"Ouch, slowly!" I groan, sprawled on a creaky hotel bed in New Eridu, an ice pack pressed to my throbbing head.
The room's neon glow seeps through cracked blinds, casting stripes across Kaori as she dabs ointment on my battered legs.
The adrenaline from the Ladas heist has faded, leaving my body screaming in protest.
Kaori's cat ears twitch, her green eyes narrowing.
"I told you it was dangerous," she scolds, her twin tails flicking as she applies the salve with more force than necessary.
She's not wrong.
"You know we had no other option," I counter, wincing as I adjust the ice pack.
The Ether particle accelerator was worth it.
She finishes, and I shift to sit upright, groping for my coat slung over a chair. Where's that damn thing?
Kaori pours steaming coffee from a pot, her movements precise.
"Are you sure they won't find us?" she asks, approaching with a cup and settling beside me on the bed.
She's less spooked now, I note, taking the cup, its warmth soothing my hands.
Her usual wariness has softened, her shoulders relaxed.
"Don't worry," I say, meeting her gaze.
"I tossed the trinkets into the Hollow. No trail left." Section 6 or the TOPS won't track us here.
Kaori sips her coffee, her eyes drifting to the window where New Eridu's moon hangs, a pale orb against the neon skyline.
"What's next?" She asks, her voice curious, almost expectant.
I sip my coffee, savouring its bitter edge.
"We head back and finish the building in Blazewood."
The sun project waits.
Kaori's cup pauses mid-air, her eyes wide as she shrieks, "I'm surprised you didn't say we're doing something crazy!"
She's got a point.
I feign offence, turning to her.
"What? You think I'm that reckless?" Come on, I'm not that bad.
"Whatever," she mutters, rolling her eyes, but a faint smile tugs at her lips.
I sigh, smile back, and lean against the headboard.
"We pulled this off because it was our only shot at the accelerator while no one else had it. Other parts we can get later, but we've got steps to secure first."
The White Star Institute is about to fire us anyway.
Kaori nods, setting her cup down.
"Rest," she orders, her tone firm.
"Tomorrow's a long day." She's right. I ease back, the ice pack numbing my headache, ready for what lies ahead.
****
Kaori and I stand in Blazewood's dusty outskirts, the sun scorching the cracked earth.
Before us looms a towering circular structure, its steel frame gleaming against the hazy sky, a monument to our sun project.
"Damn," I mutter, awestruck. They outdid themselves.
I'd underestimated Blazewood's grit, but Rusty's gang and the Sons of Calydon delivered beyond expectation.
Kaori lets out a soft gasp, her cat ears perked.
"It's incredible," she murmurs, her twin tails swaying, her green eyes wide with admiration. She's as stunned as I am.
Caesar and Lighter, of the Sons of Calydon, approach, their boots kicking up dust.
Caesar's green hair catches the light, her sword hilt glinting.
"Well, look who's back," she says, a grin tugging at her lips.
Lighter, ever laconic, offers a swift nod.
"Didn't expect this in Blazewood," he adds, his voice clipped.
I nod, impressed.
"It's remarkable. I might even throw in a bonus for the work."
They earned it.
As they turn to leave, I call out,
"Caesar, hold up." I rummage through the bag slung over my shoulder, fishing out a book—a glossy, top-market romance comic, its cover adorned with star-crossed lovers.
I hold it up, and Caesar's composure cracks, her cheeks flushing.
Got her.
Building a releationship with them is inportant.
Her eyes spark like New Eridu's neon.
"No way," she breathes, stepping closer.
"The Celestial Hearts comic? I heard about it on my runs!" She's hooked.
"Are you serious about giving this away?" she asks, her voice tinged with disbelief.
I shrug, playing coy.
"A friend passed it to me, but I don't know any romance fans. Figured you or someone in your crew might want it."
As if I didn't know her obsession.
I keep my tone neutral, masking my amusement.
Caesar snatches it, her grin wide.
"I'll… ask around," she says, clutching the comic like a treasure.
"Thanks." She and Lighter stride off, her step lighter, Lighter's smirk barely hidden.
I turn to Kaori, who's watching with raised brows.
"Time to check inside," I say, nodding toward the structure.
Michael and Kaori traversed the gleaming corridors of Blazewood's circular structure, its steel walls polished to perfection, the hum of latent machinery echoing softly.
