Unable to sleep, Leo decided to request a dismissal from his warrior class. It was the second time this year and after enduring Faleria's suspicious gaze for a full minute, she finally relented and gave him the day off. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he headed to the library. It was quieter than anywhere else, the perfect place to catch up on a few hours of sleep. Afterward, he woke refreshed and rushed to the grand cathedral for his enchanting class.
Without distractions clouding his thoughts, he successfully connected the crystal to the circle of magic.
All day, he debated asking about Eliza's mother but decided against it, wary of the complications it might bring.
Later, back at the association, as he was preparing for his patrol in the storage room, Lara entered.
"Leo, the captain wants you in his office."
"But my patrol starts in five minutes."
"Frank is taking your shift," Lara replied curtly.
Guessing it had to do with the events of the previous night, Leo followed her to the main hall. After knocking on Captain Edmond's office door, he stepped inside, saluting with a fist to his chest.
"Captain, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Edmond said, his tone calm but direct. "I need you to bring Ms. Brandon here."
"Is something wrong?" Leo asked, adopting a concerned expression.
"Quite the opposite," Edmond said with a rare smile. "We've found her mother."
"What? Really? Is she…?" Leo trailed off, feigning disbelief.
Edmond nodded. "She's alive and well."
"I'll go get her immediately."
Leo left the association at a brisk pace. Once outside, he exhaled in relief—glad he hadn't been caught in any wrongdoing—and sprinted toward his home.
When he arrived, he paused to catch his breath before stepping inside.
Eliza was sitting on the sofa with Rosie and Lisa, chatting quietly. Though she looked better than she had in days, a shadow of sadness lingered in her eyes.
"Sweetie, why are you back so early?" Rosie asked, noticing him first.
"I'm here to take Eliza to the association," Leo announced.
"What?" All three of them turned to him, their expressions tense with worry.
Leo smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. We found your mother, and she's okay."
Eliza's eyes widened and tears began to well up before spilling down her cheeks.
"Can we come too?" Rosie asked, her voice trembling with hope.
"Of course," Leo said.
They hurried to change into appropriate attire and soon all three women followed him back to the association. Upon arrival, Lara greeted them and notified Edmond, who then led the group toward the infirmary.
Walking down the quiet halls, Eliza clung nervously to Leo's coat. When they stopped in front of a door, Edmond opened it and stepped inside.
Eliza hesitated, gripping Leo's coat tighter. He smiled gently and gestured toward Rosie. Rosie took Eliza's hand and guided her inside.
On the infirmary bed lay a woman with visible bruises on her face. As she turned to look at them, her expression shifted into a radiant smile when her eyes landed on Eliza.
"Eliza…" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Eliza couldn't hold herself back. She ran to her mother, throwing her arms around her and bursting into tears.
Edmond watched the reunion with a nod of satisfaction. "I'll leave the rest to you, Leo," he said before stepping out.
Leo followed him into the hallway. "Captain, where did you find her?"
Edmond paused. "She was being held at a noble's estate. Fortunately, Captain Gerhard and his team arrived during a skirmish there and managed to rescue her."
"And the noble?"
"He's currently detained and facing criminal charges."
Leo nodded, relieved and pleased with the outcome. Edmond gave him a curt nod before walking away, leaving Leo to reflect on the unexpected turn of events.
…
After consulting with the doctor, they learned that Alberada would need to remain in the hospital for another week. The staff allowed Eliza an hour-long visit with her mother before dismissing them.
Outside, Leo arranged a carriage for the three of them, but he opted not to join. Instead, he headed back to the association. Since Samuel was unavailable, Leo took it upon himself to search for the books Liamond and Cristina had recommended. After some time, he located two volumes: Power Words and Advanced Enchantments. Carefully, he placed them in his bag.
Stepping outside, Leo decided against returning home right away. Instead, he visited a nearby magic shop, hoping to find items that could aid his research. However, his limited knowledge left him overwhelmed, and he left the shop empty-handed. Resigned, he began the journey back home.
As Leo approached the door to his home, he fished out his key and unlocked it. The inside was pitch dark—no magic lamps were active, and it seemed gloomier than usual. He conjured a small orb of light in his hand, casting a faint glow over the room as he glanced around for the nearest lamp.
Suddenly, every lamp flickered to life at once.
"Surprise!"
Leo jumped. His eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness and he saw his family and Eliza—along with Rorin, Belgilia, Liamond, and Frank, all gathered with wide smiles on their faces.
"What's going on?" Leo asked, his heart still racing.
"It's your birthday surprise party!" Rosie declared, her grin wide. "You didn't really think we forgot your birthday, did you?"
Leo blinked, stunned. "But my birthday was four days ago."
"We couldn't throw a party with everything going on," Rosie explained, glancing at Eliza. "But now that she's happy, we can celebrate properly!"
Leo smiled, warmth blooming in his chest as he walked toward them.
The night was filled with laughter, jokes and good cheer. They feasted, drank, and shared stories as the hours slipped by. For the first time in weeks, the air was light, free of tension or worry.
When the party wound down, Leo followed the guests to the door to see them off.
As Liamond stepped outside, Leo turned to him, a playful grin on his face. "How come we've never thrown a party for you?"
"Because, unlike your demeanor, you're only sixteen," Liamond replied with a smirk.
Leo tilted his head. "Unlike my demeanor? How old is my demeanor, then?"
