The Divine Foresight Headquarters seemed to breathe calm.
At its heart, in his personal office, Jing Yuan stood by a tall window.
The sunset light bathed his white hair in gold, and though he still bore visible wounds, not a trace of his majestic presence had faded.
In front of him, the Astral Express crew stood waiting.
Welt Yang, impassive and focused.
March 7th, practically vibrating with barely contained energy.
Stelle, arms crossed, eyes shining with expectation.
Dan Heng, stoic as always.
And Aleph...
Seemed more interested in having a staring contest with Yanqing.
"I won't lose." They both thought.
In complete defiance of the solemnity of the situation.
Jing Yuan cleared his throat.
"On behalf of the Luofu... thank you."
His words were simple, but his voice carried the weight of sincere gratitude.
Fu Xuan, standing beside him, smiled with quiet satisfaction.
"In short." She added, crossing her arms with ease. "Thank you for all the help you've given."
"And you did it... for free." March 7th muttered under her breath, earning an elbow from Stelle.
Jing Yuan let out a short chuckle.
"Of course, I wouldn't expect you to leave empty-handed."
He pulled a small object from his pocket.
A jade abacus shaped like a roaring lion's silhouette.
He extended it to Welt, who accepted it on the group's behalf.
"This Jade Abacus is a symbol of our friendship." Jing Yuan explained.
"It's linked directly to another one I carry. If you ever find yourselves in a desperate situation… break it. No matter where you are in the Universe—I'll know you need us, and rest assured, the Luofu will answer."
He paused, his tone growing heavier.
"But remember, it can only be used once."
March 7th's eyes lit up.
"So it's like having your emergency number?!"
"More elegant, but yes." Jing Yuan replied with a smile.
...
Fu Xuan stepped forward, holding a small wooden case.
Inside rested Tingyun's fan.
"We don't know if Tingyun was corrupted... replaced... or if she never existed the way we knew her." She said with a furrowed brow.
"In any case, I believe you should be the ones to take this last memento of her to the Sky-Faring Commission."
Stelle received the case with both hands.
"We will." She murmured.
Jing Yuan nodded.
"And also..." He continued, shifting to a more relaxed tone. "I want you to know that for as long as you choose to remain on the Luofu, all your expenses will be covered."
March 7th and Aleph timidly raised their hands.
"Does that include restaurants?"
"Yes." Fu Xuan confirmed.
"And spas?"
"Yes."
"And...?"
"Yes, Aleph." Jing Yuan interrupted with a tired smile. "Everything reasonable."
"Yay~!"
Aleph and March 7th grabbed each other's hands, cheering and hopping excitedly. Stelle soon joined them. Dan Heng put a hand to his forehead in exasperation, while Welt let out a weary sigh.
...
When the time came to say goodbye, the group formed a small circle to discuss their next steps.
"I'm gonna ask Fu Xuan if we can use that formation thing…" March 7th said, thoughtful. "Remember? The one they used with Kafka. Maybe we can find out something about my past!"
"I want to visit the current Gran Maestre." Dan Heng said, turning to Aleph.
"Would you come with me later?"
Aleph shrugged.
"Sure. Sounds fun."
"What about you two?" Dan Heng asked, glancing at Stelle and March 7th.
Stelle hesitated for a second.
"I think I'll go with Welt first to deliver the fan."
"Correct." Welt confirmed. "We need to take Tingyun's fan to Lady Yukong."
The plan was sealed with a simple nod.
The group began to leave Jing Yuan's office.
That's when Stelle's phone buzzed.
[???: "Hey, Stelle. It's Kafka.
I've run into some trouble.
Blade is... out of commission. We haven't been able to leave the Luofu yet."]
Stelle frowned.
More lines appeared.
[???: "I tried contacting Caelus... but Silver Wolf says she couldn't even hack his phone. She took it as a personal challenge, by the way."]
[???: "Come to this address with him. Whether you decide to help me or not…
I'll be waiting there."]
