[???? – Nusa Union – Afternoon - 1 Days before Night of Sarjavah Festival - 1092 Ad Felicitas]
Drifter swam slowly behind the group, watching the weight of sorrow visible on everyone''s faces. Ahead, Devita remained unwavering at the front of the formation. A low hum suddenly reached his ears—the distinct sound of a machine above them.
His combat instincts flared instantly. His gaze locked onto the source, senses sharpening. Without hesitation, he surged toward the surface, only to pause as Devita raised a commanding hand. Her sharp eyes lingered on him, softer than he''d seen before.
"No... let me," she said, seeming to sense his exhaustion.
Drifter ignored her concern. Both of them ascended together. As they broke through the water''s surface, a familiar sight loomed above—a large, rectangular vehicle floating over the waves. The Evocaier Order Transport Golem. It was a dark gray ATV-032 Bellator, its surface proudly emblazoned with the lotus-winged insignia of the Evocaier Order, hovering steadily in place. The side doors swung open with a mechanical hiss.
A man stood at the doorway, his appearance striking with a mustache, beard, and messy undercut. His dark gray hair was tousled by the sea breeze as he looked down at them and shouted, "Take it easy... help''s here. Get in!"
Drifter didn''t recognize the man''s face, which only heightened his wariness. His mind raced: Union Branch of Order... a trap? Or did Friedrich actually succeed? The possibilities swirled in his thoughts as suspicion rose within him.
Devita stayed silent beside him, then whispered with urgency, "Hey... that guy can''t be trusted. Let''s turn back and go."
"Well, it''s good we found you, Devita," the man said, his eyes fixing on her. "Commander Friedrich sent me to help you all." After a pause, he added with a shrug, "Well, are you in or not? I''m not forcing anyone. If you''re not interested, I''ll head back. No loss to me."
Drifter exhaled sharply as Dheandita''s pale face flashed in his mind. They were running out of time—he knew it, and the weight of that knowledge pressed heavily upon him. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate it," he said, pushing aside his doubts.
"What? He''s the one who attacked us before! It''s a trap!" Devita snapped, her voice tight with tension.
Drifter turned to her, his gaze hardening. "Listen... our commander might be making a deal with him. Trap or not... do you really think they''ll make it in their condition?"
"Well, at least someone''s being smart, unlike her... Come on," the man shrugged.
Devita lowered her head in silence, conflict clear on her face, before finally speaking, "Fine... but don''t say I didn''t warn you if this turns out to be a trap."
As the villagers boarded the Transport Golem, Drifter, Luna, Alma, and Devita rushed into the medical bay. Drifter''s heart clenched at the sight of Dheandita lying motionless in a capsule, her skin deathly pale. Though his wet clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin and he shivered from the cold, his gaze never left her fragile form, all physical discomfort forgotten in his concern for her state.
The medical capsule hummed with power as Dheandita''s body was surrounded by a soft glow—white evocyte energy working to stabilize her condition while Alma manipulated the machine, assisted by the automatons. Gradually, the tension in Luna, Alma, Drifter, and Devita''s faces began to fade as they watched the cold grip on Dheandita''s veins loosen. Her condition finally steadied, bringing collective relief to the group.
When Drifter, Luna, and Devita stepped out of the medical room, they found Lance waiting in the hangar, surrounded by murmuring villagers. Fear and exhaustion weighed heavily on their faces, their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies like second skins. Several Order members moved quickly through the crowd, distributing fresh clothes and towels to the refugees.
A woman with striking orange hair approached, handing Drifter a set of new clothes and a towel. "Here," she said simply.
"Thanks," Drifter replied, his eyes briefly meeting hers. He recognized her as a receptionist from the Union Evocaier Order branch HQ, someone he''d encountered before. She moved on efficiently, distributing garments to Devita and Luna nearby.
"Sir... where are you taking us?" Drifter asked, glancing at Lance.
Lance gestured toward a pile of equipment on the deck. "Those villagers... for now, they can''t return to the city. There''s a small island where they can hide for a while. See that cluster of survival gear on the deck? Food, tents, supplies... everything they need. The villagers can live there for a while and get back on their feet."
