Chapter 49 – Parley? Or Full-Scale Diplomacy?

The chamber hums.

Not with voices—but with power.

Soft blue light runs along the walls like veins of living crystal. Holographic sigils bloom and fade in the air, rotating slowly, as if the room itself is thinking. The floor is polished obsidian, reflecting us back in warped silhouettes—surface dwellers standing in a place that should not exist.

At the far end, upon a raised dais of pearl-white alloy and coral-gold filigree, sits Lady Garnet.

She looks young—too young.
Brunette hair cascades down her shoulders, woven with subtle gems that glow faintly. Her dress is regal yet almost extravagant, layered with fabrics that shimmer between medieval elegance and futuristic design. Her sapphire eyes hold calm authority… and something sharp beneath it.

She studies us.

Carefully.

“Welcome,” Lady Garnet says, her voice smooth and composed, echoing gently through the chamber.
“People of the surface.”

Luna steps forward and bows deeply, her tail flicking behind her with practiced grace.

“Greetings,” she says. “I am Luna. These are my companions.”

We follow suit—some more gracefully than others.
Lockbolt bows with exaggerated flair.
Eira tips her hat.
Riven and Ravenna remain rigid, hands never far from their weapons.

Garnet’s gaze sweeps over us all.

“And tell me,” she asks, fingers steepled,
“what interest draws you into the depths of Marinus?”

Luna straightens, unflinching.

“We do not seek riches,” she says evenly.
“We seek a book—written by Drake Stroud himself. The Drake’s Codex.”

The temperature drops.

Just a little.

“…The Codex,” Garnet repeats slowly.

Murmurs ripple through the five women standing behind her—her inner council. Their expressions tighten, eyes narrowing.

“That is our heirloom,” Garnet continues coolly.
“And those standing beside you—are they not of the Sea Wolves?”

Her gaze snaps to Lockbolt.

Lockbolt clears his throat, straightens his coat, and grins.

“Ahoy, me lady! That there codex be our heirloom—the very original writ by Drake Stroud hisself! We be hopin’ to reclaim what’s ours, if ye’d be willin’.”

Garnet exhales sharply, irritation flashing across her composed face.

“Hmph. That old Black Wolf,” she mutters.
“How many times must I tell him? The book belongs to us.”

Luna steps in smoothly before the tension sharpens further.

“Our mission is not one of violence,” she says.
“But we have been called to gather the Breathing Court.”

The chamber erupts in hushed discussion.

Garnet’s eyes narrow.

“…Is this because of the Western Demon Kingdom?”

“Yes,” Luna answers.
“But not only that. We have our own purpose.”

“And that is?” Garnet asks.

“We seek the truth,” Luna replies.
“About the two heroes—Drake Stroud and Lilith.”

The murmuring grows louder.

I glance around. Even the guards stiffen at those names.

Garnet leans back slightly, studying us anew.

“Then tell me,” she says, eyes returning to Lockbolt,
“why do you seek the Codex so desperately, child?”

Lockbolt scratches his beard.

“Ahoy… the Elder Black Wolf be deep in thought, that he is. But I reckon he’s craftin’ a law—one meant to unite all clans, sea and surface alike.”

Garnet goes silent.

Her fingers tap once against the armrest.

“I see…”

For a heartbeat, no one breathes.

Finally, she rises.

“Well then,” Garnet says, voice measured,
“give us time. The Codex is heavily protected—and we still believe it to be ours by right.”

She turns, walking a slow circle, her steps echoing.

“However,” she continues,
“while preparations are made… you shall remain here as our guests.”

Luna bows again.
“I thank you.”

Garnet’s gaze shifts—to Eira.

“You must be Eira,” she says.
“Lady Nu Wa appears… occupied. Still playing pirate, is she?”

Eira grins.

“Arrr, truth be told. But she’s keepin’ one eye sharp on the Western Demon Kingdom. We’ve already tasted their attacks—but thanks to these fine adventurers, we sent ‘em scurryin’.”

Garnet smiles faintly.

“Very well,” she says.
“Then we shall see what fate intends.”

And just like that—

The meeting ends.

No threats.
No blades drawn.
No blood spilled.

As we’re escorted out, I can’t shake the feeling crawling up my spine.

That was too easy.

Way too easy.

Diplomacy, huh?

Yeah…
Something tells me this story is just getting warmed up.

We’re almost out of the chamber when my thoughts drift—
not to the Codex,
not to Lady Garnet,
but to him.

Conrad Wright.

The moment that name surfaces in my mind—

—a voice slips in.

So… you wish to meet him… Conrad…?

I freeze mid-step.

That voice.

Cool. Smooth. Too close.

“…Lady Garnet?” I mutter under my breath.

Luna suddenly stiffens beside me, ears twitching.

“…I heard that,” she says flatly.

Hey—
STOP PLAYING VOICES IN MY HEAD!! 😓

A soft laugh echoes—not in the room, but inside us.

