Viole didn't answer Liora.
He only gave a small nod.
Then closed his eyes.
No tension. No restlessness.
He simply settled into stillness, posture straight, breathing steady.
Like meditation.
The room faded with his senses at rest, and darkness took over my side of things.
No sights. No distractions.
Just black.
So I did the only thing that made sense.
I tried too.
If he was meditating, then maybe I could focus as well.
I steadied myself and reached inward—whatever that meant in my current condition.
At first, nothing.
Then—I felt breathing.
Not Viole's.
Mine.
I froze.
It was faint. Distant. But unmistakable.
A rhythm separate from the body seated in this room.
I focused harder.
Slowly, pieces formed.
Weight.
Limbs.
The vague outline of a body.
My body.
I couldn't move it. Couldn't lift a finger, couldn't open eyes, couldn't even tell what position I was in.
But I could feel it existed.
And that alone hit harder than anything else today.
Because Viole was sitting upright.
Yet the body I felt wasn't.
It felt different. Resting. Still. Elsewhere.
I tried again, straining to reach it.
Nothing moved.
Still unable. Still trapped.
But certainty remained.
My body exists.
I am alive. Somewhere.
The realization brought relief so sharp it almost hurt.
Then came the next question.
"If my body is alive… Then what the hell am I doing inside Viole's consciousness?"
The moment the thought formed, my focus slipped.
The distant sensation vanished like mist.
I snapped back into the familiar state—tethered to Viole's body, feeling only what he felt.
I exhaled mentally.
It's fine.
No—better than fine.
That was progress.
Massive progress.
I wasn't dead. I wasn't gone. I wasn't some wandering fragment with no origin.
I am alive.
Viole remained motionless, eyes still closed.
Which gave me time.
Too much time, maybe.
So naturally, my mind did what it always did when reality stopped making sense.
It went to fiction.
I started sorting through every isekai anime and manga I'd consumed over the years.
First theory: Reincarnation.
The classic.
Truck-kun, random death, wake up elsewhere.
Except… no.
That didn't fit.
The last thing I remembered was leaving the cinema with Jiana after watching a movie. We stepped outside, then light flashed beneath us.
And then—Viole.
No death scene. No impact. No pain.
Unless I died during whatever happened after that and only thought I survived.
But if that were true…
How did I just feel my own body?
So no. Reincarnation didn't hold together.
Next theory: Soul separation.
Body alive. Soul displaced.
Honestly more plausible.
But then another problem surfaced.
Why Viole?
Why observe him?
Why be tied to him specifically?
And why did he have my face?
That part still bothered me most.
Not similar.
The same.
So another possibility formed.
Future self.
Viole as me, later in time.
I immediately hated it.
Because if that were true, then what about everything I'd seen from his life?
His childhood.
His parents.
His memories.
That would mean I somehow died, reincarnated as a child, lived an entire second life, and then—
What?
Projected backward into my original self?
Ridiculous.
And again—I was alive.
I knew that now.
So that theory collapsed too.
I kept reaching for answers and getting nothing solid back.
Then a thought surfaced from Viole.
Enough.
Simple. Quiet. Final.
I caught it instantly.
And the moment I did—
Light returned.
His eyes opened.
The room came back into view.
Meditation over.
Mystery unresolved.
But not empty anymore.
For the first time since this began, I had something real to hold onto.
I made a mental note of it immediately.
Alive somewhere. Body exists. Can be sensed through focus.
Useful. Important.
Potentially life-changing.
Then, naturally, the next thought followed.
"…I did wished to get isekai'd."
I let the memory pass.
The casual kind of wish. Joke wish. Escape-the-boring-world wish.
Adventure. Magic. New life. Swords. Pretty women. Convenient power systems.
Normal fantasy nonsense.
Then I looked at my actual circumstances.
"No, seriously—what the hell is this version?"
No body access. No control. No menu screen. No cheat skill.
Just spectator mode inside a traumatized swordsman.
I let out a long mental sigh.
"Why can't I get a simple isekai start?"
At that moment, Viole stood.
Which meant rest time was over.
My thoughts settled with him.
There were still too many unknowns. Too many missing pieces for any clean answer. And even if I somehow solved the mystery today—
What then?
I couldn't control Viole.
Couldn't control my own body.
Couldn't even scratch an itch I might or might not have.
So I did the only sensible thing.
Look on the bright side.
I learned something new.
That mattered.
And until more pieces appeared, overthinking would just become self-torture.
"…Fine."
