“…How did it feel?”

“…Strange,” Alnea said, as he stomped on the ground, blasting his Aspects against the sand to send them flying, maintaining the black cloud around himself. “As if I was watching—no, controlling a memory. But it won’t affect me too much. What about you? Is everything on your side ready?”

“…Don’t worry about us,” Yuri said. “Vestia and I will handle everything on our side.”

“…Don’t let Lia get too excited. Unlike us, she is really exhausted.”

“…I will keep an eye on her. But she is going to chew out your head when we go back. This is the second time you are keeping her out of a plan, while taking on the most dangerous tasks yourself.”

“…It is not my fault this time,” Alnea grumbled. “Forget it. I will deal with her when we go back. We don’t have time for this right now.”

“…Then let’s begin.”

Almost immediately, Alnea felt the world around him shift—he was shifting, Alnea reminded himself. Not the world. He was the one who was shifting. More precisely, it was the perspective with which he was experiencing the world that had shifted. And it was not even the first time he was experiencing such a shift. Yet he always made the same mistake. Then again, it was not entirely his fault.

Although he had experienced the world from Yuri’s senses before, that was mostly in big sis Serena’s mansion, or in the Origin Sea. She had rarely shared her senses with him after leaving Anneve, and definitely not after resonating with her Roots. Experiencing the world from her senses after a gap of over a month felt a little awkward. And the difference in their immediate surroundings was not helping either.

While the sizzling heat of the desert was the same for both of them, one of them was running in clean, hot air, with barely any sand and dust striking her face, and the other had to face the dark, gritty cloud of black sands, rife with the smell of rotting blood, swirling around him, breaking past the defences of his robe, and into his nose. Not even Yuri’s Roots could keep those strange sensations from him. Especially since he had to divide a part of his attention to control his body.

That was another function of Yuri’s Roots that Alnea was trying for only the second time. The first time was just moments ago, when he sealed the yellow robed man’s life, only for their connection to break right in the next moment. In his defence, he blamed the nausea of killing someone once again for breaking his concentration. Of course, his unfamiliarity with the new function of Yuri’s Roots was also partially responsible for his failure, but that was not his fault.

Controlling his body from a distance was just a little too unnatural. It felt as if he was not controlling his body, but a toy. Maybe, if he had had some experience, he might not have let their connection break. No, not might. He surely would not have failed. And he would have been much smoother in his actions. But that would have meant asking Yuri to experiment with her Roots, putting her in risk of destabilising her Roots once again. Alnea could never let that happen.

Unfortunately, things never went according to plan. The Lotus clan was just too despicable, and ruthless. Thankfully, they were not ruthless enough. Probably because they wanted him alive, not dead, and in an Oren Beast’s belly. Or else…

Just imagining facing around a hundred Oren Beasts all at once was enough to send chills up his back. Though facing more than ten Peak Stage False Wanderers, all at their peak, while they themselves were almost completely exhausted, was not much easier. Even with Forne’s help, fighting back against such a force head on would be just a dream. Not to mention that they could not risk revealing Forne’s true form to anyone else. In the end—

“Pathetic,” Evi had said the moment that Alnea had sent everyone in his team away, preparing to use his last recourse. “Being forced to such a state by just some mere False Wanderers…”

“…Not now, Evi. I need to deal with our enemies first.”

“It is exactly because you have to deal with your enemies that I must intervene right now. Do not tell me that you are going to use that excuse of a Glyph Token. Do you not know how unstable that is? Do you want to kill yourself with your enemies?”

“…My robe should keep me safe.”

“…That is why I am calling you pathetic,” Evi had said in a gruff voice. “If you keep relying on external help, you will never become a great Wanderer, let alone the greatest one.”

“…What other choice do I have?”

“…Am I a joke to you?” Evi had said, seething with disgust and disdain. “Use my power.”

“…Technically, as a Divine Treasure, you are also an external help. More importantly, I do not think that we have unlocked your new powers yet, right?”

“Useless fool. Do you not remember what Yuri said to you yesterday?”

“…There were so many things that she said…”

“Her Roots! Ask her to use her Roots!”

“…How can asking her to share her senses with me—

“Ask her to control her Roots. Do not let her overwhelm your senses. At least let you keep your control over your body—

“And then I will control my body, while experiencing the world from her senses…”

“Exactly.”

“But that would put her at risk.”

“It has been over a month already. As long as she does not resonate with her Roots, she should not face any problems.”

“Still—

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“What do you think is more dangerous, an unstable Glyph Token with an explosive power of a True Wanderer, or a near negligible risk of destabilising her Roots?”

…Although did not like the idea of putting Yuri at risk, no matter how negligible it might be, the urgency of their situation did not leave them with any other choice. After all, it was not just Yuri he was responsible for. As the Captain of Star Seekers, it was his responsibility to look after the safety of his teammates.

“…Even if I follow your plan, I don’t think her ability is stable enough to use right now.”

“Leave that to me and my sister. We will ensure that your connection is stable. You just make sure to not withdraw from the connection on your own.”

“…If you can really do that… then there really might be a chance.”

“Not just a chance. If you fail even after my help, then you do not deserve to be my ma—partner.”

“…Thank you, Evi,” Alnea had said, and quickly discussed his plans with Yuri, asking her to get everyone ready for their next action, while he bought them some time. Of course, she did not wish to let him face most of the danger by himself, but they had no other choice. Time was not on their side.

Even after he had dealt with one of the thirteen Wanderers, their situation had not improved much. Through Yuri’s senses, he saw four of the remaining twelve Wanderers of the Lotus clan surround the cloud of the black sand to prevent him from escaping, while the rest moved towards rest of the Star Seekers in a slow, deliberate pace, giving him enough time to think over his options.

