CHAPTER 75: INVITATION

"What are you doing?"

"I’m writing another missing-person report."

"How many have we received in the past three days?"

"More than the usual."

"What are the rangers doing? How can there be so many missing people in just three days?"

"I heard they already arranged a search with some volunteers."

"They haven’t asked for our help?"

"No."

"I hope they find those poor people."

"Yeah. And the hiking trail is now closed too. You can’t even go camping there anymore."

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"Have you guys read about this?" Liam asks Theo and Julian. They’re taking a break from HB. Julian has just updated the HB database with the recently cleared dungeons.

"What?" Theo asks absent-mindedly. He’s been bored lately. Nothing exciting is happening, all the ’wars’ are being fought through the media.

Chief Stille and Arthur are still in a media war, but the mining at the Beachwalk gate finally began yesterday after the mayor scolded Stille for delaying it.

Chief Stille, meanwhile, is fuming. Nothing has gone his way recently.

Theo had assumed that with Monfort influence, clearing dungeons would be easy. Turns out, Monfort Industries does have Sentinel services, but Liam is currently out of commission. He submitted an indefinite leave since he wants to study under Aldriana.

Theo sighs. Apparently, my instructions and demands weren’t clear enough.

"According to this," Liam continues, "around ten people have gone missing from the Mount Helene hiking trail in the past four days. That’s way more than usual. The rangers have done several search-and-rescue missions, but nothing’s been found. The missing people aren’t locals, mostly tourists who came to camp or hike."

"We’re not rangers, nor are we responsible for finding missing people," Julian says flatly. "They’re probably new to the area and wandered off. Mt. Helene looks easy, but actually, some trails are dangerous. They should pick trails based on their ability."

A phone vibrates.

"Ah, mine," Liam says. He checks it — then his eyes widen.

"Erm... guys. Well, maybe not ’guys,’ but Thea — you really haven’t read any of the articles about your fashion sense?"

Theo yawns.

"No. Not after the first article... five days ago? Why? What now? Are they saying I need to go to fashion school?"

"Erm, no," Liam says carefully. "Apparently, The Arvion High Société has invited you and Mrs. Montrose to one of their famous luncheons."

"The what now?" Theo frowns. "And why are YOU reading news about the high social?"

"The Arvion High Société. Basically, a club for all the wives of prominent men in Arvion. The leader is the mayor’s wife. And I’m not reading the news — I’m reading the invitation." Liam shows him the screen.

"Why do YOU have it? Isn’t it supposed to be delivered to the Estate?" Julian asks.

"I guess the official one is being delivered there, but this one? Claudia sent it to me. I don’t know how she got it, but she did. Anyway, both she and my mother are coming to Arvion to help Thea with the luncheon."

"Huh?"

Theo and Julian blink at him, equally dumbfounded.

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"Lei, it’s a surprise. I didn’t like where those articles were going. I know these are all underhanded tactics from your rivals, but I don’t care. No one insults my friend!" Miranda declares, fully determined.

"Mir, what are you going to do? I really don’t want to go to that luncheon. They invited me once and I hated it. They’re all pretentious and full of malice. Every word they say means something else. I have better things to do at home." Leila sighs.

Miranda clasps both of Leila’s hands.

"With me there, no one will insult you and get away with it. Claudia and I will help you and Thea get ready — and we’ll be there as your support!"

Leila laughs.

"You really don’t need to do this."

"I know, Lei. But we just reconnected, and I don’t intend to let that go." Miranda presses.

Leila chuckles.

"But you don’t need to come in person. You can just send pictures of whatever you want me and Thea to wear. We’ll be fine."

"Where’s the fun in that? And we’re here already, aren’t we? Besides, Claudia misses Thea." Miranda drags her daughter into the story.

Claudia, who does miss Theo, nods.

"Yes, Aunt Leila. I missed Thea. I tried hanging out with my usual friends, but to my surprise, they’re not as fun as they used to be."

"So you decided to come here with your mother?" Leila asks, amused.

"No. I showed Mom the nasty articles. She decided to come here. I just followed her for fun." Claudia grins.

"Which, by the way... where is Thea?" Miranda looks around.

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"Well, it’s official. You’re going to the luncheon."

Julian sets down the intercom.

