Nova sat down on the tree trunk and sank into thought.
Even though he was irresponsible, there were moments when Viktor gave good advice. Come on—he was a man well over forty. It was obvious he knew a thing or two about life. There was a reason he was a nationally recognized First-Level Empath.
Viktor was truly part of Nova's family. Just Adelaide and Viktor…
Nova looked at the small insects on the ground. They looked like tiny whitish spiders, with two large, bulging black eyes and eight legs that moved side to side as they followed dozens of other little spiders.
As he watched them, Nova reflected even more.
'Understanding… Knowing…'
The more you think about it, the more complicated it becomes.
What's the difference, really? I guess it doesn't matter.
Someone interrupted the moment of calm with a lively voice beside him. Then, the log he was sitting on shifted slightly when Miyu sat down.
"What did Viktor tell you, Nova?"
The beautiful smile on the feline girl's face was soothing.
Nova remained as he always was—relaxed and composed.
"He said that even though we can't join the incursion, we'll be able to watch the fights from here."
"Oh."
She was disappointed, but she kept smiling anyway. She lightly punched Nova on the shoulder and said:
"At least we'll get to see something, right? It's not all bad."
"Yeah. Sure…"
His gaze drifted toward Elara, who was sitting nearby. She was resting with her back against a tree. She looked as defenseless as she was beautiful. The large box rested beside her, protecting the heavy armor plates, the shield, and the sword.
She stared up at the sky as if she were waiting for something.
And just like that, thanks to that small gesture, silence filled the moment—crawling across the ground like an Aberration, slipping into their ears, defiling the quiet with its terrifying claws.
Miyu sighed. She knew that if she didn't say something, Nova would remain silent.
"Nova."
"Yeah?" he replied, without taking his eyes off the silver clouds.
A deep calm radiated from his mere presence, something that always gave the feline girl confidence when she was beside him.
Neither of them looked into the other's eyes during that brief span of time—just a few seconds, really—but they were very close, sitting in the same place.
They watched the blue sky, just like they had many years ago on the day they met.
Then, in a soft yet lively voice, filled with hope, Miyu said:
"Have you ever wanted to go to the Eternal Islands?"
The question piqued the boy's curiosity.
'Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? It doesn't make sense. How would I know…?'
He took his time thinking. There were many places he wanted to go. The great mountains of Kibo, in Yamara, where the Supreme Masters of Spectral Arts lived. The Dark Islands as well—a place where the most dangerous Aberrations resided, and an excellent training ground for Empaths.
After a moment, Nova placed the Eternal Islands somewhere on his mental list.
He looked at Miyu before answering. She followed his gaze.
"Of course. Someday I'll take Mom there. We both need a vacation."
"I see. Mrs. Adelaide must be proud of her son. A son who isn't a pervert…"
"That was an accident, Miyu," he replied, exasperated.
Miyu laughed at his reaction.
"There it is—that expression."
"Expression?"
'What kind of expression? I'm pretty sure I don't make faces very often…'
She nodded.
"Well, it's always hard to get you to stop being so calm all the time. It's like one of those super impossible things—but sometimes it's fun."
"Oh. I see."
That response felt strangely personal.
'I'm always calm… but that's just on the outside, right?'
As far as Nova was concerned, staying calm was one of his greatest strengths—but sometimes, it turned into a curious weakness. There were moments when others misunderstood him.
Rober was a good example. The day they met, the canine boy thought Nova was mocking him.
Another example was back in elementary school…
Thinking too much, Nova returned his gaze to the small ants. He watched them attentively and in silence. His eyes reflected the tiny insects walking in neat lines.
That made Miyu look at him with a soft, nostalgic smile.
While Nova only saw small insects, Miyu saw the memory of a young Nova doing the same thing.
It seems that, after all…
"Some things just don't change."
"What?"
Nova looked back at her, confused by words that seemed unrelated to the conversation. Miyu, however, stood up from her seat.
With her fingers interlaced behind her back, she took a step forward and winked at him with a smile.
"I didn't say anything. I'm just going to tell the others about the other Empaths' battles. You stay relaxed."
Like a storm, Miyu vanished right before his eyes.
He stared into the empty space where the girl had been moments ago.
He touched his forehead, tired, and closed his eyes.
'Lately, I feel stranger than usual. Maybe that's why Miyu…'
He tried not to think about it. Just two days ago, he felt like the coolest, most relaxed guy in the world—but after recent events, something had clearly changed.
He stood up, hoping to clear his doubts. He walked in circles several times, drawing the attention of the two eccentric men, who began whispering to each other.
He stopped abruptly when he noticed, staring at them.
'What are you looking at? Lose something?'
He stayed silent for a second. When he realized he had only thought it—not said it—he gave up instantly. It wasn't worth wasting his thoughts on people he didn't know.
'Huh. Another day, then.'
He approached the girl resting in the shade of the tent. The sun was scorching at this hour, so she had found a way to protect her pale skin from its rays.
"Heya, mind telling me your name?"
Appearing out of nowhere, he got straight to the point—as if it were a fight where you had to land a decisive blow to win.
The girl, however, squealed like an adorable animal. She nearly fell off the box she was sitting on—the sudden interaction with this strange guy startled her badly.
"What? How? Where?" she said, looking around in such a desperate and lost way that it was oddly pathetic.
'Looks like she's in her own world.'
He had only asked for her name. Was the question really that terrifying? There was no way to know. Naturally, not knowing someone means not knowing how they react to interactions.
"My uncle Viktor said you could help us watch the battles between the Empaths and the Aberrations."
The girl, who looked to be around thirty, glanced at the ground nervously. Nova heard her whisper Viktor's name with longing—but then she regained her composure upon remembering the word uncle.
Her long black hair—more specifically, her emo bangs—shifted slightly, revealing heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one red. She stood up and grabbed Nova by the shoulders with surprising force.
"Uncle?! You're Mr. Viktor's nephew?!"
Nova nodded.
"Yeah, but—"
"Let me see you!"
"What?"
The woman grabbed Nova by the sides of his head. She scanned him from head to toe with unsettling precision. Her intensity—and the force of her movements—made her large chest jiggle like jelly.
Nova did his best not to look, as he felt a strange disturbance behind his back, like burning eyes digging into his neck.
She pulled Nova's eyelids open with her fingers. The boy felt deeply disturbed, but he couldn't move for one specific reason.
'What the hell?! This woman is way too strong!'
He felt like he might sink into the ground at any moment. She was supposed to have a staff resting against one of the boxes—that meant she was probably a support-type Empath. But this absurd strength made no sense.
"Your eyes… They're not like his!"
Please! Someone help this poor boy!
She shoved Nova, sending him falling backward. However, before he could hit the ground, a gentle current of air lifted him back up.
It seemed the woman finally realized what she was doing. Instead of looking intense and creepy, she now looked shy and frightened. She pointed her hand toward Nova—that was the source of the wind holding him up.
"Oh! I'm so, so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"
"Sure. No problem."
'There is a problem! There are many problems!'
Why is this woman so unhinged?! Nova sensed something dangerous about her. Not only was her strength tremendous, but her control over energy was instantaneous—far beyond that of most people. At the very least, she had to be a Second- or Third-Level Empath.
"I'm really sorry. I lose control when it comes to Mr. Viktor."
Those few words revealed a strange truth to Nova.
'I see what this is about now. She's some kind of obsessive fanatic of my uncle.'