"What do you mean?"

Vin put a hand in his pocket, finding the crumpled paper. The letter that Maxwell had sent to him.

In that letter, apart from the warm pleasantries, greetings and final farewell that Maxwell wrote, the young blue-haired noble also left a message that he deemed important. And he pleaded with Vin to deliver said message to...

"We have to go meet Guildmaster Gislow."

Spade stumbled backward, looking to find his footing. His frown remained perfectly still, but he still spoke calmly:

"Meet my father? For what reason? He’s... unwell. I don’t think he’d–"

"I bring a message from Maxwell."

And...

Vin’s hand was still in his pocket, and he ruffled it, searching for that thing that Maxwell had sent to him along with the letter. The delivery crow had perfectly dropped them on his doorstep.

Vin wondered how Maxwell perfectly remembered his address. That was surprising.

...Vin brought out the thing. And showed it to Spade.

Spade’s frown melted immediately. And he let out a soft exhale.

"So he’s really gone, huh?"

The vice guildmaster dropped the papers he held on the desk.

"Well," he said. "My father respects Maxwell. And I respect him, too. If it’s a message from Maxwell, then I am willing to take you to go see my old man."

Vin bowed.

"Thank you, Vice-Guildmaster."

"Raise your head. Surely we’re close enough to abandon the formality."

Vin grinned. That was true. They had grown a bit close throughout the past week.

"Right," Vin said. "Now. Let’s go see the old man."

Spade nodded.

"We’ll have to stop by a store, though."

Vin, already walking toward the door, paused, tilting his head as he gazed over his shoulder at the incoming Spade.

"Huh? What for?"

An uncharacteristically warm smile bloomed on the Spade’s austere face.

"A gift for my wife."

Vin raised his brows.

"Ah. I understand."

Clack–!

Vin opened the door.

The man, Spade, really loved his wife.

Well, so did Vin. That was why he had even connected with the Spade in the first place.

"Let’s go."

***

Vin and Spade approached the door to a house that Vin could only describe as, well, lavishly mundane. If that sufficed as an appropriate description.

The building wasn’t a wooden one. It was a block building, painted with the color of embers. But the warm and fuzzy feeling it gave, and even the way the bungalow was constructed, made Vin feel like it was just another wooden house.

Spade knocked on the door.

"Honey, I’m home!" The man’s voice took on a cheerful vigor, abandoning that often poignant bored edge it always carried.

This shook Vin a little. But he calmed himself.

And, soon enough, a low, cheerful feminine voice echoed from inside the house:

"I’m coming!"

They stood for a while, until, finally, the door opened.

Spade was holding a plastic bag filled with ’gifts’ for his wife. And as the woman opened the door, a brilliant smile bloomed on Spade’s lips.

His whole demeanor morphed, body becoming less stiff and rigid like a practiced efficiency. He became more relaxed. More at ease.

"I’m back, my love."

Spade walked closer to his wife. The woman was short and slender, and her black hair glistened faintly as she smiled and pulled Spade in for a hug.

"Welcome. You came early today."

The man kissed his wife and then handed her his bag of gifts.

"Oh, thank you."

"I am early, yes. I have a.. matter to deal with. With father."

His wife’s expression faltered a bit. But it didn’t dent. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Oh," she said, taking the bag of gifts.

Then, Spade looked back at Vin, who stared awkwardly at the couple.

"This is Vin, my love. An executive in the guild. The Silver Swordsman. One of the duo who cleared the Red Valley."

Vin nodded.

The woman’s grin took on a childish flair.

"Welcome, Mr. Vin! I’ve heard a lot about you!"

"Thank you, ma’am. Your husband never stops talking about how much he loves you. So I’ve heard a lot about you, too."

The woman giggled, eyeing Spade.

"Oh my, is that so? Well, come in. Don’t just stand there, you two."

Vin and Spade walked in with the woman, entering the cleanly furnished living room where four couches sat.

"Please, make yourself feel at home," the woman invited. "I’ll go bring some dessert."

"Thank you," Spade said. "Bring it to Father’s room. We’ll be there."

"Alright!"

"And... kiss our daughter for me."

Spade’s wife chuckled as she left the living room.

With both men left alone in the room, Spade’s usual bored expression returned. And he nodded at Vin.

"Let’s go."

Vin had to admit it. He greatly preferred this version of Spade. It was the version he was used to.

The all-smiley, happy Spade felt foreign to him.

Nonetheless, Vin smiled and nodded back at Spade.

They walked to Gislow’s room.

***

Both Vin and Spade stood in front of the wooden door, staring at the intricate designs.

Spade let out a tense breath, gazing at Vin.

"He’s really cranky these days. So please pardon any rudeness he displays. He keeps saying he wants to be alone when he dies. He says he feels his end approa–"

"Come in." A gruff and grave voice echoed from behind the room door.

Vin gulped.

The man had already felt their presence.

"Alright."

Clack–!

Spade opened the door. And they walked in.

The room wasn’t anything Vin had expected.

And he’d braced himself for either of these two: the old man’s room being underfurnished and unkempt, or the old man’s room being completely lavish.

It was neither.

The room was just simple.

Walls painted white, a wardrobe in one corner. A bed in the middle of the room. And one small wooden chair.

There was a window, where the now-fading golden light of the evening sun streamed through.

And Gislow was sitting on that window, taking in the feel of the evening sun and watching the world from that position.

He didn’t even pay the young men any mind as they walked in.

"I believe you have a message for me, Vin?"

Vin blinked and shuddered a little bit. Even if he was a 5th-core swordsman now, the old man still shook him.

And, it was even odd because the old man’s presence had severely diminished. Along with his vigor.

’He knows?’

Gislow, sitting on the window while watching the sunset, was dressed in an overly large top and loose trousers. His breathing was forced and heavy.

Vin cleared his throat.

"I do have a message, Guildmaster," Vin said. "From Mercenary Maxwell."

The moment he heard Maxwell’s name, the old man turned to face the duo.

Vin blinked.

The man’s emerald eyes were surrounded by dark circles. And his face had grown even wrinklier than Vin last remembered. He looked tired.

He looked sorrowful.

"Maxwell?" He asked. "Well, what did the lad say to tell me?"

Spade remained quiet. He understood that this was not his stage.

Meanwhile, Vin walked closer to the old man. And he brought out the thing from his pocket.

Staring at it, Gislow scoffed. But he remained silent.

It was Maxwell’s golden mercenary license.

Gislow opened his palm. And Vin dropped it.

"He said to tell you, ’I have found what I was searching for, Gislow.’"

Gislow’s dead expression changed, like a blooming flower. And his eyes widened, but narrowed back instantly.

And he smiled. And, with his smile, a chuckle followed.

The old man clenched the license.

A lone tear slid down from one eye as he whispered:

"I knew he would."