"Who… are you?!" Tim shouted, his voice trembling as he struggled to regain his balance. He was still disoriented, his body aching from the recent events.
"Calm down, boy," Reshya replied sternly, her voice sharp but steady. "Do you want me to drop you right here in the middle of the Keit Marks? I saved your life, you know."
Tim blinked, finally realizing that the girl carrying him wasn't an enemy. Despite her annoyed tone, her intentions didn't seem malicious.
"Let me down!" Tim demanded as he wriggled to free himself. "My friend—my friend is in danger! I have to find him!"
Reshya sighed deeply. She was growing frustrated. This was the thanks she got after pulling this boy from the wreckage? "Don't be ridiculous! You're in no condition to go anywhere right now, let alone search for someone in the middle of this chaos."
"But my friend—!" Tim's voice cracked with desperation.
"Your friend isn't at the Keit Marks anymore, boy. The train from the subway crash was taken to the 6/2X Repair Station. The entire incident is being investigated," Reshya shot back, her irritation evident.
Tim froze. The weight of her words hit him like a boulder, but another thought suddenly burst into his mind.
"What about the box?!" Tim's voice rose in panic. "The box I was carrying… the parchment paper… the will!"
Reshya's brows furrowed. "When I found you, you were lying alone in the wreckage, soaked in blood and barely breathing. There was no box, no parchment, and no sign of your precious belongings."
Tim's heart sank, but the questions kept piling up in his mind. "What happened to the tattooed man? The one who attacked me?"
Reshya hesitated momentarily before answering. "When the KTD Squad and the Kinetan police arrived on the scene, the tattooed man was already dead. His heart was torn out."
Tim fell silent, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. Who could have done it? Why? How? None of it made sense. The train attack, the stalker, the lost box—everything was spiraling out of control.
He clenched his fists tightly. "Why is this happening? Why would someone target me and Kano? What did we do to deserve this?"
"Hey," Reshya broke the silence, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "You haven't told me yet. What's your name?"
Tim inhaled sharply, trying to calm himself. "Tim. Tim Kerry."
"And your friend's name?"
"Kano," Tim replied. "He's sixteen. Wore a black hoodie today. He's… a Xephyrus."
Reshya nodded. "Got it. I'll make some inquiries once we reach the Dragon Feast."
______
The Keit Marks grew wider as they passed into Circle 3, a bustling area filled with grade-2 and grade-1 Flyers and Kinnes. Tim noticed how the atmosphere felt different here—more intense, more dangerous. He could feel the hum of energy that powered these paths, fueled by the kensan aura of Flyers and Kinnes alike.
Reshya seemed unbothered as she maneuvered effortlessly through the crowded paths.
"Is the KTD Academy like a school?" Tim asked suddenly, his curiosity breaking the silence.
Reshya smirked. "You could say that. It's an institute where students from all races gather to hone their kensan techniques, practice spells, and learn advanced combat strategies. It's not just for flyers like me—students with all sorts of abilities train there."
Tim's eyes widened slightly. He had never imagined such a place existed. A school dedicated entirely to training kensan users sounded like something out of a fantasy novel to him.
"OI! Reshya!" A voice called out, pulling them both from their conversation.
Tim turned to see a blonde-haired girl in a blue dress flying toward them. She had a confident yet playful demeanor, her presence commanding attention.
"You're late, Katy," Reshya said with a faint smile. "What took you so long?"
"Who's the boy you're carrying? A new little project of yours, Reshya? Didn't know you were into… younger people," Katy teased, smirking.
"Knock it off, Katy. He was injured in the 6/7 subway crash. I'm taking him to the Dragon Feast because, apparently, it's his dream or whatever."
Katy's eyes narrowed as she examined Tim. "Hmm. A commoner, huh? Doesn't look like much."
Tim frowned but stayed quiet. There was something about the blonde girl's presence that made him uneasy. Her aura felt overwhelming, almost suffocating.
"Do you have anyone you can contact?" Reshya asked Tim, handing him her phone.
Tim quickly dialed Kano's number. The phone rang and rang but went unanswered. His chest tightened with worry.
He tried Iami's number next.
"Who's this?" Iami's sharp voice answered.
"It's me! Tim!" Tim said quickly. "I'm at Keit Mark 3/2. There was an accident in the subway. Can you come here? I'm sharing my location."
"What?!" Iami's voice was filled with alarm. "Stay there! I'm close—don't go anywhere!"
__________
As Tim ended the call, Katy leaned against a nearby pillar, eyeing him skeptically. "So, does he have kensan energy or not?"
"No," Reshya replied firmly. "He's just a commoner."
Katy let out a dismissive laugh. "Figures. I bet he's never even been to the Dragon Feast before."
Tim bristled at her words but kept his head down. He had no energy left to argue. Reshya gave Katy a sharp look. "Cut it out. He's been through enough."
Moments later, Iami arrived, sprinting toward them with a wide-eyed expression. "Tim! Are you okay?"
Tim's composure finally broke at the sight of his friend. Tears welled in his eyes as he stammered, "I… I lost Kano… I don't know where he is!"
"What?!" Iami gasped, her voice rising in panic. "What happened? Where did you last see him?!"
"It's… it's all blurry," Tim mumbled helplessly. "We got separated in the subway attack. I have no idea where he is now."
Iami clenched her fists, a mix of frustration and worry on her face. "I'll call my father. He can start a search—"
"Wait!" Reshya interrupted. "Don't call anyone yet."
"Why not?!" Iami demanded.
"Because if the authorities get involved, the blame may fall on Kano," Reshya explained grimly. "He's a Xephyrus, right? The city forces might assume he was involved in the attack, especially since Xephyruses are already treated with suspicion."
Iami hesitated, her anger faltering as Reshya's words sank in.
"So, what do we do?" Iami asked quietly.
Before anyone could answer, a low, guttural growl echoed through the Keit Marks. The group turned to see a shadowy figure emerging from the crowd.
"A Gullie," Reshya muttered, her voice tensing.
The figure stepped closer, his voice dripping with malice. "Where is the container? Hand it over."
"We don't have it!" Reshya yelled. "Now leave before I make you regret it!"
The Gullie sneered. "Lying won't save you. I'll take what I need, one way or another."
Katy stepped forward, her aura flaring. "Not today, scum."
With a flick of her wrist, Katy unleashed a Pressan restraint, binding the Gullie's movements in an instant. The Gullie thrashed and snarled, but Katy's control was absolute.
"Now," Katy said coldly, "tell us what you know about that boy's friend, or I'll make sure you never walk again."
The Gullie hesitated for a moment before growling, "The boy… was meant to be taken to the Dragon Feast. That's all I know."
Katy and Reshya exchanged glances before releasing the restraint.
"Let's go," Reshya said, turning to the others. "We need to get to the Dragon Feast immediately."
With Tim, Iami, Reshya, and Katy united, the group hurried toward their destination, each of them painfully aware that answers—and possibly more danger—awaited them at the Dragon Feast.