The smell of buttered bred, coffee, and grilled meat hit me the moment I stepped into the hotel restaurant with Hinesia, both of us wearing casual outfits.
The whole place screamed money with golden chandeliers hanging from marble ceilings, polished floors reflecting the sunlight and waiters gliding between tables like ghosts in perfect suits. The chatter was low and refined, like people were trying not to disturb the air itself.
Thales, Xaessia, and Verdamona sat near the corner window. Thales looked like he'd already conquered breakfast. On his plate, half a plate of eggs, toast and bacon were gone. Xaessia on the other hand, was picking apart a stack of pancakes with the focus of a surgeon. Verdamona just sat there quietly, sipping orange juice. They had a whole spread of bowls of fruit, fresh pastries, sausages, even salmon. It looked more like a royal banquet than breakfast. Thales spotted us first and grinned.
"Took you two long enough. I was about to start eating your share."
I rolled my eyes and sat down beside him while Hinesia slid gracefully into the seat across from me.
"If you wanted a reason to eat more, you could've just said so," I said, grabbing one of the sausages from a platter.
Thales laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Fair enough."
I cut straight to business between bites.
"Anyway, my subordinates reached the Alps yesterday. They're setting up surveillance around the ruins. Apparently, there are already some Fluxers in the area waiting for the third clue to appear."
Hinesia quietly buttered her croissant while Xaessia looked up from her pancakes.
"Wait, already? How do they even know about it? I thought we kept this whole thing under wraps."
"Exactly my question, Thales."
Hinesia exchanged a quick look with me. We both knew exactly how they knew. They're Outers like us. They weren't originally from this world but knew it through Masquerade of Dreams Shattered. But obviously, we couldn't say that. So Hinesia, ever the smooth talker, just smiled lightly.
"They have connections that reach further than we expected."
Thales gave her a half-amused, half-suspicious look. "Connections, huh? They are full of surprises, Lady Rameses. And so are you."
She tilted her head, perfectly composed. "I prefer being seen as an opportunist."
Xaessia snorted. "That line's going in my quote book."
I smirked. "Add it right under 'don't mess with someone who eats like a queen.'"
"Shut up," she said through a mouthful of pancake.
Thales took a sip of his coffee, then leaned forward slightly.
"So, tell me something, Lady Rameses. Why are you here, exactly? You know the Azure Sword is my family's heirloom. I'm the one meant to claim it. What's your angle?"
Hinesia set her knife and fork down gently, looking him straight in the eye.
"Because every Primal Synsiline Treasure isn't just sitting alone waiting to be found. They're located in clusters where other treasures lie buried together. The Azure Sword might be your goal, but something else is hidden alongside it. And that's what I'm after."
Thales raised an eyebrow. "You're saying there's more than one ancient relic?"
"Exactly. Each Synsiline location was built as a convergence point. Multiple relics. It's how the Fluve Guardians preserved balance, so one House wouldn't dominate with just a single find."
Verdamona finally spoke up, her tone light but curious. "So basically, it's a treasure chest with a surprise inside."
"Pretty much," Hinesia said with a nod. Then she leaned her chin on her palm, giving Verdamona a teasing smile. "What about you, Miss Verdamona? Why are you helping out?"
Verdamona stirred her juice with a straw, her golden eyes half-lidded.
"I'm just bored. And honestly, you people attract chaos like a beacon. Might as well see what happens next."
Typical Verdamona answer. Hinesia turned to Xaessia next.
"And you?"
Xaessia shrugged, still chewing. "I didn't know what to do this summer. This seemed more interesting than rotting in the estate."
I snorted. "Yeah, nothing says summer vacation like possibly fighting an army of Fluxers for some glowing ancient artifacts."
She pointed her fork at me. "See? You get it."
I leaned back in my chair, grabbing a piece of toast as I spoke.
"Alright, so here's the plan."
Everyone turned their attention toward me. Even Verdamona paused her slow sipping.
"The second clue's hidden in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It will open at midnight. The third clue, the one in the Alps, unlocks at six in the morning. The timing is tight, but manageable."
I tapped my spoon lightly against my cup.
"So, here's how we're splitting up. Xaessia, Hinesia, and Verdamona, you three will handle the Alps. There are more people waiting there than in Pisa, which means it's the harder task. You'll need numbers and distraction."
Xaessia raised an eyebrow. "And what about you two?"
"Thales and I will head to the Tower. We'll get the second clue quietly. Once both clues are secured, we'll regroup."
Thales leaned forward. "Where?"
Before answering, I pulled out my phone. "You'll see."
I sent them a message on their devices. Moments later, all three of their phones lit up simultaneously. A map flashed with coordinates somewhere on the outskirts of Rome. It was an abandoned observatory in the hills. Verdamona glanced at her screen and smiled faintly.
"Secluded, hidden, and with a great view. You've done your homework."
"Always," I said, sipping my coffee.
Hinesia crossed her arms. "There's another reason we can't meet here after getting the pieces."
Thales looked at her questioningly. "Which is?"
"The pieces themselves emit a strong Xana signature. Hotel security would see it as a potential threat. The entire building's lined with detection ward. One spike of Xana, and they'll have guards and inspectors crawling through the halls in minutes. The last thing we need is explaining why four high-profile House members are fusing ancient artifacts in a luxury suite."
Verdamona chuckled. "Fair point. The scandal alone would break headlines."
Xaessia tapped her nails on the table. "Still, why this specific line-up? You and Thales get the easy one, and we get to deal with a horde of Fluxers in the Alps?"
Before I could answer, Hinesia spoke first.
"Because it makes sense strategically. The Alps are open terrain with lots of room to maneuver and no civilians. That means you three can fight freely if things go south. As for the Tower of Pisa, it's too public, crowded, heavily guarded and full of tourists. We can't risk drawing attention there."
Thales nodded in agreement. "And if all five of us show up in one spot, that's basically a red flag for the Senate. Four representatives from three major Houses moving together? They would assume we're plotting something."
Xaessia sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But if I end up freezing my ass off in the Alps while you two play tourists in Italy, I'm charging you double."
I grinned. "You literally can't get cold. So for now, just relax and prepare yourself. You girls aren't getting any sleep, remember that. So have some rest while you can."