LYRIAN
Reone's face was a mask of disbelief and shock. He stood there frozen, staring at his dad,who he hadn't seen in years.
Lyrian looked between the two men, confusion knitting her brows.
"Uh… what's happening?" Anika asked, emerging from the trees with Primi.
"We would also like to know that," Sire said, stepping out of the darkness with Diamond. "Are you guys negotiating with the perps?"
Seren, Mia, Nova, and Mickey also revealed themselves, wondering about the weird developments too. Mickey stopped short, gasping.
"Are you Cassian Damascus?" he asked, sounding awed. "Sole owner of Sovereign Arsenal—the greatest weapon manufacturing organization in the world? Billionaire?"
"I am," Cassian said calmly. His voice carried authority without effort. "It's a pleasure to meet you, young legion. All of you."
Nova's eyes widened. "It is him, Mickey."
Mia's brows furrowed in thought.
"Wait… Cassian Damascus. Isn't he also—"
"My father," Reone confirmed.
Silence followed. Strained. Dense.
The group from Arcannum knew enough about Reone's past to understand that this reunion was unlike any other.
"Am I missing something?" Anika asked.
"Some tact, princess. Please," Primi said.
Anika shot him an indignant look but obeyed, sensing that the moment really did require her silence.
Reone swallowed. "W-what… what are you doing here, Dad?"
"I'm here for you," Cassian answered.
"Who's that?" Reone asked, confused.
Lyrian nudged him, leaning closer.
"He means you, Reone," she said, awkward but gentle.
Reone stared at her, trying to process her words. "Oh."
Unconsciously, Reone then looked back at his father.
"Nope," he added, turning back to Lyrian. "I still don't get it."
Lyrian's expression was one of deep a deep awkwardness. It matched the one Cassian was wearing though his was mixed with sorrow. He tried again, voice low.
"I heard that you're in trouble, son. I came to help you."
Reone squinted his eyes. "Why?"
Lyrian placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew how shocking this was for him, but she didn't want him to mess up what could potentially be a good thing.
"Son," Cassian just said in reply, his voice quiet.
The captain of Reone's father's crew came out of the bushes and spoke, breaking the tension, much to everyone's relief.
"Mr. Damascus, you asked for a report on the damage to the other jet. I'm afraid it's not good. Cinderflies seem to have consumed all their fuel. We scared them off too late."
Mickey blinked, momentarily distracted from the drama in front of him.
"Wait a minute. He's not talking about our jet, is he?" he asked.
"Yeah, I am," the captain told him casually.
"What a surprise," Sire said sarcastically.
"I guess now we know what the disturbance you detected from the jet earlier was, Mickey," Nova said.
At this news, Mia closed her eyes and groaned in frustration.
"Wait, so it wasn't the Nullborn Extractor's doing?" Lyrian asked, turning to Darel.
"Of course not," Darel said, leaning against a tree in a casual manner.
He didn't seem quite so ridiculous now.
"What do you mean, of course not? This is exactly the kind of thing you would do. You're our enemy," Seren asked.
"You mean he was your enemy, until I turned him," Cassian calmly told them. "He works for me now. As a spy, if you will."
Reone's eyes widened, finally regaining his bearings.
"What? This Nullborn Extractor is on your payroll?" he asked in shock.
"I know what you're thinking, but I didn't have a choice, son. How else was I going to help when I was in Volaria and you were all the way here?"
"Help me?" Reone said, confused again.
Cassian nodded."Yes,Reone. Help you."
"I am so lost," Lyrian said, echoing Reone's thoughts.
"What aren't you understanding?" Darel said, speaking up again. "I directed the legion to the Diviners' Nest to get help for you. Before that, I helped you escape from Randall. Then I directed your friends to the cave battle. You getting it now.?"
"We just thought you were weak and dumb," Lyrian told him plainly.
Reone cut in sharply. "And I'm guessing that the Sovereign Arsenal weapon I found in the cave was yours." He turned to Cassian. "You aren't supplying weapons to Nullborn Extractors, are you?" he asked his father.
Cassian shook his head, looking seriously offended.
"Of course not. Reone, I know you don't think much of me, but there's a limit to what I'll do to expand my empire."
Everyone went quiet, but Anika focused on Darel.
"He still tried to kill me for his boss two days ago."
Darel suddenly looked nervous and cornered.
"I was undercover... it was all just a big lie," he muttered.
"Are those marks on your skin a big lie too?" Mia said, disgust in her voice.
Darel resisted the urge to swallow.
"Lie to us again, Darel. I dare you," Primi said.
"Look, you have to understand... It's not personal. I'm a businessman," Darel said.
"Businessman, he says," Primi mutters, drawing his weapon.
Cassian snapped his eyes to the movement.
"Look, I've been briefed about you Diviners, and I know about your history with the Nullborn Extractors. But keep in mind that if it wasn't for Darel here sending my son's friends to you, you and the rest of your people wouldn't have survived the Extractors' attack at all," Cassian explained. Very much like a businessman, Reone thought.
"The few good deeds he did for his benefit doesn't make up for all the terrible things that he did. It doesn't undo all the damage he's done," Reone said in a tight voice.
Cassian fell silent; it was impossible to tell if Reone was also talking about Darel—or him.
Darel seized the opportunity to speak his mind.
"Look, I really don't care what any of you think of me as long as I get paid," he said. He then looked at Cassian. "You're going to keep your word, right? You'll make me a rich man?"
Cassian sighed wearily, rubbing his temple with one hand.
"You shall have your money."
Primi bristled.
"Or we give him what he really deserves."
