chapter
TDSW
They all gathered just outside the gate to the main island. Ouro stood between the open doors, framed by the towering stone arches, preparing for a teary farewell.
"I-I have had such a w-wonderful time with you all," he choked out, dramatically sobbing like a stage actor at his final curtain call.
Everyone waved goodbye, trying not to laugh. Reid, cradling Wubbin under one arm, stared at Ouro for a long moment before smiling and waving too—genuinely, like Ouro's meltdown somehow touched him.
The massive gates creaked shut behind them as they marched toward the wooden platform that would take them home.
"There's one thing you all need to know," Gabriel said, his tone suddenly sharper.
"Seriously?!" Reid groaned.
"Once we cross the portal back into Westoria, your vacation ends," Gabriel continued. "We've received intel—our contact in Astoria's army has resurfaced. They'll be guiding you into enemy territory. You'll pose as civilians during the day and scout under cover of night. Think of it as a… working holiday. Virgil will brief you."
Sosuke leaned toward Gabriel, brow furrowed. "Uh… how exactly am I supposed to make another portal back?"
Gabriel turned mid-step. "You're not. The portal memorized your mana signature. It stored enough energy to recreate itself automatically. You just step through. I won't be joining you, though."
"Nice," Sosuke muttered.
They stepped onto the wooden platform. A swirl of violet energy split the air like torn silk—mana sparking around its edges—as the portal came alive once more.
⸻
"Welcome back, Starborn," Virgil said, standing at attention, arms behind his back, his expression carved from stone.
"You're more serious than your own master," Reid said, strolling down the stairs into Fort Veridus. He gave Virgil a friendly pat on the shoulder. "You should loosen up."
Virgil seized Reid's wrist mid-pat and squeezed—hard.
Reid yelped. "Ow! Okay, okay! Got it!"
"I'm still your superior, Stark," Virgil growled. "You will not speak of me or my master so casually."
Reid shook out his hand with a wince and muttered, "What is it with people and hand injuries lately?"
"You idiot," Sosuke said under his breath
"Follow me," Virgil commanded, already walking ahead.
"No time for a nap or a snack or… anything?" Reid muttered.
"What do you expect?" Clyde said, suddenly beside him. "We're in a dire situation."
Reid jumped. "Where did you even come from?!"
"Cut the chatter. Move," Virgil barked.
They followed him through the bustling camp toward a large building at its center. Inside, it was dim, lit only by low-hanging crystal lamps and the quiet hum of mana-powered tools. The air smelled faintly of metal and dust.
At the far end of the briefing room, a high-backed chair turned slowly—clearly for dramatic effect.
"I've been expecting you, Starborn," a young woman said, her voice smooth, gaze sharp and calculating. "For many years, I've watched and—"
Smack
Virgil smacked her on the head with a file folder and tossed it onto the table in front of the group.
Virgil stepped up and flipped his copy open. "First official mission under Operation: Mirror's Edge. Infiltrate one of Astoria's key cities—military presence is heavy. Your goal is to monitor the situation, wait for an opportunity, then breach one of their internal bases. Intelligence suggests they're hiding information about Lance Sterling."
He gestured to the girl, who was still rubbing her head.
"This is Nina Rain. She'll be your guide."
Nina glared at Virgil. "Was that really necessary?!"
"Yes, it was," Virgil said, deadpan. He dropped the folder onto the table with a thud and turned toward a nearby wall-sized board covered in maps and scribbled plans. "You will treat her with respect. Despite her personality, she is still your superior."
The chair scraped loudly as Nina jumped to her feet and snapped a salute, her hand practically slapping the top of her head. "Major Nina Rain, reporting for duty!" Her grin stretched far too wide for comfort.
Virgil sighed, rubbing his temples. "You should start acting your rank. And your age." He waved a hand dismissively without turning around. "You know the rest. Get out."
"Follow me, people!" Nina sang as she skipped toward the exit, her boots thumping with each exaggerated step.
The group stood in silence, blinking.
"…I like her," Reid said, idly scratching Wubbin's head.
"I don't have high hopes for this mission anymore," Arthur muttered.
"Stop being so pessimistic." Lyra elbowed him gently. "Maybe she'll surprise us?"
"She must've done something right to make Major," Sosuke said with a shrug.
"Pfft. Like what, win a lottery?" Ren scoffed.
"You think someone like Virgil would tolerate her if she wasn't competent?" Rin added, brushing her bangs out of her face.
"Fair point," Arthur admitted.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Sosuke replied, eyes fixed ahead.
"I think she's nice," Milo offered quietly.
Sosuke turned his head, blinking. "I forget you're here sometimes."
Milo wilted a bit. Elowen placed a gentle hand on his arm, offering a quiet smile. "It's okay."
Outside, the heat pressed down like a weighted cloak. Dust kicked up around their boots as they trailed Nina through the main road of Fort Veridus. The air buzzed faintly with residual mana—thin, sharp, almost metallic in their noses.
"Hey, where are we even going?" Sosuke called, raising his voice over the low wind.
Nina turned around while still walking, arms swinging wide. "We should probably go somewhere important, huh?"
Sosuke slowed mid-step. "What?
"She's radiating incompetence," Clyde muttered behind him, rubbing his temple. "I want to be patient. I do. But how?"
"Oh, calm down," Nina laughed, spinning on her heel as the group caught up. "I'm joking. Chill out. Your ride's almost here."
Right on cue, a sharp gust of wind surged past them. A sleek, matte-black vehicle sliced through the sky like a bird forged of steel and mana. It hovered briefly, turbines whining, before settling on the open field just beyond the base's barrier wall.
