The next morning—
River slowly opened his eyes.
"…Huh…?"
He blinked.
The ceiling above him wasn't his.
Different.
Cleaner.
Less broken.
"…Oh right…"
He pushed himself up slightly.
He was in Arthur's room.
After Morgana had torn a hole straight through his own room—
Sleeping there wasn't exactly an option.
Celestia had protested.
Heavily.
But in the end—
She had reluctantly given in.
River sat up from the floor, stretching his stiff body.
"…My back is going to kill me…"
"Good morning, starshine."
River flinched slightly.
Arthur stood nearby, completely relaxed, holding a plate.
"The Earth says hello."
He casually handed it over.
A plate of freshly cooked eggs.
Still warm.
Still steaming.
"…Th-thanks?"
River took it hesitantly.
"…How long have you been standing there?"
Arthur smirked.
"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?"
River blinked.
"…Weather boy?"
Arthur leaned slightly against the wall.
"I have to admit, I'm curious."
His orange eyes gleamed behind his glasses.
"Wind and water affinities…"
He gestured toward River's cloak.
"And that lovely little cloak of yours."
A grin spread across his face.
"You've got the makings of something special."
A small pause.
"…You could become the next Witch of the South."
River paused mid-bite.
"…That's a bit much."
He looked down at the plate.
"Still… thanks."
A faint smile formed.
"I've got a long way to go before anything like that."
Arthur chuckled softly.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure."
His gaze lingered—
As if he saw something River didn't.
Arthur adjusted his glasses, a faint smile on his lips.
"You really are like a witch."
He glanced at River's hands.
"Especially with that demon hiding in your Bible."
River froze.
"…W-what did you just say?"
Arthur didn't hesitate.
"I said there's a demon inside your Bible."
His tone was casual.
Almost playful.
"Judging by the presence…"
His eyes narrowed slightly in interest.
"I'd say it's a strong one, too."
River stared at him.
Stunned.
How…?
Inside the pages—
Buer went silent for a moment.
Then—
"…This human…"
His voice was low.
"…he's terrifying."
Arthur chuckled softly.
"Relax."
He raised a hand.
"Your little secret is safe with me."
A reassuring smile.
"I won't tell a soul."
River's grip tightened slightly.
"…How did you know?"
Arthur leaned back against the wall.
"Back in my homeland…"
"I used to be something called a detective."
He tapped his temple lightly.
"It's similar to your Inquisition."
"Except we worked for the government instead of the church."
His tone grew a bit sharper.
"Find enough evidence…"
"And we deal with the monsters of society."
A pause.
"By locking them away."
"…or putting them down."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—
Arthur pushed himself off the wall.
"Come on, partner."
He stretched slightly.
"We've got a long day ahead of us."
He headed toward the door.
As he stepped out—
Buer spoke again.
"I don't trust that human."
"Not one bit."
River exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
His gaze lingered on the doorway.
"Me neither."
A small pause.
"…But…"
He stood up.
"…I can't help feeling drawn to him."
And that feeling—
Was far more unsettling than fear.
As River stepped outside—
He immediately spotted Celestia.
She was pacing back and forth.
Restless.
Anxious.
The moment she saw him—
"River!"
She rushed over.
"It's Azura—she won't come out of her room."
Her voice was tight with worry.
"I can hear her crying… but the door's locked."
River frowned.
"…Azura…"
"I'll handle this, my dear friends."
Arthur stepped forward with a calm smile.
River hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"We've known her longer."
"She might panic if a stranger suddenly barges in."
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
"As they say in my homeland…"
A small grin formed.
"Carpe Diem."
"Seize the day, my dear friends."
He walked up to Azura's door.
Then—
In a strangely cheerful tone—
"Room service~"
River blinked.
"…What are you—"
Before he could finish—
Arthur raised his hand.
Sand formed in the air.
Fine.
Precise.
It slipped into the lock—
Twisting.
Shifting.
Click.
The door unlocked.
Arthur winked.
"All you need to do…"
"…is work the angles."
And just like that—
He stepped inside.
The room was dim.
Quiet.
Except for one thing.
"I'm useless…"
A soft voice repeated.
"I'm useless… I'm useless… I'm useless…"
Azura sat on the floor—
Clutching her head.
Her body trembling.
Arthur's expression softened slightly.
"My dear…"
He spoke gently.
"Would you mind telling me what's wrong?"
Azura flinched violently.
Her body recoiled at his voice.
Arthur's gaze sharpened—
Just slightly.
Clear signs of trauma…
He observed silently.
Heightened fear response.
Self-deprecation loop.
His eyes drifted briefly to her neck.
The faint discoloration.
…A collar mark.
His thoughts settled.
She was a slave.
"Is this about the fight against the Skin Eater?" Arthur asked gently.
"Do you blame yourself for being knocked away so easily?"
Azura slowly looked up.
Her eyes were red.
Filled with tears.
Arthur's expression softened slightly.
"…I thought so," he murmured.
"If I wasn't so worthless…"
Her voice trembled.
"…then Mister River wouldn't have had to fight that monster alone."
Her grip tightened around herself.
"What if he replaces me…?"
"What if he finds a better tank…?"
"I couldn't even do my one job…"
Her voice cracked.
"…taking hits… protecting the healer…"
Arthur listened quietly.
No interruption.
No judgment.
"I watched the fight," he said calmly.
"While I was clearing zombies nearby."
His gaze stayed steady on her.
"So I saw everything."
Azura blinked.
"…Everything?"
Arthur nodded slightly.
"Tell me something."
His tone remained gentle.
"Did you notice your positioning?"
Azura tilted her head slightly.