"Aunt Miranda and Claudia are already here. They’re in the living room talking to Mother. And you—" he points at Theo,

"—need to go there. With you." He points to Liam.

Both of them groan.

Julian laughs.

"You two are starting to act similar. Don’t let Mom catch you doing that, Thea. She’ll nag you forever."

"Where are you going?" Theo pouts.

"I’m going back to my lab. Those missing people in Mt. Helene remind me of my readings on Mt. Helene. I’ve got data I still don’t understand. Arthur says they’re glitches. My babies don’t glitch."

"Don’t glitch," Theo and Liam echo together.

All three of them laugh.

"Well, we’d better go face the Estate High Société, then." Liam walks slowly out of the gym.

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"Oh my god, you two!" Miranda gasps. She is both horrified and delighted. She immediately scolds her son.

"Liam! What did you do to Thea?! Look at her — dull, sweaty, nothing like a young woman! She needs to be more than presentable for the luncheon!"

"Mom, we were in the middle of training. No one looks pretty, fresh, and sweat-free when they’re training. And if they do—" Liam cuts her off before she can argue.

"—if they do, then they’re not training properly."

"Besides," he glances at Theo, "she’s still okay. Unlike some people."

He deliberately looks at Claudia.

"Hey! You haven’t seen your sister in a while and this is how you greet me?"

Claudia pouts — but only for a second. She’s way too happy to stay mad.

Leila only laughs. She sees Theo and Liam almost every day in their training clothes, and she’s seen them after training too. They always look like they’ve been hit by a train — sweaty, dull — but their eyes are bright as the sun.

That’s the only reason Leila never comments on how hard their training seems.

"Hi, Aunt Miranda. Excuse us. We were in the middle of training and Julian said to come here immediately. So I haven’t showered. I’m sorry."

Theo smiles gently at Miranda. He’s getting much better at using that face to get the reactions he wants.

Miranda melts immediately.

"Aw, I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at my son. But, Thea, why are you sweaty too? I mean, I know Liam is training, but... you’re also training?"

Theo nods.

"Yes. After that dungeon, I realized I do not ever want to be in that position again. I couldn’t do anything to help. I want to help. And after my coma, this body feels weak and my stamina is terrible. I don’t like it, Aunt Miranda."

He speaks with such clarity and passion that Miranda can’t deny it. She sighs.

"Just be careful, okay? Don’t push yourself too hard."

Then she turns to her son.

"You! Make sure she’s doing it properly. Don’t let her get injured!"

Liam rolls his eyes dramatically.

"As if I’d let that happen. I still like my head attached to my body. Don’t worry."

Miranda scoffs and squints at him. "It’s good that you know."

Then she makes a face like something stinks.

"Now, off you go... shower, or go back to training. From now on, this meeting is women only."

Liam rolls his eyes again and shakes his head dramatically.

He turns to Theo.

"I’m going back to train. I’m using the gym, okay?"

Theo nods.

Miranda and Claudia watch the exchange from the side, amusement clear in their eyes.

When Theo notices, he sighs inwardly. Calm down, ladies. We’ve been training buddies for days. It’d be weird if we weren’t this close. Don’t read too deep into it.

But he only smiles at them. He turns to Leila as Liam leaves.

"So, I guess we’re going to the luncheon then, Mother?" He changes the topic.

Leila nods. "I don’t like it any more than you do. But those ladies do have influence over their husbands. Especially the mayor’s wife, Veronica Shutter. She comes from a family with connections in the capital. Arthur is busy dealing with the mayor and Chief Stille right now. And if we can do something to help him, we should, shouldn’t we?"

Theo nods. "Of course. Letting Arthur do all the work sounds boring anyway. I understand Mrs. Shutter’s influence... but Chief Stille also has a wife in the club?"

Miranda scoffs. "Hah! As if! But one of the – how do you even say it... ladies, I guess – one of the ladies in the club, a widow, is very fond of Chief Stille. She’s extremely wealthy. Came from a small country up north, Valestria. Rumor says Chief Stille likes her money very much. So he’ll do pretty much anything she wants him to."

For the nth time that day, Theo sighs inwardly. There’s always one of those in every world. It’s amazing.

"Her name is Baroness Maristella Voss of Valestria. The King of Valestria is her nephew."