Morning.
"..." Levi overlooked the familiar scenery.
" Junior brother! Did you wait long?" Olivia stopped for a breath.
" Hmm? You should get around more before you get fat." Yuri came to a stop.
" Leave me alone, ha! My fragile lungs were not made for this. The Mechanisms department should do something about this monstrous flight of stairs!" She glanced back with dread.
" Do you want to rest for a bit?" Levi asked.
" No. If my master shows up again, we'll never get to leave. Let's go!" Olivia led the way.
They tread down the stairs.
A few minutes later.
" Oh, oh." Olivia looked around.
"...What is she doing?" Levi hid his mouth as he whispered.
" She was raised inside the sect, confined to the Inscription department for most of her life. I feel like anything outside of the sect would interest her greatly at this point." Yuri said.
" I didn't know about that. Also...What's this you're making me carry?" On Levi's back was a large light-brown box with silver corners. Thin brown straps secured it onto his back.
" You'll see later, little snail." Yuri chuckled.
"..." Levi tilted his head.
" Hahaha!" Yuri caught up to Olivia.
"...I will never understand that guy. Wait for me!" Levi shook his head.
" Hurry up!" Olivia giggled as she spun.
...
Later.
" Are we there yet?" Olivia rubbed her eye as she asked.
" Are you a child? Stop running around, its a waste of energy." Yuri wiped a drop of water from her eye.
" Eh, what's that?! Its tail is fluffy!" Olivia pointed with sparkling eyes.
" A squirrel. Watch out for those little fu-Those little rodents. They'll steal your food." Yuri shook his finger.
" Ehhh..." Olivia drooped.
" We can rest if you're tired, Senior sister. There's a city close to here so we can go afterward." Levi turned around.
" A city? Will there be people? And food? And Sights?" Stars danced in Olivia's eyes.
" Yeah. Cities typically have those." Levi said deadpan.
" No. We're not going to any city. She'll be tainted by people's stupidity." Yuri held his arms behind his back.
" And you're the best influence." Levi rolled his eyes.
" Y-You! Stop that! You're starting to act like Master!" Olivia pulled his sleeve.
" My words are final! Stop pulling!" Yuri tugged back.
" Well, whatever. Camping could be fun too!" Her eyes lit up.
...
The sky darkened slowly.
"...Let's stop for now." Yuri said.
" Junior sister? Olivia? Hey." He lightly tapped her face.
" How can you fall asleep while walking?" Yuri pinched his nose bridge.
Olivia clutched his arm tightly while leaning her head against his shoulder. She stumbled occasionally as they walked.
" You can put that down now." Yuri turned to Levi.
Thump!
" What is in here anyway?" Levi tapped the top of the box.
" Nothing. Do you see a circle on the top there?" Yuri pointed.
" Hmm? There is one." Levi swept his finger over it.
" Push it," Yuri said.
The circle sank with a click. The box split in half, then into four. The four then spread apart. Those four pieces then split in half, as those on top shot up.
" The hell?" Levi looked up and down.
" This is a portable room crafted by someone from the Mechanism department. Open the door so that I can get her inside." Yuri prompted.
" You have to push that cube up." He pointed.
Before them sat a strange structure. With a brown cloth pulled tightly and secured in place by wooden cubes at each corner, a small 'room' was created. Levi pushed a piece of wood secured on a line, causing a piece of the cloth to peel upward.
"..." Levi looked inside the empty room.
" Ha." Olivia was made to hug her legs in a corner as her head tipped to the side.
" Come in." Yuri sat.
" I can just sleep outside." Levi shook his head.
" If she found out that you slept outside that would be the end of me. Come in and take a seat." Yuri glanced upward.
" Fine." Levi sat.
" Don't try anything, though. I sleep lightly." Yuri's eyes narrowed.
"..." Levi shook his head wordlessly.
...
Late night.
" Unnn...Bath...Bathroom..." Olivia swayed.
" Ow!...Olivia?" Yuri was dragged back from wonderland as he drew his foot back.
" Bathroom..." Olivia groaned.
