Leone's eyes gleamed with malice as he surveyed the trio before him. "You have until dawn to decide," he said, his voice cold and unyielding. "Surrender Seth, and perhaps we will show leniency. Resist, and the consequences will be dire for all of you." With a final sneer, he climbed onto the Wyvern, signaling his followers to retreat. The mechanical beast rumbled to life, its wings twitching as it lifted off the ground. The oppressive silence that followed their departure was broken only by the distant echoes of the explosion and the rustle of leaves in the night breeze.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver sheen over the island. The embers from the destroyed airship glowed faintly, providing a dim, flickering light. The silence after Leone's departure was heavy, filled with unspoken fears and unvoiced questions. Seth, Laya, and Aurora remained rooted to the spot, the gravity of their situation sinking in.

Laya was the first to break the silence. "Jeez, they are always so cliché, aren't they? 'Resist, and the consequences will be dire,'" she mocked, her voice exaggerated and dripping with sarcasm.

Aurora laughed at her friend's mocking tone. "They could have been more creative, at least," she said, shaking her head, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.

Seth remained silent, his face set in a determined expression, and started walking away towards the village.

Laya called after him, her voice tinged with concern, "Hey, where are you going?"

She and Aurora hurried to catch up, but Seth stopped them in their tracks with a sharp gesture. "Stop following me."

"But as captain, I—" Laya began, trying to assert her authority.

"'Need to protect your crew'? Your bit is predictable at this point," Seth cut her off, his tone cold. "I'm also not in your crew nor do I have any reason to trust anyone right now."

Laya’s shoulders sagged slightly at his harsh words, but Aurora quickly stepped in, her usual playfulness undeterred. "Fair enough, especially after what just happened." She crossed her arms and smirked. "But you should at least trust your wife."

Seth ignored her jokes, his focus unbroken, and continued walking towards the village. Laya and Aurora exchanged a glance, a mix of frustration and determination in their eyes, before silently following him.

The village came into view, ancient and weathered, with huts and houses that bore intricate carvings on their exteriors. The carvings told stories from the past, depicting scenes of battles, celebrations, and legends of the sky islands. The air was thick with history, each wooden structure a testament to the resilience of its inhabitants.

It was quiet, almost eerily so, and devoid of the usual bustle of village life. Seth noticed villagers peeking out from behind curtained windows, their faces lined with worry and suspicion. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken fears, the village's serenity marred by the presence of outsiders and the recent chaos.

Seth continued walking, his steps purposeful, until he reached the center of the village. There, a massive tree stood, its ancient branches spreading wide like protective arms over the village square. The tree's gnarled bark was adorned with more carvings, and its roots dug deep into the earth, grounding the village in a sense of continuity and endurance.

The three stood silently by the massive tree, the ancient village around them eerily quiet. The silence was abruptly broken by the sound of shuffling feet and murmurs. A group of villagers emerged from the shadows, their expressions a mix of fear and anger. An elderly man, clearly a leader, stepped forward, his weathered face stern.

"You need to leave," the old man said, his voice trembling with both age and emotion.

Laya stepped forward, her mechanical arms glinting faintly in the dim light. "We mean no harm. We just need a place to rest and regroup."

The elder shook his head vehemently. "Leone has already told us about you. He said you're here to destroy our village, to shatter the aether crystal that keeps us afloat."

Aurora's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's a lie! We would never do something like that!"

The villagers murmured among themselves, their fear palpable. A middle-aged woman with tear-streaked cheeks stepped forward. "We can't take that risk. If the crystal is destroyed, we will all perish. You must leave."

Seth clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. "Leone is manipulating you! He's the real threat, not us!"

The elder's gaze hardened. "Regardless, we can't afford to trust you. You need to go now."

Laya's shoulders sagged as she looked around at the villagers, seeing only fear and distrust in their eyes. "Is there anything we can do to prove we're not a threat?"

The elder hesitated, glancing back at the villagers before shaking his head. "No. The risk is too great. Please, just leave before things get worse."

Aurora sighed, looking to Laya and Seth. "We can't force them to trust us. We should go."

Reluctantly, the trio began to walk away from the village center. The villagers kept their distance, their eyes never leaving the intruders. As they reached the edge of the village, the elder called out once more.

