I went to Kaiser's bar slash restaurant carrying the harp with me. Having confirmed some things, I was more confident in this agreement I made. I did not doubt whether I would be cheated—especially since the mistresses had directly vouched for the characters of both father and son.

However, I felt that I still needed to go, at the very least. It would help to actually meet the person I was supposed to fight against in six years. Also, I needed to give some form of guarantee towards the family. Just in case the product was defective. Who'd have such good service from anyone but me?

Of course, I knew the Angel's strings were the legit stuff and it was almost impossible to go wrong. One could never spot anything fake from the House of Oblivion either. However, I felt the need to be present—mostly to look after the harp Mistress Marian has entrusted to me. It didn't feel right to just leave it in a stranger's hands, whether they had the recommendation of the mistresses or not.

The rest were just my excuses.

"Evyionne, finally here!" Kaiser seemed to have been anxiously waiting. He came over as soon as I opened the door.

From my impression, this restaurant was never the busy type. And for all the times I came by, it was always only moderately full. I noticed a bit more people this hour though, probably because it was lunch time.

"Have you eaten yet? I'll have the meal ready at once."

"No. It's okay," I said, nodding over to Maun. "We just ate over at our family's house. We're really not hungry at the moment, quite the opposite."

"Then how about something to drink to help with your digestion?" he offered.

"Depends if it's to my taste. Not usually the type to drink, although I get pushed on a lot of teas," I said. "Although Maun might like it."

Maun shook his head.

"Looks like doesn't either," I said.

I was not a tea-drinker, although my mistresses hd instilled that habit in me while growing up. Teas tasted great and were refreshing if done right. Otherwise, the teabags in my last life ruined much of it for me. Maybe it was just that I didn't know how to make it, since it seemed particularly demanding on precision—which I could care less about in such things.

We made our way into Kaiser's office where a taller, older man sat waiting.

Kaiser seemed surprised to see him. "Uncle? How come you're here? You didn't tell me you were coming today!"

"I just dropped by," the man replied, standing up as he strode over. "I heard from Kaiser that you were going to lend us your instrument to help cure my sister." He held out his hand towards me. "The name's Herrin."

"Oh...yes...Nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand. "I'm Evyionne."

He resembled Kaiser, with the breezy curls and everything. In fact, he was a literal grown-up version. He maintained a polite distance and tone, but his eyes were sharp and piercing.

"How did you secure so many of these strings? There can barely be one strand successfully cultivated every five to ten years and you actually have a harp full," he said. "We did not have much hope that we'd find what we needed and you come out so miraculously."

"I didn't know I was a miracle, but I would suppose it's fate, and we've been brought together for a purpose," I said, ignoring his first question.

"I hope that is the case."

Although the man hid it quite well, his mild distrust did not escape my eyes.

"Kaiser is not in the appropriate age to negotiate with you for matters concerning things like this, especially when we heard your request in exchange for your help," he told me as he led us further into the room. "And I didn't expect...to find you so young."

Tea had already been prepared, which I did not expect. We were asked to sit in front of a coffee table Herrin poured us a cup each.

"I have no business to inquire what your purposes are to seek out death valleys, but I must warn you in advance that such places have grown more aggressive and out of sorts in the most recent of days and will most likely worsen by the time you're ready to make your journey. We have had to revise our strategies in entering places thick with death energy since they seemed to be...rather strange lately.

"That's why I'm telling you now. If this is about greed, it's not worth it. Risking your lives to enter such places for such reasons..."

I lifted my teacup and sniffed it.

Mm. Herbal. Marjoram, hints of lemon. Poison? I hope not.

"I assure you, it's not that," I said. "It's not greed, but a matter very important for me and my family. I am not so poor that I would have to risk my life for such means to get rich." I paused briefly to sip my tea. "Besides, if I plan on getting money out of this transaction, I'd have directly asked you."

Herrin seemed a little stunned at my reply.

Maun gazed at me drinking from my teacup before lifting his in a similar manner—trying at least. Kaiser, on the other hand, was a little anxious. Almost as though he was afraid his uncle would say something and scare me away.

"Sometimes greed...is not just about money." He gazed at me for a while. "Death covers many boundaries where we cannot go. This element, although cannot be taken under anyone's control, has been sought after for many reasons other than just wealth."

I finally got what he was saying. Then if this was the case, did that mean I could find out more uses for death...other than just death?

