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Hector wasn’t surprised by that reaction in the slightest, but this “Uncle Mel” caught his attention.

Garovel inquired for the both of them. ‘Uncle Mel? He wouldn’t happen to be Darktide, would he?’

Ibai nodded. “Mmhmm. Technically, he’s not my uncle. He’s just a super old cousin, but he’s always been like Papa’s big brother.”

‘How is he doing, by the way?’ Garovel asked. ‘Still sleeping, I take it?’

“Yes,” said Horatio, who seemed to have regained his composure. “And what of your Seadevil?”

‘Oh, he’s not OUR Seadevil,’ said Garovel. ‘We’re not Rainlords, in case you hadn’t already guessed.’

“Ah.” Horatio tilted his head. “I thought your servant had perhaps married into one of the families.”

‘No, no. I’m Garovel, and this is Hector Goffe, the Lord of Warrenhold in Atreya. We only came to see my sister. Got a little more from this visit than we bargained for, you might say.’

“Oh, so you’re not even from Sair!” said Ibai. “Is this your first time seeing the Tunnels, then?” He didn’t wait for an answer this time. “Mine, too! Pictures really don’t do them justice! Did you know that they’ve been used since ancient times in order to transport vital resources? Even when the Rainlords and Sandlords were at war! They traded valuable materials even while they were trying to stab each other in the back!”

‘Really?’ said Garovel, and Hector couldn’t tell if the reaper was genuinely interested or just playing along. ‘That seems kind of counterintuitive, doesn’t it?’

“I know, right?!” said Ibai. “They used to poison each other’s stuff! But the thing was, neither side trusted the other, and they would always expect it to be some kind of trap. So they’d test their imports really well, and decontaminate it and use it, if they could. If not, they’d try to find some sneaky way of sending it back. It was a really crazy time! Our ancestors were lunatics! I wish I could’ve met some of them!”

‘Some of your family’s reapers must have lived through those times, no?’

“Well, sure, but it’s not the same,” said Ibai. “And besides, Rholtam and Orric never share any of their stories, even though I’m sure they must have tons of juicy ones. What about you, Garovel? You must have some neat stories.”

‘Oh, of course,’ said Garovel. ‘But unfortunately, I sense Lord Dimas returning from his scouting mission. Story time will have to wait.’

“Aww...”