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Chapter 17: Unseen Struggles Part II

  Continuing forward, they reached a rge room with transparent walls revealing a serene night sky. More pirates y lifeless on the floor. At the center of the room sat a man, rigid in a chair, his hands hovering over a glowing holographic console. His eyes were vacant, unblinking—lifeless, yet his body remained upright.

  Jaxon approached, shaking the man’s shoulders. "Hey! Wake up! What happened here? Hey!"

  Before an answer could come, Drifter noticed movement. A weathered book on the floor, hidden in the shadows, began to tremble. Shadowy hands emerged from the book, rushing toward them.

  Drifter lunged forward, sshing with his Exaltare. His bde sliced through the dark hands, shattering them instantly. The book fell silent but retained its malevolent aura.

  Suddenly, a wave of dark energy struck Drifter, smming him into the transparent wall. His natural blue barrier fred briefly, absorbing most of the impact. Gritting his teeth, he rose to his feet, his eyes locking on the center of the room.

  A bck-robed figure with a skull mask stood there. When Jaxon firing volley of fme projectiles toward the figure, but they were deflected by a dark energy shield conjured with a mere wave of the figure's hand.

  "Who are you?!" Jaxon shouted, his voice filled with fury.

  The world around them suddenly shifted. The transparent walls dissolved, and the tranquil blue night was repced by creeping green shadows that writhed like living fog. The fallen pirates began to rise, their bodies cloaked in darkness. Their eyes glowed red, their hands morphing into shadowy cws, and guttural growls filled the air like a chilling wind cutting through the silence.

  The creatures lunged, their cws sshing through the air. Drifter moved swiftly, guiding his blue energy swords to cut down the attackers. On the other side, Jaxon unleashed fiery projectiles, creating explosions that temporarily halted their advance.

  But the creatures kept coming, emerging from the shadows on the walls. Amid the chaos, the cursed book released more shadowy hands, while the masked figure raised its arms, summoning dark sigils that unched bsts of miasma with a thunderous roar.

  Drifter dodged nimbly, his eyes scanning the room.

  "We’re leaving, Jaxon," he said, his voice low but firm.

  Jaxon nodded tightly, his fiery projectiles keeping the advancing creatures at bay.

  "This is way beyond us," he muttered, his breathing steady but strained.

  They sprinted toward the cargo hold, dodging attacks from every direction. Their breaths came in gasps as they finally reached a massive door. Drifter pressed a holographic button on its side.

  With a loud rumble, the door opened, revealing the vast, dark night outside. A cold wind rushed in, pulling at everything toward the emptiness.

  "Jump!" Drifter commanded firmly.

  They leapt into the freezing night air. Their bodies hovered momentarily before plunging into the icy water below. But their natural barrier shielded them as they plunged into the depths.

  Breaking the surface moments ter, Drifter tapped his Lumina Core, activating the Emergency Rescue app. After a while, sharp white lights pierced the sky. Drifter thought he had seen something simir in an Arcane Network database: a Vayu Krita-Css Corvette Skyship. Now, it hovered low above them, its elongated oval shape with fins and dark green color blending with the night. Blue propulsion lights beneath it illuminated the water, creating glowing ripples.

  A deep, authoritative voice rang out from a megaphone.“Do not move. Stay where you are.”

  Following the command, energy tethers lifted Drifter and Jaxon aboard, their bodies weary from the ordeal. As they steadied themselves, Union soldiers swiftly surrounded them, weapons ready.

  One of the soldiers, his voice firm, spoke. "We received your distress signal. For confirmation, show your IDs."

  Drifter raised his hand, activating his Lumina Core to project his holographic ID. Beside him, Jaxon did the same, though his hands trembled slightly.

  The soldier studied the holograms for a moment before giving a nod. Without another word, they were escorted deeper into the ship, arriving at a rge chamber with transparent walls that revealed the quiet expanse of the night sky.

