Chapter XXV

Lux de Noctis

The Dictadurian walked parallel to the main bar, scanning the faces of everyone seated there from a moderate distance, hoping to find Corven amidst the sea of people. Adria was relaxed; the Ocean Bubbles Raxae had prepared had a calming effect on her, and she moved to the beat of the song playing in the background. After scanning hundreds of faces, she accepted that her contact was not there.

She had to search other areas of the club, the experience rooms. First, she ventured into 'Aquadry,' a space filled with four large interconnected crystal containers of multi-textured water for games and art. Here, people socialized and had fun without losing oxygen or getting wet thanks to the repelling properties of the liquid. Inside a bubble, a DJ played upbeat music that made the water vibrate in various containers at its center. Adria walked through a glass tunnel beneath a massive vessel to another bar connecting to the next container. She searched for Corven in those large human aquariums, hoping he might be drunk, swimming, or engaged in a romantic encounter, but after inspecting another hundred faces and glimpsing into half a dozen naked body parts, she concluded he was not there either.

Next, she proceeded to 'Downup,' the only space with ingravitas technology to such a large scale in Sectum, or so they knew. The technology turned everything upside down, creating a floating party where people flew and chased each other, dancing upside down with reversed gravity. Adria enjoyed the obstacles and games there, especially a mock-up version of Silidan, her favorite sport.

As she moved through the area, an incident triggered a laughter attack, a side effect of the bubbles Raxae had given her. A couple floated by, kissing and rubbing against each other until they spun faster than advisable given their alcohol consumption. As Adria had predicted, he vomited on her face, and, utterly disgusted, she retched back at him.

The Dictadurian watched this priceless moment unfold in slow motion.

She then moved to the third and final experience room, 'Jungle Heights,' only to find it closed for the night. Not wanting to waste her time, she climbed a stair carved in seraphinite, which led her upstairs to a massive, suspended crystal dance floor where hundreds of people bounced in time to 'Faint Sight' by HiJeans, a hit song from the late CXXIV century. There, Adria took another sip of her drink, which made her so carefree that she danced without inhibitions, in sync with the other Dictadurians, feeling the music vibrate through her body and recalling the times she danced to that song in a different life, back when she was a child, with her mother pushing her artistic side out.

Distinct patterns and laser shapes were projected around the room, with a haze covering the entire dance floor. A different DJ, Raveena, rose on a platform above the attendees, mixing music at the center of the space. Adria knew her as a resourceful woman with exceptional talent who care free danced to the beat of the song, keeping her audience energetic. She had built her way up, from cleaning bathrooms at the lower level to held a coveted status in the nocturnal under-city.

As the night progressed, Adria's head felt light, and her worries faded with the music; the likelihood of meeting Corven grew slimmer by the minute, sending all her illusions of escaping Sectum straight to the trash. It wasn’t the first time she had fallen for such a promise.

The sour taste of disappointment was diluted with each new move, as she danced her emotions away. The woman stayed for a few songs, swirling around and scanning hundreds of faces until, defeated, she descended the crystal stairs.

Back on that level, Adria found the lavatory and entered. The stone bathroom was crowded with many Dictadurians, most of them intoxicated. Over forty people waited in line for the toilets or urinals, while others freshened up at a dozen wooden sinks. A threesome shamelessly engaged in a tryst in the cleaning supply closet, yet none of them were Corven.

Adria returned to the bar twenty seconds later; an empty stool was available close to Raxae. She waited while her friend finished preparing cocktails. How long should she wait for Corven? The clock behind the bar read 00:58 am. There had been a genuine sense of honesty in what he had said earlier. "That's what I get for trusting strangers," she said, punishing herself.

“You look like you've lost all hope,” Raxae confronted Adria once again. “That, or the waiting line in the bathroom is insane.”

“Weirdly enough, both of those statements are accurate,” she replied, ensuring there were no eavesdroppers. “Did Corven show up?”

“What? Who?” Raxae appeared oblivious.

“The guy I told you might show up looking for me?” Adria asked, clinging to the last shred of hope left in her.

“Right! Yeah, no, sorry, Dri. I didn’t see him.”

Her entire trip to Lux the Noctis felt like a waste—her argument with Bit, risking her life, fighting umbras, and saving Corven. It was all a waste of time and resources. She had complicated her life for someone who didn’t care.

