Drifter went through his morning routine mechanically, his mind heavy with the weight of his st lesson with Luna Sabriel. Everything felt different now, tainted by the realization that had been gnawing at him. His gaze, once warm with admiration, had turned to ice when he looked at her.

  His doubt, which now seemed painfully obvious to him, filled his mind—she had never truly been genuine with him at all. Just another of the Grandmaster's pawns, tasked with keeping him docile, making him forget about Paxluma. Her lessons, her guidance, even those moments when she seemed to care—all of it had been a carefully crafted act. Or so he believed.

  He wondered if Luna noticed the chill in his responses, but she remained unreadable as always as they ascended the Command Spire together. Their footsteps echoed through the towering structure as they made their way to the surveilnce room for his final lesson.

  Heading toward the surveilnce room, today’s lesson would focus on the Vestra System—the test evolution of the old arm runes. Unlike its predecessors, this system could record both sound and moving images, making it far more advanced than before.

  It operated through a network of hidden Hexagonal Nodes, each capable of detecting Evocyte energy traces across a wide area. The entire city was covered in these nodes, allowing the system to track the locations of those within its range. However, there were limitations. While the system could detect Evocyte signatures broadly, it could only dispy recordings from areas where nodes had been pnted. Furthermore, internal regutions ensured that private spaces remained off-limits for surveilnce.

  Another critical weakness—under the right circumstances, which Luna had not revealed, the system could be disabled.

  There were also Mistral Quartz Orbs—small, portable versions of the Vestra System that patrolled independently. The recordings from both the nodes and the orbs were stored and monitored in this very room, at the heart of the network: a hexagonal structure that served as its core

  His thoughts drifted as they practiced controlling the orbs, mechanically going through the motions of patrol routes. When his Lumina Core showed 16:00, he gave Luna a curt nod, deliberately omitting their usual exchange of gratitude.

  His Lumina Core chimed just as he turned to leave.

  "Drifter, come to the duel arena now... don't miss it," Sloane's message read.

  A hint of a smile crossed his face as he read the words, the first genuine expression he'd shown all day.

  He made his way to the transparent dome of the dueling arena. The pce was packed, a cacophony of cheers, ughter, and shouts filling the air. To his left, two familiar faces stood out—Sloane and Reine.

  Sloane waved with his usual grin. “Hey, you finally showed up! Wanna bet, old man? This one’s gonna be epic, I swear!”

  “Good afternoon,” murmured Reine.

  Drifter exhaled. “You two never learn. If Alina finds out… you’re done for.”

  “Aw, come on! It’s just for fun. And anyway, today’s match is legendary—Caelus versus Lorcan! How can it not be exciting?” Sloane grinned.

  “So, old man, care to pce a bet? Caelus is the favorite. Easy win, free lunch guaranteed!” He added.

  “Seriously? Betting against your friend?” Reine crossed his arms. “I’ll stick with Lorcan.”

  “Ugh, I’m tired of losing because of that guy. For once, I wanna win!” Sloane groaned.

  Drifter shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m just here to watch.” His gaze shifted toward the arena.

  The battlefield transformed before them—the crystal floor morphing into a dense jungle ndscape.

  Lorcan moved like a storm, dashing forward and unching a barrage of dark energy punches. Opposite him, Caelus—stood composed, cd in bck armor and wielding a bck spear crackling with purple lightning. He dodged effortlessly, his movements precise and minimal.

  Suddenly, Lorcan halted. He bent slightly, raising his right hand as dark energy condensed into a singur force. With a sharp yell, he unleashed his attack—Ebon Fist. The wave of energy tore through the ground, fissures spreading like serpents.

  Caelus shifted. His body flowed like water, narrowly avoiding the bst.

  In the blink of an eye, Lorcan, shrouded in darkness, appeared before Caelus, unching Lorcan's Special a rapid flurry of dark energy punches. Caelus, however, remained motionless—until the final blow shattered his natural barrier of glowing purple light.