Fascinating…
You two are connected already.

My scalp prickles.

Interesting, Lady Garnet continues, her tone amused.
I find myself growing fond of both of you.

Luna’s tail bristles.

After this, Garnet says calmly,
I require only the two of you. There are… matters I wish to discuss.

Luna exhales slowly.
“Thank you for the consideration,” she replies aloud, voice controlled.

Then—

Hmm…
Is that jealousy I sense, Luna?
I am quite interested in this boy… hehehe.

The temperature drops.

Luna’s eyes narrow.

“Don’t test me.”

I clasp my head.

HEY.
STOP HAVING A PRIVATE MEETING
INSIDE MY BRAIN.

This place isn’t just advanced.
It’s dangerous.

And Lady Garnet?

She isn’t just a ruler.

She’s watching.
Probing.
Measuring.

And somehow…

I get the terrifying feeling that meeting Conrad is only the beginning of a much bigger game.

Misha and Lucida guide the others away, their footsteps echoing softly through the luminous corridors.

The moment they’re far enough—

Let’s find a way to split, Luna’s voice slips into my mind.

Yeah, I reply silently.
Something tells me this place has layers… and we’re only scratching the surface.

Indeed, Luna answers.

Timing works in our favor.

The knights escort the rest of the group toward the guest quarters, and before anyone notices, Luna and I peel away—quiet, careful—our footsteps swallowed by the hum of the city.

Head straight. No need to return to the chambers.

Lady Garnet’s voice blooms inside our heads again.

Luna slows.
“Are you… leading us somewhere else?”

You wished to meet him, Garnet replies calmly.
Did you not?

Luna and I exchange a glance.

That look—the kind where you don’t need words.
She knows.
And worse—

Garnet knows that we know.

We follow.

The air changes as we descend deeper.

The corridor opens into a vast chamber of glass and light.

“…This doesn’t look like a library,” Luna whispers.

She’s right.

There are no shelves.
No books.

Instead—floating panes of translucent glass, shifting symbols, rotating images suspended midair. Crystals hum softly, pulsing with stored data. Light refracts endlessly, like we’ve stepped into the inside of a prism.

My breath catches.

“…It’s a computer.”

Luna blinks.
“A… what?”

“A machine,” I say slowly, eyes scanning the interfaces. “One that stores information. Processes it. Calculates things people shouldn’t be able to calculate by hand.”

I swallow.

“…This whole place runs on it.”

“Wow…” Luna murmurs.

A soft chuckle echoes behind us.

“You really do react like children sometimes… hehehe.”

We turn.

Lady Garnet stands there, hands folded behind her back, watching us with quiet amusement.

“Lady Garnet,” Luna bows immediately.

Garnet’s gaze slides past her—and locks onto me.

Her lips curve into a knowing smile.

“You aren’t confused,” she says. “Which confirms my suspicion.”

She steps closer.

“You come from the same world as Conrad.”

“…Is that so,” I reply carefully.

She gestures forward.

“Come.”

Deeper still.

And then—

I stop.

“…That’s—”

A humanoid figure stands silently at the far end of the hall.

Metallic. Elegant. Too smooth. Too precise.

“A golem?” Luna whispers.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “If a golem went through ten generations of refinement… and skipped an entire technological era.”

It shouldn’t exist.
Not here.
Not in this timeline.

“This facility existed long before we understood it,” Garnet says softly. “Until he arrived.”

“…Conrad,” I breathe.

“Yes.”

Luna turns to me.
“Randy…”

“I need to know,” I say quietly. “I need to be sure.”

Garnet studies us.

“How do you know Conrad Wright?”

I look down—and memory crashes over me.

“You’re writing the equation backwards again.”
“Hey. Focus. Professor Griffith didn’t hire me to babysit you.”

A young man stands over my desk, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharp with intelligence and irritation.

“…I’ve met him,” I say. “Back home.”

Luna’s ears twitch.

“I saw fragments of that memory,” she admits. “But I didn’t think…”

Garnet smiles faintly.

“You two are… unusual. Such synchronization. As if—”

“—We formed a soul-bond,” Luna says, embarrassed.

“…I see,” Garnet murmurs. “That explains much.”

We reach the final chamber.

And there—

A man stands before a massive glowing wall, fingers dancing across light like it’s solid.

“Equinox… no—still unstable. The pathway diverges here… damn it.”

He mutters to himself, lost in calculation.

Slender build. Taller than me.
No glasses—never needed them.

Tattered robes mixed with something unmistakably scientific.

“…Conrad,” I whisper.

Garnet speaks aloud.

“It seems you’re working again.”

He turns.

And the moment his eyes meet mine—

“Well I’ll be damned.”

He steps forward, grin spreading across his face.

“Randy,” he says. “Of all the people in all the worlds… I didn’t expect you to be real.”