I adjusted mentally.
"Until further notice, this is just an extremely immersive VR movie."
Viole left the room and returned to the reception hall.
Liora, Mina, and Aris were waiting.
The four new adventurers were still around as well, looking substantially less dead than before.
Liora looked up first.
"You good?"
Viole answered with a simple nod.
Then he paid for the tome.
Practical as ever.
Gold coins changed hands. Liora counted them with practiced speed, confirmed the amount, then set them aside with the payments from the other four had already made earlier.
Business complete.
Viole then picked up his basket.
Inside were the parchment wraps for herbs, line and hook, and the fish intended for lunch.
Mina noticed immediately.
"What are your plans today?"
Before he could answer, she continued.
"Come with us to the Clan Headquarters."
Direct. Decisive.
"We can give you a tour. Introduce you to people."
She gestured lightly.
"Your mentorship with me will happen at the Solari training grounds anyway. Since you're considering a probationary period, now's the best time."
Efficient pitch.
No wasted motion.
Viole answered plainly.
"I was going to the eastern area."
A small pause.
"To gather herbs. And practice processing them into medicine for personal use."
That got reactions.
Subtle, but clear.
Aris's expression shifted first—small surprise, quickly hidden.
Mina just stared.
"What?"
Reasonable response.
Viole clarified.
"Drying them. Making pastes. Basic preparations."
Then added, as if it were obvious—
"If I get sick and I'm too unwell to reach a clinic, I should have medicine at home."
Silence.
I almost laughed.
The man treated survival planning like breathing.
Liora suddenly remembered something.
"Right. You were learning herbs the other day."
She looked at him with visible amusement.
"So now you've moved from gathering properly… to processing them too."
Her tone turned teasing.
"At this rate you'll open a clinic by next month."
Then she asked—
"Who taught you that?"
Viole answered without hesitation.
"Airielle."
Liora blinked.
"Oh."
That single word carried confusion.
She knew the name.
Or rather—the full name.
She hadn't expected Viole to know it already.
Then I saw the realization settle across her face.
He visited the village.
Of course he heard it there.
Mina caught the exchange immediately.
"Who's Airielle?"
Liora answered casually.
"Ai… She is village girl from Lunareth Village."
"She comes into the city every Solisday."
First day of the week.
"To sell potions and medicine."
Then she added—
"She's a friend of mine as well."
That changed Mina's interest instantly.
Friend of Liora.
Village girl with enough skill to be named casually in conversation.
Now she was curious.
Liora continued, leaning slightly against the counter.
"You and the others in Solari should try her products sometime."
"She doesn't have many customers."
Mina raised a brow.
"Why?"
Liora gave a dry smile.
"She sells inside the guild at the same price as shops outside."
Then clarified.
"Naturally, you wouldn't trust some random stranger's self-made potions, no?"
Another pause.
"But hers are high potency, that much I know."
I understood immediately.
Unknown seller.
Village background.
No branding. No prestige.
So only people desperate enough to take the risk bought from her.
I clicked my tongue.
"…Classic."
People trust labels more than results.
Mina, meanwhile, looked thoughtful.
Very thoughtful.
And I recognized that look.
She was curious.
Or investigating.
Or both.
Liora wasn't done.
"She should be in the city the day after tomorrow," she repeated herself, referring to Ai as if the matter were already scheduled in stone.
"So you should come by and buy a few bottles for testing."
No hesitation. Full recommendation.
Then her tone shifted into something more casual, but probing.
"Actually—has your clan found an alchemist yet?"
She asked it like someone who already expected the answer.
"Last I heard, Solari was looking."
Aris replied first.
"We haven't."
Calm. Matter-of-fact.
"The position remains open."
Then he added with mild resignation—
"And no one is really applying."
Liora smiled in that way people do when they're about to be annoying on purpose.
"So you're still buying potions outside."
A pause.
"And relying mostly on your healers."
Mina accepted the hit with grace looking mildly offended on behalf of the clan.
Liora folded her arms, satisfied with herself.
"As I said."
She nodded once.
"When Ai comes, buy some and try them."
Repeated twice now.
Which meant she was serious.
Viole listened quietly.
But inwardly, his thoughts drifted to Ai.
I caught them naturally.
Nothing romantic. Nothing dramatic.
Just practical recall.
Solisday.
Meaning he could buy a few healing potions from her then.
Then another memory surfaced.
He had offered to teach her how to cook.
Right.
But she hadn't answered.
I thought about that.
