Ruka was trying to remember who was the girl during their battle against the Merlot Husk, no matter how many times she tried to recall who she is. However, she couldn't--it made her frustrated to the point of ripping any papers on her hands. Until, she saw a picture of her with everyone during Festival of Lights. "Ruka, are you ready?" Shintaro asked, before he saw her standing in front of the framed photo of the whole Stardust Express crew--shocked of what she just remembered. "What's wrong--" he hissed as he sensed a painful feeling on his head, as if a memory running past his mind and making him remember someone.

Xingfa was about to prepare his speech in front of the Stardust Express employees and crew in the city hall of the station, after Zhilan finished her speech. However, he sensed that the chandelier above them moving by itself--although there's no wind is coming inside. His closed eyes noticed his employees were whispering 'seeing something', 'feeling uncomfortable' and 'something's not right here' in the city hall, Zhilan saw her husband seems to be focused on the employees and she whispered. "What's wrong?"

Kaisen was standing on the rooftop of the watchtower, his eyes widened to see the artifact he was looking for. "There you are!" he said with a smile, while Shina jumps and landed across him--seeing him holding the white star-like artifact that was glowing in bright light. The artifact they were looking for seems to be 'used', due to the traces of fingerprints they sensed and still warm. "It was warmer than before, it was supposed to be cold. It seems like Jilian really want to save her friends, but... why this? They should've retreated instead of trying to stop the Husk."

"We don't now yet, Kaisen," Shina spoke, her eyes observing the artifact before her eyes widened as she sensed someone was standing across them. Both of the Fantastic Beasts turn around, no one was there and it seems like they were being watched. "Well well well, I thought we're the only ones here..." Kaisen taunted, before he opened his mouth and blowing a fire breath that made the hooded man with military attributes yelped and fell down--revealing to be from the military. The roof began to morph and restrained the man, which came from Shina's ability due to her earthly nature.

"P-Please! Don't hurt me!"

Kaisen approached him and grinning like a pyromaniac, he was ready to burn him into ashes because he was stalking them. "You're going to expose us as part of Fantastic Beasts, right? Either you want to get rid of us or using us as a tool for your beneficial needs... we might kill you off--right here and now," he stated, almost threatening them. "I came here because the Prime Minister ordered me... he want to get to know you and the other two... Solvine Nocturna and Suiren Fermata, he knows that they're Winter Wolf and Spring Serpent... so... he send us to monitor the four of you... and Oswald, who have once contacted with Akasha Garuda."

They gave him a threatening gaze, sharp pupils formed like a feline when they heard everything that the Prime Minister did towards them the WHOLE TIME and the beginning. It truly pisses them off, most likely doesn't hesitate to kill any humans who dare to hunt them just like what they did in the past. "It appears like we have to inform what happened and unleash their memories of Jilian..." Shina said, clenching her fist as the ground tightened the man and Kaisen grinned as he formed a fireball on his palm. "I can't wait to see this ruler dead already..."

Meanwhile...

Sonata was thinking regarding the government of Canaria, questioning its existence and what purpose does it has. She was so upset that they didn't do anything about it, only relying on the National Postal Service and Mail-Hunters to deal with the problem that's been happening now. It made her doubting about their existence, not to mention that the people's loyalty towards the government ceased and now Lloyd had to deal with the major issue of Artificial Light and Spiritus Husk.

They couldn't understand why, except of being wary about its military power--everything went downhill since the government knows the existence of the postal service that provides them hope, protection and civil services to be used by the locals while not allowing them to meddle in their administration affairs.

So, she wanted to help him--not wanting him to be burdened by everything anymore.

All of the Mail-Hunters were waiting for the discussion of the meeting with the Sub-Masters and Upper-Masters regarding the issue, they saw Lloyd came out from the meeting room with the Masters--or the Maestros behind him. He stood there with his hands on the desk as he was standing on the podium. Alastair and Solvine stood beside him below the podium, they were in the Hall of Maestro where Senja, Suiren, Claude, Gilbert, Cordelia, Oswald, Dr. Chamberlain, Marie and Mathilda gathered in the hallway. She noticed that Vincent is here too, along with Chase who observed all of them.

Suona, Xinglan and Amaris joined the grand meeting of all Mail-Hunters, Postmasters and postal employees for the announcement from Lloyd himself--the Postmaster-General of National Postal Service and who also the Director-General of Postal Office Union in Canaria. He stood there, as if he just woke up from his sleep at three in the morning. He nodded at Oswald, who already ordered Kaisen and Shina to keep the artifact in case if it's needed and not to fall on the wrong hands.

"Good morning, to all of the postal employees. I, Lloyd Warren, the current Postmaster-General of National Postal Service, will announce an important news to everyone in this National Postal Service and also for the people in Canaria."

