Chapter 94 — An Unexpected Reunion
Not far from the crowded market district...
In a quieter part of Helios Reach...
I finally spotted them.
Blaze sat calmly outside a small café, leisurely drinking a cup of coffee as if nothing unusual had happened today.
Across from him, Volt was talking away while occasionally glancing down at his communicator.
"...There they are."
I muttered.
Blaze noticed us first.
He simply raised one hand halfway in greeting before returning to his coffee.
Then his eyes shifted from me...
...to SK.
He gave her a small, warm smile.
Beside me, SK almost broke into a run.
She stopped herself at the last second, took a deep breath, and calmly walked the remaining distance.
Volt looked up and grinned.
"Well, looks like the reunion went better than expected."
I crossed my arms.
"So..."
"You left that famous café?"
Volt shrugged.
"Yeah."
"The two of you caused quite the commotion."
"So we decided to relocate before half the city's bounty hunters showed up."
I stared at him.
"...So this was your plan all along?!"
I lunged forward and grabbed the front of his collar.
"You idiot!"
"You scared me half to death!"
Volt immediately raised both hands.
"H-Hey! Calm down!"
Before I could shake him any harder...
A hand gently rested on my shoulder.
"Easy now, Ryze."
Blaze's calm voice instantly stopped me.
I looked at him.
"...Hmph."
I let go of Volt's collar.
"Your stupid plan failed."
Volt straightened his clothes.
"Failed?"
"You almost cried."
"I did not."
"You definitely did."
"I'll shoot you."
"You'll miss."
"I won't."
Blaze quietly sipped his coffee while watching us argue.
"..."
SK couldn't help smiling.
For a brief moment...
Everything almost felt normal again.
Then she stepped forward.
Standing in front of Blaze.
She gave a respectful bow.
"...Sir Blaze."
"I'm finally here."
"...Thank you."
"...For waiting."
Blaze looked up at her.
"You took quite a hit back then."
His eyes briefly glanced toward the scar hidden beneath her uniform.
"...Is your wound better now?"
SK smiled.
"I'm doing much better."
Before Blaze could reply...
I interrupted.
"No, you're not."
Everyone looked at me.
I frowned.
"You're still injured."
"That thing..."
"...was a Void monster."
"It copied Blaze's power."
"You could've died."
SK suddenly snapped.
She pointed straight at me.
"Well, I did it for you!"
"So stop whining about it, Starborn!"
Her voice echoed through the quiet café.
"I chose to do it."
"And now look at me."
She sighed dramatically.
"I actually defected from the Empire..."
"...I still can't believe I really did it."
I blinked.
"..."
Then...
I smiled.
"...Yeah."
"That's the SK I remember."
She clicked her tongue.
"Don't get sentimental."
Blaze quietly watched the two of us before asking another question.
"...So."
"How does it feel?"
"Now that the Empire isn't controlling your every move?"
SK didn't answer immediately.
She stared silently at the table.
"..."
Finally...
She spoke.
"...I don't know."
"It's..."
"...different."
"I've spent years following orders."
"Now..."
"...nobody's giving me any."
"It feels strange."
Blaze simply nodded.
"I see."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You'll get used to it."
Volt clapped his hands together.
"Well!"
"That's all in the past now."
"Even if it only happened a month ago."
He stood up and happily extended a hand.
"So..."
"Welcome to the Resistance!"
SK stared at his hand.
Then looked at Volt's face.
Her expression immediately turned into one of complete disgust.
"...Resistance?"
She slowly pushed his hand away.
"I never said I was joining you dirty rebels."
Slap.
Volt's hand dropped.
"...Ouch."
I couldn't help laughing.
"Hahaha..."
"Yep."
"Welcome back."
"That's definitely the SK I remember."
Even Blaze chuckled quietly.
The atmosphere became much lighter.
After ordering a few drinks...
The four of us sat around the table.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
Nobody was trying to kill anyone.
After a few minutes...
SK broke the silence.
"So."
"What's your plan now?"
Volt answered first.
"We're heading northwest."
"To one of the Resistance's hidden headquarters."
"One of our main hubs."
He suddenly paused.
Then leaned toward me and whispered quietly.
"...Should I really tell her where it's located?"
I blinked.
"Of course."
"She's one of us now."
"She's not going to sell us out."
"...Right?"
SK rolled her eyes.
"...Ugh."
"It's fine."
"You don't have to tell me."
"I'm not interested in your secret base."
"...I just wanted to know your destination."
Volt awkwardly laughed.
"...Fair enough."
SK's expression suddenly became serious.
"There is something you should know."
All of us immediately focused on her.
"The Empire..."
"...is preparing for something big."
"They've already contacted most of the major factions across SkyRealm."
"They're gathering every ally they can."
Volt frowned.
"...Including who?"
"Other Imperials Faction"
She answered immediately.
"And several independent mercenary guilds."
"They're offering enormous rewards."
"They're preparing for war."
Silence settled over the table.
Then SK looked directly at Blaze.
"...There's one more thing."
"It's about that Void monster."
"The one that resembles you."
Blaze quietly met her gaze.
"I think..."
"...it allowed itself to be captured."
Nobody spoke.
"..."
I felt a chill run down my spine.
Volt slowly frowned.
"...Allowed?"
SK nodded.
"I've watched it several times."
"It never truly resisted."
"It fought..."
"...just enough."
"As if..."
"...being captured was its objective."
I looked toward Blaze.
He didn't look surprised.
Not even slightly.
Almost...
Like he had already expected that answer.
He simply took another sip of his coffee.
Then quietly said,
"...I know."
The table fell silent once again.
For some reason...
That simple answer frightened me more than anything SK had said.