The contractors arrived early in the morning, even before the sun had fully risen.

Dominic had planned everything the day before, after coming back from the academy. Now, two workers were in the study, using measuring tools and chalk, working efficiently as they followed a clear plan without any fuss. The wall connecting the study to the next room was marked, signalling that the renovation was moving forward.

Florence was quietly watching them work,

Her thoughts are busy, and her opinions are ready to share. She voiced her ideas, and one of the contractors nodded politely at her comments before smoothly continuing with his task. Meanwhile, the other was carefully marking measurements along the wall, his expression serious and focused, as if carefully avoiding distractions to stay safe and on track.

Theresa sat at the table with her tea, watching Florence observe the contractors with a calm patience, like someone who had spent a night recalibrating and finally found a good balance. Dominic stepped in carrying his satchel, glancing at the study, then at Florence, and finally at Theresa.

"She’ll show you around the city while I’m at the academy," Dominic told Florence. "The main districts, the guild, the dungeon district—she’ll help you get your bearings."

Without hesitation, Florence turned away from the contractors, focusing her full attention with an eager enthusiasm that was characteristic of her—completely and wholeheartedly.

Theresa glanced at him, her eyes thoughtful. He returned her gaze with gentle reassurance.

"It’ll be fine," he said softly, offering comfort with his words.

Her expression revealed her honest and heartfelt judgment of that hope, all without a single word. Then he quietly stepped away.

***

Caldmore, in the mid-morning, moved the way it always did.

Florence claimed the street with her presence, filling every space around her with a sense of completeness. The people nearby naturally adjusted their paths, often unaware of why, as Florence moved through the subtle dance of the moment, her ease as familiar as a well-worn song.

Walking beside her, Theresa carried the patience of someone who has met challenging personalities before, though never quite like this one. Still, the underlying principle remained the same: understanding and patience.

"What’s with the card on people’s belts? Is it a fashion thing?" Florence said, looking at an adventurer crossing the junction ahead of them with a silver card visible at his belt.

"Adventurers register with the guild. The card shows their documented rank and their active status."

"Oh? So how many ranks are there?"

"Eight, from Bronze to Adamantite, but the rankings system only shows adventure achievements, while crest cards cover power, profession and identity."

"And what are the ranks for that?"

"Mostly F through S. There are ranks above that, but no one in this city holds one currently."

"And the dungeon." Florence was already looking toward the district. "How’d it form?"

"Wild mana convergence beneath the city. It predates most of the city by decades."

"So they built the city around it."

"The city formed around it and the guild independently. The current layout reflects that."

"Smart location for a guild," Florence said. "Dungeon traffic means consistent adventurer presence. Consistent adventurer presence means consistent revenue. Consistent revenue means political weight over time."

"I agree, it is smart," Theresa said.

Florence gazed at her for a moment, her expression filled with a gentle curiosity as if she was still pondering her assessment.

"You don’t talk much," Florence said with a grin. "But you notice everything. I like that."

Theresa met her eyes calmly. "And you talk enough for both of us."

A devilish grin slowly appeared on Florence’s face.

***

Late in the afternoon, Dominic returned home to find the contractors still busy at work.

The sounds of renovation echoed from the study end of the apartment—chalk lines, measuring, and the steady percussion of structural assessment filled the air. Dominic stepped inside and took a moment to look around the main room.

Theresa was seated at the table, her posture as precise as ever. Her face bore the calm expression of someone who had faced challenges and decided that discussing them was not necessary.

Florence was relaxing on the couch, contentment radiating from her, a reflection of a day well spent by her own standards, and she found it truly excellent.

Dominic glanced at Theresa, then at Florence, and back to Theresa with a thoughtful look. He gently settled into his seat and poured himself a warm cup of tea from the pot on the table, taking a soothing sip. As the room remained silent, he felt a sense of tension in the air, but decided that not acknowledging it was the right path; he continued onward with a quiet resolve.

***

Later that day, he warmly invited them to join him at the table for a heartfelt discussion.

Both of them looked at him now, not quite directly but with a kind of attentive curiosity, as if they sensed something important was about to unfold and were patiently waiting for it.

He shared where he stood now—the person he was before all of this began, what had been taken from him, and why. He explained the list of names, the order they were in, and why that order was set, unlike when he’d told Theresa, his walls had come down slightly. He talked about what he needed before he could take meaningful action—rank, resources, influence, and time, how much of each would be necessary, what it would take, and at what cost.

He explained to them that their connection was through the system, but to him, ’bound’ didn’t mean obligated. Instead, he wanted them to be with him because they genuinely chose to. If either of them had doubts, he’d prefer they share them now—before it became more important later.

Florence gently set down the loot piece she had been examining.

"Master."

