11:26 AM - (AUGUST 23RD, 2026 | SCHELVIA CITY | ALPHAO CRESCENT UNITY (A.C.U) - SKY NETWORK)
71st Floor - Third Cabin
The third cabin was silent, yet the tension in the air was suffocating.
Seven of the Top 9 sat in their respective seats, each GRIPPING onto whatever comfort they could find-some clutching their Vitreous pendants, others pressing their hands against their knees, and a few gripping their already-materialized weapons.
The sky network cabin moved at high speed, transporting them toward the Mirage District, where a phantom awaited them. The cityscape outside the windows blurred into streaks of neon, but the passengers inside felt no turbulence.
They all knew one thing:
Whatever was lurking in Mirage District-the phantom they were ordered to confront-was more than capable of holding them down.
Despite their titles, ranks, and leadership, sometimes the world had a way of humbling even the strongest
-.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-..-....-.-.-.-.-.-.
A voice shattered the silence.
"...Gone cold? Oi, Miss Diplomat?"
The words carried a teasing edge, directed at the girl sitting across from him. She held a battle axe, its blade pulsing with crimson energy that flickered like a heartbeat.
Kaelis Aurion - Rank 5 (Academics & Curriculum Officer)
Nickname: The Scholar
Gender: Male
Kaelis ran his fingers through his rich blonde hair, letting it fall naturally around his face. His brown eyes locked onto her, a smirk tugging at his lips.
They had unfinished business.
Earlier in the council chamber, before Artoria arrived, she had challenged him-called him a coward. But when Noir stepped into the room, she had fallen silent.
"Look at you... pale before Artoria even walked in." His tone was filled with sly amusement. "You didn't even try to speak when Noir entered the room. I thought you were challenging him?"
He tapped his cuisses (thigh armor), the high-tech plating enhancing his speed, agility, and precision-a perfect fit for his combat style.
His gaze remained fixed on her, watching for a reaction.
The girl exhaled sharply, her grip on the battle axe tightening as the crimson veins across its blade pulsed with irritation.
"I'm sick and tired of your taunts, Kaelis." Her voice was steady, but the frustration beneath it was unmistakable.
Her cyan eyes locked onto his, unwavering.
"We have more important things to worry about right now. I don't understand why you keep trying to rile me up-don't you respect Artoria? And let's not forget, you didn't say a damn word either when Noir walked in, so don't act like you're all high and mighty."
The air between them grew thick with tension.
Kaelis chuckled, fingers drumming lazily against his armor.
"Oh? So, you were watching me?" His smirk deepened. "Cute."
Her eyes darkened, and for a second, it seemed like she might actually swing the axe at his head.
Before she could react, another voice cut through the cabin.
"Enough."
It was a simple word, but it carried enough weight to silence them both.
A figure leaned forward in his seat, arms crossed, his dull purple eyes half-lidded with disinterest, yet sharp enough to command attention.
His long wolf-cut hair cast shadows over his face, the three braids on his left side swaying slightly as he shifted.
Yoshi Manami - Rank 8
Nickname: Noir Prince
There was no need for volume-just his presence alone was enough to command attention.
"Whatever's waiting for us in the Mirage District isn't going to wait for you two to finish flirting." His gaze was unwavering. "So save it."
Kaelis blinked before scoffing, his lazy grin still in place.
"Flirting? Is that what you think this is, Noir?"
Yoshi didn't blink.
"I don't think. I observe. Now shut up and focus."
Kaelis exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Tch. Fine."
The girl said nothing, though the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
Silence fell over the cabin once more.
Outside, the blurred skyline of Schelvia City was beginning to shift.
They were approaching the Mirage District.
Outside the city's heart (CØRE)
And whatever was waiting for them there...
It already knew they were coming.
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YOSHI'S THOUGHTS
"If it weren't for Artoria's orders, I'd have gone there alone..."
Yoshi's eyes narrowed as he stared out the window, watching the neon streaks flicker past.
His fingers curled into a fist on his lap.
The memory of the footage Solaria and Astra had shown during the meeting replayed in his mind.
The drone footage.
A split second of exposed features—long black hair, a fleeting glimpse of violet eyes—before the drone was shot down.
A white pulsating Lynx Amr, just like his own rifle.
And those ominous violet eyes...
