After spending the morning cheering up Finn, Estelle continued to help around the shelter as much as she could. She kept herself busy, lending a hand wherever it was needed—she focused on proving herself useful, hoping it would help ease the lingering doubts about her.
Later in the day, she was summoned to Alaric’s office for a mission briefing. The tension was palpable as Estelle, Iris, and Liam stood before the large desk, waiting for Alaric to speak. His gaze swept over them, lingering for a moment on Estelle, as if gauging her readiness for the task ahead.
“We’ve got intel on a supply cache in the eastern city,” Alaric began, “It’s under tight control, so you’ll need to blend in as ordinary civilians. Here, you will need these.” He placed a small, sleek device on the table. “This will mask your appearance and hide your Essence energy from any detection, including those Aeths who can sense it, like Iris.”
Alaric then turned his gaze to Estelle. “Lily, since you mentioned you’re from the eastern region, it makes sense for you to join this mission. You’ll know the area better than most, and that could be an advantage.”
Estelle felt a flicker of tension at his words, as she fought to keep her expression neutral. But the weight of the lie made her uneasy. Sensing her discomfort, Iris quickly stepped in.
“Lily’s knowledge of the region could be invaluable,” Iris said smoothly, her voice calm and reassuring.
Iris stepped forward, testing the device by activating it. A subtle shimmer passed over her form, altering her features just enough to make her unrecognizable. She nodded in approval, the sharpness of her gaze reassuring the others that the device was effective.
“You’ll need to be careful,” Alaric continued. “The regime has stepped up its patrols, and they won’t hesitate to act on any suspicion. Gather the supplies quickly and avoid any confrontation.”
Liam, who had been quietly listening with a serious expression, approached Estelle with a reassuring smile. “Hey there, young lady—Lily, right? Good to be working with you again. You handled yourself well last time.” Despite his rough exterior, there was a warmth in his voice that Estelle found comforting. A brief but welcome relief from the chaos that had filled her mind over the past few days.
Estelle nodded, feeling a bit more at ease with Liam’s friendly demeanor. “Thanks, Liam. Let’s hope this one goes smoothly too.”
With the briefing concluded, the trio made their way to the underground garage where a vehicle was waiting. Alaric had emphasized the need for discretion, so they were taking one of the more inconspicuous vehicles—a nondescript van designed to blend in with civilian traffic.
As they drove towards the city, the atmosphere grew heavier with each passing mile. The landscape changed from the rugged, wild terrain surrounding the shelter to the bleak, industrial sprawl of the city under regime control. The buildings were tall, grey monoliths, their surfaces cracked and weathered, yet still imposing. The streets were eerily quiet, save for the distant sound of marching boots and the low rumble of military vehicles patrolling the area.
When they entered the city, the difference between life in the shelter and life under the regime was stark. Estelle had been in this city before, back in her own world, where it bustled with life and energy. Streets once filled with vibrant shops, cafes, and the hum of everyday life she remembered were reduced to a ghostly shadow of their other selves.
Civilians moved about their daily routines with a subdued air, their eyes cast downward, avoiding any interaction with the soldiers who patrolled the streets in pairs, their weapons at the ready. Estelle remembered a time when people here would greet each other with smiles when children played freely in the parks. Here, those parks were fenced off, the playgrounds abandoned, overtaken by neglect.
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The soldiers were everywhere, their presence a constant reminder of the regime’s control. They watched the people with cold, calculating eyes. Their fingers are never far from the triggers of their weapons. The mere sight of them was enough to keep the populace in line, fear etched into every face that passed by. Estelle could feel the tension in the air, the pervasive sense of dread that hung over the city like a dark cloud.
Propaganda posters covered every available surface, depicting the regime as benevolent protectors, while Aeths were portrayed as dangerous threats to society. In her world, these walls had been filled with art, with murals celebrating the city’s history and culture. Now, they were plastered with images that twisted reality, painting those with Essence as rogue enemies.
Estelle kept her head down, her heart pounding as they navigated through the city. The device worked perfectly, masking their true appearances and Essence, but the oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on her. She could feel the tension in the air, the fear that permeated every corner of this place. It was a stark contrast to the city she knew, where people moved with a sense of freedom and security, where the presence of Aeths was a celebrated part of society, not something to be feared or hidden away.
Their destination was a black-market shop hidden in a rundown part of the city. The building was unremarkable, its facade blending in with the surrounding decay. Inside, the shop was dimly lit, cluttered with shelves of contraband and essential supplies. The shopkeeper, an older man with wary eyes, greeted them with a nod, recognizing them as resistance members.
“We need the usual,” Iris said quietly.
The shopkeeper hesitated, his gaze flickering to Estelle. “New face?” he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
“She’s with us,” Liam replied smoothly, leaving no room for doubt. “Let’s keep this quick.”
The man nodded, quickly gathering the supplies. Estelle could sense his fear, the way his hands trembled slightly as he packed the goods. Life under the regime had made everyone wary, always looking over their shoulders, expecting the worst.
As they completed the transaction and prepared to leave, Estelle’s heart skipped a beat when they stepped outside. The city’s oppressive atmosphere seemed to tighten around them. And as they walked through the streets, they came across a scene that chilled her to the bone.
In a small square, the soldiers had gathered a group of civilians, forcing them to their knees. A crowd had formed around them, watching in silent horror as one of the soldiers read off charges of treason against the regime. The civilians—suspected Aeth sympathizers—were visibly terrified, their eyes wide with fear.
Estelle’s breath caught in her throat as she watched. The soldiers moved with terrifying efficiency, pulling one of the civilians to the front. A machine, cold and clinical, was brought forward—a device designed to extract Essence from Aeths. The civilians screamed as the machine latched onto them, the sound cutting through the oppressive silence of the square.
The sight was too much. Estelle forced herself to look away, her hands trembling with anger and helplessness. Liam, who had been watching with a grim expression, gently nudged her to keep moving. “We can’t do anything right now,” he whispered, his voice laced with regret. “But this… this is why we fight.”
Estelle nodded, though the image of the extraction haunted her as they continued on their way. The brutality of the regime was laid bare before her eyes, and it solidified her resolve to see this fight through, no matter the cost.
As they neared the outskirts of the city, their luck nearly ran out. The patrols, their faces hidden behind helmets, stopped them at a checkpoint. Estelle’s heart raced as they were asked for identification, the soldiers’ cold eyes scanning them with suspicion. The device held, masking their true identities, but the tension was suffocating.
One of the soldiers, an Aeth, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he tried to sense their Essence. Iris subtly activated the device’s second layer, enhancing its concealment just enough to keep them hidden. The soldier hesitated, clearly unsettled by his inability to sense anything, but another patrol member called him away to deal with a disturbance. The moment passed, and the trio was waved through.
Once they were clear of the checkpoint, Estelle released the breath she had been holding. They made their way back to the shelter, the city fading into the distance behind them. The weight of what they had witnessed hung heavy in the air, but there was also a sense of relief—relief that they had made it out unscathed, that they had managed to gather the supplies they needed without drawing too much attention.
Back at the shelter, Alaric met them as they unloaded the supplies. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was a brief flicker of approval in his eyes as he watched them work. Estelle noted this but quickly turned her focus back to the task at hand, knowing that every action was being closely observed.