Chapter 15: Lonely
Dust and debris hung thick in the air, drifting down like fading snow. The roar of destruction had passed, replaced now by the sharp echoes of strained voices and shuffling boots. Scattered soldiers coughed and groaned as they scrambled to their feet, some dragging their wounded out from under the wreckage.
Arisa stood still, her eyes fixed on the ruined section of the artificial city ahead. The green glow that once lit the sky had faded, leaving only trails of smoke and fractured light. Beside her, Ericna tilted her head slightly, still half smiling as if savoring the chaos. Doragon stepped closer from behind, calm and silent.
Behind them, Yani walked with steady steps toward the double doors. She didn't even glance back. "Sticking with them will only cause us trouble," she said, her voice level not bitter, just honest.
Z-Gem turned at her words, watching her for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Arisa's group. He took in the damage. The collapsed walls, the overturned truck, the crater where the dragon had hit.
The corner of his mouth curved upward. "I like their attitude," he said with a smirk, "but you're right." He turned fully, now following Yani toward the exit. "Come on kid, we gotta stick to our group."
Yasukia didn't move right away. His eyes darted between both sides, his group and Arisa's. Then he looked beyond them, at the D.O.P soldiers in the distance still scrambling through the smoke and ruin. His gaze fell back on Arisa, standing firm beside Ericna and Doragon. three silhouettes framed by haze and light.
He smiled faintly, almost to himself. "I think Angel would be proud," he murmured, before finally turning away.
His footsteps faded as he followed Z-Gem and Yani through the double doors, leaving the field divided. Two groups, two paths, both now clearly set apart.
The air trembled faintly with the hum of emergency Kleidis activating, their holographic lights flickering in the dust. Men and women in D.O.P armor worked in grim silence, lifting shattered metal, calling out names through their helmets. The green light from Doragon's attack had scorched the ground, leaving glass like craters that still radiated faint heat.
One soldier knelt beside another who was barely conscious. "He's breathing! Get a medic over here!"
Another group pried open what remained of the battle truck, pulling free two more soldiers who got pushed inside from the blast. Their armor was cracked, the metal scorched black. And yet, they were alive. All of them. Beaten, broken, but alive.
The man with the buzzcut, their leader, stirred last. He was half buried in rubble, his armor dented inward, his skin cut open from the blast. Blood streaked down the side of his face as he spat into the dirt, coughing hard.
"Son of a… bastard," he growled, voice hoarse.
A soldier rushed to his side, trying to help him up. "Sir, don't move—"
"Shut it," he snapped, his voice trembling with anger. He grabbed the soldier's arm, pulling himself upright despite the pain. "Contact Commander Dawn. Tell him… we were attacked." He paused, his breathing ragged. "Tell him it was Doragon… and his group."
The soldier hesitated, then nodded sharply. He reached for his Kleidi, activating it with a flick of his hand. The device flared to life, projecting a faint blue hologram through the dust. The leader's jaw clenched, blood dripping from his chin, his glare burning through the haze.
The hum of the Kleidi's transmission echoed through the ruined training ground as the call was being made. It didn't take long for Dawn to answer. The hologram flickered into existence, casting a cold, sterile blue glow across the shaken soldier's face. Dawn's expression was unreadable, eyes sharp, posture still.
The soldier stammered, repeating the leader's version of the story, that Doragon and his group had attacked them. Dawn didn't react. Not a blink, not a twitch. Just that suffocating silence that made the soldier's voice grow thinner.
"You were attacked," Dawn finally said, "or did you provoke them?"
Every soldier froze. Even the battered leader stopped breathing for a second. The soldier who held up the Kleidi went quiet, and that silence told Dawn everything.
"Do you all forget," Dawn continued, his tone dropping into something colder, "that I have eyes all around the academy?"
Dawn stood in a vast, shadowed control room, lit only by the glow of thousands of screens. Operators in D.O.P uniforms work silently, switching feeds, scanning data, adjusting controls.
The room felt like the brain of a giant machine, Dawn being the pulse behind it. Every angle of the academy was visible, Hallways. Courtyards. Rooftops. Dorms. Labs. And dead center, on a massive main screen, the training yard plays in a wide aerial shot. Dust still settling from Doragon's strike.