“…Yeah,” I reply weakly. “Same.”

Luna stares between us.

“…How do you know him?”

Garnet laughs softly.
“What a small world.”

Conrad steps closer, circling me like a doctor inspecting a patient.

“Posture checks out. Eyes clear. Breathing steady…”
He taps my elbow. Then my knee.

“Bone density seems intact.”

“Hey—hey—I’m fine,” I protest.

Luna looks stunned.

“…I saw this memory,” she says slowly. “But seeing it in person…”

Conrad grins.

“Well now,” he says warmly.
“Looks like the universe still enjoys messing with us.”

My throat tightens.

“How could you…”
My voice wavers before I can stop it.
“…You—I remember what my uncle told me.”

Conrad tilts his head, studying me the way he always does—like I’m a puzzle he half-solved years ago.

“Well now,” he says lightly, rubbing his chin,
“about my little disappearing act… I reckon I had my suspicions even back then.”

He chuckles—soft, almost fond.

“But what really gets a man thinkin’,” he continues, eyes drifting to the glowing walls,
“is what the world itself has been busy doin’ while I was gone.”

“…Professor,” I say.
“You vanished three years ago.”

The words hang heavy.

Luna looks at me sideways—like she’s watching someone talk to a ghost who forgot he died.

“Well I’ll be,” Conrad murmurs.
“Three years, huh?”

He stretches his arms, cracks his neck.

“Funny thing is… it feels like I’ve been around for a country mile.”

He pauses.
Then smiles.

“And yet—”

He taps his own face.

“I don’t seem to age a single day.”

Silence crashes down.

That’s when it hits me.

This isn’t just strange.

It’s wrong.

“…Yeah,” I breathe.
“…But I’m— I’m glad. Really. I’m glad to see you again.”

For just a second, Conrad’s expression softens.

Then—just like old times—

“Well now,” he says casually,
“I trust you actually read those books I left behind?”

He squints at me.

“How’d the grades turn out, son? Hope it’s a number that won’t give your folks a heart attack.”

…Damn it.

He’s still sharp.

“Y-Yeah,” I mutter. “All good.”

Luna doesn’t say anything.

She already knows.

Conrad waves a hand dismissively, and the floating displays around us dim, retracting like obedient spirits.

“Let’s set the flashy toys aside,” he says.
“All sizzle, no steak.”

Then his gaze locks onto mine.

“So,” he says quietly.
“What’s really gnawin’ at you?”

I swallow.

“The Codex,” I say.
“Drake’s Codex.”

The air changes.

“I see.”

Conrad exhales slowly.

“Well then,” he murmurs,
“here we go.”

He snaps his fingers.

Reality folds.

Light bends inward—no spell circle, no chant, no warning.

Something simply appears in his hand.

A small notebook.

Worn leather cover. Faded edges. Hand-stitched spine.

That’s it.

No glow.
No dramatic aura.

Yet the moment I see it—

My chest tightens.

“That’s… it?” I whisper.

Conrad turns the notebook over once, thumb brushing across the cover with unsettling familiarity.

“The Drake’s Codex,” he says.
“Unassuming little thing, ain’t it?”

He looks at me.

“And yet…”

His smile fades—just slightly.

“…It’s the kind of book that turns history sideways.”

It’s… almost too easy.

The Codex rests in Conrad’s hand, real, solid, undeniable.

I didn’t expect this.

None of us did.

“Well now, son,” Conrad says, tilting his head with that familiar half-smile,
“you’ve gone and done somethin’ I plain didn’t see comin’.”

“And that is…?”
Luna and I answer almost at the same time.

Our minds sync—instinctively bracing, like we’re standing on the edge of a cliff we can’t yet see.

Conrad studies us. Not like a scientist.
Not like a mentor.

But like someone measuring the distance between past and present.

“Well now,” he says softly,
“seein’ you thrive… grow… pull through against odds that’d flatten most folks…”

His eyes narrow—just a fraction.

“…it makes a man wonder how a bein’ not even born of this Earth could be blessed with such gifts.”

The room goes quiet.

“I do believe so,” Garnet says calmly.

Her voice echoes—older than it should be.

“You carry the same aura… as Drake.”

My chest tightens.

“The one I loved,” she continues,
“and the one I hated the most.”

She exhales.

“Lilith.”

Luna stiffens beside me.

“That must be confusing,” I say quietly, forcing the words out.
“Loving and hating someone like that.”

Garnet’s sapphire eyes soften—just for a moment.

“Indeed,” she says.
“I loved Drake for a long time.”

Her gaze drifts upward, as if staring through centuries.

“This world… Marinus… it was not always like this. Just as Arcanthus was not born a legend.”

She smiles faintly.

“You must be confused.”

I take a slow breath.

“Well,” I say honestly,
“I don’t really care about all that.”

Both of them look at me.

