The silence at the dinner table was immensely uncomfortable due to the previous events. Vector groaned in pain, trying to keep the bandage on his abdomen attached to his body. Lucy ate without saying a word, still absorbing the scene she'd witnessed.
Skyler placed the spoon on her tongue with pleasure, making a comment.
"You know what?... I love lasagna."
"Please, Skyler, shut up."
"Why, Vector?"
"Because you just killed a man in front of us and asked him to clean up the scene, you idiot!"
Luciana exclaimed, slapping the table. The man in front of her remained calm, retorting.
"Didn't you want Paul to die? I already did what I wanted."
"But..."
The woman fell silent, sitting back in her chair and returning to her lasagna. After a few seconds of silence...
"Why, Skyler? Why didn't you do anything before? Why only now that Alice walked in here?"
"He was still useful to me, but he'd caused me too much trouble and... I didn't want him to hurt Alice's daughter. But if he'd tried to touch you or any other woman, no matter who, he would still have died."
Lucy nodded, her hands clenching her fork and knife as she slowly cut the lasagna.
"Really?"
"I have no reason to lie."
"Really... there's no reason to lie."
"... I still have a broken rib, Skyler—"
"Don't break the peace, Vector!"
"..."
Skyler almost laughed at Luciana's abrupt response. He stood up, pulling one glove over the other, and reached for dessert: cookies.
"Help yourselves, I'll give some to Alice."
"Is she okay? She must have been very scared by that scene..."
"I don't doubt it. I'll be understanding, Lucy."
***
In the room, the mother was breastfeeding her daughter, her gaze seemingly unfocused on what she was doing, as if her mind weren't on the planet.
When he entered, Skyler wasn't noticed. He simply placed the plate next to the bed with the glass of water, closing the door with considerable force to bring Alice back to consciousness... and it worked.
***
"What do you want us to do?"
"Alice is still a little shaken. Vector is injured, so there's nothing he can do for now. You, Luciana, I ask you to help Alice awaken the Mana Releaser and take good care of Vector until I can find a proper cure for him."
"Doesn't she have the Mana Releaser yet?"
"No. Please don't go easy on her; she's strong. And in return, you don't have to do the next mission; you can rest and enjoy your teaching job."
With a brief goodbye, Skyler left the underground area. Lucy placed her hand on her head.
"Damn, tonight's going to be a lot of work..."
***
As she wandered through the city shrouded in darkness and rain, placing an umbrella over her head, Skyler came across a silhouette sitting on a bench, Ferinish, who seemed indifferent to the rain, allowing her red hair to be drenched in it.
"The redheaded woman who slaughtered that Renkai Creature in front of me. Good thing I hid."
"Good morning... or good night, depending on your point of view."
He stopped in front of her, who hadn't expected him to come, lifting his head and nodding.
"I think it's a good night, considering how dark this city is. Do you want to sit down?"
He asked, offering her space. Skyler sat next to him, covering them both with the umbrella.
"Why are you here, in the middle of the night? You might get sick or attacked."
"I just need to clear my head. And don't worry, I can defend myself... and I definitely won't get sick."
"I understand. But it's best to avoid any chance of catching a cold."
He clipped the umbrella to the bench, letting it shield them both from the water. The silence was strangely friendly and comfortable; neither wanted to speak or move.
"...Do you have somewhere to stay?"
"I'm staying at a hotel with a friend, but thank you for your kindness."
Silence returned, equally comfortable... and peaceful. The umbrella came unstuck from the bench, falling to the ground and being carried by the wind. Their eyes fell to the umbrella somberly flying toward the giant portal in the sky.
"I think your umbrella got lost."
"I liked it."
So the comfortable silence settled between them... again.
***
"Busy, Alice?"
"No, you can come in."
Covering the breast she used for breastfeeding, Alice welcomed the figure of Luciana in front of her, who smiled at the sight of the little one in her mother's arms.
"How cute..."
She sat on the bed, caressing the sleeping figure's cheek. Alice leaned against the bed, asking,
"Do you... need something?"
"Oh, yes. Skyler asked me to help you awaken the Mana Releaser."
Alice's eyes lit up at the news, and she asked again,
"Wait... I'll be able to cast magic?!"
"Yes! But I'll warn you, it's not a friendly process; it always happens at the brink of death."
"..."
The sparkle disappeared from Alice's eyes in an instant. Luciana gave a soft laugh, waving her hands.
"Calm down, it's not like I'm going to stab you. I just need to fight you and almost get you killed."
Alice's mouth fell open, and her eyes drained of color, and she began to stutter.
"W-wait! Don't say it like it's no big deal!"
She said in a louder tone than usual, making the little girl in her arms wake up and cry.
"Oh, dear..."
Without hesitation, she thrust out her breast to breastfeed her daughter. Lucy looked away, sighing in defeat.
"I think this will take longer than I'd like..."
***
"You promised me you wouldn't kill him, Skyler Fogue..."
A deep voice echoed in the darkness of a room, a man's fingers lifting the watch that bore the image of... Paul...
"Blood brothers always know when one dies. You'll pay us for this..."
Around that man, several others stood in their proper places, carrying weapons, swinging blades, or unleashing magic from their hands.
"Not only will we kill you, Skyler Fogue, we'll hunt down your small group and kill them in front of you, one for me."
Eight men said in unison, but the ninth, one more elegant-looking than the others, added.
"And from what I heard from some of my servants, my ex-wife, Alice Larywall, has just been summoned by him. I miss her terribly..."
Then the man with the clock clasped the amulet in his hands and gave a wide, wicked smile, raising glasses of wine.
"Let's celebrate, my brothers! For tomorrow we will have our revenge, and one of our brothers will have a special night!"
Then those powerful men shouted in celebration, all raising their drinks.