Sakura finishes eating with a soft smile on her face. It is nice seeing it. She looks more worried about ruining the mood when we all seem so relaxed.
"That sounds like something Sho would say," Shino laughs.
"It is," I say. "She said those exact words."
"You are good," Shino says. "Really incredible. Not only were you able to recreate weapons from Earth, but you also managed to gain the trust of the Queen of the Tower."
"I wouldn't call it her trust," Rei interrupts. "More like luck and mutual respect."
"It all leads back to him, does it not?"
Shino looks out over the island beach. I can't see Risto or Adrian, but I can feel their mana signatures, weak yet present. Risto's pale mana hums faintly in the light. Adrian's bright gold mana pulses beside it, even though he can't sense it himself. It almost feels overshadowed by Risto's.
"We should do something," Sakura says. "For the man who was there for Teruki."
"I more than agree," Teruki says. She walks back to her chair, bringing her notebook with her. She doesn't want to lose it. She keeps it close.
"Let's get through this summit first," Viri adds. "It isn't like we'll split just because we beat the slime queen."
"So what will we do?" I say.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Shino asks, looking over at Sakura.
Sakura pauses, thinking, unsure how to answer.
"I'm not sure what he would like," Sakura admits.
"Adrian told me there is one thing he wants," Shino says. "He wants his mom's shop to prosper, even without his fame. His mom always refuses his money. Buying flowers or treats from her shop is the best thing you can do."
"Do you know the name?" Sakura asks.
"I forget the name," Shino says. "But it is a flower shop in city 14."
"Lilian's Flowers," I say.
"That is it," Shino says excitedly. "How did you know that?"
"It is a long story," I sigh.
"Why are you so worried about being in his good graces?" Viri asks.
"He lost a friend, his eye, and his best friend," Sakura snaps back. "That is the least we can do."
"Sakura," Viri says, her voice suddenly serious. "I am sure Calder knew the risks. Adrian did too."
"What?" Sakura says, almost shocked. "How dare you say that?"
"Listen. People who refuse to use magic are at an inherent disadvantage."
"Didn't he beat you?" Sakura interrupts.
"Yes," Viri admits. "But Calder did not. And now that he lost his eye, I am sure he is thousands of times weaker."
"You talk just like Valen," Teruki mutters.
"Valen has some points," Viri says. "What does our guild stand to gain from one without magic? Any other guild could have done what the Crusaders did."
"Viri," Shino says as she stands up, "don't you dare talk about my friend like that."
"Your friend," Viri replies calmly. "Or Shino's friend, Slime Queen. You are not Shino. You never will be. You heard what Adrian said. He hates avatars. He hates you. You forcibly took over his friend"
"But…"
"But what?"
"But was there any other way to beat me? You certainly couldn't have."
"We would have figured it out," Viri yells.
"You are lucky," Shino says, her voice turning cold. " He has not revealed himself yet. He is still holding back."
"Oh yeah?" Viri snaps. "Adrian got people killed. Calder died. He got himself hurt because he cares more about others than himself. I'm tired of everyone saying he has too much potential, too much mana, this and that! The Adrian we have… he's selfish!"
"He is selfless," Shino fires back. "Listen, Viri! We could have denied your request for help. Tenshi would have stayed with Valen. We helped you of our own choice."
"Answer me this, Slime Queen," Viri says. "Would Adrian have taken so long if he used his mana? No. It is undeniable. His selfish ambition got Calder killed and got him hurt. Teruki still feels guilty when she did nothing wrong."
"Ladies," Rei says as she steps between Shino and Viri. "Stop this. This argument is idiotic."
"Everyone in this tower is lucky Adrian chooses to restrict himself," Rei continues.
"Slime Queen," Viri says, "just because Shino likes Adrian doesn't mean you have to defend him."
"I am not going to fight you, Viri," Shino says quietly.
The area falls silent for a moment. Teruki seems to think over what Viri said.
"There is no point worrying about this," Rei says. "We have future issues. We should focus on the summit."
"I have always wondered about something," Shino says. "Why are you all so worried about being a top ranked guild? Do you even gain anything from it?"
"The World Guild incentivizes the top ten guilds," Rei explains. "We get better rewards from boss fights. When selling items to the guild, we receive better rates."
"There is more than that," Viri says.
"What about being a top player?" Sakura asks.
We all look at Rei. She sits down, an embarrassed expression crossing her face. The silence is awkward, and the smile she gives is even worse. She seems lost in thought.
"I'm not sure I can reveal that," Rei says. "Sho gives S rank players exclusive information and privileges. That is all I can say."
"You are not a top player anymore," Viri says. "So what is the issue?"
"Long story," Rei replies, glancing at me briefly. "What I can say is that since ranks nine, ten, and eleven change constantly, Sho didn't tell me much to begin with."
"Sho really is quiet about things like that," Teruki sighs.
