After some thought, they eventually decided to head toward Sector 11. Lucid didn't have much of a reason to pursue him. The bond between him and Yannick wasn't particularly deep, not like the one he shared with Alice. And yet–he still chose to go. Maybe it was out of habit. Or maybe, deep down, he recognized something familiar in Yannick—a spark of warmth that had kept him company during the past two weeks.
"It was fun," he'd admitted once.
And it was true. Lucid didn't have a solid reason to help Yannick, just as he had no obligation to get involved in Shion's affairs, or to track her down, let alone spend weeks tangled in the chaos of Andorrea. He could very well leave with Alice, find another world in the scattered Worlds, and disappear again. There were no chains keeping him here. No promises. No debts.
But the truth was, Lucid couldn't escape the quiet, undeniable fact that he was lost.
He had been drifting ever since he woke up in this world with no direction, no purpose and no map to follow. Even now, after everything, he still didn't know where he was supposed to go. So he stayed. Maybe not for Yannick. Maybe not even for Shion and Andrew. But because in this aimless journey, these people—this broken world—they gave him fragments. Pieces of something he couldn't name. Something worth staying for, even if just a little longer. Perhaps of memories of himself or fresh new experiences. He couldn't quite name it
Scratching those thoughts aside, Lucid was currently walking alongside Shion and Alice. It was odd, he had expected them to be running at full speed, but speed wasn't the priority. They had to stay vigilant and conserve their energy. Shion was still injured, Alice was inexperienced, and Lucid was the only one in good condition. The odds weren't in their favor, but the mission was simple: retrieve Yannick.
They made their way to the edge of Sector 9, where a golem was stationed. It was the same one Shion had used to travel between sectors—or to escape during the collapse of Sector 12, when her syndicate was destroyed. Lucid hopped on first, then helped Shion, and finally Alice. With everyone aboard, the golem hovered quietly at the sector's boundary, bathed in the pale glow of the moonlit horizon.
"Be careful, There are no seatbelts," Lucid warned.
"What's a seatbelt?" Alice asked, curious.
Shion wore a similarly puzzled look.
Lucid himself felt confused by his own words. "Uh… well, I heard you could—never mind."
Without much hesitation, Shion, standing at the helm of the golem, traced a circle onto the platform's surface and muttered, "Sector Eleven."
The golem responded instantly. Runes lit up across its frame, glowing with arcane brilliance as it began gliding down into the endless abyss below.
They passed Sector Ten, which looked surprisingly intact—not ravaged by poverty or ruin like Lucid had expected. It was quiet, functional, even stable. But the further they descended, the more evident the contrast became.
Eventually, a new floating island came into view—Sector Eleven.
Unlike Sector Ten, Sector Eleven was chaos incarnate. Crowds filled the streets. Guards stood rigid at every intersection. The air itself carried the weight of unease. Disorder hummed like static.
"We have arrived," Shion said aloud.
Lucid stepped forward, gazing down at the sprawling disorder. The platform beneath them hovered steadily. From above, he could already tell: the fall of Sector Twelve had driven a flood of people into this district.
"It's utter chaos," he murmured, eyes scanning the crowds.
Alice had wandered to the edge of the golem. Her small hands gripped the ledge tightly, green hair whipping in the sharp wind. Her gaze was wide with childlike curiosity-tinged with something else. Concern.
A sudden gust hit, and Alice stumbled forward. Just before Lucid could react, Shion reached out and grabbed her by the back of her sweater, yanking her back with practiced ease.
"Don't stand so close to the edge now," she said sharply, her tone almost taunting.
Alice sat down on the golem's surface, her expression tense. She looked to Lucid as if expecting to be scolded. But instead, he knelt in front of her and extended his hand.
"Here. Hold my hand," he said gently.
Alice blinked, surprised. Then she reached out and grasped it tightly. Their eyes met. For a moment, nothing else existed—just the quiet reassurance that she wasn't alone.