"Take the path through the forest. It will lead you away from here. Do not return."

Laya turned back, her voice soft but firm. "We'll prove Leone wrong. We're not the enemy."

The elder's expression remained unchanged, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of hardship and mistrust. "Go."

The path through the forest was narrow and overgrown, the thick canopy above casting long shadows that danced in the faint moonlight. As they walked, the oppressive silence of the village gave way to the sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, distant animal calls, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

Seth walked ahead, his pace brisk and his mind racing. Laya and Aurora followed closely, their spirits dampened, but not broken. The weight of the villagers' fear and Leone's manipulation hung heavy over them, but they knew they had to keep moving forward.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small clearing. The trees parted to reveal a view of the endless sky and floating islands beyond. They stopped to catch their breath, the tension of the village encounter still lingering.

Aurora broke the silence, her voice a whisper. "What now?"

"Hey, Seth," Laya said, her legs crossed as she hovered slightly off the ground, her mechanical arms whirring softly. "Why is this Leone guy after you, anyway?"

Seth remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"You can keep this stubborn act up, but Leone dragged us into that lie, too. So we seem to be in this together," Laya continued, her tone was one of rising frustration.

Seth sighed, finally sitting down and leaning back against a gnarled tree. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face. "He works for the First Sanctum's military. As you can tell, he is textbook corrupt. As for why he wants to capture me, that goes back to when we first met. It was about a year ago, on an island similar to this one. I was hired by the military to help transport their troops and supplies. Leone was assigned to the same mission. But as soon as we got there, his team started harassing the villagers."

Aurora sat down next to Seth, her cheek resting against her knees, eyes wide with interest. "And I imagine that you said something?"

"Not at the time," Seth continued, his voice steady but bitter. "The higher-ups don't give a shit about the word of some hired pilot. So, I confronted him directly."

"Oh boy, I can imagine what that was like," Laya said, her lips curling into a wry smile.

Seth shrugged, the shadows playing across his face. "The short of it is that it amounted to nothing. That recruit was punished and Leone was rewarded for turning him in. Honestly, I think that's where it started."

"What started?" Laya asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Leone's name and rank grew with every passing mission. They labeled him a hero of sorts. I ran into him on another job. It was a simple drop-off that quickly turned into an evacuation. The island's aether was corrupted, so it began destroying itself. While I was escaping, I saw Leone coming from the island's core on his Wyvern."

"So you confronted him again," Laya said, crossing her arms, her violet eyes narrowing.

"Obviously," Seth replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "And this time, he was in a position of power. He was able to convince his superiors that I was lying, and that I was responsible for the aether's corruption. That's where my criminal history comes from. It was something that never really bothered me too much. My contract structure keeps me on the move, and I don't spend too much time with one crew long enough for him to pinpoint my location. At least until now. Emilia was right. I really should've suspected one of my contractors would sell me out."

Aurora rested her head on her arms, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of the moon. "So, Leone's been using his power to cover up his own crimes and pin them on you. And he's chasing you to gain even more recognition?"

"Yup. Don't get me wrong. In a fight, I beat him every time, but unfortunately, life doesn't work that way," Seth said, his voice darkening with frustration. "I'm sure the next thing he will try to do is pin all of his crimes on you guys."

Laya laughed, the sound echoing softly through the night. "Yeah, I'm not too worried about it. With what I'm after, a guy like this is nothing."

Seth shook his head and chuckled, the tension easing slightly from his features. "Yeah, I guess he isn't. So, do you have a plan?"

Aurora chimed in, her voice thoughtful. "We have to prove to the villagers that he's at fault. Or at the very least, that we aren't the ones responsible."

"Exactly." Laya nodded, her expression resolute. "So we go beat him up and then the villagers will believe us."

Seth and Aurora stared at Laya with blank expressions, the absurdity of her statement hanging in the air.

"It's... it's a good start," Aurora managed to get out between fits of laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Seth sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aether corrupters are assigned to military personnel as a way of holding accountability when used in the field. If we can get a hold of it before he uses it, then at the very least, we can stop the island's destruction and keep the people safe."

Aurora's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but smile at Seth. "What?" he replied, his tone defensive.

"Nothing, you're just really my type," she teased, her smile widening.