“Furka, what’s up with that look? He hurt you, huh?” Raxae asked, jumping to conclusions.

“He didn’t hurt me. I saved him and he promised something in exchange; we agreed to meet at midnight, and it was a lie,” Adria said, influenced by the drink, getting defensive.

The disappointment became palpable.

“How does this Corven look like?” Raxae tried to help.

“Nothing extraordinary. He seemed younger than thirty, dark curly hair, brown eyes, about my size, dark skin. He appeared to be in his first weeks here, out of sync with Sectum, innocent, naïve, and still polite, or at least that was my impression of him after I saved his life.” Anger brewed inside her as they stood in silence, thinking.

Adria recognized that look. Their friend was up to something.

“What?”

“I think I know who you're talking about,” Raxae's frown was tense.

“Spit it out, anything,” she said, perched on the edge of her stool, hopeful.

“The Fire Tornado guy…” Raxae seemed to assume her friend knew what that meant. “That fits his description. If Corven is who I think he is, he was here half an hour before you showed up. I remember that little furkano because he asked me to prepare a drink, which I did. When I got back, he was gone, leaving his entire drink after just one sip.”

“What?” Adria’s neurons clashed with hundreds of thoughts.

“I will not repeat myself. It’s embarrassing.”

“You said Corven had a Fire Tornado?” She pieced things together at an all-time speed for a Dictadurian, high on adrenaline.

“Yes. Why do you want me to repeat it? Didn’t you listen the first time?” Raxae squinted their eyes, defensive, oblivious to her plans.

“Do you have the glass he used?” Adria ignored their question, harboring a plan.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Are you saying I don’t wash my dishes? Because that’s dangerous territory, my maybe-not-so-close of a friend.”

“If you have the glass he drank from, I can find him,” she shared, hoping for a miracle.

Raxae's eyes widened at the implication and they left to search among behind the bar. Several sinks lay on the other side, filled with dirty glasses. The seconds they were gone felt excruciating to Adria.

They returned with defeated eyes.

“Nothing, huh?” She felt hopeless again.

“Nothing. Someone else washed it.”

Adria’s disappointment plummeted even further.

But Raxae seemed to realize her despair because they pulled a glass filled with an orange liquid from behind them; their face lit up with a big smile.

She couldn’t believe it.

“No one touches my station. I like to walk around and attend to other clients, but I do wash my dishes. Tonight, you’re in luck. Many customers had come, and there wasn’t a chance to get around to washing this one,” they winked and handed her the glass, wrapped in a couple of napkins. “Here you go, take it, all yours. He better have a good reason for leaving my art behind.”

Corven had been at Lux de Noctis earlier that night to meet with Adria, and Raxae had seen him.

“You are the furkan best, Rax, thank you!”

Something had happened there, and she needed to find him.

“What’s that for?” Their friend questioned as Adria brought a soft violet crystaphere from her pocket, showing it to them with a proud smile. She tilted her head, suggesting they leave the bar and speak elsewhere.

Raxae put down a piece fabric they were holding on the nearest sink and went around the bar, following her. Adria stopped them. “Bring that thing with you.”

They went back and grabbed a clean piece of cloth for her.

Once together, they walked away from the area.

“It’s a crystaphere, right? What does it do?” Raxae whispered, their excitement palpable. “Can I touch it? Ah! It’s been awhile.”

“No,” Adria dashed their hopes. “The crystaphere is delicate.”

“You have a terrible attitude. You know that, right?” They frowned.

“Yes, I believe I do. But I’m also telling you the truth. Just wait. Please, open the door.” Her destination was a private room for the crew behind a metacrys column covered by reflections.

Raxae pressed a specific spot on the iron wall fused with diamonds.

Adria refused to discuss her plans out in the open. The wall melted away to reveal a path. Once inside the resting locker room, they approached a metallic table where she placed Corven’s glass.

They make sure nobody is around.

“This is a tracker crystaphere. I like to keep a couple of them on me at all times. I bought this one just before I arrived here tonight.”

