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<01/27/1972 – 19:29 | Lennith City (Outskirts), Junon Region, Sprawn Valley>

Long after everyone from the graduation event left, the sun set down behind the hills, coloring the sky to a brilliance of orange and pink glazes. Lennith City seemed to have several inconspicuous streetlights built almost everywhere in various locations, only getting noticed the moment they were powered on to lighten up the place. Jane and her class met up again on the side of the school near the training field by the time things calmed down.

It was a wonderful fulfillment to have her title upgraded to advanced Leray wielder status. Jane was just happy that Claudia was going to uphold her end of the deal. Since she managed to train hard and learn many new abilities under Claudia's supervision, Jane knew her survivability rate would be high anywhere. Because she has defeated Cadastro, one of the top elite warriors of the gradyent system, this would enable Claudia to sneak Jane past the north gate. She didn't ask Claudia how she knew about a back route, since it likely didn't matter in the long run, but much to Jane's surprise, Claudia and the other classmates arrived together, all to congratulate her on her most recent victory.

"That was some awesome stuff you did Jane." The raspy cheerful voice belonged to Naea. Naea had a hard time controlling her excitement earlier today, as did most people who got to watch the battle. But even now, Jane was just preparing for the real fight. She seemed physically pumped, prepared to take on anything in her new blue and black uniform. With Jane preparing for a battle much tougher than the last, Naea knew that now was the time to give her the gifts prepared; Jane wouldn't refuse. Most of the others had the same intention in mind.

Jane turned to see Naea speaking out from the rest of the crowd of teenagers. It was half the whole class gathered with Claudia standing behind them, but this didn't look much like the sending off. It looked more like a secret meeting. Wasn't the plan for Claudia to do this all by herself? Why do all of the other classmates need to be here? It isn't natural looking at all! At least this was only less than half the class by proportion, so only a few people were interested to meet Jane after day-break. Since she was already here too, might as well go along with it. "Nah. I had a good teacher. The credit should go to her."

Jane eyed Claudia where she stood, and the gratitude was making her grin uncontrollably. "If you insist, Jane."

"We got you all presents before you go!"

You shouldn't have... Jane forced a smile in response, hoping she wasn't going to remain this popular for too long. Nobody needed to go out of their way to buy her stuff; it just isn't necessary for the plan. Jane began to realize that it may have been better when these same kids feared her some days ago. Then again, the situation back at Dakota was probably the best in comparison. The students there knew the lines with Jane not to cross, but they simultaneously respected her, allowing herself and them to keep a healthy distance, but this collection of gratitude is just too much.

Another girl with a younger and more excited voice held out a wrapped present in her arms. Jane didn't quite expect this either! It's like Christmas has come early for her, and everyone was just acting odd because of it. Jane still wasn't good with other names, so she took her time to verbally respond to the gesture while holding the present with her forearms. This one - might be called Irean? Kiran? The look on her face didn't care though. Everybody else copied that move, pulling out gift wrapped presents from behind their backs or legs. It was like the whole group was playing birthday shower with Jane, and the sudden surprise was a bit overwhelming.

Claudia could see that the surprise actually worked. Jane was at a complete loss for words, even though she was passively accepting the gifts while locking eyes with everybody. "The gift thing was our idea, as to see one of our own off after an amazing graduation ceremony." Never in her own career has she been capable of training someone so young how to move and fight so effectively in the field at such a fast pace. That symbol on her hand must be part of the same culprit though. It's a shame Jane has to remove it, but that's the way it is. If the GA finds out about that mark on her hand, the entire battalion will hunt her down, either to capture or destroy.

"But, but..." Jane had to sit down for a minute, or rather stop accepting packaged items to process all of this. "How did you make the graduation real? I thought the formalities were the only real thing about it."

Claudia nodded her head left and right. "I had to make changes to include almost everything about you in the paper work. It would have been even more suspicious had I simply made you fight Cadastro without officially graduating. So unfortunately, the plan getting you this far needed to be tweaked. Please Jane. Everyone here wanted you to have something before you go off into the dark zone."