"What is that?" Arthur shielded his eyes from the settling dust.
"An airplane," Nina said, already jogging ahead. She popped open the side hatch with a click-hiss and disappeared inside.
"A what?" Sosuke asked.
Nina leaned out the hatch, giving a dramatic wave. "Just get in! We've got no time to waste. Next stop—Astoria!"
"Already?!" Sosuke shouted. "I didn't even pack! Or… anything!"
"All taken care of. You've got rooms. Bags. Even snacks. Trust me!" Nina motioned them inside.
Reid knelt and set Wubbin down on the grass. "You're my pride and joy. Be strong, little guy. They'll treat you right. Don't wait up for me."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Stop being dramatic."
One by one, the group filed into the aircraft. The interior was sleek, surprisingly roomy, lit with soft blue glowstrips along the ceiling. The seats looked like they were designed for speed—not comfort.
Sosuke was last, one hand on the doorway when a voice cried out.
"Sosuke!"
He turned, squinting. A figure sprinted through the wind.
Isabelle stopped at the base of the steps, panting, her hair whipped sideways. "I'm coming too."
Sosuke blinked, then looked to Nina.
She simply shrugged and collapsed into a seat. "Door's still open."
"…Get in then," Sosuke said, stepping aside.
Isabelle brushed past him, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut behind her with a clang.
"I knew you'd come," Sosuke smirked. "You can't resist me."
"S-shut up!" Isabelle slapped his shoulder.
He winced playfully. "Ow. That was quick."
He strapped himself in beside her as the engine growled to life beneath their feet. The plane rumbled, panels vibrating with barely-contained power.
"Hello passengers!" a voice rang out from the cockpit—young, chipper, way too cheerful. "I'm your pilot today. Please keep all limbs inside the aircraft. You're about to witness some high-level technical magic."
The plane lifted smoothly into the sky, the base shrinking beneath them.
Reid looked out the window, eyes wide. "Okay… this is actually pretty cool."
"This doesn't feel stable," Sosuke muttered, gripping the armrest.
"You fight monsters but can't handle flying?" Ren smirked.
"At least monsters don't fall from the sky."
A few conversations and turbulence-induced screams later, the plane descended into Astoria's gray skyline.
The plane touched down with a gentle jolt, its wheels hissing against the cracked Astorian runway. The metal bird rolled across a dimly lit landing strip surrounded by weathered barricades and rusted fences. The captain flipped a few switches, gave a satisfied hum, then stood and stretched with a loud pop of his back.
Sosuke clutched the armrests, his knuckles pale. "A-Are we here…?"
Nina sprang up like a spring-loaded toy. "Remember what we practiced! You're officially tourists now—very normal, very boring tourists." She cleared her throat and straightened her jacket. "They're coming."
As if summoned by her words, a hard knock rattled the cabin door. Nina stepped forward and yanked it open.
Two men in gray Astorian uniforms waited outside. One held a clipboard, the other adjusted his cap with a slow, suspicious scan of the passengers.
"Is this an authorized flight?" the clipboard-holder asked. "I'll need documentation."
Nina's expression shifted—childish enthusiasm replaced by crisp authority. She reached into her side satchel and pulled out a sleek black ID.
The officer's eyes widened slightly. "Apologies, ma'am. Right this way."
The soldiers stepped aside.
The group filed out, boots thudding on the metal ramp. A cool, grimy wind swept over them. Their surroundings were spartan—bare concrete, watchtowers, and soldiers with blank stares. Distantly, the skyline loomed: jagged buildings and smoke stacks silhouetted against a steel-gray sky.
No one said a word. They trailed behind Nina like shadows.
⸻
Inside the processing station, everything smelled faintly of oil and burnt plastic. Fluorescent lights flickered overhead.
Nina placed her ID on the scratched desk. The officer behind it—an older woman with a coffee stain on her collar—picked it up, examining it through a thick lens.
"Ramsey…" she muttered, turning it over. "Why does that name sound familiar?" She narrowed her eyes, but then shrugged. "Whatever. You're clear."
She pressed a button, and the door beside her buzzed and creaked open.
⸻
The city hit them like a wall of noise and motion.
Dust clung to the air, stirred by the constant clatter of horse-drawn carts and rattling motor wagons jostling for space along the uneven cobblestone roads. Buildings rose two or three stories at most—simple brick structures with tiled roofs, some blackened by soot. Wooden signs swung above shop doors, their faded lettering nearly illegible. Clotheslines stretched between windows, fluttering above narrow alleyways.
Chatter filled the streets—merchants shouting prices, children darting between legs, a stray dog barking madly at a passing tram. The smell was a muddle of baked bread, coal smoke, and sweat.
Finally, they spotted it—a sleek hotel tucked between a bank and a theater. A false luxury wrapped in tinted glass.
As they weaved through the masses, Sosuke leaned toward Nina. "Hey, uh… Captain Rain—" He paused, the title still hard to say with a straight face. "Nina."
She turned while walking, dodging a vendor cart without breaking stride. "What's up?"
"Why didn't we just… infiltrate the military directly?" he asked.
"Two reasons," she replied, raising two fingers. "One, they already suspect me. We got lucky they didn't flag my ID yet. And two…" She spun around and walked backward, grinning. "Your faces are plastered on every wanted board from here to the highlands. You guys are basically celebrities."
Sosuke blinked. "That's… not great."
Nina beamed. "I think it's exciting."