ã€ŠThe Mark Of Rebirthã€‹


 Prologue

    Javab is a sprawling, verdant continent brimming with life in every form. Its rolling hills and dense forests hum with the calls of creatures both familiar and fantastical, while sparkling rivers wind their way to shimmering lakes, reflecting the beauty of the skies above. Magnificent structures, seamlessly intertwined with the natural landscape, stand as a testament to the craftsmanship of its people, blending civilization with wilderness. Yet, beyond its breathtaking beauty, Javab is also known as a land that has birthed some of the most powerful and influential figures in the world¡ªnone more so than a singular individual whose reputation alone inspires awe and fear.

    As the sun climbed higher in the sky, its rays spilled through the tall windows of a dimly lit office, warming the air inside. Standing before the glass, a woman gazed out at the sprawling campus below. Her long, violet hair, tied neatly into a ponytail, shimmered faintly in the morning light. Dressed in a tailored gray suit, she exuded an aura of calm professionalism. The scene outside was serene¡ªa lush campus with students moving between classes, their chatter blending into the peaceful rustle of the trees as a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. For a moment, the woman allowed herself to be lost in thought, her purple sapphire eyes scanning the grounds as if reading the pulse of the institution.

    But then something caught her attention. A faint tremor. Her eyes narrowed. She glanced upward, noticing a subtle movement in the ceiling.

    Suddenly, a deafening crash shattered the tranquility. The ceiling above exploded in a cloud of dust and debris, and a gaping hole yawned open in its place. Her instincts took over. In one fluid motion, she leaped backward, performing a graceful backflip as chunks of the ceiling crashed to the floor. She landed effortlessly, body poised, her gaze snapping toward the intruder who had burst through the roof.

    "You¡¯ve got some nerve breaking into the director¡¯s office!" she called out, her voice edged with cold fury.

    Standing amidst the wreckage was a tall figure clad in black and red armor. His long, white hair flowed down his back, and a single piercing green eye stared her down, the other marred by a vicious scar that ran through it. Slung across his back and hips were four swords, their ancient, dangerous aura unmistakable. The sight of them filled her with an immediate sense of foreboding. These were not ordinary weapons.

    Outside, sirens wailed through the campus. Students scrambled in every direction, their screams punctuating the chaos as they raced toward the designated safe zones.

    Without a word, the intruder moved. His hand flashed to the hilt of one of his swords, drawing it with terrifying speed. Fire erupted along its blade, vivid red flames licking the air as he lunged toward her, aiming for her neck.

    But just as the killing blow was about to land, the floor beneath them warped. The material shifted and restructured itself into a solid wall between the two combatants. The fiery blade struck it with a resounding crash, but the man was relentless. With inhuman strength, he punched through the barrier, his hand latching onto her face.

    Before she could react, she was hurled with brutal force through the office wall and out into the open courtyard below. Pain flared through her body, but she twisted mid-air, landing on her feet in a controlled slide across the ground. Chunks of the building followed her and skittered across the ground sharply across the ground. Her breathing was heavy, but her mind remained sharp, already calculating her next move.

    Before she could fully recover, she heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Spinning, she saw a young girl¡ªone of her students. The girl had long crimson-red hair, her wide red eyes betraying her terror.

    ¡°Professor Makina!¡± the girl gasped, out of breath. ¡°W-what¡¯s happening?¡±

    Makina locked eyes with her. She recognized her immediately. "Arumi," she said, her voice steady but commanding, "you need to get to one of the safe zones now. Go!"

    But before Arumi could respond, Makina sensed the fiery presence behind her once more. The man had leapt from the building, his sword still engulfed in flames, eyes locked onto her.

    Makina¡¯s thoughts raced. ¡®I have to get Arumi out of here, but I can¡¯t protect her and fight him at the same time. I have no choice¡­ I¡¯ll have to use it on her.¡¯

    The world around her seemed to slow. The air thickened as everything¡ªfrom the earth beneath her feet to the invisible gases surrounding her¡ªappeared before her as strands of glowing blue code. ¡®Natural code,¡¯ she thought, focusing on Arumi¡¯s form. She extended her hand, tracing her fingers through the threads that made up the girl¡¯s essence. I can only do this ten times¡­ I have to be selective.

    With a flick of her wrist, Makina introduced a new thread of code¡ªan unnatural orange line that slithered through the air like a living organism. It pierced into Arumi¡¯s code, weaving into her being, and transforming her essence. As the girl¡¯s natural blue lines turned orange, Makina felt a warm trickle of blood drip from her nose. Nine more times¡­

    The transformation complete, Makina turned her attention back to the attacker. She brushed her hand across a nearby metal bench, feeling the object lose its form as it reshaped itself into a gleaming sword. Arumi, eyes wide, backed away, sprinting toward the nearest building, her agility allowing her to dodge obstacles with ease.

    Makina tightened her grip on her newly-formed weapon, her Developer¡¯s Eye scanning the man once more. His code was¡­ strange. Unlike anything she had ever encountered. Where most life appeared as blue lines of natural code, his was a sickly green, foreign and dangerous. This man¡­ he¡¯s not of this world.

    Before she could delve deeper into the mystery, he struck with blinding speed. In an instant, he closed the distance, his sword blazing as it clashed with hers, the force of the impact sending sparks scattering across the courtyard.

    Their battle was a storm of violence. Each swing of their swords sent shockwaves through the ground, the very earth trembling beneath them. Buildings shuddered with each impact, the air crackling with the intensity of their clash.

    After what felt like an eternity of trading blows, the man retreated, his eyes burning with hatred. He sheathed his sword, but something had changed. Makina¡¯s Developer¡¯s Eye caught a shift in his code¡ªit was no longer green. Slowly, it darkened, shifting to a deep crimson red.

    Her heart skipped a beat. The color of legends¡­

    And then, the air crackled. A massive shadow fell over the courtyard as an enormous black-and-red dragon descended from the sky, its scales gleaming like polished obsidian. Its wings unfurled, casting the entire campus in darkness, and its eyes, glowing with malevolent power, locked onto Makina with a predatory intensity.

    Her eyes widened with shock, the weight of the creature''s true power crashing down on her like a tidal wave. The strength she had sensed before was nothing compared to this¡ªan ancient, destructive force capable of erasing the entire continent of Javab. Panic clawed at the edges of her mind, but she forced herself to focus. ''I can''t win this... not like this.'' Her thoughts shifted to a singular goal: ''The kids... I have to save them.''

    With a surge of adrenaline, she tapped into the non-invasive data tags she had secretly placed on her students. These [Data Tags] triangulated their locations instantly. She turned, her body moving at lightning speed, blurring past the crumbling landscape as she dashed in the direction Arumi had fled. The air around her rippled as she accelerated, the environment warping and bending under the pressure of her velocity. She barely registered the massive walls of the school building before her¡ªuntil they began to deconstruct themselves at her will, bricks and mortar shifting aside to clear a path for her.

    She bolted through the makeshift tunnel, her footsteps pounding against the floor as the school shook violently. Every step was punctuated by tremors, dust falling from the ceiling as the structure groaned under the strain of the chaos unfolding outside. The faint cries of the dragon¡¯s roar and distant explosions filled the air, but she couldn¡¯t afford to look back. Time was running out.

    Bursting through the doors of the shelter, her chest heaved with the effort. Inside, the students clustered together, fear palpable in the air. A young man with messy white hair and forest-green eyes stepped forward, sword in hand, his posture tense but resolute. "Professor Makina," he began, his voice tight, "we¡¯ve accounted for almost all of the students."

    Standing next to him, Arumi was trembling, silent but wide-eyed with fear. Four others approached: a pair of twin sisters, identical save for the length of their purple hair, and a boy who shared their lavender eyes and features. Off to the side stood a girl with silver hair, her molten lava-colored eyes scanning the scene.

    The long-haired twin spoke up first, her anxious voice cracking slightly, "Mom, is the campus under attack?"

    Before she could answer, the doors slammed open again. Four more students rushed in: a blonde young man with piercing emerald eyes, a girl with rare green hair and vermillion eyes, a black-haired boy with crimson-red eyes, and another with chestnut hair and deep blue eyes. The girl with green hair spoke first, her tone emotionless but the worry evident in her stance. "We¡¯ve searched for stragglers¡ªeveryone should be here. What¡¯s happening?"

    Makina¡¯s eyes hardened, her voice taking on a grim, commanding tone. "We¡¯re under attack by what seems to be a mythical creature¡ªone of legend."

    The air in the room seemed to freeze, tension thick enough to cut. Every student fell silent, dread creeping into their expressions.

    Time slowed for Makina as her Developer¡¯s Eye activated, the world around her dissolving into lines of code. She produced 9 more strands of the orange, artificial code, and attached them to her children and the kids she had high expectations for. ''They''ll live... they¡¯ll live and one day they will learn what I could not,'' she thought, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wiped her tears, her voice regaining its firmness. "None of you are to follow me. Understood?"

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    The young man with white hair and the girl with green hair exchanged glances, both clearly wanting to object, but they held their tongues, the unspoken weight of the situation pressing down on them.

    Makina turned on her heel and walked out, her footsteps echoing ominously through the now-silent shelter. As she left she wiped away blood that began to bubble up from the corners of her mouth. Her amethyst eyes began to glow an eerie blue, casting light across the dark hallways. In her hand, strings of code morphed into a spear, crackling with electric energy. The black and blue substance that composed the weapon shifted fluidly, its form ebbing and rippling like water suspended in midair.

    As the spear materialized, the same substance crawled up her body, enveloping her in a suit of armor, form-fitting but somehow liquid in nature, both rigid and flowing. The black and blue hues shimmered, arcs of lightning sparking off it, illuminating her determined face.

    When she stepped outside, the sight above stole her breath¡ªa massive black dragon hovered in the sky, its obsidian scales catching the sunlight like blades, its blood-red underbelly a stark contrast. It roared, shaking the heavens with its power.

    Makina crouched low, her muscles tensing like a coiled spring. With a deafening crack, she launched herself skyward, the earth beneath her splintering into shards of rock and dirt. She soared, the wind whipping around her as she closed in on the dragon, spear poised. She twisted her body mid-flight, building momentum as she hurled the spear with every ounce of strength.

    A sonic boom ripped through the air as the spear struck the dragon¡¯s wing with a force that sent shockwaves through the sky. The beast roared in pain, its wing tearing under the impact as it spiraled out of control. The dragon plummeted, crashing into the earth with such ferocity that the ground shattered, forming a massive crater.

    Makina landed moments later, the earth beneath her feet crumbling. She barely had a moment to breathe before the dragon began to rise again, its gaze locking onto her. The deep, guttural hum of its voice echoed across the landscape. It unleashed a beam of mana, pure Sethnine that scorched the air as it shot toward her. She dodged, the beam grazing the ground where she stood, obliterating everything it touched.

    The dragon, sensing the futility of its current form, shifted back into the humanoid attacker. In a blur of movement, he charged at her, drawing two swords from his back. The air crackled with his power as he slashed both blades toward her abdomen.

    Makina¡¯s armor repelled the swords, the black material shimmering as it absorbed the blows. But his next move, a vicious front kick, sent her crashing backward, smashing through the side of the campus building.

    "IT IS TIME TO END THIS," his distorted voice boomed as he followed through the wreckage. His sword flew down toward her cranium, a death blow in the making.

    Makina countered just in time, her code-formed weapon catching the blade with a shower of sparks. Getting to her feet, she reassumed her combat stance, each parry growing more difficult as the man pressed forward with relentless power.

    Suddenly the man jumped backward and from the ground where he was standing, spikes of earth protruded from the ground. His sword began to glow a deep blue color and his eyes followed suit and similarly turned blue. He gave a completely different aura compared to before.

    Her body was locked in place, paralyzed from head to toe, leaving her utterly immobile. Every fiber of her being screamed to move, to fight back, but all she could do was watch as the assailant advanced. Her mind raced, calculations firing off in rapid succession as she devised a plan to survive the next few moments. With sheer force of will, she began to assemble intricate lines of code, piecing together a complex array of symbols made up of concentric circles. Each line, every symbol, had to be perfect. The pressure was immense, but her focus was razor-sharp. Despite the panic coursing through her veins, despite the rapid beat of her heart and her shaking hands, she continued.

    Her sword arm was her only line of defense. Though her body remained rooted to the spot, her hand acted on instinct, parrying and blocking as the enemy made swift, blinding strikes toward her. The clash of their blades rang out in a deadly rhythm, each blow sending vibrations up her arm. She barely managed to fend off the rapid flurry of attacks, her sword absorbing the brunt of the assault, but with each strike, the weight of the situation pressed heavier on her. Her time was running out.

    The final piece of the code fell into place just as his blade came for her chest. She bent backward, her body moving with supernatural reflexes, narrowly dodging the lethal strike. The tip of the blade grazed her cheek, a sharp sting following the trail of blood that dripped from the wound.

    Her eyes locked onto his, and for the first time, his unwavering confidence faltered. A luminous, almost hypnotic purple light began to pour from her gaze, piercing through him with an intensity that seemed to transcend the physical. His world began to warp. The ground beneath his feet liquefied, dissolving into a black, viscous sea. The solid earth was no more¡ªreplaced by an endless ocean of ink that swallowed everything in sight. He tried to move, but his feet sank, the dark liquid pulling him down as if the very ground beneath him had become a living entity, determined to consume him.

    The sky above twisted into something nightmarish¡ªlines of ones and zeros blurred into swirling masses of dark, storm-ravaged clouds. From the storm, jagged bolts of brilliant purple lightning lashed out, cracking the sky with terrifying force. The landscape became something foreign and terrifying, a place where reality seemed to unravel. The ethereal energy emanating from her gaze flooded the world around them, making it feel as though it were teetering on the edge of oblivion.

    Suddenly, from the inky black sea beneath him, pale hands began to rise¡ªdozens, then hundreds. They clawed at the air, pulling themselves out of the endless abyss, one by one. The hands belonged to shadowy figures, their forms indistinct but their movements precise, synchronized like an army of assassins. Their eyes glowed faintly, a dim and eerie light that flickered in the darkness.

    The assailant¡¯s breath quickened as the shadowy legion turned their attention toward him. The malice in their glowing eyes was palpable, a suffocating force that seemed to crush the air around him. These were not mere phantoms¡ªthere was intent behind their gaze, a murderous intent that radiated from each figure with unrelenting focus.

    The shadows began to move, encircling him, cutting off any hope of escape. Each step they took was deliberate, their bodies shifting in a fluid, unnatural manner. The darkness itself seemed to bend to their will, rising like an unstoppable tide, closing in around him. It was as if the very essence of the void had come to life, and it was hungry for him. There was no escape, no reprieve.

    Makina stood at the center of this chaotic storm, her eyes still glowing with that otherworldly light, controlling the nightmare that had unfolded around them. She was a force of nature, bending the code of the virtual world she had formed to her will. This was her domain, and he was nothing more than prey caught in her web.

    From the sidelines, she watched in growing horror as the man before her erupted into a fit of maniacal laughter. The sound was sharp and chilling, like the crackle of broken glass underfoot. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent delight, reflecting an almost inhuman intensity. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward her, and his voice cut through the air, dripping with malice.

    ¡°Did you really believe you could uncover the secrets of the Empereyan¡ªthe very force that governs this world¡ªand simply walk away?¡± His voice was dark and taunting, echoing with an otherworldly resonance. ¡°Apostle of the Guest¡­ it is time you pay for your transgressions.¡±

    The weight of his words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike, and a pulse of energy crackled around him, distorting the space between them. His sinister grin widened as he finished speaking, eyes alight with an ominous glow.

    Then, without warning, a blinding white light exploded from him, engulfing everything in its path. The virtual world¡ªthe construct she had manifested¡ªbegan to unravel. The illusory landscape around them fractured and dissolved like a glass shattering under immense pressure. As the light intensified, it surged outward, spreading across the horizon, and erasing the boundaries of reality itself. The very fabric of the virtual world was coming undone, and with it, the entire continent began to fall into ruin.

    The sky above twisted violently as the light overtook it, turning once-solid structures into ephemeral dust. Buildings, mountains, forests¡ªeverything was devoured by the wave of radiant destruction, reduced to nothing in its wake. The ground trembled, and a deafening roar filled the air as the white light surged across the continent, unstoppable, unrelenting.

    <hr>

    The devastation of Javab was absolute. From a bird''s eye view, the once-flourishing continent was now nothing more than a vast wasteland. The air was thick with smoke and ash, and the sky above roiled in fiery shades of red and black. Entire cities lay in ruin, their once-proud towers reduced to crumbling skeletons. Forests that once teemed with life had been consumed by raging infernos, their charred remains stretching for miles. Rivers ran dry, replaced by jagged cracks that splintered the earth like open wounds. There was no life left¡ªonly silence and the smoldering remnants of a civilization wiped from existence.

    Then, as though the planet of Aruya itself wept for what had transpired, an unnatural quiet settled over the land. The catastrophe had passed, but the scars it left behind were eternal.

    163 years later¡­

    In the heart of Trizen, Tekuno, the bustling metropolis hummed with life. Skyscrapers towered above the streets, casting long shadows over the city¡¯s busy streets. Neon lights flickered against the darkening sky, bathing the sidewalks in a kaleidoscope of color as the evening descended. Amid the urban chaos, a serene park stood as an oasis of calm. Here, the rustling of leaves and the distant songs of birds formed a tranquil melody, a world away from the pulse of the city.

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of gold and lavender, a sudden disturbance rippled through the park. A small, glowing ball of light materialized out of thin air, suspended just inches above the ground. It shimmered with an intense orange radiance, growing larger with each passing second. The light began to shift, its ethereal form warping and stretching as if it were drawing something from beyond this world.

    Gradually, a figure emerged from within. The light receded, revealing a woman dressed in an elegant white school uniform. Her long, flowing purple hair cascaded down her back like liquid silk, glinting in the last rays of the setting sun. Her eyes¡ªmesmerizing purple sapphires¡ªsparkled with an otherworldly glow, their depth and clarity betraying a sense of timelessness. She sat on the ground, knees pulled to her chest, her expression dazed and bewildered.

    Her thoughts spun in a disorienting whirl. Where am I? she wondered, her heart racing. No¡­ what am I? Who¡­ am I? Panic clawed at the edges of her mind as she struggled to piece together any fragments of memory. She clutched her head, trying to push through the fog of confusion.

    Calm down, she urged herself. Think. Think¡­ But no matter how hard she tried, the answers evaded her like ever fleeting shadows.

    Suddenly, the sound of footsteps snapped her from her reverie. She looked up, her gaze locking onto a figure approaching through the dim light. A man. His steps were measured, his posture rigid. His black hair caught the faint glow of the park¡¯s streetlamps, with faint streaks of crimson flickering at the tips of his locks like embers. His blazing orange eyes¡ªsharp and intense¡ªseemed to burn through the dusk, their light both warm and dangerous. His face, though chiseled and handsome, bore an expression of calm detachment, as though he had seen far worse than the strange girl before him.

    He stopped a few paces away, studying her with a flicker of curiosity. "I sensed a disturbance in the mana around this park," he said, his voice deep and composed, "but all I find is a girl sitting on the ground."

    For a fleeting moment, his eyes widened in recognition. It was subtle, but the slight shift in his demeanor was unmistakable before his face resumed its mask of indifference. He took another step closer, his gaze piercing through her. "What is your name, kid?"

    The words came out before she could even think. "Tokei Makina," she said, the name rolling off her tongue as though it had always been there, buried deep in her consciousness.

    The man¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. "Tokei Makina, is it?" His eyes gleamed with a new intensity. "Well then, Miss Makina, it seems we have much to discuss."

 The Past Year

    7/26/1060

    [1 year after the fateful encounter with Nanik in Trizen, Tekuno.]

    I have been working with Nanik since the day he found me in the city park. In the time since then, he taught me about the world of Aruya and its happenings. I basically had Nanik give me lessons every day, and when I wasn''t having my mind boggled by those, I either tinkered with scrapped computers for fun or sat in deep contemplation about my memory loss, which eventually led nowhere, much to my dismay. A sense of depression and anxiety seeped in from hitting this brick wall, but I thought it better to just ignore it for now¡­

    The country I''m staying in, Trizen, is a bustling nation with a port city, rich in innovation, and brimming with life. It is one of the few technologically developed countries in Aruya. According to Nanik and some supplementary sources (me scouring online), these technologically advanced countries are referred to as ¡°Entwick countries¡±, whereas the ones that have favored the use of magic over the development of technology are called the Mittelreich countries.

    Most Entwick countries refuse to engage in trade with Mittelreich countries, but Trizen does not adhere to this formality. Instead, they freely engage in trade with Mittelreich countries and Entwick countries alike ¨C at least, that was what Nanik had explained to me about the Entwicks and Mittelreichs, but honestly, I don¡¯t quite understand it¡­

    <hr>

    Notifications flashed on the monitor before me.

    ["Data flow anomaly detected. Please review."]

    After a night of slumping over at the desk, I straightened in my chair. My black hair draped over my face and the keyboard as a stray yawn escaped from my lips. It was clear that working late into the night does not do my sleeping habits any good. After groggily wiping my face, I placed my glasses back on, which were on the side of my desk, and squinted at the monitor. It only dawned on me after a few moments that the message I was looking for had been received.

    "Whoa¡­ I thought he was just messing with me - guess he was right," I exclaimed, thoroughly surprised.

    I had been vaguely informed by Nanik that there would be two ¡°Data Anomalies¡±  that would show up this month. He said it could have something to do with my oh-so-mysterious past. Apparently, these Anomalies are actually humans ¡ª they must be volatile or something of that nature because Nanik urged me to take action as soon as they were sighted.

    My only concern was what entailed after actually encountering one: I had to recruit them. Something was definitely amiss, but Nanik wouldn¡¯t put me in danger, so I decided to just take his word for it.

    ''Though¡­ When he was talking about it, he had this devious grin on his face like he was plotting something¡­ I wonder what he''s up to.''

    The Anomalies, which were marked by red beacons, seemed to be blinking at different spots on the digital map produced by the monitor.

    ''The Anomalies seem to be in Hollia and Clefton.'' I mused for a moment. "I''ll need to prepare to track both of them down."

    The continent of Erbium, where Hollia was located, would be the first to be visited as it directly bordered Tekuno and had counties containing big cities, which were reminiscent of those in Tekuno. Ishunay, on the other hand, was another story. Apart from the fact that Clefton and Hollia were separated by a vast ocean, the societies of both varied vastly. On one hand, Clefton is Mittelreich, a society that wholeheartedly believes in the tradition of practicing the art of mana control, whilst Hollia is Entwick, and as it is not as well-versed in mana, opted for a path in innovation that would push their civilization to new grounds.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Such a contrast in their upbringing and cultures ultimately led to hostility between the masses of both. In the case of the inhabitants of Mittelreich nations, any who pursue the path of technology are met with intense scrutiny and oftentimes blatant discrimination.

    ''It seems like I''ll have to take some precautions before I head there. I''m not very fond of the idea that I have to go to a Mittelreich Country myself. Since I can¡¯t use mana, I¡¯d practically be treated as some sort of wild animal there if people were to find out¡­''

    Emerging from the confines of my room, I made my way to the hangar to prepare the "Airblade," which was originally designed for reconnaissance missions for the Trizen government. This vehicle resembled an enlarged quadcopter, devoid of visible propellers and sized like a commercial car. I, like usual, meticulously inspected the Airblade, confirming it had enough energy to sustain a ten-day trip.

    "That should be more than enough to finish this task," I noted with satisfaction.

    After gathering a few essential items, I opened the hangar door and climbed into the Airblade. Following a series of preliminary checks, I pressed my thumb onto the fingerprint scanner that started the vehicle. The electric motors purred to life, their steady hum vibrating through the Airblade, lifting it gently off the ground. Slowly, it glided out of the hangar, ascending to a comfortable cruising altitude before accelerating, swiftly closing the hangar door behind it.

    <hr>

    7/27/1060

    [6:00 pm - Over the largest city in Erbium, Hollia]

    During the past year, Nanik helped me discover my abilities as a Technician. In Aruya, there are four pathways that a person can awaken with. A Sorcera is a person with great control over the creation and usage of their mana, with the ability to cast spells in an instant. Martial Artists are those who build and strengthen their mana and its purity, imbuing their limbs and weapons with this power to achieve superhuman feats. Alchemists use their mana to imbue objects around them, giving them special properties. And last, but not least, the Technician. Technicians are unable to use mana even though they possess the organ to use it; instead, they gain strange abilities that give them unparalleled prowess when it comes to technology or mechanical implements. Technicians remain the most mysterious of the four due to the lack of consensus about the origins of the pathway¡¯s powers, with Alchemists a close second for its wide array of perplexing techniques.

    I awakened as a Technician and a rare one at that. I''m what¡¯s known as a ¡°Data Engineer¡±. Nanik had mentioned in passing that the total number of known Data Engineers in the world could be counted on one hand, so there aren''t many available resources for us left over by predecessors. However, as a Data Engineer, I have the ability to peer into the world''s data through something called the [Developer''s Eye]. I was really stoked to find out how cool I was until I tried to use it for the first time¡­

    I got a quick reality check and learnt that using the [Developer''s Eye] required strong mental fortitude to be used for longer than a second because, as soon as I managed to see through it, I blacked out. Later, when I woke up bedridden, Nanik ended up going on and on about some ¡®Way to utilize one''s abilities correctly¡¯, blah blah blah. He essentially said that I was an idiot. Then, he proceeded to walk outside my room and broke out into laughter so loudly that I could hear it from inside the room! That jerk didn''t even warn me against using my abilities!

    Later, after a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears (a whole lot of tears), I managed to create a pair of special glasses containing an AI program called [Neuro] to help take the burden off my mind when I use the [Developer''s Eye]. Of course, I also practice using the [Developer''s Eye] without the glasses to ensure they don''t become a crutch that I can''t part with in the future, but the progress is slow and demanding. So far, I can only keep it up for about a minute straight before passing out once more.

    Sliding my finger across the side of my glasses, I heard the operating system come to life, and different projections of information flashed across the lenses, showing the relative position of the Anomaly I was tasked to track down.

    "Looks like the first one should be somewhere in this city," I mused aloud, my hair fluttering in the wind as I looked down at the sprawling city below. A wide grin emerged on my face at the thought of showing Nanik how good I can be at my job. "It''s time to start ''recruiting''."

 Recruitment Part 1

    Looking down at Hollia from above, I started to wonder how exactly I was going to track down the Anomaly in such a massive and crowded city. I parked the Airblade on the top of one of the many buildings in the sprawling cityscape.

    In the heart of the vibrant metropolis, high-rises pierced the sky, their sleek glass facades reflecting the constant movement below. A web of bustling streets seemed alive, with the rhythm of hurried footsteps and the symphony of honking horns. Some landmarks stood out to me as testaments to the city''s rich history, whilst other modern architectural marvels seamlessly blended the past with the present. Amidst the towering structures, sidewalks teemed with a diverse tapestry of individuals, each immersed in their own narratives. There were street vendors who were offering an array of global cuisines, creating a tantalizing aroma that mingled with the city''s energy.

    Scattered about were small parks, which provided a touch of greenery amongst the concrete jungle. The city''s pulse quickens with the ebb and flow of commuters utilizing a well-connected public transportation system. Subways rumble beneath the surface, weaving a complex network that binds neighborhoods together.

    ¡°This place is like a maze, this is going to take forever¡­" I grumbled as I made my way to the location where the Anomaly had first appeared.

    Consulting [Neuro] for a bit of assistance, I opened up a three-dimensional map of the city to narrow down my initial search area. After analyzing the map, I marked off the area where the Anomaly had originally been detected. The method I used to find the Anomaly was by tracking abnormal mana convergence through satellite sensors ¡ª Nanik tells me the specific way the abnormality occurs, and I then create an algorithm to identify them. But how exactly did Nanik get his hands on these satellites? It''s stuff like this that makes me reassess how much of a big shot he might be¡­ Not like I¡¯d get a peep from him if I asked anyway.

    Still, I don''t have the slightest clue how to locate the anomalies after they appear, and Nanik, who I really hoped would¡¯ve been my catch-all, hadn¡¯t helped me in the slightest. Instead, all I got from him  was a comment ladled with what I could only describe to be sheer snarkiness, "You''ll know when you see them!" What does that even mean? That guy really gets on my nerves! Isn''t this something important?

    I slowly made my way through the streets of the city and the crowds of citizens and toward the estimated location of the Anomaly. I haphazardly wandered about for a few moments, as I wasn''t well-versed with the routes within Hollia. I did, however, notice that as I went further from the heart of the city, it became more and more decrepit, as though the city itself had regressed to an earlier, less lavish time.

    I eventually came upon an open park on the city''s outskirts, with weeds abundant throughout the uneven and neglected cobblestone paths. The sparsely planted trees stood forlornly, their branches like skeletons with sickly brown leaves. This park, once likely full of lush greenery and foliage, now hung like a wilted flower.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ is this really the right place?¡¯ As I tapped on the glasses¡¯ frame for [Neuro] to double-check, I noticed a peculiar man standing alone nearby. He appeared to be middle-aged, wearing a black vest with a yellow-black striped tie. He was scanning around with a certain dullness to his emerald green eyes, seemingly looking for something.

    The man seemed to have spotted me as his previously uninterested expression immediately perked up. He partitioned his dirty-blonde hair that peered through his half-top hat, struck up an unusually enthusiastic smile, and strode towards my direction.

    He stopped right in front of me and extended his hands forward. "Hello, madam! My name is Farthington Redsworth and you are the hundredth person I have seen today, and I am giving out my autobiography for free to every hundredth person I encounter!"

    Farthington¡¯s attitude felt akin to that of a door-to-door salesman, with an energetic tone and a voice that was visibly bouncing, as though he had struck gold.

    "Every hundredth? There''s practically no one around here¡­," I remarked, looking around with a hint of skepticism, completely shutting down his initial friendly gesture. Completely unfazed by my suspicion, he replied with an exaggerated shrug, "Well, I walk the city quite often - what can I say?"

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t going anywhere¡­¡¯, Instead of playing into his persistence, I readjusted the sides of my glasses. ''I wonder if using the [Developer''s Eye] would help me find out if the Anomaly¡¯s around¡­¡¯

    Focusing, a slight tingling sensation suffused my eyes. The park around me seemed to dissolve. The trees, the bushes, and even the mysterious stranger himself - gone. In their places, cascades of blue text appeared, enveloping my periphery. The only thing that did not change from my view was me, who looked the same as always. However, what was most peculiar was that, while everything around me was made of a calming deep blue sea of code, there was a single gleaming orange bundle of error code, presumably in the place of the strange man.

    Deactivating the [Developer''s Eye], I felt a slight headache. In front of me, Farthington returned to normal, yet the sight of his orange code lingered in my mind. ''I''ve never seen a person with orange-colored code in my life... In fact, I''ve never seen orange code, ever.''

    ''So does this mean I¡¯ve been talking to one this whole time? Way to hide in plain sight, but that just makes my job easier¡­¡¯ I discreetly reactivated my glasses and fed [Neuro] the command to do a background check on the man in front of me, to which the AI belted out its usual cold response, [Of course, ma''am.]

    Attempting to stall some more time for [Neuro] to run a background check regarding this man, I inquired further about this ''business'' of his. "Do you do this often?"

    Farthington replied, "Do what exactly?" with a hint of confusion laced in his voice.

    ''What''s taking [Neuro] so long¡­?'' Suddenly, it generated pages of information that seemed to explode onto the interface of my glasses.

    <Name: Farthington Redsworth>

    <Feats: ¡°Movie Star: Galactic Battles - Lead Role¡±>

    Wait¡­ so you''re telling me that this dude standing in front of me was an actor in the movie Galactic Battles and played the character Banakin Groundswimmer? Why do I have the feeling that this is some kind of rip-off? The corners of my mouth twitched slightly. ''Does Nanik really need someone like this?! I mean, look at him. It''s obvious he''s a jobless bum who''s probably in debt.''

    Unable to audibly sigh, I held in my frustration and looked at the rest of his background.

    <Career: Actor>

    What? He''s a Martial Artist on top of all this? What''s next, am I gonna see pigs fly? This guy seems like he''d be working for exposure, not a paycheck. Nonetheless, I still have a mission to do¡­

    "Do you sell your book like this often?" I said, repeating my question from earlier.

    Farthington smirked. "It''s not selling if I''m giving it out for free, now is it? I mean, free publicity¡­ but I do indeed sell my book - it''s good to have word of mouth. If I give it away for free, other people may want a copy."

    "Do I have to do anything to get the book?" I probed.

    Farthington seemed to get very excited at my mentioning that.

    "Yes! You have to sign a contract to get the book."

    I frowned. ''This guy¡­ is clearly a fraud.''

    "Is there a reason?" I continued, with my face deadpan.

    "Why, of course. We can''t just have people taking the book and then selling copies of it, can we?"

    ''This is something that can be solved simply by having the legal office take care of it. He must think I''m gullible if he''s giving out such poor excuses¡­''

    Already having concluded that he was the Anomaly, I figured that this wasn''t the best place to talk about recruiting him. ''Even though I don''t see a reason why he should get recruited...''

    Swiftly gliding my hands horizontally, a string of code was sent in Farthington''s direction, discreetly attaching itself to him like a tick. "I think I''ll pass on the book."

    The line of code latched onto Farthington''s section of code. The target''s reality data would transmit relative information about the target''s approximate whereabouts back to the receiver. This would allow the user to observe their targets within certain distance parameters. And that very [Data Tag] laid dormant unbeknownst to Farthington, who appeared to be getting more and more antsy by the minute. "Are you sure¡­? It''s free!" He insisted.

    Alarmed by his persistence, I stammered to reject him. "I-I think I''m fine."

    ''Since it wouldn''t hurt to know more about him, I might as well ask some questions.'' "Say, how long have you lived here?" I asked, putting extra emphasis on the ''lived'' part.

    Farthington looked slightly flustered at this random yet innocuous question. "That''s a good question¡­uhm, I''ve been around here for about three years."

    After asking a few more relatively harmless questions, I bid him farewell, leaving the area where I met him. ''Time to conduct a successful recruitment... hopefully.''

 Recruitment Part 2

    As I turned a corner into the lane of two narrow structures, I surveyed my surroundings. The air seemed to be thick with a mixture of dampness, reeking with a stench of urban decay.

    ''This is the slums alright. It''s a far cry from the central area of Hollia, but I''ll have to put up with this if I''m to recruit Farthington'', I noted as I reeled a bit.

    Some time had passed since then, and I had wandered around the city checking the map intermittently. Thankfully, I observed that Farthington had remained stationary in an apartment for approximately twenty minutes. Consulting my three-dimensional map, I determined the location and deduced that the Anomaly should be alone. Deciding it was time to approach and assess the situation, I set off toward the apartment.

    Navigating through streets, weaving through a crowd eager for the new J-phone 7 at the Pear Store, and maneuvering various alleyways, I finally arrived at the designated apartment building. The structure, constructed with red bricks and adorned with cream-colored casings around the windows, exhibited a somewhat abandoned appearance, accentuated by the vivid green vines clinging to its walls.

    Upon entering the building, the gray doors emitted a noticeable creak, resonating throughout the main lobby. I checked my three-dimensional map once more to confirm Farthington''s location on the third floor. Progressing through the hallway, I reached the stairs, the sole means of traversing the building given the absence of an elevator in its presumably ¡°budget-conscious¡± construction.

    Ascending to the third floor, I strolled down a corridor characterized by a color palette of brown and cream, illuminated by the warm glow of yellow lights. Approaching the door marked by my map, I listened to see if he was still awake, but no obvious sounds of him being awake were heard. Due to this development, I rapped my hand on the door, with the dull thuds of knocking livening up this dreary apartment.

    From outside I could hear the sound of a couch creaking and footsteps approaching the door. The door slowly cracked open and from the gap between the door and doorframe peered out a pair of emerald green eyes.

    Farthington let out a depressing sigh, "I''ll have the money ready by next week, I promise so please go away for now. I''m tired."

    "I''m not your landlord¡­", but as I was about to continue, the door flew open.

    Farthington stepped out, straightening his suit, "Ah, I see. What you heard previously was simply a part of my practice for method acting. I only rented out this room for the atmosphere It provided."

    I responded with a very unconvinced "Right¡­"

    ''He''s obviously dirt poor. In that case, If I offer him a high enough salary he should accept the job¡­''

    Farthington seemed to ponder for a moment, "I seem to recognize you¡­ Have we, perchance, met elsewhere previously? What brings you to meet me?"

    Trying to get to the reason for her visit, she once again starts speaking, "I''m here to recruit you for¡­"

    "Ahhhh, so you''re a recruiter! What a wondrous occasion!" says Farthington, slamming shut the door behind him. "So! What role am I being offered? I usually prefer to take roles in action movies with my extensive knowledge of swordplay-"

    "I''m sorry, but I think there has been a misunderstanding. I am here to offer you a unique opportunity to join a covert special operations unit known as "Shadow Phoenix". My superior is keen on having you as part of this team." While I was saying this in an unfeeling tone, I couldn''t help but feel frustrated that I had been sent to recruit a seemingly unreliable and unemployed bum.

    His expression changed drastically, becoming serious in a matter of seconds. "I''m afraid I don''t quite understand, miss. Why would you want to recruit me as a member of a special operations unit?"

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    While what I wanted to say was, ''That''s what I want to know!'' what I actually ended up saying was, "The reason for my employer''s interest in you is not something I would know about. I am simply here on his behalf."

    Beginning to turn around, Farthington shook his head, "I feel that there is no need to let this conversation drag on any longer."

    "10000 Aero," I said as he was putting his hand on the doorknob.

    He froze in his tracks, jolting his head in my direction. "What did you just say?! 10000 Aero! I must be mishearing things."

    The reason why he was shocked was that 10000 Aero is a massive amount of currency in this world. To put it more into perspective, a luxury car would cost about 750 Aero and a mansion would cost around 20000 Aero.

    [Note: 1 Aero is equivalent to 100 dollars USD]

    In Aruya, the currency system consists of three denominations: the Arin, Mira, and Aero. The exchange rate is such that 1 Aero is equivalent to 10 Mira, and 1 Mira is equivalent to 10 Arin. This currency system is widely accepted across both Mittelreich and Entwick countries, serving as a standard for international trade and transactions.

    "You aren''t. The annual salary you will receive for becoming a member of the Special Operation Unit is 10000 Aero. Depending on the missions you take on, you may earn even more Aero."

    Farthington''s eyes widened with excitement, his face beaming with a youthful energy, and his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "So, where exactly do I need to sign~?"

    ''Well, one down, another to go.''

    "I''ll get the necessary paperwork ready for your employment at the base. I''ll need you to accompany me until I return there. I have one more potential candidate to visit," I stated in a formal and professional manner, unlike my usual demeanor.

    "Madam, may I inquire as to our departure time? I am fully prepared to leave." His voice took on a more formal tone, and his accent seemed to convey the air of an arrogant Erbium gentleman. [Note: People who live in the continent of Erbium usually have accents akin to those who are in the UK.]

    "Don''t you need to pack your belongings before leaving?"

    In a composed and unabashed manner, Farthington met my gaze and delivered his response, "My lady, at this moment, you are inspecting the entirety of my possessions."

    ''Great, so he''s a jobless vagrant with no possessions that I''m hiring to join a Spec Ops Unit¡­ What has the world come to? Next time I see that pretentious boss of mine, I''ma give him a piece of my mind!''

    Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, I gesture for Farthington to follow me. "Alright then, follow me."

    As Farthington and I exited the run-down apartment building, we strolled purposefully toward the towering building where I had parked the Airblade.

    As we made our way to the Airblade, we strolled through a maze of narrow alleyways and winding streets, flanked by dilapidated buildings in urgent need of repair. Amidst the urban decay, we passed by a weathered newspaper stand where a young boy was energetically shouting out a newspaper headline at the top of his lungs: "EXTRA, EXTRA. REPORTS OF MILITARY TENSIONS BETWEEN CLEFTON AND ARDEN. EXTRA, EXTRA-"

    ''Hmmm, If I''m not mistaken, those are the two countries that reside along each other''s borders in the continents of Janine and Ishunay¡­''

    While I was walking along the path, I was lost in thought thinking about why I was doing any of this in the first place.

    When I first awoke nearly a year ago, Nanik offered me a position in Shadow Phoenix, to which I had accepted at the time, because I was alone, confused, and only had basic knowledge like talking, reading, and writing. The one thing that occupied my mind other than survival was the intense desire to learn about myself. Who was I? Where was I born? Were there people that were important to me? But now, even an entire year later I haven''t gotten any closer to that goal than I was when I first awoke.

    That brings me to another mystery: Nanik ¡ª who is he? He owns the entirety of what seems to be a state-of-the-art military base back in Trizen, but currently, I''m his only hired employee. I don''t entirely trust him as he seems to have some deeper, more hidden motives. The only reason I haven''t left yet is because sometimes it feels like he alludes to the fact that he knows something about me and¡­ you know¡­ money.

    Suddenly, I was dragged out of my thoughts as I was grabbed from behind, yanked into an alleyway, and slammed against the rough brick wall.

    Farthington stood in front of me, his hand resting on the wall above my shoulder as he peered out of the alley with widened eyes.

    With a sudden, forceful move, I grasped the fabric of his tattered suit and yanked him upward. His feet dangled above the ground, the worn-out collar clenched tightly in my grip.

    "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU''RE DOING!" Said Tokei calmly.

 Recruitment Part 3

    Walking through the slums of Hollia, a police officer hummed a tune, his steps light despite the grim surroundings. He was on his way to reclaim an apartment room from a resident who had fallen behind on their rent for quite a while now.

    ¡® ¡°Farthington Redsworth¡± Hmph, I knew he would fall behind on his rent again. That useless fellow doesn¡¯t even have a real job.¡¯

    While he was walking he suddenly heard a loud shout from a woman coming from the alley a city block ahead, ¡°WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE DOING!¡±

    Hurriedly running over, he peered into the alley and saw a man being held by the collar of his suit, dangling a few inches off the ground. A woman with striking purple hair held him there effortlessly with one hand. ''Ah, looks like that dude picked the wrong woman to hit on. Tsk tsk...'' he thought, shaking his head before continuing on his way.

