Chương 46: Too Convenient

Noah and Ava returned to Artem. Cyril had been waiting at the gates. He had not moved from that spot since they left. The moment he saw them, his entire body seemed to loosen. Then he rushed forward. Noah barely had time to react before Cyril pulled both of them into a crushing hug. Ava let out a small sound of surprise. Noah winced as Cyril's arms tightened around them.

"I'm so glad…" Cyril's voice shook.

"I'm so glad you're both safe." For a while, he did not let go. Neither Noah nor Ava complained. After everything that had happened, the warmth of someone waiting for them felt almost unreal. Then Cyril slowly pulled back. His eyes moved past them. His expression changed.

"Where's Adam?" Noah and Ava went quiet. Cyril's face tightened.

"Noah?" Noah lowered his gaze.

"Let's head inside." His voice was tired.

"There's a lot I need to tell you." Cyril said nothing. Then he nodded. They returned to Starbell Manor and gathered in the meeting room. The same room where Noah's journey toward the Black Witch had first been decided. Now, it felt heavier. Noah and Ava told Cyril everything. Adam's betrayal. The Doctor's trap. Reverie Sanguine's true identity. The Black Witch's survival. The Emperor appearing outside the barrier. His challenge. His threat. His order for Noah to rebuild Gram.

The only thing they kept to themselves was the king of Helheim's murder. That secret was too dangerous. Too large. Too bloody. When they finished, Cyril stood in silence. His hands slowly clenched. Then he lowered his head.

"I'm sorry." Ava looked up.

"Dad…"

"Damn it." Cyril turned away, running a hand through his green hair.

"I should have seen it coming." His voice sharpened with self-hatred.

"That look in Adam's eyes…" He pressed one hand against his face.

"It put a pit in my stomach. I knew something was wrong, even more than he let on." He slammed his fist against the table.

"Damn it." The wood cracked beneath his hand.

"Damn it!" Ava stepped toward him.

"Dad, it wasn't your fault." Cyril did not look at her.

"You just wanted to protect us," she said softly. Cyril's jaw tightened. Noah stared down at the table for a moment. Adam's empty eyes flashed through his mind. Then The Doctor's laughter. Then Valor's smile. Noah forced himself to breathe.

"We need to focus." Cyril looked toward him. Noah lifted his head.

"We need to rebuild Gram." For a moment, no one spoke. Then Cyril exhaled.

"That will be difficult."

"I know."

"No, you don't." Cyril pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.

"We can provide manpower and financial support. Starbell will help you as much as we can." Noah nodded.

"But at the end of the day…" Cyril pointed at him.

"You're an idiot who definitely can't manage a city." Noah blinked.

"Hey!" Ava glanced away. She did not disagree. Noah stared at her.

"Ava?"

"I love you," she said.

"That wasn't an answer." Cyril leaned back in his chair.

"Don't take it personally."

"How else am I supposed to take it?"

"Honestly." Noah frowned. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Cyril sighed.

"Guys like you and me are symbols. We make people feel safe. We stand on the battlefield, swing swords, and look impressive while doing it." He tapped the table.

"But running a city is different." His expression grew serious.

"It takes planning. Trade. Food distribution. Housing. Law. Construction. Refugee support. Taxes. Politics." Noah's face slowly went blank. Cyril pointed at him again.

"That expression proves my point." Noah closed his mouth.

"To run a city properly," Cyril continued, "you need a genius like my wife." Ava crossed her arms.

"I'm smart."

"You are," Cyril said immediately.

"But you're more like me overall." Ava frowned. Cyril smiled faintly.

"Better suited for combat than management." Noah looked down at the table.

"So we need someone who can actually run Gram while I rebuild it."

"Yes," Cyril said.

"Someone with the brain for it." The room fell quiet. Cyril leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. Then his eyes sharpened.

"Actually…" Noah looked up.

"I have just the right friend." Ava perked up.

"Who?" Cyril pointed at her.

"Alright, so one time, I was at a bar." Ava's expression immediately flattened.

"Dad."

"Let me finish."

"This already sounds bad."

"It was very important diplomacy."

"You got drunk."

"I made connections." Noah blinked.

"What kind of connections?" Cyril grinned.

"I ended up becoming good drinking buddies with Leonardo Jupiter." Noah stared at him. Ava's eyes widened slightly.

"The current Fist King?" she asked.

"The very same." Cyril looked proud of himself. Noah leaned forward.

"Wait. So he's going to help us?"

"Nah." Noah's face fell.

"Then why did you bring him up?"

"Just listen." Cyril waved one hand.

"Leonardo has a younger brother. His name is Charlie." Cyril's smile faded slightly.

