"Little brother, are you okay?"
Platina arrived coldly with frightening speed. She had no expression on her face, but she analyzed all the wounds as if they were the most important thing in the world, and then she seemed even more serious and terrifying.
"Taíra said you left, abandoning a safe place, so tell me why didn't you stay in the shop?"
"I-I wanted to show that I belong to the Solcren Ferreira family."
He normally didn't get nervous, but Platina's gaze made him shiver a little, though only a little. He still had to maintain his pose of being fine even if he wasn't, because he was a "prodigy." Valerio looked at him with a certain approval, even if it didn't seem so.
"You did well, everyone in the family must show they are strong."
Taíra shivered upon hearing this, even though it wasn't directed at her. She knew she hadn't managed to do anything. She felt a palm on her head—it was Enrico with a small smile. Lowering her head in embarrassment, that feeling disappeared.
'He's really changed a lot... There's no way he made a contract with a demon, he's too good to me...'
Coming closer to confirm something, Arvanys—now better—and Dorian behind her, his face somewhat surprised. It seemed Arvanys had already told him what had happened.
"Are you sure Kael left as soon as everything disappeared?"
"Yes, he apologized because it seems he saw something that could help in the search for his mother."
"That guy seems more obsessed with revenge than with fights... Either way, we'll find him in the future."
They were right, mainly because they would surely tell the guild master—whom they were interested in joining—about Kael, which would increase not only his interest but also that of other guilds in having him in their ranks, especially knowing that he had already reached circle three, at least in their eyes.
"Thank you for the warning, thank you very much for saving us, and sorry for having to use that to protect us."
Arvanys bowed to Enrico. Before those who had been in the battle could pass the information to the guards, he asked them to hide that he had sacrificed his circle, since he had told them himself and didn't want the problems that would come after. Saying goodbye, the two left with serious looks, especially because they now knew the real Raul was dead.
"See you later, Enrico, and I hope you don't take our fight too seriously. And Taíra, try not to mess up next time."
"Messed up? What did my little sister do?"
"S-sister, I-I..."
Watching Alenya leave and leaving Taíra in danger, he smiled, especially because he liked her a lot in the story. She always kept a smile even with her fate already decided.
'She pretends well that she doesn't want to die as the hero's sword... I'll break that façade and save you.'
Getting up, he noticed Lan had already left without saying goodbye, and he snorted, heading straight to where Kaela was, bandaged but smiling for having gained more power.
"You seem happy."
"Of course, thanks to the professor, I learned something new about myself for the first time in years."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I never knew much about my past, since I only remember things from when I was ten years old. After that, I just lived with my grandmother, who found me on the street until I got to Astrong."
Well, that was strange. Not remembering anything before the age of ten? She could have lost her memory, and maybe this was bigger than he originally thought. She was definitely a special case.
'Not having memories and having the interest of that creature... Both must be connected somehow.'
"Well then, I have to thank your grandmother for giving me such a good student."
"You—you mean yes, professor. I'll introduce you to her if you visit Floravita someday."
"I certainly will. I have to go back home, so we'll see each other at Astrong after the break. Train well, my student."
"Yes, professor."
She seemed very excited and couldn't stop moving while the healing mages tried to make her stay still so they could continue the healing, since she was the only one left. She had asked them to heal her friends and the civilians first after seeing they were still injured.
[She's a good girl... Please don't corrupt her.]
'Why do you say such cruel things to me? The system is so mean to me.'
"Enrico, let's go back to the mansion. Our parents will want to speak with you."
Hearing Platina's words, he nodded, starting to head back to the mansion, but stopped along the way, remembering something.
"Wait... where's the vase I bought?"
Enrico immediately went to the shop, searching in every corner and even helping the owner clean up that disaster. The owner was even moved.
'What a kind boy.'
'Where's my vase? It must be here, right?'
After tidying up the shop while his brother and sisters waited patiently, he didn't find anything. After receiving the shop owner's thanks, he went back to search the street.
"Enrico, I wanted to tell you earlier, but you were so focused I didn't want to interfere."
"You knew where my vase was, Platina?"
"Yes, and I saw it break when one of those hooded ones accidentally stepped on it."
Enrico's mind went blank, and deep down, his motivation to destroy the Circle of Shadows cult increased a thousandfold.
[I also have some news for you, Enrico.]
'WHAT?'
[...well, let's just say the beach arc ends in three days, and if you don't get there, it won't count as one of the Arcs for you to gain new pacts.]
That was bad, because he had already made a pact, and it would take time to get two pacts again. If he failed, it would take even longer. Calming himself, he turned to his family, smiling, which relieved them since he had calmed down.
"How long will it take to reach the main beach of Vesparello?"
"Well, I think about three days."
'I hate the system.'
[Looks like I managed to get under your skin.]
Looking up, he calmed himself and prepared to run. He would reach that place even if it was the last thing he did in his life.