"Remember, we depart at seven." Himeko said, arms crossed against the doorframe. "If you have anything left to buy or anyone to say goodbye to, now's the time."
"Understood." Aleph replied, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" March asked.
"I have a pending invitation."
...
Half an hour later, Aleph sat at a drink stand tucked away in a quiet corner of the Aurum Alley. Qingyi was already there, leaning back in his chair like he'd been waiting for quite a while.
"You're late." He said, swirling his glass with a grin.
"It's seven-thirty in the morning." Aleph replied, taking a seat. "I'm not late. You're just way too early."
"Details." Qingyi slid another glass toward him. "You said you'd take me up on a drink. Well, here it is."
Aleph took it without argument.
He wondered how drinks on the Luofu would compare to the ones he'd had before.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
They clinked glasses and drank, laughing all the way.
....
"Huh?" Qingque's voice came from behind. "You guys are slacking off too?"
She dropped into the nearest chair, half-collapsing onto it.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the Commission? It's still working hours." Aleph asked.
"I was." She said, stretching like a cat. "Finished my stuff and bailed before they dumped more on me."
Qingyi burst into laughter.
"Smart move."
"With a boss like that evil little gremlin, you either learn or die." Qingque said, puffing out her chest with fake pride.
More glasses joined the table.
....
Thirty minutes later, Fu Xuan appeared.
She stood there for a few seconds, arms crossed, her expression absolutely unreadable.
"Qingque." Her tone was flat. "Back. Now."
Qingque paled.
"Ah... uh... this... I can explain."
"Oh really?" Fu Xuan's sharp gaze locked onto her. "Perfect. Come on then, explain to me what exactly you're doing here instead of working."
"Oh no..." Qingque shrank into her seat, mentally searching for any possible escape route.
"How's it going, Grand Diviner?" Aleph interrupted, raising his glass. "Care for a drink?"
Fu Xuan looked at him. Then at the table. Then at Qingyi. Then at Qingque.
Then let out a long sigh.
"...One."
That "one" turned into five. Then six. Then seven. And before anyone realized, they were well past twelve.
Qingyi started spilling inside stories from the Nimbus Knights. Qingque ranted about every little thing wrong with the Commission, from the schedules to the uncomfortable chairs. Fu Xuan went from criticizing half of the Luofu to revealing compromising details about Jing Yuan and his terrible habit of dumping the most ridiculous problems on her.
Between laughter, insults aimed at Jing Yuan, conspiracy theories, and heated debates over whether turtles could beat a phoenix in a fair fight, time slipped away unnoticed.
....
Two hours later, Qingque opened one eye. Her cheek was pressed against the edge of the table, and her skull felt like it was about to implode.
"Ugh..."
She staggered to her feet, clutching her temples.
Qingyi was fighting to stay awake, idly playing with an empty glass.
Aleph and Fu Xuan were nowhere to be seen.
"I think... I think I'm gonna..."
She practically bolted toward a nearby alley, desperate to find a place to throw up.
But what she found wiped away even the slightest trace of nausea.
She froze.
Swallowed hard.
Aleph and Fu Xuan were right there in that alley, pressed against each other. Soft moans escaped Fu Xuan's lips as Aleph kissed her neck, their hands gripping each other's bodies like the world was ending.
One of Fu Xuan's hands was tangled in Aleph's hair. The other had already slipped under his shirt, caressing his torso without a shred of shame.
Qingque took a step back, her face turning redder than the brightest chrysanthemum in the Luofu.
And then they started kissing.
Not a casual kiss.
"...You guys aren't gonna silence me for this... right?" She muttered, feeling a cold chill crawl down her spine.
*********
"So, you're leaving?" Mr. Xiyan asked as he arranged some scrolls on his counter.
"Yeah. We're heading out this afternoon," Stelle nodded with a smile. "I just came to say goodbye and thank you."
"Please, I should be the one thanking you." he replied while flipping through some papers. "Ever since Estella, The Mystic Bat came out, sales have skyrocketed. Even the kids want to buy bats now."
Stelle laughed.
"I'll admit, it's a little weird seeing myself in a story."
"Well, art imitates life, doesn't it? Though I may have exaggerated a little with the kung fu scenes."
"...A little?"
"Details."
Stelle shook his hand one last time before leaving.
