"Are you sure about this?" Katya asked, surprised to see Nova still wearing braces on his arm and leg. "Wouldn't it be better to wait until you're fully recovered?" Her concern for his condition was clear.
"Every day we wait, I feel like we're putting the village in more danger." Despite Nova's physical state, his intentions were clear: continuing their journey seemed wiser than risking the Moblings' safety by staying.
“I’m sure you understand,” he added, his gaze shifting to meet Katya’s. “Besides, it can't be that easy to become an agent, right?”
“You’re right, we should leave soon,” she agreed, sensing his urgency. “As for becoming an agent, we’ve already faced the toughest part. But I’ve heard the final exam is pretty tricky.”
Nova’s expression shifted to a mix of surprise and panic.
“Wait... we have to study?” he stammered, memories of dreaded written exams from his school days flooding back. He hadn't expected that, in this world, studying would be part of the path to becoming an agent.
Katya saw the perfect chance to tease him. "You're not afraid of a simple exam, are you?"
“No, it's not that I'm scared…” Nova sighed. “I just didn’t think I’d have to deal with this kind of thing here.” His voice trailed off, hinting at a reluctant acceptance.
Katya laughed and leaned gently on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. When the time comes, I’ll help you study.” She gave him a playful nudge before standing up."For now, I’ll go pack. We should leave in the morning before you trip over any roots in the dark." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Nova to dwell on the prospect of studying again in this new world.
Nova rose from his seat on the rock, heading toward where he knew the next person he needed to speak with would be. On his way to the training ring, where he had fallen countless times, he encountered an unexpected figure. The little Mobling girl, whom he had rescued from the Beast, spotted him and instantly ran over, wrapping her arms around his leg.
"Hey there, glad to see you're okay," Nova said gently, watching the Mobling’s face light up, all traces of past sorrow gone.
“Uk kukuk uk,” she responded happily. Though Nova couldn’t understand her words, he knew she was thanking him.
“You were so brave,” he said, bending down to pat her head gently. “I bet you’ll be the toughest in the village now.” His smile widened as she beamed up at him, her joy radiating from her face. She hugged him again, her small embrace making him wobble slightly.
Just then, her mother, who had always been wary of Nova, appeared with a small basket of fruit. Without a word, she handed it to him, a gesture of gratitude. Nova accepted it, watching as she walked away, her usual disapproving frown replaced with a soft smile.
The change in the Moblings’ attitude was undeniable. As Nova continued toward the ring, villagers stopped their tasks just long enough to greet him warmly, a stark contrast to their previous indifference. It filled him with a deep sense of belonging, knowing he had earned their trust and respect.
He finally reached the training ring, where several Moblings were sparring. In the center stood the Alpha, poised in the stance he'd used to introduce Nova to the "living world."
The six-foot-two Mobling's eyes widened as he sensed Nova's presence. No words or gestures were necessary. With a single glance, they both understood what had to be done.
Nova crossed the ring ropes with some difficulty and took his place in front of the Alpha. Without hesitation, they assumed their fighting stances.
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The next morning, before dawn broke, Katya and Nova quietly left the village, concealed by the dark sky.
"Are you sure this is the best way?" Katya asked, her voice conflicted as they passed through the cave's exit.
Beside her, Nova hobbled along with the aid of a crutch, his injured leg carefully lifted off the ground. His face, marred by bruises and adorned with gauze pads, bore the marks of their recent fight.
"Yeah. Besides, it was our fault the B-Synchro attacked, so this is for the best." He smiled through his steps, not wanting the village to miss him or treat him like a hero when he felt guilty for what had happened.
“You can't fool me,” Katya teased, her tone playful as she supported him from the other side of the crutch. “I think you’re just avoiding saying goodbye because you’ll miss them.”
Nova stayed silent. She wasn’t wrong. He was terrible with goodbyes and preferred to avoid the awkwardness.
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As they finally emerged from the cave, they were astonished to find the entire Mobling village lined up, forming a trail for them.
“What’s going on?” Nova exclaimed, stunned by the sight.
Katya urged him forward, making sure he didn’t stop amidst the cheering Moblings who waved and offered their heartfelt goodbyes.
“UK KUKUK UK!”
“UK KUKUK UK!”
“UK KUKUK UK!”
The chant echoed around them, a chorus of gratitude and farewell from every Mobling, those who trained with him, those who brought him food during his recovery, and those who had helped build his crutch.
“I told Sagax you wanted to leave without saying goodbye, and he wasn’t having it,” Katya said with a mischievous grin, noticing Nova’s flushed face as he took in the unexpected attention.
At the end of the trail stood Sagax and the Alpha, the latter’s face bearing bruises similar to Nova’s. Sagax stepped forward, offering them two tribal pendants: a hawk for Nova and an owl for Katya.
“From now on, until the end of your days, you are part of our village. Once Moblings, always Moblings. Carry our name with pride,” Sagax said, his smile warm. Katya, overcome with emotion, hugged him tightly, tears of gratitude in her eyes. Surprised but touched, Sagax embraced her gently in return.
Meanwhile, Nova and the Alpha stood face to face, neither seeming to enjoy the idea of a goodbye.
"Head up. Walk with pride. Be strong," the Alpha said firmly.
The Alpha’s words resonated deeply with Nova, who fought to keep tears from spilling. His face reflected a blend of resolve and vulnerability, as though each word from the Alpha struck a chord within him.
“Yes, sir!” Nova replied his voice firm despite his emotion.
With heavy hearts and a mixture of relief and sadness, the couple began their journey, leaving behind a village that had once seen them as prisoners but now celebrated their departure as if they were one of their own.