"Dominic." He corrected.

"I was pulled here because of you, You pulled me here" she said. "It wasn’t so I could just sit in an apartment. Of course, I’m going to help you." She paused. "This is our thing now."

She picked the loot piece back up and continued examining it as if the matter was fully settled and required no further discussion.

Dominic gazed at Theresa warmly.

Theresa’s face reflected that she had already made up her mind; speaking would only be redundant. She nodded in acknowledgement.

Wobbly shimmered faintly, slightly brighter from its spot on the floor.

***

Theresa went to check on the renovation progress. The study ends. The contractors and whatever was happening with the wall measurements.

Florence watched her go. Then looked at Dominic.

"You’re doing that thing again," she said. He’d gone still. Reading something she couldn’t see.

"Eh, I’m just going through the system shop."

"It has a shop?"

He told her he had 500 tokens and was carefully considering his next move. He knew the pull option was available, but the base rate was genuinely quite poor—the pit counter was at zero. The numbers didn’t look good for it.

Florence pondered this for a moment.

"If the chances are that low," she said, "and you have something good, you could get with what you have. Why gamble?"

He looked at the interface she couldn’t see.

"That’s why I decided to look through the shop instead, there’s something here though," he said. Not fully explaining what it was.

She looked at his face for a moment. Reading whatever was there.

"Then get that," she said. "The gambling can wait until the odds are better, or you have more than enough tokens to waste."

The renovation sounds continued in the background.

Theresa was back, jotting down notes with a gentle focus. The gauntlets rested beside her on the table, and a lantern sat between them, even though it was the early evening, and the courtyard window let in plenty of light, making the lantern optional. It was a quiet little habit she’d developed.

Meanwhile, Dominic was properly opening the shop.

For the first time, the full interface was at his fingertips without the pressure of a decision already made. He leisurely scrolled through the main sections- first the consumables, which included healing potions in lots of different grades, mana-restoring compounds, status effect treatments, and a stabilization draught, all of which he noted before moving on. Next were the weapons, showcasing a wide variety across every category and rank, with prices listed clearly in a column that hinted at a steady, long-term economy rather than a quick one. Then came armour, accessories, talismans, and crafting materials in amounts that suggested they were meant for someone planning to build or improve things gradually.

Then the Heroines tab.

He gently opened it, first looking at Theresa’s name. Below, her equipment was neatly organised into categories- Grimoires, research tools, and personal artifacts. He took his time scrolling through the list, noting how each item’s purpose was clearly explained, with prices listed alongside. Completely equipping her would cost hundreds of thousands of tokens, a fact he already understood before seeing the numbers. Seeing the full list made it all feel real.

He continued to scroll,

then paused.

ASTRIELLE’S PROMISE

The Youngest Dean of Helion — Primary Artifact

He read the description—the function. The enchantment flows along the gold trim lines, enhancing her amplification casting with impressive efficiency. The fabric’s layered protections were designed for someone not meant for frontline combat, yet they often found her in such situations—the hood, for instance, has a subtle detection ward woven into the lining of the coat. The gold details act as mana conductors, making every spell she casts more effective while she wears them.

Then the lore snippet beneath the description.

"For the days when you feel cold and there is no one around to warm you. For the days when you feel warm and there is no breeze to cool you. For the days when the dark feels too close, and the corners feel too small. I made this for you, my little star, so that whatever the day brings, you are never without something of mine around you."

He read it twice

and sat with it, lost in thought.

Then he glanced over at Theresa across the table, who was thoughtfully writing something—the gauntlet beside her hand. Her pen moved with the same careful precision she put into everything. The lantern’s warm light highlighted the gold of her armband.

The price was everything he had- all 500 tokens. Nothing remains afterwards. The only remaining tokens he’d collected over thirty days of facing challenges would be gone in a single purchase, but without hesitation, he decided to buy it.

[PURCHASE CONFIRMED: ASTRIELLE’S PROMISE]

[THE YOUNGEST DEAN OF HELION’S PRIMARY ARTIFACT]

[GT TOKENS REMAINING: 0]

[NOTE: GOOD CHOICE.]

The coat gently shifted into his hands, hidden from everyone’s view.

It was made of dark, luxurious fabric- rich, multi-layered, and elegant without needing to shout for attention. Gold accents wove through it, both for decoration and purpose, with enchantment channels visible to anyone who understood what they looked like. The hood was neatly folded back against the collar. This piece carried the quiet weight of being crafted for someone with a specific purpose in mind, nothing more.

He paused, holding it briefly in his hands.

The lantern’s glow flickered over the gold trim.

Theresa continued writing at the table, her attention on the bracers beside her hand. The apartment around them settled into a peaceful evening silence.

She didn’t realise it yet.