The next day…
In the middle of the forest, a campsite lied slumbering through the night. Right then, dawn broke through the horizon and eclipsed the forest with light. Beams pierced through the leaves, creating beautiful shadows that covered the ground. In one of the tents, Nyx, David, Lancelot and the scientists were sleeping in peace until the sun attacked their eyes. Nyx grumbled and sat straight.
"It's morning already…?" She yawned, covering her mouth.
As she stood up, the researchers also grumpily woke up. After them, the generals opened their eyes. Nyx twisted her body and stretched it. Then, after waking her body, she looked at her belt, jacket and boots which were on the floor. Feeling a bit lazy, Nyx manipulated the shadows and grabbed her clothes. Then, she used the shadows to put them on her. David looked at her – dumbfound as she exited the tent.
'Is she that lazy that she can't even put on her clothes by herself…?' He exclaimed in his mind.
As Nyx stepped out, light blasted her. She covered her eyes, reeling back in pain. After a few seconds, she adjusted to the light and lowered her hand. More enforcers began moving out of their tents. Some already preparing to cook breakfast. Nyx watched all of this while strolling around camp. Birds chirped loudly, crows circled above them as a fire was lit. Everything was going as usual but…the thought of the home they had previously encountered still lingered in her.
Wanting answers, she turned around, searching for Sterling and Charles. When she spotted them heading into a tent, she followed right behind. She moved the curtain at the entrance and greeted the researches.
"Yo."
Sterling and Charles snapped around. Their bodies became still as they saw the supreme commander of the PEOC in front of them.
"I want to talk about the house we found yesterday." She stopped before them.
Charles coughed, regaining his composure. Sterling also adjusted his glasses, preparing to engage in his chat.
"First, I don't think any of us want to open the founder's diary." Charles stated.
"Of course, It should only be opened by the royal family." Nyx agreed.
"I wanted to ask…" Sterling spoke, drawing their attention. "Isn't it another's person's home?"
"Why do you think so?" Charles added.
"Well…you've heard the tale of the storm chaser. It's a classic tale which summarizes the founder's life in a small story but…"
"You're confused why an emperor would live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere?" Nyx interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, exactly! Either this was cabin owned by the Roman empire or…it's another's house." Sterling theorized.
"According to historical records, this land wasn't owned by the Roman empire even at its peak with the founder so, it couldn't have been owned by them."
"So, it's another guy's house?" Charles blurted.
"Who else do you know that has the name 'Pangea'?" Nyx asked.
"You're right…" Charles replied. "It's a pretty uncommon name and records suggest he was the only person with such a name…"
"This is extremely confusing…" Sterling groaned.
Just as they were theorizing, a bell rang from outside, signaling that breakfast was ready.
"Well, looks like it's time to eat. We'll discuss this later." Nyx headed out.
"Gladly, supreme commander." Charles replied, trailing her with Sterling behind.
***
After they had breakfast, the tents were packed up into the back of the trucks. The enforcers loaded into the safari vehicles as the drivers revved the engines. Nyx, David and Lancelot also stepped into their transport. Nyx sat in the passengers while the two generals sat in the back. The driver revved the engine and began accelerating. With him, the others also moved forward. They evaded the trees as the chirps of the birds echoed throughout the forest.
As the hours went by, Nyx noticed the chaos radiation slowly but surely rising at an unnoticeable pace which made her worried.
'This is alarming…why is the chaos increasing…?'
But just then, the driver slammed the breaks. The car stopped at a moment's notice as did the others. Nyx was pushed forward by the force but was unfazed.
'Why the hell did we stop?' She thought.
She lifted her head and saw it. She smirked and pushed the door open.
"Finally! A river!" She shouted.
She gazed at river directly in front of them. Water flowed continuously, crashing against soil and rocks without stopping. With her sense, Nyx could sense the presence of Fish in the river too.
'Food as well? Great!'
She spun around and took a deep breath.
"Get out and set up camp! We've found a river."
Just as her words fell, the officers jumped out of their transports. They peeked forward, noticing the river flowing endless. Then, following the supreme commander's instructions, they began unloading the tents.
While they did that, Nyx put her hands in her pockets and approached the generals who had just stepped out of the car.
"This seems like a good place to stay." Nyx commented.
"Yeah…" Lancelot glanced around. "A water source, probably fish in there and not so far away from that house…It's good."
"Say, when we finish the search on the house, let's move upstream."
"Yeah…we can cover more ground without being low on food." David said.
"Okay, you two inform Sterling and Charles. I'll set something so our tech can work again." Nyx headed off.
"Wait, what?" David blurted.
Lancelot sighed and stepped forward. "She can make it happen. Now, let's get going."
"Huh? Hey! Wait for me." David followed Lancelot after hesitating for a moment.
While the generals informed the lead scientists, Nyx neared the center of the camp. She stopped and took out her hand. Suddenly, reality flickered as a portal opened in space-time in the direction where Nyx' hand was heading. Her hand entered the strange space and rummaged through. Then, she pulled out something while the portal closed. She stared at the thing in her hand – it was dark translucent veil that seemed to be floating in her hand.
Without wasting time, she threw it up. She tucked her hands in and closed her eyes. In an instant, the small veil expanded, growing large enough to cover the sky above. It slowly fell down, creating a dome that covered the camp. The camp went still as darkness covered them but the next second, light pierced through the veil and allowed the officers to see again.
Nyx opened her eyes and glanced at the barrier, letting out a small grin.
"This veil is really useful."
While she was appreciating the veil's usefulness, in the researcher's tent, all the tech they had brought along suddenly started working once more. Sterling, Charles, David and Lancelot stared in shock as the machines they had brought along started working again in forest where no other device used to be able to work.
"What the hell did she do…?" Sterling whispered.
Just then, Nyx entered the tent with a slight chuckle. "You think I can't do something as simple as this?"