The wanderers sped down the hill, faces brushed by the breeze. Noon was fast approaching, the sky shining a radiant blue overhead. With awe glistening in their eyes, they looked about, as if an angel had just blessed the land.
A sea of lush greenery unfurled before them, each leaf bursting with vibrant hues and teeming with life. The wanderers paused, completely captivated by the thriving wilderness. Sally twirled through the grass, her platinum hair swirling like sunlight caught in the wind, while Drimi inhaled the fresh air. She gathered her courage, then turned to Phthonus with a sudden question.
"Phthonus… What was it like in Zomrack? Did you forget about Belial?"
Memories of his days with The Four Knights flickered through his mind as he drew his dark scarf over his mouth. The thought of working with Belial left a bitter taste—rarely had it been pleasant. Phthonus lifted his gaze to the azure sky and muttered under his breath.
"I won't talk about it. I left him and the team for a reason."
Drimi edged away from Phthonus, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She sensed the weight of his past but kept her suspicions locked away, saying nothing of the invisible barrier between them. As the conversation faded, Aletha's voice rang out, brimming with excitement as she reached for the crystal-clear pool of blue water.
"Asahi, come look at this!"
Asahi cocked his head, watching Aletha lean so close her breath nearly kissed the water. Her crystal-gray eyes searched the shimmering blue depths, as if seeking secrets in a living mirror. The lake glowed with an uncanny intensity, its surface revealing only a mysterious reflection beyond the barrier. With Phthonus keeping his distance, Aletha alone caught the faintest whisper rising from the water.
A faint, high-pitched feminine voice drifted up from the water, its monotone echo weaving eerie ripples through Aletha's thoughts.
"Who is this? Some sort of trespasser? She is… wonderful. Even her figure is--
Aletha stood frozen, her thoughts spinning as the shimmering blue barrier revealed its secret. The lake transformed into a glassy window, unveiling a pair of dark blue eyes and a youthful face, half-hidden behind a veil of transparent fabric.
Her dull voice sounded out once again.
"I have never been surprised in a long time; perhaps, maybe I can reach her from Destia? Huh, a boy too…?"
From behind, Asahi screamed with genuine worry, his mind suddenly tinged with concern for his sibling.
"Watch out!"
Aletha's gray eyes broadened in surprise. She felt a heavy force pushing her closer to the shore. She turned around, but just before seeing the face, Asahi swiftly pulled Aletha away from the lake and pushed Drimi away.
"Sis, why let her do that? And your face—did you see a ghost?"
Aletha replied while staring into the lake.
"More than a ghost. I think I saw… a girl."
Catching fragments of the conversation, Phthonus glanced back, pulled his scarf away from his mouth, and refocused on Aletha. Seeing her paralyzed at the lake's edge, he sprinted down the hill, his boots scattering pebbles and crunching leaves. Once beside her, he grabbed Aletha by the arm and forcefully pulled her away from the water, ensuring she couldn't fall in.
A deeper blush bloomed across her cheeks, turning them the color of wild roses in spring.
"What are you doing in that area, out of all the ones that you could've been?"
Aletha replied in a trembling tone.
"I-I-I didn't mean to…."
Phthonus sighed. With a firm hand, he pushed Aletha behind him onto more stable ground, making sure she stayed protected. Asahi rushed to join them, his concern misplaced for the moment, while Drimi leaned over the pool, peering into the water. Believing Phthonus was being aggressive, Asahi confronted him.
"What are you doing?"
Phthonus replied sharply.
"Nothing. I was trying to save her from the Queen of Destia. Deepenpond is a gateway—she might never see you again. Please, take care of your sibling."
Asahi scratched his hand, a nervous laugh slipping out. For him, even the smallest worry could grow into a mountain looming overhead.
"O-Okay… I was just trying to help."
Asahi looks down while Aletha asks Phthonus, crossing her arms.
"So, are we just going to stand here or…?"
Sally glided to Aletha, her touch feather-light as she took her hand and guided her onward. A strange chill swept over Aletha, stealing the warmth from her skin, yet the cold carried a surprising comfort. She gazed up at the statuesque Sally and asked her question.
"Where are you taking me?"
Sally replies with her sweet, soothing voice.
"Somewhere… deep and connected to that of Asahi and your heart."
"Eh?!"