"Take care, Mr. Xiyan. We'll come back someday."
Xiyan chuckled.
"I'll have the sequel ready for your return, Stelle."
...
A few minutes later, she was already at Aurum Alley.
Sushang and Guinaifen were waiting for her by a snack cart, each holding a skewer in hand.
"Stelle!" Guinaifen waved. "Snack before you go?"
"Of course."
Sushang handed her one without asking.
"What about you? Got your bags packed?"
"Not yet." Stelle answered, biting into the skewer. "I want to look for some new clothes first. Belobog's hosting the Calisol Festival, so I'll need something more fitting."
"Oooh~" Guinaifen sang. "That sounds like the perfect excuse to go shopping."
"March said she'd come with me when I went."
"Count us in, then." Sushang added with a grin. "You know picking cute outfits is one of my many talents."
"And I've got discounts at a bunch of shops." Guinaifen said with a wink.
As they talked, a pair of Cloud Knights walked by, deep in conversation.
"...And of course, Qingyi's in trouble again. This time with the Divination Commission. Seems like even Fu Xuan got dragged into it..."
Stelle barely caught any of it.
Didn't Aleph say he was going out with someone named Qingyi? Nah, probably just a coincidence.
And honestly she didn't really care that much.
"Anyway." She said, finishing her skewer. "Shall we?"
"Let's!" both answered in unison.
*********
"I'll take a matcha, a peach, a raspberry and that lotus flower one too!"
March grinned as she stacked ice cream cones in both hands, completely ignoring the look of absolute resignation Dan Heng was giving her.
"March, I'm not gonna tell you not to do this." He said, crossing his arms. "But you're gonna regret it. You know that, right?"
"Nah! It's my last day here! Gotta try everything!"
Dan Heng sighed and shook his head.
"Do whatever you want. But when the time comes… don't come crying to me."
March wasn't even listening anymore. She was too busy struggling to keep the six cones balanced while deciding on a seventh.
Dan Heng simply turned on his heel and walked away.
"I refuse to be a witness to this."
...
He hadn't even made it two blocks when a familiar voice called out.
"Dan Heng!"
He turned around. Bailu was running toward him, waving her arms.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I snuck away for a bit!" She replied with a big smile. "The Alchemy Commission can survive without me for a couple hours… probably. I was heading to check out the food stalls in Aurum Alley. Wanna come?"
Dan Heng hesitated for a second, then nodded.
"Yeah. I've got nothing better to do anyway."
...
...March deeply regretted not listening to Dan Heng.
She was leaning against a pole, holding her stomach with both hands, her face stuck somewhere between pain and regret.
"...I should… I should've listened to him..." she muttered. "Stupid ice cream..."
She started walking slowly, looking for a bathroom.
That's when she passed by a narrow alley and froze.
Soft moans. Followed by the unmistakable sound of kissing.
March turned as red as a tomato.
And for a brief second she was tempted to look.
"...No… no, no, no... I don't wanna know... who... what... whatever they're doing..." She spun around and hurried her pace, staring at the ground. "I heard nothing. I saw nothing. Nothing happened. I'm just a cute, sweet girl looking for a bathroom."
She picked up the pace, covering her ears.
It was getting late anyway. Time to go meet up with Stelle.
********
"Well… now it's time to go shopping!" Stelle said, clenching her fists with excitement.
"Yeah!" Guinaifen responded. "Let's get you ready for the Calisol Festival!"
Sushang nodded enthusiastically.
"Fashion was part of Mom's training too. You can count on me for this."
March came running up at that moment, still looking a bit pale but trying to hide it.
"Sorry, sorry! I ran into a few problems on the way… but I'm here now!"
They walked through the stalls in Aurum Alley, going in and out of shops, looking at displays, comparing colors, fabrics, and styles.
That's when they ran into Huohuo.
She immediately tried to walk in the opposite direction, clearly pretending not to have seen them.
"Huohuo!" Stelle called out.
"Ah… hey…" She answered quietly.
"Wanna come with us?" Guinaifen asked with a smile.
"Uhh… I… no… I don't want to bother…"
Mr. Tail floated next to her.
"You are coming!" Mr. Tail declared. "You need to be more social! Stop being a hermit or you'll end up as some lonely old witch!"
Huohuo sighed, giving in.
"Alright…"
...
