--25 Years Ago--

Archmage is a powerful race of humans who has the ability of either clairvoyance, creating magical artifacts for mythical beasts, and acted as a seer of upcoming events that will happen in the world. They are known for their vast knowledge and their knowledge is above human level, even memorizing things easily and has photographic memory. Most of them are astronomers, horologists, astrology, mathematicians and astrophysics--the Archmages mostly hiding their 'true' occupations under a public occupation such as civil servants, clerks, and overall National Postal Service. They have a longer lifespan and stay forever young because of their lineage and ability, but they can be killed like a human being.

When he was young, he was taught not to trust the people who wanted to 'help' them. He couldn't care less about everything around him, all he must do is that he only sought to do the bare minimum and satisfied by getting a decent job with a decent salary in his life. His parents were strict even his younger siblings, he was the eldest of the family and his father always make him obey any rules--regardless if the rule is unsuitable for him.

He developed his interest in astronomy, horology, and mathematics--

The Seymour family are one of the infamous Archmages throughout the history of Canaria, although their existence remained a mystery due to their true nature hidden as only part of the noble family. They spend their lives hiding from the sight of both government and anti-governmental organizations of Canaria, they feared that they will took advantage of their 'ability' and making them a weapon for their selfish needs. Not only that, they are also the direct descendant of Circa the Archmage--the most powerful figure and the first Archmage in Canaria who used to stand with the Empress--until her death.

So, they choose to stay hidden by hiding their true identity and changing their surnames--even their belongings were hidden from any eyes of the commoners and nobles. Even if it's a greeting, they still refuse to trust them.

The twelve-years old boy was standing in the snowy path, standing there as he was watching a snowflake falling from the gray sky. He was standing there while witnessing the 'war' in front of him, his dull eyes showed no reaction so does his expression as he didn't seems to move from his spot. He didn't know how it feels like to be attached to people, due to the strict rule that his parents enforced within him until now. He simply walked towards the path to the city through the rocky hill, seeing every 'visions' of the events that happened in Canaria as he remained unfazed.

The boy's eyes widened a little to see the lanterns above him in the city of Welkin, he felt some sort of serenity and ease when he saw the children running around happily and playing with each other. He always wanted to join them, but he pondered if his family allowed him to get along with many people--so he hesitated from within him.

"Hello, are you a newcomer in Welkin?"

The boy heard one of the children of his age asked, he turn around to face him as he nodded. "Yes, I'm... a newcomer," he answered, somewhat reminding himself not to spill out where he came from. "I'm Lloyd, you?" the latter asked, the boy was about to introduce himself--until he stopped himself for a moment. Then, he began to answer his question.

"Oswald, Oswald Hughes."

Oswald introduced himself, making the boy named Lloyd smiled. "Nice to meet you, Oswald! Also, do you want to be friends?" he offered, the stranger kid was quiet at first--he was not interested in talking to new people until this boy became the first person to talk to him directly. "... yes, I would like to be friends with you," he answered blankly with his monotone voice, though deep down his curiosity increased when he was talking to him.

He felt Lloyd's hand pulled him to the event that started in the festival of Welkin City, making him surprised that he was taking him to the fountain where it was in front of the National Postal Service. This is the first time he saw the building before his eyes, it made his eyes widened by how beautiful the festival and the fireworks around him. He felt his frozen heart melted by the lights of the lantern around him, while Lloyd stopped and smiled at him. "Where are you came from?" he asked.

Oswald heard his question when he bought him some food, before he look up at the sky. "Somewhere far from this land, I can's say the name but... let's just say I came from Canon," he answered, folding his arms. "Woah, you came from Canon? You know, of all the Three Moon Cities--Canon is very far to reach and it must've been a huge effort for you to enter Welkin from your homeland!" Lloyd said with amazed look on his expression, admiring Oswald for his 'efforts' to come here on his own. "Where's your family? Are they in Canon or somewhere else in the city?"

"They're in Canon, but they're planning to come here as well. I already told them that I will be here for a month, they will be here few weeks later."

Although, he didn't want them to find out that he befriends with one of the people in Canaria and outside their zone--whether their status is a noble or commoner in the city. "Great, my family took refugee in here because of reasons that my mom can't explain to us. So, why don't we have fun?" he offered, Oswald wanted to refuse--but deep down his heart tell him to accept his offer. Why is this happening? Why is he feeling like this?

