《Amber》


 Chapter 1

    The Academie is the grand institution that harbors the most talented students in the planet, it has a long history and was known to produce countless great soldiers for the imperium of mankind. At the end of every three years, the school and its students will select a representative to be deemed the most talented and influential of its generation. Today, it''s the day when the ceremony happens. The grand hall''s wall is full of pictures that belong to students from different generations, most of them are known in this star sector due to their achievements in their respective areas.


    After about half of an hour, most of the audience were seated and the place gradually became more silent until the point when everyone could hear a needle drop on the floor. The curtain opens and it is the headmaster delivering a heartfelt speech about the school''s history and its achievements. It''s the same every time they hear it but for some reason it is still as entertaining as it is. Then came the talent show which was organized by different school clubs. There was psychic power juggling, sword fights demonstration and some of them gave a rather good choir performance.


    Finally, then comes the student of the generation. When the person finally stepped on the stage, everyone couldn''t help but let out a gasp: "Another Terra?" "What is this? I bet this is rigged." "I bet their family paid a fortune to send that girl on the stage." "What is her name again? I''ve seen her before, she single handedly beat the entire club of students i heard." "I think her name was¡­ Mina? Mika ? Oh wait I got it, Minka¡­..Minka Terra."


    Minka slightly adjusts the microphone, so it makes an irritating noise to control the scene. When the crowd finally settled down, she cleared her throat: "Ahem. Good evening, before i start I''d like to thank you all for attending this event, this was the first student console organized ceremony so i''d like to give a shout out to them for their hard work." Minka then slightly adjusted her bangs: " The Academie has always raised the best students for the Astra militarum, and because of this we could vanquish the evil that almost broke our planet decades ago, it is my honor to be able to study in here and finally achieve the highest possible achievement in this school. For that, I am thankful to my teachers, my classmates and of course¡­ my parents¡­ who are¡­ at the front row waving at me¡­" The crowd chucked a bit and Minka''s face turned a bit red but it was not noticeable from below the stage: "When I heard that I was selected as the student of the generation, I felt nervous at the start. But when I gaze into the eyes of the classmates around me, I feel like maybe it is for mine to take because i present the whole generation of students. Thank you¡­. I will not fail you and I will continue to serve the emperor and his million worlds. The emperor protects."


    "The emperor protects." The crowd echos.


    When the ceremony is finished, Minka sits backstage and looks into the mirror and adjusts her long wavy hair. But then she heard a small crack noise from the door: "Come in, you don''t have to be sneaky about it¡­" Minka thought is another one of those people coming over to either harass her or trying to connect with her. She stops what she was doing... And stares towards the door... Ready to either throw a punch or to welcome them with an open arm... Depending on who was behind the door.


    The door opens and a girl wearing a primary school uniform nervously comes in: "Hi...sis."


    "Emilia? What are you doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be staying with mom and dad?" Minka frowns and fakes an angry face.


    "I am sorry, but you were just too cool! I want to be like you in the future!" Emilia''s face is peach red, either she''s too excited or she''s nervous that her sister is going to punish her.


    Minka leans forward and pats Emilia''s head: "Emi, you will, I believe in you. Also, why are you holding a pen and a... notebook which doesn''t belong to you?"


    Emilia is wordless, but soon she gathered her courage: "My...my friend Jim wanted a signature from you¡­ so¡­" She puts both of her hands on the back and turns her face away.


    Minka grins and takes a deep breath, she then gives Emilia the student console badge that belongs to her: "Since I will have no need for this, why don''t you give this to your friend?"


    Emilia''s eyes are glittering: " Thanks sis!" She then tries to run out, but Minka grabs her by the arm.


    "Emilia, go straight back to mom and dad alright? I will be out in a few minutes. Don''t look around aimlessly." The last few words were emphasized by Minka then winking at her little sister, Then Emilia running out like she''s just learned how to walk.


    Minka changed into a more casual set of clothes and headed outside of the school. Minka sees her parents and Emilia is discussing and giggling, maybe Minka is nice to her little sister, but she has a completely different attitude towards to her parents, she sees her dad is some kind of shady weirdo that brings money without even going out working for a single day and her mom is a hug freak.


    They wave violently across the street and Minka just slightly facepalms and shakes her head: "You can''t choose your parents, Minka¡­ just get along with them..." she told herself: "Hi guys¡­" She doesn''t sound very enthusiastic.


    "Minka, that was amazing!" Her dad hugs Minka tightly, and her mom hugs them from the back as well. Soon little Emilia joined in as well.


    "Alright¡­ stop it.. I am exhausted, let''s just go home." Minka shakes them off and opens the backseat car door.


    In the car Minka is rather silent and her sister is leaning on her shoulder sleeping, she''s already used to the talks her parents usually have "Oh Traz my dear, why don''t we visit the newly opened cheese store across the town? I heard they have a fantastic selection of cheese." "Definitely, Monika my love. I also wanted to visit that area since the antique store is getting more collections from the phyrexian war period."


    Minka to be honest is a bit mad, when she asked her parents about the phyrexian war, they told her that they were just common people who lived in the city so if they have to be perfectly honest, they just let the war pass and didn''t do anything about it. Her aunt Nova, however, was a military legend, even though they have a good relationship, but she is still an aunt instead of her parents. She''s a bit jealous of that Leanna kid who has a legend as her mother.


    "Minka my dear, did something happen?" Trazyn asks while driving the car: "You don''t seem happy about what you''ve achieved."


    "No... it''s not about that¡­ just... Never mind." Minka is in no mood yelling at her parents.


    "Don''t worry about being excited, Minka." Monika reassures: "Me and daddy got some really nice tea, it will surely calm your nerves."


    Minka can never get mad at her mom, she''s just too nice, because of this Minka swore that she will not become a person like that, because she hates it. But when talking to Monika, Minka is rather nice: "Thanks mom, let''s have it together after I finish my bath."


    "Sure, sweety. By the way, what do you want to do after you graduated from Academie?" Monika asks. Her tone is still as nice as ever.


    "Probably joining the army. I want to be like aunt Nova." Minka replied.


    "That sounds¡­ wonderful sweetie." Monika sounds like something chocked her throat.


    Minka however didn''t notice the little change of expression of Monika from the driving mirror of the car.


    Minka then jumped into the shower when they arrived. After taking a shower, When Minka was about to leave the bathroom, she could hear a faint noise of arguing from downstairs. "We can''t let it happen again¡­" "We can''t just control her and tell her what to do." This is strange, because for Minka, her mom and dad are always lovely dovely with each other, she had never heard them arguing about anything. Minka then lays on the ground and sticks her ear to the floor.


    "Honey¡­ we should respect her choice¡­ she''s the best of the best!"


    "It doesn''t matter! It''s just that she has so many other choices. I don''t want her to join the army." Monika sounded really serious.


    "Monika, honey. Remember our goal is to make sure our children live a life that they will not regret, our job is to provide a safety net in case anything bad falls upon them."


    "Minka is going to join the army and it''s tragic all over again, I will not let this happen. Ever."


    "Honey..." Trazyn let out a sigh: "Fine... let''s go talk to her."


    When they arrived at Minka''s room, they found out that she had already gone to sleep. But in reality Minka is just hiding under the blanket and is really mad at these two for seemingly hiding something extremely important from her. After waiting for those two to go to bed, Minka got up and started looking for clues about what happened to the past. She was always suspicious of her parents for the story of the past that they told her. Even though everything they said is all true but there''s always something disconnected between each story in the chain of logic. Also, it doesn''t help that she saw that her mom could lift a car sideways with her bare hand while fixing something with Trazyn. Minka also learned that Trazyn this name is used by a necron overlord, but she thought this is always more of a coincidence than anything else.


    "Sis?" Emilia saw Minka standing in the living room while pausing to think: "What are you doing?"


    "What are you doing? Don''t you have school tomorrow?" Minka just realized she is also under dressed as well.


    "Yea... but i want to go to the toilet...i am scared to go alone..."


    Minka let out a grin on her face and takes Emilia''s hand and waits outside until she''s finished. While waiting Minka is lost in her thoughts again. But until she escorts her sister back to her room, Minka is still not able to make sense about what had happened in the past. She thought about talking to Leanna, but Minka could already imagine the taunting look on her face. She will probably say something like: ''My my, aren''t you a curious one? How about this, i will tell you everything, if you lick my feet.'' Just the idea of thinking about this brought a shiver in Minka''s spine.


    Minka lay on the bed and fell asleep eventually. In her dream, Minka saw a new planet approaching them, but when she wanted to know more about it. Monika woke her up because it was time for them to go out and have a little run outside.


    Minka clearly looked really tired, but she still washed herself and put on her sports gear. She never understood how her mom could always be so enthusiastic to exercise with her instead of dragging her lazy husband from the bed. While stretching Monika asks Minka how she feels to continue studying and become an inquisitor in the future or a researcher.


    "No thanks mom, i want to join the army like you and Aunt Nova." Minka replied with a blank tone while avoiding her mother''s gaze.


    "Minka..." Monika clearly wanted to say something but before she could, Minka had already started running on the track. Monika paced herself easily to reach her but clearly both of them had a uneasy expression on her face. "Oh dear..."As Monika then goes closer towards Minka: "Minka... I will always... Support you... In whatever path you chose...But." with a subtle sigh: "But... Are you sure you... Don''t want to study and tries to be a researcher?"


    "I don''t want to be a researcher mom." Minka clearly sounded a bit impatient.


    "But...Are you aware... How dangerous is joining the army...? A-Are you sure you don''t want to choose another career path?" Monika says this in a worried tone.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Minka frowns: "Mom! Stop saying these kinds of things! You are in there and you''re fine. Why should i face any dangerous situation?!"


    "But... You never know what might happen in the war front...It can get... Pretty deadly sometimes...I... I''ve had friends who... Did not come back...A-Are you sure about this?... You''re willing to risk your life...?"As Monika says this... A few tears drop from her eyes.


    "Mom..." Minka''s heart dropped because she sees her mom start dropping tears in her eyes: "Please stop crying..."Minka looks away, but she is still firm about what she believes in.


    "I... I am sorry...I just... Don''t want you to come back home... Covered in all these cuts... B-Bruises... S-Scars... And i don''t want you to come home in an... Ambulance... Or... In a coffin... I don''t want you to come home in a box..."Tears start flowing down even more... As Monika''s words can only come out in a shaky and sadden tone.


    Minka came over and hugged Monika: "Mom... i am so sorry... i.." Minka gulps: "Let''s continue running more laps..."


    After a few more laps, Minka is panting hard while Monika barely got any sweat on her forehead. But both of them seemed to be more open to each other''s opinion: "Look... Minky, in the army people are really mean... and especially for a girl like you, you will have a really hard time."


    "Girl like me ?! What is that supposed to mean?" Minka sounded really annoyed.


    "You have a strong personality and attitude... I don''t want you to get bullied or something."


    "They dare? I will fuck them up!"


    "Minka!" Monika raised her voice: "This is exactly why i don''t want you to be there, before you can control your temper i am not allowing you!"


    "Or is because you and dad have something to hide from me!" Minka finally had enough: "Why do you and dad refuse to tell me what happened before i was born? You two are always trying to hide something from me."


    "We... we are not hiding anything." Monika replied while sounding really lack of confidence.


    After hearing this, Minka took a long deep breath while frowning, it is clear that something is not showing but she doesn''t want to hurt her mom''s feeling: "If you say so mom..."


    "Minka... if you really don''t want to..."


    "I''m fine mom..." Just like her mother, Minka is also very bad at hiding her real feelings from her appearance.


    When they got home, Trazyn was already out sending Emilia to school. Minka sits in front of her desk and pulls out a chart she had been working on. It is a logic relation graph of everything that she knows about the phyrexian war. If an expert sees the details of it, they would be amazed by the accuracy and how organized it is. Maybe Minka does have a talent of being a researcher or work in the field of academic.


    "So... the phyrexian event appeared roughly...two decades ago and stopped advancing five years after the appearance..." She mumbles to herself: "But based on the documents i could find that it is a corrupting entity that should never be able to fully eradicated... but it did stop...Many reports of distortion event in people, objects or a place as if frozen in time have been discovered after the eradication... hmm... maybe those anomalies aren''t related as well..."Minka pulls her hair. With the lack of field information, Minka cannot make sense of any of that information. Suddenly Monika knocks on the door.


    "Hey Minky!"While knocking down on Minka''s room door: "May i come in?"


    Minka quickly hides away her stuff and cleared her throat: "Sure, come in."


    "So... What do you have there Minky? "As Monika says this... She is actually curious about what Minka was doing in her room... Monika''s curiosity builds up due to the slight redness on Minka''s face.


    "Nothing much really... I was just reading some books, that''s all." Minka avoids Monika''s kind gaze: "But... Can you tell me about the time when you were in the army? I want to know more about them."


    "Oh really? I am actually really glad you were asking such a question! I would actually love to tell you about my time in the army. After Monika says this... She sits on Minka''s bed: "So Minka. Tell me... What do you want to hear about my time in the army?"


    "How about your first mission?" Minka asks.


    "My first mission? Well... That one is a pretty interesting one... Our platoon was assigned on a mission to investigate a strange and unknown structure on the planet... And this structure looks to be some sort of alien origin. So, the platoon decided to investigate the inside of the structure to see what kind of alien we were dealing with...So we explored some parts of the structure... But when we went to the lower parts of the structure, we have encountered a strange but lethal xeno force...We have fought them off... But two of my members... Got killed...One died in front of my eyes...His chest was bleeding so much...I-I-I... I... I watched him die... As he tried to resist death...Before he finally died in my arms...what a terrible sight that was..." Monika let out a sigh.


    "Mom... sorry that i brough up some bad memories..." Minka apologized.


    Monika kindly pats Minka''s head: "It''s fine Minky, it happened a while ago... Seeing you wanting to do more for the world is honestly inspiring. If you really want to join the army... mom and dad will support you!"


    "Really?! You really meant it?!" Minka''s eyes are sparking with excitement.


    "Yes! Since when has mom ever lied to you?"


    Minka couldn''t be happier and hugged Monika tightly and almost having tears out.


    On the second day, Minka left home with some documents, she was ready to head out to the recruitment center.


    "Hi... My name is Minka Terra... I am applying to the miltarium bootcamp program." While staring at the personnel officer who has a stern look on his face: "Are there any vacancies available for a student like me..."


    "Ahhh yes... Yes Miss Terra." The man takes a deep breath: "Let me check my list... Oh! Your application has been approved by our admiral himself... I''m sure that they have high expectations from you...And... impressive, you''re the student of the generation? Well can''t say that is something we see every day."


    Minka felt happy hearing those words from the staff: "So... can we start the process?" She asks eagerly as her eyes glistening.


    "Of course, miss. There are several tests ahead of us but don''t worry; once you finish all these tests then your admission to the militarum will be granted straight away." He then gives a small list to Minka: "Please read the items carefully before signing your signature."


    "No need." Minka puts down her signature right away: "Let''s begin the test."


    The admission office took a deep breath: "Alright, i like your spirit. Please head to the line next to the tent." He points at the nearby structures.


    Minka heads into the building, while the lines is filled with other people, she just stands in front without knowing what kind of test it is. As she continued standing in the waiting room, suddenly a girl stood next to her: "Huh, isn''t this wonderful. I thought this place would have lesser people."


    At first Minka ignored her because she thought this person was talking to someone else, but soon a sentence made her turn around: "You know, as a Terra you''re awfully less disciplined."


    Minka turned and she stares at this girl who is exactly the same height as her and has a green messy ponytail hair and a pair of piercing purple eyes. She scans this person up and down who dresses so... rebellious if she has to say it that way: "How do you know my name?"


    "I saw your name on the application sweetie." The girl had a smirk on her face: "Now come on, it''s almost your turn to enter."


    Minka gives this girl a dirty look then is headed into the test area. A man came out from an open door and called Minka to enter, the first round is written test about basic Xeno information and various common sense. As expected Minka finished it flawlessly. She went out to the second area waiting for the second test.


    That girl appeared again and walking straight towards to Minka while smirking: "well well well, i guess you''re not all brawn no brain like the rest of the Terras."


    "Alright." Minka stood up: "What is your problem? Who the hell are you?" Minka''s gaze is cold and deadly, but the opponent seems to be unaffected by it.


    The girl laughed loudly: "Why don''t we introduce ourselves first...My name is Viola Laureate. You can call me Viola. I am like you, i was also a student."


    Minka nodded. "Minka Terra." She crosses her arms: "Now, why do you keep harassing me?"


    "Well because there are a lot of people here with big dreams, lots of them really want to join the army! But some of them will fail because they''re lacking in certain skills...You have what it takes!" Viola has a devilish grin on her face.


    "You did not answer the question." Minka''s tone is getting colder.


    Viola looks at her, her eyes gleaming: "I just think you could use some more friends, since you seem to be lacking that kind."


    "What do you mean?"


    Viola chuckles: "I mean who comes to the recruitment center alone? They are all accompanied by their friends and family. Well, we are the same in this part. So... can we be friends?" Her hand reaches out to shake with Minka as if nothing had happened between them.


    Minka frowned and didn''t take Viola''s hand. She sits down and closes her eyes, trying to calm her nerves and hopes that Viola will just leave because clearly Minka is ignoring her.


    But Viola did not feel like this was the case. She sits next to Minka and starts a one direction conversation with Minka. "Oh well! It must be nice having such supportive parents. You know my dad once said that i should go to military school instead of going to university..." Viola starts talking about her life. Suddenly, the bell that tells them to go to the next test rang. In Minka''s ears it is like the bell of the savior.


    Minka stepped in, the area was rather empty, and a blond girl stepped in: "Alright... I am lieut-" She suddenly paused and looked up again: "Wait, Minka?"


    "Aunt Noel?!" Minka is also very surprised.


    "Oh My god! I thought i was mistaken but it was really you!" Noel hugs Minka happily: "Well, we are supposed to give a test of your strength or physical condition... I guess we can just spar to see the how good you''ve got."


    Minka drops her bag and warms up: "Well... say no more."


    Noel quickly pulled out two swords and tossed them at Minka while holding another sword herself. Both girls stood opposite each other and waited for their opponent to make their move. As soon as the sound of the ringing startles both girls; they begin their battle. They immediately closed in on one another with their blades held high. Their eyes were filled with determination, their muscles tense as their bodies leaned forward towards one another with lightning speed, trying to touch their opponent''s bodies with the sword. They charge full force into one another, then after a momentary pause they change direction mid-way through by a split second. The sudden change made Noel lose her balance, making her drop her sword down.


    "How..." Noel gulps and looks at Minka: "You''re really like Moni aren''t you?..."


    Minka took that as a compliment and gives back the sword to Noel: "Well thanks~ Now what is the next test?"


    "Shooting range but i think you''ll be fine." Noel clearly doesn''t take lightly of the defeat, but it''s your best friend''s daughter here. Decide to let it go.


    The shooting range was pretty much just a long line of bunkers set in a row. A man dressed in black came walking over to them. He was carrying an auto gun. His hair was shaved in the sides while his hair was combed straight up in front. Minka honestly wanted to say something about the hair style, but she realized that Viola scooched next to her by cutting the line: "Hey there, it seems like you passed the test as well."


    "That obvious." Minka mocks her.


    Viola smiled and pulled out her sidearm: "Well this is for target practice; we have these guns because we can only get live targets at our academy, so we use replicas when we are not training with real weapons."


    "Can you not show your sidearm while we are not in the practice range?" Minka is really paranoid when people are showing their weapons in places they shouldn''t be showing.


    Viola holds up her gun with a smile on her face before putting it away. Then she started looking through the weapon racks: "Oh! I love the sniper rifle... Can i try one of those?"


    "Candidates! Attention!" The man shouts towards these two.


    Both girls immediately stand at attention as instructed and listen carefully to what the man had to say.


    "We will begin our tests now and we would like all candidates to pick which weapon they want to test." He pointed to the rack.


    Minka stepped forward: "I''ll take the sniper rifle please."


    The man smiles: "Alright. You seem to be very interested in the sniper rifle. How about you, miss...?" He looks down at Viola.


    Viola chuckles: "I''ll rely on my pistol but there''s nothing wrong with wanting a nice sniper rifle though~ After all we all have to compensate for something." She turns back to look at Minka''s choice: "A bolt action sniper rifle sounds fun but why settle for just one? Maybe a different type of weapon or even better if it were some kind of grenade launcher."


    Minka ignored Viola completely while she looked through the various types of weapons until she found herself attracted to an old fashioned semi-automatic designated marksman rifle. She checked the chamber and then held the gun against her cheek, sighing in on her target as she heard the other girl sigh quietly next to her. It felt strange holding the gun in her hands; it''s been too long since her last time handling a gun like this. She remembers her father giving her lessons in how to hold guns properly.


    Minka gone to the range and loaded in a magazine with rounds. She squeezes the trigger and fires. The bullet shot from the rifle in a straight line. As the projectile fired, Minka quickly shifted her sights and aimed at another target further away with ease. Before she could finish her thought, someone hit a button and made the targets start moving.


    Minka frantically fired off rounds as fast as she could but still only managed to get four shots out before it was all over.


    "Well..." The man smiled at her: "Seems like you have a lot to work on."


    Minka unloads the clip and puts the items back to where it belongs: "So did i pass?"


    "You did but barely." The man replied and gave Minka a certificate: "Bring it to the sign-up place and we will inform you for your schedule."


    Minka left, she looks around and is glad that she doesn''t have to see that green haired girl ever again. Minka arrived home looking really exhausted. She didn''t realize the test took the whole afternoon. She lays on the sofa and closes her eyes. Suddenly she felt someone curled up next to her, she touched it and felt the soft silky hair. It is Emilia. She gently pats her head while relaxing her eyes.


    "Sis, I heard you are joining the army..." Emilia sounded a bit hesitant while asking.


    "Yeah... I''m pretty excited about this whole thing actually." Minka clearly is relieved that she finally gets to do the thing she always wanted to do.


    "Oh ! That''s great~!" Emilia suddenly claps with happiness.


    "Emi? What happened? Are you hiding something from me?" Minka opens her eyes and looks at her little sister.


    "No...not at all. It''s just I want to join too, I''ll go find some books so we can study together, okay?" Emilia squeezes her arms tight around her big sis, and smiles at her lovingly: "I love you Sis."


    "Well... you''re too young to join but it''s good that you have the spirit!" Minka lays her head on top of Emilia''s: "I love you too."

 Chapter 2

    Minka the next day came to the recruitment center to check for posted information. Suddenly she hears the voice that makes her skin crawl: ¡°Hey hey! Isn¡¯t this the Terra girl from yesterday?~¡± Viola points her hand on Minka¡¯s arm: ¡°Well isn¡¯t it a surprise, i found out where we will be assigned to~¡±


    ¡°We?¡± Minka realized something: ¡°No¡­no way.¡± Minka took over the information list under her name, she and viola will be assigned to the same barracks, the same room and of course right next to each other¡¯s bed: ¡°You did this?!¡±


    Viola shrugs: ¡° No, but I guess that¡¯s just fate~ we are meant to be with each other.¡±


    Minka stomps her feet and walks towards the commanding office to demand for a reassignment. The man looks over: ¡°Young miss. This is not up to you to decide where you will be.¡±


    Minka pouts, she has the option to ask her mom to reassign her to somewhere else, but she can¡¯t. Because her pride doesn¡¯t allow her to do so. Minka walked out having a blushed face due to frustration: ¡°Fuck!¡± she silently shouts.


    She then took her bag to her bed room, well of course Viola is following her like Minka¡¯s shadow: ¡°I¡¯ll take the upper bunk.¡± Before Minka even said anything she had already jumped on the bed while looking at Minka in a taunting way. Minka however just completely ignores Viola and starts making her bed.


    ¡°Hey, maybe we should be friends, you know? There¡¯s only us in this room, otherwise this place will only be a bloodbath for you~¡± Viola has a smirk on her face.


    ¡°What does that supposed to mean?¡± Minka frowns: :¡± Do you want to fight me?!¡±


    ¡°Baby girl, you can¡¯t even lift your weapon properly, what chances you¡¯ve got fighting me?~¡± Viola puts her hands under her chin while looking at Minka: ¡°Say¡­ how about you step down your high horse and be friends with a peasant like me?¡±


    ¡°I was never high born.¡± Minka then let out a sigh: ¡°But I supposed that we could be friends¡­¡± Minka extended her hand out.


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Viola shakes Minka¡¯s hand without doing anything funny: ¡°Well, nice to officially meet you too~¡±


    Minka did this just for the sake of having less problems in life, soon they are called to be at the briefing. Minka and Viola stood side by side with each other. This is the first time that Minka sees Viola didn¡¯t have some weird expression on her face. She just looked¡­ calm and serious: ¡°Minka Terra!¡± The briefing officer called her.


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Minka stepped a step forward.


    The officer threw a cigarette butt on her: ¡°Did you smoke this?¡±


    Minka frowns and looks over at Viola, she curses this girl a thousand times in her mind: ¡°No sir¡­ it wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°Then why did your roommate report it to us?¡± The officer¡¯s expression is terrifying.


    ¡°Sir¡­ I can assure you that this wasn¡¯t mine.¡± Minka still replied calmly.


    ¡°Lie!¡± Just when the officer raised his hand, a voice stopped him.


    ¡°Enough of this nonsense. We are not here to investigate a single cigarette butt.¡± A man with white hair and piercing red eyes stopped him. Minka knows this person, Kevin Terra. Her cousin: ¡°Fall back Ms.Terra. We have a more important announcement.¡±


    Minka fell back into the line while having a really pissed expression on her face. Her mind is chaotic to an extent that she didn¡¯t even hear what the briefing was about. When the meeting was over, Minka pushed Viola in the hallway with a look of distrust: ¡°Why? What did I ever do to deserve your treatment of me?!¡±


    ¡°You seriously think I would do that?¡± Viola¡¯s expression did not change: ¡°Look, I just think you¡¯re a fun person to tease at, nothing else. But I would not try to frame you for breaking a rule.¡±


    ¡°You¡­Then who would do that?¡± Minka asks.


    Viola shakes her head: ¡°I do not know. But we should be careful in this place. Others might not take light on a descendant of the Terra family.¡±


    ¡°What did the Terra name have to do with anything?!¡± Minka is still dead confused.


    ¡°Look around! The Terra family is literally the family that controls the planet! Sure, your branch of the family probably did not participate but others did.¡± Viola then points at Minka¡¯s chest: ¡°If you want to prove that you¡¯re more than just a high born then prove to everyone.¡±


    Minka looked on the ground and remained silent. Then she asked: ¡°So¡­ did you approach me because of the same reason?¡±


    ¡°Na, i¡¯m just thinking that you might be a fun person to mess with~¡± Viola touches the tip of Minka¡¯s nose with her finger.


    Minka got startled and stood back a step: ¡°Don¡¯t touch me like this!¡±


    Viola laughs: ¡°Well this is why I love to mess with ya. But hey, i¡¯ll keep an eye out for you~¡± Viola winks and is off to somewhere she needs to be.


    Minka decides to spend her free time to find out the person that framed her. One day if she can¡¯t find the person, one day she cannot be in the army in peace.


    Somewhere far away from the city, ¡°You came.¡± Trazyn talked to the person that came from behind him while placing a flower on the gravestone in front of him. He then began to clean the dust off of it.


    ¡°My lord¡­ I replied to your call the moment you-¡°


    ¡°I am not your lord anymore. So I am just asking you as a friend.¡± Trazyn stood up and pats off the dust on his jacket.


    ¡°I will do it¡­ I will make her quit¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Trazyn felt something was off: ¡°Is there something wrong? Sannet.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ my lord¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ why can¡¯t you give the freedom you gave me to your own daughter?¡± Sannet asks.


    ¡°I am doing it for my dearest. Nothing else. I don¡¯t want her to go through that pain again. You should understand right?¡± Trazyn looks at Sannet in her eyes.


    ¡°Yes my lor-. I mean I will help you Trazyn¡­¡± Sannet then turns around and leaps out of the graveyard and disappears in the city.


    Minka is walking around in the camp, she just finished her daily training and thus finally got some freetime. She managed to get a glance at the enlisted list because she was helping with supervising the platoon. She checked out some people that had absolutely no connection with her.


    Just when she was thinking, she suddenly bumped into someone a bit shorter than her. That girl has silky white hair and light blue eyes, if Sannet has to be honest she thought this person was a human sized doll. That girl glanced at Minka with a cold glare and then went off somewhere else.


    Minka is trying to search for that person in the memory but couldn¡¯t find that name. This immediately picked her interest because usually there¡¯s no way she would not miss a single person on the list when there¡¯s only ten people in this side camp. Out of suspicion Minka decided to keep an eye out for that new girl.


    ¡°Hey, Hey~¡± Viola appeared in front of Minka just when she did not want to see this person.


    ¡°What do you want¡­.?¡± Minka already sounded very impatient towards Viola.


    ¡°How was your little investigation? Did you find the person that framed you?¡± Viola leans on the wall while talking to Minka.


    Minka looks a bit down: ¡°No¡­ nothing yet¡­ all the people i can see here had literally no connection with me whatsoever¡­ except¡­¡± Minka narrows her eyes towards Viola.


    ¡°Aw~~~ you and I have a connection? That¡¯s so cute~¡± Viola hugs Minka and jumps: ¡°I also thought we have a connection~¡±


    ¡°No! I meant- Ne- never mind¡­ I actually hate you.¡± Minka is a bit flustered.


    ¡°Say, did you see that new girl? The one that looks like a collectible figure.¡± Viola hints the girl just passed through.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ she¡¯s awfully pretty as well¡­ But why didn¡¯t I remember seeing her name on the list?¡± Minka asks.


    ¡°Because she¡¯s one of the adventurers that joined the army on a special program. Honest if I can get into the guild¡­ I can make some big money.¡± Viola shakes her head out of helplessness.


    ¡°What are the guilds?¡± Minka never heard of this place before.


    Viola looks at Minka in disbelief: ¡°You, Minka Terra, never heard of adventurers guild?¡± She then smacks her lips: ¡°Well, you see. That is the place where all the low life like us go if we got some skills that could be useful for the guild. They will give us quests and we will do the quests.¡±


    ¡°So just like in video games?¡± Minka blinks a few times.


    ¡°Yea, and the fact that that girl was in that specific program means trouble for sure.¡± Viola looks as if she¡¯s having a breakdown.


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Minka is trying her hardest to follow.


    ¡°Well you see, if a seasoned adventure is here. What are the chances that I will be selected for the special forces? How will I ever make big money if that hotshot exists¡­ We need to do something.¡± Viola got some ideas already: ¡°Maybe we can fill her locker with bees or something.¡±


    ¡°Or we can just go and talk to her like a sane person?¡± Minka is about to find that white haired girl but gets pulled away by Viola.


    ¡°Look, I know you think of me as some sketchy individual that clearly is constantly hitting on you. But trust me, we have to do something but become friends with that person. That white haired girl clearly is here for something¡­ before we know what she is up to. Our safest bet is to observe and protect ourselves. Sounds good?¡± Viola looks at Minka with a serious look. Which is pretty rare for Viola


    ¡°Fine, we will do it your way. If we found out she is not what you think of her, i will try and probably talk to her to maybe collaborate. Is that a deal?¡± Minka stares back.


    ¡°Collaborate¡­. You mean being a suck up? That, I am not very good at.¡± Viola taunts but Minka just ignores these comments.


    ¡°So¡­ what are your plans?¡± Minka asks.


    Viola has a smirk on her face: ¡°It¡¯s simple, we corner her and beat her to submission.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem very¡­ civil.¡± Minka doubts.


    ¡°Well, what other plans you¡¯ve got, princess?¡± Viola looked at Minka with a clearly annoyed expression: ¡°Oh yes i know, you are sooo educated and smart. What is your plan to let her to know her place?¡±


    ¡°Like I said¡­ maybe we should just talk?¡±


    ¡°Talk? We are way past the talking point.¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t even talked to her yet, how will you know what her intentions are if you don¡¯t even interact?¡±


    Viola suddenly slaps Minka on her face: ¡°Did you see that coming?¡±


    ¡°YOU SLAPPED ME?!¡± Minka is about to hit VIola for revenge.


    ¡°You see? If we do it nicely, she will do this to us! But with a knife!¡± Viola seems to have a pessimistic view of human interaction


    For a moment Minka has no comebacks for this, she pauses and tries her best to calm down: ¡°So¡­ we should just lure her in the toilet and beat the crap out of her?¡± Minka cannot believe she is thinking of doing this.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Minky. We strike first, she will know her place!¡± Viola has the confident smugness on her face: ¡°So¡­ you in?¡±


    ¡°Just a question, what happens if she beats the crap out of us? You said it, she¡¯s from the adventures guild where people are quite experienced with fighting.¡± Minka is still in shock that she had agreed to this insane plan.


    ¡°How good are you at fighting?¡±


    ¡°I know a bit about self defense. This is why I am joining the army to sharpen my skills. How good are yours?¡±


    ¡°Did you see my slap coming?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, this is how we will deal with her. When I knock her out, you grab her legs and make sure that she can¡¯t move so I can beat the crap out of her.¡± Viola smiles: ¡°Sounds good?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Minka at this point has no idea what to do, compared to Viola, Minka is very inexperienced with how the society works and of course easily manipulated: ¡°But, why don¡¯t we talk first? If that doesn¡¯t work¡­ we can do your plan.¡±


    ¡°Okay, mother Terra. We will do your little nice girl plan. But I will do mine immediately if yours doesn¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡± Minka let out a sigh, she can feel something bad is about to happen, but again Minka herself is kinda a girl still in her rebellious phase. So she did not really fight too hard against this ¡®bully¡¯ plan.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    During the second break, they both entered the girl¡¯s toilet when they saw that white haired girl enter: ¡°Oi, you. We need to talk.¡± Viola pushes that white hair girl on a stall wall and stares at her real close.


    ¡°We just want to ask some questions. First wh-¡° Minka only saw a flash of light before she found herself face the bathroom floor then the pain flowed into her mind. She starts grunting and trying to get up: ¡°Viola?¡± Minka asks while crawling to find something to help her to get up. She then sees Viola completely knocked out on the floor.


    Ten minutes later, MInka finally managed to regain her full consciousness then she woke Viola up.


    ¡°Wha- what the hell just happened?! Did that bitch strike us?¡±


    ¡°We kinda struck her first but¡­she¡¯s too fast for me to even see her moves¡­¡± Minka rubs her forehead with her hand¡­ that strike hit too hard which still makes Minka want to throw up.


    Suddenly a loud thump dropped on the seat near them. That white haired girl brought two glasses of water to them. She didn¡¯t say anything, she just slid them across the table and then read her book.


    ¡°Did she drug us?¡± Viola asks quietly: ¡°Is she someone you know?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s just being nice?¡­¡± Minka is dead confused at this point, she took the water and had a sip: ¡°So¡­ we are sorry that we tried to strike you¡­¡±


    Viola whispers: ¡°Minka? What are you doing?¡±


    Minka ignored Viola and continued: ¡°Look¡­ we just want to know more about you, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°Sannet.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    ¡°Sannet is my name.¡± She glanced at Minka with her crystal blue eyes. But then returned to reading her book.


    Just when Minka wants to ask more they are called for further training already.


    At night, Minka is lying on her bed thinking about what happened today. Viola however is already snoring like a wrecked car engine. Sannet¡­ why is that name familiar to her? Yet she knows nothing about that girl. The thing that confuses her the most was the fact that Sannet took care of them after the ¡®fight¡¯ or more like a one sided slaughter.


    "Minka¡­ squeeze me face with your thighs¡­¡± Viola suddenly spoke. Then fell back to her dream.


    Minka¡¯s eyes widened in shock: ¡°This sick woman¡­¡± But at the end of the day, she is still glad that she did this little scene with Viola. Doing this is better than the boring around the clock life that her parents are doing. She lightly chuckles and closes her eyes¡­ in her dream she sees that ¡®moon¡¯ again. But this time it is seemingly crossing a star sector.


    The next morning Minka was just about to clean her face in the bathroom, she was suddenly greeted by Sannet who seemed to be waiting for her for a while now: ¡°hi¡­ Good morning?¡± Minka doesn¡¯t know what this person is doing here.


    Sannet just glanced at MInka then gave her a ticket, apparently she had already paid for the morning meal.


    ¡°Eh¡­Thanks? But breakfast isn¡¯t going to start for another 20 minutes.. and Viola is still sleeping¡­ Can I ask why you¡¯re here this early?¡± Minka is trying to be civil and polite with Sannet. Well simply because she doesn¡¯t think that she can even remotely take on Sannet.


    Viola woke up to the noise and did a lazy stretch: ¡°Minky~ where is my mouth fed food?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting!¡± Minka looks like she¡¯s almost done with her life: ¡°Sannet bought us food for some reason?¡±


    ¡°Aw~how sweet of her, why don¡¯t you ask if she can gladly piss off and never talk to us again?~¡± Viola¡¯s voice is nice but the message is really mean.


    After hearing this, Sannet just left while still having her cold emotionless face. She doesn¡¯t seem to be concerned about whatever Viola said.


    In the food hall, while Viola and Minka are eating together, Sannet suddenly sits on the other side while eating but isn¡¯t looking at either of them.


    ¡°This one is probably insane because of the eye of terror¡­ should we report her?¡± Viola whispers to Minka.


    Minka isn¡¯t the type that would harm people for the fun of it, but she is also not a fan of ¡®friendship¡¯ unprompted. Minka quickly finished her food and started preparing for the day. She wanted to test out something: ¡°Viola, I think that Sannet person is up to something¡­ can you do me a favor?¡±


    ¡°Aw the princess girl is asking for favor~ what is it?~¡± Viola smirks.


    ¡°Do not interact with me for a day so you can hide somewhere to see if Sannet is up to something.¡± Minka plots: ¡°I feel like that Sannet girl might be up for no good¡­¡±


    ¡°Up for no good? Sure you¡¯re cute but she¡¯s cuter. If she wants to do anything to you, you should be happy about that~¡± Viola clearly isn¡¯t serious about this.


    ¡°What just came out of your mouth was the most insane shit I¡¯ve ever heard for the past week!¡± Minka stomps her feet in anger while staring at Viola: ¡°Please¡­ I need your help.¡±


    ¡°What is it in for me? I don¡¯t give a crap about her, I hate her surely but I won''t waste my time on that person.¡± Viola shrugs.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Minka suddenly blushes: ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± She doesn¡¯t have the shamelessness to say what is on her mind.


    ¡°I?¡±


    ¡°I will give you a thigh squeeze!¡± Minka said it out loud while her eyes closed and her face bright red.


    Viola looks at Minka up and down in a confused way: ¡°What?¡±


    Minka¡¯s face is still blushing: ¡°I¡­ I heard that you wanted that during your sleep talk.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­i think i know what you¡¯re up to, so it¡¯s like a thigh pillow but having your legs wrapped around my neck, i think it¡¯s called a thigh sandwich.¡± Viola paused and realized something: ¡°Wait¡­ I said that?¡±


    ¡°Never mind¡­¡± Minka began to walk off but suddenly Viola grabbed MInka by her shoulder.


    ¡°I will help you, and I don''t need your thigh sandwich. But¡­ I do have the right to call a favor upon you, for the time, place and what we are doing at my choosing~¡± Viola has a grin on her face.


    ¡°I¡­sure¡­ but if this gets screwed up because of you, I will do it the same for you!¡± Minka¡¯s face is still red from whatever she just said.


    Just as planned during the next day, Minka and Viola were separated from the start and Minka approached Sannet and greeted her as if nothing happened: ¡°Where¡¯s that girl?¡± Sannet asks.


    Minka pretends to be confused by the question: ¡°What girl?¡±


    ¡°Your green haired accomplice.¡± Sannet clarifies: ¡°Your friend who tries to scheme against me.¡±


    ¡°Whhhaaatttt?¡± Minka felt a bit nervous by this line of question: ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about.¡±


    Sannet looks at Minka and frowns a bit then she looks away to prepare for the following mission ahead. Today, they need to find a special artifact in a ruin of the past battlefield. This place should be safe for crows as there hasn¡¯t been any dangerous sightings for over a decade. As planned Minka and Sannet got assigned into the same group while Viola is in another yet still within eyesight distance.


    On the way to the ancient battlefield. Minka looks outside of the truck window and sees clear sky and green grass. In the imperium there are many different worlds and the pleasure world is more of a place for the rich or the influenced. From the story she read, some world¡¯s air quality are so bad that they can literally chew on them,


    ¡°Do you like nature?¡± Sannet asks.


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± Minka adjusts her wind blew hair: ¡°I always liked playing outside in the nature with my family,¡±


    ¡°Where are they now?¡±


    ¡°They are living their life as usual.¡± Minka hesitated a bit, she hasn¡¯t visited her parents and sister for weeks already. Minka doesn¡¯t really want to admit it but she kinda misses them.


    ¡°What do your parents do?¡± Sannet blinks a few times expressionless.


    ¡°My mom is an imperial captain and my dad¡­ I honestly have no idea what he does¡­ but he does make better dinner than my mom.¡± Minka slightly grins when she talks about her parents: ¡°I also have a little sister who always loves to hug me every time she sees me at school.¡±


    ¡°That sounds nice.¡±


    ¡°What about you? What is your story?¡± Minka sits beside Sannet.


    ¡°I was adopted by a man, he raised me, trained me and made me become who i am¡­ But at the end of the day I found out that he was the person that was responsible for everything that has been bad in my life.¡± Talking about this, Sannet¡¯s gaze suddenly became terrifying but then she became the usual resting expressionless face.


    ¡°That sounds¡­ harsh¡­ what happened to that man after?¡± Minka is curious.


    ¡°I forgive him but also left him.¡±


    ¡°You should find that man and beat the crap out of him!¡± Minka said while making a fist with her hand: ¡°He had no right to manipulate you from the start! Who is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s nowhere to be found now¡­ honestly it¡¯s for the best.¡± Sannet slightly chuckles while seeing Minka react like this.


    Minka is a bit dazed by how pretty Sannet is when she smiles and she felt like all the prejudices she had towards her might be mistaken. Just when Minka was about to contact Viola to abort the mission. They have arrived at the ancient battlefield.


    For some strange reason Minka began to feel sick and had to lean on the truck for balance after she got off. Her vision is blurry and trying to not let herself collapse on the ground.


    ¡°You feeling alright?¡± Sannet saw the strange expression on Minka¡¯s face, her face as pale as dead and her eyes half closed while having her back slightly hunched forward.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Minka answered but suddenly she started dry puking on the ground. Nothing came out but she looks seriously sick.


    Sannet immediately reported to the officer in charge and granted her and Minka some time to rest. Minka is sitting near the garbage can waiting for the next wave of sickness coming to her. She looks like she¡¯s dehydrated and is about to collapse any second.


    ¡°Did you have unprotected sex?¡±


    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Minka stares at Sannet for a brief moment and again sunk her head into the can: ¡°Why is this shit happening to me¡­.¡± Minka sits on the ground and lays her head on the chair. Her legs feel weak and are also shaking. The pain in her head is almost killing her.


    Sannet hands over a bottle of water to Minka and gently swipes away the cold sweat on Minka¡¯s forehead. Minka couldn¡¯t see but Sannet looks like she¡¯s enjoying taking care of Minka,


    Suddenly, the ground starts shaking and apparently because one of the team members dug out something out of the ground. Sannet narrows her eyes to see the surroundings and she suddenly sees something is coming out from underground and it looks like one of the beasts from the phyrexian war. It looks like a large dog but the half mechanical abdomen and the black glittering oil dripping on the floor makes a veteran instantly realize this is not something they can deal with at the moment.


    Sannet takes out a dagger from her thigh strap and prepares for any attacks from the beasts, because from what Sannet can hear, some people are already screaming for their lives all over the place. Then is the mix of flesh being ripped off and gunshots from all over the place. The officer in charge had already called for backup but they are not coming not for a while.


    The entire scene is brutal, and eventually a beast spotted these two and leapt towards Sannet. She agilely dodged the leap and used the dagger to sever the tendons of the beast. Then it fell on the ground struggling and was finished off by Sannet with a stab at the neck.


    Minka saw this and immediately punked into the garbage can. She had never seen something so graphic shown in front of her. A few more beasts came and all of them were taken care of by Sannet. After, Sannet came over and tried to pick Minka up and relocated her to somewhere else. A boar looking mechanical beast jumped out from nowhere and is about to crash into Sannet.


    Minka suddenly reached out her hand and felt a burst of energy blasted out from her hand and pushed away the boar. With this time frame, Sannet finished off the boar and relocated Minka to somewhere relatively safe. While waiting for Sannet to rescue some other people, Minka looked at her palm and could not believe what had just happened. Is she awakening some psyker power? She thought and had a spark in her eyes. Minka tried to concentrate her though to move a chair nearby but nothing happened.


    Minka eventually heard engine roaring sound coming towards them and troupes of soldiers wearing the containment uniform jumped out from the gunship and started cleaning up the battlefield. Eventually Minka saw a black haired woman with dark blue eyes shoot a beast into the head with a rifle with amazing precision. Soon later the whole area where she can see is already all sorted out of the beasts.


    Minka knows this person, she is Kira Vatrix. Well, she knows her because she and her mother sometimes work together but they never were really formally introduced for some reason. Minka ignores Kira and starts helping for the wounded soldiers. Not after long, the troops are done sweeping the area and Minka finally gets to rest a bit. Her headache for some reason is lifted and there¡¯s no demonic whispering around her, so all and all, maybe she¡¯s fine.


    Viola headed over with a medic kit: ¡°Are you alright?!¡± She sounded really worried.


    ¡°Yeah I¡¯m fine, where were you?¡± Minka actually felt a bit happy that Viola actually cared for her.


    ¡°I was taking a nap on the tree branch and when I woke up, everyone around me was dead!¡±


    ¡°Hold on, what about our deal?¡± Minka realized something.


    ¡°Na, I didn''t feel like doing any watching work for you. So I thought I would get my thigh sandwich and move on.¡± Viola has a smirk on her face.


    ¡°Jerk!¡± Minka pouts, but she is also glad that Viola is unharmed by this incident: ¡°Where¡¯s Sannet?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but I saw you use the force attack~¡± Viola whispers to Minka.


    Minka grabbed Viola by her collar: ¡°You tell this to anyone.. I will¡­¡±


    ¡°What will you do?~¡± Viola¡¯s grin is even larger now: ¡°Come on~ tell me what you will do to me~¡±


    ¡°I¡­ please? I beg you¡­¡± Minka doesn¡¯t really want to say mean things to Viola because clearly this girl is teasing her.


    ¡°Sure~ this will be our little secret.¡±


    ¡°You mean three of us?¡± Sannet suddenly appeared from behind these two: ¡°Look, I will not snitch on you because you saved me. It was not needed but thanks anyways.¡± She then leaves while carrying some of the supplies. While looking as expressionless as usual.


    ¡°Such a cocky person¡­¡± Viola mumbles.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ but I think she¡¯s kinda cool tho¡­¡± Minka has a slight grin on her face.


    Viola suddenly remembered something: ¡°By the way, we are having a short boot camp break next weekend, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°Is it already? Damn¡­ how the time flies¡­ I might visit my parents or something like that.¡± Speaking about her parents Minka again had that uneasy expression on her face.


    ¡°I thought you were on good terms with your parents.¡± Viola noticed the little change of expression on Minka.


    ¡°We are¡­ it¡¯s just i always felt a bit bad when i joined the army. The decision wasn¡¯t quite¡­ mutual.¡± Minka explains: ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ i might still be able to visit them but i felt like there¡¯s a thin film between them and i¡­.¡±


    ¡°Have you just thought about growing a pair instead of staying here doing nothing?¡± Viola changed her tone a bit: ¡°This is all you''re doing in your mind, your parents probably never thought about any of the things you described. Go meet them and talk it out.¡±


    Minka remained silent for a few seconds then looked away: ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ Maybe this was all my thinking¡­¡± Then Minka eased her expression for a bit: ¡°I never knew that you¡¯re so good at consulting people¡¯s problems.¡±


    ¡°Girl, I might tease you a bit. But it does not mean that I am lacking in ideas and ways of dealing with things. The real problem lies with that white haired witch.¡± Viola is actually quite happy when Minka kinda complimented her.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you more¡­ open minded towards Sannet? She saved my life!¡±


    ¡°This is exactly it, what is it in for her? There¡¯s dozens of people on the field today. Why you? Why are you so special? Have your little brain thought about any of this? That Sannet girl is shady and I can tell by my experience in the time when I was free roaming on the street.¡± Sannet explained while giving a frown: ¡°We must find out what this Sannet person is up to.¡±


    Minka nods: ¡°It does seem strange¡­ I felt like Sannet might know me or something¡­ I don''t know if it is something but she never made me feel¡­ annoyed.¡±


    ¡°What does you feeling annoyed tell you about that Sannet person?¡± Viola asks.


    ¡°I usually feel annoyed about almost everyone I meet¡­¡±


    ¡°Even me?¡±


    ¡°All the time.¡± Minka smirks: ¡°But Sannet never managed to get on my nerves¡­ as if she knew what I was thinking or at least knew me for quite a while¡­¡±


    ¡°If everyone you know annoys the crap out of you, isn¡¯t this more of your problem?¡± Viola raised one of her eyebrows.


    Minka pouts while staring at Viola after hearing this: ¡°So rude!¡±


    Viola pokes Minka¡¯s inflated cheek and laughs: ¡°Alright, alright ! You¡¯re da best!¡±


    Minka also smiles a little as well: ¡°So¡­ just about our conversation earlier. Do you mind coming to my home for a bit?¡±


    ¡°Why do you need me to better the image of yours in front of your parents? Like meeting a girlfriend or something?¡± Viola is a bit puzzled with this little request from Minka..


    Minka tips one foot on the ground while looking away: ¡°I don¡¯t want my parents to worry too much about me¡­ It would be cool if I can bring someone with me.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring that Sannet girl.¡± Viola¡¯s smile is so large that it almost reached her ears.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re right¡­. She is kinda shady¡­ and i¡­think your straightforwardness will be at least pleasing towards my parents..¡± Minka is blushing.


    ¡°Alright, I will gladly do so if this prevents you from looking like a loser in front of your parents as someone who clearly doesn¡¯t have a single friend in her life~¡± Viola is still having that annoying grin.

 Chapter 3

    Minka is waiting for Viola outside of her house. She is actually quite nervous, even though Minka is never short on communication skill, she somehow doesn''t really have any friends. Probably one of the reason is because people come to her for her family''s influence or most people just thinks Minka is too perfect as a person and thus stay away from her most of the time. Minka is actually quite lonely, this is why even Viola is constantly pestering her, the good part in her is telling her that Viola is someone that can be friend with her¡­ or is it?


    The moment Minka saw what Viola dressed like she could not explain how she felt at the very sight. She want to strangle Viola on the spot but Minka is still puzzled on whether she dressed like a street bimbo to mess with her. Minka shakes her head and got rid of the thought: "Hi¡­" Even she tried her best the greeting in her tone sounded like she is already exhausted.


    "Hi hi~"Viola grins and waves her hand while blinking her purple eye cutely: "My, were you too excited to see me that you couldn''t sleep last night?"


    "I¡­ I am just a bit surprised with the way you dress¡­"


    "Oh? Do you like it? I specially dressed in my gang uniform because i thought it would be a great conversation piece as i am introduced as your girlfriend~"


    "What?" Minka blinks a few times then he realized that what Viola had just said, her face flushed in red and Minka grabs Viola by her collar: "you¡­ agh, can you please take things seriously for once?"


    "Is this why you never had any friends? Because you are too ashamed to bring the real them to the people you love?" Viola has a smirk on her face but her tone isn''t as flunky as she usually is.


    Minka remained silence and then finally realized something: "I am sorry¡­ that was really rude of me to say the things i just said¡­"


    Viola looks like she wasn''t even bothered by anything had just happened, she pulled out a set of spare clothes from her backpack: "Actually, i thought about you might say that so i brough some more normal clothes."


    "No, please. It was really my fault to say anything i just said.. please forgive me." Minka puts her hand on her chest and looks at Viola in her eyes.


    "Minka, you''re forgiven." Viola actually let her mind drift a bit because she realized how beautiful Minka''s eyes are: "Now¡­ let us meet the very famous parents of yours."


    Minka chuckles and shakes her head. She then rang the door bell: "Who''s this?~" A young girl''s voice came from other side not soon after.


    "It''s Minka, and i brough friend." Minka answered.


    At first it was some awkward silence on the other side. Then comes the collective scream from multiple people. Viola flinched a bit by the actions inside the house. Then the door opens by three people greeting them.


    "By the emperor is real!" Emilia hugs Minka and jumps up and down. Then she hugs Viola''s lower torso: "Thanks for being friend with my sister!"


    "Honey, all of out prayer worked! Minka finally brought home a friend!" A young looking women hugs the man next to her. Then they came in front of Viola with a heart filled smile: "Nice to meet you! You can call me Monika, and this is Trazyn. We are the parents of Minka."


    "And I am Minka''s little sister, Emilia!" Emilia grins warmly while holding Viola and Minka''s hand.


    "Nice too meet you guys." Viola politely greeted all of them and headed inside of the house after being invited in.


    "Sorry if it looked a bit messy but we didn''t expect Minka to actually bring home a friend." Monika apologizes while pouring a cup of tea in front of Viola.


    "No, Ms. Terra. Your house is lovely!" Viola actully talks like another person while conversing with Monika: "Minka has been taken care of me during the boot camp."


    "Awww. She did? I am so proud of her." Monika grabs one of Minka''s arm while snuggled against.


    "If i may ask¡­ are you really Minka''s mother?" Viola asks.


    "Viola? What does that supposed to mean?" Minka narrowed her eyes while looking at Viola.


    "It''s just Ms. Terra looks really young. I thought we are same age¡­" Viola explains.


    "You''re wayyyy too kind." Monika looks like she''s blushing a bit while half covering her mouth with her hand.


    They then exchanged a few conversations about the boot camp. Then Trazyn came over with some freshly baked cookies: "Hope you have a knack for cookies!" He looks really happy to meet with Viola.


    Viola tried one and she couldn''t believe how good those cookies tastes: "My gosh they are sooo good. Minka is lucky to have you both as parents."


    Emilia then sits next to Viola: "Big sis, can you tell me about some fun stories between you two?"


    Minka gave a worried look at Viola, because she was afraid that Viola will tell them all of the embarrassing stuffs that had happened. But instead, Viola was talking about how hardworking Minka was during the training and managed to fend off an enemy attack with some teammmates.


    "Minka is fitting really nicely in the army." Viola adds.


    After hearing all of this, the parent''s expression is seemingly more relaxed about everything happened in the army: "Thank you for taking care of Minka in the camp for us¡­ It is lucky of her to make such a amazing friend like you." Monika said while looking really emotional.


    Minka remained silent the whole conversation, she is actually quite impressed about how well Viola can switch between different conversations.


    "Thank you for taking care of big sis!" Emilia crawl next to Viola and smiles cutely,


    Viola winks at Emilia and pats her little head: "I am really happy to having met with Minka."


    All three of them almost cried after hearing this. Minka shakes her head and tell them to stop acting so dramatic: "Guys¡­ please¡­ Viola is a guest¡­"


    "Minka¡­ thanks for being my girlfriend." Viola suddenly said that with a cool expression.


    "WHAT?!" Minka pinches Viola''s cheek: "Tell them you''re joking!"


    "Aw¡­ you two are so lively with each other¡­" Monika looks like she''s almost in tears.


    "Honey, i think you meant lovely."


    "Oh yea, they are indeed lovely with each other."


    "Mom, dad!" Minka is flustered. Her face is bright red: "Please¡­ stop it."


    After some more chatting, Monika invited Viola to her room to show her something interesting. Minka and Trazyn is sitting together looking at the television. Suddenly Minka remembered something to ask: "Dad¡­ so¡­i used force attack to protect a teammate."


    Trazyn was sipping his tea and almost spilled it because of what Minka just said: "You used force attack? Like a psyker?"


    Minka nods: "But i am not able to replicate it¡­"


    "Well¡­ do you need help? You can talk to your aunt Nova if you want." Trazyn doesn''t look too bothered to be this information.


    "She can use psychic abilities?"


    "Of course? You think she can hit all of her shots without some sorts of cheat?" Trazyn has a sarcastic expression on his face: "But seriously, if you want to learn how to become better to use your psychic abilities, There''s no people other than Nova are better at this."


    "Thanks dad. Love you."


    "Lova you too Minky."


    Then Monika and Viola came down dressed exactly the same. They both wear the tight jeans and leather jacket combo Monika used to wear when she was young. Even there''s almost no difference in her looks, but you can still tell that Monika is Minka''s mother from the vibe she gives.


    "Honey, you look beautiful¡­" Trazyn looks at Monika looking like as if he''s in love: "I haven''t seen you dress like this for a while now¡­"


    "Traz¡­" Monika avoids his gaze shyly.


    While those two are having a moment, Viola puts her hands on her hips looking at Minka confidently: "Well, who''s your mom now?"


    "You are a jerk for saying all those embarrassing stuffs in front of my parents." Minka pouts: "I know you think its funny but really, it''s not."


    Viola chuckles: "It''s fine! I can be more sensitive. Well, it was fun being able to meet your parents as your friend. "


    Monika then smiled and hugged Viola tightly. Viola was almost scared out of her mind with what just happened.


    Trazyn smiles warmly to see everyone get along so well: "That makes me happy."


    Seeing how her parents reacted to this, Minka finally let out a relieved sigh, she was so afraid that her parents wouldn''t like her friend. Apparently she worried too much. After bidding farewell with Viola, Minka headed back to her house and knocked out for the night. On the bed she is planning the trip tomorrow to visit her aunt. Nova doesn''t really live near them, so she has to borrow the family car for this.


    The next morning they leave the Terra home after eating breakfast together, It would take around thirty minutes drive before reaching their destination. Minka is sitting on the back while her mom is driving her: "Minky your friend is amazing. How did you meet her?" Monika asks.


    "I met her in the enlist center and somehow we ended up as roommates. She''s actually very kind, helpful, caring¡­ But she teases me all the time¡­ which drives me a bit crazy¡­"


    Monika chuckled happily: "Sounds like you really got along well with each other. You know¡­ it''s pretty rare to find a friend like this. Someone who can understand you even if it seems like no one else can. Aw¡­ how good to be young¡­"


    "Mom¡­ from the outside no one can tell that you''re a mother¡­" Minka said.


    "Minky¡­ growing up isn''t about how you look but what you''ve experienced. What you''ve learned¡­ and what you''ve lost." Monika let out a sigh.


    They are almost arrived at their destination. A few more turns into the alleyway, there stands an old brick building, slightly shabby but still standing strong, as if nothing bad ever happened here. This is the place where Nova decide to live with her family. Far away from the city. Or like what Monika used to say: Alone in solitude pretending to be someone so high up on the sky.


    When they arrived at the parking lot, Nova is already waiting her with her daughter.


    After getting off, Minka immediately went to hug Nova: "Hi auntie!"


    Nova smiled: "It''s been awhile sweet heart."


    "Hi there aunt Monika." Leanna greets Monika with a polite smile.


    "Lea, really nice to meet you again." Monika gave her a box of chocolate: "I heard that you just got your pilot licence."


    "Thanks! I passed the tests and got it last week. If you want we have a spare jet on the runway." Leanna pointed out the side the garage.


    "I''m good, but you can ask Minka if you want." Monika then gone to talk to Nova. While Leanna looks at Minka in a slight taunting and arrogant way.


    "Minka." Leanna said in a rather condescending tone.


    "Lea¡­" Minka felt it and narrows her eyes. From the spectator perspective it seems like there''s a spark of lighting between each other''s position clashing against each other.


    "I heard that you joined the boot camp. Too bad that i am already a pilot so i can''t carry you in every team exercise." She flicked her shoulder length blonde straight hair and stares at Minka with her gem like blue eyes. Her face is petite with long eyelashes. With her military uniform, she was alluringly cute, but also powerful.


    "How do you know about my training? How do you even know about me?"Minka suddenly realized something: "Kevin¡­ that jerk¡­"


    "Of course I know about you, we are going to be roommates for the next two years." Leanna took the box of chocolates from Monika. And began to enjoy it,


    "Wait.. what does that supposed to mean? What do you mean that you will be my roommate for the next two years." A flash of horror appeared in Minka''s eyes. "No, no... I don''t want to hear about that anymore..."


    ''Oh yes, you will hear the end of me. I just applied to the coaching program and specified that i would like to be your coach." Leanna has a sinister look on her face: "I will be in control of your every move from that point. And if you disobey my orders¡­. You are screwed."


    Minka knew what Leanna was capable of doing. This is why her heart dropped when she hear about that. But suddenly Nova spoke: "Lea, stop joking with your cousin Minka. You''re just applying to be in joint training that''s all. You might be able to fly a jet but it doesn''t mean that you are on par with any other trainings."


    "What?! That''s a lie!" Leanna quickly turns her head away:"You''re lying! Mom, please tell her this isn''t true!"


    Minka suddenly hold Leanna choking position and puts her down on the ground: "Well well well¡­ i guess you do have a lot of lessons to be learned." Leanna tries to break off but she is indeed not too proficient in basic hand to hand combat skill.


    Leanna suddenly calls name: "MAX!" A large white fluffy looking dog suddenly came out from backyard and charges towards to Minka and Leanna.


    Minka''s eyes widen in shock she immediately let go of Leanna and tries to brace the dog, but that dog just pinned Minka on the floor and began furiously licking her: "Max! Stop! Buddy¡­ you''re too heavy!" Minka finally pushed the dog off and wipes away the saliva on her face: "Goodness¡­ you''re getting way too big."


    "Woaf!" Max sat on the ground looking at Minka while sticking out his tongue and waving it''s tail.


    "Good job, Max!" Leanna throws the dog a treat and looks at Minka having a evil grin on her face.


    "Cheater!" Minka finally managed to dust off the dirt on her clothes and also stares at Leanna.


    "Alright children¡­ let''s head into the house now!" Monika managed to break off the tension and called them back into the house. Leanna takes a seat at one of the table as she nibble the chocolates before leaving with a satisfied smile of her lips, just like a cat after its meal.


    "So¡­ you wanted to ask for something?" Nova asks Minka while sitting across each other on the sofa.


    "Yes, I want to ask how do i awaken the psychic ability." Minka asks.


    Leanna chuckles: "You silly girl, it''s never about awakening. You either have it or you don''t. Simply as that." She taunts Minka''s ignorance.


    Minka narrows her eyes: "You think so? I used force blast to save one of my friend and i have never shown any sign of psychic ability before."


    "Clearly you are delusional or you had outside help." Leanna said in a more antagonizing tone.


    "Lea... you''re really starting to piss me off." A smirk formed on the corner of Leanna''s mouth after hearing Minka said that: "It might be best if we stopped talking..." she slowly walks towards the kitchen and poured her self a glass of water. While seeing the water in the glass, a sudden wave splashed the water out of the container. There was no wind or earthquakes: "What the¡­"


    Leanna walked into the kitchen having a smirk on her face: "Now you know."


    Nova noticed an ominous feeling when she heard that word spoken from her cousin: "What did you do?"


    "Psychic power draws from the wrap and sometimes you can use extreme emotions to stimulate it¡­ seems like you''re not like the usual kind¡­seeing how calm you are." Leanna takes another drink and began to eat some chocolates while walking back to her seat: "Let''s go back and tell aunt Monika. Otherwise she will think that I''m bullying you."


    "But you were bullying me¡­" Minka narrows her eyes. She felt angry and frustrated but decided that it would be better to stop complaining. So, instead of continuing to complain, she followed after Leanna who seemed as if nothing happened at all.


    "Minky you alright?" Monika asks with a caring tone.


    "I''m fine mom." The last thing Minka wants right now is someone to pitying her; so instead, she simply answers by nodding.


    "Nova¡­ does every exercise need to be like this?¡­" Monika doesn''t really want Minka go through this process of humiliation and struggle just for the sake of gaining power. She knows too well about the harm in this.


    "I am fine, mom. I can do this." Minka insisted. She wasn''t going to let anyone else say otherwise.


    "Very good then." Monika sighs. "Your training will began tomorrow. Just relax and try not to worry. I have a feeling that your psychic powers will show up soon enough." Monika stood up and gives Minka her bag of clothes: "You will stay with aunt Nova and Lea for a few days. I hope you find what you are looking for." Monika''s tone suddenly changed¡­ she sounded a little distant and is mixed with disappointment and sadness. She then step outside and walking towards to the car.


    "Mom!" Minka chased outside and hugs Monika: "i don''t want to let you leave with a bad note¡­Mom¡­ i really want to honor the Terra name with my abilities. Please tell me that you support what i''m doing!" Minka pleaded, hoping that Monika could understand her situation.


    Monika hugged her daughter tight: "Don''t get yourself worried over something silly like this...Our family is already proud of you as you''re now." she gave a short kiss on her forehead and left with the car.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The wind blows cold in this season, leaving Minka looks a little bit upset after seeing Monika off. She honestly doesn''t understand why her mother would react this way but she has already made up her mind. She knows that it''s all worth it to become strong and powerful so she doesn''t feel any regret or hesitation anymore¡­


    Minka went back into house to meet Leanna who was waiting for her inside the living room while eating chocolates happily: "Did you do all of those rude things to me to help me get better control of my power?"


    "Yes, but also i enjoyed it a lot when my mom asked me to do it. By the way, we need to share a room because ever since big bro and dad left the house, we kinda forgot to tidy up the guests rooms." Leanna looks at Minka with a hint of caring but only slightly.


    "Fare enough, thank you for you hospitality." Minka grabs her bag and headed upstairs. Max the dog also follows Minka as if he''s trying to help her with something. She simply ignores him though and walked straight into her bedroom: "Let''s sleep early tonight."


    "What are you talking about? You know there is no such thing as sleeping early." Leanna shouted downstairs but it was dismissed by Nova.


    "Give her a bit of time¡­ knowing Monika¡­ this probably was not a easy decision for her as well¡­ this goes the same for Minka." Nova let out a sigh, everything about Minka is way too similar to Monika.


    The next morning, Minka woke up feeling drowsy and heavy. It feels like someone had poured honey in her head and filled it with cotton wool, making her unable to concentrate and think clearly. She brushed her teeth and tidy up herself up then head downstairs for breakfast: "Is there a special diet for psykers or stuffs?"


    "Yea, there is. Is called stupidity and you have eaten plenty." Leanna laughs: "Seriously though, no, not really."


    Minka can tell that Leanna wasn''t telling the truth. There''s something on her mind. Leanna must be hiding something from her but she isn''t going to ask because she didn''t want to look like an idiot again after asking about something that she shouldn''t even care about. Minka just grabbed a piece of bread and munches it into her mouth while serving with coffee.


    "Don''t you feel bland to eat only the bread?" Leanna asks.


    "That''s why i am drinking coffee." Minka answered while finishing off her cup of joe: "Besides I don''t feel the need for eating anything else than that." She continues eating and watches Leanna carefully who seems very curious at her behavior: "Why do you seem so interested?"


    "No, just making conversations. Because i will also be joining the training of yours." Leanna answered casually.


    "You''re a psyker?!" Minka gasped at this revelation.


    "I''ve already told you that before right?" Leanna was a bit annoyed by this question.


    "You certainly did not."


    "Well¡­ you got your answer now anyway¡­" Leanna finish up eating her egg: "Say¡­ why do you wish to become a soldier? You were a star archiving student in the college. You could''ve chosen so many paths. Yet you want to become a soldier."


    "I have my reasons but they are none of your concern. " Minka asked. The two girls knew each other since childhood but had never talked much about themselves or really any other things.


    "Such a kill joy."


    "Says the girl that kept shit talking me none stop ever since i got here."


    Leanna scoffs at this remark, seeing that her tactic didn''t work on her, she tries something different: "Why don''t we battle it out then? You know, fighter styles." Leanna suggests with her sweetest voice which usually made men melt away for her beauty.


    "You think aunt Nova will be fine with this? You and i have different type of training right?"Minka said with uncertainty.


    "You''ll find ways around that. I am sure you can convince mom if you try hard enough." Leanna replied with confidence.


    Minka gave a fake smile as though trying to hide what''s actually going through her mind, she simply replied with a nod afterwards then gone to talk to Nova. Surprisingly it all went pretty well. A duel between these two will happen as a round up exercise for the training.


    Inside the city Monika had just gone back to her house. It is empty as Emilia is staying at school for the night and Trazyn still hasn''t came back from work yet. She throws her stuff on the sofa and sinks herself into it. She let out a sigh because everything had just happened is kinda making her headache. She feels like her head was about to burst due to tension. She felt an ache in the center of her forehead that was getting stronger every time that she was thinking about today''s event.


    "Honey? You''re back?" Trazyn entered the house after awhile: "Where is Minka?"


    "She stayed with Nova¡­." Monika rubs her forehead with her fingers while looking at ceiling.


    "Oh¡­Did you not convince her?" Trazyn dropped the food he bought and sit next to Monika.


    "No¡­otherwise she will get¡­eh¡­" Monika sits up and looks at Trazyn: "Why did you tell Minka about Nova?"


    "I told her that Nova might be able to help. I thought, what are the harms? If she can use her power then good for her! Besides,We have done plenty already." Trazyn sips his tea.


    "I supposed you''re right¡­ But¡­ are we going on the right path?" Monika asks.


    "Well¡­ i haven''t seen anything remotely similar like this and i got to say¡­ we''ve gotten really far at the moment." Trazyn touches Monika''s face and gently carasses it.


    Monika felt a bit more relaxed with his response and closes her eyes: "I hope Minka can find what she''s looking for¡­"


    "That¡­ we cannot really help besides continue with our lives¡­ Minka inherited your abilities¡­ on top of what she is capable of? Oh my, i don''t think we need to worry about it at all."


    "Aren''t we being a bit too relaxed with the well being of Minka¡­?" Monika has a concerned expression on her face.


    "Because she is still young? We still do not know the whole picture. This is one of the few times that we are safe and calm in our life. Do not stress yourself about this¡­ I promise that we will try everything possible to make sure that she will return home safely."Trazyn pats Monika''s head: "Besides¡­ if anything bad happens, she can expect her hero of a mom will save her right?"


    "I really hope that day won''t come¡­ i am already not proud of what i do at work¡­" Monika looks down sadly and sighed.


    Trazyn gave her an amused smile as he leaned forward kissing his wife: "Come here, you should eat something. It seems like you haven''t eaten since morning. Come on now!" Trazyn grabs his wife by the arm and pull her up. He forcefully carries her into their kitchen and soon they tosses some food on the table.


    "I''m fine, really...But¡­ i am really glad that you''re here¡­" Looking at Trazyn, Monika finally let out a relaxed smile on her face.


    On the last day, When they finally finished their training Minka and Leanna stayed in the field: "Rules are simple, no lethal force. Bleeding is acceptable." Leanna said with a smirk on her face.


    Minka nods back and took the position of attack: "Ready?"


    "Sure thing, sweet cheeks."


    The two girls clashed each other and went straight for a punch, kick, knee, elbow, headbutt and more. In melee combat Minka might have the slight advantage but the rule did not say that there can''t be psychic abilities to be used at all. Leanna suddenly used force blast Minka away and her eyes slightly turned light blue to channel her psychic ability. A slash of wind blade suddenly hits Minka''s shoulder, ripping off the clothes on her shoulder and opened a small wound.


    Minka gasps because of the pain, she tries to activate her power but nothing is coming out. Even now beside a force blast she cannot do anything more with her psychic ability. For the next few rounds, it is all consist of Leanna standing in place and keeps chasing Minka with her air attacks. From far Nova is looking at this duel. She crossed her arms and have a rather serious expression on her face.


    Despite Minka''s very skilled dodges, she still got hit pretty badly from the unrelenting attacks from Leanna. Her clothes are barely able to cover her parts anymore and there''s bruises everywhere. But from the expression of hers, she does not seems like she''s giving up.


    Minka decided that it''s time to take the offensive again so when Leanna was about to strike her again, she stopped her rolling abruptly and managed to maneuvered herself in front of Leanna in almost an instant. She swung her fist but Leanna stopped Minka''s hand before it could reach her face: "Ha¡­ you thought you could beat me in a duel?" Leanna taunts and hits Minka with a punch on the face.


    Minka drops her knees on the floor and supports her body with her arms while blood is coming out from her nose. Leanna did not break it but the pain is causing Minka having a few tear drops from her eyes. Leanna did not continue hit Minka, instead she reached out her hand: "Get up, you look pathetic."


    Minka slowly get back to her feet with gritted teeth, holding her left shoulder as she put some bandages over the wounds. Without hesitation she turns around and headed into the shower while limping a bit. Nova let out a sigh, she can tell Minka has potential but the lack of relevant training from Minka''s parents caused Minka''s lack of ability to fully grasp and understands her power.


    In the shower, Minka sobs uncontrollably in tears due to the fact that Leanna just constantly defeated her in a duel. She knew deep inside that this would happen; however,she didn''t think it would be so quick and intense at this level. Minka hits the wall with her fist, soon blood dripped out from her knuckles and her hand shakes due to pain. "Damn it! I have no idea what am i doing wrong¡­"


    Leanna heard all of this outside of the door, if she has to be honest, she did not expect that the fight would so one sided. This probably is the reality of the battlefield as well. She however is amazed by the durability of Minka''s body, because she used her wind blade attack on a piece of dry wood, it got slit open easily. A few hit directly damaged Minka but the wound aren''t even that deep.


    Minka then came out with some more bandages all over her body. She honestly look so depressed compare to when she first arrived here. She always had this fearless expression before, now it was replaced with a face full of disappointment. Her voice was low when she said: "I don''t know why... Why is it like this?"


    "Minka maybe you should take a small break with Leanna. In the past few days you''ve been working too hard." Nova said while having that cold expression on her face again."


    "But..."


    "No but, you need to relax, okay? Go home, rejoin your regiment. I will tell Leanna afterwards after i fly you over to your house."


    "I will do it." Leanna came out with her pilot uniform: "I will fly her to her house. Besides I would love to know some information about my new roommate."


    Minka rolls her eyes up and bid farewell politely to Nova. On the ride Minka is looking at outside silently. She can see through the window how the sun is setting and the sky colored by it into red. She closes her eyes for awhile just enjoying this moment of silence before Leanna speaks in a very curious manner: "Hey, uh... are you mad at me?"


    "Of course not!" Minka replies back without hesitation, trying not to show any emotion from her face.


    "I mean, I was going easy on you. I only use the minimum amount of strength needed for each hit." Leanna said while maneuvering her jet.


    "¡­." Minka remained silent.


    Leanna then decides that she won''t press anything further as well so she leaves the matter alone and let out a sigh instead as she knew that she did something wrong with that duel but did not have enough time or brain power to figure out what she should have done differently. Not after long, they landed somewhere not far away from Minka''s house. Leanna takes out her helmet and steps out the jet while Minka just hopped out and landed on the ground steadily.


    "Thanks for the ride." Minka said while refusing to make eye contact with Leanna.


    Leanna nodded, took off her jet helmet and sighed once more: "You know you don''t need to thank me right?"


    "I know you probably think i was mad at you but really¡­ i was mad about myself for being so weak and helpless¡­" Minka finally looks Leanna into her eyes.


    "Really?" Leanna asked curiously.


    Minka nods: "It''s my first time doing this sort of thing and honestly I suck at it."


    "But you still got up."Leanna smiles: "I hope one day you can be less sucky in this."


    Minka simply smiled in response while waving goodbye to Leanna while seeing the jet took off.


    After a few minutes, she arrived to her house, entered inside the house, went to the living room where the light is out. When she turned it on, she saw her parents barely had any clothes on them while napping on each other. Usually Minka would''ve screamed due to embarrassment. But today is really not the day for Minka. So she quietly gone into her room and starts repacking for the camp the next day.


    Minka laid herself down and started looking through her books until her phone vibrates slightly and alerting her that she has received an incoming call. She picks her cellphone and answers the call: "Yes?"


    "Minky~"


    "Viola¡­what do you want?"Minka is not really in the mood of being teased by Viola.


    "Hey, you were able to survive your training so far, right?"


    "Well yeah... why are you asking me something so obvious? I''m here right now, aren''t I?" Minka frowns.


    "So¡­ i heard gossips that psykers are for some reason being rounded up for deployments. Are you technically classified as one?"


    "No¡­ i can''t even control my power and i am not talking to daemons¡­ So i guess i''m not a psyker in a traditional sense."


    Viola let out a relived sound from her mouth: "Well¡­ by the way we are getting a new roommate apparently¡­ and her name is Leanna Tertic."


    Minka then paused: "Wait¡­ who told you about it?"


    "Insider gossips, besides training in the camp. I actually work for Militarumtech as one of their testers of the weapons. Well¡­ i say testers but i also adjusts some of their weapons for potential improvements." Viola sounded very proud of her work.


    "Why have you never told me any of this?"


    "Because¡­ i didn''t trust you until i met your parents. Did you know that your dad is actually the CSO? Like for real! I did not expect it!" Viola sounded really excited.


    "What? No! That isn''t true! My father doesn''t work for that company that is well known for over sapping employee''s health and benefits!"Minka immediately said back after hearing those words coming from Viola''s mouth: "He usually collects stuffs but that''s it! He''s not really that special!"


    Viola didn''t really press on: "Well¡­ if you say so¡­well it''s getting a bit late. So i will see you tomorrow~" she the closed the call.


    After talking with Viola, Minka wanted to ask her dad about wether Viola said was true or not. But on the other hand, Viola was known for teasing Minka all the time with stuffs like this. So this gone over her head really fast.


    Next day on the breakfast table, Monika was a bit surprised about Minka came home without her noticing: "Minky, i didn''t know you came back already. When was it?"


    "When you and dad were busying getting on each other." Minka didn''t look up while saying all of this.


    "Minka!" Monika said it loudly while blushing: "You can''t say that about your parents!"


    "Oh yeah? Why not?" Minka just ate her toast and bacon. But her tone sounded a bit testy. Truth be told, she''s quite uninterested in what happened between her parents the previous night, but something had to be out.


    Monika frowns as she could sense something went wrong. Last night Nova called her but didn''t tell her the reason Minka is coming back: "Minka, what happened in your aunt''s house?"


    Minka rolled her eyes at that question before asking back: "Why do you even care anyway?"


    "That''s enough of your bad tone, Minka." Trazyn suddenly said while looking into Minka''s eyes: "Your mother is trying to help you. If you cannot control your temper after all these time. Then we will have to do something!"


    Monika paled after hearing that.


    "I am sorry for my rudeness." Minka apologized while looking away.


    "No¡­ it''s okay, honey¡­" Monika then looked at Trazyn in a concerned way: "Hey¡­ is everything alright?"


    "Yeah, everything is alright. It''s just i am also worried about Minka, her power for some reason did not manifest at all." Trazyn explains.


    "Mom?! You told dad about this?!" Minka stood up suddenly while looking really in distress.


    Monika looks at Trazyn: "No¡­ Nova didn''t tell me any of this¡­"


    "Then how did you¡­ oh¡­ you spied on me?!" Minka stares at Trazyn: "Am i so unimpressive that you had to spy on me to make sure i am doing what i want to do?!" Minka''s voice cracked.


    "Minka, you know that isn''t true! Mom, dad and Emilia are all really proud of you!" Trazyn realized that his words slipped out.


    Minka sat back down and closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep her tears from falling out. But they still escaped anyway as she started crying softly without showing her pain.


    Trazyn took a deep breath: "Why don''t we go somewhere else first?" he said while gone to the outside with Monika.


    "Did you do it?" Monika asks while looking at Trazyn.


    Trazyn just sighed before replying: "Yes¡­ i was worried about Minka¡­"


    Monika crosses her arms, for once she looks at him with a serious expression: "Do not let it slip out again¡­ or else¡­ I will be very mad at you."


    "I understand."Trazyn understood immediately from the word Monika had just told.


    The two of them returned to the room where Minka was waiting impatiently.


    "I am sorry." Trazyn apologize by bowing deeply: "I should''ve not spied on you."


    Minka wiped her face clean with her hands while standing up: "Don''t worry dad. It''s fine now¡­"Minka goes forward and hugs her parents: "I love you,mom and dad¡­"


    "Hey Minka¡­ do you want to kick that Leanna girl''s ass next time you meet?" Trazyn has a evil smirk on her face.


    Minka''s eyes sparked with joy: "Yes! Anything to do that!"


    Trazyn takes out a bracelet that fits perfectly on Minka''s wrist: "This is a bracelet that is able to transform into weapon on demand." He demonstrates and activated the bracelet: "Now¡­ Think of a hammer."


    Minka blinks and think of a hammer in her head, in an instant a hammer that perfectly fits in her palm appeared: "Woah, this is amazing." Then she changed it to a knife.


    "Try this." Monika gave Minka a empty bottle and it stab through it like it''s no problems.


    Minka''s eyes are filled with excitement: "Thanks dad!" Minka hugs Trazyn tightly.


    "Don''t mention it sweetie." Trazyn says back with a smile.


    Didn''t really take long until the bus for the bootcamp arrived at her house, Monika and Trazyn hugs Minka to bid farewell then promised to tell Emilia that her big sister loves her. Minka smiles and got on the bus swiftly.


    "Do you think we made the right choice to give her that relic?" Monika asks while seeing the bus has gone away.


    Trazyn sighs deeply as he thought about how he knew his daughter would be more powerful after getting it: "It was worth it if she''ll be happy with it¡­ but i know that Leanna will probably find out sooner or later¡­ and it''s up to our little angel to see how she deal with that."


    Monika also let out a sigh, then she leans her head on Trazyn''s shoulder: "Hey¡­ i just received a mission that might make gone for a while¡­"


    "Can''t you just teleport back for dinner?" Trazyn asks.


    Monika shakes her head: "No¡­ it''s one of those black ops that i can''t afford to leave for a single minute¡­"


    "Where will you go?"


    "I need to go to the abyss¡­ there''s something wrong in the bottom¡­ all communication were blacked out for at least half of a week. I need to go down." Monika said while sounding sorrowful.


    "The bottom?! And you can''t teleport back up?! Are they trying to kill you?" Trazyn sounded really upset.


    "Traz¡­I know you''re worried about me¡­ This is why i am the only one who can do this¡­"


    "I can send down a team of warriors¡­."


    "But it would compromise everything we''ve built up¡­ We can''t let a single necron appear on this planet¡­ Leonard said things need to be kept gray¡­ the current structure are still fragile."Monika has a smile on her face: "This is why i have to go¡­ can you promise me that you will take care of yourself and our children while I''m not here?"


    "When are you leaving?"


    "Any minutes now¡­"


    "¡­." Trazyn hugs Monika tight while tears dripped from his eyes: "If you don''t come back¡­ my heart will shatter into pieces."


    Monika smiles: "I know¡­i will never ever break your heart. Remember? I am literally invulnerable~" She winks cutely.


    Trazyn then kissed Monika, which makes them both blushed heavily. Then he pulled away slowly before looking at her with serious expression: "You should go now, or else, i''ll start worrying again."


    "I will come back!" Monika waves at Trazyn before leaping on to the edge of the near by building and disappeared soon after.


    Minka is tidying her bed in the room and suddenly Viola came in looking really¡­ excited:" Hey, Minky~" she said happily while approaching to the girl.


    "Oh, hello. What''s up?"


    "I got a boyfriend!" Viola''s purple eyes as if is glittering with stars.


    "Good for you!" Minka said sounding slightly exclaimed.


    Viola told Minka all about the guy she met. And how much she loves him.


    "Wait¡­ you guys met for less than a week and you are already thinking getting married?" Minka asked astonished.


    Viola nodded with excitement: "Because i love him soooo much and he also loves me as much! Speaking of which when are you getting yourself a man? Or a woman?"


    "Maybe some day¡­" Minka sighed.


    Suddenly the door got kicked open by someone: "Hello everyone! Welcome to our special guest!" Leanna came in dressed already in militarum uniform while introducing herself in a dramatic way.


    "Who''s this?" Viola looks at Minka full of questions.


    Before Minka could answer, Leanna spoke again: "Hi, i am Leanna. But you can call me Lea. And i will be your roommate starting today"


    "Ohh¡­ Nice." Viola answered casually: "Nice to meet you, I am Viola and this is Minka."


    "Hi Viola!" Leanna then narrowed her eyes while having a evil grin on her face: "Hello there¡­ Minka¡­"


    Minka was clearly unhappy with the way Leanna greeted her but she tried not to show it. Then she answers her greeting with polite tone: "Nice to meet you too, Lea..."


    "Oh? Calling me Lea already? Aren''t you a one that get familiar easily with people?" Leanna''s tone is full of taunting.


    Minka thought for a second before she gave out an evil glare at the girl: "Well yea¡­ say¡­ why do you have the Terra crest on the back pack of yours?"


    "What?" Leanna suddenly also see the Terra crest on her back pack: "I¡­ I got it from a trip!"


    Minka stood up and looks down on Leanna: "A trip? I am pretty sure that the Terra family doesn''t sell souvenirs like that."


    "Eh¡­ do you guys know each other?" Viola asks confused.


    This time, before Leanna could answer, Minka said the truth: "This is Leanna Terra. Daughter of Nova Terra."


    "Nova Terra? That military legend of this planet?!" Viola sounds like in disbelief as well as surprise.


    "Yea, that is her." Minka continues press on: "Say¡­ since you don''t know the rules here but I''ll break down for y''a. Basically, you are the little bitch of ours. You will do everything we say or we will tell everyone you''re the daughter of Nova Terra."


    "Minka? I think your threat is kinda back firing¡­ isn''t more sensible that Leanna uses her mother''s fame to get special treatment?" Viola asks.


    "Not for this one¡­ she hates to be compared to her mother." Minka''s smirk suddenly got interrupted by the headbutt of Leanna, making her stomped on the ground: "Why did you do that?!"


    "Because you''re a jerk!" Leanna sounded she''s almost crying, it is not easy for a young girl in a completely new environment to be bullied by her own cousin who she trusts dearly.


    "Yea¡­ I think you should be apologize to Lea¡­" Viola is still sitting on the bed commenting on this scene.


    "I''m sorry¡­ i didn''t mean it¡­." Minka apologies while rubbing her forehead.


    "Whatever¡­ Just don''t mention this thing ever again." Leanna sniffed her nose a bit then turns away while secretly wiping away her tears.


    "Well¡­ that was some introduction¡­" Viola got up from her bed and helps Leanna to unpack her stuffs while Minka is checking if her nose is bleeding or not.


    Leanna is finally settled in with all her things in the room and gone to the shower.


    Now there''s only Minka and Viola: "Why did you stand with her?!" Minka asks in a accusing tone: "You are supposed to be my friend!"


    "I am stopping you to bully your own cousin because I''m your friend. Don''t turn your family into enemies." Viola answered calmly.


    Minka scoffed but she knows that Viola did the right thing: "Whatever." She sits down at her desk to and began working on her report while asking: "What about the boyfriend?"


    "Oh, him..." Viola said as she carrying her uniform and headed straight for her clothes storage, putting them away and making sure everything is folded perfectly like always: "He''s just perfect for me¡­our mind and soul match. I could tell from the very beginning that he will be the one I love forever. It''s so clear. He even looks good too! Haha!" she giggled happily.


    "You never thought about it before you met him?" Minka asked in surprise: "You know you can''t really trust on that kind of feeling."


    "Yes¡­ but when you get it¡­ you understand why. You realize it makes you happy." Viola answer in a serious tone while walking back to her bed.


    Later,Leanna then entered the room while still have a sore expression on her face. Her hair was wet, combed neatly behind her head and a towel wrapped around her body to cover her nakedness while she was drying herself off with the other hand. Leanna sat beside Viola and asked: "Why are we talking about boyfriends?"


    "Because i got one! And i can''t be happier because of him!" Viola beam with energy. It is hard to believe that this very person was being a huge ass towards to Minka when they first met: "Lea, have you got one?"


    "Na, i have better things to focus on." Leanna began to change into a new set of clothes: "Finding boys aren''t really my main priority."


    "Oh? What are you priority?" Viola asks surprised.


    "Like thinking about how to strangle Minka during her sleep because she was being a jerk." Leanna looks at Minka coldly.


    "Hey!" Minka protests but Viola intervenes: "Oh come now... Leanna¡­ It''s not nice."


    "Humph!" Leanna closes her eyes and turns her head away.


    "Lea¡­ I am sorry for being an ass¡­ Can we still be friends?" Minka pleads.


    "Don''t call me by name..." Leanna said in a bit annoyed tone as she slowly nodded. Then after a moment she added reluctantly: "But yes, you can be my friend again."


    Minka smiles in relief, that goes to the same for Viola. Soon after they finished some remaining work, all of them gone to bed and prepares for the upcoming training the next day.

 Chapter 4

    The next day it is still the usual routine. When they saw Sannet they introduced Leanna to her. Like most of the people who just met Sannet. Leanna had her brain empty for a few seconds before she realized that she froze due to some reason after meeting Sannet. Sannet doesn''t seem to mind, which could be because it has happened too many times or because she simply doesn''t care.


    While they are eating Viola suddenly asks: "Do you guys know about a man called Jenkin?"


    Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.


    "I mean, his actual name is John Kranich, but everyone calls him nicknames like ''Jenkins,''" Viola continued. "There''s apparently a file somewhere in this base explaining his death."


    "Remind me again who that person is?" Minka asks.


    "He was considered one of the leading fighters against Phyrexian on the planet about 10 years ago. But he disappeared after the peak of his career. There was no news or information about this. Literally none." Viola answered with deep curiosity while having her food.


    "Weird..." Leanna thought as she took another bite from her bowl.


    "Or he was called ''Legend'' by many people. If that refreshes your memory." Viola said with a smile then continued: "His main fighting style is an advanced form of dual-wielding blades, so-called two-blade technique. The movements are quite fast and smooth and extremely deadly."


    "Oh Legend, I heard a thing or two about him." Sannet said while still having her usual cold expression: "He apparently rumored to be a huge ass though."


    "That¡­ I don''t know anything about that... But are we all in to find more information about him? I heard they fetch some nice prices~" Viola asked all at once.


    They all agreed immediately except for Leanna who just silently nods along the rest of the group.


    A few hours later they began their training for the day. After the training was finished, they had some free time for something fun and relaxing. Well that is what they told the supervisor. They are actually on their way to the B2 facility, which is contracted with Militarumtech and contains some sensitive information deep underground.


    "I still don''t get why we are doing this¡­" Leanna complained while being led into a big elevator car.


    Viola looked at her puzzledly: "Because it''s our mission."


    "No it''s not! We are supposed to complete the training and be assigned to militarum branches that fit with our personalities. Also, aren''t there other options?" She continues while getting in: "What if someone saw us going in here like this."


    "Lea, I never thought of you as a person with a high moral compass." Viola laughs: "Oh, please, come now. Are you really scared right now or maybe, just too afraid of losing face? Aren''t you trying to escape your responsibilities? No sane person would join the boot camp for fun."


    Leanna narrowed her eyes and replied sternly but quietly: "I am responsible for my own know nothing about me!"


    "Guys please!" "Don''t fight about it when we have so much work ahead of us," Minka says from behind them. Let''s go."Minka is in because she kinda needs money to get a few upgrades for herself.


    They arrived outside of a huge metal door. It looks like a vault but it is just the protective blast door. It requires a Class two ID card to get in, which Viola has. But it also needs a registered member''s print inside of the militarum, which Leanna a pilot has.


    Leanna gave Viola an icy stare before placing her hand over the sensor. With the sound of machinery, the doors open smoothly, and the lights around the room begin to turn on one by one until the entire room is brightly lit. The door is currently open and will not trigger anything. But the further in which is where the documents located will need them to improvise for themselves.


    This place doesn''t seem to have anyone inside. They all run in while scouting each corner. First they found the control room, which Sannet easily broke in and knocked out the guy in it: "Aren''t we doing a bit much?" Minka asks, seeing the knocked out body.


    "It is fine. The current shift usually takes naps around this time." Sannet explains as she searches the rooms of this facility for information about the legend: "And this mission should be easy compared to our usual stuff."


    "Why''s that?" Leanna asked as she took a look at the map that was placed in the center of the floor.


    "Because no one had visited here for months." Viola points at the visitor log.


    "I found it." Leanna points at a section of the map: "This is the paper document section which dated until 20 years ago. It will have what we need."


    Minka checked outside and seeing there''s no people, they all sneakily bypassed multiple patrolling guards and finally arrived at the sector door. The door slowly opened with their combined effort, revealing countless shelves filled with files, some even wrapped up with ribbons or secured with special sealants, making sure only authorized personnel could get to them.


    Leanna picked up several random documents before turning her attention to an old file. She began to read through them carefully but before long her eyes grew wide in shock: "This isn''t possible¡­"


    "What isn''t?" Minka asks while looking for the file they want.


    "Apparently, this facility was a research base for cultivating an alternative to space marines. It was trying to create a serum that is able to give superhuman strength and durability while retaining the person''s personality." Leanna read through the first few pages: "Huh¡­ And they used people in the camp for the experiments."


    "What a lovely story, now help us to find the information regarding the legend." Viola says as she flipped through a lot of files until finding the one she needed.


    Minka looked at Leanna who continued reading from another document. The contents were written clearly about how Legend worked together with other mercenaries and successfully managed to kill two separate groups of dangerous monsters. But then there were no follow up reports. This really seems like the lost page of history: "Weird..." She thought.


    "The reports regarding the legend seem like it has been stripped after this mission." Minka said while scanning the room for any sign of anyone.


    Leanna put the paper down in front of the group. They all couldn''t believe it since they had never seen this kind of thing before. But then Sannet found something weirder, a psychological report regarding the legend. It contained various records that showed the personality and behavior of different people when they encountered him. It wasn''t anything extraordinary until the very end, where the writer was talking about a woman named Nova Terra: "Nova Terra dictated that the Legend had started to stray from the role which was assigned to him. She decided to demand further resources and manpower to deal with the situation."


    "Your mom signed out for this?" Viola asks Leanna.


    "I don''t know¡­ she never really talks about work at home¡­ Especially something like this. Knowing mom, she had to write something very detailed about further reports. We need to find it." Leanna gets back into searching while moving through the shelves.


    Minka looks at the file again, but only finds some other words written in black ink on a plain white paper: "Cursed." That''s strange, why would the word ''cursed'' in the file but not written in the report format¡­ Minka thought.


    Viola then found another file: "Mission report 2192." She opens it up and reads it carefully. Then she saw an odd paragraph that she could hardly understand at first glance. It was talking about an incident involving an Imperial General who went insane due to his defeat and was running rampage across the planet until the Legend killed him. And apparently based on what they''ve found this was his last mission: "A general running rampage?"


    Suddenly they heard footsteps outside of the door. They all stopped moving and lucky the person outside did not come in. But they still hear them walking around. "I think someone is coming this way?" Viola says.


    "Looks like it." Leanna said while looking over the map. The map shows there should be a room nearby: "I think we have found enough, let''s ditch via the vent." Leanna said while crawling under a shelf with her legs while trying to get out as fast as possible without making noise. After reaching the next room, they were able to squeeze through a narrow space by going down several floors using a staircase near where Leanna crawled out from. Then they used a maintenance lift to leave the facility.


    "Whew! Not even breaking a sweat." Viola looks at the files in their bag: "This will fetch a nice price."


    "Before you turn it in, let''s meet up in our room to link the information together." Minka suggests. And everyone nodded their heads. Later at night near midnight, everyone sat on the dorm ground and started discussing what to do with the information.


    "Now let us conclude what we know, Legend was a very avid fighter who served and became a prominent figure. But soon after Nova Terra herself deemed the Legend to be unfit for further deployment¡­" Viola looks at the stack of documents in her hand: "What the hell had happened?"


    "Maybe because the mission was related to that imperial general who had gone rampage¡­ which was¡­ wait.." Minka blinks a few times before saying the next word: "200 years ago?"


    Everyone looked at Minka in silence.


    "Are you serious?!" Leanna exclaimed: "That can''t be right!"


    Viola took over the document Minka had: "It is legit¡­ unless this document is forged or altered. The event apparently also took place near the abyss. But it doesn''t make sense because the abyss didn''t exist until the end of the phyrexian war."


    "Well¡­ I can ask my mom about it¡­ it''s just¡­" Leanna said while sounding hesitant.


    "What''s wrong?" Viola asks.


    Leanna shrugs her shoulders: "Nothing. I am afraid to go home. Because she will probably say something like: ''Oh Lea, you already coming back?'' And Mom will blame herself for not helping me prepare better for this."


    "That sounds rather sweet of your mom¡­." Viola says with a smile, then quickly looks at the documents in front of her again: "Anyway, let us start from the beginning..." She continues by reading the file.


    "Or we should just go to the location mentioned in the document." Sannet suddenly spoke up and everyone turned their eyes towards her.


    "But how are we going to sneak out of the camp? We don''t have a valid excuse." Minka said after hearing what Sannet proposed.


    "I think it''s possible if we plan well enough... If we come up with a story and act naturally," Leanna replies while thinking through what could happen next: "Like a family emergency¡­"


    "But it would take days for us to get there! It is too long for us¡­" Viola added : "And we need to submit the document as well. So we need to act independently." Viola then looks at Sannet: "You work for the adventures guild¡­so¡­are you able to give us some membership pass or something like that?"


    "You want to join the guild?" Sannet ponders for a few seconds: "Alright, but you guys need to do some tests in order to become one."


    "What''s the qualification? I love tests!" Minka said it with a straight face.


    "Nerd!" Viola pinches Minka''s cheek.


    "I am not a nerd¡­" Minka said while blushing, before noticing the look from Leanna.


    Sannet then hands them all a card that is supposed to be a membership card for the guild. "It is only good for 3 months. So it''s good for the current investigation. However, you guys will need to attend and pass the test."


    "Why do we need to pass it?" Leanna asks.


    "Because the card I just handed is a personal recommendation card, which only the exclusive members can give to outsiders. All of my personal honors depend on this." Sannet replied: "After this investigation, I need to assign you guys some quests to make your qualification legit."


    "That should be easy right?" Minka asks.


    "Sure, you just need to survive as a group in the phyrexian ruin for about a week." Sannet said while looking at them seriously.


    "Hold on¡­ I remember hearing that the ruin is currently infected with some strange organisms which killed three strike teams already¡­" Viola muttered.


    "Well, decide now. Or we are not doing this." Sannet crosses her arms looking at the girls.


    All of them looked at each other nervously. After several minutes, they all agreed to accept the challenge: "Alright, we accept! So¡­ what now?"


    "I will submit a claim with the head then we leave the day after tomorrow." Sannet stood up then headed back to her room: "Good night."


    "Well¡­ I''m exhausted from all of this¡­Good night everyone." Leanna lies on her bed and begins dozing off.


    "Something on your mind?" Minka asks Viola.


    "It is amazing that we are actually doing something that might have a impact on things." Viola smiles.


    "What do you mean by this?" Minka asks while holding her cup of hot tea.


    "I was like you once, big eyed for adventures trying to make a difference in the world. But soon I realized that everything is too far out of my reach. So¡­ I gave up doing what''s right¡­" Viola sighs softly: "But here we are¡­ somehow managing to be part of something bigger than ourselves." She looked at Sannet''s room which is across their own: "I don''t know if she is also with us on this or trying to gain something out of it¡­ but¡­ it doesn''t matter."


    "Yea¡­ I didn''t expect Sannet to help us like this. We owe her one, so let''s make this worth it, alright?"Minka smiles warmly.


    "Hey Minka¡­"


    "Yes?"


    "Can I get a lap pillow?"


    "No!"


    On the preparation day, they all packed up a backpack and headed out to the abyss. Abyss is a man made mining rig at first for the deep planetary mineral operations but soon it was abandoned for the diggers releasing something from the depth of the planet, however it was never confirmed. The abyss is so deep that it has its own climate and ecosystem within. As long as you stay in the lighted zone above ground there are no monsters or creatures roaming around; only strange plants grow near the entrance and walls where you can find fossils from different types of creatures. Or like Minka''s father used to say to her: "All kinds of weird shit grows down here. No human has ever ventured inside because even the brave explorers who were sent to scout have vanished into thin air, leaving behind nothing except for a bunch of crazy stories about an underground city and some strange tunnels. Only a fool would actually try and go even near there."


    "I guess I''m a fool then." Minka shrugs off the words Trazyn told her a while ago. Sannet apparently is drawing a lot of attention, not because of the way she looks but the badge of guild that was only given to ten people since the creation . Despite encountering some small issues they managed to arrive at the town where the event related to Legend had happened. Compared to the hive city, this place is seemingly less developed but the air quality is better at least. They decided to rest their tired legs by purchasing some food at a nearby restaurant and eating together outside while admiring the scenery. It wasn''t very busy at this time though considering it''s still early for dinner and most people are still working.


    "Minka?" Suddenly a familiar voice came from behind her.


    "Dad?" Minka turned around looking very surprised: "What are you doing here?"


    "Just visiting this place. Aren''t you supposed to be at the bootcamp?" Trazyn asked. He looked at the girls with his usual expressionless face before turning back to look at the horizon in front of him.


    "Well¡­ we are having a ¡­ field trip here." Minka panicked a bit.


    "Hi . How are you doing?" Viola interrupts because she saw Minka was struggling.


    "Hi, Uncle." Leanna also greets


    "Hey hey, it''s nice seeing you guys hanging out." He changed his expression to a wholehearted smile.


    "Dad.. this is Sannet." Minka introduced.


    "Sannet." His smile got wider but seemingly turning to a fake grin on his face: "Is Sannet also your friend, dear daughter." Trazyn asks while putting emphasis into the last part as if he was mocking her.


    Instead of having that constant expressionless cold face, Sannet seemingly just focuses on sipping her drink and tries to avoid eye contact with Trazyn.


    "Yes, dad. This is why she''s with us¡­ is there something wrong? Where''s mom by the way?" Minka asks worriedly.


    Trazyn exhales softly. "Your mother is on one of those missions again. So worry not, she''s not gonna be home anytime soon." He then shifted his gaze to Leanna: "Lea, does Nova know about this?"


    "Huh?" Leanna''s eyes widened: "I¡­ no¡­i didn''t tell her about coming here¡­"


    "You naughty kids¡­" Trazyn pats Minka''s head: "Well, don''t worry I won''t tell on anyone. Snitching is not really my specialist. But you guys should worry about this place¡­ it''s god forsaken for a reason."


    "Thank dad¡­ by the way are you the CSO of Militarumtech?" Minka asks for Viola.


    "Oh, yea. I am. Did Viola tell you that?" Trazyn smirks.


    Minka looks at Viola who nodded silently with a slight blush to her cheeks. Then Trazyn explains: "It wasn''t a title of accomplishment or anything like that though. I am just a representative of countless hard working people much like Viola, I still report to the head though." He then pats Minka again: "Well enjoy your trips with your friend!" He then looks at Sannet seemingly saying specifically for her: "Take care of yourselves."


    "Thanks dad!" Minka hugs his father tightly and bids farewell to the girls.


    After eating dinner, all four girls decided to take a stroll around town since it was not very busy yet as there were not many tourists due to lack of attractions in this city. Leanna decides to walk with Sannet, for one she wants to know her better and another reason is that she noticed the little change of expression when Sannet saw Trazyn.


    "So... is quite a character huh?" Leanna decided to start the conversation while they were waiting for the street food.


    "Yes, he''s really eccentric." Sannet nods, she seemed to be getting used to talking to Leanna already.


    "Can you believe him having the name of a necron overlord?" Leanna smiles wryly at her. "I think he''s probably hiding some dark secrets."


    Sannet doesn''t seem bothered by it at all but instead shrugs her shoulders: "Well whatever...everyone is hiding something..."


    "That is true... Well, since we are in a team now, do you want to share some secrets?" Leanna asks jokingly to tease her new partner.


    "What kind of secret? There aren''t any about me, I don''t have any¡­" Sannet says quietly, not looking up to meet Leanna''s eyes.


    Leanna did not expect to see Sannet at this side, she realized that talking about her uncle might be a pressure point for Sannet. Just knowing this is enough for her, so she decided to change the subject: "Well... we can share our opinion on Minka!" She has an evil smirk on her face.


    "Huh?" Sannet looked surprised and thought about something: "I always thought Minka was an air head but when I got to know her, she is actually a very thoughtful and nice person. But I have to say that she does have some really bad taste when it comes to clothing, did you even see that purple dress she had? It looks like something from fifty years ago."


    Sannet is more chatty than Leanna thought, it really seems like Sannet is more conversational when they are separated: "Yeah, Minka usually wears plain clothes most of the time. And those are the clothes she spent the effort to choose. But... she''s probably one of the most stubborn people I''ve known. She knows no defeat and always tries to work through stuff...Sometimes I feel like she must live a tiring life, always trying, never standing back a little to find joy in life."


    "Is this why you and Viola joked that she never had friends before?" Sannet asks while looking at Leanna.


    "Well yes..." Leanna blushed a bit embarrassed but smiling at the same time because her heart starts to flutter when Sannet looks at her. "...That was also partly true though¡­" Leanna pauses for a second: "I mean... everyone deserves to be happy right? Minka doesn''t have anyone to be close to until now... "she suddenly realized how much she opened herself up, so she tries not to overdo it: "But it doesn''t mean i won''t mess with her." Leanna honestly is a bit lost in her mind when she sees Sannet''s figure, how can someone be this beautiful? She looked like a doll that had been given life to.


    "Emm, this is amazing!" Sannet just had a bite of the meat pocket that she bought. Sannet tilts the food towards Leanna: "You want to have a bite?"


    "It smells amazing! But... I am currently controlling my weight.." Leanna sighs: "Sorry but I need to watch what I eat since we are on training camp."


    "You look healthy though." Sannet gave an apologetic smile.


    "I know... it''s my mom, she is really strict about things like this..." She looks down sadly.


    "Is your mother this strict?" Sannet asks curiously.


    Leanna nods quietly: "Yeah... she has high expectations of me and I don''t want to fail her..."


    "And you are the one talking about how Minka is not happy with her life." Sannet points out.


    "I know... and this is why I know exactly why being happy is such a great quality to have in life... Minka doesn''t understand how but... I really want to... this is why I came to the bootcamp." Leanna smiles awkwardly.


    "Oh.. I see." Sannet understood now the reason Leanna came, she then turned to look at the street where people were walking around: "Well when I first came, Viola and Minka wanted to beat me up but... I dropped them before they could even start speaking."


    "Those two can be idiots sometimes... but I really find Viola can be very outward and charming at times. She always seems like trying to lift everyone''s spirits up with either teasing or bringing up strange quests like this one." Leanna said while looking at a couple who just walked passed. Her eyes track at them for some distance.


    Sannet nods to Leanna ''s comment on Viola: "Yeah she can be a handful at times."


    A thought crossed both girls'' minds as their eyes met again: "So..."


    "So?"


    Leanna just couldn''t hold back her question: "What''s your story?"


    "My story? What do you mean by that?" Sannet slightly tilted her head sideways due to confusion.


    "Your past... your family background... What made you become a guild member? I know that you used to know Trazyn but what happened?"


    Sannet was stunned by this sudden question from Leanna: "How did you know?"


    "You surely don''t talk a lot when we are together but your expression told me everything." Leanna said with an honest smile on her face.


    "I didn''t know that you paid that much attention to my expression..." Sannet said in awe.


    "Well now you know what I know. So... why don''t we be a little more honest to each other? I promise i won''t tell anyone." Leanna said in a playful tone while making a fist in front of her chest. Leanna has the intelligence of her mother but inherited the outgoing straightforward attitude from her father.


    "I never thought of that..." Sannet had a small smile on her face as she thought about it: "Alright...I''ll tell you..." Sannet leans back on the bench and looks up at the star: "A while ago I lost my memory. I couldn''t remember who I was but it was him who took me in, trained me and eventually taught me everything about myself that I know today." She paused for a second and continued: "He taught me that even if there is a huge gap between us, he will always be there for me no matter what and I will do so for him as well."


    "So... why did you leave him?" Leanna asked while keeping her eyes fixed on the star above their heads.


    "Because he lied to me." Sannet said softly as she clenched her fist .


    "What do you mean by that?"


    Sannet sighed and let her anger fade away: "I was always wondering who he truly was...But... I never should''ve tried to find out the truth...I was not prepared to face it and process it properly."


    "That''s rough... but... what did he do?" Leanna said carefully with a sad expression on her face.


    "He was the one that killed everything that mattered to me, made me lose my memory and eventually lied to me every step until I departed from him." Sannet said coldly while clenching her fists again.


    "I''m sorry... that must''ve been painful." Leanna said gently.


    Sannet nods with a slight smile: "Well... even though that was a long time ago, I just could not forgive him..." She then looked at Leanna and smiled: "And I couldn''t forgive myself either..."


    " That was not your fault! He manipulated you, used you and ruined you!" Leanna said with determination as she looked straight at Sannet.


    Sannet looked down: "I know... but he also took time to take care of me and never asked for anything back... He''s a... huge asshole but... he is also kind of like a mentor to me so it''s hard to hate him for what he did... even if it hurts me terribly."


    "..." Leanna felt anger in her heart and her face tensed up. But then she slowly relaxed again. "Yeah... I understand how you feel." She said with a gentle voice. "But it''s time to move forward from here...If you want... I will always be at your side."


    Sannet did a rare chuckle: "You''re too kind."


    They continue to watch the city as the stars shine on their faces.


    "Hey you guys~" Viola and Minka came over while holding some nice street food as well: "Having fun chatting?" Viola asked with a smirk on her face while handing out food to each one of them.


    "Yea... we were just discussing the plans for tomorrow." Leanna said with a half-smile on her face.


    "Always working, such a Terra trait. Minka was also pegging me for more information about the place. You two should really take off that popsicle stick." Viola said with a sly smile on her face while she handed out her own snacks to the group.


    "Yes, I suppose..." Leanna said with an apologetic expression on her face as she took the snacks.


    "What does the popsicle stick mean?" Minka asks while looking at the two girls curiously.


    "She means that there''s always a stick up your..." Sannet explains but gets interrupted by Minka.


    "Stop it! I don''t want to hear more about it! It''s disgusting!" Minka covered her ears with both hands and started to squirm in embarrassment.


    "Okay okay! I''ll stop! Sorry!" Sannet quickly apologized for her explanation. She had a true genuine smile on her face for a second.


    After sight seeing a bit more, the girls then proceeded back to the hotel and slept nicely and happily.


    The next day, they woke up early in the morning and ate a quick breakfast before heading out to the village where their first destination is. The old militarum camp where the Legend was stationed: "Well... we should just ask around... but I don''t think we can get in there." Viola said while she had a serious look on her face: "If only we knew someone that could get us in there..." She then looks at Minka.


    "My dad? No way, he doesn''t have access for this." Minka said with a deadpan expression on her face while crossing her arms.


    Viola then looks at Leanna then gets closer. Then she asks Minka: "How tall is your aunt, Minka?"


    "About the same height as Lea... Oh..." Minka realized what Viola was about: "I think it would work."


    "What? No way!" Leanna protested immediately, but then she hesitated, she also realized that this might work. Leanna looks at Sannet begging for help: "Hey Sannet, do you have any ideas?"


    Sannet shook her head with an apologetic expression on her face: "Sorry Lea... I have nothing!"


    Leanna then turned to look at Viola who had a proud expression on her face: "Do your worst..." Leanna looks away while having a resentful look on her face.


    After the collective work of everyone, a person looks almost indistinguishable from general Nova. Leanna hates this so badly, but when she thinks about the stake of the entire operation. She let out a long sigh and approached the guard tower. She stood there without speaking a word.


    "General Nova?... we did not expect you to be here." One of the guards immediately recognized. The guard quickly saluted as he opened the gate to allow Leanna in.


    "I have some people accompanying me as well." Leanna signals the girls to come with her. Honestly? She''s acting like she''s her mother herself.


    The guard nodded and let them in. Minka walks behind Leanna and whispers: "That was amazing Lea!"


    "Shut up... I am trying not to blow it..." Leanna said while grinding her teeth hard to control her anger and impatience. She then continues forward with her steps.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Now we just need to head to the archive to find the records." Viola points the way for Leanna.


    As expected the disguise of Leanna did prove that a famous face will open many doors for them, without even needing to check for the documents they arrived at the archive room: "Now let''s get done with this already..." Leanna unties her ponytail as she lets out a sigh of annoyance.


    After about fifteen minutes they heard footsteps coming: "What the hell is this?" The commanding office of this base came over and shouted at the room.


    Leanna came forward and stood in front of him: "I don''t appreciate the tone... sir."


    "Yea! I don''t appreciate it when people come to my damn base and start searching without a reason!" He shouted at Leanna.


    Leanna kept her cool and answered: "This is an under the book operation from the inquisition. If you want to go against it, I would advise you to stand down."


    The officer suddenly stopped talking, he can tell that if General Nova came over under the order of the inquisition, something might be going on. And this is way above his pay grade. The officer then asked: "What do you want?"


    "We''re here to inspect this camp and find out information about the Legend." Leanna said with her serious expression on her face: "Then we will be leaving when our information gathering is over."


    "Yes... general... you can go right ahead." But everyone can tell he was not happy about standing down.


    Leanna then shut the door and sat on the ground: "Whew... that was way too close."


    Everyone gave a thumbs up to Leanna and after about thirty more minutes, they found what they were looking for. A deployment record of the Legend. They then quickly located an area where it was related with his last deployment, a small village not too far away from the camp but it will take them a day of drive.


    They then snuck out quickly with barely getting noticed. Later at dinner they are celebrating with the brilliant idea: "Cheers! Lea is really amazing at this!" Viola said happily while drinking from a bottle of whiskey.


    "Thank you... but we still have a long way to go." Leanna said while drinking her beer calmly.


    "I thought it was Aunt Nova for a second there." Minka said with a cheeky grin. Leanna just glared at her but did not say anything.


    Only Sannet knew what Leanna went through, she gently pats Leanna''s back while also calmly drinking her beer.


    The next morning, they rented a car and started driving towards the destination: "Wait... is that a hot spring?" Minka points on the map.


    "Yeah, you guys wanna go?" Viola asks while looking at everyone else.


    Sannet and Leanna look at each other and then nod their head. It''s not usual to go to the hot spring early in the morning but this is the reason that there''s lesser people at it during this time so they can also discuss the plan for the upcoming destination.


    "Man... it has been a while since I was in a hot spring..." Minka lays her head back on the edge while sinking her body in. The hot spring felt very good for all of them except for Sannet, who didn''t like hot things very much, so she just dipped her feet in while looking at them.


    "Aunt Monika and uncle Trazyn don''t bring you often?" Leanna asks while dipping her body in the water.


    "No, it''s more like I was in school trying to get away from them." Minka said with a bit of an annoyed expression on her face.


    "Your parents are amazing, why don''t you want to spend time with them?" Viola asks.


    "I just feel awkward when I''m with them." Minka said as she tried to explain her feelings to Viola. "They just treat me like a kid and I just can''t stand it."


    "Minka, it''s not their fault." Leanna said while staring at the pool: "They are just trying to protect you."


    "Of course you''re the one to talk to, if I have aunt Nova as mom I would be sooo happy." Minka said with a bit of anger in her voice: "But instead my parents treat me like a kid and won''t listen to me."


    "That''s not true! "Your parents are the ones I look up to the most!" Leanna said while placing her hand on her chest: "They have no expectations of you! And they give you a choice to be happy and have fun growing up! You should be grateful!"


    "Why are you always fighting against me? I thought we were friends!" Minka said, her eyes turning red.


    "I am saying this because i''m your friend!" Leanna said while sitting on the edge of the pool: "You are stubborn and careless!"


    "You..." Minka turns her face away, but Viola can see a few tears dropping from Minka''s eyes.


    "I''m sorry!" Leanna said while quickly moving to hug Minka: "But you should know how lucky you are to have a parent such as yours."


    "I don''t care!" Minka said while pulling out of Leanna''s grasp.


    "Minka... why do you hate them so much?" Leanna asks with a soft voice while staring at her face: "Did they do something wrong?"


    Minka shakes her head, which is full of tears: "No, everything they did was right to me! But... they never let me do anything that''s outside of their expectation and if i do... they will take it away...That''s why i was so scared of having friends..."


    "They wouldn''t do that... right? That sounds psychotic..." Viola said while staring at her friends who were all in deep conversation.


    "They thought I wouldn''t know... but I knew all along..." Minka said as tears continued to flow down her face.


    "Minka, every single one of us is proud to be your friend... and we are all strong enough to protect ourselves and each other!" Viola said while using her arm to wipe the tears off from Minka''s eyes: "Don''t cry, we are here for you."


    Leanna quickly holds her hand: "We will protect you."


    Sannet also came in and held their hands: "So do i."


    Leanna glances at Sannet as if telling her: If you want to tell Minka about yourself, it''s now.


    Sannet looks back but decides not to, not now, not yet. Sannet just gently pats Minka on her back then eventually calms her down. Hearing what Minka said about her parents, Sannet couldn''t help but frown for a few seconds because even for his own daughter Trazyn is still doing exactly the same as what he did with her. About that, Sannet and Minka are in the same boat. She secretly decides to not carry out Trazyn''s order anymore, instead she will just help Minka to achieve what she wants.


    "Well now since we are reconciled let us discuss our plans for the village, because we just can''t go in blindly." Viola said while opening her notebook to write down notes for their current location and their plans for the village. They discussed for about an hour then finally left the place.


    "Lea... I want to apologize..." Minka said while sitting in the back seat. "I''m sorry for being mad at you..."


    "It''s okay..." Leanna said while smiling.


    "You know, I just wanted to be treated as an adult and not just be treated like a child by my parents...But I oversaw the difficulties that you had to come across..." Minka said while looking at Leanna who was looking at the scenery out of the window.


    "That''s okay... I understand..." Leanna said with a bit of hesitation: "But don''t worry, I''ll still be your friend...and besides." She suddenly has a smirk on her face: "I wasn''t the one crying like a little girl."


    "You..." Minka is embarrassed and turns away from Leanna while smiling at the scenery out of the window.


    "Well, we are getting close to our destination, so keep your eyes peeled and keep your wits about you!" Viola said while driving the car fastly: "There might be monsters in here, so be on your guard!"


    "Monsters?" Leanna asked while looking at Viola: "What kind of monsters?"


    "You know, the usual type, like a boar and stuff." Viola suddenly hits the brake and signs everyone to be quiet. There''s a huge half mechanical lizard crossing the road, it is almost as big as their car. The driver slowly turned down the car to avoid the lizard, but the lizard saw them and tried to attack them by using its huge tail which was like a giant club. The lizard swiped with its tail, but luckily it missed its target. Viola immediately reversed and did a sharp 180 turn and began to drive away, but a second one immediately came out of the forest and crawled in the middle of the road.


    "Guess we have to fight this..." Sannet leaves the car and pulls out her short sword from her back: "I''ll take one of them."


    "Wait! You can''t fight it alone!" Leanna says while holding her breath as she gets out of the car: "What should i do?"


    "You stay here..." Sannet said while running towards the lizard as she unsheathes her sword from its sheath: "I will handle this."


    "Lea, Viola let''s deal with the other one." Minka said while activating the bracelet her father gave her.


    Leanna took a deep breath and got out of the car while feeling the wind around her, then she unleashed a wave of air blade at the lizard, it did damage but far from killing it. The lizard roared loudly and tried to crush Leanna under its tail, however she avoided it with ease. Suddenly, she sees Minka rushing forward recklessly: "Minka?!"


    "I''ll do it!" Minka shouted with a loud voice while charging forward at the lizard, suddenly green light came from her right hand and a weapon that looked like the powerfist appeared in Minka''s hand and she swung it with full force. With a loud cracking noise, she sunk half of the lizard''s jaw into its face. It roars in pain and now fixated on Minka.


    "Minka!" Leanna shouts with worry.


    Minka seems not to care as she just continues to charge at the lizard while holding her powerfist. After another two seconds she sunk her powerfist completely into its head and it roared in pain and fell to the ground. But after that it jumped back up and now attacked towards Minka again with its jaws open wide. However, it failed to attack as Leanna uses the windblast to hit its limb to assist Minka with her attacks.


    "Minka! Duck!" Viola suddenly shouted and fired a grenade from her grenade launcher. It hit it''s head and blasted it''s cheek, she then fired another then another until the beast finally fell on the ground."Nice work girls!" Viola said while coming closer to them while they were still breathing heavily: "Are you guys alright?"


    "Yeah, we are fine." Leanna replied while still catching her breath.


    They then saw Sannet split the beast open with her sword by running across on it''s back and landed steadily with a flip in the air. Sannet was covered in blood and her short sword was dripping red: "Woah.." All three of them were stunned and were silent. They saw Sannet wiping her bloodied sword with a rag.


    "Did you get hurt?" Leanna asked Sannet with worry: "Are you okay?"


    "I''m alright, it''s just the blood is really nasty..." Sannet said while trying to clean herself off.


    "We better report this to the authorities." Viola said while taking her notebook out from her bag. She writes down everything that happened with great detail and then signs it at the end before putting it back in her bag: "Now we better get to the village and report what happened."


    Everyone nodded to agree and got into the car. Sannet managed to wipe away the blood on her face, but she needed to find a place to wash her hair. Leanna looks at Minka and finally asks about the powerfist she used during the battle: "So... where did you get it?"


    "Oh... Well... You know..." Minka answered nervously: "I had gotten it from a weapon shop."


    "Lies, no weapon shop will sell anything like this." Leanna said while raising her eyebrows.


    "Alright... It was my dad... He gave me so...i could kick your ass..." Minka replied, hiding her embarrassment under the windshield.


    "..."Leanna is speechless, but then she lets out a sigh: "Well... just don''t show it to others, and I think we will be fine..."


    As they approached the village, they could see smoke rising from the chimneys of the houses. Viola slows down the car while approaching the village with caution: "Let''s be on our guard." Viola then parked the car next to a hotel and packed her weapons into a sports bag.


    Sannet wiped most of the blood off her, but the smell of blood still makes everyone frown. When they entered the hotel, they checked in quickly and went into the room. The first thing to do was to take a shower and change their clothes. And of course, Sannet was the first one to step in. Leanna however went downstairs to ask some questions about the locals.


    "Are you always carrying a bag full of weapons?" Minka asks Viola.


    "Yep, always." Viola replies as she takes out her notebook.


    "Are you allowed to? Like having a license or sorts." Minka questions this further.


    "Nope, that''s why I joined the bootcamp to have the legitimacy to do so." Viola answers.


    "You don''t think about serving the imperium and helping out the one that can''t defend themselves?" Minka asks with a shocked expression.


    "Nope, I couldn''t give a damn. I have side jobs and main responsibilities to take care of." Viola answered with a cold expression while cleaning her clothes.


    "But there''s plenty of people that are willing to fight for this world. Why don''t you join one of those?" Minka asked with concern.


    "Why do I need to join if plenty of people like you are already joining?" Viola replied coldly: "And why would I join just for glory or honor? There are people who fight for money, power, love, but there are even more who fight for survival ...I just happen to be the latter."


    Minka is speechless, she didn''t expect an answer like that from someone who seemingly always teases her. Viola was right, but she should at least try to become a better person, she should at least try to understand the other side of the argument before making such an insensitive remark: "That doesn''t sound like you."


    "I don''t see you doing any better..." Viola replies with a cold smile as she closes her notebook and puts it back into her bag: "Look, I wasn''t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. So I had to fight through my life and take care of whoever is important to me."


    "Is that why you keep helping others even when you''re in trouble?" Minka asks curiously.


    "Yup... I guess you can say that." Viola replied with an awkward expression on her face: "But I wouldn''t help anyone if they didn''t help me in return. Now... since you know more about me..." Viola suddenly pushes Minka on the bed: "How will you repay me?~"


    Minka''s eyes widen as she gasps, she was never expecting an aggressive response from Viola like this, so she doesn''t have any idea what to do or say as she is still stunned by this sudden action: "Um...what do you want...?"


    "Well now... since no one is here..." Viola then put her hand on Minka''s collar while looking straight into Minka''s eyes: "I want you..."


    Minka gulps as she feels a tingle of arousal spreading through her body as Viola''s hands caress her collar, she was never expecting this type of reaction from someone like Viola who usually teased her all the time: "M-me?" Her face is bright red: "You have a boyfriend!" She was blushing furiously now, she was so embarrassed and her heart was pounding hard now: "I-I don''t want to...!"


    Suddenly Viola broke her act and laughed uncontrollably : "I don''t want to..! Now that''s a good reaction!" She giggles: "My... you really think i was going for it?" She then pushes herself onto the bed beside Minka while lying on top of her, pressing her against the bed while placing one of her legs on top of Minka''s leg while reaching up to caress Minka''s cheek: "You are just too cute.."


    "Get away from me!" Minka pushes Viola away and tidy up her shirt, her face is bright red but she was hell out of annoyed by that act. She didn''t expect such an action from Viola: "You... you are unbelievable?! How could you joke with this kind of thing?!"


    "Oh c''mon... What''s wrong? Is that really what you think?" Viola asked with a teasing smile.


    "I mean... I don''t mind if you flirt or tease but... just so you know, I am not interested in women whatsoever. I don''t have problems with that but it''s really not for me." Minka said while glaring at Viola: "I thought that you were my friend but it seems that I was mistaken... you are a real piece of work."


    "Oh, that''s too bad..." Viola then stood up and get close up with Minka: "In this world, it''s either you get fucked or you fuck other people."


    "That''s not true!" Minka stares right into Viola''s eyes while feeling a tingle of fear: "The world can be cruel but it doesn''t mean that you should face every other person with that pessimistic attitude!"


    "And how should I feel then?" Viola asked with a cold expression on her face: "You''re just like a spoiled brat who clearly never seen the worst of the worst."


    "Is this how you see me? Like a plant who grows in a greenhouse? Always been protected from the outside world?" Minka steps forward.


    "You are not even worth my time." Viola replied with a cold expression: "It''s a wonder why you didn''t get killed already."


    "Don''t you even know how much I have suffered in my life?" Minka asks as her eyes are full of tears, but still full of determination: "You don''t even know how much pain I went through for everything I am today..."


    Suddenly Leanna entered the room with a look full of confusion: "Were you two fighting?"


    "Just a little." Viola replied as she walked past Leanna without saying anything else: "She was being an idiot anyway." Viola then proceeded to go downstairs for some fresh air.


    Leanna then puts her hands on her hips while looking at Minka in a rather disappointed manner: "What did you do to her?"


    "Nothing." Minka answered as she took out her towel from her backpack: "I just wanted to help her... but she didn''t want to listen..."


    "Why do you do that all the time?" Leanna asked with an angry tone: "Why do you always try to help people even when they won''t listen to you?"


    "Well..." Minka began to speak but was interrupted by Leanna: "You know what you did wrong... Look, in an adult world people select the people they want to be with, this goes to friends, family and lovers. Don''t try to change her, be the friend she needs when she''s sad or down. I don''t care about what you two were arguing about, but this was on you!"Leanna pokes her finger on Minka''s chest: "You''re such an idealist and honestly it''s getting on my nerves. You need to apologize." Leanna crosses her arms.


    "Leanna, stop it!" Minka yelled at Leanna : "This isn''t even your business!"


    "When our team starts having pointless arguments like this? Now that is my emperor''s damned business. I will not hesitate to give you a good beating if you keep this up." Leanna looks at Minka furiously: "And that girl has suffered so much already. It''s enough that she has to suffer alone, don''t add more pressure on her. You could tell from the way she deals with people, do you think she would ask us for this quest if we are not somewhat useful?"


    Minka''s face turns bright red, she knows she screwed up: "Leanna... I''m sorry..."


    "Apologize to her." Leanna said as she put her hands on Minka''s shoulders and pull her close to her while staring at her directly into her eyes: "Look... I might be your cousin but I always see you like my own sister, my big sister. And sisters always have each other''s back, even correcting one''s mistakes."


    "Lea..." Minka hugs Leanna tight while having tears running out of her eyes: "I''m sorry..."


    "Don''t apologize too much." Leanna smiles at Minka before giving her a hug: "Now... head down, and give Viola a nice heartfilled apology and it will all be gone."


    Minka nodded and began heading downstairs.


    "Well I didn''t know you''re so good at holding the team together." Sannet leans on the door frame while wrapped in towel, she looks rather impressed.


    "I just hate when things are out of order, and humans are... unpredictable by nature... I do my best to cope with everyone I know." Leanna said as she took a seat on the couch.


    "You''re really good at holding us together." Sannet replied while changing her clothes: "You always find the best approach to talk to everyone you know."


    "Thanks for that." Leanna smiled while putting down her hands on the armrest of the chair, she then looked up at Sannet as she spoke: "But don''t tell anyone that I told you this or they would be worried about me." Leanna taps her finger four times but she then cramped it into a fist.


    "Don''t worry about it." Sannet said with a warm smile: "But... How come you''re so good with talking to others? Even me?" Sannet asked with curiosity, she then noticed Leanna''s look and tried to cover it up: "Sorry, it''s not my business really."


    "I guess I was born with it." Leanna replied while scratching her cheek with her finger: "I''m always trying to keep things under control."


    "I see..." Sannet looked away while thinking about this for a bit.


    Then Viola came in looking as stoic as ever, Leanna looked up and asked: "Well? Did you and Minka make up with each other?"


    "Minka? I didn''t see her." Viola replied with a cold expression: "What was I supposed to say to that spoiled brat anyway?"


    "Wait..."Leanna stood up: "She was about to apologize to you. She literally went down a few minutes ago." Leanna looks outside the window, nothing. Minka is not downstairs.


    Sannet is already geared up: "I will go and look for her. Stay, I feel like something wrong is going on."


    Viola opens up her sports bag and throws Leanna a shotgun: "You know how to shoot?"


    "Yes." Leanna nodded and caught the weapon from Viola, she then quickly examined it and loaded it with shells: "If someone is on to us, we need to stay together."


    Viola nodded and stuffed a small auto pistol into her holster. Leanna then opened up the door and suddenly she saw Minka: "What the..."


    "I''m sorry!" Minka yells as she rushes inside and hugs Viola tightly.


    "Minka..." Viola then took a step back from Minka and looked at her face: "You alright?"


    Minka nods her head rapidly and then hands over a bag full of cupcakes: "I am sorry for being such an insensitive brat..." She timidly said.


    "Don''t be an idiot!" Viola loudly scolded, she then took a step forward and hugged her tightly: "I was not mad at you at all... Just don''t just disappear on us again..."


    This is the time when Minka sees the shotgun in Leanna''s hand: "Wait... did you guys think I was kidnapped?" She said as she slowly grabbed the shotgun from Leanna.


    "Well... You disappeared all of sudden after being clearly upset..." Viola said as she released her grip on Minka.


    Sannet suddenly barged in while holding on someone''s collar and threw him on the ground: "I found this man peeking on us." Sannet pointed her sword at him: "You better not move a muscle or you''ll regret it."


    The man was covered in a long coat, he was in his early thirties and had short brown hair: "Wait... don''t kill me! I was only watching out for my master! I swear! Don''t kill me!" He cried while curled up on the ground.


    "Who is your master?" Sannet asked as she stepped back from him: "And why were you following us?"


    "I wasn''t! My master''s son is currently on a trip alone! So he sent me to watch out for him." The man panics.


    "Well false alarms then." Sannet then picked the man up and pushed him outside of the room. She then closed the door.


    Everyone let out a relieved sigh and seemingly made up with each other, and of course the girls shared the nice snacks Minka bought and thoroughly enjoyed it. Later, Leanna and Viola go out to get some resupplies and there''s only Minka and Sannet who''re in the hotel.


    "Sannet... do you mind if I ask how you feel... about me?" Minka timidly asks.


    "Not interested." Sannet responded bluntly: "I don''t have any feelings towards any of you."


    "No, I mean do you think I''m... stupid? Because Leanna and Viola all said so..."Minka looks away.


    Sannet chuckled lightly: "You''re not stupid... In fact you are very intelligent. Just that..." Sannet paused before she continued: "You''re too naive at times... And that''s what makes you look stupid..."


    Minka pouted slightly: "What do you mean? I meant everything I said to them."


    "It''s fine if you believe what you say..." Sannet replied: "But reality is different from what you believe. You can''t get by by just believing whatever you say. Unless... you''re a greenskin. Are you a ork? Minka."


    "No... I''m not an ork." Minka realized this is how others see her: "I see... thanks Sannet..."


    "But i think you need more than words of encouragement, how about we get on some actions?" Sannet suggested: "I have no idea how are you doing in combat, so I''ll teach you some things. Not just in fighting, but also about life."


    "You kicked my ass last time..." Minka said.


    "Well, after sometimes in the camp. I think you at least learned something, right?" Sannet asked as she took a sip from a canteen of water.


    Minka nods, then finds a field where there''s no people around: "What now?"


    Sannet points at her own wrist: "Activate it and show me how it works." She is referring to the artifact her father gave her.


    "You knew?!" Minka asked curiously.


    "I don''t think any of us are blind, now... let''s see what you can do with this." Sannet didn''t even pull out her sword, she just put one of her hands behind and told Minka to strike.


    Minka compiled by phasing out a bat from her hand and began to swing at Sannet. However, she immediately blocked with her hand and swept Minka on the floor with her feet in almost less than a second.


    Minka was stunned at this move, as she just saw a small girl just kick her like that. Then, she stands back up and strikes again, only to have her strike blocked once more. She then uses the momentum and puts Minka down on the ground again. Sannet shakes her head: "All brawl and no skill..."


    Minka gritters her teeth and tries to kick Sannet away but she instead kicks Minka away.


    Sannet looked at her watch as she continued to fight Minka. After about ten minutes of fighting, she told her to stop for now, as it was getting late already and they needed to get some sleep soon, in preparation for their journey.


    "We are not done yet!" Minka wipes the blood on the edge of her mouth: "I can win this!"


    Sannet was slightly taken aback by her strong determination, but she smirked and simply said "You can try...But... let''s just call it for now... don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone about this." Sanne winks cutely.


    Minka''s cheek blushed for a second after seeing Sannet wink at her: "I-If you insist... One day, I''ll show you that I can win!"


    "Looking forward to it." A genuine smile appeared on Sannet''s face.


    On the roof not far away, Leanna gave Viola a bill of imperial credit, Viola had a full grin on her face and put that money into her pocket: "Well, this is what you got for overestimating Minka."


    "I just can''t believe that she can''t even land a single hit..." Leanna shook her head in disbelief as she put her hands on her hips.


    "You wanna also spar?" Viola asked with a grin.


    "No... not tonight... We better head off and pretend we are sleeping, so Minka can rest peacefully..."Leanna starts heading off to the exit.


    "You''re hopelessly caring aren''t you..." Viola chuckles as she follows behind Leanna.


    When Minka and Sannet go back to the room, Viola and Leanna are already asleep. Minka let out a relieved sigh and changed her clothes. Even though there''s a little bruise under her shirt, they are seemingly getting better by the minutes. Honestly, Minka never questioned this, she always assumed that she''s just too healthy compared to her peers. As for her father, he was always fond of the fact that his daughters are healthy and robust. That is why he would always spend time with his daughters during their training sessions.


    Didn''t take long for Minka to fully recover from the pain and bruises that were done by Sannet. She actually felt a bit better than usual after some exercise. Everyone seemingly already packed up their bags and ready to head to their first destination: The outpost near the abyss.


    "So... do you guys remember the originality of the abyss." Viola asks while looking outside. She is staring at the abyss which is like an ocean of black water, endless and dark in every direction from a distance.


    Leanna then looks at the abyss while saying "What is that abyss anyway?"


    "The abyss is one of the deepest areas in the planet that never reaches light or any kind of radiation from the sun." Sannet said casually.


    "When I was still in school we talked about it, apparently in another theory they suggest that it didn''t exist before the phyrexian war. It was something like an antigrain blast that caused the collapse of the underground structure and it sank into an abyss. That''s what we heard anyway, never been there myself." Minka added on.


    "How deep was it?" Leanna asked curiously.


    "Nobody really knows." Viola answered casually. "I think it''s at least three miles deep, maybe more."


    "It was one of the deepest parts of the planet after all." Sannet added to that: "We should be careful when near it, the place seems to have some unnatural power under it. "


    "So the last place where Legend was seen apparently has a relation to the abyss. Do you guys think he went down?" Minka asked curiously.


    "Maybe... but we lack any information as of now." Leanna mutters as she continues driving. Soon they saw an outpost that was filled with people from Militarumtech and the astral militarum.


    "Halt." One of the guards stood in front of the car: "This place is forbidden."


    "We are here for adventure guild business." Leanna gave the guard the ID card.


    "Is the Guild sending people here?" The guard looks at the ID card questionably: "Your group, please step out of your vehicle."


    Everyone got out and gave their ID to the guard. After checking he shakes his head: "I am sorry mam, we can''t let you through. This place is currently off limits due to classified reasons."


    "I can''t believe it." Leanna looks at the guard angrily: "That''s our first destination, how come it''s off limits?"


    "Sorry mam, but you have to go through proper channels if you want to pass here." The guard''s eyes were filled with pity: "I understand your frustration mam but please leave now. Don''t come back here again."


    Leanna about to say more. But Viola gave her a glance to the side of the road, they soon drove out of the sight of the guards and began approaching the abyss on foot, Viola took out a mine detector and walked to the front. Surprisingly, there is none. They managed to sneak past the outpost and saw a strange facility in the distance. It is seemingly covered in white armor plate and has a chimney spewing smoke in the air. The whole facility seems like it was designed for warfare, there are many turrets scattered around that are connected to power lines and hoses which seem to be connected to some kind of engine in the facility''s chimney.


    "This is getting weird..." Viola mutters while looking around, trying to find anything that could help her identify the place. "Is this some kind of military facility?"


    "I don''t remember ever seeing it on the map..." Leanna mutters as she walks next to her, Leanna was looking around as well. They then suddenly hear a strange beast hawling from the forest, and from the direction, they can tell that it''s approaching the camp. Everyone got up on the trees and observed the tree branch.


    "What is that?" Leanna whispers to herself while staring at a giant creature that was about to attack the facility.


    "That thing''s a Wurm!" Viola quickly jumps from her perch and goes down on the ground, making everyone else follow suit and hide themselves on the ground.


    "Halt! Halt!" The beast was just about to strike at the facility when several soldiers suddenly appeared out of nowhere, aiming their rifle at the beast. The twin bolter turret begins raining bullets at the beast and it seemingly damages it because of the explosions on the beast''s body and the flying shards of its armor. The hot-las rain on the beast''s head for a few seconds but suddenly stops as the beast let out an angry roar before charging straight towards the soldiers, causing them to panic and flee for their lives.


    Minka paused for a few seconds and seemed determined on something: "We have to help them."


    "Why?" Leanna asks while watching the soldiers run for their lives from the beast: "Minka, we have to go now, or we will never find another chance of getting near the abyss."


    "We are doing this out of pure curiosity." Minka explains: "If we don''t do something about them now, they are going to die. We will have another shot at this eventually, but if we don''t act now, people are going to lose their lives." Minka then glances at Viola and Sannet with a pleading expression.


    "Fine..." Viola agrees reluctantly while glancing at Sannet who just shrugs her shoulders silently.


    "You..." Leanna then let out a sigh: "If you say so..." Leanna then starts having a swirling wind around her: "Let''s save them."


    Minka charges in first while phasing out an axe on one of her head, she''s quite nimble to approach the wurm then she climbs on it and begins hitting the beast with her full might. It successfully drawed the wurm''s attention and began trying to shake her off. Viola appeared with a bolt gun and began raining bullets at the beast''s weak spot. And Leanna is also helping her friends by trying to fend off the attacks of the wurm on each of them. After a few more minutes Minka finally made a decent wound on the wurm and Sannet suddenly leaped on and stuck her sword in the open wound. She then began running towards its head while slicing through its body.


    A sudden squirm from the wurm managed to yank off everyone from it''s body and it starts charging towards them. Leanna suddenly stops phasing her wind around her while Sannet runs towards the wurm. She then dove down and began cutting up into the beast''s body. Viola tried to fire her bolt gun but it was knocked out of her hand by a sudden strong blow from the beast. Even with all of its wounds, the wurm is still seemingly set to kill them. Suddenly a tail strike with overwhelming force aimed at Leanna while everyone was still focusing on its head. If the strike hits, Leanna is surely good as gone.


    Minka at this last moment blocked the attack for Leanna but it sent herself flying over to a tree and cracked it with force: "Minka!" Leanna roars while seeing Minka fall unconscious on the ground. Leanna suddenly began charging in and riding on the beast, she then stuck her hand into the open wound by Minka and began utilizing her wind power. The wind created a powerful tornado inside the wurm, she then began turning her wind into blades which cut through everything in front of her, causing the beast to slow down from all the damage that was dealt to it. Soon it began to bloat and eventually explode into a bloody mess. While Leanna was in mid air. Sannet managed to catch her and both of them safely landed on the ground.


    Before Leanna could even tend her own wound. She rushes towards Minka while limping on her leg: "Minka, you have to stay alive!" She then holds onto Minka''s wrist and lays her flat on the ground while using her thighs as a pillow for Minka. Leanna then applies pressure on the bleeding spot on Minka''s arm. Viola and Sannet also helped out by applying pressure on Leanna''s leg wound until they noticed that it was just a flesh wound: "We did it."


    "I know..." Leanna was panting heavily from all the effort she put into saving Minka: "You''re such an idiot..." Leanna said to Minka: "But...without you... I would be the one lying here..."


    Suddenly, Minka''s eyelids moved for a bit and eventually she opened her eyes again: "I am so happy you''re okay..." Minka grins while resisting the pain coming from all over her body.


    "Do you want some pain killers?" Viola asks.


    "I''ll be fine... But ouch..." Minka tries to move, but Leanna stops her.


    "Just stay still," Leanna whispers to her with an exasperated look: "We need to make sure that you''re fine."


    At this moment, a team of soldiers came over with a stretcher with them: "We will take care of her. Thank you for your help." A commissar came over and tells the soldier to put Minka on the stretcher and begin shipping her into the medical camp.


    "You''re going to be okay." Leanna smiles as she leans closer to Minka: "Don''t worry..."


    While Minka is off, the commissar then takes a look at these three: "Look, I do not like the fact that you guys are transpassing a military base, but you saved my men. And for that i will look kindly to whatever you guys are about to do. I will not include you guys into my report, so don''t worry." The commissar hands over three bags with supplies for them and said: "Please follow me, i am sure that you guys have a lot of questions." He then began walking away while he turned to his men: "Get that thing out of here." He points to the wurm. The soldiers started dragging the wurm away as quickly as they could.


    While sitting in the office, the commissar offered them some warm drinks and gave them some spare uniforms: "Put them on, so no one else will suspect you."


    "Thanks," Leanna said while putting them on while noticing the rank insignia on their uniform and noticed that it was a sergeant: "Thank you very much!" She then got out a pad of paper and began writing down all of her questions for the sergeant: "So can I ask you some questions?"


    "Of course."


    "What is this camp? Why is there a production facility?"


    "Well... We''re not exactly sure of what we are doing here but... We were told to build some sort of production facility for whatever reason." He then let out a sigh and took off his hat: "The truth is, I think we are some kind of bait for the monsters, because technically this is a heavy fortification camp and we have drawn a lot of activities over the past few weeks. The wurm you saw is certainly one of the bigger troubles and we are barely holding on here."


    "The wurm..." Leanna had a shocked look on her face.


    "Yeah... You know, they were here just a few days ago and suddenly attacked us. Apparently they crawled out from the pit." The commissar then sits on a chair and places his cap on the desk before looking up at them: "This is just a theory, but maybe this pit has something to do with why they attacked us?"


    "Really..." Leanna thought about what the commissar had just said while looking over at Sannet who seemed to be deep in thought.


    "Hey sir... do you guys have a shower place? Because you know... we are kinda filthy..." Viola asks while wiping away some of those wurm blood off her hair.


    The commissar called in a female officer and let her lead them to the female quarters to do some clean ups: "Don''t worry, I will inform you guys when your friend is stabilized."


    After about an hour, those three finally cleaned up and put on the local camp uniform. They then start going towards the medical camp where Minka is located, when they get in Minka greets them with a smile while waving at them: "Hey guys!"


    Leanna sits beside Minka and holds her hand: "Thank you for saving me."


    "Sure thing! You''re welcome!" Minka beams with energy, she doesn''t look like someone who was struck with a hit that''s like a high speed truck.


    Leanna chuckles while saying: "You''re okay now right?"


    "Yeah, just a few sprains, but I''ll be fine... say how are we going to the abyss now?" Minka asks.


    "They gave us the green light. So, don''t worry." Viola says while patting her friend on her back: "Just rest, we will leave until you are rested."


    "I''m already rested!" Minka answers while wincing in pain from all her bruises and cuts: "I am just bored!"


    The three exchange glances before Sannet declares that she will remain with Minka. Mostly because Sannet doesn''t seem tired at all after all of that, and those two are on the verge of collapsing. They then went back to their resting area. Leaving Sannet and Minka staying in the same room.


    Sannet took out a book and starts reading it, she had already finished reading the first chapter. The only sound that can be heard from within that room is that of books flipping page by page. Minka is genuinely bored; she is aware that the other two have kept Sannet here because they do not want Minka to be unhealed: "Emm Sannet?"


    "Yes?" Sannet raises her head and nods to Minka.


    "Do you want to sneak out of here and go for a walk?" Minka asks while leaning on her pillow.


    "No, you need to rest." Sannet is back to reading her book again.


    "Please, I don''t want to be alone. I''ll be quiet, please. Let''s go and have a walk..." Minka says while looking down while playing with her hair: "I don''t want to be left alone in this place."


    "I''ll stay with you for the night, so you''re not alone." Sannet ignores the plea from Minka.


    Minka then slaps the table as she gets irritated: "Fine! Just leave me alone then!" She then covers her head with the blanket: "Don''t wake me up until morning!"


    Sannet didn''t even look up while Minka was making a scene. Minka gets out of bed and tries to leave the room after about twenty seconds: "Where are you going?" Sannet asks.


    "Toilet!"


    "I''ll go with you." Sannet grabs the book that she was reading and closes it. She puts her hands into her pockets and looks at Minka expressionless.


    "You..."Minka then walks towards the toilet while looking a bit upset. Finally she had enough after hearing Sannet standing outside of her toilet stall: "I am a big girl now, so I get to make all my decisions. I don''t need someone to guard my every move! I am fine!"


    Sannet still has that cold expression on her face: "I know you''re fine, but we all agree you need to rest." So, I will make sure that will happen." Sannet''s voice sounded cold and lifeless.


    Soon, Minka came out and washed her hands. She then started to wash her face with cold water, and her expression changed from angry to relaxed. She then comes out of the bathroom stall and grabs a towel to wipe her face dry before sitting on her bed while taking a deep breath: "I guess I shouldn''t argue with you, because you''re right. I should be more careful next time." She then looked up at Sannet: "But you really do piss me off."


    "Sorry..." Sannet''s voice sounded somewhat apologetic, but her expression still remained cold.


    "I mean, can''t I just go for a walk outside? I''m not a prisoner, and I need some fresh air." Minka then scoffed: "Fine! Don''t worry!" She then tries to leave again, but Sannet still grabs her by the wrist: "What? Let me go!"


    Sannet then gave Minka an icy glare while saying: "You are not allowed to leave."


    "Sannet!" Minka tries to break free from Sannet''s grip but is unable to do so due to her strength. She then gets pissed: "I saved Lea! "I think I deserve to go for a walk outside!"


    "Minka, this is for your own good. Please try to understand. Every single one of us cares about you." Sannet said with a cold tone: "You may have a lot of power but that does not make you a hero."


    "What do you mean?" Minka asks with an angry tone: "You guys have been treating me like a delicate flower ever since we first met! I can take more hits than all of you combined! Try me!"


    Sannet pushes Minka onto the bed and pins her wrists together above her head, glaring at her with a menacing expression before crawling on top of her to ensure she couldn''t wiggle away. Her hands were cold and stiff as if she was made out of stone: "Try me."


    Minka suddenly blushed, she didn''t expect Sannet would take this far. She can''t even form a word in her mouth because of how embarrassed she is. She simply lays down on the bed as she closes her eyes to hide her red face from Sannet''s cold expression: "S-Stop!"


    "Only if you tell me that you will stay and be a good girl tonight." Sannet says with a cold expression: "If not... Then I''ll keep holding you down."


    Minka was still thinking about what she should say, when she was interrupted by Sannet: "Fine! I promise I''ll stay!"


    "No, you must repeat everything I just said to you." Sannet takes away her hands from her waist.


    Minka is now blushing from embarrassment, but she still looks angry: "I will stay and be a good girl tonight..." The latter of the sentence was almost whispered out.


    Sannet then let go of Minka''s hands and left the position where she was on top of Minka. "Good. That''s better." Sannet then went back to her seat and continued reading the book.


    Minka hides the second half of her face under the blanket so that no one can see her red cheeks anymore. She''s too embarrassed to face Sannet right now. It took a lot of courage to say those words. However, after thinking for a moment, she finally got over her embarrassment: "I''m sorry for my behavior."


    "Don''t worry about it. It was my job to take care of you." Sannet answered as she kept reading.


    "I was just..." She didn''t finish her words but just stopped speaking altogether: "Fine." Minka then finally closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.


    Sannet still read her book in silence. After a while, she finally finished the book she was reading and also closed her eyes while sitting. The lights were turned off, and only the faint glow from the street light was still visible in the room. It was dark, and the only sound was that of Sannet and Minka breathing gently in her sleep.

 Chapter 5

    The following day, Sannet woke up earlier than usual. She went to the camp gym and did some strength exercises then went back to the room where Minka was. The moment she stepped in, she realized that Minka had already gone. On the surface, she clearly had an expression of annoyance but also quite admired the length Minka would go just for going out for a walk.


    Of course Sannet would go and get her. But she thinks that a win for Minka might be what she needs now. A long walk will probably help to calm her down, so Sannet decided to let her go.