In the hangar, murmurs of unease rippled through the villagers. Drifter watched as Dawn clutched her bag tightly, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the air around them all.
The Transport Golem finally began its descent, engines humming softly as it touched down on the tropical island. White sand stretched before them, with lush forest surrounding the landing zone, creating an idyllic yet somber backdrop. The Order members immediately began setting up camp for the villagers near a grassy area by the beach.
Using their telekinesis, Drifter and Luna assisted the villagers, though he could sense their suspicion as they set up camp, eyes darting warily toward the Order members. Meanwhile, Lance and his people established their own camp on the opposite side. As Lance used his telekinesis to move supplies, Devita approached to offer her assistance.
"It''s unbelievable. You... helping people like this?" Devita remarked, her tone thick with disbelief.
Lance didn''t look up from his task. "Say what you want, Devita. I don''t care. I''m just doing my job."
Devita gave a faint smile and continued helping. The sound of heavy breathing drew her attention, and she turned to find Alma and Dheandita approaching. Alma trembled slightly, while Dheandita moved slowly, still weak but determined.
Devita''s eyes widened with concern. "You''re alright, Dhea?"
"I''m fine…" Dheandita''s voice came out low and rough, but she managed a faint smile. The ice veins in her skin were still visible, though less pronounced than before.
"Well, I told her to rest, but she insisted on coming." Alma''s voice was strained, her clothes still damp as she spoke. Her hands trembled visibly, though she maintained a smile that only increased Devita''s worry.
"Alma, you too... At least change your clothes. You might get sick," Devita said, concern evident in her tone.
Alma''s smile remained soft, though her breathing was still labored. "Maybe later."
Devita''s expression darkened with worry. "You sure? You look worse than Dhea."
Lance studied Alma for a moment before speaking. "So, you''re Commander Rosenthal''s daughter, huh?"
Alma raised an eyebrow, struggling to steady her breath. "Oh, did my father send you?"
"Yes and no... I informed him about the ambush," Lance replied with a casual shrug.
Alma frowned, sensing something amiss. "That''s strange… My father never warned me about it." She glanced down at her wrist where her Lumina Core was embedded and activated the Arcane Network. A female synthetic voice responded: "Apologies, the database is currently inaccessible."
"Oh yeah… they must be jamming the signal around here. My bad," Lance apologized, his tone suspiciously casual.
Alma''s expression darkened with realization. Luna had warned them not to use their Arcane Network on the Lumina Cores to avoid leaving a trace. The precaution had backfired—they hadn''t known if the signal was jammed since the icon still showed full bars.
Suddenly, Alma clutched her temples, her face contorting in pain. Before anyone could react, she collapsed.
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"Alma!" Devita''s panic-stricken cry rang out as she rushed to catch her falling friend. Lance and Dheandita quickly joined her, their faces etched with worry.
Lance supported Alma''s limp form as Devita''s hands glowed faintly with her magic. "We need to get her back into the golem, now."
"I''ll help," Dheandita nodded, her face tight with concern.
Together, the three of them managed to get Alma back into the golem. With no other mages available and Alma''s condition worsening, Drifter volunteered to help despite his uncertainty. His medical knowledge was rusty—it had been a long time since Paxluma fell—but he remembered Alma and Nadia''s lessons on operating the medical capsule from their academy days. His hands shook slightly, but moved with practiced motions as he adjusted the controls, sweat beading on his brow.
Finally, through the combined efforts of the medical automatons and the treatment from the medical capsule, Alma''s condition stabilized. As dusk settled over the camp, her eyes finally fluttered open.
"You''re awake," Drifter said softly, relief evident in his voice.
Alma managed a weak smile, her breath still unsteady. "Uh, what happened? Well..."
Around her, Luna, Dheandita, and Devita''s faces all broke into relieved smiles, the tension finally beginning to ease from their feature
The camp settled into a heavy silence as the group prepared for their departure. Drifter, Luna, Dheandita, Devita, and Alma made their way toward the waiting golem, while villagers gathered at the shore, their faces etched with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude. Some bowed their heads in reverence, while others clasped their hands in silent thanks. Soft whispers of blessings drifted through the air, carried on trembling voices.
