The staff guided the trio through the mansion's long marble halls until they reached their assigned rooms. The rooms were surprisingly close to each other, placed along the same corridor. None of them had expected to stay the night, so they hadn't brought any belongings to unpack. Amelia even commented that three rooms felt unnecessary.
"We could all stay in one room," she suggested casually.
"No," Elliot replied immediately, shutting down the idea with a stern look.
A moment later, they reached Shirou's room. It was the last one on the right.
"This is your room, sir. Have a good evening," the staff member said politely as she opened the door for him.
"Thanks," Shirou nodded, then stepped inside.
He looked around—and his eyes widened.
The room was massive, at least five times the size of his room back at the inn in Velgrath. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, and the floor was covered with a soft red carpet that muffled every step. A chandelier made of mana crystals hung from the ceiling, casting a calm glow. There was a large bed in the centre, draped with silken sheets and a pillow that looked too comfortable to be real.
Shirou dismissed his sword with a wave of his hand and walked straight to the bed.
"So soft…" he mumbled as he flopped onto it.
Before he could even take another breath, sleep took over.
---
Shirou woke up to a knock on his door. Groggy, he sat up and stretched his arms with a yawn. The knock came again, and he finally got to his feet. He opened the door to see a young female staff member standing politely outside.
"Sir, Lord Lucus has invited you to the dining hall," she said with a slight bow.
Shirou rubbed his eyes and glanced out the window. The sky was still bright. The sun hadn't even begun to set.
"Dinner already?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes, sir. Since your patrol is scheduled to begin after sunset, dinner is being served earlier," she explained.
"Well… that makes sense," Shirou nodded. "Give me a moment. I'll be right with you."
He closed the door, quickly washed his face in the bathroom, and summoned Ashbringer. The sword materialised in its scabbard at his hip, the familiar weight reassuring. With a deep breath, he stepped out and followed the staff member to the dining hall.
---
When they arrived, Amelia and Elliot were already seated at a long dining table made of polished dark wood. Lucus sat at one end of the table, while Darwin sat near him, quietly sipping from a cup.
Lucus looked up and offered a polite smile. "I apologise for the unusual timing, but due to your patrol duties tonight, we've had to schedule dinner a few hours early."
"No, it's perfectly fine," Elliot replied. "It's our duty to serve. Honestly, what you're doing for us is already more than enough."
Moments later, a line of staff appeared, placing plates and bowls across the table. The aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread, and seasoned vegetables filled the hall.
Amelia's eyes widened. "This is a lot! I don't think we can finish even half of this."
Lucus chuckled. "Don't worry. Eat as much as you can. The rest won't go to waste."
Amelia stared at a sparkling gem-like fruit and muttered, "I wish mana stones grew near my house…"
Shirou leaned closer to her with a smirk. "Maybe mana stones only grow near people with good hearts."
Amelia raised a brow. "Well, that explains why they don't grow near you. I just hope the whole supply doesn't shut down just because I brought you along."
Elliot ignored their banter and had already begun eating. Soon, the rest followed.
The food was unlike anything Shirou had ever tasted. Every bite was soft, juicy, and full of flavour. The spices were perfect, the meat tender, and even the bread seemed magical. Compared to the food back in Welbern, this felt like a feast fit for a king.
---
After dinner, the three of them stepped outside the mansion. The sky had started turning orange, and the sun was slowly dipping toward the horizon. A cool breeze brushed against their faces as they prepared for patrol.
Shirou now wore a black cloak over dark battlewear. His scabbard, sleek and black, rested firmly against his waist with Ashbringer inside.
Amelia glanced at him and frowned. "Do you really have to wear that?"
"Yes. It's my battle outfit," he replied simply.
She crossed her arms and smirked. "Well, I have to admit, that actually looks good on you."
Shirou narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like that wasn't a compliment?"
"Because it wasn't," she grinned.
Elliot cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Now that the sun is nearly set, we begin the patrol."
He pointed to a field in front of the mansion. "The three of us will circle the house in a wide arc, starting from three different positions. I'll begin from the northern side. Amelia, you take the southwestern side. Shirou, you'll handle the southeastern. We'll move back and forth along our arcs, keeping our senses sharp."
Both nodded.
Elliot continued, his tone firm. "Keep your mana sense active. If you detect any disturbances, investigate carefully. If you believe you're outmatched, don't engage alone. Send a signal or call for help."
Again, they both nodded silently.
"Don't risk your life. No mission is worth that. We're in this together," Elliot added. "Understood?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
Shirou glanced at Elliot, surprised by how composed and commanding he sounded.
"He really changes when it comes to missions," Shirou thought. "It's like he becomes a whole different person."
---
Then the patrol began.
Shirou moved along his designated arc, eyes scanning the open field, ears sharp for any sound, and his senses tuned to the smallest fluctuations of mana. The mansion loomed behind him like a silent guardian, while shadows began to stretch along the ground.
For the next few hours, nothing happened. The air remained still, and the mana around him was calm.
Then, without warning, Shirou felt a slight fluctuation behind him.
In a flash, Ashbringer was out, aimed directly at the approaching presence—but the blade stopped just inchesfrom the target's neck.
"Amelia?" he said, lowering the sword with a sigh. "Don't ever sneak up on me like that."
Amelia stepped back, a nervous drop of sweat on her forehead. "Yeah… I got that message loud and clear."
Shirou slid his blade back into its scabbard. "So? Why are you here?"
She shrugged. "No reason. I was getting bored. Come on, do you really think anyone's going to attack today? It's just the first night."
"Who knows," Shirou said, glancing out toward the forest.
Amelia suddenly turned to face him, her expression curious. "Hey, remember when you asked about my innate ability?"
"Yeah?" Shirou replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I can show you now. If you're up for it."
Shirou folded his arms. "Alright… What are you plotting?"
"Nothing!" she said with a grin. "I just thought, since we're working together, it's better to know each other's powers."
"Fair enough. Show me."
"Okay, get ready. I'm going to hit you."
Shirou scoffed and smirked. "Please. I could take a hundred hits from you and still be standing."
He focused his mana into his hands, preparing to block whatever she was about to throw at him
Amelia stepped forward. Her palm faced him, then she retracted her hand and balled it into a fist—lightning-fast—and slammed it forward.
Judging from the amount of mana being accumulated into her fist,he was sure she wasn't even using half her strength
Shirou raised his hands to block it—but the smirk on his face vanished the moment her punch landed.
BOOM.
He was sent flying several meters across the field, landing with a grunt and rolling to a stop.
"What the hell just happened!?"
From across the field, Amelia called out, smirking.
"Come on, only ninety-nine more to go!"