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“There’s no need to be so harsh,” voiced éclair in a demanding tone, “-I know the news came as a shock, it’s normal. Take some deep breaths and focus your mind.”

‘Sure, as if that’s going to work.’ Hiding the attitude, the eyes closed and heavy breaths helped settle the mind. The world ahead reopened to clarity and solutions.

“What are my options?” he asked stood at the side of the path. Students often glanced to return to their prior conversations. The head held high; the message was not meant for the reading of any mere unrelated students. Some would say it be classified. Raising the issue to another would be his downfall, the only card to play remained in the hand of éclair, the trusted assistant.

“I see the heart rate has slowed and the mind is at ease. Here are the options,” the interface flashed to allow multiple displays at once. Written on them were location, last report, witness report, counting amidst the complied databank. ‘They last made the transmission three days ago. There’s been nothing apart from Pegasus sending a crew to gather reinforcement. Their exploration team,’ as shown on a page, ‘-rank from Tier-6 Emerald to Tier-4 Bronze. A strong lineup at first glance. Anyone would be foolish enough to think they can be defeated so easily.’

“Correct,” spoke the earrings, “-the most probable conclusion is a monster of Tier-4 and higher, or beings not abiding by our ranking system, has made itself known. We can only expect the worse from this evolving wreck.”

“éclair,” sat under a covering willow tree deep inside the park; the leaves fell to resemble a person giving a hug from the back. The somberness, as it always was, felt nice, the quiet and silence allowed for deeper thoughts. “What are the actions being taken by the administration?”

.....

“Since the adventuring teacher has been fired, the students aren’t under anyone’s immediate jurisdiction. The blame will most likely be put on the expedition team. I doubt if they are found dead, charges could be pressed. They have to sign a contract stating their deaths, under any circumstances, is their responsibility. Tis the way said line of work is plausible.”

“I know that,” said he browsing the phone, “-I’m to guess Military-Arts is the same?”

“Yeah, the whole incident of harassment has raised suspicious gazes at them. I can undoubtedly say, the academy isn’t going to take action.”

“Enough speculation, I need concrete proof.”

“Here you are,” returned a smug tone. Damning proof in form of a recorded message between two high-ranking parties. Each spoke under masking software, the distorted voices made it hard to pinpoint the culprits.

“Students of the Academy have gone missing.”

“Is that so?”

“What are your orders?”

“Leave it be, the situation is under Pegasus’s responsibility. We cannot allow for more controversy around our already questionable reputation. Let them die, who cares, we’re not gathering any more forces for their rescue.”

“Will that not be an offense?”

“Don’t worry,” the distortion gave way for a chuckle, “-post a quest request at the guild, put it under a teacher’s name. If the press ever raises the question, we’ll say the academy tried to amass a rescue party.”

“I understand, very good, it shall be done.”

‘What a way to cover their asses,’ thought Igna at the disheartening message, ‘-nothing is clear as water, nothing is pure as light and nothing is without expectation.’

“What’s the plan of action now?” asked éclair.

“We’re going on an expedition,” said he after receiving a message from Leko. The Guild Leader agreed for him to travel in search of answers for the upcoming event.

‘If lady Haru accepted, must mean the competition will greatly benefit her purpose too. She’s playful but smart...’ he laid against the tree, ‘-what’s happening to me?’ the palm opened to try and grab the far away branches. ‘Ever since the combat exams, my mind can only think of ways to outwit my peers. My heart tells me to trust but my mind refuses to listen. I’m stuck in a loop, who was I really?’

“Are you ready to move?” asked éclair, “-the bike has been readied. I’ve contacted the Guild of your arrival; they’ll have supplies for the expedition.”

“Won’t it take money?” he stood, “-the Trader’s Guild isn’t going to help much, are they?”

“Not the trader’s guild,” an image of a certain materialized, “-tis one owned by Phantom. Xenon, yes, a blatant reference to Xenos the founder...”

“Phantom... I said I didn’t want to use.”

“You have it backward,” he laughed, “-Xenon is an independent guild, one that accepts quests and requests. I can vouch for their strength, what better way to go on an expedition than in the company of elites.”

“Fine,” he shuffled to the shopping streets where someone laid in ambush. Kord’s ever full eatery seemed silent. A step inside showed not many people, ‘-did something happen?’ he ambled till the counter, “-Mr. Kord, you there?” No response came, the few eating did so in complete silence. Thinking nothing of the matter, the apartment door opened to mild chatter.

“Hey, how are you Igna,” said the loud landlord, “-I met this fellow along the way; he’s a friend of yours yeah?” Blond hair and simple clothes, a nod came as a visual greeting. “I’ll leave you to it,” said he closing the distant door.

“Leonard,” said Igna, “-what are you doing here?”

“I’ll skip the details,” he stood, “-Igna, I’m sorry, but I need help.”

‘Judging by the reddish eyes, the puffed cheeks, and dark-circle, he’s not getting enough sleep. Does he perhaps cry at night?’ paused on the questionable state, “-help in what?”

“The adventuring expedition...” quick to bring up his phone, “-look, there’s been an article on the subject. People have gone missing and the recent team has yet to respond, they implied the fighters are already dead.”

‘A leak?’

“Conniving journalists,” commented éclair over the interface.

“What do you think I can do?” sat across, “-I’m not a fighter, far from it actually.”