" Nnng, push down that piece of wood..." He rubbed his eyes as he pointed.
Poof! Poof!
She felt around.
" Alright, alright, I'll open it." He got up.
Cloth peeled up, revealing a small room. Inside was a wooden toilet with lines similar to those of a puzzle.
" Handle the rest on your own." Yuri scratched his head as he turned.
"...And remember to move your clothes out of the way first." He said as the cloth unrolled.
" Sigh." He lay on his side, using his hand as a pillow.
A few minutes later.
" Ahh! My foot! Oaf! How did you manage to kick me!" Yuri clenched his stomach.
"..." Levi's eyes opened and closed after a few seconds.
...
Morning.
" Ahhhh..." Olivia stretched.
" I rested well." She yawned.
"...Is that so? Great. Can you move your foot now then?" Levi asked. His words were stifled as a snow-white heel was pushed against his cheek.
" Junior brother!? I'm sorry!" She hurriedly moved her leg.
" Don't worry about it. More importantly...Maybe you should move your arm from there. Your elbow is kinda..." Levi's gaze shifted.
"..." Olivia's face reddened as she sat up.
" What exactly happened?" She covered her face.
' You happened.' Levi's lips twitched.
" I think he's dead." He pointed.
" Don't say foolish things! Senior brother? Wake up!" She became progressively heavy-handed as she tapped his face.
" A-Are those the rays of heaven..." Tears streamed from Yuri's eyes.
" You need to work on your sleeping posture." He looked up.
" I-I'm sorry. I said I was sorry, okay!" She stomped.
" Sleeping posture? That's what that was?" Levi gasped.
" You too?! Agh! Leave me alone." She covered her head as she sat in the corner.
A few minutes later.
" Senior sister, are you ready?" Levi peered into the room.
" Yes. Are we leaving now?" She walked out.
" Yes." Levi stepped back.
" Alright. Climb up there and press the button to change it back to its portable form." Yuri pointed.
"...Was the person who made this special in some way?" Levi's brows furrowed.
" And why do I have to? You do it. You're taller than me." He said.
" I'm also thinner than you. And after last night's battle, I'm too weak for such things right now." Yuri crossed his arms.
" Battle?" Olivia asked. She let out an "oh" before covering her face.
" Oh, how tragic. If only you felt better." Levi droned.
Qi spewed from his palm, enveloping the room. It had returned to its box form as he recalled his Qi.
" As usual, you have more Qi then you know what to do with. Really makes one wonder who could have birthed such a gifted child." Yuri clapped.
" GIfted? Ha! Let's go." Levi threw the strap over his shoulder as he turned.
" Let's go, junior sister. Move your hands before you fall." Yuri grabbed Olivia's arm.
...
Evening.
" Haaa. We're finally here..." Levi slouched, his eyes red from exhaustion.
" Is this what happens when you don't leave your house for years? I'm never doing that again." He droned.
" Oh! You said the town is behind this hill?" Olivia asked.
" Yeah..." Levi dragged his feet.
"..." She ran along the trail.
" Don't fall!" Yuri followed behind.
" Sigh. How simple-minded. Looking at her now, it would really make someone wonder..." Levi caught up.
A few minutes later.
" Look! There are tiles everywhere! And the trees are so beautiful!" Olivia's eyes glittered as she ogled everything in sight.
Those walking by smiled at her enthusiasm.
" Hey...are you the kid who left with that green-haired brat?" A voice sounded.
" Huh? Mister? Did he come back and left without paying again?" Levi saw a familiar face. It was the burly Innkeeper, one of Adam's many victims.
" No, thankfully he hasn't." The innkeeper wiped his face with his sleeve.
" But this is a surprise! I was sure you had left for somewhere for away. You should've come to visit sometime!" He patted Levi's shoulder.
" Sii! What are you wearing under there?" He shook his hand.
" Haha, I would have liked to, but I was locked up for two whole years." A bead of sweat slid down Levi's face as he smiled.
" Locked up?! What for? No, never mind. Just make sure to do better in the future. Or at least don't get caught!" The Innkeeper threw his head back in laughter.