“But Conrad,” I continue,
“why do you still talk like not being human is some kind of burden?”

Conrad lets out a quiet laugh.

“Well now—hold on just a minute.”

He raises a finger.

“A burden?”
“I reckon you’ve grabbed the wrong end of the stick there, son.”

That’s when I feel it.

The air shifts.

The library—no, the space itself—changes.

The glowing panels distort.
The crystalline structures hum louder, deeper, like something waking up.

Luna’s fingers twitch near my sleeve.

Garnet steps forward.

“The real reason I wished to meet only you two,” she says,
“is because you both carry the spirit of the one I loved… and the one I despised.”

Her eyes burn.

“And that contradiction exists within you.”

Conrad exhales.

“Well now,” he says quietly,
“here’s the real kicker with that book…”

Before he can finish—

Power erupts.

Garnet raises her hand.

Light condenses, spiraling into form.

A staff manifests—elegant, ancient, humming with layered magic that makes my skin crawl.

“To see how strong you both truly are,” Garnet declares.

Her presence changes.

No longer just a ruler.

No longer just a woman.

A test.

A judge.

Conrad turns to me.

His voice is calm.

Almost gentle.

“Well then, Randy…”

He steps back.

“…let’s see what you’ve learned.”

“Huh?”

That’s all I manage to say.

Conrad calmly reaches behind his back—
and things unfold.

Not weapons.

Not spells.

Mechanical shapes detach from his body, unfolding mid-air with sharp clicks and soft electronic hums.

Drones.

A whole swarm of them.

They hover around him like obedient metallic spirits, lenses glowing faint blue.

“Yikes!” I blurt out before my brain can catch up.

Luna snaps her head toward him.
“Hey—!”

Too late.

Garnet moves.

In a blink, she’s already there—closing the distance with Luna, staff sweeping low as pressure crashes down like a tidal wave.

“Don’t get distracted,” Garnet snaps.

The air trembles.

What the hell is going on here?!
My thoughts are already spiraling.

Luna grits her teeth, steadying herself as mana flares around her feet.

“…What in the world?” she mutters.

Garnet circles her slowly, eyes sharp, amused.

“You have skill, child,” Garnet says coolly.
“But it’s still unrefined.”

Luna lifts her chin, refusing to back away.

“I know,” she replies.
“I still have a lot to learn.”

For a heartbeat, Garnet’s smile widens.

“Oh yes,” she says softly.
“Including this part.”

She straightens—deliberately, confidently—her presence suddenly overwhelming in a very different way.

Not magic.

Not force.

Authority. Experience. Absolute confidence.

My brain betrays me for exactly half a second.

—Why am I even noticing that?!
Focus, idiot!

I glance at Luna.

She’s smiling.

Not flustered.

Not intimidated.

Just… dangerous.

“Is that so…?” Luna murmurs, eyes narrowing with quiet amusement.
“Hehehe…”

My soul leaves my body.

Jeez—did she just step on a land mine?!

Garnet pauses.

Then laughs.

A low, pleased sound.

“Oh?” she says.
“Interesting.”

Conrad watches from behind us, hands clasped, drones hovering like patient predators.

“Well now,” he says lightly,
“this is gettin’ more educational than I planned.”

I swallow.

Yeah.

Something tells me this fight isn’t just about power anymore.

Conrad stands there.

Relaxed. Upright. Hands loosely at his sides.

Like none of this matters.

And that’s what scares me.

I don’t rush him.
I don’t underestimate him.

Not this man.

Not the one who turned my life into hell just to make sure I’d survive it.

He smiles—calm, curious, almost kind.

“Well now,” Conrad says, tilting his head,
“I gotta admit, son… I’m mighty surprised.”

I tense.

“You ain’t even tryin’ to put a scratch on me. You’ve got that… piece of work… livin’ inside your own body.”

His eyes sharpen.

“So tell me. Is it just for show?”

“Jeez,” I mutter.
“I don’t like usin’ that.”

A faint chuckle.

“Well now, for a space this small…”
His fingers flick.

Several drones slide forward, humming softly.
“…you sure about that?”

I exhale.

Then I answer.

Two heavy drones deploy from my sides—larger, bulkier, armored. They slam into place with a metallic thud, dwarfing Conrad’s.

“Well now,” he drawls, inspecting them,
“First impression? Bigger than me, sure.”

He taps one mid-air.

“But inefficient. Burns too much energy. Dependability’s a question mark.”

“Really?” I snap.
“They’ve saved my ass more times than I can count.”

“I reckon that’s the problem,” Conrad replies smoothly.
“You’re leanin’ too hard on ‘em.”

A shadow moves.

Too late.

“BOOM!”

The blast slams into my back—heat, pressure, shock.
An explosive drone. A kamikaze.

I stagger forward, teeth clenched.

“Annoying bastard…” I mutter.

I slap my chest instinctively—mana disperses, armor stabilizes.

