CHAPTER 24: A Day of Firsts

Back at the garage, Kaziel was still struggling with the cart, adjusting bolts and inspecting the worn-out parts. Helion, on the other hand, was doing absolutely nothing useful—just flipping his coin, looking completely at ease.

"This is going to take forever—probably until tomorrow…" Kaziel groaned, he threw an irritated glance at Helion, who was leaning lazily against a crate. "Hey, Helion... You've been doing nothing you know."

Helion didn’t look up. "You’re assuming fate needs my interference."

Kaziel squinted. "What?"

Helion flicked the coin once more before catching it in his palm. His golden eyes finally met Kaziel’s. "Threads will only weave themselves when the one holding them realizes they’re in control."

Kaziel blinked. "You mean?"

Helion sighed, shifting his weight slightly. "I’m saying… the answer’s been in your hands all along."

Kaziel frowned, staring at his hands—then at the broken cart. Then it hit him.

"Oh! The Elyssence!" His voice lit up with realization. "I did learn a bit about it, but… does that even work on something like this?"

Helion arched a brow, slipping the coin back into his pocket. "Are you doubting me, Kaziel? "

Kaziel hesitated. His fingers curled slightly as he focused, recalling what Sakura had taught him.

A soft glow enveloped his hands as he worked, warmth radiating from his touch. The damage on the cart slowly mended itself, the worn parts reforging, the broken wood sealing back together.

It was fixed.

Kaziel shocked, "No way!"

Then, his realization turned to frustration. "Wait—does that mean we wasted an entire day on this?!" He facepalmed.
Helion let out a quiet chuckle, stretching lazily. "Well, a benefit for me—I got to enjoy a full day of food."

Kaziel’s eye twitched. "Oh, so that was what you were after! A free meal without lifting a damn finger?!"

Helion smirked, his tail swaying lazily. "Fate provides for those who listen."

Kaziel groaned. "You’re insufferable."

Helion simply hummed, flipping his coin once more.

The atmosphere inside the café was calm and inviting, the soft light filtering through the windows casting a warm glow over the wooden interior.

“We’re back~” Anna announced as she stepped through the entrance, her voice breaking the peaceful stillness.

The café, tucked behind the blacksmith’s shop, had a hidden charm—a quiet refuge from the bustling streets outside.

"Oh, welcome back, Anna, Sakura! Please, take your seat. Do you need some drinks?" The blacksmith’s wife greeted them warmly with a friendly smile.

"Ah, no need! Thank you. " Anna replied, offering a polite nod before the blacksmith’s wife went back inside. Then Anna turned her attention to Kaziel and Helion, who were already seated and enjoying their meals.

"Hey, hey! Welcome back~ " Kaziel waved at her with a grin,

Anna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Wait, that’s surprising. You both finished?"

Kaziel took another bite of his chicken. "Yeah."

Meanwhile, Helion simply smirked, clearly withholding something. He had no intention of revealing the secret behind their sudden progress. Anna might catch on if she pried too much. Kaziel gaze flickered towards Sakura, who stood beside Anna, her outfit completely transformed.

She now wore a white blouse tucked into a soft pink skirt, accentuating her delicate features. Her hair, styled into two little twin tails on the sides while keeping her usual strands down, made her look even more charming.

Kaziel froze for a moment, caught completely off guard. He had never seen Sakura like this before. She looked absolutely lovely.

“Sakura’s most adorable transformation!” Anna declared, nodding proudly as if she had just witnessed something legendary.

Sakura looked hesitant, she took a small step forward. "Kaziel, what do you think?" She twirled slightly, letting the fabric of her skirt flow.

His eyes were captivated by her presence as he sat there for a moment, simply taking her in. Then, a gentle smile crossed his lips.

“You look like a goddess, the most stunning woman in the world.” His voice was calm, laced with pure affection.

“R-really?” Sakura’s cheeks flushed faintly, her gaze shifting away.

Anna, who had been watching the entire exchange, suddenly crossing her arms with an exaggerated huff. "Tch. Pervert," she muttered under her breath.

Kaziel blinked in confusion. "What? What did I do?!" His voice carried a hint of irritation, clearly unaware of the problem.

Anna’s glare intensified. "You need to stop flirting with cute, innocent girls!" she shot back, arms crossed.

Sakura, panicked, quickly stepped between them, hands raised in a feeble attempt stop their argument.

"Okay, okay! That’s enough—!" she stammered, her eyes darting between the two.

But before she could finish, Helion’s calm voice cut through the tension. "Argue later, but you may want to save your breath—you're about to have company."

"Company?" Anna and Kaziel said in unison before turning toward the entrance.

Helion continued slurping his ramen, completely unfazed. Then the doors of the café opened, and several guards entered. Their presence was imposing, their armor polished and well-maintained. A sudden tension filled the air.

