Dante stood holding his staff, staring into the night. The stars pulsed in the sky, painting a beautiful cosmic scene. The sky was clear, without clouds, and the moon seemed to have disappeared. He had once read that when it wasn't visible, it was on the other side of the continent.
The continent must be immense.
He had clearly left one of the few villages still inhabited. He always asked his father if there were others, but his father always said the same thing:
"Even if there are, you shouldn't get close. Different people have different cultures."
He never really understood what his father meant. Civilization should be the same. Different rules, sure. But were their ways of life so different that they couldn't meet?
The Capital and the surrounding villages were the only points of access and recruitment. They didn't go beyond, and he understood why at the Ferry. The Sky Pirates, or Agnomatos Pirates, were infamous for capturing people for funded trades. Tecno had explained about the great bandits who roamed the skies during his first days in the Capital.
"They think they can do anything. They succeeded once, kidnapping a lieutenant's uncle. It was chaos trying to get him back. We lost good people in the process," Tecno showed no nervousness.
"Now that we have you, we don't need to worry so much."
They really trusted his strength. He had never carried such responsibility, but his father used to say that one day it would be his mission to protect others, and his training was meant to prepare him for any kind of problem.
Every day, when he still lived in the calm house of his parents, he had to endure training. Only that. His mother washed his clothes, cooked meals. His sister went to the market. His father, resolute, made him train rigorously.
Every day there was preparation for what is here and now.
Amid the night, there was nothing but darkness.
I
"Hey, Liana," Crosu's drawling voice matched his slow head tilt. "Everyone's asleep at the Officers' camp. There's an old man watching from this side, but he looks really weak. Do you know anything about him?"
Behind Crosu, Liana stirred the embers with her metallic hand. As she stood, her iron goggles slipped, and she scanned toward the old man. The radar cut through the Cosmic Energy it analyzed, but the result was negative.
"Weak. Probably a recruit." She pushed her goggles back up and crouched beside Crosu. "We've searched over three camps for the crystals. That sentinel we captured said some James Rodd left them here."
Crosu scratched his neck with claw-shaped fingers, looking relaxed.
"I'm tired. I want some fun. When is Hugo coming back? I want to head down there already."
"He'll be here soon."
She lowered her goggles again, staring at the old man. This time, his eyes were fixed directly on her position. A hard jaw, a lit cigar, and eyes like a wild animal. He hadn't looked like that before.
"Looks like he's sensitive. The radar might've alerted him a bit."
"That thing's always acting up," Crosu said. He stood and moved to the embers, running his metallic hand through them. "I wish Hugo was here. I want a fight."
Liana stayed focused on the old man. His energy was indeed that of someone who had just begun training. There was no reason to be concerned, especially since Crosu loved fighting while she handled the dirty work of retrieving items.
This time, it would be too easy. Once the shift changed, they would do a full round of the perimeter. The eastern side would go south and loop back. The gap would open, and she would move while Crosu pulled the fight southeast.
That entire area where the old man stood would be clear.
"Liana." The voice resonated from the cube into her ear. Crosu perked up, excited. "It's Hugo. Can you hear me? Don't respond, anyway. I found what one of the sentinels mentioned. Unfortunately, he didn't survive."
"As always," Crosu chuckled.
"Seems like the two crystals are indeed in the camp. You have permission to proceed. Follow the plan, alright? Let Crosu duel and invade the officers' quarters. Return safely. Tell Crosu to fight defensively. We can't afford any losses today."
Liana nodded. She wanted to ask something, but the transmission ended. Once the mission was complete, they would retreat to the Silk Channel. Despite Hugo's instructions, there was something still bothering her.
"Is that old man bugging you, sis?" Crosu crouched beside her, dragging his sharp finger through the grass, revealing the soil underneath. "I'll slice him up for you. It'll be my gift, alright? By the way, your birthday's coming up."
She didn't want to, but a faint smirk crossed her face.
"Let's get started."
II
"Don't old men feel cold?"
Tecno joined Dante, draped in a thick coat, rubbing his arms for warmth. Even his teeth chattered, though the Officer tried to hide it by clenching his jaw.
"I'm used to this weather," Dante replied. "The wind here is warmer than at my home. It was always cold there. It didn't snow, but it was always rainy and windy."
"Good to know. Next time, I'll leave you on patrol all night." He waved a hand dismissively. "Go, it's your turn to rest. Try to sleep a bit."
Dante didn't move. There was still something far off in the night that piqued his curiosity. Much further away, Cosmic Energy brushed against his skin. Instinctively, his father had always measured strength by energy.
Even from such a distance, the sensation was the same.
"Let me ask," he continued staring into the darkness, "is there any technology in the Capital that can scan someone?"
"You mean their body?"
Dante shook his head. He was certain someone was watching them. The feeling, the taste, the smell— everything pointed to an enemy marking him.
"The energy," he said firmly. "For the past hour, I've felt someone's energy scanning me, even indirectly. I don't know anything capable of doing that."
Tecno grew serious and turned fully toward Dante.
"Don't look at me, Dante," his voice deepened as he took a deep breath. "There is such equipment. If you're sure, I need to alert Dalia immediately. That device was stolen over two years ago during one of our worst missions. For the love of whatever god you believe in, if you're certain, I have to warn her now."
Dante nodded and chuckled softly at him.
"Even if they can see us, don't make that face; it'll look like you're scolding me." Dante scratched his neck and lowered his head in a bow. "Pretend you're yelling at me and storm off."
Tecno followed his instructions, cursing loudly and stomping away without looking back. Dante gripped his staff more gently, stepping back and glancing the other way.
They're still watching me, aren't they?
There was a sound. Footsteps from the side. One of the soldiers on patrol waved at Dante before completing his round. Dante remained in place.
III
"Go, Crosu. Now."
The boy's legs sprang into motion as he glided across the grass at high speed without making a sound. He slid as if on ice, closing in on the old man who stared at the horizon.
Crosu chuckled, pulling his fingers back to sharpen his claws further. Their color shifted from gray to red as he leapt from many meters away. The old man wouldn't even know what hit him.
"Hey, kid." The man's face turned instantly, a macabre grin on his lips. "Don't you think it's rude to attack an old man head-on?"
Crosu's eyes widened as he twisted his metallic arms at a sharp angle, swinging the red blades in a swift slash. His fist? Crosu found it amusing when the old man raised his hand and stopped him.
A second later, a massive pressure struck Crosu's abdomen, sending him rolling across the ground. He couldn't comprehend it. He got up, breathing deeply. The old man hadn't even moved, laughing loudly."I knew it, I knew it," the soldier's voice grew heavier and louder. "There's always a bat flying after a rat in the night."
Crosu braced himself, sliding across the grass.
"Are you the rat?"
"Kid," Dante tossed his staff aside and began walking toward him. "Pray my lady orders you to stay alive. Because if she doesn't..." his fingers cracked on their own, without help from the other hand, "...whoever's with you will be picking up your scattered bones."