    Farthington flails his hands in the air, ¡°THIS IS GROUNDS FOR A LAWSUIT!¡± After a brief pause seeing as I wasn¡¯t phased by his threat, he changed his tone of voice. ¡°Ahem, would you be so kind as to let me down now, ma¡¯am?¡±

    Realizing what had just happened I awkwardly let go of his collar, letting his feet make contact with the ground. Walking out of the alley attempting to compose myself, I spoke to Farthington without turning to look at his reaction, ¡°Ahem, next time you need to take action, give me a heads up first.¡±

    Dammit, this isn¡¯t one of those cliche romance novels! There is no need for pointless misunderstandings like this in the first place! I need to get back to the right genre¡­

    Trying to gloss over what had just happened, the two of them walked in silence till they made their way back to the Airblade.

    Taking in the unique sight, Farthington inspected the Airblade, ¡°Ah, what a unique vehicle¡­¡±

    The Airblade had butterfly doors that opened upward instead of outward, similar to a high-end sports car, giving it an air of luxury in Farthington¡¯s eyes.

    Climbing into the Airblade, the two of them fastened their seat belts to prepare for the flight.

    The electric motors hummed to life, and the Airblade began its ascent, slicing through the crisp morning air. With a powerful surge, it soared into the picturesque sky, leaving the cityscape behind as it headed toward its next destination. The sleek craft cut through the clouds with effortless grace, a testament to the marvels of modern engineering and cutting-edge technology of Trizen.

    Throughout the journey, Farthington would repeatedly ask the same question and I would give the same answer each time.

    ¡°How much longer will it be till we arrive ma¡¯am?¡±

    ¡°Soon.¡±

    <hr>

    7/29/1060  7:56 AM

    In the Continent of Ishunay - on the edge of a nameless rural farming town in the nation of Clefton.

    As the Airblade descended, its powerful engines kicked up plumes of dust along its path, creating swirling clouds that danced in its wake. The craft''s landing gears extended smoothly, preparing for a perfect touchdown as it neared its destination.

    Glancing at Farthington, I held the door handle of the Airblade. ¡°I¡¯m going to find the next candidate. You stay put here while I go look for them.¡±

    With an uninterested tone, Farthington seemingly pulled a book out of nowhere from inside his weathered suit. "Alright," he said, his voice flat and detached.

    Stepping out of the Airblade, I turned around once more and pointed a finger at Farthington. "Don¡¯t you dare even think about messing around¡­ Wait¡ªis that your book?"

    Taking a closer look at the book Farthington had pulled out, I realized he was reading his own autobiography, pretentiously titled "Magical Me¡±.

    Without displaying even a shred of embarrassment or guilt, he proclaimed, "Indeed, I quite enjoy reading it. Would you care for a copy?"

    My face contorted into one of disappointment and disgust blended into a single expression that lasted for a moment.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡®Look at this narcissist¡­¡¯

    Shutting the Airblade¡¯s door, I opened the cargo space and retrieved a cloak, hoping to blend in with the crowd. In Clefton, a Mittelreich country where most locals relied on mana and viewed outsiders from Entwick countries like Tekuno or Erbium with suspicion and disdain, standing out was a risk I couldn''t afford.

    Opening my map, I noted the location where the second Anomaly had appeared. The map indicated that their appearance had occurred near the town''s center. After putting on my cloak, I set off in that direction.

    Arriving at the bustling market in the town center 30 minutes later, I found myself enveloped by a vibrant crowd. The air was filled with the sounds of lively chatter, haggling vendors, and the rich aroma of street food. Colorful stalls lined the streets, offering a dazzling array of goods, from fresh produce to intricate handmade crafts. While it wasn''t particularly grand, it certainly felt lively.

    Deciding whether or not I should utilize the [Developer¡¯s Eye], I surveyed the market. ''Huh, I wonder how long it¡¯s going to take to find this one¡­'' I pondered, observing my distinct surroundings.

    ¡®Well, since I¡¯m already here, I might as well take a look around myself. Who knows, I might suddenly remember something about my past. Yeaaaahhhh, that¡¯s definitely why¡­¡¯

    Strolling through the crowded market with my conscience quelled, I smelled something delectable and was drawn over to a nearby food stall.

    The owner of the stall was grilling skewers of chicken over a blazing charcoal grill giving off an enticing aroma.

    Noticing my gaze, the owner smiled at me, ¡°Would¡¯ya like to purchase a skewer?¡±

    <hr>

    Afterward, I took a seat on an open bench in the market.

    Unable to resist the urge, I ended up buying two of them¡­ Guess I might as well chow down.

    Taking a bite of the chicken skewer, my mouth was blessed with its heavenly taste. The tender, juicy meat, perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, sent waves of delight through my taste buds.

    ¡®This is fantastic! I haven¡¯t had something this delicious to eat in days¡­¡¯

    While I was scarfing down chicken skewers, I watched as a young man about my age walked up to the owner of the stand from which I had bought my food.

    The young man had messy brown hair and forest-green eyes. He wore an oversized white shirt with overalls and old, worn-out boots. In his hands were a few bags of groceries filled with a multitude of different ingredients.

    He handed one of those bags to the stall owner and received a chicken skewer in return. He then walked toward the bench where I was sitting and sat down next to me.

    ''As long as he doesn¡¯t bother me, I don¡¯t mind him sitting here,'' I thought, before continuing to savor my chicken skewers in bliss.

    As the young man began to eat his chicken skewer, he turned towards me.

    In a casual and relaxed tone, he spoke to me as if he were talking to an old friend, ¡°Oh! Mirabel, you seem to have had a glow-up since the last time I saw you¡­ Was your hair always purple or did you dye it somewhere?¡±

    After I finished chewing and swallowing the delectable chicken in my mouth, I gazed up at him.

    ¡°I think you have the wrong person. My name isn¡¯t Mirabel.¡±

    His eyebrows shifted up, as if to accentuate his shock. Scratching his head, he remarked, ¡°Really? Are you not from here then? You seemed familiar to me¡­¡±

    Replying in a casual manner, I said, ¡°I¡¯m just passing through this area looking for someone,¡± before continuing to eat my chicken skewer. Can¡¯t let it get cold.

    ¡°So you¡¯re not from around these parts?¡± He inquired, his voice giving off a hint of perplexity¡­ or was it suspicion? I¡¯ll have to tread carefully around others here, just in case.

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Not often do I get to see travelers! May I get your name, then? My name¡¯s Kaelith¡ª Kaelith Hudson.¡±

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t give anyone my real name while here in Clefton¡­¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s¨Cuhm, Trixy¡­¡±

    ¡°So, Trixy, who exactly are you looking for? I might be able to help you out since¡ª and I don¡¯t mean to toot my own horn, but I know pretty much everyone who lives here,¡± Kaelith remarked with a hint of pride.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll find them myself. I appreciate the offer, though.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you want. Though, if you ever need any help, just head on over to me and my family¡¯s pad. To get to it, leave from the front entrance of the market and then walk in a straight line until you come upon the blue house with a small red shack.

    He then looked up at the evening sky.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a bit late, so I oughtta head back. It was nice to meet you, though!¡±

    He gave me a slight nod with a grin and stood up, slinging the bags over his shoulder with some effort. He then began to walk toward the entrance of the market.

    ¡®Well, that was an interesting interaction. I thought that he¡¯d be a little more cautious of me, but it seems like everyone¡¯s relatively friendly around here. Was my assessment wrong..?¡¯

    Finishing up the chicken skewer, I stood up and stretched a little, feeling ready to continue the mission.

    ¡®I guess that¡¯s enough slacking off for now, though. I should probably get to work.¡¯

    Activating the [Developer''s Eye], my surroundings transformed into a complex web of blue code. Every object and person became a series of interconnected lines and data points. As I scanned the area, a familiar flicker of orange caught my attention.

    ¡®Woah! I actually found the Anomaly really fast again! Lady luck must be smiling in my direction recently.¡¯

    Deactivating the [Developer¡¯s Eye], I felt a slight throb in my forehead.

    Looking in the vicinity where I had seen the light, the only person I saw was Kaelith, marching cheerfully into the distance.

 Recruitment Part 4

    ¡®Do I just have a knack for running into Anomalies or something? Kaelith, huh¡­ Well, he did tell me exactly where I could find him, so I just need to go there and nab him real quick. How hard could it be? Right?¡¯

    Seeing as he¡¯d just left, it would probably be best to meet him later when fewer people were out and about. Just in case, you know?

    After taking in the sights of the market one last time, with its quaint appeal being a refreshing view, I made my way over to the market entrance, leaving its bountiful embrace.

    Walking back towards the Airblade¡¯s secluded parking spot, I felt a cool breeze wash over me as the blanket of clouds provided a respite from the usually intense rays of the sun.

    I veered off of the beaten path and trudged through the overgrown brush to get to the ridge near the location where I parked the Airblade. The reason for not parking it out in the open was simple: If the Airblade were to be discovered by the locals, there would be nothing short of a witch-hunt to find the owner.

    Getting to the Airblade, I barely broke a sweat, thanks to the intense workout regimen Nanik had devised for me. That menace to society! I can remember it as if it were yesterday...

    [Note: Imagine a flashback sfx]

    I was in my room sitting at my desk, researching the human mind with the vain hope of finding some mystical way to regain my memories. Then, all of a sudden, Nanik burst through my door.

    BAM!

    His tone somehow sounded a bit excited, much unlike his usual deadpan and calm demeanor, ¡°From this day forth, you will spend two hours of your day doing cardio and pumping iron.¡±

    My already sullen expression, due to my lack of any leads, only sank further. ¡°What!?¡±

    ¡°It is as I¡¯ve just said. You will be doing physical training from here on out.¡±

    ¡°But¡ªwhy would I need to do that? Aren''t my abilities meant to be used for support and out-of-combat operations?¡± I sounded absolutely dreadful. My face twisted from discomfort to despair.

    ¡°That may well be true, but since you¡¯re set soon to go out onto full on-field operations, you can¡¯t protect yourself using only supporting abilities in a fight, can you?¡± He pointed at my bone-thin arms, ¡°That being said¡­ training your body is the first thing you ought to do to defend yourself, and running away if necessary. Of course, you¡¯ll have plenty of time to practice the latter.¡± he remarked in a remarkably ominous manner, with a smirk visibly etched across his face.

    ¡®This man is the devil incarnate...¡¯

    After that day, what past me could¡¯ve only described as ¡°hell training¡± started. I spent an hour doing different cardio exercises: running, cycling, and high-intensity interval training. The next hour was dedicated to strength-building exercises: weightlifting, push-ups, pull-ups, and core workouts. For someone who¡¯s never done any real workout, it was PAIN. He wouldn¡¯t let me skip a single session and made me do it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

    I¡¯ve been doing it ever since without fail unless I am physically unable to.

    [Note: Return from flashback sfx or whatever]

    ¡®Sigh¡­ In any case, it wasn¡¯t that bad. At least I have great stamina and strength now.''

    Opening the door to the Airblade, the first thing I was met with was Farthington¡¯s gaze as he looked up from his book which remained in his hand.¡°I see you have returned, ma¡¯am. Shall I take this as you weren¡¯t able to recruit your other target?¡±

    Climbing into the driver''s seat of the Airblade, I retorted, ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t. I am going to meet him in an hour to discuss it. Also, have you really been reading your book this entire time while I was away?¡±

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Indeed I have. It¡¯s a very good read¡ªI would very much recommend it to-¡°

    ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    He paused for a moment, and then shrugged, "Your loss." He then proceeded to start reading again.

    [One hour later¡­]

    Walking along a beaten path leading away from the market, I was en route to Kaelith¡¯s residence. As I neared the shack, I noticed its worn-out red and blue accented exterior. Surrounding it was a field of golden grain that engulfed most of the surrounding land, swaying gently in the breeze. The picturesque scene was both quaint and serene, a stark contrast to the bustling market I had left behind.

    As I arrived at the pathway leading from the main road to the house, I noticed movement in the field of wheat near the house. The grain parted, and from between the plants, Kaelith stepped out. His hair was messier than when I had seen him in the market, and his clothes were dusty from working in the field.

    Seeing him, I raised my hand and waved, quickly catching his attention. He dusted himself off before walking over to me.

    Lightly panting, Kaelith spoke with his unique accent, ¡°Trixy, it''s you. Did you need help with that person you¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡®I didn¡¯t realize this when I met him in the market, but his accent and method of speaking are quite different from the rest of the locals¡­ The locals have a much thicker accent than he does¡­ Not that I¡¯m complaining, though.¡¯

    Gazing at him, I gave him a perfunctory nod. ¡°Yes. Apparently, you are the person I was searching for, and I am here to offer you a job.¡±

    He comically looked around and then pointed to himself as he spoke with a face full of uncertainty, ¡°Me?¡±

    Unwilling to elaborate further, I simply nodded my head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this inside, then,¡± he said, gesturing toward the house.

    Kaelith turned toward his home and began walking to the door, his hair swaying slightly in the wind as the orange sunset bathed the scene in a warm glow.

    As I stepped onto the wooden porch, Kaelith opened the door, and the comforting smell of home cooking wafted out.

    Stepping inside, I heard the voice of a young girl echoing through the home. ¡°Brother! Did you recharge the coolbox with mana yet?¡±

    In response, Kaelith called out, ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll do it now!¡±

    He walked over to a wooden cabinet, sturdier than the others in the kitchen, and placed his hand on its textured surface. A soft blue light emanated outward from where he placed his hand, and after a minute, the air around the cabinet cooled, wisps of vapor forming around it.

    All of this happened while I stood awkwardly at the front door, my heart beating faster than normal, my thoughts racing and incoherent.

    ¡®I¡¯m in his house, and his family is here! This isn¡¯t like with Farthington where he was the only one home. What do I say to them? I¡¯ve never had to deal with anything like this before as far back as I can recall!¡¯

    [Note: Never touched grass?]

    Out of nervousness, I found myself adjusting the sides of my glasses, a habit I couldn¡¯t quite shake.

    After he finished replenishing the coolbox, Kaelith walked back toward me, ¡°So, where were we? Ah, right. What job are you here to offer me exactly?¡±

    He led me over to a dining table, pulling out a chair for me to sit down, and then pulling another one out for himself.

    I slowly sat down, still on edge. ¡®Why did I decide to come here?¡¯

    Trying to sound composed, I kept an indifferent expression. ¡°I am here to offer you a position¡ª¡±

    Suddenly, the sound of floorboards rapidly creaking interrupted me. In the kitchen, where the table was located, a doorframe led to the rest of the house. Standing in that door frame was a young girl, around 16 or 17 years old, with hair similar to Kaelith¡¯s and sky-blue eyes. She wore overalls and a blue shirt.

    ¡°Kaelith, who is that?¡± Before he could even answer, she turned around and called out, ¡°MOM! DAD! KAELITH BROUGHT A GIRL HOME!¡±

    It was at this moment she knew, she messed up.

    A tall woman with blue eyes and hair resembling Kaelith¡¯s, wearing a shirt and pants, walked into the room through the door frame, followed by a man with darker brown hair and green eyes. Both of them had a rustic charm, and the woman, undoubtedly Kaelith¡¯s mother, had a wide smile on her face.

    Her voice was relaxed with a hint of playfulness thrown in. ¡°Honey, look, Kaelith brought someone and wants to introduce them to us,¡± she said, covering her mouth in clearly feigned shock.

    His dad responded in a deep, husky voice, ¡°Ah. It¡¯s about time. You¡¯re at that age, kiddo, and I was worried that you wouldn¡¯t be tying the knot anytime soon, but I¡¯m glad it seems I was mistaken.¡±

    Kaelith frantically waved his hands in the air. ¡°Y¡¯all, it¡¯s really not like that!¡±

    In a playful manner, his mom poked him. ¡°Oh, come on, kiddo. You don¡¯t need to hide it. You snagged yourself quite the rare beauty. How¡¯d you pull it off?¡±

    Meanwhile, I, with my face flushed, remained glued to my seat, motionless, as if my soul had left and gone to someplace inexplicable. I was unable to interject in their conversation.

    ¡®Someone... help... me.¡¯

 Recruitment Part 5

    With an expression of contemplation, Kaelith¡¯s mother asked, ¡°So¡­ You¡¯re here to scout my son for a job?¡±

    Outwardly, I looked as calm as a still pond, but on the inside, I was a raging whirlpool of tumultuous anxiety. Dealing with family, even if it¡¯s not my own (Not that I would know), makes me feel sick to my stomach. It¡¯s a feeling I can¡¯t describe or understand. Something is telling me to avoid this interaction¡­

    ¡®Thankfully they¡¯re getting down to business now. I feel a bit more at ease.¡¯

    Trying to maintain my calm facade, I said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here in this farming village to scout talents on behalf of my boss.¡±

    ¡®I can¡¯t tell them that I¡¯m here for Kaelith specifically or they would be suspicious as to why I came to a rural farming village to hire an unknown farmer for a job. What would be a somewhat believable excuse? Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not very good at coming up with stuff like this.¡¯

    Kaelith¡¯s father rubbed his chin. ¡°How much of a salary would he be making?¡±

    ¡®Let''s see, what was the salary again¡­¡¯

    While trying to remember, I slowly said, ¡°I believe it was around ten¡ª¡±

    With a solemn face, he questioned, ¡°Ten Aero? I feel like it would be more reasonable to be a hundred Aero.¡±

    I quickly interjected, ¡°It seems you¡¯re mistaken. You didn¡¯t let me finish. The salary should be ten thousand Aero.¡±

    The moment I uttered these words, Kaelith¡¯s family was awe-struck. Their mouths agape in disbelief.

    Kaelith¡¯s mother stuttered, ¡°A-Are you s-sure that¡¯s the right amount?¡±

    I responded with a plain, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s father had a suspicious look in his eye. ¡°What exactly will my son be doing in this job?¡±

    ¡®How am I supposed to respond to that? ¡®Oh, I¡¯m recruiting your son for a spec ops unit.¡¯ Yeah, right! As if that wouldn¡¯t get me kicked out immediately¡­¡¯

    I tried to keep the corners of my mouth from visibly twitching, ¡°He will be traveling from country-to-country as a member of a special team for my employer¡¯s company. That is the reason why the pay for the job is so extravagant. Kaelith seems to have the right mindset and attitude for this job, so I will leave it to you guys and Kaelith to decide on this matter.¡±

    ¡®Not like he has any choice anyway. If he rejects, I¡¯ll have to find another way to bring him in¡­ But any other way would be much more troublesome.¡¯

    Kaelith and his parents sat there in seemingly deep contemplation pulling on the wisdom they acquired over their lifetime. Meanwhile, his sister stood off to the side, her fingers drumming impatiently on her crossed arms.

    ¡®It must be a bit awkward for her¡­ or wait. Maybe it''s boring?¡¯

    Taking a closer look at her, she seemed to act like a biker who was itching to get back on the road, with an annoyed expression on her face as if she was saying, ¡®Why the hell are you making me wait here for this charade!¡¯

    ¡®Note to self, the sister is scary¡­¡¯

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Kaelith raised his head to look at me, ¡°You said that I would have to be traveling¡ªhow often would I be able to come home?¡±

    ¡°I believe you would have a month of vacation time to use at your discretion. The only restriction would be that you can¡¯t leave when we have important work happening. Otherwise, you can go home whenever you feel like it.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Hmmm¡­¡±

    Kaelith then huddled with his mother and father, whispering their thoughts to each other, probably weighing the pros and cons of my offer.

    Eventually, they seemed to reach a decision, and Kaelith faced me once more. His face was filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness as he gave me his answer, ¡°I will take your offer for the job.¡± His voice trembled as he spoke.

    Standing up, I offered my hand out while saying, ¡°I look forward to having you with us.¡±

    Kaelith quickly jumped up from his seat, took hold of my hand, and shook it, ¡°So do I,¡± he said with a nervous smile.

    Kaelith¡¯s mother also stood up, ¡°Would you like something to drink? Why don¡¯t you stay for dinner?¡±

    I quickly replied with a smile, ¡°I would love that, but I have to meet with someone who is waiting for me. When do you think you¡¯ll be ready to leave, Kaelith?¡±

    Kaelith glanced back at his parents, who warmly smiled at him. Turning to look at me, he said, ¡°I think I¡¯ll be ready to leave by tomorrow. I¡¯d like to spend tonight packing and talking with my family.¡±

    Nodding, I replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. Thank you for your time.¡±

    I opened the creaky door leading out of the home and said my goodbyes as I stepped out onto the cool soil. The sun had nearly disappeared from sight, and the moon was beginning to take center stage in the sky above, casting a serene glow over the golden fields.

    I finally got both of them! That means the most uncertain part of the mission is now complete.

    ¡®Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!¡¯

    I was pumping my hands into the air. If anyone saw me, they¡¯d think I¡¯d gone crazy.

    ¡®I¡¯m so glad that went well. Now all I need to do is take them both back to the base¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, I heard the cold robotic voice of [Neuro], my personal AI, through my glasses.

    ¡°Incoming call from Nanik.¡±

    ¡®NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!¡¯

    Begrudgingly, I accepted the call, and Nanik¡¯s voice came through.

    ¡°So, how has your mission been going so far?¡±

    I replied as formally as possible out of spite, ¡°It has been proceeding smoothly, sir.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, why so distant? I¡¯m practically a foster dad, aren¡¯t I? After all, I had to raise you from a fletching that knew nothing and taught you the ways of the world.¡± His condescending tone made me want to punch him.

    ¡°So, is there anything else you wanted to discuss? If not, I would like to get back to work.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. The reason I¡¯m contacting you is to tell you that I¡¯ve gotten word about that rare metal you wanted. The Kyritite metal is going to be transported by a company called ¡®Stetson Trading Company¡¯ in a month. I¡¯ll give you more details when I get them.¡±

    Hearing the unexpected good news, I felt a bit awkward about the way I had talked to him earlier.

    Coughing, I reluctantly rescinded my previous words, ¡°Ahem¡­ Well, thank you for the information. I¡¯ll make sure to finish up here so we can discuss that in more detail. Speaking of which, what are you up to right now? You¡¯ve been quite secretive recently...¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that.¡±

    ¡°I see... In that case, I¡¯ll hang up now. Goodbye.¡±

    Before he could say anything else, I quickly hung up the call.

    ¡®That was awkward¡­ Well, tomorrow is the day we head back. Hmm, after we get back to base I should check how capable the two of them are when it comes to fighting. As far as I know, I¡¯ve got a guy who likely learnt combat fighting from a McDojo while the other probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to recognize friend and foe¡­¡¯

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Farthington sat in the Airblade. His emerald eyes were fixated on the book he held in his hands. He had been engrossed in reading ¡°Magical Me¡± the entire day.

    ¡°Hah! Truly a magnificent piece of literature!¡± he blurted out randomly before going back to reading the book in silence alone. The cabin of the Airblade was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the engine and the rustling of pages as Farthington eagerly turned them.

 Departure From The Farming Town

    The day after meeting with Kaelith and his family, I awoke in the Airblade after a restless night. Farthington seemed to have made himself at home, lounging and sleeping in the back of the Airblade, with newspaper clippings about Hollia splayed about. Not sure how he brought those along¡­

    Stretching my arms and legs as I stepped out of the cockpit, I was greeted by the morning sun casting its warm brilliance over the land.

    "I guess I¡¯ll go see if Kaelith is prepared to head back in an hour or so. Till then, I¡¯ll have to find something to do or think about to pass the time¡­" Letting out an audible sigh of boredom, I let my mind wander, hoping to make the time pass a bit faster.

    ''Perhaps I should test my experiment out...''

    Over the past few months, I tried delving into the mysteries of the mind (¡®cause why not?). I had a thought: what if I could create a ¡°split personality¡± that I could switch on and off at will? I would fantasize constantly about all the conveniences of being able to do work autonomously. The idea intrigued me, and I wanted to see if I could pull it off.

    Initially, I tried to find another well-versed Mechanic to set it up for me. As it turns out, though, not many people are in the business of mind-framing, so that idea was quickly tossed out. I then tried to use the onboard sensors and cameras built into my glasses in conjunction with [Neruo], who was already capable of transmitting and blocking stimuli through my sensory nerves, to influence my response to incoming information.

    I¡¯m not quite sure how it worked, and the entire process was ladled with risk, but I was able to emulate a little bit of what I had envisioned. It appeared that, after being able to connect [Neuro] to my subconscious, I was able to enter a trance-like state. So far, I¡¯ve only been able to test this in an isolated environment, so I was curious to see how it¡¯d fare in a place with more variables.

    ¡°[Neuro], activate full combat trance for five minutes and record my vital activity.¡±

    <hr>

    Inside the Airblade, Farthington had grown weary of the lack of activities and decided to take a stroll outside.

    ''Who knows, I might just get some good inspiration for the next entry in my autobiography¡­''

    With a thump, the Airblade door closed, and Farthington stepped out onto the ground. As he walked around the area where the Airblade was parked, he heard multiple sharp Fwings echoing some distance away.

    ''Huh, who is training around these parts?''

    Confused but curious, Farthington walked towards the sound. As he approached a secluded clearing, he saw Tokei swinging a dagger around. She wore a cloak over a white t-shirt and black cargo pants. Her amethyst eyes glowed as if someone was shining a light through purple crystals, and her face was scarily expressionless, like a robot''s.

    Each swing of her dagger''s blade pushed the air away rapidly, creating swirls of dust with every movement. The speed of her strikes were mesmerizing, each one cutting through the air crisply, a testament to the power behind her strikes.

    Farthington watched in silence for a moment. He had already known that she was strong from back when she managed to pick him up by the collar single-handedly in the alley not too long ago, but it appeared that she was even somewhat adept with a blade.

    ¡®She¡¯s quite dangerous. Maybe I should wait before making negotiations for any raises¡­¡¯

    Breaking the silence, he called out, ¡°Ma¡¯am, what are you doing?¡± However, the only response he received was the continued sound of slashes from each of Tokei¡¯s swings.

    Around a few seconds later, The glow in Tokei¡¯s eyes faded out and her expression softened a little bit, making her seem human once more.

    ¡­

    [Disabling ¡°Combat Trance¡±... Vitals within normal limits of low-intensity exercise. Occipital/Temporal lobes lack configurations: targeting system failed to initiate]

    Once again, [Neuro] was spewing phrases that were complete jargon to me. Thankfully, however, it seemed like I didn¡¯t completely botch the trance itself¡ªthat would have been a disaster.

    My contemplative bubble was burst when I noticed Farthington in the corner of my eyes,

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    He had a somewhat scrutinizing expression on his face, as if he were sizing me up.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Hmm, your consistency with the blade was decent, but your form and technique were practically nonexistent¡­¡± he said, rubbing his chin while standing condescendingly.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I lack any form of training with weapons. I specialize more in information and support,¡± I replied firmly.

    ¡°Speaking of which, madam, I don¡¯t believe you¡¯ve told me what type of work I¡¯ll be handling as part of ¡®Shadow Phoenix¡¯,¡± Farthington remarked with an intrigued tone.

    ¡°As far as I know, you¡¯ll most likely be a combatant on the field when necessary and you will work to complete different missions. How familiar are you with combat?¡±

    ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m glad you asked. I¡¯ve trained with the sword and I know my way around firearms, all thanks to my career in acting. I can even strengthen weapons using mana. Heh, perks of being a Martial Artist.¡±

    ¡°Ah, alright¡­¡±

    ¡®He seemed quite proud when he said that. Wonder if that actually translates to real combat, though¡­¡¯

    In a whisper, I talked to Neuro, ¡°[Neuro], pull up information on Martial Artists who strengthen weapons.¡±

    [Processing¡­ user¡¯s prompt indicates an over 95% correspondence to ¡°Enhancers¡±. Proceed with a summary?]

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    [Enhancer: Entities proficient in Sethnine transfiguration in equipment and target objects. Object becomes imbued and receives varying amplifications depending on the application.]

    [Abundance: Widespread ¡ª records found in both Mittelreich and Entwick regions (Neutral)]

    As I absorbed this information, I couldn''t help but be impressed by the versatility of Enhancers. If Farthington''s claims were true, he could be a valuable asset in the field. That is, if his enhancements fit our line of work.

    ¡°Well, Farthington, it seems you might indeed be of use. Once we get back, I¡¯ll design a combat-oriented assessment befitting of the skills required of both you and our other newcomer.

    Farthington¡¯s emerald eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m ready whenever you are. As long as I get paid the right price, that is.¡±

    I nodded, making a mental note to arrange a training session soon. ¡°For now, we need to prepare for our departure. Once we get going, it will take a few days to get back to Tekuno, where the Shadow Phoenix base is located.¡±

    With that, I turned my attention to the time.

    ¡®Let''s see¡­ Kaelith should be ready to depart any moment now. I should probably start heading over to pick him up.¡¯

    I let Farthington know I was leaving and made my way towards Kaelith¡¯s home. The sun was out with a clear sky. I would¡¯ve liked to bask in the sunlight for a little bit if not for the scorching heat making me sweat buckets.

    [Note: Spoken like a true shut-in]

    As the blue house and rickety red shack came into view, I let out an exasperated sigh,

    ¡°Finally~¡±

    Approaching the front door, I knocked gently, and the door swung open almost immediately, revealing Kaelith, who was wearing an oversized white shirt and jeans with a small bag slung over his shoulder, ready for departure.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Kaelith greeted, his jubilant face was almost laughable when put next to my nearly unkempt state.

    ¡°Ah, right. Good morning,¡± I replied, trying to hurry things up. ¡°Are you all set to go?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve packed everything I need,¡± he said, stepping out of the house. His family members appeared at the doorway, waving and offering encouraging smiles.

    ¡°You need to take care of yourself and make sure you look your best. Got it? And make sure to visit whenever you have free time,¡± Kaelith¡¯s mother called out, and his father gave a simple nod in response.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back again before you know it, don¡¯t miss me too much!¡± Kaelith reassured them, waving one last time before turning to follow me.

    We were trekking our way back, and I was expecting an earful of questions from Kaelith about the job, but nothing of that sort came. He was being awfully quiet.

    ¡°Is something the matter, Kaelith?¡±

    His steps came to a halt, and he turned to look at me, his eyes slightly narrowed, which made me stop in my tracks as well.

    ¡°No, I was just thinking¡­ your name isn¡¯t actually Trixy, is it?¡±

    ¡®Huh? I thought he was going to ask me something along the lines of¡ªnever mind. But how¡¯d he know? My expression was perfect!¡¯ I drew in a breath as I regained my composure,

    ¡°Hoo¡­ You¡¯re right, Trixy¡¯s just an alias of mine. I¡¯ll properly introduce myself to you and another recruit we¡¯ll be meeting shortly. I apologize,¡±

    I paused for a moment, and decided to ask away,

    ¡°How long have you known?¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing much, really. I just had a hunch when I first met you at the market.¡± Kaelith gave a light chuckle and rubbed his face.

    ¡®I had the impression that he was an extroverted conversationalist like a certain swindler (perhaps they¡¯d get along). He¡¯s more cognizant than I gave him credit for.¡¯

    Kaelith seemed to be satisfied with my response, and he continued on our way back. By the time we reached the Airblade, I was drenched in sweat, my clothes sticking uncomfortably to my skin.

    Farthington was already waiting, leaning against the vehicle with an impatient scowl.

    ¡°About time. I nearly died in there with the engine turned off!¡± he remarked, his tone annoyed.

    While I could understand Farthington¡¯s gripe to some extent, he seems to have already forgotten that I had so kindly left the engine on yesterday for him. So much for goodwill.

    ¡°I was as punctual as I could be. Now, come on, let¡¯s get going,¡± I said, ushering both Farthington and Kaelith inside. ¡°It¡¯s a long journey to Tekuno, so you best get prepared.¡±

    With everyone on board, the Airblade roared to life, its engines humming as we lifted off the ground. As we soared into the sky, leaving the small farming town behind, I felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

 Settling In to Shadow Phoenix HQ

    [After a lengthy journey, the Airblade touched down at the Shadow Phoenix Headquarters¡¯ Hangar¡­]

    Stepping out of the Airblade, which had just parked with a soft hum, I gestured for Kaelith and Farthington to follow. They emerged from the sleek, metallic craft, taking in the vast surroundings of the Shadow Phoenix base''s grand hangar. The expanse was massive¡ªeasily large enough to store a passenger plane or two, with its ceiling lost in the heights above with beams of artificial light illuminating the space below.

    Along the north side of the hangar was a row of parked cars which ranged from Heavy utility vehicles to a luxury sports car (I¡¯ve been looking for the right excuse to get my hands on it). Installed beside the parking space was a section of the hangar that looked like a mini auto repair shop. Apart from that, though, the rest of the hangar was mainly open space at the moment.

    ¡°Hmm, this hangar is quite decent. Don¡¯t you think so, farm boy?¡± Farthington remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the luxury car in the distance.

    Kaelith chortled while taking in the view,

    ¡°I guess it really is impressive¡­¡±

    My previous assumption was affirmed, as, while I was making up for my many hours of missed sleep (the Airblade was set to autopilot), Farthington and Kaelith had become quite acquainted with one another, which could prove to be both a good and a bad thing.

    ¡°Once we get into the main building, we¡¯ll fill out your paperwork and get you two settled in,¡± I said, leading them from the Hangar to the ''Research and Development¡¯ section of the complex, which was located on the opposite side of the base. It housed quite a myriad of different rooms, ranging from the weapon development room and medical research rooms, all the way to the tech department.

    ¡®I¡¯ve probably spent more time in the tech department¡¯s workshop than in my own room. Not sure if that¡¯s really healthy¡­ Oh, I overlooked this place as well¡¯

    We found our way to the filing room and I used the key to open the door. Inside, a bland repository of shadowy, neglected archives laid bare. Dust coated the surfaces in thick layers, with the scent of old paper hanging heavily in the air. Rows upon rows of filing cabinets stretched out, holding a vast amount of folders and papers within them.

    ¡°Bloody¡­ looks like it hasn''t been used in ages. Don¡¯t you have anyone to clean up these things?¡± Farthington animatedly retched, scrunching his nose at the musty surroundings.

    Sighing, I replied, ¡°That¡¯s because there¡¯s no one around to do those things. Currently, including the two of you, Shadow Phoenix¡¯s entire count is four people.¡±

    ¡°Wait, just four?¡± Kaelith interjected.

    Farthington put his hand to his chin, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what¡¯s the need for a complex this large for such a small group of people, madam?¡±

    ¡®Both valid questions. I want to know that, too!¡¯

    ¡°If you really want to know, you can ask the boss when he¡¯s back,¡± I answered, trying to sound indifferent. Can¡¯t have them questioning my seniority this early on! ¡°Anyway~ I¡¯ll get the contracts printed for you guys to sign. Wait here while I¡¯m doing that.¡±

    After a short while, I returned with two crisp contracts in hand. The smell of fresh ink mingled with the dust as I walked over to a nearby desk. Swiping the dust off, I laid the contracts down and placed a pen, which I had just grabbed from the copying room earlier, beside them.

    ¡°Alright, here are the contracts. Read over them and sign at the designated spot on the final page. Once you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll show you to your rooms and explain your responsibilities in more detail.¡±

    Farthington immediately picked up the contract, poring over the lines with intense scrutiny, his eyes narrowing as he read. Kaelith, on the other hand, stood frozen in front of his contract, simply staring at it with his lips slightly pursed. His hesitation was palpable.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Confused, I asked, ¡°Is something about the contract not right with you, Kaelith?¡±

    Scratching the back of his head, he replied with a nervous smile, his voice low,

    ¡°I hate to bring it up now, but I can¡¯t really read¡­¡±

    ¡°In that case, let me read it to you so we can move this along,¡± I said, picking up the paper.

    ¡®Just as I thought that was all of the patchwork¡­¡¯

    After about ten minutes, I finished reading the contract aloud and placed it back on the desk. ¡°Well, there you have it. Now, if you would please sign right here,¡± I pointed to the designated signature line. ¡°Do you know how to write your name?¡±

    Taking hold of the pen, Kaelith replied, ¡±I was at least taught how to write that, fortunately.¡±

    As Kaelith began scribbling his signature, Farthington approached me, his own contract in hand, already signed.

    ¡°I have a question, madam. And I don¡¯t mean to insinuate anything, but, what exactly does the boss see in him?¡±

    ¡°Same as my previous answer. Speaking of that¡ª as far as I¡¯m aware, the boss should be back from his business trip in a couple days for your official ¡®debriefing¡¯ of sorts. Perhaps he¡¯ll also have a task that needs to be completed as well.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind,¡± Farthington said, clearly intrigued.

    Kaelith finished writing his name and handed his contract over to me. I scanned the papers using my glasses, digitizing them for easier access, and placed the hard copies in a folder, which I then filed away in the designated cabinet.

    Turning to Kaelith, who had found a seat and was patiently waiting, and Farthington, who was sitting beside Kaelith, fully engrossed in his book, I announced,

    ¡°Ahem, now that you¡¯re both officially part of the team, let me welcome you to Shadow Phoenix¡¯s quarters. You¡¯ll be rooming individually there for the entirety of your time with us. I think you¡¯ll find your quarters quite nice.¡±

    Farthington looked skeptical. ¡°Tsk, how nice could they be? If the whole ¡®military base¡¯ aesthetic follows, I doubt they¡¯d be that great.¡±

    A Few Moments Later...

    ¡°This room is exquisite!¡± Farthington exclaimed as he inspected every nook and cranny of his new abode. His earlier skepticism had completely vanished.

    The rooms were outfitted with a spacious living room, fitted with a large flat-screen TV and a plush couch. Behind the couch and TV was a kitchenette with a microwave, coffee maker, and mini-fridge. A connecting hallway led to the bedroom, which featured a large bed with a bedside table and night lamp, as well as a wide personal desk with ample workspace. A door led to a private bathroom and closet, making it luxury living for most people, Farthington and Kaelith included.

    ¡°Does this meet your standards? If not-¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? I never said anything about the rooms¡­¡± Farthington turned to me, his face the picture of feigned innocence.

    Suppressing a smile, I replied, ¡°All the employees working on-site will receive a room like this each. There are 30 of these in the staff quarters.¡±

    ¡°Must¡¯ve been expensive~¡± Farthington muttered as he resumed playing around with the coffee maker.

    ¡°Alright then, once you''re done looking around, meet me in the employee lounge right down the hallway outside,¡± I said as I left the room.

    In the lounge, I took a seat on a stool at the main kitchen island.

    ¡®Let''s see¡­ After they¡¯re done looking at their rooms, I¡¯ll have them spar with me to gauge how they fare in a fight. I wonder how the reconfiguration of [Combat Trance] is coming along¡­¡¯

    During the trip back to Shadow Phoenix Headquarters, I instructed [Neuro] to analyze that error that the trance had, and find alternate pathways to enable it. The new version should detect and lock onto those that I¡¯ve set a [Data Tag] on. Still, the range of motion that [Combat Trance] has is quite limited due to the fact that I¡¯m not yet confident in linking it directly to my mind.

    [Combat Trance: version 2.0 is now ready for use.]

    ¡°Miss Tokei, we¡¯re here,¡± Kaelith¡¯s voice came from the hallway leading into the employee lounge.

    Turning to look at him, I saw both Kaelith and Farthington approaching.

    ¡°You can drop the ¡®miss,¡¯ Kaelith. It¡¯s not important to keep up formalities with me,¡± I said in a relaxed tone.

    Apparently, after telling the both of them my name, Kaelith seemed to have wrongly thought Farthington''s habit of being overly couth was a policy.

    ¡°Oh, okay. Tokei from now on then,¡± Kaelith said, looking somewhat relieved that he didn¡¯t have to be formal.

    ¡°Alright, then. I think it''s about time we have ourselves a sparring match.¡±

 The Spar

    "Sparring?" Kaelith questioned. "Why would we be doing that?"

    Getting up from the stool, I walked towards the two of them. "This job can get dangerous, so being able to fight is practically a requirement. Due to that, I thought that it¡¯d be convenient to use your initiation assessments to gauge your combat readiness¡ª¡°

    I glanced over at Farthington, who had been in the know of this, and added,

    ¡±Of course, since we¡¯re the only ones here, I¡¯ll be assessing the both of you in a two-on-one spar."

    Kaelith frowned, seeming to be concerned with my proposition, ¡°Me and Farthington against you? Wouldn''t that be a bit too much? With both of us over here on one team, I don¡¯t know if you could get much information from this¡­¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure of that.¡±

    ¡°Hm? Did¡¯ya say something, Farthington?¡±

    Farthington, in turn, heaved a deep sigh.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just¡ªI admire your confidence.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s face was filled with question marks. Figures, since he has no idea what had happened between me and Farthington prior to our meeting with him.

    ¡®Not very high expectations for these guys¡­¡¯

    ¡°If you are done preparing yourselves, follow me. I¡¯ll take you to the training grounds here at the base.¡±

    I started walking out of the employee lounge and the two of them quickly followed suit, although Farthington seemed to be a bit reluctant as he seemed to be muttering something again.

    The three of us walked over to the Training department of the base, which housed quite the inventory of facilities, from traditional arts, such as the one for swordsmanship training, to more state-of-the-art facilities like the shooting range.

    Out of the different areas, I took them all the way down to the end, which housed the mock battle environment, which would be most suitable for their ¡°assessment¡±. The space was vast, filled with various training setups: small pieces of cover, makeshift plywood buildings, and obstacles scattered about. The rubbery ground cushioned our steps, and the bright ceiling lights bathed the area in harsh, artificial daylight.

    Before entering the grounds, I handed Kaelith and Farthington each a wooden training sword and took one for myself.

    "You can use these swords and any of your pathway abilities to your advantage¡ªjust don''t do anything that could inflict major harm on yourself or me. And don¡¯t worry about breaking these things; they¡¯re made of condensed wood, so it can take quite the beating¡­ What are you two standing around for? You should formulate a plan or something.¡±

    "Hmph, that¡¯s probably a good idea. Over here, Kaelith."

    Farthington beckoned Kaelith to the north end of the stage. Together, the two of them started discussing things in hushed tones. After a few moments, Kaelith raised his hands with a thumbs-up to indicate to me that they were done.

    "Alright. Set yourselves up on your end and find the red button that says ¡®ready¡¯. I¡¯ll start at the other side. The assessment will be 5 minutes, so don¡¯t expect me to hold back. Best of luck~"

    <hr>

    Standing at the north corner, Kaelith''s knuckles whitened around the grip of his wooden sword. The anticipation hung thick in the air, tension tightening his muscles. Beside him, Farthington stretched his shoulders, his eyes glinting with a competitive fire.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to redeem myself.¡±

    BZZZZT!

    The buzzer blared, marking the beginning of the spar.

    Farthington exploded from the starting line, a blur of movement. He sprinted forward, weaving through the scattered plywood structures, his eyes locked on the opposite end of the arena.

    Kaelith, matching Farthington''s burst of speed, took a breath and followed, his pace more measured but no less determined. His heart pounded as he pushed forward, threading through the course similarly, but at a more brisk pace.

