After reading the news, Fate realized why his town suddenly became dead silent last night. As such, Fate knows what kind of danger he had just faced. He belittled something that is supposed to take his life, something that he cannot fight, and neither can he escape.

"The public hearing will take place today," Fate thinks. "If the hearing will take place at when The Triplet's Vow is supposed to, does that mean The Triplet's Vow is canceled?"

That thought Fate had discovered confused his ego. He's confused about what to feel after what he had thought. Will Fate be happy about it? Caeruleus had told everyone what dangers they could face once The Triplet's Vow had already begun and taken place later, and everyone, including him, will be saved from the potential threat of what The Triplet's Vow could bring them after the cancellation of the said event. Or perhaps he should be pissed off since everyone trained to their deaths, including him, and everyone's time they had dedicated for their training will be drained down the sink of nothing just because of a public hearing?

Fate doesn't know, he has to consider the missing participants and the casualties caused by the 'Abductor of Night'. His thoughts are clashing with each other, and he cannot decide what really to feel.

3 hours before The Public Hearing

"I need to have a break," Fate thinks. "Maybe going outside will ease my thoughts... at least for a moment."

Fate went outside to breathe some fresh air. He meandered down his town to spend his time pleasing his eyes, seeing kids play with each other outside, but he did not meet what he had expected. It let him down.

While walking outside, Fate saw adults talking with each other, gossiping about the famous folklore and the casualties left by the suspect. His town is not lively anymore, even in the daytime. His hometown was filled with fear and dread. Kids were isolated from outside by their parents filled with anxiety and terror for their sons and daughters which prevented the kids to wander around. The parents were so afraid of what could happen to their children that they had prevented their kids to go outside, may it be daytime or nighttime.

It isn't a mandatory activity for a parent to prevent their kids to go outside during the daytime. They are only mandated to isolate their kids inside their houses once the central clock from Eurik Town rang its bell at exactly 8:00 pm.

Fate wonders why the parents isolate their children even in the broad daylight, but he cannot complain about it, though. After all, parents love their kids so much that they will do everything to keep them safe, and he understands it well. It was something Fate envied.

Fate eventually decided to go to an abandoned place where nature overwhelms every man-made structure. The place he had gone to was just kilometers away from the forest that separates Monteraz Town from Eurik Town: the central town. It is another special place for Fate. The reason why remains history. Only Fate knows.

Eventually, Fate crossed paths with Lucien. She leaned her back on a wall where she could stand straight. Fate found her smoking a cigarette.

For some unknown reason, Fate felt nothing after seeing Lucien. He was surprised to see her, though. It was a different feeling for him knowing that he likes Lucien so much, but he didn't care about it. All Fate knows is that he is too burnt out from the one-month training he had with Caeruleus that he couldn't care less about what is going on around him, let alone what to feel about the public hearing.

Lucien was standing next to a ruined house. The house was abandoned enough for nature to occupy it. Only the walls remained standing along with some metal supports inside the walls.

"Huh," Fate coldly exclaimed, "I'm surprised to see you here, Lucien."

Lucien looked at Fate, "Eh, this is where I chill most of the time," she replied.

Fate then went to a corner outside the abandoned house and sat on a concrete wall that eroded over time. The conversation continued coldly.

"The public hearing, have you heard about it?" Fate asked.

"Everyone did, my father told me that," Lucien answered.

"What did you think about it?"

"I'm pissed off, actually. I cannot complain about it, though. It'll be a waste of time if I did."

"Hmm, I see that. Why is that?"

"The training I did for the past one month? It all became a waste."

"As for myself, I don't know what to feel about the public hearing."

"Hmm, I see why. Too confused on what to feel?"

"That, and I am just too tired to care about the incidents. I mean, I am concerned for the victims, but I just couldn't care less about what happened."

"You and I are not different."

"Huh. Coincidence, I suppose."

"I guess so, too."

"..."

"Perhaps you're going to watch the public hearing."

"Hah, you wish I couldn't. It's a mandatory act, I have no choice either way."

"Hey, you know what? You're actually not that bad than what I thought you were."

"W-well, thanks..."

Suddenly, Fate's heart throbbed rapidly about what Lucien said to him. It was something that Fate was unexpected to hear. It was the first time Fate heard Lucien praising him but despite that fact, he still expected less from Lucien's impression of him.

