REONE
Everyone gathered just outside the Diviner's Nest, still within the vast cave. The air was thick with incense and murmured words as King Arnab stood before Anika, deep in the middle of some elaborate protection ritual—much to everyone's growing impatience. They really needed to leave. But the King refused to be rushed.
"Poor Anika," Lyrian said with a giggle as her father gave her some kind of weird necklace to protect her.
"Poor us, you mean," Mickey whispered to the group, glancing around impatiently. "We're running out of time here. I don't know what the King isn't understanding about that."
Primi shot him a warning look. "Just be grateful he's letting us come with you at all, Legion."
"He's right, Mickey," Reone added quietly. "Let's humour him."
Mickey sighed, and Nova let out a giggle at his unusually impatient response.
"Dad, do we really have to do this?" Anika asked, her tone strained as her father waved a platter of smoking incense in front of her face.
"Yes," King Arnab replied firmly. "You're going outside the Nest for the first time. You'll need all the protection you can get."
Anika turned toward the group behind her. "I'm really sorry, guys."
"It's okay, Princess Anika," Mickey said, forcing a tight smile. "We're already late. What's a few more minutes?"
Anika saw right through Mickey's bad acting and pressed her lips together, embarrassed.
"Now say the incantations with me, Anika," King Arnab instructed.
She sighed but obeyed,really just wanting to be done with the whole thing.
Watching them, Reone felt a twinge of envy. King Arnab wasn't a perfect man, but it was obvious Anika meant everything to him. Meanwhile, Reone's own father had only ever cared about the Sovereign Arsenal—about power. Never about him.
His thoughts drifted back to the weapon the Extractor had wielded, stamped with the Sovereign Arsenal's insignia, and the familiar anger stirred again.
It was bad enough that his father wasn't a good guy, but it seemed that he was a full-on bad guy now, selling his weapons to Nullborn Extractors.
He remembered Varel's words, about the possibility of his father being different now. He had secretly been hoping he'd be right, but as usual, Cassian Damascus had to disappoint him.
"What are you thinking?" a voice whispered near his ear.
He turned to see Lyrian looking at him, curiosity softening her pretty features.
As he met her gaze, warmth flooded his chest. He might not have his father—but at least he had her in his life, the most amazing girl in the world.
"Just thinking about how uncomfortable all this sappiness is," he said, with a nonchalant shrug.
"Riiight," Lyrian replied, clearly unconvinced.
Still facing forward, she crossed her arms. "On other topics, there's something I wanted to run by you," she said. "The Extractors' boss said something that's been bugging me. Maybe you can help me figure it out."
Reone glanced at her. "Sure. What is it?"
"He said something about draining my resonance quickly to make my death fast—unlike what one of his underlings did to me earlier." She paused, noticing how Reone suddenly froze.
"What did he mean by that? I mean… death?"
"I—I don't know," Reone said quickly. "That doesn't really make sense."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," she said with a shrug. "I probably misunderstood. Forget it."
He nodded, saying nothing more. But he was sighing on the inside.
Now he was truly glad the Nullborn Extractor boss was dead. The man had almost revealed the truth to Lyrian—that she had actually died.
Reone exhaled slowly, relieved that the problem had worked itself out. But as he looked back at Anika and King Arnab, doubt crept in. Arnab had kept a devastating secret from his daughter to protect her—and it had nearly torn them apart.
Was he doing the same thing with Lyrian?
If she ever found out, would she also feel betrayed? Would she hate him for keeping the truth from her?
He stared at her, troubled.
"What is it now?" Lyrian asked, catching the look on his face.
Reone swallowed nervously. "Lyrian…"
He was about to tell her everything when Mickey's voice cut him off.
"Guys, I think they're finally done," he said in a low voice that managed to contain his excitement.
Lyrian turned toward Anika and her father. "Looks like you're right, Mickey," she said, matching Mickey's tone.
Reone sighed quietly. He had been so close—so close to lifting the weight off his shoulders. But he hadn't been quick enough. Maybe this interruption was a sign, he thought. Maybe he shouldn't tell her yet. At least, not now.
"What am I going to tell the elders at the feast?" King Arnab asked Anika.
"The truth," she replied lightly. "That I'm on an urgent mission to save the Nest. Or don't—and make it a fun surprise when I come back with the Trident."
"What about your friends—"
"Dad, enough with the stalling,okay?" Anika said gently. "Please."
The King froze, then sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," she said, pulling him into another hug. "I'm scared too, okay? But I just know this is going to work out."
"I hope you'll be just as hopelessly optimistic when you come back," he said softly.
"More," Anika promised.
They pulled away from each other.
King Arnab then took a scroll from a guard and gave it to Nova. "It contains all the information you asked for."
"Thank you,"Nova told told him.
The King nodded before looking at Anika.
"Bye Sweetheart.Be careful."
"Bye dad.And I will Dad,"Anika replied.
She nodded, then turned toward Lyrian and the others. "I'm ready if you guys are."
"We've been ready," Mickey said, rolling his eyes. When everyone looked at him, he cleared his throat. "I mean—how wonderful."
"Come on, Anika. Primi. The jet's not far," Mia said, driving everyone as usual.
"Lead the way," Anika replied.
They said their goodbyes to the King and began moving out of the cave. Anika glanced back one last time, waving to her father before disappearing into the darkness together with Lyrian and the others.
