"Hahahahaha… very good." The figure spoke, a certain raspiness hinted in his speech.
Mihel turned toward the voice. Riche froze mid-motion, eyes snapping to the same point.
A man stepped out of the shadows.
Dark hair, neatly combed back and parted in the middle, not a strand out of place. His eyes were sharp, analysing the room and the situation.
A deep blue coat draped over him, threaded with thin lines of gold that shone in the darkness. It looked the reflection of a shining sun on dark waters.
"So, children, why are..."
Mihel moved. He couldn't afford hesitating. He saw what hesitation had led to against the Rajhu.
He launched forward without a word, blade low, body coiled to strike. The man was standing with all his weak points unguarded.
Riche did not hesitate as well. The moment Mihel charged, he turned back to Midia, twin blades biting into her chains, slowly trying to gnaw away at the metal.
'Buy me some time, Mihel... I'll come to help soon..' he thought as he frantically continued his work.
As Mihel drew closer the stranger suddenly shifted aside, calmly without losing his laid-back posture. Mihel's jab cut nothing but air. His momentum carried him forward, past the man.
Before he could turn and face the stranger a heel slammed into Mihel's back.
He crashed into the wall, stone shuddering from the impact. He coughed out blood feeling the wound in his chest again. Before the dust settled, Mihel pushed himself up and surged again, bringing Chamynos Fios down in a brutal overhead arc.
A flash of silver.
A blade appeared in the stranger's palm, thin and gleaming, catching Mihel's strike with effortless precision. Steel rang. Mihel feinted, stabbing low, then slashed toward the knee.
The man jumped forward with unnatural speed, lashing out like a snake catching prey.
His foot flew out midair, heel smashing into Mihel's face.
Mihel staggered back, vision swimming. The wound from the Rajhu attack tore open this time, blood seeping through the dark fabric of the rider outfit.
"Must you be so hostile?" the man said lightly, brushing off dust from his shoulders. "I was about to explain."
Mihel bared his teeth and lunged once more. He wasn't liking how nonchalant this man was while facing him.
"Halt."
The word felt like a command being etched into reality. It didn't seem to come from the man, rather an unknown and powerful voice seemed to instruct him.
"One more step," the man continued, voice seeming calm, "and your Fate will stand at death's door."
The air thickened.
Mihel felt it instantly. A crushing presence poured into the room, invisible yet overwhelming.
Destiny. Heavy. Absolute.
His knees buckled. But they did not touch the ground.
Mihel trembled, muscles screaming, yet he stayed upright. He had felt greater pressure before. He had unknowingly faced something far stronger.
'This is nothing compared to that being I faced before.'
Gritting his teeth, he turned his head.
Riche was on one knee, barely conscious, shaking as he forced himself to shield Midia who couldn't handle this man's Destiny.
Riche had succeeded in his task, as Mihel noticed that her chains lay shattered, but she was out cold, unmoving.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
'This man isn't a Rajhu.'
Mihel's thoughts raced. 'He's too refined. Too clean. And he doesn't speak like someone born to this nation's sand and heat.'
'Then who was he? And why was he here?'
The stranger's lips curved as he studied Mihel's bruised face.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said. "Vidoria Kidt. Second Decurion of the Seventh Cohort of the Exousia."
The name struck harder than any blow.
'Huh...Exousia?...What's the mean-'
His gaze slid to Riche. "The one lying over there, the blond boy, must be Riche Malant. And you…" His eyes returned to Mihel. "Mihel Westrow."
Mihel's grip tightened.
"I had certain expectations of the top prospects," Vidoria continued calmly. "And I must say, you came… close to meeting them."
'Why does he know our names?...'
Mihel's stomach twisted. 'Then this place… it's under the government?'
'Why would the Rajhu hide a prisoner here?' he was confused by the unexpected revelation he had received.
"Take the girl back to your train," Vidoria said, already turning away. "Its operations will resume shortly. She was not harmed, so you needn't worry."
He paused, then added without looking back, "We will meet again."
Vidoria inclined his head in a shallow bow and began to walk toward the exit. His blue coat swirling around him.
Mihel forced the pressure from his lungs and spoke.
"Tell me this atleast. Why did the train stop? Why did the Rajhu attack us? Are you also responsible for that?"
Vidoria stopped. He turned, smiling faintly.
"It was to see," he said. "Salutis Exousia, my friend."
And then he was gone, his presence draining from the room as suddenly as it had arrived.
"Phew…" Mihel let out a long breath. But his mind was still racing.
Riche was stirring now, colour slowly returning to his face. Mihel sheathed his sword and walked over just as Riche's eyes fluttered open.
He blinked, taking in the room, still dazed.
"Who… who was that man?" Riche muttered. "What happened?"
"He claimed to be an officer of the Exousia," Mihel said, in a low voice. "He told us to return to the Engine."
Riche nodded weakly, then his gaze dropped. Blood was seeping through Mihel's clothes, dark and steady. Dripping onto the floor.
"Mihel, you're bleeding badly."
"I'll make it back," Mihel replied. "That's enough." Though he didn't sound that convinced. He felt like his head was inflated, threatening to pop any moment now.
Midia groaned softly and pushed herself upright. Her eyes widened, then focused as she saw them.
"Mihel… Riche… thank you," she said between coughs. "For... coming after me." She took a glance at Mihel who was bleeding heavily, but he refused to meet her eyes.
She took a few unsteady steps forward, then stopped and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry I got captured. Please forgive me."
Riche also stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice gentle. "It's fine. You're safe now. Let's get back to the Engine before they miss us for too long."
They left the smaller building, retraced their steps to Wall Two, and climbed the sandy barrier. From there, they followed the same trail back into the desert.
As they walked, Midia told them how the riders had taken her, and how strangely restrained they'd been. No blows. No threats. As if hurting her had never been the point.
Nearly three hours later, the Engine loomed into view. At this point Riche was practically carrying Mihel, who was barely able to take steps.
They stumbled into Compartment Twelve to find Vinelyn and Halise waiting, faces tight with worry. Seeing them Vinelyn tapped his forehead seven times, muttering some words of gratitude.
Mihel collapsed onto the bed the moment he stepped inside, his body finally giving up.
"Water…" he groaned. