When Ramiron teleported pavilion-to-pavilion back to their cottage, Hiroku was sitting on the stoop with a tray of sushi next to him. He was wearing his usual outfit with his hair lying freely on his back and beside his face. His elbows were on his knees. His expressionless face was colder than the falling rain.

Drops of water incessantly smashed onto the roof and went down from the eaves.

Ramiron emerged on the veranda. She propped her hands on the banister, watching the rain, and called, "Hey, Hiro."

Hiroku finished chewing the rice in his mouth and raised his head sideways to glance at Ramiron. "You are back," he said. There was a small unease in him, unwilling to ruin Ramiron's pleasant. "How is the meditation? Are you feeling better?"

"Nothing special happened, but I can turn things into stardust again. Although I can only perform it at a very small scale, the progress is tangible." Ramiron smiled and added, "You know I actually vowed not to mediate ever again back in the academy? I find it kinda ironic."

"I'm glad you are getting better." Hiroku put another sushi in his mouth.

"I'll have one." Ramiron also took a sushi from Hiroku's tray. "I actually like the sushis with fish on top better." She commented while chewing, "These scrolls are also fine, tho."

"I have no preference."

"Anyway, did you see Loter?"

Finally…

"It's a long story."

"Spit."

"I had a duel with a cousin of mine. Loter interrupted it to save me, but interrupting a duel is considered one of the deadliest sins in Tribe Kayama," Hiroku said without looking toward Ramiron.

He was expecting anger. Maybe the tray would be flipped. Maybe she would punch him in the face. Maybe the railing would be broken.

Yet, none of those happened. With a calm tone, Ramiron said, "Don't fret. I'm not angry. Just tell me what would happen to Loter?"

"He is now in Tribe Kayama's jail. Normally, interrupting a duel would be a death sentence, but Loter is not a Kayama."

"Yes, and Loter is a student of HueCam Academy. They can't just kill him. The academy will protect him."

"That's the best-case scenario."

"When will we know what the Kayamas decided? They have to make an announcement at some point, aye?"

"Yes, they are probably going to have some form of announcement tomorrow."

Ramiron nodded. "Now, where are they jailing Loter? Lead the way." She teleported to one of the steps before Hiroku and leaned against the balustrade with her arms crossed.

"Follow me." Hiroku stood up and stepped down the stoop, forming a huge barrier with ten lavender spheres as an umbrella. He attached it to the tip of his index finger and held it high above his head so Ramiron could get underneath.

They went out of Yotan's estate, traveling through the forest and along the pebble trail.

The splattering of raindrops had surrounded them. Incessantly, they bounced on the green leaves, tapped on the stones, and sunk into the soft ground.

The rhythm and dampness of water filled the surrounding silence. They walked at the same pace, side-by-side, but not a glimpse at each other was made. For Hiroku, the silence was suffocating yet nothing too unfamiliar to him.

Eventually, Ramiron said, "I'm not trying to condemn you. I'm just curious. Why would you be dueling with your cousin?"

Hiroku looked down with his eyes half-closed. He felt a fire burning and tumbling in his stomach while the coldness of rain adhered to his skin. "I was an idiot. I still am one. I wanted to prove I was better than them, not just morally, but physically."

Ramiron opened her mouth, trying to interject during the brief pause between sentences, yet Hiroku just went on.

"I know physical strength means nothing. I know I shouldn't let other people's attitudes affect me." Hiroku clenched his free hand. Edges of his nails dented the heel of his palm.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"Hiro…" Ramiron softly and weakly whispered.

"I chose to let my temper take over, and Loter is paying for my mistake now."

"Everyone has emotion, Hiro. It's natural."

…

She's right. Besides, self-blaming can't help Loter a single bit. I have to put myself together.

Hiroku released his clenching hand and took several deep breaths. "Let's focus on Loter for now."

"Aye." Ramiron took a few seconds to think and changed the topic. "Is there anything I need to know before seeing Loter?"

Hiroku, already calmed down, answered in his usual listless tone, "You won't be able to use magic inside the prison, and anything you say inside will be heard and recorded. The prison had both a magic-nullifying spell and an eavesdropping spell cast on it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The two eventually arrived at an estate built midway up a mountain. It was a small one on a tiny flat terrace. Within the walls, there were only two gazebo houses, a slightly bigger cottage, and what seemed to be a cabin with half of its body buried in the mountain.

