After their hard-earned victory, the camp buzzed with jubilant cheers and celebrations. Yet, amidst the revelry, Akira found himself standing at the edge of the battlefield, away from the noise. His gaze wandered over the scattered remains of robots littering the area, as though searching for answers or solace in the twisted metal. A sense of unease gnawed at the back of his mind, clouding the joy of triumph.
Yue noticed her brother’s solitude and made her way toward him. His somber expression stood in stark contrast to the lively atmosphere. “Aren’t you happy, big brother?” she asked softly, her voice carrying gentle concern. “Or are you worried about something?”
Startled by her question, Akira avoided her gaze and stepped away from the crowd. Yue followed silently until he stopped and let out a deep sigh. “Of course I’m happy…” he replied, his eyes fixed on the ground. “But I can’t shake the worry that next time… we might not have a plan good enough to handle what’s coming. This plan—it was the best we had, and even then, it barely worked. Zekhtau… he won’t let us win so easily again.”
Yue’s expression faltered momentarily, but she quickly masked her concern. She knew that if others sensed his doubts, it could unravel the fragile morale they had built. Offering a quiet nod, she followed Akira back to the camp, the weight of his words heavy on her heart.
After the celebration subsided, the team began surveying the battlefield. The area was strewn with mangled robot parts—shattered armor, torn-off mechanical limbs, and fragments of weapons. As they worked, the eerie sound of metal scraping against metal pierced the air.
“Clank…”
Everyone froze, turning toward the source of the sound.
A lone cyborg soldier crawled out from beneath the wreckage, his body battered and smeared with soot. His human-like face bore signs of exhaustion, and his mechanical chest plate revealed a weakly pulsing biotechnological core. In a hoarse voice, he pleaded, “We surrender… please help us…” before collapsing onto the ground.
Akira glanced at his team, their expressions a mix of tension and uncertainty. All eyes turned to him, awaiting his decision. He shifted his gaze toward Osiris, who was walking toward him, her expression calm yet betraying a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
“Based on calculations,” Osiris said in a voice as cold and precise as a machine’s, “eliminating them would minimize risk… but my heart tells me to help them. I can’t decide. Can you make the call, Akira?” Her words carried the weight of logic and emotion intertwined, a rare glimpse of her inner conflict.
Akira turned to Yue. “Do they still carry chaos energy?” he asked evenly.
Yue nodded, her starry eyes narrowing as she activated her magic to examine the fallen cyborgs. “They do, but it’s faint. If we purify what’s left, we might be able to save them,” she reported with conviction.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Akira seemed to wrestle with his thoughts before opening them again, resolute. “Purify them first. Then we’ll hold them as prisoners. We’ll figure out the rest later,” he declared, his tone leaving no room for debate.
He turned to the rest of the team and began assigning tasks. “Mirelle, Draco—clear the area and secure the wounded. Yue and I will handle the purification. Osiris, prepare a holding area for the captives. Elina, organize the watch. We can’t afford to let this decision weaken us. Understood?”
A chorus of affirmations followed, and the team quickly set to work.
The surviving cyborg soldiers were brought back to the camp. Although technically prisoners of war, they were treated with humanity. Meals and water were provided, even though their biomechanical systems relied on human-like nourishment rather than pure energy.
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The sight was a poignant one—these once-formidable soldiers, now quietly eating their meager rations. Some wept openly, as if the simple act of receiving food was a luxury they had long been denied. Yue sat beside them, her warm, cheerful voice cutting through the somber atmosphere. “It’s alright now. The food might be plain, but isn’t it nice? If you ever visit Undine, you’ll get to try fresh seafood—it’s like tasting heaven!”
Her words seemed to lift their spirits. Faces that had been hardened by war softened, and some even chuckled quietly at her lively demeanor. Her voice was like a gentle rain on parched earth, reviving something within them.
One older cyborg looked up, his eyes brimming with emotion. “Yue, is it?” he asked softly. “Could you tell us a story? I just… want to hear your voice.”
Yue tilted her head in curiosity. “Any story?” she asked.
“Yes… anything,” the cyborg replied earnestly. “Please.”
Glancing at Akira for approval, Yue smiled when he nodded. She retrieved a holo-tablet from Osiris and began projecting a map of their world. “Osiris, could you spin the map for me?” she asked sweetly. Osiris complied, and a shimmering holographic globe appeared in the center of the group.
