Nero had a discomfited expression for the rest of the journey, which was mercifully uneventful. Claud had recovered enough over the remainder of their journey to join his lover in exchanging messages with Schwarz, which made Dia wonder a bit. Nero had told them that the outcome of failing the Third Tutorial was a dreadful one — living would be painful; drawing a single breath was agony, and living for a whole day a torture beyond imagination.

Yet, Claud had managed to get up from his bed and wander around the street, which made Dia wonder if Nero’s information was actually correct.

“That’s what the records say, though,” Nero replied, Kemata leaning on his shoulder in a catlike manner. Her scythe floated around the place, in what looked like an examination of their surroundings. “It’s not my fault if the paranoid guy actually had a way to counteract the debilitation and hollowing of one’s lifeforce.”

“Won’t put it past him, that’s for certain.” Schwarz walked over. “Bad news. We’ll need to join the queue in Monsville.”

“Bah. We’re residents, right? What about Risti?” Farah asked. “Can’t she vouch for us?”

Schwarz paused. “Sorry. I meant we’ll need to join the queue that has people vouching for them. There’s also another queue for people who have residents vouching too.”

“What the heck’s going on?” Nero asked.

“Everyone’s fleeing from the centre of the Vacuos county…well, those who are not strong enough, anyway. Apparently, the Senate’s First Lady just arrived by a flying ship.”

“A what?” Dia asked.

“A flying ship, an artefact exclusive to the Nihal Senate. Her ship is called Northshore Gumption,” Nero replied. “It’s First Lady Cecily’s personal flying ship, capable of carrying thirty people at high speeds. If she’s here, the Senatorial Guard must be present too.”

“And how strong are they?” Schwarz asked.

“They’re a group of twelve. Before Absolute Domination took away three years of my life, those twelve were penta-folders.” Nero paused. “I assume they should all be hexa-folders by now. That leaves seventeen people…she must have taken a bunch of other senators or folders specialised in tracking down people.”

“Looks like they’ve been enraged,” Schwarz noted. “And enticed. Tot’s bounty — the reward for the Fourth Bearer of Destiny — is too immense to pass up. Not to mention something about a saboteur or whatever.”

“That’s what happened to the Black God too, apparently.” Nero yawned. “In the Third Godsfall, he was singled out as an enemy or something. All a bunch of bullcrap. We’re still here, after all.”

Nero squished Kemata’s cheeks for absolutely no discernible reason whatsoever, and Dia rolled her eyes at his actions. She didn’t expect the Holy Son of the Black God, who knew little about sexual relationships until a day ago, to actually be so affectionate, but…well, it wasn’t really fair to think of him that way.

After all, he did trick away…uh, win over the Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny in a single week, right? Dia had no idea how he did it, but she had a feeling that Schwarz would definitely benefit from Nero’s teachings.

“Folders or not, I suggest you wake her up,” Schwarz replied. “We need to get in line.”

“Gotcha.” Nero poked her cheeks a few times, but Dia didn’t stay to watch his lover stir. Getting up from the small rock, she dusted her clothes and then looked at the short walls of the little village. Not too long ago, the encampment based here had been completely wiped out by some unknown person that she now knew was the Fourth Bearer of Destiny.

The Moons had apparently ceased to care about this small town, though, given by the total absence of Moonlit soldiers. However, since the war against the great Dark was currently on hold, this made sense — everyone was gunning for the Thief of Time, who was apparently hiding in Vacuos or in the area around it.

As they moved towards the two queues, Dia said, “The two lovebirds are so unlucky, though. They had to be in the middle of this mad gathering of powerhouses in Vacuos.”

“Don’t worry about them,” Schwarz replied. “Claud’s definitely lying low there, never poking his head out for anything beyond essential. The two of them are probably just going to lie together in bed…”

“No, I don’t think Claud and Lily can make a child now, given his current situation,” Farah chipped in.

“And why did you think in that direction?” Schwarz asked.

“Well, a man and a woman in a room…” Farah chuckled. “I want a niece, though. A small, adorable bundle of warmth and joy.”