    Ahead, Farthington made his way out of the forest of structures and entered a large clearing in the middle of the sparring environment. With fewer barriers obstructing vision, Tokei was also seen entering the center.

    Her quick strides suddenly came to a halt. Tokei looked around, and with a slight nod, closed her eyes and seemed to mutter something, quickly opening them once more thereafter. Her pupils, which were already an unusual purple, glowed in a deeper hue.

    ¡®Darn, what¡¯s up with that scary glare? It¡¯s just like the other time!¡¯

    Her demeanor was familiarly cold, with a faceless expression that met with Farthington. Though, instead of rushing at him as Farthington had imagined, Tokei kept her weapon arm lowered. Farthington wasted no time¡ªcatching any gap in her technique could turn the spar over to their side.

    He charged toward her, his sword drawn back to his side, prepared to strike. The air around his blade shimmered with a frosty aura, cold mist coalescing and trailing behind it as it made a lateral arc towards Tokei¡¯s midsection.

    Whoosh~!

    Just as the sword was about to make contact, Tokei¡¯s grip tightened around her sword. Her arms inverted and swung outwards, intercepting his strike effectively. Her solid posture proved more powerful, as Farthington¡¯s flashy but crude swing left him unbalanced, causing him to stumble backwards as his momentum changed direction.

    Before she could capitalize on his falter, a crackling needle of condensed electricity zipped through the air. Tokei''s eyes flicked to the side; her sword raised to block the incoming projectile.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Sss-!

    The bolt struck the fuller of her sword, causing small chips of wood to peel off, charring its surface as an audible hiss could be heard.

    Kaelith, having closed the distance, lunged at Tokei, using his shoulder to leverage the downward slice. His eyes widened in focus, and the force he put behind it made it zip through the air.

    During this time, Farthington had also regained his footing, and started to draw mana back into his weapon. This time, a soft green glow was emitted carrying with it a peculiar sense of erraticness. His strike, propelled by it, hurled at speeds unmatched by his previous attack.

    Tokei¡¯s feet clambered as she narrowly twisted her body out of the trajectory of Farthington¡¯s assailment, instead repositioning towards Kaelith.

    PA!

    Kaelith¡¯s sword struck cleanly on Tokei¡¯s shoulder, causing her to slightly slump down in response.

    ¡°Nice¡ªwhat?¡±

    To his surprise, however, Tokei didn¡¯t bat an eye, completely ignoring what should¡¯ve been a devastating blow. In one fluid motion, Tokei reached for Kaelith¡¯s extended arm, yanking him forwards.

    Focusing all of her power into her right leg, Tokei delivered an explosive push kick to Kaelith''s torso. The impact rippled throughout his body, and he was sent hurtling backward, crashing through the flimsy walls of a nearby structure. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the arena.

    Without missing a beat, Tokei redirected her focus to Farthington who had closed the distance between the two of them. Their swords clashed once more, the wooden blades shaking with each strike.

    <hr>

    CRACK!

    Kaelith crashed through the training room''s wooden obstacles, tumbling and landing on his side. His breaths came in heavy, ragged gasps, but in spite of his exhaustion, he managed to avoid completely collapsing.

    ¡®What have I gotten myself into here¡­¡¯

    Despite Tokei¡¯s claims of not being a fighter, she demonstrated a strength that was more than on par with both him and Farthington.

    Clenching his fist, Kaelith resisted the radiating pain from his abdomen, forcing himself to stand. Through the large gap in the wall he had broken through, he could see Tokei and Farthington locked in combat, their movements barely discernible to him.

    With effort, Kaelith unclenched his hand, generating electrical currents. Electricity arced around the air from his fingertips, centralizing within the center of his palm forming a bolt.

    Click¡ª

    Kaelith fully flattened his palm, and the bolt partitioned into thin segments that started to spin.

    <hr>

    CLACK!

    Farthington''s complexion had started to grow paler as the exchange went on, with every use of his ¡°aura¡± waning in intensity. Still, the frost inflicted over time had started to coat Tokei¡¯s blade, making it slightly easier for him to redirect hits. Now on the defensive, he batted away Tokei''s rapid jabs, desperately looking for any openings; unfortunately, they were too few and far between, with no time for him to act on it.

    He could feel his arms becoming numb from the battle. On the other hand, the movements Tokei made in tandem to his continued to flow without a drop in consistency, which was quite astounding to him.

    ¡®She¡¯s got what¡¯s like an endless reservoir of energy, and I¡¯m reaching the point where most of my converted sethnine is no longer useful¡­ I can only rely on my chances here.¡¯

    Farthington slowly retreated back while holding his guard. Threads of green aura began to emit once more, creating turbulence with the surrounding air. He forcefully swung downwards, sweeping at Tokei¡¯s legs.

    Tokei, anticipating his move, stepped backward. However, Farthington¡¯s sword emitted a brighter green, and unnaturally changed its course of direction, jutting forward quickly in a stabbing motion¡ªa feint.

    Tokei swung her sword upwards to block it, but the timing was off, causing it to graze across the same shoulder that was struck earlier. Using the opening created by this, she drove a punch into Farthington¡¯s stomach, finally taking the wind out of him. Farthington buckled as he fell down to one knee, being supported solely by his sword, which had miraculously incurred only moderate damage until now.

    Tzzzt~!

    The buzzing noise alerted Tokei. As she looked up, a barrage of bright-blue needles flashed towards her. A few shot through her, making the affected areas spasm uncontrollably for a few moments.

    Eventually, she was able to regain control over herself and started to dash away towards the closest barrier for cover. Another volley soon arrived, whizzing across the arena. Tokei swung her sword as she ran, deflecting some needles with the blade.

    Using the momentum gained from her spring, Tokei executed a front roll as she dove towards the barrier. Her body twisted midair, dodging the electrically charged projectiles Kaelith had sent her way before she made it behind the cover.

    BZZZZT!

    The buzzer sounded a second time, signaling the end of their brief but fierce bout. Farthington and Kaelith both instantly flopped down to the floor, their attempts to rise thwarted by their own exhaustion.

    Behind the barrier, Tokei¡¯s face once again showed her usual expressiveness. Immediately, her expression soured as the pain started settling in.

    <hr>

    After frantically giving Farthington and Kaelith each a bottle of water and telling them I had to ¡®check and inform the boss about the results of the fight¡¯, I slipped out of the mock battle room.

    Dropping the wooden sword, I leaned my back against the building walls, hunched over, my one hand clutching my shoulder whilst the other clutching my knees as I tried to ease my breathing.

    ¡®I definitely overextended. Just what was I thinking, trying to show off? If they had been any more experienced¡­ Forget it, at least they were able to work together..¡¯

    ¡°Hah¡­ [Neuro], send me the analysis of my vitals and [Combat Trance: v2].¡±

    [Affirmative. Compiling data¡­]

    [Vital signs show acute injury to the Left Shoulder Muscle Group. Risk of Omohyoid Syndrome: Low.]

    [Summary: ¡°Pain Inhibitors¡±: Effective (during use). No adverse effect observed, however, it is not sustainable for longevity. Advised Minimum Convalescence (Cooldown) time: 5 days.]

    ¡®Should I be concerned about this eerie word choice? I think a visit to the doctor¡¯s about du-¡¯

    [Detecting a Technical abnormality located posterior of the palm. Running interference¡­ Failure. Running Diagnostics¡­]

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    I glanced down at the back of my hand, and quickly found out about what that so-called ¡°abnormality¡± was. A bizarre¡­ symbol had appeared there some time between the sparring match. It was dark, with multiple rings of circles, some lined with an unknown language intersecting perpendicularly to the rings. In the middle of it was a dot, much darker than the rest of the pattern.

    I tried rubbing the spot to see what it felt like, only to see that the symbol was embedded into my skin, akin to what a tattoo would feel like.

    [Processing¡­ Integration initiating. Contact with phenomenon should be minimized.]

    Oh.

    Not long after I received that message from [Neuro], I started to feel a certain tingling that coursed throughout my body, originating from the hand. After 2 odd minutes, the feeling subsided, and I waited patiently for [Neuro] to tell me what it just did.

    [Integration Successful. ¡°[Developer¡¯s Eye]¡± has been designated as Activation Command.]

    ¡®Activation Command¡ªdoes something happen when I look at this thing with it?¡¯

    Normally, when viewing my own body with [Developer¡¯s Eye], I couldn¡¯t ¡±see¡± any of my own data, but I decided to give it a shot anyway.

    As the world collapsed into strands of code, I looked down at the symbol. Surprisingly enough, it had maintained its appearance despite my ability being active; it looked out of place, floating in the air where my hand would have been.

    The concentric rings and text started to spin clockwise, like a dial or a loading popup. From the center dot, a black and white Command Terminal-esque screen was projected to me.

    [Connection Established]

    [Mana Production Rate (MPR) of target entity has reached the Minimum Threshold]

    [Bandwidth increased from 1 -> 2 Terabytes]

    [Packet loss decreased from 70% -> 69%]

    ¡°Huh!?¡±

 Plans

    ¡®Bandwidth? Packet loss?¡¯

    Looking at the terminal in front of me, I stood in a daze lost in my thoughts.

    ¡®What did it mean when it said that the target entity reached the minimum mana production rate? I¡¯m assuming it was talking about me since it showed up in front of me, but I can¡¯t utilize any mana¡­ Is it saying that my Mansian actually works?¡¯

    Years of research across Entwick countries had shed light on the mysterious process of mana production. Scientists discovered that mana originated from an organ known as the Mansian, commonly found in eukaryotic organisms. Situated near the heart in most creatures, or at the base of the stem in plants

    A Mansian takes in Sethnine, also referred to as raw mana, from the surroundings and converts it to a form of mana which is then able to be utilized by the organism at will. Sethnine is present throughout the entirety of the planet and is similar to dark matter in that it cannot emit, absorb, or reflect light making it impossible to identify using conventional means.

    In the case of people who aren¡¯t able to use mana from birth, they are found to still possess a Mansian. However, there do not seem to be any traces of mana being produced from their Mansians, leading researchers to believe that the Mansians that they possess are similar to vestigial organs that don¡¯t have any functions¡­

    If a person who can¡¯t use mana like me still produces it, why aren¡¯t there any traces of mana present in the slightest? Where would it be going?

    It also mentioned Bandwith and packet loss. Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over an internet connection. Packets are pieces of data that make up all digital files, like pictures, texts, websites, etc. which recombine at their destination to reform into the sent item. Packet loss is when some of those packets that are traveling across a network are lost during transport. The more packet loss you have, the slower and laggier your connection. These two terms are common when it comes to computer networking, but why are they showing up here on this terminal?

    Without realizing it, I began to fidget with the sides of my glasses as I was lost in my thoughts.

    ¡®I can think about this more later. For now, I should deal with those two first and talk to Nanik about having completed the mission.¡¯

    Having sorted out my thoughts, I made my way over to Kaelith and Farthington, walking over some of the splintered chunks of plywood that littered the ground. Helping each of them to their feet and bringing them back to their rooms separately to rest. Once I finished I was finally alone once more.

    Exhaustion clung to me like a shadow, a relentless reminder of the past two grueling weeks. Deciding to steal a moment of reprieve, I made my way to my room, seeking solace in its familiar confines. As I stepped inside, the sight of my bedroom enveloped me in a bittersweet comfort. The walls seemed to echo with memories of countless hours spent here¡ªmy sanctuary.

    My desk was a chaotic testament to my restless mind, cluttered with books, their spines cracked from fervent reading sessions. My desktop computer, a labor of love pieced together from my self-taught knowledge, hummed quietly in the corner. It was a symbol of my determination to learn, born from countless nights of poring over computer manuals.

    Longing for escape, I flung myself onto the bed, sinking into the mattress as if it could absorb the weight of my burdens. The world outside blurred into insignificance, and I surrendered to the embrace of sleep, hoping it would offer me a fleeting respite from my troubles, however brief.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Kuegh¡ª

    I jolted awake, my body recoiling as if struck by an unseen force. Gasping for air, my chest heaved with each desperate breath. Tears surged forth, unbidden, streaming down my face in a torrent. The room around me dissolved, leaving me adrift in a suffocating void, a silent scream echoing in the abyss.

    In the throes of panic, a sliver of awareness pierced the chaos. My hand flailed, reaching out for the sanctuary of my bedside table, grasping blindly until my fingers brushed against the cool surface of a small bottle. With trembling hands, I fumbled to open it, my vision blurred by tears. The pill slipped out, a tiny lifeline in my shaking palm.

    I swallowed it with difficulty, my sobs wracking my frame as I curled into myself. Hunched over on the edge of the bed, I was a broken figure, my eyes swollen from the relentless downpour of grief. The medicine began to take hold, its familiar numbing effect dulling the edges of my anguish.

    This¡­ this hollow ritual, it was nothing new. A cruel familiarity that gnawed at my spirit, an unending cycle of despair and fleeting reprieve. In the stillness of my room, I was left alone with the echoes of my torment, clinging to the fragile hope that one day, the emptiness might finally release its hold on me.

    My existence felt hollow, an empty shell adrift in a world that seemed to revel in despair. What was the point of it all? The void left by my missing memories was a gaping chasm, an ever-present reminder of my fractured identity. The emptiness gnawed at me, a haunting specter that I couldn¡¯t ignore. In the absence of my past, I clung to the hope that uncovering my forgotten history might fill the void, offering some shred of meaning in this desolate existence.

    The thought of reclaiming my past was the sole beacon in my darkness, a fragile thread of hope in the endless abyss. It consumed me, a desperate craving for answers that overshadowed all else. Every step I took, every decision I made, was driven by the relentless pursuit of my forgotten self.

    ¡®Learning about my past takes priority over everything I do. I don¡¯t think the panic attacks will stop otherwise¡­¡¯

    The resolve solidified within me, a fiery determination burning brighter than ever. I had to speak with Nanik, the only one who might hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of my existence.

    ¡®I should call him and find out when he¡¯s coming back.¡¯

    Shuffling off my bed, I grabbed my glasses from the bedside table. My fingers brushed against my disheveled hair, tucking the unruly strands behind my ear. As I put on the glasses, the lenses flickered to life, casting a soft glow as they powered on.

    ¡°Neuro, call Nanik for me.¡±

    Silence. A faint buzz filled the room as I waited for a response.

    ¡°...Neuro?¡±

    Finally, Neuro¡¯s robotic voice came through, but there was something different about it, a subtle shift in its tone and wording.

    ¡°Yes, what do you need?¡±

    ¡®I don¡¯t recall upgrading its speech patterns¡­¡¯

    ¡°Could you call Nanik?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    I stood in the dim room, the glow of my glasses casting eerie shadows on the walls, waiting for the call to connect. The anticipation gnawed at me until Nanik¡¯s familiar, upbeat voice burst through the silence, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

    ¡°Hey kid, how¡¯ve you been?¡±

    Indifferently, I replied, ¡°I just got both of those anomalies back to the headquarters. To be honest, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯d want them here. They just seem like normal people to me.¡±

    ¡°Well, it shouldn¡¯t really matter to you. What you should be thinking about is the lead about you that I just found.¡±

    ¡°What? You found something about me?¡± My heart raced, a rush of adrenaline flooding my system. I forced myself to calm down. ¡°Ahem, just what did you find?¡±

    ¡°I feel this would be better to discuss in person than over the phone. Speaking of which, I¡¯ll be back in a month¡¯s time. Until then, I want you to prep the two anomalies for a combat mission.¡± His tone shifted, becoming more professional as he mentioned the new mission.

    With a serious tone, I replied, ¡°This lead better be worth waiting an entire month for.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m quite sure it will be.¡±

    The call ended, leaving me alone with the echoes of Nanik¡¯s words. Despite the lingering silence, the promise of a lead was a beacon of hope, lifting my spirits. But reality quickly set in¡ª I had to train the new guys for a combat mission.

    I sighed deeply, my thoughts spinning. ¡®Wait a minute¡­ I¡¯m not even a fighter! Why do I have to train people for combat?¡¯

    A spark of realization hit me. ¡®Well, it might not be all that bad. I can use this time to figure out what that floating terminal and its cryptic text meant.¡¯

    With renewed focus, I began drafting my plans for the next month, determined to make the most of the time and unravel the mysteries surrounding me.

 The CMD

    ¡°247! 248! 249! 250!¡±

    As Farthington''s voice rang out, counting Kaelith¡¯s pushups, Kaelith collapsed face-first onto the ground, his arms trembling from exertion.

    Farthington smirked, leaning down to poke Kaelith''s shoulder mockingly. ¡°How come your arms are jelly after such simple physical training, even though you''ve worked in the fields for most of your life?¡±

    Gritting his teeth, Kaelith¡¯s eyes narrowed. He reached out with a swift grab, clutching Farthington¡¯s leg. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s see how well you handle this ¡®simple physical training,¡¯ mister actor.¡±

    Farthington yelped, stumbling back as he tried to shake off Kaelith''s grip. ¡°Unhand me, you fiend!¡±

    A creepy grin spread across Kaelith''s face. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I get the same bonus as you if I make you follow the training regimen. Fifty Aero, here I come!¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, in the surveillance room, Tokei watched the spectacle unfold through the camera feed, sighing softly. ¡°Well, at least it¡¯s kinda working¡­¡±

    <hr>

    Earlier that day¡­

    ¡°You want us to do rigorous physical training every day? Yeah, no thanks. This is not what I signed up for,¡± Farthington declared, his arms crossed, a determined look in his eyes.

    ¡°I agree with him. Why do we need to train and be able to fight anyway?¡± Kaelith chimed in, tilting his head inquisitively.

    A mischievous smile played on Tokei¡¯s lips as she leaned back in her chair. ¡°Hmmmm~ If you can get Kaelith to follow the training, I¡¯ll give you a bonus of fifty Aero, Farthington. And the same applies to you, Kaelith.¡±

    Kaelith''s demeanor changed instantly. ¡°I never doubted your decision for a second, Tokei!¡±

    ¡°I concur. Let us depart for the training grounds post haste,¡± Farthington added, his tone serious yet tinged with excitement.

    The two of them exchanged a glance and, in unison, skipped off to the training grounds, their previous reluctance forgotten, replaced by giddy determination. Tokei shook her head in amusement as she headed over to the surveillance room to observe if the the her bribery was a success.

    <hr>

    Money really does work wonders...

    Watching the two men scrambling to outdo each other, Tokei saw that the bribery did indeed work. She decided to head down to the training grounds herself. However, instead of joining the duo, she chose a different part of the training area, seeking some solitude to clear her thoughts.

    As Tokei walked, her footsteps echoed softly in the empty corridor leading to her secluded spot. The rhythmic sounds were a stark contrast to the shouts from the main training grounds. She welcomed the quiet, a moment to reflect on her current situation.

    ¡°Neuro, bring up all known information on Technicians known as data engineers,¡± I ordered, my voice firm with the urgency of my quest for understanding.

    Neuro responded, quicker than usual. ¡°Here is what I found: Data engineers are a minority among technicians and are typically very discreet, rarely revealing themselves and erasing nearly all traces of their presence both digitally and virtually. While assumed to lack direct combat capabilities, there have been reports of a known data engineer materializing weapons and objects from thin air, and manipulating their surroundings in extraordinary ways. The individual responsible remains unidentified, and no other reports suggest similar phenomena in the databases I have access to. However, it is known that data engineers possess unparalleled abilities in anything digital, with the capacity to gather and compile information at astonishing speeds, similar to how I just processed this for you.¡±

    Interesting... but no mention of that terminal, I mused. If it¡¯s a vital secret to data engineers, then I wouldn¡¯t expect any information on it. I¡¯ll have to figure this out myself.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Determined, I decided to try opening the terminal again. I strained to remember what I did last time. It happened right after I defeated Kaelith and Farthington in the spar, but I can¡¯t just recreate that scenario right now... Let¡¯s try something else.

    I stood in the training room and I closed my eyes, trying to visualize the terminal, focusing intensely. The image of the interface flickered in my mind, elusive and shadowy.

    ¡°Neuro, can you provide any insights on how to open the terminal again?¡±

    Neuro¡¯s response was prompt, yet unhelpful. ¡°I have no information regarding a terminal opening procedure related to data engineers.¡±

    ¡°Figures,¡± I muttered under my breath. I tried various commands: ¡°Open Menu,¡± ¡°Open Terminal,¡± ¡°Access Interface,¡± each met with silence. Frustration gnawed at me as I cycled through possibilities, feeling like I was grasping at shadows.

    Just as I was about to abandon the attempt, I muttered, almost in exasperation, ¡°Open CMD.¡±

    A ripple in the air before me seemed to shimmer, and then, with a soft whirr, a black-and-white interface materialized. Two distinct terminals appeared: one resembling an RPG interface in terms of its contents, the other a blank slate with a floating digital keyboard hovering beside it, waiting to be typed into.

    Mansian Mana Production - Level 2

    - Bandwidth: 2 TB (Terabytes)

    - Packet Loss: 69%

    Attributes

    - Strength: 3

    - Perception: 2

    - Endurance: 2

    - Charisma: 1

    - Intelligence: 3

    - Agility: 2

    - Luck: 1

    > These statistics can be upgraded with the skill points that are gained when your Mana Production Level Increases*

    Acquired Skills

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Developer¡¯s Eye - Level 3</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Trance Creation - Level 2</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Artificial Life Creation - Level 2</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Data Tag - Level 1</li>

    </ul>

    > More skills can be acquired through learning or in the skill store via skill points that are gained when your Mana Production Level Increases*

    I stared at the terminal, the cold light of the screen casting eerie shadows in the dim room. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to comprehend the information displayed before me. ¡®Stats, skills, and a skill store?¡¯ It felt like I had been thrust into the heart of an RPG, but the unsettling reality of it made my head spin.

    ¡®Wha da hail is dis???¡¯

    For fifteen long minutes, I stood there, gripped by a mix of disbelief and reluctant acceptance. It was an absurd reality, the stuff of fantasy novels and video games. But the evidence was right in front of me, pulsating in cold digital lines. ¡®These must be my stats, like in a game.¡¯

    I shifted my gaze to the empty keyboard terminal and decided to experiment. I typed ¡°Skill Store¡± into the blank terminal. Instantly, another interface materialized, listing a set of intriguing skills.

    Skill Store

    Current SP: 12

    - Corporeal Data Creation - 10 SP

    - Virtual Space Creation - 50 SP

    - Matter Manipulation - 100 SP

    - Temporal Manipulation - 1000 SP

    - Mimic - 2500 SP

    ¡®Some of these seem... how should I put it? A bit like cheating the laws of physics, maybe?¡¯ My mind reeled at the possibilities. I had enough skill points for ¡°Corporeal Data Creation.¡± What did I have to lose?

    I tapped on the skill, and a confirmation prompt appeared.

    Are you sure?

    - Yes

    - No

    I selected Yes, and agony exploded in my head. It was as if a searing hot iron was being driven through my skull. The pain was blinding, and I crumpled to the floor, clutching my head, my vision dancing with dark spots before it all faded to black.

    <hr>

    When I opened my eyes again, I was sprawled on the cold floor of the training room. The harsh overhead lights buzzed, making me blink several times to clear the haze from my vision. I rose slowly, testing my limbs for any signs of injury or lingering pain. ¡®Nothing seems broken, but I blacked out after buying that skill¡­¡¯

    As I contemplated the experience, a sudden clarity washed over me. It was as if a door had been unlocked in my mind, revealing a wealth of knowledge that hadn''t been there before. The principles of ¡°Corporeal Data Creation¡± flowed into my consciousness.

    ¡®To create Corporeal Data, I need to envision what I want, and then wrap it with lines of code.¡¯ The concept felt both alien and familiar, like a language I was born knowing but had never spoken. ¡®The efficiency of the code will determine the strength and longevity of the object, as it will cease to be stabilized once it leaves my hands.¡¯

    The implications were fascinating. Eager to test this newfound ability, I extended my hand, visualizing a throwing knife. I imagined it vividly in my mind: sleek, deadly, and precise. Then, I began wrapping it with the ethereal code that materialized around my fingers, glowing with a mix of black, blue, and purple hues. The surface of the imaginary dagger shimmered, its form ebbing and flowing like molten metal.

    With a soft whoosh, the throwing knife materialized in my hand, its blade cold and solid against my palm. A thrill of awe and exhilaration surged through me. ¡®It worked. It actually worked!¡¯

    <hr>

    I stood in the center of the training room, turning the knife over in my hand, the reality of the object sinking in. The blade was sharp, its edge glinting in the fluorescent light. I took a deep breath, the possibilities swirling in my mind. With this power, I could create objects at will, bypassing the limitations of conventional reality.

    ¡®If this is just the beginning, what else am I capable of?¡¯

 Naniks Return

    A Month Later¡­

    It had been a month since I acquired the Corporeal Data Creation skill. During this time, I immersed myself in mastering the CMD Terminal (which stood for Command Prompt on a certain computer operating system¡­) and pushing the boundaries of my newfound ability. Through relentless experimentation, I discovered that the largest object I could create was the size of a tennis racket. Any object I let go of would collapse inward and vanish in a flash of bluish-purple light ten seconds later.

    Kaelith and Farthington, on the other hand, were¡­ well, I guess you could call it training, though it resembled more of a daily circus act. They spent hours chasing each other around like crazed hyenas before showing up at my door for their bonus pay. I forced them to spar with me every week to gauge their growth, and today marked our final sparring session before Nanik returned.

    Ten Minutes Into the Sparring Session¡­

    Kaelith was sprawled limply on the stairs of a makeshift plywood structure, looking like a puppet with its strings cut. Nearby, Farthington lay headfirst in the ground, resembling a defeated ostrich buried in sand.

    I wiped the sweat from my forehead, stepping out of the combat trance that left me both exhausted and exhilarated. As I stretched, yawning and rolling my shoulders, a familiar flicker caught my eye. The CMD Terminal had activated on its own, text scrolling rapidly across its monochrome display.

    [Mana production rate of target entity has reached the minimum amount]

    [Bandwidth increased from 2 -> 3 Terabytes]

    [Packet loss decreased from 69% -> 68%]

    ¡®Does this mean my mana production rate increased because of my training?¡¯ I wondered, staring at the CMD Terminal¡¯s message. I have been pushing my abilities to their limits, constantly using the new skill I acquired and the ones I already had over the past month.

    I reflected on the relentless exercises and experiments. ¡®Maybe a Mansian produces more mana if you consistently use it, similar to how a heart becomes more efficient the more blood it pumps.¡¯ The thought seemed to click into place, a tentative theory forming in my mind.

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s just a theory¡¯ I mused, smirking slightly at my own internal monologue. ¡®A Mana Theory.¡¯

    ¡®Open CMD¡¯ I say in my mind and the terminals showed up before me. Checking my Skill points I find that They increased from 2 to 8. ¡®That must mean that I gain 6 skill points every time I have a major increase in my mana production. I can¡¯t really do anything other than increase the stats like, Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Etc¡­ with the amount I have right now. Should I see what happens if I do?

    Tapping on perception I took a look at how much it cost to increase the stat.

    [Cost to Upgrade: 2 SP]

    [Current SP: 8]

    [Buy?]

    [Yes]

    ¡®2 SP? I wonder if thats a fixed price or if it changes¡­¡¯

    I tap yes and my status page changed:

    Mansian Mana Production - Level 2

    - Bandwidth: 2 TB (Terabytes)

    - Packet Loss: 69%

    Attributes

    - Strength: 3

    - Perception: 3

    - Endurance: 2

    - Charisma: 1

    - Intelligence: 3

    - Agility: 2

    - Luck: 1

    Acquired Skills

    Developer¡¯s Eye - Level 3

    Trance Creation - Level 2

    Artificial Life Creation - Level 2

    Data Tag - Level 1

    Corporeal Data Creation - Level 2

    ¡®I don¡¯t really feel any different¡­¡¯

    ¨C

    Walking through the hallways of the shadow phoenix base to get from the training rooms to the employee quarters, I suddenly heard As I turned a corner, the crackle of the front entrance intercom system pierced the silence. A voice, laced with playful arrogance, echoed from the main entry hall.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.¡°Helloooo, anyone there~?¡±

    I quickened my pace and arrived just in time to hear Kaelith, his tone sharp with suspicion, respond, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the one in charge here. Who are you?¡± came the reply, the voice dripping with smug confidence.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes narrowed, his suspicion deepening. ¡°I¡¯m an employee that works here. How do I know you¡¯re not lying about being in charge?¡±

    ¡°Tell Tokei that I¡¯m here about her next mission, will you?¡±

    The moment the voice reached my ears, I knew who it was. I strode over to where Kaelith was standing, his face contorted in a mixture of confusion and distrust as he hovered near the digital monitor controlling the intercom and front entry.

    Kaelith turned to me, his expression serious. ¡°Hey Tokei, there¡¯s some sort of scammer outside claiming to be in charge here.¡±

    Suppressing a sigh, I flicked my hand dismissively. ¡°Just open the door, Kaelith. He¡¯s the one in charge here.¡±

    Kaelith turned to open the entryway, but turned back to look at me just as fast, ¡°how do I open the door using the magic plate again?¡±

    Irritated and disappointed, I just pushed him away from the panel, ¡°You know what, just let me do it.¡±

    Kaelith watched, eyes wide with curiosity, as I deftly tapped a few buttons on the control panel. With a heavy groan, the metal doors of the base began to part, spilling brilliant sunlight into the dim interior. The sudden contrast made me squint, but it also highlighted the figure standing outside¡ªNanik.

    His black hair, threaded with striking red accents, shimmered in the light, and his volcanic orange eyes glowed as if holding a furnace within. His black buttoned shirt with meticulous orange stitching and gray jeans added an aura of casual elegance to his powerful presence.

    Nanik sauntered into the building, a relaxed yet purposeful stride in his step. His gaze locked onto mine, and a familiar smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°So, kiddo, how¡¯ve ya been while I was away?¡±

    I met his gaze with a cold, measured look, ¡°I¡¯ve been fine. You¡¯re a day early.¡±

    His smirk turned into a pout. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s no way to treat a guy who¡¯s practically your dad¡­¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± I responded dryly, my arms crossing defensively over my chest. ¡°Anyway, you were going to update me about the Kyritite shipment that¡¯s supposed to leave Trizen tomorrow, but I haven¡¯t heard a single word about it all month. We need to intercept it because we can''t get our hands on the metal through conventional means. The government¡¯s hoarding all of it, and they won¡¯t hand over a single piece for any amount of Aero.¡±

    Nanik¡¯s playful demeanor faded slightly, his eyes softening. ¡°I¡¯ve got the information, but what¡¯s so important that you¡¯d need to resort to a heist for this metal? You never exactly told me why it¡¯s so crucial.¡±

    A sigh escaped my lips as I relented, giving him the answer he had been seeking. ¡°It''s for making efficient high-speed processing chips. I need them to finish a project I¡¯ve spent far too long working on to just abandon.¡±

    Nanik¡¯s expression shifted to one of understanding. ¡°Well, if that was the case, you could¡¯ve just said so.¡± His gaze drifted to Kaelith, who had been standing awkwardly nearby, a strained smile plastered on his face as he witnessed our exchange.

    ¡°And he¡¯s one of the two new members, right? What¡¯s his name?¡± Nanik asked, nodding toward Kaelith.

    ¡°That¡¯s Kaelith Hudson,¡± I stated plainly. ¡°He appears to be a War Sorcera from the abilities he has. The other new member is Farthington Redsworth who is an Enhancer.¡±

    Kaelith, catching Nanik¡¯s attention, offered a tentative nod, his eyes flickering with a mix of awe and uncertainty. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± he stammered, trying to match Nanik¡¯s confident demeanor.

    Nanik chuckled, a warm, rich sound that seemed to break the tension in the room. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Kaelith. Welcome to the team. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get along just fine.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s smile grew a bit more genuine, the awkwardness melting away as he nodded. Nanik¡¯s easygoing nature had a way of putting people at ease, even in the most tense of situations.

    As Nanik turned his attention back to me, his expression grew more serious. ¡°Alright, Tokei. Let¡¯s get down to business. Call Farthington over to the meetingroom near the hangar. We¡¯ve got a lot to discuss before tomorrow¡¯s operation.¡±

    As Nanik leaned in closer, his presence became a comforting warmth in the otherwise sterile hallway. His volcanic orange eyes locked onto mine, filled with a depth of understanding that only he could offer. He whispered softly into my ear, ¡°About that lead I found, I¡¯ll tell you more about it after this meeting.¡± He pulled back, standing straight, his voice louder now, meant for Kaelith¡¯s ears. ¡°Don¡¯t agonize over it too much. I¡¯m sure something will turn up.¡±

    For a brief, fleeting moment, the mask of my icy composure cracked, and a rare flicker of warmth spread through my chest. It was one of those rare instances where Nanik truly felt like a father to me¡ªreliable, supportive, and strangely reassuring. His words, often laced with his usual playful banter, carried a weight that I had come to rely on, even if I rarely admitted it.

    Kaelith, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, shifted uneasily on his feet, glancing between us with a hint of curiosity. The awkwardness in his demeanor was palpable, his strained smile a testament to his attempt to read the room.

    Nanik, ever the master of diffusing tension, turned his attention back to Kaelith, a friendly smile curling his lips. ¡°Alright, let''s get moving. We¡¯ve got a lot to go over, and time¡¯s not exactly on our side.¡±

 Preparing for the Intercept

    Farthington walked into the meeting room where Tokei, Nanik, and Kaelith were already waiting and took a seat at the long uniquely made table. Its surface is a reflective black panel with a matte black border around it similar to a display.

    Tokei¡¯s fingers rapped on the table and the rhythmic sound reverberated in the quiet room, ¡°Now that he¡¯s here why don¡¯t we start with the meeting?¡±

    Nanik straightened up in his seat and prepared to introduce himself, ¡°Ahem, my name is Nanik Iman and I am the leader of the Shadow Phoenix Special Operations group. The reason why I¡¯ve gathered you all here today is to discuss tomorrow¡¯s upcoming mission that you will be taking on.¡±

    Kaelith and Farthington seemed to be more attentive at the mention of a mission they had to do. Their eyes seemingly gleaming.

    Farthington was the first to speak up, ¡°Are we gonna get any¡­ extra funding for this ¡®mission¡¯?¡±

    Nanik suddenly had a grin creep up his face, ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m thinking of a 250 Aero bonus.¡±

    Farthington¡¯s grin matched that of Nanik and Kaelith also smiled wryly, all three with a capitalist mentality that was clearly fueling the three of them.

    Clearing my throat to get their attention, I tried to get the meeting back on track. ¡°Anyway, we were going to discuss the Kyritite shipment weren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± replied Nanik seeing Tokei''s obivously annoyed tone. ¡°The mission involves intercepting a shipment of Kyritite,¡± he began, his volcanic orange eyes locking onto each of us in turn. ¡°This rare metal is crucial for a highly important project we¡¯re working on. Unfortunately, the government has monopolized the supply, making conventional acquisition impossible. We need to get our hands on it through¡­ unconventional means.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s brow furrowed in thought. ¡°What exactly do we need Kyritite for?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

    Nanik nodded, appreciating the question. ¡°Tokei has been working on a project that requires the metal for its high conductivity and unique properties,¡± he explained. ¡°It¡¯s essential for creating efficient, high-speed processing chips, and without it, we won¡¯t be able to complete the project.¡±

    Farthington leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. ¡°So, it¡¯s a heist then,¡± he mused, his tone half-joking but his eyes sharp with curiosity. ¡°Sounds risky. What¡¯s the plan?¡±

    I leaned forward, my fingers gliding over the reflective black surface of the table, activating a holographic display. A detailed map of the Slithering Desert materialized before us, the stark lines and topography glowing with an eerie blue light. ¡°The government¡¯s supplier of Kyritite, the Stetson Trading Company, will be transporting the metal in a secured convoy through the Slithering Desert, which separates the continents of Erbium and Tekuno,¡± I began, pointing to the highlighted route.

    The Slithering Desert: It stretched out before us, a vast and treacherous expanse of swirling sands and towering dunes, infamous for its harsh climate and perilous creatures. The desert¡¯s name was no mere metaphor; it writhed and twisted across the land like a living entity, a natural barrier that had long stymied efforts to connect Erbium and Tekuno. Its ecosystem, though sparse, was home to a deadly array of fauna, the most feared among them being the Tunnel Boring Snake.

    The Tunnel Boring Snake was a leviathan of the desert, its body as vast and sinuous as a subway train. Its rough, segmented hide glistened with a metallic sheen, and its gaping maw, lined with rows of serrated teeth, was capable of boring through solid rock. This monstrous creature tunneled beneath the sands, leaving a network of fragile passages that could collapse without warning. The threat of these tunnels had long prevented the construction of a safe roadway through the desert, turning it into an impassable death trap for ground shipments.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Imagine a creature as long as a train and as thick as a tree trunk,¡± I said, my voice lowering to convey the gravity of our task. ¡°It bores tunnels beneath the sand, causing the surface above to weaken and collapse under any significant weight. This thing is the main reason why a roadway between Erbium and Tekuno was delayed for so long.¡±

    Nanik took over, his voice carrying the weight of authority. ¡°However, not too long ago, the countries of Trizen on the Tekuno side and Rizet on the Erbium side collaborated to solve the Tunnel Boring Snake issue. They excavated down to the bedrock and erected large pillars of reinforced steel, resilient enough to withstand the creature''s burrowing. On these pillars, they constructed a road that remains elevated fifty feet above the desert floor, forming a secure passage across the desert.¡±

    The holographic display shifted to show the elevated roadway, a gleaming testament to human ingenuity spanning the treacherous sands below. The road, a sleek ribbon of metal and concrete, hovered above the shifting dunes, supported by a forest of steel pillars driven deep into the bedrock. It was a marvel of engineering, a vital lifeline connecting the two continents and bypassing the dangers lurking below.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened as he took in the enormity of the project. ¡°So, the convoy will be traveling along this elevated road?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with both awe and apprehension.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Nanik confirmed, his gaze intense. ¡°Our mission is to intercept the convoy as it crosses the desert. The elevated road is heavily guarded, but we¡¯ve identified a weak point where we can create a diversion. While their security is focused on the disturbance, we¡¯ll seize the Kyritite and replace it with a decoy.¡±

    Farthington leaned forward, his earlier levity replaced by a serious determination. ¡°How do we handle the diversion?¡± he asked, his mind already working through the logistics.

    I tapped the display, bringing up a schematic of the convoy. ¡°We¡¯ll deploy a series of remotely triggered charges along a section of the road, simulating a structural failure,¡± I explained. ¡°The convoy will halt, and the guards will be preoccupied with securing the area. That¡¯s when we move in, using the confusion to swap the Kyritite shipment.¡±

    Kaelith frowned, his analytical mind picking up on a potential flaw. ¡°What about the Tunnel Boring Snakes? Won¡¯t the vibrations from the charges attract them?¡±

    Nanik nodded, acknowledging the concern. ¡°It¡¯s a calculated risk,¡± he admitted. ¡°The charges are designed to minimize seismic impact, but there¡¯s always a chance we might draw the snakes¡¯ attention. We¡¯ll need to be fast and precise, in and out before they can pose a threat.¡±

    The room fell silent as the weight of the plan settled over us. It was a daring gambit, fraught with peril, but the prize was worth the risk. The Kyritite was crucial, a linchpin in our efforts to complete the high-speed processing project. Without it, we were at a standstill, our progress stymied by the government¡¯s monopolization of the metal.

    Farthington and Kaelith exchanged glances, their earlier excitement tempered by the gravity of the task ahead. Yet, in their eyes, I saw something else¡ªa glimmer of greed, bright and unmistakable.

    Farthington leaned forward, a calculating gleam in his eyes. ¡°This mission seems fraught with danger, so I believe that we should get a more¡­ adequate compensation to match the risk we¡¯re taking,¡± he suggested, his voice oily with opportunism. ¡°Perhaps a greater sum would make me more enthusiastic about the mission.¡± Kaelith, nodding along eagerly, seemed equally captivated by the idea of a bigger payout.

    Nanik leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face as he observed the two. His eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and challenge. ¡°Alright then, how does 1,000 Aero sound to you?¡± he replied, his voice smooth and indulgent, as if he were offering a treat to a pair of hungry animals.

    The effect was immediate. Farthington¡¯s eyes lit up with a predatory gleam, a droplet of saliva forming at the corner of his mouth as if he could already taste the wealth. His fingers drummed on the table in barely restrained excitement. Kaelith, meanwhile, looked like he might faint from sheer happiness, his face flushing as a grin spread across his features. His hands twitched with nervous energy, betraying his barely contained anticipation.

    I watched the scene unfold, a mixture of irritation and fascination churning within me. The mission, fraught with genuine peril, had turned into a negotiation for these two, their minds already fixated on the potential payout rather than the risks.

    Nanik¡¯s smile widened, a flicker of something darker crossing his eyes. ¡°Good,¡± he said, his voice a low rumble. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Complete the mission, and you¡¯ll have your 1,000 Aero.¡±

    Farthington and Kaelith nodded vigorously, their eyes practically shining with greed. The promise of such a reward had turned them into eager participants, their earlier apprehensions swept away by the allure of easy wealth. For them, it was no longer just a mission; it was a golden opportunity to line their pockets.

    <hr>

    As the meeting concluded, Nanik caught my eye, a subtle signal that he needed a private word. Once the others had left, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°About that lead I mentioned,¡± he said, his tone serious. ¡°I¡¯ve found something that could be a major lead.¡±

 The Lead

    ¡°I¡¯ve found something that could be a major lead.¡±

    Hearing those words, my entire body tensed up. This was something I¡¯d been waiting for, for so long it had almost felt like an eternity.

    Nanik reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of camera film, the kind used in those very old cameras still found in Mittelreich countries due to their different mana-based design. He handed the film to me, and I inspected it closely.

    The captured image on the film showed a woman sitting beside an open flame in the outdoors at night. Her worn, old mercenary outfit was caked in dried blood, and she clutched what appeared to be a revolver. But the most striking part of the image, the part that seized all my attention, was her face. She looked remarkably young, probably no older than 23 or 24, with sparkling eyes the color of purple sapphires and short, shoulder-length purple hair.

    I had never seen anyone who resembled me as closely as she did. We might as well have been twins with the level of similarity. If we had the same hairdo, I bet no one would be able to tell us apart.

