The sea seemed frozen as Sef stared at the horizon. On a normal day, he would have praised its stillness to the point of sparking Erze's temper. But now was different. Instead of peace, it was tension and excitement that circulated his veins, making him rock back and forth with his arms wrapped around his knees.

Above him was Marcellus, as straight as a pole, surrounded by the swarm of shards he drew from the cube he created earlier. He used some of it to form floating lanterns, while others became part of the towering fence he created around the dome.

“do you need to pee?” Vanaker asked, handing a pair of long black tunics.

“what are those?” Sef asked

“dry clothes”

“hm?” Erze stood and touched the black fabric. “wow, it’s so smooth and warm”

Vanaker grinned with pride. “you like it? It’s made from a mixture of underworld seaweed and my blood”

“oh” Erze withdrew her hand and wiped it on Sef’s face. “don’t tell me you’ve made under wears too, because I’m definitely not wearing them!”

“come on, they’re not that bad”

“shut it, fool. I’m not entrusting my body to some old man’s accursed blood!”

Sef raised a finger. “one for me please”

“what?!” Erze stepped away from him. “are you out of your mind?! You’re really sticking his blood down... down there!”

A smirk escaped Sef’s emotionless facade. “sorry, but I’m more burdened downstairs than you are”

“wash your mouth you degenerate!”

Sef laughed through the insults and scanned the dome’s interior. He did not inspect it enough upon their arrival, but now that his attention was undivided, its emptiness stuck out like a sore thumb. There were no chairs, sheets, not even grass. Only a circular space of crystalized ground and a wardrobe standing at its midst.

“uh” he blinked at Vanaker. “where’s the changing room?”

Vanaker scratched his head. “my cabin isn’t built to hold guests you know. Just hide behind the wardrobe and you'll be fine"

“no, I’m good here”

As Erze shouted on his ear, Sef tossed away his wet clothes and comforted himself with Vanaker’s bloodshirt. Erze was right, not only did it bear the warmth of human touch, its texture was also as smooth as silk.

“ugh” Erze grumbled. “how could you reveal yourself like that with a straight face?”

Sef dangled the other shirt in front of her. “you should do it now too. You’ll catch a cold if you stay on those clothes”

A pause came as Erze stared at the shirt in disgust. She did not breath a word, nor make her usual frustrated noises, but the longer Sef stared at her, the more audible the gears in her head became.

“fine” she snatched the shirt and grabbed Sef’s hand, dragging him along towards the wardrobe.

“let me guess” Sef said. “you want me to do the honors?”

Erze did not bite the joke and continued walking. Once they reached the wardrobe, she glanced back at Vanaker and hid behind. “stay there and watch the old man”

Sef leaned against the wooden cabinet and beamed at Vanaker. “you don’t trust him? He already surrendered his heart remember?”

“I don’t care if its his liver, kidneys or pinky. As long as his blood is black then that’s all the reason I need to doubt him”

“isn’t it supposed to be the opposite? Yours is bla---”

“shut it!” Erze reemerged with her hair tucked inside the front of her shirt. No trace of relief nor comfort was etched on her face. In fact, it was as if she was disgusted, like a child forced to wear hot ceremonial attire.

“are you okay?” Sef asked.

“let’s just get on with it. I want to know who this man really is”

Sef sighed and sat beside Vanaker. With eyes glued to the sea, he wrapped his arms around the elder’s shoulders and released Erze’s soul, summoning a spear behind pointed behind his head.

“so this is how you repay my kindness?” Vanaker asked calmly.

“we mean no harm” Sef said. “we’re just making sure your tongue is as truthful as your appearance is”

“very well, ask away”

“who are you in this sea?”

Vanaker shrugged. “I don’t understand”

Sef rolled his eyes. “every sea has a prisoner, a hallower, a guardian of the borders and a guardian of the roads. Which one are you?”

“hm, I guess I’m the prisoner”

“you’re not sure?”

“I’m afraid so”

“who’s the hallower in charge here? Didn’t he clarify things to you?”

Vanaker chuckled. “hallowers eh? It’s been a long time since one came here to visit”

Curiosity forced Sef to look at the old man’s face. To his relief it was still the same wrinkled mask he drew inside his head. However, his eyes were now different, glued unblinkingly to him with unnerving emptiness.

Erze returned to her human form and stood in front of Vanaker with folded arms. “I knew there’s something fishy about you. Go ahead, spill it!”

“fishy?” Vanaker ripped his gaze off Sef and gave it Marcellus. “what’s fishy about hallowers not showing up to work? Isn’t that something they do all the time?”

“they’re pretty prudent in the south” Sef withdrew his arm and stood beside Erze. “You sound like that’s not the case here”

The old man beamed at his crystallized sandals. “I’m not supposed to tell this to anyone, but since you two keep prodding, I might as well say it”

“oh, story time” Sef sat and pulled Erze down with him. “just go for it. We’re all ears”

“before I start” Vanaker stared at Erze. “answer me, are you the real one?”

Erze’s eyes narrowed. “what do you mean?”

“are you really the prisoner of south wall? Are you really her?”

Shivers ran behind Sef’s neck as he waited for Erze’s response. This was a topic even he walked eggshells to peek into, and now it was being pried open by someone they barely knew.

“yes” Erze said with full conviction. “I’m Erzelis Nightcount. No one else”

A child-like smile surfaced on Vanaker’s face. His lips quivered, his eyes welled in tears, and his forhead slammed against the hard ground as he prostrated himself before them. “my lady! I’m... I’m pleased to finally meet you!”

Erze raised an eyebrow. “who are you?”

“I’m Vanaker Nightcount the thirteenth! Son of Vanaker Nightcount the twelfth! The last heir to your name!”