The Lyridium Cat arrived at our side, hurrying after us as Sigura and I stood at the edge of the clearing, facing off against the trio of [Pirates] and the Aerasthetic agent.

The skittish man's Aura began to shift and warp as he fell to his knees, panting for breath with a choked gurgling sound rising from his throat. The Aerasthetic man watched from behind the wagon, eyes wide and curious. The look in his eyes made my blood boil as the light of my metallic emerald [Mantle] burst to life around my pink skin. This was no game, yet the man had no trace of fear or worry for the writhing [Pirate] in his eyes at all. His wasn't the face of a man who deserved mercy to preserve the balance of Divastyr's rules.

I had no doubt that his face would be the exact same if this had happened to one of our people.

"I'll get the Boost user, you go for the Aerasthetic bastard, Yur. I've got this, alright?" Sigura commanded, her voice tinged with that familiar confrontational tone. I knew better than to argue with her in this state.

"[Understood. I'll leave this to you,]" I told her, glad that she decided to leave the priority target to me.

Sigura's shoulders sagged, and she let out a long, relieved breath. She wanted to handle the Boost user herself without interference? She darted off to the left as the white haired man spotted me approaching, metal floating in the air around me.

My [Insight] burst to life, a thinner, 'attuning' wave of Aera that filled the space within my [Sensory Zone]. The world was blanketed with misty colour, tinting everything with a light blue tinge. From here, it was easy to track the salesman's crystalline, cloudy white Aera. My metal hands moved through the air, working to grab him as both the man's hands snapped outwards. His Aera expanded rapidly, spreading over and through the area around us. He was casting something through the ground.

The cloudy Caster leapt away from the wagon, and I was forced to retreat to the side, working to avoid the white tint spreading through the ground and air and away from whatever the oncoming technique was.

"[Sigura, watch out for-]!"

"[Snagger's Cube]!" the Aerasthetic man shouted.

The Aera changed from a crystalline light to a physical substance, hardening into a thick white cube. Although I'd managed to leap free, the magical cage had trapped Sigura, the Lyridium Cat, the Chimera, the Snow Elves, and the trio of [Pirates]. It was a technique more specialised and refined looking than the [Magic Barrier] that Goon had used to escape last night in the casino. It was something with a more specific purpose, one that would have its own unique effects and drawbacks. I couldn't afford to rush this, not with an ally trapped inside.

Without wasting a second, the white haired man whirled around and began to run away.

"Bastard!" the pirate captain roared, eyes going wide as he ran to the edge of the cube, both hands slamming flat against the surface. "Come back here and undo yer damn barrier! You got us caught in it too!"

He was able to make contact with the barrier without harm, and sound could pass through it. That was worthwhile information to have, but I wanted him to stay quiet. All he was doing was aggravating the Boost user's already panicked state.

Moreso than the cube, he was going to become an issue. What was once another normal Human started to change. The affected man choked and gurgled, falling forward on his knees as patches of skin turned blue and semi-transparent, taking on a watery texture as he began to sway back and forth.

Sigura's eyes widened at the sudden influx of Aera as she leapt away, cursing to herself.

"Fuck this... Not another damn [Hydromancer] affected by this shit," Sigura growled, one eye glancing towards me through the barrier. "Why's he gettin' all wavy? You seein' this too, Yur?"

Wavy? I doubted she meant the skin, but... The air within the cube was changing. Distorting. If anything was 'wavy', it had to be that, yet nothing was happening to the man himself. Was there something Sigura could perceive that I couldn't pick up with my [Sensory Zone]? Given the positions of both, my only guess was-

"[He's not changing in my sight, Sigura. He's creating something like a mirage,]" I informed her, internally torn over staying to help Sigura and catching the Aerasthetic Caster. If this was something that used reflections or the bending of light in some way, my zone wouldn't be enough. Sigura had told me to go, but this was a situation I felt demanded my attention, especially if the Half Nekari Chimera couldn't escape from the confines of the cage.

"[B-Boiling Haze...!]" the skittish man croaked out.

He blanched after the words finished, letting out a pained sounding burp that came with bits of blue-pink spittle dripping down his lip and chin. The regurgitated Boost was much duller in shade now. He'd taken the worst of the liquid's effects, and his Aura had soaked it up. Even on his knees, his breathing came hard and laboured.

"Not near us, you fool!" the pirate captain roared. "What-!"

