Surging waves, a flawless sky.
Along the beach, she chased after that pale yellow swim ring, leaving a trail of footprints in the soft sand.
So... was there any point in catching up to it?
No, it was her swim ring to begin with, so there was no need to consider why she was chasing it.
With a kick, she shattered a sandcastle in her path and ran forward with a laugh. From behind her came the angry shout of the person who had built the castle:
"Sister, don't run too far!"
She came to a sudden halt—
...
Delta rubbed her temples as she walked into the training room. Ever since the MANTIS surgery, her sleep quality had grim. she dreamed frequently, yet couldn't remember them upon waking. It left her head throbbing at times, showing symptoms of neurasthenia.
"Hm?"
She noticed something was missing from the training room today.
Where was that annoying helmet guy?
There was a note resting on the arcade machine. Delta walked over and picked it up.
"I have business away. Someone else will fill in for me today."
...
The man removed the helmet from his head. Taking a direct breath of air—unfiltered by the Fire Moth base or his helmet—for the first time in a long while, he gazed at the distant blue sky.
He looked down and took a jar of viscous, dark green liquid from his pocket. Even through the transparent container, a pungent, spicy scent wafted out.
He unscrewed the lid, dabbed a bit with his fingertip, and put it in his mouth.
...It really was spicy beyond endurance.
His senses as a human were awakening in this body at an incredible speed, but when he saw the silver-white color in the mirror that had swallowed a quarter of his form, he felt that the "thing" that truly defined him as human was slipping away.
What exactly is the boundary between human and non-human?
Is a MANTIS soldier, half-corrupted by Honkai, still human?
Is Prometheus, who is entirely AI, human?
Gray Serpent... and artificial lifeforms like him, are they human?
Or is it that, to "true humans," they are nothing more than another race, or even... tools and property?
From the moment humans created new words to distinguish themselves from others, their hearts no longer recognized those distinguished as compatriots.
So... in the eyes of those people, Kevin, Sakura, Mobius, Su... none of them are "human"?
Is that why they wanted people from outside Fire Moth to participate in the MANTIS project?
Lin recalled the look in Sakura eyes when she returned from a mission a year ago, and the looks of the Fire Moth members who escorted her. His brain felt as if it had been struck by electricity. He clutched his head, suppressing those whispers only after a long moment of silent rest.
His hand rested on his holster, tracing the patterns of the pistol. After a long pause, he silently let go and looked toward the distance.
A city was rising on the horizon.
Svatok 51.
...
"..."
Delta swallowed hard, feeling an invisible weight pressing down on the top of her head. Just by standing there, the person before her emitted an aura that felt sharp enough to cut her skin.
The two long blades at the woman's waist were sheathed, and her hands rested at her sides, yet it felt as if she could decapitate an opponent with those sheathed weapons in the very next heartbeat.
When she first arrived at the 10th Branch, Delta had said Lin was incapable of teaching her and wanted a MANTIS to guide her. Now, her "dream" had come true.
Except this person didn't seem to be the "easy-going" and "enthusiastic" Elysia others spoke of, even though... she also had pink hair.
"I am your instructor for today."
The ice-cold beauty's gaze was as piercing as her blindingly fast swordsmanship. Today was a rare day off for her, yet the aura she carried was colder than usual.
"I have matters to attend to outside today. Could I trouble you to guide my subordinate?"
Lin had asked her earlier. At that moment, she actually wanted to ask him what he was doing, but she forced herself to swallow the words.
She had reported everything last night, including the meeting between Lin and Gray Serpent. She didn't know if Lin departure today had anything to do with that.
It was just that when she saw Lin as calm as ever, she felt a sharp pang in her heart.
"...Alright." Sakura had agreed without much thought. After Lin gave her a slight nod, he left the 10th Branch.
Sakura noticed that Lin did not use any Fire Moth transportation and deliberately chose a concealed route to leave the branch.
So, this time, should she still report it?
Snapping back from her brief memory, Sakura stared at the other pink-haired girl in front of her. Sensing the other's tension, she retracted her aura, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Delta, right?"
Sakura felt a bit dazed by the name. She involuntarily gripped the scabbard of her ice blade, the cold seeping into her palm.
"Yes." Delta tried her best to look formal.
"Don't be nervous." Sakura offered what she thought was a kind smile. "It's just that your name reminds me of... an old friend."
Sakura had never met that person. She had only heard his name and knew that the technology he left behind was still being developed and used by Fire Moth. Even the sword in her hand was one of his masterpieces.
And, he was Lin best friend.
Sakura could only understand what kind of person he was through the fragments of others' words. It gave her a subtle feeling.
As if... she and Lin important past had missed each other.
"An old friend?" Delta didn't quite understand why her name would make the other think of a friend. She thought her name was quite niche.
"No, it's nothing. Let's begin."
Delta nodded, half-understanding, and then prepared to sit in front of the arcade machine...
"What are you doing?"
Sakura voice came from behind. Delta turned back, puzzled: "Training."
"Training by playing games?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Sakura froze for a moment, then hesitated for a few seconds before saying: "My training content is different. Pick up your weapon."
After picking up her weapon, it suddenly dawned on Delta. This wasn't Lin training her anymore; it was a genuine MANTIS, and one with extensive combat experience at that. Such an opportunity was rare.
"Instructor Sakura..."
"You can just call me Sakura."
She's practically an angel, Delta thought. Compared to a certain arrogant guy who wouldn't respond unless called "Lieutenant," Sakura was the perfect senior.
"Is it live combat training?" Delta excitedly gripped her two weapons.
"Live combat?" Sakura frowned as she looked at Delta stance, which seemed riddled with openings to her. "Are you sure?"
"Of course!"
"...Fine. I'll take you to the infirmary in a bit."
"Huh? Why?"