Chapter 113

Dreadus shifted his attention to her. “It is an act of catching fish with rod and bait. In my case, It is an analogy that she is trying to catch something with us or me. I don't think it stands correct, so it is a way to express disapproval. She is trying something I don't know, but she is obvious like a fox about it.”

“Oh! Fox... Oh!” Celeste opened her mouth and seemed much more cheerful than ever before. Of course, she knew about foxes! Their fangs and manners were nimble and large, acting with large tails of dozens of feet. Their matters reminded her of this hag for sure, so Celeste knew what Dreadus was talking about.

A lot could change with a simple name, or watchful time over North America for many hours. She learned a lot of interesting things today and found her terrible mood of leaving Australia diminishing. Her voices even ceased to haunt her.

Perhaps it might go away as soon as she would enter some Districts or observe the Federation with her own eyes. Then, Dreadus would finish her off with a visit to the military.

Reaz had no desire to make problems for anyone involved with this mission apart from Dreadus. Truthfully, she was very interested in this girl because of her family, knowledge, and doubts surrounding her. It was interesting and confusing, and her Emblem and status were all unknown and very big if her hunch was accurate. Who knows, perhaps she would grow to be an absolutely terrific Walker or a menace like a certain someone.

But as she thought about it, her tries and curiosity had well-founded matters and disposition, making her accept that this chance wouldn't come again. Reaz already reached some basic ideas with Dreadus, and she hardly backed away from anything when once decided. His disapproval wouldn't stop her. The reality wasn't here, but it will come. Celeste would raise some brows that were undoubtedly higher than she could guess, so Reaz quickly gave up on some questionable ideas by following her inner conflicts and curiosity.

Helping them was the aftermath, and she had no shame to give. She would gladly help them for nothing if it meant seeing more of Celeste, her secrets, teaching, or improvements from a little bratty girl into a proper lady.

“What changed your mind?” Dreadus asked, squinting and seeing some doubts in her.

“You.” Reaz pointed at him.

“Is it that bad? I am making things clearer, but... it won't be clear. I know it. You know it. Everyone...”

Unexpectedly, Celeste walked before Dreadus and defended him while carrying Hound. “Boo, evil hag!” She mumbled and Hound barked at Reaz to no avail. “Dreadus good. You shame.”

Reaz cracked her fingers and felt all refreshed after this long traveling and doing nothing besides talking. She was ready to do something if nothing inconceivable would happen.

“It seems you don't get it, Celeste. Who named you eh? The world is full of some nasty people and you need to get to know how to get and understand them. Don't clinch into Dreadus too much. It isn't clever. You should think, learn, and assess situations and people alike because you lack something crucial. I can help you with that.”

Hound hissed at her and didn't care for her words.

But Celeste shifted its head in order to glance at her better. “Why? He... promised.”

“You are naive. It means close stupidity which is understandable in youths like you. So, allow me. Just how old are you?”

Celeste shrugged, unwilling to think about something like that. Her cuts were enough, deep, and resting below her former home. New ones wouldn't come, so she wouldn't probably age.

“Don't know? Fine. We can run some tests and know it, but you are a Walker and your daddy Dreadus wants to take care of you or toss you to others. What's the difference, you might and should ask? Who knows. It is about you and him and the Federation. The ending choice might be either his or yours, so you need to think about it and learn what it means. It is the first lesson you need to understand if you want to be human, let alone a Walker because of the thing resting in your right arm. Got it?”

Celeste followed her point finger and glanced at her Emblem, shining and moving in the dark edges of some form of Arcana, and inner deep white rest. Dreadus couldn't refute Reaz, while Celeste didn't get her point because of so many words mixed together into various meanings.

“Learn.. teach... others?” Celeste glanced at Dreadus, whether to find some truths or to find some answers.

Reaz already knew what choices Dreadus was considering and pointed them out herself.

Now, what did he plan?

Dreadus gave up trying to attest himself or give Reaz any more consideration. “Don't try me, Reaz. I will do it if I have to. Celeste, do what you want, but my promise still stands. In the end, I want you to get your life together more than anything else. If it is under me or others, I am fine if you are fine. It isn't against my promise, I think.”

Celeste was unsure if that was good or bad, or if he was lying. She frowned and pushed Hound to her chest.

The questions or answers to their worries won't come overnight, even if the helicopter saw the first lines of the Federation's defenses.

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Strangely or without any surprise, there were many crazy and frenzied Rifts around the sky. Nearly three dozen opened up, appeared out of nowhere, and some old ones even re-opened. Some were even Medium, with Rank 7 Darks, and a vast amount of Fogs fell from them to the water or churred around the sky like clouds.

Neither Reaz nor Dreadus were surprised by this sight. Celeste was, and even her Hound seemed to take this view in some bravado or curious glances. Still, even with such power and numbers, they couldn't do much to the prepared Walkers in the Federation, and the ones around this large helicopter already made their move, ensuring no Rift would become a problem.

Sooner rather than later, the helicopter reached its destination and landed safely.

Fights or Rifts weren't shocking to Celeste anymore, who had seen plenty of insanities in Australia. Maybe the sight around the shores of this land wasn't all that special in her eyes, but something else was.

The land or city. Buildings? Nah. She saw broken North America and heard delightful stories by Dreadus and Reaz about it, including direct view. Here? This was about people. A shit ton of people.

