“You know, rather than going back home, it feels more like a changing of the guard,” Dia commented, as the sight of Risti rushing over entered her eyes. “We’re staying here for the night, and then leaving for Lustre, right? Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?” Schwarz, who was nibbling on a sandwich, looked at her. “You seem a bit worried. What are you thinking about?”

“I’m just wondering about the Seekers of Life.” Dia paused, and then clarified her words. “About the network we left behind in Licencia. Who’s taking care of them and issuing directions?”

“Uh, me?” Schwarz tilted his head. “Wait, you do know that I’ve been handling the organisation remotely, right? We still need to make sure that our base of operations is nice and secure.”

“…Right.”

“Yeah, you forgot.” Schwarz clicked his teeth. “I can’t speak for Farah, but my heart feels some pain right now. I can’t believe you forgot.”

“Did someone say my name?” Farah, who was about to lunge over to Risti for a moving hug, paused.

“Nothing important,” Schwarz replied. “Do continue your run-up for a moving hug. We’re just talking about how a certain bodyguard forgot that we were helping to run the Seekers of Life remotely.”

“Ouch. I thought you knew.”

Dia mumbled an apology in response, embarrassed. Farah rolled her eyes, and then turned to Risti, who had just dashed over with no heed to her image whatsoever.

“You guys are finally back!” Risti beamed at everyone, sweeping her gaze through the place, and then did a doubletake at Nero, who was locking arms with Kemata. Question marks seemed to pop up from her head, and she slid over to Farah, who cackled.

“Yes, it is what you’re thinking. Yes, I agree that it’s miraculous. No, she won’t bite, even if there’s a scythe floating ominously behind.”

Risti rolled her eyes, and then flicked her hair once. She was still in that lookalike disguise of hers, and Dia found herself thinking about her return trip home. How would she break the news to them? How would they react?

More importantly, what would she do, once they found out about her identity? Would she remain on as part of their group and travel back with them, or would she stay on in Lustre, without any discernible reason whatsoever? To be honest, she found herself more at ease with the others, rather than her family, and…well, it was more fulfilling as a Seeker of Life than as a princess whose job was not that different from a paperweight.

And well, her father was probably still feeling awkward over how he had…sent her away. Of course, it was probably better that she tried not to return; in the past, she wasn’t anyone particularly renowned beyond her identity. Her brother, however, was someone who distinguished himself for loyal service to the Emperor. Now that she wanted to return, Dia also wanted to fully renounce her claim to the dukedom; it would prevent awkwardness, and it would also be a good way of getting out of nasty court and noble politics.

She watched on as Schwarz, Farah and Risti talked about Nero and Kemata, who were waiting for the right time to introduce themselves. Of course, no one did polite introductions in the middle of the street, so everyone soon fell into step and headed to the little house.

Dia eyed the house critically, and then turned to Risti. “You didn’t renovate the place?”

“Why do you sound so disappointed at the fact that I, according to common sense, didn’t see it fit to renovate our friend’s home?” Risti blinked her eyes at Dia three times, and then frowned. “Is it a thing for nobles to help redecorate the guest houses and mansions they stay in?”

“How did you guess?” Farah asked.

“Oh. Okay. So the nobles are the ones lacking common sense, I get it. Sure. People do that normally. Wow. Anyway, pin this on, or else you can’t enter.” Risti handed over five badges, and then stepped into the house. The air around her rippled once, but nothing else happened.

“Nice artefact,” Schwarz quipped. “How about Claud and Lily?”

“Oh, they already know about it. The shadow, remember? I waited until the shadow moved, which was around a day ago, and then showed them the message I wrote and where I buried those badges,” Risti replied. “Of course, we’ll all be here or something, so it’s for when we’re going to leave or something.”

“Ah.”

“Ah.”

Dia, who was about to exclaim, glared at the couple that had exclaimed in unison, and then decided to keep her mouth shut.

