Elaine stood frozen. The truth her father had revealed still echoed like a cruel verdict inside her skull. Inferior race… separated… abandoned.
Why did it strike her this hard?
She already knew the answer.
Because just before she'd stormed into her father's office, Eve had grabbed her hand.
Earlier, inside the Scalae, Eve had stepped forward and tugged gently on Elaine's sleeve.
Elaine lowered herself, her expression softening. The poor girl… she's holding herself together better than anyone her age should.
"Are you ok now?" Elaine asked gently.
Eve nodded.
"Good… I'm glad." Elaine smiled, relieved. "Do you want to ask me something?"
Eve clenched her fists, determination replacing the shakiness that had haunted her for hours.
"I want to know how."
She looked straight into Elaine's eyes.
"How do I become a knight?"
The smile on Elaine's face faded, replaced by concern.
"Why do you want to join the knights?"
"So they can train me," Eve replied sharply, anger slipping through. "Train me to kill monsters."
Revenge, Elaine thought with a sting in her chest.
"To join a Leo Order," Elaine explained carefully, "you first need to be accepted into the Leo Academy. After graduating, you can join an Order but only the Black Leo Order goes out to hunt Djinns."
Eve bowed her head in gratitude.
"Thank you."
She released Elaine's hand and walked off with fierce resolve.
A few seconds later, Eve froze, eyes widening.
"I forgot to ask how to join the Academy…"
And now—present time.
Second Floor, Scalae.
The space around them had transformed. People were gathering in every corner, filling the once-open chamber with noise, fear, and confusion.
Kenzo scanned the room, dumbfounded.
"This place is filling up fast," he muttered. "Just how many people live on the first floor?"
"About ten to fifty million," Adam answered calmly.
Kenzo's jaw dropped. "That many!?"
Seleph blinked. "Is that… a lot?"
"That's nearly as many as the entire rest of the tower combined." Kenzo rubbed his temples. "But the tower doesn't look that big from outside…"
"That's because the first floor lacks an ecosystem," Elaine explained as she approached the group. "No forests, no fields, just ruins and compressed cities. Without nature, the space had to expand vertically underground."
Kenzo frowned. "Then how do you get food?"
"There are Food Drops," Eve said. "Every month."
"Barely enough to survive," Adam added darkly. "The strong take everything first."
Kenzo's heart twisted. "How did you kids even make it this long?"
"It wasn't that bad," Seleph said awkwardly. "We lived in an orphanage, so we had our own Food Drops—"
"We got robbed every time," Eve cut in bluntly.
Kenzo's face darkened again.
"But then Father Langton came," Seleph said with a hopeful smile. "He changed everything."
Elaine stiffened.
Adam noticed immediately.
Father Langton…? he thought. Why does she react to that name?
Before he could question it, a mocking voice cut through the noise.
"Well, well, well… where is he now, huh?"
A tall man with messy orange hair and a scar running down half his face approached with a smug grin.
"What do you want, Scarface?" Adam snarled, instincts flaring.
Scarface smirked. "You're just as rude as ever, kid. Anyway, I heard the old hag finally died. Without the orphanage… things are going to be very different."
Adam lunged but Kenzo caught him mid-swing, locking his arm.
"Let me go," Adam hissed.
Kenzo shook his head firmly.
Elaine stepped forward, her eyes blazing.
"Return to your assigned area," she ordered coldly. "Or I'll make you."
Scarface raised his hands lazily. "Calm down, Princess. I only wanted to check on the kids. Death Battle arenas are popular down there—can't have them dying too soon."
In her palm, golden arcane flames spiraled to life, turning into a gleaming sword.
She swung—
The blade stopped a breath away from Scarface's throat.
"Leave."
Scarface swallowed hard. His arrogant façade cracked.
"Well… guess I'll be going." He shot a final smirk at the kids. "When we head back down, she won't be there to protect you. And that crazy old priest is never coming back."
He turned—
Elaine's voice stopped everyone.
"How about you come live with me?"
The room froze.
Even Scarface looked stunned.
Kenzo stared at her. "Elaine… you can't just—"
"I'm serious." She looked him dead in the eyes. Then turned to the kids.
"Stay with me until we find Father Langton."
Kenzo's expression softened. I know that look… she means it. She won't back down.
Scarface scoffed. "Don't get your hopes up, kids."
Elaine let the flame sword dissolve into golden sparks.
"Who was that man?" she asked.
"Scarface," Adam muttered. "The first floor 'king'. I'm beating his ass tonight."
Elaine smacked him on the head.
"Ow! What was that for!?"
"To stop that idiotic idea." She ruffled his hair. "You three are staying with me. That's final."
Kenzo crouched down. "What do you kids think?"
Adam hesitated. "Before the orphanage… I lived on the third floor."
Elaine smiled faintly. "The third floor is… mixed. Low-rank nobles and commoners. Not always a kind place."
She knelt, meeting their eyes.
"I won't force you. Stay with me for a few weeks, then decide. If you prefer going back, I won't stop you."
Kenzo nodded. "Think of it as a trial run."
Elaine's Home
The walk through the second-floor city left the children speechless.
Clean streets.
Organized markets.
A gentle golden sunlight trickling down from the artificial sky.
Knights patrolling peacefully, no starvation, no violence, no smoke.
"Whaaat's that!?" Seleph shouted, pointing at a streetlamp.
Kenzo laughed. "A streetlamp. It lights up at night."
"WHOOOAAA!"
Eve tried not to stare too much. Adam tried not to care but failed.
Elaine's home was warm, bright, and safe.
Something they had never truly experienced.
When she flipped a switch, the lights flickered on.
"WHOOAAA!! HOW DID THE CANDLES TURN ON!?"
Kenzo burst out laughing. "Those aren't candles, buddy."
Elaine couldn't help smiling as she headed into the kitchen.
But soon, she noticed the shift.
The kids had gone quiet.
The wonder in their eyes turned to guilt.
Survivor's guilt… It's already setting in, Elaine thought.
She knelt down.
"Are you alright?"
Eve's voice cracked. "Do we… deserve this? We're the only ones who… who…"
Elaine gently lifted her chin.
"You owe it to them."
Seleph blinked. "Owe them?"
Elaine smiled softly.
"You survived. They didn't. So you have to live for them. Find happiness for them. Because they can't anymore."
Seleph and Eve wiped their tears. Adam turned away, letting out a shaky sniff.
"Now go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."
Later, as Elaine set the table, Kenzo leaned against the counter.
"You handled that perfectly," he said softly. "You always do."
Elaine sighed. "I hope so. Survivor's guilt… ruins people."
Kenzo hesitated, then—
"I'm moving in."
Elaine froze. "H-Huh!?"
"You shouldn't handle this alone."
Seleph ran in. "I want Kenzo to stay!"
Kenzo leaned close to Elaine's ear.
"They lost a grandmother. You'll be like a mother to them… and I want to be the father they need."
Elaine stared at him, at Adam, at Eve.
"What about you two?" she asked the pair.
Adam shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
Eve nodded firmly. "I want him to stay."
Kenzo silently celebrated.
Elaine sighed. "Fine. Go get your things. I'll prepare the guest room."
Late That Night
While everyone slept peacefully, Adam slipped out, climbed the roof, and sat beneath the luminous full moon.
The night wind brushed against him, calm, quiet, almost healing.
But Adam refused peace.
Not yet.
He closed his eyes.
Things are going differently than I planned… but maybe this way is better. I can reach the third floor with less risk…
He stood, reaching toward the moon, the symbol of everything he had lost.
He clenched his fist.
And whispered through clenched teeth—
"I'm gonna reach it. The Seventh Floor."