Chapter 109

“What a pair,” Reaz said, mocking Dreadus and the girl as she walked into the seating area.

“What?” Dreadus said absentmindedly, giving her a confused look after seven minutes of deep compilation on what shitty situation got under his skin. He sat loosely on the seat, and the girl copied it in her best attempts. She was smaller, so the seat was plenty big for her and Hound.

“We go out in a minute. Anything else to do, leader?”

“How is it....”

“What do you mean? Have you eaten something bad?”

“Family.”

“What?” Reaz frowned and asked again, uncertain if she heard him right.

“I mean, you are from a big family and all. I am not. The military isn't a family but like a... you know. Perhaps you know what's up.” Dreadus said awkwardly and didn't know what to do.

“Huh? You are serious about caring for this girl? I thought you were joking and would put her under your Division. I am sure your bosses would like it. They wouldn't dare to miss it or take it badly. I mean, she... and everything. It could work itself out while you don't have to worry about it too much. Just give it some thought; we got a big haul this time around so she could become a big deal for nothing but a margin of your rewards. She might be even sounder as far as some Walkers are. Do you want to put her in the military?”

“Wouldn't that... be wrong of me?”

“What would? I don't even know what you are worried about. I would call it stupid to ignore it instead. She is clearly not mentally stable, or normal, but who would be in her case? I wouldn't.”

The girl snapped her head at her, noticing her statement and tone that wasn't as good or failing to feel wrong. She didn't speak back to Reaz. She arranged Hound against her instead but it was still asleep.

“Eh,” Dreadus shrugged. “I met worse. She just needs a mentor, or... something, or... I've done it already.”

“You, you mean?” Reaz pointed at him and walked forward, ending right beside them. She was still dirty but it was in the line of duty and mission, so she didn't care for her appearance. Dreadus was cleaner because he was capable and not willing to endanger the girl or his cloak.

“I asked you something. Are you helping or not?” he demanded.

Reaz found this whole situation hilarious; it wasn't normal to see him like this, let alone asking her or begging her for something. She savored it far too much to her liking, swearing this was the funniest shit ever.

“Family is like clan and military is close, but not yours. In some parts, of course. Inside or out, they protect each other, but it isn't always right or wrong to call it a bond. It is subjective to experiences and needs because family is closer, and some other things are not. It can be that, however. It is like a bond, business, and natural selection that defines attention. So yes. It makes things natural because family is natural. When it isn't; it isn't fine to call it a family. Like Darks, you see.”

“I don't get it. What do you suggest?”

“I say that the girl is a unique case because of Australia and our meeting. Then, her circumstances need special attention. Federation and Assembly Island will undoubtedly get involved and even help if they are half as clever as I think, but I never spoke or described her in my reports. You are welcome, by the way. Other than that, you set your responsibility, and even if it isn't my place to speak, I don't mind it after what we got out of it. The discovery that my uncle died out there is my reward already, and I am glad for that even if... the cause is... sleeping it off. Probably. Consider it my payment for dragging some fools into this mess.”

“Fain, you meant?” Dreadus said coldly, glaring at her as if he couldn't refute her.

Reaz smiled even more. “I guess you are fine with it after everything. If not, what else is here?”

“Oh, you clever fox. You think too much,” Dreadus got visibly surprised and thought the words family and Reaz were much worse than some things. It seemed she helped him today more than once, but Fain was her fault, so those issues mutually destroyed each other.

“Assembly...” Dreadus mumbled and glanced to his left, meeting the girl's curious eyes and observant face. She seemed different. Out of place.

The girl had no idea what was waiting, or coming for her, but soon, the helicopter started to shake and noises spread. Panicking from the unfamiliar pace of this cave shaking, she hugged limp Hound despite little assurance it would help. It did not help. Dreadus offered her a hand and she took it like a pillar, visibly shuddering at the idea of going up to the sky, still hugging Hound so it wouldn't fall down. It was a senseless sensation, if not fearfully thrilling on many levels, or seemed like a naive dream that she never knew existed.

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She ended up flying! To the stars?!

Some parts of her were excited, but the majority was so sounding crazy, or borderline insane that the voices returned, messing with her emotions, or taunting her. Her losses weren't small, and her past was unfamiliar to those around her.

Reaz clapped. “See? We are leaving. That is a good beginning. We are ready and dealing with our consequences, so deal with responsibility. Don't expect my help all the time, unless... you would offer me some benefits.”

“Which is? Dreadus asked, which Reaz took with surprise as she watched this pair.

“You've genuinely shocked me today, Dreadus. Is this so serious to feel and look at it like that? You, I mean.”

