Within the lavish halls of the estate, Alissa chided herself for who-knows how many times this morning. Her blood boiled at the idea, the audacity, that that woman and her poor excuse of a husband was there.

At the same time, she should have stood her ground, proving that she was, and always will be, a better person by confronting them and telling them off. It had been at the forefront of her mind for a very long time.

But having to run away from her housemates, the very wards she was charged to look after, to avoid even talking about what happened–her anger became a living weight that kept dragging her shoulders down as she walked across the halls, her expression clouding and becoming worse than the fiercest storms.

If that was not proof enough, the other agents working within the estate all split apart to make a line open straight for her. She already had a decent reputation of being 'that bitch that should not be messed with', and her current expression was putting that into full effect.

"Ali, you can talk to me about how you feel if you want."

Tir's helpful voice calmed her nerves, reminding her that she wasn't alone. Of course, having a puppy in your arms can do that. She smiled at the young dog, looking up at her with those large eyes and calming her further.

"I know Tir. I'm just disappointed in myself," She spoke in her mind, only allowing herself to relax her expression rather than to outright talk to a dog in public. She did have a reputation to hold onto.

"I don't think there's anything wrong in giving yourself some room to think. It was really sudden, and you weren't even warned."

As expected, the sweet puppy already knew her concerns. Tir's words became a balm to her rage and grudge boiling within her, proving that she had indeed been in the right by backing away. At her current mood, she could explode and completely make a fool of herself.

"Still, I shouldn't have avoided Zeke or Mikella. Even if they were friends, they didn't seem the sort to believe in one side alone."

"If you want, I can give the other Tir your thoughts," Tir offered. The idea already made her nervous at the idea of facing that woman again. But just hearing that it was an option in the first place kept her heart at ease.

"That's fine. I'll do it on my own terms. Thank you, though. I needed that."

"No problem!" Tir shouted happily. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"Thankfully, not much. I had already settled quite a few affairs yesterday, and I only need to report back to Cronus and Isabelle."

"And give Cronus a piece of your mind?" Tir answered, tilting his cute little head.

"Of a sort," Ali said, frowning. He certainly needed to explain a few things to her. Even if he was her boss, that didn't give him the right to torture her like this by involving that woman.

If he had invited them over to her home instead of back at the housing… she wouldn't even be able to hold in her anger as she did before.

It's amazing how much I hate looking at the very face I wake up to every morning.

It was a surreal thing, and one of the curses a twin had to live with all her life. It was even worse when, even though they went on entirely different paths in life, they still had the same body type and figure. Like, how exactly does that happen?

Certainly, Valorie had muscle while Alissa had a thinner frame, but still–it was annoying.

"What about Ceru?" Tir asked. "Does she need to know as well?"

"Ceru isn't part of the politics in Arcelot," Alissa explained. She kept forgetting that Tir didn't have as much knowledge despite being with Alissa for a few days now. He was so much more competent than more than half of her lackeys, capable of handling delicate reports and surveys in a fraction of an hour while they took more than a day. "She is… a bit of a calamity. The nobles are afraid of her because she willingly cut herself off of the inner power structure of Arcelot."

"But why though?" Tir asked. "They shouldn't care what she does in her spare time if she isn't part of Arcelot's structure, right?"

"It is because she is a Master, and a very dangerous one at that," Alissa reminded. "The nobles had tried, and failed, multiple times to replace Cronus by trying to create a Master of their own. However, they each have their own agendas, and no matter how often they try to, they either end up killed or crippled. In other words, they hound and leash Cronus with laws, but Ceru is the only one that is free of those chains. She just… doesn't have the same temperament as Cronus."

"Ah," Tir nodded in understanding. "She's batshit crazy."

"Exactly."

Alissa smiled at Tir, which got some of the nosy people around her to gawk as though they just witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event. She ignored them as she approached where the Masters of Arcelot were currently at.

Unfortunately, a voice made her smile completely fade away.

"Well, well, if it isn't the lovely Alissa, brightening up my day. It has been a while, hasn't it my darling?"

In that short moment, Alissa went through several emotions before properly focusing on her professional expression and turning around. Hearing Tir become astounded by her quick adjustment gave her the courage to face the noble that approached her like a predator hidden within the greenery.

