The air suddenly fell silent for a second.
Imdiately after, everyone—including Lance—turned their gaze in unison toward Nia.
Since saying Lance lost the worst was a “gentle lie”—
Then who the real unlucky one was… it was painfully obvious.
“Ahhh!”
Nia’s face instantly flushed red, like a fully ripened tomato.
She covered her face in sha and indignation, feeling as though she had suffered a double humiliation—both in intelligence and card skills.
“Amber! You might as well have just said it was !”
Watching the two girls start bickering, Lance lifted his glass and took a sip.
What a fascinating magical item.
Not only could it detect lies, it could even distinguish the motive behind them and whether they were good or malicious.
The witch who crafted this deck must have been a high-level professional specializing in matters of the mind.
As the night deepened, the charcoal in the grill occasionally crackled, sending out tiny sparks.
The group sat around the long table, taking turns drawing cards. With the influence of alcohol, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.
The questions appearing on the cards also beca more and more bizarre.
For example, 【Na a piece of embarrassing history you most want to erase】.
Or 【If Lance ran back after accumulating massive debt outside, would you pretend not to know him, or help him repay it?】
Faced with these absurd interrogations, everyone gave all sorts of answers under the encouragent of alcohol, and the courtyard was filled with laughter.
Until it was Nia’s turn.
She reached out and drew a Diamond Ace from the deck.
As magic seeped into the card, a line of text slowly appeared:
【What kind of future do you hope for?】
Nia blinked, answering almost without thinking.
“The future I hope for is that everyone keeps living together in Graystone Town.”
Resting her chin on her hand, the girl’s eyes were full of longing.
“Being able to eat the new treats from the pastry shop every day without worrying about gaining weight, and in the evening climbing up to the tallest clock tower in town to watch the sunset.”
“And then when we all grow into old n and won, we can still gather like this—playing cards, eating and drinking together.”
As her voice fell, the edges of the crystal card slowly lit up.
It was an extrely pure azure glow.
A symbol of absolute sincerity.
This was the truest reflection of her heart.
Nia happily shook the card in her hand, about to accept everyone’s teasing.
However, when she looked up at the others, she realized no one was smiling back.
Amber’s hand, holding her glass, froze midair, her gaze drifting.
Flora lowered her head, staring at the hem of her skirt, her fingers twisting together uneasily.
Even Lance, who was usually composed, had a sowhat stiff expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Nia tilted her head in confusion, looking at their strange reactions.
“I didn’t lie. It’s blue.”
“Flora, it’s your turn!”
Sitting across from her, Flora seed to snap back to her senses and hurriedly adjusted her glasses.
“Mm… Mm! Is it my turn?”
To cover up the awkwardness, Flora barely shuffled before absentmindedly drawing a card.
Spade Ace.
Looking at the question on the card, the color drained slightly from Flora’s originally rosy face.
【Have you already set a specific date to leave, but have been hiding it from everyone because you don’t dare to say it?】
Why did she have to draw this one?
Flora’s fingers tightened around the edge of the card as she subconsciously glanced at Nia beside her.
“N… No.”
She answered softly.
But in the next mont—
The card did not glow blue, the color of truth.
Instead, it emitted a soft yet glaring warm golden light.
A gentle lie.
The courtyard fell completely silent.
The smile on Nia’s face slowly faded. She stared blankly at the glowing card, then at Flora, who had lowered her head.
“Gold…”
“Flora, you’re leaving?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Flora seed at a loss.
She nervously twisted her fingers, glancing around as if searching for an excuse, but ultimately surrendered under Nia’s eyes.
Lowering her head, the girl’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
“I… I might need to leave to study alchemy in Viridia.”
“Aunt Movenna helped
secure a recomndation spot. It’s a very rare opportunity…”
Although Lance had long known that Flora aspired to beco a professional alchemist, he hadn’t expected the farewell to co so soon.
“That’s amazing.”
Amber let out a heartfelt exclamation, breaking the silence.
“Viridia—that’s the holy land in the hearts of alchemists across the continent. Being able to study there is an opportunity many people can’t obtain no matter how hard they try.”
But this did not make Nia happy.
Her expression beca strange, even tinged with fear.
“Then… will you co back?”
“Of course I will!”
Hearing this, Flora suddenly lifted her head, her gaze unusually firm.
“We promised to be best friends for a lifeti. After I finish my studies, I’ll definitely co back!”
She extended her right pinky toward Nia.
“Pinky swear.”
Nia sniffed, then also extended her pinky, hooking it tightly with Flora’s.
“Then it’s settled—we’ll be best friends for life.”
With the touch of their fingertips, the small rift between the girls seed to dissolve into the evening breeze.
Watching the two reconcile, Amber let out a soft sigh.
Her gaze lingered on their interlocked pinkies before she seed to make up her mind.
“Actually…”
Amber lifted her glass and took a big gulp, speaking with the courage brought by alcohol.
“I’m also going to leave Graystone Town for quite a long ti.”
As soon as these words ca out, Nia—who had just relaxed—froze completely.
Amber gave a bitter smile and continued:
“Recently, one of my dad’s forr teammates ca looking for him. Their adventurer party is preparing to regroup and explore a new ruin, and they invited him to return.”
“Back then, he retired to co ho and raise
because my mother fell ill and passed away.”
“But I know he’s always longed for that kind of life.”
Amber’s voice grew quieter.
“I often see him sitting alone at the bar late at night, staring blankly at photos from his youth.”
“I want him to be happier, so I decided to support him going back.”
“As his daughter, I’ll go along to handle logistics—otherwise that careless old man might starve himself on the road.”
At this point, Amber looked seriously at her friends.
“But I won’t be too far away. Whenever the team takes a break, I’ll co back often.”
Two consecutive bombshells left Nia completely stunned.
Her expression beca extrely complicated as her gaze shifted back and forth between Flora and Amber.
One best friend was leaving for her dream.
Another best friend was leaving for family.
No way…
A strong sense of panic surged in her heart.
She subconsciously turned to look at the only male present—the owner of this house.
However—
When she looked at Lance, she found that his face showed no surprise, but rather a complicated expression.
It was a look tinged with a hint of apology.
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