Lucien stood up straight and wiped her clothes clean. She went for a statue that was shaped like a double-edged sword embedded on a pedestal.

"Hey, Fate," Lucien asked him.

"What is it, Lucien?" Fate asked her back.

"Do you have any idea why this statue was built out of nowhere?"

"I don't even know it's there. Why did you ask anyway?"

"I don't know either. Hah hah! I just thought it looks visually appealing. It's cool to look at."

"I suppose this was a town long ago before it was abandoned and left for dead. This very place that we are at."

"We cannot know. I found this just now. Every time I go here, I never see this, but for some unknown reason, it is there."

"Hmm, I see that. Do you think it appeared out of nowhere?"

"I cannot answer that. What I can tell you is that it has some weird scriptures at its base."

"You are a sage, yes?"

"Yes, Fate. I am clearly a sage myself, yet I cannot decipher the hidden meaning of these scriptures."

"I think it would be best for you to leave that alone, well at least for now."

"Wow, you do make sense for a ninth-time third-grade repeater. You really aren't that bad at all."

"Never judge a person according to your impression. That'll be a piece of advice for you."

The conversation ended when a flock of birds appeared from their south. Along with it is a cool, strong breeze that blew away the leaves that fell on the ground. The vines swayed gently along with the breeze.

"I should leave now, Fate," Lucien told him before dropping the cigarette butt. She then stepped on it to extinguish the remaining heat left on the cigarette butt.

"Well then," Fate replied. "Until we meet again. See you at Eurik Town."

"Oh, before I leave," Lucien said before she stopped walking. "Here, take this," she added as she opened a box containing a cigarette. It was the same type of cigarette Lucien was smoking.

"Go have some, no one will see you here," Lucien said before she took a stick of cigarette and gave it to Fate.

"Oh, thanks," Fate replied, "But I don't smoke. I will never take a cigarett-"

"Okay then," Lucien suddenly interrupts Fate before putting the cigarette she's supposed to give to Fate back inside the container. "Goodbye, see you at the public hearing."

Lucien walked away from Fate as she put the box that contains the cigarette she smoked inside her pocket. That was the moment Fate knew that the girl he likes finally talked to him like he was her close friend. The conversation went cold, but Fate thought it is better than nothing. He wished it went longer, though, but he knew it won't be unless he brought a topic that will make her interested.

1 hour before the public hearing

Fate never realized how long he stayed in the place. As such, he finally left the abandoned place and went home.

It took Fate fifteen minutes to finally reach his house, and he stood before the door. "I am here already? Am I that fast when it comes to walking for a destination?" he asks himself. He had never realized how fast he walked away from the abandoned place.

Fate opened the door and went for a water dispenser. He then took a cup and filled it full of water to quench his thirst. Fate felt the weather is too sunny and hot. It felt different for him.

Fate then went to the living room just to check the time. He looked at the clock and he saw that he still have forty-five minutes left. As such, he took the time to get ready.

Although not having any single idea of what to wear when attending the public hearing, Fate proceeded to take his academy uniform from his closet in his room, even though he hates wearing it.

Fate went downstairs to check the time and he still have thirty minutes left to prepare. He began to groom himself. Fate proceeded to go into the bathroom and took his toothbrush. He began brushing his teeth afterward. After a moment, Fate rinsed his face with warm water flowing from the faucet. "It could be cooler," he thought.

Fate dried his face with a face towel hanging on the door just beside him. After that, he began to wet his hair and went outside. He then proceeded to comb his hair sideways.

Fate went upstairs for the last time to prepare the things he will bring along with him. He took the pairs of sickles and put them inside his bag. That was the only thing Fate prepared. He did not bring any more of his belongings.

Once Fate thought he is ready to go, he hurriedly went downstairs and went outside. He made sure he locked the door and closed every window shut before leaving.

Just as Fate thought, there are some kids the same age as him going for the public hearing, although they are wearing their casual clothing instead of the academy uniform. He felt a bit embarrassed knowing he was the only student who wore the academy uniform, but he didn't mind. He just ignored what he felt and minded what he is supposed to do: to attend the public hearing.