Like everything else in the estate, a rather portly man was dressed in extremely fine clothing, material woven with absolute care and precision to show off not just the rare materials that would make commoners weep of poverty, but to also show off the magical energy just pouring out from the multitudes of enchantments plastered on it. He had two other men shadowing him from adjacent sides, wearing their blue and gold-trimmed steel armor ready to fight and die for this man near them.

Despite reaching Journeymen himself, this man had quite the gut, but his facial features were still pristine, his black hair slicked backwards and well-trimmed brows and short beard. Flashy accessories and other sorts of trinkets covered his person, as though all of that was enough to prove he has such a wonderful personality.

She wanted to spit out the idea of this man ever having anything close to a personality.

"Lord Corran, a pleasure," She spoke candidly. "Though forgive me to assume, but we only met just a few days ago."

"Ah, yes, but that was a time of crisis and peril. You see, losing my men to those savages hiding within the tower can be an emotional toil for me."

The man said, sharing no sympathy that the savages were just innocent people trapped against their will. Even the way he spoke about his men losing their lives didn't show much on his face.

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"But enough about that," Corran said quickly. 'Might I ask where Cronus is? I request to find and have him answer my queries about the potential threat these 'otherworlders' bring. Surely you have heard the rumors by now on how they are slowly encroaching on our peaceful nation, pretending to be one of us?"

Alissa certainly had, so it was a bit ironic to hear it from the man who so callously spread those rumors among the populace, and rather poorly as well. Did he not realize that even without Tir, Alissa could've easily found the source of the rumors?

Certainly, it would have taken her a few days, so were he to ask her before, she would be a bit taken aback by how he had learned such knowledge so soon. She can only thank Tir once more for keeping her calm and steady. Brushing his dark and soft fur certainly helped as well.

"Oh, Lord Corran, I'm afraid you might have received the tail end of things," Ali said, pretending to be concerned for his well-being as she continued. "The rumors are only relaying their existence, not their hostility. I hope you are not being misled by those who have a tendency to lose themselves into panic."

A brow shook on his face at the words, but Ali quickly caught it. If she hadn't, Tir certainly did. She made her job very easy to handle folks who have years of experience hiding their expressions.

"I see you are as quick as you are fierce, my lovely Alissa," Corran said sweetly, smiling at her while hiding his contempt. "I should have known you would be on top of things, even for rumors such as these. But tell me–you are not going to believe that these otherworlders are peaceful? Arriving in those dangerous towers, destroying our lands, and once they are done, those towers leave nothing but destruction behind. Did you know the quarry still hasn't recovered its once lustrous atmosphere and scenery?"

"I am aware of that, yes," Alissa said. "But I'm afraid we still do not know much about them. Nor do we know how we should perceive them. But I'm afraid I am at my depth here, Lord Corran. I cannot speak further without Lord Cronus' permission."

"Ah, yes, yes, of course," Corran waved his hand lazily. "However, should you find him, be aware of my words. And of course, I fully expect to be notified when more news about otherworlders show up. The deaths of my people should be rectified at any costs."

"Of course," Alissa bowed her head. "You would be the first to learn of this."

"On the other hand…" Corran looked down, noticing the dark puppy in her arms. "I didn't take you as a caretaker. And for a mutt such as this?"

His fingers curled as though in disgust, his lips pursing at the sight of the puppy. Tir only tilted his head at him, as though not understanding what he meant.

"Ah, yes, this is Tir. He is a familiar I am taking care of for a friend of mine. He has been a darling to me, and he prefers not to be alone while he is busy."

"Truly, how surprising to hear that from you," Corran said, genuinely surprised. "I didn't take you for the kind of woman to take care of others. If that were the case, shouldn't you have gotten married by then? No matter how powerful you are as a Journeymen, the clock still ticks for women, you know."

As though he suddenly developed a resistance, Corran offered a hand to pet Tir.

A low growl emanated from Tir, surprising Corran. It only surprised him further when he spotted Tir's obvious change. His eyes were slanted to a taper point, his eyes became pin-pricks as he bared his fangs at him. His fur was raised in a way that was close to facing a dire opponent many times his size.

Saliva dribbled down his chin, opening his fangs ever wider for Corran to see.

He immediately backed away a step, with the guards even ready to brandish their weapons at the dog. However, none of them would dare attack the dog that was currently sitting pretty within Alissa's arms as she carefully brushed his fur with a gentle hand.

