At the open field atop H'reigh's final resting place, a stone block was built over his grave, while the horizon was painted in hues of orange and crimson, Hyuwin stood in silence, paying his respects to a fallen friend, as he recalled Selah's words from earlier.
Earlier, Hyuwin had seen Selah placing flowers on H'reigh's grave. She clasped her hands in prayer for his peace, standing with her hands behind her back as she gazed at the setting sun.
Hyuwin: Selah, it's quite the coincidence running into you here.
Hyuwin poured a Mead on H'reigh's tombstone, telling him that this was his favorite, as he read the label of the tavern that manufactured the product. Selah nodded in acknowledgment and shared her future plans.
Selah: Hyuwin, I actually want to meet you to share something important.
Hyuwin: …
Hyuwin paused for a moment, looking at Selah, curious about what she had to say.
Selah: I heard from my father that he's going on a journey with Neros to find all the cubes across the continent that may threaten the extinction of mankind.
He had a hint of what she was actually going to say, so he cut her off, trying to get to the gist of her words. He wanted to ask her directly, but he chose to hear it from her instead.
Hyuwin: What is this all about?
Selah: Actually, it took me some time to decide. Originally, I intended to let my dad go and ask Her Highness to grant him an emblem that would allow him re-entry to the capital to reunite with his family, reclaiming what is rightfully his and proving his innocence to them.
A gentle wind blows to the east, lifting leaves and sending them dancing toward the horizon.
Selah: But as things stand, my father is no longer in a condition to travel and needs more time to heal from his injuries completely. I saw it in his eyes, he regrets not being able to continue his mission. Last night, when I checked on him, he was asleep, and in his hand, he held a map marked with their suppose route.
Hyuwin then turned to face Selah and placed his hand on his chest, presenting himself.
Hyuwin: Then allow me to fulfill his wishes. Clause is a good friend of mine, and I can't bear the thought of him feeling that way. I will travel with Neros and become this country's representative!
But Selah simply shook her head and denied his offer.
Selah: I appreciate that, truly, but this is my father's wish. I can feel the bond he shares with Neros, I experienced it during that short journey.
Hyuwin simply looked at her, listening to her words, but they began to slip through his ears as each one caused his heart to ache, realizing she was leaving him behind.
Selah: I can tell he admires him, and even I learned a lot from him in such a brief time. I've made up my mind, and I'm sure this is what my father would want. I'll join Neros on this journe, to fulfill his wishes and uncover my true potential.
Selah turned to meet Hyuwin's gaze, her hair cascading over her shoulders, her face, her entire figure bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. Her smile, warm and serene, captivated Hyuwin even more deeply.
Hyuwin remained standing by H'reigh's grave as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that signaled the arrival of night. Mirelan, who had been quietly observing from behind a nearby tree, finally stepped forward and approached him.
Mirelan: So, what are you going to do… just stand there?
Hyuwin: …
Mirelan offered her tribute to a fallen comrade and friend. After clasping her hands in prayer, she rose and looked at him, noting the bitterness clouding his expression, she sighed.
Mirelan: I know you have duties as our leader, and honestly, it's not the best time for you to leave. But I hope you haven't forgotten.
Catching his attention, he turned to look at her, listening to the words he needed to hear.
Mirelan: You have duties to yourself, too. Live your life as you choose from now on. You've fulfilled your role as our leader, now it's time to follow your heart wherever it may lead, right Hax?
Hax fell from the tree headfirst and comically scratched his head in pain. It turns out he had been hiding up there and was too shy to come down when Selah arrived.
Mirelan: So, go, and bring us back some goodies when you return.
Hyuwin: Goodies?
Mirelan kicked his shins in a temper tantrum for misunderstanding her words.
Mirelan: You know, the one Clause used to say... Ugh, forget it, you really are Hyumbass!
Hyuwin grabbed the two in his arms and cherished the moment as the thin sunlight illuminated H'reigh's spirit, which could be seen from afar joining them in this union.
The next day Selah went to the infirmary to speak with Clause.
Selah: Father, I have made up my mind. I want to join Neros in finding the cubes and traveling around the continent.
Clause sighed deeply and patted his daughter's head. He looked up and began to tell her the story of how he and her mother met in the hunting field, where he would occasionally gaze at her.
Clause: I admired your mother even back then… her looks, her wisdom, her charm, her clumsiness. Even that one side of her, haha… I admired everything about her.
He recalls the time when he joined the escort service to guard her inside the red carriage.
Clause: The only thing I could see back then was your mother's delicate skin through the window.
Selah: Pervert!
Clause: No, hear me out.