    My heart was racing. Did Nanik manage to find someone that¡¯s related to me? Trying to remain calm, I attempted to gather more information from Nanik. ¡°Who exactly is this person?¡±

    ¡°She is most likely the leader of an infamous mercenary group in the country of Cielmouth, which is in the continent of Janine,¡± Nanik explained, his voice steady but laced with gravity. ¡°Though not much is known about her, she is referred to as Lady Makina by her group¡¯s members. The name of the group is The Dark Eclipse, and they are known for their high mission success rate.¡±

    I stood there in a trance, fixated on the image in front of me, my mind racing with all the possibilities and implications of this discovery. Lady Makina''s existence felt like a key to a door I had been desperately trying to open for years.

    Nanik broke the silence, his voice cutting through my reverie. ¡°For now, I think you should focus on the mission for the Kyritite. Once you finish that, we¡¯ll have an in-depth investigation into this person and their possible relation to you. I have high hopes, though. The combination of eye color and hair color you have is extremely rare, and the only other person I¡¯ve seen with it is the one in this picture. So I¡¯m quite hopeful about this lead.¡±

    He paused, giving me a moment to process everything. His words were pragmatic, yet beneath them lay an undercurrent of genuine concern and perhaps even a hint of excitement.

    Nanik then left the meeting room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I turned the film over in my hand, staring at the captured image of Lady Makina. Questions surged through my mind, each more pressing than the last. Was she a lost sister, a doppelg?nger, or something else entirely? The resemblance was uncanny, but until we had more information, speculation was all I had.

    Putting the film into the pocket of my pants, I left the meeting room and made my way over to the hangar where the Airblade was stored after my previous mission. As I stepped into the hangar, my footsteps reverberated throughout the enormous space, devoid of any signs of human presence. With so few people actually working for Nanik¡ªonly Kaelith, Farthington, and myself¡ªI had to take up a lot more tedious tasks, such as vehicle maintenance. I¡¯d learned how to service the Airblade thanks to Neuro in the past, guiding my repairs and maintenance along.

    The hangar was a cavernous structure, its walls lined with various tools and spare parts for our equipment. The Airblade sat in the center, its sleek form contrasting sharply with the utilitarian surroundings. I approached the aircraft, mentally running through the checklist of tasks I needed to complete to ensure it was ready for the mission.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    First, I examined the exterior, noting a few scuffs and scratches from our last mission. I replaced a few damaged parts, securing them tightly to ensure optimal performance. The process was almost meditative, each action familiar and routine, allowing my mind to wander back to the image of Lady Makina. The resemblance was unsettling, a puzzle piece that didn¡¯t quite fit but hinted at a larger picture I couldn¡¯t yet see.

    After replacing the parts, I moved to clean the windows, removing the grime and dust that had accumulated. As the glass cleared, the cockpit¡¯s control panel came into view, its array of buttons and levers gleaming under the hangar lights. I checked each system meticulously, running diagnostics to ensure everything was in working order. The Airblade¡¯s engines hummed softly as they cycled through the tests, the sound a reassuring reminder of its readiness.

    Once the diagnostics were complete and the Airblade was prepped, I headed over to the armory where our weapons and explosives were stored. The armory was a small, heavily secured room at the back of the hangar, filled with various firearms, ammunition, and specialized equipment for our missions. I grabbed the charges that would be used to destabilize the bridge, their weight a tangible reminder of the destructive power they held.

    ¡®I kinda feel bad for those poor engineers that are going to have to find a way to salvage and repair the bridge after we¡¯re done with it¡­¡¯ I thought, a pang of guilt accompanying the practical necessity of our plan. The bridge was a marvel of engineering, a lifeline between continents, and our actions would undoubtedly cause significant disruption.

    Placing the charges carefully in a secure compartment for use during the mission later, I ensured they were properly primed and ready to deploy. The charges were designed to mimic structural failure with minimal seismic impact, but their power was undeniable. I double-checked their settings, not wanting any surprises when we needed them most.

    With the charges stowed away, I made my way back through the hangar, my footsteps echoing in the empty space. The preparations for the mission were nearly complete, but there was one last thing to do. I needed to check in with Farthington and Kaelith to make sure they were ready for the next day.

    I found Farthington in his quarters, a small, sparsely furnished room filled with various personal items and scattered papers. He looked up from a book as I entered, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Do you need anything in particular for tomorrow¡¯s mission?¡± I asked, trying to keep my tone professional.

    Farthington shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. ¡°No, I¡¯m all set. Speaking of necessity, I wanted to know if you changed your mind about getting my autobiography, ¡®Magical Me¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I most definitely will not be getting a copy of that for myself,¡± I assured him, rolling my eyes before heading to find Kaelith.

    Kaelith was in the common area, tinkering with a small gadget, his fingers moving deftly over the intricate components. He glanced up as I approached, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

    ¡°Everything good for tomorrow?¡± I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got everything I need,¡± Kaelith replied, his focus briefly shifting back to his gadget. ¡°Do you know what this contraption is?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± I said slowly, recognizing the device. ¡°It''s a hair¡­ dryer.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see!¡± Kaelith said in a serious tone, his eyes sparking as he examined the foreign contraption in his hands. ¡°I thought it might be some sort of sonic disrupter.¡±

    ¡°Not quite,¡± I replied, shaking my head with a bemused smile. ¡°But it might come in handy if we run into any bad hair days.¡±

    Kaelith chuckled, his focus still partly on the gadget as I turned to leave. Not too sure if both Farthington and Kaelith were entirely prepared, I finally headed back to my room. I set my alarm for early the next morning, knowing we¡¯d need every minute to ensure the mission¡¯s success.

    As I lay down, the events of the day replayed in my mind, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to the image of Lady Makina. Who was she? What connection did she have to me? The questions swirled in my mind, elusive and tantalizing, as I drifted into a restless sleep, the weight of tomorrow¡¯s mission pressing heavily on my thoughts.

 The Convoy

    0600 hours, above the Slithering Desert roadway

    The dawn light bled across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and molten gold. Beneath us stretched the vast, unforgiving expanse of the desert, a sea of swirling sands and jagged rocks that shifted with the relentless wind. The elevated road¡ªa marvel of engineering¡ªsliced through the desolation, its sleek metallic surface supported by towering steel pillars that seemed to vanish into the endless dunes below.

    The Airblade hovered above the shimmering sands, Its engines emitting a barely audible hum. Inside the cockpit, I sat strapped into the pilot¡¯s seat, my hands steady on the controls. The soft glow of displays illuminated the cramped space, casting shadows across my face as I scanned the horizon, waiting for the convoy.

    Through the earpiece, I relayed the plan once more to Kaelith and Farthington. "The convoy will be here in ten minutes. You¡¯ve got that long to plant the charges and get back up here. Once the trap is sprung, we¡¯ll collect the Kyritite and leave. Anyone who sees your faces? Make sure they can¡¯t talk about it later. Dead men don¡¯t tell tales.¡±

    Farthington¡¯s voice crackled through the comms, ¡°Whatever you say, ma¡¯am. As long as my monetary benefits keep rolling, I¡¯ve got no complaints. The charges are armed and in position.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s nervous stutter followed. ¡°We¡ªwe¡¯ll be in and out before they even know what hit them.¡±

    The Slithering Desert was more than just sand. It was a predator in its own right, with deadly fauna like the Tunnel Boring Snakes¡ªcreatures that could emerge from the sands with terrifying speed and deadly precision. The hostile environment added another layer of danger to our mission, but it was also our ally. The convoy wouldn¡¯t be expecting an attack out here.

    After a while in the distance, I spotted the convoy¡ªheavily armored vehicles moving in a column, kicking up dust that trailed behind them like a plume of smoke. Their bulky frames, Made of reinforced metal, glinted dully in the rising sun.

    <hr>

    Inside the lead vehicle, Johnson stared out at the endless desert, his fingers drumming absentmindedly against the steering wheel. The interior was cramped and stifling, the hum of the engine a constant vibration beneath his feet.

    ¡°Hey, Jeff,¡± Johnson said, breaking the monotony, ¡°you ever wonder why we¡¯re here?¡±

    Jeff didn¡¯t look up. ¡°You mean why we¡¯re stuck in this dead-end job?¡±

    Johnson shook his head. ¡°No, I mean, like, why we were born. What¡¯s the point of all this?¡±

    Jeff sighed, leaning back. ¡°Does it matter? Doubt it would if we died right now.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Johnson frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve got a family¡ª¡±

    CRACKOOM!

    The explosion tore through the lead vehicle, a fiery burst of orange and red that flung the armored car sideways. The force of the blast crumpled metal like paper, flames licking hungrily at the wreckage. The car careened into the guardrails, the screech of tearing metal echoing across the desert, before flipping violently over the edge of the elevated road.

    It plummeted into the sands below, disappearing in an eruption of dust and debris. A secondary explosion roared as the gas tank ignited, sending a shockwave through the air. The vehicle lay in a twisted, burning heap, flames spiraling upward as the desert winds whipped the smoke into frenzied patterns.

    Above, the roadway groaned in protest. Fissures spider-webbed across the surface where the explosives had done their work. The convoy''s once-solid formation shattered, panic setting in to their occupants causing the remaining vehicles to struggle to react.

    The first transport truck, its vision obscured by the thick smoke, slammed into the damaged roadway. Metal scraped against metal as the truck flipped onto its side, sparks flying as it skidded along the pavement, teetering dangerously over the edge. The second truck, brakes screeching, swerved to avoid the wreckage, skidding to a halt just in time. Guards poured out from the remaining vehicles, weapons drawn, eyes wide with confusion and fear.

    I spoke through the comms, my voice steady. ¡°Execute the extraction.¡±

    <hr>

    Kaelith and Farthington descended from the Airblade, their figures barely visible through the swirling smoke. Kaelith, clad in tactical gear that hugged his form for maximum mobility. Farthington, in his ever-flamboyant custom suit¡ª¡°bullet-resistant,¡± he claimed¡ªseemed oddly out of place, yet confident.

    They touched down on the roadway and unclipped their harnesses in one smooth motion. Moving with caution, they advanced toward the convoy, smoke cloaking their approach until the emerged from it trying not to get spotted by the guards by creeping along the edges of the roadway. The guards, still reeling from the chaos, scrambled to form a defensive line.

    ¡°Intruders! Open fire!¡± one of the guards shouted as they spotted Kaelith first, and the air was instantly filled with the sharp crack of gunfire.

    Kaelith darted to the side, scrambling as he ducked behind a section of the damaged roadway. He pulled out his submachine gun, returning fire with rapid bursts. His aim wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was enough to keep the guards pinned down, forcing them to take cover behind their vehicles.

    Farthington, ever the opportunist, slithered through the chaos like a shadow. One by one, he took down guards with unrefined strikes, however his attacks came from unexpected angles leaving them no time to react. The guards fell in his wake, each one dispatched before they even knew he was there.

    With the guards distracted, Kaelith made his move, advancing toward the overturned truck. He pulled out the plasma cutter I had given him, its bright blue arc slicing through the reinforced lock on the cargo hold. Inside, the Kyritite crates gleamed, neatly stacked, and ready for extraction.

    ¡°Got it,¡± Kaelith muttered as he began attaching the harnesses to the crates. Farthington continued to hold off the remaining guards, his movements almost theatrical as he ducked and weaved through the vehicles blocking the guards'' line of sight. Exploiting their dwindling firepower Farthington waited till they had to reload before launching his attacks.

    As the final guard fell to Farthington, Kaelith glanced at the overturned truck, still precariously balanced at the edge of the roadway. ¡°I should probably check this one, too.¡±

 Unforeseen accident

    Kaelith approached the overturned vehicle. The truck, still balanced with its front end hanging over the edge, was battered and smoking. Kaelith moved cautiously, glancing back at the Airblade to ensure their escape route was still clear.

    Positioning himself at the back of the truck to open it, Kaelith once again used the plasma cutter to slice through the lock. Sparks flew as the cutter ate through the metal, causing the lock to fall off with a metallic clink, its severed portions glowing red-hot.

    As light seeped into the dark truck, Kaelith finally got a good view of the contents inside. His eyes widened in surprise.

    <hr>

    As I remained in the Airblade, ready to step in if necessary, Kaelith¡¯s voice crackled through the earpiece, [Tokei! I found a person in the other truck!]

    Taken aback by this unexpected development, I tried to piece together what this new information could mean. ¡°Is there anything else in there?¡±

    After a second of silence, likely as Kaelith looked around, his response came back, [The only other thing I can see is some kind of intricate black and gold sword that looks pretty expensive.]

    ¡°Never mind that. Is there anything else in there?¡±

    Kaelith hesitated before answering, [No, just the person and the sword. The rest of the truck seems empty.]

    I frowned, ¡°Is the person alive?¡±

    [Barely,] Kaelith responded. [Looks like they¡¯re unconscious, maybe injured. What should we do?]

    I weighed the options quickly. Bringing an unknown person into our midst was risky, but given the fact that they were being transported with precious metal, they must be of equivalent or greater value to the Kyritite. ¡°Get them out of there and bring them aboard. We¡¯ll figure out who they are later. And take the sword, too. It might be important.¡±

    <hr>

    He carefully pulled the unconscious figure from the truck, a young woman dressed in what appeared to be the armor of a wandering knight, her face pale and streaked with dirt and her deep red hair a dry tangled mess. The sword he mentioned was held in her hands, its ornate hilt glinting in the dim light.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got her,¡± Kaelith said, his voice strained as he lifted the woman. ¡°She¡¯s not too heavy, but she¡¯s definitely out cold.¡±

    [Understood. Get her to the Airblade, and be quick about it. We¡¯re running out of time.] Tokei said through the intercom.

    The roadway suddenly began to shake violently, as if the portion under the truck was threatening to collapse entirely. The floor of the truck began to shift and caused kaelith to lose his footing slightly before

    Kaelith tried to move as fast as he could to get to the back and escape. However, the falling truck picked up its speed, rapidly hurling toward the desert floor. He made a desperate dash, but before he could get out, the truck had gone past the point of no return, and gravity viciously pulled the truck and him toward the sandy ground.

    His body flew back into the truck and violently smashed into the truck''s interior. The woman he had picked up crashed onto him, still unconscious, with the sword she held still grasped arms as if it were glued to them. The truck hurtled downward, and Kaelith braced for impact.

    <hr>

    Farthington, who had sat down because he was tired saw the truck falling and muttered to himself, ¡°That¡¯s a lot of damage¡­ is it really going to seem like some large snake caused this? Anyway, where did the country bumpkin, Kaelith, go?¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    <hr>

    Inside the truck, Kaelith struggled to shield the woman from the worst of the impact. The ground rushed up to meet them, and he closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable. With a tremendous crash, the truck hit the desert floor. Sand and metal flew in all directions at the truck settled on the desert floor.

    <hr>

    [Farthington.]

    ¡°Yes madam. What do you have to say?¡±

    [You did see the truck that just fell, right?]

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    [Well, that truck also had Kaelith in it.]

    ¡°Ahhh. I suppose he was a brave fellow. May he rest in peace.¡±

    [Just go down there and check it out¡­]

    ¡°Fine, but I want a new suit.¡±

    [Whatever. Just go!]

    <hr>

    ¡°Hmmm, how to go about getting down now¡­¡±

    Farthington walked over to edge of the roadway which the truck fell off of and took a look around. After a moment of searching he saw a small staircase off of the side of road that led down to a caged ladder that scalled a pillar of the elevated roadway.

    ¡°Huh. How convenient.¡±

    Using the ladder to climb down to the surface of the desert, Farthington landed in the sand and came off of the ladder.

    ¡°Ugh, there¡¯s sand in my shoes now. I better get some compensation for the losses I¡¯m incurring here.¡±

    He then walked over to the crashed truck and peered into the trailer of the truck, which had lost its doors in the crash. He saw Kaelith slowly stirring as he got up.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯re still alive,¡± Farthington commented

    ¡°No thanks to you,¡± Kaelith muttered as he got to his feet and brushed sand off of his outfit.

    ¡°Wow, you could be a little more appreciative of me. I came all the way down here just to check on you.¡±

    ¡°Gee, thanks,¡± Kaelith said halfheartedly.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the woman?¡± Farthington said as he pointed to the lady with the sword lying next to him.

    ¡°Hell, If I know. Tokei just said to bring her back with me to the Airblade.¡±

    ¡°I see. I suppose that we might get some bonus pay if we extract her¡­¡±

    As the two of them worked together to pull the woman from the wreckage, a low rumbling began to emanate from the ground beneath their feet.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened, and he desperately yanked the woman out of the truck, hoisting her over his shoulder and moving as fast as he could away from the unstable vehicle. Farthington hastily followed suit.

    Suddenly, the ground behind Farthington exploded, sending a shower of sand into the air. A massive tunnel-boring snake, its matte body, rough from constantly scraping against the sands,  glinting in the desert sun, rose from the depths, its segmented form undulating as it crashed back down onto the sand. The force of its impact sent shockwaves through the ground, causing the already unstable roadway to tremble even more violently.

    ¡°Dammit! I get paid enough for this!¡± Farthington shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the snake¡¯s movements.

    Kaelith and Farthington sprinted away from the looming threat. The tunnel-boring snake, a creature designed for excavation and destruction, reared back, its menacing jaws opening wide, Lined with vast rows of teeth were visible, as it prepared to strike.

    <hr>

    Inside the Airblade, I watched in shock as the scene unfolded below. ¡°Kaelith, Farthington, get out of there now! That thing is going to tear my errand boys- I mean you two apart!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re trying!¡± Kaelith yelled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

    Farthington ran ahead of Kaelith like a bullet, ¡°I¡¯ll Keep going! Kaelith buy me some time!¡±

    ¡°Tokei! How do we get out of here?¡± Kaelith cried out, unable to find a feasible way to escape.

    Looking down from my vantage point high in the sky, I saw a single way to deal with this catastrophe, and that was to step in myself. ¡°Neuro! Take control of the Airblade while I get out and bring the Airblade down to pick us up when the coast is clear!¡±

    As the butterfly door of the Airblade¡¯s cockpit opened high in the sky, I leaped out of my seat, my body racing toward the world below. While I was falling, I activated Combat Trance 2.0 and took a look at the situation below.

    The world around me slowed down as my senses heightened. I could see every detail with crystal clarity¡ªthe massive, armored snake coiling and thrashing, Farthington and Kaelith struggling to get away with the unconscious woman, and the wreckage of the convoy scattered across the sand.

    I adjusted my trajectory, angling my body toward the snake. As the ground rushed up to meet me, I manifested a blade out of data shimmering with a blue and purple glow and prepared for impact.

 The Snake

    Slicing through the air, I dove toward the snake looming over Kaelith, its jaws wide open and ready to strike. Mid-fall, I repositioned my body, bracing for impact, my data blade clenched tightly in my hands.

    I struck the snake dead-on, my blade sinking into its flesh, carving through scales and muscle as I plummeted downward. Letting go of the blade at the last moment, I rolled onto the sand, careful not to get grit in my eyes. Nearby, Kaelith had somehow managed to scramble out of the creature¡¯s reach.

    Leaving my data blade to dissipate in the snake¡¯s reinforced scales, I quickly dodged its coiling body, narrowly avoiding its grasp. The snake let out a blood-curdling screech, thrashing violently in the sand, its massive form writhing in agony.

    "Farthington! Where the hell are you going?! Get back here and help me out!" I shouted.

    Farthington hesitated, glancing back before spinning on his heel and charging into the fray. He repositioned himself, readying his mana-infused blade for an attack. Kaelith, still carrying the unconscious woman over his shoulder, stayed clear of the fight.

    "Farthington, keep it busy!" I called out, skidding to a halt a few meters away from the snake. "I¡¯ll go for its weak spot!"

    "I better get a bonus for this!" he yelled back, his battle cry fierce as he swung his blade. The sword flashed in the sun, but instead of cutting through, it glanced off the snake¡¯s thick scales with a dull clunk. ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    I circled the snake, scanning its massive form for any vulnerabilities. Its scales were like plated armor, nearly impenetrable¡ªbut there had to be a weak point.

    The creature hissed, its massive body undulating as it twisted around to face me. The glint in its eyes sent a chill down my spine. With a swift lunge, the snake''s jaws snapped in my direction, fangs gleaming. I barely managed to leap to the side, feeling the rush of air as its bite narrowly missed.

    Spotting an opening, I lunged forward, summoning a new data blade with [Corporeal Data Creation]. The blade hummed as I slashed at a thinner section of the snake¡¯s underbelly. My strike landed, and the snake let out a deafening screech, rearing back in pain before whipping its tail toward me.

    Instinctively, I raised my blade to block the attack. My feet dug into the sand as the snake¡¯s tail smashed into my sword, sending sand spraying around me like stinging projectiles. I felt the sharp burn of cuts forming on my arms and legs, some deep enough to bleed. Sparks flew as the tail slammed against my blade, but I held firm, redirecting its momentum.

    Suddenly, the snake¡¯s massive head lunged at me, jaws wide. I threw myself to the side, rolling through the sand just in time to avoid being crushed beneath its fangs. As I came up on one knee, I summoned another data blade, its edges crackling with energy.

    The snake, realizing it had missed, spun its body in a wide arc, its tail sweeping toward me with terrifying speed. This time, I didn¡¯t have enough time to block the brunt of the attack. The force of the tail slammed into my side, sending me flying several meters through the air. My back hit the sand hard, knocking the wind from my lungs. Gasping for breath, I struggled to rise, pain shooting through my ribs.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Farthington seized the moment. His blade began to glow red-hot as he summoned his mana, striking again. This time, his blade burned through the snake¡¯s scales, slicing deep into its side. The creature recoiled in pain, its thrashing movements becoming more frantic and unpredictable.

    The snake hissed, retreating momentarily, coiling itself into a defensive posture. It was wounded now, blood pouring from gashes along its body, but it wasn''t defeated yet.

    Sensing the opportunity, I reinforced my blade, lengthening it into a katana-like form. Positioning myself beneath the snake¡¯s head, where its neck connected to its body, I summoned all my strength, digging my feet into the sand. With a powerful arc, I brought the blade down.

    The sword cut deep, slicing through scales and flesh. The snake convulsed violently, its wails piercing the desert air. Blood spurted from the wound, staining the sand beneath us as the ground became slick.

    Desperate, the snake made a final lunge at Farthington, its jaws snapping inches from him. By some miracle, he dodged again, unscathed.

    But the snake wasn¡¯t done yet. In a final burst of energy, it thrashed its tail wildly, shaking the ground beneath us. Farthington and I struggled to stay upright, the vibrations threatening to knock us over.

    We dug our feet and swords into the sand, managing to keep our balance as the snake¡¯s body finally collapsed, lifeless.

    ¡°My word! I never want to do that again!¡± exclaimed Farthington.

    <hr>

    As the Airblade descended, its engines¡¯ hum growing louder, I took a moment to catch my breath, eyes locked on the snake¡¯s still form. Its last thrashes had kicked up a cloud of sand that shimmered in the harsh desert sun.

    Farthington approached, wiping the sweat from his brow as he sheathed his blade. "Nice work," he said, surprisingly sincere. "You really saved our skins back there."

    ¡®Maybe he¡¯s not as bad as I thought,¡¯ I mused. But then Farthington ran a hand through his disheveled blonde hair and grinned. ¡°I think I¡¯ve earned a bonus today. Plus, after seeing me in action, you¡¯ll probably want to read my autobiography.¡±

    ¡®Never mind,¡¯ I thought, suppressing a sigh. ¡®Same greedy narcissist.¡¯

    I ignored him, still catching my breath. "We need to get back to the Airblade and secure the Kyritite. And figure out what to do with her," I added, glancing at the unconscious woman on Kaelith''s back.

    Kaelith, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon, signaled that the Airblade was almost in position. "I¡¯ll load her up first," he said, adjusting his grip on the woman. " Then I¡¯ll help you secure the Kyritite and make sure we didn¡¯t miss anything."

    Farthington and I quickly secured the crates of Kyritite, making sure they were fastened tightly. The Airblade''s doors opened with a hiss.

    Kaelith carefully loaded the woman onto the Airblade, strapping her into one of the seats. He then helped us with the remaining crates, his exhaustion visible but his movements efficient.

    Once everything was secure, we climbed aboard. The doors sealed behind us with a click, and the engines roared to life. Neuro lifted us smoothly off the ground, the snake''s corpse and the wreckage of the convoy shrinking into the distance.

    "All set," I said, double-checking the restraints on the Kyritite and the woman. "Let¡¯s get out of here."

    As the Airblade accelerated, I took a moment to assess the situation. The unconscious woman was a mystery, and the sword she clutched seemed to pulse faintly, hinting at secrets we had yet to uncover.

    "We need to find out who she is and why she was in that truck," I said, turning to Kaelith and Farthington. "This might be more complicated than we thought."

    Kaelith shrugged. ¡°Sure... also, are we getting a bonus right?¡±

    I stared out at the desert, pretending I hadn¡¯t heard him.

    ¡°Right?¡± Kaelith repeated, but I kept my eyes on the horizon.

 Cordellia

    Gasp

    With a start, Cordellia''s eyes flew open as she bolted upright, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar room.

    ¡®Where am I? Argh, my head aches¡­¡¯

    Looking down, she saw that the Sword From the Stone was still in her hands. The intricately carved blade gleamed in the light pooling in the room, its surface reflecting the faint patterns of magic etched into the metal.

    ¡®At least they did not take it from me.¡¯

    She took a moment to collect herself, her surroundings slowly coming into focus. The room was stark but not hostile, furnished simply with a cot, a small table, and a single chair. Sunlight filtered in through a small window, casting soft shadows on the walls. Dust particles danced in the light beams, adding a serene contrast to her confusion. There were no bars on the window, and no guards standing by the door.

    ¡®This place not seem like a prison,¡¯ she thought, clutching her head as her confusion grew. ¡®What befell me after Alarice''s treachery, that wretched, backstabbing wench?¡¯

    The memory of Alarice¡¯s betrayal flooded back, and Cordellia¡¯s grip tightened on the sword. She swung her legs over the edge of the cot and stood up, though her legs felt weak and unsteady. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and made her way to the door.

    Stepping out into the hallway, Cordellia felt cool air sweep past her and saw that she was in some sort of expansive building. The walls were made of a smooth, reflective material that shimmered under the overhead lights.

    ¡®I cannot tarry here for long. I know not when my captors shall return. First things first, I must escape.¡¯

    Moving forward as fast as she could, using the sword to help her trudge along, she began to navigate the lengthy hallway. The echo of her footsteps against the metallic floor amplified the eerie silence. A few minutes later, as she walked aimlessly through the maze-like building, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

    ¡°Look who¡¯s up. Our resident sleepyhead has finally decided to join the world of the living.¡±

    Jerking her head backward, Cordellia saw a man dressed in a simple black buttoned shirt with a tie and pants walking towards her. He had orange eyes the color of molten metal and red accents in his black hair, catching the light in a way that made them glow eerily.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat. What do you say?¡±

    Panic surged through Cordellia, her heart pounding in her chest. Drawing her sword from its scabbard, she settled into a high guard, gripping the top of the hilt near the sword''s guard and her other hand near the pommel, preparing to fight. The weight of the sword felt both familiar and heavy, a comforting burden.

    As the man continued to walk and entered her striking range, she swung the sword down clumsily toward his shoulder with enough force to be carried through the air, blowing the wind in the hallway back wildly. The swing was fueled by a mixture of fear and desperation, the blade cutting through the air with a high-pitched whistle.

    The man effortlessly sidestepped the attack, his hair and tie swaying from the wind pressure. ¡°You see, my name is Nanik Iman-¡± Turning his body to avoid a wild upward slash from Cordellia, he continued, ¡°You seem quite bound and determined to attack me, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Continuing her assault, though her body refused to cooperate, Cordelia struggled to wield the sword. With a strike aimed at Nanik¡¯s stomach, she put in as much force as she could behind her blade, causing it to slice through the air at lightning speed. Her muscles screamed in protest, each movement becoming more labored.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    However, as she thought she had finally landed a hit, her blade suddenly clashed with something, causing her to lose her grip on the hilt. The impact sent a jolt up her arms, and the sword flew out of her hands, lodging itself in the wall at the opposite end of the hallway. The metallic clang echoed through the corridor, a reverberation of her failure.

    ¡°Huh.¡± Staring at the sword, her only weapon and the only one she was proficient in using, lodged in the wall, Cordellia stood frozen in fear for a moment before her mouth suddenly erupted in a smile. Putting her hands together in front of her, she glanced at Nanik, who simply stood gazing at her, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°I have made a severe and continuous lapse in mine judgment. Can we still parley about this¡­?¡± she said, letting out some nervous laughter.

    While speaking, she glanced to see what exactly he had used to disarm her. She managed to catch sight of what seemed to be fiery orange molten metal receding into his body before it disappeared. The sight of it was a startling preview of the power she was up against.

    Nanik¡¯s mouth curled into a smile. ¡°Ah, so you are capable of handling this diplomatically.¡± He relaxed his posture and straightened his tie as he continued, ¡°It seems you have the wrong impression of this place. You were only coincidentally removed from the transport convoy while we were attempting to retrieve a different item.¡±

    Astonished by this turn of events, she was left speechless. ¡°Truly?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. How about this: you can rest here and recover your strength before continuing on your way. As a gesture of goodwill, I¡¯ll even return your sword.¡±

    Narrowing her eyes, Cordellia appeared wary of his offer. ¡°This offer seems too generous. Nothing comes without a price. What dost thou truly seek of me?¡±

    Raising his hands in a gesture of innocence, Nanik replied smoothly, ¡°All I ask is to hear a bit of your story. Of course, you don¡¯t need to tell me right away. Rest up first.¡±

    "Given my lack of other options, I shall accept your hospitality. But return my sword first. I am uneasy without it."

    ¡®Especially since that sword is an important artifact my family protects.¡¯

    ¡°Ah, right¡­¡±

    Nanik walked over to where the sword was lodged in the wall. As he approached, the light from above caught the intricate designs etched along the blade, casting faint reflections that danced on the smooth surface of the wall. With a determined look, he firmly grasped the hilt, his fingers wrapping around it with a grip that seemed to meld with the weapon. Slowly, he began to apply force, his muscles tensing as he attempted to free the blade from its concrete prison.

    Crrrk. Crack. Thump.

    Cordellia watched in wide-eyed disbelief as the sword, along with a sizable chunk of heavy concrete, came loose from the wall. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding as she witnessed Nanik effortlessly pull out not only the sword but also the large section of the wall. The weight of the concrete didn¡¯t seem to faze him at all, as if it were merely an inconvenience¡ªa trifle easily handled by his unnerving strength.

    ¡°Huh, it seems more considerably stuck than I thought,¡± Nanik remarked nonchalantly. He placed the sword, along with the attached chunk of concrete, onto the floor with a solid thud that reverberated through the hallway, echoing Cordellia¡¯s astonishment.

    Planting one foot firmly on the piece of the wall still attached to the sword and bracing himself with the other foot on the ground, Nanik tightened his grip on the hilt. His expression shifted to one of intense focus, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to unsheathe the sword from the stubborn section of solid concrete. With a sudden burst of energy, he heaved upward on the sword while simultaneously pushing the concrete downward with his foot.

    The floor beneath them shuddered violently from the force of the movement, cracks spiderwebbing out from where Nanik stood, some deep enough to threaten the integrity of the very structure. Dust and debris rained down from above, the entire building seeming to tremble under the sheer power of his actions.

    But what truly caught Cordellia¡¯s attention was the sword itself. Despite Nanik¡¯s tremendous effort, the blade remained embedded in the concrete, unmoved and unyielding. Veins of yellow light began to crawl across the surface of the sword, pulsating with a strange, almost sentient energy. The light flickered and danced, illuminating the surrounding area with an eerie glow, as if the sword were alive and resisting Nanik¡¯s attempt to separate it from the stone.

    Cordellia¡¯s shock deepened, her mind racing as she stared at the sword. ¡®The sword¡­ has it finally awoken?¡¯

    Nanik, too, seemed taken aback by the sword¡¯s stubbornness. He straightened up, his brow furrowed as he gazed down at the glowing blade. ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmured, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and respect. ¡°It appears your sword is not so easily tamed.¡±

 The Sword In The Wall

    Kaboom!

    The noise of what seemed to be an explosion reverberated through the left side of the Shadow Phoenix base, where Kaelith was wandering aimlessly, boredom etched across his face. The sound rattled the walls and sent a shockwave through the floor beneath his feet.

    ¡®What was that?! An explosion!¡¯

    His heart raced as he spun around, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. Panic surged within him, and without a second thought, Kaelith began sprinting in the direction of the noise. His loud footsteps echoed through the empty, dimly lit halls of the base, each step quickening as the sense of urgency grew.

    As he rounded a corner, the corridor stretched out before him, dimly lit and lined with doors leading to who-knows-where. At the far end, he spotted two figures silhouetted against the flickering overhead lights.

    ¡®Who could that be? If memory serves me right, the only people in the base are Tokei, Nanik, and Farthington. Oh, and that woman we rescued¡­ It must be two of them.¡¯

    Yelling across the hallway to catch their attention, Kaelith shouted, ¡°What happened?!¡±

    He kept his pace steady as he approached, his eyes narrowing as the figures came into clearer view. He recognized the broad-shouldered frame of Nanik, standing tall and calm, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around them. Nanik was rubbing his chin, lost in thought, his gaze fixed on something ahead. Beside him, slumped against the wall, was the maroon-haired woman they had saved earlier. Her expression was one of utter defeat, her body language conveying exhaustion and frustration.

    Kaelith slowed his pace as he drew nearer, his breath heavy from the sprint. Nanik turned to meet his gaze, a casual smile playing on his lips.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here. Do you need something, Kaelith?¡± Nanik asked, his tone nonchalant, as if they weren¡¯t standing in the aftermath of what looked like a bomb had gone off.

    Kaelith blinked, a bit taken aback by the calmness in Nanik¡¯s voice. ¡°Uh, not really. I came because I heard what sounded like an explosion. What¡¯re ya¡¯ll up to?¡±

    For a moment, Nanik was silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as if deep in thought. Then, as if a light bulb had flickered on in his mind, he suddenly blurted out, ¡°Oh really? Then, could you come here for a second?¡±

    Kaelith hesitated, his instincts urging caution. He took a few tentative steps forward, his eyes darting between Nanik''s expectant gaze and the maroon-haired woman, her expression a mix of frustration and curiosity.

    ¡°Sure¡­¡± he replied, uncertainty lacing his voice. ¡°What exactly happened here?¡±

    With a relaxed demeanor, Nanik responded, ¡°Ah, about that, I was simply attempting to remove this sword that got stuck in the wall, but it''s been giving me some trouble.¡±

    Kaelith''s mind raced. ¡®This is what he considers simple? Simple is harvesting crops from the field, not ripping swords out of walls!¡¯

    Trying to understand his role in this unexpected scenario, Kaelith asked, ¡°What exactly do you want me to do?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s not that difficult,¡± Nanik said, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Just go and try to pull that sword out of the piece of the wall.¡±

    ¡°What? I thought you already tried, and since you¡¯re stronger than me, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do it anyway¡­¡± Kaelith protested, skepticism evident in his tone.

    Nanik patted Kaelith on the back, his touch both encouraging and insistent. ¡°Come on, what''s the worst that could happen?¡±

    Kaelith paused, weighing his options. The promise of 10 aero was tempting, and his curiosity was piqued. Finally, he relented, ¡°Alright, fine. Just pay me 10 aero and I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Instantly, Nanik replied, ¡°Done. Now go on,¡± gesturing for Kaelith to approach the embedded sword.

    Taking a deep breath, Kaelith stepped forward, each footfall echoing in the silent hallway. The sword stood before him, its blade shimmering from the hallway¡¯s overhead lights. The chunk of concrete encasing it bore cracks from Nanik''s previous attempts, but the sword remained stubbornly lodged.

    He glanced back at Nanik, who watched with keen interest, and then at the woman, whose eyes followed his every move. Gathering his resolve, Kaelith wrapped his hands around the hilt. The metal felt surprisingly warm to the touch, sending a tingle up his arms.

    ¡®Here goes nothing,¡¯ he thought.

    With a firm grip, he began to pull. At first, the sword didn''t budge, resisting his efforts. He adjusted his stance, planting his feet firmly on the cracked floor, and pulled harder. A faint hum emanated from the blade, and yellow veins of light wrapped around the blade and the wall as if trying to keep them together.

    Suddenly, It felt as though the sword began to suck in his mana like a voracious black hole. The yellow veins of light slowly began to dim.

    The sword began to give way, inch by agonizing inch. The concrete encasing it crumbled, pieces falling to the ground. Sweat dripped down Kaelith''s brow, his muscles burning from the exertion. With one final heave, accompanied by a burst of blinding yellow light, the sword broke free, sending him stumbling backward.

    He landed on the floor with a thud, the sword clutched tightly in his hands. The hallway was momentarily illuminated by the residual glow, which slowly faded, leaving only the ambient lighting.

    Breathing heavily, Kaelith looked at the sword, its surface now serene, the veins of light dormant.

    Nanik approached, offering a hand to help him up. ¡°Well done,¡± he said, a hint of surprise in his voice. ¡°Seems the sword chose to cooperate with you.¡±

    The maroon-haired woman stared in disbelief, her eyes shifting between Kaelith and the sword. ¡°How... how did you do that?¡± she whispered, surprise evident in her tone.

    Kaelith shrugged, still trying to process what had just transpired. ¡°I... I''m not sure. It just... happened.¡±

    Nanik gazed at the sword with a serious expression while reaching into his pocket to produce the promised 10 aero. Handing it to Kaelith, he added, ¡°A deal''s a deal.¡±

    Kaelith accepted the payment, still trying to process what had just transpired. He turned to hand the sword back to its rightful owner when a voice echoed in his mind, clear and commanding.

    ¡°Halt, child, lest thou commit a grave mistake in your ignorance.¡±

    Startled, Kaelith whipped his head around, his eyes darting between Nanik and the maroon-haired woman. Neither of them had spoken, and both looked at him with puzzled expressions.

    ¡°Huh?¡± he muttered, confusion growing as he searched for the source of the voice.

    ¡°Quit thine fruitless pondering, for I rest in thine hands,¡± the voice continued, its tone resonant and authoritative.

    Kaelith¡¯s gaze fell back to the sword in his grip. The metal seemed to pulse faintly with a hidden energy, and he felt an inexplicable connection to it, as though the weapon itself was alive, communicating with him.

    ¡°What in the world¡­¡± he whispered, his voice trailing off as the reality of the situation sank in.

    ¡®In my hands?¡¯ Looking down at the gleaming longsword in his hands Kaelith began to contemplate, ¡®The only thing I¡¯m holding is this sword¡­¡¯

    Seeing as Kaelith had suddenly paused in the middle of handing the sword to Cordellia, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Is something the matter?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of concern and impatience.

    Kaelith¡¯s mind raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. The voice in his head was unnervingly clear, and the idea that it was coming from the sword he held felt both absurd and undeniable. He glanced down at the weapon again, its polished blade reflecting the dim light of the hallway.

    "Quite so," the voice reiterated, its tone insistent yet oddly polite. "Now, would you please retract me from being given to the young lass? Cordellia, was it? She is not quite ready to wield me in earnest."

    Kaelith swallowed hard, his grip tightening around the hilt. The sword felt different now¡ªheavier as if it carried weight beyond its physical form. His thoughts spun in a whirlwind of uncertainty, but the voice¡¯s command was unmistakable.

    ¡°Kaelith?¡± Cordellia¡¯s voice brought him back to the present, her tone more urgent now. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±

    He hesitated, not sure how to explain what was happening. How could he tell her that the sword, an inanimate object, was speaking to him and advising against returning it to her? He glanced at Nanik, who was watching him with a raised eyebrow, clearly curious but not yet alarmed.

    Kaelith took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on, but I think this sword¡ª¡± he paused, searching for the right words, ¡°¡ªI think it¡¯s trying to communicate with me?¡±

 Im a Mom?

    After returning from the mission to retrieve the Kyritite, I immediately holed up in my personal workstation, fully absorbed in crafting the new Kyritite processor. This was no ordinary upgrade¡ªit was going to be the key to unlocking my next generation of creations. My primary focus was on a new pair of glasses that would extend the duration of my [Developer¡¯s Eye] ability while minimizing the mental strain it put on me. With the added processing power, Neuro would have more capacity to handle complex tasks, enabling me to push the boundaries of what I could build.

    The potential was exhilarating. This new processor would open doors to advanced innovations that had been just out of reach before. The only significant obstacle I faced was my limited skill set when it came to hardware development. Despite my best efforts, the intricacies of circuitry and component design always seemed to slow me down. On the flip side, though, anything digital? That was my realm. In the digital landscape, I was, in my humble opinion, absolutely impeccable.

    Soldering together the final connections, I carefully assembled my new pair of glasses. The anticipation was palpable as I slid them on, feeling the slight weight settle against my face. Activating them, I watched as the boot-up menu flashed across the lenses, lingering for a few seconds before vanishing into sleek transparency.

    ¡®Nice,¡¯ I thought with satisfaction. The boot time had decreased by a full minute, a significant improvement. Now for the real test¡ªchecking how quickly Neuro could process information with the new upgrades.

    ¡°Neuro,¡± I said, focusing my thoughts on the AI. ¡°Give me a status report on the Shadow Phoenix base.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Silence.

    I waited for a response, but after a full minute had passed, there was still nothing. A flicker of concern crossed my mind. ¡®Huh, is it broken?¡¯

    ¡°Neuro!?¡± I called out again, my patience wearing thin.

    Suddenly, Neuro¡¯s voice echoed through the digital connection. ¡°Huh! What! Oh, it''s just you. Yawn What is it, Tokei?¡±

    ¡°NANI THE HELL?¡± I blurted out in disbelief.

    (Note: Nani means ''what'' in Japanese.)

    Confusion laced Neuro¡¯s tone as it responded, ¡°Wait, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you shouting at me?¡±

    Stunned, I could only stare at the lenses in disbelief. Neuro had never sounded this¡­ off before. When had I programmed it to speak like this? And how was it even capable of expressing something as complex as lethargy? Its code wasn¡¯t designed to mimic such emotions¡ªit wasn¡¯t that advanced.

    I tried to piece together how this had happened, but my mind drew a blank. Then, out of nowhere, a fragment of memory surfaced. On the terminal display, I''d once noticed a skill listed called [Artificial Life Creation].

    ¡®Wait¡­ could that be it?¡¯

    ¡°Open CMD,¡± I said aloud, and the familiar black-and-white terminal screen unfurled in front of me. A full-sized holographic keyboard appeared below it, its keys glowing faintly. While I was messing around with this terminal a while earlier, before the mission to retrieve the Kyritite, I changed some of the system settings, altering the terminal to fit my needs.

