Quevedo's concluding remark was met with nods and murmurs of agreement from the other three...
Yet afterward, a silence fell over the group, as if they all understood that this extended gathering was inevitably coming to an end. The quiet spoke of their shared reluctance to part with today's rare joy and their unspoken worries about whether such warmth could be recaptured in the future.
This, of course, was precisely the moment to rely on Quevedo... their ever-reliable mood-lifter.
Soon enough, he casually broke the silence with his usual exuberance, "The salon is over, the wine and pipes are finished, and our business is settled. So, it's time for us to part ways."
This reminded Karl of his role as the host of both the salon and this private meeting, so he took up the thread, "Time has flown in our joyous company. Even if we could beg the God of Merriment (if such a being exists) to fix his gaze upon us forever, today's happiness is already enough to linger in our memories for a lifetime. So, forgive my cruelty... this gathering is now concluded."
Next, Erich added his own farewell, "Time is a magician, cruelly denying those who wish it to pause, yet stretching our mundane and painful moments unbearably long. Ah, let today pass. Beauty will always await us in the future."
Florent blinked, 'Wait, are we supposed to deliver poetic parting speeches now? Is this a literary circle or a psychological test?'
He couldn't very well just blurt out "Same here" like some rustic fool, though even that required effort, judging by how red-faced the legendary Zhang Fei had gotten when he'd said it...
Scratching his smooth forehead, Florent finally offered, "Yeah... this is really hard. Parting at the best moment..."
Quevedo chimed in, "Indeed! May the Crimson Moon forever shine upon us– wait, no. May the radiance of technology and the light of the sun bless us instead?"
At the mention of the Crimson Moon, Florent's head throbbed... 'The Crimson Moon 'blessingʼ people? More like cursing them out of existence...'
The four of them exchanged smiles, clearly delighted to have found such kindred spirits.
Though Florent's grin held a hint of awkwardness... while the others had waxed poetic, his contribution had been the equivalent of "Same here"...
Truthfully, this was the most decisive farewell he had ever witnessed.
After their parting words, they exchanged a few more idle remarks before heading to the café entrance. Seeing that the other three weren't going his way, Florent hailed a carriage and left.
Their goodbyes were simple, just a wave or two with no trace of sorrow, only anticipation for their next meeting... at least on Quevedo's part... the other two remained as inscrutable as ever.
Florent found this oddly refreshing. In his past experiences, no matter how casual the gathering, people would put on exaggerated displays of reluctance, insisting on escorting each other far beyond necessary. That kind of performative politeness had always made him uncomfortable.
As someone who often forgot etiquette, Florent had grown wary of social gatherings, fearing silent judgment from others. Over time, he'd become something of a recluse, declining invitations unless absolutely necessary.
'This... isn't so bad,' Florent mused, savoring the memory of the gathering like a fine aged wine, its flavors and aromas growing richer in retrospect.
By the time he returned home, the diligent maid had already left...
He paid it little mind, retreating to his bedroom, lighting a candle, and reading a bit more on mysticism before drifting into a deep sleep.
.....
The next morning, Florent rose unusually early, fully awake by seven...
Instead of rushing out, he sat at his desk and mapped out his plans for the coming days.
'With a plan, everything becomes manageable, or at least less chaotic...'
Minimizing surprises was the goal...
In a sunlit study, he drew back the curtains, letting the morning light wash over his face, his first time up this early in a long while.
His joints cracked as he stretched, adjusting to the brightness. Leaning back in a spacious chair, he sank into thought...
"Right, the Beyonder gatherings... I have two options: Quevedo's, which seems lower-tier (openly led by just a Sequence 7), and the 'Flame Axe', which is likely higher-level..."
"...Since I'm at a critical point in digesting my potion, I should play it safe and stick to the first one for now. I'll visit the 'Flame Axe' after advancing to Sequence 8... Hmm, maybe I'll invite Quevedo and the others then."
After racking his brain, Florent realized his immediate concerns were few. But as he absentmindedly flexed his fists, hearing the crisp pop of his knuckles, another thought struck him:
'I need to start physical training. Some combat skills could save my life if a gathering turns ugly...'
He added it to his priority list. Even if his path leaned toward spellcasting, neglecting close-quarters combat would be foolish...
'Heh, with over a decade of anime and drama-watching experience, I know one thing: pure mages are doomed. Only Gandalf's approach offers true enlightenment for spellcasters...'
After another moment of idle reflection, Florent set out on foot toward the Trier National Library under the harsh morning sun.
'This isn't about saving money, it's training! I will follow in Gandalf's footsteps. Seriously, why are carriages so expensive? Do we really have to wait for steam-powered transport before travel becomes affordable? What kind of world is this?'
With this profound internal lament, Florent embarked on his free 'Bus No. 11'(his legs) journey to the library, using the opportunity to survey Trier's streets and grab breakfast along the way.
This time, he didn't restrict his route to affluent districts, cutting instead through a commoner's quarter.
To his dismay, while the streets were relatively clean, traces of vomit and waste were still visible, accompanied by the unforgettable stench of urine.
At first, Florent assumed this was a slum, until his memories confirmed it was actually a middle-to-upper commoner's district.
The realization left him speechless...
...
{T/N: Zhang Fei is actually one of the major characters in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'... I reckon most of you are familiar with the novel from reading plenty of Xianxia and Wuxia web novels...}