Axel, frantically searching for answers in his mind, noticed the young lady still clutching the burnt leather that served as some sort of dress. On instinct, he pulled the spare All Cloak from his inventory. The lady gasped upon seeing it.
"You know arcane too!? Why didn't you show me this earlier? We wouldn't have ended up in this situation if it weren't for your stupidity!"
Getting used to her spirited antics, Axel chuckled as he crafted her something to wear. He shaped the cloak into a suit that closely resembled his own. The lady glanced at it but chose not to pry further. After finishing her meal, she became acutely aware of the burnt arm she had caused him, and guilt washed over her. Wanting to make amends, she offered to help.
"Hey, what's your name? I can heal that arm of yours if you want, but you have to promise to give me more of that bunned meat you shared earlier."
Axel noticed the sorrow in her expression and sensed her desire to make things right. He replied, "My codename is Comet 01, but I'm afraid I can't tell you my real name right now. I hope you understand that revealing it could put us in jeopardy if the monsters find out."
The girl nodded in agreement, then thought of a cool codename for herself. "Then call me Phoenix! But if you don't tell me your real name, don't even think I'll give mine!"
A smile crept onto Axel's face at her playful demeanor. Remembering that she was a woman of morals and integrity, he reshaped the All Cloak from the original skintight suit, knowing she might be offended if he presented her with the snug suit he wore. Instead, he fashioned it to resemble a combination of a hunter's attire from this era and a military uniform, complete with a hood. This was the first time Axel had truly put effort into crafting clothing for a woman, and he was determined to do his best.
Noticing him working on the clothes, the lady couldn't help but appreciate his thoughtful gesture. "Hey, come closer, let me see that missing arm of yours!" she called out.
He leaned in, but it was too close for comfort for her, so she playfully pushed him away. "Not too close! Are you trying to kiss me? I don't feel like healing you anymore. Humph!'"
He moved a comfortable distance away from her as she began to heal his arm. It was the first time Axel had witnessed magic, and he watched closely, wondering if one day he might wield such power himself. First, the bones rose from the earth, devouring the surrounding soil and drawing life into their hollow forms. Next, water swirled into the empty sleeve, shimmering with an ethereal light. The lady approached, her form clad solely in the burnt leather that served as her makeshift dress, then with a determined look, she grit her teeth while removing it and placed them over the hollow space where his arm should be. The leather disintegrated into sparkling dust and fused with him, causing flesh, tendons, and nerves to grow. Finally, she cast some leaves she found on the ground into the air, and it spiraled down, forming an arm that sprouted skin and hair, completing the wondrous transformation.
Axel was amazed at how wonderful magic was. He imagined the thousands of lives it could save, but as he considered the bigger picture and how rare such arcane individuals were, he shelved those thoughts aside. He then focused on his arm, feeling its surface. It felt as good as new, with a soft, baby-like texture. When he tested it with a light punch, he was surprised to discover it was just as tough as before, if not even a little tougher than the original.
"Ugh, just look at your ugly mug, amazed by such simple magics! Whatever, just turn around so I can put these clothes on. And don't you dare peek… if you do, I'll seriously dig your eyeballs out! Not that I care what you think, or anything!"
Axel gave her the privacy she requested, stepping back to allow her some space. Yet, as he did, he couldn't shake the memory of how attractive her body was, he was a man after all. He forced himself to calm down, reminding himself that he was just doing his duty as a professional in a high-stakes situation. The weight of responsibility pressed on him, a constant reminder that his thoughts and feelings needed to remain in check. The thought that he might not see her again made him a bit melancholic inside.
"I'm done. We're good to go. Also, there are three children further underground." She led the way toward the maze-like tunnels and called out in a peculiar way as she waved her hand, and lights suddenly flared in all directions. After a while, three children appeared. One was a girl who looked about eight years old, with brown hair and clear eyes that radiated intelligence and purity. Then there was a blonde boy with fiery eyes, about the same age as the little girl, who shot him dagger-like stares from time to time. Finally, there was a thin young man who looked like he hadn't gotten enough sleep, around thirteen years of age.
The cheerful little girl spoke first, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Big sister, your clothes look so cool. I want one too." She turned to Axel, beaming with delight. "Hello, handsome uncle. I'm Ella, nice to meet you." Her cheerful smile, bright with shiny new teeth and charming gaps, radiated the pure joy and adventurous spirit of childhood, warming the air around them.
From the other side, a snort broke the moment. "Who is this man with you, big sister. Old man, are you trying to steal my big sister. I'll kill you." The little blonde boy growled, his fierce expression clashing with his small stature, which made Axel chuckle despite the ridiculousness of the threat.
The sickly-looking teenager merely nodded at Axel, his demeanor quiet and reserved, but there was an unspoken bond that passed between them.
