Vaeloria y in bed in her downtown apartment, nestled deep in the heart of the central district. The entire room—walls, floors, and decor—was bathed in warm peach tones, creating a striking contrast against its modern design. Around her, bags from her collection were scattered haphazardly, but her mind wasn't on them. It was stuck on the message she had seen earlier.

  Shift duty at Frontier Outpost… Seriously? Ugh. No way to swap this one…

  A wave of anxiety crept in, causing her stomach to tighten. The Lumina Core on her wrist chimed softly. She tapped it and saw a message from Drifter.

  "Meet at the underground parking lot today at 13:00."

  She exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of obligation pressing down on her.

  Vaeloria stayed in bed until 12:58 before finally typing a reply.

  Ahh, my bad! Running a bit te—got caught up with something in the city, hehehe. I'll head straight to the translocator. Thanks a bunch!

  Dragging herself upright, she moved to the mirror with reluctant steps. As she stared at her reflection, a troubling thought surfaced.

  Why did I even join the Evocaier Order?

  She had thought it would be exciting. Cool. Something to be proud of, something that would make the people back home admire her.

  But now…

  This is just like when I joined the Eldoria Rangers... she thought, biting her lip.

  The national defense force of Eldoria—experts in forest navigation. It had felt like the right choice back then, too.

  Shaking the thought away, she got ready, slipping on her favorite brown-and-gold Levana bag. With heavy steps, she left her apartment, her mind still clouded with regret and uncertainty.

  As she rode the public skyrail toward the city outskirts, Vaeloria made her way to the translocator. After what felt like an eternity, she finally arrived to meet them—Drifter, Lorcan, Reine, and Sloane were waiting, their expressions a mixture of impatience and amusement.

  “Sorry I'm te,” she said, wincing as she shifted her weight. “I can't help much ter, my leg's acting up.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one before,” Lorcan replied with a knowing smirk.

  “How about we ditch her for once? Fair's fair,” Sloane chimed in, grinning broadly.

  “You're so mean!” Vaeloria shot back, forcing a ugh. “Good thing Reine isn't like you two.” She looked at him with a bright smile. “Right, Reine? You're always so kind to me.”

  Reine's cheeks flushed at her words, and he quickly looked away, his gaze darting to the ground.

  “See? Ria's already stealing Reine's heart,” Lorcan teased, nudging Reine with his elbow.

  “She's a pro at it,” Sloane added with a wink.

  Vaeloria turned her attention to Drifter, who had remained silent throughout their exchange. Without a word, he activated the translocator. A holographic monolith of obsidian appeared before them, its surface shimmering with arcane symbols. After a few presses, a deep blue light enveloped them, and the familiar sights and sounds of Nethia City vanished in a fsh of dazzling brilliance.

  When the light faded, she found herself standing in a misty ndscape. Towering trees loomed around her, their massive forms shrouded in curling fog. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and an eerie silence clung to the shifting shadows. Then, through the haze, towering figures emerged—several GRX-091 golems, each eight meters tall, with massive cannons atop them, making their total length almost 15 meters. They glided smoothly above the ground, patrolling with mechanical precision. Their bck metallic frames hovered just above the earth, their movements eerily silent against the gloom.

  Her gaze shifted to the massive gray fortress ahead. It loomed like a shadowed monolith, its towering turrets and unyielding steel gate standing as an impenetrable barrier against the wilderness beyond.

  At the outpost, they passed through the identity inspection with ease. Vaeloria watched as Drifter walked slowly toward the edge of a balcony, his eyes fixed on the dark sky hovering over the barren nds of Area Zero. He stood still, his posture rigid, as if lost in thought.

  "What's wrong, Drifter?" Reine asked softly, his voice barely audible above the ambient sounds of the outpost.

  Drifter didn't turn, his eyes still fixed on the view.

  "Nothing," he replied ftly, before facing the others. "We're patrolling Whispering Woods at 16.00."