“What’s with that reaction?” Risti asked Nero. “Also, do make introductions. I’m dying of curiosity already.”

Nero grinned. “You will not believe who she is, just to preface the whole thing. Do you wanna bet with me on this?”

“I won’t believe who this charming woman is?” Risti asked, before raising an eyebrow. “Oh, please. We have Countess Farah, a bodyguard of Princess Dia and this uh, Salvation Star thing , and I’m the daughter of the largest formal organisation of folders. I think the women in our little group are plenty illustrious. I won’t be surprised by anything else.”

“Oh?” Nero eyed her. “Really now? Okay, then. Listen and be awed. My partner hails from the distant continent of Saran, the Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny. Her name is Kemata.”

“…The what?”

“The Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny,” Nero replied, a grin on his face. “Is that surprising enough?”

Dia slid over to Farah and Schwarz, who were sharing a packet of peanuts, and then gestured for some of them. Popping a few peanuts into her mouth, she turned back to the conversation, which was just Risti trying to figure out how this idiot Nero managed to win over Kemata.

It was a question that Dia wanted to know too. Maybe it was his straightforwardness or something? After all, she and Holy Daughter Clarissa had been watching the two of them interact the entire time during the Trial of Aeons, and yet no one knew just how they managed to end up together.

“Maybe it’s just love at first sight or something,” Dia suggested.

“What are you talking about?”

“How they got together,” Dia replied, before turning back to Risti, who was now shaking hands with Kemata profusely. For some reason, it felt like she was meeting an idol or something, but again…the Bearers of Destiny were famous.

Dia herself did want to see what the Thief of Time looked like, so she could understand Kemata’s feelings very much.

Anyway, since the surprise was over, the three of them walked back over to Risti, who was now asking all sorts of questions.

“That scythe?”

“Soulbound.”

“Hmm. You can afford to say a few more words, alright? Okay, what’s your Absolute skill?”

Dia took in those words, and then frowned. Something like a weight slipped off her shoulders a moment later, and everyone else, from Kemata to Farah, collectively stumbled.

“What happened?” Dia asked, looking around.

Kemata let out a faint groan a moment later, and she got up slowly. The first thing she did was to check on Nero, and Dia took that as a cue to help up the others as well.

“What was that?” Schwarz asked, his voice trembling. “It felt like something had been removed, and my head feels a little clearer.”

“Restriction?” The scythe behind Kemata whirled. “Someone did this. Absolute skill. I…forgot.”

“Even you forgot about your own Absolute skill?” Risti asked, her eyes narrowed. “So, it seems like someone made you guys forget about it. If I didn’t mention it…I wonder what would have happened eventually.”

Dia looked at the Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny, and then frowned. Something told her that Kemata was innocent, and there was something more malicious slithering around them.

“Hmm.” Risti looked around, and then pulled out a skillstick. She stared at it for a while, and then decided not to use it.

“Do you guys have skills that can get rid of negative effects?” Risti asked. “Use it right now.”

“Ah. Claud gave us some skill strips for Cleanse.” Dia pulled them out and handed one to everyone, before tearing her own into two. The hair on the back of her neck rose instantly, and red mist seemed to evaporate from their shadows.

“Red mist…” Nero made a face. “The Red God? Is the Red God behind all this?”

Everyone exchanged wary gazes with each other, and then drew out their weapons slowly. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, however, and Dia felt her drumming heart slow down as the night resumed, heedless of their own caution and fear.

“…What now?” Schwarz asked. “The Red God is after us…that’s quite possible, right?”

“Maybe the Red God isn’t after us,” Risti began. “There was another warning that came with the message from Claud. The Red God might be looking for a Bearer of Destiny to replace his fallen representative.”

“You can swap out Bearers of Destiny?” Nero folded his arms. “That’s not possible.”

“You need to tell the Red God that, not me,” Risti replied. “But it might be possible that the Red God wants Miss Kemata.”

“…Let’s talk more about this inside, shall we?”