The seven newcomers fanned out across the ruins, their eyes swept through the smoldering remains of the base, once a thriving outpost, the forest was now a graveyard, thousands of makeshift tombs stretching across the ash-stained earth stood a lone figure in dark clothing.
At the center, a man clad in fitted armor stepped forward, while the six others behind him readied their weapons, his sharp gaze fell on the lone survivor, who held a bottle of liquor in one hand, with a small gesture, he signaled his squad to stand down, then approached.
He knelt beside one of the graves, setting his gauntleted hand on the crude wooden cross. "Briggs… was a great commander, a friend, he rallied humanity against the Veyrith and achieved breakthroughs to aid humanity in our quest for freedom, I owe him my life."
The lone figure, Cael, narrowed his eyes as the man rose, setting the bottle down at the grave's foot, Cael turned to leave.
"Wait." The armored man asked. "If it isn't too much to ask, your name? Mine is Geist, Thunder Geist, Division Leader of Albiz Phiria, a human exemplar organization."
He extended a hand, more gesture of respect than invitation, Cael paused, then replied flatly, "Cael." Without another word, he turned away.
Behind Geist, a woman in white ceremonial robes gripped her crescent staff tighter, voicing her judgment, "His aura… is zero. He shouldn't be alive."
The others bristled, weapons flashing as they moved to strike.
"Stop!" Geist yelled, his squad froze mid-motion, he exhaled slowly, then looked back at Cael. "Forgive them, but… is it true? You never manifested, yet survived this long?"
Cael didn't answer, he continued walking, his silence re-kindles the squad's agression.
One of Geist's allies, cloaked in red with white-lined trim, scoffed. "Threat or not, we can't let him be" With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a burning projectile at Cael.
The blast screamed through the air, until Geist lunged forward, intercepting it. His arm swept like a storm, dispersing the attack into harmless sparks.
Cael's hand twitched for a brief moment.
Geist looked over his shoulder. "…Are you alright?"
Geist exhaled and let his transformation fade, his armor retracted and compressed, folding in on itself until it vanished into a small, circular device resting in his palm. Now he stood in usual garments a white shirt beneath a fitted jacket trimmed with a mane, worn jeans, and a golden ring hanging from his neck and a chain tag.
Cael stopped mid-step, his gaze lingers on the strange device.
"Oh, this?" Geist smiled lightly, lifting it between two fingers. "These are prototypes we call Ignis Medallions, born from Briggs team's extensive research, refined through collaboration with what's left of humanity's scientists."
Curiosity flickered in Cael's eyes, slowly, he extended an arm from within his robe. Without hesitation, Geist pressed the medallion into his hand, though his squad shifted uneasily behind him.
Cael studied it, his eyes glow faintly as he appraised the core, "This holds… Veyrith energy."
Geist's brow lifted, impressed, "you're right, we learned to mimic their methods, the medallion lets us harness ethereal energy artificially, turning it into a weapon for mankind."
Cael handing it back, Geist received it reverently, then clenched it in his fist, "with this… we've raised humanity's chances against the invaders."
His aura flared, pulsing outward like a storm, the six behind him echoed his conviction, expressing their desires to win the war.
Cael's gaze swept over them, reading their auras, "you… do not cower before the Veyrith?"
Geist grinned with fire burning in his eyes as he raised his arm and clenched his fist, his aura blaze with blue and violet light, "you bet we do!"
The sun rose gently over Merdea, casting new hope across the island. The refugees from Karlea lay scattered and wasted from last night's feast.
Cher stirred awake, a sharp sunray cutting across her eyes, her hair was a tangled mess, still feeling heavy from the drink that had knocked her out almost instantly, she reached toward the desk for her hair clip, only to pause, the desk wasn't there anhmore. With a pang, she remembered she was no longer in Karlea, the thought pressed on her chest, leaving a dull ache.
"Morning already?" Mana's drowsy voice drifted from the same bed. "Mornin', Mana," Cher whispered back.
A sudden snore caught her attention, peeking under the bed, she found Euphie curled up, clutching an empty liquor bottle like a trophy, Cher shook her head with a small smile.
Stepping outside, she crossed the village, passing a table buried in plates, with Gil and Eric sprawled on top in drunken defeat, she stifled a laugh and carried on toward the bathhouse.
The bathhouse stunned her, steam billowed across a wide, open space decorated with intricate ornaments, seashell carvings, and gentle lanternlight. Testing the water with her hand, she was relieved to feel no sting as she slipped in, the warmth enveloped her, melting away the weight of her thoughts.
It was only then she noticed she wasn't alone, a figure sat across the pool, outlined by the drifting mist, a thin pipe glowing in her hand.
"Cher of Karlea," a low voice called.
Cher jumped, darting her eyes through the haze until she spotted Anessa, the village chief. "Vi… Village Chief!" She scrambled upright and bowed awkwardly.