“I know,” said he, “-the idea is mine either. Remember Ila?”

“What of her?” he leaned to scratch his cheeks.

“She’s too proud to admit it, but we need your help. Me, Ila, and Cole want to go there and help. Please become our party-leader, there’s no one here who can guide us as well as you,” hands-on knees, he groveled.

“Don’t do that,” rushed Igna to raise the boy, “-it’s no surprise you want to help.” The friendly visage gave relief, “-come on,” he held his shoulder, “-a noble shouldn’t beg.”

“I’m sorry, but I had to do it, it’s the only way. I can’t bear the thought of losing Jen, not anymore, I was against the trip in the first place. If she dies, I don’t know what I’ll do, I’ve already given my family for the sake of love...I can’t.”

“I understand,” giving a tight embrace, “-I was going to help with or without you. Go wash up, bring the others later tonight, we’ll go over what we can do.” And so, the slumped distraught noble stepped onto the restricted back-alley. He gave no thought of acting strong.

‘He’s a total mess,’ wondered Igna watching the desperate boy walk along the street, ‘-can love really make a person so miserable?’ He’d bump into people, receive glares and blade-like comments.

‘Sorry,’ he’d say slowly behind woeful eyes and continue.

“As it is a dessert to cherish, love can also be the poison of those who tread too far into its ever-inviting arms. A delicate innocent-looking apple laced in venom. They keep on eating and eating; addicted beyond recovery, wanting to feel the same ecstasy as before to only be dragged into reality. Tis the thing teenagers dream, an impulsive feeling of want. He left his nobility, his power, and fame, to be at his lover’s side. Look at him now, she’s gone, we don’t know if she’s alive or dead – I’m sure the weight is crashing him.”

“You’re right.”

Later that night, Leonard, Ila, and Cole arrived to have dinner in the apartment. The eatery would be inappropriate for the discussion. A plethora of steaming hot dishes rested on the dining table. A change from eating alone or in the company of the guests below. Ila held a reserved look, Cole glanced around curiously. Leonard didn’t naught but wait patiently.

“Tis the first time I have guests over,” commented Igna wiping his hand, “-please, make yourself at home,” and so, they paced about until Igna returned. “Shall we discuss the matter over dinner?”

“Sure,” they agreed. Dishes passed about, and their plates filled.

“Before we start,” voiced the host, “-does everyone know about the situation at hand?”

“Yes,” they nodded with grins, the food warmed the inside out, the stress all but vanished.

‘It worked,’ thought he.

“Igna,” said Ila first, “-I heard from Leonard about some information...”

“Oh, that,” he took a sip, “-the academy isn’t going to help with the expedition. I heard it from a reliable source. The article is true to some extent, something is lurking inside that dungeon.”

“You insinuating lady Anna is dead?” her tone rose.

“Softer,” interjected Cole, “-we’ve come here to ask for help, not start a fight.”

“Please, listen to what he says,” added Leonard.

“I don’t like it one bit,” she focused on her food.

“Can you please go into more details?” wondered Leonard.

“Sure,” the conversation went on for longer, though it didn’t seem outstretched.

“Basically, we don’t know if they’re alive and we can’t expect the guild to help.”

They moved over to the living room. The television played mournful piano pieces from the virtuoso of Arda. Meanwhile, Igna did the dishes with Cole’s help.

“Are you sure about going on this trip?” wondered Igna.

“Why ask me?” he paused midway wiping a bowl.

“You’re the only one who’s looking at this rationally. I dare not tell the others, but, if Pegasus’s team couldn’t do a thing, what can us, students, do?”

“Listen, Igna,” he rested the utensil, “-I don’t know myself. There’s the feeling of if I don’t do something, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I want to go and see them for myself, even if they’re dead, I don’t want the ‘what-ifs’ to haunt me down the line. It goes the same for you.”

“I get it.”

“...” An awkward silence forced Cole out of the kitchen. Igna kept on washing the same dish over and over again. What Cole said was true, having regrets might not be so good down the line.

As soon as he entered the living room, “-we’ve decided,” exploded Ila. “-We’re going to the dungeon,” the adventuring channel covered Coria and it’s raising problem. They touched the subject of increasing monster ratings. The caster had this to say, “-at the current growth, if our adventurers do not strive to become stronger, the strength gap might outgrow their control. We do not need a repeat of the monster invasions.”

“I’m sure they’re still alive,” added Cole, “-you said it yourself, Pegasus is there.”

“Time is against us. If we don’t hurry, any sliver of survival is all but naught.”

“I get it,” he took a strong step forward, “-we’re going to Coria.”

“You’ll help us?”

“Yes, under one condition.”

“Which is?”

“We’ll seek guidance from other guilds. Students alone have no chance, if we’re going to support them, we’ll bring what the world has to offer.”

“And how do you expect that to happen?” shrugged Ila, “-Blade’s end has a fortune-like fee and no other guild is as strong as them.”

“You’re wrong,” he smirked, “-I know an independent group that’ll help us.”

.....

“Who are they?” wondered Cole excitedly.

“Xenon, Phantom’s Guild. The company the legendary Xenos of Kniq founded.”

“Shut up,” they stepped back, “-impossible. Xenon is elusive, there’s no information on the headquarters. Stop lying... at least give some believable lie.”

“Wait and watch,” said he, “-just you wait and watch.”