Tez’ Mu finally rode into Joavir, the reeking, poor, interconnected backstreets of the imperial capital. Ochelon, especially the capital, was like this—opulent at first glance, a city of towering industries, grand academies, high-walled manors, and bustling markets, making the capital look flourishing, without any speck or display of hardship or poverty. But behind that polished facade lay the truth: an intricate network of alleys; the residences of those who did the menial jobs in those institutions. Here lived the laborers, the servants, the hands that toiled to keep the illusion intact. Without them, the capital would collapse into ruin.

The horse whined, its flanks heaving from the hard ride. Tez’ Mu dismounted in front of the largest, cleanest house on the street and knocked briskly. The door unlatched before he had even finished. A tiny face peeked out, then lit up.

“Brother Mu!”

Tez’ Mu sighed, shaking his head as he stepped inside.

“It’s Brother Tez’, not Brother Mu,” he corrected—for what had to be the ninety-eighth time. But the little one’s front teeth were missing, and without them, Tez’ was a battle she could not win.

“Where’s Ar’?” he asked, glancing around the modest front room.

“Being punished,” she answered with a conspiratorial grin.

Tez’ Mu frowned. “For what?”

“Rion-deran found him with a presence-concealing matrix gadget. She thinks he stole it from the Academy.”

Tez’ Mu groaned. “I gave him that! Where is he?”

“Back courtyard.”

He didn’t waste another second. The archway leading to the courtyard was crowded with children, their eyes wide as they watched the spectacle unfolding. Tez’ Mu waded through them like parting river reeds and entered just as Heyu’ Rion raised the whip in her hand.

“No—stop!” He threw himself between her and Ar’ Rion, bracing for the sting.

Heyu’ Rion halted mid-strike, eyes narrowing in recognition. “Tez’ Mu?”

She lowered the whip, clearly displeased by his interruption. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Ar’ Rion.” Tez’ Mu turned, eyeing his friend, who was kneeling stiffly, his forehead damp with sweat. “You dumb brat—couldn’t you have told her?”

“She wouldn’t believe me,” Ar’ Rion muttered, his lips pouting.

Tez’ Mu sighed, then turned back to Heyu’ Rion. “I’m sorry, Rion-deran. I gave him that matrix.”

Heyu’ Rion’s sharp gaze pinned her son. “And why does he need it? What are you trying to hide from me, Ar’ Rion?”

“Nothing! Nothing!” Tez’ Mu jumped in before his friend could make things worse. “It’s for an assignment! We have a test on concealment next week. He didn’t have a matrix to practice with, so I lent him mine. That’s why I’m here—to study with him.”

But Heyu’ Rion wasn’t buying it. Her lips curled in a slight sneer as she raked her gaze over him. “You? Study? You’re not even carrying books.”

Tez’ Mu rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh—well, it’s a practical study session...”

Mothers. They had an unnatural talent for sniffing out lies.

Heyu’ Rion crossed her arms over the whip. “I have my eyes wide open, Ar’ Rion. Any mischief—” She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to. The message was clear.

As she turned and left, the children scattered like startled birds, their gazes still darting warily after her. Tez’ Mu wondered how such a temperamental person could run an orphanage. The children were terrified of her, and rightly so, but they had nowhere to go. Their fear was also mixed with deep gratitude and respect, creating a complicated relationship. As for Ar’ Rion, he was Heyu’ Rion’s own son, born under possibly unhappy circumstances. Yet, he was loved and raised well, however strictly. With her income from working in the opulent side of the capital Heyu’ Rion took care of her son and about two dozen orphans.

House Rion, therefore, though not noble, was respected by all the residents of the backstreets. Heyu’ Rion was like a little queen herself, a benevolent mother-figure for adults and children alike, earning her the well-deserved title of Rion-deran, a high honor she did not belittle.

Tez’ Mu exhaled, then reached down and pulled Ar’ Rion to his feet.

“Next time, say something instead of kneeling like an idiot.”

“You don’t know my mother,” Ar’ Rion muttered. “The more I insist I’m innocent, the more she believes I’m guilty.”

Tez’ Mu smirked and clapped him on the shoulder. “Tough luck. Come on, let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.”

Ar’ Rion hesitated. “You’re not eating at home? Isn’t your father returning today?”

Tez’ Mu’s jaw tensed. So even in Joavir, Raq’ Mu’s return was news.

“So you know, huh,” his tone was cold.

Ar’ Rion chuckled at his expression. “Who in Ochelon doesn’t know? The great general, head of the House of Mu, the most powerful Martial Sage of the mainland, is returning victorious.” he said, his tone reverent.

Tez’ Mu scowled, his face reddening. “Oh, stop it.”

His father’s name always stirred something bitter in him.

He pushed the uncomfortable thoughts aside as they entered the kitchen, where children gathered eagerly around the food. To his surprise, Kel’ Ruan, his other friend, was at the stove, apron tied over her yellow dress.

“What are you doing here?” he asked incredulously.

Kel’ Ruan turned, startled, then blushed slightly before composing herself. “Ar’ Rion invited me to lunch. I figured I should make myself useful. What are you wearing?”

Tez’ Mu straightened, attempting a posh expression. “I was paying a social call.”

Ar’ Rion and Kel’ Ruan burst into laughter, and Tez’ Mu, unable to hold it, snickered as well.

“I wanted to say, is your conscience so deadened you wish to show off here in Joavir of all places?” Kel’ Ruan shook her head, “meanwhile, where did you go?”