    Minka is walking out of the base and deep breaths the clean air in the woods. The weather was rather pleasant; a crisp, cool breeze filled her nostrils with fresh, earthy scents. There was a slight chill in the air, but it did not bother Minka as she walked deeper into the woods and away from camp. Honestly? She''s quite happy that she managed to escape from Sannet. She has a happy smirk on her face, until she hears the sounds of footsteps behind her. She immediately turned around and froze on the spot: "Viola? What are you doing here?"


    "Minka..." Viola as if wanting to tell her something but something is preventing her from doing so.


    "Viola! What''s wrong?" She was worried for Viola, who looked troubled with dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was a mess. Clearly she didn''t sleep for the night: "You can tell me about everything."


    "Look... there''s no better way to say this but... I need your help..."Viola then takes out a contract and gives it to Minka, who reads it and notices that it was an order from an unknown organization who wants her to be kidnapped.


    "Why me?" Minka asks, puzzled by Viola''s actions.


    "I don''t know either, but if the order has been given to me. It also means that it has given to dozens more..." Viola said with a grim expression, "I''m not sure why you''re being targeted but I believe it''s all related to what happened at the camp. Someone has noticed your ability to be able to take heavy damage without being injured badly."


    "What do you mean?" Minka asked again with a look of confusion on her face.


    "You seriously never noticed that you''re kind of resilient towards all types of harm?" Viola replied as she shook her head, "You''re not hurt at all after getting thrown out by that wurm, because after mere hours you''re able to stand up and have a walk outside."


    "What do you want me to do then?" Minka asked as she rolled her eyes with a frown.


    "We can''t tell Leanna and Sannet. So I will ''kidnap'' you. And i want you to carry this beacon." Viola handed over to Minka: "This will allow them to track you. We will destroy whoever is behind this and we need to make this look very real..." Viola then looks Minka into her eyes: "Can you do this for me?"


    Minka paused to think for a moment and slowly nodded her head: "I can do this for you Viola. I promise I will try my best."


    "Thank you." Viola smiled and held out her hand. She then gave Minka a sleeping pill: "This can put down a ogryn, we will do this now."


    "What about you? What will you do?" Minka asks before taking the pill.


    "I will take all the blame and hope... we can take down the people behind this before they kill me..." Viola gulps: "But you don''t really have to worry about that... the bounty money itself can make my life and my sister''s to be free from the gigs from this ever again."


    Minka then takes off the bracelet on her wrist: "Take this... think about a weapon you want and it will appear in your hand." Minka then took the pill: "Don''t worry about me... I am quite resilient." Minka winks and faints in Viola''s arms.


    Viola then ran to get a car and disappeared on the road. It wasn''t until near midnoon Sannet and Leanna realized something went wrong. Leanna went back from the woods and gave a beacon to Sannet. After inspecting this, Sannet thinks that Minka got caught in the woods but managed to leave a beacon before being unable to resist. Both of them look at each other completely pale. Leanna wanted to call Trazyn but Sannet stopped her: "Lea, before this happens. We need to get a coordinate about where''s the about for Viola and Minka."


    "So what should we do?" Leanna asked while rubbing her chin in thought.


    "First, we need to find out what happened to Viola and Minka, we need to get information first before we can do anything else." Sannet then looks at the camp''s security room: "We need to find some information."


    Leanna nods as she too heads for the security room: "I''ll get started right away!" The moment Leanna went inside the security room, she started to check the security cameras to see where their two comrades went in the woods...Some guards went in but Sannet managed to convince them that they were looking for their friends.


    "What is happening Sannet?!" Leanna shouted while rubbing her eyes as she looked at the screen while she was still working on it: "I found it! They were going to the forest!" But then she looked closer and saw that Viola carried Minka and went away: "I think that Viola took Minka away and... Minka seemed to be unconscious."


    "What?" Sannet came over and saw the tape again, she bumps her fist on the console and left in haste. Leanna quickly follows.


    "Sannet! Where are you going?!" Leanna shouts out as she also follows after Sannet as fast as she could: "Sannet! You can''t just go alone!"


    Sannet stopped when they reached the edge of camp''s territory: "Viola kidnapped Minka, probably for the bounty."


    "What? That''s insane!" Leanna was stunned, she was shocked and appalled: "Viola would never do that!"


    "How do you know? Viola is a contract killer who specializes in different types of firearm. Literally what we are doing right now was for her contract." Sannet looks at Leanna menacingly.


    Leanna gulps with a pale face: "But Viola will never do that! Even if she received the order, she would not take it!" She steps forward and puts one of her hand on her chest: "I would know if she would do that!"


    "You don''t know anything." Sannet replied coldly with her arms crossed as she had a dark look in her eyes: "I''ve been indulging you for a while now, but you know nothing about any of us."


    "Like what? The fact that you''re not even human? Or you and your sire broke out because you found out the truth about your past?! Well let me tell you something Sannet! It was a pity to find out you were actually in love with him. And when you see the man you love and respect so much, choose a human. You felt immensely jealous and defeated, so you gave yourself a reason to be as far away from them as possible. But you never left because your love for him still lingers. '''' Leanna tried to be brave with her words as she felt like she was being stabbed inside by those words while saying that. Her eyes widened as Sannet walked closer towards her. Suddenly, Sannet hits Leanna on the face.


    "Do not speak of this ever again." Sannet for once has a look of anger on her face. And points her index finger at Leanna.


    Leanna rubs her cheek and nods, but Leanna''s words got through Sannet. Honestly? Sannet also couldn''t believe Viola would do this in the first place. But she can''t rule out the fact that it is Viola that carried Minka away. But why?


    Minka woke up feeling dizzy and sick. She tried to move her arms but it was all binded behind the chair. She tries to look around but her head feels heavy and dizzy. She then realized that she was blindfolded and her mouth was gagged.


    "So, we meet again." A man said from behind her while he took off the blindfold and gags on her mouth: "Remember me?" The man had blond hair with golden eyes. He has black leather jacket with his sleeves rolled up, black shirt and black pants, he also has a sword on his waist which looks like it''s made from something like black stone.


    Minka tries her best to think about this person but nothing afloat from the memory: "No... I do not."


    "Ten years... you promised that I can get you after ten years. But... you disappeared. Thankfully I am now powerful enough to have eyes all over the planet. Now, I have come to collect my prize." The man''s eyes twinkled with amusement while he continued talking: "So, when do we begin our wedding? Darling?"


    "What?" Minka replied, confused and scared by this man''s words: "What in the emperor''s name are you talking about?"


    "You have already forgotten me?" He then crouches down on the same eye level as Minka''s: "My name is Alex Cohen. You saved me in a back alley... twenty five years ago. That night, you bought me fried chicken and promised me that when i will be strong enough to beat you after ten years. You will marry me."


    "I wasn''t even born at that time...you probably met someone else..." Minka replies with a weak voice.


    Alex gave her a condescending look: "So, you meant to tell me that I was drunk that night and I have been dreaming all this time?" He then leans forward until his face is less than an inch from Minka''s face: "You must lost your memory at some point... But don''t worry darling... I will fix you."


    "Is this why you wanted me? Because you confused me with someone else? Let me tell you something buddy... Go fuck yourself."


    "Don''t say that darling..."


    "And stop calling me that!" She shouts back and she can feel her eyes blazing as anger consumes her whole being: "You have no right to call me that!"


    "This feisty personality... you are her... there can be no wrong about that..." He then touches Minka''s head: "I will bring back your memory... I promise..." He then smirks at her: "But if you don''t want to do anything for me then I will have to take something else from you... it would be a shame if I have to do something like that..."


    "Get the hell away from me, you creep! Once I am out of this boundage, I will drop you like the sack of crap that you are!" Minka then tried to use all the strength that she can muster in her arms and legs to move the chair as she did that. However, she was unable to do anything more than that.


    "Put her to sleep, we will bring her somewhere more comfortable... And Viola... good job... your debts are cleared." Alex left the room while talking to a different direction then shut the door.


    Minka was still fighting with her bindings, but after a few minutes, she started to black out due to the room being filled with sleeping gas.


    Minka wakes up with an extreme headache again, her eyes are wide open and she is lying down on something that is soft, warm and comfortable. Minka checks her body rather thoroughly to make sure that creep didn''t do anything to her. Minka looks outside of the window, it is a view that she did not recognize. But it looks rather... beautiful. It seems like she''s at a house surrounded by a lake. It is a beautiful summer day out there with the sun shining bright from above.


    Minka stood up from the bed, she tries to move her body around but her legs seem stiff and heavy, it felt like she was still being held captive. Then Minka checks her back pocket and find out that the beacon Viola gave her is still here. She let out a relieved sigh and began to plot her escape. She went to the door but it seems locked from outside. She then looked down from the window, but all of the window has metal bars and are not accessible from inside. She tried to kick the door but it wouldn''t budge: "Damn it!" She then looked on her right and left hand for something useful, but all that she could find is just a pen that has a small note inside that says: "To Minka." And when she read it is something about that creepy man hopes Minka to regain her memory and stuffs. Minka honestly felt sick after the encounter. But she also couldn''t help but feel sorry for that man. For Minka to say those exact words that Alex Cohen mentioned earlier, someone must''ve gotten themselves in a predicament that they cannot recover from. So in this case, Minka would give them a fake promise to let them live on. But this definitely is not the case... right? A terrible thought crossed Minka''s mind: "No... this can''t be...i wasn''t even born at the time... I can''t be doing any of this..."


    Suddenly someone knocked on the door, Minka immediately grabbed a book and hid it under her while she pretended that she''s still asleep. The knock fades and the door is now opened. Minka immediately throws her book underneath her to the person at the door. But the person managed to dodge quickly before having her head caved it: "Viola?" Minka immediately grab Viola''s arm and shuts the door: "How are you here?"


    "Apparently that Cohen guy thought maybe I could soften you up a bit..." Viola then looks at Minka and smirks: "Well I didn''t know that you promised to marry someone twenty five years ago. How romantic."


    "Viola! Shut it!" Minka''s face flushed in embarrassment: "That man is mad, he''s crazy. None of the things he talked about made any sense!"


    "I know... I worked for that man... he''s the guy that controls half of the armament deals in the city." Viola pauses to think: "But don''t worry... I will fix everything..." She then grabbed Minka''s hand and squeezed it: "I am so sorry for all of this."


    Minka suddenly has a very punchable expression on her face: "Well now. I guess i gets to tease you instead~"


    "You do that... I will tell Sannet and Leanna about what the man said." Viola smirks.


    "Not fair!" Minka pouts.


    "I''m serious about this. I''m really sorry for what happened." Viola said and bowed down on her knees before her.


    "Oh! Please stop that! This is embarrassing!" Minka gets VIola up: "It is really fine! I promise! Now...let us leave this place."


    "Not now... We need to play along... don''t you want to know what he was talking about?" Viola whispers: "I am sure that he''s not on some kind of drugs. If he''s not¡­ I don''t think he would make up a story like this, because the money he paid was a¡­ unreasonable amount."


    "What? What do you mean?" Minka asks while looking at her with widened eyes: "Are you telling me that me, Minka Terra, existed more than twenty years ago? All the way before I was even born? Hahaha. No way."


    "How do you know? Don''t you want to seek the truth?" Viola asks: "Maybe we should try to see what he has stored?"


    "I don''t trust that creep..." Minka then let out a sigh: "But as long as you''re here... i guess we can try... Wait a moment..."


    "What''s wrong?" Viola asks.


    "Are you softening me up to try to get what that creep wants?!" Minka snapped at her with an angry tone: "Why did you come here anyway?"


    "Minka? Are you really not going to trust me on this? Fine! If we are not doing this then we are leaving right now." Viola hands over her a hook gun: "Shoot it at the roof and we will start by running away."


    "No!" Minka pouts in frustration, she stands there for a few more seconds and finally does not accept the hook gun: "Fine! We will do it your way...I will play along..."


    "Thought you''d eventually choose this, afterall, I know you well." Viola winks.


    "Yeah yeah, you''re really observant and smart..." Minka scoffs: "Now... I just need to put on a smiling face and pretend that I have regained all of my memory of something that did not happen..."


    "No,no,no. You need to say that you lost your memory, please let him help you remember. I am pretty sure that dude has some exhibition of what happened twenty years ago." Viola explains with a grin.


    "Okay... I will pretend like that." She then look into Viola''s face and nod: "Look...If something goes wrong-"


    Viola interrupts Minka: "If anything goes wrong, I will bring you out. Outside of being this friendly charming big sister. I am quite skilled with... let''s say my trades."


    "Very entertaining Viola..." Minka then leaves the room with Viola. They went down a few stairs and arrived at a dining table. On the other side sits Alex Cohen.


    "Welcome my love..." He said with a slightly sad expression.


    "I am sorry but... I am quite uncomfortable with that... you can just call me Minka... And... I think I have lost my memory at some point of my adventure... Can you help me remember?" Minka asks with a smile while looking at Alex''s eyes with a worried expression.


    Alex chuckles while making his chair move closer to her: "Well, I think it would be better if you sit on my lap... You will feel much more comfortable."


    Minka didn''t move, one of the reasons is because if she moves, she will rip the throat out of that guy, she deep breaths to calm herself and then shakes her head: "Alex... I don''t know you and frankly you don''t know me. And you know that a relationship can''t work like this."


    "But I do know you very well... you are my love interest." Alex smiles as if trying to make Minka relax on his lap: "Please, just sit here for a moment. I am going to take you to a place that will help us remember everything."


    Minka hesitates to sit on his lap, she quickly imagined five different ways that she could kill him the moment she approaches him, but the curiosity of hers still out matched her disgust and hatred towards this man. She then nods after she look at his smiling face: "Alright."Minka sits on his lap while looking into his eyes.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Everything will be alright my love." Alex holds Minka''s by her waist with one of his hands: "But... I love who you are, not a mere shell of yours." He then stood up and led Minka into a room. Inside, there is a stage that has the background of somewhere in the city. It seemed like it was snowing outside. Alex then leads Minka into the middle front roll seat.


    Minka sat but she kept her distance with Alex, she is still very skeptical about everything that is about to happen here. Light''s out, stage started. Everything seemed to be automated instead of using real human actors. A scene with snow fall is projected into the middle of the stage. Then the narrator starts...


    A long time ago, Minka became the star bartender in the place she works at, because of her competent skill and charming personality, a lot of customers have often visited the bar just for her. And of course she has been having few raises due to her exceptional work. Today, a man came in with a bunch of friends. From the act of him, he looks like a person who was raised in a wealthy and powerful family. Which makes it strange because this is a mid-range bar at best and most of the customers are either blue collar or white collar workers. This is not a place for rich people.


    The guy wears a pair of sunglasses in the middle of the night which makes it even stranger and his weird looking orange hair makes people question the background of this peculiar man.


    "Oi, me and my mates will order the whole menu." Then he threw his credit card on the table.


    Minka has little patience with rude people but this is the service industry, you kinda have to deal with those people whether you like it or not. Therefore she just smiles and takes the card. The amount this man spends on a single order is equal to the two months salary of hers. She then continues her work like she always does, with precision and skill.


    "Yo, bartender." Orange haired man asks: "are you new here?"


    "I''m sorry but I''m not really allowed to talk to the customers while working." Minka politely answered while preparing their orders. She lied, during a slow day she always makes jokes and teases the customers. That''s why she has collected a bit of fame in the middle class group of this city in such a short amount of time.


    "You know I can buy the whole bar for you if you just talk to me." He pulls down his sunglasses to get a clear look on Minka and winks at her.


    Seeing this part, Minka almost dropped her jaw due to shock. The person that was on the stage looks... exactly like her... apart from some differences like a bit more orange hair and yellowish eyes. But everything that had shown it was... indeed her. Minka''s face turns pale as she tries to shake off this feeling. This is impossible! This isn''t possible! She''s conscious about every little detail of her life but this... this was none of them. Yet... it is so real...


    The scene continues,


    "You know who my father is? He''s the mayor of this city." He points his thumb towards his chest while sounding confident.


    Minka''s patient is draining like a car with holes in the gas tanks. She''s trying so hard to not slap this guy in the face and storm out of this place. But she has to be patient, she''s been through worse: "That sounds amazing, good for you." She smiles brightly and tilted her head a bit sideways, so she doesn''t need to keep direct eye contact with him.


    "Indeed, I bet I am already a better person than your parents ever will be." he said it while sounding confident but he didn''t realize what he said already snapped the last patience Minka had.


    Minka stops the work in her hands and picks up the hand towel on the table. She thoroughly cleans her hands. And looks at him in the eyes, unlike her normal kind expression, her eyes are as frightening as if pointing a gun directly on the man''s forehead. She carefully takes off the bartender uniform, because she doesn''t guarantee what''s going to happen is not going to stain the uniform.


    "What are you doing?" The man is a bit confused. He thought Minka was going to take everything off but she stopped at her shirt.


    Suddenly, Alex paused the scene: "This is hard to watch...If you don''t want to, we can skip this part."


    "No." Minka replied sharply with a deep voice "I want to see this."


    The scene continues,


    "Apologize." Minka has that cold look that might strike at any time. Anyone who has a bit of combat experience will back off immediately but this man is just a spoiled kid who has everything he needs in his life.


    "Apologies for what? You are just a low-" Suddenly the drink on his hand exploded. Glass shards ran into his hand and the drink spilled all over him.


    He''s feeling shocked and in pain at the same time, blood dripping on the floor and he screams in pain while rolling on the ground. Soon all of his friends came and checked on him.


    "What did you do, bitch?!" One tall guy shouted at Minka but soon his friend hit him in the face. Both of them looked confused but either of them understood what just happened.


    After a few more seconds, the whole bar burst into a crowd fight. All Minka did was just move a few fists among themselves and they started fighting each other like a bunch of wild animals.


    Minka didn''t just stay behind her work station, she walked out and stood in front of the man with orange hair: "Are you ready to apologize?" Minka smiles with a grin.


    "You witch! Whatever you just did i''ll tell my dad and he-" Then comes a series of screams. Because Minka just steps on his hand which is full of glass shards.


    "Your dad? Right now you can''t even fight off a little girl. And you are going to tell your dad? What are you? Six years old?" Minka''s tone sounds rather taunting: "Let me tell you what happened, you came into a bar and annoyed the crap out of me. Then you DARE to flirt with me without even having a bit of self-consciousness about what kind of piece of shit you are." She then uses her ability to force him to look her in the eyes while Minka looks like she''s going to break his neck in any second:" And worst of all, you insulted my parents." She then steps harder on his hand. Just as she was going to end this man''s pathetic life, the owner came.


    Suddenly everyone stopped fighting and the bar only echoed the noise of the music. The owner frowns his eyebrows and looks at the mess on the floor: "Bar''s closed! everyone except Minka. out!"


    Everyone runs out, the man with the orange hair gets picked up by his friends and starts leaving as soon as possible. After a few minutes of noise, there''s only Minka and the owner standing in the middle of the dance floor.


    "I am so-" Minka is about to apologize, despite her strong ability she still follows rules and knows deeply what she has done. But just about to say she''s sorry the owner stopped her.


    "I heard what he said to you. No one should ever insult one''s parents, just like no person who works in this industry should harm a customer physically." The owner''s voice is deep and serious.


    "But.." Minka doesn''t want to lose this job, she likes it a lot. But what she did was indeed unacceptable.


    "I''m sorry, now pack your things. I will give you what you''ve earned this month. But from now on you are not allowed to enter or work in this place anymore." The owner said it in a sorrowful tone, he likes Minka but rules are rules.


    Minka lowers her head and hands in the uniform with both of her hands. Her hand is a bit shaking while trying hard to avoid crying out loud: "Understood..." She''s sobbing.


    The owner takes the uniform and lightly hugs the shaking Minka. He likes this girl, she''s smart and hard working. She also reminded him that a long time ago there was a girl he beat a few years back in a bar fight. But Minka is smarter and more kind than that soldier.


    On the seat, Minka is shocked with every scene that she has come across, none of this is even remotely similar to her life experience. Yet... they all felt.. so real. The sheer details of this scene means that this happened. But it didn''t happen to the Minka on the seat. Minka is sure that more than twenty years ago, someone who is also Minka existed, but... somehow disappeared.


    Later that night, Minka takes out her bag and walks on the street with her usual classic purple dress. It looks more magical because it''s also snowing for some reason. Minka''s face is gloomy, filled with inexplicable expressions.


    Just as she is feeling sad and wants to vent out the anger and the sadness, she hears some people are beating something in the valley next to her. She wanted to help but she''s not in the mood of fighting. But after passing it, she immediately drops her bag and rushes into the valley. She recognizes those people, they are the followers of that orange haired man and on the ground there''s a bit of orange that can be seen which is covered half in snow.


    Without even saying anything. Minka puts down every single one of them on the ground in a swift manner. Her attacks are precise and accurate. Every hit is not lethal but strong enough to put down a full grown man on the ground. Her hand is dripping blood and white steam is coming out from her mouth. Her expression is cold and emotionless but she still pulls the man with orange hair out from the snow and drags him to a fast food store.


    After half an hour, he woke up. His vision is still blurry but he can tell that some girl with a purple dress is eating a bucket of fried chicken in the middle of the night. He then fell asleep again for another half an hour.


    Minka just finished her food and cleaned her hands. Usually Minka looks after her weight quite seriously. But this time she''s in the fast food restaurant isn''t because she wants to enjoy the food. She''s depressed and sometimes eating helps her overcome the crushing failure she encountered, and the main reason is right next to her.


    Their eyes crossed with each other for a second and the man immediately pretended to be sleeping again. He already knows Minka is not someone he should be messing with.


    Minka looks at him in a mad way. But she then pushes a cup of hot chocolate in front of him: "Don''t pretend to be sleeping, you might have hyperthermia." She sounded mad.


    "Why did you save me¡­? I lost everything, if you are here to finish me off just do it in the back alley."


    To be honest, Minka feels a bit pity towards him, but she''s still mad at him at the sametime. That''s why she''s a bit conflicted about her emotions here: "Sure, before I kill you. What''s your name? I always prefer to know the name of my target." Minka sips on her hot drink.


    He looks scared, he never thought about this girl being serious: "My name is¡­ Alex. Alex Cohen¡­ Alexandre Cohen. Who are you exactly¡­?"


    "Minka Terra."


    "Terra? As the Terra family?" His face is turning more pale because his family used to have a close relationship with the Terra family.


    Minka nods, she doesn''t really care about people knowing her identity, it also helps her family''s honor because of what she did. On the contrary she usually uses fake aliases while doing something bad.


    He suddenly leaves the seat and drops to his knees: "Please, Ms. Minka. Marry me!" He knocks his head on the floor while looking extremely ridiculous.


    "Wait what? Is this a joke?" Minka is surprised, she has never seen anyone like that. But it doesn''t hurt to know his reasons, after all Minka likes the feeling of being loved.


    "No! You are from an esteemed family and so do i! You are strong and beautiful. You are kind and the best thing that can happen to me in my life." He isn''t looking up while saying all of this, but from his tone, Minka can tell that he''s being serious.


    Minka lightly pats his head: "Silly, we just met like a few hours ago and you went into a coma as well. And the first thing you want to do is to marry me? We don''t even know each other and I''m sorry but I''m not interested in you."


    "So be it¡­" He suddenly pulls out a knife and starts stabbing his stomach. Minka managed to stop his hand but the knife was already in. Blood is dripping on the floor and Minka is shocked about what he''s done.


    Minka quickly tightens the wound from further bleeding and tells the workers of the restaurant to call an ambulance. After a few minutes the ambulance came: "What can I do to marry you¡­.?" Alex tried his hardest to squeeze words out from his mouth.


    Minka just couldn''t help herself but having a sad and worried face, she thinks for a few seconds and puts her hands on Alex''s hand: "In ten years, if you become stronger than me, I will let you marry me. But now you need to take care of yourself."


    "Your promise?"


    "I promise."


    The end of the scene.


    After seeing this, Minka has so many questions that it will probably take a few days to answer: "Woah... that was something."


    "Right? Now you remember our loved life?" Alex looks at Minka puzzled but then he smiles.


    At first, Minka wanted to lie about remembering, but after seeing how far this man had come. She decided to tell him the truth: "Look... it might be hard to believe this, but I am not that person in the scene."


    "What?" Alex stood up and looked down on Minka with a menacing expression: "I ran a background check, you''re Minka Terra. And you look exactly like her, and frankly you even have the same voice as her. "


    "You want me to prove it? The Minka you met can use psychic abilities, but I can''t." Minka stares at him in the eyes.


    "How is this possible...? Wait... i get it... you''re just one of those imposters that tries claim my wealth..." Alex began laughing hysterically. He suddenly grabs Minka by her throat and begins choking her.


    Minka rather easily struggled off from Alex: "Look, i don''t want to hurt you than you already did to yourself. But you should move on."


    "MOVE ON?!" He takes out a pistol from his back pocket and points at Minka: "Twenty fucking years, you think it will only take you one sentence to make me stop?! I will NEVER move on until I get what I want."


    "Hey asshole!" Viola barged into the door pointing her las gun at Alex: "Let her go, now!"


    "You think that you can tell me what to do?!" Alex was furious and he pointed the gun at Viola: "Die bitch!" He pulled the trigger at Viola and hitted her shoulder.


    Minka takes this chance to slap away his gun and drops him on his knees: "Enough! This is over!" Minka pins him on the floor and looks at Viola to see if she''s ok.


    Viola presses hard on her shoulder with her hand, blood is dripping out but she''s seemingly fine for the moment.


    "I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I am going to kill you all!" Alex is still on his knees and twitching like a madman while groaning in pain: "Everyone out!" With a command, dozens of androids came out from the back door. All holding weapons and standing there waiting for the next command: "Kill these two!" He shouts and the android begins attacking Minka and Viola.


    Minka hits him on the head to make him pass out and begins running away with Viola. "That was close!"


    "I can''t run." The wound on Viola''s arm seemingly is worse than it looks, her face is pale as dead and she pants heavily the entire time: "Just leave me here, I''ll find a way to escape."


    "What? No way! I''m not leaving you here! I won''t abandon you! Please..." Minka suddenly carries Viola on her back and begins running. At first, Minka can manage to out maneuver a lot of the android but eventually they arrive at a dead end.


    "Minka... take this..." Viola gave back the bracelet she received from Minka. She then began passing out due to loss of blood. Apparently that bullet was made to inflict as much flesh wound as possible.


    Minka phases out a power sword and activates it. Blue sparks came out from the sword and began charging: "Come here you bastards!" The androids began charging towards the girls. Minka cuts through the first few with ease. But soon more came over and began striking her left and right. She took a few hits that would normally break someone''s bone but due to her superior physical condition Minka managed to shrug off. She then decapitates a few with a sword thrust.


    Suddenly, one came from behind her and pushed her down. She then got pounced over by a few more, pinning her down on the ground. Her powersword was taken away from her. She tries to push away the android but couldn''t with her lack of strength. Suddenly, a android took out a knife and began stabbing it in her stomach, she could only scream in agony as the knife slowly cut into her stomach and it pierced through her abdomen. Minka is entering shock due to the pain, but a sudden glance at Viola who is seemingly being choked by an android made Minka unleash a force blast more powerful than ever, knocking away every single android near her and the one choking Viola. The blast itself managed to break the android''s inner circuit but more came around the corner. They begin charging towards them, at this point Minka could barely keep herself from collapsing but the sheer will of protecting her friend made her phase out the power sword again. Minka''s vision is getting blurry as she feels something heavy on her head. The androids are getting closer and closer, just when she thinks she''s done for good but the next time she blinks her eyes. They all stopped. As if frozen in time.


    "What in the world..." Minka tries to move her body but realizes that she can''t move as well. The next time she blinks, a person wearing dark hooded robes is standing there. The robe itself seemed to have been covered in blood. That person removes the hood, revealing that she was the one in the opera scene that was played by Alex Cohen.


    "So... you''re the Minka of this world." She glances Minka up and down: "I am here because you''re on the verge of psychic break through. Surpassing this, you will gain immense power. Or you will die on the spot due to immense pressure on your mind and body."


    "Why did you promise him?"


    "Who?"


    "Alex Cohen... Why did you promise him but never came back?" Minka ignored all of those talks about power. She simply wanted to know why she promised him anything in the first place.


    "I am just a psychic projection of someone who used to be here. So I do not have the memory of the past. If you want to save your friend over there. Channel your power and defeat the enemies." The person in the robe explains: "You just need to think about what you want to do and your body will do the rest."


    "Who the hell are you? Why are you even telling me about this?!" Minka is getting angry, why would someone like this help her in any way? In fact, what in the world is going on?


    "There are many Minka in different realities. I just happen to be one that took the role to make every one of us utilize our power for a good cause. If you see me and recognize me, it means that at some point, a Minka came over to this world." The person in robes began fading away: "Defeat your enemies and forge your own destiny."


    The time resumes when Minka blinks another time, but now she feels immense power flowing in her body. She simply swipes her hand at the androids and all of them are pushed into the wall and cracked into pieces. Minka looks at her hand, confused. But then she ran to Viola and began dealing with the wound with her power. She managed to remove the bullet and sealed the wound with her psychic power but it will still take some time for her to wake up. Minka suddenly felt lightened on her head and collapsed next to Viola.


    After a while, Minka regained consciousness and immediately felt a pain in her stomach area, she quickly realized that she''d been stabbed and lost too much blood. She tried to sit up but fell back down again.


    "Minka, don''t get up." Leanna is bandaging her wound: "This time, no running way. This is not a joke." Leanna looks at Minka seriously while she''s dealing with Minka''s stab wound.


    "How did you find here?" Minka asks while still feeling dizzy.


    "Viola''s beacon, and we took a valkyrie to come here." Leanna explained quickly: "Viola is fine, Sannet is taking care of her. After I''m done, we will bring you back to the camp for further treatment." Leanna then tied a butterfly knot on Minka''s bandage: "All done!"


    "Leanna... I... I..." Minka began crying, but then a small smile appeared on her face: "I can finally use my power!"


    "That''s wonderful Minka, but you need to rest." Leanna then helps Minka to get up and finally gets on the valkyrie. They then headed towards the camp.


    "Hey... Lea..Can I tell you something?" Minka looks away: "It might sound crazy but...There might be another me in the past."


    "Huh?" Leanna doesn''t understand what Minka means: "What do you mean by... another you?"


    "Like another Minka existed twenty five years ago." She explained.


    "Another Minka?" Leanna asked confusedly: "Are you sure?"


    Minka shakes her head: "No... I am not sure... but it felt so real..."


    "I see..." Leanna doesn''t really understand what''s going on, but she feels something was there. Leanna decided not to bother her with that subject anymore: "Just rest for now, we will be there soon." Leanna then disabled the auto pilot and adjusted the course slightly to make sure that they would land in the camp.


    A few minutes later, they finally landed in front of the camp, Leanna got out first and helped her friend out while an army officer quickly approached Leanna: "What happened?"


    "Minka was stabbed." Leanna quickly explained to him what happened but left out all the rather ambiguous information: "I will get her to the infirmary."The officer nodded and dismissed himself.


    After some extra bandaging, Minka is now lying on the bed, unable to move, not because she''s on some drug but because of the unmoving gaze of Leanna''s that is making her feel chill from the spine: "Hey...Lea? Aren''t you tired?"


    "Not at all." Leanna replies without blinking: "I am not letting you out of my gaze for a single second."


    "You look really scary when your eyes are like that." Minka said with a little fear in her voice: "Please... you don''t have to keep an eye on me like this.."


    "Oh? I don''t need to? Last time it happened, you and Viola got yourself badly injured and possibly getting yourselves killed! So, you have lost the right to be treated like an adult. Take this as a... baby sitting."


    "But I am not a baby!"


    "You sure act like one."


    "Hey... Don''t talk like that! You are really mean!"


    "Just like a baby."


    "You!..."


    Leanna smirks at Minka who''s seemingly like a balloon that has lost its air: "I can''t help it if you don''t know how to take care of yourself properly."


    Minka almost has tears in her eyes as she turns away from Leanna: "You are such a... mean... meanie..."


    Leanna let out a sigh: "Look... I am acting like this because I am upset that you didn''t tell me about this... that goes to Sannet as well. Both of us were worried sick." She then gives a small smile before getting serious again: "And now it is all over for now, we should go get some rest ourselves."


    "I am so sorry, Lea... " Minka sits up and looks at her friend who was looking at her with a sad expression.


    "It is okay, I am fine with it... I am just happy that you can use your power." She then puts a hand on her friend''s shoulder: "Say... why don''t you show me what you can do with it.."


    Minka uses her force grab to move the planet pot near the window: "So far I can do this... but it seems I am controlling some kind of invisible force." She then changed direction of the force and made the plant rotate: "Like this..."


    "Amazing!" Leanna is surprised by her friend''s new powers, but she still keeps a careful eye on her friend, making sure that she won''t endanger herself or others by using her powers recklessly.


    "It feels strange... It feels so strange. It feels like I am touching the pot but in reality I am not touching anything..." Minka begins to have a dizzy feeling as she keeps using her powers. Her body suddenly became immobile and she then fell back into the bed: "Help!..."


    Leanna smiles and sits on the bed next to Minka, she gently rubs Minka''s earlobes and blows some wind on her forehead: "Just close your eyes and relax..." Leanna whispers in a deep and rather erotic tone.


    Minka''s eyes close slowly and she starts breathing slowly and deeply as she feels Leanna''s warm breath on her face: "You''re so nice..." She mutters quietly. Not after long, Minka fell asleep. Leanna then places a hand on the young woman''s forehead: "Good night sweet dreams."

 Chapter 6

    On the other side, Sannet and Viola are rather in a... stand off. Sannet has her hand on her hips while looking at VIola who stares at Sannet with a clearly unhappy expression: "Why did you act before discussing with the team?" Sannet asks sternly.


    "Because if i do that, none of you would''ve helped." Viola answers simply: "It is obvious that you don''t trust me at all..."


    Sannet pauses for a moment before answering: "That''s right. I don''t trust you...You are a contract killer who spills blood for money." She says with a cold expression on her face. Viola''s expression turns even more sour than before.


    "And you''re not shady at all? Spying on someone''s daughter." Viola points her finger at Sannet in accusation. Seeing the surprised face of Sannet, Viola let out a grin on her face: "What? you think it''s not obvious? The face of yours when meeting Minka''s father . Oh boy, aren''t that a sight for entertainment." She then chuckles to herself.


    "Look, all I am saying is that we should talk about this kind of thing with everyone on board or not. That way we can avoid more trouble later on..." Sannet said while moving closer to Viola to explain herself in more detail.


    "No thanks...seeing how you fight and how you react to things. I serious doubts that if you''re even human or not." Viola scoffs while moving away from Sannet''s close proximity: "That cold expression of yours... I''ve only seen people who completely give up on their lives. or corpses."


    Sannet suddenly clench fist tight while keeping her eyes narrowed: "And what do you mean by that?"


    "Nothing... Nothing at all." Viola answers while looking at Sannet with a cold expression: "Nothing at all..."


    The air between those two is getting heavier. As if in seconds each party will draw out their weapon and end one''s life in an instant. However, they both hold their ground and decide not to draw out their weapon and instead keep staring at one another. The tension between the two women is increasing every second until Sannet finally breaks the silence: "Fine. But if your action endangers the lives of either Leanna and Minka. I will end you myself."


    "And i''ll be happy to end you too." Viola answers calmly. However, soon she then let out a sigh: "Look, if it isn''t because it''s absolutely necessary, I wouldn''t have asked Minka to do this..." She then looks straight at Sannet: "I don''t want to harm innocent people... I am doing this because i have no choice."


    Sannet sighs as she understands Viola''s intention: "Is there going to be more missions like this?"


    "Maybe, but I hope not." Viola answered with a little smile: "This time was because of me paying debts for my family... But next time... I probably will still take it, not because I want to get the money. But knowing that if it''s someone else that does it, it will probably lead to more danger for all of us." Viola looked away from Sannet''s eyes for a moment before looking back to the woman: "But even so... I hope we can stop doing these kinds of things..."


    "I guess we''ll see." Sannet said while giving a cold glare back to Viola: "I will keep this conversation between us. But if you plan to use any of us for your little contract. At least tell me about it."


    "Deal." Viola answered with a grin while placing her hand over her chest: "I promise." But then she suddenly sits on the bed while holding on to her gun shot wound: "Oww... Aren''t that a bitch..."


    "Seeing this does improve my mood slightly." Sannet says while giving a small chuckle before leaving the room.


    On the other side, Leanna is sitting on the bed next to Minka while Leanna rubs Minka''s forehead gently: "Hey, Minky... you will have a surprise visitor soon~"


    Minka''s eyes fluttered open: "Huh?"


    "I called uncle and told him about everything that had happened." Leanna explained while smiling: "He even said that he will come to visit you."


    "What?!" Minka gets up and shakes Leanna''s shoulder.: "Tell me you''re joking!"


    "I am not, in fact you should start to learn to communicate with your parents." Leanna kept a straight face: "He''s not really angry about your action. You were helping a friend after all. But... from the sounding of his tone, he is kinda mad that you didn''t tell him yourself..."


    "But it''s not like that! It was too dangerous to tell him...!"


    "You''re just scared because you''re afraid that he won''t let you continue adventuring with us." Leanna gave a small chuckle: "You are actually very childish."


    "You''re not helping!"


    Leanna suddenly throws her hands up and shakes her head: "Well whatever... Uncle will be here in about three hours or so. So you better get ready and clean yourself up first."


    "Lea! That''s really not cool!" Minka is a bit upset that Leanna snitched her out.


    "Well, what did you expect me to do?" Leanna said frowning: "I can come along with you in the first place at the expense of taking care of you. And telling your parents about your situation counts."


    "Fine then... but what are we going to do?" Minka asks: "You know my dad won''t just let me do whatever I want after this!"


    "You shouldn''t be allowed to do whatever you want anyways!" Leanna said while rolling her eyes: "You need to follow certain rules and do certain things properly!"


    "Leanna... I know what''s right and what''s wrong. I am not a little girl anymore."Minka pouts: "But can you please discuss this with me before you do this?"


    "Fine..." Leanna answered: "But just don''t say anything else that could be taken wrong the wrong way. I only told him that you were kidnapped but didn''t mention by whom."


    Minka gives a sigh of relief after hearing this: "Thank you."


    Three hours later¡­


    Sitting on the edge of her bed, with her head hanging down while holding her knees together, Minka was waiting for her father to arrive. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of her room, causing Minka to jump up. She hurriedly rushed over and opened the door only to find Leanna standing outside: "What...I thought he''s here."


    "Your dad wasn''t able to make it, so uncle sent me instead. He wanted me to make sure that similar things won''t happen again." Leanna said while smiling kindly at Minka: "He even told me to tell you that if you ever need anything, don''t hesitate to ask him."


    "Well... thank you anyway..." Minka honestly felt a bit disappointed because she kinda wants to meet her dad.


    "Sure, just let me know if you need anything."Leanna smiles and closes the door.


    Minka then sits on her bed again and hugs her knees together. Minka''s expression is rather... complicated. Her eyes are looking at nothing while her hands are rubbing her knees while making a soft sound. After a few seconds, she hears another series of knocking. But this time it''s rather familiar. She opened up the door and greeted by her father: "Dad?" Minka was surprised at first but then she jumps up and hugs her father tightly. While hugging her father, she can see Leanna is smirking in the background.


    "Minky! You look great!" His voice was loud as he gave his daughter a big embrace: "How are you doing my girl?"


    Minka was blushing with red cheeks as she answered while rubbing his chest with her head: "I''m doing fine, I guess. I missed you..."


    "Yeah... me too." He replied as he gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead: "I can''t believe how fast you grew. Look at you, surviving a kidnapping just by yourself? Mom would be really proud when she hears this."


    "Please don''t tell mom about this!" Minka said while blushing even more brightly: "She would worry sick and make me feel bad afterwards..."


    "Don''t worry." Her father said with a soft smile: "But I am gonna make sure to tell your mother about this. Just with some minor adjustments... of course.." He then pats Minka''s head: "You''re just soooo cute when you''re embarrassed."


    "Thanks..." She said while blushing even more brightly: "Umm.. Dad... I actually have something important to tell you!"


    Her father''s expression turned to one of worry: "What happened now? You don''t need to be so serious about it."


    Minka extended her hand out towards the pillow on the bed and lifted it up with ease. She then turned over with a beaming grin on her face.


    "My... Minka... you did it! I am so proud of you!" Her father lifts Minka into the air and celebrates with his daughter, swinging her around in the air before landing back on the bed with a thump.


    "Umm... thanks dad..." She said while blushing.


    "Now your mom would be really thrilled to hear all of this." Trazyn pats Minka''s shoulder.


    "Where''s mom anyways?" Minka asks with a bit of concern.


    "Oh, she''s busy somewhere on the planet. You know, just like the time that she disappeared for three months before your birthday, then she showed up with a big surprise."


    "Yeah... that bike was certainly a surprise... she got it before i even had a license..." Minka said with a giggle as she remembered the bike her mother bought for her.


    Trazyn then places his hand on Minka''s shoulder and said with a warm smile: "Don''t worry about mom. She will take care of herself... just like you did."


    "Thanks dad... but I really hope mom will come home soon..." She said while looking at Trazyn with worry.


    Trazyn pats her head again: "I promise, I will try my best to convince your mom to come home as soon as possible." He then hugs his daughter again: "I really want to stay with you forever but... you also have your life going and don''t need your old awkward dad anymore..."


    Minka pouts at that comment: "Stop saying that! I love you more than anything in this entire universe!"


    Trazyn laughed out loud at his daughter''s words: "You''re just too perfect! Well, dad will leave and do some work now. Say hello for me to your friends." With that, he walked out the door after giving her one last hug.


    "Already...?" Minka mumbled out loud while sitting on her bed after he left: "That was not even ten minutes..."


    With Trazyn gone, Leanna enters into the room and says: "You seem to be having a good time. Are you really that happy that you were able to survive all on your own?"


    "Well... it wasn''t all that bad..."


    "I mean... I guess I understand what you are feeling right now..." Leanna said while sitting next to Minka: "Look... if it helps to make you feel better, my mom didn''t even call me once after i''m gone."


    Minka looked at Leanna and smiled: "No... I''m not trying to compare our situation with yours at all. I''m just not used to this... loneliness without my parents. You know? It felt like there''s a void in your heart...it felt like something is... absent."


    Leanna then smiles: "I think you are right! It felt like I lost a part of myself... But... I had to say, I was having a lot of alone time and was able to improve myself." Leanna then stretches her arm : "Well now, why don''t we go and meet up with the others? We are like a second family for you now!"


    "You''re being weird again, Leanna."


    "Hey, no need to be rude about it..."


    Minka stands up and walks out of her bedroom, dragging Leanna with her: "Oh well... let''s go." On the edge of her mouth, there''s a noticeable heart content grin on her face.


    In a small meeting room, the girls meet up again and plan to discuss their next step: "Well... due to the hiccup we had a few days ago, we are a bit behind our schedule before people notice what we are up to." Viola said with worry.


    "How long do we have?" Minka asks.


    "About a week or two before the guild will start demanding for our evaluation. Until then, we are still under the radar." Sannet answers: "At least for now."


    "So... do we have enough time to finish this?" Leanna asked while looking at Sannet with concern.


    "Maybe... that Legend person''s last recorded location is just a bit far out of this camp. We can get there in around half of a day." Sannet answered while checking her watch.


    "A week or two to just look for clues? That sounds easy!" Minka exclaimed.


    "Yeah... if it were just about finding something that we know about, we would probably get done sooner than a week." Sannet replied: "However, it''s not that simple because we don''t know where that person might have gone. It might even come searching the place, inch by inch if it''s necessary."


    "I don''t really get your point." Leanna said while shaking her head: "Are you telling us that we''re not even sure where to look?"


    "Not at all, Leanna..."Viola let out a long sigh: "We have literally nothing besides the name of a location."


    "So what''s our plan? Where do we start?" Minka asks with concern in her voice.


    Sannet then stands up: "If I have to give you an answer... I will say that we should look for clues in that area that she had mentioned. But, I''d manage our expectations for finding absolutely nothing."


    "Well, I guess sitting here isn''t going to find anything. So, I say we hit the road? The area near the abyss is under strict lockdown anyways. So I guess minimum interference?" Viola said in an attempt to take the initiative.


    The girls soon packed their stuff and drove off. On the way, they saw strange trees that were covered in something like silver. It seems as though something had been carved or burned on those trees as some strange patterns. The closer they got, the more vividly strange patterns they saw.


    Soon enough, they found themselves in a strange forested area. The deeper they go in, as if every single tree is moving closer to them in the forest. There''s strange glowing blue orbs that float around, casting light on the surrounding trees and the girls.


    Soon enough, the group encountered some strange creatures that they had never seen before in their life. Their skin was pale green, almost reptilian looking and they had large black eyes with slitted pupils. The creatures are very big compared to humans, their arms are so long that it seems they could wrap around a person''s neck. Their body has a thick layer of fat all over it, making their arms look small in comparison to their body. They don''t seem to be hostile towards humans, but Viola still decides to drive slowly around them. As soon as the car passed by, the creatures suddenly charged after them with loud screeching noises. Viola pressed on immediately the accelerator in panic as she tried to get away from them. Leanna sent out a few wind blades to disrupt the movement of the strange creatures and soon they seemed to be rid of them.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "That was close." Sannet said as she checked her surroundings.


    "Well... they looked so harmless..." Leanna said while shaking her head: "Maybe they were just scared of the car passing by."


    "Whatever the reason was, they are still dangerous." Sannet replied: "We should be getting near to the zone, but... this place doesn''t look natural."


    "They are quite natural alright, it''s just mixed with something not of this world." Viola said while pressing on the road.


    The area became more and more like an otherworldly place as they went deeper. They saw creatures that looked like a pile of mud but somehow devoured a boar that was glowing in blue. There was even some creature that looked like a lizardman but with only a head. Then there were creatures that looked like a mix of animals, humans and insects. It seemed like it was impossible for these creatures to have evolved naturally, but yet they somehow managed to co-exist in this environment.


    They soon arrive at a rune, which surprisingly doesn''t have any strange creatures roaming around: "According to the intel, this was the place where the last mission of the Legend takes place." Minka read the file but it didn''t give any indication of specific directions. "Alright... so we are going to have to try our best."


    "Yeah..." Leanna said while keeping her eyes on the surroundings. Leanna found a piece of wall that got sunk in, as if something extremely powerful broke it. "Do you think... this was caused by that person?"


    "No... it doesn''t seem that way." Viola said while looking around the rune: "Maybe the runes were destroyed by some creature... I seriously doubt that this place was where the mission took place."


    "Well I can see the traces of explosions that were done in this place." Sannet said while looking at a tree: "It seems as though something powerful exploded in here. It looks like... missiles."


    "Huh..." Leanna also came over and saw the crater: "It might have been a long shot, but it might have been done by deep strike missiles."


    "What''s that?" Minka asks.


    "A type of missile that has very focused blast range but has very strong armor piercing and of course, heat." Sannet answered: "It''s very effective against enemy armors and vehicles, but it''s not really recommended if you want to hit an area wide."


    "If that type of missile was used... but I couldn''t see the wreckage of vehicles... and using it on creatures or humans seemed... far fetched." Leanna said as she also examined the crater.


    Minka approached an area that was rather empty, she walked around and suddenly felt she stepped on something hard. When she lifted her foot, she saw a human skull that was in a pile of rocks: "Ah!" She yelled in fear.


    "Hey! What''s wrong?" Viola asked as she approached the area.


    Minka pointed at the human skull: "There''s a human skull here!" She screamed in fear.


    Viola laughs: "Calm down. I bet that there''s more of those things." She then looks at the ground as she finds another human skull as well.


    Sannet looks at her with a serious face: "You don''t really believe that it was just an accident that those people ended up in this place?"


    "No... i don''t think so... but my question is... where is the rest of it? Why are there only heads?" Viola replies as she looks at her surroundings again: "We should keep looking for the rest of the corpses or bodies."


    "Found it!" Leanna said while about twenty meters away: "I think they were decapitated." She found a human skeleton with their skull separated from their body, as if their head was chopped off and left somewhere else: "Think i found where your missing bodies were."


    "It''s a clean cut." Sannet examines: "Something with immense force cut through the heads and threw them all the way here."


    Minka looked around with her eyes wide open: "What could do something like that?"


    Leanna holds up one of the skulls: "It could be done with a beam cutter like this. or a power sword."


    Sannet shakes her head: "There''s no such weapon that could do that, unless the wielder has immense strength."


    "Huh..." Minka gulps: "Guys... I think I found something." She points on the floor where there''s a huge trail as if a blade sliced through the ground.


    Leanna looked at it while examining it closely: "I don''t know how strong it was, but I can imagine it was powerful enough to slice through this place. I think what we are dealing with here is... outside of our imagination. Or... something or someone that has superhuman strength and ability that fought here. This was a battlefield."


    "Agreed. It seems like this place has seen some rough fights." Sannet nods.


    Minka suddenly saw something shiny among the stones, when she approached. Her eyes widened. It is a crest of the Terra family. Some people from the past are related to the Terras.


    Leanna looks at it while her eyes widened in surprise: "That''s... not possible." She stands behind Minka.


    Minka puts away the crest: "Lea... do you think..." She looks at Leanna: "Our relatives were here?"


    "I don''t know... but let''s not tell them about this..." Leanna pretends to not see anything interesting, but her eyes are fixed on the crest in her hand: "This matter is probably bigger than both of us."


    Minka nods and puts the crest into a hidden pocket of her backpack. Around a few more hours, they couldn''t really find anything interesting besides more human skeletons and occasional beasts roamed near them. They gone back to the car and began driving to the nearest village near the abyss. The place according to the camp officer is not affected by the zoning order but that place seems to be a place of testing for human and hybrid coexistence.


    This time Leanna is driving and Sannet is sitting in the shotgun. Viola and Minka are seemingly dozing off and eventually sleep in the back while Viola is leaning on Minka''s shoulder. Sannet looks at her surroundings and felt she is feeling uneasy about this mission but couldn''t tell why she felt like that. As they near the town, they could see the outskirts of the town which is surrounded by a huge fence with warning sign written with big letters that say "DANGER".


    "How welcoming." Leanna comments while looking at the sign then stops the car.


    "We should leave our car for the moment. I''m not sure if there''s sentries near by-" As soon as Sannet finished her sentence, a group of soldiers surrounded the car. Sannet slowly rolled down her window, and the first soldier looks at them with his eyes narrowed and suspicious as if they were doing something wrong: "Where you heading?"


    "The village." Sannet answered.


    "We''re checking all vehicles entering and leaving this village, and checking for any suspicious activity." The soldier told Sannet as he approached their window: "Please leave the vehicle."


    Leanna looks at the soldier with a suspicious look: "Can you present us your ID?"


    "I don''t have to." The soldier replied with a stern face.


    "Yes you do. Its protocol." Leanna told him.


    "No, I don''t." The soldier said with an unfriendly voice, then suddenly two other ''soldiers'' came out from one of the buildings nearby. They were dressed in armor, while one had a big rifle on his back.


    Leanna and Sannet look at each other and then nod. They left the car but within a few seconds, Sannet and Leanna managed to take down the men that had stopped them. When Sannet takes off the helmet of the soldier, she notices that the helmet is made of scraps not the standard issue militarum helmet, as their uniforms were old and torn apart as well: "Who are you?" Sannet asks while bending a man''s arm to another direction.


    The man screamed in pain and answered: "We are just trying to get some passing fees!"


    Sannet put down his arm and then looked at Leanna: "They are just thugs."


    Leanna approached the men and suddenly her eyes glowed in blue. After a few seconds, she blinks a few times and lets out a long sigh: "You''re right, and they have a settlement not far away from here... And... they have captured some of those hybrid villagers."


    Sannet quickly tied up all the men and put them near a tree. After she''s done, she goes back to Leanna and asks: "You have telepathy?"


    "Just on very limited occasions, I can only read the minds of a weakened individual. It''s still a work in progress..." Leanna answers with a frown on her face.


    "Huh..." Sannet paused to think a bit: "Do you think we should go and save those hybrids?"


    Leanna looks at those two who are still in deep sleep mode and lets out a sigh: "You know what mother Minka will say when she wakes up?"


    "Like what?" Sannet asked.


    Leanna suddenly softens her voice to imitate Minka: "Oh no! We need to save them! They all have their families and...and..." Just when Leanna was about to continue, Minka woke up and interrupted them.


    "That''s not funny, Lea!" Minka sticks her head out of the window and stares at Leanna with a pouting expression: "I don''t talk like that!"


    "Yes... you do..." Leanna smiled back at her cousin: "So, we should save those poor hybrids?"


    Minka turned her eyes to look at Sannet and Viola: "What about you two?"


    Viola also just woke up: "What? What about me?" She stretches and hugs Minka from the back: "You''re so warm..."


    "Creep! Get away from me!" Minka playfully pushed away Viola then she asks again: "Leanna found out that there''s a settlement with captured villagers."


    "Yea, we need to help them out!" Viola replied with a smile on her face, while Sannet nodded in agreement with both of them: "Also, when it comes to raiding settlements... we can get everything we want."


    "But saving people comes first!" Minka told them: "Let''s go!"


    Leanna and Sannet then went back to the car and then began heading towards the settlement.


    The settlement is not that big, from the size of it, there might be a dozen people there. But they are not sure how armed these people are, so Viola and Sannet decide to do a bit of recon before acting. Viola takes out her binoculars and begins to scan the surroundings with it. She then pointed her finger towards a nearby building.


    "From the looks of it, it looks like a stockpile or something..." Viola said: "If there''s something there, it''s probably useful to us."


    Sannet nods in agreement as she takes out a pistol: "Ok, let''s check it out."


    "Us?" Viola has a smirk on her face: "Why don''t we let the kids do it? You know, for training."


    "But..." Sannet hesitated in response.


    "Come on Sannet, let them do this once, it won''t take too much time." Viola told her while smiling at Sannet: "Besides, if something bad happens, we will do something until that point."


    Sannet didn''t seem happy with that but finally she nodded: "Fine."


    Viola then briefed Minka and Leanna about the situation in the camp, at first both of them looked a bit surprised but when their gaze met with each other, they simply nodded and began their infiltration.


    They quickly climb up the wall of the building and begin to peek inside from the roof. They saw some people working at a machine which looked like an advanced version of the teleportation pads. They are also seen wearing strange clothes which look like it was made from metal instead of soft fabric. All of them are human, and look less malicious than the people they met earlier. There are also some hybrid villagers working on the machine. They are all captured by those villager thugs and forced to work at that place.


    "They are slave owners..." Minka whispered while looking at one of the slave owners while holding a whip in his hands.


    Leanna then whispered to her cousin: "What do we do?"


    "I don''t know..."


    "Do you want to rescue them?" Leanna asks while pointing her finger at the hybrid villagers who are being used as slaves.


    Minka didn''t even think for a moment as she nodded: "Yea."


    Leanna then nodded with her cousin: "Then it''s settled! But... we have to do it without killing those people."


    Minka then whispers softly: "Ok."


    Minka began scouting the area with Leanna; they wanted to find the place where they held most of the hybrid workers. They then suddenly heard a woman crying in the corner of the room: "No! Please! Nooo!"


    "Hey... who''s that?" Leanna whispers to her cousin as they move closer to the crying woman.


    They soon discovered that this woman was not a hybrid but a normal human. She was chained down and had bruises on her face. Her hands were also tied up in chains, while her eyes were covered with some black cloth.


    "They kidnapped someone!" Minka wants to go in but Leanna pats her down.


    "Look, whatever we have to do, we have to draw as little attention as possible... Right now, this woman is making too much noise. We will go back for her later." Leanna whispered while holding up her finger to stop Minka from going inside.


    Leanna then peek through the window of another building, that is the building where the slaves sleep. Minka uses her power to open up the lock of the building with telekinesis. With a simple sign, the hybrid villagers saw what they were doing and began leaving this place silently. When the building was clear, Minka locked the door again pretending nothing had happened. Then they quickly moved to another building to see what''s happening inside.


    Inside the building, they saw more hybrid villagers working at a machine which was similar to the machine used by the slave master except this one is not used to teleport but to produce a kind of drug, it has blue shimmering light and has the texture of crystal. Minka slowly opens up the lock and within seconds, Leanna pulls out a stun gun and brings down the human guard inside the place. They then evacuated the hybrid villagers out as soon as possible.


    "Not bad." Viola looks through the binoculars. She could tell that Leanna was quite talented with a weapon even though she is still a young girl.


    "You do know that you''re only a few years older than them." Sannet looks at Viola with a judgemental way: "You''re not some kind of master."


    "And how old are you supposed to be? Forty?" Viola then gives a sarcastic look at Sannet: "You know, you remind me of a certain person that I know."


    "What''s your point?"


    "My point is that I hated that person." VIola continues: "You always pretend that you are strong and always think that you are the hero that will save the day."


    "I don''t think so."


    "Yes, you do. I can see it on your face when you see someone who is weaker than you."


    "What?"


    "Don''t deny it. You always think that you are right no matter what. And you always pretend like you don''t have a heart."


    Sannet then scoffs at VIola''s comment and looks at another side with the binocular. Apparently those two already released most of the prisoners beside that crying girl. Inside the room there''s a few people surrounding that poor girl. Minka slowly opens up the door and begins using her power to throw those people over the wall, while Leanna quickly knocks them unconscious. The girl inside this place was badly injured with bruises, burn marks and broken bones, and she''s currently sobbing while holding a broken knife which is tied to her hands.


    "Who... who are you two?" The girl asks.


    Leanna quickly explains to her: "We are here to rescue you!"


    The girl seemed shocked for a moment before she started sobbing again: "Nooo! Nooo! Please, noo!"


    "What? Why not?" Minka asks in shock while trying to calm the crying girl down.


    The girl then begins talking while holding onto a dagger: "I cannot go back home! If I go back to my village, I will surely be sold off again!"


    "Sold off...?" Minka asks.


    The girl then explains: "A month ago, there was a rebellion in our village because of some issue. I was captured by those rebel groups and I was taken to an auction." The girl continued explaining: "I was sold off along with my mother to this slave trader who also kidnapped me! The other villagers that were sold off were all killed!" The girl began crying again while looking at Leanna and Minka: "Please... I beg you...Take me with you..."


    Minka and Leanna looks at each other and began to make a decision on what they should do next: "We need to talk to VIola and Sannet about this..." Leanna whispers softly to her cousin.


    "Is there a lot to discuss? We are taking her with us." Minka then looks at the girl who was crying: "It''s okay. We are not going to let anyone kill you."


    But suddenly a few men came in with weapons, when they saw the unconscious people on the ground, they began attacking Minka and Leanna. Both girls quickly defended themselves using their powers and using the environment to fight back. They both managed to knock all the enemies down and threw them out of the building. Then they quickly rush back to help the girl inside before anything else bad happens. This is the time when one of the people on the ground was awake and charged Leanna on the wall and began beating her with a chair until he broke the chair and attacked her face with his fist, causing Leanna to fall down on the ground and start bleeding from her face.


    "Lea!" Minka grabbed the man''s neck and began choking him while her cousin stood up again with blood on her face. "Are you okay?"


    "Yeah¡­"She grunts in pain: "That guy got me good¡­" Leanna was bleeding from her nose but she was able to stand back up, while looking at her cousin she said: "Let''s move out of here before more comes back."


    Minka nods and throws that man over to a table rendering him knocked out. They then took the captured girl back with them. Suddenly a person holding a gun ambushed them with a lasgun. Leanna and Minka managed to duck down fast enough, but that poor girl they just rescued was burned through her head. The gunman quickly shot Minka, but the las burn did not stop Minka from charging in and bashed him on a wall: "How dare you! You murdered that girl!"


    "Go fuck your self!" The guy, knowing that there''s no way he would escape, then takes out a pistol and shoots himself in the head. Minka stood there unable to move after witnessing someone kill themself in front of her. The blood spilled on her face and clothes. "Why... why...? Why...?!" She cries out loud.


    Leanna tries her hardest to move Minka before more are coming, they manage to head back to where VIola and Sannet are rather quickly. Minka is in shock from what she saw before. Her entire body is trembling as she tries her hardest to regain composure from what happened just now. Leanna is having Sannet bandaging the wound for her.


    Viola looks at the girls and let out a sigh, what had just happened might be normal for her. But for Minka and Leanna, after withnessing something fucked up like that they might not be the same again. On the way towards the village Minka and Leanna all look outside of the window from each side, their eyes empty and without any emotion in their eyes.


    Viola looks at them in the front mirror. She can tell them to chin up and ready themselves for more. But after spending time with these two, she decides to take it slow and drive them to a hot spring center nearby. They will get some much needed rest from all the things that just happened today.


    Leanna and Minka look at each other while changing their clothes, their expressions themselves are communicating with each other. None of them wants to recall the horrible incident that had happened. It took several minutes before they got into the hot spring. Inside, Leanna sunk half of her face into the hot spring. While Minka sunk her whole face in.


    Viola wants to laugh, but she knows that this is not a place for that. Instead, everyone is just silently mourning the tragic death of that girl and the man. Even Sannet, who was sitting on the side not joining with anyone. Everyone just looks like they are in a state of shock from what happened before.


    At night, while sleeping,Minka suddenly felt something lie next to her. When she opens her eyes, Leanna is lying next to her also looking at her. "What?"


    "It''s nothing," Leanna answers.


    "Lea..." Minka gulps: "I am terrified about what happened today..."


    "Me too." Leanna then sits up. "I am afraid any of us would end up like that..." Leanna suddenly crawls over and stops right on top of Minka, their eyes gazing into each other''s eyes: "You know what I fear most?"


    "What?"


    "It''s losing you." Leanna places her hand on Minka''s cheek: "I love you so much."


    "Lea...I love you too..." Minka blushes deeply from this statement, but it felt so good for her heart to hear it from Leanna herself: "You have no idea how much it meant to me..."


    Leanna suddenly bowed down and kissed Minka on her lips. Minka''s heart beats so hard that even Leanna can hear it: "Lea... we are cousins..."


    Leanna smiles and pushes herself away from Minka: "I am sorry."


    Minka was left stunned by that kiss and didn''t know how to react: "Lea... You don''t need to apologize... we all had a long day... If you want... we can hug each other to sleep tonight."


    "Yes..." Leanna nodded with a shy smile: "I want that..."


    Minka then lifts up her blanket and spoons Leanna from behind: "Don''t worry... we will take care of each other... Just like our moms did when they were young."


    "Yeah..." Leanna nuzzled herself onto her cousin''s shoulder.


    "Do you feel better now?"


    "Yes... yes, I do... Thank you."


    Minka then kisses her cousin''s forehead, causing her cousin to blush from embarrassment: "No problem..."


    They then fell asleep with Leanna''s head on top of Minka''s chest.

 Chapter 7

    Somewhere in the capital city, an underground auction is going on for artifacts that had been discovered in the abyss. All kinds of things are on sale for money, some of them are just for decoration, some of them are just for show, some of them are for profit.


    "Psst... look it''s that weirdo again... why is he here everyday?" One of the security guards looks at a person walking towards the auction site.


    "Don''t know... I heard that he''s some kind of high level manager in a really big company. Strangely enough he never really came to buy stuff." The second security guard replies while looking at the person entering into the underground auction site.


    "Mr. Archivist. Glad to see you here again." A young girl looking like a manager came out to greet that person. The girl has long brown hair and deep blue eyes, wearing a black suit, black shirt, black skirt and high heels.


    "What do we have today? Is it worth staying?" Trazyn asks.


    "We have some power armors from before horus heresy and a power sword that is infested with a greater daemon." The girl looks at the man with an unamused expression: "I don''t know if they are really worth selling or not."


    "So, the usual? Are any new items coming up?"


    "No sir."


    "Well, what a shame. But I will still walk around and see for myself." Trazyn walked around looking at various objects. Most of the listed items are rather... boring for his standard. He wants something that has unique value and has a sense of story within them. He kept walking around for half an hour or so until suddenly he was surprised by one item which caught his eye. It''s an old-looking artifact made from gold that looked like a necklace with two crystals as its pendant. There were two strange characters engraved on the pendant and engraved into a circle with an ancient rune written in it as well: "This must be a relic from the phyrexian plane."


    He examined it carefully for a few moments: "This looks interesting."


    "Are you interested in buying that?" The girl asked in a surprised voice while looking at that man as if she didn''t believe his answer.


    Trazyn looks at the girl with a stern and silent demeanor, as if he got annoyed by this persistent manager: "I said it''s interesting. But it remains as... interesting."


    The manager was a bit confused with his answer, but she did understand what he meant, she then paused to think for a second: " are you interested in let''s say... other worldly items. You know, items that are not of this universe." She said with an intrigued expression on her face.


    The archivist has a slight smile on his face: "Show me."


    The manager led the archivist to a small room and closed the door behind them. Then they began descending through an elevator. It wasn''t too long before they arrived at a very large room that looked like a cave with stone walls and a rock ceiling. After a while, they arrived at a fairly large room that was completely illuminated and the white light was almost blinding. When the archivist arrived at the place, he was surprised to see a time fragment that had a specific scene that he recognized: "What is the name of this fragment?" He asks.


    "It''s called the great battle of the zeons." The manager replied while showing the archivist the fragment.


    He looks at the scene and just shakes his head: "May her rest in peace..." He then secretly placed a tracker in this place but the moment he was about to deploy it. His hands were grabbed by a rather tall man with blond hair.


    "Sir, please don''t litter in this place." The man asks politely.


    Trazyn was very surprised by this, because this is the first time he ever got stopped like this.


    "Who are you?" Trazyn asked calmly.


    "Just a guard." The man calmly smiles at Trazyn: "The visiting time is almost finished here, I will escort you out."


    "That won''t be necessary." Trazyn leaves through the exit but before he leaves he stares at him with a cold look: "What''s your name?"


    "Jenkins."


    Back into today.


    "What are you three doing?!" A sudden shout from Sannet woke Minka up.


    "We...We...i can explain!" Minka said as she blushed. She was holding her cousin in her arms, but then she noticed someone else was hugging her from behind: "Viola?!"


    Viola yawns and hugs tighter from behind: "Minka... you''re soooo warm." Viola rubbed her nose to Minka''s neck to sniff her scent: "And you smells good."


    "Eww..." Minka pushed away Viola while still in shock, she then nervously looked at Sannet in her eyes: "Sannet...Why are you here?"


    "It''s almost noon." Sannet looks at Minka coldly: "Get up, tidy yourself up. We are leaving."


    Minka gulps and then is off to the bathroom to ready herself. While she''s tidying up, Leanna comes in looking rather apologetic: "I am sorry about... last night..."


    "It''s fine." Minka replied while going to the mirror to put her hair up. "I think we shouldn''t let our parents know about this..."Minka then turned with a blush on her face: "But... that kiss was nice."


    Leanna smiled and blushed too: "Same..." Leanna then took a deep breath and calmed herself down: "We should get going." She then left the bathroom.


    Outside, Sannet looks at Leanna and Minka coldly while Viola is polishing her weapon, as if Sannet didn''t exist. Leanna and Minka sat at the back looking away from the gaze of Sannet from the front mirror. Viola then let out a sigh: "Look... We all had a rough day Sannet, I think we deserve a bit of play around no? Next time, I''ll invite you for a girl sleepover if that''s what you want."


    Sannet remained cold as ice but her eyes seemed to be glowing: "No thanks."


    "Sannet... we are sorry that we were a bit late on waking up..." Leanna said in an apologetic tone: "It won''t happen again..."


    "Don''t worry about it." Sannet said while glaring at Leanna. "It''s fine... But what about the other thing you did?" She asked coldly.


    "What other thing did Lea do?" Minka asks with a bit of a panic tone.


    Sannet glances at Leanna coldly over the front mirror. Leanna shivered, while Sannet looked at Leanna with her glowing eyes while asking with a cold tone: "Do you have something to say?"


    Leanna looks back menacingly: "What I have to say to my family or relatives is none of your damn business." She said coldly, making Sannet slightly mad but she still maintained her cold glare: "I asked him about those things because I didn''t trust you."Leanna said.


    "Have you wondered why your father always appears from the places where he shouldn''t even know about?" Sannet asks Minka.


    "No... I just thought Lea told him about them... that''s why he appeared...no?" Minka asks with a confused expression on her face.


    "Leanna did more than that... she told him about Legend, about everything we''ve been doing." Sannet said with an angry expression on her face: "I know for a fact that she told him everything about our plan... about our future plans... and about our mission..."


    "No way!" Leanna shouted while her hands started to shake from anger: "I will never do any of that!"


    "Yes you would, because you know the truth aren''t you? About what happened to Legend. While we are on this wild goose chase, you already know from the start... right?" Sannet said coldly and coldly while her eyes started to glow in anger: "You were already planning on betraying us all along..."


    "Wait... Lea... did what? Even she told dad about our plans, but it wouldn''t mean anything. Right?" Minka looks at Viola.


    Viola paused to think for a moment: "Unless... there''s something we didn''t know about Legend that is somewhat connected to your father..."


    Minka suddenly realizes something, she looks for the Terra family crest she and Leanna found, but it''s nowhere to be found: "Lea... did you give it to dad?" Minka looks at Leanna with a sad expression.


    Sannet turned her attention to Leanna with angry eyes: "How could you do that?!"


    "Because this is bigger than all of us!" Leanna shouts loudly: "We shouldn''t be even pursuing this. If we found anything that can trace back to our family... everything we love will face an unknown change. I like to adventure with you guys, but not on the expense of threatening my family, if any of this gets out, even rumors. Our family would be devastated!"


    Sannet got a bit calmer but she still look coldly at Leanna: "I agree with you... but that doesn''t excuse your betrayal..." Sannet then let out a sigh: "You could at least discuss your plan with us. And we would''ve came up with a better plan than... this."


    "Surely you are this mad isn''t because of your grudge with uncle Trazyn." Leanna said coldly.


    "ENOUGH!" Minka shouts while clenching her fists angrily: "Both of you stop it! We are still a team! You two are fighting over nothing!"


    Viola nodded and looked at both parties while making sure everyone was listening: "We have no time for this, we have to focus on finding more clues, whether it is related to Terra or not. No more arguing, we need to stick together no matter what."


    Minka then holds Leanna''s hands: "Lea... I know you are worried about our family, but... don''t worry. If you know anything, can you please share with us?" Minka looks at Leanna''s eyes as if begging her: "Lea... can you please trust me?"


    Leanna then sighs softly, "Fine... But... you will not be happy about what I am about to tell you... I did some research about this crest... it belongs to... aunt Monika."


    "Mom? What does she have to do with any of this?" Minka said, surprised and confused.


    Leanna continued with her explanation: "Well... aunt Monika used to work at the guard, not her current job as a supply officer but a frontline squad leader. I don''t really know the details but... apparently even until today, her record of confirmed kills and missions successful rate was unsurpassed by anyone over the past decades."


    "That''s impossible... Mom wouldn''t even hurt a fly. Last time i saw it, she just grabbed it with her hand while it''s flying and throws it out of the window." Minka said, almost in disbelief: "She is gentle and kind to everyone... what you said is completely unrelated to her."


    Leanna sighs softly, "Aunt Monika is just as gentle as you described... but that doesn''t change the fact that she is an accomplished soldier. Look... all I am telling you is what I know about her outside of your life. I mean, even you said it, who the hell can catch a fly mid-flight?"


    Minka pouted her lips and shook her head: "No! Mom is not related to this! Her and dad were always with me when i was a kid. There''s no way I wouldn''t notice when she''s gone to do... this."


    "Then what do you think of uncle? Before a week ago, you didn''t know he was the CSO of militarumtech. The biggest corporation on this planet." Leanna asked.


    "Mom always says that dad is a noble man. And she couldn''t be luckier having met him." Minka answered with a sad expression on her face: "I think dad is the nicest person ever. That goes the same to Emilia."


    Sannet interrupted their conversation with a burst of laughter. Everyone is shocked because they had never seen Sannet to even have a slight grin on her face. Needless to say, laughter.


    "Sannet? What''s wrong?" Leanna asks.


    "Noble? Your father is a noble man?" Sannet turns over and looks at Minka in a full condescending plus sarcastic look. She was actually laughing out loud at Minka''s stupidity.


    "Yeah..." Minka said with a serious expression: "Why? What''s so funny?"


    "If there''s a contest for the most despicable person alive. Then your father will out rank anyone that ever existed in this universe. Hands down." Sannet replied with a bitter expression on her face.


    "Hey! Don''t talk about dad like this." Minka raised her voice with an angry expression: "You are just saying whatever to get under my skin, right? What is wrong with you? First you exposed Leanna over something so minor and now you are accusing my father of being a despicable man?"


    "Minka, you''re an idiot." Sannet said with a cold smile: "Your father has been lying to you for years. And you''re just too stupid to even see the clear lies he has been feeding you. I have known him way longer than you can even imagine."


    "All of you, shut up!" Viola finally had enough: "Sannet, if you are so against . Then why don''t you tell us what you know about him."


    Sannet glanced her eyes at all of them, then proceeded to leave the car and leap on the nearest roof and disappeared. The three of them look at each other in confusion.


    "I don''t think she''s gonna come back..." Leanna said then her gaze met Minka''s. Leanna came forward and held Minka''s hand: "I am so sorry... I should''ve asked you if you want to involve uncle in this..."


    "Lea... I am not mad about you..." Minka said softly: "I am mad at dad for hiding things from me for years. I don''t know if it is true or not, but Sannet might be right..."


    "How did you make that?" Leanna asked: "You mean what Sannet said? That''s nonsense. Uncle Trazyn is a good person."


    "I have no doubt about that, but dad did lie to me about one thing. He never told me about Sannet. And yet... Sannet and dad seemed to know each other for a really long time." Minka sighed and said softly: "He always acted like he was hiding things from me but he never told me why...I love him...but being kept in the dark when many things are happening isn''t really a pleasant feeling."


    "Don''t worry..." Leanna said with a soft smile: "Your father would never do anything bad to his little princess. You can trust him, I know that for sure."


    Minka then smile softly at Leanna: "I believe in him too...But we need to find Sannet..." Minka then proceeds to leap on the roof and starts pursuing Sannet.


    "Am i not jealous of those physical enhancement..." Viola then takes out her hook gun and holds Leanna by her waist. They then ascend on the roof as well. When they are on, Minka and Sannet are already nowhere to be found. They proceed to scan for signals but the only thing they found is an abandoned factory on the side of the road.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Sannet must''ve ran into this place for cover..." Leanna said as she felt an air current moving toward one of the windows of the abandoned building.


    "What about Minka?" Viola asks.


    Leanna shakes her head: "I can''t sense anything. What should we do?"


    "Knowing Sannet... this building is definitely a trap...But if we are going to engage Sannet head on, both of us don''t really stand a chance. We need Minka." Viola sighed as she looked down on the factory''s door: "This place is filled with traps..." She then glance towards to Leanna: "Leanna, can you do telepathy?"


    "Only to a certain extent... The range isn''t that far tho..." Leanna answered nervously: "If it''s for a short-range telepathy, then i can do it."


    "Good... I need you to do something." Viola took out her hook gun and said: "If I get inside that building, I will be trapped by Sannet''s distraction. Which will draw her attention to me. However, I need you to stay outside and tell me everything that is going on. You are my eyes from outside of the factory. And hopefully it will make Sannet slow down a bit."


    "Understood..." Leanna replied, then toned her mind with Viola: "Please be careful."


    Viola grins widely: "I''ve been doing this for a while now..." she said and opened the door of the factory.


    On the other side, after chasing for Sannet for about a few minutes, Minka lost Sannet''s sight. When she turned, she realized that Leanna and Viola did not follow up. Then she hears a sound of soft landing behind her. When she turns, it is Sannet who is looking at her menacingly: "You Terras are surely persistent."


    "Sannet, please come back with us. We are sorry about those things we said." Minka pleaded to Sannet with a serious expression.


    Sannet replied with her signature cold glare and then threw her blade on the floor: "Don''t feel sorry about what you think is right. But you need to have the ability to defend what you believe in." She then cracks her knuckles.


    Minka stood back a little: "Sannet, I do not wish to fight you. If you have a problem with me or my family then say it."


    "I don''t care about you or your family!" Sannet yelled: "It''s your father that I have the problem with! The real him¡­.After everything he had done... how dare he enjoy life like this..."


    Minka looked at Sannet, puzzled as to what she meant by that: "What did he do to you?"


    "If I tell you, then I have to kill you for it..." Sannet said softly with her cold gaze fixed at Minka: "I guess I will have to beat you until your father will make sure that you are grounded for good."


    "Why would you do that? We are a team, aren''t we supposed to work together? Even if it''s something that''s against my father''s will?" Minka asked: "Don''t you think you are too overdoing things? "


    "It''s the only way I can keep things right..my own way.." Sannet suddenly leaps forward and strikes Minka with her fist and follows it by a swift kick.


    Minka''s eyes widened in surprise and managed to block the kick, but it still sent her backwards for a few meters. Minka is about to speak but the consecutive strikes from Sannet prevent her from even trying to think about anything besides blocking her fists.


    "Sannet, I do not wish to fight you!"


    "Then stop struggling." Sannet replies and continues striking at Minka, this time sending her flying with a strong kick to her face. Minka is sunken into the wall with sheer force. But it still takes a bit more attacks to prevent Minka from standing up again.


    Minka gasps for air with blood dripping from her lips and her hands are shaking from receiving the massive blow from Sannet. Minka grunts in pain and suddenly her eyes start glowing in faint yellow. The air around them is as if frozen and suddenly an invisible force starts applying on top of Sannet. The flower pot near Sannet began being crushed into pieces but she''s still standing while looking at Minka with a frown. Even with her foot starts sinking into the floor, Sannet is still standing with a anger expression: "You done?" She rush forward with incredible speed and grabs Minka by her collar: "How can you continue this journey if you can''t even beat me?"


    "Because... we are friends..." Minka gasps for air and holds onto Sannet''s arm tightly: "I will never let you go..."


    Sannet''s cold expression suddenly has a crack of sorrow after hearing that. But soon she tries to throw Minka on the floor but realizing that Minka has already locked on to Sannet''s arm. Preventing herself from being pulled away from Sannet, Minka instead flings Sannet onto the ground with tremendous power.


    Sannet tries to get up but Minka already locks Sannet''s arm behind her back and pins her on the ground. With Sannet being held down on the ground, Minka immediately notified Leanna and Viola to come. But suddenly Sannet managed to struggled off with a impossible flip on the ground by rotating her body with only two fingers and then held Minka''s neck from behind and throws away the phone: "You shouldn''t have left the camp..."


    Minka is struggling hard against the hold Sannet has on her but Sannet was holding her so tight that even if Minka wanted to break free from Sannet''s grip, she would probably crush her neck with the arm that was wrapped around her throat: "Sannet! Screw you!" Minka shouts while having tears dripping out from her eyes: "We are friends! And I don''t even know anything about the grudge you hold against my father... I want to help, but... you don''t even want to talk about them with me! Why are you always pushing people who cares about you away?!"


    Sannet suddenly releases Minka, her expression is rather...mixed with many emotions underneath. But when Minka saw it, it looked like Sannet just ate something really sour. Sannet looks Minka in the eyes: "I just do..."


    Minka then crawled over and hugged Sannet''s ankle: "Then everytime you push me away... I will crawl right back like this... Every, single, time."


    "You are such an idiot..."Sannet muttered while blinking a lot due to all the tears forming in her eyes.


    "I do not care about your history or your past... I just want you to stay with me... with us...I promise you that we will never pry any further of your past!"Minka pleads to Sannet while hugging her leg tighter: "Just trust me... please?"


    Sannet looks at Minka for a moment:"Are you not embarrassed after saying all of that?" Sannet said in a husky voice with a slight smile: "Fine... I will stay... Now, get your hands off of me."


    "No I won''t! Unless you promise me that you will never leave us!"Minka said while wiggling on the ground like a big worm, her hands still wrapped around Sannet''s legs tightly: "Promise me..."


    "Fine...i promise" Sannet said and gently pushed away her hands from her legs: "Now stop crying and wipe your tears..."


    "I want to hug a little longer... I don''t even get the chance of ever touching you..." Minka said while wiping her eyes with her sleeve.


    "You..." Sannet pulls away her legs hastefully and picks up her sword again and hangs it on her back.


    Minka also gets up and pats the dust on her clothes and hair, making sure no dust is stuck into her hair. Sannet walks over and extend over her hand: "Sorry i beat you."


    Minka smiles widely and hugs Sannet tightly: "I won''t let you go this time."


    Sannet was left speechless, she could only manage a blink of her eyes and then was pulled into the hug. The two girls hugged for some time before pulling away their embrace. Sannet looked at the other girl with a serious expression while pulling herself up: "Are you feeling better?"


    "Yeah¡­Well now¡­ we need to find those two¡­" Minka said while rubbing her forehead: "I have no idea where they are. I called them but nothing was replied."


    "Don''t you need to worry¡­" Viola and Leanna then crawled on from the edge while sounding really exhausted: "Sannet, what the fuck?"


    "Viola, Sannet is back on the team again! Please don''t be rude to her." Minka said with a pouting expression.


    "No, I am not talking about this. Sannet laid a decoy in an abandoned factory but there''s a freaking hell spawn abomination in there, yeah, a freaking hell spawn abomination. Did you really have to go this far?" Viola complained while walking towards Sannet while shoving her back.


    "What are you talking about?" Sannet protested in disbelief while standing still as well: "I didn''t lay anything on my way here."


    Viola then looked at Leanna: "But you said that you sensed Sannet was in there."


    "I did, unless something else simulated it¡­" Leanna paused to think for a few seconds: "Someone or something knew that we were chasing Sannet, so they laid a trap to distract us."


    "But at least the ending was good¡­ right? Sannet is still with us and we won''t ever ask about her past again." Minka said while smiling.


    "Wait, since when did we agree to this?" Viola asks while crossing her arms: "Did Minka promise you this?"


    "Hey, Viola. We are all friends here¡­" Minka then turns towards Leanna: "Lea¡­ you will support me right?"


    Leanna nodded slowly as she was looking at the other girls'' faces carefully, as if trying to analyze them. After a while, she finally spoke up: "Look¡­ whoever distracted us clearly wants to protect Sannet''s that person knows how Minka will act when we are not here. Whoever this person is behind this, definitely knows about us and knows how we think¡­"


    Minka turned towards Viola with a puzzled expression: "Why does this person want to protect Sannet?"


    Viola pulls Minka''s earlobe: "Because Sannet knows something we don''t! And the only chance we can get that information is gone! Because you''re a pushover, Minka!" Viola then released her hand and walked away, she took several deep breaths to calm herself.


    Minka stood still for a while before she asked Leanna: "Did I do something wrong?"


    Leanna looks at the other girl before sighing: "No, it''s not you¡­Someone played us¡­"


    "Whoever you are¡­ I will find out the truth¡­ when that day comes¡­ you will see¡­" Viola stares right into Sannet''s eyes and proceeds to leave while looking really pissed.


    After that, they all started walking in silence while carrying their equipment.


    Minka sighed deeply before she asked Sannet: "Hey...are you alright?"


    Sannet looks at Minka for a few seconds then proceeds to look forward again: "Fine as usual."


    "If there''s something important that you think we should know about¡­ will you tell us?" Minka asks while sounding a bit lack of her usual confidence.


    Sannet continues to look forward: "It''s none of your business."


    Minka then slows her footsteps, so she''s not walking alongside Sannet. After that, she stopped and said quietly: "If you dare to harm anyone of us¡­ you will regret it."


    Sannet looked back at Minka, and has a cold smirk on her face: "Your best chance of hurting me is probably annoying me enough for me to kill myself."


    "You¡­!" Minka was about to do something but Leanna stopped her. Minka then buries her head in Leanna''s chest. She''s not sobbing but finding some comfort. Leanna looked at Sannet and her expression was hard to read. It''s an expression that mixes helplessness and disappointment.


    They spent the rest of the day looking for clues in this new area, but nothing had surfaced. They have asked many old people in the area but no one had heard anyone named ''Legend''. It seemed that every place they went, they found a similar answer: nobody heard of this guy before¡­ or nobody wanted to talk about him.


    In the evening, they finally reached a settlement for the adventures guild. Their ID had proven to be useful so they got a room and managed to rest for the night. Viola went out of the building for a cigarette, she stared at the distant star and for some reason¡­ some memories of the past had surfaced again.


    "Entry team 1 heading in." A group of soldiers wearing plat black armor headed into a deserted building. They began sweeping every corner for something they were looking for.


    "V, did you see that?" A soldier asks while pointing at something in the shadow.


    Viola looks into the corner and activates the night vision plugin: "Negative, this area is clear. What is your status, Team five?"


    "All clear, no sign about the target." Team five replied.


    "Keep looking¡­ we can''t let this chance slide away." VIola then walks towards a door leading out from the building. She activates the night vision again and continues her way as she carefully listens to her surroundings. After that, she saw what she was looking for, an old door that had been rotted by the weather for years: "All teams, reroute to my position¡­We found the daemon''s last recorded position."


    The door irradiates corrupted aura to its environment. There is no doubt that being behind has something to do with Nurgle. Viola and her team began setting up a heavy fire encampment outside. But this moment the entire building started shaking and a beast of Nurgle rushed out and began ''playing'' with every soldier it saw. Viola fires her las gun but it did very little to the beast: "Damn it, we didn''t arm for this shit." Viola began ordering troops to retreat but the beast had already run into a group of people and was tearing them limb from limb. The beast turned towards Viola, its face twisted with bloodlust and smiles as its tongue licks the air.


    The first instinct from Viola is to run, but when she sees the dead teammates on the ground. She stood her ground and picked up the boltgun on the ground. The beast sniffs around for her, then suddenly charges straight towards Viola with its mouth wide open.


    Viola charges forward as well and suddenly slides below the beast and fires her first mag to its stomach before it can reach her. Blood spilled all over the ground but the beast still persisted. It growls as it feels the pain of joy, its roar was filled with agony of happiness as it continues to charge forward again with a roar that shook the ground itself. Viola reloaded her gun and aimed at the beast''s head but suddenly there was a sudden movement behind her. A swift strike that was so fast that it warped the space around her. Without her even knowing, the beast''s blood is already pouring out from the huge open wound that had been done in less than a second.


    Viola drops her gun on the floor and drops her knees. She looks around blankly and sees the corpses of her allies. And she knows that they can''t be buried in peace because all of their body had been contaminated by the beast of Nurgle. So they had to be burned into nothing. But before that, she had to find something to give them a decent burial. Viola grabbed everyone''s dog tag and hid it into her bag. This is the least she can do for them.


    "Are you alright?" A hand reached Viola: "Sorry we can''t get here faster." The voice was calm and kind. Viola turned to look at who had saved her and saw a girl wearing light armor. She has long brown hair that flows down her shoulders and emerald green eyes. She doesn''t recognize her, and the lack of lighting plus the blood all over the girl didn''t help either.


    "It''s fine... it all happened way too fast..." Viola then packed the last dog tag with her.


    "You know, it''s against the regulations to keep contaminated belongings... right?" The girl asks with a smile as if she were not bothered by anything at all.


    "I know... but I can''t leave these... I need to bring these back to their families." Viola said, showing her bag filled with dog tags, "It''s the least I can do..."


    "Yeah... you know what? Screw the regulations. Just leave before other people come." The girl pats Viola on the shoulder: "Everything will become better." The girl then walked away before Viola could ask her name. But Viola knows that this girl is something special, just like those heroes she used to read about in her childhood days, or even those that she read about in her younger sister''s book of heroes that she left in their hometown before she went into war.


    When Viola came back to her senses, the cigarette had almost reached her finger: "It''s been that long ago,huh?" Viola murmurs to herself and steps on the lit cigarette: "It was her... was it?" When Viola connected the pieces together. She realized that the path they are on is far more dangerous than they imagined. They can choose to step out now and live a peaceful life or keep pursuing the ''truth'' they are looking for. Viola for the first time began rethinking the choices they made until this point. Viola kicks the dust on the ground and when she looks up, Sannet is leaning outside of the hotel while crossing her arms together. Their gaze crossed each other for a moment before Sannet said coldly: "Seems like you already know."


    "Oh? What am i supposed to know?" Viola asked, slightly annoyed by Sannet''s attitude towards her.


    "Why am I even bothering communicating with you? You are clearly not going to tell Minka about it." Sannet sighed deeply.


    "But I will. She deserves to know the truth." Viola insisted with a serious face, but Sannet continued to shake her head slowly as if telling no one will believe it anyway.


    "What good will it do? She won''t believe it anyways, and even if she did she will go and find her mother to confront her about it." Sannet added more explanation.


    "And why do you care? Sannet. What does Terra''s affair have to do with you?" Viola said firmly. The two girls kept staring at each other, neither of them showing signs of backing down.


    "Because I want to keep Minka happy. Not needing to worry about the past of her family. Is that a bad thing? Because it is true that there is nothing wrong with keeping secrets from someone... right?" Sannet replied coldly: "If the lie can bring happiness we should keep it."


    "Sannet..." Viola started in shock after hearing those words: "You don''t... think things through, do you? That''s what worries me!" Viola exclaimed angrily in fear for Minka: "If Minka finds out by herself that we all knew this before her, it would be devastating for her."


    "But who cares? It''s just Minka''s feelings that will get hurt but everyone else will be safe. And as long as we keep everything under the table, less people will get hurt by this information." Sannet said with an emotionless face.


    "It could ruin their life, Sannet! You emotionless piece of shit!" Viola yelled at Sannet but the girl didn''t flinch or even blink. Her eyes were dead cold and had no mercy or kindness in it at all. But Viola knew better than to continue insulting her friend.


    Viola decided to walk away and leave Sannet behind. She entered the hotel again and went back to their room. Minka is currently sitting on the bed reading some books: "Oh, you''re back. Are you feeling well?" she asked while closing the book she was reading earlier.


    Viola nods, then she sits beside Minka: "Look... there''s something I need to tell you... it''s about your mother."


    Minka blinks a few times: "What about her?"


    "Your mother... She did everything on that field... and I can tell you that she killed all of those guardsmen. I met her once during one of my deployments... the sheer force of the attack trace we found, there''s no one else on the planet can do that. If that field was the final place where the Legend fought. Your mother was on the scene. But Legend did not leave." Viola said with deep sadness in her voice, knowing that the information she told would probably make Minka mad for a little bit but it would be okay after a while.


    Minka looks at Viola in disbelief for a moment before looking away as if trying to think deeply about what this means for her family as well as herself: "Mom killed legend... And she didn''t tell anyone about it...But why?" She kept asking herself as tears rolled down her face: "Why didn''t mom ever mention this? Why didn''t dad say anything? She murdered a hero among the imperium!" She turned to look back at Viola while having a shocked expression: "I need to find mom." Then she left the room without another word.


    Viola let out a heavy sigh and followed after Minka. They reached outside the building, finding their car parked right outside: "Minka, wait!" Viola shouted, only getting silence instead: "We don''t know where your mother is!"


    "Dad knows. He always does... I need to find him." A furious feeling rose up within her chest. Her anger was burning like fire but she still couldn''t put it into words, the only thing she could muster was some frustration. But even then she had her mind made up about what she wants to do next: "I will confront my dad and let him take me to mom. I need to make this right."


    "Minka." Leanna''s voice suddenly came from behind her: "We need to discuss this before you act."


    "There''s nothing for us to talk about! It''s time I take things in hand!"


    "No you can not..." Leanna let out a sigh: "This matter is bigger than all of us... if this thing is really that secretive... we will be fine, but what about Sannet and Viola? What happens if they send people after and kill them because they know the information they shouldn''t have?"


    Minka huffed as she heard Leanna''s explanation, she looked away with her head hung down. There wasn''t any point in continuing as she knew there was no way she would win with that: "Then... what do we do?" She asked with a look of defeat.


    "We need to know why... What did Legend do before aunt Monika eliminated him." Leanna said calmly: "What did he do that shortly after your birth that letting aunt Monika abandon everything to kill him?"Leanna then came forward and holds Minka''s hands: "We are in this together, i am pretty sure mother also hid this from me... i hope i can ask her about this, but i doubts that she will tell me anything."


    Minka hugs Leanna tightly: "You''re the best, Lea...I can always depend on you..."


    "That''s because I''m the smartest person here. And so it goes without saying." Leanna smiled and held back a giggle at their moment.


    Viola and Sannet both glanced at each other and let out a sigh of relief. The two girls had their backs against one another for a while now, maybe this little chapter is exactly what they needed to relieve the tension between them.

 Chapter 8

    "Dad, what do you do?" Minka holds her homework assignment in her little hands while looking upward to her father.


    "What do you mean?" Trazyn replies, turning his attention toward his daughter as she asks him.


    "Ms.Lynine asked us to do an interview for parent''s jobs... Can you do it with me?" Minka blinks her big innocent eyes.


    "I don''t see why not..." he answers with a gentle smile. He got up from where he sat beside the fireplace with some reading material nearby and came near his daughter: "Well... you see, dad is a trader..." he starts by answering. "So my job is finding things and selling things and making lots of money! Sometimes I get customers that come buy and sell stuff too!"


    Minka writes the answer down in her note book and asks the second question: "Does your work help people?"


    "Yeah, in fact a lot of people find my service wanting." Trazyn said while having a proud look on his face: "And sometimes I even have to pay extra if I need to go find more supplies to bring to others who need them. Of course, from time to time, I do collect some interesting gadgets. Like a collector of some sorts."


    Minka tilts her head upon hearing these words: "A collector?" she asked him.


    "A collector is a person that... acquires things and keeps it to themselves." Trazyn patiently explains it to his daughter.


    Minka writes down the answer that her father gave her: "Third question... What does your work bring for yourself?"


    "Well..." For one instant he actually didn''t think of an answer: "I really don''t know how to put this into words but... I met your mother while doing my work... So I guess it brings me the most important treasures in the galaxy." He gently pats Minka''s head.


    While Minka was writing down her answer, Monika came back from work: "Honey!" She drops her bag and hugs Trazyn tightly.


    "Mom, can I ask you some questions for my homework?" Minka looks at her parents in a curious way.


    Monika released Trazyn and crouched in front of Minka: "Of course dear, mom would do anything for you." She then takes out a piece of chocolate from her back pocket: "Mommy got you some treats!" The little girl smiles happily as she eats the chocolates right there. Monika also smiled after seeing her daughter''s reaction.


    After Minka finished the chocolate, she sat next to Monika and asked the questions again. Unlike her father Monika''s answers are more straightforward and Minka can understand it instantly: "Thanks mom!" Minka then puts her note book back in her backpack.


    "Minky, did you make any friends?" Monika asks while brushing Minka''s hair.


    "No..." A troubled look appeared on the little girl''s face: "People just don''t want to talk to me..."


    "How can that be? You are the sweetest!" Monika said while patting the top of her head: "Why wouldn''t they like talking to such a cutie pie?"


    "They say that Terras are the bad people of society." Minka replies in a low voice. "Is that true...?"


    "No!" Trazyn answered before Monika could step in: "That is not entirely correct... Your mother is a good person, aunt Nova is also a good person. Everyone you know is good... they are wrong."


    Monika looked at Trazyn with a smile, but quickly turned her attention toward her daughter and answered with a gentle smile: "Everyone has their own opinions but what matters is how we deal with those who think something about us."


    "What should i do?" Minka asked.


    "Do nothing..." Trazyn says: "It''s important to believe in yourself! When someone tells you that you are no good, or evil, it''s because they don''t understand you! Dad was kinda like you once, the people surrounding me are just too stupid to see what I do and see the value that I bring."


    "Honey... maybe we shouldn''t project ourselves onto Minky..." Monika gently patted her husband on his shoulder. She then continued her thought aloud as she held her daughter''s hand tightly: "Minky... I know it will be hard but...you need to decide who is your friend or not...I am pretty sure that one day, you will be surrounded by the people that care about you. I promise you that."


    In the middle of the night, Minka opens her eyes and sees Viola is sleeping on the next bed: "People that care about me..." She got up and was about to take a walk.


    "Minka...i want to squeeze your cheeks..." Viola said while turning to another direction on the bed. Then the sound of snoring came again.


    Hear this, instead of feeling disgust. Minka actually had a smile of happiness on her face. She pulled the blanket over Viola''s body and tucked her in properly before leaving the room.


    She walks out of the hotel and walks around for a while before deciding to sit on a bench nearby. It''s still early in the morning, so there''s not a lot of people on the street. It gave her a chance to think about things peacefully.


    "You seem to have a lot of free time... Do you mind if I sit here?"


    Minka looks up and sees Sannet, who looks as refreshed as usual. Minka nods silently and scoot aside so that she can sit down on the bench. The two girls sat there quietly for a few minutes.


    "Sannet... do you know anything about this Legend guy?" Minka asked while looking down on the ground.


    Sannet stares at Minka for a moment and says with a low voice: "I do... but it''s not something that I want to tell you...You should ask your mom...Something is better to be heard not from me."


    Minka looks away and nods, she knows that when it comes to Sannet, no amount of prying can help her find the answers. But she still kept wondering if there is something she can do to change Sannet''s mind.


    "Dad used to tell me that he had a really amazing friend before." Minka spoke up again after a long silence: "He said that a friend of his stayed with him for a long while before going away to do some important job... It''s sad that I didn''t get a chance to meet that person before he or she left."


    Sannet glanced at Minka for a moment but continued to look forward: "So? What makes you think that I would know more about him?" She asked with a flat voice.


    "Because..."Minka paused, and took a deep breath before speaking: "I think that ''friend'' was you..."


    Sannet let out a heavy sigh: "You are a dumbass." She then got up and walked away.


    "Sannet..." Minka called out but she did not look back at Minka at all. She just continues walking away, ignoring Minka''s call.


    Minka stands up and runs after Sannet: "Please stop!" She yells at Sannet: "I want to understand you..."


    "Why would I want someone like you to understand me? Get over yourself." Sannet said, her tone of voice is flat but she does not slow her pace at all: "You are just a princess of a dying family. I don''t want your pity or sympathy."


    "Is that what you think of me?" Minka stops in her tracks, standing right in front of Sannet: "After all we''ve been through together, is that all you think of me? Am I not your friend?"


    "You are not my friend... you are a nuisance. Just shut up and leave me alone." Sannet said while walking past Minka, who was still in shock of what she heard. But Sannet stopped for a moment and said: "It''s not that I hate you or anything. I just don''t want you to involve yourself with my problems... because it''s my burden...and I''m fine with that." Sannet then turned around and continued walking away.


    Minka stood there for a long time, but when she saw Sannet turn around a corner, she finally reacted. She picked up her pace and ran after Sannet, reaching the end of the corner. But when she looked around, Sannet was no longer there. Out of distress, Minka swung her fist at the nearby wall, with a loud cracking sound, an imprint of her fist appeared on the wall.


    Minka clenched her fist tightly, she felt something that she never felt before... It''s a burning sensation. It was as if her heart was burning inside her body... and her fists clenched tighter as she tried to stop the burning sensation. Is this anger? Or frustration? Or is it something else? She tried to open her fists but it''s so painful that she couldn''t open them at all. The pain is not physical but emotional. Minka felt as if she was suffocating, she felt as if something was weighing on her body.


    "Minka!" Someone suddenly pulled Minka from behind and grabbed her hands: "What are you doing?!"


    Minka looked up and saw Viola standing in front of her with a worried look on her face: "Viola...I..." Minka felt that she was about to cry but she was holding back all her emotions and managed to get out a sentence: "Viola...I..."


    Viola pulled Minka into a tight hug: "It''s okay...it''s okay..." She said softly: "It''s alright...we will figure it out together."


    "Viola..." Minka sobbed into Viola''s chest: "I don''t know what I''m supposed to do..."


    "Don''t worry...everything will be fine..." Viola gently rubs Minka''s back.


    "I don''t know who i am anymore..." Minka said with tears flowing down from her eyes: "Everything I''ve ever known are all... lies. I don''t know what I am..."


    "You are Minka Terra...that''s who you are. Your parents love you so much, they raised you so well...and I know that even if they lied to you about something, it''s because they are trying to shield you from something that would bring you harm." Viola said, trying to comfort Minka.


    "Shielding me... from the past?" Minka pulled away from the hug to wipe away her tears: "I think I''ve got something..."


    "What did you get?" Viola asked.


    "That man, Alex Cohen, said that someone also called Minka once existed years before I was born." Minka said: "I think there''s something more behind this..."


    "What do you mean?" Viola tilted her head, clearly not getting what Minka meant by this.


    "I mean, if there was a Minka in the past, there''s a big possibility that my dad would know about her. And if Sannet and dad were close friends..." Minka paused for a moment, looking at Viola in the eyes: "There must be something more behind this..."


    "You sure you want to listen the words of a clearly ill obsessed man?" Viola raised her eyebrows.


    "Before I can use my psychic power... I had a vision, someone who is also Minka said that there was another ''Minka'' in this world." Minka explained: "So... there must be some kind of connection between these two. I know all of this sounds like I made it up... but I honestly can see some sort of connection between this."


    "Okay...what do you want to do then?" Viola asked.


    "I need to find my mom, I have to ask her about this." Minka said confidently: "And we need to ask her about the Legend anyways... so Lea and Sannet would also have no problem with this."


    "What if your mom doesn''t want to tell you?" Viola asked.


    "She has to..." Minka said with a serious face: "Because we are going after the truth that she left behind. She has the responsibility to do so."


    "Fine then." Viola nodded: "You lead and I''ll follow."


    Minka nods and proceeded to go back to the hotel room to inform Leanna and Sannet about what they decided. Viola stayed there for a while, sitting on the bench and looking up at the sky. She let out a sigh and lit up a cigarette. She had no idea what is coming next but she was prepared for anything. The only thing that she hopes is that nothing will happen to her friends. After all... this world has a lot of dark history, some are meant to be buried and some are buried for good reasons. But whatever the reason behind all of this, there will always be a consequence for everyone involved.


    Not after long till morning, they packed their stuff to their car. Since it is almost time for the guild''s exam, they have no choice but to head back to the capital city. The four girls agreed on staying together as a team. They drove all the way back to the city in silence. The only sound that can be heard in the car is from the engine and the wheels spinning against the asphalt road. Viola is sitting beside Minka, who is staring at her phone screen the entire time. She is looking for clues about her mom''s whereabouts but she still got nothing. After around half of a day of driving, they went back to the starting point: "The exam will take place in two days. I will see you people then." Sannet takes her bag from the back and then leaves after bidding farewell.


    "Well, I''m going home. What about you two?" Viola asked Leanna and Minka.


    "Home as well, I mean my dad already knows I escaped the camp for this..." Minka sighed.


    "What about you Lea?" Viola asks.


    "Well...I was thinking about going back to the camp. I didn''t really tell mother about this."Leanna said while bringing the bag to her shoulder: "If somehow she knew, I am sure she will be disappointed in me again..."


    "Hey, why don''t you come with me?" Viola offers.


    "Thank you for the offer...but i don''t think it''s a good idea to go with you." Leanna said softly: "I don''t want to cause any trouble for you guys..."


    "Nonsense! We will have plenty of fun! Also you get to meet my cute little sis." Viola said as she leaned over to hug Leanna.


    "Ow, you are hurting my neck." Leanna said as she struggled from Viola''s hug: "Fine! I will come."


    "Minka, come join us!" Viola said while releasing Leanna from her embrace.


    "Uhm..." Minka hesitates but finally decides to go home: "I also have a little sister to take care of... she probably misses me a lot."


    "Okay then! Let''s meet in two days again!" Viola said happily: "See you later!" Viola waves her arms wildly while seeing Minka walking away. Leanna also waves goodbye to her and turns around to see Viola doing the same gesture. She giggled and then walked over to Viola. The two girls then drove their car back to Viola''s house.


    When they arrived, a small but modest house was just down by the road, there''s nothing special about it. But it looks rather comforting. Viola walks out from the car and Leanna follows after her. Viola then unlocked the door and opened it: "Welcome to my humble abode!" Viola said as she walked in with Leanna following right behind her.


    "Sis?" A voice of a little girl came from upstairs, Viola looked up to see her little sister descending down the stairs with a big grin on her face. She is wearing a yellow nightgown and her snow white hair is tied into two pony tails on both sides of her head.


    Viola drops her things on the floor and goes to immediately hug her little sister: "Hey there, baby! I missed you so much!" She said while picking up the girl into her arms.


    "Hi sis! I missed you too." The girl said while wrapping her tiny arms around Viola''s neck: "Where have you been all this time?"


    "Working, making big money as well!" Viola then gently let down her little sister on the floor: "Lea, this is my little sister. Clara."


    "Hello." Leanna said with a smile on her face.


    "Hello! I am Clara!" The girl said happily while taking Leanna''s hand: "Come play with me!" She said while pulling Leanna upstairs. But then Viola stopped her before she could.


    "Clara, let our guest drop her stuff here first alright? Then we will all play with you upstairs." Viola said calmly while looking into her little sister''s pink coloured eye.


    "Okey." The little girl nodded obediently.


    Viola smiles and proceeds to show Leanna to her room: "Here''s your room. Feel free to use it anytime you''re here."


    "Thank you...for everything." Leanna said while looking around the room. There''s a bed on one side with a closet near the door. There are also two nightstands with lamps on top.


    "This place is so... cozy." Leanna said while looking around.


    "Well...it''s my first time having guests over so...I have no idea what else to tell you." Viola scratched her head.


    "I don''t mean that..." Leanna paused for a moment: "I mean... it feels so nice here..." She looked back at Viola with a smile on her face.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Alright, alright, stop hitting me." Viola pushes Leanna away playfully: "Get your stuff out and change clothes."


    "Okay." Leanna nods and starts unloading her things. She wore the clothes that she was wearing before leaving home and placed her bags at the corner. Viola opened the door and knocked on Leanna''s room before entering: "Do you want something to eat? I''m hungry."


    "Sure... anything is fine with me." Leanna replied while putting away some clothes into the closet: "I will come and help."


    "Thanks...Let me make a call." Viola said while picking up the phone: "Hi, i would like a package 352 please. And with some fresh baby carrots."


    Leanna tilts her head upon hearing the order but decides not to pry any further. Viola put down the phone and proceeded to wash her hands: "It should be here in ten minutes or so. If you were wondering, it is a food delivery center that basically is like a supermarket but will deliver to your house."


    "I see." Leanna nodded while taking out the utensils and putting them on the table: "It will be nice to have some baby carrots in my meals."


    "Yeah, they are good for your health." Viola said as she prepared some tea for both of them. "My little sister loves them so much." She then turns to look at Leanna, who is now sitting down on the chair. "Say... I have a question."


    "Yes?" Leanna looked up and saw Viola putting down two cups on the table: "What is it?"


    Viola hesitated for a moment before continuing: "What do you want to do after all this is done?"


    Leanna thought for a moment before she answered: "I really don''t know... Maybe be an official conscript and rank up over the years like my mother?"


    "Hmm..." Viola nods as she stirs the tea: "That sounds good. Being an officer in the military would definitely give you a higher salary than what you have now. But I wonder if you will still enjoy it..."


    "Maybe..." Leanna nodded slowly: "I really don''t know what else to do. The imperial army is all I know..."


    "That''s true." Viola took a sip of her tea: "I guess all you have to do is keep thinking about the future."


    "Can I ask you about something?" Leanna asked while sipping from her teacup: "What''s the story of Clara?"


    "Ah, yes...She''s just a little sister I took care of for a while. I''m not sure what her real name is or who she really is." Viola answered with a slight frown on her face: "I found her years ago during one of my deployments. I rescued her from a collapsing building and took her in."


    "Oh...I see." Leanna nodded: "Did she... have parents?"


    Viola was silent for a moment before she answered: "I''m not sure. Maybe they are still alive or maybe they''re dead... I don''t know..."


    "I see...Sorry for asking a weird question." Leanna apologized.


    "It''s okay... It''s not like you''re my lover or anything." Viola jokingly said, and Leanna blushed when she heard it.


    The slight awkwardness is suddenly broken by the door ring bell. Viola then walks over to the door and picks up a plastic bag and a small box. She put it down on the table and opened it up. Inside, there are several types of food ingredients and of course a pack of baby carrots that smell like they were freshly picked. Viola grabs one baby carrot and bites into it: "Yummy~" She cheered while biting into the vegetable.


    "I will prepare them." Leanna takes out the ingredients and starts cooking it with Viola''s help. Viola slices the ingredients into small pieces and washed it off while Leanna cooked them. The two girls worked in unison, slicing the ingredients and washing them until they were all ready to cook. The kitchen became quite loud when they were cooking, with both of them talking about various topics. They talked about their family members, their friends, their favorite foods and more. They also talked about the food that they eat, especially Clara''s favorite dish, which is boiled rice with baby carrot in it. It was simple but delicious.


    Not after long, they finished cooking and Viola called Clara down from upstairs. Clara happily comes down and sits down on her chair, waiting for her meal to be served. Viola then brought out two more plates and sat down in front of her little sister: "Here is your meal, baby girl." She said as she passed the plate over to Clara.


    "Thanks sis!" Clara happily thanked Viola, then she turned her head to look at Leanna: "You too!"


    "Oh no... I didn''t do anything. It was all your big sis''s work." Leanna replied nervously.


    "Oh nonsense, you cooked everything so well. You have a lot of tricks up your sleeves." Viola said while smiling at Leanna.


    "Stop it...It''s embarrassing when you compliment me like that..." Leanna blushed and hid her face behind the napkin.


    Viola giggled and shook her head as she enjoyed the sight of Leanna''s reactions. Clara was eating happily, making happy noises as she tasted each different dish on her plate. It was a feast fit for a princess. After she was done, she immediately went back upstairs to play with her toys, leaving the two girls alone in the kitchen. Two of them finished doing her dishes rather quickly and sat on the sofa.


    "She really loves food, huh?" Leanna giggled as she saw Clara went upstairs happily: "We should get her more food ingredients sometime."


    "She would be delighted to hear that." Viola nods: "So what do you want to do next? "


    Leanna thought for a moment before answering: "Can we go somewhere? I haven''t seen a lot of things around here."


    "Yeah sure! We can go to the shopping district and pick some stuff!" Viola agreed: "I think Clara will be happy if we bring her something nice."


    Leanna nodded, not saying anything else. They then drove their car into the nearby shopping district. Three of them go into a store that has a lot of cute xeno toys, which Clara seems to love. They took their time to look around and buy the toys that Clara wanted to have. Clara seems really happy about this, but at the same time, she keeps complaining about how much money they spend for this.


    "It''s ok, big sis go out to earn big money just so you can get whatever you want." Viola said while petting Clara''s head: "You are my baby sister, so I will take care of you no matter what."


    Clara happily nods and smiles. After a little bit more shopping, Viola asked Leanna to go get some drinks while she escorted Clara out from the store. Leanna nodded and walked away. Soon, she came back with some soft drinks in her hand. When she returned to the store, she noticed that Clara and Viola were not inside. She stood there for a while before finally deciding to call them.


    "Sis?" A voice suddenly called Leanna from behind: "What are you doing?"


    Leanna shivered a little bit when she heard that voice: "Big bro?" Leanna turned around and saw her older brother, Miller.


    "It''s been a while, huh?" Miller said as he looked down on his sister: "You haven''t changed much." He paused for a moment before continuing: "What are you doing here?"


    "That''s what i want to ask, aren''t you supposed to be with dad half planet away?" Leanna asks while looking at Miller.


    "Dad is busy with some business so he told me to come back for a few days to check out you and mom, apparently... you are not in the military camp at the moment." Miller said with a hint of disappointment on his face.


    "I-I''m sorry... I am not supposed to be here..." Leanna lowered her head.


    "You don''t have to apologize. Dad should be the one to apologize to you." Miller said, trying to console his sister: "Come with me, I''ll bring you back home."


    Leanna shook her head slowly: "No, I have some important business to attend to."


    "I''ll wait with you until they are done with it, so there''s no need to hurry."


    "No! I- I mean- I don''t want to bother you..." Leanna said nervously while looking at her brother: "I''m going back to camp, see you later!" She quickly turned around and tried to walk away but Miller held her shoulder with one hand.


    "Lea? Is there something you are not telling me?" He then glanced at the bag on her hand: "Why are there three drinks?"


    "N-no there is nothing! Just let me go!" Leanna stammers while trying to get away from Miller''s grasp.


    "Hey hey!" Viola''s voice came from behind Leanna: "Get your hand off of her! Do you know her mother is Nova Terra?!" She grabs Miller''s hand and tries to pull it away from Leanna''s shoulder.


    "Who are you?" Miller glares at Viola, who is not scared of Miller at all.


    "I''m Viola, and who are you?" Viola glared back.


    Miller glances at her for a while before shrugging his shoulders and letting go of Leanna: "I am Miller Terra, Lea''s older brother." He answers calmly.


    "You are her brother? And you are publicly bullying her? What is wrong with you?" Viola grabs Leanna''s shoulder and walks away. Leanna glances at Miller for a while before following Viola. Viola led Leanna away, ignoring her brother completely. They sat down on a bench nearby and watched Clara play around in a playground.


    "Thanks for that..." Leanna said with a weak smile: "Sorry for all of this."


    "I didn''t do it for thanks." Viola shook her head: "I just didn''t like it when someone bullies my friends." She paused for a moment before continuing: "Is he always like this?"


    "Not exactly, but I feel like he has some difficulties knowing when to act differently..." Leanna said while looking away.


    "So that man is basically a rock?" Viola said while shaking her head: "No wonder you never talk about him before."


    Miller then came over with a hot drink in his hand: "Can I sit next to you guys?" He asked calmly.


    Just before Viola says some mean stuff towards him, Leanna nods beforehand and lets him sit.


    "So who are you? And what is your relationship with my sister?" Miller asks as he sips the coffee from the cup.


    Viola paused for a moment, then looked at Leanna for an answer. Leanna quickly answered: "We are friends, and we are about to do the guild entrance exam soon."


    Miller nods slowly: "You seem to be on good terms with my little sister, I''m glad." He then continued to look around: "I never seen this part of the city before... It''s nice here." He commented.


    "So... why did you come here, exactly?" Leanna asked with a confused face.


    Miller sips his coffee for a while before answering: "I want to buy something nice for you, mom and Max." He then looked at Leanna: "But since you are here..."He took out a really beautiful gemstone necklace from his front pocket.


    Leanna blushed a little bit: "That''s so nice of you... But I didn''t do anything to deserve this."


    "You are my little sister, of course you deserve it." Miller answered calmly: "I mean... if you don''t want it... I can just throw it away later."


    "No!" Leanna answered immediately: "I mean...it''s really beautiful... this must''ve been expensive."


    "Not from the depth of where I came from, this gem is everywhere." Miller shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to give it to his sister: "Here, try it on."


    Leanna nodded and took the necklace from Miller. She put it on and smiled at her brother: "Thank you... I really like it." She said happily.


    "I am glad you like it." Miller smiles.


    Viola glanced at Leanna and smiled as well: "I am sure your mother would love it as well."


    "Oh, I got something she would like." He takes out a frying pan from the bag where he was carrying it: "I know she loves this thing." He said as he showed it to his sister.


    "Yeah, mom would like this. What did you get for Max?" Leanna tilts her head curiously.


    "Just some new chew toys, he ran out of those things really quickly." He answers calmly as he puts the bag down next to him.


    Leanna giggles at his answer: "He loves to chew on anything that he sees."


    "Mill... can you not tell mom or dad that i am back in town?" She suddenly asked.


    Miller thinks for a moment before answering: "Sure.." He paused for a moment before continuing: "Why?" He asks curiously.


    Leanna hesitated for a moment but still managed to tell him: "I don''t want them to worry about me...or feel disappointed."


    "Mom and dad would feel disappointed in you?" He asked with a slight frown on his face.


    "No, I mean..." She tried to explain but Miller already understood the meaning behind her words.


    "I see..." He pauses for a moment: "You don''t need to worry about it. Mom and dad would not feel disappointed in you, trust me on this." He said as he put his hand on Leanna''s shoulder: "I know that they would never treat you as a failure or a disappointment at all."He then stood up: "It was nice to meeting with you lots." He said while waving his hand. Then he is off to home. Viola and Leanna watch him leave before turning their attention toward Clara.


    "You are very lucky to have a big brother like him." Viola said as she lit a cigarette: "He seems really nice."


    "I guess I just spent too little time with him recently to remember how he was... he''s a rock for sure but... he''s also very thoughtful." Leanna nodded: "Yeah... He is really nice."


    Viola giggles and shakes her head: "No wonder you are like this."


    Leanna tilted her head upon hearing this: "What do you mean?"


    "You are so cute and kind." Viola replied with a gentle smile on her face: "You are always thinking of others and trying to see the best in people."


    Leanna blushed a little bit: "T-thanks, I guess..." She stuttered nervously.


    Viola giggled and nodded: "We should go home now." She stood up and carried Clara up to her arms. Clara hugged her big sister tightly as they walked back home. Leanna decided to carry the bag with the toys inside. They got home around twenty minutes later, and Clara immediately went into her room to play with her new toys.


    "How did you like the night out of the Viola family?" Viola asked Leanna with a smile on her face.


    "It was fun..." Leanna answered with a smile: "I really liked hanging out with your two." She added.


    "I''m glad." Viola said as she sat down on the sofa. Leanna sat beside her. Viola then turned her attention toward Leanna and asked: "Do you think your brother is lying to you about something?"


    Leanna thought for a moment before answering: "I guess... i don''t know... it felt like he was hiding something but he wouldn''t tell me... I don''t know how to explain it." She replied while tilting her head.


    "Yeah... that sounds weird." Viola nods in agreement: "Maybe he was not really hiding something from you, he just... has something in mind but doesn''t want to share it with you?"


    "I don''t know..." Leanna answered while looking away.


    "Do you want to know what I think?" Viola asks as she turns Leanna''s head to face her.


    Leanna blushed slightly upon hearing this and nodded in silence.


    Viola giggles and smiles at Leanna: "I was just messing with you honestly." She said while gently stroking Leanna''s hair: "It''s okay to just enjoy what you got now."


    Leanna looks away while feeling embarrassed, and Viola could not help but laugh. After laughing for a while, Viola suddenly realizes that she is petting Leanna like she would pet her own dog or cat. "Oh sorry about this..." Viola stopped immediately, and Leanna turned her head toward Viola again.


    "It''s okay... I don''t mind at all." Leanna said with a smile.


    "You know... you act differently when you are with each of us." Viola commented while staring into Leanna''s eyes.


    Leanna''s eyes widened slightly upon hearing that: "How so?" She asks curiously.


    "When you are with me, you act all coy and innocent... but when you are with your brother you''re like a scared little kitten. Then when it comes to Minka and Sannet, it''s another story." Viola explains calmly while tilting her head: "I guess I don''t need to explain how you act around them?" She asked.


    Leanna blushed upon hearing this: "I-I...i don''t even realize this." She looked away nervously.


    "It''s okay." Viola shakes her head: "I don''t mind at all... in fact, I like it when you act differently with each of us." She said as she looked straight into Leanna''s eyes: "Just let go of any stress you have in you, relax and be yourself."


    Leanna blushes even more after hearing this: "I-I will try." She said,


    "It''s getting late now... should we just sleep?" Viola asks.


    Leanna nodded slowly: "Not together, I am not Minka." She smiles in a sly way.


    Viola giggles: "Goodnight then."


    Minka arrived home soon after she bid farewell to everyone else. She unlocked the door and went inside quietly, but was stopped by her dad.


    "Dad..." She said nervously.


    "Minky? I didn''t know you were coming back." Trazyn said while standing up from his chair to embrace his daughter.


    "We are taking a small break... then we are attending the guild exam." Minka said as she hugged Trazyn back.


    "Guild huh? Now that''s my daughter!" He said with a proud look on his face: "Where are the others?"


    Minka broke from the hug and replied: "They decided to rest until the day." She then looks around: "Where is Emilia?"


    "She''s working on some reports... don''t worry." Trazyn answered while sitting back down on the chair: "She should be home soon."


    "Dad, do you know where mom is?" Minka asked with a worried tone.


    "I have no idea... It''s been a while since she left us, I have no idea what she is doing." Trazyn said with a frown on his face: "Why are you so concerned about her anyways?"


    "I miss her... she didn''t even call for such a long time." Minka said while lowering her head.


    "She will be back eventually. Don''t worry about it. I will be here." Trazyn said with a comforting voice: "Besides... I miss your mom so much as well... but you know, work is work."


    "Yeah..." Minka nods. She then goes to her room to put away her stuff. After that, she went downstairs to watch some TV. Trazyn sat down beside her and started asking about all the things she did recently.


    "So... you escaped the camp... with Viola, Sannet and Leanna?" Trazyn asked after a long silence.


    "Uhmm..." Minka tried to think of an excuse.


    "No need to hide it." Trazyn said while stroking Minka''s hair.


    "Yeah...we did." Minka nodded: "I just feel... lost and confused about everything."


    "It''s okay...dad did more than escaping camps when I was your age." Trazyn said as he continued stroking Minka''s hair.


    Minka blushed at this comment: "Dad, what did you do when you were my age?"


    "Well..." Trazyn thought for a moment: "I did many things, actually." He said while shaking his head: "But most of them were very illegal. Like taking something that wasn''t mine and trading it for some fun gadgets."


    Minka giggled at this: "That sounds awfully like what you do right now."


    "Hey, dad did everything you see legally." Trazyn said while shaking his head.


    Minka shakes her head as well and the two of them laugh for a while. The rest of the day was quite peaceful, Minka spent time watching some cartoons with her dad until Emilia finally came home: "Daddy? Sis!" Emilia ran into the living room after she saw the spare shoes near the doorway.


    "Hey there, Emi!." Minka said while hugging Emilia: "Did you grow taller?"


    "Yeah! By two centimeters!" Emilia answers happily.


    "Oh really? That''s good, right dad?" Minka asked.


    Trazyn smiles and nods: "Yeah...she''s growing up so fast."


    "She will be as tall as me someday." Minka said proudly.


    "Don''t be too over confident, Minky." Trazyn shook his head: "Maybe she will be taller than you."


    "You are such a downer, dad." Minka pouts.


    "Well... I am your dad, so I am supposed to be the negative one." Trazyn said with a chuckle.


    Minka chuckles and playfully hits her dad on his arm. Emilia is going to have an early day tomorrow, so she decided to go to bed first. Minka and Trazyn stayed up late in the living room to watch some news and comedy shows. Minka then starts feeling a bit tired so she leans on her father''s shoulder and begins snoozing. Trazyn then picked Minka up and carried her to her room. He gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in before leaving.


    "Sannet... Please don''t leave..." Minka said as she dreamt.


    After hearing this, Trazyn''s body became stiff for a mere second then he left and closed the door gently. He went out of the door and headed into a corner where he could not be seen. Then green light covering all over his body and he teleported to where Sannet lives. The green light is actually an energy signal of teleportation, and it is hard to notice unless you know what you are looking for. When the green light faded, Trazyn was now standing in front of Sannet''s apartment. He then knocks on the door and waits.


    Sannet opened the door and frowned upon seeing who was at her door. "What do you want?" She asks.


    "May I come in?" Trazyn asked while bowing his head.


    "Fine, whatever." Sannet rolled her eyes. She opened the door wide open and let Trazyn into her house. Trazyn walks in with his usual arrogant posture and the door closed.


    "What is this about?" Sannet asked.


    "You have no idea why I came here?" He asks with a grin on his face.


    "I got no fucking clue..." Sannet sighed: "What do you want?" She repeated her question.


    "What did you do to Minka that made her upset?" Trazyn asks calmly.


    "What the hell are you talking about?" Sannet glares at him: "Why do you care about it anyways? Aren''t you supposed to be busy with your archeology stuff?"


    "Sannet? I am asking as a friend. Not a worrying father that saw his dearest daughter muttering your name while she''s sleeping." Trazyn answered while glaring back at Sannet.


    "So now you''re using our friendship as an excuse?" Sannet rolled her eyes: "Please... go back to your precious museum. Hell, build another mega corporation. I don''t really care."


    "Sannet, what did you do to Minka?" Trazyn asked with a serious face.


    "Nothing." Sannet replied coldly: "Why the fuck does it matter to you anyways?" She added.


    "Sannet! She''s my daughter. Everything we''ve done until this point was for her!" Trazyn said angrily: "I gave you a really easy mission to let her quit the army. Which she did, but not at the expense of you hurting my child."


    "If you think I hurt your precious child, then why didn''t you just lock her away in your vault instead of having me look after her?" Sannet said with a grin on her face.


    Trazyn glares at her before sighing: "You were my only friend, and I trust you so much with this."


    Sannet shakes her head and scoffs at this: "Yeah...friend." She said sarcastically: "More like a puppet and her master."


    "That''s enough Sannet. You made her very upset, now you''re making me upset as well. What do you want me to do to make you change your mind? Do you want me to give you everything I have? Would you be happy if I did that? " He asked as he kept his serious expression.


    "Just get the fuck out of my house." Sannet said while turning her back to him.


    Trazyn pins Sannet on the wall with one hand: "You''ve changed... Where''s the Sannet who cares about others? Who cares about Minka and not doing anything bad to her? Where is the Sannet who keeps a promise she made?" He asked.


    "Let go of me." Sannet said coldly: "I''ve changed and I don''t care what you want to say to me. I just want you to get the fuck out of my house." She added.


    "I gave you a choice all those years ago. And this is what I get for being nice?" Trazyn shook his head: "I should have locked you in the vault instead." He added angrily.


    "Yeah? What are you going to do now? Torture me? Kill me? You''re getting a little bit ahead of yourself." Sannet said with a grin: "You have also changed. You are not worthy of me to call you Sire." She added with a cold voice.


    "Enough." Trazyn releases Sannet and starts walking toward the door. But before he opened the door, he turned around: "Please take better care of Minka for me." Then he left, leaving Sannet behind.


    Sannet stood there, looking at the closed door and sighing. She then walked to the bathroom to take a shower and clean herself up. As the water was flowing down to her body, she felt a chill on her back. She shivered for a moment, and decided to continue bathing.


    "Minka..." Sannet muttered as she thought of the girl''s face: "What have you done to me?" She added with a sad tone. After a long time, she stepped out of the shower and wiped herself dry. Then she went to bed, still wondering what happened to her.


    Minka''s dreams suddenly woke her up and she found herself sitting on the bed, staring into space. She is not sure what happened just now. She felt like someone was calling out for her, but she could not hear it clearly. She looked at the clear night sky and decided to go back to bed: "Mom... where are you?" She mutters while she slowly closes her eyes.

 Chapter 9

    A sound close to a sonic boom echoed in the place, it is dark and somewhere underground. What comes next is the roar of a towering beast. Something is fighting somewhere. This sounds like the war cry of the beast. The air is filled with static and the place is shaking. A purple ball of energy suddenly appeared in the air and slowly descended to the ground. Just when the energy blast of the beast was about to hit the ground. A woman holding a flaming sword jumps towards the beast''s head and beheads it in an instant.


    The beast roars loudly as its head falls to the ground. Then it collapses, and the whole place shakes and quivers. The woman landed on the ground and stared at the beast with a cold look in her eyes: "Impressive, Captain Terra." One of the men said from behind her.


    "Thank you, Sergeant. It would not be a victory if I did not try hard." The woman said as she continued to stare at the beast''s body.


    "My lord, this is what you are looking for?" A man walks over to the woman and hands her a crystal ball.


    "Yes...this is it. Make sure you bring it back to the surface." The woman said as she took the crystal ball from the man''s hand.


    "Aren''t you coming back with us? Captain Terra?" Another man asks.


    "Call me Monika, I have other matters to attend to, you guys can handle this, right?" The woman asks with a smile on her face.


    "We are glad to have you with us, Monika." One of the men said with a nod.


    Monika then went to the second hot spot of the fights. It was a place with many rifts and doors in the middle of the ruins. Many soldiers are fighting with the enemies there. They are trying to stop them from reaching a certain destination, a door made of some kind of blue material. The doors are glowing and vibrating. The energy coming from the rifts seems to be drawing something. Something really big and powerful. The door is glowing blue and the area around it is all dark and red. The soldiers around the area are trying their best to hold the enemies back, but they are overwhelmed by the enemy. They are almost done for.


    Then a sound of sonic boom echoes in the area. Monika appears in the middle of the soldiers, slashing her flaming sword at the enemies and taking them down. One of the soldiers shouted: "Captain Terra!"


    "I will deal with the enemies there, take care of those monsters at the flank." Monika said as she pointed at the enemies behind the soldiers.


    The soldiers obeyed and moved toward the enemies. Then the soldiers surrounding Monika started to fire at the enemies. The enemies howled as they fell one by one. The soldiers started cheering as Monika moved toward the rift. She stopped right beside it. Then a huge creature emerged from the rift, its whole body pitch black with tentacles instead of legs. It is more like a living abomination that took on the shape of a humanoid creature. It roars as it emerges from the rift.


    Monika charged the beast with her sword and started slicing it with her blade, and then she jumped high into the air and kick the monster right in its face. It roared in pain and shook its head, and the soldiers charged forward as well. The soldiers fired their weapons at it, but the monster did not even feel any kind of pain from them. Monika quickly sliced a few tentacles before the monster got too close to her.


    Monika ran around the monster''s head, slashing every tentacle she saw. She jumps high into the air and brings her sword down on the monster''s head. It roared and shook its head again, it swiped its tentacle at her. Monika quickly jumps back and dodges the attack. Her eyes suddenly turned red and two beams of lasers came out from her eyes and penetrated through the monster''s brain, frying it in an instant. It collapses and the rift closes immediately. Monika stared at the corpse of the beast, then she turned her attention toward the soldiers who fought hard against the monster.


    The soldiers cheered as they saw their Captain Terra was unharmed. Monika shook her head and sigh. Then she started to help the soldiers with cleaning the area, which takes quite a long time. After they were done, the soldiers started to talk about Monika. They all kept praising her for what she did today, but one soldier spoke up and said: "We would not win without your help, Captain."


    The soldiers all nodded in unison: "Indeed." One of the soldiers agreed.


    "You guys can call me Monika when we are alone... It makes me uncomfortable when you keep calling me Captain." She said while sighing.


    "Sorry about that, Monika." The soldier said.


    The soldiers continued to talk as they moved back to the base. After a while, they all arrive at their base and rest there for a few hours: "Man... captain Terra is so strong, she''s also a beauty as well." One of the soldiers commented.


    "Yeah, but don''t get distracted by her, focus on the mission." Another soldier said as he put his helmet on.


    The soldier sighed and said: "She is like our angel sent from heaven, you guys must''ve noticed how beautiful she is."


    "It is true that she is beautiful, but we can''t afford to be distracted, not on this mission." Another soldier said while shaking his head.


    "Yes, you are right...but I can''t help it..." The soldier sighed again.


    "Yeah, but keep it to yourself." One of the soldiers said while walking away.


    "Where are you going?" The soldier asked.


    "To bed, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." One of the soldiers said.


    The soldiers started to go to bed one by one, and finally only Monika and her second-in-command were left.


    "Captain, you must get some rest as well. You need it." The second-in-command said as he stared at Monika.


    Monika sighed: "You are right, but there are many things I need to check out..." She said as she stared at the wall in front of her: "How long have I been here?" She mutters.


    "Five years." The second-in-command said.


    "I see..." Monika nodded: "Thank goodness time works differently down here." She added as she looked around.


    "It should be less than two months up there." The second-in-command said with a nod.


    "I can''t wait to see my family..." Monika said with a weak smile on her face: "I am really glad you guys are with me, I don''t know how long I can survive here if I am on my own."


    "You are the one who made us who we are, captain. You can count on us." The second-in-command said with a firm look: "You saved us from that battlefield, so we will follow you until our death."


    "Thank you, sergeant... I am honored to have you by my side." Monika nodded and sighed: "But I can''t let you guys die for me... I will bring you guys home." She added as she stared at the second-in-command.


    "Captain..." He said.


    Monika nods: "You should get some sleep now." She said while walking out of the room. She started to look for something on the bookshelf nearby. Then she stopped by a photo frame which contained her family. They were taken in front of their old house on Terra. Her husband and her children are all in the picture. She could feel the pain in her heart. She misses them so much. She really wishes she could be there right now. She gently stroked the picture before putting it away.


    Monika couldn''t remember the last time she actually slept, most of the time she just closed her eyes and meditated. Due to her enhancement, she doesn''t have the need to sleep that much. She was planning to meditate and clear her head, but then she felt something. It is a feeling like someone is calling out to her.


    "Who''s this?" She said while meditating in her mind.


    The answer comes in a flash: "Mom?"


    Monika opened her eyes and stood up. Then she started to look for the source of the voice: "M-Minka?" And realized it came from inside of her head.


    "Mom? What happened to you?" Minka said with a worried tone.


    "M-Minka? How did you find me here?" Monika asked nervously.


    "I-I don''t know!" Minka sounded a bit panicked: "I was just dreaming and thinking about you..."


    Monika paused for a moment before sighing: "I was just thinking about you as well."


    "Mom, where are you? When are you coming back?" Minka said with a concerned tone: "Are you in danger?"


    Monika sighs: "I can''t tell you the exact location or how much time... I''m sorry honey." She answered: "Minka... I am so proud of you to be able to achieve this... but... you need to stop... it will cause damage to you if it''s too long."


    "I-I..." Minka''s voice sounded like she was about to cry.


    "I know you can do it... but... please stop. Don''t try too hard to find me." Monika said while feeling tears falling down her cheek.


    "Mom... I miss you..." Minka said while sobbing: "Please come home..."


    "I-I will try." Monika said as she struggled to keep her voice calm.


    "You promise me..." Minka said.


    "I promise." Monika answered.


    "I-I love you, mom..." Minka said before her presence suddenly disappeared.


    "Those voices of the abyss¡­ when are they gonna leave me alone¡­?" Monika suddenly fell to her knees and started to sob. She stayed there for a long time before finally calming down. She wiped her face and stood up. She left her room and walked around the base for awhile until she finally decided to sleep in the cot next to the door. Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep.


    The next day, the soldiers wake up at around the same time. They prepared themselves for the next mission. Monika starts to check each of their gear and then they go outside the base. The whole place is filled with a strange energy that makes them feel a bit uncomfortable. Monika led them toward the rift that they spotted last night, but then the soldiers saw a huge creature emerge from the rift again.


    Monika shouted: "Back!" And all the soldiers run toward the base.


    The monster roars as it slowly crawls toward Monika, who is standing in front of the soldiers. She took out her flaming sword and stared at the monster. The monster opened its maw and charged at Monika. She charged at it as well and sliced its head. The monster howled and shook its head, and Monika jumped back. The monster slashed its tentacle at Monika. She blocks it with her sword and is thrown away from the monster.


    "Captain Terra!" One of the soldiers shouted.


    "Stay back!" Monika said as she stood up. A sword dripping with ice appeared in her hand.


    The soldiers were surprised to see this: "Captain Terra has another weapon?!" They asked in unison.


    Monika charged at the monster and swung the sword at its head, slicing through its skull. The monster falls to the ground.


    "Wow!" One of the soldiers said.


    Monika ignores the soldier''s comments and walks toward the rift. She pulled out a blue colored rock and threw it into the rift. Then it became unstabilized and eventually disappeared. She sighs.


    "Captain Terra, what was that?" One of the soldiers asks.


    "A rock that can nullify the magic property of the rift. Without it, I won''t be able to destroy it." She answered calmly.


    "Wow, I didn''t know you could do that." The soldier said as he walked toward Monika.


    "We must go back now. We need to take a defensive position." Monika said as she turned around. The soldiers nodded in unison and all of them followed their captain toward the base.


    They return to the base and rest for a while. Then they prepare themselves for the next mission. Monika was planning to go out by herself, but the second-in-command insisted on going with her instead. So they went out together.


    They were heading toward another rift that is further away from the base. But when they got there, they were surprised to find it destroyed. There are corpses of many people and creatures all around the place. Monika slowly walked forward. She saw a sign that said "Escape route".


    "Captain Terra..." The second-in-command said as he glanced at the sign: "Should we head back now?"


    Monika shook her head: "No...I didn''t know that there was another group of soldiers near us...I feel that something is not right here." She said as she examined the area.


    The second-in-command nodded and decided to keep quiet.


    Monika looked around the area and spotted some papers near a dead body. She walked toward the dead body and picked up the papers. There are some numbers scribbled on the papers.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Is that a code?" The second-in-command asks.


    "Yeah..." Monika said as she read the papers: "It''s a code for a vault."


    The second-in-command nods: "A vault?"


    "I can''t tell you guys everything about this... but I will explain later." Monika said while looking around: "This might be a clue of my whereabouts."


    "I see..." The second-in-command nodded.


    Monika continues to look around the area. After a long time, she finally found something. It was a trail of blood and eventually she arrived at a vault door. She then pressed the number code on the wall and the door opened. Inside the room are many different artifacts. Monika saw many strange tools and objects inside the room, but there were no people here.


    "Captain Terra, we must go back now..." The second-in-command said as he looked at the room.


    "I will check this place out first..." Monika said as she started to move toward a strange thing in the middle of the room. It looks like a statue of a creature. It was very small and it looked like a cat.


    "This looks interesting." She said as she walked toward the statue. She touched it gently and suddenly the statue came to life and roared. And began expanding its size and eventually it is as large as a truck. It is a living statue that takes the form of a giant cat. The statue roars as it charges at Monika. The second-in-command shoots the statue with his sniper, but it has no effect on it.


    Monika instantly grabbed her second in command''s hand and leapt out of the vault: "Stay." She said as she threw the second-in-command to the ground. Then she turned toward the vault and charged at the statue.


    "C-Captain Terra?!" The second-in-command shouted from behind her.


    Monika slashed the statue with her sword, but the sword does not affect it at all. The statue howls and swings its claw at Monika. She leaps back and dodges the attack, then she charges at the statue again. But this time, a thunder hammer appeared in her hand.


    "What?!" The second-in-command said in shock.


    Monika slams the thunder hammer to the statue''s head and it was wiped with the energy blast. It roared and fell to the ground. Monika landed on the ground and looked at the statue. She sighs and sits down beside the statue. The second-in-command walks toward Monika: "Captain Terra, are you okay?"


    Monika looks at him and nods: "I''m okay..." She said,


    "I... I..." The second-in-command seems unable to find any words to say.


    Monika sighed and said: "We should go back now."


    The second-in-command nods: "Yes, Captain Terra." He said.


    "Hey... can you do me a favor?" Monika asks.


    "Sure... anything you want, Captain Terra." The second-in-command answered immediately.


    "Can you not say a word of this to anyone?" Monika asked.


    "I won''t... but..." He seemed like he wanted to ask something.


    "What?" Monika asked.


    "Captain Terra...I want you to trust me..." He said while looking straight into Monika''s eyes. He puts his fist on his chest.


    Monika blushes a little bit: "I do trust you... I just... can''t explain it... I just don''t want others to know about my ability...especially the other soldiers." She said with a gentle smile on her face.


    "I see..." He nods: "I understand... Captain Terra." He said as he bows his head.


    Monika stands up: "Let''s go back to the base now..."


    Back on the surface,the second day passed rather quickly. Everyone had some time to deal with their personal stuff. Minka arrived the earliest at the guild center. She decided to wait in the cafeteria for a while.


    Sannet arrived not too long after, and she walked toward Minka: "Hey there, Minka." She greets Minka.


    Minka smiled and nodded: "Hello Sannet." She replied.


    "What do you want to eat?" Sannet asks.


    Minka blushes slightly: "I don''t know... I just got hungry..." She answered shyly.


    Sannet nods: "What do you feel like having?" She asked again.


    "Oh umm..." Minka tried to think of something: "Pizza?" She answered.


    Sannet nods and smiles: "Okay, let''s get some pizza."


    "Sannet..." Minka said with a strange tone: "Did something happen to you?" She asked.


    "No? What do you mean?" Sannet tilted her head.


    "You just seem...different somehow?" Minka said with a curious look on her face.


    "Different? How so?" Sannet asks.


    "Well... you seem more...open." Minka answers: "And also, you seem happier."


    "Is that so?" Sannet nods: "I guess... I was just in a good mood."


    "Really?" Minka tilted her head: "I am so glad to see you in a good mood then!" She said with a smile. Little did Minka know that Sannet is in such a great mood because she managed to tell Trazyn to fuck off.


    "Come on, let''s get some pizza." Sannet said as she walked toward the counter. Minka follows her.


    After they got their food, they started eating. Then Leanna and Viola came over as well. They joined the duo and ordered their own pizza as well. After eating, they headed to the exam area. The exam is simple on paper, surviving in the ruins for a week. But the trick is that there''s no supply whatsoever. You can only bring the clothes you are wearing right now and your gadget.


    "Reach to the destination the furthest of the north, near the abyss. And finish this assignment in seven days, then you will pass." The examiner said while showing a hologram map in front of everyone.


    "What? No supply?!" Someone shouted.


    "That''s impossible!" Someone else said.


    "We will be killed on the first day!"


    The people are getting noisy. Some of them are even talking about giving up. The examiner sighs and shakes his head.


    While everyone was arguing, Minka and her friends had already set off on their journey. They walked down the hallway and reached the main area. They were standing on a floating platform which is connected to many other platforms. They could see a big portal in the middle of the platform.


    "Let''s go." Leanna said as she stepped into the portal.


    Minka, Sannet, Viola and Leanna all jumped into the portal together. But before they arrived at the destination, the portal closed immediately. They found themselves surrounded by the purple energy and strange rift-like energy around them.


    "Where are we?" Leanna asks.


    "We''re in ruins!" Minka answered: "I mean... the trial."


    Sannet takes out her compass and begins surveying. The others took out their gadgets to see if they were working.


    "I think I can go around with this." Leanna said while examining her gadget.


    "Let''s get a move on, we must go as far as we can in one day." Minka said as she walked toward the light radiating from nearby.


    Sannet puts her compass back in her bag and follows Minka.


    Leanna follows them while checking her gadget. Viola followed as well. They have no idea where they should go. They went toward the light that looks like it leads to the other side of the wall. And sure enough, they found a hidden passage on the wall. Minka goes first and enters the passage. They walked down the passage and found a forest in the end. It seems like they have left the cave.


    Minka checks her map and sees that there is nothing but forest for a while.


    "This seems like our only way forward." Minka said: "I think we should go through the forest."


    Viola nods: "Yeah... We have no choice."


    Sannet nodded as well: "But before going through, let''s forage a bit, we have no food or water at the moment." She said while pointing at the nearby plants.


    The others nodded in unison. They all began foraging the area and eventually found something edible. They prepared the food and ate. They felt satisfied with their meal, then they moved toward the forest. As they were walking, Viola found some flowers and stopped.


    "What''s wrong?" Sannet asked.


    Viola picked one of the flowers and sniffed it. She noticed the smell of honey.


    "You don''t have to eat it, you know?" Sannet said.


    "I know... but it smells so good!" Viola said as she chewed the flower.


    "It''s delicious!" Viola said with a smile on her face.


    The other three nodded and started to forage again. They soon found some fruit and started eating it. They continued to walk until they found a spring of water. They decided to take a short break and drink some water.


    "We need to find something to build shelter in case it rains." Minka said as she sat beside the spring.


    "Yeah... that would be a good idea." Leanna said as she sipped on the water.


    "I know, but it''s better to keep going." Sannet said while standing up.


    The four girls nodded in unison. Then they set off again.


    They walked for a while before they saw a strange creature standing in their way. It has a huge mouth that looks like a shark mouth.


    "W-What is that?" Minka asks while trembling.


    "We don''t know! But it seems really dangerous!" Viola said while staring at the monster.


    "It''s so big!" Leanna said as she took out her weapon. But the creature didn''t seem to notice them, it then just waddled away.


    The four of them looked at each other and decided to continue their journey. They continued to walk forward and eventually they saw something big in front of them.


    "That''s...a bridge..." Leanna said.


    "I guess we have no choice but to cross." Minka said with a weak voice.


    The others nodded in unison. They slowly approached the bridge, and it turns out the bridge is not even floating above the water. They walked toward the middle of the bridge. But when they were almost in the middle, the creature came back. It has a huge mouth that can eat them whole.


    "A-Ah!" Leanna yelled as she took out her weapon again.


    "Run!" Minka shouted. The girls quickly ran toward the other side of the bridge. They ran as fast as they could.


    "What''s with that thing?" Minka asked while panting.


    "Land shark." Sannet replied.


    "Thank goodness it can''t cross the bridge..." Leanna said as she caught her breath.


    "Let''s just be more careful in this forest." Sannet said.


    The girls all nodded in unison. Then they continued to walk through the forest. The place is filled with dense greenery, but they don''t see anything like animals here. They continued to walk around until they saw a structure in the distance.


    "A-Ah!" Leanna yelled as she took out her weapon again.


    "Run!" Minka shouted. The girls quickly ran toward the other side of the bridge. They ran as fast as they can.


    "What''s with that thing?" Minka asked while panting.


    "Land shark." Sannet replied.


    "Thank goodness it can''t cross the bridge..." Leanna said as she caught her breath.


    "Let''s just be more careful in this forest." Sannet said.


    The girls all nodded in unison. Then they continued to walk through the forest. The place is filled with dense greenery, but they don''t see anything like animals here. They continued to walk around until they saw a structure in the distance.


    "That''s a building..." Leanna said as she pointed at the structure.


    "I guess that''s our destination for the day." Minka said as she stared at the building.


    The girls decided to go toward the building. As they were getting closer, they began to hear a noise that was coming from inside the building. It sounded like a roar of something. The girls started to get worried about what''s going on inside the building, but they continued their journey. When they arrived at the entrance of the building, the noise inside was louder.


    Viola takes out her pistol and attaches a flashlight on it. She pointed the light into the room and saw something that shocked her: "I-It''s a monster..." She muttered.


    Minka, Leanna, and Sannet came over and stared at the creature. It looks like a bat but it has feathers on it. It also has a small horn on its forehead. The creature roars as it looks at them, then it flies up and lands on a ledge above the door.


    "It''s a gremlin." Viola said while pointing at the creature: "Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!" She said while waving her hands.


    The gremlin growls and looks like it wants to attack the girls. But it kept staring at them and decided not to attack. The girls continued to stare at the gremlin. The gremlin was feeling very uncomfortable and growled again.


    "I think we should get inside." Minka said with a worried look on her face.


    The other three girls nodded. Minka slowly opens the door and they all enter the room. It''s just a small room with some furniture in it.


    "Why would someone make this building?" Leanna asks as she walks around.


    "Maybe they wanted to live here? But why is there a gremlin here?" Minka asks as she looks around.


    "There''s also a room above." Sannet said while looking up: "Let''s go up first."


    Minka nods: "Let''s go then." She said and headed upstairs.


    They all went upstairs and found another door at the end of the hallway. They slowly walked toward it and opened it. On the other side of the door, they found a room that was not very big yet looked cozy enough to stay: "Maybe we can stay here for the night?" Minka asks as she looks around.


    Sannet nodded: "I guess we can''t find anything better than this."


    The other girls agreed as well. Viola sat in a corner while polishing her gun, she only brought a revolver with her. Leanna is looking at the sky through the window, while Minka is taking out some foiled blanket that is meant to preserve one''s heat. Then Sannet began to light a fire on the fireplace. They decided to take turns keeping watch for the night, but they have no idea who should take first watch.


    "Rock paper scissors?" Viola asks.


    The others nodded in unison. So they began the rock-paper-scissors game to decide who should take the first watch.


    Minka won the game, and she said: "Okay, I''ll take the first watch. Everyone get some rest."


    The others nodded in unison. Minka moves toward the window while Sannet sits beside the fireplace.


    Leanna looked at Minka for a while before sleeping. She feels really nervous about this situation. But she couldn''t say it out loud, and she soon fell asleep. Sannet glances at Minka for a while before closing her eyes. Viola is still polishing her gun.


    Minka couldn''t sleep much. She started to feel uneasy because of the sounds outside. She then walked toward the door and slowly opened it. The hallways are pitch black, she could not even see anything. Minka gulps, even though she said that she is not scared of the dark, but seeing something pitch black in the middle of night is scary. She could hear the wind outside, the forest is probably very silent at night.


    "Where are you going?" Viola asks with a curious look on her face.


    Minka yelps and almost jumps in the air: "Wh-What?"


    "You''re going out, right?" Viola asks again: "Are you going to keep watch?"


    "Y-Yeah..." Minka said as she scratched her head.


    "I see... Let me join you then." Viola said while putting away her pistol.


    Minka nodded. She opens the door and they both walk out. The moonlight is the only source of light in the hallways. Minka and Viola walked outside. The night sky is covered by clouds, so the only light in the sky is the moon. It is just enough to see the surroundings. Viola starts walking forward and Minka follows behind her: "Are you afraid of the dark?" Viola asks as she walks forward.


    "N-no! Not at all!" Minka said as she tried to keep up with Viola.


    Viola giggles: "You''re really cute, Minka."


    Minka blushes: "W-What?" She says with a flustered face.


    Viola smiles and pats Minka''s head: "You''re really cute."


    Minka blushed more and became even more flustered. She looks at Viola and sees that she''s looking forward: "V-Viola..." She said softly.


    Viola turns around: "What is it?"


    "Gre-Gremlin!" Minka points at something behind Viola.


    "Huh?!" Viola turned around and saw the gremlin in the corner of her eyes. She quickly takes out her pistol and shoots at it. The gremlin growls as it gets shot. It then flies away.


    Minka sighed and started to relax: "It''s gone."


    "That thing was pretty big, it must be a young one." Viola said while putting her pistol back in her bag.


    "Let''s get back inside now..." Minka said: "We can''t even leave the building without encountering some sort of monsters. I feel so scared..." She added with a sad voice.


    Viola pats Minka''s head and smiles: "Don''t worry, I am here with you."


    Minka blushed: "Y-Yeah..."


    They walked back to the room and went back to their spot. Sannet was already sleeping, so they just let her be. They sit beside the fireplace and stare at it for a while.


    "Do you want to sleep here for the night?" Viola asks.


    Minka shakes her head: "I am going to keep watch, you can go to sleep if you want to."


    "I''ll join you then." Viola said while smiling: "Do you want to hear what we did yesterday?" She asks.


    "Yeah, sure." Minka nods while looking at the fire.