"Have you ever had a top ten player meeting?" Shino asks.
"Not that I was invited to," Rei says. "I assume Sho and Valen view it as redundant since most top players are already part of top guilds."
"That makes sense," Shino says. "If you are already at the top, there isn't much reason to attend."
Viri nods. "Exactly. Most of them would see it as a waste of time."
"Most of them," I said, glancing up.
"Except maybe Arthur," Sakura says. "She joined a guild so she could be invited."
"Arthur," Shino repeats, thinking for a moment. "I have seen that name before in the rankings as a guildless player."
The paper finally reaches Shino, and she looks it over.
"Hm. I have never seen her or heard of her. What kind of magic does she use?"
"She uses mana enhancement magic," Sakura explains. "But she also invented a magic type called Vitreglace."
"That is how she got her name," Rei adds. "The Vitreglace Fencer."
"Vitreglace?" Viri repeats.
"Glass magic," Rei says. "She is incredible. She also has a pet dragon."
"A pet dragon?" Shino asks. "How did she even get one this early?"
"I'm not sure," Rei says. "She treats it like a dog. I doubt she will bring it to the summit."
Shino looks deeper into the paper, scanning for names she doesn't recognize. She pauses on the list of twenty players trying to break into the top ten. The familiar ones come to her instantly, but after that, it becomes harder.
"What about Veil? I don't remember her."
Rei sits beside Shino, leaning over to look at the sheet with her.
"Oh, Veil," Rei exhales. "Current rank eleven. I haven't heard much about her."
"Of course you don't know him," Teruki mutters. "She is a he. He used to be a member of Ascend, but after Darius died, he left."
"What is he like?" Rei asks.
"He uses a type of enhancement magic where he makes pacts with monsters to use their abilities," Teruki says. "Last I heard, he had one hundred pacts."
"Oh," I say slowly. "I think I know who you are talking about. Was he the one who helped us find Valen?"
"Yeah," Teruki agrees. "Day one."
"The one with black and white hair?"
"Yep."
Rei and Viri glance at each other for a moment. Shino thinks quietly.
"Blue eyes or gray?" Shino asks.
"Blue, I think," I say, looking at Teruki to check.
"Sounds right," Teruki replies.
"Okay," Shino says. "What about Lyra?"
"I have no idea," Sakura says. "I have never met her. She is a true mystery."
Sakura puts her mask back on, a hint of sadness passing over her face.
"I will get Adrian," she says.
The sun climbs higher before the day begins to fade. The sky turns a soft shade of pink as evening settles in.
Risto and Adrian return with Sera. Adrian holds something behind his back, but I couldn't tell what it is.
"What took you so long talking about?" Rei asks.
"Risto was telling me the summit will allow three members per guild instead of two," Adrian says.
"We also spoke about…" he begins. Risto placed a hand over his mouth.
"Let us wait until the summit," Risto says instead. "In the meantime, I think it is best if Sera and Tenshi go this time."
"Works for me," Rei says. "I'm not sure why, but I trust you."
"Look what we found," Adrian says with a smile.
He opens his arms, revealing a large sphere of red coral mixed with something almost crystalline.
"An Illa coral," Teruki says. "It is a symbol of eternal appreciation. It isn't supposed to be on this floor."
Adrian hands the crystal to Sera. "I think you would make the best item from this."
"Are you sure?" Risto asks. "It is a rare and powerful crystal. Yuto or Han could … "
"I'm sure," Adrian says, a small smile crossing his face.
Sera panics for a moment before grabbing Tenshi's notebook and writing inside it.
"I know exactly what I will make." A small smile is drawn beside the words.
The night moves forward, but the rest of the Crusaders never join us, even though we planned for them to. Adrian doesn't seem upset by it.
The tension that usually follows us fades, replaced by something softer. No plans. No urgency. Just time.
Shino drags me toward the water before I can protest. The shoreline glows faintly under the moonlight. The waves are gentle and warm against my feet.
Rei and Viri set up a volleyball match. It is just the two of them. They traded sharp serves and aggressive spikes across the sand. Viri plays with brute force, each hit powerful enough to leave a crater. Rei counters with precision, reading every move like a puzzle.
Trash talk flies between them, half serious and half playful.
"You call that a serve?" Rei taunts.
"At least I scored," Viri fires back.
Their match draws laughter from the rest of us. Rei dives dramatically into the sand just to save a point she probably could have let go.
At some point, Sera quietly disappears.
Teruki, meanwhile, returns to her notebook. She sits slightly apart from the others, legs crossed. She writes with intense focus. Every now and then she pauses. She stares at the page like she is arguing with it, then continues scribbling again. The world could end and she would still finish her notes.
Adrian watches all of it from a distance. I wouldn't let him join the game. A faint smile on his face. He doesn't say much. He doesn't need to.
It isn't a grand ending, nor is it dramatic. It is simple, warm, and shared.
And for now, that is enough.