With new knowledge acquired, Aten and Leslie went back to the inn, to resolve a loose end — or to fix a broken acquaintance to put it more simply. It was the dawn of night, meaning the day had ended and the undead summon matter was to be resolved later. That would be the case elsewhere. In this sleepless town, the night was when it shined the most. The inn was mostly empty that night, everyone was out dressed to the nines and having a night on the tiles, drinking or bashing tarts. But that wasn't the case with either Aten and Leslie, they had more important matters — and it wasn't like they had anything filling their pockets.

As expected, Eeira was still in her room. It was quiet enough in the place that they could hear her faint sob from the hallway outside. Leslie questioned the situation since he had almost no knowledge about Eeira other than the fact that she was the one that nursed Aten back to health. On other hand, Aten was bothered, if not because he made her cry, it was definitely because he would have to make up with her in order to continue their plan. Nevertheless, he felt a little bad.

A knock on the door was all it took for the sobbing to stop. Aten and Leslie stepped through with leisure. Eeira was sitting on the bed, cuddled to her knees, trying to hide her tears. She was still a kid despite everything. Leslie excused himself and decided to stay outside to not disturb them. Aten stood there in front of Eeira's bed, not knowing how to act exactly. He cleared his throat, but there was no response whatsoever from Eeira. He tried shaking the mattress a little with slight movement from his leg, but she still wouldn't budge.

'Look…,' he spoke, 'I know I was an asshole and—'

'A pretentious asshole!' She mumbled.

'Y-Yeah…'

Silence followed. The tension was higher than ever. Making up with a girl he barely knew was something he definitely did not expect. Going in on things guns blazing, or sometimes tactically, was more up his alley. He could easily sweet-talk his way to her. However, he genuinely wanted to apologize.

'I… I know about you and the mayor and all, and uh…'

Eeira finally looked up at Aten, with an almost shocked expression.

'An old lady was talking about the "Poor Little Mayor" and all, your name came up in the story and…'

'Poor Lil' Mayor?! That also-ran?' She got off the bed and confronted Aten.

'You really despise your uncle that much, Eeira? I think you might've left that little detail out.'

From what Aten had heard. Eeira, the neuroalchemist and crazy scientist that he was stuck with, was Eeira Quinby Benedict, the mayor's only niece. Of course, Aten did not believe that at first, but when he thoroughly thought of it, some things were starting to make sense. How she magically had a false pass yet she was able to get him and herself past the gates. Why the mayor requested her presence at the "feast" back when he was captured with Lejin. And most importantly, the sheer hatred she had for the mayor. It was bizarre, but it was understandable to a degree. He wondered what could the mayor have possibly done to be discarded entirely from the family at all in Eeira's view. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Eeira was the one living outside the town, and both their interaction with each other, from what Aten had seen, was quite hostile.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

'You have no idea what kind of man he is, what he did…,' Eeira grabbed Aten's coat to pull it in anger but she couldn't go through with it, 'He is no uncle of mine. And I'm no niece of his, never was, never will be. He was a nobody when my mother found him, yet he… he…'

'Easy there… Don't pressure yourself. I didn't mean anything by it,' Aten wanted to pat her head like a child to calm her down, but it was too awkward. 'Listen… What I said back then, that was uncalled for. I was an asshole and… I'm sorry. If you don't want to go through with this whole situation, then don't, I'll do it on my own — I've even got a friend to help me. And don't let that make you think of anything else… I'm just… I don't wanna get you hurt, because you never chose to do this and I've already hurt you enough. What I want to say is…' He took a deep breath then exhaled and stared at the ceiling, 'God, why is this so hard?'

Eeira let out a slight snicker. 'Well… I am sorry as well. I shouldn't have said you were an un—'

'Yeah, no need to mention it again,' Aten interrupted followed by the ghost of a smile on his face.

The two, tied together by fate, stood in front of each other. Their eyes meet together with much determination and familiarity than before. A new beginning. Before, they were just two individuals leeching off each other and looking to benefit themselves until this matter was resolved. But this… reconcile meant something else, that once things were said and done, they wouldn't yet part ways. Their journey was just beginning.

'Let's start over?' Aten lent a hand out front, asking for a proper handshake. 'Name's Nilo Ashling.'

Eeira extended her hand, 'Eeira Luxford!'

They both shook their hands in agreement.

'So you do have a name after all!' Eeira was genuinely surprised, 'And I thought you a brainless empire soldier…'

'You should be honored that you got to know it, Eeira Luxford!' The man with many names replied back. Once known as the technorunner, then as Unit Fifth A-10, and now as Nilo Ashling, the name that was lost to many decades of dreams.

Not a few minutes after their reconciliation and Leslie came bursting in, completely disrupting the mood.

'So? You two are friends again?' He asked blatantly, 'I mean, we kinda need you to agree to a litt—'

Nilo immediately bolted from his place to shush Leslie before he could utter another unnecessary word.

'Need me to agree to what?' Eeira caught on. 'And… who is this guy?'

'That's…,' Nilo cleared his throat, 'Leslie! The friend I mentioned earlier.'

'Yeah,' Leslie spoke once again, 'We wanted to know if you can help us get back the ela—'

Nilo pushed Leslie aside. There was another matter behind Nilo's earlier apology, but it was gone the moment he heard Eeira's sobs. He feared that she might see that as him using her, rather than actually trying to get her help as a friend. However, that matter was also important to an extent. It was to gain the method behind the stitchreaper's weakness.

'So…' Eeira got closer and grabbed Nilo from the collar, 'What's he talking about exactly? Is this why you—'

'No no, believe me.' Nilo tried to remain calm, 'Alright, it might have been a part of that, but no! I told you, I'd never force you to do something you wouldn't wanna do.'

'Let me hear it! I promise I won't be mad.'

It was as if the roles were reversed and the shields were down. Both of them tore down their curtains, and their true selves started to emerge. However, Nilo being kind and hesitant didn't mean he would easily submit.

'You're really not that intimidating, ya'know!' He commented, despite having his collar held by Eeira as if she was on the verge of beating him to a pulp.

'Ugh… Just tell me for God's sake!'

'Alright! We found a way to take down the stitchreaper,' Nilo began, 'But there is one problem…'

To bring down a stitchreaper, they needed the rarest material there is, the elastinum.