"The guy is a total genius. One of the best administrative minds I've ever heard of." Noah straightened.

"That sounds useful."

"It is," Cyril said.

"But there's a problem." The room quieted.

"Recently, Charlie's wife died." Ava's expression softened. Cyril sighed.

"From what Leonardo told me, it left him in complete depression. He isn't even working anymore, so the city lord is planning to hold one enormous party in six months while Charlie is still out of commission." Noah looked down at the table. Cyril continued.

"Leonardo mentioned that it might be good for Charlie to get a change of scenery. Take him and his kids somewhere else. Somewhere quieter. Somewhere that doesn't keep dragging him through the same pain every day and reminding him how empty his bed feels now." Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.

"So you think he could help manage Gram?"

"I think he might be exactly what we need." Cyril tapped the table.

"Charlie is a super genius. Honestly, he's the only reason that shithole of a city hasn't gone bankrupt under its awful lord." Noah felt a chill crawl down his spine. He already knew the answer before he asked. Still, he had to hear it.

"What city?" Cyril looked at him.

"What?"

"What city is Charlie from?" Cyril's brow furrowed.

"Lævateinn." The room went still. Noah's fingers curled against the table. Cyril continued, unaware of how heavily the name had landed.

"The city lord, Ars Behemah, wastes money on constant festivals, feasts, and other nonsense, even when they don't turn a profit." His lip curled.

"He's an utter glutton. Cares more about food and liquor than keeping his city alive." Noah slowly lowered his gaze.

"Lævateinn again." Ava looked at him. The Doctor's mission. The tournament in six months. The Frost Flame Blade, Everfall. Alaric Sanguine. The Crows. And now Charlie Jupiter. Everything kept pointing to that city. Noah's brows furrowed.

"Everything points to Lævateinn." Cyril's expression grew serious. Ava tightened her grip around the edge of the table. Noah looked toward the window, where the branches of Artem's Great Tree swayed gently outside.

"Everything is connecting to that city." His voice was quiet.

"The Doctor. The Emperor. Our potential ally." He turned back toward them.

"It's all too suspicious." Ava leaned back in her chair, thinking.

"So what do we do?" Her brows furrowed.

"Honestly, it sounds so convenient that it has to be a trap." Noah looked down at his hands. The memory of Valor's smile returned. Then The Doctor's laughter. Then Adam's empty eyes. A trap. Of course it was a trap. But that did not mean they could avoid it. Noah lifted his head.

"Then I'll enter the maw of the beast." Ava stared at him. Cyril's eyes narrowed. Noah's voice grew firm.

"It's only a trap if I don't see it coming." He placed one hand against the table.

"And I see it clearly." The room went quiet.

"I know that in six months, everything in Lævateinn is going to turn into hell." Cyril exhaled slowly.

"And you still want to go?"

"I have to." Noah looked at him.

"Cyril, can you get the preliminary work for Gram started during the next six months?" Cyril did not answer immediately. Noah continued.

"We'll begin proper reconstruction once I bring Charlie in, but having the groundwork ready in advance is crucial." Cyril crossed his arms.

"Where will you be?" Noah's answer came without hesitation.

"Lævateinn." Ava's eyes sharpened.

"There's too much I need to do there," Noah said.

"I need to get Charlie on our side. I need to learn more about the tournament. I need to prepare for The Crows." His hand tightened.

"And if I'm lucky, I can get Leonardo to train me before Erzsebet's challenge begins." Cyril's face darkened at the name. Ava stood immediately.

"I'm going too." Noah looked at her.

"And you're not stopping me." Noah and Cyril spoke at the same time.

"I already know that's impossible." Ava blinked. Then smiled.

"Good." Cyril rubbed his temples. Noah allowed himself a small smile. Then he looked toward the map on the table. Álfheimr. Gram. Artem. Helheim. And beyond them, Lævateinn. The City of Festivals. The next battlefield. Noah's smile faded.

"Alright." His voice settled into something steady.

"Our next destination will be Lævateinn." Ava nodded. Cyril sighed, already looking like he wanted to drink. Noah stared at the city's name on the map.

"Everything leads there." The meeting room door opened.

"Oh good, you're back." Everyone turned. Lux stood in the doorway, smiling brightly. In one hand, she held a piece of black licorice. In the other, a mug of beer. Noah stared at her. Ava stared at the beer. Cyril stared at both. Lux took a bite of the licorice and grinned.

"I'd like a word, young Hero." Noah's shoulders slumped.

"Of course you would." Lux stepped into the room as if she owned it. And just like that, after witches, monsters, emperors, betrayals, and death threats, Noah somehow felt his headache getting worse.