The golem descended smoothly toward Sector Eleven's landing tier. Its glowing runes began to dim, turning from radiant gold to pale blue as it slowed. It hovered just above the surface before settling with a soft thud.
They had landed on the rooftop of an old, abandoned tower near the edge of the district. Cracks lined the walls, and wild vines coiled around broken chimneys, but the view below offered a full look at the city.
Shion hopped off first, landing with a soft crunch of gravel. Lucid followed, still holding Alice's hand. Together, they stepped forward.
Shion turned around and, to their surprise, opened both arms wide as if embracing them.
"Welcome to Sector Eleven," she said. "It's often forgotten, overshadowed by the infamy of Sector Twelve. But this place has its own legacy. Unlike Sector Twelve, it's known for its craftsmanship—blacksmithing, forging weapons and enchanting staves. We supply much of Andorrea's arsenal."
She paused, glancing down toward the crowded streets.
"But also like Twelve, they've been left behind."
Shion looked down for a moment, then raised her eyes.
"I suggest you don't spend too much time in public. And don't show off your belongings." Her voice was low but firm. "This is a thieves' playground, from what I've seen."
She turned to both of them, her tone shifting into something closer to command.
"So stay vigilant."
Without further delay, they made their way down from the rooftop of the abandoned building. The old, creaking staircase groaned under their steps. The wood was worn, brittle with time, but still held together–barely. Shion led the way, speaking as they descended. Alice, walking in the middle, occasionally flinched at the sudden creaks that echoed in the stairwell.
Eventually, they reached the bottom floor. What greeted them resembled a lobby—dusty couches lined the wall, and a front desk long deserted, stood in the corner. Cobwebs clung to the corners, and the air was stale with abandonment.
At the bottom of the stairs, they entered what used to be the hotel's lobby. Faded couches lined the walls, and a front desk sat at the far end beneath a collapsed chandelier. Dust covered nearly everything, and cobwebs danced in the shafts of moonlight slicing through the broken windows.
Lucid looked around, surprised by how luxurious the place must've once been.
Shion noticed his gaze and said, "Sector 11 used to do quite well for itself. That is… until the Council raised taxes for the lower sectors. Most of the business moved up sectors. Some stayed, but only the clever ones are still doing well."
"Why did they raise taxes?" Lucid asked.
Shion shrugged slightly. "Money? No–they've got enough of that. Order? Doesn't make sense either since they practically have us on a leash. I don't know the reason. All I do know is, whatever excuse they gave, it hurt people down here."
She leaned against the front desk and crossed her arms. "Some royalty and nobles are corrupt. Some aren't. I won't lie and say they're all the same. But their actions always are."
Her eyes drifted to the floor. "To take. And keep taking."
Lucid found himself agreeing with her silently in his mind.
Lucid remained quiet, his posture relaxed. Alice, legs were crossed as she sat on one of the couches. He himself hovered between sitting and standing on a stool, one foot grounded, the other resting on its rung.
Shion's voice broke the silence. She wasn't looking at Lucid, but her words were clearly meant for him.
"So. This Yannick. What does he look like?"
Lucid rubbed his face or rather glass mask, thinking hard. "I… I think his eyes were green? Or hazel? His hair was brown—well, it looked golden brown to me, depending on the light."
Alice raised her hand while still lying back on the couch. "He's fit and active. Green eyes like me!" she said cheerfully, pointing at her own with a playful grin.
"Alice, we're on a mission," Lucid said teasingly.
Shion turned toward him, unimpressed. "So... green eyes and brown hair?"
"More or less," Lucid mumbled.
Shion exhaled sharply and put a hand to her forehead. "That narrows it down. Barely. But it's enough to start."
Alice nodded enthusiastically, bouncing where she sat. Lucid just gave a half-shrug.
"Alright then," Shion said, pushing off the desk. "We stick together. If we stay sharp and don't split up, I'm confident we'll find him."
Alice stood tall on the couch, raising her arm dramatically like she was leading an expedition.
"TEAM INVESTIGATORS!!!" she declared.