"You're afraid those wretched stray dogs will steal the Core Flame while you're gone..."
Cipher crossed her arms. "... So you want my help to keep an eye on them while you're away, right?"
Phainon nodded, "You guessed every single one right. You're truly amazing."
"I know your power, Miss Cipher: speed, disguise, stealth... and that most elusive power, the power of 'deception'."
"Use whatever means you wish, even if it means deceiving us as well. I have only one request: please protect the Core Flame of Kephale."
"Hmm..." Cipher looked at Phainon with interest. "I say, World-Saving, do you really think deep down... that I have absolutely no chance of refusing you?"
"If I don't intend to get involved in this mess, what backup plans do you have?"
"As a demigod of ' Trickery,' you probably have no more powerful trump card in the world—what do you think, Miss Cipher?"
Cipher turned around, "Such a confident air about being in control... You've learned a bit of her essence."
"Then let me tell you something you don't know. ' The Flame Reaver' —from what I've observed, that guy has his eyes on Okhema."
"You mean..."
"You wouldn't guess, would you? I've been keeping an eye on that guy's movements. And the conclusion I've drawn..."
"That guy's gone mad like a rabid dog, but he's definitely not stupid. Guess why he hasn't attacked Okhema yet?"
Phainon guessed, " Teacher Anaxa. The conclusion at the time... was probably because the Core Flame of Kephale was protected by a secret technique of the Senate?"
"Ha! What secret technique? I can break its mechanism with a flick of my finger."
"Let me tell you, the reason that guy didn't rush to attack Okhema is probably because the defenses woven by the seamstress are stronger than you imagine."
"Now that she's gone, and you're planning to launch an attack on ' Eye of Dawn and Dusk and Dusk' while the city's defenses are riddled with holes... tsk tsk."
Phainon frowned slightly, "... This is truly a dilemma."
"But since you've brought this up yourself... I guess you must already have a plan?"
"You're so incredibly calm right now..." Cipher remarked.
"But you guessed it—consider this a buy-one-get-one-free special offer."
"Besides protecting the Core Flame of the Kephale... I'll do you another favor, and while I'm at it, I'll play with that mad dog."
"I am extremely grateful. That Flame Thief's strength is unpredictable; please be extremely careful."
"Remember this, my World-Saving: there's a truth in this world: ' Cifera always has the last laugh.' No need to worry about a demigod; I'll do what I have to do."
Cipher smiled confidently, "So... don't die before you pay an equivalent reward."
The perspective shifts to Cipher ' Flame Reaver ' played by Blake, who listens to Chair and Phainon's conversation without batting an eye.
"Pfft~ Hahahaha... Did you hear that? What a blasphemous statement!"
Fulisina burst into uncontrollable laughter; the smile didn't disappear, it just moved to her face.
"Disrupting the plan without permission. Compared to the abuse this character has received, you seem even more ridiculous."
Instantly, Fulisina's smile froze on her face.
"Why aren't you laughing anymore?" The smile shifted to Blake's face. "Didn't that kid say that Canis's body still hasn't been found?"
"I..."
Her rebuttal was cut off, and Fulisina glared angrily at Blake.
It's not entirely her fault; after all, who would have thought that their own Aeon would suddenly have a flash of inspiration and decide to hold a funeral for a mere lackey of the Senate...?
Incidentally, she used the same ice coffin that she used to destroy the " Annihilation Gang ".
" Amphoreus has been targeted by many factions, but only ' Eternity ' will be the ultimate winner."
Fulisina seized that Ephemeron glimmer of light; the Memokeeper was eliminated, the Masked Fools and the Arbitrators were too lazy to bother, and the only one she needed to be wary of was the " Lord Ravager "...
Ah, there's also a chance that a red-haired " Knight of Beauty " might randomly appear.
As for Blake, the thought of an upcoming chase with the Chrysos Heirs, and even another fight with Star, gave him a headache.
Sigh~ I might as well just confess.
Blake thought this, but then the image of the white-haired swordsman flashed through his mind again.
The path to " Eternity " is not easy...
Meanwhile, the Grove of Epiphany the " Whispering Woods "
Hyacine looked at the empty courtyard pavilion, her expression sorrowful, "I'm back..."
"Ever since the Grove was destroyed by the Black Tide, I've wanted to get as far away from this place as possible, away from any memories that might evoke sadness."
"But the wind kept blowing me back... Perhaps this is the mission of the Duskglow Courtyard?"
Little Ica next to her beeped a few times. "Beep... beep beep."
"I understand, Little Ica —I also miss the days when we used to attend classes together."
"However, we have come here with an even more important mission. Phainon has already chosen a date for the conquest of Aegle, and I, as a descendant of the Sky Clan..."
"Beep beep! Beep!"
"Hmm... you're right, there's always time to let your mind wander for a little while."
"Ancestors, please wait a moment. The memories I left in the Grove... are worth some time to cherish."
Afterwards, Hyacine began searching for places filled with memories.
"I remember it was right here, at that Teacher Anaxa gave us 'that lesson'."
"The scene from that time... is still vivid in my mind." Hyacine's eyes were full of nostalgia.
Thoughts flooded in like a tide. In class, Anaxa:
"... This concludes your last lesson at the Grove."
"From now on, you will all have your own paths to walk. How much help the knowledge you learn here will be depends entirely on your ability to comprehend it."
At that Anaxa crossed his arms and said, "However, I warn you—if you ever do anything disgraceful in the future, never proclaim to the outside world that you are one of the Seven Sages, students of Anaxagoras..."
Phainon asked in confusion, "... Teacher Anaxa, I clearly saw other classes on the schedule! Are you sure you haven't made a mistake...?"
"--First of all, call me Professor Anaxagoras," Anaxa corrected.
Secondly, let me correct something: "The last lesson" refers to "the last lesson I taught."
"From today onwards, I will begin a period of seclusion to study ancient alchemy, and all teaching activities must give way to it."
"Ah, I see. The professor was implying that the other teachers' courses weren't up to par, right?"
"All you do is rely on cleverness and glib tongue— Phainon from the Aedes Elysiae, one credit deducted!"