The city of Aethelberg was large enough that getting lost was surprisingly easy.
Elias discovered this approximately three minutes after leaving the Bureau Headquarters.
Not that he was actually lost.
He knew where the market was.
Mostly.
Probably.
The problem was that Maria apparently did not walk like a normal person. Instead of following the broad roads used by merchants and travelers, she seemed to prefer strange side paths and obscure shortcuts that wound through districts Elias had never seen before.
The city shifted around him.
Stone roads became narrow cobbled lanes. Merchant plazas gave way to quiet residential districts. Laundry fluttered between buildings overhead. Children chased one another through alleyways. Old women sat on porches discussing neighborhood gossip with the intensity of military strategists planning a campaign.
Elias followed at a comfortable distance.
Not because he was stalking Maria. No, he simply happened to be heading toward the market and Maria simply happened to be heading toward the market. They simply happened to be taking the same route.
Repeatedly.
Several times.
"..."
Even he wasn't convinced by that explanation.
"Is she going to the market too or is she intentionally taking the paths I'm takig."
Ahead of him Maria turned another corner. Beside her walked the bespectacled boy. The boy carried himself with the confidence of someone who had never lost an argument in his life and intended to keep it that way. Unfortunately for him, Maria appeared completely immune to whatever charm he believed he possessed. The two continued talking as they disappeared around another corner.
Elias followed.
A few minutes later he entered a district he had never visited before. Tall walls surrounded a collection of elegant buildings.
Flower gardens decorated the pathways. The architecture was distinctly feminine. Then he noticed the sign. It was a Women's Dormitory Complex.
"..."
Elias stopped.
"What kind of shortcut is this?"
His mental layout of the city didn't account for this building being part of the path. A small gate stood open, Maria and the merchant boy had already passed through. Elias shrugged and stepped through as well.
The garden was beautiful. Rows of flowers bloomed beneath the afternoon sun. Small stone pathways curved through patches of greenery. A fountain stood at the center. For a brief moment Elias almost forgot why he was there.
Then something moved.
Then something moved and figure dropped from above and boy landed in front of him, his spectacles slightly askew. Elias reacted immediately, the Obsidian Dagger appeared in his hand.
CLANG.
"You."
Elias blinked.
"...Me?"
"Who are you?"
"Sorry?"
"Why are you following us?"
"What?"
Elias stepped backward a gust of wind exploded beneath his feet propelling him backward. The boy pressed forward relentlessly. Elias' eyes widened. The boys physique had looked skinny beneath his clothes. That assumption shattered instantly. There was muscle underneath.
Lean.
Efficient.
Athletic.
The movements of someone who trained regularly. He blocked the boy's strike, pivoted, and—
The boy caught his wrist.
Not just caught. Controlled. His grip was precise, locking Elias's joint at an angle that made the dagger useless. Before Elias could adjust, the Obsidian Dagger vanished from Elias' grip. He freed himself and stepped back.
"..."
"..."
Both of them looked at the weapon now resting in the boy's hand. Elias frowned. That was his dagger and the boy pointed it at him.
"Now answer the question."
"No."
"What?"
"You attacked me."
The boy blinked.
"Because you're following us."
"I'm going to the market."
"The market is in the other direction."
"This is a shortcut."
"Why are you taking this particular shortcut."
"Because its a S.H.O.R.T.C.U.T."
They stared at one another, neither willing to back down.
The boy finally lowered himself into a stance with the dagger in reverse grip.
Elias also made his stance, his fists pulsing with energy as he used Flow Reinforcement.
"I probably shouldn't warn you but, in advance, clentch your teeth."
The boy looked physically offended by that. Before either could continue—
"STOP!"
Maria's voice echoed through the garden.
Maria stepped out from behind a laundry line, her arms crossed, her expression caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement, as if she had suddenly become responsible for two particularly troublesome children.
The merchant boy pointed.
"He's hostile."
Elias pointed.
"Because you attacked me."
Maria sighed.
Then sighed again.
After Elias had retrieved his weapon and several minutes of explanations, accusations, counter-accusations, and increasingly confused questioning—
The truth emerged.
The merchant boy had mistaken coincidence for surveillance. Elias had mistaken an ambush for a robbery. Everyone involved felt slightly embarrassed.
Well.
Almost everyone. The merchant boy looked annoyed. Maria laughed at him. Elias on the other hand remained completely indifferent.
"So," Maria said.
"This was a misunderstanding."
The boy folded his arms.
"A very suspicious misunderstanding."
"You literally attacked him."
"You were the one who pointed out we were being followed."
