Scene 5.1 — Preparing for the Banquet: Passing the Time
Amid the tense atmosphere surrounding Evan Onrae, he alone wore a welcoming smile—yet it was nearly impossible to tell whether it was genuine… or just another mask.
"So," Evan asked, tone light but intent behind his words. "Will you and your friends be attending the banquet, Keela? I've put quite a bit of effort into preparing it for you—even if it was all arranged a little last-minute."
Keela turned to Akira. He gave her a slight nod. She looked next to Elina, who also nodded gently. Keela then turned back to Evan.
"Yes. We'll be there."
Evan's face lit up.
"Excellent!"
His grin widened as he motioned to Vince. The advisor reached into his dimensional ring and produced a series of elegant chests. Alongside him, Caeron and Cassius stepped forward to help pass out thick lookbooks, while Lias remained unmoving beside Evan, eyes scanning the room.
Evan was practically beaming.
"Here, take a look! These are sample catalogs from the boutique. There's a huge variety of styles. The tailors can make some adjustments too—though with the time crunch, only minor tweaks are possible. Still, I think you'll find something you love."
We each picked up a booklet—and soon, our eyes lit up.
The outfits were stunning. Styles none of us had ever worn, never even seen before. These weren't anything like the practical wear from Noren's market. These were luxurious dresses and high-end formal suits, clearly designed for noble functions. The excitement in the room grew.
The girls, especially, huddled together, flipping pages and gushing over options.
"What do you think of this one?"
"Ooh, maybe I could mix this top with that skirt…"
"This color's gorgeous, but so is that one!"
Their voices fluttered with excitement as they passed books back and forth. Evan continued smiling, visibly enjoying the scene.
His companions, however, were less amused.
Vince's gaze swept the room discreetly despite sitting still.
Lias remained alert and focused, keeping an eye on everyone.
Cassius rested his chin on his hand, half-turned away and hiding a yawn.
And Caeron—the most imposing of them all—was surprisingly helpful. He leaned in to offer light commentary:
"That one's trending this season."
"This one's a bit outdated now."
"Ah… that one's a little too revealing for a formal banquet, don't you think?"
He came off more like a kindhearted uncle than a hardened soldier.
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Evan noticed that Akira was flipping through the lookbook half-heartedly, clearly bored.
"If clothes aren't your thing," Evan offered casually, "perhaps you'd rather talk geopolitics?"
That caught Akira's attention instantly.
Even though he already had some data in Osiris's archives, there were always insights—local perspectives, unrecorded nuances—that couldn't be found in an external database. And a real map was hard to resist.
As Evan unfurled the map, Osiris quietly moved closer to Keela, taking the seat Elina had left behind after dragging Draco off with her. Akira slid into Yue's now-empty seat next to Osiris.
Keela hesitated, clearly wanting to join them too.
Evan smiled politely.
"Go ahead, Keela. Feel free to speak with your friends."
With that, the room split into two groups.
On one side: Cassius was slumped and on the verge of dozing off. Lias sat upright and stern, eyes constantly scanning the room like a proper bodyguard. In the center, Evan, Vince, Akira, and Osiris gathered around the open map, engaged in discussion.
On the other side: the others huddled around the lookbooks, laughing, chatting, comparing designs and accessories.
Evan began explaining the geopolitical structure of Arcadia, and for Akira, this was the first time he saw the complete map of all twelve continents—each distinct, each a vital piece of the vast world he'd been thrown into.
There was Celes, the sacred sanctuary located at the northern pole.
To the far east of the northern hemisphere lay Draken, the land of volcanoes and molten rivers.
Further west—but still in the eastern half—was Draft, the metallic realm where the Guardian Order was headquartered.
At the center, in the skies above the world, floated Skyperion, the dominion of winds and airborne sovereignty.
To the northwest lay Freezier, the highlands of eternal frost.
To the far west, Mollarr, a crystalline expanse of brilliance and mineral grandeur.
Crossing into the southern hemisphere, directly beneath Mollarr was Elfegreen, the forest realm rich with ancient magic.
Eastward was Travern, the rolling plains and grasslands.
At the center of the southern half stood Augarest, the scorching desert domain.
To its east: Gnome, the land of thunder and electrifying innovation.
And further still, Undine, the underwater realm in the far southeast.
Finally, at the southernmost point—Immar, the world's deepest system of caves and shadowed mysteries.
Akira leaned closer, eyes fixed on the map, tracing borders and pathways with his fingertips.
That's when Evan narrowed the focus.
"Now… let's talk about Skyperion."
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"Skyperion is technically a monarchy," Evan began, his voice calm yet firm. "But we grant each province a degree of autonomy. We want our regional leaders to be invested in their own territories—close enough to the people to solve problems before they spiral. We, at the center, often hear about things far too late to act in time."
He paused for a beat, his tone sharpening.
"But tell me, Hero… can you guess what kind of problem this system might lead to?"
There was a slight tremble in Evan's voice toward the end—an undertone of anger, of tightly clenched frustration. He sounded less like a diplomat, and more like someone seething at injustice.
But Akira, eyes still on the map, didn't flinch. He focused for a moment.
"…Insurrection. Rebellion. Calls for independence."
Evan gave a tight smile—one that was more bitter than warm. But there was satisfaction in his eyes.
"You're quick on the uptake," he said. "Yes. That's exactly it. Some of these so-called leaders have been bleeding the people dry—hoarding wealth, ignoring their duties. The faith our people once had in Skyperion's system? It's crumbling. And yet I'm powerless to act…"
He clenched his jaw. The grinding of his teeth was so audible that even Vince, seated close beside him, subtly shifted away despite being on the same side.
Then came Osiris's cool, clinical voice.
"What do you want, then? A purge?"
The question was blunt—too blunt. Vince averted his gaze immediately. Evan stared at Osiris for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a heavy breath, he leaned back in his chair.
"Not quite. At least not in that sense. First, we need to uproot the corruption—tear it out from the roots. Only then will we have the resources and stability to build something better."
Their conversation continued from there—diving deeper into Skyperion's political turmoil. Osiris pressed gently but persistently, extracting bits of information with precision.
Meanwhile, Akira listened carefully—not just to the words, but to Evan's rhythm, his tone, his subtle reveals.
He was learning.
Learning the kind of man Evan Onrae truly was.
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As noon approached, the mood gradually shifted into a silent lunch setting. They dined quietly—occasional soft conversations drifting across the table, as if they were in a high-end restaurant where even sound had a price.
While slicing into a piece of meat, Akira reflected in silence.
"From what I've seen… he might not be a bad person. Maybe just… too harsh in his methods. He really is like Cao Cao—ambitious, commanding. No wonder the nobles would back someone like Evan over Kalan, who's always focused on charity work."
Crack.
The knife clicked against the plate.
"But those people might just be using him, too—eyeing the benefits they'll gain from his rise. Sometimes… you have to make a painful cut. Remove the rot before it spreads and takes the rest with it… but please, if there's any chance—let it be through an election, not war…"
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