Morning sunlight poured through the dining hall windows in long golden streams, illuminating drifting dust particles and polished silverware alike. The rich scent of fresh bread, butter, fried eggs, grilled meat, and brewed tea filled the room warmly enough to almost erase the lingering chill from outside.
Almost.
The actual warmth came from Dante Clementes.
Or rather—
From the sheer overwhelming force of his existence.
Dante Clementes had claimed the largest chair at the table. His plate was stacked absurdly high with food—eggs piled on toast, sausages overlapping sausages, a small ham balanced precariously near the edge, roasted potatoes, and bacon. Another smaller plate rested beside it already empty.
And he was still eating. Infact, he ate with the enthusiasm of a man who had not seen food in weeks, though Elias suspected he had eaten just yesterday.
"HAHAHA!" Dante laughed loudly between bites.
"Gods, I missed breakfasts here!"
Elias sat beside Maria silently observing the destruction occurring across the table. He had genuinely never seen someone consume this much food this early in the morning.
Dante pointed his fork dramatically toward Alaric.
"Gyan's cooking is like dew from heaven unlike those frauds at the ports!"
Alaric calmly sipped tea.
"You said that the last time."
"And I meant it then too!"
Elias narrowed his eyes slightly.
'The way he says that means this definitely isn't his first time here.'
Actually…
Judging by how comfortable Dante looked, he had probably been coming here for years. Elias stared at him for another moment.
Then mentally decided it was finally time to make the sign.
He looked at the front door. Then at the window. Then at the wall where a sign might hang.
"No unauthorised personnel beyond this point. Trespassers will be stabbed. This is not a hotel."
He would make one. Soon.
Maria sat across from him, eating with measured composure and smiled knowingly.
"You're thinking very loudly right now."
"I'm thinking responsibly."
Dante suddenly leaned toward Elias.
"You got a problem with my appetite, kid?"
"I didnt even say anything."
"Good answer."
Dante immediately returned to eating. Honestly it was impressive. Elias had watched Awakened beasts consume prey with less enthusiasm. Alaric rested one elbow against the table.
"So," he asked casually.
"How did the mission go?"
Dante groaned loudly.
"Terribly."
Maria blinked once.
"You said you sank three pirate fleets."
"That's not the point."
Dante pointed accusingly with a sausage.
"I thought it would be fun."
Alaric hummed.
"And it wasn't?"
"It was disappointing!"
Before Elias could ask—
Knock knock.
The sound echoed softly through the dining hall. Gyan, who had been standing near the side table organizing utensils with frightening precision, glanced toward the entrance.
"I'll get it."
She disappeared briefly beyond the doorway. A few moments later her voice returned calmly.
"Emma."
Dante immediately looked up.
"Oh?"
Elias turned as footsteps approached the dining hall entrance.
Then paused.
The man entering looked so much like Sir Eddie Gable that for a brief second Elias genuinely felt like he was staring at a younger version of the knight.
He was tall—not as tall as Dante, but taller than average. Light-skinned, with curly hair cropped short at the sides and longer on top, silver streaks running through the dark curls like rivers through stone. A fade, Elias thought they called it. Clean. Professional.
He wore the white uniform of the Royal Enforcers. His posture was straight almost to a fault, every movement measured and controlled like someone perpetually aware of regulations and expectations.
Even his expression resembled Sir Eddie's.
Elias blinked once.
'He's a spitting image of Sir Gable…'
Emma stopped near the table and bowed his head politely.
"My apologies for visiting this early."
"Nonsense. Sit. Join us." Alaric replied easily.
Emma hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"Thank you."
Gyan pulled out a chair for him beside Maria and moments later placed another prepared plate in front of him with practiced efficiency.
Emma quietly thanked her before beginning to eat.
Unlike Dante, his movements were controlled and restrained. Precise. Even the way he cut food seemed disciplined.
After taking a few bites he looked toward Alaric.
"I heard about the Council proceedings."
The table quieted slightly.
"Is everything alright?"
Alaric nodded casually.
"I received a temporary suspension from several upcoming Council meetings."
Elias immediately turned toward his father.
"A suspension?"
Alaric smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. It's no big deal."
He took another sip of tea.
"In fact, I needed the break."
Gyan returned carrying a tray of chilled fruit juice. As she poured a glass for Alaric she spoke without looking at him.
"You could have simply applied for leave instead of using a political trial to create free time."
Maria snorted softly into her cup.
Dante burst out laughing.
"HAHA! She's got you there!"
Alaric looked entirely unashamed.
"I needed events to proceed this way."
"So you intentionally guided the outcome?" Elias asked.
"I merely adjusted variables." Alaric responded.
"That sounds manipulative," Maria commented.
"It was manipulative."
Emma quietly drank some juice while listening to the conversation. Then his gaze shifted. Elias felt it immediately—the weight of those eyes, the pressure of being examined. He did not look away.
Silence stretched briefly. Then Emma spoke.
