As he entered, shaking his hand, a loud crash of metal caused him to look up from the pouch in his hand.

“You’re back!” uttered a hoarse voice that originated from a tall human man dressed in a black-and-white uniform.

Gilmore let out a hearty chuckle as he said, “It’s been far too long, hasn’t it, Alfred?”

“It has,” Alfred said, before picking up the metal trays he dropped on the floor. “I presume, the Missus is back as well?”

“Correct,” Gilmore answered. “She’s currently attending the parade with our youngest son.”

Alfred’s ears perked up. “Youngest! The Missus has borne children! Then, this your oldest?” he said, staring at Aleister with intensity. Gilmore nodded. “Such excellent news! That’s an even greater cause for celebration on top of your return! What is your name, young man?”

Feeling a bit awkward, Aleister took his left hand out of his pocket and said, “Aleister, but father is just being polite because I was actually adopted.”

“If you’re good enough for the Mister, then you’re good enough for me,” Alfred said, although his handshake grip loosened.

“And where’s the happiness and cause for celebration for my reappearance?” Master said. Her words cut into the slight tension in the air.

Alfred cleared his throat and stepped back, “Apologies, but you were here but a few months ago.”

“And?” Master spat.

Loosening the tie around his neck, a drop of sweat dropped from his forehead as Alfred said, “No need to fret, we shall celebrate your arrival as well!”

“Excellent! I hope everything will exceed my expectations.”

“O—of course, Master!” Alfred took several steps back. “Now, excuse me while I let the rest of the manor know about the wondrous news and make the appropriate preparation for tonight's banquet.” He scurried off right after.

Aleister took this short time to take a good look around. The inside of the main hall was constructed out of the standard marble, as luscious carpets covered the floors. Right next to the set of spiraling stairs, an entire row of oil paintings showcasing the masters of the manor stood tall. The first painting was of Gilmore and Ryellia together, and next to it, one of—

“That’s enough looking for one day,” Master said, stepping in front of him.

“You know that just because you blocked me now, doesn’t mean you can block me forever,” Aleister said.

Master turned him around. “You can stare at the paintings all you want on your own time. Right now, we’re off to Castle Kaynmur. Also, you didn’t need to add in the fact that Gilmore took you in.”

With a wry smile, Aleister said, “I think its obvious enough as is,” he combed his hand through his hair, “Besides, even if they didn’t know now, they will eventually, so its better to just tell them now rather than later.”

Master didn’t reply, and Gilmore said nothing for the entire time it took them to arrive at Castle Kaynmur.

“What if the crystal just crashed down one day,” Aleister murmured. His comment earned odd looks from the both of them.

Master smacked the back of his head. “You better keep those thoughts to yourself.”

“I thought I did,” Aleister said, rubbing the area of impact.

“Completely in your head next time,” Master said.

The large purple crystalline structure floated high in the air, right above where he stood now and marked the center of Osetia. Right where the Crystal Ward was located. Aleister stared at the crystal, but somehow felt like it was just as far as it was when he first gazed upon it many, many miles away.

As for the actual castle itself, dark plum colored stone walls surrounded a giant hole over a hundred feet deep. In the middle of that hole, Castle Kaynmur stood erect and tall on top of some rock and stone. Modest streams of watered poured from the cracks in the earth and emptied into the seemingly bottomless pit. A violet vapor soon fogged up his vision.

“We believe the Vitreus emerged from this ground with the land's creation,” Master said. “The mist that covers this area, and that sometimes spreads throughout all of Osetia—the Anima Caligo. From the name you can probably assume that it is the concentrated physical manifestation of anima.”

“And, what’s at the bottom?” Aleister asked.

“Crystal Lake,” she answered.

“Oh,” Aleister tilted his head. “I thought it was Crystal Lake that bordered us.”

Master shook her head. “That’s Crystal Sea.”

“What’s the difference?”

With a heavy sigh, Master said, “I feel so bad for your Contractor.”

“Eh? Why?” Aleister asked.

“Figure that out on your own,” Master said, dismissing him. “Ready?”

Gilmore rubbed the tears from his eyes and nodded. He took a deep breath and bent down. With closed eyes, he muttered some words under his breath. With a wide sweep of his hands, the Anima Caligo swirled in a vicious manner, sending chills down his spine before it crystalized into a set of the translucent stairs.

The two of them started walking down the steps, but Aleister stayed at the top as he rubbed his sweaty palms on his robe.

Gilmore chuckled. “Scared of heights?”

“Possibly,” Aleister answered, staring down.

“Then you better start walking before the stairs disappear,” Master said. “Or else I will walk back up and kick you down.”

Aleister took in a deep breath before taking his first step. He managed to catch up to the two of them, but along the way, he still couldn’t help but worry about what would happen if one of the stairs cracked, or if he slipped and fell.

Once they reached the bottom, Gilmore said, “You’ll get used to it.”

“Probably,” Aleister said. “I think it was more to do with the fact that the stairs look and felt like glass, with nothing under them rather than the fact that I was high up.”

Master put her hand on his shoulder, making his heart rumble. “You assessed a situation you were in and put your feelings into words, g—” she clenched her other hand and choked out the rest, “good job.”

“Who are you?” Aleister said as he stepped back in shock while still being mindful of the edge.

Even Gilmore gave her an odd look.

“Do you even know how hard it was for me to utter those words to you?” Master said, clenching her other fist next time.

“No,” Aleister said. “But, don’t force yourself, let it come naturally.”

“I’m not going to the take the advice of some wet behind the ears brat,” she said, breathing in and out at a controlled pace. She flipped her hair. “Let’s go.”