"We saw everything," Dawn said, watching the soldier from the command room as he spoke. "You were about to activate your Awakening."
He leaned forward slightly. "Doragon defended himself. And his team."
The soldier swallowed hard. The leader shut his eyes in embarrassment."Whether you like it or not, the C.F.R program is here to stay." Dawn continued, His tone had the weight of iron.
"As commander, my job is to uphold General Tenshi's orders. And Tenshi wants this program to succeed." He lifted one gloved hand, gesturing to the screens. "This stunt you tried to pull today? This is exactly why some of our soldiers get a bad reputation."
The shame on the soldiers' faces was immediate. But Dawn didn't soften. "Be glad you're all still alive. Now get up, call the repair squad, and fix the damage you caused."
He took a breath, recalibrating himself. "I have a meeting to attend. Don't contact me again with nonsense."
The hologram blinked out. The silence that followed was heavy. None of the soldiers dared speak. Even the leader, bruised and bloodied, looked smaller than before, the humiliation hitting him harder than the green dragon did.
Finally, he muttered, voice hoarse. "You heard him… call the repair squad." And one by one, they obeyed.
——
Commander Dawn stepped out from the surveillance chamber, his footsteps echoing faintly against the polished metal floor. The hallway he entered stretched long and rounded like the inside of a steel lung, reinforced walls curving overhead, the hum of heavy power conduits running silently beneath.
Rows of D.O.P's elite soldiers lined the sides, motionless statues in full armor, their visors reflecting Dawn's passing figure. He didn't even bother to look at them. It was easy to tell that this hall was reserved for only a few people in the entire academy.
Eventually Dawn reached a tall, imposing door at the far end. The frame itself was layered with reinforced plating, and two soldiers in high grade fortified armor flanked it, the kind issued only to those guarding the highest ranks.
A familiar figure stood waiting. Ronnie. Arms crossed, boots planted, expression unimpressed. His eyes flicked up as Dawn approached. "Usually you're first," Ronnie snarked.
Dawn didn't respond. His face remained cold, professional. He simply looked toward the massive door.
Ronnie exhaled and shook his head with a crooked smile. "You take your job too seriously," he muttered, turning his attention forward too.
The armored guards bowed their heads, then reached for the reinforced handles. The door groaned heavily as it opened, thick metal grinding against hidden mechanics, the sound echoing down the hall like the opening of an ancient vault.
The room inside was enormous, a space worthy of a general. Tall ceilings supported black steel beams engraved with D.O.P insignias. Walls were lined with weapon racks, tactical displays, and shelves containing relics from past missions and campaigns. A long central table projected glowing holographic maps of the academy, the city below, and the borderlines of enemy territories.
But the most striking feature hung on the left wall, A framed photograph of a long gone D.O.P base, Fídia Rakún. The base stood proud and intact in the photo, its soldiers lined up in ceremony..
At the far end of the room, a massive open window overlooked a sweeping vista of the academy grounds. Sunlight poured through, illuminating dust in the air and casting a long silhouette over the floor. A tall figure stood in the light, hands clasped behind his back.
His presence alone felt like a pressure in the room, Ronnie and Dawn stepped forward and bowed their heads in unison.
"General," they said.
The general didn't move at first. The sunlight carved his outline sharply against the backdrop of the academy. Then, slowly he turned. Tenshi was older now, a full beard framing his stern jaw, just like the advertisement Arisa saw.
But seeing him in the flesh was different. His armor was high grade woven composite, white, blue, and gold. Polished and regal. A pristine cape, white with gold trim, draped over his shoulders. Across the back, in bold lettering read "GENERAL"
"Raise your heads," Tenshi said firmly.
Dawn and Ronnie complied instantly, their eyes meeting his. General Tenshi stepped toward them with slow, measured strides.
"Good work today," Tenshi said, voice steady and commanding. "I know not everyone agrees with the new program… but you two still volunteered to be instructors." Ronnie and Dawn remained still as he spoke, absorbing the weight of his words.
"We are entering a new era. The D.O.P now rules over the lands and the seas more firmly than ever. And the two of you guiding the C.F.R candidates will ensure it stays that way."
