Elliot gulped after feeling a swift tickle in his spine. There was a voice in the back of his head that sounded like it was suppressed, a voice that was so deep even when it was being held back, he knew who it was.

"The Manual doesn't want Irus to talk," Elliot thought in his mind and looked at Jameson who had a look of a stoic expression in his face.

So far, Jameson gave him more than he could ever ask for. The prince did not only provide him the information for the Adamant Jade, the Book of the Middle's story and how the books work were crucial information.

"What I told everyone wasn't completely a lie," Jameson said to break the short silence. "The Sear was indeed caught and I didn't get to hear the rest of the story. I didn't lie about that part."

"Okay. But the story, on what part of the Book of the Middle did it belong?" Elliot asked.

Jameson replied, "The first chapter titled 'The Sword and the Boy'."

"So, these books…" Elliot trailed off and opened his Console. He took out the Book of the Beginning and showed it to Jameson. "These books have chapters in them, recording all the massive shifts of power in history and the future?"

"Yes, indeed," Jameson said. "But the timeskip with these books are very inconsistent. Some have a hundred years gap with the next chapter, some have only decades or even as short as a year. The Sear told me that."

"And the Sear," Elliot returned the book in his Console and crossed his arms. "She was closer to you than what you're actually telling me, wasn't she?"

"You're really sharp. I'm ver impressed," Jameson snorted in defeat. "She was my mother. Branded as a traitor for speaking about the history of the world. The Spice Islands isn't as open in thoughts like that. They're very conservative and they only believe that the only one who could shift power in the world is the Almighty."

"Typical," Elliot sighed. "Now that I knew about that, along with Katarina's true identity, I will go to sleep. I have a big day tomorrow and to be quite frank, winning the Championship of the Greats is still our top priority."

"Of course," Jameson smiled and left the room not long after. Elliot was left sitting in his bed and staring at the wall. Everything felt like it was falling down on him all at once. Like the world didn't want him to rest for even a second.

With another sigh, Elliot got to the Twilight Cocoon. He opened the curtain and let the artifact absorb it's eighth brew. Two more to go and Elliot will finally be done with this item.

"What do you hold, cocoon?" Elliot touched the red ball of silk threads. His eyelids were closing and his consciousness was wavering. Elliot let out a breath of air, seeing a notification pop out but it was too late for he had already been swallowed by sleep.

'New quest [ The Sear ] available.'

–

Waking up on top of the cold wooden floors by the rushed of footsteps from outside. His door flung open and Connor stepped inside, "Katarina is awake. And you have to come with me."

He closed the unopened notification and decided to inspect later on. Something had happened to Katarina and he needed her to defeat the Givecherie Clan.

"What happened?" Elliot rubbed his eyes and yawned, standing up to follow his blonde friend inside Ethan's room where Katarina was.

When he arrived at the room, his sleepiness left him instantly. The room was empty and the bed was made cleanly. Katarina had left them.

"Elliot, maybe she used you to clear the seal?" Ed asked.

Elliot turned to Ed and shook his head. "I didn't feel anything bad with her. Her desperation for help was pure when I faced her."

"Everyone, stop overreacted." Jameson walked inside the room with a paper in his hand. "She left this to me this morning. Everyone was asleep and she specifically want only Elliot to read this."

Elliot nodded, relief flushed throughout his body after hearing Jameson. The first thing that came to his mind when he saw the empty bed was not that Katarina would betray him or leave him, it was that maybe the Giverechie Clan has found her and took her back.

"Did you though?" Ed narrowed his eyes playfully. "I mean, did you open it?"

"I'm not like you," Jameson clapped back, making everyone in the room cover their mouths and snort. "I roam this inn at night and I can assure you, nobody was inside or outside wandering."

The prince left the group in the room, all dumbfounded by his odd behavior. Connor was the first one to break their silence with a question, "Is that why he's always asleep during daytime?"

"Probably," Ed grinned awkwardly.

While his friends discussed the odd Prince of Spices, Elliot opened Katarina's letter. She told him that she will be watching over him through the shadows and that she did not leave. The letter even said that the woman pledge her allegiance on Elliot, making him her master.

"What did the letter say?" Lance stepped closer to Elliot and tried to take a peek at the paper.

The boy retracted his hand and rolled his eyes, feeling uncomfortable by how close Lance was getting again. Sometimes, this prince doesn't know what personal space is.

"She just told me that she'll be safe," Elliot replied. "I think she's going to hide for now. Until the Giverechie Clan is ended, she can't live a normal life."

"Everyone," Aquarius's head popped out of the doorway. He quirked his brow up, "We have a competition to win. Do you all want to be late?"

–

The group rushed with their showers and immediately got on the lobby where everyone was seated. Aquarius stood on the doorway with his hand on his waist, "Everyone, today will be a very crucial day. Everyone will doubt the Championship of the Greats so there might be fewer people, but don't let it get to you."

"Yes, sir!" everyone else responded and got off their chairs. They walked outside and was shocked when they saw the mass number of people walking on the streets.

"You said to expect fewer people today?" Minos chuckled. "The audience doubled!"