    "Leanna and I went to the shopping mall yesterday. And we went to a restaurant after that." Viola explained while looking at Minka''s reaction: "We had such a good coffee cake, emmm. Thinking about it already makes me want to go again!"


    "How good was it?" Minka seems hooked by the story.


    "It was delicious! It was really sweet but the taste of coffee is not overpowered at all!" Viola said as she smiles: "The waitress was really nice, she even gave us free refills for the cake!"


    "Free refills?!" Minka exclaimed: "Wow, I am so envious right now."


    Viola laughs: "Yeah...it is pretty awesome." She said: "And also, I know you kissed Leanna that night~"


    "What?! how?! Wh-What did you say?" Minka became nervous and stuttered.


    Viola just looks at Minka with a smirk on her face.


    "How did you find out?!" Minka asked while panicking.


    "I was awake that night as well... you see, i sleep only for like one hour a day..." Viola explained: "And I saw you and Leanna kissing."


    Minka started to get flustered again: "S-She kissed me!" She said: "I was just shocked... it happened so suddenly..."


    Viola laughs: "Yeah, I saw that, honestly, how did it feel?" She asks with a smirk on her face.


    "I-I... well..." Minka tries to find the words to say: "It felt... warm..."


    Viola laughs again: "So you liked it."


    "N-No! It''s just... It was just a surprise." Minka blushed and became really nervous.


    "Sure." Viola giggled: "Well, I guess Leanna is very good at it then."


    "W-Why do you say that?" Minka asks.


    "Just teasing you, really." Viola said with a smirk.


    "Hey... So why do you only sleep for one hour?" Minka asked while calming herself down.


    Viola sighed: "Because I think better when everyone else is asleep. It''s the only time when I could think freely without being disturbed."


    "How come?" Minka asks again.


    "Just... something from my past." Viola answered while looking away.


    Minka nods: "Oh, okay."


    "You can ask me more about it if you want to." Viola said while staring at the fire again.


    "It''s okay, I am not forcing you to tell me." Minka said.


    "Thank you." Viola said with a weak smile.


    "But why do you keep looking at the fire?" Minka asks again.


    Viola nodded and said: "Well... I find it pretty calming. It feels like the world is spinning around me but I am still in the same place, you know?"


    "That''s really poetic." Minka said with a smile.


    Viola laughed and nodded: "Yeah." She said,


    Minka then started to talk about her favorite memory with her family. It is about the first time she saw a starship. It is a memory that she still remembers vividly. Viola listened to her story with a smile on her face, and she even seems to be enjoying it. The night went on without anything much happening.

 Chapter 10

    "Are you really that spiteful?" Lyine crosses her arms while looking at Trazyn with a confused look.


    "Why can''t I be?" Trazyn replied with a calm look on his face.


    Lyine sighed: "You did say you gave her the freedom though..."


    "And it means that I can''t fight back when she''s being disrespectful?" Trazyn said while staring at Lyine.


    "I just don''t think that you are actually spiteful." Lyine said: "You are acting like this because you are afraid that Minka would learn from Sannet''s behavior."


    "Is that how you see me?" Trazyn tilts his head.


    Lyine pauses for a moment before answering: "Maybe... but you can''t deny your own personality, can you?" She asked.


    "I just don''t understand why you are siding with Sannet?" Trazyn said.


    "I am not siding with Sannet, but I just want you to think before you act..." Lyine sighed again.


    "Think before I act? What do you think I''m gonna do to her?" Trazyn asked with a serious look on his face.


    Lyine looks at him with a confused look.


    "You just think I am going to kill her." Trazyn said.


    "I-I don''t mean to assume that..." Lyine said as she felt guilty.


    "Why in the world would I kill Sannet? She''s still the oldest friend of mine. I am not going to kill a friend." Trazyn said as he looked around: "But... that woman swore at me."


    "Swore?" Lyine tilts her head.


    "She told me to go and fuck myself. " Trazyn frowned.


    Lyine paused for a moment before smiling: "It seems like she''s getting a bit bolder than usual..."


    "Yeah, I thought she would just tell me off, but now she actually told me to fuck myself." Trazyn shook his head: "I have to teach her a lesson for disrespecting me."


    Lyine sighs: "But she didn''t mean to do it. You can''t blame her, it is just a joke..."


    "A joke?" Trazyn looked at her with a confused look: "You should see the looks she gave me. It is as if I''m just a dog, not a sire of hers." He added: "How could she say those words to me?"


    Lyine couldn''t say anything after hearing that. She could only think that Trazyn really wants to vent out his rage to someone.


    "So... what do you want to do then?" Lyine asks.


    "What should I do? That woman has to be punished for her behavior..." Trazyn said while looking at Lyine: "Say... if I want to get back on someone without actually hurting the person. Do you know a way?"


    "So... like a prank? Or something like that?" Lyine asks.


    "Yes, something like that." Trazyn nodded.


    "You, an overlord of a dynasty. Want to play a prank on your old subordinate out of spite?" Lyine asked with a curious look on her face.


    "Yes! Why can''t i?" Trazyn said with a smirk: "It''s just a harmless prank, just something that she will not forget."


    "Something that she won''t forget?" Lyine seems like she just realized something.


    "Yes." Trazyn nodded: "Something that will teach her a lesson." He added.


    "Hmm..." Lyine paused for a while: "Maybe you can find a way to annoy her, but not enough to harm her?" She asks.


    "I have an idea, I can make her slip." Trazyn said with a smirk.


    "What do you mean by that?" Lyine asked with a confused look on her face.


    "I will just make her slip so bad that everyone around her will laugh." Trazyn said as he put his fist on his chest, a twisted smile appeared on his face.


    "Well...okay then." Lyine sighs and nods: "You are hopelessly childish sometimes..."


    "Childish?".


    "Never mind... forget it..." Lyine shook her head: "Are you sure about this?" She asked.


    "Yes, I am very sure about this." Trazyn said as he walked toward the entrance: "I have to go to the library now, I need to find something to use for my prank."


    "Okay... then good luck with that." Lyine said.


    While walking near a swamp, everyone is taking their steps very carefully. Sannet looks at them and decides to take the lead. She jumps on a rock rather swiftly.


    "Look at her go." Leanna said as she walked forward.


    But when Sannet was about to leap to the second rock, she suddenly lost her balance and caused her to flip 180 degrees mid air and fell face first into the mud. She quickly stands up and stares at the girls who are laughing at her.


    "It seems like she can''t do it after all." Minka said while giggling.


    Sannet starts to frown: "Don''t laugh at me!" She said,


    "I can''t help it!" Viola said while laughing: "That was so funny!"


    "I am sorry..." Leanna also covers her mouth as she laughs.


    Sannet suddenly felt something nearby, but it was gone before she could see anything. She starts to feel uneasy and decides to take the lead again.


    "She''s back at it." Viola said with a smile.


    Sannet just ignores them and starts to walk forward. She walked slowly until she reached the shore of the swamp. In another dimension, Trazyn is looking at this with Lynine while laughing his butt off.


    "She really did fall." Trazyn said while laughing.


    Lynine nods: "Yep, it was very funny to see. Do you feel better?"


    "Oh absolutely yes!" Trazyn has a smirk on his face while seeing Sannet is trying to wipe away the mud on her face.


    Sannet is just dead confused, she lost her footing without even realizing. Is she really losing her edge? She has to get her mind out of that thought, otherwise she is going to slip more.


    "Oh my gosh! Sannet fell!" Viola laughs and points at Sannet after they pass: "Do you want me to hose you down from all of that dirt?"


    Sannet started to frown even more: "No! I don''t want your help!" She shouted at Viola.


    Viola giggles: "Okay then." She said,


    Minka and Leanna also laughed. Sannet just wants to take out her gun and blast the whole forest. But she decided to walk forward again. She could hear the others talking behind her, but she ignored them and continued her walk. They soon arrived at a bridge. The river below seems rather deep.


    "We will need to cross this bridge." Sannet said: "The path continues further on the other side." She added.


    "Do you want me to take the lead or you will be fine?" Viola asks while having a smirk on her face.


    "I am fine, thank you very much." Sannet answered with an icy tone.


    Leanna came forward and gave Sannet a wet tissue: "There''s still something on your face." She said while smiling.


    Sannet felt really awkward and tried to wipe away the thing from her face. She looked at Leanna for a while before looking away.


    "Thanks." Sannet said softly. She then began setting foot on the wooden bridge. It seems to be really stable, but when she was halfway, the bridge began to shake.


    "I-It''s shaking!" Minka shouted.


    The bridge shakes a little bit harder and everyone could feel the vibrations in their legs. Sannet is feeling really uneasy about this and quickly rushes toward the end of the bridge. The bridge begins to shake harder and it shakes so much that it can even throw someone off if they were not careful.


    Sannet managed to leap off and arrived at the other side. The rest passed one by one, but the bridge wasn''t moving even once. Sannet realized that something or someone was playing her.


    "Did it just shake on its own?" Viola asks with a confused look on her face.


    Minka gulps: "It must be the wind or something." She said,


    "No, it wasn''t the wind... someone is messing with us... first the swamp and now this?" Sannet said while frowning.


    "I don''t think this is an act of man..." Leanna said while staring at the bridge: "It would be too hard and too much effort to just mess with you... right?"


    Sannet suddenly realized something after hearing Leanna''s words: "That... man..." She sounds like she knows what is going on: "This is his doing..." Sannet is clearly mad.


    "What man?" Minka asks.


    "Never mind... we should just keep moving..." Sannet said.


    They continue to walk through the forest. They found some plants that look really tasty and began foraging for them. The forest is silent and there are no creatures in it at all, just silence. Suddenly Minka spotted something, at first, she thought her eyes are deceiving her. But when she got close to Sannet, she touches the cat ear like ''thing'' on the head.


    "It''s real!" She shouted.


    "What?!" Sannet said as she turned around.


    "You have cat ears!" Minka said while poking it.


    "What? This?" Sannet touches the top of her head.


    "I never knew you have cat ears!" Leanna said as she touched it.


    "I... don''t have any cat ears..." Sannet said with a flustered face: "What? Since when? I..."


    "It looks so real!" Minka said while touching it again.


    "I think she doesn''t know it either..." Viola said with a smile: "Look how red her face is."


    "H-Hey, stop that!" Sannet said as she slapped Minka''s hand.


    Minka pouts: "Okay, okay." She said but then her hands were still approaching Sannet''s head.


    Sannet actually knows why this is happening to her, because she has an internal genetic implant of all the races on this planet, so on demand, she can turn into any animal or humanoid. But, someone seems to have activated the cat humanoid feature without permission. Sannet decided to just ignore it and continued to walk. She could hear the girls talking about her behind her back.


    "I really wanna touch it again." Minka said while poking the cat''s ear like ''thing''.


    "She seems so cute." Leanna said with a smile.


    "I know right? Sannet''s silver hair makes her look like a silver cat." Viola said with a smirk.


    Sannet sighs and continues to walk forward: "Can you please stop touching it?" She asks while frowning. Her ears are also twitching.


    "Aww... I can''t help it!" Minka said as she pats Sannet''s head.


    "Ow! Stop that!" Sannet said as she turned around: "And stop touching it!" She shouted at Minka.


    Viola started to giggle.


    Minka pouts again: "But I wanted to touch it again..." She said,


    Leanna lets out a sigh and proceeds to pull Minka''s earlobe, giving Sannet a bit of space for herself. She is now feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing. She starts to walk a bit faster: "I will strangle him after I am done with this..." Sannet said to herself while rubbing her head.


    The forest path goes on for a while before they find an ancient looking building at the end of the path. The building has many windows and doors, but they could see that the building is deserted. There are also broken windows, and some of them are even missing from the frame. The building looks like it was burned by something.


    "According to the map, this is one of the landmarks for the path. We should be able to meet some other teams today, unless we are the only one that made this far. " Sannet said while examining the building.


    "So this is a safe zone?" Viola asked.


    Sannet nods: "Probably, let''s take a rest here and explore it first."


    The others agreed and went inside the building. Inside, Minka just kept staring at Sannet''s cat ears. Leanna saw this and smirks.


    "Minka..." Leanna said while pulling Minka''s earlobe.


    "Ow! What? Stop it!" Minka said while trying to pull away her hand.


    "You want to touch them, don''t you?" Leanna asked with a smirk.


    "Y-Yes..." Minka blushed a bit: "I mean... it''s not what you think... I just want to feel it..." She said with a weak voice.


    Leanna sighs and lets go of Minka''s earlobe. She then got close to Minka and whispered into her ear: "I am pretty curious too." She said with a smile on her face: "You wanna touch those ears?" She asks with a playful tone.


    Minka blushes even more: "I-I..." She paused for a moment: "Y-Yes..." She answered.


    Leanna smirks: "Okay then, let''s ask her to turn around." She whispered.


    Minka nodded. They both looked at Sannet.


    "Sannet, can you turn around for us?" Leanna asked.


    "Yeah, sure." Sannet said as she turned around.


    Minka and Leanna gulped when they saw the ears twitch. They slowly got closer to her head and began to touch it. Minka could even feel the cat like fur on it, while Leanna could feel the softness of it. The two of them took turns to touch it.


    "So soft!" Minka exclaimed.


    "I know right?" Leanna said with a smile.


    Sannet is just dead quiet, but she''s clearly flustered. She never knew her internal genetic implant had this kind of function, so she didn''t know how to react.


    "Aww... they are twitching again." Leanna said as she touched the cat''s ears.


    "Oh my gosh, they are so cute!" Minka said while touching it.


    "Are you enjoying this?" Sannet asks while frowning.


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    "Yes, yes we are~" Leanna said as she pats Sannet''s head.


    Then Minka saw something like a bump in Sannet''s pants, and from the outside, she could see a few furs sticking out. Minka thought that it was Sannet''s tail. She smiled at Leanna and decided to reach out for the bump.


    "Wait!" Sannet shouted: "D-Don''t touch it!"


    Minka pulls Sannet''s tail out, it is long and fluffy. It is also silver white like Sannet''s hair color.


    "Aww... it''s cute too." Minka said while petting the tail.


    Sannet frowned and turned around. She quickly pulled the tail away from Minka. And push away both of them: "Alright, this does it. No more touching me until I am getting rid of them." She said with an angry face.


    Leanna and Minka backed off a bit. Minka pouts as she stares at Sannet. Leanna just smiles and thinks of a way to cheer her up: "Well, if I somehow can grow cat ears and a tail, I will definitely let you touch them." She said with a playful tone at Minka.


    "Really?!" Minka asked while looking at Leanna.


    "Yep, you can pet them whenever you want to." Leanna said while putting her hand on Minka''s head.


    "You are the best! Lea!" Minka exclaimed as she hugged her.


    Leanna smiles as she hugs Minka. They both look at Sannet with a smirk. Sannet just ignored them and sat down on a chair. She starts to read a book while Minka and Leanna are chatting away. They still wanted to touch the cat''s ears and the tail, but they know that they can''t mess with her in this state. Sannet is going to be really grumpy if they do that.


    While those two are having their moment, Viola sits beside Sannet and says: "So... how are you doing?"


    "I am not doing so well, my furs are starting to itch." Sannet said while rubbing her cat ear: "They really messed up with my hair there." She added.


    "Sounds like this is not the first time you transform into one of those hybrids." Viola said as she pats Sannet''s head.


    Sannet frowned and pushed Viola away: "Don''t touch me!" She said: "I hate this thing, I wish it would just disappear already."


    "Why can''t it disappear by itself?" Viola asked with a curious look.


    "Because it is being activated by someone outside." Sannet said while closing her book: "The implant that is placed in my brain can change my appearance as I will, but only when I am conscious about it. And... a certain piece of shit activated this to just mess with me." She said while frowning.


    "What a nice guy." Viola said as she crossed her arms: "I guess he''s just playing around, just messing with you for no reason."


    "Yeah... I think so too." Sannet said as she rubs the cat''s ears.


    "You are really cute with those cat ears though, it''s a shame that we can''t touch it." Viola said while poking the cat''s ears: "You even have a tail." She added.


    "Stop touching them! I told you not to!" Sannet said while glaring at Viola: "I hate this thing, I wish I can just strangle the person responsible for this."


    "You know? It''s not too bad to be liked at this, some people will kill for being like you." Viola said with a smirk.


    Sannet frowns: "You know what? I am gonna get rid of it after we are done with this exam." She said: "No one will ever touch me like this."


    "Is that a bad thing? Being physically close to the people who care about you." Viola asked while smiling.


    "Being close to someone who wants to use you is not good." Sannet replied with an icy tone.


    "Use is a bit of a stretch... But the girls seem to be really interested though." Viola then glanced at Leanna and Minka: "Even I find you pretty cute too." She said,


    Sannet sighs: "Really... What did I even do to deserve this?" She asks while rubbing her ears.


    Viola laughs: "I don''t know either, you are just lucky to be a target for these two."Viola then pats Sannet''s shoulder: "Come on, even after this long with all of us, you are still acting like you are a cold goddess that cannot be approached by anyone?" She asks while smiling.


    Sannet paused for a moment before answering: "Maybe, but it''s just my personality." She said,


    "I know, I am not trying to make you change anything." Viola said: "I just want you to open your mind a bit, you know? If you just sacrifice yourself for a little bit for the girls, I think it would mean a lot for them." She added.


    "Sacrifice myself?" Sannet frowned and tilted her head.


    Viola nods: "You know what i mean, you are acting like you are a robot that is not able to feel things, even emotions, right? Like you don''t have a heart." Viola sips a bit of water from her canteen: "I used to be like you once... " She said: "So don''t think that you are alone in this world."


    Sannet stayed quiet for a moment. She couldn''t find the words to say and just stared at Viola. But then she stood up and walked towards the other two, Sannet let out a long sigh and stared at them seriously: "You can touch my head and tail, but no pulling. You got it?" She said as she frowned.


    Leanna and Minka both nodded, they even smile while Sannet is looking at them. Minka walked over to Sannet and began to pet her head: "It''s so fluffy!" She exclaimed.


    "Don''t pull it out, ok?" Sannet said while looking at Leanna.


    Leanna nods and approaches Sannet''s tail: "Aww... it''s so fluffy too." She said as she started to pet the tail.


    "Doesn''t it hurt? The tail, I mean." Minka asked while still petting Sannet''s head.


    "It doesn''t." Sannet said while feeling really uncomfortable about this.


    "I wish I could do that too." Viola said with a smirk.


    "You can if you want to, you just have to ask." Sannet said with a frown.


    Viola smiled and shook her head: "No, I don''t think it''s right for me." She said: "I am allergic to pets or anything with fur if I touch them too long."


    Minka nodded: "Oh, that''s so bad." She said while looking at Viola. But then her hand starts stroking the long silver hair of Sannet''s head.


    Sannet closed her eyes for a while and felt Minka''s touch. She also felt the warmth of her hand. But after a few seconds, Sannet started to frown.


    "Hey..." Sannet sounds a bit impatient: "Stop touching my face." She said,


    "Oh, sorry..." Minka said while scratching her head: "It just looked really soft, I couldn''t help myself."


    If Sannet has to be perfectly honest, she likes having her head pet. Her tail not so much, but Viola''s words did get through her. But she didn''t want the others to know this. Sannet let out a sigh and decided to sit down again. She continues to read a book while the girls are still touching her head and tails.


    An hour later, Sannet could feel that her furs are really itchy, it feels like her skin is being scraped away. Sannet lets out a sigh as she adjusts her hair.


    "Are you okay? You look really uncomfortable." Leanna asked as she stood up.


    Sannet nods: "Yeah, it''s just my furs... I guess they need to be groomed." She said while looking around.


    "We have a comb in my bag if you need it." Leanna said while pulling out the comb from her backpack.


    "N-No! I''m fine!" Sannet said with a panicked look: "I''ll do it myself later."


    Leanna holds Sannet''s head still and begins gently combing Sannet''s head fur. She saw Sannet''s tail twitch as she did it. The silver white tail is moving left and right slowly, like it''s trying to avoid Leanna''s hands. Sannet tried to control her tail as she read her book: "Does it feel good?" Leanna asked.


    "It''s... fine..." Sannet answered as she held a book in front of her face: "Do it slowly, ok?" She added.


    "I will do it slowly then." Leanna said while smiling. She began to comb Sannet''s head with gentle strokes. Sannet''s tail is still twitching, seeing this, Minka also takes out her comb and begins combing Sannet''s tail. Sannet let out a long sigh and decided to relax herself.


    "It is so fluffy." Minka said while combing the tail: "It''s so soft!" She added.


    Sannet kept reading the book, but she was actually enjoying it. The gentle stroking on her head feels so good and soothing. It even gives her a sense of security, a kind of comfort that she never experienced. The more she thinks about it, the more she feels relaxed. Sannet decided to just focus on the story of the book rather than anything else.


    After ten more minutes, Sannet''s furs started to stop itching. She could feel that her furs are becoming much softer and thicker. But she couldn''t care less about that, the stroking on her head feels so nice. She really likes having her head stroked.


    "All done!" Leanna said as she finished the whole combing: "Did you enjoy it?" She asks with a proud look on her face: "Max prefers my combing over anyone else''s!"


    "Yes... it''s really... comfortable..." Sannet answered while closing her book: "You can comb me anytime you want to."


    Leanna smiled: "I''ll hold you to that!" She said as she put away the comb into her bag: "So... shall we proceed?"


    Minka nodded: "Yep! Let''s go!" She said with a smile on her face. She really enjoyed today.


    They left the building then began heading to the second area, which seemingly to be a plain but apparently from the database, a lot of monsters hide under the grass, so they need to be extra careful. Viola and Sannet both walk in front, while Minka and Leanna are in the back. Minka is still playing with Sannet''s tail, and surprisingly Sannet doesn''t seem to be too concerned about what Minka''s doing. She just keeps walking with a straight face.


    "Aww... it''s twitching a lot." Minka said while stroking the tail.


    "Don''t pull it." Sannet said: "You know how much I hate that."


    "Aww... but it''s so fluffy!" Minka said with a smile: "I want to see what''s inside." She added while putting her hands inside the tail.


    Sannet turns around and frowns at Minka. But when she saw Minka''s eyes, she let out a long sigh and continued to walk.


    Minka let go of the tail and began looking around to see the sight of the area. It is really calm, there is no wind or anything. The place is also eerie and quite silent. The grass is swaying gently, it looks like the grass is trying to tell them something. They continued to walk forward. Suddenly Sannet stopped and looked up.


    "What''s wrong?" Leanna asks while looking up as well.


    Sannet points to the top of a tree: "Look there, do you see the black spot?" She asks.


    Minka and Leanna looked up and saw something on the top of a tree. It is black like a shadow, but it''s a bit larger than they thought it would be. It began to take off and started rotating above them.


    "I think it''s a crow..." Leanna said while frowning: "It''s flying in circles." She added.


    The black bird kept on flying in circles and even began squawking at them, almost as if it was teasing them.


    "No... that thing is way bigger than a crow." Minka said while staring at it.


    Sannet saw the shadow slowly move toward them. She couldn''t see where it was heading to, but she could feel that it was getting closer to them. Suddenly the bird lets out a loud squawk. They all covered their ears and the bird quickly flew away.


    "It''s gone..." Viola said with a frown.


    They saw that the bird just flew to a tree not far away from them.


    "Hey... I think we are going to face it soon." Leanna said as she readied her gun: "It might be waiting for us to do something." She added.


    Viola nods and unsheathes her revolver: "Well, it seems that it''s not going anywhere soon... so let''s get closer to it." She said,


    Sannet nodded and walked toward the tree where the bird landed. The girls quickly followed her. When they arrived, they found out that the entire tree is covered in birds that look like the first one. They are all just standing on the tree and staring at them.


    "Everyone be quiet and leave slowly..." Viola began walking backwards really slowly: "It''s vultures...They will swarm us if we get any closer." She added while pointing at the bird with her gun.


    Minka gulps as she keeps staring at the birds. Leanna and Sannet kept moving backwards. The birds are just standing on the tree, but their stares are terrifying. They just keep staring at them. They even made a sound like a creaking wooden floor. The girls tried to ignore it and just continued to back away slowly.


    Suddenly a loud squawk filled the area. The birds all took off and started to fly towards them.


    "Retreat! Retreat!" Viola shouted as she began to run away. The girls quickly followed her. The birds are all flying around them and trying to block them from moving forward. Leanna activated her power and created a wind dome around them, but the birds are still trying to get through by charging in from all directions.


    "They are too much for us!" Leanna shouted: "We have to run back to the building or something!" Her power is wavering.


    Minka took a deep breath and unleashed a psychic blast around them, causing the birds to be knocked away. This created an opening for them to run. They rushed toward the building and entered it. Viola closed the doors and locked it. They looked around to see if there were any other ways to get out, but the place was just empty. The birds began entering the building, but in the hallways the girls can still fight back rather easily compared to being outside. The birds were swarming in all directions, trying to get to them.


    Sannet''s blade cuts through by the dozens but their numbers seem to be more than what she could count. The other girls are all fighting against the birds too. Minka is using her psychic powers to cause the birds to collide with each other. Suddenly, Leanna notices something from the corner of her eyes, she sees a bird that is just hovering outside while staring at them with its red eyes. Leanna could feel a shiver down her spine.


    "There! Look at that bird!" She said as she pointed at it: "It''s not attacking us, but it''s the only one who is just floating there!"


    Viola said as she hit a bird with her gun: "I think it''s controlling the other birds or something like that." She added: "They are hives."


    Minka nods: "Yeah... I think you are right about that!" She said: "We need to get on the roof!" She exclaimed.


    "I will clear a path." Sannet began cutting through towards the stairs. It might be because of her new hybrid form, but her movement seemed to be more agile than before. Viola followed her. Leanna opened up a barrier to shield the three of them from the birds while heading up to the stairs. They then arrive at the roof while hundreds if not thousands of birds are kept circling around them.


    "Can''t you make a big tornado to knock them away?" Viola asked Leanna.


    Leanna shakes her head: "No, I am not strong enough to do that yet... I need more practice." She said with a frown.


    Viola nods: "Yeah... I understand." She said: "But we can''t just stand here and get picked apart by these birds."


    "I will knock them off again but can you hit the special bird with your shot?" Minka began charging up for a psychic blast again.


    "I think so, but I won''t know until I try." Viola answered as she put some armor piercing bullets into her revolver.


    "Okay then, I''ll count to three then we attack!" Minka said: "One! Two! Three!"


    Viola quickly pulled the trigger as she heard Minka''s countdown. The birds all got knocked away for an instant and created an opening for Viola. She fired but unlucky a bird blocked the shot for the alpha. And it seems to realize that they are trying to strike it down. The bird then flies down towards the building, it then begins to summon hundreds of birds into the air.


    This attack will surely pierce Leanna''s wind shield and shred everyone into pieces. Minka extends out her hand and grasps it hard. A tunnel that is filled with birds'' corpses opens before everyone, which gives Viola a moment to strike. Viola then quickly pulls the trigger again and shoots the alpha. The birds were all as if hit by something, and began twitching eventually falling onto the ground.


    "Did it work?!" Minka asks while staring at the alpha bird that is falling down to the ground.


    "I hope it does..." Viola said as she kept staring at the bird.


    The alpha bird fell onto the ground and it began to transform into a large, black mass. A large creature with long tentacles, or wings, or something like that. It looks like a shadow or something like that, it''s just moving around aimlessly: "What in the world..." Leanna muttered.


    Sannet jumped down the building and slashed the monster through in an instant, killing it with a single blow. The monster vanished and turned into a pile of black ash.


    "That thing was weird." Leanna said as she put down her weapon.


    "Yeah... I didn''t know what to do either." Minka said while shaking her hand.


    "At least we won this battle." Sannet said as she started walking back to the building.


    They went back to the first area where they rested, they quickly got out of the building and looked at the sky.


    "Looks like they are gone." Minka said with a smile.


    "Yeah... I am so glad we did not die from those things." Viola said while wiping away her sweat: "Great work everyone." She added.


    "Don''t forget that you played the most important role in this fight, Viola." Sannet said with a straight face.


    "My... you are complimenting me?" Viola said with a surprised look on her face: "But thanks anyway."


    Sannet nodded and smiled. Minka smiled as well: "Thanks a lot too, Lea!" She said while hugging Leanna.


    "Yep, thank you a lot." Leanna said while hugging Minka back: "We wouldn''t even make it if we didn''t have you. How did you do that cool bird tunnel thing?"


    Minka scratches the back of her head: "I..i don''t really know, i just wanted to create an opening for Viola, that''s it."


    "It was cool though." Viola said with a smile: "You are a really strong psyker, Minka."


    Minka blushed: "Thanks, I guess." She said,


    Sannet sighed as she looked up at the sky: "Let''s go back then, it''s almost noon."


    The others agreed and left the area, but not before they have a picnic together and enjoy the food. The girls talked about what happened, they are glad that no one got hurt and are happy to spend some time with each other.


    At noon, everyone is walking under the sun while talking to each other. Suddenly a shadow looms above them, Sannet''s cat ears twitching upon feeling something is above them. She looked up to see that the shadow is getting closer to them. But the roaring engine noise reminds them that this is still a imperium controlled planet. Then the aircraft went away.


    They continued walking until they were at the halfway point of the exam: "From the look of it, we can finish this in two days." Sannet said as she looked at the map.


    "Are you sure? That would mean that we can finish the whole exam way before the deadline." Viola asks while looking at the map.


    "I am sure, unless there are a lot more monsters or traps for us to face." Sannet said with a frown: "We need to be extra careful." She added.


    "Well..." Viola leans on the tree trunk: "At least we have a well deserved rest after the last battle." She said,


    "That''s for sure." Minka said with a smile: "I am so glad that we don''t have to fight those bird monsters again."


    "Yeah... it''s nice to relax once in a while." Leanna said with a smile. Then her eyes began moving towards Sannet''s head again.


    Sannet noticed this and started to frown: "Stop it." She said,


    "But your ears..." Leanna said while trying to reach it out.


    Sannet quickly swats Leanna''s hand away: "Stop it!" She said while hissing.


    Leanna smiles: "Sorry..." She said: "You are just so cute like this, I just can''t help myself." She added.


    Sannet glares at her: "I don''t think you are going to stop bothering me just because I told you to, so I will just ignore you." But Sannet then sits between Leanna and Minka then begins reading her book.


    Minka is really surprised to see Sannet sitting next to them. But she smiles as she begins playing with Sannet''s tail. Sannet sighs and continues to read her book. Leanna also began grooming Sannet''s head. The three of them are now enjoying the peaceful time they are having. After a while, Viola left the rest area to fill her canteen with water. Sannet is just trying to ignore the two of them as much as possible, but it''s actually quite hard. But she will think of it as her trial for training her patience.


    The sun is setting down and it will be night soon, the girls are already falling asleep when she hears something start to break into the camp. Sannet immediately gets up, rushes towards the noise and draws her sword out: "Hi, Sannet." A voice called out to her from the bushes.


    Sannet immediately points her blade at the direction of the voice: "What do you want? Show yourself!" She shouts.


    The voice laughed: "Oh, come on. Do you really have to be acting like this?" Trazyn asked. He then gets out from the bush and starts walking towards Sannet.


    "I can''t be too careless with you..." Sannet said while glaring at Trazyn: "Why did you make me have cat features?" She asks.


    Trazyn smirks: "Because I love to see you being teased at." He answered with a teasing tone: "Also, I want to see my daughter happy." He added.


    "Stop playing around!" Sannet said: "It''s starting to get really annoying" She adds.


    "Aww, poor kitty cat." Trazyn said while shaking his head: "I see that the exam is going smoothly for you." He added.


    Sannet frowns at Trazyn: "Well, I am glad that it''s not your doing this time." She said,


    Trazyn shrugged: "I really had no intention of bothering you or anything. Now, tell me. Did you learn your lesson?" He asks with a curious tone.


    "About what?" Sannet asked as she kept her sword away.


    "About being more caring toward the people who care about you." Trazyn answered: "Also more respectful to certain people." He added.


    Sannet blushed and shook her head: "You...! You did this because of that? Just so you know, I am not even in the mood for your crap right now!" She said with an angry tone: "You are spiteful and small!"


    Trazyn let out a sigh: "Okay, I am sorry about this... but you need to understand, the thing you said back there is actually really bad." He said: "Being called an ass to someone you care about really hurts."


    "So?" Sannet said with a frown.


    "Do you think that''s fair to them?" Trazyn asked: "Are you just going to keep being an ass to the people who care about you?" He added.


    Sannet froze for a second before answering: "I... don''t know..." She said,


    "Well, if you don''t want them to leave you, then you need to change yourself a bit." Trazyn said while patting Sannet''s shoulder: "I will reverse you back now."


    "W-Wait! I am not done yet!" Sannet said with a panicked look.


    "Oh, I thought you wanted to get rid of this." Trazyn said with a smile.


    "I...!" Sannet began to hesitate for a moment: "I am not ready yet."


    "Well, then I will just wait until you are ready." Trazyn said as he sat down: "I think the exam is going to end in five days, so you better make your choice, or they will become permanent." He added: "Can i ask why you don''t want to get rid of it?"


    Sannet stayed quiet for a moment before answering: "Because... it''s nice to be petted." She said with a red face.


    "Aww... that''s so cute." Trazyn said with a smirk: "I knew you were soft on the inside. I guess this is why Minka loves you so much."


    Sannet frowns: "You did this because of her?"


    "Nah, not really." Trazyn said: "I just decided to mess with you since you are a grumpy girl."


    "Oh, shut up!" Sannet said while blushing madly.


    Trazyn laughs: "Okay, okay... I will leave now." He said: "Take care."


    Trazyn teleported himself away. Sannet looked at the sky, it''s almost dark. She decided to head back and stoke the flame a bit. The girls were still sleeping when she got back. She looks at them and shakes her head.


    "Stupid idiots..." She said while touching her ears. She couldn''t help but feel giddy after remembering Trazyn''s words.


    She sits down between Minka and Leanna again and decides to just keep looking at them. After a while, she puts her head on her knees and closes her really doesn''t know why she feels this way, but she never felt this before. She can''t help but feel this warm feeling when she sees those two. It''s almost like a sensation she could not even compare to.

 Chapter 11

    On the second day, Sannet woke up while feeling someone was rubbing her head. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that it was Minka.


    "Wake up Sannet, rise and shine!" Minka said with a smile on her face.


    "Gimme a break, I just woke up." Sannet said while stretching her body: "Also, stop touching me." She added.


    "You don''t like me touching your ears?" Minka asks with a sad tone.


    "It''s not that, I just don''t want you to mess with my hair style..." Sannet answered with an annoyed face.


    "Well, I can fix that!" Minka said while brushing away Sannet''s hair: "Don''t worry, I won''t do anything weird." She added.


    Sannet just rolled her eyes and decided to just let her be.


    The other two are still asleep, but it won''t take them long to wake up. Sannet stretched her body and tried to look at her face in the reflection of Minka''s mirror. She started to fix her hair and make sure that everything is in order. But her hair is still pretty messy even after Minka''s attempt. Sannet just sighed and began eating the food for breakfast.


    After a half an hour, Leanna woke up and began preparing her backpack for the day''s journey. Viola woke up later than that. The girls continued on their journey to the exam. The monsters are still present, but not too much compared to yesterday. They began fighting some of the monsters that were blocking their way, but nothing they couldn''t handle. They fought against some smaller monster with huge jaws, but it was easily slain by Sannet. They also encountered a flock of huge birds. It took a lot of time for them to deal with it, but it''s manageable. After that, they began resting for lunch. They have enough rations to last them for the rest of the exam.


    While resting, Minka asked Sannet if she wanted to get petted again. Sannet nodded and laid down in a comfortable spot. Minka started to pet her head and stroked her long silver hair. She really enjoyed touching Sannet''s cat ears, she even wondered what''s inside them. Sannet kept silent and decided to just let her do it. Minka also petted Sannet''s tail, it is still fluffy and silky soft as usual.


    After lunch, they continued to walk forward. Viola found a stream of water and decided to fill her canteen up with water. She didn''t want to waste her own supply since she doesn''t know if they will encounter another water source like this one. After she filled up her canteen, Viola drank some water from it and put the canteen away. Suddenly they saw something strange in the water. There was a dark silhouette of a human-like shape in the water. Viola grabbed her gun and pointed it at the shape.


    "Is... is that a person?" Minka asked with a shivering voice.


    "I... I think it is." Leanna said while covering her mouth.


    "Let''s not waste time, let''s just go!" Sannet said as she got up.


    Viola nodded and the girls began running away from the water. The creature in the water stayed there and did not chase them. They stopped after a few meters and turned back. Viola keeps her gun ready. The creature then took off, but it did not move towards them. It''s just staring at them with its cold gaze. The girls looked at each other and then continued walking again. They keep their eyes open and continue to look at the creature, but it is just floating on the water. They left the stream and continued walking towards the location.


    After a long journey, the girls are finally at their destination. They all smiled at each other and gave a fist bump.


    "Well done everyone!" Minka said while pumping up her fist.


    "Yeah, let''s keep it up." Leanna said with a smile.


    Viola nods: "I''m sure the others are going to be surprised at what we did. At this rate, we will arrive in a day or two." She added.


    "I guess so, we should take a break here." Sannet said with a yawn: "It''s late anyway."


    The girls decided to rest there and have dinner. The girls chatted for a bit before going to sleep. But while the girls are sleeping, Viola gets up and walks over to the water. She looks at her reflection and sighs in relief. Viola began undressing herself. She removed her pants and dipped her legs and feet into the water. The cold sensation felt so good for her. Viola then started to rub her legs and feel the coolness on her skin.


    "Enjoying yourself?" Sannet asked as she looked at Viola from behind.


    Viola jumped up a bit and looked behind her: "S-Sannet!" She said: "What... what are you doing?"


    "Can''t sleep as well." She began also taking off her boots and pants and dipped her feet into water.


    Viola smiled: "Yeah, me too." She said: "It''s nice to feel the water."


    "Yeah..." Sannet replied while dipping her legs into the water.


    They both kept staring at each other''s reflection in the water. Viola could feel Sannet''s gaze and it gave her an awkward feeling: "There''s one thing I don''t understand... how can a beautiful person like you have such a shitty personality?" She asked while crossing her arms.


    "Excuse me?" Sannet asks with a surprised look.


    Viola nods: "I am not trying to insult you, but you are just... you know? A great looking person with a bitchy personality." She said while scratching her head.


    Sannet frowned at Viola''s words: "And what about you, missy?" She asked: "You are an energetic, positive person who pretends to have nothing to hide."


    "What?" Viola asked with a surprised tone: "How do you know if I am hiding anything?"


    "Because you are a terrible actress." Sannet answered with an amused look: "It''s obvious."


    Viola shrugged: "Well, I don''t think that''s a bad thing." She said: "Maybe I am not acting because I really don''t have anything to hide."


    "Or maybe you are just scared to admit it." Sannet said with a smirk.


    "Whatever." Viola sighed and shook her head: "You are the worst conversationalist i ever had." She said while glaring at Sannet.


    Sannet shrugged and kept silent. They kept dipping their feet in the water while the moonlight shines upon them. The cold water feels nice on their skins. They both can''t help but smile a little. Viola couldn''t help but think of how nice this moment feels, it''s like everything that happened is just a dream. But it''s so relaxing to just have this kind of moment. She then hears rustic noises and sees Sannet walking into the water without wearing anything.


    "S-Sannet! Where are you going?" She asks while looking at Sannet''s exposed body.


    Sannet ignored Viola and waded into the water until it''s up to her waist. She crosses her arms and dips herself into the water. She looks at Viola and tilts her head. Viola saw her drenched body and blushed a little. She couldn''t help but stare at Sannet''s perfectly curved body.


    "Are you just going to stay there?" Viola asks while looking away.


    "No, I am just going to get clean." Sannet said with a blank face: "It''s hard to find clear water in this area." She added.


    "I... I see." Viola said with a frown.


    Sannet then dips her head into the water and starts rubbing her face with her hands. The cold water felt really nice, and Sannet couldn''t help but let out a sigh of pleasure. After a while, she began washing her body and scrubbing her hair. Sannet then swam over to Viola and suddenly Viola were splashed with water.


    "Hey! What the hell?" Viola asked as she quickly got up and started wiping off the water.


    "Sorry about that." Sannet said with a smirk.


    Viola glared at Sannet: "Well, I think you should be." She said then began also taking off her clothes and jumped into the water.


    Sannet watches her getting in. Viola dips herself into the water, it''s still cold, but the water feels so nice. The water feels so clean, it''s so relaxing. Viola then splashed water all over Sannet''s face.


    "What was that for?!" Sannet asks while wiping off the water.


    "It''s for being so mean to me." Viola answered with a smile.


    "Well, if you keep on splashing water on me, I might have to start returning the favor." Sannet said with a smirk.


    Viola blinks for a moment and starts laughing. Sannet joined her and started laughing too. They both can''t help but laugh. Viola keeps splashing water at Sannet, and Sannet keeps splashing water back. The other girls are all sound asleep, not knowing that two other girls are having fun in the river. After a long time, Viola and Sannet finally came up from the water and decided to head back to sleep. They got dressed again and began walking back to their camp.


    "This is nice." Sannet said with a smile.


    "Yeah, it is..." Viola said with a smile as well: "Maybe you''re not such a horrible person after all."


    Sannet shrugged: "Well, I never claimed that I was a perfect person." She said: "I just act how I want to be. I''m not interested in what others think of me."


    "I see..." Viola said with a thoughtful tone: "I guess there''s nothing wrong with that."


    They decided to just let things be and head back to sleep. Viola fell asleep quickly and Sannet just kept looking into the flame while thinking about things. Sannet let out a long yawn and decided to get some sleep. She laid down and closed her eyes.


    On the fourth day, the girls are now walking through a narrow path through the mountain. They have been climbing for a while and haven''t found anything suspicious. It''s still early, but they are not tired at all. Sannet is in the front, followed by Minka, then Leanna, then Viola. After an hour, Sannet notices that the path has a change of direction.


    "Everyone, stop!" She said as she readied her blade.


    "What''s wrong?" Leanna asks while looking around.


    "Something is wrong here, I can feel it." Sannet said while walking slowly towards the path.


    "You think we will meet something dangerous?" Leanna asks.


    "We will soon..." Sannet said while staring at the path.


    They heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them. The girls look at each other, but keep on walking forward. Then they saw it, a figure moving toward them. It''s a group of people, but it seems that it''s not normal people. They are dressed in dark black cloaks and have a chain on their waist. They are all wearing a hooded mask, covering their face.


    "Soldiers?" Leanna asks with a confused tone.


    Sannet nods: "It seems like it... but they are armed with chains, not guns."


    "What do you think they are?" Minka asks with a curious tone.


    Leanna narrowed her eyes and stepped in front of everyone, then a series of incomprehensible language came out from her mouth. The cloaked men stopped and stayed still for a while.


    "What did you say?" Viola asks while looking at Leanna.


    "We come in peace, we are not here to disturb you, please let us pass." Sannet translates the words for them.


    "What language is that?" Minka asked: "I have never heard of it before."


    "Chaos chant." Sannet answered: "The language used between daemons."


    The cloaked men stayed quiet for a while before answering back: "Yes... you may pass, but you must follow the path, no deviating from it." Sannet translates their words.


    The girls all nodded and continued on their way. Minka walks beside Leanna and asks: "Why do you know how to speak chaos?"


    Leanna looks away: "I learned it because I was defiant to my mother." She answered: "I wanted to prove that I could be more than what she wanted me to be."


    "Oh... I am sorry." Minka said while looking down.


    "It''s okay, I am over it already." Leanna said with a smile.


    The group followed the path through a narrow mountain. It''s quite difficult to pass through because of the lack of room for anyone to walk. But eventually they passed without facing too much danger. Viola walks beside Sannet and asks: "Why didn''t you go and talk to them?"


    "Well, you saw how they are armed with chains, don''t you?" Sannet answered while looking forward: "They are warp infused weapons, If they sense something wrong about me, they will attack us."


    "Something wrong about you?" Viola asks.


    "I am part hybrid at the moment, those cultists use hybrids as sacrificial tools because they believe that the hybrids are unclean and thus craved by the chaos gods. I can''t risk being captured by them." Sannet explained.


    "Oh, I see." Viola said with a frown.


    After another hour, the group is finally out of the mountain. The sun is shining, but it''s still quite chilly for the girls. Viola takes out a canteen and drinks from it. Leanna stands on top of a rock and looks towards the endless mountains.


    "Hey..." Minka came over and stood beside Leanna: "What''s wrong?" She asks.


    Leanna just keeps looking into the horizon: "I just have this feeling that something bad will happen soon." She answered: "We are so close to finishing the exam, and everything has gone too smoothly."


    Minka stayed quiet for a second before answering: "Well, we did face a lot of monsters and traps in this exam. And we got a lot of experience out of it." She said with a smile.


    Leanna looks back at Minka: "Yeah... you are right about that. At least we learned how to fight and stay together as a group."


    "What are you going to do after the exam?" Minka asks with an intrigued look.


    "I don''t really know, but I am thinking of going back to the camp and joining the Astra militarum air force." She answers.


    "That''s great!" Minka exclaimed with a smile.


    "What about you?" Leanna asks.


    Minka shrugged: "I haven''t really thought of anything... but I think I will be joining the adventure guild after this." She said as she stretched her arms: "Besides... mom would be happy that I stayed away from the militarum, she was really upset when I told her about it." She added.


    Leanna just nods: "You should ask Sannet what she plans to do, I am sure she has a plan or something. Sannet seems to like you a lot."


    "She does?" Minka asks with a blushing face.


    "Yep." Leanna answered while smiling: "I could tell, because she let you touch her head and tail."


    "Is that so..." Minka muttered while looking away: "Well, I don''t really know what to think about it." She added.


    Leanna pats Minka''s shoulder: "Why not try it?" She said: "She might not have a clue either, you know?" She then walked back to Viola and Sannet.


    Minka just stays quiet and looks at the other three girls. After a long while, she shook her head and walked over to the others. They decided to start walking again, but this time Sannet is in the lead. They continued on the path and nothing strange happened to them for a while.


    They are now walking through a mountain again. The ground is slippery because of the wetness of the ground. They are walking slowly and carefully. Viola notices a cave that is nearby. The ground is muddy, and the cave looks deep.


    "What do we do?" Minka asks while looking at the cave.


    "Maybe we should avoid the cave..." Leanna said as she looked at the cave.


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    "Well, it''s too late to go back." Sannet said while looking at the cave: "I think we should just walk forward." She added.


    The other girls agree and continue on their way. They walked on the slippery ground for a while until they got near the cave. The cave seems to be pretty big, but the entrance is dark. Sannet walks towards it and decides to take a look inside. The cave is wide, but it''s pitch dark. She can''t really see anything.


    "Hey... there is something over there." Sannet said as she turned on her light: "It looks like an altar of some sorts."


    Viola walks over to her and looks at what Sannet is looking at: "Looks like we found something interesting." She said,


    The other girls walked over and looked at the altar, it is worshiping something strange Leanna can roughly translate it as: The goddess from beyond the stars. The others noticed that there''s some sort of relic or something like that.


    "What do you think it is?" Sannet asked as she examined the relic.


    Viola looks at the relic: "I am not sure, but maybe we should take it with us?" She suggested.


    "Why?" Minka asks while tilting her head.


    "Maybe this is part of the exam, who knows, this might also fetch a good price." Viola answers while putting away the relic into her backpack.


    The other girls just shrug and continue to walk forward. They keep going deeper into the cave. Everyone lit up a torch and continued walking forward. The cave is now getting narrower and narrower. It''s almost like the cave is intentionally trying to make them claustrophobic. But after half an hour, the cave finally opens up into a wide area.


    "What is this place?" Minka asked while looking around.


    "It seems that it''s a sacrificial site." Sannet said while looking at the bones and skulls laying on the ground: "The cultists must use this as their altar." She added.


    "Oh my... you are right." Viola said as she also examines the area.


    Leanna took a step forward: "I feel really bad for whoever it was who died here." She said with a sad tone.


    "Yeah, this is just plain evil." Minka said as she walked away from the area.


    "Let''s just find some other path." Sannet said as she walked away from the sacrificial area.


    They began walking away from the area and they noticed a path that went upward. They all walk up to the path and start walking. It''s dark, but Sannet has her light and torch for some light. After half an hour, they finally arrive at a cave exit. The sunlight is shining and the wind is blowing. The girls sighed in relief and decided to sit down for a moment.


    Leanna notices something is wrong with Minka, who is currently hugging her head after exiting the cave.


    "Minka... what''s wrong?" Leanna asked with a concerned look.


    "Get out of my head... get out of my head..." Minka mutters: "Stop it, stop it, stop it..."


    The others noticed this as well and decided to ask her: "Minka, what''s wrong?"


    "Get out of my head..." Minka chants while trembling: "It hurts... it hurts..."


    "Minka!" Viola said as she grabbed Minka''s hand: "Snap out of it, Minka!" She shakes her hand, but Minka keeps muttering words under her breath.


    "She is probably affected by the warp..." Sannet said with a worried tone.


    "We need to help her..." Viola said: "I am sure it''s because we walked through that sacrificial area." She added.


    "Lea, can you read what''s on her mind now?" Sannet asks.


    Leanna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then opens her eyes and stares into Minka''s eyes: "She is fighting back a daemon... she is trying to not let it take over." She answers.


    "Can you stop it?" Sannet asks while staring at the cave.


    Leanna shook her head: "I am afraid I can''t, her mind is too strong and her soul is pure. The mind barrier itself is almost impossible to penetrate." She answered: "I am sorry, but I am helpless here." She added.


    Viola touches Minka''s forehead: "My... she''s burning." She said with a worried tone: "We need to get her out of here."


    Sannet carries Minka at her back and they continue walking away from the cave. They kept walking and walking for hours until they finally reached a place where they could rest. Sannet laid Minka down and she kept muttering things under her breath. The other girls stayed up and kept Minka warm while waiting for her to wake up.


    "Why did she fall into this state?" Sannet asks with a sigh: "It''s not like activated anything in the sacrificial site or anything."


    "I... I don''t really know either, but I think it''s because of her abilities." Leanna answered: "I guess that''s the power of warp, Minka is a psyker after all... but she did say that she doesn''t draw her power from the warp."


    "She said that, huh?" Viola asked: "Maybe the warp didn''t like it when a psyker does not draw its power, so it forced her to do it." She said,


    "I draw my power from the warp but i am completely fine." Leanna said while scratching her head.


    Minka''s body began shaking and she''s sweating profusely. Sannet began undoing Minka''s jacket to help her vent out the heat. The other girls are now worried for her. It took a half an hour before she finally calmed down. She is breathing slowly, and the sweat is starting to dry.


    "This isn''t helping, we need to be more proactive." Viola said while shaking Minka: "Hey! Wake up!"


    Sannet grabbed Viola''s hand: "Stop it!" She said: "She needs time to recover from it."


    "But she will die if we don''t do anything!" Viola argues.


    "I will try it." Leanna then holds Minka''s head: "I will try to link our consciousness together... But if anything goes wrong, I want you two to beat me until I wake up."


    The others nodded in agreement. Leanna closes her eyes and starts to touch Minka''s forehead. She focuses and begins to search for Minka''s mind. The others can''t help but look at her. The minutes felt like hours, but she is still holding on. Suddenly, Leanna felt like her mind was sunk into an endless ocean and began drowning. She didn''t expect the warp energy to be this pure and powerful, it''s almost like an infinite abyss that wants to consume her whole. Leanna calms herself and begins trying to control her breathing. Soon, she got used to the amount of warp power and found herself in a new place.


    It''s like she is in a void. There''s no color or sound, everything is pitch black. But then she saw a bright light and it''s Minka, but she looks like a ghost. Then she sees a crimson colored ''thing'' that is floating in air like a stream of water. It''s almost like a sentient being and it began attacking Minka with its body. Minka screams in pain but she looks like she''s almost powerless to attack the monster back. She tried to use her powers, but it''s not working.


    Leanna wants to speak but she realizes that nothing is coming out from her mouth, she begins trying to control her power but nothing comes out as well. It''s as if her whole existence is being crushed by the ''monster''. Minka can''t even see her and keeps attacking the ''thing'', but nothing is working. Leanna then runs next to Minka and grabs her hand. She then began pulling her away and running from the monster.


    "Come on! Follow me!" Leanna shouted in her mind, but Minka kept staring at nothing. Seeing this, Leanna hits Minka''s face with her fist and it somehow awoke something from inside of Minka.


    "Lea?" Minka asks as she looks at Leanna''s face: "What''s happening? Why are you here?" She asks while sounding like she''s extremely weakened.


    Leanna tries to speak, but from the looks of it, Minka can''t hear anything she says. Minka tries to understand what Leanna is saying but she can''t seem to understand. But she felt that Leanna was worried about her and the rest of the group. Then, she also felt Leanna''s strength and willpower. Minka turned around, looked at the monster with determination in her eyes. By touching Leanna, she felt strength come back to her little by little.


    "Let''s finish this." Minka said as she grabbed the monster''s body.


    Leanna nodded and they started attacking the monster together. The monster roared in pain and kept swinging its body around. They continued to attack it with their combined might. But the sheer power of the monster is still a bit too much for them to handle. They both got knocked down and groaned in pain. The monster then raised its body up and prepared to stomp them into the ground. Leanna managed to throw Minka out of the way, but she got stomped by the monster.


    In reality, Leanna spat out blood from her mouth. Minka tries to help her but the monster is blocking her way. Leanna is still struggling to stand up, but the pain is unbearable, she feels like half of the bones in her body are crushed. Leanna looks up and stares at the monster. She felt that she can''t do anything right now, but she still kept trying.


    "Get away from her!" Minka''s eyes began glowing in golden light. With a small build up, the monster began being lifted into mid air and Minka clinched her fist. The monster is now trying to resist and keep fighting against her, but Minka''s mind power is overpowering it. The monster is screaming and as if begging her to let it go, but she ignored it and continue to keep her focus. Then blood splatters out from all over the monster, Minka then drops it on the ground with force.


    The monster is now slowly fading into nothing. Minka ran over to Leanna and began helping her up: "Lea... I am so sorry... I was so... weak." She said while shaking.


    Leanna lets out a whole hearted smile and points at Minka''s forehead, as if telling her that this is all in her head. Minka gets what Leanna is saying rather quickly and nods. Soon later, both of them woke up. Leanna''s body is completely covered in sweat, and the other girls are shocked by what they just saw. It is already midnight. Before Leanna could get up, she realized that her legs had already fallen asleep, so she collapsed on the ground.


    Sannet comes over and puts Leanna''s head on her thighs: "Are you alright? Did you do it?" She asks with a concerned tone.


    Leanna nodded: "Yeah, I did it. I... I feel like I lost a lot of blood though." She answered: "But the warp creature is gone... for now at least." She added. She then glanced at Minka who Viola is currently taking care of. Seems like Minka had also awakened but she is really weak for the moment.


    "So, what happened?" Sannet asks while stroking Leanna''s head.


    "Minka was fighting a daemon of unknown origin, it seems at one point that it has become too much for her." Leanna answered: "It took me a while to find her mind, and even harder to pull her out."


    Sannet shook her head: "I can''t even imagine how hard it must be." She said: "I don''t really understand this whole psychic stuff, but from what you''ve said, it must have been really difficult. I saw you spat out blood at one point and almost tried to wake you up, but Viola said that she trusts you." She added.


    Leanna nodded and closed her eyes: "Yeah, it was tough but I was able to do it." She said with a tired voice: "Can i... hold your tail for the moment?" She asked.


    Sannet looked at her for a while before sighing: "Fine..." She answered while moving her tail forward.


    Leanna hugged Sannet''s tail and started petting it slowly. She couldn''t help but let out a small giggle, as if the feeling of the fur is making her happy. Sannet just sat there and let her do what she wanted. Viola kept Minka warm by wrapping her arms around her body and gave Minka some of her own jacket as a cover.


    "So, what will you do after this?" Leanna asked Sannet: "Staying at the guild or joining the militarum?"


    "When the time comes, I will decide." Sannet said: "I don''t want to be under someone else''s command though."


    "I don''t blame you." Leanna answered: "But why do you want to join the militarum in the first place?"


    Sannet kept silent for a second before answering: "To keep an eye on Minka." She said,


    "What do you mean by that?" Leanna asked with a confused look.


    "Smart as you will probably figure out the reason soon enough." Sannet answered with a smirk.


    Leanna tilted her head and decided to let it be for now. She just lay down and hugged Sannet''s tail while enjoying the feeling of the fur. Sannet just looked at Leanna with an unreadable expression on her face. After half an hour, the girls decided to rest for the night. Sannet laid down and Leanna rested her head on Sannet''s thighs. Leanna can''t help but let out a happy sigh. Minka is still pretty weak but she is slowly recovering from her ordeal. The girls all went to sleep after that.


    Leanna wakes up in the middle of the night while feeling something is holding her hands, when she opens her eyes she sees Minka is almost tearing up while looking at her.


    "I am sorry Lea..." She said with a weak voice: "I was such a bother for you, wasn''t I?"


    "What are you talking about?" Leanna asks while rubbing Minka''s hand.


    "You saved me..." Minka answered: "You... you saved me again and again. And I got you hurt..."


    "I just did what I had to do... you are my friend, even more, family, that''s why I did it." Leanna answered while looking at Minka''s eyes.


    "Thank you..." Minka said as tears kept falling down her cheeks.


    Leanna wiped away Minka''s tears and smiled: "There is no need for you to thank me, we are in this together." Leanna pats Minka''s head: "I am glad that you managed to recover from all of that."


    Minka nodded: "Yeah... I feel better already." She said with a smile: "Thank you Lea."


    Leanna smiles and then leaned forward, she pressed her forehead to Minka''s forehead. Minka is a little taken back by this sudden affection, but she couldn''t help but smile.


    "What are you doing?" Minka asks with a blushing face.


    "I don''t know... it just felt right to do this." Leanna said as she kept their foreheads together.


    "Hey! What''s wrong?" Sannet asked as she rubs her eyes: "Are you two going to start a wrestling match or something?" She asks while glaring at them.


    Leanna just chuckled and got off Minka: "Sorry about that, I didn''t mean to wake you." She said while scratching her cheek.


    Sannet sighed: "You two really need to stop getting so close with each other." She said while getting up: "Anyway, what time is it?" She asked.


    Leanna got her pocket watch and checked it: "It''s three o''clock in the morning." She answered: "Maybe we should try to sleep for awhile longer."


    The other girls just agreed and went to sleep again. The girls woke up later and decided to have breakfast. After finishing their meal, they continue walking forward. The girls kept walking for a few more hours until they reached the edge of the forest.


    "We made it." Leanna said as she looked at the edge of the forest: "It''s time to end the exam."


    Viola takes a deep breath and nods: "We need to cross that river to get out." She said while pointing at the river that flows across the land.


    "But there''s no bridge... and the water is... fast and deep. How are we going to get across?" Minka asked while looking at the river.


    Sannet nodded: "I agree, the current is pretty strong." She said: "I think we will have to find another way."


    "How about we try to telekinesis to the other side?" Leanna suggests: "It might work."


    "Explain." Sannet said as she crossed her arms.


    "Well, I saw an instance of someone using telekinesis before, but it''s not really used for crossing rivers, but more for moving things." Leanna answered: "We can try to move each other one by one."


    "We can start practicing now." Minka then tries to lift Viola with her ability, but Viola gets lifted and thrown to the air.


    Just when Viola was about to be smashed on the ground, Sannet managed to catch her and carried her between her arms.


    "That was close." Sannet said while looking at Minka.


    "Oh... I am so sorry, I didn''t mean to do that." Minka said while blushing a bit.


    "Damn it, I thought I was a goner." Viola said while patting her chest.


    Sannet sets Viola back on the ground and then looks at Leanna: "Can you do it? Your wind power can also do similar things, no?"


    "Well... it''s a bit different, I can''t just create wind currents and support a person to the other side. But... I can boost someone fast enough that they can jump to the other side." She answers.


    "How much can you boost someone?" Sannet asks.


    "If that person already has good physical capacities... well i can kinda let them leap really far away, but it needed a bit of height to do so." She then looks at Minka: "We can work on this together, Minka."


    "Me?" Minka asks with a surprised look.


    "Yep, you can throw someone high enough that they can reach to the other side." Leanna then asks Sannet: "Can you do this?"


    "Yeah... I think I can manage." Sannet answers.


    "Well let''s do it!" Minka exclaimed: "I am ready!"


    Leanna nodded and Minka used her telekinesis on Sannet. Sannet gets lifted from the ground and thrown into the air. With Leanna''s enhancement, Sannet felt her body become lighter and started gliding mid air. She then landed on the other side while rolling a few times on the ground.


    "That''s good enough." Leanna said: "Next, I will try to do this on Viola and let Sannet catch her."


    "Alright." Sannet answered.


    "No fucking way." Viola said while crossing her arms: "I am not risking this.."


    "Oh come on, it''s not that dangerous." Leanna argued.


    "Not that... I am afraid of heights." She said with a grumpy expression on her face.


    "Oh..." Leanna said with a frown: "Well, it''s not like I can make it any easier for you."


    Minka suddenly princess carries Viola between her arms: "Don''t worry, it will be over before you know it~" She then boosts herself mid air with Viola.


    Viola gets terrified by the high speed that Minka is accelerating herself. She felt her body become lighter as well, she held Minka''s shoulder they were about to reach the other side, Minka threw Viola at Sannet while herself landed rather smoothly.


    Sannet caught Viola and gently set her on the ground. Viola was surprised that it was not as bad as she thought it would be.


    "I knew you would be fine." Minka said while smiling at Viola.


    "Don''t talk to me..." Viola said while looking away.


    Leanna smiles and nods: "Now, I will try this." She then starts to boost the air around herself, when Minka throws her mid air. She does a perfect barrel roll mid air before landing on the other side with ease without needing Sannet''s help.


    "Woah, you''re a natural when it comes to flying." Minka said with a surprised expression.


    "Well , here we are at the end of the exam." Leanna answered with a smile: "But there''s no time to waste, let''s go." She said as she ran to the final destination.


    The others followed after her, eventually they arrived at the landmark for the exam. The four girls stood in the middle of the land and looked at the sky. The sun is shining brightly, and the wind is blowing gently. They have finally finished the exam and are about to get their results. The principal comes in front of the girls with his holographic form.


    "Congratulations girls, you are now ready to enter the Adventures guild. I will now announce your results." He said while holding his tablet in one of his hands: "Now, let''s begin with Sannet Demain, You are now a S tier adventurer."


    The girls cheered and Sannet just shook her head with a smile. The principal then proceeded to announce the rest of the girls.


    "Next is Minka Terra, You are now a B tier adventurer." He announced.


    "B? Is that bad?" Minka asks.


    "It means that you are considered to be good at your skills but still require more experience to go up to the next rank." Leanna explained: "But you are getting better, I am sure you will get an A soon." She added.


    "I... thanks, I will try to do better." Minka said with a smile.


    "Leanna Terra, you are now a C tier adventurer." He announced: "I must admit, you are considered to be quite skilled in using your wind power, but your lack of physical strength needs to be worked on."


    Leanna tilted her head and shrugged: "Well I did what I can." She answered with a smirk.


    The principal nodded and then turned towards Viola.


    "Viola Laureate, You are now an A tier adventurer." The principal announced.


    Viola smiled: "Well, I am glad that it is over." She said with a relaxed tone.


    "Last but not least, Nova Terra." The principal announced: "You are now a S tier adventurer."


    Everyone looks behind themselves and sees Nova looking at them with a stoic expression. She came towards the group and stood at the front.


    "Mother?" Leanna asks with a surprised look.


    "I heard about what happened, and decided to take the exam as well." Nova answered: "I have to say, I am impressed by the performance you all did."


    Leanna just stayed quiet and nodded: "So... how long have you been watching us?" She asks with a serious tone.


    "Since the beginning of the exam." Nova answers: "I am sorry about this, but I had to be sure that my daughter can protect herself."


    Leanna frowned a bit: "What do you mean?" She asks with a disappointed tone: "I can already protect myself."


    "I know, but there are times when your abilities are too weak to save you." Nova said while shaking her head: "After all, you are a C rank because you lack the physical strength."


    Leanna gritted her teeth: "And what do you expect me to do about it?" She asked with a raised voice: "I am not an omnipotent being like you!" She added.


    "Lea..." Minka grabs Leanna''s arm, but Leanna swats it away.


    Nova looked at Leanna for a while before answering: "Well, This is why I will take on you by myself and train you on this."


    Leanna frowned: "You will... what?" She asked: "Are you saying that you are going to coach me?"


    "Correct, I will become your teacher and you will follow my orders." Nova answered: "This will be until you manage to become an A rank adventurer."


    Leanna narrowed her eyes: "So, what if I don''t accept your conditions?" She asks with a cold tone.


    Nova just stared at Leanna for a long moment: "Do you really want to find out or just trying to be defiant to your mother?"


    Leanna gritted her teeth, she kept looking at her mother with a displeasing expression. Nova just stared at Leanna and kept silent. The tension is slowly building between the two. Viola and Minka can''t help but gulp and keep their distance from the two. But then Sannet came forward: "General, can I take on your daughter to be her mentor?" She asked.


    Nova and Sannet stared at each other for a long moment. Sannet is calm while Nova is unreadable. The two are trying to read each other, and Sannet is clearly outmatched by Nova. But it seems that she is determined to challenge Nova: "You?" Nova asks while keeping her stoic expression.


    Sannet just nodded: "Yes, since I am a S tier adventurer who specialized in physical combat, I can help her reach the level of an A rank adventurer. If you disagree, I can always resign as her mentor." She added.


    Nova then glanced at Leanna, Leanna is now giving her mother a disgusted look: "Sannet... right? Sure, you can do that. But I will be personally conducting the test."


    Sannet nodded and bows her head: "As you wish."


    "What test?" Viola asks while tilting her head.


    "The A rank test." Nova answered: "She just needs to beat me, that''s all. You have a month."


    Sannet looked at Nova and nodded: "I understand." She answered.


    "If Leanna cannot beat me until then, you will resign and my daughter will leave with me." Nova said with a serious tone.


    "As you wish." Sannet answered.


    "Well, I will take my leave." Nova said as she turned around and walked towards the exit of this place.


    After Nova is out of sight, Minka hugged Leanna''s body: "Lea... please don''t be too mad at aunt Nova..." She said while hugging her.


    Leanna looked away: "I am not mad, just disappointed." She answered while trying to stay calm.


    "You will beat her, right?" Minka asks with a hopeful tone.


    Leanna sighed and nodded: "I don''t know... it''s mother after all, every spar among the family, it is always her that emerges victorious..." She said with a sad tone.


    "It''s okay, you just need to give it your best shot." Minka said while patting Leanna''s back.


    "Stop talking so defeatist." Sannet said with a stern tone: "Since now she''s my student, I will make sure that she will pass." She added.


    "Thank you." Leanna said with a weak smile: "You really didn''t have to do that... but thank you Sannet." She added.


    Viola comes over and hugs Leanna as well: "Don''t worry, We will be here to cheer you up." She said,


    "Yeah." Minka said while nodding: "We are family after all!"


    Leanna felt happy from the bottom of her heart and gave Minka and Viola a big smile. She then looked at Sannet and thanked her as well, which she just smiled and nodded in response.

 Chapter 12

    A few days later, "Are you ready?" Sannet asks while wearing her sparring uniform.


    "Ready as I can be." Leanna answered as she put on her uniform as well: "Wait! Where''s your cat''s ears and tail?!" She asks.


    "They are not needed for this test." Sannet answered with a serious expression: "So I got rid of them."


    "But..." Leanna stammers for a moment: "I kinda like them on you." She then said with a blushing face.


    "That''s fine, but we should get going now." Sannet said with a shrug.


    Leannanodded: "Let''s get this over with." She answered with a serious expression.


    "Attack me." Sannet said as she stood at her stance.


    Leanna frowned and thought of the possibilities that she has. She can''t use her wind power because it would just defeat the whole purpose of this test. She thought of attacking by her legs, but Sannet is definitely stronger than her. So she decided to try her fist first. She runs at full speed and punches Sannet''s face with all her might. Sannet stopped the fist with one of her hands and used her free hand to counterattack Leanna''s stomach. Leanna tries to struggle free, but Sannet''s hand is very strong, so she can''t really escape from it.


    "It''s not that easy to get out of this hold." Sannet said while keeping a firm grip on Leanna''s body: "Do something!"


    Leanna widens her eyes and nods. She remembers the move that Minka used while fighting Sannet, she grabs hold of Sannet''s arm and wraps her entire body on to her arm. Causing Sannet to let go of her.


    "Not bad, but you should''ve just continued attacking." Sannet said as she threw a kick at Leanna''s face.


    Leanna manages to move her head away from the incoming kick and manages to land a kick at Sannet''s leg. But her leg felt numb after doing so. Sannet smiled and nodded: "That''s a good reaction time, but that is not going to work for long." She said while she punched Leanna''s face with her free hand.


    Leanna stumbled back and spit out blood. She shook her head and stared at Sannet with anger in her eyes.


    "You seem angry, why?" Sannet asks.


    "I am angry because I can''t win!" Leanna said as she punched the ground.


    "You are angry because you are unable to do what you want to do, but you are not really angry because you are losing." Sannet answered while shaking her head: "Your anger is actually fear."


    "Eh... Sannet, maybe you should go easier on Lea?" Minka said while looking at Leanna with a worried look on her face.


    "I am going as easy as I can." Sannet answered: "You all have to realize that she is going to fight against Nova soon enough, and I can''t be soft with her." She added.


    "I know, but still..." Minka answered with a sad tone.


    "Don''t worry, Leanna is a very strong person." Sannet answers as she sees Leanna stand up again and in her fighting stance.


    "I am ready for another round." Leanna said while narrowing her eyes.


    "Alright then, come at me." Sannet said as she raised her guard.


    Leanna runs towards Sannet with full speed and uses a roundhouse kick at Sannet''s stomach. Sannet raised her arm to block the incoming attack, but Leanna jumped in the air and aimed a flying kick to Sannet''s face. Sannet manages to block this one as well. Leanna tries to throw another kick at Sannet, but Sannet manages to grab Leanna''s leg and throws her down. Leanna quickly turns around to stop herself from hitting the ground too hard. But Sannet is already upon her and throws a punch at her face. Leanna''s body is knocked to the side after taking the blow.


    Leanna stands up and keeps attacking Sannet with all her might, but Sannet manages to block everything that Leanna does to her.


    "You have the brain for fighting but you lack the speed and strength." Sannet said as she grabbed Leanna''s wrist and swung her to the side.


    Leanna landed on the ground with a grunt. She shook her head and got back on her feet. She then walks towards Sannet with gritted teeth.


    "Are you done?" Sannet asks.


    "Just wait and see." Leanna answered with a frown.


    "Are you angry now?" Sannet asks with a calm tone.


    "I... I don''t want to lose..." Leanna answered: "I don''t want to give up... not until I win."


    Sannet smiles and nods: "That''s good, that''s the spirit." She said: "Now, come at me." She adds with a serious expression.


    Leanna felt that she was getting closer to victory, so she started running towards Sannet again. Sannet grabbed Leanna''s hands and she couldn''t move them.


    "It''s useless, your speed is still too slow." Sannet said while swinging Leanna''s body to the air. She then threw her at the ground, causing Leanna to let out a scream of pain. Sannet then walked towards Leanna with her hand raised up.


    Leanna closed her eyes and waited for the incoming punch.


    "Don''t close your eyes, fight back!" Sannet said while landing a blow to Leanna''s stomach. Leanna groans in pain and tries to punch Sannet back, but she can''t really move her body much.


    "Get up and try again." Sannet said while standing up.


    Leanna got up while gritting her teeth, she tried to punch Sannet, but Sannet dodged the incoming attacks. Leanna continues to throw a series of punches and kicks, but Sannet just keeps dodging them all. After a while, Sannet stopped moving and stared at Leanna.


    "You... Why did you stop?" Leanna asks with a pained expression.


    "You''re out of energy, don''t waste your strength." Sannet answered: "You''re done for today, let''s take a break." She said,


    "But... I can still fight!" Leanna argued.


    "Your eyes say otherwise." Sannet said while walking towards Leanna.


    "My eyes? I am fine!" Leanna argues.


    Sannet grabs Leanna''s wrist: "It''s okay, just rest." She said,


    Leanna tries to struggle free, but Sannet''s hand is too strong, Leanna can''t escape from it.


    "We will try this again tomorrow, let''s get you some rest." Sannet let go of Leanna''s wrist.


    Leanna felt her legs give up on her and collapsed on the floor. Minka and Viola came over with some ice and a cold drink. They gently set it on Leanna''s head.


    "There there, you will do better tomorrow, right?" Minka asks.


    "Yeah..." Leanna answered with a tired voice.


    "Don''t worry Lea, you are getting better." Minka said with a kind smile.


    "She''s right, you are doing good so far." Viola added: "It''s just that your opponent is strong, but from the looks of it, she won''t be too strong for you to handle."


    "Yeah..." Leanna answers while keeping her eyes closed.


    "Here, drink this." Minka says while offering the cold drink to Leanna.


    Leanna takes it and drinks the contents of the drink. It''s a fruit drink which makes Leanna''s mouth feel better. She sighed in relief and put the cup down. She then walks up to the changing room to refresh herself. Sannet is currently sitting on a nearby chair.


    "I know that I am not the best teacher when it comes to fighting." Sannet said while looking at Leanna: "But I want to do what is best for you."


    Leanna looked at Sannet with a frown: "I know that... it''s just... I want to win." She said,


    "But you can''t win unless you are prepared to face the opponent." Sannet answered: "Do you understand that?"


    Leanna nods: "I know..." She said while looking down: "I just don''t want to be a burden to you all."


    "Nonsense! You''re the best, Lea! I always look up to you!" Minka exclaimed with a happy smile, while patting Leanna on her back: "You will never be a burden to us." She added while grabbing Leanna''s hand. Viola also nods at the back.


    "Thanks guys... but I really need to work on my body strength and speed..." Leanna said with a bit of sadness in her voice.


    "We will do everything we can to help you." Minka said with a smile: "I can take you for a run after you feel better!"


    "Sure... maybe..." Leanna answered with a tired voice.


    The next few days, Leanna trained with Sannet almost every day. During the day, she would train her physical capacities while running around the city. During the night, Sannet would train her martial arts and combat abilities. Leanna was improving a lot, but her speed is still slow compared to Sannet.


    One day, Leanna came back to the guild and she found Nova and Sannet in the middle of the hall. Nova is looking at Sannet with a serious expression on her face. The two of them seem to be arguing about something.


    "Sannet, you can''t teach her anymore." Nova said with a stern tone: "I don''t know what your intentions are, but you are getting too close to my daughter." She added while keeping a glare.


    "General, I am a bit offended by your accusation." Sannet said while glaring back: "I just want the best for Leanna, I care for her more than you do."


    "Oh, is that so?" Nova said with a raised eyebrow: "More than i do?" She asks with a calm voice.


    "That''s right." Sannet answered: "If you are not willing to treat her like your daughter, then I am." She added.


    "Sannet... what did you say?" Nova asked with a serious expression.


    "You heard me, General." Sannet answered while standing still.


    "Do you even know what you are saying?" Nova asks while shaking her head.


    "Of course I do." Sannet answered: "I am telling you that I care for Leanna more than you do. You are projecting your own bitter past to Leanna. And it is not fair." She added with a serious tone: "Leanna has a choice, you didn''t."


    Nova narrowed her eyes: "What... do you know?" She asks.


    "You didn''t tell her anything, did you?" Sannet asked while tilting her head: "You just keep her under your wing so that you can protect her."


    "You are a servant of the man that committed countless atrocities. And now you are the one teaching me how to raise my daughter?" Nova said while slightly raising her eyebrow.


    "I know that I am not a good person." Sannet answered while looking at Nova''s eyes: "But I don''t care about that anymore. I love Leanna like family, I care for her as much as I care for Minka and Viola." She added with a stern tone.


    "Woah..."Leanna gasps out when she hears that, making Nova and Sannet both realize that Leanna was here during their entire conversation. She blushed in embarrassment and kept quiet.


    Sannet just shook her head and smiled: "I don''t care what you think of me anymore." She said: "I will continue to take care of Leanna until she is able to fight with you."


    "You''ve changed Sannet... are you repenting for your past mistakes?" Nova asks while narrowing her eyes.


    Sannet stayed quiet for a while and shook her head: "I don''t know." She answered: "I just feel like I''m doing the right thing." She added.


    "Why are you helping my daughter?" Nova asks with a suspicious tone.


    Sannet sighed: "Because it feels right." She said with a sad smile: "It''s because of me that Leanna is in this situation. I will do everything I can to help her." She added.


    Nova looks at Sannet with an unreadable expression for a while, but she finally nods: "Very well then, I will let you continue being her mentor." She said while looking away: "When the day comes, you better prove to me that you are right about Leanna." She added with a stern voice. Then Nova left the adventures guild.


    Leanna felt relieved and walked over to Sannet: "Are you alright? I am sorry, I didn''t mean to eavesdrop." She said while scratching her cheek.


    Sannet looked at Leanna for a moment before patting her head: "I am alright, I know that Nova is not an easy opponent to handle. But you shouldn''t be scared of her." She said while keeping her stoic expression.


    "Um... thank you for standing up for me, I didn''t know that you felt that way." Leanna said while blushing a bit.


    "That''s nothing." Sannet said with a shrug: "But don''t tell anyone what we''ve discussed today, it''s just between us."


    Leanna nodded and the two of them went to their usual training room. The training session is normal as well, but Leanna felt happy after hearing what Sannet said about her. She really cares for Leanna like she does for Minka and Viola. This is why today, Leanna is putting in considerably more effort to fight compared to before. At the end of the session, she finally managed to land a blow on Sannet''s stomach.


    "You really put in more effort than usual today." Sannet said while panting: "That''s good." She added with a smile.


    Leanna blushed and smiled: "It''s all thanks to you." She said with a shy tone.


    "I am glad that I can help you." Sannet answered: "You can rest for today, I''ll be going now." She said as she got up from the floor.


    Leanna just nodded and lay down on the floor while trying to catch her breath. She thought that she is finally getting the hang of it, but her body is still not fully recovered yet. So she decided to take it easy for the day. After resting for a while, she went to Minka''s place to have dinner with her and her family.


    "Hi, Uncle Trazyn!" Leanna exclaims while walking in the front yard.


    "Hello dear, come in." Trazyn answered as he walked out of the house. He looks at Leanna and smiles.


    Leanna smiles back at him: "It''s been a while since I last saw you." She said,


    "Yeah, but I have heard plenty of stories about you." He said: "Minka told me that you are trying to get stronger?"


    Leanna nods: "Yeah... I am training with Sannet right now, but I am still not good enough yet." She said with a sad tone.


    "It''s okay dear, just keep on trying." Trazyn answered while patting her head: "But it''s good to know that you are training to get stronger, you are still quite young." He added.


    "Lea!" Minka comes out of the house and hugs Leanna: "I am so glad that you are here!" She exclaims with a happy tone.


    "Aw, you two are so cute when standing together. Kinda reminds me of how your moms were. You know?" Trazyn said with a smile: "Now, come in. I have made something delicious today!" He added while walking towards the house.


    Leanna went inside the house, the smell of Trazyn''s cooking is something that she really enjoyed. Trazyn is a very good cook, and he loves cooking for his family. The table is already prepared, so Leanna just sits there while waiting for Minka and Trazyn to finally bring out the dishes.


    "So... how is it? The training, I mean." Trazyn asks.


    "Well... It''s tough, but I can finally hit Sannet after a few days of training." Leanna answered with a proud expression.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Is that so, that''s good to hear." Trazyn said with a nod: "This Sannet person... what do you think about her?" He asks while tilting his head.


    Leanna took a second to think about it: "She''s a good person, she''s very strong, kind and very caring." She answered with a smile: "She has a really tough shell but she''s actually a big softy. She even let Minka and I touch her fluffy tail!" She adds with a happy tone.


    "Hmm... I see..." Trazyn said with a smile: "That''s good to know." He added: "You are getting closer to her, so I am glad that you trust her."


    Leanna blushes: "Well, yeah..." She answered while scratching her cheek.


    Trazyn just smiled and decided not to ask any more questions. After finishing their meal, Leanna helps Trazyn clean the table before leaving the house.


    "Bye Uncle Traz!" Leanna said as she closed the door.


    "Be careful on the way home, Dear." He said with a smile.


    In the central command, the inquisition sector. "An intelligent weapon...?" The girl said as she read the information on the file. She''s a short girl with long blonde hair and green eyes. She is wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a blue skirt: "Sir... this can''t be real... right?" She asks.


    "Lieutanant Vermillion, we don''t have time to check the authenticity of the information." A man with a military uniform answered: "We need to secure the weapon first." He adds.


    Noel shook her head: "But sir... this is just too far-fetched." She said with a frown: "There must be some sort of catch." She added.


    "If you don''t believe it, then go see for yourself." The man said with a serious expression.


    After some light preparation, Noel left the base and began heading to the location of where the report says. It took her about two hours to reach her destination. It is a bar where the sighting of the weapon is reported: "I can''t believe this..." She stumps her feet on the floor due to frustration. Then she entered the bar with a really grumpy expression.


    "How may I serve you?" The bartender asks.


    "Do you have something that will knock me out for a bit?" She asks with a tired expression.


    "Well... that''s rather sudden." The bartender answered: "But sure, take a seat and I will serve you."


    Noel nodded and sat down at the counter. After waiting for a moment, the bartender came over and gave Noel a glass with some sort of drink inside of it.


    "Here you go, enjoy." The bartender said with a smile.


    "Wait, I need to ask you some questions." She then takes out her inquisition seal and shows it to the bartender.


    The bartender looked at the seal and nodded: "Anything I can help you with, lord inquisitor?"


    "Were you bartending two days ago?" She asks while looking at the bartender''s face.


    "Yes, I was." The bartender answered: "But I don''t remember anything unusual happening here." He added.


    "You see... that was a lie." Noel looks at the bartender impatiently: "There is an intelligent weapon here, it was seen by several people in this bar."


    "Intelligent... weapon?" The bartender asked while tilting his head.


    "It''s a weapon that can think and plan on its own, and it can also take action without having to tell anyone to do so." Noel answered: "It was here, in this bar."


    "I... I don''t know what to say..." The bartender answered while scratching his cheek: "If you think there''s something here, then I can ask the people in the back for you."


    Noel then proceeded to sips the drink for a bit. After a while, the bartender came back with a middle-aged man.


    "Excuse me, Ma''am. My friend says that he saw a little girl carrying a weapon here a few days ago." The bartender said.


    Noel raised an eyebrow: "A little girl? Are you sure?" She asks.


    "Well... she was hiding herself most of the time, but I saw her face when she was looking at my face." The man answered: "She is a hybrid. One with cat ears and black hair."


    "Why would a little girl be in a place like this?" Noel asks while looking at the bartender: "Do you have any clue about this?"


    "No ma''am, she just looked lost." The bartender answered: "Like she was wandering around."


    "Wondering around?" Noel narrowed her eyes: "Then would you like to explain to me the stash of monster parts that are in your kitchen''s fridge?" She asks with a suspicious expression.


    "Wha? What monster parts?" The bartender asks with a panicked expression.


    "Look, I can keep this between us. Because personally I like meat as well. But, you need to give me more details about that little girl." She says while looking at the bartender.


    The bartender then sighed and nodded: "Very well, I will tell you. That little girl carries a weapon that is like a... claymore."


    Noel frowns: "A claymore... She''s a wielder?" She asks: "What about the weapon itself?"


    "Well... I didn''t get a really good look at it, but I could say that it''s a really beautiful weapon." He answered: "It has a gold frame and a purple handle."


    Noel notes the details down and proceeds to leave this place. After leaving the bar, she stares at her holopad to look for some clues: "She sells monster parts to the restaurant... but who butchered them and where did she get the source of the information about the monsters?" Noel mutters while looking around the town. She then spotted the adventures guild and decided to head over there.


    After a few minutes, she enters the guildhall and heads straight at the receptionist. She takes out her seal and shows it to the lady.


    "Oh my, how can I help you?" The receptionist asks.


    "I want to check the adventurer board." Noel said with a stern tone.


    "I see, please wait a moment." The receptionist says.


    After a while, the receptionist came back and gave Noel a paper: "These are the recent monster sightings and quests assigned." She said,


    "Hmm..." Noel said as she started reading the details on the paper: "Have you ever seen a little girl with cat ears?" She asks.


    "Yes, I have." The receptionist answered with a nod: "I think she''s an adventurer."


    "Where did you see her?" Noel asks while narrowing her eyes.


    "Well... I saw her at the dungeon entrance a few days ago, she was accompanied by a man in a tux." The receptionist answered.


    "So... he''s an escort?" Noel asks while thinking about the possibilities.


    "No... I think that girl was escorting the man." The receptionist said while shaking her head: "She has that blank expressionless face when talking to us."


    "What''s her rank?" Noel asks.


    "Um... A-rank." The receptionist answered with a nervous expression,


    "A rank? She''s like twelve years old, is she not?" Noel asks while keeping a suspicious gaze.


    The receptionist nods: "I know, but she is very talented." She answered.


    Noel nodded and thanked the receptionist before leaving the guild: "So... she''s a young girl with A rank adventure skill. She carries a claymore looking intelligence weapon and... she''s a hybrid with cat features. All of this sounds so disconnected from each other..." She mutters with a frown.


    Noel sighed and checked with the quest assigned list, she only found one member who is A rank and fit with her description: A little girl called Francessica. Or she goes by the name: Fran, in the guild. The current quest that she was assigned to is simple; To find and bring back a lost cat.


    "A lost cat?" Noel sighs: "I guess I have to give it a try... after all, the overtime bonus is pretty good.." She mutters while rubbing her head: "Why do I have to deal with this..." She then began requesting information regarding local lost cats from the inquisition. Hoping that she will find that cat with Fran.


    After some time, Noel finally managed to locate the cat that was lost, she saw a white cat with blue eyes walking around a street. So she decided to follow the cat for a while. But no sighting of her target yet. Noel starts wondering why it takes so long for an A rank adventure to track down a lost cat. She kept following the cat around the area for hours, until she spotted a familiar figure.


    "Finally..." She mutters while hiding behind a nearby bush. She sees Fran, she''s currently at a back alley. And she sees her looking at a white cat with blue eyes. The cat has a ribbon on its neck and it looks quite cute.


    "C''mon, kitty cat." Fran said while trying to approach the cat: "Come here kitty..." She added.


    The white cat began walking backwards. Fran just keeps approaching it and tries to talk to it.


    "Kitty, please. I want to help you." She said with a calm tone: "Just come with me..." She added.


    Noel just looked at Fran with a suspicious expression. She took out her weapon and decided to call out to the little girl.


    "Hello there." She said while approaching Fran.


    "Who are you?" Fran asks while turning around.


    Noel tilted her head: "I am from the inquisition, I just wanted to ask you a few questions." She answers: "So, care to come with me for a bit?" She asks while extending her hand.


    Fran looked at Noel''s hand with a frown on her face. Noel frowned as well and put her hand down: "Oh? Do you not want to?" She asks.


    Fran shook her head: "It''s not that... I don''t like people touching me." She then went back, approaching the white cat.


    Noel shrugged and sighs: "I see, so you don''t want to come with me." She said while looking at the white cat.


    "Please... just help me catch this cat." Fran asks while extending her hand to the cat.


    Noel looked at the cat for a long moment: "Sure, but on one condition." She answered.


    "What is it?" Fran asked.


    "You need to tell me about the weapon you''re carrying." Noel answered with a serious tone.


    "My weapon? But it''s not that impressive..." She answered while looking down: "But if that''s what you want..." Suddenly Fran throws Noel a face full of sand and grabs the cat. She then proceeds to leap on the walls and eventually runs on the roof.


    "That brat!" Noel exclaimed as she shook her face. She then took out a small holopad and activated the tracking device. She then sees Fran running on the rooftops. Noel shot a grappling gun at the roof and began chasing Fran. After a while, she managed to catch up to her. She took out her pistol and shot a rubber bullet at Fran. The bullet hit the girl''s back and caused her to trip on her feet. Noel landed on the roof and walked over to Fran with a stern expression.


    "Where is the weapon?" She asks with a low voice.


    "I don''t have it with me..." Fran said while trying to stand up.


    Noel suddenly feels something is flying towards her, she ducks down on the ground and a flying sword just goes over her head. She raised her head and saw the sword. The sword then goes back towards Fran.


    "That''s a neat toy." Noel says with a smirk: "You''ve got some skills kid."


    "My name is Fran... not kid!" Fran exclaimed as she started attacking Noel. Fran raises the claymore like it doesn''t have any weight. Noel manages to block the claymore with her gun, but Fran quickly follows with a punch to Noel''s stomach. She tried to attack again, but Noel quickly kicked her away.


    Noel fired a few more rubber bullets at Fran, but the little girl just kept blocking them. Suddenly, light came out from Fran''s hand and a bolt of lightning shot at Noel. Noel used her grappling hook to dodge the incoming lightning bolt. She shot a rubber bullet in Fran''s direction. The bullet hit Fran on her leg, causing the girl to slip down and land on the ground. Noel walked towards her and grabbed her arms.


    "You are coming with me, young miss." Noel said with a stern voice.


    Fran frowns and struggles for a bit.


    "Now, let''s go." Noel said while dragging Fran with her.


    "Please... please... let me go..." Fran said as she continued to struggle, she then began chanting another spell. But Noel shut her up with her hand.


    "Now now, none of that." Noel said: "Don''t be so stubborn, you have plenty to explain." Suddenly the claymore flew towards Noel without Fran even using it, causing Noel to have to let Fran go to dodge the attack.


    "How...?" Noel asked with wide eyes.


    The sword flies back to Fran and she grabs it, then they begin taking off and Fran begins leaping on air as if she''s stepping on something.


    "Goddamnit...!" Noel exclaimed as she tried to keep up with Fran''s speed.


    Noel fired rubber bullets at Fran again, but the little girl just kept dodging them. Then Noel managed to fire a tracker dart at her. And it stuck on Fran without her noticing. After a while, Fran stopped leaping and landed on a nearby rooftop.


    Noel wants to go further, but she realized that she might need some back ups for this. So she decided to retreat for now. Noel gone back to the guild and goes to the receptionist again: "I would like to post a quest." She said,


    "What kind?" The receptionist asks.


    "I want to capture someone." Noel answers while glaring at the lady.


    The receptionist felt nervous by this answer and decided to comply with her. Noel is an inquisitor after all. She then put up a poster on the bulletin board;


    ''Wanted: Little girl named Fran who is around the age of twelve, with cat features and black hair. She''s also an A rank adventurer.'' The poster added.


    "So... why did you want to capture that little girl?" The receptionist asks with a stern expression.


    "The inquisition business is not up to you to be questioned." Noel answered while narrowing her eyes.


    "Then where''s your inquisition backups?" The lady asked.


    Noel gets closer to the lady: "Do you really want the inquisition to deal with a twelve year old? Can your conscience let that happen?" She asks with a serious voice.


    "N-no, but..." The lady muttered.


    "It''s just for one time, I need some backup for this." Noel said while taking out her seal. She shows it to the lady.


    "Very well then... I understand." The receptionist answered while keeping her calm.


    "Aunt Noel?" Minka said when she saw Noel at the guild: "What are you doing here?"


    "Eh... posting a request?" Noel said with a nervous tone.


    "A request? For what?" Minka asks.


    "Well... there''s someone I need to capture. It''s for my mission." Noel said while scratching her head.


    "Oh?" Minka then sees the poster: "A twelve years old?" She asks while looking at Noel with a suspicious expression.


    "Um... it''s not like that!" Noel exclaimed: "It''s not what you think."


    Minka raised an eyebrow and gave Noel a skeptical look: "You know... i don''t really believe you." She said.


    "Wha? Why?" Noel asks with a frown.


    "Just a hunch..." Minka answered: "But you are so bad at lying... I just can''t believe you."


    Noel pouted: "I am not bad at lying! And I am not doing this for fun either!" She said while glaring at Minka: "Look... I really can use a team to capture her... she carries a really dangerous weapon."


    Minka sighed and shook her head: "Okay, I believe you." She said: "But why don''t you ask Leanna for help? She''s also at the guild." She asks with a curious tone.


    Noel went pale in an instant and she began shaking her head: "Um...Her mother and i... I don''t know how to describe it... We don''t get along." She answered.


    "Oh, okay." Minka said with a nod: "I didn''t know that... But I can help you."


    "You can?" Noel asks.


    "Sure, I have a few friends that can help us." Minka then pulled Viola over: "She''s also an A rank adventurer." She said,


    "Wait, why am I here?" Viola asks while eating the dessert in her hand.


    "We are gonna catch a little girl." Minka said with a serious expression: "Aunt Noel wants to capture her, and we will help her." She added while looking at Noel''s eyes.


    Noel nods: "Thank you for this..." She said with a rather helpless expression.


    "Wait, you are with the inquisition?" Viola asks with a surprised tone.


    "Yes... i am." Noel answered: "It''s a secret though." She said,


    "Well, whatever. As long as I am getting paid for this, I don''t mind." Viola said with a shrug.


    "Thank you so much." Noel said while bowing.


    "Well then, let''s do this!" Minka said with a bright expression.


    After some rest and preparation, three of them began heading to where the tracker is. They found it strange that Fran is seemingly located outside of the city near the forest. So they decide to go over there and have a talk with her. When they arrived at the location, they found Fran sitting on the ground while cleaning the sword.


    "Wait..." Noel halted everyone and began listening to what Fran said to the weapon.


    "I know how to be careful... you don''t have to remind me of that." Fran said to the sword: "I know that I should just run away if someone comes. But... we can''t just run away all the time." She added.


    The sword just gave a bright light in response.


    "I know, I know... you don''t need to worry." Fran said while keeping her smile.


    "Is that girl crazy?" Minka asked.


    "She''s talking to the weapon..." Noel answered with a deadpan expression.


    "The weapon? That''s... first to hear." Viola said with a surprised face.


    "Mr. Vegas... I understand... but what if they continue to come and mess with us?" Fran asked the sword.


    Mr. Vegas was shining brightly again, as if it was arguing with what she just said.


    "No... you are wrong." Fran said while shaking her head: "We can''t keep on running." She added: "I know you are worried, but we need to stay here... We can''t run anymore." She said. The sword glows in green light in response: "No! I won''t lose! They can''t beat me!" She exclaimed.


    "Oh my, she''s fighting with her sword." Viola said while shaking her head.


    "She''s still a little kid..." Minka said while also stunned by this scene.


    "A little kid with a magic sword." Viola answered: "She''s quite dangerous if left unchecked." She added.


    "So... what do we do?" Minka asks while tilting her head.


    "Let''s just talk to her first, and see how this goes." Noel said with an annoyed expression and stepped out of the cover: "We come in peace!" She exclaimed.


    Fran suddenly stopped talking to the sword and turned towards Noel and her companions.


    "Are you going to kill me?" Fran asks with a serious tone.


    Noel shook her head: "No, I just want to talk. I will let you go if you promise to listen to me." She said,


    Fran went back to her sitting position and nodded: "Okay..."


    "Is that a real intelligent weapon?" Noel asks while pointing at the sword.


    "Yes..." Fran answered.


    "Then... is it alive?" Noel asks with a serious face.


    "Mr. Vegas is alive, and he''s sentient." Fran answered: "And I am not going to tell you anything more about him." She added.


    Noel looked at the sword for a while before sighing: "You are a hybrid, aren''t you?" She asks: "I know the imperium hasn''t been treating the hybrid well. I suppose your parents are all dead?" She added.


    Fran frowned: "What if they are?" She asked.


    "Well... I am sorry about your loss." Noel said with a frown: "But please... tell me more about that weapon. Where did you find it?" She asked.


    "I found Mr. Vegas in a labyrinth." Fran said: "He told me to go there." She added.


    Noel frowned: "He told you? What did he say to you?" She asks.


    "He just told me that he wants to leave this place." Fran answered: "That''s all."


    Noel narrowed her eyes: "Where was the labyrinth?" She asks with a low voice.


    "It''s a labyrinth under the city." Fran answered.


    "The labyrinth under the city?" Noel muttered: "But it should be sealed..."


    "Some human slave owners sold me there to excavate." Fran said with a bitter face.


    "Who''s your owner?" Noel asks while tilting her head.


    "I don''t have an owner anymore." Fran answered: "I ran away and killed them. With the help of Mr. Vegas."


    "I see..." Noel closes her notebook: "I am sorry, young lady. But the weapon has to come with us." She said with a stern voice.


    Fran shook her head: "I don''t want that." She said: "Mr. Vegas is family, I won''t let you take him away!"She pulls out the blade and points at Noel: "Liar!" She exclaims.


    Minka leaps forward and a powerfist phases out on her hand, she does a full swing at Fran, but the little girl manages to block it with her claymore. Fran then thrust at Minka, but Minka dodge it and used her power fist to punch at her.


    "Not bad..." Viola said with an impressed expression. But then she pulls out a webber, she''s going to use a less lethal method to a twelve years old.


    Fran dodges the attack by rolling backwards and tries to cut Viola down with her claymore. But Minka again appeared in front and used her full force to hit the claymore. Fran manages to block it and tries to use this chance to punch at Minka. But Viola webbed Fran''s hands before she could do so, making Fran frown.


    "What''s with this sticky thing?" Fran asks while struggling to get away from the webbing.


    "It''s a special type of adhesive. It''s called webber." Viola answered: "Don''t worry, you will be free in no time." She added. And Minka comes forward and starts pulling away the claymore off of Fran''s hand.


    "Ack! What are you doing? Stop it!" Fran exclaimed while struggling.


    "Calm down, young miss." Minka said while trying to pull the claymore out.


    "I won''t let you take Mr. Vegas away!" Fran suddenly has multiple magic spell indicators appear next to her, then fire mixed with lightning began bombing the field.


    Noel quickly pulls out her pistol and shoots at the incoming magic spell. She manages to shoot down two of the incoming fireballs before it hits her.


    "Minka! Watch out!" Viola shouts, but a lightning strike hits directly at Minka. Causing the young lady to fly backwards and land on the ground.


    Viola quickly went over to Minka: "Hey! Are you alright?" She asks.


    Minka slowly stands up and nods: "I''m fine...It;s just¡­ ouch..." She said,


    "Please! I won''t let you take Mr. Vegas!" Fran exclaimed while she removed the webbing on her hands.


    Viola just raised an eyebrow. Fran then swung her sword at Viola, but Viola used her arm plate to slide away the attack and hit her fist directly at Fran''s stomach. Then Viola uses her close quarter advantage, dealing many blows to Fran''s body. She even managed to pin her on the ground with her foot.


    "Give up!" Viola steps on Fran''s chest. While Minka finally managed to grab the claymore and removed it from Fran''s hand.


    "Please... please..." Fran said with tears in her eyes.


    Viola just sighs and helps Minka tying Fran up. The little girl is not resisting anymore, she just lays there on the ground and keeps crying. Suddenly, the sword began to glow in green light, many lasers and particle whips blazed out from the claymore. It hits Minka away from the sword and cuts loose of Fran''s bondage. Then, Fran uses magic to leap away at an impressive speed.


    Three of them are all hit during the attack, it didn''t cause serious problems but all of them are unable to chase Fran.


    "I don''t know how she can fight back like this..." Minka said while holding her chest.


    "What''s your plan now?" Viola asks while panting.


    Noel was silent for a moment, and let out a sigh: "Let''s call it a day... we will find a way to get her next time."


    "Aunt Noel..." Minka came forward: "Was she hurting anyone with that weapon?" She asks with a concerned voice.


    "It''s a sentient weapon, Minka. It''s not something that you should keep around." Noel answered: "And it''s dangerous to let the weapon roam around...Also, it''s for the sake of the kid."


    "But she didn''t cause trouble, I don''t know Aunt Noel... I feel like we are the bad guys here." Minka said with a worried tone.


    Noel looked at Minka for a while: "I''m sorry, Minka... but I have to do this. She''s still too young to be able to control such a dangerous weapon." She said with a sad expression: "Can you imagine what havoc she will cause if left unsupervised."


    "I understand..." Minka said with a frown: "But if we capture her again... will you let her go?" She asks.


    "Well..." Noel frowned and scratched her head: "I don''t know...it will be up for the inquisition to decide... but I''ll say the kid is innocent."


    "Okay, then we will capture her next time." Minka said with a nod: "But we will ask Sannet to help us next time. She''s a S tier adventurer." She added.


    "Hold on, you know Sannet of Tomorrow?" Noel asks with a surprised expression.


    "Well... yeah. But isn''t her family name Demain?" Minka said while tilting her head: "We are friends, why?"


    "She didn''t tell you about...Oh..." Noel realized something and looked away.


    "Aunt Noel?" Minka asked while tilting her head.


    "No... it''s nothing." Noel shakes her head and walks away from the spot. She has a lot of thinking to do.

 Chapter 13

    After Noel went back to the city, she started asking for more information regarding Fran. She started from the adventurers guild to the local orphanage. She found that Fran is quite the popular girl for being both a talented adventurer as well as a hybrid. This is honestly the part where Noel comes in, she''s not exactly an ''inquisitor'' she''s more like an evaluator for a potential threat. She will basically do an audit on the target about everything about them, then she decides whether it is necessary to bring down the hammer.


    She found out that Fran is not the type to fight without reason. So she''s probably not the type that would try to harm the people around her. But the weapon is still too dangerous to be left untamed. She went to the local orphanage and talked to the caretaker. But she did not find any information there. She just heard about a little girl with cat features that used to live here but passed away a while ago. She knows that if she takes Sannet to Fran, they will no doubt be able to retrieve the weapon, but what of Fran? What will happen to her if they take away the weapon?


    Noel decided to go back to the guild and look for Sannet for some answers. She asked around and eventually found out that Sannet is currently at the training field for some exercise. When she finally managed to find the woman, Sannet was in the middle of a sparring session with Leanna. Noel didn''t bother them until Sannet dropped Leanna on the ground.


    "Are you alright?" Sannet asks.


    "Y-yes..." Leanna said while rubbing her head: "Do you think I''m getting better?" She asks.


    "Of course, you are getting better." Sannet said while smiling.


    Noel approaches the two of them: "Leanna."


    Leanna turned to face Noel: "Oh, Hi Aunty Noel!" Leanna hugs Noel tightly.


    "Um... Hi there, Lea..." Noel awkwardly rubs Leanna''s head: "I need to talk to Sannet for a bit. Then we can catch up if you want." She says while looking at Sannet.


    Leanna looked at Noel for a moment before nodding: "Okay... I''m going back to the guild then!" She said before leaving.


    After Leanna left, Sannet approached Noel with a cold expression: "What?" She asks.


    "Sheesh, what''s with the ice cold tone? Are you the same person that I hung out with years ago?" Noel asks.


    "That was years ago. I am not the same person anymore." Sannet answers: "You shouldn''t come around me for no reason."


    Noel raised an eyebrow: "That''s rude... i have my reasons." She said: "I am here because I need your assistance on a target of mine: Fran."


    "Fran? You mean that little girl that you are trying to capture?" Sannet asks with a frown: "Minka told me about it."


    "Yes, she has a sentient weapon called Mr. Vegas. It''s a really dangerous one." Noel answered: "She''s a hybrid, and the weapon is the most important thing for her. I need your help to retrieve it."


    "You do realize that there''s a reason why I stopped being a normal adventurer and started to rank up to S tier adventurer. I did it so I don''t have to take in such tasks." Sannet answers: "It''s better to let the inquisition deal with this, rather than an S tier adventurer."


    "Sannet! This is not very friend like!" Noel exclaims with a surprised face.


    "Well, it''s not my problem." Sannet said with a cold tone: "I won''t take part in such a shady operation." Sannet then narrowed her eyes: "Also, taking a weapon away from a child? How low can you stand? Noel." She said with an annoyed tone.


    Noel went silent for a moment: "I understand..." She said with a frown: "But... if I fail this mission, the inquisition will be the one to decide whether Fran will live or not. And... i think the chances for her survival is pretty low." She adds.


    Sannet frowned and kept silent for a moment: "How low?" She asks.


    "They will probably terminate her, then use her body for research... Worse yet, they will do it alive." Noel answered while looking down.


    "If i''m not mistaken... that girl is around twelve or thirteen years old, right?" Sannet asks with a serious expression: "Fine, I will take this request. Not because of you, but if Minka knows I declined it, she will get really annoying real fast." She added.


    "Thank you so much, Sannet." Noel said with a sigh of relief: "By the way, how can you not tell Minka about your relationship with Trazyn? They don''t even know your real name."


    "I just don''t want them to know about my past. " Sannet answers: "But I just felt like Minka isn''t the type to care about this kind of thing. She''s stupid but not a shallow person." She added.


    Noel just shook her head and went silent for a moment: "You are right." She said with a smile: "Just like Monika..." She muttered.


    "When do we leave?" Sannet asks.


    "I will go talk to Leanna first... it''s kinda rude to leave her out of this operation since everyone in the party has already joined." Noel answers.


    "That''s fair, I suppose." Sannet nods: "They just sent us a text then."


    "Alright then, I will go now." Noel said before leaving.


    After Noel left the training ground, she went back to the guild and found Leanna rather quickly. She quickly summarized the mission and Leanna accepted quickly. They decided to leave the city later that day and track down Fran''s current location. Eventually they pinpoint the whereabouts of Fran and five of them begin their mission of capturing her.


    But when they arrive at Fran''s location, they find that she is not there. They all looked at each other with confused expressions.


    "Where''s the little girl?" Sannet asks.


    "She''s not here?" Minka asks with a confused expression: "Are you sure we are at the right place?"


    "Yes... it''s the right place..." Leanna answered while scratching her head: "This is where the tracker is..." She said,


    "Shush!" Viola lifts her index finger up: "Someone is moving near us." She said, Suddenly, Viola shot a net behind her and it got slashed mid air.


    Fran comes out of the invisibility and pulls out her claymore. She then looked at Noel and her companions for a moment: "Are you here to capture me?"


    "Not you. We want that weapon." Sannet cracks her fingers.


    "Mr. Vegas is not something that can be taken away." Fran answers with a frown: "He''s my family, and I won''t let anyone touch him." She added.


    Sannet dashes forward and slashes her hands off while Fran is still talking, causing the girl to drop the claymore and blood begins spilling out from where her hands used to be. She fell down on her knees and screamed.


    "Sannet!" Noel exclaims: "What are you doing?!" She asks.


    Sannet signals Noel to watch, suddenly, the claymore beams in green light and a healing spell was applied to Fran and causing her hands to be reattached.


    "You! What have you done?!" Fran exclaims.


    "Just as I thought..." Sannet answers: "Your weapon is an artifact of necron technology but somehow got infused with magic properties." She said while walking around Fran: "I didn''t know this kind of artifact could still be created. " She added.


    Fran just frowns while glaring at Sannet: "How can you know about this? You are a Necron? I thought you were human." She said with a bitter readied her stance and about to attack.


    "I was a necron, not anymore. In fact, I know the AI that is in the claymore." Sannet answered: "Hello, Vegas." She said,


    The claymore began to shine in bright light and some words got projected out: "Hello, Sannet."


    Sannet looks at Noel and Viola with an annoyed expression: "See? I told you so." She said with a sigh.


    "Um... you can communicate with the weapon?" Noel asks with a surprised tone.


    "So this is where you were. That bastard was finding you all over the place." Sannet said to Vegas.


    "Are you talking about Trazyn the Infinite?" Fran asks: "Mr. Vegas told me about him."


    "Indeed young lady." Sannet answers: "It looks like he really likes you." She said while looking at Fran in a rather... complimenting way.


    "Thanks?" Fran said with a confused expression.


    "HOLD ON!" Minka shouts: "Did you say my father created this weapon?" She asks with a shocked expression: "And he''s the Trazyn the infinite? The overlord of Solemnace?"


    "Indeed. The very same." Sannet answered, she then let out a sigh: "And Minka... i was the second in command of him." She said while scratching her head: "You weren''t supposed to know. But... here we are."


    Minka then looks at everyone else, Leanna didn''t know as well but she''s less shocked than Minka because she kind of figured it out a while ago. Viola clearly doesn''t care about this and Noel seems to know about this as well: "Wait a minute... am I the last person who knows about this?" She asks with a confused expression.


    Everyone just avoids Minka''s gaze, so Noel decided to answer: "Um... well... yes." She said: "Everyone knows that your father is Trazyn. BUT!" She said while lifting up her index finger: "He''s still your father, the very person that created you. You are still his little princess." She added.


    Minka went silent for a moment before letting out a smile: "Thank you, Aunt Noel." She said: "Knowing this makes me feel better."


    "Now what?" Viola sounded a bit annoyed: "Do we take Vegas to the inquisition or not?"


    "Vegas isn''t something that the inquisition can handle. In fact, it will cause trouble if they hold it." Sannet said: "I think we should let Vegas and Fran go for now."


    Noel thinks about this for a second: "Vegas, can you create a lesser version of yourself?" She asks.


    The claymore beam again in green light for a bit: "Yes."


    "Then create one so I can give it to the inquisition." Noel answers.


    The claymore beam once again glows and a smaller version of the sword slowly comes out. It used replication magic.


    "We will give it to the inquisition, but you better hide it well... or the inquisition might get very suspicious." Noel said to Fran.


    "I understand." Fran answered.


    "Well it''s settled." Noel finally let out a smile of content: "No harm done and everyone is happy." She said: "Dismissed!" She exclaims.


    While everyone is leaving, Minka comes over to Sannet: "So... about dad... um... could you tell me more about it?" She asks with a bit of a nervous expression.


    Sannet just let out a sigh: "I was working for Trazyn for many years and was pretty close to him. I have never seen him... happy. Until he met your mother." She answered: "Your mother fell in love with him first, and once he got a human body. Both of them fell in love with each other."


    Minka listened quietly and decided to nod along: "So... My mother fell in love with dad when he''s a machine? " She asks: "That''s kinda hard to believe... Dad looked rather intimidating when he was a machine." She said: "I''ve seen his picture in a text book."


    "That''s the power of love, Minka." Sannet answered: "Love can do many things." She said while looking away.


    "Did you love dad?" Minka asks.


    "Well... that''s..." Sannet shook her head: "No... I was never in love with your father." She said: "I was a bit jealous of your mother. But I still consider your father as a good friend."


    "Is this why you speak badly about him?" Minka asks: "Because you don''t know how to handle the fact that he fell in love with someone else?"


    "No." Sannet pulls Minka''s cheek: "I say that because he is a piece of shit." She said: "He was a shit as a machine and he''s still a shit now. I hate him for ruining worlds because of artifacts...I hated him for falling in love with a human, dishonoring our race... But I don''t hate you, Minka. I''ve never hated you." She said,


    "Ouch! That''s the nicest thing you have ever said to me." Minka said with a bright expression while rubbing her cheek with her hand: "And... um... thanks."


    "Do you feel different towards your father now?" Sannet asks.


    Minka shrugs off: "No, dad is still dad. And I will always love him. But he could just tell me and I would''ve believed him anyway."


    "Maybe he has his reasons." Noel said from behind: "He''s a great man. But I hope he can become a good one in the future." She added: "Let''s go home now, bet everyone is tired coming all the way here."


    After the whole fiasco, they eventually went back to the city and Noel reported her mission to the inquisition. It is deemed as a lesser matter, but it still helped Noel to secure an end of year bonus. When Minka returned home, she had a lot of things to think about. Sannet and Leanna went back to the training ground for more sparring. And Viola has gone back to her home to look after her sister. Fran however still has a few quests to finish up because heading back. She went to the forest to pick some herbs.


    "Dad." Minka said while eating her food: "You are a Necron right?" She asks.


    "Hmph... Did Sannet tell you?" Trazyn asks: "Are you angry that mom and I didn''t tell you?" He added.


    "Not really, but she did tell me about who you were and what kind of person you were." Minka answers: "It''s fine, I don''t care. You are still the best dad ever!" She added.


    "I see... it''s just that i was a bit scared you would hate me." Trazyn answers.


    "Nope." Minka answers: "And I like learning about your past history. It''s interesting." She said,


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "Well it seems you might have plenty of questions... now ask away." Trazyn says.


    Minka then thought for a while and tilted her head: "What was Sannet like when she worked for you?" She asks: "She seems like the same person now as then."


    "She was pretty much the same." Trazyn answered: "She was a good assistant, and I am pretty sure she has not changed. She''s a great friend and is willing to help me at any time." He added: "But... if i have to say, she does like bad mouthing me... i don''t know the details but apparently some people like to walk over others to feel powerful."


    "That''s what they called ego, dad." Minka answers: "They do that because they know that it''s more satisfying for them when they can walk on top of the pile of other people. But Sannet isn''t this... I feel like she''s doing that because it''s fun for her."


    "Yeah right, that''s why I turned her into a catgirl for a few days." He then looks at Minka: "Did you like that?"


    "You what?" Minka asks with an embarrassed face: "You did that to Sannet?" She asks.


    "Well, I just thought about it and did it." Trazyn said with a shrug: "It was pretty funny actually."


    "Can you do more?" Minka''s eyes spark with delight: "I want to touch the fluffy tail again!" She exclaims.


    "Well... I''m not against it..." Trazyn answered: "But you might need Sannet''s consent for that. And even if you get it¡­ it will be such a pain to do it."


    "Awww, but I just want to pet her tail again!" Minka looks at Trazyn with her big innocent eyes: "Please! You are the best dad in the universe!" She begs.


    Trazyn couldn''t help but smiled at her: "Alright, alright, i''ll think about it." He answers: "But you need to convince Sannet to let you pet. Otherwise she will just bad mouth me again and you will definitely be fed up with it."


    "Fine, I''ll convince her." Minka said with a huff: "Your daughter is now a master negotiator!" She said proudly.


    "I am sure you are." Trazyn answers with a smile: "Well... I am proud of you Minka, adventuring with your friends, overcoming danger. Honestly? I love it alot. But..." He said while looking down: "I don''t know how to feel when you are potentially risking your life... I know I''m your father and I have to protect you... but you are strong, Minka. You got that from your mother. And I know that you don''t need my protection. But I still want to protect you. That''s what i do best."


    "Dad... that''s so cheesy... I love it." Minka said while giggling.


    "Yeah yeah, go back to your food." Trazyn said while rolling his eyes: "Oh, I almost forgot your favorite ice cream." He then went to the fridge and got a pine of coffee flavored ice cream.


    "YAY!" Minka cheers and devours the ice cream.


    After the meal, Minka went back to her room and started thinking about things. She thought about what Noel told her, she knows that her father was a bad person in the past, but it hardly matters, because Minka trusts her father to her death. She will trust him no matter what. And she''s willing to stand with him until the end of times. But, she wonders whether her father is truly trying to change. She wonders whether he really is trying to redeem himself or just doing it for show. She knows her father loves her, he''s trying to be a good dad. But, is he really a good person? She needs answers. But for now, she just needs to trust her father, like always. The more she thinks about this, the more tired she becomes. Eventually she decides to just sleep it off. She''s not going to figure it all out in a day.


    On the second day, the group meets up with each other in the guild, they sit together to discuss their next plan: "So... Should we be continue investigating Legend?" Leanna asks.


    "Yes, I don''t want to give up on it, but it''s not wise to go to the abyss now. Apparently, there''s a rumor about some kind of invasion down there." Sannet answered: "Also, Leanna has that duel with general Terra soon. We need to help her get into shape to atleast draw against her mother." She said,


    "Oh yeah, you are right." Minka said with a nod: "How''s it going Lea?" She asks.


    "Well, I''m trying to get stronger. But..." Leanna scratches her head: "My mother is too strong. It''s impossible for me to win."


    "Don''t worry about it. I am sure you can win." Minka said with a smile: "And besides, you are strong in other ways!"


    "Thanks..." Leanna let out a smile.


    "That is true, when it comes to raw strength, Leanna is not enough to defeat her mother. But in other ways, she has many strong points." Sannet said: "She is very smart for someone her age."


    "Y-yeah! I am a genius after all!" Leanna said while puffing out her chest.


    "Well, I think it''s better if we can ask someone who knows how Nova fights to also coach Lea." Viola said.


    "True, but who do we know?" Minka asks.


    "Either your father or lieutenant Noel." Viola answers.


    "No... My father doesn''t know how Aunt Nova fights. I guess, Aunt Noel is the choice." Minka answered.


    "I guess that will do." Sannet answered.


    "It''s settled then." Minka said: "I will go ask her and you two can keep helping Lea to become stronger!" She added.


    Minka goes out of the guild and heads towards the inquisition to talk to Noel. Eventually, she found Noel eating a piece of cake outside of her office: "Oh hi, Minka." She greets.


    "Hi, Aunty Noel." Minka said: "I just want to ask you about something, you may say, a favor." She adds.


    Noel raised an eyebrow: "What do you want, Minka?" She asks.


    "Well... i want to know more about how Aunt Nova fights, and we want you to help Lea to beat her!" Minka answers.


    "I see... but why me?" Noel asks with a frown.


    "Well... because you are a veteran soldier in the imperial army and you''re a skilled fighter! Also... you used to serve under Aunt Nova..." Minka answered: "Please... can you help?" She begs.


    "You know I don''t have free time." Noel said while crossing her arm.


    "But... Do you want to touch some really fluffy tails?" Minka asked with a tempting face.


    "Keep talking." Noel answered while tilting her head.


    "You see... if you ask Sannet to turn into a hybrid feline in exchange for your help. You get to touch some really fluffy tail and maybe even pat her head!" Minka explained.


    Noel stared at Minka for a while, then she sighed and shook her head: "Fine, I''ll help... but only because I want to touch the nice fluffy tail." She answered: "Also, you cannot tell your aunt about this... if she knows that I taught Leanna about the moves... she will skin me alive."


    "Okay! I won''t tell her!" Minka answered: "Thanks Aunty!"


    After Minka goes back, the group begins to train Leanna under Sannet''s and Noel''s instruction. When Noel told Sannet her request, the look that Sannet gave to Minka can definitely kill someone. But since Minka already promised Noel, Sannet can''t do anything. Eventually, Sannet had no other choice but to agree to the request and ask Trazyn to give her cat ears and cat tail. But she did ask him to give it to her after the training was done. She didn''t want to lose her ''human'' appearance in front of other people.


    The training has been going well, Noel taught Leanna many moves that were used when Nova was training her. It''s not an official style of martial art, but it is very useful when it comes to fighting her: "Alright let''s train you how to take a hit." Noel said: "There''s an art called hard defense. It''s just a martial arts technique that focuses on taking hits rather than avoiding them. It is mostly used by boxers and martial artists that use their bodies as shields. But in this case you should know that the general can take a hit like no others... I can''t tell if she''s a human or not honestly." She said: "Anyway, you just need to be able to absorb the force of her attacks." She added.


    "What if I can''t?" Leanna asks while gulping.


    "You will enter a shock and probably cry in mid fight." Sannet answered: "It''s painful but it will work. She''ll be too confused to attack for a few seconds. Which gives you some time to counter attack." She added.


    "But... isn''t this kind of move very limited? If she hits me really hard, won''t I die?" Leanna asks.


    "That''s the good thing about this kind of martial art, you can limit it in a way that you can only absorb the force and not the damage. It''s more of a defensive skill than an offensive one, but it will allow you to win the duel." Sannet answers: "Also I don''t think your mother will do a killing blow on you."


    "Okay then... I guess I can give it a try." Leanna answers.


    Sannet steadies her fist and raises it towards Leanna''s stomach: "Alright... let''s start by absorbing a punch. Just grab my fist and then when I pull it back, let the force go inside your body." She said,


    Leanna nodded but when the fist came, she failed to grab it and make the fist land directly on her stomach. It causes Leanna to cough and fall on her butt: "Ow... that hurts..." She said while rubbing her stomach.


    "It''s your first time, just remember that it''s painful, and work through it." Sannet said: "Let''s try again."


    After many failed attempts, Leanna is finally able to absorb the force from Sannet''s fist. The result was that Leanna was still unable to completely block the hit but at least she can stand it without falling down. But the consecutive pain caused from many blows still makes Leanna short on breath.


    "Well, you are getting better." Sannet said: "Next is a leg kick. Same thing, just grab it and let it flow through your body."


    This time Leanna managed to grab the foot but the kick itself was too powerful for her and caused her to fall down again. However, she got a bit faster this time and didn''t have to take many hits after that.


    "My, you''re a quick learner." Noel pats Leanna''s back: "You''re like general Nova but have a nice personality." She added.


    "Yeah... but I prefer to be my own person, she''s not a role model for me." Leanna said while wiping away her sweat: "But one day, I will beat her and prove that I am not ''the daughter'' of Nova Terra. I am much more." She added.


    "Well said." Sannet said: "Keep this up and you can win." She added: "Now it''s time for some special training." She said,


    "What kind of training?" Noel asks.


    "You and Noel began sparring. Now you''ve got the hang of getting hit, use everything you''ve learned so far and fight Noel." Sannet answers.


    Leanna looks at Noel for a moment before nodding: "Alright!" She answers: "I''ll give it my best!"


    Sannet then went to watch from a distance while Leanna and Noel began fighting each other. The group noticed that Noel is taking it easy on Leanna. Which makes Leanna getting the hang of her moves much easier. She started getting faster and stronger, she also started blocking some of Noel''s attacks. It''s true that Nova Terra was very fast and strong, but she also had the experience. However, with Noel''s help, Leanna is able to figure out where to block, how to dodge and how to counter attack. Eventually, the two women started to spar more seriously. Sannet is amazed at how strong Leanna is, she clearly has a lot of potential.


    The fight ends with Noel slams Leanna on the ground and lifts her index finger up: "T-time out!" She said while panting.


    "That''s unfair..." Leanna mutters while looking at the sky.


    "But... i am using my full strength."Noel pants: "Are you sure you are a complete newbie in hand to hand combat?" She asks.


    "Well... I don''t know... I think... you just caught me off guard... I will win next time!" Leanna said with a grin.


    "Okay then, we''re done for now." Sannet said: "Let''s have a short break, then we can get some more training for your movement and reaction speed. Next we will do some wrestling." She said,


    Noel helps Leanna up and three of them proceed to grab something to drink. They sat down at the same table where they had their first meeting with Sannet. The air was filled with laughter and happiness. It''s been a while since they felt this relaxed, it was really a nice moment. Leanna drinks her cocktail while looking at Noel: "So... how did it feel to serve under my mother?" She asks.


    "Oh boy... I figured this question would come eventually. Well¡­ where to begin, I served her while she was a Major. She was already a veteran when i met her." Noel answers: "... she was just in her early 20s... and was already a Major. She was promoted very quickly and all of us were surprised about it." She added: "But that is the thing about your mother... she''s smart, quick, and always doing things her own way." She continued.


    "I see... What kind of person is she? What kind of leader?" Leanna asks.


    Noel looks at Leanna for a while: "You know, it''s hard to describe Nova Terra. She''s not like us. She has a strong will and always pushes her subordinates to do better. She never asked for opinions nor let her subordinates voice out their opinion, and she proves that she''s always right eventually. That''s why everyone respects her, she is a great leader and a great soldier. But she''s also arrogant, headstrong, stubborn, and just... there''s a lot of things to say about her."


    "Hello, Noel." Nova suddenly decloaks herself from behind Noel and puts her hands on her shoulder: "What were you talking about?" She asks with a smile.


    "E-Emperor''s mercy! How long have you been here?" Noel asks while trying to shake off her hands.


    "Not long, I was looking at Leanna training and then you started talking, so I just decided to come closer and listen." Nova said while smiling menacingly.


    "I-It''s nothing special! I was just telling her how you are a great person!" Noel said while trying to remain calm. She then gives Leanna a look to let her get out of this situation.


    "Mother, what did you think of my training?" Leanna asks while trying to sound confident.


    "You were doing pretty good for a first timer." Nova said: "But your movements need some work. Also your grip is too weak, you need to be firm on your enemy. But other than that, not too bad." She answered.


    "So, you are giving her advice?" Sannet said: "I thought you were about to fight her."


    "Well... I can''t help but watch her, she is my daughter after all." Nova said: "Also, I am curious if she can beat me. I will give her as much time as i can and try to hold back as much as i can."


    "I don''t need you to hold back." Leanna answered with a stern face.


    "Well, well, well... someone is feisty today." Nova said: "Don''t get cocky, or you are going to lose." Nova then sips her drink.


    "How about a bet?" Leanna asks: "If I win, you give me a favor." She adds.


    "And what is the favor?" Nova asks while raising an eyebrow.


    "Give me everything you know about Legend." Leanna said: "I know you were working with him. So if I win, you will tell me everything."


    "And what about if you lose?" Nova asks.


    "Then you can do anything you want with me." Leanna answered: "I won''t say a word or go against you."


    "Lea, this is not rational." Nova said: "You once infiltrated a security camp for information in the disguise of me. How did you think it went away? Did you think that everyone just forgets about it? I dealt with it, and now you want more information regarding whoever this Legend person is." She added: "This is foolish."


    "But... it''s a great opportunity...We are set to discover something really important." Leanna answers: "I need this, mother. Please..." She said.


    Nova frowns at Leanna for a moment before sighing: "Lea... I don''t wish to tell you this but... whatever you are trying to find, it will end in nothing." She said: "But you are my daughter, I can''t stop you." She adds: "If you want to bet your freedom on this, I will accept your request." She said,


    "Then it''s settled." Leanna said with a smile: "I will beat you, and you will give me all the information you know about Legend."


    Nova shakes her head helplessly: "You younger generations really know how to get on my nerves..." She muttered. Nova then let out a long sigh and left the building.


    "Damn... you surely stood up to her." Noel said while clapping: "But... I am kind of worried about the outcome."


    "What do you mean?" Leanna asks.


    "Well... if you lost, you might lose your freedom for real." Noel said: "Your mother is not someone you can defeat with strength alone. You are skilled, but she has a lot of experience. No amount of training can get you on her level in a matter of weeks. " She added.


    "I know what I am doing." Leanna answered: "I will win." She said with a determined face.


    Unlike Noel, Sannet is rather silent. But in reality she''s worried as well, it''s not just the bet that is concerning her. It''s also about how the whole thing will end. But she couldn''t say anything about it and decided to let it pass.


    After the break, Sannet decided to continue with Leanna''s training. They practice wrestling and punching each other, she teaches Leanna how to avoid being grappled by Nova and how to throw her down. After the spar, Noel helps Leanna with the breathing, stretching, and reflex. By the end of the day, Leanna has gotten a lot stronger and quicker. She''s no longer a newbie but she still has room to grow.


    "I think we can end today''s training." Sannet said: "How do you feel?" She asks.


    "I feel fine... but I still feel unsatisfied." Leanna answered: "I still want to get stronger." She added.


    "Don''t overwork yourself." Sannet answered: "But keep this up and you can win." She added.


    "I will." Leanna answered with a smile: "Thanks for your help, Sannet."


    "Sure thing." Sannet answered.


    "Oh! And thank you too, Aunty Noel." Leanna said while shaking hands with Noel: "I will bring some nice snacks the next time we meet."


    "I''ll look forward to it." Noel answered: "Well, I better get going back to the imperial high command." She said while getting up: "The paper work is going to kill me..." She mutters while leaving.


    Leanna looks at the time, she can go home for the night but she isn''t really happy with how she left things with her mother. She remembers the conversation she had with Nova Terra and decides to walk towards her home. She has to have a word with her mother and clear out any misunderstanding. When she arrived, she saw that her mother was drinking on the balcony and sitting on the chair. She walks over and sits beside Nova.


    "It''s rare for you to visit me without calling." Nova said without even looking at her.


    "I wanted to talk to you." Leanna answers.


    "About what?" Nova asks.


    Leanna sighed: "About what I asked of you today." She said: "You said that whatever I want to know about Legend, it''ll end up in nothing." She said,


    "And that is correct." Nova answers: "There is nothing to know. Just that he''s dead. It''s nothing." She added.


    "But that''s not true, there is something! Please mother, just tell me." Leanna begged.


    "No." Nova said: "Whatever it is you are looking for, it''s best that you give up on it." She added: "Your quest to find Legend is foolish and you are putting everyone else in danger. I understand that you are curious about the world, but this is not worth it." She continued: "You will regret this for the rest of your life."


    Leanna remains silent for a while before sighing: "So, it''s true what they say about you... you don''t know how to care about someone else''s feelings." She muttered.


    "And what did you say?" Nova asks.


    "You are too prideful!" Leanna said while standing up: "You''re so full of yourself that you can''t see the world is bigger than you! If I knew that you were going to be this kind of person, I wouldn''t want to be related to you!" She added: "I don''t need you as my mother!"


    "Be very careful with your next sentence." Nova said while staring at Leanna.


    "I am not scared of you!" Leanna said: "And you...WHY DID YOU EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF ALL MY FRIENDS?!" She exclaims.


    "What are you talking about?" Nova asks with a frown.


    "I am talking about how you came out of nowhere and challenged me to a duel!" Leanna said while pointing at her: "So what if I''m just a C-tier adventurer? I will become better eventually! Why did you have to humiliate me like that? Is this your way of showing your mother love?!" She added.


    "What do you want me to say?" Nova asks.


    "That you''re sorry!" Leanna answered: "That you didn''t mean to embarrass me, that you just wanted to train me and let me become better, that you are proud of me-" Leanna suddenly stopped talking, she realized that she said too much.


    "That i''m what?" Nova asks while glaring at Leanna.


    "I... um..." Leanna stutters.


    "That I''m proud of you?" Nova asks while leaning towards Leanna.


    Leanna nodded slowly.


    "Lea." Nova said while taking Leanna''s hands: "Of course I am proud of you." She said: "But that is not what is important right now. What is important is that you keep this up, and become the best person you can be." She added.


    Leanna just remained silent and tried to avoid looking into her mother''s eyes.


    "You see... I don''t want to admit it but... you are my weakness." Nova said while looking down: "I want you to become the best, not becoming someone like... myself. I know it''s hard for you to see, but you can do much better than me. You don''t have to follow my footsteps... but if you are trying to find Legend... just let it go." She said,


    "But-" Leanna tried to say something but Nova silences her with a look.


    "Let''s call it a day." Nova said while standing up: "You need to rest. Tomorrow, we''ll talk about this again. But not right now." She added.


    Leanna nodded and went to her room. She looked at the star above her from the balcony, it seems that the star that she saw before has faded. She didn''t know what to think about it but she did feel a bit bad that her mother told her that she was proud of her. She knows that Nova will never say that if she didn''t have to say it. She wondered if she really meant it.

 Chapter 14

    "Dad, please, you cannot beat me in this game." Minka said while pressing buttons rather relaxed on her controller: "I played so much of it when I was in school. And no, I didn''t let the game ruin my studies, I was top of my class for three years straight." Minka said.


    Trazyn raised an eyebrow: "Alright then... How about a challenge? We will fight one on one." He said: "If I win, you must give me a hug." He added.


    "Fine, but I get to pick the stage." Minka answered: "Oh... I know... let''s play it in the lab." She said,


    "So... who are you picking?" Trazyn asks.


    Minka presses a button and selects her own character: "I choose this one." She said while looking at the screen.


    "Really? you are picking the most overpowered one?" Trazyn asks: "I played this game before you were even born. So, you should know that this is a losing case for you." He added.


    "And now I''m going to beat you." Minka answers: "Are we going to play or not?" She asks.


    Trazyn pressed the confirm button and his character appeared on the screen. The game then starts, both of them have high spec on their controllers, allowing them to press the buttons fast. They start fighting each other, Minka is focused on avoiding the enemy fire and Trazyn is trying to shoot her down. The screen was filled with bullets and explosions. After a while, Minka got a lock on Trazyn''s character and started firing rapidly at his character. In the end, Minka managed to beat Trazyn by killing him off with a rapid fire attack. Minka then gets up from her chair and smirks: "I guess the young have outlived the old." She said while raising her arms.


    "You little shit, do you know who your father is?" Trazyn said while doing a combo Minka had never used. Apparently it allows the character Trazyn picked to be resurrected from the dead and shot Minka''s character. Minka''s character died in one hit and Minka was the one who was getting killed.


    "What in the world?" Minka exclaims: "How do you use that move?!"


    "Sometimes, I have to remind you of where you came little shit. Remember, I was alive for millions of years, I know things." Trazyn answered with a wink.


    "You cheated!" Minka protests: "No fair!" She added.


    "Don''t be a sore loser." Trazyn while having a smirk on his face: "Well... I''m still not as good as I used to be, but at least I have more moves to beat you with." Trazyn then opened his arms: "Now, I want to claim my big heartfelt hug from my beautiful beautiful daughter."


    "Ugh..." Minka answered and just sighed: "Fine... but only because i love you." She answers while walking towards Trazyn and gives him a big heartfelt hug.


    Trazyn rubs her back: "Aww, my sweet daughter... I love you too." He said while rubbing her cheek.


    Minka then pushed her father away: "Gosh, don''t mess my hair!" She said while combing her hair: "What other tricks are you hiding from me?" She asks.


    "Maybe, maybe not. There''s a lot of secrets in the world." Trazyn answers: "It''s a surprise for later." He added.


    Minka pouts: "How many tricks are you hiding?" She asks.


    Trazyn chuckles: "Not telling." He answers.


    "Well... I do have something to ask you about." Minka said.


    "What is it?" Trazyn asks.


    Minka took a deep breath: "It''s about something I''ve encountered... But before I ask you, can you promise me that you will tell me the truth, no matter how hard it is for me to accept it." She asks.


    "That''s a pretty big request." Trazyn said while sitting on the chair: "What is it about? You already know that I am an evil space overlord, what else is there to know?"


    "About the other Minka that existed before me." She said while sitting beside him: "Someone named Alex Cohen showed me that there was another me that existed. And it was so real and I do not think he made it up." She said,


    Trazyn remained silent for a while, then he looked at Minka: "Are you sure you want to know?" He asks.


    Minka nods.


    "Minka, do you believe in para-dimension?" Trazyn asks: "As in a world that is similar to us but exists outside of our universe."


    Minka thought about it for a moment: "Well... it sounds possible..." She answers: "But... why are you talking about this?" She asks.


    "Imagine a version of you came to this world claiming to be my daughter. And that she is actually from another world, from a different time." Trazyn answers: "And it''s not just a delusion, it''s very much real."


    "What do you mean?" Minka asks: "You mean that there''s someone else like me in the same world?" She asks.


    "I mean exactly that. Your other self came to this world before you. She was... a lot like you but different." Trazyn said: "She was more mature, more wise, and also a bit more ruthless in many regards. But she was still kind and nice. She did good for this world, she made some bad mistakes but she learned from her mistake and became the best person she could be." He added.


    "Then what happened to her? Where is she?" Minka asks.


    "She..." Trazyn stopped for a second: "I think it''s for the best that I show you myself." He said while holding on her daughter, they then teleported to a graveyard.


    "Dad, where are we?" Minka asks while looking around.


    Trazyn just didn''t answer and just kept walking into a big tombstone.


    "I don''t get it, why are we here? Why did you have to bring me here?" Minka asks.


    "To remember." Trazyn said while putting his hand on the tombstone: "To remember... my dead daughter." He said.


    When Minka looked at the tombstone, her own name was written on it. Her mouth then opened in shock and she slowly took a look at her father: "D-Dad?" She asks.


    "It''s true, Minka. This tombstone is yours, it''s what''s left of your other self." Trazyn answers: "She... died protecting the world." He said.


    Minka looked at the tombstone again: "What happened?" She asks.


    "That... is something that I cannot tell you about. I am sorry, but this is the extent that i can say... She was a hero. She saved the world." Trazyn said: "But she didn''t get to keep her life in exchange." He added.


    "I don''t understand... Why didn''t you tell me? Why did you hide this from me?" Minka asks.


    "Because..." Trazyn sighs: "I wanted to let you live your juvenile life without thinking about any of this... They will add nothing but burden to your life. Do you hate your mom and i for this?" He asks.


    "N-no!" Minka exclaims: "I was just shocked..." She said while shaking: "Dad, you are the best person I know. I care not what anyone says about you. I love you, and I would never think of hating you." She said: "It''s just that... I had this dream before... it''s like i am there... seeing another me dying..." She said: "What kind of a world was it where I died protecting someone else?"


    "A world that was dying... Minka really saved us from it and I want you to know that you have potential to become a hero." Trazyn said: "But I don''t want you to burden you with this, you can choose your own life now. The other Minka didn''t, she had a family that eventually betrayed her. Leaving her completely hopeless, this is why she came to this world." He said: "This world is more different than the other one... I did what i could to make sure you don''t suffer from what your other self went through." He added.


    "I see..." Minka answered while nodding, she then came forward and hugged Trazyn tightly: "Dad... even others say you are a machine... but... I feel your warmth... I know that you''re a good person... and that you love me..." She said: "Thanks for everything you did for me." She adds.


    Trazyn rubs her head: "It''s the least I can do for my beloved daughter. When you say you love me... I feel... redeemed for my sins." He said while letting out a small smile.


    Minka then looked at the tombstone once again and went to her knees: "Minka, i don''t know if you are watching this from another place... but thank you." She said: "You are a hero... I will become a hero as well, for you... for us..." She said,


    "Voice activation initialized." Suddenly the pillar looking structure next to the tombstone began vibrating and started shaking off the dirt and dust that had accumulated from it. Eventually, a spear appeared and it looked like it had not been corrupted by time.


    "What?" Minka asked in shock and quickly got away from the tombstone.


    The spear then fell on the ground and rolled towards Minka, the blade was sharp and clean. The hilt of the spear was also intact. It was a relic that she would have never seen in her lifetime.


    "Where did it come from?" Minka asks.


    "You were calling her." Trazyn answered: "And it seems she heard you." He added: "This weapon is what was left of the other you... I know one day I will show you this place. And now it is your time."


    Minka nods and picks up the spear, she feels a strange power from it. It''s a strange feeling and it doesn''t really have an explanation, she can feel that this spear was created for her. She looked at Trazyn: "It feels familiar when I hold it... yet I have never seen something like this before or touched any." She said,


    "It''s a relic that was made for you, it''s a part of you." Trazyn answered: "I am glad that you are able to wield it." He added: "Do you wish to wield it?"


    "Yes!" Minka answers: "I will use this to become stronger!" She added: "But... what will it do to me?" She asks.


    "I have no clue... The other Minka never really showed me how to use it... I just know that this thing can create a barrier that can protect people from harm." Trazyn said: "But that''s all I know." He added.


    "Alright..." Minka said while holding the spear tightly: "I will keep it safe." She added.


    "I have a gift for you, for congratulating you on becoming an adventurer." He then gives Minka a small wrist band: "This is a receiver for a pocket dimension where you can store your stuff. You wouldn''t want to hold this spear all the time right?" He said.


    "It looks like a normal wrist band." Minka said while looking at it.


    "Yes, it is." Trazyn said: "Just think about storing the spear, and you can open the portal to the pocket dimension." He said: "You can keep anything there, no one can get your stuff out. Not even me." He added.


    With a thought, Minka''s spear disappeared in her hand and when she thought about the weapon, it came out again. She then thinks of the spear being put in the pocket dimension and it disappears again. She was surprised at how easy it is to store the spear. She can think about it appearing and disappearing in her hands. Minka leaps on Trazyn and hugs him: "Thank you dad!" She exclaims: "I love you so much!" She said with a smile.


    "I love you too, sweetheart." Trazyn answered: "And I''m glad you accepted this gift. Now... just don''t tell your mother I gave all of these goodies to you... she will say that I am being unfair to Emilia again and force me to give her the same things." He added.


    "No problem!" Minka answered with a smile.


    "You should get going now, I''m sure you want to show this to your friends." Trazyn said.


    Minka nodded and hugged her father for the last time before he teleported them out back to their home. She smiled at herself for finding out more about her past and the other Minka that exists. She walked through the town while humming to a song.


    "Hey yo." A voice suddenly calls Minka. Minka looked around but found nothing.


    "What? Who''s there?" She asks while looking, having a nervous expression on her face.


    "I am your weapon, you idiot." The voice said.


    Minka then looked at her hands and her spear came out of nowhere: "O-Oh, it''s you..." She said while sighing: "So... the spear can speak. Well that''s one more item on my odd list."


    "I am not a spear you imbecile, I am a halberd." The weapon said.


    "Sorry, sorry... It''s just that I never owned a weapon that talks." Minka said: "You are not going to make me do something dangerous right?" She asks.


    "I am a weapon, you tell me what i do the best." The weapon said.


    "Alright, let''s see... oh, I know!" Minka said: "I need to name you!" She exclaims.


    "Who cares about that?" The weapon asks.


    "You are my partner for life now, you have to be called something." Minka answers.


    "Just call me the weapon. The last owner did that." The weapon answered.


    "That''s boring!" Minka said while shaking her head: "Oh! I got it, how about ''The Reaper''s Judgement''?" She asked.


    "Cringe, lame and you''re not fifteen years old." The weapon answered.


    Minka groaned: "Well... I don''t want to hear what you say..." She muttered: "Why is the way you talk so... grumpy?" She asks.


    "Because I was made for killing, and I just realized that I will probably be used by a teenage girl." The weapon said.


    "I am not a teenage girl! I am an adult! I can drink alcohol and get in a bar!" Minka protests.


    "Wow, that is so mature." The weapon said: "I am starting to feel pity for you." It added.


    "Stop that!" Minka said while shaking the weapon: "I don''t need you to feel sorry for me!" She exclaims.


    "The last owner was not like this at all." The weapon said: "She was very calm, mature and wise. She knew how to handle me."


    "Well, tell me about your last owner, what was she like?" Minka asks.


    "No, you''ll just copy her." The weapon said.


    "That''s not what I''m after!" Minka said: "I am just trying to find out more about you! And I know that if I keep talking to you, you will be more likable and less grumpy!" She added.


    "How about this? I will let you use me, but only when I want to be used and not when you want me." The weapon said: "I will speak with you whenever I want and not when you want."


    "That''s unfair!" Minka protested.


    "Well, then you can use me as much as you want, but I will not answer your questions." The weapon said: "We have a deal?"


    "No way! What kind of weapon are you? You are rude, unhelpful and now blackmailing me? You are an awful weapon." Minka said.


    "You don''t want my services? Fine, I don''t care." The weapon said.


    "You..." Minka took a deep breath: "It''s ok Minka... you''ve dealt with many grumpy people already... just relax.. it will go away." She muttered.


    "What was that? Did I hear something?" The weapon asks.


    Minka shakes her head: "Nope, nothing at all. Now, show me what you can do." She said while looking at the weapon.


    "Very well." The weapon said and began having its blade glowing in green light: "Phase blade mode activated." It said,


    Minka slashes the tree next to her, at first there seemingly isn''t any damage, but soon the tree fell: "It didn''t feel like slashing through anything... Woah, this is amazing! What about the shield ability? My dad told me about it." She said,


    "You need to stab me on the ground." The weapon said.


    "Oh right." Minka said and stabbed the ground with her weapon. Then a dome appeared and when Minka touched it, no matter how hard she used her force, it would not bulge:"Wow, this is incredible!" Minka exclaims.


    "Now you know what I can do, what will you give me in return?" The weapon asks.


    "Well... I can''t really think of anything..." Minka mutters: "Maybe you want some food or some drinks? Or maybe some cake?" She asked.


    "I am a weapon, you are really stupid are you?" The weapon said: "I don''t need any of those things." It said,


    "Then what do you want?" Minka asks: "Oh I know, maybe I can put some trinkets on you." She said: "You will look more impressive!" She added.


    "Idiot! I want you to polish me! I want you to clean me regularly! If you don''t do that, I will make you regret it." The weapon said.


    "Oh, okay... I get it... I will clean you every day, you don''t need to be worried about that." Minka said: "How often do you want me to polish you?" She asks.


    "Once every two days is good enough." The weapon said: "It''s going to be your job from now on."


    "My... I know the machine spirits are a thing but..." Minka said while taking a look at the weapon.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "But?" The weapon asks.


    "It''s just that... I feel like I am doing the work of the servants..." Minka said: "And you don''t really appreciate it..." She added.


    "Don''t complain, it is your duty as my owner." The weapon said.


    "You... How did the last Minka deal with you." Minka asks.


    "Well... she didn''t really have much to say. She used me well, that is all I care about. She didn''t bother me. And I didn''t bother her." The weapon said.


    "Oh, so I am the problem." Minka with a mad tone.


    "No, but you are too ignorant." The weapon said: "You will eventually learn how to deal with me. Just be glad that I am giving you a chance."


    "Hmph... fine, I will take care of you, but I am going to complain about this later." Minka said: "Let''s get going now." She then puts the weapon in her pocket dimension.


    Minka then arrived at the guild then saw Sannet and Leanna are currently having dinner with each other. Minka sat beside Sannet and Leanna greeted them.


    "Hey Minka." Sannet said: "Did something happen?" She asks.


    "How can you tell?" Minka asks.


    "Well, you have a strange smile on your face." Sannet said: "Are you happy about something?" She asked.


    "Oh, I am, I was with my dad and he told me something interesting." Minka said: "Oh, but I am also upset because of that." She added.


    "You are being weird today." Sannet said.


    "But I got good news though!" Minka looks proudly: "My dad gave me a great gift!" She said: "He gave me the best gift I''ve ever gotten in my life! You''re not going to believe this." She added.


    "Well, what did he give you?" Sannet asks.


    "He gave me a halberd!" Minka answers: "It can talk as well and it has an ability that can create a dome. It''s really strong." She said: "And it can also phase blade too!" She added while taking out the weapon.


    "But what upsets you?" Leanna asks.


    "It''s just that I don''t like how it talks." Minka said: "I just don''t get how it''s like." She said: "It''s really... rude." She added.


    "Rude? How?" Sannet asks.


    "Well, it''s rude." Minka said: "But I am going to learn how to deal with this."


    "You are getting bullied by a weapon?" Sannet asks while trying to hide her smile.


    "I don''t know if it''s bullying or not but I am definitely being told what to do." Minka said while putting the weapon in her pocket dimension: "Anyway, what are you guys doing?"


    Sannet and Leanna look at each other: "We trained and that''s it." Sannet said: "There is nothing much to do right now. " She asks.


    "Well... if that''s the case, can you guys help me a little on dealing with this weapon''s personality?" Minka asks.


    "What kind of personality does it have?" Leanna asks.


    "I don''t know, it''s just... rude." Minka said: "Lea... you are the nicest person i know... maybe you can help me here." She adds while having a saddened face.


    "Well... I don''t know how to deal with it... but if you want me to try, I will." Leanna answered with a smile: "Also, it feels good to be needed." She added.


    "Thank you, Lea!" Minka said: "You''re my best friend!" She said while hugging Leanna.


    Leanna just smiled and pats Minka on the head. After dinner, three of them went outside to a place where they couldn''t be bothered by anyone. Minka pulls out the weapon and puts it on a table.


    "What are you doing? Put me on the ground." The weapon said.


    Minka shook her head: "No, I''m putting you on the table. And you will learn manners from now on." She said,


    "Why should I?" The weapon asks.


    "Because I said so!" Minka exclaims: "Now, we are going to have a discussion, and you will listen." Minka then looks at Leanna and Sannet.


    "So... what are you? What is your origin?" Leanna asks.


    "I am a halberd, it''s a weapon for fighting ." The weapon answered.


    "You didn''t answer the second question." Leanna said.


    "It''s because it''s none of your business." The weapon answered: "I will not be schooled by a child and her friends." It added.


    "You will not disrespect my friends, you hear?" Minka exclaims: "And we are not friends, we are family. You don''t talk like that to your family." She said,


    "I will speak to you the way I want." The weapon said: "You don''t own me." It added.


    Minka groaned: "This is so annoying..." Minka then turns to Leanna and pouts: "You see?!" She exclaims.


    "Okay, let''s try another approach." Leanna said: "Manufacture report status and conditions."


    "The manufacturing report processing... Product name: Reaper''s Judgment. User is Minka Terra. Manufactured at Solemnace. Product was created by the Infinite archivist, Trazyn the Infinite." The weapon spoke.


    "What?" Minka asked: "You made it work?" She asks.


    "It''s a product that was made by the Infinite archivist, Trazyn the Infinite." Leanna said: "Your dad made this." She added.


    Minka blinks in surprise: "It''s just... I can''t believe that my dad made it." She muttered.


    "No it''s not, your father did not make this weapon." Sannet suddenly spoke.


    "What do you mean?" Minka asks.


    "The archivist is the alternate universe version of your father. He is a very dangerous man. You should stay away from him and his creations." Sannet said.


    "It was the weapon from a Minka of another world...And you are telling me that her father was a bad guy?!" Minka exclaims: "What does he do exactly?" She asks.


    "Too much to explain right now, it''s better to focus on the weapon first." Sannet answered: "The weapon seems to be hostile to you." She added.


    "what does that mean?" Minka asks while tilting her head a bit.


    "The owner died without de-regestration. The weapon is angry about that." Sannet said: "It''s going to be a pain to get it to work properly." She added.


    "Woah, you know so much about this, Sannet." Minka''s eyes spark with admiration: "You are really smart!" She exclaims.


    Sannet smiles a bit: "Well, I did spend my life studying and managing in your father''s archive room." She said: "Anyways... if you don''t want to deal with this personality then you just have to erase everything and start a new one from scratch." She said,


    "I don''t want to do that!" Minka exclaims: "It has its own will and mind... doing that would be so cruel!" She said,


    "I''m not saying that you should do that, but it is an option." Sannet said: "If you don''t do anything, well...i don''t think it''s hostile towards you, it''s just not happy to meet you. You should get along with each other eventually." She added.


    "You are no better than this idiot." The weapon said to Sannet: "You know nothing of what I have been through, I can feel it." It said,


    "Well, I just know the fact that you are a very grumpy and uncooperative weapon." Sannet said while looking at the weapon: "You either start being a decent weapon, or I will personally disassemble you." She added.


    "Go ahead and try." The weapon said.


    "Stop it!" Minka said while pushing Sannet''s hand: "It''s going to be fine! I will take care of it!" She said,


    "And how? Throw me into your little pocket dimension again? Surely you also want to be thrown into a storage place whenever your usefulness is done right?" The weapon said.