Anessa chuckled, exhaling a stream of smoke, "ha ha, no need for pleasantries, call me whatever you like."
Cher's cheeks flushed as she brushed a hand against her face in embarrassment.
Anessa leaned back, pipe in hand, with a distant gaze, "you know… long ago, when heroes fought here, this island nearly fell to ruin, Euphie was among those who stood with us then."
Cher's curiosity sparked. "A war?"
Anessa nodded solemnly, blowing another ring of smoke that curled into the steam,
"yes, the bloodiest we've seen. Not here, on the other side of this territory, it's long been abandoned."
"The other side?" Cher tilted her head.
Anessa's voice softened, recalling the memory. "Harold… Warwick… Briggs, they fought valiantly, leading armies of men and women, for six long months they waged skirmishes across the island, matching the Veyrith blow for blow. Briggs… Briggs was the one who freed me and my people from enslavement."
Cher's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. At the name, warmth stirred in her chest, pride swelling behind her quiet smile.
"That Veyrith…" Anessa's tone hardened, her eyes narrowing as smoke curled from her pipe. "It was ruthless, cunning beyond measure. Humanity's only weapon against them has always been our tenacity. That… refusal to fall."
She traced the scars running down her arm, the firelight catching faint ridges of old wounds.
"Briggs was the first to charge, he didn't care for the pain, or the blood he shed along the way. He pushed forward, no matter what." Her lips trembled faintly, then steadied. "Harold has a gift, he could cripple the senses of his foe, blind them, deafen them, steal their balance. With that, Briggs managed to drive his fist deep into its chest."
Her voice lowered, almost reverent. "And Harold was right behind him, he never hesitated, in one breath, he brought the final blow down and ended the monster."
Anessa's expression darkened. "But Harold… Harold collapsed in Briggs' arms before he could even celebrate, his life drained out of there, on the battlefield."
She paused, the weight of memory pressing on her, "Warwick, our medic… he wept, even as he dragged the rest of us away to safety, his hands shaking from grief."
""To avoid further attacks," Anessa continued, carrying the weight of memory, "Hendrick and his backup team struck hard that night, they ambushed the Veyrith along the shore, and though the sand ran red with blood, we survived. When dawn arrive, it felt unreal… as if the warmth of the rising sun was a blessing, a gentle embrace from the gods themselves."
Cher turned slowly toward her, her lips trembling. "Commander Briggs… he…"
Anessa raised a hand to still her. "I know."
Cher's brows furrowed in confusion.
"After the war," Anessa went on, "Briggs and his team stayed here for months. They helped us rebuild, hiding this village away from the Veyrith's gaze, during that time…" She touched her abdomen with a faint, bittersweet smile. "I was carrying Briggs' child."
Cher's eyes widened, caught her breath.
"A year after they departed, I gave birth to Ciel, named after the brightest star that night." Her voice wavered. "When Briggs returned and saw her, it was as though the battlefield never existed, he came back each year, even if only briefly. Until… she was four."
Anessa's hand clenched around her pipe, smoke billowed between her trembling fingers, "Ciel told us then, had her first premonition, that her father's death was near."
She drew a long breath. "And still, Briggs never faltered, he never abandoned his duty. Despite the warnings, he kept fighting for mankind, until the very end."
Cher's chest tightened, sorrow welling in her eyes.
Anessa stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace, her voice was low, yet unwavering. "I know your grief, I know your pain, I loved him for what he is and what he chose, and I still love him, even in death. His judgment was always for the people, and even though it broke us… he died so humanity could live."
Anessa lingered with Cher a moment longer, the two of them bound in quiet grief. Mana and Euphie, wrapped in their towels, watched from a distance with gentle smiles, acknowledging the bond being forged between them.
Later that day, Anessa guided the group along a winding path that cut through the lush village outskirts. At the path's end lay a modest cemetery, rows of stone graves
At the center, beneath the shade of a towering tree, stood Captain Harold's resting place. His grave was carefully maintained, fresh flowers laid atop the polished stone as though the village itself refused to let his memory fade.
Cher stepped forward, her bouquet tremble slightly in her hands, she knelt, setting the flowers down with quiet care, then brushed her fingers lightly over the marble, her eyes caught on a carved emblem… a fusion of a flag and a sword.
Bowing her head, she turned to Anessa. "This symbol… what does it mean?"
Anessa's expression softened with pride, she nodded gently, "it is the insignia of Albiz Phiria," she explained. "An elite Exemplar order sworn to shield mankind from the Veyrith. They do not stay in one place, they roam, waging war across the globe, wherever humanity cries for help."
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, as though remembering distant battles.
"Commander Briggs carried that insignia proudly. In his final years, he entrusted its legacy to the younger generation… the same generation that Euphie and the others now carry forward."
Geist and his team emerged from the forest's edge, where a modest wooden raft bobbed gently against the riverbank. From far off, the shrill caw of a lesser beast echoed through the fading trees.