As they ventured farther, the first rays of sunlight began to illuminate the training ring where Nova had labored intensely for weeks. In one corner of the ring, two buckets basked in the golden light: Alpha’s bucket, full and heavy, symbolizing his dominance, and Nova’s nearly empty bucket, marked with a small stone at the bottom to signify his first victory.
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The following days passed peacefully for the two travelers, who continued their journey along the great road connecting Etheria to Gyokuseki.
They faced few obstacles, aside from the persistent presence of some vermin known as Coonfoxes. These small, four-legged creatures, roughly the size of house cats, walked on two legs and sported bright reddish fur with black spots around their eyes. Their mischievous behavior included stealing food when the travelers were least expecting it and their audacity even extended to sleeping near the travelers’ fire to benefit from its warmth, making them unwelcome yet unavoidable companions.
Most of the day was spent walking without rest. As the sun began to set, they would search for a suitable place to camp. There, they would train with their synchrony activated, honing their skills and using their auras. Each session was an opportunity to refine their skills, strengthen their connection, and better understand this power.
After a week of following their routine, the pair finally glimpsed the great floating city of Gyokuseki in the distance. It was an impressive sight, similar to Etheria, with its base, a massive inverted cone, providing perpetual levitation. Gigantic crystals protruded from it, seemingly powering the advanced technology.
Although visible from afar, it took them about a day and a half to reach the city’s borders. Once there, Nova faced a dilemma beyond the physical challenge of traveling with his leg and arm immobilized by makeshift splints.
“Please, please, please! We have to keep him!” Katya pleaded, holding a small Coonfox the size of a guinea pig. This was the only one that had stayed with them after its kin had left upon seeing the city.
“All it wants is our food,” Nova said, trying to reason with her. “We shouldn’t take a wild animal with us. It might carry diseases, and if it causes trouble in the city, we’ll be responsible.”
"Sickness? Are you saying little Othar is suffering from something?" she asked desperately, placing her hand on the animal's wet nose and visibly relieved when she felt it was not parched. "No, he's perfect."
“I mean diseases for humans!” Nova tried to explain, but his words fell on deaf ears as Katya cuddled the creature.
“Fine, but if anything goes wrong, you’re responsible for it,” he resignedly agreed.
“Great! See, Othar? Uncle Nova isn’t so bad. I’m sure he’s happy you’re coming with us too!” Katya exclaimed, proudly carrying the new member of their group. She rushed to catch up with Nova, who had moved on to avoid further discussion about Othar.
At last, they arrived at the entrance to the city, marked by an imposing gate. Nearby stood a border checkpoint, a small building where uniformed guards managed access to the territory.
The travelers approached the checkpoint, where a guard in a black uniform and helmet with a riot visor greeted them. His flexible armor covered his vital areas while allowing for mobility, and he held a high-caliber weapon.
“Did you guys walk here?” the guard asked, noting their disheveled appearance and worn clothes.
"I got this, Nova," Katya whispered, confident in her social skills as a member of Etheria's high caste.
“Good afternoon, officer. Yes, we’ve traveled a long way from Etheria and wish to enter Gyokuseki,” she said with her best manners, though her appearance and the wild animal in her arms did not create the best impression.
“Okay… Do you have any papers?” the officer inquired.
Katya stepped back, nudging Nova. “Your turn,” she whispered, realizing she lacked the required documentation.
"Excuse me, what exactly do you mean by papers?" Nova asked politely, though his appearance wasn't much better either.
"Any identification documents from the city you're visiting. We need to keep a census of visitors and ensure they aren't dangerous," the officer explained, eyeing Katya suspiciously from behind Nova's shoulder.
"Mmmm, you see, we were attacked by a B-Synchro on the road. We lost all our belongings and barely managed to survive. Is there any way you could help us?" Nova appealed to the human side of the officer, who, after studying him for a moment, let out a sigh.
The wear and tear on their clothes and faces painted a clear picture of the hardship they had endured.
"Well, we can offer you temporary passports, but only for a short stay as tourists. After that, you'll need to either renew them or leave the city," the officer explained, watching their relieved expressions. Gratitude flooded their faces, and they nodded eagerly.
Inside the checkpoint, more officers stood in their armor, swiftly processing the necessary paperwork. Before long, both travelers were handed small booklets with their photos, names, and personal details.
"Nova Hawk?" Katya asked with a raised brow as she glanced at his passport.
"Yeah, it's my Mobling surname," Nova replied, showing her the pendant Sagax had given him. The sight made her smile.
Their conversation was interrupted by the officer who had helped them. "If you’d like, one of our men is heading to the city’s base post to start his shift. He can give you a ride."
They quickly accepted and handed him a small bunch of fruit as a token of thanks.
"Wow, Ramirez, you're really helping people today," commented one of the other officers as they watched the couple board the transport.
"Just doing what I can," Ramirez replied with a grin. "Another day out there and they’d have probably eaten their cat. Poor kids."
As the transport sped away, carrying Nova, Katya, and Othar, they left the checkpoint behind and entered the vast agricultural sector of Gyokuseki. Finally off their feet, the two travelers allowed themselves to relax, drifting into much-needed sleep. It was only when they reached the city limits that the officer gently woke them to announce their arrival.
Stepping out of the vehicle, they found themselves in the entrance of an imposing metropolis. Gyokuseki was vast, rivaling the size of Etheria, but its urban layout was distinct—skyscrapers dominated the skyline, and the streets bustled with commerce and life.
What caught their attention most, however, was one of the enormous screens hovering over the city. A familiar face filled the display—blond hair, red eyes, and striking beauty.
"Register for the TN Agent exam! Only one day left!"