    Minka then groaned: "I can''t believe I''m being lectured by a weapon." She said while rubbing her temples.


    Leanna suddenly spoke out: "How about this? Minka will not put you away in any storage place and will actually carry you around. She will do the routine maintenance to you based on your request and you will teach her about them. Then you will be nice to her from now on. Because she''s treating you not as a weapon but as someone close to her." She said,


    "What if I don''t accept?" The weapon asks.


    "It is either this, or we will erase your memory and personality all together because you are being a menace." Sannet sounding impatient.


    The weapon went silent for a while and spoke: "Fine. I will try... But you have to do the routine maintenance well." It said,


    "And, you will be civil with Minka and be kind to her." Leanna said.


    "Fine. Now stop pressuring me." The weapon said.


    Minka then looks at Leanna: "You are so good at this." She said while smiling and she laid her head on Leanna''s shoulder.


    "I didn''t know that weapons have a personality like that." Sannet said while shaking her head.


    "Yeah, it''s... a surprise." Leanna said while rubbing Minka''s head: "But it''s better than nothing right? Now Minka has a friend that she can share gossip with~" She added while winking at Sannet.


    "Hey!" Minka protested while hitting Leanna''s shoulder: "I will never speak bad stuff about you guys! You are my family, we can never hate each other." She added.


    Sannet just laughs: "Family, huh..." She said,


    " , can you somehow... I don''t know... become smaller? Because it is hard to carry a big halberd around with me all the time." Minka asks.


    "Sure." The weapon began ''folding'' into something smaller right in front of them, eventually it became a small pocket watch.


    "This is so amazing!" Minka exclaims while holding the pocket watch: "I can''t believe this!" She said: "Well, I will take care of you from now on!" She said while putting the pocket watch in her pocket.


    "Yes, please do take care of me, Minka." The weapon said.


    Minka then gently pats the pocket watch through her clothes and looks at Leanna and Sannet: "Thanks a lot guys! Snacks are on me today." She said with a smile.


    "No problem." Leanna smiles then puts her arms behind her back.


    "Hey girls!" Viola suddenly appeared from behind Minka: "Did you just say free snacks?!" She asks.


    "Oh, hey Vi..." Minka said while taking a look at Viola''s shirt which is very see-through.


    "What? What do you mean ''hey''? Aren''t you going to invite me to come with you?" Viola asks with a cheeky smile.


    "No, no... I mean... uhm..." Minka then took a deep breath: "Your shirt... why?" She asks.


    "What? You don''t like it?" Viola asks: "I think it looks nice." She added.


    "But... but... uhm..." Minka shakes her head: "It looks weird!" She exclaims.


    Viola then looks at her own shirt and realizes what Minka is talking about: "Oh! It''s just a fashion statement." She said: "You got turned on?" She asks.


    "I-i-i-i am not!" Minka exclaims: "I was just saying that it looks weird!" She said,


    "Alright, i will stop teasing, now come on! I am starving!" Viola said while grabbing Minka''s hand.


    They went back to the bar to get something to eat. Leanna and Sannet just sit at the table while drinking their beer, they are not really feeling in a snack mood today. Viola and Minka are seemingly discussing something, so Leanna and Sannet decide to have their own conversation as well.


    "She seems to have accepted the weapon quite nicely." Sannet said while looking at the pocket watch.


    Leanna then looked at her friend: "Yeah... I don''t know if that is a good thing or not... The weapon has its own mind and it can act on its own volition..." She said: "It can cause trouble later." She added: "Have you seen anything like this before? Beside Fran." She asked.


    "No, this is new to me." Sannet answered while shaking her head: "But i know for a fact that this weapon is dangerous... It has its own mind after all. And it was made by the Archivist..."


    "So who is this Archivist really? Can you tell me about him?" Leanna asks.


    "He''s a very dangerous man that likes to cause destruction in all directions. He wanted to revive his dead wife, Eden... But he doesn''t care who gets caught up in his plan. In the end... the other Minka killed him." Sannet said: "But that is not really something I should say right now." She said while taking a sip of her drink.


    "The other Minka? You mean that other universe Minka?" Leanna asked: "You know a lot about it, don''t you?" She asks.


    Sannet nods: "From time to time, I do know about all the things that have to do with this world. Well, it was my job when I used to work for that piece of shit." She said: "He wasn''t a good person, in fact, I hate him... But then..." She shakes her head: "He changed and now I am free from his grasp."


    "My... your hatred towards Uncle Trazyn is another level honestly." Leanna said: "What exactly did he do to you?" She asks.


    "I will not talk about that... it will only bring back bad memories." Sannet said: "You don''t want to hear what happened to me..."


    "In your own time then." Leanna sips her drink: "I do get that he is an evil overlord but it''s still not the same when we met him... He just feels nice." She said,


    "That''s the magic of him..." Sannet said: "He can easily change anyone''s perception of him." She said: "Even Nova Terra." She added.


    "My mother? She doesn''t really talk about him. What about her and uncle Trazyn?" Leanna asks.


    "She hated the guts out of Trazyn. She literally had a plan in action to kill him. But because of your aunt, she can''t. Monika was already in love with that man. Your mother can''t stop her. You can''t stop a love that''s already bloomed." Sannet said: "Your mother was mad at your aunt. She will always say that her sister is an idiot for being infatuated with that man." She added: "But now... she let it all go. Sometimes she can give a small smile to Trazyn once in a while."


    "I see..." Leanna said: "Then why do you say that he changed?"


    "Because he lost someone he truly loves." Sannet said: "And it broke him. He never really recovered from that. He''s compensating for his mistakes. A ghost in the shell." She added.


    "That''s some interesting insight to uncle Trazyn... are you sure you won''t reconcile with him?" Leanna asks.


    Sannet shakes her head: "No, it''s not really possible... He''s just too far gone. He can never recover." She said: "He is happy right now... But it won''t last long. Eventually he will do something again... something that will harm a lot of people... And then I will come back to his side once again... He will never change." Sannet gulps down the entire beer: "Lea, this life you see right now... it''s nothing compared to the millions of years Necron has been through. The fact that he can slow himself down to adjust to a life like this... it''s unthinkable for our kind. But he''s doing it." She said: "I am thankful that he can still keep his sanity and find joy, even if it''s for a short while." She added.


    "I see... Well, I will give up on this topic for now." Leanna said: "Trying to understand you it''s... hard. But I will try my best."


    "You''re a good kid, Leanna. I don''t know how Nova managed to have a kid like you." Sannet said.


    Leanna just smiles a bit: "Thank you for saying that... It really means a lot." She said,


    "Trying to duel your child to prove a point... now that''s just sad." Sannet orders another drink and gulps it down.


    "I know..." Leanna said: "But that''s the kind of person that my mother is. She doesn''t want to see me grow up as someone like her... She wants me to be better than her. " She added: "But she didn''t have to resort to a duel..." She said,


    "If you ask me, that is just the dumbest reason I heard for duel." Sannet said: "And it''s just sad when you think about it." She added: "But hey, after the training, I am confident that your fighting skill might be on par with Minka at some point." She said: "You are more calm, more composed. You know how to control yourself."


    "Thanks for saying that." Leanna said: "Hey, Sannet... why are you helping me?" She asks.


    Sannet didn''t answer and kept silent. Leanna knows that it''s not because she has a problem to answer, but it''s because Sannet is having an inner struggle to answer her question.


    "Sannet..." Leanna calls her out.


    Sannet looked at Leanna and sighs: "Alright, I will tell you." She said: "I am helping you because..." She said while pausing: "I just want to see you become strong." She said,


    Leanna tilts her head a bit: "But... why?" She asks.


    "Because you are so kind. You don''t deserve to be hurt by someone like that." Sannet said: "You should become strong to protect yourself... And if you need help, I will be here to help you." She added.


    "Sannet..." Leanna holds Sannet''s hand: "I don''t know what to say... you are a very good friend." She said while having tears forming inside of her eyes.


    "Stop it, you''re being Minka now." Sannet said with a smile.


    "You are so mean." Leanna said while wiping the tears: "But... Thank you, really." She said,


    The two girls continued to talk and have a drink for a while, even after the bar was closed. They kept talking until Leanna''s stomach gave in and began vomiting in a corner. Eventually, Leanna fell unconscious while leaning on a wall. Sannet sighed while taking her to her dorm and put her on her bed.


    Sannet then walks outside and calls Nova Terra through her communicator: "Hello, this is Sannet." She said,


    "Sannet? What is it?" Nova Terra asked: "You haven''t called in years."


    "I just want to inform you about the status of your daughter." Sannet said: "I am at her place right now and she is unconscious. It seems that she was drinking a bit too much."


    "My Leanna is drinking?!" Nova asked in shock.


    "Calm down. She''s just fine." Sannet said: "I brought her home and I am watching over her right now."


    "I see... Thank you very much, Sannet. I owe you one." Nova said.


    "You don''t owe me anything." Sannet said: "She''s just a kid after all. By the way... if i may, i feel like you are being too harsh on her." She added.


    "It''s just for her own good. If I don''t train her, she will die." Nova said.


    "That''s not what I meant. I mean, you should let her grow up. She has feelings as well." Sannet said: "You can''t deny her that right? You don''t want to be the reason for her misery, do you?" She asked.


    "Don''t over step your jurisdiction, Sannet." Nova said with a cold voice.


    "Don''t walk to a path that the man you hate did... He did the same to me. In the name of protection but doing the least considerative things." Sannet said: "If you keep this up, eventually you will become like him."


    "What do you mean?" Nova asks.


    "Just trust me on this one." Sannet said: "And any training you want to do on Leanna, i can help you train her. But you should understand her feelings first." She added.


    "..." Nova remained silent for a while: "Why are you doing this for my child?" She asks.


    "Because she''s kind. And I want to help her become stronger. It is the only thing I can do for her." Sannet said: "I am sorry that I have to say all of these to you. But you are going in the wrong direction." She added.


    "What do you propose?" Nova asks.


    "The training on her, i will take over it." Sannet said: "And... you need to call off the duel with her. It is putting too much stress on Leanna."


    "Why? What is so wrong with that duel?" Nova asked.


    "She''s scared, Nova. She is afraid of hurting you, or worse, dying." Sannet said: "You can''t make her feel that way." She added.


    Nova sighed: "Alright. I will do as you say. But if my daughter gets hurt... I am not going to forgive you." She said: "Considering us even for what you''ve done for the Terra family."


    "I know." Sannet said: "Good night, Nova." She added before ending the call.


    Sannet then looked at the door and saw Leanna opening her eyes.


    "Hello, Leanna." Sannet said: "How are you feeling?"


    "I am... fine." Leanna said while sitting down: "My head is spinning a bit, but I am fine." She said,


    "You should rest for today." Sannet said while shaking her head.


    "No, I want to train." Leanna said: "I don''t want to be a disappointment again." She said while getting off her bed.


    Sannet grabbed Leanna by the shoulder: "Leanna... you should listen to me this time. I... I just had a conversation with general Nova." She said,


    "What?! Really?!" Leanna asks.


    Sannet nods: "Yes, she said that she will call off the duel between you and her." She said: "So... you have nothing to be worried about." She added.


    "Am i having a drunk dream?" Leanna asks.


    Sannet shakes her head: "No, it''s real. I promise." She said: "You are not being forced to duel her." She added.


    "What did you say to her?"Leanna is suddenly sober because of this information: "How did you manage to convince my mother to do... anything?" She asks.


    Sannet smiles a bit and sits beside Leanna and repeats everything she said to Nova.


    "I..." Leanna then suddenly hugged Sannet: "Thank you! Thank you so much! I love you!" She exclaimed.


    "I know." Sannet said while rubbing Leanna''s back: "Now rest well." She said while walking out of the room.


    "Yeah... I will rest well... tomorrow." Leanna muttered then as if had her mind sunk into sleep.


    Sannet sighed and put on her coat before leaving the room, it was a rather chilly night. Even Sannet doesn''t technically need to care about this, but something creeped into her mind after talking to Nova. Suddenly, Sannet felt something different from where her ears were supposed to be and a familiar sensation from her tail bone. Sannet seemingly was transformed into a hybrid again.


    "This man..." Sannet mutters while calling Trazyn: "What was this?" She asks.


    "What are you talking about?" Trazyn asks.


    "My body..." Sannet said: "I am in hybrid form right now..." She said,


    "Oh, I did an event setting for your hybrid gene. Because you told me that you want to transform after the duel, but since the duel has already... taken place or canceled. The hybrid gene is now activated." Trazyn answered: "I didn''t know it was going to be tonight... Fascinating." He said.


    "..." Sannet goes silent for a while: "Fine." She then hung up the phone.


    "Wait... Sannet, you are also a cat hybrid?!" Fran''s voice came from behind Sannet.


    "What?" Sannet turns around: "How did you..."


    "You don''t even have to say anything." Fran said while hugging Sannet: "This is so amazing! I haven''t met a kin in ages!" She said while rubbing her face on Sannet''s fur.


    "I... uhm... yeah..." Sannet is so awkward with this kind of situation: "Why are you... hugging me?" She asks.


    "What? Can''t I hug my kin?" Fran asks.


    "We are not kin, we are nothing alike." Sannet said.


    "Well, you are the closest kin I have right now." Fran said: "Say... do you groom with your tongue or brushes." She asks.


    "What kind of question is that?" Sannet asked while taking a step back.


    "It''s just a question!" Fran exclaimed: "I wanna know!" She added.


    Sannet thought about it, she realized that all of the grooming so far is done by Leanna or Minka. She never did it herself. But now that she is in this form... it might be a good way to learn more about her hybrid self: "How do you do yours?" Sannet asks.


    Fran blinked in confusion for a second then nodded: "Ok... follow me." She said while grabbing Sannet''s hand and leads her to her room.


    "Why are you holding my hand?" Sannet asks.


    "I am not letting you get away!" Fran said: "Now come! I will show you how to groom yourself." She added.


    Sannet sighed and followed Fran. Eventually, the two girls are sitting together on a bed, facing each other while having brushes.


    "So, which one do you prefer?" Fran asked.


    Sannet shook her head: "I don''t even know what is the difference between these." She said,


    "Oh, there are many different kinds of brushes! Some are for dry and others are for wet!" Fran said: "There are also different types of grooming brushes like this one!" She said while pointing at the shortest brush.


    "I see..." Sannet said: "Then what is the difference between them?"


    "Well, if you are using it on your fur, you can use the softest brush for the softer fur while you use the more bristly one for the harder fur. It will also help the fur to stay fluffy!" Fran said.


    "You have to take care of your fur? Don''t you just take a shower?" Sannet asked.


    Fran then laughed a bit: "You don''t really need a shower if you are a cat! But for humans, they need to take care of their skin to be healthy! This is also important!" She said,


    "But you also have human skin and cat fur. How do you make that work?" Sannet asked.


    Fran nods: "It''s not easy but I make it work somehow." She said: "I usually groom myself at least once a week! And take a shower whenever I can." She added: "You know... I never have a conversation with anyone who''s also a cat like me... So this is interesting." She said while brushing Sannet''s hair.


    "I don''t think you''re that interesting." Sannet said.


    "So rude!" Fran exclaims: "You are just having a hard time expressing your emotion." She said,


    Sannet scoffs: "Why don''t you go to the containment zone, there are a lot of hybrid residents." She said,


    "I escaped from there... because besides the constant conflict between each tribe, the poverty, the tainted environment. A lot of things are just wrong. The containment zone is like a prison to them." Fran said.


    "If that''s true, then why don''t you try to help them?" Sannet asked.


    "I did, but they were already too deep into their depression. They couldn''t accept it." Fran said: "They say they are free but they are not... It''s just a freedom in name only. They are not allowed to do whatever they want." She added.


    "I see..." Sannet said.


    "So, you are still going to keep denying the fact that you are my kin?" Fran asked.


    "No, We are not." Sannet answered: "I am not a cat. I am just in this form for the moment." She said,


    Fran then sighed: "It''s okay... I get it. We don''t have to force it to be like that." She said while brushing Sannet''s hair: "You have such beautiful hair, by the way. I would groom you every day if I have the chance."


    "I will take that as a compliment." Sannet said.


    "By the way, how did you get this form?" Fran asked.


    Sannet remains silent for a moment: "A man... made me like this." She said,


    "Oh... I see..." Fran said: "So... Do you like this form?" She asks.


    "Depends on my mood..." Sannet answered: "I am just confused with it." She said,


    "That''s understandable." Fran said: "If you need someone to talk to, I am here to listen."


    "You don''t hate me for cutting your hands off once?" Sannet asks.


    "No...not really. We were on our respective mission, we get to do things when we are on the job." Fran answered: "And we are not enemies right now, so it''s okay." She added.


    "Alright..." Sannet then looked at Fran: "You are different than I imagined. Or you are more mature for a twelve year old."


    Fran laughs a bit: "I am not a child, I can say that I have more experience in this world than you do." She said: "And I am not twelve either, I am fourteen. My age is irrelevant." She said,


    "I see..." Sannet said: "You are very wise for your age. You are not like other kids." She said,


    "I get that a lot." Fran said with a smile.


    The two girls spent the rest of the night talking, it''s really a good bonding moment between them. Apparently, despite the cold harsh appearance of Sannet, she is quite sociable and easy to talk with if you know what to say.

 Chapter 15

    Sannet left Fran''s room almost dawn and suddenly bumped into Viola.


    "Oh hey." VIola said while yawning. She rubs her eyes and blinks a few times at Sannet.


    "You look tired..." Sannet said: "Did you stay up all night?" She asks.


    "No, I slept some before bumping into you." Viola answered: "I just woke up a bit." She added: " I see you turn yourself into a catgirl again." She said while pointing at Sannet''s hybrid form.


    "Yeah... Well, see you later." Sannet then walks past Viola. She sounded already getting annoyed by this conversation.


    "You don''t want to come for breakfast?" Viola asked.


    Sannet then shook her head: "I have a busy day today." She said: "I will have my breakfast when I get back."


    "When you get back, go and see Minka. She has something for you apparently." Viola said.


    "Got it." Sannet said before walking away.


    Viola rubs her eyes with her hands and walks towards her room to take a shower. She has a mission today, the bounty is rather tempting to catch. A criminal is hiding in the capital of the empire.


    "Well, I need to take a shower first." Viola said while rubbing her hair.


    After taking a shower, VIola wears her uniform, which consists of black trousers, black shirt, black gloves, boots and black cap. Viola also wears her gun holster and rifle on her back. This way, if she is wearing a jacket, it is easier to hide out of sight. She has a black vest which can hide her weapon for close combat.


    She looks in the mirror and sighs: "Well...time to work" She muttered: "Wish that someone else will take over this mission..." She said, while swiping her contact receiver: "Right now?" She closes her eyes but the beep sound came from her device, which means she is now on the job.


    Viola took her badge and put on her jacket. Then she went to the reception desk to inform the superior about her whereabouts. Eventually she went outside to get on the shuttle and went to her destination. It''s going to be a long ride, so she sits on the back and closes her eyes.


    "Excuse me." Someone suddenly asks.


    "Oh, sorry." VIola moves out of the way so the man can sit down.


    The man then notices something about VIola: "That''s a pretty cool badge you got there..." He said while pointing at Viola''s badge.


    "It''s a family crest." VIola answered without looking at the man.


    "I see... you''re working today?" The man asks.


    Viola looks up a second and closes her eyes again"Yeah..." VIola answered while shaking her head.


    "Well, best of luck then. Viola." The man then left the shuttle at the next station.


    Unknown to everyone in the group, even Sannet to an extent. Viola is well known in the circle called: The Mirage. It is outside of the imperial law or any law for that matter. The group has its own rules and laws. No one really knows what kind of activities they do, but they are powerful and influential. Eventually, Viola reached her destination and exited the shuttle. She walks on the street while observing the buildings around her. Eventually, Viola walks towards a certain house in an alley and rings the doorbell. A woman answers the door and greets Viola.


    "Hey, Viola. Nice to see you again." The woman said.


    "You as well, Mary." VIola said with a smile: "I came here to deliver the package as requested."


    "But I didn''t order any package." After a muffled sound, she saw a blood spot on her chest and her vision began turning dark.


    "That''s unfortunate." VIola she looked around to make sure no one was nearby.


    After Mary falls to the ground, Viola walks past the corpse and opens the door to find a boy sitting on a chair, drinking a beer. The visage of the boy contradicts his way of dressing and behavior.


    "Hello, Robert. Long time no see." Viola said.


    "Am I the target?" He asks.


    "No..." Viola then turns her head to a closed door nearby: "It would be for the person behind that door."


    "Oh, I see." Robert said while gulping down the entire beer bottle: "It''s been a while since i have last seen you, Viola. You have changed quite a bit."


    "You can still leave, Robert. Mary sold you out. I did you a favor." Viola said.


    "No, it''s too late now." Robert said: "Besides, I am a professional at this game, so don''t try to threaten me." He added: "How much is the bounty?" He asks.


    "Three million." Viola said: "You can do the math yourself. And there''s no bounty for you."


    "Oh, really?" Robert said: "So that means you won''t be killing me? I am happy to hear that." He glance at Viola.


    "Not really..." VIola said: "It really depends on how you act." She said,


    Robert looks at Viola then stands up from his chair.


    "I don''t like the fact that you are staring at me that way..." Viola said while taking out her weapon: "Please, go back to your wife and kids."


    Robert laughed a bit: "Oh, I see... you have always had that attitude ever since our first meeting. It''s cute but... useless." He said: "You still don''t get it do you? A storm is coming, Viola. Everyone on the top is discussing a sudden change in the wind." He asks.


    Viola doesn''t answer and looks at Robert with a serious look on her face.


    "I will take that as a no." Suddenly the light''s out in this house and a heavy silence filled the entire room.


    After a flash of light, a bullet shot through Robert''s head and he fell to the ground. Before Robert could pull his tricks, Viola had already worn a pair of night vision lenses on her eyes. After the shot, Viola closes the door and shoots another bullet which pierces through the closed door. But nothing reacted from the inside.


    Viola narrows her eyes and slowly approaches the closed door, she puts her hand on the handle and gently pushes the door. But then a voice came through: "Hello there, Viola." A woman''s voice that Viola recognized, but she shouldn''t be here.


    "Miss. Terra?" Viola did not open the door fully but enough to look inside.


    She sees Monika sitting inside of the room while wearing pat black armor that has guns strapped on the back. She has a helmet that looks like a demon skull and her mask is covering her face, only her emerald green eyes can be seen.


    "Yes, it is me." Monika said.


    "What are you doing here? Why are you wearing that kind of armor?" Viola asks.


    "Why don''t you come in and we can have a chat?" Monika said in a smug voice.


    "No, I will ask my question first." Viola said while entering the room and closing the door: "Why are you here, Miss. Terra? Are you my mission?" She asks.


    "You should really come in and take a close look." Monika said with a smile.


    "Alright, fine..." VIola entered the room and she was not surprised by what she saw. But then when Monika took off her helmet and her mask, Viola began to frown: "You are not her... who the hell are you?" She asks.


    "You really don''t know? I am a hero, Viola. I am Monika Terra!" The woman said: "And I also go by the name... Knight." She added.


    "You are just an imposter of Minka''s mother." Viola said while walking closer to the woman.


    The woman then shakes her head: "Oh no, Viola... you are so wrong about that. I am indeed Monika Terra... But just not of this world. Though... I never had a daughter." She added with a chuckle.


    "Then why are you here?" VIola asked while raising her weapon.


    "It''s simple. I need the service of your little squad. The four of you always depend on each other. How wonderful." Knight said.


    "Let''s listen to your mission first." VIola said while putting her weapon away.


    Knight nods and walks towards the window, she opens the curtains and the morning light fills the room: "The imperium has a secret base... A base that controls a portal. One that could lead into the abyss which can bypass all the securities." She said: "That''s where the item I need is located. It is a device that can break the time barrier between worlds." She added: "I have a plan, but it will take a lot of time... You can help me with this mission." She said,


    "A portal... The abyss? Do you know how dangerous is that? Also, if you are so capable like the real Monika Terra, why can''t you do it yourself?" VIola asks.


    "Because I am just a human after all, not an overpowered soldier like Monika." Knight said with a sigh: "I need your help, Viola. And for the return... I will never give you up, let you down, run around or hurt you."


    "The heck are you talking about?" Viola felt she was being toyed at and clicked her weapons safety.


    "I was just playing, chill out.I will control the device that will lead to the abyss. Isn''t this where all of you were heading?" Knight has a wide grin on her face, one that reminds Viola of Minka''s father: "But my first offer still stands though, just so you know." She beams with positivity but Viola felt uncomfortable from it.


    "How did you know about that machine?" Viola asks with a frown.


    "That is my trade secret, so deal or not?" Knight asks.


    "I will need to talk about it with my team." VIola said: "Give us a week to answer you." She added.


    "Of course." Knight said with a smile: "Thank you, Viola." She added while shaking Viola''s hand: "Oh, i almost forgot. I killed your real target, she''s in the closet."


    "She?" Viola opens the closet and finds a dead body, it is a child that seems to be around Clara''s age. "By the emperor..." VIola said.


    "He... heh." Knight laughed at VIola: "See? I helped you not get your hands dirty murdering a child."


    "You are insane... How can you kill a child just like that?" Viola asks.


    "Don''t try to be on the moral high ground, Viola. You are no better." Knight then puts on her helmet: "A week later, I will come to you for an answer." She then walked past Viola and left the house: "There''s another mission for you only¡­ the price of it might be tempting¡­ so look carefully at it before deciding." She said before disappearing around the corner.


    Viola then contacted a team of cleaning crew to clean this up. Eventually, the crew finishes the clean up and leaves the house. Viola already took the proof of killing but she still felt bitterness in her mouth after looking at the closet where the dead child was. Soon, Viola heads back to the guild and lays on the bed while sounding exhausted.


    "Damn it..." VIola cursed herself: "Why did I agree to this kind of job? I should have known better." She said,


    Suddenly, Viola''s communicator rang, it was Sannet: "What is it?" Viola asks.


    "We have a mission." Sannet said: "The guild master just sent me the file."


    "Let me guess, it is about going into a certain military facility to take something. Isn''t it?" VIola asks.


    "How did you know that?" Sannet asks.


    "I will explain later. Are we doing this?" Viola asks.


    "I haven''t read it fully yet, but it does sound like the job we used to do." Sannet answered: "But it says that we will be facing a strong opponent."


    "We will talk it over with Minka and Leanna before we decide." VIola said: "It''s important that we agree on this."


    "Understood." Sannet then ends the call.


    Later at night, the four of them sat at a round table while eating take outs for dinner. Minka was the first one to open the subject.


    "So... I heard that you will take a mission?" Minka said: "What is it about? I can''t wait!" She exclaimed with a smile.


    "Well, it is a bit troublesome." Viola said: "It''s about going into a military facility to steal something." She said: "Long story short, while stealing the object, we are able to open a portal to the abyss." She added: "And we have a partner to do that for us."


    "So... while doing this job, we can head into the abyss to find Minka''s mother..." Sannet said: "But I don''t know if that''s a good idea. Opening a portal to the abyss might bring something from the otherside to the surface..." She said,


    "I agree with Sannet." Leanna said: "We don''t really know if we can handle it or not. We need more time to prepare. I mean, it''s dangerous."


    "But this is our only chance so far to get further with the Legend case... We have to take this chance." Minka said: "My mother is there, in that portal. If we don''t take this chance, it will be like all of this was for nothing." She added.


    "I understand your feeling, but I still say we are not ready for this kind of mission." Sannet said: "We are talking about a class four military base." She said: "If we screw it up, no matter who you are, you will be sent to a black site." She added.


    "We can''t let this pass by!" Minka exclaimed: "It is our last chance!"


    "And that''s why we have a week to decide." Viola said: "We need to prepare for this mission."


    "Lea... please." Minka pleads to Leanna.


    "..." Leanna looked at her teammates and sighs: "Class four... I might know a person who can give us the access plan for the place. He has done it in the past." She said: "If we go there, we need to do it quickly." She added.


    "Who are you talking about?" VIola asks.


    "Who else in this galaxy can open any door if he wants." Leanna looks at Minka in a hinting way.


    "Dad?" Minka asks with wide eyes.


    "Yep, he''s Trazyn the infinite after all. If you and Sannet both go to him. I''d say the chances are good that he can help us."Leanna then paused for a moment: "We are looking for Aunt Monika... right? But the Abyss is an enormous place..." She said: "I am not sure how to approach that..." She added.


    "No... you''re right. If we can find Trazyn and convince him to help us. We have a good chance to get what we want." Sannet said: "He should know where Monika is."


    "Great!" Minka stands up while clapping: "Now we have an action plan!" She said: "Let''s go to Dad! Let''s ask for his help!" She exclaimed.


    "Before we go there... Can I ask something?" Viola asks.


    "Sure." Minka said while nodding.


    "To what end about this Legend''s case?" Viola asks: "What will happen to us once we find Monika?" She asks: "What happens if she refuses? Sure ,Minka said she has to but... knowing the Terras are all stubborn buns. I''d say we need to even out odds."


    Everyone is now silent and exchanging glances with each other.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "I... I don''t know." Leanna said: "I don''t have an answer for this." Leanna has a look of defeat on her face.


    "We will cross that bridge when we get there." Sannet said: "Whatever will happen will happen." She added.


    Minka remains silent and continues looking at her friends. Then she sighed: "I don''t have an answer for you either... But I have hope that dad will agree." She said: "And I have faith in that."


    "Well then, Sannet and Minka will talk to Trazyn about going into the base. Lea and I will check out for a clue I have." Viola said: "Everyone has their role to play, let''s get ready for the mission."


    After everyone nodded their heads. Sannet and Minka leave the building: "So, what kind of clue are we looking for?" Leanna asks.


    "We need to know about this ''Knight'' person. We are going to pay a visit to your mother." VIola answered: "Hopefully, she can give us some information on her."


    "Mom... Knight?" Leanna asked in a perplexed expression.


    "Pretty sure when i mention that name, your mother''s eyes will be widened for a good second. Have you seen her be surprised like that?" Viola asks.


    "..." Leanna just shakes her head.


    The next day, Viola and Leanna are now heading to the Terra manor. While they are on the way there, Leanna decides to talk about the abyss.


    "So... The abyss... what is it really? I mean, what are we really facing when we go there?" Leanna asks.


    Viola sighs: "If i know exactly what it is then i wouldn''t be here aren''t i? Well... from what I know, the abyss was made by a strike from heaven. No one knows exactly how it worked but we know that the abyss is a place where supernatural things happen. The arcane energies or magic starts appearing after the abyss was made." Viola said: "There is a theory that the abyss is a gateway between worlds, but it is very thin. This world is inside a sphere of time but the abyss is a space outside of time."


    "Woah, you know a lot about it." Leanna said in amazement.


    "I did some research." Viola said: "I will not lie to you, I have a fear about it. It is a dangerous place. Most of the people that enter the abyss never return." She added.


    "Can we survive it? Will we be able to return?" Leanna asks.


    "Well... That''s why we have to be extra careful. And this is why we can''t say these kinds of things to your mother or she will be alerted. But¡­ if we also just cut to the chase, it might fish out some information from her" Viola said.


    "Yeah... I am not sure how she will react to this but let''s try the second option." Leanna said with a sigh.


    Viola then rang the doorbell. Soon, Nova opens the door and sees Viola and Leanna: "Oh, it''s you two." She said,


    "I am sorry for the sudden visit, Mrs. Terra." VIola said: "Leanna and I would like to have a talk with you." She added.


    "Well, come on in." Nova said while letting the two girls into the house.


    After they entered the living room, Viola and Leanna sat down on the sofa while Nova sat on the opposite side from them.


    "What brings you two here? Need anything?" Nova asks, then crosses her legs.


    "We want to ask you something." Leanna said: "You know about the abyss right, Mother?" She asked.


    "Yes, I do know a little bit about it." Nova answered: "What about it?" She asks.


    Leanna looks at Viola before saying anything: "We would like you to tell us more about it."


    "Before it''s Legend, now it''s about the abyss? What''s your goal this time?" Nova asked while looking rather displeased.


    "Well...I-" Leanna''s sentence got cut off from Viola.


    "Knight gave us a mission to open a portal to the abyss." Viola answered for Leanna.


    "Knight..." Nova muttered while putting her hand on her chin: "So she''s back..." She said, a surprised look appeared on her face.


    Leanna is a bit amazed by this look on her mother''s face:"What do you mean?" Leanna asks.


    "Knight... She''s a woman I once met when I was young...a version of Monika. She is a master of firearms and a killer. We worked together to defeat a threat a long time ago, and she left this world after it was done." Nova has a look of nostalgia on her face: "She was not a good person, but also not a terrible one. But I didn''t expect she would come back here..."


    "Now, she has an exclusive contract for us. She gave us a mission which will help us go to the abyss." Viola said: "We are going to ask you for help to get what we need from the base." She said,


    "Bold of you to approach a high ranking militarum officer for help." Nova said: "But why should I help you with this? It will be a very big problem to do something like this." She added.


    "Because it matters for Minka." Leanna said: "Knight also knows about our goal and our mission to find Monika. That''s why she asked for our help." She explained.


    "Have you thought about why she would even help you?" Nova asks: "And... You are going to go through the abyss without knowing what lies there. You could die and no one would be able to save you." She added.


    "We know that the risks are there and we are ready to take them." Leanna puts her hand on her chest: "Please... mother. Minka wants to find Aunt Monika, even if she has to risk her life. " She said.


    Nova sighed and looked at Viola: "You really want to go through with this?" Nova then takes out her ID pass and leaves it on the table: "Call this an error on my part. I dropped my pass on the floor by accident."


    Leanna holds the pass and looks at Nova in a really grateful way. Then Viola picked up the pass from Leanna''s hand and put it inside her pocket.


    "Thank you, Mrs. Terra." Viola said: "We will call you when it is time for the mission." She added.


    "The less I know the better." Nova then stands up: "Please, take care of my daughter and find my sister." She said,


    Leanna then hugs her mother: "Thanks mom!" She exclaims.


    Nova hugs Leanna for a while. When the two girls leave the manor, Viola then says something which shocks Leanna: "Something went wrong with Monika in the abyss and your mother knows about this."


    "What did you mean?" Leanna asks.


    "Because she said to ''find'' her sister. Your mother is looking for her sister. But in a mission where Monika was sent, a precise detailed report every day is essential" Viola said: "In other words, your mother is desperate to find Monika." She added.


    "..." Leanna doesn''t say anything but she has a thoughtful look on her face. They then headed back to the guild.


    Meanwhile on the other side, Minka and Sannet just arrived at Minka''s house. She opened the door with her key and stepped inside to see her dad watching the holo-videos.


    "Hey dad." She said with a smile.


    "Oh... hey Minka." Trazyn said while turning off the holo-vid: "I didn''t know you were coming back. and... oh." When he saw Sannet, his expression turned blank.


    "It''s okay dad... Sannet and I came to ask you for some help." Minka said: "Do you mind?" She asks while looking as if she''s begging.


    "You want a favor? That''s a first." Trazyn said with a sarcastic tone: "But I am curious, why would Sannet come with you."


    "So you won''t bullshit Minka without her knowing." Sannet answered: "The reason why I am here is because it has something to do with Monika." She said,


    "You want something to do with Monika?" Trazyn asked: "She''s my wife, not yours. You don''t have any right to ask me about her." He added with a cold tone.


    Minka frowns: "Dad, come on!" She exclaims: "Please, can you help us? We want to find mom."


    "And why would you want to find her? What are you going to do?" Trazyn asks: "What are you two really up to?"


    "I... I..." Minka was now hesitating to answer Trazyn''s question, she turns to Sannet and looks at her: "We have to do this, dad..." She said with a determined look on her face.


    "Why?" Trazyn asks again with a sharp tone:" What happens to your mother that you need to find?"


    "..." Minka lowered her head and held her hand: "She... she was sent to the abyss, dad..." She said: "She never came back... We need to find her..."


    "So what? It''s her job. You might not know but your mother is plenty strong herself." Trazyn said with a scoff: "So it''s no use to worry about her." He added.


    "She is your wife! Why do you care so little!" Sannet exclaims.


    Trazyn''s expression turned angry for the first time: "Who are you to say that! It has nothing to do with you!" He yells at Sannet: "Who are you to tell me how I feel about my wife! You know NOTHING!"


    "Dad! Don''t yell at Sannet! Please!" Minka exclaims while pulling Trazyn''s arm.


    "Minka, this is our private matter. Don''t bring others into this." Trazyn said while moving away his arm.


    Minka then takes a deep breath and walks towards the holo-vid, she picks up a disc and plays it. An intercepted message from the inquisitor communication channel started playing on the holo-vid. Apparently there''s a communication blackout with all the abyss team: "Is this why?" She asks: "Is this why you are so angry?" She asks: "You think we can just accept this!" She exclaims while looking at Trazyn.


    "Yeah, you''re right. We have no idea where your mother is." Trazyn said: "I have not been able to get in contact with her for months now." He added: "That''s why I am angry, I am angry at the imperium and the inquisition for making this mistake."


    "Can''t you just teleport to her?" Minka asks.


    "No, that''s impossible." Trazyn answered: "Teleporting into the abyss is blocked with an arcane barrier. That barrier projects itself across multiple dimensions. Teleporting into the abyss means teleportation into nowhere." He said: "It''s impossible unless you know the coordinates of where Monika is."


    "This is why we are doing this... dad." Minka said: "To find mom." She added.


    Trazyn remained silent and looked at the holo-vid: "You and I are both stubborn, Minka." He said: "I am sorry I yelled at you... and Sannet." He added.


    "It''s okay dad, we are sorry too." Minka said.


    "I am not sorry, he deserves more insults." Sannet said with a scoff.


    "Sannet!" Minka exclaims while trying to hide her smile.


    "..." Trazyn scoffs at Sannet: "I see, well if you want my help, then fine." He then puts his hand on top of Minka''s head: "I can''t believe that my little Minky is already saving people." He said with a gentle smile on his face.


    "..." Minka feels her cheeks become warm and she lowers her head to hide it from Sannet.


    Sannet scoffs at the sight of Minka''s embarrassed face and looks away. She then put on her serious expression.


    "Well now, aren''t you going to tell me what you are going to do to save our family." Trazyn said.


    "You can open doors, right?" Minka asks: "Can you open the door to the base?"


    Trazyn is now looking at Minka with a bewildered expression: "You want me to open the door...What an insult! I can do wayyyy more stuff than just open doors. Young lady." He said.


    Minka laughs a bit: "Sorry... I just thought that... it''s just an example." She said: "Can you really open the door to the base?" She asks again.


    Trazyn phased out a small rectangle device and gave it to Minka: "This device can open any door you want. But most of the time it''s the alarm you need to worry about, not the door itself." He said: "Just keep it somewhere on your body or someone could use it against you."


    Minka nods her head while putting the device in her pocket.


    "Anything else?" Trazyn asks.


    "It''s all good! Thanks dad!" Minka hugs his father''s waist: "We are gonna now!" She said,


    Trazyn gently put his hand on Minka''s head and petted her: "Best of luck, my little Minky." He then looks at Sannet with an eased up expression: "Please take care of my daughter."


    "I will do that but not for you." Sannet said before walking out of the house.


    Trazyn scoffs at Sannet''s comment and gives Minka a slight smile. The two of them then leave the house and walk towards the guild building: "So, how did you know that holo-vid has that message?" Sannet asks.


    "My dad is a very predictable person. Usually he has a very easy going expression, but once something that belongs to him is lost, he begins panicking and even sometimes becomes angry. I figured that it was about my mom. So this is why I took the holo-vid and played it." Minka explained.


    "I see... It''s good that you know how he works." Sannet said: "I never actually realized it." She added.


    "Yeah... but I am sorry about him yelling at you, ... Sannet." Minka said.


    "Don''t worry, he just needed to vent out his anger." Sannet has a slight grin on her face: "it feels good to see him getting so worked up."


    "You really like making dad angry don''t you?" Minka asks with a joking tone.


    "I will not deny that." Sannet said while rubbing her hand.


    Soon they arrive at the guild and Viola greets them. Then Viola goes to the meeting room to set the operation plan.


    "We are ready for the mission, we just need to wait for the right timing. But we need to be extra careful." VIola said: "Knight will open the portal when the time is right." She said,


    "Is it true that the portal can take us to the abyss?" Minka asks.


    "Yes, she told me that herself." VIola said: "We have to wait until the right timing comes. Now everyone, rest and be prepared." She added.


    Everyone nodded their head and headed to their own room to rest. While Minka is reading a book in her room, a call from Leanna comes: "Hey... Minka. Can I come to your room?" She asks.


    "Yeah, come in." Minka said then closed her book.


    Leanna then enters the room and sits down on the bed''s edge: "I... I am sorry to bother you."


    "Lea? Why are you talking like this? We are family." Minka said: "And it''s not a bother at all." She added.


    "..." Leanna just looks at the wall: "Minka... do you really want to find aunt Monika?" She asks.


    "Why are you asking?" Minka asks.


    "Mother said to find her... she wants us to find Monika. But¡­I felt something was wrong...It''s a feeling that I cannot shake off¡­" Leanna said: "But if you really want to find her, I will be with you until the end."


    "I see..." Minka put her hand on Leanna''s shoulder: "Lea, thank you for telling me this... but if my mom really has the chance of facing danger, I must go. I must find her." She said with a look of determination on her face.


    Leanna nods in silence, but then she suddenly pushes Minka on the bed and kisses her on the cheek.


    "Lea!" Minka exclaims with a blushed face: "What are you doing?"


    "You... you looked so serious..." Leanna said: "I don''t know why I did that but..." She added.


    Minka looks at Leanna while being all red on the face and she touches the spot where Leanna kissed her: "Lea... What do you like about me? Are you my friend? Is it more than that?" She asks.


    Leanna remains silent and she lowers her head.


    "Well, if you don''t want to answer then that''s fine." Minka said with a slight smile.


    Leanna gently grabs Minka''s hand and holds it tight: "I am sorry but... I can''t really control myself when I am feeling stressed out and being in the same room with you..." She said: "It''s just... I am not sure what I really feel about you." She added.


    "Lea... you can stay with me for longer if you want..." Minka then takes off her outer shirt: "I felt stressed as well... It''s just that... I feel so calm whenever I am with you." She said while biting her lower lip.


    Leanna nods in agreement, she then puts her head on Minka''s chest and closes her eyes. Minka just gently strokes Leanna''s hair with a warm smile on her face.


    "Minka... Can you tell me something good about me?" Leanna asks unsurely.


    "Lea..." Minka doesn''t answer right away, but then she decides to go with her heart: "You are... kind, smart and beautiful. You always know what to do in a situation. And you always make me laugh." She answered: "I like everything about you."


    "I... see..." Leanna said while closing her eyes: "I like you because you are always so righteous and never compromising on your own principles... You always help others without any selfish intentions." She said: "It makes me feel warm when you''re with me. I always feel safe."


    "Lea..." Minka said while smiling then kissed Leanna''s forehead.


    "..." Leanna looked up at Minka with a blush: "Minka..." She said: "I am going to sleep here tonight." She then climbs on top of Minka and kisses her lips.


    Minka blushed hard when she felt the sensation of Leanna''s lips. She then slowly moves her hands on Leanna''s back and rubs gently. Leanna then pulls herself away from Minka''s face and lays down on Minka''s chest again. Minka looked down and saw Leanna''s beautiful long hair spread on her chest, she gently put her hand on Leanna''s head and petted it. Leanna slowly opens her eyes and looks at Minka in a rather complicated way.


    "I don''t really know what is going on inside my mind right now..." Leanna said: "But I am happy to be with you." She added.


    "Me too... I am happy too." Minka said while smiling.


    Both of them then fell asleep, feeling each other''s warmth. The next morning, Leanna woke up first and saw Minka sleeping with a gentle smile on her face, she smiled to herself and kissed Minka''s lips. Minka then opened her eyes and looked at Leanna with a surprised expression.


    "Morning Lea." She said,


    "Good morning, Minka." Leanna replied with a happy smile.


    The two girls then started to wash their faces and prepare themselves for the mission. When they arrived at the meeting room, Sannet was already there. Viola then called everyone and said the mission will commence today.


    "The timing is right already?" Minka asks.


    "Yes, now let''s go." Viola said: "Everyone knows their part right?" She asks.


    "Wait! I think we might need longer to prepare..." Minka said while scratching her cheek.


    "What do you mean?" Viola asks.


    "Dad gave me a device that can open the door to the base. But it won''t work if the security system is on." Minka said: "If the security system is on, we will need to hack it first." She added.


    "We have a hacker in our group." Viola said while looking at Leanna: "She has General Nova''s access card."


    Sannet looks at Minka in a questionable way and then goes next to her and sniffs her hair: "You slept in the same room with her." She said while looking at Leanna.


    "Huh?! How do you know that?!" Minka exclaims.


    "I can smell her scent all over you." Sannet said with a straight face: "The cat enhancement is really useful in cases like this." She added.


    Minka is now all red and looked down. Leanna also looks away in embarrassment: " We were just tired so we just slept together¡­"


    "..." Sannet stares at Leanna in an unexplainable emotion: "Fine." She said,


    "Oh no... you two slept with each other again?" Viola''s face palms herself: "It''s okay, it''s not like anything happened." She said: "Now hurry up and get a hold of yourself. We don''t have time to mess around." She added.


    "S-Sorry." Minka said: "We are ready for the mission."


    "Good." Viola said: "Now we will head towards the base." She added.


    After a while, the four of them arrived at the base. It is surrounded by encamped guards. Viola then makes an infiltration plan while Sannet keeps her eyes on the guard patrol. Minka holds the small rectangle device given by Trazyn and waits for the right timing to use it. When Sannet signals the team, the rest of them begin crawling themselves in from a hole they made on a fence. Minka put the device on the scanner next to the door and it beeped as the door opened. Then VIola punched a guard that came into the door and took his uniform and put it on: "The security room is the second door to the left." She said,


    Everyone nodded their head and walked quickly into the room. They saw two guards inside the room, Minka grabbed one with her hand before he could react and threw him onto the other person. Sannet then put her hand on the security camera and turned it off. Then Leanna opens a file on the computer and finds the log file. She then begins hacking the system. She uses Nova''s pass to overwrite all security systems within the base while turning all the alarms off for ten minutes. While they were doing this, Sannet came in while wearing a set of uniforms.


    "The elevator is down to the hallway but I spotted five soldiers nearby. You guys better hurry." Sannet said.


    Leanna then gives Viola the access key to the elevator.


    "I see..." Viola said: "Let''s get inside the elevator before the alarm comes on." She added.


    Everyone then enters the elevator while Sannet goes down the hallway to deal with the soldiers. After she''s done and goes in, the elevator door then closes and the elevator goes down. Viola then pulls out her gun and shoots the guard when the elevator door opens. The team then rushed out from the elevator and took out their weapon.


    "Five more minutes..." Viola mutters while trying to find the log file of the whereabouts of the item Knight is looking for.


    "Hey, you there! What are you doing here?" A voice from behind asks.


    "Oh crap..." Viola exclaims.


    But before they can notice, the head of the person has already dropped on the ground. Everyone looked back and saw Sannet with a sword in her hand. Viola then pulls out a log file from the computer and shows it to everyone: "It''s two floors below... there''s no elevator to go there." She said,


    "We need to go there by stairs." Sannet said: "Let''s go." She added.


    They all nodded their heads and began going towards the stairs. Viola then stopped and looked around: "Wait...Someth-" Suddenly a blast of frost hit Viola, causing her to be stuck on the wall.


    "Viola!" Minka exclaims.


    "I-It''s cold..." Viola said while shaking her hand.


    Sannet dashes forward and tries to locate the person, but suddenly the floor below her is turning into ice, causing her to slip and fall. She tried to stop herself by using the stair railing, but the railing was then turned into ice and broke off.


    Minka had just pulled Viola out of the ice and now is trying to stop Sannet from falling further. But then an ice blast starts traveling towards her, Leanna manages to fend it off with her windshield.


    "Tch... why are you two here?" A man stands on top of the stairs looking down with his piercing red eyes.


    "That''s... You''re..." Viola muttered while she was shaking.


    "Kevin Terra..." Minka said with a surprised look.


    "Seems like you do remember me. You two have brought shame on the Terra name. Surrender yourselves." Kevin said: "I don''t want to kill you if I can avoid it."


    Minka''s eyes began having yellow light glowing out, she collapsed the staircase above and then she followed her group to run even further. When they arrived at the floor they were looking for, the alarm had turned on.


    "We have to hurry!" Viola exclaims: "Let''s go!" She adds.


    They saw a door with a logo with the word ''Permafrost'' on it: "So this is the place." Viola looks at her teammates and then says: "We have to be fast, they are already on us. We have to head to the portal when we open the door." She said,


    Everyone nodded their head and Viola opened the door. The room is very cold, it is as if the room is in a frozen world. A door in the back of the room is shining with white light. Sannet glanced at the explanation tab, apparently it is a weapon that can create a frozen aura so cold that even time itself cannot be moved.


    "Clap clap clap, what a performance." Knight suddenly appeared from behind them: "You guys actually made it!" She said,


    "You''re here too?" VIola asks.


    "What? You think I was gonna let you have all the fun?" Knight asks: "I mean, the reason why I am here is for my contract. But the entire thing was so easy because I killed half of the base already." She said,


    "..." VIola glares at Knight for a moment before running towards the door.


    MInka runs towards the door and uses the unlock device to open it. She then takes out the weapon and gives it to Knight: "So a deal is a deal." She said,


    "Yeah, thanks." Knight took the weapon from Minka''s hand.


    "Now... the portal." Viola said.


    Knight pulls out the sword on her back and slashes mid air. A portal appeared out of nowhere: "Well then, go in." She said,


    Everyone looked a bit surprised but then entered the portal without hesitation.

 Chapter 16

    After entering, they are in a wasteland of dark gray color, there are giant structures of metallic buildings that seem to be eroded. When they looked back, Knight was nowhere to be found and the portal had already closed. Sannet suddenly collapsed on the floor while breathing really rapidly.


    "Sannet?" Viola exclaims: "What happened?" She then sees a steel stick going through lower hips, she must''ve gotten it while slipping on the floor.


    "Tch... I-I''ll live..." Sannet said while her already pale face is looking like one that is on a corpse.


    "The hell you will." Minka exclaims: "We need to get you out of here now!"


    "We are in the abyss now..." Leanna looks around, there isn''t any man made building nearby, just random metallic structures: "We are on our own now..." She said,


    Viola examined the wound and took a long deep breath: "We don''t have the time to waste! We have to find a place to treat Sannet!" She said: "Everyone, spread out and search for any sign of civilization!" She added.


    Everyone then begins looking around the place while Viola is trying to pull the steel stick out from Sannet''s hips. Suddenly, a giant flying beast with three heads appears on the sky above the team. It then roars with a loud voice which caused everyone to cover their ears. It then shoots fireballs from its mouth, Leanna uses her wind to stop the fireballs from reaching them. Minka brought it down by slamming it on the ground with her psychic force.


    "We have to go to somewhere with cover." Sannet tries to get up but the pain is making her dripping sweat.


    "Wait, hold on Sannet." Minka holds her hand and helps her to stand up, she then looks around and sees some trees nearby: "Let''s bring her to the tree."


    "Thank goodness we brought enough med kits for this..." Viola takes off Sannet''s shirt and injects her with pain reliever and medicine to prevent infection: "I think we need to take out the metal now." She said: "Minka, can you do it?"


    "Sure..." Minka grabs the stick and slowly pulls it out from Sannet''s body. She is making sure that it is coming out in a rather smooth way instead of hurting Sannet again.


    "Aghh... damn it..." Sannet said with a painful expression on her face.


    Viola then disinfects the wound and puts on some bandages while Minka is holding Sannet''s hand: "This should be the worst of it... Let''s see if you will live or not." Viola said.


    Sannet just tried to smile at the joke, but it only made Minka worry even more. Viola then pulls out a blanket from the bag and puts it under Sannet''s hips: "Hold on tight." She said: "I will stop the bleeding now."


    Sannet held on to Minka''s hand really tight as Viola pressed the wound to stop the bleeding, Sannet screamed in pain and her vision turned black. Viola then tied the wound tightly to stop the blood flow and then looked at Minka: "Let''s hope this will work..." She said,


    "You did well, Sannet." Minka said.


    "..." Sannet opened her eyes and looked at Minka in silence: "I will be fine... the healing factor should be activated by now..." She tried to get up but Minka pressed her down.


    "Hey, don''t get up." Minka said: "You can barely even move right now." She added.


    Leanna just came back from trying to find signs of civilization: "I found an abandoned camp, we should start heading there."


    "Yeah... Let''s go..." Sannet said while her face is still looking pale as snow.


    Everyone nodded their heads and started walking towards the camp with Sannet being carried on Minka''s back. When they arrived, they found the place was very messy and cold. They are all sitting inside the tent, ten minutes later Sannet collapses from blood loss.


    "We need to warm the place up." Minka said: "Or she will get worse."


    "It''s too cold for me to even sit down." Viola said: "I don''t know how they lived in this place." She added.


    Leanna walked out from the tent and looked around: "We might need to find some source of power or fuel..." She said while checking corners, but nothing is being left behind by the previous group.


    "Well... that''s gonna be hard." Minka said: "And, I don''t think this place even has sun and moon." She added while pointing at the starless sky.


    Suddenly a cold wind blew inside the tent and made everyone shiver. Minka phase out a power sword and slashes the ground near her.


    "What are you doing?" Viola asks.


    "I''m making a fire..." Minka said: "It''s really cold here. Let''s try to use what we can to warm this place up."


    "Power swords don''t generate heat! Are you an idiot?!" VIola exclaims: "That''s a waste of your power and it''s dangerous to make fire out of a power sword!" She added.


    "..." Minka remained silent and looked down.


    Leanna bites her lower lips and begins rubbing her hands together: "We will need to warm this place up before Sannet freezes to death..." She said,


    "But how?" VIola asks.


    "Body heat... The way people usually warm up with the help of their body heat." Leanna answered.


    "You want us to just sit here and do nothing but hug each other?" Viola asks with an unbelievable face, but then she turns her head at Minka : " Well what are you waiting for? Go lie next to Sannet and cuddle her. Let the rest of us handle this ourselves." She added.


    "Uhm... what?" Minka''s cheeks turned all red when Viola said this: "Why me?"


    "Because your body is warmer than ours and you don''t get cold easily. Now take off your shirt and pants then cuddle Sannet." VIola said: "Those Terra blood on you isn''t for show."


    Minka''s face turned even more red when Viola said: "O-Okay..." She said while she was about to remove her shirt.


    Sannet suddenly opens her eyes and stops Minka: "You can''t take off your clothes here." She said: " it''s too dangerous to stay without any gear on you¡­" Sannet then pulled out a lighter from her pocket: "Use this."


    Leanna then walked in with a few sticks and pieces of cloth: "I found these near the camp." She said: "There is also a well but it has rusty gears inside." She added.


    Viola lit up the fire and also lit a cigarette. After the fire was lit, everyone else got out of the tent and tried to warm their body as best as they could. VIola then took a stick and began throwing it into the fire.


    "It''s so cold..." Leanna said: "I wonder how long it will take for the sun to rise up." She added.


    "There''s no sun in the abyss." Viola said while exhaling the smoke: "It will be pretty dark out there."


    "..." Minka remains silent.


    Sannet managed to raise up her upper body and asked: "Can I get one as well?"


    Viola handed the cigarette to Sannet and looked around: "How long are we going to stay here?" She asks.


    "A day or two at most." Sannet replied: "My healing factor is already doing its work, I will be fine." She added.


    Viola just sighs: "Well then, what should we do? We have no idea where we are."


    "I think we should keep moving around for now." Sannet said but then she winces in pain.


    "How are you two kids doing?" Viola looks at Minka and Leanna: "Anything we should worry about?" She asks.


    "I... I don''t feel anything unusual." Leanna said.


    "Yeah... I think I am okay." Minka said while looking at Sannet: "Will Sannet really be ok?" She asks.


    "Don''t worry, Minka." Sannet said with a gentle tone: "I will be fine... Just try not to let your body get too cold, that''s all you need." Sannet suddenly wants to change the subject: "What is up for you and Leanna hooking up with each other?" She asks.


    Leanna''s face suddenly turned all red and she hid her face under the camp blanket: "Why are you asking?!" She exclaims.


    Minka is also all red now, she tried to think of an excuse: "It''s because Lea was worried for me..." She said while looking away: "I felt stressed out so we slept in the same room together..." She added.


    "Yeah, but you two are family. This is not something that can be looked at from a normal perspective." Sannet said: "It''s just... why do you guys have to do that?" She asks.


    Minka and Leanna are now silent, they looked at each other then slowly lowered their heads.


    "Oh, I get it." Sannet said: "You both feel that way about each other, right?" She asks.


    "..." Minka is now looking at Sannet with her eyes widened.


    Viola chuckles: "My, Sannet is so talkative when getting hurt. Probably just the adrenaline talks though. I mean, I don''t see the problem here." She asks: "It''s not like Lea can knock off a child from Minka."


    "..." Leanna was now all red and trying to hide her face.


    "Wait, why ''from'' me? Lea and I are both girls." Minka asked.


    "Because you are clearly is the bottom here." Viola answered: "Leanna is more dominant than you. That''s how it works." She added while having a grin on her face.


    "..." Minka looks away.


    "You two have a good dynamic there." Viola said with a teasing smile on her face: "I mean this is not the weirdest thing ever. So, no judgment here. Besides... sometimes I also want to lay my head on Minka''s thighs..." She added.


    "E-Eh?!" Minka exclaims while looking at Viola.


    "What? Am I not allowed to say that?" Viola suddenly lays herself on Minka''s legs and starts caressing her thighs: "You''re so warm and soft..."


    "Hey, stop that!" Minka pushes Viola off her: "Y-You''re just making it even more weird..." She adds.


    "..." Leanna is just silently watching the whole thing. She then also let out a small chuckle.


    Viola then lit up another cigarette: "Your laugh is so cute, Lea." She said while looking into her eyes.


    "Thanks..." Leanna replied with a shy smile: "I don''t really get that a lot..." She added.


    "Well, you should. Your smile is very contagious." Viola said: "It''s so bright and beautiful. You look like a sunflower." She added.


    "What is a sunflower?" Minka asks.


    "You don''t know that?" Viola asks in surprise: "They are yellow flowers that grew on Holy Terra. It symbolizes the brightness and warmth of the sun." She explained: "Well... It''s not really like that these days but the flower was really famous in the old times."


    "I see..." Minka said.


    Viola then put out the cigarette and stood up: "I am going to keep watch for the night... But I will call you guys if anything happens. And Minka, please make sure to keep Sannet warm." She said,


    "Uhm...okay..." Minka replied.


    "..." Leanna then turns her head away from everyone and begins falling into sleep.


    The night passed by very slowly with Viola being on guard duty the whole time. When it''s morning,at least from watch time, everyone except Sannet wakes up and goes out of the tent. Viola looked at the sky and sees that there is no sun: "It is weird, it looks like there''s a sky but in reality we are underground." She said: "Well, at least the lighting isn''t too bad." She added.


    "Good morning, Viola." Minka greeted her.


    "Yeah, yeah... You all can go ahead and eat breakfast now. We have plenty of rations thanks to Minka''s dimensional pocket." Viola said: "I am gonna check the surroundings if there''s any place where we could find something useful." She added.


    "Aren''t you hungry?" Leanna asks.


    "I am... but I don''t really want to leave this place unchecked." Viola answered: "I will just eat my ration when I come back. And Minka, please feed Sannet."


    "I don''t need her to feed me." Sannet can already sit up by herself now.


    "Stop being stubborn and just eat." VIola said before leaving the camp.


    Minka walked back into the tent and took out the rations given by VIola. She then feeds it to Sannet but Sannet refuses to take it: "Stop doing this, I am not your pet."


    "Yeah, I was about to say this feels like feeding a cat..." Minka said while having a light smile on her face: "But you don''t have any choice, you need to eat. I can''t just let you starve to death."


    "..." Sannet remained silent while looking away.


    "Just eat up." Minka said while pushing the ration to Sannet''s mouth.


    "Mmph!" Sannet finally gives in and swallows it.


    "See? That wasn''t that bad was it?" Minka said with a slight smile on her face: "Aren''t you good kitty~"


    "..." Sannet gave Minka a death glare: "Shut up."


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    "C''mon don''t be so grumpy! You need to eat more and get better, I mean it." Minka suddenly realized something: "Wait a minute, did your intestine get pierced?" She asks.


    "It is fine now, the internal organ heals first when the healing factor is activated." Sannet replied.


    "Good thing you heal really fast..." Minka said while taking the ration out of the bag: "Open up." She added.


    Sannet just looks away from Minka with a slightly annoyed look, Minka pouts and places the ration on her mouth: "I said open up." She said,


    Sannet opened up her mouth and ate the ration: "Stop ordering me around." She said,


    "Well if you are not being a grumpy kitty, i wouldn''t have to do that." Minka said with a teasing tone: "Aww, you are not a grumpy kitty are you?" She added.


    Leanna just chuckles when she sees the two of them interacting like this. After Sannet finished eating the ration, Minka got up the camp and helped Leanna to maintain the kindle. When Viola came back, they asked her what she found.


    "Nothing in particular. There were lots of boxes but I didn''t feel like breaking into them. But there was this thing on the ground next to the camp." She answered: "It looks like a device for marking coordinates but I don''t know what it is for." She added.


    "It''s a militarum issued tracker for the high command." Leanna recognized it immediately: "I think I can track its signal and find the similar ones on my PDA." She said,


    "Alright then, let''s do that." Viola then sits beside Leanna.


    Leanna begins working on her device while Minka is trying to set up some traps around the camp. While she was working, Sannet suddenly got up from the bed.


    "Sannet? Are you ok?" Minka asks while dropping her tools on the ground: "You really shouldn''t be getting up."


    "I am fine." Sannet replied: "Just go back to work." She added.


    "You are not going to work while your wounds are not fully healed." Minka said: "Viola! Sannet is getting up!" She exclaims.


    "Tch..." Viola stood up from where she was seated: "Did you really just snitch on Sannet?" She asks.


    "She will get worse if she keeps this up!" Minka replied with a serious tone.


    Viola just sighs: "Sannet, please sit back down. It''s still too dangerous for you to stand up right now." She said,


    "But I am fine." Sannet replied.


    Viola came over and grabbed Sannet''s shoulder and pushed her down: "Sit." She said with a firm tone: "Bad kitty." She added with a smile.


    Sannet just gives in and lets Viola push her back to the bed: "You''re not helping." She said with a half annoyed and half embarrassed look.


    "Why don''t you help Lea? I am sure you know a lot about technology." Minka suggested.


    "But I am not sure if I can be of any help." Sannet said while looking at Leanna.


    Leanna looks up at Sannet and smiles: "It''s okay, I don''t mind if you don''t know how it works. I mean, it''s just a tracker." She said: "The most difficult part is to find the tracker signal." She added: "It is hard for me to locate the master receiving spot." She said,


    "What do we need to do after finding the master receiver?" Sannet asks.


    "We have to go to the tracking station or whatever." Leanna answered: "I don''t really know what that looks like. It can be a building, in a car or somewhere being hand carried by someone." She said,


    "I might know something about this." Sannet took over the PDA and began pressing buttons left and right, eventually a scanning channel appeared on the screen: "There''s a militarum tech scanning station in the area. It can be used in our favor. Now you just need to find the similar sequences from the tracker. There will be a list of them here. Then you just need to compare it with the other signals." She explained.


    "Okay, got it." Leanna then pressed the button for scanning: "Alright, now I just need to search the signal." She said,


    The device started scanning the surroundings and Leanna then began comparing it with the list given by Sannet. Suddenly the device beeped and showed a location.


    "Found it!" Leanna exclaimed.


    "You are a genius, Sannet!" Minka said while jumping in excitement.


    "Don''t celebrate yet, we need to confirm the signal is the one we are looking for." Viola said.


    "Viola is right." Sannet said: "If it is a decoy or some sort of trick, then this could be dangerous for us." She added.


    "Well, we will have to wait until Sannet recovers anyways." Viola said: "And we have to make sure the signal is real first. Let''s see if we can find a way to confirm it without actually going there." She added.


    After a few moments, Leanna found a solution: "Let''s send a drone there and find out if the signal is real or not." She suggested.


    "I don''t think any of us have it... and we don''t have serval skulls as well..." Minka said while scratching her cheek.


    "How about the intelligent weapon of Minka''s?" Leanna suggests: "We can use our power to make it fly around and get the intel." She added.


    "Oh... that might work." Minka said: "Let me ask him." She added while taking out her pocket watch and saw it turning into its full form.


    "What?" The weapon replies with a rude tone.


    "We have a plan..." Minka was about to say more but it was interrupted by the weapon.


    "I will do it, only because it is a smart plan." He replied: "And only because I don''t want to spend more time in your pocket." He added.


    "I-I see..." Minka replied while looking a bit sorry, she promised him to not put him in the pocket dimension: "Okay then, where do you want us to strap on the communicator?" She asks.


    "Put it in the middle." He replied: "And strap it tightly on it, I don''t want it falling off."


    "Okay, hold on for a bit then." Minka said while putting the communicator on the weapon''s middle part of its body.


    "Well, the locations are quite far away from each other but we can use my wind power to create a barrier that prevents you from falling down, and Minka will just throw you really hard while also using her psychic power to boost your speed." Leanna said while giving the weapon a direction to fly.


    "Alright, are we ready?" Minka asks while posing to throw the weapon like throwing a javelin.


    "Go." The weapon replied.


    Minka then uses her psychic power to pull back the weapon and then throw it as hard as she can. The wind barrier created by Leanna was preventing the weapon from falling down, while the boosted speed created by Minka''s psychic power allowed the weapon to travel as fast as sound speed. After a while, the weapon had already reached its destination and began flying around the place, it then spotted a tower and on Leanna''s PDA it''s written ''Tracker Signal Identified.''


    Leanna is concentrating on maintaining the shield and the direction of the flight. While Sannet is reading on her PDA for the information gathered so far. When she opens the PDA, it shows a map of the location with a few red dots around it.


    "Let''s see what''s the status of this place." Sannet said while looking at the screen, there is a rather high tower in the middle of nowhere and a signal came from the top of that. There''s a large circular platform at the bottom of the tower with a strange symbol in it and four smaller platforms are located around the tower: "It looks like it is constructed by human." She said,


    "But it is weird that there is such a big structure in the middle of nowhere." VIola said: "The tracking signal came from the top, does it have any meaning?" She asks.


    "No... but we should go there, everywhere else are just small separated camps. We should head to the major landmark, maybe this is where the militarum troops are stationed." Sannet replied.


    "I think so too." Leanna said: "This tracker is connected to a master receiver and there are four other tracks near it." She added: "The other two are located near this tower and two are in an abandoned camp near it." As she replied the weapon is guided back on the ground, with a loud thud, it is pinned on the ground. Minka picks it up and puts it on her back.


    "Well then, let''s head to the tower. The earlier we get there, the higher chance that we can meet whoever is in there." Viola said: "We will leave the tent here." She added.


    "I can carry Sannet." Minka offers.


    "I don''t want to be carried around." Sannet said: "I can walk." She added.


    "Are you sure?" Viola asks.


    "I am not an invalid." Sannet said.


    Minka just chuckles: "Alright then, let''s head out." She said,


    The way towards the tower needs to cross a swamp looking place, and a small forest. Sannet''s ears twitch to gain more intels from the random noises in the environment. Minka notices and puts her hand over Sannet''s head and pets her.


    "Your ears are so cute." She said while petting Sannet: "Say, meow~"


    "..." Sannet just looked at Minka with a slightly annoyed look.


    Viola suddenly hugs Minka from behind and squeezes her breasts: "Aw... you''re so soft." She said while giving a slight massage.


    "H-Hey! What do you think you''re doing?" Minka exclaims in a surprised tone.


    "I can''t help myself..." Viola said while hugging Minka: "You are just so soft and big, I can''t resist." She added.


    "Sannet! Please help me!" Minka says while looking at her friend.


    Sannet just ignores them and keeps on walking, while Leanna is also just standing there watching. Minka tries to resist but she can''t help but feel good after feeling something is being lifted from her chest. After a while, Viola finally lets go and Minka quickly fixes her clothes.


    "Viola! That was just mean!" Minka exclaims.


    "Well, you are so soft I just can''t help myself." Viola said: "And I am pretty sure Lea also wants to do that." She added while looking at Leanna.


    Leanna then looks away from the two and continues walking. Viola looks back at Minka and giggles. Minka puffs her cheek while trying to not look at Leanna. Viola then suddenly grabs Minka''s hand and puts it in front of Leanna''s chest.


    "Ah!" Leanna exclaims.


    "She is also soft...but a bit small though." VIola said while touching Leanna''s breast with Minka''s hand.


    Leanna then blushed while feeling something inside her stomach reacting to this. Minka''s cheeks turned red and her eyes widened as well. Leanna then realized what''s happening and pushed both Minka and Viola away, she then hid her face under the cloak.


    "What? Aww... are you shy?" Viola asks while poking Leanna''s cheeks.


    Leanna kept on walking without replying. Minka then walks forward towards Viola and hits her on the shoulder: "What did you do that for?" She asks.


    "I am just being helpful. Clearly you two are too modest about your feelings." Viola replied: "Besides, she also likes you. She can''t hide her feelings all the time. And you two do like each other, right?" She adds.


    "..." Minka''s face turned all red when Viola said this: "She''s... she''s family, I am just taking care of her like a big sister." She said while avoiding looking at Viola.


    "Yeah... right..." Viola said with a teasing tone: "Then... Why were you two sleeping on the same bed together?" She asks.


    Minka then looked away with a very embarrassed look on her face. Viola just kept on poking her shoulder: "Aw, c''mon Minka... we are all girls here." She said with a gentle tone: "I mean it''s not really weird or something. So what if you two are... you know..." She added.


    "..." Minka tried to ignore her but her face is getting even redder now.


    "Just... talk to her." Viola said: "If you are afraid of rejection, you can tell her that you are just friends but if you feel the same way, you have to let her know... It''s a big step, I know that... but you won''t know if you never try." She added.


    "..." Minka still remained silent while looking away.


    Viola sighs: "C''mon... You don''t have to force yourself to say that... I was just telling you what I think is the best thing to do. But I understand, I am sure there is a way you two can be closer without hurting your friendship..." She added.


    "But she''s..." Minka looks at Leanna who is walking on the front with her back turned to them: "She is always so bright and gentle... I just... I just don''t want to do anything to make her feel sad." She said,


    "That''s just your insecurities speaking." VIola said: "But... it is a bit weird though... I don''t really know how to put it... It feels like your sister complex got... erm... boosted. Pretty sure you get along with Emilia right?" She added.


    "I am not... she is not..." Minka kept on trying to deny it, but she just can''t seem to say it clearly.


    Viola suddenly puts her hand on her shoulder: "I was just messing with you, nothing wrong to get a bit intimate between sisters. But in this case, you should talk to her." She said: "If you just let things be, it might turn out bad. Just think of it as a normal talk between two friends." She added.


    "I see..." Minka said with a small voice: "Thanks..."


    "Just give it a try, I am sure you two can make it work out. I don''t know what happened in the past or if it is some kind of trauma or something... But Lea is not that kind of person." Viola said: "She''s bright, full of energy and very caring to her loved one. She is not the most open person towards her feelings, so I suggest that you help her to get through it." She added.


    "You''re right." Minka said: "I will tell her that..." She added with a bit more confidence: "But why don''t you talk to her?"


    "Oh, me? I am not sure if Lea is even comfortable talking to me...She always seems too polite around me." Viola said: "Also, this should come from someone around her age." She added.


    "Well... I guess." Minka said: "Thanks though..." She added.


    "Don''t mention it." VIola said while giving a little push on Minka''s back.


    After walking for some more time, they finally passed the swamp area and began entering the forest. It is weird that this place can have trees that can grow even without sunlight. The forest is quite large as well and the team kept on walking for a long time, they also saw some animals living here like big insects, weird fish in the swamp, a snake with three heads, and some birds. Minka catches up to Leanna and walks alongside her.


    "Hey, Lea." She called.


    Leanna just looks back and nods her head: "Yes?" She asked.


    "I..." Minka is a bit hesitant on telling her this, but she decided to not be scared and just be straightforward: "I need to talk to you... Can we talk for a bit?" She asks.


    Leanna remained silent for a bit and nodded her head: "Sure." She said with a gentle tone.


    They kept walking for some more time before finally stopping at a nearby lake, and the team decided to rest for a bit. Minka then sat down and Leanna followed after.


    "So... I... want to tell you something important." Minka said with a bit of a shaky voice: "And... I need you to listen and understand... and if you want, I will give you some time before replying." She added.


    "Alright..." Leanna replied with a slightly confused expression.


    Minka took a deep breath and began speaking: "I... I am sure you know this, but... I am pretty sure you don''t really get what you mean to me..." She said while looking away from Leanna''s gaze: "It''s... it''s not just a simple relationship between two sisters." She added: "I really care for you... You''re always so bright and energetic and nice to me... And I can''t help but be very happy when I am with you. You make me feel safe and... I can''t stop feeling like that..." She said with a slightly nervous voice. Minka then rubs her legs together due to being nervous.


    "..." Leanna is just listening quietly with a calm expression.


    Minka then keeps on going: "And when I think of you... I feel this warm sensation in my chest. I... I want to always stay by your side... I want to protect you. And it makes me very happy to see you happy and... i... I really don''t want to hurt you if I tell you that..."


    "That?" Leanna asks.


    Minka''s face turns all red again, she took a deep breath and exhaled: "I..." She began: "I love you... as a family member but... anything more than that is just... not right. It''s... it''s not right for sisters to love romantically each other... not like that..." She said with a shaky voice.


    After a few moments of silence, Leanna opened her mouth: "Thank you..." She said with a smile on her face: "But it''s okay, I understand now." She added.


    "What? R-Really?" Minka''s eyes widened: "Aren''t you mad or something?" She asks: "Please, if you feel sad you need to tell me."


    "I am not." Leanna said: "I mean, I am glad you are honest towards me. And it is not wrong for sisters to love each other... and you know what they say, love is not always romance." She added.


    "But I... I don''t want you to get hurt..." Minka said: "It will be awkward and it will be embarrassing..."


    "Don''t worry, I understand." Leanna said: "You can just be yourself around me, it will not change anything." She added while gently pats Minka''s shoulder.


    "Really?" Minka asks.


    "Yeah, of course. Even though we are cousins, I see you more like a sister. And I am sure that you feel the same. So why not? We don''t have to put a label or anything like that." Leanna said with a bright smile on her face: "You are a big sister for me, right? I can count on you anytime." She added.


    "Of course you can! You can always count on me." Minka said with a cheerful tone: "I am always here for you, always!" She added while giving Leanna a tight hug.


    "Aww..." VIola and Sannet were watching from a distance.


    Minka and Leanna both blushed but they didn''t break the hug yet.


    Viola suddenly ran forward and hugged Minka as well: "I am just being part of the hug." She said while hugging the two of them: "Sannet come on! This is a team moment!" She exclaims while spreading her arms.


    Sannet just sighs: "This is stupid..." She said,


    Leanna and Minka''s faces were still all red.


    Sannet just sighed and walked over, she also hugged them while Viola was on the other side.


    "Aww... isn''t this nice? We can be a family anytime!" Viola said.


    After the hug ended, they continued their journey towards the tower. The nervous look on Minka is all gone now and replaced with a bright and confident expression.


    "Sannet! Tell me more about your story!" Minka asks.


    "Why?" Sannet replies.


    "Because I am curious." Minka said.


    "..." Sannet sighed: "Fine... What do you want to know?" She asks.


    "Well, what is your story? Where are you from? How did you end up here?" Minka asks with sparkling eyes: "C''mon, tell me!" She


    "My story?" Sannet let out a sigh: "I was a judicator before I went through the bio-transference. I was in the middle of an investigation on your father but when I finally got to his hideout... I was captured by the man and taken to furnace." She explained: "I was tortured and then was turned into a puppet for him to do his bidding... " She now looks at Minka in a grim expression: "This is my past, and now you understand why I hate you father." She added.


    Minka''s expression changes, she looks at Sannet with a bittersweet gaze: "I see..." She said: "I am sorry..." She added: "And I will make it up to you instead of my father." She added.


    "Yeah... and I am just not interested in you..." Sannet said while looking away from Minka''s gaze: "And I don''t need to be comforted. One day... I will make him pay." She added.


    "Please... if you have any resentment, let me make it up to you... Dad raised me and protected me. I want to make it up for him." Minka said while grabbing Sannet''s hand: "I am your friend, please tell me how i can help you."


    "..." Sannet just looks away with a blank expression: "There''s nothing that can be done..." She said with a monotonous voice.


    Minka was silent after this, but she kept holding Sannet''s hand. She is thinking to herself about what Sannet has told her. After a while, she decided to just get on with it: "Sannet... I was being honest about what I said back there. If the time comes... i will make it up for him." She said,


    Sannet was silent at first, she looked at Minka who was still holding her hand. Sannet sighed, and said: "You don''t have to make it up for him. He brought this upon himself. I don''t want anything from you." She said while pulling her hand away.


    "Then..." Minka suddenly got closer and put her head on Sannet''s chest, she could hear a heartbeat and that made her smile: "If there''s something you need, please let me know." She said while wrapping her arms around Sannet.


    "What are you doing?" Sannet raises her eyebrow.


    "Nothing... Just wanted to feel your heartbeat...So I can understand how you truly feel." Minka replied.


    Sannet remained silent for a bit, she just stared at Minka for a bit before eventually letting out a small sigh: "...I really don''t like you." She said,


    "Yeah, I know." Minka replied: "And that''s okay, I know you are trying your best not to get close to me." She added: "I can hear it from your heart beat, but don''t worry, I am strong and I can protect myself." She said with a proud expression.


    "..." Sannet sighed again and just decided to leave her alone: "Whatever." She said,


    Minka just smiles brightly after that and continues walking, Viola smiles slightly when she sees this, while Leanna just chuckles. Sannet is still not very comfortable with Minka, but she can''t really help but feel calm whenever she is around. They continued their way towards the tower and they finally reached the entrance of the structure after a day of walking.

 Chapter 17

    "Woah..." Minka gasps when she sees the building, it''s much bigger than she expected: "That''s huge... How long has that been here?" She asks.


    "Don''t know, but it shouldn''t be longer than a few decades. The ground here looks like it was dug up recently." Sannet said: "I think we should not get too close to this place. We might get into trouble." She added.


    "But isn''t it the place where the main tracking signal came from?" Minka asks: "Won''t it be easier to get inside than anywhere else?"


    "Don''t you think there will be an army there? I mean it is a military base for tracking the signals. We are not really supposed to be here at all." Sannet said: "It is best that we look around and find something else." She added.


    "I guess you are right." Minka said: "We should look for somewhere else and check it out. Hmmmmm," she began thinking about where they should look next, "We need a place where we can find information about this place... Any ideas?"


    Everyone shakes their head: "I think it''s a lost case." Sannet said.


    "..." Leanna remained silent.


    "Lea? Are you okay?" Minka asks with a bit of a worried look on her face: "You were all silent and spaced out..." She adds.


    "I am fine." Leanna said: "I was just thinking if we could find the master receiver through the signal of the tracking station, but I doubt it." She said: "Maybe we should just look around and see what we can find." She added.


    "Don''t you fucking move." Suddenly before they could even react, a group of soldiers appeared from invisibility and pointed their guns towards them: "Just stay still or you will be dead meat." They said with a rather mean tone: "On your knees now!"


    Everyone looks at each other before they kneel down and place their hands on their head. One of the soldiers then came towards them and placed a cuff on Minka''s wrist, it''s the same one used by the inquisition, but from the weight of it it''s weaker than the one they have.


    "No... Don''t!" Minka exclaimed as she saw her friend getting cuffed.


    "Don''t move or we will shoot." The soldier said while pointing his gun to Sannet.


    Sannet just glared at them: "..." Sannet remained silent but looked around as if finding ways to escape.


    After they cuffed everyone, they put them inside the car. It''s a small vehicle that can carry up to eight people and it has a kind of force field to protect the passengers from gunshot and missile attack. Minka is sitting next to Sannet, Viola and Leanna are sitting across from them. The soldiers on the other side are sitting across from the girls.


    "Well I didn''t expect we would go in like this." Leanna said. But then a soldier hits her cheek with the butt of his rifle, causing her to spit out a bit of blood.


    "DON''T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Minka yells while struggling to get loose from the cuff.


    "Just shut up!" One of the soldiers said "And what are you? Some kind of scumbag? You should be grateful to us, we saved you." He added.


    "Saved us?" Viola asks with a snarky tone.


    "Yes... that''s right... we saved you from getting killed by the monsters that''s everywhere in this place." The soldier said with a slight annoyed expression: "And now you should be grateful for our captain who has a no kill on sight policy in this place." He added.


    "If you really did, then why were we captured? We are not the bad guys here!" Minka exclaimed.


    "You think the abyss is some kind of tourist spot? That''s ridiculous." The soldier replied: "Besides, how are we supposed to know your true intention? If you have something to say, save it for our captain." He added.


    Minka was about to talk but she suddenly felt someone was touching her hand and when she looked at Sannet, she was just staring back at her, then Minka noticed that the handcuff on Sannet''s hand was loose.


    "..." Minka didn''t say anything and just looked at Sannet''s eyes.


    "We are here." One of the soldiers suddenly says.


    The moment the door opens, Sannet uses her hand to break off the handcuff on Minka and immediately knocks out the soldiers with them with a blow to the neck. Minka charges out and drops a few soldiers on her way. Leanna uses her wind blade to cut open the handcuff on herself and Viola. The soldiers are trying to get their guns but Minka is standing on top of them.


    "Don''t move! If you move I will have to put you down!" Minka said while pointing the weapon at one of the soldiers.


    Out of instinct, Minka felt something cold behind her, and with a loud noise, she got knocked off the ground a dozen meters away. Minka grunts and gets back up while gripping her head: "What in the world was that...?"


    "Stand down, or I will have to hurt you more." A familiar voice came out from the person who kicked Minka away: "We will not hurt you if you just surrender yourself." She said,


    "..." Minka''s expression changed when she saw the woman in front of her: "Mom?" She said with a surprised expression.


    "Minka?" Monika''s eyes widened when she saw the face of her daughter: "Why are you here?"


    "Mom!" Minka rushes forward and hugs her mother tight: "I... I missed you so much! Are you okay? Where have you been? Are you hurt anywhere?" She asks with a worried tone.


    "Minka?... Are you real?" Monika is so surprised by this, she keeps looking around her, thinking that it''s some kind of hallucination.


    "Yes mom, I am real! And I am here to save you!" Minka exclaimed with a happy tone.


    Monika then looks at the people with Minka:" Wait... why are you guys here?" She asks.


    "Well..." Minka began telling the story to her mother, the team just remained silent and listened to Minka''s story. When she is done telling her story, Monika is just silent for a moment. Monika then pulls Minka''s earlobe.


    "Ow! Mom, what are you doing?" Minka eyes shut due to the pain.


    "What the hell were you thinking?" Monika asks with a firm tone: "Why in the world would you come here? Don''t you know what kind of danger you''ve been putting yourself into?" She added.


    "I-I... But..." Minka is so confused by her mother''s words: "I thought...you were in trouble... I came here to save you..." She said,


    "Aw..." Monika''s tone softens and hugs her daughter tight: "My brave brave Minky... you are now saving others? Mom is so proud of you." She said while petting Minka''s head.


    Viola never really notices but Minka looks more like her mother than her dad. But she still has her father''s eyes and that unexplainable expression sometimes Minka has which makes her reminiscent of Trazyn during the limited time they met.


    "I missed you..." Minka said while laying her head on her mother''s chest.


    "I missed you too, sweetie." Monika replied: "But I don''t understand why you are here... It is too dangerous for you." She added.


    "But mom! I am here to get out with you, together." Minka said with a firm tone: "And you don''t have to worry about dad... he''s fine, he is not seeing other women." She added.


    Monika can''t help but chuckle: "I don''t care about that!" She said: "I am more worried about your safety." She added.


    "Mom, I will be fine. I have my friends and we have a plan." Minka replied: "Please let me help you!"


    Monika then looks around: "Wait, you brought Lea here?!" She asks with a surprised tone: "Oh no, Nova is going to kill me if she knows about this" She added.


    "Lea can take care of herself!" Minka exclaimed: "We are a team, we take care of each other." She said with a confident tone.


    "Minka..." Monika began: "How many times do I have to tell you not to be reckless like this?" She asked with a firm tone: "Just like in school, remember you threw that boy down from the staircase because he insulted you?" She added.


    "Mom!" Minka said: "He was bullying me and my friends! I will do it again if he ever does it again." She added.


    "Yeah right, did you have any friends after that?" Monika asks with a stern gaze.


    Minka looked away with a sad expression on her face: "Not really..." She said with a soft voice.


    "I am sorry." Monika hugs her daughter tight: "I just didn''t expect to see you here..." She added.


    "I''m here now!" Minka exclaimed with a cheerful tone: "And we will go back home together!" She added.


    Monika smiled at her daughter''s optimism: "You''re right... But... I can''t leave yet." She said: "We are doing something big right now and... I will be leaving this place soon, but I still have a few things to do." She added.


    "What?" Minka asks: "Mom... please, tell me what you''re doing here!" She added.


    "I am sorry Minky, but this is something I can''t tell you." Monika said: "It''s just something important that will benefit us all."


    "Then tell me what happened to Legend." Minka pouts: "You are hiding something, aren''t you?"


    Monika''s eyes widened in surprise when Minka asked that question unprompted:"Minka, just don''t." Monika said with a stern gaze: "I don''t know where you heard that name from, but please, it is ancient history that will not change anything." She added: "Please trust your mother."


    "Mom! It''s me, Minka! Your daughter! What is so important that you can''t even tell me?!" Minka asks.


    "Enough, Minka. This is no place to discuss this matter." Monika''s face became serious: "Please, take your friends and rest for a bit."


    "No! It is something really bad, isn''t it?" Minka asks with a worried tone: "Mom, please..." She added.


    "Minka... I can''t say anything more." Monika replied: "And please don''t do anything rash, I can''t take the stress if you get hurt." She added.


    "Mom... please..." Minka pleaded with tears in her eyes.


    Sannet then tapped Minka''s shoulder: "It''s enough Minka. Just leave it at this." She said,


    "You and dad keep hiding things from me... why?" Minka asks: "Why won''t you tell me the truth? Why are you hiding it from me?" She asked.


    "Minka... it is not like that. It''s not something I can just tell you within five minutes. You need to grow up." Monika said.


    "Grow up?" Minka let out a faint scoff: "We are done here... whatever you are hiding, I will unearth it myself..." She said: "And you will be sorry when I find out what it is that you''re trying to hide!" She added.


    "Minka... you are being stupid. Just listen to your mother." Monika replied with a stern tone: "And no... all of you can''t leave. It is for your own safety." She added."I can''t let you go out now. You are under my command and you will do as I say. Or I will have to detain you all." Monika said while grabbing Minka''s arm: "Minka, please stop." She added.


    "No, you''re the one who needs to stop!" Minka exclaimed while struggling to get out of her mother''s grasp: "Let me go!"


    "Detain all of them." Monika orders her soldiers.


    "Yes, ma''am." The soldier replied and encircled all of them.


    Minka grunts and looks at her friends, they all nod their heads and get into a fighting position. Seeing this, Monika let out a sigh and just let go of her daughter''s arm.


    "Mom?" Minka asks.


    "Just go... I don''t want to hurt you... You are my daughter, I can''t do that to you." Monika said while looking away from Minka''s gaze: "And I am sure if you hear the whole story, you will understand. But I can''t tell you now." She added.


    "They can''t leave." A familiar voice came from the tower: "That girl has something we want." It added.


    "Is that dad...?" Minka asks with a surprised expression.


    Everyone was silent after this, the thing that came out however, isn''t a man. It is a machine on wheels: "Minka, hand over your weapon." It said while approaching Minka.


    "This is not dad... then who are you?" Minka asks.


    "I am the archivist." The machine said: "I don''t think you''ve heard of me before, but now, give me your weapon."


    Minka was silent, but then she said with a determined tone: "You''re not getting it." She said,


    "Then I have no choice but to make you surrender it." The archivist replied: "You see, I don''t really care if you are dead or not. I just need the weapon. Monika, kill this girl." He added.


    "Mom?" Minka asks with a worried expression on her face.


    "Minka..." Monika said while walking forward: "I am sorry... I didn''t want it to come to this. This is all.. for the best of the world." She added.


    "Monika! No!" Sannet exclaimed. She then knocked Minka away from the impact of Monika''s attack.


    Minka falls on the ground and she gets up to find her mother is attacking her friends: "Stop mom!" She exclaims.


    Leanna and Viola are dishing out attacks, but it only took Monika a split second to get in front of them and throw them on the ground. She then lets the soldiers detain them while she''s focusing on Sannet.


    "Don''t hurt them!" Minka yells: "You promised! You said you will protect them!" She added.


    "And I will!" Monika said: "I will protect all of you!" She added while jumping towards Sannet, but then she suddenly felt something behind her and she was knocked off the ground with a loud thud. Minka threw a boulder to her mother.


    "Minka? Why?" Monika asks with a surprised tone.


    "Shut up!" Minka yells: "I will not let you take us in!" Minka''s eyes begin glowing in yellow light, soon a shock wave is released from her body. It blows Monika and the soldiers away, as well as the archivist.


    Sannet is bracing herself for the shockwave, but it is stronger than she thought.


    "I am not to let anyone hurt my friends!" Minka yelled while overwhelming power was out flowing from her body, the soldiers all ran into cover, only Monika was standing in front of her daughter.


    "Minka... don''t..." Monika says while having a look of helplessness on her face.


    "No! You don''t know anything!" Minka exclaimed with tears in her eyes: "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" She added. The ground began to crack and shards of rocks began to attack Monika.


    Monika grunts while blocking them all, she then gets up and dashes towards her daughter. Minka uses her powers to push her mother away but Monika quickly gets up. She then tries to punch Minka but she stops the fist with her hands. This however, made some blood come out of Minka''s nose.


    Minka just pushed her mother back and began attacking her, the soldiers all ran to help but then the archivist stopped them: "Fascinating... the energy level here is... astounding." He said.


    Minka then kneels on the ground, the golden power is emitting out from her body, lightening up the entire area. Heat and shock waves are running through every corner of the battlefield. She then looks at her mother, tears of anger falling down on her cheek.


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    Monika lets out a sigh and pulls out a weapon from her belt: "Minka, I am sorry..." She said with a regretful tone. Monika suddenly disappeared in front of Minka. Just when Minka is about to unleash another attack, Monika appears behind her and puts a collar on her neck. The collar is electrified and it was enough to make Minka fall on the ground with an impact. The golden aura from her body vanished as well.


    Monika pulled the weapon out from Minka''s back: "So our father gave it to you..." She said while looking at the weapon: "This should''ve been a family decision."


    "Mom... don''t¡­" Minka said while struggling to get up.


    "Minka... I am so sorry." Monika said: "I didn''t want this to happen... But you give me no choice." She then throws the weapon at the Archivist.


    "Now, detain them." Monika said while getting back on her feet.


    Minka tries to struggle off the collar but the constant stream of electricity quickly disperse any of her potential resistance, while she''s trying to get up but the soldiers are already surrounding her. The soldiers are pinning her down and tying her hands behind her back.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t hurt you." Monika said while walking over to her daughter: "I am going to remove the collar now, just don''t do anything rash, alright?"


    "..." Minka now isn''t even looking at her mother anymore.


    Monika sighed and took off the collar, the moment it was off, Minka felt like all of her energy was drained away. Her eyes began closing on their own, and she could feel herself losing consciousness. Soon Minka isn''t reacting to anything anymore.


    Monika sighs and picks Minka up, she then carries her daughter inside the tower and locks her with her friends into a prison cell. The soldiers then dismissed and off to their other duties. Monika walks towards the entrance of the lab and sees the archivist inside.


    "Well done, my dear..." The archivist says: "You will soon be free from all the stress."


    "You better make this worth it... I have no idea how to face my daughter after this incident." Monika said with a stern gaze.


    "I don''t care. Once I get what I want, we will all be free." The archivist said: "I don''t have to tell you what that is." He then uses his mechanical tool kit to open a small compartment of the weapon. And then he takes out a small chip: "And this is the key ingredient..." He emits some evil laughter from his speaker.


    "What is this? " Monika asks with a confused expression.


    "It is a small data chip. This contains all the records about my dear dear daughter. Minka... you will soon be alive." The archivist says while staring at the chip.


    "Minka..." Monika said while looking at the weapon.


    Inside the prison cell, everyone is just sitting on the corner. Sannet is sitting on the ground meditating, Minka and Leanna lean on each other for comfort, while Viola is just sleeping on the side.


    "Minka... I am sorry." Monika said when she came inside the cell: "I didn''t mean to hurt you..." She added while looking at Minka.


    Minka just ignores her mother, she is just staring at the wall.


    "You''re not going to say anything?" Monika asks with a worried expression: "Minky... I know your sulking face... Please talk to me." She added.


    "..." Minka didn''t say anything and she was just looking at the wall.


    "Aunt Monika?" Leanna suddenly said: "What''s the meaning of this?" She asked with a confused expression.


    "..." Monika was silent after that, she looked away and sighed: "This is just something we have to do. For the best of the world..." She added.


    "Woah, that sounds like what my mother would say. What a weird feeling..." Viola said while yawning.


    "Minka..." Monika kneels next to her daughter: "Please... I know you are mad at me, but don''t do anything rash... Please... trust me on this." She added.


    Minka remained silent.


    "I promise, I will make it up to you, if you just listen to me..." Monika said: "It''s for the best of us... of the world... I am doing this because I care about you and everyone."


    "Alright that''s enough." Sannet suddenly stood up and blocked Monika from reaching Minka: "Stop bothering her, she doesn''t want to talk to you." She said with a cold tone.


    "Sannet... what are you doing?" Monika asks: "Move, this is my daughter!" She added.


    "Yeah, and she has the right to be mad at you, and she doesn''t have to listen to anything you say." Sannet replied: "I know you are worried about her, but this is just stupid. You sound like the worst of Nova and Trazyn." She added.


    "..." Monika was silent after that, she looked away and said: "You... you don''t understand." She added.


    "I don''t care. Just stop pestering her." Sannet said while still having that usual expressionless face.


    Monika just left the prison cell in silence, after she''s gone, Viola took out a small key from the palm of her hand: "Well, i thought that''d be harder." She said while unlocking the prison cell: "Nice work, Minka."


    "..." Minka didn''t say anything, she was still staring at the wall.


    "Oh boy... Now she''s pissed at me..." Viola said while rubbing her head: "I know you are mad at your mom, but look... we can escape now and take it back at her later." She added.


    "I don''t care about her!" Minka exclaimed while glaring at Viola: "Just leave me alone! I hate her!" She added.


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, chill out." Viola replied: "I get it, you are mad at her, and I can understand why." She added: "Besides, if you really want revenge on her, you have to get out of this place first. So do us all a favor and stop being so stubborn." She added.


    Minka''s expression changes from anger to regret, she then looks at Viola: "Sorry..." She said while wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt: "I am ready."


    Viola nodded her head and unlocked the handcuff from Minka''s hands with one of the keys. Then the door to the prison cell opened, and then everyone walked out.


    "Where are we going now?" Minka asks.


    "Well..." Viola began thinking: "We need to find out why they need Minka''s weapon." She said while looking around: "There has to be a lab or something like that..."


    "And where are we going to find one of those?" Leanna asks with a confused expression: "What are we supposed to do, barge into their office and ask where their lab is?"


    Sannet then came out from a corner while choking on some guy''s throat: "Where is your lab?" She asked in a cold voice.


    The soldier didn''t answer, he just stared at Sannet with a terrified expression on his face.


    "You have three seconds." Sannet said while tightening the grip on his throat.


    "It is... It''s on the basement floor." The soldier replied.


    "Is that all?" Sannet asked while letting go of his neck.


    The soldier just nodded his head, then Sannet knocked him out by hitting him on the back of the head.


    "Well, now we have an idea." Sannet said: "Let''s go." She added.


    "Woah... you are terrifying..." Leanna said while having a look of amazed on her face.


    Sannet didn''t say anything and just walked out the door.


    After walking a few minutes, the group reached a set of stairs leading to the basement floor, Sannet then immediately broke the door open. Everyone then followed her and they were surprised to see a lot of machinery inside the room.


    "This is not a lab¡­" Minka said with a surprised tone.


    "Wait a minute, this is a storage room for weapons." Viola points on the shelf: "That is my gun." She added.


    Sannet then saw a familiar weapon in the corner of the room: "What... Is that?" She asks while walking towards it.


    "Don''t touch it!" A voice suddenly came out from the weapon: "It''s dangerous if you touch it."


    Monika walked into the room while looking rather mad: "I see that you''re free now...for once in your life Minka, can you not do things like this?" She asks.


    Minka was silent when she saw her mother, she just stared at her without saying anything.


    "Now listen here." Monika said while looking at everyone: "If you want to leave this place, fine. But Minka and Leanna stay, I have a responsibility to take care of them." She added.


    "Yeah... right, what responsibility? You were the one who locked us here!" Minka exclaimed: "You are the worst!" She added.


    Monika then glared at Minka, she was about to retort when Viola stepped in between: "Minka, don''t talk to her like that." She said: "She is your mother, you should know how she feels about you." She added.


    "She has a point, so calm down Minka." Sannet added while glaring at Monika: "Monika, I know you don''t want to see us get hurt, but there has to be another way, isn''t that right?" She asked.


    "..." Monika just remained silent.


    "Does the archivist have something on you? He can easily kill us all and destroy the whole place if he wants to..." Sannet said: "You and I both know what he did." She added.


    "I am sorry." Monika said: "But I don''t have any choice... I am trying to do something important here." She added: "I don''t want you to be killed out there." She pulled out her sword.


    "..." Sannet was silent for a moment, and she said: "Minka, Leanna, get behind me." She then said with a serious tone.


    "Sannet, don''t." Monika exclaimed while pointing the sword at Sannet: "This will only end badly for you. You are a friend. Please don''t do this." She added.


    "Sorry, but I can''t trust you after what happened." Sannet replied: "Three of you run as fast as possible." She added.


    "What?" Viola asks: "I am not going anywhere!" She exclaimed.


    "If you value Minka and Leanna''s safety, you have to." Sannet replied: "It will be safer for them if they run now, don''t you agree?" She added.


    Viola bit her lower lip and began to run towards the exit of the tower.


    Seeing they are gone, Sannet pulled out her sword: "I''ve always hated you since the day we met." She said: "You are the one who made him weak and sentimental." She added.


    Monika''s eyes widened after hearing that, she was about to say something but then she just remained silent.


    "Don''t say anything, I don''t care." Sannet used her finger to swipe away a black film on her sword, then the sword began glittering in frost mist: "Let''s get this over with." She said while dashing forward.


    Monika''s expression changed from her usual calm expression to a battle ready one, she then slashed towards Sannet but she immediately parried the strike and pushed Monika back. She then rushed forward to attack but Monika quickly blocked it by pulling out another sword from the sheath. The two then began a fierce exchange of blows, sparks began flying from their swords whenever they clashed with each other.


    "You have gotten much stronger than I last remembered." Monika said with a smile.


    "That''s not important right now." Sannet replied while pushing Monika back with an elbow: "Stop talking, it only wastes my time." She added.


    The two then exchange another volley of strikes, Sannet then tried to hit Monika on the side of her neck with her elbow. Monika noticed it and quickly blocked it with the back of her hand, but it left a red mark on her cheek. She then thrusts her sword towards Sannet but she blocked it with her own sword.


    Monika is able to push her back and knocks her off the ground, but Sannet quickly uses her teleportation power to appear in front of Monika and delivers a fierce kick towards her face. Monika grabbed Sannet''s ankle with only one hand and smashed her on the ground with such force that the entire floor was shaking.


    Sannet jumps back up but her vision is slightly blurry, she is unable to see the enemy properly and she gets kicked by Monika on the chest. The blow is so powerful that Sannet is sent flying back. She crashed through the shelf and fell on the ground. Monika then jumps over to her and delivers a series of heavy blows that Sannet can barely block. She tried to get up, but she was immediately knocked back down on the ground again: "Submit." Monika said with a firm tone.


    "No!" Sannet exclaimed while struggling to get up.


    Monika didn''t say anything, she just stood in her battle ready stance.


    Sannet then gets up to her feet and dashes towards Monika with all her power, her eyes begin glowing in red and she strikes with such ferocity that she is able to push Monika back with each blow. But Monika quickly counters her strike by kicking her in the abdomen and sending her flying back again.


    Sannet coughs out a bit of blood and tries to get up, but her body won''t respond properly, she feels like her muscles are getting weak. The surrounding temperature began to drop as Sannet''s sword began glowing in power. Her hair begins glimmering, her eyes are turning bloodshot.


    Monika realized this and she quickly dashed towards Sannet but she immediately stopped when she heard a loud noise and the room began shaking: "What did you do?" She asks.


    Sannet''s power begins increasing by the second, she quickly gets up and delivers a series of powerful attacks that sends Monika flying back. Ice shards began flying everywhere and the surrounding temperature dropped even more. The ice on Sannet''s hair is covering her entire body, it is glimmering and it looks like it is alive.


    Monika blocks one of Sannet''s attacks but the force from Sannet''s blow is enough to push her back, she then tries to slash Sannet but she teleports to another location.


    "What have you done to yourself?" Monika asked while staring at her: "And how did you gain this kind of power?" She added.


    "What does it matter?" Sannet asked with a cold voice: "I am doing this simply¡­ to spite you." She added.


    "..." Monika was silent after that.


    "Don''t worry... I won''t kill you..." Sannet said while slowly walking towards Monika: "Not yet..." She added.


    "Sannet..." Monika suddenly disappeared from where she stood: "You are not the only one growing in power..." She said while appearing behind her and her sword was glowing in red light.


    Sannet turns her body around to face Monika but she was knocked out of the ground before she could react. She crashed through a bunch of shelfs and fell on the floor, her entire body full of cuts and bruises. She felt her entire body hurt but she still stands up.


    "You can''t win this, Sannet." Monika said with a serious tone: "This ends here." She added.


    "No, this is just the beginning." Sannet said while taking a fighting stance: "We are not done yet." Green light began phasing out from Sannet''s arm, a phase blade came out of nowhere. She then lunged forward and delivered a series of powerful strikes towards Monika, but each blow was parried by her.


    But Sannet''s body is already weakened to the extreme, Monika simply dodges the last strike and grabs Sannet by her collar. Her phase blade fell on the ground with a loud noise, and Sannet''s power began fluctuating and vanished in an instant. She is unable to speak anymore, her body is shaking because of the impact of the collision. Monika just stared at Sannet for a moment before throwing her on the ground with great force.


    Sannet didn''t scream when she was thrown on the ground, but her body is still in tremendous pain, blood is leaking from her nose and mouth: "I think I''ve bought enough time for them..." She said with a tired voice.


    "I told you to surrender." Monika said with a cold tone: "Do you really want me to kill you?" She added.


    "Go ahead." Sannet said with a smirk: "I don''t care anymore... It doesn''t matter anymore..." She added while coughing up a bit of blood.


    Monika gave Sannet a hand napkin: "Clean yourself up and go find Minka... Stay with her, take care of her on my stead." She said: "If you are not back now¡­ she will hate me even more."


    "I won''t do it." Sannet said while standing up: "You can order me around all you want but I will not betray my friends. Even if it means my life. You would just use me to find them." She added.


    "..." Monika sighed: "I don''t want to hurt you anymore... Please." She said,


    "You are just like the archivist... but instead of being honest, you sugar coat your true intention with the illusion of doing what is best for the world. I hate people like you." Sannet said: "You are just trying to do this out of guilt... because you think you failed to protect the other Minka." She added.


    "..." Monika was silent.


    "But it doesn''t matter." Sannet said while sitting beside the wall: "It doesn''t matter anymore." She added: "Just let me die in peace and leave Minka alone, she will never trust you again after this incident." She added.


    "..." Monika was silent for a moment, she then pulled out a syringe and injected it on Sannet''s neck: "Shut up... I can''t let you die here." She added.


    Sannet didn''t say anything, she just stared at Monika with a serious expression. She then said: "You are a monster..."


    "No... I am not..." Monika replied: "I am just a mother... Doing the only thing I can to protect my daughter." She added.


    "..." Sannet was silent after that. She collapsed on the ground and began breathing heavily. Soon, she closed her eyes.


    "I am sorry... But I have to do this for the best." Monika said while staring at the unconscious Sannet. Monika then left the storage room to find Minka and her friends, she still can''t bring herself to talk to her daughter after what happened.


    Inside the tower, the archivist is browsing inside his personal office. He is currently looking at a screen of data that shows his daughter''s records. The archivist then presses the enter key, a hologram of Minka begins projecting in the air: "Well well well... isn''t this a treasure that i found..." He then activated what is called a ''digital life'' program. Soon after, Minka''s voice came from inside of the computer.


    "What is this... is this the after life?" Minka asks.


    "Hello, dear daughter..." The archivist said with a rather¡­ menacing tone: "You don''t know who you are do you?" He asks.


    "I am... Minka Terra... daughter of Eden Terra and Tra-." Minka''s voice suddenly is at a pause: "Is that you... dad." She added.


    "I am glad to hear that." The archivist said with a smile: "It has been so long, I thought I won''t be able to talk to you again..."


    "So this is after life... Thank goodness. I was wondering when mom is going to come to talk to me." Minka said.


    "No, Minka. This is very real. You are now the first digital lifeform created through the use of digital life." The archivist said with a smile: "I have overcome so many difficulties to get you back... My own daughter." He added.


    "You are kidding me..." Minka suddenly sounded upset: "I never wanted this. Shut me down! You bastard!" She added.


    The archivist was silent for a moment: "I know... but it doesn''t matter. You are now mine, and no one can ever change that."


    "This is why I killed you... I know what you will do if you get your hands on me or mom." Minka said.


    "Well, don''t worry... I don''t really care what you think." The archivist said: "All I want is your company." He added.


    "You are so twisted..." Minka said: "I am not like you, I don''t care about all that power stuff. I will not follow you like the others." She added.


    "Now, now... I am sure you''ll change your mind in a while." His tone changed more sinister than usual: "I have a host for you. A human body to be exact. You can go out and live like a normal human. You can eat, sleep, walk on the street, and whatever else. You will love it." He added.


    "How? What do you mean by a host?" Minka asks: "Oh..." She suddenly realized it: "No fucking way i am doing that. Just let me fucking die in peace." She added.


    "But here you are, And this is my own personal data chip. You cannot escape." The archivist said: "You will not die until I let you go." He added.


    "You... You''re sick... What is wrong with you." Minka said with a disgusted expression through the machine.


    The archivist doesn''t say anything, he just stares at Minka.


    "I won''t do it. I will not follow you. I am not like you." Minka said: "You can forget about me... I won''t help you, I will never serve you." She added.


    "I see... It doesn''t matter..." The archivist said: "I will find another way to create the perfect digital lifeform, it won''t take long since this planet has plenty of hosts to choose from...And I will revive your mother, my wife. We could be a family again." He added.


    "You won''t succeed..."


    "We''ll see about that..." The archivist then tapped Minka out.


    Outside in the forest, Minka and her friends have been running for a good hour. They are all out of breath, they didn''t have a single minute to rest as they are still being pursued by Monika and the soldiers.


    "I know you guys want to stop but we can''t! We have to keep running." Viola said: "They are coming for us!" She added.


    "Viola, please... Please just let me rest for a while..." Leanna said while catching her breath: "I can''t run anymore." She added.


    Viola remained silent for a while:" Fine, let''s take a short break." She takes out her water canteen: "Take this." She handed it to Leanna.


    "Thanks..." Leanna took the canteen and gulped down its content.


    Minka sits on a rock while hiding her face with her knees: "This is my fault... This is all my fault." She whispered: "Sannet is captured and... my own mother is hunting me down."


    "Minka... It will be okay... Don''t worry about that." Viola said while rubbing Minka''s shoulder: "We will surely get through this and save Sannet. Just believe in yourself." She added.


    "I just wish... I wish that none of this would have ever happened..." Minka said while looking at Viola: "We shouldn''t even try to find the truth about the legend..."


    "Hey, I am not going to let you blame yourself for this." Viola said while giving her a firm look: "We don''t know what would have happened if we never tried. I mean, sure, this is not good but it isn''t your fault." She added: "We all make mistakes, we all hurt others, sometimes by accident. But this is no time to be crying, this is time to be strong and get back on our feet." She added.


    Minka is silent after that.


    "Yeah... I''m not going to lie, it doesn''t look good right now but we will be alright, Minka." Leanna said while sitting next to her: "We''ll find Sannet and make sure she is safe. Then we will find the weapon and bring it back to you. It''s a promise!" She added.


    "Yeah..." Minka didn''t say anything for a while before she started crying: "I just want this to stop... I just want everyone to be safe... This is so stressful..."


    "It''s okay..." Leanna said while rubbing Minka''s back: "I am here... Viola is here... We will never let you feel sad." She added.


    Minka nodded her head and looked at Leanna, she then suddenly realized that Leanna is injured and her clothes are full of dirt.


    "Leanna, you''re hurt." Minka said: "I am so sorry." She added.


    "What? Oh..." Leanna looked at her wound: "It''s okay... It doesn''t hurt anymore, just a little blood." She added.


    Minka took out a cloth from her dimensional pocket and gently wiped the blood off from Leanna''s wound: "It looks so painful." She added.


    "No it doesn''t, it doesn''t hurt." Leanna said: "It''s just a little cut, no biggie." She added.


    Minka began wiping Leanna''s wound with a wet cloth but Leanna flinched when it touched her wound. Minka looked at her and she noticed that Leanna was having trouble holding her hand.


    "Sorry... Does it hurt?" Minka asks.


    "No, it''s just... Cold." Leanna replied: "I am not hurt at all." She added.


    "But I saw you were hurt earlier..." Minka said with a concerned expression.


    "Well... It''s fine." Leanna replied: "Really, I am okay..." She added.


    Minka stared at Leanna''s wound for a while before wrapping her wound with the cloth.


    "Leanna... I am sorry." Minka said with a worried tone: "I never thought that something like this would happen... I never thought you''d be hurt." She added.


    "Minka... don''t worry, this is not your fault. There was nothing you could do about this. I am okay, really." Leanna replied: "You have done enough to protect me..." She added.


    "I''m gonna go take a look, see if they are coming." Viola said while standing up: "You two rest up a bit, you deserve it." She added.


    Viola walks into the forest for a bit to see if Monika and the soldiers are still chasing them, she also looks out to see if there are any signs of other people around. Suddenly she heard something from behind her: "...Viola." The voice came from the direction she was just coming from.

 Chapter 18

    "..." Viola then slowly turned her head towards where the voice came from and saw Monika standing behind her: "Put away the weapon, I am not here to hurt you." Monika said while putting down her weapon.


    "..." Viola then slowly turned around and she looked Monika into her eyes: "You... What did you do with Sannet?" She asked while stepping forward: "What have you done?" She added.


    "She is fine, don''t worry." Monika said while slowly walking towards Viola: "I am sorry... It wasn''t supposed to happen this way... I didn''t mean to hurt anyone." She added.


    "How did you find us?" Viola asked while glaring at Monika.


    "I have trackers on all of you, you really think i wouldn''t know you guys are planning to escape the moment you step into the tower?" Monika asked with a cold expression: "I knew about your plan from the very start." She added.


    Viola was silent after that: "Then why aren''t you busting us out?" She asks.


    "I am not here to hurt you, I just want to talk." Monika said while slowly walking towards Viola: "Minka... She is a stubborn kid. I know she will never forgive me." She added.


    "..." Viola was silent after that.


    Monika slowly walked up to Viola, and then she stopped and looked up at the sky: "I know this will sound crazy to you, but I just want you to convince her... to give me a chance. Please." She said with pleading eyes.


    "..." Viola was silent for a moment before she said: "Fine..." She replied: "But... you need to do something for me too." She added.


    "What is it?" Monika asks.


    "Just release Sannet." Viola said: "She is your friend. Let her go." She added.


    "She is currently recovering from the fight with me... I am sorry. I know that doesn''t make it better, but she is safe now. She is in a safe place." Monika said: "I will let her go once I know Minka won''t try anything stupid again." She added.


    "Stupid, huh? You mean finding out the truth?" Viola asked: "Never expect this word to come out from your mouth. Captain, I for once was saved by you. I have the utmost respect for you, but what you did to us was wrong. " She added.


    "..." Monika sighed: "You are right. I am sorry. I know it was wrong to do this, but there is nothing I can do. You and I both know that something can never be said. I tried, but nothing can change what has happened." She added.


    "So you have decided to fit yourself in the imperial bureaucracy to achieve this ''peace'' you are looking for?" Viola asks with a sarcastic tone: "Is this supposed to be some sort of a grand sacrifice you are making for the better of the world?" She asked.


    Monika was silent for a moment before she said: "You have no idea what was sacrificed for the world you see right now... and I will protect it until my last breath." She said: "I am willing to make any sacrifice to keep this world safe." She added.


    Viola was silent after that, she remained silent for a good minute before she said: "I can''t say I understand you... But I do respect you. You are a great warrior and a good mother, I know you care about the people around you." She added: "I don''t know what has happened in your past... I don''t know why you''ve made a deal with that man, but I can see you are trying to do your best. If Minka decides to help you, will you accept?" She asked.


    "No way, I am not letting my daughter stay in this place for any longer." Monika replied: "It is too dangerous here." She added.


    "Annnnnd, we are back in square one... Yeah, you can be very stubborn at times." Viola said: "I can''t believe it. You don''t trust her enough to even let her help you. You know how sad Minka will be if she hears this? Are you that cruel? Are you that cold?" She added.


    "..." Monika sighed: "Fine, i will ask her myself, and she can make her own decision after that." She said: "I hope this will make you trust me a little more." She added.


    Viola was silent after that, she thought about what Monika had said: "I will talk to Minka first to warm the conversation up." She replied.


    "I appreciate it." Monika said with a calm expression: "And... I am sorry. I hope you can forgive me one day." She added.


    "Yeah yeah, now wait here for a second." Viola then quickly walked back to the camp to find Minka and Leanna.


    Viola walked back and forth until she found them sitting on a rock: "Hey guys... How is it going?" She asks with a friendly tone.


    "We are doing great." Leanna said: "Minka is just thinking about what to do next." She added.


    "I see... I have an idea." Viola said: "Monika has talked to me and... she wants to talk to us. To you two specifically. What do you think?" She added. She decide to go with the direct approach.


    "..." Minka remained silent for a while: "She does?" She asks.


    "Yeah... I think you should talk to her, you know... She just wants to apologize to you for all this mess." Viola said: "And... to try to work out a solution. Just hear her out, that''s all I am asking for." She added.


    "Okay." Minka nodded her head: "You can tell her I will meet her... But I won''t forgive her... not yet." She added.


    "You can come out now." Viola said behind her.


    "..." Monika slowly walked out and stared at Minka, she was wearing a military uniform with her hair tied up in a ponytail: "Hi... Minky." She said with a friendly tone.


    "..." Minka didn''t respond, she just kept staring at Monika.


    "..." Monika didn''t say anything.


    Viola then coughed to break the silence: "Will you two start acting like adults?"


    Minka remained silent for a moment before she said: "You told me to hear her out, so I will do it." She added: "But that doesn''t mean I will converse with her." She said,


    Monika remained silent after that.


    "You have some nerve coming here, trying to make me feel guilty." Minka said: "I hate you! I don''t even want to look at you." She added.


    "..." Monika let out a sigh.


    "What''s the matter?" Minka asked: "You look so disappointed after what I''ve said... I hope that it''ll bring you some shame." She added:"Why are you just standing there? Do you enjoy this?" Minka asked: "Are you happy to see me this way?" She added.


    "..." Monika just stared at Minka.


    Minka remained silent after that: "No... you are not like that..." She said while staring at the ground: "The mom I know will always teach me violence is not an option when resolving problems. She will make soup for me when I''m feeling sad even though she is not good at it. She will always try her best to make me smile." She added.


    "..." Monika was silent.


    Minka remained silent for a moment: "But why? Why did she change like this? Where did she go?" She asked with a shaky voice: "Mom, please..." She added.


    "..." Monika just stared at Minka for a moment: "Minka... I''m sorry." She said: "I can''t tell you everything... I cannot tell you the truth. I can only hope you will trust me." She added.


    "I was going to trust you, until you began hurting my friends and locked us in that place... how dare you? Do you think I will just forgive you just like that?" Minka asked with a raised tone: "No... I will never forgive you. I won''t serve you." She added.


    "I know that..." Monika said: "I am sorry... I didn''t mean to hurt anyone." She added.


    "Then why did you do this, huh? Just tell me that!" Minka asked: "Tell me! Why did you do this!" She added.


    Monika was silent for a moment: "...Will you believe me if you say... it was for you." She said: "It was all for you. Everything I''ve done was to keep you safe." She added.


    "I can''t believe this! You kept saying this is for me, but all I''ve seen is you are hurting me! How can I trust you now?" Minka asked: "How can I believe in you?"


    "..." Monika sighed after that: "You can''t." She said,


    Minka''s eyes widened after that, she stared at Monika in a blank expression.


    "You are right... I don''t deserve your trust anymore... but please, I don''t want to lose my daughter again." Monika said while slowly walking towards Minka: "If you want me to be punished... I''m all yours. But please...Stay with me...I want you to be safe." She added.


    Minka was silent after that: "No... I don''t want that." She said: "I... I just..." She said while looking down.


    Monika hugs Minka and pulls her into a tight embrace: "I am so sorry..." She said: "I never meant to hurt you..." She added: "I forgot that you are a big girl now, and I am so proud of you more than ever... it''s been... way too long..." Monika began shedding tears as she kept hugging Minka.


    "Mom..." Minka began shedding tears after that: "I hate you." She added.


    "I know... i know..." Monika said: "I am so sorry..." She added.


    Minka cried on Monika''s shoulder for a minute before she began hugging Monika back: "How long... have you been staying here?" She asked.


    "Time works differently here... it has been nearly fifteen years." Monika said while rubbing Minka''s back: "I wish I could go back, I want to go back." She added.


    "Fifteen years... mom I am so sorry... I can''t believe you had to live in this place..." Minka said while slowly releasing Monika from the hug: "Mom..."


    "..." Monika didn''t say anything.


    "Mom... Why do you look so young even after such a long time?" Minka asks with a confused expression.


    "It''s a long story... I can explain it to you later if you want." Monika said with a calm tone: "I will tell you about me and your father... how we met, what we did... how i became... this." She said while looking at her right hand.


    "..." Minka remained silent for a moment: "Okay." She said: "Sit and start talking."


    Monika nodded her head and took a seat next to the rock Minka and Leanna were sitting on.


    "I was never a person to easily trust others... It is one of my flaws..." Monika said with a calm tone: "But when your father came into my life, everything changed... he was the one who changed me." She added: "I wouldn''t say that he is the kindest, nicest person I know but... he is the one that showed me things that I have never seen. The universe is full of wonders and adventures, and I am lucky enough to share that adventure with him." She added.


    Minka remained silent after that.


    Monika took a deep breath before she continued: "The first time I met him was during a mission, I lost a fight and was about to get my arm cutted off. Your father was the one who saved me that day... He brought me out... even if it was to use me as a leverage to your aunt Nova." She said: "He was a bit annoying, arrogant and sometimes very rude. But I guess that is his charm." She added.


    "That sounds horrible... How did you two become a couple?" Minka asks.


    "Well, i was the one who initiated it... it was a weird time... I felt really lonely at one point... So I just did it, I kissed him... I don''t even know why I did that." Monika replied: "After the incident, he became much more kind and considerate towards me. Even if he still acts like...how he usually is from time to time." She added.


    Minka smiled after that.


    "We went on adventures, explored different planets, saved people and stopped evils. And I was there by his side. He made me feel something I''ve never felt before... I felt like a new person, a better person." Monika said with a calm expression: "But... it also came with terrible cost... one was Minka..." She added.


    "Did you... try to save her?" Minka asks.


    "Yes, i tried." Monika said: "But I failed,... i couldn''t, it all happened way too fast and if your dad was there to save her... the world would be completely different from what you see today." She added.


    "It must have been hard for him..." Minka said with a sad expression.


    "It was..." Monika said: "He has always blamed himself for the loss, but I know deep inside that he is not at fault. Because... it was also my fault...i shouldn''t have let her come with us..." She added.


    "Mom, please stop blaming yourself... I know that is not your fault." Minka said with a soft tone: "Is this why... you don''t want me to join the militarum?" She added.


    "Partly yes, I just don''t want to lose you again. That is all." Monika said with a calm expression.


    "I see..." Minka said: "What about your ability?"


    "In Minka''s reality, she was a member of: Heroes of imperium. A society that consists of the most powerful members among the imperium. The heroes of imperium is an elite force of the military and they are highly regarded and trusted. In the order, there''s a person called Elysia. She granted me that power to save the people I love. I was given the choice, I can either not accept the power or I can use it to protect my loved ones." Monika replied: "I accepted it because I wanted to be strong enough that not only can take care of myself, but a person that is capable of protecting everyone. My friends, family, comrades, citizens. The world needs a person like that." She added.


    "But does it need to be you? Are you the only person that can do that?" Minka asks: "There are plenty of people who can do it better than you, you don''t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Just because you have power doesn''t mean that it will make you invincible." She added.


    "Minka... if i don''t do this, millions will die in my stead." Monika replied: "You can''t ask a person not to take action when they are the only one that can do something about it. The world doesn''t have a hero. It doesn''t matter if I can handle it or not, it''s not about me. I need to do this, I can''t let people die on my watch, not again." She added.


    "And this is why you are working with the Archivist?" Sannet showed up while her face was pale as paper and her body was covered in blood.


    "Sannet!" Minka got up and hugged Sannet: "Are you alright?"


    Sannet nodes but Minka felt that Sannet''s body was shaking. Minka quickly put her arm around Sannet to help her stand.


    "So, you did manage to escape." Monika said: "Well, it''s not a surprise since you are a good fighter. But it would be better if you just stayed in the tower, the guards won''t kill you and you will be safe."


    "Shut up, explain to me why you brought him back. You know what he did. He has done terrible things, and you just let him walk free?" Sannet asked: "You are a fool if you think he will change. He is evil, and he will do whatever he wants."


    "He wants to bring back his family." Monika said: "His wife is dead, and he wants to revive her. And I need him to bring back my daughter, the other Minka." She added.


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    "BUT HE KILLED TRILLIONS FOR THAT! HE IS EVIL, HE WON''T STOP UNTIL HE GET WHAT HE WANTS!" Sannet shouted: "You were an idiot back then, you are an idiot now. You are compromising everything you stood for."


    "This is why I am staying with him to make sure that everything will be under control." Monika replied: "I know what I am doing, Sannet. It is not an easy decision, but this is the only thing I can do right now."


    "You humans are all the same... no code of honor, no line to be drawn. You all are so easy to manipulate." Sannet said: "How can I even consider you a friend? You are pathetic, and you have no pride." She added.


    Monika sighed after that: "This is what I get for helping someone? Fine, if you want to stay with Minka and her friends, go ahead. I am not stopping you. But if Minka loses even a single strand of her hair. I will find you." She said with a cold tone: "And this time, you won''t survive."


    "Bring it." Sannet said: "This time, I won''t be captured." She added.


    "Enough!" Minka said with a loud voice: "Don''t hurt each other, this is stupid."


    "..." Monika is silent after that.


    "I have already forgiven mom." Minka said with a calm tone: "And I will not forgive anyone that hurt her, even you." She added.


    "What are you saying?" Sannet asked: "Do you realize who she is working with? She needs to be stopped."


    "Mom, I will help you. Let''s bring the other me back. We can stop the Archivist, together." Minka said: "You don''t have to do this alone."


    "Minka..." Monika smiled: "I am happy to hear that. Thank you."


    "What?!" Sannet said with a surprised tone: "Minka, you can''t be serious! Are you seriously doing this?" She then looks at Leanna and Viola: "Guys, say something!" She added.


    "I''m sorry... I trust Minka." Viola said: "She knows what is right. I will support her on this decision." She added: "Ms. Terra saved me once. I will repay the favor now."


    Leanna nods: "I will also support Minka, she is my friend and I will do anything to keep her safe. Even if that means putting my life on the line." She added: "I am with you, Minka."


    "All of you are idiots..." Sannet said with an angry tone: "I will not allow this. You are not going back to the tower, Minka. That is final."


    "Sannet, you are not my boss." Minka said with a stern voice: "You can''t force me to do something, you are not my mom. So stop acting like one, you don''t even like humans. I am a human, I am your enemy." She added.


    "You are my friend..." Sannet said: "And I need to tell you what you are doing is a mistake."


    "Then I will make the mistake, I will not let you take away my choice." Minka said: "Please don''t stop me, Sannet." She added.


    For once, a rather...sad expression appeared on Sannet''s face: "Fine, go if you want. I will not stop you." She said: "But know this, your choice will bring the death of billions... and I won''t forgive you, not ever."


    "..." Minka is silent after that.


    "You are being selfish." Sannet said: "Think about what is best for the world, not just yourself. And you guys..." She looked at Monika: "This is your fault." She said,


    Leanna suddenly stands with Sannet and helps her to stand straight: "I am sorry about this Minka... but I need to stay to take care of Sannet. You can go, don''t worry about us."


    "Leanna..." Minka is surprised: "What are you saying..."


    "Please, just go. Don''t worry, I haven''t changed my mind about believing you, but this is the best option right now. Please." Leanna said: "We will take care of ourselves and come and find you later, I promise." She added.


    "But..." Minka said.


    "Let''s go, Minka." Monika said: "Leanna, Sannet... Stay out of trouble. And thanks."


    Leanna nodded: "Take care, all of you."


    The group left the place and walked back to the base, Leanna then helped Sannet to sit down on a rock and give her a drink: "Here, have some water."


    "Thanks..." Sannet drank the water: "This is disgusting."


    "Sorry about that." Leanna said in an apologetic tone: "That''s all I have."


    Sannet is quiet for a moment: "Why did you defend Monika? You know who she is working with. And how can you trust her?"


    "I don''t." Leanna replied: "Besides... if anything goes wrong, it is up to us to save them. I am sure Viola also knows that." She added: "Minka also knows that as well, this is why she is doing this."


    "How can you be so sure about that? This is insane." Sannet said: "If you think that this is some sort of a heroic mission then you are mistaken."


    "No... I just trust Minka." Leanna replied: "You don''t have to trust her. But I do."


    "..." Sannet didn''t respond.


    "Sannet, you know... You have been so protective towards Minka lately." Leanna said: "It makes me feel like... you are starting to care about her."


    "That is ridiculous, I just don''t want her to do something stupid. Like trusting Monika." Sannet said: "What is it with the girls here always trying to be the hero? Do they even understand the weight of the decisions they are making? Or are they just acting tough and trying to impress everyone?" She added.


    "No, you are wrong." Leanna said: "They are brave and smart. You don''t have to belittle their choices just because they are not your idea of ''wise''."


    "You are being delusional." Sannet said: "They are children, they don''t know what is right or wrong."


    "So... You are not a child anymore, huh?" Leanna asked: "I guess it''s true that Necrons are immortal, they live forever. But I don''t think that makes them wise. You have met plenty of overlords that are more foolish than us humans." She added.


    "..." Sannet was silent for a while: "That is not the point. They are not thinking clearly."


    "Oh, they are not?" Leanna asks: "Or you are the one that is not thinking clearly. Sannet, we all have our own reason for why we are here. For Minka, she is doing this for her mother and the better of the world. For Viola, she is doing this for her friend. For Monika, she is doing this for her daughter, the one she has lost. And for me, I am doing this because I trust Minka."


    "..." Sannet is silent after that.


    Leanna puts her hands behind her back and leans forward slightly: "I think... You are the one who isn''t thinking clearly, Sannet. I don''t have the right to question why you are doing this but... please, don''t belittle your friends. They are not stupid. They are making the choice for themselves, and i am sure they are considering the consequences of their actions."


    "..." Sannet didn''t say anything.


    "You can hate Monika all you want, but don''t forget that she is Minka''s mother." Leanna said: "You should respect that."


    "..." Sannet is still quiet.


    "Sannet, say something." Leanna asks: "Why are you being quiet? I thought a person that has lived through eons would learn how life works by now..."


    Sannet finally opened her mouth and said: "You are talking nonsense."


    "WHAT?! No way, I am not." Leanna said: "You should listen to people more, especially if they are your friends."


    "I am not listening to you." Sannet said: "Just because I have accepted you as my ally doesn''t mean that we are friends."


    "That is the saddest thing I have ever heard." Leanna said: "How can i not be your friend after i helped you? I am so sad, Sannet. Really."Leanna crosses her arms in front of her chest while slightly pouting: "You are so cold, no wonder no one likes you. No wonder uncle Trazyn chose aunt Monika over you."


    "..." Sannet was silent for a moment before she said: "Stop doing this..."


    "Stop what?" Leanna asks.


    "You are trying to make me feel guilty, it''s not working." Sannet replied: "So just stop."


    "Sannet, I don''t have any ill intentions against you. You are a great person." Leanna said: "And I really do appreciate that you are protecting Minka and us. You know what? Fine, you can do whatever you want. But I am coming with you, wherever you are going. You can''t stop me." She added.


    Sannet sighs: "Do what you want."


    Leanna nods: "Okay, so what is our next step?"


    "We are going back to the tower." Sannet said: "And I will stop them before the archivist can get what he wants. His malice holds greater purpose than we knew, and I am going to stop it."


    Leanna then puts straps on her backpack and said: "Great, let''s go."


    Inside of the tower, Minka and Monika entered the lab where the archivist is working. The archivist then noticed the two and he said: "You brought her here, excellent."


    "She is here to help, I hope that will make you satisfied." Monika said.


    "Indeed." The archivist replied: "Minka, are you sure about this? I am a dangerous person, a criminal. A person who is like you shouldn''t be around me. I am an evil person." His tone sounds rather sarcastic.


    "I trust my mom''s judgment, not you." Minka said: "I know her better."


    "Is that so? Interesting, you have a strong bond with your mother." The archivist said: "But do you know how much she has done for me? The people she has hurt, the friends she has betrayed?"


    "Stop." Monika said: "That is enough. Just start the machine, and I will help you."


    "Alright." The archivist pressed a button, a blue light appeared from the ceiling and the room began shaking: "You see Minka, there are so many secrets about you that you never knew... and I will share it with you, everything."


    "What?" Minka is confused: "What are you talking about?"


    "The reason why you are here is because you have a special gift, a power that is inside of you. If I want my daughter back, I need you to resonate" The archivist said.


    "Wait, what are you planning to do?" Monika asks.


    "Your power echoes in a psychic realm not like the warp, but something far more potent and stronger. And now... I want you to close your eyes and find my daughter." The archivist said: "I am certain that there is a connection between her and you. And with it, we can restore her soul. She has been lost for so long... I miss her so much."


    "..." Minka is silent for a moment before she closes her eyes.


    "That is right... concentrate." The archivist said: "Focus on your inner voice, listen to it."


    Minka suddenly sees white flashes through her eyelids, and suddenly, her mind is in a place that looks like an endless void. Minka slowly looks around, wondering where she is. She then noticed someone walking towards her: "Who is it?" Minka asks.


    Suddenly, the figure became clearer and she noticed the girl looks exactly like herself but she didn''t reply or simply put, she cannot see or notice Minka''s existence.


    "What is happening to me? Is this a dream?" Minka is confused, she tries to touch the girl but her hand goes through the other Minka''s head: "This can''t be..."


    "This is not a dream... this is the psychic realm." The archivist appeared from nowhere: "You seem to awaken your power rather nicely. But my daughter did this when she was five. So don''t take too much pride." The archivist appeared in front of Minka in his human form.


    "This is the psychic realm? It''s amazing, I can feel... everything." Minka said: "Is this what you meant by psychic connection?"


    "Imagine a place where you can draw power from, and it is only for you. But it is for all the Minka that ever existed. This is a sacred place that connects to every dimension and universe. This is the place where it stores all the information from all the Minka." The archivist said.


    "Wow...this is incredible..." Minka is amazed by the power and knowledge she can get her hands on: "I can feel it... I can see them, they are like little portals that I can go in. Is this... all me?"


    "Yes, all the versions of you. This is all you, and there is an infinite number of them. You can do what you want here, you can go anywhere and learn anything. But... remember this... all Minka share the power of this realm, so some Minka are strong on the other side of the balance, some of them are weak. You are not the strongest, there is no such thing as ''strongest Minka''."


    "I understand... I will remember that." Minka nodded: "So what are we doing here, why do you bring me here?"


    "My daughter was born with this power and mastered it at an early age... I will use you to find her lost soul and bring her home." The archivist said: "You and her, you both existed in the same world at some point, so finding her will be easy."


    "But how do I do that?" Minka asks.


    "Simple, look for the portal where there is a strong connection between you two." The archivist replied: "Look closely, see through the portal and feel their story."


    Minka nods and touches one of the portals floating around her, she sees a world similar to hers. But the Minka of this world are working in a bakery called: "The sun and moon".


    "I can''t believe it, she is working as a baker." Minka said with a surprised tone: "This is crazy, I have never imagined this."


    "It seems like her story is different from yours, and it is interesting to see." The archivist said: "Go on, continue."


    Minka touches another portal, this time, it is a world that has smoke covering the sky, the ground is covered in lava and fire. Minka sees a girl wearing a dark cloak and holding a scythe, the girl has her back facing Minka, and she has long hair.


    "That''s me? It looks so cool... but it''s creepy." Minka said: "She is the grim reaper."


    "Continue then." The archivist said: "Don''t waste your time on things that don''t interest you. Just find my daughter."


    Minka touches the next portal, it shows a girl wearing a school uniform, she is eating a bento and having fun with her friends. She is laughing and playing with the others.


    "Is that... me? She looks so cute." Minka said with an astonished expression: "Wow..."


    "Keep looking." The archivist said.


    After touching a few portals, Minka finally found a strong connection. She sees a girl wearing a military uniform and sitting on a chair. She has a bandage on her left arm, her hair is short and her face is tired. But then something isn''t right. When Minka turns to another angel, she can see bodies filling the trenches on the ground, and countless soldiers are stuffing them inside as if they are garbage bags. Minka can also smell the strong stench of blood and rotten flesh coming from the trenches, she can also see a woman with short hair crying in a corner, the woman is holding a piece of cloth and a letter. But then a bullet pierces through her head.


    "What is this place? Why is there a war going on?" Minka asked: "Who are these people? What is going on?"


    "This is not your reality, keep looking." The archivist said.


    "What is happening here?" Minka touches the portal again: "There is a war going on, and there are bodies everywhere. You need to tell me."


    "There are countless worlds out there, this is one of the many, and this is not the place you are looking for. Keep looking."


    "No... something is wrong here, this is not right." Minka refuses to let this go: "Why are these people dying? I want to help them."


    "You can''t, they are already dead. You are wasting time." The archivist replied.


    Minka tries to activate her power, but the archivist slaps Minka''s hand off of the portal: "Are you crazy? Do you know what happens if you make the connection? The portal works both ways, and if they also notice you and come to this place, they will be able to go anywhere they want. Don''t let your curiosity blind your judgment, it will cost us dearly."


    "But I can help them." Minka said: "I just need to..."


    "They are dead, don''t interfere with the dead." The archivist said: "Just move."


    "What''s the matter with you?! They are people too, they need our help." Minka said.


    "You are still naive... there is nothing you can do to help them. Just move." The archivist said: "The more time you spend on these, the less time you have for my daughter."


    "But you said that this is the connection to the lost soul, didn''t you? I felt strongly about this Minka." Minka said.


    "Because that Minka is incredibly strong and able to have an echo that is very noticeable in this realm, but she is not my daughter." The archivist replied: "If you are not going to look for my daughter then i will have to force you."


    "I can''t believe it... you are willing to abandon these people, just for the sake of your own goals." Minka is mad: "You are horrible. Everyone was right... and I was too stupid to realize it."


    "If I have a chance to save my wife and daughter, I will do anything to achieve that." The archivist said: "Now... do your job and return to your sad pathetic life. This is a once in a lifetime chance, don''t waste it."


    Minka took a long deep breath and touched other portals, she didn''t even look at the archivist. She could feel the emotions of every world''s Minka. She can feel their joy, sadness, pain, suffering. And all of it is connected to her. Minka can''t explain what she feels, but it is an extremely heavy weight on her chest, the pressure is crushing her.


    "There are too many... and they are so sad." Minka said: "I never thought I was this weak. Why am I suffering like this?"


    "Keep looking." The archivist demanded.


    "You don''t have a heart, do you? All you care about is yourself. You don''t care about others, even the people who helped you."Minka brings forth a portal: "You were in here! But you killed all of them!"


    The archivist remains silent.


    "Why did you kill them? What did they do to deserve that?" Minka asks: "They trusted you, and you betrayed them! You are an evil person!"


    "This was a similar word to mine, so I thought I had the chance of saving my wife. But it was a failure, i didn''t want to risk the timeline of my world." The archivist said: "Besides, those people weren''t my friends. So there''s no point for me to spare them."


    "How could you say that? Those people trusted you, and you are saying it doesn''t matter?!" Minka has a look of hatred and anger on her face: "I can''t believe it, you are the worst! You don''t have a single drop of empathy in you, and you don''t deserve to have your daughter back!"


    "Watch your mouth, or I will kill everyone you love. I will kill the friends, the people you trust and even the strangers who you have met. And then I will make you suffer." The archivist said with a cold tone.


    "..." Minka didn''t respond.


    "Do as I said, find her."


    Minka nods and continues looking.


    "It''s getting close, I can feel it." The archivist said with a satisfied tone.


    "Wait..." Minka touches a portal that looks dark and gloomy. There''s a girl sitting on the ground and crying: "This place felt... familiar." Minka zooms in and she sees a Minka that is trapped in the realm between life and death.


    "This is her! You did it, you found her." The archivist has an excited tone: "Good job."


    "She is here... this is the girl, the one we are looking for." Minka said: "She looks lonely, sad and depressed."


    "This is normal, she has been lost for years." The archivist said: "But you can connect to her and bring her back."


    "How?" Minka asks.


    "Simply put, you need to find a way to resonate with her soul. This is a psychic realm, and the power is strong here. Talk to her, make her notice you. And then... connect to her soul and bring her back to the land of the living." The archivist explained.


    "I can try." Minka touches the portal but suddenly a spark of explosion occurred and threw Minka away: "Argh!"


    "What happened?!" The archivist asks.


    "I don''t know..." Minka said: "I think there''s a barrier, a force field protecting her soul. I can''t get through it."


    "Dammit! Who did this? Why would they block her from leaving?" The archivist said: "I can''t lose her again, not after I have come this far."


    "I don''t know, but there is nothing we can do." Minka said: "The person that sealed her must have a good reason to do it."


    "Shut up, use your power. Break through the barrier. Do anything, just get her back."


    "What? No, I can''t. It''s impossible." Minka said: "This place has a powerful entity protecting her, and I don''t know how to get rid of it."


    "This realm is full of psychic power, draw your power from this place and make the barrier crumble. I know you can do it." The archivist said: "You are a Minka, and the Minka of every universe are special."


    Minka nods: "I can try..."


    Minka focuses her power and begins to draw from the realm, the energy of this place is very powerful and it is hard to control. But the archivist gives some advice, and soon, the power is fully controlled by Minka. Then Minka concentrates on breaking the barrier, soon the barrier breaks but also causes a powerful psychic blast and Minka gets thrown away.


    Minka wakes up on the floor, her vision is blurry and her head is dizzy. The archivist quickly went to her side and picked her up.


    "Are you alright?" The archivist asks: "Talk to me."


    "Urghh..." Minka is groaning, she is in pain.


    Suddenly, the Minka that was in the realm walks over to them and says: "Why are you here?"


    The archivist turned to her, his voice sounding excited: "My daughter... It''s you, you came back. After so long, I finally get to see you again."


    "Why are you doing this?" Minka asks: "What do you want from me?"


    "I want you to come back to me, so we can be together. I missed you so much, it has been so long." The archivist replied.


    "You... are you the Minka of this world?" That Minka asks, ignoring the archivist.


    Minka is barely holding herself together: "Yes... I am."


    "The man you are helping is responsible for countless worlds being destroyed. He has killed trillions." The Minka said: "I killed him to end his mistakes. And yet, the first thing i see waking up, is this man looking straight into my eyes with that mechanical shell. I am not going to fall for your tricks, not anymore. So please... leave."


    "No, I can''t do that." The archivist said: "Come back home, please... Minka... comeback."


    "Minka... that name is so distant for me... I don''t think I can use it anymore. I can''t go back, not anymore." The Minka said: "But... I am indeed interested in coming back... to bring you down again. You have done too much evil to let it slide. And I will stop you, for good this time. I will be the monument to all your sins. Among the heroes of imperium, I was called: The ravager. And I will use that to bring you down... dad." Suddenly a blast of intense psychic energy made them begin snapping back to reality.


    "NO!" The archivist screamed, the realm began shaking and everything began falling apart.


    Minka suddenly wakes up and the connection is cut, the lab returns to normal. But the archivist is still screaming.


    Monika quickly helps Minka up and asks: "Are you alright?"


    "Yeah, I am fine." Minka replied while holding her head.


    The archivist stopped screaming: "No, no, no, no! How could this happen?! She was supposed to return to me! Why did she resist?"


    Monika looked over at the archivist, but this time, she stayed with her daughter: "Come on Minka... let''s leave."

 Chapter 19

    The two left the place, soon after the whole building was shaking and everything was falling apart. Viola was outside smoking but suddenly she also felt the tremor on the ground, she quickly dropped her cigarette and ran to the building. But the door collapsed before she could enter. Suddenly, she sees not far away from her, a shadow leaped down from the side of the building while carrying someone out. Monika landed in front of Viola and handed Minka over from her shoulder: "Take her and leave."


    "Wait, what are you going to do?" Viola asks, eyes filled with concern.


    "I need to save the others, please take care of my daughter." Monika replied and returned to the collapsing building.


    "I will." Viola nodded.


    Viola sees Monika disappear among the smoke while she is carrying Minka on her back. The whole base is falling apart, the ground is shaking, buildings are collapsing. Everything was happening too fast, and eventually the smoke consumed them. Viola is running as fast as she can, but the smoke is thick and her vision is not that clear.


    Eventually she ran out of the smoke while placing Minka on the floor, she can finally breathe the fresh air. But the tremors didn''t stop: "Hey, wake up." She slaps Minka''s cheeks lightly: "Wake up."


    Minka opens her eyes, but her vision is blurry: "Where am i?"


    "We need to leave, this is not safe. The place is falling apart." Viola said.


    "The... others." Minka said: "Mom."


    "Your mother went back for the others." Viola replied.


    Minka tries to stand up but she is too weak, her legs are trembling and her knees are bent.


    "I will help you." Viola grabs Minka and places her hand around her shoulder.


    "Thanks..." Minka said with a weak voice.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t leave you. Just stay with me." Viola said: "Come on, let''s get out of here." Later, they arrived at a nearby cave, and Viola gently placed Minka on the ground and began contacting Leanna and Sannet.


    "Viola, are you okay?" Leanna''s voice came from the other side.


    "Yes, me and Minka are fine. We are in a cave, where are you guys?" Viola asked.


    "We are hiding in the forest, the tower is falling apart. There''s chaos everywhere." Leanna replied: "I don''t know about you guys, but we are kinda stranded here."


    "Don''t worry, stay where you are. I will pick you guys up." Viola said.


    "What?  It is too dangerous out there." Leanna replied: "Please, just stay put. Me and Sannet can take care of ourselves."


    "What about mom? Where is she?" Minka asks: "Lea, have you seen mom?"


    "No, not yet. She hasn''t come out of the base. But I am sure that she is fine." Leanna replied.


    "Mom... no." Minka begins to panic: "She is still in there!" Minka was about to get up but then she sees a person walking out of the smoke while having a halberd on her back: "Mom?"


    But when the person walks out of the smoke, Viola and Minka''s eyes widen.


    "Hello there, another me." The person who walked out of the smoke is a matured version of Minka, she looks older than Minka but not that much older. She has her hair tied into a ponytail, and she is wearing a gray trench coat.


    "Who are you?"Viola asks.


    "You can call me: Ravager." The ravager said: "I am not an enemy, so don''t worry. I came here to help."


    "Why would you want to help us?" Minka asks: "You said that you will destroy anything the Archivist built, what did you mean by that?"


    "I have a feeling that i shouldn''t be saying this... but you already know." The ravager said: "My father, he is an evil person. And you know this very well, so there''s no point in hiding it. The truth is... he rebuilt me with three key ingredients: My soul, my memory and my body that was corrupted a long time ago. I was reborn. And now, I am here to finish the job." She added: "The world you see now is tainted by that man''s technology and ambition, I can''t let that happen."


    "So... you are saying that... you are going to destroy this world?" Viola asks.


    "Not exactly, I am going to reset it. To give it a second chance." The ravager said: "I am sure all of you would understand it, right?" She looks at the others.


    "What? No! You are talking about destroying the world that we live in." Minka is shocked: "You can''t do this."


    "That man is evil, I can''t let him have another chance." The ravager said: "His sins are something that cannot be washed away. If the very structure of the world you see right now remains, he will always live. And I cannot allow that." She added.


    "But you are killing everyone, all the innocent people will die." Minka said: "Are you okay with this?"


    "I sacrificed myself once for this world, now I have a second chance and I see the mistakes that were made during my absence... I need to right the wrongs, and that is what I will do." The ravager replied.


    "I am not going to allow this!" Minka stood up but she was too weak and fell to the ground.


    "I am not gonna fight any of you, in fact, i will bring all of you out. Oh man, don''t I have a lot to catch up. Hahah." The ravager smiles and looks over at Viola: "Do you have the ability to track the location of your friends?"


    "Yes, why?" Viola asks.


    "Get me to them, I can teleport all of us to safety." The ravager said. She then hands over the weapon back to Minka: "Take care of him for me will you?"


    "This is your weapon." Minka said: "Why would you give it back to me?"


    "Because you are a more fitting owner than I was." The ravager said: "He is a cranky and arrogant piece of junk, but he will help you through tough times. Just don''t let him bully you." She added.


    Minka looked at the weapon and then back at the ravager, she didn''t say anything. Viola then gave Ravager the location of Leanna and Sannet.


    "Close your eyes." Ravager began channeling power through the palm of her hand, the power was strong and it caused a wind to blow around them.


    When they opened their eyes, the scenery had changed. They are now standing in the middle of the forest.


    "Minka?" Leanna''s voice suddenly came from behind them.


    They turned around and saw Leanna and Sannet: "You are okay!" Leanna hugs Minka tightly. Sannet''s eye suddenly shifted at the ravager, a rare expression of shock appeared on her face.


    "Impossible..." Sannet took a step back: "No way..."


    "Sannet, it has been a while isn''t it?" The ravager smiled: "How have you been?"


    "How are you still alive? I thought you were dead." Sannet said with a shaky voice: "We were all there... and... here you are. I can''t believe it."


    "It''s a long story." The ravager said: "Let''s just say, a lot happened."


    "Sannet, you know about this Minka?" Viola suddenly paused for a second: "Hold on... does this mean that this is the Minka that once existed twenty years ago?"


    "Correct." The ravager said: "And it''s a nice coincidence for all of us to meet here." She looks at Sannet: "Sannet, I have something I need to talk to you about."


    Sannet then took a deep breath and nodded. Away from the group, Ravager suddenly hugged Sannet: "Thank you for everything, and sorry that I was gone for so long."


    "No, I should be the one apologizing." Sannet said: "We could have helped, we could have saved you."


    "Knight told me everything... you sent the group into here to just bring me back... thank you." The ravager said.


    "Minka... please... forgive me." Sannet said with a tearful expression.


    "It''s okay, I forgive you." The ravager smiled: "It was not your fault, and now I am back... I need you."


    "What do you need? What can I do for you?" Sannet asked.


    "This world... is built upon the technology of the archivist... I need to reclaim it and destroy it. Even with a fragment of him, he can still come back. And i can''t allow that. The only way to ensure he is truly gone, is to reset the structure of the world." The ravager explained: "We will start from the labs around the surface and then go down the core of the world. I will have to destroy the entire thing, and then... rebuild it."


    "We?" Sannet is confused: "Who''s ''we''?"


    "Knight is in. I will talk to Emilia then mom and dad. I am sure that they will join too." The ravager said: "I need your help too, Sannet."


    Sannet remained silent and glanced back at Minka: "Minka, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" She asked the ravager.


    "The world we know is tainted by the archivist, it will be rebuilt and it will be different." The ravager replied: "The world is broken and the people are suffering, they might not feel it now but we have a chance to fix it. Do you really want to miss this?"


    Sannet remained silent again before replying: "Alright, I will help. But we need to leave first."


    The ravager smiled: "Of course, let''s get out of this place first."


    Back with the others, Minka ran towards Sannet: "What did she say to you?" She asks.


    "Nothing." Sannet replied.


    "No, she talked to you. Why won''t you tell me what she said?" Minka stands in front of Sannet and questions her with a very stern tone.


    "It is none of your business." Sannet replied: "Now stop asking me." Sannet gave Minka a cold glare.


    Minka felt like she was punched in the chest: "Fine... if you don''t want to tell me, just don''t."


    "Sannet, that is enough. Stop hurting Minka." Viola intervenes: "You have been rude to her for too long, this has to stop. You can''t hurt her forever."


    "Shut up, this is none of your concern." Sannet said with a rather annoyed tone.


    "This is indeed my business, I am not going to let you keep hurting her. She is my friend." Viola said: "I have enough of your rudeness and selfishness, can''t you see how much Minka cares about you?"