The [Pirate's] words were cut off, replaced by the sudden sound of sizzling flesh. The hot mist in the air had reached them, and their exposed skin began to burn from the contact. Both [Pirates] activated their [Mantles] in an attempt to defend themselves, backing further away from their panicked, casting ally as far as the barrier would allow.

The Chimera trapped within the wagon curled its mouth in a soundless snarl, strengthening its own [Mantle] in turn, a thick layer of shifting blue light around its entire body. Although the sound of sizzling rang out, I couldn't see much of a change to its skin. Given its Soul and the strength of every Chimera I'd met so far, it must've had some powerful magical defenses. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, but the look in its eye was murderous. If it got free, it could cause serious damage.

Turning a corner, Streiphen and Pack Rat arrived at the scene, their eyes darting around as they struggled to piece together the situation.

"Miss Yuri! Miss Sigura!" Streiphen yelled without thinking, his eyes spotting whatever was happening inside the cube that I couldn't perceive. His arms went straight for the mangled blade strapped to his back, gripping the handle tightly as he pulled the blade free from its straps. "I can break it, Miss Sigura! Hold on!"

"[Wait, Strei-!]"

My words didn't reach the boy before he swung, smashing his weapon against the crystalline barrier. He was clearly panicked, not realising this wasn't the same as the [Magic Barrier] he'd sent cracks through during the casino fight. Although he'd managed to crack that barrier, this one reacted far differently to his strike.

Waves rippled along the surface of the cube, and the structure seemed to writhe before shrinking slightly in size, pushing the [Pirates] a little further back over the concrete ground and close towards their gagging teammate.

"[You can't break it with force, Streiphen!]" I informed the boy as Pack Rat's eyes turned away from the trapped Boost user.

"What an annoying Spell," Sigura snarled, looking back towards us through the barrier. "I've gotta take this guy down, that mirage is growin' and those other [Pirates] won't last. I'm goin' all out."

"We need them alive for questioning, Sunburst!" Pack Rat retorted, grimacing as he undoubtedly tried to work out the best course of action. "Hrr... We cannot risk that Chimera escaping and causing further damage. Do not use excessive force!"

"Shut your damned mouth and let me handle this, shitty geezer!" Sigura growled back, turning her eyes firmly to the Boost user. "You three chase the cage's Caster and I'll handle this guy. He's with Aerasthetic. White hair, blue chain tattoos on his hands, creamy pale Aera. Just go!"

Streiphen looked conflicted, letting his weapon lean on the barrier as he struggled to come to a decision. Luckily, he didn't need to.

"Hrr... There is no time to delay. We must stop the Caster, Stardust," Pack Rat told the boy with a grimace.

"Can't you get Miss Sigura out with your magic?" the boy tried, eyes desperate as he whirled them on the elderly Roden.

"We must go. Warping them out with so much Aera and heat permeating the inside, would not come without time and risk," the Roden replied with a grimace, starting his run around the outside of the barrier, eyes flaring with blue-grey [Insight]. "Sunburst is right. Come!"

Streiphen's eyes darted between PR and Sigura before he took a deep breath, pulling his weapon from the Spell's surface as he straightened up.

"We-We'll come back for you!" he yelled, turning to race after Pack Rat.

"I know," Sigura replied with a grin.

The Lyridium Cat standing next to her spread its legs, lowering into a more battle-ready stance. The few weapons attached to its form flew off of it, hovering in the air. I should've made sure it was more well equipped, especially knowing the potential dangers of this mission. Because of that relaxed attitude, I'd have to make do with what I had.

I felt apprehensive about leaving, but I didn't doubt Sigura's ability. Despite my wariness, I ran after the pair, leaving the Cat with Sigura.

"Can't I just rush 'em?" she mused aloud. "If it's just boilin', I can handle the heat."

"[He's been enhanced by Boost! We don't know if that's the limit to his abilities. It's reckless to charge in!]" the Cat replied through [Telepathy], its voice charged with more emotion than expected.

Sigura shivered at its words, watching as the edges of the wagon began to wrinkle in the heat.

"Fuck it. We can't afford to wait, Yur!" Sigura replied definitively, eyes locked on the writhing Boost user as her [Mantle] flared up. "[Release]!"

With a punch empowered by Aera, a flash of sunset erupted within the cage, flying forward before striking the Boost user without issue. The man gasped from the instant impact, tumbling back along the stone ground. He gasped from the strike, yet the heat didn't seem like it was dying down in the slightest.

