Similar in shape to the Blood Halls in the outer city, the inner city’s Blood Hall was a lot smaller in size. Probably only about six to seven storeys tall. Just about the same height as the single room buildings near the city’s edge. Where it stood though, the Blood Hall was the largest building, standing at least twice as high as the any mansions in sight, and five times as wide.

  As such, when the Star Seekers saw Blood Hall, their awe for it was no less than the awe they felt for the outer city’s Blood Hall. Or at least, that was how Alnea felt. Especially when they climbed the stairs to reach its main entrance on the third floor, standing on the same height, where most of the building around him came to an end. It was as if he was standing on those buildings, overlooking the city.

  “Mesmerising, right?” Tia said, when she noticed the Star Seekers slow down, and glance towards the city below them. “Although the outer city’s Blood Hall also offers a magnificent view, it cannot compare to the feeling you get when you stand above most of the city.”

  “…It is indeed a little captivating,” Alnea said, tearing his gaze away from the horizon. “But it cannot compete with the allure of what lays inside the Blood Hall.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” Tia said, and along with Nubia, stepped past the giant doors, that stood ajar, prompting the Star Seekers to follow behind them, and walk into a massive hall, that was at least three to four storeys tall, with a giant dome for a ceiling, carved with all sorts of murals and stories, and embedded with stones shining in the light of Enn.

  Yet, for some reason, the light did not hurt their eyes. On the contrary, it brought them a soothing sensation, that urged them to look at it directly. Though nothing screamed for attention as loudly as the Wanderers around them. Not because they did anything out of the ordinary. Or were dressed inappropriately. On the contrary, they did not have so much as even a stain on their robes. Nor a scowl on their faces. And there was no vanity in their steps.

  The Wanderers around them walked with confidence, but with no pride. Some of them even seemed to be too humble for their own good. And they all minded their own business, not bothering with what the people around them were doing. It did not matter if the people who entered the hall were the same people who had thrown the outer city into chaos. After a quick glance, they went back to what they were doing. Though some of them did leave the hall after they saw the Star Seekers.

  Even then, those people did not loose their poise. Some of them even gave the Star Seekers a terse nod, as they walked past them. Of course, there were also some who glared at the Star Seekers. But no one said or did anything. It was almost as if they were afraid of breaking the hall’s order. And so were the Star Seekers. After risking their lives to enter the inner city, they did not wish to be thrown out just because they could not keep their mouths shut for a while.

  Thus, infected by the weird energy of the hall, the star Seekers followed behind the two women in silence, until they reached a counter. Just like the kind in the outer city’s Blood Hall, with an archaic table, and a couple of red robed Wanderers, standing behind the table, greeting them with a smile.

  “Tia, Nubia,” said the woman, with her hair tied above her head in a braided bun, nodding at the two women, before glancing at the Star Seekers following behind them. “It is rare to see you two lead people to the Blood Hall. Much less together. Are you so confident about them?”

  “You would be too, if you knew them,” Tia said, widening her smile.

  “…Are they…”

  “Well, you know the rumours.”

  “…No wonder,” the woman said, nodding to herself. “Have you finally made up your mind, Nubia?”

  “You know me, Tivya,” Nubia said, shaking her head. “I am content with my life in the city. This time, I am here only to watch them embark on a new journey.”

  “…It is a pity.”

  “This is my choice.”

  “…I know. That is why I feel it is a pity. Most of us cannot leave even if we want. But you…”

  “…It has only been a couple of years since you donned the Lost City’s robe, Tivya. Give it time. I am sure you will find what you are looking for.”

  “…I hope so.”

  “Stop giving her false hope, Nubia,” said the woman standing next to Tivya. The one with her brown hair falling behind her back, all the way to her waist. “You know what she did. The crimes she committed… Even if she finds what she is looking for, she will never leave the Lost City.”

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  “There you go with your pessimism once again,” Tia said, shaking her head. “How many times have I told you to think before you speak, Nanya?”

  “I just said that truth.”

  “…That is not the problem here. Even if you speak the truth, you need to be measured. And you should not always think about the worst.”

  “But the worst is what always happens.”

  “That is because you never think of anything else.”

  “Because I know the truth. I know how things are going to turn out.”