  The arena reverted to its crystal floor.

  Silence fell over the crowd. Confused gnces were exchanged.

  Alyssa, raised an eyebrow. “No way… impossible.”

  Bryan, crossed his arms. “Just pure luck.”

  Erick, exhaled deeply. “Come on, give him some credit. Lorcan has improved… but why did Caelus hold back?”

  Nearby, Sloane grumbled softly. “No way… Lorcan won?”

  Reine smiled faintly, gncing at Sloane. “See? You should trust your friends more.”

  Caelus dismissed his bck armor and spear. Purple particles dissolved into the air as he adjusted the open colr of his bck shirt and turned away, walking silently out of the arena.

  “Hey!” Lorcan’s voice broke the silence, edged with frustration. “I don’t care about winning! Take this seriously!”

  “It’s over. You won. Congratutions,” Caelus replied ftly, while walking.

  “Wait! Don’t run away!” Lorcan shouted as he chased after him.

  Sloane scratched his head, restless. “Great… another problem,” he muttered before sprinting after them.

  “Hurry… things could get worse if they actually fight,” urged Reine, quickening his pace.

  Drifter sighed deeply as he followed. His gaze lingered on their retreating forms.

  Let’s hope Lorcan doesn’t make things worse, he thought.

  After chasing them, they arrived at the underground parking lot. Caelus was already riding his bck Alcherider Stratos—a slender, elongated model unlike most Alcheriders. It had an open cockpit with only two seats, one in front and one in the back. Without hesitation, he sped off.

  Lorcan followed, riding his red Alcherider Stratos. Both vehicles moved at incredible speeds.

  Drifter sighed as he watched them vanish down the exit ramp. Spotting Reine and Sloane, he motioned for them to follow.

  Riding his own bck Alcherider Zenith, Drifter took off in pursuit, but it was clear he couldn’t keep up. Caelus’ Stratos led effortlessly, while Lorcan’s Stratos weaved aggressively through traffic, pushing its limits. Other Alcheriders honked at him in irritation.

  So Lorcan wasn’t lying about his st crash, Drifter thought as watching his reckless maneuvers. Their Stratos models, with their slim, narrow frames, allowed them to slip between vehicles with ease—something Drifter's rger Zenith couldn’t manage as smoothly.

  Sloane grumbled, leaning forward slightly. “Faster, old man.”

  He smirked. “Cool ride, but you drive like a snail.”

  Drifter gnced to his left, barely holding back a smile. “Patience.”

  Reine chimed in, his voice soft but firm. “Don’t be rude, Sloane. We’re getting a free ride, remember?”

  Though the gap between them and the Stratos riders grew, they managed to keep up just enough. Eventually, they left the bustling city streets behind, entering the residential district of Natura Feld. The air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of grass that swept over the rolling green fields in the distance.

  Ahead, the two Stratos Alcheriders—one bck, one red—were parked outside a small, rounded house resembling a budding tree. Its natural wood exterior was adorned with intricate green leaf carvings, and its emerald roof arched gracefully overhead.

  A cream-colored circur door with a floral handle sat beneath oval windows framed in blue gss. The spacious porch was alive with greenery, featuring a small slide and an Evonion—a holographic pet-like creature designed for children. It allowed them to raise, battle, and explore in a simuted world.

  A tiny wooden fence bore a hand-painted sign:

  Amelioris Childcare.

  Children pyed on the front wn, their ughter filling the air.

  Drifter, Sloane, and Reine approached Lorcan, who stood motionless, staring at the sign.

  "A daycare?" Lorcan muttered.

  He turned back to face them.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Picking you up, obviously," Sloane replied zily.

  "Yeah… gd nothing bad happened," Reine added with a small smile.

  "Let’s go back," Drifter said.

  Before they could leave, the front door creaked open. Caelus stepped outside, holding a toddler in his arms. The child tugged at his hair with tiny fingers, giggling. A rare, soft smile touched Caelus’ face—a sight almost never seen.