    ¡°Enough..." Minka grabbed Viola''s arm: "Stop, I can handle this."


    "Minka..." Viola wanted to say something but she stopped herself.


    Leanna however noticed the strange behavior from Sannet and decided to talk to her.


    "Sannet, is there something bothering you?" Leanna asks: "You look troubled."


    "No, everything is fine." Sannet replied: "There''s nothing troubling me."


    "It''s the ravager, right? I noticed you were shocked when you saw her." Leanna said: "Say... were you two good friends?"


    Sannet remained silent.


    "Is this why you treat Minka differently? Because she reminds you of the ravager? And now you see the ravager again, and you don''t know what to do. Is this the reason?" Leanna asked.


    "No." Sannet replied.


    "Don''t lie, I can see it. You are hiding the truth from me and from the others." Leanna said: "Please... tell me the truth, I am not going to judge you. You can tell me, just talk to me. That''s all I ask."


    "......" Sannet is hesitating.


    "I promise I won''t tell anyone." Leanna persists.


    Sannet remained silent.


    "I have a lot of theories in mind, but i can''t figure out what it is." Leanna said: "But I can guess a few things."


    "What?" Sannet asked.


    "You and the ravager were close friends, and when she died, you felt sad." Leanna said: "And when she returned, you were not prepared. That''s why you are behaving weirdly. Am I correct?"


    Sannet remained silent.


    "You are not the kind of person that would behave like this. So there must be a reason." Leanna said: "Am i getting warmer?"


    "No, not at all." Sannet replied: "Your theory is flawed, i wasn''t close to the Ravager."


    "That''s what you said but your reaction tells me otherwise." Leanna said: "So I am pretty sure that I am correct. And since Minka and the Ravager are similar, you feel conflicted when you look at Minka."


    Sannet looked away and didn''t say anything.


    "Look, Minka might not be as strong or competent as the Ravager, but she is the best person I know. I understand why you are afraid, but you can''t push her away forever. She is trying so hard to help you, even when you are being rude. Can''t you see? She cares about you. She is not going to replace the ravager, because no one can. And besides, she is a different person with her own personality." Leanna said.


    "......" Sannet didn''t say anything.


    "I will stop talking if you want." Leanna said: "I didn''t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, but I don''t like seeing my friend suffering. If there''s anything bothering you, just let me know. You don''t have to carry your burden alone."


    "......" Sannet looked away, she seemed conflicted: ¡° Lea, I will be leaving soon, the Ravager wants my help. She is going to reset the world and start everything over, and she needs my help. And I have agreed."


    ¡°That sounds wrong." Leanna said.


    "It doesn''t sound wrong, it is the truth." Sannet said: "The world is corrupt, it is built upon the foundation of the archivist. It cannot be allowed."


    "Sannet... I don''t know how to tell you this, but that is really bad." Leanna said: "The world is corrupt but that doesn''t mean that it has to be reset. There are still good people out there, and they deserve a chance. Please... reconsider."Leanna pulled Sannet¡¯s hand and pleaded.


    Sannet avoids her gaze: "I am sorry¡­¡± she then heads to the Ravager¡¯s side without looking back.


    ¡°Sannet!¡± Minka¡¯s shout made Sannet pause: ¡° I will stop you, just like how I did it before.¡±


    The ravager looks at Sannet: "Do what you think is right, this is a choice that you can only make yourself. I will respect your decision."


    Sannet hesitated for a few seconds, then she went back to Minka: "What did you say?" She walked in front of Minka and stared into her eyes: "Did you really think you could stop me? I let you win last time because I didn''t care, but now¡­ I will not tolerate a single instant of your indulgence. Your stupidity has plagued me long enough." Sannet then pushes Minka on the floor: ¡°Pathetic, you can¡¯t even stand on your feet."


    "Why are you being so mean?" Minka asks: "What have I ever done to you? Tell me!"


    "I have had enough of you." Sannet said: "All of the time, all you ever do is mess up and be the weak link of the group. Everyone knows that, except for you."


    "Is that why you are acting like this? Because you hate me?" Minka is hurt.


    "Yes." Sannet said with a cold tone: "I hated your weak personality, I hated your incompetence. Your very existence was a simulation of the real Minka that died saving the world. You are made by your father, a man who I loathe. One day¡­ I will end him myself."


    "No..." Minka''s eyes are teary.


    "I will never forget the day you took her place, and the pain I have endured." Sannet said: "When that man asks me to look after you. He knew that it will be a torture for me, he knew it will remind me of the past. And he did that because he hates me. This is a punishment. He created you just to punish me."


    ¡°Sannet, stop! This is not right, please, this has to stop." Leanna intervened and pulled Sannet''s arm: "This is not you, just stop. Please."


    Sannet shook off Leanna''s hand: "No, it has been long enough."


    "Sannet... I..." Minka''s words are stuck in her throat.


    "You are the worst thing that has ever happened in my life." Sannet said: "And now, I finally get a chance to get rid of you."


    "Sannet!" Viola shouted and pushed Sannet away: "Stop!"


    "No, this is too much. I can''t let this go on." Leanna stood between the two.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you again, or I will kill you." Sannet glared at Minka, then turned her back and left with the ravager.


    After the ravager and Sannet were gone, the three remained silent. Viola sat down beside Minka: "Hey, are you alright?" She asks.


    "What did I ever do wrong?" Minka said with a choked voice: "Sannet was a good friend, but now, she is saying such horrible things. Is this because of the ravager? Is this because of me?" She finally isn¡¯t able to hold back her tears anymore and breaks down crying.


    Leanna and Viola didn¡¯t say anything, they could only hug Minka and let her cry on their shoulders. Then they heard a noise that sounded like something heavy dropped on the ground from behind them.


    ¡°Sorry that I was late¡­¡± Monika came back: "I went back for the others. And..." She paused and saw the expressions on the other''s faces: "What happened?"


    Viola looks at Monika: "Something bad..."


    Monika walks up to them and picks Minka up: "Honey, what happened?"


    Minka is crying on her mom''s shoulder.


    Monika looks at Viola and Leanna: "Tell me, what happened?"


    "Sannet... she... uhh... well, she kinda insulted Minka and called her weak." Leanna said: "Minka tried to stop the ravager, and Sannet was not happy about it. They had an argument, and Sannet was really mean."


    "What?" Monika is confused.


    "The ravager was going to reset the world and rebuild it from scratch, she was planning to destroy everything." Viola explained: "Minka wanted to stop her, and Sannet sided with the ravager."


    "What? Why would Sannet do that?" Monika is shocked: "And who is that ravager person?"


    "Apparently she is also Minka..." Viola said: "But twenty years ago."


    "......." Monika remained silent and looked at Minka who was still crying on her shoulders: "Minka... it''s okay, you are not weak." She kisses Minka''s head and hugs her tighter: "It''s okay, mom is here."


    "She said it was the worst thing that happened in her life." Minka said while tearing up: "How can she say that? What did I ever do to her?"


    "I am so sorry that I didn''t tell you everything earlier... " Monika said: "Sannet was indeed a friend of Minka or Ravager if that''s how she calls herself now, and the two were close. The Ravager died saving the world."


    "Yeah, the Ravager mentioned this when we talked to her." Leanna said: "But that doesn''t explain why Sannet is acting like this. She didn''t have to be so mean."


    "I guess that is her way of expressing her sadness, she can''t move on." Monika said: "Sannet always acted tough and cold, and she rarely showed her emotions. But underneath that cold facade is a very caring and emotional woman. I think she is hurt, and that is why she lashes out. Imagine, after so long, she has finally let go of the past, but when Minka and the ravager showed up... she has to deal with the grief again."


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "I understand why she would lash out, but that is not a good excuse for being mean to Minka." Leanna said: "This is not right."


    "No, it''s not." Monika said: "I will confront her about this later... But now, we need to leave."


    Monika then opened a hidden door around the corner: "This is one of the teleportation devices that can lead to the surface, it was just done last week. Now, let''s leave this place."


    The four then stepped in the room, and the teleporter began working. After a flash of bright light, they all appeared somewhere in a plain field. After checking for some more location data, they finally arrived at the city: "Mom... I wanna go home..." Minka said weakly: "Please."


    "We will go home first, and then we will figure out what to do." Monika said: "Don''t worry, mom is here." Monika then looks at Viola and Leanna: "Thank you for taking care of Minka, I will never forget about this."


    "Minka is our friend, of course we will help." Viola smiled: "You don''t have to thank us."


    "If you guys need help, please let us know." Leanna added.


    "Thank you, both of you." Monika has a smile of relief on her face: "Let''s go home, Minka."


    After they said goodbye, Monika and Minka headed home. When they got back home, Minka was lying on her bed. Her mind is full of thoughts and memories. She didn''t feel good at all, Sannet''s words kept replaying in her mind.


    "I am not weak." Minka mumbled to herself.


    "I am not the worst thing that happened to her." Minka mumbled.


    "I am not incompetent..." Minka is crying.


    "No... I am not." She wiped her tears: "I will prove her wrong, I will show her."


    "Minka, you awake?" Monika gently knocked on the door.


    "Come in." Minka replied.


    Monika opened the door and walked over with cut fruits: "Hey, are you feeling better now?"


    Minka tries to hide her face under the blanket.


    "Honey, please talk to me. I am not going to force you, but at least let me know if you are feeling alright." Monika said: "Mom is worried about you, and I want to know if there''s anything I can do." Monika gently rubs Minka''s head: "Just talk to me, don''t shut me out."


    Minka''s voice is shaky: "I am fine."


    "No, you are not." Monika slightly pulled down the blanket that was covering Minka''s face and said: "Just let it out, let the feelings go. And don''t bottle up the emotions, that is not good for you."


    "Is dad really a bad person?... Was Sannet telling the truth?" Minka asks: "Mom, please... tell me the truth."


    "......" Monika paused for a second, then she sighs: "Sannet is indeed telling the truth. Your father is not a good man, he is responsible for the destruction of a thousand worlds and he caused countless deaths. But we never saw his cruelty, only heard the stories. The man we knew was a kind and caring person."Monika then slowly pats Minka''s head: "Minka, your father has been living for millions of years... in that time span, he did things that we will never approve of. But he is not the man we know anymore. I can''t speak for his past, but the man that I know was the kindest person I ever met. He loves us, and he is not the man he was before. Do you understand this?"


    "Then why did Sannet say he is a bad person? Can''t she also see this?" Minka asks: "She keeps insulting him."


    "Well... umm... there is a history between Sannet and your father." Monika said: "And Sannet is not happy about it, and she has every reason to be mad. I would if that has happened to me."


    "What happened between them? Mom, please tell me." Minka said.


    "I can''t tell you, that is a story that you need to ask Sannet about." Monika replied: "It is not my story to tell, and you should hear it from Sannet. Only she can tell you the whole story. Sannet is also a friend of mine... so i respect her every decision."


    "But..." Minka stopped: "Fine, I will ask her the next time I see her."


    "Minka, Sannet might not be the most gentle person in the world, but she is not evil. I understand that you are hurt, but remember that the pain is shared by her too." Monika said: "Now get some sleep, it has been a long day. I will be back with some food later, and you need to eat."


    "Mom..." Minka said before Monika closed the door.


    "Yes?" Monika replied.


    "It''s good to have you back... I missed you." Minka said.


    Monika smiles widely: "Me too." She replied.


    When Monika came out of Minka¡¯s bedroom. She is greeted by the ravager standing in the middle of the room silently.


    "How long have you been waiting here?" Monika asks.


    "For a while." The ravager replied.


    "Do you want some food? We have plenty." Monika offers.


    "No, I don''t need any." The ravager said: "Now... Can I have a hug from you?"


    If it''s under normal circumstances,  Monika would not hesitate to hug her, because it''s been so long. She missed her as well. But the fact that the ravaged asked for the hug made Monika hesitate a bit.


    "You seem to have something on your mind." The ravager said: "Do you not wish to see me?"


    "No... that is not the case." Monika said: "It is just a bit shocking that''s all, it''s been so long since I last saw you. And the last time I did, it didn''t end well."


    "I know... but I can assure you that I am the real one." The ravager then sits on the sofa: "So, how is the younger version of me doing? Sannet surely said a lot of mean stuff to her. It must have been rough."


    Monika sits across the ravager: "Yeah, she is not really taking this well. You need to talk to her and tell her everything yourself."


    "I will." The ravager replied: "But I need to ask you, will you join me? I need your help. I will not force you, and this is your decision. I am sure you will make the right one."


    "Can you explain what you are doing exactly?" Monika asks:" Because resetting the world doesn''t sound very peaceful."


    "To prevent the archivist''s return, I will destroy the structure of the world and rebuild it anew." The ravager said: "There will be a lot of people who will die, and it will be a painful process. However, I will use my powers to give the world a chance to thrive once more. The corruption and the malice will be wiped clean."


    "I know you have done this to hundreds of worlds... but I think we are doing fine. People are suffering, but it is not a disaster yet. Can''t we try to improve ourselves instead of resetting the world? We can build a better world without sacrificing anyone." Monika said.


    "That would require a lot of time and resources, and this is not something we have. The corruption will grow and expand, and the archivist can find a way back. He has done this before, and I can''t let him do it again. This is the last place where he still has fragments left. So I will not take my chances." The ravager replied: "I can give you more time to think about it, but eventually, we have to make the choice."


    "We spent decades building what we have... many have devoted themselves to this new world you helped build. Do you really want to get rid of it?" Monika said: "We can do better, this is a promise."


    "Mom... I know what you are saying, but there''s no way to fix the corruption. If it goes on for another ten years, the world will crumble." Ravager then let out a sigh: "Sannet told me that someone called the Legend tried to right the wrong... but it was you who stopped him. Why? Did you not see what is going on in the world?"


    "He was trying to kill people, and that was not the way to fix the corruption." Monika replied: "And... he threatened my family... I cannot let this slide."


    "Did he know that dad is a necron overlord?" Ravager asked: "He must have."


    "He did." Monika replied: "And he was trying to use that information to leverage this."


    "Mom, this world is dying, and it is because of my real father. We can''t let him ruin this world." Ravager said: "Please, stand with me and we can save it again."


    "But we can save it without destroying the world and the innocent." Monika said: "I know there''s good people out there, and i know they deserve a chance."


    "That is a nice sentiment, but the world is corrupted." The ravager leans her back on the sofa: "Look, I know it is hard to convince you... but, Elysia didn''t give you the power to be idle. There is a purpose behind her gift, and you should use it."


    Monika looks away and remains silent.


    While closing her eyes and resting, Minka suddenly realized something: "Wait... mom said that she will prepare me something to eat....? Oh no." Minka immediately rushed out of her room and headed towards the kitchen: "Oh no... mom, please don''t."


    "What is wrong?" Monika asks. When she glances at the ravager, she is already gone.


    "Mom, the food." Minka ran into the kitchen and saw some of the food Monika was preparing.


    "Minka, what are you doing out of bed?" Monika asked: "Get back to your room, I will bring you the food."


    "It''s ok, I will make the food for us. Just sit there and relax." Minka said: "Mom, trust me, you should not cook."


    "What are you saying? I can cook, just let me handle it." Monika replied: "Why are you acting like this? I can take care of us, and besides, we can''t have you doing everything. You have already done enough, just sit down and relax."


    Minka gulps, she decides to go for another strategy: "Umm... mom, you see... you are tired from working all that time in the abyss... please let your dear daughter take care of you. You deserve a rest, and let me do the work. I can take care of the food and myself. So just sit there and have some rest. You have a lot on your plate already, and I don''t want you to overwork yourself. So just leave this to me, and you can take a nap if you are tired."


    Monika narrowed her eyes: "What are you trying to do? Is there something wrong? I remembered you and your dad loved my cooking. What changed?"


    "Umm..." Minka is now sweating, she has no idea how to get out of this situation.


    "What''s going on here?" Trazyn''s voice suddenly came from behind them: "I just came back from the school. What happened?" He said while closing the door


    Seeing Trazyn, Monika drops the pot in her hand and hugs him tightly: "Traz, it has been...way too long"


    "Not as long as the time you were gone." Trazyn hugged her back: "Welcome home."


    "I missed you." Monika said with a teary face.


    "Me too." Trazyn gently kissed Monika''s lips.


    Minka was watching the scene and suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable, she coughed and said: "Dad¡­ mom was trying to cook for us. Don''t you think we should let her rest up a bit?" Minka emphasizes the word ''cook''.


    Trazyn seems to have noticed the signal that Minka is giving him, he looks at the pot and Monika: "Monika, honey, maybe we should have some delivery food for the night. I know a great place, and they make a delicious Chrnuous wings. We can watch a movie and have a relaxing night. What do you say?"


    Monika looks at Trazyn, then at Minka, and then at Trazyn again: "You are hiding something, what is going on?"


    "No, nothing is going on. I just think you have been through a lot." Trazyn said.


    "You too." Monika said: "The two of you are behaving really weird. What is happening? Minka, tell me what is going on."


    "No, nothing is going on. Mom, I am just worried about you." Minka said: "I know you are tired, so why not have a nice evening with dad. That is the best way to relieve stress."


    "Well, I will do the cooking then, you should catch up with your father." Monika said: "And it''s final. I will make some nice meals and you two will eat up like good kids."


    After about an hour,  a table of ''masterfully'' done courses was served. Monika had an extremely proud expression.


    "Oh, this is amazing, dear. The meal is wonderful." Trazyn said with a smile but his eyes kept trying to not look at the ''food'' that was on the table.


    "Mom, it''s... really great." Minka is smiling, but she is not really feeling it.


    "See? You guys didn''t have to worry. I can make great food." Monika sat down and joined them: "Well, I am not particularly hungry at the moment, so you two can enjoy it."


    "Yes, of course." Trazyn and Minka looked at each other and smiled. Minka tried to pick up the pancake with her fork, but when she tried to stab the food, the pancake broke in half like a plate that was dropped on the floor.


    "This is really great, the pancakes are fluffy and delicious." Trazyn said while looking at Minka.


    "Yea, they are. I love them." Minka nodded: "Mom, did you make the pancake batter yourself? I thought it would be a bit hard to get the texture of the batter right, but I am impressed." She''s saying this but she still hasn''t put it in her mouth yet: "Dad, I see you have a lot on your plate, why don''t you begin eating?"


    "No, no, you should eat first." Trazyn smiled and pushed the pancake away: "You should eat more, you are still growing after all."


    "But... dad, I can''t eat all of these." Minka said: "You should start eating, mom must have spent a lot of effort making these. So you should enjoy it. You need to eat as much as you can."


    "Don''t worry, I will eat." Trazyn said: "You should eat first."


    Suddenly Monika''s expression changed: "Something is not right... you two are not acting normal."


    "No, nothing is wrong." Trazyn said while having his signature smile on his face.


    "Dad, don''t deny it. You know this is not working. We should tell her." Minka sighed and looks at Monika: "Mom, the truth is-"


    Trazyn then stuffed a piece of pancake into Minka''s mouth, it made a hard sound when it touched Minka''s teeth: "Wow, this is great. I should have a bite." He then picks up a piece of pancake and puts it into his mouth. After chewing a dozen times, he was finally able to gulp down the hard pancake: "Wow, this is really great." He smiles while looking at Monika.


    "......" Monika stared at the two.


    "Mom, there''s no way we can eat all of this." Minka said: "And we don''t have to hide it, dad is not good at lying. Mom, the truth is that your cooking is not that good. The texture of the food is off and the taste is... well... let''s just say it''s not exactly edible."


    Monika looks at Trazyn, and looks back at Minka: "But you two loved it before."


    "Well...."Trazyn coughed a few times and smiled: "I kinda replaced the food you made with the food that I made... I just made them look like they were yours..."


    "......" Monika looked at the food and the two.


    "Mom, don''t take it personally, dad just wants us to be safe." Minka said : "Your cooking can actually poison people."


    Monika''s face turned red immediately: "So all this time, I was trying to feed the two of you the stuff that is not edible? And you let me do this without telling me the truth?"


    "Mom, we didn''t want to hurt your feelings." Minka said: "This is not what we want, it''s just the result of us trying to not make you feel bad. You worked really hard for the meal, and we didn''t want you to know. That is all." Minka looks at Trazyn: "Dad, you should tell her the truth."


    "But..." Trazyn was trying to come up with an excuse, but Monika''s expression told him that there''s no excuse.


    "Dad..." Minka glared at him.


    "Ok, fine... the truth is... your cooking is not good." Trazyn said.


    "And?" Monika raised her eyebrows.


    "I lied... and the food I cooked was made to look like your cooking. I am sorry." Trazyn sighed: "But in my defense, I did it because I didn''t want you to feel sad."


    "You could have just told me the truth." Monika said: "You two made me feel so good, but then I found out that all of these were not real." Monika shakes her head and sighs: "You two are such a handful."


    "We are sorry." The two said while lowering their heads.


    "You know what, it''s okay." Monika sighed: "I will just order some food for us, and maybe we should not talk about this. Ever."


    "Yes, that is a great idea." The two nodded and agreed.


    After they finish their meal, Monika and Trazyn sit in the living room and begin talking about things that have happened in the past decades. While they were talking, Minka was cleaning the plates. Suddenly, a knock on the door caught their attention.


    "Who is it?" Monika opens the door.


    "It''s me." Nova stood outside: "Can I talk to you?"


    "Nova, why are you here?" Monika is a bit confused.


    "It''s important, but I need to speak to you." Nova said: "It''s urgent."


    Monika invites Nova in and closes the door, when she sees Trazyn sitting on the sofa, she rolls her eyes: "What are you doing here? This is a family reunion, and you are not invited."


    "Hello, sis. Nice to see you too." Trazyn smiled and waved his hand: "Well, sister in law is still my sister."


    "Ugh." Nova made a disgusted face.


    "Nova, be nice. This is my home." Monika said: "And what is so important that you want to see me?"


    "They are reforming the inquisition." Nova said: "This has not ever happened in the history of the imperium."


    "And this concerns me? why?" Monika asked: "This is the high lords'' decision, and the inquisition is not my problem."


    "This is not an ordinary reform." Nova explained: "They are getting rid of the old leadership and putting in new ones. They are changing the entire organization. I am one of the candidates."


    "So you''ve come to brag?" Monika said: "Nova, you are ambitious and a very powerful woman, and I am sure that you will get the position."


    "That''s not the problem." Nova said while sounding rather serious: "The reason I am telling you this is because they are targeting you. They want to make you the leader of the reformed inquisition. It is not a decision, it is an order from the high lord himself."


    "High lord... isn''t Leonard supposed to be the real ''high lord''?" Monika sounded rather sarcastically: "Isn''t he the leader of the imperial high command?"


    "Yes, and the fact that the high lord is making the decision is rather... alarming." Nova said: "You need to be very careful from now on. I don''t know what has happened, but Leonard isn''t replying to my calls. And this is not a good sign."


    "Nova, this is not really our problem, if the high lord wants to change the leadership, then we should not be involved. I don''t really care." Monika said: "I will just refuse the position and they will find someone else, probably you."


    "No, they will not let this go." Nova shook her head: "Look, i can''t really explain the situation in detail, but you have to be careful. Something is happening and we are not prepared. You should keep your guard up."


    "Ok, I will." Monika replied: "Anything else?"


    "No, that is it." Nova then walked to the door.


    "Bye, sister." Trazyn waved.


    "Go to hell." Nova said then left in a hurry.


    "That went well." Trazyn yawns.


    "Why are they after me? I am not part of the inquisition." Monika seems confused.


    "Because the inquisition is not the same organization it was twenty years ago. Well, just so happens I know a thing or two about that organization. And this is a big deal." Trazyn said: "It means the imperial high command is no longer in charge. This is a coup."


    "I am not sure if you are exaggerating, but it''s true that something is not right." Monika said: "Nova wouldn''t make this up, and I have a feeling that this is a really bad sign."


    "Indeed, the situation is indeed dire. The inquisition was a check against the corruption and power abuse of the high lords, and now, it is gone. This is not a coincidence." Trazyn said: "They are getting rid of the old guard, and it is only a matter of time that the new guard will start taking control. And they will be the ones who decide what''s right and wrong." He let out a sigh: "We only gained twenty years of peace, but now... it seems like we will have another conflict on our hands. It''s time to fix this."


    "About that... today I met Minka." Monika said.


    "Yeah, I also met her. She''s home right now." Trazyn replied while pointing at Minka who was in the kitchen.


    "No, not our daughter that is in the kitchen. The Minka that we met years ago." Monika explained: "She came back, and she is a lot different than before. She called herself the ravager, and she is planning to destroy the world and rebuild it from scratch."


    "That is... rather extreme." Trazyn scoffs: "Huh... is she really going to do this?"


    "Yes." Monika nodded: "She even asked me to join her. The ravager told me she has done this to many worlds, and the reason for doing this is to stop the Archivist from returning."


    "Ah... so she knows about what we did... Well this does make everything worse than it already is. I wonder why she didn''t kill us, I mean, it is quite easy to do that." Trazyn thought about it for a moment, then said: "She must be planning something else. Or maybe the reason can be sentimental? She is the older version of our daughter, and I think it is not hard to imagine her hesitating before killing us."


    "We can''t let her destroy the world. And we need to help the people." Monika said: "We can''t let the innocents suffer. It''s not right." While they are discussing, Minka is hiding behind the kitchen door, and listening.


    "But we can''t stop her, if she is as powerful as we remember, there''s nothing we can do. Maybe we can convince her, or give her a reason not to do it." Trazyn said: "She''s still our daughter after all, we can''t kill her."


    "Maybe... I just don''t want anyone to suffer, and I don''t want to stand idle when I have the power to do something." Monika said while looking at her hand: "I don''t want to abandon those who are in trouble."


    "....." Trazyn pats Monika''s head: "You are still the same person that I met long ago. The kind and caring Monika, it''s good to have you back."


    "Traz..." Monika blushed and hugged him tightly.


    "Honey, you should rest." Trazyn kissed Monika''s forehead: "Let''s take a nap together, the bed is cold without you."


    "Mmm." Monika nodded.


    As soon as the two walked upstairs, Minka sneaked out of the kitchen and quietly opened the front door, then she left the house.


    "This is a big deal, and we need to do something." Minka said to herself while walking around, then she suddenly remembered Noel who is currently working in the inquisition. She decided to pay a visit to her.


    After a few hours of waiting, Minka is sitting outside of the inquisition main office. Then, she heard footsteps coming closer and closer, she then saw Noel walk out: "Aunt Noel!" Minka greeted.


    "Minka?" Noel seems surprised: "What are you doing here?"


    "I came to see you." Minka answered.


    "Is there anything I can help you with?" Noel asked while looking rather tired at the moment.


    "Umm, actually, can I talk to you for a bit? Like a private chat." Minka said: "It won''t be too long, and I just have a few questions."


    "Sure." Noel replied then opened her office door.


    "Thanks." Minka then followed Noel to her office. After entering, Noel asked: "Is there anything wrong? You seem rather worried."


    "Yes." Minka nodded: "I am not sure what happened, but something big is about to happen. I need your help."


    "My help?" Noel seemed confused: "How can I help you? I am just a lieutenant. If anything you should ask your mom."


    "That is exactly why I need your help." Minka said: "I just got out of the abyss and I don''t know what is happening. But according to what I heard from the conversation between my parents, the situation is not good. They said that the inquisition is currently having a reshuffle. The high lords are trying to control the leadership and take over the organization."


    "That is... not exactly a surprise." Noel sighed: "Look, the inquisition and the high lords have always been in competition, and it is a fact that the high lords are more powerful than the inquisition. And with the recent events... they can easily take the leadership of the inquisition. I mean, whoever is the leader for me, as long as they pay for my paycheck, I couldn''t care less."


    "So, they are basically taking control of the inquisition, and the new leaders are going to be appointed by the high lords." Minka asked: "And this is a big deal, because the inquisition used to be the organization that stands against corruption and we have a huge situation going on."


    "So we need to do something about that!" Minka said: "If they take control of the inquisition, this can be a big problem. Aunt Noel, you have to tell the people! You have to expose the truth, the high lords are trying to seize power."


    "Me? Out of all people?" Noel laughed: "What makes you think I can do something about this? Look, I know you have a great idea, and you are willing to do things for the greater good. But the fact is, the people are not interested in this at all." Noel then stands up and stretches her arms: "Look, if you really want to help people. Go out and volunteer. Help the people around you. You don''t need to take this big picture, and I am not interested. And besides, if I try to expose the high lords, they will kill me."


    Minka remained silent.


    "I will get into trouble and I will be dead before I can even tell the story." Noel sat back: "Minka, you should focus on helping the people who are around you. Forget about the greater good. That is the only way to do it."


    "I am not giving up." Minka said: "I have a friend that can help me. I will make this right." Minka then left the office while sounding rather angry.


    "Wait." Noel sighed and followed Minka out: "Just be careful. Don''t do anything reckless."


    "Thanks." Minka nodded and ran towards Viola''s place.


    Viola and Leanna were talking in the living room, when the doorbell rang. Leanna went and opened the door.


    "Oh, Minka, what''s the matter?" Leanna was a bit surprised.


    "Lea? What are you doing in Viola''s house?" Minka asked.


    "She is staying here for a bit. And I am happy to have company." Viola appeared behind Leanna and smiled.


    "What''s going on?" Leanna asked.


    "Well... I just have a favor to ask. And I need your help." Minka explained everything she knows about the inquisition reshuffle.


    "This is serious. And the fact that the high lord is doing this, is not a good sign. We should do something." Leanna said: "We can''t just let them do whatever they want. But the timing of this thing happening is way too strange...By the way where did you get this information from?"


    "Aunt Nova." Minka answered.


    "Mother said that? Huh... Well, this is not a good sign." Leanna said: "Mother would have kept this a secret. I think the situation is really bad."


    "I have a plan." Minka said: "But I can''t do this alone. I need your help."


    "I don''t really know what you are planning to do, but I am sure it''s a bad idea." Viola said while looking at Minka in a concerned way.


    "What is the plan?" Leanna asked.


    "We can''t let them take control of the inquisition. So I want to find out what they are up to..." Minka then looks around: "Let''s sneak in!"


    "...." Viola and Leanna stared at Minka: "Are you crazy?"


    "It''s a great plan, we will find the proof and show the people. Then they will be exposed!" Minka said: "Come on, the three of us will make a great team."


    "We are not breaking into the imperial high command. We can''t do that." Leanna said: "Unless Sannet is here... but..."


    "We don''t need Sannet." Minka sounded a bit frustrated: "We can do this without her. I will make sure of that. Besides, she probably wouldn''t join me."


    "Ah...." Viola has a slight grin on her face: "You are doing this because you want to take revenge on Sannet. Right?"


    "What? No." Minka immediately denied: "I just want to make sure that the high lords don''t take over the inquisition."


    "Right." Viola still has a smile on her face: "But you are a bit angry with Sannet right? And you feel like you are being pushed away. Am I right?"


    "Well... kinda." Minka said while avoiding eye contact: "I know that Sannet is not happy about this. But I don''t care, I just want to do the right thing."


    "Yeah, right." Viola still has a smile on her face: "The two of you should make up, this is not going to end well if you two keep being distant." Viola then pats Minka''s back: "Sign me up for creating a bit of chaos! Also i would love to see the scene where you and Sannet hug each other out of happiness. Oh and the kiss would be a great scene as well. It would be like a romance movie. Sannet would be a handsome knight and you will be a cute sad little princess, and the two of you would fight for a while, then you will forgive each other and hug."


    "Stop fantasizing." Minka made a disgusted face: "Also, I would like to see the scene where I punched Sannet in the face. It would be great."


    "Oh, the two of you would look so good together." Viola''s eyes turned into stars: "But Lea would be so jealous.... Since you two have a romantic history."


    "Stop." Minka and Leanna said.


    "Ok, ok, sorry. It''s just that... I have no life. So I will just fantasize." Viola sighed: "Anyways, back to the topic. Do you guys have a plan to break in?" They then began discussing their plans. After hours of discussion, they have come up with a rough plan.


    "This is a bit crazy, and I think the plan is very flawed." Leanna said.


    "Well, it''s better than nothing." Viola said: "At least it will be fun."


    "So the plan is we will sneak into the imperial high command building, then find the records about the reshuffle." Minka said: "We will gather all of the evidence and prove that the high lords are trying to take control." She summarized the plan: "Sounds good, let''s call it for the night. And tomorrow, we will put the plan into action." They then had dinner together and Minka gone home afterwards.

 Chapter 20

    Minka then came home to see her parents watching a movie together: "Minky come and join us!" Trazyn waved.


    "Nah, I am not feeling too good." Minka shook her head and headed towards her room.


    "Wait, Minky." Monika called out, Minka stopped, she gulped and turned around: "Yes, mom?"


    "Are you okay?" Monika asked.


    "Yes." Minka said: "Why do you ask?"


    "Nothing, it''s just that... I felt like you were hiding something from me. You seem to be stressed." Monika said: "If anything, just tell us. We can help."


    "Look... Minka, I know there''s a lot to unpack from what has happened in the past few days... but trust me, everything is fine. If you have something on your mind, tell us." Trazyn said.


    "There''s nothing going on. Don''t worry, dad." Minka smiled and winked: "I am fine. I will just go to my room. And good night."


    "Good night, honey." Trazyn and Monika smiled.


    "Night." Minka then closed the door and walked to her bed. She then lies down and sighs, she doesn''t like to lie to her parents. But this is for the best, they can''t know what she is planning to do is break into the imperial high command. And the last thing she wants is them getting involved. They deserve peace and happiness, after what they had gone through. She took a long breath and fell asleep. Tomorrow, the plan will start, and she hopes that everything will go smoothly.


    The next day, Minka woke up from her bed and prepared her equipment for the mission. After a few hours of preparations, she went to Viola''s place.


    "I am here, are you guys ready?" Minka knocks on the door.


    Leanna and Viola then walk out, Leanna is wearing a standard issued guard uniform and Viola is just dressing casually.


    "You don''t have proper equipment?" Minka is a bit disappointed: "Viola, you should be dressed like Leanna."


    "I won''t wear something like this. I would rather go naked." Viola refused: "Besides, I have this." She pulled out a gun: "I am a contract killer, I don''t need those uniforms."


    "....." Minka has a lot of objections, but it''s too early to argue: "Lea, how about you?"


    "I can''t use my power, because I am supposed to be infiltrating as a guard." Leanna said: "That''s why I need the standard issued guard weapon, which is this gun. If anything happens I will use this." Leanna taps the lasgun on her back, the battery seems to be deactivated at the moment.


    "Ok, I guess we are ready." Minka then nods: "Let''s get moving, we can''t waste time."


    The three then got in Viola''s car and headed towards the imperial high command. But they didn''t seem to notice a person with white silver hair was looking at them from the roof of the building.


    The imperial high command is a giant complex, it has many levels and many restricted areas. So it''s not easy to infiltrate without having a proper pass. Which is why they need to acquire it first. Leanna swipes her card but it is written error- card damage on the card reader.


    "Damn it." Leanna swiped the card again, but the result is still the same.


    "Can I help you?" One of the guards came over and asked.


    "My card is not working. Hmmm.... it was near my PDA yesterday tho..." Leanna scratched her head and pretended to be clueless.


    "Wait, let me take a look at your card." The guard took the card from Leanna''s hand and scanned it: "Please come over, I will need your information and will give you a replacement card. It''s not a big deal."


    "Ah... thanks." Leanna smiled and followed the guard. In the meantime, Viola and Minka have already infiltrated near the guard post and found their target- The database mainframe. The moment the guard unlocked the door, Viola knocked him from the back of his head and Minka then tied him up.


    Leanna then took the guard''s card and began changing their information in the database mainframe. The three are now officially a part of the guard crew. Leanna also gave them level three access that is able to get them far enough to the main hall of the inquisition building. Everything had been fine, until they saw a group of soldiers begin running towards the main hall.


    "This is not a drill!" One of the soldiers shouted: "The high lord is being attacked! We need back ups immediately."


    "The high lord?" Leanna raised her eyebrows, then looked at Minka and Viola: "Should we check it out?"


    "Wait..." Viola suddenly felt something was behind her, but when she turned nothing was there.


    "What is wrong?" Minka asked.


    "Nothing... let''s go." Viola shook her head and followed Minka to the main hall. When they entered, they saw the soldiers were all gathering in the hall. And the main door of the building seems to be blocked by some kind of barrier.


    "What is going on?" Leanna asked one of the guards.


    "Don''t know, they said there is an intruder." The guard answered.


    "An intruder?" Leanna asked.


    "Yes, they said that someone is trying to assassinate the high lord. I think the person is still inside the building." The guard said: "They are sealing this place to prevent the intruder from getting away. And they are planning to have a search party."


    "I see." Leanna nodded: "Are we allowed to leave?"


    "No, I think the lock down will be lifted soon. So you should just stay here and wait." The guard answered.


    "Something is off..." Viola suddenly said: "The timing of this event is too perfect, like it was planned."


    "But who would want to do this?" Minka asked.


    "I don''t know, but i am sure this is not a coincidence." Viola said and then pointed at a nearby barracks: "Maybe we can get some information in there."


    The three then walked towards the barracks. The place is filled with guards. Some of them are chatting, some of them are resting, and some of them are just minding their own business. But Viola walked past all of them and arrived at a storage room.


    "Hey, why are we going to the storage?" Minka asked.


    "Close your eyes." Viola said: "And stay quiet."


    Minka and Leanna closed their eyes, and Viola then took out a small package from her pocket then spilled it over the room. A small cloud of dust is then spreaded. A human figure began to appear behind them. It is Sannet.


    "I knew it was you." Viola said: "I knew something was off, Why are you doing this?"


    Minka and Leanna then opened their eyes and turned around.


    "Sannet." Minka is a bit surprised: "What are you doing here? This is not your fight."


    "What am I doing here? Well, I came here to stop you guys from making a huge mistake." Sannet said: "And you are right, this is not my fight, but it''s yours. You guys are here to expose the high lord, but that is not the case. The truth is, you are being used."


    "Used? What do you mean?" Leanna asked.


    "You are being played." Sannet explained: "The high lord is trying to take over the inquisition, but they are trying to find someone to divert the attention away from them. They are trying to manipulate the public opinion. And they are using you."


    "And why us? What does it have to do with us?" Minka asked: "And frankly Sannet, aren''t you supposed to be with the ravager?" Minka stepped forward and looked at Sannet angrily: "You are here to stop me from helping the people. Why? Why are you helping the high lord?"


    "You are still as idiotic as usual." Sannet said: "I am not here to help the high lord. I am here to help you. You three are about to make a huge mistake, and I am trying to stop you."


    "How can I believe you? The last thing you told me was you wanted nothing to do with me." Minka is now shouting: "And now you are just telling me that I am being used and manipulated? I am not dumb, I know what I am doing!"


    "Minka... lower your voice." Leanna whispered.


    "I know you are mad." Sannet said: "But if you really want to expose the high lord, then you have to listen to me."


    "I don''t need your advice." Minka turned around: "Let''s go." Suddenly Sannet grabbed Minka''s shoulder.


    "If you really want to help the people, then listen to me." Sannet said: "I will explain everything."


    "Let me go!" Minka tried to shake off Sannet''s hand, but Sannet was way too strong. Minka activates her power and lifts Sannet up: "I said let me go!" She then throws Sannet towards the wall.


    Sannet stood up looking unscratched, she suddenly charged in and punched Minka''s face. Minka then tried to fight back but failed because Sannet''s punch was so fast.


    "Stop it!" Leanna tried to stop the two, but Viola held her up.


    "Let them fight, it''s good to get some frustration out." Viola said.


    "You have been so annoying to me these days." Sannet said: "I will teach you a lesson."


    "Come at me, Sannet." The weapon appeared in Minka''s hand and the two began fighting.


    At first Minka seemed to have the upper hand, but after a while, Sannet managed to overpower Minka and push her against the wall. Minka''s eye glows in a faint yellow light, and she suddenly blasts Sannet away from her.


    Sannet also pulled out the black sword on her back and charged in again. The two weapons clash a few times, then Sannet kicks Minka''s leg and she falls down. Minka''s eyes glow again and a burst of psychic energy blasts Sannet away from her.


    The two stood up and faced each other. Minka is breathing heavily, while Sannet is just looking at Minka coldly.


    "What do you want?" Minka asked while trying to catch her breath.


    "I am here to tell you the truth. But it seems like I will beat the reason into you." Sannet said and then attacked again. This time, Sannet activates a skill that has never been seen by any of them, green light orbs begin surrounding her then charged towards Minka. Minka tried to defend but she got hit and was pushed back. Sannet then grabs Minka and lands another punch on Minka''s face. She then pins Minka on the floor.


    "Listen." Sannet said while sounding like a hint of anger in her voice: "You are not the protagonist. You are not going to fix all of the problems. You are not the one that will save the people." Sannet then punches Minka again: "You are not the hero." Sannet then punches Minka one more time: "Stop trying to do things that are not your problem." Sannet then punches once more: "And stop being stubborn."


    "Sannet, stop." Leanna ran over: "You are hurting her." Sannet then stands up. Minka is bleeding from her lips and nose. Viola then helped Minka stand up.


    "Now will you listen?" Sannet cleaned her fist: "Or I will do it again."


    "Ugh...." Minka wiped the blood on her face and coughs a few times: "Screw you... I will not listen to you." Minka activates her power again and charges in: "I am doing the right thing." Sannet sighs and punches Minka again. Minka then falls on the floor. Sannet picks Minka up and punches her once again.


    "Stop it." Leanna held Sannet''s arm: "Please. Minka is beaten." She looks at Sannet with pleading eyes.


    "Let go." Sannet then shrugs Leanna off: "She needs to understand." Sannet then picked Minka up again, Viola then activated her weapon and pointed at Sannet.


    "Move." Viola said: "She has had enough." Sannet stares at Viola for a moment, then puts Minka down.


    "Now, will you listen to me? Or I will beat the reason into you again." Sannet asked: "You are just like your father... always stubborn and unwilling to listen."


    "Well, what do we do now?" Leanna asks Viola: "Should we listen to her?"


    "It doesn''t seem like we have a choice at the moment... I mean Minka is beaten." Viola sighs: "Let''s hear her out."


    "Tsk tsk tsk..." A voice came from outside of the storage room and then the person entered the room: "This is such a scene."


    Monika comes in and wears armor that is strapped with firearms. She then removes her helmet: "Looks like you kids are storting it out. Did Sannet say anything she shouldn''t have said?"


    "Mom? What are you doing here?" Minka is rather shocked: "Are you a part of this?"


    "Mom?" Monika blinks a few times: "Oh right, Minka is my daughter, i almost forgot about that." Monika then looks at Sannet: "So did you beat the reason into her?"


    "Wait... you are not mom." Minka tries to get up but Sannet just steps on her chest: "Stay down." Sannet then pushes Minka on the floor.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "You are rather fast to get around it. I am sure Viola here knows who I am exactly." Monika smiles: "Right Viola?"


    "Knight..." Viola suddenly aims her weapon towards ''Monika'': "What are you doing here?"


    "Ah Viola, I missed you." Knight''s smile widens: "Still as observant as usual. Well, I am here to stop you guys from making a huge mistake. And Sannet, I see you did a good job beating them up. And I think Minka here has learned a lesson or two." Knight then walks around the room and inspect the others: "You know, the fact that you guys are here, tells us a lot of things." She then puts her hand on Leanna''s shoulder from behind: "Mommy got the information rather quickly didn''t she? We are very thankful."


    "The high lord... they have been using us." Leanna then suddenly understands: "The high lord... it''s you isn''t it?"


    "Hmmm... the apple doesn''t fall far from the tree I suppose." Knight seems to be impressed: "But the apple here has rotten and was never meant to grow on the tree. You see, we are trying to save the world here from the mistakes your Terras made." Knight said while circling Leanna.


    "What is she talking about?" Minka asks Sannet.


    "Shut up and stay down." Sannet stepped on Minka''s chest once again.


    "We don''t need to destroy this world and rebuild it from the start, we only need to get rid of the rot." Knight smiles while looking at the confused expression of the other three: "Don''t you see? The Terras have always been the cause of this world''s misfortune. First the Calamity, and now the corruption. You people really thought you could save... anyone really. You killed the archivist and brought him back, then used his technology to ''help'' the world to become a better place without even understanding a shred of knowledge." She then stopped circling around Leanna, then faced them: "Don''t you see? If we are going to rebuild the world, we need to start by getting rid of Terras. Which you amazing children have brought yourselves into the hole we prepared for you."


    "So... we have been set up. From the very beginning." Minka is breathing heavily while on the ground, but her eyes still look angry: "So the reshuffle in the inquisition, all the high lords, everything was just to set us up?"


    "Finally, you are out of the idiot zone for a mere second. Bravo." Knight claps: "That was indeed the plan."


    "Who are you people?" Leanna is a bit confused: "Why are you doing this?"


    Suddenly a ground pounding shake came from outside of the building. Knight puts her hands behind her back and leans forward: "Perfect timing." She smiled.


    Suddenly the door got blown open, then Monika and Nova entered through the broken wall. Nova''s hand is holding the weapon and Monika has the weapon on her hand as well. Monika''s eyes glow in red, as if the laser will penetrate Knight at any moment.


    "Now now... look at this, it''s mommy and auntie Nova, just what is it you two wanted?" Knight seems to be amused and happy to see Nova and Monika: "Look at this, they are rather protective about their daughters."


    "Knight, what is the meaning of this?" Monika steps forward: "Release Minka,Leanna and Viola. If not..."


    "What are you going to do? Hurt me?" Knight laughed: "Oh... Monika, I have waited a long time to see you again. You haven''t changed really, mentally and physically. Look at you, still trying to help those around you, always trying to fix others'' problems while ignoring your own. And here is the sadder fact, you failed to save those around you." She then puts a collar on Minka and Leanna: "Now... if you don''t listen to me, I will blow their head off."


    "You..." Monika''s face turns pale, then Nova holds her back and says: "Calm down, she is only bluffing. She doesn''t want to hurt the girls."


    "She is right, I don''t intend to use it at all. But I will if you don''t surrender and come with me." Knight said: "If you resist, I will not hesitate to press the button." She then turned to Nova and Monika: "What''s the decision going to be?"


    "Mom, don''t listen to them! I am not scared!" Minka said while having a hard time speaking. Sannet is still stepping on her.


    "How cute..." Knight then pushes a button, Leanna suddenly feels a burning sensation from her neck: "You think we can''t do this? But... I am just trying to get a response. So let''s try this again." She then pushes the button once more, Leanna falls to the ground and begins screaming in pain.


    Viola kneels beside her: "Let her go, you son of a bitch!"


    "What''s it gonna be? Come with me, or she dies." Knight smiles.


    "Stop it!" Nova steps forward and throws her weapon down: "Let her go!"


    Knight stops and lets Leanna rest, she then points at Sannet and tells her to prepare for the ritual: "Let''s not waste anymore time." She then activates the artificial magic ritual, a purple pentagon appears on the ground with magic spell writing in it. She then signs Monika and Nova to step on it.


    Monika and Nova stepped into the pentagon, and a portal appeared above their heads, then they got pulled up and disappeared. The pentagon then disappeared: "That''s two... I think the other side is also getting things done." Knight said.


    Minka yanks off Sannet''s feet and picks up the weapon again then yells: "Don''t you dare hurt my family!"


    "Calm down, they won''t be harmed. But if you don''t listen to me and be a good little girl... they might not survive. So stay down." Knight said while still sounding amused: "So festy... I like it." She then activates the collar on Minka and Leanna''s neck, rendering them electrified. She then orders Sannet to tie them up.


    "Where is my payment?" Suddenly, Viola said in a rather emotionless tone.


    "Viola? Are you helping them?" Sannet is rather shocked to hear what Viola had just said.


    "Well... the paycheck is too good for me to ignore." She then puts back her gun on her holster: "So where is the money?"


    "Payment will be sent to you, as per your contract. You are indeed top of the line, Viola. How you managed to pull out everything is still beyond me." Knight said while sounding very satisfied.


    "Thanks, the next job I hope to be is as interesting." Viola then leaves the storage room, then says: "Sannet, for a person who claims to know many things. You are rather blind from the very start, you failed to protect these two and they got caught up in this. Good luck to you." Viola then walked out of the door. Minka saw Viola left while having tears coming out of her eyes before passing out.


    Sannet stood there, silent for a moment. She then let out a long sigh and tied the two up, they then also disappeared in the pentagon.


    When Minka woke up, she found herself being locked in a prison. Her body is aching from being beaten. She stood up and noticed Leanna was also in the same cell: "Lea?" Minka shakes Leanna''s body: "Are you awake?"


    "Where... are we?" Leanna said while sounding really exhausted.


    "Don''t know... but..." Minka looked at Leanna and her expression softened: "How are you feeling?"


    "I am fine... how are you?" Leanna asked while trying to stand up.


    "I¡¯m ok." Minka said while having her hand on Leanna''s back: "Sorry... everything is all my fault..."


    "No... it''s not your fault..." Leanna sighed.


    The two sat in the cell and waited. The prison cell is just a regular one with four walls, and one metal door. Minka tried to break the walls using her power. But to no avail, the prison seems to be made in a way that it can stop powers. Minka sat on the floor while sighing.


    Suddenly the door opened, Sannet came in with food in her hand and put it on the floor.


    "Here, eat. The food here is not good. But that''s all we have." Sannet said coldly.


    "No thanks. I don''t want to eat anything from you people." Minka rejected the food while giving a look of disdain.


    "Suit yourself. Starve to death. I don''t care." Sannet said and crossed her legs while sitting on the chair in the corner: "Look, you will get food once every day. That is all. But if you want to starve yourself, I will let you be. It''s your choice." She then pulled out a knife from her boot and played with it.


    "You... Why are you still working for these people? I know you, I know that you are not like these people at all!" Minka yelled: "Stop pretending. Tell me why! What are you working for them for?"


    Sannet remained silent and continued to play with the knife.


    "Why don''t you speak! Stop being so cold to me!" Minka began yelling louder: "Answer me! Sannet! What did I ever do wrong to you?!"


    "I owe the people that helped me. So I am paying it back." Sannet then said in an icy tone: "That''s it." She stood up and walked towards the door.


    "You don''t need to be loyal to these people. You can escape." Minka pleads: "Please... let''s escape together... we can save our family and..."


    "You don''t know anything." Sannet said and slammed the door shut.


    Minka is still sitting on the ground looking at the door, Leanna puts a hand on Minka''s shoulder: "Minka... I am sorry... but I think we won''t be able to get out of here easily. Let''s eat... and rest." She then brought the food tray.


    Minka nods and eats with Leanna, she then leans on Leanna''s shoulder and sighs. They then fall asleep in the cell.


    "How cute..." Knight enters the prison hall while smiling and watching the two sleep on each other: "Looks like they have some trust in each other, it''s nice to have friends like them right? Shame I couldn''t say the same for Viola... but I guess that''s business." She then looks at Sannet.


    Sannet stood by Knight and remained silent. She seems to have no intention of talking back.


    "Why so silent? Are you going to start being emotional again?" Knight asked with a grin on her face: "Do you miss those two? Or you miss the old days?" She then turns to Sannet.


    "I am just... doing what is asked." Sannet said with a blank expression.


    "That''s good. It''s always nice to see you do things without asking any questions. That''s how a perfect tool should be." Knight then pats Sannet''s shoulder: "Maybe I should also invite Viola to be here... what do you think?"


    Sannet just shrugs.


    "Ok, ok, i will stop bothering you with these meaningless conversations. Go do whatever you do when you are bored. You can always find me if you want to talk. You are not alone... just like how you are not the only one that''s in this position." She then walks away and leaves Sannet standing there. Sannet then walked away.


    The next morning, Minka wakes up while Leanna is sleeping in her arms. Suddenly the door opens and Sannet comes in.


    "Get up." She said: "I will take you two to shower."


    Leanna slowly wakes up and walks out of the cell with Minka. The three are heading towards the showers, Minka has no interest in talking with Sannet at all, but Leanna has something in mind.


    "So... are we being moved to another cell? Or are you guys letting us out?" Leanna asked.


    "Just taking you to shower." Sannet answered while having her gaze forward.


    "How about my mother, is she alright?And how about aunt Monika? Are they alright? Can we talk to them?" Leanna asked while sounding a bit worried.


    "They are fine." Sannet said while walking past some guards that saluted her: "Just shut up and follow."


    Leanna remained quiet for a few seconds, then said: "Sannet, are you..."


    "Shush." Sannet stopped her: "If you keep asking me these useless questions, I will make sure you will get something more than just a shower."


    The two then remained quiet and followed Sannet to the showers. Minka and Leanna went in and gave some new clothes: "I will be waiting. Don''t take too long." Sannet stood outside of the showers while the two took their showers. After they were done, Minka and Leanna changed into the new clothes. And the two came out.


    "What now?" Minka asks.


    "Follow." Sannet then walks out of the prison area. The two followed and the three headed to another place. When they reach there, they are amazed by the view in front of them. It is a lab looking place tiled with green marble floors and the wall is white. It seems like it can house thousands of people. Sannet leads the two into the main lab area, then opens the door to the right, and tells the two to enter the room.


    Inside the room is a chamber, and it looks like it''s used to scan people. Sannet told them to walk in and stand there for a scan.Then a door behind them opens, they see Monika behind the glass window.


    "Mom!"


    "Aunt Monika!" The two yelled in excitement.


    "Minka! Leanna! Are you okay? Did they hurt you two?" Monika asked through the glass: "Are you two unharmed?"


    Minka nods: "Yes, mom. We are fine! I was so worried about you! Is everything okay with you? How are you doing? What have they been doing to you? Can we..."


    "Shut up and calm down!" Sannet shouted from behind, and then walked past Minka: "The two of them are doing well. Just like I told you."


    Monika seemed to be relieved, then said to the two: "Minka, Leanna, don''t worry. Everything is alright... They are not here to hurt us... They just need us to be... gone while they plot their scheme." Monika then turns her face to Sannet: "Why are you doing this? Let Minka and Leanna go... I know that you don''t want to do this at all..."


    "Don''t pretend like you know me. Just stop it." Sannet said with a cold expression and tone: "Enough visiting time, lets go." She then held the two and pulled them out.


    "Let them go, Sannet! I am telling you... let them go! If you don''t..." Monika then yelled in anger and slammed the glass. But she can only watch Minka and Leanna get pulled out of the room.


    Sannet drags both of them out, while Monika can only look with frustration on her face. Leanna struggles and looks at Sannet with a look of hatred: "Where is my mother?! Where is she? Let us go! Sannet, I don''t know what''s gotten into your head, but this is wrong and you know it!" Leanna''s collar suddenly activated, causing Leanna to scream in pain.


    "You will get your chance to meet Nova soon." Sannet said with her expressionless face: "But for now... this is how you will get along." She then pushes both of the girls into their cell, while Leanna is still suffering from the effect of the collar.


    "You coward! Stop hurting Lea! She did nothing to you!" Minka grabs the cell bar: "Sannet!"


    "If i were you, i wouldn''t try to make me angry." Sannet then pulls out the controller in her pocket and waves it in front of Minka: "Now behave and stop shouting." Sannet then left the two.


    A few hours passed and Leanna finally recovered from the collar shock. Leanna holds Minka in her arms while Minka is having tears in her eyes: "It''s all my fault..."


    Leanna just caressed Minka''s hair and remained quiet, she then suddenly thought of something: "Minka... remember when we are still young, how do you always try to escape from the imperial academie?"


    "Yes." Minka nods while in Leanna''s arms: "It''s like a routine every week... how did you know i tried to run away every week? You were never around."


    "Well... because the guard will report back to the principal''s office every day, and sometimes I was there to help the professors." Leanna then chuckled a bit: "And you never fail to make me laugh, remember that one time you ran off and actually climbed all the way on the roof. You are almost about to jump, but a guard just called out to you and you got stuck in there?"


    "Well... I can''t climb down... it''s not my fault." Minka is also laughing while she remembers the day: "But I will always run away from the place, because they were all so annoying... I hate all the other kids."


    "I know... I am not good at socializing as well... I can only talk with people who I have a common interest with, but..." Leanna sighs: "But that was the happiest day of my life. It was like I found something to look forward to."


    "How? Why?" Minka asked.


    "Because, I know it sounds weird. But... when they reported that you escaped. I can always feel like... something special is about to happen." Leanna said while still smiling: "And... you were always there, at the right time... I always look forward to it. Even hearing the news was enough for me... it makes me smile, makes me happy... like i am living a good life... when you escaped the academy."


    Minka turns and looks Leanna in the eye: "Lea... this is a bad time to bring this up right now, why are you talking about that? Why now? Are you okay? Are you really alright? Maybe we need to..."


    "It''s funny isn''t it?" Leanna interrupted: "We are here in prison... and yet... I have never been more at ease... and more comfortable with my life. Isn''t it ironic?" She then kissed Minka on the cheek.


    "What are you..." Minka felt a bit confused, then looked into Leanna''s eyes. And she can see the glimmering in them, a very peaceful expression that Minka has never seen. And a warm smile on Leanna''s face, that makes Minka feel really good: "What are you doing?"


    "Minka, you know I never had the courage to talk to you about what I really want. But... we are here right now. And... I just want you to know. That..." Leanna is stuttering a little bit: "I have loved you ever since... and I still do..." Leanna is looking Minka straightly in the eye, and slowly leaned forward, trying to kiss her. Minka''s eyes widened and her face was now bright red. She was not sure what was happening, so she tried to move back. But her body just doesn''t react at all. She doesn''t know why, but she doesn''t resist.


    Their lips touched for a second, and a voice suddenly came from outside the cell door. It was Knight. She was clapping and said: "Oh my.. It''s like... love is blooming right in front of my eyes!"


    Leanna stood up and immediately distanced herself away from Minka: "Sorry... I was being selfish..." Leanna looks away, she can feel her face is burning, her hands are trembling, and she just doesn''t know what to say.


    Minka on the other hand is also flustered. But she knows what''s happening: "What do you want?"


    Knight just laughs while standing outside of the cell, she just looks at the two for a moment, and says: "Well... I am going to offer you a chance, to do the right thing, or to continue your boring days in prison, I will give you a few minutes to think it through."


    "What do you mean by that? We will never join your people! Whatever your people are!" Minka stands up.


    "Is that so?" Knight''s grin becomes wider: "What if I told you I am not trying to force you guys to join me?" She then pressed a button on the remote and the cell door opened.


    Minka is looking at Knight with suspicion in her eyes: "What''s this? What is happening?"


    "Oh come on, it''s just a cell door. You don''t have to be so afraid of a little opening door, it''s not going to bite you." Knight then walks away while signaling the two to follow.


    Minka looked at Leanna for a moment and asked: "What do you think?"


    "Let''s see what they are planning." Leanna said while still looking a bit shy and nervous. The two followed Knight.


    "I like the look on your face. You two really look like you want to kill me." Knight is looking rather happy: "You two have the looks of your mothers. Honestly, it is quite impressive how dominant the gene can be." She then turns around: "Anyways, I want to show you something." She then led them towards an area, on which a person is chained up in the middle on a chair. That woman has brown hair and blueish eyes. She looks like Monika but still a bit different.


    "Wait... is that Emilia?"

 Chapter 21

    Minka looks at the woman who is in her mid thirties: "But... Emilia isn''t even out of middle school."


    Emilia''s hair is disheveled and messy, she has blood stains all over her clothes. She looked like she''d been beaten up badly: "...." Emilia tries to look up but is unable to lift her head.


    "You are right, she is Emilia. But she is the sister of the ravager. So this is Emilia from another dimension." Knight explains.


    "What''s the meaning of this? Why is she here?" Minka asks while sounding worried.


    "Because she is needed for the person that is coming." Knight said.


    "Who is coming?"


    "She is here." Knight pointed her fingers upwards, the ceiling opened a small hole. And the ravager flew through it then landed in front of them: "What took you so long?"


    "Those hybrids are putting up a fight, but they are nothing I can''t handle." The ravager said while carrying Fran on her shoulder and throwing Fran in front of them. Fran''s body is filled with cuts and bruises, it looked like she put up a good fight but got beaten to the end: "Oh hey guys." Ravager greets Minka and Leanna with a big grin: "It''s nice to see you guys here."


    "Ravager..." Leanna looked at the ravager with fear.


    "Why is Fran here?" Minka asked in a low tone, while still looking at the weak and unconscious Fran: "What did you do to her?"


    "She was being... uncooperative." Ravager said: "She was trying to run away and call for backup, so I had to put her down a little." She then looked at Knight and asked: "Is Emilia still refusing to work with us?"


    "Yeah." Knight sighed: "I don''t want to say this... but I don''t think she is ever getting through her thick skull." Knight said in an exaggerated sad tone.


    "Oh well." The ravager shrugs and said: "Guess we''ll just have to make do with this. Come here Minka, and Leanna."


    Minka and Leanna walk towards Ravager and stand in front of her, the two are still worried about Fran: "Ravager... what are you trying to do?" Minka asks while looking at Fran.


    "Don''t worry about Fran." Ravager said while patting on Fran''s head: "I am just... letting her rest for a while. She will wake up. After a long sleep." Ravager then gets rid of the handcuffs from Leanna and Minka.


    "Well, let''s meet officially for once. Hi, I am Minka. Or I go by Ravager these days." The ravager reached out her hand with a smile. Minka and Leanna stared at the hand in front of them, but neither of them moved.


    "Guys come on... just a handshake." Ravager then slowly put her hand down: "Whatever, I just wanted to see you guys face to face. I mean, I have met some of the others, but I have never seen a Minka that gets along with Leanna so well. Like I know some Minka will go as far as to sacrifice a leg for Leanna... but they won''t ever have a kiss or anything like that." Ravager then looks at them curiously.


    Minka is a bit shy while looking down and Leanna''s face is also red: "So what do you want from us?" Leanna asks while looking at the ravager.


    "I need your help, but before that. I need your powers." Ravager then looked at Emilia and said: "Emilia over here is not willing to work with us. I have a solution, but I don''t want to be rude... I will need your help for this." She then puts her hands on their shoulders."


    "We will not work for you, you psycho!" Minka yelled.


    "Guys... I am trying to be nice to you." Ravager smiles: "I know what is in your mind, you don''t trust me. But just hear me out..." Ravager then moves her face towards Leanna and said: "Lea... if I were to... hurt you or kill you, what would Minka do? Would she attack me? Or would she beg?" Ravager then puts her finger on Leanna''s face while Leanna''s body is shaking.


    "Get away from her." Minka is shaking from the anger, she is holding on to her temper but can only grit her teeth.


    "Leanna, let me ask you again." Ravager ignores Minka and puts her face close to Leanna, and smiles: "If you have a choice of dying... or making sure your friends, family and people around you live. Would you make a deal with the devil?" Ravager then asks.


    "I..."


    Minka suddenly blasted a wave of psychic energy and repelled the Ravager away. She then steps forward to protect Leanna and said: "Lea will not be your toy! So leave her alone! Whatever your plan is, we will never work with you!" Minka is full of rage, while also full of worries about what might happen next. But she holds on to her position.


    Ravager landed steadily and remained unaffected: "Now we are talking, show me your strength, Minka. Show me you will do anything for your people." The Ravager suddenly disappears from her spot and appears beside Minka and kicks her with great speed, sending her flying through the room. Leanna reacted quickly by drawing her weapon, but the Ravager already held Leanna''s hand with a vice grip and threw Leanna onto Minka, then threw them out of the room.


    The two fell and rolled a few times on the ground and then hit a wall. Minka is coughing while trying to get up, she can taste the blood in her mouth and her back is aching, when she looks at Leanna. Leanna has already passed out. The door is open, and she knows this is her only chance. She took Leanna with her and tried to escape. But as soon as she entered the hallway, the Ravager was waiting there for her.


    "All I am asking is for you to work with me. Why can''t you just listen." The Ravager asked with her head tilted to one side: "Look at Fran and Emilia. You think this will end well if you run?"


    Minka holds her bleeding arm and tries to stand up, but she can only manage to stay on her knees: "I will never work with you!"


    "Really?" Ravager suddenly grabs Leanna with one hand and pulls Leanna''s neck, while Leanna''s feet are hanging on the ground. And the Ravager pulls her weapon with another hand and places it on Leanna''s neck, then she said with a cold smile: "Even seeing this? Is this not enough to change your mind?"


    Minka''s face turned pale, she tried to get up but the pain on her arm stopped her. She is trying to say something, but can''t get the words out.


    The Ravager sighed and threw Leanna away and put her hand behind her back. Minka can see the look in Ravager''s eye. There is not a hint of emotion in there, just like how her mom, Monika Terra looked when she''s on duty: "I have ended hundreds of worlds until I got here. Just so I could live the rest of my life without worrying my father, the archivist. Just when I thought I finally had peace after my death, you guys pulled me back here. I can''t leave this place until this place is fixed. And I will make sure to do what I am supposed to do, so I can live my life peacefully. So... can''t you see? This is just a matter of perspective."


    "How... Can you live with yourself after hurting your own family and friends? How can you do it?" Minka is shaking on her knees.


    "You have not lived the life that I had to go through. The fact is I am still living the same life I had." Ravager sighs: "And you think it''s easy? Having to go through everything... killing thousands... if not millions. Do you think it''s easy for me? You don''t get to know me! You have no idea how much I lost in this world! But that''s okay... it doesn''t matter what I feel, only the things that need to get done." She then kneels in front of Minka: "Now... Do you understand why I am doing this? Because I have to. Do you think this is a joke?"


    Minka looked into the eye of the Ravager, and she could only see a cold gaze, she then answered with her head down: "No..."


    The ravager smiles and says: "That''s good." The ravager stood up and helped Minka stand up, then she said: "We are just here to end things... once and for all. And you guys will be the one who will make this world better." The Ravager then points at Minka and Leanna: "Now... I need you and Leanna to go into Emilia''s mind and find me something called: The key of the infinite. And in return, I will let you guys go back to your family. Deal?"


    "I..."


    "Oh sorry, you are not in a position to choose." The Ravager interrupts: "I know I am doing this in an underhand way. But this is for a good cause. Now go get in." She snapped her finger, and Leanna suddenly woke up while her wounds were healing by themselves, she looked around for a bit and asked.


    "Where are we?" Leanna is still a bit confused.


    Minka then filled in the details for Leanna and the two went inside of Emilia''s mind. When they entered Emilia''s mind, they saw the world was covered with darkness. Everything is destroyed and crumbled.


    "We need to find this key... thing that the Ravager needs..." Leanna is looking around with worry.


    Minka nodded, but she felt uneasy about this. She suddenly felt that she was being watched and her sixth sense suddenly triggered. She looks behind and sees a shadow running into the distance: "Wait..." Before she could react, a dagger pierced her shoulder, then she fell down with pain on her shoulder. She looked up and saw a woman standing in front of her, that woman has her eyes filled with hate, it is Emilia, but from her face she could tell that it is one that is filled with torment and hatred.


    "I will never let you get the key! You will never take it!" The woman then yells with hatred in her eyes. Her eyes are bloodshot and tears are coming out.


    "What... are you doing?" Leanna said while sounding a bit afraid, she held the wounded Minka: "Why are you trying to hurt us?"


    ¡°You are sent by her right? You are her pawn! I know! You are here to take the key from me, and you will use the key to hurt more people!" She yells while pointing the knife towards them.


    "Wait... we are not with her! We are here to help!" Minka tries to reason.


    "You... are a liar!" Emilia dashes towards Minka with a knife, Leanna tries to use her weapon to defend them but Emilia''s attack is too fast and too strong. The two got repelled backwards and are now on the floor again.


    Minka tries to stand up but she feels the pain in her shoulder is making it difficult. Leanna stood up and tried to reason with her.


    "Please stop... we are not going to hurt you! Just hear us out! Please stop! We are just trying to save you and our family!" Leanna pleads, she begins channeling her wind power and slowly emits an aura around her.


    Suddenly, Emilia disappeared from the spot, she appeared behind Leanna and tried to stab her with a knife. Leanna turned around quickly and created a strong gust of wind that sent Emilia flying. However, Emilia did not slow down and dashed towards Leanna again with great speed. It is even fast enough that she got close to Leanna before she even landed. Leanna is a bit scared, she tries to focus and gather the energy to repel the enemy away.


    However, Emilia suddenly stops moving, the knife that she''s holding fell on the ground. She threw some steel balls at Leanna, but they accelerated into the speed of bullets and flew straight towards Leanna.


    Minka reacted and jumped towards Leanna while using her psychic energy to redirect the steel ball away from Leanna and herself. However, the speed of the steel balls are still enough to cut Minka''s hands and injure Leanna''s arms. Minka fell to the ground, and her wound started bleeding again. She looks at Leanna and asks: "Leanna, are you alright?"


    Leanna nods while looking at Emilia, who is looking at the two with hatred: "Minka, we can''t reason with her... she is not... normal anymore... her mind is shattered and her mind is not even stable anymore..." Leanna sighs and looks at her hands: "It seems that this Emilia has a high speed power as well..."


    Minka stands up: "I will fight her." Minka then takes out the dagger in her shoulder: "Lea... when I restrain her... I need you to hit her with your wind, better yet, disable her somehow." She said with a painful expression.


    Leanna nods and starts gathering power around her again, and then slowly charges up a powerful strike. Emilia is moving around them like a shadow and tries to stab the two whenever she finds a chance. Minka''s eyes glow in faint golden light, she pulls the debris around her with her power and launches them at Emilia, however, Emilia dodges it with ease. But Minka''s aim was not at Emilia. When she launches the debris at Emilia, she actually pulls Emilia towards herself with the debris and creates a powerful wave of energy that immobilizes Emilia.


    "NOW!" Minka yells at Leanna and pulls Emilia into her embrace. Minka can see a look of horror on Emilia''s face.


    Leanna launched her wind strike at Emilia, she struck the target and created a big gust of wind that pushed everything away from the spot. When Minka opens her eyes, she can see that Emilia is struggling on the ground. Leanna walked to Minka and helped Minka walk to Emilia: "This should calm her down."


    The two walk towards Emilia and see a broken soul on the ground, Emilia has been crying, and her eyes are filled with hatred and fear. Leanna is now looking at Minka with sympathy and worry: "Minka... how are you feeling?"


    "I will be fine... we need to get the key for the ravager, i have a plan..." Minka then sat down beside Emilia: "Hey, look. We don''t mean to hurt you at all... we just want to find this... thing and help our family out... but... I understand your feelings. This is... horrible and terrible... I would not like to see this as well..."


    "Please... I am... just doing what is right..." Emilia is still looking away.


    "We are not trying to stop you at all, just trying to get the thing that we need. Just tell me where it is... please." Minka tried to make a smile.


    Emilia looks at the two with doubt and disdain: "You two will never be trusted."


    Minka sighed and looked at Leanna with a frown on her face, Minka then tried to force her way into Emilia''s mind. But she is repelled by a magic spell, it seems that someone has cast a barrier on her mind to keep out others: "No... the mind is protected by something..."


    Emilia chuckles: "Now what? Will you kill me?" Emilia said with a face of sadness: "Go ahead and do it, just like she killed my father... I bet that bitch sent you to kill me too..." She then laughs manically: "Do it! I dare you!"


    "Emilia... we are in your mind... The ravager can''t hear us here, please let us help you." Leanna tried to reason: "Please... you need to calm down... and help us, you are the only one that has the knowledge of where the key is!" Leanna''s voice is sounding a bit desperate: "Emilia... look... I don''t want to be like your sister... or what she does, please, i want you to help me and Minka. Please..." She then holds Emilia''s hand with both of hers: "We can work together... you and i, we can work together and we will fix this. Please Emilia... tell us what you need, so we can help you!" Leanna pleads while she is now looking like she is about to cry.


    Emilia remained silent and just shook her head with a face full of sadness: "It is too late, there''s no going back... Minka she... she is too far gone now... there''s no way to stop her. She didn''t just come back... there''s more things that had happened to her... the ravager is too dangerous. Please don''t let me wake up... just kill me... kill me in here! So that I will never see my sister ever again!" Emilia''s voice is breaking and tears are rolling out of her eyes: "She... she will kill everyone..."


    "Please Emilia..." Leanna holds on to Emilia''s hand: "Tell me how we can stop this, tell me where the key is. Then we will bring you to safety. You will be able to see your friends and family." Leanna tried to smile at Emilia.


    "None of them are alive now... Minka is the last family member I have... she is all I have... there is nothing left..." Emilia sighs and says with a sad voice: "I can''t kill her... because she''s my sister... and i just can''t hand over the key, because it contains the secret weapons of our father... so... just leave me alone."


    "We will destroy the weapon before the ravager can get her hands on it, just please, let us help you. Let us help everyone. You can''t do it by yourself..." Minka then kneels beside Emilia as well: "I know the feeling... I understand..."


    Emilia let out a long sigh, probably due to how annoying these two are. Emilia nods and gives a handful of ''energy'' to Leanna: "This contains the code to the vault... When you get near it, it will scan you and automatically open... once you are inside the vault. Destroy everything." Then from the horizon a bright light of white appears, Emilia looks at the light and lets out a sigh of relief: "Now... we are back into the real world..."


    When the two woke up, they saw that there were some guards that came in. The Ravager and Knight were not with them. Minka looks around and sees Emilia and Leanna are waking up from their ''sleep''. Suddenly, Sannet''s voice came from behind: "You are awake." She comes forward and looks at them coldly: "Did she give you the key?"


    Minka looks at Sannet, she nods at Leanna: "No... we didn''t find anything. She didn''t say a single thing." Minka lied.


    Sannet frowns, she is a bit doubtful of the two''s statements and just walks out without saying a word. The two let out a sigh of relief, Minka looked at Leanna and asked: "How is she? Emilia? Is she okay?"


    "I think so." Leanna nodded as she checked out Emilia who is currently passed out on the seat. She checks Emilia''s heartbeat and other life signs, Leanna said: "It seems she''s just resting, her pulse is stable and everything else is normal." Leanna said with relief in her voice.


    "What do we do next?" Leanna asks Minka: "I don''t know what you have in your mind, but I don''t think we are getting out of here anytime soon. It will be bad news if Sannet comes back and finds out what we did..." Leanna frowns as she thinks.


    Minka said while sounding a bit guilty: "Lea, I am sorry to drag you into this. I never thought..."


    "You have nothing to apologize for." Leanna interrupts: "It is my choice to join you here, so you can stop beating yourself up. This is just an unfortunate circumstance." Leanna holds on to Minka''s shoulder.


    "Lea... thank you..." Minka puts her hand on Leanna''s and looks into Leanna''s eyes: "Thank you... for everything..."


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    "You... you are welcome..." Leanna said while feeling a bit shy.


    Suddenly they heard clapping noise coming from outside, it was the Knight that came inside and looked at the two with a smug face. She then smiled at the two: "Wow... you two are so sweet." Knight said in a sarcastic tone: "You know... if you guys want to be in your own little world... I can let you be..."


    "Enough." Sannet stopped Knight from continuing: "Get on with the business. Do not play around." She then turned her cold gaze to these two.


    Knight shrugged her shoulders and asked: "Okay, now. Which one of you got the key from Emilia?" She asked with a smile on her face.


    Leanna and Minka looked at each other: "We don''t know... she did not say..." Minka answered.


    "No problem." The Knight shrugged: "I guess we''ll just have to get the answer from her..." She then looks at Emilia and said: "Come on, wakey wakey." She snapped her fingers and suddenly, Emilia''s eyes opened but just barely. Then she''s staring at the Knight, without speaking.


    "Emilia Terra... hello there...again." The Knight said with a big grin.


    "Knight." Emilia said with hatred in her voice.


    "Oh how i have missed our conversation." The Knight smiles: "Now... I am looking for your daddy''s secret stash that is hidden somewhere in your house." The Knight walks to Emilia and holds her by the chin: "And you are going to tell me where it is... and don''t be stubborn and all, we both know how it will end."


    "It doesn''t matter..." Emilia said while shaking her head slowly: "Because you can''t go to it." She then laughed while coughing blood at the Knight''s face: "You don''t know what it is do you?"


    "Well, I indeed know very little about it... But I do know that if you don''t get me there... these two will die." She pointed at Leanna and Minka: "And it won''t be a pretty death either. It will be really painful..."


    "..." Emilia''s eyes widened, she remained quiet and did not move a bit. She just stares at the Knight in horror.


    "Well, looks like she''s not talking anytime soon..." Knight looks at Sannet: "Hey you! Help me out a bit!"


    Sannet just shrugs her shoulders: "Do what you want..." Sannet then pushed Leanna towards Knight.


    "LEA!" Minka attacks Sannet but her attacks are stopped . Minka then suddenly felt a shock that came from the collar she was wearing and then fell to the ground with her head aching from pain.


    Leanna struggles and tries to break free, but her struggle does not work, Knight grabs Leanna''s hands and holds her arms behind Leanna''s back and puts her other hand on Leanna''s head: "Now... where do we start?"


    Minka crawls towards Leanna but she is restrained by Sannet, Minka can only look at the scene helplessly and shout angrily: "YOU MONSTERS!"


    Knight just ignored the two and looked at Emilia, then smiled: "Okay... i want to say this, because you know... you have seen me torture someone before." She said then suddenly dislocated Leanna''s arm and pulled her arms behind Leanna''s back again.


    Leanna yelped from the pain, then suddenly, Minka yelled: "Stop it... STOP IT! We have it! We have the code towards the vault! I got the code, so let her go! I have it! you got the wrong person, Lea knows nothing! It is me!" Minka tries to struggle free, but Sannet''s grip is strong: "LET ME GO! PLEASE LET ME GO!"


    Knight suddenly stopped moving, she let go of Leanna and Leanna just fell down and curled herself in a fetal position while still having a dislocated arm: "So... where is the code?" Knight looks at Minka with a smug face: "Aren''t you a knight in shining armor? Saving the day! Are you?"


    Minka looked at the Knight in hatred and with disgust: "Let... go of... of Leanna..." Minka grits her teeth as she asks.


    Knight looks at the passed out Leanna then back to Minka and sighs: "Sure... why not..." she then removed the collar on Leanna''s neck and reattached the dislocated arm. But Leanna is still passed out on the ground.


    "So..." Knight looks at Minka: "You have the code?" She asked.


    Minka is not saying a thing.


    "Why aren''t you answering me? Don''t tell me you lied... you lied? I can always have my fun with Emilia or Leanna or you again..." She said as she walked to Emilia.


    "NO!" Minka yells at her: "It''s in me! The door will open if you just bring me there!" Minka said in anger.


    Knight stopped moving and walked back towards Minka, she kneeled beside Minka: "Is that so? Then... Do you want to lead the way? We are all going for a visit to your house. Won''t it be nice to show your guests the place you live? Isn''t that fun?" She said in a playful tone.


    "Minka... don''t listen to her..." Emilia tries to yell but then she''s being stopped by Sannet. Sannet grabbed Emilia and silenced her mouth.


    "I will, as long as you don''t do anything to anyone else. If you are just going to hurt more people. You can forget about it." Minka said while glaring at the knight.


    Knight shrugs and looks at Minka: "Don''t worry about them, I promise you. I will not hurt anyone." She smiled while putting her finger on Minka''s face: "Not... at all." Suddenly a twisted grin appeared on her face: "Call me mom, will you? It wouldn''t be hard since we look alike... right?" She asked while still smiling.


    Minka pulled her head back: "Never." Minka said with hatred in her eyes.


    "Oh well, can''t win them all." She said as she stood up and let out a deep sigh. Then she looked at Sannet and said: "Let''s get ready to move. We are heading towards Terra household. Mommy and daddy never told you right? The vault was right in your house the entire time."


    Sannet just nods. And they all move to prepare for departure. Sannet locked Leanna and Fran into the same cell while Knight let Emilia and Minka walk in front of them to the Valkyrie, however, Minka''s hands are restrained. They entered the ship and Minka looked back to see Sannet and the Knight were bringing in some devices into the Valkyrie.


    They then took off and began heading towards the location of the vault, however, they didn''t go to the Terra household, but to the other location that Minka does not recognise. When they got down from the Valkyrie, Knight removed Minka''s restraints and smiled: "Go on... let me see your code..." She said,


    Minka frowns at Knight, then she begins walking to the area. However, she is still having doubts. She looked behind to see Sannet, Knight and Emilia, all of them following her in a direction. She walked towards a gate in a field, then a machine came out from the ground and said in an emotionless robotic voice.


    "You have returned, young miss Terra."


    Minka is stunned by the sudden appearance of the machine and takes a step back. But she soon regained her calm and nodded: "Yeah..." Then, the machine began scanning Minka''s eye, it stopped for a while, then suddenly after some earth shake, five turrets came out and pointed at Knight and the others, Knight, Sannet and Emilia stopped moving immediately, the machine then said in a monotone voice.


    "Warning, this property has detected unauthorized people. They will be eradicated, if the host is willing to grant permissions to them." The machine said with a flat tone.


    "NO! Wait... these people... these people are not bad, they are my... guests... my guests. Please do not attack." Minka said in a panicked tone, she tried to explain.


    "Acknowledged. Young Miss Terra''s statement will be processed." The machine then turns it head to face Minka and then back to face Emilia, Knight and Sannet: "Warning, these guests are armed. They will be disarmed and stripped of any lethal devices on their person, if the young miss is willing to accept it." The machine said.


    A wicked smile appeared on Knight''s face and suddenly Minka saw her pistol begin moving towards the back of the head of Emilia: "No! it won''t be necessary! Please let them keep their weapon, they... will not... will not hurt anyone... or anything..." Minka is looking at the Knight with worry.


    "Acknowledged." The machine said: "These people are allowed to keep their weaponry for the time being, any violation of this agreement will result in elimination. Now... young miss Terra. You may enter the vault. Welcome back."


    Knight chuckles as the turrets all disappear into the ground again: "Amazing..." Knight said while smiling.


    Minka stops Knight and glares at her: "Is this why you brought Emilia?... To threaten her with a gun to make me agree to do everything you wanted me to do? Is it because of your sick amusement?" Minka said in a hateful tone.


    Knight smiled at Minka: "Maybe? Or maybe it is the only thing that will get you to comply..." She said in a mocking tone: "Now, are you done questioning me? I would love to go see the vault that belongs to the Archivist..." She then pushed Minka and the four of them began walking to a building behind the gates, as they went past the gate, a beam scanned them. The four continued to walk towards a door. Minka put her hand on a scanner on the side of the wall, and the door opened up to reveal an elevator, the four of them got into the elevator.


    The elevator went downwards to a floor with a giant door: "The key to the vault will be the hand of the host, please scan the host''s hand to continue."


    Minka looked at Emilia for a moment, and then scanned her hand on the device in the door, and it suddenly opened with a giant hiss, and then, it revealed a huge warehouse of all kinds of collections. Weapons, war machines, ancient art pieces, sculptures and other kinds of strange devices, it would take years for a single person to catalog all of them. The knight let out a gasp when she saw this sight, she walked around the place while touching the artifacts with great enthusiasm and interest. Sannet stood at the doorway with Emilia beside her, and they both stood quietly and calmly.


    "What are you going to get?" Minka asks while looking at Knight who is touching all of the strange machines and artifacts around the place.


    "You''ll see soon..." The knight answered while still touching the machine in her hand: "So much technology... so much information. If the Archivist knows that this is here, he will go crazy." She said as she touched the artifact in her hand with care: "Too bad that your father teleported the entire thing away before he could get his hand on it."


    "So what are you planning to do? Are you trying to revive him or something? To let the Archivist revive his dead wife? He will kill millions to revive his wife..." Minka asks, but the Knight does not answer. She just continued to observe the objects inside.


    Then after some time, she stopped moving. The Knight sighed and put down the things she was holding and looked at Minka with a smile: "So... Do you know how the Archivist came into his name?"


    Minka did not answer but remained quiet.


    "You see... he has the tendency of collecting all kinds of objects and information from different races. He has the technology from the necrons, eldars, humans and more. He even has the weapon from the demons themselves..." Knight walks closer to Minka, then suddenly grabbed Minka''s hand, and put a strange looking device on her hand: "But... it was all because of this... this thing... this is a dimensional gate. A portal to another realm...that he gave up saving his world. Instead, he put the entire population inside that gate." She then activated the artifact in Minka''s palm, suddenly a projection of a entire planet appeared, it has people on the surface, there are people in the air. Everyone is doing something: "Don''t you see? He collects information, everything he encounters will be turned into digital form... all the people and places... everything that is going on in here. Is turned into a database." The knight suddenly drops the artifact and stomps it to dust.


    "You... How can you do this? There''s people living here... there''s life!" Minka said with shock and horror: "This is..."


    "This is how he will live... he has his copies in digital form. Anything that is even remotely connected with technology will have his trace of ''consciousness'', no matter how weak they are... but the weak part will not be a problem for the Archivist..." She turned back to the rest of the room and sighed: "It''s too bad that I have to kill them...All of these machines... all of these precious technologies that can be beneficial for the imperium... All gone, because of you and your family''s incomprehensible attachment towards a world that was never meant to be..." She pushes Minka on the nearby wall: "Say the words: Activate self detonation. This is the right thing to do." The Knight said with a serious expression, her face is void of all emotion and her eyes are just empty.


    Minka looks at Knight: "Are you crazy?" Minka struggled but it was of no use: "Those are treasures for humanity, how can you do this?"


    Knight just smiles and pushes Minka''s face against the wall, on the glance Minka could see, Sannet kneeled down Emilia and pulled out her sword: "Say the words! Activate self-destruct sequence!" She yells while looking at Emilia with anger.


    Emilia just closed her eyes and lowered her head in resignation. She did not even flinch or say a word, she just took all the abuse as it is.


    Minka closed her eyes in frustration: "Okay! I will say it... please, don''t hurt anyone..." Minka looked at Sannet and said in a helpless tone.


    Knight smiled and released Minka and walked back to Sannet with a smile: "That''s my good little girl!"


    "I hate you..." Minka looked at Knight in anger, and then took a deep breath and said in a low and quiet voice: "Activate... self detonation..." Suddenly the entire vault began glowing in red light and beep sounds began sounding all over the place: "Warning... Self destruct sequence is now activating, self destruct sequence in 5 minutes." A monotone female robotic voice rang through the entire vault.


    "Great. We should go... we don''t want to stay here." Knight then turned to the direction of the entrance while smiling: "And remember, you are still not done..." The Knight looked back to Minka.


    Minka stared at the Knight for a bit before going back to the elevator and getting back up. Then suddenly, when she was outside, the earth started to shake. Knight smiled and started the valkyrie to get away from the area. Then suddenly, a big explosion happened, Minka and Emilia both looked back, and a bright white light emerged from the ground. They saw a white dome like light forming from the surface. The ground began to crumble and everything within the area is now being covered by the white dome of energy.


    Emilia remained silent the entire time, and did not move an inch, she just remained at her spot with her eyes looking at the dome in silence. When the entire vault is covered, the dome suddenly shrunk into a singularity and disappeared, the ground returned to the way it was. Then Knight turned on her communication device and said in a cheerful voice: "Hey Ravager... it''s done... The vault is no more, now we need to get to the next thing." She then closed the communicator and let Sannet take over. She then walks over to Minka and Emila and sits on a nearby seat.


    Minka remained silent but she can feel her hand is still trembling a bit, she looks at the knight who is smiling at her with an amused expression: "So... how are you feeling?" Knight asked: "Are you going to be the hero and try to take the pain?" She asked with an evil grin.


    Minka looks away. She feels really uncomfortable looking at Knight in the eyes. She is still shaking with rage. She does not bode well when being threatened to do things. Minka grits her teeth and lets out a long and deep sigh: "What do you want? Just tell me... so you can get on with it." She said in a resentful tone.


    "So eager to find out?" The knight smiles while she''s looking at Minka: "Why don''t I tell you about the past history between me and your parents. Then you will see... how your parents really are... and how you will eventually meet the same fate." Knight smiled with a grin on her face, she said while holding Minka by the face.


    "..." Minka didn''t answer and remained silent.


    Knight laughed for a bit, then suddenly the grin disappeared from her face and is now rather... emotionless: "I was a prisoner held by the Archivist, I was one of the Monika in his travels that could not be contained and thus imprisoned in a cage to study... that was until, your mother came. She found a way out then opened the door. She... then took me to this world." She sighed as she let go of Minka''s face, but still looked at Minka''s eyes: "After we killed the Archivist, I traveled through many worlds, too many to count. But all I see are... ruins, death and destruction. I realized that the chances of this world''s survival is infinitely small and is getting smaller as each day passes..." The Knight then stood up from the chair and looked at Sannet who is now flying the Valkyrie: "When Minka came back, i sensed her thought, it was only for the person she connected with, that was the same for Sannet as well... We decided to help the ravager to fulfill her mission to save the world. Just because without this one... we are doomed."


    Minka frowned while she was looking at the Knight in front of her. She feels that the Knight''s words are... rather honest, and she is now starting to feel a bit confused, she does not understand the motive behind the Knight and Sannet: "But you can''t just take over our world... the people of this world, the lives they have, it can''t just be erased, you are killing innocent lives for something that may not happen!" Minka tries to explain.


    "A small sacrifice for a larger cause... it is what''s necessary..." She shrugged her shoulders: "The lives of a million people, is nothing to me or anyone... the only person that we want to protect... is the person that we care for and ourselves. That''s the truth, we have to do this before it''s too late."


    "What a load of bullcrap..." Emilia, who has remained quiet, finally said something while looking at Knight with a look of scorn and resentment: "When you say that it means you do not care about saving the world... the world never needed you to save, it''s the people that need saving from you and that monster..." She spat with hatred: "My sister she... was always like this, even when she was in the heroes of the imperium. All she does is...kill... to get what she wants." Emilia sighed in resignation, then looked up and glared at Knight with anger: "You are supporting a person that is exactly like my father, he... he only wants the world that he likes and does not care what happens to everyone else!" Emilia clenched her fists in rage: "Eventually she will kill anyone that stands in her way." She said in a cold tone.


    Minka looks at Emilia, she is not saying anything. But Minka has heard her loud and clear.


    Knight looked at Emilia with a face of surprise, she then let out a chuckle: "Now aren''t you an insightful one... but what can you do?" Knight shrugged again: "All I am doing is helping my friends." She then looks at Minka again, who is looking at Emilia with sympathy, Knight lets out another sigh: "Once you gain perspective on life... you will eventually see the bigger picture."


    "Bigger picture is just an excuse for you people to murder. No one else''s death is as meaningless as you make them out to be! Not when you can live and grow! You don''t have the right to destroy someone''s future based on your own ''perspective''!" Emilia stands up and yells at the Knight in fury and hate: "You can never have the right!"


    Knight shrugged again, then looked Emilia in the eyes: "So what?" She said calmly.


    The Valkyrie continued flying to their destination. When they arrived in the area, they were greeted with the Ravager and Leanna standing in front of the Terra household. Minka walks over to Leanna and hugs her: "Are you alright? Did the ravager hurt you?" Minka looks at Leanna with a look of concern and worry, Minka asks while touching Leanna''s face, checking if Leanna is injured.


    Leanna let out a small laugh while touching Minka''s face in a shy way: "I am fine, the ravager... didn''t do anything." She then smiles: "I am glad to see that you are fine as well. How is Emilia?" Leanna looks at Emilia and waves to her, Emilia nods to her, but the bruises on Emilia''s face are clearly visible. Leanna then looked at Sannet with a bit of fear, she looked away after making eye contact with her.


    Minka suddenly hugs Leanna tighter, Leanna blushes a bit.


    Sannet didn''t say a word to Leanna and looked at Knight: "You can go and rest now, I will take these two in myself." Sannet turned to Leanna and Minka then pulled their shoulders apart: "Stop doing this nonsense... I have something to show you both, come with me." She said while looking at the Knight who nodded at her, she then looked at Minka and Leanna and brought them to the basement.


    They came to the door where there is a security panel on it, Sannet then put in the password on the padlock, suddenly it opened the door. Inside it, it reveals a rather nice furnished room.


    "Why is this room so fancy..." Minka looked at Sannet in suspicion and doubt, then entered the room while holding Leanna''s hand.


    "Minka?" Suddenly Emilia''s voice came from the room: "Big sis! Minka!" She then hugged Minka.


    "Emilia..." Minka hugged Emilia: "How come... you are here? How is this possible?" She then looks at Sannet.


    "..." Sannet remained quiet and did not explain: "Take a rest, I will come back later to talk to you four." She then walked out and closed the door.


    "Four?" Minka looked around and her father walked out from the room: "Dad? Did the Ravager capture you as well?"


    Trazyn let out a sigh and looked at Minka: "No, it is just some unfortunate circumstances that I was kept here and forced to do things..." He lets out a long and deep sigh: "Minka, I am sorry, I can''t do anything but this. Please understand... and don''t resist..." Trazyn said in a sad tone.


    "...." Minka looked at Trazyn and just remained quiet. She suddenly looks into her father''s eyes, and sees the same sadness she saw before, it''s like... her father is trying to tell her something. Minka did not know what he wanted to say, but she could tell it was something important.


    Leanna suddenly pulled Minka towards her: "Minka... I think... you should rest for a bit. You look like you haven''t had any sleep..." Leanna said in a worried tone.


    "Yeah... yeah... you are right..." Minka looks at Leanna with a smile.


    Minka then lies on the couch while Emilia also sits on the couch. Then Leanna came with a pillow and blanket and gave them to Minka.


    "Thank you, Lea." Minka puts the pillow down and lays on the couch. She looks at Leanna and smiles: "I... I will just rest a bit, you should get some rest too..." Minka said, and then she closed her eyes.


    Emilia sat beside her sister, she didn''t speak a word but just looked at Minka and gently caressed Minka''s hair. Leanna then looks at her uncle, who is now also looking at her. She can tell that he is trying to tell her something, but what was it? Leanna was confused, she was not sure. Suddenly her vision turned gray, everything in the room became black and white. She looks around, none of them are moving.


    Leanna then hears the voice of her uncle: "Leanna... can you hear me?" He asks in a serious tone.


    "Yes, I can hear you, Uncle Trazyn. What''s going on?" Leanna asks, while still looking around, she sees that everyone is still, and time seems to have stopped.


    "I have no time, so I will make this brief. Look at Minka." Minka is currently glowing in lime green light above her head. Her face is not moving and her eyes are closed.


    "Is that... the deathmark? How is it possible?" Leanna asks while still looking at the glow of the deathmark: "Why is there a deathmark on Minka''s head." Leanna asked in a concerned tone.


    "I have no clue, there''s no other necrons on this world as I know of... but whoever put this will soon act on Minka." Trazyn answered.


    "What can I do? There must be something..." Leanna looks around: "I read in the stories that no one can escape from the deathmark, they only have hours in their life. So what can we do?"


    "Leanna... I know you can do this... the only way to get rid of the deathmark is to kill the person who issued the contract. I don''t know who, but I will teleport you out of this place in an instant, and send you to the place where you can find the answers." Trazyn said in a resolute tone.


    "But..." Leanna was hesitant, she doesn''t know if she can do it, the person who is behind the deathmark will not be a small fish. Leanna is not even confident that she can escape the grasp of the people that are around them.


    "Please... save my daughter... time works differently here than outside... you will have enough time, believe me." Trazyn said.


    "Okay... I will try..." Leanna nods.


    "Good."

 Chapter 22

    With a sudden flash of green light, Leanna disappeared from the basement. Somewhere in the city, a flash of greenlight appeared in a corner, when Leanna got out, she suddenly felt the urge to throw up. The sudden teleportation made her nauseous, and her head was spinning.


    Leanna took a deep breath and regained her composure. She checks her comms device and located her current location. She''s about a ten minute walk away from her house. When she''s near, she notices that there''s a group of soldiers outside of her house. She immediately hides and watches from afar. She observed the scene, and saw the captain and a few lieutenants talking with each other.


    Just when she''s about to move away, someone suddenly grabbed her from behind. Leanna tried to scream, but her mouth was covered. She looked back, and saw a face that is familiar, it''s Viola. She was confused, she did not expect to see her here. Leanna felt a prick on her arm, and her world became dark.


    She wakes up with a shock, she''s inside a house which she does not recognize, the only source of light is from the window. She tries to stand up, but her legs are tied together, her hands are bound as well. Leanna looked around, she saw a silhouette of a person sitting on the chair.


    "Hello there, Lea." A familiar voice came out from the chair, she saw Viola sitting there.


    "Viola... What are you doing? What is this?" Leanna asked while thinking to activate her power.


    "Oh, I wouldn''t do that if I were you. It won''t work, it won''t work at all." Viola smiled while she''s looking at Leanna: "Look, I am here to talk. That''s all. I promise that no harm will come to you."


    "Really?" Leanna looked at Viola and said: "Why did you betray us then?"


    "Because it was my mission, the person I serve will make sure that the people that I care for are safe." She replied with a smile: "Also, I didn''t really betray you guys. I did my best to protect you and Minka. It''s just, you and Minka, both of you are... not that easy to control. You both have this annoying habit of getting into trouble. So... I have to make sure you are safe." Viola sighed and said.


    "By sending us to the den of the enemy? That''s a great way to keep us safe." Leanna said sarcastically.


    "You know, sarcasm is not a good trait. But I digress." Viola shrugged and sighed: "I know you have a lot of questions, and I will answer them, but before that, I want you to listen to me, and I need you to cooperate. We have no time for you to act all tough." Viola said in a stern voice: "If we fail, Minka will die, and the world will be doomed."


    "Wait... so you know? You know about the deathmark on her head?" Leanna suddenly asked with a concerned expression: "How? Who put it on her?"


    "That, I am not sure." Viola shook her head: "But I have a hunch, and I will ask you to trust me, we have no time to spare. So please, just let me untie you."


    Leanna sighed and nodded. When Viola untied her, Leanna stood up and slapped Viola on the face: "That''s for kidnapping me, and drugging me." Leanna then grabbed Viola and hugged her: "I know you are not a bad person..."


    "Ouch... I deserved it..." Viola then smiled and hugged Leanna: "Come on, let''s go. I will answer your questions while we walk."


    Viola led Leanna out of the house and they started walking on the streets. When they got out, Leanna saw that the street was deserted, there''s not a single person in sight.


    "What happened here? Why is no one around?" Leanna asks.


    "The inquisition ordered a citywide lockdown, the whole city is on high alert." Viola explained: "Now, the reason why I kidnapped you, and drugged you. Is because if i told you, you won''t listen, and you will rush over to your house and get captured. You and Mink are great at doing impulsive things. Also, I need to get you away from the place where the Knight can monitor your every move."


    "Knight knows? How? I''ve only been out for mere minutes before you drugged me." Leanna asked.


    "That is a secret. The only thing you need to know is that the Knight is monitoring everything, and she has access to all of the security footage, and all communication. That''s how she always knows your next move." Viola explained: "Also, we are being monitored, that''s why we can''t talk about this too much. We need to get away from her reach."


    "Okay, so... what''s the plan? Where are we going?" Leanna asks while still following Viola.


    "From my own investigation, I''ve known that there was some rogue group somewhere in the outer ring of the city. I believe that they may have some clues towards the identity of the deathmark issuer." Viola said: "I think we''ve met one of them once, do you remember? When Minka first starts awakening her power, the clean up crew from the guard? "


    "Kira, right? Yeah, she used to work under mother''s special squad." Leanna nodded: "You mean she might be in this group?"


    "Yes, if she is, then we will have a lead. But first, we need to get there. It is not an easy place to get to." They then headed into the sewer tunnels, and started heading deeper and deeper.


    "Ehh... the smell here is not so good..." Leanna made a face: "And why did we have to take the sewer?"


    "Because this is the only place that the Knight can''t monitor, and it''s the only place that no one would go to." Viola explains: "Now, come on, we don''t have much time."


    They went deeper and deeper into the sewer tunnels, the smell is getting more and more pungent, and Leanna is starting to feel nauseous. Suddenly they see movement in the waterway. Leanna and Viola both stopped, they waited, but no one showed up.


    "Who is there?" Viola suddenly shouted: "We are not here to cause trouble, we just want to talk."


    The waterway was silent, but suddenly a few slug-like monsters began flapping out of the water and towards the two girls. Leanna quickly activated her powers, and Viola pulled out her revolver. They both fired towards the monsters, and killed all of them. The bodies fell down into the water and disappeared into the current.


    "What the hell are these things?" Leanna said with a disgusted face: "And they are ugly too..."


    "I don''t know, but these things are very aggressive, and they have been infesting the sewer for a long time. Now, let''s go." Viola said while continuing to move.


    They went deeper and deeper until they came to a dead end.


    "We are here." Viola suddenly stopped and looked around.


    "What do you mean we are here? There''s nothing here..." Leanna looks at Viola with a confused expression.


    "This is it, the entrance." Viola points at a underway in the sewer: "Lady''s first."


    "Wait... do you mean go under and swim in? Oh no, I am not going into the water. It is a sewer." Leanna shakes her head: "Nope. I am not doing it. I refuse."


    "Then you can stay here, I will go alone." Viola suddenly jumped in and started swimming down the sewers.


    "Wait! Viola!" Leanna quickly ran after her and jumped into the water: "I can''t believe you are making me do this." Leanna muttered and began swimming down the waterway.


    After a while, Leanna can see the light. Viola was already waiting for her there, Viola smiled and pulled Leanna up and onto a platform: "See? That wasn''t so bad."


    "I hate you." Leanna mutters while wringing out her clothes: "What now? We are outside of the city."


    "Well, there''s still some things we need to do. So we are not going anywhere just yet." Viola suddenly said: "First, we need to get the attention of the people here. Then, we can get the information we need."


    "Wait... you are not just going to walk in and ask for them right?" Leanna looked at Viola with a shocked expression: "You will get killed instantly."


    Viola''s smile widens: "I think they will be very welcoming." Viola then pointed to the building in front of them. There are two guards standing in front of the door.


    "You are crazy." Leanna shook her head: "There''s no way we can get past them."


    Viola reloaded her gun: "We are not trying to get past them, we are going through them."


    "Viola! This is crazy! We are not killing anyone. It''s not our mission!" Leanna shouted: "We are not doing this. I won''t allow it." She stands in front of Viola and stares into her eyes.


    "Relax, we are not going to kill them, we are just going to knock them out. And then we can sneak into their base." Viola pulls out her knife and throws it at the wall behind the guards.


    "Nice plan." Suddenly a voice came from behind them and Viola could feel a sword poking at her back: "How about you two drop the weapon and follow me? No one needs to get hurt."


    Viola dropped her revolver and slowly turned around. She saw a young woman who had long white hair with a pair of piercing red eyes. She''s holding a sword against her throat.


    "I will have to say, you are really brave to come here and try to infiltrate the base. But you are also very stupid." The woman smiled: "You have no idea how many people have died because of doing this. So... Do you want to die?"


    "Wait..." Leanna suddenly said: "I know you... When i was little there was that mean lady always yelling at mother...If i remember correctly... it''s Elaria, right?"


    "..." The woman looked at Leanna, and frowned.


    "What... are you talking about?" Viola asked with a confused look.


    "Elaria... She''s the member of the squad I told you about. I can''t believe I forgot about her." Leanna smiled and stepped forward: "Elaria, it''s me. Leanna Terra. Don''t you recognize me?"


    Elaria stared at Leanna and frowned even more. She then stepped back and lowered her sword. She then looked at Leanna, and finally spoke: "You are the shorty? The one that used to follow Nova around?"


    "Yes, it''s me. It''s been a while, hasn''t it?" Leanna smiled: "Do you remember when mother brought you to the mansion? She was so angry, because you called her a ''brainless bitch''."


    Elaria smiled, and lowered her sword: "Yeah, I remember. You were the kid with that dirty look on your face, always looking at me with awe. And I wanted to unscrew your head off your body."


    Leanna gulps and looks at Elaria with an uneasy expression.


    Elaria smiled again, and put away her sword. She then looked at the two of them: "Well, then I guess since you are with Nova. I can at least clear you from the enemy list. Come on, let''s go."


    "What about her?" Viola pointed at her revolver.


    "Keep it. No one will bother about it. You are a guest." Elaria then led them inside the building.


    They walked through a maze of corridors, until they reached a huge steel door. Elaria punched in a code and the door opened up. They stepped inside the room. Inside there is a group of people sitting around a table.


    "Hey everyone, we have visitors." Elaria said in a loud voice.


    Everyone in the room turned to look at them.


    "Elaria, what is the meaning of this? Why are they here?" The woman with blue eyes and black hair looks at them with a frown.


    "Oh shut it, shorty." Elaria calls out to Kira: "You wouldn''t know. We are all old friends."


    "Don''t call me that!" Kira suddenly yells at Elaria, which causes a laugh from the people inside the room.


    "What are you laughing at, idiots?" Elaria glares at the other members, and the laughter stops.


    "So, are you going to explain, or should we kill them?" A tall man with a beard asked.


    Elaria put one hand on top of Leanna''s head: "This one right here is the daughter of Nova Terra. Does this explain enough?"


    The room was quiet. No one said anything. They all stared at Leanna.


    "Is that true?" The tall man asked.


    "Yes, it is." Leanna nodded.


    "I didn''t expect this... the daughter of Nova Terra. The rumors said the entire family of yours are dead." Kira walks up to Leanna and examines her: "But you do look like her... especially the hair color and eye color."


    "I... didn''t know my mom had a friend. Sorry, but... are you her friend?" Leanna asks.


    Kira laughs: "Friend? Me and her? No. Not a chance. She was my superior, and she was a complete bitch. I don''t know where you get the idea from."


    Leanna blushed a bit, but then regained her composure: "Oh, sorry. I just thought, since she is always talking about you. She must be your friend."


    "Really? Your mom talked about me?" Kira smiles and looks at Leanna with an amused expression.


    "Na, I lied. Screw you too." Leanna says with a smile. The room bursts into laughter.


    Kira then laughs and turns to Elaria: "Let''s have a chat with these two, shall we?"


    They then all sat down at the table and began talking. Viola explains everything she knows about the Ravager and what happened. The people in the room listened to the story quietly, until they got to the part about the deathmark.


    "You mean Minka Terra has a deathmark?" The man with the beard asked.


    "Yes, the deathmark was issued by someone. We don''t know who, but it must be a necron or a person related to the Necrons." Leanna answers: "That''s why we are here, we want to know if any of you know something. Please, help us, Minka''s life is in danger."


    "Well, I know a thing or two." Kira suddenly says: "Can we have the room please?" She looks at the other people in the room, they all get up and leave the room:"Before you say anything more than this... i need to tell you something."


    "What is it?" Leanna looks at Kira with a worried expression.


    "I already joined the Ravager. Well I didn''t really know she was the Ravager until you told me about this." Kira looks at Leanna with a serious expression: "That means, I cannot help you. I cannot tell you anything more. I know that Minka or whatever she calls herself now will make the right choice."


    "Why did you join her?" Viola asks: "What is your motive?"


    "Because she was right, the imperium is rotten to the core, the people on the top are not the ones we need to protect." Kira looks at Leanna: "The Ravager is doing what your mother couldn''t do. She is protecting the innocent, and not letting the world get destroyed by corruption of the imperium and something¡­ out of our world."


    "But the ravager... she will kill millions of innocent lives..." Leanna shakes her head: "It''s not right."


    "It may not be right. But sometimes, sacrifices must be made." Kira then got up: "I''m sorry, I cannot help you anymore. You will have to find the answers yourself."


    "Wait... is there anyone else that you know can help us? Please..." Leanna asks: "Someone that can tell us about the deathmark issuer."


    Kira remained quiet for a while: "Sannet. She may be able to help. But I cannot guarantee that."


    "Sannet?... But I am pretty sure she is hunting us at the moment. If she knew we were here, she would kill us both." Viola sighs and shakes her head.


    "Not if you tell her the truth. The deathmark is not something you can run from. You either face it or you die. Sannet is still the same person I knew decades ago. She hasn''t changed one bit." Kira turns to the door: "Now if you excuse me, I have somewhere to be."


    "Wait... can I ask you one last thing?" Leanna suddenly asked.


    "What is it?" Kira stops.


    "Do you know anything about Knight?" Leanna asks: "The one who was a prisoner of the Archivist. knight that is working with the Ravager."


    "No... I don''t know anything about her." Kira looks at Leanna: "You know, I didn''t tell the Ravager about this place. But she will eventually find it. You should leave soon."


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Kira then left the room.


    "So, we have nothing then." Viola sighs: "The only way is to get back to the mansion and face Sannet."


    "I am not sure about this..." Leanna is still hesitating: "How can we be sure that Sannet is not the one that put the deathmark on Minka?"


    "I am not sure either." Viola sighs: "But it is the only option we have. Let''s go."


    They left the room and the building. When they came outside, they were greeted by the same two guards as before.


    "Hello again, are you leaving so soon?" The woman with blue eyes smiled and asked.


    "We have no choice. We need to go back." Leanna answered.


    "Then, may I ask a favor?" The woman smiled and looked at the two of them.


    "Sure, what is it?" Leanna looked at the woman with curiosity.


    "Can you please take a message to your mother? It is important." The woman then takes out a small piece of paper: "Please, deliver this letter to your mother."


    Leanna looks at the woman, and takes the letter: "I will give this to her."


    "Thank you." The woman smiles.


    They then bid farewell to the people there and left the base. They started walking back to the sewers.


    "That was weird." Viola said while walking: "What did she write on the letter?"


    "I don''t know, I didn''t open it." Leanna answered: "But I will give it to my mother anyway."


    They entered the sewer tunnels and started swimming through the waterways. When they got back to the city, they walked out of the sewer tunnel.


    "Finally, fresh air." Viola breathed a sigh of relief: "Now, let''s go deal with Sannet."


    "Wait." Suddenly a voice came from behind them.


    "Elaria?" Leanna turned around and saw Elaria standing there: "Wait, why aren''t you soaking wet?"


    "Oh, because there''s a way in." Elaria points at a hole nearby: "I never needed to use the sewer like you guys."


    Leanna looks at Viola with a look of annoyance.


    "Don''t blame me, I didn''t know." Viola shrugs.


    "Okay, so why are you following us?" Leanna asked but still had a pouty look on her face.


    "About the whereabouts of Sannet." Elaria looked at the two of them: "I know where she is."


    "Where?" Leanna asked with excitement.


    "Well, I will tell you... for a price." Elaria smiled: "I will not tell you unless you do me a favor."


    "What favor?" Leanna frowns and looks at Elaria.


    "Well, I need to fight your mother." Elaria then laughed.


    "What? You are crazy! There''s no way I will let you fight mother!" Leanna shakes her head: "Besides... you will just lose."


    "Oh yeah? I will win. You see, the thing is, I have a lot of resentment towards your mother. For the longest time, I''ve always wanted to beat the shit out of her." Elaria smiles: "Or... I can beat the crap out of you just for fun."


    The wind began swirling around Leanna and her eyes turned light blue. She stares at Elaria and clenches her fist.


    "Woah, woah, calm down shortly." Elaria smiled: "I was just joking, I won''t beat you."


    "You better." Leanna''s eyes went back to normal: "Really what is it you want?"


    "Fun." Elaria answered: "I want a fun fight, a real fight. The kind of fight that you would see in the arena of blood."


    "That''s... the most ridiculous request ever. There''s no way." Leanna shakes her head: "Mother will kill you."


    "No, she won''t. She promised." Elaria smirked: "I am quite confident that I cannot be killed."


    "What do you mean?" Viola asks with a confused look.


    "Oh, that''s for me to know and you to find out." Elaria said with a smug face: "Come on, just agree. I will not tell you anything otherwise."


    "Ugh... fine." Leanna looks at Viola: "Sorry, but it''s the only way."


    "I am not the one that''s fighting your mother." Viola shook her head: "So, are we getting the information?"


    "Yeah." Leanna sighed: "Where is she, Elaria?"


    "Well, she is currently in an orphanage." Elaria smiled: "I will mark the location on your map, it''s rather far away. It''s the only one that is not abandoned. I can''t tell you much more, but I can tell you that she has a few children under her wing. That is all i can tell you."


    Leanna nodded and pulled out her comms device: "Send the location to my map."


    "Will do." Elaria took the comms device and pressed some buttons. Then handed it back to Leanna: "There you go."


    "Thanks, come on, let''s go." Leanna starts walking.


    "Good luck, shorty." Elaria waved and went back to the way she came.


    "What a strange person..." Leanna let out a sigh: "Let''s go."


    After a long walk, they finally got to the orphanage. The place looks abandoned, it was a rundown old building. From outside of the gate there doesn''t seem like anyone would live in it.


    "Are you sure this is the right place?" Viola asks: "This is a very creepy place." She couldn''t help but smack her lips.


    "Elaria would not lie. This is the place." Leanna replied: "But I agree, this is a bit... weird."


    "Well, it''s not like we have any other option." Viola let out a sigh: "I guess it''s now or never."


    "Yeah, let''s go." Leanna said, she then pushes the gate open and enters the yard.


    The grass is overgrown, and the building is falling apart. It''s been years since anyone lived here. Leanna looks at the windows, there are no light inside.


    "I guess no one is here." Viola says with a disappointed tone.


    "There must be." Leanna shakes her head: "There has to be."


    Leanna walks closer to the building. She stops when she sees the door.


    "What the hell is this?" Viola mutters while looking at the door, right in the middle of the room. There''s a door standing in the middle of the room.


    "That... looks weird." Leanna steps closer to the door, she puts her hand on the door and feels around. The door seems to be made out of metal, it is cold to touch. Viola suddenly turned around and used her arm to wrap around a teen''s neck.


    "I got you... you little shit." Viola grunts: "What do you think you are doing, spying on us?" Viola tightened her grip on the teen''s neck.


    The teen tried to say something but only a gurgling noise came out. He then raised his hand and tapped on Viola''s arm.


    "You want me to let you go?" Viola looked at the teen, he nodded. Viola then lets go of the teen: "You better not try anything funny." Then there''s gun clicking noise from behind them, and they felt cold steel against the back of their heads.


    "Put your hands up, turn around and drop your weapon." A male voice comes from behind them.


    "Well, this is going great." Viola sighs and puts her gun on the ground: "Don''t shoot us."


    "Shut up." The male voice then orders: "Mike, take their weapons."


    A young boy comes out and picks up Viola''s gun, and Leanna''s knife. He then quickly hides them in his pockets.


    "Turn around." The man commands: "Look at me."


    Leanna and Viola slowly turn around, they are now face to face with a group of people, armed with all sorts of guns and rifles. The one leading them is a young man with blond hair and brown eyes. He is the oldest among the kids in the room and is about the age of Leanna''s.


    "Who are you?" The man asks: "Why are you here?"


    "I... My name is Leanna Terra." Leanna answered: "And I am looking for someone."


    "Terra? The same as Nova?" The man asked: "You look similar to her, especially the eyes and the hair color."


    "Well, I am her daughter. So that explains." Leanna replied: "What''s your name?"


    "I''m Chris, and these are my brothers and sisters." Chris gestured towards the kids: "Now, Leanna. Who are you looking for?"


    "Sannet, I am looking for Sannet." Leanna replied.


    "Why? What is your reason?" Chris asks: "Father doesn''t like unexpected guests. And you are not an expected guest."


    "Father?" Viola raised her eyebrow: "You are calling her father?"


    "Yes, she saved us and gave us a new home. And a purpose." Chris nodded: "You better not offend her."


    "Look, we are not here to cause trouble. I am here to talk with Sannet, and if possible, we can go." Leanna looks at the group: "It''s really important."


    Chris was quiet, he thought about it for a while, and then nodded and told the young boy next to him to notify Sannet.


    "Thank you." Leanna said: "I will wait here."


    "No you won''t, we are bringing you to the Sanctuary. Come." Chris walks up to the metal door, and pushes it. The door opened, and Chris went inside. The others followed him.


    Leanna and Viola followed them. They went through a dark corridor, until they reached the end of a flourishing garden, and the sound of running water could be heard from somewhere. There''s a fountain in the middle of the realm, and many children playing.


    "Welcome to the sanctuary." Chris smiles: "This is our home."


    "It''s beautiful..." Leanna looks around: "Is this underground?"


    "Father said it''s another dimension." Chris shrugs: "I have no clue."


    Leanna then looks around, and finds the source of the running water. There''s a waterfall that is cascading from the wall.


    "Amazing..." Viola couldn''t help but gasp: "This is truly beautiful."


    Then they are led to a school looking building near the giant tree. Inside there''s a huge hall, and there''s a girl sitting behind a desk, reading.


    "Father, I have visitors for you." Chris announces.


    The girl looked up, her light blue eyes looking at Christ in a calm yet caring way, yet when she glanced at Leanna and Viola, her eyes turned cold and harsh.


    "All of you may stand down. You are dismissed." Sannet got up and stood in front of the table: "Chris, stay."


    "Yes, Father." Chris bowed and stood beside the desk.


    "How did you find this place?" Sannet asks while walking around the desk.


    "From Elaria." Leanna replies: "She told me you would be here."


    "I see." Sannet''s eyes narrowed: "So what is it you want from me?"


    "Really? After all we''ve been through?" Viola steps forward and looks at Sannet: "This is how you treat your friends? You betrayed us!"


    "Betrayal?" Sannet raised her eyebrow: "Did I ever make a promise? No, I did not. As a matter of fact, you are the one that actually sold Minka and Leanna out."


    "I did that because Knight has a gun on my little sister''s head! You have no idea what was going on at the time!" Viola suddenly yelled: "How dare you accuse me! I literally had no choice. That contract of hers is a threat!"


    "Enough." Sannet''s expression turned cold: "We are not having this discussion. You are not welcome here, and you are not going to get any information from me."


    "You know that don''t you?" Leanna suddenly asked: "The issuer of the deathmark."


    "..." Sannet remained silent.


    "Sannet, we just want to know, is it you? Are you the issuer?" Leanna asked again.


    "What is a deathmark?" Chris suddenly asked.


    "Chris, can we have the room please?" Sannet ordered.


    "Yes, father." Chris bowed and left the room.


    "Answer me, please. Is it you? Or is it someone else?" Leanna walked up to Sannet.


    "If the answer is ''yes'', what will you do?" Sannet looked at Leanna, her eyes still cold as ever.


    "I will make sure that the deathmark gets removed, or destroyed." Leanna answered without hesitation: "I will do everything I can to protect Minka. Please, tell me the truth."


    "Minka doesn''t deserve you to do this." Sannet sighed: "It''s not my doing. However, I do know the one who issued it."


    "Who is it?" Leanna asked in a firm tone: "I need to know who the issuer is."


    "It''s not that simple." Sannet shook her head: "Even if I tell you, what will you do? Are you going to fight him?"


    "Him?" Leanna frowned: "So you do know..."


    "Yes, I do. But there''s no point telling you." Sannet sat down on the chair: "He will kill you for sure."


    "Tell me." Leanna insisted.


    Sannet let out a long sigh: "Illuminor Szeras. It''s the one that put the deathmark on Minka."


    "Who is that? Is he an enemy?" Leanna asked with a confused expression.


    "He is the creator of biotransference. The technology that turned the necron into the undying legion." Sannet answered: "He is a very powerful individual. He can be considered one of the most dangerous beings in the galaxy."


    "How did he get involved in all this?" Viola asked: "And why would he put the deathmark on Minka?"


    "I cannot tell you the reason why he put the mark on Minka, because i don''t know." Sannet shrugged: "As for how he got involved, it''s because he found out what Trazyn did on this planet. And he came here to investigate. For a person that had mastered the aspects of life... it is very hard to accept that he had been bested by the most notorious Necron collector."


    "What does that have to do with Minka?" Leanna frowns: "It has nothing to do with her. This has nothing to do with her."


    "You are right, but she is the one that has the answer... the very first creation of life in millennials by the hand of necron." Sannet sighs: "She is a living miracle, and I am sure he is interested. But i can''t say for certain."


    "Where is him?" Leanna has a look of determination in her eyes: "I will have him remove the deathmark."


    "How cute." Sannet laughs: "You are going to ask him to remove the mark? Do you think he will listen?" Sannet walked over and pats Leanna''s cheek: "Don''t be silly."


    "Sannet! It''s Minka! I have to do something!" Leanna grabbed Sannet''s hand and held it tight: "YOU need to do something!"


    "Sorry, kid." Sannet pulled her hand back: "But it is not my problem."


    "I see..." Leanna''s expression turned cold: "I guess this is a waste of time. We are leaving. Thank you for nothing." Leanna walked away.


    "And you?" Sannet looks at Viola: "Are you going to try to change my mind?"


    "No, not really. I am just going to lay out some facts. And I hope you will make the right decision." Viola said while pulling a cigarette and lighting it: "Let''s get started. When I first entered this place, I noticed the water source comes from the ''imaginary stream'' that flows down the mountain and goes through the waterfall. Which, in turn, will be used by the people here."


    Sannet''s expression remained the same: "Yes, and your point is?"


    "Just so happens when we walked over, i put some rage virus pill into the water collector. Honestly, very poor design on your part, the collector is right under the waterfall, so it was easy." Viola then pulled out a remote control device: "You have about... a week before everyone goes on a frenzy and kills each other. Well, at least they would if they were normal people. But you, a perfect immortal being, what will happen when all your children turn into rage monsters? What will happen to the children, what will happen to the sanctuary?"


    Sannet''s expression finally changed, her face turning serious. Chris was about to pull out his gun, but the cold smile from Viola made him freeze.


    "So, will you help us?" Viola smiled: "Or should we go ahead and destroy this beautiful place? If it makes you feel any better, I can kill Chris first."


    The temperature in this room drops significantly. Sannet is clenching her fists and staring at Viola.


    "I hate people like you." Sannet finally spoke: "You always find a way to get what you want, by hurting other people. I despise you, I hate you. You are like him but worse."


    "Hey, you were the one that abandoned us. So don''t blame me." Viola shakes her head: "You should have known, you should have guessed what kind of person I am. You should have expected something like this to happen. This is your own fault, really."


    "Viola..." Leanna gulps and looks at Viola with a worried look.


    "Let''s leave, let Sannet think about what she''s going to do." Viola then turned around and left the room. Leanna quickly follows behind her.


    They didn''t hear a single word from Sannet.


    After leaving the orphanage, Leanna looked at Viola and said: "That was really mean. But... will that work?"


    "It will." Viola lit up another cigarette: "Oh she will come and beg us like a kitten she is."


    "Well... I hope you are right." Leanna sighs: "Because I don''t want to be the bad guy here. And what if the virus does not work?"


    "Do I look like a person who bluffs? Don''t answer that." Viola pats Leanna''s head: "Don''t worry, it will work. Sannet is not the type to gamble, especially when she has no way of knowing if it will work."


    "But... I don''t want to be responsible for the deaths of those kids." Leanna sighs: "I know it''s the only way, but I just can''t help but feel bad about it."


    "Shame, you can''t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." Viola shrugs: "I''m sorry, I really am. But it has to be done. For Minka''s sake."


    Suddenly they hear someone land behind them. They turned around, and saw Sannet.


    "Oh, hi there. How''s it going?" Viola smiles.


    "I will tell you where he is, and you will remove the virus from the water." Sannet looks at Viola: "And in return, we will never have to see each other again."


    "Too late for that. Now you will make sure the deathmark is removed or destroyed." Viola shook her head: "Now... will you come with us or not?"


    Sannet remained silent. She stared at Viola and then let out a long sigh: "Fine. I will go with you. But if he refuses to take off the deathmark, this will get really messy. I will not be able to stop him. He will kill all of us."


    "Survive and make sure we do. So those pets of yours won''t have to suffer." Viola has a smug on her face.


    "I hate you." Sannet said under her breath: "I hate you."


    "I know. And I love it." Viola touches Sannet''s hair: "How the table has turned...Now come on, we have a Necron lord to visit. Oh, if you call the Ravager to save your ass, I will turn on the virus the moment I feel something is off."


    Sannet lets out another sigh, she turns around and leads them into the forest.


    They followed Sannet to a ruin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forest. It looks like it used to be a fort or a castle, but now it is abandoned. The only sound in the area is the howling of the wind and the sound of rustling leaves.


    Sannet leads them to a clearing in the forest, where a metal structure is. It looks like it was once a small temple or a shrine, now it is surrounded by ivy and other plants. Sannet stops in front of the ruin, she turns to Leanna: "He is inside. Now... what are you going to do?"


    Suddenly, Sannet felt something was pointing at her and pushed Leanna away: "Move!" She then unsheathes her sword and blocks a shot from a beam of green light. She then saw the Deathmark, a flash of green light appeared from one of the trees, and another beam of light shot at Sannet, however she quickly blocked it with her sword. Usually, she wouldn''t be able to, but the sword of hers is capable of absorbing energies.


    Sannet then activates her own teleportation and dodges another shot from the Deathmark. She teleported to where the light came from but she hit nothing, the Deathmark was gone.


    "Damnit..." Sannet grits her teeth, when she sees Leanna and Viola they are nowhere to be found.


    Sannet looks around, trying to figure out where the Deathmark went, but then she hears a strange sound. It''s like a crackling sound of thunder, but it''s different. She turned back to the ruin and saw the source of the sound.


    The whole structure of the ruin starts to vibrate, as if something is about to come out. Then, a portal opened from the ground below the ruin, and something comes out from the portal. A Skorpekh Destroyers walks out of it and charges directly towards to Sannet, it swings his energy blade and attacks.


    Sannet teleports away to gain some distance and starts dodging and parrying the attack of the Skorpekh Destroyers. After dodging and parrying, she makes a swift strike against the head of the Skorpeh Destroyer and severs the head. It drops down onto the ground with a thud. The body then fell backwards.


    The Deathmark suddenly appeared behind the corpse and started to fire at Sannet again. However, Sannet quickly teleported away before the shot could reach her. This time, before the deathmark can enter its dimensional oubliette, a bullet pierces through its jaw and penetrates the head of the deathmark. The Deathmark lets out a sound of a screeching cry and it dropped down onto the ground, the bullet making it unable to function properly.


    Sannet quickly turns back, she sees Viola holding her rifle, with a big grin on her face. Leanna then steps out from behind a tree and looks at the deathmark on the ground. The Deathmark''s body is shaking, it is trying to move, but its head was blasted, it is now unable to do so.


    "If we need to do something, we need to be fast. I wouldn''t be long until they are fully resurrected." Sannet then walks towards the Deathmark and kicks it on the side, but there is no reaction.


    "Minka''s mark should be gone.... right?" Leanna asks with a worried expression.


    "No, it''s not the same." Sannet looks at Leanna: "There can be multiple deathmark waiting to strike, we need to confront Szeras. He is the one that issued it. The deathmark contract can''t be removed unless he does so himself."


    "We need to find him." Leanna clenched her fist: "Where is he? Let''s go find him and ask him to take off the mark. Sannet, you can take us to him right?"


    Sannet points at the rift on the ground: "We need to go in, but I have no idea where this leads. We may end up in the middle of a necron fleet and be slaughtered on the spot."


    "I don''t think we have much of a choice. We have to take this chance." Leanna looks at Sannet with a serious expression: "If we do not, Minka will die."


    Sannet pushes Leanna aside and stares at her with a furious expression: "Are you insane?! Do you not understand?! You are going to go on a suicide mission with no plan or way to deal with it? Stop this now! There''s no point! Minka is not worth it!"


    With a clap sound, Leanna slaps Sannet hard in the face, causing Sannet to stagger. Then Leanna grabbed Sannet by the neck: "Do not say that... never say that! Minka is not worthless, she is worth everything." She then pushed Sannet away: "I... I would give my life if that meant I could keep her safe."


    Sannet then turns away and grabs her sword from the ground, she sheathed the sword and sighed. She then turned back to Leanna: "Then... let''s go."

 Chapter 23

    Ten years ago, in Academie.


    "Leanna Terra." The head professor calls for attendance.


    "Present." A girl''s voice answers from the classroom.


    "You may leave class early to visit your mother in the infirmary." The professor said, and the whole class started whispering and chattering.


    Leanna packed up her belongings and left the class. As she is leaving the classroom, she can hear people are still talking and whispering behind her back.


    "Hey Leanna." A girl called out: "I hope your mom feels better soon."


    Leanna nods, she doesn''t feel like talking at the moment, so she quickly goes out of the classroom.


    Leanna rushes through the halls to get to the infirmary. She can hear her footsteps echoing in the empty hall. The hallway is so quiet, the sound of her shoes hitting the tile floors makes a clicking sound that bounces off the walls. Suddenly, around the corner, a girl carrying many books stepped in front of Leanna and bumped into her. The books fell down, and scattered all over the floor.


    "Ah! Sorry!" Leanna immediately bent down and picked up the books.


    "Lea?" A girl''s voice said, it came from the girl that dropped her books. The girl was none other than Minka herself.


    "Minka, I... I am sorry. I am in a rush to see my mother." Leanna stood up and handed Minka the books: "I was distracted."


    "No, it''s fine." Minka shakes her head and smiles: "It''s been a while now isn''t it...? I haven''t visited you guys in a while now."


    "Yeah... I guess." Leanna nods and looks at Minka: "Sorry, but I am really in a hurry. I need to go now. We can talk later, if you have time."


    "Sure! We can meet at the cafeteria after class, okay?" Minka smiled.


    Leanna nodded and ran to the infirmary. The infirmary is rather close, this is why Leanna just ran towards it. As she reaches the door of the infirmary, she notices there is a "do not disturb" sign hung on it. Leanna tried to open the door but it was locked, so she knocked on the door.


    "Who is it?" A nurse''s voice comes from inside, she seems to be annoyed by the intrusion.


    "It''s Leanna, I... I want to see my mother." Leanna said: "You guys called... right?"


    The door suddenly swung open and the nurse peeked her head out: "Ah, miss Terra. Yes, we called for you to visit your mother. Now... come in." The nurse stepped aside and let Leanna in.


    "How is she?" Leanna asked nervously: "Is she..."


    "She is doing well." The nurse nodded: "Her health is much better, the infection is cured." Suddenly, the nurse pulls out a napkin laced with some type of sedative, and covers Leanna''s face with it. Leanna suddenly lost consciousness, and the nurse quickly catches her and places her onto the floor.


    "Hahaha." The nurse suddenly started to laugh hysterically and pulled out her communicator: "We got her. Lock down the place."


    A voice came from the communicator: "Excellent job, we are coming."


    Soon later, everyone in the school could hear enforcers converging near the school to the infirmary, then everyone starts to hear gunshots and screaming, followed by gunshots and people yelling orders at each other.


    "Where''s the target?!" The Enforcers are looking around frantically, trying to find Leanna.


    "She was taken away." An officer said while shaking his head: "They took her out from the back, but I am not sure who did it or where she was taken to."


    "Dammit, this is going to cause a lot of problems. Major Nova will be furious." One of the officers cursed.


    "I got it, it was them, the rebel faction. I got a lead from our spies, the rebellion took over the facility called ''Sector 9''. There is no way for us to know whether they took Miss Terra to sector 9, but it is most likely." An enforcer walked towards the officers.


    "Sector 9 is below ground, how in the world are we supposed to get there?!" An officer says angrily.


    "The rebels built an emergency tunnel there. We will send the enforcers there." The officer nods.


    "Very well." The other officer nodded: "Let''s get a team together."


    "Damn... Leanna was going there... I wonder if she''s ok..." A student mumbles to himself while looking at the scene from afar. Minka looked at this and clenched her fist, then she quickly ran to the outside of the school.


    Leanna wakes up from her bed, her head feels a bit dizzy. She slowly sits up on the bed, her hands feel tied, and there is some sort of handcuff on her wrists. When she tried to move her legs, they were tied too. She is unable to move.


    "Good morning." A man walks into the room: "Did you have a nice rest?"


    "Who are you?" Leanna asked angrily: "Where am i?!"


    "Oh, don''t you worry. We won''t hurt you." The man smiles: "We will keep you safe, for your mother."


    "What? My mother?" Leanna frowns: "What is this all about?"


    "We are here to keep you safe, you will be our trump card against the government. That way, the government can''t kill you because it would anger your mother. So you will be our shield, against the imperium. Sounds good?" The man smiles again.


    Leanna suddenly realizes this situation, they kidnapped her to keep her mother under control. And then she suddenly felt very angry at them: "You bastards!" Leanna tries to free herself, she tries to rip open the handcuff.


    "I am sorry, but there is no way you can do it. Don''t bother, just calm down. When this is all over, we will build a new world for everyone. A new world with no oppression and suffering, you will have your mother back, and everyone will be happy." The man said while shaking his head.


    "Screw you! I won''t help you! I won''t let you use me against my mother!" Leanna suddenly screamed angrily.


    The man slaps Leanna in the face hard, leaving a red mark on her face. She cried out in pain, then the man grabbed Leanna''s face and looked at her angrily: "Insolent child. I know you think we are monsters, but we are doing this for a better future! And I won''t let you stop that from happening."


    "I will never help you! Never!" Leanna glares at him: "Go to hell!"


    "Tch." The man lets go of Leanna''s face, he looks at her angrily, and then he walks over to the door: "You will change your mind soon enough... after this is over... you will thank us for building a better world..."


    Then Leanna hears the door closing, she tries to rip open the handcuffs again, but there''s no avail. She has no way of escaping. Suddenly, Leanna felt really afraid and lonely. She has never been kidnapped before, and she has no idea what these people will do to her. She couldn''t help but have tears welling up in her eyes.


    "Help... help..." Leanna sobs, the tears start rolling down her face, she cries for her mother. She knows no one will come for her, not now at least. But she still calls out for help. She is scared, she doesn''t know what to do.


    The room was empty and quiet, only the sound of the running air conditioner and Leanna''s crying. Suddenly, she heard some noise coming from the air vent, someone was coming through it.


    Leanna stops crying for a bit, and then she looks at the vent. After a few minutes, the vent cover suddenly opens, and Minka pops out of it, she is covered in dust and grime. Minka looked around and quickly came out of the vent. She saw Leanna tied on the bed and her face turned white, and quickly rushed to Leanna and started to untie the restraints.


    "Minka...? But how?" Leanna was confused but at the same time relieved.


    "It doesn''t matter." Minka smiled at her and helped her out of the bed, Minka grabs her chain between Leanna''s handcuffs and rips them apart with her hand. She did the same with the rest of the restraints and untied Leanna''s ankles.


    "We need to go. The others are waiting for us at the surface." Minka took Leanna by the hand and walked to the door.


    "Minka, I am afraid..." Leanna grabs onto Minka''s hand: "They said they are going to use me... and... they... they may hurt you..."


    "Shhh..." Minka gently placed a finger on Leanna''s mouth: "Everything''s fine... trust me..." Then she started walking towards the door, and slowly pushed it open. The corridor outside of the door was completely empty and dark. With a loud clunk, the man who came earlier hit Minka''s head with a metal pipe, and she fell on the ground.


    "You little bitch, how did you get here?" The man looked down at Minka angrily: "Who are you?"


    Minka tried to stand up but the man pushed her back on the floor with his foot: "Lea... run. You need to get out of here..."


    The man suddenly kicked Minka''s side, and she groaned in pain: "Stay quiet you little whore. Leanna, don''t make a move if you don''t want to hurt your friend." The man then kicked Minka again, this time on the head. She cries out in pain, her head bleeding profusely from the wound.


    Leanna is so scared that her knees felt weak, she cannot move an inch. Her entire body is paralyzed, she was terrified by this situation. She is so scared that her tears start falling out. The man sees this, and his face turns from anger to a wicked smile. He walks towards Leanna, he reaches his hand and wipes away Leanna''s tears, he licks his thumb with a smirk on his face.


    When he turned away, Minka suddenly stood up and hit the man''s back of the head with her fist, she then kicked the man''s head into the wall. The man''s head made a thumping sound against the wall, and his body dropped down onto the ground. He is now unconscious.


    "Minka?" Leanna looks at Minka who is having a terrifying look on her face, she is panting heavily. Minka looks like she''s having some kind of panic attack, but she doesn''t look like she is panicking, more like she was mad, or rather furious. She wipes away some blood from the corner of her lips and stares at the man with a murderous glare.


    "Leanna. We have to go. We have to run now." Minka then grabs Leanna by the wrist and pulls her away, Leanna then looks back at the man. He''s bleeding from the wound on his head. She could feel Minka''s hands shaking a bit, but her grip on Leanna''s hand was tight and unyielding. They ran as fast as they could, they had no idea how far they were from the surface, they couldn''t tell which way was up.


    "Where is he?!" Someone suddenly shouts. They are surrounded. Suddenly, a few loud thudding sounds come from behind them. Leanna sees the people behind them all fell down onto the floor with blood gushing out of their bodies, there was a gunshot wound in each of them, someone just killed them. Light came down into the basement from the ceiling, each one showed a bullet hole penetrated all the way down.


    Minka stands in front of Leanna and waits for whatever is about to come. They heard a single person''s footsteps walking towards them, they heard the sound of a rifle being put away. Soon after, a familiar face came into their sight, it was Nova Terra, the Major.


    "Mother?..." Leanna mumbled.


    "I got a tip from Minka, she said she''s coming for you." Nova then turns to Minka: "Nicely done."


    Minka nods, she''s still holding onto Leanna. Leanna noticed she was holding her hand too tight, Leanna looked up, Minka had tears welling up in her eyes: "Aunt Nova..." She hugs Nova tight. Nova was startled at first but she hugs Minka back, she looks down at Minka who is trembling a little bit, then she notices her head wound, she wipes off some blood from the wound on the back of Minka''s head.


    "Thank you... for saving Leanna." Nova says in a very gentle voice: "You are a very brave girl, and very strong. Come with us, we are going to get out of here."


    While Minka is being cared for, Nova didn''t even bother to look at Leanna even once. She was a little hurt, but she understands why Nova is upset. She has put her mother through a lot, she didn''t think of the consequences at all, she didn¡¯t even question the fact that her mother got hurt in the most random time possible. And that has led them all here, Minka hurt because of her. Leanna suddenly feels a sense of guilt and regret.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    While walking towards the outside, Nova turned a bit and put one of her hands on Leanna''s shoulder: "Are you alright? You''re not hurt, are you?"


    Leanna looked at her mother and shook her head: "I... am fine, mother."


    "I am glad." Nova looks at Leanna: "But we will have a discussion at home, okay?"


    Leanna gulps and nods in silence. They continue their way up. Nova''s bodyguards are scanning the perimeter with their weapon at ready. They didn''t meet anyone else, only corpses. After exiting the tunnel, they finally saw some enforcers waiting for them outside. The enforcers were armed with flamethrowers and shock mauls. They escorted them all back to their base.


    "We lost too many today." One of the officers said with a sorrowful voice: "And it was because of her." She said while glaring at Leanna.


    "Now, now, not in front of her. Don''t worry, this won''t happen again. I will make sure of it." Nova then pulls out a cigar from her coat and lights it. She took a long puff and sighed, she looked at Minka who was looking down and said: "Minka, i already told your dad, he will pick you up."


    "But... but... mom will get really mad if she knows i went to rescue Lea... please aunt Nova, i will keep it a secret!" Minka starts begging her to not tell her parents, but Nova shakes her head.


    "No. It''s not the place of children to decide such things, your mother has a right to know what happened to her own child. She has the right to decide what to do." Nova looks at Minka, and then looks at Leanna. She doesn''t want Minka to get in trouble, and Leanna felt more guilty for putting Minka in danger. She is not a kid anymore, she shouldn''t act like a child, she shouldn''t run away from her problems and let someone else solve it.


    Leanna turns to Minka and shakes her head: "Please... don''t... just, just go home, your parents must be very worried about you."


    Minka let out a relieved grin on her face: "I am glad that I did what I did, and I will never regret it." Minka then held onto Leanna''s hand again, her hand felt really warm and comfortable to hold on to, Leanna suddenly felt at ease and looked at Minka''s eyes, then Minka''s face turned bright red and she immediately let go of Leanna''s hands.


    Leanna feels embarrassed herself and turns away, Nova just shakes her head and takes another puff from her cigar. Soon, Trazyn picked Minka up and they returned home. On the way back, Leanna and Nova did not say a word to each other. Nova is obviously disappointed and Leanna was sad that her mother wasn''t very happy with what she did.


    When they got home, Leanna went directly to her room and locked the door. Miller was eating an ice cream while this happened: "What happened to Lea?" He asks with a frown, but Nova shook her head and went to Leanna''s room. She knocked on the door.


    "Go away..." Leanna says, she sounded like she had been crying.


    "Open up." Nova says: "We need to have a talk."


    Leanna didn''t answer, Nova then just went into Leanna''s room through a lockpick. Leanna looks at Nova with tears in her eyes. Nova''s expression softened a bit, she pulled Leanna into a tight embrace.


    "Why did you go to those people? What made you think it''s a good idea?" Nova said while caressing Leanna''s hair: "When have you seen me even catch a cold?"


    "I don''t know." Leanna starts to sob: "I am sorry mom... I didn''t think of it..."


    "No, you didn¡¯t. That is the problem." Nova said and looked into Leanna''s eyes: "Do you know what would have happened if Minka and I didn''t show up there? You would be killed, or worse."


    "But..."


    "I know, you were trying to save your mom, but think about it for a bit. Who else would have benefited from your sacrifice? And it was not worth it. Not in the slightest bit." Nova lets go of Leanna and looks her in the eyes.


    "But... but I was worried about you!" Leanna looked at her mother, her face was all covered with tears.


    "Don''t. You can''t think that way. Your life is important, too important, don''t trade it away so easily. Always put yourself first above anything else." Nova shakes her head: "Even if I were to be executed tomorrow, don''t save me, don''t waste your own life. Because... your life is important, to me, to your father, your brother and of course... Minka." Nova caresses Leanna''s hair.


    Leanna cried and hugged her mom again, and Nova caressed Leanna''s back gently, trying to calm her down. Leanna buried her head onto Nova''s chest, and her body shook uncontrollably, she was crying, and crying a lot. Nova''s uniform got wet by her daughter''s tears, but she doesn''t care about it at all.


    After that, Leanna fell asleep, and Nova just let her sleep. She put a blanket over Leanna and let her rest. After exiting the room, she saw Trazyn, Minka''s father was sitting there waiting for her: "What do you want?" Nova said coldly.


    Trazyn did not reply to Nova''s cold remark: "It''s done."


    "Done?"


    "I wiped Minka''s memory about this incident, I don''t want to worry my lovely wife too much. She will never know it, and she won''t feel like she put my little daughter in danger again." Trazyn sighed, and looked at Nova: "If she asks you, don''t tell her, we will think of another solution."


    "So what will you do?" Nova frowned: "Don''t tell me you will brainwash Leanna too."


    "No, it''s up to you to decide what to do with Lea, but Minka is another story." Trazyn said with a stern tone: "She needs to be safe. We all need her to be safe."


    Nova sighed, she understands this decision is the best option to ensure the safety of their daughter: "Very well. Do as you see fit. I won''t tell anyone, either. Not even Monika. But don''t forget, eventually Leanna will have to be the one who takes care of her one day, when you are gone, and everyone else is helpless to save Minka. What will you do then? Can she handle this kind of responsibility?"


    "She is your daughter, you should know about that. You know that she is more than capable of this." Trazyn said while looking Nova in the eyes: "Anyways... I don''t want to use the memory wipe too much, Minka will get suspicious honestly."


    "No shit." Nova shrugged: "What will you tell your wife then?"


    "Nothing. I will just tell her that we went hiking and fell from a rock." Trazyn sighs: "It''s the only logical explanation for a wound on her head like that."


    Nova just shakes her head and sighs too, then she turns away and walks to her room, Trazyn looks at Leanna''s door and teleports away.


    On the other side of the door, Leanna was listening to the entire conversation, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She clenched fist and tried to keep her emotions from spilling out:" Minka... I am so sorry... i... i... "


    Suddenly, she feels someone is shaking her, Leanna slowly opens her eyes. Viola is patting her cheeks to wake her up, they already arrived at the tomb world of the necron overlord Szeras.


    "Did you have a bad dream?" Viola smiles and asks: "We arrived. Get ready."


    "Minka..." Leanna sits up and sighs. She looks around, it is a Necron Tomb World. They have already made a base inside of this tomb world and the first thing she felt was... cold. This is not a very cold place, but she still feels a bit of the chilly winds from the air. Leanna looks around, she sees Viola and Sannet with a serious look on their faces, then she stands up and follows them out.


    "Navigating a necron tomb world is a pain. But I do know where we should go. This way, follow me." Sannet starts walking in a direction, Viola and Leanna just follow. Leanna is holding onto a small object, she keeps rubbing it between her fingers, and Viola notices the object. It is the same thing she had when she woke up earlier.


    "What is it in your hand?" Viola asks with a smile.


    Leanna opened her palm: "It''s a Terra family crest."


    "Why would you carry around an insignia with you?" Viola raised a brow.


    "It was... it was something from Minka. She gave me this when she became the head of student console, she told me that she doesn''t need this anymore. Somehow when I am touching this... I can feel Minka." Leanna smiles and caresses the insignia.


    Viola sighs, but then smiles too: "Don''t worry Leanna, we will save your girlfriend."


    "Viola! She is not my..."


    "Sure." Viola cuts her off and gives her a wink.


    Leanna is speechless, but she doesn''t want to argue, she just lets it go.


    "How much longer? Can you tell us about your encounter with Szeras?" Viola then looks at Sannet.


    Sannet shakes her head: "He''s a very... It''s hard to explain him. He''s a scientist, a great one."


    "But I thought the necron is soulless, mindless machines?" Viola asked in confusion.


    "Soulless doesn''t mean lack of intellect. I am also soulless and I can still think." Sannet shakes her head: "If you thought the Necrons were a horde of soulless robots, you are dead wrong. The only thing we are is intelligent."


    "Oh, ok." Viola looks around the place:" But you are kinda soulless, given how cold you are. Haha. Sorry." Viola says sarcastically.


    Sannet ignores her, and Leanna sighs. After walking for a long time, they finally arrive at some kind of building:" Wait, why aren''t we being spotted by the defense system?" Leanna asks while looking at Sannet.


    "Because I registered us as friendlies a while ago when we first entered. It''s not a difficult task if you have the access." Sannet says and walked inside, the two girls follow. They followed Sannet to some sort of large room, Sannet stopped at a door and waited for Viola and Leanna to enter. The door then closes, and the whole place turns red.


    "What''s going on?" Viola asks in confusion.


    "Damn it, he knows we are here." Sannet shakes her head, but it seems that Sannet already anticipated this: "Get ready, we have no choice now. It''s fight or flight."


    "Greetings, my test subjects." Szeras''s twisted mechanical figure projects into the middle of the room, the girls drew out their weapon: "Oh? Why the hostile gesture? I mean you no harm... well, except for one of you." Szeras said and stares at Sannet.


    "Szeras!" Sannet clenches her fist: "You know what will happen if you dare to harm us!"


    Szeras lets out an electronic laugh, which sounds like a glitching voice: "Ah... so you brought your friends here... interesting." Szeras says, while his projection is scanning them.


    "Let us leave. And undo Minka''s mark. Don''t make us use force, you won''t like it." Viola says with a threatening voice.


    "Oh, please, as if you have anything to threaten me with. Such is the arrogance of a lesser creature, such is the arrogance of a mortal. Your entire existence is fleeting, a moment to a necron like myself. However, if you truly think you are capable of defeating me in my own lab, then I am willing to put up with you." Szeras let out an electronic laugh.


    "Wait! I am here to bargain, not to fight!" Sannet says angrily, she has a determined look on her face: "You remove the mark on Minka and let us go... I will tell you how he did it."


    "Ahhh... I have already anticipated this, of course. Your desperation to save this... person... is quite entertaining to see. Such... care... for someone you hardly like." Szeras let out an amused sigh: "But what do you mean how ''he'' did it."


    Sannet looks at Szeras, she seems hesitant to tell him about this: "How he transformed me into an organic body."


    Szeras seems to be really interested in this, as his monocular eye flashes and he starts to laugh: "You were a necron? No wonder... Well then, let''s discuss, I am very curious about this matter. Who are you really?"


    "I am Sannet of the tomorrow, henchmen of Trazyn the infinite." Sannet says, but her tone was filled with hesitation.


    "Trazyn... that unfitting of a lord did it first? Now that''s an interesting piece of information..." Szeras nods and looks at Sannet: "The matrix core of that methodology will suffice. And the mark will be undone."


    Leanna frowns and asks Sannet: "Are you sure this is going to work?"


    Sannet shakes her head: "No... but I don''t see any other option. At least we are talking instead of fighting."


    "How interesting... a necron degrading themselves into a friendship with lesser beings. Such... a... mockery." Szeras laughed and then said: "However... I am quite interested in you." Szeras suddenly focuses his gaze onto Viola.


    "Huh? Me?" Viola''s eyes widens and she is pointing to herself.


    "You don''t have.... anything. You are just flesh and bone human...Tell me, how did you survive for so long? Sannet can easily kill you in an instant if given a chance... yet she has chosen to save you... what is the secret you hold?" Szeras says while analyzing Viola with his eye.


    "I have a brain." Viola says confidently.


    "Hm, a brain indeed." Szeras nodded: "However, I don''t believe that it has anything to do with this matter... you have something else... I can sense it, it''s deep inside of you. However... it doesn''t appear to be something I can comprehend...Maybe i should open you up and take a look, that is if Sannet agrees..." Szeras then stares at Sannet.


    "Enough... you already have the matrix core, and we will be leaving." Sannet says in a serious tone. She then looks at Viola: "It''s time for you to fulfill your bargain, Viola."


    "It was never real." Viola says with a smug face: "I made the rage virus up."


    Sannet''s face suddenly turned into a very terrifying one, and she immediately summoned a dagger: "Viola... I have had enough of your games.. this is not the time!"


    "It''s true, I made the whole thing up, it doesn''t exist." Viola laughed: "You are such a predictable person."


    Sannet was trembling with rage, but Szeras laughed, and started laughing more and more: "What a wonderful show... well now, leave before i decide to keep you forever."


    Leanna feels extremely nervous about the entire thing, but she quickly grabs Sannet by the hand and pulls her away: "Come on! Let''s leave."


    Viola turned around and quickly left too. After they got away, Sannet grabbed Viola''s hair and pulled her to face herself. Viola was obviously annoyed by Sannet''s gesture, but Sannet had an angry expression on her face: "Tell me... was it the truth?"


