After a considerably long journey, Mera and Kain returned to Adia for the third time.

It might sound strange, but despite having been here three times, the city hadn't left any particular impression on him.

On second thought, that made sense. The first time, they only came to use the waterways to get to Esten. The second time, just recently, they were also just passing through to another city. It was only on this third visit that Mera and Kain for the first time leisurely stepped into one of—if not the—most bustling cities in the entire Kanzax province.

"How about we don't rush back to the academy and just relax here for a few days?" Kain suggested.

That way, even though he and Mera had to postpone their trip to the east, they would at least make some happy memories in Adia.

This was because Adia was the domain of rivers and lakes.

Esten was called the "heart of Kanzax" because Kanzax Academy was located there. But the largest and most prosperous city was Adia. A super-vast city surrounding a large and intricately complex network of rivers and lakes, Adia was a trading hub, transshipping goods across nearly 80% of Kanzax province's territory, naturally only counting inhabited areas.

And compared to a peaceful and somewhat dreamy Esten, Adia felt much more real.

Not just because of its size or anything, but because... it was the domain of many powerful nobles.

At the very top was the Sword Family, yes, Cecilia's family, the strongest contemporary rival Kain had ever faced, and whom he had only narrowly defeated.

However, all the nobles lived and conducted their main activities within the inner city, while the outer city was where the vast majority of residents lived. So there weren't scenes where you'd encounter nobles with every step. The two sides were clearly very far apart in terms of their way of life.

Kain wasn't the only one deep in thought; Mera also sensitively picked up on something.

Even though nobility had always been a superior class, far more so than mere "wealthy" individuals, their power was no longer absolute under the government, under the Akazac Empire's system, and specifically in Kanzax Province, under the Kanzax Commander.

Now, they resembled true upper-class society more—though they were at the top, their feet were still on the ground, and commoners and other aspects of life remained a part of their existence. This was quite evident in Whesling.

But here, the sense that nobles were a supreme, high-and-mighty species re-emerged—noble and unseen, living in a place where ordinary people couldn't see, nor were they permitted to see.

"What are you thinking about, Mera?" Kain's voice pulled Mera from her thoughts. She rubbed her forehead, then muttered, "You're right, this place is a bit strange."

"Every region is different, Mera," Kain replied.

Compared to other places, the nobles here weren't a reflection of a glorious past generation; they were still glorious giants, only forced into obscurity by a civilization system even more splendid.

In Whesling, the government and the nobility had almost merged into one. But here, the government managed the outer city, and the nobility managed the inner city, with the greater power still belonging to the nobles, as long as the two sides didn't clash.

"Alright, let's stop thinking about these things and find somewhere to eat."

"That's what I should be saying," Mera pouted, then pulled his hand, leading him to a random eatery.

And that's how their journey in Adia began.

…

Let's go back in time to the inner city of Adia.

Myra, brought there by Faith due to a previous agreement he had to uphold, despite his loss to Kain in the academy tournament finals, now stood before a colossal entity like the Sword Family. Even as a noble's daughter herself, Myra couldn't help but feel suffocated. This was completely unlike anything she had ever faced.

Still, Myra had to grit her teeth and follow Faith, even if she was lost among his subordinates.

Selena, by the way, had fled to Kanzax Academy, officially severing ties with Faith, but he didn't care.

"Stop worrying, Myra. From that moment... you yourself had no way back." Myra told herself, clenching her hand slightly.

Her mother's death, or rather, disappearance, was strangely peculiar, and it had always been a deep-seated ache in Myra's heart. Aside from her yearning for a happy past, Myra had always secretly questioned her mother's subtle favoritism towards her younger sister, Mera.

Because of this, Myra had even gone as far as to betray those who trusted her. The look on Mera's face at that time was something Myra would never forget.

Regret.

Yes, it was regret, surging within Myra's soul at that moment. It was as if she witnessed herself seeing Mera being favored by others. A calmness that shattered from within.

Myra had always been jealous of Mera.

It was hidden very deep, so deep that even she had forgotten it, so deep that she didn't even realize it. And this jealousy had simmered from childhood until now.

Even into adulthood, after her family had fallen apart, this subtle jealousy persisted.

Whenever Myra returned to visit her father, Wilfred, after her expeditions, he would always grumble about what Mera had done, about Mera punching someone and causing him headaches to resolve. Only then would he briefly ask about Myra.

Yes, she had always been the mature older sister, with intelligence and foresight. She didn't cause Wilfred any worry, unlike her mischievous younger sister, Mera.

She had always been like that, from a well-behaved child to a sensible young woman.

But...

"Why does Father always talk about Mera?"

"Why doesn't Father ask me more questions? Just one... one more question would be enough?"

"Why..."

Myra wasn't consciously aware of it; it only surfaced in her subconscious, but she suppressed it herself. Because she was mature, because she was sensible, because she was someone who always made her father proud.

Even if that meant her father wouldn't ask much about her, unlike Mera.

Even if that meant her father wouldn't worry much about her, unlike Mera.

Even if... that meant her father wouldn't know much more about her, unlike Mera.