As they kept walking—through glass tunnels, rune-lined corridors, and the occasional glowing herb jar—Zeon casually stretched his arms behind his head.

Fran, still skipping behind them like a sugar-hyped catgirl on a school trip, was humming her own made-up tune:

"Glowy room, floaty doom, shiny dagger, stabby boom~"

Eventually, they reached a strange door at the end of the hallway. Unlike the others, this one was massive—square-shaped, made entirely of smooth silver metal with glowing rune lines etched around its frame like a magical circuit board. At the top was a small device that looked suspiciously like a magical eyeball crossed with a surveillance crystal.

Zeon stepped forward, clearly eager to be the first to impress.

"Alright, allow me to—"

■••••■

A sudden beam of light blasted down from the scanner, hitting all of them like a flash photo taken by an overenthusiastic grandma.

■••Scanning... Royal Line Detected... Access Granted. Royalty Accepted.••■

With a loud THUNK, the door emitted a mechanical sound and the runes began glowing green. The massive vault slowly unlocked with a groaning noise like an ancient dragon waking from a nap.

Zeon blinked.

"…Huh?"

He looked around, confused, then pointed to himself. "Wait, wait. Hold up. Why it didn't detect me? Where's my pass? I didn't even get a proper beam this time!"

He waved his hands at the scanner like someone trying to activate automatic doors at a mall. Nothing happened.

Dila crossed her arms and tilted her head with an amused look. "Guess it thinks you're expired."

Zeon looked absolutely offended. "Expired?! I'm still in mint condition!"

Dila rolled her eyes. "Sure. If 'mint' means useless access."

Fran giggled behind them. "Maybe the scanner's shy, teehee~ Or maybe it just doesn't like 'goody freaks.'"

Zeon groaned and dramatically slumped his shoulders. "This isn't fair. I used to have full clearance! I used to walk through these doors like royalty! Now I feel like a rejected library card!"

He poked the rune on the wall, muttering, "I bet someone revoked my access... probably during that incident with the exploding mana."

Dila raised a brow. "Exploding what?"

"Long story," Zeon muttered, still sulking.

The door creaked open at last, glowing from the inside.

Dila stepped forward gracefully. "Well, royalty gets in first, I guess."

Zeon grumbled behind her. "And I'm the sidekick now. Wonderful. Just wonderful."

As they continued to stepped through the grand vault door, a much narrower hallway stretched before them—sterile, quiet, and lined with soft white lights humming faintly from the ceiling.

At the end of that hallway stood a normal-sized metal door, not nearly as dramatic as the last one. But what truly stood out was the rows of doors flanking both sides of the corridor, each one labeled in glowing script with odd alphanumeric codes like AB-08, B3-A, X-17, ZV9, and so on. Each label pulsed slowly, as if the rooms themselves were alive and waiting.

Dila blinked, pausing mid-step.

"…Wow," she said quietly, scanning the endless sequence of doors. "Every one of these rooms has its own label. That must mean... different projects behind each one. Big ones."

She muttered more to herself than the others, but her voice had a spark of intrigue. Her fingers twitched slightly like they were itching to take notes or start scanning the area with her Nari companion.

Zeon, however, suddenly popped up beside her like an overly eager tour guide—placing his hands on both Fran's and Dila's backs.

"Alright, alright—let's keep moving!" he said with a toothy grin, gently but shamelessly pushing them toward the very end of the corridor.

"We're going straight to the one labeled 'Alchemist Smithing'. The rest are... ehhh... not important. Not your business. Not explosive."

Fran yelped as she stumbled forward, arms flailing dramatically.

"Waaah~! At least let me look inside the stabby-project rooms first!"

Dila, pushed forward as well, didn't budge easily. She planted her boots, crossed her arms, and shot a sideways glance at Zeon.

"Hmm..." Her voice turned low. "You're oddly nervous. Hiding something, maybe?"

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Afraid we'll discover something we shouldn't?"

Zeon chuckled with a smile that was definitely trying too hard.

"Me? Hiding something? You're right— I mean no. NO. Definitely not. Nothing to see behind those suspiciously numbered doors, ha-ha…"

His eyes closed, his grin locked in place like a busted mask, sweat practically forming on his forehead.

Dila raised one eyebrow so hard it could've launched into orbit.

Fran whispered with a smirk, "He's hiding skeletons. Probably actual skeletons."

Zeon pointed frantically at the 'Alchemist Smithing' door.

"Let's just gooo~! That room has the good stuff. Promise."

The other doors glowed silently behind them… as if listening.

And then Dila said, "Where's the staffs of this place? Why it looks empty?"

And then Zeon said while looking above and down, "Well, they are busy at this hour. Since it's almost midday, they are rushing the work and they will take a lunch soon, you know. We must hurry up." He smiled again.

