"Little brother, are you okay?"
Platinum approached with frightening speed, maintaining her usual cold expression. Her eyes carefully examined every wound on Enrico's body, as if checking his condition were the most important thing in the world at that moment. After making sure he was still conscious and able to stand, her expression seemed to grow even more serious, making her presence particularly intimidating.
"Taíra told me you left, abandoning a safe place. So tell me: why didn't you stay at the store?"
"I-I wanted to show that I'm part of the Solcren Ferreira family."
Enrico normally didn't get nervous around other people, but Platinum's gaze managed to make him tremble a little. Only a little, of course. He still needed to maintain the appearance that everything was fine, even when his body could barely support its own weight. After all, in his family's eyes, he was a prodigy, someone from whom they expected great things.
Valerio, who had been following the conversation, observed his younger brother with a certain degree of approval.
"You did well. All members of the family must demonstrate that they are strong."
Taíra shuddered upon hearing those words, even though she knew they hadn't been directed at her. During the incident, she had been unable to do practically anything to help, and the memory still bothered her. Before she could lose herself in those thoughts again, she felt a hand resting on her head.
It was Enrico, who offered her a small smile.
Taíra lowered her head, embarrassed, but that simple gesture was enough to ease some of the unpleasant feelings consuming her.
'He really has changed a lot... There's no way he made a contract with a demon. He's too kind to me...'
Enrico didn't comment on anything, merely keeping his hand on his sister's head for a few more moments before moving away.
At that moment, other people approached. Arvanys, who had already received initial treatment, was walking more easily, while Dorian followed close behind, still wearing an expression of surprise. Apparently, Arvanys had already told him part of what had happened during the battle.
Arvanys took the opportunity to clarify a question she still had, since Enrico had been the closest person to Kael when he disappeared.
"Are you sure Kael left as soon as everything disappeared?"
"Yes. He apologized before leaving because it seems he saw something that could help him search for his mother."
Arvanys reflected on the answer for a few moments. From what she had observed, Kael seemed to be someone deeply obsessed with his goals, but not necessarily with fighting itself. His search for his mother seemed to be far more important than any battle, and that explained why he had disappeared so suddenly.
'That guy seems to be more obsessed with revenge than with fighting... Anyway, we'll meet again in the future.'
In fact, Arvanys was certain they would meet again. Aside from her own expectations, there was the possibility that the mercenaries would tell the person in charge of the guild they were interested in joining about Kael. After all, everyone had witnessed his abilities during the battle, and in their eyes, he had already reached the Third Circle. Such information would certainly attract the interest of other guilds, which might try to recruit him.
Arvanys stepped a little closer and bowed before Enrico.
"Thank you for the warning. Thank you very much for saving us, and I'm sorry you had to use that to protect us."
Before the battle's survivors shared their information with the guards, Enrico had asked them to conceal the fact that he had sacrificed his circles. He had explained to them that he didn't want to deal with the problems that revelation might cause in the future. Both understood his reasons and agreed to keep it a secret.
After saying their goodbyes, Arvanys and Dorian began to leave. Their expressions remained serious, mainly because they had discovered that the real Raul was dead. That information significantly changed how they viewed recent events, and it was clear they would still need to discuss everything that had happened.
The fifth-ranked student of Astrong Academy was also about to leave, but before departing, Alenya turned toward Enrico.
"See you later, Enrico. And I hope you don't take our fight too seriously."
Enrico pretended not to understand the provocation, looking at Alenya with an innocent expression. She merely shook her head and then turned her gaze toward Taíra.
"And you, Taíra, try not to do anything stupid next time."
"S-Stupid? What did my little sister do?"
Platinum looked at her and then at Taíra, who turned her gaze to the left. The girl seemed to grow even more embarrassed as time passed and her sister continued looking at her.
"S-Sister, I-I..."
Alenya didn't stay to hear the answer. She simply waved and continued walking, leaving Taíra in a rather uncomfortable situation.
Enrico watched the scene with a small smile. He liked that girl quite a lot, especially because of the way she had been portrayed in the original story. Even in the face of a cruel fate that seemed to have already been decided, she always kept a smile on her face.
'She does a very good job pretending she doesn't want to die as the hero's sword... I'll break through that facade and save you.'
After Alenya left, Enrico noticed that Lan had also gone away without even saying goodbye. He let out a small snort but didn't bother looking for him. Instead, he turned his attention back to Kaela, who was sitting while the healing mages finished bandaging her wounds.
Despite her weakened condition, she was smiling as though she had just received wonderful news.
"You look happy."
"Of course! Thanks to you, Professor, I discovered something new about myself for the first time in years!"
The girl's excitement was obvious. She couldn't stop moving, forcing the healers to repeatedly ask her to stay still so they could finish the treatment. Kaela, however, seemed so thrilled that she could barely remain in place.
