Fu Xuan's third eye dimmed. She lowered her hand from her chin.
"I just performed some quick divination, and the hexagram is consistent with our current predicament." Her voice carried that same clipped authority. "The starskiff cannot take us to the Divination Commission today. Alas, without me in charge to handle the Stellaron crisis, I dare not even imagine the kind of mess the commission must be in."
Tingyun's fan fluttered. "It's true that the Divination Commission really can't go a single day without Lady Fu Xuan."
March put her hand on her hip. "That's why you have to develop a talent pool. Otherwise everything falls apart when you go on vacation."
Kevin almost winced.
Don't say that to her face.
Fu Xuan's head turned. Slow. Deliberate. Her expression could cut stone.
"Hmph. Since you are clearly ignorant of the commission's internal affairs, I shall absolve you of your ridiculous remarks."
March's face went slightly red.
Fu Xuan was already turning away. "I'm going ahead to make some inquiries. Goodbye."
"Wait." Stelle stepped forward. "We can help."
March's head snapped toward her. The look on her face said everything. Why. Why would you do this to me.
Fu Xuan stopped. Turned back. Her third eye pulsed as she studied Stelle.
"You..." A pause. Something almost like amusement flickered across her expression. "Really are enthusiastic. No wonder Jing Yuan told me to give you errands."
March's mouth opened. "Um. You might not want to hear this, but your General gave us his word. We have to be present when you question Kafka."
Kevin watched Fu Xuan's expression shift. Not anger. Something closer to offense.
"You think too little of me." Her voice was sharp now. "My word is my bond. I will stick to my promise even if this Delve collapses. That's... very unlikely, by the way."
She took a breath. Composed herself.
"To have this prisoner speak, the commission must resort to unconventional means, the nature of which is confidential and cannot be disclosed. Forgive me."
Her gaze swept across all of them.
"But I can assure you that the questioning will not begin until you arrive, even if that means wasting precious time. I have appointed someone to wait for you in front of Exalting Sanctum Plaza. Once we've consolidated our internal affairs, you will be brought into the Divination Commission."
A beat.
"Please be patient."
March nodded quickly. "O-Okay. We trust you."
Fu Xuan's expression softened. Just slightly. Then she turned and left, the Cloud Knights following with Kafka between them.
Kafka glanced back. Just once. Her smile caught the light.
Then they were gone around the corner.
Silence settled over the group.
March stood there, face still flushed, staring at the spot where Fu Xuan had disappeared. Her hand dropped from her hip slowly.
"I..." She started, then stopped. Bit her lip. "I really put my foot in it, didn't I?"
No one answered immediately.
Welt took off his glasses, cleaning them with a cloth from his pocket. His expression was thoughtful. "Fu Xuan takes her duties seriously. The Divination Commission is her responsibility. Her life's work."
"I didn't mean" March's voice was smaller now. "I was just trying to give advice. You know. Helpful advice."
"I know." Welt put his glasses back on, looking at her gently. "But sometimes the way we offer help can sound like criticism. Especially to someone who's already carrying a heavy burden."
March's shoulders sagged. "Great. So now she thinks I'm an insensitive jerk."
Stelle looked at her. "You're not a jerk."
March blinked. "Really?"
"Just insensitive sometimes."
"Stelle!"
Stelle's expression didn't change. "What? You asked."
"I didn't that's not!" March sputtered, face going red again but for a different reason now. "You're supposed to make me feel better!"
"I am. You're not a jerk. That's better than being a jerk."
"That's not comforting!"
"Should I lie instead?"
"No! But you could I don't know be nicer about it!"
Stelle tilted her head slightly. "I'm being honest. Isn't that nicer than lying?"
March opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "I hate that you have a point."
"I usually do."
"And there it is! You're so smug!"
"I'm not smug. I'm just right."
"That's the definition of smug!"
Welt sighed softly. But there was something in his expression. Not quite amusement. More like... fondness. The kind you have for people who drive you crazy but you care about anyway.
He glanced at Kevin.
Kevin was standing a few steps back. Watching. His expression neutral, but his eyes were focused on March and Stelle.
Welt noticed.
"Kevin," he said quietly.
