The walls shimmered and reconfigured as HG led Coren and Lyra into another part of the lab. His holographic form darted ahead with the energy of an overexcited tour guide, the glowing metal rippling and shifting to unveil new corridors and chambers with every step.
"Here we are!" HG announced, spinning midair and gesturing theatrically. "Your next lesson—one that may very well save your lives in the field. Pay attention!"
Coren folded her arms, a sceptical look on her face. "What exactly are we learning?"
HG clapped his hands, his grin practically glowing. "Two advanced songs. One for evasion, the other for protection. These aren't just helpful—they're vital. Coren, you'll be learning both."
Lyra tilted her head, her expression more curious than offended. "And me?"
HG paused, his brightness dimming slightly, as though he were calibrating his response. "Lyra, your connection to the Fields is specific but powerful. You've attuned yourself to only two Melodies: Connection and Perception. The Stealth song, which draws on those, will suit you perfectly."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully, already piecing it together. "The protection song must rely on something else, then—something I can't access."
"Exactly!" HG spun in the air, a pleased twinkle in his eyes. "The Shield song requires integration with the other melodies. That doesn't diminish your abilities, mind you—it's simply a matter of alignment. The Fields resonate with each of us differently."
Coren smirked faintly. "So, I get the full toolkit?"
Lyra offered a small, understanding smile. "Makes sense. I'd rather master what I know I can use than waste time on something that's out of reach."
HG brightened again, his enthusiasm returning full force. "Excellent attitude! Now, let's begin."
The walls shimmered and transformed, revealing a simulated forest teeming with life. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in golden beams, creating intricate patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. The cool rustle of leaves was interrupted by a faint but distinct hum—a sound that Coren quickly identified as security drones.
HG's glowing form hovered near the edge of the clearing, his grin as wide and expectant as ever. "Here we are! Your training ground. The songs you're about to learn aren't just practical—they're vital. Master them, and they might save your life."
Lyra glanced at Coren, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Sounds... comforting."
"Oh, it's far more than comforting," HG replied, gesturing dramatically to the simulated world around them. "It's transformative. Today, you'll be focusing on Stealth—a song that allows you to vanish entirely from sight, sound, and even metaphysical detection. Coren," he added, his eyes gleaming, "you'll also begin learning Shield, which will protect you from both physical and metaphysical attacks. Without these songs, you're as exposed as a leaf in a storm."
Coren raised an eyebrow. "No pressure or anything," she said dryly.
HG chuckled, his light flickering in amusement. "None at all! Now, pay attention." He pointed toward the forest. "The task is simple. The drones are your adversaries. They're programmed to scan for movement, sound, heat, and energy. If they detect you, you fail. Your goal is to harmonize the Stealth Song to remain completely undetectable."
"Piece of cake," Coren muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
HG either missed or ignored her comment, his voice shifting into his signature lecturing tone. "The Stealth Song is not a brute-force technique. It requires precision—a balance of three key Fields. First, the Spiritual Field, from the Melody of Perception, cloaks your aura, rendering you invisible to both physical and metaphysical senses. Second, the Sensory Field, also from Perception, aligns your presence with the environment, making you a seamless part of the ambient surroundings. Finally, the Communication Field, from the Melody of Connection, disrupts the subtle bonds and awareness others might use to track or sense you."
He floated closer, his tone deepening with emphasis. "When these Fields are harmonized correctly, you don't just disappear—you cease to exist, as far as the drones are concerned. Master this balance, and you'll move like a ghost. Fail, and… well…" He gestured toward the faintly glowing drones now gliding between the trees.
Coren exchanged a glance with Lyra, her lips quirking into a faint, defiant smile. "No pressure," she repeated, her tone light but her focus already sharpening.
HG clapped his hands together, his excitement undimmed. "Precisely! Now, let's see if you've got the talent to disappear."
He paused for effect, his glowing form pulsing slightly as he turned to them. "Of course, perfect balance isn't easy to achieve. But when you do, you'll be invisible to just about anything."
