A week had passed since the duel between Mira and Marius, the light of the sun dulled by the clouds, seeping through the windows of the guest wing of House Ardent, which felt like more of a padded prison than a courtesy. Caelus lay sprawled across a settee in the room that he shared with Elise, one leg dangling off the edge like a banner of surrender. A book, titled 'The Records of Gaia', flopped across his chest, with no intention of reading it soon.
He exhaled—long, theatrical, hopeless.
"Nothing."
It was the tenth time he had said that today.
Elise, seated cross-legged on her bed, closed her notebook and offered him the softened patience of someone who'd already anticipated his spiralling.
"We'll find something."
"We've been saying that all week!" he exhaled
"You don't have to pace about it." she muttered
"I wasn't pacing."
"You were, until you fell on the couch like an arrow pierced you."
The door slammed open.
"Get up." Mira strode in, dressed in formal clothes befitting a businesswoman, a gust of outside air riding behind her like a triumphant parade. "We're going. Now."
Caelus shot upright. "Did you find something? Also why are you dressed like that?"
"No," Mira said, already rummaging through the drawers for a hair-tie, "but we aren't finding anything by rotting indoors. And I felt like changing things up! Come on, the city'll be packed by now."
Elise smiled at the sudden burst of momentum. "Finally!"
As they strode through, the city's centre bustled with life—market tents stitched together like a bright quilt, the scents of roasting meats and baking foods mingling with perfumes and the faint bite of salt from the river. Musicians hammered out sharp, metallic rhythms on brass instruments, and vendors yelled over one another with the polished aggression of seasoned professionals.
Caelus forgot how to be annoyed.
He tasted a crepe after Mira introduced him to it—surprisingly, he never had one before, while being as well travelled as he is. The quality of the accompanying fruit and how it amplified the light texture of the crepe made a lasting impact. Elise tried a fried pastry that almost combusted under the weight of its own spices, taking notes for possible new entries to her patisserie's selection. They wandered, observed, drifted and enjoyed—tourists without admitting it.
Their antics fuelled them for about two hours, with them now resting in silence near a well populated park, the most popular one according to Mira.
"We're getting nowhere..." Caelus finally spoke
Elise nodded, her mouth still full with food she continued to buy. Mira's gaze lingered around the residential area just next to the park, almost as if she was sniffing out something.
"There." she spoke out, shooting her hand toward a relatively discrete path by the buildings
A familiar face had showed itself. The man that first offered them some information on their missing ally now seemed to be placed near them, trying to look inconspicuous while looking extremely conspicuous, almost like an act of divine intervention to their troubles.
As they approached him, a swift look of fear filled his face as he tensed up, starting to turn away from the three in preparation to escape before a firm hand placed itself on his shoulder.
"Hey—hey, easy, alright? You can't just run up on me like that! Especially with him!" the man pointed at Caelus like someone accusing a thunderstorm. "You didn't tell me he was Star Child!"
"You didn't ask." Mira said flatly
"W-what do you even want from me?!"
"Info." Caelus spoke out, "You know something about our missing friend and we've been busting our asses looking for that kind of info."
"We're not leaving until we get it." Elise followed up calmly
"Alright. Fine." the man groaned, "I'll tell you, but not here. We almost got arrested the last time. Come with me."
They followed him through the path, moving into a network of back alleys where the sunlight and glow of Lumestone thinned into ribbons. The noise of the market faded into a low, distant hum. Lumestone lanterns hung from strings like dim stars, guiding them deeper.
"I'm Barry, by the way." he said after 5 minutes of tense walking, "You could say I'm a... freedom-worker."
"Freedom-worker?" Caelus raised a brow
"He's a rebel." Mira answered flatly
"That's if you use the government's language," Barry swiftly muttered in defense, "it could sound better."
They finally arrived at an ornate restaurant placed behind two decrepit buildings, adorned with a sign that read 'Bistro Casanova', its lacquered doors and carved pillars absurdly luxurious in contrast to its surroundings.
"Why are we here..." Mira muttered
"Don't worry too much." Barry replied quietly, "Oh, and don't stare too much, the boss hates that."
Caelus and Elise glanced at each other upon mention of this boss, but chose to ignore it and carry along.
Upon entering the restaurant, a soft yet vibrant song can be heard from across the building. Many people, from a seemingly wide range of backgrounds, could be seen eating, reading, dancing and more. The staff didn't shift around or turn their gaze as Barry led them to what looked to be a private lounge. Waiting there—lounging across a velvet chair with the confidence of someone who owned the very essence of confidence—was a young man with soft curls and eyes like polished amber.
"I'm really glad to see you again, Miss Mirabelle Ardent." the man speaks out, turning to face them
"Dorian?!" Mira says with slight shock
"I'm happy you still recognise me."
Caelus and Elise stare ahead in confusion.
"Ahem! Allow me to introduce you to Dorian Casanova!" Barry says
"Exactly how do you know him, Mira?" Elise asks sheepishly
"When I was around twelve, I stopped his father's men from smuggling some weapons through the northern checkpoint. The Casanova family have been a consistent organised crime cell for the last three or so generations..." Mira answered
"Well I had to meet the girl responsible for destroying such precious cargo! I wouldn't have expected you to be a woman such as yourself, though." Dorian replies, barely masking his glee
"You have a mafia here?!" Caelus asks
"That's besides the point" Mira answers dismissively
Dorian leans back to stretch.
"My old man's retired, so I'm the head of the family now. And Barry here," he continues, patting Barry on the back, "is one of my associates. He and his people need some help with challenging the Ardenette rule!"
"Ardenette?" Elise murmurs
"A petty insult." Mira answers under her breath, "Locals use it to insult the government."
"Alright, look!" Caelus cuts in, "We're looking for the Celestial Blade here. Barry says you know something."
"Well, all I know is that the knight is a man," Dorian answers, "one held in the Isole—Ardentia's most fortified dungeon. I don't know if there is much hope for your friend."
Caelus exhaled in relief. He had finally received a direction.
"That means it's either Dante or Aldrin." he mutters, "Thank you. That's more than we had."
He turns toward the door, already walking. Elise lingered, watching Mira approach Dorian and Barry.
"Look I know that you two hate the government," Mira says quietly, "but as a noble, I must as you to hold out hope."
"The government is letting its citizens starve..." Barry answered, "They care more about upkeeping tradition than improving the state of the nation! The royals would be a better option at this point!"
"Well, Mira," Dorian pitches in, "you do have a point. But, wouldn't you want to see your house prosper like they used to?"
"That's not important..."
"Oh, well then," he sighs, "just let me know if you still want to carry out that arrangement we discussed years ago."
"Shut up! I'm leaving!" she replies, with an inexplicable blush creeping up her face as she turns to leave the room
"It was nice seeing you again, Mira." he says with a smirk on his face
Elise steps out the door, choosing not to probe further despite her great curiosity.
Twilight washed Ardent in muted gold as they stood on a distant ridge overlooking the spiked silhouette of the Isole. The fortress stood next to the noble residential area of the city, its walls and spires standing tall. Clouds gathered overhead, as though even the sky wanted distance from what lay within.
"That place looks insane..." Elise utters quietly, perched atop a rooftop
"They have a shit-ton of magic circles and traps set up." Caelus observes
"You can see that from here?!" Mira asks, actually seeming shocked at Caelus for once, "Your mana sensitivity is off the charts."
"We can find the cracks in this 'impossible' fortress." Caelus continues, feeling something ignite in his chest
The hunt has finally begun.