---
Anika and the rest of the group spilled out from the cave and into the dark forest. The canopy above them was thick, branches tangling overhead.
The only way they knew where to go was because of the connection Mickey's scanner had with the jet. It showed him exactly where to lead everyone.
"Anika, you okay?"Lyrian asked her as they went.She had noticed how unusually quiet the girl was.
"I'm fine," Anika said with a small smile.
"Yeah?" Lyrian pressed gently. "Not nervous about leaving the Nest?"
"Are you kidding?" Anika replied. "I'm actually really excited about it."
"What about your dad?" Reone asked. "I mean… you didn't exactly part on amicable terms."
Lyrian elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Reone groaned.
"What?"
"Can you be less tactless?" she hissed at him.
Reone opened his mouth to defend himself, but Anika spoke first.
"It's okay, Lyrian," she said. "He's right... I guess I don't feel great about not having Dad's full blessing to go on this mission with you guys. But I'm sure he'll come around. You guys know how dads are."
"Yeah," Reone said, lying smoothly. Then quietly, "Your dad seems to really care about you."
Lyrian shot him a curious look but didn't comment, distracted by how Mia had fallen back, deliberately isolating herself from the group. She didn't comment on that either. She sensed that Mia needed space, and Lyrian had no intention of intruding.
"I am so glad we'll be travelling by jet now," Lyrian said to Reone, deliberately lightening the atmosphere. "I am officially tired of walking."
"I thought you said you didn't mind," Reone teased.
"I don't," she replied quickly. "It's just that we'll need our strength to carry out the mission, right?"
"Riiiight," Reone said, exchanging a smile with Anika at her stubborn logic.
Their conversation was cut short by Sire's loud voice.
"Keep up, babe," he called to Diamond, stopping to wait for her.
"Right... behind you," Diamond answered, slightly out of breath.
"So, exactly how much farther is this jet?" Primi asked.
"Yes," Diamond added. "How much farther?"
"Not far," Mickey said, glancing down at the scanner in his hands.
"Tired too?" Sire asked Primi.
"Of course not," Primi replied. "I just don't like walking while not knowing exactly where my destination is."
"So, Primi," Reone said quickly, turning to him, "I bet you're really excited about this mission."
"I just want to get this over with," Primi replied flatly.
Anika rolled her eyes. "He's excited, guys," she translated for the group.
Primi gave her look.
"Please, you're not fooling me with that attitude,"she said for him to just look away,shaking his head.
"Well, you guys shouldn't get too excited," Mia said seriously, finally breaking her silence. "This is a dangerous mission. Damon and the Sisterhood are formidable opponents."
"We know, Mia," Seren said gently. "And we're ready to face them."
"That's if we ever make it to the Temple," Reone muttered. "At this rate, I'm starting to wonder if that'll ever happen."
"Don't worry," Sire said confidently. "Now that we're here, getting to the Temple should be smooth sailing."
"Uh… guys," Mickey said slowly. "I think we have a problem."
"Seriously?" Sire said, looking at him in shock.
Mickey looked up at him. "My scanner says there's something wrong with the jet. Some kind of disturbance. I'm only receiving the signal now because the cave blocked all reception."
"A disturbance?" Reone asked sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean something's messing with it," Mickey said. "Or someone."
Reone let out a frustrated groan. "Great. Just what we need."
"Relax," Diamond said casually. "It's not that big of a deal. We'll take care of it and move on."
"That might be easier said than done, babe," Sire warned.
"Well, the sooner we deal with it, the sooner we can be on our way," Lyrian said, placing a steady hand on Reone's shoulder.
Reone shrugged, but inwardly he was impressed by how quickly and effortlessly she took the problem in stride.
"I agree," Mia said in a bored tone. "Let's just do it."
"If we all agree, the jet's just through that clearing," Mickey said.
They all looked at the darkness ahead, battle instincts sharpening as they reached for their weapons.
"Let's split up and surround whoever—or whatever—it is," Primi suggested in a low voice.
"Good thinking, Primi," Lyrian said. "I'll go with Reone."
Reone nodded, really glad that she picked him.
No one objected and they quickly paired off: Mickey with Nova, Sire with Diamond, Primi with Anika, and Seren with Mia.
"Alright, guys," Lyrian said. "Let's move."
They split off in different directions.
Reone took the lead in their pair, Lyrian following close behind. They moved carefully, each step measured. Suddenly, Reone stopped, closing his fist and gesturing sharply ahead.
Lyrian peered over his shoulder.
In the clearing stood the jet.
And surrounding it were dozens of armed strangers.
"Who are they?" Lyrian whispered in Reone's ear.
"No idea," he murmured.
Then he sensed movement behind them.
Reone spun around as a shadow rushed forward at Lyrian's side. "Watch out!" he warned.
She reacted instantly, raising her hand to release an Echo burst when—
"Please don't fire. It's me."
Lyrian and Reone froze, staring at the figure before them.
"You?" Lyrian said in disbelief.
"Yes. It's me. Darel," the man said quickly. "The Extractor from earlier. Don't hurt me."
"And why shouldn't we?" Reone demanded, also wondering if the man was insane.
"Because he's with me," a calm voice said from behind them.
Reone and Lyrian turned at once, tense and ready for anything—or at least, that's what Reone thought.
He nearly let his Spiral fall to the ground as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he fully registered the source of the voice.
"…Dad?" he breathed.
"Hello, son," Cassian Damascus replied calmly.