  Vaeloria and the others nodded and headed to their assigned rooms. As she walked, she gnced back—Drifter was still staring at the dark sky over Area Zero, his expression unreadable.

  Her room was simple. Just a bed, neat but not her taste. At least she could rest, though there were still over two hours left before their patrol. The stark functionality of the space made her long for the comfort of her peach-toned apartment.

  By afternoon, they gathered at the massive gate. Without much talk, they moved toward the entrance of Whispering Woods, sticking to the right side of the path.

  "Let's go," Drifter said, his tone leaving no room for objection.

  Vaeloria's pulse quickened as they approached the forest's edge. She gnced at Reine—he looked nervous. Meanwhile, Lorcan and Sloane strolled casually, their chatter breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over the group.

  Inside, thick fog cloaked the forest, shrouding the tall, motionless trees. The air was damp, filled with distant bird calls and the hum of insects. Leaves crunched softly underfoot as they advanced. Faint sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor.

  It reminded her of home. The forest she hated most. She swallowed hard, trying to push away the memories that threatened to surface.

  "Back here again? Getting boring after a while," Lorcan muttered, kicking at a small stone in his path.

  "Better than listening to a boring seminar," Sloane replied with a shrug.

  "Did you see that? The tree moved," Reine said, his voice tense with apprehension.

  Vaeloria stayed silent. Back in Eldoria, some trees weren't just trees—they were monsters. She didn't know if the same was true here. This was her first time patrolling, and the thing she had always avoided was finally happening.

  They moved forward. The fog thickened. The trees grew denser. Soon, they reached a fork—three narrow paths leading in different directions.

  "We've arrived. I'll take the northern route. Sloane, you and Lorcan go east. Reine, Vaeloria, take the west path," Drifter ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

  "Meet at the outpost by sunset. Stay alert," he added, his expression grave.

  "Got it, boss!" Lorcan grinned, giving a mock salute.

  "Take care, everyone. It's okay to be te, as long as we're safe," Sloane said, his usual pyfulness repced by genuine concern.

  Drifter gnced at Vaeloria and Reine for a moment, then turned away without another word.

  Vaeloria took a deep breath and stepped toward the west path, her heart hammering in her chest.

  As she walked, the fog surrounded her, and a sharp headache hit her with unexpected force. Her stomach churned as well, nausea rising in waves. She briefly closed her eyes and looked at Reine, who was slightly trembling beside her. She held her breath, trying to steady herself, but the nausea couldn't be held back. Slowly, she moved closer to Reine, her face growing paler by the second.

  I can't take it... I... feel bad for Reine, really... but there's nothing I can do...

  "Reine... sorry... can I go back first? I'm feeling sick... my head hurts..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Reine looked at her, concern evident in his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.

  "It's fine, Ria. I can manage alone," he said, offering a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

  "Thanks, Reine... sorry again..." she replied, guilt already gnawing at her conscience.

  She turned and headed back to the rest area in front of the Frontier Outpost, a bustling pce that blended both outdoor and indoor spaces. The square building featured a rge tent and long tables where off-duty personnel gathered.

  She rested there, sipping some water to calm her churning stomach. After a while, she started feeling a little better. She tapped her Lumina Core – Apps – EO Missions – Mission: Whispering Wood Training. The map appeared, showing that Reine, Drifter, Sloane, and Lorcan were still in the area, their positions marked by small blue dots moving through the digital representation of the woods.

  As she observed the small blue dot indicating Reine's location still in the Whispering Woods, memories of their childhood surfaced unbidden. She remembered the kind boy who always sat beside her at public school. He never seemed to say no to anyone, especially not to her. One thing she clearly remembered was how close they had been, pying games together during breaks. She also recalled how passionate he had been about Spectra back then, and how they used to py together for hours. But now, she didn't think games like that interested her anymore.