Stelle pocketed the phone.
Her eyes searched for Aleph, who was still talking to March 7th, eyes gleaming with excitement about all the things they wanted to do while in the Luofu.
*****
Welt, March 7th, and Stelle handed Tingyun's fan to Yukong, who finally asked them to accompany her in a traditional foxian farewell ceremony.
Afterwards, following a brief goodbye, Stelle and Aleph broke off from the group, walking together in the direction indicated by the message.
Only their footsteps echoed against the ancient stones of the path.
Aleph walked with his hands in his pockets, his face showing a mix of boredom and disinterest.
Stelle, on the other hand, seemed cheerful—though every so often she'd sneak a glance at Aleph, as if making sure he wouldn't change his mind halfway through.
…
Eventually, they arrived.
A small, half-abandoned pavilion, surrounded by unlit paper lanterns.
And there, seated calmly on the edge of a stone bench, was Kafka.
Her hair stirred gently in the breeze.
When she saw them, she smiled.
"Well, well. Isn't this a surprise?" She murmured, standing up. "I thought you'd come alone, Stelle. I was certain he'd turn you down."
Her gaze slid to Aleph.
Though her lips barely moved, her eyes smiled even more.
"I didn't expect you to come as well… Caelus."
Aleph frowned.
But said nothing.
There was no point correcting her anymore—especially considering she wasn't technically wrong.
Kafka crossed her arms.
"I imagine the message was clear." She said. "I need your help."
Stelle nodded without hesitation.
"What do we need to do?"
Aleph opened his mouth to protest—he had only come to keep Stelle company. As for helping Kafka? He wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea… but then he saw her.
Stelle's expression… and those damned puppy eyes.
That silent plea that screamed "please." "do it for me." "don't be mean."
Ugh.
Aleph let out a long sigh, as if someone had just asked him to carry the entire Xianzhou Luofu on his back.
"…Fine." He grumbled, inwardly cursing March 7th for teaching Stelle that secret technique.
Kafka chuckled softly.
"Some things never change." She thought. And though her expression didn't shift, her gaze toward them both softened significantly. "Even now, Caelus… you still fold under that look."
Kafka slightly lowered her head—it was time to move on to more serious matters.
"Blade is… dealing with severe episodes of Mara."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy cloud.
"His mind is fracturing. His memories, his awareness… everything is slowly unraveling."
Aleph's frown deepened.
Stelle clenched her fists.
"I can stabilize him." Kafka continued.
"But during the process, I'll be completely vulnerable. And it must not be interrupted under any circumstance."
"Sounds simple enough." Aleph said, tilting his head. "You just want us to cover your back? What's in it for us if we do?"
Kafka smiled, as if she'd been waiting for that question.
"If you do, I'll offer you something in return… let's play a game."
Stelle blinked, and Aleph looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"A game?"
"Yes." Kafka smiled. "One I usually play with Silver Wolf. One truth, one lie."
"You'll each ask me two questions. I'll answer one truthfully and one with a lie. You can guess which is which… but I won't be obligated to tell you if you're right."
Aleph crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed.
Stelle was already nodding enthusiastically.
"We're in."
Aleph sighed.
"Guess I don't have a choice…"
Kafka nodded.
"Perfect. Then… get ready. Our first interruption has already arrived."
She discreetly pointed toward a side building.
The sound of heavy footsteps started to echo.
The Mara-possessed were approaching.
"I'm going to begin the procedure." Kafka said, slipping through an open window into another room. "You two… take care of our guests."
Without hesitation, Aleph growled and raised his arm.
A Zionga roared down the hallway, blasting two possessed figures into ash in a single strike.
Their bodies dropped lifelessly, vaporized before even touching the ground.
Meanwhile, Stelle climbed the stairs with agile steps.
Above, a Sanctus Medicus disciple was attempting to break into the space.
He didn't last long.
With a single swing of her bat, charged with her energy, she sent him flying into the nearest wall.
