Daylan and the others stood behind Spine Street, their eyes fixed on the church as four phantoms drifted through the alleys. Before Daylan could speak, Medora broke the silence.
"Let me deal with them… Even if they catch on, I can handle it." She flashed a wide smile. "Go. See your family."
Daylan and Astara exchanged glances, following it with a nod. "We'll be waiting for you at my place."
She nodded as Daylan and Astara made their way toward the church. Without a moment's hesitation, Medora strode the alley, removed her overcoat and put on her mask.
The street buzzed with activity as Daylan and Astara weaved through the crowd—some people heading to the church for prayers, a few wagons rumbling in the same direction, while others were simply merchants and customers going about their day.
Before long, they reached the house. Astara stood motionless at the entrance, her eyes locked on the church's gothic silhouette, completely lost in thought.
Daylan tried to get her attention, but his words fell on deaf ears. With no other choice, he gently shook her out of her daze.
"Sorry… let's go."
Daylan kept staring at her, perplexed by her behavior. He shook it off and motioned for her to enter the room.
As soon as they entered the living room, Zira rushed to Daylan, wrapping him in a tight hug. Daylan ran his fingers through her brown hair while she grinned and waved at Astara.
Daylan was relieved to see Zira, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at him. She looked thin and pale, and her eyes were tinged with red—as though she hadn't eaten in days.
Daylan knelt on one knee. "Zira, are you okay?" His voice was etched with concern as he reached for her face.
Zira deepened her grin as she nodded, but Daylan could tell something wasn't right.
"Where's mother?"
Her expression darkened. ''She's not home. She said she found a job, so it's just me here now.''
Daylan smiled.
That's it, huh? She could've at least taken her with her… Wait, was that why she was acting so strange earlier? She wants to work for us now. How sweet.
"Let's find something to eat." Astara said, making her way out of the room.
Daylan pretended to cry, wiping his dry eyes.
She wants to feed my sweet Zira, but doesn't want to be direct with it—he sniffled.
Zira quickly grabbed Astara's hand. Astara was puzzled, as it wasn't something she'd expected, but Daylan's grin was enough to make her hold on.
They strolled through the streets, buying snacks and sweets. Astara, easily charmed by Zira, couldn't resist her playful requests. They shopped, played games, watched a theater performance, and even enjoyed a bit of choreography.
While they were having the time of their lives, Medora found herself surrounded by seven Phantoms. She'd been caught—and to make matters worse, the four they'd seen had turned into seven. Her only way out now was through victory.
She had no intention of using tricks—she didn't want to be a coward like Daylan. But from her expression and the way her feet trembled, it was clear she was scared.
Before long, her flames engulfed the air, setting nearby buildings ablaze as the inhabitants fled in panic. The seven Phantoms were reduced to ashes. Medora knelt, her breath coming in heavy gasps.
Normally, Daylan would ensure at least one survived, so their deeds could be reported to the Phantom leader, 'G.' But this time, driven by rage, Medora had burned them all to a crisp. Still, she felt compelled to leave a message behind.
Knowing she had little time before the Honor Guards arrived, she dipped her fingers into the charred ground and scrawled 'Soldier' before quickly fleeing the scene.
By the time Daylan and the others returned from their fun, they found Medora dressed and wearing her overcoat, waiting for them in the living room.
Daylan and Astara both wanted to know what had happened. They noticed a few burns on her trousers, but with Daylan's mother not around, leaving Zira alone wasn't an option.
While they waited, Daylan took the initiative to teach Zira everything he knew about the Luck Trial. He never realized he could be such a children's teacher—then again, maybe Zira was just a quick learner.
Medora and Astara left for the streets not long into Daylan's lesson. Their cheerful humor had vanished, replaced by a stern formality—like that of a student and a teacher. Still, Zira didn't seem bothered. Before long, she could confidently explain all of Daylan's theories back to him.
Daylan felt proud—not just because Zira now stood a fair chance of passing her Luck Trial, but because he'd proven to be a great teacher. Great at everything, really.
Daylan began sobbing over how great he was, while a confused Zira tried her best to comfort him. As their strange antics continued, their mother returned home—with Medora and Astara in tow.
Their odd behavior faded as the room filled once more with laughter. Daylan's mother brought a cheerful presence of her own. They shared warm moments together, but Daylan never mentioned that they'd been living alone—or his recent discovery about his father.
Watching his mother laugh uncontrollably, overly flattered and tapping his shoulder again and again, Daylan smiled. She was trying to hide her suffering and hardship—and he was grateful to have a family like this.
Before long, night overtook the day, and Daylan and the others had to leave. With their stomachs full from the meals his mother had prepared, they strolled the streets for a while to burn off the food—Medora's stomach nearly bursting—before finally hailing a carriage and climbing in.
As the carriage rolled along, Daylan smirked, his head resting lightly against the window.
The moment he needed to clear his mind had come—and it had done just that. In the cruel world he lived in, all that truly mattered was protecting the ones he loved, and this visit served as the perfect reminder.
He glanced to his right and saw Medora and Astara, their faces lit with happiness as they chatted, completely engrossed in their conversation.
It wasn't long before they arrived home. As soon as they stepped inside, Astara threw the question on everyone's mind straight at Medora.
Medora grinned, her lips stretching from ear to ear. She sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
"Before I share the good news, let me start with the greatest," she said, as the others took their seats.
"I defeated seven Phantoms. I mean, head on—I didn't hide in the shadows." She raised her hands.
Daylan gave her a disappointed look. "Seriously? That's the greatest you've got?"
She grinned, but her expression quickly darkened. "When I followed the four Phantoms, they led me to a building on the eastern side. I didn't get a clear look, so I can't say for sure whether it was within the city walls or just beyond them. Then three more came up behind me, and I had no choice but to fight my way out."
"But did you at least get a sense of its structure?"
"Not really. But what gave it away was the 'G' banner hanging out front. So I assumed everyone in that community was either part of the Phantoms or at least knew something—because otherwise, they would've reported them to the guards."
Astara folded her arms, fingers brushing her chin. "If they've got an entire estate behind them, don't you think this might be a lot tougher than we thought?"
Daylan nodded. "It's also possible they have multiple branches spread across the city—like The Coffee Shop. I don't think it's a coincidence that seven of them were heading to the same place."
Astara's expression shifted. "What if they were just heading back from their homes?"
Daylan pointed his finger at Medora. "No one returns after entering The Coffee Shop… I don't think they kill them or anything."
He turned to Astara. "Everyone goes there seeking strength, power, maybe even status—think of it as an underground version of the church. They probably get in with promises of fortune, but only after a long period of service or total devotion. Then, eventually, their requests are granted."
He shifted on the sofa. "The first time we went to The Coffee Shop, the guy I talked to mentioned having a family—which supports what I'm saying. They were all there by choice, not particularly forced, but there's a chance they were manipulated."
He leaned forward. "What I'm trying to say is, the Phantoms don't go home…They either cram themselves into that building Medora saw, or they've got multiple hideouts across the city."
"Ah." Medora snapped her fingers. "What if we go and see it ourselves tomorrow?"
Astara turned to Medora. "I thought about that too, but the three of us showing up would be way too suspicious. I mean, they're actively hunting for three people—then suddenly, three mysterious strangers start roaming their territory? That's asking for trouble."
Daylan spoke up, his voice steady. "We're not going tomorrow—or even the day after.
There's something I need to work on first. Once I'm done, we'll each take one of the remaining three parts of the city: South, East, and West."