Silence stretched between them as they walked side by side. Upon stepping into the dining hall, Asher and Annabelle saw William and Finch already devouring their meals as though they had been starved for days.

Unlike before, when the Baron and his wife would join them at the table, both were absent this morning, an understandable absence, considering the amount of work that awaited them after the Monster Tide.

"Hey, Asher, you're finally out of your room," Finch said without looking up. He didn't need to; he could already sense that the presence belonged to Asher.

"Good morning," William greeted, his black eyes lifting slightly before trailing between Asher and Annabelle. With a calm smile, he returned to his meal. Asher could already tell what ridiculous thought was forming in William's head, but he didn't bother to correct him. He simply didn't have the strength to indulge in pointless banter this early.

'They call him by his name?' Annabelle thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. She hadn't heard anyone address the Tenth Sun so casually before. 'This changes everything,' her thoughts continued, a spark of various thoughts lighting up within her mind.

Without missing a beat, Asher pulled out a chair and lowered himself into it silently.

"Tenth Sun, please accept my apologies for my family's lack of presence," Annabelle said with a soft, polite smile.

"I understand, Lady Annabelle. I'm sure you have your own duties to attend to as well, don't you?" Asher replied, already reaching for the plate before him.

"I indeed do," she said, rising gracefully from her seat. "Another time then, Tenth Sun, Young Lord Canestane, Young Lord Whale."

William and Finch merely nodded in acknowledgment. With one final glance at Asher, Annabelle turned and left the hall, her footsteps echoing faintly until they disappeared altogether.

The three young men ate in silence, each lost in thought as though the food before them was too good to be interrupted by conversation. The sound of utensils occasionally broke the stillness, but none of them spoke until Finch finally shattered the quiet.

"So, what are we going to do with the remaining six days of our stay? We're not just returning to the Star Academy immediately, right?" Finch's voice sliced through the silence like glass.

William's eyes lifted from his plate to meet Asher's expressionless face. "I'm not sure," he replied before glancing at Finch. "Going to my father's or your father's territory from here would take an extremely long journey, and that's without counting the dangers on the way. The chance of death is easily above fifty percent."

"We're leaving today," Asher said suddenly, setting down his wine glass with a soft clink.

"Asher," Finch began with a frown, "we know you're talented, but you can't be married to the training facilities at the Star Academy. Can't you sit back and relax for at least a day or two?" His tone carried a mix of jest and genuine concern. Normally, Finch would never dare speak so freely, but since the Tenth Sun had accepted him as a friend, he had grown bolder in expressing himself.

"Who said anything about returning to the Separate Dimension?" Asher replied with a faint, enigmatic smile. His words made both William and Finch freeze mid-motion.

"Then where are we going?" William asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

"A surprise for the both of you," Asher said calmly. Dabbing his mouth with the table napkin, he rose from his seat and began walking toward the exit. "I'm heading to see the Baron. We'll depart when I return. Prepare yourselves," he added in finality before leaving the dining hall.

William and Finch exchanged a glance, neither of them questioned him further. They had no opinion to give, they didn't even know where to go, and it wasn't like they could spend all six days idling around the Rivelle Manor… right?

Asher made his way directly to Baron Rivelle's study, certain the man would be there, buried under a mountain of paperwork like a 9 to 5 average company worker bound by a manager or boss. Upon arriving, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the old butler standing tall with vigor, defying the signs of age.

"Good morning, Tenth Sun," the butler greeted respectfully.

"Morning," Asher replied. "I'm here to see the Baron. Is he available?"

"He is, Tenth Sun. You may go in," the butler answered with a nod. The Baron had already instructed him to allow Asher entry whenever he arrived.

With that, Asher stepped forward as the butler pushed open the heavy wooden door. Inside, Baron Rivelle sat behind his desk, black eyes scanning through a stack of documents. The number of bandages wrapped around his body had visibly reduced, a sign that he had received another round of healing earlier that morning.

"Tenth Sun," Baron Rivelle greeted, setting the parchment aside.

"How are your injuries?" Asher asked as he sat opposite the Baron, his purple gaze meeting the man's.

"I'm recovering well. There's no need for concern," the Baron said, leaning back against his chair with a weary sigh.

"I came to inform you that we'll be leaving," Asher stated directly, wasting no time on pleasantries or unnecessary words.

Baron Rivelle nodded slowly. "No problem. I've already contacted the Star Academy to inform them of the mission's completion."

He didn't try to persuade Asher to stay another day or two, he knew his place. Such insistence could backfire easily, and besides, the Monster Tide had already ended. Asher's presence, while appreciated, was no longer required.

Asher nodded once. "I have a question," he said.

"I'm listening," the Baron responded promptly.

"Why was the mission scheduled for six days? The Monster Tide didn't even last twenty four hours," Asher asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

The Baron's expression shifted slightly, understanding the meaning behind the question. "Normally, during a Monster Tide, the leaders tend to flee when they sense death approaching," he began. "Of course, I never give them time or space to escape, but I request that duration in case something unexpected happens. If the leader escapes, it will always return, and usually with another tide of monsters within a few days."

Asher remained quiet for a moment, contemplating his words before speaking again. "Can't you just follow the creature into the forest and kill it before it regroups?"

The Baron shook his head slowly. "It's not that simple. Leaving my territory to chase a monster into its own domain would be reckless. I'd risk walking straight into its trap, and I can't afford to abandon my people's safety for that."

Asher considered that in silence before nodding in understanding. Then, rising from his chair, he said, "It was nice meeting you, Baron Rivelle."

"The pleasure is mine," the Baron replied, extending a hand. Asher took it firmly before turning and heading for the exit.

Nodding to the butler who still stood by the door, Asher made his way back toward the dining hall, where Finch and William awaited his return.

"Are you both ready?" he asked the moment he entered.

"We are," William replied, rising to his feet. Finch nodded in agreement. Neither of them asked what Asher had discussed with the Baron; they both knew better than to pry.

Asher approached them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Both William and Finch arched an eyebrow in confusion, but before they could voice a single question, the trio vanished in a streak of silver light. With that, they departed from the Rivelle Barony, leaving the dining hall bathed in a heavy silence, as though even the air mourned their absence.

_______

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Golden tickets please.

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