Letting out a satisfied grunt, Stelle descended the stairs again.
Aleph was already waiting below, casually leaning against the wall.
"Any trouble?"
Stelle smiled.
"None at all."
They looked at each other, and for a brief moment, both wondered what the rest of the night would bring.
....
Silence settled over the pavilion once more, broken only by the lingering hum of the Zionga Aleph had used earlier.
Aleph and Stelle waited, leaning against one of the columns, alert in case another enemy showed up.
They didn't have to wait long.
Kafka returned, walking calmly, as if she weren't in the middle of an exhausting job.
Her eyes scanned them briefly before she smiled.
"A little break won't hurt. I've currently isolated Blade's senses so he can't perceive anything beyond my voice and touch." She said, as if talking about a casual nap.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head, watching them with interest.
"So… shall we start our little game?"
Stelle nodded immediately.
Aleph sighed deeply, resigned.
"Decide who goes first." Kafka said, clearly amused.
They looked at each other.
Without a word, they raised their hands.
Rock, paper, scissors.
...
Aleph won—much to his own surprise.
Was that good luck… or bad?
With a pout, Stelle took a step back, crossing her arms and letting out a grumble Aleph secretly found adorable.
He stepped forward, his expression completely blank.
Kafka watched him, a spark of something hard to decipher flashing in her eyes.
Then she asked:
"Remember. You must answer one question with the truth, and one with a lie. What do you think of me?"
Stelle blinked, puzzled. Why would she ask Aleph that?
Aleph didn't even think long before answering.
"I hate you."
His voice was utterly flat.
Even Stelle was taken aback—she had never heard Aleph's voice sound like that, not even when he was furious. Never that cold.
The echo of those words seemed to hang in the air for far too long.
Kafka blinked, confused for a second before lowering her gaze. Silence lingered while she looked away. Stelle was surprised to see Kafka's hands tremble—just slightly.
She turned her face, as if the wind had shifted.
Then she smiled.
"How… direct." She murmured. Her tone hadn't changed, but Stelle couldn't help noticing it sounded a little dimmer than before.
Kafka turned and walked a few steps, brushing her hair back with one hand.
The atmosphere grew tense for a moment.
Stelle glanced sideways at Aleph, wondering why he was acting like that.
Still with her back turned, Kafka spoke again.
"Let's temporarily pause the game. We have… unwanted guests."
Her voice had changed, lighter now, as if the previous conversation hadn't happened at all.
Aleph just shrugged.
"Where?"
Kafka pointed lazily toward the back courtyard.
Aleph snorted.
"Be right back."
As Kafka returned to her position to keep focusing on Blade, Aleph strolled casually toward the rear entrance.
Two men stood there, armed and dressed in Nimbus Knights' uniforms. Their nervous expressions made it clear they weren't exactly top-tier.
"Halt!" One of them barked, raising his spear. "What are you doing here?"
"Have you seen the fugitive?" the second one asked, pulling a sketch of Kafka from his pocket. He handed it to Aleph and told his partner to check the area.
Aleph shrugged.
"Oh yeah, I saw her a moment ago." He pointed vaguely toward the nearest market. "She was robbing a noodle stall while yelling that all the food in the Luofu belonged to her now."
The Knights blinked.
One of them pointed directly behind Aleph.
"You do realize the fugitive is clearly visible right behind you?"
Aleph let out a sigh.
Without changing his expression, he moved.
A quick flash of motion.
THUD.
THUD.
Both Knights dropped to the ground, unconscious.
No blood.
No struggle.
Just two bodies slumped over, like they'd decided a spontaneous nap was the best life choice available.
Aleph nudged them to the side of the path with his foot and walked back to Stelle and Kafka like nothing had happened.
"All done."
Stelle greeted him with a thumbs-up.
Kafka, without moving from her spot, let out a soft chuckle.
"Ever so efficient, Caelus."
Aleph growled under his breath—but said nothing.
...
Kafka let out a soft sigh.