Wavy distortions hung all over the area. The mist overlapped in some places, forming pathways and corridors akin to a maze of mist. I could see the man's location, but...

"Fuck... Somethin's happenin' Yur! He's got some other sensory effect," Sigura complained, stepping closer to the burning mist as her eyes began to redden and water. "He's... There's so damn many of him now!"

The man pulled himself to his feet. I could see him just fine through my [Sensory Zone], but Sigura's eyes darted from his current position to all around the wagons. Did he have some way of creating fake versions of himself? It had to be part of the illusion, something my zone couldn't detect alone.

It was difficult to focus on two zones at once as I ran after the group, my heavy metal legs leaving cracks in the pavement as I followed the Chimera and Roden at the edge of my vision.

"[Try heading to the left, Sigura. The distortions aren't as thick in the air on that side,]" I advised, trying to lead her through the maze.

Sigura turned left, reaching out a hand before-

"FUCK! His magic's so damn hot!" Sigura roared, pulling back a singed crimson finger as smoke rolled up and off the digit. Even with the [Heat Resistance] Sigura undoubtedly had this wouldn't be easy, not while he was empowered by Boost.

If it could influence Sigura like that from direct contact, what would it do to the [Pirates] trapped inside? The Chimera? The helpless slaves? It was no different from being trapped inside an oven, and without a doubt things would become more desperate the longer they remained stuck.

The [Pirate] captain unsheathed his scimitar, coating the length of it with a silver-blue [Sheen]. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he swung with a "[Heavy Slash]!", smashing it against the barrier.

"Traitor! Come back! Undo the barrier!" the [Pirate] roared, even though the Aerasthetic Caster was long gone. The ripple from the impact travelled along the surface of the cube, causing it to shrink once again, shoving the two closer to the Boost user by force.

"Don't hit it you fuckin'-" Sigura protested, her words breaking down as she began to cough.

"Sternwall! C'mon!" the [Pirate] captain roared, his expression becoming manic and desperate as both attempted to break the surface. "No Spell's invincible! The barrier has to have a limit!"

"Fuck these..." Sigura panted, gasping for air that caused her to wince with pain. "Need help navigatin' this thing, Yur, it's fuckin' with me. He's everywhere."

"[I can see him, but the mist is overlapping. I... I don't think I can guide you without leading you into another wall. Can you brute force it?]" I asked through my Cat hopefully.

"Well I need somethin' Yur!" Sigura croaked. "Can't you just hit 'em with your blades?"

I could try, but... even now, the heat was causing the edges of the blades to turn red and soften. Would they make it through the mist? No, even if they could, was that a wise decision?

The Boost user was panicked, and if his mental state was that bad, sudden pain could only make him lash out further.

We needed a swift, decisive knockout.

The Chimera growled aloud, the first sound I'd heard it make since spotting it. A cloak of water formed over its scales, coating its entire body as steam rose and vanished in quick succession. The water cushioned the worst of the heat, but the monster's eyes had turned towards the weakening, creaking wagon.

What would happen if it escaped? Would it attack Sigura? A [Hydromancer] was a bad matchup for her, and one with that level of power...

"I have to try damn it!" Sigura roared, coating both arms in [Sheen]. The pair of limbs turned a deep sunset orange with gold edges as she pushed forward into the mist, trying to shove it out of the way as her bolstered, shining skin sizzled.

Metal scraped against stone as my main body came to a stop.

"[Pack Rat, Streiphen, I need to help Sigura!]" I hurriedly spat out, sending my [Telepathy] to them as the Roden's eyes widened near the edge of my vision. "[Can I leave the Caster to you?]"

"Can you help her?" the Roden retorted, using [Release] against the ground to kick himself forward with Streiphen struggling to keep up close behind. "Do not waste time with something beyond your abilities, Homebound! If you let emotions get the better of you, all may suffer. Keep a level head!"

Keeping a level head had been anything but a simple task since losing my [Silent Heart], but... I couldn't leave Sigura to her own devices. I trusted her, and understood her abilities, but because of trust and understanding, I knew she wouldn't be able to reach him before suffering heavy damage in the process. She would be willing to sustain that heavy damage to win, too. I was certain of that much.

My zone could see the man, but the mist was difficult to parse. I couldn't tell where the distortions were for someone with true eyes like Sigura. Her sense of direction and distance had to be muddied by the mirages. Even if I knew the path, all I'd be doing was leading her into a wall of searing heat without having a proper frame of reference. Sigura was in danger, as were innocent lives and the Chimera.

