Catching the stray strand of hair over her eyes, Daniela sighed quaintly, throwing her eyes over the various stores, markets, and the dress the people wore. 

The fashion particularly caught her eyes. 

Not because it was strange, but it was rather unique. A blend of modern, yet with a touch of the old Victorian era she had read in history books. 

People wore normal jackets, shirts, accompanied by the faint touches of either glistening gold, or fading silver. 

Those who bore more expensive clothing diverged from the normal clothing. They had accents, or embroidery all over the sleeve, collars, but the manner of assembling the various elements were unique. 

"Back on Earth, we had... I do suppose it wasn't much different. Wish we had it like the Steinfeld Duchy though." 

Steinfeld Duchy?

One of the passersby threw a quick glance of confusion at the mumbling girl. 

'Oh! I forgot!'

She scratched the back of her head. 

'Let's look around shall we?'

She felt a palm, and long fingers on her shoulder, a grip. 

"Little girl... you've been acting strange for some time, are you lost?" 

_________________________

He took deep breath, falling to the ground, "Ha...ha..."

The vision he experienced never left his mind. No... not a vision, but a memory. 

He wanted to cry, to push out the tears, but it wouldn't form, knowing it had not happened yet. 

"This is strange. No, it would be strange if something like this didn't happen."

While he faced few mental repercussions, he also had trouble with his mana. 

A Nyx had formed and he had fused it with his innate energy, however the spherical core in his dan tian felt strange. 

It felt rather cold, and dark. Dark was to be expected, but it was cold, bone chilling cold. 

"Perhaps a side-effect?" 

Not like he could change it. 

He couldn't understand, but then he remembers. 

Properties do not mix, and even if they matched on together, the result could wreck havoc on his meridians. 

"Tch...this isn't right. But..." 

An idea came to his mind. 

He knew who to turn to, 'his trustworthy guardian.' 

_________________________

"Kind of." 

She spoke, looking around. 

The young man looked at her, scanning her up and down, "Would you perhaps like some guidance?" 

'Shady guy.' 

The words popped up in her head.

His smile rehearsed, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. Daniela's instinct prickled, waring her to stay cautious. 

A human instinct is strong, the strongest sense. 

But we choose to ignore the signs at times leading to us later agonizing over the choice, thinking 'what if I had done that?'

Daniela chose to follow her instinct. 

In this strange city she had never been to before, she did not have the luxury to follow the stranger off to whatever dark schemes he held. 

She opened her mouth to refute. 

"No." Her lips parted gracefully, her thoughts voiced. 

"But you look quite lost, young lady." 

The innocent tone he spoke in could make anyone think, 'He must be a good man.'

Daniela however was not lost, nor needed any kind of guidance. 

With another resolute nod, she spoke once more. 

"Nope. Thank you for your thought, Mister." 

Brushing off the clingy man, she walked off. 

"But young lady, I wasn't offering." 

'When did he get here?' 

Her thoughts wandered off, turing to face the man standing right behind her. 

He decided to throw off the innocent facade. 

'Should I just blast him away with a spell?' 

Despite the situation, her mind was calm, and free of disrupting thoughts. 

Daniela's thoughts clarified, her thoughts sharpening as she assessed the situation. 

"Hey!" 

The deep and coarse voice called out to the stranger. 

He shuddered at the powerful voice, turning to face it. 

"I thought I warned you once." 

"Ahh! It's not what—"

Without letting him finish his words he asked, "—not what I think?" 

At his words, he trembled more. 

"I better not catch you repeating this. Now leave." 

He trode off quickly without wasting a moment. 

"Are you alright?" 

The tall figure turned to hooded girl. 

"Yes. What was his problem?" She asks, trying not to stare too much at the man. 

"He...baits people to go with him, and then robs them off their belongings. I suppose it's my fault." 

He replied. 

"Your fault? How so?" 

Daniela felt s sense of calm wash over while looking at the stranger, her instincts quiet. 

Before she realised it, she was back to admiring the man. 

His red shirt tucked into the white trousers were eye-catching, but her eyes moved up, towards the patch of his revealed skin, and the golden chain that hung loosly around his neck. 

His slick back hair was an uncommon style, but not unwelcome, and almost as if completing his outfit was the framed moustache, sharp and wavy. 

"It's not worth the worry. Anyways, are you alright? You look lost?" 

He spoke casually, easing the earlier tension. 

He asked the same words the shady figure asked, yet she did not feel the same sensation from earlier. 

"Oh! M-Me? Yes I'm alright. Thanks for dealing with that."

Her words came out stuttering, staring at her man's sharp moustache. 

Stepping forward his voice became more clear, and so did his large frame. 

"Hm...tourist perhaps?" 

He said those words with hint of amusement, scrutinising the girl. 