"That didn't mean you should attack him."
The boy opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Then gave up.
Maria turned toward Elias.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
The response came so quickly that she blinked.
"You're not angry?"
"No."
"You were attacked."
"That happens occasionally."
The merchant boy looked horrified.
"What kind of life do you live?"
Elias thought about it then decided that answering honestly would probably create more questions.
Maria smiled.
"Speaking of introductions."
She gestured toward Elias.
"This is Elias Dukker."
The merchant boy studied him, his expression shifted. He looked at Elias with new eyes—assessing, recalculating.
Elias studied him back. For a few seconds neither spoke.Then Maria opened her mouth.
"This is—"
"No need."
The boy pushed his glasses upward with his middle finger.
"My name is Quinlan Rustmark."
The surname immediately caught Elias' attention.
"Rustmark?"
Quinaln smirked.
"You've heard of us."
"Any relation to Gerold Rustmark?"
Quinlan's eye twitched.
"My uncle."
Elias nodded slowly.
"He's the Trade Union's representative."
"Unfortunately."
Maria smiled.
"While Gerold entered politics, his older brother chose a different path."
She gestured toward Quinlan.
"His father, Victor Rustmark, stayed in commerce and expanded the family business."
"Do you have to tell everyone that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because it's funny."
Quinlan looked betrayed.
Maria ignored him.
Elias now understood several things.
First. Quinlan genuinely came from money.
Second. The boy apparently disliked having that information shared.
Third. Maria enjoyed making him suffer. Quite a lot.
The dynamic between them became obvious very quickly. Quinlan constantly attempted to establish superiority. Maria casually dismantled every attempt. It was almost impressive.
"So."
Elias looked between them.
"What were you doing?"
Quinlan immediately answered.
"None of your business."
Maria answered simultaneously.
"We were inspecting a shipment."
"Maria."
"What? He's curious."
"Curiosity kills."
"So does arrogance, but you're still alive."
Quinlan glared at her.
Maria smiled innocently.
"A shipment from Khemri."
Quinlan sighed dramatically.
"My father asked me to inspect it."
"Because?"
"Because that's what merchants do."
Maria nodded.
"The shipment arrived this morning."
Quinlan looked suspiciously at Elias. Maria looked thoughtful then smiled.
"You should come."
"I must politely decline."
The response was immediate.
Quinlan pointed at Elias.
"Absolutely no- wait you decline?"
"Yeah."
Quinlan took personal offence at this.
Maria ignored him.
"I think it'd be fun."
"It wouldn't."
"It would."
"It really wouldn't."
Maria turned toward Elias
"Come with us."
"Absolutely not." Quinlan Objected
"Why?"
"Because I don't know him."
"You attacked him."
"That's unrelated."
Elias considered it while the two argued.
There were materials he needed. The market was his destination anyway. The warehouse might contain useful things.
Quinlan looked horrified when Elias nodded.
"You're agreeing?"
"Sure, why not."
Quinlan looked like he had swallowed something bitter. Maria immediately linked her arm through Elias'.
The reaction was instant.
Cedric's face darkened.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Elias noticed. Maria definitely noticed. Both chose to ignore while Quinlan attempted to hide his face.
Poorly.
'Interesting.'
Maria smiled brightly.
"Rustmark has warehouses. If there's something you need we'll probably have it."
Maria simply began walking while dragging Elias along. Quinlan followed behind them looking deeply dissatisfied with reality.
The three moved deeper into the city. This route took them through districts Elias had never seen.
Old stone bridges crossed narrow canals. Artisans displayed handcrafted goods from open workshops. Painters worked beneath shaded awnings. Musicians performed near public squares. The city felt different here.
Older.
Quieter.
More cultured.
Eventually a large structure appeared ahead.
Elias slowed.
The building rose before him, pale stone streaked with centuries of rain. Its columns were carved with scenes he could not quite make out.
The Museum Of Ages.
The moment he saw it something stirred deep within him.
Tamamo.
The sleeping fox shifted, a faint pulse echoed through their connection.
Once.
Twice.
Then stronger. Elias stopped walking. Maria noticed immediately.
"Elias?"
He did not answer. His gaze remained fixed on the museum. The sensation intensified. From within, Tamamo's voice emerged as a faint whisper.
"...here."
Elias froze. The Divine Beast sounded unusually serious.
"Tamamo?"
A brief silence followed. Then— one word soft, certain hungry.
"It is here."
The hairs on the back of Elias' neck stood up. One of the Nine-Tailed Fox's missing tails was calling.
It was somewhere inside the museum.