Drifter’s eyes fluttered open, his vision blurring before focusing on the familiar figure before him—Jaxon, unmistakable in his bck aviator jacket and signature hat.

  “Hey… thank goodness you’re awake, pal,” Jaxon said, relief flickering across his features.

  Pain shot through Drifter’s body as he tensed. He gnced around—white walls, medical devices, the sterile scent of antiseptic. A hospital. His voice was rough as he asked, “How are the others? Are they okay?”

  A heavy silence settled before Jaxon replied, his tone uncharacteristically soft. “Well… the important thing is you’re awake. Get some rest. We’ll deal with the rest ter.”

  Drifter’s gaze drifted away. “I understand…”

  The door creaked open, revealing Friedrich Rosenthal, his expression lined with worry. Behind him came the heavy footfalls of Grandmaster Ragnar Ashmane. Despite the sharp pain twisting his features, Drifter forced himself upright.

  “Grandmaster… I didn’t expect you to come,” Drifter said, his eyes widening slightly.

  Ragnar stepped closer. “I want to hear directly from you, Drifter. What really happened?”

  Friedrich gave a slight nod. “Take your time. We need everything you know.”

  Drifter stared at the bnket draped over him, speaking slowly. “There were two of them. One was young, incredibly fast, with silver hair—probably a lightning-element Rune Arbiter. The other was older, wielding fire magic. He carried dual tonfa swords, wore a neat suit, a fedora, and an eye patch.” He paused. “He… the one with the eye patch… he’s the one who defeated me. His combat experience was exceptional. I think he’s fought against many Arcane Sabers before…”

  Silence filled the room, broken only by the steady hum of hospital equipment.

  Friedrich and Ragnar exchanged a gnce before Friedrich spoke grimly. “Leif Morbane.”

  “Leif?” Drifter brow furrowed, but Ragnar cut in before he could question further.

  "A mercenary, a paid combat Evocaier. His involvement suggests there's a well-funded party behind this operation," Ragnar expined, crossing his arm.

  Friedrich nodded. "He’s got a solid reputation in the mercenary world. I’ve even heard he was the best. And their attack wasn’t random—they struck exactly when the academy and city barriers were down for scheduled maintenance. If we hadn’t raised Condition II, we would’ve been wiped out completely. It’s too perfect to be a coincidence."

  Drifter's eyes widened."So they knew the maintance schedule?"

  Friedrich gave a brief nod. "They not only knew. They knew exactly—location of the hangar, generator, every vital point of ours.

  Our defense fleet was destroyed so quickly. "It was most likely their stealth fleet that unched the initial bombardment... the enemy’s stealth fleet, undetected by the Vestra system.

  The hangar, along with our remaining golems and skyships, was also destroyed. It was all done by their stealth automatons..."

  He paused, his gaze distant. "If it hadn’t been for Vilreth Team holding the line at the generator... we might not be standing here right now."

  “The rat will be found,” Ragnar said, his sharp gaze flicking between Drifter and Friedrich.

  Drifter frowned in thought. A rat? Of course… Someone inside must have leaked it.

  Ragnar’s eyes narrowed, locking onto Friedrich. “Lyriel Amelioris extraction. Those illegal automatons on the skyship—reports confirm identical specs.”

  Friedrich’s face stiffened. “Yes, Grandmaster. Without a doubt. Let’s hope there’s something in the wreckage of that skyship—anything that can give us a lead.”

  Drifter looked at Friedrich. “Did we at least manage to bring it down?”

  Friedrich shook his head. “Yeah, we did. But it was just a decoy. The design and structure made it clear—it was a transport-css ship, probably loaded with automaton troops. The whole thing was likely controlled remotely through a command nexus.”

  Ragnar turned toward the door. “I’ll bring Amisha in on this. She’s the best we have when it comes to tracking contractors. And I’ll get the Aether Nexus Intelligence Division on high alert.”

  He paused at the doorway, casting a quick gnce back at Drifter. “Your only job right now is to rest and recover.”

  Friedrich stepped closer, pcing a steady hand on Drifter’s shoulder. “You did more than you realize. If you hadn’t pushed us to activate Condition II… we might not be having this conversation. Rest up, Drifter. You’ve earned it.”

