After they split up at Windrise, Elias made her way to the pub in the heart of town. The air buzzed with laughter and chatter—people stringing lights, children racing past, music warming the streets. It looked like the whole town was preparing for a festival.
Behind the bar, a broad-shouldered man greeted her with a grin."A new face? You must be here for the festival, huh? What'll it be?"
Elias slid onto a stool and answered casually, "Yeah, just arrived. Mead—no spices. Don't shake it."
"Simple. Mead, coming right up."
She leaned in slightly. "So, there's a festival going on? I'm here on business—mind filling me in?"
The bar owner chuckled as he poured. "You don't know? The Great Egotheon blessed Windrise with his presence a few days ago. We're celebrating His divine arrival." He set the bottle down and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Which lord do you follow?"
The noise in the bar dimmed almost instantly. Conversations froze. All eyes seemed to drift her way. The warmth in the room curdled into something quieter. Tighter.
The Sevens' followers rarely fought openly—but everyone knew the truth. Names whispered wrong in the wrong place meant death in the alleys.
Elias bit her lip at the name Egotheon. But her voice stayed steady."Praise Egotheon," she said, just loud enough to be heard.
Just like that, the tension dissolved. The laughter returned, the music rose again.
"Phew," the bar owner grinned. "Thought for a second you'd name one of them. As a fellow follower, this one's on the house. Here you go." He slid the glass of mead across to her.
Elias took the drink with a slight nod, but her thoughts were already elsewhere—Egotheon was here?
---
On Joseph and Wendy's side—
They walked side by side through the bustling market. Bright banners fluttered above the stalls, and laughter echoed off the cobbled streets. The townsfolk were lost in celebration, preparing for the festival with smiles and songs.
It only made Joseph and Wendy feel colder.
They had lost Ray—to the very god these people were praising.
"Hey, have you heard about Gable Seraphine?" one voice rose from a nearby crowd.
"No, what about him?" another replied.
"They say the Seraphine family used to be a powerhouse for Egotheon. But ever since Lumine became the head, their influence faded. Now Gable's taken over as head—and Egotheon himself has blessed him with a mission."
"Ha. That man must be gloating," someone snorted. "With his ego? He probably thinks he is the next god."
"Still… do you think he can make the Seraphines great again?"
Joseph and Wendy both stopped mid-step, catching every word.
"You heard that?" Joseph muttered without looking at her.
Wendy gave a quiet nod, eyes scanning the crowd. "Loud and clear."
Joseph's jaw clenched. "He was there. When Ray…"
"I know," she cut in, voice steady. "Let's dig a little deeper before we act. We're no good to Ray's memory if we walk blind into a storm."
Joseph exhaled sharply but said nothing more.
For now, they strolled. Masking their grief with calm faces, blending in with the joy they couldn't share. Watching. Listening. Waiting.
---
After that, Joseph, Wendy, and Elias regrouped in a quiet alley behind the tavern.
"It's still early, and you already reek of alcohol, Elias," Joseph teased, wrinkling his nose.
Elias smirked, brushing off her coat. "Hey! I'm gathering intel my way. What about you two, huh? Strolling through the market like some lovey-dovey couple? Don't tell me you forgot we're on a mission."
Wendy cut in before Joseph could snap back. "Alright, settle down. We're all doing our part."
They shared what each had heard—Elias from the bar, Joseph and Wendy from the market. The pieces of the puzzle started to take shape.
Just then, a faint breeze brushed past them, carrying more than wind.
Stella's whisper.
The information she gathered streamed into their minds like a low voice in the ear.
Joseph blinked, processing it. "She's sharp… That much, in so little time?"
"She might be better at this than we thought," Wendy said with a slight smile.
"Tch. She's related to the very people we're trying to expose," Joseph muttered. "It's not that impressive."
"She's fourteen," Elias shot back, eyes narrowed. "Don't downplay it."
Joseph crossed his arms but didn't argue.
Elias took a breath and looked to them both. "Alright, enough chatter. We've got intel—but now comes the real problem."
Wendy nodded. "How do we get into the Seraphine mansion?"
The three of them fell silent, the celebration noise of Windrise echoing faintly in the distance.