50 Chapter 50
Serenia tried to calm him down. "We need to think this through, Ko. Acting rashly won't help Rin."
But Ko's rage was a wildfire, uncontrollable and all-consuming. "Think it through? Rin's been taken, Serenia! We don't have time for calm and collected." With that, he spun on his heel and stormed back into Mr. Takamura's office, slamming the door open so hard it rebounded off the wall.
Mr. Takamura looked up, his composed demeanor barely wavering. "Ko, please, calm down. We'll—"
"Calm down?!" Ko's voice was a roar, reverberating through the room. "Wake Yoru and Aruno from recovery, now! Or I swear, I'll bash your face in!"
Serenia followed quickly, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Ko, we need him to help us. Threatening him isn't going to—"
Ko didn't back down, stepping closer to Mr. Takamura's desk, his eyes blazing with fury. "Wake them up! We need all the help we can get, and we need it now!"
Mr. Takamura raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Ko, I understand your urgency, but forcing them out of recovery could be dangerous. It might do more harm than good."
Ko slammed his fist on the desk, rattling everything on it. "You don't get it! Every second we waste, Rin could be in more danger. I don't care about the risks. We need them."
Mr. Takamura remained unflustered, his voice calm and measured. "If we prematurely end their recovery, we risk leaving them vulnerable. They won't be at full strength, and that could jeopardize the entire mission."
Ko clenched his fists, trembling with the effort of restraining himself from lashing out physically. "I don't trust you. You know more than you're letting on. But right now, you're our only option. So do something, anything, to help us."
Serenia stepped between them, her voice firm but calm. "Mr. Takamura, if there's any way to safely expedite their recovery, you need to do it. We're desperate. Please."
Mr. Takamura held Serenia's gaze for a long moment before sighing deeply. "I'll see what I can do. But I need you to trust that I'm doing everything in my power to help Rin. Threatening me won't expedite the process."
Ko's rage simmered, but he took a step back, glaring at Takamura. "You'd better. For your sake."
Mr. Takamura nodded, picking up his phone. "I'll make the call. But understand, this will take some time. Prepare yourselves for what comes next."
As they left the office, Ko's anger still radiated off him in waves, but Serenia's calming presence kept him from exploding again. "We'll get through this," she said softly. "We'll find Rin."
Ko took a deep breath, his resolve hardening once more. "We have to. We won't let her down."
As Ko and Serenia turned to leave, Ko's anger flared up again. He spun around and shouted back at Mr. Takamura, his voice echoing through the office. "And make sure you restore all the original Arcanum devices to us! Those new devices are dangerous, and if you don't, I'll personally make you restore them!"
Mr. Takamura's expression remained calm, but there was a hint of something darker in his eyes as he responded. "I understand your concerns, Ko. I'll ensure that the original Arcanum devices are reinstated immediately. Your safety is our priority."
Ko glared at him for a moment longer before finally turning away, storming out of the office with Serenia close behind. They walked quickly down the hall, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
"Ko, we need to focus on finding Rin," Serenia said softly, her voice steady. "We'll get the original Arcanum devices back, but right now, we need to be smart about this."
Ko nodded, his anger still simmering but more controlled. "You're right. We need to find her, and we can't afford any more mistakes."
Mr. Takamura sat in his office, now bathed in the dim glow of a single desk lamp. The door clicked shut behind Ko and Serenia, and the room fell into a tense silence. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and began turning off the remaining lights, one by one, until the office was enveloped in darkness.
He walked over to a hidden panel on the wall and pressed a series of buttons. A section of the wall slid open, revealing a high-tech screen that flickered to life. Takamura's eyes scanned the display, settling on a specific location highlighted in red: Seoul, South Korea.
Beneath the location, in bold, stark letters, was a name: Rin Sora.
Mr. Takamura's expression was unreadable as he stared at the screen. He reached out and tapped a command, bringing up a detailed map of Seoul. A blinking dot indicated Rin's precise location.
He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "So, she's been taken to Seoul," he murmured to himself. "It's all proceeding as planned."
A moment later, he picked up his phone and dialed a number, his voice low and controlled. "Phase Two is in motion. The target has been transported to Seoul. Ensure that our operatives there are prepared for her arrival. We cannot afford any missteps."
He listened intently to the response on the other end, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Yes, I understand. Maintain surveillance but do not engage unless absolutely necessary. We need her alive and unaware of our intentions."
After ending the call, Takamura stood in the darkened office, his mind racing with the complexities of his plan. He knew he had to maintain his facade with Serenia and Ko, but the stakes were higher than they realized. The success of Phase Two depended on careful execution and absolute secrecy.
He turned back to the screen, watching the blinking dot that represented Rin. "Your friends are coming for you," he whispered, a cold smile creeping across his face. "But they have no idea what they're walking into."
With that, he deactivated the screen and closed the hidden panel. The office returned to silence and darkness, with only the faint light from the desk lamp casting long, ominous shadows. Mr. Takamura sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers, his mind already plotting the next steps in his intricate game.