"You must be Elias."
Elias nodded once. Emma's expression didn't change.
"Your father speaks highly of you."
Elias tilted his head slightly. Through Synesthesia he could feel something beneath the words.
Intent.
Tiny traces of emotional coloration hidden underneath Emma's calm tone.
Malice?
No…not pure malice, something weaker. Smaller. Drops of hostility mixed with something far more complicated. It was subtle enough to not be noticed.
But Elias noticed.
'Why?' Elias wondered. 'What have I done to this guy?'
They had never met before yet the antagonism existed. Small But undeniably there.
Alaric calmly gestured toward Emma.
"You may have already guessed Elias, but this is Emma Gable. Son of Sir Eddie Gable and Eleanor Gable."
Emma nodded once.
"A pleasure."
His voice remained emotionally flat. Elias responded with exactly the same energy.
"Likewise."
For a brief moment the tension around the table subtly thickened. Then Alaric continued speaking casually.
"Emma also has an elder sister. Estrue Gable."
Maria smiled slightly.
"She's terrifying."
Emma sighed quietly.
"That is unfortunately accurate."
Alaric nodded.
"Estrue is a Praetorian and currently serves as Grand Admiral of the Royal Fleet."
Elias frowned slightly.
"The Royal Fleet?"
Maria noticed his confusion immediately.
"It's one of the Enforcement branches."
She leaned back slightly while explaining.
"The Enforcers aren't just stationed on land. The Royal Fleet handles naval defense and maritime control across Aerthos territory."
Emma nodded.
"Primarily the North of the Northen Sea where thier headquaters is located." Maria continued smoothly.
"Most terrorist organizations, criminal syndicates, and revolutionist groups require maritime routes.Weapons, Artifacts,Smuggling channels. Foreign support. Slave trafficking. Illegal cargo. The Fleet exists to intercept those operations before they reach the mainland. As well as preventing the abominable beasts of the sea from escaping the White Wall in the north." Maria finished.
Elias nodded slowly.
"That sounds difficult."
"It is," Emma said.
Maria smiled faintly.
"Aside from the beasts, they operate against the human elements on the sea. Pirates."
Elias blinked.
"Wait, Sea beasts?"
Dante immediately grinned.
"Ohhhh those bastards are fun."
Emma ignored him.
"The Northern Continent contains unstable ecosystems saturated with wild Flow concentrations. Certain marine species migrate southward periodically."
Dante folded her arms.
"Massive creatures. Some larger than castles. Apex stages would be the least of your worries."
Elias paused mid-drink.
"…What?"
"Most never reach populated waters," Emma explained calmly.
"The Fleet intercepts them first."
Dante stabbed another sausage enthusiastically.
"Estrue once split a Dominion Beast open from bow to stern."
Elias stared.
"With a sword?"
"With an anchor."
Silence.
"…An anchor?"
"She improvised."
Elias slowly looked toward Emma.
"Your sister sounds amazing."
Emma's jaw tightened and his intent shifted. Again Elias felt that strange emotional fluctuation.
Longing. Then resentment. Sharp enough this time that Elias almost frowned openly.
'For real, what is this dude's problem?'
The resentment wasn't toward Estrue. It was toward him or perhaps toward what he had said.
Emma lowered his gaze slightly.
"She is… exceptional."
Dante finally swallowed the mountain of food in his mouth and leaned back heavily.
"Speaking of exceptional disappointments…"
Alaric sighed quietly.
"Here we go."
Dante pointed dramatically.
"Our mission ended too quickly."
Emma's attention shifted.
"You were called to deal with a threat. If you wanted fun, you could have stayed to fight the pirates."
Dante waved a hand.
"Those pirates were barely Awakened. It was over before it started."
"You sank their fleets."
"That happened too early. If I wanted efficiency I would've stayed home."
Emma stared at him flatly.
"And you are upset because it wasn't entertaining enough."
"Yes."
Emma pinched the bridge of his nose.
Elias looked between them.
"…Pirates?"
Dante immediately noticed the curiosity in Elias' expression and grinned widely.
"OH?"
Maria smiled knowingly.
Dante slammed one hand onto the table excitedly.
"Kid."
Elias immediately became suspicious.
"Y-yes?"
"You want to hear a story?"
The dining hall door opened again.
Jamie entered.
Or rather—
She staggered in.
Her maid uniform was wrinkled. Her hair looked slightly disheveled. Her expression radiated the exhaustion of someone who had fought a war against laundry and lost. Instantly, Gyan balanced a packed tray of plates in her hands then pointed toward the kitchen.
Jamie's shoulders sagged.
"But—"
The look on Gyan's face could have frozen fire. Jamie looked toward Elias desperately.He immediately looked away and drank tea.
'Sorry Jamie, but your on your own.'
Jamie turned and trudged back toward the kitchen, the door closing behind her.
Dante blinked.
"Was that Roric's girl?"
"Yes," Alaric said.
"Why is she dressed like a maid?"