Oswald had no choice, he made a friend for the first time and it made him feel like he's not alone in this world. Perhaps, being lonely is very boring for him--he didn't want to stay in the comfort zone for too long. He always wanted to see the outside world, not caring that he's a pureblood Archmage. Lloyd noticed that he was quiet for a moment, his monotone expression remain there--butt his soft gaze doesn't change nor his voice. "Sure, maybe we can have fun together, right?"

"Indeed!"

They began to have fun together in Welkin city, Lloyd showing him around the city and Oswald felt like he was on adventure with his friend. The festival is filled with joy and happiness from the people who celebrate it, which is the Festival of Lights--the infamous festival that is important for the Welkin people and outsider to join them. Oswald watched some Mail-Hunters are the ones who arranged the festival and they're the reason the festival is running well in one month. He wondered if becoming a Mail-Hunter is something that he wanted from the first place, seeing them delivering letters and parcels motivated him more--they have the integrity when they did their job and he wanted to have one.

Even if his parents didn't allow him, he will insist and might break a rule (even though he will enforce a rule) on his own--making them had to follow him to the area near Welkin and staying there for his safety. Oswald heard his friend Lloyd applying to the National Postal Service as a Mail-Hunter, he wondered what does it looks like but he choose to remain quiet and decided to apply when the time is right. However, Oswald decided not to expect too much, because there has been deaths of Mail-Hunters because of those Husk creatures--maybe he can wait for another two years from his prediction--until they find a solution and he decided to gather some runes to create some artifacts.

The fifteen years old Oswald went to the Amber Mines that located in Mount Cantata, where there are songs that resonates from the ambers that are from the mines in the cave. Not only that, many people were hiking the area with the ruins and temple in a valley; he heard some rumors that the area is supposedly to be the lair of the entity that is too powerful to be mentioned. He checked if he gathered all of them, until he sensed a growling sound and turn around defensively--encountering a giant beast in front of him and he stepped back a little. His deadpan gaze staring at the beast's eyes who examined his appearance, before the beast spoke in a deep yet, guttural voice.

"Who sent you here, young Archmage?"

The beast questioned, sensing that the individual before his eyes isn't an ordinary human--but an Archmage with its blood through his veins. "Akasha Garuda, Emperor of Eagles, Spirit of Freedom and Blazing Radiance of Canaria," he stated out loud, standing in front of the hawk-eagle beast in front of him. "My name is Oswald Hughes, I came from the Hughes Family and I came here to gather some stones for my family's business," he explained, trying to convince the creature that he came here without harmful purposes.

The creature seems to be less convinced, knowing that the Archmage's purpose isn't just that. "Those runes inside your bag, isn't just an ordinary runes... only Archmage can detect which one is magical and contains a powerful energy that no humans can detect," said the beast, the beak almost intimidating Oswald but he didn't flinch upon hearing that. "I can tell your 'current identity' is just a cover for your true identity, young Archmage. Don't ever lie to the 'Fifth' of the Fantastic Beasts, not even once. But, you're one exception, Seymour fellow."

Oswald remained silent, he vowed to himself that he only let anyone discover about their true existence without asking him--it would be a bigger risk because he definitely know something more than that. "Akasha Garuda, you know me quite well," he answered, looking up at him. He showed the golden-colored earrings with a ginkgo leaf's pendants in front of the beast, it contains a spell that can 'calming' the beast's mind and transforming them into a form of a human. "I have no hostile attention in this place, I was just collecting runes for our artifact collections. If it is for good reason, I would've you this gift to protect your identity from those people. In return, you won't tell them about our existence as an Archmage."

It is true that Archmage has been their biggest fear, but not for the Fantastic Beasts--they were the reason that this world of Canaria existed and how they were born in this world. They are the seers of the future for Canaria, but their ability is being considered a 'threat' to society and they feared that they might bring 'chaos' to the world--even though their intention is never been bad. "How can your words be trusted?" the hawk-eagle creature questioned, but Oswald interrupted him. "I know what I'm doing, Akasha Garuda. Now, let me pierce your ear with this."

