Part 1
A week had passed since the decisive day at the Volkov Atelier. Life in Kael's apartment had found its new rhythm, a strange yet comforting harmony. Chroma was now much more open. She was still quiet, but no longer empty. Her gray-blue eyes now held a spark of life, and she was often seen smiling faintly as she drew in her corner of the living room. The portrait of her father now hung proudly on the wall of the old studio, guarded by the Order as a precious artifact.
The biggest change, perhaps, was in Rina. Since finishing the painting, the wall of ice around her seemed to have thawed slightly. She stopped by Kael's apartment more often after their training sessions, under the guise of "conducting routine evaluations of the Phantasm subjects," but everyone knew she just wanted to spend time with her "family." She even occasionally helped Chroma with her homework, a sight that would have been unimaginable just a few weeks ago.
One afternoon, Kael, Rina, Lyra, and Chroma were sitting together in the living room. Kael and Rina were discussing basic combat strategies, while Lyra watched intently, occasionally offering comments like, "Why not just destroy everything with a single attack?" Chroma, as usual, was drawing.
"So, if the enemy attacks from a blind spot, the most efficient maneuver is..." Rina was explaining, pointing to a diagram on her data-slate, when Chroma suddenly got up and held out her sketchbook to Rina.
On the paper was a portrait of Rina. Not the cold agent Rina of the Order, but a Rina who was smiling gently, with a background of blooming blue flowers—the same crystal flowers that had been created when Chroma found her peace.
Rina was stunned, staring at the drawing.
"For you... Big Sis," Chroma whispered, the word "Big Sis" spoken with a slight hesitation, but with sincerity.
Rina was frozen for a few seconds, before finally taking the drawing with a slightly trembling hand. "This is... beautiful, Chroma. Thank you." She couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks.
Lyra, who saw the interaction, leaned towards Kael. "Kael, when are you going to be drawn again?" she asked, clearly a little jealous.
Kael could only laugh. Moments like these made him feel that all the dangers he had gone through were worth it.
However, the peace was not meant to last.
Rina's phone rang with a high-priority tone from the Order. She answered it immediately. Her expression, which had begun to relax, instantly tensed up.
"Understood, Commander," she said curtly before ending the call.
"What is it?" Kael asked, sensing the change in atmosphere.
"Crimson Hunt," Rina replied, her eyes now flashing with a sharp light. "Our intelligence got a tip. They're making a major transaction tonight. Selling illegal Rift technology to an arms cartel at the Old Cargo Port."
Commander Kirana appeared on the apartment's main holographic screen, which was a secure communication channel.
"Kael, Rina," she greeted, her face serious. "This is a golden opportunity to capture their unit leader and get information on who their clients are and how they've been able to track us. I want you two to lead the raid team."
"Us, Commander?" Kael was a little surprised. "This is a raid mission, not a resonance mission."
"Correct," Commander Kirana said. "And this is part of your training, Kael. You need to learn to operate in real combat scenarios. Besides, there's a chance Crimson Hunt might bring a spectral 'asset'. Your presence could be an ace up our sleeve if the situation deteriorates."
She looked at Rina. "Agent Volkov, you will be the field commander. This will be your first test as a small team leader."
"Yes, Commander!" Rina replied, her soldier's spirit reignited.
Kael felt nervous. This would be his first real combat mission.
Lyra, who had heard everything, stood up. "I'm going too."
"Lyra, this might be too dangerous," Kael said.
"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I must go," Lyra retorted firmly. "I won't let Crimson Hunt touch you again."
Commander Kirana, still on the screen, considered for a moment. "'Lyra's' presence could be a powerful deterrent, but it could also trigger an escalation. Rina, I leave the decision to you."
Rina looked at Lyra, then at Kael. She saw the determination in Lyra's eyes and the concern in Kael's.
"Alright," Rina finally said. "Lyra will come, but as a 'nuclear option'. You are only to act if I give you the signal, understand?"
Lyra nodded, satisfied.
Suddenly, Chroma tugged on the hem of Kael's shirt. She pointed at herself. "Me... too?"
Everyone looked at her.
"Chroma, you don't have any offensive abilities," Rina said gently.
"Can… help," Chroma whispered. She took a pencil and quickly drew on her sketchbook. A map of the Old Cargo Port, with several areas marked in gray. "Quiet... places. Hiding... places."
Kael gasped. "She can feel the 'canvas' of the area. She can point out blind spots and the best hiding places!"
Chroma's ability wasn't for fighting, but for infiltration and strategy.