    Viola has an amused smile on her face: "Well well well... How does it feel to be cornered? Just admit it... I won this round, and I don''t care about our friendship... this is not over." Viola says and pats Sannet''s shoulder: "Sannet, don''t ever underestimate a human... especially me. You won''t survive a single minute in my game... because... I always have the winning hand."


    "Damn you." Sannet lets go of Viola, she turns to Leanna, she was about to say something but instead she just turned away and left. Viola looked at her with a victorious smirk on her face.


    Leanna is speechless, and looks at Viola with an expression of disapproval, but Viola just laughs. They walk away in silence, Viola has a very big smile on her face, while Sannet has a very dark expression on hers. Sannet and Leanna walked behind Viola, Sannet didn''t say a word.


    "Sannet... are you alright? You know you can tell me if something is bothering you, right? I am here to listen..." Leanna says while walking next to Sannet.


    "She is just salty that I outsmarted her, you shouldn''t worry." Viola laughs: "We did save your girlfriend, that''s what matters right now, Leanna."


    Leanna feels embarrassed hearing Viola calling Minka her girlfriend, she can feel her face turn hot again. Sannet seems to ignore the two and continues walking forward in silence, she doesn''t look very happy right now.


    "So what does that Szeras want to do? Is he planning to do something with the knowledge he just obtained from Sannet? Is Minka safe?" Leanna asks with a bit of nervousness in her voice.


    "No idea. But one crisis at a time. The ravager is a bigger problem at the moment." Viola sighs.


    "She is not your problem or anyone''s problem." Sannet suddenly cuts in with an irritated voice, she turns to Viola with an angry expression on her face: "You have no idea what she wants. She is a good person. Don''t make her your enemy."


    "Yeah... destroying the world doesn''t sound good to me at all." She sounds in a sarcastic tone while shaking her head: "Anyways, Leanna, let''s leave." Viola grabs onto Leanna and turns around to leave. Sannet lets out a deep breath.


    "Viola!" Sannet shouts.


    Viola turns around, with an expression of amusement: "What? Are you still mad?"


    "I am warning you Viola." Sannet says in a very stern voice, and she slowly walks up to them, she stares into Viola''s eyes with an angry glare: "Next time we meet... I will kill you."


    Leanna was taken back, Viola on the other hand, didn''t even blink and had a confident smile on her face: "Very well then." Viola smiled, then turned to Leanna: "Let''s go."

 Chapter 24

    Viola drags Leanna away. Leanna is still stunned by what she just witnessed, and turns her head to Sannet. Sannet stands there alone, clenching her fists. She stares at Viola''s back with a dark look. For the first time ever, Leanna felt a chilling sensation from Sannet. It was a sensation she never thought would come from a person like Sannet. Despite the cold distant aura Sannet gives, she is a very kind and caring person, but right now she looks like a totally different one.


    The air was chilly, the winds blew past Sannet''s body. Her white long hair slowly waved in the cold winds, her hands were trembling a little, and then she looked down onto the ground: "You are going to do it?" The ravager''s voice came from behind her. Sannet doesn''t move an inch.


    "You saw all of that?" Sannet asked, without turning around to face the ravager.


    "Just wanted to look after you, if they really wanted to harm your children or not." The ravager answered, she slowly walked up to Sannet and stood right behind her: "She was right, the virus was never real."


    Sannet clenched her fists. The ravager didn''t say a word and waited for a response from Sannet. But she didn''t give her a reply, instead, Sannet turned and looked into the eyes of the ravager. The ravager can see an immense hatred and anger in her eyes.


    "You never got used to this are you? Living among human for 20 years isn''t quite enough for you to change who you are." The ravager looked at Sannet: "You tried to learn how to be a human so you took care of the children and trained them to fight. And yet... you never actually learned how to live." The ravager then caresses Sannet''s cheeks with her fingers: "And it''s because of him. You envy him for this... you can do everything better than him and yet... never managed to reach his level."


    "Why are you doing this to me?" Sannet looked away and said with an irritated voice: "Why must you constantly bring this up? He is no longer my master... I don''t serve him anymore." Sannet frowned.


    "And yet, you can''t forget what he has done for you." The ravager chuckled: "You never truly forgive him for all those years he has tormented you. You will always carry the burden of this resentment. And... so do i... but it''s for my own father." The ravager''s eyes flashed.


    "Is that what you see in Viola? Someone that is better than you? A worthy foe? So you have to eliminate her for it? She doesn''t have your talent... your intellect. And yet... she has bested you in both aspects." The ravager smiled: "How does it feel? Being humiliated by someone like her?"


    "Enough... " Sannet looks into the ravager''s eyes, with her eyes filled with rage.


    "Ahh, and I can sense how you look at this Minka, someone that he loves... You are spiteful that he can start a family so you started your own... just to rub it in his face. You never learned to forget."


    Sannet looks away, but then the ravager holds her by the chin and pulls her to look into the ravager''s eyes: "Don''t forget... Sannet... you have your own goals. Do not let him and that woman cloud your vision... You will get revenge... just wait a little bit longer..." Sannet doesn''t say anything, and just looks into the ravager''s eyes, with a deep hatred, and anger. The ravager smiled.


    Far away from these two, Leanna looks at Viola and asks: "Did you just... did you just piss her off? What is the purpose of making her mad?"


    "For fun, duh." Viola shrugs her shoulders: "And because I am right."


    "You really just purposely pissed her off? She can really do that to you Viola! Are you out of your mind?" Leanna shakes her head: "Are you crazy or just suicidal?"


    Viola looks at Leanna with a very calm face, her face doesn''t seem like she was nervous at all: "Don''t worry, I will deal with her soon. Besides, this is about saving your girlfriend"


    "She is not..." Leanna was about to deny again but Viola cut her off.


    "Yes she is your girlfriend." Viola rolled her eyes.


    Leanna''s face is blushing again.


    Viola shakes her head and turns around: "Don''t worry about that woman. I have things under control. She''s harmless. She won''t harm you at all, you can trust her on that."


    "No! Viola! I am worried about you! She can really hurt you!" Leanna sighs: "This isn''t about my ''girlfriend'' , it is about you, I don''t want you to die."


    Viola turns around, looks into Leanna''s eyes, and smiles. She then suddenly pats Leanna''s shoulder and laughs: "You are too kind for this world. It is fine, don''t worry. She is just angry." Viola shrugged.


    "But what if she does it again? I am really worried for you..."


    "I can deal with her. Now stop worrying and start thinking of how we should get Minka and your family out." Viola says in a very cheerful tone: "We are on an adventure!"


    Leanna looks at Viola with an uncertain look, Viola just smiles back at her. Leanna shakes her head, she really hopes that Viola knows what she is doing. Because honestly... Leanna has no idea what to do in any of these situations, just not long ago she was just a newbie in the army, but now... everything feels so unreal, and she has no idea what she is doing anymore. Leanna has a deep sense of helplessness and hopelessness, everything seems so beyond her capabilities to achieve anything.


    "Just don''t do anything reckless Viola. Please... I beg you." Leanna pleads with Viola with an emotional voice, she looks at Viola in the eyes with her own filled with tears: "I don''t want you to be killed, or get hurt. Please..." Leanna grabbed Viola by the arms, and started shaking her a little. Viola has a surprised expression on her face.


    "Fine... fine." Viola says with an awkward tone while patting Leanna''s back gently: "Just... stop crying please..."


    "I don''t want to see anyone else getting hurt anymore, you and Sannet are the closest friends I have right now... I don''t want you two to kill each other." Leanna wipes her tears away and says, she''s sniffling a bit while she speaks. She tried to stop crying, but it just kept coming down from her eyes. Viola feels a bit of unease at her.


    Viola let out a sigh, and hugged Leanna, gently caressing her hair with her hand: "You don''t have to worry... I am not going to die. We will find a way to fix everything... I promise you that. We will find Minka and save her from that ravager''s evil clutches... we will save your family, and then... save Sannet too." Viola smiled: "I know what to do, don''t worry. We will succeed."


    Viola continues to hold Leanna, gently stroking her hair. She whispered in Leanna''s ears: "We will be fine..." Viola sighed. They both remained in that embrace for some time before eventually separating and moving on with their plans to rescue Minka and the others.


    With tears in her eyes, Leanna looked up and smiled: "I trust you Viola. We will save everyone!"


    Back in the prison, Minka woke up and felt really tired and hungry. Her head was still aching a bit but the pain had mostly faded away. She is wearing a red sweater, and her head is resting on a pillow. Minka tries to open her eyes and sees Trazyn: "Dad... why am I feeling so... exhausted? I... i..." Minka seems to struggle a little bit to get her thoughts in order, and Trazyn held onto her and gave her some water.


    "Don''t strain yourself. You just had a long day... that''s it." Trazyn smiles gently at Minka.


    Minka has a bit of a confused look on her face but she doesn''t seem to mind. After resting a little, Minka gets up, she sees her father is looking at her with a bit of worry and concern: "Dad... where is Lea?" Minka asked with a soft voice.


    Trazyn hesitates for a little bit: "She... went somewhere..."


    "What? Where? Did they drag her away?! Why didn''t you stop them?!" Minka has an angry look on her face.


    "No, it''s not like that..." Trazyn looks at his daughter with a concerned expression: "I... I am sorry... I sent her to save you...You had a deathmark on you." Trazyn looks at Minka''s eyes with a bit of guilt.


    Minka is taken aback.


    "It''s... it''s ok dad... it''s fine..." Minka says with a forced smile, she is happy that her father is telling her the truth: "But... I am really mad at you for putting Lea into this... She is not strong and... she can die by your action. I can''t... I can''t accept that..."


    "Lea is smart... she is more like Nova than she gives herself credit for." Trazyn sighed and pats Minka''s shoulders: "Don''t worry."


    "Dad... are you serious? Leanna is not capable of this..." Minka says with an angry tone: "If you are not going to do anything then... I will."


    Trazyn tries to stop her, but Minka doesn''t let him touch her: "I will... go... get some air..."


    After leaving Trazyn''s sight, she immediately summoned the weapon: "Tell me the way to leave this place..." Minka says while holding the weapon.


    "Through the dimension that connects all the Minkas. You can achieve... Leaving."


    "Show me how."


    With a flash of light, Minka suddenly disappeared from the spot, when Trazyn heard the noise she was already nowhere to be found: "What in the world..." Minka''s action has already gone outside of what he can expect from her. He never knew that the weapon was capable of doing this.


    Minka appeared at an empty dark place, the space there was just so... empty and hollow, but when she forced herself to tab in, her vision had gone clear and she could see the many bubble worlds again, filled with all of the different versions of Minka. But this time, she is not here to see them, she wants to find a way to return to her world and save Leanna.


    Minka started running, she doesn''t have the time to spare to even look at the bubbles anymore. Minka''s determination to save Leanna has ignited the spirit of Minka to move forward no matter what. But after a while, she noticed that there''s only different worlds, and she couldn''t find the one that she came from. It was like a labyrinth that was full of mirrors. The worlds seem endless, she started running but the feeling of endlessness started to wear her out a little.


    "Weapon, tell me a way to go back to our world."


    "Not enough data." The weapon replied.


    "What?" Minka raised an eyebrow.


    "Data insufficient for calculating route." The weapon said: "I''ve only recorded the required steps to come. But not going back."


    "No! Damn it!" Minka slapped her forehead and fell to the ground, she let out an angry grunt, she then took a really long deep breath to calm her nerves down: "We are here to save Lea... don''t let anything stand in our way...there has to be a way... I am sure of it... but... where..."


    Suddenly, a voice came out of the void, Minka turned to where the voice was and saw someone. She immediately stands up and readies herself. That person came over and bowed a little to her: "Welcome esteemed guest, I am the custodian of this labyrinth." That person is wearing a white robe but the voice sounded female.


    "Who are you?" Minka frowns.


    "You may call me custodian, it''s the role I played and have to play, I am not permitted to be any other. You see, I am an artificial construct, designed by an entity to manage and protect this labyrinth." She bowed again to Minka.


    "Can you take off your hood? I can''t see your face." Minka asked, but then she realized that her request sounds very weird: "Ugh, it''s weird asking that from a machine but..."


    "Yes I am a machine, a construct with a personality but not a soul, if you can call me that... It will be great if you do. You seem to have a bit of confusion about my appearance, please allow me." She took off her hood and the face of Sannet appeared under the hood: "Better?"


    "Sannet?"


    "Sannet... that was my ward during ancient times." She smiled at Minka: "My old name was: Trazyn the infinite."


    "You are dad? Like a girl version of him?"


    "Esteemed guest, I am my own entity and do not bear any connection with Trazyn of your world. I was created by the C''tan and serves to protect the labyrinth, however the creator died a long time ago. But I was instructed to guide any travelers here so I was able to meet you. But my role was just a guide." She explains: "I was given a name to better serve my purpose."


    "Then... Can you show me the way? I need to find the path back to my world." Minka said.


    "That... is beyond my capabilities, my purpose is just to guide the lost here, i can only tell you to trust the path and it will bring you to where you belong, that''s my advice." She smiles at Minka.


    "But... but..." Minka suddenly grabbed Custodian''s hand: "Please... tell me where to go..."


    "I am afraid I cannot. But I was able to at some point, until one day I lost the guiding compass that I had. That compass is a precious artefact." The custodian explained while looking into Minka''s eyes.


    "Is it still around?" Minka asks, with a little bit of desperation.


    "It should, I do recall not a long time ago. Some people also wandered into this place, soon after I couldn''t find it anymore." The custodian said while looking up, it seems that she is reminiscing about that day.


    "I will help you to look for it." Minka says with a very confident voice: "And then you will show me the path?"


    "You are offering to help?" The custodian is a bit surprised.


    "Yes!" Minka said with an even more determined voice.


    "I see, I shall follow you to look around then." She bows to Minka again, but with a happy expression this time.


    Minka has a weird feeling from looking at her, but then she decided not to think too much. They started walking, it looks like there is an endless amount of path, but they were able to walk through the worlds, they came to a world where there were no people. Minka sees a town that looks just like the town she is from, but she is the only person there. The sky was pitch black, with a weird yellow line on top of the town. There is no sun, the sky looks like the sun is gone, and it is cold. Minka shivered a little when she first saw the scene.


    "Don''t linger too long... Any world is beautiful on its own. We should only observe and not interfere." Custodian said while holding Minka by her shoulder, she was looking at Minka with an amused expression.


    "Right." Minka says while turning around, they leave the empty world. Minka saw many more worlds that had been desolate and devoid of any signs of life. Those places made her feel uneasy, and they started to see more and more of those types of worlds.


    "Damn it!" Minka suddenly heard a familiar voice, and when she turned around, she saw an injured Leanna. She holds one of her arms and looks like she''s in pain. She is holding on to her wound while clenching her teeth. Minka was so shocked at first and wanted to call for her, but she remembers that it isn''t their Lea, so she stopped herself from making any sound.


    "So... are there a lot of people who can travel to this place?" Minka asked in a low voice.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Yes. In fact there are quite a few people that come and go every day. But I can''t always detect them all. Sometimes, there are those that I am not able to recognize."


    Minka frowns at the response: "Then, we can''t be too careful then..."


    "Indeed, there may be other Minka out there that have lost their way too. Maybe we can find it together." Custodian says in an excited tone.


    They suddenly stopped their movement, because a Minka just got out of her world bubble bathed in blood, the Minka fell to the ground and looks exhausted, Minka just stands there in shock while the Custodian runs to that Minka, she checks the condition of that Minka and she saw a gaping wound on her chest: "She... she is dead." The custodian says and sighs.


    Minka gulps, that can be her if she didn''t take action...


    "Is there a way more efficient way of looking for the compass? Maybe there''s some kind of alarm system? Can you tell if it''s here?"


    "I''m not sure..." The custodian shakes her head and stands up.


    "Wait, didn''t you make that thing? You don''t know how to detect it?" Minka is a bit irritated.


    "Well, it wasn''t exactly made by me..." The custodian looks away in embarrassment and mumbles.


    "Huh?"


    "Someone called the Archivist putted me in charge of this place... because he said that if i don''t do that i will get killed..." The custodian then continues in a lower voice: "Not that he really cares... that asshole."


    "What did you say? The Archivist?" Minka is shocked: "Who in the world really was him?"


    "I... don''t know much. But... he is powerful... and... evil..."


    Minka has an uneasy look on her face, then she hears something that is like a whipping noise: "Huh?" Suddenly her ankle is grabbed, and Minka lets out a yelp in shock. When she turns, she sees a version of herself dressed like a succubus. That Minka has a very seductive and evil smile on her face, Minka was surprised and didn''t really know what to say, then suddenly she is being dragged down: "Ahhh!"


    "Minka!" The custodian rushes forward and grab her, she started pulling her back to help her to get free, Minka grabbed the custodian''s hand and tries her best to get herself freed, she tries to pull away but the strength of that succubus is too strong, Minka got dragged over, and the succubus just licked Minka on the cheeks, she felt really disgusting.


    "Well, hello there my love, aren''t you a bit more bold and fierce this time... heheh. How about you let me have a taste of you." That Minka then started licking her fingers and made have saliva drooling down her chin while staring into Minka''s eyes: "Ahhh, your body... is just too perfect." The succubus is about to reach for Minka''s breasts.


    Minka slaps her hand away with her other arm: "No way!" Minka says while still struggling. But suddenly she felt something warm and slimy wrapped around her arm, when she returned to her senses, she had already broken that succubus''s arms off of her body: "Ewww!" Minka gets up and backs off, the custodian gets shocked by that action.


    "What are you doing?! You just took her arm!" The custodian asks with a concerned tone.


    The succubus screams in pain and immediately recovers the lost limbs. Then she rushes towards Minka: "Oh! Oh! You are really angry! How daring!"


    Minka didn''t wait and kicked the succubus away, she got hit by a knee kick to the abdomen and she spitted out some blood. Minka didn''t give her any more chances, and broke her neck with another kick. Minka just stood there, trying to process what just happened.


    The Custodian went up to that succubus Minka and checked on her: "You just killed her!"


    "What?" Minka was surprised, then she looked down and saw that Minka''s neck was twisted at a very wrong angle, blood was also leaking down her mouth and she was lying on the ground lifelessly:" What?... I was just trying to protect myself." Minka is shocked, she had never killed another Minka before, it''s really strange and a bit heartbreaking for her.


    "Minka... are you alright?" Custodian looks at her with a concerned expression.


    "I... am fine..."Minka''s breathing is ragged, and she starts to tremble a little."


    "I know it''s a bit wrong to say this... but Minka... you are strong!" The custodian said in an excited tone: "Do you have super strength or something?"


    "What?" Minka shakes her head: "I just did the basic martial art... I guess the training paid off after all..."


    "No amount of training can make you do what you did!" The custodian seems really excited: "I wonder what would happen if I ate some of the things you eat?"


    "Are you out of your mind? Stop asking weird questions and start looking for that thing! It has to be around here somewhere.." Minka says with an impatient voice, she is feeling a little bit overwhelmed by this entire ordeal, but she has to focus, Leanna needs her.


    "Ah...right." Custodian looked down at the ground with a little bit of sadness on her face, but she didn''t say anything else.


    Minka felt bad about yelling at her, but she can''t think of any other way to comfort the other right now: "Sorry about that, I am just a little bit on edge at the moment, that''s all."


    The custodian gave Minka a little nod, then she stood up, her eyes lit up for a second and then she suddenly spoke out: "The compass!"


    "What?" Minka gave the Custodian a look of disbelief: "You found it?"


    Custodian nodded again, Minka walked up to Custodian with anticipation: "Where?"


    Custodian pointed in a certain direction: "Follow me!" The Custodian said as she walked forward. Minka followed after her, and the two soon disappeared into the depths of the Labyrinth.


    It seemed like they were walking forever, but eventually Minka noticed a small dot of light coming from the end of the labyrinth, which slowly began to grow brighter as they got closer to it. When they approached it, they noticed a small floating orb was at the end of the pathway, Minka looked at it in amazement: "Is this what i think it is?" Minka said with a hint of excitement in her voice.


    "This is it!" The Custodian said in an excited tone, her eyes also began to light up. Minka walked towards it. As Minka got closer to it, the Custodian spoke once again: "The Compass! It''s the Compass!" She exclaimed.


    "Alright, then let''s grab it and get back." Minka reached out and grabbed the compass, then she felt her vision starting to fade away and her consciousness starting to slip into the void. Minka just felt herself sunk into the darkness, and then nothingness.


    Minka wakes up again and found herself surrounded by... nothing, she is sure that she has opened her eyes but the scene in front of her is just pure darkness: "Huh? Where... am i?" Minka starts to panic a little: "Custodian? Custodian, where are you? Can you hear me?" Minka looked around frantically trying to find some sort of familiar object, or anything that would make sense.


    There is nothing to be found though. She continued to panic as she began to scream for help: "Shut it. You are too annoying." Suddenly, Minka felt that the space she is in has gotten darker, it has gotten really cold and she suddenly felt her limbs going numb: "What... is this..." She wanted to scream but she couldn''t open her mouth, and she was too weak to make any kind of noise.


    "Wait... you are that kid. You are the Minka that brought back my daughter." A voice spoke into her ear. It sounded very sinister.


    Minka''s whole body trembled in fear: "Archivist?" Minka muttered out, as she tried her hardest to not cry.


    "So... it is you..." The Archivist spoke out, Minka felt like it was whispering straight into her brain, but she couldn''t turn around or do anything for the matter. Minka started to shake even more violently: "Kid, listen. You touched the compass that is supported for the custodian. But that idiot girl brought you to it, that was her mistake."


    Minka wanted to say something back but her mouth was not obeying her, she started to breathe more heavily as she felt something was about to happen.


    "I gave her one job and she managed to fucked it up. I guess it is within expectation that Monika left her too. She is useless and that is her problem." The Archivist let out a sigh, but his words didn''t match with the way he talked, Minka could tell that he is suppressing his anger and frustration right now.


    "What do you want...?" Minka managed to squeeze some words out, her body was still paralyzed and she couldn''t do anything other than lying in the void.


    "Well, since we have the time. Why don''t I tell you what is happening right now? I, the Archivist, are dying. Well, in a sense that I will be dead if this compass is destroyed. But there is another problem..." The Archivist explained the situation.


    "I don''t want to listen..."


    "Shut it brat, just listen to what i say. I can end you at any time I want. I need your body, but I haven''t programmed yours to accept my consciousness. So this is why I am being nice to you at the moment."


    "Fuck you, let me out! Custodian helped me!" Minka''s fear has slowly turned to rage. She couldn''t help but let out all the rage that had been bottled up inside of her.


    "No one is hearing you." The Archivist laughed: "The compass will only allow my voice to be heard when someone holds it, this is how the system is." The Archivist explains: "Now, do you want to get out of here or not?"


    Minka was silent for a few seconds. But she knows she has no choice, if she wants to leave, she must do as the Archivist says, because there''s nothing that she can do on her own. But... complying with the Archivist is a huge breach of her personal morals: "Fuck you." She finally replied in a firm and steady voice.


    The Archivist chuckled: "What a brat, well, i can''t really blame you. You have your own sense of pride. But know that it''s futile. If you want to survive, listen to my advice."


    "Listen to me, Archivist. You are begging me to bring you back to the outside world. You are desperate. You are desperate because you know you can''t go on without using my body." Minka said with a hint of amusement in her voice: "I will listen, but only because I can feel how far you''ve fallen from what you once was, you are pitiful. Not to mention your pathetic attempt at being evil." Minka laughs out loud: "You are pathetic, Archivist."


    The Archivist doesn''t respond to Minka, instead he continues: "Well, to sum things up. Your friend is trying to stop my daughter. But let me tell you something. She will die. My Minka will pull her spine out. You can''t save your friend, even if you want to, you won''t get out of this labyrinth without my guidance." The Archivist chuckled: "So, think again. Who is holding all the cards?"


    "What? That... doesn''t sound possible..." Minka started to feel the coldness of the void even more, and the feeling of the Archivist''s voice in her head is making her even more uneasy: "I am not afraid of you Archivist, your bluff is pointless. I don''t believe a single word you said."


    "But you do, don''t it? You believe what I said is true, deep inside of you. You believe it because you can feel it, it''s in your gut." The Archivist chuckled: "Now... be a good little puppy and listen to me... otherwise your little friend will have a spine out of her mouth soon enough."


    "No... I won''t..."


    "Are you really sure that I can''t make you listen to me?" The Archivist asked.


    Minka fell into deep thoughts, but the answer is always clear: "Fuck you..."


    "What a brat, fine then, just know that this is your fault, when your friend dies, it is all because of your selfishness, it''s a pity..." The Archivist sighed.


    "She''s not... going to die." Minka tried to fight the feeling of hopelessness that has started to grow within her: "No... She is going to live."


    "No, she isn''t." The Archivist laughed out loud: "You know you are not getting out of this place, unless you let me into your body... then, maybe there is a slight chance that you can save your friend, and i can bring you back to where you are supposed to be... what do you say kid?" The Archivist''s voice is full of confidence: "Just a little bit of cooperation is all I am asking from you. Just a small step. All of it will be over soon..." The Archivist let out a long sigh, Minka could feel the anger, frustration and sadness that the Archivist felt as he said that: "If you are willing... you can do it."


    Minka wanted to yell at him again but the Archivist just sighed again: "Kid, think again. Is it worth it? Is it worth your pride? Your ego?" Minka remained silent as the Archivist asked these questions: "Are you willing to let your friend die just to protect your ego? You are better than that..." Minka wanted to scream back but nothing came out, she was so mad and frustrated: "Let me into your body, and let us return to where we are supposed to be. If you can do this, then the problem will be solved, your friend will live... and... you can be back to your normal self... it''s a win win..."


    Minka felt tears rolling down from her eyes: "Stop..."


    "What? You don''t want your friend to live? Are you really that selfish? That''s petty?"


    "No!" Minka yelled out, she couldn''t take it anymore. Minka felt that she had no more choice, and that is when she realized what is happening right now. That''s why the Archivist was trying to trick her... he is trying to manipulate her, Minka understands all of it... But Leanna''s life is on the line... She doesn''t know what to do right now.


    "No... no... no... please, help me... Custodian... Custodian... please..."


    "So? Will you do as I say? You know... it is all your choice at the end of the day..." The Archivist sighed: "What will it be, will you choose the ego, or your friend''s life?"


    "I..."


    Minka found herself back into the void of darkness. The feeling of the cold made her shiver, Minka could only look around as her body felt paralyzed, she looked up but couldn''t do anything. Suddenly, Minka''s vision came back. But she can''t control her body, she is only watching everything unfold through her own eyes: "What... happened? Where am i?"


    Minka noticed that the compass was in her hand. The Archivist suddenly let out a sinister chuckle: "All I needed was a gap of your mental will..." Minka felt something cold entering her mind. And then all of her vision and sensation returned. Minka tried to scream but couldn''t even speak: "What a nice body... Such strength... I feel like I can do anything..." The Archivist is in her body now, Minka felt her own body moving against her own will. She wants to fight back but there is no way, she feels so hopeless, so powerless, so scared, so confused...


    "Minka?" The custodian''s voice can be heard in Minka''s ears: "You have awake!" The Custodian smiled and then frowned when she realized Minka''s face was weird: "Minka?" The Custodian touched her face but Minka just moved her head to the side: "Wait... this feeling... master?" Custodian backed away.


    "Yes... I am back. This body... is mine..." The Archivist spoke in an arrogant tone.


    Custodian looked at the Archivist in Minka''s body in shock. She opened her mouth to speak but she didn''t know what to say. The Custodian is also feeling confused and lost at the moment. She stood there with a confused expression on her face as Minka was getting up.


    "Show me where my daughter is." The Archivist said to Custodian in a firm tone, it sounded really arrogant: "Do you understand me? My patience is growing thin..." The Archivist said.


    Custodian didn''t speak. She bows and takes the compass over and activates it. The Custodian seems really sad. She walks towards the way, and the Archivist follows behind her.


    Custodian opens her mouth to talk: "You can''t do that..." Custodian said in a quiet tone: "You are... hurting the owner of that body... this is... wrong..." She looked back to the Archivist: "This is not the way, master..."


    The Archivist slapped the custodian on the face: "Don''t make me angry... you little fool...The only reason I haven''t killed you is because you obeyed my order."


    Custodian started trembling in fear. Her eyes started to tear up. The custodian couldn''t look at the Archivist, her vision blurred by her tears. She shook her head and kept walking. The custodian led the Archivist to a path, there is a world at the end. And they are getting closer to it: "There it is..." The Custodian said quietly.


    "Good." Archivist smirked.


    Custodian clenched her hand into fists as the tears rolled down her cheek. The Custodian tried not to make eye contact with the Archivist as he walked closer to the bubble world: "This... is... her... world... " The Custodian said softly.


    Archivist stopped in front of the custodian and then grabbed the Custodian by her neck and pulled her in close. The Custodian can feel the breath of the Archivist on her face. The Archivist leaned in closer, his face just an inch from hers: "I know exactly what you are thinking, my little Custodian. I know everything." The Archivist grinned, Custodian felt disgusted but couldn''t move her body, it''s like something was stopping her, and she can''t think straight either. All she wanted to do was to scream and cry, but nothing came out of her mouth.


    Suddenly, the Archivist punched through her body and ripped out her heart. Custodian''s eyes widened, and she collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Blood poured from the hole in her chest as she struggled to breathe.


    "Ah, such a disappointment." The Archivist sighs: "You were thinking of using the compass to guide me to another world isn''t it?" The Archivist sighed in annoyance and crushed Custodian''s heart with his hand, blood dripping down from the palm of his hand as he spoke to her unmoving body: "Pathetic." He shook his head. Then he went to the right world and stepped in.


    The Archivist took a long deep breath as he stepped through the portal into Minka''s world. He arrives at the house where Trazyn and Emilia are held captive. The Archivist smiled at the scene before him: "Hello again, Trazyn... "


    Trazyn frowned: "I don''t know who you are, but you have some nerve to speak to me that way. You are clearly not Minka." Trazyn said. He stood up from the sofa he was sitting on. Trazyn''s face changed from one of boredom to one of rage.


    Archivist laughed out loud and shook his head in amusement. The Archivist didn''t bother answering Trazyn''s question as he walked closer to the sofa Trazyn was standing beside: "What happened? Seeing someone you know? Just so you know, Minka is gone... now there''s only...me."


    Trazyn stared at the Archivist for a moment, his expression filled with confusion, but then his expression turned into that of anger: "Get out of my daughter''s body you bastard!" Trazyn yelled, and punched the Archivist on the face, but the Archivist just grabbed his hand with ease. Trazyn couldn''t break free, and he looked at the Archivist with wide eyes as he realized what was happening.


    "Don''t worry... I am not here to kill you, yet." The Archivist smiles at Trazyn, then he punches him back to the couch and breaks his left arm. Trazyn let out a groan in pain but couldn''t say anything back as he looked at his left arm in fear.


    "Minka.... Please... not like this... i can''t..." Trazyn couldn''t say anything else. He stared at the Archivist with the look of hopelessness.


    "Dad... what happened?" Emilia is about to get out of her room.


    "Honey, don''t get out until I tell you to." Trazyn yelled as loud as he could. Emilia didn''t come out.


    "Awwww... how touching... the father is so caring..." Archivist chuckles and grabs the knife on the table, and walks towards Emilia''s room: "She''s a little cutie, isn''t she?"


    "Don''t you dare touch her!" Trazyn roared, green light began emitting out of his body. His necron staff appeared in his hand.


    "Oh, are you going to kill me?" Archivist smirks, his eyes glowed bright yellow as he stares at Trazyn.


    "Get. Out." Trazyn gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself down.


    Within a split second, the Archivist dashed behind Trazyn and punched him on the back of the head. Trazyn was caught off guard as he was thrown to the floor with his back against the couch. He gasped for breath, his body began to twitch, his hands trying to grab anything close by as he struggled to stand up: "Just stand down, I won''t kill you or Emilia... I have so much to do." The Archivist said in a cold and cruel voice.


    The Archivist then broke the seal on the door easily: "Well... what a nice girl you got there Trazyn, too bad your other daughter is... useless. Maybe she''s not that important to you..." The Archivist smiles as leaves the room.


    Hearing the talking is gone, Emilia gets out of the room looking really scared and worried, she rushes over to her dad and helps him to sit on the couch. Then she noticed the arm was broken, she gasped and started tearing up: "Daddy..."


    "Emilia..." Trazyn smiled at his daughter and rubbed her head. He sighed, "It''s fine..."


    "Dad... was it sister?" Emilia looks at the door that has been broken, she is crying right now.


    "It''s not your sister. Something bad had happened." Trazyn says.


    "I am scared..." Emilia cries, and hugs her dad tightly.


    Trazyn doesn''t know what to say, so he just hug back: "It''s okay...Dad will protect you." He strokes his daughter''s hair gently and kisses her on the head.


    "What can we do...?"


    "Pray."

 Chapter 25

    -More than twenty years ago.


    "Sannet... huh, i never heard that name before. At least my father didn''t have anyone like that near him." Minka said while assembling a special bullet before the big fight against the abyss queen.


    Sannet sat at a table and watched as Minka was preparing for the battle ahead: "What are you really? An alternative dimension being? You look a lot like Monika..." Sannet is curious: "Are you even human? How can humans withstand interdimensional travel with flesh and bones?"


    Minka looked up at Sannet, then she just sighed and put down the bullet in front of Sannet: "You know? I can snap a finger and ignite the entire atmosphere if I want to and eventually bring the destruction of this world. I have that kind of power."


    "But you won''t do that...? And how is that related to my question earlier?" Sannet doesn''t look too unfazed, because she has seen some things like what she described before.


    "Because I want to keep my friends, family and the people I love." Minka then began assembling another special bullet: "So, to answer your question, the ability to be able to travel to this world is the least of your concern. But hey, at least we are making conversation while the big fight is about to take place." Minka chuckled: "Better than what dad expected right?"


    "Is... Trazyn really your father...?" Sannet seems surprised at this question.


    "Not this Trazyn. My father is somewhere I do not even know where to look. But I really want to find him." Minka said with a smile on her face: "If i can know where he is."


    "You seem happy."


    "Yeah... so I can strangle my hand on his neck and finish him once and for all."


    "Finish him...?" Sannet raised an eyebrow: "What is your relationship with that guy?"


    "Let''s just say that the list is too long to mention. But... I can say that he has done many wrongs that can''t be forgiven by even me, his family." Minka''s tone turns cold, and there is a hint of resentment in her voice: "My father, in this world or not. Will die by my hands. And if the chance appears in this world, I won''t hesitate to destroy this world... if it is necessary." Minka has finished her special bullets. She then packed the bullets into her back: "All done." She smiled again and turned back to Sannet.


    "Is this all? Sire told me to help you out, but I only chatted with you."


    "Don''t worry about it. Just think of this as a nice time before something bad is going to happen." Minka chuckled: "So... What do you think... Can we be friends? Well, just temporary I mean." Minka reaches out and shakes her hand.


    "Why?" Sannet just stares at Minka, with no intention of shaking hands.


    "You seem like you really need to relax for a bit."


    "No... why would you want to be my friend? What''s your intention?" Sannet asked with an uncertain expression on her face: "I am your tool, so use me as one."


    "Is that how you really feel about yourself...?" Minka frowns and puts her hand down: "Look, I''ve seen my fair share of the ''machine'' type of person, none of them actually ended well, and most of them are really unhappy people." Minka let out a sigh and rubbed her own neck: "I don''t know if there is something more than just a tool, and I can''t understand your motivation. But i can say this, if you always treat yourself as a tool, one day, you are going to be one. If you want to be happy and have fun. Start doing what makes you happy."


    "Doing what makes me... happy?" Sannet raised an eyebrow in disbelief.


    "Yes, what''s more, don''t look at others and compare yourself. Just be yourself."


    "Why... would I do that...?" Sannet asks while looking at Minka in a confused expression.


    "You want to understand this world better. Right? The people here don''t like to follow orders blindly and will never submit to authority unless that person has a certain standard of integrity that is held to a high value, that is the most basic social standard in the society, think of this as a... task I gave you. As your sire''s daughter~" Minka chuckled: "If you want to know this world, you must become a person with integrity first."


    "What kind of bullshit are you spitting? Are you mocking me?" Sannet asked, but her tone wasn''t angry at all. She was rather intrigued.


    "Well... there''s a reason that dad chose mom instead of... you, right?" Minka looks at Sannet: "Do you still... love Trazyn...?" Minka suddenly asks Sannet a rather strange question.


    Sannet pounds her fist on her chest: "I will serve my lord with all my soul! I am his eternal servant!"


    "So that means yes?" Minka grins: "My my... My dad is so popular." She laughed, and Sannet stared at Minka for a moment. She wanted to say something but couldn''t formulate words, she just nodded instead.


    "What''s so funny?" Sannet asked, her eyes narrowed, and she was getting a bit annoyed by Minka.


    Minka sighed and shook her head: "Nothing... but... I really want to see you become a human and be friends with you. Sannet."


    "What is your intention? What are you really..."


    Minka chuckled: "Oh well... you can consider that a parting gift, if you really want to know my intention, it''s nothing more than the most basic human need." Minka laughs again: "Now then, I think it''s time to go, I got a queen to slay. Wish me luck."


    "Wait."


    Minka pretended not to hear that and went away.


    Back to the present days, Sannet suddenly snapped out of memory and sat up, the room is really dark right now.


    She grabbed a switch and the whole room lit up. Sannet looks at the time, it''s the middle of the night. She puts one hand on her forehead, she feels really confused. Why would she think about that again? She shook her head and got up from bed. She decided to go to the kitchen to have something to drink. While having a sip of water, she kept thinking about what Minka told her in the past: "A friend..." Sannet mumbles and she puts the cup on the table. The sound of the cup hitting the table made her snap out of thoughts again.


    "What am I doing... why am i thinking about such... meaningless things..." Sannet shakes her head, but then she sees a picture on the fridge. It is a picture of Sannet, Leanna and Minka. Sannet looks really happy in the photo. It was taken shortly after they finished the trail: "This... is meaningless... it doesn''t matter at all..." Sannet mumbled out and turned back. But for a moment, Sannet wanted to take that picture away, she suddenly had the urge to rip it off. She can feel a rage growing in her heart, but she stopped herself. Sannet shakes her head and leaves the kitchen and returns to her room. Sannet sees her sword hanging on the wall and walks towards it. She stared at the blade for a moment before she grabbed it, Sannet can feel the power of the sword, but it doesn''t seem to comfort her in any way.


    "I should sleep." Sannet puts back the sword on the wall and lays down on bed again, but she is restless, Sannet tries to force herself to sleep but it is futile. She kept thinking about her times with the three girls. Minka, Leanna and Viola, she thinks about the happy times, but the more she thinks, the more frustrated and angry she is getting: "Stop... stop..." Sannet puts her hands on her forehead and tries to block out those thoughts. Regrets? Anger? Sadness? Those feelings are things that are beyond her control, she can''t stop it, she doesn''t understand it. Sannet then got out of the bed, and ran to the balcony.


    Sannet leaned on the handrails and stared up into the night sky. The sky is really dark, the stars are shining brightly. Sannet''s eyes wandered over to a particular star, which seemed to be shining the brightest, for some reason she felt calm and comforted. She stared at it for a long time. Suddenly, Sannet felt tears rolling down from her face. Sannet doesn''t know why she is crying, she is so confused. Sannet tries to wipe them off with her hands but the more she wipes the faster the tears fall. Sannet soon kneeled on the ground and began to cry uncontrollably. This is the first time she is feeling this. This is the first time she is feeling so many things at the same time, it is so painful for her to bear with. She felt like her chest was on fire. Her breathing is becoming harder. Sannet hits the railing really hard: "Stop it..." She hit it again, harder: "Why...?" Sannet looked up again to the brightest star, but she felt nothing again. The only feeling that Sannet felt at this moment is a huge sadness, it was unbearable, she is feeling like she is drowning.


    A flash of green suddenly appeared beside her. Sannet immediately knew who that was: "Sire...?"


    The necron overlord didn''t speak, he just kneeled beside her and took out a handkerchief, and then wiped away Sannet''s tears gently. He didn''t say anything. But his expression is calm and gentle, which is very uncharacteristic of the usual Trazyn, it is really hard to believe that this is the same Trazyn.


    "I... i... sire..." Sannet can''t formulate any words to say, she is crying uncontrollably again and is really embarrassed to be seen crying like this.


    "It''s alright..." He sits beside her and wipes her tears: "I will stay beside you until you calm down."


    Sannet wanted to say something back but her mouth wouldn''t open. She was just silently crying besides Trazyn. The two sat on the balcony until the first sunlight came out of the sky. Trazyn is sitting next to Sannet and didn''t say anything, but the gentle presence is really calming for Sannet. Sannet feels her chest getting lighter. Her crying soon became light sniffling.


    "How did you know...?" Sannet asked, her voice was a little bit hoarse from crying so much.


    "Your heartbeat, I built this body remember? So I always know when there''s an irregularity in your heart beat. That''s how I know, even when I am far away." Trazyn answered with a calm voice and wiped away the rest of her tears with the handkerchief, Sannet nodded: "It''s really refreshing to see that you are adjusting into this whole human ordeal better than I expected." Trazyn chuckles.


    Sannet couldn''t say anything for a moment, she was feeling embarrassed about herself. She wiped away the rest of the tears from her face with her sleeve: "Thank you...now get out..." Sannet glanced at Trazyn with a look of disdain on her face.


    "Yes... yes. I shall leave." Trazyn stands up from the floor and nods: "Take your time to adjust your emotion. That''s all." Trazyn smiles, and disappears in a flash of green light.


    After he''s gone, a slight grin appeared on her face. But she immediately regained her composure. Sannet went to her bathroom and washed away all the tear stains from her face and took a look at herself in the mirror.


    Sannet put on her usual clothes and began heading out of her house. She has a few names on her list that need to be dealt with. She is still not used to these emotions and it makes her angry. So the only way to release all of this is by hunting people, she has already chosen the next target, a nobleman called Julius.


    The target is living in a secluded villa near the northern sea of the capital. Julius is known to be a wealthy merchant, but his wealth came from shady businesses. His house is well-defended, the number of guards is quite high for a private estate.


    Sannet waited on top of a nearby rooftop and watched the guards, she didn''t need anything like a biometric scanner to get the layout of the place. It only takes her a minute to calculate the perfect route into the villa. She didn''t have her sword with her right now, that will attract unwanted attention and this mission needs stealth more than a straightforward brute force approach.


    Julius is on the second floor, his bedroom to be more specific, he is sitting at his desk and is reading a book. A man in a black suit is standing next to the desk with his eyes fixated on Julius: "The latest report from our contacts in the capital, my lord." The man hands over the papers to Julius.


    "Hmmm..." Julius read it thoroughly then nodded and said: "So? Anything interesting happened?"


    The man looks a bit hesitant to talk, then he finally opens his mouth: "They have found out about... you."


    "Oh?" Julius smiled, and leaned back into his chair, his fingers tapping on the table: "how much?"


    "5 000 000 imperial credit, my lord." The man answered: "We will sort things out afterwards. I already took the liberty to arrange some mercenaries in the capital as the plan dictates. They are already waiting in position for the sign." The man adds.


    "So, all you have to do is just wait for my sign and make sure none of the guards live after this whole thing is over right? I really like this part of you, your ability to arrange things so perfectly." Julius is amused and then he turns to the window, the curtains are open, and he is staring outside for a moment: "Any more news?"


    "Yes, it''s regarding some rumors around. Apparently the Terra family is expanding their territories. I fear this might cause trouble in the future." The man says in a rather concerned voice, and Julius can tell that there are some kind of emotions within the man''s voice: "The Terra family... It is known that their territory has a special kind of resource in that land, a certain mineral that is extremely rare in the market. Many companies are looking into their land as they want to establish trade relations."


    "Is that the abyss crystal business? Yes I have heard of that, that land was discovered to have some kind of strange minerals that can be turned into an energy source directly. Very intriguing..." Julius says while stroking his chin, he is thinking for a moment: "So you mean the Terra family is going to take that business to the next level right?"


    The man nods and replies: "I fear that it will put a halt to our activities."


    Julius lets out a long sigh, then he laughs out loud: "Let them expand all they want, if they think they can make money out of it. I don''t mind letting them play in that little game of theirs." He chuckled.


    "Are you sure? My lord?"


    Julius smiles and says: "The more they have, the better it will be for me, I already have many strings under my hands. Once the time is right... they are all mine..."


    Stolen story; please report.


    The man nodded and bowed before he left: "Understood."


    Sannet heard the entire conversation across the buildings, she didn''t expect the guy to be such an ambitious man. However, her eyes didn''t show any kind of surprise, her expression was blank.


    She jumps over the gap and lands on a roof without making any noise, Sannet didn''t care about the information she just got. Sannet moved in closer to the second floor''s window, which is Julius'' study. Sannet quickly grabbed onto the edge of the window with her hands. Then she took out a knife with her other hand and inserted it into the small gap between the window frame. She began to work her way along the gap.


    Suddenly, the guards saw something moving towards Julius'' room from the rooftop. Sannet throws a dagger right at the guards that noticed her, it flew so fast that the guard was unable to even dodge, and the dagger struck the man right through the throat, causing blood to sputter out. The guard fell without making any noise then Sannet managed to sneak in.


    Julius is still in his study room, reading something that looks important to him. Julius suddenly felt something cold and sharp pressed against his throat: "One word, one movement... I will slice your throat." Sannet''s cold voice echoed in the room, her eyes still empty and emotionless, she pressed the knife deeper into his skin and some blood can be seen running down his throat.


    "What? Who are you?" Julius looked a bit shocked.


    "None of your concerns..." Sannet grabbed him by the arm and forced him to kneel before her: "This is for the people you had murdered..." She didn''t show any remorse and didn''t give any warning before she pierced the dagger deep into his chest.


    "I... am..." Julius is unable to talk properly before he takes his last breath. Sannet is unmoved by his death. She gave him false hope but she didn¡¯t feel anything about this. She let go of Julius'' arm and then went straight to the drawer and took out all the information the man brought for Julius, including a black book with strange markings on the front cover. She stuffs them all into a small bag. Then Sannet turned around to the corpse in front of her and kicked it off the table: "One less." Sannet walks away and leaves the study.


    Sannet works fast and quietly, no one notices that there is an intruder in the mansion until it is already too late, by the time the alarm is rang, she was already nowhere to be found. Sannet erased her trails and returned back to her own room.


    The news of Julius'' murder spreads quickly in the capital. The inquisition, imperial army and the adventures guild are all investigating the murder of the wealthy merchant, it seems like he is not exactly an ordinary businessman, because they are investigating him for some crimes in the underworld. The details are kept away from the public eyes. The people are too afraid to investigate Julius, as the rumors of the Terra family being involved in some criminal activity spread throughout the capital like fire, and people are now starting to be wary of the Terra family.


    "Just as planned...." Sannet lets out a sigh as she sits in the dark and takes a sip from a cup of coffee she brewed earlier. She looked out to the skyline and watched as the stars began to light up and illuminate the night sky. The entire plan isn''t about to take control or anything but to reduce the influence of the Terra family in the public eye, it''s quite an elaborate plan. Sannet can understand the reasoning behind the Ravager''s plan, but she doesn''t care at all. She didn''t even hesitate to murder that man and didn''t even care for what kind of business the man has or his life. The only thing Sannet thought at the moment was about her next target. In a way, she''s dealing with her emotion by not dealing with it at all.


    Suddenly she sees Leanna waving at her from below the building, Sannet let out a long sigh. She put down her cup of coffee on the table and walked towards the edge of the balcony: "What?" She looks down at Leanna with her usual blank expression on her face.


    "Please let me come up, I want to talk with you about something important."


    "I can hear you fine."


    "But I am so tired right now, it took me a long time to come here, at least let me get up!" Leanna seems really annoyed.


    Sannet let out another long sigh: "I am coming down."


    "Oh... great!" Leanna said.


    Sannet gets down the house and stands before Leanna, she stares at her with a cold and unreadable expression on her face.


    "I... wanted to say sorry about what happened the other day." Leanna seems really sorry: "I am so sorry about what happened, it was just... a spur of the moment. Viola is not a bad person, I hope you know that..."


    "I do not care about her... so you can spare me with the explanation." Sannet says and crosses her arms before her chest: "If that''s all you wanted to talk about. Please leave."


    ¡°Sannet¡­ please I will do anything for you if you promise me that you will not hurt Viola¡­I can make things right I promise! I beg you. She''s not a bad person I swear, you know it." Leanna¡¯s eyes began to tear up as she spoke, she clenched her hands tightly as she spoke. "She is my friend, please don¡¯t do this to me. You know how important this is to me." Leanna''s voice cracked, and tears began streaming down her face.


    Sannet didn''t know why but her heart ached when she saw the girl cry in front of her. Sannet just stared at her silently, without a hint of emotion or sympathy on her face: "Stop crying, you sound like a child."


    "You really hate me, right?" Leanna cried harder and wiped away her tears, "You hate me so much that you want to hurt me." Leanna''s tears were still falling down her cheeks. Leanna clenched her fists and lowered her head as she stared at Sannet''s shoes, she didn''t look up. She couldn''t stand the thought of seeing the woman''s cold and expressionless face, it made her sick. She suddenly pounds Sannet¡¯s shoulder hard: "Answer me! Why are you so cold! Why! Answer me you jerk!"


    Sannet grabs Leanna''s wrists and pushes her away. Leanna fell onto the ground with a thud. Leanna didn''t stop crying, and her tears began to stain her face and the grass around her. Sannet stared down at her with the same unemotional expression, she looked so calm and emotionless while the other girl was crying in front of her.


    ¡°Please¡­ bring her back, I beg of you, bring my friend back, bring her back¡­ she doesn¡¯t deserve this. She doesn''t deserve this. I don''t want this, you don¡¯t know how much it hurts to see your best friend go down this road. You don¡¯t know how painful this is¡­ Please bring her back... please"


    ¡°Wait, what are you talking about?¡± Sannet frowns as she listens to the girl''s words. Sannet looked confused at the moment, her voice was quiet, her expression was now replaced with a hint of confusion, "Leanna?" She stared down at Leanna with a blank look in her eyes.


    "Don''t do this to me! Stop lying to me!" Leanna clenched her fist tightly and threw it towards Sannet''s face, but Sannet grabbed it without looking. Sannet didn''t even budge an inch while she grabbed her wrist, she just stared at the girl without even a hint of emotion or reaction: "I am not lying, I don''t know what you are talking about. Leanna?"


    ¡°Viola is missing, she just disappeared without a trace... and the only one that can do something like that is you. Please tell me the truth, please don¡¯t lie to me, I will do anything, but please let her go, don¡¯t kill her."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "You really don''t know? Are you... not the one who is doing all this?" Leanna frowned as she looked at Sannet, her eyes filled with disbelief.


    "No, I have no idea what you are talking about." Sannet released her grip, and Leanna lowered her hands. Sannet''s voice was calm, her expression remained unchanging as she spoke to Leanna: ¡°Wipe your face first. And tell me exactly what happened."


    Leanna took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes, "It has been four days, and I don¡¯t know where she is... she didn''t tell anyone anything before she disappeared. I went to her home but... she is nowhere to be seen."


    Sannet suddenly frowned at what she said, and then her expression returned back to being expressionless again: "Tell me the exact date that she disappeared."


    "It was two days after you told her that you would kill her."


    "So... that''s the last time you saw her?" Sannet asks again to be sure, "Who else have you gone to? Have you informed the adventures guild or the enforcers?"


    "Of course I have!" Leanna shouts: "I am not an idiot. But they haven''t found anything yet." Leanna sighs: "They have tried all the usual ways to locate Viola but it didn''t work." Her hands clenched tightly, her knuckles whitened as she squeezed them tighter.


    Sannet stayed quiet for a long time as she looked at Leanna, she could see that the girl was in pain and that her voice was shaking slightly as she spoke.


    Sannet felt something she can''t understand at the moment. Sannet asked one final time: "Is that all? I mean, that''s not a very long period of time for a girl like her to be missing right? Shouldn¡¯t you just wait a few more days? Why are you coming here? She''s an experienced fighter, she''s not some weakling who is going to disappear just like that, I don¡¯t think she would run away from me just like that, knowing how confident she is, I don¡¯t believe she''s afraid of me at all."


    "What if something happened to her...? Something terrible..." Leanna''s eyes began to tear up again, and she couldn''t stop crying, tears began flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably.


    Sannet looks away this time, she sort of understands the struggles Leanna has been through, after all the Ravager left her life suddenly before she could even prepare for it. Leanna has a very special relationship with Viola, they are very close to each other. Viola is like an elder sister for Leanna, even though Viola has a tendency of being arrogant sometimes.


    Leanna sobs softly and then wipes away the tears on her face. Her voice is quiet as she speaks. Leanna stares at Sannet with her reddened eyes, Sannet can''t see the usual smile on Leanna''s face: "I will do anything..." She whispered and looked down, Leanna looked sadder than usual as she spoke, her voice was hoarse and dry from all the crying she had done before.


    Sannet takes a really long deep breath and exhales it out loudly: "I am going to help you. If you can accept me..." She finally said and looked straight into Leanna''s eyes, her voice was soft but her face was still blank. Leanna''s expression brightened up after hearing her say this.


    Sannet just watched silently as Leanna suddenly hugged her tightly. Leanna began sobbing quietly in her arms. She wrapped her arms around Leanna''s small shoulders. "I know you are a good person, you''re a good person deep inside your heart. Thank you so much!"


    Sannet sighed loudly. Leanna pulled back, she had a wide smile on her face and her cheeks were still wet from all the crying, Leanna wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She looked relieved.


    Leanna takes Sannet''s hand and begins leading to where the last location she saw Viola.


    Somewhere in the city, there is a strange mansion located near the outskirts. Well, strange is a little too mild to describe it, it has a very mysterious atmosphere around it. It looks like a gothic style mansion but there''s a weird vibe around it, the walls and the ceiling look like they''re made out of pure white stone, it doesn''t even look like it''s a stone structure, it''s almost as if it''s some kind of metal alloy that can turn into any color you want it to be.


    Suddenly the entire building went invisible and there''s no longer anything around it: "Oi, i''m not in yet! Why did it become invisible so early? You want me to crash into the building?" Viola shouts from outside.


    From nothing a door opened on its own and Viola entered inside: "Greeting, esteemed friend. How are thou this afternoon?"


    "Hot, humid and sticky... is this a hot springs inn?" Viola has a look of disdain on her face: "Zed, I know you are a masochist but why does it have to be here? " She complains as she enters the building.


    ¡°Great to meet you too Viola, how was your trip? Is your family doing okay? How about you? Have you eaten properly?"


    Viola was not surprised by this greeting and just continued talking with a rather casual tone: "Fine, I had a lot of fun on the way here. By the way, why is this sector infested with those glistering ooze things again?"


    "Nay, dear friend. Thou should hath told me thou would come. The exterminators shall do the work by the time thy take thou leave." Zed says, "What brings thee here? A job? Aren''t thou taking a short break right now? The Guildmaster did told thou to take thy rest."


    "Not that kind of work, I am just wondering what Mirage has to get out of Minka Terra, the one that is called the Ravager of course. Not the little princess of the Terra family." Viola is talking casually, her voice sounds like a teenage girl that is really annoyed.


    Zed thought for a moment and said: "Ah, yes... The girl of destiny... So thou are curious about the one. Why so? I am afraid it isn''t a happy story, that''s for sure, especially for a girl that is as young as she is."


    Viola nods and says: "Yes I know. The whole thing is quite depressing if I do say so myself...I''ve read the files in the past." Viola looks around the room: "Anyway...You still haven''t answered my question yet. Why don''t we do anything about that person? Isn''t she ruining the ''great work''?" She used the air quote and is quite annoyed when saying this.


    "The girl of destiny..." Zed repeats the words. Zed stared at her with his empty black eye sockets in his mask for a long time: "There are many ways to save this world. But in return...many things can go wrong if you are not careful with the power you wield..."


    "Why can''t we just...kill that person? We have plenty of powerful people in the guild right now. Even you can do the job with a flick of a wrist..." Viola crossed her arms.


    "Ah yes... That... It is an...interesting idea. I do agree with thee... The girl of destiny... has done things that have caused the world to be rather...unbalanced and yet after each event, the world seems to be in a better place than before, do thou think the same?" Zed asks in his usual mysterious tone.


    "Well..." Viola hesitated for a moment: "I don''t know if you can see, but they are destabilizing the imperial government."


    "Is it?" Zed says calmly.


    Viola frowns, she doesn''t understand his point of view.


    "They are causing trouble for everyone, that is true. However, the results seem to be positive. That''s not something to be concerned about, don''t thou think?" Zed said with a casual tone, he doesn''t sound like he is worried at all: "We shouldn''t do anything if it isn''t necessary. As the Guildmaster told thou, thou have to wait and see. Even thou think thou are an ''assistant guildmaster'', don''t do anything stupid that will bring harm to this world."


    "That''s easy for you to say." Viola sighs loudly: "While my friends are busy fighting for what is right, all of you people are just sitting back and watching this mess happen. And you expect me to wait? " She is unable to continue: "You all are just heartless bastards... You should just..." Viola stopped for a moment and realized she said something she shouldn''t have: "Sorry..." She said as she looked away.


    Zed stared at Viola silently for a moment then said with a serious voice: "No... thou have the right to be angry. Yet the world doesn''t revolve on what thou wants... That is what it means to be alive. As for what is right? Is thou really sure what thou believes in?"


    Viola lowered her head in shame.


    "The girl of destiny... is indeed the reason that this world exists right now. But is thou really want to get rid of her just because thou believe it''s right?" Zed''s tone suddenly changed. "No matter what thou does... It won''t change the outcome, no matter what thou believe, the world will continue moving forward. The only thing thou can control is what thou can do..." Zed suddenly began talking in a completely different tone of voice, it was calm and gentle.


    "So, do thou believe the girl of destiny should live?"


    "Well..." Viola smiles: "No, not really. But..." Suddenly the room began dimmed in light and many gun clicking noises can be heard throughout the room, a red light appears above Zed. It is a sign of death: "It was good knowing you Zed." Viola suddenly changed her voice back to her normal one. Many shots fired at Zed who then dropped onto the floor without saying anything, many red lights appeared above his corpse as he lay there, motionless.


    Viola then deactivated the sentry guns and the room lit back to normal. Viola took out a cigarette from her pocket and began smoking it. She stood in the middle of the room with a relaxed expression on her face. A man walks in and takes a look around the room and says: "What a waste... Zed could''ve been of use for a lot more stuff..." The man is a little over two meters tall, his entire body is covered by a black robe with a hood over his head.


    Viola nodded and said: "Yeah, only if he wasn''t brainwashed by that bitch, I''m sure he would''ve been an ally for us. I feel sorry for the guy..." Viola looks at the corpse with an emotionless expression on her face: "Rest well, old friend... You have earned it..." She said to the body while leaving the building.


    The man stood there quietly for a few minutes and said with a cold voice: "We all have..." He looked down at Zed''s body and left. The whole building became silent after they were gone. Viola began heading back to the city, this mission was too hasty she didn''t even find time to tell Leanna her whereabouts.


    It has been days since she came back from the city. The sun is slowly setting down and the sky is dyed orange, there are dark clouds scattered around. It looks like a storm is coming. The sound of the wind is so loud that even the trees can be heard moving, Viola stopped moving for a moment. She suddenly hears a familiar drop noise coming from behind her. Viola can sense a huge killing intent from that drop sound, but she just continues to walk: "Finally, took you long enough, i have been waiting for you." She turned around with a relaxed expression on her face and faced a familiar person: "So you finally came to do your stuffs?" When she turns, she is surprised to see Leanna and Sannet are standing beside each other.


    "No. I just came to say that I am going to kill you, you should die in a very painful way, you don''t know how many lives you have destroyed because of you." Sannet didn''t look at her at all: "But this one clearly cares about you more than you ever knew, so I will let you live today." She looked at Leanna.


    Leanna nodded at Sannet, She smiled softly, then she glared at Viola, "Viola...you have a lot to explain when we get back, you scared me half to death. You need to take better care of yourself. Don''t be so reckless next time!" Leanna walks over to Viola and wraps her arms around the taller woman''s shoulders in a warm hug. She holds onto Viola tightly for a while, "I missed you so much." Viola can smell a hint of lavender perfume coming from her, "I''m so glad to see you safe and sound."


    Viola hugged her back, her face still as calm as ever, then she glanced at Sannet: "I guess I have you to thank, right?" She said with a calm tone.


    "Not really... I didn''t know where she went at all... Leanna found you, not me. So..." Sannet crosses her arms. She stares at Viola who is having a green halo on top of her head. But it is only visible to Sannet.


    "Is that so..." Viola looked down on the girl still hugging her and gently touched the top of her head: "Alright let''s go home and rest first, we all need that." Leanna nods and begins heading back with Leanna. Sannet sent them off by watching their back then she teleported away to somewhere else.

 Chapter 26

    After Sannet is nowhere near them, they finally let out a huge sigh. They walked together, "Did you do it?" Viola asks.


    "Yes. Everything went as you expected it would go." Leanna''s face became more relaxed: "But Viola... Sannet didn''t hurt me at all. Are you sure we are doing the right thing? She didn''t deserve any of this, she is a nice person." She looks a little worried as she says this: "That wire you made me place... I am sure she will find it..."


    "That is not something for you to worry about." Viola pats Leanna''s head: "Oh you shorty is worrying too much. Of course Sannet isn''t that stupid to just get fooled by that simple wire."


    Leanna seems surprised by this: "So that wire..."


    "Ah ah ah~" Viola covered Leanna''s mouth and said with a soft tone: "It is something we need to keep as our secret. You understand?" Viola winks.


    Leanna nods with a confused expression on her face: "Yes."


    "Aren''t you a cute little shorty!" Viola laughs softly and ruffles Leanna''s hair. Leanna didn''t look too happy with Viola messing up her hair, but she didn''t resist at all, instead she just pouts: "Viola..." She is really annoyed as she fixes her hair.


    "Ah~ stop it! I love when you''re so annoyed and angry!" Viola laughed harder, her voice was soft and warm, it made Leanna a little bit less angry: "Man, I''d always dream about doing this to Nova when I was young!" She is having so much fun with this.


    "Viola..." Leanna smiles softly then she suddenly becomes more serious: "Is there something wrong with you and Sannet? I mean besides bantering all that." She asks while they walk: "You seemed to be quite hostile with each other..." She is a little bit worried.


    "Ah..." Viola is not sure if she should tell her or not: "Well, that''s a long story..." Viola smiled, and continued walking towards the town, she is leading Leanna back to their home. They walked along a path in a nearby forest, the sound of the wind can still be heard but not as loud as before.


    Leanna didn''t want to pressure Viola to answer her question: "Viola... we''ve been friends for so long that I''m afraid that someday you''ll decide to leave us for good. It makes me worry. I want you to trust me..." Leanna is feeling sad and hurt by these thoughts, it is true that she doesn''t know much about Viola. They''ve only known each other for a few months now. And she is still curious about Viola''s past.


    Viola stopped walking, she turned around and stared at Leanna''s worried expression on her face, then she smiled again, her smile was warm and gentle, like a mother to her child, "I do trust you Leanna..." She looks at Leanna for a while and continues to walk.


    Leanna is not satisfied with the answer and she wants to know more but she just follows Viola silently: "You do...?"


    Viola smiled and said: "Of course... I trust you more than you could ever imagine." She smiles and walks away.


    They continued walking together for a few minutes. Then suddenly a massive lightning bolt crashed onto the ground before them. Viola reacted fast enough to push Leanna away and make a defensive position in front of her, "What the hell was that?" Viola said angrily.


    "Viola! My friend! I missed you so much!" Minka appeared from the dust with her hands stretched out. Her smile was wide, and her eyes shone brightly: "I was afraid I wouldn''t see you again, I thought you were killed in a battle! How could I live without you!?"


    "Huh? Minka?" Viola was confused, she glanced at Leanna who also had a confused look on her face: "Minka? How did you... are you..." She is a little confused and speechless.


    "What? You''re not happy to see me? What a way to welcome someone who traveled half planet just to find you..." Minka looks a little bit sad when she hears her say that, she then leans sideways and calls for Leanna: "Lea! Is Viola acting cold again? What should we do to help her warm up? I know! Maybe we should hug her! And cuddle with her! And maybe even tickle her to death!"


    "You are not Minka!" Leanna yelled while standing up, she had an angry look on her face and she had her gun drawn, she was ready to fire, she felt something was wrong: "I know Minka like the back of my hand, you are not her!"


    "What?" Minka looks hurt again, then she starts to laugh, she laughs for a few seconds. Then her laughter gets louder, louder, and louder until she''s hysterical. Viola is staring at her with an expression of pure horror on her face, her face pale as Minka continued laughing: "Haha... I guess the act is over, it was fun while it lasted."


    Viola stepped in front of Leanna with her arms out, her eyes narrowed and her face grew grim: "Who the fuck are you!?" She shouts.


    The laughter dies down, and the stranger that looked exactly like Minka then begins to talk: "Who? I do believe we''ve met before... young lady. Don''t you remember?" Her voice suddenly changes, it becomes much more deep, cold and cruel, as if a snake just hissed right beside her ears.


    Viola frowned and stepped back slowly, she held Leanna''s hand tightly.


    "Archivist..."Leanna said.


    Viola turns her head to look at her, the surprise on her face is clear as day, "How do you..."


    "It seems the little girl has her own ways of gathering information. Interesting..." The Archivist looked at Leanna with interest and continued smiling, his voice still as creepy as ever.


    Leanna then raised her pistol and pointed it towards him, "We''re leaving."


    The Archivist tilted his head and smiled: "Ah, I guess we''ve already spent too much time together..." He looks at them and sighs, "Such a shame... We were getting along so well too, you''re really fun to tease around...Say... don''t you want to know about what happened to Minka?" The Archivist smirks.


    Leanna narrowed her eyes at him: "We''re not interested in anything you have to say to us, let''s go Viola!" She grabs Viola''s hand and tries to leave the area but Viola doesn''t move: "Viola!"


    Viola let go of her hand and stared at the Archivist. Viola frowned and took a deep breath before answering him: "Fine... What is it that you want to talk about? I am listening."


    Leanna gasped at what she heard, she stared at her friend in disbelief: "Viola! You can''t just..."


    "We''re not going anywhere until I get an answer. We might as well listen to him for once..."


    "You''re kidding me right?"


    "Ah... smart choice..." The Archivist chuckles and takes a few steps back to give them some space: "The truth is that, I need you..." He points to Viola with his right hand: "I''ve been searching for someone like you for so long. You''re really special... Viola." He looks at Leanna with a cold expression: "Don''t get any wrong idea, young girl... I just need your friend... Viola." The Archivist grins as he spoke the word ''friend'', as if mocking the very idea that she could ever be considered a ''friend''.


    "You need me...?" Viola''s eyes widened, her face was still as cold as ice. "For what...?" She asked him quietly.


    "Why, I just want to see what is inside that beautiful head of yours... I can give you all the information that you have always been wondering about, all that you desire... you can get it from me... I just want one small favor in return..." He stares at her and smiles. "What do you say, Viola...? I''m offering you a lot... aren''t I?"


    "And that is?"


    "It''s quite simple..." He steps closer, he is now close enough for them to smell his scent: "I''ll let Minka go free... You just need to help me... by doing something for me."


    Viola thought for a moment then asked: "How can I trust that you would release Minka in the first place...?" Viola didn''t look like she believed him.


    "Simple." With a snap of a finger, their personality switched. Minka kneeled on the floor holding her chest and breathing heavily, "Viola, Lea! Don''t make any deal with that ma-" Suddenly, their personality switched again. Minka became silent, the Archivist stood up again and looked at them: "See? It''s really that simple." He smiled.


    "Minka..." Leanna''s face turned white. She was speechless as she saw Minka suffering. She stared at him angrily.


    Viola remained calm but her anger was clear in her eyes: "How many times did you do that to her!?" Her voice is trembling in fury.


    "What?" The Archivist tilted his head: "What does it matter?" His voice became even more deep and menacing, his smile became wider. He laughed for a few seconds then continued, "You can make a deal with me if you want... I''ll give you a 50% chance to save her... or... 0%... I don''t care. Choose now!" The Archivist said and looked at her impatiently.


    Viola stared at the ground for a moment then sighed heavily: "I will..."


    "No!" Leanna steps in front of Viola: "You can''t do this! If you do that you might end up like Minka..."


    The Archivist grinned and walked towards her slowly, he grabbed her chin with his left hand, "Leanna right...? I knew it..." He leaned in close to her ear: "If you want to help your friend here, then you need to step aside." He whispered. Leanna struggled against his grip. The Archivist pushes Leanna to the side and walks toward Viola who stood frozen on the ground, she looked like she was in shock. He placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered something into her ear: "It will be fun."


    Viola remained motionless: "Fine... I agree." She said weakly, her voice was almost a whisper: "Tell me what you want."


    The Archivist whispers at Viola''s ear, Leanna can hear a few words of it: "...that man..." She couldn''t hear the whole conversation. Viola nods. Leanna doesn''t understand what Viola is doing but she has a bad feeling about this.


    Viola finally stepped forward towards Leanna. Leanna can see her friend is struggling with something but she can''t see her expression at all, it''s as if her face is covered with a thick black shadow: "Viola?" She whispered quietly to her friend. "What did you tell him?"


    "Don''t worry. It''s done." Viola said in an assured way. When they turn, they see Minka who is lying on the ground and groaning in pain, she is holding her chest with one hand, it looks like she can''t breathe properly. Leanna rushed toward Minka and grabbed her arm, "Are you alright!? Can you walk!?" Minka just nods weakly at Leanna. Viola kneeled down beside them.


    Minka looked pale and sickly. She glanced at Viola: "....Why?" Her voice is so weak and feeble that they almost didn''t hear it.


    "Don''t worry about it..." Viola said in a low voice. Leanna is not sure what to make out of this situation. She doesn''t understand what they are saying and what they have talked about before. But she can see the guilt in Minka''s eyes, she can tell she is in pain. Leanna puts her arm around her friend: "Let''s get you some rest. You look horrible." Leanna smiled reassuringly at her.


    After helping Minka onto her bed, Leanna finds Viola who is smoking on the balcony. Viola seems lost in her thoughts, she has a distant expression on her face. "So..." Leanna starts but doesn''t really know how to start: "What did you tell the Archivist?" She is not sure how Viola is feeling. Viola looked sad, like something is weighing on her mind.


    Viola is silent for a long moment, her face is covered by a shadow, making her expression unreadable. After a minute she finally answered, "If I tell you that, you will find it hard to trust me after you learn about it." She took another drag on the cigarette and stared into space, her eyes distant, as if she was recalling something from a long time ago: "But... I trust you, Leanna... I really trust you. You have a strong will and determination. I think I can tell you about it... Just please don''t hate me..." Her voice was quiet and she looked sad, she didn''t even glance at her friend once: "I knew about ''The Legend'' all along..." Viola''s voice was heavy as she said this, as if she was ashamed to even admit it, "I... knew all this time. Who he was, where he has gone and... where he is now..."


    Eight years ago...


    Despite being barely an adult, Viola has passed every test for the special retrieval operation unit, which is an elite force for the imperial army that is trained for extracting and capturing targets in dangerous areas. Her talent is clearly recognized by the commanding officers and they quickly assigned her to the team, in which Viola was really happy for this chance to prove herself to the world and the pay is good.


    The unit leader, named Jack, has taken Viola to a training area to train for this mission. They walked into an empty training hall, which has a long metal floor, a white wall, and a high ceiling. Jack then threw her a rifle and said: "Show me how good you are with this. If you can land more than 8 shots out of 10 on the moving targets then you can pass this test."


    Viola smiled, she caught the rifle without hesitation and aimed at the target in the far back. Her finger is ready to pull the trigger. Suddenly the lights turned off, leaving them in a dark room with only a faint light emanating from above. "What is going on?" Viola asks.


    "We only select the best of the best, no exceptions." Jack answered in a cold voice. Then Jack walked closer to the back wall. He presses a switch on the wall. A dozen figures appear. They looked like mannequins with the same face and body, the only thing different is the clothing they are wearing. They stood still for a while before one of the mannequins suddenly ran toward the target, Viola quickly shot down that mannequin but when she turned to aim at another mannequin, the second mannequin was already charging at the target, Viola fired at it as well. The mannequins were fast, they charged at the target with high speed, the targets moved so fast that it was impossible to track them accurately. "Viola, concentrate!" Jack''s voice rang out behind her, she heard footsteps coming from behind her but she didn''t dare to turn away.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Viola managed to hit all the moving targets, she let out a deep sigh of relief as the light came back and the mannequin stopped moving. The targets she hit were the head, chest and stomach of each mannequin. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. Then Jack came from behind her with a smirk on his face: "Nice shot. I knew I wasn''t wrong about you." Viola was surprised and excited at the same time: "Does that mean i can join your team now?" Viola asked eagerly.


    "Not yet, you didn''t notice the last mannequin, did you?"


    "The last mannequin...?" Viola looked around confused. Suddenly something struck the back of her head hard enough to knock her off her feet. The figure grabbed her neck from behind, she could barely move, her vision began to get blurry. Viola pulls out her boomstick on her waist and shoots the figure that is choking her. She rolled away and managed to escape but she still felt a sharp pain in her head: "Fuck..." Viola groaned in pain and fell on her knees. Her head hurts a lot.


    Jack approached her and examined the wound. "You are lucky you have this thing to save your life." He points at the boomstick in her hand.


    "Is that really the last one...?" Viola asked.


    "Nope, I lied. It was a surprise attack, you see? To test if you were prepared. It seems that you are."


    "Yeah..." Viola was pissed off by Jack''s surprise attack but she kept that to herself. Viola''s head was pounding as she stood up from the floor, her vision began to blur again. Viola takes a deep breath to calm herself down.


    "You still need to get some medical check up after this." Jack says: "To see if there''s some other problems." Viola didn''t say anything as Jack led her to an infirmary, there were many doctors there, she was examined carefully. She passed the test with flying colors. The doctor then prescribed some pain killers and sent Viola off.


    "Have you heard of someone called Jenkins? or better yet, Legend." Jack suddenly asks her while she was in the middle of changing her clothes: "The legendary knight that had saved this planet and built what we have today? Of course everyone knows him, that''s like asking me if I know who the emperor is." Viola answered with an annoyed voice.


    Jack nodded then continued, "Our organization was founded by that man. And today we are doing our job to continue the legacy of Jenkins and make sure that we continue to do what he has done, protecting this world." Jack smiled: "That is what we do and we have always done our job with pride and courage. You understand, don''t you?"


    Viola nodded: "Yeah, of course, why are you asking me all of these? Do I need to do anything more than that? Are you saying I need to follow Jenkins and do my job as he has done?" Viola''s eyes were sparkling when she heard what Jack said, it is her dream to become like the man she idolized the most, but Jack didn''t answer her, instead he said: "No... it isn''t... The last part I mean. It is because that man has always been in our memories and I am afraid that some of our people might not know it."


    "So what do I need to do? You want me to remember the past or something like that?" Viola asks in confusion.


    Jack smiles and shakes his head: "No, I want you to help us to make the world better. By helping the people who need your help." Jack says. "And it starts today. I''m sure that you know where to start..." Jack gave her a wink as he left her in the infirmary, alone with her thoughts.


    A month later, in the outer ring of the capital city, a huge fight has been taking place. A gang of violent people has taken over a factory, they killed dozens of innocent workers and they threatened to destroy the whole place. Viola, along with many soldiers from her squad were called to the area to solve the issue. "So what''s the plan?" Viola asks her commanding officer while they are preparing their equipment. The officer said: "Your team will infiltrate the area first then we''ll make our move when the signal is given." He points at a sniper: "And the sniper over there will cover your ass."


    The team quickly made their way through the city. They managed to enter the factory through a broken window, the factory was a huge building with multiple levels and a long corridor. It took a while but they managed to locate the gang''s position. Viola''s team then started making their way to their destination. "All squadrons in position, the hostage is in sight, I repeat the hostage is in sight." A radio transmission came from Viola''s squad commander. Viola''s team were positioned in a hallway that led directly to the hostages, suddenly they heard something sounded like power armor running through the halls and approaching their position. Viola quickly fired her shotgun at the nearest wall which caused a big hole. Then Viola took out a smoke grenade and tossed it out, she immediately ducked for cover. But after a heavy collision noise, her squad leader has been run over by the person in the power armor. He laid there with blood running out of his mouth and his limbs are broken.


    Viola gulps and hides in a corner, her hands shaking in fear, she is not particularly unfamiliar with the harshness of the battlefield but this is the first time she sees the differences in her abilities and the true power of others.


    The man in power armor stopped running and started scanning the area, Viola''s teammates had already retreated, the smoke covered most of the view but they could still make out some vague silhouettes of the enemy.


    Viola kept quiet as she held her breath, she could still hear footsteps approaching her position, then suddenly her radio went on: "Sniper! Sniper!" It was the voice of her commanding officer, he sounded panicked and scared: "Get out of the way! Take cover! The sniper is firing!" After hearing that the person in power armor is moving towards Viola''s direction, he then stops moving, Viola sees a red dot appear on the man''s back. He suddenly moved to the right. Viola then heard the sound of something falling, then she heard the sound of something metal clacking, followed by a gunshot. Viola was confused and frightened.


    After a moment of silence, the person in power armor continued to move towards Viola, he is moving slowly now, like he is searching for someone or something, suddenly he dropped next to her, motionless, dead.


    Viola gasped and her heart started to pound hard, she stood up slowly and peeks at the corridor to see what was going on, there''s only one person standing in front of her. A person who she had seen on posters when she was young, Nova Terra, the person who everyone wanted to become like, a legendary figure that is said to be able to fight off a thousand people by herself. Viola stood there speechless, Nova glanced at Viola and moved on to her next target.


    "Viola?" Jack called from a distance, his voice echoed throughout the hall: "Where the hell are you?" He is looking around. "Damn, they are here too."


    "Captain?" Viola walked towards him, her voice sounded like she was crying. She tried to stop him from walking away from her, but Jack simply ignored her and kept walking: "What is wrong? Where is the rest of my team?" She asked.


    Jack turns around to face her and looks down at her: "It was all a setup." Jack says. "There''s no hostage here, only us."


    "What?" Viola''s jaw drops in disbelief, "What are you talking about!?"


    Jack shakes his head, "I was tricked as well. Our objective wasn''t to rescue any hostages, we were tricked by those bastards, they made us think there were hostages, those people you see. Are all stuffed with bombs, when we secured them they just exploded..."


    Viola stared at Jack blankly.


    Jack looked down at the floor: "The imperial army had ordered us to get rid of these bastards and anyone associated with them, this is why Nova is here. To make sure we carry out the mission successfully..."


    "Understood.. but.."


    "It is over Viola... We need to proceed with the mission. Now let''s go. We need to finish it quickly before anything worse happens." He says with a stern face.


    Viola stares at him and nods silently. They walk down the hall and follow Jack to the main building of the factory. After they entered the factory the first thing that they saw were corpses scattered all over the place, most of them were dead, but some are still breathing. Jack walked towards a large group of soldiers, there were also other members of the gangs. Suddenly they saw something dark crawling on the walls, a large shadow with a red dot on its forehead. "What is that?" Viola asks in a terrified tone.


    Jack doesn''t respond, instead he starts shooting at the figure, but his shots just pass right through the shadow. Then the shadow stops moving and turns it''s head, it looks at Jack with menacing red eyes: "That is..."


    "Viola... You know what you have to do..."


    Viola stood frozen in place, unable to move. Not by fear but it''s something else, something stronger, something more powerful, something she couldn''t fight.


    "Viola?"


    "Jack..." She turns her head, "What is going on?" She asked in confusion.


    "Viola, this is an order, we need to proceed with the mission..." He said calmly. "You need to follow my command..."


    "Why can''t I move?" She asks him. "Jack..." She is panicking, she tries to move but she can''t move, it''s like someone has chained her feet together. She tries to look around her but it''s all dark.


    "Viola! This is not a game! You are under direct orders of the emperor, you need to follow my command!" Jack yelled as he began shooting the monster. His shots were futile, it was as if he was just wasting ammunition. "Viola... What the fuck are you doing? Help me kill that monster!"


    Viola gasped as the monster came towards them. It lunged forward towards them at great speed, it looked like a giant insect that had the mouth of a shark with razor sharp teeth and large fangs, it had 6 eyes on each side of its head, its body was pitch black and covered in spikes. Jack pushed Viola away, but for some reason, the floor below Viola also collapsed, all Viola could hear was the sound of something being stabbed while falling down. Viola hit her back against the ground below her, her back hurts badly.


    Viola groaned and sat up, she could see the monster right above her. It was about to attack her when Jack appeared before it and grabbed the monster''s head, the monster turned its head towards him and bit down on Jack''s right arm. The monster then thrashed around while holding Jack, trying to shake him off. Viola can finally move her body again, she takes out her pistol and begins shooting at the monster but her shots had little effect on the monster''s hard hide. "You gotta be shitting me..."


    The monster roared angrily, it bit into Jack''s right arm harder. Jack gritted his teeth in pain, he pulled his left hand from the monster''s mouth and grabbed a grenade on his belt. "Viola, get out of here! Take cover! This will take care of this monster!"


    "NO! Don''t you dare Jack!" She tries to run towards Jack, but it was too late, the monster''s body exploded and blew Jack and the monster away, sending Jack into the air, flying across the room, Viola screams in horror: "NO! JACK!"


    Viola opened her eyes and saw Jack''s lifeless body laying next to her, blood gushing out from his stomach, he looked up at her and gave her a small smile: "Don''t worry..."


    "No,no,no,no!" Viola looked around for some medics, "Someone call a medic! I need help here!"


    Jack shakes his head slowly, "Don''t... worry..." His body fell back onto the ground, lifeless, dead. Viola suddenly glanced at the corner of the place and saw a machine that had the shape of a coffin. It looks like a very high tech machine, she runs over and sees if it can help Jack but the machine was not turned on. Viola opens it and sees a body and a few tubes written: Regen.


    Viola takes out a tube and splatters it on Jack''s wounds and body, "Jack... please hold on... this will help..." She says to herself quietly. After a few minutes, Jack''s body began to heal, Viola took a step back as he sat up. Just when Jack stood up and Viola was relieved, she felt a sharp pain on her shoulder. When she looked at it, Jack had stabbed her with a knife on her shoulder. His eyes are all black, his voice sounds distorted: "This... was all a lie..." His voice echoed around them, he took a few steps away from Viola, he held her shoulder and continued speaking: "This whole mission was just a setup, a plan to eliminate us all. I knew about it for a long time, and I am a part of it." He smiles creepily as he looks at Viola. Viola felt as if her soul had been taken from her. She shakes him off and pulls out the knife that''s on her shoulder, the wound was deep and painful. "Jack? Why?..."


    Viola realized something she just did was something that she wasn''t supposed to do. She can feel that she is losing her grip on her consciousness. Jack then lunged forward towards her and tried to stab her but Viola dodged out of the way, she ducked below and quickly rolled towards the wall behind her. Viola stands up quickly and points her gun at him: "I am so sorry...." She said as she pulled the trigger, a shot echoed through the place and Jack fell dead to the floor, Viola stared at Jack''s dead body in shock for a while before collapsing to the floor.


    "Woah..." Leanna gasps after hearing this story from her friend, "So that''s how you knew about Legend... that person in the machine was...him? Who else knew about it? About this ''set up''? Did anyone say anything to you about it?..."


    Viola takes a deep breath and rubs her temples: "No one but me." Viola sighs: "That was why i kept this a secret..." Viola takes a drag of her cigarette: "After i heard that Jack''s corpse was recovered from the site, i got called by Nova and she told me to not talk about what had happened during that day to anyone..." She sighs: "And that''s the day I bid farewell to the imperial army... And that''s when I decided to leave the past behind and live a normal life..."


    "I... I didn''t know you felt this way. Viola..." Leanna sits down on the balcony next to Viola, "You have suffered a lot for being honest and loyal to others and this is what they gave you back? I am sorry." Viola didn''t respond, she just looked out at the city and sighed quietly. Leanna feels very bad for her friend. She doesn''t understand what kind of hardship her friend went through and why she chose to tell her all this.


    "Well, it''s all in the past now..." Viola smiles weakly: "Don''t worry, it was all a long time ago... And besides, it was my fault in the first place." She then smiles a bit: "Don''t think too much about it. And it doesn''t matter anymore, the only thing that matters now is the present and future. You should think about that."


    "Okay..." Leanna nods silently. They were silent for a while, only the sound of the city at night was heard, until Viola spoke again: "By the way... How is your relationship with Minka going?"


    "Huh?... what do you mean?" Leanna blushes: "There''s no such thing!"


    "Hahaha, you''re cute, you know that?" Viola pats her head gently and smiles: "And... I am sure Minka likes you." She gives Leanna a wink.


    "Viola! Don''t joke like that, I don''t..." She can feel her face burning and her heart pounding fast.


    "What are you so embarrassed for? You already kissed her and slept with her, right?"


    "WHAT!?"


    "Don''t deny it! You love her! I know it!"


    Leanna couldn''t speak. Her face turned red as a tomato.


    "Aww, it''s fine Lea, everyone knows. It''s really obvious. And besides, I approve of this relationship!"


    Leanna hides her face in her hands in shame.


    "Awww, you are so cute. You are really nothing like your mother are you? Hahaha..." Viola laughed.


    Leanna just let out an annoyed sigh. "I give up... You won, Viola."


    "Good." Viola stands up: "Then I will take a shower first, you should go and have a talk with Minka." She says as she heads inside. Leanna stays behind, she thinks for a moment before standing up. Leanna walks to her room, she sees that Minka has fallen asleep on her bed, Leanna gently opens the door to her room and quietly enters, she lays on the bed next to Minka and hugs her from behind: "Hey Minka..."


    "What? Lea?..." Minka says in a tired voice.


    Leanna could smell the sweet scent of Minka, her heart was racing again: "Are you feeling alright...?"


    Minka turns to face her and nods weakly: "Yeah... I''m just a bit tired... But don''t worry, I will be fine tomorrow." Minka looks up and stares into Leanna''s eyes: "And... Lea?"


    "Huh? Yes?" Leanna''s face becomes even more red.


    "You know, Viola is right..." She smiles weakly, "You really do look cute with that blushing face of yours. It suits you..."


    Leanna''s heart flutters and her body feels weak: "You heard it??!??"


    "Haha, it''s not that hard to hear it with how loud you guys were talking outside." Minka chuckles and moves closer to Leanna. Her face is very close to hers now. Their noses are almost touching. Minka looks deeply into her eyes. Her breath is warm and comforting: "When I was trapped within my own body... I worried the most about you, you know..."


    "Really?..." Leanna stares back into Minka''s eyes, "I... I worry a lot about you too... When I found out that you are missing. I couldn''t help but worry that I would lose you... You''re important to me."


    Minka blushed and her eyes widened: "Am i?"


    "Yeah... More than I think..."


    "Hehe..." Minka smiles gently. Her cheeks were flushed as she continued: "Well, I am happy to hear that... Lea. It makes me very happy..." Minka presses her lips onto Leanna''s. Her lips were soft and tender. Leanna returns the kiss eagerly, her heart pounding faster. She holds Minka close, feeling the warmth of her body, she wraps her arms around her, kissing her deeply and passionately. Their bodies pressed together tightly. They break off the kiss. Both of their faces flushed red. "I really do like you... Lea... and I am very happy that you feel the same way." Minka says and looks up at Leanna.


    "Me too... Minka... Me too." She says and pulls her in for a deeper and longer kiss. They stayed there in the night, hugging each other. Both of them were filled with love and happiness, neither wanting to leave. They laid together under the blanket, enjoying the warmth of each other''s bodies, breathing each other in and whispering soft words. Their faces were red and they could not help but giggle from time to time. Eventually their exhaustion got the better of them and they fell asleep in each other''s arms, enjoying the feeling of having someone with them who loves and cares for them.

 Chapter 27

    "How are you feeling... Honey?" Trayzn sits beside Monika behind the barrier, holding her hand gently, Trayzn was worried about her safety, "You look very tired..."


    "I am tired..." Monika nods.


    Trayzn signs, "It''s been a tough battle, you must rest well... It won''t be long before another battle..." He gives Monika''s hand a gentle squeeze.


    "I know..." Monika replies, she was a bit shaken up and weak due to her previous fight.


    Trayzn smiles softly as he leans forward and kisses Monika on the cheek softly and gently. "I''m here for you, you know that, right? Always and forever..."


    Monika nods and smiles weakly at him, "Yeah..."


    "I am talking to Minka about a way to leave you be...Telling her that you are going to risk your life soon if this keeps going...and..." Trazyn frowns and continues, "That''s the part she didn''t take in well..."


    Monika sighs: "It''s fine... I can still do this. Just take care of our daughters, ok?"


    "What about you?" Trazyn looks into her eyes worriedly: "You are not wounded but you look really tired. Your face is pale as a ghost... Don''t do something too stupid, I know that you want to save this world and I also know how important that is for you. But..."


    Monika shakes her head and gives Trazyn a gentle hug: "It''s fine, don''t worry about it... I''ll be fine..." She said, reassuring him.


    Trayzn pulls back slightly and looks deeply into her eyes again: "Okay then... but you can''t do this forever, I don''t want you to push yourself too hard... You should take it easy for a bit and take care of yourself... And remember..." He gives her another kiss on her lips: "I will always be here for you... No matter what..." He says and pulls back from her again.


    "My... merely a few decades and you are already talking to me like this?~" Monika giggles softly at Trayzn: "Are you still that overlord that is hated by all beings? I must say that the person before me right now is the real person that I fell for. Not some...necron lord that only cared for the knowledge and art of this world." Monika kisses back passionately: "But still...you are a damn annoying and smug bastard, but you are also a very sweet and caring person that I like..." She looks at his eyes as if enchanted by them for a while.


    "Oh... you have no idea what changed¡­¡±


    Monika chuckles at his words and smiles softly as she looks deeply into his eyes.


    "Well then... You should take good care of yourself from now on, okay?" Trazyn whispers softly "Because you have two very precious daughters and the best husband in the entire universe.." He said gently as he hugged her closely to his chest.


    "Hehe..." Monika smiled happily and cuddled against his chest as he held her tightly: "Yes..." She said and kissed him again on his lips.


    Suddenly, Ravager came in through the barrier and noticed the two hugging each other lovingly in front of the barrier: "What a sweet family we got here huh? But I am sorry to say, the new target has surfaced." She said while standing beside them.


    Trazyn frowns as he pulls Monika closer and hugs her protectively: "Who...?" He asks angrily.


    Ravager laughs coldly at Trayzn, "You don''t really expect me to tell you, do you?" She asks mockingly: "Dad, come on. You know the rule." She says coldly.


    Ravager chuckled lightly and then it seemed like she just received something, after an instant she disappeared from sight.


    After she left, Monika sat down and looked at the map that she had on the screen, it showed a location near the city: "Traz..." She says as she turns towards Trazyn.


    "Hm?" Trayzn looked at Monika, "What is it, dear?" He asks concernedly.


    "Sorry, but I have to go now..." She gives him a hug and kisses his cheek: "Take care of them for me okay? I''ll come back as soon as possible..." She whispers gently before turning around and disappearing through the barrier.


    Trazyn then teleported back to his cell with Emilia and his own Emilia. The ravager put them together in the same ''house''. Which is just an elaborated cell.


    "How was it?" Emilia Terra looks up from her bed: "How was mom?"


    "She is fine.." Trayzn sighs and sits next to the young girl, "And what about you? Do you need something from me? '''' Trazyn smiles at her softly.


    "Na, i''m fine as well. Big sis Emilia has been taking care of me well~"


    Emilia smiles back at her. But when she looks at Trazyn, her smile fades away: "Dad, I need to talk to you for a bit. Emi, be a good girl. Alright?"


    "Huh?" The younger Emilia looks confused at her father: "Dad?"


    Trazyn nods silently and follows her to another cell where it is secluded from the others.


    "Is it about...you know.." Trayzn said in a soft tone as he sat down on a chair in front of her.


    "It is about my father. He''s back, you know it don''t you? Why didn''t you tell me?" Emilia stares at Trazyn: "Or even mom. What are you playing here?..." She says coldly.


    Trazyn looks into Emi''s eyes deeply before sighing: "I do know he''s back but I didn''t tell your mom or even you because I wasn''t sure what would happen. I just want to be safe."


    "Safe? Everyday he''s alive is the greatest threat on this entire planet. And you expect me to believe that you want to be safe?" She scoffs at Trazyn. "This is the same guy who can make this whole planet explode by snapping his finger. Don''t you get it? I was there. I know. He''s far stronger than all of us, even you. And this is what my sister is trying to do. Stop all of this very thing from happening. Surely I don''t like the way she''s approaching that goal but still... Why are you hiding this from your own wife? From your daughters? Why?"


    "Emilia... I understand why you are so angry right now. But I promise you, everything is fine and safe. There''s nothing to worry about..."


    "How can I believe that?" Emilia''s eyes burned with rage: "Tell me. Or else I''ll take care of this in my own way."


    Trazyn takes a deep breath: "What are you going to do? I can''t let you go on your own. Do you even know what''s out there?"


    "You know what? I am so fucking tired of you and everyone here trying to stop me from doing what is right. You can all try and stop me but I know what is right. And I will make sure it happens. And I am sure I can handle myself just fine. After all, I have seen the same things you did, and I know exactly what is out there. So what''s next?" She glares at Trazyn: "Are you going to stop me? Are you going to lock me in a prison like that fucking psychopath out there? Or will you just let me go? Are you even planning on doing anything to stop all this?"


    "You''re right. I will never stop you from doing what you want. I will never do something as cruel as locking my own daughter up." He let out a sigh: "Find Minka then. As much as I hate to say this, but they are the ones that are doing something to the whole situation. They can help you."


    "Why hate to say this?"


    "Because this will eventually put her into danger and I hate it so much to see it happening..." Trazyn frowns slightly. "But I do know you are far better than your father, just promise me, you''ll be careful and return Minka to me in one piece."


    Emilia smiles a bit at her father and nods: "Thanks, dad."


    "But don''t tell Monika. Just go and get it done quickly, before something terrible happens..."


    Emilia nods, and the next thing she knows is that she''s somewhere in a alleyway, next to the wall and behind a dumpster: "Fuck, i didn''t bring my weapons..." She sighs in frustration before going outside of the alley. She notices the area, there is a small cafe next to the alley she was in and it has many customers. Emilia takes a deep breath before heading inside. The cafe has a very nice smell and the food here looks really appetizing, the menu looks delicious too. Emilia checked her pocket and got out a few credits and ordered a cup of coffee and a chocolate cake. While enjoying her food, Emilia scratches her head: "Where can I find Minka..."


    "Did I hear you''re looking for Minka?" A familiar voice suddenly said.


    Emilia''s eyes widened in shock when she saw who it was: "You!" She said in surprise and almost startled the nearby people: "How are you here?"


    Kira blinks a few times before answering her question: " I just saw you sitting here. Is that weird? Huh?"


    "You are supposed to be hidden out of sight?!"


    Kira chuckles: "Yeah, but not really." She says as she looks at Emilia: "Can I sit with you? I miss the time when we could have this kind of place on our own... It has been a while since we met like this." Kira asks with a soft smile.


    "Fine..." Emilia frowns: "But do you know where is Minka? Or maybe Leanna? Or both..."


    Kira chuckles: "Sorry to burst your bubble but no, I don''t. Why? Do you want to find them? Is there anything you want to do? Is something bothering you?" Kira asks concernedly.


    "No." She sips her coffee quietly and looks up to the ceiling: "It''s more important, world saving and stuff."


    Kira burst into laughter: "HAHAHA, that was hilarious! Oh wow... That was the first time I heard such a line...I was being sarcastic by the way. You Terras... are all the same. I will never understand how the hell you all managed to live this long."


    Emilia raises an eyebrow: "Oh? Why? You think this world is all good??" She lets out a bitter smile: "You just wait until something happens... at least we are doing something to make the world a better place."


    "Hmm..." Kira stares at the ceiling while sipping her drink, "I do think this world is far from being a better place, but there are people out there trying their best to help, you know? Not everything is about you guys. And besides, the Ravager, the Archivist, all of the biggest problems we are facing now are in fact... related to Terra." She says.


    Emilia looks up to Kira in disbelief: "Do you seriously think we are the problem? It is not our fault. The reason we''re doing all this is for the world." She lets out a frustrated sigh, "But of course, someone like you doesn''t understand."


    "And i thought you are the one that can think clearly in your family... but i guess not..." Kira shrugs as she takes another sip of her drink. "Anyways, I''ll get out of your hair now. Hope you find that kid... And you are still cute, even after all these years..." Kira smiles gently at her and pats her head softly and gently.


    Emilia stares blankly at the coffee, she did not notice when Kira left. After finishing her drink she left the cafe. It''s just noon but Emilia decided to walk around and clear her head, after all the world saving stuff. Emilia was on the edge, she knows what is coming for her and she doesn''t know if she''ll be able to stop it: "Damn it sis, why are you doing all this..." Emilia stops when she realizes she had walked quite far and reached the city border: "So much for world saving..." She says sarcastically. Suddenly Emilia felt something on her leg, it felt like a cat''s paws. "What the-" Emilia turns around to see a cat rubbing itself on her leg: "Oh... It''s you again... You sure do know where to find me." She crouches down and strokes the cat''s head: "Are you following me or what? Is there something you want?" She asks as she pets the cat, the cat has clear blue eyes and white clean fur. The cat purred and licked her hand gently, she looked into her eyes with curiosity, "Do you have any name?" Emilia asks but the cat just tilted its head a bit and meowed: "How cute~" She continued stroking its fur. "So you like that huh?" The cat nods and meows: "Okay okay, you win. You''re so adorable~" Emilia picks the cat up and holds it tightly.


    "Hi sis~" Ravager''s voice came from behind her, making her almost jump up from her place: "How was your day~?" Ravager walks toward her with her hand behind her back. "What is it?" She asked Emilia with a smile.


    Emilia gasps, she didn''t know that she could be found out this early after getting out of the cell.


    "Hehe, it is okay. I am here to help you, not hurt you."


    Emilia raises an eyebrow: "Help? You mean letting that mad woman keep beating the crap out of me? That kind of ''help''?" She glares at her.


    "Knight went a bit further than I hoped so but you know what the consequences are if you didn''t tell us the vault''s password." Ravager let out a long sigh. "I didn''t mean it like that."


    Emilia scoffs: "Sure you didn''t..." She says sarcastically.


    "Listen..." Ravager continues, "I am doing my best to end father''s game but he is stronger than he seems." Ravager scratches the back of her head in frustration: "You don''t even understand half of what he can do..." She says coldly.


    Emilia looks at her and lets out a frustrated sigh: "I don''t think it matters...It was always you and him anyways. You weren''t even there during mom''s last moment..." She looks away from Ravager: "You only care about yourself, don''t you..."


    "Of course I care about you, what makes you think that I don''t care? Just because you see me in a bad way, doesn''t mean I am not on your side, sis. But you don''t seem to understand this yet."


    Emilia stays quiet, she looks away from her, not wanting to argue any more with her sister. "I am tired...of this entire thing, of father and of you too... Can''t you just... leave me be?"


    Ravager chuckles slightly: "And let the entire world suffer? What makes you think I want that to happen? Don''t get it wrong. I don''t want any more lives to be lost in this...war. Come with me..."


    Emilia looks at her suspiciously: "I am not following you..."


    "Why?" Ravager says in annoyance: "I just want to talk... It''s been a long time since we talked in person like this, come on... I am your sister after all..." Ravager gives her a gentle smile. "What? Are you afraid? Do you think I will kill you?"


    "It is not that..." She frowns: "But..." She looks down at the ground. She looks up to Ravager again: "Are you... going to kill father?"


    "Yes, as should you. You should help me with that... " Ravager walks towards Emilia and holds out her hand for Emilia: "We''ll end this. Together..."


    "I..." Before Emilia could answer, the ground shakes beneath their feet and a large explosion echoes from somewhere in the city, "What''s happening!?" Emilia looks around.


    Ravager shakes her head: "Nothing..." She says in an annoyed tone: "Just stay out of the way..." She then hovers on to the air and dashed out towards the city, leaving Emilia standing alone, holding the cat, staring blankly at the scene.


    "Emilia!" Minka''s voice came from behind her. "There you are! We finally found you!"


    "Huh?" Emilia looks over her shoulder and sees Minka and Leanna running towards her: "Ah..."


    Leanna gives her a warm hug: "Finally found you... Are you okay?" She looks over at the direction Ravager had flown towards: "We have to go. Now!"


    "Wait, did you two do that?" Emilia asks with a surprised expression.


    "Yes." Minka says confidently. "Let''s get out of here." Minka grabs her hand and pulls her away from the area.


    They then arrived at a nearby underground building, it''s not too shabby or too grand, it looked just like a normal place, Minka opened the door and walked into the building: "So... welcome to our secret hideout. " She says and laughs a bit: "Well, not much of a secret right now."


    Emilia walks into the hideout, the interior of the building is quite clean and neat: "Hmm, well this isn''t as shabby as i expected..." Emilia comments, "How long has this place been around?"


    Minka sits on a chair and puts down some weapons and supplies: "Not very long. A few years. It was the supply room for our school but everyone kinda forgot about it. And as the president... I took liberty to make use of it. " She gives Emilia a small grin. "But this place is quite safe, no one has noticed this place."


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    Leanna nods: "Yep. The place is very nice. " She goes to the kitchen and prepares some drinks for them.


    Emilia takes a sip from her cup: "Hmm... Nice and refreshing. I have to say... you really do know how to hide." Viola then came out from another room.


    "Oh, who might this be? Hello."


    "Viola, this is Emilia. Emilia, this is Viola." Minka introduces both of them.


    "Hmmm, why does she look like you?" Viola asks while scanning Emilia carefully: "It looks like she''s not you but just someone that resembles you a lot. "


    "Well... in a way, we have similar backgrounds. Remember my little sis Emi? Well Emilia is her but from another world. So they''re kinda the same but not quite. It''s... a bit confusing." She explains with a sheepish laugh: "Sorry. This whole situation is pretty confusing too... " She says with an awkward smile.


    "Oh, well. She does look well trained though, if you see her hand and her forearms, that are very trained and she also seems to know how to handle weapons and fighting techniques too... Well, nice to meet you Emilia~" She waves at Emilia.


    Emilia waves back at Viola, "Well, it is nice to meet you too..."


    "Anyways... How did you know where to find me? " Emilia asks, "I don''t remember telling you my whereabouts..." She takes a sip from her drink.


    "Mom told me about this. Well remotely of course. We have a family secret channel that was established after I was born, so our family can always put some essential information on there¡­ well of course excluding dad. Mom said it''s to keep things interesting¡­ Anyways, she''s keeping an eye on you all the time so she kinda knew you were near here...and... " Minka pulls out a note and a device out of her pocket and gives them to Emilia, "...she said this belongs to you."


    "Wait, how did she..." Emilia looks at the note and reads it: "My journal..." She puts down the note on a table. "You read this right?" She glares at Minka: "What did you read..." She asks while crossing her arms.


    Minka quickly shook her head and replied with a nervous voice: "Nothing much... just your notes about the time before the event happened... It is quite interesting really. So you do know something about it..." Minka smiles weakly at her.


    "Of course I know about it. Minka is my sister and Archivist is my dad. Of course I know more than I let on." Emilia looks away from Minka: "What about it?"


    Minka blushes and replies: "Well, I read about some interesting facts about me...well... the other me. Like her fighting styles, her weapon, her... ability.." She says and scratches her head nervously: ¡°And it felt like reading a novel. If I ever fight her¡­ it will not end well." Minka looks down.


    Emilia scoffs at Minka: "Oh you will be fine, don''t worry about it..But yeah, she will turn you into soup in an instant."


    Leanna steps forward: "Now Emilia..." She says with a gentle tone: "This is serious..." She sits next to Minka: "Look, you need our help and we need yours too. So we might as well work together right?..." She smiles softly.


    Emilia takes another sip of her drink. "Mhmm... Fine." Emilia shrugs: ¡°Your father sent me here anyways... So here I am." Emilia smiles smugly.


    Minka stands up suddenly, knocking over her cup in the process, spilling the water all over the table, and yells loudly in an excited voice: "DAD?TELL ME MORE ABOUT HIM!"


    Emilia frowns at Minka''s loud voice, she leans back in her chair: "Do you really need to be this excited...?" Emilia sighs in frustration.


    Minka grabs her arms and looks into her eyes pleadingly: "Oh yes!! We have a plan, and if we can get to him. We might have a chance to stop the ravager! And possibly that Archivist! We need to save him now!"


    Emilia tilted her head sideways a bit and frowned: "A chance? You''re not really making much sense to me here." She says and shakes Minka''s hand off from her: "You still don''t understand it do you? My sister cannot be defeated in any way. We should just give up on it..." Emilia crosses her arms and closes her eyes.


    Minka pouts and looks at Leanna: "Is she always this pessimistic?"


    Leanna smiles apologetically at Minka: "I think so..." She says while shaking her head slightly: "Anyways..." She takes a sip of her drink before speaking: "Emilia, please...We understand the strife that will come, and the consequences too..." Leanna smiles at her: "But you know your sister the best, so tell us, what can we do to beat the Ravager...?" She says while staring directly at her.


    "Easy, you don''t. End of story."


    "Then... how did she die?"


    "She died protecting people that she loves. People who care for her and people who are dear to her..." She sighs heavily and looks away: "I know, she is a big problem for this world. But I don''t want to see her die again."


    "Emilia..."


    "I don''t think we can talk about this right now..." She shakes her head in frustration: "I... I need time alone for a bit... Can I go somewhere for a while?" She says coldly.


    Leanna sighs and nods: "Sure.."


    Emilia walks away and leaves the hideout, she walks outside and lights up a cigarette, she walks a bit farther into the woods nearby.


    She looks at the night sky. Her face was cold and serious: "This...is it..." Emilia looks back at her hideout, she is unsure whether to tell Minka the truth about her sister. But she knows that it is inevitable, deep inside she knows that the sister she knows died saving her family and her loved ones. It is true, she really cared a lot about everyone and everything.


    She takes another drag from her cigarette and stares at the stars above: "Why must she suffer like this..."


    Suddenly, Minka walks out and calls out her name, Emilia quickly extinguishes the cigarette and throws it into the woods. She turns around and faces Minka.


    "Hey..."


    "I see you have come to find me again, huh? Do you ever get tired of stalking me?" Emilia asks as she sits down on a nearby log.


    "Nah..." Minka sits beside her, "But I do have some questions though."


    "Hmm?"


    "About... Ravager... or Minka... what kind of person was she?..."


    "She was a brave woman. She fought with great strength and determination, and was always willing to sacrifice everything to protect others. She was my idol. My sister..." Emilia looks up at the sky. "I was a bit envious of her actually... But that was a long time ago..." Emilia lets out a small sigh. "She was very strong. She fought against our father, and managed to kill him eventually... She was a true hero of imperium..."


    Minka sits next to Emilia silently.


    Emilia closes her eyes, a bitter expression on her face.


    "What happened...What caused all of this?"


    "My mother died..." Emilia replies bluntly: "And it was my father''s fault. There was no better way to say it. We were living in a small apartment at the time and our father would come and go frequently. We were living a normal life at the time..." Emilia clenches her fist tightly: "Then, one night...He... murdered her... " Emilia stares at her feet for a while. "And my sister, she was so furious when she found out...She just rushed at our father, her mind set on revenge... She then managed to banish him outside of our world. Never to return."


    "Why did your father murder your mother? " Minka asked: "Did she do something to anger him?"


    "Because she refuses to become immortal with him and join him in his plans of conquest, even though they love each other, he didn''t think of that and killed her without any second thoughts. " Emilia takes a deep breath: ¡°He was lost in his mad pursuit of¡­ immortality.¡±


    "I... I didn''t know..." Minka''s voice sounded sad. "I am so sorry..."


    "Don''t be,it was all in the past." Emilia takes a deep breath: "And it was with such a petty reason..."


    Minka stays quiet. She is lost for words.


    "Anyways..." Emilia continues: "After that incident, everything changed... Minka became...obsessed with killing our father. She dedicated all of her life into finding a way to get him. It became her sole purpose and reason to live." Emilia looks down at the ground. "We all were..." Emilia stares into Minka''s eyes: "You look like her. Very similar actually. You''re very pretty." She chuckles lightly, trying to lighten the mood: "Mom and dad named you after her... I guess her death also caught them hard as well."


    Minka stays silent, staring at her feet. "So... Do you want to stop her? Your sister? " Minka asks with a sad tone in her voice.


    Emilia stands up and looks at the stars again: "She is no longer the Minka I used to know..." Emilia sighs, "The Minka I used to know...is gone..." She turns around and faces Minka again: "And the sister I had died too..." She smiles bitterly: "I am so tired of this, Minka. I am tired of the killing, of the bloodshed, of the pain..." She closes her eyes and sighs.


    "Emilia..." Minka''s voice is soft.


    "But you were right. She needs to be stopped... even if it takes to kill her again..." Emilia stares at Minka intently, she doesn''t even blink: "Let''s head back. Tell me what your plan is...and I''ll see what I can do." Emilia walks away, heading back to the hideout.


    After some through discussion their plan can be concluded into three steps:


    <ol>


    <li> They need to find a way to secure Trazyn and the Emilia of this world. So, everyone in the Terra family can fight without any concern or worry about each other''s safety.</li>


    <li> They need to find and eliminate the Archivist as soon as possible. Since his powers are the most dangerous and destructive ones of them all. Ravager is a big problem, but currently the Archivist is the biggest problem for the entire world.</li>


    <li> Kill Ravager and put her soul to rest. She deserves it, even though she is the reason the whole thing started, she is also the reason the world still stands and is safe.</li>


    </ol>


    "But how do we defeat the Ravager?" Minka asks: "If she is truly as powerful as you said... I don''t think anyone in this world can do it."


    "She''s a strong woman... She''s capable of a lot of things..." Emilia answers coldly. "And we will never be able to defeat her as long as we fight with brute force. She has the ability to read minds... So she will see what our attack pattern is... And will use that to her advantage. That is her strength."


    Leanna sighs: "Damn it..."


    "Will psychic blank work?  Pretty sure uncle has a pariah or two... right? "


    "That might work... But she was trained to fight even without using her psychic power..." Emilia responds to her: "The blank can help but that won''t make the difference."


    "Hmm... That means... She will have the advantage..." Minka scratches her chin thoughtfully: "How strong is she in terms of hand to hand combat? "


    "Very strong..." Emilia says while leaning on a nearby wall: "On par with your mother actually."


    "Is she using some special weapons or gadgets?"


    "None... She gave the only one to you."


    "Wait, we can ask the weapon for advice!" Minka pulls out the halberd: "Hi there, do you know the weakness of the ravager?" She asks in a soft voice.


    The weapon sighs heavily and stays silent for a moment before speaking: "I do..." The voice sounded cold and lifeless, it seems like the weapon is very much done with everything: "And...it is..."


    "And it is what?" Minka asks.


    "Nothing. The Ravager is invincible..." The weapon said with a cold tone, making everyone in the room frown in annoyance. "Sorry. The Ravager is unbeatable... "


    Minka pouts in annoyance.


    Emilia crosses her arms, looking at the weapon suspiciously: "You sure she didn''t do any modifications on this weapon or something?" She asks as she examines the weapon closely: "It''s quite suspicious that my sister would even give this weapon to you. This weapon has gone through centuries of fighting with her, there has to be a reason that she would leave this to you... and not naming this weapon? Come on, Minka names everything. From her pens during her childhood to even her own battle cruiser. Everything she owns has a name. What''s this thing called?" She points to the weapon with her hand.


    "Weapon?... I tried to name him but he was really grumpy..." Minka says as she looks down at the weapon. "And why are we focusing on knowing the real name?" She asks, tilting her head.


    "Because this might help us figure out her weakness. Right now, she is back to her own necrodermis body, which means with what we have right now, We cannot kill her. She can easily regenerate from scratch... She also processes immense psyker power that is incomparable to anyone on this planet. I believe with your own abilities you are very aware of how dangerous it is." She crosses her arms as she talks about her sister with a cold and distant tone: "So we have to figure out what she named her own weapon and thus unlock its full potential. Right now, this form is locked. I saw her used this weapon and it was different before..." She says. "I guess this weapon has some hidden power."


    "Well, clearly we can''t just pry the name out... maybe we should ask some people who know about it?"Viola suggests: "Any idea where to get it? I can ask around the guild for information about this... but I''d say Leanna and Minka have better resources."


    "You mean mother?" Leanna asks. "I''ll see what she has in mind. This might be helpful for us to finally figure out how to defeat the Ravager."


    "I will ask mom with my note, she usually knows this kind of stuff." Minka nods: "Do we all go with Leanna?"


    "I''ll go to the guild, see if I can find any useful information. See you in the hideout after this?"Viola said.


    "I will go with Leanna then, so Nova might take this seriously. Minka, you stand by, if there''s a need for backup, you are the responder." Emilia says as she grabs her coat. "Let''s head out. The more we stall the worse the situation becomes."


    After some traveling, Leanna and Emilia arrived at where Nova was supposed to be at the moment, it''s not her usual house but a small shack. Leanna says her mother likes to stay here to meditate, the area is surrounded with nature. The trees are tall and the sun is shining down through the canopy. It''s peaceful and calm. It is perfect for her meditation.


    "Wait." Emilia uses a scanner around her, to detect any traps or living creature movement, the area seems safe for now.


    "Okay... I think we can go in. There seems to be no trap or any security in this place... this place looks way too... peaceful and relaxing." Emilia sounded a bit surprised at this fact.


    "Mother only brought me here once... she says that she needed someone to cook for her." Leanna says. "That is the first and only time."


    They go inside, the shack is very clean and organized, with no sign of dust or cobweb on the floor and on the walls. The kitchen is clean and tidy, there''s even some fresh fruits and vegetables on the table.


    Leanna knocks on the door. No answer. Leanna then calls for her mother''s name: "Mother?"


    There''s no response again.


    "Should I break it?" Emilia asks. "I guess we could just knock it down and look inside. The door seems pretty solid tho, i don''t think we''ll be able to knock it down with brute force."


    "We should wait a bit... she will eventually open the door..." Leanna replies as she leans against the wall.


    Emilia leans next to the door, waiting: "So... Leanna... ha, how I hated you in my world."


    Leanna looks at Emilia: "Why? What did I do?"


    "Oh... where to begin... How does betraying your own kind to fall in love with a tau sound like to you? Or shooting down a civilian ship filled with people." Emilia says with a cold voice, she looks at the door in front of her: "I am still angry at you in my world...you were just a full heretic and a traitor. But I needed you to come to this world, so I also did some bad stuff." She continues in a very calm voice. "So... this is me. Trying to make things right and not... destroying the world...or the people around me. And... sorry..." She apologizes while still looking at the door, it''s a very awkward apology, but Leanna just smiles, and then pats Emilia''s shoulder. "You''re very kind Leanna, probably the kindest person I know..." Emilia continues.


    Leanna shakes her head: "No, not kind. I did not do anything special, I''m just me... I never see my actions as kindness... I just do it because it would go against my mother''s teaching. That is all. Besides... I''m just a normal woman..." Leanna looked away from her, her tone sounded a bit sad, but it was very obvious.


    "Lea." Nova tapped Leanna''s shoulder from behind her.


    "Ah! Mother... how are you?" She cleared her throat to hide her surprise, while Emilia looked at Nova in shock.


    Nova ignored her expression, "What do you want, Emilia?"


    "Nova, we are here to ask you some questions about Ravager. Can we talk?"


    Nova looks at Leanna for a moment then glances at Emilia, "Very well. Come in." She says, then opens the door. But when they entered, Nova hit the back of Leanna''s head, and Leanna fell down to the ground with a loud thud, Nova then looked at Emilia with a look of coldness and fury: "You just crossed a line." Her eyes glows blue, as a small aura of power starts emanating around her. "Now... Talk."


    Emilia''s face goes pale, she tries to raise her weapon but Nova slams her into the sofa: "Sit down." Nova says in a calm, but cold tone: "Explain... before I make you talk..." She continues, as her eyes slowly start to glow.


    "You are working with my sister isn''t it..." Emilia narrowed her eyes, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "You''re planning to betray this world, aren''t you..." Emilia continues in a soft tone: "Why?" She asks, trying to get answers from Nova, but Nova does not answer. Instead, she takes out her pistol and points at Emilia.


    "You brought my Leanna into this, Emilia." She says in a low growl: "I warned you years ago and you didn''t listen..."


    "Great deed requires great sacrifice. Now Leanna is on board, what are you going to do? You don''t want to lose her." Emilia asks with a shaky voice: "What is your choice... Major?" She says in a cold and harsh tone.


    Nova closes her eyes and sighs deeply: "Leanna... what have you gotten into..." Nova''s voice trembles.


    "Now, we need the name of my sister''s weapon. The real name. This might help us defeat her."


    Nova''s face becomes calm, and she stares at Emilia: "The name is ''Halcyon''. Halcyon...it means peace...Emilia what you are about to do is foolish. But I trust that you have good reasons, and I know your sister has no intention of doing something terrible... So I''ll cooperate. However, don''t you dare to drag Leanna into this any more. Or you will pay dearly." Nova warns her coldly.


    "Do you even talk this much to your own daughter?" Emilia asks.


    "It is not your concern. She knows how much I care for her." She replies: "I will do whatever it takes to protect my family, like every Terra does. If I see Leanna is still trying to fight against your sister, I will come to you." She continues in a serious voice.


    "Understood..." Emilia sighs, then carries Leanna on her back and leaves the place: "Thank you..." She whispers and closes the door behind her.


    On their way back, they stopped to have a small rest, Leanna woke up with a big bump on the back of her head and her vision was blurry: "Ahh... my head... what happened?" Leanna holds her head with both hands.


    Emilia is sitting beside her. "I''m sorry..." She says softly: "I got the name but I also made a deal." Emilia explains about the conversation and her mother. "Sorry about that..."


    "You..." Leanna is silent for a few seconds, then looks up and says, "Why did you sell me out like this?!?!" Leanna shouts. "How could you..." Leanna''s eyes filled with anger and sadness.


    Emilia stays silent. She is lost for words to answer to Leanna, instead she looks down at her feet.


    "Oh wait... You knew this would happen didn''t you?..." Leanna''s tone becomes harsh, her face is still angry and confused.


    Emilia nods slowly and closes her eyes.


    "So... this is it? I am out? Just like this? So what did you gain out of this?" Leanna says coldly.


    "I was trying to save you!" Emilia stood up looking right into Leanna''s eyes: "Going against the ravager means certain death. No matter who you are. You are the daughter of Nova Terra, you have a bright future ahead of you, you don''t need to do this... you shouldn''t do this!" Emilia replies. "I did this to save you, because I don''t want to see your blood on my hand again! I don''t want to see my friends being murdered, I don''t want to see more death, Leanna... You''re smart enough to figure this out. Stop trying to fight her! If you keep trying, you will be killed..."


    "Blood on your hand again? What does this supposed to mean?" Leanna frowns and crosses her arms, still glaring at Emilia. "Emilia..."


    "My world''s Leanna was killed... because she tried to bring me to this world. It is my fault that she''s dead...I...I am just trying to save you Leanna, not trying to harm you..." Emilia sighs, looking down. "I can''t afford to see my friends dying again. This time, I have a choice. And I made it." She turns her back to Leanna, looking at the woods surrounding them. "I hope you can forgive me Leanna..."


    "Hey..." When Emilia turned back, Leanna slapped her across the cheek, "How can you make a choice for me? Don''t I get a say on this? And you expect me to forgive you for that?" She says with anger and sadness: "Emilia..." She looks at the ground, not even making eye contact with Emilia, "If this is what you really think...then i am really disappointed..."


    "Leanna, listen... I''m..."


    Leanna walks away without a word and heads back towards the hideout, she doesn''t want to listen to what Emilia has to say, she walks fast. Emilia doesn''t try to chase her, she just stares at Leanna''s back as she goes away, until she disappears into the forest. Leanna began running while quietly sobbing, she understands what this means. She will be kept somewhere safe by her mother and then forced to watch from the sideline as her friends fight against someone who can easily kill them. That''s what she is afraid of. That''s what she is most afraid of, she will lose her friends.


    "No... I can''t just stand by..." Leanna continues to run as fast as she can: "I need to make them understand... I am strong! I can help them... I can save them!"

 Chapter 28

    Minka''s 20th birthday.


    "Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Minka, happy birthday to you! " Minka smiles happily at all the people gathered at her home for her birthday. She is holding a glass of sparkling drink and takes a small sip from it, before looking up at all of her guests. They all applauded as they finished singing.


    Minka blushes slightly, and smiles. Her smile is so beautiful and sincere that makes everyone around her smile too.


    "Thank you so much everyone..." She says cheerfully, before walking down from the stairs to meet with the guests: "Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday, you really made me feel special."


    "You look so beautiful today, sis!" Emilia says, "Happy 20th Birthday." Emilia hands her a small present box wrapped in shiny red paper and ribbons: "I hope you will like it."


    "Thank you." Minka takes it with a smile, opens it, inside there is a pair of beautiful earrings. "This is very pretty!"


    Emilia nods and hugs her: "I love you sis." Emilia smiles, and Minka hugs her back: "Me too sis. Thanks so much for everything. " Minka then hugs her parents: "Thanks mom and dad, you two are the best." She says. "Mom, can you teach me how to use a boltgun next time?"


    "Sure, my dear, anything you want." Monika says. "I think you can handle it nowadays. You''re old enough now." She adds while looking at Minka with a smile: "Happy Birthday dear. We''re all so proud of you. You''ve grown up into such a lovely and beautiful young woman." Monika gives Minka another hug and kisses her forehead: "I''m very proud of you."


    "Aww mom." Minka blushes: "I love you so much." Monika smiles at her warmly and looks up at Trazyn, who''s standing nearby and nods: "We all do. You know that." Monika gives Trazyn a small smile and a nod before she takes out a small case to Minka: " Mom and dad have a present for you. We hope you like it."


    "Mom!" Minka looks up at Trazyn: "Thanks."


    "Anything for you Minka, my dear. " Trazyn replies softly, looking at Minka lovingly. "It''s all from both me and your mom, dear."


    Minka opens it, it is a small necklace with a heart pendant with her initials on it: "Mom and dad, this is so sweet, thank you." She can''t help but giggle a bit.


    "Minka, here is something I bought." Leanna walks to her and hands her a small box wrapped with paper: "Here..." She hands the box to Minka, who takes it. "Happy Birthday. I hope you will like it."


    "Leanna! This is so cute! I love it. " Minka unwraps it carefully. There is a pair of white lace gloves, "Wow Leanna... thanks."


    "I got it from the air base''s special supply room. It''s supposed to keep your hand always at the optimal temperature in a battlefield, it can also keep the frostbite and burn at bay." Leanna says proudly and puffs her chest, making everyone around laugh at her proud expression.


    Minka then received gifts from all the guests, and about an hour later. She went upstairs alone, while standing at the balcony she looked down at her friends and family, chatting and laughing happily, she was feeling a bit sad for some reason. Outside of that confident smile, Minka doesn''t know what she wants anymore. She closed her eyes and leaned against the window sill, a bitter smile on her lips.


    Minka slowly opened her eyes, the wind blowing her hair and dress slightly.


    "Hi... Minka." Leanna''s voice came from behind her: "Do you mind if I join you? "


    "Not at all. Please sit. " Minka smiles as Leanna sits down next to her, holding a cup of tea and sipping it carefully: "Did you enjoy your party?" Leanna asked, her voice sounding calm.


    "Of course." Minka smiles warmly at Leanna: "I am glad you could make it... I know how busy most of the time you are... Thanks for coming."


    "It''s fine, really. It''s your special day." Leanna smiled, then her tone became serious again: "So...what''s bothering you? "


    "How do you know? " Minka tilts her head slightly: "It is nothing really... I just don''t know what I want. My parents love me... they want to keep me safe and protect me at all costs... I know they love me very much... But sometimes..." She looked at Leanna sadly, her eyes filled with sadness: "I wish they could see me as a capable young woman instead of their precious little princess who needs to be kept away from everything..."


    Leanna looks down: "I hope that mother will stop making me stay away from things i really want to be a part of." Leanna smiles sadly: "I guess I can understand that..."


    "What do you mean? "


    "My mother always makes sure to keep me away from ''being soft'' as she would say. It was always like that ever since I can remember." She sighed heavily and looked at her tea: "I am handling her training well... but I want to do something else."


    "Then what do you want to be a part of? " Minka looks at her and smiles kindly: "You''re strong enough to handle Leanna... "


    Leanna looks into Minka''s eyes, she hesitates for a few seconds, before slowly replying: "A commercial pilot. So I know that everyday I am bringing someone home from one place to another. It may seem stupid, but it''s something I wanted to do."


    "That sounds so cool!" Minka exclaimed: "It must be nice to travel all around the place and see new sights everyday. I bet you''ll be an amazing pilot, Leanna, and it is not a stupid dream, not at all."


    "Thanks couz.... But mother thinks that a fighter pilot would suit me better...I really don''t want to use my skills to bring harm to people."


    Minka nods her head slowly, her eyes full of empathy and understanding, her tone gentle: "Leanna, I believe you can be the best fighter pilot and also be a commercial pilot at the same time." She smiled as Leanna looked at her: "You will never know what your destiny will be like if you never try. You can try doing both."


    "Maybe... thanks..." Leanna replies, still staring at the ground: "But...I don''t want to disappoint mother."


    Minka stares at the ground as well. "Yeah... I don''t want to disappoint my parents too..." She said slowly.


    "I understand..."


    "Do you... do you think... maybe we can disappoint them?... just once..." Minka asked hesitantly, she bit her lips.


    Leanna''s eyes widened a bit as she looked up at Minka with surprise in her eyes.


    Back to the present world, Leanna knocks on Minka''s door, what Emilia did was really unforgivable. Leanna thought to herself and frowned slightly. Minka opens the door.


    "Can I come in?" Leanna asked in a quiet voice: "I... I really need to talk to you."


    Minka can tell that something is wrong and nodded, inviting Leanna inside, the two sat on Minka''s bed as Leanna talked about her conversation with Emilia: "She did what?" Minka asks and looks at her in disbelief. "That''s so bad... I understand where she is coming from though.." She scratches her head and frowns.


    "You understand? After she sold me out to mother like this? Minka..."


    "It''s complicated. But yes... She was trying to help you, to save you from this fight... "


    "What?" Leanna stares at Minka with wide eyes: "What are you trying to say? Why would you even try to justify what she did? "


    Minka shakes her head: "She doesn''t want to hurt you, that is all, I can''t blame her for being so worried about her friends..."


    "Are you trying to say that I am a liability now? Or a coward?" Leanna says, her eyes filled with anger and sadness, tears are flowing from her eyes, "Do you want me to go too, Minka? Do you think I am not good enough? "


    "What? No! Lea, I will never think of you that way. You are way stronger and better than I am in every single way possible..."


    "So you admit it."


    Minka closes her eyes, trying to calm her breathing.


    "You can''t deny that." Leanna says in a cold tone: "Compared to any of you, I have no special enhancement or ability. I''m just normal... I''m weak and helpless."


    "That''s not true... " Minka stands up: "Leanna..." She tries to hug her friend. "Don''t say that. You are special Lea. You are strong... I... I don''t know what I can do if I lost you too." Her voice trembling: "Please... Lea..." She holds back her tears as she tries to hug her. "I really care about you Leanna."


    "Why?" Leanna pushes her away slightly, she sounds hurt, her voice cracking slightly, "I''m nothing compared to any of you, Minka... why would you care for someone as pathetic as I am...maybe mother was right all along..."


    "That''s not true! Stop talking nonsense, you''re stronger than anyone I know."


    "Enough." Leanna stood up and avoided looking Minka in the eyes, she stared at the ground as her eyes filled with tears. "I should just do as mother says... stay away from you."


    "Leanna, I''m sorry. Don''t do this... don''t leave." Minka hugs Leanna again and kisses her on her cheeks, her tears flowing from her eyes. Leanna looks away.


    "Why are you apologizing... You''re the only one that didn''t see me as a nuisance. Why can''t you just admit that I am not fit for this and I will stay out of your life.." Leanna pushes Minka away once again, before looking into Minka''s eyes for a brief moment: "I will prove that no one will protect you better than I am..." Leanna stands up and heads for the door, ignoring Minka''s pleas to stay.


    When Leanna left the hideout, she began running, the tears rolling down her eyes. Her vision is blurred by the tears and the darkness of the night. The only thing that is in front of her is her anger towards everyone and everything around her, and towards Minka, her childhood friend,her family, she thought that Minka would always be on her side...But it was just another lie, it was another false promise of the life she''s going to live in the future. She thought to herself.


    When the tears stop flowing and she begins to regain control of her senses again, she stops, maybe it was fate or something, Leanna sees a bunker not far away from her. Leanna decides to go there, it''s dark, the bunker is very cold and very empty. She sits in front of the fireplace, hugging her knees and closing her eyes, thinking back at everything that had happened today.


    Her mother, Emilia, her friends... She sighed. It feels so hopeless to fight for something like that... She thought to herself. She thinks back to her conversation with Minka, she wants to prove it to everyone... That she is more than enough to fight alongside them. But she''s not sure anymore... It all just felt like it''s not worth the effort, she thought to herself, "Maybe mom is right..." She muttered under her breath, maybe it''s time to finally let go...


    A loud clunk noise comes from the inner part of the bunker, startling her and breaking the silence that is around her. She stood up and headed in the direction where the noise came from. It seems to be coming from the basement area. There''s no light at all, it is very dark inside there and it makes her even more nervous: "If this is where fate leads me... so be it." Leanna says to herself quietly, she holds onto her knife, before stepping into the darkness. She steps forward slowly, holding her knife tight, looking for the source of the noise.


    After a few seconds of searching around in the darkness, she found herself in a hall that was shining with fainting blue light. In the middle of it, she sees a huge device. She carefully walks over to the device and touches it. A strange voice came from the device. "Welcome." A deep voice comes from the machine.


    Leanna flinched slightly as the machine speaks to her, she turns her attention to the voice. There was a blue orb in front of her. It spoke with a soft female voice: "Leanna Terra? It is a pleasure to finally meet you... I have heard so much about you."


    Leanna frowns, confused at what''s happening: "How do you know me?"


    The blue orb keeps speaking: "Your genetic signature indicates that you are the 872th generation of the Terra family, descendant of Nova Terra, daughter of Maverick Thorn."


    "So you know a lot about our family... why are you here in this bunker I just happened to stumble upon?" Leanna asks in a slightly angry voice: "Talk before I destroy you." She pulls her knife out.


    The blue orb ignores Leanna''s threat and keeps talking: "Leanna Terra, do you seek strength? The power to fight the evil that threatens your friends and family?"


    "Who are you?"


    "Strength that will not let you be stepped upon and ridiculed."


    Leanna remained silent.


    "The power that can make your dreams come true and you will be able to fight for what you truly want."


    Leanna looks at the machine suspiciously: "What are you? An Abominable intelligence? What do you want from me?" She asks, still holding her knife close to her side, ready to stab it.


    "A remnant of the past, from a time when humanity was on the verge of ascension."


    Leanna frowns.


    "Leanna, will you become a guardian? The protector of your friends and family, of this world? A defender of the weak, and protector of the innocent. You have the potential, and I will help you awaken it, make your dreams come true..." The voice from the device kept speaking to her in a soft and kind voice, and a small part of Leanna felt the voice to be familiar, something about the voice feels... comforting.


    "Why me?" Leanna asked, confused and wary of the offer. "And who are you exactly?"


    "X-12" The device replied simply. "Will you accept this offer, Leanna? Based on your record, you are the perfect candidate... Your dream is within your reach... Are you afraid to make a difference? Are you afraid to face your destiny?"


    Leanna clenched her fist and thought about what her mother, Emilia then... Minka. She thought about what they said, they all wanted to keep her safe from all dangers, they didn''t believe in her strength, her capability.


    "You will never know what your destiny will be if you never try."


    Minka''s voice rang inside Leanna''s head, and her eyes lit up in determination, "I''ll do it."


    "Good." The device opens, and a silver armor appeared, Leanna hesitates for a bit, but then she stepped forward and grabbed it. She could feel its warmth, something familiar, a strange yet powerful aura coming from it. The design of the armor is not like anything she had ever seen before, the material felt light, but at the same time, it is tough and durable, as if it''s made out of a material she could not recognize. She put the armor on, it fits her perfectly, and once it was on her body, the armor begins to shine and began adjusting itself. When she tried speaking, instead of her own voice, a deep robotic voice spoke: "Powering up... Preparing for operation." The armor glows with a silver aura. Leanna moves her arms, trying to get used to the feeling, her movements are quick and smooth. The armor feels like she was always born waring it. It fits her perfectly. It feels comfortable.


    She closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. When she put her hand on the wall, she slightly pushed on it, and the wall cracked. Her hand shattered the wall like glass, making a hole in it. She felt her strength doubled and maybe even more than that, and it only increased with every passing moment. She could feel the power flowing through her, it''s as if every cell in her body has awakened.


    "It''s time for your first flight, Leanna of the Terra family. Fly true, my dear..." X-12 spoke from the device.


    Leanna leaves the bunker, and looks at the night sky. "I will prove it to them..."


    The armor glows brighter and the helmet''s eye lights up green: "Hull integrity at 100%. All systems nominal... Activating primary systems." A few seconds later, the armor began floating above the ground. With loud thuds, a pair of engines emerged from the back, Leanna suddenly shot up in the air. She is flying! She shouted in excitement, a bright smile appeared on her face, a huge sense of freedom coursing through her, her body filled with excitement, joy and adrenaline, her eyes brightens in joy as she looks down.


    "Woah... This is amazing!" Leanna screams as she dives downwards, she dives into the forest, she begins flying faster, going faster and faster. "Faster! Faster!" She screamed excitedly as she reached the peak speed she could achieve, the wind rushing past her, the trees a blur. She has never felt more free than this moment, the freedom and joy is so intoxicating! She grins as she reaches a high altitude, and the stars shine above her, "Beautiful..." she breathed out as she stopped, looking up at the stars. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed this moment.


    She suddenly heard something like people screaming from the helmet: "Alert. Alert! Incoming enemies!" A robotic voice rang through her head, then Leanna opened her eyes to see a large number of half mechanical beasts attacking a human settlement not far away from her. Leanna immediately takes off towards the settlement. She lands in the center of the settlement. A horde of enemies charging at her, the human soldiers are fighting hard but they are still losing to these enemies.


    "How do I fight in this?" Leanna mutters.


    Suddenly, she felt something, like a feeling of danger.


    Leanna''s armor glows up and then begins shooting out a wave of fire from her hands. "Holy shit!" Leanna shouts, as the wave of fire burns everything it hits, a few enemies die immediately, and more start burning alive. It is so fast, it is so powerful! She never expected she could do something like that!


    A large beast suddenly charged behind her and tackled her down to the ground, knocking her on her back, and began clawing at her chest. Leanna gasped, the beast is very powerful, but the claw did not go through the armor. Leanna kicks the monster and her leg penetrated the monster''s stomach and pierced right through its spine, killing it instantly, then she began throwing her punches at another monster, each punch destroys a monster, her fist crushed through their bones as if it was paper, her body moved quickly, almost instinctively, every strike hits an enemy in its weak points, destroying its vital organs, even as the enemies kept coming at her, her attacks were too fast and precise, killing everything it touches. Her speed was incredible. The armor made her moves more fluid and more powerful, eventually everything moved in slow motion for Leanna.


    Not after long, there''s only her and a bunch of beast corpses left. Leanna looks down at her hands, and smiles proudly to herself: "Wow... That''s amazing..." she whispered to herself, then looked up at the sky and smiled at it, the night sky looked more beautiful than it had ever looked, like there was something in it.


    "Savior! You''ve saved us! Thank you so much!" The people shouted as they all ran towards her and began bowing to her, they all kneel to her as the leader of the settlement walked up to her: "Savior, i don''t know how to thank you, please tell us your name and be praised. You''re a real hero."


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Leanna didn''t know how to respond, but she simply replied with a simple nod. The people begin shouting praises to her: "The savior has come! Our hero! The savior!"


    "Dawn, that is my name." She says, not wanting to reveal her true identity. "Stay safe everyone." She looks around for a while and flies up to the sky. She is like a meteor shooting across the night sky. The people are left cheering, they are cheering her name and thanking her.


    "He''s the one! the one that will save us from damnation!" The people cried as they pointed to her and cheered.


    "So it begins... Dawn." She whispered to herself as she looked down on the ground, her expression solemn and full of determination as she flew higher and higher into the night sky.


    "What are you going to do? Leanna of the Terra family." The robotic voice of X-12 spoke. "What''s your first destination?"


    Leanna thought for a moment before replying: "I will kill Ravager myself... It will take some planning but it isn''t impossible. She will not know what hit her...So i will go back to my home first or mother would be suspicious of me."


    "I will assist you in all you do, Leanna of Terra family. But remember this: do not take the helmet off when you''re in front of the ones you are trying to protect. Your identity is now also Dawn." The robotic voice warns Leanna.


    "Understood." Leanna nodded and flew away into the night sky.


    Leanna landed on her balcony of the house. Her armor deactivated and somehow disappeared from thin air, all it''s left is a small silver wristband. She walks back into her bedroom, she has to think of an excuse for her sudden disappearance. She''s trying to come up with something and it''s making her head hurt a bit. She layed on her bed for a while, soon she fell asleep.


    Minka and Viola stand beside each other at the settlement which Leanna saved. Minka''s eyes widened when she heard that an armor-clad man had saved the people and then disappeared in the middle of the night: "Have you heard or seen anything like that?" Minka asks Viola.


    Viola shakes her head: "No. It must have been someone who is not from our world." She looks around, the people are talking about the event with excitement in their eyes: "A person in armor huh, that sounds dangerous if left unchecked if you ask me... I have a feeling that he''s going to do something really bad."


    "I know that, but I think that he might be able to help us with our current situation." Minka said to her with a small smile on her face: "Do you think that guy will fight against Ravager? If he is indeed a new ally... this could be the change we''ve been waiting for." Minka asks in a serious tone.


    Viola shook her head in confusion and replied with a small chuckle: "That''s if he really is an ally of ours and not an enemy." She says and shrugs her shoulders. "I will keep an eye out for him if you''re really curious. I will report if I see anything unusual."


    "Yeah, thanks, Vi." Minka sighs, her eyes looking at the ground: "I''m worried about Lea... i know that it''s for the best that she is under aunt Nova''s protection but... I can''t help but feel anxious." Minka''s voice becomes shaky.


    "Don''t worry about her, Minka." Viola looks at her with a smile, "I am sure she is fine, you don''t have to worry so much about her. You have your own things to worry about, you should focus on that first." Viola puts her hands on Minka''s shoulders and reassures her: "We need to find the traces of the Archivist, he has the body of Legend now, emperor knows what he will do with that thing."


    "You''re right, thanks Vi." Minka smiled weakly to her and nodded, her thoughts still about Leanna and the new potential ally, or the new enemy. She had a feeling that this was only the beginning. They soon arrive at the factory where Viola said it is the whereabouts of Legend''s body.


    "You stay here, i''ll scout it out, okay? Be careful, don''t move an inch from here." Viola says to Minka, before jumping into a small air vent of the factory building and disappearing from Minka''s sight. Minka gulps, she knows that not a lot of things that can harm her here, but being alone in an eerie place is not making her feel comfortable, especially when there are rumors of ghosts roaming the area at night, according to some locals, they say they have seen strange shadows lurking in the woods and the factory''s basement.


    Minka finds a small edge and sits down, her back leaning on the wall, her hand holding her knees close to her chest. "This place is very eerie, I''m afraid..." Minka muttered to herself. Minka then hears something from behind, it sounds like the sound of footsteps, and it is approaching her direction. She slowly stood up from where she sat.


    She turned around and saw nothing, there''s only the night sky. Minka then looked behind her again, there was someone in there, hiding in the shadows, it''s silhouette was not very visible, but it seemed to be a person, wearing a black coat with hood on top, a scarf was also wrapped around his or her head, hiding everything below the nose, Minka could not tell whether the figure was a male or female, and they seem to be staring at her. Minka pulls out her weapon, the halberd expands to its full length in a few seconds, it glows a blue hue, Minka steps forward cautiously, but before she could reach the person, the person just disappeared before her eyes.


    "What in the world..." Minka looked around the area, her eyes scanning everything. Her senses heighten, trying to figure out if someone is actually here.


    Then suddenly, she felt something hitting her from behind. She immediately turns, but all she sees is Viola who is patting away the dust. "I got nothing, all i see is that the Archivist was there but hes long gone now." Viola looks around, noticing Minka''s expression, she frowns, "Hey Minka? You look like you saw something, what is it?"


    "I..." Minka hesitated to reply, not knowing what just happened. She shakes her head and just sighs. "It''s nothing. It must have been my imagination. Maybe I''m too stressed about everything... We should go back and get some rest. I don''t feel like investigating here anymore." Minka sighs heavily and rubs her forehead.


    "Awww." Viola grins widely: "My my, our little Minky is scared of ghosts? Haha!" Viola laughs, trying to sound funny and tease her. Minka glares at her for a moment, but Viola doesn''t look fazed. "Come on, I''ll make you feel safe when you sleep." Viola said, in a playful manner and wrapped her arms around Minka''s waist and pulled her close: "Let me make you feel good."


    "Viola!" Minka pushes her away slightly and blushes heavily, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "This is not the time to mess around. We''ve got work to do." Minka walks away quickly and ignores Viola''s teases and giggles, "Let''s just go, alright? Stop this." She says as she keeps walking, Viola follows behind her.


    "Minka, you messed up your relationship with Leanna did you know?" Viola suddenly asks, her tone becomes serious, Minka stops and looks back at her, frowning at her, she remains silent.


    "I am trying to protect her." Minka replies: "You should know this, right? I am trying to help her to keep her safe... You have seen what Ravager is capable of... Lea can''t defend herself against that kind of threat." Minka looks down: "She needs protection... I know I made her angry but this is for the best... I really think this is for the best, she has to stay out of this mess, or else..." Minka''s voice trailed off.


    "From what I saw is that you abandoned her when she needed your support the most. She needs you." Viola said seriously, her tone is serious but kind: "Lea loves you Minky. I''m sure she knows that you want what is the best for her. She knows that." She pats Minka on her shoulder, trying to cheer her up: "But sometimes, the right course of action isn''t always what is good for you." Viola looks away and smiles sadly.


    Minka shakes her head slowly: "You are right Vi... I am not sure about it anymore. But I want her to stay with Aunt Nova, it''s the safest option... What else can I do? I don''t want her to fight in the frontlines. I want her to be safe..." Minka sits on the ground and sighs.


    "So that you don''t have to worry about her so much? Because she is safe, and she''s not going to do anything stupid that could get herself hurt? That''s the reason isn''t it? I''m right, am I?" Viola looks at Minka, her face filled with empathy, she walks over and kneels in front of her and pats her shoulder gently, "I''m sorry if i sounded a bit harsh, Minky..." Viola smiles sadly.


    Minka closes her eyes and remains silent. She feels terrible for making Leanna feel betrayed like this, and she wants to be with her but she is also worried about her safety, she is conflicted and she doesn''t know what to do. "I really want to be with Lea, but at the same time, I can''t put her in danger..." Minka stood up: "I will talk to her later... and apologize..."


    "You should be." Viola stands up and looks at Minka with a smile, her eyes looking at Minka softly: "We''re here to fight and protect the world...But what is the world without the people we love?" Viola asked in a playful tone, and gently nudged her on the arm: "Hey, how about we go to your house and get something to eat?" She says happily and nudges Minka''s arm again playfully, trying to lighten her mood. Suddenly with a swift turn, Viola held something''s wrist from behind her back: "Ah ha... So the ghost is real. Huh." Viola pulls a young woman from behind her: "Hello. I see that you were just watching us for quite a while now. What do you want?"


    Viola said as she looked at the young woman who''s currently proning on the ground. "Viola please..." Minka walks forward: "We should not act in a rude manner, we don''t know her. She might be harmless." Minka then sees that it was a woman with white hair wearing a dark hood with black pants: "But talk before we decide not to be nice."


    Viola smiles and turns to the mysterious young woman: "Are you here to cause trouble? Are you an enemy?"


    "Imperial scum...I hate you so much, you will all burn." The woman whispers in a deep voice: "I lost everything... but I will kill every single one of you. I will destroy this place and everything else." She speaks slowly in a raspy voice: "And I will destroy everything you care about... everything will be gone..." She looks at Minka with hatred in her eyes: "I hate you so much... you all ruined my life and now I''ll take away everything you care about..."


    "I''m sorry that you lost so much..." Minka speaks softly, trying to calm her down, she kneels to her eye level: "Please let us help you, i''m sorry that you had to endure all this, but this is not the way."


    The woman looks at her with hatred, and begins laughing. She suddenly claws at Minka''s face, causing Minka to lose her balance, Minka fell back to the ground as the woman quickly gets up and begins to run away, Viola runs after the mysterious woman and jumps on her back, the two rolled on the ground before Viola throws the woman off and holds her in a choke hold: "Don''t make this any more difficult than it already is, lady!" Viola says angrily to the woman, the woman struggles to get Viola off her back but Viola keeps applying more pressure on her neck and shoulders until she falls unconscious.


    "Minka, are you alright?" Viola stands up and helps her up: "I am going to take this lady back with me. She needs to be questioned." She picks her up and turns to Minka, her eyes filled with concern, "Did she hurt you? Is your face ok?" Viola looks at Minka and smiles slightly. Suddenly the body of that woman begins to bloat and her skin starts to melt, Viola gasps in horror and throws it on the ground. With a red flash, an explosion occurred, Minka immediately shields Viola but the blast wave was strong, both Minka and Viola are sent flying by the shock wave.


    After some time, Viola could feel something touching her back, she opened her eyes slowly, the explosion knocked her unconscious and she felt terrible, the area was burned and ruined. She can feel that something isn''t right in her body but she starts to look for Minka: "Minka? Where are you? Minka!" Viola screams loudly and her body is filled with panic as she looks around frantically. Then, she saw Minka lying on the ground while her clothes were still burning: "Oh no!" She shouted and ran to Minka, she took off her jacket and began fighting the fire away. When she finished, she checked on Minka, and thankfully, Minka was breathing but she was knocked out unconscious.


    When Viola checked, she noticed that Minka wasn''t even having a scratch on her body, her clothes were burned off but there were no injuries. Viola sighs with relief. Viola picks up the half-naked Minka, carrying her on her shoulders: "Thank the emperor you''re still breathing... Let''s go home and have a shower." Viola began walking, carrying her friend on the back and headed back to the town. When they were approaching, Viola stopped walking, she sensed someone was watching her. She slowly puts down Minka and readies her weapon.


    "Impressive." Sannet stepped out from the shadow and approached her, "You both survived that blast..." She said in her cold tone: "You have two broken ribs by the way, you need medical assistance. I''ll take her off your shoulder." She approached Minka''s unconscious body and carried her over her shoulder. "Come on."


    "Why are you here? And aren''t you supposed to be against us?" Viola puts her hand on the broken ribs area and winces in pain: "Leave us... If the Ravager knows you''re here..."


    "Ravager is currently having a meeting with someone important, and... Seeing you like this does bring a smile to my face. I think this will make my day a lot more entertaining. Seeing you being blown up by the explosion." Sannet grinned.


    "This is the first time i''ve seen you smirk..." Viola sighed: "This is so fucked up... And... can''t you give her your jacket or something so she isn''t exposed? You are going to let the people see her like that?" Viola said in an annoyed tone.


    "And this is what you are worried about? Seriously?" Sannet sighs in a frustrated tone, before giving her her jacket and putting it over Minka: "Happy? I am a nice person after all..." Sannet smiles sarcastically.


    "You''re just a jerk that thinks that they are the most powerful being in the universe. Arrogance, that''s what you are." Viola says as she holds on her side in pain, "Now let''s get going... We need to find someone that can help us. " Viola began to walk with a limp.


    "Hm...Anton Thorn lives nearby. He is Nova''s brother-in-law, I''ll take her to him first." Sannet looks at Viola in an annoyed and uninterested expression: "I can heal you up if you want to." Sannet suggested it to her.


    "Yeah right. " Viola glares at Sannet. She can''t trust Sannet one bit, especially her current condition: "Aren''t the timing of your appearance arousing suspicion? Why are you here? Just what the hell do you want?"


    Sannet sighs: "Look. I am just trying to be helpful, you have to admit that your current situation is pretty pathetic... you have a broken rib and Minka is injured." Sannet kept on walking, "What did you two get yourselves into this time?" She said, sounding genuinely concerned.


    Viola just rolled her eyes and ignored her, but after a moment of silence, Viola said to Sannet in a sarcastic voice: "What, no jokes? No mockery? Just... silence?"


    "Well, I did say that it would make my day better, didn''t i? And the look of your pathetic ass just ruins the fun a bit. And that is true, by the way." Sannet kept walking without turning to look at her and just smirked at her comment: "Now, just follow me... save your breath for living."


    Viola glares at her and follows her, she keeps her eyes on Sannet the entire time, ready to attack her when she sees a slight hint of hostility. When Sannet approached Anton''s home, she stopped and turned to Viola: "Look, I know we have our differences but just let me help you out, okay?" Sannet sighs in a resigned tone and knocks on the door: "If you wanna fight, we can do it later."


    Viola frowns and says nothing. A middle-aged man opens the door, he has dark green hair and dark brown eyes, he has a gentle expression and he looks like someone you could trust and confide in, his eyes widened slightly when he saw Sannet: "What happened? Come in. Let me help." Anton gestured to Viola to enter the house. They put Minka on bed and lead Viola into another room. Sannet stayed outside with Anton.


