The ambience of the city turned into a jungle she's become lost in, all these faces unfamiliar and these corners looking the same, people enjoying their evening as the sun's soon to set, the honking of vehicles in the traffic disrupting her call out to the one she misses.

"Bjørn!!" Mrs.Solberg calls, breathing heavily as she has been running all over the city in hopes of finding her son, sweat dripping from her head as her hands are planted on her jeans, fanning her eyes around in hoping she glimpses him.

And that she does, looking over at a bench of a silhouette wearing his attire, his physique the same and all, her worry lifted as she runs to his location, her hand clutching at his shoulder with speaking his name, only to be met with a frightened stranger that asks if he can help her. And so she's back to square one, trying her best not to burst out in tears, back to the parking spot where she clipped her bicycle, the bicycle owned by her son that she rides away on as she goes looking through the city once more.

***

Jazz music playing above, it is Arwyn who enjoys that of the vibes that surround him in this convenience store, subconsciously satisfied by the sounds of the cashier checking out items with the sounds of bleeps for another customer, as he explores the isles of alcoholic beverages, murmuring to himself as he wonders what would do him best for the night, lifting two of his favourite choices in both hands as he ponders upon them.

"Alright, you two. For the purpose of not becoming too dependent on you guys, I'm gonna have to pick only one of you," He says to the bottles. "So, give me your best selling points, why should I pick one over the other?"

"Well, for starters I have more pop, I'm younger, trendier, and you tend to drink me before having sex. So obviously, I'm the better choice than this old geezer over here," The bottle in his right-hand says, a voice fitted to it by no other than Arwyn himself.

"Hmm, you are right, Håkon's vodka. With you, I have had some beautiful times, mhmm," Arwyn nods, reminiscent of those events.

"Now, hold on there, Arwyn," The bottle in his left-hand says. "Must I remind you that it is when you drink me, you feel the mightiest, like a true man! And I should also remind you that almost every time you drink this...crude tasting one over there, you also start feeling like a lonely piece of shit!"

"Yeah...that is true, green dragon cider. It's because this drink...was the one me and her drank...the most," Arwyn sighs, shaking his head, remembering all her verbal abuse, shuddering at the thought of ever seeing her again.

"Ugh! Don't listen to him. He's old, what does he know?? Come on, just trust me. You know I do these things to you because I want to teach you how to grow, right? Pick me! I'll make your night so much better. Maybe we could hit a bar too, have some fun...get some ladies, wink, wink," Håkon tells him.

"You see, she's beginning to sound a lot like that ex of yours...manipulative," Green Dragon tells him.

"Ugh! How rude!" Håkon complains.

"It's true, Håkon, you do sound a bit too...bitchy for my taste," Arwyn adds, the Håkon bottle animated as getting irritated as the Green Dragon cider laughs.

"I knew I could count on you, my boy. After all, it's always good to be reminded of your family's heritage, of a strong Gwesh man!"

"Indeed, but remember, I'm only part Gwesh"

"Yes! Your great grandfather came here from Gwen and married, and here we are, you as his descendant keeping the fire of his heritage alit! You make me a proud drink, Arwyn!" The bottle sobs.

"Hmm. Come on, let's go home and put you on some ice," Arywn puts the bottle of alcohol with the other groceries he has picked up, turning around to an old woman who was watching his whole show this entire time, the knight slowly turning around with clearing his throat, making his way by another direction.

And from out the store he comes, feeding on one of the snacks as he walks, a bit impatient as he cannot wait to taste the liquor that won him over, fighting the urges to taste some now as he understands it will be way better when he puts it on ice, the delight of his walk stopped as he looks above the road to a familiar face riding across the bridge on a bicycle that is something he knows belong to a stubborn boy he knows, her sweaty appearance and stress filled face getting him curious on why she seems to be like that.

"Mrs.Solberg!!" Arwyn calls out, the wheels of the bicycle skidding across the street as she breaks suddenly, relieved as she sees a face she finally knows, running down to him while bringing the bicycle as well.

"Is everything alright?" Arwyn asks her, hearing her breathe heavily.

"It's Bjørn," She gulps. "He ran away from home. I don't know what's gotten into him. The next thing I know, I began running all over the place, and I still haven't caught even a glimpse of him"

"Alright...alright, here," Arwyn goes, sitting her down on one of the benches as he begins wondering what that boy is up to. "I'm gonna call the others, and get some extra help. Don't worry, we'll find him"

Hastily, onto his phone he goes, into his contacts where he chooses the best man he could think of, the name of Victor popped up on his phone as he dials his number. And within half of the hour, comes Victor along with Arnaldo, greeted by Mrs.Solberg who munches on a snack Arwyn gave her.