"I can't believe she's still going through with that."

Jane noted Connor's concerns for the other people who didn't want to speak it. She could hardly believe it either, but it's the only hope she has left, and Claudia is letting her though, which must mean there is actual hope for her yet. Jane didn't have the heart to argue with everyone here, not like this. They were being so nice, but Alpha Zero is the place she needed to go. "I don't want to be marked like this forever, but I promise I'm coming back alive. I'm not going to let some thing kill me in there."

"You better not," Claudia threatened. It's not like she could punish Jane if she did die in there, but such excellent talent could not be seeping into that girl's body just because of a symbol. There's more to it than that. Jane better come back and live!

"Well, you going to open these things or what?"

Jane sighed in happiness, accepting the offer by pulling and peeling the easy wrapping off of the cover of all sorts of objects. After opening just ten of them, Jane ended up with all sorts of items; healing orbs, a few new dress spheres, food, and water for the trip. A few more personal items were bestowed too, like some of the class photos that represented this year. Jane was standing in some of the photos, so they served as perfect reminders of her time well spent here. Each and every gift was individually unique depending on who it was coming from.

But then Jane noticed Alyssa, standing just aside the others. She wasn't staring at Jane directly, her eyes diverting and her body stiff. A short silence endured while Jane thought more about it. Jane just remembered that she didn't see Alyssa today during and after the battle. She couldn't even face Jane after proving herself, so why even show up now? She must have been hiding herself in this group until this moment, but that's not the point. What is she doing here? What possible degrading thing could she have to say left? She of all people can't be here to give Jane a present!

Alyssa had trouble looking at Jane straight in the eyes, and her face was a bit red from all of the thought put into this. Needless to say, Jane wasn't the only one confused right now. It was only now that Alyssa chose to show herself to Jane like this, as she sluggishly staggered in front of the students, creating more reason for a lasting silence among them. After a few awkward pauses, she finally faced Jane with their parallel eyes, and she held out the gift in her arms. Instead of a wrapped box or a closed gift, Alyssa was simply holding a jeweled necklace in her hands, offering it to Jane. "You battled Cadastro well, so here." Her voice was rather forceful just then, but her expression held an opposite pose.

This was unbelievable! Just hours ago, Alyssa hated her guts. Some of those reasons were well founded too. Who the hell got her to change her mind? To show up like this, she has to be a little bit embarrassed trying to make up in front of her peers. Jane was frozen by the action immediately, too surprised to even react. This is a jewel of apology isn't it? Why after all this time would she threaten Jane without saying anything else, all just to make up for it here? The battle couldn't have been that inspiring, could it?

Jane's reaction was at least expected in theory. Alyssa simply held it closer to Jane's face as a hint, while explaining the reason behind her choice. "This necklace is a rare family token. A jade color gem with the power to light up in response to detecting magical release for the wearer... I want you to have it."

Everyone behind her gasped at once, and Jane winced with the same amount of surprise. Alyssa was just standing there, expecting Jane to accept such a valuable gift. From the audible breathing her friends were now making, they must not have come up with that plan as a group either. Jane can just accept this family heirloom? What about how much it's worth to Alyssa?

Jane is one hell of a pain in her side. She's a natural liar and an idiot on most days... Still, Alyssa remembered every moment of her training, Jane's training over the past six days. Aside from herself, nobody has ever pushed themselves so far. Sure, Jane might learn faster than others, but she also puts excessive effort into everything she does. It is crystal clear that she wants nothing more than to remove that symbol from her hand. Jane fights because she wants to be a Leray master. She said so out loud the other day. And all of this, risking her own life, smuggling around a dangerous symbol, everything she does is to be capable of enjoying Leray magic in the end. She'll fight anything to get her way. That kind of bravery, it's... "I'm sorry about before," she continued. "I just... I don't know what came over me. We're students though, not enemies."