I was a Caster. A [Tinkerer], perhaps, but a Caster nonetheless. I had to figure something out.

"[I can help her,]" I responded confidently.

Pack Rat hesitated for a moment, pausing before a decisive nod came through.

"Then go. We shall handle the Caster, Homebound," Pack Rat murmured, his voice low.

Without another word, my mech started running in reverse. I didn't waste time turning my form around as I backtracked through the zone. I didn't know whether I was worthy of the level of trust they were giving me, but I was supposed to be a leader now. This was the decision I wanted to make, and it was the one I felt that I needed to stand by and pursue with all my might.

"Good luck, Miss Yuri!" Streiphen called out into the open air right as the boy turned blurry, leaving the edge of my [Sensory Zone].

'Luck'. I hoped I wouldn't need such a thing, especially after we'd wrecked the God of Fortune's place of worship yesterday. Luck was unlikely to be on my side after that disaster. All I could do was rely on what I'd learned.

I came closer to the crystalline barrier, my senses focusing entirely on Sigura once again.

Her body burned from the heat, but she forced herself to push through the maze. Her [Sheen] was shifting along her body, moving with the section passing through a wall of heat at any given time. The protection covered a small surface area to conserve energy, changing in response to the heat. It was a genius use of the Luster Technique to minimise damage, but if she was caught between two walls standing too close together, she'd suffer heavy damage. Worse still, she might not be in a position to retreat either.

She was exuding her own heat too as the air around her wobbled and shook, but she seemed unable to push his magic back with her own. Heat blended with heat, and the Boost user was sweating hard, steam surrounding him and mirages dense around his form. A battle of endurance.

Sigura cursed, deactivating the sunset [Insight] around her eyes. She must've been trying to read the path of the distortions by tracking his magic, but the man's Aera was thick in the air all around, turning the world a distorted watery blue. That wouldn't be enough.

"Control your magic, damn it!" the [Pirate] captain shouted, panting hard as he worked to keep his lungs in working order.

Even without direct contact with the walls of heat, the man was sweating profusely. He'd cast off his trenchcoat, leaving it in a messy heap next to him as the heavier 'Sternwall' collapsed beside him, panting and sweating wordlessly.

Spotting his fallen ally, the [Pirate] captain grew desperate. He raised an arm, Aera coalescing around it as the light transformed into water, expanding and shifting until it became a colossal hook of liquid as big as the wagon itself.

"[H-Hullbreaker Hook]...!" the [Pirate] breathed, swinging it down in an attempt to crush his teammate.

The water struggled to keep its shape as it touched against a 'ceiling' of heat above the Boost user, melting and breaking apart as liquid splashed to the ground all around him, sizzling away into steam before it even reached the stone.

"Typical," Sigura growled, blinking moisture from her reddened eyes.

Those eyes turned to the right, spotting my main body as it returned to the cage.

"What're you doing?" Sigura croaked, her expression contorting into a weak snarl. "You need to beat the damn Caster Yur, why-"

"[I wouldn't have been able to catch up,]" I lied. "[I can help here.]"

"They can't be trusted to- Fuck!" Sigura cursed, bowing her head before her teeth gritted together, the [Sheen] intensifying as she pushed through the walls of heat.

Sigura was frustrated, tired, and angry. In a state like this, she was more likely to make a bad move. To make a single mistake that could cause serious damage to her body. I needed to focus.

The Cat stood at the edge of the cube, unable to cloak and shield itself like Sigura had. I laid my true body down, sitting against the stone beyond the cube as I focused all of my energy and concentration on communication with the Cat. Weaving as much Aera as I could into the connection between me and the Artificial Soul. The ambient heat from both Sigura and the Boost user were causing the metal to melt. The emerald green exterior was tinged red, while the weaker metals within were melting into a lumpy semi-solid. Extending my [Telekinetic Field] through the entire Construct, I worked to keep it together. To keep the Cat's form and identity intact.

I could minimise the heat's effects, but that wasn't enough. It had to be a guide for Sigura. I needed it to produce something new. Something helpful.

Something I wanted.

The [Sensory Zone] on my main body faded away, leaving me with only the Lyridium Cat's form to focus on. My mind zeroed in entirely on working together with the Artificial Soul within, permeating through its entire form. I needed to focus on how I could help. How I could use the Cat to find a way out of this situation. I pleaded and wracked my brain, my Aera feeling that intent as it wound its way through the metal, my mind searching for something I could do. Anything.

