“This isn't Myriad, right?” Rin asked on the rooftop of a certain building. “Why did you bring me here?”

A gentle wind caressed the girl's cheek, all the while making her hair dance in the hair. A beautiful scenery greeted her along with the warm sunlight. Filled with tall buildings perhaps, but they were neatly organized which was pleasing to look at. Especially when she was at such a high place.

—Or not.

A complicated expression was plastered on Rin's face as she made sure to never approach the building's border. She stood still, right next to the entrance she entered from, burying her hand in her pocket and her face on a scarf she had managed to fetch.

Of course, this wasn't because of a silly reason like Rin being afraid of height, no. She stayed away from the border because of the unusual amount of people she sighted on the ground below her. In fact, with a much-advanced observation, she remarked all the roads in the city itself were packed with people.

She didn't feel good seeing this many people.

“Earlier, I said I was your ally.” The yet unknown girl with grey hair answered, coming from the same way Rin arrived on the rooftop. She was a little surprised to see her still so close to the door but not enough to say anything.

“However, in this particular case, I'm the one that needs your help.” She continued, advancing to the edge of the building.

“...My help?” Rin questioned, eyeing the back of the girl. “Again, I don't know y—”

“—It's Winter.” She turned around abruptly and declared as such while facing Rin. “My name, I mean. It's Winter Croft.”

A small silence traveled between the two girls, Rin staying quiet feeling that the other had something more to say. She stood upright, calming herself down, and looked ahead with an inquiring gaze.

“We're in Talia city, Rin,” Winter clarified. “And, this might be a bit sudden but I need you to stay here.”

The girl grew restless in her place, trying to find the best word to convey and explain her wish. However, after a series of opening and closing her mouth without letting out a single other sounds, she heaved a deep sigh of resignation.

“...I think showing you might be better than explaining.” The grey-haired girl concluded, returning toward Rin.

On the other hand, the black-haired girl was left completely confused by her action. Nevertheless, after their little conversation earlier, Rin believed that trusting Winter wasn't a bad thing to do. On the contrary, she thought it would be a good thing.

So, instead of rejecting the girl, Rin decided to patiently wait and accept her next action.

“This isn't gonna hurt so you don't have to worry,” Winter said, face to face with her ally.

She placed her hand on Rin's shoulder before closing her eyes. Light shone around the two-person protecting them from the darkness that soon enveloped the city. However, when the black scenery slowly took shape, it was questioned whether that was for the better.

“What's this?” Rin asked, her eyes wide-opened.

She turned her head around, relentlessly trying but still failing to believe what her sight showed her. It was a devastating scenery one wouldn't want to see in a lifetime. And Rin surely didn't want to be a witness for it.

“This....” She trailed off in horror. “This is Talia...?”

What was mirrored in her blue eyes was a ruined city. One that didn't only have flame burning things down, although those were still present and wreaking havoc, it was one that didn't have much of anything left.

All the tall and organized buildings of the city were no more. They were sprawled flat on the ground, torn to shred like a vulgar child's toy, or even reduced to simple powder and cinder. Not a single house or mansion were left intact, and the road and ground in and of themselves were gouged out so clearly it seemed like the earth itself had opened up a path to its core. Worst, crater, big and small, were present in all parts of the city, which unfortunately confirmed that not even a fourth of it was left.

Everything was thoroughly destroyed, leaving Rin to wonder as to what exactly caused such a thing to happen. One thing was for sure though, it wasn't caused by a natural disaster. The current technology wouldn't allow this much damage to happen no matter what kind of cyclone or erosion or whatever passed by. Even a meteorite wouldn't be able to destroy the entire city like this.

‘Which leaves...’ Rin gasped once again in horror as a semblance of conclusion formed in her mind.

“A monster did this.” Winter transmitted, confirming Rin's suspicion. “A Red-level threat.”

The projection ended with those words, returning the two girls to a healthy city without damage. Rin took a second to take in the information before once again looking at her surrounding. Specifically on the numerous people that crowded the road.

“That means...”

“Yes, Talia city is evacuating its citizens.” Winter finished the phrase, returning once again to the edge of the building.

The wind fluttered, caressing the two girl's smooth skin. This time, however, the mood didn't permit them to appreciate it. Rin understood what was happening, what was going to happen to the city, so she was left thinking to herself.