He reached for his blade—but Anika caught his arm, her grip firm.
"My father always says that strategic alliances should always be forged, Primi," she told him. "Even with unsavory people. Stand down."
Primi sighed and put the weapon back in its sheath. "As you wish, Princess."
"I can see that you are a wise species," Cassian said with approval.
Reone frowned at him and his words.
"I still don't understand what you're doing here, Dad," Reone said again.
"I was worried about you," Cassian told him plainly.
Reone scoffed at this.
"What do you mean by that? Last I checked, you didn't care what happened to me."
Darel couldn't resist weighing in here.
"Legion, if I'm right, then this little operation, including my enormous payday, costs a small fortune. If this isn't a sign of deep affection, then I don't know what is," he said, looking around.
When everyone looked at him threateningly, he swallowed. "I'll shut up again."
"Good idea," Anika told him in a low voice.
Cassian spoke again.
"Reone, I know that I haven't been the best father to you in the past, but I have never stopped caring about you. You're my son."
Reone gritted his teeth at that last statement.
"You've never treated me like a son, though. Maybe a project, or maybe a stranger, but never a son."
"And I deeply regret that," Cassian told him.
"Yeah, right," Reone said.
Oh, Reone, Lyrian thought, her heart going out to him. She wished that she could take away the pain he was probably feeling right now.
"Son, that was the old me. The one who valued power over everything, including in his child. But I know that I was wrong now. And I want a chance to do better."
Hearing his words, Reone's expression hardened. He wasn't moved by his father's speech one bit—not after years of neglect and aloofness.
"I'm not interested, Dad. I thought me ignoring your calls communicated that," he said in a tight voice.
His words were like a blow to Cassian.
"Son, please," Cassian begged, when he never begged.
Reone shook his head.
"It's too late,Dad," Reone told him.
"Reone," Lyrian said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He ignored her.
"I seriously can't deal with this right now. Let's head for the temple," he announced to everyone."Guys?"
Mickey found the will to speak over Cassian's pain.
"On what jet, Reone? We're out of fuel, remember?" Mickey said.
"Don't we have reserves?" Reone snapped.
"We forgot them. I'm sorry, Reone. We left in a hurry," Sire told him.
Reone groaned.
Recovering, Cassian looked at him, clearing his throat.
"I would offer you my jet, but it's too damaged from an earlier attack," he said regretfully.
"We don't need your help," Reone was quick to say. Then, processing his words, he added, "…Wait. You were attacked?"
Cassian sighed.
"We were, by the very people you're after—the wizard prince and the dark Sylphs. We barely got away."
"Where did this happen?" Diamond asked.
"At a cave further back from here. They were hiding in it."
Everyone looked at each other.
"It means we're ahead of them," Mia said.
"Finally, some good news," Sire said.
"I'm afraid that's not all," Cassian told them.
Diamond sighed. "It's not good, is it?"
His silence was enough of an answer.
"Tell us, Mr. Damascus," Lyrian prompted.
"From what I heard them say, they are leaving for the temple soon enough. That is, after they complete their spell or ritual thing."
"What spell or ritual thing?" Reone asked, narrowing his eyes.
Cassian was thoughtful for a moment.
"Something about the wizard giving himself Diviner blood... to allow him to form some trident," he said uncertainly.
His words made everyone freeze.
"The Trident of Axis?" Anika supplied.
"Yes. That's the one," Cassian confirmed.
"So that's how they're going to do it," Seren said.
"Do what?" Cassian asked.
No one answered him.
"We really need to get to that temple,"Nova says.
"Again, we don't have any fuel," Mickey told them. "Does no one understand? We're not going anywhere without the fuel."
Sire was thoughtful for a minute.
"Wait a minute—what if we transferred the fuel from Mr. Damascus's jet to our jet?" he suggested.
Reone frowned at this suggestion. Mickey's eyes widened in delighted surprise.
"Sire, that could actually work," Mickey said. Then he turned to Reone's dad. "Mr. Damascus, is there any fuel on your jet?"
Cassian looked at his captain for confirmation. He nodded.
"There is."
Mickey smiled. "Guys, looks like we're back in—"
He paused, frowning.
"What's wrong, Mickey?" Mia asked.
He looked at them.
"Guys, our jet isn't as large as theirs. It won't hold all of us," he said, gesturing to Reone's father and his crew.
Understanding dawned on Cassian. He was thoughtful for a moment.
"We'll remain behind. All of you head to the temple," he finally said.
"Really?" Mickey said, getting excited.
"Yes. I came to ensure my son safety and I've done that,"he said, looking at Reone who just stared back him.
Cassian sighed and spoke again.
"I'll figure something out. I am a resourceful man, after all. You guys go save the world," he told them.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Damascus," Mia said.
Everyone was getting excited when Reone's cold voice boomed.
"Hold up, everyone," he said, turning to Lyrian and the others. "We can figure this out on our own. We don't need my dad or his fuel."
Everyone went silent, looking at each other awkwardly.
"Reone, I know that this isn't the most ideal solution for you, but we do need that fuel," Mia told him.
He was about to protest when Lyrian squeezed his arm.
"She has a point, Reone," she said to him.
Reone stared at her in disbelief, feeling betrayed. He then looked at the others, who were apparently in agreement with her.
"I can't believe you guys," he told them.
"Reone," his father started.
He turned to him abruptly.
"No, I don't want anything associated with you," he said. Then, "I can't do this."
Reone proceeded to rip his arm from Lyrian's grasp.
"Reone, wait—" Lyrian started as he began to walk away. He didn't stop. "Where are you going?"
He remained silent as he disappeared into the darkness.