Tonight's dinner was a bit livelier than usual.
Ray gently swirled the Heart's Quench in his glass. A soothing melody flowed through the restaurant, likely played on some traditional Septimont instrument.
He couldn't name it, only felt that the graceful tune seeped into his soul bit by bit, slowly dissolving the tension left from the earlier arena clash and the encounter with the Fractsidus.
On either side of him, Lupa and Luno were locked in a spirited debate about what to eat for dinner not really an argument, more like an endless culinary debate.
Lupa leaned toward traditional flavors and could handle some bold, heavy dishes.
Luno, on the other hand?
She was all about light, pure flavors. Even seasonings just a tiny dip, if any.
And Ray? He'd never been picky. Salty, spicy, whatever he was good with it.
Right now, he just sat there with half-closed eyes, letting the sound of their banter blend with the music. A night this full of life and warmth was something rare.
"So why don't you both just order what you like?"
Across from him, Carlotta propped her chin on one hand, her tone carrying a note of resignation.
The resignation wasn't entirely due to the food debate happening in front of her.
It was more because...
'Why do Lupa and Luno get to sit so naturally on either side of Cat's Eye?
That spot next to him should obviously be mine, no matter how you look at it.'
A pang of grievance crept into her heart.
But as the young lady of the Montelli family, the elegance and restraint carved into her very bones wouldn't allow her to voice such thoughts.
'Anyway, the person Cat's Eye cares about most in his heart is me.
There's plenty of time ahead. Letting them have their way today isn't such a big deal.'
So Carlotta could only deceive hersel- no, console herself this way.
"Good point. Let's just each order what we like." Lupa handed the menu to Luno, then glanced at Ray. Seeming to notice the hint of worry in his eyes, she asked, "Ray, you seem a little... distracted. Are you feeling unwell?"
Hearing her voice, Ray blinked, then smiled lightly and shook his head. "It's nothing. I'm just thinking about something."
"Something?" Carlotta leaned in too. "What?"
Ray thought for a moment before replying. "Back when the Governor and I were pulled into that domain by someone from the Fractsidus, that man named Scar said a lot of strange things to me. It's been bothering me."
"Strange things?" Lupa speculated based on her gladiator instincts. "Maybe he was trying to distract you? There are people like that in the arena talk nonsense to throw you off, then attack when your guard is down."
"He seemed crazy, sure, but his tone... it didn't feel like that." Ray tried to recall the scene. "It felt more like... he actually knew me."
"And that's not even the main point. The main point is he told me I'm not dealing with a Fractsidus Overseer for the first time. Long before him, someone from the Fractsidus had already crossed paths with me... and we were even quite close."
At these words, both Luno and Carlotta's expressions shifted to something more complicated.
"So you're saying... there's someone from the Fractsidus hiding among your friends?" Luno lowered her voice instinctively, a subtle wariness creeping into her tone. "Any guesses who?"
Ray spread his hands helplessly. "How would I know? I've got a decent circle. Plenty of people come and go."
Lupa chewed lightly on her straw, thinking. "Then... maybe it's someone you see often? Like a coworker?"
"A coworker?" Ray laughed. "I get along fine with all my coworkers. It can't be Zani, right?"
An image of that always-overworked office drone flashed through his mind either at work or on the way to work.
If she had to squeeze in time to work for the Fractsidus, she'd probably just drop dead at her desk.
"How could it be Zani?" Carlotta was the first to dismiss that. "No one knows her better than I do. Right now, aside from Grandfather and you, she's the one I trust most in the whole family."
"Well, then who could it be?" Luno muttered. "I've heard about the Fractsidus too. Ruthless, cold-blooded killers. If someone like that is really in your circle, you should be careful."
"That's exactly why I'm worried."
Just then, a server arrived with trays of steaming dishes.
