Nex's next strike was much more precise this time around. It would've nearly cut the side of my chest if I wasn't paying attention. His movements weren't as loose compared to just a few hours but much more planned out. The next was even faster except I was ready this time. As his next blow was about to pass by my head I grabbed Nex's arm then twisted around towards his back. He shouted in pain then finished it off with a big front kick right on his back making him tumble forward hard almost loosing his footing . He turned his body to me to try and re-position his footing. However, I was much quicker on the take. My leg was already about to deliver another strong axe kick. It landed right on his arms as he tried guarding the hit. But just like every other session, he dropped to the ground again not being able to handle the strength of the hit. This time he was completely exhausted. From last I counted, it was the nth time we sparred. Nex didn't want to stop. He kept insisting despite the obvious pain his body was already in. I poked his back to make sure that was fine. As I did, his body buckled from the pain. There was nothing more he could do. My watch told me that more than just a couple of hours had passed. We clearly lost track of time there. However, Nex was able to get better at fighting despite just starting out. I reached over to pick him so that we could move back to the library. He let out some pained breaths as I did making my feel a bit bad. Though I felt proud from the amount of dedication he's putting in.

Nex: Ouch! Be a bit gentler! You've basically hit almost every part of my body. I could barely move without feeling every nerve screaming out.

Arc: Well you were the one that insisted we keep going. You were clearly pushing yourself especially on those last fights.

Nex: Did I at least get you once?

Arc: Not a single time.

Nex: You could've lied to me y'know.

Arc: Why would I do that?

Nex: To make me feel better! That's not how you treat a girl.

Arc: Nice try, you're no girl.

Nex: Hahahaha. Just carry me slower. Everything hurts right now.

Arc: If you think it hurts now, guess what you'll feel tomorrow.

Nex: This sucks…

Able walked us back to the office again where Eliza was finally up from her chair. She turned to see where the walking noises were coming from. Though she only turned just to see that it was just us. Her face lit up looking like she just saw something she thought was a dream. She dropped the papers that she had been fixing on the ground with her legs shaking.

Eliza: IT WASN'T A DREAM! YOU'RE REAL!

Arc: Calm down, it was all real. But we're not here to hurt you.

Eliza: I'm sorry! It was just too strange to be true! Wait! What happened to him! He looks completely beaten to a pulp!

Arc: I did that.

Eliza: Why would you do that to your friend!?

Nex: I asked for it…

Eliza: Oy, you two aren't into that kind of stuff are you?

Arc: What kind of stuff?

Eliza: Nevermind!

Her eyes quickly left eye level, she looked like she was guilty of asking something. I didn't want to ask what she meant because maybe I wouldn't understand it. It could just be something that her humans do. We moved into the office to place Nex on the reclining chair that was used by Eliza earlier. I took out some parchment from one of my pant's compartments then activated one of it's seals. Eliza's eyes widened at the sight of magic again. She moved around as if it were some entertainment show to catch a glimpse of more of it. My eyes seemed to have caught her attention the most as they kept glowing a bright blue. I placed the cold parchment over Nex's bruises making him squirm from the cold.

Eliza: Absolutely astonishing! It's truly magic! I never thought in my years that I would find something as incredible as this.

Arc: So you really can't do magic?

Eliza: I think this place would've been a little bit better off if we did.

Arc: Then what about these golems? And Able?

Eliza: Able is an artificial intelligence created by humans. He can learn things on his own. These "golems" were just here when we arrived. We studied them then we reprogrammed them because they seemed useful. I thought they were invented by the locals with the amount of them were scattered. As for a fuel source for them we've always been using substitutes for this unknown substance. Luckily we've had the technology to re engineer some of it.

Arc: You mean Foxphite?

Eliza: Is that what we've been making?

Arc: Yes, that's Foxphite. It's an abundant and flexible fuel source used all over the galaxy. Though, I wasn't sure that it was replicable like this.

Eliza: Amazing. It's definitely more efficient than rocket fuel and nuclear energy. These things don't run out quickly.

