"Nico! Ivy! I knew I would find you here," Justus says, smiling as he enters the Garden of Watersia, just as we are about to leave. I open my mouth to interject, but he cuts me off.
"Don't ask how I knew you'd be here. It's just a lucky guess," he adds, pointing to his head with a wink.
I stare at him, my expression clearly saying, Bruh.
Ivy looks at him as if he's just peed his pants.
"Ahem. You're probably wondering why I'm here, right? Well, I spoke to the Keeper Administration, and they're fine with letting you both explore Stonelight and Mistfall, which isn't too far away."
"They're only allowing this without supervision because they trust me to monitor you. They think I'm conducting some kind of test or experiment, which is hilarious," Justus says, chuckling to himself.
I raise both eyebrows at him, crossing my arms as I watch his oddly cheerful mood.
"The good news is you two get to leave the floating fortress of Keeper Academy for an entire day! Enjoy it because tomorrow starts your classes, and I hear there's a preliminary test I can't tell you about. You need to focus on your current task," he continues, his tone shifting from humorous to serious.
"I'll accompany you both to Stonelight while you explore and have fun. Other Keepers are patrolling the city, so I'll need to stay close. When they aren't looking, you'll make your way to Mistfall to search your house. You'll find a lot of answers there," Justus explains as he walks past us toward the airfield.
Ivy and I exchange a glance and run after him.
The airfield, near the academy entrance, is where we all first gathered upon arriving.
It's a sprawling semi-circle area with several arches, each manned by a Keeper in a white cloak trimmed with green, bearing the Keeper Academy logo of a halo on their shoulders.
As soon as the Keepers spot Justus, they bow. Sensing my confusion, Justus turns to me and says, "They're showing respect. As Vice Principal Keeper, I outrank them. It's a tradition enforced by the Principal Keeper."
"That's horrible," Ivy comments.
He nods at her and elaborates, "The Keepers you see here are all wind mages responsible for our transportation and the academy's security. They're incredibly powerful, but because they can't wield light magic, they'll never become World Keepers or achieve high-class status."
"The only alternative for Keepers without light magic is graduating from the Keeper Academies in Glozaria."
Turning to one of the Keepers, Justus says, "Take us down to Stonelight. I want to show them the marketplace." The Keeper bows and conjures a controlled bubble of wind, lifting us gently before descending to the city below.
Once we land, Justus scans the area and turns to us. "Explore the market without me. I'll distract the patrolling Keepers. When you see my signal, fireworks, head straight for Mistfall. Meet me at the plaza in two hours after you've explored the city and your house thoroughly," he instructs grimly before disappearing into the crowd.
"Well...want to see what's around, Ivy?" I ask, turning to her.
"I'd love to, Nico!" she replies with a smile, grabbing my hand unexpectedly.
The next fifteen minutes feel like heaven. We wander through food stands, marvel at shiny jewelry on display, and watch children laugh and play. Every time we head somewhere new, Ivy grabs my hand, pulling me along.
I'm not saying that's why it feels like heaven, but I won't deny it plays a part. It feels like, with her, I could do anything.
We're finishing our donuts when we notice everyone heading toward Stonelight Plaza, the city center, home to a statue of the supposed "hero," Ezreal Vicious. I privately call him the fake hero because my gut tells me he saved no one. Everything about this place feels like a beautiful illusion hiding something darker.
As fireworks burst into the sky, Ivy and I know it's our cue. Blending into the crowd, I grab her hand this time and lead us out. My eyes scan our surroundings, and once we're clear, we take off running into the woods.
We sprint until we reach a familiar waterfall. "We can stop here," I tell Ivy, placing my hands on my knees to catch my breath. But she grabs my hand again, tugging me through the waterfall. Too tired to resist, I follow.
Splash!
We end up soaked, but we can't stop laughing. Water splashes fly as we play like kids, momentarily forgetting our task.
"We have little time to explore my house. Let me show you around," I say, stepping out of the water and attempting to dry off.
"Oh shoot, you're right!" Ivy exclaims, scrambling out of the waterfall. After drying off as best we can, I lead her to my house, just beyond the falls.
"Mistfall is beautiful!" Ivy says in awe, taking in the canals and rivers around us.
"I agree," I reply as the mist thickens, obscuring our view.
We arrive at a large two-story wooden house resembling a log cabin.
"This is home," I tell Ivy, pushing open the front door. It closes softly behind us. The house is clean, the furniture is simple but sturdy, and the kitchen and living room are spacious.
"I'm not sure what we're looking for, but check upstairs. You'll find my bedroom and a guest room. I'll search downstairs," I instruct her.
Ivy runs upstairs while I meticulously search the first floor, combing through the kitchen and living room four times without success. Then I hear it.
"Hey Nico, I think I found something. You should come see this," Ivy calls from above.
I rush up the creaky wooden steps to my bedroom, where Ivy holds a crumpled piece of old paper.
"What is that, and where was it?" I ask.
"It was under your bed frame. Looks like a letter," she says, handing it to me.
As I read the sender's name, my breath catches, my chest tightens, and my voice falters.
With all my love,
Your Mother