Oswald take out his device that specialize to pierce the beast's ear and clipped the earring on it, the creature reluctantly bending down towards the young Archmage and he aimed the spot on its ear--before piercing the earring. The creature screeched in pain as Oswald stepping back, watching Akasha Garuda flapping its wings and almost crashing across the cave--making the Archmage watched as he saw the earring is shining in bright light. It's not easy to create those artifacts, it took more than a month to create one and he would never taught anyone on how to make them (unless if he trusted them enough).

Soon, the beast stopped resisting as it stumbles forward a little and tried to stand properly--before feeling the transformation began and Oswald watched the process. Some of the artifacts may be different in terms of how many hours to transform them into their human form, so he use the one that is 'well-done' although it's just for temporary time. He narrowed his eyes as he realize that the Akasha Garuda is completely bare when he saw him for the first time in human form, so he began take out his spare clothes from his suitcase (during his trip) that filled with some clothes he bought from Nusantaran Town in Canaria.

"Alright, time to get dressed first."

Few hours later...

Akasha Garuda took form of a young man with a scruffy black hair with longer bangs and the rest of his messy long hair tied in neat braid, brown eyes and snowy complexion, including his youthful and feminine face. Wearing a black high-collared blouse that zipped almost reaching his neck with long sleeves; black trousers reaching his knees revealing his thigh-high black boots with gold strips and black plate body armor top, he wears a long black fingerless gloves. A white sleeveless coat with dark brown batik patterns, yellow ginkgo leaves patterns and high collars with gold trimming--including his tailcoat that has reminiscent of garuda's tail and wings, along a red sash around his waist and coat keeping his garment slim and proportional; he has a traditional golden-colored Nusantaran jasmine flower headdress at the end of his braid. Wearing a golden-colored ginkgo earring on his ear, he also has a bronze hairpin on his braid and he looks like a young fellow in his mid-twenties.

The young fellow was practicing his voice, learning and perfecting his words, because of his human form he have an impression that he looks very different and not so similar from his true form (except his eyes). He still adjusting to his human form by gripping his fists, walking around carefully and jumping around. "So, what do you think?" Oswald asked, waiting for the human-turned beast done with the exercise he was doing. "You're quite something, Seymour," he complimented, turning around to face him. "But, that doesn't mean I will do as you say... because you owe me one thing."

Oswald lifted his eyebrows, before he folded his arms. "What is it?" he asked, the human Akasha Garuda look down at him as he look away from him. "You haven't given me a name."

Really? That's all?

He facepalmed, shaking his head with a deep sigh. "I'm not good with names," he replied, but Akasha Garuda insisted him. "At least came up with something 'humane', don't make it too obvious. I promise I will give you something in return, only if you give me a human name."

Oswald rolled his eyes, glaring at him. He couldn't believe this, but he calmed down when he promised about giving him some kind of 'reward' after this. "Aditya Sanjaya, how's that?" he offered, seeing that the latter satisfied with the name. "Alright then," Aditya answered, forming something on his palm--it was some kind of blueprint that filled with some accessories and he tried to read them. He was surprised that this is somewhat... familiar, he can sense a resonance from the Amber Mines he was in. As if he already had a vision, Oswald bowed in front of him. "Thank you, Aditya."

Aditya nodded, before he transformed back into his usual true form and turning around. "It's my pleasure, no go back where you belong... young Archmage."

Oswald watched him left, he merely turn around and walking away while carrying his runes--until he was surprised to see Lloyd standing there with a smile. "It took me a long time to find you here, y'know?" Lloyd asked, Oswald narrowed his eyes and began to question him sharply. "Are you following me?"

Lloyd wasn't intimidated by his tone, he simply smiled at him tenderly. "I promise I will keep my lips shut," he answered, the young Archmage sighed and began to walk past him. "Hurry up, we have to go back."

"Alright!"

For some reason, Oswald sensed a hunch in the future that made him feel uneasy--but he choose to ignore it for the time being and decided to went along with his activities.

***

"Hey, we meet again!"

The seventeen-years old Oswald encountered Lloyd again after he told his family that he become a Mail-Hunter recently, he also encountered the sandy-blonde fellow Alastair who was his friend and it was a bit awkward for their first meeting. However, he began to get used to their company once he did. His expression didn't change, just cold and monotone expression that never changed. Although he didn't 'participate' much in their activities, he wanted to make his family proud of his achievements.

When he was about to depart, he had a vision of flames and torches in the nighttime before his eyes--making him alerted that something happened. He was about to return to Terrene to visit his family, until he realized that it was too late...