"So, what could have caused the boy to become so agitated all of a sudden? something must have unnerved his spirit," Arnaldo figures, the mother looking to the ground as she recalls the scenario, wiping her mouth of crumbs as she gets up.

"Somehow, he now knows the truth of what happened...to his father all those years ago," She reveals to them, holding her forehead to the stress that holds her, the faces of the men shocked by this reveal.

"...What?" Victor takes his hand out of his pocket, that single motion a sign of composure being shifted, but calm he remains, so understanding why he's become so frustrated.

"Did you tell him? How does he know what happened?" Arwyn questions, wanting her to repeat what she just said as a part of him wishes to not believe what she said, saddened as he ponders on how lonely Bjørn must feel.

"I didn't! He came home looking upset, then all of a sudden, he brought it up," She recalls.

"Alright. The damage has already been done. We can find out how he knows later. But for now, we must find him," Arnaldo tells them. "Don't worry, madam. We will be sure to catch him before he leaps over the moon. For now, you must go home, eat something nice and make sure your husband doesn't eat away all the candy, leaving nothing for the boy"

"Yeah...thanks, Arnaldo," She says, cheered by his words, Victor bringing the both of them to one side where they meet as a triangle.

"Alright, it's a big city. There's no way we'll find him in one evening if we go around aimlessly. So, here's what we'll do: We three will split up the factions we know he'll probably be"

"Ah. Places he would likely be when he's down, huh? His favourite places to be," Arwyn figures, nodding as he scratches his chin, pondering on these places.

"That's right. I'll get her home, then start my search, you two go along. We'll meet back here by 8:00 if we haven't made any progress," Victor tells them, both of them agreeing with the plan, Victor taking initiative as planned by firstly going by Mrs.Solberg's side as he carries the bicycle for her.

Thus upon their task they strike, Arnaldo taking the rooftops, surveilling each district he enters, scratching his head as he realizes this will indeed be a long night, as he knows Bjørn to have a lot of favourite places, jumping down onto street level as he sets to asks people around as well, and so does Arwyn in his search as well, from asking the neighbourhood kids of these districts to asking the elders for any wisdom they have to find a boy with so many favourite places. Then strike 6 on the clock, and from searching a while, they've made no progress, the three of them in their separate zones, all scratching their heads, all taking a seat as they begin to really think, going deep in their past as they hunt to find the true one place he'd be when he's truly sad or upset. And there it clicks into their minds, getting up with increased hope as they each go to the location they've connected to the boy the most; Arnaldo going to a pub of many of his Mannish friends, entering with his eyes keen on finding the boy, greeted by an ally who comes dancing around.

"Arnaldo! Amigo! You've come to dance with us? two nights in a row?" One asks him, swaying her waist as she goes towards him to the music of the flamenco guitar and bongo drums.

"Ah! No! I am actually looking for the boy! Bjørn! Was he here?" He asks, his feet moving on their own as he begins matching her rhythm.

"Bjørn? Boy wonder? No, not tonight!" She says, seeing as Arnaldo shakes his head as he sighs. "Ah! Am I picking up the scent of a troubled mind?"

"Agh! I am just disappointed he was not here! Because when your mind is under attack! You dance it away!!" He declares, his dancing becoming more fierce with his lady partner.

***

And as Arnaldo dances away, at another memorable site goes another, his glasses fixed by the lift of his finger with eyes glancing around, entering this place with starting at the very spot most memorable to him, his hands in his pocket as he smiles at the sight before him, of many species of sea creatures swimming calmly within the tanks of the aquarium, remembering this being the very day he realized Bjørn and Nora would become very close to one another, reminded of when he bought them snacks that they fought over. So he begins searching, asking the many residents within the space of the possibility of seeing Bjørn anywhere around, showing them a picture of the boy in the middle of eating roast corn, Victor smiling softly as it's a picture he finds adorable.

"I guess he's not here as well," Victor wipes his glasses as he smiles, his finger still on his finger as he wonders where he could possibly be if not here. "Not even in the place where you found your spark, huh?"

