WANDERERS

[The next morning]

[The Atrium]

“Hah, it looks like they patched up everything nicely,” said Rupert, scanning the entire chamber excitedly like a child on their first field trip.

“It’s Markus’ department – he expects nothing less than perfect,” Lucy returned. “Unfortunately, nothing can fix the passersby’s gaze.”

“Well, can’t really blame them. It was pretty chaotic,” Sam responded, noticing the painful yet familiar stares of the masses. “I’ve been meaning to ask – what happened to those gas canisters?”

“The Ironclads seized them, and knowing that eccentric bunch, they are probably busy picking those devices apart,” said Lucy. “A shame, really. I also want to know how someone like Cindar could get his hands on those gizmos. They looked quite elaborate.”

“Elaborate? They looked like a pile of cans stacked on each other,” Rupert snorted.

Lucy pinched her forehead before sighing out loud. “If you took the time to inspect them, you’ll realize the welding and wiring were not done by an amateur. Those devices were definitely made by an expert – perhaps more skilled than our resident blacksmith.”

“If that’s true, then Cindar had a really interesting friend. A very dangerous friend,” Sam added. Then, he saw Iris standing in front of the Chamber of Convergence, conversing with a woman in a white robe. She had honey-hued skin and shining silver hair reaching her shoulders, partially covering the tiny beauty mark on her right jawline. Her most distinctive feature was the color of her eyes – her right was as bright as gold while her left was as blue as the ocean.

“Good morning,” said Iris, waving her hand shyly.

“Hey, Iris,” Lucy responded with a smile. “I see we have been blessed with the presence of the Priestess of Light herself.”

“It’s just Valerie,” the white-haired woman grumbled. Her gaze then met Sam's, and she gave him a slight bow, followed by, “Thank you for saving my niece.”

“Oh, right. Lysandra, wasn’t it? Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

Valerie glanced at the trio, noticing their Creedal Blades. Sam and the Nightingales felt a wave of nervousness hit them squarely in the chest – they wondered if the woman figured out what was going on. Instead, she turned to Iris and said, “The special project?”

Iris confirmed with a single nod.

“Hm, I thought he’d choose a more seasoned operative. He must like the three of you a lot.”

“We have no idea what you are talking about,” Sam countered.

“Feigning ignorance – smart, but not convincing enough.” Valerie took a few steps back, providing enough space for the trio to pass through. “Good luck with whatever it is you are doing. Don’t lose your heads…or your limbs.”

**********************************************

Despite the minor holdup, the trio finally reached the Chamber of Convergence safely, expecting to be greeted by Marie’s warm smile and kind words at any moment. However, as soon as they walked through the door, the overly enthusiastic figure was nowhere to be seen.

“You know, it feels strange to see an empty Chamber of Convergence,” Sam commented.

“She must be busy. Being the chief and all,” Lucy retorted.

“Marie? Busy? I never thought I’d be hearing those two words in the same sentence,” Rupert said jokingly.

“I agree.”

The trio gasped; they spun around to see Marie standing near the entrance with a huge smile on her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. So, what’s this about me being busy?”

“Uh-oh, someone’s in trouble,” Lucy muttered after noticing her brother’s panicked expression.

“Dude, shut up,” Rupert replied; his voice was barely audible.

“Relax, darling. It’s not like I’m going to eat you or anything,” said Marie before gently pinching the elder Nightingale’s nose. “You’re far too scrawny for my liking.”

“Oh, uh, thanks, I guess?”

“I apologize for my tardiness. I had to settle a few business upstairs,” Marie explained.

“It’s not about…whatever this is, right?” Sam asked.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. On second thought, it’s our secret, isn’t it?”

“A terrible one, I’m afraid. If anyone finds out about this, then all of us will be sharing Cindar’s fate. I’m not going to ask whose idea this is, but…I want to make sure that we are doing this for the right reason.”

“Giving the victim’s family some closure is not a good enough reason for you?”

“Let’s just say the three of us are not fans of being used as tools to further someone’s selfish ambition. I’m sure you’ll understand our concern.”

Marie stared at Sam for a few seconds; her gaze was unconventionally intense. Then, she let out a short, breathy laugh, followed by her saying, “You are too clever for your own good, you know that? However, you are half right; we are indeed being used as tools, but I can’t disclose the real reason to you - yet. The good news is it is not out of pure selfishness. More like…for a greater good.”

“That’s a cliché answer,” Lucy remarked. “But it’s better than nothing, I guess.”

“Hm,” Sam quietly agreed.

“Now, with that out of the way, let’s-,” Marie’s speech was cut short when a Rift Gate suddenly manifested in the middle of the room. She rushed past the trio; her hands instinctively reached for her claymore.

“Psst,” Rupert nudged Sam in the shoulder. “What do you think is going to appear? Lacerators? Bulbheads?”

“Hopefully, nothing at all. I mean, imagine the mess.”

“Come on, it’s all part of the fun.”

“Of course it’s fun. You’re not the one who is going to clean it all up,” Lucy interjected.

From the portal, a husky figure in a grey parka emerged. Nearly his entire body was covered in snow; every movement he made caused some of it to drop to the floor. Strapped to his back was a silver spear with a turquoise shaft. There were several patterns repeatedly carved on its body – a diamond, a wolf’s head, and a small fireball.

Realizing who it was, Marie began to relax. “Mr. Salvia, you gave us quite a fright,” she greeted. “It must have been quite a blizzard.”

The man grunted. His eyes were concealed behind a black goggle, making it difficult to read his expression.

