The Journey to Alisiya's Hideout

The following morning.

The sun streamed through the windows as we went down for coffee. Aioze wasn't there yet.

"Where is Mr. Aioze ?" I asked , looking around.

Lysandra responded naturally, stirring her coffee.

"He went to pick up my boyfriend," she replied . Lysandra .

Everyone stared at her, surprised.

"Your... boyfriend?" I asked , confused.

"I don't remember her mentioning anyone..."

— Yes. He knows how to defeat Alisiya . —Lysandra smiled .

My heart stopped for a moment.

"No... it can't be."

Minutes later, the main door opened. Aioze entered, followed by a face I never wanted to see again.

— Hiroshi?! — I yelled , feeling my blood boil.

"What is that bastard doing here?!" I asked furiously.

Aioze raised his hand.

"Calm down, Fujimoto . I'll explain," he said . Aioze .

Lysandra 's plan , the proposed alliance, and the condition that we would decide whether Hiroshi could join the mission.

I looked at Shana , Koharu , and Max.

"Can we use a room to discuss this?" I asked.

— Of course — replied Aioze .

We went up to room number one. The tension was almost suffocating.

"What are we going to do?" I asked .

Koharu was the first to speak.

"We must accept it," he replied . Koharu .

"What?!" I exclaimed , incredulous.

Shana looked at her, surprised.

"I didn't expect that from you," he said . Shana .

"I don't want to either , but if we refuse, we'll never reach Alisiya ," she replied . Koharu , steady.

Max crossed his arms.

"I think she's right," Max said .

Shana sighed.

"So... we accept. But only for this mission," he said . Shana .

Everyone looked at me.

I clenched my fists, trying to contain my anger.

"Fine... let's accept this worm. But he shouldn't think I've forgotten what he did," I said angrily.

We went down together. Aioze was waiting for us with the others.

"So, what's the decision?" he asked .

"We'll accept Hiroshi, but only for this mission," I replied .

Aioze nodded.

"It's decided. If he breaks this condition, he will be expelled immediately," he said . Aioze .

Hiroshi simply smiled.

"I hope we can work well together, Fujimoto . Just like back in school," Hiroshi said sarcastically.

"Shut up, you worm," I replied , my blood boiling.

"Enough fighting. We have a mission to accomplish," he interrupted. Aioze , clapping her hands.

Aioze explained the route: we would cross the Dicarik Forest , passing by the ruins of Omeron and the Tamarin Desert , until we reached Alisiya 's hideout in Cecerit .

The mention of Omeron made my chest tighten.

" Grinn ... I swear I will honor my promise."

Aioze divided us into patrol trios, each group accompanying one of the leaders.

While he and Lysandra prepared the tokens for the draw, I gazed at the horizon.

The wind swayed the trees, and for the first time, I felt that we were entering something much bigger than we could control.

Aioze then picked up the box containing the tokens .

Lysandra will be the first to take one ," he announced .

Lysandra approached the box Aioze was holding and pulled out a token .

"I'm happy," she said, opening the small piece of paper.

"The name drawn was Hiroshi," he said . Lysandra .

Hiroshi smiled.

— (This makes my plans easier.) — I thought , feeling my blood boil just seeing him satisfied.

"Now it's Gerald's turn." Aioze looked at him.

Gerald went to the box and pulled out a token .

— Hymen . — he said .

"It will be an honor to patrol with you," he replied . Hymen , with restrained reverence.

"No need for formalities, we're colleagues," Gerald retorted, already smiling.

— Yuuki , come here. — she called. Aioze later.

Yuuki went to the box and pulled out her token .

"Max will be on my team," she announced .

"Great," said Max, pleased.

"Now, I'll decide which team the remaining three will be on." Aioze looked at me.

" Fujimoto , you'll be on Commander Lysandra 's team ," he said .

I felt my stomach churn.

"Am I going to have to team up with that bastard?" I exclaimed .

Hiroshi smiled disdainfully.

"You're a complete loser," he taunted .

"Don't question my decisions," Aioze cut in firmly.

I lowered my head to my knees, forcing myself to breathe slowly.

— Okay. — I replied , controlling my anger.

" Koharu , you'll be with Commander Gerald's team," Aioze announced next.

"Right, Mr. Aioze ," Koharu replied firmly.

" Shana , you must have already realized that you're stuck with Yuuki 's team ," he concluded .

— Yes. — Shana nodded.

