The sun blazed mercilessly overhead; its heat relentless. Only the vehicle's climate control kept the cabin at a bearable temperature.
Evelyn's phone chimed. Vivian's name flashed across the screen. With a flick of her finger, she accepted the call. A shimmering hologram materialized on the back of the passenger seat.
"What can I do you for?" Evelyn smirked.
Vivian's expression remained flat. "I need your help."
Evelyn's lips curled higher. "That's a first. What's the emergency?"
Vivian rolled her eyes. "Meet me at Golden Fields."
Before Evelyn could respond, the hologram flickered out. Call terminated.
"Sebastian, take me to Golden Fields Drive. The mission can wait," Evelyn commanded.
Without hesitation, the vehicle shifted lanes, its engine humming as it adjusted course. Half an hour later, Sebastian brought it to a smooth halt at the roadside.
Vivian stood waiting, arms crossed, gaze steady.
Endless fields of golden wheat stretched on either side of the road, shimmering under the sun's glow. Beyond them, other plantations sprawled across the horizon. Towering mechanical constructs—half vehicle, half sentinel—patrolled the land, while sleeker automatons tended to the crops with precise, mechanical grace.
Amid the sea of gold stood a lone building, stark against the endless expanse.
Evelyn stepped out of the vehicle, her heels striking the tarred road with a sharp clank. The moment the cool air of the cabin vanished, the heat pressed against her skin, beads of sweat forming on her brow. It was scorching.
She approached Vivian, who stood still, eyes fixed on Sebastian through the windshield.
Evelyn followed her gaze, then raised a brow. "What's wrong?"
Vivian's expression remained unreadable. "Since you've decided to be a hero, I'll be calling on you from time to time." Her tone was matter-of-fact, but there was an underlying weight to her words. "The sentinels detected members of the East in the fields. No one is allowed out there—especially not outsiders."
Evelyn folded her arms, nodding slowly. Her eyes flicked to a patrol robot gliding past. She gestured toward it. "Can't they handle it?"
Vivian strode to the wheat, pushing the stalks aside with a sweep of her hand. "The sentinels are only here to detect threats and monitor the farm-bots. They don't engage." She turned slightly, gesturing toward the towering machine beside her. "This farm-bot will take us to them."
The farm-bot loomed, silent and patient, its mechanical arms hovering just above the wheat, parting the stalks with delicate precision—engineered to work the fields without damaging a single blade.
Vivian tilted her head toward the car. "Are you leaving your friend behind?"
The machine remained still, waiting for its orders.
Evelyn glanced back at Sebastian and gave a subtle flick of her finger, signaling him to follow.
"Take us to the intruders," Vivian ordered.
The farm-bot whirred to life, its servos humming as it moved forward. Its mechanical arms glided effortlessly, parting the golden stalks without damaging them. Evelyn and Vivian followed, the wheat swaying gently around them.
Vivian shot Evelyn a sideways glance, a smirk playing at her lips. "So, how's the hero life treating you?"
Evelyn scoffed, shaking her head. "It's ridiculous. New heroes are locked into specific missions, and no one's allowed to interfere with another hero's assignment. What if someone's in danger? What are we supposed to do—just watch?"
Vivian frowned. "You're telling me you can't even help each other?"
Evelyn nodded. "Because of some ridiculous ranking system. You only advance if you earn enough points, and stepping in costs you."
Vivian rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you did what you wanted instead of following orders."
Evelyn's gaze sharpened. "If you really want people's trust, ditch Seraphina's people and help in your own way. The title means nothing. It's what you do that matters."
The farm-bot pressed forward, its scanners pulsing as it led them deeper into the fields.
A sharp beeping echoed through the fields.
"Where is that coming from?" Vivian asked, eyes darting around.
Before anyone could answer, the beeping cut off.
Sebastian didn't hesitate—he grabbed both girls and leaped backward just as the farm-bot ahead of them erupted in a fiery explosion. The shockwave sent wheat stalks rippling, embers catching in the dry air.
Evelyn and Vivian stared, stunned, as the flames surged outward.
"Let go of me!" Vivian shouted, wrenching free from Sebastian's grasp.
He released her, and she sprinted toward the spreading inferno, summoning a powerful wind dome to contain the flames. The swirling gusts pushed against the fire, slowing its advance.
"I'll hold it back—go after them!" Vivian commanded.
Evelyn hesitated, panic creeping in. She had no idea where to go, where the intruders were.
Sebastian caught the uncertainty in her eyes. Placing a steady hand on her shoulder, he said, "The glasses."
