Zazm stepped out of his room.
The door shut quietly behind him, and a gentle breeze flowed through the corridor, catching the hem of his long coat and making it sway with a restrained elegance. The fabric was dark, finely tailored, sitting perfectly on his frame—nothing flashy, yet unmistakably expensive. His hair had been carefully combed and tied back, not a single strand out of place.
He looked like someone straight out of an old painting—an eighteenth-century intellectual aristocrat, the kind who spoke little yet carried undeniable authority simply by standing still.
A few steps ahead, Dennis waited.
His posture was immaculate, spine straight, hands loosely folded in front of him. His hair was tied into a neat bun, expression composed and observant as always.
"Was the place to your comfort, sir?" Dennis asked calmly, his tone polite but not stiff.
Zazm paused beside him and gave a short nod. "It was."
Dennis inclined his head in a small bow. "I'm glad to hear that."
A brief silence passed as Zazm's gaze drifted forward.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"They're waiting by the main door," Dennis replied.
"Very well."
Zazm started walking. Dennis followed a step behind, as natural as a shadow.
Before they had gone far, Zephyra slipped in beside him.
Her hands rested loosely against his shoulder and chest, light but familiar. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her blackish-purple hair tied into a ponytail today. A small earring caught the light as it swayed, glinting faintly. Her violet eyes—deep, almost unreal—remained fixed on his face, studying him quietly.
"…Are you okay now?" she asked softly.
Zazm's reply was barely noticeable—a slight nod, small enough that only she could catch it.
Zephyra didn't say anything else. She just stayed there, matching his pace.
They stepped outside.
The others were already gathered, some leaning against railings, some chatting idly. Nova straightened up the moment he saw them.
"Alright," Nova said, clapping his hands once, "let's move."
They flowed into the streets together.
The city was alive—voices overlapping, distant laughter, the soft hum of movement all around them. Nova walked ahead, flicking his wrist. His bracelet activated, projecting a translucent holographic map that hovered in front of him. He tilted his head, rotating it lazily with his fingers.
"So," he muttered, half to himself, "where do we go today, huh?"
Jennie leaned closer, bending slightly at the waist to look at the map, her shoulder nearly brushing his arm. She pointed at one of the glowing markers, saying something under her breath. Nova responded, the two of them already deep into quiet discussion.
Kiyomasa glanced at them, then leaned slightly toward Ai. "Should we… give them a push?"
Ai let out a tired sigh, crossing her arms. "And do what? We can't just disappear like before."
"Worry not, Miss Ai."
Dennis stopped walking.
Everyone turned.
Dennis closed one eye just a little—barely enough to notice—and with the exact same straight face, slid his hand into his coat. A second later, he pulled out two tickets, holding them between his fingers.
Ai's posture changed instantly. Her eyes sharpened, matching his expression perfectly.
"Dennis," she said seriously, "you're the GOAT."
"I am human, Miss Ai," Dennis replied without hesitation.
They stared at each other.
A long stare as they both have each other the side-eye of mutual understanding.
Miwa blinked. "When did you even get those?"
Dennis adjusted his grip slightly. "Last week. I decided preparation was necessary."
Ai nodded slowly. "Okay. We can separate them. But… what do we even say? We've been hanging out together for, like, two weeks straight."
Zazm stepped forward.
He placed a hand on Nova's shoulder, and very gently pulled him at a distance.
Nova glanced at him. "What's up?"
"You know Miwa and Minos," Zazm said evenly. "We have a plan for them as such we're separating you're talking Jennie."
He placed the tickets into Nova's palm.
"We're separating. You take Jennie."
Nova looked down at the tickets. Then his lips curled upward.
"Sure," he said, amused. "No problem."
They walked back.
"Hey, Jennie," Nova said casually, rocking back on his heels. "Wanna go watch a movie?"
"That sounds good," Jennie replied immediately—then paused. "What should we—"
"I meant just the two of us."
Her neck tilted back stiffly, like a system glitch.
"Th-the t-two of us…?" she stammered. "J-just us…?"
"Yeah."
Jennie froze.
Her face flushed red in an instant. She glanced back at the others.
Dennis gave a small smirk and a nod.
Ai and Kiyomasa raised thumbs.
Miwa and Minos smiled knowingly.
Even Zazm blinked once—slowly—as if pushing her forward.
Jennie clenched her fists.
'THANK YOU. I WON'T LET THIS CHANCE GO TO WASTE'.
"L-let's go," she said, voice shaking but determined.
Nova walked ahead, then turned back and winked at Zazm.
As they disappeared, Jennie turned one last time. Her eyes screamed: You're all real ones.
Kiyomasa tapped his chest twice.
We know.
