“You’ve probably figured it out already, so I'll cut straight to the point: Welcome to Humesa.” Lucas announced to the two young Draiken in an upbeat tone, clapping his hands together as he grinned proudly. “Hopefully, you’ll enjoy your stay with us for the foreseeable future.”
“T-thank you for having us.” Zaron responded with an awkward head bow.
Zaron, Veena, Tobias, and Lucas were all situated in the lounge area of the Cobalt household, the two Draiken perched next to each other on a wide sofa whilst Tobias was sat in a separate armchair. Sitting back with a glass in hand, Zaron took his time in quenching his first. Beside him was a groggy Veena, preoccupied in her internal struggle to retain concentration whilst sipping her own glass. Zaron informed her on the situation before meeting Lucas in person: detailing that the man was a close friend and ally to both their parents, and the one who had treated their wounds. The shock was inevitable for Veena, initially concerned over how trustworthy the human family was to them. However, after brief consideration, she decided to take Zaron's words to heart, believing in his judgement wholeheartedly.
As the two young Draiken sipped back their water, the relaxed Tobias watched on in curiosity, oblivious of his father’s enthusiastic speech as he was captivated by the mere sight of members of the Draiken species staying in his home. He had barely the chance to speak with either Draiken before the group meeting, yet he was ecstatic that he would soon learn of the two and their world from a personal level.
(Humesa...)
The nation’s name wondered in Zaron's mind vacantly, still struggling to comprehend the fact that he was standing on Humesa’s soil. It took no time for him to assume that he and Veena were now residing in the opposing nation – although the exact whereabouts was unknown to him. On the one hand, he was excited to explore and understand the human lands. On the other, he grew cautious on the implications relating to then existing in Humesa: both he and Veena were now isolated.
They had no viable way of contacting home, nor had they any idea of how the conflicted with the assassin concluded. He was overwhelmed with questions, desperate to calm his worried heart. There were questions regarding Denzo and his father:
(Where were they during the time of the attack? Were they aware of the attack? What happened to them? And where are they now...?)
There were also questions in relation to the assassin and Lucas:
(How were they able to slip through into Dragora without alerting the nation’s impassable defence systems? What was the purpose of the assassin’s assault on the Nitro Residence? Why did Lucas shoot us with tranquilizer bullets instead of intervening directly? And were their subsequent appearances at the house just a coincidence? Or was it planned…?)
However, whilst he could keep these questions at bay for now, there was one question that tore through him. Even though he was overjoyed that Veena was with him alive and well, he had yet to consider himself relieved. He was beyond desperate to hear the very words that would calm his woes.
“I don’t know how long you were there for, but … I assume you were there long enough to watch the fight with the assassin.” Zaron murmured sincerely as he expressed his thoughts. “So, please tell me: Do you know if my mother survived the fight?”
Lucas’ eyes lowered in the instant he heard the question, his optimistic grin wiped away as he considered his next words. At the same time, Tobias straightened up on his seat as he listened in anticipation, curious to hear his father’s account on that fateful night. Alternatively, Veena switched to Zaron with an anxious expression, anxious of the possible reaction upon hearing the answer. However, Zaron’s hope had diminished as he witnessed Lucas’ reaction.
After a minor pause, a sigh escaped Lucas’ mouth. “I admit, I saw it all … from the very moment you two turned up to the house...”
Both Zaron and Veena tensed up, their memories still fresh of the trauma as they connected the dots.
“When the situation became critical, I considered jumping in to stop the assault.” Lucas continued in truth, his eyes refusing to divert from Zaron to show his honesty. “However, your mother then swooped in at the last minute. I could’ve jumped in and helped her, but – and trust me when I say this … standing in her way when she’s pissed would’ve been a death-sentence.”
“…Heh…”
A quiet chuckle escaped Zaron’s breath, relating to Lucas’ reasoning all too well from his own subjective experiences. However, the amusement was brief, returning to the dour emotions as Lucas proceeded with his explanation.
“But seeing her fall and the house explode … it left me horrified.” Lucas then muttered resentfully, feeling he had no right to speak of the event. “I wanted to help her. If given the chance, I would’ve helped her without a second thought. The problem was … I had my mission.”
“And … what was the mission?” Veena murmured in question, staring cautiously at the man before her.
“My priority was to get the both of you out of harm’s way … and bring you to Humesa.” Lucas admitted, believing the two Draiken deserve the answer. “…I’d never live with myself if I abandoned that responsibility.”
Zaron tensed up, his patience stretched thin as he was desperate for his desired answer.
“Just give it to me straight: Did my mother survive?” He demanded in a firm tone, barely a breath escaping his lips as he continued to glare at Lucas. “…Or did she die?”
Lucas clammed up instantly, avoiding eye-contact. Silence engulfed the room, all three members of the audience staring directly at Lucas in anticipation for his response.
“I don’t know.” Lucas answered directly, consumed in bitterness as he spoke the cursed words. “The last I saw of her was when she fell into the blaze.”
