Evelyn seemed to be in better spirits today, with less of the usual gloom between her brows.
She shook her head slightly, a hint of self-mockery at the corner of her mouth. "I should thank you, Lord Phaethon. Your... 'visit' to the Sanctuary yesterday had an unexpectedly positive effect. As for my family,"
She paused, her tone carrying a sense of relief, "at least for now, has no time to pressure me with those matters of survival and great duty anymore."
"I heard from Cyrene this morning that you're heading to Okhema. Coincidentally, I also wish to leave this troubled place behind."
She looked out the window at the bustling yet oppressive streets and said softly, "Whether it's Oronyx's prophecy or the family's survival... hah, let it be."
Phaethon nodded understandingly. "Leaving is good. It is good to have a change of scenery."
He scanned the hall, looking for Tribbie, but was surprised to see another familiar figure leaning against the doorframe, watching him with a grin.
"Elliott?" Phaethon raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, kid? So early?"
Elliott immediately stepped forward, slinging a familiar arm over Phaethon's shoulder, winking and grinning. "Surprised? Miss Evelyn is going to Okhema, right?"
"My old man caught wind of some things too, thinks Janusopolis isn't too stable right now, and is considering shifting some of the family's focus towards Okhema. As for me..."
He patted his chest, "I volunteered to be the vanguard for our future new base! Besides," he lowered his voice, nodding towards Evelyn's direction, "traveling with you guys, even if there are any remnants of the Black Tide outside, it's safer, right? Two birds with one stone, hehe."
Phaethon chuckled and gently nudged him with his shoulder. "Cut the crap! I think your sights are set elsewhere, and you just can't forget about Miss Evelyn, right? Huh?"
"Ouch!" Elliott clutched his shoulder exaggeratedly. "Phaethon, you can see through it but don't say it out loud! We're friends, give me some face!"
"Little Little Whitey! You're up!" A clear, cheerful voice interrupted their "private talk."
Trianne shot towards Phaethon like a little cannonball, tilting her head back to look up at him, her big eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"This morning, Cyrene said you decided last night to come back to the holy city of Okhema with us! Is it true?"
A gentle smile spread across Phaethon's face. He bent down and effortlessly scooped Trianne up, settling her securely on his broad shoulders.
"Mn, it's true. Teacher Tribbie said Phainon has accepted Aglaea's invitation and will be arriving in the holy city soon."
He adjusted the little one on his shoulder, his tone carrying a touch of emotion. "Speaking of which, it's been almost a year since I last saw that guy. So, Cyrene and I discussed it and decided to go back with you. We can keep an eye out on the road."
"Yay! That's great!" Trianne, sitting up high, clapped her little hands excitedly, her legs swinging happily. "Little Little Whitey is going back to the holy city with Trianne! We can play together!"
"Trianne," Tribbie's voice sounded appropriately. She walked over gracefully, her expression gentle but serious. "The journey back to Okhema is not short."
She looked at Trianne perched on Phaethon's shoulder, her tone reminding, "And this time, on the road, you can't use the Infinity Gate again. The toll on you is too great."
"Trianne knows! Trianne knows!" Trianne immediately nodded like a little pecking bird, her small face the picture of obedience. "Trianne will be good, won't use the Infinity Gate recklessly! Trianne promises!"
"Perhaps..." Phaethon looked at Trianne's adorable expression, so full of yearning yet trying hard to restrain herself, and couldn't help but chuckle softly. A sly glint flashed in his eyes. "...we can use it?"
"Eh?" Both Trianne and Tribbie were stunned.
Under their curious gazes, Phaethon casually raised one hand.
Above his palm, space rippled like water. A gate, only the size of a palm but emitting a soft, stable spatial fluctuation—the Infinity Gate—materialized and solidified at his fingertips as if by magic!
"The Infinity Gate?!" Tribbie's pupils constricted sharply. She exclaimed in disbelief, her face filled with utter shock! "This aura... this fluctuation... It's the real Infinity Gate! How is this possible?!"
(Tribbie: *Awesome, Phaethon, you know perfectly well whether you've cheated or not.*)
Unlike her pure astonishment, Trianne's reaction was an instant explosion of joy: "Waaah—!! It really is the Infinity Gate! Little Little Whitey is sooo—amazing!"
She was so excited she nearly jumped off Phaethon's shoulders, her little hand stretching eagerly towards the small, exquisite gate, her face full of wonder and admiration.
"Little Whitey! Close it!" Tribbie's reaction was almost instinctive, filled with strong concern and urgency. She stepped forward, her tone hurried, "Even if you can open the Infinity Gate, the consumption is no joke! You..."
"Don't worry, Teacher…Tribbie." Phaethon's voice was steady and gentle. He looked at Tribbie with sincere inquiry,
"May I call you that?" The miniature Infinity Gate in his palm continued to hover steadily, emitting a soft glow, showing no signs of power depletion or strain. "There is no cost for me to open the Infinity Gate."
"No... cost?" Tribbie repeated the words as if trying to comprehend a fairy tale.
She stared intently at the small gate, feeling the unbelievably stable flow of spatial energy within it, then looked at Phaethon's relaxed, even-breathing demeanor.
The massive shock receded like a tide, replaced by an unprecedented, immense impact and the wild joy that followed!
Her body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement. Her sapphire-blue eyes instantly filled with a complex light—disbelief, relief, immense gratitude!
"Truly... no cost?" Tribbie's voice carried a barely perceptible choke. She looked at Phaethon, her gaze becoming incredibly bright and soft. "Little Whitey... you..."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her tumultuous emotions. Finally, a truly sincere, radiant smile bloomed on her face.
"Thank you! Little Whitey, really... thank you so much! Of course you can call me Teacher Tribbie!"
After everyone was ready.
Phaethon unfolded the Infinity Gate in the courtyard.
"Let's go!" The one charging at the front was still Trianne.
Followed by Tribbie. "Trianne, I told you not to rush so fast!"
Next came Castorice, who was cautiously folding her small hands, followed by Elliott, Evelyn, and the others.
"Let's go, Cyrene. High Priest Vittorio is quite busy now, with all the Sanctuary affairs to handle."
"And... if you want to return to Janusopolis, isn't it just a matter of saying the word to me?" Phaethon patted Cyrene's shoulder.
"That's true. Well then... goodbye for now~ Janusopolis ♪" Cyrene took one last look in the direction of the Sanctuary. Then, together with Phaethon, she walked towards the Infinity Gate.