The vibration from the explosion caused several bolts on the copper pipes to rattle loose, hitting the floor with a metallic clink. Kaito adjusted his stance, shielding Hana. His sister now clung to the back of his shirt with both hands.
Kaito could feel Hana's short, rapid breaths against his back. He glanced again at the crystal monitor, which was flashing a brilliant red. The large black dot moved with a chilling stability compared to the frantic red dots surrounding it.
The man before Kaito moved swiftly toward his massive desk. He showed no signs of panic, but his movements had become surgically efficient. He swept several important parchment scrolls into a small leather satchel buckled at his waist.
"Airi, initiate the diversion protocol at the southern gate," the man commanded without looking up.
The girl with the long black hair gave a curt nod. She raised her bow of blue light once more, aiming an arrow at one of the crystal panels on the wall. When the arrow struck the panel, the sound of heavy machinery churning behind the walls filled the room—the sound of colossal gears locking into place.
"Uncle, what about them?" Airi asked, gesturing toward Kaito with her chin.
The man looked at Kaito one last time. He then walked toward a small iron safe embedded in the side wall. After turning several mechanical dials, the safe door creaked open, releasing a plume of cold mist. He retrieved a small, clear crystal sphere.
"What is your name, sir?" Kaito asked, his voice attempting to remain steady despite his trembling hands.
The man paused, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "My name is Daisuke. I am the technical overseer of this lower region. And you, Kaito Izanagi, have just brought the key to a very significant problem to my doorstep."
Daisuke handed the small crystal sphere to Kaito. "Keep this. Should we be separated, this sphere will lead you to a secure coordinate in the middle strata of Sora-no-Kuni. Simply apply a small amount of pressure to its surface."
Kaito took the sphere and tucked it into a different pocket from his black hilt. He felt the situation escalating far too quickly. Only hours ago, he was a mere scavenger counting spare change for academy exam fees. Now, he was trapped in a secret chamber with a noble of the Himari family, being hunted by armed men.
The lights in the room suddenly died, replaced by a dim, amber emergency glow. Heavy footsteps now echoed from behind the iron door through which they had entered. These were not the skittering sounds of the creatures from before; these were the rhythmic, disciplined steps of humans in military boots.
"Take cover behind the desk," Daisuke whispered to Kaito and Hana.
Kaito immediately pulled Hana down to crouch behind the thick oak desk. He peered through a gap in the wood. Airi had taken a position in the corner of the room, her bow drawn to full tension. Daisuke stood alone in the center of the room, empty-handed.
However, Kaito could see the air around Daisuke's palms beginning to ripple, like heat haze rising from asphalt in the midday sun.
The iron door at the end of the room shattered into fragments with a deafening boom. Dust and metal shards flew in every direction. From the settling debris emerged three men wearing grey robes emblazoned with a circular eye crest. One of them was the man with the facial scar who had visited Kaito's home earlier.
The scarred man stepped forward. He no longer carried a dagger; instead, he held a short metal rod that emitted an intense, dark purple aura.
"Lord Daisuke," the scarred man said, his voice heavy. "We have no wish to cause a disturbance in your facility. We only want the boy and the item he stole from the restricted zone."
Daisuke crossed his arms over his chest. "That object was never stolen. It was found in a scrap heap, and by the laws of the Scavenger's Code, it belongs to the finder until a legitimate claim is proven."
The scarred man let out a dry chuckle that rang hollow in the silent room.
"Scavenger laws do not apply to high-tier artifacts that threaten the stability of Aetheria. Surrender him now, or we shall use force in the name of the Order of Authority."
Airi released a single light arrow in response. The projectile hissed toward the scarred man's feet. But with a casual flick of his wrist, the man swung his metal rod. The dark purple aura swallowed Airi's arrow, making it vanish without a trace.
"A futile effort, Young Mistress Himari," the man said. "Your moonlight abilities are not yet strong enough to pierce the Umbra energy we possess."
Kaito felt his heart hammer harder at the mention of Umbra. He recalled old stories of how such energy could permanently extinguish a person's Aethel. He looked at Hana, who now had her eyes squeezed shut, clutching Kaito's arm.