Commander Kirana smiled faintly. "It seems we have a very unique team. Alpha Resonance Team, get ready. The mission begins in two hours."
The screen went dark.
Kael looked at his "family." An elite soldier, a cosmic goddess, a spectral artist, and himself. This was going to be a very long night.
Part 2
The night at the Old Cargo Port was cold and smelled of salt. Towering rows of shipping containers created a dark steel labyrinth, lit only by the lazy sweep of security spotlights. The sea wind blew strongly, carrying the sound of crashing waves and creaking, rusted metal.
Atop one of the tallest container towers, the Alpha Resonance Team observed their target. Kael, Rina, and Lyra wore black Order combat uniforms, while Chroma, who was too small for a uniform, just wore a windbreaker over her clothes, sitting quietly and looking at a digital map synced with her perception.
"They're there," Rina whispered, pointing through her digital binoculars. "Warehouse number seven. Just as the intel said."
Kael could see several Crimson Hunt members guarding the outside of the warehouse. Inside, the transaction was taking place.
"Chroma, what's the situation?" Kael asked.
Chroma pointed to several spots on the map. "Many... shadows. Behind the blue container. On top of the crane. They have snipers."
Chroma's information provided a picture of the battlefield that couldn't be detected by normal heat or motion sensors.
"Excellent, Chroma," Rina praised. "We'll go in from the west side, using that stack of containers for cover. Lyra, you stay here with Chroma as backup and overwatch. Do not move unless I call 'Stardust'."
"Understood," Lyra replied, her eyes fixed on the warehouse, ready to unleash her power at any moment.
Kael and Rina descended silently, moving from shadow to shadow like ghosts. Kael's heart was pounding; this was his first time on an infiltration mission like this. Rina handed him a small energy pistol. "For self-defense only. Your focus is to stay behind me," she whispered.
They managed to reach the warehouse wall undetected, thanks to Chroma's directions. Rina placed a small listening device on the wall. Voices from inside came through their earpieces.
"...and with this Rift reactor technology, you'll be able to create portable energy weapons capable of piercing standard Order shields," the familiar voice of the Crimson Hunt leader said.
"Excellent," another deep, raspy voice replied. "Payment will be transferred after we test the merchandise."
"Now!" Rina gave the command to the other Order teams that were already in position.
The warehouse doors blew open. The Order teams stormed in, accompanied by energy fire and shouts.
Kael and Rina entered amidst the chaos. Inside, the Crimson Hunt leader and several of his guards were engaged in a fierce fight with the Order teams, while their buyer, a large, tough-looking man, was trying to escape with a suitcase containing the Rift reactor.
"Kael, stay here!" Rina ordered as she dashed forward, joining the battle to apprehend the Crimson Hunt leader.
Kael took cover behind a crate, trying to stay out of the way. But he saw the large buyer was about to reach the back exit. If that reactor got out, it would be extremely dangerous.
Without thinking, Kael broke from his cover and fired his energy pistol at the man's leg. The shot missed, but it was enough to make the man stumble and drop the suitcase.
"Damn kid!" The man turned and aimed his weapon at Kael.
Time seemed to slow down for Kael. He knew he wouldn't be able to dodge in time.
Suddenly, a slash of silver light shot down from above, cutting the man's weapon in two.
Lyra landed gracefully between Kael and the large man. She hadn't manifested her giant scythe, just a regular-sized one, but it was more than enough.
"You didn't get the signal, Lyra!" Kael said, surprised and relieved at the same time.
"I saw you were in danger. That was signal enough for me," Lyra replied without turning her head.
On the other side of the room, Rina had managed to disable the Crimson Hunt leader with a quick, efficient move. The fight was over in an instant.
The Order teams secured all Crimson Hunt members and the evidence. The mission was a success.
As they regrouped, Rina looked at Lyra. "You disobeyed a direct order."
"I protected Kael," Lyra answered simply.
Rina sighed, but then a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Good work, all of you."
As the Crimson Hunt leader was being led away, he looked at Kael with a hateful glare. "This isn't over, Tamer! My master will not be pleased with this. He will come for you!"
"Your master?" Kael frowned.
The man just gave a cynical laugh before being dragged away.
Their mission may have been a success, but a much greater threat had just been revealed. Crimson Hunt was merely a pawn. There was another, more powerful player behind the scenes.
Kael looked at his "family"—Rina, Lyra, and Chroma, whom he knew was watching from afar. Whatever was coming, he wouldn't be facing it alone.