Ronnie stepped forward first, pride edging his voice. "It's my honor, sir. We're reaching a new generation, and these kids… they're only getting stronger. It's better we have more of them on our side. Before they could do anything stupid "
Ronnie's jaw tightened. "Like that bastard ruling over Norad now. He isn't doing us any favors. So if we can at least make the next ruler loyal to us, I'm all for it." Dawn gave him a side glance but said nothing until Ronnie finished.
"I wish we went about it differently," Dawn admitted, voice low but respectful. "But I follow your command, General. You've kept Norad stable for years. I won't doubt you now."
Tenshi stopped just a few feet in front of them, his silhouette framed by the sunlight behind him. "Good," he said. "Both of you handled your groups well. Even with the incident involving Bones… and Arisa." Ronnie straightened at her name.
"And now Doragon," Tenshi added, turning his attention to Dawn. "You still came to the right conclusions despite those complications. Remember, our goal is to keep them on our side. Especially Arisa."
He said her name quietly… almost cautiously. Dawn and Ronnie exchanged a serious look.Tenshi turned away from them and walked slowly toward the large framed photograph of the old D.O.P branch, Fídia Rakún.
The moment he stopped in front of it, the room darkened. It felt colder. "She may not have an Awakening now," Tenshi said, staring at the image of the once proud base, "but one day she will. And we must ensure that by then she is truly on our side."
He paused. "Otherwise… we'll have to do what I should have done long ago." The room froze. Even the air felt heavier.
Ronnie swallowed hard. Dawn's posture stiffened. The name Tenshi spoke next was enough to send a ripple through both men.
"Aika…" Both Ronnie and Dawn flinched, the rumors of her devastation hitting them like a wave. But Tenshi didn't blink. "If she wished, she could erase us from existence before we even realized she moved."
He turned back toward them, eyes sharp. "If Arisa grows into anything close to that… will she still be on our side?" He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "And Aika… how long till she decides she's done with us?"
Neither commander answered. The tension in the room vibrated like a wire pulled too tight. "I won't let mankind feel that hopeless again," Tenshi said. "I used to never understand Tyuren. But on that day…"
A memory washed over him, Aika descending in the moonlight like a divine executioner. The terror. The helplessness. The absolute realization that they were ants beneath her.
"On that day… I understood." His eyes refocused. "But with this program, with the twelve candidates. We will ensure that what happened that night never repeats."
A hologram beamed to life behind him, displaying twelve silhouettes, each marked with their C.F.R designation. "That's all, Commanders. Return to your bases."
He turned back toward the panoramic window overlooking the academy, his white and gold cape swaying with authority. The word GENERAL gleamed across the back in the light.
Ronnie and Dawn bowed once more. Then they turned and exited the chamber silently, each walking down opposite ends of the hallway, their expressions sharpened, their resolve ignited by Tenshi's words.
——
A few hours slipped by, a single cloud glided in front of the sun. Casting long shadows over the artificial city. Ericna walked ahead with lighthearted steps, Arisa and Doragon following a few paces behind as she guided them through various buildings.
The path curved around the right side of the mock city, where the buildings shifted from uniform academy structures into more experimental architectural designs. Some were sleek and metallic, others shaped like cylinders, prisms, and strange hybrids of nature and tech.
Ericna stopped in front of one of the most unusual ones. A building shaped like a sphere. Its surface was slightly transparent, tinted faintly green, revealing the lush interior. A miniature forest suspended inside, vines twisting up artificial trunks, soft mist hugging the undergrowth.
"This is actually one of the few buildings I like here," Ericna said, pointing with an excited grin.
Arisa and Doragon's attention followed her gesture. The sphere glowed with gentle light, its interior rotating ever so slightly as if imitating the sway of a real forest canopy.
"This is where the smart people study plants and trees," Ericna continued, "They run tests, research ecosystems, something about trying to get certain people to create energy like a plant… blah blah, this and that, who even knows." She made a talking hand motion, then returned her gaze to the sphere with genuine appreciation.
"Replicate photosynthesis, I guess," Ericna shrugged. "But honestly? I just like it because it's beautiful inside. Peaceful. Better than all the metal we're trapped in. And the air inside? So refreshing I swear it adds five years to your life."