" I'll keep that in mind," Levi said.
" Hmm? Who are these two? Friends?" The Innkeeper asked.
" This is my senior sister and senior brother," Levi said.
" Siblings, huh? You don't look much alike. Hmm." He squinted while stroking his chin.
' I get the feeling this man is having a completely different conversation.' Yuri thought.
" Has anyone arrived here recently?" Levi asked.
" Ah? Oh, there was an unfamiliar ship docked here a few days ago. It left, though." The innkeeper pointed down to the port.
" It left?" Levi's brows drew together.
" Does that mean the person you wanted to meet isn't here?" Olivia asked.
"..." Levi glanced at her.
" Oh, but a lady stayed behind. She's staying at the old lady's place that way. If you know 'er, you should have her come stay over at my place instead! The service is surely better." The man's crossed arms restrained his puffing chest.
" Say that first." Levi's lip twitched.
" Are we going to this other Inn then?" Olivia asked.
" I suppose. Thanks for your help." Levi looked at the man.
" No problem. Next time, bring the grass-head kid along! Preferably with money." The innkeeper grinned.
" I-" Levi was interrupted.
" Young-Levi!" A figure dashed.
" Huh? A-Oaf!" Aria jumped onto him.
" Oh my." Olivia covered her mouth.
"..." Yuri crossed his arms.
"...huuuuh!" Levi peeled Aria from his person as he inhaled.
" What are you doing all of a sudden..." He gasped.
" Why don't you introduce us?" Yuri grinned.
"...Ok. This is Aria. She's looking after the old farmer who took care of me before." Levi said.
" Oh." Olivia's brows rose.
" She used to pop up from time to time when I was younger, but I hadn't expected to hear from her when I contacted the old man." Levi glanced at Aria.
" I haven't seen you since you were just this hight! Now you're even slightly taller than me!" Aria measured.
" Um...I'm introducing you..." Levi pointed.
"...Uh-hunn." Yuri's eyes narrowed.
"..." Levi looked in the opposite direction.
" So why an eyepatch?" Yuri asked.
"...Because without it, this is visible." Aria slid her finger under the eyepatch as she lifted it.
" You..." Yuri covered Olivia's eyes with a dark face.
" Little boy, you shouldn't ask questions if you don't want them answered," Aria said condescendingly.
" Hey! Don't be rude to my seniors!" Levi said.
" Oh? Since when were you so brave? You used to cry every time I came around back then!" Aria buried Levi's head in her chest.
" You want to know how the old sack of bones is, right? I'll tell you over a snack. You have no choice in the matter!" She dashed down the street with Levi in tow.
" What are we going to do now, senior brother?" Olivia peeled Yuri's fingers from her face.
"...What do you want to do?" Yuri asked after a short silence.
" Sightseeing!" Olivia's eyes glittered.
" Ok then." Yuri chuckled as he placed a hand on her back.
"...Oh. I forgot to tell him about the lady who's staying here!" The innkeeper's eyes widened.
" Well, whatever. It's not like this place is going to move. Not for a few more decades!" He went inside.
...
Inside a simple bedroom.
" How come you're alone? Was it you who sent the ship back?" Levi asked.
" I had them take it into the distance, far enough that it wouldn't be seen. Given your circumstances, young master, I felt it was a reasonable decision." Aria bowed.
" In any case, how are things? How are you doing?" Levi placed his foot over his knee.
"..." Aria's 'eyes' widened.
" What? Did something happen?" Levi frowned.
" No, it's just...Are you...really the young master?" Her brows scrunched up.
" Who else could I be?" Levi's brow rose.
" But...would the young master ask something like that?" She pointed.
"...Was I that bad? Maybe I shouldn't come back." Levi fell back onto the bed.
" No! That's not what I-" Aria was cut off.
" That was a joke. Tell me what happened, Aria." Levi's eyes glowed.
" Why are you being so stiff? It's not like you. I won't blame you, so tell me." He sat up.
"...Yes." Aria nodded slowly.