William ran, following a barely visible silver thread. He quickly weaved through the ruins of houses, their walls the only remaining structures standing strong amidst the darkness of the deserted city. The thread continued to float and extend as if leading him to something trying to hide.
Ahead, a small light pulsed frantically. The Spirit Bee, trapped in its cocoon, was trying to escape. William almost grabbed it, but its small body suddenly shone brightly and exploded into shards of light swirling in the air. The lights then coalesced, forming a human silhouette.
Slowly, the figure of an old woman emerged. She wore a dull robe and had her graying black hair pulled back into a neat bun. Her breathing was slightly labored, and her body looked frail—she clearly wasn't accustomed to relying on her physical strength. The Spirit Bee was merely a vessel through which she channeled her spirit and aura.
William stopped walking. He took a quick look and saw that her aura wasn't as strong as that of a high-tier Sentinel. There was no reason to rush into attacking her.
The woman stopped, as if sensing that William was no longer pursuing her. She turned slowly, looking at the young man in the red suit with a cautious expression.
"I don't know who you are, young man," she said in a hoarse yet gentle voice. "Please, don't hurt my beloved bees."
William smiled faintly and raised his hand in a reassuring manner.
"Unfortunately, you attacked first. We were only defending ourselves against your swarm. It's hard to call that anything more than a friendly welcome."
The woman's eyes narrowed, and she remained wary, but her tone softened slightly.
"My Spirit Bee swarm can only detect when someone enters my territory. They can't tell if a visitor is dangerous."
William shrugged lightly, his tone cheerful yet direct.
"Then it's clear. It was just a misunderstanding."
His relaxed demeanor eased the tension. The old woman's gaze softened and her suspicion faded.
"I'm the one who should apologize," she said, taking a deep breath and bowing her head slightly. "I attacked you without reason. It was my fault."
William didn't respond. He simply turned and walked back toward the flower field where Elizabeth and Anna were waiting. The old woman followed her at a more sedate pace this time.
Upon arrival, she amiably introduced herself, though her shabby robes and wavering voice betrayed her age.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Hannah Faust."
William had just obtained some crucial information: the old woman's name was Hannah Faust. She was the last remaining native of Idell City; the others had left long ago in search of more suitable accommodations.
[Name: Hannah Faust]
[Status: Sentinel]
[Tier: Lower]
[Order Number: 1]
[Type: Summoner]
Hannah led William and his entourage to her modest home, which was not far from a field of blooming flowers among the ruins. The scent of the flowers mingled with the scent of wet earth, seemingly masking the grimness of the abandoned city.
"It was a complete misunderstanding. But at least we're lucky to have a place to rest, even if only temporarily," Elizabeth whispered softly beside William.
William glanced over, his tone remaining calm. "Indeed. There was nothing suspicious from the beginning. She was simply on the Lower Tier, Number One."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, disagreeing with his calmness. "You clearly attacked her. Did you expect me to be wary?"
A faint smile appeared on William's face as he suppressed a laugh that threatened to erupt. In the end, he just chuckled. "I'm not saying Hannah is strong. But she's cautious. If that's the case, what's wrong with me being serious, too?"
Elizabeth sighed in resignation. She knew that William always had a way of making jokes, even in serious situations. Sometimes it made others dizzy. Luckily, Louis wasn't there. Otherwise, William would have been caught in a long argument he couldn't win.
They continued walking along a path lined with flower fields on either side. In the distance, a simple house stood alone amid a colorful sea of flowers. It stood in stark contrast to the silent ruins behind it.
A small house stood amid a beautiful flower field within the ruins of an abandoned city. The desert surrounding it felt piercingly cold at night, yet the house radiated a cool, calming aura. A few bees fluttered among the petals, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of this quiet place.
William surveyed his surroundings carefully. There were no signs of anything suspicious, not even Hannah Faust, the elderly woman.
Hannah opened the door to her old but well-maintained house. She invited William, Elizabeth, and Anna inside. As soon as they stepped inside, they were greeted by warm air, which banished the chill of the desert night.
"You can rest here for a while. I'll make some hot chocolate for you," Hannah said kindly.
"Thank you for the trouble," Elizabeth replied. She then sat down with Anna on the simple, soft sofa.
"No need to be shy," Hannah replied before heading to the kitchen.
On the other hand, William, as usual, couldn't just sit still. Sitting still wasn't in his nature. The urge to release his silver butterfly and explore the house was strong. But something was holding him back—the bees fluttering beneath the ceiling and in every other corner.
Although he had told Elizabeth that Hannah wasn't suspicious, William was still William—the type of person who always harbored suspicions. He didn't want to repeat past mistakes. His cunning lay in his Spirit Butterfly, unlike any other spirit creature. With a subtle movement, he released a silver butterfly. It was nearly impossible for anyone to notice the beautiful creature's presence as it flew into someone else's home.
William glanced around. The bees didn't react at all, as if they were unaware of his silver butterfly. By activating one of his eyes, he could see the house through the eyes of the butterfly. The house wasn't large, with just two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a simple toilet.
The silver butterfly floated toward the kitchen. He watched Hannah prepare warm drinks and simple snacks for her uninvited guests. Everything seemed normal.
"Maybe I was being too suspicious. There's nothing to worry about," he thought to himself.