Meanwhile… Inside a Mountain Forge
Deep within the hollowed heart of a mountain, sparks danced in the dim light.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
A man hammered glowing iron against an anvil, shaping it into a blade. Sweat rolled down his temple. His blond hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, strands sticking to his forehead.
Finian paused, wiping his brow with his forearm before lifting the hammer again.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Finian… you're still awake this late?" a soft voice asked.
He turned.
"Ellen? Did I wake you?"
His beautiful wife stood at the entrance, wrapped in a shawl, her eyes gentle but tired.
"No, honey. I couldn't sleep."
Finian sighed lightly. "I'm sorry. I have to finish this sword. The customers are already angry—I missed the deadline." He gave a sheepish giggle.
Ellen stepped closer and shook her head. "It's not your fault. It's because of me. I keep dragging you everywhere I go. I'm sorry."
Finian immediately dropped the hammer and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"No, darling. Don't say that."
"O-Okay… I can't breathe," Ellen gasped.
Finian released her instantly.
"Sorry, honey." He flashed a bright, boyish smile.
"No worries, husband."
The word husband made him practically glow.
He grabbed her hand excitedly. "You're the best. I love you very, very, very, very—"
His phone rang.
He froze.
Ellen raised an eyebrow.
Finian sighed dramatically and answered the call.
"Hello?" he said, irritation slipping into his tone.
"Hello, Finian. I—"
"Okay, no worries. Bye."
He hung up before the man could finish.
He was about to put the phone away when his eyes caught the wallpaper.
A photo.
Ron.
Locki.
And him.
Finian's expression softened as he stared at Ron. His gaze grew distant.
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder.
He blinked back to reality and turned. Ellen stood behind him.
"Who are they?" she asked quietly. "On your wallpaper?"
"Oh, them?" He pointed. "This one's my big brother, Locki."
"And the other?"
Finian paused.
Then—
"This guy? He's the best. A legend. The peak. The greatest of all time. A true GOAT. He's the—"
He kept going.
Ellen stared at him.
I've never seen him talk like this in one breath… not even for me.
A strange feeling crept into her chest.
Why does this feel… uncomfortable?
"Finian."
"Yes, honey?"
"What's his name?"
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Why does it feel like someone took you away from me…?
"Oh! That's Ron," Finian said proudly. "He learned over 130 martial arts in just seven or eight years. Even Mr. Shiba was proud of him—said he could surpass him one day."
Ellen stayed silent.
"Back then, Ron and I were mercenaries. He left after Mr. Shiba died." Finian's voice softened. "You know… his only flaw is that he can't stand alone. When he falls, he struggles to get back up by himself."
He smiled faintly.
"But his wife and daughter? They're his world. He keeps fighting because he's scared of what would happen to them if he ever slacks off. He protects this place for his family. That's the kind of man he is."
Finian turned to her warmly.
"What do you think, darling?"
Ellen stared at him for a moment.
"Can I go to sleep?"
"…Yes! Yes, of course!"
She walked away without another word.
Finian blinked.
Why was she glaring at me?
Realization struck him.
Wait… did I ignore her and just keep talking about Ron?
He rushed after her.
"I'm sorry, Ellen!"
Suddenly—
BANG!
The main door swung open and slammed directly into Finian's face.
He dropped to the floor.
"Oof!"
"What was that sound?" a voice muttered.
Liora stepped inside—and froze at the sight of her foolish brother sprawled on the ground.
"What are you doing awake this late?" Finian groaned, sitting up.
"None of your business."
He narrowed his eyes… then grinned.
"Were you out with someone? Someone special? Someone in your hea—"
SMACK.
Her kick sent his head slamming back.
"Ouch!"
"What a terrible human being," Liora muttered.
"So I was right?" he teased, shielding his face.
"No. I was out with Ava."
"Who?"
"An old friend. Back when we were in Eclipse. She used to go by Aex."
"Ohhh. From those days." Finian nodded.
"I thought you'd finally moved in with some guy so I could live peacefully—"
She lifted her foot again.
He rolled away—but his head collided with a heavy drawer.
"Aaaaagh!"
"I will kill you," she said calmly and walked off.
Finian slowly stood up… then suddenly remembered.
Ellen!
He sprinted down the hall.
Liora's Room
Liora entered her room and opened her computer.
A message from Ava popped up.
Ava: "What's their status?"
Liora: "She's staying at a hotel in Atliop City. The helicopter is heading toward the northeastern mountains."
Ava: "Good thing I planted a tracker on that woman—and on Eclipse's helicopter."
Liora: "Yeah. What's the plan?"
Ava: "I'll inform big brother Carter that we found Eclipse's base. He'll attack with his squad. We'll join secretly and extract data from their database."
Liora: "Smart. You really are Carter's sister."
Ava: "Rest for now. Good night."
"Good night," Liora typed back.
She shut the computer down and turned toward an old drawer in the corner.
After brushing off the dust, she opened the bottom compartment and pulled out a shirt.
A name was stitched into the corner.
Rena.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"I never thought I'd open this drawer again… and take out his clothes."
Meanwhile… Above the Northeastern Mountains
The Eclipse helicopter hovered over vast fields of snow.
Inside, the Commander stood silently, deep in thought.
Who was that man with Xentan?
"Commander, we're almost there," a soldier reported.
He nodded.
"How's Shadow?"
"He's stable," replied the one-eyed soldier with binoculars.
The Commander moved toward the window, staring at the endless white mountains.
Then he noticed it.
A faint red blink near the helicopter's tail.
His expression didn't change.
"Someone planted a tracker on you," he said calmly.
The soldiers stiffened.
"Sorry, sir. We were ordered to focus only on Shadow," one replied.
"Take care of it."
One soldier climbed out onto the helicopter's body like a spider, reached the tail, crushed the tracker into pieces, and returned inside.
The Commander gave him a nod.
As he looked ahead, a massive colony-like structure slowly emerged through the snowstorm.
So… we're here. The Commander thought.
The scenery reminded him of the day, he was bought to this place. when he was little.