  "Good afternoon. Is there an issue?" Caelus asked.

  "Sorry to interrupt. We’re just here to get Lorcan," Drifter said.

  "Yeah, honestly. I thought he was about to knock you out back there," Sloane added with a grin.

  Lorcan shot him an irritated gre. "Just drop it, alright?" Then, turning back to Caelus, he said, "Come on, let’s go again! One more duel. The race doesn’t count."

  "Not now. I’m busy. Maybe another time. You never give up, do you?" Caelus sighed.

  Before the conversation could continue, light footsteps echoed from within the house. An elven woman with golden braided hair emerged, her movements slow, her face pale as she stifled a cough.

  Lorcan straightened slightly, his voice more polite. "Sorry if we were too loud. I didn’t mean to disturb you."

  "It’s alright. Is he your friend?" she asked, gncing at Caelus.

  "Yes, Mom. It’s settled. He’s leaving now." Caelus nodded.

  Her gaze softened. "Oh, at least stay for a moment. You’ve come all this way. Have some tea."

  "Sorry, ma’am… but we really should get going," Lorcan replied.

  "Don’t be so quick to leave, dear. Just a few minutes. It’s not polite to rush off," she insisted, coughing lightly.

  Lorcan gnced at Drifter, silently seeking guidance.

  Drifter hesitated. It would be rude to refuse.

  "Thank you, ma’am. We’d appreciate that," he finally said.

  A pleased smile crossed her lips. "That’s more like it."

  As the door closed behind them, the air inside was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of fresh herbs and baked bread. A small fire crackled in the hearth, adding a comforting woody aroma.

  The living room was cozy, scattered with toys and bnkets. The group settled onto a sofa while Drifter watched the children pying. Caelus, surprisingly gentle, tended to them as his mother prepared tea.

  Drifter overheard Sloane whispering to Reine.

  "She’s beautiful, huh? Caelus’s mom."

  Reine sighed, whispering back, "Stop it… that’s rude."

  When Caelus' mother returned, the conversation remained casual—where they lived, what they did at the academy—until she finally turned to Drifter.

  "And you? Are you their instructor?" she asked.

  "No, ma’am. I just happen to reside at the academy. A regur member," Drifter replied.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Where were you before that?"

  A silence settled over the room. Drifter’s expression turned distant.

  "I used to live in Paxluma," he said.

  For a moment, Caelus' mother’s expression faltered. A faint, disbelieving ugh slipped past her lips before she quickly masked it with a polite smile.

  "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you enjoyed jokes," she said.

  "My apologies… if it sounded like a joke," Drifter replied evenly.

  A brief, tense stillness followed until Caelus finally spoke. His tone was firm.

  "He’s not from this time, Mom. He crossed through time from the past."

  Her eyes narrowed. "Impossible… how could that happen?"

  "According to him, he arrived here through an artifact shaped like a cube," Caelus expined.

  For a fleeting moment, her polite smile vanished, repced by an unreadable expression.

  "A cube?" she repeated, her voice trembling slightly.

  Drifter noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor. She knew something. Even the researchers at the academy had no answers, but this reaction—it was worth pressing.

  "Yes, ma’am. Do you know anything about the cube?" he asked.

  A brief hesitation. Then, her expression softened into something unreadable once more.

  "Oh, I’m sorry… a cube… I don’t know," she said.

  Drifter held her gaze for a moment but chose not to push further. She was hiding something, but pressing the matter wouldn’t be courteous.

  The conversation gradually drifted back to lighter topics—small talk about the city and everyday life. After some time, the group rose, expressed their gratitude, and took their leave.

  The next morning, Drifter sat back on his sofa. There was nothing to do. No missions. No more lessons from Luna. Somehow, he felt hollow. But then, he noticed a message from Lorcan:

  “Hey, old man, you busy today? If not, want to duel at 4? Thanks!”

  Seeing that, a faint smile tugged at Drifter’s lips as he typed a quick reply: “Okay.”

