“Light.” Henneth intoned once more. “I don’t recall allowing you in my territory, and this is the second time you’ve trespassed.”

"I'm in a hurry, Henneth, please, not now."

Henneth scoffed but stepped out, letting her in.

"Thanks," Light gestured for Amaryllis to follow, "You received the message?"

Amaryllis gave a nod, hurrying behind her. "You and Clownman are fighting, she said."

"I wish. It's never that simple — Clownman has far more influence than he should have, and I cannot thoroughly deal with him. There is a court to negotiate with this kind of conflict — they would be sitting in about an hour to hear my side and his. Hopefully, I can suppress him."

Light's word didn't give much of a confidence. She sounded displayed tired and sluggish in her manners. Like already accepting a result, it might just be for a different reason.

"What will you do if he wins," Amaryllis asked. She didn't think he would let her off so easily — a man like him is always cautious, and she was a loose end.

"I might just kill him. We'll see. While I'm not particularly fond of the choice, it might just be for the better."

"Why? If it's alright for me to ask," Amaryllis said. She failed to interpret why Light seemed so interested in him.

"Simply put, he is taking too many liberties, even that is an understatement, with his assessment. The things you faced were never supposed to be there — only the weaker and less cruel versions of them. If he gets away with it, only a worse future for the hunt awaits. I'm here, and I'd rather deal with it now."

"I see. So, not because of Gisella."

"I have my concerns with him, and this is the best opportunity to deal with him, especially after what he did to Gisella."

"Gisella? Is she fine?" Amaryllis asked. She had not heard about her at all. And to say she was worried about her would be an understatement, yet she didn't feel comfortable seeking her right now. She was not in the right state of mind, though much calmer after whatever Henneth gave her to drink. A medication...

"Physically, she is still holding on, mentally? I have no idea. She's stripped of her title of heir of Yriel. And she has been excommunicated from her family. She is not allowed to bear the name Gisella Yriel anymore."

Amaryllis sighed. She could imagine why. It was not surprising for a noble family to do something outrageous for things that were never under Gisella's control. "But, it's going too far," Amaryllis whispered.

"It is, but they must maintain their facade of strength. According to them, because Gisella didn't just use her soul to make one last attempt, she is weak. They don't want weakness to be associated with their name. Still, we can always hope things will take a better turn."

The elevator door opened. They walked in, and it closed behind them with a smooth metallic clings. The floor moved, with a jolt. The platform pulled rearwards.

"Can I see her?" She asked. She should. If only to tell Gisella, she was grateful. It would not help — she could never help her — but if she were in Gisella's position, she would like to hear someone appreciate her effort.

"You shouldn't," Light said. There was a force behind her words, strained like she was worried about something. It made Amaryllis worried as well. Was Gisella alright? "I have no way to deal with Gisella's situation, and I'll be gone till the final day of assessment. She needs some time to come to terms with her situation, and I trust her to do that. You can try meeting her tomorrow. The only thing I can do right now is recede the mana problem for you. Since Henneth explained everything to you, you should know where we are going."

"Soul Nodes Emporium," Amaryllis said. She could guess they were going to purchase a soul node relating to Intelligence, which would increase her mana regeneration rate.

"Right." Light nodded. "We are going to need a rare grade Intelligence node to balance the side effects of the Frost Seal, but its demand would grow with time. As you level up, the Frost seal will demand more and more mana. At every ten level, that is. And for you to counterbalance with other attributes, you need at least rare. Errant in the formal rating system. It's second in the ladder above a banneret, or the lowest class of monster that yields a soul node. But titled monsters are rare."

"I see." Amaryllis knitted her brows, she had no idea how expensive that might be. And she would rather not splurge through all her points.

"Don't worry, Intelligence node is from me. After all, it is I to be blamed for your seal. Use your points to buy the attribute your soul weapon demands."

"No. I'll pay for it." Amaryllis intoned. She didn't want to rely on Light's kindness more than she already had. "You've already done more than I can ever hope to repay. Please don't burden me with more kindness."

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Light didn't say anything for a long time. "Fine," She said, mutely.

The Elevator door opened. They were in the mall lobby again. Light took her hand as walked out, leading her through the crowd. Amaryllis felt like a child again. Cynthia used to hold her hand, tightly, so that they wouldn't get separated. She dumbly followed Light, her mind lost in her sister's memories.

"Cyn..." She whispered. Light paused, looking at her.

"I am sure you'll see her soon." Light said, showing a melancholic smile.

Amaryllis nodded. Her mind didn't raise the question of how Light knew about Cynthia.

"You're so kind," Amaryllis said. Would she be able to reach Light station one day? To help others just because she could. Just the thought stood so far away from here that she could not even see a glimmer in the darkness of the tunnel she walked in. But that's fine, she just needed to keep moving. She reached here, survived, and perhaps, one day, she would stand where Light stands. Without burdens of her own. No. That was the wrong way of thinking. Light, surely, had burdens of her own. She showed none of it.