Kevin's gaze shifted to him.
"Are you alright?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately. Just looked at Welt. Then back at March and Stelle. March was still trying to argue her point while Stelle responded with infuriating calm.
"Yeah," he said finally. "I'm fine."
Welt studied him for a moment. His eyes were sharp behind those glasses. Analytical. Reading the micro-expressions most people missed.
He saw something there. Something Kevin wasn't saying.
But Welt didn't push. Just nodded slowly. Once. An acknowledgment.
Kevin met his eyes. Held the gaze for a moment.
Then nodded back.
They understood each other. That was enough.
Welt turned back to the group. "Perhaps we should focus on finding Fu Xuan's messenger."
March was mid-sentence, something about how honesty without tact is just cruelty. She stopped, huffed. "Fine. Yeah. Let's go find whoever it is."
Tingyun stepped forward, fan folding with a soft snap. "I can escort you to the plaza proper, if you'd like. I know the area well."
Welt inclined his head. "That would be appreciated, Miss Tingyun."
Kevin stood there. Watching them walk ahead.
March was still going, her voice carrying back. Something about how Stelle never takes her side even when she's obviously right. Stelle responding with single words. "Nope." "Wrong." "Still no."
Welt walking between them, hands clasped behind his back, the picture of patience.
And Tingyun leading them all, tail swaying, fan moving in that practiced, elegant way.
Kevin watched the way March gestured wildly as she talked. The way her voice went up when she was frustrated. The way she'd look at Stelle, expecting support, and Stelle would just give her that blank look that said you're on your own.
And something clicked.
That's why.
It wasn't the bickering itself. It was the rhythm of it. The back and forth. The way they knew exactly how to annoy each other but kept doing it anyway. The way it was almost... affectionate.
Like they'd done this a thousand times before.
Like they'd do it a thousand times more.
The memory hit him before he could stop it.
The barracks on Aionios. Late at night. After the battles.
Two of the warriors arguing. Something stupid. Something that didn't matter.
"You always do this!"
"Do what?"
"Act like you're right when you're clearly wrong!"
"I AM right!"
"You're impossible!"
And someone else laughing. Throwing something soft at them. "Will you two shut up? Some of us are trying to sleep."
"Then tell HER to admit she's wrong!"
"I'm not wrong!"
More laughter. Warm. Tired. The kind that came from being too exhausted to care about whatever they were arguing about.
Mei sitting next to Kevin, shoulder pressed against his.
"They do this every night," she'd said quietly.
"I know."
"It's kind of nice, isn't it?"
Kevin had looked at her. "What is?"
"That they still have the energy to argue about nothing. Means they're not giving up yet."
And she'd been right. The arguments meant they were still human. Still cared about stupid things. Still had enough fight left in them to bicker about who was right.
Until they didn't.
Until the arguments stopped because there was no one left to argue with.
Until Kevin stood alone in the ruins, holding their rings, and the silence was so loud it felt like drowning.
Kevin's chest tightened.
He forced himself to breathe. In. Out.
They're not them.
They're not going to fall. Not like that. Not here.
This is different.
This is—
"Hey. Kevin."
Kevin blinked.
Stelle was standing in front of him. She'd stopped walking. Turned back. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes were focused.
She'd noticed something.
"What?" His voice came out quieter than he meant.
"Are you coming or not?"
Kevin looked past her. March and Welt were ahead, still walking. Tingyun glancing back with that practiced smile.
"Where?"
March called back without turning. "Exploring the city!"
Stelle tilted her head slightly. Still watching him. "We have time to kill. Might as well look around."
Kevin looked at her. At the others walking ahead. At March gesturing wildly while talking to Welt about something. At the way they moved together. Easy. Comfortable. Alive.
They're not them.
They're not Mei. Not the warriors. Not the people I watched die.
But they're...
Something in his chest loosened. Just slightly.
They're here. Alive.
Kevin's expression softened.
"Yeah." He started walking. "I'm coming."
Stelle fell into step beside him. Didn't say anything. Just walked.
And for a moment, Kevin let himself feel it.
The warmth of having people to walk beside.
Even if it was temporary.
Even if he'd lose them too.
For now, they were here.
And that was enough.