The Uninvited Guest

As they stepped into the lift, the room was bathed in the soft, ethereal glow—the glow from space.

It felt like being in the heart of a crystal. Stars twinkled brightly in the vast expanse beyond, closer than they had ever seemed before. Each one was a burning beacon in the dark. Leonardo stood in awe.

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that all those are stars," he murmured, stepping closer to the edge of the lift, gazing out into the infinite.

"They built this so fast," Marquis said, taking in the structure around them. "For whatever reason, I didn't see it when leaving the Stem," he added slowly.

"How'd you leave?" Leonardo asked.

Marquis remained silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "The usual."

Mei Ling's guide was something out of a myth—a human-lion hybrid draped in a golden lion's mane headdress that cascaded down his back, nearly touching the floor.

His eyes, sharp and feral, glinted under the light. The claw-like gauntlets he wore only heightened the aura of danger around him. He was a presence that demanded attention and respect—a protector, both terrifying and noble.

Leonardo's gaze wandered, scanning the room, searching for someone.

"Takashiro is with Wata," Marquis offered, noticing the distraction.

"You call him Wata too?" Leonardo asked, surprised by the familiarity.

"Yeah. Easier to remember," Marquis said with a shrug. "Takashiro didn't let me shorten his name."

Leonardo chuckled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah. He seems really single-minded."

Marquis's eyes drifted toward Ryuji, resting still as stone. Wata stood a few feet away, vigilant as ever, never straying far.

"He's still gripping his katana," Marquis muttered, eyeing Ryuji's hand still clamped on the hilt.

Since Henri struck him and he fainted, his grip hadn't loosened—not even during the ceremony when the unwritten skills—what the sages called "blessings"—were handed out.

"Leonardo," Marquis said, voice shifting with concern, "why didn't you accept the unwritten skill? I know I warned you about the drawbacks, but…"

"The tour guide wouldn't accept it, I think," Leonardo replied distantly, still watching the stars.

"But maybe… maybe I should've taken it." His voice carried a note of regret. "Argh, I should've—"

"Tour guide?" Marquis interrupted, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Leonardo hesitated. "I just got the job… Tour Guide Practical Officer."

"Huh?" Marquis stared, puzzled. "What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense."

At the same moment, they each had similar thoughts.

 Marquis is strong—obviously. And smart. How would he react to this? It could go badly… or maybe it could work-Leonardo.

There's a thrill in not knowing. He's clearly joking… but there's a chance. A smile crept onto Marquis's face-Marquis.

In this realm, anything was possible—and Leonardo didn't seem to know that.

Before Leonardo could explain, a familiar voice rang out. "Get ready, the lift's about to descend!"

Leonardo turned sharply. "Hector!" he exclaimed, visibly brightening.

Hector smiled as he approached, easing the tension in the room. "Haha, how are you?" he asked, then turned to Marquis.

But the warmth evaporated almost immediately. Marquis's expression hardened. His eyes narrowed, the gravity in his gaze settling squarely on Leonardo.

"Leonardo… let's not change the topic again, alright?" he said calmly, though the tension was unmistakable. "Could you excuse us, sir?" he added to Hector, his tone firm yet sincere.

Hector blinked, surprised by the sudden shift. "Well, sure, but—"

"Please," Marquis cut in, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Hector flushed slightly, embarrassed. "Alright then. I'll take my leave!" He stepped away briskly.

Leonardo stared at Marquis, bewildered. "What was that for?"

Marquis's gaze softened slightly, but his focus didn't waver. "Back to the topic of the tour guide," he said firmly.

"What about it?" Leonardo replied, thoughts already spiraling. Should I tell Anna and Elara? Should they know I'm not real?

Marquis watched him, concern etched into his face. "Leonardo, this isn't just about you. The idea of another tour guide…"

"There are already multiple," Leonardo countered.

"We don't know if there are multiple, but I do know yours doesn't exist. 'Practical Officer'? Mind if I take a look at your skillset? Because honestly, I'm finding that hard to believe."

"How do you all know that?" Leonardo asked, frowning.

Marquis glanced upward. "We have the Grand Bibliotheca."

Leonardo paused. Elara had mentioned something similar.

If they trusted this library that deeply, lying wouldn't help. "What's the tour guide's name?" he asked suddenly.

Marquis froze. "It's—" he began, but Leonardo cut in, realization dawning.

So their knowledge is limited. Obvious, maybe, but… not even knowing his name?

Then, in a moment of reckless honesty, Leonardo said, "He's my dad."

The words hung heavy in the air. Beneath the looming shadow of the massive Polsium Wall, stunned silence stretched between them. The obsidian sky stretched endlessly above, pierced only by the faint shimmer of the ninety-nine stars.

Then Leonardo spoke, his voice barely more than a breath:"My dad."

Marquis's eyes widened. "Wait—what do you mean your dad?"

"I didn't want to say anything… but the tour guide—the one who gave me this job—he's my father. I didn't know how to tell anyone. I didn't even know if I should. It's complicated."