  A wave of guilt pressed against her chest as she reminisced, her gaze darting to the ground. Would he be alright out there, alone in those woods?

  Then, footsteps approached, and a voice broke her from her thoughts.

  "Where's Reine? You were supposed to come back together," Drifter asked, his tone sharp.

  "Uh... I came back early. I wasn't feeling well," Vaeloria replied, unable to meet his gaze.

  "Did you try contacting him?" Drifter asked.

  "Uh... now I will..." Vaeloria said, tapping the call icon on her Lumina Core. But there was no response. Her chest tightened with worry. With trembling hands, she tapped out a message to him, hoping against hope that he would respond.

  "Let's find him," Drifter said decisively. He added, "Rescue team, we need to search for a missing student in the Whispering Woods," as a holographic image of his Lumina Core appeared before them, connecting to the outpost's command center.

  Vaeloria nodded, following him slowly, her face drawn with worry and mounting guilt.

  As they continued, they encountered Lorcan and Sloane on their way back to the Whispering Woods. The two seemed angry with Vaeloria for leaving Reine behind. Drifter told them to head back and rest, but they insisted on joining the search, their concern for their friend overriding their fatigue.

  Vaeloria's remorse weighed heavily on her, and her stomach churned under their accusing stares. She knew she deserved their silent judgment.

  Together, they made their way toward Reine's st known location. Night had fallen, and the thick fog now enveloped the woods completely, the eerie calls of distant creatures blending with the songs of crickets and rustling leaves.

  The fog was so dense they could barely see, so they materialized light spheres with their magic to illuminate the path ahead, small orbs of warm light floating around them like fireflies.

  But as they moved deeper into the forest, Vaeloria's steps grew heavier, her nausea and headache creeping in once more. The fog clouded her mind, and suddenly her eyes shifted to the dense forest with its towering trees. She felt as if she was falling from an immense height, the ground rushing up to meet her.

  Beside her, she saw a figure—a man with long golden hair, his gaze stern and unyielding.

  "Come on, again. Don't give up."

  She stumbled down the foggy path, tears streaming down her face, breath ragged. And once more, she fell, this time from an even greater height. Despite the crash, her natural Barrier shielded her from harm. But the cycle repeated itself endlessly.

  "DAD, PLEASE STOP THIS!" she cried, her voice breaking with desperation.

  The man remained unmoved, his voice firm.

  "This is just the basics... You have to make it!"

  She fell again and again, each time hitting the ground with a sickening thud. Her father's disappointed gaze lingered as he walked away, leaving her behind. The murmurs of students grew louder, and their eyes bored into her, judging, always judging.

  But then, she heard a familiar voice cutting through the nightmare.

  "Ria, are you okay?" It was Reine, reaching out to her with genuine concern.

  Suddenly, the scene shifted, and Vaeloria's vision returned to the present. Lorcan's voice broke through the haze, his face filled with worry.

  "Hey, Ria, you okay? What are you staring at?"

  Vaeloria turned slowly toward him, her eyes still distant and vacant, haunted by the memories that had assailed her.

  She bit her lip, barely able to speak. I shouldn't have done this… I'm sorry, Reine… I'm sorry... she thought, the weight of her actions crushing down on her.

  They continued on until they reached the location of Reine's blue dot. There, they found him, already engaged in combat. He had materialized his silver armor, with a long ice-crystal-like skirt flowing from it. His weapon, Vireiscryne, a sword and shield, gleamed as he cast ice spells, defending with his shield and sshing with his sword. He was already fighting a group of Wraithborn, purple ghastly creatures, and Mistbane, treants with tree-like bodies and roots for legs, charging forward relentlessly.

  Vaeloria's heart quickened as she took in the scene. Without hesitation, they rushed forward to his location, ready to join the fray.

  The group quickly materialized their weapons. Drifter's Exaltare, his dark gray sword, Lorcan's hand crackling with dark power, and Sloane's Zephyr Fang dagger, ready for swift strikes.

