In the bustling clothing boutique, Lian waited in the lobby with a quiet, detached air. His gaze fell upon Rhea, who was scurrying toward him, clutching the bags containing the clothes she had just purchased for him.
Rhea tried to maintain a composed smile, though she couldn't quite hide the beads of sweat forming at her temples.
"Master Lian, I've finished."
"Good."
"Please, follow me."
Lian gave a slight nod. They exited the store, Rhea leading with a frantic pace. Lian attempted to keep up, but as the seconds ticked by, the distance between them began to widen.
"Rhea."
Rhea didn't turn back. I have to hurry to Lena.
"Rhea!"
Still, she kept her focus dead ahead. Lian came to a dead halt. He watched her retreating figure until she vanished into the crowd. Without a word, he turned on his heel and began walking in the opposite direction.
Outer,Rhea is no different from the others. It's better if we distance ourselves from them, Lian communicated via telepathy.
"Indeed! Wherever Lian goes, Outer shall follow!"
Lian allowed a small, weary smile to touch his lips. He decided right then to navigate this new world—Echo—without a guide.
***
Back in the room, the heavy silence between Ron and Nox finally broke. Nox had begun to process the bitter reality regarding his brother. He paced toward Ron.
"Ron, do you remember when I first woke up in the hospital?"
Ron remained silent, though he bit his lip for a fleeting second.
Nox took a deep breath. "No matter what happens to you—whether you fail or reveal a weakness—I'll always be here. I won't leave you."
He extended a hand toward his brother, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Lieutenant Colonel, it's time to stand up."
"Nox... thank you."
Ron took Nox's hand, and with a firm pull, Nox hauled him to his feet. Together, they left the room and headed toward the lobby. In the distance, they saw Rhea approaching Restaurant Olatte, gasping for air. Lena stood alone in front of the restaurant.
Rhea rushed to Lena's side, eyes scanning her frantically from head to toe. "Lena! Are you alright?"
"Yes..."
"Thank goodness," Rhea sighed, clutching her chest in relief.
Moments later, Ron and Nox arrived. A thick, palpable awkwardness hung in the air between the three of them.
"Where's Lian?" Nox looked around, searching for any sign of him.
Rhea spun around, searching the corridor, but the space behind her was empty. "Master Lian... he's gone…"
Her knees buckled, and her vision blurred. She tried to take a step, stumbling, but Ron caught her just in time. "Are you okay, Rhea?"
Rhea only nodded, her eyes vacant.
"Lady Rhea, please rest. I will find Master Lian," Lena declared. She immediately sprinted toward the left wing of the building, retracing Rhea's steps.
Nox looked at Ron. "Ron, watch over Rhea! I'll take the right wing!" He vanished into the crowd before Ron could answer.
Left alone with Rhea, Ron could feel her trembling. "Rhea, calm down."
"How can I?" she choked out. "Master Lian is still unstable—both mentally and physically."
Tears began to fall. Ron knelt in front of her. "This isn't your fault. It's mine," he said, meeting her eyes.
Rhea shook her head. "I couldn't even tell him the truth," she rasped. "I couldn't admit my own mistakes."
Ron grew quiet. The truth... mistakes...
Rhea buried her face in her hands, tears seeping through her fingers. Ron reached out to comfort her but hesitated, pulling his hand back. He stood up and turned his back to her, taking a deep breath. "I hate Leuliang Esculenta."
Rhea flinched, her hands dropping from her face. Her crying slowed to a hiccup.
"Even if Lian apologizes, I can't let go of the pain in my heart," Ron continued, his fists clenching so hard they shook. "But the truth is even more painful... that Lian is just another victim. This grudge is the only thing keeping a wall between us."
Rhea bit her lip, twisting the fabric of her white dress. "Sir Ron..."
Ron closed his eyes, flashes of the Vellion City crater flickering in his mind. "Is that why Lian didn't want me to come with you?"
"Sir Ron, let me tell you one thing about Master Lian," Rhea said.
Ron stood still, listening.
"The title of Master is only granted to those who possess legitimacy," she revealed.
Ron's eyes widened. He whipped around to face her. "What does that mean?"
"I said I would only tell you one thing." She stood up, her steps still shaky.
Ron reached out to grab her arm. "You should wait here. They'll worry more if you disappear too."
"Do you think Master Lian is waiting to be found?"
"That... well, at least Lena and Nox are trying."
