flat out drunk." Beltrand commented.

"Yeah. What a sight to behold." Sophia says.

"To think that our leader can also be this vulnerable. How cute." Shirna commented.

Claustrine see Mateo's phone beside him. She take it and shot some photos of Mateo with a sly grin on her face.

"So. You're going to bring him home?" The slim man asked.

"Yeah."

"I don't know that Mateo have foreigner friends. But still, thank you."

The man leaves and returns to the other man playing with his phone. Meanwhile, Beltrand tries to wake up Mateo.

"Hey Mateo wake up. Let's go home." Beltrand's attempt as he shakes Mateo's shoulder. But Mateo just sweep his hand with his arm.

"Fayb...moar... Minuets..."

Mateo rolls his body, almost falling to the cold ground but Beltrand and Sophia stops it.

"Geez... What a hassle."

Mateo slightly opens his eyes only to see his friends looking at him.

"Ohhh... Guuuuuiss.... Hiiiiii....."

Then falls to sleep again.

"Yup, completely drunk." -Claustrine.

"What we should do?" Shirna asked.

"Well, we have no choice. I'm just gonna carry him."

"I just hope he don't suddenly puke on you." Claustrine's concerned words.

"I hope you didn't jinxed it." Beltrand's concerned answer.

Beltrand, with the help of others proceeds to carry Mateo on a piggybank position. Mateo's arms doesn't have strenght and just limping in front of Beltrand.

"Geez... He reeks of beer and stuffs." Beltrand complains.

Grand Ecstasy then says their farewell on the two sober people and walks home, Jade meanwhile seperate ways as he's going to visit a friend. They're walking on the side of the road illuminated by lines of street lamps, enjoying the night time scenery as the moon and stars shines brightly above them. Giving vision to the rice fields, trees and far away moutains. There's no vehicles passing by making the vibe blissful.

"What a way to end the day huh?" Claustrine commented.

"In Grimael. Sophia is the one that always get drunk and carried home."

Sophia blushes.

"Pleaseee don't remind me of that."

They laugh while Sophia just pouts.

"Hmmmmm..." -Mateo.

"Looked how peaceful he sleeps."

"But I wonder why he didn't get drunk in Grimael." Shirna asked.

"Perhaps he still doing her leader duty for us so he maintains a clear mind. But here, he can be drunk however he wants as there's no responsibility for him." Claustrine explained.

"Fair point."

"Trinne... Beltrand... Sophia... Shirna."

They get interested when Mateo suddenly calls their names.

"I'm... so glad that... I meet all of you guys. Thank... you so much... I'm so happy..." Mateo said while still sleeping on Beltrand's back.

The four smiles as they hear the genuine words of Mateo.

"Now I want her to get drunk more often. I'm also happy that I meet you and become my first friend as an Adventurer." Claustrine's confession.

"I'm glad that of you being like a brother to me." -Beltrand.

"I'm also thankful that I meet you guys and help me grow." -Sophia.

"I'm so happy that I finally found friends I can rely on despite my race." -Shirna.

After sharing their confessions. Everyone except Mateo chuckle as they suddenly felt cheesy after spouting such heartfelt words.