Conrad’s eyebrow lifts.

“Well now… seems that Anti-magic of yours is keepin’ you in one piece.”

Another drone dives.

“KABOOM!”

Pain flares—but only skin-deep. A burn. A warning.

I stay standing.

Still.

Too still.

Across the chamber—

“Hey!” Luna shouts, parrying Garnet’s staff.
“Don’t just stand there—fight back!”

“Dear,” Garnet sings mockingly.
“You shouldn’t distract him.”

Her staff sweeps low.

A kick.

Luna crashes into a pillar, gasping.

My vision sharpens.

“So,” Conrad says casually, stepping beside me as smoke curls off my shoulder,
“What’s your educated guess on where that came from?”

“Yeah,” I mutter, brushing ash away.
“I get it.”

He watches me—not my weapons. Me.

“I’ve been observin’ you,” he continues.
“And that style you’re usin’? It ain’t yours.”

Another drone streaks past—I dodge on instinct.

“You’re dancin’ to someone else’s tune. Borrowed steps. Borrowed strength.”

He leans closer.

“A man all muscle and no mind is just as foolish as the rest. Strong as a bull—sharp as a marble.”

“Hold on—” I snap.
“How the hell do you know all this?”

Conrad doesn’t answer me.

Instead, he glances sideways.

“Well now,” he calls out,
“what d’you think, Garnet? You got any interest in that little gatherin’ they call the Brethren Court?”

Garnet scoffs, spitting to the side.

“For Nu Wa?” she sneers.
“Perhaps. But Tikka?”

“Pui.”

“How rude!” Luna snarls, lunging—

Garnet strikes.

A sharp knock to the head.

Luna collapses.

“Emotions lower your focus,” Garnet says coldly.

My fists clench.

Conrad’s already in front of me.

He taps my abdomen.

“Now this,” he says, intrigued,
“is a curious bit of armor.”

Sudden force—

I slam into the wall.

“Randy!” Luna shouts.

I slide down, coughing.

“Yikes…” I groan.
“Professor… how the hell did you do that?”

Conrad adjusts his sleeve.

“Well now, if you truly understood gravity—its vectors, pressure, flow—”

He looks at me, dead serious.

“You could do damn near anything. That ain’t magic. Ain’t miracles.”

“It’s just science.”

Something twists inside my chest.

Heat. Pressure. Awareness.

Conrad’s gaze sharpens.

“Ah. There it is.”

I gasp.

Professor Griffith’s seal—

“It ain’t magic,” Conrad says softly.
“It’s you. Your energy. From the inside.”

“Like what some folks’d call chakra.”

“Yeah…” I wheeze.
“Like hell I believe that.”

He shrugs.

“Well. Your body. Your choice.”

A drone dives again.

I move—

Not thinking.

Just feeling.

Something inside me unlocks.

Something feels… off.

Not pain.
Not fear.

Awareness.

Did Conrad do something to me again?

“Well now,” Conrad says lightly, hands clasped behind his back,
“looks like you’re finally hittin’ your stride.”

I twist aside as a drone whips past my cheek, the air slicing.

“There’s a natural flow to your movements now,” he continues.
“Less panic. More instinct. That’s comin’ along quite nicely.”

“Shut up!” I snap.
“Like I even care!”

I roll, barely avoiding another drone.

He chuckles.

“Well now, that’s a shame,” Conrad muses.
“Because self-awareness is mighty important.”

Then—

He smiles.

And changes tactics.

“I reckon a gentleman’s prospects in the fine art of courtship might be… hindered,” he says calmly,
“if his attention’s been monopolized by a very specific kind of digital muse.”

I freeze for half a second.

Uh oh.

“One might deduce,” he goes on, far too casually,
“a preference for the slender, raven-haired, cheerleader archetype—particularly when paired with a rather… economical skirt.”

“…!!!”

“A man might do well,” Conrad concludes,
“to invest his time in actual women instead of their pixelated counterparts.”

“OI!! 💢”
“That’s NONE of your business!!”

The air instantly turns hostile.

I feel it.

Slowly, I turn my head.

Luna is staring at me.

Smiling.

Dangerously.

“Is that so… nya?” she says sweetly.

Oh no.

Even Garnet lets out a low, amused laugh.

“Well, well,” she says, eyes gleaming.
“Seems this girl is rather fixated on you.”

She tilts her head.

“Tell me… have you two already shared a bed?”

“HEY!!”
“WHAT—?!”

Luna and I shout at the same time.

Her face is red.
Mine probably is too.

Conrad sighs theatrically.

“Well now, Randy,” he says, almost disappointed.
“I don’t recall ever teachin’ you to behave with such barbarism.”

He adjusts his sleeve.

“I reckon those peculiar interests of yours will be Professor Griffith’s problem to untangle.”

My jaw tightens.

And Luna—despite her glare—doesn’t deny anything.

That’s when it hits me.