To that intent, I felt the Artificial Soul pulse with an answer.

My mind was tinged with flashes of memory. Memories of senses alien and unknown to me. Flashes of Divastyr, my city, through another set of eyes. Familiar streets, buildings, and places. It was through the sight of a shorter form, but it was undoubtedly through a pair of eyes. Not the [Sensory Zone] I had now. I was seeing the city in a way I never had before. This was how others must've seen the city. How they saw Divastyr. My home.

It was how I wanted to see it too.

My focus intensified, and the Artificial Soul worked in response to that focus. The blank eyes at the front of the Lyridium Cat weren't just for decoration. They didn't have a functional purpose, not yet, but they represented sight. They were a core aspect of the creature's form. Part of its identity that I hadn't been able to properly realise. That I hadn't been able to give true representation. I needed to focus, to attune to the construct and the world around it. To hone my [Insight], tuning the eyes not to the Aera around it, nor to the [Sensory Zone], but to-

Light.

"You can't help with this, Yur!" Sigura breathed, pushing through the blazing haze.

She let out a yell in the midst of forcing her way through a wall. Like I'd feared, her fingers collided with a second wall, and her body reacted reflexively. She pulled backwards out of the two walls, and her [Sheen] couldn't readjust itself in time. She roared with pain and anger as she took several shaky steps backwards, the upper portions of her forearms sizzling with heat.

"[Follow me, Sigura, I can guide you through the maze,]" I told her through the Lyridium Cat, causing it to bound forward.

Sigura shivered, her eyes turning towards the Cat with shock, ears twitching atop her head. It wound its way through the maze in a way it couldn't before, and I kept my full focus on ensuring that it wouldn't change. This wasn't my imagination. I could see through both the Lyridium Cat's eyes, and through the Zone.

It wasn't a simple task. The concentration for keeping up two simultaneous points of view with two different 'sight' based senses was far from easy. I had no way of knowing how long I could make this last. The moment it broke, I feared starting it up again would be too time consuming. I needed to make this count.

The small Construct of melting metal arrived at the stunned Half Nekari Chimera's side, running to the right as she turned to follow. I could see the problem Sigura had faced now. How the world's light was distorted and unbalanced.

The [Sensory Zone] had a perfect scan-like view of the area. I saw the walls of haze, the wagons, everything. The Boost user was everywhere, his true form blurred and meshed with countless others, a sea of spluttering hazy forms all around. It wasn't something Sigura would've been able to hit with [Release] again. She didn't have time to shoot with trial and error, not with lives at risk.

The two [Pirates] weren't striking the cage anymore. The larger Human had passed out, while the captain was on his knees, both palms laid flat against the crystalline cage as he panted desperately, sucking in as much hot air to breathe as his lungs could handle. The Snow Elves inside the wagon were sweating hard. Several had passed out, and the rest looked as though they were in agony, eyes scrunched together as they curled into tight balls. The Chimera was keeping its focus on maintaining the sheet of water around its body, eyes lingering hungrily on the melting bars and creaking wood of the wagon holding it in place. For now.

The Boost user fared no better, panting and sweating on the ground. His eyes rose with stunned shock as he spotted the emerald Cat standing right in front of him, its form blanketed in shadow. His expression turned to horror as those eyes rose further, spotting Sigura.

The man's mouth, cracked and dry as it was, struggled to open and cast. Sigura's burnt and reddened hands snapped down with force, gripping both of his shoulders like a pair of vices. She shook him roughly, a motion that knocked the air out of him. He trembled with little resistance, more like a ragdoll than a person in her hands.

"[Ripple]," Sigura breathed, getting down on her knees despite the sizzling of skin against boiling stone.

Her [Mantle] shifted, casting a thin sunset orange wave over the Boost user's Aura. Sigura closed her eyes, expression becoming pained yet focused. The Boost user's Aura lashed out, its blue glow bubbling and fighting against the repeated orange waves of light. Sigura could feel the heat emanating from him now, but she kept her cool. Their Auras bounced against one another in waves, both competing for dominance. Yet Sigura wasn't trying to overpower him. I could see through my own [Insight] that she was trying to match the force of his panicked waves. She worked to get on his wavelength, to match the flow of her Aera with his.

It was an amazing display of Aera control, hammering home the fact that Sigura was far ahead of me in this regard. All I could do now was watch, wait, and hope.

