The inn was eerily quiet.
A brown-bearded man drowned his nervousness with a glass of blood whiskey. It was heavy stuff that could knock down a grown man with just one sip.
However, he looked just a little bit tipsy.
The innkeeper stood behind the receptionist desk. He didn't feel like working, as the atmosphere was just so heavy and tense.
The other patrons were lurking near the windows and looking outside.
"Those bells signaled that the war has started, right?"
"Those were the bells of declaration of the war. The church has now approved the war. Its just blood, steel, and death from now on."
"Shit..." the brown-bearded man said.
"We're all in for it now." The innkeeper said. "You're being sent to the front lines?"
"Yes." The brown-bearded man said in anger. "I am part of the Darkstar faction just because the construction company I am working with has a contract with them about building a new storage room for them."
"I am stuck with Nightshade." Another person said. "I hate to work with those fuckers. They've sent our kind to work in mines as slaves. If I had one chance to stab Ambrose in the back, I would gladly take it!"
"An to that." The brown-bearded man said.
They were all on different sides, but they were all Originals and knew that they were nothing but at shields in the upcoming war. Their lives didn't matter in the grand sche of things.
At that mont, Adam ca from the second floor. He saw the solemn atmosphere, ignored it, and headed to the door.
"Hey, young man." The innkeeper said to him. "It's not safe to go outside. The fight can start at any mont."
Adam tossed the innkeeper his key of the room. He didn't have any need for it, as this was the last ti he would stay in this inn.
"Thanks for the room-" Adam said, waving goodbye as he walked out the door.
"Stay safe out there. This world has gone mad!" The innkeeper said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Adam stepped out of the door and made sure to close the door behind him.
The air was cold and crisp.
The church's bells were still ringing with that hollow tone. It would keep ringing till the fight started.
"I wonder if she has made up her mind about that thing yet."
Adam wondered and then headed straight to the cathedral, where the ringing of the bells was coming from. It felt strange for him to walk in these empty streets.
'It feels nostalgic. This is my third Great Guild War. I am the person with the most wars under my belt, now that I think about it. Strange feeling.'
...
In the attic of the grand cathedral.
Lady Yu gazed out of the window to the empty, dead streets of the Imperium City.
Knock, knock.
After a knock, Kanari peeked his head from the gap and said, "Lady Yu, you needed for sothing?"
Lady Yu took a deep sigh and said. "Go prepare the Holy Room for , please~"
"What?" Kanari's eyes widened. "What for?"
"I might need it." She said. "Don't worry about it. I most likely won't."
Kanari frowned.
'She couldn't possibly think about doing the ceremony with him. She has strange feelings for him, sure, but she doesn't know him. He doesn't know her. It would be ludicrous!'
He then nodded and left the attic to go prepare the Holy Room.
'What to do? I need guidance...' Lady Yu bit her lip.
Imdiately after that, soone knocked on the door again.
"Kanari, was there so-"
Before she could finish, the door opened, and instead of Kanari, Adam entered the attic.
She turned silent like a mi and turned her flushed face away from him to hide her blush.
"Lady Yu." Adam bowed in a respectful manner.
"Mister Adam, the three days are up, it seems." Lady Yu said with her back facing him.
"Yes, I am here for the answer." Adam said.
"I had been thinking, but I couldn't find the answer." Lady Yu said.
Her eyes were slightly red, as she hadn't slept well for the past few nights.
"I expected you to thoroughly reject ." Adam said softly. "You're conflicted, why?"
"I..." Lady Yu closed her mouth imdiately after.
"I can make the decision for you." Adam said and turned to the door. "I am sorry for asking for such an unreasonable favor. I will leave now."
"No, wait." Lady Yu pleaded. "Stay. Let's talk about this."
Adam raised an eyebrow and turned back to her. His eyes widened as he saw her tears streaming down her face.
"Why're you crying?"
Lady Yu dropped on her butt and buried her face in her hands, unable to speak through her sobs.
Adam reached out his hand to her, but then his hand froze, and he slowly reeled it back, not daring to touch her. He sotis forgot that he shouldn't know Lady Yu in this tiline.
Whenever she cried back then, he was the one that comforted him, and she cried a lot, which got her a nickna of a crybaby in their circles.
"I don't know what to do!" She shouted through her tears. "My brain is telling no, but my heart is saying yes. Which one is right?!"
Adam hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but seeing her in such distress tugged at his
heartstrings.
As he watched her struggle with her inner turmoil, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the role he played in causing her pain.
"Which one do you think I should listen to?" Lady Yu asked with her teary eyes, looking at
him.
"I..." Adam sighed. "I honestly don't know."
Lady Yu lowered her head and covered her face with her hands.
"I have a solution, though."
Lady Yu raised her head to look at him and saw him take out a coin. It was a shinecoin with two sides, one having the face of King Moriarty and the other showing the city of Imperium.
"Flip a coin."
"A-are you serious?" Lady Yu asked.
"Yes." Adam chuckled.
"Hmm..." Lady Yu looked at the coin, sat properly on her knees, and nodded.
It looked like her mood slightly improved as Adam added so playfulness to the decision.
It was because Adam knew that she loved gas.
"City or King." Adam said. "If it lands on the side you chose, we're doing the ceremony. If not,
we won't, and I'll walk out of that door."
"Hmm, ok!" Lady Yu looked nervous and said. "City!"
Adam flipped the coin to the air. It rolled around and around before finally landing back on his
hand.
With a clap, Adam covered the coin with his other hand, hiding the result.
Then, slowly, he raised his hand and showed the result to Lady Yu.
The coin lay on his hand. It showed the city side of the coin.
"Ah..." Lady Yu exclaid, and her heart started beating like a drum.
"..." Adam pocketed the coin and said, "Are you happy about the result? You can still say no. I
am not forcing you to do anything."
Lady Yu shook her head. "I am not a cheater. That was a fair ga, and I'll accept the result."
Adam nodded with a slight smile.
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