As the three were walking to Eval, Akeru was beating on Itsuki.

Akeru: How stupid can you be?! There was no reason for you to do what you did back there!

Itsuki: I-I know, I just thought I could help...

Akeru: Honestly, how irresponsible. You as well, Cleo!

Cleo: Don't bring me into this!!

Akeru: You are the one who agreed to his terms!!

Cleo puffed her cheeks as they reached the capital. The city was paved in gneiss, and the buildings were made of ballast. At the top backend of the city was an enormous arena made of limestone and other stones mixed in. There were streetlamps all lit up, and the city itself was very crowded, more so than a city usually would be.

Cleo: W-What on earth? Why are there so many people?!

Akeru: I-I don't know, I was hoping you would!

Cleo: I never talk to my sisters; why would I know more about this place than you two?!

Akeru: W-Well I-

Akeru looked around and panicked; Itsuki was completely missing.

Akeru: Oh shoot, we lost Itsuki!

Cleo: Ugh, that boy is more trouble than he is worth...try not to get lost while I find him!

Cleo ran away as Akeru tried to stop her. Akeru sighed as she went to a small alleyway to escape the crowd. She was still in sight, but as she turned around, she saw a girl with long black bob hair in a velvet jacket and a skirt getting harassed by three men.

Girl: P-Please, stay away from me!

Akeru: Not good...should I get involved? Not much I can do...but I can't just leave her, right?!

Akeru ran to the four, picked up a rock, and pelted one of the guy's heads. They turned around and smirked at her.

Man: Well, it looks like we got two lovely ladies with us now~ Should fetch a good bargain!

Girl: W-Why did you-

Akeru was about to speak, but from a roof above them, a heavy man with short black hair, a black bowler hat, and a black striped suit came crashing down to them on his two feet.

Akeru: P-Please don't be with them! That might be their leader-

Girl: G-Gilbert! Help!

Akeru: E-Eh...?

Gilbert: Right pain in the ass you are, Anna.

As Gilbert pulled out a spiked club, Anna gave a nervous smile, sending the three men flying away with one swing.

Akeru: W-What?!

Gilbert looked at Anna and patted her body as she jumped up, backing away.

Gilbert: Just making sure they didn't hurt ya or anything...

Anna: I-I-I can take care of myself!!

Gilbert: Clearly, I told you not to run off!

Anna: I uh...- Oh, right! H-H-H-Hello, you!

Akeru: U-U-U-Uh h-hey...

Gilbert looked at Akeru, confused.

Gilbert: Who the hell are you?

Akeru: I-I'm uh-

Cleo: Akeru! I told you to stay still, damnit!

Akeru jumped a bit as Cleo walked behind her with Itsuki, who looked defeated.

Akeru: C-Cleo...Itsuki...

Cleo: I found him. He was dragged away by a group of merchants...

Itsuki: Please, never again. They said so many things that confused the hell out of me...

Gilbert looked at Cleo and raised his eyebrow a bit at her. Cleo turned away and snapped her fingers.

Cleo: Come on, you two, we need to find a resting place-

Anna: Y-You can come with us!

Gilbert: Anna, you can't just invite strangers somewhere...

Itsuki: A-Akeru...who is the girl and the mafia boss?

Gilbert: I'm not part of the damn mafia!

Itsuki: S-S-Sorry, sir!

Anna: I'm Anna, and this is Gilbert, w-we are uh...visiting the city for the tournament!

Akeru: Tournament? That explains the people...

Gilbert: Right, anyways, Anna, we need to be heading off.

Gilbert grabs her arm as she breaks away, huffing at him and smiling at Akeru.

Anna: This girl...Akeru, right? She tried to save me before you dropped down.

Akeru: I-I was just going to distract them long enough for you to leave, then run myself!

Anna: H-HUH?! Y-You didn't have a great move or anything!?

Gilbert: This is a waste of time, Anna; let's go!

Cleo: Precisely, we have no time to waste as well! We need to find my...friend.

Akeru and Anna looked at each other as they walked toward one another.

Anna: You just c-came here, right? L-Let me show you around, at least!

Akeru: I-I think we can afford to do that.

The other three just looked at them and sighed in unison. Then, the group walked around the city to see the sites around it. They saw several merchant stalls around the city; the city itself was built on several levels, so there were a lot of stairs to go through. On top of that, they found a fancy inn with a hot spring next to it.

Akeru: H-H-Hot springs!? That sounds amazing!

Anna: H-Have you never been to one?

Akeru: N-Not at all! Are they amazing?!

The two began talking as the other three stared at them blankly in line.

Gilbert: T-They got close awful fast...

Itsuki: No kidding...

Cleo: I sometimes wonder who is the more enormous pain, you or her...?

Anna: Gilbert! Let's take them out to eat! I'll pay for it!

Gilbert: That isn't the issue! We don't even know them!

Anna: I know their names; that's enough!

Itsuki: What kind of backward logic is that?!

Akeru: I-I mean if you insist on treating us...

Cleo: Akeru, are you being serious right now?! We do not have time for this!

Akeru: Please, Cleo! You have to be starving!

Cleo: Ugh, fine...but only dinner, young lady!

Itsuki: You sound like a mother-

Cleo blushed and elbowed him hard in the gut as Gilbert sighed at everything as the group went to a fancy sushi restaurant and sat in a private room in the back. They got their drinks; of course, Cleo got beer.

Anna: So, what brings you three to Eval? You didn't know about the tournament, so it couldn't be that.

Akeru: No, we are...looking for Cleo's friend. She is supposed to be here somewhere.

Cleo laughed as she was drinking her 4th beer already.

Cleo: Yeahh~ We have to go find my sissy, Ashuria!

Akeru and Itsuki's eyes widened with their mouths open in shock as the other two just looked at her like she was crazy.

Itsuki: D-D-Did she just...

Akeru: ...Tell them the reason after hiding it earlier?!

Gilbert: So that means you are a Witch, right?

Cleo: Mhmm! Sand Witch, Cleo at your service~!

Anna: T-That is...so cool!

Akeru: I-It is?!

Gilbert: Anna is a bit of a fan of the Witches...

Anna: I-I am not!!

Gilbert: She wanted to come for this reason to see the Ash Witch host her bi-yearly tournament.

Itsuki: Bi-yearly?

Anna: Yeah, she hosts it, and the winner gets to meet her in person!

Akeru: Is that so...

Gilbert: About the only way to meet her...she only shows up during the tournament, any other time she is inside her manor in the volcano-

Itsuki: D-Did you just say...inside the volcano?!

Anna: Mhmm! The arena is connected to the manor, hiding inside the volcano. They say it's beautiful and at room temperature; you won't melt inside it!

Akeru: I-I'm not surprised, honestly...

The group all talked the rest of the night as they ate and eventually parted ways. Gilbert and Anna walked to their hotel room as Gilbert smirked a bit at her.

Anna: W-What are you smirking at?!

Gilbert: Proud of you for making a friend, that's all.

Anna blushed deeply and looked away as he chuckled at her. The other three found a not busy part of the city as Cleo made the Link portal, giggling as she was plastered once again. Kuro opened the Grand Realm as they all went inside, where Ci and Amani were waiting.

Amani: Oh, you guys are back!

Ci: I see that Cleo is drunk once again...

Cleo: Nahhh~ I just had one~

Amani: One...what?

Cleo giggled as Itsuki and Akeru led her to her room, where she got on the bed and passed out immediately. Then, the two headed to their rooms, where they rested for the night.