Out in the open, she gasped for breath and excitement and didn't know where to look, what to think, and what her heart or mind played her with. There were way too many people, faceful, busy, wearing great clothes, and she wasn't ready to see so many faces. So many buildings created a different set of the Holy Land, making it seem like a rocky jungle or mountains with strange shapes.

There was a weird crazy atmosphere, and... strange hills that seemed flat, angular, or pointy yet flat. Buildings of these kinds were new for her, yet throughout this journey, she had seen the ground and lost civilizations, even if most of them were ruins, or turned into corrupted land and various depictions of insanity.

Dreadus showed them and got her the view of the North America few would dare to take like her; with nods, approval, and strange regard like cheers and happiness.

There was more destruction than something impressive.

There was nothing like that here, but it was worth cheering for anyway.

Dreadus yawned right beside her, stretching his arms and legs, and patted her head. “Welcome to the Federation. A land like no other, but... well, it is a home for sure. It's a nice place. Yep.”

For once, she showed affection, joy, and an incredible smile. She hugged Dreadus for real and thanked him thrice over.

He wasn't sure where she learned this, but he didn't find it too bad.

Around them, many people were moving, marking matters of the Academy, military, Machinists, and Federation as a whole. A big deal came out of this mission, so many have to give it some justice and days' worth of time. Shifts turned to shit with those Rifts, and a strange situation occurred and hit the Federation because of this Sea in this helicopter.

Dreadus was aware of everything but didn't care for these people. Reaz was at the center of everything, but not for long.

When the Crystal Water Sea moved out of the cargo under no siblings, the Emblem Association and even some members from Assembly Island became involved, shutting the military base under veils of privacy, and taking the Sea to somewhere else. Vera and Vern were glad, laying on the ground, holding hands, and feeling like praying for this land was worth more than their complaints. They kept up and lost at the same time.

Soon, their main treasure was gone, and their mission was over.

Reaz wasn't too angry about it, since her report, facts, and ideas were correct and a lot of big shots made major decisions that she couldn't refute. So, she moved along with them and knew a lot of people would want to hear more about this big event, or the cause for everything. Inevitably more merits will soon follow after them, for this team created this, while the biggest hitter was Dreadus himself.

It was hilarious. Reaz almost laughed at how this shit turned around, making her silly captain into a martyr! HIM!? She couldn't believe he cared about it, which meant not a single interview for him, or anything else. He lost rock-paper-scissors, and if anything, he wasn't a sore loser. Still, the rewards would come at him like rain, even if he didn't like it or not. Which was better, she didn't know.

For now, Reaz found Dreadus showing Celeste around the military barracks, letting her dance in happy jumps, and making 'oohs' and 'ah' noises. Reaz got irritated once more and after dealing with the most basic reports and people, she stormed off.

At least he had the audacity to press his cloak around Celeste, so she wasn't looking like a lost child, but it still irritated her.

“Hey! Are we not going or what?” Reaz demanded; behind her, the siblings stood and seemed uncomfortable that they were forced to join her. Their mission's part was quite stimulating and their minds were beyond tired. They wanted to sleep and stop calling this person their superior.

Unfortunately, they were quite terrible at saying no to any people.

“Are you done with your little business?” Dreadus taunted her a little, knowing that the Federation would take care of it and leave them aside, but he knew Reaz liked to stick her fingers whether they should belong in this or not, and this mission and circumstances should be perfect for even bigger merits; both by talking and acting. “Don't you want to go wild at those Rifts?”

“Nah. There is something more pressing and more wild, so don't joke around. Also, you lost. Remember?” It was true. Not even a day would calm this situation down. It was not hard to guess, so Dreadus planned to play along, hide, and leave this problem for others. With so many people around, even the team behind this mess turned into a simple side story.

Dreadus preferred it, and Reaz did as well after dealing with what she learned. It was still ongoing, so things will get busy in a day or two. It was a good choice to rest some things behind, considering Fain still wanted her help, and who knew which Assembly Pillars were around, joining in this fray, up as well, or who might come from various organizations or Divisions.

Emblem Examination and Forced Awakening were less than six weeks away, so Reaz had no doubts that something promising was ahead in this war. Oldies planned to show off what they could do, and this was the perfect occasion to catch and crack some Rifts. Reaz was almost horny enough to follow through with that as well but refrained from doing so.

For now, she could afford to mess with Dreadus, while her main priority was to help Celeste with the most basic thing possible. Shopping, getting her clothes, a haircut, and a bath sounded easy enough. Teaching and dealing with her and Dreadus was a bit more difficult. Not impossible. Not after what she had done in the past two sleepless days.

Celeste was young, looking like an ugly duckling, or a filthy diamond. Polishing her up was up to her benefit and triumph. Reaz had no qualms to give. Perhaps Celeste would turn into a swan with just a little care, or become someone that would become more important than she would ever consider.

Dreadus tended to agree with Reaz on multiple occasions since meeting Celeste, which was either worrisome or worse than those Rifts. Once again, he agreed and took her offer by going into the shopping streets without awareness of what awaited him and what shopping was like. It was allegedly different than food, though... it was also on the list.

Celeste cheered anyway, held Hound and a cloak that Dreaddus gave her, and walked into the large cluster of odd hills and mountains.