Enrico raised an eyebrow, interested in those words.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've never known much about my past. I can only remember things from when I was ten years old onward. After that, I lived with my grandmother, who found me on the street, until I came to Astrong."
Enrico remained silent for a few moments, reflecting on that information. Kaela couldn't remember anything from before the age of ten and had been found on the street by her own grandmother. It was possible that she had lost her memory, but he couldn't say that was the only explanation. Considering the recent events, the situation might be far more complicated than he had initially imagined.
'Having no memories and attracting that creature's interest... Those two things must be connected somehow.'
He needed to discover more about the girl's past, although he knew it wouldn't be wise to pressure her at that moment. After all, she herself seemed to know very little about the subject.
"Well, then I'll have to thank your grandmother for giving me such a good student."
"You... Y-You mean, yes, Professor! I'll introduce you to her if you ever visit Floravita!"
Kaela answered with such excitement that she almost stood up again, but one of the healers immediately stopped her, reminding her that they still needed to finish her treatment. Enrico couldn't help smiling a little at her reaction.
"I certainly will. I have to return home, so we'll see each other at Astrong after the holidays. Until then, train hard, my student."
"Yes, Professor!"
Kaela looked as though she were about to burst with happiness. Even while injured, she continued smiling and could barely contain her excitement. Enrico found that reaction quite interesting, but he didn't have time to think much about it before hearing the system's voice in his mind.
[She's a good girl... Please don't corrupt her.]
'Why do you say such mean things to me? The system is so cruel to me.'
Enrico sighed mentally, having long since grown accustomed to the system's inconvenient comments. Before he could continue complaining, Platinum approached again.
"Enrico, let's return to the mansion. Our parents will want to talk to you."
He nodded and began walking with his siblings toward the Solcren Ferreira family mansion. However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, as if he had just remembered something extremely important.
"Wait... Where's the vase I bought?"
Enrico's eyes widened, and he immediately turned around, looking toward the store where he had purchased the object. Without wasting any time, he returned there, searching every corner for the vase. He even helped the owner clean up the mess left inside the establishment, collecting the debris and organizing the objects that could still be salvaged.
The merchant was deeply moved to see the boy, who could barely remain standing after such a dangerous battle, helping him tidy up the store.
'What a kind boy.'
Meanwhile, Enrico continued searching, unable to find what he wanted.
'Where's my vase? It must be somewhere around here, right?'
He checked the corners of the store, moved some objects aside, and even searched among the debris. Platinum, Valerio, and Taíra waited patiently outside, watching him search without understanding why that object was so important to him.
After some time, Enrico finally gave up. After receiving the merchant's thanks, he left the store and resumed searching along the street, still hoping to find the vase somewhere.
Platinum, who had been watching her brother for some time, decided to speak.
"Enrico, I wanted to tell you earlier, but you were so focused on searching that I didn't want to interfere."
He immediately turned around, feeling a spark of hope.
"You knew where my vase was, Platinum?"
"Yes. I saw one of those hooded men accidentally step on it and break it."
Enrico's mind went completely blank.
For a few seconds, he remained motionless, trying to process those words. Then, deep within his consciousness, something awakened: a motivation to destroy the Shadow Circle Cult that had just increased a thousandfold.
The vase had been destroyed.
His vase.
The one he had bought with such care.
[I also have some news for you, Enrico.]
'WHAT?!'
The system paused briefly before answering, as if deliberately choosing the worst possible moment to speak.
[... Well, we can say that the beach arc will end in three days. If you don't get there in time, it won't count as one of your arcs for obtaining new pacts.]
Enrico felt as though his soul were about to leave his body.
That was bad. Very bad.
He had already made a pact that would make him take longer to regain the ability to obtain the two pacts again. If he missed the opportunity in that arc, he would have to wait even longer, delaying his plans and compromising part of his evolution.
He needed to reach the beach, and he needed to do it within three days.
Enrico took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before turning toward the family members accompanying him. His expression changed so quickly that the others were relieved to see he had regained his composure.
"How long would it take to reach Vesparello's main beach?"
Valerio thought for a few moments before answering.
"Well, I think about three days by carriage."
Enrico fell silent.
Three days. Exactly how much time he had.
'I hate the system.'
[It seems I managed to get on your nerves.]
Enrico raised his eyes to the sky and took a deep breath, forcing himself to put his irritation aside. He couldn't waste time complaining, much less stand around lamenting the destroyed vase. He still had an opportunity to reach the beach within the deadline, and he would do everything in his power to make it happen.
He straightened his posture, ignoring the pain coursing through his body, and prepared to leave.
He would reach that place, even if it was the last thing he did in his life.