They’re not mocking us.

They’re pressuring us.

Testing composure.
Testing focus.
Testing whether we can think clearly when emotions get dragged into the battlefield.

I grit my teeth.

Yeah.

We’re being taught something.

Whether we like it or not.

Luna is furious.

No—more than furious.

Her mana flares violently around her, swirling like a storm given form. Every strike she delivers now is sharper, faster, heavier.

But—

Tears streak down her cheeks.

“…Shut up!!” she cries, clashing blades with Garnet’s staff.

The impact cracks the air.

Garnet smiles.

“Excellent,” she says smoothly, deflecting and countering with terrifying precision.
“You’ve been holding yourself back, Luna.”

Another clash.

“You fight best when your heart is exposed.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Her movements blur.

She’s faster now—far faster than before.

But they’re rough. Emotional. Burning too hot.

And Garnet—

She’s calm.

Efficient.

Effortless.

I watch, chest tightening.

What the hell is this feeling?

Then it hits me.

Conrad.

He’s doing it again.

He’s teaching.

Not by explaining.

By cornering.

By provoking.

By forcing growth through pressure.

Same as before.

Same damn method.

I exhale slowly.

If brute strength isn’t the answer…

Then maybe—

I smirk faintly.

“Hey, Conrad,” I call out, ducking under a drone’s sweep.
“I’ve got a question.”

“Well now,” he replies, hands behind his back, drones orbiting lazily.
“What might that be, son?”

I straighten.

“Your theory on mass conduction and zero kinetic equilibrium?”

I look him dead in the eye.

“It’s complete bullshit.”

Silence.

Even one of his drones wobbles slightly.

“Well now,” Conrad says calmly,
“ain’t you just a fountain of insight.”

I step forward.

“There’s always friction,” I continue.
“Even magnets generate resistance when opposing poles stabilize. There’s always micro-drag. Always variance.”

Another drone dives.

I sidestep without looking.

“You ignored that every time I brought it up.”

Luna glances at me mid-fight, confused.

“…Randy?”

“Eyes on me!!” Garnet snaps, driving Luna back with a sharp kick.

Luna skids across the floor.

Garnet is terrifying.

Even Luna—who I know can handle almost anything—is being pushed.

Hard.

Meanwhile, Conrad’s eyes narrow slightly.

“And what exactly are you suggestin’?” he asks.

“That your model assumes perfection,” I reply.

I take another step forward.

“But perfection doesn’t exist.”

The air shifts.

One of his drones accelerates.

I don’t move.

Instead—

I adjust my stance.

Feel the space.

The weight.

The pull.

The pressure in the air.

“…There’s always imbalance,” I murmur.

The drone’s trajectory wavers.

Conrad’s eyebrow lifts.

“You’re basing your calculations on closed systems,” I continue, voice steady now.
“But we’re not in a closed system.”

The library hum deepens.

The space itself reacts.

“And if there’s no perfect equilibrium…”

The drone veers slightly.

“…then gravity doesn’t stabilize.”

It bends.

Just slightly.

Conrad’s smile widens.

“Well now.”

The drone misses me by inches.

“…there’s that rhythm I was waitin’ for.”

Across the chamber—

Luna roars and surges forward, tears still falling—but now focused.

She’s not just angry.

She’s decided.

Garnet blocks—but this time her heel slides half a step.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Something’s different.

I feel it.

Not outside.

Inside.

One of the drones streaks toward me at full velocity—sharp, precise, lethal.

This time…

I don’t dodge.

I reach out.

And I grab it.

The impact rattles my arm, metal vibrating violently against my palm. Sparks flicker—

But I don’t crush it.

I listen.

There’s a rhythm.

A pulse inside it.

Data. Frequency. Micro-adjustments reacting to my presence.

“…I see,” I whisper.

Instead of resisting—

I sync.

The drone hesitates.

Then—

It goes quiet.

The hum changes.

It responds.

Not to Conrad.

To me.

Across the room, Conrad smiles.

“Well now,” he says calmly,
“looks like you’ve finally caught the scent.”

He flicks his fingers.

A dozen more drones launch toward me.

But this time—

I don’t brace to fight.

I brace to understand.

They dive.

I jump.

Catch one mid-spin. Redirect another with a subtle shift in balance. I don’t attack them—I feel them.

Their internal gyros.

Their gravitational stabilizers.

Their micro-cores adjusting to vector changes.

And then—

Something clicks.

The drones don’t feel foreign.

They feel…

Familiar.

I land softly.

“…Interesting,” I murmur.

The drone in my hand dissolves into light—no, not light.

Integration.

It merges into my own deployed units.

Their structure shifts.

Cleaner lines. More efficient arcs. Less bulk. Less wasted energy.

“Well now,” Conrad continues,
“you’ve only brushed against the outer layer of what a man’s meant to be.”

He folds his arms.