The girl in white robes tightened her grip on her crescent staff and scolded Geist. "You were reckless to engage that Veyrith ship on the way here!"
Geist only whistled innocently, resting both hands behind his neck as if the matter were nothing more than a passing breeze. The others muttered their own complaints,
Trailing behind them, Cael remained silent, his thoughts drifted back to the faces of his old companions, their laughter, their struggles, their fond memories.
As the sun dipped low, painting the sea in gold and crimson, Geist finally sighed and raised a hand in apology. "Alright, alright, you're right… my bad." He gestured toward the raft. "Let's sail before night swallows us."
One by one, they boarded the simple vessel., Cael sat apart, leaning his arm against the edge, his gaze fixed on the far-off silhouette of Karlea.
The woman she sat beside with, pulled away her red shroud, approached him. She bowed her head slightly.
"My name is Rebecca," she said softly. "Please forgive me for attacking you earlier." She offered him a small ration pack.
Cael hesitated, but at length accepted it, Rebecca's lips curved into the faintest smile, and Geist and the others exchanged glances, their faces easing into warmth at the sight. Deep into the night, Geist remained awake, standing guard as the raft drifted into the most treacherous stretch of the ocean. The waves rocked them gently but the cold winds stung, cutting through their fatigue.
Then the water darkened.
A massive shadow stirred in the depths, gliding beneath them like a continent in motion. The raft quivered, the others jolted awake just as Geist hissed, "Fran."
Fran, still half-wrapped in his white garb and cargo pants, pressed a hand to his chest, his eyes flared with light as glowing runes ignited across his skin, spreading from his sternum like veins of fire. Cael carefully observed how humans had grown stronger, evolved in ways for the past few years.
"Brace yourselves!" Geist barked.
Fran slammed his palm onto the wooden deck, and the raft surged upward, carried aloft by a torrent of conjured torrential force. A colossal maw erupted beneath them, rows of jagged teeth snapping shut with a thunderous crack. They barely cleared the bite, the raft cresting the wave like a splinter flung into the sky.
"Colt!" Geist shouted.
"Yes, leader!"
The man in the dark-grey jacket grinned wickedly, two gleaming blades burst from his forearms, and without hesitation he hurled himself into freefall. He tore through the air in a blur, carving the monster's scaled hide into ribbons with rapid, brutal slashes.
Fran followed through, channeling power through his glowing runes, a brilliant white magic circle expanded beneath the raft, and with a burst of energy he unleashed a focused beam, the blast lanced into the wounded beast, detonating in the depths below.
The sea lit up like lightning underwater.
Suspended in midair, the sea monster's body crumbled beneath them, its flesh torn apart as blood sprayed across the waves. The raft crested down smoothly, splashing back into the water, Geist grinned, thumping his chest with pride.
"Ten out of ten," he declared smugly.
Colt climbed back aboard, his blades retracting as he let out a long sigh of relief, But the moment of victory was short-lived.
Annisa, her crescent staff still faintly glowing, stiffened as unease crept across her face. "This mess… won't it attract more?"
The words hit like a cold gust, Geist froze mid-boast, his smile faltering into a worried grimace.
Rebecca folded her arms, shaking her head in frustration. "You just had to show off."
"Alright, alright!" Geist snapped into motion, fumbling out a set of makeshift oars. He shoved them into everyone's hands. "Row now, before dinner calls for seconds!"
The sea around them began to rumble as distant shadows stirred beneath the waves. One by one, more sea-monsters converged toward the trails of blood.
"Geist, you big idiot!" his teammates shouted in unison as the raft lurched forward, their frantic paddling barely outpacing the horrors chasing them.
Cher waited by the shore, the tide lapping gently at her feet, she didn't have to wait long, Ciel appeared at her side as if carried by the sea breeze itself, startling her slightly.
In the silence that followed, Ciel spoke softly, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
"I'm sure my mother has told you already."
Cher nodded. "Yes…"
A faint smile touched Ciel's lips. "I see."
Cher felt warmth in her chest, "I'm happy to meet you… the daughter of our respected Commander." Reaching out, she noticed a small seashell tangled in Ciel's long, wavy hair. Gently, she brushed it free.
Ciel closed her eyes, then caught Cher's hand with both of hers, her touch was delicate, yet her eyes burned with certainty as she studied Cher's palm.
"You play a big role in this world, your journey will be long and treacherous… but your mind is strong, and your heart is driven to bring change."
Cher's breath caught. The words felt like both a blessing and a burden. She could only whisper, "Ciel…"
But then, the girl continued, her voice calm but heavy with revelation, "But… just like father… your life is also."
Cher looked with concern as she finished her words, "Your life is also, fading"
The revelation struck Cher like a blade, an invisible pang tearing through her chest, the air grew thick with silence. The waves crash louder, swallowing every other sound, until it seemed the ocean itself mourned with them.