Seth blushed and looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Whatever. Let's just get some sleep. We don't really have a concrete plan, so the least we can do is get some rest."

The three of them settled down, the forest around them quiet and serene. The distant chirping of crickets and the gentle rustle of leaves provided a soothing backdrop as they prepared to sleep. Laya found a spot under a large tree, its branches spreading out like protective arms. Aurora curled up nearby, her head resting on her knees, while Seth leaned against a rock, his eyes scanning the dark canopy above.

The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The cool night air carried the faint scent of blooming nightflowers, adding a touch of tranquility to the tense atmosphere. Despite the uncertainty of their situation, a sense of calm began to settle over them.

Laya closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting to the challenges ahead. She knew they would need to be strong and united to face Leone and clear their names. As sleep began to claim her, she felt a renewed sense of determination.

Aurora, her usual cheerfulness tempered by the day's events, lay quietly, her mind racing with ideas and plans. She knew they would need to be clever and resourceful to outmaneuver Leone and his forces. She glanced at Seth, who seemed lost in thought, and felt a spark of hope. Together, they had a chance.

Seth remained awake for a while longer, his mind heavy with memories of betrayal and loss. But as he listened to the soft breathing of his newfound allies, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could turn the tide.

The night wore on, and one by one, they drifted into a restless sleep, their dreams filled with visions of battles and victories yet to come. The dawn would bring new challenges, but for now, they found solace in each other's presence and the quiet strength of their growing bond.

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As the first rays of the morning sun peeked over the horizon, the trio stirred. The forest around them came alive with the sounds of birdsong and the rustle of leaves. The night's shadows faded, and the freshness of a new day enveloped them.

Laya stretched, her mechanical arms whirring softly. "Guys, you won't believe this dream I had," she began, her violet eyes gleaming with excitement. "So I'm the captain of this massive warship, and we're fighting this huge monster, right? And then—"

Seth held up a hand, interrupting her with a wry smile. "Yeah, yeah, it was a good dream. But we should get going before they find us here."

Aurora laughed, a light, musical sound, while yawning and stretching her own limbs. "Always the pragmatist, Seth."

"No need to leave on our account." Emilia's voice drifted down from above, causing the trio to look up in surprise.

Perched gracefully on a thick branch, her legs swinging in the air, Emilia looked down at them with a smirk. The early morning light filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on her face.

Seth turned around, his eyes narrowing as he took in her relaxed demeanor. "Those villagers ratted out your direction so fast!" she continued, laughing. "Oh, but Leone asked about your decision."

Seth stepped forward, staring daggers at her from below. "I guess the reason you are asking us is because your employer is already heading towards the island's core?"

Emilia's smile faded, her playful demeanor vanishing as she locked eyes with Seth. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken tension. She didn't answer, just stared back, her expression unreadable.

"Guess that's our answer," Aurora said, breaking the silence. She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Seth. "Here," she said. "This is where the core is. I installed an Aetherscope into the ground before we went to sleep. It gave me the general location of the area on the island with the most aether energy. AKA the core."

Seth unfolded the paper, his eyes scanning the rough map marked with a large 'X' at the center. The Aetherscope, a sleek device with intricate engravings and a faint blue glow, had detected the island's heartbeat, the core of its aetheric energy. The device's readings had been precise, pinpointing the location they needed to reach.

Laya hovered beside Seth, her interest piqued. "So, that's our destination," she said, her voice steady. "We need to get there before Leone does."

Emilia remained silent, her eyes following their every move. The forest around them was alive with the sounds of morning—birds chirping, leaves rustling in the gentle breeze—but the tension in the clearing was palpable.

Laya glanced up at Emilia, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You should go tell Leone that we'll see him at the core," she said, her tone challenging. "We're not letting you blow up the island."

Emilia's gaze flicked to Laya, then back to Seth. With a slight nod, she pushed off the branch, landing softly on the ground. "There isn't a need for me to relay any message," she said, her voice low. "I hope for both our sakes you can just make this easy?"

Seth sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Sorry if I'm being presumptuous, Emilia, but can you even fight?"

Emilia's lips curled into a smug smile. "I'll have you know I'm a pretty good shot," she responded, her tone dripping with confidence.