Her outfit did scream an unknown person stranded in a strange area. 

"Nope. I am kind of lost. Would you be kind enough to show me around, Sir?" 

Learning in with a smile, she asked softly. 

It was a bold request, bold on both sides; asking a stranger, and asking a stranger who appeared intimidating. 

"...ha! I suppose I can." 

He turned to the left, tapping on what seemed to be his watch. 

"Can you send someone else in? I'm out for the night." 

—Alright, Boss.

The sound came from the small watch like device strapped to his wrist. 

'Must be a Vördr. I think I saw one of those back in my room.'

She recalled having seen a similar black wristwatch. 

But her eyes did not linger around the wristwatch, no, her eyes went up further, skimming through the man. 

He was irresistible in her eyes. 

"Young lady. Where would you like to go?" 

"Hm...I don't know. Take me somewhere." 

Rubbing a hand behind his neck, he chuckled nervously, "That is quite vague."

Clearly enjoying his reaction, Daniela replied, "How about some place with an amazing view?"

He paused for a second of thought before opening his mouth. 

"Stay close." 

He turned away and walked off into the opposite direction. 

—Tap tap tap tap 

Securing herself behind the tall man, she felt a strange sense of security wash over her. 

Was it because of his intimidating presence? 

Or, was it because the handsome man offered to show her around?

It was the former...she tried to assure herself. 

"I've often heard Ruberis is beautiful at night. I've never came out here before at night." 

Peeking over his shoulders, he asked her, "Strict parents?" 

"Unfortunately not. Father's just busy with a lot of work." 

Her head nodded, her eyelashes fluttering low. 

"And now he let you wander around at night?" 

"Nope! I snuck out." 

The man's expression faltered at her words, but Daniela placed a hand on her puffed up chest. 

"What's your name?" 

His voice felt deeper than earlier. 

"Daniela." 

They continued to move through the stone path, under the moonlit streets. 

The moon was always there, lighting up the nights of the Aurumae continent. 

Never disappears, nor stops shinning. 

It was a strange phenomenon indeed. 

Her eyes went up to the shinning sphere, jolting a certain memory within her, one that happened a day ago. 

"What's your name, Sir?" 

"Martin." 

The words came soon, lightning fast. 

"That sounds like a great name." 

The streets were lit up, not just from the steady moonlight, but also from the flickering streetlights. 

The cobbled stone path they trudged through seemed to have small cracks along their surface, with some rocks standing pointed out. 

'Yikes! Those look sharp.'

Her eyes shifted to Martin. 

It was an automated process, happening without her conscious thought, nor request. 

She wanted to converse with the fellow a bit more, however he seemed quite dull. 

Trying to find a reason to spark up a conversation, a simple idea came to her mind. 

"How old are you, Boss?" 

He shot her a perplexed look, "Thirty one." 

"Ah! Are you married? It's a perfect age to be married." 

He seemed to wince at the topic, seemingly sensitive. 

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen. I'm the second child in my family." 

"Only daughter?" 

"Yep." 

"Your..." he paused, choosing his words carefully. "...father must be quite the dotter." 

She stopped, but resumed walking, as if she never stopped. 

"...I think...He never acts himself. He holds in quite a lot." 

That was what she had deducted of Arwan after the brief conversations she had during mealtime. 

To her, he seemed to hold in a lot, which he did. 

He held responsibility more than any man, he was The Emperor. 

He was not allowed to have moments of weakness, even among his family. 

It was the role of the Emperor, the father to show his children what it meant to be a ruler, to be a sovereign of a nation. 

"...My old man was not like that. He used to live his life properly, always running around."

Martin's words hung around for a moment. 

"Was? Is he...?"

"Oh. No, he's not dead." 

He raised his hand and waved, "He doesn't run around like he used to." 

"So...back to me real question, are you married?" 

She asked him once more, and he reacted to it the same way he did to the first question. 

—Ahem

Clearing his throat, he confronted her question. 

"That is not something you have to concern yourself with, young lady." 

A different thought bloomed inside her. 

She was determined to not let go of this man. 

"Single." 

She said it out loud for him to hear. 

"Huh!" 

He bolted his head, only to find her staring off at a different direction. 

"What is it, Boss?" 

She acted. It was convincing, but not enough to fool Martin who heard her words. 

"...this girl."

He whispered below his breath. 

Unlike Daniela, he did not want her to hear it, but couldn't contain it within his thoughts either. 

A second of silence prevailed. 

"Would you walk off with any stranger if they offered to show you around?" 

Unexpectedly, it was Martin who broke the silence. 

Daniela raised a brow, "Of course not." 

His face muscles tensed at her words. 

"But you...came with me..."

"..."

—Whoosh

"..."

_________________________