Liamond tapped his chin in thought, then turned to Frank and Rorin. "What do you think? Twenty-two?"
Frank grinned. "Sounds about right."
"Definitely twenty-two," Rorin agreed, nodding.
Leo gave an awkward chuckle, unsure whether to feel flattered or embarrassed. "Well, thanks, I guess?"
The group shared one last laugh before heading into the night, leaving Leo with a lingering smile and the warm memories of a rare, carefree evening.
The night concluded with Leo staying behind to help clean the hall, the echoes of laughter and celebration still lingering in the quiet space. Though the stack of books he'd been meaning to read called out to him, exhaustion weighed heavier. Deciding to leave them for another time, he headed to bed, letting his body finally claim the rest it sorely needed.
…
In a bar near the sea, Arthur sat at a corner table, nursing a mug of ale that was far from exceptional. Despite the early hour, the bar buzzed with activity, its patrons engaged in loud chatter or boisterous laughter. Through a salt-streaked window, Arthur gazed out at the waves. The rhythmic sound of the sea was a balm to his restless thoughts.
The door creaked open and Lain Yon stepped inside. Without hesitation, he made his way to Arthur and took the seat across from him. The two men exchanged no words as the bartender arrived, setting down a fresh mug of ale for Lain. After a long sip, Lain leaned forward, his voice low.
"Five other pirate ships have departed, but there's still no word from any of them."
Arthur didn't shift his gaze from the window. "Of course. It'll take at least a month for any news to reach us." He paused, letting the sound of the waves fill the space. "What about the Black Fang?"
The Black Fang belonged to one of the most formidable pirates Arthur knew: Captain Bernardo de Barbanario. He was a tall, slim man with a long, angular face, sharp nose, and narrow eyes. His signature look included an impressively long mustache paired with a clean-shaven chin. Always clad in black, Bernardo was rarely seen without his rapier at his side.
Arthur considered Bernardo a rival in power, but what truly set him apart was the strength of his crew. Investigations had revealed that the Black Fang housed at least two additional A-ranked individuals, making the ship an overwhelming force.
"Nothing yet," Lain replied, his tone grim. "But it seems they're gathering supplies and preparing. My guess is they're waiting to see the outcome of the first group before making a move."
Arthur finally turned his attention to Lain, his expression calm but sharp. "He's a cautious man," he said, almost to himself. After a brief pause, his voice dropped to a whisper. "And the Red Rose?"
Even as he spoke the name, Arthur's tone grew quieter.
The Red Rose was the most powerful pirate vessel Arthur had ever heard of. Information about the ship and its crew was scarce, but rumors painted its captain, Selina Haider, as a legend. Though Arthur had never seen her, word had it she was ranked at A4 or higher—a truly formidable presence.
Lain shook his head. "No news on them. Nothing at all."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the table. "Good work. Return to your duties."
Lain nodded and left without another word. Alone again, Arthur returned his gaze to the sea, the calm waves a sharp contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. It was as he'd expected—spying on the Red Rose was no simple task.
…
Leo sat quietly at his desk in the illusion class, feeling the weight of Edgarth's gaze on him. Although his teacher didn't say anything outright, the occasional glances were hard to ignore.
The class had been tasked with combining their spells with the word whole, and now it was time to cast their magic on Edgarth himself.
Ray and Gerald went first, casting their spells one after the other. Nothing happened.
"Your spell is at D- rank. Good enough. Next," Edgarth said, his tone as neutral as ever.
Elna stepped forward, her movements precise, and cast her spell.
"D- Good. Next."
Finally, it was Leo's turn. He took a deep breath, concentrating as hard as he could. Reaching out, he connected with the illusion field—just as he had practiced with the spells Ryan had taught him. The method was the same as before.
The spell they had been using was Fear. Channeling his mana into it, he cast the spell.
Edgarth didn't even flinch.
Leo's stomach dropped. 'Did I mess up? Was my connection unstable?' But Edgarth's next words eased his worries.
"D+. Class dismissed. You're all free to go."
Leo let out a relieved sigh as he packed up his belongings. Before he could leave, a hand clapped him on the shoulder.
"How is your spell a D+?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow.
Leo shrugged. "I don't know."
Ray didn't seem convinced but decided to drop the matter. "Whatever. You've got Enchanting class next, right? See you later."
"See you."
As Leo slung his bag over his shoulder, he noticed Elna still standing nearby, staring at him. Her expression was unreadable, and the silence stretched awkwardly between them.
"Is something wrong?" Leo asked, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Ca…" A faint sound escaped her throat, but it wasn't a complete word.
"Ca?"
"Can you teach me how to use illusion spells like you?" Elna finally blurted, her voice rising slightly.
Her sudden request caught Leo off guard, but what struck him more was her tone. 'Is she shy?' he wondered. 'Her voice is… cute.'
For a few moments, Leo completely forgot what she had asked.
"I… I can, but I have a class and other duties. Do you have time tonight?"
Elna considered this for a moment before replying, "Tomorrow at eight. Your house. Is that okay?"
"Huh?" Leo was stunned. 'Hasn't anyone ever told her not to go to a stranger's house?'
"It's okay with me," he finally said, unable to think of a reason to refuse.
After exchanging his address, he watched as Elna left the room.
'What just happened?' he thought. Then, realizing the potential chaos this might cause, he groaned inwardly. 'What am I going to tell my mom?'
Leo pressed his palm against his face.
"They're not going to let me live this one down for a long time."