“Yan Manor,” Tez’ Mu replied, grabbing two wraps of hubak from the tray and holding out a bowl. “By the way, after a long dreary afternoon, my sister finally set her wedding date. You’re both invited.”

“Hm?” Kel’ Ruan eyed him skeptically as she ladled thick broth and fish into his bowl. “You mean it?”

“Of course. What’s the point of being in the family if I can’t even invite two friends? I might as well move in with Ar’ Rion at this rate—” He yanked his bowl back as more broth threatened to overflow. “Enough, Kel’ Ruan! Am I a pig you want to fatten up?”

“You picked the biggest bowl,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue.

One of the younger girls darted forward with a rag to mop up the spilled soup. She worked quickly, sneaking glances toward the door, clearly wary of Rion-deran.

Tez’ Mu winced, taking a seat at the long wooden table in the kitchen. “Sorry.”

She smiled. “No problem, Brother Tez’.”

He tilted his head towards the bowl as he started to eat. “What’s your name again? I can’t keep up. I don’t know how Ar’ does,” he bumped his friend’s arm. They both sniggered.

“Yui. Peony.”

Kel’ Ruan sighed dreamily. “That’s such a nice name. I wish mine meant something pretty.”

“Kel’ is nice,” Ar’ Rion mumbled.

Kel’ Ruan blushed. “Young miss. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“It means your family loves you,” Yui chimed in, eyes bright.

Kel’ Ruan rolled her eyes. “I’m not a young miss of some noble family. I wish,” she also came over and sat down, unwrapping her wheat mounds and starting to eat slowly.

“Your kind of family is the best,” Tez’ Mu spoke after swallowing a morsel, “no undue pressure; you can do things at your own pace. Also, you don’t lack whatever you need, do you?”

Kel’ Ruan snorted lightly. “Yeah—except no mother, no father. Just a big sister drowning in work—”

“Isn’t Lord Ruan your father?” Ar’ Rion asked, frowning.

“I hope not,” Kel’ Ruan muttered, her eyes darting nervously, “Still, I’d take a mother like yours any day.”

Tez’ Mu arched an eyebrow. “Mine? Or Ar’s?”

“Yours, maybe.” Kel’ Ruan flushed slightly. “She must be so kind.”

Tez’ Mu barked a laugh. “Kind?”

Kel’ Ruan frowned. “Well, yes! I remember when she came to the Academy. She was amazing. The way she manipulated water, how effortlessly she taught us—everyone loved her!”

“Hah.” Tez’ Mu scoffed, crushing her fantasy in one stroke. “Powerful? Yes. Nice? Essa-kest’ Mu? I’d never describe her like that in a thousand years.”

“Oh, come on,” Kel’ Ruan pushed. “I can understand if your father is strict, but your mother too?”

Tez’ Mu bit down on a stiff piece of fish. He chewed slowly, then swallowed. “If she’s so sugar-sweet, why do you think I spend so much time here?”

Ar’ Rion shrugged. “Maybe you’re just overreacting.”

“Yeah. Or maybe you’re the problem,” Kel’ Ruan added, eyes twinkling. “If even someone like her doesn’t like you, then surely, you must be the issue.”

Tez’ Mu scoffed again. “I wish you’d see them for what they really are.” He exhaled sharply. “Forget it. I come here to escape the Mu Manor, not to drag it along with me.”

“Fine.” Kel’ Ruan threw up her hands. “We’ll see for ourselves at the wedding. Don’t back out on that invitation.”

Tez’ Mu smirked. “I won’t. You’ll have them by tomorrow.”

Satisfied, Kel’ Ruan dug back into her food. The boys had finished. As Yui cleared their plates, she lingered near Tez’ Mu, murmuring under her breath.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she stammered, her face going hot before scurrying away.

Ar’ Rion chuckled, shaking his head slowly. “She’s dead set on you, Tez’.”

“She’s not the only one,” Kel’ Ruan said loftily.

Tez’ Mu and Ar’ Rion, who were now at the sink, exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.

Kel’ Ruan huffed. “What’s so funny?”

Tez’ Mu grinned. “Nothing at all.”

She narrowed her eyes. “It’s because of Keiran’, isn’t it?”

Tez’ Mu felt himself stiffen. “Why are you bringing her up?”

“Hmph. Everyone knows she’s your betrothed, so you won’t—”

“Hum hum!” Tez’ Mu cleared his throat loudly. “Ar’, shall we go practice?”

“Sure.” Ar’ Rion got up.

Smirking, Kel’ Ruan washed her hands at the sink and followed them out—only for all three to stop in their tracks.

A figure stood in the courtyard. A tall boy in Mu Manor servant robes.

Tez’ Mu quickened his pace and met him first. “Sari?” he called the servant’s name, “What’s up?”

Sari bowed. “Your father wants to see you.”

Tez’ Mu groaned.

Kel’ Ruan and Ar’ Rion caught up, exchanging glances. “What’s wrong?”

Tez’ Mu’s voice dropped. “Apparently, Raq’ Mu has noticed that his problem is missing.”

Ar’ Rion frowned. “What does that mean?”

Tez’ Mu sighed. “Nothing good.” He hesitated. “You two carry on. I’ll see you tomorrow. If I’m still alive.” he added, and followed the servant out of the house. Ar’ Rion glanced at Kel’ Ruan, his brows raised.

“Is it me, or is Tez’ Mu being overly dramatic?”

Kel’ Ruan exhaled, pulling her sleeves down as she followed the departing figures with her eyes. “Not just you.”