Darian was still thinking about what Allocen had told him the night before.
To him, Krukins never truly felt alive, just monstrous things created to attack Earth. But after hearing the words of the speaking Krukin and Allocen's perspective, his certainty was slipping. Maybe they were alive. Maybe they could think.
He still couldn't find an answer. And how could you blame him? The Krukins had caused all this destruction. Humanity was only doing what it had to in order to survive.
Far below the surface, Alerya rode an old elevator deep into the forgotten parts of the city. She had been summoned to meet the Seven Sages for the first time.
The sages used a messenger to deliver their summons, but the messenger never knew their true identities. This person had given up their life to live down here, guarding the path to the chamber without ever leaving. What a sad life, Alerya thought.
Luckily, the role was completely voluntary, and if no one stepped forward, the sages had other ways to reach those above.
The elevator clunked to a stop. Alerya stepped into a narrow tunnel and walked until it opened into a vast, circular octagon-shaped chamber.
The room was entirely made of obsidian. High golden thrones ringed the space, each impossibly tall so that those seated were hidden in shadow. The king stood silently in the center while the sages spoke from above. No one ever saw them cleaely.
Alerya's heart pounded.
"Welcome, Princess Alerya…" one voice called out, echoing across the chamber. She couldn't tell where it came from. She knelt immediately.
"You may speak and tell us about your plan now," said another voice, different from the first.
"I wish to lead an expedition," Alerya said, still kneeling. "To reclaim the lands we humans have lost."
"You dream boldly, Princess," the second voice replied. "You know what happened the last time someone said such words to the people."
They were referring to her father, the old king.
"I know. But my father was not an Alterid, and he was old... unable to defend himself from what came. I can fight. And the Krukins are growing stronger. We must act now!"
"Oh, big words," a new voice said. "Well… we cannot stop you."
Another sage's voice followed immediately. "But you must stay here. Prepare the Veilguard, but remain. The city still needs its defender."
"I was prepared for this," Alerya said. "I've already told my team they will work alone."
"Then you may go. Good luck, Princess Alerya."
She rose, bowed, and left the chamber. Her legs were shaking.
Later, an announcement drew the entire city to the main square.
Darian stayed behind the crowd, watching for any sign of trouble. If someone tried to assassinate her like the old king, Alerya would be ready to deflect the attack, and he would be ready to catch the shooter.
When she stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in applause.
"My people!" Alerya called out. "Thank you for your trust. Now I will tell you our plan to take our world back!"
She slammed her hands on the podium, and the people roared.
"We will send the Veilguard to the mainland! The Krukins are growing stronger, we must respond! And to those who killed the king, your terror ends here! You think we'll cower because of what you did? NO! We will go, and we will make humanity great again!"
Her fist shot into the air. The square exploded with cheers.
From the back, Darian scanned the crowd. No rifles. No suspicious movement. She was safe.
Back in the Veilguard's meeting room, Alerya laid out the plan again for Darian: they would cross the northeastern desert to reach the mainland.
That route seemed familiar. Then it hit him.
"That means we'll pass Rusty!" Darian grinned.
"Rusty?" Liro tilted his head, everyone was enough confused as him.
"Oh, right, I never told you. Before I ended up on XERBAB-7, I built a robot, Rusty, and made a base near the mainland. It became my home."
Liro's eyes widened. "A robot… like a person made of metal with its own mind?"
"Sort of," Darian said with a small laugh. "The base is close to the mainland. We can use it as a safe point."
That relieved everyone, especially Alerya. Without it, the mission would have been far more dangerous.
The next morning, the team: Kael, Lara, Liro, Allocen, and Darian, set out. They walked in formation in case of attack, but the desert remained still.
Kael was on the front, Allocen behind him, Lara in the middle so she could heal everyone and Liro and Darian behind everyone.
Sometimes Liro and Darian broke the formation to speak together, but Kael didn't complain for now.
Days later, the base came into sight. Darian ran ahead, relief washing over him when he saw it still standing.
"Welcome back, Master Radian," a metallic voice greeted him. Rusty stepped forward, his steel frame glinting in the sun. "And I see you've brought friends.
"WOAH! IT LOOKS SO COOL!" Liro shouted, running circles around Rusty in awe.
Rusty tilted his head. "Your friends are… energetic. Come inside. We have much to discuss."