  As Friedrich left, soft footsteps echoed through the room. Alma Rosenthal entered, her eyes wide with worry. Behind her, Vellya moved quietly, while Nadia Fernleaf kept her gaze fixed on the floor, troubled.

  "How are you feeling, Drifter? I’m so gd you’re awake." Her voice trembled

  Drifter forced a smile, "You’re all worrying too much. I’m fine, really. Thank you."

  Alma crossed her arms, "Don’t try to fool me... Even before the battle, we were worried. When you saw that Cube... it was like you disappeared."

  Behind her, Nadia stood quiet, "She’s right, Drifter... We were scared. But... I’m just gd you’re safe now."

  Vellya smiled brightly, but her eyes flickered with uncertainty, the worry hidden just beneath her cheerful mask."Big brother, get better soon, okay? Mama and Papa said to tell you hello and send hugs!"

  Drifter nodded slowly, his gaze shifting between the three girls. "Thank you, Alma, Nadia, Vellya."

  Heavy footsteps thudded outside—then Lorcan Grindelwald shouldered through the door, grin wide but eyes sharp with buried concern.

  "Ha! I knew you wouldn’t stay down for long, old man. You’re tougher than that!"

  Beside him, Sloane Gast's smirk. "Oh, by the way, word is Luna cried herself to sleep every night while you were out. Just thought you’d like to know."

  Alma couldn’t help but chuckle, and Lorcan’s booming ughter quickly followed.

  Drifter let out a tired sigh, shaking his head as a small smile tugged at his lips. "You two are unbelievable."

  To Lorcan's left, Reine Lindt stood still, his gaze downcast. "We’re just... so gd you’re okay," he said.

  The sound of more footsteps echoed down the hallway as Caelus, Alyssa, Bryan, and Erick entered together.

  Lorcan rolled his eyes. "Oi! No more crowding the pce! Old man needs some peace and quiet, you know!"

  Caelus crossed his arms. "Your voice is louder than all of us combined, Lorcan. We could hear you from the hospital entrance."

  Alyssa smiled faintly. "Drifter, I didn’t think I’d ever see you like this. Please get well soon, okay?"

  Bryan nodded. "Yeah, Drifter. I can’t imagine what kind of enemy could take you down. They must’ve been tough. Just focus on getting better, alright?"

  Erick spoke next, his tone respectful. "Thank you for everything you’ve done for us, sir. You’ve carried us through so much. Please, take the time to rest and recover."

  Drifter gnced at each of them, his tired eyes softening with gratitude. "Thank you... all of you. It means a lot."

  The tension in the room began to ease, but before it could fully settle, another group appeared at the door. Vaeloria, Mia, and Lily entered, their faces reflecting a mix of emotions.

  Lorcan sighed loudly, dragging a hand down his face. "Oh great, the freeloader crew is here. Try not to make too much noise, alright?"

  Vaeloria offered a faint smile, her eyes glossed over, lips trembling slightly. "Get well soon, Drifter. You’re in our prayers."

  Drifter nodded slowly, his voice soft but full of sincerity. "Thank you, Ria, Lily, Mia."

  He gnced briefly at Vaeloria, his thoughts wandering as his hand clenched beneath the bnket.

  She’s usually so cheerful... This attack must have hit her hard.

  Lorcan smirked and leaned in slightly. "Hey, Ria. Since when do you pray?"

  Mia rolled her eyes, waving him off dismissively. "Lorcan, could you just not for once?"

  Lily crossed her arms and shot him a look. "Yeah, seriously. Can you read the room for once? Give it a rest."

  Vaeloria shot Lorcan a bnk stare. "Ignore him. He’s just... being Lorcan."

  She turned back to Drifter, her voice barely audible. "Take care of yourself, Drifter. I hope you recover soon."

  Without another word, she stepped back, her friends following close behind.

  They continued their banter for a while until, one by one, they left, their footsteps fading into the distance, leaving the room heavy with silence.

  Then, the door opened once more, accompanied by the soft sound of footsteps. Reina Lindt entered. Her gaze softened at the sight of Drifter, though concern still lingered. "Drifter... are you feeling any better?"