At the edge of the bowl-shaped valley, a faintly glowing entrance beckoned, promising secrets hidden below. Sally caught sight of the path, pointed it out, and guided Aletha onward by the hand. Asahi hurried after them, deciding that the rest of the group should come too. Sally paid no mind to Asahi's wariness and moved forward, leading them toward the entrance. She doesn't mind his wariness.
Sally's silky platinum hair brushed Aletha's arm as the cavern entrance shrank. The crystal stream darkened within the cave. Sally knelt by the water, splashed her face, and refreshed herself. Asahi, curious, tilted his head and questioned her.
"Where are you taking us?"
Sally responded with a straightforward answer.
"To a shortcut."
Phthonus raised his eyebrow.
"Shortcut?"
She said in a slightly aggravated tone.
"Just follow me."
. . .
Soon, the group wandered along the banks of a crystal-clear stream, its waters winding toward a gaping mouth in the emerald valley walls. Asahi and Aletha trailed behind Sally, unease tightening around them with every step. All they could do was trust that she knew the way.
They pressed deeper into the cavern. The warmth in the air faded, replaced by a chill that clung like a second skin. Blue crystals illuminated shards of ancient debris scattered across the stone floor, their unearthly glow washing over the darkness.
In the darkness ahead, a pinprick of pink light shimmered in the distance. Sally reacted instantly, shoving the wanderers aside and out of its path, while Drimi conjured her shield in defense. Drimi's scream echoed as the group edged backward, blinded by the searing pink glow.
"That's Tear!"
The two wanderers exchanged confused glances and whispered to Drimi.
"Who's that?!"
Sally yelled as the pink luminance approached them.
"The one who destroyed The Great Fountain!"
Both of them cried out in bewilderment.
"EH?!"
Drimi quickly grabbed the wanderers and urgently ushered them away from the cavern opening. She clenched her fists and squinted at Sally and Phthonus to get their attention, signaling silently for them to help distract the threat. Both nodded, understanding her instructions, and they began to quietly maneuver around the twigs and branches littering the cave.
The pink light bled into violet, painting bizarre shadows across the cave walls. Heavy footsteps thundered. Chains clattered; metal scraped against stone. Drimi hurried the wanderers to safety, but despite her warning, the pair defied her, determined to help the others.
As the wanderers jolted behind Drimi, she swiftly turned around and roughly yelled, her face a mix of anger and fear.
"Wanderers… What are you doing here? Shouldn't you--
Before Drimi can escort them out of the cavern, the sound of a deep mechanical voice echoes from a distance.
"I don't appreciate when someone trespasses on my actions. It's insulting and disrespectful to me."
Drimi saw a tall silhouette approach. Two purple eyes shone, lines ran along his body, a massive collar wrapped his neck, and a cube-shaped helmet gave a fox-like appearance.
Suddenly, luminescent blue spikes erupted from behind Drimi. The wanderers bolted out of their path, dragging Drimi with them. The sharp ice crystals shattered on impact with Tear's armor, splintering in an instant. Sally lowered her arms, jaw dropping in disbelief.
"H-Huh?"
Suddenly, heavy laughter ricocheted off every wall of the cavern. Sally sprang back, pressing her palms together to conjure a massive ball of ice. Drimi stomped the ground and shouted at Sally, worry etched in her voice.
"Sally, what are you doing?! Get out there now!"
The laughter cut off abruptly as Tear's full form emerged before them. Phthonus yanked his scarf over his mouth and unleashed a trail of embers across the floor. Tear snatched Sally's ice ball and crushed it with a single snap of his fingers. He thrust his palm upward, seizing Phthonus in his grip. Tear's voice rang out, thick with twisted delight.
"You three are making a show over here! Didn't your parents tell you not to approach dangerous areas? Jokingly enough, all of you are foolish for trespassing on these grounds."
His voice slowly shifted to a sad tone.
"It's quite… unfortunate that you two are nothing but scraps to me. Go ahead… TRY and fight me and see what happens. All of you knew I destroyed The Great Fountain, but that wasn't for the evil, it was for--
Before Tear could finish his sentence, Drimi swung her fist covered in a purple luminance and screamed while Phthonus leaped up into the air.
"You ruined everything!"
Tear hurled Drimi aside with a violent shockwave, then pinned her face to the ground beneath his metal feet. Sally's eyes widened in horror.