Ai pointed at her, then raised a fist slightly.
Don't mess this up.
Jennie nodded firmly.
As the two of them dissappered in the crowd. Ai leaned forward to Zazm's left side and Kiyomasa on his right.
Ai exhaled slowly. "So… Minos and Miwa next?"
"What can we even do for them?" Kiyomasa asked.
Dennis stepped forward again like he had everything under control.
With that same sharp look. That same motion.
He placed his hand into coat and smoothly pulled out two amusement park tickets.
Ai narrowed her eyes. "You really are the GOAT."
"I am human, Miss Ai." Dennis replied with that same serious side eye.
Kiyomasa pointed accusingly. "Where are you even pulling those from?"
Soon enough—somehow—Minos and Miwa were gone.
Well.
Miwa dragged Minos away.
Ai stretched slightly. "Guess it's just us now."
Zazm's bracelet vibrated.
He glanced down.
"Dennis come with me there is something urgent." his voice remained cold and monotone like always.
"Very well." Dennis replied with a small smile as he looked at Kiyomasa and Ai.
Kiyomasa opened his mouth. "So what do we—"
Dennis' presence flickered back just long enough for him to slide a hand into his coat again.
And this time pulled out two aquarium tickets.
Kiyomasa pointed dramatically. "Yamete kudasai."
Ai stared as a flicker of understanding followed her.
'These two assholes planned this from the start.'
Before she could speak, Zazm and Dennis were gone.
Ai sighed. "Let's go. Not like we have anything else to do."
Kiyomasa nodded. "Yeah."
And the two of them walked off, shaking their heads.
---
Zazm walked through the stone-laid streets alone, the muted hum of the city fading the farther he went. His coat trailed behind him, tugged gently by the breeze, while strands of his hair loosened from their tie and swayed against his neck. The world around him felt alive—leaves rustling, distant laughter, water flowing somewhere unseen—yet his expression remained distant, unreadable.
Zephyra drifted beside him, hands clasped behind her back, her boots brushing the grass at the edge of the road.
"So," she said, tilting her head slightly, violet eyes studying his profile, "what exactly are we doing?"
Zazm didn't answer. His gaze stayed forward, footsteps steady, unhurried.
She sighed dramatically. "You know, we're technically on a date. You could at least pretend to enjoy it."
Still nothing.
Her lips curved into a faint pout. "Honestly, you're impressive at making even romance feel like a funeral procession."
They passed beneath an arch of trees, the road dissolving into open greenery. A vast park unfolded before them—wide, untamed grass rippling like water under the wind. A river cut cleanly through the land, its surface reflecting the dimming sky in fractured silver.
Zazm stepped off the stone and into the grass.
Zephyra slowed, eyes widening as she took it in. "Oh… wow." She let out a soft laugh. "Alright. I take it back. This is—" she spread her arms slightly, "— romantic."
Zazm stopped.
Not for the river. Not for the view.
His head tilted upward.
High above them, on the thin, bending arm of a towering tree, a cat clung desperately to the bark. Its claws dug in uselessly, tail lashing as the branch trembled beneath its weight.
Zephyra followed his gaze. Her expression softened—but only for a moment.
"…Its threads," she murmured. "They're dimming."
Zazm nodded once. "It'll jump," he said quietly, " and then it dies."
The wind passed between them again, rustling leaves, carrying the faint sound of the river.
Zephyra turned to him. "What are you going to do?"
For a fraction of a second, Zazm's eyes flickered—not with hesitation, but calculation. The world seemed to pause around him.
Then he blinked.
The cat vanished.
A heartbeat later, it reappeared safely on the grass, landing clumsily before scrambling away in a panic, disappearing into the brush without a single backward glance.
Zazm stood exactly where he was, hands still at his sides.
Zephyra exhaled slowly. "Its threads stabilized." She looked at him sharply. "You changed its fate."
She stepped closer. "You know that's dangerous."
Zazm turned toward her, the riverlight reflecting faintly in his eyes.
"I wonder," he said calmly, "how much worse it can really get."
The wind swept past them again.
And the world shifted.
---
The night was dark and misty, the kind of silence that felt heavy.
Ten figures moved through the trees like ghosts. They didn't make a sound as they jumped from branch to branch, their long cloaks hiding everything. No skin showed, and you couldn't even hear them breathe. They stopped in front of a massive stone window high up the castle wall. One of them raised a hand, gave a quick signal, and the others nodded.
A second later, they were inside.
The room was huge, filled with tall pillars and gold decorations that caught the moonlight. Long silk curtains hung from the ceiling, and the marble floor was polished until it glowed.
In the middle of the room was a giant bed made of ivory and gold.
