"Good to see you doing better," Quincy said as Even stepped back into the tavern, her eyes briefly flicking up from the cup in her hands.
"Yeah," Even replied, stretching his shoulders with a low grunt. "Got the talk I needed, I think." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder toward Lia, who was already striding over to the bar—asking the bartender for a glass of milk, of all things.
"She's apparently really good at giving speeches that keep me going," he added with a half-smirk.
Quincy followed his gaze and let out a small chuckle. "Is that so?" she mused, then turned back to him with a sly grin. "Then it's a good thing you've got such a wise older sister looking after you. Or... what even is your relationship?"
Even shrugged lazily. "Honestly? No clue. She just kidnapped me and Dirk one day and raised us."
Quincy blinked, her expression flattening as she tried to tell if he was joking. "I see…" she muttered after a pause, clearly unsure what to say to that.
Trying to move past it, she smiled again and lifted her drink. "Well, would you like to share a drink?"
"Sure," Even said, giving a casual wave. "But you go ahead and grab us a spot—I've got something to talk about with the youngest person in the room first."
Quincy nodded and turned away to claim a table. Even made his way toward Xain, who had been watching him ever since he walked in.
The boy didn't say anything right away—just sat there with a careful, searching look.
"So…" Xain began softly, "how do you feel right now? You look like you're doing better."
Even huffed and folded his arms, staring up at him with a raised brow. "Congratulations, brat. You win. I'm not planning on killing my father anymore."
Xain's eyes widened. "Really?!" He caught himself and quickly lowered his voice. "You're serious? You're actually not?"
Even let out a breath through his nose. "Yeah, yeah, I am. But don't get too excited—this doesn't mean I'm not taking revenge. I will. I'm just not gonna kill him, that's all."
Xain nodded slowly, his expression softening. "I don't blame you for wanting that. Especially after what I heard between you and Matthew. But… I'm glad you're not going to do something so drastic."
Even rolled his eyes and turned away without answering, already heading toward Quincy's table. Xain watched him go, then quietly made his way over to another where Zee, Mae, and Drack were seated.
"You two looked like you had a pleasant conversation," Zee remarked, glancing up as he pulled out a chair.
"What was it about?" she asked with a curious look in her eyes.
Before he could answer, Mae chimed in with a dramatic sigh. "Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't half as entertaining as the little mage and the gunman over there. So why even talk about it?"
She leaned forward on the table with a grin, fixing Xain with a glint in her eyes. "Why don't we instead talk about the match between you and me tomorrow~?"
Xain immediately stiffened, his shoulders tightening as he looked away. "I… don't know what there is to talk about," he muttered.
Zee shot her twin a sharp glare. "Don't start scaring him again."
Mae just raised her hands in mock innocence, her grin never fading. "I'm not scaring him. I'm just making conversation."
Her grin widened as she added, sing-song, "It just happens to be about me beating him in the arena tomorrow~"
For once, Drack actually spoke. "I don't know, Miss Mae," he said, his voice calm as he glanced at her, then at Xain. "Maybe you shouldn't sound so sure of your victory."
Mae blinked at him, clearly caught off guard, as Drack went on, "After all, who knows what he's capable of? Especially after what he pulled in his last match."
Xain instantly flushed scarlet, stiffening even more as the memory surged back into his head.
Mae's momentarily confused look gave way to a slow, wicked smirk. "Hmm… you're right. Who knows what other perverted techniques he's been hiding~?"
"They're not perverted!" Xain snapped, voice pitching embarrassingly high. His face now matched the color of a ripe tomato.
Mae burst into laughter, nearly doubling over the table.
"This is going to be the hardest part for me," Zee sighed, resting her chin in one hand. "Who am I even supposed to support?"
Mae bumped shoulders with her playfully. "Your big sister, obviously. It just makes sense~"
Just then, Nori quietly approached from the side, clutching his notebook to his chest. Without a word, he held it up for Xain to read:
"I'm on your side, Xain."
Xain blinked, then gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Nerissa. You're so kind."
Nori nodded with an enthusiastic little hop, then turned and made a quiet, hasty retreat—slipping back over to sit with Clara and Elsa, because... well, why not?
Across the tavern, Quincy glanced at the cluster of voices and laughter with a smile tugging at her lips. She took a slow sip of her drink and leaned her elbows on the table.
"Tomorrow's going to feel like such a long day," she murmured, eyes drifting to Even across from her. "But I can't wait."
Even looked up from where he'd been staring at his hand, his eyes lingering on the mark that glowed faintly on the back of it. He clenched his fist slowly.
"I can't wait either," he said quietly.
Then, more firmly, "Because I'm definitely winning this tournament."