[Location: Abandoned Isnd – Nusa Union – Morning – 2 Days before Sarjavah Festival, Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

  The team stepped off their Stratos Alcherider, its gray, aerodynamic frame glinting in the light. The soft, white sand shifted beneath their boots as they moved onto the shore.

  In the distance, Drifter’s weathered eyes caught something strange. A dense cluster of palm trees stood like sentinels, their fronds tangled with unfamiliar branches. Wild, untamed grass rippled in waves across the earth.

  Beyond that, a settlement emerged—a scattering of timber buildings, aged to a honey-gold under countless suns. But something was off.

  No walls. Nearby, children ughed, chasing each other along dirt paths. Adults worked the fields, tending crops, talking in easy gestures. The sea rumbled in the background, waves crashing in a slow rhythm.

  Drifter’s brow furrowed.

  No golems? No turrets? This is supposed to be a separatist hideout?

  His throat tightened as he watched a young girl run after butterflies. The vilgers moved unhurriedly, their conversations flowing naturally, except for one thing. There wasn’t a single guard.

  Jaxon muttered beside him, "Well… our worst-case scenario just came true."

  Friedrich’s sharp gaze swept the vilge, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned to the group, his voice calm but firm.

  “Luna, Jaxon, Alma blend in. Py the part of tourists. Figure out what’s really happening here.”

  Then, meeting Drifter’s eyes, he added in a lower tone, “You stay back. Watch for anything off. If things go south, clear our path.”

  Drifter gave a slow nod, stepping toward the tree line as the others moved deeper into the vilge.

  The stillness in the air grew heavier with every step. Children stopped mid-py. Small eyes watched them from behind wooden fences.

  The adults fell silent. Conversations died, repced by wary gnces and shifting feet.

  Friedrich’s voice was low, steady. “Keep your guard up. These people don’t like strangers. Something’s not right.”

  Alma bit her lip. “Dad… I don’t think they’re just nervous.”

  She saw it—the way a woman clutched her child’s hand, hurrying them inside. The way some vilgers refused to meet their gaze.

  “There’s fear in their eyes,” Luna murmured. “They know something we don’t.”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Friedrich said, but his gaze kept flicking to Alma.

  She had stopped in her tracks, staring at a group of children behind a fence. One of them, a little boy locked eyes with her then flinched. He ducked away like he’d seen a ghost.

  “It’s okay, I’m not...” Alma started, voice soft.

  But the boy was already gone. Then came heavy footsteps.

  Friedrich’s head snapped up as figures emerged in the distance, their weapons and armor flickering into visibility.

  “Get ready,” Friedrich said, his voice quiet but commanding.

  Murmurs rippled through the team, tension tightening like a drawn wire.

  Then suddenly, another voice, a little girl this time.

  “Wait! Please, don’t hurt them!”

  The team turned sharply.

  There she stood, panting and frantic: the petite Nereid girl with silver-white hair.

  And just behind her, grinning with casual ease, was the hooded Felidae girl.

  "Thank you… for what you did before," the Nereid girl whispered, breathless.

  The Felidae girl grinned, arms crossed. "So, you're the ones who saved her? Guess we’ve got a shared interest, then." She gnced between Friedrich, Alma, and Luna, eyes sharp.

  Alma smiled warmly. "Good to see you again." Her voice dipped, urgent. "But what’s really going on here?"

  Before anyone could answer, engines rumbled in the distance—a low, growing hum that swallowed the air.

  Drifter’s voice crackled over ARF comms. "Heads up. We got incoming. Alcheriders—lots of them. No insignia, no markings. And they’re fast."

  The team's heads snapped up.

  Above, dozens of bck Alcheriders streaked across the sky, oval-shaped war machines with modur pting. Their pilots, armored and faceless, bore no banners.

  The vilgers scattered. Evocaier fighters barked orders, ushering civilians behind cover as the air turned thick with tension, charged like a brewing storm.

  "Should we engage first? They don't look like they're here to negotiate," Drifter’s voice came sharp.