***

Then is Arwyn who takes a trip down an old spot, his memory linking as he takes his stroll, remembering his past with just meeting Bjørn when he was around 7 or 8, remembering the boy who seemed to have always not been around other kids as then he found that they would make fun of him and his father's state of mind, a boy isolated by the consequences of that horrible event all those years ago, Arwyn almost always finding him in this particular spot, as he remembers his little hands barely covering that one game he always loved to play, chuckling as he would watch his skills.

"After all these years, you still suck at this game? I guess some things never change," Arwyn smiles, finding Bjørn in an old arcade where he used to carry him.

"Huh? Arwyn??" Bjørn sounds, seeing Arwyn leaning against the station with his arms folded, the knight disrupted by a little demihuman who seeks to pass after he wanted to look so cool to the boy, shaking his head as the kid messed with his flow, Bjørn then hearing as his spaceship explodes in the game.

"No!! Aw man!" He sulks at the sound of his loss, seeing as 'game over' blink across the screen.

"Hm...come on, why don't we get ourselves something to eat, huh? I'm a little hungry here," Arwyn suggests, Bjørn nodding slightly with his mouth folded, and so they exit the arcade, and by a little stream Bjørn sits waiting on Arwyn to bring back snack, the knight returning with stopping to observe the boy, the wind blowing in his hair, his shoulders slouched and eyes weary, Arwyn nodding as he understands the heaviness of what he had learned.

"So...you learned the truth, about what truly happened to your father," Arwyn sits beside him, Bjørn turning towards him with the feeling of his head clouded and chest tightened, yet relieved at this confrontation.

"...Yeah, I did," Bjørn simply answers, nodding as he's given a snack.

"How did you know?"

"I..." Bjørn hesitates, sighing as he rubs his eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Tch! I eavesdropped on the meeting the king and the commanders had a few days ago," Bjørn confesses, sighing once more as in a way, he regrets doing it.

"Okay. And how many times were you told not to butt in?" Arwyn questions, Bjørn cracking a smile as hears the irony in his voice.

"...A couple of times," Bjørn answers, Arwyn nodding as they both look at the stream going through the city, its silent rush somehow soothing them both by them looking at it.

"That arcade, how long since I've seen you there. Years, huh?"

"Yeah. The games are still fun there," Bjørn smiles, his head patted by Arwyn. "You used to hang with me there a lot before I moved to Dragonford. I guess...you were my first friend then, Arwyn"

"Is that so? Yeah, by the time you were eight, I began teaching you how to fight, and you'd always complain about how your hands hurt," Arwyn laughs.

"Hmph! I still think you went a little overboard, you know? What kind of teacher gives his student a sword bigger than his hands at the start? A real one too!"

"You're complaining? Look at you now. Look how you turned out. A big-time hero who helped defeat the chimaera threat. If only I was there to steal the spotlight"

"Huh, there's no way I'd let you do that," Bjørn defends.

"Really?"

"Yeah!" Bjørn claims proudly, the both of them laughing as they begin eating the snacks.

"You know? It's okay," Arwyn tells. "You're angry because of what happened to your father, and I guess you know that the criminal scum is still out there, too"

"Yeah, I am, but...not only for myself"

"Hmm?"

"The Jacqawin," Bjørn names, his fist clenched as he's reminded of that day by the hospital. "He lost his family in the midst of all of that too, didn't he? He has probably lived his whole life knowing justice was never truly done. He must be so alone, angry, and sad, all hidden underneath that armour he wears"

"I see. So that's why, huh?" Arwyn rubs his head as he chuckles. "You're a good person, Bjørn. You really are. Just like your hero of a dad"

"Really?" Bjørn questions, smiling as he nods.

"Come on. By now, Victor and Arnaldo are probably wondering where you are, and if I'm still looking for you and haven't gone to a pub instead"

"Yeah, sounds like something you would do, to be honest," Bjørn grins, Arwyn shaking his head as he shrugs.

***

Called by Arwyn, hearing he has secured Bjørn, Arnaldo and Victor had made haste to their meetup spot, waiting eagerly to see the boy who had given them so much trouble as they stand in front of the convenience store, Arwyn firstly going to his grocery that he left behind, relieved as he sees that his green dragon friend is still in there, quickly hiding his happiness as he turns to see Victor becoming sceptical.

"Put some on ice for me as well, will you?" Victor tells Arwyn, scratching his head as he looks at Bjørn. "All this running around has gotten me a bit stressed...Bjørn, you have some explaining to do"

"I...I know...I'm sorry," the boy tells him, Victor sighing as he rubs his eyes.