Dawn''s gaze lingered on Alma and Drifter, shifting between them with the weight of loss clear in her quiet sorrow. They returned her look with soft nods, their eyes heavy with unspoken understanding. Each member of the group acknowledged the farewell with brief nods or tight smiles, but Devita lingered, her gaze fixed on the villagers. She turned slowly, letting the weight of the moment settle around her.
"Take care," she said, her voice tight as she offered a final nod.
As the golem''s doors sealed shut, its mechanisms hummed to life, lifting them away from the island. Devita''s attention shifted to Alma, Luna, and Drifter standing beside her.
"Well... you all remember the promise, right? Once we''re in the city, I''ll... introduce you to them. I''m sure they''ll extend an invitation to Yuvaka," Devita said, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.
The others responded with simple nods, but Lance''s smile behind them carried a knowing edge.
"Of course... She can. One of the chancellors is her father."
"What?" Alma''s pink eyes widened in shock.
Dheandita''s stunned gaze followed, though she remained silent. Drifter and Luna processed the revelation quietly, their expressions carefully neutral. Devita''s fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve, nails digging into the fabric as she lowered her gaze.
"Sorry, everyone... It''s true," Devita murmured, avoiding their eyes.
"Not only that..." Lance added with a grin, "her mother runs Fortis Dynamics, the number one Eterion processing company in the Union. This troublemaker rich kid''s always giving me a headache."
Devita glanced briefly at Lance, her mouth parting as if to speak, but she pressed her lips into a thin line and looked down instead. The revelation hit Dheandita like a physical blow, her face going pale with shock. These were the people responsible for her family''s death. Her gaze turned fierce and hurt as she looked at Devita.
"Why did you help us?" The words came out rough and low.
Devita''s throat tightened as she met Dheandita''s gaze. "I''m sorry, Dhea..." her voice trembled. "My family... they caused your pain. I can''t fix it, I don''t even know if I ever can... But..." She paused, fierce resolve building in her eyes. "But I swear, one day, I''ll end the forced labor. I promise."
Lance laughed from behind her. "Yeah, good luck with that," he said with a smirk.
Devita didn''t flinch. Her jaw tightened, but her posture remained steady, her gaze unwavering. Dheandita watched in silence, her thoughts churning. This was Devita—the one who had protected her. Despite knowing her parents were to blame, Devita had made her own choice.
A tightness settled in Dheandita''s chest as she turned away, avoiding Devita''s gaze. "It''s alright, Devita. It''s not your fault... Thank you for everything."
Their eyes met, and Devita nodded slowly, her expression heavy with regret. "Thank you, Dhea," she whispered.
Devita could feel the shift in their dynamic, the distance that had grown between them. Was Dheandita seeing her as an enemy now? She couldn''t tell. Yet somehow, the weight that had clung to her for so long finally felt a little lighter.
"Well, Devita, you''re always full of surprises..." Alma teased, slapping her shoulder.
Devita met her gaze with a quiet smile. Drifter and Luna exchanged faint smiles of their own, watching the moment unfold.
The sky transformed from dusk to night as they arrived in Maranagara City. The golem glided down into the underground parking of the Union Branch Evocaier Order HQ. After brief nods of thanks to Lance and the others, Drifter, Luna, and Alma made their way to the public skyrail.
"Are you sure you want to come with us, Dheandita? You could stay with the others," Luna said, glancing at her companion.
Dheandita fell silent, her gaze directed downward as she walked. Her voice, hoarse and raspy from the damage to her vocal cords, barely rose above a whisper. "To be honest... I don''t know where to go... I don''t have a home anymore. Should I keep running... just keep running? I don''t know... But being with you all... I don''t know how to say it... I feel... even though we''ve only known each other for days... something inside me tells me I can trust you. Please... you''ve all already helped me so much... now let me help you in return."
"Well said," Alma responded with a grin. "I think you could be the next Grand Chancellor with a speech like that."
