Chapter 11: Hunters of Aegir
With a creaking groan of metal and a hiss of air, the platform beneath Yusciel's smooth feet descended into the hangar bay. The thick, humid air rushed in, enveloping her in a damp embrace that was far different from the controlled environment of the ship she had just left.
A few staff members stood outside the landing pad, surrounded by the billowing clouds of fading vapor, many of them with holographic displays surrounding their bodies. Further to the end, through the curved transparisteel walls, throngs of people in various uniforms were walking around, their features obscured by the haze of condensation forming on the inside of the barrier.
Yusciel's eyes remained fixed ahead, unfocused and impassive, barely acknowledging the flurry of activity surrounding the arrival of Santo Ellm Cruiser. Massive overhead lighting arrays bathed the scene in harsh fluorescence, casting sharp shadows that stretched from every corner and pathway.
The distant sounds of machinery reverberated through the hangar—forming a constant mechanical symphony thrumming with the rhythm of industry. Hydraulics whined, conveyors rattled, electromagnetic grav-fields hummed a deep bassline beneath the chaotic medley. All of this blended into an unfocused blur in Yusciel’s mind, lost in thought on the figures of what felt like illusions.
Dressed in white laboratory gowns, many surrounded the hanger, some walking, some seemingly defying gravity and flying through the thick metal walls—all of them exuding a sense of familiarity that tugged at Yusciel’s heart. Unconsciously lowering her head towards her feet, her eyes drifted out of focus as a persistent ringing ringing in her ears drowned out the surrounding sounds—until a foreign foot entered her line of sight.
Raising her head, Yusciel caught sight of Nemneseia standing before her, a fleeting smile playing on her lips before she turned, effortlessly floating away as she nonchalantly passed the metal railing barrier of the platform. Without thinking, Yusciel reached out towards Nemneseia’s retreating form, only to have her fingers pass through her body, as if she was a mere illusion. Startled, consciousness came crashing back to Yusciel in an instant, snapping her back to reality as she stood awkwardly, her nerves on edge.
“What’s wrong?” A deep voice rumbled beside her.
Turning her head, Yusciel found the imposing figure of Joseph standing next to her, his arms crossed as gaze remained fixed on the gray holographic display in front of him. Hesitantly withdrawing her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, she turned forward and replied, “Sorry, I was just a bit… half-asleep, I suppose.”
Joseph responded with a confirming hum. “It seems the Director is returning. I want us to bring the Director back to his senses.”
Yusciel repeated the words in her mind as she scanned the now empty hanger, only to the familiar people in Wanderland staff attire remaining. The platform beneath them shuddered to a halt just above the black ground with yellow stripe patterns. A red light blinked above them, and the railing securing the cargo platform was released, slowly falling outward to create a pathway for the people to walk onto.
Before Yusciel could take a step, she remarked, “Knowing him, he will likely come looking for me immediately.”
“I suppose so…” Joseph replied, seemingly waiting for Yusciel's words as they stood motionless while others passed them by.
As Yusciel observed the crew and staff members dispersing in different directions from the ship, she took a deep breath to calm her stiff nerves. With a sidelong glance, she added, “Can you bring him to my private quarters? Alone.”
Joseph’s eyes met hers, his brow furrowed, “How confident are you that you can reason with him?”
“In more ways than one… I’ll share the details about your beloved Young Master. You have nothing to worry about,” Yusciel reassured, flashing a rare grin at Joseph’s usual worried expression.
Joseph’s holographic display vanished abruptly. “I’ll trust you—at least this time,” he said as began to walk away.
“Because I never tried.” Yusciel muttered to herself, her words reaching no one in particular.
‘But now…’ Yusciel mused, stepping where the fallen railing met the ground, ‘Now… I really have to… Otherwise, this Seed project of mine will lead the Wanderland’s downfall.’
Yusciel drew in deep breath, inhaling the familiar scents that wafted in from the hanger. The mixture of machine oil and the ever-present tang of chemical fuel filled the air. To many, it would be an acrid, almost unpleasant smell. However, Yusciel’s senses had long grown accustomed to these aromas, a reminder of past life’s deep space travel that brought her an undeniable sense of comfort.
Her boots dragged against the black floor below, each step blending with the myriad of footfalls that filled the space. The thump-hiss of the environmental seal engaging somewhere nearby was a sound she knew better than her own heartbeat. Stepping out from the shadows of the Cruiser ship, a rush of memories flooded over her, blurring into a series of recollections that she could only faintly grasp. Despite the passage of time, it felt like nothing had truly changed.