She stepped away from the window and turned toward Aleph and Stelle.
"It's time I get back to Blade." She murmured, brushing the dust off her clothes. "But before that…"
A mischievous smile curved her lips.
"We can continue our little game."
Aleph crossed his arms with a look of mild disinterest.
Kafka tilted her head, clearly amused.
"This time, it's my turn to ask."
Aleph sighed in resignation.
"Alright." He said, giving her a slight gesture to go ahead.
Kafka leaned against the windowsill. Her eyes met his.
And a chill ran down his spine as he saw himself reflected in them.
Aleph didn't know why, but looking Kafka in the eye gave him an unsettling feeling—and emotions he couldn't quite define.
"Why are you with the Stellaron Hunters?" He asked.
Kafka paused, adopting a thoughtful expression for a moment before answering, her head tilting slightly.
"Because Elio promised I'd get back something I lost long ago. Something that, in his words, would change me—and I would change it." Her tone was as smooth as silk. She kept unwavering eye contact as she spoke. "The rest… is history."
She turned from the window and looked at Stelle.
"Your turn." She said, extending a hand toward her.
Aleph quietly stepped away.
It wasn't his place to listen to whatever Stelle wanted to ask.
Besides, there were still a few stray Nimbus Knights wandering about.
.....
Aleph returned a few minutes later.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, he paused.
Stelle was staring at him in a rather strange way.
Her gaze was intense.
As if she were trying to uncover something hidden inside him.
Even when Aleph moved behind Kafka to avoid her eyes, he could still feel her looking at him.
It was… disconcerting.
Kafka, who had noticed the scene, let out a low chuckle.
"How cute." She murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
But her expression shifted to something more serious a moment later.
"Now then..." she said, looking Aleph straight in the eyes.
"The real test is coming."
Aleph's brow furrowed slightly.
Kafka snapped her fingers, as if marking the rhythm to an invisible song.
"The young lieutenant of the Cloud Knights should be on his way by now." Her tone was casual.
"Before he arrives, we can do one more round." She suggested.
And without waiting for confirmation, she threw her question at Aleph.
"Do you want to see me again?"
Stelle turned her head toward Aleph, curious.
Aleph paused for a moment to think, but the answer came easily.
"Yes."
…Despite everything, something deep inside told him he wanted to see her again.
Kafka blinked, genuinely surprised.
"I... I see." She replied, looking at him a bit more closely. Aleph noticed a slight blush on her cheeks, and even though her smile was more subtle this time, it felt far more genuine than any before.
"I have no more questions for you—for now." She murmured, looking away.
Then Stelle timidly raised her hand.
Kafka laughed.
"Of course, Stelle." She said, returning to her playful tone. "Your turn."
Once again, Aleph stepped back. Quietly, he asked himself a few things.
What did Kafka mean to Caelus?
And...
What does Kafka mean to him?
.....
When he returned, he was greeted by a rather peculiar scene.
Kafka looked genuinely surprised—if not outright shocked.
She was staring at Stelle with an expression of genuine confusion and bewilderment.
Stelle, meanwhile, had a bright red face and was avoiding looking at Aleph entirely.
And every time he tried to catch her gaze, she immediately looked away.
To the point where she even looked ready to smack him with her bat if he kept insisting.
Seriously… what the hell happened while he was gone?
*********
Kafka soon regained her composure and turned to Aleph with a calmer expression.
"It's time for your final question."
Aleph thought for a few seconds.
He could ask something serious.
Something he was genuinely curious about.
"Who's the most beautiful member of the Stellaron Hunters?"
Kafka's smile froze for a moment.
Stelle blinked, confused—though her gaze quickly turned ice-cold.
Kafka looked at him with a raised eyebrow, seemingly curious, a little puzzled, and... was that a hint of irritation?
No, no. Why would Kafka feel irritated about that?
Aleph shook his head, convinced he was just imagining things.
"That's your question?"
