A figure stood atop the Solaguer Bell Tower. A plump woman with golden hair, letting it dance with the gentle breeze from above.

"I almost smelled death," the woman said. "I did smell death. Yet somehow, a hand reached out to the River of Souls and pulled the person out."

"Madam Locraine," a police officer bowed behind her. It was Miranda with Ryan was standing right behind her. "We need you at the mansion."

"How come a human was capable of stirring the balance of life?" Madam Locraine sighed. "I guess this world has more to offer."

"Madam–"

"Yes, yes, I'm coming," Madam Locraince cut Miranda off. With one last look at the South entrance, she left the bell tower.

–

"I swear to the heavens above," Ed groaned, pulling his hair from his head. His hands clutched on his dark brown locks, pulling them tightly. "I thought he was going to die."

They were now in the inn they were going to stay for the duration of the competition. They were standing on the hallway right outside Minos's rooom.

"Elliot is a miracle worker," Lance said. "I just can't believe he fainted right after."

"And have you seen his hand then?" Connor asked. "It looked like it was burning. There was a thin layer of smoke coming from his palms and Minos's chest too. And the magical symbols?"

"You're saying he used magic symbols for that?" Ed asked, glancing at Connor through his hair.

Connor shook his head, "Maybe? But I don't know. What are Elliot's skills anyway?"

"Elliot's skill set is all about buffs and boosts," Ed sighed. "How could he heal?"

The door from Minos's room opened, Aquarius walking out from it. "He didn't heal Minos. I felt the blood in Minos's body stop flowing, even his heart had stopped. He was dead."

"Do you think Elliot.." Connor trailed off and shook his head. "Even Elliot wouldn't be too much of an idiot to make a deal with Malice and the demons, right?"

"For now, let's just rest," Lance said and stood from the floor, this ultimately made them stop with their conversation. "Tomorrow, everything will be alright. We'll talk about it then. Let's clear everything up before we take on this Championship."

They all stood and went to their assigned rooms. Since lodged in an inn inside Solaguer, the rent was expensive considering everything in Solaguer was.

It was the capital city they are in. The population was dense and everything was in high demand, this urged the vendors to triple the prices of everything. They could do it and still get away with it.

After all, most of the people that come to Solaguer are Adventurers. And most of these Adventurers were already established or rich before they even entered the field.

When the next morning came, Elliot awoke like nothing had happened. He was looking around, curious for a moment as to why he wasn't in his room.

Then, the flashbacks started. How Aquarius slammed his hand on Minos's chest and how the chest plate exploded, creating a large hole in Minos's chest.

He ran outside and looked around, only to see Connor, Ed and Hope sleep on the floor. The three of them sleeping together etched a smile on Elliot's face.

He kneeled in front of them and slolwy nudged Connor's arm. "Wake up."

Connor grunted, rolling over. This opted Elliot to wake Hope up instead. Just like what he did to Connor, he nudged Hope's shoulder. Again, the boy was unresponsive.

His hand was about to reach for Ed when another hand was placed on his shoulder. Elliot stood and spun, raising his hand but relaxed it when he saw Lance.

"They refused to sleep and insisted on guarding you," Lance said. "I don't think we should be bothering them right now."

"And Minos?" Elliot asked. "Is he okay?"

"He's safe." Lance's reply made Elliot feel like a thorn was plucked from his heart. He nodded and asked Lance to take him to the older man's room. "Okay, and Aquarius is there too."

Elliot nodded and turned the knob. He tried to knock before, but he heard no response even after he tried knocking four times already.

"Hello?" he called out, but still got no response. With a heavy inhale, Elliot turned the knob completely and creaked the door open, taking a peek inside and seeing Minos sleeping while Aquarius was laying his head on the bed while he sat on a wooden chair.

Seeing this, Elliot closed the door and spun, only to jolt when he saw that Lance was behind him. "You scared the hell out of me."

"Why didn't you come in?" Lance asked.

Elliot flattened his lips, "They were sleeping. I don't want to disturb them."

Lance formed an O with his mouth and nodded. "Okay, well they have to wake up soon. Minos's daughter is going to come."

"He has a daughter?" Elliot gasped. "He's that old?"

"They're both about the same age as Midnight or Ed," Lance said.

"Wait, how many rooms does this in have?" Elliot found himself asking. Lance shrugged and raised ten fingers.

"So we rented out this whole entire inn, huh?" Elliot nodded slowly and looked around. "Not too shabby, but not pretty either. Anyway, what's with them?"

"Aquarius is actually my cousin, Aquarius Alorde," Lance started. "Among my father's brothers, Aquarius's father, the late Lord Plankly, was the youngest. He was the one who ruled Lord Caezar's city before his sudden death."

"I feel like this death has something to do with the new lord," Elliot narrowed his eyes.

"Only speculations," Lance said. "But it was believed that Lord Caezar orchestrated the demise of Lord Plankly. Aquarius just started Adventuring back then, and so was Minos."

"What about Minos?" Elliot asked. "Was he a son of a lord too?"

Lance shook his head, "He was the son of the captain of Lord Plankly's Guards. Their fathers were best friends since childhood, and so were they. The two lived a happy life enjoying each other's company until about eight years ago when both their fathers died."

"Minos turned to alcohol. He met a woman, and got her pregnant. Aquarius got so busy becoming strong, he got the title of God of the Seas. They slowly drifted apart," Lance let out a sigh. "But then four years ago when Frederick opened the guild for them. Then they became friends again and they've been inseparable ever since."

"Oh," Elliot nodded a few times. He glanced at the door one last time, smiling. "Why don't we go downstairs? I bet they're drinking beer."

Lance nodded and got downstairs with Elliot. There, they froze after seeing the familiar person in the doorway.

He was shaking his head disappointingly and his eyes were throwing daggers at everyone.

"Beer in the morning," Midnight clicked his tongue. "And you even forgot your pins. How disappointing."