"…My what?"
"Your positioning."
He leaned in just a bit.
"You were standing directly in front of River."
Her eyes widened faintly.
Arthur continued.
"That spear—"
He gestured lightly.
"The one that knocked you away…"
His voice remained calm.
"If you hadn't been there—"
He paused.
"It would have struck River instead."
Azura froze.
Her breath caught.
"And if that had happened…"
Arthur's tone lowered slightly.
"The entire battle would have collapsed."
Silence filled the room.
"You say you failed…"
He shook his head slightly.
"But from what I saw…"
His gaze softened.
"You saved him."
"…You protected your healer."
Azura's hands trembled—
Then slowly began to steady.
Even as tears continued to fall—
They weren't as frantic.
"…I…"
Her voice was small.
Arthur gently took her hand.
Not forceful.
Not sudden.
Just enough to ground her.
"You weren't useless."
His words were firm.
"You were exactly where you needed to be."
Azura's breathing slowed.
"…Th-thank you…"
Her tears finally began to settle.
And for the first time since the battle—
Her hands stopped shaking.
Arthur smiled softly.
"You know…"
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Life is often like a box of chocolates."
Azura blinked, listening closely.
"You never really know what you're going to get."
He gave a small shrug.
"Some have filling."
"Some are bitter."
"Some catch you completely off guard."
His tone softened.
"But in the end…"
"It's still chocolate."
He looked at her gently.
"And no matter what's inside…"
"It's meant to be sweet."
A small pause.
"Even the things we first see as failures…"
"…or mistakes…"
He squeezed her hand lightly.
"…can later become the reason we succeed."
Azura tilted her head.
"…Chocolate, what's that?"
Her eyes held a bit of curiosity now.
Arthur chuckled.
"A delicious treat from my homeland."
He stood up, stretching slightly.
"I'll make sure you get to try some."
A small grin formed.
"Consider it part of your recovery."
Azura blinked.
Then tilted her head, staring at him.
"…Um…"
"Who are you, anyway?"
Arthur placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"Me?"
He smiled proudly.
"I am the newest member of Team Phoenix."
A slight pause—
He pointed to himself.
"Arthur Holmes."
"Archer extraordinaire."
Azura stared at him—
Then suddenly—
She laughed.
A soft, genuine laugh.
"…You're really funny."
Arthur grinned.
"Azura…"
He extended his hand toward her.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Azura hesitated for only a moment—
Then nodded.
She reached out—
And shook his hand.
"…Yeah."
At that moment—
The door opened.
"Well…"
River stepped in, Celestia right behind him.
"I never would've guessed you're the same guy who nearly killed me last night."
The room froze.
"…He did what?" Celestia and Azura said in unison.
Arthur waved a hand dismissively.
"Relax."
"The game was rigged."
He reached into his coat and pulled out his strange weapon.
"River was never in any real danger."
He loaded six bullets into it.
Then he spun the chamber.
"Just a little performance."
"To fool the masses."
Then—
Without warning—
He pressed the weapon against River's head.
"…Hey."
River didn't even flinch this time.
"What are you—"
"Why so serious?" Arthur said lightly.
Celestia's sword was out in an instant.
"Don't you dare—"
Click.
He pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
Silence.
Arthur lowered the weapon with a small bow.
"You see?"
"Simple."
River frowned.
"…That doesn't explain anything."
Arthur smiled.
"Using my affinity for earth magic…"
"I simply make the bullet temporarily cease to exist."
River blinked.
"…Temporarily not exist?"
"Even I'm confused," Buer muttered.
"…Though I like it."
"There's something interesting about that weapon."
Arthur tapped the side of his gun.
"My bullets are made from magic."
"So I just unsummon them before pulling the trigger…"
"…and resummon them afterward."
Celestia narrowed her eyes.
"…And that vertigo thing you did to me?"
"That wasn't normal magic."
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
A sly smile forming.
"I can't reveal all my secrets so soon."
He tapped just below his eye.
"Just know…"
"I've got special eyes."
Celestia rolled her eyes.
"…You're suspicious."
Then—
Without hesitation—
She walked over and wrapped her arms around River again.
Possessive.
Comforting.
And just a little bit territorial.
"Young love…"
Arthur smiled faintly, watching the two of them.
"So cute."
A small sigh escaped him.
"…I miss my boyfriend."
Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"…Really?"
A teasing grin spread across her face.
"Someone would actually date you?"
Arthur placed a hand over his chest in mock offense.
"I am quite charismatic, you know."
He chuckled.
"Some might even say irresistible."
River sighed.
"…I'm already tired of him."
"Too late," Arthur grinned.
"You're stuck with me now, partner."
Before anyone could respond—
Buer's voice cut in.
Low.
Serious.
"Hey… brat."
River froze.
"…What is it?"
"Someone dangerous just entered town."
There was no humor in his tone.
"Don't misunderstand—I'm only telling you this because I'd hate for you to die before making more deals with me."
River's eyes widened.
"…Dangerous?"
At the outskirts of Stonehelm—
A woman stepped forward.
Each step calm.
Measured.
Her long pink hair flowed gently behind her, strands adorned with delicate golden leaves.
Her eyes were covered—
And yet—
She walked without hesitation.
As if she could see everything.
She wore a long white robe, pristine despite the ruined town before her.
Strapped to her back—
Was a coffin.
Carried like a burden.
Or a weapon.
Her right hand hung at her side—
But her index finger was missing.
In its place—
A golden, claw-like prosthetic.
Cold.
Refined.
Unmistakable.
The mark of the Inquisition.
She stopped at the edge of the town.
And took a single step forward.
As if—
Judgment had arrived.