  Friedrich’s mind raced. The Bck Cube was priority, but he wouldn’t let civilians be sughtered. His hand clenched.

  "We can’t blow our cover," he said over comms, voice tight. "This is government-backed mercenaries. They’re here to wipe out the vilge."

  He gnced at the others, his gaze hardening. He couldn't risk Alma, Jaxon, and Luna revealing themselves as they couldn’t materialize their armor and their identities had to remain secret.

  "Jaxon, Luna, Alma hide. Protect the vilgers, but don’t let anyone see you."

  They nodded and went to nearby abandoned house.

  Friedrich materialized his armor dark, gunmetal gray with a sweeping bck cape. His Mace and Greatshield shifted to match.

  "Drifter, with me. We hit them fast, stay disguised."

  "Understood, Professor. Let’s hope we don’t regret this" Drifter said.

  The first Alcheriders nded. Armored figures leapt from their cockpits, weapons fshing into existence.

  A horned warrior in azure armor stepped forward, frost crackling along his greatsword.

  "These people are Separatists," he sneered. "Kill them all. No mercy."

  As the armored figures approached the vilge near the woods, dozens of spectral blue swords suddenly struck from above, catching them by surprise.

  "Damn... an ambush! Find them!" the azure armored figure shouted.

  The attackers, armed with daggers, moved swiftly, blending with the shadows, lightning, and wind until they spotted Drifter. He stood atop a tree, poised in his unusual dark teal armor, his helmet gleaming in the filtered sunlight.

  "Target spotted. Seven o’clock, above," one of the armored figures reported.

  Then Two armored figures, charged with wind and lightning energy, sshed their daggers toward him. Drifter dissolved into blue particles and countered from below with a barrage of Exalt Bolts, blue projectiles striking the two figures until they fell motionless.

  Three armored figures with dark daggers struck in rapid succession. Drifter weaved between their attacks, but as a bde neared its mark, his left hand flicked up, Exalt Barrier.

  A translucent blue dome fred to life, deflecting the strikes and sending one attacker stumbling. Seizing the opening, Drifter surged forward, his Exaltare carving through the air in a seamless flurry. Each strike built upon the st, breaking past their natural barriers until his bde found flesh, leaving crimson streaks in the grass.

  As he cleared his way along with his spectral swords, Drifter looked into the distance while running, witnessing the csh of colorful energies among the armored figures and vilgers.

  The warrior in azure armor carved through the air with his frost-den greatsword, shattering the Defender shields like gss.

  When Friedrich stepped in, his luminous greatshield met the icy bde in a explosive csh, sending crystalline sparks dancing through the air as light and frost collided.

  Seizing the moment of weakness, Friedrich swung his mace at the azure warrior's chest, but his opponent recovered with startling speed, deflecting the blow with a sweep of his greatsword.

  Before either could strike again, the Felidae girl unched herself forward, her Sattvaprahara igniting with power as crystalline bdes materialized from her boots, sending the azure warrior flying backward.

  "Sorry, but he's mine," she purred, grinning.

  Friedrich didn’t hesitate, shifting his attention to the advancing enemies. His shield became a radiant barrier of light, intercepting both the weapons of nearby invaders and the projectiles raining down from distant Venators.

  The battlefield erupted into chaos as armored figures cshed with the vilge’s Evocaier defenders. Amidst the violence, the haunting notes of a crystalline harp rang out, the Nereid girl’s Echo of the Tide wove a melody of despair. Her song seeped into the invaders’ bodies like poison, slowing their movements until many colpsed to their knees, defenseless against the defenders’ ruthless counterattack.

  From his vantage point in one of the vilge windows, Jaxon’s twin crossbows sang their own deadly tune, each fming bolt finding its mark, cutting down armored figures where they stood.

  At the front, an azure-cd figure swung his greatsword through the air, unleashing a wave of ice toward the Felidae girl.

  "Devita!" the azure figure roared in rage.

  Effortlessly, the Felidae girl sidestepped, the ice crashing into the ground and spreading a slick, frozen yer beneath them.