Clause explained that often, he would catch glimpses of her through her window, mesmerized by her beauty. He recounted how his consciousness would drift whenever he saw her, unable to express his love properly in those moments.
Clause: I had a hard time approaching her. Every time I attempted to speak with her, she seemed to slip away, just out of reach. But then came the night ball at Nivalith, where I was assigned to guard, a dazzling affair. The sparkling lights illuminated the elegant venue, glittering with radiance, and the classy people danced gracefully around the hall. It was in that enchanting atmosphere that I finally found the courage to make my move.
He expressed his dismay at one individual who cut him off and asked her to dance instead, a gentleman in white and black clothing with lavender hair, pestering her. He couldn't hide his irritation at the memory and then spoke his name, Lavrus Kathel Shadowmire.
Clause: Oh! I can never forget that long, annoying name of his!
But his expression changed when she accidentally trips in front of him.
Clause: That was the first time our eyes met. Looking closely, her eyes were more beautiful, and her rosy cheeks and lips captivated me. That moment was all I had. I reached out my hand to her, and she took mine before I led her up. I was about to speak, but my nose bled, and she chuckled. I tell you, her smile made me want to melt. She gave me her white handkerchief and returned to the ball, her handkerchief had one of the best scents I had ever experienced.
Clause reached into his pocket and pulled out the same white handkerchief, smiling as he presented it to Selah with pride. He cherished the memories of marrying her mother, explaining the essence of his love for her.
Selah took the handkerchief, and as she held it, she placed her father's hand on her cheek, feeling his warmth. Clause looked at her and smiled, telling her how much she resembled her mother. Every moment with her gave him the courage to continue, and he never regretted his decision to give his life for her which he would do so again.
Selah: Thank you, Father. I love you, and I would lay down my life for you too. I am sure that wherever Mother is, she loves you just the same, and that will never change.
She then tried to return the handkerchief, a symbol of their love, but Clause refused and gently handed it back to her. Then Clause's expression shifted to one of seriousness.
Clause: Selah…
Selah was a little startled by this shift and listened intently to what her father had to say.
Clause: You mother is still alive!
A surge of anger and confusion rose within her, but as she sensed her father's sincerity, Selah resisted the urge to push the emotions away. Instead, she stayed silent, allowing herself to absorb every word he shared, feeling the weight of his pain and regret.
Clause: We figured it out, Neros and I.
Clause explained to her what they had discovered about the behavior of the cube, its capability of transmitting invisible imprints that reveal its precise location and activity, as well as the device that can interpret these signals and its relevance of unraveling the mysteries of her mother's disappearance.
Clause: There's a realm beyond ours, teeming with hordes of the monsters we've just faced. And an organization operates from the shadows, working to turn this world into a living hell by unleashing these creatures upon us.
Selah covered her mouth in shock, the weight of the revelation sinking in. She could hardly fathom the destruction that awaited if the mission failed, the sheer burden of so many lives resting on Neros's shoulders now made her heart ache.
Clause: Your mother was a victim. I never told you this before, but after we were married, her unique gift allowed her to constitute objects, transforming them into various forms, even capable of creating destructive weapons. A year before the incident, she endured being held captive, working on a project for a powerful family, aiming to enhance their army's strength.
Clause continued by recounting a conversation he had with her mother, who confessed her reluctance to fulfill their demands. She had pleaded multiple times to work on her own, expressing her deep desire to help people and improve their everyday lives. Above all, she wanted nothing more than to bring happiness to everyone around her.
Selah was taken aback by this revelation, left utterly speechless. It felt as if she had missed out on a hidden part of her mother's life one laced with quiet struggles and silent sacrifices. She wished she could have shared in her mother's pain, to ease it somehow. Yet, her mother had kept it hidden, sparing her from worry.
Clause: The reason being I am sharing this with you is to be aware that someone orchestrated that incident. Based on the analysis of the artifact Neros was using, it reveals that a cube was responsible for it, and its whereabouts have been traced beyond our world to another realm.
He admitted that his obsession led him to uncover a bitter truth, but he never lost hope that she was still alive in the other realm.
Clause: I know it sounds foolish, maybe even impossible, but I can feel it, our connection. Somehow, I know she's still alive, waiting for us to bring her back. Even after all this time, she kept her faith that I would find her, that I would bring her home from the other side.
Tears welled in his eyes as he grasped Selah's hand, his voice breaking as he apologized for keeping the truth from her. He knew the weight might be too much for her to bear, yet with a blend of regret and hope, he pleaded for her to find her mother on his behalf.