“But the way you’re thinkin’ about it? Still a country mile from the real truth.”

“Uh huh…” I mutter.

More drones circle me.

But now—

They’re not hostile.

They’re curious.

They orbit closer.

And one by one—

They align.

Merge.

Recalibrate.

My drones change shape.

Less brute force.

More precision.

A new configuration.

“Well now,” Conrad says, tone faintly impressed,
“that particular item of yours truly is somethin’ special.”

He nods slightly.

“You ought to try it properly.”

“…Like how?” I ask.

He tilts his head.

“Picture it.”

That’s it.

No formula.

No lecture.

Just—

Picture it.

So I close my eyes.

The battlefield noise dulls.

I imagine not a weapon.

Not an attack.

A boundary.

A clean plane of compressed force.

Like a blade.

But wide.

Protective.

Structured.

I hear it first—

A harmonic resonance.

“Randy!!”

Luna’s voice cuts through everything.

My eyes snap open.

A drone slams toward me—

But it stops.

Mid-air.

A translucent barrier hums around me, shimmering with layered geometry.

A force field.

Smooth. Stable. Precise.

Not bulky.

Not excessive.

Efficient.

“My…” Garnet murmurs, stepping back half a pace.

“That is interesting.”

Conrad exhales softly.

“Well now,” he says, faint pride in his voice,
“looks like my student is finally learnin’ the lesson.”

The barrier doesn’t flicker.

It breathes.

And for the first time—

The drones aren’t something I’m using.

They’re something I understand.

“Alright now, son, it's time you put that machinery you've got in there to good use. Yessir, I'm talkin' 'bout that Iron Man suit of yours.” Conrad

“…Fine.”

I exhale.

No more hesitation.

The drones orbit me—then collapse inward.

My body transforms.

Not violently.

Not explosively.

It unfolds.

Light threads weave across my skin, forming sleek patterns instead of bulky armor. The structure is leaner, cleaner—efficient.

And this time—

It doesn’t feel like I’m forcing it.

It feels natural.

“…This is different,” I whisper.

There’s more.

More than what I designed.

More than what I thought possible.

“Well now,” Conrad says, watching carefully,
“appears synchronization’s near perfect.”

He folds his arms.

“Told you, Garnet. Everything I taught him—”

He smirks.

“Even the lessons he didn’t rightly know he was learnin’—”

He nods.

“Is bearin’ fruit.”

“What are you even talking about?” I snap.

Garnet doesn’t take her eyes off Luna.

“Conrad already knew you were coming,” she says calmly.
“For reasons I do not fully understand.”

Conrad chuckles.

“Well now, I didn’t have the foggiest idea what Professor Griffith was ramblin’ about at first. Thought it was all nonsense.”

His eyes flick to me.

“But when I met Randy…”

His smile softens.

“That’s when it started makin’ sense.”

Across the chamber—

Luna is on one knee.

Breathing hard.

Mana crackling unevenly around her.

“Well now,” Conrad muses,
“seems that young lady hasn’t quite pieced it together yet.”

Garnet steps closer to Luna.

“Have you had enough?” she asks quietly.

But there’s something strange.

Garnet isn’t trying to finish her.

She’s pushing her.

Testing her.

And then—

I see it.

Luna lifts her face.

Her eyes—

They’re not teal anymore.

They’re aquamarine.

Deep.

Brilliant.

Like the ocean under a full moon.

Pure blue.

Colder.

Focused.

“…Luna?” I breathe.

She vanishes.

Not teleportation.

Speed.

Precision.

She appears in front of Garnet mid-strike, blade gliding along Garnet’s staff at a perfect angle.

Garnet’s eyes widen just slightly.

“That move—”

She pivots, barely blocking.

“How do you know that?”

“Less talk,” Luna says coldly.

“More fighting.”

Her voice isn’t trembling anymore.

Her movements are flawless.

Fluid.

Every step deliberate.

Every strike economical.

She’s not burning.

She’s flowing.

Garnet blocks again—this time sliding back half a step.

Then she smiles.

A small giggle escapes her.

“Well… at least I can let off some steam.”

The two clash again.

And this time—

It feels different.

Not teacher and student.

Not ruler and challenger.

Rivals.

Conrad nudges me suddenly.

“Well then,” he says calmly.

The pressure shifts.

“The lesson continues.”

He steps forward.

Drones surge between us.

We move simultaneously.

Now it’s not brute force.

It’s efficiency.

Our drones weave, collide, recalibrate mid-air. Mine adapt faster now—predicting instead of reacting.

Conrad grins.

“Well now… much improved.”

Behind us—

Luna and Garnet blur across the chamber.

Luna’s strikes are fierce, but controlled. Garnet counters with elegance, studying every movement like she’s comparing it to someone else.

“Well now,” Conrad says casually as we exchange control pulses,
“Garnet once told me Lilith got the better of her.”

He smirks.