He handed her a sleek pair of LED visor glasses, deceptively ordinary in appearance. Evelyn slipped them on.
A soft hum vibrated through the frame. Activated. The word flickered across her vision before being replaced by a dynamic overlay.
A map of the area unfolded on one side of the display, marking everyone's location—her own dot glowing blue, while the intruders pulsed in red. The sentinels and farm-bots were marked as a distinct drill icon.
On the other side, her direct line of sight was enhanced—Vivian's form was outlined in a scanning rectangle, tracking every movement.
Apart from Sebastian and Vivian, two other red dots blinked on the map.
Evelyn's pulse quickened, "Target acquired."
Evelyn turned in the direction of the intruders. Two glowing rectangles snapped into focus on her visor, locking onto their heat signatures.
"If you want a clearer read on their actions, switch to target mode," Sebastian advised.
Despite the urgency, Evelyn followed his suggestion. "Change target mode."
The rectangles shifted, reforming into detailed humanoid outlines. The visor now tracked their movements, analyzing gestures and body language.
"Nice," she muttered, impressed.
A sharp voice cut through her earpiece. "Move! Before they set another one on fire!" Vivian shouted over the crackling flames.
Evelyn tightened her grip on her pistol. "Stay with her," she ordered Sebastian before launching into a sprint toward the intruders.
As she neared, she slowed, instincts kicking in. Recklessness wasn't an option. Every step was calculated, her movements soundless as she crept through the brush.
Voices carried through the trees.
"You think those fools will actually chase us?" a deep voice asked, laced with amusement.
His companion let out a low chuckle. "If we linger any longer, they'll catch up for sure. The gifted one's too busy dealing with the fire. Now's our window to disappear."
Evelyn adjusted her visor, zooming in. Their faces came into focus through the digital display. Got you.
She inched closer, heart steady, breath controlled. A stalk of wheat parted beneath her gloved fingers, revealing the two figures.
A smirk ghosted across her lips. They have no idea I'm here.
"Coming to your opponent's territory without a gift?" she whispered, pistol poised.
Evelyn's foot landed on a dry branch.
Snap.
The sharp crack shattered the midday stillness. She froze, pulse spiking. Sweat formed on her brow, not just from the heat but from the sudden tension wrapping around her. She controlled her breathing, staying as still as possible.
No such luck.
"Who's there?" the deep-voiced one barked, spinning toward the noise.
His companion smacked his arm. "Are you stupid? Now they'll know where we are."
Evelyn watched as the first one narrowed his eyes, scanning the wheat stalks swaying in the afternoon breeze. He couldn't see her, but his instincts were screaming at him.
"But you heard that, right?" he insisted, voice laced with uncertainty.
His partner huffed. "No, and even if I did, standing around talking about it is a waste of time. Let's go before they actually do find us." He turned on his heel and took off through the fields.
The deep-voiced one hesitated before cursing under his breath and following.
Evelyn let out a slow breath. That was close.
Then she moved.
Her visor flared to life, tracking their silhouettes against the golden wheat. Their movement patterns, body temperatures—everything streamed across her lens in real time. She picked up speed, closing the gap.
Her fingers tightened around her pistol. No weapons detected. No explosives.
Unarmed.
Good. This just got a lot easier.
"Whoever you are, back off, or I'll set these stalks on fire!" one of the intruders barked.
Evelyn didn't even flinch. Bluff. She had already scanned them—no weapons, no ignition devices. Unbothered, she quickened her pace, stepping fully into view.
"Let's be rational," she called, voice even. "There are no vehicles nearby, and you're still in one piece. Tell me what you were doing here, and maybe you'll stay that way."
One of them shot a glance over his shoulder. "The one without a gift is following us," he scoffed. Then, without warning, he spun around and charged. "You think you can take us alone?" he sneered.
His companion bolted in the opposite direction.
Evelyn didn't hesitate. She raised her pistol, aimed for his leg, and pulled the trigger.
Nothing.
Her heart lurched. Damn it. Jammed? No time.
Thinking fast, she hurled the pistol straight at him. He swatted it aside with a sharp flick of his wrist, undeterred, closing the gap fast. Evelyn planted her feet, raising her arms in a defensive stance.
Just as he was about to reach her—whoosh.
A sudden gust of wind slammed into him from the right, hurling him off course. He hit the ground hard, rolling through the stalks.
His fleeing friend looked back at the commotion—just in time to not see where he was going.
His face met solid muscle as he crashed headfirst into Sebastian's unyielding chest.
Thunk.
He stumbled back, dazed. Sebastian didn't move an inch.
Evelyn smirked. "Guess you should've been looking where you were going."