Luna''s smile warmed as she looked at Dheandita. Drifter watched quietly, his expression darkening. She reminded him of his younger self—lost and desperate. After the Cataclysmaris attack on Paxluma, he had wandered aimlessly, unsure of his path. Taking back the city had been his greatest wish, but back then, the Evocaier Order hadn''t yet formed. He had no idea how to make it happen.
He had drifted across the land, joining volunteer forces, only to witness endless death. It had all seemed futile. Now, Paxluma was lost to the void, and he found himself trapped in an unfamiliar future. Yet, as he watched Luna and Alma, a strange feeling settled in his chest. A memory stirred—days spent at the academy, unfamiliar yet strangely comforting, like the good old days in Paxluma. Finally, he couldn''t help but smile.
The public skyrail carried them to Vanderlane Grand Hotel, their tired steps leading them to the Friedrich Suite. They paused before heading to their individual rooms.
"We''re back! Did you miss us?" Alma called, her voice full of forced energy.
"Welcome back... everyone," Jaxon replied, his tone carrying a hint of gladness despite his tense expression. He paused, his gaze lingering on Dheandita as she walked nervously behind the others.
"Well, she''ll be with us for a while..." Luna remarked.
Jaxon only nodded in response. Alma''s smile faltered as she noticed his unease.
"Jaxon... where''s my dad?" she asked, concern rising in her voice.
"I see he didn''t contact you either... I''m sorry, Alma. After the mission, I must''ve passed out. When I woke up, he was gone. I tried reaching him, but..."
Alma''s heart raced, panic settling in as she remembered that Lance had helped them because of her father. But now he was gone? How was that possible?
"He contacted Lance for the extraction. He''s probably fine, just... delayed. We should contact Hunter; he might know more," Luna suggested, her voice steady.
Drifter, already attuned to his Lumina Core on his wrist, initiated contact. A familiar mechanical face and voice soon flickered onto the holographic screen.
"Drifter, how can I assist you?" Hunter''s mechanical voice filled the room.
"Hunter, do you know what happened to the professor? Any word from him?" Drifter asked, his tone even despite the trace of worry.
"Yes. Early this morning, the commander reached out to prepare the Alcherider. He seemed urgent, worried."
"Did he tell you where he was going?"
"I wanted to go with him, but he told me to rest... Said he was going to help and that someone else was already on the way," Hunter explained.
Drifter''s brow furrowed slightly as he processed the information. "Thanks, Hunter. We''ll manage from here." He ended the connection, his mind racing with possibilities.
"I''ll try calling him again," Alma said, her voice thick with worry. She tapped a few commands into her Lumina Core, but the silence that followed was unnerving.
"Jaxon, tell me what happened before," Luna urged.
Jaxon took a deep breath. "Well... we actually met Lance, and the professor persuaded him to side with us. He agreed. But back then... we met someone. Virendra. Most likely, he''s the one who ordered the destruction of the village... the voice we heard at the bar."
Luna and Drifter''s expressions hardened as they processed this information.
"He threatened us... made us do his bidding. That''s when the professor, Hunter, and I did a prison break underwater. We freed the resistance leader from prison. After we succeeded and came back... I went to sleep. But after that... when I contacted the professor, he didn''t answer."
"Does anyone have Lance''s contact?" Drifter asked, his voice steady but his eyes sharp.
The room fell silent, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning.
"I''m going to ask him now... I''ll head to his HQ or his house... You all just rest," Jaxon said, turning toward the door.
"Let me come," Alma said quickly.
"You all need rest. If he comes back here, it''ll be worse if you''re gone," Jaxon replied, concern evident in his voice.
Dheandita glanced at Alma, whose cheerful smile had faded. The girl who usually offered comfort now stood in silence, fists clenched, unease radiating from her. Dheandita hesitated, the words catching in her throat.
"Be careful, Jaxon..." Drifter warned, his gaze serious.
"Yeah... don''t worry about me," Jaxon said with a nod and a casual wave before leaving the room.
"Ever heard of this Virendra guy?" Drifter asked Luna.
"No... but let''s check the database. Might turn up something," Luna said, tapping into the Arcane Network on her Lumina Core.
Alma stood still for a moment before murmuring to herself, "I hope you''re okay, Dad."