— So, you use the spheres? Control them? — Koji asked, wiping the dried blood from his face as he glanced at Spherea.
— The spheres that protect you are part of your pact with me, of course I control them... It would be strange if I didn't.
— So you used the spheres against Alaric and the other one... that one over there?
— I used them lightly.
With some irritation, Koji retorted, — So, all this time... back in Dynami, and now with Alaric, you could've protected me whenever you wanted? Is that it?
— Exactly — Spherea smiled as if it was his birthday.
— Then why didn't you? I was about to die, you know that? I could've easily died in all this madness!
— I didn't interfere because I saw it all as good training — Spherea replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
— Training?! Training where I and Saik could've died?!
— You weren't going to die — Spherea stepped closer to Koji, wrapping an arm around him — And yes, it was excellent training and pressure testing for you both.
Koji shook his head in disbelief. Spherea's words were so cold it was hard for him to grasp how anyone could be that insensitive.
Suddenly, Saik appeared on the other side, walking with difficulty but wearing a tired smile. — Looks like we won, huh?
— Thought you were dead, lying there — Koji said, surprised.
— Let him be... He was just taking a nap — Spherea commented, patting Koji lightly on the back.
— So, is Alaric dead? — Saik moved closer, and Koji looked at Spherea, adding another question — Did you kill him, Spherea?
— No, he's still alive.
— But what about her... — Saik pointed to Lyanna's body, lying a few meters away — Is she alive too?
Still wearing his psychopathic grin, Spherea shook his head slowly and spoke.
— No. I found out she wasn't a true bearer. She was using a borrowed technique; they marked and probably forced her. Alaric, on the other hand, is alive because he's a true bearer. I used a simple piercing attack. A true bearer survives; a fake or an ordinary human doesn't.
Koji and Saik exchanged glances, and Koji then walked over to where Alaric lay on his back, arms spread out, eyes closed, and mouth slightly open.
— Can you hear me? — Koji asked, giving Alaric's leg a light kick.
Saik knelt beside him, examining Alaric's state. — He looks pretty comfortable on the ground.
Suddenly, Alaric opened his eyes. — What do you want, you bastards?
— We want to know everything about the Conclave — Koji stepped up to the interrogation.
— You idiots! You really think I'll tell you anything? — Alaric spat out a bitter laugh.
Saik shrugged, adopting a more assertive stance. — You've got nothing left to lose now. Why not talk?
Alaric spat blood onto the ground before answering, — It's not that simple. Do you think if I spill everything I know, nothing will happen to me? The Conclave is far bigger and more important than your little moral code! Those above me are way above you!
Saik sensed Alaric's stubbornness wouldn't break, but did nothing. Meanwhile, Koji quickly considered his options. — The communication device…
He then remembered the communication headset but looked around, realizing the problem.
— Damn... we lost the backpacks with the comms to the Tower.
— You won't need to call them — Saik said, pointing to the sky.
Helicopters and military vehicles from the Tower's Special Forces were approaching quickly.
— Without the energy wave, they could get close — Koji thought, looking at the aircraft, and then at the sky, where the energy wave was no longer present. — But why exactly, what specific detail allowed the people inside the energy wave to survive? That wave was from Alaric's Fragmentation technique... It didn't harm the city's humans, so why were they put into a trance?
— The Tower's lapdogs have arrived, huh? Lucky them showing up when I'm like this! — Alaric muttered disdainfully.
When the first vehicle arrived, two Tower agents disembarked: the veteran Nahome, who fought alongside Saik against Zarek in Dynami, and Agent Tovah, the same one who arrested and handcuffed Tahiko.
With his ever-present cigarette, Nahome smiled upon seeing Saik. — You've done well on this hunt — he said, patting Saik on the shoulder.
Licking a pineapple popsicle, Tovah glanced at Alaric just as Koji asked, — Can you arrest him? He's not going to tell us anything besides vague speeches.
Nahome nodded, pulling out a Nullite handcuff from his pocket.
— Go on, Tovah, cuff him — he tossed the handcuffs to Tovah, who caught them and crouched down, cuffing Alaric's hands. — There! Another one off to see the best place for misbehaving bearers.
— Ugh, I can't hear you without feeling disgusted, you worthless trash! — Alaric growled with disdain.
Unfazed, Tovah simply pushed him toward the vehicle. Before they moved too far away, Saik raised his voice, grabbing the soldier's attention.
— Hey... what about Tahiko? Is he okay?
Tovah paused for a moment without fully turning around. — He's difficult. Commander Ava's trying to get him to cooperate with the Tower, just like you guys. But you know him better than I do… He's not interested at all.
Nahome, about to leave, suddenly turned around and looked intently at the two young bearers, Koji and Saik.
— You two neutralized two Conclave bearers — he said, glancing slightly at Alaric and the lifeless Lyanna on the ground. — This city is done for. We're not sure if any humans are left alive. The Tower's Special Forces will set up three bases here in Primavera do Leste.
He continued, — Tovah and I will head back to keep the Tower's presence in the state. The energy wave that covered this entire city spanned over 140 billion square meters. We still don't know what the Conclave is after, but the other bearers are in Cuiabá. They're gathering strength there. Before they reach the capital, make sure there are no other bearers in the cities along the way. Understood?
— Yes — both of them responded almost in unison.
Nahome glanced briefly at Spherea, his expression nearing a smile, before turning to leave with Tovah.
— It's always something seeing you like this… impactful…