After what felt like an eternity had passed, during which time I worked to keep my Cat's senses and form together, the mirages around us began to die down.

The tension in my body and Soul began to dim along with the air, and I had the opportunity to lift some of my focus and take in... the view.

I could see.

I had a narrow field of vision, with the eyes on the front of my Construct staring right ahead. The colour was poor, with only shades of it piercing the otherwise dull grey hues. I couldn't move the 'eyes' themselves, only turn the head of the Construct. It was a far cry from my sight as a living Half Varani, but it was an improvement. I could see.

My heart burst with giddiness and relief, but I forced it down. We still had work to do, and these [Pirates] were impressionable. I needed to retain my composure. Lifting my focus somewhat, I brought my attention back to my main body. The metal mech rose to its feet around me, approaching the side of the cube wall.

The stunned [Pirate] captain watching Sigura let go of his teammate as the unconscious Boost user slumped to the ground turned his eyes towards me. The man gasped, panting with shock as he scurried away from the wall.

"Stay... Stay back!" he croaked, voice cracking with dryness.

"[You're safe now, Siren's Sail. As long as you cooperate with us, you'll get out of this just fine,]" I assured him through [Telepathy].

"You even fuckin' think about runnin' and I'll kick the shit outta you," Sigura growled, trembling as she rose to her feet. Both of her forearms were still singed red and her knees were marked from the heat, but she was able to stand.

The [Pirate] captain gulped, his eyes turning back to his now prone ally before he too slumped over, closing his eyes and panting hard as he turned to lay on his back. It seemed like 'escape' was the last thing on the pirate's mind.

"That... That bastard left us behind... After all his talk, he was quick to abandon us without a thought," the [Pirate] spat.

"[That's the kind of people Aerasthetic are,]" I told him.

Sigura's eyes rose from the surrendering captain, turning towards the crystalline barrier that was still in place.

"I've got this from here, Yur," Sigura told me. Given the look in her eyes, ones of confidence and determination, I felt compelled to believe her despite the state her body was in. "Go after that bastard and knock his teeth in."

I wasn't needed here anymore, but I was glad I'd been able to help. While I doubted I'd arrive in time to fight, she was right. I needed to offer whatever support I could.

"[Right!]" I responded, turning around to head after the others.

My metal legs scraped against the ground, leaving marks in the stone as I travelled away from the cage, spotting Sigura use that [Ripple] Technique against the surface of the cage. My heavy metal form ran back towards the trail that the others had followed to track the Caster. I knew the way we'd run before, but if they'd gone too far then I'd be forced to guess which path they took.

It wasn't long before I saw flashes of green and blue-grey light.

Speeding ahead despite the fatigue in my Soul, my [Sensory Zone] expanded, enveloping the trio of Casters in the middle of battle. Pack Rat and Streiphen were fighting with the Caster, and the battle looked to be coming to a close. We'd been right to trust them with that task.

The white haired man was slammed hard against the concrete with enough force to make me reflexively wince, his body covered in cuts from Streiphen's sword and the knife in Pack Rat's hand. Streiphen had square shaped indents forming bruises on his skin from some blunt impact, likely another application of the salesman's magic. Pack Rat didn't look as injured, standing over the man impassively, his shadow cast across the man's face.

"Fuck... You Star people are nuts," the salesman breathed, clutching a wound on his stomach with a grimace.

"You're still taking us too lightly, Aerasthetic," Pack Rat replied coldly, still standing menacingly above the man. "You are out of options. Surrender."

"Taking you lightly? We believe in this, you old fuck... I'm dead fucking serious," the man wheezed, reaching for his spare knife. Grabbing the handle, he raised the blade high above before plunging it downwards, aiming for his own neck.

Streiphen watched with stunned, horrified eyes at the event, but Pack Rat was prepared.

The air crackled as a blue-grey portal opened up right in front of the man's throat. The blade passed through the warped space, appearing from a hole in the stone right next to where he lay. The man barely had time to curse aloud before Pack Rat slammed his foot down on the salesman's wrist, pinning it as he winced from the pain.

"Hrr... A quick end on your own terms is more than you deserve for what your people have done," Pack Rat growled. "Trying to frame a murder on us to spark this war is low, Aerasthetic, even for your kind."

The salesman opened his mouth, gasping for air to shoot back a retort as both eyes went blank. His head fell back against the stone as he slipped away into unconsciousness.