Sakura’s breath hitched.

Their similar appearances brought back a wave of memories—memories of the FarmLand, of the guards who patrolled with cold, merciless expressions. Her fingers trembled slightly as she instinctively took a step back.

Kaziel noticed immediately.

Without hesitation, he stood up and moved in front of her. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Sakura, who felt an unexpected wave of reassurance. He wasn’t just standing there—he was making sure she wouldn’t feel cornered.

The blacksmith’s wife stepped forward to check on the café, wiping her hands on her apron. “Oh my, the café is already closed, though…” she remarked, her gaze shifting to the unexpected presence of a few guards inside.

Helion, barely glancing up, simply raised a hand. “No need for concern. They’re only here to talk.” He spoke casually before continuing to slurp his ramen, completely unfazed by the tension in the air.

The blacksmith’s wife tilted her head, then let out a light chuckle. “Very well then~” she smiled, seemingly unbothered as she turned back to her work.

"Good evening. Is there anything we could help you with?" Kaziel spoke, his tone friendly yet composed.

The guards responded by bowing. "Apologies for the sudden interruption."

Sakura’s eyes widened slightly at their formality. They… bowed? She had expected an air of authority or even intimidation, but instead, they showed Kaziel and his group deep respect.

Anna leaned in slightly, her voice low and steady. “Don’t worry. They know us as travelers here, and they recognize that we were dispatched under Her Grace’s orders.”

Sakura blinked in astonishment. She recalled how even the shopkeeper had shown great respect to Anna. She hadn’t fully grasped just how highly regarded they were in this place.

But knowing this… she felt safer.

The lead guard’s gaze briefly lingered on Sakura before stepping forward.

“His Highness would like to see all of you tonight.”

Kaziel’s eyes shifted to Helion, who was still calmly eating his food, utterly unbothered.

He turned back to the guards, his usual charming smile returning.

“We’d be delighted to.”

As the night unfolded, the grand doors of the palace swung open, revealing a vast hall bathed in the soft glow of enchanted crystals embedded within the towering columns. The ceiling stretched high above, adorned with intricate gold engravings and constellations carved into the marble.

Sakura barely had time to take in the breathtaking sight before they were ushered forward by the guards, their heavy boots echoing against the gleaming floor. She followed Kaziel’s lead, mirroring the way he bowed alongside Anna and Helion, feeling slightly out of place but doing her best to maintain composure.

The king sat upon his throne, a commanding presence draped in royal silk, his crown of sapphire and gold gleaming under the light. His sharp gaze swept over them as he nodded in acknowledgment.

“We would like to thank you for your help. We did not expect the Enhanced Sapphire Heart to yield such a miraculous outcome. Seeing the land restored to its former state… it is truly a sight to behold.” The king’s tone was warm, a pleased smile gracing his lips. “As gratitude, we wish to hold a commemoration in your honor. A celebration for you and your party.”

Kaziel, ever composed, responded effortlessly. “It is always our duty to help,” he said with an easy smile, his tone refined yet distant, as if he had expected this conversation to unfold exactly as it did.

The king nodded approvingly, though a shadow passed over his expression as he shifted in his seat.

“As you may already know, we have captured the Tradepost owner.” His voice was calm but edged with something unreadable. “Through their confession, we uncovered… certain details.” His gaze flickered toward Sakura.

Kaziel remained poised, his demeanor unchanging, unreadable.

“Unfortunately, there were no survivors,” he replied smoothly. His voice carried no hesitation, no room for doubt.

The king’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s strange… The Tradepost owner claimed otherwise.”

A murmur of uncertainty rippled through the guards standing behind them. One of them stiffened, their gaze shifting toward Sakura—as if only now realizing what her presence could mean.

Kaziel’s lips curled slightly, an amused breath escaping him.

“People like him will say anything when faced with punishment,” he mused, his blue eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. “Perhaps he believed the mention of a survivor would make his confession more valuable.”

The tension in the room thickened, but Kaziel’s words hung in the air, a carefully woven lie—or perhaps a truth only half-spoken.

The king considered this for a moment, but a guard at his side hesitated before stepping forward. “Your Majesty… I was under the impression that the survivor was the Divine Oneness candidate.”

The air grew still. The tension was palpable.

The king’s gaze locked onto Sakura.

“…Was it you?”

Sakura’s expression remained unreadable, her face calm and composed as she turned her eyes toward him.

Kaziel, however, showed no sign of unease. Instead, he smirked. “We would like to prove you wrong.”

At that moment, Sakura flicked her wrist slightly, and from her back, dark chains slithered into view—an illusion, but convincing enough to trick even the most skeptical eyes. The air grew heavier with the fabricated presence of dark energy.