He saw everything was amidst burning in front of his eyes, he was standing in front of the burning village as his deadpan expression slowly changes into abrupt horror. He saw many people were screaming and there were some people in black capes were attacking the city and killing them--the vision ends with the empty town that nothing but has remnants of black ashes to the ground, how long has it been? For him to be away from his homeland... just to see this mess?

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Oswald walked with his numb expression, seeing the familiar cape that belongs to one of his family--he kneeled down and grabbed the fabric that still intact. He clenched his fist, he hated this vision so bad and he starting to doubt about his existence--he both loathed and worried of his lineage; knowing that he was going to be the next one to be targeted.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Oswald."

He look up when he heard Lloyd behind him, but he didn't turn around--as if he already know something. "From what I learn about them, they were targeting the race that considered either a threat or a potential weapon for their beneficial purposes. As much I hate to tell the truth, because you might hate it when I mention it..." Lloyd said with a wistful smile, although he sounded super upset--not wanting to offend his colleague-friend. "Oswald, you're an Archmage... right?" he asked.

Oswald didn't say anything, he hated that so much. It hurts him so bad but he didn't show it, he refuse to show it towards his friend who was so kind to him--he prayed that he wouldn't avoid him. But Lloyd didn't leave him on the spot, he choose to stay because he was worried over him. "You don't have to admit it, I already know that... from the beginning," he admitted, making Oswald look up and turn around to face him--confused. "For me, you're my friend... I'm glad from every moments we spent together. I don't hate you, because you're quite special--and I'm sure that you can use your ability for good and purposeful deeds.

Why are you so kind , Lloyd?

Oswald thought, his emotionless expression almost melted at the warm and relaxed smile on his lips. He couldn't believe a person like him would keep his friendship with him, even though his background is very sensitive and not good to look at. It made him feel lonely ever since he was in his homeland, should he be ashamed of his ancestry? He was about to say something, but he don't know what to say--but a hunch made him said something to him. "'There's no need to be ashamed with your ancestry'... is that what you're going to say?" he asked.

Lloyd blinked, noticing that he can predict of what he wanted to say to him. "I'm not finished yet, you know," he added, Oswald look away and let him explain the rest. "The world is very cruel, I know how it feels like to lose the people you cared the most. I've been in your position once, not gonna lie--it feels like a spear struck into your chest. You feel numb, empty, and can't even think rationally to the point of wanting to do something extreme but... you hold them back," he said, before he slowly approached him. "I've went through six stages of grief of witnessing half of my family's death, it's not easy to overcome them... let alone losing all of them. Only my mother and my two younger siblings are the only left to live, it was a very rough beginning--"

"Lloyd."

Oswald started, before he look back at him and began to take off his spectacles--wiping them with his napkin. The lenses were wet, but his eyes were covered by his bangs before he put his spectacles back on his eyes. "I want to gain my trust again, for humanity," he said, looking up at him with determined gaze. "What can I do for you, in return?" he asked, which send a surprised look on Lloyd's face upon hearing that. At first, he thought Oswald was mad--but he actually not. "I want you to be part of my alliance, in return--I will cover your true identity... if you told me your real name."

Lloyd offered, making a deal for him. The last Archmage was silent when he asked him for his real name, but he knew that he must not be afraid anymore--he will bring the Archmage legacy into his hands and make them proud. He must make a vow, that he will not forget who he is and what is he live for. He close his eyes, before he opened his mouth.

"Kaido Seymour."

--End of Flashback--

Lloyd was playing chess in his office, thinking of how to solve his strategy.

His desk is full of his books, newspapers and old magazines which he collects over the year since he became Postmaster-General in National Postal Service of Welkin. He also took some stack of papers that he found on his desk, looking through the information and notes about the Spiritus Husk--worried that the supply of the Melodic Scores will be running out. He knew that they’ll be attacked by them in the near future, but he needs to make sure that they can defend themselves and their citizens.

Lloyd had been making plans on how to deal with this issue for a couple of weeks, he has a sharp eyes over spies and traitors, and he often makes sure to investigate on his subordinates if they’re lying or hiding something from him. He’s one of the most trusted people inside of Welkin City’s important figures but also notorious and dangerous, known as ‘Master of Strategy’ and ‘King of Chess’ to his peers who admired him greatly for his intellect and skill. He was thinking of his next strategy on how to deal with the Spiritus Husk, he was about to move one piece until he heard a door knock outside his office. "Come in!"