Eyes that triggered something deep within him.
They reminded him of his mother.
Her long black hair.
Her elegant, gentle tone.
And the wish she had left behind—for him to protect his sister.
But... no.
he knew that making decisions based solely on appearances wasn't enough to convince him of any connection.
His hand clenched tighter on his lap, his knuckles whitening. His dull purple eyes tore away from the cabin window...
"...Just keep searching, Yoshi. You have a sister to protect in Mom's stead... come on, ... keep yourself together.oshi.."
He shakes his head softly, pushing aside the intrusive thoughts. Then, he stood, striding toward the third cabin's door, leading to the front cabin where Artoria and Solaria waited.
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MEANWHILE...
11:26 AM - (Schelvia City | Mirage District [East Gate] | 'Gate to the Core')
The towering high-wall gate loomed over her as she came to a halt in the middle of the deserted street leading to the city's heart—the last barrier before her target.
ÑYXÖRÂ's violet eyes locked onto the shut gate.
There was only one way through.
And it was closed.
Her violet eyes remained fixed on the sealed entrance-the final barrier before she reached what she had been sent to find.
A person.
Her master's command was clear.
She would find them.
ÑYXÖRÂ - Echoes
Her violet eyes stared at the sealed gate, her expression unreadable.
--
Then, a voice spoke to her through telepathy, cutting through her focus.
"ÑYXÖRÂ, ты обнаружил цель?"
• (ÑYXÖRÂ, have you located the target?) •
Her gaze lowered to the white Lynx Amr rifle in her grasp, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"Моя леди... Ах, да. Я прибыл к последним воротам перед последней контрольной точкой. Также я привел с собой кого-то."
• (My lady... Ah, yes. I've arrived at the final gate before the last search point. Also, I've brought someone with me.) •
A pause.
"...Что ты имеешь в виду?"
• (...What do you mean?) •
ÑYXÖRÂ turned her rifle, tapping it against the concrete as she spoke aloud, unconcerned if the girl beside her heard.
"Человек. Думаю, она одна из стражников, назначенных сюда. Я пощадил её - для доступа, разумеется."
• (A person. I believe she's one of the guards assigned to this place. I spared her-for access, of course.) •
She explained further, turning back to tap her rifle against the concrete as she spoke. Her violet eyes stared at the girl she had spared earlier, leaving the other Unconscious.
"W-what?"
The Student Council girl startled slightly, her voice trembling with terror as the phantom's eyes locked onto hers.
Her body shook ever so slightly.
violet eyes locked onto her.
--
"...Ты ведь не взял её в заложники, правда?"
• (...You didn't take her hostage, did you?) •
The voice on the other end sounded stern.
ÑYXÖRÂ chuckled softly, turning her back to the trembling girl.
Her gaze returned to the sealed gate.
"Заложница? Ах... раз уж вы упомянули об этом, моя леди, то это идея. Но нет - мне просто нужно было, чтобы она открыла эти ворота. К сожалению, она продолжает говорить на каком-то... странном, современном диалекте. Я не понимаю ни слова"
• (Hostage? Ah... now that you mention it, my lady, that's an idea. But no-I simply needed her to open this gate. Unfortunately, she keeps speaking in some... strange, modern dialect. I can't understand a word of it.) •
She sighed, tilting her head.
"Разнести его, моя леди? Ваше желание - закон."
• (Shall I break it down, my lady? Your wish is my command.) •
She adds, her mind already contemplating the weak areas of the gate.. with her quirks, she could easily break the gate wall.. but she must wait for an order from her master, Yoru Manami.
There was a sharp pause before the reply came.
"Нет. Не разрушай ворота. Мы здесь не для того, чтобы захватывать территорию. Мы - гости. Я уже обеспечила вход снаружи. Жди меня у последних ворот, ÑYXÖRÂ. Не ломай их."
• (No. Do not destroy the gate. We are not here to claim territory. We are guests. I have already secured entry from the outside. Wait for me at the last gate, ÑYXÖRÂ. Do not break it.) •
ÑYXÖRÂ's smile remained.
"Тц. Никакого веселья"
•(Tch. No fun)•
But her fingers tightened around the rifle, as if suppressing the urge to disobey.
For now, she would wait.
But once the final gate opened...
The real hunt would begin.