“Is it?” he asked himself more than her. “I guess I should call it a calling. The moment I saw her, and spent time with her, I saw more reasons to help her than not do anything. She reminds me of me. I was youngling too. Should it be bad, or fearful? I've seen a lot of things but never someone like her. So yes. I will do it even if it's going to hurt, or... regret me. Oh, I don't know now... Perhaps...”

Reaz laughed as if she heard a fine joke, shaking her head and pressing her palm over her mouth. “Whatever it is, it is yet out of every hand. Why? The Federation can do it too, but you make a fine shot too. Maybe you should respect it and learn from it. As for you, girl. What can you do for him?”

Shaking, the girl barely paid attention to her words, but soon, the helicopter began to calm down. Her hug didn't lessen and her look was complex. There were some lights on the ceiling, but from the cargo space, the Sea glinted far more. Windows showed some light as well.

Reaz shrugged at her non-answer and took a seat beside the other end of the cargo entrance, opposite their spot.

Soon, the helicopter got far into the sky and other helicopters went up to the sky as well, including two jets and many Walkers flying on their Arcalysts, or various subjects formed out of their Emblem Arcana, or Vectors.

Arcalysts were often stable and better thanks to their finite or sturdy forms, though their approach was various, and very few Walkers had Arcalysts that could fly. Their timings and usage were extremely limited and focused on one or two subjects of Walkers, or appeared like a great force capable of influencing everything like the Emblems themselves.

It could be a tool, instrument, elemental property, senseless effect, part of the body, or outside of the scope. Luke's Arcalyst wasn't very unique, as his overall strangeness wasn't terrific, but rather tame and suitable to call it versatile. His Arcalyst was a cube capable of pretty much anything that his Emblem would do without it, but it was outside of his body, thus its use was a bit different, and its flow created things that he couldn't do as easily as without it.

It was about versatility and style, albeit many considered outside benefits with drawbacks.

Emblems were supposed to be part of the bodies, and the closer they were, the better they protected their so-called hosts and users. That was the belief of many people, science, and Walkers as well. Decades went into this ideal until many rumors and discoveries made incredibly convincing matters clearer. It wasn't wrong. Nothing was wrong, for the judgment of men was wrong. Everything was moving towards their Perfection. That was their preference and fighting it out meant fighting against the natural order.

Across the variety of Walkers and Emblems, uniqueness was evident like their use and talents, with people and youths carrying their acts, growing along with them, or using them for the growth itself.

Dreadus and the majority of people inside this large helicopter didn't care for what was right or not. Acts and consequences mattered more and doubts created disparities or very weird gaps.

Same as the girl hugging Dreadus's arms, feeling sorry, afraid, and wondering if going into the sky was a breach and terrible consequence. She felt like crying and shouting for some time, yet why and what was help like? The hand she hugged was that. Perhaps Hound was the same. The tremors, anxiety, and feelings of losing the ground below her bare feet were nerve-wracking.

And Dreadus didn't know how to help her besides be with her in silence and feel her clutch. He could only hope that his hand did something, even if it was a bare-bone attempt to convince himself over his decision that this was no mistake. Not now anyway.

It was at least something.

The first stage of leaving the dangerous regions was soon over, and thousands of feet up in the air created enough safe zones with fever ways to be ambushed. Almost a hundred Walkers were up in the air, going on a mission that wouldn't happen once in a decade. Such a wild parade. It was something few would understand, yet when the Academy and Assembly called, their opinions became inconsequential.

For them to find a common goal and reach these numbers, perhaps only the worst things caused such displays. But it was no Incursion.

It wasn't even that bad. It was the opposite. They found a treasure and chance and took it. This was satisfactory and good, rather than being about some losses or regrets and it wasn't a simple single thing worth some greater wars. Still, not many realized it yet, but many Walkers were able to observe that crazy Sea.

Up in the sky, the journey should be easier since sky-based Darks were fewer in number and quality in Australia, which was more grounded, transfixed in their savageness, or unwillingness to go further. Dark Fog was unable to reach this far no matter the grade or origin, making helicopters and similar technologies not yet obsolete.

With so many bodyguards ranging from the ground level and the sky, nothing could reach the biggest helicopter in the sky.

Fain and most of the Federation's members were on the ground, doing their finest business and clashing against the conglomeration of what Reaz and Dreadus started. It was a much wider and pure clash, with fewer deaths on Walker's side because they were stalling, putting survival as their number one priority, right behind the setting protocol of a mile-save-distance around the fast-moving helicopter.

Darks were incapable of doing things like clever strategies, for their numbers were greater, and with the Academy close, it was even harder to lose the status quo.

Like this, hours had passed and the helicopter was approaching the shores of Australia in the furthest north-eastern corner.