It was Alastair who brought some of the files for him, making Lloyd went pale that he had to deal with the paperworks... for now. Seriously, why is his subordinate had to make him finish this one? "Stamp all of these letters for today, I don't want you to slack off after I had to stay up all night finishing these," he grumbled, placing all of them on Lloyd's desk. "Hey, come on Alastair! I haven't finished my game yet!"

"No excuses, finish them."

Alastair reminded, before he walk out from his office during a break hour. Lloyd pouted a little, before he began to stamp all of the letters reluctantly.

When he was busy with the stamps and letters, he heard a voice across him that says:

"There was nothing to fear. And there's nothing left for you. Now is the time to unleash the true, and now you are the true... 'King' of the city. My world is always full of wonders..."

Lloyd turn around, looking around the office since he's the only one inside during break hours. He adjusted his glasses, somewhat not liking the tone of the unknown voice. "What was that...?" he murmured, before he began to finish them like usual and in the halfway of his work--the similar voice began to speak again.

"I'll be the eternal and immovable one."

Okay, that's it.

The Postmaster-General stand up from the chair and walking out from the office, he really need to get some air and meet the other Mail-Hunters--he didn't like hearing that voice. Then, he bumped into someone and he apologized with a smile. "My apologies--" it was Chase he bumped into, which the sixteen-years old shipwright of the NPS responded. "Oh, Master Lloyd? It's fine, I just came back from Selune and it was a hassle after the election of the new Prime Minister today. Are you on break right now?"

Lloyd immediately nodded, he wanted to skip the stampings for once and he can't stand having too much pile of work on his desk. "Yes, I am! Also, where's Master Oswald now? I want to see him, let my two subordinates know that I'm in the Human Resources Department. I have something to do in there, I'm in a hurry," he explained, Chase nodded when he watched him left--before Vincent came inside with his arms crossed. "What was that all about?" the Delivery Express Mail-Hunter asked, Chase shrugged a little. "Nothing new, Master Lloyd want to see Master Oswald in HR Department. Not sure why though, maybe there's something important to discuss on."

Meanwhile, Sonata, Claire and Gabriel has arrived in Sinfonia where there was a tomb of the Spiritus Husk--there are rumors of a ghost around the tomb and some whispers in the area. "This is so creepy..." Sonata muttered, feeling a cold sensation sending through her skin as Claire examined the large standing tomb for a while. "It is said that; 'Once the supply of Melodic Scores running out, the powerful and almighty Spiritus Husk will awakened when the time comes'... Master Lloyd says that Spiritus Husk is different compared to Cabernet Husk we used to defeat. This one said to be the hardest one to kill, not even the strongest like Master Alastair can defeat it... because none of us knew what does it looks like--and the exact location is unknown but suspected to be in here."

Claire explained, looking up at the tomb for a moment while Gabriel kneeled down on one knee to check the ground--it seems cold and dry with the cold temperature despite the winter season is over. "My father talked with Kaisen and Shina about Spiritus Husk before, they never seen one before... but they heard from the locals that during the Day of Disappearing Stars; the Artificial Light seems 'holding on something' inside it," Sonata spoke, looking around the view of the area.

"Just like what Master Senja stated, this Spiritus Husk is responsible for have breeding several Husk creatures from generation to generation. All kinds are born from this ancient insect, don't know how did the Spiritus Husk was born--but there's some rumors about being part of Canaria Government’s experiment... to create Artificial Light to light up this country of Canaria with the endless nights. However, the government never stated anything regarding the Spiritus Husk."

Gabriel explained, standing up on the ground. “It’s true that Cabernet Husk is once the biggest threat, but it's already defeated because of you. However, for Spiritus Husk... it’s even scarier than the Cabernet Husk itself.”

They decided to leave the tomb while exploring around the area, until they saw one of the Husks roaming around the area which made Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Cider Husk..."

Cider Husk took a form of a cicada-like insect--with a black body and red markings on its abdomen, two pairs of wings sprouting from its back and six legs that ended in sharp talons that resembles a scorpion. The Husk's compound eyes glowed green and yellow while the antennae on top of its head swayed left and right as it stared at them with its glowing purple pupils. Its mouth opened wide revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth that it uses to dig into the ground and burrow itself underground. On its thorax was a set of pincers that it uses to tear apart anything that it sees as prey.