The soldiers, along with the rest of the camp, began finding places to sit around. Some sat on the ground, others leaned against the walls. Yue started recounting their adventures—how she first met Akira, and the events leading up to the recent battle at Drafth. Her words brimmed with excitement and an unmistakable love for her brother, which made Akira, standing quietly at the back, avert his eyes slightly in embarrassment. Yet, he couldn’t stop listening, not even for a moment.
At certain points, the story had everyone on the edge of their seats, especially when Yue described the fiery lion cleaving a volcanic mountain until part of it was left in ruins, or the princess’s energy cannon parting the sea in a spectacular display of power. Murmurs of amazement rippled through the crowd, and the listeners could barely breathe as they followed along. However, when Yue reached the tragic conclusion of Princess Nakaria’s tale, many—even those usually stoic like Draco and Elina—found themselves wiping away tears.
“For the next story…” Yue said, pausing for a moment to catch her breath. The older cyborg soldier spoke up again, his voice hopeful. “You sing as well, don’t you? Could you sing for us, like the hymn you sang for the villagers?”
Yue let out a soft laugh, placing her hand on her stomach. “But I’m hungry! Let me have lunch first, okay? I’ll sing for you after.”
Her playful response drew laughter from everyone. The tension that had once gripped the camp gave way to an atmosphere of peace. Even the cyborgs who had been enemies mere hours ago now sat as equals, sharing in the warmth of a momentary truce.
After lunch, the makeshift stage was set. Mirelle tuned her harp while Akira prepared a simple drum. Osiris dimmed the lights and activated soft holographic effects. As Yue stepped forward, the room quieted, anticipation thick in the air.
The soft melody of Mirelle’s harp filled the space, accompanied by the steady beat of Akira’s drum. Yue’s voice rose like a gentle river, flowing through the room with warmth and grace. The hymn, once sung to soothe weary villagers, now brought solace to hearts burdened by war.
The cyborgs listened, tears streaming down their faces. For the first time in years, they felt human. Some closed their eyes, others hummed along quietly. Yue’s song wasn’t just a melody; it was a lifeline, a reminder of a world beyond battle and bloodshed.
When the song ended, the room erupted in thunderous applause. Smiles and grateful expressions filled the room, all directed at Yue and Mirelle. Even Wallie, who had been quietly listening in a corner, looked satisfied and let out a soft word of praise. The older cyborg, the same one who had requested Yue to sing, suddenly stood up and declared in a firm, resolute voice:
“I’ve made up my mind… I will stand by Little Yue’s side from now on!”
His words brought the room to a stunned silence. Yue and her team exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not expecting that just a song could sway their hearts to this extent.
“Can we even switch sides? We’ve got chips implanted in us. If Zekhtau shuts us down, we’re dead!” a voice spoke up from among the cyborgs.
“Yeah! Are you really willing to risk your life like that?” another chimed in.
The older cyborg responded with unwavering conviction. “Look at what Zekhtau has done to us. He destroyed an entire building without caring if it would collapse on us! He watched us burn in the flames and didn’t order us to retreat. Instead, he let us walk into the fire like soulless, mindless drones. He doesn’t care about us. To him, we’re nothing but disposable tools—just like those useless, broken robots!”
He took a deep breath and continued, his voice trembling slightly but filled with unwavering resolve. “For me, I was reborn from those flames. And I swear… from this day forward, I will serve Lady Yue with all my loyalty! If anyone wishes to join me, come along. If not, I won’t force you. Your life is your own—you must choose for yourselves.”
His words echoed the truth they all faced. His eyes shone with sincerity and determination, leaving no room for doubt. Akira observed him silently, a small spark of admiration flickering in his heart, though he said nothing. Draco, however, was the first to step forward, his usual boldness on full display.
“You’ve got guts, man. Welcome aboard!” Draco said, throwing an arm over his shoulder. A few soft chuckles rippled through the group of cyborgs.
Soon, the other soldiers began murmuring among themselves, quietly debating their choices. Some decided to join, while others hesitated, still unsure. Yet what unfolded that afternoon was nothing short of extraordinary. A simple song from a young girl had become a spark that ignited something deeper within their hearts.
It was like the gentle flutter of a butterfly’s wings, creating ripples that stretched far beyond its reach. Amid the darkness of war, a new glimmer of hope began to take shape.