"[Are you two alright?]" I asked, my [Telepathy] reaching the pair in my barrier.

Streiphen's eyes hadn't moved from the unconscious salesman.

"We are fine, Homebound. I can take this from here," Pack Rat replied quietly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several minutes later, our group came together once again. Sigura looked exhausted, sitting on the ground with her back to the Snow Elves' wagon. The larger [Pirate] and the Boost user were still unconscious, while the [Pirate] captain was awake, even if I doubted he wished to be.

The Aerasthetic salesman was now securely bound. Although Pack Rat had suggested the use of his shackles, I was loath to give him any chance to pick them and escape. Rather than shackles, the man was bound in a skin-tight metal coffin I'd formed around him, one that left him no room to wiggle his hands free for another attempt at anything. Not even his head was free, even if I left a small rectangular hole at the front of his face for breathing, a luxury I was still unsure if I wanted him to have. Still, I understood that it was necessary.

"These bastards were peddling Boost like this too. Is there anyone in this damn city not using it?" Sigura groaned as Streiphen and Pack Rat sat down on the stone near us.

"It is a potent way to gain strength without work. A fool's method to growth, but a fast one nonetheless," Pack Rat sighed as I went back to work on repairing the interior of my Lyridium Cat.

"[It pains me to see them abusing magic for such a thing. If we can't convince the Don to take a more prominent stand against this substance after an event like this, then I don't know what it will take,]" I added, my voice tinged with a visceral anger I hadn't even been aware I was capable of feeling.

"I agree it is a worthwhile cause to purge the city of all the Boost we can. The risks are just too high. Given how much is at stake, I will beseech the Don to be more harsh on the use and distribution of such a thing personally," Pack Rat reassured me, something that left me silently pleased to see his ethics and the silent, angry determination in his deep, light grey eyes. Now it was just a matter of whether they were just words, or whether he'd follow up on them with actions. "I am relieved to see Equinox is in the hands of a good leader, in any case. You have sound judgement, Homebound."

"That's the one thing we both fully agree on," Sigura snorted, turning to look towards me while stifling a wince. "Thanks Yur. The help was... just... thanks."

"[Thank you. And you're welcome,]" I replied to both, feeling a hint of warmth that thankfully wasn't more anger spread through me.

Streiphen had been quiet since the salesman's last attempted attack, glancing up at the silent Chimera still standing within its wagon.

"I didn't know Aerasthetic had fuckin' Chimeras under their belts too," Sigura commented, looking back towards the Chimera. "Where the Abyss did this big bastard come from? Doesn't seem like he can talk either, like Fareel."

"[He might've escaped during the same breakout we did, or he could've been in the city for longer,]" I mused aloud. "[We might not be the only ones that made it out.]"

"It is possible the Chimera has been here in hiding here in Divastyr for some time," Pack Rat added, his eyes tired and locked on the blue scaled creature. "Plague Prophet arrived at our doorstep long ago. She was much like this one. She was far from being a conversationalist, yet still showed signs of intellect. She claimed she had broken out from a facility close by."

"Close by?" Sigura asked, narrowing her eyes at the Roden. "She didn't just wander your way from somewhere else?"

"No," Pack Rat replied with a shake of his head. "She snuck into the city much like your team did not long after her own escape. Or... so I understand it. She is not the easiest to get straight answers from."

Did that mean she broke out from the same facility we did? If she'd been here in Divastyr for a while, then did she escape during a separate breakout? Wouldn't Chimera have upped the security after such a blunder? They must've had the resources and funds for it given how much of a reputation the group held. Had she come from a completely separate facility close by with a similar flaw in their security? Why had our breakout worked as well as it had in the first place? Were Chimera creating creatures they couldn't contain or handle?

"What about these people...?" Streiphen spoke quietly, his voice still haggard as he pointed towards the second wagon filled with Snow Elven slaves. "We need... we need to help them too."

The majority had passed out from the heat, although...

"[They're all breathing, but they're in bad shape,]" I told the group.

Pack Rat's eyes widened as he climbed to his feet, walking over to the wagon before lifting the edge of the tarp. The single conscious adult Snow Elf still inside winced as the light pierced the otherwise pitch black wagon drenched with sweat and tears. The sight caused the Roden's expression to soften.

"We are here to help. If you do not try to run, we can provide aid and a guide to safety, alright?" Pack Rat spoke, his voice working hard to soothe them.