"In the end... I failed my duty."
"Please, Rhea. Wait for them."
Rhea looked down at his hand. "Sir Ron, please... let go."
"Ah—right. Sorry," Ron muttered, quickly releasing her. He watched her sit back down, feeling the lingering warmth of her skin on his palm.
***
Outside the mall, Lian was already blocks away, moving with purpose.
"Lian, where are we going?"
Wasn't the goal of our journey to find Serenity? Lian replied telepathically.
"Hmph. Outer does not like her."
Outer, Serenity is the key to knowing who I truly am.
"And how do you plan to find her?"
Lian looked down at his right palm. This octagonal symbol…
As he walked, he remained unaware of the dangerous consequences his disappearance would trigger for Ron, Nox, and the others.
***
While Lian drifted further away, Lena and Nox were scouring every corner of the mall.
"Where could he be..." Lena fretted. She checked every shop and kiosk, her pulse racing. She considered going to the information desk but stopped.
I can't report him missing. It will only make Lady Rhea more frantic.
She reached the ground floor lobby, sweat dripping down her face, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
On the other side of the building, Nox was having no better luck.
"Dammit, Lian! You always make things so difficult."
He tried asking bystanders and security guards, but without a photo, he was getting nowhere. When he reached the ground floor, he saw Lena sitting alone, her face buried in her hands, weeping despite the crowds.
Nox hurried over. "Come on, let's head back."
Lena shook her head.
"Haa... Lena, we need to regroup with Rhea and Ron," Nox sighed, rubbing his temple. He looked at the main entrance, frustrated, until his eyes landed on the security cameras. He smacked his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that sooner?"
He looked at Lena and offered a small, relieved smile. "We have a lead."
Lena looked up, eyes red. "What?"
"The CCTV," Nox pointed.
They approached a security guard. "Excuse me, can we see the footage from the entrances and exits?" Nox asked.
The guard sighed, looking at the two of them. "Listen, if you have a kid, keep a hand on 'em. Don't let go. Go to the security hub on the second floor and tell them your child is missing."
"Huh?" Nox blurted out.
"Thank you!" Lena interrupted, grabbing Nox's hand and pulling him toward the stairs.
"Hey! What are you—"
"Quiet! We're going to the CCTV room."
"Fine! Just let go of my hand!"
"Ah! My apologies, Sir Nox," Lena stammered, instantly releasing him.
The security guard watched them go. "Young couples these days," he muttered into his radio. "Heads up, we've got a young couple who lost their kid heading to the hub. Help them out."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the control room.
"Ah, you're the couple who lost the child?" the technician asked as they entered.
"EXCUSE ME!?" Nox shouted.
Lena squeezed his hand gently and shook her head, pleading with her eyes.
"Whatever," Nox growled, biting his tongue.
"What time did your... child go missing?"
Lena checked her phone to see an incoming call. "Around 17:50. Can we check the exits?"
The technician pulled up the footage.
"There! That's him! He's leaving the mall!" Nox pointed at the screen.
"Wait, that's not a kid," the technician noted, confused.
"Thank you so much!" Lena cried.
"Hold on," the technician said, zooming in. "I saw him with a girl earlier. Looked like they had a fight and she walked off."
Nox and Lena exchanged a look. "Lady Rhea," Lena whispered.
The technician analyzed the movement patterns. "Last seen at 18:15, heading toward the main road."
Lena quickly noted the info. "Thank you for everything."
"Sure. And tell your friend there to cheer up," the technician added.
As they walked back to find the others, the tension between Lena and Nox returned. Lena kept stealing glances at him, her face flushing as she remembered her outburst at the restaurant.
"What?" Nox asked, noticing her staring.
Lena stopped. "About what happened... at Olatte..."
Nox clicked his tongue. "Hypocrite."
Lena flinched, her ears turning bright red. "I am so sorry for being rude to you and Sir Ron."
"And?"
"And... I..." Lena started to tear up again.
"You really cry easily, don't you?" Nox sighed. "Crying doesn't solve problems."
Lena wiped her eyes, looking up at him. "Are you angry, Sir Nox?"
"I was. But seeing you cry just makes me annoyed."
"Annoyed?"
"Just... make sure you apologize sincerely to Ron," Nox turned away.
"I will. I promise."
They walked on, Lena trailing exactly one step behind him.
She watched his back. He has a temper, but Sir Nox is surprisingly honest and kind.
To be continued...