The trio were about to unleash their Automotive Gears, until they saw Claude appeared from the cliff with his own Automotive Gear on his hand. Claude could feel and hear the heartbeat from the Melodic Scores that put into the Automotive Gear weapon, which he need to control or else he'll suffer a fatigue. He concentrated his Melodic Scores from his whole body as he aimed his Tempest Op. 31--a flintlock gun towards the weak point of the Husk, he narrowed his eyes as he found the weak spot from the distance and fired the purplish-black colored arrow-like blast towards the creature--the Cider Husk fell down dead on the ground, leaving behind the shells and its unknown dark purple liquid splatter everywhere.

Sonata was awed to see Claude executed his attack smoothly along his concentration through aiming his attack, she watched him jumped down and landed on the ground smoothly. "Claude," Claire addressed him, seeing him smiled while greeting them. "I didn't know the three of you are here, I was doing my patrol like usual because Master Alastair ordered me," he explained, before he sensed another Husk incoming as he became serious. "Hold on, let me handle this."

It was another Cider Husks who took a notice on their presence, making him aimed for the Cider Husk and released his Melodic Score from his whole body--his aim was perfect and hit on the right spot of the Cider Husk's abdomen--a purple lightning bolt struck it dead. He began to sheathed back his weapon, before Gabriel asked.

"Why are the Husks roaming around here?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, there has been Husk creatures roaming around actively that the Mail-Hunters had to attack them during their postal activities. It seems unusual though, the Stardust Express Station also alarmed by their presence and we had to make a training class for them. For unknown reason, there's supposed to be 'another crewmate' of them... but they don't seems to know who that is. No matter I asked them for confirmation, they don't remember who that is."

Claude explained, folding his arms. "Wait, how come?" Sonata asked, surprised that they didn't seems to 'recognize' the other member of Stardust Express--she clearly remembered that there's one. "Last time they were dealing with Merlot Husk, I clearly remember that because Master Xingfa and Master Zhilan informed me and Master Alastair about this... but there's no further report and update. All they know that the Husk has been defeated, we grew suspicious because we need a report from them--so we had to conduct some proper training because their weapon is needed for improvement after Master Alastair inspecting them--then changing it into Automotive Gear."

This made things even more complicated, before Claude elaborated. "We still didn't receive their report until now, they don't remember about it... it's still a mystery until now and... they acted as if nothing happened."

Sonata hummed, before she guessed. "Let me guess, is it Jilian Blanc? I met her during the war against Cabernet before, she also participated with us too," Claude nodded, making Claire and Gabriel knitted their eyebrows together with Sonata. "Correct, they don't seems to know when I asked about her... nor recognizing her. Do you think it's strange?"

"Yeah, something must've happened during the battle... we really need to find out."

They paused when Claude take out his vintage walkie-talkie that was ringing, it must be one of his subordinates who wanted to inform what happened to him. "Captain Oak here, is something going on there?" he questioned.

"Captain Oak, we found something in the west coast of Sinfonia! It seems to be some pupas of a Husk!"

"Alright, I'll be on my way there."

Claude finished the call, before he turned back at them. "You can tag along if you like, since the mission is about Spiritus Husk," he offered with a smile, Sonata agreed with Claire and Gabriel as they nodded--before they went to the west coast to check what's going on. They saw a huge banyan tree that has hanging empty pupas on the branches, it was cold due to the spring season and the pupas are all empty from their sacks. Sonata coughed as she smelled something weird from the area, making her covering her nose as her wolf ears pinned back. "Ew... it stinks here..." she grumbled, before Claire handed her the mask as they were given a mask by Claude and his team.

The area was rocky with a withering trees around them, the land was very dark and this area usually are for the Husks to attack anyone who travels along the darkened paths. The scent is almost similar to alcoholic beverages, it was so strong that it also mixed with some decompositions of bugs that brings awful scents. "I remember when I used to be a Marauder that time, I went here before..." Claude muttered, recalling the past memories when he was a Marauder. "The area in here... used to be a 'nest' for the pupa Husks... before they roamed into different regions and forests. They examined the empty shells from the pupas, this is where their metamorphosis begun before becoming a fully a giant insect with jewel-like armors.

