“To what pleasure do I owe this visit to, Paragon Ying Xin?” Gaius asked.

The Paragon, who was now seated at their dining table, glanced at the plate laid out of Nexus. Her lip twitched, but since Nexus was currently re-enacting a statue’s act, she probably thought that someone in around the dining table was a berry short of a bunch.

Well, as long as the bunch-less berry she had in mind wasn’t me, I’m totally fine with it, thought Gaius.

“It’s a request for you to return to the frontlines,” said the Paragon. “By the Plenum themselves. Your presence there is sorely missed in times of great need. The fact that the Plenum themselves forked out a lot of money to find your place of residence should tell you how much they value your services.”

“I’m curious,” said Gaius. “How bad is it now?”

“It’s not ‘bad’, I guess. The Plenum has decided to retake the whole of Eo-Seu with the support from the Mortal Light Dynasty. People like you, who have devastating long-range attacks, are needed to prevent massed attacks while we gather our forces,” Paragon Ying Xin replied.

“We’re high-priority targets on the battlefield.” Gaius gestured at Isabelle and Nakama. “And I have family to take care off. What’s in this for me?”

Paragon Ying Xin stifled her laughter. “I keep forgetting that you’re still a child whenever I take my eyes off you. Your words are more adult-like than the soldiers I keep seeing around the defence lines. Right, you have a family…”

She looked at Nakama, who glanced curiously back, and then at Isabelle, who was keeping her eyes on the plate laid out in front of her, before taking a small bite of the food from her plate. “This is nice.”

“Isn’t it?” Gaius nodded seriously.

“I see why you’re not all that keen on returning to the frontlines,” said the Paragon. “One would go insane if she had to keep eating roast meat every day.”

“Speaking of the frontlines,” said Gaius, “aren’t you needed over at Feng-Lang too? Isn’t it a problem if you aren’t, like, there?”

“Our presence there is on a rotational basis. Right now, another Paragon’s taking my place. I go back at the end of next week,” Paragon Ying Xin answered. “Anyway, about the item the Plenum prepared for you…well, it’s another Engine. We know that the Apex and Saviour was robbed from you by the Phantom Blade, so we decided to give you another one to make up for it…hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” the boy replied, slapping his cheeks twice. “I’m just…touched.”

Or he would be, if not for the fact that he actually didn’t lose them at all. The absence of these Engines had been wrongfully attributed to the Phantom Blade, Xanadu, but the boy wasn’t going to admit that he ever said that.

“R-right.” Paragon Ying Xin stirred her plate, an odd look on her face. “Well, it seems that you are agreeable to return to the frontlines, then?”

“On the condition that I will leave two days before the stipulated deadline the Human God gave us,” Gaius replied. “Especially if you guys haven’t come to an agreement yet. I need to protect my family, first and foremost.”

“But…”

“Since you already tracked me down, you probably have an idea of where I came from. After all, I wasn’t hiding it in particular when I first came to Mi-Zu,” said Gaius. “I’m willing to fight for the Eastern Territories, but I am not willing to see my family killed for it.”

She thought about his words for a moment, and then nodded. “I suspect many at the frontlines have the same line of thinking as you do. In fact, it’s going to be a key issue brought up at this week’s meeting. We can expect to see the frontlines growing increasingly deserted if we make no headway into our negotiations.”

“Looks like the Human God screwed us over with that declaration.” Gaius shook his head.

“I’m sure sure He had his reasons,” Paragon Ying Xin replied off-handedly. “Or many he just didn’t know that the negotiations were almost done and screwed it up by accident.”

Gaius really wanted to point out the mind-warping shenanigans that the great god had admitted to just a few hours ago, before realising that it was an attempt as fruitful as him himself going for primary education. Taking a sip of water, he said, “Maybe. More importantly, when does the Plenum need me?”

“As early as possible.” Paragon Ying Xin brushed her hair over her back. “I suppose you want to take care of a few things first, right?”

“Yes,” Gaius replied. “And it’ll be better if you were the one handling the paperwork when I arrive at the battlefront. I’ll leave a day after you do, then.”

“Good enough for me,” Paragon Ying Xin replied. “I’ll send your reply over to the Plenum, just so you wouldn’t be bothered by whatever other Paragons that are bored stiff waiting for the next meeting to occur. And their lackeys, too.”

She stood up, and Gaius followed suit. Somehow, her plate was now sparky clean — Gaius had failed to notice her eating, beyond the first spoonful — and Paragon Ying Xin had clearly no desire to overstay her welcome in Sundown Residence.

The boy walked her over to the door.

“I’ll see you at the warfront, Gaius.”

“You too, Paragon Ying Xin.”

The two exchanged nods, before the Paragon flew off into the evening sun. Gaius stared at her departing figure for a moment, and then closed the door.

Returning to the dining table, Gaius said, “It seems that I’ll have to leave Sundown yet again.”

“You didn’t want to refuse,” Isabelle stated.

“No, I didn’t.” Gaius sat down on his chair. “Might see some complications in our daily life if I did. And besides, I had half a mind to re-join the front and pull some muscle there an hour or so ago.”

Nakama looked at Gaius, who smiled back.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” said the boy. “Therefore, make sure you study hard and school and make more friends.”

She nodded. Gaius picked up his fork at that, and began digging into whatever side dishes that he hadn’t eaten.