The mention of the Halite spooked the whole hideout of Hearth.‘Only Hearth knows this, not even the guerillas or any other company. It is not even found in the database that we have stolen from the Triad.’Those were Grey’s words when they started this. It was one thing that he had been confident of from the very start. It was the reason why he was never shaken even if the news that were coming to him seemed like everything was going in favor of their enemy’s side. He deemed it that as long as they didn’t get wind of their secret weapon, everything would still be in their control. But with the sudden announcement of Sir Vance, he felt his plans collapse.At first, they thought that it was just a simple briefing of Operation Ignis, an announcement asking for reports or updates, or maybe he will just give them new orders or commands. He already got questions when he heard that he will be using Ryder to tell each company his instructions. Why would there be a need for Ryder to be the o
Even if two week had already passed, Nique couldn’t still forget the guerilla woman that she killed.“I’m sorry ma’am, but we don’t have any records of her here,” the clerk said as she tore her eyes off the screen of her computer. She had been scrolling through the screen for almost an hour already but could not find anything that Nique wanted to see.“I see. Thank you,” Nique said as she handed her an envelope. The clerk smiled as she hurriedly received it with both hands and inserted it in the pocket of her blouse.“Come again,” she encouraged her.Nique turned. This was the last hospital in the place. When Nique finally found the name of the guerilla woman, she wanted to trace her family, if she had any left. Never before had she felt such remorse in killing someone. It was different this time. She didn’t subdue a criminal, she plucked the life out of a mother who only wanted to feed her children.“Her name is Tara Suhn,” Leison told her one day after she beat up Sir Vance. He gave
Nique accepted the challenge of the mountain.She was never a hiker. She lived in the wide valley of Khenealm in the squatter area beside the river that runs through the edges of the land. The wild plains were her home, away from the center of civilization. Though she would cross the sides of the mountains everyday because she was carrying water to different homes for a living. She would carry the water jug from the river to their place. There were no rich people but there were a few who were at least living in moderate luxury.But she never dared to climb the mountains that surround them.It was because of one reason–the mountains represented the wall between the rich and the poor. Beyond those huge lump of soil filled with tall trees and giant rocks that overshadowed the valley, was the shining society of Khenealm. Beyond that wall was proof of how unjust and broken their community was. Nique and the others were working hard day and night with no basic commodities, no sense of secur
Ryder thought that there was an earthquake while he was having another nightmare.He knew it was a dream because Raeya's mark was back into his palm once again but this time, they weren't on the beach. They were in the middle of the last civil war against Hearth.He could not hear anything. He was swinging his large sword at the scene in front of him but he could not hear the bullets that seemed to be firing at him. He could feel his feet running and barging through the army of Shadows but he could not hear a single thing.Until he heard Raeya.It was her one scream that opened his eardrums. The roars of the Shadows overpowered him, along with the sound of firearms and bombs. The sudden burst of his hearing made him drop to the ground. He could feel like he was being eaten by a dark cloud. He was aware that he was dreaming but Raeya's scream was so real he tried to swat away the black air hovering around him.Ryder tried opening his mouth but he had no voice. Until he felt like he ha
News of the attack on the control center where Sir Vance was staying spread over all companies from different directions.Sir Vance said that the line to the control center will always be open and will never be closed. It only will be cut off when the building is deserted. It was in his instruction when that time came, they should know that he would be under attack.By two in the morning, the line connecting the computers to the control center shut down. Raeya was the one on guard at that time and she immediately pressed the red alert, waking the whole of Aegis up.The former glorious building of the Triad had already been ransacked by Hearth. Hearth failed to kill the head and they were eager to try again. Every company leader was on call with each other. In the absence of Ryder, who everyone hoped was protecting Sir Vance, Leison stood in command. ''Do not retreat all your forces. Send only representatives and leave able-bodied in every station that the enemy may pass through.'' Le
Raeya saw the men force their way through the door.They were impatient people. They don’t seem to be successful in distracting the woman for her not to see them. Unfortunately, the saleslady saw them and began to shout. “Thieves! Somebody–”Her voice was nothing more than a squeak but the men behind her covered her mouth with a cloth. Her arms flung, her chest seeking for air. Raeya wanted to step at that moment but seeing that they weren’t going to kill her and just let her sit unconsciously on a chair, she decided to let it slide for now. She shouldn’t reveal herself this early. All seven of them barged right through the door as soon as the key fit and the door opened. From the distance where she was, she saw that they were opening the pile of boxes one by one. While they were caged in that transparent room, Raeya knew it was her chance. Even if the Halite was not true, she had the duty to at least reduce the numbers of the enemy. Raeya saw the rope connecting to the cloth above