He blamed himself, feeling that his incompetence had left her shouldering a burden he felt should have been his alone. Selah's tears began to flow as she felt his pain, and she turned to comfort him.
Selah: Father, don't worry. You should get plenty of rest to recover in time. I will travel to find answers and bring Mother home with us
After their conversation, she set out to find Neros and enlist herself as her father's replacement for the upcoming journey, but he was nowhere to be found. As she searched along the path, she encountered Recivela's carriage and was invited inside.
Recivela: What brings you to this part of the city?
Selah: Your highness I…
Recivela: Please refrain from calling me that when we're alone. I admire your mother, Felindraemaris Embershroud, the first Sovereign, and her innovations that shaped this world. Your hair and eyes remind me of her so much that it brings me back in time. Just call me by my name.
Selah: Re… Recivela.
Recivela nodded gently and asked what her business was, to which Selah replied that she was looking for Neros. Recivela looked surprised upon hearing this.
Recivela: Neros has set out on a journey of his own, he decided to leave since Clause is currently recovering.
Selah: …
Recivela: He left early this morning. Didn't he tell you?
Recivela looked a little surprised when Selah asked where he was. She informed her that he had left the gates of the country just a couple of hours ago, shortly after she had accompanied him. She then paid her final respects before storming out of the door of the carriage.
Recivela: Wait Selah… ah, these young ones…
Selah returned to the infirmary and informed her father about Neros's departure. Immediately, he reached for his detection device and pinpointed Neros's location, finding it not too far from the country. He forced himself to stand up, but Selah tried to stop him. He refused, insisting that it was his duty to accompany his daughter. Reluctantly, Selah agreed and supported her father.
At the plaza, Clause fumbled with the controls of the flying device, his mind racing to remember Neros's instructions. Seated beside him, Selah waited patiently for something to happen, her eyes glancing back and forth between her father and the silent controls.
Clause's confident expression faltered as he hesitated, worried he might accidentally cause the device to malfunction or, worse, damage something nearby. He took his hands off the controls, his confidence slipping into uncertainty, his once-determined gaze now blank and unsure.
Fortunately, like an angel sent, Recivela appeared at the plaza. The crowd quickly gathered around, bowing in respect for their ruler as her guards formed a protective circle around her. With her usual calm demeanor, she called out to Clause and Selah to aid them amidst their distress.
Recivela: You there Clause… Selah?
Recivela's clever assistants quickly set up a table, arranged seats, and provided shade to shield them from the sunlight. As they poured drinks from an elegant ivory teapot into the cups, their ruler brought forth something that would prove invaluable to them.
Recivela: I believe this will be very useful to you.
She handed a bound parchment, complete with an instruction manual for operating the machine and crafting a multitude of various items that could be made from materials they already possessed.
Clause: Neros did this?
Recivela nodded gently, recalling her conversation with Neros when he entrusted her with a compilation of his valuable discoveries and the raw materials from his previous expedition. However, amidst all this, she omitted the important details about his true identity, remaining true to her promise to him.
Recivela: Neros is such an interesting fellow. He told me that this would be useful for you, Clause, yet he doesn't want to hand it to you himself because he mentioned he might get emotional and have second thoughts about leaving. So, he asked me to hand it over instead. But since it's from him, I just can't refuse this request. So here we are…
Clause took the bound parchment, turned the pages, and his eyes lit up as he understood the complete instructions.
Clause: Yes, I can tell it's from him. I think I know how to do it.
Recivela took a sip of her drink and asked what they planned to do now that they had the set of instructions. Just then, she noticed a shift in Clause's expression. Selah stood from her seat and introduced herself as Neros's companion for his cause. She called one of her assistants, who brought a bag of supplies for the journey, including some valuable gears for her to choose from.
Recivela: Consider this a gesture of our friendship. I shall bear witness to the great things you are destined to achieve. Though your journey is covered in mystery and uncertainty, I am confident that you have the necessary strength to overcome any challenges that may lie ahead. May Aldis lead your way Selah.
As they returned to the cockpit, Clause activated the machine, which emitted a faint noise and light from its eye and thrusters.
Then Hyuwin appeared in the distance with his belongings and paid his respects to their ruler before handing over his Ascendant Emblem. From the cockpit, Selah witnessed his selfless act of casting aside his title and accolades to join the expedition.
Hyuwin: Your Highness, I wish to be part of this journey, and I am aware of the customs that prohibits two Ascendants in a team. So, being a hunter and all, I would like to join Neros's team under his command and become an apprentice artificer instead.
Recivela: Hmm, very well… Selah, would you be so kind as to allow this gentleman to join you on this journey?