The guards recoiled slightly, their faces betraying shock. The king’s expression twisted into disbelief.

Kaziel’s smirk deepened. “As you already know, a Divine Oneness candidate would never rely on dark energy.”

Silence hung between them.

The illusion was flawless. It was enough.

Anna exhaled subtly, crossing her arms as if to solidify their act. “Rest assured, she is a new addition to our party. From… Thalvaris,” Kaziel added casually.

The king remained silent for a moment before leaning back into his throne, his sharp gaze lingering on Sakura. “Thalvaris, you say?"

Kaziel nodded. “We found her while traveling. The informant also known as the Tradepost owner assumed he had all the information he needed, but I suspect he was eager for credit rather than accuracy.”

The king’s fingers drummed against the armrest of his throne. “That may very well be the case…”

In truth, they had anticipated this scenario before stepping into the grand hall,

Helion walked beside Sakura, his voice smooth and knowing as he murmured,

"The leader of the guard wants credit for solving the case—so try not to make things too obvious."

Sakura’s brows furrowed. "What does that mean..?" The unease in her chest tightened, her thoughts racing.

Kaziel and Anna immediately took notice.

"Something happened?" Kaziel’s tone was firm, eyes narrowing.

Helion merely smirked, flipping his golden coin between his fingers.

"Just their invitation—one you wouldn’t want to accept." His voice was light, yet every word carried weight. "They’ve figured out the Divine Oneness candidate."

Kaziel’s expression darkened. "You mean… they know who Sakura really is?"

Anna’s fingers brushed her chin, her voice sharp and calculating. "This is bad. For the king, everything is about opportunity."

Her gaze flickered toward Sakura. "He will seize whatever benefits him. If he finds out you’re the Divine Oneness candidate… he’ll see it as his right to claim your relic."

Sakura’s grip instinctively tightened around the clock tied to her belt.

They may have invited Kaziel and the others under the guise of diplomacy, but the true reason ran much deeper.

This was never just about a simple audience.

They wanted to keep the situation contained—to ensure the truth about Sakura remained hidden. That she was a Divine Oneness candidate.

And more than that, they sought her Divine Relic—the Clock.

A relic of immeasurable power, one that could alter the very fabric of time if wielded correctly.

Whether they intended to possess it, control it, or destroy it, one thing was certain—they wouldn’t let her leave so easily.

Helion’s golden eyes gleamed as he flipped his coin once, his smirk never fading. "Rest assured, they have no proof." His voice was calm, almost bored. "The informant has nothing left to offer—because I took everything he had."

Kaziel turned to him, his expression serious. "Still, the king won’t be easy to persuade. Thoughts?"

Helion crossed his arms, his smirk widening ever so slightly.

"Choose your words wisely, Kaziel—truth is meaningless when perception has already been rewritten. People only believe what they see… and I’ve ensured to cut their threads."

Now, standing in the throne room, they watched as the king’s uncertainty finally wavered.

He let out a slow breath. “Forgive me.” His voice was lighter now, less suspicious. “Then, as a sign of good faith, would you still be willing to attend the commemoration?”

Kaziel bowed slightly, his posture as graceful as ever. “We deeply appreciate the gesture, Your Majesty, but we must decline. We have business to attend to in the Selphine Kingdom.”

The king’s brow twitched slightly at the polite rejection, but he did not press further. Instead, he nodded. “Very well. Regardless, you have our gratitude. The restoration of that land has been long overdue… We had nearly abandoned all hope of reclaiming it.”

Abandoned.

Sakura felt something inside her twist at that word.

Had they really given up so easily? Were they truly so indifferent to the suffering of those left behind?

Her fingers curled tightly around the clock, but she forced herself to remain silent. Now was not the time.

With a final bow, the group turned and took their leave.

The palace doors shut behind them, sealing away the shadows of politics and deception.

As they stepped into the cool night air, Sakura exhaled softly.

Kaziel, walking beside her, glanced down. “You okay?”

She hesitated before nodding. “Yes… I just… I understand now.”

Kaziel raised an eyebrow. “Understand what?”

Sakura’s gaze lifted toward the night sky, her voice quiet but certain.

“That people only care about what benefits them.”

Kaziel studied her, the sorrow behind her words clear. Then, without hesitation, he spoke.

“But you’re with us.” His voice was low and steady. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

Then, he smiled—a warm, gentle smile that held no hesitation, no doubt.

Sakura’s breath hitched.

Something about the way he looked at her, the quiet reassurance in his gaze, made her heart stutter. The night air suddenly felt warmer, or maybe it was just her—cheeks flushing, fingers curling slightly at her chest.

She quickly looked away, trying to steady herself, but the lingering warmth of his words stayed with her.