Tir immediately transformed back into the cute puppy he was just moments ago, as though nothing ever changed in the last few seconds.

"Please be careful," Alissa said, almost sickeningly sweet. "He can be nervous around new people."

"Uhh… quite."

Clearing his throat, Corran quickly left Alissa and Tir as he brought his guards along to turn back around. Alissa could hear a bit of muttering under his breath, perhaps cursing out Tir for his insolence.

Alissa could only smile as she kept brushing Tir's soft fur, only hearing a pleasant groan from him.

"Sorry about that," Tir said apologetically. "He made me feel gross."

"That's fine. He does that to everybody," Alissa said. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. He just felt really gross. Like his mana wasn't his. It felt dirty and rotten."

"You can sense his mana?" Alissa asked.

"In a way. I think I just find it easier to sense it. I just realized that there are different kinds of mana outside of aspects. His mana felt like he dragged it out of the sewers, while yours and Zeke and Mikella felt like you got it from an untouched forest lake."

"Interesting," Alissa raised a brow. "I'd like to know more later. I never recognized that you can sense mana like that."

"Me neither!" Tir said happily. The cute pup was so excited just to learn something new.

Alissa could only smile before sensing a presence that was far stronger than before, but more diluted–as though it was on purpose. She turned to the direction where she sensed the presence and bowed immediately.

"Greetings, Lady Isabelle," Ali greeted the female Master of the estate, apparently coming in right after Corran left.

"Sorry I hid like that and let you take the brunt. I really, really didn't want to talk with that guy. He can be so… 'pesty' at times."

"Like a pest, my Lady?" Ali added. "Yes, he just asked me regarding the situation with the otherworlders. I find it funny that he cares so much about the deaths of his people when he only sent the weakest of his knights there to the tower."

As far as she knew, a noble wouldn't care much about the lives he let snuffed out as long as they weren't integral to House Corran's forces.

"Along with adventurers who were desperate for cash as well," Isabelle added. "But we got bigger problems to worry about."

"Bigger problems?" Ali asked, raising a brow. "I apologize for my bluntness, but what can be bigger than dealing with nobles going after the otherworlders that we're currently caring?"

"Oh, it's so much bigger than you think. We believe another tower is coming close. And unfortunately it's right near our very own capital. I believe that's as big of a problem as can be."

Isabelle said with a light smile, but clearly it was anything but a happy expression. Ali's eyes widened along with Tir, being that this was the very first thing she just heard about.

"What?! But how? Actually, how did you figure out when another tower would arrive? I mean, does it arrive with a warning, or was there some sort of skill involved?"

"We got them from those maniacs at the Institute. You'd be surprised by how much they're willing to do as long as they get to learn more about these otherworldly dungeons."

"Oh… oh, you mean those people."

Ali said, unable to stop her face from contorting in near disgust. She hated dealing with the Institute of Falling Stars, always constantly up to no good while being complete fanatics on anything that is not 'normal' in their eyes.

Ever since she met the otherworlders, that was the last place she ever wanted to go to. She swore they have people there that could easily read her mind, which was not only illegal, but completely within their capabilities since they always did Cronus good work when it comes to these kinds of things.

So really, it shouldn't be much of a surprise to find out that it was the Institute that managed to figure out the tower business.

"Anyways, that's why we're currently busy with a few things, and that's another reason why my little Cerulean is living with the otherworlders. Better to keep an eye on them just in case something happens. I just can't let poor Zeke and Mikella have to constantly watch their backs when they already have so many responsibilities on their shoulders."

Alissa can only agree. She should've known Cerulean would have more than one reason to live with the otherworlders outside of just being interested in them. Still, to hear that another tower would be coming, and even closer to the capital than before.

If Zeke and Mikella went there to clear it, the damage done to the surroundings would be catastrophic, especially since everything around Arcelot is connected via the ley-line system that had been carefully constructed for several generations.

"That's why I need you to come with me. I'm in need of you and this cutey-patootie here to get some things in order. Would you mind helping me out, Tir?"

"Okay!"

Tir said with absolute gusto, and Isabelle offered a genuine smile with a pat on his head. Tir eagerly took it, even shoving his head towards her hand to get the headpat early.

Ali only rolled her eyes but smiled at his antics as the two women plus one dog went ahead to deal with the situation at hand. As usual, her job as a liaison never missed an opportunity to be difficult.

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