Under the moonlit sky, Aira and Alliot set off, first moving through the enlightened forest with a grace and speed that felt almost supernatural, then entering the ancient city's streets filled with rubble and remnants of the fallen structures. Aira's reserves were filled to the brim, thanks to the power of the Wentouk's Source. As she now knew, Heart of the Forest was providing her and all of the enlightened with everything they needed.

  Aira's Energy Manipulation skill allowed her to draw ambient energy from her surroundings, sustaining their pace. She had been training diligently with her skills, and by now, she could not only boost her own agility but also extend that enhancement to Alliot. Alliot, bolstered by Aira's enhancements, moved with surprising agility, his formidable presence making their journey swift and efficient.

  As undead—or enlightened, as the locals preferred to call themselves—Aira and Alliot had the advantage of being able to travel day and night without needing any rest. The only limitation was visibility. Still, it could be at least partially mitigated by Alliot's senses and the skills he had as a Defender. The large moon that shone in the sky was also a boon, allowing the two travelers not to lose any time.

  The landscape blurred around them as they pushed forward, their determination unyielding. The old city ruins gradually gave way to more open terrain, and the air got cooler as they ascended toward the facility's location. The memories of their previous journey played in Aira's mind, reminding her of the challenges they had faced and overcome together. First, they passed the high-rise building Aira and Lila chose as their last stop before entering the enlightened city. Next was that spot in the suburbs, where the ancient streets gradually surfaced from under the forest underbrush. Then, with Aira almost not noticing the speed of their movement, they were on the shores of the grand river, with no signs of ice remaining.

  "So, can you swim?" asked Aira with a smile. "I'm not sure I can boost you more, and the flow is really strong here."

  "I can swim," Alliot said plainly. "If I couldn't, I'd have told you, and we wouldn't be here. I'd have suggested a longer route instead."

  ***

  As the ancient facility came into view, they slowed their pace, their senses heightened. It took Aira and Alliot only three days to get there, as they moved as ghosts during several days and nights without sleep or even pausing for rest.

  Initially, Aira felt her reserves diminishing much faster than she was able to replenish them. But that was only until they left the territory of the ancient city. The broken buildings and structures didn't allow enough life force to build up, for the plants to be that lush, to become a reliable source for Aira.

  Everything changed as soon as they went under the canopy of the forest. There, it became a neverending cycle for Aira. Boost, replenish, run, replenish. Boost, replenish, run, replenish. Boost, replenish, run, replenish. Still, constantly pouring everything she could access into her Energy Manipulation skill and Alliot's and her base stats demanded too much of Aira.

  But she only wanted to give even more. To reach Lila as soon as possible. To prevent the worst from happening.

  Aira's and Lila's old base seemed eerily quiet, starkly contrasting the bustling activity they had left behind in the enlightened sanctuary. Aira's heart pounded in her chest as they approached the entrance, the silence amplifying her fears.

  She knew they wouldn't find Lila there. Aira knew the exact location where she last sensed her friend during that ritual at Heart of the Forest. Still, she wanted to see the scene with her own eyes. To have a better understanding of what had happened here and what to expect when they got to Mountain View.

  There was no doubt anymore that Lila's old town was their goal now. Aira sensed enough familiar signatures among the people who were in the same group as Lila. All of them were from Mountain View.

  Still, there wasn't a clear-cut answer to another important question: whether Lila was a captive or a voluntary guest.

  "Stay alert," Aira whispered to Alliot. "We don't know what we'll find inside."

  Alliot nodded, his gaze sweeping the area methodically. "I'm right behind you, Aira," he said. "No signs of disturbances or anyone nearby. The group move on, and it looks like they didn't leave anyone behind."

  The pair entered the facility, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. The air was thick with dust and the remnants of their previous activities. There were signs of disturbances everywhere, and sometimes, it was hard to distinguish whether they were from the earlier attack or from a later moment when Lila and Aira had already left the place.

  Aira stumbled over a piece of debris left after the siege. The noise of the rolling object echoed inside the dilapidated building. Alliot reacted instantly, catching her.

  "You looked fine earlier," Alliot said, his voice calm but firm. "If you're this drained, you should have told me. Overextending like this is a bad strategy. It could kill you. It could kill us. And it could kill Lila. I thought you cared about her."

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  "Ah… That's cold! But it's nothing I can't survive," Aira said, clenching her jaws. "We have a goal. We need to figure out what happened here and continue to pursue Lila as soon as possible. I'll be more careful, I promise."

  "You need to rest," Alliot said. "Losing focus like that puts both of us in danger. We're stopping here until your reserves are stable. Then we move."

  "But we are so close," said Aira. "I can't bear the suspense anymore. I don't have Heart of the Forest's power anymore with me. I can' sense Lila from here. We'll have to get closer to Mountain View for that!"

