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"Don't hold back against the opponents you will be facing.

"Some of them might soon become your schoolmates, so try to bond and get closer by beating each other up.

"That will be all. Dismiss-!"

'What kind of advice is that? I don't know if Professor Murak is joking because he barely smiles.'

Russell Moon inwardly lampooned as the training to check the skills for the El-Vul-Or Tournament or Elnira-Vulcan-Orion competition.

The Fourteen Days of Founding Deep Connections seemed to go by quickly as the Capital Tour, one of the ways to have others races interact with each other, already transpired some time ago.

Although the confusing article published by any media company regarding the Three-Way Alliance, which stated that the Students Exchange would take place first before the tournament, was false because the order of events for fourteen days was the following:

1. Capital Tour — after the year-end, January 02 of the Star Era, the Year 2063.

The Capital Tour, where the handpicked several Elves and Dwarves would visit each capital of every country, from the Obelisk City of Olympia; Magia of Etheria; Enfiya of Nereia; Basara of Bhaskara; Afrostika of Arka; Alapeia of Cassiopeia, and Articor of Alastor. Though the last capital to be visited had a lingering gloomy atmosphere because of the terror attack that was eventually told to the Elves and Dwarves.

This Capital Tour quickly passed, which spanned for at least five days since there was a time when the two groups of races visited two capitals on the same day.

On the Human side, on the other hand, did the same after the Obelisk Organization had assigned several affiliated people, including numerous students from the Obelisk, Sky, and other remaining academies situated only in Olympia or the Central Orion.

The selected humans, which included Ayleen Mayfield as humanity's guide, traversed the capital of the Elnira Kingdom and the Vulcan Kingdom. Even if it's just a few days, they rather felt alienated than welcomed because those number of days were the longest duration so far that another race, outside of the category of trespassing, stayed on their soil, causing the Elves and Dwarves, especially the youngsters to had an undying curiosity.

But all in all, the result of the tour was auspicious as not everyone was against the alliance, and even if there were some opposed, it's not like they could reverse the decision of either the Elf Queen or the Dwarven King.

***

When it came to reactions, the Elves were naturally boastful, feeling the lingering Mana on the human territory to be thin. But just like humans, not everybody of the Elven visitors was mocking the humanity side. It's just that some of them didn't understand the intention of the Queen of Elnira of establishing an alliance with the Humans and Dwarves. Though it's impossible to learn regarding the state secret of the looming threat of their nemesis, the Vampire Race unless they were working with the Elf Queen. In other words, they wouldn't know the intention of having additional men to fend off the Vampires, waiting for an opening to strike no matter how long it would take.

The needs of the Elnira Kingdom, more men or players to fight against the threat, were already known by the Obelisk Organization, which was the reason why the alliance had been successfully founded. But what the Elves could give was the same assistance in terms of security, which would be decided after the El-Vul-Or Tournament.

On the other hand, the Dwarves found the human inventions to be intriguing even though, in terms of technology, they were beyond compare. They were more sapient regarding such matters, but they found the architecture, engineering, and art of the human-made infrastructure as things to be taken note of. In other words, between the Elves and the Dwarves, it's the latter one who could be more trusted, at least superficially, and if their needs were met.

Regarding the Dwarves' needs, it was the access to Strayed Dungeons that possessed minerals to be mined as they're addicted, apart from drinking hard liquor, to glistening gems and peculiar useful rocks. As the control of the Strayed Dungeons was handled and monitored well by the Obelisk Organization, the Dwarven King's proposition, and concession were approved.

Humanity would receive certain crafting mechanics and wisdom, while the Dwarves would be presented with hundreds of Strayed Dungeons containing mineral resources.

Everybody had a win-win situation regardless of the existence of opposition, mostly on the side of the Elves.

***

After the Capital Tour, it'll be the El-Vul-Or Tournament, which was decided to be held in the capital of the Elnira Kingdom, Land of the Elves.

This would run from January 07 until January 13, a week of fighting between the representatives of each race.

And lastly, about the Student Exchange, the registration would run from January 14 to January 15, and there would be an acquaintance event, at least on the side of humans, so that the soon-to-be Elven or Dwarven students of the Obelisk Academy would become familiar with some students.

***

"What's the first mission?"

After the mock battles, which served as training, on the Obelisk Public Training Grounds, Samantha Hall, together with Russell, Freya, and some others, whispered to the man's ear.

"What are you talking about?"

Russell asked, trying to act ignorant regarding Samantha's point. His thought and little reverie were cut off by her sudden action of talking out of nowhere.

Her brown eyes constricted, gazing at him fiercely because of how natural Russell was acting.

"Never mind. See you tomorrow."

Samantha took her pace quickly and moved past him before going to Celine's side, who wasn't fighting, but watching the mock battle with an interested expression.

Russell, looking at the back of the two, as well as Elizabeth, Jiho, and Anya, a few meters away, was feeling conflicted if he could tell Samantha about the first mission he needed to complete as an Umbra Mercenary and not an Obelisk Student.

It's a mission assigned to his mercenary group, specifically by Ayleen Mayfield, with whom he got the recommendation letter as a pillar to establish Umbra.