"Perhaps it feels great. Relieving others from their pain. Even if it is an escape of its own."

Amaryllis couldn't make sense of the ominous phrase, but she understood, Light was not free of her burdens.

The mall was almost a city with alleys, divides, and crossroads. After scampering about in a mass of scrambling participants, who rushed to their dorms or maybe the next assessment zone, they arrived at their destination.

The Emporium was a magnificently stupid building. Stood out like a sore thumb. Painted in red — with a dragon head breathing fire as its storefront in this otherwise metallic dystopia of silvery reflections. A cat sat on the dragon's crown, which was funny.

"This is the branch of Lunar Emporium. There's a branch of it in every branch of The Soul Hunt. You purchase and sell nodes. And participate in the auction of Seran Souls, though none is ongoing right now."

"Seran souls auction? I thought we needed to kill to get one."

"That's the traditional way, but of course, money reigns supreme. Most hunters outside the noble houses use the auction to rid off extra Serans souls they have no use of."

Amaryllis nodded. "I see. How much do they go for?"

"In your currency, even the cheapest one goes for a few million, and special type goes for a few hundred, if not more."

Amaryllis gulped. I just need to sell one and I won't have to worry about Cyn for decades. Even though she knew very well if she had money, she would shift her to a better ward. Still, the money made her heart pound like a wild, hungry beast at the scent of blood.

"Heh," Light smiled, "Now, one thing you should be careful of is that lunaires, or Luna cats, are not very gentle when it comes to haggling. They won't scam you since their reputation is valuable, but that does not mean they won't lull you into buying unnecessary things — keep your ears closed and eyes wide."

"Then, they are like every other business," Amaryllis concluded.

"Except they are cute, and you won't be able to resist the urge to please them," Light looked at her, eyes gleaming. "You've never seen a lunaire before, have you?"

"No..." Amaryllis said unsurely. "Light, I saw the shark people in the cafeteria, what are they called?"

"Oceasin." Light grimaced, "I would suggest never call them that. Though, that goes for every race, but still, they are very touchy about the name."

"I see. Name is telling enough." Amaryllis mused. Sin was never a good word, yet it was worn by many races, including humans. She, a mana born, too, had a Sinner's Pulse. They were sinners of a long past. Not that Amaryllis truly knew why. Not really, a fake story, which, even as a child, she knew was fake.

Inside was warm, not enough to make them feel uncomfortable, but enough to make her feel like she was wrapped in a warm blanket. "This is nice." She muttered, as her eyes landed on a lunaire.

A cat, standing on two paws, wearing a frilly skirt and tunic, looking absolutely breathtaking. It bowed. The hospital should at least hire, it won't be so painful to part with the money then.

Amaryllis could swear it was the cutest thing she had seen. They were literally cats with a hundred times more cuteness. "Woah...." She whispered. Clamped her hung mouth.

"Greetings, Customers." It said, with a bow. Its white fluffy tail swished from one side to the other in a stupendous sway, lulling her into ease. Amaryllis stared, enthralled by the sight.

"H-hello," She replied. Earning a chuckle from other lunaire on the counter, and Light. Her face felt hot.

"I'm Light," Light said. Lunaire bowed a little lower.

"Greeting, lady of the frost," She said in a reverent tone. "We'll arrange a meeting with an officeholder."

"No need," Light's voice was indifferent, not warm or gentle as she always was. "I'm here to purchase a soul node. That's all."

"Of course, of course." The lunaire said, "Call me, Care. I'll be your host."

Amaryllis watched the exchange, confused. Care was surely speaking like Light was some sort of deity.

"Go on."

Amaryllis looked at the lunaire on the counter, and he, too, had lowered his head. Care straightened her tail, dropping it flat on the floor. "Please follow me."

Amaryllis didn't like the tone of their exchange. She stared at Light in confusion.

"It's nothing serious. They have a special appreciation for Healers."

Amaryllis nodded. She didn't believe that was all. The place was otherwise calm and serene. Small botanical miracles were placed on the artificial stone bank on the wooden stool. The ceiling hung low; lamps gave off gentle warmth. And the flow was comforting. Amaryllis had to wonder, which of them was using magic to lie to her senses.

As they crossed, Amaryllis noticed a third lunaire standing by the edge, who took Care's place once they left. Would it wait for the next customer? It was weird seeing how this place worked. There was no need for the lunaire to stand waiting for the next customer.

"Care," Amaryllis said, and it got lunaires attention. She flicked her ears in Amaryllis's direction. Before turning.

"Apologies, I never asked your name."

"I'm Amaryllis."

Care nodded, twice. Her ears flicked ever so slightly. "I never thought we'd get a high-ranking member this early. This place has everything you'll ever require." She flashed a professionally trained smile. Yet it worked. Amaryllis already had a soft spot for cats. And talking and expressive cats were just so perfect. She wouldn't mind staying here for the rest of her life.