Raeya saw the men force their way through the door.They were impatient people. They don’t seem to be successful in distracting the woman for her not to see them. Unfortunately, the saleslady saw them and began to shout. “Thieves! Somebody–”Her voice was nothing more than a squeak but the men behind her covered her mouth with a cloth. Her arms flung, her chest seeking for air. Raeya wanted to step at that moment but seeing that they weren’t going to kill her and just let her sit unconsciously on a chair, she decided to let it slide for now. She shouldn’t reveal herself this early. All seven of them barged right through the door as soon as the key fit and the door opened. From the distance where she was, she saw that they were opening the pile of boxes one by one. While they were caged in that transparent room, Raeya knew it was her chance. Even if the Halite was not true, she had the duty to at least reduce the numbers of the enemy. Raeya saw the rope connecting to the cloth above
If there was one thing that was unforgivable in Aegis, it is treachery in any form.Although Ryder had committed his own disloyalty by attempting to live outside the Rigiddin village, taking Raeya with him, and even entering into a contract with her as the very own sister of the chief, he swore to never do it again once he entered Aegis. He had already let down his original village once and he will never do it again twice on the second family that found him.Fhae was also strict in that matter. She never accepted warriors who had a record of switching companies and she even lobbied the issue at the Triad. She argued that warriors, when they have chosen a company, should stick to it until the end because loyalty is what is expected of a soldier. A warrior who always switches sides is either a lunatic or a spy. That argument of hers made the Triad procure a law that bans warriors from joining and leaving companies as they please. They were able to create rules saying that changing compa
''Tomorrow?'' Chief Raius couldn't help but laugh. ''Who do you think you are? Some savior who could turn the world upside-down with a snap of a finger? How do you expect to bring down Hearth, an enemy that even the Triad is having a hard time with? Could you erase a three hundred year-old company tomorrow? Could you?''Believe it or not.'' Ryder was offended. Earlier, his face held high reverence for the chief. Now, Ryder's voice was plain and he was looking at the chief at eye level without bowing or nodding, unlike earlier. But with the chief's words, it was bound to come to this point. ''I have been in touch with Sir Vance. he said that the preparations are complete. All that's left is for your consent.''Ryder wasn't even addressing him as chief anymore. Jin discerned it then at the moment. The Roar didn't come to be pitied, nor to ask for pity or forgiveness. He didn't come to grovel and take the blame for what happened to Raeya. That was just the surface. That was what he want
''You can't kill me'', Raeya blurted amidst their wrestling.His strength was overwhelming her and her muscles were becoming sore and overpowered by him. She had to do something. She had to find a good spot that she could use to break free.''Oh? How sure are you? Don't tell me its because you believe that I still love you.''No, she didn't believe that. Seyin was the second to confess his love to her after Jin. She was the one in-charge of handling new applicants to Aegis when Seyin entered the hall where they would be taking the Shore test. She was assisting Fhae in conducting the tests that would determine if the applicants had the potential to harness the power of the Shore.Instead of asking about anything significant about the test at that time, Seyin stood and boldly asked her out, embarrassing both of them at that moment. After that, she kindly but firmly said her no. Seyin cried in front of her but in the end, she offered what she could–friendship. Until now, she didn’t know
''Tomorrow?'' Chief Raius couldn't help but laugh. ''Who do you think you are? Some savior who could turn the world upside-down with a snap of a finger? How do you expect to bring down Hearth, an enemy that even the Triad is having a hard time with? Could you erase a three hundred year-old company tomorrow? Could you?''Believe it or not.'' Ryder was offended. Earlier, his face held high reverence for the chief. Now, Ryder's voice was plain and he was looking at the chief at eye level without bowing or nodding, unlike earlier. But with the chief's words, it was bound to come to this point. ''I have been in touch with Sir Vance. he said that the preparations are complete. All that's left is for your consent.''Ryder wasn't even addressing him as chief anymore. Jin discerned it then at the moment. The Roar didn't come to be pitied, nor to ask for pity or forgiveness. He didn't come to grovel and take the blame for what happened to Raeya. That was just the surface. That was what he want