Aleph nodded solemnly, as if asking a life-or-death question. He was quite sure of himself—people could call him a hypocrite all they wanted for teasing Flynn about his tastes...
But honestly, who could say no to a sexy criminal? Not even Batman could—and he's Batman.
Kafka let out a soft chuckle and, resting a finger on her chin thoughtfully, replied.
"Silver Wolf."
Aleph calmly pulled a crumpled little notebook from one of his pockets and, with a pen, jotted something down very seriously.
Kafka and Stelle watched him silently.
Finally, Kafka asked,
"May I ask… what exactly do you need that information for?"
Aleph finished writing, closed the notebook, and tucked it back into his jacket. His expression remained neutral, as did his tone, while he faced Kafka's curious gaze and Stelle's cold stare head-on.
"Secret."
Both women looked at him with a mix of irritation and exasperation.
Unfortunately, they didn't get the chance to press him further.
CLACK.
The heavy door below burst open.
And a small figure dressed in blue entered the room.
Yanqing.
His sword sheathed at his side, his steps firm, and his expression hardened.
His gaze first landed on Blade, unconscious in a chair.
Then on Kafka.
"The General granted you mercy, and this is how you repay it. Now he can't say I was wrong to bring you before him."
He finally seemed to notice Aleph and Stelle.
His brow furrowed so tightly it looked like his face might crack.
"So this is where you were." His voice was as sharp as his sword.
Kafka raised a hand to her cheek in feigned surprise.
"How cruel of you, Lieutenant."
Yanqing ignored her and fixed his accusatory glare on Aleph and Stelle.
"What are you two doing here with the fugitive?"
Kafka smiled mischievously.
"They're under my control."
Yanqing gritted his teeth and stared at Aleph... Yep, definitely under control. Otherwise, how would an idiot like him be wearing an expression other than that stupid grin he had while carrying the General like a princess?
Impossible. Someone like that could never look so serious and neutral. He'd rather believe the General secretly moonlighted as a donut-loving vandal who frequented that... d-district called the "red-light district."
"I knew that idiot couldn't be that serious!"
"Witch…" Yanqing spat, pointing at Kafka.
He unsheathed his sword and lunged like lightning. Six swords rose around him.
Stelle stepped forward, ready to act.
But Aleph raised a hand.
"No need."
With a simple snap of his fingers, he focused his magic.
A burst of Zionga shot from his palm—faster than Yanqing could react.
Electricity engulfed the young knight. Aleph had used just enough power to paralyze him instantly without causing harm.
Yanqing dropped to his knees, muscles trembling uncontrollably. His gaze locked on Aleph's expressionless face, teeth clenched.
Stelle swallowed hard as she watched them.
The scene before her stirred memories of those comics March 7th kept hidden under her bed—the ones with two boys hugging on the cover and a big red 18+ sticker.
Aleph calmly walked forward.
He extended his hand and conjured a sheet of ice beneath Yanqing's feet that quickly rose and wrapped around his legs and arms.
Yanqing growled, struggling to break free.
"You!" He shouted. "Don't think you'll escape my vengeance once I get out of this!"
Kafka approached, her heels clicking against the floor.
She smiled, almost sweetly, and gently touched the boy's forehead with two fingers.
"Listen to me: Forget everything. None of this happened. It was just a dream. Sleep now."
A faint glow enveloped Yanqing's head.
His body relaxed instantly, his eyes closed, and his breathing steadied.
Kafka turned to Aleph and Stelle, satisfied.
"Problem solved. Though, was the roughness really necessary?"
Aleph shrugged.
"Heat of the moment."
Stelle smiled slightly.
"I thought it was pretty good. Just what you'd expect from the henchman of the Galactic Bat."
Kafka sighed.
"No appreciation for the arts."
And just like that, as if nothing had happened, she returned to Blade, preparing to finish the treatment she'd left pending.
Meanwhile, Aleph cast one last glance at the now-sleeping, frozen Yanqing on the floor.