  He spent the rest of the day in his quarters. He tried watching broadcasts on the Arcane Network, but something was missing. Once again, his mind wandered to the question: How much longer will I be here?

  At 15:51, Drifter gnced at his Lumina Core, then headed toward the duel arena. As he approached the courtyard, he heard a familiar voice.

  “Just watch, old man! This time, I’ll win for sure!” Lorcan called out.

  “I’m betting against you. Let’s be real—how many times have you lost to him already? Too many!” Sloane chimed in beside him.

  “Stop it, Sloane. Lorcan beat Caelus yesterday, remember?” Reine said, shooting Sloane a look.

  “That was pure luck, and you know it,” Sloane retorted.

  “Then I’ll prove you wrong this time!” Lorcan said, determination in his voice.

  Drifter spotted Caelus, striding with quick, determined steps, walking past without even acknowledging them. Lorcan, not missing a beat, rushed after him.

  “Oi, Caelus! Let’s duel!” Lorcan called, chasing after him.

  Without slowing down, Caelus shoulder-checked Lorcan hard, pushing past him.

  “What the? What’s his problem?” Lorcan grumbled, his face flushing with frustration as he sprinted after Caelus.

  “Hey, wait!” Drifter called, his voice firm yet calm as he quickened his pace to follow.

  “Here we go again… But with Drifter around, it’ll be fine. Let’s head back and finish that homework,” Sloane sighed.

  “Alright… Let’s hope they’ll be okay,” Reine murmured.

  Drifter followed Lorcan and Caelus to the academic wing, and eventually, they stopped outside Friedrich’s office. Lorcan lingered behind the door, but seemed hesitant to enter. Drifter knocked, and they all stepped inside.

  “Professor, my mother—she’s gone. She wasn’t home, and no one has seen her since this morning,” Caelus said, his voice trembling slightly.

  “Calm down, Caelus. We’ll figure this out together. The Vestra System must have records of who left the city today,” Friedrich said, sitting behind his desk.

  Caelus nodded weakly.

  “Pull up today’s Vestra records now,” Friedrich ordered, speaking into his Lumina Core.

  A synthetic voice responded promptly.

  Moments ter, Friedrich activated the holographic dispy from his Lumina Core. A map appeared, dotted with various points, and he said, “Lyriel Amelioris.”

  A profile of Caelus’ mother, Lyriel Amelioris, appeared, along with two connected points—one blue, one green—indicating that she had left the city via Twilight Street.

  “She left this morning with someone,” Friedrich remarked.

  “Left? But… my mother’s sick! With whom?” Caelus’ voice cracked.

  “Someone not registered in our database,” Friedrich replied, his expression sharp. “Hold on. Let’s dig deeper.”

  He spoke into his Lumina Core again. “Alina, report to the surveilnce room now.”

  Drifter gnced at Lorcan, who seemed equally unsure but was clearly willing to help.

  “Professor, may we join you?” Drifter asked.

  “Of course,” Friedrich nodded.

  Within moments, Alina arrived, and the group made their way to the underground parking area. A massive 34-meter-long gray Alcherider Titan, adorned with the order's emblem, was waiting. One by one, they boarded. Alina took the driver’s seat and activated it. The vehicle’s massive legs folded into shields as it began hovering.

  As the Titan stabilized in its hover, Alina wasted no time. Her blue eyes glowed faintly as she activated her Enchanted Sight. Holding up a scarf that belonged to Lyriel. Drifter recalled that this rare ability allowed users to trace colored Evocyte threads, something visible only to those with the proper training. Mastering this skill took years, and not all races possessed the capability.

  “Her trail leads west,” Alina murmured.

  The Alcherider Titan followed the glowing path, finally arriving at the icy cliffs of the Avanta Mountains. The narrow path was bnketed in thick snow, and the towering peaks loomed high above them. The Titan came to a halt at a small Evocaier Order outpost before the impassable trail.

  They disembarked one by one, a chilling wind biting at their faces. Alina led the way, trudging through the snow with determination.

