That's what Gars did?
Wanora gently patted Shalap's head as the girl smiled, soft and carefree, oblivious to the awkwardness hanging in the air.
"Yea man, that's rude as hell, Gars," I said, shooting him a look.
"Oh c'mon, you can't blame me," Gars protested immediately, shrugging as if that excused him.
"Yes... yes they can," Monday said, stepping into the conversation without missing a beat.
The atmosphere shifted slightly with Monday's presence, but I brushed it off. "Anyways, Heide, how's the headache? Getting better?"
"Uh... yea, in a sense I guess. Still can't use my Clarion properly," I muttered, rubbing my temples out of habit. The dull throb still pulsed beneath my skull like a quiet threat.
"Well, also, Monday—" I hesitated, glancing toward him, "I wanted to speak to you personally."
Wanora, Gars, and Shalap exchanged glances as Monday and I moved towards the next room. Just before reaching the door, I paused, turned, and barked out:
"Before I continue—SHALAP, IF YOU EAVESDROP, I'LL THROW YOU OUT."
Shalap flinched and instantly slapped her hands over her ears, pretending innocence. Wanora let out a small, amused chuckle, teasing her, "You were listening."
Satisfied, I turned back to Monday and lowered my voice.
"Hey, about the barriers that Gramps made... do you know how to make them? Like any instructions on how to create them?"
Monday's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why do you ask?"
I sighed. "Problem is, Wanora's artifact has a lot of barriers, and I'm sure each one is different than before. So I do need some advice. I only undid one seal, but it's still a problem. Since... well, if I can somehow conjure it up in real life, it'd make a good prison for someone."
Monday crossed his arms, thinking. The idea of trapping someone with a barrier probably didn't sit well with him, but he eventually nodded.
"Well, trapping people with it would be useful in situations. But calm down," he said with a sigh. "I'll look into it. Rest for now."
"Well... sure," I muttered, watching him leave the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The silence that followed wasn't heavy — it was almost comforting. A lot of time had passed since I first arrived at this place... this strange, cobbled-together thing I now called home.
I never found Arcane Pact. That dream... that goal... it didn't exist here. Maybe it never did.
But somehow, I was happier than I'd ever expected to be. Maybe the absence of Arcane Pact wasn't a loss after all. Maybe it made room for this.
It was something. Unexpected. Strange. But real.
I thought my life would have ended a long time ago. But I'm still breathing. I'm still standing.
And this time... I'm home.
Whatever it is, whatever's coming, I'll do it right.
---
Meanwhile, back in the lounge, sinus sat alone, a folded newspaper in one hand and a blank stare etched across his face. He hadn't found Clovius — hell, even Phantom, who seemed to know everything, didn't have a clue where the guy had vanished to.
His eyes scanned the bold headlines again: More than 30 nobles disappeared overnight.
No bodies. No traces. Nothing.
It was a disaster waiting to unfold. Nobles don't just vanish without consequences. In a country already simmering with tension, something like this could ignite a revolution.
Sinus sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair.
"As long as we aren't contacted," he muttered under his breath, "it isn't our problem."
For now.