Aoi parked his bike in front of the gate. Alune was still sitting behind him, crying softly, trying to calm herself after everything she had faced—the gruesome monster, being thrown high into the air, and the terrifying speed that could have killed her if she'd fallen.
Aoi turned to her and gently removed her helmet.
"Stop crying, kiddo," he said, handing her a blue handkerchief.
Alune froze when she saw the pattern.
"…A cat?" she smiled faintly as she wiped her tears.
Aoi ignored her reaction and walked toward the gate. It opened slightly to let him inside.
Alune hurried after him, afraid of getting lost.
Aoi sighed as they walked down the long corridor. Alune followed closely behind. The building felt enormous around her, making her feel small and out of place.
"Where are we?" Alune asked.
Aoi stopped suddenly.Thump.
Alune bumped into his back."Ouch…"
He chuckled. "We're at the 4th Division base. I need you to meet our captain."
He knocked on the door.
Alune's hands trembled. Meeting a stranger right now felt terrifying.
Aoi stepped inside and saluted the man in front of him.
Alune stayed behind him, peeking into the room.
Alune's eyes widened when she saw a beautiful man sitting behind the office desk, smiling at them. He lifted his hand and waved gently at her. His hair shimmered as the sunlight from the window blended with it, giving him an almost angelic look.
Flick.
Something snapped her back to reality.
"Ouch…"She touched her forehead and pouted.
Aoi rolled his eyes.
The man chuckled at her reaction.
He stood and walked toward her. Then he bent down to her level and gently patted her head.
"Hello, little girl—my name is Sung Junghe."
Alune's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. It was the first time someone had treated her like a child.
Aoi burst out laughing beside her.
Alune quickly grabbed Junghe's hand and stopped him from patting her head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sung… but I am an 18-year-old lady," she said, trying hard not to sound offended.
Junghe froze for a second, then slowly composed himself.
"Oh- my apologies. I didn't mean to insult you."He withdrew his hand gently.
Alune blinked… then smiled and shook her head.
"It's okay."
Suddenly, a man strode toward Junghe and casually hooked an arm over his shoulder.
"So—why are you here, Officer Gen?"His voice was rough, and his appearance looked more like a drunkard than a soldier.
"Yes, sir. I'd like to report that today's mission was a success, and…"Aoi's eyes shifted toward Alune, then back to the rogue man."She… has the Relic of Leviathan."
Their eyes widened as they turned to stare at Alune.
Alune tried to understand what was happening—but she couldn't.
Junghe shoved the man away."Piss off, you dirty drunkard."
The rogue man staggered back.
Junghe immediately stepped closer to Alune. His gaze locked onto the necklace. His shocked expression slowly transformed into a wide, unsettling smile.
He stepped back and looked at Aoi.
"The archaic variant has already chosen its successor."
He leaned against the table.
Aoi's face was unreadable.
Alune noticed it… but kept that thought to herself.
"Let her enroll in Qyran. I'll contact Mr. Omie about it."Junghe quickly pulled out his phone and started dialing.
Alune rushed toward him, trying to stop him.But the rogue man grabbed her like she weighed nothing.
"Let it be. If Junghe makes a decision—you must follow it."
Alune struggled in his grip, refusing to give in.
Junghe ended the call and looked at her with a calm smile."This is an order, not a request."
Alune clenched her fists."Qyran is a prestigious academy for people like you… not me. And I already attend my own school."
Junghe's eyes didn't waver.
"Aoi—go to Qyran and buy her something to eat."
Aoi nodded. He grabbed Alune's hand and started pulling her along.
"I still have things to say!" Alune protested, looking back at Junghe.
But Junghe ignored her.
After that, Alune and Aoi walked out of the base.
The heavy steel doors closed behind them with a low echo.
Alune still remembered Junghe's words.
"It's an order, not a request."
The sentence kept replaying in her head, again and again.
She clenched her fists at her sides as she followed Aoi in silence.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Alune's shoulder, stopping her from moving forward.
She flinched and turned around.
It was the rogue-looking man from earlier.
He smiled faintly at her.
"Sorry about Junghe," he said calmly. "He's very… particular about young people. Don't take it to heart."
He released her shoulder and stood tall in front of her, his presence heavy but not threatening.
"My name is Phin Ansell," he continued. "Captain of the 4th Division."
Alune straightened herself and smiled politely."My name is Alune. Alune Lourent."
Phin's smile slowly faded when he heard her surname."Lourent…?" he repeated. "Do you have a brother?"
Alune's eyes lit up instantly.
"Yes!" she said excitedly. "His name is Aiyen Lourent. He's very talented and charming. Why do you ask?"
Phin looked at her quietly for a second… then shook his head and patted her head gently.
"Nothing," he said with a small smile. "Your name just reminded me of someone."
He stepped back and waved.
"Enjoy your new school, Miss Alune Lourent."
Alune nodded, still confused but smiling. She turned around and walked back to Aoi—who was already sitting on his motorbike, waiting for her.
Along the ride, the sound of the wind filled the quiet and tense environment. Alune could not speak any words as Aoi looked unusually stern compared to before. Alune looked around; the air and the situation were different from where she lived. It was like she lived in a different world from others.
Aoi parked his motorbike at the nearby parking area. He looked straight at Alune and glared.
"Stay there. Don't go anywhere, or I will hunt you," he threatened her, but she didn't feel any threat. Instead, it felt like a friend's joke. She smiled and nodded. Aoi turned around and walked to the nearby stall.
She waited for Aoi for fifteen minutes, yet he still did not come back. Suddenly, a girl around her age looked in her direction with a glare.
"What the—" Before Alune could finish, Aoi came back with a lunch box and a drink.
"Here, eat it before we go." Alune was stunned for a while. She turned back to the girl's direction, but no one was there. Aoi nudged her and looked at her.
"What?" he asked.
Alune just shook her head and took the lunch box.
After they were done eating, Aoi brought her to Qyran.
"Is Qyran nearby?" Alune looked at Aoi, who was just wiping his mouth while walking.
Aoi nodded his head and pointed at the tallest tower. "That is the sign Qyran is nearby." Alune nodded but still didn't quite understand.
They walked until they found a glass automatic door in front of them. Both sides of the door were filled with bush fences decorated with white flowers.
"Are we there yet?" Aoi nodded.
Suddenly, two orbs flew around them. The orbs were like cameras that scanned people.
"We are here with the permission of Vice Captain Sung Junghe of the 4th Division," said Aoi as he crossed his arms on top of his chest. The orbs stopped scanning and started to fly away.
The glass door opened for them.
Alune's eyes filled with shine and light. "I could not believe it…"