[Chapter 4]
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The Yveon border blurred beneath them as they soared, the wind whistling past their ears.
KiAera led the way, navigating the familiar path back to the Chimeron Sanctum. The thief, for her part, kept pace, her curiosity piqued by the sprawling city that came into view below.
"Wow," the thief breathed, her eyes wide with wonder as they flew over the bustling streets and towering structures of the sanctum.
Unlike her, the familiar stretch of crystalline and wood-spired buildings, the river that split the citadel like a silver vein, the verdant parks teeming with life, were all things KiAera had built with her own hands, with her own blood and sweat. They were a sanctuary. A home.
And now, a target.
"Keep your eyes on the mission, Xetra," KiAera said, her voice tight. "We're not here for a sightseeing tour."
She didn't expect the woman to listen. Xetra dove toward the first restaurant she saw; a modest noodle stall with a steaming cauldron and a few scattered tables. The owner, a stout, four-armed Golem with a perpetually worried expression, looked up as she landed with a soft thud.
"Two bowls of your finest! My treat!" Xetra announced, slapping a handful of Crystorian credits on the counter.
"Xetra!" KiAera landed behind her, the impact of her heels causing the wooden planks to groan. "We don't have time for this."
"We've got to eat, Kia," Xetra said, winking over her shoulder. "Can't fight an Overlord's goons on an empty stomach. Plus, I'm starving. The chase really worked up my appetite."
KiAera watched, dumbfounded, as Xetra leaned against the counter, chatting animatedly with the flustered Golem. She pointed at the menu, made faces, and even helped the Golem chop some vegetables with a flick of her wrist, a small, controlled burst of {Divine} energy that neatly sliced a stack of onions into perfect rings.
The Golem, despite his initial panic, seemed to be won over by her charm. He laughed, a deep, rumbling sound, as Xetra recounted a highly exaggerated and completely fabricated story about how she'd single-handedly fought off a pack of ravenous Skorpios with nothing but a spoon and a half-eaten apple.
KiAera couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement, which she quickly suppressed. This was not the time for distractions.
"I don't care about your appetite," KiAera said, her voice low and dangerous. "The Seated member of the Omega V could be making their move right now, while you're here bothering the noodle vendor."
KiAera turned to the vendor. "Sorry, Gerald, she's new here. How's the fam been?"
"Oh, you know, KiAera," Gerald replied, wiping sweat from his brow with one of his four arms. "The missus is fussing about the kids again. She wants them to go into stone-carving, but young Gyro has his heart set on joining Division 3. Says he wants to be a 'Flame Forger' just like Vice Captain Ambergal."
KiAera smiled. "Gyro has good taste. Tell him to keep practicing his {Ember Burst}. If he can master it by the end of the season, I'll put in a good word for him."
Gerald's face lit up with pride. "Thank you, KiAera! You're a true leader."
Xetra, who had been watching the exchange with a smirk, nudged KiAera. "See? A little bit of goodwill goes a long way. Now, about those noodles..."
Before KiAera could retort, a familiar figure caught her eye. Not short nor tall, perhaps around five feet and some change, the petite and pristine woman had chin-length silver-blue hair that sparkled like crystals. Attached to her head were genuine mousy crystal ears, and crystalline shield structures hovered slightly behind her back.
Despite being out of her usual Division Captain uniform, her outfit was both adorable and modest; a skirt ensemble resembling something an idol might wear at a winter festival.
It was Oath, the Division 1 Captain, walking through the crowded market square with her brow furrowed in concentration. She was accompanied by Liozel and Denji, the boys holding each of her hands. They were deep in conversation, their heads close together and oblivious to the world around them.
Liozel noticed KiAera first. His face lit with warmth and admiration, a reaction he reserved only for her.
"Big Sis KiAera!" he exclaimed, letting go of Oath's hand and rushing forward. "What are you doing here?"
Before KiAera could answer, Oath's gaze shifted, her soft, blue eyes falling on Xetra, who was mid-mouthful of noodles, slurping them with gusto. Oath's friendly demeanor vanished, replaced by a wary alertness. She gently let go of Denji's hand and stepped forward, positioning herself slightly in front of the boys.
"Who is this?" Oath asked, her voice as clear and cool as a mountain spring. There was no accusation in her tone, only a quiet demand for answers.
KiAera felt a wave of frustration. She had wanted to handle this discreetly, but fate had other plans.
Stolen novel; please report.
"Oath," KiAera began, keeping her own voice steady. "This is Xetra. She's... an associate."
Denji, who had been quiet up to this point, narrowed his eyes, his hands tucked coolly in his pockets. "An associate? She looks like trouble. Are you sure we can trust her, KiAera?"
Xetra swallowed her noodles, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and grinned at Oath.
"I so love your getup! Reminds me of a snowflake I saw once, except you're way prettier and not so melty," Xetra said, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration. She then turned to Denji, her grin widening. "And you! You've got that moody, brooding thing down pat. It's very becoming."
Denji blinked, a faint flush creeping up his neck. He was clearly caught off guard by the unexpected compliment.
Liozel, ever the diplomat, stepped forward, offering a small, polite bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Liozel."
Xetra's eyes lit up. "Well, hello there, handsome. You're the friendly one, aren't you?"
Before the conversation could devolve further, KiAera stepped in. "That's enough," she said, her tone firm. "We're on a mission."
Oath's gaze flickered between KiAera and Xetra, her expression unreadable. "A mission? I wasn't informed."
"It's... a covert operation," KiAera explained, choosing her words carefully. "A matter of internal security. We're investigating a potential breach."
"A breach?" Oath's eyes widened slightly. "Is that why the treasury was compromised?"