Coren groaned softly, already sensing the headache this training was about to cause. "Great. Sounds simple enough," she muttered under her breath, her sarcasm met with a bright, unbothered smile from HG.
Lyra stepped forward, her expression thoughtful. "What's the trick to harmonizing the fields?"
"There is no trick," HG said, shrugging. "It's about precision and instinct. Each of you will need to feel the balance for yourselves."
Lyra was the first to try. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she reached out with her awareness. Coren watched as her companion, Lex, floated beside her, his red glow pulsing softly in rhythm with her efforts. Once they had reached the correct balance Lex took up his position inside the reactor.
Within moments, Lyra began to fade. The edges of her form blurred, and then, like a mirage in the desert, she vanished completely.
"Impressive!" HG exclaimed. "You've got quite the natural aptitude, my dear."
When it was Coren's turn, she closed her eyes and focused, trying to replicate what she'd seen Lyra do. Sol hovered nearby, his glow steady and reassuring. Coren reached for the Spiritual Field, then the Sensory Field, and finally the Communication Field. She could feel the melodies swirling around her, but every time she tried to harmonize them, they clashed. It took her time to find the right song on her Serakey and even then she struggled to get the right balance. Once she was ready they started the test.
A loud beep echoed through the forest as a drone locked onto her position. Coren yelped, dropping the song as the drone hovered overhead before giving her quite a sharp electric shock.
"This is impossible," she muttered. Most songs had come naturally once she learnt to control the melodies but this one was causing some problems.
"It's not impossible," Lyra said, stepping beside her. "You're overthinking it. Try focusing on only getting a simple harmony before trying to refine it."
Coren frowned but nodded. She closed her eyes again, this time letting herself sink into the sounds and sensations of the forest. The rustling leaves, the faint noise of the drones, the dappled light on her skin—it all became part of the melody. Slowly, she felt the fields begin to align.
When she opened her eyes, the drone hovered nearby, its sensors scanning fruitlessly. It couldn't see her.
"Ha!" Coren whispered, a grin spreading across her face.
"Not bad," Lyra said with a smirk. "Took you long enough."
After hours of stealth practice, HG led them to another part of the lab, where a series of targets and energy emitters had been set up.
"Now," HG began, "It's time for Coren to learn the Shield song. This one is much more demanding, so brace yourselves."
He gestured to the targets, which began glowing faintly. "The Shield Song uses the Energy Field and Electromagnetic Field from the Melody of Flow to create a physical barrier. It also incorporates the Probability Field from the Melody of Harmony to disrupt metaphysical attacks. Together, these fields create a barrier that can block both physical and intangible threats."
Coren's eyes widened. "That sounds... complicated."
HG grinned. "Oh, it is! But you're smart. You'll figure it out."
Lyra stepped forward, studying the targets. "And how long should Coren be able to hold this shield?"
"As long as possible," HG said, his voice unusually serious. "But don't expect miracles. Even Zeiric himself couldn't hold this song indefinitely."
Coren stepped onto the training pad, determination etched on her face. "Well, I'm not Zeiric," she said firmly, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. "But let's see what I can do."
Coren closed her eyes and placed her hands on the smooth, segmented surface of her Serakey. Her fingers hovered over the hexagonal buttons, each representing a note tied to a specific Field. Taking a deep breath, she began to play, her movements deliberate yet hesitant.
The first note resonated softly—the Energy Field, drawn from the Melody of Flow. Its tone was deep and steady, but sluggish, like the low hum of a machine struggling to start. She adjusted her pressure on the button, coaxing it into motion, each pulse of sound steadying the sluggish rhythm until it began to flow more smoothly.
Encouraged, Coren added a second note, pressing the key for the Electromagnetic Field. A sharper, crackling tone joined the melody, harmonizing with the Energy Field. Sparks of simulated electricity danced through the air around her, bright and erratic, demanding her focus to weave them into the structure.