"Let me guess. Someone told you not to do something and you did it anyway, didn't you?" Victor challenges, Bjørn chuckling as he turns to Arwyn shrugging.

"Well, it is in the past now," Arnaldo puts his hand on his shoulder. "Are you feeling a bit better now?"

"Yeah. A bit," Bjørn nods.

"It cannot be helped. You have always been such a curious mind. And maybe we were wrong to hide it in the first place," Arnaldo admits. "But, Bjørn, your mother, remember Fredrik is her family too, and I know you did not mean to do what you did, scaring her like that. So! When you get home, be sure to give her a nice hug, and let her kiss you on the cheek!"

"Arnaldo! Come on...I'm 15," Bjørn scratches his cheek, embarrassed by the thought of it, all of them laughing, getting rid of whatever sour mood from earlier.

"I am a bit surprised though. When I didn't see you at the aquarium, I was actually at a loss. Where were you?" Victor asks.

"I was that old arcade me and Arwyn always used to go to"

"I see...ah! don't worry about me! I'm not saddened by the fact he was the one who found you or anything...at that damn arcade too...and not where you two seemed so lovely together," Victor begins mumbling, Arwyn a little worried and confused about what he's talking about.

"Ah yes! An Arcade! Of course!" Arnaldo laughs as he nods his head. "It is also a place where a young man like yourself can express himself. Through the hard work of beating levels and highscores!"

"Ha! Yeah," Bjørn smiles.

"But, my friend!" Arnaldo puts his hand on the boy's shoulder, shaking his head, sounding almost as if he wants to cry. "How can you betray the soul and fire of Flamenco!!"

"Alright, alright! You two just suck it up now," Arwyn laughs. "Come on. His mom is probably wondering if we even found him or not"

"Well, I already messaged her, Arwyn," Victor informs him.

"Hm, always one step ahead, huh?" Arwyn jesters.

"Is that sarcasm I hear?"

"Nope. None here"

***

By their mission's success, down goes the sun, its brilliance still peeking by the horizon, taking its title as the midnight sun, the sky a mix of the night and a little bit of day for southern Verencian residents, as by her doorstep Mrs.Solberg holds the fort, taking deep breaths as she ponders on what she'll say to her son once he reaches home, hearing as Fredrik begins laughing in the living room, shaking her head with a calm smile as she's trying to be serious. But so that smile grows greater, her hands clasp as before her she sees her heroes walking up, the three knights, and her little boy awkwardly smiling behind them, Bjørn frankly hesitant in not know what to say, feeling as a warm hand sets on his shoulder, looking up to Arwyn who gestures for him to go on, the boy feeling like he's been put on a mission, taking deep breaths with taking a foot forward.

"Hey, mom," Bjørn starts, smiling as he scratches his head. "...I'm sorry I ran out like that. I shouldn't have said those things. I never thought about how you actually felt, and it was terrible of me to do so"

Her arms still folded, her lips the same as well, nodding as she puts on a serious demeanour to the boy, but as the seconds pass, looking at her son and his adorable face, surrendered is her will to resist, grabbing her son with a loving embrace, grateful to have a boy like him in her life.

"I'm happy you're home, Bjørn. I understand why you'd feel upset. I do. I love you," She tells him, hugging even tighter, feeling the warmth of her son making her even happier.

"Mom, alright...you're embarrassing me here," Bjørn calls, seeing as the three knights get all soft watching them, and appears another they see, peeking his head out the house in being curious of what's going, Arnaldo gasping with raising both his hands in the air with a grin on his face.

"Mister Fredrik!!" Arnaldo calls him, forming a pose in a bow of his head, calling out their friend to join them. "We've returned your boy in one piece!"

"Oh!!" Fredrik sounds, his hands against his face as he sees Bjørn with a wide grin on his face, then looking onto everybody all grouped up together. "Wait! Is it...my birthday??"

"No, Fredrik, your birthday isn't until next year," Arwyn chuckles, then looking at Bjørn with a nod of his head. "Hey, Kid!"

"Huh?" Bjørn answers.

"Kirkenes, Dragonford. Within a Gudbrand Gate. There's an adventurer guild there. Get there within the early morning hours. That's where I tend to run into him whenever I go up there from time to time," Arwyn tells him, winking to the boy who grins in understanding what he must do. "Alright! Bye, Mrs.Solberg, and I'll see you later as well Fredrik"

"Right on!!" Fredrik thumbs up, with a great smirk on his face.