Arisa softened, eyes tracing the greenery with interest. "I bet it does," she murmured.
Doragon simply observed, silent. Though his eyes lingered on the shifting forest longer than usual.
"We should go inside," Ericna said brightly. Arisa took a step forward, but something in the distance caught her eye.
Behind Ericna, further down the walkway. The neighboring building had several D.O.P vans lined in front of its entrance. A group of D.O.P soldiers emerged, guiding out at least a dozen individuals.
Non-humans. All different races, different shapes, different skin tones. Some tall, some small, some with horns, scales, or markings. Their expressions were all similar, tired. Resigned. Unhappy.
On their wrists, necks, and ankles were small metallic devices glowing faintly. The same color as the ones Neta wore back at Jorno's diner.
Only these were thinner. more discreet. Arisa's vision sharpened. Doragon and Ericna followed her gaze. "What building is that?" Arisa asked, voice low.
Ericna turned, squinting at the facility. "I don't know much about that one," she admitted. "Most people, and even some D.O.P soldiers aren't allowed inside. What I do know is that when a non-human commits a crime and the D.O.P catches them, they get a choice. Serve time, or enroll to be here."
The group of non-humans shuffled forward under soldier supervision. They weren't being beaten. Or mistreated. But they weren't free, either.
Ericna crossed her arms as she faced Arisa. She continued, looking more serious this time. "But not all get accepted. And if they don't? They get thrown in jail anyway. And trust me, non-humans" She shook her head. "They go through hell locked up. They get treated like shit.."
She glanced back at the restricted building again. "But that's all I know. Why? Did you notice something?" Ericna scanned the area, trying to find what Arisa might've seen.
Arisa kept her expression neutral. "…Just curious," she said.
But Doragon didn't take his eyes off the building. Something about it clearly unsettled him. Before any of them could move or speak again. All their Kleidis rang at the same time. The chime echoed through the courtyard.
They each pulled theirs out, the blue holograms flickering into view. The usual low cap soldier appeared on screen, "All C.F.R members," he announced, "your allotted activity time is over. You are required to leave the academy grounds immediately."
The hologram blinked out. A breeze passed through the artificial city, rustling the leaves inside the spherical forest behind them. Arisa looked once more toward the restricted building.
"Well… guess it's our time to go now," Ericna sighed.
Doragon was already ahead, slipping silently down the pathway that led back toward the academy gates. His silhouette shrank with every step, swallowed by the light and the hum of the artificial city.
Ericna lingered, waiting for Arisa. It took a few more seconds before Arisa finally tore her gaze away from the restricted building. She walked toward Ericna with no expression on her face, but the heaviness in her eyes didn't go unnoticed. Ericna didn't comment. She just turned and walked beside her.
—-
The academy gates slid closed behind them, and suddenly the world was loud again, the buzz of Norad spilling into the air.
"So," Ericna said, spinning lightly on her heels to face them both, "you two got any plans?"
The city unfolded around them, glowing billboards, air trams gliding overhead, citizens weaving through busy walkways.
Doragon stepped ahead, his presence already shifting back into that lone wolf state. "I have some things to get done," he said, voice low, almost lost to the noise.
Arisa and Ericna watched as he disappeared into the crowd, swallowed instantly, as if Norad had been waiting for him.
"Don't worry," Ericna said with a playful smirk, nudging Arisa with her elbow. "He always acts like this around new people. He'll open up eventually."
"I don't mind the way he is," Arisa replied calmly. Then she looked at Ericna with mild curiosity. "Don't you have a bar to run?"
Ericna's shoulders slumped dramatically. "Don't remind me." She said, groaning. "I thought we were gonna stay at the academy longer, so I told my girls I'd be out half the day. I'm definitely not going in now. I have time to kill." She looked at Arisa with a sly smile. "What about you? What's your plan?"
Arisa gazed out toward the glowing city. "Not much. I was heading to Jorno's. Gonna get something to eat. Maybe explore more of Norad before nightfall."
Ericna perked up instantly. "Ooo, I love Jorno's," she said, bouncing slightly. "They have this cute cat girl working there. I always ask for her. Mind if I join you?"