The rich aroma instantly grabbed Ray's attention, pushing aside most of his concerns not because he was a glutton, but because he'd spent the whole day with Luno and then fought both the Ephor and a Fractsidus member that evening. He was ravenous.
"Anyway, let's eat first." He waved a hand, as if shooing away the worries for now. "Nothing matters more than food. I'm about to pass out from hunger."
And when food was involved, Anby never missed out.
With a soft poof, it nimbly leaped out from Ray's Tacet Mark, its eyes sparkling at the feast laid out before them. "Wow! Is the fighting over? All this delicious food, is this a victory banquet?"
Luno currently on Ray seemed to not yet show any particular feelings.
Luno curiously studied the little creature that had suddenly appeared.
She had heard Ray mention Anby before, but this was the first time she had seen it in person.
"So this is... an Echo residing inside a Resonator?" She tentatively reached out and gently poked Anby's soft cheek. Her eyes lit up. "Plump, soft... feels really nice. I bet hugging this while sleeping would be really comfortable. Ray, can I borrow Anby for a bit?"
"What's that! I'm not a hug pillow!" Anby huffed indignantly. "I'm the strongest Echo in all of Solaris-3! You know the Dark Tide? I've eaten it!"
'The Dark Tide?
Oh, right.'
Luno suddenly remembered. The reason Ray was invited to the Sanguis Plateaus to investigate the abnormal Dark Tide clouds was precisely because of this little guy's unique ability, it might have some kind of suppressive effect on the Dark Tide.
"Speaking of which, Augusta sent word that the situation in the Sanguis Plateaus is more complicated than expected." Luno picked up a bright fruit, took a light bite, and let the sweet juice spread on her tongue. "As much as I'd like to stay in Capitoline Hill City a few more days... looks like the schedule has to move up. We'll set out tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" The decisive plan caught Ray off guard. "I thought you'd want to hang around the city a bit longer."
Luno immediately pouted, shooting him an unsatisfied glare. "What's that supposed to mean! Do you really think I'm that clueless?" She lifted her chin slightly, a hint of pride coloring her tone. "Sure, I like to have fun and I'm willful, but I know when to get serious. And I know what I'm responsible for."
With that, she turned to Carlotta and Lupa at the table. "What about you two? Want to come?"
Lupa blinked in surprise, then quickly pulled out her terminal to scroll through her schedule. After a moment, she nodded readily. "Perfect timing! Ms. Julia is still looking for a new teammate for me, so I've actually got some free time."
A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes, and a fighting spirit curled at the corners of her mouth. "The Dark Tide? Ha. I've wanted to face it for a while now. As a gladiator of glory, constantly sharpening myself in the arena, isn't that exactly to thrust my spear through those twisted creations?"
As for Carlotta...
She didn't make a decision right away. Instead, she quietly weighed the pros and cons in her mind.
As someone from Ragunna, she had no real reason to get involved in Septimont's internal affairs, normally, she would stick to that principle.
But this time was different.
The threat of the Dark Tide hung over them like a sword, binding the fate of all Rinascita.
As the young lady of the Montelli family, and as a child of this land, she felt it was her responsibility to contribute.
And besides...
Her gaze subtly swept toward Ray and the two beautiful young women beside him.
Let him go off alone with them?
The thought barely surfaced before she shut it down.
Who knows what could happen during a trip like that?
One Phoebe was already tough enough to deal with. She didn't need to add more "rivals."
Luno, at least, didn't seem to have any particular feelings for Ray yet.
And while Lupa's feelings seemed more like genuine friendship for now, who could guarantee that wouldn't change over time?
Thinking this, Carlotta lifted her eyes, a perfectly measured smile curving her lips. "Alright, I'll come too. My family's business in Septimont is finished anyway. If... I can be of any help."
"Wonderful!" Luno leaned back contentedly in her chair, savoring the sweet burst of fruit between her teeth. "The Plateaus are always so quiet and dreary. With you all joining the hunt, this trip is bound to be much more interesting."