Lloyd spoke through the microphone on the podium, looking at the speech paper before he began to speak again. "Due to the recent events and even involving Welkin City's safety, we have recently learned that the Canarian government... did not take further actions and they ordered us to prioritize our jobs than meddle in administrative affairs, that was what happened yesterday. However, based on our findings--Canaria government intends to let us share a common ground with the Armed Services of Canaria and to cooperate with the Military to keep Canaria's safety."

"But, due to many intimidations that gathered from the HR Department from the outside and... our new Prime Minister, Aldo Weller--he submitted a letter that requested for my dismissal from my post as Postmaster-General. Not only that, nobody in the government defended me and... they were threatening all of us--because of false accusations and slandering of our organization's safety and criminal intents for mass murder, destruction of the church and mishandling private affairs. Why should we do this and that, it was such a muddled job and many, including Prime Minister well..."

Their eyes widened at the horrifying revelation, a government slandering and blackmailing a public organization? Senja who was standing from the very far right of Alastair gaped, he was getting suspicious of Aldo's sudden appearance and rise into the government. "I am being stripped of my powers because Prime Minister Aldo decided that he's in control, the whole Welkin City was under his control and his agents has been watching over all of us. Also, the issue of Artificial Light's flickers in the sky and suspected awakening Spiritus Husk affected our mission and task and it seems like... we were in a tight situation. So..."

"I have no choice, but I hereby announced that the Maestros including myself have decided to have the full control and power towards our organization. Then, I..." Lloyd took off his bluish-black cape on his shoulders as Alastair caught it, while the Masters listens to him. His cheerful and laidback expression has a dark twist; the seriousness that he had before he gives the papers to the Upper-Masters for their own reports and assignments. "... have decided that we will 'destroy' the Artificial Light to prevent the Spiritus Husks appearing by a major strike in the main city of Canaria, giving the citizens and the people in Welkin City time until evacuation has started."

The Mail-Hunters and Postmasters were flabbergasted from the shocking news, the Masters understood although it might be a different perception for the Mail-Hunters to hear that from him. "We shall bring back the sun that shines the endless night so there will be day and night once more," he stated before smiling. "Like we used to, I ask all of you--to keep trusting in us for protecting Canaria to make its' way into the future, into the future where is it worth seeking the day and night once more."

'Screw it, I might as well becoming a martyr for this. All we have to do is letting the people to not harming the innocents; only what we left.'

That was the only thought that crossed his mind. He looked down and sighed softly, before his serious expression returned. 'God, please forgive us from making a mess and be assured... this is for their future. I already decided... the best thing that we must do is making their goal accomplished. I will entrust it to all of you to finish this,' Lloyd said before he raised his head, he glanced at Sonata from the distance--he couldn't help but took a huge pity from the girl. The white-haired girl is simply tired and worn out from the lack of sleep, no wonder she fell asleep during her delivery task...

"We only have two months in formulating a plan on how to reach the Artificial Light, by collecting several Melodic Scores from all of the people in Canaria and put them into incubator-like area to keep them safe and not destroying them. If the condition worsened and the Melodic Score started cracking, we will assume that the Artificial Light will start dying and Spiritus Husk will be awakened to destroy everyone even this country... remember the oath when you become a Mail-Hunter for the first time," Lloyd encouraged all of them with a smile.

**Oath; recited by the Mail-Hunters of National Postal Service - a Promise that we had placed upon ourselves, a vow made to a life without fear; we had sworn to one day reach the never ending sunset of our future with a dawn, as long as there's a letter to be sent or a parcel to be delivered, so we had sworn-this our promise is, we who strive on this road, to deliver a letter within the duration of time, no matter how dire our current conditions! We have made a vow to ourselves as mailmen so that the days will shine... to make our beloved peaceful lives a gift once again! We delivered a mail without fear... we serve people and defeat Husks until our last moments, as a Postal Worker on our own... thus our oath, the oath sworn with pride! Until there are letters to be sent and parcels to be delivered, our journey as Mail-Hunters will never cease. Even when we become a martyr in time of need, we shall continue to protect our beloved people and ensure their safety. This is the oath, the vow of all postal workers and mail hunters!**

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Sonata remembered that oath like the first words that she learnt ever since she became a Mail-Hunter, Lloyd was smiling as he spoke to them like before. "I believe in all of your efforts and dedication, until we can live once again... perhaps we'll meet again in the other side of future. It is indeed, a pleasure working with all of you, until next we see the sun shining its' golden rays once again..." Lloyd slowly slipped into his serious smile, Solvine whispered to Alastair and he nodded. "From now on, I will take my dismissal. Feel free to join my side until the end, old friend... I think they need a mentor, especially when they want to question me about my insanities."