Shana and Max exchanged a look; the connection between them was obvious even without words.

— Lysandra will go in the left lane, Yuuki in the middle, and Gerald in the right lane. — he explained . Aioze .

I'll stay here. Let's go!

Each group went its own way. On the right flank, Gerald's team advanced cautiously.

"Beware of monsters, and stay alert if you encounter anyone from another guild," Gerald warned .

— Understood. — they replied. Koharu and Himeno , in chorus.

"How will we know when to come back?" he asked . Hymen , worried.

Gerald smiled and took an hourglass out of his pocket.

"When all the sand has passed, we'll come back," he said , carefully putting the hourglass away.

Yuuki 's team remained vigilant.

"I know you have personal problems, but focus on the patrol, okay?" he said . Yuuki , direct.

— Okay. — they replied. Shana and Max.

Suddenly, two trans-demons landed on Shana 's shoulders , putting Yuuki on alert.

"Wait, don't attack," Shana said calmly.

"What are these?" he asked . Yuuki , surprised.

"They're transport demons . Shana probably sent them to help us with the patrol," Max explained .

Shana smiled at Max, and for a moment the tension eased.

"I used it without warning because I thought it would be useful," she murmured, and Yuuki stretched out her hand, pointing the blade at Shana 's neck .

"I'm the one in charge here. Give notice before acting without consulting," he warned. Yuuki .

"Okay," Shana replied, with restrained respect.

Lysandra 's team advanced with firm steps — I was forcing myself to breathe next to Hiroshi.

Aioze 's fault for putting me on this jerk's team," I grumbled , a hungry hatred filling my voice.

"Looks like you've learned to yell and disobey ," Hiroshi retorted provocatively.

"Shut up, you disgusting creature," I replied , my fist clenched.

"Then shut me up, you useless thing," he smiled, lethally.

Lysandra raised her voice, cutting off the argument.

"You two, watch out!" he ordered .

Five wolves leaped out of the bushes; the ambush was clean. Lysandra raised her hands and unleashed lightning bolts, felling all the wolves with surgical precision.

— (She's amazing.) — I thought , amazed despite everything.

She turned to us, sternly.

"Stop this nonsense. We're on a life-or-death mission. Be serious," he said .

Hiroshi snorted and looked at me.

"I promise I'll be serious," he said with an irony that betrayed his pleasure.

"I'm not going to forgive you that easily," I replied to myself, but I knew that, for now, I had to work with him.

We returned to patrol. Hours later, when all the hourglasses had been turned again, we returned to the spot where Aioze was waiting for us for lunch.

"I've already prepared the meal," he said . Aioze , upon seeing us.

"Now we will all go to the city of Omeron ." We ate and discussed the patrol's findings for half an hour. Then, Aioze announced...

Arriving in Omeron was a punch to the gut: the city devastated, buildings in ruins, and a heavy silence where life once reigned. Aioze began to walk through the streets with calm steps.

"There's a river nearby. The women will bathe first, followed by the men," he explained .

The women went to the river. While they bathed, small conversations arose, light as blades.

— Lysandra , I don't know how you have the courage to be with someone like Hiroshi. — she said . Yuuki , sincere.

"I've loved him ever since I met him," she replied . Lysandra , simple.

"How did you two meet?" he asked . Koharu , curious.

"It's a long story. And what about you? Is there anyone you want?" he replied . Lysandra .

"I want to win Max back. He's kind, noble, and handsome," she said . Shana , straightforward.

Yuuki smiled shyly.

"I would like a man like Mr. Aioze ," she murmured , and I could only feel something like pride and strange secondhand embarrassment.

Koharu became thoughtful. Shana playfully nudged her, making her blush.

"I'm going to try to win Fujimoto back ," Koharu murmured, half aloud.

"I love Fujimoto . I want to marry him," Himeno said firmly later.

That statement caused everyone to fall silent for a moment.

"So we have competition," Shana commented with a bitter smile.

"It won't be easy," Koharu retorted, determined.

The women finished getting dressed. Then the men went to the river. The atmosphere between us was tense and yet strange, like a thread about to snap.

"I didn't see much over there," grumbled Hiroshi.

"That's not appropriate," Gerald reprimanded.

"I bet Fujimoto wanted to take a look," Hiroshi teased, provoking an immediate reaction.

"Why my name?!" I exclaimed , annoyed.

Max tried to calm things down.

"Stop it. We're on a mission," Max said .