"The hunt?" The familiar yet unfamiliar term made Ray pause. "What does that mean?"
"You don't know?" Lupa set down her Heart's Quench and turned to explain patiently. "For the people of Septimont, hunting and gladiatorial combat have always been two sides of the same coin. Ever since Septimont was founded, countless gladiators have chosen to end their glorious careers with a grand hunt."
"The Sanguis Plateaus are our front line against the Dark Tide. And the targets of our hunt are precisely the Tacet Discords born from it."
Hunting Tacet Discords? That fit Septimont's style perfectly.
But more than a hunt, it felt like a defiant stance the people had adopted for themselves, a courage forged in the crucible of hopeless situations.
Once people were ignited by a certain conviction, they really did unleash a power that knew no limits.
"Though, since it's not the tidal period yet, the Dark Tide creatures on the Sanguis Plateaus aren't as fierce, and there aren't as many of them." Luno added. "But Augusta mentioned that the blightclouds in the Sanguis Plateaus are showing abnormal Echo energy fluctuations. Even though the tide hasn't risen yet, no one can say for sure whether the Dark Tide might erupt at any moment."
Ray picked up a slice of pizza, Tropical Queen pizza, and placed it right in front of Carlotta, but she completely ignored it. If anything, her eyes held a trace of disgust.
A true traditional Ragunnan, through and through.
"So our mission is to investigate that abnormal Echo energy, right?"
Luno nodded. "Mm. We need to find out if that frequency could trigger a Dark Tide eruption. If..."
At this point, the young woman's mood seemed to dip slightly.
"If what?" Ray asked.
Luno just shook her head, her smile returning. "Nothing. Just... thinking about some other things."
...
...
After they'd eaten their fill, Lupa was the first to say goodbye, heading back to pack her things. They agreed to meet again tomorrow morning.
Ray, Luno, and Carlotta walked side by side, heading back toward the Leonidas Grand Hotel.
"Looks like tonight... we'll have to squeeze in a bit." As soon as the words left his mouth, Ray realized how they might sound and quickly added with a cough, "Ahem. I mean, you two, Second Young Miss and Luno, can share a room. I remember that suite's bed is big enough for two, no problem."
Hearing this, Luno squinted slyly, leaning in like a cat that had just found a clue. "Oho? If you hadn't added that, I wouldn't have even thought of anything strange. Fess up, were you just thinking something naughty?"
"How could I?" Ray straightened up immediately, putting on his most righteous expression. "That's not who I am. I only explained because I didn't want you to misunderstand."
"Really?" Luno pressed in closer, not letting it go. "Sharing a room with two beautiful young women, and you don't have a single... thought?"
Ray paused for a moment, then turned away slightly, looking uncomfortable. "I reserve the right to refuse answering that question!"
"See! You hesitated!" Luno pounced on it triumphantly, turning to the other side. "Carlotta, look at this guy!"
Carlotta only smiled faintly and didn't respond.
Deep down, though, she almost wished Ray did harbor some not-so-innocent thoughts about her.
If that were the case, it would save her so much careful planning.
If they could just cross that line, all the problems would naturally resolve themselves.
But the question was, did he actually feel that way?
Carlotta couldn't help but wonder...
It was true, Cat's Eye was always considerate toward her, endlessly accommodating and respectful. She'd never known him to refuse any request she made.
But where did that goodwill come from?
Was it just the polite deference due to the young lady of the Montelli family? Or was it something reserved for "Carlotta" as a person?
In his heart, what position did she truly hold?
If he only saw her as an ordinary friend...
The night breeze brushed through her hair. Unconsciously, her fingers tightened. A faint, indescribable tremor passed through her heart.
Perhaps, aside from him, no one would ever know the answer.
But...
Was she supposed to just wait passively?
No. Never.
She was the young lady of the Montelli family.
If he kept hesitating...
Then she'd make the first move herself!