And with that, Zaron slumped back against his seat in silent defeat, his face void of emotions as the world around him crumbled. The young Draiken sat imagining himself forever wondering for an answer to the conflict, driving himself insane at the prospect of never receiving a decisive answer. Zaron then felt a pair of large, sky-blue eyes staring at him directly, assuming Veena had noticed his disheartened reaction instantly and grew worried over his wellbeing. He switched to her with a forced smile, hoping to dispel her concerns whist expressing his gratitude for her concern – his attempt was not effective.
“Actually, saying that...”
However, what the two Draiken neglected to realise was that Lucas had yet to finish his answer.
“As I collected you … I did hear head faint clashing of blades amongst the flames.” He added with a low murmur, his tone filled with doubt and uncertainty. “...it could just be my imagination at the time, though.”
Zaron whipped back round to the human before him, his heart leapt up as though it was about to explode from his chest immediately upon hearing his comment. His mind fell into a spiral of conflicting emotions, swaying between cautious doubt and whimsical hope. The entire conundrum caused an irritable headache to brew within him, struggling to emerge optimistic. As Zaron was lost in the turmoil of his own thoughts, Veena was left sceptical of the uncertain revelation.
“What makes you think the sounds were blades clashing?” She questioned intently with a stern tone, conscious of Zaron’s overall wellbeing. “For all we know, it could've been the house falling apart.”
Lucas nodded silently, understanding Veena’s doubt on the matter. During a short pause, Lucas stood in deep thought, recollecting the event as thoroughly as his mind could endure. Veena’s glare on him held strong, refusing to divert her attention until she found certainty to his words.
“I’ve known Terra for a very long time, and I can assure you: she is one of the most stubborn, ruthless women I have ever met.” He admitted to the two Draiken, reflecting on his days fighting alongside her. “In her prime, she's soloed armies of monsters; she's tracked down and foiled criminal syndicate operations; she’s slayed some of the most sociopathic mass-murderers Xaphire has ever had on its soil; and, to top it off, I’ve even had the pleasure of watching a notorious crime lord cower under a table the moment Terra entered the room. When I observed Terra’s fight that night, I could tell she was rusty in her fighting technique ... but, she had barely scratched the surface of her usual capabilities. And sure, whilst Mantis may be a force to be reckoned, she would never compare to the High-Rise Mercenary in terms of raw ability.”
“Mantis...?”
Zaron's eyes head perked up ad he murmured out of curiosity, the name of the assassin catching his attention instantly.
“Yep, that’s her name: ‘The Crimson Mantis’ … or, at least, that’s what we humans have dubbed her.” Tobias pointed out, finally able to include himself in the conversation. “She’s certainly a piece of work. I don’t think there’s ever been a time where she hasn’t been on the news: whether it’s the emergence of another slain victim, or journalists spouting out the next barbaric theory behind her assassinations.”
Zaron tensed up as he took in the information with full attention, linking the dots in his mind.
“Has there been any connection amongst her known victims?” Zaron then questioned.
Lucas stepped in and shook his head.
“No, not that we know so far.” He answered truthfully. “From what people have gathered, her targets are random - ranging from the innocence to those with questionable backgrounds. All we can assume for now is that she’s under contract.”
“So, it’s likely someone with a personal vendetta had her target us.” Zaron then suggested casually, imagining the likeliest scenario based on the information given to them. “Who gave her the command?”
“And ... how did she gain access to Dragora so easily?” Veena added. “The vast array of security systems surrounding Dragora are known to be impenetrable and beyond destructive.”
“That goes for Humesa as well.” Tobias informed with a spring in his voice. “Our borders are armed and responsive to the slightest of humanoid movement – whether it be Draiken or Human. In fact, the system has mistaken a few seabirds for Draiken on plenty of occasions during its early years of operation ... boy, the protests were brutal back then.”
“So, really, we should be asking: how was Mantis able to slip through two sets of deadly, impenetrable borders?” Zaron then summarised, taken aback by such a possibility.
“I must say, you’ve all done your homework.” Lucas complimented with a prideful smirk, causing the three to glance to one another in confusion. “You guys are certainly correct. The level of security surrounding both nations are impossible to pass. You’d be insane for even thinking of attempting to cross the border.”
As children, Zaron and Veena would often overhear and speculate on various rumours regarding the horror stories of Dragora's immense borders. They could imagine enormous warships of plenty obliterating rogue vessels, unfortunate drifters, and everything else in between in a blink of an eye. Additionally, they imagined devastating laser-cannons aiming at any organism approach the walls erected upon the ocean unknowingly, regardless of whether they approached from sea, sky, and even under the ocean depths. It was a barbaric fantasy.
During recent years, Zaron had brushed the rumours off as childish fantasies as over-exaggerated and ludicrous scenarios just to fuel their young, imaginative minds. However, upon hearing Lucas’ comments, the young Draiken reconsidered his ignorant mind-set quickly.
“There are – or, should I say, were – exceptions to the security ordeal prior to the war.” Lucas continued. “Namely: the underground cross-ocean channels ... which I’m sure you’re all aware of.”
Zaron and Veena’s both nodded, remembering the subject during their time at their home academy.