"Riiii-ght," Seth replied, his skepticism evident. He started following the map, heading east from their current position, the morning sun casting long shadows through the forest. "I'll just leave Emilia and her crew to you two," he said, waving dismissively with the back of his hand to Laya and Aurora.

Laya smiled in excitement, her mechanical arms gleaming in the light as she waved back enthusiastically. "Have fun!"

Aurora joined in, her voice light and teasing. "Be careful! Try not to actually blow up the island!" she said jokingly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The girls turned their attention back to Emilia, who remained poised and unruffled. "Not gonna at least try to go after him?" Laya asked curiously, tilting her head.

"No need," Emilia replied, her eyes gleaming with cunning. "What I lack in power I make up for with my cunning. You really think I came all the way out here without some sort of plan? This entire island is set up with traps!"

"Really?!" Aurora exclaimed, her curiosity piqued. Her excitement was palpable, more intrigued than concerned. "How did you guys set all of them up in just one night?!"

"My engineers are top quality," Emilia replied with a proud look on her face, her chest puffed out slightly.

Aurora's eyes narrowed skeptically, and she raised an eyebrow at Emilia's response. "So you are telling me these guys can't fix a broken air valve, but setting up an entire island of traps within eight hours is no problem?"

Emilia remained silent for a moment, her confidence wavering. ".....I got them at a discount," she finally admitted, her voice a reluctant mumble.

"Seth'll be okay," Laya said, stretching her legs and rolling her shoulders. "Let's do this."

The forest opened up to the sound of rushing water, the river meandering its way through the trees. Its surface shimmered in the sunlight, and the smell of wet earth permeated the air, mingling with the fresh scent of pine and wildflowers. The serene landscape contrasted sharply with the tension building in the trio's hearts.

On the far shore stood a group of soldiers, their uniforms crisp and clean, the emblem of the First Sanctum gleaming on their chests. Leone was among them, his expression one of arrogance and impatience. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the area as if already anticipating victory.

Three mercenaries emerged from the treeline, their steps confident and their weapons at the ready. Their presence disrupted the natural tranquility of the forest, introducing an air of menace.

One of them was on the younger side, perhaps only in his early twenties. His dark hair was disheveled, and he wore a half-mask to obscure his features, a cigarette hanging casually from his lips. His eyes, however, were sharp and alert, betraying a keen intelligence.

The second mercenary was a middle-aged woman, her blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail. She sported two aether pistols that rested on either side of her hips, their polished barrels catching the sunlight. Her gaze was steely, her movements calculated and precise.

The third mercenary was a young girl, barely eighteen. She had long brown hair braided down her back and a single horn protruding from the right side of her head. Her eyes were devoid of emotion, giving her a chilling, almost otherworldly presence.

"Ah, so nice of you to finally join us. I hope we aren't keeping you from something better," Leone said, his words laced with sarcasm. He motioned to his men to fall in line, their disciplined movements reflecting years of rigorous training.

"You failed to mention the traps you laid out," the young girl said, her voice monotone and devoid of emotion.

"My apologies. It seems that Emilia's men are more competent than I gave them credit for. Now that you are here, I'll be making my way to the core. I trust I can leave Seth and the other two to you?" Leone's eyes flicked to the mercenaries, gauging their reactions.

The man took the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled a plume of smoke. "The gravity girl and the pilot are one thing. But we ain't killin' that engineer of theirs. We can hold her off, sure, but harming her is a death wish."

"The daughter of Commodore Vonrill? Yes, her appearance has made this plan rather difficult. I've instructed Emilia to make sure she gets out alive," Leone said, his tone icy. The mention of Aurora's lineage sent a shiver through the air, the weight of her heritage palpable.

The middle-aged woman shook her head and sighed, her frustration evident. "What a pain."

"Enough talking," Leone said, stepping onto his Wyvern. The mechanical beast hummed with power, its wings twitching as if eager to take flight. "I'll give you the signal when the corrupter is in place."

With a powerful beat of its wings, the Wyvern lifted off, taking Leone into the sky. The soldiers followed suit, heading west toward the forest, their disciplined march echoing through the trees. Once they were gone, the three mercenaries shared a look, their expressions a mix of determination and resignation.

"You know what to do," the youngest mercenary said, her voice steady. The river continued its serene journey through the forest, oblivious to the conflict brewing on its banks.