Axel turned to Pheonix, curiosity sparking his voice. "So, these children can all wield arcane too?"
"Pfft. Old man, isn't it obvious." Pheonix shot back with a teasing grin, her eyes glinting with mischief. "So now that we're all here, what's your plan."
"I'll need to contact my team first and give them a report. I also need to ask about the status above ground to see if it's safe for us to go out," Axel replied, his voice steady but laced with concern.
She waved her hand at him, signaling him to do his thing. Axel took a deep breath before reaching out to his team above ground, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.
"Comet team, this is Comet 01. Please provide a status update on conditions above ground. I've successfully rescued four survivors here underground. Over."
"Comet 01, this is Comet 03. There are no hostiles in the vicinity at this time. We are awaiting commands," came the calm, reassuring voice on the other end.
"Affirmative. We'll be there in about an hour. Over and out," Axel concluded, his heart rising with hope at the thought of a smooth conclusion towards their objective.
As he helped them pack up, he noticed they were only bringing books, some odd vials, and even a few dissected animals. Concerned about the situation, he decided to ensure everything was fine by using a smoke screen with his Mission Item. When they showed no adverse reactions, he concluded that all was well. He then volunteered to store the unusual materials in his inventory, and the children gawked at his magic in amazement, their eyes wide with delight, especially relieved they wouldn't have to carry the heavy things themselves. Phoenix, in particular, gave him a peculiar gaze, as if trying to decipher the wonders he had just witnessed.
As Axel made his way down the labyrinthine staircase, his mind began to drift, and memories surfaced from a past mission. He recalled his involvement in guerrilla warfare during a coup d'état in a foreign country that had sought aid from the States. The shadows and echoes of that experience lingered in the dim light, reminding him of the complexities and dangers that often accompanied his work.
Shaking off the nostalgia, Axel approached the door nestled beneath the tree and activated his comms to call his team. Within moments, they arrived, scanning the area to ensure it was secure. Forming a protective barrier around him, they stood vigilant against any potential threats that might endanger the children. Once they confirmed the area was safe, they prepared to introduce themselves and build rapport with the young ones in their care.
Pheonix, initially stunned by the sudden arrival of the men, felt a surge of apprehension. However, Axel quickly reassured her, "It's all right. This is my team." His calming presence helped ease her tension. With that, the four members stepped forward, ready to introduce themselves and create a sense of safety and familiarity for the children.
"I'm Codename Comet 03. Nice to meet you!" said Kokoy with a bright smile.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, you can call me Comet 04," Luc added with a friendly nod.
"Comet 05 here. Let's work together," Tamaki chimed in, ready to cooperate.
Lastly, Wong, with an overly dramatic flair that could rival a Shakespearean actor, proclaimed, "I, Comet 07, defender of righteousness and justice, armed with my trusty sword on the left and my somewhat trusty shield on the right, shall ensure that no monster dares to bring you harm!"
The tension in the air evaporated faster than a popsicle on a summer day, transforming into a chorus of giggles from the children. Even the brooding one in the corner, who usually looked like the world owed him money, couldn't help but stifle a laugh. The sight of Wong, striking ridiculous poses as if he were practicing for a superhero audition, was just too much to resist.
Axel then called Tamaki, who specialized in artistic crafts, to create some protective clothes for the children. Luc, Wong, and Kokoy each donated half of their All Cloak to Tamaki, ensuring that if the need arose in the future, he could craft more swiftly. The three children watched in awe as Tamaki transformed simple fabric into cool-looking outfits that resembled a soldier's ensemble, complete with a hood, instead of the typical piecemeal attire, he designed a convenient jumpsuit that made it easy for them to snuggle in and out of their new gear. This made Pheonix look at Axel with some suspicion.
"Humph! Look at their comfortable clothes while mine has a tight bust! Why is that Mr. Comet 01, you clearly have sinister intentions, do you?" she complained.
"Look, missy, my man here is an artist, and I'm no 'artsy' person. If you want yours remade, we can wait until it's done," Axel replied, shaking his head at her antics.
"Never mind, then! Go away! I don't want to see your face anymore!" she huffed as she looked away from him.
Seeing this, Wong seized the opportunity to tease them. "Captain, you shouldn't let it show if you've got yourself a lover! Damn it! Captain, we're on a mission, not in a romance novel!"
Hearing this, Phoenix blushed slightly and said, "Who said I'm his lover? Comet 07, how dare you slander me like this! If you want, you can be his lover." She pointed at Axel with a teasing glare.
Axel, sensing that things might get out of hand, gestured for Wong to stop. Then he said, "We still have a mission to accomplish. It's still midnight, and the children need some rest. We'll camp at a secure vantage point, and then we'll proceed to our checkpoint once the sun rises."
"Affirmative," the four replied in unison as they set up the tent for the night.