Arc: I'm surprised that you could've made some. Artificial Foxphite… I never thought it was possible.

Eliza: Things aren't that hard to make once you've put your mind to it. Also with the right technology too. With the help of these golems, anyone can make Foxphite. Though the process does take its toll on the environment. That's probably why it reeks up there.

Nex: That explains the smell and the factories...

Arc: Truly feels like wonders that humans would do.

Eliza: By the way, are you two really human? Humans don't have magic where I'm from.

Arc: We're very much human. That's what people at the platform always tell us.

Eliza: Well your features do seem human. Mind if I take a test? It'll be quick~

Arc: Sure.

She then proceeded to take a device out of her desk near the keyboard. It appeared to look like some kind of hand held solar panel but with some kind screen on it too. Eliza then took out a piece of my hair then placed it on the clear panel. The device started to scan it slowly. A couple seconds later, the results were on the screen. 100% human. Her eyes just sparkled with even more curiosity while me and Nex were just a bit confused.

Eliza: Mathematical! Human! 100% human! That's so strange. How could our DNA be completely human but you two could produce impossible things like magic.

Arc: I've got a theory but it was a story of old.

Eliza: Amazing! Even folklore!

Arc: But I want to ask for something in return.

Eliza: What?

Arc: Could you take us to your… I mean our planet? I would love to find this place called Earth.

Eliza: But of course! I'd love for you guys to go to Earth! It's only natural. Everyone is not going to believe this without you two!

Arc: How are you going to take us there?

Eliza: Well that's not something I'm sure about. One of my space pods that was supposedly used to go home is… well in the hands of my husband. Ex husband.

Arc: husband?!

Eliza: Well we got divorced but he was still my research partner. Only he has the means to go back to Earth but only I know the activations to get the coordinates home. This was a two authentication process that the team developed so neither of us can just leave without the other's consent. On our deaths of course the codes would be out.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Arc: Something happened huh.

Eliza: You could say that hahahahaha. He got a bit power hungry with Talos. I wanted to make a world something similar to home. Restaurants, arcades, parks while he wanted something else.

Nex: He wanted to make another capital city.

Eliza: Precisely. Ever since then he's programmed these golems to expand the city. That was all those years ago. I haven't seen him since. He just stormed out because our ideologies clashed. He wanted to create Rome I wanted to make home.

Arc: Rome?

Eliza: Oh right, you wouldn't know about that. Now I'm stuck here until he suddenly wants to come and take these codes by force. I'll be ready till then. The doors are made out of Dioxirite. Nothing can pass through those doors unless you have the heat of a sun.

Arc: You left it completely wide open.

Eliza: ABLE!

Able: That's me!

Arc: It should be okay now, we closed it already.

Eliza: Phew! It was quite hard to get a hold of those Dioxirites too. Would've been a waste if someone just walked through the door.

Arc: How is it that you know what Dioxirite is?

Eliza: That's what other aliens said they were. Leagues ago in the past Earth finally had established merchant trades with other planets. Though due to our limited travel capabilities, it was only a one way trade system. We know other things like Dioxirite but our knowledge is quite lacking for other space materials. Strange how we never really asked what kind of fuel they used to get to us. Each time we asked they'd never answer. Probably to make sure they had a constant buyer instead of us finding it ourselves. It's probably Foxphite now that I know about it.

Arc: I see but you should really check your doors. Security is important in all parts of the galaxy.

Eliza: Sorry about that. So those noises upstairs. Were you guys?

Arc: Yeah, but that shouldn't be a problem now. Even if you sent those security golems at us.

Eliza: Oh I'm not in charge of those. That would be my husband. Peter would always be the overprotective one even if we broke up. I guess he got worried that someone was near the library.

Arc: He probably has our teammates captive right now. Right now, we're supposed to be four but the other two went MIA a few days ago. Would it be possible that your ex husband has them?