  Vaeloria, with trembling hands, materialized her Aurasworn Bow. Her fingers shook as she formed a light arrow, preparing to shoot at the approaching enemies.

  Each shot felt like an eternity… And all of them missed their marks. The Wraithborn's ghastly bolts, the Mistbane treant's vines, and their wooded hammers collided with the group's magic and weapons—but none of it reached her, as she remained far in the distance, unable to contribute effectively to the battle.

  Then, she realized the enemies had been annihited, their forms dissipating into mist and returning to the forest.

  She saw the relief on everyone's faces, knowing that Reine was safe. But Vaeloria felt a strange mix of emotions swirling within her. Was it relief that Reine was finally safe? Guilt that she had abandoned him? She wasn't sure. The weight of Lorcan, Drifter, and Sloane's gazes bore down on her. Does this mean I contributed nothing and just made things worse...? The thought clung to her like a shadow.

  They returned to the outpost with Vaeloria trailing behind them, silent and lost in her own thoughts. Then, she saw Reine approach her, his expression soft with understanding.

  "Are you okay, Ria?" Reine asked softly, concern evident in his voice.

  "Yeah… thanks, Reine…" Vaeloria replied, unable to meet his gaze.

  Suddenly, she felt the ground tremble beneath them, and in an instant, the earth split open with a deafening crack. A giant wooden root, glowing with a brown aura, erupted from the ground, separating her, Reine, Lorcan, and Sloane from Drifter, who led the way in front. Something massive emerged from the earth—an Elderwood Colossus. The dark brown, bipedal wooden creature had many faces embedded in its bark, but now, the faces seemed to be twisted in sadness or pain.

  Vaeloria felt fear grip her, and a sense of powerlessness washed over her. She saw Sloane step back, faltering, his hand trembling visibly. Reine, too, had wide eyes and gritted his teeth while trembling, but Lorcan? He just clenched his teeth in silence, readying himself for the fight.

  The Elderwood Colossus unleashed giant vines that spun like venomous serpents, hurling toward them with frightening speed. Lorcan and Sloane moved stealthily, avoiding the attacking vines with practiced grace. The massive Colossus stood firm, its roots gripping the earth beneath it, anchoring it to the battlefield.

  Vaeloria stood frozen, her hand still gripping her white bow. All she wanted to do was run away from this nightmare.

  Reine's ice bolts smmed into the Colossus, but the creature remained unshaken, the magical ice barely scratching its ancient bark.

  Lorcan and Sloane charged at the Colossus with coordinated precision. Sloane activated Wind Step—his body blurred with emerald light, moving so fast that the vines couldn't keep up with his movements. Lorcan transformed into dark mist, moving quickly through the battlefield, but the vines coiled around him like constricting snakes, trapping him in their wooden embrace. Seeing this, Sloane rushed over, sshing through the thick tendrils and freeing Lorcan with a fluid motion that spoke of countless hours of training together.

  Then, with a deep rumble that shook the very air, the Elderwood Colossus released its roots, its massive arm, coated in dark energy, crashing to the ground with terrifying force. Lorcan barely managed to dodge the impact, rolling away at the st moment. The earth cracked, and the ground trembled beneath their feet, like a tremor from the depths of the world itself.

  Without hesitation, Sloane activated Wind Step again, unching himself toward Reine's side. Vaeloria overheard their hurried conversation.

  "Bro…" Sloane gasped, still catching his breath. "How did you even run into this thing? I thought the Elderwood Colossus wasn’t supposed to be aggressive."

  Reine shut his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I think I broke something when I fell off the path earlier... couldn't see through the fog…"

  "Well, that could've been something important to it," Sloane muttered, his eyes never leaving the towering creature. "We're not winning this... but maybe we should try apologizing."

  "How do you even apologize to a monster?" Reine asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

  "Try getting closer. Stop attacking," Sloane suggested, his voice unnervingly calm given the circumstances.

