“What do you think about this artifact?” Brian said.

“I don’t know man. I just want to complete the mission and get rid of it.”

Brian sighed. “I mean, I’ve seen how strong valtite cores can be. The Whispering Core seems dangerous. What if Mandrix is right?”

“The way I see it, what can we even do about it?” Serdna briskly bounced on his toes three times.

Brian glanced at Serdna, who looked as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Brian cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "You ready?" he declared, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands."

Serdna sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

They stood in front of the government HQ office. For some reason, Brian thought, this time it felt more intense than the last time he'd been there. His current situation was a common trope used in movies, so there was always a lingering fear - if the government found his Valtite System advantageous, they might try to exploit him for their experiments.

"I've had more than my share of bureaucracy back on Earth," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'll wait for you here."

“Ok,” Ilex said and instantly walked away.

“What is wrong with that fella?” Serdna grumbled. “He just left? I mean… I wasn’t expecting a kiss or anything, but c'mon maybe a ‘Have a good lum’ wouldn’t have been so hard.”

“I know. He is like that, but he is a cool dude.” Brian thoughts drifted back to questions about the dungeon that they had just completed. How had he managed to open the entrance when no one else could? Was there a connection to his Valtite System? He needed answers, and he hoped that someone within the aestari government could help him.

Taking a deep breath, Brian and Serdna walked inside. Despite their successful mission, Brian's hand fidgeted with the hem of his shirt and perspiration dotted his forehead even though the ambience was cool and refreshing. It was probably because the artifact they carried felt like carrying a briefcase with a million dollars—correction, solars. He knew that its significance went far beyond his understanding, and that made him uneasy.

As they entered the lobby where the offices of all the high-ranking government officials were located, Livia greeted them with a warm smile. Her eyes lit up when she saw Serdna, and she leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "Since you survived your secret mission, I'll let you take me on a date," she teased, making Serdna’s cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

The sight of his friend’s bashfulness brought a smirk to Brian’s face. He gave Serdna a thumbs-up of approval, which only made his friend blush even more. Brian wondered if this lighthearted moment would be the last for a while or if Serdna would be up for it given what he went through when he lost Xezia.

"Let's get this over with!" Serdna exclaimed, still beet-red.

Livia turned her attention to Brian, her eyes lighting up with recognition. "Brian, I remember you from the Decimator Academy," she said warmly.

"Ah, yes, I remember you too," Brian replied, trying to sound casual despite his growing anxiety. He paused for a moment, mentally preparing himself for the request he was about to make. "I was wondering if there's any chance I could talk to High Director Aleron Creslin?"

"Well, his next open appointment is in three cycles..." Livia said.

His stomach dropped at the mention of such a long wait. "...But," Livia continued, "seeing as Serdna's mission is top priority, you both can meet with Minister Elira Novalis in about ten minutiae."

Brian looked at Serdna, who swallowed hard. They both knew that the whole reason for being there was the prospect of meeting with a high-ranking official, but they still felt on edge.

As they waited, a voice echoed from within one of the offices, “Livia why are you making me sound like an awful busy person.”

Before they knew it, High Director Aleron Creslin emerged from the office, causing Livia and Serdna to stiffen and stand at attention. Brian straightened up as well, wondering if this was proper protocol or if his friends were simply nervous in the presence of their superior.

"Relax, everyone," Aleron chuckled dismissively. His gaze fell upon Brian, and he smiled. "It's good to see you again, Brian. Now, Serdna, what have you brought us?"

"Without Brian, sir, I wouldn't have been able to complete my assignment," Serdna confessed, still visibly tense.

Aleron raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Is that so?" He turned to Livia. "Clear my calendar. We'll meet with Minister Novalis together." With a nod to Brian and Serdna, he gestured for them to follow him into Elira's office.

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“Yes Sir… But the Minister is not ready.”

Brian rubbed his hands together a few times and entered the minister of resources’s office. He knew that if he played his cards right, he might just get some answers—and the ally—he wanted.

Elira stood at attention as Aleron walked into her office, her posture rigid and formal. Purpled colored papers fell on the ground, she must have been startled by Aleron’s sudden appearance. "Please, relax," Aleron said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Turning to Brian, he continued, "Brian, this is Minister Elira Novalis, head of the Department of Valtite Resources and Extraction."

"Nice to meet you," Brian said as Elira extended her hand for a handshake.

"Likewise," she replied, her tone clear and concise, reminding Brian of his mother’s voice. "I’ve heard a bit about you, Brian.”

“Hopefully… Good things?” Brian asked with a hint of humor.

“We’ll talk about that later. Right now, I'm eager to hear Serdna's report on his mission,” she retorted.