After greeting, asking, thanking, complimenting, re-thanking, blessing, and farewelling the owner of this estate, Hiroku led Ramiron into the little house. Of course, he first unsummoned his umbrella.

Entering, Ramiron finally realized the cabin was a vestibule to the inside of the mountain. The vestibule was a simple room with a roll of cabinets, a counter, and a servant behind it. Directly facing the entrance, there was a wide wooden doorway.

On the other side of it, there was a cave-like tunnel leading deep inside with several turns. The illumination of the tunnel was maintained by rope lights that went deep inside the cave and were connected to the counter.

They went into the moist tunnel, stepping on the cold rock ground. The smell of mold was non-neglectable.

"This place is worse than a prison. Are you sure they locked Loter in here? Like, there's no guard at all," Ramiron complained while going deeper. The faint scowl remained on her face.

"Yes. It is the only prison on Cho-san Island. And no, there is no need for guards. You won't be able to break free from this place without magic, and the Kayama guarding this place would know you are trying to escape before you can break out of your cell."

Ramiron held her hand before her, testing if her power was truly blocked. After seeing nothing popping out of her palm, she put it back down. "Who cast these two spells? Do they just last forever?"

"According to the tradition, the master of the tribe would be the one responsible for this, so I would assume Kirane's father did this."

"What if the master can't maintain these two spells permanently operating? Do they change the system?"

"They change the master."

Ramiron let out a bitter smirk and said, "Somehow, I'm not surprised."

After a few more turns, they met the section of the tunnel that had cells aligned on one side. Only the very first one was in use, and Loter was inside. His two teammates had been hearing his snoring way before seeing him.

Ramiron rushed to Loter's cell with a few quick strides, sticking her head forward to see the kid immediately. Behind the metal bar, Loter slept on a loose stack of straws. There were three capped buckets beside him.

"Loter, Loter!" Ramiron called with hands grasping the metal bar before her.

"What?" Loter, waking up, rubbed his eyes and looked toward her. "Ram!" He got up and rushed toward her, stopping in front of the bars.

"Hey… Loter," Hiroku said as he caught up with Ramiron.

"Hiroku! How's the injury? Does it still ache? When will you recover?" Loter immediately fired his questions like shooting a machine gun.

"Injury?" Ramiron looked over her shoulder, eyeing Hiroku carefully.

"It's alright," Hiroku reluctantly replied. His volume was smaller than usual.

"You didn't tell me you were hurt," Ramiron said. A thin layer of condemnation was mixed in her overall caring tone.

Hiroku held his right hand before his left shoulder, not touching the wound. "It is just a scratch—"

"It's not a scratch. The sword literally pierced through you. I saw it." Loter leaned forward with both his hands clinging onto the cell bars.

"Is it serious?" Ramiron asked softly. The dissatisfaction in her voice seconds ago was replaced with a frank worry for her friend.

Hiroku made a frustrated utterance and rolled his eyes. "I'm totally fine, and it's not what we should be focusing on. It's about you, Loter. You are the one in danger now."

"Danger? Ha," Loter let out an innocent smirk. "You are overreacting." He waved his hand. "They treated me pretty well. They have a person coming to take me to the bathroom when I need to. I get sushis and other food. They even put water in my room in case I'm thirsty." He pointed at the three capped buckets in his cell.

"See. They aren't as bad as you think," Ramiron exclaimed at Hiroku with a smile. "Lot, I thought those buckets were for some other uses the first time I saw them. Huh, huh."

"Oh yeah! Me too! I thought they were for other things. Do you think we were thinking about the same uses?"

"Let's just leave it there. Great minds think alike. We don't need to shout them out loud." Ramiron pulled out a small book from the pocket in the back of her pants and reached it through the bars. "Anyway, I brought this little novelette with me from MU. I can lend this to you if you feel bored."

"Oh, Thank you, Ram!" Loter took the book and bounced on the ground. He giggled loudly.

Before the two could continue chatting, Hiroku held a hand up and said, "Wait!" He pointed his index finger at his ear and waved it outward.

A faint sound of footsteps became clearer as it approached. The three kids waited until the servant arrived. The servant had his hands behind his hips and head lowered when talking to Hiroku.

Within three lines, their conversation finished, and the servants left without hesitation. Hiroku's listless visage appeared dead serious.

"What did he say?" Ramiron asked.

Hiroku took in a deep breath and answered, "Loter's trial will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m."