  Helvra strode in behind her, her presence filling the room. "You're looking better. I heard you figured out the attack was coming. Impressive."

  Xaltherion followed, his posture rigid and controlled. "I wouldn't be surprised if you had some kind of cirvoyance. You always seem one step ahead."

  From the sofa near Drifter's bed, Jaxon smirked. "Oh, and by the way, they're the ones who pulled you out of the research center. Thought you'd want to know."

  Drifter's gaze flickered between them, his expression softening as he lowered his head. "I see... Thank you," he whispered, sincerity thick in his voice.

  After a moment, he gnced up. "By the way, where's your quiet teammate?"

  Helvra scoffed softly. "Oh, you mean our leader? Stuff like this? Yeah, he never shows up. But give him a new mission, and he's the first one in."

  "Helvra, don't say that. That’s too harsh," Reina chided gently, shaking her head with a smile.

  Helvra shrugged with a light ugh. "I’m just being honest. Isn’t that right, Therion?" She turned toward Xaltherion, grinning.

  Xaltherion only smiled at her before shifting his gaze to Drifter. "Speaking of which, Drifter, do you remember who was behind the attack?"

  "Yes. Leif Morbane... That’s what Friedrich and the Grandmaster said," Drifter replied.

  "I’m not surprised. I’ve heard he’s ruthless. You’re lucky to have made it out alive," Therion said.

  "Ruthless, maybe... but there was something strange about him. Something I just couldn’t put my finger on," Drifter murmured.

  Reina spoke up, her voice steady. "What matters now is that the academy and the city are safe. That’s what’s most important."

  Drifter nodded. "You’re right... I’m grateful for that."

  The conversation gradually shifted, the tension easing as the topics turned lighter. Eventually, one by one, they began saying their goodbyes.

  As the door quietly closed, Drifter exhaled deeply. The calm returned to the room, but the weight in his chest remained. His gaze fixed on the ceiling, thoughts lingering on their words. The faces of those who had brought him peace in the storm hadn't entirely faded from his mind.

  The door opened again moments ter. Alina and Luna entered, carrying small bags filled with gifts. A warm aroma of food and herbal tea filled the air. Jaxon, who had been sitting quietly, straightened in his chair.

  "There they are..." Jaxon said casually.

  Alina stepped forward, setting a small bag on the bedside table. Her sharp, unwavering gaze locked onto Drifter.

  "How are you feeling? Any better?" she asked.

  "Not bad... I'm just gd you're all safe," Drifter replied.

  Alina nodded, but her brow furrowed as the warmth in her gaze faded. She leaned forward, hands resting on the edge of the bed, her voice lowering.

  "By the way, you never told us... How did you know the enemy was going to attack?"

  A brief silence hung in the air. Luna gnced between Alina and Drifter, her face unreadable. Jaxon moved closer to Alina, his gaze softening.

  "Hey, Alina... Maybe save that for ter. Let him rest first," he suggested, his tone light but firm.

  Alina's eyes darted to Jaxon before locking onto Drifter again. "This isn't about timing, Jaxon. We're a team, and this is about people's lives. If there's something important, we have to know. I respect your privacy, but some things are too big to keep to yourself."

  Drifter remained quiet, fingers tightening around the bnket. After a long pause, he exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry... It's just... hard to expin."

  The room fell still. Drifter's gaze fixed ahead, unblinking, as if lost in a distant thought.

  "Every night, I dream..." He paused, closing his eyes briefly. "The academy in ruins... all of you, gone."

  The worry in Alina and Jaxon's faces deepened.

  Drifter's voice cracked, rough and strained. "But the dream felt too real. The smell of blood, the destruction... It was like I was really there. I don't know if it was a nightmare, a vision of the future, or... something else."

  He paused, biting his lip. "Sometimes... it feels like I'm reliving time. Like I've been sent back to fix things."

  A thick silence hung in the air. After a beat, Jaxon exhaled. "What matters now is that we're all here, Drifter. It's over. Don't dwell on it too much. Just focus on getting better."

  Alina's eyes lingered on him. "Thanks for telling us. I'll look into... whatever it is you're dealing with. Maybe there's a way we can help."