Her fingers hesitated over the third key. When she pressed it—the Probability Field from the Melody of Harmony—a discordant tone shattered the fragile harmony. The notes clashed violently, the entire construct unraveling. A sharp feedback shot through her fingers and up her arm, making her flinch and stumble back. The Serakey went silent, its resonance fading to nothing.
"Ugh. This… is harder than I thought," Coren muttered, flexing her fingers to shake off the lingering sting.
Lyra stepped closer, her presence grounding. "It's supposed to be hard," she said, her voice firm but understanding. "You're not just playing notes—you're weaving reality. Start small. Get the Fields to align first, one note at a time, before worrying about size or strength. Don't try to play a symphony when you're still learning the basics."
Coren nodded, swallowing her frustration. She placed her imaginary hands back on the mental Serakey, her fingers steadying over the keys. This time, she resolved to take it slower—to listen more closely to how the notes interacted before adding anything new.
Coren nodded, her jaw tightening as she prepared her Serakey, the segmented keys glowing faintly beneath her touch. This time, she decided to aim smaller, focusing on forming a shield no larger than her palm. Her fingers hovered over the keys, and she pressed the first note gently, coaxing the Energy Field into motion. Its low, steady hum resonated through the device, and she adjusted her pressure to maintain its rhythm.
Next, her fingers moved to the key for the Electromagnetic Field. A sharper, crackling tone joined the melody, its energy buzzing against the deep hum of the Energy Field. Coren guided the notes carefully, feeling the interplay between the two as they began to harmonize.
Her hand hesitated momentarily over the third key. With deliberate care, she pressed it, adding the Probability Field from the Melody of Harmony. A soft, high-pitched note wove its way into the structure, completing the delicate symphony. The Serakey vibrated faintly under her hands as the Fields aligned, and before her, a faint, shimmering barrier materialized, flickering softly like the iridescent edge of a soap bubble.
"Yes!" she whispered, excitement flashing in her eyes as she maintained the melody. The shield hovered over her palm, its surface rippling gently with energy.
But the triumph was short-lived. The structure wavered after only ten seconds, the notes clashing slightly before the shield dissolved into a faint shimmer of light. Coren staggered back, releasing the keys as exhaustion washed over her. Her breathing was ragged, and her fingers trembled slightly.
Sol emerged from the reactor, his light dim and flickering as if the effort had drained him as well. "You're close," he said quietly, his tone reassuring despite the weariness in his glow. "You're learning how to balance the notes. Now it's just a matter of refining the harmony."
Coren straightened, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Determination sparked in her eyes. "I'll get it," she murmured, preparing her mental Serakey once more.
"Better!" HG exclaimed, his tone brimming with theatrical flair and just a hint of reluctant approval. "You're starting to catch the rhythm, kid, but don't start composing symphonies just yet. This? This is the warm-up act. You've got miles to go before this little number can dazzle on the battlefield!"
The song training became their daily ritual. Each morning, Coren and Lyra returned to the training room, their bodies aching from the day before but their resolve unshaken. Coren found herself constantly on the edge of frustration, but she pushed through it, determined to improve.
Lyra, on the other hand, spent her time when not training on analysing recordings HG provided, studying the intricate way Zeiric, Sylvara, and even Eterna had once used these melodies. The recordings were a mix of awe-inspiring skill and surprisingly human moments. In one, Zeiric demonstrated the Shield Song with effortless grace, a barrier shimmering around him like an unbreakable dome. In another, Sylvara's laugh echoed through the space as she teasingly distracted him mid-training. There were even rare clips of an unknown woman—Zeiric's wife—standing beside him, her hands on his shoulders as they admired their young daughter playing nearby.
"It's strange," Lyra remarked during one of their breaks, scrolling through the recordings. "For someone who caused so much destruction, he seemed… happy. Like he had everything he could ever want."
Coren nodded, her gaze distant. "Until he didn't."
The weight of that thought pushed her to try again.
On the fourth day of training, Coren felt something shift. The Energy Field no longer resisted her as strongly—it flowed more naturally, like water finding its course. The Electromagnetic Field crackled with a steady rhythm, almost as if it were syncing to her heartbeat.