"But," Jane had to protest. There wasn't any reason for this! "My symbol is—"

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Alyssa had to cut Jane off, and she was prepared to argue about this all night until she just shuts up and takes the necklace. "I don't care about some stupid magical mark!" Jane winced at the very way she worded her response. "How stupid could I possibly be to just sit there like everyone else and judge a person by some mark on their body? If you really were a danger to us all, we would have already been killed, or worse. I know this because our teacher would have at least tried to fight you despite the disadvantages."

Jane never considered that. Claudia would really put herself in the line of fire from a potentially dangerous person for the safety of her own class? It's so honorable!

"You have a disgusting habit of lying to people, and I don't excuse the motivation behind that. But you're a person too," Alyssa chained. "Just like the rest of us. You've proven this already just by what you're about to do by the time you leave us." Claudia barked Alyssa's name, but it was only out of sympathetic surprise. "Ever since you received this symbol, you've been fighting, but it was never just for fun, was it? You've been fighting just to remove that thing on your hand, a feeling that your life would end without that kind of drive. Before this marking incident, you must have still fought hard for the sake of enjoying Leray magic to the fullest. But ever since your one mistake, that very life and possibility has been swiped away from you, and I should have realized that sooner." Alyssa thought about it once more to confirm what she already knew. If it were herself in Jane's position, would she have the guts to enter Alpha Zero just to remove the magical mark? It's so dangerous; Jane has to have been scared all this time.

Jane picked up her necklace carefully after the girl continued to dangle the material in front of her face, but Alyssa was insisting on making Jane carry it with her. The gem stone was pretty, but Jane couldn't focus on that right now, and instead placed it into her side pocket. "Alyssa," Jane suddenly felt incredibly guilty. It was the same sensation as before coming back to haunt her again. What Alyssa was saying is true to a high regard. Jane has been fighting so hard to obtain access to the one and only method of removal for this crest in her hand. Perhaps people who know this also feel that Jane isn't inspiring at all, but rather easy to sympathize with. Jane should have realized it sooner. Jane put her hands on Alyssa's shoulders, trying to bear the strength to take the burden. She couldn't even keep her eyes open while speaking to anyone. "It's my fault. I'm not considered to be a perfect innocent civilian with this crest in my hand. So I lied to you. I lied to all of you because I didn't know what would happen if you found out."

"Well you do now," Jason hollered. Appearing to be unfazed by Alyssa's unexpected apology, Jason had some things to say for his classmates too. "You're just passing through, trying to fix what you broke. That's not a crime, or a danger to anyone. You deserve to be treated as an equal. We would never turn you over to the GA for something like that."

Jane let go of Alyssa, smiling in her newfound moment. "Thanks guys!" It was so amazing! The indescribable sensation of having this many friends at once. Nobody was like this after her Dakota graduation. Well... Nobody except for Danny and Taylor. The first thing I will do after getting back is finding those two. They better not have gotten into any crazy trouble by the time I find them.

Alyssa was still pacing slightly in place, her arms behind her with a sincere look on her face. Though truth be told, it sort of made her look like a dork. "The truth is, I like how you take what's in your heart when using all of those skills. You're one of the only ones here brave enough to walk into a death trap. But now that I've seen what real courage can do for people, I—" It became obvious quickly that Alyssa was having trouble getting the next sentence out of her. "I want to come along and help you."

"What?"

"What?!" Claudia added into the harmony of reactions following the class's many outbursts of surprise. Alyssa wasn't serious, right?

Even Jane incorporated her surprise aloud. "What? You— You can't go!"

"But I—"

"She's right Alyssa!" Claudia wasn't even going to think about letting Alyssa keep that idea. "Jane passed the test, which is the only reason she is going in. A person with less than her current skill level will get squashed in there, and I won't have any dead students in my name."

Alyssa was already shut down, defeated by their logical decisions. And they were right to do so, since one sixteen year old teen was enough. Then Jane chimed in. "Alyssa, they're right. What I'm doing is incredibly dangerous, and it's not your problem to deal with what I've done. But I have to do this!"