  "That’s... crazy... How do you know it'll even work?" Reine’s eyes widened, his hands trembling slightly.

  "We don’t," Sloane admitted. "But it’s better than nothing. We don’t have another pn. Look, Lorcan and I will cover you if anything happens."

  Reine hesitated, his gaze shifting between the chaos around them. Then, exhaling sharply, he gave a firm nod.

  "Alright. We've got no other choice." He steeled himself for what was to come.

  Sloane shot Vaeloria a final gnce before stepping forward. His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes lingered—a silent plea, a wordless promise.

  A heavy unease settled in Vaeloria’s chest, pressing down on her ribs like a weight she couldn’t shake.

  Then, she turned toward Reine as he took slow, deliberate steps toward the Elderwood Colossus. His shield remained raised in a defensive stance, ready for the worst.

  "I'm sorry! I didn’t mean to!" Reine called out, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.

  The Elderwood Colossus' massive vines continued to tear through the ndscape, uprooting trees and shattering stone. Vaeloria’s heart pounded.

  This is reckless. This is suicide.

  What was Reine thinking? What if this thing didn’t care? What if it only saw him as another threat?

  But then, something unexpected happened.

  Reine knelt before the towering beast, his head bowed in a gesture of humility.

  "I'm sorry... I know what I broke wasn’t just some object. It could’ve been—one of your own."

  A hush fell over the battlefield.

  For a single, breathless moment, the Elderwood Colossus stilled.

  No way... is it actually working? Vaeloria tightened her grip on her bow, her instincts screaming at her not to let her guard down.

  Then, the Colossus roared. The earth trembled. The trees shuddered.

  A massive, jagged needle formed in the air, aimed directly at Reine.

  Vaeloria’s blood ran cold.

  No—!

  Her fingers were already moving. Light surged through her Aurasworn Bow, golden energy condensing at its core. The charge vibrated with raw power.

  Please... just this once… let it work.

  "Feythrasir," she whispered.

  A blinding golden beam shot forth like a comet, slicing through the air.

  Lorcan and Sloane lunged toward Reine, desperate to cover him—only to halt at the st second as the radiant light engulfed the battlefield. Instinctively, they veered away, barely escaping its brilliance.

  The Colossus’ needle shattered into dust before it could reach Reine. Then, the celestial energy struck the Elderwood Colossus square in the chest, detonating on impact.

  Light flooded the battlefield, scattering like stardust. The Colossus howled in agony, its massive form trembling as it sank to its knees. The ground quaked beneath them.

  Vaeloria gasped for air. Her Aurorasworn Bow dissolved into golden embers, flickering away like fireflies in the night.

  Silence followed.

  Lorcan, Sloane, and Reine stood frozen, staring at the aftermath in awe.

  Suddenly, a deafening explosion tore through the air, forcing them to turn away. The wooden walls around them colpsed with a thunderous crash.

  Amidst the dust and debris, the rescue team emerged, accompanied by Drifter. Towering above them, the Golem Squad—GRX-091 Virtus Castigat—strode forward cutting through the destruction. Their cannons unleashed searing blue beams, striking the Elderwood Colossus. The ancient behemoth shuddered under the relentless assault, its wooden body splintering and cracking apart with each impact.

  "Stop! Stop attacking!!" Reine shouted, rushing toward Theodore, the commander with neatly tied bck hair and cat-like ears who directed the golem squad.

  "Please stop, it's my fault!" Reine cried out, desperation clear in his voice.

  "Sir... please stop," Drifter said.

  Theodore raised his hand, and the golems stopped immediately, their cannons powering down with a low hum.

  The Elderwood Colossus y colpsed, its wooden body torn apart, some faces missing from its bark. The vines scattered across the battlefield, no longer animated by its will. Reine approached slowly, regret evident in every step.