"I'll restore the original arcanum device as well, before I go.. don't want to get physical with Ko yet."
The sky above Seoul was a deep, velvety blue, tinged with the first hints of twilight. The horizon was painted with soft hues of pink and orange, casting a warm glow over the city. The buildings stood tall and proud, their sleek modern designs mingling with the traditional architecture that whispered tales of the past. Neon signs flickered to life, their vibrant colors reflecting off the glass facades, creating a kaleidoscope of lights that danced across the bustling streets below.
The air was filled with a symphony of sounds: the distant hum of traffic, the soft murmur of conversations, and the occasional laughter of children playing in the narrow alleys. The scent of street food wafted through the air, a tantalizing blend of spicy kimchi, sizzling meats, and sweet pastries that made the mouth water. Vendors called out their offerings, their voices mingling with the clinking of chopsticks and the sizzle of grills.
In a small, secluded alleyway, away from the main throng of people, the atmosphere was markedly different. The alley was bathed in the dim, golden light of a single streetlamp, casting long shadows that stretched across the cobblestones. The walls were adorned with faded posters and graffiti, remnants of a bygone era that added a rustic charm to the scene.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of a nearby tree, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers and fresh rain. The air felt cool and crisp, a welcome respite from the heat of the day. It was in this tranquil setting that a soft, shimmering light began to appear, growing steadily brighter until it formed a radiant portal.
From the portal, Rin emerged, her body still and prone, floating just above the ground before gently settling onto the cobblestones. The light from the portal faded, leaving her lying there, unconscious and unaware of her surroundings. The soft glow of the streetlamp cast a halo around her, highlighting the pale, ethereal quality of her skin.
Rin's breathing was steady, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Her face, though serene in its unconscious state, bore traces of the ordeal she had endured. Her clothes were slightly disheveled, her hair tousled, but there was an air of quiet strength about her, a resilience that shone through even in this vulnerable moment.
The alleyway remained silent, the world around her continuing its unhurried pace. The sounds of the city were a distant hum, barely penetrating the calm of the secluded spot. The night deepened, the sky darkening to a rich indigo, studded with the first stars of the evening. The city lights twinkled like a sea of fireflies, casting a gentle, comforting glow over the scene.
Rin laying there, untouched by the chaos of the world she had left behind and the one she had entered. The air was still, the only movement coming from the occasional flutter of leaves in the breeze. Time seemed to slow, the moment stretching out in a timeless bubble of quiet and peace.
Slowly, Rin's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry at first as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The soft glow of the streetlamp above cast gentle shadows on her face, and she blinked several times, trying to shake off the disorientation.
"What… happened?" she muttered to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, feeling the cool, damp cobblestones beneath her. The alleyway seemed strangely serene, almost surreal in its quiet beauty.
As the fog in her mind began to clear, panic set in. "Ko? Serenia?" she called out, her voice tinged with desperation. She looked around frantically, her eyes darting from one shadow to the next. "Ko! Serenia! Where are you?"
There was no response, only the distant sounds of the city beyond the alleyway. She forced herself to stand, her legs shaky and unsteady. The last thing she remembered was the intense gravity pulling her down and the red light of the Arcanum flashing before everything went black.
Her heart raced as she stumbled forward, calling out again. "Ko! Serenia! Can you hear me?" The echo of her voice bounced off the walls, but the only answer was silence. She felt a knot of fear tightening in her chest. How had she ended up here? And where exactly was here?
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. The scent of the city—street food, flowers, rain—was a strange comfort, grounding her in the reality of her situation. She needed to stay calm, to think clearly. Her friends were out there somewhere, and she had to find them.
Rin checked her pockets, hoping to find her Arcanum device, but it was gone. She cursed under her breath. "Great, just great," she muttered. "First, I'm sucked into who-knows-where, and now I'm without a way to contact anyone."
Determined not to give in to fear, Rin took a moment to survey her surroundings more carefully. The alley was narrow, leading out to what seemed to be a larger street. She could see the glow of neon signs and hear the distant murmur of people. It was as good a direction as any to start looking for help.
With one last glance back at the spot where she had awakened, Rin squared her shoulders and made her way toward the brighter lights of the main street. "Ko, Serenia… I hope you're okay," she whispered to herself. "I'm going to find you. Just hold on."
The alleyway behind her faded into the background as she stepped out onto the l streets of Seoul. The city was alive with activity, a stark contrast to the quiet solitude she had just left. People moved around her, oblivious to the girl who had suddenly appeared in their midst.
Hours had passed, and the bustling streets of Seoul had given way to the quiet serenity of a park. Rin found herself sitting on a wooden bench beneath the canopy of a large, ancient tree. The night was calm, the air cool and filled with the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
She hugged her knees to her chest, her mind racing with thoughts of Ko and Serenia. The city around her seemed almost magical in its nighttime stillness, a sharp contrast to the turmoil she felt inside. She had wandered for what felt like an eternity, searching for any clue that might lead her to her friends, but had found none.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, a faint blue glow appeared in front of her. Startled, she leaned back, watching as an Arcanum screen materialized in the air. Her heart skipped a beat—she recognized the familiar interface, but she had thought it was replaced by the new devices. How was this happening?