Just as they were entering a store, the shouts of several people made them stop.
"Over there! Stop them!"
They turned around and saw Dan Heng running, followed by Bailu carrying a bag full of sweet dumplings. Right behind them were five members of the Alchemy Commission chasing them.
"Bailu, get back to work!" One of them shouted.
"No! I want dessert!" She yelled back while running.
"Should we help them?" Sushang asked.
"Honestly, it looks way more fun than waiting for March to decide on a dress," Stelle replied.
...
While they were hiding behind a stall, they overheard a couple of Cloud Knights passing by, speaking loudly.
"...And on top of everything, Avesta and Qingyi stole a Astro-skiff."
"What? Aren't they worried about getting arrested by Lieutenant Yanqing?"
"They're doing illegal races with Lady Yukong's daughter. I bet Lieutenant Yanqing chose not to get involved… They're already gonna have to face her wrath, and you know what happened to the last idiot who made her angry."
"This is gonna get ugly."
Stelle and March looked at each other, bringing their hands to their faces.
"Of course it's Aleph..." Stelle muttered with a pout. "Why does he always forget to take me with him when he goes out to have fun?"
"It was just a matter of time..." March added.
...
Trying to stay out of that mess, they took another street, only to run into Welt, who—for some reason—was wearing dark sunglasses, a hat, and a gray coat with the collar turned up.
He was walking like he didn't want anyone to recognize him, and he was carrying a black box in his arms.
"...Mr. Yang?" Stelle asked, tilting her head.
The man froze on the spot.
"...You don't know me. I'm not here," he muttered, turning his face away.
"What did you do?" March asked, crossing her arms.
Welt sighed.
"Let's just say... I declined a rather insistent invitation to give a lecture to certain ladies… After that, things got a bit out of hand."
Then, from within the crowd, they started hearing hurried footsteps.
"There he is! That's him!"
"We found him! Don't let him get away again!"
Welt sighed again and adjusted his hat.
"...Run."
"Run." They all echoed at once before bolting away once more.
.....
"...There's no way we're here again." Dan Heng muttered, holding three bags full of candy.
March and Stelle sat perfectly straight, hands neatly folded on their knees, wearing the most innocent expressions imaginable.
Welt quietly sipped his tea. Unbothered. As if none of this had anything to do with him.
At the other end, Aleph and Qingyi were still clinging to each other, swaying and singing at the top of their lungs.
"We are the champions~ my frieeeeeends~"
Aleph held his phone, blasting the song while harmonizing, spinning around in circles. Qingyi waved a handkerchief as if it were a trophy.
"And we'll keep on fiiiiiightiiiing till the eeeeeend~"
Qini stood nearby with her arms crossed, puffing her cheeks in frustration. She was still bitter about losing the race.
Across the room, Yukong clenched her fists. The veins on her forehead looked ready to burst. Her glare could melt steel.
It was certain that, after this, Qingyi's paycheck was—at best—going to suffer a severe cut.
Himeko was massaging her forehead, taking deep breaths, visibly on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Meanwhile, Jing Yuan sat behind his desk with his usual flawless smile, hands folded, watching them all.
"Well... I must admit... your way of spending your free time is... creative. But if I may offer a humble suggestion... would it be possible, perhaps, to consider slightly calmer activities for your future visits?"
Yanqing stood beside him.
His eyes were narrowed, brows furrowed, and he held a thick stack of paperwork under his arm. From his grumbling, it was clear he was quite unhappy about having to help process part of the mess.
Himeko took a deep breath and offered a small bow.
"On behalf of the Nameless, we sincerely apologize for all the trouble we've caused." She turned slightly toward Jing Yuan, Yanqing, and Yukong. "In any case, we just came to say goodbye. The Astral Express will depart in a couple of hours."
Jing Yuan nodded.
"I wish you a safe journey. The gates of the Luofu will always be open should you choose to return."
"Safe travels." Added Yanqing, though it was obvious he just wanted this ordeal to end as soon as possible.
"And you better not steal another Astro-skiff ever again." Yukong snapped, crossing her arms and glaring at Aleph, who smiled back with zero shame.
March lowered her head slightly, while Stelle averted her gaze.
Qini pretended to check her shoe.
Aleph kept singing.
"No time for loooosers~ 'Cause we are the champions~..."