They all took their seats around Elira’s desk. Brian braced himself to find an opening to mention his Valtite System; he needed to ensure that he asked the right questions and navigated the conversation skillfully.

Serdna began recounting their mission, explaining how they had found the entrance to the dungeon in Havenstone as per Elira's instructions. "It turned out very easy for Brian to open it," he added.

Aleron leaned forward with interest, his blue eyes focused on Brian. "For phases, we've been unable to gain access to that chamber. How did you manage to do it?" he asked.

"Uh, well," Brian hesitated for a moment, he didn’t see any reason to lie. "I have something called the Valtite System, and I was actually wondering if you would know someone who could offer me some guidance with it."

Aleron looked to Elira, his brows furrowed. "I've never heard of it," he admitted. "But perhaps you could talk to Dr. Orion Fenn in R&D."

Brian really hoped that Aleron would know, but Dr. Fenn sounded like a solid lead. Finally, he might get some answers about his mysterious ability.

"Did you find the artifact?" Elira asked, her gaze shifting back to Serdna.

Serdna reached for his bag and pulled out the item. "Yes, the dungeon was dangerous, but we found it at the end." Brian chimed in, adding that the dungeon had self-destructed when they reached the artifact.

"Ah, that's a shame," Aleron’s words fell flat. He looked at Brian with a slight smile. "The artifact, if its power can be channeled, will protect the aestari against the monsters that inhabit Valteria. No more of our people will have to die at their hands."

Brian hung on Aleron's words. Was he really trying to protect the aestari, or was he just seeking power? Regardless, Brian didn’t want to draw any conclusions. "Not all monsters in Valteria are evil," he said cautiously. "Yes, the valtivenoms were twisted creatures, but the grivaxians were a noble race. They just want to be left in peace, like the aestari."

Aleron leaned back in his chair, surprised by Brian's insight. "How can you know that?" he asked.

Brian swallowed hard, gauging how much to reveal. His need for answers warred with his desire to keep his abilities secret. "I... I have a way of communicating with them," he finally admitted, hoping he hadn't said too much.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Aleron and Elira exchanged intrigued glances. Elira quickly scribbled something down on her writing pad, and Brian wondered if he'd said too much. Aleron leaned forward. "How did you acquire this ability? Did you bring it from… ‘Earth’?"

Brian hesitated, but he felt that the conversation was going favorably. If he could gain Aleron's trust, he might have a powerful ally. "I didn't have anything like this on Earth," he said slowly. "But ever since I arrived in Valteria, I've had this... apparently strange gift."

Aleron's demeanor relaxed, and he turned to Elira. "I believe we have enough for your report." Brian breathed a sigh of relief, hoping everything went favorably for him.

The high director then called Livia into the room.

"Before we conclude," Aleron said, addressing Brian once more, "I want you to work directly for me from now on." Those words sounded positive, in fact, Brian couldn't have asked for a better outcome; this was his chance to find the answers he sought and become stronger than ever before.

"Thank you, sir," Brian replied, a little too eagerly. He mentally kicked himself for not maintaining a cooler facade.

Aleron waved off his enthusiasm with a smile. "Don't worry about it. Just make sure you visit the R&D department before you leave. I'll let Dr. Fenn know to expect you." He glanced at Livia, who nodded in understanding. "She'll contact you if I have an assignment for you." Aleron added lastly, “Make sure they also receive payment for their efforts... 2000 solars.”

Livia’s eyes snapped open like parachutes catching air after hearing the amount. Conversely, Serdna’s gaze narrowed, but his mouth burst open and his jaw turned back when his neck subconsciously inclined forward.

Was 2000 solars really that much money? Brian remembered that Mandrix had made it sound like a lot when he destroyed the Oculus Core, but he had not grasped the true value of their currency. Solars looked like gold coins, but Brian thought they didn't feel or have the weight of gold; they had to be made of some other metal. Brian had held one once in Fort Luminar; it was larger than a quarter, basically the size of an old American dollar. Its edge had five ridges, and it was otherwise smooth; it felt oddly satisfying to press your thumb along it.

When Serdna bought drinks for them and Sophia after returning to Arcasium that lum, it didn’t even amount to a single solar. And if he remembered correctly, the meals cost only one solar per meal when they first arrived in the city with Lana. Therefore, a solar must be at least ten times more valuable than a US dollar…

“Each,” High Director Aleron added after a moment.

Brian's jaw dropped. His first payment was going to be that much money? Aleron dismissed everyone in a rush, as he had already taken too much time out of his schedule. It all happened too fast. Brian was still processing how he was supposed to budget what felt like an exorbitant amount of money.

The meeting went better than Brian expected, his mind was already calculating the different paths that he could now take and their possible outcomes. He knew he needed to craft the perfect questions and strategies to maximize his new alliance with Aleron.