“You like babies?”

“Duh?” Farah looked at Dia. “They’re adorably cute. No one doesn’t like babies. Even crusty old coots will smile when a little child totters along and holds their finger…anyway, we should keep an ear out for Licencia. If we’re lucky, Count Nightfall will have Nightfall junior by the time we’re back.”

“Well, we are heading over to Lustre, right?” Dia asked. “We can swing by and see if there’s really a baby waiting for us to fawn over while we’re at it.”

Nero made a face. “It’s a shame that me and Kemata can’t join you guys, though.”

“Just make a family while we’re gone,” Schwarz replied, irritation in his words. “Shoo!”

Farah bobbed her head. “We should write to Holy Daughter Clarissa and tell her about you two. It’ll be nice to have her watch over you two or something…”

“Please don’t.” Nero let out a sigh. “Anyway, you guys…if you guys are travelling back, you should at least bring prepared to defend yourself or something.”

“We’re all tetra-folders, though,” Dia replied. “It’ll be fine.”

“I suggest that you guys push for the next mana circuit first, before continuing.” Nero bobbed his head. “It is possible that the Moons will not quite like your presence in their domain. But if you’re a group of people with considerable power, the Moons are unlikely to fight with you while you are in their domain.”

“Really?”

“Well, unless you give them no choice.” Nero looked towards the south. “Remember, they have the entire Istrel Sovereignty under them. While they can exercise vast workings with Istrel’s Terra Jewel, they are also similarly beholden to protect the people here. It is both boon and bane.”

“Terra Jewel…” Dia shook her head. “That term seemed so long ago, I don’t even know what to think about it.”

“Feels like an eternity, doesn’t it? Back when we weren’t ordered by the Moons to do their bidding.” Schwarz paused. “Hold on. Aren’t we technically still under the Moons?”

“Maybe, but…well, it’s hard to order me around, and Kemata’s not even on the table as an option,” Nero replied. “Besides, you guys didn’t receive any further orders, and the Moons were preoccupied with greater pursuits. So technically you guys aren’t deserters.”

“Great, but I want to resign,” Schwarz replied. “I’m a free spirit, alright?”

The group in front of them scattered a moment later, and Dia followed the others to the counter that was handling entry. All kinds of posters and memos were stuck on the makeshift counter — there was a limit to entry, for instance, and there were even more regulations about who could and could not enter.

“Who’s vouching?” the clerk manning the counter asked, his tone one of boredom.

“Our fellow mercenary, Risti,” Schwarz replied.

“Give me a moment to check. Alright, she came by a few hours ago and sent in the application. Do you have the pre-arranged token?” the clerk asked.

Schwarz nodded, and produced five gold coins. The clerk verified them with his documents, and then waved them in. “All clear. Welcome back, brothers and sisters.”

Dia and the others proceeded into the gate.

“That wasn’t half-bad,” Nero noted.

The scythe behind Kemata whirled once in agreement, although Dia really wanted to question the clerk when he allowed Kemata in. Was he just concerned with letting people who had been registered in, their equipment and identity be damned?

“It’s an expedient method,” Schwarz replied. “This town is a lot more crowded than when we left it. And the numbers are projected to increase over time too…anyway, let’s head over to the house first. Risti must be fuming mad by now.”

“I wonder how she’ll react to Kemata’s presence,” Farah murmured, a wicked grin gracing her face. “She will not believe what Nero experienced, for starters…”

“Oh, you wicked countess.” Schwarz cackled madly for a few seconds, and a few people looked at him. “I also want to see her take on my expression back then too, hehe.”

Dia shook her head. Was it really fine that they were all behaving like this? They were all adults, mid-ranked mana-folders that would make everyone else bow down if they knew, but these guys were just…cackling.

She glanced at Nero, who looked a bit thankful at her silence, and then at Kemata, who was still looking as stoic as ever.

Those two love birds still had a long way to go, complained to the thick-skinned pair in Vacuos.