Every weld, every panel, was flawlessly executed, a testament to the Rusty's group unexpected craftsmanship.
They surpassed expectations, Michael noted, his bag slung over his shoulder.
Kaori's cat ears twitched, her green eyes scanning the pristine interior.
"What now?" Kaori asked, her twin tails swaying. "We've no security for this place, and hired guards exceed our budget."
Michael's lips curved faintly. "I foresaw this," he assured her, his voice steady. Always a step ahead.
They reached the structure's central chamber, a vast, domed space where sunlight filtered through high windows.
Michael set his bag down, withdrawing the final engraved coin from his crafted set.
With a flick, he tossed it to the floor below, where it landed with a resonant clink.
"Tomorrow, we head to Scott Outpost," he declared.
Kaori peered over the railing, her gaze fixed on the coin glinting below.
Those coins… from Ladas, she recalled, the memory of their bullet-deflecting feat vivid.
"What's with those coins?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Michael shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Just very lucky coins." More than she needs to know.
———
In a foggy realm where ethereal mists coiled like serpents, a silver snake slumbered, its scales shimmering faintly.
Before it stood an eight- or nine-year-old boy, his chubby face framed by medium-length silvery hair, dressed as a young gentleman in a tailored vest.
Beside him loomed a tall, thin man, his long silver hair cascading down his back, his expression inscrutable.
The boy, peering through the spiritual realm's veil at Michael's actions, gasped softly.
"Such an unconventional way to wield a pathway's ability," he remarked, his voice bright with intrigue.
"Tossing coins to shape fate? It's delightfully odd!"
The tall man inclined his head, his tone reserved.
"I share your surprise. His methods are… unorthodox."
The boy's eyes sparkled.
"We sought the source of this shift in the river of fate, but to find such a distinct Beyonder? It's a treat! I'm glad he's using his abilities. Otherwise, it'd be dreadfully dull."
The tall man remained silent, his gaze distant.
"I'm curious what this man can achieve," he murmured finally.
"Can he climb the path, given his circumstances?" "A rare enigma," he mused, the fog swirling around them.
———
Michael sat in a Blazewood motel room, the neon glow of the town seeping through tattered curtains.
The Ether particle accelerator rested in a locked case, its potential humming in his mind.
Walls await us, he acknowledged, leaning back in a creaky chair.
It's seems we'll resort to that.
His mind churned, plotting their next moves with meticulous care.
Time to prepare.
***
Kaori's car, freshly repaired, hummed as we rolled into the Scott Outpost near Papago Hollow, the morning sun glinting off its fortified gates.
The air carried the faint tang of Ether, a reminder of the Hollow's proximity.
We're back in the grinder, I mused, adjusting my tie as we stepped out, badges in hand.
Military operators, clad in New Eridu Defence Force gear, scrutinized our credentials before ushering us through the gates to the command post—a squat, steel-clad building bristling with antennas.
Inside, the air was thick with the hum of monitors and the sharp scent of coffee.
The current chief, a lieutenant in the Defence Force, stood behind a cluttered desk, his uniform crisp, his gaze stern as he sized us up.
"Lieutenant Kade," he introduced himself, his voice clipped, eyes flicking between Kaori and me.
"You're the White Star representatives. I expected better."
Here it comes.
"Your institute's track record is abysmal—late arrivals, half-baked reports, and a blatant disrespect for protocol. Punctuality isn't optional here."
"You've already cost us time we don't have, gallivanting around Blazewood while Hollow activity spikes. Explain yourselves."
Kaori's cat ears twitched, her green eyes narrowing, but she held her tongue. I kept my expression neutral.
"We hit delays—car trouble, verified in Blazewood," I said smoothly.
"We're here now, ready to assist." No need to stir the pot.
Kade snorted, unconvinced. "Assist? You'd better. I won't tolerate White Star's sloppiness undermining this post. Get in line, or you're out."
He's not messing around.
Kaori sighed, her twin tails drooping as she glanced at me.
This week's going to be hell, her look screamed, mirroring my own sentiment.
Bureaucrats and Hollows—what a mix.
She reached into her bag, handing me a USB drive, her voice low.
"Here's what you asked for."
Good work.
"Thanks," I murmured, pocketing it.
This'll move things along. Kaori leaned closer, her voice hopeful.
"Let's wrap this up fast, Michael."