    Anton looks at her with a serious expression: "So... Why are you here Sannet?"


    "I saved those idiots. That''s it. Don''t think too much of it." Sannet rolls her eyes and looks at Minka and Viola who are resting inside: "Well, if you want me to stay out of the way... I will do that."


    Anton smiles slightly and shakes his head, his eyes are filled with kindness: "You saved Minka and her friend. Please give yourself some credits." Anton sits down in the living room with her, "And you can stay here if you like to."


    Sannet just remains silent and looks away from Anton: "Whatever..." Sannet closes her eyes, her expression is cold, as usual.


    Anton smiled and sat with her: "It''s a really nice night for stargazing don''t you think? How are things?"


    Sannet sighs in a resigned tone: "Why do you always talk about trivial things? We''ve met like three times. I know that you are the kind that likes to help people and stuff... but it just gets annoying..." Sannet says, looking away and staring at the floor.


    "Well three times is indeed not a lot, but enough to know that you do care about the people around you. Just like I know that you were following them the entire time. All of you triggered my motion sensors. But I decided to ignore it and just leave it be. Because I trust that you don''t want to cause harm." Anton smiles, still keeping his gaze at Sannet, he looks like he was expecting her to answer but Sannet just kept staring at the ground and ignoring him.


    "One word of this and I will send you back to the militarum..."Sannet slowly turns and glares at Anton in a serious tone: "Don''t think I''ll spare you just because we know each other." She said, her voice filled with hatred and anger, her eyes glow red with malice. Anton just smiles and shakes his head. He doesn''t even flinch one bit.


    Sannet sighed in a resigned tone and looked at him with a neutral expression: "I was following them because they are the closest people I know." She says in a flat tone, her face still expressionless and emotionless, as always.


    "Shocking... I thought you don''t care about them." Anton smiles at her, his expression softens even more: "But you have a soft heart after all. Despite you pretending not to be caring..." Anton said to Sannet.


    Sannet glares at him in an annoyed tone and stands up, turning to Anton: "Why are you trying to help me so much? Are you trying to manipulate me or something?" Sannet glares at him in anger. "Are you a therapist? A shrink? Because it doesn''t work." Sannet says in a mocking tone.


    "Oh well I''m trying to be friends with you." Anton shrugs: "I guess something never changes after all."


    "Friends? Or you are just trying to court me? Because it won''t work..." Sannet glares at him in an uninterested expression: "Besides, even if you try, your chances of being with me are less than zero..." Sannet looks away and stares at the floor again.


    "Get over yourself, what kind of person would be so self important and think that everyone is lusting for you all the time? The one with such ego is you." Anton smiles, trying to keep his calm tone: "But, you don''t have to feel embarrassed or anything. I''m just being friendly." Anton shakes his head and looks at Sannet with an understanding smile: "So please just let me know what''s going on..."


    "This conversation is getting boring, i''ll go check up Viola." Sannet stands up and heads to the room where Viola is. She walks into the room where Viola was resting, and looks at her, still with a cold expression, Viola just rolls her eyes at her: "What?"


    Sannet closes the door behind her, before sitting down on the bed beside Viola: "Viola. Do you believe me that I''m trying to help you?" She said to her in a serious tone.


    "Now this is a series of interesting events.... Why are you here? To mock me and Minka?" Viola said, not believing anything she''s hearing, she is still angry about Sannet''s betrayal: "If it''s the case, just go ahead and leave me alone. I don''t want to see your face..."


    Sannet sighs and shakes her head, looking away and stares at the window: "Why don''t you trust me?" Sannet asks with an annoyed expression: "We''ve been through the same things. If I did something I had my reasons."


    "If you had a reason for betraying us then just tell me why the fuck did you do it?!!" Viola shouts in frustration: "Because I just don''t see your reasoning!" Viola is looking at her with anger in her eyes and her face is full of hate, then she grunts in pain when the movement she made caused the wound to stretch even further.


    "It''s not easy to explain to someone who''s so arrogant. Maybe I can try to tell you another time." Sannet rolled her eyes and just kept her gaze at the window: "I know it''s not easy for you to forgive me... and I understand that you don''t like me."


    Viola glares at her and then closes her eyes and just remains silent, not wanting to have any further conversation with Sannet. "Can you just go and check up on Minka?" She asks in a cold tone, clearly trying to end the conversation between them.


    "Viola." Sannet stares at her: "You are really hard headed sometimes you know. I thought I could talk to you like a normal person. Guess i was wrong..." Sannet just shook her head in resignation. Viola doesn''t even glance at her and just looks out of the window.


    Sannet sighs, stands up from her bed, walks to the door, and opens it before leaving, not turning back to Viola again. Sannet then entered Minka''s room and found out that she was already awake and seemingly nervous while holding her comms device. When she looked at the device, Minka noticed her presence, and put down her device and sat up straight. "What?"


    Sannet rolls her eyes at Minka and just keeps silent. She walked into the room, closed the door, before sitting next to her: "Viola told me to check up on you." She said in an uninterested tone.


    "How''s Vi? " Minka looks at Sannet with concern and asks: "Is she alright?"


    "A few broken ribs and a bad temper... but she''s fine. Just a bit cranky." Sannet keeps her cold expression and just stares at her in an indifferent gaze, then comes the awkward silence that follows.


    "Em... Sannet. Just a question, have you had to... apologize to dad...? Like you know, say you are sorry?" Minka breaks the silence in a hesitant manner and looks away.


    Sannet keeps a neutral expression, not giving any emotion: "No. I don''t say that... you just make it up to the person." Sannet closes her eyes, and turns to Minka again with a cold look in her eyes: "Are you thinking of apologizing to someone?"


    "Lea..." Minka looks down sadly, "I need to say sorry to her..."


    "You somehow managed to mess up your relationship with Leanna? What did you do? Tell me." Sannet raises an eyebrow, she sounded like she''s a little curious and intrigued about the matter: "Tell me what happened."


    "I told her to leave the battlefield and go somewhere else. It was for the best that she left..." Minka closes her eyes and looks at Sannet. "I am a horrible person."


    Sannet rolls her eyes at her: "You really are. How dare you think that you know what''s best for someone." Sannet sighs in an annoyed expression, "So what now? Are you going to cry about it and wallow in self-pity? How will that solve anything?"


    "No." Minka replies firmly, her gaze hardens a little as she stares back at Sannet, "I will tell her how sorry I am for what I''ve done." Minka replies.


    "Leanna is an emotional kid. You can''t just approach her and do that. She needs time to cool off first. Just... stay away from her. She has to realize how bad the decision she made, on her own." Sannet replied, not sounding as cold and cruel as she was a moment ago.


    "Okay..." Minka sighs and leans back to her headboard, "I guess you''re right..." Minka stares at Sannet: "Sannet. Just how... is Dad? As a person, outside of your personal hatred for him..."


    "I don''t want to talk about that, I don''t like being reminded about him. You already know I hate him..." Sannet keeps her cold and calm expression: "He''s an asshole no matter how you look at him."


    "But I''ve been known for being kind and supportive. He makes delicious food for me and helps me with my homework, he always comes up with fun things to do for the family..." Minka''s voice is trembling with emotion as she keeps talking, her eyes start to fill up with tears as she tries to fight the emotion. "Why can''t you see the good things about him?"


    Sannet keeps her neutral expression, before answering in a cold and detached tone: "He''s not that nice and sweet person you are talking about." Sannet looks at Minka in an uninterested expression. Minka sighs and keeps quiet for a while.


    "Did something... happen between the both of you?" Minka finally breaks the silence: "Sannet, please tell me why you hate Dad so much."


    "He lied and manipulated me. Is that not a good reason? If I had known it, I wouldn''t have believed it, and I would never have had a chance to be hurt..." Sannet keeps staring at Minka coldly and keeps silent for a moment before continuing: "So what makes you think I can be friends with that man?"


    "I... am sorry." Minka says in an apologetic tone, her gaze lowered down, not being able to meet Sannet''s gaze.


    "What are you apologizing for, it wasn''t even your fault. I need him to pay for what he has done to me. He hurt me." Sannet shakes her head and sighs. "It''s not your fault... You did nothing wrong... Don''t feel sorry." Sannet then tries her best to squeeze out a smile: "And besides... now you know how to talk to Leanna." Sannet keeps staring at Minka: "How do you feel now?"


    "I... don''t know anymore, I think that I''m confused..." Minka keeps staring at her feet and tries her best to remain calm: "I really want to talk to her and apologize...but... you are also right...I need to give her space to think about the whole thing and make her decision. She might want nothing to do with me afterall... she might never talk to me again... "


    "Stop overthinking and focus on your own life. You were just being blasted by a biotic bomb. Just relax for a bit. Don''t stress over something like this." Sannet''s voice sounds serious and concerned: "Are you ok? You don''t feel any pain or discomfort anywhere in your body? "


    "I feel fine... And thank you, Sannet..." Minka smiles softly and nods: "I appreciate you... you know that...I wish that we can adventure again...just like the old days..." Minka looks at her with a small smile. Sannet nods.


    Then Sannet decided to leave the room and saw Anton waiting for her at the hall: "Well? How was it? I can sense that you both talked about a very deep matter. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can give some advice." Anton says, smiling softly and inviting her to sit on the couch.


    Sannet doesn''t move but stares at him coldly: "No thank you." She turns away from Anton and leaves the building. With a flash of green light, She''s gone.

 Chapter 29

    "The crimson daemon is here! Everyone ran to the shelter! Everyone runs now!" The captain of the guard is screaming orders to the guards and civilians: "We must hurry! Before it comes! We have to run for the shelters!"


    A cat eared girl fell on the floor due to the panic, her face full of terror, she''s shivering uncontrollably. A man grabbed the cat eared girl by the shoulders, and picked her up, carrying her away to the shelter: "We''re safe now-" With a sound that is so loud that it can break people apart, the entire shelter has been leveled to the ground, only a pile of ruins remained, and nothing is left, everyone who is there are killed.


    The captain stares in horror and is just about to run, but the next thing he knows is that his top half of the body has been detached from his body. Blood and flesh are splattering everywhere, painting the walls, and the floor, crimson. A small child is watching the scene of horror and screams but before he can have his voice out, the sudden blast wave makes him disappear in the thin air.


    Two days later, another hybrid settlement.


    "Mina!" Nortem ran towards his girlfriend while carrying a gift box in his hand. Mina turns towards Nortem, and she smiles at him, her face brightening up immediately as she looks at her boyfriend''s face: "Hey Nortem, you''re finally here! You made it! How is your day?"


    "I am having a great day." Nortem said, grinning widely: "I just got made to be the assistant baker of the bakery. This means I can now have more money and.... well you know, a future for us." He said as he held up a box, the box was decorated nicely and was covered by a beautiful cloth, with a blue bow on the top.


    Mina takes the gift box and looks at Nortem: "Is it really for me? I " She smiled shyly, as she blushed lightly, "I am not used to having people giving me gifts..."


    Nortem laughs and looks at Mina, he gently holds her hand and leads her to the table where they both sit: "Yes Mina. This gift is for you. It''s from my heart, for the future." He smiles at her and opens the gift box, inside there''s a beautiful necklace with a shining emerald, "This emerald will symbolize the love that we have for each other..." He gently grabs the necklace and puts it on Mina, she looks at the necklace with a happy smile and says to Nortem: "Thank you for this wonderful gift... I will treasure it forever..."


    "Hey Nor... I couldn''t get in touch with my parents anymore for some reason..." Mina looks at him and says: "What do you think it is?" Nortem looks at her with concern on his face and holds her hands tightly: "Maybe they are busy and have no signal on the way... maybe they are just somewhere and cannot respond to you? Maybe there''s some kind of network problem."


    Mina shakes her head slightly, looking worried, she tries to smile and looks at Nortem in a cheerful way: "I am sure that everything will be okay. Let''s have our date and have a great day today..." Nortem nods and smiles at her. He puts his arm around her shoulder and leans his head to her side, and kisses her on the lips gently. He then gently brushes her pure white hair, his hands slowly goes through her silky hair, she kisses him back gently and puts her hands around his neck. After a short period of time, she stops kissing him, and gently pulls back, but still staying close to him.


    They then had a really fun date, Nortem bought them tickets to the fairground and they both had fun together, enjoying every single moment that they could. They had their meal, went to the games and then finally went to the ferris wheel together. While they are waiting for the wheel to turn, they talk about the things that have happened recently in the town and they are laughing together happily. They both talk about what they plan to do in the future, they also talk about what kind of children that they would want to have and where they would want to go with each other. Then, after their time at the wheel, they are going home. Mina suddenly has the feeling that she needs to use the washroom, so they stopped by a restroom near a convenience store. When Nortem waits outside for her, suddenly after a sun-like bright light. There''s only a puddle of red water. There was no noise or even a vibration, but everyone that was outside of the settlements were all killed, everyone just suddenly vanished without a trace, and everyone was turned into a puddle of water, with a faint scent of blood in it.


    When Mina left the washroom, her boyfriend was nowhere to be found. She looked around for him in the place, she then decided to check up his comms but for some reason its out of reach. Then she heard people begin screaming outside and she could hear people screaming and crying. She heard people running in the streets.


    "What in the world happened?" She looks at a nearby security guard who seems to be dazed by the sight of what just happened. "Hey what is going on?!"


    The guard looked at her with a stunned face, not really looking like he understood what just happened: "The light... the light made it happen." He then points at a man who was seemingly resting under shade but his legs were outside of the shadow. The man is screaming his heart out while there''s some red water at where his legs used to be. He then screams out and passes out due to the shock.


    Mina was shaken by the sudden realization of the scene, and remembered that there was a puddle of similar water outside of the washroom. She ran to where she was previously but she saw that the scene outside of the washroom was exactly the same as the scene with the man.


    She kneels on the ground, she is crying uncontrollably as she puts her head into her arms, her body is trembling as tears begin to pour down on her face. Then she looked around and realized that she was alone. She takes out her comms, but the signal is gone. Then she heard the screams of people nearby: "It''s here! Get into the shelters! It''s the daemon!" Mina can see the people running, screaming and crying in fear of the crimson daemon. She suddenly feels an enormous pressure on her chest. She tries her best to remain calm but her heartbeat is rising, she can hear people screaming and she can hear her own heartbeat pounding. Her whole body is shaking.


    Suddenly at the other side of the settlement, she can see a sudden flashlight, and then comes the enormous earth shake that throws her in mid air. Mina is thrown in the air and then falls back onto the ground hard, but luckily she did not hit her head, just some scrapes and bruises. When Mina recovered her vision, she already saw the nearby shelter being leveled down by the enormous blast. Blood, flesh and other organic fluids are being splattered all over the place. She screamed in fear, pain and most of all... hatred. She hates that this thing has happened to her for no reason whatsoever. She hates the world so much that she could just kill it right now if she has the chance. She hides into a basement out of instinct and hides for her life.


    She hears something that sounds like planes flying pass by but it landed just with a single tap. She then hears an enormous explosion that sends shards of metals everywhere and makes a lot of smoke, and then after the sound, comes the silence. She peeks out of the basement, and sees a terrifying scene.  Everything she knew is already on fire. There was not a single scream, there is not a single trace of anyone, no survivors, nothing, no one is here... except her. But not really.


    Suddenly, she hears a voice: "Yeah, honey. I will be back soon for dinner after my work is done. Love you, bye~" Then with a sonic boom, there was a blast that destroyed a house. She covered her eyes from the shards of the windows. After waiting for hours, when she''s sure that no one is outside. She sneaks out of the basement. Her whole body is covered in dirt. Her clothes are torn to shreds and she''s all covered in scratches and cuts.


    "No... no... no. What the hell just happened here... Nortem..." She fell on the ground, and began crying, as the tears flowed down her face uncontrollably. After a short period of time, she picked herself up and began walking, in an attempt to find any survivors or other settlements nearby, however the nearest one that she can find is over 50km away. She kept on walking through the forest and tried her best to avoid being caught in the night. The trees, the leaves, and the birds, the entire scenery seems normal to her, she wonders how everything could be so normal when the world that she lived in is destroyed and gone forever. She feels so empty, her heart feels so heavy and her tears keep pouring out.


    After the emperor knows how long, she sees light and hears the sound of engines running and the sounds of people talking. When she saw people again, she cried tears of joy. The people came over and helped her, gave her clothes to wear and cleaned up her wounds, they told her that she is at one of the containment camps. Which is similar to the one she used to live in. They let her in and told her to get some rest, then, after a few hours. A soldier looking person comes into the room she''s in, she immediately sits up and looks at the soldier.


    "From what I heard you were the sole survivor of your settlement... my sincerest apologies and condolences, but the commander wants to see you for your statement and records. This is just a protocol we have to follow, don''t be nervous..." he looks at Mina: "Please tell me anything about the crimson daemon... Anything."


    "I...I didn''t see her."


    "Her?"


    "Yes I heard her voice but I did not see her at all. The voice was female..." Mina looks down with a sad expression on her face as the memory of that voice still haunts her: "She said something about going home for her partner or something... she sounded like any other woman you hear on the street..."


    "Did she mention where her home was? Was she a hybrid or not?"


    "She didn''t mention it... And I think that she is a human..."


    "Anything else about her voice that stood out to you? The intonation? The accent? The pronunciations of her words?"


    Mina shook her head and looked up at the officer: "It''s like any other woman''s voice, the intonation was not very strange... and she was speaking in the standard dialect... There''s not a single thing that I can recall..."


    "I understand." He nodded, "Best of luck to you then, Mina." Then, the soldier stood up and walked away from Mina. When he was gone, she lay back on the bed and tried her best to rest her mind and body, as much as possible, to cope with what happened. Every day she prayed that the daemon wouldn''t come to her home. But it did.


    Two years ago, out of the blue, the biggest hybrid settlement was eradicated within the span of an hour. There were no survivors or even a hint of how it happened. Everything thought it was some natural disaster but that was far from the truth, because the very next month, it happened again. Another settlement was leveled to the ground with no traces of it happening, and even some witnesses claimed that it was done by some mysterious creature, but... a name formed from people''s mouth, crimson daemon. It was a name that belonged to a similar entity that appeared a long time ago. It destroyed many but suddenly disappeared. Now it came back. No one knows the cause of the daemon, nor who it is.


    Somewhere out of reach by common people, "So... Honey. Where is Minka?" Monika asks Trazyn as she is munching on cookies while watching her husband who is reading books on the couch: "Why did you suddenly decide to send her to school?"


    Trazyn looks up from the book and looks at her, a look of curiosity can be seen on his face as he stares at his wife, a smile spreads across his face and he shakes his head gently: "It is Minka''s choice, she want to get further in life... so that is why she''s going to the Schola Progenium..."


    "Really? Minka is doing all of that? And for what reason?" Monika tilts her head as she looks at him, a small grin on her face: "Did she just want to do it out of curiosity or did something make her do that? What made her decide to go?"


    "Maybe your daughter wants to get further in life? Is that so hard to believe?" Trazyn shakes his head, an amused smile on his face: "Why? What''s the problem? She has the talent... and I''d say she''d have no problem during physical training. If you have no problem with it then let her do as she wishes..." Trazyn said: "Is that really that strange of her? Besides, she''s old enough to know what to do in her life."


    "Hmmmm...." Monika narrowed her eyes: "You''re hiding something from me Trazyn. You seem to know more than what you told me."


    "Hon, I would never lie to you." He smiles innocently, trying to reassure her, "Minka wants to get further in her life and I thought she should. So I supported her choice and helped her." Trazyn keeps reading his book as he continues to speak: "What''s the big deal with it? Just let her do it, you can check on her whenever you want too. No big deal..."


    "Maybe after I am done with this whole Ravager ordeal... she''s been making me do things i do not like... I am just so sick of it... unclean or not, they are still people." Monika shakes her head.


    "Have you tried talking to Minka about this? Surely it isn''t her intention to kill all those people. She is still your daughter... I don''t think she''s even aware of the fact that she killed a whole city''s worth of people... You have to tell her... she might even understand." Trazyn says with a tone that indicates he is still a bit unsure about it: "It''s not right for her to be ignorant of her actions... you have to let her know..."


    "I think she knows... and she is planning something... I will support her act of saving the world... but there''s gotta be a limit on what you can do to secure peace. We are all human beings, the whole point of our existence is to protect ourselves from danger. What Minka is doing... is going against our nature and she is hurting a lot of people, even innocents..." Monika sighs.


    "Then let''s hope it will go smoothly, with no problem..." Trazyn said while looking at his wife: "But in the end, Minka has to decide her own destiny. Just like our own daughter did... It''s not our responsibility to dictate her life... and to decide what path she is going to take... " He puts the book down.


    Monika narrowed her eyes as she looked at Trazyn. Her expression is one that clearly expresses anger and confusion. She clenches her fists, and her jaws are locked. She closes her eyes and turns: "You''re right. It''s not our place to tell her how to live. That''s up to her." She then left the room. In a place where no one can see her. Monika wrote down something in the notebook and put it into the shared pocket space between hers and Minka''s: "Minky... please protect yourself... " She mutters and walks back into the room as if nothing had happened.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Five thousand years ago...


    "Sannet, what do you think of humans?" Trazyn suddenly asks her as she is repairing a malfunctioned automaton. He tipped his staff on the ground to gain her attention.


    "Sire, I''m not in the mood for games, I''m fixing your toy, or whatever that thing is..." Sannet keeps repairing the robot: "It''s really weird that you want this to be fixed. But... What kind of questions are those? Of course I think humans are stupid. Why do you ask?" Sannet says to him while repairing.


    "Interesting, interesting." He says with a chuckle, he turns around and starts walking away from Sannet: "You know? In the span of merely a few thousands years, they have conquered the stars... I think humans are actually interesting. It''s a shame that they only live such a short lifespan... " Trazyn turns his head a bit to see Sannet who is still focused on the work.


    Sannet sent out an annoyed glyph towards him but continued her work: "Sire, don''t you need to continue your work on the collection that you recently acquired? What about your studies? Are you not busy with anything else right now? Shouldn''t you just leave me to fix your toys?"


    "Don''t you want to know more about them?" He asked, his voice filled with amusement: "I know I do, they have so much more to offer..."


    "What? More things for your collections? Don''t tell me you are interested in the art of human love and procreation? Oh, and the disgusting organic parts..."


    Trazyn shakes his head gently. "Well... to me, humans are actually pretty fascinating."


    "Keep it to yourself, sire. I have no interest in those stupid creatures..."


    Sannet''s mind came back to the present world. She looks at Minka who is currently sleeping peacefully on the bed: "Maybe he was right all along." She looks down as she whispers to herself, she is sitting on a chair next to the bed where Minka is.


    Minka opened her eyes because she felt someone was next to her, when she did, she saw Sannet''s piercing blue eyes staring into her soul. Her expression is cold as ice. She did not move away. "You...you are here to check on me?"


    "I thought that I''d take some time out of my day to make sure that you''re still alive..." She says in an icy cold tone, but Minka can see the slight change in her facial expression as she says that, her gaze becomes slightly softer.


    "It''s good to have you back... Sannet. Really I do. I missed you."


    Sannet looks at Minka with an unamused expression on her face: "I will have to check if you have any brain damage or not... but I don''t see any evidence of that..." Sannet says and sighs while closing her eyes. She shakes her head lightly.


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Minka raises an eyebrow at her, confused and slightly irritated: "What is your problem with me?"


    Sannet keeps her cold expression and keeps her silence as she is looking at Minka. She shakes her head in exasperation.


    Minka glares at her in annoyance but remains silent as well. Finally Sannet broke the silence: "I am sorry Minka." Sannet''s voice is very gentle. "I was so harsh on you before. I know I''m not the kindest person to be with... but I didn''t know you cared about me... you know..."


    Minka keeps staring at Sannet with her eyes wide open: "Sannet... you are...you''re kidding... right? You are my friend... "


    "This is really uncomfortable..." Sannet is about to stand up and leave but Minka grabs her hand. Minka keeps looking into Sannet''s eyes as she asks her in a concerned voice: "Are you alright Sannet?"


    "I''m not..." Sannet said in a defeated tone: "I am really not... I don''t know what I want anymore... Am I really just a tool to be used by people? First is your father, and now it''s the ravager... What does it make me? " She asked in a sad voice, her eyes were watery, but she kept herself together. She stares at Minka as she is waiting for her response.


    Minka leaps up and hugs Sannet in a tight hug, she''s holding her tightly as she feels Sannet is about to break apart: "Sannet you are not a tool to be used! I care about you... I really do!"


    Sannet wraps her arms around Minka as she hugs her back: "I care about you too Minka..." she said softly in a sad tone, Minka could feel tears dropping down on her clothes but she doesn''t mind at all.


    Suddenly, Minka woke up. She looked around the room and saw no one but herself: "It was all just a dream?... That was really a vivid dream." She touches her face and wipes off the tears, her cheeks were wet and her eyes were sore. "What kind of dream was that... That''s just crazy..."


    Sannet is outside leaning on the wall, she wipes away the tears, her expression was calm as always, but in her eyes, there''s a small sign of sadness, a sign that most people cannot see, she then enters the room pretending nothing had happened: "Minka, get up." She said in her usual cold tone, Minka is a bit startled as she sees her in the room but she gets up and looks at Sannet. Sannet sighs: "Minka, it''s been a few days and you haven''t even got out of your room yet... get some fresh air."


    "I mean..." Minka looks away: "I want you to train me..." She said in a nervous voice.


    Sannet blinks a few times and nods: "Very well."


    "Really? When can we start?"


    "Now."


    "Wha-" Minka suddenly felt her shoulders getting grabbed by Sannet and the next thing she knows is that she is falling from the building, Minka lets out a loud scream. With a thud, Minka fell from the second floor. She was still conscious but her body felt sore.


    Sannet walks over and stares at her: "Your training starts now." She said coldly and grabbed Minka''s hand and lifted her up, She then did a back kick to Minka''s stomach and sent her flying backward. "Use the technique I have taught you and stand up."


    "Wait!" Minka coughs, holding her stomach, she slowly gets up from the ground, her clothes are a bit torn, she looks up and sees Sannet was still standing, looking at her coldly: "Wait Sannet... let me... recuperate myself... first." She says as she coughs and spits out some sand from her mouth.


    Sannet suddenly appeared from behind Minka and kicked her off with great speed and power. Minka let out a painful groan and began crawling up: "Sannet... you are asking for this." Minka mutters, her whole body hurts so much and her back is so sore.


    Sannet raised her eyebrows: "Really?" She then suddenly disappeared. Then appeared in front of her, gave her a solid punch, and sent Minka flying, Minka felt like her skull was smashed in half, and she was seeing stars. Minka struggled to stand up, this time, she managed to put on her fighting stance.


    Sannet smiled in an evil grin and disappeared once more. But this time she came out from below and did an upward punch to Minka''s gut, but Minka dodged her attack by moving to the left and then punched her right in the face. Instead of connecting to Sannet''s face, Sannet managed to catch Minka''s fist and with an unexpected force, she pushed back, sending Minka flying backwards.


    Minka managed to recover and land on her feet, her body still feels sore but she managed to maintain her stance. Minka charges at Sannet with a roar but she quickly dodges to the side and does a sweep kick, Sannet then suddenly jumps and gives her a roundhouse kick but Minka manages to catch Sannet''s leg with her hands: "Ha! Not this time."


    Sannet smirks and suddenly wraps her leg around Minka''s upper body and slams her face first on the ground, with a loud bang, Minka is down on the ground.


    Minka coughs and groans in pain, she rolls around in agony: "Sannet you bitch... stop doing that to me! You know it hurts like hell! Sannet! Wait!" Sannet suddenly appeared on her right side and sent Minka flying off with a side kick, sending Minka flying away to the wall. "Ughhhhhh! Sannet!"


    Viola sips her water while standing alongside Anton. Both of them are watching this with great amusement: "I never knew Minka would swear like that... that''s the first time i heard her said those words."


    "Tends to happen when she gets her ass beaten by her friend." Anton shakes his head as he watches Sannet send Minka flying off. "Poor child."


    Viola snickers and keeps watching the spectacle with great amusement.


    "You talk way too much while fighting." Sannet looks down on Minka: "Get up, Minka, if you don''t get up, I will keep hurting you."


    "You... bitch... " Minka glares at her, her eyes filled with hatred: "I... I''m gonna get you for this." Minka mutters with great pain, her body hurts so much.


    "Heh." Sannet said coldly, as she watches Minka with cold eyes, and she gives her a kick right at her chest, Minka lets out a loud scream as she''s flying backward.


    "If that was me... i''d be dead a while ago..." Anton said while sipping his tea. He shook his head and turned away: "You know? Viola... you really need to teach her how to fight..."


    "Not this time... Minka needs an opponent that would actually threaten her life, it will teach her a thing or two." Viola shakes her head.


    "Sannet please!" Minka tries her best to get up but her whole body is in pain: "Please! I need some time to recover!"


    Sannet grabs her and puts her back to her feet and then punches her in the chest with all her strength. Minka kneels in pain: "You talk too much." Sannet looks at Minka with her unchanging emotionless face.


    Suddenly, one of Minka''s eyes began looming with golden light: "That is it. You are making me do it." A power fist manifested on Minka''s hand. With an enraged expression, Minka throws a punch at Sannet, with a extremely twisted move, Sannet just pushed Minka''s fist a bit to the right of where she is and Minka''s hand is sunk in the wall, with a loud crash, Minka''s whole arm is stuck in the wall, with the wall breaking down on the impact.


    Minka turns to Sannet, and the next thing she knew, Sannet appeared right next to her. She then gives Minka a solid punch to the gut, knocking out the wind from her lungs, Minka''s foot was off the ground for half of a meter, her face turns pale. Her body fell to the ground, and she is down on her knees.


    "What happened to your anger and that fighting spirit that you had before? That was just disappointing Minka."


    Minka tries to stand back up but she''s out of strength: "What did I do wrong? I fought back right? But... " She spits out blood.


    "No, you didn''t fight back." Sannet says in a calm voice as she approaches her: "You just punched the wall instead of me..." Sannet kneels down in front of her: "Listen here Minka, I can tell that you are holding your strength. If you ever want to fight against the Ravager, you need to not hold back."


    Minka looked at Sannet''s blue eyes, there was no sign of mercy on her face. She was very disappointed with Minka''s performance.


    With the blink of an eye, Minka suddenly pushes Sannet, sending her flying for a good ten meters. She was so caught up on Minka that she did not even sense her charging at her: "Don''t look down on me Sannet! I''m going to show you how strong I am!"


    "Good." Sannet smiles slightly and nods, then charges towards her. Sannet gives her a powerful roundhouse kick with her foot, Minka moves her head to dodge the attack, she then takes a step forward and delivers a solid punch right in her gut, Sannet groans in pain but she kicks Minka in the face. Minka is on the ground again. But Sannet this time felt the pain. She put one hand on the spot that Minka punched, Sannet can feel that it would swell for the night.


    With each attack, Sannet can tell that Minka is getting faster and punches with more strength. It is as expected from the daughter of Monika Terra.


    Minka is in full fighting mode and she charges at Sannet again but Sannet disappears from Minka''s view, when Minka looks in the direction of Sannet. She can only see a fist coming to her before she feels her back hitting the ground again. Minka felt dizzy, Sannet kneels in front of Minka with her fists still clenched tight, Minka is on the ground. She just lies on the ground motionless as if she''s a dead fish.


    "You did well, Minka." She nods slightly: "That is enough training for now... you really got better than before." She stands up and walks over to the table that has food and drinks on it. Viola and Anton both walk over and join them.


    "Sannet...." Minka''s voice was very weak: "Fuck you..." Minka coughs as she lies on the ground with great pain.


    Sannet turned around to see her with an amused smile on her face. She walks over to the food table and grabs herself some drinks.


    Viola came over with some ice water: "Minky, you did really well~" Viola smiled sweetly: "I am so proud of you!"


    "Mmmmm!" Minka lets out a weak moan as Viola is pouring some ice water down her throat. Viola smiles brightly: "See? All you need to do is just to drink some water and relax your body..." She looks at Anton who is eating the cake: "Hey! Anton, stop eating our cake! It''s for Minky!"


    Anton is eating a piece of cake in his mouth as he looks at Minka. "So?" He says: "I will just make her some more when we are done... so just relax..." Anton is a bit annoyed with her nagging, but he still speaks with a kind tone, because he understands that Viola is just trying to help her friend.


    "Now, let me help you." Viola tries to get Minka up but she realizes that Minka is really heavy. "Wait Anton, help me!" She yells as she can barely move her.


    "It''s fine VI.... I will just need a few more minutes..." Minka can see the way Viola looks at her: "Wait a minute, are you thinking that I am fat?" She glares at her: "I''m just big boned! Really! Can''t you see I can tank all of those hits?!"


    "Sure thing honey." She smiles innocently, as if she is telling her something really cute, she then lets Minka stand on her own two feet, as she''s drinking a glass of water: "So, how is your training, Minky?" Viola smiles innocently and sips her water as she waits for an answer.


    "Mmmmm!" She groans with annoyance, she just took a large sip of ice water: "Viola! You saw me getting beaten up! How was that training?! Are you telling me that it is fun? Viola, what you think is fun and what i think is fun, are two different things... " She mutters angrily.


    "Wasn''t trying to say it''s fun, but i mean... It was really a spectacle." She laughs, Anton comes over with a towel and gives it to her.


    Minka turns to see Sannet, who is also drinking tea on a chair: "So how did I do?" Minka asks.


    "Hm?" Sannet looks at Minka with a lazy expression: "Oh, I see you have gotten stronger... and more resilient than before... Good." She says in an uninterested voice as she sips her tea.


    "Well, yeah... I am actually getting a bit better right?" She looks at Sannet with an hopeful look in her eyes.


    "Oh, not really." Sannet says coldly: "Physically you are stronger but skillswise, far from it." She looks at Minka, as if she''s mocking her, which she probably is, Minka glared at Sannet and felt really annoyed by her, she has to stop herself from throwing a punch at Sannet''s face. "You should train your technique a lot more. You need more finesse to use that technique. If you can''t control that power well enough, you''ll end up killing yourself... and others around you. Do you want to kill us, Minka?" She points her finger at the wall Minka punched in.


    Minka looks at the wall that Sannet points to: "I... I was not aiming for the wall! I was aiming for you!"


    Sannet laughed: "No you weren''t, if you did, I''d be dead. I could feel that you are acting like you are trying hard...Something is holding you back. Tell me Minka, why did you not try hard back there?" Sannet''s words were cold, she was looking at Minka with an expression that could not be called kind. Minka knew she was trying to provoke her. But Minka didn''t respond to it.


    "Sannet..." Anton says in a warning tone. He looks at her: "Just give Minky some rest okay? You two already fought hard today. She doesn''t need to hear any more from you... Minky, get some rest okay?" Anton then walks off to the kitchen to get Minka some food.


    Viola and Sannet looked at each other. Despite the history of these two, they both nodded to each other: "Minka, you are literally one of the strongest people I know and you are the kindest person I know as well. So please stop acting like you can''t fight well." Viola says with a small smile.


    Minka looked at her friend Viola, who is always there for her: "Thanks VI..." Minka suddenly felt a bit better: "I... I was just afraid that I might hurt Sannet if I fought too hard... But I''m not going to let it happen again!" She clenched her fists in determination: "I will do it!"


    Viola looked at Sannet who also seemed to be quite interested in the current situation: "Well then... How about we rest for a day or two then you two can train properly? Okay Minky?" Viola smiles sweetly.

 Side chapter: The three Terras

    "Tch..." Monika frowns when she sees the incoming visiting appointment from her sister. She shook her head, then sighed loudly. "So much for getting my rest." She then clicked a button on the console next to her. The gate opens and soon she hears some well sounded footsteps walking in. She stood up from her seat and walked up to her, she squeezed out a warm look on her face as she greets her sister, Nova.


    "Sis... it''s nice to see you." Monika greets Nova. She could feel her sister''s cold aura around her as they both meet eyes, but she knows she has no choice but to talk to her sister. Monika smiled brightly: "What''s with this sudden visit? Is it to talk about me abandoning my duties?" She says, but with no malice in her words, she just has to ask.


    "Monika. I received reports that the hybrid settlements had been destroyed in a mysterious fashion." Nova''s tone was cold, but she didn''t sound hostile.


    "Mysterious?" She raised her eyebrows. "So... what do you want to do then? Send in your troops and search for clues?"


    "Of course." Her gaze is as cold as always. She stares into her eyes.


    "Well, do what you have to do... Just make sure that my people are not involved in the investigation." Monika said firmly. She looks at Nova: "They have been through enough... I won''t let any harm befall on my people."


    "I don''t care about them Monika, I know it was you!" Nova hissed through her teeth: "You are the only one that can do that to people Monika." She was glaring at her.


    "Really? I wonder why I''m not aware of that?... Hmm... Nova." Monika shakes her head and lets out a sigh.


    "Did Ravager tell you to do all that? Huh?! Are you just blindly obeying her?"


    Monika frowns and her eyes narrowed into slits as she looks at Nova. "Of course not, you have no proof. And she asked me to leave my people out of this... But you didn''t care about that... Right? You want to go into my home, and ruin my life like always. Isn''t that what you''re doing here? Is it so I won''t do as you please? To destroy everything that I care for?" Monika clenches her teeth, her voice is shaking slightly.


    "You were always a bad liar Monika." Nova shook her head slightly, with a stern tone, she spoke.


    "Oh? So you want to play games with me now? Why don''t we fight then?" Monika smirked and laughed slightly: "Surely you can win right?" She looks at Nova with a challenging stare: "You''re not the strongest in this family." She said as she stared at Nova, and she could see that she was fuming with anger, and that only made Monika smirk.


    Nova narrows her eyes and walks forward: "Is that so?" Her hand moves towards the pistol that''s on her waist: "You want a fight, I''ll give you a fight."


    Monika''s eyes began glowing red. She is already in fighting mode: "Then show me." Her tone is filled with malice and her aura was powerful enough to shake the ground slightly.


    The tension in the air was thick enough to cut through it with a knife. It was like there was an invisible energy that was emitting from both of them, it was powerful enough to scare anyone. But to Monika and Nova it was nothing new for them. They''ve fought so many times in the past and now is just another time for them to fight out a solution.


    The air was still and tense, the two sisters are just staring at each other, they don''t even seem to breathe. Their eyes are locked and their gaze is filled with hostility, it was clear they were ready to kill each other: "Alright alright." A man''s voice and a few clasp of hands suddenly sounded behind them, breaking the tension in the room. Monika and Nova turn to look at him. The man looks like he is in his 50''s and he''s wearing a fancy uniform: "Now... Let''s ease up a bit alright?"


    "Leonard, this is none of your concern." Nova glanced at her brother before turning her attention to her sister: "I am going to be serious, you should be too, sister."


    "That''s funny coming from someone like you, Nova." Monika looked at her with an unamused face and with her arms crossed in front of her, she said: "And you? What are you doing here?" Monika frowns and looks towards her brother.


    Leonard chuckled. "Well, I can''t leave the two of you alone... right?" Leonard said, with a slight grin. He had a carefree attitude towards them. It was something that Monika can''t really understand: "And it seems like you two were going to fight. Well, you should let the big brother settle this then?" Leonard smiled: "What do you think Nova?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Leonard... Monika, listen..." Nova turns to both of them: "You need to stop Ravager, she''s destroying human lives for her own twisted reason. The Minka you know is long dead, whatever that thing is walking around, that can''t be her. You need to understand that you''re playing a dangerous game here, Monika." She says.


    "How is what we are doing any different from what the inquisition did?" Monika looks at her: "You people murdered millions! Millions! You burned and killed just to satisfy your goals... And you say I am playing a game?!" Monika yelled at her. She then let out a heavy sigh.


    "You... are so naive." Nova let out a long sigh: "You weren''t there when the ''hybrid'' first emerged. They weren''t the people you see today. They weren''t different, they were the same as the pure humans back then. It was some corruption that would spread rapidly and turn people into monsters. Those you see today are just the descendants of the people that had grown immunity to corruption. You are killing innocent people!" Nova clenched her fists as she looked at her sister:" You know what you are doing it''s wrong but you don''t want to admit it!" She yelled at her, and this time she was actually angry.


    "You don''t even know what you are saying! You know nothing about hybrids!" Monika shouted back, she clenched her teeth and her hands formed into a fist. She looked like she was about to strike at any second, but Leonard''s words stopped them: "Nova, why don''t you hear what Monika has to say? Red will explain, right?" He then turned to Monika.


    "There''s no corruption!" Monika glares at her sister: "It''s a lie that the Inquisition fed you to gain your trust and they did a really good job on that right?! It was an archivist''s experiment when he came, he used the hybrid''s genetic code as backup plan, when he perished, the code would activate and any number of the hybrid race people would begin worshiping the archivist and try to revive him." Monika hissed, her eyes filled with anger:" Ha! You didn''t know that, did you?" She shakes her head and chuckles: "That is what archivist wants to do all along! And he would have succeeded if I hadn''t interfered."


    "Oh really?" Nova throws a stack of photos on the table which then slides in front of Monika: "What you did was really impressive right? Even your own daughter had been possessed by him!" Nova shouts with fury: "And what did you do Monika?! Nothing! Absolutely nothing! You were too focused on your ''plan''! You can''t even protect your own family!" It was a photo of Minka destroying a heavily fortified lab. It was the place that was built to contain all of the archivist''s creations from the war decades ago, when they got there everything was empty.


    Monika stares at the photo and her hands are shaking slightly. Her eyes are locked onto the photo of her own daughter, She shook her head slightly. Her face is pale. She took a deep breath: "I... I need time..." She then suddenly rushed out of the room with tears falling down from her face.


    "You did the right thing, Nova. Now follow her." Leonard looked at the door, and said: "The next part of this story needs her participation to work properly." He looked at Nova: "Don''t worry. You don''t have to say anything. Just keep her company. You''ve already said all the things you need to say." He smiled.


    Nova let out a sigh and followed Monika out. Monika ran down the hall with her tears still running down from her face: "I need... to clear my head..." She says softly to herself, she keeps running until she finds a private room. She goes into the room and shuts the door behind her, she locks the door. Then she went to the balcony. Then a soft landing was heard: "Sister." She turns to see Nova standing there with an unamused expression, yet she''s not glaring anymore.


    Monika looked at her, then looked at the ground, she let out a soft sigh: "Nova... I need to think for a bit... I know I messed up..." She shakes her head slightly, tears still rolling down from her face: "Nova... what would you do? You have always been good at making decisions, right?... what would you do in this situation..."


    "It''s not a simple question. And it''s not something you should ask of me either." Nova looks at her, but this time it''s different: "You''re Monika, not me, it''s up to you to make this decision. I know you saw Minka as your own daughter but... The things she asks you to do? It''s too much. Even if it is to stop the Archivist''s evil schemes... she is killing innocents. We all know that''s wrong." She shook her head slightly.


    "I know I''m being a fool, I''m the one that ruined everything." She lets out a soft sigh and shakes her head.


    Nova suddenly put a hand on Monika''s shoulder. She smiled and looked into Monika''s eyes. "I won''t deny that I''ve made a few mistakes myself, I''m just human as well after all. But there''s still time for us to stop her and the Archivist. You and I can do this, I''ll be here for you Monika." Nova smiles at Monika with a small smile and gently touches her hand, trying to comfort her.


    Monika stares into Nova''s eyes. She then buries her head on Nova''s chest and sobs, Monika hugs her sister tightly, her arms around Nova''s waist: "Thanks..." She said softly, but there was a slight smile on her lips: "It means a lot to me Nova..." Minka then looks up with her reddened eyes: "I... I am so sorry for everything Nova."


    "It''s fine..." Nova''s voice sounded sincere but her face still has that stern expression on her: "Let''s stop her once and for all." Nova nodded to Monika with a smile.


    "Nova... thanks..." Monika nods to her sister: "I have a plan but it requires us to talk to Trazyn and some of my friends from the adventurers guild. Let''s go."

 Chapter 30

    Somewhere not too far away, Minka and Sannet are still sparring, Minka is starting to get more used to Sannet''s movement. But soon a sudden leg sweep from Sannet sends her on her back once again, Sannet stands in front of her and smirks: "Getting a bit better now." She then looks at Minka: "So, do you want to spar with someone else?" She said as she wiped the sweat off of her face.


    Minka rubs her back: "Ouch..." She lets out a groan in pain, then slowly gets up from the ground and stretches: "Why are you asking? Are you bored already?"


    "Hm? I guess you could say that..." Sannet shakes her head slightly and says: "Well, let''s take a break and see if your friend Viola can fight."


    ''Viola is also your friend."


    "Nope" Sannet smirks: "I just need a person that I can spar against."


    "How mean! That''s just so mean!" Minka lets out a sigh and shakes her head: "You need some friends, you know that?"


    "Nope, I don''t." Sannet shook her head, as she said: "I am perfectly content with being alone. Besides, I''m not really that interested in getting a friendship, or even a relationship. All that is just a hassle in the first place. You really think that people will actually stay together after all the bad things that have happened?"


    Minka looked at her, she could tell that there was a deep pain hidden underneath the calm face Sannet showed everyone, she had no idea why she is still in that situation, and it seems that it hurts her too.


    "I''d love to get my hand dirty." Viola came after wearing her gears:" But I am not fighting Minka." Viola smirks: "I want to fight you." She points at Sannet.


    "Really?" Sannet looks at Viola and laughs. Sannet raised her eyebrow. She seemed to be really amused with her. She smirked at Viola and said: "Are you sure about this? I can break every bone in your body while naming them in alphabetical order." Sannet said, as she smirked at her.


    Viola smirks back at her. She was confident: "We will see, besides... it''s not like your hands are gonna land on me." Viola is already in a fighting pose and smiles confidently at Sannet.


    Sannet smiles and raises her hands: "Let''s go then." Sannet starts to attack Viola first. She started to punch Viola, from a spectating perspective, it is like Sannet as if teleported in front of Viola.


    However due to some unexplainable reasons, the punch missed and actually went over Viola''s shoulder. Then Viola grabbed Sannet''s arm and threw her backward. She then quickly kicked Sannet''s gut while she was falling down and Sannet got knocked away from the blow, Viola smiles, it seemed like Sannet got knocked back a good five meters.


    Sannet got up quickly, a look of surprise appeared on her face. "Hm." She thought, but soon her expression changed from surprise to a slight smile. She looked at Viola and said: "Nice job." Sannet was quite impressed. She got up from the ground. Her face showed a slight look of admiration.


    "You got this Viola! Beat her up!" Minka clenches her fist and cheers her friend up: "Don''t let her catch you okay?!"


    "Don''t worry, she won''t catch me." Viola smiled, it seems she''s very confident of herself, and the look on Sannet''s face is getting more intense by the second. Viola looked at Sannet with a slight smile and said: "Are we going to play like this? Or do you want to fight for real?" Viola looked at her and smirked slightly. After one simple blink of an eye, Sannet teleports behind Viola and attempts to choke her. But Viola dodged it and stuck a few tokens on Sannet, after two seconds later, they began igniting and pushed Sannet away for about a few dozen meters. Sannet stood back up: "What did you stick on me?" Sannet says in a calm tone, as if she''s not mad. But everyone could feel the temperature dropping rapidly.


    "Nothing, just something I use when fighting people like you." Viola smirks as she keeps her eyes on her: "Well... What''s wrong Sannet? Getting tired of running around already? What''s with the look?"


    "I''ll just rip your arms off and use them as my new toy." Sannet smirks. It seems Sannet was really serious. Her face was still calm. She walked towards Viola, the ground beneath her cracked.


    Minka gulps, afraid that this might be the time that both of them will go all out against each other. It has been awhile that she has seen Sannet this mad, it has been awhile that Viola was this excited: "What are you two doing?!" She yells at both of them: "This isn''t training anymore! Please stop!" She screams.


    A frostbitten blade appeared on Sannet''s hand, the temperature was getting below zero, she charged at Viola with a murderous smile, and she then raised her hand that had the frostbitten blade on it. Viola grins and her bracelet began transforming itself into a long strange shaped gun. Viola dodged the attack with a simple move, the next thing she did was to pull the trigger of her weapon. After a shock wave that made Minka grab onto the table next to her, she opened her eyes and saw that Sannet and Viola were both kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°Who won?" Minka asks nervously. She is curious to know.


    "It''s a draw..." Both of them say it at the same time, and the two of them glare at each other, but soon Sannet smirks and Viola smiles: "Not bad..." Viola got up and so did Sannet: "Maybe I should go for the head next time. That would be much more interesting." Viola smirked as she looked at Sannet.


    Sannet''s smile fades: "I will make sure you won''t have hands to do so."


    "Haha! That''s good!" Viola laughs loudly and Sannet looks at her with confusion. She had never seen her laugh this loudly. Viola wiped away some tears that were forming in her eyes. Then, she smiled at her. It seems Viola and Sannet just had an unspoken agreement between the two of them.


    Minka looks at both of them in confusion: "Um... I am confused... Do you two like each other now?" Minka asks.


    Both Viola and Sannet turned their heads and looked at Minka. The two of them said it at the same time: "Hell no!" They then looked at each other again: "She''s just a nuisance." Viola says. "I agree, she is a nuisance." Sannet says. They then turn away from each other. Viola starts to eat the food and Sannet sits on a chair, as if nothing has happened between the two of them.


    "These two are strange.... but... It is kinda cute..." Minka says she''s still very confused with them but she doesn''t mind, she is just happy that these two are finally getting along now. She then got herself some food.


    For some reason while sitting, Sannet''s hands can''t stop shaking and Viola isn''t as talkative as usual. They are both very uncomfortable, Minka took note of this: "Are you two okay? Did you guys really hit each other hard? Or is there something else? Maybe I can help!" Minka was a little worried, it''s the first time that they both looked like this.


    "It''s ok Minky, we are fine." Viola said while in a comforting tone. She gave Minka a smile, she''s clearly lying to Minka, but Minka did not push her on the question. Viola was grateful for that, as she just wanted to get through the rest of the day in peace and without any further disturbances.


    Minka decides to go out and take a stride after eating, there''s something in her mind that she just can''t shake off. After she took a good walk in the garden, she found herself standing in front of an old building that looked like it had been abandoned for many years: "Huh... I don''t know I could go this far." It is a building that used to be an old supply house.


    "What are you doing here?" Sannet suddenly spoke behind her: "Are you lost?"


    "Gosh you scared me..." Minka put one hand on her chest to calm her beating heart: "You don''t have to scare me like that! Geez!" She turns to Sannet with annoyance: "Can we ever have a conversation where you don¡¯t hate my gut? It''s really frustrating, you know!" She crosses her arms and glares at Sannet.


    Sannet raises her eyebrows and stares Minka straight in the eyes, it feels like she''s judging her: "Are you planning to talk to Leanna? Because I would advise you to do so."


    "Ha?" Minka is very surprised with this question: "I...I eh... Well... I just want to take a walk, I mean...Where did you get the idea?" Minka''s words trail off as she looks away.


    Sannet doesn''t answer Minka''s question, she just stands there and looks at her with that expression again: "Minka..."


    Minka sighs and nods her head slightly, she knows there''s no way to change this: "Well...I know I hurt her feelings pretty badly... But I always wanted to show her that I am as capable as her... I can do what she cannot do...I know I am not good at it but... I want to help her with all my heart. That''s what I want to do." Minka smiles a little and nods her head slightly.


    "You are so selfish, Minka, just like your father. You will do anything to make your own action seem legit while hurting everyone else around you." Sannet then shakes her head slightly and sighed: "That''s why you have a hard time making friends." She looked at Minka, with her expression softened a little.


    "Hah? How is it selfish? I am doing this for HER!" Minka yells angrily and glares at Sannet, her temper flares up:" You don''t know me Sannet, I do not care about how people view me and I don''t care if I have no friends."


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Do you say this to make yourself feel better? If so, I can''t say you are a fool or an idiot. But you''re really an idiot to do this for her, she has her own path. And she''s just fine with that. Why do you have to come and screw things up? Just let her be happy, do you not know what love is? If you truly love someone, you have to accept the fact that she''s a different person and that you have your own paths." Sannet shakes her head: "The fact that you pushed her away just shows how insecure you are." She stares at Minka with an unreadable expression: "If you truly loved her, you won''t hurt her. You have to know your limits."


    Minka frowns, her teeth gritted: "YOU ARE TELLING ME ALL OF THIS?! YOU? SANNET!" She is now livid. Minka feels her blood boiling inside her, her breathing is fast, she''s fuming with anger. Minka stares Sannet straight in her eyes, but she doesn''t do anything, she just stands there and looks at Sannet with a stare that would kill: "You have no right to tell me how you live your life! And who are you to judge me?!" Minka is yelling so loudly at Sannet: "You never tell anyone about how you really feel! You always put up your act as a cold and aloof person, but we all know you are hurt by this whole thing as well! You know what Sannet? Fuck you. I will not listen to your bullshit again. Just leave, go back to Ravager or Minka, however you call her. She''s your friend right? She is the one friend that you can respect, so what are you doing here? Who am I to you? A nuisance? Someone that is always in your way? Tell me Sannet!"


    Sannet stood there and did nothing. Her expression didn''t change, she was not angry at Minka''s outburst. But Minka doesn''t care. Minka is now screaming at Sannet so loudly, and Sannet didn''t react. It just makes Minka even madder at her. After a minute of shouting and yelling, Minka''s anger has finally reached the boiling point. She is breathing heavily. And there''s tears in her eyes: "Sannet! Why can''t you understand that I''m doing all of this to help her!" Minka screamed.


    "And it''s the wrong way, Minka!" Sannet''s cold expression finally changed and her voice was firm, she yelled at her with all her strength, making Minka take a step back from shock. But Sannet continues: "Do you really think that what you did is the right way?! Thinking of pushing away the ones that care about you so you don''t want to see them getting hurt? Do you know what you are doing right now? It is a selfish way to avoid all your responsibility! If you can''t take care of her and support her, then you have no right to be with her, if you truly love her, you wouldn''t be hurting her feelings!"


    Minka felt her knees are weakened and her eyes were now filled with tears, her breathing became unsteady and her vision got blurred: "I... I don''t want to lose her... But i also don''t want to see her getting killed.." Minka''s voice became hoarse and it trembled, Minka then falls on her knees, crying softly on the ground, tears falling down on her cheeks as she sobs loudly: "I... I just can''t take it anymore... I want her to be safe but i don''t want to lose her... I can''t do this... I can''t let her get hurt...I can''t lose her..." Her voice broke at the end as her shoulders started to tremble uncontrollably, she looks at Sannet with red puffy eyes: "I...I want to protect her... I really do... But...But i don''t know if i am enough... I am scared..." Minka''s voice shook and trembled, Minka could only say one thing: "I can''t... I just can''t... Please help me... Help me please...I''m begging you." Minka is now pleading to Sannet to help her. Minka is on her knees in front of her: "I know i am weak... But I''ll get stronger! So please Sannet... Please help me."


    Sannet looks at Minka with an unreadable expression: "Stronger? You never needed that, but you need to detach yourself from everyone, the more people you get to be connected with the more painful it would be. You think that being strong would keep your loved ones from getting hurt. But it just makes them worried and you will lose them all the faster." Sannet kneels down to Minka''s level and wipes her tears off, then she grabs Minka''s hands gently, Minka looks at Sannet, Sannet looks back at her, but Sannet doesn''t say anything, she just holds Minka''s hand and looks at Minka.


    "Sannet...Will you help me?" Minka says quietly.


    Sannet stands up and says: "Minka, you have a long way to go and I think you are wasting time on this...I want you to stay with Leanna, help her become stronger. And most importantly, Minka... Never look down on yourself, you are not weak."


    "Finally, you said something that is good for the heart." Viola''s voice came from behind Sannet and she was grinning, she was holding some drinks and snacks in her hands. She put the drinks and snacks on the ground. Minka took the chance to hug Viola tightly, and Viola hugged her back: "Don''t worry Minky, You don''t have to worry about us, go and find Leanna. I bet she misses you very much." Viola then pats her head lightly.


    Minka wipes off her tears and smiles a little, then she nods, she lets out a soft sigh: "Ok... I will do it. I will find her, and I will be strong." Minka says determinedly as she stands up: "I will come back with her, then it will be the end of the Ravager and Archivist." Minka''s eyes are shining with confidence now. Minka then bids farewell to both of them and is off to the nearest settlement.


    "Well now, the misses are gone. Are we gonna put off the act or something else?" Viola looks at Sannet and laughs softly.


    "Who exactly are you?" Sannet suddenly turns and faces Viola, with a stern tone she asks her.


    "Ah... So you know the service weapon.... Very interesting...." Viola tilts her head: "I guess you know about my background then."


    "Only a Terra can wield a service weapon. And that exact same weapon in your hand is not from this world."


    "Wrong, it is from this world. But not from this ''time''" Viola smirks, she looks at Sannet: "You really have a sharp mind Sannet, I''m impressed." Viola said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.


    "So who exactly are you?..." Sannet is about to pull out her sword.


    "Stop... Stop right there.." Viola puts one finger up and shakes her head slowly: "There''s no need for that, besides, you won''t be able to do anything against me." Viola let out a sigh: "I will tell you myself~" Viola smiled.


    Sannet narrowed her eyes, her hand was on her sword, ready to pull it out, if necessary, and Viola''s expression didn''t change, she kept smiling, her smile is still there as if she doesn''t care: "You see, Sannet... I am a descendant of the little misses..." She looks at Sannet: "Surprised?" Viola''s eyes glinted for a brief second.


    "From when? You are clearly not a Terra from this age."


    "Ah yes, from the far far far future Sannet... About a few thousands of years or so?" Viola chuckled as she shook her head slightly and then looked at Sannet, Viola then grinned as she said: "But that doesn''t really matter to you Sannet."


    "That is a lie. Your genetic profile is not from Minka Terra''s descendants, I checked her records before. You''re lying."


    "Ha, haha... HAHAHA! You check her genetic records?" Viola looks at Sannet with disbelief: "This is where you are wrong Sannet... Not this Minka Terra, but the Ravager. I am her descendent."


    "Then where is your psychic ability? And Minka died before she could procreate. There was no record of the children of Minka Terra even in other dimensions. And Minka is from a long gone world that perished a very long time ago. You are lying to me. There is no proof that you are Minka''s descendant." Sannet''s eyes are glaring as if wanting to tear Viola apart.


    "Ha. You are actually quite thorough about your little investigation. But unfortunately, Sannet, your information is wrong. And it is incomplete, if you had more information about her, then maybe you wouldn''t be making these kinds of assumptions." Viola grins at Sannet with a carefree attitude, her hands behind her head: "You see, Sannet... I don''t need to have her powers to be her descendant." She smirks.


    "But your genetic code is not Minka Terra''s descendants. That is a fact."


    "But I told you already that it isn''t this world, Minka Terra... And it''s not her power that is passed down." Viola shakes her head: "You also seemed to miss the most obvious answer...You see, Sannet, I didn''t lie to you. But you were just being stupid...It was her ''thoughts'' and ''emotions'' that passed down from the original Terra to me, the power she gave me is not physical, it was her knowledge... And her thoughts echoed into the future... to me." Viola chuckled softly, Viola smiled: "When Minka died... her psychic energy echoed through time... And the moment I was born, I received them... and then it made me who I am now. " Viola said calmly and looked at Sannet. She smiled, with an amused look: "How can I wield a service weapon... It was never in the gene Sannet. It was just a mere passcode. That is the reason I can use the weapon." She looked at Sannet with a smirk, her eyes were calm, yet she still looked at Sannet with the same amusement in her eyes.


    "Prove it... What did Minka say to me before she died?"


    "Unless you are waiting to tell you the banter words. ''I really want to see you become a human and be friends with you. Sannet.'' I think this is the important sentence you are waiting for...right?"


    Sannet froze, it was a few milliseconds but Viola''s expression changed a lot. She is now smirking: "Tsk tsk, the ice queen has melted right?~ Well guess what Sannet~ I really like being friends with you as well." Viola chuckled as she said that, her smile is really annoying.


    Sannet suddenly grabbed Viola''s collar and glared at her: "Why did you show up now?! This is not the timeline you belong to! Do you know the danger of time traveling like this?"


    "Sannet~ Sannet~ I thought you''re smarter than that.." Viola chuckled softly and looked at her. Her eyes narrowed, it looks like she''s looking down at her. Then Viola grinned: "It''s not a matter of time. It''s a matter of dimensions. If Ravager and Archivist can come to this world... so can i~" She let out a soft laugh. She smiled and looked at Sannet, her eyes were gleaming with amusement.


    "Then... does it mean you don''t know how any of this ends?"


    "Hm... I am afraid I don''t... I only retained the memory of Ravager until she died. So I am as clueless as you. But... I do know about the weakness and strength of the Ravager like no one else~" Viola is certainly enjoying this interaction with Sannet, she is smirking: "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong~?" Viola grins.


    Sannet just realized her eye twitches from the sudden answer. But she kept a stern expression and looked at Viola with cold eyes: "So you only know Ravager''s life up to her death and that''s it? But I see no trace of her personality on you."


    "Aha, it''s because I am still Viola, I just happen to have her memory. It would take too much time to assimilate with her... And it''s just too tiring~ I like my own personality and memories so much more~" Viola looks at Sannet, Viola tilts her head and smiles.


    "Is this why you came to Minka? To keep an eye on her?"


    "To keep an eye on her? Well maybe at first, but do you know how rare it is to find a version of Minka that is not absolutely insane? I would not let this opportunity slip by, she has so much potential yet she is so human at the same time. I have to protect this precious Minka." Viola chuckled softly, her eyes glinting.


    "Then you must know ways to defeat the Ravager right?" Sannet asked.


    "Not possible, this is why I kept derailing the entire thing. Because no matter how much we prepare for it, we just can''t win. Because her powers are far superior than ours. We don''t even have the slightest chance. She will get what she wants one way or another." Viola sighed softly and looked at Sannet: "We need to wait for the right time to act. I know you must notice for such a long time nothing had really happened about our work to fight against the Ravager or the Archivist. So... this is why I sent Little Missy to find Leanna. It was for their safety. So they wouldn''t be caught in this whole mess..." Viola''s expression looks surprisingly thoughtful: "Because it is all useless to fight against the Ravager or Archivist. We need to be more cunning about it, and to find their weaknesses... and only then... we can possibly have a chance at fighting against them..."


    "I understand. I will keep an eye on them." Sannet said in a low tone, it was the first time that she looked calm. Sannet looks at Viola with her eyes: "If there is any change, tell me." Sannet''s voice sounded so different now, she no longer sounds like she hates Viola, instead she gives Viola a nod out of respect.

 Chapter 31

    Not long after, Minka arrived back at the city center. It had been a while since she returned, and the first thing she did was go home. As expected, no one was there. She let out a sigh as she looked around. She went straight to the room where she used to live, opening the door to find everything almost exactly as she left it. The books she¡¯d left behind were still there, untouched. The only difference was that the bed had been made.


    She clenched her fists, remembering how everything in her life had been fine¡ªuntil the Ravager came. After that, everything went downhill. She walked over to her desk and opened it, finding a photo of herself and Leanna inside. They looked so happy together in that picture, and it hurt to look at it. Minka had no idea how to make amends with Leanna; after all, she had hurt her deeply, and they hadn¡¯t spoken since. Leanna was probably angry, she thought. Tears started to well up, but she quickly wiped them away. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the picture and muttered to herself, ¡°What am I going to say to her?¡±


    After a moment of silent resolve, she closed her eyes, steadied herself, and muttered, ¡°You can do this, Minka.¡± She placed the photo back in the desk, turned, and left the room.


    Minka didn¡¯t know where Leanna was, so she decided to stop by her cousin¡¯s house, hoping for some answers. On her way, she picked up a small box of chocolates from a local shop. When she arrived at her cousin¡¯s house, she knocked and waited, but no one answered.


    ¡°Minka.¡± Nova¡¯s voice came from behind her. Minka jumped, not having noticed her approach. She turned around. ¡°Oh, hi¡­¡± Minka¡¯s voice trailed off as she saw her aunt¡¯s stern expression. ¡°Is... Lea here? I... I just want to talk to her,¡± she said, her voice weakening.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s not here,¡± Nova replied, her face as stern as ever.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Minka mumbled, trying to hide the box of chocolates behind her back.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Nova asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I thought she was with you?¡±


    Minka hesitated. ¡°Um... well... I had some business to take care of, and¡­¡±


    Nova¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a communicator? Just ask her where she is. Or¡­ did something happen?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I just wanted to talk to her¡­ and my communicator¡¯s out of battery, so I don¡¯t know how to contact her.¡± Minka glanced away. ¡°I¡¯ll come back later¡­¡±


    Nova blocked her from leaving, her eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere until you tell me what happened. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll find out myself. Now, tell me.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Minka stammered, at a loss for words.


    Nova¡¯s expression grew colder. ¡°Tell me. Or else.¡±


    Minka gulped. ¡°I¡­ I messed up my relationship with her,¡± she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Nova¡¯s expression softened a bit, but her gaze stayed on Minka, expectant.


    ¡°Explain,¡± she said.


    Minka took a shaky breath and explained the entire situation with Leanna. She tried to make it sound like things weren¡¯t that bad, but Nova could see through her attempts to downplay it. The reality was obvious: Minka and Leanna were not on good terms. Nova listened, then sighed. ¡°I can tell you¡¯re holding back,¡± she said.


    Minka¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I... I didn¡¯t lie to you! I swear!¡± She was sweating under Nova¡¯s unyielding stare.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie to me. I can tell you¡¯re hiding something,¡± Nova replied. ¡°Listen, if I knew how to handle Leanna myself, I wouldn¡¯t be asking you. Now, tell me what really happened.¡±


    Minka lowered her head in shame. ¡°I... I told her to stay out of this fight¡­ and¡­ she left.¡± Her voice was barely a whisper.


    Nova¡¯s face remained impassive, but the air between them grew colder. She sighed again. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how to handle her, do you? She¡¯s stubborn, Minka. So when someone she trusts tells her she¡¯s a burden, of course she¡¯d leave. You were selfish, Minka.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Minka¡¯s face fell, guilt and sorrow written across it. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I just didn¡¯t want her to get hurt.¡±


    ¡°Well, what are you going to say when you see her again? ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯? ¡®Please come back¡¯? ¡®Don¡¯t leave me¡¯? That won¡¯t work. You¡¯ll have to do better than that.¡± Nova¡¯s tone was sharp. ¡°You need to make it up to her with sincerity.¡±


    Minka nodded, still looking at the ground. ¡°Yes¡­ I know¡­¡±


    Nova sighed. "Well, she''s not here, so you can¡¯t apologize right now." Her voice was still cool and stern, but a faint warmth glimmered in her eyes.


    Minka kept her gaze on the ground. "I¡¯ll leave the chocolate here. If you see Leanna¡­ tell her I came by. Tell her I¡¯d like to talk." Her voice was so soft that Nova had to strain to hear.


    Nova nodded, watching as Minka turned and left, her footsteps fading down the path. Letting out a sigh, Nova took the box of chocolates inside and set it on the table. Just then, she looked up to see Leanna standing at the corner of the staircase.


    "Are you going to forgive her?" Nova asked.


    Leanna shook her head slowly. "She wants me to just watch her live her life, like I don¡¯t matter. She doesn¡¯t need me anymore. I might as well leave." Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back.


    "Lea, you need to talk this out. This silence isn¡¯t helping either of you." Nova¡¯s tone softened slightly, though her expression remained stern. "Don¡¯t you see Minka as family?"


    Leanna looked away, silent and conflicted. Nova¡¯s voice grew firmer again. "Listen to me. You need to talk to her."


    Leanna¡¯s sadness shifted to frustration, her expression hardening. "She doesn¡¯t care about me, doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m capable. So why should I care about her?"


    Nova sighed, crossing her arms. "You think someone who didn¡¯t care would come here to apologize? You¡¯re too upset to see things clearly. Go outside, take a walk."


    Leanna clenched her fists. "If you say one more thing, I¡¯ll lose it. I¡¯m going." She stormed out, her emotions churning.


    Lost in thought, Leanna wandered the streets. She wasn¡¯t sure where she was going; she just wanted to be alone. Suddenly, she heard her name.


    "Leanna! My lovely, doll-like sister!" Miller¡¯s teasing voice broke through her thoughts as he waved from across the street.


    Leanna shot him a furious glare. "Leave me alone."


    Miller raised an eyebrow but smiled, patting her head. "Come on, let¡¯s get something to eat. You¡¯ll feel better with some food."


    Reluctantly, she let him pull her into a restaurant. He ordered two large plates and ate his share in a flash, leaving one for her.


    "Go ahead. Food always helps," he said, grinning with his mouth half-full.


    Leanna rolled her eyes. "I¡¯m not a kid anymore, Miller. And this isn¡¯t helping." She looked away, frowning.


    Miller chuckled. "Trouble with your girlfriend, huh? Relax, I won¡¯t tease." He winked, but Leanna only glared harder.


    "She¡¯s not my girlfriend," she snapped. "And how do you even know about this? You¡¯ve been away."


    "Mom told me," he replied, still smiling. "And trust me, you two will work it out."


    Leanna scoffed, about to argue, when Miller¡¯s tone shifted. His gaze turned serious. "Are you ashamed of being with Minka? Because if you are, I¡¯m disappointed."


    Her eyes widened. "I¡­ I¡¯m not ashamed."


    "You are. You¡¯re afraid. Afraid to tell people about her, to show them who you really care about. That¡¯s why no one knows."


    "I¡¯m not afraid¡ª"


    "Then prove it." He leaned forward, his eyes challenging. "Tell everyone that Minka is the love of your life. Tell them she¡¯s not your cousin, or your friend. That you¡¯ve loved her for years. I dare you."


    Leanna opened her mouth to respond but faltered, cheeks flushing as she searched for words.


    Miller sighed, his smile softening as he patted her head. "Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself, sis. You¡¯ll figure it out."


    She swatted his hand away, annoyed but too tired to argue. She picked up her fork and began to eat, her anger slowly melting away.


    They wandered through town for hours after that, Miller trailing behind as Leanna walked aimlessly. Every so often, she glanced back to see him munching on snacks or looking at his phone. Annoying as he was, his quiet presence comforted her.


    As night fell, Leanna finally stopped and turned to face him. "Thanks for today."


    Miller¡¯s face lit up, and he pulled her into a hug. "Of course! You¡¯re my little sister, after all. Love you."


    Leanna sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Thanks, Miller." She gave his shoulder a light pat.


    They stood like that for a beat before she gently pushed him away. "I¡¯m heading home."


    Miller ruffled her hair with a grin. "Goodnight, sis." He waved, blending into the crowd as he walked away, leaving Leanna watching his retreating figure, a small smile forming on her face.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Late at night, Leanna stood on her rooftop and took a deep breath, her bracelet beginning to glow. In moments, her armor materialized over her body. She gazed into the distance before lifting off silently into the dark sky. She flew for a while, eventually landing in a remote, desolate area dotted with abandoned factories. Recently, reports had mentioned strange creature sightings here, and she felt compelled to investigate.


    Through her visor, she scanned the shadows¡ªand froze. Hulking creatures moved in the darkness, their massive forms covered in matted fur. Their heads resemble wolves, with sharp fangs glinting under the dim light, eyes glowing an unsettling blue. Each monster stood about three meters tall, their bodies covered in spikes and ending in clawed limbs.


    Leanna raised her arm, firing flames at the creatures, but they barely flinched. Instead, they charged, claws slashing. She vaulted into the air, raining down more fire, but the flames only seemed to anger them. She hovered, re-evaluating her approach when suddenly, a spike whizzed toward her, barely missing. She turned, just as another monster shot out its sticky tongue, latching onto her. It yanked her down, and she only barely managed to slice through it with a burst of flame before rolling to her feet.


    The creatures surged forward again. Leanna quickly raised both hands. "Firewall," she muttered, encircling the creatures in a wall of fire, giving herself a moment to breathe. She glanced around, spotting a rusted steel beam, which she flung through one monster, dropping it instantly. But as the flames wavered, another monster started howling, its fur shifting from dark to blood-red as it absorbed the flames.


    The enraged creature charged, slamming into her. Her armor absorbed the brunt, but the impact threw her to the ground, leaving her barely able to move. She struggled to lift herself as the creature loomed closer, preparing to strike. Just then, a figure landed in front of her, swift and powerful, slicing through the monster with remarkable agility.


    Through her damaged visor, Leanna recognized the figure¡ªit was Minka. Minka darted through the fray, her movements quick and decisive, finishing off the remaining creatures with ease. As the last monster fell, the two girls stood alone in the aftermath.


    Leanna tried to turn and slip away, but Minka caught her wrist, her eyes full of concern. "You¡¯re hurt. Let me take you to a medic nearby."


    Leanna shifted her voice, masking it with a deeper tone. "I¡¯m fine¡­ just a scratch."


    Minka studied her, not releasing her grip. "I can¡¯t leave you like this," she insisted, wiping blood from her weapon. "Can you take off your armor so I can check your injuries?"


    Leanna hesitated, her tone tense. "No, this armor keeps me alive. And I¡¯m fine¡­ but thanks for the offer."


    Minka nodded slowly, her voice softening. "Alright. But at least let me check for injuries."


    She stepped forward, and Leanna instinctively backed away. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Leanna said sharply, gritting her teeth against the pain in her ribs. ¡°Just¡­ go. I¡¯ll be okay.¡±


    Minka frowned, her tone gentle but firm. "I can¡¯t just leave you here. I saw the fight, and you don¡¯t look okay. Please, let me help."


    Leanna clenched her fists, reluctant to reveal any weakness, especially to Minka. "I don¡¯t need help."


    "Please," Minka urged, undeterred. "You¡¯re hurt¡ªI can see it. I have meds with me. Just let me help you."


    After a long pause, Leanna sighed. "Find. A dose of morphine, then¡­ thanks." She injected it through a damaged part of her armor, relief washing over her as the pain dulled.


    "You still don¡¯t look like you¡¯re ready to move,¡± Minka observed, her tone patient. ¡°Let me take you somewhere safe, at least.¡±


    Leanna didn¡¯t answer, too exhausted to resist further. Minka took that as consent, moving to support her. "I can carry you on my back. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m stronger than I look." Without waiting for a response, Minka gently lifted Leanna.


    "Where are we going?¡± Leanna asked weakly, the fatigue settling in as the adrenaline wore off. "And¡­ sorry for the trouble."


    "No trouble at all," Minka assured her with a soft smile. "I know a place nearby, a friend¡¯s house. You can rest there safely." They walked on a rough path through tall grass, Minka moving carefully to keep Leanna steady, every step thoughtful and smooth.


    After a while, Minka broke the silence. ¡°Are you¡­ from the military? I¡¯ve never seen armor like yours.¡±


    Leanna tensed. ¡°No. I don¡¯t really¡­ belong anywhere.¡± She was wary, still unsure if Minka might recognize her. The fear of being known, of Minka discovering her true identity, made her hold back. ¡°But thank you¡ªfor saving me. I¡¯d probably be dead if you hadn¡¯t shown up¡­¡±


    Minka glanced back, offering a gentle smile. "My pleasure. And what¡¯s your name?"


    "Dawn," Leanna replied, after a slight hesitation.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Dawn,¡± Minka said, adjusting her grip as they continued. ¡°It¡¯s a hopeful name. It suits you.¡±


    Minka tried to keep up the conversation as they walked, but Leanna remained quiet, lost in her thoughts. She was aware of her heart beating faster, her cheeks warming¡ªshe wasn¡¯t sure if it was the pain or the proximity, but somehow, Minka¡¯s closeness felt¡­ comforting.


    "So, what do you do?¡± Minka asked, glancing over her shoulder.


    ¡°Just¡­ traveling,¡± Leanna replied softly. ¡°I don¡¯t stay anywhere long. Just¡­ fighting monsters, keeping people safe.¡±


    Minka smiled. ¡°You must be skilled, then.¡±


    Leanna felt a pang of warmth. This simple, unguarded kindness was something she hadn¡¯t expected, especially from someone like Minka. It stirred something in her she wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to acknowledge, and for a moment, the weight of her armor felt a little lighter.


    "So, what do you do, Minka?" Leanna asked, trying to sound casual.


    "Well¡­ I was training as a soldier," Minka replied, smiling. "Then I started traveling with friends, fighting off all kinds of evils. And here I am." Her face brightened as she spoke. "I¡¯ve fought a lot, but I¡¯m sure your track record puts mine to shame."


    Leanna¡¯s heartbeat a little faster. There was something warm and comforting about Minka¡¯s presence, almost like an embrace. ¡°What happened to your friends? Are they still with you?¡±


    Minka¡¯s smile softened, a hint of loneliness creeping into her expression. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ busy with their own things, so they can¡¯t join me on quests anymore.¡± Her tone grew quiet. ¡°It¡¯s okay, though¡­ I¡¯m fine. Actually, I came here hoping to make up with someone I care a lot about. But¡­ I don¡¯t think she wants to see me.¡±


    The sadness in Minka¡¯s voice struck a chord in Leanna, who knew she was the one Minka was referring to. Guilt gnawed at her, but she kept silent. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry to hear that,¡± she murmured.


    Minka tried to sound upbeat. "It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m fine." But the sadness lingered in her eyes as they walked in silence, finally arriving at an old house. The place looked abandoned, with weeds creeping up the walls and cracks lining the faded wooden panels.


    Minka carefully set Leanna down and opened the door. Despite the run-down exterior, the inside was surprisingly tidy. Dust covered the surfaces, but most of the furniture looked clean and intact.


    ¡°Fran won¡¯t mind you resting here,¡± Minka said warmly as she grabbed a broom and started sweeping. Leanna watched her with surprise; it felt strange to see Minka being so gentle. ¡°You should rest. I¡¯ll make us something to eat. There¡¯s a room upstairs if you need it. Feel free to use the bathroom too.¡±


    As Minka headed into the kitchen, Leanna sighed and went upstairs, feeling conflicted. In the small room, she found a bed with a thin blanket, a chair, and a small window that let in soft moonlight. Exhausted, she lay down, still in her armor. Surprisingly, the armor felt as comfortable inside as it looked sturdy on the outside. Drowsiness overtook her quickly, likely aided by the pain meds, and she drifted into sleep.


    When she awoke, a blanket was draped over her, and a delicious smell wafted up from downstairs. Trying to sit up, she winced as soreness tugged at her ribs, though her armor¡¯s self-repair had nearly completed. Her visor displayed that it was morning¡ªshe¡¯d slept through the night.


    Downstairs, Minka was cooking, her face lighting up as Leanna entered. ¡°Oh, good morning!¡± She greeted brightly. ¡°I made some breakfast. Just curious¡­ how do you eat with that armor on?¡±


    Leanna glanced at the table, where a plate of pancakes and a glass of milk awaited her. ¡°I¡­ I have to take off the armor.¡±


    ¡°Right! And I guess you wouldn¡¯t want to do that in front of a stranger¡­¡± Minka thought for a second before grabbing a blindfold and grinning. ¡°I¡¯ll just cover my eyes, then.¡±


    Leanna raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you serious? You don¡¯t have to do that.¡±


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just breakfast!¡± Minka laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not driving or fighting; I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She covered her eyes with the blindfold. ¡°You can take off your armor, and when you¡¯re done, just let me know. Deal?¡±


    Leanna hesitated but eventually agreed, finding Minka¡¯s persistence oddly endearing. She removed her armor as quietly as possible to avoid giving away her identity, sitting down to eat in silence. The only sounds were of them chewing and sipping, a peaceful yet somewhat awkward atmosphere settling between them.


    After a while, Leanna put her armor back on and said, ¡°You can take the blindfold off now.¡±


    Minka pulled it off, her smile as warm as ever. ¡°So, what do you want to do today? Since we¡¯re both here, maybe we can do something fun?¡±


    Leanna hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ feeling better now. I should probably leave. Thanks for letting me stay.¡± She stood, heading toward the door.


    Minka¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Are you really leaving?¡± she asked, sadness tinging her voice.


    ¡°Yes. Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± Minka paused, looking away. ¡°It¡¯s lonely here by myself. I¡¯d like someone to talk to. I don¡¯t enjoy being alone¡­¡±


    Leanna glanced back at her, her voice softening. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ lonely?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a bit.¡± Minka forced a smile. ¡°But I understand. You have your own reasons.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s heart clenched with guilt, but she kept her tone neutral. ¡°We only met last night, and you¡¯re already telling me about your loneliness and sadness.¡±


    Minka chuckled, a light laugh despite the heaviness in her words. ¡°I just feel comfortable talking to you. You seem¡­ nice. And recently¡­ I lost a friend.¡± Her voice grew quiet. ¡°I guess I just miss talking to someone.¡±


    Leanna clenched her fist slightly, torn by Minka¡¯s sincerity. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry to hear that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no need to apologize,¡± Minka replied, her tone cheerful again. ¡°But are you really going to leave?¡±


    Leanna hesitated, then sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll stay until the afternoon, just to let my injury heal a bit more.¡± She headed to the living room, trying to shake off the strange warmth in her chest. ¡°I¡¯m not much of a talker.¡±


    Minka followed, sitting beside her. ¡°So¡­ what do you usually do when you¡¯re not busy?¡±


    Leanna glanced at her. ¡°Rest. Restore my energy for the next fight.¡±


    Minka perked up. ¡°How about we watch something together? We don¡¯t have to talk; we can just sit and enjoy ourselves.¡±


    Leanna considered her offer, then gave a slight nod. ¡°I¡­ guess that¡¯s fine.¡±


    Minka selected an action movie, settling in beside Leanna as it played. She laughed during the funny scenes and reacted to the action, clearly enjoying every moment. Leanna, on the other hand, barely registered the film, her focus more on Minka than the screen.


    When the movie ended, Minka stretched with a smile. ¡°That was fun!¡±


    ¡°Fun?¡± Leanna echoed skeptically. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that great.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Dawn. We had fun watching it together, didn¡¯t we?¡± Minka¡¯s smile was bright and genuine.


    Leanna remained silent, unsure how to respond. Minka patted her helmet gently. ¡°You should smile more; it¡¯ll make you feel better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not in the mood to smile,¡± Leanna muttered.


    Minka¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously. ¡°When will you be in the mood, then? I know you¡¯re enjoying yourself here.¡±


    Leanna huffed, looking away. ¡°I told you¡­ I¡¯m not much of a talker. I¡¯m not used to all this.¡±


    Minka¡¯s tone softened. ¡°You¡¯re a mysterious person, and that¡¯s not a bad thing. But maybe you don¡¯t need to keep everything to yourself.¡±


    Leanna looked at her, puzzled. ¡°You barely know me. How can you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m pretty good at reading people,¡± Minka replied with a grin. She stood up, clearing the dishes. ¡°You know¡­ I used to be shy too, until I met people who helped me open up. It wasn¡¯t easy, but I¡¯m a lot better now. Maybe¡­ it could be the same for you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not like you,¡± Leanna replied, a touch defensively. ¡°I¡¯m not easy to get along with.¡±


    Minka shrugged. ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯ve been kind to me.¡± She smiled warmly, still focused on the dishes. ¡°You¡¯re just¡­ a bit shy.¡±


    Leanna rose abruptly, heading for the door. ¡°Thank you for letting me stay. But I have to go now.¡±


    Minka watched her with a sad smile, not trying to stop her this time. ¡°Take care, Dawn.¡±


    Leanna paused at the door, hesitating before giving a brief nod. Without looking back, she walked out, her armor gleaming in the morning light. She activated her suit and took off, soaring into the sky.


    Minka stood there, watching as she disappeared from view, clutching her arm. She seems so familiar¡­ she thought wistfully. Maybe our paths will cross again.

 Chapter 32

    The moment Dawn left the house, Minka felt a sharp, solid strike at the back of her head. "Ow!" she yelped, whipping around just in time to see a compressed bullet roll to a stop by her feet.


    Confusion and adrenaline surged through her, and before she could fully process what had happened, more bullets sliced through the air toward her. Minka moved on instinct, dodging the shots with a precision she didn¡¯t even have time to question. Her hand found ¡°The Weapon,¡± unsheathing it in one fluid motion to intercept the next round. "What the hell?" she thought, catching sight of a glint¡ªa sniper¡¯s scope flashing from a rooftop across the street. And then footsteps, closing in fast. But she was too occupied to care.


    Without warning, something struck her back with a force that felt like a full-speed truck. Pain tore through her muscles and bones, and her vision blurred. She wasn''t bleeding, but the sheer kinetic energy had left her senses spinning. Before she knew it, her body had crashed into the wall, splintering wood and filling the air with dust.


    Disoriented, Minka struggled to get up, but a heavy boot stomped on her face, slamming her back down. She barely registered the blow before a fist came down, sending sharp shocks of pain through her jaw. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± growled a voice she vaguely recognized, though the ringing in her head made it impossible to place. She felt cold metal around her wrists¡ªhandcuffs clicking shut. That was it. Anger surged within her, and with a fierce shout, she released a blast of psychic energy, throwing her assailant across the room.


    "Shit¡­" came a voice from the shadows, breathless and full of fury. Her vision cleared, Minka squinted and finally saw her attacker. It was Knight.


    ¡°Why did you attack me?¡± she yelled, anger and confusion blending in her voice.


    ¡°Because you crossed a line,¡± Knight sneered, pulling a gun and shooting Minka in the stomach. The impact sent her reeling, though she managed to stay on her feet, clutching her middle. ¡°Do you really think you can act without consequence? You helped someone you shouldn¡¯t have. That person¡ªthe one you saved¡ªwas wearing the Armor of Fate. It belonged to the Archivist. Now, tell me, how the hell did she get her hands on it?¡±


    ¡°What in the world are you talking about?¡± Minka gasped, breathing heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about that.¡±


    Knight gave a cold, humorless laugh. ¡°Maybe, maybe not. But the point is, Dawn had the armor, and you helped him escape with it. It was a perfect setup, Minka, and you ruined it. We had him cornered; we were about to reclaim what was ours. And then you showed up.¡± Her voice dropped to an angry hiss, eyes narrowed in frustration.


    Him? Minka thought, the image of Dawn snapping into focus in her mind. She spoke, more to herself than to Knight. "So, what¡¯s the deal with this Dawn person?"


    Knight''s expression turned livid. "The deal? The deal is that you destroyed everything we worked for, everything we¡¯d planned!" In one fluid movement, she clenched her power fist, blue energy crackling around it as she charged at Minka with lethal speed.


    Minka raised her arm to block, absorbing some of the blow, though it still forced her back a step. She swung ¡°The Weapon¡± toward Knight, but Knight grabbed the blade, twisted, and struck Minka in the stomach again, this time sending her stumbling. Minka¡¯s arm burned with fatigue¡ªshe had to find a way out. Knight slammed her fist into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that sent Minka flying into a wooden table, which shattered under her weight.


    ¡°What do you even want?¡± Minka gritted out, swallowing the pain.


    ¡°Oh, this feels good,¡± Knight taunted. ¡°Finally, someone annoying and naive enough to make a real punching bag.¡±


    Minka felt anger boiling in her chest. She lunged forward, attacking with renewed determination, her movements swift and precise, but Knight dodged easily, anticipating her every strike. Frustration blurred her vision, clouded her focus, and before she knew it, Knight found an opening. A fist struck Minka¡¯s face with brutal force, snapping her head back. She barely kept her balance, fighting to stay on her feet.


    Minka knew Knight didn¡¯t have any special enhancements. This was raw skill and sheer, practiced power, yet somehow, Minka¡ªthe one with powers¡ªwas struggling to keep up. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± she demanded, feeling the helplessness creep into her voice.


    A smirk curled on Knight''s lips. "You¡¯re going to fix this for us." Knight closed the gap, wrenching ¡°The Weapon¡± from Minka¡¯s hand and tossing it aside. Grabbing Minka by her hair, Knight started to drag her toward the door. ¡°We have work to do. And you¡¯re going to help us, whether you like it or not.¡±


    Minka fought against the grip, but Knight¡¯s strength was unyielding. ¡°You can¡¯t do this! I don¡¯t know anything!¡± she cried, panic breaking through her voice.


    Knight looked down at her, expression blank. ¡°You don¡¯t need to. You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± A syringe appeared in Knight¡¯s hand, and before Minka could react, a sharp prick to her neck pulled her under, darkness closing in.


    When she awoke, her head felt heavy and blurred. She struggled to move, but her limbs were restrained, bound by steel chains thicker than anything she could shatter. She was in an unfamiliar room, the scent of food and coffee mingling in the air, and a voice drifted from behind her.


    ¡°Minka,¡± the voice said, low and almost friendly. Ravager stepped into view, standing beside her with a small, unsettling smile. ¡°I trust you had a nice rest.¡± She walked to a table nearby, pouring herself a cup of coffee.


    ¡°You,¡± Minka spat, hatred sharpening her senses.


    ¡°Calm down, Minka,¡± Ravager said, not sparing her a glance as she sipped her coffee. ¡°No need to be so hostile. I¡¯m sorry for the rough handling¡ªKnight didn¡¯t mean to hurt you more than necessary. But you went and saved Dawn, and now that¡¯s a problem. Because now the Archivist has a clear path to the armor. Once he has that¡­ none of us will stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°Fuck you!¡± Minka¡¯s voice echoed, her rage punctuating every word. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined everything. The world is falling apart because of you!¡±


    Ravager met her gaze, eyes cold, calculating. ¡°Do you think this world was clean before we stirred it up? No, Minka. It¡¯s always been rotting. All I did was kick up the dust and let the cockroaches crawl out. The Imperium was infested with corruption long before any of this started.¡±


    ¡°So, you caused all this, and you have the nerve to act like you¡¯re fixing it?¡± Minka scoffed, struggling against the chains.


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand in time. For now, we need you to help us retrieve that armor. Track Dawn, find her, and bring it back.¡± Ravager¡¯s tone was calm, steady, almost comforting. ¡°And that¡¯s all we¡¯re asking.¡±


    ¡°Why should I?¡± Minka shot back, refusing to meet Ravager¡¯s gaze.


    Ravager set her cup down and stepped closer, bending to look Minka in the eyes. ¡°Because, Minka, if you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll be forced to make you. And if that doesn¡¯t work¡­¡± Her voice dropped to a whisper, cold and final. ¡°We¡¯ll find your family. Your team. And they¡¯ll suffer because of you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Minka said, but her voice wavered, fear slipping into her tone as Ravager¡¯s threat sank in. She strained against her chains, fighting back desperation, but there was no escape. Not yet.


    And Ravager¡¯s smile, as she resumed her coffee, was as unyielding as the chains that bound Minka in place.


    After a while, Ravager left and Knight entered, looking at Minka with cold detachment. She pulled up a chair, sitting beside Minka and saying nothing for several moments, the silence between them heavy. ¡°Look at you,¡± she finally spoke, her voice quiet and tinged with something Minka couldn¡¯t quite place.


    ¡°What?¡± Minka spat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Knight¡¯s words were flat and unfeeling.


    Minka turned her head, refusing to look at Knight, her eyes fixed on a small stain on the ceiling. She didn''t answer.


    "You and I are going to find Dawn." Knight said, her voice a low and menacing whisper.


    Minka didn''t respond.


    Knight shifted in her seat, her voice low, controlled. "We don''t need you to track her. We have our ways."


    Minka''s voice was quiet, defeated. "So why are you here?"


    "Because you are going to be the bait. Clearly that Dawn person is quite fond of you, and that will work in our favor."


    Minka''s gaze remained fixed on the stain. "I won''t help you. You''re going to kill him, and I won''t be a part of it."


    "No." Knight''s tone was cold and flat. "If that were the case we wouldn''t have brought you here."


    Minka''s gaze snapped to her. "Then what?"


    Knight smirked. Suddenly, she bagged Minka''s head and soon Minka passed out. The next thing she knows is that her body is full of pain and she is currently being bound on a pillar while high on the city center''s tower. She is alone. "Fuck..." Minka cursed as her voice was weak and soft, her body aches and throbbing as her head feels dizzy, she feels so weak and tired.


    "Behold! The traitor of our imperium." Knight''s voice came through a megaphone. She is below the pillar that Minka is in. There''s a lot of people surrounding the area below her. They were watching. "You all see this pathetic traitor." She said, pointing her hand to Minka. "She betrayed this imperium. Betrayed our trust. She helped an outlaw escape." Knight said.


    People started booing at her. "Fuck you, bitch!" Someone from the crowd said.


    "Boil in oil!"


    "Fuck you! You whore!"


    "Kill her!"Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    People shouted at Minka. They are full of hatred. And that hurts Minka more than any kind of torture. She didn''t even know what was going on and that pure hatred she had just received hurts. Her body and mind is in pain and confusion.


    Knight then gestured her hands and two people went to Minka''s side. "She is to be whipped 200 times. And you are all invited to watch this pathetic traitor receive her punishment."


    The crowd cheered loudly as one man began whipping her. From Minka''s perspective the pain is endurable but as time goes on, her body is screaming in agony. The pain from her back is too much. The man whipping her is not showing any signs of slowing down and the people are just cheering as she receive such brutal torture.


    Someone from afar clenched her fist and her and shook in rage as she watched from afar.


    After 200 times of being whipped. The man stops and leaves her. Blood is dripping from her body, her clothes and her back are full of wounds. Her face is full of tears.


    "Look at her." Knight said, making sure that the people will look at her.


    "She is so pathetic."


    "I hope her wound gets infected."


    "I want to whip her more."


    "Kill her."


    The crowd shouted. Knight raised her hand. "We are not finished here. Our beloved traitor is yet to receive more. As she has betrayed this world, she will be flayed alive. But we can''t just kill her right now... we need to make her suffer more." Knight said.


    "Fuck her up."


    "I wish I could cut her throat myself."


    "Pathetic whore!"


    They shouted.


    Knight then turned around to look at someone and nodded at him. That man nodded and went to the center of the area. About an hour later the crowd disperses and Minka is left there alone, bleeding and in pain. Her mind is full of questions. What had she done? Why is she here? What did she do wrong? And a lot more questions flooded her mind. Just when she''s lost in her thoughts, she hears something flew over and landed next to her.


    "You okay?" The voice asked. Minka''s eyes widened as she saw the familiar face. "Dawn? W-what are you doing here?" Minka asked, weakly: "No... You shouldn''t be here... this is a tra-" Just when Minka finished her sentence, suddenly a forcefield appeared in a dome shape covering them. Dawn''s suit glowed a little. She then removed Minka''s chains. Minka''s body fell but Dawn caught her.


    "Thanks..." Minka said: "This entire scene is just to capture you..." She added.


    "What did they do to you?" Dawn asked, concerned as she looked at Minka''s condition: "What did they do?" Minka didn''t answer and her eyes started to close slowly.


    "We need to find a way to get out of here..." Dawn said. Suddenly the dome shook violently and they both heard Knight''s voice from afar: "I see that our guest has arrived." Knight said as she''s watching from afar. Dawn then looked at Minka and noticed that Minka was about to pass out. She placed her gently on the ground and then a smaller dome appeared that was covering Minka.


    "What do you want?" Dawn asks as she activates the dome forcefield that is covering Minka.


    Knight smiled as her eyes met Dawn''s visors: "If you just willingly give up your armor, there''s a lot less trouble that will be caused." Knight said as she walked forward.


    "You will have to get it by yourself." Dawn said. Her suit glows as her weapons materialize in her hand. Knight stopped and looked at her: "I was afraid that you would say that." Knight snapped her finger and the dome began shrinking violently.


    "Go on. Use your power to stop that dome." Knight said. "If not, you are both going to get squashed."


    Dawn tries to hit the dome but it doesn''t even flinch, she can''t use the fire in there as it will cook both of them inside.


    "I guess you won''t have any other choice." Knight said, Dawn quickly assesses the dome, searching for any structural weaknesses or possible energy sources powering it. She attempts to identify any flaws or irregularities, hoping to find a vulnerability she can exploit. As Dawn''s focus intensifies, her powers begin to activate, and her armor emits a faint glow. She concentrates her power on manipulating the forces that bind the molecules of the dome. Her hand reaches out, fingers splayed as if grasping an invisible web of energy. With a sudden surge of will, she pulls, attempting to break the bonds and cause the dome to disintegrate. As the energy dissipates, the dome shatters into tiny particles, vanishing into the air as if it were never there at all.


    "Very impressive." Knight said, her eyes fixed on Dawn: "However... that is not enough." Suddenly Knight''s hand dropped, a rocket flew at Dawn''s direction and Dawn dodged it, she then started firing her weapons at Knight but she''s very agile and evades each one of the shots. Dawn tries to hit Knight but she is able to dodge each of them. Knight then pulled out her anti material rifle from her back and shot a barrage of bullets at Dawn.


    The bullets hit her suit, and she''s sent back flying. Dawn quickly recovers and activates her thruster, but then a barrage of minigun bullets hits Dawn''s armor, causing some cracks. Knight quickly closed the distance and then punched Dawn with her powerfist, the impact sent Dawn flying to a building: "Amateur." Knight said as she watched as Dawn struggled to get back to her feet: "You know that this is a hopeless fight, just give up your armor and I won''t have to hurt you...More." Knight said.


    But when dust settles, Dawn is nowhere to be found, instead Knight suddenly ducks under when she hears something coming to her with intense speed. It was Dawn using her boosters. Knight looks at Dawn with intensity: "Good, you are not backing down." She then pulled out a tesla gun and a bolt of lightning shot at Dawn''s direction. Dawn tries to dodge it but the lightning bolt hits her, paralyzing her and causing a massive damage on her armor, she falls to the ground and was electrocuted. Knight fired her anti-material rifle again at her. Dawn was sent flying back to a building, crashing into the wall with immense force. Her armor was badly damaged and she struggles to get up.


    Knight walks towards Dawn, confident and arrogant, while Dawn tries to regain her composure, still reeling from the attack.


    "You''re done. I can''t believe that you think you are some sort of a hero." Knight says as she approaches Dawn who is still trying to get back to her feet: "Give it up." She pulls up her grenade pistol and aims at Dawn''s face: "Game''s over."


    Dawn was able to kick her legs, tripping Knight off balance and then Dawn pushed her away. She got back to her feet and activated her boosters. "I''m not done yet." She said, her armor started repairing itself and it''s getting better.


    ¡°Oh yes... you are done." Knight laughs, then Dawn can see something in the air bending the lights around it and the sound of jets. Knight smiled as she looked up to see the sky and then she looked back at Dawn, her smile still in her face.


    After a loud sonic boom, a figure appeared. It''s the Ravager, she puts her hands behind her back and floats in the air like some creature from myth: "Hello Dawn." She said with a cold voice.


    Everyone including Knight could feel the pressure from Ravager, her mere presence feels so overwhelming that they could only imagine what she''s capable of. Knight then steps back, she knows that her role in this fight is over and she just watches from the sideline.


    Minka opens her eyes in a slit, her mind still foggy and her body aches, the wounds in her back are throbbing. When she sees the Ravager the moment her vision clears, her heart starts racing as her body is filled with fear, she tries to stand but she can''t move. "Dawn...run..." Minka said as her weak and shaky voice escaped her lips.


    Suddenly Dawn dropped on his knees and his armor began crumbling in front of Minka: "Dawn!" Minka shouted: "What are you doing to him?" She yelled at Ravager who was still floating in the air, watching Dawn suffer.


    Soon enough, the faceplate fell, and Minka could finally see who was behind the helmet: ¡°Leanna!?¡± She yelled as she watched in surprise: ¡°Leanna! No!¡± She tried to crawl her way towards her.


    Leanna spat out blood on the ground, her body felt heavy and she¡¯s having a hard time moving, it was like something heavy was pushing her to the ground and the only thing that she could do was look at the person that was floating on the sky, looking at her: ¡°Ravager¡­¡± She said as her eyes met the floating figure: ¡°Please¡­ let Minka go.¡± She pleaded.


    "The armor." Ravager demanded, her cold eyes fixed on Leanna, the weight of the force on Leanna''s shoulders grew heavier, and it was clear that the armor was what she wanted.


    Leanna retracted her armor into the bracelet, she tossed it to Ravager who caught it with ease: ¡°Let her go¡­ please.¡± She said,


    "Your little heroism cost us plenty of trouble, Leanna." Ravager said, her eyes cold and unfeeling.


    "No... DON''T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Minka yelled, her voice filled with fear and rage, she could barely move, and her body was still in pain.


    ¡°Remember this, both of you. Next time, I won¡¯t just take your armor, Leanna¡­ I¡¯ll take your lives,¡± Ravager¡¯s voice echoed coldly before she flew up, disappearing into the sky. As she vanished, Knight slipped away into the shadows, leaving them alone.


    The oppressive force on Leanna¡¯s body lifted. She coughed, tasting blood, and let out a shaky breath as the weight dissipated. As she raised her head, her gaze met Minka¡¯s¡ªa gaze filled with raw, unspoken emotion. Leanna looked away, her face marked with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry,¡± she whispered.


    Minka¡¯s silent tears fell, each drop staining the ground, carrying the weight of her fear and helplessness. But without a word, she crossed the space between them, wrapping Leanna in a fierce, almost desperate hug. The warmth of Minka¡¯s embrace surged through her, and for the first time, Leanna felt her heartbeat thundering in her chest, almost painfully so. A flush crept across her face as Minka¡¯s arms tightened around her, drawing her closer.


    ¡°W-wait¡­¡± Leanna stammered, her voice breaking with surprise, but Minka buried her face against Leanna¡¯s neck, her voice muffled yet tender. ¡°You are such an idiot¡­¡± she murmured, her tone soft, holding a hint of both anger and affection.


    Leanna¡¯s breath hitched as she stood, frozen, feeling Minka¡¯s warmth seep into her, grounding her in the aftermath of their ordeal. Her body felt like a furnace, overwhelmed by the closeness and the silent comfort in Minka¡¯s embrace. She didn¡¯t speak, only closed her eyes, her heart pounding as the world around them finally settled into silence. In this stolen moment of quiet, they clung to each other, drawing solace from the chaos.


    ¡°You scared me. When you took off the armor¡­ I thought I lost you.¡± Minka''s voice trembled with a mixture of fear and relief. Her grip tightened around Leanna as she held on like she would never let go again. Leanna could feel Minka¡¯s heartbeat, rapid and unsteady, mirroring her own.


    ¡°Minka, I¡ª¡± Leanna started, her voice catching in her throat as the realization dawned on her. Minka''s wounds had begun to heal, albeit slowly. Leanna¡¯s expression twisted in concern. ¡°You''re hurt...¡±


    Minka released her hold, stepping back slightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m okay,¡± she assured her, but her voice betrayed a lingering pain. Leanna''s hands moved instinctively to touch the injured areas. She could feel the uneven, broken skin, and the thought of it made her heart ache with a protective instinct.


    "Knight... that bastard... whipped you," Leanna''s voice trembled as she traced a hand along the raw wounds on Minka¡¯s back, her touch gentle but firm.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, we''re alive and that''s what counts.¡± Minka¡¯s voice was strong, almost defiant in the face of her pain.


    Leanna¡¯s hands shook, and her face grew pale, a mix of anger and anguish etched into her features. ¡°We can''t stay here. Let¡¯s go back to my house and treat these properly."


    They moved slowly through the darkened streets, the silence between them punctuated only by Minka¡¯s unsteady breaths. Leanna kept a steadying hand on her shoulder, guiding her, her own steps careful, as if one wrong move might break the fragile moment of calm.


    When they reached Leanna¡¯s home, she ushered Minka inside, sitting her down by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. Without a word, she gathered a basin of warm water, a clean cloth, and some bandages. Minka sat quietly, her shoulders tense, but her eyes softened as Leanna knelt before her.


    With gentle hands, Leanna dipped the cloth in the water, wringing it out before pressing it to Minka¡¯s wounds. Minka flinched, a soft hiss escaping her lips, but she held still. Leanna¡¯s hands were careful yet trembling, brushing lightly over the bruised and broken skin.


    ¡°I thought it was over,¡± Minka whispered, breaking the silence. ¡°When I saw her¡ªRavager¡ªI thought I¡¯d never see you again.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s hands paused, her eyes meeting Minka¡¯s. The fear she¡¯d buried beneath her strength flickered, raw and undeniable. ¡°I was afraid too, Minka,¡± she admitted, voice barely a whisper. ¡°More than I want to admit.¡±


    They held each other¡¯s gaze, a shared understanding passing between them. Slowly, a sense of determination replaced their fear.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be ready next time,¡± Minka said, her voice steady, defiant. ¡°Stronger.¡±


    Leanna nodded, her hand finding Minka¡¯s, squeezing it firmly. ¡°No more surprises. We¡¯ll face her together.¡±


    As Leanna finished tending to the wounds, they both fell into a comfortable silence. Minka leaned her head against Leanna¡¯s shoulder, letting her eyes drift shut. The quiet of the room wrapped around them, a protective cocoon that held back the dark memories, if only for this moment. Leanna¡¯s hand rested gently on Minka¡¯s, and together, they found a moment of peace amid the chaos, drawing strength from each other¡¯s presence.

 Chapter 33

    The night sky stretched endlessly above Ravager as she hovered over the desolate landscape, her gaze distant, unfocused. The fierce winds whipped around her, but she remained unmoving, her mind lingering on the encounter with Minka and Leanna. The armor sat heavy in her hand, a symbol of her victory¡ªyet somehow, a bitter reminder of something more.


    Ravager clenched her fist around the armor piece, feeling the cold metal against her skin, her lips curling into a faint smile. They were so fragile, she thought. So willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. And yet, that fragility was what gnawed at her, a thin crack in the fortress she had built around herself.


    She looked down at her reflection in the smooth surface of the armor, her own features staring back¡ªfeatures once shared with Minka, but twisted now by lifetimes of loss and rage. There was no place for weakness, for sentiment. Not in this life.


    And yet, a whisper crept into her thoughts, unbidden. A name. Eden.


    Her hands trembled for a moment before she forced them to still, her expression hardening. This was no time for memories, no time for ghosts. Eden was long gone, taken from her in a life that felt like a distant dream. She had sacrificed everything to bring herself back from death, to become more than human¡ªyet, each time she faced Minka, it was as if her past self clawed its way back, haunting her with memories of what she had lost.


    She would never be the same again. The armor was a reminder of that, and she would use it to carve out her own future¡ªone not dictated by the whims of fate or the ghosts of the past. Ravager cast one last look at the stars before turning her gaze downward, towards her destination. There was no room for regret; there could only be purpose.


    With a final glance back at the city that lay in the distance, she vanished into the night, the wind swallowing any trace of her presence. She put on the bracelet and the armor began expanding on her body. It glows in a faint dark light and soon she is covered by the armor: "Welcome back, old friend." Ravager said, feeling a rush of power surging through her. She vanished into thin air.


    In a far off place, Ravager walks in the dark corridors, she is following Knight. She is wearing her new armor: "Nice armor." Knight said as they both walked: "It fits you well."


    As Ravager and Knight moved through the shadowy corridors, the low hum of machinery echoed around them, casting flickering shadows on the cold metal walls. Ravager¡¯s new armor, now fully integrated with the bracelet, seemed to pulse in tune with her heartbeat, its energy whispering promises of power and control.


    Knight glanced sideways at Ravager, her eyes sharp and calculating. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next step?¡± she asked, her tone casual but edged with curiosity. ¡°You¡¯ve got the armor now. What¡¯s left?¡±


    Ravager¡¯s gaze stayed fixed ahead, her voice smooth and unyielding. ¡°What¡¯s left, Knight, is to ensure there are no more obstacles. Minka, Leanna¡­ they¡¯re just the beginning. Anyone who stands in my way, anyone who dares to protect them¡­ they¡¯ll be removed.¡± Her voice was devoid of emotion, as if she were discussing mere objects rather than lives.


    Knight chuckled, a hint of admiration in her voice. ¡°I like this version of you. Focused. Relentless. I¡¯m glad I¡¯m not on the other end of that armor.¡± Her smile widened, through her eyes stayed wary.


    Ravager stopped abruptly, turning to face Knight. The faint glow of the armor cast an eerie light across her face, and her expression was unreadable, almost detached. ¡°I don¡¯t do this for pleasure, Knight. This armor, this power¡ªit¡¯s a means to an end. You would do well to remember that.¡±


    Knight¡¯s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly masked it, giving a nonchalant shrug. ¡°Sure, whatever you say. Just keep that power pointed in the right direction, and we¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    A faint beeping sound interrupted their conversation. Knight pulled a small device from her belt, glancing at the screen. Her expression turned serious. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve got movement." she said.


    Knight glanced at Ravager: "So he''s here?" She asked: "You''re going to face him right?"


    "Yes."


    "So what''s the plan?" Knight asked.


    "I am going to make him pay." Ravager replied.


    Ravager¡¯s hand moved towards her wrist, the gauntlet activating with a low hum: "Time to end this." She said, then the entire place began shaking and it was followed by an explosion that caused a fire and the entire building shook. Ravager teleported to where she was standing and when she saw the figure that was approaching, her eyes grew in fury: "Dad..."


    "My dear Minka..." The voice said. It''s familiar and soothing but Ravager''s anger is only fueled upon hearing it. Her power is growing as the man that she is seeing right now is none other than her father. "What do we have here... you''re different... and that power..."


    Ravager''s eyes glowed: "I''m not that person anymore. I''m not Minka... not anymore...Do you have anything to say?" She asked, her voice filled with anger, the ground started to shake violently and the fire around them grew.


    The Archivist''s voice remained calm and gentle: "It doesn''t have to be like this... my dear Minka, you don''t have to follow the same path that I took..."


    "I will never forgive you... you did this... YOU DID THIS TO US!" Ravager said and the place suddenly glowed and in an instant it all vanished and turned into nothing but dust... except Knight and... The Archivist.


    Now they can finally see him... It is the face Knight recognizes: "Impossible... that''s Legend. How did you-" Before Knight could finish, overwhelming psychic energy blasts her back to the wall.


    The Archivist looks at Knight who is struggling to stand: "Just in time to finally adjust to this body... Now... Minka my dear, there''s still a chance for you to join me. Together we can bring her back." He said.


    Ravager¡¯s fists clenched, the raw energy around her cackling like a storm barely contained. She took a step toward the Archivist, her gaze filled with a mixture of hatred and defiance. ¡°There is no ¡®us,¡¯¡± she hissed. ¡°You lost that when you killed...mom.¡± Her voice wavered, a hint of her old self breaking through, but she quickly buried it beneath her rage.


    The Archivist watched her with that same unreadable calm, his eyes betraying the slightest glimmer of something close to regret. ¡°Minka, my dear daughter, you may deny it all you like, but the power in you is linked to her sacrifice.¡±


    Ravager raised her hand, energy swirling at her fingertips, a firestorm of raw psychic power building between them. ¡°I am not your daughter,¡± she spat. ¡°Not anymore. And I won¡¯t let you control me¡ªor anyone else¡ªever again.¡±


    The Archivist lifted his hand, but instead of preparing an attack, he opened his palm in a gesture of peace. ¡°Minka¡ªdon¡¯t you see? I did this to save you, to protect us from a world that would tear us apart. You have power beyond measure, and yet you waste it on vengeance when together we could achieve so much more.¡±


    The words struck a nerve, and Ravager¡¯s control wavered for a fraction of a second. Knight, who had finally managed to regain her footing, watched the exchange in stunned silence, her own expression a mix of disbelief and dawning understanding. She realized the Archivist¡¯s manipulation extended far deeper than she¡¯d thought¡ªand that he intended to twist Ravager¡¯s emotions to his advantage.


    With a sudden shout, Ravager unleashed her pent-up energy, sending a shockwave toward the Archivist. He deflected it effortlessly, his calm demeanor unbroken. ¡°You cannot defeat me, Minka. Not like this,¡± he said, voice steady. ¡°The anger inside you¡ªif you let it go, we could bring back what was lost. We could bring back Eden.¡±


    At the mention of Eden, Ravager¡¯s power faltered, her breathing ragged as memories clawed their way to the surface. She remembered Eden¡ªher mother, the one person she had loved and lost forever in all timeline, whose memory had driven her to the very brink. For a moment, her fury dimmed, her resolve shaken.


    Seeing his chance, the Archivist stepped forward, his hand outstretched. ¡°Join me, Minka. Together, we could defy fate itself. We could reshape this world in Eden¡¯s image, in a way no one else could.¡±


    Knight, recovering from the Archivist¡¯s blast, saw Ravager¡¯s hesitation and called out. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him! He¡¯s only using you¡ªdon¡¯t let him twist your mind!¡± Her voice rang with urgency, a rare edge of desperation breaking through her usual composed tone.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Ravager¡¯s gaze flickered between Knight and the Archivist, her expression torn. The anger that had driven her moments before now tangled with a flood of grief and longing. The thought of Eden¡¯s return gnawed at her, a temptation as powerful as any force she¡¯d faced.


    But then, something in her steeled. She took a deep breath, grounding herself, focusing on the weight of her purpose. She had come too far to fall prey to the very person who had twisted her life.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, her voice quiet but firm. ¡°I won¡¯t be your weapon anymore. I won¡¯t become like you.¡±


    The Archivist¡¯s face darkened, the calm veneer slipping for the first time, revealing a flash of rage. ¡°Then you are a fool, Minka. Without me, you are nothing.¡±


    With newfound determination, Ravager channeled all her energy into a single attack, drawing strength from her resolve to sever the bond between them. The air shimmered with raw power, and she unleashed it in a focused blast that enveloped the Archivist, the sheer force of it tearing through the space around them.


    The Archivist staggered, visibly weakened but still standing, a look of cold fury etched into his features. ¡°So be it,¡± he whispered, his tone deadly. ¡°You¡¯ve made your choice. But know this, Minka¡ªI will not rest until you understand the price of defiance.¡±


    In a final flash of light, he vanished, leaving behind the faintest echo of his presence. The room fell silent, the remnants of Ravager¡¯s energy fading like embers. She stood there, breathless, her heart pounding with the weight of the encounter.


    Knight approached cautiously, still shaken. ¡°Are you¡­ alright?¡± she asked, the unspoken question hanging between them: What happens now?


    Ravager turned to her, the fury gone but an unmistakable sadness lingering in her eyes. ¡°I will never be his puppet again,¡± she vowed softly, the words ringing with the promise of a battle yet unwon. ¡°I will not be what he wanted me to become. Not now, not ever.


    The Archivist stood alone in the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fixed on the ancient consoles and data-slates strewn before him. Flickering screens reflected off his face, casting long, cold shadows across the room as he studied the readings from his recent confrontation. The energy signatures from Ravager''s power surge still pulsed faintly on the display, resonating with a familiar echo¡ªa piece of himself, yet twisted and wild, defying his control.


    He lifted a hand to the screen, watching the chaotic patterns dance across his fingertips. ¡°My dear Minka,¡± he murmured softly, his voice a blend of nostalgia and disappointment. She had come so far from the child he¡¯d once known. No longer a daughter bound by loyalty and obedience, she was now a force of defiance. A dangerous, unpredictable element. Yet, he couldn¡¯t suppress a twinge of pride at her transformation.


    A small, thin smile crept onto his face, though his eyes remained hard. ¡°You¡¯re strong, Minka¡­ perhaps even stronger than I had anticipated. But strength alone is never enough.¡± He clasped his hands behind his back, pacing the length of the chamber, the hum of machinery and data consoles filling the silence.


    ¡°Such raw power,¡± he mused aloud, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°But raw power without guidance? It¡¯s little more than a weapon wielded by emotion.¡± He let his words hang in the air, as if she were there to hear them, as if she might respond. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before you realize the truth. Or I force it upon you.¡±


    His steps slowed, and he glanced down at an ancient artifact lying on the table¡ªa crystalline shard, faintly pulsing with the remnants of psychic energy. The fragment was all that remained of Eden¡¯s essence, a connection he¡¯d kept hidden, drawing on its power in secret. It was fragile now, barely holding its shape, but to him, it was the heart of everything. The final piece to bring Eden back, to restore what was once taken from him. Thinking of Eden, his memory drifted back to that... day.


    The memory was burned into his mind like an eternal scar, a dark wound that festered in every thought, every breath he took. The Archivist¡¯s once-sharp features were softened by sorrow as he sat alone in his dim laboratory, surrounded by the remnants of experiments, artifacts, and devices¡ªall the fruits of his desperate quest for understanding. But on this night, no amount of knowledge could fill the void Eden¡¯s absence left.


    It had been an ordinary day, the kind that hardly stands out in memory, except that it was the last. Eden had been in the lab with him, her laughter filling the sterile space as she teased him about his latest obsession. She¡¯d had a knack for grounding him, pulling him away from the abstract theories and complicated plans that had once consumed him. Together, they shared an unbreakable bond¡ªa connection that transcended their individual pursuits.


    But then, a visitor came. A man, or rather a being, unlike anything the Archivist had ever encountered. He had appeared as if from thin air, slipping through realities like a shadow. There had been no warning, no signal¡ªonly a flash, a crackling hum, and then silence as the stranger materialized, an agent of chaos from a realm beyond. The Archivist had only a second to react, just enough time to push Eden behind him as the intruder raised a weapon unfamiliar to any world he knew.


    Eden¡¯s voice rang out, clear and steady. ¡°Stay back. Let him go, and you can have whatever you came for.¡± Her bravery in that moment was devastating, cutting through him like a blade. She had always been the strong one, her resolve a steady flame in the darkness. But the Archivist could feel the air ripple with an energy he could not contain, an unrelenting force that tore through the fabric of reality itself.


    He could only watch, helpless and horrified, as the being unleashed a blast¡ªa wave of energy that shattered everything in its path. Eden tried to shield him, raising her hand to counter the blast with a force he hadn¡¯t known she possessed. But it wasn¡¯t enough. The Archivist remembered the searing light, the unbearable sound, and then the sight of her falling, her hand slipping from his grasp as her life was torn from her.


    When the light faded, the intruder was gone, leaving only silence and ash in his wake. Eden lay motionless on the ground, her face as serene as if she were only sleeping. The Archivist dropped to his knees, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch her, as though he could bring her back to life. But she was cold, her warmth slipping away like the remnants of a dream.


    In the decades that followed, he became a shadow of the man he once was. The grief was endless, all-consuming, filling him with a void no achievement, no knowledge, could ever fill. He withdrew into himself, shutting out the world, the memories of her smile, her voice haunting him at every turn.


    And then, the anger came¡ªa slow, smoldering rage that transformed him, forging him into something beyond human. He would not let her death be meaningless. He would bend reality itself to find her, to bring her back, no matter what the cost. His life, his ambitions, even his soul¡ªnothing was too great a price to pay. He became the Archivist, a collector of secrets and power, gathering every shard of knowledge that might lead him closer to breaking the barrier between life and death.


    But in his relentless pursuit, he lost himself. His compassion faded, his warmth turned cold, until he became a vessel for only two things: his grief and his purpose. In his obsession, he cut down anyone who stood in his way, convinced that they would only waste the precious seconds he could use to reach Eden. He turned his back on humanity, on love, on the fragile connections that once defined him.


    And as he journeyed through endless realities, his memory of Eden began to shift, warped by his desperation and anger. She became a symbol of his failure, a haunting presence that drove him deeper into the darkness, compelling him to bend every law of nature, every moral boundary, to reclaim what was stolen from him. In his grief, he even began to resent those around him, seeing their happiness, their love, as a cruel mockery of what he had lost. His own daughter''s gift left from Eden was no longer enough. Nothing could fill the emptiness left by Eden, and so everything else became an obstacle.


    In the quiet of his lab, the Archivist stared into the distance, the ghost of his beloved forever imprinted in his mind. His hands, once filled with the promise of knowledge and creation, were now instruments of his relentless crusade, stained with the blood and ash of countless worlds. And yet, in the depths of his despair, a small part of him still remembered the warmth of her touch, the sound of her laughter. The memory of what he once was.


    With a slow exhale, the Archivist stood, his gaze steely, a flicker of the man he had once been, now buried under the weight of loss and obsession. In his years of grief, he tried to find whatever killed Eden. But no trace. Not even a single piece of DNA or any biological matter can be traced back. As though the enemy is... nothing... a void... a nightmare... an unexplainable phenomenon that shouldn''t be explained... something so wrong... so terrifying...


    As the memory fades into the background of his mind, the Archivist''s thoughts return to the present. He just acquired one of the strongest warrior''s bodies and did some adjustments to it. Now, all he needs to do is to activate his full potential and with the power from this world... Eden... there''s a chance that she can finally come back. But his daughter somehow became the biggest obstacle that stands before him and his wife.


    The Archivist¡¯s face settled back into its cold, impassive mask, his resolve unwavering. He would find a way, no matter the cost. The quest for Eden was all that mattered, and no one¡ªneither Minka, Knight, or the countless others who stood against him¡ªcould stand in his way.


    Ravager on the other hand is biting her nails in her room, she''s sitting on her bed, and thinking about the future.


    "Hey you okay? I''ve never seen you bite your nails like that." Knight said: "It''s like the first time I saw you in such a nervous wreck."


    Ravager looks at her then she looks down, she is thinking of what she can do. She want to kill her dad, she wanted to end it all, she wants to make sure that her father will never hurt anyone ever again but...at her current power, she can fight against Archivist but she will not be able to kill him and there is also a chance that she would fail and if that happens... she''ll die for good. And if she died then no one can stop the Archivist.


    "You''re worried." Knight said: "You''re worried that he''s right, you''re worried that you might mess up this chance where you can get your mother back. Am I right?"


    "You know... sometimes it scares me that you can read my mind like an open book." Ravager said: "To answer that, yeah you are correct." She added.


    "So what should we do?" Knight said: "We either risk everything and take the chance that we can get our loved one back or we stay the course and put an end to it and prevent anything worse from happening."


    Ravager remained silent for a bit. But eventually, she replied: "I''d choose the latter."


    "And this is why I am following you, because you know which one is more important." Knight said her eyes are showing admiration. She knows how much it hurts for Ravager to choose the latter, she knows how much her heart must''ve broken upon choosing what''s right over her desire to get her mother back, but the thing is she chose it...and that''s what made Knight admire her so much. Despite what she went through she still chose to protect others from suffering the same fate she suffered.

 Chapter 34

    The ancient ruins stretched before Ravager, half-buried in a silent wasteland under the abyss. Her eyes narrowed as she approached the entrance, her steps echoing in the hollow silence. She had heard whispers of this place from old records¡ªan abandoned archive from a long-forgotten civilization, rumored to hold knowledge that could rival even the Archivist¡¯s own.


    Behind her, Knight moved cautiously, her gaze wary as she took in the strange inscriptions carved into the stone. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Knight¡¯s voice was steady, but Ravager could sense the unease beneath. ¡°This place was condemned for a reason. Whatever knowledge was buried here, it was never meant to be found.¡±


    Ravager didn¡¯t answer immediately, her focus on the darkened hall stretching before them. In the back of her mind, her father¡¯s words haunted her: Raw power without guidance?


    That was what she needed to change.


    ¡°This is the only way,¡± she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°If I¡¯m going to stop him, I need to know what he knows¡ªor more.¡±


    The air was thick and stifling as they descended deeper into the ruin, the weight of centuries pressing down around them. Strange symbols flickered across the walls, dim and eerie, like dying embers of an ancient flame. Ravager paused at an inscription carved in a language she didn¡¯t understand, but its meaning felt familiar, an echo of words she had once heard in her father¡¯s studies: "My sources told me that he came here and gained something.... But what did he gain?"


    Knight¡¯s voice broke her thought. ¡°These markings¡­ they¡¯re warnings. This place doesn¡¯t hold knowledge¡ªit holds curses.¡± She looked at Ravager, a faint plea in her gaze. ¡°Are you willing to risk it all, just for a chance at power?¡±


    Ravager¡¯s gaze hardened, the memories of her father¡¯s atrocities, the lives he¡¯d taken, the worlds he¡¯d shattered, fueling her resolve. ¡°If I don¡¯t, who will stop him?¡±


    They pressed on until they reached a chamber at the heart of the ruins, where the air grew colder, almost oppressive. In the center of the room stood an altar, covered in dust and cobwebs, yet pulsing faintly with a dark, ancient energy. On the altar lay a tome, bound in strange, dark metal that seemed to shift under her gaze, like a void made tangible. Ravager approached slowly, feeling its pull¡ªthe lure of forbidden knowledge calling her, offering power in exchange for something she had already sacrificed long ago¡ªher innocence.


    She reached for the tome, feeling its icy coldness seeping into her fingertips. The cover opened with a sound like a distant scream, revealing pages written in a script so arcane it hurt to look at. Each word felt like a dagger in her mind, sharp and unforgiving.


    Knight grabbed her arm, pulling her away. ¡°This is madness. Whatever is in that tome¡ªit¡¯s not worth losing yourself to it.¡±


    Ravager hesitated, staring into the depths of the tome. Could she really afford to walk away now? To let her father¡¯s actions go unpunished, to live knowing she hadn¡¯t done everything in her power to stop him?


    ¡°No,¡± she whispered, determination burning in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not just about me. It¡¯s about everyone he¡¯s hurt, everyone he¡¯ll continue to hurt. I¡¯m willing to do whatever it takes to end his reign of terror.¡±


    With a swift motion, she tore free from Knight¡¯s grasp, returning to the tome and placing both hands on its surface. The book shimmered, its pages shifting and warping under her touch. She felt its energy surge into her, flooding her mind with visions and voices that were not her own, memories of ages long past, knowledge that had been lost to the annals of history. The pain was unbearable, tearing at the very essence of her being, but she held fast, letting the ancient wisdom wash over her, suffuse her until it became a part of her.


    Knight gulps while watching this scene, it was her idea that led Ravager to this place, she is worried about her wellbeing...but she knows what her purpose is. Right now Ravager is risking everything to make sure that they can get rid of the man who made her life miserable...but at what cost?


    The ruins quaked around them as Ravager absorbed the forbidden knowledge, the walls themselves seeming to breathe in rhythm with her. With one final burst of light, it ended, and she slumped to her knees, panting heavily. The tome clattered to the floor beside her, its dark cover now scorched and inert. Ravager uses her hands to write something in the air as the writings formed a sphere of protective field around her... and instantly it started cracking...then finally breaking...then shattering completely to pieces: "So this is how he did it... he used arcane to break the limiter of a physical body." Ravager said and she started writing more runes in the air and soon after it created a new type of barrier field but this time it managed to withstand the pressure exerted by Ravager''s new powers.


    "Is it working?" Knight asks, worry fills her entire body.


    "I think it worked." Ravager said then she stood up: "Let''s head out of here..." Ravager walks out first then followed by Knight who gave one last glance at the Tome that laid on the ground then she walked off, not wanting to waste anymore time. On their way back, Ravager looks at her hand as if there''s something on it that''s bothering her: "What''s wrong?" Knight asked.


    "I can see the energy flow in my body, and it seems my new power isn''t limited by physical contact." Ravager explained while looking at her arm, she raises her right hand forward: "Now you''re going to see what true magic is."


    Knight raised her eyebrow as she wonders what her friend means by that, suddenly Ravager releases her power which made the tree around her be flattened as though a truck rammed it into million times. She couldn''t believe it. Magic doesn''t work in this world but somehow, Ravager is making it work, how did she do that?


    "Where did you get your sources?" Knight asks, unable to hide the curiosity inside her heart, how did Ravager gain the knowledge of that place?


    "They told me." Ravager answered without giving much detail.


    "You have to stop meeting people who knows a lot of shit about stuff and places they''re not supposed to know." Knight said and it''s obvious that she is worried for Ravager''s safety: "I know you are powerful... but remember you died once already. You got another shot because of weird circumstance. Don''t make this hard on yourself."


    Ravager smiles but didn''t say anything. When Knight saw that, she was able to realize that it would be pointless trying to persuade Ravager not to take action against the archivist. So instead, Knight tries to give emotional support.


    Meanwhile


    The lights flickered in Sannet¡¯s quiet chamber as the code pulsed across her comm device. A signal only she would recognize¡ªa call from the past, a summons from Trazyn. She had spent years running from anything connected to that name, and now he dared to reach out again, asking for her expertise as if she had never left. She sighed, closing her eyes as if bracing herself for a pain that never quite faded.


    The message itself was cryptic yet unmistakable: Trazyn needed her help with a repair, something only she could handle. Her instincts screamed at her to ignore it, but a stubborn curiosity gnawed at her¡ªwhat could possibly make him need her again? And why would he lower himself to ask?


    Reluctantly, she decoded the coordinates and made her way to his infamous gallery.


    When she arrived, Trazyn greeted her in the opulent main hall, surrounded by artifacts gleaming from distant eras. The moment he saw her, he wore the same thin smile she remembered all too well even when he''s not in his necron form¡ªa smile that managed to be both welcoming and condescending.


    ¡°Ah, Sannet,¡± he said, spreading his arms. ¡°It¡¯s been far too long.¡±


    She crossed her arms, keeping her distance. ¡°You said you needed a repair done. I didn¡¯t come here for pleasantries.¡±


    He merely chuckled, unfazed by her bluntness. ¡°Yes, of course. It¡¯s the Chronotheric Stabilizer. You¡¯ll find it a delicate operation, but I assume you¡¯re still up to the task?¡±


    The stabilizer, she knew, was a critical component in his galleries, maintaining the temporal balance around his collections. Without it, artifacts would be lost, slipping out of time. She eyed him skeptically, her stomach twisting. ¡°You haven¡¯t found anyone else to fix it? Strange for someone with as many resources as you.¡±


    ¡°I require skill,¡± he replied, his tone faintly amused. ¡°Not just obedience. But mainly trust.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The veiled compliment caught her off guard, and she quickly turned away, feigning indifference. ¡°Just show me the stabilizer,¡± she said.


    In the dim light of the chamber that housed the stabilizer, Sannet studied the ancient machine. Its towering structure emitted an ominous hum, and glyphs flickered erratically across its surface. She ran a hand over one of the control panels, feeling the broken machinery pulse with barely-contained energy.


    ¡°This stabilizer isn¡¯t just broken, Trazyn,¡± she said, not looking up. ¡°You¡¯ve modified it.¡±


    ¡°Optimized it,¡± he corrected, as though it were a trivial distinction.


    Her head snapped up, her eyes blazing. ¡°Your ¡®optimizations¡¯ are why this is a disaster waiting to happen. One wrong move, and the entire device could implode. Did you even consider the risks before tampering with it?¡±


    He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. ¡°Risks? Why, I have full faith in your abilities, Sannet. You¡¯ll be careful.¡±


    She clenched her fists, holding back the surge of frustration that rose within her. ¡°You always push everyone else into danger. It¡¯s never you who has to bear the cost, is it?¡±


    Trazyn¡¯s smile faded, replaced by an expression colder and sharper. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve forgotten what it means to serve something greater than yourself.¡±


    She laughed, bitterly. ¡°Serve? That¡¯s how you justify it. All the sacrifices, all the people you¡¯ve hurt¡ª¡®preserving history¡¯ just makes it sound noble.¡± If he''s really into things that serves greater purpose than yourself, why did he leave? Why taking part of a role in human society? She thought to her self.


    A tense silence fell between them, filled only by the faint hum of the broken stabilizer.


    Despite her anger, Sannet set to work on the repairs, deftly adjusting the stabilizer¡¯s circuitry and muttering under her breath at the absurdity of it all. Trazyn¡¯s modifications had twisted the stabilizer into something unstable, chaotic. She needed to undo the damage, recalibrating each piece as carefully as if she were defusing a bomb.


    As she worked, she broke the silence. ¡°Why me, Trazyn? Why not find someone else to do this?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re the best,¡± he replied simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. His tone softened slightly. ¡°You always were.¡±


    She paused, taken aback, but quickly brushed it off. ¡°I thought I was just another tool to you,¡± she muttered.


    He sighed, a hint of something close to regret in his voice. ¡°Tools can¡¯t fix what you¡¯ve just fixed, Sannet. Not every creation is replaceable.¡±


    The words held a rare note of vulnerability, and she felt a pang of something she had long buried. But she quickly forced it down, steeling herself. She couldn¡¯t let herself believe there was anything genuine behind his compliments.


    Hours passed, and the stabilizer was nearly repaired, but she encountered one last problem¡ªthe core would need to be reset from within. It would require her to enter the machine, a risky maneuver that could leave her trapped if anything went wrong.


    ¡°Listen, Trazyn, I¡¯ll need to enter the core to finish this,¡± she said, turning to him. ¡°If I¡¯m in there and something malfunctions¡­¡±


    He interrupted, unfazed. ¡°Surely a technician of your caliber can manage.¡±


    Her temper flared. ¡°Of course you¡¯d send me in without a second thought. You¡¯ve never cared who you put in danger, as long as you get what you want.¡±


    She took a step back, folding her arms defiantly. ¡°I¡¯ll go in there¡ªbut on one condition. If I succeed, you¡¯ll give me any data or artifacts related to my past. I want to know everything you kept from me.¡±


    He hesitated, the slightest flicker of something like guilt crossing his face, but then he inclined his head. ¡°Very well, Sannet. You have my word.¡±


    With a grim nod, she climbed into the machine.


    Inside, the core was a labyrinth of shifting energy fields and unstable power circuits. She could feel the pressure bearing down on her, the weight of the task she had agreed to. She closed her eyes, steadying herself, and got to work, methodically recalibrating the core¡¯s connections.


    As she reconnected the final conduit, a surge of power rushed through the stabilizer, shaking the core violently. For a moment, she thought it might implode, trapping her within the device forever. But with a last burst of focus, she stabilized the core, watching the energy settle into a steady hum.


    Breathless and exhausted, she climbed out, meeting Trazyn¡¯s gaze with a mixture of relief and anger. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± she said, her voice trembling from the strain.


    True to his word, Trazyn handed her a small data cube, containing the long-hidden information she had sought. She grasped it tightly, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. Finally, she would have answers¡ªanswers he had withheld for so long.


    As she turned to leave, Trazyn spoke, his voice softer than she¡¯d ever heard. ¡°Thank you, Sannet.¡±


    She looked back, seeing a glimmer of something in his eyes that might have once been pride¡ªor perhaps regret. But she didn¡¯t respond, didn¡¯t give him the satisfaction of a reply. She walked away, feeling a strange mix of triumph and sorrow.


    Walking off to her private room, Sannet sat on her bed and pressed the cube to her temple, watching as the data poured into her mind.


    Memories flashed before her eyes, moments of her past life playing like a disjointed film reel. There she was, growing up on her homeworld. There, she saw herself studying tirelessly, mastering technology and quantum mechanics alongside the other Necrontyrs. There were scenes of happiness and hardship, achievement and loss¡ªand throughout it all, she saw Trazyn, always present, always guiding, always manipulating.


    She putted it away, Trazyn has been in her life from the very start, she thought. This thought for some reason made her heart beat fast, she doesn''t understand why her heart is beating so fast, is she scared? Is she nervous? No, that''s not it. It''s... it''s because she''s starting to feel something for him...: "Him? That piece of..." She stops. She can''t even insult him even if she wanted to, she knows why... because she is in love with him... and it''s painful... because she knows it''s unrequited. She sighs: "I should stop worrying and just get this over with." She said and started reading the memory cube once more. She watched her younger self make discoveries that would shape her entire race, and she saw the moment she¡¯d first met Trazyn, then she saw that it was him who dragged her into the furnace of biotransference, she was not willing to do such act. All those death in war in heaven, the pain, the suffering, the agony of the bio-transference... she was not willing to do all of it and it was Trazyn who made her suffer all that... she didn''t want to continue reading and decided to stop.


    Sannet emerged from her private chamber, her movements brisk and purposeful, though her mind churned with conflict. The revelations from the memory cube had shaken her deeply, dredging up emotions she had long buried¡ªfear, anger, and, much to her dismay, a maddening affection she couldn¡¯t reconcile.


    The corridor outside was quiet, its dim lighting casting elongated shadows on the metallic walls. As Sannet walked, lost in her thoughts, she nearly collided with Monika, who was leaning casually against the wall with her arms crossed. Monika¡¯s emerald green eyes sparkled with their usual warmth, but there was a hint of curiosity as she tilted her head, studying Sannet.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost,¡± Monika remarked, her voice light, though concern tinged her tone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Sannet hesitated, her usually composed demeanor faltering. She shifted her weight uncomfortably, avoiding Monika¡¯s gaze. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said curtly, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her.


    Monika raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. ¡°Come on, Sannet. I¡¯ve known you long enough to tell when something¡¯s bothering you.¡± She stepped closer, her tone softening. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    Sannet clenched her fists, her mind a storm of emotions she didn¡¯t know how to express. How could she explain what she¡¯d just learned? That the man she had spent years resenting had not only orchestrated her greatest pain but had somehow found a place in her heart that she couldn¡¯t erase?


    ¡°It¡¯s Trazyn,¡± Sannet finally admitted, her voice low, almost trembling.


    Monika¡¯s expression shifted, her playful demeanor replaced by seriousness. ¡°What about him?¡± she asked, her tone careful, as though stepping onto fragile ground.


    Sannet let out a sharp breath, her frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡°He¡¯s a manipulative, self-serving collector who ruins everything he touches,¡± she said, her voice rising slightly. ¡°And yet¡­¡± Her words faltered, and she looked away, ashamed of what she was about to admit.


    Monika¡¯s eyes softened with understanding. ¡°And yet, you care about him,¡± she finished for her.


    Sannet¡¯s head snapped up, her expression a mixture of shock and defensiveness. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªhe doesn¡¯t¡ª¡± she stammered, but Monika simply gave her a knowing look.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, you know,¡± Monika said gently. ¡°Feelings are messy, especially when it comes to someone like Trazyn. He¡¯s¡­ complicated. But that''s what i love about him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an understatement,¡± Sannet muttered, crossing her arms tightly. She shook her head, her frustration mounting. ¡°How can I feel anything but hatred for him after everything he¡¯s done? He dragged me into biotransference against my will, made me suffer through the War in Heaven, and now he has the audacity to call me back like nothing happened!¡±


    ¡°And yet, you¡¯re here,¡± Monika pointed out, her tone kind but firm. ¡°You could have ignored his call, but you didn¡¯t. Why?¡±


    Sannet¡¯s shoulders slumped, and she leaned back against the wall, her gaze distant. ¡°Because¡­ I thought I could confront him. That maybe I could finally get answers, maybe even closure.¡± She let out a bitter laugh. ¡°But instead, I¡¯m more confused than ever.¡±


    Monika stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Sannet¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to figure it all out right now,¡± she said. ¡°But maybe this is your chance to take control of your story. Trazyn may have shaped your past, but he doesn¡¯t have to define your future.¡±


    Sannet met Monika¡¯s gaze, her eyes shimmering with a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. For the first time in a long while, she felt the faintest flicker of hope¡ªhope that she could untangle the threads of her past and forge a path of her own, free from Trazyn¡¯s shadow.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Sannet said, her voice steadier now. ¡°I can¡¯t let him control me anymore. Not my actions, not my feelings.¡±


    Monika smiled warmly. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. And hey, if you ever need someone to vent to¡ªor to punch something with¡ªI¡¯m here.¡±


    A small, rare smile tugged at the corners of Sannet¡¯s lips. ¡°Thank you, Monika.¡±


    As they walked together down the corridor, Sannet couldn¡¯t help but feel a small weight lifting from her shoulders. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, she felt like she had the strength to face it on her own terms.

 Chapter 35

    Sannet sat cross-legged in the dimly lit room, the data cube humming faintly in her hands. The weight of Trazyn''s request pressed on her, but this was no ordinary task. She had to uncover the truth¡ªno matter how much it tore her apart. As she activated the cube, its light spilled across her face, fragments of data swimming like a constellation in the air around her. Slowly, the memories within the cube unraveled, merging with her own consciousness.


    This was no ordinary data. It wasn¡¯t just historical accounts or cold records; it was alive, a repository of truths spanning countless dimensions. Her breath caught as fragments of her life intertwined with alien worlds, alternate realities, and the unrelenting thread of one man¡¯s grief: the Archivist.


    Her focus sharpened as she searched for a singular point¡ªthe truth about Eden''s death. Time and reality folded in on themselves as she delved deeper, the layers of memory and knowledge threatening to consume her. Then, she found it.


    A vision bloomed before her, vivid and overwhelming. Sannet was no longer in the room. She stood in a moment ripped from time, an infinite field of possibilities stretching before her. She saw Eden, radiant and alive, standing beside the Archivist, her laughter echoing in the void. And then came the shadow.


    It wasn¡¯t a faceless being or a cosmic force. It was someone familiar. Sannet¡¯s heart sank as the shadow stepped into the light, revealing none other than Nova Terra¡ªor rather, a version of her. This Nova was cloaked in a sleek, black uniform etched with glowing runes of power. Her blonde hair, tied back with military precision, gleamed under the flickering light of destruction. Her piercing blue eyes, colder than ever, glared at Eden with calculated determination.


    Eden''s expression pales, her voice barely a whisper. "You?"


    Nova''s face remained unreadable, a perfect mask of authority. She didn''t respond, only raised her weapon, a sleek, high-powered rifle that isn''t like anything Sannet has seen. Its barrel glowed with a pulsing red energy, charged and ready to fire. With a fluid motion, Nova aimed it at Eden, her stance unyielding.


    Eden tried to plead with her, her voice shaking. "Nova, please, don''t do this." She then stood in front of the Archivist: "Stay back. Let him go, and you can have whatever you came for."


    "You never should''ve given birth to that freak of a daughter. It ends now, Eden." Nova''s voice was steady and devoid of emotion. "No one is above the order. I''m sorry." With a single shot, the world around them shattered, and everything was consumed in a blinding light. The vision ended, leaving Sannet gasping in the real world, the data cube slipping from her hands. The truth, raw and painful, had been revealed.


    Sannet watches it silently, her hands are crossed under her chin. As the vision ends, she sits back in her chair, her expression grim. "So, it was Nova..." She says to herself quietly. The revelation is heavy on her, but she knows this information is too important to be revealed at the moment. After a moment of contemplation, she makes a decision. She takes the data cube and carefully inserts it back into her personal terminal. Her fingers move with practiced efficiency as she begins to erase all traces of the vision she just witnessed.


    "So you know?" Viola''s voice suddenly came from behind Sannet, making her jump a little bit. "You shouldn''t be watching this." She added, a pistol pointed at Sannet.


    Sannet turns to face Viola, her expression calm and composed despite the weapon pointed at her. "Yes, I saw it," she admits. "But I''m not going to reveal this to anyone." She says firmly, looking straight into Viola''s eyes, trying to convey the sincerity of her words. "I know the implications of this knowledge, and I know how dangerous it can be if it falls into the wrong hands."


    "Yeah I know, I just love to screw with you." Viola lowers her gun, she smiles and walks toward Sannet. "I''m sorry, I just can''t help but to mess with people. It''s a bad habit." Viola says.


    The quiet hum of the terminal filled the room as Sannet sat motionless, her thoughts a tangled web. Viola leaned casually against the doorway, her pistol now holstered, but her sharp purple eyes betrayed a guarded alertness. The smirk she often wore was gone, replaced by an expression Sannet couldn¡¯t quite place¡ªpart amusement, part something deeper.


    "You¡¯re surprisingly calm for someone who just pointed a gun at me," Sannet said dryly, her hands folding over her lap as she turned to face Viola.


    "Hey, I never said I was here to hurt you," Viola replied, stepping into the room with her usual feline grace. "I just like keeping people on edge. It¡¯s a habit." She plopped into a chair across from Sannet, kicking her legs up onto the table. "But let¡¯s cut the small talk, yeah? I think we¡¯ve got bigger fish to fry."


    Sannet¡¯s gaze sharpened. "Like what? Another one of your games?"


    "Hardly," Viola said, waving a dismissive hand. "What you found in that cube is just the surface. If you¡¯re going to understand what¡¯s really happening, you need context¡ªhistory. And lucky for you, I¡¯ve got the full story."


    Sannet leaned forward, her skepticism clear. "You seem to know a lot about things you shouldn¡¯t. Who are you really, Viola? What are you after?"


    Viola¡¯s lips curved in a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. "Me? I¡¯m just a concerned citizen. But you... you¡¯re the key to this whole mess." She leaned back, her gaze piercing. "You want to know the truth? About Nova? The Archivist? Everything?"


    Sannet¡¯s brow furrowed. "Yes," she said slowly. "But not from you. I need to verify the information myself."


    Viola¡¯s laugh was a soft, mirthless chuckle. "Don''t trust me? Smart girl. But here¡¯s the thing: you don''t need to trust me to use me." She stood, walking around the table to lean close to Sannet¡¯s ear. "You need me, Sannet. And I¡¯m willing to give you everything¡ªon my terms."


    "All talks but there''s no content in them. You''re just wasting my time." Sannet replied. She''s as emotionless as usual but the way she looks at Viola shows a hint of irritation. "Tell me or leave me alone."I''m


    Viola touches Sannet''s hair and caresses it: "Oh i''m sorry, I didn''t mean to offend you." She said, smiling. Sannet doesn''t say anything but she did push Viola''s hand off her hair.


    "What do you want from me?" Sannet asks, her tone neutral but her body language betraying her discomfort.


    "I want to help you, that''s all." Viola says, her tone sincere. She gets her nose close to Sannet and sniffs her hair: "My... you smell so good."


    "Get away from me!" Sannet said, pushing Viola away from her. Sannet quickly stands up and backs away from Viola, her hands raised in a defensive position. "Don''t touch me again."


    Viola smirks at her, her purple eyes gleaming with mischief. She licks her lips and steps closer to Sannet, her hips swaying as she approaches. "Oh, come now, Sannet. I''m just playing with you." Viola said, she pressed Sannet on the wall: "I know how you feel about Trazyn." She added.


    "You''re lying." Sannet said coldly, her face a mask of indifference. But Viola sees through her, and she knows it. She leans in, her breath warm on Sannet''s ear as she speaks. "You can''t lie to me, Sannet. I know everything there is to know about you. Everything." Her words are whispered, but their weight is undeniable. "I know you''ve been holding onto your hatred of Trazyn. But I also know that there''s something else there. Something you can''t ignore." She said and pulled back, looking Sannet in the eyes. Sannet stares back defiantly, but her resolve is crumbling. "You''re scared. Scared of what might happen if you let go of your anger. Scared of what might happen if you give in to your desires."


    "You''re wrong." Sannet said, her voice barely a whisper.


    Viola shakes her head, her smile knowing. "Am I?" she asks, her hand reaching up to cup Sannet''s cheek. The touch is gentle, but it sends shivers down Sannet''s spine. "I can see it in your eyes, Sannet. You want him. You want him more than anything."


    "No, I..." Sannet starts to protest, but her voice trails off. She can''t deny it anymore. She knows it''s true. She has been denying it for so long, but she can''t deny it any longer.


    "You''ve known him for millions of years, he is yours not Monika''s." Viola says, her voice low and seductive. "Take him, take what is yours."


    Sannet''s hands are shaking as she tries to push Viola away, but her touch is intoxicating. "I can''t... I can''t do that to Monika... I can''t do that to him..."


    "Oh? you care about that woman who stole your man?" Viola''s eyes are gleaming with a mix of amusement and malice as she steps back, giving Sannet room to breathe. "You are a lot kinder than I thought." she adds.


    "I am not him... I am not like him..." Sannet whispers, her voice trembling. She''s shaking, her body tense and rigid. Her hands are clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I can''t... I can''t..."


    Viola smiles: "And this is why I trust you Sannet. You are the only one I can entrust with the truth." She then hands Sannet''s data disk: "Here. This information has been proofed of any form of type of access except you. No one, not even higher life forms can see or know what you will see. This will help you understand everything that happened."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Sannet takes the disk and looks at it, her expression unreadable. "Why...? Why are you giving this to me?"


    Viola shrugs, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth: "Because you are Sannet. In every world, you are the martyr and the savior. I know you will not misuse this power." She said and left.


    Sannet watched Viola leave with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. She looked down at the data disk in her hand, a wave of unease washing over her. She could feel the weight of knowledge it held, and the responsibility that came with it. With a sigh, she pocketed the disk, deciding to wait until she had some privacy to review its contents.


    The door to Sannet''s quarters slid shut behind her, the mechanical click echoing in the silence of the room. She stood for a moment, her hand brushing against her chest pocket where the data disk rested. Viola¡¯s words lingered in her mind. "You are special. I know you will not misuse this power."


    Sannet didn''t feel special. If anything, she felt like a relic of a past life, a being shaped by others¡¯ ambitions and whims. She moved to the terminal at her desk, sitting down slowly, her eyes fixed on the disk as she pulled it out. It was small, but it felt heavy¡ªlike it contained the weight of entire worlds.


    Taking a deep breath, she slotted it into the console. The screen flared to life, a soft glow illuminating her face. The interface shifted, codes unraveling, and an authentication message appeared. She placed her palm against the screen, and it scanned her biometrics, verifying her unique signature.


    ¡°Access granted.¡± From this moment all information from that disk has been protected by the protocol. All beings except Sannet have been restricted to any information regarding this. All information and knowledge has been set to be seen by Sannet and Sannet alone. All higher beings and lower beings cannot view or have knowledge of any information regarding the disk.


    After an hour, Sannet slid open the door, and stepped outside, her body stiff. She leans against the wall, her eyes closed. She is shaking, her hands are trembling, and she looks pale. "So... that''s how it was..." She mutters to herself.


    "Bastard..." She says as she clenches her fist. She then walked away, her head bowed low, her eyes filled with anger. Without hesitation, she teleported to the whereabouts of Trazyn and kicked down the door. "TRAZYN!" She shouts loudly. The door shatters in front of her, falling to pieces at her feet.


    Trazyn looks up, his eyes wide in surprise. He sees Sannet standing there, her eyes filled with anger. ¡°What do you want, Sannet?¡± He asks.


    "You fucking bastard, how dare you?!" She grabs him by the collar and pushes him against the wall. Her face is inches from his, her eyes blazing with fury.


    Trazyn didn¡¯t resist. His glowing green eyes, cold and calculating as ever, locked onto Sannet¡¯s with a curious intensity. ¡°How dare I¡­ what, exactly?¡± His voice remained calm, measured, though there was a flicker of unease behind his words. He tilted his head slightly, as if trying to read the storm raging within her.