  "Straight to the point, Lance? Why the disguise?" she taunted.

  The azure figure lunged, his massive greatsword sweeping in a wide arc, frost trailing behind the bde. Devita ducked, the strike missing by inches.

  She countered with a barrage of Geo-Bdes, jagged shards of stone erupting from the ground, hurtling toward him. He pressed on, his greatsword carving through the air in relentless pursuit.

  In a swift gesture, Devita shifted the terrain beneath her, summoning crystalline barriers to cut off his advance.

  He shattered them effortlessly, but as the fragments fell, a thick cloud of dust engulfed them both.

  "Now you can’t hit what you can’t see," she teased from within the haze.

  A series of spinning strikes struck the azure figure’s back. His natural barrier fred, absorbing the hits, but her onsught didn’t relent.

  The azure figure swung his greatsword wildly, attacking with brutal, aimless strikes.

  "Stop hiding, coward!" he shouted.

  But the blows kept coming, relentless, until his natural barrier finally shattered. Her final move—a sharp, upward thrust—sent him crashing to the ground.

  He forced himself to his feet, smming his greatsword into the earth. Gritting his teeth, he cast Winter Bite.

  Suddenly, towering ice spikes erupted from the ground around him.

  But they struck only empty air—Devita had already leapt behind him. With a swift 360-degree spin, she delivered a high-speed kick to his back, cracking his armor and sending him hurtling into his own ice spikes. He crumpled to the ground, struggling to rise, his breathing heavy and bored.

  He saw Devita standing in front of him, grinning with a proud and arrogant posture. All around him, his men were falling, overwhelmed by the relentless defenders. One by one, they colpsed.

  Gritting his teeth, the azure figure clenched his fists. His body trembled as he surveyed the battlefield, his gaze dark with fury.

  "I… I’ve already lost," he muttered, his voice cracking with disbelief.

  He rose shakily, his resolve crumbling.

  "Retreat!" he ordered, his voice filled with reluctant defeat, his troops scrambled to obey.

  As they fled, his gaze locked onto Devita, frustration burning in his stormy blue eyes.

  She smirked. "Next time, try harder."

  "This isn’t over, brat." Then, without another word, the azure figure turned and disappeared into the retreating forces.

  The battlefield fell into an eerie silence, the hum of Alcherider engines fading into the distance. Devita and Dheandita stepped toward Jaxon, Luna, and Alma, who had finally emerged from the vilgers' hideout. The tension lingered, heavy as the dust settled.

  "Thanks... for standing with us," Devita said, her breaths quick and shallow.

  The Nereid girl, her voice low and strained, managed a soft, "Thank you…"

  "I’m Devita, and this is Dheandita," Devita introduced, her gaze flicking between the group. "You all fight a little too well for civilians. So, who are you really?"

  Drifter, Jaxon, and Luna exchanged gnces, but Alma’s voice broke the silence.

  Alma broke the silence with a polite smile. "I’m Alma. These are Jaxon, Luna, and Drifter. We’re from the Evocaier Order, Verm Evocaier Academy."

  Luna shot her a sharp look. Jaxon sighed, crossing his arms. Drifter remained unreadable.

  "Verm Academy? Wasn’t that raided recently?" Devita asked, eyebrow arching. "What happened?"

  Alma hesitated. "Uh..."

  Luna’s tone sharpened. "You knew about that? Who are you, really?"

  Devita met Luna’s gaze without flinching. "I’m with the Order here. Nice to meet you, Verm team."

  Jaxon’s eyes lingered on her. Alma, sensing an ally, took a cautious step forward. "Two mercenaries stole a dangerous artifact. If it falls into the wrong hands—"

  Jaxon exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. Luna and Drifter remained still, tension crackling between them.

  "An artifact, huh?" Devita's eyes narrowed. "What exactly did they take?"

  Only the sound of distant waves filled the silence for a moment as Alma noticed the skeptical and distrustful expressions of her teammates.