He exchanged a look with Stelle as she pulled a marker out of her pocket.
"Why do you even carry that?"
"Ever since that time March 7th fainted and I had nothing on me to turn her face into my canvas… I swore I'd never leave the Express without one in my pocket again."
....
The calm returned.
Kafka finished her work in silence.
Blade, still drowsy, slowly opened his eyes.
He blinked a few times, as if trying to remember where he was—or who he was.
His pupils gleamed with an odd hue, but unlike before, his expression was now much calmer.
He sat up slowly, his messy hair falling over his face.
Kafka smiled softly.
"Welcome back."
Blade didn't answer.
He simply stood up, wobbling a little, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
Kafka stepped outside. Once outside, she turned toward Aleph.
For a moment, she seemed to hesitate—but quickly brushed it aside before wrapping her arms around Aleph and resting her head on his chest. That was enough for her. Just to hear a heartbeat in that chest.
Just to know he was still there.
...
Aleph's body tensed on instinct.
But Kafka didn't give him the chance to pull away as she hugged him tightly.
Aleph felt genuinely strange—his hands moved on their own as he returned the hug.
Unaware that Kafka had slipped something into his pocket.
*Sniff
Aleph blinked in confusion when he felt as if Kafka were smelling his chest. Before he could say anything, Stelle joined the hug, turning it into a group embrace.
Kafka let out a low chuckle and affectionately patted Stelle's head with one hand.
"Thank you." She murmured softly, her voice so sincere it caught both of them off guard.
Finally, when she saw Blade approaching, dragging his feet, she released them both.
…....
Blade stopped a few meters away, his gaze distant.
Kafka crossed her arms with a mischievous smile.
"You can go now. The Mara's been contained. Though you should avoid pushing yourself too hard—or being around people who stir up strong emotions. You might relapse."
Blade didn't answer right away. In the end, he just nodded.
Kafka turned to look at Aleph and Stelle.
"I hope our paths cross again." She said, walking away calmly.
Blade looked at Aleph and Stelle.
"I remember you two…" He said in a raspy voice. "I remember you were always following Kafka."
Aleph tilted his head, curious.
Stelle blinked, puzzled.
Blade closed his eyes for a moment, as if digging through his memories.
"I've never seen anyone follow her for so long—or with such stubbornness—as you two." His voice was barely a whisper.
"…And live to tell the tale."
A slight shiver ran down his spine.
Blade opened his eyes again and let out a breath.
"Every Stellaron Hunter follows Elio for their own reason—whether it's a promise, a wish… or an ambition impossible to achieve by normal means."
His gaze grew sharper.
"If Kafka chose to follow him too… then her wish must be something extraordinary. Something no ordinary price could ever pay."
He turned his back to them.
"Chances are, she had to do a lot—too much—to keep you two alive."
Blade walked away after saying all he needed to say.
His figure disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, walking without looking back toward whatever came next.
Aleph stood watching the spot where Blade vanished.
Until he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
Stelle had taken his hand and began pulling him in a certain direction.
"March 7th's been complaining that dinner isn't ready." She said with a serious expression. "She says even Dan Heng and Pom-Pom are starting to look particularly tasty."
Aleph let out a soft laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
"Then…" He looked up at the ceiling as if pleading for patience from the heavens. "I guess we better hurry and save Dan Heng and Pom-Pom before March eats them."
The two began walking back together.
Aleph's steps were relaxed.
But in his mind, he was already plotting revenge against the one who taught Stelle the forbidden technique of… Puppy Eyes.
[Master, are you seriously planning to use the ultra-lethal spice in March 7th's food?]
Burroughs' voice echoed in his head, sounding quite doubtful of his next actions.
"Yes."
Aleph thought, without a shred of remorse.
[…In that case, I'll record the moment. It might be useful later—like in a situation where we need to blackmail March 7th using her ridiculous reaction as a weapon.]
Aleph couldn't help but laugh a little wickedly, much to Stelle's confusion.