The cross-ocean channels were established to transfer items and people of significant interest between the two nations via a secure, fast and easily accessible underground network running miles below the ocean’s surface. Although registered officially through a joint-nation partnership, they were used to transport cargo and rarely ever used by the public. Regardless, the channel system was thriving for decades with plans to open more routes for supply transport and an alternate option for travel. Of course, the fallout between Dragora and Humesa halted any plans of expansion permanently. Before anyone had time to react, the nations’ boarders were shut down indefinitely and all forms of cross-oceanic transport were discontinued. Adding insult to injury, every known underground channel was placed under priority lockdown, refusing any potential of passing borders as blast-protected blockades were installed and high-level security ready to execute whoever may trespass. And, for the twenty years since the war ended and the borders were locked down indefinitely – no known report was ever recorded of a border breach.
However, with the revelation that Mantis was able to slip through in to Dragora and that Lucas was able to transport the two unconscious Draiken into Humesa, both Zaron and Veena doubted the academy teachings and the established records.
“Let me guess, you used a ‘secret’ channel to travel between Dragora and Humesa...?” Veena estimated curiously, her mind in harmony with Zaron’s.
“Right you are, Miss Alko!” Lucas then announced in praise, as though anticipating the Draiken's realisation. “It’s common knowledge that all registered channels are sealed off, but you can’t say the same for those built independently from government intervention. From what I know, most secret tunnels were left abandoned once the Xaphire fallout commenced and the government ruled for demolishment. However, a few locations were lost ... including the private channel for the Xaphire Ultima.”
“You’re joking.”
Zaron almost leapt out of his chair entirely, blurting out as he heard those last words.
“Hahaa...! Nope.” Lucas answered in an amused chuckle. “Back during our heyday, they never batted an eye on how we travelled between nations – just as long as we fulfilled our duties. It does make me wonder how much they’re regretting it right now, though...”
“Wait ... surely they would’ve questioned you about the channel?” Veena followed up in question, finding the human government's lack of investigation odd.
“Oh, they did. Dad simply duped them by showing them a dormant ‘decoy’ channel.” Tobias then responded in his father’s stead, smirking away. “They had no idea that the decoy channel was abandoned years before due to a colossal cave in further into the tunnel. And so, they took dad’s words to heart and the Ultima’s channel was left open for twenty more years without anyone else knowing.”
Just then, Zaron came to a bewildered realisation, acting as though a life-long question was finally answered.
(Was that why dad constantly disappeared? Was he visiting Humesa in secrecy?)
And then, Veena shuffled forward in her seat with an abrupt burst of hope.
“Does that mean we’re able to return to Dragora using the channel?” She questioned as her heart raced.
In one swift motion, both Lucas and Tobias dropped their grins, glancing over to one another with troubled, anxious expressions. Noticing their sudden reactions, Veena felt her cast of hope diminish. As much as it pained her, their solemn expressions alone proved to her that the chances of returning to Dragora were non-existent.
“You may as well show them, Tobi...” Lucas suggested to his son in regret.
At his father’s command, Tobias slipped out a small, grey device from his pocket awkwardly. The device was a typical phone in outward appearances, its design different to the phones used in Dragora – its lack of touchscreen and a folded layout as its most notable aspect. It was further emphasised when Tobias flipped open the device, revealing an LCD screen that switched on automatically and a separate button-pad. The first thought that that crossed Zaron and Veena’s minds:
(That’s very ... retro.)
As Tobias searched through the device, Veena sunk lower in her seat, dreading the inevitable disappointment of reality. Tobias then stepped up from his seat and passed on the device to Zaron and Veena without a world. Upon inspecting the images, their hearts sank to the abyss immediately.
“For the past few weeks, I’ve been tracking down Mantis so I could detain her before her next victim emerged.” Lucas explained as he watched the two Draiken flicking through the images on the screen, his expression tense and solemn. “My investigation was brought to a sudden shift when I found her entering the Ultima’s channel two days before the attack. Within a few hours, I was set and followed her trail into the tunnel. I searched for her in Dragora for those two days, and when I located her eventually ... she was already hiding in the house. After Terra intervened with the fight and I stepped in to retrieve you two, I took you both back through the channel. I expected it to be a straightforward trip back to Humesa, but – well ... what you see there was the aftermath.”
Zaron’s breaths were heavy, struggling to comprehend what he was observing on the screen before him. Veena's expression was completely frozen, her fingers stiff as she continued to press the button-prompt indicating to the next photo. The images on the screen highlighted the tunnels within the Ultima’s cross-ocean channel – at least, what was left of the tunnels. Once illuminated with numerous surrounding strips of neon-LED lights, the elongated circular walls had collapsed beyond repair. The titanium-metallic tracks that followed along the tunnel ground – used for swift transportation between Humesa and Dragora – were crushed underneath the immense rubble, rendering them useless permanently.
There were no gaps between the rubble, no speck of light breaking through: the channel was completely inaccessible.
“...”