However, it was quickly interrupted by the sound of explosions rocking the island, sending tremors through the ground. Aurora ran through the forest, her heart pounding as she dodged traps left and right. The underbrush crackled and snapped under her swift movements. Above, Laya had taken to the sky, her mechanical arms whirring softly as she flew above the foliage, her keen eyes scanning for threats. Instead of traps, she dodged bullets being shot from Emilia's rifle, each one whizzing past her like deadly bees.

"Just hold still!" Emilia shouted, her voice filled with frustration.

Laya laughed as she dodged the bullets gracefully, her movements almost like a dance in the sky. Her dark purple hair flowed behind her like a comet's tail, catching the glint of the sun.

Aurora continued to zip through the forest, her mind focused and sharp, uttering the same words to herself every few steps. "One right there." She jumped over a hidden land mine, the metallic click echoing ominously beneath her. "And another to my right." She gracefully evaded an incoming brass spike that shot up from the ground, impaling itself into a tree just past her.

She came to a complete stop, her breath steady despite the chaos around her. "And the last one is right there," she muttered, looking forward to see the red-headed engineer of Emilia's crew standing nervously in her path.

The engineer was visibly nervous, his body trembling, and his voice quivering. "Listen! I know you're after the deactivation remo—"

"I'm not," Aurora cut him off bluntly, her green eyes narrowing.

"Wait—but—" he stammered, clearly taken aback by her calm demeanor.

"These traps are honestly pathetic," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm starting to see why it didn't take you guys long to booby trap the island."

Her words caused the engineer to flinch, stumbling over his words. "W-Well, uh, t-the boss said—"

His sentence was abruptly cut off by a wrench flying through the air and hitting him square in the face. The engineer crumpled to the ground, unconscious, the wrench clattering beside him. Aurora walked over, picked up the wrench, and retrieved the traps' controller from his belt, shoving it back into her tool belt with a satisfied nod.

"Wouldn't hurt to have, I guess," she said to herself.

"That was a pretty good throw," an unfamiliar voice commented from seemingly out of nowhere.

Aurora spun around, her muscles tensed. She saw a middle-aged woman with blonde hair leaning over the engineer's unconscious body, poking at his face with a bemused expression.

The first thing Aurora noticed were the aether pistols hanging on the woman's hips, their polished surfaces gleaming ominously. The woman looked up, her eyes meeting Aurora's with a calm, calculating gaze. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the tension between them crackling like the static before a storm.

Aurora narrowed her eyes, gripping her wrench tighter, the weight of it suddenly feeling inadequate. "Who are you?" Her voice was steady, but inside her mind raced, calculating every escape route. The woman before her moved with an unsettling ease, her stance exuding quiet control.

"Maria," the woman said, her tone casual, like they were discussing the weather. "Bounty hunter by trade." She gave a cursory glance to the unconscious engineer at Aurora's feet, then met Aurora's gaze with a faint smirk. "And if I’m not mistaken, you’ve got the controller now, don’t you?"

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. Her knuckles whitened around the wrench’s handle. "So what if I do?" she said, trying to sound defiant. "What, you’re going to run to Leone and tattle on me?"

Maria chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. "Leone’s no fool," she replied, her voice smooth and unhurried. "He knew you’d grab it the moment you saw it. My job isn’t to report back—it’s to take it from you." She straightened, her hand resting lightly on one of the pistols at her hip as she stepped forward. The ground beneath her barely whispered as she closed the distance.

Aurora’s breath quickened. She took an instinctive step back, her heart sinking fast. "Hold on," she blurted, raising the wrench like a makeshift shield between them. "Do you even know who I am? Daughter of Commodore Vonrill—one of the most powerful families in the skies!"

Maria’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I know exactly who you are." She tilted her head, her smirk deepening. "Which is why I can’t kill you. But roughing you up? Now that’s a different story." Her fingers curled around the hilt of her pistol, her movements measured, deliberate.

Aurora swallowed hard, her mind whirling. Then her gaze flicked to the right, her lips parting in mock surprise. "Wow, he woke up fast!"

Maria’s body shifted on instinct, her eyes snapping to the engineer lying crumpled on the ground. He hadn’t moved an inch. She spun back, eyes narrowing—but Aurora was gone. The space where she had stood only moments ago was empty, leaving behind nothing but the soft echo of her escape.

