When Leon and the other two entered the Eclipse's central cafeteria, the first thing they all saw were a bunch of maids in rather fancy household maid attire surrounded near a table.

They were servicing someone.

'Who is this? That noble emblem seems familiar.'

Leon began pondering when Alice, who was standing just beside her, hyped.

"Madam Ayaka?" She yelped, as she got close towards the person those elegant maids were surrounding.

Ah, now he remembered.

No wonder those emblems and their elegance stood out.

"Hm…?"

A pair of purple eyes peaked behind the maids, as it first fell on Alice who was getting close to her seat.

"Oh is that you, Alice." Ayaka recognized her instantly. Then as she called by her name, her eyes stopped on Leon.

Both blinked at each other.

"..."

"..."

Ayaka Rudward. A viscount of house Rudward, genius mage, a business tycoon, the founder of A.R Magitech, and… the 7th seat of Twilight Order 'Sumire'.

"Madam Ayaka it is you!" Alice said, blinking in confusion, "I can recognise that beautiful purple hair from anywhere."

"Oh my." Ayaka said, chuckling. "Stiil as flattery as ever it seems."

Her attention wavered off from Leon and focused entirely on her.

Not Leon or Ethan, didn't bother to greet her.

"I never knew I would run into you here. Are you here for a guest lecture? Or is there someone's research you are interested in?"

Ayaka was the one who funded 'Luntara' (Esther's research club) with required funds and resourced every month, but even so she rarely even came here.

What makes today's difference?

"Nah, none of the sort, I am here to have my lunch. I had a meeting with Raizen this morning, and after it ended, I decided to stroll through the academy. It's been so two years afterall…"

"Ah, is that so.."

Alice glanced at all of her maids. There were around eight of them standing around her seat, holding towels, glass, tissues…

'Stroll with all of them?' Alice awkwardly laughed in her head.

Who would have thought that this business tycoon would be sitting in her academy sipping tea.

Although her business wasn't as humongous as House Nightson, it was still slowly catching up to them.

Although the A.K Magitech were still considered the first choice when it came to high-end Magitech, the Nightson family held something they did not.

While the Nightson house did possess a considerable market share, they were already far ahead for one simple reason. Unlike Ayaka's company, the Nightsons did not limit their business to nobles alone.

They produced affordable Magitech tools for common citizens, while simultaneously supplying armories and high-class equipment for the elite.

That balance was what truly set them apart.

After a short greet, Ayaka looked behind two boys who were just standing there.

Of course she knew who they were, especially Leon, but for the sake of secrecy, she acted as if it was their first time meeting each other.

"Your friends?" Ayaka asked her.

Alice glanced behind, and answered. "We were just having a duel, and decided to hit the cafeteria after our match."

She gestured towards Leon and Ethan, whom Ayaka simply waved her hand and showed a politeful, almost blissful smile.

Ethan was quite shocked when he looked at her.

Leon noticed his reaction, and also the glint in his eyes.

Ethan was checking her status window.

Turning to her, Leon did the same.

———「Status Window」———

◆ Name: Ayaka Rudward

◆ Level: S-

◆ Rank: Breaker

◆ Mana Core: White

◆ Core Level: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

◆ Race: Human

◆ Age: 36

◆ Affinity: Fire /Water / Ice

———————————————

She was a Breaker, and that too of 4 stars.

Just one more star and she would break into Fateshifter.

Veronica, Leon's elder sister, is a four-star Fateshifter. She would reach close to her.

"Why do you keep on standing? Come join me."

She gestured to one of her maids, as she positioned three chairs surrounding her.

"Oh, no, no. We mustn't disturb you. Lady Ayaka." Ethan protested.

Leon recalled that it was Ethan, who chose this place, and wanted to have some type of discussion with him.

It makes Leon wonder. Although he can tell it was because of one of Ethan's recent quests.

But, what's the reason for asking Alice too?

If Leon remembered correctly, the Evana City Arc was about to begin, in which Ethan could bring two participants with him.

In the game, he invited Cyan to be his partner.

That arc was a game changer for both Cyan as well as Ethan.

Though being a partner was not mandatory. But it would be taken seriously if the system itself recommended it to him.

Leon wore an amused smile.

'If it's about a quest, then I would gladly follow him.'

There was no way in hell Leon would miss an opportunity like this. After reaching the conclusion that Everbright might be using him for her own benefit, Leon needed time. Time to think, time to prepare a counterattack.

She might be a goddess, that much was true.

But she should not forget one thing.

It was he who created her.

Evana City was the kind of place where he would have all the time he needed.

And because of the rules set beneath the reality of the 'Upper World,' she would never be able to exert her influence within that person's domain.

Ethan's system was the only thing Everbright had no control over.

It was as if it had been designed for a single purpose of opposing her.