Aioze cut the conversation short.

"Hiroshi, what are your plans against Alisiya ?" he asked seriously.

"I have a plan, but it's fallible. If it fails, we're screwed. We'll discuss it tomorrow," Hiroshi replied coldly.

We went to dinner, and afterwards Lysandra brought the four magic huts out of her pocket; they rose with a snap, protecting our camp from detection.

"I'll sleep alone in a cabin," said Aioze . "You two sleep as a trio."

"I can sleep with you, if you want," Yuuki offered , full of courage.

"No need," Aioze replied with a slight nod.

Camp lights, a crackling fire, and collective anxiety: it was time to draw lots for the sleeping quarters. Chance would determine who would sleep with whom as night approached.

The draws unfolded: Yuuki ended up in cabin two; Gerald took one; Lysandra ended up in two with Yuuki ; Himeno in three; Hiroshi also in three, which left Yuuki on edge, with his blade pointed at Hiroshi's neck in a protective reflex.

"I swear I'll kill him if he tries anything with Himeno ," he threatened . Yuuki , the harsh voice.

"I'm not going to try anything," he said with a venomous smile.

Max guaranteed protection.

"I'll protect you if he does anything," he said to Himeno .

Night fell, and little by little, everyone drifted off to sleep. In my mind, the image of Omeron destroyed burned like a promise of retaliation.

Dawn tinged the ruins of Omeron with golden and gray hues.

The wind blew gently, stirring up dust and memories of a city that once flourished.

Aioze left his hut, followed by everyone else.

"We will continue the patrol today. It will be the last one," he announced .

"Shall we patrol around the destroyed city?" I asked , adjusting my sword.

— Exactly. — he confirmed , holding up the box containing the tokens .

" Yuuki , come and draw the first name," she said . Aioze .

Yuuki walked over to him, picked up a token , and grimaced as she read the result.

"Damn... I'm going to have to lead Hiroshi," he said . Yuuki .

Hiroshi smiled, his gaze full of mischief.

— (This is going to be interesting.) — I thought , already anticipating confusion.

"Why are you smiling, you bastard?" Yuuki growled.

— Yuuki , stop. — warned Aioze .

She snorted.

— Okay . — he said Yuuki .

— Gerald, your turn. — called the leader.

Gerald approached, pulled out a token , and read:

— Fujimoto . — said Gerald.

"It will be an honor to be part of your team," I replied with a slight nod.

Lysandra 's turn ," he said . Aioze .

Lysandra took out a token and smiled.

"The name drawn was Himeno ," he said . Lysandra .

"And the remaining three, I will decide. Max will stay with Gerald, Shana with Yuuki , and Koharu with Lysandra ," he said . Aioze , looking at Koharu , Shana , and Max.

Each one reacted silently.

— (Maybe this is my chance to get closer to Fujimoto again.) — Max thought .

— (Me and Himeno on the same team… how strange.) — he reflected . Koharu .

"I'll keep an eye on that damn Hiroshi," he promised . Shana .

— Team Yuuki on the left route, Gerald in the center, Lysandra on the right. At the end, return to this point. — Aioze finished.

The teams separated.

As everyone else departed, Aioze continued alone towards the old royal palace.

The silence of the past

The ruins of the palace were an open wound.

Aioze walked among broken columns, observing the wreckage and burnt coats of arms.

Suddenly, something gleamed beneath the dust—a fallen painting.

He lifted it carefully.

It was a painting of Grinn and Melissa. Their serene faces, their hands intertwined.

— (They were so beautiful...) — she murmured.

The tears streamed down without warning.

The sound of the wind was his only answer.

Yuuki Team

"Keep your eyes open. This area may still have traps," he ordered. Yuuki .

— Okay. — he replied Shana , observing the terrain.

Hiroshi walked behind them, his eyes lazily attentive.

— (Those two are so irresistible ... but it's best to wait for the right time.) — he thought , with a sly smile.

Yuuki turned around abruptly.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked . Yuuki is annoyed.

"Nothing much," he replied , feigning innocence.

"If you try anything, I'll kill you myself," she warned . Yuuki .

"You can trust me, Commander," he replied , chuckling softly.

Shana , instinctively, approached Yuuki .

"Let's continue. The sooner we finish, the better," he said . Shana .

Lysandra's Team

"Stay alert. Alisiya may have left traps around here," she said . Lysandra .

— Okay. — they replied. Himeno and Koharu .

