"What are you two doing here?!" Shinre exclaimed in disbelief.

The next day, the twins returned to the workshop. This time, they had successfully disguised themselves in casual Autozam clothing. Shinre had no idea where they had obtained it. Their long hair was tucked under hats, and their sunglasses concealed their distinctive red eyes.

"Are you trying to drive me insane? I don't want to deal with you…"

"Don't say that. Appreciate our effort to sneak out of the palace. The water tunnel was quite unpleasant, and it wasn't easy to fool the palace's guards…"

"Hey!"

Shinre's outburst was ignored by Senna, who was already wandering around the workshop with ease. Serena, on the other hand, looked down in sorry. But she was also enthusiastic to explore! She followed her twin entering the workshop."I'm sorry. I failed to stop him. I had to accompany him to keep him from causing trouble and to ensure he returned on time." Serena gave Shinre a very sweet smile.

"Don't do anything weird!"

No one in the workshop recognized them as royals. They wandered around, claiming to be Shinre's best buddies. Some workers were surprised but pleased to see that the two clearly appreciated their work. They made the workshop livelier than usual with their endless questions, praising everything they saw. Electricals, machines, and robots were not part of their everyday lives. Alba's workshop felt like another world to them.

Shinre decided to ignore them, but in the end, he spent his time secretly observing them from behind his computer monitor. Their presence this time made his world feel different.

Those two were so alike. They were younger a few years than Shinre. Their blonde hair and eyes were red like fire… Shinre wondered if they were her children. He recalled the woman named Hikaru. His image of her from when they met four years ago resurfaced. If she was their mother, she must be the one called Lady Frieden, the mother of the country, a remarkable figure who changed the social and political landscape of Runes and Autozam through the joint government with her husband.

"I've always imagined what my child would have been like if he were still alive. Somehow, I'd like it if he had grown up like you." However, the tears in her eyes still touched Shinre's heart. He could feel how much the woman loved her gone child and how deeply she mourned the loss. Was that child their older brother or sister? Did that child die in the war?

Another big question: How did she end up here, in a land so hostile to Cephiro? Shinre wondered, with no answers in sight.

Shinre felt a deep longing for the woman. Where this feeling came from, he didn't know. Was it because he once felt she was important to him? Even in his wildest dreams, he had hoped she might be the mother he had always been searching for. Hoped? Shinre slapped his own cheek, bringing himself back to reality.

Shinre turned his attention back to Senna and Serena who were now amazed by the sparks from the welding machine. Shinre rose to his feet and joined them. He had already thought it over—there was no harm in befriending them and training together.

Their presence here had initially shocked Shinre, but now he could only feel happiness. For the first time, he no longer felt like an outsider. For the first time, he received a helping hand and acceptance for who he was—and having companions to train with accelerated his progress. For weeks, they met on the hill after Shinre's workday ended, exchanging knowledge and stories and engaging in duels.

The sun had tilted westward that day. Exhausted, they lay on the grass, watching the sky turn crimson. Shinre and Senna exchanged jokes, but strangely, Serena seemed awkward. Shinre had long noticed that something was keeping the girl from being as open as her brother. This time, she seemed unable to hold back her feelings any longer. She tried to say something to Shinre several times but lacked the courage.

"Why do you look like that? Cheer up!" Serena remained silent while Shinre looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Are you sick?"

Senna glanced back and forth between Serena and Shinre.

"Shinre, how old are you?" Serena asked softly.

"I'm 15 this year. Why do you ask?"

"You seem like an older brother... to me." Serena turned away, embarrassed to express her feelings. Shinre's eyes widened in surprise.

"An older brother?" Senna immediately sat up and nodded eagerly. "That's right. We're two years younger than you! Big brother!" Senna called out to Shinre now.

"What are you calling me?" Shinre laughed.

"Thanks to you, Serena finally managed to train her fire! You wouldn't believe it, but it took her a long time to shoot her first flame! She was always afraid of fire. Isn't that silly?" Serena turned away, not liking Senna discussing her weaknesses. "But after you taught her, she became more confident. You are a great teacher for us!"

"Come closer. I'll show you something." Shinre sat up and extended his hand, demonstrating something. Fire emerged from his palm. Senna followed Shinre's action, summoning his flames. Finally, Serena did the same. A smaller flame appeared in her hand.

"I learned from them at the tower that fire is a rare talent. I think it's only natural for you to find it somewhat difficult to master. The problem is clear: no one can teach you unless they command fire, understand its strengths and weaknesses, courage and fear when using it." Shinre looked at them with deep meaning.

"You fear, and thus you are weak. But I believe there will come a time when you will be brave and know that you are not weak," Shinre said, soothing Serena. "The fear needs to be overcome. You will never know how far you can go if you don't dare to try. Let go of your strike, and don't worry about what will happen. You are a magic swordsman. Magic swordsmen are the toughest among humans..." He repeated what he had heard from Zonda of the East Tower to her students.

