At the meeting the next day, Freya was startled to see Ansu arrive with dark circles under his eyes.
"Those are some serious dark circles, Lord Ansu. Did you not sleep well...?"
Vera glanced at Ansu, looking a little guilty. "Well... that's my fault."
"Huh?" Freya blinked, utterly confused.
"It's nothing." Ansu shot Vera an irritated glare.
Then he waved a hand for everyone to begin their reports.
Today's meeting was noticeably livelier.
Professor Duncan and Elder Barnes had insisted on coming in wheelchairs, even though neither had fully recovered.
Several elders of the Order gathered around the smiling Barnes, discussing something in low voices. On the other side, Professor Duncan flipped through the research records from the past two years, frowning as he read and occasionally slapping the table in displeasure.
Watching them, Varg was suddenly overcome with emotion.
"Everyone's back... It's wonderful!"
But Freya and Vera instinctively looked toward Ansu.
Both clearly saw the light in his eyes dim for an instant.
Freya narrowed her eyes, then turned to Varg and whispered, "Don't say that. There's still someone missing..."
The most important person of all.
"Ah!" Only then did Varg realize. He glanced at Ansu again, an apologetic look rising on his face.
The voices around them grew quieter as well.
No one really dared bring it up now, afraid of upsetting Ansu.
Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Ansu smiled and gave everyone a teasing look.
"What? Having Professor Duncan and Elder Barnes finally back is taking some getting used to?"
"Not at all." Elder Matthew curled his lip and complained about Barnes without the slightest restraint.
"It's just that this old fellow's style clashes with mine. He never stops talking."
"The moment he came back, he started hounding me about the Order's affairs over the past two