Aside from the materials used to build the Capital Ship Wanderland, Yusciel watched the subtle vibration from heavy machinery underfoot, the controlled chaos of working men by the landing bay, and even the precise shade of holographic yellow over the hazard lines. It all felt achingly familiar to the life she knew before.
In that moment, the hanger resembled a thousand others she had known throughout her life. For just an instant, a fleeting sense of nostalgia and feeling of coming home washed over Yusciel before the weight of her memories reasserted itself, causing her impassive expression to subtly distort.
The thought of Wanderland, the place she had created to pursue her passion over her mission, lingered in Yusciel’s mind, causing an ache in her chest. ‘If I choose to accelerate the Seed now, every work I have made, everything I have built here will vanish without a trace, just like my old home,’ she mused.
Her gaze drifted upward to the closed ceiling gates of the hanger. Her thoughts continued. ‘Why can’t everything just wait? Why is everything in the world in a hurry—why can’t it grant me a brief respite for even two centuries, so I can have some control over what happens?’
Yusciel’s eyes flickered downward, exhaling deeply as the weight seemed to ease only for a brief moment. ‘But I cannot delay. They could enter this world at any moment. If they arrive before the Seed grows and matures, all will be lost. It would all be in vain. I can’t…’
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Yusciel’s heavy footsteps abruptly came to a halt as her gaze dropped to the ground. A gentle tug on her sleeve brought her senses back to the present moment, prompting her to lazily turn her head and find Nemneseia standing beside her. A tightness gripped her chest, briefly stifling her breath, yet she felt neither startled nor surprised as she usually would.
In a barely audible whisper, Yusciel managed to say, “Just 20 years… I need a mere 20 years to prepare everything before I can begin accelerating the Seed.”
To this, Nemneseia simply nodded silently. Before any further exchange could take place, a voice called out, “Yusciel? What’s wrong?”
Yusciel turned to see a familiar figure approaching—a woman with white hair cropped short, cascading to the side of her shoulder blades as her head tilted. She was dressed casually in a knitted brown jacket over her white Wanderland shirt and tight jeans. Clutching a stack of papers to her chest, while her other hand carried a black shawl hanging, her white eyes held a look of concern as they met Yusciel’s.
Yusciel’s voice trailed off as she replied, “I… nothing.”
A sudden, jarring clash of metal disrupted the space, causing her to glance up at the metal ceiling above. Her thoughts drifted to the vast skies beyond the confines of the ship, memories of the time when reality itself had torn apart flashing through her mind.
Shuddering, Yusciel found herself enveloped in the bustling noise of the people around her, dispelling her unfounded fears. A sense of relief washed over her as a bead of sweat trickled down her back. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she refocused on the woman standing before her. “What brings you here, Cecilia? I don’t remember requesting a welcoming committee.”
Cecilia closed the distance between them swiftly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as her tall stature loomed over Yusciel. Without a word, she gently wrapped the shawl around Yusciel’s neck, fastening it securely.
“I was worried about you,” she admitted. “They said you seemed more distracted than usual, and I feared you might end up in harm’s way.”
“I won’t die.”
“Even still—Even if you don’t die, you still need to take care of yourself.” With a smile, she patted Yusciel’s shoulders and led her towards the elevator.
Yusciel weakly smiled and whispered, “You… all… are too kind…”
As they made their way onto the elevator platform, they joined the more than 10 people already there, some engrossed in their conversation. Positioning themselves near where Joseph and the others were standing, they waited. When the elevator chimed and began its ascent, Yusciel felt a shift in gravity and grabbed onto the metal beam railing behind her. Her head still lowered, she gazed blankly until a hand waved in front of her, seeking her attention.
Turning her head, she saw Kaine smiling wryly, his hands retreating to scratch the back of his head. “Is there something you need?” Yusciel asked, studying him.
“Well… Are you really sure you're alright?”
Yusciel’s eyes narrowed. “Yes,” she responded curtly. “I’m simply thinking of something.”
“Ohh, pray tell, what are you pondering?” Kaine persisted, blatantly trying to inject some cheer into the moment.
Yusciel paused, briefly opening her mouth as she gazed at the walls, seemingly shifting on the stationary platform, with steel platings and beams stretching out against the surfaces of the wall. Noticing the unusual, loud creaking noises beneath them, she remarked, “It’s too loud.”
“Eh?” Kaine let out a surprised exclamation.
