Ron and Nox made their way back to Rhea, the weight of the recent event still hanging in the air.
"Rhea, are you feeling better?" Ron asked.
"I am... better now," she replied, hitching a breath.
"So, Rhea, how are you actually going to help Lian?"
Ron shot his brother a warning look, but Nox merely smirked.
A small, tired giggle escaped Rhea's lips. "You two get along remarkably well, considering you aren't blood brothers."
Ron fell silent. The word blood always felt heavier than it should.
Nox gave Ron a solemn look. "Does it have to be blood for brothers to get along?"
Rhea's smile faded into something more wistful. "I envy that bond—the way you strengthen one another. If only Master Honest and Miss Serenity could be that honest with each other..." She trailed off into a whisper, her gaze drifting toward Lian and the flickering presence of Outer. "Perhaps things would have turned out differently."
Ron watched her closely with a faint smile. "Rhea, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
Ron signaled to Nox with a quick glance. Understanding the silent cue, Nox shifted his position, his eyes narrowing as he began to observe Rhea's every movement for any sign of deception.
"What is the actual nature of the relationship between Serenity and Lian?" Ron began, his tone shifting into that of an investigator.
Rhea remained silent, her expression unreadable.
"Does Serenity hate him?" Ron pressed.
"No," Rhea whispered, while her eyes gleamed.
Before Ron could dig deeper, Lian stirred. As the man's eyes slowly opened, Outer vanished into the shadows as if he had never existed. Rhea was on her feet in an instant, rushing to Lian's side.
"Good," Nox muttered under his breath.
Ron let out a long, shaky sigh of relief.
"Master Lian, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Lian muttered, sitting up.
"Thank goodness." Rhea pressed a hand to her chest.
Lian looked down at his palm, tracing the lines of a faint, geometric mark. "Rhea, about this octagonal symbol Serenity gave me..."
"That symbol can be activated if there is a place you wish to visit," Rhea explained, her professional composure returning. "Provided, of course, that you know the coordinates."
Lian frowned. "Isn't that... difficult?"
"Not if you use my power," Rhea said with a flicker of pride. "I am The Connection, after all."
"Fine. I want to see her. Now." Lian stood up, his movements jerky but determined. In the background, Outer reappeared briefly to clap his hands, though his expression remained one of deep reluctance.
As Ron and Nox stepped closer, Lian's brow furrowed in annoyance. "Why are you following me?"
"We're your bodyguards," Nox replied with a shrug. "It's the job."
"I don't need you anymore. You can leave!" Lian said bluntly.
Ron sighed. "Yeah, exactly what I expected."
"Hey—!" Nox started to bark back, but Ron caught his arm.
"I have an idea, don't worry," Ron murmured. He turned his gaze back to Lian, studying him. Outer was too unstable, a wild card they couldn't afford. He needed to see if Lian had any self-control left. "Lian, how about a test?"
Lian paused. "What?"
"If you can land a single hit on me within three minutes, we'll leave you alone," Ron proposed, his voice steady.
"And if I can't?"
"Then we go with you. Deal?"
"Not interested," Lian said flatly, turning away.
Ron took a deep breath, trying to keep his frustration in check. Seeing the stalemate, Rhea leaned in and whispered into Lian's ear.
"Master Lian, forgive my boldness, but you should accept," she hissed softly.
"Why?" Lian grumbled.
"Ron Eosvile is overconfident. If you win, you can crush his spirit. It will make things much easier later."
Lian looked at his own thin, pale arms, then at Ron's sturdy frame. "I'm scrawny; he's a buff blondie. It's obvious who would win a fight, isn't it?"
"You don't need strength," Rhea persuaded. "You just need to create an arena where he has nowhere to dodge."
Lian glanced at Ron, then back to Rhea. "He's injured and exhausted," she added. "Your chances are at least fifty percent."
Across the clearing, Nox nudged Ron. "He's looking over here. Rhea's definitely whispering a strategy."
"I figured as much," Ron muttered.
Lian finally stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Ron. "Alright, Blondie. Let's do it your way."
"I won't hold back, Lian."
"Nox, get the timer ready!"
"Ready! 3... 2... 1... Start!"
Ron immediately dropped into a low combat stance, his muscles tensed and ready to react to any sudden burst of destructive power. But Lian just stood there. He didn't summon a weapon; he didn't even raise his hands. He looked... bored.
"Why isn't he following the plan?" Rhea muttered to herself, her brow furrowing.
Thirty seconds passed. Ron remained on high alert, his eyes darting, looking for a trap. Lian simply stared at a distant cloud.
A minute and a half passed. Why isn't he moving? Is this a psychological play?
The final thirty seconds approached. Ron was sweating now. Lian, meanwhile, let out a long, loud yawn.
"Time's up! Ron wins!" Nox yelled, sounding almost disappointed.
Ron marched up to Lian, his chest heaving from the adrenaline of a fight that never happened. "Why didn't you attack?" he demanded.
Lian looked at him with dull, indifferent eyes. "I didn't feel like it."
Ron's eyes widened. His jaw tightened so hard it hurt.
"I won."
"Congratulations."
Without another word, Ron turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped. Nox hurried to catch up.
"Nox," Ron said, his voice tight. "I need some time alone."
***
Rhea walked to Lian. "Master Lian, may I speak with your two guards for a moment?"
"Do as you please," Lian said, his voice listless.
"Thank you, Master Lian." Rhea bowed deeply before turning away.
