Leith immediately ran back home after visiting the town hall full of civil guards and the raging crowds.

“Idiot! Bloody idiot! I told you, didn’t I? ‘Don’t tell me I didnae warn you’ my fucking arse! Why is she becoming an absolute dunderheid? Is this a sign of Apocalypse?”

He kept berating his sister as he headed to the mansion. He did not care how the townspeople looked at him muttering indecent phrases. The more he recalled word of mouth about his sister just now, the more furious he became. While he was still grousing, a familiar voice called out to his ears.

“Leith, wait a minute!” A feminine voice that turned out to be Nadine. Leith looked towards her and Gilmore, who seemed to have abandoned their parents just to reach Alicia’s younger brother.

“Ye again! Why are ye even bother following me?” nagged Leith. “Piss off! Catch yer own boar!”

Gilmore saw the look on Leith’s face, extremely annoyed akin to a hot chili oil splash. The Big Yin replied, “Whoa, whoa, whoa keep the heid, will ye? Look, wee lad, ah ken yer pissed—“

“Pissed? OCH, YE BET I’M FUCKING PISSED, YA CANNY MONGREL! I know that bampot went mad happy when she could cast spells, but Divine Mercy, her dorky nature! Hasn’t she been thinking her randan would trouble other folks? Trouble me?”

Gilmore rebuked him, “Haw, language, wean! You shouldnae say yon to yer sister!”

“Bah, shut up! Who are ye?” Leith was getting more and more fiery. “I’m her brother, I call my sister whatever the fuck I want! Especially after her stupid vigilante thing last night, noo see what happened! A Kagatsean ninja kidnapped her, then those minging Roman dogs took her prisoner for possessing the pure Arcane! Last but not least? ruining her brother’s short summer break before he’s back to the academy! Is that just too hard to ask?”

“Wait, what do you mean, vigilante thing?” asked Nadine, confused.

“Oh, that idiot didn’t invite ye guys? Great! Clap! Clap! At least she’s not as idiotic as I thought.” Leith laid his sarcasm. “John Philo who was caught last night? Her doing. She went to the wizarding office to save John Philo and all the suspects. And now the Trinketshore wizards know, everyone in town knows! Bloody Hades, even foreigners far from eastern continent know too, that my sister is a bloody walking Arcane giftshop!”

After his emotions were expelled, his anger gradually subsided. He leaned against the wall with a slight desperate look. “Is it just because I’m the youngest in the house, she doesn’t care what I say? I was the one teaching her basics of magic and but, after all. If she really wants to die, at least try not to drag others into her mess.”

“Oh, Leith,” Nadine patted him on the shoulder, trying to reassure Alicia’s younger brother. “Your sister… yon bird’s been a rocket lately. But, I guess we’d better find a way to save her with the presence of mind, don’t you think, pal? Cursing a thousand curses on your sis won’t let her loose from the prison.”

Gilmore also joined in. “Welcome to the ‘pissed of Alicia’s a pure thrawn’ team, mate.”

“You’re not wrong,” Leith replied. “I’m too worried. I can’t imagine her out there falling prey to those scheming mages. Let alone my own House Crimsonmane.”

“Your House? What’s with the House Crimsonmane again?” Gilmore asked.

Leith could not help but open the storytelling session once again. “Me and papa were assigned to seek pure Arcane here, based on mama’s journal. As you know by now, my sister found it first. If they find out the exiled members of the House Crimsonmane are the owner of the Divine Grace… Ah dinnae ken, I can’t imagine that anymore.”

Leith then rose from the wall and his rapid footsteps started to sound again.

“So what you’re going to do?” Nadine responded to Leith.

“What else? Of course I have to go back to Eidyn and report this to papa. Hopefully papa can think of something to get Alicia out as safely and quickly as possible.”

Hearing that, the duo solidified their new intentions. “Then let us come with you!”

Leith was surprised. “What? Don’t you have families to take care of? How are you going to ask your parents for permission, especially after all the stramash?”

“Alicia is our best friend,” Gilmore answered with determination. “After all, we were the ones who led her to Orb, until it ended up like this. Dinnae fash aboot our parents. That’s pimps.”

Nadine expressed her endorsement of the Big Yin’s words.

After pondering for a while, Leith sighed and agreed. “Aye, whatever. The next train to Eidyn is in an hour. I’ll wait for you at the station. If you’re late, I’ll leave you behind!” []