"I understand your worries," I said. "But you can rest at ease those are not my intentions for this journey."

He gazed at me pointedly, then gazed at Maun. There was some...knowledge in his eyes. As though he knew something we did not.

While this look from him made me confused, I understood his dilemma. It would be to his conscience if he somehow led a bad-hearted person into such places, extracted so many relics, and used them for godsawful things.

But my intuition told me there was something going on here. Something that might be worth knowing.

'Amber, can you hear me?'

I asked.

'You're probably there but you don't have enough energy to come out and talk," I said. 'If you can, follow this man. There's something off about him. I feel like he knows something worth knowing about.'

"When do you plan to go?" Herrin finally asked.

"I need training first. I've barely started my lessons in the Temple."

"The Temple, huh," he said.

"That's right."

"Then I'll hold onto your word. Three years from now, when you're ready to make that journey, I'll also come along. The Temple has very high standards, so you should be ready by then...and you should be old enough as well."

"Thank you," I said, placing my cup of tea down.

"I'll get the contract agreement for you once we arrive at the residence."

"That would be good, thank you," I said with a smile. "Now, since you've opened this with me, I must say something as well."

They stared at me, waiting for me to speak.

"I would like to accompany you when you use the harp. I won't interfere, nor will I get in the way. But this harp is very important to me."

"Understood," Herrin said. "This is a very valuable thing. I understand your worries about it. Will it be just you?"

"I'd like to bring Maun along, if possible. Don't worry. He will be very quiet."

"Yeah, uncle. He can't talk at all."

I knew his intentions were well-meant, but this bluntness was a little offensive.

I squinted my eyes at Kaiser but Maun was unbothered and continued to try to project the same vibes as myself while drinking tea. It was very comical. Since Maun did not feel insulted, it would not be wise to pursue the matter at all, so I looked away. Anyway, it was not my place to lecture other people's kids.

"Alright. Then, we want to go now. My sister's condition worsens every night."

"That's alright," I said.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No. We have everything we need. But we have to be back to the Temple before curfew."

"Should be enough time," Herrin said. "Let's go."

Kaiser stood up restlessly and led us out. He advised the manager of the floor that he would be out for the rest of the day. His Uncle Herrin had a carriage prepared in advance, which was waiting just outside. We all boarded it. Maun marveled a bit before stretching his head out the window to watch the passing streets.

"How old are you, Evyionne?"

"I'm thirteen," I replied bluntly. "But I'm going to be fourteen in a few months."

"That's still a few months away." Herrin looked doubtful. "I thought you were older."

"I'm not young, if that's what you're implying. Everyone else is just immature," I said with a small tilt of my chin.

Herrin, for the first time today, cracked a smile. "Indeed."

His face relaxed a bit. I guess my acting just now threw his nose off a little. I had to remember to act immature and indignant about my age once in a while. After all, my very mature mannerisms were not really fit for such a young body.

Although Maun, Eren, and the mistresses were already used to it, I couldn't say the same about other people. But it wasn't like I could act like a kid all the time.

Sure, there were times during childhood that made me unable to be not childish, due to physical limitations and a developing brain, which saved me some trouble. However, although my body was going through puberty, which might cause me to be more impatient and irritable due to growing pains, I doubted that could really change me from the inside. Anyway, the trouble was here. I could not afford to act like a child now that all of these mishaps have happened.

The residence that Herrin and Kaiser talked about was on the modest side, yet it was a more comfortable place than a majority of the city. Although it was not a big house, it was built on a prime location and the materials used to do so did not seem cheap either.

We got off the carriage to the attention of a couple of servants who came forward to take the initiative to offer some slippers as we entered the house. We left our shoes outside, changed into the slippers, and proceeded to enter. Things looked more extravagant inside than outside, with some potteries and a series of greeneries lining the hall.

"Is dad home?" Kaiser asked.

"No, young master. But he's already on his way back. He should arrive within the hour."

"That's okay. Tell me when he arrives."

The walk was quiet as they led us to the guest lobby. "Since you've been very eager about this, I assume you already have someone to play for your mother?" I asked Kaiser.

"I've already made arrangements yesterday. We're getting a very experienced and trusted harp player to come in," he replied. "As a boost, he also has Life as blessed element, so it can hopefully usher some healing for my mother along the way."

"Well, I know nothing about this, so I hope it goes your way."

"I wish so too!"