  At the center of the room, seated in the command chair, was a burly man with a bear-like face. His sharp gaze locked onto them. "Expin what happened."

  Drifter hesitated. Telling the full truth—that Jaxon was carrying mysterious cargo—was out of the question. But he had an idea, something close enough to the truth without exposing everything.

  "A hostile ship ambushed us during training. When we boarded, we found only dead pirates. Then things changed—a cursed book, a figure in a skull mask… and those pirates? They came back as dark shadows. We had no choice but to jump to escape."

  The commander furrowed his brow, processing the information. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Our Vestra System detected four unidentified ships. One is missing. The other three are still being pursued. What do you suggest?"

  Drifter met his gaze without hesitation. "Destroy them as soon as you find them. Do not board. Do not engage. Those ships… are too dangerous."

  Silence lingered before the commander finally issued orders to his crew. Drifter and Jaxon were soon transported back. The journey to Nethia was quiet, neither speaking as they stared out into the void, each lost in thought.

  After nding at Nethia Terminal, they thanked the Nusa Union Patrol and departed, walking toward the city center in heavy silence.

  Midway through the journey, Drifter finally broke it. "Jaxon. What was in that cargo?"

  Jaxon slowed his steps. His hands clenched at his sides before he spoke, his voice strained."…I’m sorry. The cargo…" His gaze was pleading when he finally met Drifter’s eyes. "Please, don’t report this. If I lose my job… my sister…"

  Drifter exhaled, his expression softening. "Alright. But tell me the truth."

  Jaxon sighed, staring at the ground. His fingers twitched. "I… took on side jobs. Smuggling goods via air." The admission was barely above a whisper. "This time, I got unlucky. They said it was just museum pieces for a private collection. When I checked, it was just antiques and old books… or so I thought."

  Drifter’s gaze sharpened. "Who hired you?"

  Jaxon hesitated before pulling out a spare Lumina Core from his pouch. His fingers trembled as he activated it. A soft blue light flickered, projecting a small hologram filled with detailed information.

  "The name’s Nills," he muttered. "But I’m pretty sure it’s an alias."

  The hologram dispyed a brief message:

  Sender: NillsTo: SkyshadeTask: Deliver museum items to the Nausyra Sea (Tap here for delivery location)Pickup Location: Verudia Region (Tap here for pickup location)Advance Payment: 10 million VessiteCompletion Bonus: 100 million Vessite

  After a moment, Drifter handed the Lumina Core back to Jaxon, his mind racing. All he could remember was Jaxon’s conversation with his sister, who no longer heard or spoke.

  Doubt crept in—had he been too cold? What if Jaxon really had lost everything? The thought of asking Jaxon to smuggle the device Mina had given him crossed his mind, to see what was inside… but after holding the device in his suit pocket for a while, he hesitated. What if it was dangerous? What if uncovering its secret put their lives at risk?

  He sighed, returning his Lumina Core. “As long as your work doesn’t endanger us, I won’t report it. But find a safer job. Your luck won’t st forever.”

  Jaxon’s face slowly lifted, a small, grateful smile spreading across it.

  “Thank you, Drifter. I owe you… for life,” he said, his voice quivering slightly.

  As they returned to the academy and residential complex, both Drifter and Jaxon said their goodbyes. Drifter then retired to his quarters, ending the day with a long sleep.

  The next morning, Drifter asked Luna for permission to enter the Archive Room, citing the previous mission and the enemies they encountered. Luna granted him permission, and the automated doors to the Archive Room opened with a soft hum, accompanied by the synthetic voice: Access granted.

  Inside, the space was grand, filled with bck monoliths inscribed with glowing runes, standing in neat rows and exuding an air of mystery. At the center of the room, a softly glowing, boxy blue Magisterial Console served as the focal point, surrounded by minimalist desks and chairs.

  Drifter sat before the console, his gloved fingers gliding over the smooth surface of the screen. The blue glow illuminated his serious expression. He typed Jaxon Virelli into the system, and a photo of Jaxon appeared. Beneath it, scrolling text provided a brief profile. Selecting the History option, the dispy shifted.