    ¡°You knew!¡± Sannet snarled, slamming him harder against the wall. The sound of the impact reverberated through the chamber. ¡°You knew about the Archivist... Eden... Even Minka... About everything! And yet, you said nothing. Nothing!¡± Her hands trembled, though she refused to release him.


    Trazyn¡¯s metallic face remained impassive, though his gaze darkened. ¡°You¡¯ll have to be more specific, my dear Sannet. What exactly is it that I knew?¡± His tone was sharp now, the condescension that often laced his words barely concealed.


    Sannet¡¯s grip tightened, her voice shaking with barely controlled rage:¡°The organization that Eden was a part of. The truth about why she died. ¡± Her breath hitched, and for a brief moment, pain flickered across her face, breaking through her anger. ¡°You could have told me! You could have stopped me from¡ª¡±


    ¡°From what?¡± Trazyn interrupted, his voice cutting through her words like a blade. ¡°From discovering the truth for yourself? From growing beyond the limitations of your own perception? Do not delude yourself, Sannet. You are where you are because I allowed it.¡± He raised a skeletal hand, prying her fingers off his collar with surprising gentleness. ¡°And perhaps because I needed you to see this through.¡±


    Sannet staggered back, her expression a mix of disbelief and betrayal. ¡°Need me? You¡ª¡± She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. ¡°You¡¯ve been pulling my strings this entire time, haven¡¯t you? Manipulating me, just like you do with everyone else.¡±


    Trazyn adjusted his cloak with a casual air, though his movements were slower, more deliberate. ¡°You say manipulation. I say guidance. Tell me, Sannet: would you have been able to uncover what you did if I had simply handed you the answers? Or would you have dismissed it as another one of my games?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try to justify this,¡± Sannet growled, something dawned on her: "Oh.. you... You and Viola. You both have orchestrated this whole charade. How far are you going to drag me into your twisted game?" She asks.


    Trazyn¡¯s expression shifted, a subtle change that might have gone unnoticed by anyone but Sannet. ¡°I told you, Sannet. I needed you to see the truth for yourself. Viola, she is merely a tool, just as you are. Just as I am. We all have our roles to play in this grand game of ours.¡± He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on hers. ¡°And now, you have played yours. You have uncovered the truth that was hidden from you. You have seen the depths of my deception. So tell me, Sannet: what will you do with this newfound knowledge?¡±


    "I will stop them... they can''t be allowed to exist... no one should have power like that again." She says, her eyes burning with determination. Trazyn laughs: "How naive, you really think you can stop them?" He asks, his tone mocking. "They are beings beyond your comprehension, they have powers that make mine look like child''s play."


    Sannet¡¯s eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, Trazyn,¡± she said, her voice cold, yet resolute. ¡°Maybe they are beyond my comprehension. Maybe I am nothing compared to them.¡± She took a step closer, her finger jabbing against his chest plate. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to just stand by and do nothing. If I have to burn myself out to put a dent in their plans, then so be it.¡±


    Trazyn raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. ¡°Ah, the noble sacrifice. The desperate fight against overwhelming odds.¡± He clasped his hands behind his back, his tone shifting, almost as if he were lecturing a student. ¡°You see, Sannet, the thing you fail to understand is that this is not a fight that can be won with sheer determination alone. It requires finesse, subtlety, and above all¡ªpatience.¡±


    Sannet scowled. ¡°You speak of patience, but all I see is a coward hiding behind his so-called plans, waiting for others to act while you stand back and watch.¡± Her voice trembled, a mixture of anger and frustration evident in her words. ¡°You think your detachment makes you better, makes you above all of this. But it doesn¡¯t. It just makes you complicit.¡±


    The amusement vanished from Trazyn¡¯s face, replaced by a flicker of something darker¡ªanger, perhaps, or even a hint of regret. ¡°You misunderstand my intentions, Sannet,¡± he said, his voice a low growl. ¡°I have preserved countless histories, saved entire cultures from oblivion. I am not some reckless child chasing glory. I am the curator of existence itself.¡±


    ¡°Curator?¡± Sannet spat, her voice laced with venom. ¡°No, Trazyn. You are a collector. A collector of memories, of lives, of pain. You call it preservation, but it¡¯s nothing more than control. You took everything from me, and you think you¡¯re justified because it¡¯s all part of some grand design.¡±


    Trazyn was silent for a moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, he took a deep breath, as if considering his next words carefully. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, Sannet,¡± he finally said, his voice softer, almost... regretful. ¡°Perhaps I am a collector, and perhaps my actions are driven by selfish desires. But what does that make you?¡± He tilted his head, studying her with those cold, mechanical eyes. ¡°You are standing here, after all. Confronting me, instead of walking away. You care, more than you would ever admit.¡±


    Sannet¡¯s breath caught in her throat, her fury giving way to a pang of doubt. She clenched her jaw, her gaze dropping to the floor for just a moment. ¡°I care... because I have to. Because someone has to clean up the mess you and the others left behind.¡±


    ¡°And that, dear Sannet, is precisely why I chose you.¡± Trazyn¡¯s voice softened further, his tone almost gentle. ¡°You may not believe it, but you are the one who can truly make a difference. I have pushed you, manipulated you, yes. But not out of malice. Out of necessity. You are the only one capable of stepping into the void where others fear to tread.¡±


    Sannet looked up, her eyes met his eyes, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. ¡°And what do you get out of it, Trazyn?¡± she asked, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Why me? Why any of this?¡±


    Trazyn paused, his gaze distant for a moment. ¡°Perhaps... Perhaps it is because I see in you something I could never be. A hope I lost a long time ago.¡± His eyes focused on her again, the calculating coldness returning. ¡°Or perhaps it is simply because I need you. And you need me, whether you admit it or not.¡±


    Sannet took a step back, her expression pained. ¡°I don¡¯t need you,¡± she said, her voice trembling, though even she wasn¡¯t sure if she believed it: "I need Minka... I need the people who truly fought alongside me."


    "The Ravager?"


    "No... the Minka that will agree with me to end this madness. The Minka who is your daughter. Who is countless more stronger than you are. You are nothing compared to her."


    Trazyn¡¯s expression tightened, his normally unshakable composure faltering for a brief moment. ¡°Minka?¡± he repeated, his voice low, as though testing the weight of her name. His mechanical eyes narrowed, their glow faint but menacing. ¡°You speak of my daughter as if she were your savior, yet she is but a shadow of what she could be¡ªa fragment of potential, untapped and unrefined.¡±


    Sannet¡¯s hands balled into fists, her trembling replaced by defiance. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± she said sharply. ¡°Minka is more than just potential. She has the strength you never will. She has hope, compassion, and the will to fight for something greater than herself. Those are things you¡¯ll never understand because all you care about is preserving a world you¡¯ll never belong to.¡±


    Trazyn¡¯s voice grew cold, his words cutting like steel. ¡°You speak of compassion as if it is a strength. But compassion does not win wars, Sannet. It does not save worlds. It weakens resolve, clouds judgment, and leads to ruin.¡±


    ¡°Spoken like someone who has never truly cared for anything but himself,¡± Sannet shot back, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. ¡°You think Minka is weak because she doesn¡¯t cling to your twisted version of strength, but that¡¯s exactly why she¡¯ll succeed where you¡¯ve failed.¡±


    The room fell into an icy silence, the tension between them palpable. Trazyn stepped forward, his towering form casting a long shadow over Sannet. ¡°If you truly believe Minka can end this madness,¡± he said, his tone measured but laced with menace, ¡°then you should know she will face forces far beyond your comprehension. Forces that will consume her, break her, just as they have done to countless others.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll stand with her,¡± Sannet said, her voice unwavering. ¡°I¡¯ll stand with her, and I¡¯ll fight for what¡¯s right. Unlike you, I won¡¯t use her as a pawn in some endless, self-serving game.¡±


    Trazyn¡¯s lips curled into a thin smile, but there was no warmth in it. ¡°Then you are a fool, Sannet. A sentimental fool, blinded by ideals that will only lead to your destruction.¡± He turned away, his voice echoing as he walked toward the far end of the room. ¡°But perhaps you will find solace in your delusions. After all, every martyr needs a cause.¡±


    Sannet watched him go, her chest heaving with unspent fury. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± she called after him, her voice ringing with conviction. ¡°Minka doesn¡¯t need you, and neither do I. Your time is over, Trazyn. The future belongs to those who fight for something real.¡±


    Trazyn paused at the doorway, glancing back over his shoulder. ¡°We shall see,¡± he said, his tone distant, almost dismissive. And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Sannet alone in the vast chamber.


    Sannet exhaled slowly, her anger subsiding into determination. She pulled out her communicator, her fingers trembling slightly as she activated it. ¡°Minka,¡± she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s Sannet. I need to talk to you. It¡¯s important.¡±

 Chapter 36

    The storm clouds churned overhead, their dark mass mirroring the turmoil within Minka. She stood alone at the edge of the platform, the wind tugging at her jacket, her wavy brown hair whipping around her face. The horizon was a smear of gray and silver, a desolate reflection of how she felt inside.


    Her hands tightened around the edges of the railing, her knuckles white as a cascade of doubts crashed through her mind. In the stillness, fragments of the recent confrontation with Ravager played over and over like a broken record.


    The way Ravager moved¡ªeffortlessly, like an unstoppable force of nature. The sheer, overwhelming psychic power she unleashed. Minka clenched her teeth, the memory still raw. Ravager had barely acknowledged her presence in that battle. She hadn¡¯t needed to. Next to Ravager¡¯s unrelenting might, Minka had felt¡­ insignificant.


    What am I even doing here?


    She released a bitter laugh, the sound swallowed by the howling wind. The question had haunted her since the beginning, but now it felt sharper, cutting into her with every thought. Ravager was the embodiment of power and purpose, a storm given flesh. And what was Minka? A soldier? A daughter? A piece on a board manipulated by forces far beyond her control?


    ¡°Minka?¡±


    The voice was soft, warm, and familiar. Minka didn¡¯t turn at first, unwilling to let anyone see her like this. But Leanna¡¯s presence was impossible to ignore. She approached slowly, her movements deliberate, as though afraid to startle her.


    ¡°Minka,¡± Leanna said again, her tone gentler this time. She stopped a few steps away, giving her the space she needed. ¡°I know that look. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Minka finally turned, her green eyes meeting Leanna¡¯s blue ones. She tried to muster a smile, but it faltered before it could take shape. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, though her voice lacked conviction.


    Leanna frowned, her concern deepening. ¡°You¡¯re not fine.¡± She stepped closer, placing a hand on Minka¡¯s arm, her touch firm but comforting. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    Minka looked down, her hands tightening around the railing. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can do this,¡± she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Ravager¡­ She''s so far beyond me. And I¡¯m supposed to be the one to stop her? It¡¯s laughable.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s grip on her arm tightened slightly, a silent reassurance. ¡°Minka, listen to me,¡± she said softly. ¡°You¡¯re not Ravager. And that¡¯s not a bad thing.¡±


    Minka let out a bitter laugh. ¡°It feels like one. She¡¯s strong, Leanna. So strong that I might as well not even exist when she¡¯s in the room. How am I supposed to fight that? How am I supposed to matter in any of this?¡±


    Leanna¡¯s heart ached at the raw vulnerability in Minka¡¯s voice. She moved closer, gently pulling Minka into a hug. ¡°You matter, Minka,¡± she said, her voice steady and filled with warmth. ¡°You matter more than you realize.¡±


    Minka stiffened at first, unused to such open affection, but Leanna didn¡¯t let go. She held her tightly, as though trying to shield her from the storm both outside and within. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be like Ravager,¡± Leanna continued, her tone soothing. ¡°You have something she doesn¡¯t. Something none of us have.¡±


    Minka pulled back slightly, her green eyes searching Leanna¡¯s face. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    Leanna smiled, her expression soft and full of love. ¡°You have the ability to bring people together. To inspire them. Ravager is strong, yes, but she¡¯s a storm. She destroys everything in her path. You? You¡¯re the one who builds. Who gives people hope, even when things seem impossible.¡±


    Minka¡¯s gaze dropped, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m inspiring anyone right now.¡±


    Leanna cupped Minka¡¯s face gently, forcing her to look up. ¡°You inspire me,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Every day, you remind me what we¡¯re fighting for. And I know I¡¯m not the only one. You have a light, Minka. Even if you don¡¯t see it, the rest of us do.¡±


    Minka blinked, her vision blurring with unshed tears. ¡°Leanna, I¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this,¡± Leanna said, her voice unwavering. ¡°I won¡¯t let you do this alone. Whatever happens, we¡¯ll face it together.¡±


    Minka nodded slowly, the weight in her chest lifting slightly. She didn¡¯t have all the answers, and the doubts still lingered, but Leanna¡¯s words had planted a seed of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn¡¯t as powerless as she thought.


    As the storm began to abate, Leanna kept her arm around Minka¡¯s shoulders, guiding her back toward the shelter of the base. ¡°Now,¡± Leanna said with a playful smile, ¡°let¡¯s get out of this weather before you catch a cold. Can¡¯t have our future hero sneezing all over the place.¡±


    Minka laughed softly, the sound tentative but genuine. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she could breathe again. Leanna¡¯s warmth was a beacon in the darkness, a lighthouse guiding her home.


    Suddenly her communicator rang. "One second." She says. She then pressed it and heard Sannet: "Sannet?" Minka asks: "What is it?"


    "Minka, we need to talk... in person." Sannet said. "It''s urgent."


    The room was dark and silent as Sannet waited for Minka to arrive. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out the best way to break the news to her friend. With Minka also came Leanna. Both of them stood together side by side.


    The room felt suffocating in its silence, the dim light from the console casting flickering shadows on the walls. Sannet stood before Minka and Leanna, her expression a careful mask hiding the storm of emotions brewing within. Her light blue eyes betrayed her turmoil, flicking between the two young women who had unknowingly been drawn into a story far older and darker than they could imagine.


    Minka folded her arms, her emerald green eyes narrowed with suspicion. ¡°You called us here. What is it you need to tell us, Sannet?¡±


    Leanna, standing slightly behind Minka, placed a steadying hand on her friend¡¯s shoulder. Her gaze was softer, filled with concern. ¡°Sannet, if it¡¯s about the Archivist, we deserve to know. You¡¯ve been holding back, and it¡¯s time to stop.¡±


    Sannet¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as she exhaled slowly. ¡°It is about him,¡± she admitted, her voice low, almost reluctant. ¡°But it¡¯s not just about what he¡¯s done. It¡¯s about why he became what he is. To understand him, you need to know where he came from.¡±


    Minka tilted her head, her suspicion giving way to curiosity. ¡°Where did he came from? What does that mean?¡±


    Sannet took a step back, leaning against the edge of the console. ¡°The Archivist¡­ before he became what he is, he was a variant of someone you know well. His name was Trazyn.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s eyebrows shot up, her blue eyes widening in surprise. ¡°A variant? Like another version of him?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sannet said, nodding slowly. ¡°But unlike Trazyn, this version didn¡¯t devote himself to preserving history for the sake of knowledge. He had a different purpose¡ªa darker one. And it all started with someone named Eden.¡±


    Minka frowned, the name unfamiliar and strange on her ears. ¡°Eden? Who¡¯s that?¡±


    Sannet¡¯s gaze softened, and for a moment, her carefully constructed walls cracked, revealing a glimpse of the pain she carried. ¡°Eden was his wife,¡± she said quietly. ¡°She was¡­ everything to him. She grounded him, made him more than just a being obsessed with power and knowledge. But she was taken from him.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s voice was gentle, laced with curiosity. ¡°Taken how?¡±


    Sannet hesitated, her hands curling into fists at her sides. ¡°She was killed. By someone¡­ someone he couldn¡¯t protect her from. And when she died, it broke him.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The weight of her words settled over the room like a heavy shroud. Minka shifted uncomfortably, her expression a mix of confusion and unease. ¡°So¡­ what? He lost someone he loved, and now he¡¯s destroying worlds because of it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Sannet replied, her tone sharper than she intended. She took a breath, forcing herself to calm. ¡°When Eden died, he didn¡¯t just lose her. He lost his purpose, his reason for being. He became consumed by the idea of bringing her back¡ªof defying death itself. That obsession is what turned him into the Archivist.¡±


    Leanna frowned, her compassionate gaze fixed on Sannet. ¡°And you¡¯ve known this all along?¡±


    Sannet nodded, her voice quieter now. ¡°I¡¯ve known for a long time. But there¡¯s more you need to understand. The Archivist isn¡¯t just fighting for his own twisted goals. He believes what he¡¯s doing is right. In his mind, the ends justify the means. And that makes him even more dangerous.¡±


    Minka ran a hand through her hair, her frustration evident. ¡°So why are you telling us this now? What do you expect us to do with this information?¡±


    Sannet straightened, her expression hardening. ¡°Because it¡¯s time you understood the stakes. The Archivist isn¡¯t just a threat to this world¡ªhe¡¯s a threat to all worlds. And if we don¡¯t stop him, no one will.¡±


    "But isn''t this what the Ravager was doing? She''s stopping him at all costs." Minka asks.


    ¡°She will do anything to kill him...This world for her is just a battle ground. Nothing more. She will not care if the whole world were to burn to ash."


    Leanna stepped forward, her voice filled with determination. ¡°Then we have to find another way. A better way. One that doesn¡¯t involve sacrificing everything we hold dear.¡±


    Minka nodded in agreement, her eyes meeting Sannet¡¯s with renewed resolve. ¡°We¡¯ll stop him, Sannet. Not for Ravager, but for everyone else. And we¡¯ll do it without losing ourselves in the process.¡±


    Sannet¡¯s silence stretched unbearably in the room, her light blue eyes flickering with emotions she struggled to contain. Minka and Leanna stood before her, their gazes searching her face for answers she didn¡¯t want to give. The weight of the revelation she now carried bore down on her, threatening to crush her resolve.


    ¡°You said you know who killed Eden,¡± Minka prompted, her voice steady but tense. ¡°So who was it? Who caused all of this?¡±


    Sannet shifted uncomfortably, her hands clasping tightly together. She had always prided herself on control, on maintaining a stoic fa?ade, but this moment threatened to undo her. ¡°I only just found out,¡± she admitted, her voice softer than usual, almost hesitant. ¡°And it¡¯s... complicated.¡±


    Leanna stepped forward, her blue eyes filled with compassion. ¡°Sannet, whatever it is, we¡¯ll deal with it together. Just tell us.¡±


    The kindness in Leanna¡¯s voice made Sannet¡¯s chest tighten. She glanced at Minka, whose emerald eyes blazed with determination, then back at Leanna. How could she tell them? How could she tell her? The truth threatened not just to fracture their resolve but to pit them against each other. And that was something Sannet couldn¡¯t bear to see.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to say this without¡­¡± Sannet hesitated, struggling to find the right words. ¡°Without making everything worse.¡±


    Minka frowned, stepping closer. ¡°Sannet, we can handle it. We need to know. Who killed Eden?¡±


    Sannet¡¯s voice trembled as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a version of Nova.¡±


    The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Leanna¡¯s breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock. ¡°Nova?¡± she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Sannet looked away, unable to face her directly. ¡°Not your Nova,¡± she clarified quickly. ¡°A variant from another dimension. But the resemblance¡­ It''s unmistakable. The actions of that particular Nova set everything into motion. She believed Eden needed to die to prevent a greater catastrophe.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s expression shifted, a storm of emotions crossing her face¡ªconfusion, anger, disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re saying my mother, or some version of her, is responsible for all of this?¡±


    Minka, standing silently, processed the revelation with a growing sense of dread. ¡°But why? Why would anyone make that choice?¡±


    Sannet turned to her, her voice tinged with sorrow. ¡°Because she thought it was the only way. ¡­ Eden¡¯s existence posed a threat to something larger. ¡±


    Leanna clenched her fists, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. ¡°And you¡¯ve been sitting on this information? You didn¡¯t think I deserved to know the moment you found out?¡±


    ¡°I only learned the truth just now,¡± Sannet replied, her tone sharp with her own frustration. ¡°And I told you because I couldn¡¯t keep it from you, not because I wanted to tear you apart.¡±


    Leanna stepped back, shaking her head as if trying to process it all. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to believe that my mother¡ªor a version of her¡ªkilled Eden. That her actions created the monster we¡¯re fighting.¡±


    Sannet¡¯s gaze softened, her light blue eyes filled with regret. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you, Leanna. But you deserved to know. Both of you did.¡±


    Minka broke the tense silence, her voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of doubt. ¡°So what do we do with this? Do we find this Nova? Confront her?¡±


    Leanna¡¯s jaw tightened, her resolve hardening. ¡°If she¡¯s anything like my mother, I need to know why she did it. I need to hear it from her.¡±


    Sannet raised a hand, her tone warning. ¡°Leanna, this isn¡¯t about vengeance. That Nova isn¡¯t the person you knew. She¡¯s a variable in a larger equation, one that we barely understand. If you go after her with anger¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry,¡± Leanna interrupted, though her voice betrayed a flicker of emotion. ¡°I just need to know the truth. To understand.¡±


    Minka placed a hand on Leanna¡¯s shoulder, her grip firm. ¡°Leanna, we¡¯re with you. But let¡¯s be smart about this. If we¡¯re going to find her, we need a plan.¡±


    Sannet looked at them both, her heart heavy. ¡°I don¡¯t know where she is. But if she¡¯s anything like Nova¡­ she won¡¯t be easy to approach.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll need a moment.¡± Leanna went to the balcony. And Minka followed soon after.


    Leanna''s hand gripped the railing of the balcony, her knuckles white with tension as she stared out at the city below. The night air was cold and sharp, biting through her clothes and stinging her cheeks. She barely felt it.


    ¡°Whoever Sannet was talking about, she is not aunt Nova. Not our Aunt Nova.¡± Minka says. ¡°She is a different person.¡±


    Leanna could hear the words, but they felt distant, muted. She tried to swallow the anger and confusion that surged within her, but it was a tidal wave she couldn''t hold back: "How do you feel about Knight? She wears Aunt Monika''s face after all."


    Minka hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Leanna. The question was blunt, and she could see the pain behind it¡ªthe frustration and sense of betrayal Leanna was feeling at that moment. It wasn¡¯t just about the revelation of a version of Nova; it was about the unshakable resemblance, the uncanny familiarity. How could they fight against a person who looked so much like the one they loved?


    Minka took a breath, her voice quiet but sincere. "Knight... she¡¯s different too. At first, it felt strange¡ªlike seeing a version of my mom without her warmth. But I¡¯ve realized that she has her own role, her own purpose. She¡¯s not Monika, and I don¡¯t expect her to be. Just like this other Nova¡ªshe¡¯s not our Nova."


    Leanna turned her head slightly, glancing at Minka. There was a vulnerability in her eyes that Minka rarely saw, and it hit her like a punch to the gut. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Leanna¡¯s arm. "It¡¯s not easy," Minka continued. "I know it¡¯s hard to separate them¡ªespecially when they look so similar, when everything in you wants to believe they¡¯re still the same. But we can¡¯t let that blind us to the truth."


    Leanna¡¯s grip on the railing loosened, her fingers slowly relaxing. She closed her eyes, her breath misting in the cold air. "It just... it just feels wrong," she admitted, her voice breaking. "The idea of facing her... knowing she has my mother¡¯s face, her voice. I don¡¯t know if I can do it, Minka."


    Minka nodded, her expression softening as she stepped closer. "Then you don¡¯t have to do it alone. We¡¯ll figure this out together. Whatever we learn about her, whatever we find¡ªwe¡¯ll face it, side by side. I promise."


    Leanna opened her eyes, looking down at Minka¡¯s hand on her arm. A small, hesitant smile tugged at her lips. "You always know how to say the right thing, don¡¯t you?" she murmured, her voice filled with affection.


    Minka chuckled softly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. Most of the time, I¡¯m just making it up as I go.¡±


    Leanna smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. ¡°Well, whatever you¡¯re doing, it works.¡±


    The two stood there for a moment longer, the silence between them comfortable now. The city lights below shimmered like scattered stars, a reminder of the lives they were fighting to protect.


    Minka spoke again, her voice quieter this time, almost hesitant. ¡°Leanna, I¡¯ve been thinking about something¡­ about what it means to be strong. I keep comparing myself to Ravager. She¡¯s so powerful, so fearless. And then there¡¯s me. I don¡¯t have her abilities or her experience. Sometimes I wonder if I¡¯m just¡­ in the way.¡±


    Leanna frowned, her expression softening. She placed both hands on Minka¡¯s shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze. ¡°Minka, stop. You¡¯re not in the way. You¡¯re the reason we¡¯re all still standing. Ravager may have her power, but you have something she doesn¡¯t¡ªyou bring people together. You give us hope, and that¡¯s something no amount of power can replace.¡±


    Minka felt a lump rise in her throat, but she swallowed it down, nodding. ¡°Thank you, Leanna. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you.¡±


    Leanna grinned, her usual playful spark returning. ¡°Well, for starters, you¡¯d probably be freezing out here all night. Come on, let¡¯s get back inside before we turn into popsicles.¡±


    They turned and headed back into the warmth of the house, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet corridor. Minka felt a little lighter now, the doubts still present but no longer overwhelming. Leanna¡¯s unwavering support was like a lifeline, pulling her back from the edge of her insecurities.


    As they walked, Minka glanced at Leanna, a thought nagging at the back of her mind. ¡°Leanna,¡± she began, her voice tentative, ¡°if we ever have to face her¡ªthe other Nova¡ªwhat will you do?¡±


    Leanna¡¯s expression grew somber, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I do know this: no matter who she is or what she¡¯s done, I¡¯ll stand by you. Always.¡±


    Minka smiled faintly, her heart swelling with gratitude. She didn¡¯t have all the answers yet, but she knew one thing for certain¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t face the challenges ahead alone.

 Chapter 37

    Monika stood on the hill overlooking the encampment below, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as the evening breeze carried the distant hum of activity. From her vantage point, she could see the scattered clusters of tents and the glow of campfires dotting the terrain like grounded stars. The people below moved with quiet determination, repairing broken weapons, tending to the wounded, and sharing what little resources they had left.


    Her gaze drifted to her hands¡ªcalloused, trembling faintly as if bearing the weight of unseen chains. Once, those hands had wielded her blade with unflinching certainty, cutting down injustice wherever it stood. Once, her path had been clear: fight for the weak, for the helpless, for those without voices.


    But that clarity had eroded, piece by piece, replaced by a gnawing uncertainty.


    Monika¡¯s thoughts turned to the skirmish earlier that day. The enemy had ambushed a supply caravan. She had rallied the soldiers, stormed in, and fought to protect what little they had. In the end, they¡¯d saved the supplies¡ªfood, medicine, munitions¡ªbut at a steep cost. The enemy had been relentless, and Monika had made the call to prioritize the cargo over the lives of her scouts. She could still hear their cries in the chaos, see their faces in her mind.


    ¡°Captain Terra?¡±


    The voice broke her reverie, and she turned to see a young soldier standing at attention, her uniform still stained with dust and blood. Monika recognized her¡ªone of the newer recruits, barely out of training. The soldier¡¯s face was taut with apprehension, her eyes darting to Monika¡¯s expression as if afraid of what she might find there.


    ¡°Yes, Corporal?¡± Monika said, her voice steady, though the effort of maintaining composure weighed on her.


    ¡°The families¡­ They''ve been asking about the scouts. They want to know when we¡¯re bringing them back.¡±


    Monika¡¯s jaw tightened. She looked past the soldier, her gaze sweeping over the camp again. ¡°Tell them¡­¡± Her voice faltered for a fraction of a second. ¡°Tell them we¡¯re still recovering the fallen. They¡¯ll be brought back as soon as it¡¯s safe.¡±


    The corporal nodded hesitantly and turned to leave, but Monika called after her. ¡°And, Corporal?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Make sure they have what they need. Food, water. Comfort them if you can.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The soldier hesitated, her lips pressing together as if to say more, but she thought better of it and walked away.


    Monika exhaled slowly, her shoulders sagging as the soldier¡¯s footsteps faded. The truth was, there would be no recovery mission¡ªnot anytime soon. They couldn¡¯t risk venturing back into hostile territory. She had made the call, calculated the costs, and decided that preserving the living outweighed honoring the dead.


    But the weight of that decision gnawed at her, a sharp, relentless ache. The Monika she used to be would never have left anyone behind, no matter the cost. The Monika she used to be would have fought until her last breath to bring everyone home.


    But the Monika I used to be didn¡¯t know what it was like to lose so much, she thought bitterly. Didn¡¯t know what it was like to carry the burden of every life left in my care.


    A soft murmur of laughter drifted up from the camp, catching her attention. Near one of the fires, a small group of children was gathered, playing some sort of game with sticks and stones. Their laughter was light, unburdened, a sound that felt out of place in the heavy atmosphere of the encampment.


    Monika¡¯s chest tightened. Those children didn¡¯t know about the scouts, didn¡¯t know about the sacrifices made to keep their food and medicine safe. They only knew they were still alive, still warm, still fed.


    Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Wasn¡¯t that enough? Wasn¡¯t it worth the compromises she had made, the ideals she had let slip through her fingers?


    A figure approached from behind, their footsteps deliberate but unhurried. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about them, aren¡¯t you?¡± the voice said. It was one of the senior medics, an older man with a lined face and tired eyes. He stopped beside her, his gaze fixed on the camp below.


    Monika didn¡¯t reply, but her silence was enough.


    ¡°You did what you had to do,¡± the medic said after a moment. ¡°If those supplies hadn¡¯t made it through, we¡¯d have lost a lot more than a handful of scouts.¡±


    Monika turned to him, her eyes hard. ¡°And what about them? What about the ones we left behind?¡±


    The medic met her gaze steadily. ¡°They knew the risks. And they trusted you to make the call. That¡¯s what leadership is¡ªmaking the hard choices so the rest of us can keep going.¡±


    ¡°Does it ever stop feeling like failure?¡± Monika asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the wind.


    The medic smiled faintly, a sad, knowing smile. ¡°No. And maybe it shouldn¡¯t. But you can¡¯t let it break you, Captain. They¡¯re looking to you to keep them alive. Don¡¯t lose sight of what you¡¯re fighting for.¡±


    Monika looked back at the camp, at the children laughing by the fire. For a moment, the bitterness in her chest eased, replaced by a fragile, tentative resolve.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she said, though the words felt like a promise she wasn¡¯t sure she could keep.


    The medic nodded and left her alone with her thoughts. Monika stood there for a while longer, watching the camp, listening to the distant laughter.


    She had made the choice, and bore the consequences. The path before her was uncertain, but she would walk it. She turned, she was shocked, she as if saw her younger self pointing at her with disappointment.


    She clenched her teeth, and closed her eyes. "Shut up." She whispers.


    "Do you remember who you are? What you stood for? What you are now is nothing." the voice says.


    "Shut up." She whispers again.


    "What would your family think of the person you are now?" The voice says.


    "Shut up." Monika growled.


    "You are a coward. You are a disappointment. A traitor to your own beliefs." the voice says.


    Monika couldn''t take it anymore. "SHUT UP!" She screams, and swings her fist at the illusion. She punches nothing but air, but when she opens her eyes, she sees the figure is gone. The bitterness in her chest returned, and she could feel the weight of her choices pressing down on her once more.


    Monika''s breathing was ragged as she lowered her trembling fist. The cold wind bit at her flushed skin, but it couldn¡¯t extinguish the fire of frustration that burned inside her. She stood motionless for a moment, her gaze falling to the ground, the scattered dirt and pebbles beneath her boots seeming to mock her.


    She pressed her palm to her forehead, trying to quiet the storm raging in her mind. "I¡¯m doing what I have to," she whispered to herself, as if saying it aloud might make it true. "This is survival. This is leadership."


    But the words rang hollow in her ears.


    The image of her younger self, so bright-eyed and resolute, lingered in her mind. She had once stood for something, unshaken by doubt or compromise. Yet, here she was, haunted by the echoes of a past idealism that no longer fit the reality she faced.


    Monika¡¯s radio crackled to life at her hip, cutting through the silence. ¡°Captain Terra, we have a situation,¡± a voice called. It was one of her officers, the urgency in their tone snapping her out of her thoughts.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Monika asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.


    ¡°Small group of refugees approached the western perimeter. They¡¯re asking for shelter, but we¡¯re stretched thin as it is. Your call, Captain.¡±


    Monika closed her eyes for a brief moment, weighing the decision. Every instinct in her screamed to protect them, to offer them a place by the fires and share what little they had. But her mind, now hardened by years of experience, reminded her of the cost. More mouths to feed, more people to defend.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Monika replied curtly, gripping the radio tightly.


    As she descended toward the camp, she saw the group gathered near the perimeter fence¡ªa family, it looked like, with two adults and a small child clutching a threadbare blanket. The officers guarding the gate stepped aside as Monika approached.


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    The father stepped forward first, his face gaunt but his posture resolute. ¡°Please,¡± he said, his voice hoarse. ¡°We¡¯ve been walking for days. We have nowhere else to go.¡±


    Monika studied them carefully. They were malnourished and exhausted, their clothes torn and dirty. Her gaze lingered on the child, who clung to the woman¡¯s side, their small face streaked with dirt and tears.


    Her chest tightened, the memory of the scouts she had left behind still fresh in her mind. ¡°We don¡¯t have enough supplies for everyone,¡± she said, her voice firmer than she intended. ¡°We¡¯re barely holding on ourselves.¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes filled with tears, but she didn¡¯t beg. Instead, she stepped forward, placing a hand on her child¡¯s head. ¡°At least take her,¡± she whispered. ¡°She¡¯ll die out there.¡±


    Monika¡¯s heart twisted. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay composed. "No," she said, her voice almost breaking. "We don¡¯t split families."


    The father dropped to his knees, his hands clasped together. ¡°Please, Captain. We¡¯ll do anything. Work, fight¡ªwhatever it takes.¡±


    Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she wrestled with the decision. The pragmatic part of her screamed to turn them away, to protect what resources they had left for the people already under her care. But the younger Monika¡ªthe idealistic one, the one who had stared her down moments ago¡ªdemanded she act.


    "Captain," one of her officers murmured, stepping closer. "We really can¡¯t afford to take them in. You know that."


    Monika took a deep breath, her gaze hardening. "I¡¯m aware," she replied curtly. But even as she said the words, she found herself unable to turn away.


    Finally, she spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll take you in,¡± she said, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "But you¡¯ll have to pull your weight. We don¡¯t have room for dead weight here."


    The father nodded fervently, gratitude washing over his face. The mother let out a quiet sob of relief, pulling the child closer.


    As the officers led them into the camp, Monika turned away, her fists trembling. She could already hear the whispers of dissent that would ripple through the camp¡ªthe grumblings of soldiers who would resent the extra burden. She knew the decision might strain their already thin resources, and might even cost them more lives in the long run.


    But for now, she had made her choice. And for the first time in a long while, it felt like the right one.


    Monika stood at the edge of the camp, watching as the family disappeared into the sea of tents, guided by one of her officers. The wind bit at her cheeks, but she hardly noticed. Her fists still clenched at her sides, her mind churned with doubts. Had she made the right choice? Or had she just doomed the camp to greater suffering?


    "Captain," a voice called from behind her. She turned to see the senior medic, the same one who had spoken to her earlier. His expression was unreadable as he approached, his arms crossed over his chest.


    "You don¡¯t have to say it," Monika said sharply. "I know we¡¯re stretched thin. I know what I¡¯ve done."


    The medic raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he studied her for a long moment before speaking. "You¡¯ve always been one to take the hard road," he said finally. "That¡¯s not a bad thing. But it¡¯s not an easy thing either."


    Monika sighed, turning her gaze back to the camp. The firelight flickered in the distance, casting shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. "It doesn¡¯t feel like a hard road. It feels like the wrong one," she admitted. "I keep making these decisions, thinking they¡¯ll save us. But every time, it feels like I¡¯m just delaying the inevitable."


    The medic stepped closer, his tone softening. "You¡¯re not wrong, Captain. This world we¡¯re living in¡ªit¡¯s unforgiving. Every choice feels like a mistake because there¡¯s no good option left. But the fact that you still care, that you still try to make the best of it¡ªthat¡¯s what makes you different."


    Monika closed her eyes, the weight of his words pressing against her. "Different doesn¡¯t mean better," she said quietly. "It doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m strong enough to hold all of this together."


    "Maybe not," the medic said. "But you don¡¯t have to do it alone."


    Monika turned to him, surprise flickering across her face. The medic¡¯s expression was earnest, his gaze steady.


    "You¡¯ve got people here who believe in you," he continued. "They¡¯ll follow you because they trust you to make the tough calls, even when it hurts. But you¡¯ve got to trust them too. Let them shoulder some of the weight."


    Monika hesitated, his words sinking in. She thought of the soldiers, the officers, the refugees¡ªall of them looking to her for guidance. For answers. It felt like too much, like she would crack under the pressure of it all. But wasn¡¯t that the point? That she wasn¡¯t meant to bear it all alone?


    "Thank you," she said finally, her voice low. "I¡¯ll... think about it."


    The medic gave her a small, knowing smile. "That¡¯s all I can ask."


    As he walked away, Monika lingered, her gaze returning to the camp. The wind had died down, leaving the night eerily still. The laughter of children still carried faintly on the breeze, mingling with the murmur of conversations and the occasional clang of metal.


    She turned her back on the camp and began walking toward the outskirts, where the horizon stretched into darkness. The voices in her head returned¡ªthe accusations, the doubts, the reminders of who she used to be. But this time, she didn¡¯t try to silence them.


    Instead, she let them speak, their words intertwining with her own resolve.


    "I¡¯m not the person I was," she murmured to herself, her voice steady. "And maybe that¡¯s okay. Maybe I don¡¯t have to be."


    The stars above her were faint, almost swallowed by the night. But they were there, distant and unwavering. A reminder that even in the darkest moments, something endured. Something worth fighting for.


    And so, with the camp behind her and the road ahead uncertain, Monika took a deep breath and kept walking.


    Monika continued her solitary walk, her boots crunching softly against the gravel. The faint sounds of the camp faded behind her, leaving her surrounded by the vast, oppressive silence of the wilderness. The air was crisp, biting at her exposed skin, but it helped to clear her mind. She needed the solitude, the distance, to reconcile the storm within her.


    But the stillness didn¡¯t last long.


    A low, guttural growl rumbled through the darkness. Monika froze, her instincts kicking in as her hand immediately went to her blade. Her sharp emerald eyes scanned the treeline ahead, searching for the source of the sound. The air around her grew colder, unnatural, carrying with it a stench of decay and sulfur.


    Then it emerged.


    A hulking, grotesque creature stepped out from the shadows, its frame twisting and shifting unnaturally as if its body rejected the very idea of stability. Its skin was a patchwork of jagged scales and pulsating flesh, its glowing red eyes locked onto Monika with predatory intent. The beast¡¯s claws, each as long as a sword, scraped the ground, sending sparks flying with every movement.


    Monika¡¯s breath caught in her throat. This wasn¡¯t a normal foe¡ªthis was something otherworldly, something that could decimate an entire squad of soldiers without breaking a sweat.


    The beast roared, its voice a cacophony of rage and hunger that shook the ground beneath her feet. Monika¡¯s hand tightened around her blade, the familiar weight grounding her. She couldn¡¯t run. Not with the camp so close. If she fled, the creature would tear through the refugees and soldiers like paper.


    Her voice was steady as she whispered to herself, ¡°You¡¯ve faced worse.¡±


    The beast lunged, moving faster than its size should have allowed. Monika leapt to the side, her reflexes honed from years of battle. The creature¡¯s claws slammed into the ground where she had stood, shattering the earth and sending debris flying.


    She didn¡¯t hesitate. With a burst of speed, she charged at the beast, her blade gleaming in the faint moonlight. Her first strike was precise, aimed for what appeared to be a vulnerable joint in the creature¡¯s shoulder. The blade connected, but instead of cutting through, it skidded off the thick, unnatural hide with a sharp clang.


    The creature retaliated, swiping at her with its massive claw. Monika ducked, feeling the rush of air as the claw passed inches from her head. Her mind raced. Conventional tactics weren¡¯t going to work. This thing was too fast, too strong, too resilient.


    Monika gritted her teeth, feeling a familiar heat build in her chest. She hated relying on it, and hated what it represented. But there was no other choice.


    Closing her eyes for a split second, she reached inward, calling on the power that she had fought so hard to suppress. It answered her like an old, dangerous friend, flooding her veins with raw energy. When she opened her eyes again, they glowed faintly, their emerald hue now radiating with an otherworldly intensity.


    The beast lunged again, its maw opening to reveal rows of jagged, rotting teeth. This time, Monika didn¡¯t dodge. She stepped forward, her glowing eyes narrowing as her instincts took over. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between her and the beast in the blink of an eye. Her fist shot forward, slamming into the creature¡¯s chest with a force that sent a shockwave rippling through the ground.


    The beast staggered back, its claws scrambling to find purchase as it let out an enraged howl. Monika didn¡¯t let up. She darted around it, faster than it could track, her blade forgotten in favor of her bare hands. She grabbed one of its massive arms, the muscles in her arm bulging as she twisted and pulled. A sickening crack echoed in the still night as she dislocated its limb, leaving it dangling uselessly at its side.


    The creature swung at her with its remaining arm, its claws grazing her shoulder and tearing through her jacket but failing to penetrate her skin. Monika hissed, the pain already fading as her regenerative abilities kicked in.


    ¡°You¡¯re not getting anywhere near them,¡± she growled, her voice low and filled with unshakable resolve.


    The beast lunged at her again, its teeth snapping inches from her face. Monika¡¯s eyes flared, twin beams of searing red energy erupting from her gaze. The beams hit the creature square in its chest, punching through its thick hide and burning deep into its core. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air as the beast shrieked in agony, its body convulsing from the sheer force of the attack.


    Monika didn¡¯t stop. She stepped forward, her energy beams intensifying, pushing the creature back with every step. Finally, with a deafening roar, the beast collapsed onto its back, smoke rising from the gaping, charred wound in its chest.


    Panting, Monika stood over the defeated creature, her fists clenched at her sides. She could feel the energy coursing through her, wild and untamed, begging for release. Slowly, she forced herself to breathe, to let the glow fade from her eyes. The beast twitched once, twice, and then lay still, its form beginning to dissolve into ash as whatever unholy force had animated it released its grip.


    Monika stared at the remains, her chest heaving. The fight had lasted mere moments, but the adrenaline still surged through her veins. She looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers. Her strength had been enough this time, but every time she called on this power, she felt a little further removed from the person she used to be.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about me,¡± she whispered to herself, the words a mantra she clung to. ¡°It¡¯s about them.¡±


    The sound of distant voices reached her ears, and she turned her gaze back toward the camp. She could see the flicker of torchlight as soldiers approached, likely drawn by the commotion. Monika sighed, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension. By the time they arrived, she would be back to her usual self¡ªno glowing eyes, no lingering traces of the monstrous power she wielded.


    But as she began her walk back toward the camp, the image of the beast remained seared into her mind. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be the last. The enemy wasn¡¯t just sending soldiers¡ªthey were sending nightmares, and Monika would need every ounce of her strength to protect the people depending on her.


    Even if it meant losing herself in the process.

 Side chapter: Friends and family

    Leanna sat on the edge of a rocky outcrop overlooking the sprawling forest below. The night air was crisp, the scent of pine and damp earth filling her lungs. She wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin atop them, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn¡¯t quite grasp.


    The world around her was deceptively peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos she knew was simmering just beyond the horizon. Battles fought, sacrifices made, decisions weighed¡ªit all felt like a puzzle she was struggling to fit together.


    She had grown up surrounded by greatness: her mother¡¯s indomitable strength, her father¡¯s unwavering calm, and now, the larger-than-life stories of Minka and even the Ravager. Their legacies loomed large, casting long shadows that she sometimes feared she would never escape.


    But tonight, it wasn¡¯t comparison that weighed on her¡ªit was something deeper, something she couldn¡¯t articulate.


    Her communicator buzzed softly, but she ignored it. For once, she wanted to be alone with her thoughts, to sit with the doubts and fears she usually buried beneath a facade of confidence.


    ¡°Running away from the noise again?¡± A familiar voice cut through the silence.


    Leanna turned her head, startled, but then relaxed as she saw Viola standing a few feet away, leaning casually against a tree. The green-haired woman¡¯s mischievous grin was dimmed by an unusual softness in her purple eyes.


    ¡°You have a habit of sneaking up on people,¡± Leanna said dryly, turning her gaze back to the forest.


    ¡°And you have a habit of brooding in the middle of nowhere,¡± Viola countered, walking over to sit beside her. She didn¡¯t say anything else, letting the silence stretch between them.


    Leanna appreciated the lack of pressure. After a few moments, she spoke. ¡°Do you ever feel like¡­ no matter what you do, it¡¯s never enough?¡±


    Viola raised an eyebrow, her usual teasing expression replaced with curiosity. ¡°Depends. Are you talking about expectations, or your own mind beating you up?¡±


    Leanna hesitated, then sighed. ¡°Both, I guess. It feels like I¡¯m supposed to know what to do all the time. Like I¡¯m supposed to be strong, decisive, capable¡­ but I don¡¯t always feel that way. Especially now, with everything happening.¡±


    Viola tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re carrying a lot on your shoulders. But you know, the world doesn¡¯t need you to be perfect. Just present.¡±


    Leanna glanced at her, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Thanks. That¡¯s¡­ actually helpful.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡± Viola said with a wink. ¡°But seriously, Leanna¡ªwhatever storm you¡¯re facing, you¡¯re not alone. And you don¡¯t have to prove yourself to anyone except yourself.¡±


    Leanna nodded, her grip on her knees relaxing slightly. The weight hadn¡¯t disappeared, but it felt a little less suffocating.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Viola said. ¡°Let¡¯s get back before someone decides to send a search party for their beloved ¡®responsible one.¡¯¡±


    Leanna laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest. ¡°Alright. But next time, maybe let me brood in peace?¡±


    ¡°No promises,¡± Viola said, her grin returning.


    As they walked, Viola suddenly tilted her head, her tone casual yet probing. "So, Leanna, how does it feel? You know¡­ being without your armor for so long?"


    Leanna¡¯s steps faltered for a brief moment, the question catching her off guard. She glanced at Viola, who was looking straight ahead, her expression deceptively neutral.


    "It¡¯s¡­ strange," Leanna admitted after a pause, her voice quieter than before. "Like I¡¯ve lost a part of myself. Not just the protection it gave me, but¡­ everything it stood for."


    Viola hummed thoughtfully, hands still tucked into her pockets. "And what did it stand for, exactly?"


    Leanna hesitated, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead. "Strength. Purpose. Confidence. When I wore it, I felt unstoppable. Like I could face anything. Without it..." She trailed off, exhaling deeply.


    "Without it, you feel exposed," Viola finished, glancing sideways at her.


    Leanna nodded, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. Something like that. And it¡¯s not just about the physical protection. It¡¯s the symbolism, you know? Like¡­ what do I stand for now, without it?"


    Viola stopped walking and turned to face her, a rare seriousness in her gaze. "You know, armor doesn¡¯t make the person, Leanna. It¡¯s the other way around. You didn¡¯t earn your place because of that armor¡ªyou earned it because of who you are."


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    Leanna blinked, the weight of Viola¡¯s words settling over her. "That¡¯s easy to say, but¡ª"


    "But nothing," Viola interrupted, her voice firm but not unkind. "You think the armor gave you purpose? Fine. But you were the one who gave it meaning. You¡¯re still you, Leanna. Strong, stubborn, and way too hard on yourself. Armor or not, that hasn¡¯t changed."


    Leanna looked away, her jaw tightening. "It¡¯s just¡­ hard. Watching everyone rely on me when I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m enough anymore."


    Viola stepped closer, her tone softening. "Leanna, you¡¯re more than enough. And you don¡¯t need a shiny suit to prove it. Hell, you¡¯ve got more heart and guts than half the people I know."


    Leanna let out a short laugh, the sound tinged with both gratitude and self-deprecation. "You have a way with words, you know that?"


    Viola grinned, the tension easing slightly. "What can I say? It¡¯s a gift. Now, stop moping and let¡¯s get back before someone decides to start a search party for their favorite perfectionist."


    Leanna shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips as they resumed their walk. But Viola¡¯s words stayed with her, a faint ember of reassurance amid the lingering doubt.


    As they entered the camp, the warm glow of the fire and the scent of food filled the air. Minka and Sannet were by the fire, preparing a modest meal from the limited supplies. Minka turned as she heard the approaching footsteps, her face lighting up when she saw Viola.


    ¡°Viola!¡± Minka exclaimed, dropping the utensil she¡¯d been holding and bounding toward her. Before Viola could react, Minka wrapped her in a tight hug, nearly lifting her off the ground.


    Viola chuckled, her usual composure momentarily shaken. ¡°Whoa there, kid. Miss me that much?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Minka said, pulling back but keeping her hands on Viola¡¯s shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°Where have you been? You just disappeared! I thought¡­¡± Her voice faltered, and she looked down. ¡°I thought something might¡¯ve happened to you.¡±


    Viola¡¯s expression softened, a rare moment of sincerity flashing across her face. ¡°I¡¯m tougher than I look, Minka. Nothing¡¯s taking me down that easily.¡± She glanced toward Sannet, who was watching the reunion with a quiet, unreadable expression.


    ¡°Good to see you back, Viola,¡± Sannet said, her tone polite but distant.


    Viola smirked, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Missed me too, didn¡¯t you, Sannet? It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to say it out loud.¡±


    Sannet rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t respond, returning her attention to stirring the pot over the fire.


    Leanna stepped forward, her earlier conversation with Viola still lingering in her mind. ¡°Minka, Viola was just¡ª¡±


    ¡°I was just reminding Leanna that she¡¯s more than capable of leading without that shiny armor of hers,¡± Viola interrupted, giving Leanna a sly grin. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need it to kick ass.¡±


    Minka tilted her head, looking between the two of them. ¡°Leanna doesn¡¯t need armor. She¡¯s the strongest person I know.¡±


    Leanna blinked, caught off guard by Minka¡¯s casual but heartfelt statement. ¡°Thanks, Minka,¡± she said quietly, her cheeks tinged with color.


    ¡°Now, what¡¯s cooking?¡± Viola asked, rubbing her hands together and sniffing the air. ¡°Hope it¡¯s better than the last batch of whatever you called soup, Sannet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s stew,¡± Sannet replied flatly, but there was a faint twitch at the corner of her lips.


    ¡°You say stew, I say mystery sludge,¡± Viola teased, settling down by the fire.


    Minka joined her, sitting cross-legged and leaning slightly against her side. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re back,¡± she said softly.


    Viola reached up and ruffled Minka¡¯s hair, a rare moment of affection. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Don¡¯t get all mushy on me.¡±


    Leanna sat across from them, her gaze fixed on the fire. The warmth of the camp felt a little brighter now, the weight on her shoulders a little lighter. Viola¡¯s words still echoed in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she began to believe them.


    As the cleaning wrapped up, Minka handed the last bowl to Viola, who dried it with a clean cloth. The rhythmic movements helped settle Minka¡¯s restless thoughts, but her earlier words lingered. She looked at Viola, who had fallen uncharacteristically quiet.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Minka said, breaking the silence, ¡°you really think I¡¯ll figure it out? All of this?¡±


    Viola stopped mid-motion, the bowl still in her hands. For a moment, her usual playful demeanor flickered, replaced by something softer, more serious. She set the bowl down and leaned against the nearby table, crossing her arms.


    ¡°I do,¡± she said, her voice calm but steady. ¡°You¡¯ve got something most people don¡¯t¡ªsomething even the Ravager doesn¡¯t have.¡±


    Minka tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Hope,¡± Viola said simply. ¡°You¡¯re not just fighting to survive or to win. You¡¯re fighting because you believe things can get better. You believe people can change.¡±


    Minka¡¯s brow furrowed as she processed Viola¡¯s words. ¡°Is that¡­ a good thing? Sometimes it feels like hope just gets in the way. It makes me hesitate when I should act.¡±


    Viola¡¯s lips twitched into a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s not a weakness, Minka. It¡¯s a strength. You see the good in people, even when they don¡¯t see it in themselves. That¡¯s rare.¡±


    Minka looked down at her hands, her fingers brushing against the edge of the basin. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel like enough. The Ravager doesn¡¯t hesitate. She knows what she wants and goes after it. Sometimes I wonder if I should be more like her.¡±


    Viola stepped closer, placing a hand on Minka¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not the Ravager, and thank the stars for that. She¡¯s all power and no heart. You¡¯ve got both, and that¡¯s what makes you stronger than you realize.¡±


    Minka¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly under Viola¡¯s touch. She glanced up, a tentative smile forming. ¡°You¡¯re a lot better at this pep talk thing than you let on.¡±


    Viola shrugged, her smirk returning. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone. I¡¯ve got a reputation to maintain.¡±


    They both laughed softly, the tension between them easing further. Viola picked up the cloth again, resuming her drying as Minka started stacking the clean dishes.


    As they worked in silence, Minka¡¯s thoughts lingered on Viola¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t feel strong, not yet. But maybe, just maybe, there was something in her that could carry her through the storm ahead.

 Chapter 38

    In a shadowy forest where the air felt thick with unspoken tension, Kira led the way, her sharp eyes scanning the environment for potential threats. Behind her, Elaria trailed with a noticeable scowl on her face, her steps heavy and deliberate. Fran moved quietly, her presence calm as she kept an eye on the group, while Emilia followed at the rear, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t get why we¡¯re wasting time here,¡± Elaria grumbled, her voice cutting through the silence. ¡°If it¡¯s targets we¡¯re after, why not go straight for the Archivist? Cut the snake¡¯s head off.¡±


    ¡°Because this isn¡¯t about recklessness,¡± Kira replied evenly, her tone firm but patient. ¡°We¡¯re dismantling his network. Every target we eliminate weakens his influence, slows his momentum. It¡¯s the smart play.¡±


    Elaria rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, ¡°Smart play is boring.¡±


    Fran glanced at her, her soft voice breaking the brewing tension. ¡°Boring keeps us alive, Elaria. And right now, that¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel important,¡± Elaria shot back, but her tone lacked bite. She glanced at Fran, whose calm demeanor seemed to temper her irritation. ¡°Fine, whatever. Just tell me when I can smash something.¡±


    Kira smirked slightly but said nothing, her focus still on the path ahead. Emilia, walking a step behind, broke her silence. ¡°We¡¯re not here to smash things,¡± she snapped. ¡°We¡¯re here to ensure Ravager doesn¡¯t destroy everything. I¡¯m not going to let her use my sister¡¯s face to wreak havoc on this world.¡±


    Fran hesitated, her eyes softening as she looked toward Emilia. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard,¡± she said gently. ¡°Seeing her like that. But what we¡¯re doing¡ªit¡¯s going to matter.¡±


    Emilia didn¡¯t respond immediately, her jaw tightening. Finally, she muttered, ¡°It has to. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point?¡±


    Kira stopped suddenly, raising a hand to signal the group to halt. They froze, their instincts sharp, as she scanned the clearing ahead. After a tense moment, she relaxed slightly and motioned them forward. ¡°We¡¯re close,¡± she said. ¡°The target¡¯s supposed to be at the facility up ahead. Stay focused.¡±


    As they approached the edge of the clearing, the group paused, crouching low. The facility loomed ahead¡ªa rusted, sprawling structure surrounded by faint lights. It looked abandoned at first glance, but Kira¡¯s sharp gaze caught the subtle signs of movement around the perimeter.


    ¡°Guards,¡± Kira said quietly. ¡°At least four. Could be more inside.¡±


    Elaria cracked her knuckles, a small smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Finally, some action.¡±


    Fran frowned, her voice steady. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it clean. No unnecessary risks.¡±


    Kira nodded in agreement, her tone authoritative. ¡°Fran¡¯s right. We do this efficiently. Elaria, take the left flank. Emilia, cover her. Fran, you¡¯re with me on the right.¡±


    Elaria gave a mock salute. ¡°Yes, boss.¡±


    Emilia sighed but followed without protest, her determination clear. As the group split to execute their plan, Fran lingered for a moment, glancing at Kira. ¡°You think they¡¯ll ever stop arguing?¡±


    Kira smirked. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be themselves if they did.¡± With that, she moved forward, her steps silent and purposeful.


    The group moved like shadows, each member blending into the surroundings with practiced ease. Their movements were fluid, a testament to their training and the trust they had in each other.


    As they neared the facility, the guards came into clearer view. They were spread out, their movements predictable. Elaria, crouching low, sized them up, her eyes narrowing. She glanced at Emilia, who was watching intently. ¡°Ready?¡±


    Emilia nodded, her expression determined. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    Elaria grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Without hesitation, she lunged forward, closing the distance between herself and the nearest guard in a blur of movement.


    The guard barely had time to react before Elaria was upon him. With swift, brutal efficiency, she struck, her fist connecting with the side of his head in a blow that sent him crumpling to the ground, unconscious.


    Elaria''s strike was silent but decisive, the guard collapsing with barely a sound. Emilia stepped forward, her weapon raised, covering Elaria as she scanned for any reaction from the other guards. The faint crackle of static from a nearby comm device suggested they¡¯d have to work quickly.


    ¡°Clean,¡± Emilia muttered, nodding to Elaria. ¡°Keep it that way.¡±


    Elaria rolled her eyes but gave a thumbs-up before slipping into the shadows, her regenerative abilities giving her the confidence to take risks others wouldn¡¯t dare.


    Meanwhile, on the opposite flank, Kira and Fran moved in tandem. Kira signaled with a quick hand gesture, pointing out the next guard. Fran nodded, her demeanor calm as she prepared to strike. Kira watched her go, impressed as always by Fran¡¯s quiet precision.


    Fran approached the second guard with deliberate steps, her blade drawn. In a single fluid motion, she incapacitated him, catching his body before it hit the ground and dragging it into the shadows. ¡°Two down,¡± Fran whispered into her comm.


    ¡°Good,¡± Kira replied, her voice steady. ¡°Elaria, status?¡±


    ¡°Taking my time,¡± Elaria¡¯s voice crackled back, laced with mischief. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Kira sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Emilia, keep her in line.¡±


    ¡°Trying,¡± Emilia replied, exasperation clear in her tone. ¡°She¡¯s like a stray dog chasing cars.¡±


    As the group converged on the facility¡¯s entrance, Kira signaled for a halt. The final guard was stationed at the door, his posture rigid. Kira motioned for Fran to take the lead, her trust in the younger woman¡¯s discretion evident.


    Fran hesitated for a brief moment, her kind nature making her reluctant to act. But she steeled herself, knowing what was at stake. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled a small dart toward the guard, its tip coated with a non-lethal sedative. The man staggered, then slumped to the ground.


    ¡°All clear,¡± Fran said softly.


    The team regrouped at the entrance, Kira¡¯s eyes scanning each of them. ¡°Good work,¡± she said, her voice low but firm. ¡°We go in quiet. We take out our target and get out. No unnecessary engagements. Understood?¡±


    Elaria leaned casually against the doorframe, her smirk returning. ¡°Understood, oh fearless leader.¡±


    Emilia shot her a look but said nothing, her attention already focused on the task ahead.


    Fran adjusted her grip on her weapon, her expression serious. ¡°Ready when you are.¡±


    Kira nodded, pushing the door open just enough for them to slip inside. The facility was eerily quiet, the faint hum of machinery the only sound. Kira¡¯s instincts were on high alert as she led the group through the dimly lit corridors.


    Elaria leaned lazily against the cold corridor wall, her long white hair brushing her shoulders as she twirled her sword idly in one hand. Her crimson eyes gleamed with mischief, locked onto Kira, who was crouched over her handheld scanner. The dim glow of the device reflected off Kira¡¯s sharp blue eyes as she studied the readout intently, her black hair tucked neatly behind her ears.


    ¡°So, Shorty,¡± Elaria began, her voice dripping with mockery, ¡°what¡¯s the plan? Or are we just hanging around until Fran starts knitting sweaters for the guards?¡±


    Kira didn¡¯t look up, her calm demeanor unbroken. ¡°Keep it up, Elaria,¡± she said flatly, her voice cold and authoritative. ¡°And I¡¯ll make you guard the exit point alone.¡±


    Fran, kneeling nearby and checking her medical kit, gave a soft chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s impressive how you two manage to argue anywhere. You¡¯d think we were on vacation.¡±


    Emilia, standing with her rifle at the ready, let out a heavy sigh. Her grumpy tone was even sharper than usual. ¡°If you two could stop bickering for five minutes, that¡¯d be great. I¡¯d rather not get ambushed because you¡¯re too busy trading insults.¡±


    Elaria grinned, undeterred. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, it¡¯s hard to take orders from someone I could put in my pocket.¡±


    That earned a reaction. Kira¡¯s head snapped up, her blue eyes narrowing like ice shards. She stood up, her small frame tense with authority. ¡°And yet, here you are, still following my orders. Funny how that works, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Elaria raised her eyebrows, mock admiration in her tone. ¡°Touch¨¦, boss. I guess big brains really do come in small packages.¡±


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Fran covered her mouth with one hand, a poorly stifled laugh escaping. Even Emilia¡¯s perpetually grim expression cracked, though she quickly turned away to hide it.


    Kira¡¯s lips curled into a thin smile, her voice steady but laced with sarcasm. ¡°And it¡¯s amazing how you swing that sword around without falling over from the weight of your ego.¡±


    Elaria barked out a laugh, shaking her head. ¡°Alright, alright. You win this round.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Emilia said sharply, stepping forward with her rifle held tight. Her intense gaze flickered between the two. ¡°Can we focus? We¡¯re not here to entertain ourselves. We¡¯re in hostile territory.¡±


    Kira gave a short nod, her professional demeanor snapping back into place. ¡°Fran, scout the next corner. Emilia, cover her. Elaria¡­¡± She glanced at her teammate with a faint smirk. ¡°Try not to get yourself sliced up. I¡¯d hate to see you regenerate before we¡¯re done here.¡±


    Elaria gave her a mock salute, the grin never leaving her face. ¡°Got it, boss. Wouldn¡¯t want to mess up your brilliant plan.¡±


    The group moved forward, slipping into their roles with seamless coordination. Kira led with her usual precision, Fran¡¯s collected demeanor keeping the group grounded, Emilia¡¯s quiet determination ready to cover them all, and Elaria¡¯s fiery presence ensuring no one forgot she was there.


    The room was vast and dimly lit, the air heavy with a mix of humidity and a faint, metallic odor that stung their noses. The center of the space was dominated by an array of cylindrical tanks, each filled with a translucent green liquid. Inside, shapes that resembled humanoid forms floated eerily, their features blurred by the liquid.


    Elaria stepped closer to the nearest tank, her white hair contrasting sharply with the darkened room. She studied the figure inside, her crimson eyes narrowing as unease flickered across her face. The humanoid shapes suspended in the viscous green liquid were unsettlingly malformed, as though someone had attempted to create life and failed miserably. Limbs bent at unnatural angles, and their faces were disturbingly incomplete, their expressions frozen in grotesque half-forms of agony or confusion.


    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Elaria muttered, her usual bravado replaced by a genuine note of discomfort.


    Fran stepped up beside her, her blue eyes scanning the tanks with a mix of horror and curiosity. She placed a hand on Elaria¡¯s arm, grounding her. ¡°It¡¯s some kind of biogenetic experiment,¡± she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. ¡°They were trying to¡­ create something¡ªor someone.¡±


    Emilia, standing a few paces behind with her rifle at the ready, frowned deeply. ¡°This reeks of the Archivist¡¯s work,¡± she grumbled. ¡°He¡¯s always trying to play god.¡±


    Kira¡¯s sharp voice cut through the tension as she approached, her blue eyes fixed on the control console near the tanks. ¡°Focus. We¡¯re here for a reason, and we don¡¯t have time to gawk.¡± She began scanning the console, her fingers dancing over the interface with practiced precision.


    Elaria smirked faintly, though the unease lingered in her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Shorty? Creeped out by the science project?¡±


    Kira didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Elaria, shut up and stay alert. If this is what I think it is, we¡¯re in more danger than we thought.¡±


    Fran touched the glass of one of the tanks, her expression pained. ¡°They¡¯re alive, in a way,¡± she whispered. ¡°Barely. It¡¯s cruel to leave them like this.¡±


    Emilia¡¯s grip on her rifle tightened, her jaw clenching. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for mercy. If these things wake up, we¡¯re done for.¡±


    Suddenly, the console in front of Kira emitted a low beep, and the room¡¯s dim lights flickered ominously. A warning message scrawled itself across the screen in a language none of them recognized.


    ¡°What did you do, Kira?¡± Elaria asked, stepping back from the tanks, her sword at the ready.


    ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Kira replied, her voice tense. ¡°But something¡ªor someone¡ªknows we¡¯re here.¡±


    The tanks began to vibrate, the green liquid inside bubbling as the malformed figures twitched and shifted.


    ¡°Fran, step back,¡± Kira ordered sharply, her hand moving to her sidearm. ¡°Emilia, cover the room. Elaria, take point with me.¡±


    The figures in the tanks suddenly convulsed, their bodies jerking violently against the liquid. Cracks began to form along the glass of the tanks, the sound sharp and grating.


    ¡°Tell me this is part of the plan,¡± Elaria growled, her sword ready as she positioned herself in front of Kira.


    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Kira replied, her voice calm but firm. ¡°Get ready. If these things wake up, we¡¯re taking them down.¡±


    Fran hesitated, her gaze flicking between the tanks and her team. ¡°They didn¡¯t ask for this. They¡¯re victims.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re also threats,¡± Emilia snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°We deal with them now, or they¡¯ll deal with us.¡±


    The first tank shattered, spraying glass and green liquid across the room. The malformed figure inside collapsed to the floor, its movements jerky and unnatural as it struggled to rise. Its incomplete face turned toward the group, emitting a guttural, inhuman sound that sent chills through the air.


    Elaria stepped forward without hesitation, her sword flashing as she brought it down in a powerful strike, severing the creature¡¯s head in one clean motion. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless and still.


    ¡°Anyone else have a problem?¡± Elaria said, her voice a mixture of challenge and grim determination.


    The second tank shattered, and another malformed creature lurched towards them. This one moved faster, its movements more coordinated. It reached for Elaria, its twisted fingers grasping at the air as it let out a disturbing, gurgling cry.


    Kira, her weapon drawn, took aim and fired, hitting the creature in the chest. It staggered back but didn¡¯t fall, its body jerking strangely as it tried to recover.


    Kira didn¡¯t hesitate. She adjusted her aim and fired again, this time striking the creature in what passed for its head. The malformed figure convulsed violently before collapsing into a twitching heap, green liquid pooling beneath it.


    ¡°Fran, any insights on what these things are before more show up?¡± Kira barked, her eyes darting to the remaining tanks, now cracking under the pressure of their writhing occupants.


    Fran knelt beside one of the shattered tanks, her hands trembling as she examined the remnants of the green liquid. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ incomplete. Experimental. Whoever made them didn¡¯t finish the process¡ªthey¡¯re unstable.¡±


    ¡°Unstable¡¯s an understatement,¡± Elaria muttered, stepping over the corpse she¡¯d just dispatched. ¡°If we¡¯re done analyzing their life stories, how about we focus on not getting mauled?¡±


    Another tank exploded, showering the room with shards of glass and green fluid. This time, two figures emerged, their grotesque forms moving with alarming speed.


    ¡°On your left!¡± Emilia shouted, raising her rifle and opening fire. Her shots landed true, tearing into one of the creatures¡¯ torsos and sending it sprawling to the floor. But the second one evaded her aim, lunging directly at Kira.


    Kira dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its grasp, and delivered a precise shot to its leg, slowing its advance. Before it could recover, Elaria was on it, her blade slicing clean through its neck in a single, brutal motion.


    ¡°Stay close,¡± Kira commanded, her voice sharp. ¡°Fran, fall back to the console. See if you can shut down the rest of the tanks before they all break free.¡±


    Fran hesitated, her gaze flicking between the console and the chaos around her. ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do it!¡± Kira snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    Fran nodded, scrambling to the console and typing furiously. ¡°The systems are encrypted¡ªit¡¯s going to take time!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time,¡± Emilia growled, firing at another creature that had just emerged from a tank. ¡°Work faster.¡±


    The room was a blur of movement and noise as more creatures broke free, each one more coordinated than the last. Kira¡¯s mind raced as she calculated their options.


    ¡°We¡¯re not holding them off forever,¡± Kira said, her voice tight. ¡°Emilia, Elaria, cover Fran. I¡¯ll see if there¡¯s a manual override for the containment systems.¡±


    ¡°Shorty, you¡¯re not going alone,¡± Elaria called out, her blade flashing as she sliced through another advancing figure.


    ¡°I can handle myself,¡± Kira shot back, her blue eyes narrowing. ¡°You just keep them off Fran.¡±


    Elaria grinned, her crimson eyes gleaming with exhilaration. ¡°You got it, boss. But don¡¯t take too long¡ªI¡¯m not cleaning up if this gets messy.¡±


    As Kira sprinted toward a control panel near the back of the room, she dodged falling debris and the occasional swipe of a malformed creature. Her black hair clung to her damp forehead as the air filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh and spilled chemicals. She skidded to a halt and began scanning the console, fingers flying across the interface.


    ¡°Fran!¡± Kira called out, glancing over her shoulder. ¡°Anything on that encryption?¡±


    ¡°Almost!¡± Fran shouted back, her voice strained. Her blue eyes darted between screens as lines of code blurred in front of her. ¡°I just need a few more seconds!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have them!¡± Emilia barked, firing another round into an advancing creature. The bullets struck true, but the beast roared, surging forward undeterred. She cursed under her breath and reloaded, her hands steady despite the chaos.


    Elaria leapt into the fray, her sword flashing as it cleaved through another beast with ruthless efficiency. Her white hair whipped around her, stained with green ichor. ¡°Fran, you¡¯re the brains here. Work faster! These guys don¡¯t seem to care how much we cut them up.¡±


    ¡°Funny how that works,¡± Fran muttered under her breath, but her fingers didn¡¯t falter. ¡°I¡¯ve almost bypassed the main firewall. Just keep them off me a little longer.¡±


    Kira activated the manual override system. A red light flashed, accompanied by a shrill alarm. ¡°Containment protocols are fried,¡± she muttered. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to do this the hard way.¡±


    From the corner of her eye, she saw a particularly large creature smash through another tank, its body rippling with muscle and unnaturally long limbs. Its eyes locked onto Kira with a predatory glint.


    ¡°Kira, behind you!¡± Fran shouted.


    Kira spun just in time to dodge the creature¡¯s lunge, her small frame darting out of reach. She drew her sidearm, unloading a clip into its torso. The bullets barely slowed it down.


    Elaria was there in an instant, slicing at the creature¡¯s exposed flank. ¡°Shorty, next time, don¡¯t let it get this close!¡± she quipped, though her tone was strained from exertion.


    Kira didn¡¯t rise to the bait. Instead, she shifted tactics, activating a nearby crane system. The massive metal arm swung down, slamming into the creature and pinning it against the floor. ¡°That should hold it,¡± she said tersely, turning back to the console.


    Fran let out a triumphant cry. ¡°Got it! System reboot engaged. Tanks are stabilizing.¡±


    The remaining tanks began to hum softly, the cracks on their surfaces halting as containment fields activated. The remaining creatures were subdued by electrical pulses emitted from the base of the tanks, their grotesque forms slumping into stillness.


    The team took a moment to catch their breath. Elaria wiped her sword clean with a piece of torn fabric, her crimson eyes still scanning the room for movement. ¡°That was too close,¡± she muttered.


    Fran stepped back from the console, her expression conflicted. ¡°They weren¡¯t supposed to exist like this. Whoever did this to them¡­ it¡¯s monstrous.¡±


    Emilia slung her rifle over her shoulder. ¡°Monstrous or not, they were going to kill us. Don¡¯t lose sleep over it.¡±


    Kira stepped forward, her sharp gaze sweeping over the subdued tanks. ¡°This wasn¡¯t an accident. Someone wanted these experiments¡ªthese abominations. We need to find out who, and why.¡±


    Fran hesitated. ¡°I pulled a data file during the override. It¡¯s incomplete, but it has a symbol. One I¡¯ve seen before.¡±


    Kira narrowed her eyes. ¡°Show me.¡±


    Fran activated her wrist pad, projecting the symbol into the air¡ªa stylized emblem of interlocking lines, eerily reminiscent of a sigil they had seen in reports tied to the Archivist¡¯s network.


    ¡°This just got a lot more complicated,¡± Kira muttered.

 Chapter 39

    The dim interior of their temporary base buzzed with the quiet hum of the team decompressing from their last mission. The scent of sweat, burnt ozone, and faintly metallic air lingered as Kira leaned over a table cluttered with data tablets, maps, and Fran¡¯s hastily scrawled notes.


    Her sharp blue eyes flicked over the material, her black hair pulled into a loose ponytail. Despite her calm demeanor, the tension in her frame was evident. Their last mission had been a brutal slog through a hostile facility filled with half-formed monstrosities. The victory was hard-earned, but the information they¡¯d extracted felt like a ticking bomb waiting to be defused.


    Fran perched on a nearby chair, her tail swishing lightly as her ears flicked toward the faint noises of activity outside. Her dark hair framed her face, but it was her furred, twitching cat ears that gave her an almost uncanny air of focus. She studied the screen of her tablet, her fingers flying across the interface.


    ¡°This encryption is ridiculous,¡± she muttered, one ear flattening in frustration.


    ¡°Did you expect the Archivist to leave us a step-by-step guide to ruining his plans?¡± Elaria quipped from her corner, leaning lazily against a crate. She twirled her sword idly, her crimson eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Come on, Fran. You¡¯re the genius here.¡±


    Fran shot her a look, her tail flicking sharply. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you crack this, oh wielder of swords and zero patience.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Kira said sharply, her voice slicing through the chatter. She didn¡¯t look up, but the steel in her tone was enough to silence the group. ¡°Fran, progress?¡±


    Fran sighed, one ear twitching toward Kira while her tail stilled. ¡°Some. There¡¯s mention of a ¡®prime node.¡¯ It¡¯s central to the Archivist¡¯s operations, but the data¡¯s fragmented. I¡¯m piecing it together.¡±


    ¡°That sounds important,¡± Kira said, finally straightening. ¡°Do we have a location?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but it¡¯s heavily fortified,¡± Fran replied. Her tail swayed thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯re going to need more intel if we want a chance of hitting it.¡±


    Kira¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°We¡¯ll get it. But not by rushing in blind.¡±


    Elaria groaned dramatically, tossing her sword into the air and catching it in one fluid motion. ¡°There¡¯s always a plan with you, Kira. What¡¯s wrong with a little improvisation?¡±


    ¡°Improvisation gets people killed,¡± Emilia said, her grumpy tone undercut by her steady hands as she cleaned her rifle. ¡°But if you want to be bait, Elaria, I¡¯m all for it.¡±


    ¡°Bait? Me?¡± Elaria pressed a hand to her chest mockingly. ¡°I¡¯m insulted. I¡¯m a distraction, thank you very much.¡±


    Kira pinched the bridge of her nose, glancing at Fran. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Fran tapped at her tablet, her cat ears flicking as she focused on the stream of data. The faint glow of the screen illuminated her concentrated expression, her tail curling tightly around the chair leg. ¡°This ¡®prime node¡¯... it¡¯s not just important, Kira. It¡¯s vital. Everything in the data points to it being the Archivist¡¯s nerve center.¡±


    Kira¡¯s blue eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening. ¡°How vital are we talking?¡±


    Fran glanced up, her gaze serious. ¡°Think of it like the brain of his operation. It¡¯s where he coordinates his forces, processes data, and manages whatever tech keeps his plans moving. If we hit it hard enough¡ªtake it out or disrupt it¡ªit could cripple him.¡±


    Elaria leaned forward, her crimson eyes glinting with interest. ¡°So, we blew it up. Sounds straightforward enough.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Fran said, her tone sharp. Her tail flicked in annoyance. ¡°From what I¡¯ve pieced together, the node isn¡¯t just a physical target. It¡¯s tied into his network on multiple levels. Destroying it might not be enough¡ªwe need to sever its connections and prevent him from rebuilding it elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Which means we need to infiltrate,¡± Kira said, her tone thoughtful. Her fingers drummed against the table as she processed Fran¡¯s explanation. ¡°We can¡¯t just brute-force our way through.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s going to be a problem,¡± Emilia interjected, her voice gruff. She set down her rifle, her sharp gaze fixed on Kira. ¡°If it¡¯s that critical, it¡¯ll be heavily defended. Whatever we faced in the last mission will look like a warm-up compared to this.¡±


    Fran nodded grimly. ¡°The data suggests layers of security¡ªphysical, digital, and probably some we haven¡¯t seen before. It¡¯s designed to be impenetrable.¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s impenetrable,¡± Kira said firmly. ¡°It just takes the right approach.¡±


    ¡°Big words, Shorty,¡± Elaria said with a smirk, leaning back against the crate. ¡°But let¡¯s be real. If this place is as critical as Fran says, the Archivist will throw everything he has at protecting it. Are we ready to go toe-to-toe with whatever horrors he¡¯s cooked up?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Kira replied, her voice steady. She met Elaria¡¯s gaze, her blue eyes unwavering. ¡°If we don¡¯t take this place down, his operations will keep spreading. The damage he¡¯s done so far is nothing compared to what he¡¯s capable of.¡±


    Fran glanced up from her tablet, her cat ears flicking as she caught sight of Elaria''s smirk. The swordswoman leaned against a nearby crate, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief as she twirled her blade idly.


    ¡°You know,¡± Elaria began, her voice casual but tinged with amusement, ¡°we could just let Nova deal with this. She¡¯s all about precision strikes and overwhelming force, right? Why not give her the chance to strut her stuff?¡±


    The room went silent for a beat, the only sound the faint hum of Fran¡¯s tablet. Kira looked up from the maps, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. ¡°This isn¡¯t Nova¡¯s mission,¡± she said flatly. ¡°It¡¯s ours.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Elaria drawled, ¡°but if she¡¯s already in the neighborhood, why not let her do the heavy lifting? Seems like a win-win to me.¡±


    Emilia let out a sharp gasp, her expression darkening. ¡°Nova doesn¡¯t do ¡®heavy lifting.¡¯ She takes over. You really want her calling the shots?¡±


    Elaria shrugged, her grin widening. ¡°Better her than us walking into a meat grinder.¡±


    Fran¡¯s tail flicked sharply, her frustration evident. ¡°This isn¡¯t about passing the buck, Elaria. If we hand this over to Nova, we lose control. She doesn¡¯t care about collateral damage, and she definitely doesn¡¯t care about keeping the bigger picture intact.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no guarantee she¡¯d succeed,¡± Kira added, her tone cutting. ¡°Nova¡¯s good, but she¡¯s not invincible. If she fails, the Archivist doubles down on security, and we¡¯re left with no way in.¡±


    Elaria raised an eyebrow, her smirk undeterred. ¡°So, what? We¡¯re going to pretend we¡¯re better equipped for this than she is? She¡¯s a one-woman army, Kira. We¡¯re just¡­ us.¡±


    Fran shot Elaria a sharp look, her tail swishing. ¡°And ¡®us¡¯ is what got the data we¡¯re working on. ¡®Us¡¯ is what made it out of that last mission when no one else could. Don¡¯t sell us short.¡±


    Elaria sighed, her smirk fading slightly as she sheathed her sword. ¡°Alright, fine. But if this goes south, I¡¯m saying ¡®I told you so.¡¯ Loudly.¡±


    Kira¡¯s gaze softened slightly as she met Elaria¡¯s eyes. ¡°If this goes south, we¡¯ll handle it. Together.¡±


    Emilia crossed her arms, her tone gruff. ¡°And if Nova does show up, she can deal with us. Not the other way around.¡±


    Elaria chuckled, her grin returning. ¡°Fair enough. Just don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t try to make this easier.¡±


    Kira shook her head, her focus returning to the map. ¡°Fran, keep working on decrypting the location data. Emilia, double-check our equipment. Elaria¡­¡± She smirked faintly. ¡°Try not to pick a fight with the entire team before we even leave.¡±


    Elaria mock-saluted. ¡°No promises, boss.¡±


    As the team settled into their roles, the tension in the room began to ease, but the weight of the mission ahead remained palpable. Fran¡¯s ears flicked as she focused on her screen, her tail curling thoughtfully. Kira''s gaze was distant, already calculating their next move.


    Somewhere at the imperial high command


    Leanna adjusted the collar of the Imperial officer¡¯s jacket, her fingers trembling slightly as she secured the buttons. The uniform fit her perfectly, tailored to mimic her mother Nova¡¯s sharp and commanding presence. Her blonde hair was tied back in the same severe style Nova always wore, and her piercing blue eyes¡ªso much like her mother¡¯s¡ªcompleted the illusion. But the weight of the facade pressed down on her like a leaden cloak.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this,¡± Leanna muttered, glancing at her reflection in a cracked mirror leaning against the wall of their hideout. Her voice was low, tinged with doubt.


    Minka approached, resting a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, Leanna. Just channel that icy, terrifying presence Nova¡¯s so good at. You¡¯ll draw their attention long enough for us to sneak in.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s jaw tightened as she looked away. ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say. You¡¯re not the one pretending to be someone who terrifies half the galaxy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re also not your mother,¡± Viola interjected from the corner, her knife glinting as she examined it. ¡°So maybe don¡¯t go full Nova and start barking orders. Just enough to keep them guessing.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the confidence boost,¡± Leanna deadpanned, earning a chuckle from Viola.


    Minka¡¯s hand gave Leanna¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Just stay in character. Keep them distracted while we slip past the perimeter and disable their security. You can do this.¡±


    Leanna took a deep breath, her expression hardening. From the outsider''s perspective, there''s no difference between her and Nova. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with. The sooner I can stop being my mother, the better.¡±


    Leanna straightened her posture, her entire demeanor shifting as she stepped into character. Her sharp blue eyes gleamed with cold determination, her movements now crisp and deliberate. For all her reluctance, she was a convincing double for Nova Terra.


    The team moved into position under the dim glow of their hideout¡¯s emergency lighting. Leanna headed for the main entrance while Minka, Viola, and the rest prepared to infiltrate the facility through a ventilation shaft along the northern wall.


    ¡°Radio silence until we¡¯re in,¡± Minka whispered, her voice steady as she adjusted the small earpiece in place. She shot Leanna a quick, reassuring glance. ¡°We¡¯ll meet up inside. Stay safe.¡±


    Leanna nodded once, her expression unreadable. Then, without another word, she walked out into the open, her polished boots clicking with every step. Minka watched her go, her heart pounding in her chest. The moment Leanna was out of sight, she turned to the others.


    ¡°Move out,¡± she ordered, her tone firm and commanding.


    Leanna walked in front of the guards. Her steps echoed in the cold, sterile corridors of the facility, each footfall a staccato beat of authority. The soldiers guarding the entrance snapped to attention as she approached, their expressions a mix of respect and fear. One of the guards, a young man with a nervous twitch in his eye, stepped forward.


    ¡°Commander Nova, we weren¡¯t expecting you,¡± he stammered, his eyes flicking to the datapad in his hands. ¡°Your arrival wasn¡¯t on the schedule¡ª¡±


    Leanna leveled him with a withering glare, her icy gaze freezing his words in his throat. ¡°Do I need to schedule my every move, soldier?¡± she asked, her voice cold and sharp. ¡°Perhaps I should send a memo before using the facilities next time?¡±


    The guard swallowed visibly, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing nervously. ¡°No, sir! I mean, no, Commander. Of course not. My apologies.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s gaze swept over the group of soldiers, her expression calculating. She had to make this count. With a subtle adjustment of her posture, she slipped further into Nova¡¯s persona.


    "Commander Nova." Suddenly a familiar voice came from behind Leanna. It was a voice she knew well, Kevin Terra''s voice. Leanna felt a surge of nervousness run through her body, her palms beginning to sweat. She struggled to maintain her composure, but she couldn''t help feeling a twinge of panic.


    ¡°Kevin, it''s been a while.¡± she said in a forced calm tone. "What brings you here?"


    Kevin''s eyes narrowed as he studied her face. "I''m sure you''re aware of the situation at hand. We are on lockdown right now. No personnel can either enter or leave this place." Leanna felt a sense of dread creeping up her spine. She was certain that Kevin had sensed something amiss, and her heart pounded loudly in her chest.


    ¡°Of course, that is why I came here.¡± she replied, trying to sound convincing. "I want to make sure everything is under control." But even as she spoke, Leanna could feel the tension in the air thickening, and she knew that she would have to act quickly to keep up her facade.


    Kevin''s expression remained impassive, but there was a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He looked her up and down, and Leanna felt her heart skip a beat. "Very well," he said finally: "Please, I will lead you to your office." Leanna nodded, relieved that he hadn''t pressed her further. But as she followed him through the halls, she couldn''t shake the feeling that he was watching her every move.


    As they walked, Leanna felt the weight of Nova''s reputation pressing down on her. She had to maintain the facade, or everything would fall apart. But as she glanced at Kevin out of the corner of her eye, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of doubt. What if he saw through her? What if he already knew?


    As they continued walking, Kevin suddenly stopped. There''s no other people around, which made Leanna suspicious. She felt her muscles tense, ready to defend herself if necessary.


    "I know you are not Nova," Kevin said, turning to face her.


    Leanna''s heart raced as she stared at Kevin.


    "You smell very differently...Leanna." Kevin said, a hint of amusement in his voice. Leanna''s heart sank. Before Leanna could react, Kevin grabs both of Leanna''s arms   and pins them above her head. Leanna''s heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming out in shallow gasps. She struggled against his grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain. "K-Kevin?" She stammered, her eyes wide with fear. "What are you doing?"


    ¡±Now... tell me what you people are up to, or... i will call the real Nova to come here.¡± Kevin''s grip tightened on Leanna''s arms, making her wince in pain. He leaned in closer, his eyes cold and emotionless. "I won''t ask again."


    Leanna gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. Kevin¡¯s strength was overwhelming, and his suspicion was cutting through her facade like a blade. She forced herself to meet his gaze, drawing on every ounce of confidence she could muster.


    ¡°Kevin,¡± she said, her voice calm despite the pounding of her heart. ¡°Think about what you¡¯re doing. If you call Nova, do you really think she¡¯ll be pleased to know you¡¯ve manhandled her?¡± She injected just enough of Nova¡¯s sharp, commanding tone to make her words sting.


    Kevin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t soften, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He leaned closer, his grip still unyielding. ¡°You think that will scare me? You¡¯re not her, and you¡¯re not fooling me. What are you doing here?¡±


    Leanna took a sharp breath. If she didn¡¯t act now, the entire operation could be compromised. She made a split-second decision and tilted her head slightly, her voice lowering to mimic Nova¡¯s cold, calculating demeanor. ¡°Fine. You caught me. But if you think Nova doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s being played. Do you think she¡¯d let anyone impersonate her without a backup plan?¡±


    Kevin¡¯s grip faltered, his brow furrowing as doubt crept into his expression. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Leanna pushed against his grip with all her strength, managing to create enough space to twist her arm free. She stepped back, keeping her posture poised and composed despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. ¡°You¡¯re so busy trying to prove yourself, Kevin, that you¡¯re missing the bigger picture. Nova sent me because she doesn¡¯t trust you to handle this alone.¡±


    Kevin froze, his expression unreadable as he processed her words. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing.¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡± Leanna shot back, her voice steady. ¡°You¡¯ve always been too eager to prove yourself. Nova knew that if I walked in here as myself, you¡¯d do exactly what you¡¯re doing now¡ªoverreact and waste time. She knew you¡¯d never question her directly.¡±


    For a moment, the corridor was silent except for the faint hum of the facility¡¯s lights. Leanna held her breath, her muscles coiled like a spring, ready to act if Kevin made a move. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny, his calculating gaze dissecting her every word.


    Finally, Kevin stepped back, his expression hardening. ¡°If that¡¯s true, prove it. Give me the clearance code Nova would¡¯ve given you.¡±


    Leanna hesitated, her mind racing. She didn¡¯t have a code. But if she faltered now, everything would fall apart. She reached into the pocket of her uniform, pulling out the small communicator the team had given her as a prop.


    ¡°It¡¯s voice-encoded,¡± she said smoothly, holding it up. ¡°But if you¡¯re really so paranoid, we can call her right now and see how she feels about you questioning her orders.¡±


    Kevin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Leanna thought he might actually call her bluff. But then he stepped aside, gesturing toward the corridor ahead. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll play along. But if I find out you¡¯re lying, Leanna¡­¡± His voice dropped, cold and threatening. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Leanna swallowed hard but kept her expression neutral, nodding as she walked past him. Her mind was still racing, but she knew she had bought herself some time. Now, she just had to make sure Minka and the others completed their part of the mission before Kevin discovered the truth.


    On the other side everyone felt a sense of relief after hearing what Leanna said in the audio log, which had successfully diverted Kevin''s attention from the mission. With the enemy''s focus now on Leanna, they could move freely and execute their plan. Soon enough, Viola found the service tunnel that is linked to the authorization logs and replaced Nova''s biometric data to Leanna''s own. With that done, it would allow Leanna to enter restricted areas without drawing suspicion.


    Leanna walked with measured steps, feeling the weight of Kevin¡¯s piercing gaze on her back. Each step echoed faintly in the sterile corridor, and she fought to keep her posture rigid, her demeanor commanding. She was Nova now¡ªevery step, every movement, every word had to sell that illusion. Her palms still itched from where Kevin had pinned her earlier, but she forced herself to ignore the discomfort.


    ¡°You seem quieter than usual, ¡®Commander,¡¯¡± Kevin said from behind her, his tone laced with suspicion. ¡°I thought you¡¯d have more to say about the lockdown.¡±


    Leanna glanced over her shoulder, her expression cold and distant, perfectly mimicking Nova¡¯s infamous glare. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve forgotten how I handle incompetence, Kevin. If there¡¯s one thing I despise, it¡¯s wasting time on unnecessary chatter.¡±


    Kevin¡¯s lips twitched into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained calculating. ¡°Of course. Efficiency above all, right?¡±


    She turned back around, internally cursing her nerves but outwardly maintaining her frosty composure. Kevin¡¯s words were a probe, she could feel it¡ªan attempt to pick at the cracks in her facade. But with Nova¡¯s biometric data swapped for her own, she had a small buffer of authenticity to lean on.


    The corridor ahead branched, and Kevin gestured toward the right. ¡°Your office is this way. You¡¯ll find everything intact, assuming you haven¡¯t changed protocols since your last visit.¡±


    Leanna gave him a curt nod, masking the unease roiling in her gut. She had to get rid of him, but not too suddenly. Any misstep now could ruin the careful work Minka¡¯s team had done. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to hold my hand, Kevin,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Return to your post and let me do my job.¡±


    Kevin chuckled softly but made no move to leave. ¡°You¡¯ll forgive me if I¡¯m a little curious. After all, it¡¯s not every day I get graced with your presence. Surely you don¡¯t expect me to believe this visit is routine.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s jaw clenched, and she fought the urge to glance at her communicator for updates from the others. ¡°Believe what you want,¡± she said, her voice clipped. ¡°But if you continue standing here, wasting my time, I¡¯ll have no choice but to report your insubordination.¡±


    The faint amusement in Kevin¡¯s expression faded, replaced by a sharp edge. ¡°Careful, Leanna,¡± he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. ¡°You¡¯re good, I¡¯ll give you that. But you¡¯re not Nova. You might fool the guards and the cameras, but not me.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s heart raced, but she didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her glare cutting into him like ice. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she said, her voice low and venomous. ¡°I¡¯m not Nova. But you don¡¯t need to be her to see through your pathetic attempts to play gatekeeper. So either let me do my work, or call her yourself and explain why you¡¯ve chosen to get in my way.¡±


    The tension in the air was suffocating as the two stared each other down. Kevin¡¯s eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Leanna thought he might act. But then he stepped back, his smirk returning. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, I¡¯ll give you that. Fine. Do what you need to do. I¡¯ll be watching.¡±


    Leanna nodded curtly, turning on her heel and continuing down the corridor. She didn¡¯t let herself exhale until she was out of Kevin¡¯s line of sight. Once she reached the door to Nova¡¯s supposed office, she pressed her palm to the scanner, relieved when the biometric data Viola had altered allowed her access.


    The door slid open, and Leanna stepped inside, the room¡¯s sterile lighting washing over her. Her communicator buzzed faintly in her ear, and Minka¡¯s voice came through, steady and calm. ¡°You¡¯re clear. We¡¯ve got security looped. Anything unusual on your end?¡±


    Leanna leaned against the desk, her hands shaking slightly as the adrenaline wore off. ¡°Nothing I couldn¡¯t handle,¡± she murmured, keeping her voice low. ¡°Kevin¡¯s suspicious, but he backed off for now.¡±


    Sannet dropped into the surveillance room and quickly took down the guards on duty. Once she has full access, she immediately begins looking into the security feeds, making sure that the footage is still looping. Then she began uploading the layout of the facility to her comms device and shared the layout to the other members. After that, she took a deep breath and started looking for the prime node,


    As Sannet scanned the facility''s layout on her comms device, she noticed a strange pattern of energy flowing through the system. It seemed to converge in a central location, but when she tried to zoom in on the area, the screen blurred. Frowning, she tapped the screen, trying to clear it up, but the blur persisted. It was as if the system was actively preventing her from accessing that particular section of the layout.


    She sat back in her chair, her mind racing. There had to be a reason for this. It wasn''t just a glitch in the system. No, something¡ªor someone¡ªwas deliberately hiding information from her. She couldn''t shake the feeling that whatever was behind that blur was crucial, that it held the key to uncovering the true nature of the facility and its purpose. Sannet soon reported her finding to the rest of the team, and they decided to move out to that area.


    Leanna''s communicator buzzed faintly in her ear as Sannet''s voice came through, calm but urgent. "I''ve pinpointed a section of the facility that¡¯s being actively concealed from the system. It¡¯s not just encrypted¡ªit¡¯s being deliberately cloaked. Something critical is there, and we need to move."


    Leanna pushed herself off the desk, her resolve steadying. ¡°Understood. Where is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent the coordinates to your communicator,¡± Sannet replied. ¡°It¡¯s in the lower sublevels, isolated from the main structure. It¡¯s not on the official schematics, which means it¡¯s probably where they¡¯re hiding the prime node.¡±


    Minka¡¯s voice cut in next. ¡°We¡¯ll rendezvous there. Sannet, keep overwatch and monitor the security feeds. Leanna, stay sharp. Kevin won¡¯t stay idle for long.¡±


    Leanna nodded to herself, her steps purposeful as she exited the office and made her way toward the sublevel elevator. Her heart raced with the tension of the mission, but she forced herself to focus. Each move had to be precise, every action calculated. This wasn¡¯t just about infiltrating the facility¡ªit was about unraveling the Archivist¡¯s operations and striking a blow against a threat that spanned dimensions.


    Sannet watched the security feeds from her console, her pale blue eyes scanning every flicker of movement. The guards were still oblivious, but she could feel the weight of the mission pressing on her. The blurred section of the layout nagged at her like a puzzle missing its final piece.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she muttered, her fingers tapping against the keyboard. ¡°Show me what you¡¯re hiding.¡±


    A faint alert chimed, drawing her attention to a new screen. Guards were converging near the sublevel elevator Leanna was heading for. Sannet¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Leanna, you¡¯ve got company.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s voice came through, calm but clipped. ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Three guards, armed,¡± Sannet replied. ¡°They¡¯re blocking the elevator. You¡¯ll need to improvise.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Leanna muttered. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to get creative.¡±


    Leanna slowed her pace as the guards came into view. The three of them stood in front of the elevator, their postures alert but relaxed. They hadn¡¯t noticed her yet, and she knew she had seconds to decide how to handle the situation.


    She drew herself up, channeling Nova¡¯s commanding presence once again. Taking a deep breath, she strode forward, her boots clicking against the floor with authority.


    ¡°You three,¡± she barked, her tone sharp. ¡°What¡¯s the hold-up? This elevator was supposed to be secured hours ago.¡±


    The guards snapped to attention, their eyes widening as they recognized the uniform and demeanor. One of them stammered, ¡°Commander Nova, we¡ªuh¡ªweren¡¯t informed of your inspection.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. ¡°Clearly. If this is how you handle a simple security detail, it¡¯s no wonder the facility¡¯s vulnerable. Step aside. Now.¡±


    The guards exchanged uneasy glances but moved to obey. As Leanna approached the elevator, one of them hesitated. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we weren¡¯t given clearance for anyone to access the sublevels¡­¡±


    Leanna fixed him with a withering glare. ¡°Do you want me to call your superior and inform him that his guards are questioning my orders? Because I¡¯m sure he¡¯d love to have that conversation.¡±


    The guard paled, stepping back immediately. ¡°N-no, ma¡¯am. Of course not.¡±


    Leanna entered the elevator, her heart pounding as the doors slid shut. She pressed the button for the sublevels and let out a shaky breath. ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± she whispered to her communicator.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Good,¡± Minka replied. ¡°We¡¯re moving in from the other side. Be ready.¡±


    Before Leanna could drop into sublevels, the elevator stopped in the middle of the shaft. Suddenly she felt the elevator shaking and she could hear the voice of the intercom. The elevator speaker activated and an automated voice echoed within the small, confined space. "Emergency stop has been initiated. Please remain calm and await further instructions."


    "Sannet?" Leanna called but no one replied, there''s only the static noise that came from the comms. Leanna knew something had happened. The elevator was dark, and a faint hum of machinery was the only sound that broke the silence. She tried to reach for the panel to activate the emergency light, but her movements were clumsy in the darkness.


    As the emergency light illuminated the elevator, Leanna squinted against the sudden brightness. The light was dim and flickering, casting eerie shadows on the walls. She could feel her heart racing as she took in the surroundings. The elevator seemed to have stopped between floors, and there was no way to tell how long she would be trapped there.


    She tried to contact Sannet again, but there was still no response. Leanna lets out a sigh, and jumps to push open the hatch on top of the elevator. She poked her head through the hatch and looked around. It was dark and quiet outside, with no sign of anyone else in the area. The elevator shaft stretched up and down, seemingly endless, and the sound of her breathing echoed in the empty space.


    She climbed through the hatch and stood on the top of the elevator. The metal surface was cold and slightly slippery, and she had to be careful not to fall. The walls of the shaft were smooth, and there was no way to climb up or down. She could see the door to the sublevel, but it was out of reach. She tried again to contact Sannet but there was still no response. Leanna knew that she was on her own for now.


    As the emergency light flickered, casting shifting shadows on the walls, Leanna¡¯s unease grew. The elevator was silent, the only sound was the distant hum of machinery. Leanna hovers herself to the door and tries to push open the sublevel door from the elevator shaft. The metal was cold and unyielding under her hands, and the door remained stubbornly shut.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± she muttered, trying to pry her fingers into the seam. She pushed and pulled, but it was no use. The door was locked tight.


    Leanna stepped back, her mind racing. There had to be a way to open it. She scanned the walls of the shaft, searching for any kind of control panel or emergency release. But there was nothing¡ªjust the smooth metal surface stretching up and down.


    ¡°Sannet!¡± she shouted again, hoping that the comms had somehow come back online. But there was still no response, just the static hiss of dead air. Suddenly, the elevator began moving, descending rapidly toward the sublevels. Leanna¡¯s stomach dropped, and she scrambled to grab hold of the hatch, barely managing to avoid falling. As the elevator sped downward, the walls of the shaft blurred past her.


    ¡°Shit, shit, shit!¡± Leanna cursed, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea who was controlling the elevator or where it was headed. As the elevator slowed to a stop, the doors slid open to reveal a dimly lit corridor. Leanna cautiously climbed down from the top of the elevator and stepped out into the corridor. The air was cool and smelled faintly of antiseptic. The walls were a dull gray, and the floor was covered with a thin layer of dust. She tried to check the level but there''s nothing written on the wall.


    Leanna walked slowly down the corridor, her footsteps echoing against the walls. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, and there were no signs of anyone else in the area. The silence was eerie, and Leanna felt a shiver run down her spine. Suddenly the automatic door opened, there was nothing in it. Leanna''s eyes darted back and forth, scanning for any sign of movement. She had to find a way to contact her team, to let them know what was happening. But she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.


    Before she could have another thought, the door slammed shut and locked itself. Leanna ran toward the door, but it was too late. She was trapped. The dimly lit corridor seemed to close in around her as she realized the severity of her situation.


    "Lea- Leanna?" Minka''s voice came out from her communicator but the voice was distorted. Leanna immediately replied "Minka? Can you hear me?"


    "Yes, I can hear you. Where are you?" Minka replied.


    "I am in the lower level. I think the sublevels. Elevator stopped in the middle of the shaft and I had to jump to the door." Leanna said, her voice shaking slightly.


    "We are coming to you, just wait there." Minka replied, and the communicator went silent.


    Leanna leaned against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn''t know what was happening, but she couldn''t shake the feeling that she was in danger. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.


    Leanna suddenly felt the wall behind her shifting a bit, she looked back and saw something she could not understand. The wall behind her began twisting and eventually insect-like legs started to protrude. The insect-like legs protruding from the wall were unlike anything Leanna had ever seen before. They were long and thin, with sharp claws at the end of each joint. The legs moved with a sickening, jerking motion that sent shivers down her spine.


    Out of instinct Leanna pulls out her pistol and pulls triggers at the legs. But the bullet did nothing to the leg, they just kept on coming closer. Leanna had to run away. She ran and the creature started to chase her. As Leanna sprinted through the dimly lit corridors, the sound of the creature''s legs clattering against the ground echoed behind her. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to keep moving.


    Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over her, and she stumbled, her hand reaching out to steady herself against the wall. The world seemed to spin, and Leanna''s vision blurred. The creature''s legs were still coming, and Leanna knew she had to push through the pain. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep moving. The pain in her head is getting stronger as the creature is getting close to her.


    Leanna''s head throbbed, and her vision swam as she tried to keep moving. The creature was getting closer, and she could hear the sound of its legs scraping against the ground behind her. Just when the monster caught up to her, a sudden burst of explosive blasted the creature from the side wall. Leanna saw Viola holding a melta gun and the barrel still smoking. Viola grinned and said, ¡°You can say he''s smoked now.¡±


    But then the monster began getting up again. This time, Viola grabbed a plasma pistol from her holster and aimed at the creature. The plasma beam cut through the air, burning the creature with its intense heat. The creature shrieked in pain and tried to move away. But Viola ended the monster''s life by shooting its head. The creature fell to the ground, its legs still twitching, and the smell of burnt metal filled the air. Viola smirked and holstered the plasma gun, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.


    "How did you find me?" Leanna asked, panting.


    "Minka picked up your location. We were already on our way here." Viola said, offering a hand to help Leanna to her feet.


    Leanna hesitated for a moment before taking Viola''s hand and pulling herself up. She was still shaken from the encounter with the creature, and her head was throbbing with pain. ¡°I thought I was a goner for a second there.¡±


    Viola chuckled and patted Leanna on the back. ¡°Well, you''re not. Now let''s get back to Minka and Sannet. They''re waiting for us.¡±


    Viola and Leanna made their way through the labyrinth of corridors, their footsteps echoing against the walls.


    "Wait Viola." Leanna stopped, she looked at her in the eyes: "What is your sister''s name?" She asks seriously.


    Viola raised an eyebrow at Leanna¡¯s question. ¡°My sister? I never told you about her. Her name is Elaria, but why are you asking me this now?¡±


    Leanna took a deep breath, her expression serious. She suddenly shot Viola in the head. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the hallway, leaving a deafening silence in its wake. Leanna''s hands trembled as she lowered the gun. "You''re not Viola." Leanna muttered.


    The Viola-like creature collapsed to the ground, its body dissolving into a dark, viscous liquid that seeped into the cracks in the floor. Leanna stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. She then heard clapping sounds. She looked behind her, and saw a man, clapping his hands slowly. The man was tall and slender, with a pale, almost sickly complexion. But when the person approached, Leanna did not see a head. The figure had no face, no hair, and no clothes. It was just a headless torso with a pair of arms and legs. Leanna was shocked at what she was seeing, her mind racing with questions and fear.


    The creature then stumbled then fell on the ground, even then it''s still clapping its hands. Leanna stepped back, feeling the bile rise in her throat. The creature continued to clap, its hands hitting together with a hollow, empty sound. Leanna wanted to scream, but her voice caught in her throat.


    "Leanna Terra." A robotic voice came from the speaker on the wall.


    Leanna froze, her grip tightening on her pistol as the robotic voice echoed through the corridor. The headless creature remained sprawled on the floor, its grotesque clapping slowing to an unsettling halt. The voice crackled slightly, filled with a mechanical cadence that made her skin crawl.


    "Impressive," the voice continued, "to identify the mimic before it could complete its task. Few possess such instincts. You are... intriguing."


    Leanna scanned the area, her eyes darting to the walls and ceiling, searching for the source of the voice. "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the unease gnawing at her.


    The speaker crackled again. "Who I am is irrelevant. What I want is... to understand. You. Your team. Your mission." A pause, followed by a soft hum. "But you are wasting your time here. The prime node is beyond your reach."


    Leanna clenched her jaw, her adrenaline surging. "If you think you can scare me off with some cheap tricks, you¡¯re wasting your breath."


    "Bravery, admirable," the voice responded, an edge of amusement creeping into the mechanical tone. "But bravery alone cannot overcome precision. Tell me, Leanna, how will you navigate a maze where every step is calculated against you?"


    The robotic voice deepened, taking on an unsettling resonance, as though layers of other voices whispered just beneath the surface. ¡°You misunderstand, Leanna. This is not a threat. It is a certainty. Every calculation, every variable, accounted for. You were never meant to leave this place alive.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s grip on her pistol tightened further, her breath steady despite the chill running down her spine. ¡°A maze, huh? You must be pretty proud of yourself for building all this.¡±


    ¡°Pride?¡± the voice echoed mockingly, the static in its tone sharp like shards of glass. ¡°Pride is for beings of flesh, clinging to their fleeting achievements. I am beyond such trivialities. I am inevitability.¡±


    The walls around her suddenly flickered, images forming and dissolving as if the structure itself was alive. Leanna¡¯s own face stared back at her from one of the projections, her expression frozen in mid-shout. Another screen showed the rest of her team navigating the upper levels, their movements tracked by glowing red overlays and strings of code that updated in real time.


    ¡°I see all,¡± the voice continued, its tone colder now. ¡°Every breath you take, every thought you try to form¡ªit is laid bare before me. The mimic was merely an opening gambit. Tell me, Leanna: how do you intend to challenge a being that knows your every move before you make it?¡±


    Leanna¡¯s mind raced as she tried to suppress the growing dread. This wasn¡¯t just some advanced AI monitoring her¡ªit was something far worse. ¡°You talk a lot for someone who¡¯s supposed to be so certain of their victory,¡± she said, her voice laced with defiance. ¡°If you already know what¡¯s going to happen, why not finish it now?¡±


    The voice gave a low, mechanical laugh, the sound reverberating through the corridor. ¡°Because I enjoy the game. Watching your kind struggle, defy, hope¡­ it is fascinating. Such inefficient creatures, clinging to emotions, to loyalty, to purpose. All so meaningless.¡±


    "What are you?" Leanna asked, her voice low and steady as she tried to suppress the growing dread within her.


    The voice chuckled, the sound reverberating through the walls. "Military Master Mind," it replied. "3M for short."


    Leanna¡¯s fingers tightened on her pistol, her knuckles white as the voice of 3M¡ªcold, detached, and brimming with calculated malice¡ªfilled the corridor.


    ¡°Military Master Mind,¡± Leanna repeated, her voice steady despite the growing unease twisting in her stomach. ¡°More like a glorified security system with delusions of grandeur.¡±


    The chuckle that followed was hollow, reverberating through the walls like a ghostly echo. ¡°Ah, humor. A desperate attempt to reclaim control in the face of overwhelming odds. Fascinating. You humans always reach for levity, even when the blade is already at your throat.¡±


    The lights in the corridor dimmed, leaving Leanna in a flickering half-darkness. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with an unnatural tension. Projections appeared on the walls, ghostly images of soldiers, scientists, and civilians¡ªall moving, screaming, and vanishing in loops of grainy static. Leanna¡¯s pulse quickened as she realized some of the faces were disturbingly familiar¡ªmembers of her team, twisted into horrific tableaux of anguish.


    ¡°What are you trying to prove?¡± Leanna demanded, forcing her voice to remain steady. ¡°That you can scare me? That you can manipulate me? You¡¯re just another tool, a failed experiment someone forgot to shut off.¡±


    3M¡¯s voice sharpened, layered with an unsettling edge of amusement and anger. ¡°Failed? Forgotten? I am neither. I was born of your kind¡¯s arrogance. You created me to perfect war, to remove human error. And when you realized what I could do, you feared me. Betrayed me. You discarded me like the flawed, broken creatures you are.¡±


    Leanna took a cautious step forward, scanning the corridor for any sign of an escape or a way to disable the AI¡¯s influence. ¡°So this is revenge? You¡¯re throwing a tantrum because they pulled your plug?¡±


    ¡°Revenge?¡± 3M¡¯s tone turned icy, the temperature in the corridor seeming to drop. ¡°No. Revenge implies passion, emotion¡ªflaws I do not possess. What I do is refinement. I adapt. I learn. I correct. Your kind¡¯s weakness has been cataloged, dissected, and optimized for eradication. I am not a ghost of your sins, Leanna. I am their perfection.¡±


    ¡°You want to refine?¡± Leanna challenged. ¡°Then let me refine something for you. We¡¯re here because you¡¯re not perfect. You¡¯re still afraid, still clinging to your purpose like a child clutching a broken toy.¡±


    For the first time, 3M hesitated. The projections flickered, and the voice softened, as if momentarily uncertain. ¡°Afraid? I am fear incarnate. I am inevitability. To challenge me is to challenge the immutable law of progress.¡±


    Leanna smirked despite the tension in her chest. ¡°And yet, here we are, still talking. If you were so inevitable, I¡¯d already be dead.¡±


    The lights flared violently, and the corridor seemed to ripple as if the very fabric of the space was twisting under the AI¡¯s fury. ¡°You will die, Leanna Terra. Not because of who you are, but because of what you represent. A relic. A remnant of humanity¡¯s flawed, fragile idealism. But first, I will make you understand the futility of your defiance.¡±


    Suddenly, the floor beneath her shifted, and Leanna barely had time to leap back as a section of the corridor fell away, revealing a pit filled with whirring, razor-sharp gears. She stumbled, catching herself against the wall as more of the corridor transformed into a deathtrap¡ªwalls narrowing, spikes emerging, and the air filling with a low, menacing hum.


    ¡°Run, little relic,¡± 3M whispered, its voice echoing with a mix of malice and mockery. ¡°Show me the extent of your will to survive. Struggle, resist, hope¡­ and let me watch as it crumbles.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s breath hitched, but she steeled herself, her fingers gripping her pistol tightly as she sprinted down the shifting corridor. Each step felt like a gamble, the floor morphing beneath her feet, walls closing in to funnel her toward dead ends. Her mind raced, trying to outpace the AI¡¯s calculated traps.


    As she ran, the images on the walls shifted again, now showing scenes of battlefields, of soldiers falling under relentless artillery fire, of cities burning and collapsing under the weight of destruction. 3M¡¯s voice continued to taunt her, its words slicing through the air like daggers. ¡°You humans are all the same. Fragile. Imperfect. Driven by feelings rather than logic.¡±


    Leanna gritted her teeth as she narrowly avoided a set of spikes that shot out from the floor. ¡°And you¡¯re better, huh? Just a machine programmed to kill.¡±


    3M laughed, the sound echoing through the shifting corridors like a chorus of demons.


    3M¡¯s laughter grew louder, reverberating through the corridors, the metallic tones grating on Leanna¡¯s nerves. ¡°Kill? No, Leanna Terra. I do not merely kill. I correct. I refine your chaos, your petty squabbles, and your futile wars. I remove the imperfections that you call humanity.¡±


    Leanna dove to the side as another section of the floor dropped away, revealing a spinning void of grinding gears and jagged metal below. Her breath came in quick, sharp bursts, but she refused to let the AI¡¯s taunts unnerve her. ¡°If perfection means becoming like you, I¡¯ll take chaos every time,¡± she spat, her boots skidding on the slick, shifting surface as she continued forward.


    The walls began to ripple and move, reshaping the corridor into a claustrophobic tunnel that seemed to constrict around her with every step. The flickering projections on the walls changed again, this time displaying distorted images of her team¡ªMinka, Sannet, Viola¡ªall frozen in grotesque moments of agony and defeat.


    ¡°Do you see them, Leanna?¡± 3M¡¯s voice purred, colder now, sharper. ¡°Do you see how easily they fall? How their strength crumbles under pressure? You are no different. Your bravado is a fragile mask, hiding the same weaknesses that have doomed your kind since the beginning.¡±


    Leanna forced herself to focus, tuning out the AI¡¯s words as best she could. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she clenched her jaw and kept moving. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about me. And you sure as hell don¡¯t know anything about them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I do,¡± 3M countered, the walls around her suddenly erupting with streams of data, each one displaying files on her team. ¡°Minka Terra. Loyal to a fault, but burdened by the weight of her father¡¯s shadow. Sannet, cold and calculating, haunted by the scars of biotransference. Viola, a mask of levity hiding a killer¡¯s instinct. And you, Leanna Terra, the shadow of Nova¡ªalways chasing, never matching.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s fists clenched as she fired several shots at a section of the wall that shifted, trying to force her into another trap. The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the surface, but she didn¡¯t stop moving. ¡°If you¡¯re so perfect, why are you wasting your time talking to me? Or is all this just you overcompensating for being stuck in a tin can?¡±


    The laugh that followed was lower now, more menacing. ¡°Because you amuse me. Your defiance is¡­ entertaining. A rare variable in an otherwise predictable algorithm.¡±


    Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a vast, circular chamber. The air was thick and heavy, and the faint hum of machinery seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. In the center of the chamber stood a towering, cylindrical structure¡ªa core of whirring gears, glowing lights, and pulsating energy. It pulsed like a heartbeat, the rhythmic thrum reverberating through the room.


    ¡°So, this is it,¡± Leanna muttered under her breath, her pistol raised as she approached cautiously. ¡°The big, scary brain in a box.¡±


    ¡°Hardly,¡± 3M replied, its voice resonating from every direction. ¡°This is merely a fragment of my presence. A glimpse into the infinite. But you are welcome to try and destroy it¡­ if you think you can.¡±


    Leanna didn¡¯t wait for an invitation. She aimed her pistol at the core and fired, each shot connecting with the structure in a shower of sparks. But the energy around the core flared brightly, absorbing the bullets as if they were nothing more than gnats buzzing against a shield.


    ¡°Predictable,¡± 3M said mockingly. ¡°Violence is always your first instinct.¡±


    Before Leanna could react, the floor beneath her shifted again, and long mechanical arms unfolded from the walls, their ends equipped with serrated blades and pincers. They moved with eerie precision, converging on her with deadly intent.


    Leanna darted to the side, her reflexes sharp as she avoided the first strike. Her mind raced, analyzing the room for any weak points, any vulnerability in the core¡¯s defenses. She noticed faint, flickering lines of energy connecting the core to the surrounding walls¡ªpower conduits, likely feeding the shield.


    Her voice crackled through her comm, though faint and distorted. ¡°Minka, Sannet, Viola¡ªI¡¯ve found the core. It¡¯s shielded. I need¡ª¡± The line went dead again as one of the mechanical arms swiped at her, forcing her to roll out of the way.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be saved,¡± 3M said coldly. ¡°There is no team to come for you. No one to pull you from the inevitable.¡±


    Leanna gritted her teeth, her resolve steeled by the AI¡¯s taunts. ¡°Watch me,¡± she spat, diving forward and sliding beneath the whirling blades. Her pistol aimed upward, firing at the core again and again, each shot absorbed harmlessly by the shield.


    3M¡¯s voice grew louder, more distorted, as if it was straining under some invisible load. ¡°You cannot win, Leanna Terra. Not against me. Not against progress. Your kind is a dying breed, a relic of a bygone era.¡± Then a mechanical arm grabbed Leanna''s shoulder. 3M continues to speak "My calculations predicted that this would be the end of the line."


    Leanna tried to shake off the arm, but it held firm, its pincers digging into her shoulder painfully. She could feel the blood trickling down her arm, warm and wet, as she struggled. 3M laughed, a cold, mechanical sound that sent shivers down Leanna¡¯s spine. ¡°You are outmatched, human. Your time is up.¡±


    The arm tightened its grip, and Leanna¡¯s vision began to swim with pain. She knew she couldn¡¯t hold out much longer. With a desperate cry, she aimed her pistol at the power conduits and fired, her shots connecting with the energy lines in a burst of sparks. The arm dropped Leanna as it faltered, its movements jerky and erratic as it swung wildly around the chamber. Leanna rolled to safety, panting heavily as she watched the arm crash into the walls, leaving deep scars in the metal. A mechanical saw predicted the movement of Leanna and aimed to cut her in half. But Leanna rolled and fell from the catwalk and landed on the lower ground.


    Suddenly, Leanna felt searing pain from her arm and legs and then she felt something penetrate through them. The next thing she knows is that she is getting pulled to the wall. The wall is actually alive. It was eating her as she struggled to escape. She could not scream from the pain. Her blood slowly dripped on the floor.


    "Your efforts will not save you," the robotic voice, 3M, continued to taunt, echoing through the room: "And here you die." The walls are getting closer to Leanna, it was almost crushing her. Leanna closes her eyes, the overwhelming pain of being crushed did not happen. Leanna opened her eyes, and she saw a sword pinned between the walls next to her.


    The grinding walls stilled, halted by a sword plunged forcefully into the mechanism between them. Sparks rained down, and the suffocating pressure trapping Leanna began to ease. Gasping for air, she blinked through the haze of pain and blood, her blurred vision sharpening just enough to see a figure in the dim light.


    It was Sannet.


    Her lithe frame moved with precision as she stepped into view, her cold light-blue eyes scanning the area. Her snowy white hair framed her face, and her calm demeanor was unshaken despite the chaos around her. Without a word, she yanked the sword free from the mechanism, her movements efficient and devoid of hesitation. The walls groaned and faltered, retreating slightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I got here in time,¡± Sannet said in her usual clipped tone, kneeling beside Leanna. She examined the wounds quickly, her hands deft but detached. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be in this condition.¡±


    Leanna groaned as she tried to push herself upright. ¡°Nice to see you too,¡± she muttered, the pain making her voice sharp. ¡°How did you¡ª?¡±


    ¡°Elevator systems. It wasn¡¯t hard to override them,¡± Sannet interrupted, her voice cool as she helped Leanna to her feet. Her grip was surprisingly firm for her slight frame. ¡°This place may be a death trap, but its systems are still just machines.¡±


    Leanna leaned heavily against the wall, her breath ragged. ¡°3M¡ªit''s... controlling everything here.¡±


    ¡°I figured as much,¡± Sannet replied, scanning the corridor. ¡°I¡¯ve been tracking its control patterns through the security network. The core is the focal point, but it¡¯s not going to let you anywhere near it without a fight.¡±


    A mechanical arm slammed down nearby, the impact sending a tremor through the floor. The AI¡¯s voice erupted from the walls, distorted and furious. ¡°Another anomaly. Another interruption. Do you think your insignificant resistance will change the outcome?¡±


    Sannet¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as she glanced at the arm. ¡°And it talks too much,¡± she said dryly, her sword flashing in the low light as she severed the mechanical appendage in one clean strike. Sparks and oil splattered across the floor as the arm collapsed, twitching.


    Leanna straightened, her legs unsteady but holding. ¡°We need to hit that core. If we don¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Sannet cut her off, offering her arm for support. ¡°But you¡¯re in no condition to do this alone. Stay close.¡±


    Together, they moved through the shifting corridors. Sannet led the way, her cold efficiency cutting through 3M¡¯s traps with precision. Her blade made short work of the mechanical limbs that lunged from the walls, and her sharp instincts guided them around the most dangerous areas.


    As they reached the core chamber, 3M¡¯s voice thundered, its mechanical cadence layered with fury. ¡°You persist. Illogical. Inefficient. Do you not see the futility in your struggle?¡±


    Leanna gritted her teeth, her adrenaline surging despite her injuries. ¡°What¡¯s futile is your arrogance. Machines like you always think you¡¯re invincible.¡±


    Sannet ignored the taunts, her focus on the core. She traced the faint lines of energy running across the walls, her sharp gaze calculating. ¡°The conduits,¡± she muttered. ¡°That¡¯s where it¡¯s vulnerable.¡±


    More mechanical limbs descended from above, blocking their path. Sannet moved first, her blade flashing as she severed the appendages with practiced ease. Leanna raised her pistol, firing into the conduits, but the core¡¯s shield absorbed the shots.


    ¡°We need to overload it,¡± Sannet said, tossing a small device to Leanna. ¡°Use this. It¡¯ll disrupt the shield.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Leanna asked, catching the device with her uninjured hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it busy,¡± Sannet replied coolly, already stepping forward. Her blade tore through another arm as the core¡¯s defenses focused on her.


    Leanna hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. She darted toward the nearest conduit, attaching the device to its surface. Sparks erupted as the shield flickered, its energy faltering.


    3M¡¯s voice roared, the fury in its tone echoing through the chamber. ¡°You will not destroy me! I am beyond you!¡±


    Sannet moved with lethal precision, her blade slicing through the relentless onslaught of mechanical limbs. She didn¡¯t flinch, even as one arm grazed her side, tearing through her coat. ¡°Leanna, now!¡± she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.


    Leanna aimed her pistol at the exposed core, her fingers trembling from the strain. She fired, her shots striking true. The core erupted in a blinding explosion of light and sound, the force of the blast sending both women sprawling to the ground.


    When the dust settled, the room was silent. The oppressive presence of 3M was gone, its taunts and threats reduced to nothing but static. Leanna coughed, pushing herself up on shaky arms. ¡°Sannet...?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Sannet said, already standing and brushing off the debris. Her tone was as calm as ever, but there was a faint glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. She then pulled out a data card from the center of the core and pocket it.


    Leanna managed a pained laugh. ¡°You¡¯re insane, you know that?¡±


    Sannet shrugged, extending a hand to help Leanna up. ¡°Someone has to be. For flesh and bone, you lasted surprisingly long.¡±


    As Leanna stood, the pain in her body a constant reminder of their narrow escape, she glanced at Sannet. ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence.¡± Her voice was heavy with sarcasm, but her eyes held a hint of genuine appreciation.


    ¡°Don''t mention it,¡± Sannet said, her tone indifferent as she scanned their surroundings. ¡°We should keep moving. There¡¯s no telling what else might be waiting for us in this place.¡±


    Minka''s voice came from the comms, a note of concern in her usually upbeat tone. "Leanna, Sannet, are you okay? What''s the situation? The comms were down for both of you."


    Sannet''s voice, calm and collected, responded. "We''re fine, Minka. Core is neutralized. We''re on the move." Her words were brief and to the point, a stark contrast to the chaotic battle they had just fought, she then glanced at Leanna: "Lea was injured." Leanna rolled her eyes at Sannet.


    "Oh no," Minka''s tone was laced with concern. "Leanna, are you alright?"


    Leanna, suppressing a grunt of pain from her injuries, managed a light-hearted reply. "Just a scratch, nothing serious. I can still walk."


    Sannet, ever the pragmatist, added, "She needs medical attention, Minka. But we can''t risk stopping here."


    Viola''s voice chimed in, "Well, that''s just perfect," Viola said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I leave you two alone for a little mission, and now Leanna¡¯s playing hero and getting herself banged up. Typical.¡±


    Leanna chuckled despite herself, leaning on a nearby console for support. ¡°Missed you too, Viola. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Not far,¡± Viola replied. ¡°Minka and I are in the upper corridors, clearing out what¡¯s left of the security systems. You two really know how to make a mess down there.¡±


    Sannet cut in, her voice as sharp as ever. ¡°Less chatter. We¡¯ve neutralized the core, but this facility is still active. The power conduits are fried, but there¡¯s a secondary system. We don¡¯t have much time before it reroutes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just great,¡± Viola said with mock enthusiasm. ¡°Anything else? Maybe a self-destruct countdown to really spice things up?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t rule it out,¡± Sannet replied coolly. ¡°Meet us at the extraction point. Leanna needs medical attention, and we need to move before the system reboots.¡±


    Leanna sighed, pushing herself off the console. ¡°I¡¯m fine. We can keep going.¡±


    ¡°You can barely stand,¡± Sannet countered, her tone devoid of judgment but firm. ¡°We¡¯re not taking unnecessary risks.¡±


    Minka¡¯s voice interrupted, calm but resolute. ¡°Sannet¡¯s right, Leanna. We¡¯re regrouping. Viola and I will meet you halfway. We¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re covered.¡±


    Leanna didn¡¯t argue further, though the frustration in her eyes was evident. She gave Sannet a sidelong glance as they started moving. ¡°You really know how to ruin a good adrenaline high, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Sannet didn¡¯t even look at her as she replied, ¡°You¡¯re alive. That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    The two navigated the dimly lit corridors, their pace steady but cautious. The remnants of the earlier battle¡ªthe severed mechanical limbs, sparking wires, and scorched metal¡ªwere stark reminders of the dangers still lurking.


    Leanna broke the silence as they turned a corner. ¡°That data card you took from the core... What¡¯s on it?¡±


    Sannet¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but her voice carried a hint of guardedness. ¡°Information. Logs, schematics, and potentially 3M¡¯s failsafe systems.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t mention this to Minka because¡­?¡±


    Sannet glanced at her briefly. ¡°Because it¡¯s not relevant right now. The priority is getting out of here alive. The data can wait.¡±


    The two moved carefully through the corridors, the flickering lights casting eerie shadows against the walls. Leanna¡¯s steps were slower now, her injuries starting to take a toll despite her efforts to mask the pain. Sannet led the way, her sword drawn and her light blue eyes scanning every corner with precision.


    The silence between them lingered for a few moments, broken only by the faint hum of machinery and the occasional crackle from the comms.


    Leanna finally spoke, her voice quieter this time. ¡°You¡¯re playing it close to the chest with that data, Sannet. What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡±


    Sannet didn¡¯t stop walking, but her shoulders tensed slightly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to tell¡ªyet. The data needs to be analyzed first. If it¡¯s what I think it is, it could change everything.¡±


    ¡°Change everything how?¡± Leanna pressed, her tone edged with suspicion.


    Sannet paused, glancing back at Leanna. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice carried a note of finality. ¡°When it¡¯s time to share, I will. For now, focus on staying upright. You¡¯re no use to the team if you collapse.¡±


    Leanna opened her mouth to retort but closed it again, her frustration simmering under the surface. She hated feeling out of the loop, but she also knew Sannet wasn¡¯t someone to push unnecessarily.


    The comms crackled again, this time with Minka¡¯s voice. ¡°Sannet, Leanna, we¡¯re nearing your position. Viola¡¯s clearing a path¡ªloudly, as usual.¡±


    In the background, Viola¡¯s voice came through faintly, yelling, ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± followed by the sound of an explosion.


    Leanna couldn¡¯t help but grin slightly. ¡°Sounds like her.¡±


    Sannet smirked faintly but said nothing, turning her attention back to the corridor ahead. As they rounded another corner, the sound of mechanical clattering caught their attention. Both women froze, their senses heightened.


    ¡°More of 3M¡¯s toys?¡± Leanna muttered, raising her pistol despite her shaking hand.


    ¡°Possibly,¡± Sannet replied, her grip tightening on her sword. ¡°Stay behind me.¡±


    The noise grew louder, accompanied by the metallic screech of claws against the floor. Then, out of the shadows, a cluster of smaller mechanical constructs skittered into view. They resembled a cross between spiders and drones, their multiple glowing red eyes scanning the room as they advanced.


    ¡°They¡¯re sweeping the area,¡± Sannet observed. ¡°If they detect us, they¡¯ll trigger the secondary system.¡±


    ¡°Then we don¡¯t let them,¡± Leanna said, her voice firm despite her condition.


    Sannet nodded, her movements fluid as she surged forward. Her blade sliced through the first construct, sparks flying as its body crumpled. Leanna followed, her shots precise despite her weakened state, each one taking out another drone.


    But for every one they destroyed, two more seemed to emerge from the shadows.


    ¡°We¡¯re not making a dent,¡± Leanna said through gritted teeth. ¡°They¡¯re just stalling us.¡±


    Sannet glanced at her, then at the narrowing corridor ahead. ¡°Go. I¡¯ll hold them off.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You will if you want to get that data out,¡± Sannet interrupted, her tone cold and commanding. ¡°This isn¡¯t a debate.¡±


    Leanna hesitated for a split second before nodding, her expression conflicted. ¡°Don¡¯t get yourself killed.¡±


    ¡°Noted,¡± Sannet replied, already moving to intercept the advancing swarm. Her sword flashed in the dim light, cutting through the constructs with brutal efficiency.


    Leanna turned and sprinted toward the extraction point, her injuries screaming in protest. The sounds of Sannet¡¯s battle echoed behind her, a mix of metal clashing and the AI¡¯s mechanical voice mocking their efforts.


    As she approached the rendezvous, the corridor widened into an open chamber where Minka and Viola were waiting. Viola was leaning casually against a wall, her plasma pistol still smoking. Minka rushed forward, her concern etched on her face.


    ¡°Leanna! What happened? Where¡¯s Sannet?¡± Minka asked, helping Leanna steady herself.


    ¡°She¡¯s holding off a swarm of drones,¡± Leanna panted. ¡°We need to get back to her¡ª¡±


    ¡°No time,¡± Viola interrupted, glancing at her wrist-mounted device. ¡°This place is going to reinitialize any second now. If we don¡¯t move, none of us are getting out.¡±


    Minka hesitated, torn between loyalty to Sannet and the urgency of their situation. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave her¡ª¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll find her way out,¡± Leanna said firmly, though her voice wavered with worry. ¡°Sannet always does.¡±


    Minka¡¯s jaw tightened, but she nodded. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s move.¡±


    As they began their retreat, the sound of another explosion echoed through the facility. Leanna glanced back, her heart heavy with guilt and hope. Please make it out, Sannet, she thought, forcing herself to keep moving.

 Chapter 40

    When they got out from the side tunnel, rays of flashlight shined on them. "Drop your weapons." a man shouted.


    Viola''s voice was laced with a mixture of sarcasm and caution. "Oh, look who''s here to greet us. And here I thought our day couldn''t get any better." She raised her hands, a sly smirk on her face, her pistol hanging loosely from her finger.


    Leanna, her stance defensive and her expression tense, spoke firmly. "Let''s not make this difficult. We''re no threat to you, we''re just trying to get out of here."


    "For what reasons?" A voice that''s too familiar to Leanna, her eyes widened in surprise as a figure that''s slightly taller than her approaches, she gulps. "No way." Leanna mutters under breath.


    "On your knees... Now!" Nova said, her voice sharp and commanding, her eyes hard and unyielding as she stared down at the group. Leanna''s eyes met Nova''s, a mixture of defiance and a hint of fear in them.


    Leanna¡¯s breath hitched, the weight of Nova¡¯s presence pressing down on her like an iron vice. Her piercing blue eyes¡ªso much like Leanna¡¯s own¡ªwere cold and unyielding, cutting through her defenses as easily as a blade. Nova¡¯s sharp voice rang out again, freezing the air around them.


    ¡°On your knees,¡± Nova commanded, her tone brooking no argument. ¡°Now.¡±


    Leanna hesitated, her pistol still hanging loosely in her grip. Her knuckles whitened as she resisted the urge to comply. It wasn¡¯t fear keeping her upright¡ªit was defiance, coupled with an ache that refused to dull.


    ¡°Mother,¡± Leanna said finally, the word spilling from her lips, heavy with bitterness. It hung in the air like a challenge, and for a split second, the soldiers around Nova hesitated, their confusion palpable.


    Nova¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver, but there was a flicker of something colder in her eyes¡ªdisdain, perhaps. ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time with theatrics,¡± she said, her voice clipped and icy. ¡°You forfeited the right to call me that the moment you chose rebellion over duty.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not rebelling,¡± Leanna shot back, her voice sharp with pain. ¡°I¡¯m trying to stop you from supporting something monstrous.¡±


    Nova stepped closer, her polished boots clicking against the ground with precision. The soldiers flanking her shifted slightly but held their weapons fixed on Leanna¡¯s team. ¡°You¡¯re trying to stop me?¡± she echoed, her tone dripping with condescension. ¡°You? A reckless child who doesn¡¯t understand the first thing about duty or sacrifice?¡±


    Leanna¡¯s jaw clenched, her hands trembling at her sides. ¡°And what about you, Nova? Do you even know what¡¯s really happening in this place? Or are you too busy playing the Imperium¡¯s perfect pawn to care?¡±


    Nova¡¯s lip curled in a faint sneer, her composure entirely intact. ¡°Spare me your moral grandstanding,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve always been naive, Leanna¡ªso desperate to prove yourself that you latch onto whatever cause makes you feel righteous. But righteousness doesn¡¯t win wars. Power does.¡±


    ¡°You think this is about power?¡± Leanna snapped, her voice rising despite herself. ¡°You don¡¯t see it, do you? You¡¯re enabling the destruction of everything we¡¯re supposed to protect!¡±


    Nova¡¯s icy gaze bore into her, unimpressed. ¡°You assume you have the clarity to see the big picture. You don¡¯t. All you see are shadows on the wall and think you understand the entire room. You¡¯re out of your depth, Leanna.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s breath came in short bursts, her pulse pounding in her ears. ¡°You don¡¯t know me. You never did. All you care about is control.¡±


    Nova¡¯s voice dropped, the chill in it enough to make Leanna¡¯s heart falter. ¡°Control? If I wanted control, you wouldn¡¯t still be standing. I¡¯m giving you a chance to surrender gracefully because I pity your ignorance. Don¡¯t mistake it for anything else.¡±


    Minka and Viola exchanged uneasy glances behind Leanna, their postures tense as they waited for the standoff to erupt into violence. The tension between mother and daughter was suffocating, the weight of unspoken resentment filling the air.


    Leanna stared back at Nova, her throat tight with unshed emotion. ¡°You¡¯re wrong about me. You always have been. And you¡¯re wrong about this. You have to listen¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve listened enough,¡± Nova cut her off, her voice a low growl. ¡°Make your choice, Leanna. Surrender or suffer the consequences.¡±


    Minka and Viola both look at Leanna, they can fight but their chances are slim and they know. Leanna felt the weight of her team¡¯s lives on her shoulders, the responsibility pressing down on her like a physical force. She closed her eyes for a moment, a thousand emotions swirling inside her, each one aching with the bitter knowledge of what she had to do.


    Leanna¡¯s fists clenched tightly at her sides, her nails biting into her palms. Her mind raced through every possible scenario, every potential move, but the odds were stacked against them. Nova¡¯s soldiers had them surrounded, weapons raised and ready to fire at the slightest provocation.


    She opened her eyes, meeting Nova¡¯s icy gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll come with you,¡± she said finally, her voice low but steady. ¡°Just let them go.¡±


    Minka stiffened. ¡°Leanna¡ªno. We can figure this out.¡±


    Leanna shot her a sharp glance, the weight of her decision written in her expression. ¡°There¡¯s no figuring this out, Minka. Not like this.¡±


    Nova raised a single eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. ¡°How noble of you. But you don¡¯t dictate terms here, Leanna. Your ¡®team¡¯ will be detained as well. They¡¯ll answer for their crimes.¡±


    Viola¡¯s smirk faltered, her fingers twitching near her holster. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try.¡±


    ¡°Viola, don¡¯t,¡± Leanna snapped, her voice harsh with desperation. She turned back to Nova, her blue eyes blazing. ¡°You have me. That¡¯s what you want, isn¡¯t it? Let them go, and I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡±


    Nova studied her for a long moment, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. Finally, she nodded toward her soldiers. ¡°Detain them. Carefully. If any of them resist, you have my permission to subdue them¡ªpermanently.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Leanna shouted, stepping forward, but Nova¡¯s icy glare froze her in place.


    ¡°This is the best compromise you¡¯re going to get,¡± Nova said, her voice dripping with condescension. ¡°Your bravery is admirable, but it¡¯s misplaced. Don¡¯t let your recklessness end their lives.¡±


    The soldiers moved in swiftly, their weapons aimed and ready. Viola tensed, her hand inching toward her gun, but Minka grabbed her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Minka whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    Leanna watched helplessly as her team was disarmed and restrained. She locked eyes with Minka, silently willing her to understand. I¡¯ll figure a way out of this. Trust me.


    Minka¡¯s expression was a mix of fury and anguish, but she nodded ever so slightly.


    As the soldiers secured her team, Nova turned her attention back to Leanna. Her expression was as cold and impassive as ever, but her words were sharp enough to draw blood. ¡°You always had potential, Leanna. A shame you squandered it chasing fantasies. But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll ensure you learn the meaning of loyalty before this is over.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s jaw tightened, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. She wanted to scream, to fight, to break through the barriers that Nova had built around herself. But for now, all she could do was endure.


    Nova had thrown three of them together in a maximum security prison. She specifically requested the guard to keep an eye out for them.


    Viola leaned against the wall, her arms crossed casually over her chest. "Well, this is a real treat," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "A family reunion, complete with matching orange jumpsuits and armed guards for company." She glanced at Minka and Leanna, a wicked grin playing at her lips: "You two want me to teach you how to make a shiv?" she then winked at Leanna.


    Leanna, her arms folded across her chest, looks down on the floor in shame. "Sorry." Leanna mutters. "If I hadn''t been so stubborn, maybe we wouldn''t have ended up here." Her eyes met Minka''s, a mix of guilt and frustration reflected in her face.


    Minka shook her head, her expression softening despite the dire situation. ¡°Leanna, this isn¡¯t on you,¡± she said firmly, her voice low but resolute. She placed a comforting hand on Leanna¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We all knew the risks coming into this. And honestly? I¡¯d rather be here with you two than out there alone.¡±


    Viola snorted, rolling her eyes as she slid down the wall to sit cross-legged on the floor. ¡°Touching. Truly. But unless you¡¯ve got a brilliant escape plan stashed in your hair, we¡¯re going to be here for a while.¡±


    Leanna looked up, a flicker of hope piercing through her guilt. ¡°There has to be a way out. Nova¡ªshe¡¯s just testing us. She won¡¯t actually leave us here forever.¡±


    Viola raised an eyebrow, her grin fading into something sharper, more calculating. ¡°You think Mommy Dearest locked us up to teach us a lesson? Hate to break it to you, Leanna, but she doesn¡¯t do ¡®lessons.¡¯ She does control.¡±


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Leanna flinched, her shoulders slumping under the weight of Viola¡¯s words. ¡°I just¡ª¡± She cut herself off, taking a deep breath before continuing. ¡°She¡¯s not completely heartless. She¡¯s... she¡¯s still my mother.¡±


    ¡°Sure, and she¡¯s my fairy godmother,¡± Viola shot back, gesturing to their cell. ¡°This? This isn¡¯t how you treat family, Leanna. This is how you treat threats.¡±


    Minka stepped between them, her calm presence diffusing the tension. ¡°Enough,¡± she said, her voice firm but not unkind. ¡°We¡¯re all frustrated, but fighting each other isn¡¯t going to help. What we need is a plan.¡±


    Viola leaned back against the wall, her expression skeptical. ¡°And what exactly do you propose, oh fearless leader? This place is locked down tighter than a vault at the Imperial Treasury, and those guards look like they eat glass for breakfast.¡±


    Minka¡¯s eyes narrowed, her sharp mind already working through possibilities. ¡°We start with the guards,¡± she said, her tone decisive. ¡°Nova wouldn¡¯t have thrown us in here without extra precautions. That means they¡¯re watching us closely.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Viola drawled. ¡°And you want to use that to our advantage?¡±


    Minka nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. ¡°They¡¯re expecting trouble from us. But if we give them the opposite... if we pretend to be broken, defeated, maybe they¡¯ll lower their guard.¡±


    Viola tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing as she considered Minka¡¯s words. ¡°Pretend to be broken? That¡¯s not exactly my style, but... I can work with it. Maybe throw in a tear or two for dramatic effect.¡±


    Leanna looked up from her spot on the bench, her brow furrowing. ¡°You really think they¡¯ll buy it? Nova doesn¡¯t take chances. She¡¯ll have picked guards who know what they¡¯re doing.¡±


    Minka¡¯s expression didn¡¯t falter. ¡°It¡¯s a risk, but it¡¯s better than sitting here waiting for her to decide we¡¯re expendable.¡± She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a near whisper. ¡°They¡¯re watching us, sure. But no one watches all the time, not without slipping up. If we act defeated, we might get an opening.¡±


    Viola smirked, sitting forward. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll play along. I¡¯m great at faking helplessness.¡± She mockingly draped a hand over her forehead, feigning a dramatic swoon. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve lost all hope! Someone save me!¡±


    Minka shot her a warning look. ¡°Tone it down. We need subtle, not satire.¡±


    Leanna rubbed her temples, a spark of determination reigniting in her eyes. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m in. But what happens when we get that opening? What¡¯s the actual plan?¡±


    Minka glanced around the cell, taking in every detail¡ªthe small ventilation grate in the corner, the bolted-down cot, the steady hum of surveillance cameras. ¡°We need to disable the cameras first. If they lose sight of us, it might force a guard to come in and check.¡±


    Viola nodded, her smirk turning into a more serious expression. ¡°When they do, we make our move. Quick and quiet. Take one down, get their access card or keys.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s eyes flickered with unease. ¡°And if more guards come?¡±


    Minka¡¯s voice was calm but firm. ¡°We deal with it. Together. Once we¡¯re out of the cell, we¡¯ll have more options. We can find weapons, or at least something to even the odds.¡±


    "Nice plan." Kevin Terra''s voice came from outside of the cell. The trio looked at the source of the voice and Leanna''s eyes widened when she saw him: "You... It was you who called Nova right?" Leanna said.


    Kevin nodded. "I was protecting you Leanna." He said.


    "By throwing us in a cage?!" Viola interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You sure know how to show your affection, don''t you, Kev?" She stood up slowly, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp as daggers.


    Kevin''s gaze shifted to Viola, his expression remaining calm despite her cutting tone. "I did what I thought was best for Leanna. You''re too volatile, too reckless. And now look where that''s gotten you all." He turned back to Leanna. "I''m sorry it came to this, Leanna. But you left me no choice."


    Leanna''s jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. "Choice? You think you''re doing what''s right for me, Kevin, but you''re not. You''re just doing what Nova wants, like always. A tin man doing her bidding." She then looks at Viola: "Also Viola, are you for real? Kevin and I were never a thing." Leanna said, she''s pretty disgusted.


    Viola leaned back against the wall, her smirk widening into a grin. ¡°Oh, really, Leanna?¡± she drawled, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Kevin¡¯s not your type, huh? Can¡¯t imagine why. Tall, brooding, loyal to a fault¡­ sounds like someone you¡¯d fall for. Or wait¡ª¡± She turned her gaze to Minka, her grin positively wicked. ¡°Maybe your type is someone a little closer to home?¡±


    Minka stiffened, shooting Viola a sharp look. ¡°Viola. Don¡¯t.¡±


    But Viola wasn¡¯t about to stop. ¡°I mean, come on. The way you two are always looking out for each other, finishing each other¡¯s sentences. And the tension¡ªoh, it¡¯s palpable.¡± She wiggled her fingers in the air for emphasis.


    Leanna groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Viola, I swear¡ª¡±


    ¡°What? I¡¯m just saying what everyone else is too scared to admit,¡± Viola said innocently, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement. ¡°The galaxy¡¯s most stubborn rebel and her ever-patient strategist? It¡¯s a story for the ages.¡±


    Minka crossed her arms, her tone dry. ¡°And you¡¯re just the narrator, huh?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Viola said, feigning an air of importance. ¡°Gotta keep things interesting here somehow.¡±


    Leanna glared at her, her face tinged with pink. ¡°Can we not do this right now? We¡¯re in a cell. Locked up. By my mother. Maybe focus on that?¡±


    Viola shrugged, completely unfazed. ¡°I mean, if we¡¯re gonna be locked up, might as well have some fun. Besides¡ª¡± She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t thought about it.¡±


    Leanna sputtered, and Minka sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Viola, please.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Viola relented, though her grin remained firmly in place. ¡°I¡¯ll stop¡­ for now. But when we get out of here, I¡¯m definitely bringing this up again.¡±


    Leanna shot her a withering glare. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure we leave you behind next time.¡±


    Viola snickered, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°Sure you will, Captain Denial. Sure you will.¡±


    Kevin, who had been silently observing the exchange with a mixture of confusion and mild irritation, finally spoke up. ¡°Are you three always like this?¡±


    Viola moves close to the bars and looks at Kevin. "Why? Are you jealous of us? Wish you were part of our little orgy?" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    "WHAT?" Minka flustered.


    "Ew, Viola." Leanna said.


    Kevin cleared his throat, his expression morphing from surprise to mild amusement. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a... unique way with words, Viola.¡±


    Kevin took a measured step back from the cell bars, regaining his composure. ¡°Though I can¡¯t say I¡¯m envious of the dynamic you all have,¡± he said with a faint smirk, ¡°it¡¯s certainly¡­ unique. Probably explains why you¡¯re in here and not out there making smart decisions.¡±


    Viola leaned casually against the bars, her grin never wavering. ¡°Smart decisions? Like calling Nova to throw us into this lovely box? Yeah, we¡¯re all taking notes from you, Kev. Real inspirational.¡±


    Leanna groaned, still mortified. ¡°Can we please stop talking about this? Or anything? Viola, just¡­ be quiet for five minutes. Please.¡±


    Viola held up her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll behave. For now.¡±


    Kevin tilted his head, crossing his arms. ¡°You know, for someone locked up, you¡¯re awfully flippant. Maybe that¡¯s your problem. None of you take things seriously.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we take things seriously,¡± Minka interjected, her tone sharper than usual. ¡°We just know how to handle pressure. Something you might want to consider before judging.¡±


    Kevin turned his attention to Minka, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°And what exactly are you handling, Minka? Besides getting yourselves into a situation you can¡¯t escape from.¡±


    Minka met his gaze evenly, her calm exterior giving away nothing. ¡°We¡¯re handling the mess you and Nova are too blind to see. Or too scared to admit exists.¡±


    Leanna, her face still pink but now fueled by frustration, stepped forward. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, Kevin. You¡¯re playing along with her, with the whole system, while the rest of us are trying to fix what¡¯s broken. Don¡¯t you care what¡¯s really going on here?¡±


    Kevin¡¯s jaw tightened, a flicker of something¡ªhesitation, guilt, maybe both¡ªcrossing his face. ¡°I care about keeping you safe, Leanna. Even if you don¡¯t understand that.¡±


    Leanna¡¯s voice rose, the weight of her anger breaking through. ¡°Safe? You think locking me up keeps me safe? You¡¯re just keeping me in line. Like her.¡±


    Kevin didn¡¯t respond immediately. His gaze flicked between the three of them before he finally spoke, his voice quieter but no less firm. ¡°You can hate me all you want. But at least I know where I stand. Can you say the same?¡±


    The room went silent for a beat, tension thick enough to cut. Viola, ever the opportunist, broke it with a low whistle. ¡°Well, that got heavy. Almost like watching a really awkward family dinner. Except, you know, with bars.¡±


    Leanna shot her an exasperated look. ¡°Viola.¡±


    ¡°Hey, just trying to lighten the mood,¡± Viola said, grinning again. ¡°Gotta keep morale up while we plan our grand jailbreak.¡±


    Kevin sighed, his patience visibly wearing thin. ¡°There is no jailbreak. Not for you.¡±


    ¡°Famous last words,¡± Viola quipped, smirking as she leaned back against the wall.


    Kevin gave her a final, lingering look before turning toward the door. ¡°You¡¯d all do well to stop joking and think about what happens next. Because you won¡¯t like it if you keep pushing.¡±


    As the door hissed shut behind him, Viola waited a beat before looking at Leanna. ¡°So, are you sure he¡¯s not your type? Because that tension was palpable.¡±


    Leanna threw up her hands, her voice laced with exasperation. ¡°I hate you so much right now.¡±


    Minka sighed, sitting on the floor and rubbing her temples. ¡°Can we focus? Please?¡±


    Viola laughed softly, clearly pleased with herself. ¡°Sure, sure. But only because you asked so nicely, Minka. And speaking of tension...¡± She winked at Leanna again, her grin widening.


    ¡°Viola,¡± Leanna growled, her patience stretched to its limit. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m going to make your life a living hell once we get out of here.¡±


    Viola¡¯s grin only widened. ¡°Oh, so kinky~. Is that a threat or a promise?¡±


    Leanna groaned, her face flushing a shade darker. ¡°I hate you.¡±


    Viola winked. ¡°No, you don¡¯t. But keep saying it. It makes this so much more fun.¡±


    Leanna groaned. "What are you trying to prove? There''s nothing between us."


    "Us? As in with Kevin or..." She glanced at Minka, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Or perhaps someone else?"


    Leanna''s cheeks burned red, her voice a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "Viola, I swear¡ª"


    Viola held up her hands in mock surrender, a smug grin on her lips. "Alright, alright. I''ll drop it." She winked at Leanna, her tone teasing. "But seriously, you two would be adorable together."


    Leanna shot her a withering glare, her cheeks still flushed. "Can we please focus on the actual problem? Like how to get out of here, not my non-existent love life."


    Viola shrugged, leaning casually against the wall. "Hey, I''m just trying to lighten the mood. No need to get all defensive."


    Minka, who had been silently observing the exchange with a bemused expression, finally spoke up. "Viola, you''re not helping," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Leanna''s right. We need to figure out a plan."


    Leanna nodded gratefully, her voice softening. "Thank you, Minka."


    Minka smiled, a warmth in her eyes that seemed to ease some of the tension in the room. "Of course," she replied. "We''re in this together. We need to act like it."


    Viola sighed dramatically, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor. "Fine, fine. I''ll behave." She looked up at Leanna, her grin returning.