Eliza: Probably. I couldn't care less if I had them. Though I think they might be fine. Peter is a man of the scientific method. I'm sure that he's as intrigued as me if he saw you two. Though I'm scared that he might want them just to expand his golem army.

Arc: That's quite terrible actually. I'm going to find this ex husband of yours and find our teammates.

Eliza: Be careful if you do, he's been making an army for more than a decade. When I last saw him, I think he was slowly going into the deep end. So please be careful.

Arc: We'll find them once Arc feels fully rested and healed.

Nex: … Good call…

Eliza: I hope you guys know what you're doing. I haven't seen him in a long time. He could be different now compared to when I last saw him. He's responsible for Talos still expanding in military power and security.

Arc: We'll figure something out. So much for our prime directive huh Nex.

Nex: … What was it again?

Arc: Find the schematics on how a golem can survive without Foxphite.

Eliza: Oh that's it? I have them right here! But sadly it's incomplete, the rest of the information is with… y'know... But the end result was Able! A fully functional, self sufficient Ev3 golem but mixed with our artificial intelligence technology.

Nex: How did you do it?!

Eliza: It's a bit complicated trying to explain everything but it has something to do with nano cell division. It's one of the latest things humanity has accomplished without magic. Non magics are still pretty cool huh?

Arc: I'm sure it would've been faster if you guys did.

Eliza: Hehehe, that's true too.

So this was how non magics survived for all these centuries on their planet. Pure ingenuity and wit. Their sheer dedication to turning over their weakness of having no magic was definitely something that I felt an admiration for. Eliza was scratching her head trying to wrap her mind around the idea of my cold press magic. She'd even poke it a couple times but it ended up annoying Nex who was still in pain. His body was still relatively weak but I could sense the will inside of him.

A couple cycles had passed and we'd take another couple of our pellets. Meanwhile, Able was helping out Eliza with some of her work. She seemed to be a lot happier now that Able allowed himself to enter the office. Strange how with so much of our magic we still couldn't find a way to recreate life as close to theirs. I couldn't help feeling a bit jealous on how they lived. I was right beside Nex while he rested. There wasn't much I could do when he was resting. However, there were things definitely happening above. The monitors were picking up guardian movements that seemed anomalous. Minutes later, something good was coming out of the door. It was a strange smell that was clearly unfamiliar to me. My stomach was starting to hurt for some reason, it was almost attracted to the smell. The smell came from the dining table! Eliza was carrying a metal dish that seemed to have a roasted carcass of another animal. This time it didn't look avian in nature. She walked over to us with a big smile on her face. My head must've been playing games on because the smell just wanted me to bite it. Was that human food? We've never had anything cooked from the locals of planets so we wouldn't risk infection or poisonings. But this was human food...

Eliza: Come! It's been a while since I've had someone to cook for! I made a dish from my home planet. Well technically supposedly our home planet. It's made from an animal we call a pig. It's quite fatty and tastes amazing when roasted with some herbs or spices. Sorry I can't describe it properly. I'm not a chef or accustomed to what you guys eat in your homes.

Nex: That smell is sure is making want to move. My body is calling out for it!

Arc: It's definitely something quite enticing to my nose. Usually, our food would be produced by golems. And on missions we have these pellets. They're compressed with nutrients and everything to survive for long periods of time. Though it doesn't have any tastes or fillingness.

Eliza: How peculiar! We still haven't reached that technology quite yet.

Arc: Well it has something to do with magic too.

Eliza: Strange how science and magic have come a long way for your humans but at the same time lacking.

Arc: Our scientists are much different than yours. I have a feeling we'd have different sets of rules.

Eliza: I could only imagine that being so.

Eliza then snapped her fingers making Nex's recliner detach and hover. As we walked to the table, the chair carried an exhausted Nex. This was going to be the first time we're going to eat other human food. There were even other oddities like their bread. It had some different colors on it that looked quite foreign to me. I reached in over the first few things I could take then took a big bite. That first bite was nothing I've ever had before. The food wasn't warm but nice and hot. There were flavours that were completely different than the ones in the platform. This taste was something that I was never going to experience again unless I head over to her planet. Nex face was stuffed as he kept going for another round. Eliza looked a bit overwhelmed as she saw us demolish whatever was on our plates.