“The elevator is unusually noisy—so clanky… Are the maintenance staff slacking off?” Yusciel turned to Joseph, silently seeking answers.
“I will look into it later,” Joseph replied, sounding defeated.
The platform came to an abrupt halt as a beam of light shattered through the metallic chamber gates. Yusciel felt the sensation of gravity shifting upward, subsiding as the elevator platform’s gate slid open. Simultaneously, the thick metallic chambers gates parted with a chiming sound, allowing more light and noise from the outside to flood in.
As the group positioned themselves by the door, Yusciel pulled her hand from Cecilia’s grip and stepped out first into the spacious waiting area. She mindlessly navigated the aisle flanked by tables and chairs, separated by thick glass walls displaying a mesmerizing pattern of randomly colored bubbles.
The area buzzed with activity. People chatted, tables piled with food, stacks of paper, and luggage, and uniformed staff scurrying around carrying various bags and items. Soft lighting illuminated the surroundings, with the metal walls painted in muted tones and supporting beams providing a stark contrast.
She noticed many familiar faces waving in her direction, some calling out greetings by name. However, she hardly had the energy to entertain them and simply waved in acknowledgement before moving towards the large gate guarded by military personnel. The large gate split into two sections—one for entry and the other for exit—and flanked by tall scanning devices.
‘Huh?’
Her curiosity was piqued as she observed the figures in uniforms of an organization she rarely encountered. A tall man stood out, wearing a sleek dark top hat and a heavy coat in dark blue, concealing their mercenary fashion and weapons. Surprised, she couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Hunters of Aegir? That’s unusual. I rarely see them in the skies, let alone on my ship. Did Mr. Celton call them, perhaps?’
Yusciel’s curiosity immediately waned as she grew closer to the gate and noticed a crowd of people lined up, but she paid them no mind. She headed towards the vacant exit gate instead, which led to a long corridor where several employees were mopping the metal floors. Simultaneously, a group wearing maintenance uniforms walking in the opposite direction.
As she passed them, she noticed a sign overhead that read ‘lounge area’ and continued in that direction. Approaching the end, faint whispers reached her ears, causing her to slow down and listen. “Sshh. She’s coming.” “Yusciel is here. Ophelia, get ready!”
Her name was called out by several voices, blending into the noise of the crowd. Unaware of the purpose of the surprise, but curious, she stepped forward into the lounge room. Loud pops erupted in the air, followed by words of cheers and greetings from the people filling the air.
“Welcome back, Yusciel!” someone exclaimed through the loud clappings.
Yusciel’s eyes widened as she spotted a group of people hiding on the other side, and at the far end, there was a sign hanging from a metal beam that read “Welcome back, Yusciel.”
Seeing such, an ache gripped Yusciel's chest as she surveyed the familiar surroundings, her head unconsciously tilting downward. ‘Even though I tried not to… think about the other members here,’ she mused, a pang of emotion constricting her throat, ‘it’s simply impossible.’
Suddenly, she felt two pointy objects clasping at her waist, causing her body to jolt. Turning around, she saw Lexine waving her arms and exclaiming, “Surprise?”
Yusciel nodded. “Yes? Is there an event happening?”
“Uh,” Lexine started, looking dumbfounded.
“Stupid fool,” Kaine mocked, appearing by Lexine’s side and scratching his head with an exasperated expression. He continued, “You recovered. Why isn’t that cause for celebration?”
Yusciel hummed. ‘But you never did when others recovered from life-threatening situations.’
“Now, now—,” a familiar female voice from the crowd interrupted, drawing Yusciel’s attention towards it.
Yusciel spotted a familiar woman with white irises and long, pale hair. Her bold, thick makeup covered her skin, matching her dark blue tuxedo adorned with golden rims and blue slacks. The woman’s smile contorted her makeup, resembling that of a clown's.
“Showmaker… Ophelia…” Yusciel muttered under her breath.
“Can you join us? We’ve organized an event to celebrate your recovery,” Opheleia asked.
“No, thank you,” Yusciel declined.
“Come on, don’t be a party pooper,” Kaine insisted. “This doesn’t happen often, just go with the flow.”
In the corner of her eyes, she saw Joseph audibly sighed as he walked away into the crowd. Some greeted him before he vanished among them.
“I have an appointment with Mr. Celton.” Yusciel explained.
“With the director?” Ophelia repeated.
Yusciel nodded, turning her head to find Cecilia behind her. “Could you bring some liquor to my private quarters?” she asked before turning back to Ophelia, “Once I’m finished, I will join you. I promise.”