Arisa paused for a moment, a small moment. "Sure," she said. "Might as well get used to each other's presence."
Ericna smiled softly, almost flirtatiously. "I'm already used to yours."
"We'll see how long that holds up," Arisa shot back. Ericna laughed lightly, then pulled out her Kleidi. A soft holographic ripple appeared.
"Can you call a cab to our location?" she asked the device. The Kleidi pulsed and flickered in acknowledgement.
"A cab?" Arisa repeated.
Ericna tucked the device away. "It's a vehicle that takes you anywhere in Norad."
"Oh." Arisa blinked. "We could've walked, honestly."
Ericna leaned in slightly, lowering her voice with that teasing grin. "Nah. I'd rather focus on talking to you. Plus you'll be in the back with me… It's closer. More intimate."
Arisa raised a brow. "Do you treat everyone like this?"
"Depends on the person," Ericna murmured.
Right on cue, a sleek futuristic cab swept down from above, humming softly as it landed beside them. Its lights shifted blue as it honked once. "That's ours," Ericna said, already stepping forward.
She leaned into the driver's window, the robot driver's face lighting up with coded greetings, her body angled slightly. The pose brought out her curves effortlessly, her frame outlined by the cab's neon reflection.
Arisa's eyes lingered for a moment longer than she meant to. Only now did she fully notice Ericna's figure, the lines, the posture, the confidence.
Ericna finished speaking with the driver and straightened up. Arisa gestured politely. "You first."
"With pleasure," Ericna said, brushing past Arisa deliberately close as she stepped in.
Arisa followed her inside. The doors sealed shut with a soft hiss, and the cab lifted smoothly into the air, carrying them into the hue of Norad.
The interior of the cab was spacious, sleek seats of soft synthetic leather, faint neon seams glowing. Arisa's eyes roamed everywhere, scanning the curved walls, the way lights reflected off the darkened panels… then finally drifting out the window.
The city of Norad streaked by in long ribbons of color, hovering platforms, sky rails, floating signs, everything gliding past them in a blur. From this height, with the hum of the engine beneath her feet Arisa couldn't help but feel impressed again.
She eventually turned to Ericna. Already feeling those eyes on her. "You seem to be familiar with Norad and its people," Arisa said. "Are you from here?"
Ericna shook her head, with a gentle sway of her hair. "No. But I've been in Norad for eighteen years, so I know the place pretty well… the good and the bad. But I'm not from here."
Eighteen years, that was long. Longer than Arisa expected. "How old are you?" Arisa asked bluntly.
Ericna immediately leaned back with a scoff. "Hey, I told you before I'm older than you. Let's just leave it there." Her lips curled into a teasing grin. " Let's just say I've got experience. Do you like experienced women?"
Arisa didn't flinch. "And what makes you believe I like women?"
"You don't?" Ericna shot back instantly, eyebrows raised.
Arisa shrugged lightly, her purple eyes unwavering. "Doesn't matter to me. I see beauty in both men and women."
Ericna perked up at that slowly, deliberately. "Oh? So…" the smile returned, softer this time, "…do you see beauty in me?"
Arisa took a moment. She didn't rush it. Her gaze traveled from Ericna's eyes… down her frame… then back up, studying her with intention, not just physically, but whatever it was that sat just beneath her attitude, beneath her charm.
Ericna seemed just a little surprised as she realized Arisa wasn't teasing. She was really looking. Finally Arisa answered. "I definitely do. But there is much more to you."
Ericna let out a light laugh, one tinted with something warmer than usual. "You may be right."
The cab glided on, neon streaks washing over their faces. Arisa and Ericna kept talking. Softly, steadily, as the city of Norad drifted past below. Their voices blending with the hum of the engine and the city surrounding them.
[[Location: Norad, District three. LV street, Jorno's Diner]]
Unlike the quiet time when Arisa first visited, Jorno's Diner was alive now, bursting with sound, color, and movement. Plates clattered, silverware chimed, laughter bounced off the walls. The warm glow from the sun spilled through the wide windows, painting the entire interior in a golden warmth that made the chrome counters shine.