At first glance, it sounded simple enough.
Then reality stepped in.
Where exactly would they cook?
His place?
Questionable.
Her village?
Two hours away.
What about the ingredients?
Who pays for them?
What if the food gets ruined during practice?
That costs money.
And if she was already selling high-potency potions cheaply…
Then she probably wasn't sitting on spare funds.
I slowly pieced it together.
"…Yeah."
It probably wasn't hesitation from disinterest.
It was trust.
Logistics. Money.
An adventurer she barely knew offers to teach her cooking.
That sounds kind on paper.
It also sounds like the start of a cautionary village story.
Honestly fair.
Liora paused at the counter, apparently done advocating for Ai's business.
Mina stepped in immediately.
"So."
She looked at Viole.
"Tour today?"
Practical as ever.
"It won't take long."
"I just need to let Vane and others know about the mentorship arrangement"
Then she smiled slightly.
"And we can start tomorrow."
Clean timeline.
Viole let out a quiet sigh.
Not frustration.
Adjustment.
Then he nodded.
Internally, the thought followed.
This wasn't part of today's plan.
But it couldn't be helped.
And all things considered—
Things were going well.
I had to agree.
Unexpectedly well even when he was just about to die earlier.
Mina brightened immediately.
"Great."
Simple word, clear mood.
Liora smiled after that.
Not smug this time.
Warm.
Proud, almost.
Like a mother watching a stubborn son accidentally make a good decision.
I caught Mina noticing it too.
Her eyes flicked to Liora's expression, lingered for a second, then moved on without comment.
Interesting.
Viole noticed both reactions.
He said nothing, but a thought surfaced quietly.
Liora seems really close with Mina… and the rest of Solari.
Then another thought answered it just as quickly.
Of course she is.
She's been here as long as he could remember.
That kind of person becomes part of everything eventually.
The guild receptionist who knows everyone.
Viole set the matter aside.
"If you're ready, let's go."
Mina spread a hand dramatically toward the exit.
"Tour of Solari Headquarters. Introductions. Other important stuff."
Very precise wording.
Liora looked at her with openly amused eyes, then shifted that gaze toward Viole's usual stoic face.
No reaction.
None visible, anyway.
But internally, a thought surfaced.
What kind of headquarters does a clan like Solari have?
Not just any clan.
One of the strongest in the world.
I immediately commented.
"…Technically, one party is carrying a lot of that reputation."
The Arkhons were clearly monsters.
"But who knows what the rest of their members are like?"
That part was true.
Even second-string members of a clan like this could probably flatten ordinary adventurers.
Liora watched the three of them head for the door.
"Take care."
Simple farewell.
Then they stepped outside.
Sunlight. Street noise. Movement.
Viole followed behind Mina and Aris.
His gaze rested on Mina first.
Cheerful stride. Easy posture. Casual energy.
Then memory overlaid itself.
Moments ago, in this very area, that same woman had flooded the air with enough killing intent to make the body tense instinctively.
The contrast was absurd.
This Mina—and the one from earlier—felt like different people.
How could someone produce that level of cold, suffocating bloodlust… then switch it off so cleanly it was like it never existed?
Viole considered asking.
Then hesitated.
He wasn't the type to pry into others.
That thought came naturally.
Then another followed.
"Asking about a combat technique isn't prying, if she is becoming my mentor."
And if he was about to learn from someone standing near the pinnacle of power in this world—
Then he should learn everything he could.
Good.
Practical thinking wins again.
Viole steadied himself and spoke.
"What was that earlier?"
Mina glanced back.
"The bloodlust."
His tone remained even.
"The pressure was suffocating."
He continued.
"One moment you looked and felt like you were ready to kill me."
"The next, it was gone."
Then the sharper question—
"How can you do that when you didn't even intend to kill me?"
Mina slowed slightly, turned halfway, and placed one finger against her chin.
Thinking pose.
Very serious.
Then after a short pause, she answered with complete sincerity and zero usefulness.
"I don't really know how it works."
I almost choked.
What?
She nodded to herself with a satisfied look on her face with her answer.
Then added, somehow making it worse—
"I simply call it Kill Mode."
Amazing.
Utterly terrible explanation.
Aris let out a sigh beside her.
"She's very bad at explaining."
Bless this man.
Then he looked to Viole.
"It's a skill she has."
"No official name that I know of."
"She just calls it Kill mode."
Mina puffed up slightly at that title.
Aris ignored her and continued.
"Most healers and spellcasters gather mana and focus it into a specific point to activate spells."
