Damon and Hatta stood on the rooftop of the castle, the wind whipping through their hair as they caught their breath. The weight of their recent discovery pressed heavily upon them, casting a shadow over their hearts.

"We have news," Damon said once they reached Völundr at his office, where they also found Steve and Kath. "We have seen Marine Sepal..."

"Ilmarinen Seppälä..." Völundr corrected, shaking his head. "It has been five long months since we lost Alice. We still do not know Leo and Anna's whereabouts, or if they are even alive. And the true intentions of Habondia remain a mystery."

Kath, standing beside Steve, spoke up with a trembling voice. "It seems like... they're hunting me," she interrupted, her eyes darting anxiously around.

Hatta's hand reached out, trembling slightly, as he addressed Kath. "Well, well... look who we have here. How are you holding up?"

Damon, feeling the weight of their uncertain future, turned to Völundr. "Old man, do you have any other information besides what we already know about Ilmarinen?"

Völundr's gaze dropped, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, my dear friend. I know nothing more."

Damon's frustration grew as he sighed. "And where are the other members of our freak show? Have they all reported in?"

Völundr nodded, his expression grim. "Yes, everyone has reported in... except Kyrie. I'm worried about him. His ring has stopped shining, and we have no way of knowing where is."

"No need to panic just yet. Kyrie is resourceful. He can take care of himself." Steve, ever the voice of reason, interrupted with a smirk.

Damon turned his attention to Völundr once again, his eyes searching for answers. "Have you heard anything from the traitor, Zakkariyas?"

Völundr's expression darkened as he mentioned the name. "Nothing yet, but he has aligned himself with a dangerous individual. A man we should be wary of."

Damon clenched his fists, his body tense.

"We can't let fear consume us," Völundr said. "We must face whatever lies ahead with courage and unity. We are stronger together."

Hatta nodded in agreement. " Völundr is right, Damon. I’m new here, but I know you all faced countless challenges before, and you've always come out on top. We can do it again."

Steve, ever the optimist, chimed in with a wide smile. "We may not know what lies ahead, but we have each other.”

Damon felt a renewed sense of purpose, it was not like him to be pessimistic. And as he started to feel a bit more relaxed, someone opened the office door with a thud.

“Kyrie is gone!” a new voice interrupted.

All eyes turned towards Aran; his face etched with concern.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"What do you mean by gone?" Damon asked.

Aran's eyes darted nervously as he spoke. "I was in contact with him before and he said he would not return."

Damon turned to look at Völundr, the weight of the situation evident in the old man’s haggard appearance. Völundr pressed a hand to his temple as if trying to alleviate the pressure building within. It was as if his head was about to explode with a headache.

"I was afraid that this would happen," Völundr muttered, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and anxiety. Damon's mind raced, trying to comprehend the gravity of their situation.

But then, Aran's voice broke through the tension once again, this time carrying a glimmer of hope. He reached into his black coat and produced four rings, holding them up for all to see.

"Anna’s, Leo's, and Alouqua’s children’s rings!" Damon said before whistling in surprise. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "How did you find them?"

"I went to Paasilinna. I found them on the streets as I volunteered with the reconstruction crews."

Damon's excitement grew as he eagerly reached out to examine the rings. They were dirty and full of scratches.

"Let me check them. I might be able to track Leo's and Anna's whereabouts," Völundr said.

Damon handed the rings over to Völundr, who held them delicately in his hands. As he inspected them, a cloud of dust erupted from their gemstones, swirling around like a miniature tornado. The air crackled with energy as Damon's eyes widened in awe.

The dust settled, revealing the hidden secrets within the rings. Damon couldn't help but shiver as he felt a surge of power coursing through his spine. It was as if the rings themselves held the echoes of their owners' experiences.

"By the gods!" Völundr frowned. "Anna fell in the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, Leo ended up in the Navarino Island, Chilean south, and Ravi and Bietka are somewhere in the South Pacific."

Damon's excitement quickly turned to dread, his brows furrowing as he processed the information. The Gobi Desert stretched out endlessly, a barren wasteland where survival was a constant struggle. The area around Navarino Island, with its treacherous waters and unpredictable weather, posed a challenge of its own. However, he felt the most worried about Ravi and Bietka’s destinies as somewhere in the South Pacific wasn’t pretty reassuring.

"How in the world are we supposed to find them? " Damon scratched his head.

But it wasn't just the physical obstacles that plagued Damon's mind. The passage of time added another layer of uncertainty. It had been five months since their friends had vanished, and the question of their survival lingered like a shadow.

"There’s no telling they’re still alive, and if they are, have they remained in the same location?" Völundr's voice dropped, his tone heavy with worry.

Damon's heart sank at the thought. The possibility of their friends suffering, their hope fading day by day, tore at his soul. The weight of their absence settled upon him, a heavy burden he couldn't ignore. Especially Anna, if she hadn’t vanished, she’d be learning under his tutelage. At the same time, Arashi and he haven’t protected Ravi and Bietka. Alouqua wouldn’t talk to them ever since she found out her children were under Arashi’s and his care when Joanne attacked.

He stood in silence, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions. The path ahead seemed treacherous, filled with unknown dangers and obstacles. Yet, Damon turned to his companions. "We may not know what awaits us, but we will face it together. We will find Leo, Anna, and the kids, no matter the cost."

The others nodded in agreement; their resolve mirrored his own. He would not rest until Leo, Anna, and the kids were safe and sound.

Realizing that the mood in the room had been uplifted by Damon's words, Völundr spoke up once again. "Everyone... I have more news for you, and it's not pleasant. The itinerary of our trip to the Congo Free State has changed. We are leaving one week earlier than scheduled."

“What?” Damon opened wide his eyes. Damon's hand instinctively flew to his face, his palm meeting his forehead with a resounding slap. He could care less about this matter, this was not what they had anticipated, and the added pressure only compounded their worries.

As the chaos settled, Damon's mind raced once again. His gaze shifted to Völundr. A sense of urgency coursed through his veins after he noticed the old man sighing.

“If we want to find our missing members, we must act now. We’re running out of time,” the old man said.