Chapter—Tracking the Unseen.
Cardboard boxes were stacked everywhere.
Some were sealed tightly with tape, others half-open, with clothes, documents, and old equipment peeking out. The familiar walls of Aurafiest's old base looked strangely empty now—bare patches where posters once hung, faint outlines where furniture had stood for months.
Luke lifted a medium-sized box and placed it near the door.
Around him, his friends were doing the same.
Marin closed a box and wiped her hands. "We didn't even stay here that long."
Chika paused while folding a cloth. Her voice softened. "Still… we made a lot of memories here."
Uno nodded immediately. "Yeah. Especially that party."
Everyone froze for half a second.
Then smiles appeared.
"The Christmas party," Liod said quietly.
Luke remembered it clearly—the lights, the food, the laughter that lasted late into the night. For a moment, the pressure of the Auramaster, the guild task, Kaizen's warning… all of it faded.
"This place saw our first real victories," Chika added. "And our first arguments too."
Uno laughed. "Mostly arguments."
Liod picked up the last box and said firmly, "If we keep thinking about it, leaving will only get harder."
He looked around one final time. "Let's go."
They locked the base.
As they walked toward the transport vehicle carrying their belongings, Uno suddenly turned toward Luke.
"So," Uno said casually, "what's the plan for the day?"
Luke blinked. "Plan… for what?"
Uno stared at him. "Don't tell me you forgot."
Liod sighed. "I knew it."
Luke frowned. "Forgot what?"
Marin stopped walking and turned around slowly. "They're talking about the school farewell."
Luke froze.
"…Ah."
Chika crossed her arms. "It's in two days."
Luke scratched the back of his head. "I… haven't planned anything."
Uno widened his eyes. "That's dangerous information."
Chika leaned forward excitedly. "Then let's celebrate outside. A restaurant. Proper farewell."
Liod nodded. "That actually sounds good."
Luke smiled faintly. "Yeah… that does."
They continued walking, talking about food and places, until the vehicle stopped in front of their new base.
The building was larger. Cleaner. More modern.
When Marin opened the door, everyone paused.
For a moment, no one spoke.
"…This is huge," Uno muttered.
"Its look now like real base now"Liod Said.
"And there's a bathtub,Now I can be fresh." Chika added proudly.
Marin stared at her. "Why is that the first thing you noticed?"
They laughed.
After nearly an hour of unpacking, everything finally settled. Boxes emptied. Furniture arranged. Equipment placed carefully in designated zones.
Everyone gathered around the round table in the resting area, cold drinks in hand.
Chika leaned back. "Government really didn't hold back."
Marin exhaled and wiped her forehead. "Alright. Enough relaxing."
She stood and spread a large map across the table.
The mood shifted instantly.
"This base is ours now," Marin said. "And so is our task."
Luke straightened.
"Our mission," Marin continued, "is to gather information on the Unique Auramaster."
She tapped the map.
"The first confirmed sighting happened here."
Her finger landed on a river near Luke's hometown.
Luke's heartbeat skipped.
She looked at him. "Luke. You were there. What did you see?"
For a split second, Luke's mind went blank.
Careful.
He spoke slowly. "A woman was being harassed. The Auramaster appeared from the forest."
Marin nodded. "Details?"
"He wore a full mask. Cyber-style. Black clothes. A cloth tied around his neck."
Marin noted it down. "So. Male. Full face concealed. Dark outfit.As I seen him on newyear."
She moved her finger.
"Second sighting—our city."
Uno added, "By inspecting the crack ,He jumped straight into the crack."
"He defeated the devil," Marin said, "and vanished before authorities arrived."
She continued pointing at different locations across the world.
"Forest regions. Cities. Coastlines. Remote areas."
Chika frowned. "He's everywhere."
"Yes," Marin agreed. "But he appeared first in Luke's hometown."
Luke's stomach tightened.
Marin folded her arms. "Conclusion: High probability he belongs to our country.Therefore this task is given to us."
Luke lowered his gaze.
She's sharper than I thought.
He forced himself to remain neutral.
Uno sighed. "This is still almost nothing. It's like chasing a shadow."
Marin nodded. "True. But we can't abandon the task."
Liod spoke calmly. "Then we wait. Watch for the next sighting."
Marin agreed. "That's our best move."
Luke's mind raced.
I have to control the next appearance.
Suddenly, Liod glanced at him. "You've been quiet, Luke."
Luke stiffened slightly. "Just thinking."
"About?" Marin asked.
"If there's any pattern," Luke replied smoothly. "Timing. Location. Anything we missed."
Marin considered it. "So far… only one thing."
Luke listened carefully.
"He appears most often at night," Marin said. "Especially around midnight in the local timezone."
Everyone nodded.
Marin continued"So we should more active during night time then."
Uno stretched. "Guess we're becoming night owls."
Luke smiled faintly.
Midnight… that makes sense.
But inside, his thoughts were heavy.
Marin added"We have to get ready for upcoming challenge and face a secret personality."
All nodded.
But deep inside Luke thought he knows,
He have to hide myself from my own friends.
The day shifts to nights and all went there home.
That night, Luke lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Auru floated quietly beside him.
"You're under pressure," she said.
Luke closed his eyes. "They're getting closer."
Auru tilted her head. "Then you must become better at disappearing."
Luke clenched his fist.
"I don't want to lie to them."
"But you must," Auru replied gently. "Or you lose everything."
Luke turned his head toward her.
"I'll prepare," he said. "Every illusion. Every movement."
Auru nodded. "Then let this be the beginning."
Outside, the city slept.
And somewhere between truth and deception, Luke prepared to become someone his own friends could never find.
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End of chapter.