He gestured outward.
"She does the opposite."
That got my attention.
"She releases mana around herself."
"Then imbues it with bloodlust… or intimidation."
Ah.
Area pressure.
Psychological warfare through mana expression.
That was nasty.
"I'd call it Intimidate," Aris said mildly. "But that's just my label."
"The true name of the skill likely exists somewhere already. Either discovered or documented."
He glanced at Mina.
"She simply never cared enough to learn it properly."
Mina nodded with a smug expression.
Hands on hips now.
I stared.
She really was proud of contributing nothing.
Viole absorbed the explanation silently.
And I had to admit—
That ability was terrifying.
No blade drawn.
No spell chant.
Just presence weaponized.
A fighter who could crush morale before combat even began.
I looked at Mina's bright smile again.
Aris continued walking beside Viole, hands relaxed at his sides.
"That's the simplest way I can explain what Mina does."
He glanced ahead at her.
She was still leading the way with confidence.
"Mana manipulation is usually one of the first things taught in magic schools."
His tone was calm, instructional.
"It's the basis of spellcasting. How an individual guides mana around them and shapes it into a spell."
I listened carefully.
Useful information again.
"So Mina using mana outwardly like that isn't impossible," Aris said. "Just… unconventional."
A fair way to describe weaponized murder aura.
Then he added, almost fondly—
"Elara would explain it better."
A pause.
"She's a freak who loves studying magic and monsters."
I blinked.
That was said with enough normalcy to suggest affection rather than insult.
Interesting clan dynamic.
Viole listened quietly.
Mina, meanwhile, walked ahead as if they weren't discussing her at all.
Aris looked back to Viole.
"If Elara becomes your mentor as well…"
He smiled faintly.
"That means two mentors trying to teach you within two weeks."
He said it like a practical warning.
Reasonable.
Actually more than reasonable.
Two specialists. Two short weeks. Different disciplines.
That could become a mess fast.
Mina reacted immediately without turning around.
"He'll mostly need fundamentals."
Confident. Casual.
"And swordplay adjustments."
She lifted a hand and counted lazily with her fingers.
"Fencer duelist."
"Dual wielder duelist."
Then she shrugged.
"With his current sword style, he shouldn't have much trouble."
Viole heard that.
And a thought surfaced instantly.
Shouldn't have much trouble?
Questioning. Not offended.
He was measuring the gap between her expectations and his reality.
I agreed with the skepticism.
Mina was gifted.
Worse—she was talented and gifted.
To people like that, things often looked easier than they were.
What felt basic to her might be months of work for everyone else.
Then another thought followed from Viole.
Trust her judgment.
Simple. Pragmatic.
If she said it was manageable, then it was worth testing.
Aris let out a small sigh.
"Mina."
She glanced back.
"Teach him properly."
Then, with the tone of someone exposing a secret for public safety—
"He's your first student."
I nearly laughed.
That hit immediately.
Viole's thoughts sharpened.
"First?"
This esteemed S-Tier Blade Class.
Adamantite-ranked adventurer.
Top-tier combatant.
Never taught anyone before.
He didn't doubt her skill.
Not even slightly.
But whether skill translated into teaching—
That was another matter entirely.
I nodded internally.
Correct concern.
Mina puffed up proudly instead of denying it.
"As expected."
No shame whatsoever.
Viole brushed the concern aside almost as quickly as it came.
No point dwelling on it now.
Whether she could teach well or not—
He would learn everything possible.
Especially the fundamentals she mentioned.
That was where real value often hid anyway.
Not flashy techniques. Not secret moves.
Foundations.
I looked at Mina marching ahead like an overconfident cat.
Then at Aris, who clearly knew exactly what she was like.
Once the topic of training settled, Mina spoke again.
"We're almost there."
Cheerful. Certain.
"HQ isn't that far."
That was when Viole asked the obvious question.
"Where is it?"
Aris answered smoothly.
"Behind the Library."
He pointed ahead through the streets.
"Near the Scholar's Guild building."
That made immediate sense.
Close to research, records, city center access.
Strategic placement.
Aris continued.
"Most of the clan introduction can wait until we arrive."
Then Mina added from the front—
"Not that anyone actually cares or listens about it."
I almost laughed.
Great representative.
She kept going anyway.
"As I said before, Solari is one of the four strongest clans in the Thaloria Kingdom."
She lifted a hand dramatically.
"And there are four more top clans across the other kingdoms making it a total of eight."