Veena continued to stare at the images in trance-like silence, her shoulders drooped and dismayed expression. Her heart had cracked, the realisation that she and Zaron were isolated from home finally set in. The only possibility she could consider was for Lucas to reveal a separate unregistered channel unknown to the rest of the world. However, she knew there was no point in reviving her hopes.
“Was this her doing?” Zaron questioned hesitantly.
“Ehh ... it’s possible that Mantis had set up explosives before I entered the channel, but ... I don’t see it.” Lucas answered him, shaking his head. “From what I’ve seen, she’s not one for an explosive finish. I suspect … it was her contractor.”
“And ... who would that be?” Veena murmured in a low breath, struggling to voice her words as she continued to listen.
“Well, take this into consideration: only a selected number of individuals are aware of the channel’s existence, and roughly half of those individuals know of its whereabouts.” Lucas then enlightened them, his feet pacing slowly. “On top of that, if we were to cross out the four of us in the room; those who currently reside in Dragora; and the channel’s creator – who I’ve closely known most of my life: I can only think of one individual. I’ll be honest, I have no evidence to back this claim, I only know a motive. He-...”
Suddenly, Lucas halted his tongue momentarily, struggling to reveal the infamous name. The two Draiken peered up from the phone-screen, staring at the distressed Cobalt curiously.
“He ... goes by the name of Strada Hydro.” Lucas finished after a deep breath, forcing himself to speak the final words.
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Zaron breathed out a sudden shock, his eyes widened in as the notorious name sparked memories locked deep down in the cages of his mind. He reflected on the old, framed photo that sat on his lap ten years ago, forever wondering about the man who stood amongst the rest of the Xaphire Ultima’s team members. And yet, his name alone was taboo for the entire decade, forbidden to pry for details of the man from his parents. After a decade-long itch, his curiosity was finally answered.
“Isn’t he dead?” Veena asked Lucas curiously, her attention also piqued upon hearing the name. “From what my mother told me: Terra struck him down.”
Zaron switched to Veena in an instant, feeling as though a bombshell had caught him off-guard completely. Considering it was Veena – of all people – to relay the unexpected information caused him to feel severely out of the loop, considering how long he had known her for and how often they spend their time together.
“Rowena was never one to keep secrets.” Lucas commented with a snicker, shaking his head. “What she told you was correct, Miss Alko. Whilst it was Terra who dealt the final blow at the time, the definitive fight that decided the War was between Virion and Strada. It’s not my place to disclose the events that led up to their conflict, but what I can say is that Strada had a longstanding grudge for Virion – and Terra, to some extent – after they had a falling out. He damned the Nitro family, believing they betrayed the people of Humesa, and would do anything to wipe them out from the face of Xaphire.”
“So, you reckon Strada hired Mantis to assassinate Virion – if we’re led to believe that he’s still alive, of course.” Veena summarised, soothing her brow as she attempted to make sense of the information.
“Not just Virion. I believe he wanted the entire Nitro family out of the picture.” Lucas then emphasised, showing severity in his assumption. “However, I wouldn't be surprised if he’s too weak to do the dirty work himself and had no choice but to employ Mantis.”
As Lucas and Veena continued to theorize on the subject, Zaron took the time to get his head around the entire scenario. Setting aside the initial shock of the new info laid upon him, he was left to wonder what caused his father and Strada to become the worst of enemies, and how their conflict decided the fate of the War of Nations all those years ago.
“What if Strada’s actually dead, though?” He deliberated to the three in the room, catching Veena and Lucas’ attention mid-conversation. “Would there be anyone who would want to avenge his death? What if … Mantis knew him on a personal level?”
The room fell silent immediately, taking a moment to ponder these alternatives.
“You make a good point, Master Nitro.” Lucas murmured as he broke the silence. “Given the context, an associate to Strada committing revenge is certainly more credible than him surviving Terra’s blades. It’s also just as likely that Mantis was acting on a personal vendetta against your family. Either way, we have no evidence to back up those claims in our position ... and no leads to commence a full investigation on the matter.”
Feeling the sting of another setback, Zaron drooped back against his seat deep in thought. Beside him, Veena was struck by the disappointment, hunched over with the glass of water shaking in the cusp of her hands. With no way of returning to Dragora and no conclusion to the Mantis case, the two were stuck. To add to the issue, it was a death-sentence for them to immerse themselves in Humesa’s society, noting their perceived reputation along with their ‘less-than-subtle’ gimmicks – meaning they were limited on options. Unfortunately for Zaron, he had an idea of how they should proceed – much to his resentment for its poor yet equally perfect timing.
First the attack on the Nitro Residence occurring soon after his encounter with the Goddess Enva, and now both he and Veena were stuck in a foreign nation prepared to decimate them the moment their exposed to the world: everything was too much of a coincidence to simply ignore. Fidgeting on his seat uncomfortably, Zaron considered his approach on how he would gain Humesa’s trust.
“Something on your mind, Zaron?” Tobias wondered curiously, noticing the young Draiken’s awkward fidgeting.
“Wha-?” Zaron reacted in an abrupt twitch as he raised his head.