"Enough already." Yukong muttered, rubbing her forehead.
Himeko turned toward the door, but not before yanking Aleph by the ear.
"Alright. Let's go. We still need to stop by the Divination Commission to say goodbye to Fu Xuan."
....
"Come in, come in..." Qingque muttered as she led them into the Commission building.
The smile on her face was so forced it wouldn't fool even the dumbest of fools.
Every few steps, her eyes discreetly flicked toward Aleph, who walked calmly beside Himeko—much more sober now, though with a hand pressed to his temple and a clear grimace.
"No, no, no..." Qingque thought, swallowing hard. "Pretend you didn't see anything. You didn't see anything. It didn't happen. Just your imagination... yeah... sure..."
They walked down the main hall until they reached the office of the Grand Diviner.
The door slid open.
Fu Xuan was there, behind her desk, flipping through some documents.
The moment she lifted her gaze and saw Aleph, her expression shifted for just a fraction of a second. Her posture tensed. She didn't look directly at him. Instead, her eyes subtly swept over the group as a whole.
Aleph blinked, tilting his head slightly. He sensed something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The silence was... a bit awkward.
Qingque rubbed her hands together nervously, glancing back and forth between Aleph and Fu Xuan.
Himeko raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the odd tension in the air. Stelle and March exchanged a look.
What was going on?
Dan Heng kept munching on candy, utterly oblivious, while Welt seemed lost in distant thought.
The silence didn't last long.
Himeko was the first to break it.
"We just came to say goodbye. We're leaving this afternoon, and we wanted to thank you for your hospitality."
Fu Xuan cleared her throat, bringing a hand to her mouth.
"...Of course." Her expression quickly returned to its usual composed and dignified demeanor. "I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. The Commission wishes you a safe journey. May the stars guide your path."
Even so, her eyes kept subtly drifting toward Aleph every now and then.
As the group turned to leave, Fu Xuan kept her gaze fixed on Aleph's back until he completely disappeared from the doorway. Only then did she lower her eyes to the documents in front of her—though she wasn't reading a single word.
Hidden behind the papers, her hand slowly rose to brush against her lips, as her mind drifted back to a memory from just a few hours earlier.
*********
Aleph sat at a table with a steaming cup of coffee between his hands.
"Alright..." He thought. "Burroughs, what exactly did I do while I was drunk?"
[For the sake of what little remains of your dignity, Master, my recommendation is to forget about it. Seriously. Don't do this.]
Aleph closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"That just makes me want to know even more."
[Trust me. No.]
He let out a long sigh, took a sip of coffee, and rested his elbow on the table.
That's when he heard a familiar voice approaching.
"Is that... you, Aleph?"
He turned his head.
"Xiaoyu." He smiled. "Yeah, it's me."
The girl walked over.
"I knew it was you. I recognized your voice. It's been a while since you came here."
Aleph helped her sit down.
"Yeah... it's been a while."
"Do you know anything about Dan Shu? I've been looking for her, but nobody will tell me where she is."
His expression tightened for a brief moment.
Dan Shu.
That name still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
A woman who reminded him—too much—of his older sister.
Aleph sighed wearily.
"She left on a trip." He replied gently. "And it's unlikely she'll be coming back anytime soon."
Xiaoyu lowered her head a little, clearly disappointed.
"...Oh. I see."
Aleph softly ruffled her hair.
"Still, I'm sure she'd be proud if you keep working hard. And so would I. If you stay focused, next time I visit, you might even be a member of the Alchemy Commission."
The girl's smile returned—bright and full of determination.
"Then I promise I'll be the best! When you come back, I'll prove it to you!"
"I'll be looking forward to it." He smiled, standing up.
He gave her a gentle pat on the head and said goodbye.
....
Back on the Astral Express.
"Alright, everyone." Himeko announced from the cockpit. "Take your seats. The jump starts in five minutes."
Dan Heng was already at his station, reviewing data. Welt was flipping through a book. March was taking pictures out the window.
Stelle flopped down onto the couch next to Aleph.
"I'm tired. Today was exhausting." She mumbled.
"Then sleep." Aleph replied with a smile.
Soon, Stelle settled in, resting her head on his lap.
"Wake me up when we arrive..."
"Of course."
Aleph simply sat there, gently running his fingers through her hair, watching as the stars outside began to distort through the glass.