  "I get it," Alliot said. "But if we go in now, tired and unfocused, we risk making things worse for Lila. Being smart is more important than being fast."

  "You're right," Aira sighed, her frustration evident. "It's just… the thought of her being in danger while we sit and rest... it kills me."

  "I get it, protecting those we care about matters," Alliot said with a firm nod. "But if we're not ready, if you aren't ready, we won't be any help to her. A few hours of rest can make a big difference. If she's been holding on this long, she'll hold on a little longer. We'll set up camp near the forestline, close enough to watch the entrance. That way, we can respond if anyone comes or goes while still giving ourselves time to recover."

  Alliot looked at Aira as if searching for more arguments and reasons to offer her. He watched over this woman for weeks already, but her actions sometimes made him rise an eyebrow.

  "Even with your boosts, I'm feeling the fatigue too," Alliot admitted. "The last three days have been intense. I've never pushed myself like this before."

  "Alright, but in a few hours, we'll move in," said Aira. "And we'll figure out what had happened to Lila here."

  ***

  As hours passed, Aira was getting increasingly restless, walking around their makeshift camp. Then, settling for a short meditation. Only to begin moving toward the facility before stopping and returning to Alliot.

  During one of these changes of mood, Alliot approached Aira.

  "Are you ready?" Alliot asked. "Your energy back to a safe level?"

  "Yes!" Aira exclaimed, jumping up to her feet. "Let's go! We need answers."

  Aira would lie if she said she was fully recovered. But Alliot was right, she needed these few hours, even if she wasn't able to focus on meditation throughout this time.

  It was still a bit bizarre for Aira to feel that her connection to the System was limited and changed so much. With mana, she was able to always check what her reserves were. That gave her an opportunity to meticulously plan her usage and account for the speed of replenishment.

  But with these new energy reserves, she didn't have any information like that available to her. Hence, when she became too focused on her rescue mission, she missed the moment when her energy was almost completely depleted.

  It wasn't the first time it happened. Most probably, that was what led to Aira losing consciousness on a few occasions during the previous months. Then, her body reacted to things she couldn't measure with numbers.

  In the previous months, Aira had trained herself to gain energy from her surroundings almost at the speed she was using it for her skills or to boost her stats. Interestingly, nearly all of the new activities she found for herself, beginning with Lila's training routine, to that practice of transferring the messages from Lila to enlightened and back almost simultaneously—all of that, in the end, improved her connection to the ambient energy.

  But now, she was boosting not only herself but also Alliot. She needed twice as much energy at the same time. And she was doing that for several days in a row without any stops or rest, gradually getting her reserves lower and lower.

  So, she had to add another item to the list of her future goals. A better understanding of her reserves. But that was something for tomorrow. Now, she only needed to gain just enough energy to avoid being clumsy and not endanger their scouting mission.

  "I think it should be enough," she said to Alliot over the party interface. "Did you have a chance to recuperate as well? Are you ready to go?"

  "Yes, I'm ready, thank you," Alliot replied. "Let's find out what's waiting for us in that facility."

  They moved cautiously toward the entrance, the looming structure casting long, ominous shadows in the fading light. Aira's senses were on high alert this time, each creak of the facility's old metal structure echoing through the eerily silent air. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on them as they approached the entrance, the stillness inside the building unsettling in its completeness. It was as though the facility itself held its breath, waiting for their next move.

  And then, when they reached the bunker door, it was left wide open.

  ***

  Broken bits and pieces left after the siege added even more gloom to the desolation of the ancient facility. It had once been bustling with activity, then left unused for centuries, with humans only coming to plunder the gadgets and materials of old times. Then, for a few weeks, Aira and Lila made it their home and tried to make it alive again. All for nothing, as the human attackers were thorough in destroying everything the two women had built.

  It seemed like it was this structure's fate: to be abandoned from time to time. Will it see a better future? Or would it just continue its gradual decay?

  Walking through the ransacked rooms, Aira couldn't stop thinking about her own fate. Her past was thrown away by some unknowable force. She lost everything and then began to rebuild herself. Almost like this building. But there was one difference. Even if, at moments, Aira felt that she wanted to settle and start a slower life, deep inside, she always knew that she would never forfeit her goal: to figure out what and why had happened to her.

  But now, another person's fate was connected to hers. They shared their journey. Was Lila safe? Where was she? The facility felt entirely abandoned once again. Aira felt a sinking feeling in her chest as she surveyed the area. She quickly moved to the energy storage room, finding the batteries still almost fully charged. Only a tiny fraction of energy was used when Lila opened the door.

  "Aira," Alliot called out, bringing the woman back from her deep thoughts, his voice steady but urgent. "Over here."

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