Xetra smiled and then opened her mouth to speak. KiAera shot her a fierce glare before the woman had the opportunity to reveal herself as the intruder. She did not have time to explain, nor to deal with a headache.
"We'd like to visit the Observatory. Your connection to the city would be helpful in our search."
"Of course," Oath said, her duty as a Captain might've overrode her personal curiosity. "Right this way."
As they walked, Denji and Liozel kept a close eye on Xetra. Denji, still suspicious, walked a few paces behind, while Liozel offered to carry Xetra's now-discarded cloak, which she accepted with a playful wink.
The Observatory of Mnemosyne was a breathtaking structure, a spiraling tower of polished obsidian and glowing quartz that pierced the sky. Its main hall was a vast, circular chamber, its domed ceiling a mosaic of the stars, their light reflected in the polished floor below.
At the center of the room stood a massive, pulsating crystal, its surface etched with intricate patterns that shimmered and shifted. This was the Nexus Crystal, the heart of the Chimeron Sanctum's intelligence network.
Oath placed a hand on the crystal, her eyes closing in concentration. "The Nexus Crystal's records from the past 600 hours," she said, her voice echoing in the silent hall.
A holographic display appeared in the air above the crystal, a torrent of data streams and visual logs. Oath manipulated the display with a series of precise gestures, her fingers dancing through the air as she sorted through the information. Denji and Liozel watched, their expressions of awe and confusion, while Xetra, uncharacteristically quiet, observed with a keen, analytical gaze.
KiAera, however, was focused on the task at hand. She stood beside Oath, her eyes scanning the data for any anomalies, any sign of an unauthorized presence.
"There," KiAera said, pointing to a specific data stream. "The energy signature is masked, but there's a subtle distortion in the temporal field around the Chimera Keep's outer ward."
Oath nodded, her expression grim. "I see it. The distortion is minimal, almost undetectable. But it's there. Someone with a high degree of proficiency in {Temporal} magic was able to bypass our defenses."
Xetra whistled softly. "A {Temporal} mage? That's a rare skill. And a dangerous one. This guy's more resourceful than I thought."
"Can you trace the energy signature?" KiAera asked, her eyes locked on the holographic display.
Oath's fingers flew across the display, her movements a blur. "It's difficult. The trail is faint, and it's being actively suppressed. But I think… I think I can pinpoint the point of origin." She paused, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It leads to Jalkra's embassy."
KiAera's blood ran cold. Jalkra's embassy. The Oni Lord's private quarters. The Seated member of the Omega V had been right under their noses, hiding in plain sight, within the inner circle of her own Marshal's command.
But that made no sense. Jalkra, for all his faults, was fiercely loyal to the Chimeron Crew. He would never knowingly harbor an enemy.
"Are you sure?" KiAera asked.
"I am," Oath confirmed, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "The temporal distortion converges on a specific location within the embassy. The personal chambers of the Warfare Marshal."
Denji's face hardened, a storm gathering in his eyes. "My father wouldn't… he couldn't..."
"Of course he wouldn't," KiAera said, placing a reassuring hand on Denji's shoulder. "He's being manipulated. Deceived."
Xetra, who had been uncharacteristically silent, stepped forward. "This is bad. Really, really bad. If this Seated member is that close to your Warfare Marshal, they have access to your military strategies, your troop deployments, your defensive protocols. They could cripple you from the inside out."
"Then we have to act," KiAera said, her resolve hardening into steel. "Now."
"But how?" Liozel asked, his voice trembling slightly. "We can't just storm the embassy. Not without proof. Not without endangering Mr. Jalkra."
"We won't," KiAera said. She recalled Jalkra's history, his drunken boasts of one day serving Lorgagore, and his former apprenticeship under Lorgagore's old-generation Seated member, Grimvex. But that was years ago. Grimvex was dead. Jalkra had grown since then, maturing into a capable leader. Or so she thought. The idea that he might have reverted to his old, fanboyish ways was a bitter pill to swallow. "We need to be smart about this."
She turned to Oath. "Can you monitor the embassy's energy signatures from here? Track the Seated member's movements?"
Oath nodded. "I can, but I'll need to recalibrate the Nexus Crystal. It will take some time."
"Do it," KiAera commanded. "Liozel, I need you to go to the Lumina Lake. Inform Yaella and EliTa of the situation. Tell them to prepare a high-level containment field. A {Stasis} spell. Non-lethal."
Liozel's eyes widened, but he nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Understood." He thrust his fist forward, and the effect was immediate as the emptiness before him tore open from his {Spatial} power. Spiraling in front of him was a {Portal} rift. Liozel stepped through it, and it closed with a satisfying pop.
"Denji," KiAera said, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at the young Oni. "I need you to stay here with Oath. Help her monitor the crystal. And… stay out of sight. If your father sees you, he'll know something's wrong."
Denji's jaw tightened, but he understood the gravity of the situation. "Your… your not going to have to fight Dad are you?" he asked, the question heavy with unspoken dread.
"That's not the plan, kid," Xetra said, her usual playful tone replaced by a serious one. She gave Denji a reassuring, if slightly awkward, pat on the shoulder. "We're just going to… diplomatically remove a parasite. With extreme prejudice, if necessary."
Denji's eyes flickered to Xetra, a flicker of something—grudging respect?—in their depths. He gave a curt nod. "Just… bring him back."
KiAera met his gaze, her own expression unreadable. "I will."
She turned to Xetra. "Let's go."
"Aye-aye, cap'n," Xetra quipped, her usual smirk returning. "Time to crash a party."
Artwork Milestone II [@50]: Artwork for Oath Ossedia or Liozel & Denji?