"And Bjørn! Remember! The soul of Flamenco never dies!" Arnaldo reminds him, his stance dramatic as he points at the boy. "Dance lesson on Thursday! You better be there!"

"Have a nice evening, you guys. And take care, Bjørn. I'll see you when I see you," Victor smiles, and with Bjørn delivered in one piece, so the three leave them with having completed their duty. "Oh, Arwyn. What was that location you gave him?"

"Ah...Bjørn has made a new friend," Arwyn grins. "Now come, let's go home and have a drink together. Two of you. On me"

"Be truthful, how long has it been since you've had your last drink?" Arnaldo challenges him, met with only silence, disappointed by the obvious hesitance of answers.

***

So the morning comes, Bjørn is awoken earlier than usual, as the time on his phone hits 5 am, quickly hopping out of his bed and into the shower. And by the calling of the birds above, Bjørn had taken the first train to the province up ahead, to Dragonford, taking a deep breath of the air that surrounds him, as he has discovered the street Arwyn had instructed to him, entering the adventurer guild by the strike of 7:30 am on his phone, taking a seat as in there he patiently waits with playing some games. The clock striking 8 almost going to 9, the building grows more occupied by the minutes that pass. On-time he thinks, as coming through the door, is the warrior he seeks to confront, but hesitant his body is, not ready for that task, as he watches as many greet him as he goes up to the receptionist, his behaviour stoic and steady headed, going by the sitting area where he analyzes the poster he collected, and out the door to his mission for the day. Quickly getting up with getting beside the one he seemed to have been talking to, a female ogre with her arm riddled with scars.

"Hey! Where is he going??" Bjørn asks the lady.

"Hmm? Where did you come from, kid?" She asks him, chuckling at his extreme curiosity.

"Y-Yeah...I know him, and...I was just wanted to talk to him"

"Hmm..." She keens towards him, chuckling as she finds him adorable. "He's going to be hunting for the day. Up in the mountains, in Kalvehøgde. If you need to speak to him you can wait till he's back...or join him"

"Oh," Bjørn nods, patting his hand against the counter, getting up with waving goodbye. "Alright. Thanks, lady!"

"Hmm. That last part was meant as a joke," Her eyebrow raises as it is too late, the boy already being gone.

And with her wondering what that was all about, Bjørn exits the building, catching a sight of the Jacqawin walking down the road. So he begins to tail him, seeing as the warrior hops on his horse after releasing it from its rope, riding off slowly out the town, an action that frightens the boy as the Jacqawin begins to gain distance. Promptly the boy runs to that very stable, hurriedly taking out his wallet, flashing his cash to the owner of the horses, the man wondering why he's in such a hurry. And on a horse he gets, setting off with quickly shortening the distance between the both of them, cautious at the same time as he seeks to not be found out as he watches him ride on upfront. The sun rose, the boy sensing the strength of warmth on his skin, passing many others with a nod or good morning, as for an hour he has been tailing the Jacqawin, and to his destination the boy had successfully get to, Bjørn watches as above him the warrior crosses a bridge. There he takes time to follow, but out his sight is the Jacqawin lost, pondering on where he might have disappeared to as he aimlessly walks around, finding himself inside a spectacle of ruins of an old fort, build-up of nature merged with its structure.

"Woah!" Bjørn sounds, amazed by his discovery, but alert he grows, as he senses the was not alone, running to hide in cover, as in front, he hears the hollow of growls within the ruins, feeling as the ground vibrates from heavy feet pressing against it, looking to a beast of rough texture, giant paws, razor-sharp teeth, a drake he thinks, watching as it surveys the area with his fangs bearing fiercely.

And staying low, he throws off the beast, as it begins to walk away, being sure it had sense another being. So the boy gets up, back into his hiding as he senses a hand on his shoulder prompting him to stay still as the beast turns quickly as if it was trying to trick the boy to come out, seeing as there is really nothing, running to higher levels of the ruins, into its own hiding.

"This is no place for a kid. Go home," The voice says, Bjørn shocked, as going before him is the one he seeks to speak to, the Jacqawin that analyzes the ruins and its many layers, leaving the boy with his fist clenched, but this the boy calls up his determination, Bjørn getting up with his will not faltered by his fear of the warrior.

"I'm Bjørn Solberg!" He declares, the Jacqawin stopped in his tracks as that last name is one he knows for sure. "I'm the son of Fredrik Solberg. You know my dad"