“This city is in danger, Rin.” Nevertheless, there was information only Winter could give so she continued to listen. “And.... two days is all we have.”

Rin's mouth gaped a little.

“I'm not saying you're obliged to stay and fight here,” Winter continued in a dreadful tone. “But, although I don't know why, without you, this city is doomed.”

Rin stayed silent, finding no reason that needed her to be present. “...The Atlas family govern this continent. If such powerful monster were to appear, it's their duty to get rid of it.” She said with an inquiring look.

“Under normal circumstances, that would be right.” Winter stated. “However, I'm afraid they can't take care of it this time.”

“Why?”

“You should have remarked it by now.” Winter took a deep breath and turned to look at Rin. “The abnormal increase in monster as well as Ark's incapacity to follow up.”

The black-haired girl frowned, bit of memories resurfacing in her head. The monster that attacked her school. The abnormal number of rift that permitted them to raid Ark's Hq. Lia Holder's presence.

Rin had faintly thought about them before. Under normal circumstances, as Winter had said, none of those should have happened or appeared. Ark was a competent organization, so for them to not be able to follow up, to protect themselves better, and to even call outside help would mean that something was not right.

‘...This feels familiar.’ Rin frowned yet again, this time recalling a distant memory.

“A black-level threat, is it?” Rin expressed, the piece of the puzzle clicking in place in her mind. “... A Beyonder.”

Winter's eyes widened in surprise. “...I guess you're still a member of the Kagane family, after all. I didn't think you'd know that term.”

“If something like that were to appear, I doubt this city would be the only one wiped out of existence,” Rin spoke in a louder tone. “... But, I still fail to see your point in conveying this to me.”

“Just like I said, I need your help.” Winter stood around a meter away from Rin. “The entire Atlas family will be focused on taking down the Black threat. Ark is still vastly occupied in taking care of the numerous Rift all over the continent. That's why only a few of the best were dispatched against the Red threat here.”

“However, as I showed it to you, they will fail,” Winter continued, her eyes locked with Rin's. “And from there, the red threat will move to Myriad and destroy it. Then, it will march to the next city and the next until it reaches its master, the Beyonder. If that happens, the entire Gram continent would be no more.”

“We need to kill whatever monster appears here, is what I want to say.” Winter finished.

“I do understand that,” Rin replied. “But if you're going to ask for help, surely there are other, better people than me.”

“No, there isn't.” Rin twitched from the instant response. “In all the limited future that I can foresee, those without you always end catastrophically.”

“...”

“You can escape to another continent if you want to, however,” Winter approached Rin before once again pronouncing her wish. “I, this city or even this entire continent need you to be here now more than ever.”

Rin heaved a sigh and buried her face in her scarf. She closed her eyes to think things through for a little while as she finally appreciated the morning breeze. Silence prevailed with a Winter fidgeting while waiting for an answer.

“It's not like I do have a choice you know,” Rin finally said. “I'm not as cruel as to just escape by myself. Plus, if I can do something then, all the more reason for me to stay.”

“Thank god....” Winter let out a deep relieved sigh after hearing the answer. “—no, wait, that's not it. Are you sure? It's not my place to say, but you could die, you know?”

“Yes, I'm sure.” This time it was Winter who was surprised by the immediate answer.

Though, Rin didn't let her time to speak anymore. She broke away from their conversation and headed indoor without warning. Hands still in her pocket and with slow step, she marched downward a stairway.

‘Furthermore, if this continent is in such danger, those two would probably come.’ Rin thought to herself, remembering the face of her beloved sibling.

Then she clenched her hand.

‘There is no way I'm escaping.’

Soon, three other people's faces appeared in her mind. Dead people.

Then she clenched her teeth.

‘I mustn't escape.’

A little while later she arrived at the bed she had woken up from. Taking off her scarf and the jacket she was wearing, a few parts of her skin were showed bare to the wind. Bandaged skin, of course.

There was just no way Rin had completely recovered from the nightmarish moment she had experienced hours ago. That was why, whether she wanted to or not, she needed to take a rest, to sleep.

Her body practically screamed that.

There was still some question Rin needed to ask Winter. Mainly, who she was and what her objective is. However, right now, strange as it may sound because they just encountered each other, Rin trusted her. And as such, she decided to leave all that for later.

For the time being, she just headed for dreamland.