The Name of the Flame-Chasers

As Griseo stepped out of the HDD room, a faint ripple passed through the air inside the shop.

Ordinary people might not have noticed it, but to Griseo, it was unmistakable.

"Uncle Ithaqua."

"Your Highness, I'm here to pick you up!"

A purple figure appeared behind Griseo. It was Ithaqua, the Void Hunter-level fighter from the Meflor Family. He wore a dark purple long coat, its hood hiding most of his face.

Ithaqua bowed slightly and returned a medal to Griseo.

Unlike a Void Hunter Medal, it had no Void Hunter insignia at the center of its six-pointed star. In its place was a moth.

To explain how that came about, they had to go back to Griseo's second meeting with Mayor Meflor.

Several days earlier, at the mayor's office in City Hall.

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting stripes across the wooden floor.

Meflor sat behind his desk with his hands folded on it. Across from him, Griseo sat quietly, her hands resting neatly on her knees.

The old man and the little girl both looked terribly "serious and formal," as though they were about to settle a matter of world-shaking importance.

"Uncle Mayor, did you call me here for something?"

Griseo finally broke the silence. She couldn't help it; holding that pose was miserable.

"Your Highness, thank you for your warning earlier."

Meflor lowered his head respectfully to Griseo before getting to the point.

"After thinking it over these past few days, I have an answer for you: the Meflor Family is willing to give everything we have to make New Eridu the city you hope it can be."

Meflor paused. His gaze was frank and steady. "But please give us some time. And... I need your help."

Griseo looked into Meflor's eyes, reading the colors within