They began to head through the other side of the area near the large banyan tree, which can reach the height of the watchtower. Claire noticed that Sonata was looking around her surroundings anxiously, and she asked her. "What's wrong?"

Sonata sniffed, before she shrieked in fear--knowing that this Husk is different when she heard it--that alone made her shudder just by hearing the sounds that made her feel uneasy. Gabriel and Claire turned around to look at Sonata, noticing how frightened she is. "I hear something, it was faint but sounds like... running towards us," she whispered, catching Claude and his team's attention. "Don't tell me there's another Husk nearby," said the Captain, he was getting vigilant just like her and both Gabriel and Claire also sensed that. Sonata wasn't afraid anymore, she was just scared because of the sounds of the Husks that would lurk under the grounds and rocky mountains during cold nights--as they were always searching for prey. "Get ready, they're coming," he said, they nodded along Sonata.

The Husk creature suddenly emerged from the grounds across them almost far enough to reach them while it's making a loud screeching sound that made them all shuddered. "This is... Merlot Husk."

Sonata was about to take out her Automotive Gear, before Claire hold up her hand at her. "Let me and Gabriel handle this, okay?" she asked, the Winter Wolf Mail-Hunter nodded. "Alright, I'll be backing you guys up," she said, taking out her Chopin's Nocturne Op. 20 from her back. "But, I'll be taking charge if it's get serious."

Claire unleashed her Automotive Gear; Pachelbel's Canon in Major from the sheath on her thigh, she closed her eyes as she unleashed the power of her Automotive Gear, the piece that she resonate with her gear. "Canon's First Movement, Canon in C Major!" she said with confidence as she aimed the tip from her weapon at the Husk; the tip glows with crimson color while emitting light from the end of it. Claire was confident of using her Automotive Gear, thanks to her father Alastair who trained her in the ways of fighting using Automotive Gears--he was one of the few Mail-Hunters who have mastered the art of utilizing Automotive Gears properly--which made her feel more confident.

Gabriel unsheathed his Automotive Gear; Requiem D. Minor, Lacrimosa, before he aimed the other Merlot Husks across him. "First Movement, Dona eis Requiem," he said, before he pressed both triggers and blasting a black-colored arrow-like blasts. The raven phantom appeared from his blasts with all black chains, the requiem of the piece sang in a choir that made the creature restrained by the chains and caused the antenna to losing its detection and presences of its targets.

The raven vanished while the Husks are still bound by chains and the sound of chimes rang throughout the area--the chain disappeared too as they vanished into thin air while the sound of its bells were heard until nothing remains of them. Claude shot another one that tried to attack them, while Sonata slashed them in circle and shooting the other that was about to ambush them.

Alastair watching the Mail-Hunters from the distance with the AED to ensure they were able to defeat the Husk Merlot with ease, he's the reason Automotive Gear was manufactured and created in first place for everyone to enjoy--and it seems like they are really enjoying themselves with the use of their Automotive Gears. However, the Automotive Gears has each disadvantages and side-effects--even when it consumes Melodic Scores and the use of its abilities to fight against other enemies.

"Watch out!"

Absinthe Husk suddenly appeared out of nowhere and they don't have time to recharge their Melodic Scores, until Alastair appeared and using his Canon's gun part to shot the shells with a huge explosion--before he jumped and using his Gigue's lance blade to cut through the exposed stomach from the gap. Sonata watched him landing down on the ground with his Automotive Gear, before the creature was cut into pieces by him and he stand up. "What took you so long, Claude?" Alastair questioned him, implying that he has been waiting for further reports.

"Apologies, sir. There was a sudden attack from all sides, but here's the report that you needed."

Claude reported, explaining everything from the start until now while Alastair listens--before he showed the shells that scattered on the grounds and matching it with the remnants of the dead Husks they defeated. The Vice Postmaster-General narrowed his eyes, kneeling on one knee to check the comparison and realizing that this is where they 'came from' the whole time. "So, this is where they began to reproduce, huh? No wonder they were waiting until the supply of Melodic Scores went out..."

Claire heard her father spoke, looking at the banyan tree from the distance. "Let's head back to the headquarters, we need to report this to Master Lloyd instant."

"Yes, sir!"