"Then you have to promise all of us that you'll come back here in one piece. Turn around early even if things get too tough on the way."

"Alyssa," Jane shifted. "Whether my mission ends up as a failure or a success, I will be coming back here alive. I promise."

Alyssa hesitantly nodded, and then reached into Jane's pocket to pull out the necklace again. Her sudden closure however temporarily made Jane uncomfortable, up until the intention was understood. Alyssa held up the necklace in front of her. "It's a cool gem stone. I've been told by my parents to never give this necklace to anybody - ever. Unless that somebody is either a really important friend or family. I hope you can accept this from me."

This must have been what Claudia meant earlier, talking about Alyssa being all nice and sentimental on the inside. It's like she is a whole new person now, which is sort of scary given the earlier comparison. But the necklace is Alyssa's gift. Refusing to accept this now would only dishonor her. How much does this thing cost anyway? "I can't believe you would give something to me this important. I'll take care of it from now on."

"Jane?" Claudia interrupted. "These gifts, the ones that are not just healing items or food, I want these to be your way of remembering us. While you are in the dark zone, no matter how hard you fight in there, don't forget that you have friends in this city, and a family back home, as well as a future in Sprawn Valley with or without that symbol. Just keep that in mind. Don't do anything stupid!"

Jane nodded in dismay. Claudia is still being all overprotective with this situation. Sure it will be dangerous, but how bad can it really be with a power shield and a special symbol?

"Just so you know," Alyssa pointed to her own necklace Jane was holding in her hands. "I might want that back after you return here. And if you die in there, I won't be able to get it back."

Yep. There it is. That's the Alyssa Jane knew earlier. Smart and cunning with a side of passive aggressiveness. Welcome back! "Alyssa, when I come back, I think I might want to train with you, after we have a battle of course. I'll talk about the details later."

The thought froze her mind momentarily. Alyssa never once considered the idea until now. Intense training with Jane... The way she pushes herself, it would be more than ideal given the situation. Alyssa has to push herself all the time by force, or else slowly be killed, but Jane doesn't need to know that now. There's too much to worry about anyway. Keeping her passive aggressive tone, Alyssa replied the notion. "I thought you might want to learn more from an expert."

Jane smirked at the gesture realizing how much of a joke that lone statement was. That is defiantly the way Alyssa is supposed to be. She was never a harsh twisted person at any time, just afraid. But now the day to fix everything has finally arrived. Once Jane returns, she can train like old times with Danny and Taylor, and now with Alyssa on her team too.

"I'll be training until you get back by the way. Wouldn't want to go soft before our big battle," Alyssa challenged.

"That's right. Keep getting stronger and stronger," Jane encouraged. "Maybe one day you can beat me fair and square in a battle, but you'll have to defeat a couple of my other friends first."

"Other friends?" Alyssa questioned. Who exactly was it Jane was speaking of? There wasn't anybody else here from Lennith City that Jane knew, right?

"I'll tell you about them later. Claudi? It's getting dark, and I should go before I end up without enough light in there to make it."

Claudia replied, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about the dark skies while you're in there."

"Wh— why not?"

Poor girl still just doesn't get how chaotic dark magical infusion can make a zone in particular. "Follow me Jane. It's time I showed you that back route, northwest of the actual gate. Everybody be quiet though. I don't want to attract any attention."

"Right." Jane began following Claudia with the rest of the class in tow behind them. They were not coming along with Jane into the dark zone, but rather coming to see her off from Lennith City. It still seems like a big deal to everyone. Jane wasn't sure though. Never seeing the dark zone for herself, it could be like anything she ever dreamed of, assuming that dream were really a hellish nightmare.