''You can't kill me'', Raeya blurted amidst their wrestling. His strength was overwhelming her and her muscles were becoming sore and overpowered by him. She had to do something. She had to find a good spot that she could use to break free. ''Oh? How sure are you? Don't tell me its because you believe that I still love you.'' No, she didn't believe that. Seyin was the second to confess his love to her after Jin. She was the one in-charge of handling new applicants to Aegis when Seyin entered the hall where they would be taking the Shore test. She was assisting Fhae in conducting the tests that would determine if the applicants had the potential to harness the power of the Shore. Instead of asking about anything significant about the test at that time, Seyin stood and boldly asked her out, embarrassing both of them at that moment. After that, she kindly but firmly said her no. Seyin cried in front of her but in the end, she offered what she could–friendship. Until now, she didn’t kn
Jin had a feeling his discussion with Fahazi about leaders going at the forefront jinxed the night.“Go!” He commanded as he pulled Fahazi to his feet and pushed him to get him running. As they ran, Jin looked behind. He could make out nothing because of the darkness but he felt shadows following them. He grabbed Fahazi’s hand and sped across the tunnels. They only had one flashlight. Fahazi must have lost his own light during the explosion.Jin felt something was about to fall on them. He felt dust and debris fall upon his face as they ran. “Fall back, Fahazi!” Both of them were able to stop just in time before the ceiling gave way. If they had advanced one second further, they would have already been buried in a pile of huge blocks of cement and dirt.It didn’t stop there. A slight tremor was felt from above.“This way,” Fahazi suggested as he pointed to one of the tunnels which didn’t seem to be shaking. Jin nodded and they entered the tunnel to their left.“Do you think we can st
Grey wasn't someone who was easily intimidated. Even with Ryder and Leison had him on gunpoint and swordpoint, he still wore the same smug expression.''You're pretty confident this time, Aegis.'' He wasn't fazed at all with the pressure around him. ''Have you finally moved on from your humiliation in our last war?''This position was familiar with the battle at Hearth. Ryder had also cornered Grey in their laboratory. Grey wasn't yet a fighter or a conjurer back then, just a normal scientist who only knew how to wield science and technology. That was why Ryder decided that he wouldn't kill him. He diverted his focus on the Shadows that Hearth released. However, Grey took advantage of Ryder's soft heart back then. He summoned Absinthe and the rest was history.''You're provoking the wrong people. You should be telling that to your bosses,'' Leison answered.''I wouldn't call that a word of provocation. It's just called a taunt.'' Grey was feeling extra powerful now. Was there some rea
If Raeya could recall properly, the men said they were going to answer her questions after they had tied her up but now she was the one tying all of six of them up. It was a good thing she found a rope in one of the toolboxes of the saleslady or else she would have to knock them unconscious every five minutes that they woke up.Raeya pressed the switch and a single dim bulb was brought back to life. Its light was yellowish but it would serve its purpose just for the room to do away with the darkness. She tried calling her friends but she was stumped after realizing that there was no signal. Raeya hoped that Aegis was doing well and that nothing bad happened. Raeya didn’t know why but she was feeling ominous like something big happened. Or was that her overthinking? After securing their hands, she dragged them into the corner and made their backs lean on the wall, away from any object that they could grab and free themselves. She was waiting for the leader, the one with a red turban,
''So? Where did you come from? How did you meet with Jaiyo?''Infiltrating the camp was hard enough but questions like these were harder. ''My family of guerillas received your notice. I simply answered your call. Fortunately, the man with a purple headband who led me here and your attendant recommended you to me,'' Lidon answered as they walked the mountain trail.''I see.''She was not to be underestimated, unlike her hired soldiers.Jin and the chief already knew the basic structure of their camp because they flew over them once. He was pretty confident that he could get inside without doing anything not until he saw the entrance.The ones going in and out had some sort of special tattoos on their skin which they were showing to the guards. Jin was at a loss not until he spotted a group. They didn't show any part of their skin but they were accompanied by some sort of leader with a purple headband.It was that leader who let them in. Jin waited for a few nights at most before spot
Lidon was still wary of the guerilla army.He had wrapped his dagger to make them think that he had lowered his guard. But since no one was still attacking them, then it is safe to assume that they are safe for now. They led them through the forest until they reached a hanging bridge. In this time, it was unusual to see a wooden bridge when they were living in the age of development. The bridge was just a collection of blocks of wood bound together by rubber ties and twigs. A river with sharp rocks twenty feet spread below.“Let’s go two at a time or else the bridge will break,” the woman with the golden tooth said. That goes without saying. It was as if the bridge was designed to not welcome visitors.As ancient and old-looking the bridge was, the new guerilla army seemed to have no problem with it. Wayl and the woman went ahead first. It was only the two of them but the bridge swayed so much.“That seems scary,” Maryan whispered beside him.“We can’t do anything about it, can’t we