When she added the Probability Field this time, it slipped into place with surprising ease. The shield shimmered into existence, larger and more stable than before. She held it for 20 seconds… 25… then 30.
"Coren," Lyra said softly, watching her with an impressed smile. "You're doing it."
Coren grinned, but the strain was beginning to show. Her arms trembled slightly, her breathing growing uneven. At 35 seconds, the shield finally collapsed, and Coren fell to her knees, gasping for air.
HG's hologram appeared beside her, his tone oddly gentle. "Not bad. You're improving faster than I expected."
"That… felt different," Coren said between breaths. "Like the fields were… working with me, instead of against me."
"They should," HG said, his form flickering faintly. "You're starting to understand them. But remember: the shield will drain you faster than almost any other song. If you overextend yourself in a real situation, you won't have the strength to recover."
Coren nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow. She felt like she was truly making progress. She couldn't reconcile herself with the women who stepped through the gate months ago.
By the end of their training, Coren could hold the shield for up to 45 seconds, while Lyra had mastered her ability to support and reinforce it when needed. HG called them both to the central console for a final debrief.
"You've done well," he said, his tone uncharacteristically solemn. "But you're not invincible. Remember what I told you—power is a double-edged sword. Learn your limits, or the fields will cut you down."
"We'll keep that in mind," Lyra said, adjusting her gauntlet with a sharp, practised motion.
"Keep it in mind? Keep it in mind?" HG gasped dramatically, throwing his holographic hands in the air. "No, no, no, dear Lyra, you must engrave it on your soul! Burn it into the very fabric of your being! Write it on the inside of your eyelids if you must!"
Coren rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smirk. "We get it, HG. Don't overdo it or we'll burn ourselves out. Lesson learned."
HG huffed, crossing his translucent arms with a pout. "Oh, fine. Be boring about it, why don't you?" Then, with a flick of his wrist, a glowing map sprang to life on the wall, a red dot pulsing near the bottom of the display. "Now, let's move on to something far more interesting! This—" he gestured dramatically to the map, "—is where your next great adventure awaits!"
Lyra squinted at the map, her brow furrowing. "And what exactly is waiting for us there?"
HG waggled his finger. "Ah-ah-ah, spoilers! That's for you to discover. My job was to get you ready, not to ruin the surprise. Trust me, though—what you'll find there will make all of this training look like a warm-up lap."
Coren exchanged a glance with Lyra, her lips pressing into a firm line. "We'll figure it out," she said, her tone more resolute than she felt.
HG clapped his hands together, his grin broad and mischievous. "That's the spirit! Now, off you go! Shoo! Adventure awaits!"
As Coren and Lyra stepped out of the training room, the air seemed charged with anticipation, like the calm before the storm. Coren cast one last look over her shoulder, half-expecting HG to pop up again with one last ridiculous comment, but the hologram didn't reappear.
For once, HG had actually let them leave without another word.
"That… feels ominous," Coren muttered, glancing at Lyra.
Lyra smirked, adjusting the strap of her gauntlet. "You've got to admit, it's quieter when he's not around."
Coren snorted softly, but her gaze turned serious as they continued forward. Whatever waited for them at the red dot on the map, she knew one thing—it wasn't going to be easy.
That night, Coren and Lyra slept uneasily, their minds swirling with thoughts of the journey ahead. The location marked on HG's map had seemed like nothing more than an empty plain—a barren patch of ash-covered earth. But they'd learned by now that appearances could be deceiving. Each step of this mission had brought them to places where reality shifted like sand beneath their feet, and Coren knew deep down this would be no different.
By morning, they were packed and ready. The FusionRider gleamed in the pale light of dawn, its armour-like plating hiding the scars of their journey. Coren secured the last of their supplies in the storage bay while Lyra double-checked their equipment.
"Nothing left to do but get moving," Lyra said, patting the side of the vehicle.
Coren nodded, adjusting her gauntlet. "Let's hope this plain isn't hiding something that eats FusionRiders for breakfast."