  This time, the screen revealed something far more personal. His history bio detailed his origins—his family owned the Virelli Agricultural Company. He had enrolled at the academy in 1069 Ad Felicitas, become an instructor by 1083, and was ranked the third-best skyship operator in 1088. But that same year, tragedy struck. His hometown, Trelmeth Town—a once-thriving trading hub in the southern regions of Verudia—was obliterated by the Scorchrift Gale.

  Images of destruction filled the screen: rubble, scorched fields, and the ashes of a ruined city. As Drifter scrolled through the list of victims, his gaze settled on one name—Gianna Virelli. He scrolled further. Red numbers fshed rapidly, detailing the Virelli family's overwhelming debt, foreclosure, and the liquidation of their agricultural business. Drifter narrowed his eyes at the screen, his thoughts heavy. So that’s how it is… He wasn’t lying. Poor guy.

  He stared at the screen for a long moment before shifting his focus. Now, he had to search for any clues about the skull-faced enemy.

  Ancient museum relics... suspicious. Is there a history I missed?

  He typed: Important History of Vesteria.

  The first screen of entries unfolded:

  Pre-Aurea Aetas Era (????): A period shrouded in mystery, with no surviving records of its nations or way of life. Legends speak of Guardian Beasts guiding civilization before the advent of written history.

  Year 0 Aurea Aetas: The rise of the Holy Selvaria Empire, which subjugated various species to uphold the supremacy of the Silver and Golden Elves.

  18XX Aurea Aetas: The birth of the First Celestial Sentinel, the first Primordial to emerge from a non-Primordial species.

  1866 Aurea Aetas: The First Celestial Sentinel began freeing ensved races from Selvaria's dominion, bringing hope to all of Vesteria.

  1870 Aurea Aetas: The First Celestial Sentinel established a free settlement near Oridae—now known as Verm—creating a new life for those freed.

  1870–1920s Aurea Aetas: The Creator revealed sacred texts to the First Celestial Sentinel, leading to the founding of the Faith Religion.

  1920s Aurea Aetas: Oridae fell to an imperial assault, forcing the First Celestial Sentinel to retreat to Arcadia Isnd, a sanctuary she named. She resisted the invasion until her mysterious death.

  Scrolling quickly, his eyes stopped on a specific line:

  1070–1072 Ad Felicitas: The Cult of Shadronis Conflict—a dangerous faction wielding dark artifacts and ancient powers. The cult was eradicated, and its practices were officially banned.

  Cult of Shadronis Drifter thought, typing the name into the console.

  A new entry appeared:The Cult of Shadronis believed the world was corrupt and sinful. Their leader, Shadronis, cimed to be third Celestial Sentinel, sacred entity sent by the Creator to lead the world away from sin.

  Drifter’s eyes narrowed.The Third Sentinel? Nonsense.

  But his thoughts drifted to Jaxon and his mysterious cargo.Those items... could they be dark artifacts disguised as something else?

  He shut the console with a swift motion and stood. Without wasting time, he left the room, his steps resolute as he headed toward Friedrich’s office. Drifter knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” Friedrich’s voice called from inside.

  Drifter entered and took a seat as Friedrich politely gestured toward the chair before his rge desk, which was cluttered with scattered documents. Morning light streamed through the rge window behind Friedrich, casting sharp contrasts across his serious expression.

  "I’ve read your report, Drifter. Is there anything you’d like to add?" Friedrich asked.

  Drifter took a deep breath, meeting Friedrich’s gaze. “Professor, could this incident be connected to the Cult of Shadronis?”

  Friedrich’s expression didn’t change at first. Then, his gaze dropped to the desk. A long silence stretched between them before he finally exhaled. “I don’t think so, Drifter. The Cult of Shadronis was wiped out.”