Behind the open kitchen window, Jorno worked like a machine possessed, wiping sweat from his brow between orders as pans hissed and flames licked the edges of his grill. Staff weaved between tables carrying trays of steaming bowls and icy glasses. Everytime Neta's bells chimed, heads turned, customers calling to her, complimenting her, begging for her to chat "just one more minute."
Her smile never faltered. Her tail flicked behind her, full of life. Outside, District Three breathed differently from the rest of Norad.
No floating vehicles, no towering neon lamps, just people. Children ran through the stone paths, parents bartered at fruit stands, and the scent of baked bread drifted from somewhere nearby. Arisa took it all in through the cabs windows, something inside her loosening again like it had the first time she came here.
The cab slowly descended beside the diner, dust swirling under it. Ericna stepped out first, arms stretching above her head.
"Man, it's been too long. Hope Neta isn't mad at me," she groaned.
Arisa lingered a moment to give a polite nod to the robot driver before following. The cab hummed back into the sky and vanished between the tall buildings as the two approached the familiar glass door. Inside, everything felt the same, yet brighter, louder, fuller.
"Welcome to Jorno's!" an employee beamed as he passed by with a tray. "Have a seat anywhere, someone'll be right with you."
Ericna and Arisa made their way further in, weaving between packed tables. Jorno glanced up from his sizzling grill, and did a double take so fast he nearly dropped a spatula.
"Oh—it's you! Welcome back!" he called, cheerful as always. Then he spotted who Arisa was walking beside.
"E–Ericna? You're here too?! Wait. You two know each other?"
He flagged down one of the sous chefs to take his station before wiping his face and coming to the counter. Jorno leaned on the bar top with a wide smirk, voice slicing through the noise. "How'd you manage to get stuck with her?" he teased Arisa.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Ericna shot back. "Don't make me grab you by that wrinkly di—"
Before she could finish, the soft jingle of bells rushed closer. Neta darted in, eyes wide, and practically launched herself into Ericna's arms.
Ericna stiffened at the surprise, then melted into the hug with a genuine smile Arisa hadn't seen before. Arisa watched, quietly amused and curious.
"Ericna! What happened? I almost thought you didn't like it here anymore," Neta said as she pulled back, tail wagging uncontrollably until she wrapped it hastily around her thigh.
"Neta, that would never be the case," Ericna assured her. "I've just been caught up in city chaos and this new program…"
Neta's ears perked up when she finally noticed Arisa beside her. "Arisa!" she chirped. Her eyes flicked between the two. "Are you two here together? Let me serve you!"
"Wouldn't want anyone else," Arisa replied. Neta smiled so brightly she nearly glowed.
Jorno headed back toward the kitchen but paused, pointing accusingly at Ericna. "Alright ladies, I gotta get back. But Arisa this time you're paying. Especially since you dragged her with you."
Ericna stuck her tongue out at him like a child. Jorno laughed, shaking his head as he disappeared into the kitchen's fiery glow. The diner continued bustling around them. But despite all that noise, Arisa felt comfortable here.
Neta happily guided Arisa and Ericna toward a table in the back. Warm light washed across the wooden floor as the scent of grilled fish, baked bread, and spices drifted through the diner. The chatter of customers filled the air in a comforting hum.
Once they sat down across from each other, Neta clasped her order pad with both hands and smiled brightly. "Can I start you guys off with a drink?"
"I'll take a coffee. Sugar and milk," Ericna answered, settling comfortably into her chair. Neta nodded, then turned to Arisa.
"You can surprise me," Arisa said.
Neta's ears perked up. "Okay! I'll be right back." She jogged off, bells chiming at each step.
Ericna rested her cheek on her palm, eyes studying Arisa with a knowing tilt. "Now I see why you asked about that building," she said, voice playful but sharp underneath.
Arisa's gaze drifted past her toward the counter where Neta was preparing their drinks. "You said if they commit a crime then they could choose… whatever goes on in that building. Instead of jail time" Her voice lowered. "Tell me, what crime do you think she could've committed?"
Ericna followed Arisa's stare toward Neta, and for a moment even her teasing expression softened. She had no answer. Arisa continued quietly, "And did you see what those restrictors are doing to her arms?"