All eyes in the room were drawn on him, wondering what going through his mind. At first, Veena was in the same camp, staring at Zaron with the faintest idea as to why he was acting so anxiously. However, she soon realised his trouble, remembering the conversation the two young Draiken had on the way home after their Battle-Sim session.
(“So, yeah ... I now have to restore the severed bonds between Dragora and Humesa.”)
With Zaron’s past voice echoing deep within her thoughts, Veena straightened her posture and swiftly directed her attention to the two humans before them.
“T-to be honest, we’re still a little groggy.” She admitted to them in excuse, mixing a blend of honesty and exaggeration in her words. “We’ll probably need some more time to adjust ourselves.”
Zaron switched to his close friend with widened eyes, “Wha-? Veena, I can keep going. You don’t need to-!”
Nudge!
“Ow...” Before he could utter another word, she nudged his leg abruptly with her foot.
Lucas shrugged in casual acceptance, “Fair enough, I see your point. The last thing you two need is to feel overwhelmed.”
He then transitioned to his oblivious son, nodding to him. “Tobi, let’s give them some space.”
“Aw, man! Seriously?! There’s so much I still want to know about Dragora.” Tobias groaned in complaint.
However, Lucas gave him an intense stare, causing him to pout as he complied with the request.
“Fine. I’ll wait a little longer.”
With that, Tobias stood from his seat and followed his father out the room, grumbling to himself bitterly underneath his low breaths. As he passed the two Draiken, Veena offered back his flip-phone, nodding to him in silent gratitude. Noticing her courtesy, Tobias set aside his discrepancy instantly as he received the device, returning a warmed grin.
Finally, the young Draiken were left on their lonesome in the lounge.
“So … what’s our play?” Veena prompted as she shifted her attention back to Zaron, her eyes beaming with curiosity. “Should we tell them about your ‘task’? Or should we just keep it to ourselves for now?”
Hearing her questions, Zaron responded with an uncertain sigh.
“I’m … not sure.” He murmured in deep thought. “We can certainly trust them, and it seems they’re more than willing to help us out. But they’ve done so much for us already, it seems wrong for me to ask them so casually.”
“Take it from me: they’re not idiots.” Veena assured him bluntly. “I’m sure those two – or at least, Lucas – probably know you’re on a grandiose mission. I bet they’re just waiting for us to ask them.”
“That makes sense, I guess…” Zaron commented warily, still feeling conflicted. “In a way, it’d be wrong not to ask them. They know Humesa way better than we ever will, so it’ll be dumb of us not to use their help. I just ... don’t want to be an inconvenience.”
Veena let out a small sigh, understanding his concern yet feeling they were jumping ahead of themselves.
“We’ve got time. Maybe after a few weeks, we’ll be ready to tackle it head on.”
After a moment of consideration, Zaron nodded in acceptance, breaking out a smile.
“Right now, though … I could really use a shower.” She then commented, chugging back the remainder of her water before rising to her feet. “I’ll go ask Lucas if its available to use.”
Before Zaron realised what had happened, she was out the door already.
“Wait, Veena...” He called to her hastily, hoping not to miss the chance.
She then halted her steps.
“Hm? What’s up?”
“A-are you okay … helping me out with this?” Zaron asked hesitantly, his words stuttering.
“Pfft...!”
Zaron’s eyes widened by her unexpected response.
“Zaron, don’t you think it’s a bit late to ask that?” She further questioned in a tease, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Come on, I thought you knew me well enough by now. I made my decision ages ago – and that’s never going to change.”
Whilst still left perplexed, Zaron smirked back at Veena, finding her determined view endearing to hear. However, concerns still loomed in his mind, believing he would only regret it if he avoided the discussion.
“What about your wounds?”
The curl of Veena’s lips twitched upon hearing his next question, her sight wavering as grew conscious of her own current state. Ever since waking up, she never once mentioned her injuries, preferring the keep the details of the pain to herself. Eventually, she had forgot about her condition completely as she was focused on the conversation with the Cobalts. And yet, after Zaron mentioned the injuries, she grew aware of her condition once more.
“I'm fine.” She waved off casually after a moment of silence. “If anything, I now have a personal vendetta against the bitch who attacked us.”
Veena then gave him a quick, cheeky wink as she rushed out the room, escaping before Zaron could interrogate her further.
“...”
Alone in the empty living room, the stiffened Zaron hunched forward on the sofa, sipping his glass of water silently as he was left to his own thoughts. He took the opportunity to further reflect on their current position, reality of the predicament finally setting in.
(Who’d have thought I’d be standing on Humesa’s soil days after encountering a Goddess.)
He reflected on his chance encounter with the Goddess Enva naturally, imagining how naïve he was upon accepting her world-changing request.
(...I guess these unexpected events will become a common trend going forward.)
Zaron sigh out, soothing his bandaged torso as his thoughts shifted to the fated conflict with the Crimson Mantis. He was fuelled with resentment, imagining the assassin’s notorious helmet mocking him as she dragged the barely conscious Veena out of the crumbling house. The devastation she caused on his home during her attack; the injuries both he and Veena received from her deadly arm-blades; and the possible death of his mother by the assassin’s hand: Zaron could not comprehend how he would handle Mantis if he were to face her once again. He could only pray that his mother struck the final blow and emerged victorious against the assassin.