  Drifter met her gaze, the tension in his face easing momentarily. "Thank you... Alina. And you too, Jaxon."

  The two turned to leave, but Jaxon stopped at the doorway, adjusting his hat before gncing back. "Get some rest, Drifter. And stop overthinking things, alright?"

  Luna remained by the window, her silhouette framed by the morning light streaming through the curtains. Without turning around, she spoke. "This silence... it feels unnatural, doesn't it?"

  A chill ran down Drifter's spine as he looked at her. His thoughts raced, but he managed a quiet reply. "They're... quiet. For now."

  Her gaze shifted, locking onto his. "And... that other presence? Is it still there?" she asked.

  Drifter's voice trembling. "It waited until I was weak. But it didn't... stay long."

  Luna listened intently, her eyes narrowing. She nodded slightly, turning back to the window. "You didn't tell Alina and Jaxon about this..."

  "They don't need to know..." Drifter's gaze grew distant.

  After a long pause, he finally spoke. "He... offered me something, Luna... Help to bring the cube back, and to ensure your safety from the enemy's threat."

  Luna tilted her head slightly. "Did you accept his offer?"

  Drifter fell silent, his gaze sinking to his trembling hands. "I... I don't remember,"

  Luna drew a deep breath.

  "I'm leaving for now," she said. "Don't dwell on it too much. You need rest."

  She paused briefly, turning back to gnce at Drifter. Her eyes were misty. Without another word, she turned away. Drifter remained on the bed, his gaze fixed on the floor.

  [Location: Unknown – ???? – Stealth Alcherider – Year 1092 Ad Felicitas]

  A dark sky stretched above a quiet ocean as the Alcherider, cloaked in invisibility, glided silently across the water. Only the faint ripples below hinted at its presence.

  Lucian Thorne, a silver-haired young man, sat in the cockpit, flipping a bck cube in his hand, studying it intently. The autopilot hummed softly on the control panel in front of him. Beside him, Leif Morbane lounged with casual ease, adjusting the brim of his hat, unconcerned.

  “You don’t think this feels... strange, do you, Leif?” Lucian asked.

  Leif gnced over, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Strange? My dear, everything we do is strange. You’re going to have to narrow it down"

  Lucian held up the bck cube, his expression serious. “I mean, from the outside, this thing looks useless… but…” He trailed off, suspicion sharpening his tone. “Doesn’t it feel off? Why go through all this trouble to pick a fight with the Order over something that seems worthless? And then there's the stealth tech—everything from simple devices to skyships. Who even has the kind of budget to support tens of thousands of military automatons? The tech they’re using is way beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

  He paused, eyes narrowing. “And one more thing… why are they giving us their tech? This Alcherider—if we sold it to the highest bidder in the underworld, we’d make a fortune. No one even knows this kind of stealth tech exists.”

  He exhaled softly, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the cube tighter. “None of this makes sense. Who exactly is behind all this?”

  The question hung in the air, heavy with implications.

  After a moment, Leif turned his gaze toward Lucian, his voice low and unbothered.

  “You’re asking questions again. Dangerous habit. Remember what I told you: curiosity gets you shot in the back by someone with shinier boots.”

  Lucian crossed his arms, brow furrowing deeper. “This cube... it might be more valuable than we realize,” he muttered. “What if handing it over causes something catastrophic?”

  Leif chuckled. “Yeah.. yeah.... Maybe. But that’s not our problem. That’s for the Order and the governments to deal with. We’re just mercenaries, dear.”

  Lucian let out a sharp breath, his shoulders sagging. “I knew you’d say that... I just hope my instincts are wrong.”

  Leif leaned back, unfazed. “And yet here we are. You and me—if the world burns, I’ll still be right here, raising a gss on the ashes. Cheers to that.”

  “Your jokes are terrible, Leif,” Lucian said with a roll of his eyes, though a small smirk crept onto his face.

  The Alcherider glided on, invisible beneath the moonlight, cutting through the silent, bck ocean. Yet beneath the calm surface, a quiet tension stirred—an unspoken promise of something greater, darker, and far more dangerous waiting just ahead.