The Snow Elf looked stunned, his expression incredulous and overflowing with disbelief, yet he gave a small, solitary nod.

"Didn't the World Council ban slavery? Why the Abyss're there slaves here in such a big city?" Sigura asked.

"The council is... not omniscient," Pack Rat sighed, leaving the tarp back down as he lowered himself, sitting next to Streiphen. "The underworld's strength and caution allows events like these to be painfully commonplace, provided one knows where to look."

Streiphen crossed his arms, burying his face in them as his knees curled up against his chest.

"So? What're you gonna do?" Sigura asked with a raised brow.

"Hrm... I will ask Aquamarine if she is willing to perform an examination. Hopefully the damage they've sustained is temporary, and has not burned deep enough for an affliction like heatstroke. I will pay for the treatment myself if need be," Pack Rat replied quietly. "Afterwards, I will have them sent to the Cindermeyer Straits, one of the few Snow Elven kingdoms left in Scander. I am certain Queen Khione will receive them warmly and provide protection."

I'd never heard of the kingdom, nor this 'Queen Khione', but I trusted in Pack Rat's judgement.

"Catching someone connected to both Aerasthetic and... something like this," Pack Rat continued wearily, looking up towards the stationary blue Chimera. "...Is an accomplishment deserving of rest and reward. You have all performed well, Equinox. I... we will call today's search mission to a close here."

"Thank the Gods," Sigura sighed, lying down on the stone with relaxation spreading over her features drowning out the wince the aggravation to her burns called

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At the edge of my [Sensory Zone] hours later, I saw Sigura climbing the hill.

My Lyridium Cat and I were standing in a quiet neighbourhood, the same place where we had protected the Miracle Worker's monument from the enemy. Against Visionary's group.

The weather was dull, and I still felt rather drained from the day's events. Thankfully, Pack Rat had offered to take over the leg-work of handling the Boost and prisoners, as well as the report to the Don. I doubted any of us were in a good mindset to handle such tasks, and I'd been relieved to hear he was fine shouldering that responsibility.

"What're you doin' up here Yur?" Sigura asked, approaching both I and the Cat, her eyes glancing at the civilians walking along the pathways, looking towards us with wary expressions.

Her arms were... marginally better than before, but still wounded. Aquamarine's treatment and the ointment she'd taken had caused the worst of the burns to fade beneath her new bandages, but I couldn't imagine they'd fully healed.

"[Just... training,]" I replied quietly, my mind still unfocused and weary.

"Again, huh?" Sigura grinned, glancing around the neighbourhood. While it was mostly empty on account of the weather, some children were watching from their front porches, whispering words of curiosity and rumour spreading that I could hear with perfect clarity. "Least our great leader knows how to use her time."

The thought brought with it a feeling of warmth, even if I wasn't sure I shared the sentiment. I wanted to rest, in truth, but before anything else, I'd wanted to come here. As a test.

"So, it happened. You can see now, huh?" Sigura asked, her eyes drifting down towards the Lyridium Cat standing next to me, it's eyes glowing with a deep, metallic emerald glow.

"[Yes... but it's not easy, nor stable,]" I replied, only half heartedly devoting focus to the Artificial Soul. "[It's not what I'd hoped it would be, but it's a start. A step in the right direction,]"

The sensation was difficult to maintain, and felt more like squinting. I could see, but most of the colour had been drained from the world. Familiar in some ways, alien in others. Even seeing with full detail was difficult. I hadn't even been able to read the monument's words with these makeshift magical eyes.

"Well, what about the sky?" Sigura asked hopefully, leaning her back against the side of my mech with a contented sigh, raising her eyes. "You happy to see that?"

The sky. The chance to see it was something I'd been waiting on for what felt like months, although it hadn't even been weeks since that nightmare in the facility had finished and we'd all woken up. This was just the first step of many back towards normality, and a symbol that maybe I'd be able to return to what I once was.

Or...

I wasn't feeling optimistic about my form changing, but if I could at least regain some of the comforts from my old life... that might be enough.

The Lyridium Cat mimicked Sigura's actions, craning its eyes skyward before relaying all it saw to me through an echoed perception.

It was one more step towards normality. Towards fighting back against Aerasthetic and their war to make sure we still had somewhere to stay when all of this passed. Towards living a peaceful life and integrating with the people of this land in an attempt to call this place 'home'.

But...

"[I can't see the sky, Sigura. All I can see are blurred, grey clouds.]"