  “Wow, this route’s extreme… Are you sure they came this way? If she’s sick, how could she even manage it?” Lorcan asked.

  The group fell silent, his question lingering in the air.

  Alina raised her hand, signaling them to stop. She pced her palm against a rge, ice-covered boulder. A soft light spread from her fingers, causing the ice to crack and fall away. A stone door groaned open, revealing a dark tunnel beyond.

  “We’re going in,” Alina instructed.

  They moved into the tunnel.

  The air grew colder as they pressed deeper. Eventually, the tunnel opened up into a massive cavern. A bck, cylindrical skyship rested in the center, surrounded by a U-shaped metal ptform.

  “No doubt about it… It’s the same ship. The one from the simution attack,” Drifter said, his voice steady.

  “At st, we’ve found them. I’ll signal the fleet,” Alina said, tapping her Lumina Core to interface with the holographic system.

  Friedrich scanned the area. Vexor Military Automatons—towering, three-meter bipedal constructs with gray pting, glowing red eyes.

  “Illegal military automatons...” Friedrich muttered.

  Alina leaned in, her voice a hushed whisper. “She’s in that ship. Stay low, stay quiet. Follow me.”

  They began their approach, but the cnk of their footsteps alerted the Vexor units. One of them turned sharply toward them.

  Lorcan gnced at Alina, a smirk tugging at his lips.

  “Smooth work, Boss. These things put the Vestra System to shame, huh? Real cutting-edge tech!” he said.

  Alina shot him a brief gre before turning away. Without a word, ice gathered in her hand, forming her ice greatsword, Frostshard Legacy.

  Lorcan ughed. “Stealth isn’t our style anyway. Let’s just smash through them!”

  “Stay together. Don’t be reckless!” Friedrich commanded.

  The Vexor raised its arms, unching red energy projectiles that streaked toward them.

  Without hesitation, Drifter materialized his dark gray sword, Exaltare, into his grip. He effortlessly deflected the incoming projectiles as blue sigils fred to life around him. Dozens of spectral swords materialized, weaving seamlessly between defense and offense—forming shields one moment and striking the next.

  As the Vexor units grouped together, Drifter unleashed Azure Tempest. A storm of afterimages and spectral bdes engulfed the surroundings, streaking through the air in a whirlwind of rapid, fluid sshes. In mere moments, the Vexor were torn apart, their mechanical bodies colpsing into heaps, while deep scars marred the walls around them.

  Beside him, Friedrich raised his glowing shield, Lexivane, blocking the barrage of projectiles. Sacred energy pulsed from the shield, repelling attacks. He advanced, bringing down his radiant mace, Criven, onto the ground. A massive shockwave erupted, obliterating nearby Vexor units.

  Following closely, Alina wielded Frostshard Legacy, cleaving through multiple Vexor units with each powerful swing. The shattered remains of their forms scattered like icy fragments, glinting in the dim light. Between attacks, she provided cover for the team, activating Buzorn Aegis. Each time she drove her sword into the ground, a massive ice barrier materialized in front of her, shielding her allies from the relentless onsught.

  Lorcan, fueled by adrenaline, struck with relentless power. His fists, surrounded by dark energy, smashed through the Vexor ranks.

  At his side, Caelus spun his spear, Auralis. Purple energy crackled along its bde, creating chained explosions that decimated multiple Vexor units at once.

  The battlefield bzed with bursts of energy and cshing steel. Their efforts were coordinated, but the ship’s engine roared to life—time was running out.

  Gasping between strikes, Friedrich barked an order. “Alina, Caelus, Lorcan—get inside the ship, now!”

  Alina hesitated for a moment, then gave a quick nod. Lorcan and Caelus followed close behind as Friedrich and Drifter covered their retreat, deflecting incoming projectiles with barriers and shields.

  As the ship’s door sealed shut, unease settled in Drifter’s chest—Lorcan’s recklessness and Caelus’ distracted demeanor were troubling.