  Anxiety rippled through her, fingers knotting, pressing, releasing tension coiled beneath her skin. Her gaze flicked, then steadied, curiosity slicing through unease.

  She turned to the Nereid girl. “Dheandita, who was chasing you? Why are they after you?”

  Dhea flinched. "...You can call me Dhea." Her voice trembled. "It’s the Union. They... they force my people into the underwater Eterion mines. They say it's criminals, but that's a lie. They take entire vilges."

  Devita’s jaw tightened. "She’s right."

  Drifter frowned slightly. “No way, really? So what’s the point of having the automatons?”

  "They can’t work underwater," Devita said matter-of-factly.

  Jaxon scoffed. "So all that wealth, and they still ensve people?"

  Devita shrugged. "That’s the Union for you."

  Luna murmured, "So… the rumors were true."

  Jaxon, Luna, and Drifter lowered their heads.

  Drifter’s brow furrowed as his mind worked through the details. He remembered reading in the Arcane Network about the Nusa Union—their cim to be the number one exporter of Eterion, translucent blue crystal with a faint inner glow.

  The reports always painted a picture of prosperity, but he also recalled whispers about the Order branch. They were notorious for never reporting anything out of the ordinary. And now, looking at the pristine luxury of their headquarters, it all seemed to fit what Devita and Dheandita had said. The pieces clicked, making the whole situation feel all too familiar.

  “All the luxury... all the festivals—we've seen it all, built on the backs of people like you,” she said, voice low but sharp, anger threading through every word as she shook her head.

  Dhea nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She quickly wiped them away, but the pain in her voice was raw, trembling as she spoke.

  "We have no rights. No one cares. My mother.. she gave her lives to save me. But even the Order here... they betrayed us."

  Luna’s brows furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line.

  Jaxon shifted, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

  Drifter stood still, jaw tight, gaze drifting to the ground. Memories flickered—history lessons of the Aurea Aetas era, of chains and auction blocks, of a past mortals cimed to have left behind. Yet here it was again, wearing a different face.

  Devita’s voice pulled him back.

  “The Order here is rotten,” she said bitterly. “The government buys their silence. Most live in luxury, turning a blind eye. Only a few of us do the job we're sworn to. It’s... shameful.”

  Her brow was taut, lips set firm—steadfast, unwavering. Yet something in her eyes made Drifter’s stomach twist.

  Why does she do this? Is it really out of noble intention?

  Drifter finally spoke, his voice low. "This vilge. Built by escapees?"

  Devita nodded. "Yeah. Thanks to the resistance."

  She studied them. "How’d you even find this pce?"

  Jaxon gnced around, then met her gaze. "We disguised as mercenaries. Took a job from someone with Union ties—our orders were to take you out. Now here we are."

  "As expected," Devita muttered. "They already know about this pce."

  Alma caught Devita's gaze, a subtle smile pying at the corner of her lips. Devita had shown genuine compassion for the vilgers—perhaps she might be willing to help. What did she have to lose by asking?

  "By the way, you wouldn’t happen to know anyone who could help us get to the Yuvaka cruise ship on the night of the festival, would you? We need to stop those mercenaries before they hand over the artifact to their contractor," Alma asked.

  Devita hesitated, her eyes flickering between the group and the distance beyond them. She shifted her weight uneasily, clearly weighing her options.

  Devita hesitated. "...Maybe. I have a contact."

  "Who?" Luna pressed.

  Devita scratched the back of her head. "I can introduce you to someone. Just… don’t mention the Order. Say you’re my, uh… college friends. You’re young enough, they won’t ask too many questions."

  Alma’s face lit up. "Seriously? That’d be incredible!" She turned to her teammates, grinning. "See? Staying here was worth it."

  Luna remained skeptical. "Who exactly will be taking us?"

  Devita shifted. "Someone high up. That’s all I can say. Just trust me on this."

  Drifter studied her. She wasn't lying outright, but something about her hesitation gnawed at him.

  Before he could speak, Friedrich approached, fnked by Vilger Evocaiers. His expression was cold.

