Chapter 93: Fascinating Attachments
The world returned in silence.
There was no brilliant flash of light, no violent surge of energy, and no dramatic explosion announcing his arrival.
One moment the space behind the team was empty...
The next—
Fwoosh...
Daito was simply there.
The members of the squad stood at the edge of Kingsville's outer district, where their heavily armored transport vehicle waited with it's engines idling.
Vrrrrrmmm...
The low rumble echoed across the abandoned roadway like the growl of sleeping beasts eager to be unleashed.
Above them, the afternoon sky was slowly surrendering to evening. Shades of gold and crimson stretched across the horizon while long shadows crept over the cracked pavement.
Aerin was the first to notice him.
She turned her head, smiled faintly, and folded her arms.
"...He's back."
The others looked over almost immediately.
Daito walked toward them with the same calm expression he always wore.
Nothing about his appearance had changed. His clothes were the same. His posture was the same. Even the look in his eyes appeared unchanged.
Yet...Something was different.
There was a quietness surrounding him now.
Not weakness nor sadness.
Something steadier, something resolved.
Champagne studied him for a few seconds before a knowing smirk spread across his face.
"You good?"
Daito answered with a single nod.
"...Yeah."
Wei-Wan crossed his arms across his chest.
"You took your sweet time."
A faint smile touched Daito's lips.
"Had something I needed to do."
Nobody asked another question as some things didn't require explanations.
Mardale, who had been leaning lazily against the armored transport, stretched his arms above his head with an exaggerated yawn.
"Haaah..."
He glanced sideways at Daito.
"You humans..."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"...Your attachments are fascinating."
Aerin laughed under her breath before lightly nudging his shoulder.
"You say that like you don't have any."
For a brief moment...Mardale didn't answer. His usual smug expression flickered ever so slightly. Something unreadable crossed his eyes.
Then it vanished.
"...Let's just say I've learned not to keep them."
His voice was quieter than usual.
No one pressed him further.
Daito stepped toward the center of the group, his expression becoming serious once more.
"We move now."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Every trace of casual conversation disappeared.
The leader standing before them now was no longer the young man who had shared a quiet farewell with someone precious.
This was the Daito they followed into battle, focused, sharp and unwavering.
Brandon cracked his knuckles.
Crack... Crack...
A grin spread across his face.
"Finally."
"I was starting to think we'd be camping here."
Fah-jin adjusted the strap, securing the weapon across her back before asking calmly,
"So..."
"Where are we headed?"
Daito lifted his eyes toward the distant horizon where endless plains stretched beyond Kingsville.
"The last Rebel."
Silence settled over the group.
His voice lowered.
"And after that..."
"We stop chasing."
He looked at each member of the team.
"We start acting."
Champagne's grin widened.
"Now that's the guy I know."
Wei-Wan smirked.
"Took you long enough to say it."
Aerin rested her blade comfortably across one shoulder.
"So..."
"Where exactly are we supposed to find this last Rebel?"
Daito turned toward the only person among them who might know.
"Mardale."
The former king lazily scratched the back of his head before shrugging.
"Yeah..."
"I know someone who fits the description."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
His playful expression slowly disappeared.
"If..."
He paused.
"...If it's the person I'm thinking about..."
His eyes became unusually serious.
"...Then you're all walking straight into hell."
Even Brandon stopped smiling.
The wind swept across the empty road.
Whoooooosh...
"Name."
Brandon's voice was firm.
Mardale allowed the silence to linger for another heartbeat before answering.
"They call her..."
Another pause.
Long enough for everyone to feel the weight behind the words.
"...Nyx."
His voice dropped even lower.
"Nyx of the Hollow Gate."
The wind seemed to howl louder.
Whoooooosh...
Fah-jin frowned.
"I've never heard that name."
Wei-Wan shook his head.
"Neither have I."
Champagne looked toward Daito.
"You?"
Daito remained silent.
His brows slowly drew together.
Something about that title...It stirred an old memory buried deep within his mind.
Finally, he spoke.
"...Yeah."
"I've heard of her."
Aerin immediately looked at him.
"And?"
Daito's expression darkened.
"She doesn't simply teleport."
Everyone listened carefully.
"She controls Gates."
His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"Gates between places."
A pause.
"Gates between moments."
Another pause.
"...Some even say she can open pathways between worlds themselves."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Nobody joked and nobody laughed.
For the first time since leaving Kingsville... The unknown felt truly frightening.
Mardale folded his arms.
"Told you."
He gave a humorless smile.
"Hell."
Brandon suddenly laughed.
"Hah."
"Good."
Everyone looked at him.
He climbed into the transport vehicle as though nothing they had just heard bothered him.
"I was getting bored."
Fah-jin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You always say that before everything goes horribly wrong."
Champagne climbed into the vehicle behind him.
"Let's hope she's friendly."
Aerin laughed as she followed.
"And if she isn't?"
Champagne's grin returned.
"Then we'll convince her."
Wei-Wan snorted.
"That's one way to put it."
Daito remained standing outside for one last moment.
The others disappeared into the transport one by one.
Clang!
The heavy doors shut.
Thunk!
Engine rumbled louder.
Vrrrrrrrmmmm...
Yet Daito still hadn't moved.
His thoughts drifted away from the mission, away from Nyx, and away from whatever horrors awaited them.
Instead... He remembered a quiet little house.
A gentle smile.
Soft hands wrapped around his own.
A promise.
"Come back."
His eyes slowly closed, he inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
When they opened again...every trace of hesitation had disappeared.
Only determination remained.
He climbed into the lead transport.
The metal door slammed shut behind him.
CLANG!
He looked toward the driver.
"Let's go."
The convoy roared to life.
VRRRRRRRRMMMM!!
Dust exploded into the air as the massive vehicles surged forward.
FWOOOOOSH!!
Kingsville slowly disappeared behind them. Its battered streets faded into the distance. Ahead lay only uncertainty.
A new battlefield.
A new enemy.
And the final piece of the puzzle.
Nyx... the mysterious keeper of the Hollow Gate.
to be continued.....