It was obvious what the Lotus clan’s plan was. Since none of them dared to enter the cloud of the black sand, they could only force him out of it. Was he not trying to protect his teammates by staying behind to face them all by himself? Then they would just have to threaten his teammates, and he would come running out of the cloud on his own. Or so they were probably thinking.

Though in the panicked eyes of his teammates, their slow, deliberate pace was akin to a reminder of their impending doom. Dealing with ten Wanderers having the battle potential of Peak Stage Wanderers, and a peak phase Oren Beast, with just eight Peak Stage Wanderers… If anyone did not know their situation, then they might think that the Lotus clan was overflowing with arrogance. But the reality was that except for Yuri and Vestia, almost everyone was completely drained of their Spirit Power.

It was understandable, in a sense. After all, Yuri had special Roots, capable of restoring her Spirit Power through small actions of changing fate. Like killing her enemies. Every time she killed Oren Beasts along the way, part of her Spirit Power was restored by the Mysteries of Fate. Just like how every time they decided to keep moving forward despite all their difficulties, part of his Spirit Power was restored by the chains of his Oaths. Or else, as an Intermediate Stage False Wanderer, his Spirit Power should have been exhausted like Cecilia’s hours ago.

As for Vestia, she was just clever enough to drink a recovery potion the moment they discovered that might be walking into a trap. Not the kind that he had drunk the day before. That was a very advanced kind of recovery potion, that could completely recover his Spirit Power in a couple of hours. No, she used a slow acting one, the one that would not affect her normal activities. It had some side effects, like a headache, but having a headache and Spirit Power was better than having a headache and no Spirit Power. Especially when surrounded by enemies.

The rest though, had neither any special Roots, nor any recovery potions. In hindsight, he could have asked Vestia to share her recovery potions with everyone, but the potions were her personal property. That she was willing to lend him one did not mean that he could shamelessly ask her to share them with everyone. Unless she voluntarily offered them, there was nothing he could have done.

Besides, back then, they knew nothing about their enemies. He did not wish to take the risk of rashly exposing the recovery potion, only for his enemies to learn about them, and become even more cautious than before. A decision, that was finally proven to be correct. If the Lotus clan had learned that they had recovery potion with them, he was not sure what they would have done. Not that what they had already done was not enough to push normal Wanderer to the pits of despair.

Karl, Zain, Ralph, Norren, and even the two most suicidal members of his team, Aren and Fran, all had become pale from the thought of their impending doom. Even at their peak state, they would have found it hard to face so many Wanderers at once. Especially since all their enemies belonged to the same clan. Their implicit understanding was bound to be much better than what the Star Seekers could gain in a few months, let alone a day. In their current state, completely drained of their Spirit Power, they could only wait for death…

“…Is this the end? But I have not even found out who my enemies are…” Aren mumbled to himself, biting his lips in indignance, before staring at the incoming Wanderers with reddened eyes. “…I… I have not avenged her yet…”

“…At least you know where to look for your enemies,” Fran said, laughing hysterically, with tears streaming down his face. “I don’t even where to begin looking for mine.”

“…No,” Ralph mumbled, hurriedly shaking his head. “I have not returned to my clan… I have not even been recognised by them… I cannot die yet…”

“Tion’s beard!” Norren yelled, before taking out two short swords from his storage bag. “If I am going to die, then I am taking down at least one of them with me!”

“…Optah’s boots! Die if you want but leave me out of it. Do you know how much of a loss it would be for the world if I die young?”

“…No, no, no, no, no… I cannot die… I cannot die…” Karl mumbled incoherently, before turning towards the cloud of the black sand in the distance. “Save me, Captain! You promised me that you would not let me die!”

“…Since he made a promise with you, then let me help him keep it for you,” Cecilia said, patting Karl’s shoulder with a grin, before stepping forward to face the incoming Wanderers all by herself. “Step back and stay out of my way.”

“Feeling eager to die, are we?” Vestia said, with a hint of amusement in her voice, not in the least bothered by the Wanderers coming towards them.

“…Run away if you are not going to help, coward.”

“Like I said, it is a strategic retreat. Strategic retreat. Do you understand?”

“…I only understand that you are coward.”

“…Stop being stubborn, Cecilia,” Yuri said, stepping next to Cecilia. “You do not have enough Spirit Power to take on these Wanderers.”

“…You underestimate me too much, Yuri,” Cecilia said, shaking her head. “Let me show you what—

“Ahem,” Vestia said, faking a cough to interrupt Cecilia.

“…What now?”

“…Although I do not think that I am wrong, I also think that you are right. Even if I make a strategic retreat, I should at least make a few moves before to show what I—what the women of the Erwein Forest are capable of.”

“…Are you trying to plot something new, vixen?”

“…I am not plotting anything,” Vestia said, raising her hands to express her innocence. “I just want to help.”

“…I do not have time to argue with you,” Cecilia said, before turning towards the Wanderers of the Lotus clan, who were almost upon them. “Let me show you what—

“Wait!”

“…What?”

“Just let me do one little trick, and then I will leave everything to you.”

“…What are you playing at, Vestia?” Yuri said, narrowing her eyes at the blue robed woman.

“Nothing, really. I just want to do one little trick. Just one. I promise.”

“…Fine,” Cecilia said, a little annoyed for being interrupted again and again. “Be quick.”

“…I hope you will not disappoint me… and Alnea,” Yuri added, only for Vestia to flash a confident and reassuring smile.

“…Relax.”

Turning towards the Wanderers of the Lotus clan, Vestia raised her right hand to bring her thumb and middle finger together, before replacing her smile with a smirk, finishing her words by snapping her fingers.

“I hope you will like my trick.”