Daisuke took a single step forward. The heat ripples around his hands transformed into small sparks of fire dancing in the air. "You brought Umbra energy into my domain. That is more than enough reason for me to evict you... unpleasantly."
Daisuke slammed his foot onto the stone floor. The ground beneath the three robed officers suddenly glowed red, radiating intense heat. The carpet ignited instantly. The two officers behind the scarred man leaped back to avoid the searing heat, but the scarred man remained still. The purple aura surrounding him shielded him from Daisuke's flames.
"Seize the boy!" the scarred man barked at his subordinates.
The other two officers began to circle around the crystal tables to flank Kaito. Airi fired a rapid succession of light arrows to hinder their advance. The room was now filled with flashes of blue and purple light clashing violently.
Kaito realized he couldn't just stay idle. He saw one of the officers closing in on the side of the desk where they were hiding. The officer drew a metal chain tipped with a jagged hook.
Kaito reached into his pocket and pulled out the black hilt once more. His hands were still shaking, but his mind began to clear. He remembered how the object had reacted when he felt cornered before. He tried not to force the energy out, but instead visualized the warmth he had felt back at his house.
"Hana, stay under the desk," Kaito whispered.
Kaito stood up just as the officer hurled his chain. Kaito swung the hilt reflexively to parry. As metal struck metal, a spark of silver light reappeared, if only for an instant. The metal chain was sent flying backward as if it had struck an immovable concrete wall.
The officer looked stunned. He hadn't expected a youth without an Aethel mark to deflect his attack with a broken relic. Kaito didn't wait for a second strike. He tried to dash toward Daisuke, but the scarred man had already moved to block his path.
The scarred man leveled his metal rod at Kaito. The tip gathered purple energy into a swirling, miniature black orb.
"Give it to me!" the man roared.
Just as he was about to release the energy, Daisuke appeared between them. Daisuke caught the end of the metal rod with his bare hand. The sound of searing flesh was unmistakable, yet Daisuke did not let go. A massive gout of flame erupted from Daisuke's palm, incinerating the entire metal rod.
"Run to the lift in the back!" Daisuke shouted to Kaito without turning his head.
Kaito grabbed Hana and began to sprint toward a small door at the rear of the room. Airi followed close behind, providing cover fire. They scrambled into a narrow iron box—a steam-powered lift. Kaito quickly yanked the drive lever inside.
The lift doors began to slide shut. Through the narrowing gap, Kaito saw Daisuke being surrounded by the three officers. The scarred man looked livid, his energy beginning to flood the room until the crystal monitors exploded one by one.
The last thing Kaito saw before the lift surged upward with a violent jolt was Daisuke's face, wearing a faint, knowing smile.
The lift moved at a terrifying speed through dark shafts. Hana hugged Kaito tightly. Kaito could only stare in silence at the hilt in his hand, which was vibrating once more. He didn't know where the lift was taking them, nor did he know if Daisuke would survive the battle.
After several minutes that felt like an eternity, the lift ground to a halt with a loud thud. The doors opened automatically. Kaito and Hana stepped out warily, with Airi ahead of them, her bow still at the ready.
They were not in the slums of Sector Seven. They stood on a vast balcony overlooking a breathtaking, meticulously kept flower garden. In the distance, magnificent buildings of ancient architecture, crafted from white marble, stood with regal elegance.
"This isn't Sector Seven," Kaito murmured, staring at the vista.
Airi lowered her bow and gazed toward the tallest structure in the center of the complex. "Welcome to the inner grounds of the Tenjin Academy. My uncle sent us straight to the heart of the institution."
Kaito looked down at his grimy hands and his tattered clothes. He felt utterly out of place in such a pristine, opulent setting. But as he looked toward the great gates in the distance, he saw a group of people wearing the same grey robes standing there, as if they had been expecting their arrival.
The lift door behind them locked automatically with a resounding mechanical click. They were trapped on the high balcony with no way back down. Kaito looked at the streets far below, then back at the robed figures before the gate.
"It seems we aren't truly safe yet," Airi said, her voice turning cold again.
Kaito touched the crystal sphere in his pocket. He only just realized that the sphere was now emitting a red light, pulsing in perfect synchronization with his heartbeat.