Shinre continued with something that pleased Serena more: "But, compared to your brother, there's one thing I admire about you." Serena looked up. "I can see it. You're smarter than him."

"What did you say?" Senna seemed ready to protest, clearly insulted, but Shinre stopped him.

"Rather than relying on overflowing emotions, mastering fire requires a clear mind. That way, you can protect without causing harm and strike without unnecessary destruction. It means you won't become a terrifying person."

Senna fell silent. A terrifying person? He'd heard of this before.

Serena pondered Shinre's words. "You're right. No one can teach us because in Runes, except me, Senna, and our mother, no one knows how to use fire. And we hardly ever received training… from her." Her thoughts suddenly shifted. Serena's eyes widened. How could it be? Shinre and their mother spoke of the same thing regarding fire abilities! She looked at Shinre, who was idly playing with the grass, with disbelief.

"Who taught you such deep knowledge?" Serena asked, probing.

"I'm not sure..." Shinre turned his gaze to the distance. The sun was almost completely set. The cold wind played with his long jet-black hair. "I figured it out myself. I learned a lot by watching magic swordsmen…"

Senna shook his head. For him, it was hard to understand how someone could learn just by observing without a teacher.

"Then, how did you gain your power?" Serena asked again.

Shinre appeared to contemplate something. "I didn't recognize it at first, but it felt like someone guided me to find my power. She made me brave enough to enter and explore the towers. She was the first Runes person I met—a woman with such beautiful eyes, radiating with flame…"

"Who?"

"You won't believe it. She might also be a fire user," Shinre replied with a sad smile. "I don't know who she was. For years, I kept searching for her, kept thinking about her. I want to meet and see her again."

A fire user? There's only one fire user in Runes besides the twins. "You met our mother?!" Senna exclaimed in disbelief, utterly shocked. "You've ever met her?!"

"That was a long time she well? Is she happy now? Has she managed to overcome her sadness?"

"Yes… She's doing fine… lately." Senna replied, not very convincingly.

"Honestly, at first, I went to the tower to find her. But not anymore." Shinre chuckled softly. "Now I have an important mission, and for that, I need to become a great magic swordsman."

"A mission? What mission?" Senna and Serena looked at Shinre with curious expressions. But Shinre remained silent with serious face.

Shinre extended his hand again. This time, not only did flames appear, but also flashes of electricity. "Maestra Nova said I'm a Cail." Shinre's eyes sparkled, reflecting the light from his hand. "I want to be strong for this name. I have to be strong because…" Shinre thought of Cephiro.

This was even more shocking than before. Serena and Senna looked on in horror. They had the same thought. Serena quickly covered her mouth as if afraid her thoughts might spill out. Senna finally realized, too, and they both stared at Shinre with a clear expression of disbelief.

"Is she okay? Is she happy now? Has she managed to overcome her sadness?"

Has she managed to overcome her sadness?! What is Shinre talking about? Our mother is fine, although she's often not in the best of health. She lives happily in the tower. She never seems sad. Never… She holds parties. She plays with us. She jokes and laughs with us. She's happy… Senna was always so sure that his mother was happy. But now, he clutched her mother's weak hand. Her eyes were tightly closed.

"Elva, how long has Mother been unconscious?" Serena asked softly to Elva, who sat beside them. Nearby, a table was covered with various potions. The room smelled of herbs and was so warm. Serena stroked her mother's pale face.

Elva, who seemed lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality. "Since that fireworks party…"

"Has it been that long? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Your Father didn't allow me. He didn't want your lives to be disturbed…"

"Why would Father do that?" Serena protested.

"Where is he?" Senna asked Elva, finding it strange not to see the person who was usually here taking care of their mother. "And Maestra Nova... Shouldn't she be the only one taking care of our mother? Why are you here instead of her, Elva? Where are they?"

Elva looked at Senna, unable to answer. For months now, since she saw Nair leave with such a sad expression, since the invitation to the war council to destroy Cephiro arrived, Nair had never returned to the Star Tower. Since then, Maestra Nova had isolated herself in the Northwest Tower, missing every meeting.

"Elva!" Senna half-shouted. "Where is he?! Answer me!" Horror was seeping into his heart. "Does he abandon Mother? Does he not care anymore?"

"Not like that…" Elva, unable to provide answers, wished she could comfort them.

"Not like that? Then, what is happening?" Senna couldn't believe it. He groaned. He felt disoriented, not knowing what to do. He regretted spending so much time playing and training. He used to resent and be angry when their father prioritized their mother over them, but now…

"Mother…" Serena looked at her mother. "You know? There's someone out there… who always… thinks about you. He wonders… if you're okay. What should I tell him? He'll be heartbroken if he finds out about you like this. Please, get better soon…"