Eliza: I guess boys will be boys even in outer space. So how old are you two?

Arc: I'm around my 15th rotation.

Nex: Close to my 11th!

Eliza: Does rotation mean years to you guys?

Arc: Nope, We know what years are but since we don't have a planet it doesn't work like that. We have our ages set to a certain rotation.

Eliza: Rotation of what?

Arc: Depending on the rotation of the platform's geosystem. That's how we grow our supplies in the middle of space.

Eliza: A natural yet artificial environment. Never in my years…

Arc: But we aren't quite sure how many rotations we are specifically since we're almost out on classes every time.

Nex: We just sort of figure it out when we go back to the platform. They usually say something like "Oh I haven't seen you in this amount of rotations". From there it's simple maths.

Arc: We don't have technical days either. So no use in keeping track of time specifically. We just kind of just judge it when we arrive on a planet or survey it.

Eliza: You say classes. Classes like in school?

Arc: Actually we don't really want to get into that. It's a bit hard to talk about.

Nex: …

Eliza: I feel like I stepped on a mine. Guess classes and school mean a lot different for your humans.

Arc: Judging from your statement, yes it's massively different.

The rest of the dinner was quieter after that. All except Able, still moving about the library fixing some things. Things were definitely much different for their people of Earth. They didn't have to live this kind of life. Instead, they get the life of these pleasures. Food, life, and knowledge. But what did we have? Magic? Power? Was all of that worth it for this kind of excursions. As I looked at my hand, everything felt like we've truly missed out on the life we should've had. Remembering all those planets we've visited, I could recall the local children playing with their parents. I could almost laugh at the amount of times everyone saw us like we were the odd looking ones. Planets that had citizens with different limbs, odd numbered faces, and even misshapen torsos. But to them, we were the ones that were the freaks. It's been rough��

As the days had passed, I got increasingly worried about the girls. They haven't even sent an SOS signal yet. I was keeping myself busy by punching the earth pillar that I had made as a training dummy. I had no clue what was going on Talos right now but the tremors were increasing each day. Eliza's surveillance systems on Talos were not able to help us locate any of the others as well. Sadly her computer didn't have the capabilities to see what was happening on the busier side of Talos. If they were in danger then they should've alerted us by now! I could feel the frustration building up inside of me. My body just wanted to take all out on the earth pillar. Right hook! Left hook! Jab! Straight! Into another jab! Left roundhouse kick! I gave it all I had on the pillar till I heard another powerful break. The pillar had been destroyed again. I knew that I was starting to get upset as I stomped on the ground to produce the nth one. Nex entered the room filled with a bunch of bandages covering around some parts of his body. His face was a bit embarrassed.

Nex: Eliza insisted I get them treated. Sorry if it makes me look weak.

Arc: That's okay. I would've done the same if I had bandages ready on me. Looks like you're feeling better.

Nex: Yeah it took a couple of days but I feel a bit better now.

Arc: I'll go easier next time perhaps.

Nex: No way. Come at me with full force like then. I'll just be sure not to push myself too hard next time.

Arc: I'll make sure you'll be strong enough to maybe even have your own class to lead.

Nex: No way, I'd rather stay with y'all. There's no way I'd want my own team. Plus, it wouldn't be the same without you there.

Arc: Thanks. I kind of needed to hear that.

Nex: Why? Something bothering you?

Arc: The girls. They haven't sent a distress signal yet. Something about that bothers me. If they aren't in trouble then what are they doing waiting for so long? Are they waiting for us? If they were then why did they send out a signal in the first place?

Nex: I'm not sure. But I can see why you're worried.

Arc: I don't want to be. I want to trust them that they're fine. Like you said, this wasn't the first time these things happened.