Zaron shook his head promptly, switching back to the subject of his task before he was overwhelmed by the downward trajectory of negative thoughts. With the two young Draiken staying in Humesa for the foreseeable future, it would seem foolish to not consider his next action. One key advantage he considered was that he had credible help on his side: he had a life-long partner in Veena; he had Lucas’ vast experience and knowledge from his days as a member of the Xaphire Ultima; and he had Tobias’ own knowledge of human society and overall acceptance of living amongst Draiken. Even though he was limited on freedom and significant risk of exposure outside the homely walls surrounding him, he believed he was at least able to adjust to his new environment. However, he was left with one major issue:
(How am I going to gain Humesa’s trust...?)
Leaning back against the sofa and lifting his head towards the ceiling above, he continued to wrack his brain for ideas. However, Zaron’s eyes grew heavy, realising drowsiness was gradually consuming him. He wiped his eyes vigorously, desperately avoiding the temptation of sleep. Veena’s earlier statement was more accurate than he thought.
(Maybe … for a little bit…)
Within seconds, Zaron was drifting into limbo, his eyes struggling to hold focused. He shuffled back against the cushioned seat as he found an optimum position, accepting his invitation into the dreamscape – or so he assumed.
“Whatever you two were talking about earlier: I want in!”
“GAH! DAYDREAMING!!!” Zaron blurted out abruptly as he awoke in fright. “…Huh?”
The young Draiken glanced to his right groggily, his eyelids only half-open due to the looming drowsiness. Squatting beside him was Tobias, staring back at him with an overly eager grin.
“T-Tobias, right?” Zaron recollected warily, blinking a few times to regain focus.
“Just call me Tobi, man.” The young Cobalt corrected him casually, waving off any formality. “It rolls of the tongue better that way.”
“Got it.” Zaron accepted with a dozy nod, straightening up on his seat before suddenly realising the earlier comment. “So … hold on. Were you eavesdropping on us?”
Tobi swayed his head in consideration, “Mmm…! I find the word ‘eavesdropping’ a bit extreme in context. I just overheard the conversation when I was standing outside the door.”
(He hasn’t denied it…)
Zaron smirked in amusement at the thought, deciding to follow on the conversation rather than point out the flaw.
“Aren’t you supposed to be helping your dad out right now?” He questioned curiously.
“I am!” Tobi assured him in blunt response. “I mean, I was … up until now. The problem is: I’m stuck, and I need your help with something.”
“Me? What for?”
Tobi continued to stare at him with an eager expression, acting as though he expected Zaron to guess.
***
“Ah … That makes sense.”
Both Zaron and Tobi stood at the entrance porch of the Cobalt household, gazing at the floor below as though inspecting a crime scene. Lying before them was the Artoria Blade, left abandoned on the carpet floor awkwardly. Upon closer inspection, Zaron noticed the tip of the weapons blade was propped against the porch’s doorframe, denting the flooring beneath due to its colossal weight. The porch itself was covered over entirely in a mix of tarpaulin sheets, curtains, and bedsheets. Based on the lack of organisation, Zaron assumed the set-up was rushed to hide the contents from any wondering eyes. From what Zaron guessed, the Cobalts had attempted to drag the weapon into the house at the dead of night. However, upon reaching the porch, they abandoned the idea eventually as they were unable to drag it further at the risk of damaging the floor.
“It took the three of us to move the damn thing from the truck.” Tobi explained with a disgruntled huff, flexing his shoulders as he soothed the strained muscles. “Thankfully, it was the middle of the night, and the neighbourhood was empty at the time. We looked like clowns getting you both and the sword into the house.”
“Three…?” Zaron echoed in question.
“Yep! Me, my Old Man, and...” Tobi nodded before trailing off, hesitant to conclude the answer.
“Your brother.” Zaron finished for him, remembering there was the third Cobalt in the house.
Tobi switched to him in surprise, “Yeah…! How did you know that?”
“When I was waking up, I could hear voices talking over me.” The Draiken recollected, struggling to remember the conversation details. “I heard you and Lucas, but I also heard a third voice. I did hear you had a twin, so ... I put two-and-two together.”
Tobi nodded in understanding, before following up with a piece of advice.
“Well, I recommend ignoring him.”
Zaron raised a brow, “Why’s that?”
“He’s not exactly the most ‘sociable’ of people.” Tobi admitted in an exaggerated tone, expressing bitterness to the subject. “He’d much rather keep to himself.”
“Fair play to him.” Zaron commented lightly, respecting the preference.
In the meantime, he lifted the Artoria blade seamlessly, handling it with the utmost ease whilst inspecting its overall condition. Tobi watched on in awe, struggling to comprehend how the lone Draiken could wield the weapon without effort whist three humans struggled to drag it across the front lawn.
“Dude, what’s your secret?” He pursued to question Zaron eagerly, showing no attempt to hide his disbelief. “That thing weighed a bloody tonne when we tried to move it! It even wrecked our front lawn in the process!”
