Darius sat back in the throne with a silent frown. The night cityscape surrounded him beyond the glass in the highest office of the Binding Association.

  On the other side of the screen across the round table, Aileen did the same. The morning sun filtered through the window at her side in the family manor. A cup of tea rested at her side, untouched. The distant sound of running water crackled across the connection.

  "It's been a while." That was all Aileen had to disrupt the silence between them.

  "Yeah," said Darius.

  The break in the ice froze over again. The tension between parent and child was thick enough to cut with a knife.

  Aileen picked up her tea, took a small sip, and returned it to the table. The quiet clack as she set it down was all too loud.

  Darius' fingers scraped across the hard armrests as they curled. He sat up and made to speak, only to think better of it. They settled for staring at each other in stony silence.

  Then came the sound of a white plastic chair scraping across the floor.

  "Ahem." Asayuki pulled herself into frame and took a seat right beside Darius. "Is this on? Looks like it is. Good."

  "Oh," said Aileen. "You must be…?"

  "Asayuki Saya," she said. "Aileen Lohrs, correct? It's a pleasure to meet Darius' mother."

  Mother? Not ex-High Magus? The question was all in Aileen's eyes. Then she saw Darius' hand drifting over to hold Asayuki's, and she nearly upended her tea bumping up against the table. "Oh! So that's how—it's so nice to meet you, Saya-san! Should I take it you're the reason he's been too busy to call all this time?"

  "Ahaha…" A polite laugh from Asayuki. "Maybe I am."

  "Hahaha!" Aileen's laugh was much more pronounced. "I get it now! Darius, you wanted to surprise me when you came home together!"

  "Let's go with that," he muttered, not meeting her eye.

  "How did you meet? How long have you been together? When are you visiting? Have you already pr—"

  "Mum, please!" Darius cut her off. "…Together for about four years."

  "Hmm, that'd be a couple years after the Shinjuku incident," she mused. "Ah, no wonder! My, you really are all grown up now. I was worried you wouldn't be able to make any friends out on your own in Japan… I remember Karin used to always pull you around by the nose." Looking at Asayuki, she added, "He'd stay cooped up in his room all day if nobody came along to drag him out!"

  Catching Darius' look, the swordmaster pulled her scarf a few inches higher to muffle her smile. Looked like this conversation was in full swing now.

  "Mum, can you not go prancing about spouting every—" Darius stopped. He took a moment to gather his composure before trying again. "I'm not that helpless, I've made it all on my own. I've got plenty of friends!" Under his mother's curious gaze, he visibly wilted. "…Coworkers count! Fujiwara, Watanabe—"

  "And Erina and Akira, right?"

  Darius blinked. How did she know those names? "I… guess you could say that? Oh, and Julian. So, there!"

  "Even Julian? What a relief, you don't hold onto grudges with everyone after all." Aileen's tone was so light there was no telling whether she was genuine or brutally sarcastic.

  Asayuki felt Darius' hand squeeze hers tighter for a moment. That was the feeling of physically holding in a scathing remark.

  "It's so nice to hear you're finding your place," said Aileen. "And not afraid to reach out to younger generations either. You really made an impression on those two!"

  "Erina and Akira?" he said warily.

  Aileen closed her eyes and nodded, thinking back. "They were really a handful, those two—but very full of promise at the same time!"

  Darius frowned, but Asayuki leaned forward before he could speak up.

  "Darius has been doing very well," she said. "He's humble. Doesn't let his position get to his head." They exchanged a look. A smirk playing on her lips, she added, "If only he could keep his feet from carrying him into every bar he crosses."

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  "Darius!" scolded Aileen. "Are you still gambling?"

  "So what if I am?" His tone instantly turned defensive. "It's all budgeted out! People go out and spend hundreds shopping for clothes or eating at fancy restaurants and no one bats an eye. So why should it be a problem when I go spend on a few rounds?"

  Asayuki and Aileen's eyes met. "He says this every time," confirmed Asayuki.

  "The trick is treating it as an expense!" said Darius. "Not an income! There's a difference!"

  "How often do you guys talk about this?" Aileen asked her.

  "About…" Asayuki counted on her fingers. "Every couple weeks or so. Minimum."

  "A-ny-way…" Darius inserted himself into the talk before it derailed entirely. "I'm making it just fine on my own, Mum."

  "Is he really?" asked Aileen.

  "Yes," said Asayuki. "I'm not sure whether I wish he wasn't—maybe he'd be able to quit gambling for good—but yes."

  "I'm not addicted," insisted Darius. "Everyone knows the scene. Anytime anyone needs the gunslinger, they find him in the back of the bar with a fresh armful of earnings from the last round of cards! That's why! It's common knowledge!"

  Asayuki and Aileen looked at him and then at each other.

  "Was he always like this?" asked Asayuki.