She approached Nox Eosvile first. "Sir Nox, there is a matter of great importance I must discuss with you and your brother."
Nox choked on his breath, shifting uncomfortably. "Sir... Ron needs some time alone."
"My apologies, but we must discuss this immediately," Rhea insisted, her gaze unwavering.
"Fine," Nox sighed.
The two of them approached Ron Eosvile, who sat in grim silence at the edge of the abyss, staring into the void of the crater.
"Sir Ron, can we speak for a moment?"
Ron exhaled a long, weary breath. He didn't turn around. "What is it?"
"What do you know of Master Lian's life during his time in Syntax?"
The question made Ron stiffen. He turned, his sharp eyes pinning Rhea to the spot. "Why do you want to know about Lian?"
"Because it is my duty. And my promise to Miss Serenity."
Ron took a breath, his gaze softening only slightly at the mention of the heart. "Duty, then... Based on the records I've accessed, Lian is an orphan. He lived in an orphanage until he was seventeen. He was a manual laborer, living in absolute poverty."
"Has an anomaly like this crater ever occurred before?" Rhea asked.
"Never," Nox blurted out.
"And when did this anomaly happen?"
"Only a week ago," Nox replied.
"Then... you have only just met Master Lian?" Rhea's brow furrowed. She tried to connect the timeline. The day Miss Serenity came to Syntax?
"No," Nox corrected her. "Ron and I just met Lian three days ago."
Rhea fell silent, covering her face for a moment. This is a mess.
"How was your first meeting with him?" Rhea asked, her eyes searching theirs.
Silence followed. Nox clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, while Ron looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
"I see. I will not pry further." Rhea closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them, her voice was lower, more urgent. "Has Master Lian eaten in the last three days?"
"I don't think so," Nox blurted out. He slapped his palm against his forehead.
Ron lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.
Nox finally broke the silence, his voice barely a whisper. "We lost our parents... it was during Lian's anomaly."
"Rhea," Ron added, his voice strained. "We were devastated. Our emotions... they were difficult to control."
"I understand," Rhea said softly. "You don't have to explain."
"No, you should know," Nox interrupted, his voice cracking. "I pushed him. I shoved him right off his hospital bed the moment he regained consciousness."
Rhea took three deep, steadying breaths to keep her composure. "Sir Ron, and you?"
"I called him a criminal," Ron said, the word left a sour taste in his mouth.
Rhea's hands gripped her skirt so hard they trembled. Her lips quivered. She stood up abruptly. "Thank you. I... understand," she whispered before turning and rushing away from the Eosvile brothers.
"Ron... is she angry?" Nox asked.
"She has every right to be," Ron replied.
***
Rhea returned to Lian's side. "Forgive me, Master Lian, but may I ask a question?"
"What?"
"Master Lian... are you hungry?"
Lian's eyes widened for a split second. His fists clenched, and his entire frame began to shake with a massive, destructive energy.
"Shut up..."
"Master Lian—"
"ENOUGH!" Lian screamed.
The roar was so loud it echoed across the wasteland, reaching Ron and Nox. The brothers exchanged a look of alarm.
"Ron, we can't just sit here," Nox said, jumping to his feet.
"You're right."
They ran toward the source of the shouting.
"YOU ARE HERE TO ASSIST ME, NOT TO PREACH TO ME!" Lian bellowed, his voice cracking.
"I am deeply sorry, Master Lian," Rhea said, bowing low.
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Ron and Nox arrived just in time to see Rhea being cast away. Ron's eyes narrowed as he looked at Lian, while Nox stepped forward, shielding Rhea.
"Why are you screaming at her?" Nox growled.
"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" Lian shouted back.
Nox's temper flared. "Why you little—"
Rhea reached out, her hand trembling as she caught Nox's arm. "Stop. Enough. It was my fault," she said, her voice hoarse. She forced a small, pained smile. "Master Lian, let us move to a different place."
Nox glared at Lian, his face flushed with anger, while Ron placed a steadying hand on Nox's shoulder.
"Master Lian, please," Rhea pleaded softly. "Let us leave this place."
Lian gave a curt, stiff nod.
"Master Lian, please have Outer touch your palm."
Lian turned to Outer, who immediately grasped his right hand. A soft, blue-white light began to emanate from their contact.
"Sir Ron, Sir Nox, please take my left hand," Rhea instructed. They reached out simultaneously. "Master Lian, please take my right."
Lian grabbed her hand. Rhea closed her eyes, and a brilliant blue-white light enveloped the group. In a flash, they vanished.
***
They reappeared in Echo—a world that mirrored Syntax but felt decades ahead, pulsing with a technology that felt almost alien.
"Welcome to Echo, Master Lian, Sir Ron, Sir Nox," Rhea said, her voice regaining its warmth.
The three men remained silent, taking in the futuristic horizon. Rhea smiled, gesturing toward the grand structure ahead of them. "Before you is the Edelweiss Residence. Please, come inside."
Lian didn't wait. He walked in first, his back straight but his shoulders tense. Nox clicked his tongue in annoyance, following behind.
Ron lingered for a moment, offering a faint, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused."
Rhea shook her head gently. "Please, Sir Ron, go inside."
Once they had all entered, Rhea stood alone for a moment, letting out the breath she had been holding.
"Only the first day and it's already this exhausting."
Taking a final look at the Echo skyline, Rhea followed them into the house.
To be Continued…