The night quickly passed and soon the golden rays of the Lightbringer bathed Eventide, heralding the start of a new day.
Alex awoke but feeling sore all over, didn't leave his bed immediately.
Instead of taking some time to do away with the exhaustion, he finally got up only for a knock to be heard at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal Nadia at the other end.
Just looking at her was enough to take a man's breath away, from her alluring lips to her slender but robust figure.
Nadia truly was a jewel.
Unfortunately, Alex's heart already belonged to another.
Revealing a smile, he greeted. "Good morning."
"Morning," Nadia replied. "Uncle is waiting downstairs. He wants to discuss a few things with you."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Nadia wait."
Pausing at the door, she made no effort to turn and face him.
"You trust me, don't you?"
As her heart palpitated, Nadia pursed her lips. "... Maybe."
"If it's worth anything… I won't do anything to hurt you or Arthur." Alex remarked.
Gripping the hems of her dress, she still didn't turn.
Instead after standing for a bit longer, she left without a response.
Alex sighed.
Feeling his heart tighten, he could tell that the identity he carried still had lingering regrets.
Douglas, Emily… Nadia.
"I will help with Douglas and Emily… but forget about Nadia. I would never be able to love her the way you did." With those words, Alex slowly got to his feet before heading to the bathroom to shower.
***
By the time he came downstairs, Nadia had already left for the office while Arthur made himself comfortable in the garden, smoking on his pipe while enjoying the morning breeze which was slightly polluted.
Alex strolled over. "Good morning."
"Oh, you are here. Nadia just left." Arthur remarked.
"She told me you wanted to talk," Alex replied.
Arthur gestured for him to take a seat as he continued. "You know, as a man, it's imperative to be successful. Just look at me, I get to enjoy the beautiful morning without any worries."
"...I see." Alex was unsure of how to follow up as he obliged Arthur's gesture.
Was this a business talk?
"Alright, maybe a little off-topic." Arthur sighed as he dropped his pipe. "How did it go?"
"I met the Guardian and he gave me my trial but…" Alex trailed off.
"You can't share it with me?" Arthur raised a brow.
Alex nodded wordlessly.
"I see," Arthur remarked. "You are on your own then."
Alex pursed his lips. "You aren't surprised."
"Of course not. When taking trials, there are always times when you aren't allowed to share your trial with other parties else you'd automatically fail. In any case, try not to die."
Arthur took a deep breath before adding. "Wouldn't want my lovely niece becoming a widow before having a chance to tie the knot."
"Will do my best," Alex muttered, however, his lips remained poised as though there was much left to be said.
Arthur glanced at him. "What is it?"
"... How would you grade your knowledge of Mysticism and the supernatural world?"
Arthur furrowed his brows at the strange question. "Why?"
"Because I have questions." Alex casually replied.
Arthur revealed a wry smile. "It's good to be curious but don't be too curious."
"Hmm."
"There are pieces of knowledge in this world that unless you are strong enough, you'd suffer from knowing about them. Take it as those important case files in the D.O.D. catalogs. There are some that unless you are at a certain level, you can't access else you'd face punishment. Same with mysticism."
"So unless I'm strong enough…"
"Even if you consider yourself strong, there are still something's you shouldn't dare to learn about. For example, don't you wonder why I told you never to look at the Nighteye with your Spirituality active?"
Alex remained silent but his expression made it clear he was indeed curious.
"I haven't experienced it myself but from the tales I've heard… all those that dared to do so died in the most gruesome way possible."
"How?"
Arthur pointed at his temple as he imitated the sound of an explosion.
Frowning deeply, Alex decided to push down his curiosity for the time being.
It was good to learn but he understood well that some knowledge was better than not knowing.
It was either that or risk losing his life.
He wasn't keen on the latter.
Alex didn't say more as he got to his feet and went back inside to make preparations.
Arthur sighed as he picked up his pipe and after taking a deep drag, relaxed back in his chair before letting out a puff. "This is good."
***
"You called for me, Lady Ana?" Natasha remarked as she sat across a dining table from Anastasia.
Still dressed in her work uniform, she felt out of place with the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere and the eye-catching Lady Ana who was dressed in a red dinner gown.
Lady Ana smiled as she cut a piece of beef and forked it into her mouth.
Chewing slowly, she savored the juices that melted in her mouth.
She had her eyes closed until she was done before revealing a satisfied smile.
"The cooks made quite an amazing dish today." She said before glancing at Natasha. "Don't you agree?"
Natasha awkwardly coughed. "I haven't tasted it yet."
"Then please, by all means. Help yourself." Lady Ana offered. "What's the point of inviting you for dinner if you don't eat anything?"
"That… that is indeed right." Natasha couldn't find a way to refute it.
Sighing helplessly, she cut a piece of beef as well and placed it in her mouth.
It was indeed delightful.
As the two ladies enjoyed their dinner, Natasha's tension reduced, albeit slightly.
She had been out at work when Anastasia's maid found her.
Even as the question of how she was able to find her plagued her, Natasha had no choice but to accept the invitation to dinner.
Now seated, enjoying dinner with this powerful figure that could make or unmake her, it was right to feel tense.
She had heard stories of the eccentric 13th Family head.
Unlike the other 12 that were aloof like gods and didn't bother with minor things, Anastasia was always one to move about and wherever she went… there were always stories to tell.
It was unknown whether she was a moving magnet for disaster but her presence in BoneHaven spelled a looming danger for the metropolitan.
"How is your investigation on the evil god going?" Anastasia inquired, jolting Natasha from her train of thought.
Natasha swallowed the food in her mouth before slowly responding. "I haven't found any leads so far."
"... You see why I told you to let it go?" Anastasia remarked.
Natasha lowered her head. "I was stubborn. At that time when your Excellency ordered Ambrose to remove the tails watching Alex and close down the evil god case, I was unsure what to make of things."
"Now you do."
Natasha didn't immediately respond, taking the time to arrange her thoughts before speaking up. "Is the evil god case a wild goose chase?"
"More or less," Anastasia replied. "However, BoneHaven is still in danger."
"Why can't you tell us straight where the danger is and how to avert it?" Natasha was forced to ask.
"Because I have no idea where the danger is coming from… it sounds bad coming from the so-called Protector of Zion but then I am not omnipotent, Natasha. Understand that."
"I…" Natasha pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.
She had indeed considered Anastasia to be a powerhouse but maybe she was asking for too much.
Lady Ana might be a dragon with control over time but she was not omnipotent by any means.
If not for coincidences, she might not have arrived in BoneHaven in the first place.
Natasha told herself this as she slowly ate her meal.
"I have a task for you." Ana suddenly said, causing Natasha to grow tense.
"Go over to the Sanders manor tomorrow and bring Alexander Regulus to the precinct tomorrow. I'd like to have a word with him."
Upon hearing Ana's request, Natasha took some time to digest what she said before revealing a complicated expression.
She had several questions but decided not to ask them as she pursed her lips before lowering her head. "...Yes, your Excellency."