"Legends arise from ignorance."
"Makes sense. But to viewers clueless on the details, Aurumatons and ghosts are one and the same."
"Mm, curiosity sated—though it's spawned more questions. But we promised the judges we'd leave, so no backing out."
"...Though snagging some footage of Mr. Tail en route, titled [Fyxestroll Garden's Spectral Ghostfire Haunts Innocent Foxian Girl], would totally hook 'em."
"Clickbait, huh? No wonder you're a streamer."
"Family, play along when the time comes?" Guinaifen winked at Stelle.
Stelle mimed adjusting nonexistent glasses. "Sigh~ Can't say no to you. Piss off the judges, and it's centuries in the clink."
"Point taken." Guinaifen nodded, grinning dopily: "Though my cap's maybe a few decades—hey hey~"
Good grief—she even thought it worthwhile, proud no less! That mindset was catching up to Stelle's!
"You look pretty tense..."
Stelle checked on Huohuo—couldn't let the facade fool her; the girl might be centuries her senior.
You never knew a Luofu resident's true age. Huohuo'd been with the Ten-Lords Commission thirty-eight years. Mm—near four decades on the job, prime time to strike out!
"I'm a bit scared, but I-I'll see you out!"
From her tail came Mr. Tail's gripe: "Can't even handle this? Go peddle snacks."
"If not for you latching on, I'd have... set up a little stall for a peaceful life ages ago."
No sooner said than Adrian blurred to Huohuo's front. What had HE just heard?
"Miss Huohuo—care to work at my milk tea shop?"
"Eh?"
All three froze. Only Adrian—poaching right in front of Xueyi and Hanya, two Ten-Lords judges!
"Discussing jobs mid-duty... N-not appropriate, right?"
Guinaifen sidled up. "Miss Huohuo—mind if Mr. Tail poses for a pic?"
"Ah... Miss Guinaifen, we're on official business..."
"Ghooooost—!!!"
Guinaifen yelped suddenly; Adrian and Stelle barely blinked, but Huohuo jumped.
"Wahhh~ Wh-wh-what's wrong?!"
"Look at her—scared stutter and all."
"N-n-no fear here, I-I just lost my footing... Oh, right—where's Miss Guinaifen?"
This proved Ten-Lords work was no cakewalk.
Glance at Xueyi and Hanya—their mental fortitude was unreal, no whiff of life about 'em.
"Wait—where'd Adrian go?"
Stelle clocked it too. Had the guy timed a bolt back to his shop?!
"...D-did we lose him?"
Huohuo swallowed hard. Lost two in a blink—one the group's liveliest. Who wouldn't freak?
"No good—we gotta find Miss Guinaifen... This vibe's off... I'm scared—stay close, I fear you'll vanish too." Huohuo clutched Stelle's hand.
The foxian's dainty grip melted Stelle's dread—instead, protectiveness surged for this pint-sized judge.
"Stick behind me, Miss Huohuo."
Stelle drew her bat, scouring the fox-talk woods with Huohuo for the missing Guinaifen.
...
Astral Express nexus, Adrian grabbed a cup of Immortal's Delight Tea from the Sleepless Earl's teahouse, zipping back to his shop.
HE had zero interest in ghost-busting...
Pushing the door, HE spotted an [uninvited guest].
Slurp... Ahh—
A resounding suck echoed in the quiet, paired with the silver-haired elf's blissed-out squint, blowing her cover.
"Eh? Freesna?"
Adrian eyed the milk tea thief Freesna—this scene'd played out plenty.
Cough cough! "Th-this... This is vital training to discern mortal depravity! To safeguard the stellar nexus, I must firsthand endure this corrupting force..."
Freesna strained for elven chant solemnity, convincing herself while eyes darted guiltily.
"Ah!" A sharp, dawning yelp escaped.
"I see! So it is! Fate's strings were plucked!" Freesna snapped ramrod-straight, silver locks arcing brilliantly under the light with her fervor.
Panic and flush ebbed like tide; in rushed manic joy and duty.
"I heard it—the clarion call for [ETERNITY]'s salvation!"
Don't underestimate Ite and the Eternity Church's bond! Hanya'd barely recited the [ETERNITY] hymn in her head when Freesna arrived first.
The air hung thick with milk tea aroma, awkward hush, and the silver-haired elf girl's boiling edgelord righteousness. Adrian opened HIS mouth, then shut it.
"Who else is coming?"
...
"Guinaifen? Where are you? Huohuo, stay close..."
Mid-sentence, Stelle turned—the vast Fyxestroll Garden now held just her.
"People? Crap, Huohuo's gone too..."
Whoosh!
A chill gust slammed the iron gate shut behind her; Stelle seriously suspected some spectral tag-along.
Right now, she could count only on herself!
Right hand: Bat. Left: Pyro gun. Neck: Hourglass necklace. Shoulder: Fool's mask. Fully prepped.
Scanning, the courtyard's standout was a mirror.
"This... A mirror? Gives me the creeps."
Stelle rubbed her eyes, leaning in to inspect her reflection. Not bad... Features sharp—model material, wasted.
"Hey~ Uh, haha." She waved at mirror-her, scratching her head awkwardly.
Illusion, then... Time to find Huohuo and Guinaifen.
Mm...
Wait!!! Stelle'd missed it—mirror-her had none of these weapons!
As mirror-her lunged, Stelle backpedaled the throw.
"Miss—careful, don't move!"
"Eek eek eek!"
Stelle readied her bat for counter when a crimson blur streaked past.
The newcomer: A burly man in scarlet armor, pauldrons flaring flame-like gorgets, cloak billowing like burning clouds in stride. Bronze ponytail lashed like molten rivulets, tips flickering fire-tongues.
Copper skin etched fine scars, coarse stubble crowding his jaw, a faint slash from bridge to cheekbone lending grit, amber eyes glinting gold, often narrowing in passion.
Armor lining? Subtly embroidered in dark gold: [Eternal Prayers], glimpsed now and then.
Stelle blinked. Who the hell was this guy?!