"So that's how it is." Auril's voice was low, like a drum under mist. He paused for a few seconds, then spoke.

"You think fast. Your logic threads are clear as spun silk. You're good at analysis. With a scrap of news, smoke and riddles can't cage you. From the Duel's start to your guesses, only minutes passed."

Unease pricked her, like a collar too tight. "…Maybe," Lucimia said; it was the first time a stranger had praised her.

She steadied her mood, like stilling water, and asked, "So—right? Or wrong?"

"Correct." Auril's low voice fell like a gavel. The longsword sigil on the ground flared with light.

Lucimia felt the glare sting her eyes like light pollution. As the flash rose, Auril spoke again.

"Then, this Duel is your victory. The Lowegar Kingdom will open freely to you."

"Lastly, allow me one question."

"What?" Lucimia asked, puzzled, a crease between her brows.

"What's your name?"

Silence hung like a held breath. After a moment's thought, she answered, "Lucimia Lancelot."

"I see. You're the new bearer of the Devouring Authority." The voice was soft as a whisper under wind, yet she caught it.

Confusion spiked like a thorn. "Hold on, what do you mean by new generation?" Lucimia asked, brow furrowed.

The longsword sigil on the ground dimmed like embers cooling, a sign of Auril's departure.

Heat rose in her chest like a spark. She called to the fading sigil, not caring if he heard. "Hey, why block my entry? Because I didn't use a legal route? If I enter legally, will you still stop me?"

Auril gave no answer. As the longsword sigil faded away, the frozen world around them slowly stirred back to life.

Children's laughter, a drinker tipping his jug, birds flinging wings skyward, leaves drifting down…

All of it resumed as before, life unfurling like green shoots after rain.

Alertness tightened like a drawn bow. Lucimia swept her gaze around, but found no trace of a Time Stasis Bearer.

She had expected someone to lurk in shadow and watch, like a cat behind latticework.

Rexi yanked free of Lucimia's hand, anger puffing like steam. "Look at that guy! You answered him, and he ignored you—so unfair, so unfair! He acts like the king here!"

"…He is the king here," Lucimia said quietly, voice flat as a calm lake.

"…Yeah, I guess," Rexi said, stunned for a beat, then her temper boiled again. "He's shameless. He had the advantage in the Duel. He asked, you answered. You asked, he stayed silent. Too proud, too rude. You're a noble of the Kingdom of Sipan; I'm royal blood of the Bannubi Empire. We have standing!"

"Uh…" A crooked feeling tugged at her. A wanted, struck-off kingdom noble? An imperial royal who remembers nothing?

It all felt off, like shoes on the wrong feet.

Even so, a burr of irritation stayed. To Lucimia, Auril was arrogant and discourteous, speaking only to himself, impossible to hold a normal talk with.

Only when threatened by real action did he show a flicker of response, like steel ringing to a strike.

"Forget it. Let's find somewhere to stay first." She smoothed her tone like brushing dust off cloth. Lucimia patted Rexi's shoulder, urging her to cool down.

"Yeah… We haven't eaten. And I suddenly want a big bed."

"Me too," Lucimia nodded. Weariness sat in her bones like lead. She had barely slept on the ship.

Caution kept her anchored, like a stone under current. Lucimia didn't rush to an inn; she waited there, to see if a Time Stasis Bearer would seek her out.

Expectation hummed tight as a bowstring. If the other wanted her power and had watched in secret, would she come straight over and demand a Duel?

She waited a long time. No Time Stasis Bearer came. Instead, a tide of curious residents flowed in.

"Hey, look at that girl over there—black hair. Bloodkin?" a young woman whispered to her friend.

Her friend followed the pointing finger and saw Lucimia.

"She really looks it. Rare—and her skin's so pale."

"She has two tear moles under her eyes—so pretty."

Their chatter fluttered like sparrows, yet the tone stayed friendly.

Lucimia didn't mind; indifference lay on her like a loose cloak. It wasn't her first time mistaken for Bloodkin. She was too lazy to explain—being misread was almost convenient.

"I thought you were Bloodkin at first too, turns out not," Rexi said, watching the buzz with a tilted smile.

After a long wait, Lucimia confirmed no one came straight for her. "Since they're not coming, let's find an inn," she said.

"Sounds good."

Whoever it was might weigh that thug's clash and Auril's bout with Lucimia, and judge her a thorny opponent. They'd either dodge, or retreat to rethink how to handle her.

Another thing struck Lucimia about the Duel—curious as a puzzle box. You could lay the ground before initiation, shaping the tide once it opened.

Like Auril's Duel: the content was guessing, yet events marched in beforehand, smoke screens laid to mislead Lucimia's judgment.

This raised a small knot. In theory, pre-arrangers already have a target, someone they want to challenge to a Duel.

But the rules say only the challenged party has the right to set the Duel content.

Yes, content can be yielded—but would most people yield? Or can you pry content from a clenched fist?

Different realms under different Dark Deities grow different systems and customs, like trees under different winds.

Curiosity rose in Lucimia like a lantern in dusk. She wanted to see how people lived here.

She and Rexi walked deeper in, looking for inns that took travelers.

Ports draw outsiders like gulls to a pier; inns should be plenty, easy to find.

Two girls followed the main road inward. Neatly laid stone bricks lined the clean ground. On both sides, merchants hawked every kind of wares.

Jewelry shops, trinket stalls, restaurants—everything. It felt like the Empire's Jaha Town, though Jaha never tiled its roads this neatly.

A carriage rolled up toward them. The driver handled the horses and called out, "Make way, make way, mind your step."

People edged aside like waves parting; Lucimia and Rexi did the same.

As the horses passed, Lucimia eyed the carriage and saw it took passengers, not goods.

"The Lowegar Kingdom looks well developed," Rexi sighed.

"Mm. It's a small country. With little land, construction in key places seldom lags."