Then she tapped her chest with a grin.
"Also, Solari is the youngest S-Tier clan."
That got my attention.
"The Arkhons were formed first, then the clan followed."
She looked smugger somehow.
"We've only existed for one year."
That landed harder than she probably realized.
I felt Viole's attention sharpen immediately.
One year.
If the Arkhons reached Adamantite rank in that span—
Then Mina would've been around nineteen when this started.
Maybe younger depending on timing.
I paused.
That was absurd.
And if the other Arkhons were around her age as well—with the exception of Vane, who was apparently in his thirties—
Then the whole party was stacked with monsters.
Gifted. Talented. Dangerous.
No wonder they became the spearpoint of a top clan so quickly.
"How many parties are currently in the clan?"
Viole asked.
Mina turned around while still walking backward.
Dangerous person behavior.
"I don't know."
Completely shameless.
Aris answered immediately.
"She doesn't know because she skips most clan meetings."
Mina nodded proudly.
"And she doesn't socialize much either."
Another nod.
Aris sighed.
"She can almost be considered a shut-in."
I looked at Mina again.
That… tracked surprisingly well.
"The only reason she isn't," Aris continued, "is because she never neglects her routine."
"She trains constantly."
"Maintains top condition at all times."
Mina raised a finger.
"If I stop training, I'll get rusty."
Then her expression changed.
Suddenly grave.
"And if I get rusty…"
A tremor entered her voice.
"I might get kicked out."
She clasped her arms around herself dramatically.
"And nothing is scarier than being unemployed."
Her tone shook with exaggerated dread.
I stared.
Viole remained outwardly calm.
But internally—confusion.
Mina's anxious act lasted exactly as long as it took to be funny.
Then she dropped it.
The trembling voice vanished. The worried face disappeared. In its place came the playful grin of someone fully aware she would probably remain dangerous even after taking a month-long vacation.
"Still," she said lightly, "better not risk it."
Absolute fraud.
She rolled one shoulder and added more casually—
"And I just don't really know how to act around strangers."
That one sounded more honest.
Then she looked at Aris.
A clear plea for backup.
Support me here.
Validate my social difficulties.
Aris sighed, said nothing, and kept his eyes forward.
Cold.
Ahead of them, the Library was coming into view.
Tall stone structure. Familiar shape. Quiet dignity.
Mina turned around, gave up on discussing herself, and smoothly redirected the conversation.
To Viole.
"Liora seems fond of you."
Not exactly a question.
More like an observation tossed into the air.
"She's always kind to people," Mina continued, "but she talked a lot about you."
A pause.
"That part felt different."
Viole answered after a moment.
His voice carried a softness I dont hear often.
"She's just worried."
Simple.
"Partly because she still blames herself."
Then the rest came.
"She recommended those adventurers to me when I started."
The ones who conned him.
Used him.
Took advantage of him.
"And because of that…"
A brief pause.
"I ended up alone. Unable to trust so easily."
"Taking low-risk commissions."
No bitterness in the tone.
Just fact.
That almost made it heavier.
Mina absorbed that quickly.
"So that's why."
She glanced sideways at him.
"Despite your class proficiency, you were stuck at Silver."
Then added with dry honesty—
"And only got promoted to Platinum through absurd luck."
I almost objected but gave up.
Viole simply nodded.
Then he spoke again.
"I didn't become an adventurer for fame or power anyway."
That felt true immediately.
"It was simply what I thought I could do."
Another pause.
"My father mentored me when I was young."
"I was somewhat good with the sword."
Understatement.
He chose the path closest to the skills he already had.
Practical.
Painfully practical.
No grand dream. No heroic ambition.
Just survival through available means.
I stayed quiet for once.
The three of them had already reached the front side of the Library and the Scholar's Guild during the conversation.
The Scholar's Guild building stood beside it, nearly equal in size.
Broad frontage. Strong stonework. Four visible floors.
And if this world followed normal building logic—
There was almost certainly a basement.
Maybe several.
Archives. Labs. Storage.
Viole noticed something too.
That was why he never realized Solari's headquarters was nearby when he visited before.
He rarely came to the Library.
And apparently never wandered enough to notice what sat behind two of the largest buildings in the district.
The three moved around the Scholar's Guild.
A short walk later—
Solari Clan Headquarters came into view.
The structure stood directly behind both the Library and Scholar's Guild.
Meaning these three properties were likely connected internally.
Convenient access to research, records, supplies, scholars, and whatever else mattered.
That was not random placement.