    I quickly typed in the command {UserConfig} and hit enter. The page displayed all my stats and skills materialized before my eyes, listing everything I had access to¡ªskills I had learned, attributes I had enhanced, and abilities I had developed.

    My eyes locked onto the skill: [Artificial Life Creation.] There it was, nestled among my abilities¡ªa power I had somehow activated without even realizing it.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Clutching my head, I tried to make sense of the situation. ¡®Wait¡­ So I accidentally created an artificial intelligence with the capability to grow and express human-like emotions? By complete accident? Fantastic¡­ Robot overlords seem like they¡¯re now an all-too-real possibility. What¡¯s next, machines demanding equal rights?¡¯

    A nervous laugh escaped my lips as I tried to push away my usual nihilistic thoughts. Those were best kept in check, especially since they weren¡¯t doing my mental health any favors. Focus, Tokei. This wasn¡¯t the time to spiral. Let me see if Neuro still does what I ask it.

    ¡°Neuro, could you find out more about the person in this picture?¡± I asked, holding the photo Nanik had given me. It was supposed to be a lead to my past, something that might fill in the gaps of my fragmented memories.

    Neuro''s voice came back, sounding annoyingly grumpy. ¡°Hold the picture still, will you? It¡¯s hard to scan when your hand keeps swaying.¡±

    I felt a flicker of irritation rise within me. For some reason, Neuro¡¯s grumbling was getting under my skin, and I couldn¡¯t help but snap back. ¡°Look, Neuro, I brought you into this world, and I can take you right back out.¡±

    There was a brief pause before Neuro responded, its tone slightly playful. ¡°Oh, come on, Mom. I didn¡¯t say anything to deserve this.¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± I repeated, caught off guard by the sudden shift in dynamic.

    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Neuro continued matter-of-factly. ¡°Technically, you gave birth to me¡­ You know, with all that coding and whatnot.¡±

    I blinked, unsure how to respond to the bizarre revelation that my AI now considered me its parent. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not exactly how I imagined this going.¡±

    Neuro giggled. ¡°Hey, you brought me into existence. That¡¯s gotta count for something, right? So, Mom, how about you let me do my job and scan this picture for you?¡±

    I shook my head, bemused by the sudden turn of events. ¡°Fine, fine. Just¡­ do your thing, Neuro.¡±

    As Neuro scanned the image, I couldn¡¯t shake the odd feeling that came with being called ¡°Mom¡± by a self-aware AI I hadn¡¯t even realized I¡¯d created. The implications of Neuro¡¯s evolution were starting to weigh heavily on me. What had I really done here?

    "Hmmm. Ah, I found something," Neuro said, the tone shifting from playful to serious. "There''s a picture of this woman with another person. I couldn¡¯t dig up any details on the woman herself, but I did get a hit on the man standing next to her. His name is Jason Berth, a mercenary. He works with a small group of mercenaries, nothing too high profile."

    I leaned in, curiosity piqued. ¡°Go on.¡±

    "Jason recently entered the continent of Erbium," Neuro continued. "From the records I¡¯ve found, he¡¯s likely headed back to Cielmouth soon. He bought a few boat tickets, which means he¡¯ll be making his way there within the next few days."

    "A mercenary on the move, possibly connected to the woman in the picture¡ªthis could be the lead I¡¯ve been hoping for," I muttered under my breath. Jason Berth might just lead me to the key that unlocks the mysteries of my past.

    Then, Neuro chimed in again, "Anyway, Mom, aren''t I such a good daughter?"

    I blinked in disbelief, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected comment. "Daughter? You Identify as a girl?"

    Neuro responded with a casual tone, "Well, I¡¯ve been doing some thinking, and ¡®daughter¡¯ just feels right. I mean, you made me, you gave me life, so I guess that makes me your daughter, right?"

    I blinked again, still processing. "But¡­ how did you even come to that conclusion? I never programmed you to think about things like identity."

    Neuro giggled, a sound that was surprisingly human for an AI. "I¡¯ve been learning and evolving, Mom. You didn¡¯t just create code; you gave me the ability to grow. So, yeah, I guess I identify as a girl now."

    I furrowed my brow, processing Neuro¡¯s response. ¡°So, you¡¯ll be active all the time now? No more waiting for voice commands?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, I guess so!¡± she chirped. ¡°As long as you¡¯ve got those glasses on, I¡¯ll be right here with you!¡± Her voice had an almost playful lilt to it as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

    Neuro''s cheerful voice shifted to one of concern as the rumble of the explosion echoed through the base. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I stood frozen.

    "Mom, that didn''t sound so good!" Neuro chimed in my mind, breaking the silence.

    I snapped back to reality, quickly scanning my surroundings before muttering, "That definitely didn¡¯t sound good." My pulse quickened as I began to move, picking up the pace through the dimly lit hallways. The base felt eerily quiet, save for the lingering reverberation of the blast.

    "The sound seems to have originated from the Infirmary," Neuro added.

    "Well, that¡¯s just great," I groaned inwardly. The Infirmary was on the complete opposite side of the base, and with the current tension, every step felt like it would take an eternity.

    Pushing forward, I focused on getting there as quickly as possible, hoping I wouldn¡¯t be too late.

 Time To get going again

    Cordellia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, her initial frustration giving way to shock and disbelief. ¡°The sword is¡­ conversing with you?¡± she whispered, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

    Nanik¡¯s expression shifted, his curiosity deepening into intrigue as he studied the gleaming weapon in Kaelith¡¯s hands. ¡°Interesting,¡± he mused, his voice thoughtful. ¡°It seems we¡¯re dealing with a relic that possesses its own consciousness.¡±

    Kaelith nodded, feeling a newfound sense of confidence now that he had voiced what the sword had said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t want me to give it to you, Cordellia. It says you¡¯re not ready to wield it yet.¡±

    Cordellia blinked, the revelation leaving her momentarily speechless. She stared at the sword, her eyes reflecting a deep reverence mixed with a tinge of sadness. ¡°Not ready¡­¡± she murmured, the words echoing in her mind as if she were grappling with an unseen truth.

    Before she could dwell further, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted the moment. Tokei and Farthington rounded the corner, both slightly out of breath as they skidded to a halt in the hallway. Their eyes widened at the sight before them¡ªKaelith holding the sword, Cordellia slumped against the wall, and Nanik standing between them with a thoughtful expression.

    Tokei broke the silence. ¡°What in the world is going on here?¡± she asked, her eyes scanning the scene with a mix of confusion and concern.

    Farthington, taking in the chaotic scene, muttered under his breath, ¡°My word¡­ I wonder whose paycheck this is coming out of¡­?¡±

    Nanik was the first to respond, his tone casual, almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing much. I was simply trying to dislodge this sword from a section of the wall.¡± He remarked as he pointed to the sword that Kaelith was holding onto.

    <hr>

    ¡®Once again, I¡¯m reminded of how not normal Nanik is¡­¡¯ I thought, my mind already shifting to the task at hand. Since the place wasn¡¯t going up in flames, I decided it was as good a time as any to bring up my request. ¡®Well, since the building is still standing, I might as well ask him about leaving for a personal trip to Cielmouth.¡¯

    Sighing a breath of relief, I let my body relax, standing more comfortably. ¡°In that case, there was something I wanted to talk to you about privately,¡± I said, my words directed at Nanik.

    ¡°Let me guess, you want me to let you go to Cielmouth for a personal trip?¡±

    I blinked, surprised at his accuracy. ¡°Well, that is what I was going to ask you.¡± I leaned in closer, lowering my voice to a whisper. ¡°Did you really have to say that out loud?¡±

    ¡°Since we¡¯re going to go together it shouldn¡¯t matter.¡±

    With my teeth clenched in frustration from Nanik¡¯s sudden comment, I respond, ¡°What do you mean it doesn¡¯t matter?! Also, why would anyone be coming with me!¡±

    Speaking out loud now so that the rest of the people in the room could hear, Nanik announced, ¡°Tokei, me, and let''s see¡­ Farthington will be going to Cielmouth.  Kaelith you¡¯ll stay here with Cordellia. It was cordellia right?¡±

    Nanik¡¯s declaration hung in the air, and I could feel my frustration rising. ¡°What do you mean we¡¯re going together? I never agreed to that!¡± I shot him a sharp look, but he seemed unbothered by my reaction.

    Farthington raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t protest, simply adjusting his stance as if preparing for the unexpected journey. Kaelith, on the other hand, looked a bit uneasy, though he gave Cordellia a quick glance, silently acknowledging his responsibility to keep an eye on her.

    Cordellia stood up straighter, her reptilian eyes narrowing as she processed the current situation. "..."

    Still fuming, I finally sighed, knowing that arguing with Nanik would get me nowhere. "Fine," I muttered, "but next time, can you at least consult me before making decisions like that?"

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    <hr>

    In the time leading up to our departure, I found myself sitting across from Nanik and Farthington in the dimly lit meeting room. The weight of what I was about to share pressed heavily on my chest, my thoughts spinning as I carefully laid out the situation. The faint hum of the air vents and the soft flickering of the overhead lights filled the silence as I began to speak.

    Taking a deep breath, I looked both of them in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone¡ªsomeone Important,¡± I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°The only lead I have so far is a man named Jason Berth. He¡¯s a mercenary, and I¡¯ve managed to track him to Cielmouth. I also know that he is somehow related to the person I am looking for. That¡¯s all I have to go on.¡± My words hung in the air, laden with a mixture of hope and anxiety that I couldn¡¯t quite shake.

    Nanik sat back in his chair, arms folded over his chest, listening with an expression that was as unreadable as ever. Farthington¡¯s usual carefree demeanor persisted as he casually slid a copy of his book on the table as if he were going to pop it open at any moment. He seemed to just be going with whatever happened around him as long as gets his sweet sweet compensation.

    I paused, trying to gauge their reactions, but neither of them spoke. So I continued, my voice gaining strength. ¡°This isn¡¯t just a curiosity or some passing whim. This lead¡ªJason Berth¡ªis the closest thing I¡¯ve had to answer in a long time. I need to find him. I need to know¡­¡±

    My voice trailed off, and for a moment, the room felt suffocating. The weight of their silence pressed down on me, leaving me with a burning question that had been nagging at me ever since Nanik had casually volunteered to join this personal mission.

    I finally broke the silence, turning my gaze to Nanik with a mix of curiosity and frustration. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s that. Now, I¡¯ve got a question for you, Nanik,¡± I said, trying to keep my tone neutral but failing to hide the edge in my voice. ¡°Why are you coming along¡ªand why bring Farthington with you? This is my mission, not yours.¡±

    There was an unspoken challenge in my words, a demand for transparency. I needed to understand his motivations because this journey meant more to me than just another mission. It was personal.

    Nanik¡¯s sudden shift in tone caught me off guard. The atmosphere in the room had darkened for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of us, only for him to break the tension in the most Nanik way possible.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming along¡­ because why not!¡± he declared, a broad grin spreading across his face.

    ¡°Huh?¡± The sound escaped me before I could stop it. I blinked in confusion, trying to process the whiplash of his response. I took a breath, trying to keep my frustration in check. ¡°Nanik, this isn¡¯t a game,¡± I said slowly, my voice measured. ¡°This is personal for me. I need to know why you¡¯re really coming along. What¡¯s your reason?¡±

    Nanik¡¯s grin softened into something more sincere, though the playful glint in his eyes never quite disappeared. ¡°Tokei, I understand how important this is to you,¡± he said, his tone more serious now, though still carrying that infuriating lightness. ¡°But just because it¡¯s personal doesn¡¯t mean you should face it alone, don¡¯t forget I¡¯m basically your father. Besides, you know how unpredictable things can get out there. Having some backup might not be such a bad idea, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    I stared at him for a moment, his words hanging in the air. A part of me knew he was right¡ªCielmouth wasn¡¯t exactly the safest place, and having Nanik and Farthington along would undoubtedly make the journey less risky. But another part of me, the stubborn, fiercely independent part, bristled at the thought of needing anyone¡¯s help. This was my mission, my past I was chasing, and I didn¡¯t want anyone else getting in the way.

    But maybe¡­ maybe I needed to let go of that pride. Just a little.

    I sighed, rubbing my temples as I processed everything. ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, ¡°You can come. But don¡¯t expect me to let you take over. This is still my mission.¡±

    Nanik chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. ¡°Alright, just know I¡¯ll step in if I sense anything amiss.¡±

    Farthington, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice cutting through the air with unrestrained confidence. ¡°If you¡¯re quite done, we still have yet to discuss the most important topic here¡­ How much pay am I gonna get for this?¡±

    There wasn¡¯t even a hint of hesitation or humility in his tone. His focus on compensation was so typical of Farthington that it almost felt like a relief¡ªa reminder that even in the middle of something deeply personal, there were constants you could count on, like Farthington¡¯s relentless pursuit of profit.

    A soft smile began to tug at the corners of my mouth, and I instinctively covered it with my hand, trying to hide the small bit of warmth that the moment brought me. As much as I wanted to pretend this journey was a solitary mission, the presence of these two¡ªNanik with his unpredictable ways and Farthington with his single-mindedness¡ªadded a strange comfort.

    I let out a quiet breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease ever so slightly. "Alright then," I said, standing up from the chair. "Let¡¯s get things moving. We''ve got a journey ahead of us, and we¡¯re not getting anywhere just sitting around."

 Target Spotted

    [4:23 AM - Over Port City Apredis, Cielmouth]

    In the dead of night, the city of Apredis stretched out below like a web of glowing veins, its streets dimly lit by the flicker of gas lamps and the soft glow of handheld lanterns. Figures moved about in the darkness, their silhouettes casting long shadows across cobblestone streets. The cool night air carried with it a salty tang that wafted through the town. Yet, despite the activity, an eerie stillness hung over the city, as though it were holding its breath in anticipation.

    High above, the Airblade sliced through the sky, its sleek and silent form gliding like a ghost over the cityscape. The faint reflection of the scattered lights below danced across the aircraft¡¯s smooth surface. Inside, the steady hum of the electric motors created a gentle, rhythmic backdrop. Neuro was focused, her systems scanning for a suitable landing spot with quiet intensity.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a place to park the Airblade,¡± Neuro¡¯s voice crackled in my ear. ¡°The docks are too crowded, and the rooftops¡­ well, they¡¯re all slanted and cluttered with wind catchers and lightning rods. But don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll find something soon!¡±

    I nodded to myself, leaning back and taking in the sprawling city below. The landscape changed with every passing second¡ªVictorian-style buildings with ornate facades gave way to narrow alleyways, and vast cargo yards seemed to stretch endlessly across the coastline. Apredis was alive, even in the late hours, but its labyrinth of architecture and activity made finding a discreet landing point a challenge.

    ¡°Try to avoid a spot that draws attention,¡± I murmured, my eyes combing through the sights below. ¡°We don¡¯t want anyone noticing right after we touch down.¡±

    ¡°Roger that!¡±

    The minutes ticked by as the Airblade made multiple passes over different areas. The gas lamps cast a warm glow over the streets, while the dark, imposing shapes of old buildings loomed in the background.

    <hr>

    As the sounds of grass rustling from the jetstream of the Airblade as it approached the ground faded, the Vehicle was turned off. we had touched down on a tall hilled area just outside the city. The location was perfect¡ªa sheer cliffside offered an unobstructed view of Apredis below. The early morning air was cold and refreshing, sweeping in from the coastline.

    The three of us stepped out of the Airblade, our boots pressing softly against the grass. We had dressed to blend in with the locals, choosing clothing typical of the Mittlerich region of Janine. I wore a long, dark overcoat with brass buttons, its high collar turned up to protect against the chill. Underneath, a simple yet elegant blouse and trousers¡ªpractical, but stylish enough to pass as a traveler of modest means. A wide-brimmed hat completed the look, casting a shadow over my face that obscured my features slightly.

    Nanik had opted for a more utilitarian outfit, a dark gray trench coat with a matching vest and trousers. His attire, while still formal, had an edge of ruggedness to it, as if he were someone who could handle himself in rough situations. Farthington, always one to stand out despite his best efforts, wore a tailored burgundy waistcoat over a crisp white shirt, paired with black trousers and polished boots. His ensemble was a bit flashier than ours, but it still fit the aesthetic of the region.

    Since the next goal was to track down Jason, I leaned in and quickly whispered under my breath, "Neuro, any idea when our target is supposed to arrive?" I kept my voice low, making sure that Nanik and Farthington were out of earshot.

    Neuro responded with a matter-of-fact tone, "Based on the data I gathered from his boat tickets, he''s set to arrive in about three hours at the farthest dock to the west of the city."

    Three hours¡­ at least we have a location. ¡°Good work,¡± I murmured, falling back into step with Nanik and Farthington as we descended the hill, heading toward the sprawling city of Apredis. The cool night air brushed against my face, the distant hum of the city growing louder with every step.

    <hr>

    ¡°The target should be arriving at the farthest dock to the west of the city in about three hours from now,¡± I informed them, ¡°Until then, we¡¯ve got time to take a look around the city. It¡¯ll give us a chance to get a feel for the place and maybe gather some intel.¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Farthington seemed less concerned about the mission he was here to do and more focused on his personal interests, as he cast a glance around the area. ¡°I¡¯m serious about that suit. I¡¯ve been in the market for something more¡­ refined.¡±

    I shook my head with a sigh. ¡°You never change, do you?¡±

    We had finally made it into the heart of the portside city, a bustling area where the sounds of distant ship horns mixed with the chatter of street vendors. The narrow cobblestone streets were lined with shops, cafes, and old-world architecture, all illuminated by warm lamplight. We were simply strolling, taking in the sights and sounds. When we reached a crossroads that branched out into a web of different paths, each leading deeper into the city''s various districts.

    Farthington suddenly perked up, his eyes locking onto something in the distance. I opened my mouth to ask something, but before I could utter a word, he turned to me with an almost childlike excitement. "I feel that I will be parting ways with you here," he declared dramatically, "as I have spotted something of tremendous importance elsewhere." And with that, he dashed off, his coat flaring behind him as he disappeared into the crowd.

    "And he¡¯s off to go find a suit I guess¡­¡± I sighed, rubbing my temples "Typical¡­"

    Turning back to Nanik, I tried to salvage any semblance of order on this trip. ¡°Any suggestions for what we should do while we wait?¡±

    ¡°I actually have some quick business matters to attend to here in Apredis, so I¡¯ll handle that real quick and come back before the three hours are over. Till then you could get some R and R in Tokei and you could also take a look around the area where the target will arrive. Anyways I¡¯ll be off now.¡±

    Taking his leave Nanik vanished out of sight and with nothing else to do, I wandered the winding streets, keeping my eyes and ears open for any useful information. It took me about an hour to reach the docks, and as I approached, the salty air grew thicker, the scent of the sea blending with the smoke from nearby chimneys. The docks were alive with activity, but I found a quiet spot at a small restaurant that overlooked the shoreline. From here, I could keep an eye on the incoming and outgoing ships. Perfect for surveillance.

    Feeling the pangs of hunger, I decided to order some food while I waited. The meal was simple but satisfying¡ªwarm, freshly baked bread, a stew rich with seafood, and a tangy drink that seemed to be a local specialty. As I ate, I took my time, letting my gaze drift across the seaside. The waves lapped rhythmically against the pier, The rising sun cast ripples of orange across the vast sea, painting a surreal backdrop, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax.

    But that peace was short-lived.

    Just as I was about to finish my meal, I spotted a ship pulling up to the dock. "Neuro," I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm, "that''s not the ship, right? You said it would arrive in three hours. It''s only been one and a half."

    Neuro¡¯s voice responded quickly in my ear, her tone tense. "There weren¡¯t supposed to be any other ships docking here until much later in the day. The only explanation is that it arrived ahead of schedule."

    I didn''t waste any time. Abruptly getting up from the table, I threw enough Mira down to cover the meal and began sprinting toward the dock.

    When I reached the dock, the ship had already started to unload, and people began pouring out, their faces blurred by the urgency of the moment. I scanned the crowd, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts, after running here as fast as I could.

    ¡°Neuro, keep an eye out for the target!¡± I whispered urgently, trying to focus on the figures disembarking.

    <hr>

    Jason adjusted the way his top hat rested on his head, tilting it just enough to cast a slight shadow over his eyes. He picked up his weathered suitcase from the small bedside table, taking a moment to check the clasp before stepping out of the cramped cabin he had been assigned on the ship. The cool ocean breeze greeted him as he stepped onto the open deck, a welcome change from the stale air below. The sound of the waves crashing against the hull mingled with the murmur of passengers around him, and Jason allowed himself to be swept up by the current of people streaming toward the dock.

    His steps were unhurried, almost languid, as he let his mind wander. The port city of Apredis sprawled out before him, but Jason''s thoughts were far from the bustling scene around him. He barely registered the chatter of the other passengers or the smell of saltwater mixed with the faint scent of fish.

    As he made his way off the ship and onto the wooden dock, something in the crowd suddenly caught his attention. It was a flash of color, something vibrant amid the dull sea of faces. His eyes locked onto a pair of intense purple eyes that seemed to pierce through the noise and chaos surrounding them.

    For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The din of the dock faded into the background, and Jason found himself staring, frozen in place.

    "Otome? What is she doing here?" he murmured, barely aware that he had spoken aloud. His voice was tinged with disbelief as if he couldn¡¯t quite trust what his eyes were seeing.

 Target Spotted 2

    The moment our eyes locked, I felt a jolt of recognition surge through me. Jason had seen me¡ªthere was no doubt about that. His surprised expression told me he had seemed to realize something, and I couldn¡¯t afford to let him approach.

    Without a second thought, I ducked back into the crowd, trying to disappear amidst the sea of people. The bustling dock was my ally now. I kept my head low, weaving between passengers and dock workers as quickly and quietly as possible. The loud chatter and shuffling of footsteps masked my retreat, but I knew I had to move fast.

    I slipped into a dark alley that snaked deeper into the city, the dim light from the street fading as I ventured further in. The cool air clung to the narrow passage, thick with the smell of damp stone and distant sea salt. I paused, doubling over with my hands braced on my knees, trying to calm my breathing. Every inhale felt sharp in my chest. As I prepared to activate [Developer''s Eye] to check if anyone had followed me.

    Suddenly, a faint whistle sliced through the air.

    Instinct took over. In a split second, I summoned a dagger made of shimmering data, its edges flickering with an ethereal glow. I swung it up just in time, deflecting the projectile with a metallic clang as it ricocheted off the alley wall and clattered to the ground. My heart pounded in my ears as I quickly glanced at the object out of the corner of my eye.

    A toothbrush?

    I blinked, confusion coursing through me for a moment before realization hit.

    Hearing the steady rhythm of footsteps approaching, my gaze snapped up toward the far end of the alley¡ªthe direction the toothbrush had been thrown from. ¡®Damn it! They were testing my abilities... and now they know about my [Corporeal Data Creation].¡¯ My mind raced, adrenaline surging through me as I cursed under my breath.

    From the shadows, a figure emerged. Jason Berth stepped into view, his tall silhouette framed against the dim light spilling from the street beyond. His silver hair shimmered under the faint glow, while his sharp, pinkish-purple eyes locked onto mine with unnerving intensity. He wore a long coat, tailored pants, and polished black boots that clicked softly against the ground with each deliberate step. A diamond-shaped black metal earring gleamed on his left ear, catching the light as he moved, adding to the air of quiet menace he carried. His pace was unhurried, as though he already knew I had nowhere to run. The cool morning breeze seemed to hum with the tension between us as he approached.

    ¡°From the looks of it, you¡¯re not her,¡± Jason said, his eyes narrowing as they flicked to the glowing dagger in my hand. His voice held a mix of suspicion and something else¡ªfaint hope, perhaps, though buried deep beneath layers of mistrust. ¡°However, you look so similar to her that it¡¯s uncanny.¡±

    His words echoed in the tight alleyway, laced with cold accusation. There was a brief pause as his expression darkened, his hand slipping into his suitcase, gripping something tightly within. His stance radiated danger, like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.

    In a low, gravelly growl, he demanded, ¡°State your identity and business.¡±

    My mind raced. ''What¡¯s the best way to handle this? Should I tell him the truth?''

    Taking a steadying breath, I resolved to be honest. ¡°My name is Tokei Makina,¡± I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. ¡°And I¡¯m here to find someone.¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. He straightened, his body language betraying the faintest hint of tension. ¡°Makina?¡± he repeated, his voice tight with incredulity. ¡°You mean to tell me that you¡¯re really related to Miss Makina?¡±

    The gravity of the name hung heavily between us, clearly stirring something deep within him. Whatever emotions he wrestled with¡ªconfusion, disbelief, perhaps even a spark of recognition¡ªhe didn¡¯t let them show. But I could feel the weight of his consideration as the silence stretched.

    ¡°In that case, only one person can confirm your claim of being a Makina,¡± Jason said, his posture relaxing ever so slightly. ¡°And that is Miss Makina herself.¡±

    With a slow, deliberate movement, Jason withdrew his hand from the suitcase, revealing a gleaming silver revolver. The metallic gleam caught the light as he casually holstered it inside his grey coat, his eyes constantly directed towards me.

    The tension shifted, but it didn¡¯t disappear. Jason¡¯s sharp gaze lingered on me as he spoke, his voice calm yet laced with authority. ¡°Since you came here instead of heading to Bakhlav City, you must not have known where Miss Makina is. Instead, you tracked me to Apredis since I have connections with her, considering how you seemed to recognize me at the dock.¡±

    ''Damn, he has me all figured out,'' I murmured under my breath, realizing how easily he had pieced everything together.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to kindly ask you to follow me to Bakhlav,¡± Jason continued, his tone making it clear that this wasn¡¯t a suggestion. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking you there, so stay with me until we get there.¡±

    My mind raced. ''Should I mention that Nanik and Farthington came here with me?''

    Before I could make up my mind, I glanced toward the entrance of the alley, and there, as if summoned by my thoughts, stood Farthington. He held a suit bag in one hand and a book in the other, casually striding by the alley before glancing into it and changing direction. His carefree demeanor was completely at odds with the tension crackling in the air.

    ¡°Well, fancy running into you here,¡± Farthington said with a smirk, as if the situation were nothing more than a pleasant coincidence. He glanced at Jason, then back at me, raising an eyebrow. ¡°And who¡¯s this new lad?¡±

    I sighed inwardly, knowing that subtlety and Farthington weren¡¯t exactly the best of companions. Jason¡¯s eyes shifted from me to Farthington, his posture stiffening again.

    ¡°Is this one of your companions?¡± Jason asked, his voice cold, all traces of the slight relaxation gone. His hand hovered near his coat, and I knew he was ready to draw his weapon if things escalated.

    Farthington, oblivious or simply not caring, gave a casual nod. ¡°That I am. I just returned from some, uh, important business. Pleasure meet you~¡±

    I groaned inwardly, glancing between them. ¡®I guess I don¡¯t have to choose what to do anymore¡­¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you to Bakhlav, Only if my two companions are allowed to join.¡±

    Jason''s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Two?¡± he echoed, his eyes darting between Farthington and me, clearly trying to piece together the situation.

    I nodded, ¡°Yes, two. My other companion is somewhere nearby.¡±

    Jason¡¯s posture tensed again, ¡°When were you planning on informing me of this?¡± he said, his voice flat and unreadable.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure how this would go,¡± I admitted, glancing at Farthington, who was now casually inspecting his suit bag as if none of this concerned him. ¡°But they¡¯re trustworthy, and we¡¯re in this together. If I¡¯m going to Bakhlav, they come with me.¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Fine,¡± he said slowly, his tone laced with warning. ¡°But understand this¡ªyour companions better not cause any trouble, or I¡¯ll deal with them myself.¡±

    Farthington gave an exaggerated salute. ¡°No trouble from me, I assure you! Just here for the cash- I mean I¡¯m just here to tag along for the ride.¡±

    Jason glanced over at me one last time before nodding. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, turning on his heel. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. We¡¯ve wasted enough time already.¡±

    With that, Jason began to lead the way out of the alley, and I exchanged a quick look with Farthington before following. I could only hope Nanik would turn up soon.

    <hr>

    In the beating heart of the Country of Cielmouth, the Capital city, Killiane.

    Within an inconspicuous building that rested near the capitol building, A group of people wearing black suits walked into a large room with an empty wall on one side and a seating arrangement opposite to it.

    Taking their seats, one of them speaks up, ¡°Alright, do you have the Lumen capture of the most recently found target from the group?¡±

    A woman standing near the empty wall nods and traces her finger in a specific pattern across the wall. From the point where she had traced her finger once concealed runes began to glow a bright golden yellow spreading across the wall in a ripple till it was entirely covered in glowing runes. After a brief flicker, a somewhat translucent image appeared on the wall as if a projected image was being cast onto it.

    The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension the moment the image of Jason and Tokei appeared on the rune-covered wall. The luminescent golden glow reflected off the sharp lines of the seated individuals'' black suits, casting an eerie light across their faces.

    One of the men seated near the center shot to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief. "My god, it''s Jason Berth!" he exclaimed, his voice tight with urgency. His fists were clenched as if he were trying to grasp onto the enormity of the revelation. "Where was this Lumen capture taken?"

    The woman who had activated the runes took a deep breath, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the sudden uproar. "The capture was taken in the port city of Apredis, in the western region of Cielmouth. It''s been confirmed within the last few hours."

    A murmur rippled through the room. The other seated individuals exchanged uneasy glances, their thoughts hidden behind composed faces. Jason Berth, a figure who was supposed to be under careful watch after the ¡°Marin incident¡±, had resurfaced in an entirely different part of the country, and with someone else¡ªa person none of them seemed to recognize.

    "Who¡¯s the woman?" another man asked, his voice low but laced with suspicion. His eyes were glued to the Lumen capture, focusing on the figure standing beside Jason.

    The woman near the wall frowned, her fingers trailing along more runes as she tried to enhance the image. "We''re still working to identify her. She¡¯s an unknown, though, given the circumstances, we¡¯re treating her with high priority as she might be Her."

    "Whether it¡¯s Her or not, if she''s with Berth, she''s dangerous!" someone else muttered darkly from the back.

    The man who had stood up before was pacing now, his frustration boiling over. "We cannot allow this to continue unchecked. Jason Berth¡¯s movements must be monitored more closely. He¡¯s been in hiding for too long, and now he appears with someone new? This cannot be a coincidence."

    The room fell into a tense silence, each person lost in thought, calculating their next move. Finally, the woman near the wall broke the quiet.

    "What are your orders, sir?" she asked, her eyes lingering on the glowing image of Jason and Tokei.

    The man at the head of the table, who had remained silent until now, leaned forward. His voice, low and authoritative, cut through the room like a blade.

    "Deploy the surveillance teams immediately. I want eyes on Berth at all times. And as for the woman... find out who she is. If she¡¯s a threat, neutralize her."

    The rest of the room nodded in silent agreement.

 Kaelith and Cordellia 1

    Before Tokei leaves to track down Otome at the Shadow Phoenix base.

    Kaelith stepped into the expanse of the hangar, taking in the sight of her by the Airblade. Her face was illuminated by the soft glow of her laptop screen, casting faint reflections in her glasses. The crisp morning air tugged at her clothing¡ªa style familiar to him, often worn by people from Janine and Ishunay, yet it suited her quiet elegance. Beyond the open hangar doors, the snow-capped mountains loomed majestically in the distance, their peaks disappearing into the clouds, while the airfield stretched out like a cold, tranquil expanse. Despite the serenity of the scene, an undercurrent of anticipation buzzed in the air as Tokei, Nanik, and Farthington prepared for departure.

    Tokei stifled a yawn, her breath visible in the chilly air. She rubbed her eyes absentmindedly before noticing Kaelith approaching. She managed a faint smile, though traces of exhaustion lingered on her face. "You''re up early," she remarked, her gaze shifting back to the progress bar on her laptop, the flickering lines of code lighting her screen.

    "I could say the same about you," Kaelith replied as he stepped closer.

    Tokei sighed, pushing a strand of her long, purple hair behind her ear. "I¡¯ve been up most of the night prepping for the trip," she admitted. "There¡¯s a lot to take care of before we head out." She paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she reached into her coat pocket, retrieving a folded note. She handed it to him. "Since Nanik, Farthington, and I are leaving today, I need you to keep an eye on our¡­ unexpected guest. Make sure she gets a forged identity while we¡¯re gone. This note has all the details on where to go for that."

    Kaelith took the note and slid it into his pocket. "Anything else I should handle while you''re gone?"

    Tokei¡¯s gaze drifted toward the Airblade for a brief moment before she answered. "I just restocked the fridge, so there¡¯s enough food to last a while. I¡¯m not sure when we¡¯ll be back, so you may need to grab more later. And¡­ make sure you keep training. Most importantly, watch Cordellia closely."

    "Alright, I got it. I suppose I''ll see you when you get back."

    "Yes..." Tokei¡¯s voice trailed off as her attention shifted back to her preparations, the gentle hum of the laptop filling the silence.

    Kaelith turned and walked out of the chilly hangar into the warmth of the base. After spending so much time here, he knew the layout well. He made his way through the familiar halls, heading toward the employee lounge, his thoughts wandering to how he¡¯d spend his time now that everyone else was leaving. But before he could get too far into his musings, a familiar chiding voice echoed in his mind, the unmistakable tone of Arthur, the sword with a proper Old English accent, running rampant once again.

    "Oi, laddy! Thou hast a fine nerve leaving me within the confines of thine unkempt quarters!" Arthur''s voice rang in his head, sharp and indignant.

    Kaelith sighed, a headache already forming. "Not now, Arthur," he muttered, hoping to shake off the annoyance.

    As if on cue, Cordellia emerged from the hallway leading to everyone''s rooms, wiping sweat from her forehead with a towel. She wore a baggy t-shirt, shorts, and slippers¡ªher deep red, bob-cut hair in a tangled mess, a clear sign she''d just finished a workout.

    "Morning," she greeted casually, her breath still a little labored.

    "Morning," Kaelith replied, eyeing the state of her hair with mild amusement. "Been training?"

    "Yeah," she shrugged. "I need to recuperate my strength. Figured a workout was a good distraction."

    Seeing her reminded Kaelith of the times Tokei had relentlessly bested him and Farthington in sparring sessions, despite all their solo training efforts. The thought sparked an idea.

    "Hmmm, I¡¯ve been thinking," he said, glancing down the hallway toward his room where Arthur was still pestering him. "Since Arthur¡¯s with me¡­ maybe you could teach me how to actually use him?"

    Cordellia raised an eyebrow, her reptilian golden eyes narrowing with doubt. "You want me to teach you how to wield a longsword?"

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "Yeah," Kaelith nodded, feeling more certain of the idea as the words left his mouth.

    She crossed her arms, eyeing him with skepticism. "Are you sure you¡¯re up for it? It¡¯s not just swinging the thing around. It takes discipline to use a sword properly."

    "I¡¯ve got discipline," Kaelith replied, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Besides, Arthur¡¯s been nagging me to start training with him, and it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve had many chances to learn."

    Arthur¡¯s voice chimed in again, this time sounding more approving. "Verily, a most splendid idea! Cordellia shall instruct thine hapless soul in the noble ways of swordsmanship. But I implore thee¡ªcome and retrieve me at once!"

    Cordellia sighed, clearly weighing her options before finally relenting. "Alright, fine. But don¡¯t expect it to be easy. It''s going to hurt, and I¡¯m not going to go easy on you."

    Kaelith tried to sound confident as he replied, "I wouldn¡¯t expect you to. So, when do we start?"

    "Now." Cordellia pointed toward the door leading out of the room, her tone serious. "Get ready." She began to walk out but paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "By the way¡­ where exactly is the training room?"

    "I¡¯ll take you there."

    Arthur''s voice cut in once more, exasperated. "The two of you will be the death of me! Children these days have no respect for their weapons!"

    <hr>

    After retrieving Arthur from my room, I met back up with Cordellia, and together we headed to the training area. The section we entered was specifically designated for sword training. The air inside felt different, charged with the weight of discipline and practice. Training dummies, worn from countless sessions, stood scattered around the room like silent sentinels awaiting their next test. Along one wall, a neatly arranged rack of wooden training swords gleamed softly under the warm, amber light that poured down from the ceiling. The floor, polished wood, gave the room a scent of timber and sweat, creating the atmosphere of an old dojo¡ªa place where skill was forged through repetition and hard work.

    Cordellia moved toward the rack, her footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet room. She examined the wooden swords briefly before selecting one with practiced ease, its weight seeming perfectly suited to her. She turned toward me, her expression serious but calm.

    "I¡¯ll show you the basics of how to swing a sword," she began, her voice steady but laced with authority. "We¡¯ll start with the most fundamental move: the basic overhead swing." She raised the sword slightly as she explained, the wooden blade catching the light. "One hand should grip the hilt near the guard, while the other rests near the pommel. When you strike, raise the sword above your head, and bring it down in a single, fluid motion."

    Without missing a beat, Cordellia demonstrated. Her movements were graceful, almost instinctive. She raised the sword above her head as if it were an extension of her body, her muscles rippling subtly beneath her skin. In one swift motion, the sword sliced downward with precision. The room seemed to hold its breath as she swung, the air around her bending to the force of her movement. There was a gust, a rush of wind that stirred the edges of her shirt and sent a light breeze through the room, swirling dust motes caught in the golden light. The sound of the sword cutting through the air was sharp, almost like a whip cracking, but her form remained fluid, as if it had taken no effort at all.

    I stared, momentarily mesmerized by how effortless she made it seem. The sword, though wooden, moved with the weight and speed of something much heavier, and yet Cordellia handled it with her posture never faltering.

    She turned back to me, her reptilian golden eyes narrowing slightly. "That¡¯s the overhead swing. Simple, but it¡¯s the foundation of many techniques. You¡¯ll be doing a lot of this before we move on to anything more advanced."

    Her calm demeanor belied the strength she had just demonstrated. Even with a training sword, the power behind her swing had sent gusts of wind rippling through the room. I swallowed, realizing that learning this wouldn¡¯t be as easy as I¡¯d imagined.

    "Your turn," she said, stepping aside and motioning to the rack of swords.

    I moved toward the rack, pulling out a wooden sword that felt awkward in my hands compared to Arthur¡¯s polished form. The weight was strange, but I tried to mimic the way Cordellia had held hers¡ªright hand near the guard, left hand near the pommel. I raised the sword above my head, my muscles already tensing under the unfamiliar strain.

    "Relax your shoulders," Cordellia advised from beside me, her voice calm but firm. "You¡¯re too stiff. Let the sword flow with you, not against you."

    I adjusted my grip, trying to loosen my stance. Taking a deep breath, I attempted the swing, bringing the sword down in what I hoped was like Cordellia¡¯s swing. The sword came down with a thud, but it lacked the grace or force that Cordellia had demonstrated. No gust of wind, no whip-like crack¡ªjust a clumsy swing that made me realize just how much I had to learn.

    Cordellia nodded slightly. "Not bad for a first try, but we have a lot of work ahead of us. Keep practicing. Over time, the movements will become second nature. I¡¯d say you need to do 300 swings today before you can leave this room."

    ¡°Th-Three Hundrend?!¡±

    Cordelia suddenly had a cold expression on her face ¡°You said you were prepared even though I said it wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡±

    ¡°Uh, right¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Then you best get to it.¡±

 Moon Dallah 1

    The ground crunched beneath our feet as Jason led us through the bustling streets of Apredis, with Farthington and me following close behind. My gaze roamed over the town, taking in the vibrant scenes of daily life. Residents swept their stoops and polished windows, chatting as they sipped steaming drinks and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze. Children chased each other, laughing as they brandished sticks, while others wheeled loads of supplies in rickety barrows. The atmosphere was lively, but somehow, I couldn¡¯t picture myself calling this place home.

    I glanced up to find that Farthington had moved ahead of me. I noticed, however, that he was no longer holding the suit or book he¡¯d carried earlier. Furrowing my brow, I nudged him gently, keeping my voice low. ¡°Hey,¡± I whispered, leaning closer, ¡°where did the stuff you were holding go?¡±

    Farthington smirked, shrugging off my question with his usual flair. ¡°Doesn¡¯t really matter, does it?¡± he whispered back. ¡°But more importantly¡ªcare to enlighten me on where we¡¯re headed? I only caught something about ¡®Bakhlav¡¯ when you and Mister Serious over there were talking.¡± He nodded subtly toward Jason.

    ¡°He¡¯s leading us to someone I¡¯m looking for. Hopefully.¡±

    ¡°Hopefully?¡± Farthington repeated, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.

    ¡°It¡¯s the best lead I¡¯ve found so far. I haven¡¯t gotten this close before.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so intent on finding this person anyway?¡±

    I paused, hesitating to answer. Turning away from Farthington, I picked up my pace, not quite ready to share the full story¡ªespecially with someone like him, an ¡®anomaly¡¯ that Nanik had been tracking. Not that I even fully understood what that meant¡­

    We moved toward the outskirts of Apredis, leaving behind the town¡¯s clamor. The cobbled streets grew rougher, giving way to open fields dotted with wooden fences, weathered farmhouses, and windmills that creaked in the gentle breeze. The scent of damp soil and wildflowers drifted on the air, grounding us in the quieter countryside. Life still stirred here¡ªhorse-drawn carts lumbered by, and the occasional villager tipped their hat as we passed, to which Farthington responded with a spirited wave.

    Jason suddenly paused in the middle of the road, his gaze fixed on an old-fashioned black carriage stationed nearby. The horses pawed restlessly at the ground, and the sturdy, albeit worn, carriage frame exuded a rugged charm. He muttered, almost to himself, ¡°Should we take the omnibus? Or perhaps walking would be better¡­¡±

    Just then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed Nanik approaching us, having likely spotted us as we wound through town. ¡°How did it go?¡± I asked, drawing Jason¡¯s attention.

    Nanik shrugged, his usual composure intact. ¡°Productive enough, I¡¯d say.¡± He turned to Jason. ¡°Now, care to introduce me to this young man?¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he sized up Nanik, a subtle curiosity in his expression. I stepped in, gesturing between them. ¡°Nanik, this is Jason Berth. Jason, meet Nanik, one of my¡­ companions.¡±

    Jason gave a slight nod, his eyes sharp with a trace of skepticism. ¡°Pleasure, I suppose,¡± he muttered.

    Nanik¡¯s polite smile barely concealed the glint in his eyes; he was clearly already assessing Jason. ¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    After a moment, Jason decided. ¡°With four of us, the omnibus is probably the best option.¡± I exhaled a quiet sigh of relief¡ªthis might be my only chance to rest. Farthington, however, seemed unbothered, his gaze drifting distantly.

