Yorkwes, after the attack.
Amidst the burned-out buildings, one structure remained standing. Inside, several individuals gathered, discussing the devastation that had recently befallen the city.
One of them held a glass of water, his gaze distant as he spoke. He was speaking with his colleague—Arthur, from Ao' village. They discussed the chaos that had engulfed the city, and both agreed not to return to the village until this investigation was complete.
Their conversation was interrupted by a brown-haired man with milky eyes. He whispered something important to Arthur. Their colleagues strained to listen, but the hushed exchange remained indecipherable.
After the man left, Arthur—who was leading this investigation—fell silent for a moment, pondering what he had just heard. One of his curious colleagues whispered a question in his ear.
"What are you thinking? And... what did he say?"
Arthur gave a faint smile before rising to his feet. He gestured for everyone to leave the building immediately. They walked away until the building they had just left was no longer visible behind the rubble.
The weather in Yorkwes was quite cool. A cold wind pierced their bodies, while sunlight shone on their faces. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at two trees growing side by side. Beneath them, several stones seemed to clasp the roots of the trees.
Once he felt the area was secure, Arthur began to speak—choosing his words carefully to ensure everyone could follow.
"So... something was left behind, he said?" asked one of the men walking behind.
They began to discuss, trying to guess what was actually being sought. Arthur himself was still confused, not fully understanding the brown-haired man's meaning. He turned, shielding his eyes from the sunlight with his palm. "Come with me. There's something I need to find."
His colleagues nodded and followed his lead. They moved towards a charred black circle—the former location of the battle between Kaito and Araka during the attack.
As they explored the ruins, a voice was heard from a distance. Someone waved towards them. Arthur recognized the voice—an urgent call for them to hurry.
Arthur's colleague returned the wave. The brown-haired man smiled and winked. Their gazes locked, creating a moment of silence. Arthur wondered—what was actually happening?
The man began to approach. Arthur straightened up, hiding his nervousness as the man drew closer.
"Nathaniel," the man said, extending his hand.
Arthur returned the handshake, though still hesitant. "Arthur. I need your help," he replied, scratching his cheek.
After introducing themselves, Arthur immediately asked the question that had been bothering him.
"What exactly did you mean earlier?"
The question seemed to have been anticipated by Nathaniel. With a small smile, he opened his left palm. There, a strange object appeared—a small ornament of unusual shape.
Arthur squinted, intrigue flickering in his eyes. "Does this have anything to do with yesterday's attack?"
"I found this strange ornament at the scene," Nathaniel replied seriously.
Arthur took the object and examined it. He wasn't sure if the ornament was really important. But before he could conclude, one of his friends snatched it from his hand.
"Hey, don't just grab it..." Arthur complained.
His friend examined the ornament. Instantly, his expression changed drastically. His eyes widened, his breath caught.
Nathaniel and Arthur looked at each other, confused by the reaction.
"Hey... Arthur! Everyone! Run from here!" the man shouted in panic.
Arthur's confusion deepened. "What do you mean?" he asked, shaking his friend.
But the man forcefully pushed Arthur away. Nathaniel immediately moved, signaling the others to retreat. They all ran away, except for two who remained behind.
Arthur was still trying to find an explanation, but his body began to lift—pulled by a mysterious force.
Then, within seconds—BOOM! The explosion rocked the earth.
A large explosion shook the ground.
"Neier!!" Arthur shouted from a distance.
The explosion was incredibly large. However, Neier—the man who had warned them—used a special technique to minimize its impact.
From a distance, right at the building previously occupied by Arthur and his colleagues, the evacuated residents began to emerge. The sound of the explosion caused panic. They ran around, trying to find out what had actually happened.
Back at the explosion site—Nathaniel began to understand Neier's meaning. It turned out that when he touched the ornament, the power within it reactivated and caused the explosion.
"How cunning..." Nathaniel muttered.
At the Ao' Village Elder's Residence
Smohs rose from his seat. His gaze was directed towards a small window facing east—towards Vurce. The evening breeze blew gently, swaying the bamboo curtains hanging on the windowsill.
A group of people had just returned from a long investigative mission. Morgan, the team leader, entered the village chief's house with heavy but steady steps. His face showed seriousness. In his hand he held a roll of documents that looked important.
Smohs, the village chief, looked at them with questioning eyes.
"Did you find anything?" he asked without preamble.
Morgan nodded, then took a few steps forward. "We have important information gathered over the past year and a half."
Smohs was silent upon hearing that statement. His brow furrowed. "Are you serious? I can't believe they... would do this to us." His voice was low, almost inaudible. He looked sharply at Morgan. "Are you sure this is fact, not fabrication?"
Instead of answering, Morgan looked to the side. "Sofia. Explain to the Chief."
A young woman stepped forward. Her eyes were sharp, the blue of a stormy sky in the rainy season. Her purple hair was neatly tied up. Her face was calm, yet firm.
Smohs was surprised. A slow smile spread across his aged face. "Wow... wow... How long has it been since we last met? I hardly recognize you, Sofia. You've grown so much."
Sofia bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Chief. If permitted, can we go straight to the point?"
"Of course. Please."
Sofia began to explain. Her voice was firm, each word neatly arranged. She presented the information gathered with her colleagues—data, observations, and evidence pointing to one terrifying possibility: an attack on the place they had been protecting.
Time passed. Thirty minutes later, Sofia concluded her report with one clear statement, "We need a quick decision, Chief. If this is left unchecked, our village will be the next victim."
Smohs, the steadfast leader of Ao' Village, was known for his composure under pressure—a man nicknamed 'Smart Calm' for a reason. capable of making decisions under pressure—a leader with the nickname Smart Calm.
After taking a deep breath, he said, "If they really attack that place... the impact will spread to this village."
He looked deeply at Sofia. "When will they move?"
"The day after tomorrow," Sofia replied with sharp eyes. "That's what we heard from our source."
Smohs clasped his fingers in front of his face. In his mind, he imagined the strange events in the Vurce region. The giant chunks of ice that appeared suddenly—then disappeared without a trace. A phenomenon that had never happened before.
"Is all this... connected?" he murmured softly. His face hardened. "Something much bigger is happening."
Morgan nodded. "Maybe. But the investigation is still ongoing, and they haven't found out who's behind it."
The night wind began to bite. The sun had set. Smohs was still pondering the information he had just received.
He stepped outside, sat leaning against a pillar, gazing at the beautiful night sky. In his mind, a fairly effective plan began to form to prevent the attack.
"With a heavy sigh, he whispered, 'So... it has come to this."