Emma and the others finally reached the gate, their eyes scanning frantically.
Julian was supposed to be standing there, keeping it open.
But instead, they saw three bodies sprawled across the snowy ground—three men, one of them still alive, gasping for breath as he clutched at a bleeding wound.
Without hesitation, Sarah stepped forward.
Her face did not even change as she unsheathed her weapon. With a single stroke of her blade, she ended it.
There was no time for mercy. No time to waste.
"We need to find Julian—now!" Emma barked, already rushing across the clearing.
The others spread out quickly, tension rising with every passing second.
Then—
"I found him!" Ulises called out.
Julian was slumped behind a patch of brush, still clutching both time gate batons.
He was breathing, but unconscious.
"Move!" Juliet ordered. "Get him through the gate—now!"
Ulises hoisted Julian over his shoulder and ran. With the enemy in hot pursuit, they dove through the shimmering surface of the gate, one by one.
Sarah stayed behind.
Her eyes locked onto the treeline in the distance.
A group of eight armed figures had emerged—each armored, masked, and moving with terrifying coordination.
Scorpion.
One of the most dangerous rogue factions in the entire chain of islands.
Sarah spat to the side, then pulled the batons from the floor after she jumped inside the gate that was losing its power.
The gate vanished in an instant.
When she reappeared on the other side, the tension in the enclave exploded.
Guards raised weapons. People shouted. Healers rushed forward.
But all eyes were drawn to the unconscious boy.
Julian lay on the ground, limp in Kevin's arms as Charlie helped lower him gently to the dirt.
"He… he took down three," Sarah said, her voice low but clear.
"If he hadn't acted first, we would've walked straight into a trap."
There was a silence.
Then, Emma stepped forward and knelt beside him.
She removed his helmet gently, brushing the sweat from his forehead.
His face was pale. His hands still trembling from the adrenaline and trauma.
"Kevin, Charlie—get him to his room," Harris ordered. "Make sure he rests."
The two nodded and carried Julian off, careful not to jostle him.
Only a few remained—Emma, Harris, Sarah, Juliet, Ulises, and two of the senior guards as the rest of the enclave's population dispersed.
The gate was closed, but the tension still lingered.
Harris crossed his arms and faced the group.
"Alright," he said grimly.
"What the hell did you find out there?"
"Two things—taming stones, and this…" Juliet stepped forward, handing Harris a bundle wrapped in thick cloth.
The moment he unwrapped it, a faint blue glow shimmered from within.
Everyone around leaned in.
A single chunk of glowing metal pulsed with an otherworldly light—soft, steady, but unmistakably powerful.
Harris stared at it for a long second before sighing heavily.
"This is part of the time reactor," he muttered. "And it still holds power."
His expression turned wistful—tinged with both satisfaction as he looked at the part then to disappointment as there was far less than the previous venture.
"A great find… but I was hoping for another plane. We could've really used another engine. Or at least a working radio."
Emma stepped closer, curious.
"What can that piece actually do, Father?" she asked.
Harris looked at the metal again, the lines on his face deepening with the weight of the enclave's needs.
"With the last batch of metal we recovered, we were only able to make batons that worked for basic travel," he explained. "Short-range jumps. Limited stability."
He held up the new core gently, like it might shatter.
"But this… this will let us build advanced batons. The kind that can open gates to marked islands—places we've mapped before but couldn't return to."
Emma's eyes widened slightly.
That changed everything.
Before anyone could ask more, Harris turned and dug into another pouch.
He handed each member of the scouting team a small crystal—rough, uncut, but softly glowing. "Only enough for a small carnivore or medium size herbivore.
"Taming stones," he said simply. "You earned them."
A few nods and tired smiles passed among the team.
"Oh, and one more thing," Harris added, turning back.
"The next market day is on the 12th. Enclave 8 is hosting it. Anyone who wants to go, get ready. We leave at sunrise."
With that, he pocketed the glowing core and walked off without another word.
Juliet and Ulises gave brief nods and followed behind him, quietly vanishing into the inner corridor.
Emma remained frozen where she stood.
Her knees wobbled slightly—and then gave out.
She dropped to a seat on a nearby bench, burying her face in her hands as the weight of the past hour crashed down on her all at once.
Adrenaline had carried her this far, but now it was gone.
And guilt had taken its place. Julian had truly saved them.
The boy actually killed for the first time, something that was hard for most.
He had stayed behind to help them instead of just leaving and he almost died.
And she knew she should have stayed back at that time instead of rushing forward.
She clenched her fists.
Her father was definitely going to scold her for it, and he'd be right.
But more than that, she owed Julian.
He deserved more than just a thank you, he deserved a room to himself—quiet, safe, uninterrupted.
Three months at least, she promised herself.
And she'd make sure her father agreed.
Even if she had to fight him for it.
Emma exhaled and stood up again.
She had a feeling Julian's real trials were just beginning, and this time... she wouldn't leave him to face them alone.
Emma sighed softly as she finally let her muscles relax.
The adrenaline had worn off. The weight of the day pressed down on her shoulders, but at least now… food was being prepared.
Two quiet hours passed before the familiar curfew bell rang across the enclave, its gentle echo stirring Julian from unconsciousness.
His eyes fluttered open.
For a brief second, he didn't know where he was.
But then the softness of his bed registered beneath him, and a long breath escaped his lungs.
He inhaled deeply.
A warm, savory scent filled the room—meat and vegetables.
Next to the bed sat a plate of food.
And beside the plate… a girl, silently reading a book under the faint glow of a candle.
Julian blinked.
"What are you doing here…?" he asked groggily, his voice hoarse.
Emma didn't look up right away.
Then she smiled, her green eyes catching the candlelight.
"Oh? And here I thought you were going to thank me for bringing you food and keeping you company," she teased gently.
Julian groaned, rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah, I guess… thanks?" he mumbled.
His stomach growled, answering for him as he reached for the plate. The first bite hit like a spark—flavor, warmth, and the reminder that he hadn't eaten in hours.
Emma closed her book and looked over at him.
"Say it properly, Julian," she said, her voice quieter now. "You could've left us. Or waited for those three to attack and then slipped away. But you stayed—and you did your best to protect us."
Julian slowed his chewing.
He swallowed, then set the spoon down for a second.
"Don't worry about it," he said softly. "I just… couldn't think of doing anything else."
Emma's smile widened just a little.
"I figured you'd be starving, so I brought extra," she added. "Oh—and I talked to my father. I asked him to let you off the hook for rent. Two months, completely free. You've got a place to rest and recover, no strings attached."
Julian paused, then sat up straighter.
"No… I feel like I need to do more," he said quietly.
"I need to train harder. Today showed me just how weak I still am. I hated that feeling. If things out there are going to be like that… I need to be ready. I need to be confident."
He shoveled another bite into his mouth, trying not to choke on the emotion behind his words.
Emma watched him for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Good," she said.
"Then I guess we can start training again tomorrow?"
Julian gave her a tired grin.
"Sure," he replied, still chewing.
"Just… go easy on me. At least for tomorrow."
Emma laughed softly, the sound light and sincere.
"I'll think about it."