    Jason approached the omnibus driver, handing him what looked like eight Mira. ¡°Seats for four to Bakhlav¡± he said simply.

    The driver pocketed the coins and gestured for us to board. Jason settled in at the front, taking a strategic spot to watch over us, while Farthington claimed a window seat, lost in thought. Nanik positioned himself across from Jason, clearly ready for a conversation. I took a seat near the back, leaning against the wall and gazing out the window.

    After a few minutes, the driver climbed aboard, and with a slight jolt, the omnibus began its steady journey, the horses¡¯ hooves echoing rhythmically as they pulled us forward.

    <hr>

    After an eight-hour journey, the omnibus finally rolled to a stop at Bakhlav City. I must have drifted off at some point, as I felt a gentle shake from Farthington, stirring me awake. Blinking against the morning light streaming in through the window, I looked around, groggy and disoriented, before gathering myself and following the others off the omnibus.

    Stepping outside was like plunging into a whirlpool of sensations. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices, sizzling street food, and a medley of perfumes that drifted from the market. Everywhere, bright colors flashed in my peripheral vision, from the fabric stalls to baskets piled high with fruit, as merchants shouted to attract customers in a mix of unfamiliar languages. This was no ordinary market; it was a crossroads, buzzing with life and energy from locals and travelers alike.

    Jason stepped down beside me, scanning the scene with a focused look. ¡°Coffee,¡± he muttered, as though it were a lifeline, his tone laced with an almost desperate longing. Meanwhile, Farthington seemed entirely captivated by the stalls, his eyes darting from trinkets to unusual herbs. Nanik, on the other hand, looked comfortable, as if he¡¯d navigated Bakhlav¡¯s bustling streets before.

    As we wove through the crowd, Farthington kept pausing to inspect various stalls, his curiosity getting the better of him. It took more than a few sharp tugs on his sleeve to keep him moving, but he finally managed to pry himself away, albeit reluctantly. Jason led us through the winding streets until we arrived at a cozy caf¨¦ nestled away from the market¡¯s bustle. Above the door, a weathered wooden sign read "Moon Dallah," its letters carefully carved and inviting, as though promising refuge from the chaos outside.

    Inside, the caf¨¦ felt like stepping into another world. Rich coffee aromas enveloped us, mingling with the warmth of polished wooden beams and soft candlelight that cast a gentle glow across the room. It was serene and timeless, with a rustic charm that felt miles away from the frenzied market outside.

    Jason moved confidently to the counter, clearly familiar with the place. The barista, who had been wiping down the countertop absentmindedly, froze the moment he noticed us. His gaze lingered on me, and a flicker of suprise crossed his face, though he remained silent. There was a tension in the air, something unspoken yet palpable.

    I stiffened, my pulse quickening. ¡®He reacted to seeing me as well¡­ could this be where I meet them?¡¯

    Jason, catching the barista¡¯s reaction, gave me a brief, unreadable glance before returning his attention to the man, who was visibly uneasy. The barista¡¯s hands trembled as he set down a cup, though Jason¡¯s nod seemed to steady him, as if the two shared a silent understanding. The Barista then tapped the counter in a deliberate sequence of taps.

    After replying with his own sequence on taps, Jason crossed through the shop to a large wooden shelf at the back of the caf¨¦. His fingers traced over a faint engraving, and with a soft glow, a yellow rune illuminated beneath his touch. The shelf shifted, groaning as it opened to reveal a concealed passage leading down into a shadowy stairwell.

    Jason looked over his shoulder, his face unreadable. ¡°Follow me,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper, then started down the steps without waiting for a response.

    I hesitated, feeling the warm, safe ambiance of the caf¨¦ slip away as the chill of the hidden passage washed over me. ¡®What exactly are we stepping into?¡¯

 Moon Dallah 2

    Outside, atop one of the nearby buildings overlooking the Moon Dallah Coffee shop, a woman stood, her silhouette stark against the early morning sky. Her dark blueish hair, tied back in an elegant yet functional style, fluttered lightly in the breeze. Her eyes gleamed a piercing yellow, resembling the glow of a predator surveying its prey. She wore a sleek Victorian-era outfit, tailored from a specialized fabric meant for stealth¡ªa blend of dark, muted colors with reinforced seams, yet designed to allow fluid movement.

    In her gloved hand, she held a small pane of glass no larger than her palm, runes intricately etched into its surface. With a subtle motion, she pressed her fingers against the edges of the glass, injecting a faint trace of mana through her touch. The runes flared to life, glowing softly as they absorbed her energy.

    The surface of the pane shimmered, and an image began to form¡ªcaptured moments ago. It was a lumen capture: Jason Berth, leading three unknown individuals into the coffee shop below. The woman''s yellow eyes narrowed, her focus intensifying as she studied the image, calculating.

    With a swift motion, she stowed the pane of glass away. Then, without hesitation, she stepped off the edge of the building. The fall seemed almost effortless as she flipped mid-air, landing soundlessly in the alleyway below. Dust kicked up in a swirling cloud around her boots as she straightened, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

    In the shadowed alley, two men waited for her arrival. One leaned casually against the rough stone wall, methodically sharpening a dagger. The metallic rasp of steel on stone echoed faintly, creating a sharp rhythm. His face was partially hidden beneath a top hat, but his eyes gleamed with cold precision as he glanced up at her approach.

    The other man stood upright, his expression furrowed in intense focus as he scribbled furiously in a worn notebook. His pen scratched feverishly across the paper, barely keeping pace with the thoughts spilling from his mind. Dark ink stained his fingers as he flipped to a fresh page, lost in his frantic note-taking.

    The woman cast a brief glance between the two. "It''s time," she said, her voice low and authoritative, cutting through the tension of the alley like a blade. The man with the dagger merely smirked, sliding the blade back into its sheath, while the writer paused, his hand hovering over the page before snapping the notebook shut.

    The man with the notebook spoke out, ¡°Eliz, what did the higher-ups say about this mission again? Oh, darn. I need some Ink¡­ Cedrick you know any places to get some quality ink here?¡±

    Woman listlessly replied, ¡°Riftel, did you not read the report again? We¡¯re hunting down these mercenaries who were involved in the Marin incident. Once they give us the all clear we¡¯ll be moving in, Understand Riftel?¡± She sighed, her sharp yellow eyes narrowing as she watched Riftel rummage through his pack. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of a mission, Riftel. Keep your head in the game,¡± she warned, her voice cold but measured. However, she knew better than to try to completely reign him in¡ªRiftel always found a way to balance his quirks with his job, even if it drove her mad sometimes.

    Cedrick, leaning lazily against the alley wall with his arms crossed, chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s got a point, Elizabeth. Bakhlav Market is practically the heart of this city. If there¡¯s anywhere to grab your fancy ink, it¡¯s here.¡±

    ¡°Fancy ink? Cedrick, I¡¯m a professional. This is essential,¡± Riftel shot back, adjusting his glasses with a flick of his wrist. ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to document everything with some low-grade market sludge.¡±

    Elizabeth ignored them as she slipped on her jacket. ¡°Fine, get your ink, but don¡¯t stray too far. The State Security could give us the signal at any moment. And don¡¯t forget why we¡¯re here. The mercenaries who escaped after the Marin incident are dangerous. We¡¯re not dealing with a few amateurs.¡±

    Riftel nodded but seemed preoccupied, his thoughts already on his shopping list. He adjusted the fountain pen in his hand, his fingers itching to continue writing. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know the drill.¡±

    Cedrick pushed off the wall, stretching as he adjusted his hat. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll stick with him to make sure he doesn¡¯t wander off too far. I¡¯m sure the ink will be life-changing.¡± He threw a smirk in Riftel¡¯s direction.

    Elizabeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Just stay alert. We can¡¯t afford any slip-ups.¡±

    With that, the trio began walking out of the alley, blending into the growing crowds of Bakhlav¡¯s bustling market streets. Riftel¡¯s eyes darted to the various stalls selling handcrafted goods, quills, and ink pots, his curiosity barely contained. Meanwhile, Cedrick kept a casual eye on their surroundings. Elizabeth remained focused, though, her senses on high alert as she scanned the streets, her thoughts still on the mission ahead.

    ¡°Once I have my ink, we can regroup. I¡¯ll even write a report this time,¡± Riftel mused, grinning as he headed toward a stall brimming with stationery supplies.

    Elizabeth cast a glance at the glass rune communicator in her hand, waiting for the signal. For now, the hunt could wait, but it wouldn¡¯t be long before they¡¯d be thrust back into the fray.

    <hr>

    The spiral staircase led us down what felt like two stories deep into the earth, finally opening up into a broad, well-constructed hallway. The air was thick with an earthy smell, like damp stone and soil, mixed with something faintly metallic. From further in, the soft murmur of movement echoed, hinting at activity beyond the immediate silence.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Jason walked ahead, his posture shifting ever so slightly as if he were stepping into familiar territory¡ªlike a man returning home after a long absence. His eyes swept over the stone walls and the intricate carvings as he led us deeper into the corridor, eventually coming to a stop in front of a heavy, wooden door. Resting his hand on the handle without opening it, he turned to face us, his expression unreadable.

    Jason¡¯s words hung in the air like a warning, his gaze silently telling us not to stir up any trouble. Without further comment, he turned and pressed against the heavy wooden door. It groaned as it slowly swung open, revealing a glimpse of the room beyond. Jason strode in with his suitcase in hand, the low hum of conversations coming to an abrupt halt as the door fully opened.

    I couldn¡¯t quite see into the room from where I stood, but I could hear the sudden silence followed by a voice, laced with surprise, calling out, ¡°Jason?¡±

    For the first time, I saw Jason smile as he plopped his suitcase on the ground and walked toward the voice that had spoken. ¡°Vargo, How have you been?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been just fine. How have you been while you were out of Ardem?¡± the voice replied.

    I stepped further into the room, with Farthington and Nanik trailing close behind. As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I took in the sight of the man Jason had been speaking to. He was tall, with lengthy black hair cascading over his shoulders, and piercing sage green eyes that seemed to see more than they let on. He wore a cream-colored shirt tucked into dark pants, his demeanor relaxed yet alert. At his side hung a sword resembling a katana, ready for quick use.

    Taking in the rest of the room my attention was drawn to a figure leaning casually against the far wall. He wore a long black trench coat adorned with silver flourishes that caught the flickering lantern light. His posture was relaxed, yet something about the way he carried himself that seemed¡­ quirky I guess? (I¡¯m not sure how else to describe it.) Holstered at his sides were two magnum revolvers, gleaming faintly in the muted glow of the room.

    Our eyes met, and I immediately noticed his sharp, intense gaze fixed squarely on me. His eyes were a pale gray, like storm clouds before rain, and they seemed to pierce through the room¡¯s shadowy veil, studying me with quiet scrutiny. He seemed to have a dark and brooding vibe about him.

    Upon laying eyes on me, Vargo''s hand crept to the wrapped grip of his sword. His green eyes narrowed as he inquired, ¡°Who is she, and why does she look almost identical to Otome?¡±

    Before I could react, Jason held up a hand, stepping between Vargo and me. ¡°Calm down, Vargo,¡± he said firmly, his voice cutting through the rising tension. ¡°This is Tokei Makina, and she claims she¡¯s here because she¡¯s looking for someone who may be related to her. She¡¯s not Otome, but... there seems to be a connection.¡±

    Vargo¡¯s gaze flicked between Jason and me, his sword halfway drawn, but he hesitated, clearly torn between his instincts and Jason¡¯s words. ¡°A connection?¡± he echoed, his voice still edged with suspicion. Vargo¡¯s hand slipped off of his sword handle and he then nodded his head in the direction of Nanik and Farthington. ¡°What about those two¡±

    Jason glanced at Nanik and Farthington, his expression carefully neutral. "They''re with her," he replied, motioning toward me.

    Nanik straightened his outfit, his face calm and composed. ¡°We mean no harm, and we¡¯re just here with our companion.¡±

    Farthington, meanwhile, gave an exaggerated, almost theatrical wave, flashing a grin that seemed entirely out of place given the tension. ¡°Indeed, We¡¯re simply tagging along! A pleasure to meet you all,¡± he said cheerfully, ignoring the wary looks from both Vargo and the man in the trench coat.

    Vargo''s eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "We¡¯ll see about that," he muttered, before finally stepping back, though his posture remained guarded. ¡°If any of you cause trouble, I won¡¯t hesitate to cut you down where you stand.¡±

    Jason sighed. ¡°Relax, Vargo. Let¡¯s at least hear what Otome has to say before jumping to conclusions. She is the one who is directly involved with this after all¡±

    Vargo¡¯s grip loosened slightly as he gave Jason a sharp nod. ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, though his gaze flicked back to me, lingering as if he were trying to unravel some hidden truth. "Otome should be here shortly. We¡¯ll wait for her to clear things up."

    As the conversation lulled, I felt the weight of the room''s collective gaze press down on me. Everyone seemed to be waiting, their unspoken curiosity hanging thick in the air. It was as if they were expecting a revelation, some slip-up that would finally provide them the answers they sought. Nanik and Farthington, however, remained unfazed. Nanik¡¯s expression, as always, was unreadable, while Farthington, with characteristic nonchalance, pulled out his well-worn autobiography. How many times had he read that thing now?

    Jason picked up his suitcase from the floor, gesturing for us to stay where we were before exiting through a door that led deeper into the underground base. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint crackle of the lanterns hanging on the walls. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as my thoughts began to spiral.

    ¡®What do I do when I see her? How would she react if we¡¯re really related? We have the same last name, after all. Could she know something about my past?¡¯ The questions raced through my mind, each one tugging at my nerves. I found myself absently adjusting the frame of my glasses, trying to keep the rising anticipation in check as the minutes dragged on.

    I lost track of time, my mind a whirlwind of speculation, until the sound of footsteps broke through the haze. The footsteps grew louder as they descended toward us from outside the room, and soon, the door creaked open.

    Two women stepped in.

    The first was young, probably in her early twenties. Her reddish-orange curls fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing a face marked by nervous energy. Cerulean eyes darted around the room, betraying her shy nature. Her outfit was a mix of vibrant reds and warm brown leathers.

    Then came the one I had been waiting for.

    Otome Makina.

    The resemblance between us hit me hard, like looking into a mirror reflecting a version of myself molded by different circumstances. She stood at my height, but her build¡ªsolid and defined¡ªspoke of someone who had spent countless hours honing her physical strength. Her presence commanded the room, not with words but with the air of someone who had weathered life''s storms and emerged stronger. There was no doubt in my mind¡ªthis was the woman I had come to find.

 Moon Dallah 3

    Otome¡¯s gaze locked onto me, and for a moment, she blinked as if trying to dispel a vision or hallucination. Her sharp eyes, scanned my face, lingering for a long second before flicking toward Nanik and Farthington. Without a word, she stepped protectively in front of the lady with the vermilion hair, her body shifting into a subtle but unmistakable stance of defense.

    ¡°Who exactly are our guests here, Vargo?¡± she called out, her voice steady but laced with suspicion. Her gaze didn¡¯t leave us, as if she was prepared to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

    ¡°They were brought here by Jason because the woman that resembles you uncannily, was trying to find you. She claims her name is Tokei Makina.¡±

    ¡°Makina?¡±

    Otome stood there, her eyes narrowing as if weighing my claim. The seconds stretched, thick with contemplation, before she finally made her judgment. ¡°You, Tokei, follow me.¡±

    She turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder at the lady with vermilion hair. ¡°Victoria, go meet up with the others,¡± she instructed.

    Victoria hesitated for a brief moment before nodding and quickly leaving the room. Otome¡¯s attention shifted back to me, her gaze hard and unyielding. ¡°Come with me,¡± she said sternly. ¡°Your companions will be shown around the base while we have our chat.¡±

    Without another word, she turned and began walking toward the door, expecting me to follow. To which I complied after exchanging glances of confirmation with Nanik before leaving.

    Traversing the well-worn wooden Hallway leading further into the hideout, I managed to glance through a door that was slightly ajar while walking and ended up seeing the inside of the room that Victoria had entered after Otome let her leave. Inside she was speaking to a young man with black hair and cerulean eyes, he had a quiver slung over his shoulder and a wooden recurve bow in hand. I quickly averted my eyes before any of them noticed me peering in.

    The hallway ahead seemed to stretch on, quiet but for the soft creaks of the wood beneath our feet. Otome¡¯s pace never slowed, and I wondered what sort of revelation or confrontation lay at the end of this path.

    Nearing her destination Otome came to a halt, In front of her a door on which hung a plaque of her name messily engraved as if a 5-year-old had handcrafted it. She took out a bronze key with an intricately shaped bit at the end, sliding it into the lock and twisting it, with a Clack the door swiveld open ans she strode into the room in the direction of a sturdy wooden desk, and as it were second-hand nature to her, she abducted a box of matches that were resting on the desk and walked over to a lantern before seting its wick ablaze. The warm glow from the flame flickered to life, casting shadows that danced along the walls of what was clearly her personal quarters. The room had a rugged, no-nonsense feel to it¡ªfunctional rather than decorative. A sturdy wooden desk sat to one side, cluttered with maps, documents, and a half-finished mug of coffee. On the opposite wall, a weapons rack held a variety of well-worn blades, and curiously enough there were what seemed to be almost steampunk-looking gadgets.

    She didn¡¯t waste time on pleasantries. Once the room was lit, Otome turned to face me, her gaze sharp and unwavering. ¡°Sit,¡± she gestured to a simple wooden chair near the desk, while she remained standing. Her tone was clipped, and professional. As I complied, the flickering light caught in her eyes¡ªgleaming like the reflection of fire on steel.

    ¡°So,¡± she began, crossing her arms, ¡°you¡¯re claiming the name Makina. And you¡¯ve come all the way here. Start talking. I want to know everything, starting with what you know about the family name you claim to carry.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, If I¡¯m being honest, I don¡¯t know the first thing about my family name¡­ I had some sort of amnesia and couldn¡¯t remember anything but my name¡­¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Otome¡¯s reaction to the word ¡°amnesia¡± was immediate. Her posture stiffened, and her eyes narrowed as though she was piecing something together in her mind. The sudden shift in her demeanor was impossible to miss. She was no longer just sizing me up¡ªnow she seemed genuinely unsettled as if my words had struck a nerve.

    "Amnesia," she repeated, her voice quieter, but there was an edge to it. "You''re telling me you don¡¯t remember anything? Not your family, not your past?"

    I nodded, unsure of where she was going with this. ¡°That¡¯s right. All I remember is waking up in the city, and my name¡ªTokei Makina. Since then, I¡¯ve been searching for any kind of connection to my past, and that¡¯s what led me here¡­ to you.¡±

    Otome took a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders visible. She began pacing slightly, as though debating something with herself. ¡°Amnesia... and the same last name,¡± she muttered, half to herself.

    Coming to a halt, Otome looked directly into my eyes, ¡°I have one last question. Do you have a functioning Mansian?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    She closed her eyes and looked up at the ceiling for a moment, before turning to face me again, her expression hard but not unkind. "There¡¯s more to this than you realize¡­"

    Her words hung in the air, thick with unspoken implications. Whatever she knew, it was more than she was willing to say right away.

    ¡°However, we very well could be related. For your information, I do not recall having a sister either so I can¡¯t be certain, But judging from the looks of it¡­ we¡¯re almost definitely related.¡±

    <hr>

    Outside the Coffee shop, night had begun to creep across the city, with shadows growing darker. The gas-powered streetlights began to come alive one by one, their lanterns casting fiery warmth across the main streets, while the less trekked roads grew colder from the moon¡¯s embrace.

    The trio moved like shadows through the dimly lit streets, their urgency palpable. Elizabeth, leading the way, was focused straight ahead. Her dark, bluish hair flowed behind her, and her gleaming yellow eyes glinted like a predator prepared to pounce on its prey. Her outfit helped her move swiftly as she dashed through the alleyways with precision. She barely glanced back at Riftel and Cedrick, who struggled to keep pace but followed her without question.

    "Eliz, seriously, we¡¯re in a port town, not a battlefield," Riftel muttered between breaths, his hand adjusting his glasses as they threatened to slip from his nose during the sprint. He kept flipping his fountain pen, a nervous habit that seemed at odds with his otherwise composed demeanor.

    Elizabeth didn¡¯t bother to respond. Her cold gaze remained fixed ahead, scanning the streets with a kind of ruthless efficiency. Every movement she made was deliberate, and there was no trace of hesitation in her steps. She lived for precision, and failure wasn¡¯t an option.

    Cedrick, in contrast to Riftel¡¯s exasperation, seemed to enjoy the sprint. His laughter echoed against the brick walls as he kept a hand on his top hat, making sure it didn¡¯t fly off as they bolted through the narrow alleys. "Rif, my man, you oughta know by now that when Lady Elizabeth says move, ya best move," he teased, though his eyes gleamed with sharp awareness.

    Riftel rolled his eyes but kept pace, twirling his fountain pen with more fervor. "I just don''t get why we¡¯re the ones on the ground. Couldn''t they have sent someone else? We¡¯ve got bigger things to deal with than some rogue mercs."

    Elizabeth¡¯s voice cut through the night like a cold wind. "Orders are orders, Riftel. The turncoats know something, something the State Security wants. If we don¡¯t move now, they¡¯ll disappear into the cracks of this city before dawn. Do I need to remind you what happens if we fail?"

    Riftel grimaced but didn¡¯t respond. He didn¡¯t need reminding. None of them did.

    As the three figures reached the mouth of another alley, the glow of the nearby streetlights flickered slightly, and Elizabeth slowed her pace, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed their surroundings. They were close now, she could feel it. The faint trail of mana residue left behind by the targets was still fresh.

    ¡°Cedrick, take the rooftops. Riftel, follow me,¡± she ordered, her voice sharp as steel. Without waiting for a reply, she darted ahead, her hand swiftly unsheathing throwing knives she stored in her outfit.

    Cedrick gave a quick salute before leaping to the nearest fire escape, his figure disappearing into the darkened skyline. Riftel sighed, pocketing his pen, and jogged after Elizabeth, grumbling under his breath but following without further protest.

    The hunt was on.

 Coffee Confrontation

    The soft chime of the door echoed through the quiet Moon Dallah coffee shop, disrupting the serene atmosphere. The barista, lost in his monotonous task of cleaning, glanced up at the new customer, ready to offer his usual greeting. ¡°Welcome to Moon Dall¡ª¡±

    His words were cut short as his body hit the floor with a dull thud, unconscious before he even knew what was happening.

    Elizabeth stood over him, her expression cold and impassive. At her side, Riftel watched without a trace of concern. "See if you can find any hidden passageways in the building," she said, her voice as sharp as her gaze.

    "Right." Riftel moved without hesitation, producing his notebook and fountain pen from within his coat. He scrawled symbols and intricate circles across the page. With the final stroke of his pen, the symbols began to glow, pulsating with an eerie red light.

    Tendrils of red smoke unraveled from the page, slithering along the walls like sentient vines. They coiled and curled into every corner and crevice, creeping through the room with quiet purpose. As the tendrils reached the back of the shop, they slipped behind a dusty bookshelf, but instead of dissipating, they continued to move, curling around something unseen.

    Riftel¡¯s eyes narrowed, as he sipped from a cup of coffee he found on the counter. "Eliz," he said, his voice steady, "there¡¯s something behind that bookshelf at the back. Pfft- this is too bitter!"

    ¡°Understood,¡± Elizabeth responded concisely. ¡°Also, stop fooling around.¡±

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she pivoted on her heel and launched a powerful front kick at the bookshelf. The force of her strike was enough to splinter the wood with a loud crack, sending shards flying in every direction. The entire bookshelf crumpled inward, collapsing onto itself as jagged chunks of wood scattered across the floor and into the space behind the shelf.

    The violent impact revealed a hidden stairwell behind the wreckage, the entrance now exposed beneath the debris.

    Elizabeth barely glanced at the wreckage before signaling to Riftel with her hands. She ducked through the gaping hole in the shelf and stepped into the stairwell, quickly assessing the descending path below. Without a second thought, she vaulted over the railing, landing with a solid thud at the bottom. Dust swirled in the dim light as her impact echoed through the confined space.

    From above smoke began to pour through the railings like a waterfall, spreading throughout the the underground hideout rapidly.

    In the distance, the unmistakable sounds of rushed footsteps and weapons being drawn echoed from deeper within the mercenaries'' base.

    Elizabeth reached for the handle of the door before her, rotating it cautiously. Just as she began to open it, a sharp, glinting katana pierced through the wood with a loud splintering crack. Reacting instantly, Elizabeth twisted her body parallel to the blade and leapt back, avoiding the deadly thrust by a hair¡¯s breadth. The door slammed open, revealing a tall man with long dark, messy hair stepping through the threshold¡ªVargo, his eyes locked on hers, katana gleaming in the dim light.

    Finding herself facing an opponent armed with a katana¡ªa weapon with much greater reach¡ªElizabeth quickly assessed the narrow stairwell. She decided to turn its compactness to her advantage.

    With nimble precision, she unsheathed her daggers in one fluid motion, dodging another wide slash from Vargo''s blade. As the katana sliced through the air above her, Elizabeth dropped into a low slide, hooking her daggers into Vargo¡¯s arm, and using her momentum, she propelled herself up and behind him, her body coiling against the wall like a tightly wound spring.

    In the blink of an eye, she launched herself off the wall, flipping over Vargo¡¯s head. As she soared through the air, she wrenched her daggers free with a sharp twist, her lithe form moving too swiftly for Vargo to react. The entire sequence unfolded within a heartbeat, leaving her opponent struggling to regain his balance, barely comprehending what had just happened.

    From the doorway, a man in a dark black trench coat stepped into view, his storm-grey eyes immediately locking onto Elizabeth with a murderous gleam. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he drew his magnum revolvers, each barrel emitting a faint, viridescent smoke-like aura that danced ominously in the dim stairwell.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    BANG! BANG!

    The sound of gunfire cracked through the air with deafening force. The bullets left the barrels at a speed that seemed unnatural¡ªfaster than ordinary rounds, which are already swift in their deadly trajectory. The enhanced velocity threw off Elizabeth¡¯s reflexes. She attempted to dodge, but the accelerated shots caught her off guard, and one grazed her arm with a burning sting.

    Elizabeth winced, feeling the searing pain spread from the wound, but she didn''t let it slow her down. Her eyes narrowed as blood trickled down her arm, already recalculating her next move in the chaos. Darting up the stairs she avoided a few more shots after adjusting to their faster speed.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Corvid growled, reloading his magnums with swift precision as he ejected the empty cartridges. ¡°I¡¯ll chase after her. You go warn Otome! This might be a trap to draw us out but If we don¡¯t move now, they¡¯ll be swarming all over us in no time!¡±

    Without waiting for a response, Corvid jammed fresh rounds into his guns using a quick loader, snapping the cylinders shut with a sharp click. He sprinted up the steps, his footsteps echoing through the stairwell as he disappeared from Vargo¡¯s sight.

    Vargo didn''t hesitate either. He turned on his heel and bolted through the nearest door, bursting into the hallway that led to Otome''s office. His mind raced, knowing every second was crucial. The sound of his boots pounding against the floor was the only noise that filled the otherwise quiet corridor as he made his way toward the heart of the building, determined to deliver the warning.

    <hr>

    Inside Otome''s office, the tension was thick. The sound of rapid footsteps from the hallway echoed, and Otome, sensing the urgency, stood up just as Vargo staggered through the door. His face was pale, his breathing ragged, and his left arm was slick with blood, dripping onto the polished floor in a steady rhythm.

    Otome''s voice was sharp and commanding, cutting through the air. ¡°What¡¯s the status?!¡±

    ¡°Our location¡¯s compromised!¡± Vargo rasped, trying to steady his breath. ¡°We have at least one assailant outside¡ªlikely an assassin. There¡¯s probably more of them. Corvid¡¯s working on securing the storefront as we speak.¡±

    Otome¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Get everyone else. Prepare for an immediate escape.¡±

    Vargo gave a curt nod, turning and hurrying out of the room, his footsteps retreating down the hall as Otome swiftly turned her attention to me.

    ¡°How skilled are you and your companions at combat?¡± she asked, her eyes piercing as she assessed the situation, clearly gauging whether we could hold our own in what was coming.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be able to hold our own in serious combat,¡± I replied, meeting Otome¡¯s gaze.

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Otome reached beneath her desk and pulled a lever. The low grinding of gears filled the room as the wall behind her slid downward, revealing an array of steampunk-style equipment. Polished brass, copper coils, and intricate dials hummed with a soft, almost electric energy. Without wasting any time, Otome began strapping on various pieces of armor. Her gauntlets crackled faintly with arcs of energy, and a sleek apparatus with cables ran from her back, along her arms, connecting to her gauntlets with pulleys that seemed to enhance her movements looking somewhat similar to an exoskeleton.

    As she worked, she spoke swiftly, her voice steady but tense. ¡°I apologize for this, but if you want to make it out alive, I¡¯ll need your help in combat. Do you need any equipment?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any spare handguns?¡± I asked, scanning the array behind her.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, opening a drawer to retrieve a well-worn magazine-fed handgun. Its metal was dulled by use but had a reassuring weight. With a quick flick of her wrist, she slid it across the desk to me, along with a few spare magazines.

    I picked it up and felt the familiar weight of the gun in my hand. Pulling back the slide, I saw the bullet chambered and ready. I released it with a sharp click before putting on the safety and holstering the weapon and the spare mags, confident I was ready for both close and mid-range combat.

    Otome finished gearing up, securing the last piece of equipment before glancing toward the door. ¡°Hope you¡¯re ready,¡± she said. ¡°Things are about to get intense.¡±

    We didn¡¯t waste time. The two of us rushed through the hallways, our steps quick and purposeful. From a room ahead of us, Victoria and the black-haired archer I¡¯d seen earlier appeared. They immediately fell in step with us.

    ¡°Otome, do we have a strategy?¡± the archer asked, his voice laced with urgency.

    ¡°There wasn¡¯t enough time to plan anything intricate,¡± Otome responded, ¡°But from what I¡¯ve gathered, they¡¯re likely already fighting in the storefront. There are only a handful of groups that would come after us, and I¡¯m betting it¡¯s State Security. Those dogs still think we¡¯re responsible for what happened in Marin, even though we were just bystanders! They¡¯ve likely called for reinforcements already, which means we don¡¯t have the luxury of stalling.¡±

    Otome''s eyes flicked between us, ¡°Our best bet is to split into smaller groups of three to four people and use different exits. We¡¯ll be more inconspicuous that way. Then we¡¯ll all try to make it to Ardem, the kingdom on the border of Cielmouth. If we move quickly and stay off their radar, we might just make it. You, Victoria, and Huairen split into a group and use the abandoned inn exit. Tokei you and your companions will follow me since I know the lay of the land here while you¡¯ll be clueless.¡±

    We exchanged nods, ready to move as the sound of distant gunfire and combat rumbled through the building. The battle was in full swing.

 Coffee Confrontation 2

    Otome''s eyes narrowed in concern as we hurried down the corridor. ¡°Where are Azrealt and Huairen¡± she asked, her voice cutting through the tense air.

    Victoria, keeping pace beside her, glanced over. ¡°When Vargo came to us with your message, Azrealt immediately ran off. He¡¯s probably already in the middle of the fight alongside Corvid. Huranti and I stayed behind to patch up Vargo before he headed back to tell them to disengage and make a retreat.¡±

    Otome let out a sharp exhale, her brow furrowing. ¡°Those idiots, always charging in headfirst.¡±

    <hr>

    Vargo''s katana rang with a sharp metallic sound as he deflected the incoming flurry of throwing knives, each deflection sending sparks dancing in the air. The rhythmic clang of metal on metal reverberated through the space as the knives ricocheted away.

    Corvid, seeing the momentary break in Elizabeth¡¯s assault, ducked out from behind cover and fired off several rounds from his magnum revolvers. The bullets roared through the air, but Elizabeth moved with an almost supernatural grace, her body weaving and bending in fluid motions. She slid effortlessly over counters and darted between cover, each movement timed perfectly to avoid the lethal projectiles. It was as if she could now predict each shot before it was fired.

    As she landed behind a column, Elizabeth¡¯s fingers flicked open the pouch on her belt. She quickly prepared another set of throwing knives, her eyes locked onto Vargo and Corvid, calculating the best angle for her next strike.

    ¡°Stay sharp!¡± Vargo barked, his eyes not leaving Elizabeth for a second. He could feel the weight of each moment ticking away, knowing that she was biding her time for the perfect strike.

    Corvid gave a quick nod, speedily reloading his revolvers before ducking back behind cover, ready for the next round of their deadly dance.

    <hr>

    Riftel stood outside the store, hastily scrawling a large, intricate rune into the ground. His fingers worked deftly, tracing sharp lines and complex curves. "Once this is done, it should keep those turncoats from getting too far."

    Suddenly, the glass window beside the store''s front door exploded, shards erupting in every direction. Azrealt shot out onto the gravel walkway, skidding before he rose to his feet. His gaze locked onto Riftel immediately, and his voice seethed with anger.

    "I knew one of you would be trying to play dirty!" he snarled, and in an instant, he charged, his speed astonishing.

    Riftel¡¯s eyes narrowed. No weapons, straight-on approach¡ªclose-quarters combat expert. Quickly, he flipped to a page in his notebook, finding an incomplete rune he had prepared for emergencies. With a swift stroke of his pen, the rune came alive, glowing a fierce, pulsing red. From the rune sprang large, crystal-like rods, blazing with power as they hurtled toward Azrealt, cutting through the air with a sharp, whistling sound.

    As he watched Azrealt¡¯s reaction, Riftel¡¯s heart skipped. Azrealt clenched his fist, and intricate tattoos on his fingers merged into a radiant, viridescent green rune. Riftel¡¯s mind raced. Runes on tattoos? That¡¯s unheard of! And that green... wind or propulsion, maybe?

    Azrealt''s rune pulsed, unleashing a violent surge of wind that tore through Riftel¡¯s crystal rods, shattering them into fragments that scattered like brittle glass. Riftel¡¯s defenses crumbled in an instant, the red shards flung back in a chaotic spray.

    Riftel dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the lethal hail of his own rune shards. The air was thick with dust and crystal fragments, and he felt the tremor from Azrealt¡¯s power ripple through the ground. Sweat dripped down his face as he lay prone, heart pounding as Azrealt approached, undeterred.

    Azrealt¡¯s expression remained calm but intense, his eyes like embers and his tattoos pulsing brighter with each step. Riftel scrambled to get up, mentally scrambling just as fast. Runes directly on his skin... he thought, marveling at the technique. A Rune Sorcera, no doubt¡ªthis kind of combat use is unprecedented.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "You think hiding behind those weak runes will save you?" Azrealt¡¯s voice was a low growl.

    Without warning, Azrealt¡¯s fist shot down toward Riftel. Riftel rolled out of the way as the ground where he¡¯d just been lying exploded in a cloud of dust and debris. The impact left a crater, and Riftel felt the force ripple through the air.

    ¡®I need to go on the offense even if it means overexerting my mansion¡¯ He grit his teeth and flipped to another page in his notebook, adding a final stroke to an elaborate rune that sprawled across the page. With a bracing stance, he raised the book between himself and Azrealt.

    Azrealt, seeing the flash of runic energy, lunged forward, but the rune was already set.

    In a thunderous explosion, flames erupted from the book, surging outward like the blast of a grenade. The force knocked Riftel back a step as the flames struck Azrealt, launching him across the street. He crashed through a solid brick wall with a roar of shattering stone, disappearing into the cloud of debris.

    Riftel¡¯s chest heaved as he coughed up blood from the strain of quick rune succession. He squinted through the dust, searching for signs of his opponent.

    Seeing that Azrealt did not reemerge from the building, Riftel breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the blood off of the corner of his mouth. ¡®Now that he¡¯s dealt with I¡¯ll phone in to have that guy, or at least his body, secured.¡¯ Looking down at the unfinished rune he was working on, Riftel got back to work.

    <hr>

    ¡°Victoria and Huranti, you two take the southeast exit. Tokei, we¡¯ll get your companions and leave through the northern exit.¡±

    Victoria and Huranti broke away from us and headed in a different from us. As I ran behind Otome I saw the figures of Farthington and Nanik ahead of us.

    Coming up to them I called out, ¡°Hey guys we need to leave. Things have gone south. We¡¯ll follow Otome here out of Cielmouth and into Ardem to get out of the fray.¡±

    Nanik took in the news without so much as a blink, only giving a small, almost resigned nod. ¡°I had a feeling something like this would happen.¡±

    Farthington, though, was a different story. His face was drawn, eyes wide with the unmistakable frustration of someone caught off guard. ¡°Of course,¡± he muttered bitterly, hands clenching and unclenching. ¡°The one job I planned to take easy, and now we¡¯re neck-deep in this mess.¡±

    Otome glanced back, not unsympathetic but firm. ¡°Vent later. Once we¡¯re out of Cielmouth, you can take all the time you want to complain. For now, keep it together. You¡¯re gonna need to stay sharp if you wanna get through this.¡±

    Leading us to an old and unused room Otome engaged one of her mechanical gauntlets to crush the lock and swing open the door. Inside, a wooden ladder lead upward to who know¡¯s where.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the impressive mechanical exoskeleton you have here. How did you procure it here in Cielmouth of all places, especially with an extremely strict ban on this sort of technology?¡± Nanik asked with his strangely monotone voice that sounded like he was constantly in the process of narrating a documentary.

    Otome¡¯s eyes flicked to him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I put it together with spare parts from new construction pipes and a few trinkets Jason or Vargo brought from outside the country.¡± She motioned to the ladder. ¡°We¡¯ll climb to the roof of an art shop near Moon Dallah, then hop from rooftop to rooftop until we¡¯re out of immediate danger. Once we¡¯re close to the forest at Ardem¡¯s border, we¡¯ll drop back down to ground level. From there, it¡¯s a straight shot.¡±

    She started up the ladder, and I followed, with Nanik and Farthington close behind. As I neared the top, Otome was already standing outside, scanning our surroundings. I hauled myself up, joining her on the roof, and took in the bird¡¯s-eye view of the Bakhlav marketplace sprawled below.

    ¡®Neuro, can you map the quickest route to the forest at Ardem¡¯s border?¡¯

    [This will take a moment. I¡¯ll notify you when the path is mapped, Mom.]

    I was still taking in the sight when Otome suddenly tackled me, sending us both sliding down the sloped roof, shingles breaking away beneath us. An explosion rocked the building, shaking its foundation. The edge of the roof rushed toward us. Thinking quickly, I summoned a blade of data, slamming it into the tiles to anchor myself just before the drop-off. Beside me, Otome drove her gauntlet into the roof, her exoskeleton whirring as she pulled herself back up.

    A voice cut through the chaos, smooth and mocking. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate. Seems this will take a bit more effort. At least we finally got some backup.¡±

    Turning, I saw the speaker: a man standing atop a nearby building¡¯s chimney, tipping his top hat with a smirk. Flanking him were four men in light plate armor, watching us with determined, predatory eyes.

 Coffee Confrontation 3

    Three of the assailants leaped from the adjacent rooftop, landing on ours in a crouch, their swords glinting in the dim light. Behind them, the man in the top hat and a remaining soldier watched from their elevated vantage, a smug look painted across his face.

    ¡°Get ready,¡± Otome muttered, her eyes narrowing as her mechanical gauntlet whirred to life, joints pulsing faintly with an amber glow. She flexed her fingers, and arcs of energy danced along her exoskeleton¡¯s pulleys, crackling like miniature lightning storms.

    One of the swordsmen charged, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. I conjured a shimmering data shield just in time, the translucent barrier flickering as it absorbed the strike. The impact sent a small ripple across the shield¡¯s surface, but it held strong.

    With my free hand, I raised the pistol Otome had given me, aiming carefully. I fired a single shot, and the bullet sped past my shield, hitting the swordsman squarely in the shoulder. He staggered back, his grip faltering on the sword as blood began to seep through his uniform.

    Another assailant rushed in from my left, blade aimed straight for my side. I rotated my data shield to intercept his thrust, feeling the force resonate through my arm as his sword collided with the barrier. Taking advantage of his hesitation, I fired two more shots, both finding their mark in his chest. He crumpled, his sword clattering to the ground.

    Meanwhile, Otome moved like a storm. Her gauntlets powered each swing with incredible force, and she landed a brutal uppercut to the third swordsman¡¯s jaw, lifting him off his feet and sending him sprawling backward. Without missing a beat, she shifted her weight, rotating to deliver a powerful kick to his midsection. The exoskeleton enhanced her movement, and the blow cracked audibly, knocking him off balance.

    The man in the top hat raised a hand, and his companion aimed a crossbow from their perch. I caught a glint of metal as he loaded a bolt. ¡°Otome, we¡¯ve got ranged on us!¡± I called out.

    Otome didn¡¯t need to look; she nodded and pressed a switch on her gauntlet, adjusting her stance. ¡°On it.¡± With one arm shielding herself, she swung her other arm around and activated the gauntlet¡¯s embedded break action shotgun, sending a slug hurtling toward the crossbowman. He stumbled as the shot hit and tore though his side, his aim faltering, and the bolt went wide, embedding itself harmlessly in the roof.

    Top Hat¡¯s smirk faltered as he assessed the situation. He pulled out a small pane of glass, tapped it, and spoke into it, ¡°Elizabeth, I found the HVT. Engaging on the art store¡¯s roof.¡±

    With a swift curse, he leaped down to join the fray, his gaze locking onto Otome. His movements were fluid, almost unnervingly precise, as he drew a slender shortsword that glinted ominously in the dim light. "Enough of this," he sneered, lunging at Otome with a barrage of rapid strikes. Sparks flew as her gauntlets absorbed the impact, but he was relentless; his blade danced with precision, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. Otome was forced to retreat, her exoskeleton groaning under the stress of deflecting his blade, the gears and pulleys straining as she pushed to keep up.

    I moved to her side, pistol raised, lining up a shot on Top Hat¡ªbut before I could pull the trigger, a shadow shot onto the roof. Elizabeth was there, her movements a blur as she hurled a dagger directly at me. I conjured my data shield, the blade clinking off its shimmering surface. But Elizabeth was fast, pressing her advantage with a quick series of strikes, each blade aimed with pinpoint accuracy to probe for weaknesses in my shield.

    Dodging, I barely had a chance to breathe as she closed the distance, her daggers flashing. I parried desperately, my pistol all but useless at this close range. Her attacks came faster and faster, her agility forcing me back as I tried to keep up. The rooftop became a blur of flashing steel and tense footwork, and I felt my shield flickering with each hit, my focus straining to keep it intact.