  "Since he was a baby," chuckled Aileen. "Goodness, how young was he? I remember every time I visited, I'd find him glued to the telly with his favorite movie on—and it was the same movie every time! He loved watching it for years on end, and when I hear he's finally stopped, guess what? It's because he's hooked on the sequel!"

  Darius buried his face in his hands to hide his flushed complexion. "One more word about this and I'm ending the call."

  "Okay, okay. I'll stop." Aileen's raised teacup didn't mask her smile. "Then tell me, what have you been up to? I can't imagine there's ever a dull day at the top of the Association." She glanced around and then leaned in. "Any special missions? Save the world lately?"

  Darius hesitated. He caught Asayuki's eye—this time with a much more serious exchange of looks. Hastily clearing his throat, he returned his attention to the screen. "Erm, can't say," he lied. "Very top secret."

  "Not even your dear old mum?"

  "Don't play that card on me."

  Just then, the scanner by the door beeped and a different woman's voice caught their attention.

  "Darius-san." Fujiwara entered the meeting hall with papers in hand. "All systems configured. We've confirmed the superconductor can trigger the resonant—"

  Asayuki's neck audibly cracked as she whipped around.

  "Fujiwara, great to see you!!" Darius cut her off loudly. Waving at the screen, he said, "As you might be able to tell, I'm a little busy at the moment, so if you could fill me in later…"

  "Is this one of your friends?" said Aileen. "Hello, there!"

  "Ma'am." Fujiwara bowed her head before placing the papers at Darius' side. He immediately turned them face-down. She said to Darius, "I assumed it'd be fine if Lady Aileen is on the other side. How can't she have clearance?"

  "It's true, I'm the High Magus of the Binding Association!" cheered Aileen. "Tell me!"

  "Excuse you, it's former High Magus?" Darius shook his head in exasperation. "Fujiwara, if you're not given explicit approval to divulge information, it's not approved. Seriously, you could've sent them to my phone…"

  "My apologies, sir," droned Fujiwara.

  "Do me a favor and please go, would you?"

  He saw her rolling her eyes on the way out.

  "I'm surprised every time," muttered Asayuki. "Your luck really is atrocious."

  "Don't leave me out of the loop!" Now Aileen was excited. "What's the harm? Saya-san, don't you agree?"

  "Er," she said. "I'm afraid I agree with Darius, ma'am. I don't know if I'm authorized to say."

  "You're the second-highest authorities in the whole organization! Is it the other High Magus? The board of directors? You're just making it sound more interesting!"

  Darius groaned quietly. This was going to be a long call.

  . The edge of the city was quiet and peaceful.

  Yuuta dithered on Erina's doorstep. Should he knock? Should he ring the bell? After weighing his options, he opted for his phone. I'm outside, he texted.

  It didn't take long for the lock to turn. "Emisane-san," he said. "Good morning! I—oh. Wow."

  "Hm?" Erina stepped out. She didn't think she'd done anything to warrant a reaction. Even on the weekend, she was dressed the same as always. "Is something wrong?"

  He stared at her for a second longer before snapping back to awareness. "N-No, nothing. Sorry. It's just…" Yuuta mumbled to himself, "Your face really is…"

  "What did you say?" Light glinted off the butterfly clip as she turned her ear to him. "I couldn't hear you."

  "Um, nothing!" He averted his eyes, looking around the street. Remembering where he was, he hurriedly said, "So, how about we, like, get going?"

  Erina nodded and followed him down the road. The subway was modestly busy but not crowded. Early on the weekend, most people had yet to rise and the rush hour yet to hit.

  She shifted her weight on the train, subtly stretching her legs. She'd done little more than sleep the last several days. Akira's only order had been to go home and rest up. Now, the soreness was largely out of her system. Mana stores replenished. All systems fully functional.

  The stations blinked in sequence on the map. Erina tried to think of where he had in mind when he reached out to her again a couple days ago. They'd passed the shopping district a while back… did he live at one of the stations up ahead? Or perhaps…

  "The amusement park?" she asked him. The soft chime of bells marked the train doors opening.

  "Yeah," said Yuuta. "Hope that's okay with you? We could stop here too, I know a few places we could visit." Rather, he'd pulled an all-nighter or two comparing notes with his friends on every place they could go, just in case.

  I've had enough heart-pumping excitement for a lifetime, thought Erina. But aloud she said, "This will be my first time going. I'll look forward to it. Have you been here before?"

  "Not to this one." He put on his best smile. "It's a new experience for both of us."

  Erina nodded and returned her gaze to the scenery out the window as the bells chimed again. The train doors closed.

  An ordinary day out. It should've been unremarkable, but Erina couldn't help the giddy sensation welling up in her.

  In between all the mystery and battle, today was the kind of day she was sorely lacking in.