The screen flickered for a moment before stabilizing, displaying a series of options and a message alert. Rin hesitated before reaching out, her fingers trembling slightly as she tapped the alert.
< Subject: Device Restoration
Message: Due to recent complications, the original Arcanum devices have been restored. Please proceed with caution.>>
Rin frowned, confusion and a sliver of hope washing over her. "Restored? But how…?"
Before she could delve deeper into the message, another alert popped up, this one from Serenia's Arcanum. Rin's heart leaped as she opened it.
< Subject: Rin, where are you?
Message: Ko and I are looking for you. We're safe. Respond if you get this.>>
Tears welled up in Rin's eyes. They were alive. They were looking for her. She quickly composed a response, her fingers flying over the virtual keyboard.
< Subject: I'm safe
Message: I don't know where I am, but it looks like I'm in Korea.>>
She sent the message, hoping desperately that it would reach them. The screen flickered again, showing a map of Korea with a pulsing dot indicating her location. Rin tapped on the dot, trying to glean more information about her surroundings.
Leaning back on the bench, she took a deep breath, the initial shock of seeing the Arcanum again starting to fade. The night was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the city. She felt a strange sense of calm knowing that the original devices were back. They had been a lifeline for so long, and now, once again, they connected her to her friends.
Minutes felt like hours as she sat there, her eyes scanning the darkened paths of the park. The silence of the night enveloped her, but she didn't feel alone anymore. The Arcanum screen floated beside her, a silent reminder that she wasn't cut off from her world.
Suddenly, her screen pinged with an incoming message. She opened it quickly, her heart pounding.
< Subject: Stay safe
Message: We're trying to figure out how to get to you. Don't move. We'll find a way.>>
Relief flooded through her. They were working on a plan. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to breathe deeply and let go of some of the tension she had been holding onto. The Arcanum screen hovered beside her, casting a soft glow that seemed to blend seamlessly with the moonlight.
Back in Japan, Ko and Serenia were huddled together in Ko's room, staring intently at their restored Arcanum devices. The reality of Rin being in Korea had settled in, and they were frantically trying to formulate a plan to get to her.
Ko's fingers flew over the virtual keyboard as he typed a message to Rin.
< Subject: It's going to take time
Message: If you're in Korea, we can't get to you immediately. It's going to take some time to figure this out.>>
He hit send and turned to Serenia. "We need to buy ourselves some time. She's going to be scared and alone."
Serenia nodded, her expression determined. "We have to make sure she can stay safe and communicate with the locals. She can use the Arcanum's translation ability."
Ko's Arcanum pinged with a reply from Rin, the message brief but full of concern.
< Subject: What do I do?
Message: I don't know anyone here. How do I survive?>>
Ko took a deep breath, composing his thoughts before responding.
< Subject: Stay safe
Message: Use the Arcanum's translation ability to communicate with people around you. Find a safe place to stay, like a hotel or a guesthouse. We'll work on getting to you as soon as possible.>>
He sent the message and looked at Serenia. "We need to figure out how to get to Korea fast. Any ideas?"
Serenia frowned, thinking hard. "We'll need to pull some strings. Maybe Mr. Takamura can help, even if he's been acting suspicious."
Ko nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, we might not have a choice. Let's see what he can do for us."
Meanwhile, in Seoul, Rin sat on the bench, her Arcanum screen still glowing softly. The message from Ko provided a small measure of comfort, though it did little to dispel her anxiety. She glanced around, the unfamiliar city both intimidating and intriguing.
She opened the Arcanum's menu and navigated to the translation function. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and started walking toward the brighter lights of the city, her Arcanum ready to help her bridge the language barrier.
Rin approached a small convenience store, her nerves tingling with both fear and determination. She stepped inside, the fluorescent lights bright against the night outside. The shopkeeper glanced up, offering a polite nod.
"Excuse me," Rin said, her voice trembling slightly. The Arcanum immediately began translating her words into Korean. "Can you help me? I'm lost and need a place to stay."
The shopkeeper listened to the translation, his expression softening with understanding. He responded in Korean, the Arcanum seamlessly translating his words back to Rin.
"There's a guesthouse just a few blocks from here. It's safe and not too expensive. I can give you directions."
Rin nodded, relief washing over her. "Thank you so much."
She followed the shopkeeper's directions, feeling a bit more hopeful with each step. The Arcanum continued to translate signs and conversations around her, providing a lifeline in the vast and unfamiliar city.
As she reached the guesthouse, Rin took a deep breath, steeling herself for the days ahead. She had faith that Ko and Serenia would find a way to reach her. For now, she had to stay strong and safe, trusting in her friends and the Arcanum to guide her through this unexpected journey.