As proof to the claim, Tobi opened the porch-door and drew back the over-hanging sheets. Zaron’s heart sank immediately as he felt a sense of guilt overcome him. He could see the vast, tranquil neighbourhood through the gap of the covers – along with the sorry state for a lawn that was churned to oblivion. A deep, gut-wrenching line of unearthed soil could be seen crossing the entire length of the grass, completely tarnishing a well-maintained patch of grassland. To add to the torment, the damage followed through onto the boarding pavement leading to the front porch. Overall, there was no doubt that the Cobalts had scrambled to hide the two Draiken along with any Draiken-related items. Zaron could just imagine the agony and hardships they endured to ensure the two were safe and secure. It made his stomach churn, feeling evermore apologetic for the damage and looming dread of exposure.
“There’s a bit of a knack to it.” Zaron admitted with a light shrug, answering to Tobi’s eager question. “I can’t really say how it works, though. All I know is that you need to inherit it to wield it.”
Tobi then leaned forward in a subtle motion as an idea popped into his mind.
“Do you … mind if I hold it?”
Zaron switched to him with a baffled glare, wondering if the human was playing him for a fool. And yet, based on the pure anticipation gleaming from Tobi’s eyes, it was clear as day that his intentions were genuine.
Bearing a straight face, Zaron held out the blade’s hilt, “Sure. Go for it.”
His heart racing and breaths heavy in anticipation, Tobi reached out for the hilt. He grasped it with a firm hold, and Zaron proceeded to release.
“Hahaa...! This isn’t so-!”
Whoosh-! BANG!
In the instant that Zaron released his possession of the weapon, the abrupt shift in weight caused the blade to lose balance and fall – along with the unsuspecting Tobi. With the blade in mid-descent, Zaron kicked out his foot automatically to catch of the weapon’s hilt before it fully collapsed the floor. Although the Artoria blade halted its fall, Tobi continued his uncontrolled momentum and collided hard against the firm flooring. Upon hitting the floor, Tobi released his grip on the hilt instantly and scrambled to his feet, shaken up from the sudden shock. As he stood, he inspected the condition of his hand, checking every side to ensure that it was still in one piece.
Watching Tobi’s bewildered reaction, Zaron broke into fits of laughter.
“Ah-hahahahahaa...!”
“That was cheap!” Tobi exclaimed manically, holding his hand close to his chest as though he was protecting it with his life. “I almost had my hand crushed, man!”
“Pfft…! Ah-hahahahah! Come on, you had that one coming.” Zaron chortled in response. “Seriously, what were you thinking? Was dragging Artoria to the door not enough for you?”
“I thought I could wield as long as I had your permission.” Tobi then grumbled with disappointed pout, feeling as though he was conned.
Picking up his Artoria blade from hovering over his foot, Zaron continued to chuckle out.
“If it was that simple, I’d be able to wield Artoria from the age of five.” He admitted to the young Cobalt, further chuckling at the imagination of holding up the weapon twice the size of the child’s body. “I’ll be honest, though: I have no idea how it works. I think you would need to earn the right to inherit the blade. But even then, it’s up to chance on what would classify as ‘earning the right’.”
As he spoke his last words, Tobi’s eyes perked up in an instant.
“So, you must’ve done something insane to meet the requirements, right?” He assumed to the Draiken curiously, showing increased excitement overhearing the specific achievement. “I wonder ... how did you become worthy?”
“Huh…?”
In that instant, Zaron felt a cold shiver up his spine, feeling a sense of wary consciousness in his position. He was backed into a mental corner, conflicted on how to proceed. On the one hand, he was open to reveal everything to the human before him, believing it would be an ideal opportunity to acquire some additional support for the plethora of challenges awaiting him. On the other, he was left in doubt, hesitant with the idea of revealing confidential information to a stranger he had just met – regardless that the stranger was a Cobalt.
“Badgering him like that will get you nowhere, dumbass.” A moody voice then called out abruptly, the tone lacking any sense of care.
Both Zaron and Tobi switched to the owner of the voice in sudden alert, taken aback by the unexpected hostility.
“Screw off, Marc! I’m doing nothing of the sort! All I’m doing is showing interest!” Tobi spat in bitter retaliation, his tone growing equally vicious. “In fact, why don't you come out of your cave and introduce yourself to our guests – you know, like a normal human being!”
Standing idle at the other end of the hall with snacks and fizzy drink in hand was the third Cobalt family member: Marc Cobalt. Just like his twin brother, Marc sported the distinctive blond hair that was a staple to the Cobalt family. However, it was styled shorter and significantly less messy in comparison to his brother, preferring a sophisticated style over his twin’s free-form approach. Differentiating himself further, he wore rectangular glasses with black frames, adding to the intense, stone-like glare. He also lacked the tanned complexion, instead his pale skin indicating he had not seen sun in months. Finally, his casual attire lacked any distinct style, sporting a zipped light-grey hoodie and typical deep-blue jeans. Based on first impressions, Marc was how Zaron had pictured him exactly: moody, uninterested, and incredibly introvert.