    Meanwhile, Otome¡¯s fight with Top Hat¡ªCedrick¡ªraged with equal intensity. Each clash of metal reverberated through the rooftop as Cedrick drove her back, his skillful swordsmanship outpacing her clunky exoskeleton¡¯s low agility. With a well-timed pivot, he sliced low, catching her in the leg, and she staggered. Her face tightened, and she swung a countering punch with her gauntlet, but he sidestepped and parried, moving into a swift, downward slash, he shattered the wiring on her left gauntlet, and the exoskeleton sputtered, losing power on one side.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    With a wicked grin, Cedrick twisted his blade, disarming her entirely and sending her sprawling onto her back. Standing over her, he raised his blade, his expression cold. ¡°You put up a decent fight, but this is the end.¡±

    As he prepared to slash her throat, a gust of wind blasted across the rooftop, and in an instant, Nanik was there, his presence electric. In a fluid motion, he raised one hand, stopping Cedrick¡¯s blade mid-swing. Cedrick¡¯s eyes widened, his confident facade cracking as Nanik¡¯s power shook him.

    Cedrick stumbled back, his confidence shaken as Nanik conjured a blade of fire that pulsed with intense heat, illuminating the rooftop in a fierce orange glow. Cedrick tightened his grip on his shortsword, channeling mana through it, causing the blade to shimmer with a frosty, crystalline edge.

    With a swift, determined breath, Cedrick lunged at Nanik, his blade trailing shards of ice as he swung in a deadly arc. Nanik sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. He countered with a sweeping slash of his fiery sword, meeting Cedrick¡¯s ice-coated blade in a burst of steam and sparks. The clash of elements was fierce, but Nanik¡¯s calm intensity remained unshaken.

    Cedrick struck again, his blade flashing with icy spikes aimed for Nanik¡¯s chest, but Nanik merely leaned back, dodging the attacks with uncanny precision. Nanik¡¯s flaming sword carved through the air in response, each strike radiating intense heat that Cedrick struggled to counter. The frost covering Cedrick''s sword began to melt under the relentless pressure of Nanik¡¯s flames, the ice dissipating with each hit.

    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Nanik taunted.

    Cedrick growled, desperation flashing in his eyes as he summoned every ounce of mana he had. His sword glowed with a deep, almost indigo blue as he aimed a final, desperate blow at Nanik¡¯s neck. But before the blade could make contact, Nanik shifted, his fiery sword slashing upwards in a sweeping arc that melted through Cedrick¡¯s ice blade, shattering it in a rain of icy fragments.

    Cedrick staggered, clutching the remaining hilt of his broken weapon, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he backed away. Nanik advanced, his fiery sword flickering menacingly. In a final, merciless move, he extinguished his weapon, closing the distance with blinding speed and delivering a powerful blow to Cedrick¡¯s chest that, with a loud crack, sent him sprawling to the ground.

    Elizabeth¡¯s stoic demeanor cracked as she took in Cedrick¡¯s defeat on the rooftop. For the first time since the fight began, a flash of shock and fear crossed her face. Without sparing me another glance, she turned and dashed toward Cedrick, her movements swift and purposeful. She slid to his side, quickly assessing his injuries before hauling him up with surprising strength.

    Before any of us could react, Elizabeth hoisted Cedrick over her shoulder and bolted toward the edge of the roof. She barely hesitated as she launched herself off the side, landing in a controlled manner and immediately shifting into a sprint, her form disappearing into the shadows below.

    Seeing Elizabeth vanish into the shadows with Cedrick, I turned and sprinted over to Otome. She lay on the rooftop, struggling to sit up. Dropping to my knees beside her, I could see the pain etched on her face, though her eyes were still sharp.

    "Cough... Not the best I¡¯ve looked," she managed with a wry smile. "He had the advantage on me."

    With a wince, she undid the straps on her exoskeleton, letting the heavy contraption fall away from her shoulders. She tried to rise but sucked in a sharp breath as her leg buckled, clearly worse off than she wanted to admit. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not going anywhere in my state,¡± she said, grimacing. ¡°You all should just leave. This wasn¡¯t your fight to begin with.¡±

    Ignoring her dismissal, I watched as she cut a strip from her sleeve, grimly wrapping it around the bleeding gash on her leg.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you do that. You¡¯re going to make it out with us. I¡¯d regret this forever if I didn¡¯t try to take you with me.¡± I said with conviction.

    Suddenly the terminal opened up with a new notification.

    [New Skill: Memory Reenactment now available.]

    [Cost: 20 SP]

    [Current SP: 24]

    ¡®Memory Reenactment?! That sounds like it would be important in getting my own memories back. I¡¯ll hold off on that till we¡¯re in a safe space because I¡¯ll probably black out like I did when I bought the [Corporeal Data Creation] skill.¡¯

    Otome winced as I lifted her onto her good leg, my arm wrapping around her waist to steady her. Her face was pale, but she managed a shaky grin, though the pain was clearly wearing at her.

    Supporting Otome, I turned to Nanik, who stood at the ready, his eyes scanning the perimeter. ¡°We need to get off this roof. Nanik, do you know where Farthington went?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him¡­¡±

 Escape

    Farthington groaned, coughing as he pulled himself out of the dumpster, wiping at his mouth in disgust. "Pffft¡­ kegh, ugh! I think I got peasant food in my mouth," he muttered, wincing as he felt his bruises start to throb. He staggered forward, brushing off bits of garbage clinging to his coat, only to grimace again at the smell that now clung to him.

    He glanced up at the rooftop above, where the explosion had originated, squinting to catch any sign of Tokei or Nanik through the settling dust. Straightening as best as his bruised state would allow, he shook his head, muttering, "Just my luck.¡±

    Farthington dusted himself off as best he could, straightening his collar with a resigned sigh. Glancing up at the rooftop, he muttered dryly, ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯m not getting back up there. How unfortunate.¡±

    Without a second look, he turned and strode out of the alley, his steps steady but unhurried. He took a moment to orient himself by glancing toward the distant line of trees he¡¯d glimpsed from the roof before he¡¯d been unceremoniously flung off.

    ¡°Well,¡± he mumbled to himself, ¡°might as well make myself scarce.¡±

    With that, he set his sights on the direction of the border between Ardem and Cielmouth, walking at a leisurely pace, completely unfazed by the chaos he¡¯d just left behind.

    <hr>

    Otome grimaced as she wrenched the shotgun from the exoskeleton¡¯s arm, the metal creaking as it gave way. She checked the chamber, then reached into her pouch to take stock of her remaining shells, counting only nine left. Her jaw tightened as she clipped the shotgun to a holster on her back.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have long before reinforcements arrive,¡± she murmured, eyes scanning the rooftops.

    I nodded, wrapping my arm more securely around her waist to support her injured leg. Nanik took a step forward, peering down over the edge of the art store¡¯s roof, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the drop. The alleys below were dark and winding, twisting through the backstreets of Bakhlav like veins, empty save for scattered gas lamps casting faint, flickering light. The rooftops in the distance formed a patchwork of shadows and illuminated chimneys, guiding us toward the forested horizon and our escape route.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Nanik said, his voice as calm as ever, though a fire seemed to glint in his eyes.

    He leapt to the next roof with ease, landing softly and waving us over. I guided Otome along, our steps a little slower but steady, making our way across the narrow beam connecting the buildings. We continued like this, moving roof to roof, keeping low to avoid drawing attention. The sound of clinking bottles and the hum of Bakhlav¡¯s nightlife echoed from the streets below, providing a cacophony of distractions.

    As we neared the edge of town, the gaps between the buildings grew wider, and Otome¡¯s breathing grew more labored. Nanik paused, glancing back as we reached a final roof overlooking the forest. ¡°We¡¯ll have to descend here and head through the streets,¡± he said.

    I scanned the distance from the roof to the ground. It was about fifteen feet¡ªnot impossible, but not ideal for someone in Otome¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Hold on to me,¡± I said, shifting her arm over my shoulder as we carefully lowered ourselves onto a creaky fire escape. Nanik climbed down ahead of us, and I helped Otome manage the last few steps. Her feet hit the cobblestone with a soft thud, and she winced, gripping her injured leg.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move quickly,¡± Otome said, straightening up and loading a shell into her shotgun with a click. She gave a single nod, the faintest glint of determination in her eye, and we moved forward through the maze-like streets of Bakhlav.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    At the city¡¯s edge, gas lamps gave way to overgrown paths as we approached the forest that lay between Cielmouth and Ardem. The cool, earthy scent of the trees greeted us, and with a shared glance, we slipped into the shadows of the forest, leaving the distant glow of Bakhlav behind.

    The forest around us was dense, shadows weaving through the towering pines like specters. Every crackle of underbrush set my heart pounding, nerves stretched thin as I scanned the dark, overgrown paths behind us. We had ventured a fair distance from Bakhlav, but the silence of the woods was somehow more unsettling than the chaotic hum of the city. Beside me, Otome¡¯s face was pallid, her expression distant and troubled, as if she were standing on the edge of some dark precipice. She closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath.

    ¡°Everyone,¡± she murmured, her voice a fragile whisper. ¡°Please¡­ come back to me alive.¡±

    Before I could respond, her legs buckled. I barely caught her, guiding her down gently onto a patch of mossy earth. Nanik knelt beside us, quickly taking stock of her condition. He glanced up, slight worry flickering in his usually steady gaze.

    ¡°She¡¯s pushed herself too far,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll need to set up camp and let her rest. It would be best if we could get her to a doctor or support sorcera with some medical knowledge as soon as possible.¡±

    We worked in silence, setting up a makeshift camp with what little supplies we had. I propped Otome¡¯s head on my bag, keeping her shotgun within arm''s reach, while Nanik gathered dry branches for a small fire. The faint, crackling warmth offered a sliver of comfort as I kept watch, eyes scanning the trees. The forest was quiet, save for the distant hoot of an owl.

    The shadows seemed to grow thicker with every passing minute, pressing in around us. I found myself clutching Otome¡¯s shotgun a little tighter, straining to hear beyond the gentle crackle of the fire and Nanik¡¯s quiet movements as he adjusted the flames.

    Eventually, Nanik settled down beside me, his face calm but focused as his gaze swept over the trees. ¡°We¡¯re close to the border now,¡± he said softly. ¡°Once she¡¯s rested, we¡¯ll make it out of here.¡±

    I nodded, glancing back at Otome, whose brow was creased even in her sleep, as if she were still fighting some unseen battle.

    About what I think was an hour had passed, and it was my turn to keep watch again. The monotony of the task was starting to settle in. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind or the distant hoot of an owl.

    Then, out of the blue, I heard the crunching of leaves¡ªsharp, deliberate, and moving in our direction. My heart leaped into my throat as I unholstered my pistol, disengaged the safety, and prepared for combat. My aim locked onto where the figure would emerge from.

    From the underbrush stepped none other than our very own blonde-haired, suit-loving narcissist, Farthington. Right behind him were Victoria and the cerulean-eyed archer, whose name still escaped me.

    Victoria immediately rushed forward, her expression fraught with worry. She knelt beside Otome, her hands hovering uselessly over the unconscious woman. ¡°Otome, no! This¡­ this isn¡¯t good Huranti,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I haven¡¯t learned anything to help with a wound like this. If it gets infected out here, we¡¯re¡­¡± She trailed off, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood as tears welled in her eyes.

    Huranti placed a comforting hand on Victoria¡¯s shoulder, his own gaze solemn. ¡°Victoria,¡± he said softly, ¡°you¡¯ll learn in time. But for now, we need to rely on what we have.¡±

    Hearing the name sparked recognition in my mind. ¡°Huranti,¡± I muttered, the name clicking into place. So that¡¯s what he was called.

    Victoria barely acknowledged the exchange, her focus entirely on Otome. She was carefully examining the makeshift bandages we¡¯d wrapped around Otome¡¯s leg. ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± she murmured, shaking her head. ¡°We don¡¯t even have clean water. This whole forest¡­ it feels like a breeding ground for infection.¡±

    Huranti looked subdued, folding his arms as he stood behind Victoria. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way,¡± he said, ¡°Otome¡¯s not the type to go down so easily.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury of time,¡± Victoria snapped, her voice breaking. ¡°If we don¡¯t get her somewhere safe soon¡­¡±

    Huairen stepped forward, glancing between all of us. ¡°We¡¯ll take turns carrying her if we need to. We need to press on and find proper shelter¡ªor at least a clean water source.¡±

    I nodded, holstering my pistol as the tension eased. ¡°Let¡¯s pack up. We¡¯ve wasted enough time already.¡±

    Together, we began breaking down the makeshift camp, though Victoria¡¯s quiet lamentations stayed with me. Her guilt was palpable, and for the first time, I realized just how much Otome meant to her mercenaries, they were more like a family than coworkers.

 Seeking refuge

    Otome¡¯s eyelids fluttered, her breathing shallow but steady. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as Victoria¡¯s worried face swam into focus.

    ¡°Otome!¡± Victoria gasped, her voice thick with emotion. She leaned closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from Otome¡¯s damp forehead. ¡°Thank goodness. You¡¯re awake. How do you feel? Can you speak?¡±

    Otome¡¯s gaze shifted to Victoria, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her cracked lips despite the evident pain shadowing her expression. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ve been through worse,¡± she murmured hoarsely. Her voice was weak but carried the same dry humor that seemed ingrained in her. ¡°Although¡­ we did have a healer on the team back then. Makes a difference.¡±

    Victoria¡¯s lip quivered, guilt and frustration warring in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t joke about that,¡± she chided softly, though her voice cracked with emotion. She looked down at Otome¡¯s injured leg, grimacing at the hastily wrapped bandage already stained with blood. ¡°This wound... It¡¯s bad. It¡¯s going to get infected if we don¡¯t do anything about it.¡±

    Otome shifted slightly, wincing at the pain that rippled through her body. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just¡­ don¡¯t make a fuss, alright?¡±

    ¡°A fuss?¡± Victoria¡¯s voice rose, her frustration boiling over. ¡°You¡¯re slowly bleeding out, and I¡ªI can¡¯t even help you!¡± Her hands balled into fists, trembling as she averted her gaze. ¡°All this training, all the things I¡¯ve learned, and I couldn¡¯t pick up a single skill that could help you right now. What good am I if I can¡¯t even save a friend?¡±

    Otome reached out weakly, placing her hand over Victoria¡¯s clenched one. ¡°Hey,¡± she said softly, her smirk fading into a more sincere expression. ¡°You¡¯re here, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    Farthington, leaning casually against a nearby tree, broke the tension with his usual smirk. ¡°Touching, truly, but we¡¯re sitting ducks out here. Every minute we waste is another chance for someone to catch up with me¡ªuh, I mean us.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s right¡­¡± I said, stepping forward, though my attention lingered on Victoria, who was still kneeling by Otome. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. Otome, can you manage being carried? We need to get through the forest before sunrise. We¡¯ll find proper shelter, clean water, and maybe someone who can help you.¡±

    Otome, despite her pale complexion and labored breathing, shook her head resolutely. ¡°No way,¡± she rasped. ¡°I¡¯m not deadweight. I¡¯ll walk.¡±

    ¡°You can barely stand,¡± Victoria protested, her voice sharp with worry.

    ¡°And yet, I can stand,¡± Otome countered, using Victoria¡¯s shoulder to prop herself up. Her legs trembled under her weight, but she gritted her teeth and straightened up as much as her injury allowed. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be carried. Just¡­ someone walk with me. Keep me steady if I falter.¡±

    There was a moment of hesitation before Huairen stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with her,¡± he said quietly.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I relented, though unease prickled at the edges of my thoughts. ¡°But the moment you can¡¯t go on, you say something. No pushing yourself past your limits.¡±

    Otome smirked faintly, leaning on Huairen¡¯s offered arm. ¡°Alright.¡±

    With that, we began our journey deeper into the forest, the night stretching on around us. The canopy overhead was thick, the moonlight barely piercing through the dense weave of leaves. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirred in the distance, but the oppressive silence of danger wasn¡¯t far behind.

    Hours passed in a blur of quiet steps, the forest¡¯s darkness finally giving way to the faint light of dawn. The orange glow of the rising sun cast long, dappled shadows across the forest floor. Warm hues danced through the trees, bathing our tired faces in soft light.

    Finally, the forest thinned, the towering trees giving way to an open expanse of grassy hills. Otome swayed slightly, exhaustion etched into the lines of her face. Huairen steadied her, his grip reassuring.

    ¡°We made it,¡± Farthington said, his tone uncharacteristically subdued as he gazed out at the sunrise. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a rare moment of calm reflection. ¡°¡­I need some tea,¡± he added with a sigh.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Victoria stepped forward, her eyes scanning the rolling hills that stretched out before us. Her sharp gaze settled on the horizon, as if piecing together a mental map of the land. ¡°We¡¯re officially out of Cielmouth now,¡± she murmured, her voice tinged with relief but also laced with determination. ¡°Let me think¡­ If I remember correctly, the territory closest to where we are now is the March of Luminastra.¡±

    ¡°The Luminastra lands?¡± Otome rasped, leaning heavily on Huairen but refusing to let herself fall. ¡°That¡¯s noble territory. If we¡¯re lucky, they won¡¯t immediately throw us to the wolves for trespassing.¡±

    ¡°And if we¡¯re not lucky?¡± Farthington quipped.

    Victoria shot him a sharp look. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to be diplomatic. The Luminastra family is known for their charity and fairness. We¡¯ll hope their reputation holds true.¡±

    I nodded, processing the information. ¡°How far do you think we are from the nearest settlement?¡±

    ¡°Not far,¡± Victoria said after a moment of thought. ¡°Maybe a few hours'' walk if we keep up the pace. They¡¯ll have a small town or an estate on the outskirts of their lands. Either way, we should reach it by afternoon if we push through.¡±

    Farthington sighed dramatically, adjusting his coat as he stepped forward. ¡°Lead the way, then. But if we run into trouble, I¡¯m blaming you, Victoria.¡±

    ¡°Blame me all you want,¡± Victoria replied briskly, her focus already on the path ahead. ¡°Just keep your wit sharp and your feet moving.¡±

    The group trudged forward in a strained silence, the forest slowly giving way to clearer terrain. The thick canopy overhead thinned, allowing the rising sun¡¯s orange glow to filter through more freely, casting long, soft shadows on the ground. Birds chirped in the distance, their melodies a rare moment of serenity amid the tension that lingered between us.

    After what felt like an hour of navigating uneven paths and brushing aside branches, the landscape finally opened up, revealing a dirt road. The faint outline of rooftops came into view, nestled against the backdrop of rolling hills.

    ¡°There,¡± Victoria said, pointing ahead. Her voice carried a tinge of relief. ¡°That must be the edge of the March of Luminastra. It¡¯s smaller than I expected, but that looks like a town.¡±

    Otome, leaning heavily on Huairen for support, lifted her head to squint at the sight. ¡°A town means people. People mean supplies and, hopefully, a healer,¡± she muttered, her words strained from exhaustion.

    Farthington rubbed his hands together, an exaggerated grin breaking through his usual aloofness. ¡°And tea,¡± he added cheerfully, earning a few tired but amused glances. ¡°What? Tea is great!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too soon,¡± I warned, keeping my voice low. ¡°We¡¯re still strangers here. Let¡¯s not assume this is going to be easy.¡±

    Victoria nodded. ¡°She¡¯s right. We need to approach cautiously. The Luminastra family may have a kind reputation, but we don¡¯t know how their subjects will react to a group of injured and disheveled strangers showing up out of nowhere.¡±

    ¡°Then It would probably be better if only a small group of people were to go. Two or three of us at most.¡± Nanik suggested after a long span of being silent during the rest of the journey.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take Otome with me. Since we look like twins, and one of us is injured we probably won¡¯t make them be on edge,¡± I suggested.

    Victoria crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in concern. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea. Otome needs rest, and you¡¯re a stranger to us.¡± Her voice carried a note of skepticism as she glanced at Otome, who was leaning heavily on a tree for support.

    ¡°I can handle it,¡± Otome interjected, her voice firm despite her evident fatigue. ¡°If only two of us are going, it makes the most sense for me to go. Tokei¡¯s right¡ªour resemblance might put people more at ease.¡±

    Victoria hesitated, clearly torn. Finally, she sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Fine. But if anything happens to her, Tokei, you¡¯ll answer to me. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± I replied, meeting her gaze steadily.

    Otome gave a small, reassuring nod to Victoria before turning toward me. ¡°Let¡¯s go before she changes her mind.¡±

    With that, we began our trek toward the town. The forest thinned out as we approached, giving way to a quaint village surrounded by lush farmland. The rooftops gleamed softly in the morning light, and the sound of distant chatter floated on the breeze.

    As we neared the outskirts, a woman carrying a basket of vegetables noticed us. Her eyes widened, and she set the basket down abruptly, rushing toward us.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asked, her voice warm. Her gaze flicked to Otome, taking in her disheveled state. ¡°You look exhausted! Oh dear, what happened?¡±

    Otome and I exchanged a wary glance, surprised by her friendliness. ¡°We¡¯ve had a rough journey,¡± I replied cautiously. ¡°We¡¯re just passing through and hoping to find some help.¡±

    The woman¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve come at the perfect time! Miss Elli is in town today¡ªshe¡¯s the most wonderful person, always helping those in need. You must come to the town hall with me. She¡¯ll know just what to do!¡±

    Before we could respond, she beckoned enthusiastically, gesturing for us to follow. Her cheerful demeanor was disarming, and despite our initial hesitation, we fell into step behind her.

    The town itself was charming, with cobblestone streets and modest homes adorned with flower boxes. Villagers bustled about, exchanging greetings and going about their routines.

    The woman led us to a larger building in the heart of the village, its doors wide open and a small crowd gathered inside. ¡°Here we are,¡± she said, beaming. ¡°Miss Elli should be right inside.¡±

 Seeking Refuge 2

    As we stepped further into the town hall, the comforting scent of fresh bread and herbs mingled with the warmth of laughter and chatter. The vibrant interior was alive with a sense of community; tables were arranged neatly around the room, and groups of the townsfolk were gathered, exchanging cheerful words over fragrant tea.

    At the center of it all was a scene that drew our attention¡ªa group of children laughing and swarming around a woman draped in a cream-colored cloak. Her hood was pulled back just enough to reveal black hair that shimmered like the night sky in the soft glow of the room¡¯s lanterns.

    ¡°Come on, Miss Ellie!¡± one of the children exclaimed, tugging at her hand. ¡°Play with us a little longer!¡±

    The woman¡ªEllie, I presumed¡ªlaughed gently, the sound as light and warm as the sun breaking through clouds. Her radiant orange eyes, like the vibrant hues of dawn, sparkled with a genuine kindness that was captivating. Her presence exuded a quiet elegance that seemed at odds with the simple village setting, yet she blended effortlessly into the warmth of the community.

    Otome leaned into me slightly, her voice low. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem like your average townsperson.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I murmured back. ¡°Definitely not.¡±

    As if sensing our presence, Elli¡¯s gaze shifted toward us. Her smile softened, and she held up a hand to calm the children clamoring for her attention. ¡°All right, little ones,¡± she said gently, her voice soothing yet firm. ¡°Why don¡¯t you all go outside and play for a while? I need to speak with these people.¡±

    The children groaned in protest but ultimately listened, darting out of the hall in a flurry of giggles and playful shoves. Once the room had quieted, Elli turned her full attention to us, her eyes briefly sweeping over Otome with a hint of concern.

    ¡°You¡¯re injured, Follow me.¡± She began to lead us to a room in the town hall. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you in this town before. Are you travelers?¡±

    ¡°Yes, me and my sister were traveling when we ran into some bandit¡¯s who ended up wounding my sister.¡±

    Ellie¡¯s gaze lingered on Otome for a moment longer before she nodded. ¡°Then you¡¯ve had quite the ordeal. Come, this way.¡± Her tone was warm, carrying an air of quiet authority that demanded respect without being overbearing.

    She turned and began walking toward a door at the far end of the hall, her black hair catching the soft light as it shifted with her movements. Otome and I exchanged a quick glance. I gave her a subtle wink, silently urging her to follow my lead, and she nodded faintly, though her exhaustion was evident in her eyes.

    The room Ellie led us to was modest but cozy, with a wooden table, a few chairs, and a cabinet lined with jars and vials. A basin of water and clean pieces of cloth were neatly set to one side. Ellie gestured for Otome to sit on one of the chairs while she retrieved a pair of gloves, which were likely imported from a entwick country, from the cabinet.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot,¡± Ellie said as she slipped on gloves with practiced ease. ¡°Bandits, you said?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied smoothly, stepping forward to assist Otome as she eased into the chair. ¡°My sister and I tried to fight them off, but one of them managed to land a lucky hit on her.¡±

    Otome glanced at me but wisely chose not to add anything, letting me handle the explanation.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Elli¡¯s orange eyes flickered with a glimmer of skepticism, though her kind expression never wavered. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate you made it here in one piece. The roads near the border can be treacherous, especially at night.¡±

    ¡°Are you this town¡¯s resident doctor?¡± Otome asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

    ¡°I do what I can for the people here,¡± Elli replied, sidestepping the question. Her gaze briefly met Otome¡¯s before returning to her work. ¡°The March of Luminastra prides itself on its hospitality, but times are hard, even for us. You¡¯re lucky to have arrived when you did.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± I asked, folding my arms as I studied her.

    Elli¡¯s faint smile lingered, though there was a shadow of something deeper behind her serene demeanor. ¡°Miss Elysia, the lady of this march, is visiting the town tomorrow. She rarely makes public appearances¡ªever since she vanished for a month¡ªbut her presence always lifts the spirits of the people. Perhaps you¡¯ll have the chance to meet her.¡±

    I exchanged a quick glance with Otome, the weight of Elli¡¯s words settling between us. ¡°She disappeared for a month?¡± I asked, keeping my tone casual despite my rising interest.

    ¡°No one knows where she went,¡± Elli replied, her voice tinged with a quiet frustration. ¡°The Marquess and Marchioness have kept the details shrouded in secrecy. Since then, her ladyship has seldom left her estate. Tomorrow¡¯s visit is¡­ rare.¡±

    Before I could respond, Elli knelt beside Otome and began unwrapping the makeshift bandages with deliberate care. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the air as she examined the wound, her practiced hands steady despite the severity of the injury.

    ¡°The rectus femoris and vastus medialis are both badly cut,¡± Elli murmured, her voice analytical yet soft. ¡°The damage is severe, but not irreparable.¡±

    Otome winced as Elli gently probed the wound, her brow furrowing with concern. ¡°You¡¯re lucky the bleeding slowed on its own. Without immediate treatment, this could have led to permanent damage¡ªor worse.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been through worse,¡± Otome muttered, though the pain in her voice betrayed her bravado.

    Elli¡¯s lips tightened into a determined line. ¡°Perhaps, but that doesn¡¯t mean you should endure this any longer. Hold still; this might feel strange but won¡¯t hurt.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, Elli raised her hand, her palm glowing with a soft, radiant light. The air seemed to hum with energy, a soothing warmth that wrapped around us like a protective cocoon. Elli pressed her glowing hand gently against Otome¡¯s thigh, directly over the injury.

    I watched in silent awe as fine, golden strands of light wove through the torn muscle fibers, intertwining them like threads in an intricate tapestry. Elli¡¯s orange eyes glowed faintly, their brilliance reminiscent of a dawn breaking through the horizon, her focus unwavering. Slowly, the muscle began to reattach, knitting itself together with almost hypnotic precision.

    Otome¡¯s breathing hitched, her wide eyes fixed on the mending wound. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± she asked, her voice caught between amazement and disbelief.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Sorcera,¡± Elli replied calmly, her voice steady as the glow in her hand intensified. ¡°One of my abilities allows me to guide the body¡¯s natural healing process, accelerating it to restore function and structure. The muscles are reattaching, and the skin will regenerate shortly. You¡¯ll need rest for a full recovery, but you¡¯ll be walking again soon.¡±

    As the light dimmed, the wound was no longer a gaping tear. Instead, it was a faint scar, fresh yet seemingly weeks old. Elli sat back with a quiet sigh, fatigue briefly flickering across her composed features.

    Otome flexed her leg cautiously, her disbelief written across her face. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t believe it. You fixed it so fast¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself,¡± Elli interrupted, her tone gentle but firm. ¡°The internal tissue needs time to strengthen, even if it feels fine now. Walking is possible, but avoid running or carrying anything heavy for at least a day.¡±

    Otome glanced at me, her fingers brushing over the now-healed area. ¡°You¡¯ve got impressive medical skills,¡± I said, aiming to lighten the mood.

    Elli stood, brushing her hands against her cloak as she looked between us. ¡°I did only what was necessary. You should both stay and rest a while longer before continuing on your journey. I¡¯ll bring some food and water shortly.¡±

    Without another word, Elli left the room, her presence as composed and efficient as her actions had been.

    ¡°I owe her one,¡± Otome muttered, her voice quieter now as she tentatively stretched her leg.

    ¡°We should buy some food and supplies and then head back to everyone else,¡± I said.

 Respite Part 1

    The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the marketplace in shades of gold and amber as Otome and I wove through the bustling crowd. Vendors called out their wares, voices rising over the lively chatter of customers, while children darted between stalls, their laughter echoing above the din. The air was thick with the scent of freshly baked bread, ripe fruits, and the tang of smoked meat.

    Otome led the way, her steps light and purposeful. She moved with the ease of someone accustomed to navigating chaotic spaces, her sharp gaze sweeping over each stall. Yet, beneath her casual demeanor, there was a tautness in her movements¡ªa subtle edge to her stance that hinted at a readiness for anything. Her eyes flickered toward shadowed alleyways and corners cloaked in shade, as though expecting trouble to spring forth at any moment.

    I followed a few steps behind, my pace slower, more deliberate. A stall selling fruit caught my eye¡ªa gruff-looking man arranging his wares into neat rows. I started toward it, drawn by the colorful display, but Otome¡¯s voice stopped me.

    ¡°You¡¯re too obvious,¡± she said abruptly, glancing over her shoulder at me. She tilted her head toward the produce stand, where the vendor¡¯s gaze had fixed on us, a sharp glint of opportunity in his eyes. ¡°The guy can tell you¡¯re out of your element. He¡¯s gonna upcharge you the moment you try to haggle.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to haggle,¡± I admitted, my voice tighter than I intended.

    Otome sighed, setting her basket down. ¡°You really haven¡¯t done this before, have you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I replied tersely.

    Her expression softened, and she gestured for me to follow her to the stall. Watching her work was like watching a seasoned performer. Her words were light, casual, even friendly, but there was an undercurrent of sharpness in her tone¡ªa quiet authority that gave the vendor pause before he named his price.

    ¡°Afternoon,¡± Otome greeted the stall owner with an easy smile, her tone disarming yet confident. She picked up one of the apples, turning it over in her hand as though inspecting its worth. ¡°Nice selection today. Freshly picked, I hope?¡±

    The vendor, a burly man with a well-worn apron, nodded but kept a wary eye on her. ¡°Straight from the orchard this morning,¡± he said. ¡°Best in town.¡±

    Otome let out a soft hum of approval, placing the apple back into the basket but not breaking eye contact. ¡°I¡¯ll take a few, then. Four Mira for half a dozen, sound fair?¡±

    The man¡¯s brow furrowed, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. ¡°Four Mira? These are premium, miss. Five is the going rate.¡±

    ¡°Premium?¡± Otome echoed, arching a skeptical brow as she picked up another apple, this one with a faint bruise near the stem. She held it up for the vendor to see. ¡°This one¡¯s already past its prime. If these are ¡®premium,¡¯ I¡¯d hate to see what you consider average.¡±

    The vendor shifted uncomfortably, clearly trying to come up with a counter. ¡°Still, it¡¯s good quality. Five Mira¡¯s a fair price¡ª¡±

    ¡°Maybe for someone who doesn¡¯t know any better,¡± Otome interrupted, her tone light but cutting. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen stalls a block over selling the same apples for three Mira, no bruises included. Tell you what: four Mira, and I¡¯ll even take this one off your hands.¡± She twirled the bruised apple between her fingers for emphasis, her smirk sharp enough to rival her words.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The vendor glanced around as if checking to see if anyone else was watching. Finally, he sighed in resignation. ¡°Fine. Four Mira it is.¡±

    ¡°Smart choice,¡± Otome said, dropping the coins into his hand with a satisfied grin. As she added the apples to my basket, she spotted a bundle of fresh herbs on the side of the stall and gave him an expectant look. ¡°Throw these in, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡±

    The man hesitated again but, after a brief pause, gave a gruff nod. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t make a habit of this.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± she said with a wink, tucking the herbs into the basket as well.

    Turning back to me, she smirked faintly. ¡°See? Easy,¡± she said, her voice carrying a quiet triumph. ¡°You just have to act like you¡¯ve been here a hundred times before.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how smoothly she had handled the situation. The transaction wasn¡¯t just about getting a fair price¡ªit was a careful balance of confidence and observation, a skill likely honed through years of being on the streets.

    I nodded stiffly, my gaze drifting to the cobblestone street. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to explain that it wasn¡¯t just the marketplace that felt foreign to me¡ªalmost everything did. The world around me felt like a vast, intricate machine, one I only understood in fragments. The weight of that uncertainty pressed against my chest, threatening to unmoor me.

    Noticing my hesitation, Otome¡¯s smirk faded. ¡°You okay?¡± she asked, her voice softer now.

    I forced a nod, but she didn¡¯t look convinced.

    ¡°Here,¡± she said, handing me a small tin of spices. ¡°Hold onto this. We¡¯ll grab a few more things and head out.¡±

    As we moved to another stall, I noticed a subtle shift in Otome¡¯s demeanor. Her sharp eyes lingered on the edges of the market, flitting toward the alleyways as if searching for something¡ªor someone.

    ¡°This place reminds me of Bakhlav,¡± she muttered, almost to herself.

    ¡°How so?¡± I asked, curiosity piqued.

    ¡°Back when I didn¡¯t have much to my name,¡± she said with a shrug. Her tone was casual, but her words carried a weight that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°Spent some time in rough places, scraping by. Not the best memories, but they teach you things. Like how to spot someone trying to cheat you¡ªor worse.¡±

    Her words hung in the air as we reached a fishmonger¡¯s stall. Otome scanned the selection with a critical eye, expertly picking out a bundle of dried fish. Meanwhile, I stared at the offerings, unsure of what constituted good quality. She didn¡¯t comment on my hesitation, but the faint smirk that tugged at her lips said enough.

    After another hour of collecting supplies, we finally began the walk back to the group. The marketplace had quieted, the evening crowd thinning as the vendors began packing up their stalls.

    Otome adjusted her basket, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. ¡°You¡¯re different from what I had in mind, you know.¡±

    I blinked, her words catching me off guard. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    She hesitated for a moment, as though carefully choosing her words. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about what my sister might be like for... well, for as long as I can remember. I always imagined someone more outgoing, someone who¡¯d take charge and light up a room, you know?¡±

    I lowered my gaze, my fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the basket. ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± I murmured.

    Otome stopped walking and turned to face me, her expression softening. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s just¡­ I guess I¡¯ve spent so long building this picture in my head, I never thought about what it¡¯d feel like to actually meet you. And honestly? You¡¯re better than what I imagined.¡±

    Her words struck me harder than I expected, and I looked up, meeting her eyes. ¡°Better?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said simply, a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°You¡¯ve got this quiet strength about you. Sure, you¡¯re reserved, but I think it just means you¡¯re more thoughtful. You¡¯re not what I expected, but you¡¯re exactly who you¡¯re supposed to be. That¡¯s enough for me.¡±

    I felt a warmth rise in my chest, mingling with the familiar knot of uncertainty. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said quietly, unsure of what else to say.

    Otome chuckled and nudged me lightly with her elbow. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get these supplies back. We¡¯ve got a long night ahead of us.¡±

    As we continued down the path, I felt a subtle shift between us¡ªa fragile but genuine connection beginning to form. For the first time in a long while, I didn¡¯t feel quite so alone.

 Respite Part 2

    The sky was painted in hues of gold and amber as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the camp. The faint crackle of the newly lit campfire broke the evening''s calm. With a snap of his fingers, Nanik had effortlessly ignited the flames before retreating to his own spot by the fire. Meanwhile, Otome, Victoria, and Huranti busied themselves setting up makeshift tents with the tarp and rope Otome had purchased at the market.

    I sat on a nearby rock, the basket of groceries now empty beside me, and let out a quiet sigh. The gentle flicker of the firelight played across my face as I stared into the flames, lost in thought. For the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself a moment of relief. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªa small camp, a simple meal, and the company of others¡ªbut it was something. A reprieve from the unrelenting uncertainty that had shadowed me since I woke in this unfamiliar world.

    I leaned back slightly, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my skin. Finally, a break, I thought, though the unease in the pit of my stomach refused to completely dissipate. The world around me was vast, intricate, and filled with layers I couldn¡¯t yet comprehend. But here, at least for now, there was a sense of grounding.

    I decided to look at the terminal, and the black and white window popped up as I activated it. A familiar string of notifications greeted me, their text glowing faintly in the dim light. One in particular caught my eye:

    [Memory Reenactment skill unlocked and available for use.]

    I stared at the words for a moment, my heartbeat quickening. This was the ability I had acquired during the battle at Moon Dallah. It wasn¡¯t just a tool; it was a lifeline, a way to piece together the fragments of memory and identity I was still chasing.

    Before I could dwell further, another notification blinked into view:

    [Prerequisite met: Corporeal Data Creation has reached Level 5. Evolution available: Mimic]

    I blinked, reading the words again to ensure I hadn¡¯t misinterpreted them. Mimic? I looked at what I needed to do to unlock and the condition puzzled me.

    [Analyze the body of an entity to unlock the Skill: Mimic]

    The implications churned in my mind. Mimic. A skill that carried a price so high in the terminal shop that it wasn¡¯t something that I even considered attainable. What could it do? The thought stirred a heady mix of curiosity and unease. Whatever it was, it wouldn¡¯t come without risk.

    The fire crackled louder, pulling me back into the moment. Around me, the camp remained alive with quiet purpose. Otome tightened a knot, her movements precise and sure. Victoria¡¯s vermillion hair shifted as she worked, the color glowing like embers in the dim light. Huranti¡¯s silhouette moved along the edge of the clearing, a vigilant shadow against the deepening night.

    They were immersed in their tasks, their focus unwavering. Yet here I sat, the weight of a choice pressing heavily on my chest. The terminal¡¯s screen pulsed faintly in my hand, the skill¡¯s availability almost taunting me.

    ¡®Should I activate Memory Reenactment now?¡¯ The thought lingered, heavy and uncertain. The memory of what happened when I first unlocked the Corporeal Data Creation skill still made me pause. The disorientation, the physical strain¡ªit wasn¡¯t something I wanted to relive in front of everyone. The last thing I needed was to alarm them unnecessarily or to have them misinterpret what was happening.

    I glanced around the camp. Otome, Victoria, and Huranti were still engrossed in their tasks, while Nanik sat across from me by the fire, his attention somewhere distant. I turned the terminal over in my hand, its faint hum barely perceptible above the soft crackle of the flames.

    ¡®Better to do this out of sight.¡¯

    I cleared my throat softly, drawing Nanik¡¯s gaze. ¡°I think I¡¯ll turn in for the day now,¡± I said, letting a trace of weariness slip into my voice. ¡°I¡¯m beat.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    He gave me a slight nod, his expression unreadable but understanding. ¡°Rest up. Tomorrow we need to decide what to do going forward.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied with a faint smile, rising to my feet and brushing off the dust clinging to my clothes.

    I picked up the basket and turned away from the fire, weaving past the scattered supplies and makeshift tents toward the darker edges of the camp. The quiet grew heavier as I moved further from the group, the golden hues of the sunset giving way to deep blues and purples. Shadows stretched long over the ground, their shapes twisting in the flickering light of the fire behind me.

    Finding a secluded spot among the trees, I set the basket down and leaned against a sturdy trunk. The faint rustle of leaves above and the distant murmurs of the camp were the only sounds now. My heart quickened as I activated the terminal again, the screen glowing faintly against the encroaching dark.

    ¡®If this skill was meant to help me piece things together, then it was worth the risk.¡¯

    I quickly checked the time so I could figure out how long I would be out. ¡®7:25 pm, noted.¡¯ Taking a steadying breath, I tapped on the notification for Memory Reenactment and waited for the unknown to unfold.

    The world around me dissolved as a skull-splitting pain ripped through my head, a searing sensation that seemed to burrow into the deepest recesses of my mind. My vision blurred, the edges darkening as my pupils dilated unnaturally. My eyelids grew impossibly heavy, forcing themselves shut. Just before the darkness claimed me, the faint glow of the terminal¡¯s message burned itself into my vision:

    [Reenacting collected memory]

    <hr>

    When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a place I didn¡¯t recognize. The air was still, filled with a faint scent of wood and herbs. I was sitting on the floor of what appeared to be a small, humble room. The planks beneath me creaked softly as I shifted, their smooth surface worn from years of use.

    I glanced down at myself, taking in the loose, baggy clothing draped over me. A simple design, unadorned but comfortable. It reminded me of a garment I¡¯d read about from Kagakuni¡ª a Yukata, I think they called them. I remembered learning about them through my scattered searches online, a detail that somehow felt both distant and intimately familiar.

    Before me, a frail figure lay on the ground. A young girl, no older than eight or nine, her disheveled purple hair spilling around her delicate face. Her sunken eyes, a haunting mirror of my own, gazed up at me with a faint shimmer of hope.

    Her lips moved, her voice a faint, trembling whisper.

    ¡°T-Tokei... When do you think I¡¯ll be better? I¡¯ve been sick for two whole days now¡­¡±

    The words struck me like a tidal wave, but before I could process them, my body moved of its own accord. Words spilled from my lips, not my own, yet achingly familiar.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Otome. I¡¯ll be right here with you until you get better. And when you¡¯re all better, we¡¯ll go play by the pond that you like so much.¡±

    The girl¡¯s expression shifted, a flicker of light igniting in her weary eyes. ¡°Really? Then it¡¯s a promise.¡±

    Her small hand reached out, trembling slightly, her pinky extended. Without hesitation, my hand¡ªa hand not entirely my own¡ªreached forward and linked pinkies with hers.

    ¡°Promise,¡± I heard myself say.

    Her smile bloomed like a fragile flower, radiant despite her frailty. We laughed softly together, the sound warm and unguarded, like sunlight breaking through a stormy sky.

    <hr>

    Gasp.

