Day Six…
It was twilight. The dim orange hue of the sun preceding it at the horizon as the dark sky slowly transitioned into a dark blue hue and finally, into the bright blue hue. Gradually, the shy, bright ball finally peeked from the horizon.
"Why so early?" Andrew mumbled under his breath as he sluggishly followed behind the group at his front with a large box in hand like everyone else.
"Of course we have to be early. We've already delayed this whole thing for nearly two days because of you or rather, because of matters concerning you. So, you understand why we want to get the fuck out of here and deal with things of actual importance, right?" James, the closest among them, had heard him and decided to give a borderline rude answer… Alright, it wasn't that rude.
Andrew remained silent throughout the rest of the process as they took boxes after boxes and loaded them onto the definitely luxurious van. Its exterior might be deceiving with its dull black color and plain shape, but its interior was another world entirely.
The van was no ordinary vehicle; it was a fortress on wheels, cloaked in the mundane shell of polished black metal. Its tinted windows betrayed nothing of the world inside, where luxury and technological sorcery blended into one seamless whole. The moment the reinforced doors slid open, one stepped not into a van, but into a command center that hummed with a quiet authority.
An exaggeration, many might call his description, but this was what Andrew felt the first time he laid eyes on all that was within the deceptive form of this vehicle.
At its heart, an expansive computer console stretched across the side wall, aglow with cascading lines of data and holographic projections that danced in the air like living light. Sleek monitors, framed in chrome, flickered with satellite feeds, encrypted maps, and camera views from angles no human eye should ever reach. Every switch, every button, seemed designed with an elegance that made utility feel like art.
The leather seats were supple and molded with precision. On their armrests were touch panels that, with a single brush of the hand, caused sections of the wall to glide open to reveal neatly arranged rows of tools, personal devices, or something more clandestine–things meant to stay hidden from prying eyes.
Even the ceiling bore its secrets: retractable racks for gear, concealed lighting that could shift from a soft amber glow to sterile surgical white at a command. Every inch of the van had been crafted with forethought, ensuring that no space was wasted, no corner left without purpose. These were no longer what he had seen but what Ashran had told him.
It was both a lair and sanctuary, a mobile cathedral to technology. From the outside it was just a van; inside, it was the future wrapped in leather, steel, and shadows. It was unimaginable; after all, the world's technology simply hadn't reached such a realm of advancement.
Of course Andrew had asked questions to satisfy his confusion, and everyone's usual response was to turn towards Isabella. Isabella, on the other hand, didn't seem keen on saying anything about the matter.
Andrew had drawn his own conclusions but left them as nothing but hypotheses that held barely any truth. He really wanted to understand what was going on. It had only been six days and everything already seemed to be changing so drastically. First, it was the lives of everyone around the world, and now, it seemed everything was trying to take a big leap; either forward or backward.
It was an undeniable truth that their strange powers brought mayhem upon everything living but… there might be a chance it could also help?
"Alright, we're done. You've been briefed on the matter, right?" Jane turned to address Andrew as she wiped her dirty hands on James' shoulder, causing him to glare at her with a look that could kill. Jane, of course, ignored him.
"Yes. I understand your plans, but I'm still kinda confused about certain things," Andrew responded.
"Hmm. We wouldn't want you to stay confused about a delicate matter like this. In fact, we didn't even want you to participate at all—but Isabella is at the forefront of this entire thing. She's the only one who can stop you if you were to… well, you know what I'm getting at, Andrew. So ask away, because there can't be any mistakes." Jane, shorter than Andrew, grabbed his sleeve and pulled him aside from the rest of the group. Isabella was still nowhere to be seen.
"I understand. Let's start with this. Your plan is to stop at all five Relief Camps between Aspros and Reton, right?"
"Correct."
"Do you plan to introduce yourselves as Chosens? Because you definitely know that's like telling them you're the devils causing all their suffering."
"Of course we wouldn't be that stupid. We'll introduce ourselves as volunteer health personnel. We have our badges ready–the ones carried by the 'Saints'. We'll have no trouble getting into the Camps."
"Huh? Really? How did you get the badges? Are you guys members of the Saints? Wow!"
"Nope. We made them ourselves. Fake badges, but no different from the real thing. Same exact material, same color–same everything. There are usually randomized digit imprints on the back, but it's not like the average person cares about that. As long as it looks like a Saint badge, then it's a Saint badge." Jane shrugged without the slightest bit of care.
"..." Andrew was left speechless.
"Your next question. We need to make haste. Two minutes. You only have two more minutes, so ask quickly."
"Alright, alright. How do you plan on helping the victims at the Camps then? Offer them blankets?" Andrew pointed at the van that held the boxes filled with blankets. "That can't possibly be your plan, right?"
"You're absolutely correct. But why should I tell you what we plan to do next, Andrew? Having even a general idea of our plan is already a privilege for someone who only joined us yesterday. Pry no further."
"I apologize if I overstepped. I was just curious about how you plan to help so many people. I have no more questions. Thank you for answering, Miss Jane." Andrew bowed slightly before turning back to where Ashran and James were discussing something.
"You can tell him, Jane." Isabella's captivating voice suddenly appeared out of thin air–and she herself, Isabella, quite literally appeared out of thin air.
Jane stared at Isabella for a long time. A look of confusion, then surprise, and finally understanding passed over her face during that pause. Finally, she turned to Andrew. She tried to mask her scrutinizing gaze, but Andrew was extremely perceptive in this regard.
"Our real intention for stopping at the Camps is indeed to help them; specifically, the injured," Jane explained vaguely. It was clear she didn't really want to say it.
Isabella sighed tiredly.
"Andrew, could you excuse us for a moment, please?" she asked, walking toward Jane.
"Of course," Andrew responded, promptly giving them space for whatever matter they wanted to discuss.
Several minutes later, it looked like they wouldn't be wrapping up anytime soon. With no reason to just stand idle, Andrew walked toward Ashran and James.
Ashran didn't have a particularly friendly look. His long, slightly curly hair that reached just past his shoulders gave him a more feminine appearance. His pale complexion made it obvious he wasn't usually outside under the hot sun of Aspros. It was rare to find anyone with such a complexion here, after all, Andrew had been to this city many times.
Initially, he thought Ashran was like Isabella and the rest–not from Aspros–but Ashran had claimed otherwise. He'd said he was born and raised here nearly his entire life.
Just when Andrew was about to reach the two men, Isabella called his name.
"Andrew."
"Yeah?" He turned to face her. Isabella and Jane were walking in his direction, not far from him at all.
"Ashran, James, let's get going, shall we?" Jane walked past Andrew, throwing him a nod that only left him more confused. Just what was going on in her mind?
"You're with me," Isabella said, standing very close to him, her scent wafting into his nostrils, intoxicating like a potent aphrodisiac.
"What? Aren't we going with them?" He knew nothing about what was happening. He'd only been told about the general plan, but it seemed there were other plans he wasn't aware of.
"Not at all. Our final destination is Fragr. Unlike them, we're heading there immediately. No stops."
Andrew wanted to scream. It was exhausting. The feelings he felt were too overwhelming. Why the fuck was someone so intoxicating? He'd never taken substances like that, but he doubted they compared to the pull Isabella always submerged his mind in whenever she was close.
"Forgot to ask. What are we going to Fragr for?"
"To deal with a Devil's spawn, my dear."