"DRIMI!"
Tear shouted in pure anger at the sight of… luminescent pink tears flowing through his crooked helmet.
"Are you going to cry now?"
Tear pressed his foot harder against Drimi's head, grinding her cheek into the earth. The wanderers scrambled to their feet, huddling behind Sally. Tear's voice rose, dripping with mock sorrow.
"I never finished! No one gets true sadness! The Queens do nothing! Purity never existed!"
Asahi stepped forward and gritted his teeth.
"What do you mean? Purity never existed? Last time I checked, this nation was the kindest!"
Tear aggressively replied with a slightly aggravated tone in his mechanical voice.
"Lies! There's no true purity! Not even the Queens gave. Pladtioa is just greed!"
Aletha jumped up, slammed her fist against the air, and screamed while jolting toward Asahi.
"How do you know that? You're just a robot!"
After her response, Tear breathed heavily, lifted his foot over Drimi, and aggressively pushed her into the darkness. He felt a burning rage surge through his veins, his gears, and his steel. He furiously responded.
"What did you say? You challenge me? You're weak, and your mark is the worst I've seen. I might just tear your head off, feed you to wolves!"
Asahi, Sally, and Phthonus stared in stunned disbelief, eyes wide with shock. It was almost impossible to imagine anyone, living or not, speaking such venom. In that instant, a cold realization crept over them.
Tear flung the heavy ancient debris aside and closed in on Aletha. Asahi's patience snapped. When Tear shoved Sally away, Asahi sprang in front of Aletha, planting himself between her and the looming threat.
"Light's faster than sound, so you seemed bright till you spoke. World sure revolves around you—my mistake."
Tear slowly walked closer to Asahi. Although Asahi feels intimidated by Tear's size, he remained confident and decided to ignore Tear's words. Aletha shouted out his name.
"Asahi, don't!"
"Silence!"
Tear hastily pushed Aletha with his gravity-defying magic and screamed at Asahi with pure wrath surging through his eyes.
"You're just like her! Move, phony! You're like a cloud—gone, it's a good day! Stand aside!"
Asahi stood firm between Tear and Aletha, blade gleaming in his grip. His strength lay not in muscles, but in unshakable faith. Behind him, Aletha shrank back in fear. The others watched, frozen by uncertainty and unable to move.
In the silence, Asahi stepped in front of Tear, stomped his foot, and saluted, drawing confidence from memories of his old speech.
You're a mere speck to me. You dare address a Ruler so—you and your loved ones risk obliteration.
Asahi took a deep breath and stood tall.
"You act like a lunatic. You haven't explained your actions, just hide from your guilt and let fear rule you. Is that what you mean about purity?"
Tear clenched his fists and shook his head. He knew that all of Asahi's words were true. Sally, Phthonus, Drimi, and Aletha fell into shock while seeing his confidence shine through the cavern. Asahi took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Gears don't excuse you. Are your fears and guilt keeping you here? Stop taking it out on others. Learn from your mistakes and take control."
Asahi slowly opened his eyes and peered through the mechanical being's soul with his fierce gray eyes. Before he finishes his sentence, Tear hastily tilted his body behind and put Asahi to sleep with a heavy pulse in his palms. Aletha jumped up in shock.
"ASAHI!"
Tear slowly lifted his head from the ground and dashed to Aletha with tears flowing down his face.
"Those words are false! No one understands, neither shall you--
Before Tear's fist touched Aletha's face, a massive starry white barrier formed in front of Aletha and deflected the enemy's attacks like a shield. Drimi and the others jump up in surprise!"
"Where did you get that?!"
Asahi easily broke out of his sleep and quietly whispered with a smile.
"The awakening of our powers. We're growing stronger…"
Asahi's star shone brightly on his attire. He swiftly grabbed his blade from his Soul Storage and yelled out to the others like a leader.
"Sally, Drimi, go behind Aletha's shield and try to use your attacks behind it. Then use your magic and make sure not to get hit. Phthonus, stand by me! I want you to use your embers to ignite my blade."
After they heard Asahi's orders, all of them replied with no hesitation.
"On it!"
Tear's giggles turn into chuckles and then to heavy laughter. As they all approached him, Tear prepared his attacks and swung his arm into the air. He manically screams with tears and psychotic laughter.
"A CHALLENGE IT IS!"