Queen Elziora was fast asleep. Her hair was spread across the pillows—black at the roots and fading into a soft pink at the ends. She looked completely peaceful, her hands resting at her sides.
The assassins moved quickly. They blocked the doors and drew their blades. One man stepped onto the bed, his knees sinking into the soft mattress. He didn't make a sound. He looked down at her and raised a poisoned dagger, aiming it right at her heart.
"You really should learn some manners," a voice said. It was sweet, almost like she was greeting a friend.
The assassin froze. He didn't even have time to move his arm.
Elziora's hand shot up and punched straight through his throat. Her fingers didn't just stab him; they went all the way through, coming out the back of his neck in a spray of hot blood.
The man's eyes went wide, his body locking up in shock. She gripped his spine for a second and then ripped her hand back out, leaving a massive, bloody hole in his neck.
He slumped over, dead before he hit the sheets.
Elziora's eyes stayed shut tight. She didn't need to see. She caught his falling dagger out of the air and flicked her wrist. The blade flew across the room and buried itself in another assassin's forehead. His head snapped back, and he fell to the floor like a sack of rocks.
Two more rushed her.
Elziora hopped out of bed in one smooth motion, her white nightgown fluttering. She grabbed one man by the arm, planted her foot on his chest, and pulled.
There was a sickening crack as she ripped his entire arm off at the shoulder. As he started to scream, she swung the bloody limb like a club, smashing it into the second attacker's face. His jaw shattered instantly, teeth flying everywhere.
Another man tried to stab her from behind.
Without opening her eyes, Elziora leaned to the side. The blade missed her by an inch. She spun around and kicked him as hard as she could right between his legs.
The man collapsed in a heap, making a pathetic choking sound as he clutched himself on the floor.
"Oh, dear. That sounded painful," she said softly, her voice still calm and kind.
She grabbed the next guy by the throat and lifted him off the ground with one hand. He kicked his legs, trying to get free, but her grip was like iron. With a casual squeeze, his neck bones crunched. She tossed him across the room like he was trash, and he hit a stone pillar so hard the marble cracked.
The last assassin was shaking. He lunged at her, screaming in desperation.
Elziora reached out and caught him by the hair, jerking his head back.
"Shh, shh," she whispered. "I could keep you alive for interrogation but—"
She shoved her hand into his mouth, gripped his jaw, and ripped downward. The sound was wet and disgusting as his lower jaw was torn clean off his face. He fell to the ground, twitching in a pool of his own blood.
"—You wouldn't open that mouth anyways."
Silence returned to the room. Elziora stood there, her eyes still firmly closed.
Outside, footsteps hammered against the stone floor. A woman pounded on the bedroom door, her voice full of panic. "Your Highness! Are you okay? We heard noises!"
"Everything is perfectly fine!" Elziora called back. Her voice was immaculate—sweet, like nothing had happened.
The doors burst open. The guards ran in and immediately stopped. They looked like they wanted to throw up.
The room was a slaughterhouse. Blood was splattered across the white curtains and the gold bedframe. Bodies were torn apart and scattered across the floor. Queen Elziora stood in the middle of it all, one foot resting on a dead man's chest.
Her white nightgown was soaked red. Blood was smeared across her face and matted into her pink hair.
She reached up and tucked a bloody strand of hair behind her ear, smiling politely at the guards. "Just some annoying insects," she said softly. "I'm so sorry for the mess. Would you mind helping me clean up?"
Her eyes never opened once. The guards just stared at her, terrified, as the moonlight shone over the gore.
***
The remaining days slipped by almost unnoticed.
Moments blurred into one another—shared meals, quiet conversations, laughter echoing through halls that would soon feel too large again. Even the skies seemed to move faster, as though time itself had grown impatient.
On the final evening, the group gathered beneath open arches where soft light filtered down like a fading sunset.
King Alistair stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gaze warm yet distant. He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
"It's amusing," he said, voice carrying a hint of nostalgia, "how quickly a month can pass when it's well spent. I truly enjoyed my time with all of you."
Nova scratched the back of his neck, smiling easily. "No—thank you, Your Majesty. Because of you, we got to experience things we never would've otherwise."
Alistair laughed openly at that, shoulders rising. "Then I suppose my duty as host has been fulfilled."
Zazm stepped forward and inclined his head deeply, coat settling around him. "Allow us to depart."
The king studied him for a moment before nodding. "You'll be separating for your missions now, correct?" His gaze moved across the group. "Take care of yourselves. All of you."
"We will," Zazm replied calmly as he turned away.
Kiyomasa exhaled, hands resting behind his head as he walked. "Man… this was fun. Hard to believe it's already over."
