Rising Shards

After Kalei left, Caya returned to the void room. With the gate pedestal already there, she scraped her fang on a piece of void rosin and returned to the void. With her wristblade shimmering, she marched down the hallway and approached the smooth, white stone Kalei couldn’t get through. With one strike of her blade, the wall dissipated, but only for a brief window. Caya dove through it in the second before it reformed, and began falling down. Nearly the entire island of Vita Coa was visible as she descended. As she conjured a paraglider like wave of energy from her wrist bloodsaber, her speed drastically slowed down. She scanned the island, and spotted where the castle that had previously been at the end of the hallway had fallen, deep in the vast wastelands on the eastern coastline. She spotted a village that matched the description the students from Diast’s pod had given her. There were other locations in this new amalgamate void node she had to visit over the next few days, but this one was the most pressing, as it was where the inciting Order of Terina device was located and destroyed. The cause of all these void nodes merging.

Caya landed down outside the coastal village. The villagers scurried at her arrival, looking flustered at her presence, but allowed her entry through the gates. From Caya’s travels and studies, she found that the hybrid organic and mechanical beings called Exumi were common in this general space of the void. A blue one approached her as soon as she stepped onto the lily pad like platforms of the village.

“Atrian! My name is Kiki!” The blue Exumi said. “I…assume you’re an Atrian. You are an Atrian, correct? You came from the same place the others did?”

Caya nodded, and briefly introduced herself.

“That’s terrific! I was so afraid when Zeta and the others were taken by that Terina beast in the caves, and the dark sky after, but then it cleared. The Order’s attacks have already lessened. The Atrians saved us.” Kiki paused, seemingly noticing Caya’s serious expression. “But even this amount of peace isn’t to last long here, is it?”

Caya shook her head.

“I’d like to speak to an Atrian here,” Caya said.

“Do you mean Arctus Kathron?” Kiki asked excitedly.

“May I speak with him?” Caya asked.

“I can bring you right to him!” Kiki said, taking Caya’s hand and leading her to one of the huts in the village.

“I do have to stay in the room with him,” Kiki said as she passed through the curtains inside. “I don’t believe you are an agent of Terina, but I’m instructed to be cautious. I’m…on guard.”

“That’s fine,” Caya said.

“Great!” Kiki said. She led Caya into Arctus’ room, where he apparently rested on the bed. She pulled the blanket down. “Huh?”

The bed was empty.

“He’s outside.”

Caya turned to see an Exumi elder leaning on his staff. He regarded Caya with warm eyes, and she bowed slightly.

“Arctus is awake?” Kiki said. “So the poison…?”

“He’s recovering well,” the elder said. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate you returning his sword.”

“Oh! That’s right!” Kiki said. “One moment, Atrian Caya.”

Kiki darted out of the hut. Caya introduced herself to the elder, Mawiril, and explained her situation to him. He too was wary, but Caya made it clear where her alignment stood, and a brief display of Atrian powers instead of Endoran ones helped as well.

“Here it is,” Kiki said. She held up a bloodsaber. “This is the one Zeta and her friends used to destroy the Endoran totem.”

Some suspicions Caya had were confirmed seeing the blade and the etchings on it.

Caya then followed Kiki and Mawiril as they led her to Arctus Kathron, who sat on the edge of the water. Caya looked him up and down, further suspicions she had about him less confirmed, but a clearer picture was forming.

“Arctus!” Kiki said as she ran to him. “Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine,” Arctus said. “Threw up a lot when I woke up, but I luckily made it to the water first. Endoran poison.”

“Do you want to be alone?” Kiki asked.

“You can sit,” Arctus said. “Please, sit. Enjoy this sunset.”

“I brought your sword.” Kiki said, handing him the Kathron blade in its sheath. Arctus set it on his lap.

“There’s also…a visitor, with me. Another Atrian.” Kiki said.

“I know,” Arctus said. He smiled warmly at Caya. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Her name is Caya,” Kiki said.

Caya didn’t sit with them, but she stood as they looked out over the water.

“It feels strange not being involved in driving off the Order of Terina.” Arctus said. “Kinda nice. Like the burden’s lifted a bit. That’s why you’re here, I’m guessing.”

Caya nodded.

“I mainly wanted to introduce myself today,” Caya said. “And make sure things are still stable after yesterday. I don’t want to burden you with the rest while you’re recovering.”

“I appreciate it,” Arctus said. "I'll try not to burden you with the recovering while you deal with the rest."

Arctus winced, maybe hearing how that attempt at a joke sounded out loud. Caya handed Arctus a small device. “If things get to the point they were at yesterday before I return, I’d like for you to contact me with this. It’s a pretty simple interface.”

“Right to the point, huh?” Arctus asked. “And thanks. I hope I won’t have to use it any time soon."

Caya nodded. She didn’t try to stomp when she walked, but her military boots did leave loud footsteps as she walked away. Before generating a return pedestal, she turned back and watched as Arctus and Kiki spoke to each other.

The fight wasn’t over. Wildfire Hearts and the Order of Terina would not be silent for long on the island. They likely were already preparing elsewhere as she watched the two. Caya left then, melancholy washing over her as she thought about the hardships such a beautiful paradise would likely soon face.