"Let's just hope everything goes to plan."
Judas thought to himself as he cut off the mental link.
His vision blurred for a brief moment before returning to his original body.
A faint breeze brushing against his skin.
He blinked once, steadying his breathing, the lingering echo of the magical connection still humming faintly in his head.
"Did you enjoy your conversation with our guest hiding like a rat, my dear disciple?"
Alfia's voice echoed in his ears... calm, melodic.
She walked toward him with unhurried steps, her silver hair swaying lightly behind her.
Her earlier haggard expression had disappeared.
After a few touch-ups, her natural beauty resurfaced.
Looking at her now, you'd never believe she was the same woman who had brushed so close to death just minutes ago.
Judas didn't bother replying.
He merely shrugged, expression unreadable.
Her awareness of Fels's surveillance wasn't something that surprised him.
Of course she would notice.
Someone of her caliber was rarely caught off guard.
Alfia simply stared at Judas for a few moments.
Her mind drifted back to what happened in the realm of souls.
Naturally, she remembered everything.
'Even though I lost my memory back there, I acted so pathetically in front of my disciple.'
When Judas was fighting the angel, what did she do?
'I want to beat myself up for allowing myself to be a damsel in distress.'
She knew Judas didn't actually need her help, but that wasn't the point.
A master should be the one protecting the disciple... not the other way around.
As for the reason why Judas was so strong in that mysterious realm?
Well, although Alfia was curious, she didn't question it and chose not to dwell on it.
She already knew Judas was an unusual young man with many mysteries.
'He seemed really cool back there.'
Suddenly, her thoughts shifted.
A faint warmth rose to her cheeks, and her heartbeat quickened.
The memory of his stance... his unwavering back as he faced that angel... stirred something inside her.
An unfamiliar feeling welled up in her stomach.
She would be lying if that scene...
Alfia clenched her jaw, forcing the thought to halt mid-way, as if cutting a thread before it unraveled further.
No.
Absolutely not.
She refused to let her mind wander down that path.
'What am I even thinking?'
'He's my disciple. My disciple.'
It also didn't help the fact her niece has taken a liking towards him.
And yet... the image refused to fade... the way he stood in front of her, unwavering, unyielding, as if nothing in that strange world could shake him.
The effortless confidence in his stance.
Her fingers curled tightly against her palm.
'Why is my heart acting like this... over something so trivial?'
It irritated her.
It embarrassed her.
Alfia prided herself on her composure, her discipline, her iron will.
She had stared death in the face countless times without so much as a tremor.
But one moment... one ridiculous moment of him standing there like some heroic figure... was enough to make her chest tighten?
It was absurd.
Completely and utterly absurd.
She grit her teeth.
'Pull yourself together, Alfia.'
And yet, even as she chastised herself, her eyes betrayed her, drifting toward Judas as if drawn by gravity.
He looked normal now. Relaxed, even.
The same boy she had trained, scolded, and berated.
The same boy who should have no effect on her whatsoever.
...So why did her heartbeat still refuse to calm?
Alfia clicked her tongue softly, annoyed at herself.
This feeling... whatever it was... she didn't intend to name it.
Not now.
Not ever.
Because acknowledging it...would make it real.
After collecting herself and forcing her heartbeat to settle, she turned away, her long silver hair trailing behind her as she made her way to the stairway.
"Belle, Hestia, let's go."
"Ah? Right, I'm coming!"
Belle said, quickly scooping her daggers off the ground before jogging after her aunt.
Halfway up the stairs, she glanced back over her shoulder, flashing a bright smile.
"See you tomorrow, Judas! Ais!"
Judas raised a hand in a casual wave, and Ais mirrored the gesture with her usual quiet grace.
Hestia smiled at the pair before following behind and soon, their figures vanished beyond the stairwell.
"We should probably head back."
Ais nodded softly in agreement.
...
The sun now hung high above them, bathing Orario's stone streets in warm light.
The noise of merchants calling out and adventurers chatting filled the air as the city buzzed with its usual life.
Walking side by side, Judas felt the familiar hum of the crowd... until a low growl reached his ears.
"Hmm?"
He turned his head toward the sound, only to see Ais pressing a hand to her stomach, her golden eyes fixed on a nearby Jyagamarukun stall.
For a brief second, he could've sworn he saw the tiniest sparkle at the corner of her lips... the telltale glint of someone fighting back a bit of drool... before she quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, pretending nothing happened.
'Oh, right... I skipped breakfast because I didn't want to throw up during training. Guess Ais did the same.'
A small smile tugged at Judas's lips.
Judas glanced at the Jyagamarukun stall... the sizzling sound of potatoes hitting oil filled the air, and a warm, savory aroma drifted toward them.
Even he had to admit, after the morning's intense training, it smelled tempting.
"...Want one?"
Hhe asked casually, turning his gaze toward Ais.
"Eh?"
The girl blinked, caught off guard.
"Jyagamarukun," Judas said, gesturing at the stall with a tilt of his chin.
"You've been staring at it for a while."
"Ah... no, it's fine. I'm not that hungry."
Ais's face flushed faintly.
Her words were calm, but her stomach immediately betrayed her with another low growl.
"...Right." Judas sighed, fighting the urge to smirk.
"You're a terrible liar, you know that?"
Without waiting for her reply, he stepped toward the stall and ordered some.
The vendor... an older man with a friendly grin... handed them over wrapped in paper.
When Judas turned back, Ais was standing exactly where he'd left her, looking like a child who'd been caught doing something she shouldn't.
"Here."
He said, offering her one with a light smile.
Ais hesitated for a moment, then accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you."
As she took a bite, her expression softened.
A light sparkle flickered in her golden eyes... brief, but genuine.
Seeing that, Judas couldn't help but chuckle softly under his breath.
"You really like those, huh?"
Ais nodded once, still chewing.
"They're... good."
They continued walking side by side through the crowded street, the sound of the city around them blending with the occasional crunch as Ais took another bite.
It was then he saw it.
'Is that...?'
A flag fluttered proudly in the distance... a white banner marked with the symbol of a scale with wings, gleaming beneath the midday sun.
The Astraea Familia's emblem.
'Oh right... their scheduled expedition was today.'
Judas slowed his steps, his gaze fixed on the familiar crest swaying in the breeze.
Ais followed silently behind, her eyes also drawn toward the commotion up ahead.
'It's so crowded.'
Judas thought as he made his way through the crowd.
The street was packed with adventurers, merchants, and civilians alike... all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the famed Astraea Familia as they made their preparations.
"Ooh, it's the Astraea Familia! They're about to head out on an expedition!"
"I wonder if Scarlet Harnel, Yamato Rindou, and Thrail are going to level up this time?"
(A/N: Yamato Rindou = Kaguya, Thrail = Lyra.)
"If that happens, with two level 6s and a level 5, they'll be promoted to an S-rank exploration familia for sure!"
"Go, ladies of justice! Vanquish those monsters in the dungeon!"
"Let's go Astraea Familia!"
The air buzzed with excitement as cheers erupted from every direction.
It wasn't every day one got to see a top-ranking familia embark on an expedition... and even less so one as admired and principled as Astraea's.
"Looks like she's enjoying the attention."
Judas mused, recognizing the familiar redhead standing proudly at the front of the formation.
Alise Lovell, captain of the Astraea Familia, stood tall with her hands on her hips.
The moment she heard the crowd cheering, she puffed her chest out with a grin.
"Rejoice, citizens of Orario!"
Alise declared, her crimson hair shimmered under the sun.
"For justice marches once more into the depths! Monsters beware... the Astraea Familia is on the move!"
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