The tension from Alexander's thinly veiled threat lingered in the air as Erwin, Lyria, and Pugs strolled through the outskirts of the town. Lyria's sharp gaze darted between the shadows cast by crumbling buildings and the occasional passerby, her unease palpable.
"So," she began, breaking the silence, "are we going to talk about how you just poked a sleeping dragon? Or are we pretending that didn't happen?"
Erwin smirked faintly but said nothing.
"Seriously, Erwin," Lyria pressed, her voice tinged with irritation. "Alexander's not just some pompous noble. He's dangerous, and I'd rather not have my name listed as collateral damage."
"Relax," Erwin replied, his tone maddeningly calm. "He won't do anything. Not yet."
Lyria stopped in her tracks, forcing Erwin to turn back to face her. "You're awfully confident for someone who barely survived the last mission. What's your plan, genius? Or do you just enjoy taunting people who could squash you like a bug?"
Erwin met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Alexander's playing a long game. He wants something from me, and as long as that's true, I have leverage."
Lyria scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. "Leverage? Against him? You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts won't keep you alive when he decides you're more trouble than you're worth."
"Enough, you two," Pugs interjected, trotting between them. "As much as I love a good argument, maybe we should focus on the bigger picture? Like, oh, I don't know, surviving?"
Erwin glanced around, taking in the dilapidated surroundings. The bioluminescent plants lining the cracked streets cast an eerie glow, their faint hum adding to the oppressive atmosphere. "He said he was surveying the town. Let's find out why."
Lyria raised an eyebrow. "You want to investigate Alexander? Are you out of your mind?"
"Possibly," Erwin admitted, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "But if we're going to survive here, we need information. Knowledge is power."
"And ignorance is bliss," Lyria muttered, though she reluctantly followed as Erwin led the way.
---
The trio moved cautiously through the town, keeping to the shadows. The streets grew quieter as they ventured deeper, the lively market square now a distant memory.
"Pugs," Erwin said, glancing down at the tiny dog, "keep an ear out. If you hear anything unusual, let me know."
Pugs gave a mock salute with his paw. "You got it, boss."
They soon found themselves near an old storage facility, its large metal doors slightly ajar. From inside came the faint sound of voices. Erwin motioned for Lyria to stay back as he crept closer, his steps silent on the cracked pavement.
Peering through the gap, he saw Alexander standing with a group of his men. Unlike the cheerful, benevolent leader the public adored, Alexander's demeanor was cold and calculating.
"Is the shipment ready?" Alexander asked, his voice devoid of its usual warmth.
"Yes, sir," one of the guards replied. "We've secured the materials. No one suspects a thing."
"Good," Alexander said, a sinister smile creeping across his face. "We can't afford any mistakes. This town is just the beginning. Once the system resets, we'll be the ones holding all the cards."
Erwin's mind raced as he processed the conversation. Shipment? System reset? What's he planning?
Before he could withdraw, a hand clamped down on his shoulder. He spun around, heart pounding, only to find Lyria glaring at him.
"What are you doing?" she hissed. "I told you this was a bad idea!"
"Shh!" Erwin snapped, but it was too late. The sound of their whispered argument had drawn the attention of the guards.
"Who's there?" one of them barked, stepping toward the door.
"Run," Erwin whispered urgently.
The two of them took off, darting through the narrow alleys with Pugs trailing behind. Shouts erupted behind them as Alexander's men gave chase.
"Nice going, genius!" Lyria yelled as they weaved through the maze of crumbling buildings.
"I told you to stay back!" Erwin shot back.
"You're lucky I didn't leave you there!"
Pugs, despite his size, managed to keep pace, his tiny legs a blur. "Can we save the bickering for later? Preferably when we're not being hunted?"
They rounded a corner and ducked into an abandoned building, pressing themselves against the wall as the footsteps of their pursuers grew louder. Erwin held his breath, his mind racing.
After a few tense moments, the footsteps faded into the distance. Lyria exhaled sharply, glaring at Erwin.
"That was too close," she said. "What did you even hear in there?"
"Alexander's up to something," Erwin replied, his tone serious. "He mentioned a shipment and the system resetting. Whatever it is, it's big."
Lyria frowned, her earlier irritation replaced by concern. "Resetting the system? That doesn't sound good."
"It's not," Erwin said grimly. "And if he's involved, it means we're running out of time."
---
The trio eventually made their way back to the relative safety of the town center, blending into the crowd. The earlier tension had dissipated somewhat, though Lyria still shot Erwin the occasional glare.
"So what's the plan now, fearless leader?" she asked sarcastically.
"We need to find out more about that shipment," Erwin said. "If we can figure out what Alexander's planning, we might have a chance to stop him."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Lyria demanded. "Sneak into his headquarters? Bribe one of his men? Hope he just spills his evil plan over tea?"
Erwin smirked. "Something like that."
Lyria groaned, rubbing her temples. "You're going to get us all killed."
"Not if we're careful," Erwin said confidently.
Pugs wagged his tail. "I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. Information is key. Plus, it's not like we have a better option."
Lyria sighed. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, I'm blaming you."
"Deal," Erwin said, his smirk widening.
As they plotted their next move, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the town. The bioluminescent plants glowed brighter, their eerie light a reminder of the world they now inhabited.
Erwin's gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the faint outline of the system's tower loomed in the distance. He knew they were walking a dangerous path, but he also knew they couldn't afford to turn back.
Whatever Alexander was planning, Erwin was determined to uncover the truth—and, if necessary, stop him.