Nex: Let's train then. It'll keep us away from thinking about it.

Arc: You're still quite messed up y'know. It's almost like 60% of your body is filled with bandages.

Nex: I'll survive a couple of rounds. It doesn't feel great knowing that you've beaten up at least 8 pillars already. I'm surprised that your hands haven't started to hurt yet.

Arc: You get used to it eventually.

Nex: I'm ready.

Nex pulled out his kunai ready for the fight, except this time it felt different. It looked like he actually had something planned out for once. His stance looked good, well balanced and coordinated. There weren't any openings I could exploit this time. Seemed like he'd finally realize how to guard his body. I tapped my boots getting ready to move, readied my hands. I walked up slower instead of running. This time was a lot more different.

Nex: Not running at me anymore? That's new.

Arc: Nice try, I'm much smarter than you think.

I cracked my knuckles and got ready to switch things to the offensive. As I was about to move in, Nex in a burst of speed dashed forward. So he was going to make the first move then. I got into a solid stance but as he was about to move in any closer he stopped! Looks like he sensed that he was about to make a mistake if he rushed in like that. These are what real fights are like. Fights when everyone should be aware that their next move might be their last. The atmosphere around us started to tense up the more these seconds felt like hours. As much as I wanted to make the first move, he was too guarded for me to capitalize on anything. I simply just dropped my guard. Nex caught wind of what I was doing then started to dash again. Of course this is what I wanted. As he dashed towards my blind side, I simply dashed backwards to maintain the space. However, he did something that caught me off guard. He threw the kunai right at me. I immediately dodged it but as it flew by there were green sparks all over it. By then, I was already too late. Nex was at my behind me, kunai on hand ready to throw a mid air kick. He managed to land a solid hit on back that made me fumble a bit. Nex was going to follow it up with slash but he was naive thinking that I was going to allow that! As his hand reached over, I grabbed his arm then just like an axe motion slammed him on the ground. His body generated a giant thud noise which was a bad sign! Whoops…

Nex: Ouch! What the heck. I didn't expect you to slam me on the ground. I'm going to feel that in the when I wake up!

Arc: I'm surprised that you learned how to activate your kunai that quickly. If you used that move a bit better you could've actually killed me.

Nex: I can only face the direction the kunai is tossed. A kick was the only thing I could do, but at least I got you.

Arc: I should've just counter attacked you or something. I feel like a slam was uncalled for.

Nex: You think! Ouch! I can't get up, too much pain! So much pain... I think I might need your help again. Eliza isn't going to be pleased…

Arc: Still I'm glad that you managed to get this good this quickly.

Nex: You forget I'm still part of the elite team.

I let him climb on my back again then we went off to the main office again. As we arrived, Eliza's mouth was wide opened at the sight of something on her monitor. There showed a giant golem composed of guardians. It was still being constructed but at an alarming rate. I rushed over beside her to see more of what was happening. Her body trembling at the sight of this behemoth of metal. This one meant business compared to just regularly sized guardians. I could feel hesitation in my body thinking that I might have to contest something like that.

Eliza: So this was his plan. Make a giant golem then use it to make his capital city…

Arc: I don't get it. What's happening?

Eliza: He's going to transport the entire Talos to some poor planet to conquer it. Did he go insane?!

Arc: How sure are you?!

Eliza: I knew he was searching for something but I didn't realize that he was searching for transportation crystals. No… he must've found something else to make his plans go much faster. Another power source but what?

Arc: My friends. He's using my friends' magic to help source it. We need to go find them and rescue them.

Eliza: I don't think that's going to be the real issue.

Arc: Huh? Why?

Eliza: Look…

Nex: No way…

She pointed towards the screen showing me something truly distressing. It was Terra! She was on the giant mechanical golem's shoulder looking down on the construction. Her face had a completely different expression when I last saw her. It was dark and angry. Was she brainwashed? Hypnotized? Under some kind of trap? All I felt was disbelief that Terra had defected to the other side...