  "I’ve heard the situation," Friedrich said. "We need to report this back to the Grandmasters. If the Order here is compromised, it’s our duty to expose it."

  He turned to the shore, the group following.

  Drifter hesitated. "That girl… says she can get us an invitation to Yuvaka."

  Friedrich’s brow furrowed. "How?"

  "Connections," Drifter replied. "But she didn’t sound certain."

  Friedrich’s expression darkened. "If it’s true, great. But we can’t rely on her. The Union will be back—staying is dangerous."

  Alma clenched her fists. "You mean we just abandon them?"

  Friedrich met her gaze. "The mission comes first. If that cube falls into the wrong hands, millions will suffer."

  Alma’s chest tightened. "I get it. But I can’t just leave them."

  Friedrich sighed. "I’ll talk to the Local Order leader. Maybe we can push for action. But we don’t have many options."

  Luna frowned. "And if he sells us out?"

  "We take the risk. If he does, we handle it." Friedrich’s voice was calm but firm.

  Jaxon sighed. "This is getting messy. I’d rather be hunting monsters."

  Friedrich exhaled. "We don’t have time. Let’s move."

  Drifter didn’t budge. "I’m staying, Professor. Sorry."

  Alma shot him a relieved gnce. "Me too."

  Friedrich’s jaw tightened. "This isn’t our fight."

  Drifter’s voice was steady. "It wasn’t theirs either. But they had no choice."

  For a while, only the sound of the waves filled the silence. Drifter’s gaze stayed ahead as he spoke.

  "Our path ahead is uncertain... staying put might not be the best choice. Maybe if we gain Devita’s trust, she might reveal more. Splitting now could give us a clearer picture ter."

  "Besides, I can’t just leave these people behind. If we do... we’re no different than the ones who’ve been ignoring them for years." Drifter gnced toward the vilge.

  The weight in his chest gnawed at him, twisting deep in his gut. A memory surfaced, cries for help from Area Zero, once called the Varlumia region.

  Vilgers running. A mother clutching her baby. Both swallowed by the swarm of bck creatures, writhing tendrils tearing them apart. His healing couldn’t reach them in time.

  He remembered sprinting for reinforcements, voice raw as he begged for herbs, potions, anything. The nobles barely spared him a gnce. He left empty-handed.

  Then came Lord Solvelyn, the golden-haired elf, praised as the most virtuous among nobles. His words were warm, full of promises. Hope flickered in Drifter’s chest. But as he cast spell after spell against the endless swarm, breath growing ragged, no soldiers came. No supplies. The other volunteer mages fought, but they were faltering.

  And then he saw it. The red lion banners of House Solvelyn, not charging to aid them, but ying siege to a city. Cshing with Lord Iridiath’s forces, blue eagle banners torn in the chaos.

  Drifter’s chest tightened. Betrayal. The word settled cold and sharp in his mind.

  His gaze snapped to the sky, dark lightning streaking across the heavens. Rifts bled open like wounds. Below, the swarm surged, tendrils shing, carving through everything.

  Vilges fell. Then the cities. Drifter’s lip curled in frustration.

  I’m not like them. Never. The thought burned in his chest, but he clenched his jaw, forcing it down. He couldn’t let it show.

  Silence hung heavy between them.

  Luna stepped beside him. "He’s right. I’ll stay too."

  Friedrich studied them for a long moment, then exhaled. "Alright. But if this goes wrong, there’s no turning back."

  Luna gave a reassuring smile. "We’ve got it covered."

  Jaxon smirked. "Guess we’ll see you soon. Take care of the girls, Drifter."

  Drifter gave him a faint smile. "No worries. Stay safe."

  Friedrich’s voice softened. "Take care."

  Alma avoided his gaze. "You too, Dad."

  With that, they parted. Friedrich and Jaxon disappeared into the distance, their alcheriders slicing through the open sea.

  Drifter stood motionless, eyes on the retreating figures.

  Luna was the first to move, walking back toward the vilge without a word.

  The hum of engines faded, leaving only the crash of waves and the cries of seagulls.