Light at the start of the tunnel

The smoke is so dense it covers the sun, arid air and heat make my clothes stiff like dry leaves. It's devastating, and the complete lack of wildlife just adds to my desperation.

I look under every shadow, through every charred remain, more stressed each passing second. Finally, a young voice calls out to me.

"Nii…"

I run towards the voice, and when I reach its origin…

My knees fail me. My sister, my mother, my best friend, they are…

It's all because of me. I failed, and they paid the price.

I scream with every ounce of strength I have.

…

I wake up, covered in more sweat than usual.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

After a quick breakfast, the three of them gathered around the still untouched metal dog.

She and Kaji had brought it yesterday so Mr. Ge could take a good look at it. Her arm is still sore from carrying the thing.

"Interesting. I'm not familiar with this model, though I've only seen four or five of these in my life."

"Does it work?" she asks.

"Err… doesn't seem like it. I'll open it up and look inside. You should get your cane ready in case I manage to repair it."

"Why? Is it dangerous?"

"Depends on the model. Some of these get defensive if they perceive their master is being threatened. I don't know if this one would automatically register us as masters, or instead assume we have stolen it."

A small silence ensues. Hoshina expected Kaji to ask about the different models Mr. Ge knows and try to guess the type of the one his father stole back in the day.

Since he doesn't seem to want to say anything, she continues conversing with the elder.

It turns out the dog's insides are rusted, including some very specific pieces Mr. Ge called 'microchips'.

Long story short, it's impossible to repair with their knowledge and resources. So instead they help disassemble it and take out the useful parts.

After loosening bolts for a while, she realizes something.

This is kinda boring.

…

Let's try something fun.

She whispers her plan to Mr. Ge, then turns towards Kaji, who is at another table, focused on one of the dog's legs.

"What is this piece for, Kaji?" She extends her empty hand in front of him.

"What piece? There's nothing in your hand."

"Ah!" Mr Ge. exclaims. "Careful with that one, it's very delicate and easy to break."

"Really?" She says as surprised as possible. "Look out, Kaji, I can see another one at your table."

Kaji looks at them both. "Whatever." He goes back to his work like nothing.

She expected a bit more of a reaction. They can't keep up the joke like this...

…

"Say, are you hiding something?"

He doesn't lift his gaze nor stop working. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, now that you mention it," the mister adds, "he has been a bit grumpy this morning. I'm surprised you picked up on it."

"Kaji." She looks straight at him. "Go on, spill the… what was it called?"

"Spill the beans?" Kaji says.

"Correct. I thought we were supposed to be over this whole 'hiding things that bother us' part."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll talk. It's no big deal, I was just trying to forget about it."

"Something happened?"

"I had an annoying dream. Your side won the war and killed everyone. I saw my dead family and that got me in a foul mood, the end."

"I see, that can be very 'annoying' indeed. But don't worry about real life, your family is fine, probably."

"What makes you say so?"

"After my clan wins a war they leave most people alive, taking a few as servants along with all the magic… I mean, tech items. At worst, if your family has been hired as servants, they will at least have food, education and a place to stay."

"Some of the things you said aren't as reassuring as you think." He sighs. "I guess being slave to a wealthy family is not that bad considering the alternatives."

She nods. "It's been around half a year since the first attack, the war has certainly ended by now. My clan must be far away looking for new opponents, though I suspect yours is still right above us."

"How can you be certain?"

"We've come across islands that wander, and others that stay in one place. Yours was the latter."

"I'm guessing your ship was set on standby the last time someone steered it," says the elder.

"So they are still close, yet completely unreachable." Kaji ruffles his hair. "I wish there was a way to go back up and meet again with my family."

This reminds Hoshina of something. She looks at Mr. Ge, trying to confirm if he arrived at a similar conclusion. He nods.

…

So what does his nod mean?

She decides to just say what's on her mind.

"I don't mean to give you false assurance, but it's not impossible to go back up."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

It might be hope in vain, however he intends to seize it and not let go; otherwise, he could fall back into the deepest abyss.

He and Hoshina spend the rest of the morning searching outside, investigating every piece of wreckage around their base.

Kaji still has to lend her his shoulder because of the sand, but he needs someone to help him identify it, and Ge insists he's on a break and refuses to go out.

Hoshina's people called them magic steeds, Ge used the term 'small aircraft'. If they find one in decent condition and manage to repair it, both can go back to their families.

Which would also mean not seeing each other again.

For a minute, Kaji gets stuck in this thought.

"Anything on your mind?" Hoshina breaks his immersion.

"Nothing worth sharing. Let's keep looking."

"I believe we should take a break. The sun is getting intense, and you've had to shoulder my weight for a while."

"I'd rather keep searching, the sooner we find one the better."

"I am in no hurry. I do miss my family, but if we go back we'll also have to part ways with Mr. Ge and each other."

"Yeah, and?"

"Won't you miss me if we separate? I know I would." Here she comes again with the direct, shameless stare.

"Ugh… don't ask dumb questions. I… I guess you are decent company, and losing that is not ideal. Regardless, my family comes first."

"Alright, let's keep looking until dusk then."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

They had to come back by late noon, drenched and barely able to keep walking.

Hoshina wants nothing more than to take a relaxing shower and…

"Sorry, kids, no water today."

"What the heck, Ge!?" Kaji must have also looked forward to some fresh water.

"I think a pipe's broken. It'll take me some time to find the source and repair it."

"Anything we can do to help?" she asks.

"No, nothing at all. Plumbing is a very complex matter, more than tech, so don't even try to watch me work." That's a strange way to phrase it. "Oh!" Ge claps. "I have an idea. How about we go to the hot springs?"

"Is that water safe though?" Hoshina asks.

"Yeah, my pals used them a lot back in the day. It's not clean per se, but it's better than stinking of sweat. Then once we come back you can wash your joints with some antiseptic wipes. How 'bout it?"

"I support the idea, I love baths."

Kaji rolls his eyes. "Fine, I guess I'll give them a try. But let's go with clothes, I don't want to see your old wrinkled body."

"So you want swimsuits, eh? I'll see if I can make something in time. This is going to be a fun night, hye, he, he!"

Hoshina agrees, though Kaji gives Mr. Ge a skeptical look for some reason.