Miwa stretched dramatically, arms raised as she walked backward for a few steps. "Guess it's back to work for us, huh?"
Ai glanced toward Dennis, adjusting the sleeve of her coat. "So," she asked, "what's the plan?"
Dennis folded his hands neatly. "We'll head to the NullFlux Bastion to make final preparations. After that, Sir Zazm will depart with Sir Nova and Miss Miwa." He turned slightly toward Ai and Kiyomasa. "I'll be accompanying you two."
Ai stopped walking. "Huh?" Her tone lifted. "Why would that be?"
Dennis met her gaze calmly. "Do not worry. I'll only assist you in acclimating. I won't interfere with your mission."
Kiyomasa stepped closer, smiling easily. "Dennis, you're always welcome. Honestly, I'm glad you're coming."
Dennis allowed himself a small smile. "Thank you."
Jennie clasped her hands together. "You'll be going to that space Zazm created, right?"
Minos nodded, walking beside her. "Yeah. It's finished now. We've already moved most of our equipment there." He paused briefly. "We'll start working on the ship immediately."
Jennie gasped softly before smiling—a warm, sincere smile. "I wish you the best."
"You'll be at NullFlux?" Minos asked.
"For a while," she said. "I'll learn from Miss Aina first. After that… I might join Zazm on the front lines."
"I see." Minos looked ahead, his steps slowing. "It'll be five years for everyone else." His voice dropped slightly. "For me… fifty."
He laughed faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I wonder if I'll remember everything by then."
Nova slung an arm around his shoulders. "Relax. You'll be fine. And even if you forget—" his grin widened, "—we'll beat it all back into your head."
Minos laughed properly this time. "Yeah. Do that." He glanced back. "And if I turn into someone like Zazm… beat me until I'm normal again."
Jennie burst out laughing. Nova joined her instantly.
Even Miwa, Kiyomasa, and Ai—walking a little behind—couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing softly through the corridor.
***
The scene shifted.
Ai stood alone before a mirror.
The obsidian-black uniform of the Obsidian Fang draped over her frame, the long coat giving her an air of quiet authority. She adjusted the collar, smoothed the fabric, then reached for her boots—
—and froze.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…They can't be serious," she muttered.
Heels.
She lifted them, stared for a second longer, then snapped them cleanly in her grip. The metal warped, reshaping into proper boots.
Satisfied, she slipped them on and walked out.
As she moved through the corridor, a voice called out.
"Ai!"
Jennie waved as she approached, her ivory Sable Veil uniform soft and elegant, skirt falling neatly to her shins. Her hair was tied in a flowing waterfall braid.
"You look good," Ai said. "That hairstyle suits you."
Jennie smiled brightly. "Thank you. You look amazing yourself."
---
Elsewhere, Zazm stood before a mirror, fastening the final clasps of his uniform. He adjusted his long cape, then turned.
"Zephyra."
She stood on the bed, stepping closer as she carefully tied his hair back. When she finished, she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Let's go," she murmured.
Zazm walked forward, Zephyra clinging lightly to his back.
***
They entered a vast office where Rhyes sat waiting.
"Is everything ready?" Zazm asked.
"Yes," Rhyes replied, rising. "But before that… I want you all to do something."
Zazm's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Follow me."
They walked until they reached a secluded dome. Inside, a massive tree stood at the center, its branches stretching wide. Flowers bloomed beneath it, colors soft and natural.
"I didn't know a place like this existed," Zazm said quietly.
"It's my garden," Rhyes replied. "I had nothing else to do in my free time. One thing led to another."
Under the tree, everyone else was waiting.
Miwa rushed forward. "Zazm! How do I look?"
She wore the Obsidian Fang uniform as well.
"It suits you," he said.
He turned, taking them all in—Nova and Ai in obsidian black, Jennie in ivory, Minos in the brown tones of Ember Forge.
"Why is everyone here?" Zazm asked.
"No clue," Nova shrugged. "Supreme Commander called us."
"I want a picture," Rhyes said.
"Huh?" Ai tilted her head.
"Why?" Jennie asked.
"Because I say so," Rhyes replied, already stepping back.
They gathered.
Zazm stood at the center.
Jennie stood to his right, hands folded neatly.
Nova stood to his left, hands awkwardly behind his back.
Ai leaned slightly toward Jennie.
Minos placed an arm over Nova's shoulder.
Miwa whispered to Kiyomasa, then dragged him forward.
They sat in front, hands raised, forming a heart shape.
Nova smiled. "This feels… nice."
"It'll be a good picture," Minos said.
"Look here," Rhyes said.
The moment was captured.
And the memory—sealed.
They all bid each other farewells and got ready to embark on their own seperate journeys.
___________________________