  He rubbed his face, his fingers lingering at his temple. “They were just a handful of dark mages with outdated beliefs. No technology, no real structure—just dark magic and desperation. They attacked vilges, avoided cities, never posed a true threat.” He let out a short, humorless breath. “But history made them into something bigger. Made sure no one followed in their footsteps.”

  His hand fell away, and his voice dropped. “The stigma they left behind was worse than anything they did. Even being associated with them was a death sentence.” His jaw tightened. “Men, women... kids. Didn’t matter. They executed them all.”

  A pause. His fingers tapped against the desk. “It was brutal. But back then?” His voice was quiet now. “People thought it had to be done.”

  His voice lowered to a near whisper, his gaze distant as if reliving the past. "Many of them were just victims of circumstance. But the world never gave them a second chance."

  Drifter leaned forward slightly. "And what about the Cube, Professor? Could it be one of their artifacts?"

  Friedrich shook his head slowly. "If it truly were a Shadronis artifact, Grandmaster Amisha would recognize it. She led their suppression. Anything linked to them would be known to her."

  The room fell silent again. Friedrich leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp. "But if you sense something wrong, trust your instincts, Drifter. Just don’t act recklessly. This is a gray area—don’t move without solid evidence."

  Drifter nodded."Thank you, Professor," he said before rising and leaving.

  Exiting the office, Drifter continued to ponder the connection between the cube, Shadornis, and its possible implications. His thoughts were interrupted by a vibration on his wrist. Gncing down, he saw a message on his Lumina Core—a short note from Jaxon:

  “Meet me at the cafeteria. I need to discuss something.”

  Without hesitation, Drifter replied:

  “On my way.”

  Drifter instantly left the academic wings and made his way to the Training & Recreation Zone. As he arrived, the cafeteria—a boxy, gssy building with some outdoor seating—buzzed with ughter and conversation. Rich aromas of spices filled the air from tables den with food. In the corner, Jaxon sat at a table, waving energetically.

  Drifter approached with steady steps and sat down as Jaxon, wearing his signature grin, gestured to the holo-menu on the table. “What’ll it be, boss? My treat.”

  Drifter raised an eyebrow. “No need. If you’re trying to bribe me, make it a billion Vessite. That’s more tempting.”

  Jaxon burst into ughter. “Hahaha! Who has that kind of money? Don’t joke. Come on, let me thank you properly.”

  Drifter stared at him for a moment before relenting. “Fine. If you insist.”

  Before they could order, Jaxon’s Lumina Core chimed. He looked at it and smiled.

  "Ah, it’s Gianna. My sister wants to talk. You okay with that?" Jaxon asked.

  Drifter nodded slightly. "Go ahead."

  Gianna’s face appeared on the holographic screen—she had soft, wavy, shoulder-length brown hair and a cheerful expression.

  "Hi, Mr. Drifter. Thank you for watching over my reckless brother," her synthetic voice said as she typed.

  A faint smile crossed Drifter’s face. He typed quickly, his tone dry. "Reckless is right."

  Jaxon peeked at the screen, feigning offense. "Wow! Even my sister roasts me now, huh?"

  Drifter paused, his gaze softening. He typed slowly, his message brief but meaningful. "Take care. Stay strong."

  Gianna’s reply came almost instantly: "Thank you, Mr. Drifter. It means a lot to me."

  The cafeteria's noise continued, but for a moment, the world seemed to pause. Jaxon stared at the screen longer than usual, his smile shifting into something more genuine. Removing his signature sungsses, his brown eyes met Drifter’s with rare sincerity.

  "Thanks again, Drifter. If you ever need anything, let me know," Jaxon said.

  Drifter looked at him calmly, one brow slightly raised. "Rex. By the way, unusual for you to ditch your shades."

  Jaxon chuckled. Drifter leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the lively cafeteria.

  For a brief moment, the tension of the cube, Mina’s mysterious device, and the cult of Shadronis weighing on his thoughts seemed to lift.

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