William turned to Nicholas and said, "Come on, let's go to the market to get Victor's sword and look for Stalincasiano."
Then he headed toward the old market—he and Nicholas—to get the sword from the blacksmith and search for their old friend Stalincasiano, a warrior who had fled from the tyranny of the Emperor of the Golden Kingdom of Nubia, after being exploited in the war and then accused of treason.
Suddenly, Nicholas stopped and said to William, "What do you think about going to the café and having a little coffee? We'll gather some information about Stalincasiano, because I haven't seen him since that damned war ended. And as you know, he's always wandering like the wind and doesn't like staying in one place. And he's also, as you know, a user of the Path of Wisdom, and he's at advanced levels that surpass us both. The last time, two years ago, they told me in his final message—which I received from him—that he managed to use three paths simultaneously, while we now only use two paths. And he's the only one who can teach Victor the correct teaching."
Then William said to Nicholas, "You're exaggerating a bit—maybe because you're his close friend."
He smiled, laughed, and said, "Come on, let's go to the café."
They were walking amid the market's noise. A pleasant scent caught them, so they followed it until they entered the ancient stone gate. The aroma of coffee greeted them, and they found themselves in a narrow alley paved with gravel. On both sides, copper lanterns shimmered beside vividly colored silk robes, while an elderly vendor sat reading from his old book, surrounded by spices arranged into exquisite pyramids, and the air was filled with the fragrance of the past.
Nicholas greeted the elderly vendor, then they continued walking. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the café.
William sat on an old seat in front of the door and went to order coffee. He greeted all the café's customers and ordered two cups of coffee with Axito.
The waiter preparing the coffee didn't understand his order, so he called out to his friend, "Nicholas!"
Calling the waiter's friend again, he said, "I want coffee with Axito."
He replied, "Alright, do you want it sweet or bitter?"
Nicholas answered, "I want it bitter."
Then the waiter's friend said, "Alright, sir, go rest on your seat, and I'll bring it to you myself."
The first waiter looked at the second, astonished by their conversation. Nicholas and the waiter's friend were communicating in a secret language or code.
Then Nicholas went to his friend William and sat on the seat.
William asked him, "Where's the coffee?"
He answered, "Ah, it's coming. Just wait a little—it comes with a surprise for you."
William said to Nicholas, "I thought you didn't like joking."
He replied, "Yes, I really don't like joking. There truly is a surprise coming for you—just wait a little."
Then the waiter came from afar carrying the coffee, and its scent was delightful.
William said, "What a wonderful aroma!"
The waiter placed the coffee on the table and looked at Nicholas and said confidently, "How do you want me to help you, Nicholas? You never come here except when you're gathering information—and you never ask about your friends. You're such a rude person!"
Nicholas laughed and said, "And you haven't changed at all, Admiral Jay Faus."
William was drinking when he heard the news—his hand trembled as he raised the cup. The scent of coffee still lingered in the air. The word he heard pierced his chest like a stab; the bitter liquid rushed down his throat into his unsettled stomach, then burst out all at once, as if his body refused to keep the news inside.
His friend Nicholas looked at him and said, "Are you shocked to this degree?"
Then he said, "I sensed his energy the moment we entered this café. I felt a strong energy, then I asked a question no one else could answer except him alone. It seems your skills have declined greatly, William."
William replied, "I was thinking about many things and didn't notice his energy. Besides, I'm very tired—you know that."
He said, "That's just how you are, then."
Then Nicholas asked William, "Don't you know Admiral Jay Faus?"
"How could I not know him? He's an old friend—we fought together in that war! But how did fate turn so suddenly, transforming an admiral in the Imperial Army into just a waiter in an ordinary café?"
Admiral Jay Faus answered, "I… I chose to leave that life behind and start a new one."
Nicholas replied, "But you're still using your necklace. If you truly decided, as you say, to become just an ordinary person, why are you using the necklace now?"
Admiral Jay Faus answered, "To defend myself. You know there are many people who want to get rid of me and seek revenge against me."
William replied, "What do you think about leaving this miserable job and joining us? We're trying to save this world and fight organizations."
Jay Faus said, "Let me think for a bit."
He said to him, "What? Do you need to think? Come on, let's go! The world needs you. Besides, we've just found the last user of the necklaces—he's Ternal Metin's nephew."
Jay Faus looked into the eyes of Nicholas and William and said, "Alright, let's go. But before we leave, I must resign properly."
He called out to his friend and said, "Hey Tom, tell your disgusting manager I'm quitting, and I'll come tomorrow to collect my money."
Then they left the café.
On the way, Nicholas asked Jay Faus about Stalincasiano.
He answered, "I haven't seen him for a full year. But I'll try to find him. Now tell me—where are we going?"
Nicholas replied, "First, we'll go to the blacksmith to take Victor's sword, then we'll return home to train Victor today."
"Alright then—I'll move to your house today."
William replied, "Yes, that's what we want. For you to be with us and for us to be a team again, like the old days."