Azure Tears

Inside the training lodge.

The sun is already pointed at the northeast side up above the sky when Kiro and Alyva returned to their cottage.

Since Aldin and Kiro already cleared the misunderstanding, the atmosphere within their group wasn't as heavy as before. They seem to be more relaxed and have time for light breathing unlike the last time.

After returning to their cabin, Kiro headed back straight to his room to clean himself. The last time they went to the town. He did not forget to buy an extra pair of change of clothes.

"It's a good thing that I bought extra clothes, the one that chief Geoffrey lent me was due to my negligence." Upon saying the chief's name, sitting on the nearby chair, Kiro suddenly remembered the pendant he gave at him.

Summoning the rare black wood inside his spatial tool, Kiro opened the box, and he was marveled to see the ornament on the surface of the pendant. In the middle, a vibrant blue quartz was imbued.

Staring at the exquisite necklace in front of him, Kiro couldn't help to recollect the past events that happened since he ascended into this world. "The time passes just like that... It's already been over a month since I came to this world..." Raising the pendant above his head, Kiro realized that since then, he hasn't appraised this jewelry yet.

He thought for a moment. Eventually, he gave in to his curiosity as he muttered the keyword.

"[Appraisal]"

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Item Name: Azure Tears.

Type: Pendant.

Grade: Rare.

Item Effect: Boosted the user's mana pool by 20%

Materials: A piece of silver Guilin horn, a spoon table of moon essence, one teardrop of the white dragon, and one-piece of top-grade mana stone.

Creator: Uhredus, the first head of the house of Meystrell.

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"... What?" Kiro swiped his eyes, as if he couldn't believe the information that pop-up inside the appraisal screen.

"She was a noble lady?" Seeing the last information in front of him, Kiro exclaimed his astonishment.

Suddenly Fixie's voice echoed inside his head. "Master, she might be a fallen noble. It's common to have a fallen household in that huge empire."

Hearing her voice, Kiro thought Fixie's opinion had some sense in it. "Mm, there's some possibility from your conjecture to be correct. However, to think a noble lady would fall to a commoner..."

Kiro ended his thoughts there, due to his own life seems like a bizarre one that he wouldn't believe in such a tale a month ago.

Shaking his head, Kiro put the pendant inside the box and hid it within his spatial tool.

Shortly afterward, Kiro heard the beating sounds of the wooden door.

*𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘 * 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘*

Then a familiar voice of a woman resounded inside his room. "Kiro are you there?" The woman said.

"I'm here, what do you need Mira?" The one who called him was no other than the younger sister of Missa.

Mirabell flinched after hearing Kiro still called her with her pet name. But deep inside, she felt relieved that Kiro did not change his view of her; even after what their group has done to him.

Taking a deep-breath, Mirabell continued. "Can I come in?"

"It's okay, you can com—" Kiro sealed his mouth shut after he remembered the last event, checking that this time he was wearing his clothes, Kiro coughed to hide his embarrassment.

"... Ahem, you may come in." Clearing his vocal folds, he said in an amiable tone.

Mirabell thought that he was acting weird. Nonetheless, it doesn't stop her from going inside Kiro's room. "Then, excuse me." Opening the door, Mirabell entered with a complicated expression hung on her face.

Noticing her odd behavior, Kiro could only sigh deep inside. He wasn't stupid enough not to realize the reason she came here.

Patiently waiting for her to voice out her apology. However, it wasn't an apology that came.

"It's been a while, how are you these days?" Mirabell said, as she deeply stared at him.

"... I'm doing great, and yesterday. I and Aldin already got rid of the misunderstanding that happened last time." Hearing his response, Mirabell put her delicate hands on her chest as she voiced out her thoughts.

"... I won't apologize, you should know by now we have our own faults to that event." Staring at him, Mirabell continued. "Instead of brooding over, it is better if we think of a way to prevent an event like that ever to happen again."

Kiro was shocked upon hearing her reasoning, but he swiftly recovered a few breaths later.

"Mm, what Mira said is right. We both made an error and were responsible for our lives at that time. It was my mistake in overestimating my capability." Staring at her eyes, Kiro said what he truly felt.

"Yes, that's right. It's a good thing that you knew your mistake, that's all I wanted to say." She was about to go out of his room, when Mirabell paused her movement as she said. "It's about time to eat, I cook some dishes too, you may try it if you like." After that, she closed the door and headed straight to the kitchen.

Seeing her like that, Kiro doesn't know what to say.

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Inside the dining room.

Alyva and Missa were busy handling the food. On the table, Mirabell and Alina were busy conversing with each other.

"So, how did it go?" Alina asked Mirabell, who seemed to improve her mood after conversing with Kiro.

"It went well." She said in a light tone, glancing at her sister who was busy preparing their meal, Mirabell added. "I said my apology." chuckling up for a bit, Mirabell glanced at Kiro's room direction.

"Mm, that's good, with this we can continue our adventure together." Alina smiled slightly after hearing Mirabell's words.

The next thing after that, Aldin who came back after he finished his daily route for gathering firewood came.

"I'm back. Oh, it's almost lunchtime," Aldin said while glancing at the food that they're preparing.

"What's the big celebration? Can we finish all this?" Staring at the meals on the circular table, Aldin added. For an appetizer, Alyva and Missa prepared a slice of brown bread with cabbages as a topping, chicken broth for the soup, a huge serving of grilled boar meat for the main course, and for the dessert, a bunch of mixed fruits.

"... Where did you guys get all these?" Staring at the two girls, Aldin asked. "And what's with that thing? Is that edible?" Pointing his index finger to the weird and slightly burned texture of meat.

However, after he said those words, Aldin felt a cold glaze at 10 o'clock on his left side. Then he saw Mirabell, who was fiercely gazing at him.

"..." Staring at her, Aldin was speechless. Still, after a few breaths of time, he recovered his composure. "... Sorry, sorry." But deep inside, he felt sorry for whoever would eat that food.

Seeing him come back in time, Alyva greeted him with a bright smile. "Welcome back, Aldin."

"Missa, Mira, and Alina woke up early in the morning, so we can have a feast. You should say your thanks to them." Giving a glance at the two, Alyva said.

"Mm, thank you, Alina, Missa... Also Mira." After he said his thanks, Kiro, who was resting inside his room, came.

"Good afternoon, everyone." Giving his light greetings, Kiro gave them a pleasant smile.

"What's the occasion? Why is there so much food?" Staring at the table, Kiro said in the bewilderment.

Seeing him like that, Missa, who was busy preparing the last meal, said. "It was a celebration for our party, you dummy."

However, when the group was about to begin their feast. A rapid knock on the front door grasped everyone's attention.

Kiro was nearby at the entrance and was about to open the door to greet the visitor. But before he could, the wooden door burst open with a loud noise.

The group was alarmed, Kiro already summoned his longbow and was about to take his aim, when he heard a loud cry.

"... Gill and Meg went missing! Are they here?" a middle-aged man, agitatedly said.