Fate had finally reached the main gate of Monteraz Town. Just before he's about to leave the town, a guy riding a horse with a carriage behind called him.

"Heya!" the guy shouted. Fate ignored it, however. He thinks the guy called a different person, it would be embarrassing for him if he responded.

"The kid wearing a uniform, hey!" the guy shouted once again. This time, Fate turned his head to the same guy.

"Me?" Fate anxiously asked.

"Ye'r the only kid who wore a uniform, of course, it's you!"

"What's the matter, mister?"

"I'm about to take off. Are ya going for the public hearing? This young lady here saw you and she thought you might be going to Eurik Town for the hearing"

"Yes, I am going for the public hearing. Why is that, mister?"

"I am doing ya a favor! I am letting everyone ride for free today!"

"Wow, what a bargain it is! I-I'll go inside, then."

Fate decided not to walk all the way to Eurik Town and decided to go with the guy who offered him a free ride. The guy was Fate's saving grace. Fate went for the carriage and there, he saw Lucien reading a book. The contents of the book Lucien's reading are unknown to Fate for him to comprehend.

"What a dedication, Fate," Lucien told him, "But that right there looks embarrassing knowing you're the only one who wore the academy uniform."

"W-well, I don't know..." Fate embarrassedly replied. "I thought we are mandated to wear the academy uniform..."

"It's your choice anyway, I really don't mind at all."

"..."

The horse neighed loudly, putting an end to the conversation between Fate and Lucien. The horse then made its way to Eurik Town. Fate and Lucien are slowly making their way through the public hearing.

The travel went smoothly, smoother than what Fate had expected. They had not encountered any bumps on their way. It was as if they are traveling on smooth concrete. Fate cannot see well outside since he's only peeking behind the guy on a horse, but somehow, Fate can see that the carrier is traveling in a forest.

Lucien eventually stopped reading the book and closed it. She then leaned on a corner inside the carriage to nap. Napping while on travel is something that Lucien had always wanted besides reading a book.

Fifteen minutes later, the horse neighed once again and eventually stopped. A few seconds after the carriage stopped, Lucien woke up.

"Alright, lads! We're here!" the guy shouted.

It seems they have arrived. The guy earlier jumped off the horse he was riding and went for the door of the carriage. He then proceeded to open it, revealing a gate almost identical to that of the main gate of Monteraz Town before Fate and Lucien.

After the guy opened the door, Lucien immediately went down and walked away from the carriage. She then proceeded to make her way to the gate that leads to Eurik Town. She made sure she brought her book with her. She never said anything before leaving other than "Thanks for the ride."

Fate then proceeded to go outside the carriage. "T-thank you, mister," Fate told the guy. "It was a very nice ride. It was nice meeting you."

"I'm glad ya enjoyed it!" the guy replied energetically. "Until we meet again, kiddo!"

The guy proceeded to ride his horse again and left Fate alone. There, Fate stood before the gate of Eurik Town.

"Well, I shouldn't waste any time standing here like a stupid I am," Fate said out loud as he wiped his uniform clean. "I should probably go now."

Fate finally entered the gate and he finally entered Eurik Town: the heart of the Kingdom of Tera. Eurik Town is the most prosperous town of every town. The economy in Eurik Town is the most riches among every other town inside the Kingdom of Tera. The houses were made of stronger and thicker concrete. Their currency uses silver and gold coins only, gold coins having the highest value whilst silver coins have otherwise. If you are rich enough, you can use a gold bar as a form of money.

The Teran Academy is located inside Eurik Town. The Teran Academy is the largest building ever built in the Kingdom of Tera. It is so large that it occupied 20% of the overall space inside Eurik Town.

The Clock Tower is also located inside Eurik Town. Every noon, the bell on top of the clock tower will ring. Once rung, the sound of its ring will reverberate in a radius that will reach every town. The bell on top of the clock tower is also used when there will be an announcement from the King himself.

The instant Fate made his first step inside of Eurik Town, he was immediately transferred to a location. It was as if he was teleported.

There, Fate saw people with the same reaction as him, wondering why they were teleported. Eventually, the people realized they were teleported near the clock tower - where the public hearing will take place.

Suddenly, the bell from the clock tower rang. The sound of the bell reverberated three times. It is an indication that the public hearing will take its place any moment now.

Any moment now...