She took the small sphere in her right hand and crushed it. A cloud of blue dust emerged, and Adria dipped two fingers into it, coating them with deep blue ink. She applied them to the rim of the glass, where the imprint of Corven’s lips was illuminated with a fluorescent blue glow. The ink and remaining dust merged into a thick, dark blue mass that wiggled in her hand. It shone with the same fluorescent blue tone before it sped off from her hand and disappeared.

“I need to live a little, huh? Where did you get that crystaphere?” Raxae was amazed.

“Spheneus, the specialized store on Alchemist Road, you know it, right?

They nodded in confirmation, thrilled with those news.

“Not everyone can gain access, it’s difficult; one has to earn their trust. Some products could be dangerous.” She gestured towards the crosier on her back. “It’s a risk to place them in the wrong hands. They like to keep track of their products in case someone goes off the rails or gets caught, so the families know who to blame…”

Her friends’ curiosity seemed to swell for more information. “Please help me get in.

Adria had something else planned.

"Where is that cloth? I need to put these shards away."

Her friend brought the fabric; she placed the pieces of glass and the crystaphere on it and waited a few more moments until the ink dried on her fingers. Adria took a small hermetic case from her bag, placed the shards inside, and then slipped it into one of her pockets for safekeeping in case they were needed again. She cleaned her hand and returned the cloth to Raxae, who stared back, expectant.

“So, now what?”

“We wait. It shouldn’t take long for the tracker to find Corven. I'll go to wherever he is,” she stated with determination. “I don’t appreciate being ditched.”

“He means that much to you?” They knew her behavior was unusual.

“No, Corven means nothing. I helped him, and he owes me. That’s the whole truth. I need him to fulfill his part of the deal.” Her deep-seated desire to leave Sectum motivated her relentless search, a sentiment she wasn’t ready to share with her closest friend yet.

The shiny wall melted again, revealing a couple of unwanted visitors. Adria concealed everything and followed Raxae out of the room.

“That’s impressive tech! You could be hanged if the sentinels caught you with it.”

Back at the bar, they dodged clients and brewed another mystical drink while she waited.

“I know how to stay hidden,” Adria whispered, downplaying her skills.

Raxae was aware. With swift movements, the brew turned light brown as they added a few extracts from around the station, along with a small shot glass filled with a white liquid.

“Take this; it will boost your energy before you go after him.”

“Thank you, Raxae,” she said, grinning broadly as she smelled the beverage, an Irish coffee, another specialty of their friend. The sweet liquid warmed her throat and stomach, reacting with the previous drink to awaken her body. Colors became sharper; even Raxae’s face seemed more radiant. They smiled at her reaction, understanding the feeling.

“Furka. What was that? This was no ordinary Irish coffee.”

“A natural enhancer of my own creation. It's vegan, free from chemicals, made from plants and fungi. Enjoy it, next time it’ll cost you three hundred gatvits. I hope it helps you find your friend, Dri, but don’t–”

“It’s almost like being back…”

“Home?” Raxae knew the sensation.

“Yes! Everything is so–”

“Colorful?” They finished her thought.

“Brighter, yes, so vivid.” She couldn’t contain her euphoria.

“It took me years to figure out how to brew it here…”

Her fingers glowed with the same bluish light from the tracker, pulsating. It had found Corven; she felt his heartbeat. This was a good sign.

“That’s my cue, Raxae; thank you for being here for me.”

“Dri, come on. You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you and Bitlan; just don’t forget about me. I hate it when you vanish for weeks,” they complained.

“I’m sorry for not keeping you on the loop lately.” She meant it.

“No one should be in Dictaduria alone, without their friends, you know…” They expressed their displeasure with her silence. “Anyway, I won't harp on it now. Do your thing. I’ll see you later, benediximus.”

Adria heeded their words and stood up, invigorated by the brew.

“Don’t stay up too late!”

“As long as the tips keep coming!”

“Thirsty furkane!” Adria knew her friend loved spending gatvits.

“You should see my block, sister; I’m just playing with the system and taking it easy!” They replied with a sarcastic chuckle.

“That’s despicable, benediximus Raxae!” With a smile, remembering old times, she made her way back through the crystal tunnel that had brought her there. A blue mist in her vision pointed the way to Corven.

Adria arrived at Markus and Bostan, who were busy interrogating a couple of Dictadurians attempting to enter Lux. She merged with the departing crowd; there was no time for distractions.

****

That's it for Chapter XXV!

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