"Well, well, well, I was not expecting this when I was invited to this tea party," said Ventura, pleasantly surprised. "Eclipse, you won't guess who else will be joining us soon."

Eclipse snorted, and took a step away from Ventura.

"Don't get too comfortable with me. You're only alive because I don't want to undo my seal right now," she said with clear disdain in her voice.

Though Lex could not see Ventura, he had a feeling that he was giving the Innkeeper an awkward smile.

"Don't mind her too much," Ventura said to the Innkeeper. "We had a small misunderstanding when we first met and she's holding onto that grudge quite dearly. We're actually on quite decent terms."

Eclipse rolled her eyes.

"You tried to take my garden. I would not call that a misunderstanding," said Eclipse with her arms crossed.

"Yes, and we became friends through conflict," continued Ventura. "There is really no reason to get caught up over such things. If you allow me, I have been doing my best to make it up to you."

Eclipse looked at Ventura sceptically as she chugged down another mug of lemonade.

"Fine, fine, whatever. I'll let you live," Eclipse said, though she didn't seem too pleased about it. She turned her gaze back towards the Innkeeper, who did not seem in the least bit concerned that they may really have a falling out.

"Even if I am wrong about you being Lex's father, and I really think I'm not, you still have to admit we've met before. I'm never wrong about these things," she proclaimed.

The Innkeeper, as if not in the least bit intimidated, softly chuckled.

"Well, yes, I admit, we have met before," the Innkeeper confessed. "But that was another time, when I was someone else. I am simply the Innkeeper now. Though, I have to admit, one of the reasons I wanted to have the tea party here was because of how much I enjoyed your company previously."

Before anyone could respond, the mug in Ventura's had burst as he looked at the Innkeeper with an air of surprise. Even Eclipse was taken aback, for generally speaking, there were very few people in the universe who spoke positively about her.

For one entire second there was silence between them, and it was broken not by them but by the waiter who showed up on the side with a fresh tray of drinks.

"More lemonade?" he asked with a delightful smile, as if he wasn't the least bit afraid of who he was serving. In truth, how could he be afraid with the Innkeeper right there?

"My, my, Innkeeper, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were attempting to flatter me," Eclipse suddenly said with a provoking smile as she grabbed her fifth mug of lemonade.

The Innkeeper laughed, as if he found her provocation amusing. Internally, Lex was surprised by the fact that he was still alive. If he hadn't messed things up even after meeting these two, then maybe the tea party would go just fine.

"On that note, allow me to present you with a flower," said the Innkeeper as he waved his hand and summoned a flowering pot with a small bush growing in it. Atop the bush, there was one, single flower that looked like a massive jasmine flower, and smelled absolutely divine.

In fact, once the flower began to absorb the primordial energy around it, its smell improved immediately, filling the air with a refreshing and relaxing aroma. Ventura looked at the flower, and then at the Innkeeper with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Did he really not fear Eclipse at all? What kind of relationship did he have with her that he was so comfortable around her?

Eclipse, on the other hand, approached the flowerpot and stared at the flower closely, assessing how it absorbed primordial energy without getting hurt.

"Not bad at all," she said, rubbing her chin. "This will make a fine addition in my greenhouse. You know what, Innkeeper? You're alright in my books. I will forgive you for pretending to not be Lex's dad."

The Innkeeper laughed, instead of chuckling like normal, as if he found her words to be hilarious.

"You are quite generous," the Innkeeper said. "It's no wonder that Lex praises you so often."

Eclipse shook her head, suddenly becoming slightly serious.

"He's a good brat," she said, thinking of the surprising little human. "You should hide him inside some hole, or I don't expect he'll live for too long. If he keeps parading around in front of Dao Lords the way he is, it'll only be a matter of time before someone notices his nephilim state."

For the second time in a short while, Ventura crushed his mug.

"What? He's a nephilim?" he asked, startled, before turning his gaze towards the Innkeeper. Although his figure remained blurry, his eyes had turned into

cartoon stars - at least in Lex's eyes. There was no way that was real.

"What will it take for you to hand him to me? I'll buy him off-"

Ventura never got to finish his words because Eclipse kicked him out of the tavern, quite literally.

"I hate to admit it, but hiding him inside Ventura might be a good option if you want to keep him hidden," Eclipse whispered. "Don't take him lightly just because of how he is with me, he's quite formidable. Don't tell Ventura I said

that though."

Barely a second later, Ventura walked back in as if nothing happened, and grabbed another mug of lemonade.

"Right, excuse me. It was quite rude of me to try and buy your son from you," Ventura said to the Innkeeper, and raised his mug. "I got a little too excited. If you want to send him to my school, though, my doors will always be open."

Then Ventura sighed, and looked towards Eclipse.

"Did you say that in front of me on purpose? Are you trying to goad me into trying something with the Inn? Unfortunately, even if I want to, I don't think I can do anything to the Inn. You see, an old friend of ours already has her hands

on it."

The moment Ventura stopped speaking, a cloud of grey smoke emerged from the Innkeepers body, surprising even Lex, though he maintained his warm,

nonchalant expression.

The gray cloud took on the form of a half serpent, half human lady, though the finer details of her appearance did not appear. Only her eyes opened, bringing with them a weight that caused even Eclipse's expression to change.