As they were rejecting her, a butler barged in through the door, wearing the same styled uniform as the maids. A House Rudward emblem was pinned neatly to his waistcoat.

He walked in briskly and headed straight toward where Ayaka was seated.

Ayaka noticed him immediately, but she did not say anything, as if this had happened before.

The butler looked tense, clearly in a hurry. He leaned down close to her ear and whispered something softly.

The moment he stopped speaking, Ayaka's eyes widened slightly.

"What?" she asked. "When was it seen?"

"Today, at nearly 4 AM, my lady."

'I wonder what this is all about…?'

Ethan, Alice, and even Leon shared the same thought.

As the butler straightened himself, Leon glanced at Ayaka's face. She was tense now, cold sweat was forming along her temple.

'Something happened…'

That much was clear.

As she finally relaxed, Ayaka looked at the trio, stood up, and smiled.

"Although I did call you children here to join me," she said lightly, "I have to leave now. Something urgent has come up."

She gestured toward the table.

"You may have whatever you want. Consider it a treat from me."

Her gaze then shifted to Alice.

"I will be reading your research this year," she added. "So be prepared, alright?"

"Huh?!"

"Oh… yes, Madam Ayaka," Alice replied quickly.

All three just stood there staring at her back as she walked out the cafeteria with some of her maids tagging alongside her.

"..."

"..."

"..."

There was a minute of silence between them. Almost at the same time, their gazes drifted to the now empty table Ayaka had gestured toward earlier, then back to each other's faces.

"Aren't we all lucky…" Alice muttered, flopping down onto the chair first.

"Sweet," she said with a grin, glancing back at the other two. "Order whatever you want."

"Haah…" Ethan sighed with a laugh and flopped into the seat in front of her. Leon took the seat opposite the both of them.

Alice was the first to grab on the menu.

She stared at the menu with a deep frown, her brows knitting together so tight like she was trying to solve an ancient spell formula.

"…Why is everything sweet," she muttered.

Leon leaned back slightly, watching her in silence.

Flip.

She flipped a page.

"…Why is this sweet too?"

Flip.

"…Why does this also have sugar?"

Ethan glanced over, confused.

Leon said to her. "You came here for something sugary, didn't you? Why are you complaining?"

"Yes," Alice replied instantly. "But not this sugary."

Leon sighed. "Just eat sugar cubes at this point, also, you've been staring at that thing for fifteen minutes."

"And?" she snapped back. "This is a very serious decision for me."

Leon watched as she finally slammed the menu shut.

"Alright. I'll take the bean cake," she declared.

There was a brief pause.

"…That's it?" Leon asked.

She looked at him like he had just offended his ancestors.

"Why? What's the problem?"

Leon narrowed his eyes.

"You spent fifteen minutes deciding… that?"

"Why the fuck you having problem with me choosing a cake? And it's a refined cake," she corrected. "You wouldn't understand."

"My bad for asking something useless," Leon replied flatly.

Alice snorted. "Heh."

"Hahaha…" Ethan laughed quietly, resting his chin on his hand as he watched the two of them.

"You know," he said, amused, "you two argue like actual siblings."

Alice blinked.

"Hm? That's new." She turned toward him. "What makes you say that?"

Leon felt a chill run down his spine.

Alice leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. "First of all, I am very far from being his sister. And second, he already has one."

She smirked, then added. "And I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be happy if I tried to steal him from her."

Leon nearly choked.

"..."

"You should've seen his face earlier," Alice continued, clearly enjoying herself. She even raised her arms pulling her own cheeks for a demonstration. "He went all puff puff when she pulled his cheeks like this. Hahaha."

"Shut up," Leon muttered, adjusting his specs.

"Oh?" Alice grinned wider. "That's new. You usually deny it."

Ethan laughed again, this time louder. "You really do get flustered easily."

Leon shot him a look.

They continued like that, trading remarks back and forth, the tension from the earlier duel dissolved.

But Leon noticed something strange.

He glanced at Alice again.

She was smiling.

She was chatting comfortably, laughing, talking freely with Ethan, with him, like this was normal for her.

Leon stared for a second longer.

'Is she ill?'

Alice caught him staring.

"The fuck are you looking at?" she snorted.

"…Nah," Leon said, looking away. "Must've imagined it."

Before the food arrived, their conversation gradually slowed.

That was when Ethan cleared his throat.

Ethan glanced at Leon first. Then at Alice.

"…Alright," he said. "I didn't call you two here just to eat."

Alice raised a brow.

Leon rested his elbow on the table. "After that duel, you suddenly ask something like this. I assumed as much."

Ethan exhaled.

"You nearly killed me," he added casually, looking at Alice.

She shrugged. "Skill issue."

"…Anyway," Ethan continued, ignoring her, "have either of you heard of a place called Evana?"

The moment he said the name, Leon's eyes sharpened.

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