Alastair stared at the young Mail-Hunters who were busy gathering their courage, he always aware of the government despite their lack of knowledge. Sonata listens as she contemplating with his decision, when she heard something ticking... before she knew it--everything in her surroundings... stopped moving. She then gasped when she found out that it was coming from the grand grandfather clock in the right side of the hallway of the hall. She need to do something, before she glanced at the symbol of the government of Canaria on her passport.

The Emissaries were shocked to see Sonata ripped the symbol away from her passport, as she clenches her fists with a determined look. Then, she stood before Lloyd's frozen body and exhaled. "Sorry Lloyd, I can't let you became the scapegoat... we'll be with you until the end," she said, Claire listens as she take out her passport with the symbol of government--before she ripped out the symbol and threw it away. Her icy violet-blue eyes filled with determination, before all of the Mail-Hunters and the Postmasters decided to joined on Sonata's protest--although some of them couldn't bear to say no and betray their parents. Gabriel simply tore the symbol without remorse as he approached Lloyd, they couldn't let their beloved superior become a scapegoat for the very own nation that he protected with his own hands.

"Our fate be damned if it's what we have to do, Lloyd doesn't deserve to be treated badly and we will be staying on the path of forgiveness. There's no more turning back... we swore to the letter that we will deliver, no matter the cost... right, Alastair? We know not everyone is perfect... but at least they tried their best. So, we'll follow your lead."

Alastair listens as he saw Solvine observe the passport on his hand for a moment, before he clawed the government symbol on it. It made him did the same thing, so he take out his passport and claw the symbol away. Like they all said, they swore to the letters that they would deliver; no matter the cost, just because they broke a promise, it doesn't mean that the journey stops. Mathilda and Senja stomped on their passports to the ground with the symbol of government, while Oswald burned the symbol on his passport with his magic and everyone also did the same.

Suona scratched the symbol on her own passport, Xinglan rip off the symbol from his passport as well so does Amaris with her own. The Postmasters burned the symbol from their own passports, many had decided to do the same on behalf of them and continued to rip the symbol along with their own passports. Each Mail-Hunters now gained a new purpose in mind to obey the code of their own oath for making it to the future, by eliminating the corrupted existence of the government to revert the world's timeflow to be sane.

Claude clenched his fist when he had destroyed the seal with the symbol of the government on his hand, as he nodded and Sylvette was hugging her brother with a smile on her lips. Vincent tossed the symbol to the floor as Chase just stomping on it, lastly Lloyd was the left to destroy the symbol on his passport. He stared at the symbol for a while, making Lloyd clenched the grip and slammed the symbol with his cane... making it cracked and broken along with the snowflake adorned flag. He smiled at the Emissaries, before sighing softly.

"I guess that takes care of the symbol... this is the letter delivered without fear," he remarked with a sad look on his face. He sighed, before turning to his beloved employees who decided to follow him to the end. He had no choice, but he must admit it was terrifying to watch him on top of his life... he couldn't stay silent anymore. "Now I forgot where did I left my speech paper and the script.." he muttered. "Hang on a sec, you got me all curious..."

Lloyd couldn't help but grinned back to his normal self with an apology and a thankful nod, maybe it was destiny to let him speak as free as he was before; an honest nature that always kept him happy. That was the moment where he now relieved himself of the pressures, and he knows from that day forward; even he can't stop until he accomplished his mission to destroy the Artificial Light. "Dr. Chamberlain and I have discussed with the plan for the people in Canaria, he suggests that he will provide an incubator that shaped like... err... what was the musical instrument called again...? Ah, yes, organ. So he will provide an incubator area using that from his inventions, that should be fine--don't worry about the results. We will decide if we want this Artificial Light to be destroyed and able to find the sun through the darkness."

He never expected to listen from these new ideas and people helping them to prepare for the invasion.

"How about the Empress? The goddess of Canaria who was once praised and hated due to her affiliation with the government?"

Solvine asked, the Postmaster-General gulped--now he remembered how troublesome this job is.

He really should do something about that.

So, after having the meeting to discuss the plan in peace, Lloyd looked up towards the building. He truly wonders how things will turn out in the future, when he wants to step down from his office as the main Postmaster-General... then he realized that he will be jobless again and how the government will react. Now, it's time for the risky bet that he had always dreamed of...

"Do we have to evacuate all civilians now...?"

Gilbert asked as he was surprised, Lloyd chuckled softly. "OF COURSE! If we do this, it will give you time until you got to the main facility, along with many Mail-Hunters who have talents regarding in intelligence such as chasing and infiltrating through places. But, as the senior of all of you--my final judgement..." Lloyd grinned, Solvine was doing his duty and giving reports of what to expect when going outside Canaria or leaving Canaria and how their lives had affected. "You know you will be jobless in case you are unsuccessful, it will give a huge impact for our beloved nation... therefore, I decided that you can request whether you want to leave now and request to your family and employers to move away from Canaria--provided they support and agree on this."

