Cough, cough.
Valeria takes a peek at my face, "You... okay, Master Eclipse."
"Yeah, I'm all right." Just decaying that's all.
We continue walking through the cobbled street.
The city is alive, but not in the chaotic, bustling way one might expect. The buildings are a seamless blend of old-world charm and subtle magical advancements—intricate stonework adorned with faintly pulsing runes, shop signs that shift their lettering to display daily specials, and street performers using minor illusions to entertain small, scattered crowds. The scent of fresh pastries drifts through the cool evening air, mingling with the faint ozone of residual magic.
Yet, despite its grandeur, there are places in this city that exist in the periphery—shadows amidst the opulence. The cafe before us, Ulmair, is one such place.
Tucked between two more extravagant establishments, its entrance is modest, almost easy to overlook if one isn't paying attention.
No elaborate signage, no warm, welcoming glow spilling from within—just a single, weathered wooden door with an iron handle, bearing a subtle emblem of a rose entwined with a sword. It's hidden in plain sight, a relic of a time when discretion held more value than spectacle.
In the game, Ulmair served as a checkpoint—a sanctuary for those who needed a moment's reprieve from the chaos.
A place where deals were made in hushed voices, where truths were spoken behind porcelain cups. It's perfect for what I need.
Valeria has been unusually quiet, her gaze darting around the city with an expression I can't quite place. A mix of wonder and discomfort.
"Have you been in the city before?" I ask.
"Aboveground," she mutters absently.
"Hm?"
She blinks and forces a smile, her previous moment of distraction vanishing. "Ah, yeah! I've been here. Just… never during the day."
I gesture toward the building ahead. "We're here."
She tilts her head. "Oh… a cafe? Huh. I don't think I've ever seen this one before."
"Are you familiar with cafes?"
"Eh? Ahaha, you could say that," she says, her laugh slightly forced.
We step inside, and the atmosphere shifts. Unlike the lively establishments outside, Ulmair is a place of hushed tones and refined stillness.
Dark wooden paneling lines the walls, the scent of aged parchment mingling with the faint bitterness of roasted coffee beans.
Soft golden light filters through lace-curtained windows, casting intricate patterns over the plush seats. The air carries a quiet elegance, the kind that feels entirely at odds with the clumsy girl standing beside me, eyeing the silverware with a suspicious amount of interest.
A distinguished older man, clad in a pristine butler uniform, approaches with a measured step. "Welcome to Ulmair." His gaze flickers to my uniform, noting the Warbringer crest. "Mr. Warbringer."
He inclines his head slightly before guiding us to a secluded table near the back.
Valeria plops down onto the seat with far too much enthusiasm, earning a single raised brow from our host. Undeterred, she leans forward, her gaze sweeping the room. "This place is nice… but why are we the only ones here?"
"This isn't the kind of place that welcomes just anyone," I reply. "It caters to those who prefer privacy."
Her eyes widen slightly. "Oh. So… a secret rich-people club?"
"…Something like that."
An elegantly bound menu is placed before us. Valeria picks hers up and immediately grimaces. "Most of this… I can't even pronounce."
Then she looks at me. Expectantly.
I glance down at the menu and instantly regret it.
The script is in some variation of an old Aelorian dialect, one that seems designed specifically to humiliate me. The only thing Dignity+ won't grant me is an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure culinary lexicons.
But admitting that? Unthinkable.
So I simply glance at the butler and say, "Surprise us."
He nods, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost.
Silence settles between us, save for the distant hum of a mana-powered clock ticking somewhere behind the counter. Valeria's gaze wanders—not just around the room, but to very specific, very expensive-looking objects.
She hums thoughtfully. "Say, Eclipse, do you think even their plates are expensive?"
I rest my cheek against my fist, elbow propped on the table. "Why? Are you planning to steal it?"
She stiffens. "W-Why do you assume such a thing? Haha… I would never steal!"
"Oh, really?" I arch a brow. "Because the potion I drank definitely wasn't made by you."
She visibly swallows. "…Did I not tell you? It was from a friend."
"Of course it was."
She fidgets under my gaze, her fingers tapping against the menu in an uneven rhythm. Lying is second nature to her, but she's terrible at it. Every tell is written across her face—the slight delay before answering, the forced nonchalance, the way she glances toward the nearest exit as if gauging the probability of escape.
The problem is, even knowing she's lying, I can't do much about it. Her status screen still reads Class: Thief. No amount of fabricated stories will change that.
But instead of pressing further, I shift the conversation. "I'd like to know more about this 'friend' of yours."
"Ah—"
Before she can wriggle out of it, I cut in smoothly. "Since we made a deal."
She freezes.
I lean forward slightly. "You agreed to my terms, remember?"
Her shoulders slump. "I… vaguely recall something like that."
"I recall it very clearly."
Her lips purse, eyes darting left and right as she scrambles for an excuse. "Well, you see—"
Our butler reappears just in time, setting down two elegantly plated dishes in front of us.
Valeria blinks down at her food, clearly relieved at the distraction, until she actually looks at it.
"GWah!"
She almost throw herself out of the seat.
She nudges her plate slightly. "Is… is my food staring at me?"
I glance at her dish. It appears to be some variation of seafood paella, the shellfish positioned in a way that does, unfortunately, resemble eyes.
I pick up my fork, entirely unbothered. "Valeria."
She looks at me. Looks at the plate. "I think it' saying something with its eyes... revenge?"
As amusing as this is, I can't let her distractions derail the real purpose of this meeting.