Zayne and Lucia's conversation had been going on for hours as the sun gradually began to recede into the sunset, indicating that the banquet was about to begin.

At first, Zayne was uncomfortable as Lucia asked strange questions, however, after a while he got used to it and just started to enjoy this period.

'The coffee, the delicious desserts, and the beautiful girl sitting in front of me, I certainly have nothing to complain about, right?' Zayne inwardly muttered, taking a sip when a smile of pleasure appeared on his face.

"Looks like you actually like what I made for you." Lucia smiled, pressing her palms to her cheeks.

"Ughum." Zayne nodded, "I can't call myself a big coffee expert, but I like the combination of bitterness and sweetness."

"Opposites attract, right?" Lucia whispered as she tilted her head.

Step. Step. Step.

Suddenly there were footsteps from the entrance, loud and heavy, not at all like those of the maids who came into the hall from time to time.

"What...?" Lucia turned, then for the first time there was a frown on her face.

"Mrs. Lucia, who the hell is this guy?" There was an arrogant voice that knew no boundaries.

Zayne turned around and saw a girl of medium height with short pink hair and amber eyes. Her body was covered by a long purple mantle and she was wearing a huge wizard's hat on her head.

"Rea... What are you doing here?" Lucia muttered with a stern look as she clenched her hands into fists. She was not at all happy that someone was interfering in their conversation.

"Hmm? Am I not allowed to come here? I just wanted to ask you if the squad was ready. However, now I have another question. Who's the guy with the stupid face?" Rea stared at Zayne with a cold face.

Zayne slowly took the spoon out of his mouth and pointed at himself with a questioning look.

"Pfff, it's none of your business who I spend my free time with. What's more, this is Zayne, and he's one of your squad members. That's what Alden decided yesterday." Lucia said seriously as she threw one leg over the other despite her dress.

'Damn... She's changed so drastically... I don't even know if I like it or not.' Zayne inwardly muttered and carelessly took the next dessert.

Whooooooooooooosh.

Suddenly a dense purple ray of energy reached the plate, destroying it along with the cake and scattering shards to the sides, right in Zayne's hands.

"Hah, you've got to be kidding me. He's not a nobleman or a knight or a mage, it's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to put up with having that weakling on the same team as me! If I wanted to, he'd be dead already! He couldn't even respond to such a simple attack!" Rea exclaimed arrogantly, pulling her short staff with a sphere on top from under her mantle.

Lucia looked at Zayne. She could have resolved this conflict simply by ordering Rea to leave, but she was curious about what would happen next.

"Hmm? Are you silent? Are you so scared that you can't even answer me? Pfff, how expected." Rea snorted.

"Agh... It was such a good day... Something was definitely going to ruin it, there's no other way around it." Zayne sighed, while shaking his head and stood up. He stepped away from the table and began picking up the shards from the ground, looking sadly at the cake spread on the floor.

"Hahahahahaha! What are you doing? If you have any respect for yourself then leave this job to the maids, after all, it's the best they can do!" Rea laughed evilly.

"Hmm? Do you think you can talk like that? In your view, you're much more important than the average maid?" Zayne said.

Rea was about to reply, but suddenly she flinched at Zayne's cold gaze, which directed a chill down her back.

'What the hell...? What's wrong with his gaze? Is he a mage, too? Although... it's unlikely, then if he couldn't enchant me why do I feel so strange...?' Rea gulped.

"Watch your tongue! If I want to, I have no problem turning you into a lump of coal! Of course, I'm much more important than some maid! I'm a mage who graduated from the academy with excellent grades, not a useless maid!" Rea exclaimed as she swung her staff.

"Hah, it's been a long time since I've met a girl this arrogant. You remind me of an old acquaintance of mine. Maybe your words are true, but so far the only thing you've done is destroy a delicious dessert. Is that really all your magic can do?" Zayne grinned as he looked at Rea, top to bottom, which was the last straw for her.

"Motherfucker! If that's what you want to see what I'm capable of, then I'll show you that!" Rea shouted as the sphere of her staff glowed brightly.

At the same moment, a magical circle appeared in front of her, from which dozens of purple threads flew out. They wrapped tightly around Zayne, squeezing him hard and preventing him from moving.

"Pfff, that's it! All you know how to do is talk! What matters is power, so if you're weaker than me, then your words mean nothing to me!" Rea smirked rather, then she waved her hand, "Pray me for mercy and then maybe I'll let you go."

'Agh... I didn't want it to come to this, but this girl is really starting to get on my nerves.' Zayne inwardly sighed, about to call upon his sword, however, the next moment he realized there was no need.

[One of your Titles came into action - The One Who Seeks Fear!]

[Such weak threads unable to instill fear are no barrier to you!]

"Heh, it's true, there's nothing to fear here at all." Zayne smirked as he spread his arms apart, tearing the energy threads with ease.

Lucia and Rea's eyes went wide, especially Rea's whose face went pale as a sheet of paper in an instant.

"How did you do that?!" Rea exclaimed frightened, not understanding how it was possible, her spells had always worked before.

"Well, let's just say I'm just not afraid of you, though I have to admit I don't like you at all." Zayne said calmly as he stepped forward.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Behind Zayne appeared the silhouette of scarlet wings, which this time looked most intense and wider than ever before.

"Oh...!" Lucia gasped as her cheeks were thrown into heat, and a smile of delight appeared on her face.

Rea was stunned, she couldn't even move because of the fear that bound her like chains. She carefully watched Zayne's every move, and when he took the next step he was in front of Rea in a heartbeat, so close that their foreheads almost touched.

The cold, crimson blade of the sword was a millimeter from her neck, not allowing Rea to even gulped without threatening her life.

"I hope you remember this day for a long time. Unlike you, I will not place any conditions on you, as our team has an important mission. The lives of the inhabitants are far more important to me than our argument, but I would advise you to learn what conscience and modesty are." Zayne put his sword away in the ring.

He sighed and turned to Lucia, "I think we should be on our way to the banquet by now, don't you?"

"Sure!" Lucia quickly jumped up from the couch, not wanting to keep Zayne waiting for even a second.