"ALASTAIR! I'M NOT POOR ANYMORE!"

Solvine facepalmed at his colleagues' childishness and immaturity, as he just couldn't believe that someone like Lloyd was chosen to be a leader. Despite their childlike banter, Solvine really did enjoy their banter between the twins. "What am I seeing...?" Oswald grumbled, then Claude asked a question about the government and Lloyd took his time and decided to explain. He speaks while facing the ceiling, telling them that it is a problem... he never knew that he, the current Postmaster-General of the NPS had encountered for the whole time.

Few hours later...

Sonata couldn't believe she really just did that, she hates being the center of the attention but due to the urgent situations right now; she had to think of ways to provide solutions and how much time do they have until they are ready. "Do we... have to go this far to the Artificial Light...?" she asked, she was sitting on the infirmary bed alongside the rest of the Maestros sitting around and standing near her including Lloyd, Alastair, Dr. Chamberlain, Solvine, Senja, Oswald, Marie and Mathilda. Claire sighed, before she faced Gabriel with a grim expression. "We have no choices but to do it, now we have the resolve... we must prove ourselves no matter what," she said as Xinglan nodded in agreement.

"Looks like we got no sleep, huh? If they capture us... then we'll become a martyr for a movement, a cause that would spark us all," Oswald reasoned calmly, before he glanced at Sonata. Aware of their conflicts towards the government, she was more determined than before to become an emissary. "To destroy the Artificial Light..." Dr. Chamberlain began, as he was writing on the blackboard. "It means we have to be prepared with the incubator with every piece of Melodic Score secured, the main points in finding the answers will be taking every pieces of the remaining maps and searching for the coordinates for the artifact... as well as protecting the citizens. This has happened for too long... everyone might have known our true intentions but we will be fine as long as we stay focused."

Lloyd folded his arms, he had one question for Sonata. "Ah, Sonata... uhm... we don't want to put you in a difficult situation and not to mention I've chosen all of you, including you for a reason. It will not take much for you to choose either the country or the people, the next few hours now determines everything. But, you didn't regret for becoming a Mail-Hunter... right?"

"Of course not, I became a Mail-Hunter not because of government--but a certain Mail-Hunter made me and Suona wanted to become one!"

Sonata answered, making Claude gulped--he didn't know why but his cheeks flushed up a little. It makes him wondered about her past if he was important to her and she didn't regard him as a stranger. Oh... right, what a foolish answer. Still, Lloyd's surprised before he stood up as he was leaning towards Sonata's height. "Then I'm lucky I didn't wasted your potential, I still couldn't help but asking again... are you sure that you're ready to step into this battlefield? And don't be shy about it, being chosen as one is something you earned after this... there might not be a lot of people who are chosen like the former and their only chances."

Sonata stared at Claire and Gabriel, before she looked down--thinking whether she deserve this or not. Claire smiled, before she looked at her two friends. "Well, I've considered something for a while now. Destroying the Artificial Light's existence might eradicate the endless night sky and Spiritus Husk--which means there will be day and night again! I mean... the darkness is suffocating and all of us couldn't see the colours in Canaria. All we saw is bland, muddy and... grey. Boredom had taken over the spirit and that's something we couldn't do about, not until now!"

Sonata stated with a grin on her lips as Claire nodded, Gabriel, Suona, Xinglan and Amaris agreed with Sonata as well--along Chase and Vincent. Claude spoke, looking at the Masters. "Also, destruction would lead to creation, if the light in the sky disappeared and they assume the existence of the Spiritus Husk as a result... let's bring the Day and Night into the Canaria once more. So, we have to do something with the Artificial Light to bring the sun into the world."

"Time isn't always peaceful, we were granted the chance to fulfill a promise we had placed upon. These possibilities in all of your hands is something that determine the fates of all postal workers, our hearts will be sealed by this promise--only to be released when the war ended," Oswald spoke softly. "Even knowing we might die here and there, I know our souls will be spared and we will remember them no matter what. Perhaps, once this is over... maybe the world changes when the sun in the sky returns and... all of us might..."

Oswald stopped himself, he had a vision that all of them 'sacrifice themselves' to the sunlight to become its' fuel; their souls to maintain the Artificial Light from disappearing to keep the peace in this world and will be responsible for reviving the world through its' journey. However, another vision also shows that they used all of their Melodic Scores to retrieve the sun and destroyed the awakening Spiritus Husk--only leaving everything behind and they went to the 'light before their eyes'.

Sonata closed her eyes, why does every single person that she met are special and cherished?

"I hope we'll meet again after this..."