As they finally entered the smooth, plain metal door, Zeon grabbed the handle and pushed it forward.

Fran, now excited, said in advance, "Wooow!"

As they walked inside, a scientist-like man was using his microscope and closely observing a herb. The area was filled with herbs, high-tech equipment, and a sterile atmosphere.

Dila and Fran blinked, processing the surroundings.

Suddenly, Zeon said, "Zib! Long time no see."

Zib, still focused on the plant he was examining, replied, "I don't care," while continuing to look through the microscope. He lazily waved his right hand above in dismissal.

Zeon grinned. "What, you don't like me? What a bummer," he said while flailing his hands slowly on each side.

And then Zib said, "What did you bring this time? Another trouble?" He spoke while still examining the plant through the microscope, not even sparing a glance.

Zeon grinned again. "Ohh, that's why you revoked my access."

Zib replied, "Yes. What do you expect?"

Instead of getting angry, Zeon simply sat down at the sterile table. "Ohh, what a bummer," he said, resting his face in his right hand. His fingers were spaced just enough for him to peer through them, staring up at the ceiling where a fluorescent crystal runes lit the room with a sterile glow.

And then Dila said with a long, tired sigh, "Sigh... your habit of being like that never vanishes. Honestly, it's starting to annoy me—literally." Her voice was deadpan as she stared flatly at Zeon.

"We're not here to do a drama you know!"

Zeon peeked at her from between his fingers, still holding his head with one hand dramatically. "Jealous?"

Dila blinked. "Jealous? Of what? You weirdo."

Fran, with her ears twitching rapidly, chimed in with a bit shy grin, "Yeah! You freak hero!"

Zeon flinched like he'd been shot. "Ahh! You're hurting my heart, my little daughter kitty cat! Meow~!" He even pawed the air dramatically.

Fran stuck out her tongue. "Serves you right!"

Meanwhile, Zib, still hunched over his microscope, let out a small chuckle, clearly eavesdropping while pretending to be busy with his herb. But then—he paused. Something was off. New voices. Unfamiliar tones.

Slowly, with suspicion and curiosity, Zib turned his head.

The moment his eyes landed on Fran—with bouncing foot, swaying tail, and playfully twitching ears—and Dila, standing calm and elegant with that signature cold stare of hers—his expression froze.

His pupils shrank. His back stiffened.

Then—

THUD!

Zib suddenly dropped to the floor on all fours and bowed deeply. "Your Highness! What brings you here?!"

Dila, who had been focused on chewing out Zeon, blinked in confusion as her attention snapped to the bowing scientist. "…Huh?"

Zeon smirked with a low chuckle. "Now we're talking."

Fran tilted her head, ears perking straight up. "Eh? Did he just crash to the floor like a dropped fork?"

Dila stepped back slightly, flustered and caught off-guard. "Please don't bow. That's… awkward…"

Zib didn't move from his position. His head stayed down like he was worshiping the tiles. "Forgive me! I didn't realize your presence!"

Zeon now walk and relocated at the chair and slouched, finger still wedged between his eyes and then he look back at the crystal rune-lit ceiling. "Yeah, yeah, bow more. Dila loves that stuff."

Dila shot him a cold glare. "Zeon what happened to you? You become weirder Shut up."

Fran leaned in with a bit shy. "So… are we royalty now too?" she whispered loudly.

Zib panicked. "I–I didn't mean disrespect! I didn't realize the young Princess of Eldor was among us!"

Fran smile. "Oh, that. is, she really a big deal?"

Zeon leaned his chair back dangerously. "Told you, Zib. You should've kept my access."

Zib, still on the floor, mumbled, "I regret nothing."

And then Dila said softly, "Umm… there's something I need." Her voice wasn't loud–it carried a strange weight, like something sitting heavy on her chest. "I need to craft something… because I have a big duel."

She glanced to the side, her fingers gently brushing over her left shoulder. A subtle tremble lingered in her touch.

"It's scheduled for this afternoon…" she added, voice lower now, more distant. "I need all the potions I've got… any power-ups… or maybe I should just craft it myself."

She paused. Her eyes dropped to the floor.

"…It's as important as my life," she whispered. "Because… I depend on it."

Her words hung in the sterile air, sinking deep into the silence. The usual sharpness in her voice was gone. What remained was a tired honesty, fragile and exposed. Her face darkened slightly—her expression unreadable, but something cold lingered in her gaze, like she had already accepted something she wasn't ready to face.

Then she looked at Zib, her tone softening even more.

"…Please. Stand up. There's nothing to bow about."

Zib, caught in the weight of her presence, blinked. Slowly, with quiet respect, he rose to his feet. His posture was still slightly bowed, but his eyes met hers now—not as a scientist, but as someone who understood.

"As you wish, Princess," he said gently. "I will comply."