Koharu glanced sideways at Himeno .

— (So she likes Fujimoto too ...) — she thought, her heart aching.

Suddenly, Hymen stopped.

— Lysandra … look over there. — he said Hymen .

There were bodies scattered among the stones — ancient skeletons, still wearing pieces of armor.

" Alisiya caused a massacre here." "This place is a graveyard of mistakes," she said . Lysandra , with a cold tone.

The two girls looked at each other in silence, the weight of war hanging over them.

Gerald's Team

The wind was blowing strongly through the narrow streets.

Gerald walked ahead, while Max and I kept watch around.

" Fujimoto , can you forgive me?" Max asked bluntly.

"Let's focus on the mission," I replied , trying to maintain a neutral tone.

" Fujimoto , he's being sincere. Give him a chance to start over," Gerald said seriously.

I remained silent.

"Perhaps I was too harsh. At the time, I didn't realize the feelings of those around me..."

But something changed in the air. A strange vibration ran through the floor.

— Wait. That feeling... — I murmured.

Gerald raised his hand.

"Silence. I heard it too," said Gerald.

— Parasites. Several. — I said .

"How many?" Gerald asked .

"Two here. Three near Team Yuuki . Three near Lysandra . And... five heading to the palace," I replied .

"Understood. Let's deal with the next two first," said Gerald, clenching his fists.

The creatures emerged, twisted human bodies with white eyes and instinctive movements.

Gerald moved forward first.

"I'll take care of one. You take care of the other!" said Gerald.

The ground trembled with his blows. In seconds, one of the parasites was hurled against a wall and fell lifeless.

The other one advanced on us.

— Max! — I shouted .

He extended his hand. I touched it, and a warmth coursed through my body, as if invisible flames had ignited within me.

"I understand... shared energy ."

I pointed my sword at the creature's chest.

The blade gleamed, and the parasite burned in a golden flash until it turned to ashes.

Gerald smiled.

— Great job. Perfect synchronization. — Gerald praised us.

"Those creatures... were just bait. Alisiya knew we were coming."

We returned to the meeting point. Little by little, the other teams arrived, equally victorious.

"They all found parasites. This confirms what I thought: they were weak," he stated . Aioze .

" Alisiya must have underestimated you," she added .

"Then we have a real chance against her," I said firmly.

"Yes," he replied . Aioze , with a rare smile.

"Now, lunch. Afterwards, we'll continue on to the Tamarin Desert ," he said . Aioze .

Tamarin Desert

The heat was almost unbearable. The sand shone like gold under the relentless sun.

After hours of walking, Aioze raised his hand.

"There's an oasis nearby. The women go first," he said . Aioze .

They moved away. Quiet laughter and the sounds of water echoed from afar.

Soon after, it was our turn. The cold water was a relief.

That night, the wind began to blow stronger, but Lysandra reassured everyone:

"These magical huts can withstand any storm. Not a single grain of sand can get in," he said . Lysandra .

— Impressive. It seems like a dream. — I commented .

"A dream before the war," she replied , half-smiling.

Gathered around the campfire, we drew lots.

— Fujimoto , come and get a token . — he said . Lysandra .

I got.

— Number two. — I said.

— Shana , your turn. — she called .

— Number two. — he replied Shana .

"Let's split the cabin, then," I said .

Lysandra continued with the draw until the end.

However, chance seemed to be playing with fate: Himeno and Hiroshi ended up in the same group again.

"This is addictive! This is the second time it's happened!" Yuuki shouted.

"It's a draw, you idiot," she retorted . Lysandra , laughing.

"What did you call me?!" he shouted . Yuuki .

Aioze merely sighed in the distance, pretending not to hear.

In the end, the cabins were divided:

Lysandra with me and Shana , Gerald with Hiroshi and Himeno , Yuuki with Koharu and Max.

Lysandra adjusted her hair and looked at me.

"Tomorrow we will have a decisive battle. It's time to rest and prepare our hearts," she said .

"You talk as if it were your last night," I replied , half-seriously.

She smiled.

"Maybe. So... enjoy the silence, Fujimoto . Tomorrow, the world could change," he said . Lysandra .

I lay down, gazing at the magical ceiling of the cabin, a perfect imitation of a starry sky.

The sound of the wind, the warmth of the sand, and the distant echo of Omeron made me close my eyes with a single thought:

"Tomorrow... we will face Alisiya . And I cannot fail."