Luckily, nobody made a sound, and the patrols for the night shift in Lennith City were incredibly light. Everyone would expect by the way things were going that no such Leray agents were actually assigned to the city, but Jane knew otherwise. Leray agents can simply patrol by hiding in the shadows and watching for any unusual activity. Since the place normally behaves without incident, perhaps they really are letting their guard down today. It's not that hard to notice a collection of young people traveling in synch like this, but Claudia made sure to be careful with every step, eventually getting behind a few dormant structures that appeared to be inactive or abandoned public attractions. Nobody dared to breathe near the front entrance though despite the enduring silence, and Jane dared not to break that routine until it could be confirmed safe.

"Here we are." Claudia had Jane scoot closer while pointing to a specific localized location on a paper map. It was right on the border edge of this part of Lennith City, leading upward into the forbidden path. Claudia already led Jane to the secret back road, which of course didn't have any specific landmarks to specify itself. The so-called gate that connected with the well-known main path out of Lennith City was absent here. The reason is because their travel simply bypassed the structure... It was quite odd how no long fence or other material blocked the path from this location further north. Just anyone could walk north from here, but maybe there are more patrols further up. "The moment you head northeast from here, you'll be on the official path again, but there aren't any fences or natural marks to tell you where the real dirt path road is. Patrols are minimal tonight, but keep an eye out just to be safe, and stay away from the main gate until you've gone further in. Once there, you'll be in the technical Outback zone which has yet to be affected by Alpha Zero. Then you'll still have to walk nearly two miles north just to reach the deeper part of the dark zone."

"How will I know where to go from there?" Jane questioned. "Or how will I know when I am in the legally defined dark zone?"

Claudia handed Jane another piece of paper, displaying a zoomed-in detailed local area map of the Outback, and there was some more to tell. "You'll realize that you are officially in the dark zone once the sky in your area turns to the color of blood red, as will the clouds if there are any. But I don't believe it is impossible to see inside, from the rumors I've heard. Supposedly it is day light inside Alpha Zero forever, if you can count a half-lit fogged up red sphere a sun."

"Yeesh!" Jane reacted.

"As soon as that happens, all of your Leray powers will be directly affected, making your magic potential and your defenses much weaker. Dark magic is exempt from that rule, but people aren't supposed to use dark magic anyway. Monsters that attack will use non-dark magic spells to fight, but in a dark zone, that still causes real time damage instantly. So avoid all possibilities of danger. When you are inside, the official dirt path might be impossible to see, and will blend in well with the land, so just follow your map and compass. Keep heading north and then northwest, following any landmarks if possible."

"Got it. I'll be back in no time." This was it, the moment she had been waiting for. The path in front of her will lead her directly into the Outback it once was, bypassing the northern gate completely, and Claudia was keeping to her word. As soon as Jane can reach the Den of Purity, she can remove her hidden symbol and reverse the effects of the unknown spell bomb once and for all.

She waited for Jane to turn around, now slowly walking backwards while the rest of the class began waving at her, hollering their goodbyes. "See you soon Jane!" Alyssa just knew that if any one person can survive the dark zone, it's Jane.

Claudia suddenly turned around and shushed everybody there. Punching whoever spoke out just now would have equally been as effective. "Yell quietly," she hissed. Nobody else is supposed to know that we're out here, not a single one. All it takes is for someone like Gresham or a Leray agent to walk over here at the wrong time and catch Jane in the act. It would wreck everything. Claudia waved at Jane again, who waved back and took her time to leave.

She didn't want to go. Jane didn't believe upon arriving in Lennith that she could make so many allies in just a few days, or that she could learn so many new secrets to Leray magic in the process. And to think, she did so by showing these people the full truth about herself, but reversing this spell and the symbol was something she had no choice for. It's time to leave them for now. Keeping her voice to a near whisper, Jane mouthed her farewells. "I'm leaving now." As soon as she gains further distance, Claudia would be swift to lead her students back to their homes, hopefully with a good cover story for why they've been out so late tonight, but Jane had enough faith in them to cease her worries. It was already time to move. Jane began walking forward now, leaving the class behind. From here on in, it's crunch time!