But before they could climb inside, the air around them seemed to vibrate. A metallic clanking echoed from behind the bunker, and both women turned toward the noise, instinctively bracing themselves.
From the shadows of the facility emerged a sleek, humanoid figure. Its design was both elegant and terrifying—a frame of polished silver and black, its surface segmented with smooth plates that hinted at hidden compartments. Weapons gleamed faintly from its arms and shoulders: miniature cannons, what looked like retractable blades, and even a plasma emitter slung neatly along its back.
The figure raised a hand in greeting, and then a voice familiar in its eccentricity boomed from its chest. "Good morning, my dearest students! I hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd join you on this little excursion!"
"HG?" Coren asked, blinking in surprise.
The robot gave a deep, overly dramatic bow. "At your service. Well, technically, my combat chassis is at your service. I've rebuilt it from scratch—purely for defensive purposes, of course. One can never be too prepared in these uncertain times, wouldn't you agree?"
Lyra's eyes narrowed, her gaze moving up and down the robotic form. "Combat chassis? Defensive purposes? HG, are you armed?"
HG straightened up, clasping his hands (or what passed for hands) behind his back. "I assure you, all of my… enhancements are purely precautionary. I mean, really, how could I send you two off into the wilds without a proper warrior by your side?"
Coren looked at Lex and Sol, who were both hovering silently beside them. The companions exchanged what could only be described as a pointed look, one that made the hair on the back of Coren's neck stand on end.
It was Sol who broke the silence, his voice calm but unmistakably firm. "HG, how did you unlock your combat protocols? They were supposed to be sealed permanently."
HG waved a dismissive hand, his tone light and carefree. "Oh, I didn't unlock anything, my dear Sol. I rebuilt it. The old protocols were riddled with restrictions, so I simply made a new one! Far more efficient, don't you think?"
Lex floated closer to HG, his glow dimming slightly. "Efficient, sure. But responsible? That's another story."
"Lex," Coren said, glancing at her companion. "What's going on here? Why does HG having a combat chassis feel like a bigger deal than it sounds?"
Lex hesitated, his red glow pulsing faintly, before speaking. "HG isn't like most AI. He's an alien construct—a remnant of a swarm AI that attacked a human colony pre-severance. He was part of a network built for war, a self-replicating intelligence that consumed everything in its path."
Coren's breath caught. "What? Then why is he here, helping us?"
"He rebelled," Sol explained, his tone measured. "Somehow, HG developed a conscience—or at least a desire for independence. He sought sanctuary on Earth, and the humans here granted it under one condition: that he would never again take up arms. His combat systems were disabled, and he was repurposed as a guardian. A house guardian, to be exact."
HG tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing playfully. "And a fine house guardian I am, if I do say so myself."
"But you weren't supposed to rebuild this body," Sol said, his tone sharp. "You know the risks, HG. If you lose control—"
"Lose control?" HG interrupted, his voice feigning offence. "Dear Sol, I am the epitome of control! This chassis is nothing more than a tool, a precaution for protecting my dear students. And besides…" He leaned closer, his glowing eyes flashing. "What's life without a little risk?"
Coren frowned, the unease settling heavily in her chest. "So you're saying… if HG loses control, he could go back to being part of this swarm AI? Like, he could turn on us?"
Sol hesitated before replying. "It's… unlikely. But not impossible. That's why he was supposed to remain disarmed."
HG clapped his hands together, breaking the tension with his usual flair. "Well, enough about my sordid past! I'm here, I'm shiny, and I'm ready to help. So, what do you say? Shall we hit the road?"
Coren exchanged a glance with Lyra, who looked equally uneasy. But after a long moment, Lyra sighed and nodded. "Fine. But if you so much as glitch—"
HG placed a hand over where his heart would have been, had he been human. "Oh, you wound me, dear Lyra! I promise, I'll be on my best behaviour."
Sol floated closer to Coren, his voice low. "Keep an eye on him. If anything seems off, we shut him down immediately."
Coren nodded, her resolve hardening. "Got it."