Selah: Hyuwin…
Selah remained reluctant thinking that he would be leaving his hard-earned title behind, thinking it is the same as losing years of his life. But Clause intervened and invited him in.
Selah: But father, he…
Clause: Never underestimate the resolve of a determined man Selah.
The machine lowered its arm to lift Hyuwin into the cockpit. Clause placed his radar on the machine's control pod, where the orb-shaped screen adjusted to fit the module's directives. As it positioned for flight, the machine levitated a few feet above the ground, its appendages clasping together and transforming into jet-like appearance. Gentle winds swept around Recivela and the others as it hovered.
Recivela: Go forth and save the world!
At her signal, the jet shattered the sound barrier, soaring toward Neros's location, guided by the radar's indication.
Recivela covered her face from the turbulence as she followed the direction of the jet, reflecting on how blessed she was to have such amazing people of valor in her country. Driven to inspire others to do the same, thought of pushing them to work three times harder, whipping them into shape. From a distance, Hax and Mirelan felt a shiver run down their spines.
Soaring above the skies, the machine finally reached its ideal momentum, and everyone in the cockpit was seated properly in each corner. Selah looked at Hyuwin and asked him about his reckless decision to cast away everything, to which he replied with a grin.
Hyuwin: Well, let's just say I want to be part of the team that saves the world.
Clause: Boooo!
Selah shook her head in disappointment and explained the weight of their mission to him. If he's till determined to stay after hearing it. However, Hyuwin continued to stare at her, making her falter in her words and let out a heavy sigh.
Selah: Sigh, my words are of no use anyway, you're not even listening.
They shared a good laugh during their journey. Soon, the jet changed course as the sound of the detection device became more prominent across the vast highland terrain. The screen displayed Neros riding what resembled a hoverbike, wearing his unusual helmet. He stopped in his tracks and lifted his visor to check on them soaring high above.
As the machine landed, a platform was lowered to carefully assist the passengers down. Neros was surprised to see Hyuwin disembark first, with Selah supporting her father.
Neros: Clause, sorry for leaving you behind. I never thought you would be so interested, even in carrying the two of them with us.
But Clause remained behind as the two stepped forward. Neros immediately understood what was happening as Clause explained the rest.
Clause: Actually, Neros, my apologies for being so sudden, but I wish you to bring these two along with you to join in your quest.
Then Neros explained what lay ahead and the gravity of the mission, not to deter them but to make them more aware of its weight. However, they both smiled and looked confidently ready for whatever awaited them.
Clause stepped forward to pass his detection device to his daughter, who was a little surprised to receive such an important artifact from his life's work.
Clause: I suppose it's time for a new leaf to face the challenges of the wind.
Clause made a metaphorical statement, and Selah willingly accepted it. However, when she asked what he really meant, he became flustered and looked at Neros to explain for him, prompting everyone to laugh at him.
Neros placed his helmet on the seat of his hoverbike. He then made the same gesture he had with Clause, explaining to the others that it was a custom from the forgotten world that they had apparently adopted. As they reached out their hands to him, they shook his hand and made a gesture of friendship.
He explained their first objective, to retrieve a cube from a country called Diltis Neb pointing at the map. Hyuwin clapped his fists together and grinned confidently, accepting the challenge, while Selah nodded in agreement, setting their course for the next destination.
Neros commanded his hoverbike to transform into a more suitable vehicle, uttering an unusual incantation. To their astonishment, the seemingly lifeless machine responded, startling them and sending a chill down their spines.
Neros: Fortis… Transport Frame code: G0094.
Fortis: Woof!
Then, in an even more disturbing display, the hoverbike transformed into a sleek, matte-finished four-seater car, hovering just above the ground. They stood awestruck for a moment.
As they looked ahead before boarding the car, Clause waved goodbye, preparing to return to the cockpit. However, he paused, a look of worry crossing his face when he asked…
Clause: Uhm, now that the detection device is no longer in my possession, how am I supposed to get back?
An awkward laughter filled the air as they shared a moment of merriment before their journey commenced.
Meanwhile, in the vast expanse of the Sabin forest, where the Mistral forest once thrived, a lady clad in a flowing white robe adorned with silver and gold seams stood solemnly at the edge of a vast crater.
Her beautiful silver hair cascaded around her shoulders, shimmering like moonlight, while her long lashes framed heterochromatic eyes one a pale blue, the other a soft pink reflecting the sorrow of the land.
She gazed upon the gaping chasm where vibrant trees once stood, now replaced by barren, lifeless ground, a haunting reminder of the beauty that had been lost.