S-2879 • L8 Libeluna • D27 Silenri
"Libeluna releases the thread that weighs heavy. Silenri ignites the silence of return. The tide gathers light in a gentle gesture. The story weaves passage in low glow."
Alicia's first memory probing progressed well:
43%.
Takashi received the data and passed it on to Liana.
The stability of the numbers made me optimistic.
The body moved forward—
but the light in the womb preferred silence.
I sat on the sofa, anxious for the results.
Until—
"We have to go. Now."
Kiara entered the room like thunder.
"Excuse me?"
"I…"
She paced back and forth.
"This is insane, but—
Why is there a contract under your name?!"
I frowned.
"A contract?
What are you talking about?"
"Shit!"
Kiara slammed her hand against the wall.
"A contract.
Someone put a damn contract on you.
Your bounty is massive.
They're offering thirteen million bireais for you."
The ground vanished beneath me.
"T-thirteen?"
My stomach twisted.
My breathing faltered.
Nearly twenty cycles of work on a Zenith Level-A project.
"W-what?!"
"Do you know what that means?"
She stepped closer.
Her eyes sparked with anger.
"Mercenaries are coming for you."
"B-but—"
"We need to leave. Now.
Someone must've seen you yesterday.
Sent your location.
Three Class-7 mercenaries are on their way to grab you."
"I—I… WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"
I tried to stop the trembling that took over my entire body.
I could barely stay on my feet.
"They want you alive."
Kiara's gaze remained firm.
Unaffected by my panic.
Hands on her hips — pragmatic.
"Takashi, I sent you Akiko's contract and the tracking code for the mercenaries.
Locate all of them, except Aurum-class."
A storm of thoughts hit me all at once.
A hunt?
A contract?
What did any of this mean?
"As for you, it's hard to protect you with that contract active.
Don't worry about her."
She pointed to Alicia.
"She'll stay with Takashi and Liana."
Kiara placed her hands on my shoulders.
Grounded again.
"I want to continue what Maia asked.
I know you do too.
There's a way we can face this."
"H-how?"
I struggled to keep up.
Whatever it was, questions would have to wait.
"We have to go to Nobody's Land."
Kiara looked straight into me.
"You need to trust me."
I didn't fully understand.
But trusting her was the only certainty left.
Just like with Maia.
My mind screamed:
Refuse. Resist. Step back.
But my heart—my heart burned.
It longed to move forward.
So I nodded.
Because sometimes, the flame speaks louder than fear.