"Damn," Maria muttered, letting out a long breath.

In the skies above, Laya darted through the air, dodging another blast from Emilia’s rifle. Her purple hair trailed behind her, catching the wind as she shifted gravity around her body, light as a feather, weaving in and out of danger.

"Still can’t hit me, Emilia?" Laya called out with a wide grin. "I thought you said you were good at this!"

Emilia cursed under her breath, firing off another round, but Laya flipped effortlessly out of range, her mechanical arm sparking faintly from an earlier hit. It stuttered as she twisted mid-air, but Laya didn’t slow down.

"You’re way too predictable!" Laya teased, floating backwards, her boots just barely touching the tips of the tall trees below. "But hey, don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it—eventually!"

On the ground below, Aurora peeked out from her hiding spot, her chest still heaving from the chase. Her wrench clutched tightly in hand, she scanned the forest for any sign of Maria, knowing the bounty hunter wouldn’t give up so easily.

Just as she debated making a break for it, Seth emerged from the trees, his sword drawn, his eyes scanning for threats.

"Seth!" Aurora whispered, relief flooding her voice as she hurried over. "I’ve got the controller, but Maria’s close. We don’t have much time."

Seth’s expression hardened. "Then let’s move," he said simply. His gaze flicked upward to the flashes of light in the sky where Laya and Emilia battled. "What about her?"

Aurora looked up, her heart skipping a beat as she watched Laya effortlessly evade Emilia’s shots. For a moment, doubt flickered in her eyes. "Laya’s tough, but... we can’t leave her up there alone."

Seth hesitated, eyes narrowing. "She’s holding her own, but we can’t stick around. Maria’s hunting us, and if we stay too long, we’re cornered."

Aurora bit her lip, torn between staying and running, but Laya’s voice, carried by the wind, snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Don’t worry about me, Aurora!" Laya shouted from above, her voice full of mischief and unwavering confidence. She hovered, balancing lightly on a column of manipulated gravity, like she was standing on air. "I’ve got this! You and Mr. Grumpy down there go handle your stuff. I’ll catch up when I’m done playing!"

Aurora couldn’t help but smile. "That’s Laya for you," she muttered, shaking her head. Turning back to Seth, she nodded. "Let’s go."

Seth grunted in agreement and led the way, pulling Aurora deeper into the forest as the sounds of Laya and Emilia’s aerial duel echoed in the distance.

High above, Laya’s focus shifted back to Emilia, who was reloading her rifle, jaw clenched in frustration. "You think you can keep dancing around forever, Laya?" Emilia spat, her voice tight with annoyance.

Laya grinned, dropping from the sky in a dizzying freefall before flipping mid-air and launching herself upwards again, the force of gravity bending to her will. "I dunno, Emilia! But I’m having fun figuring it out!" She winked, her laughter light and carefree as she darted behind a thick cloud, using it as cover.

Emilia growled, her eyes scanning the sky for any sign of movement, but Laya had vanished into the swirling mist. "Where are you—?"

A sudden shift in the wind warned her too late—Laya had already shot out of the cloudbank, gravity propelling her faster than a bullet, her fist slamming into the side of Emilia’s gun with a satisfying crack.

Emilia staggered back, her rifle knocked loose from her hands, and Laya twirled mid-air, blowing a playful kiss. "Gotcha!"

But before Emilia could recover, the ground below them rumbled—a soft, rhythmic tremor that made both women pause. Laya’s smile faltered, and she floated back, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Huh? What’s that?"

On the forest floor, Seth and Aurora came to an abrupt stop as the earth beneath their feet quivered, the same faint tremor pulsing through the trees.

Aurora’s brow furrowed. "Seth, do you feel that?"

Seth’s eyes darkened. "Yeah. And it’s not good." He glanced around, tension creeping into his voice. "Something’s shifting. We need to figure out what."

Above them, Laya hovered mid-air, staring down at the island below, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a rare flicker of unease. The rumbling continued, deeper now, as if the heart of the island was stirring to life.

"Okay," she muttered to herself, trying to shake off the feeling of unease creeping up her spine. "This is new."

She took a deep breath, her grin slowly returning. "Guess things are about to get really interesting."