The autumn breeze was eroding Farol's last glimmers of evening light, the sky had deepened into night, and An Su and the Esoteric Sect Followers had finished their meeting. Outside the alley, the Sun Flame had already been extinguished, and the ashen canvas of the sky was baked into an orange by the remnants of the blaze. Volcanic clouds scattered petal by petal among the mountain ranges, enveloping all things in a rose-colored twilight.
For An Su, the brotherhood between the Borderland Triumvirs was more precious than gold because the one thing his family was never short of was gold. Thus, their friendship was worthless. That's what was meant by 'firmer than gold'—describing a relationship that's even less firm than gold.
No matter what, everyone was an acquaintance after all, and An Su naturally had to care about whether Arthur was dead or alive.
"Hey, aren't you how you used to be?"
