“W-wait…!” Arkemis stammered as she spoke. Her golden eyes quivered in disbelief. She slipped a trembling hand into the pouch and carefully grabbed a handful of its contents.0

A soft, glittering cascade of iridescent particles spilled between her clenched fingers. She gasped at the sight.0

“Wow…” She stood there in a daze for what felt like ages, mouth half-open. Finally, her neck creaked as she turned toward Ketal. “You… you! How in the world…?”0

“I was summoned to the royal palace,” Ketal said calmly. “I helped them with a situation involving these particles and managed to get them as a reward.”0

“What do you mean?” she asked him, blinking in confusion.0

“It’s a bit complicated, and I’m not sure how much I can disclose,” he replied. “It’s related to those iridescent particles you’ve been studying.”0

“Is it top secret?” Arkemis pressed.0

“I’m not entirely sure,” Ketal admitted. “Either way, it’s not my place to spill the details.”0

He remembered the Tower Master mentioning how they planned to announce the existence of the Demon Realm’s Anomaly in Lutein. It would be done on their terms, so there was no need for Ketal to speak first.0

“I see,” Arkemis mumbled, lost in thought.0

Did he help the kingdom clear a Dungeon or something? she speculated. She had heard similar stories from Milayna—that when a Dungeon...0