“And when she saw Luna…”

He dodges my redirected drone.

“She said somethin’ like, ‘Why do I feel like I’ve met her before?’”

My heart skips.

What…?

Luna presses forward again—her blade almost grazing Garnet’s cheek.

Garnet blocks, but her smile tightens.

She’s serious now.

I watch the way Luna moves.

Not wild.

Not angry.

Refined.

Almost ancient.

“…Did she fight Nu Wa?” I murmur.

“…Or Tikka?”

Conrad laughs softly.

“Well now,” he says, eyes gleaming,
“some folks don’t care much for old ghosts comin’ back to settle unfinished business.”

Across the chamber—

Luna and Garnet collide again.

This time the shockwave cracks the glass panels of the library.

And for the first time—

Garnet smiles.

Not mockery.

Not arrogance.

Recognition.

The kind of smile a warrior gives when she finally meets someone worth drawing blood for.

“Well now,” Conrad says calmly beside me, dust brushing off his sleeve,
“no sense in wastin’ good time.”

His eyes sharpen.

“Let’s see what your particular approach amounts to.”

Before I can respond—

His body shifts.

Light refracts.

Structure rearranges.

And suddenly—

He looks like me.

Same armor frame. Same stance. Same energy signature.

My brain shuts down.

“…What.”

“How the heck?!” I shout.

“Well now,” Conrad says, rolling his shoulders — using my proportions with disturbing ease,
“ain’t particularly difficult.”

He studies his hands.

“Though this sort of close-quarters scufflin’ ain’t exactly my preference.”

He looks up.

“But I reckon I’ll come down to your level.”

He steps forward.

No drones.

No gravity distortions.

Just fists.

We clash.

And immediately—

I understand something terrifying.

He’s not copying me.

He’s refining me.

My own stance — corrected.

My footwork — tightened.

My guard — adjusted before I even realize it’s open.

Every strike he throws feels like a better version of something I would have done.

Did he learn this somewhere else?

Or was I just too blind to see it?

We exchange blows, the impact cracking air like thunder in a storm.

Across the chamber—

It’s chaos.

Steel screeches.

Sparks explode.

“HAHAHAHA!!” Garnet laughs wildly.
“Come on, Princess! I’m not that stupid! I know you from somewhere!”

“Fool knave!” Luna fires back, blade flashing in arcs of silver.
“I have my limits!”

Their movements blur.

Garnet blocks, counters, pivots — elegant and lethal.

“Where did you learn this?!” Garnet demands.
“There’s a hero in your kingdom — Fu Xi! And you’re from Mana!”

Her eyes narrow.

“There’s no way you learned this from him!”

“By reading!!”

Luna lunges.

Her blade strikes the precise tip of Garnet’s staff — a calculated vibration point.

Garnet stumbles half a step.

Luna spins, kicks.

Garnet blocks — but slides.

“You don’t tell me?!” Garnet laughs.

“I studied the feats of Drake and Lilith!” Luna declares, breath steady despite the storm.
“Their duels. Their failures. Their corrections.”

She adjusts her grip.

“It suited my style.”

The words echo in my skull.

Drake.

Lilith.

And suddenly—

A voice from a dream.

“Oh, one more thing. That cat-folk girl… she’s a good girl. Mom approves.”

Mom.

What the hell am I even thinking?

Like I’ve accepted—

That Lilith is—

WHAM.

Conrad’s kick slams into my ribs.

I crash into the wall.

“Oh, bless your heart,” Conrad says, stepping toward me casually.
“I’m aware you’re smitten.”

He leans slightly.

“But try keepin’ your focus on the matter at hand.”

“HEY!!”

Meanwhile—

Luna presses forward again.

Garnet’s smile fades into something sharper.

“Looks like my hunch was right,” Garnet mutters.
“You modeled your style after Lilith.”

Her eyes flicker with something unreadable.

“What kind of cosmic joke are the gods playing…?”

Luna doesn’t respond.

She lowers her sword.

Brings it close to her face.

Closes her eyes.

The chamber quiets.

No aura.

No magic.

No enhancement.

No mana flare.

Just breath.

One inhale.

One exhale.

Then—

She steps.

A single strike.

So fast it barely exists.

No wasted movement.

No flourish.

Just inevitability.

The impact detonates through the room.

Garnet’s eyes widen.

Her body lifts from the ground—

And she slams hard into the stone floor, cracks splintering outward.

Silence.

Dust drifts slowly.

Luna stands still.

Calm.

Certain.

Like she already knows the result.

For a moment—

It feels like she won.

Then—

Garnet laughs.

Soft at first.

Then louder.

She pushes herself up slowly, brushing dust from her cheek.

“…Yep.”

Her gaze locks onto Luna.

“That’s exactly what you were about to say, isn’t it…”

A pause.

“…Lilith.”

The name lands like a blade.

The air changes.

To be Continued