  "I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I know what I broke wasn't just something valuable... it could have been part of your family…" He bowed his head deeply once more.

  The Elderwood Colossus locked eyes with Reine for a long, weighty moment. Then, with one final, deliberate movement, it turned and disappeared into the mist, leaving only broken branches and churned earth in its wake. Vaeloria couldn’t tell if it was Reine’s words that had reached it—or if the colossus had simply been lost, retreating on instinct.

  Then she joined Drifter, Sloane, Reine, and Lorcan, who had gathered in a tight circle, exhaustion evident on their faces.

  "I'm sorry… all of this happened because of me," she said, her voice heavy with guilt. "I promise, Reine… if you ever need something, if you need help, just ask me."

  "It's okay, Ria… It was my fault. I got lost… you don’t have to apologize," Reine said.

  "Well, that shot wasn't bad, Ria…" Lorcan added with a smile.

  "Yeah… nice save out there," Sloane said with a respectful nod.

  They walked slowly back toward the Frontier Outpost as instructed by Theodore, with Vaeloria trailing behind, lost in her thoughts.

  "Damn, Reine… you think that monster actually understood what you said?" Lorcan asked, breaking the silence.

  "Well… about that…" Reine hesitated.

  "Actually, that was my idea. Not like I had a better option," Sloane said with a shrug.

  "And I’m not wrong, am I? Look—it's retreating! The theory that monsters were docile in the ancient era might actually be true after all!" Sloane added with a grin.

  "Yeah, yeah, it was the golems that did the work, professor. Whatever you say..." Lorcan muttered.

  A brief silence followed as they continued walking, the tension from their encounter still lingering. Then, out of nowhere, Lorcan smirked and tapped his Lumina Core.

  "Anyway, you guys have to see this," he said, already ughing before the footage even started. A holographic video flickered to life.

  "Come on! Get off me!" Sloane's panicked voice crackled through the recording. The clip showed him sprinting away from a ghostly figure, his movements frantic as he ducked behind a tree. He barely had a moment to catch his breath before the tree itself began to shift. Slowly, it turned—revealing a monstrous face carved into its bark.

  Sloane's eyes widened in sheer terror, his mouth opening in a silent gasp. His body trembled as he bolted once more, desperation propelling him forward.

  Lorcan burst into ughter, his amusement contagious as Reine chuckled beside him. Even Drifter smirked before letting out a quiet ugh. Vaeloria, however, only managed a faint smile.

  "Ha! I bet you were scared out of your mind!" Lorcan teased between fits of ughter. "Don’t tell me you nearly pissed yourself!"

  "Oh, come on! If it was a ghost, that doesn’t count!" Sloane huffed, crossing his arms. His cheeks were tinged with embarrassment. "Besides, you would've been done for if I hadn’t pulled you away from those vines."

  "Yeah… Yeah.... thanks, mister hero," Lorcan replied with a smirk.

  Vaeloria’s faint smile lingered, but her gaze was distant, lost in the weight of the day’s events. Reine’s eyes flickered toward her, his concern unmistakable.

  They arrived at the post. The sounds of the forest faded, repced by the hum of activity from the outpost and the comforting presence of other Evocaiers. Conversations buzzed around them, but for Vaeloria, everything felt muted—like she was watching from behind a veil.

  Later that night, back in her room, Vaeloria y on her back, staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. With a quiet sigh, she opened her Lumina Core and accessed the photos app.

  Holographic images flickered to life—dinners with her friends, Lily and Mia, spontaneous visits to new cafés, snapshots from trendy destinations taken just for the sake of sharing, and carefully curated photos of stylish clothes and bags she had recently bought.

  She scrolled through them absentmindedly until her finger hesitated over an old photo—her younger self and a young Reine, both grinning brightly, framed by the towering wooden trees in the background.

  "Maybe... never changing isn't so bad," she murmured to herself, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she gazed at the image of simpler, happier times.