“How have you been? Have the others treated you well?” Marie asked.

Instead of speaking, the man held his hand flat and swayed it side to side.

“So-so, huh? Well, at least you’re alive and well.”

The man brushed off the remaining snow from his clothes, exposing the black stains on his chest. His right sleeve was partially torn off, and luckily, his pale arm was intact. There were bruises all over his forearm – most were new.

“It’s one of those days, huh?” Marie blurted out. “Please, don’t let us stop you,” said Marie before stepping aside, an action followed by the trio.

Sam and the Nightingales silently watched as the man named Salvia strolled past them. They were expecting him to reek of the Distorted’s putrid blood, but to their surprise, they were hit by a sweet aroma of lavender. The smell lingered until he passed through the door – even then, it took a few seconds for the scent to disappear completely.

“Smells good, right?” said Marie. “It’s one of my favourites.”

“Everyone is your favourite,” Lucy replied.

“Not true. Most are my favourites, including the three of you.”

“Forget about the smell. Did you see those bruises? What do you think happened?” said Rupert exuberantly.

“Avalanche, darling. Avalanche happened,” Marie answered. “Being buried under the heavy snow is the norm for him, aside from battling the Distorted.”

Marie tapped her feet on the ground three times, causing a pedestal to rise from the floor. She placed three objects on top of it: a Displacer, the P.I.N.S., and a jingling brown pouch.

“As usual, your standard field necessity plus this – silver coins for your supply. It’s a perfect time to brush up your negotiation skills,” Marie then tossed the pouch into Lucy’s hands. “You will rendezvous with Elisabeth, the Overseer of Sector Lambda. Make sure to listen to her orders and advice; the Desert of Ashes is a harsh place even for the like of us.”

“So, you’re saying there’s something worse than the Distorted?” Rupert asked.

“The Nocturnal Tides,” Lucy responded. “As the name implies, the dunes rise up and down like the waves of the ocean during nighttime. The concept of solid ground is literally non-existent during that period – your fate is sealed the moment the phenomenon starts. The victims, if they are found, will have their flesh and skin stripped from their bones, thanks to the sharp sand.”

“Urgh, that doesn’t sound like a pleasant way to die,” Rupert said, expressing his disgust.

“Really? That’s what bothers you?” said Sam.

“Ground alive? Of course, it does.”

“We once found you partially submerged in a pool of the Distorted’s blood. It burned your skin, and yet you acted like it was nothing.”

“Oh, that,” Rupert sighed. “Honestly, I have no recollection of that day.”

Sam glanced at Lucy, who only gave her brother a concerned look. Sensing the awkwardness in the air, he decided to change the subject by asking Marie, “There are still people living there, right?”

“Living? That’s…debatable.”

“Wait, there are people there? How on earth are they still alive?” said Rupert, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“The Stakes,” Sam muttered. Then, he saw the elder Nightingale’s confused face. “It’s a settlement famous, or in this case, infamous, for their excessively tall structures. If I recall, aren’t they a bit hostile toward us?”

“Hostile is a strong word. The people of the Stakes are a tad harsh, but they are not evil,” Marie said while scratching her neck. “My advice for you is to be patient and take your time to know them – see and learn how they live their lives among the barren landscape. Just be mindful of your head, though. The people there are rather fond of throwing stuff around, particularly clay vases.”

“That is…intriguing. Thanks for the heads-up, I mean, warning,” said Sam.

“Don’t mention it.” Marie snapped her fingers, creating a Rift Gate behind her. “This should lead you to the Overseer’s last known location. If I remember correctly, she was exploring pre-cataclysmic ruins.”

“There are ruins in that desert? Now, that’s new,” Lucy expressed his surprise.

“Yeah, she said there is an old civilization hidden beneath the ground – one that is bigger than the Octagram City. Because of it, she’s been working tirelessly for the past three months, digging and measuring this…buried city. For the sake of preserving ancient cultures, she phrased it, but I can discern between passion and obsession.”

“So, Elisabeth is obsessed with this city? Why?” Sam stated.

“Well, that is the big question, isn’t it? She has always been fascinated with the history of the world. While the other girls prefer to play with dolls and dresses, Lizzy spent most of his time reading through ancient scrolls and manuscripts. By the age of 11, she can recite all known historical facts from memory alone. So, it’s hardly a surprise she was recruited by the Tarantula Hawk right after her Inauguration. But she is always invested in a certain topic…what was it…oh right, it’s rebirth and reincarnation.”

“Rebirth and reincarnation? Fascinating,” Lucy commented. “I remembered reading about them, but frankly, I found them to be a bit…tedious.”

“Not to Elisabeth, apparently. Unfortunately, pursuing such things usually does not end well.”

“Speaking from experience, are we, Miss?” Sam retorted.

“Just making sure you’re not repeating the mistakes of those who came before you. Some claimed they had found a way to conquer death, and ironically, their actions led to the deaths of countless innocents. Lizzy’s intention may not be as twisted as those deviants, but human souls are a…delicate matter. Believe me, nothing good ever comes to those who seek to manipulate the living and the dead.”

“Then, what do you want us to do?”

“Aside from your primary objective, would you kindly do me a favour and watch over Lizzy? She can be stubborn at times, but don’t let her discourage you.”

Sam looked at the siblings, who in turn gave him a nod of approval. “We’ll try our best, Miss Strelitzia.”

“Thank you.” Marie let out a sigh of relief. “Now, off you go. Oh, and don’t forget to bring back some souvenir.”