Otome adjusted her gloves and closed the carriage door gently after laying Elizabeth down. Riftel sat inside, his concern evident as he adjusted Elizabeth’s blanket. Elysia settled across from him, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

Stepping away from the carriage, Otome scanned the area for Nanik. Her sharp eyes quickly picked him out among the crowd. He was walking toward the group that had split off earlier—Victoria, Farthington, Huranti—and… someone else trailing behind them?

Otome narrowed her eyes, instinctively placing a hand on the device strapped to her waist. The figure was partially obscured by the bustle of the village but seemed oddly familiar. Quickening her pace, she closed the distance.

“Hey!” Otome called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. The group turned to her, smiles forming on their faces as they spotted her.

“Otome!” Farthington greeted with a wave. “Guess who we found!”

The trailing figure stepped forward, the movement deliberate and confident. Otome’s eyes widened slightly in recognition.

“Jason?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man in question gave a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Otome stared at him for a moment before her lips melted into a small smile. “You’re alive. That’s… good to know.” Her tone was steady, but there was a flicker of relief in her eyes.

“Yeah, managed to scrape by,” Jason replied, his smirk softening.

Farthington leaned toward Victoria with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Did you see that? She didn’t even insult him like she does to everyone else except Tokei. I told you there’s a story here.”

Victoria elbowed him, though she couldn’t suppress her own grin. “Hush. Let them have their moment.”

Jason glanced at the group, his expression growing serious. “So, what’s the situation? You all seem to be in the middle of something big.”

“We are,” Nanik interjected as he approached. His gaze flicked briefly between Jason and Otome before focusing on the group. “We’re preparing to leave. Jason, if you’re joining us, we’ll catch you up on the details en route.”

Jason nodded. “Fine by me. Just point me in the right direction.”

“Good. Otome, help finish securing the supplies. We leave shortly.” Nanik’s tone left no room for argument as he turned back toward the carriage.

Otome gave a quick nod and turned to Jason. “We’ll talk later.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Jason replied with a faint smile.

“Alright then, It’s time to set out!” Nanik called out as he signaled for the carriage driver to begin moving. “It’ll take a 5-hour trek to get to where we need to be, so brace yourselves.”

The group set off, the rhythmic creaking of the carriage wheels blending with the steady clop of the horses’ hooves. Nanik’s words about the trek proved true as the hours stretched on. Conversations ebbed and flowed, and the atmosphere inside the carriage was a mix of cautious planning and moments of lighthearted banter.

By the time they arrived at their destination, the sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting the area in hues of gold and amber.

----------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in the heart of a lively marketplace, Tokei moved confidently from stall to stall, a faint smile playing on her lips as she bartered with the shopkeepers.

“Fifteen Mira for this?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a bit steep for the quality of the fabric. I’ll give you ten.”

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

The merchant huffed, crossing his arms. “That’s hardly worth my trouble. Fourteen.”

Tokei tilted her head slightly, recalling Otome’s earlier advice: Always act as if you’re willing to walk away but make your interest just clear enough to keep them invested. She placed the fabric back down deliberately. “I’ve seen better at twelve. It’s your call, but I can take my business elsewhere.”

The merchant hesitated before sighing. “Fine, twelve it is. You drive a hard bargain.”

“Thank you,” Tokei said smoothly, handing over the coins. Emilia, standing by her side, watched with quiet admiration.

“You’re quite skilled at this,” Emilia remarked.

Tokei shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “My sister taught me a thing or two. It’s surprisingly useful.”

“That’s excellent,” Emilia said, nodding approvingly. “Now then, since we have what we required, let us return to my home. Lady Elysia will likely arrive soon.”

“I see,” Tokei replied, adjusting the bag of goods she carried. “Then let’s.”

The two began making their way through the bustling marketplace, weaving between the vibrant stalls and lively chatter of the townsfolk. The fading sunlight bathed the streets in a warm orange glow as they walked. Though Tokei appeared relaxed, her sharp eyes darted occasionally to the shadows, a habit she hadn’t quite shaken.

Emilia noticed and gave a reassuring smile. “You’re safe here, you know. This town is peaceful.”

“I know,” Tokei said with a nod, though she didn’t elaborate.

As they reached the edge of the market, the sound of hooves and the rumble of a carriage caught their attention. Emilia glanced back, her face lighting up. “It seems Lady Elysia has arrived. Exquisite timing.”

Tokei’s gaze followed Emilia’s, her expression steady but her curiosity piqued. “Then we’d better not keepher waiting.”

The two quickened their pace, heading toward Emilia’s residence to prepare for what was to come.

----------------------------------------

“Ah, yes. Right here is good. Thank you for the ride,” Elysia said warmly as the carriage came to a stop.

“No need for thanks, madam Elli,” the driver replied with a humble smile. “It was my honor. You do so much for our village; this is the least I can do.”

Elysia gave a small, bashful smile. “Ah, well, I still would like you to accept my gratitude.”

“In that case, you are very welcome, miss,” the driver said, tipping his hat respectfully.

Elysia turned back toward the carriage, her tone becoming gentle but resolute. “Now, Riftel, we’ve arrived. This is where I’ll treat Elizabeth from now on. Let’s bring her inside.”

Riftel nodded, his movements careful as he prepared to carry Elizabeth. “Very well. Thank you, my lady.”

Elysia stepped out of the carriage first, smoothing her dress and glancing toward Emilia’s home. “I wonder if she’s in?” she mused aloud.

At that very moment, she spotted Tokei and Emilia approaching from the nearby path, their arms laden with bags of supplies.

“Ah, Lady Elysia!” Emilia called out, a smile lighting up her face as she quickened her pace. “We’ve just returned from gathering the essentials.”

Tokei followed closely behind, her expression calm but curious as her golden eyes flicked toward the carriage. “You made it sooner than I expected,” she remarked. “Everything alright on your end?”

Elysia gave a relieved nod. “Yes, everything is fine. And perfect timing, too—it seems we all arrived just when we needed to.” She tilted her head toward the group trailing behind. Their footsteps echoed softly as they approached, a mix of familiar faces and quiet chatter filling the air.

Tokei’s eyes scanned the group, and when her gaze landed on Otome, her composure broke. “Otome!” she exclaimed, dropping the bags in her hands and sprinting toward her sister.

Otome barely had time to react before Tokei flung her arms around her in a tight embrace. For a moment, Otome froze in surprise, but then she relaxed, her own arms wrapping around Tokei.

“You’re okay,” Tokei murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Otome’s lips curved into a small, rare smile. “Of course I’m okay. I’m the one who should be asking you that! You’ll have to tell me all about what happened after we got separated.”

“Will I now…” Tokei replied with an awkward smile, her mind racing. I shouldn’t tell anyone about this new power, should I?

Nanik observed the reunion silently, his expression unreadable. Then, with a commanding tone, he stepped forward and addressed the group. “Let’s get settled inside. We can catch up on the details once we’ve regrouped.”

Otome gently released Tokei, placing a reassuring hand on her sister’s shoulder. “We’ll talk later,” she said warmly, her voice steady yet filled with unspoken understanding.

Tokei nodded, bending down to retrieve the bags she’d dropped earlier. “Let’s get moving, then.”

With that, the sisters joined the others, their steps in sync as the group moved toward Emilia’s home. The anticipation of explanations, plans, and long-overdue conversations hung in the air, but for now, there was comfort in simply being together again.