Not far to the right stood another two-floor building, long and wide.
Warm architecture. Broad windows. Functional design.
Inn-like.
I made the obvious conclusion first.
"Dormitory."
Then another thought followed.
"Or barracks disguised as hospitality."
Either way, housing for members.
Training clan with elite status, central district property, adjacent infrastructure, private lodging.
Yeah.
Solari wasn't just strong.
They were established fast.
I looked at Mina, casually leading them like she owned the road.
Viole observed everything quietly.
Mina turned the moment they stopped before the building, pivoting on her heel with practiced flair.
Then she spread both arms wide.
"Welcome."
Presentation voice included.
"To Solari Headquarters."
It was quieter than I expected.
I took a quick measure of the surroundings.
Sun position. Traffic flow. Pace of the streets. The way merchants were already settled instead of setting up.
Around ten in the morning. Maybe a little later.
A few people moved between the paths near the dormitory building. Some carried weapons or training gear. Others spoke in pairs while walking, voices low, steps purposeful. No one lounged around wasting time. No clusters of idle bodies trying to look important.
Inside the headquarters itself, visible through the front windows, there was more movement.
Mina turned back to Viole and crossed the distance without hesitation. Then she took his hand as naturally as if she had always been allowed to.
"I'll introduce you to Vane first."
She smiled brightly.
Her fingers gave a small squeeze before she continued.
"After that, the Clan Master."
"And then I'll show you around."
Aris exhaled beside them, another sigh shaped by long-term exposure.
"You can handle the rest."
He was already turning away toward the other building nearby before he finished speaking.
The one Viole had internally classified as inn.
Viole's gaze followed him for a brief moment.
Mina caught it immediately.
"That's the clan dorm."
Then after a short pause, lips curving slightly—
"Or inn, if you prefer."
She pointed toward it casually.
"For members who don't own a place in Sunridge City."
Useful.
Housing within city limits alone was a serious benefit depending on rent prices.
Viole gave no visible reaction.
But his thoughts moved.
The clan takes care of its members.
Simple conclusion.
Then another followed almost immediately.
"Not that I'll need it."
There it was again.
That measured distance.
Even now, while stepping closer to something larger than himself, part of him remained ready to walk away the moment it no longer suited him.
Mina released one hand only to pull open the front door with exaggerated courtesy, then gestured inward.
"After you."
I nearly laughed.
This woman shifted between apex predator and overenthusiastic hostess so quickly it should have been medically studied.
Viole gave one final glance toward Aris as he continued toward the dormitory.
No emotion attached.
Just acknowledgment.
Then he stepped forward.
The shift was immediate.
Outside, the headquarters had looked reserved. Quiet. Controlled.
Inside, it felt alive.
The first floor opened into a broad central hall built to impress without trying too hard. Spacious enough to resemble a noble inn or a guild reception chamber, but cleaner in intent. Less comfort. More structure.
Viole's gaze moved once from left to right, then back again.
I followed naturally through him.
A wide reception counter dominated the center of the room. Behind it, shelves, ledgers, stacked records, and organized paperwork hinted at the machinery that kept a clan functioning when swords were sheathed. To either side, staircases rose toward the second floor in symmetrical lines.
Beyond those, side halls and closed doors suggested rooms not yet in regular use.
Interesting.
The place had been built larger than its current needs.
Ambition made architecture too.
The moment Mina entered, both receptionists straightened.
They bowed in practiced unison.
"Good morning, Lady Mina."
There was respect in the tone.
And caution.
Not fear exactly.
Just the kind of alertness people developed around someone unpredictable.
Mina accepted it as if greetings were her natural tax.
"Morning."
Then she leaned lightly against the counter, cheerful as ever.
"Is Vane already in?"
A pause.
Her smile brightened.
"Or do I need to raid his room and drag him down here so he can give me permission to mentor someone?"
The male receptionist visibly amused.
The female one blinked once, then recovered with admirable professionalism.
Viole looked at them while they processed that statement.
Both seemed somewhere in their twenties or thirties. Old enough to be competent. Young enough to still suffer visibly when chaos entered their workspace.
The man had the posture of someone who liked order and had chosen the wrong employer.
The woman wore a calm expression that looked earned through repeated exposure.
I respected her immediately.
Neither seemed surprised by Mina's words.
That meant this was not new behavior.
Even better.
Viole remained silent beside her, composed as always, though I could feel his attention taking in details. Staffing discipline. Interior structure. Social hierarchy. Reactions.