Litpink grinned and slung her umbrella over her shoulder, raising her right foot and winking. It was as if she was posing for them, pursing her lips to form a kiss.

"I think I know which ones," Litpink chuckled. She tapped her umbrella on the ground in front of her twice. "Prepare. The Queen will be coming for you. And when that time comes, no one will survive."

The tip of her umbrella formed a large plant-like beast that swallowed her whole. The plant then spun and vanished into thin air, not leaving any trace left for them to follow.

"S-She had the same aura as them," Elliot said. "She was a Vassal, right?"

"She was," Isabelle croaked that immediately made them look at her. "I tried delaying her when she was asking for you, but then I failed. I was powerless against her–"

"Of course you're powerless, you're not a combatant!" Kain unexpectedly yelled. Tears steamed from his eyes as he gripped the bedsheet on the white bed. "You told me you'd be okay. I was just going out for a drink, and you said your Faint didn't react!"

"Faint?" Elliot asked that made Lance elbow him lightly. "Okay, sorry. Not the time."

"You know how important you are to me. When I had nothing, you were there," Kian continued. "When I was hungry, you fed me, when I was getting wet in the rain, you gave me shelter. When I had no one, you became my mother."

"I'm only twenty-nine years older than you, what do you mean–"

"Just listen for one moment!" Kian growled. "I can't lose the person who raised me. I can't."

"You know, Kian, we will all die and turn to ash," Isabelle sat up slowly. She opened tapped her hand on her lap and Kian placed his head there. "You're grown up now…"

Elliot was the last one who got out and closed the door behind him. He turned to his friends and saw their flattened lips.

Alice had just finished repairing everything and she was now lighting the Ember Lamps. "Is everything alright?"

"She woke up," Elliot replied. "Which is a good thing. And now she's having a talk with Kian. They're like a mother and son inseparable duo."

"They've always been like that," Alice chuckled. "I was here, just started my Adventurer life when Kian started working here."

"Wait, Kian is like thirty years old," Elliot's eyes widened. "You mean–"

"Kian is only twenty-three, how in the hell–" Alice laughed lightly. "He only looked old because he had been in rougher times. And he needed to help Isabelle even when the woman didn't really need that much help. Kian was so persistent and he even worked in this shop while becoming an Adventurer, and then a dragon."

"But," Elliot took a large gulp. "How old are you then?"

"Twenty-eight," Alice smirked. "I'm too old for you kid, so don't even bother thinking about it. I know you thought about it."

Elliot pouted, "Maybe a little."

Alice shook her head and rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah. Kian and Isabelle are the closest mother and son I've ever met, closer than the ones who were connected by blood."

"Kian is a good man," Elliot said. "He helped me once back then, even without knowing who I was."

"He definitely got that from Isabelle," Alice chuckled. "My instincts says you need to go to your guild. I'll stay here with them. You need to prepare for the Championship."

"Is your guild joining?" Elliot asked. Alice walked them to the door, the sky outside getting tinted with the bright shade of orange as it slowly cleared up from the dark clouds that loomed over it not long ago. It was almost twilight and everything was starting to darken once again.

"Our guild never joins," Alice said. "Maybe this year. I don't know."

"You should," Elliot smiled at her, making Alice's face tint with a light pink shade. "Then, I'll fight you if there's a chance."

"I'll expect that," Alice smirked.

"If I beat you, you'll let you take you out on a date," Elliot said, his friends behind him whistling to cheer him on.

Alice tilted her head and crossed her arms, "And if you don't?"

"Then," Elliot paused, slowly turning and preparing to run. "I'll let you take me out on a date."

He then pulled his friends with him and ran through the stone streets. The street lamps were slowly being lit up, while the stores already had their lights on due to the darkness the rain just brought.

"You little–" Ed laughed and ruffled Elliot's hair. "Our little Elliot, asking a woman like that all of a sudden."

"Dude," Connor seethed. "Where did you got that confidence suddenly?"

"Someone might get jelly– ow!" Ed rubbed his arm when Lance punched it. "I didn't even say any name."

"Oh, shut up," Lance rolled his eyes. He was slightly walking further from them, making him the center of the teasing as they got home.

Elliot didn't have to worry about Isabelle's safety that much anymore. She had Kian and Alice with her. If they couldn't beat the Vassal, they could at least delay her until help arrives.

But what happened to Isabelle bothered him until he got to his bed that night. Why would the Vassal look for them in Isabelle's shop? And why do they have to look for her in the first place?

She also mentioned the aura that was sent to their Realm, something Elliot, neither did his friends knew about. The thought was floating in Elliot's head so much, he couldn't find the right peace of mind to sleep.

So, he ended up opening his Console and checking on his stats. Even after months and months of attaining the incredible boost in power he had right now, he was still in awe.

[[ APRIL ]]

Level 81

Class: Creator

Subclass:

Title: Lord of Creation

[ Creator ]

Craft Level: 3

Cook Level: 5

Forge Level: 2

Brew Level: 4

He stared at his stats and how they have reached this high. He was sitting on the floor and placed his chin on his bed, just staring at the screen in his vision.

He was slowly getting pulled in his sleep when he heard a voice call out to him.

'Elliot.'

He continued closing his eyes, letting the darkness swallow him until the memories from his first day of signing the contract played in his head.

The letter from his mother, the large sum of money on the pouch, the Valorium, his mother's portrait.

'Creation is the secret.'