Glancing at the Draiken briefly, Marc uttered a barely audible comment before leaving the scene.
“...I'll pass.”
Zaron opted to stay silent, feeling he had no authority to speak over the heat between the two brothers. He could feel the resent fuming from Tobi, an emotion he empathised with in reflection to his many spats with Denzo. And yet, Zaron noticed Marc's piercing gaze directed at him, adamant not to associate with the Draiken at all costs. The two watched as Marc slipped through the opened door on his left with snacks and drink in hand, disappearing without another word. As the door slammed, Tobi scoffed in open disgust.
“So, there you have it ... the asshole of the family.” Tobi muttered with an irritated sigh, shaking his head. “Now you see why it’s best to avoid him.”
Zaron nodded without a word, understanding his point.
However, Tobi then switched to Zaron, his once infuriated attitude shifting to joyous excitement in a snap.
“Well then, guess it’s time I give you a proper tour of the house.” He announced with his beaming smile, already stepping towards the staircase situated to the left. “Seeing as we’ll be roommates for the foreseeable future, we’ll start with my room.”
Watching Tobi ascend the steps in an excitable rush, Zaron was hesitant to follow. The brief encounter with Marc continued to linger at the surface of his mind, questioning internally whether he and Veena were an inconvenience to the Cobalts. The thought of burden bothered him immensely, his head lowered in uncertainty and wings drooping as his mind clouded with doubt and insecurity.
“…aron … Oi, Zaron.”
Tobi’s distant voice called out to him, breaking through the trance that engulfed the Draiken boy.
“What’s the matter, man?”
Returning to reality, Zaron glanced at the human with sombre eyes, struggling to hide the pain underneath the forced confident expression.
“…It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Zaron dismissed with a low murmur, his tone wavering.
“Nuh-uh! I’m not having any of that.” Tobi denied with a firm tone, stepping down to face the Draiken. “If we’re going to be best buds, I need you to be honest with me, got it? I can get that some information is confidential right now, but I’ll be damned if I just sit by and ignore a friend feeling down in the dumps. Being secretive is one thing but lying through your teeth is a level I won’t tolerate. End of story!”
Zaron gulped anxiously, nodding in quick acceptance as he took the full brunt of the criticism. Satisfied by the response, Tobi lightened up his stance and crossed his arms casually – open to hear Zaron’s lingering qualms. Letting out a quiet sigh, Zaron decided to speak his mind.
“How do you feel about Veena and I?”
“What do you mean?” Tobi wondered back as he leant forward, finding the question vague.
“What I mean is: are we going to be a bother for you guys?” Zaron clarified.
Upon processing the question, Tobi's initial expression shifted to a mixture of bafflement and confusion. Eventually, an irritated groan escaped him in response.
“Man, is that really what was bothering you? And here I was hop-… I mean, thinking it would be something world-shattering.”
Zaron stared back at the young Cobalt blankly.
(Wait … was he about to say ‘hoping’...?)
“I guess it can’t be helped…” Tobi then murmured with a nonchalant shrug, leaning back against the steps and cocking back his head as his mind wondered. “When we took you both in, Marc kept spouting on about how: ‘Taking in Draiken would be too risky!’, and ‘We’ll be executed if we associate ourselves with them!’ among other things. He was so persistent about it, it was honestly getting on our nerves.”
In that moment, Zaron shoulders and wings droop depressively, falling further into the depths of insignificance. The Artoria blade’s hilt slipped from his loose grasp as his eyes lowered in guilt. He held doubt over the possibility of accomplishing his mission, feeling failure was inevitable. With every setback and overwhelming risk consuming his mind, he considered writing off his mission as impossible.
“…Screw him.”
“Wha-?” Zaron blurted in an abrupt startle, glancing up to Tobi.
“I said … screw him!” Tobi bellowed at the top of his lungs, his voice loud enough to echo throughout the house. “He’s a smartass! He’s a soulless, selfish dickhead who only shows compassion when it benefits him. All he cares about is making sure he has the easy life. Seriously, don’t let him get to you, mate! If he wants to be awkward, then that’s up to him.”
“O-okay…” Zaron commented hesitantly, feeling his mind was lost in a spiral.
Tobi followed with an uplifted smirk.
“To be honest, I’ve always dreamed of venturing alongside a Draiken. Sure, I might get executed for associating myself with you, but … that’s only if we get caught.”
Staring at Tobi in bemusement, Zaron found himself left smirking. He found the declaration of loyalty endearing, wondering if Tobi would regret those final words eventually. Regardless, Zaron was grateful, deciding that Tobi was trustworthy enough to know about his overall goal.
“Fine ... you win.” He admitted to Tobi, breaking into a light-hearted chuckle. “Just so you know: this task isn’t for the faint of heart.”
Tobi froze up.
“Wait. Why do you say that?”
Zaron proceeded to reveal his intentions to unite the two nations of Xaphire.
As he listened to the specifics, Tobi’s once beaming, excited expression transformed sharply into unmitigated dread, the colour of his cheeks drained in an instant.