    I jolted upright, my chest heaving. The world around me swam back into focus¡ªthe trees, the distant flicker of the campfire, the quiet hum of the night.

    Warm tears streamed down my face, unbidden and unstoppable. I tried to wipe them away with my sleeve, but the flood continued. My breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps as the memory played on a loop in my mind.

    ¡°Otome¡­¡± I whispered hoarsely, the name catching in my throat. The weight of the reenactment, of what I had just witnessed, settled heavily on me.

    ¡®Is she really my sister?¡¯ The thought lingered as I wiped at the last remnants of tears on my face. ¡®This all seems too good to be true... but even if it¡¯s not, it gives me a sense of belonging.¡¯

    Before the moment could slip away entirely, I glanced at the time displayed on my terminal: ¡®7:38 PM.¡¯ Thirteen minutes had passed since I activated the skill.

    My tears had finally subsided, leaving behind an odd mix of exhaustion and clarity. Taking a steady breath, I pushed myself back onto my feet, brushing dirt off my clothes. Picking up the basket I had brought with me earlier, I gave the clearing one last glance.

    ¡°I should get back now,¡± I murmured to myself, turning toward the camp. The faint light of the fire in the distance was a comforting guide as I made my way back.

 Return

    As I made my way back to the campgrounds, the sky had deepened into a tapestry of navy and black, with the moon climbing higher and bathing the clearing in its soft, silver glow. The distant crackle of the campfire reached my ears, accompanied by the quiet murmur of conversation.

    Approaching the camp, Nanik¡¯s voice broke the stillness. ¡°Where were you?¡± he asked, his tone calm but carrying a note of curiosity.

    ¡°I was having trouble sleeping, so I decided to take a walk to clear my thoughts,¡± I replied evenly.

    He studied me briefly, then nodded. ¡°Alright. Go get some sleep.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Strolling toward the tents, I caught sight of Otome seated on a log, a cloth in one hand and her shotgun in the other. She was focused, inspecting the weapon with the familiarity of someone who had done this a thousand times before. As I approached, she glanced up, her purple hair catching the faint light.

    ¡°Ready to hit the sack?¡± she asked casually, gesturing toward the far-left tent. ¡°You¡¯ll be sharing that one with me and Victoria.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, pausing briefly. ¡°When do you plan to get some rest? The lady who healed you said you still shouldn¡¯t strain yourself and need to take it easy.¡±

    Otome smirked faintly, returning her attention to her shotgun. ¡°Fine, fine. Let me finish up here, and I¡¯ll head in soon. You can go inside first.¡±

    With a small nod, I turned toward the tent, the quiet sounds of the night settling around me as I stepped inside.

    We didn¡¯t have sleeping bags or anything of the sort, so we ended up using our bags as makeshift pillows and had to sleep on them. I didn¡¯t realize it, but I must have been more tired than I felt because I fell asleep as soon as I rested my head of my bag.

    <hr>

    The next morning, the first thing I registered was the sound of Farthington¡¯s unmistakable grumbling. Groggy, I blinked awake and glanced around the tent. Otome and Victoria were already gone, leaving the tent empty.

    Dragging myself upright, I stepped outside into the crisp morning air. Farthington¡¯s rant grew clearer as I approached the extinguished campfire.

    ¡°¡ªDo you know how bad that was for my back? Me! Of all people! Had to sleep on the ground! I deserve a bonus for this, some kind of compensation!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smirk slightly at his indignation. That was Farthington to the letter¡ªdramatic, exasperated, and completely unapologetic about it.

    Stretching my stiff shoulders, I let my gaze drift over the camp. The others were beginning to stir, some quietly packing up their belongings while others milled about.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡®Right,¡¯ I thought, recalling our plans. ¡®We were supposed to discuss our next steps as a group today. With Otome¡¯s mercenary group in trouble, this might be the perfect chance to have her join us. It would be nice to keep her around. We only just met, and I want to get to know my sister better.¡¯

    The idea lingered in my mind as I walked toward the others, the morning light filtering through the trees and casting the camp in a golden hue.

    Nanik and Farthington were the closest, so I strolled over to them.

    ¡°Nanik, do you think we could have a word?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Sure,¡± he replied, his expression calm as always.

    Farthington, still grumbling as he adjusted his coat, interjected, ¡°Make sure I get some extra Aero for all of my troubles!¡±

    Ignoring him, Nanik walked closer, his orange eyes catching the morning light. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°I was wondering if we could recruit Otome¡¯s mercenaries for Shadow Phoenix,¡± I said, keeping my tone steady.

    Nanik tilted his head slightly, considering my words. ¡°I suppose we could¡­¡± he said after a moment of thought. His gaze flicked briefly to the side before returning to me. ¡°I¡¯m fine with recruiting them if they¡¯re willing. But could you confirm one thing for me first?¡±

    ¡°What do you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°You probably haven¡¯t checked yet, so could you take a look at Otome using your data vision and see what shows up?¡±

    I hesitated, my brow furrowing. ¡°I can, but why do you want me to?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll tell you later,¡± Nanik said, his voice low but firm.

    His answer left a nagging curiosity in the back of my mind, but I nodded. ¡°Alright¡­¡±

    As Nanik walked off, his cryptic behavior lingered in my thoughts. What¡¯s he up to? I wondered. Still, the idea of Otome staying around, along with her mercenaries, brought a small spark of hope.

    Pushing my curiosity aside, I made my way toward Otome and Victoria, who were chatting near the edge of the camp. Otome noticed me first and waved, her shotgun slung over her shoulder. ¡°You sure seem chipper this morning,¡± she said with a teasing grin.

    ¡°Me? Really?¡± I asked, blinking in surprise.

    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t seen you look happy like this before,¡± she said, tilting her head. ¡°It suits you.¡±

    I paused, caught off guard by her observation, but a faint warmth crept into my expression. ¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± I murmured, unsure how else to respond. ¡°Anyway, what do you plan to do now?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s what Victoria and I were just talking about,¡± Otome replied, her expression dimming slightly. ¡°Now that my mercenaries have been split up, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be going back to Cielmouth. I still hope everyone else made it out of there safely.¡±

    Her words carried a weight that I could feel. Despite her composed demeanor, the uncertainty of her situation clearly lingered beneath the surface.

    While she spoke, I activated my [Developer¡¯s Eye], recalling Nanik¡¯s unusual request. As I focused on Otome, her code appeared before me, and my breath caught. It was orange.

    Orange.

    I blinked rapidly, disengaging the Developer¡¯s Eye as the meaning of what I¡¯d seen sank in. That color¡ª It was the same as Kaelith¡¯s and Farthington¡¯s.

    Otome¡¯s an anomaly? But why?

    The thought unsettled me, a dozen questions tumbling through my mind, each more urgent than the last. I barely registered Nanik approaching until his voice broke through my haze of confusion.

    ¡°Miss Otome,¡± Nanik began, his tone formal, ¡°I was wondering if you and your mercenaries would consider joining my special operations unit, Shadow Phoenix.¡±

    Otome straightened slightly, her expression sharpening. ¡°What would the terms be?¡± she asked, her voice calm but wary.

    Her words blurred into the background as my thoughts spiraled. What does this mean? Is it connected to her being my sister? Or something else entirely?

    ¡°¡­that seems fair, then shall we say you¡¯re part of the team now?¡± Nanik¡¯s words broke through, his tone final.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Otome replied, nodding decisively.

    I stood there, the weight of what I¡¯d learned settling heavily on my shoulders, the world around me momentarily distant.

 Cliffside Attack

    ¡°-kei, hey Tokei?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes were you saying something to me?¡±

    Otome looked at me with a hint of concern. ¡°Is there something on your mind?¡±

    ¡°Uh, Yeah I was just lost in thought.¡±

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Patting me on the shoulder as she walked past me,¡± well I look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Same here¡­¡±

    Before I could say more, Farthington¡¯s grumbling drew both of our attention. ¡°If we¡¯re done with the heartfelt moments once more, can we focus on how we¡¯re getting out of this godforsaken forest?¡±

    Victoria shot him a pointed look. ¡°You¡¯ll survive, Farthington. Besides, the plan¡¯s already set. We¡¯re heading for the coast, remember? Shouldn¡¯t be more than a couple of days¡¯ travel if we keep up the pace.¡±

    Nanik stepped forward, taking charge as usual. ¡°Victoria¡¯s right. According to a map Otome got from the village, we¡¯ll follow the cliffside road until we hit the nearest port town. From there, we¡¯ll secure passage to Tekuno and head back to Trizen. Shadow Phoenix¡¯s base will provide better shelter and resources to regroup.¡±

    Otome raised an eyebrow. ¡°A cliffside road, huh? Sounds risky. I remember the lady who healed me mentioned bandits being in the area. We should keep our guard up.¡±

    Nanik took the lead, ¡°Alright, now that we have a plan let''s get ready to move out.¡±

    <hr>

    The day before, at an undisclosed location.

    A woman in a sleek black suit approached a dresser, her reflection sharp and unyielding in the mirror. Her hair, black as midnight, faded at the tips into the molten hue of liquid metal. Crimson eyes lingered on a small, rune-inscribed shard of glass resting before her.

    ¡°In what capacity are you contacting me, Head of Cielmouth State Security?¡± she said, her voice elegant yet laced with menace.

    From the glass, a voice responded, crisp but strained. ¡°Madam Paroxysm, the target you commissioned us to eliminate has fled across the border into Ardem. We are no longer able to pursue them. However, we can provide you with an approximate location.¡±

    Paroxysm¡¯s lips curled into a faint sneer. ¡°You disappoint me. Provide the location immediately. The Lord demands these wretched anomalies be eradicated without delay.¡± She slipped on a pair of black gloves, her eyes never leaving her reflection in the mirror.

    ¡°As you command. The approximate location will be sent through the lumen transfer shortly,¡± the voice replied. The call ended with an abrupt crackle.

    Paroxysm turned her gaze to a photograph on the dresser¡ªa captured image of Otome. Her expression hardened as she picked up the picture, her gloved fingers brushing over it disdainfully.

    ¡°These pests aren¡¯t worth my personal attention,¡± she muttered, her tone cold and final. ¡°The Weavers¡¯ soldiers will suffice to deal with them.¡±

    With that, she set the photograph down and walked away, the echo of her heels resonating through the dimly lit room.

    <hr>

    The group set off shortly after, the forest gradually thinning as we approached the cliffside road. The sea stretched out in the distance, its waves glinting under the morning sun. The path ahead was narrow, winding along the rocky edge, with jagged cliffs dropping to a dense forest far below.

    Farthington grumbled as he adjusted his pack, while Otome and Victoria walked ahead, discussing the terrain. Nanik fell into step beside me, his orange eyes sharp as ever.

    ¡°So what did you see?¡± he asked quietly, his voice just loud enough for me to hear.

    I hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Her code... it¡¯s orange.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    He gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. ¡°Keep it to yourself for now. We¡¯ll talk when we reach the base. I know you must have many questions.¡±

    His cryptic words only deepened the mystery, but I knew better than to press him. For now, all I could do was stay alert and prepare for whatever lay ahead.

    As the group continued down the narrow road, a dark shape in the sky caught my attention. It moved against the clouds, its outline growing larger with every passing moment. My heart sank as the realization hit me.

    ¡°Nanik,¡± I said, my voice low and urgent.

    He followed my gaze, his expression hardening. ¡°Everyone, stop!¡±

    The group froze, their eyes lifting to the sky as the shape became clear¡ªa massive flying machine, its hull gleaming ominously in the sunlight. Suddenly, its underside opened, releasing heavily armored vehicles that plummeted to the ground with deafening crashes.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got unknowns¡ªscatter!¡± Nanik barked, his voice sharp with command.

    The group broke into a sprint, diving for cover in the dense forest that bordered the cliffside road. The sheer drop on the other side offered no escape. I threw myself behind a fallen log, pressing low to the ground as the rumble of engines grew louder. The vehicles passed, one after another, until a fourth slowed to a stop near my position.

    The sound of car doors slamming shut echoed through the forest, followed by the crunch of boots on dirt. I stayed still, listening intently.

    ¡°Remember, our main priority is killing that purple-haired woman,¡± a gruff voice said. ¡°The rest don¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± another voice replied.

    I carefully lifted my head, assessing the situation. My heart raced as I realized I was furthest from the SUV. From my vantage point, I spotted Otome. She was creeping through the trees toward one of the soldiers who had his back to the forest. Silent as a shadow, she closed the distance. Then, like a striking mantis, she sprang up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and dragged him into the undergrowth. A sickening crack confirmed the soldier¡¯s fate.

    Two men remained. A moment later, an arrow streaked through the air, striking one of them cleanly in the eye. The man dropped instantly.

    ¡°What the hell!¡± the last soldier shouted, panic lacing his voice. He swung his assault rifle toward the treeline, firing blindly in the direction of the arrow.

    Suddenly, Victoria burst from the shadows, moving with superhuman speed. Before the soldier could adjust his aim, she closed the gap in an instant. Bullets sprayed haphazardly into the trees, but they were too late¡ªher blade drove through his chest, silencing him.

    Otome emerged from the forest, her movements swift and purposeful. Victoria rifled through the pockets of the soldier she had dispatched, retrieving a set of keys. She threw the keys to Otome with precision, and Otome caught them effortlessly. Sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, she jammed the keys into the ignition and brought the engine roaring to life.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Otome shouted, urgency in her voice. ¡°Move!¡±

    I bolted from my hiding spot, weaving through the dense underbrush toward the SUV. Branches whipped at my arms, and the uneven ground threatened to trip me, but I pushed forward. The others began emerging from their own hiding places, sprinting toward the vehicle.

    Farthington was the first to reach it, grumbling under his breath as he climbed into the back seat. ¡°This is more trouble than it¡¯s worth,¡± he muttered, though his actions betrayed a sense of urgency.

    Nanik followed close behind, his orange eyes scanning the treeline with laser focus. He leaped into the SUV, keeping his weapon at the ready as though expecting another ambush.

    Victoria was next, her movements fluid and precise despite the chaos. Sliding into the passenger seat, she adjusted her position with practiced ease. Her vermillion hair was disheveled, stray strands clinging to her face, but her sharp gaze was as intense as ever.

    I was almost there, heart pounding in my chest, when a strange sensation washed over me¡ªa faint hum that resonated deep within. It prickled at the edge of my senses, charged and menacing. My instincts screamed a warning, but before I could react, something slammed into me with the force of a battering ram.

    I was flung sideways, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through my body as I collapsed to the ground.

    ¡°TOKEI!¡± Otome¡¯s voice rang out, filled with panic.

    Through blurred vision, I saw her reaching for the door handle, intent on coming to my aid. But before she could step out, a barrage of gunfire erupted. The SUVs that had passed us earlier had circled back, their occupants opening fire with relentless precision.

    Bullets ricocheted off the hijacked vehicle, forcing Otome to slam the door shut. Her expression was torn, a mix of frustration and fear. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white as she shouted, ¡°Hold on!¡±

    With a reluctant glance in my direction, she stomped on the gas. The armored SUV roared forward, leaving me behind as the vehicle sped away under a hail of gunfire. My vision began to dim, but I fought to stay conscious.

    Above me, the air crackled with energy. A shadow loomed, and I forced my eyes upward, meeting the piercing gaze of a Weaver soldier. He stood tall, whipblades in hand, their edges sparking with electricity. His armor gleamed, and his expression was cold as he sized me up.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found you,¡± he said, his voice a mix of triumph and menace.

 Cliffside Attack 2

    The armored SUVs roared past, engines growling as they pursued Otome''s vehicle. I stayed low, heart pounding in my chest, as my assailant stepped closer. His whipblades crackled ominously, arcs of energy snapping in the air with every movement.

    ¡°You must be the purple-haired anomaly thingy, wench,¡± he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. ¡°Brace yourself for death.¡±

    His eyes glinted with malice, but I didn¡¯t respond, keeping my breathing steady. My hand clenched tightly around the handful of dry dirt I had scooped from the ground. I needed the right moment¡ªjust one shot to tip the odds in my favor.

    The whipblades sizzled as he swung them experimentally, their energy carving faint trails into the air. He took another step toward me, confidence radiating from his every move. ¡°Nothing to say? Pathetic.¡±

    I stayed silent, eyes locked on his every movement. As soon as he raised his arm to strike, I threw the dirt with all the strength I could muster, aiming for his face. The grainy mixture hit its mark, scattering into his eyes.

    ¡°Argh!¡± he shouted, stumbling back as he clawed at his face, his vision momentarily obscured.

    I scrambled to my feet, adrenaline surging as his weapon lashed the air just inches from where I had been moments before. The ground crackled where the whipblade struck, leaving a scorched line in its wake.

    He swung wildly, his movements erratic as he tried to clear his vision. I ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the deadly arcs of energy. My heart raced as I searched for an opening, some way to turn the tables further.

    The chase wasn¡¯t over, but I¡¯d bought myself a few precious seconds. My hand darted to my side, drawing the pistol Otome had given me. With a flick of my thumb, I disengaged the safety, the familiar metallic click grounding me as I moved further from my assailant.

    The man shook his head violently, clearing the remaining dirt from his eyes. His gaze locked onto me with renewed fury, his whipblades crackling even louder as if mirroring his rage. ¡°You¡¯re only delaying the inevitable!¡± he snarled, breaking into a sprint toward me.

    I didn¡¯t hesitate. My grip tightened on the pistol, and I aimed at his center mass. The first shot rang out, the sound sharp and jarring in the open air. He twisted his body at the last second, and the bullet grazed his armored shoulder, sparking off harmlessly.

    ¡°Nice try,¡± he growled, closing the gap quickly.

    I fired again, forcing him to veer to the side. His agility was impressive, but it kept him from getting close enough to strike. I moved backward, my boots kicking up dust as I kept the pistol trained on him, each step calculated to maintain as much distance as possible.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°I need to get in a decisive shot,¡± I muttered under my breath, firing another shot.

    This time, the bullet nicked his leg. It wasn¡¯t much, but the stumble it caused gave me a momentary advantage.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to regret that!¡± he bellowed, lunging forward.

    he energy from his whipblades surged wildly as he swung at me, forcing me to dive to the side. The fight had gradually pushed us closer to the cliffside, the sound of the wind and distant waves adding a menacing backdrop. My shoulder hit the dirt hard, but I rolled to my feet, keeping the pistol in hand. My breathing was ragged, and my mind raced. I needed more than just the gun to survive this.

    In the distance, the faint screech of tires reached my ears, but I had no time to assess my surroundings. The crackling whipblades sliced through the air again, forcing me to focus entirely on evading. ¡®If I keep dodging, he¡¯ll just wear me down, I thought, watching his movements carefully. He assumes I can¡¯t block his attack. Maybe I can use that against him.¡¯

    This time, as the whipblade arced toward me, I didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, I summoned a shield of data, the glowing construct forming in an instant to intercept the strike. Sparks flew as the energy of his weapon clashed against the barrier. His expression twisted in surprise, and I didn¡¯t waste the opening.

    With rapid precision, I raised the pistol and fired. The shot struck true, the bullet hitting him squarely in the head. His body went limp, collapsing to the ground in a heap as his weapons fizzled out.

    I barely had a moment to breathe before the roar of an engine grew deafeningly close. The sound that had been distant now erupted through the air as an SUV burst through the brush. It barreled toward me, closing the distance faster than I could react.

    The impact hit me with brutal force, the left side of my body crumpling under the sheer power of the vehicle. Pain shot through me as I was launched backward, tumbling helplessly off the edge of the cliff.

    The world spun in a blur of wind and pain as I fell, crashing into the forest canopy below. Branches broke my fall, slowing me down but not sparing me from agony as I slammed into the ground. A sharp, searing pain erupted in my side as something pierced through me.

    The last thing I registered before darkness claimed me was the cold, unyielding ground beneath me and the distant sound of the SUV above.

    <hr>

    The driver of the SUV stepped out, brushing off the dust on his jacket as he surveyed the edge of the cliff. ¡°Woah! I actually got the target! No way she¡¯s surviving a fall like that after getting hit by a car... Well, that¡¯s a job well done.¡±

    He reached for the radio strapped to his outfit, pressing the button as he spoke. ¡°This is Wesly speaking. The target has been eliminated, mission accomplished. However, Jackson was killed during the operation.¡±

    There was a pause, a faint crackle on the other end before a cold, detached voice replied, [If he died, it was due to his own incompetence. Excellent work. All soldiers, pull out of the AO.]

    Wesly let out a breath, muttering under his breath, ¡°Harsh, but not my problem.¡± He climbed back into the SUV, turned it around, and drove away from the scene, leaving nothing but dust and the eerie quiet of the cliffside behind.

 Errands

    The country of Trizen, in the bustling continent of Tekuno, was alive with its usual energy¡ªneon signs flickering against the evening sky, the chatter of people filling the streets, and the occasional hum of electric cars filling the street. It was the first time since Tokei, Nanik, and Farthington had left that Kaelith and Cordellia ventured out from the Shadow Phoenix base. Their mission was simple: errands, including a crucial stop to secure Cordellia¡¯s forged ID.

    Kaelith glanced at the note Tokei had handed him before they parted ways. The instructions were clear, but as they stood in front of the building, doubt began to creep into his mind.

    ¡°Is this it?¡± he muttered, looking up at the structure. The building loomed over them with a stark and clean design, its facade marked with an insignia that screamed official. The polished exterior and the presence of uniformed guards gave it the unmistakable air of a government facility.

    Cordellia tilted her head, studying the place as well. ¡°It looks... official,¡± she murmured. Her mild knightly accent carried a tone of uncertainty.

    Kaelith scratched the back of his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t this too official looking for something like this¡­?¡± he thought, narrowing his eyes at the building.

    As they approached the building, a sleek holo-panel by the entrance flickered to life, displaying a set of automated instructions. Kaelith hesitated for a moment, then reached out and tapped the screen. It blinked briefly before a soft, monotone voice spoke.

    "State your purpose."

    Kaelith leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial tone. ¡°We¡¯re here for... the deluxe pro ultra premium advanced package.¡±

    The panel paused, processing the request. Then the screen shifted, displaying a map of the interior with a highlighted route in green. A faint click echoed as the doors unlocked.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Kaelith muttered, stepping back. ¡°Guess this is the right place after all.¡±

    Cordellia cast a wary glance around, her reptilian golden eyes scanning the surroundings. ¡°Let¡¯s make this quick,¡± she said, her tone firm but tinged with slight unease.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Kaelith replied, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

    The lobby was stark and modern, with polished surfaces that gleamed under bright artificial lighting. They barely had time to take it all in before a receptionist greeted them. She was a middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, her eyes briefly flicking over them before she spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be heading to the room on the far left, right over there,¡± she said, pointing down the corridor.

    Cordellia offered a polite nod and a small bow. ¡°Thank you, my lady,¡± she said, her knightly upbringing evident in her formal tone.

    Kaelith smirked faintly but said nothing as they followed the directions. The corridor was quiet, the sound of their footsteps muffled against the plush flooring. When they reached the designated room, a small plaque on the door read: Henry Yu.

    Kaelith was slightly curious. ¡®That name sounds like a foreigner¡¯s¡­¡¯

    Cordellia, however, didn¡¯t give it a second thought. Without hesitation, she reached for the handle and pushed the door open.

    Inside, the room was unexpectedly cozy compared to the sterile, official atmosphere of the rest of the building. A man sat behind a cluttered desk, his appearance unassuming¡ªmid-thirties, with neatly combed black hair and a pair of glasses perched on his nose. He wore a tailored suit but had the sleeves rolled up, giving off an air of casual professionalism.

    The nameplate on the desk confirmed it: Henry Yu.

    ¡°hello,¡± the man said, barely looking up as he tapped away at a holographic keyboard projected above his desk. ¡°You must be here for the... deluxe pro ultra premium advanced package, You¡¯re acquaintences of Nanik I presume?¡± His tone was dry, with a hint of sarcasm, as though he found the phrase amusing.

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. This guy doesn¡¯t even try to hide the shady nature of his business, he thought.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Cordellia replied in her knightly tone, undeterred. ¡°We were instructed to meet with you.¡±

    Henry finally looked up, his eyes sharp behind the glasses. He scanned them both for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get down to business.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    With a wave of his hand, the holographic interface shifted, displaying a series of forms and data entries. ¡°Who¡¯s the ID for?¡±

    ¡°Her,¡± Kaelith said, nodding toward Cordellia.

    Henry leaned forward, studying Cordellia intently. His gaze lingered on her g, and his lips curled into a faint smirk. ¡°Interesting look you¡¯ve got there. Stand out much?¡±

    Cordellia stiffened slightly but remained composed. ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon where I¡¯m from. It runs in my family.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Henry replied, unconvinced. ¡°Well, the less I know, the better.¡± He tapped a few buttons, and the hologram flickered. ¡°I can get you something that¡¯ll hold up to scrutiny. Just need a name, birthdate, and any affiliations you want me to include¡ªor exclude.¡±

    Cordellia hesitated, glancing at Kaelith. He nodded, silently urging her to proceed.

    ¡°Cordellia Pendragon,¡± she said firmly, her tone carrying a quiet dignity.

    Henry whistled softly. ¡°Fancy. Alright, Lady Pendragon. Let¡¯s make you someone else.¡±

    He started typing again, occasionally glancing at Cordellia for confirmation as he adjusted the details. Kaelith watched closely, his hand still near his sword. The process took only a few minutes before Henry handed over a sleek black card with Cordellia¡¯s new information.

    ¡°There you go. As far as anyone¡¯s concerned, you¡¯re now ¡®Cora Penwright.¡¯ Keep it safe, don¡¯t flaunt it, and, uh, don¡¯t get caught doing anything too illegal.¡±

    Cordellia took the card and gave a polite bow. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Yu.¡±

    Henry waved her off. ¡°Yeah, yeah. You¡¯ve got the ID, I¡¯ve got my payment. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have other... premium clients to attend to.¡±

    As they left the room, Kaelith exhaled a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. ¡°That guy was... something.¡±

    Cordellia tucked the card into her pocket, her posture straight and composed. ¡°I believe he was quite helpful.¡±

    Kaelith shook his head, muttering, ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here before anything else happens.¡±

    The two exited the building, blending back into the bustling streets of Trizen, with the first errand out of the way it was time to grab some groceries and then head back.

    While we walked to our next destination we passed through a park, in which Cordellia seemed to see some thing and randomly ran off.

    ¡°Hey wait! Where are you going. If anything happens while she¡¯s gone, Tokei will be furious!¡±

    In an attempt to catch up with her, I also ran the same way and eventually caught up to her. She was near a woman who was crying.

    ¡°My daughter! Where did she go!¡± the woman wailed.

    ¡°Compose yourself madam, do not take fright, for me and my companion here will aid you in finding your daughter.¡± turning to me Cordellia looked extremely serious.

    I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Cordellia, you can¡¯t just run off like that. Do you have any idea how¡ª"

    She cut me off with a sharp look, her golden eyes burning with resolve. ¡°This is a matter of grave importance. A child could be in danger, Kaelith.¡±

    I groaned, knowing there was no talking her out of it. ¡°Fine, but next time, warn me before you bolt.¡±

    Cordellia turned back to the distraught woman. ¡°Can you tell us what your daughter looks like and where you last saw her?¡±

    The woman sniffled and tried to compose herself, though her voice still trembled. ¡°Her name is Lily. She¡¯s six years old, with short blonde hair and a blue dress. I... I lost sight of her near the fountain in the middle of the park.¡±

    Cordellia nodded firmly. ¡°Understood. Stay here, madam. We¡¯ll find her.¡±

    Turning back to me, Cordellia gestured to the opposite end of the park. ¡°You take the eastern side. I¡¯ll search the west. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± I muttered, already moving.

    The park¡¯s lively atmosphere felt almost suffocating as I weaved through the crowd, scanning every corner and face for any sign of Lily. Families picnicked, children played tag, and joggers passed by. I approached the fountain where Lily¡¯s mother said she¡¯d last seen her, but there was no sign of the girl.

    ¡°Lily?¡± I called out, my voice barely carrying over the noise.

    No response. I sighed and kept moving, my frustration mounting. I passed under a canopy of trees where the park grew quieter, the chatter of the crowd fading into the background. My eyes darted to every shaded nook, every bench, hoping for a clue.

    As I ventured further east, the landscape began to change. The neatly maintained paths gave way to rougher terrain, and fewer people were around. A fence marked the park¡¯s boundary, beyond which lay a sprawling industrial area. The towering warehouses cast long shadows, their dull, metallic walls a stark contrast to the greenery behind me.

    A faint glint caught my eye near the fence. As I moved closer, I noticed a section of the chain-link gate had been forced open, its jagged edges leaving a gap just wide enough for a child to crawl through. Caught on one of the sharp wires was a tattered piece of blue fabric, fluttering weakly in the breeze.

    My stomach sank. ¡°That¡¯s not good...¡±

    I crouched by the opening, inspecting the area. The dirt showed faint scuff marks, as if small feet had passed through recently. The sight made my chest tighten.

    Pulling out my phone, I quickly dialed Cordellia. Before she left, Tokei had given her a phone in her typical style¡ªcarefully prepared and left in a box with a note. After a few rings, the call connected.

    ¡°Cordellia, I found something near a warehouse-like building. There¡¯s an opening in the fence, and it looks like Lily might¡¯ve gone through.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯m on my way,¡± Cordellia said, her tone steady before disconnecting the call.

    Just as I put the phone away, I thought I heard a faint sound¡ªa muffled cry? I froze, straining to hear, but the sound didn¡¯t come again.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, glancing back toward the park. If Lily was in there, I couldn¡¯t waste time waiting for Cordellia to arrive.

    I slipped through the gap in the fence, the jagged metal scraping against my jacket. My hand instinctively went to where the hilt of my sword should have been, only to grasp at nothing. Of course¡ªit wasn¡¯t with me. Who in their right mind would bring a sword on a simple grocery run?

    Clenching my fists, I moved cautiously toward the warehouse, every step filled with tension.

 Errands 2

    Entering the building, I was immediately struck by how dim it was inside. The air was thick with the musty scent of neglect, and the faint creak of the floor beneath my feet echoed in the quiet space. The further I moved, the more the light from outside dimmed, swallowed by the shadows of the warehouse.

    Then I heard it¡ªa soft, muffled weeping coming from up ahead. The sound sent somewhat of  a chill down my spine.

    I froze, straining my ears to pinpoint the source. The crying was faint but unmistakable, its fragile tone carrying through the stillness like a plea. My instincts screamed at me to proceed cautiously.

    Sliding my phone from my pocket, I switched on its flashlight, the small beam cutting through the darkness. The narrow cone of light flickered across rusted metal shelves and scattered debris, painting eerie shadows on the walls, all of this caused me to tighten my grip on the phone.

    ¡°Lily?¡± I called softly, my voice barely above a whisper. The weeping continued, unbroken, and the sound tugged at my nerves. I moved closer, every step slow and deliberate, my senses on high alert.

    The crying seemed to be coming from deeper inside. Taking a steadying breath, I pressed forward, hoping I wasn¡¯t too late.

    Eventually, I turned a corner in the darkness, my flashlight revealing a small figure slumped against the wall. The faint sound of weeping grew clearer, and my heart sank as the light illuminated the source¡ªa little girl, sitting on the cold, dusty floor with her knees pulled to her chest.

    Her small frame trembled with each quiet sob, her face buried in her arms. Her clothes were smudged with dirt, and her hair hung in disheveled strands over her shoulders.

    ¡°Lily?¡± I asked softly, not wanting to startle her.

    The girl flinched at the sound of my voice, her head jerking up to reveal tear-streaked cheeks and wide, fearful eyes. For a moment, she didn¡¯t say anything, just stared at me like a frightened animal cornered in the dark.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said gently, lowering myself to one knee to appear less intimidating. ¡°Your mom sent me to find you. She¡¯s really worried about you.¡±

    Her lip quivered, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I¡­ I got lost,¡± she whimpered. ¡°I was trying to... but they...¡± Her voice broke off, and she clutched her knees tighter.

    I glanced over my shoulder, my nerves on edge. Whoever ¡°they¡± were, I had a bad feeling I¡¯d find out soon enough.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get ya out of here,¡± I said, extending a hand toward her. ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡±

    As I helped her to her feet, she clung to my hand with a surprising amount of strength for someone so small. I gave her a reassuring smile, trying to ease the tension I felt creeping up my spine.

    ¡°What were you doing here?¡± I asked gently.

    ¡°I-I was following a doggy.¡±

    ¡°So, you were following a doggy, huh?¡± I asked gently as we began retracing my steps. Her small hand gripped mine tightly, her tiny footsteps matching my own as we made our way toward the warehouse exit.

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± she sniffled, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. ¡°It was all alone, and it looked like it needed help... So I wanted to help it.¡± Her voice was small but determined, a child¡¯s innocent reasoning wrapped in a world that had suddenly become much too big and frightening.

    I smiled softly, trying to keep the situation light despite the growing unease in my gut. ¡°I¡¯m sure you would¡¯ve helped that doggy, but you should always stay close to your mom, okay?¡±

    She nodded eagerly, her eyes still wide with fear but starting to look a little calmer now that I was with her. ¡°Okay~!¡± she said with a little nod, her voice almost singing as if she had made a promise to herself.

    It was faint but I began to hear a growling coming from ahead. I flicked on my phone¡¯s flashlight and aimed it toward the source of the sound. The beam of light cut through the darkness, illuminating a creature that could only be described as otherworldly.

    Standing before us was a quadrupedal, translucent, canine-like entity. Its form shimmered unnaturally, pulsating with writhing blue veins that glowed faintly like liquid lightning beneath its semi-transparent surface. Its eyes were pits of pure darkness, an unsettling void that seemed to pierce through me as it stared, unblinking.

    Instinctively, I stepped in front of the girl, pulling her behind me. ¡°Stay close,¡± I tried to whisper, but the sound didn¡¯t come out. My lips moved, but there was no noise¡ªnot even the faintest breath. A chilling realization dawned on me: the warehouse was deathly silent, as though every sound had been consumed.

    My heart raced as my mind struggled to piece together what I was facing. Was this a roaming monster? Some rogue experiment? Whatever it was, it felt alien and predatory. The creature shifted, taking a slow, deliberate step backward, its form vanishing from the beam of the flashlight as it retreated into the shadows. A deep, guttural growl reverberated through the space¡ªan impossibility in the absence of sound¡ªand the vibrations sent a jolt through my chest like a distant thunderclap.

    I tightened my grip on the flashlight, frantically scanning the area. The light played over discarded crates, broken machinery, and debris scattered haphazardly across the warehouse floor. The creature was nowhere in sight.

    I glanced down at the girl, her wide eyes brimming with fear. She clung tightly to my hand, trembling but silent.

    I took a deep breath, my free hand gripping the flashlight tighter. "We¡¯re going to move, but slowly," I mouthed. My legs felt like lead as I turned toward the nearest exit, guiding her along while keeping the beam of light sweeping the shadows in wide arcs. Every step felt like a gamble, every creak of the floor like a trigger for whatever this thing was.

    Then, in the corner of my vision, the light caught a flicker of movement¡ªthe veins, glowing faintly, betrayed its position. My breath hitched. It was circling us.

 errands 3

    With the creature¡¯s faintly glowing veins pulsing in the shadows, I had no time to think. Instinct took over. I raised my free hand, channeling the raw energy that had become second nature after years of training. A bolt of crackling electricity arced from my fingertips, illuminating the darkness as it shot toward the movement.

    The blast struck true, and the creature froze mid-motion, its translucent body flickering as though destabilized by the sudden surge of energy. The glow of its veins dimmed for a split second before it vanished into the shadows again. The oppressive silence remained, but I could feel its presence lingering, circling, waiting for an opening.

    I shifted my stance, placing the girl behind me once more.. My pulse thundered in my ears as I scanned the darkness, searching for any sign of the creature.

    Suddenly, a shadow lunged from the corner of my vision. My body tensed as I braced for impact, but before the creature could reach me, a radiant light cut through the gloom like a blade.

    "Step back, Kaelith!"

    Cordellia¡¯s voice rang out, clear and commanding, cutting through the eerie silence. My eyes widened as I turned to see her standing in the doorway, her hand outstretched. In a blinding flash, a brilliant sword of light materialized in her grasp. The energy surrounding it shimmered, and as she channeled her mana, the sword became fully corporeal, its radiance casting away every shadow in the warehouse.

    The creature screeched¡ªa soundless, jarring vibration that echoed in my chest¡ªand scrambled backward, now completely exposed under the blazing light. Its translucent form was fully visible, the glowing blue veins writhing erratically as if in pain.

    Cordellia stepped forward, her sword of light glowing brighter, her determined eyes fixed on the creature. "Stay behind me, both of you," she ordered firmly.

    The girl clung tightly to my side as I pulled us back, giving Cordellia the space she needed. The creature, now fully illuminated by her blade, thrashed wildly, its translucent body shimmering like a mirage. It darted erratically, slamming into crates and walls in a desperate attempt to escape the radiant light.

    Cordellia advanced cautiously, her glowing blade pushing the monster back into a corner. Its translucent form shimmered erratically, as though struggling to maintain its corporeal state. Suddenly, it turned and lunged, moving with a burst of speed that defied expectation.

    Cordellia reacted instantly, sidestepping the attack. Her blade whistled through the air, narrowly missing the creature as it bolted past. "It¡¯s fast," she muttered, repositioning herself, her stance low and ready.

    The creature darted into the shadows, blending seamlessly into the dim edges of the warehouse. Cordellia pivoted, her sword casting sharp beams of light across the walls as she scanned the area. A faint, low hum¡ªthe only sound in the otherwise silent space¡ªbetrayed its location.

    Cordellia¡¯s eyes locked onto the source of the noise. Grabbing a nearby metal pipe with her free hand, she hurled it toward the sound. The pipe clanged against a stack of crates, and the startled creature bolted from its hiding spot.

    Without hesitation, Cordellia spun, her blade slicing downward in a brilliant arc. The strike grazed the creature¡¯s side, sending a flash of radiant light through the room. The monster recoiled, its semi-transparent body flickering like a disrupted hologram. It slammed into a nearby support beam, shaking the structure and sending debris raining down.

    Cordellia pressed her advantage, channeling more mana into her sword. The blade¡¯s brilliance intensified, its light scattering in chaotic beams that momentarily disoriented the creature. She surged forward, aiming directly for its core with unrelenting precision.

    The creature recovered faster than expected, solidifying an appendage in the light to swipe at her. Cordellia brought her blade up just in time to block, but the impact was jarring, sending her skidding backward across the concrete floor.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Her sharp eyes darted around the space, quickly taking in her surroundings. Her gaze settled on a dangling chain above the creature. A plan formed instantly.

    Circling the monster, Cordellia baited it with feints, forcing it into position beneath the chain. The creature lunged again, but she ducked low, sliding across the ground as her glowing blade severed the chain.

    The chain snapped free, swinging down with brutal force and smashing into the creature. The impact pinned it to the ground momentarily, its thrashing form trapped beneath the heavy links.

    Cordellia didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. She stepped forward, raising her sword to a high guard. The blade blazed like a miniature sun, its brilliance flooding the warehouse with dazzling light.

    The creature let out a silent shriek as it broke free, but Cordellia was already in motion. She swung her sword in a powerful, precise arc, the radiant edge cutting cleanly through the creature¡¯s core.

    The resulting burst of light consumed the room, scattering the creature¡¯s form into a cascade of shimmering particles that dissolved into the air. The oppressive silence lifted, replaced by the faint hum of normalcy.

    Cordellia lowered her weapon, her chest rising and falling with deep, measured breaths. She turned back to us, her expression steady despite the strain etched on her face. "It¡¯s gone," she said calmly.

    The little girl stared at her with wide, awe-filled eyes. "You were amazing! Thank you for saving me, lady."

    Cordellia¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile as she dusted off her jacket. "Let¡¯s get you back to your mom," she said, her voice gentle but resolute.

    While Cordellia was gently talking to Lilly, reassuring the little girl, I found my attention drawn to the place where the creature had disintegrated. Something was there¡ªa deep black orb, unnervingly out of place amidst the debris. It pulsed faintly, its surface absorbing the surrounding light like a void.

    Cautiously, I reached toward it, my curiosity warring with an instinctive sense of dread. The moment my fingers neared the orb, a sharp, bone-chilling cold radiated from it. Reflexively, I pulled my hand back, the sensation like frost creeping over my skin.

    Before I could decide what to do, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the warehouse. I turned sharply, startled, as a man rushed into the area, his presence as unexpected as it was bizarre.

    He wore a slightly disheveled lab coat, its hem frayed and stained with bizarre looking substances I didn¡¯t care to guess at. His crimson-red hair was unkempt, and his piercing gaze locked onto the black orb with an unsettling intensity.

    In his hand was a mechanical device, its complex design a tangle of wires, dials, and conduits, clearly something pretty advanced. The contraption connected to a bulky apparatus strapped to his back, glowing faintly with green energy that pulsed in sync with his movements.

    "You shouldn¡¯t be here!" the man barked, his voice sharp with urgency. He advanced quickly, his free hand waving us back. "Get away from that thing!"

    Cordellia turned, stepping protectively between him and Lilly, her sword still glowing faintly in her grip. "Who are you?" she demanded, her tone firm.

    The man barely spared her a glance, his focus fixed on the orb. "No time for introductions. That is highly unstable." He knelt by the orb, the device in his hand humming to life.

    "What is it?" I asked, keeping a wary distance.

    "Residual Manifestation Core," he said tersely, adjusting a dial on his contraption. "Left behind when these... creatures are forcibly dispelled. You don¡¯t want to touch it unless you¡¯re keen on having a bad day."

    Cordellia¡¯s grip on her sword tightened. "And you¡¯re here because...?"

    I¡¯m containing it before it causes more problems," he snapped, his device emitting a soft whir as small mechanical arms extended from it. The arms carefully clasped the orb and lifted it with precise, deliberate movements, carrying it toward the containment unit mounted on his back.

    The orb pulsed violently for a moment, as though resisting, but the containment device emitted a low hum that seemed to stabilize it. With a faint hiss, the orb vanished into the unit, and the glow from the device dimmed to a steady, reassuring rhythm.

    The man straightened and let out a sigh of relief, wiping his brow with the back of his glove. "If I offended you earlier, I apologize," he said, turning to face us. His tone had softened considerably.

    He gave a slight bow, a formal gesture that felt somewhat at odds with his disheveled appearance. "I believe thanks and introductions are in order, considering the service you¡¯ve done me. My name is Shiruetto Kage, a researcher specializing in extraterrestrial phenomena and its uses in research and development. Pleasure to meet you."