  “…You—

  “Forget it, Tia,” Tivya said, shaking her head with a wry smile. “You know that she does not mean any harm. On the contrary, she is looking out for me. She just does not know any other way to express her concerns.”

  “…It is because of your indulgence that she has become so unscrupulous. Back when—

  “Let us leave it at that,” Tivya said, before glancing at the Star Seekers. “Besides, are you not forgetting something?”

  “…I was about to get to it,” Tia said, glancing back at the Star Seekers, before turning back to Tivya. “Just—

  “There you are!”

  A loud voice rang out in the Blood Hall, breaking the spell of silence and order, bringing everyone’s attention to itself. To the woman who stood at the entrance of the Blood Hall, waving her hand towards the Star Seekers. More specifically, to Alnea, who was trying his best to not wince from both sides of his waist being pinched at the same time. But the woman did not notice anything strange. Or if she did, she did not care.

  Instead, she walked towards Alnea with large strides, not bothering with the stares being directed at her. And in just a few moments, she was already next to Alnea, stretching out her arms, as if ready to pull him into a hug. Yet, in the very next moment, a sudden force pulled Alnea away from her, just as three girls stepped in front of him, facing the woman with cold glares.

  “Tsk. It looks like the rumours about the Final World were exaggerated. It could not even get rid of some flies.”

  “…What are you doing here, Wanderer Daes?” Vestia said, narrowing her eyes at the woman. “I do not think we sent you an invitation.”

  “Invitation? For what?” Daes said, blinking in confusion. Whether that confusion was feigned, or genuine, only she knew. But that did not stop her from glancing at Alnea with a grin. “We meet again, Alnea.”

  “…It is nice to see you too, Wanderer Daes,” Alnea said, glancing around the Blood Hall, and found most, if not all the Wanderers staring at them. “Though it would have been even nicer if you could have come a little more quietly.”

  “Where is the fun that?” Wanderer Daes said, chuckling along with her words, before glancing at the women near the counter. “I expected Tia to come, but for even Nubia to follow behind you… It looks like your charm is even greater than I thought.”

  “I am just leading them here,” Nubia said, with a helpless smile on her face. “And you should learn to restrain yourself, Daes. Or you will be punished once again.”

  “It is alright. Those old men cannot do anything to me.”

  “But you will be fined once again.”

  “It does not matter. I will not be staying here for long anyway. Am I right, Alnea?”

  Alnea felt everyone’s gaze fall upon him, even that of the girls guarding him from the reckless Wanderer. All waiting for his answer. Though most of them already knew what he was going to say, and did not hesitate to express their dissatisfaction with pouts and frowns. But that was not enough to make him change his mind. Still, there was one thing he wanted to ask the Wanderer before he gave his answer.

  “…I do not understand, Wanderer Daes,” Alnea said, stepping past the three girls to stand in front of the woman. “Why are you so sure that I can help you?”

  “Is that not obvious?” Daes said, lowering her heads slightly, so that her eyes were on level with his. “Because I believe in you.”

  “…More like you are hungry for him,” Cecilia said, glaring at the woman, but Daes did not care. And neither did Alnea. Though, for an entirely different reason.

  “At least try to make a more believable excuse.”

  “It was not an excuse. I really do believe in you.”

  “If you were just optimistic about me, like Wanderer Tia, I might have believed you. But the way you have been acting… Especially after you heard about my Final Trial…”

  “This just shows how much I believe in you.”

  “…You said that you were going to make some preparations. Can I know what those preparations were, Wanderer Daes?”

  “…Guessing so much with so little information,” Daes said, licking her lips. “As expected of the man chosen by my Roots.”

  “…Roots?”

  “I cannot explain it in detail because it is related to my Roots, but rest assured, I do not have any ill intentions against you,” Daes said, backing away slightly from Alnea. “I know this may sound like an excuse, so I do not ask you to believe me right away. We can go back to my mansion to discuss—

  “There is no need, Wanderer Daes,” Alnea said, shaking his head, as he resumed his smile. “I believe you.”

  “…Still, I insist. My Roots tell me—

  “We can talk about your Roots later, Wanderer Daes,” Alnea said, and gestured towards the Wanderers standing near the counter. “As you can see, there are people waiting for us. So, how about we continue this after I—we have completed all our formalities?”