'Capture Vampire Spies, but on the outskirts or borders of the Elnira Kingdom.'

Even though the Elves in charge of security were monitoring the movements outside their country's borders, they weren't leaving their post to capture a Vampire because of the thought of falling into a trap by their nemesis' underhanded tactics.

'It's dangerous, but I know their kind very well. So it's a plus for me.'

Russell inwardly muttered, casually letting the other's verbal conversation pass through his ears.

***

"Oppa, what do you say you're going to give me?"

In the dormitory room of her older brother, Freya, together with Amelie, who was almost a wanderer at this point since wherever these siblings go, she, too was always there, except in some cases, of course.

"Here. It's been some time since it's sleeping in my Dimensional Inventory."

Russell took out a shortsword, which he bought at Thorn of Rose recently after the Skillbook he gifted to his younger sister during her 17th Birthday.

"It's never a bad thing to have a spare weapon, so take it."

The sword he handed to her was a Unique-Grade weapon, similar to Freya's Arianne's Wish, her temporary Personal Weapon.

"Uh... T-thank you, Oppa-!"

With a smile, Freya almost jumped as she held in her hand the exquisite shortsword. This weapon's design looked like a bomb explosion as the messy lines were intricately carved on its blade.

"Worry not. Just don't push yourself too far in the tournament. Same with you, Amelie."

For a moment, Amelie seemed to have been lost in her thoughts. Russell, who noticed this subtle expression, snapped her reverie.

"What's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing. I'm just curious about the dark cross we left after we raided the branch of the Shadow Guild and saved Maya's parents.

"I mean — why hasn't the Church of the System said anything about it?"

"It's simple. They're hiding it, but it's only temporary."

Russell answered without a hint of hesitation. Freya, on the other hand, just listened to what they had been discussing.

"The Shadow Guild must have tried to hide it, but eventually came to light. Although we don't know what measures the heads of the Church of the System would take, we can only hope for now that it won't be made publicized, the result of what we did, that is."

"You're probably right. I'm just asking right now because I thought that the best way to spread the Church of Spade is to leave the dark cross as a symbol representing it and the Lady of Shaded Spade."

"Fret not about it for now because there are other things we needed to prepare for."

"Haha, my bad! It's just..."

"No, it's alright. I just think that we won't be able to do anything for now about it, but we will start from scratch."

Amelie knew that Russell didn't want to come across as harsh. She smiled before nodding at him.

Freya, who was silent the entire time since the two started talking, scoffed lightly. She then interjected and said in a similar curious tone.

"Oppa... Can we...?"

Grasping the meaning behind his younger sister's words, Russell nodded as an affirmation.

"Do it. I'll prepare dinner."

Russell spoke, his tone composed, causing the one who couldn't understand the point of the siblings to tilt her head.

Leaving the living room, that's also his bedroom, Russell went to the kitchen and prepared their dinner for this time.

Freya and Amelie, sitting on the long cozy grey couch, were left alone at this moment as they fell silent for a second or two before the former acted, taking something out from her Dimensional Inventory.

"What's that?"

Amelie asked, curious.

"Amelie... Can you touch and open this for me?"

"Huh? You're being weird.",

"I mean what I said."

Seeing Freya's unrelenting serious expression, Amelie realized that Freya wasn't doing a prank on her.

"Alright. What's this, anyway?"

As she asked in the air, she slowly grabbed what Freya was intending to give for a moment.

"Oi! Why aren't you answering?"

"Ah... I see..."

Freya was relieved for some reason.

'She can open and flip Oppa's book-!'

"A little boy, around five to six years old, was peacefully living in the village of Sanctus-"

"Thank you, Amelie!"

Freya grabbed the book, causing Amelie to be interrupted by her reading.

"What's with that reaction?"

Confusion started to spread across Amelie's face because of Freya's sudden action of grabbing the plain-looking book.

"Dinner time, you two."

Sometime later, after preparing the dinner, Russell arrived from the kitchen and stopped the momentum of the conversation between the two.

Russell glanced at Freya, who then nodded with a smile. Which was an act of affirmation regarding Amelie, who could also read the unpublished novel he had written without being electrocuted.

***

The chilling, tranquil night passed. The bluish moonlight of the eye of the sky spread across the continent.

In a silent starry sky, Elizabeth von Etherion, who made it a hobby to lie on the spire of the Royal Palace, whispered solemnly, being alone at this point in time.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow's tournament. Be my witness, little moon."

Glancing at the sky, Elizabeth, with both her hands at the back of her head while wearing sleepwear that could give a mild cold resistance, let out a sigh as she closed her light green eyes.

"Rumia... My bestfriend, I miss you already."

As though her emotions were on a rollercoaster, Elizabeth suddenly teared up upon learning what happened to the other princess.

According to what Rosalin had told them, Rumia was just sleeping. But they refused to believe Rosalin because Rumia was not breathing. They even thought that Rosalin became crazy due to the psychological impact of losing her daughter, but they understood, at least based on their perspective, the emotional turmoil of the queen, causing them to let whatever had happened pass and do their best to move forward.

"Watch over me, wherever you truly are."