Ericna exhaled, leaning back. "I have seen it. And it bothers me too…" Her eyes returned to Arisa with a sincerity she rarely revealed. "But Arisa… it's better if you don't get involved in that. Not right now. The last thing you need is to be on the D.O.P's bad side. Especially this early in the C.F.R"
It wasn't what Arisa wanted to hear. Her silent reaction made that clear. Her eyes drifted back to Neta. Still smiling, still trying her best, completely unaware of the conversation centered around her.
Ericna's voice dropped, softer, quieter. "But—" she leaned forward slightly "…I do know the security around that building. Their shifts. Their breaks. Who swaps out at night. Which entrance is watched and which isn't."
Arisa's eyes cut back to her. That was the answer she wanted. Neta appeared again, placing down the drinks with a cheerful bounce in her step.
Ericna's coffee landed in front of her. "Thank you~" Ericna purred. Then came Arisa's drink, a fragrant iced citrus tea with mint, glowing under the diner lights.
"I'll be back shortly to take your orders!" Neta said, tail swaying.
"Neta! I need you!" a man called from across the diner.
"Coming!" she chirped, darting off.
When she was gone, Arisa turned back to Ericna. "Go ahead. I'm listening. I want every detail."
Ericna tapped her spoon against her cup, swirling slowly. "You sure? Might be here most of the day."
"We've got nothing but time," Arisa replied. And their conversation began.
[[Time: dusk]]
Hours slipped away. Sunset painted the walls in gold before melting into twilight. The diner was emptier now. Fewer voices, dimmer lights, a calmer rhythm. Empty plates and glasses stacked around their booth like the remnants of a long tactical meeting.
Ericna's kleidi cast a soft blue glow as she projected the building's hologram, rotating it, pointing out entrances and guard cycles.
Neta eventually joined them, now seated at Arisa's right side, chin resting on the table, eyes locked onto a half eaten piece of salmon on Arisa's plate. Arisa slid the plate toward her without a word. Neta lit up. She grabbed the salmon and nibbled with a happy, humming sound that made Ericna scoff softly.
Finally, Ericna leaned back and said, "That's pretty much all of it. What you do with that information is up to you."
Arisa's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Then, after a long pause. "I've been meaning to ask," she said. "You're… well known here. And you know more about this city than your file says. So, what's your story? Who are you really?"
Ericna met her stare with that signature grin. "Got you curious, didn't I?"
"Very curious," Arisa replied.
Ericna leaned closer over the table, eyes locked with Arisa's. "I think you'd be surprised, Arisa… just how similar you and I really are."
Arisa's brows lifted. To her, Ericna was everything she wasn't. "And what makes you and me similar?" Arisa asked.
But before Ericna could speak, her kleidi rang. She groaned, dropping her forehead dramatically onto the table. "Dammit… I gotta go." She sat up with a loud sigh. "And I was having fun too. Not many people can actually hold a conversation with me."
She pointed at Arisa accusingly. "And you only glanced at my cleavage once. I'm not used to that. I even unbuttoned an extra one so you would look more"
Arisa blinked, amused. Ericna rolled her eyes and stood up. "Well, I gotta go before the girls destroy my bar."
She turned to leave but Arisa's voice stopped her. "Ericna."
Ericna paused, then looked back. Arisa's expression softened, to something honest. "Why are you being so friendly with me? We only just met… yet you treat me like you've always known me."
Ericna put one hand on her hip and spoke gently. "I don't know to be honest. But when I looked into your eyes that day…" She saw it again. The bar, the moonlit window, their faces inches apart. "…I felt something. I can't explain it. And you wouldn't understand it even if I did." Arisa remembered that moment too. The silence grew warm and heavy.
"But also," Ericna added quietly, "you looked… lonely." The words settled over the table like dust in an empty room. "Just like me." For a long moment, the diner seemed to vanish. Just the two of them, locked in a quiet understanding.
Arisa didn't speak. Ericna broke the gaze first, unable to hold it this time. She stepped toward the exit. "Until next time~" she said softly.
A few men turned their heads as she passed, but she paid them no attention. With a soft chime of the door, she was gone. Arisa watched her disappear into the night.
Chapter 15: Lonely
END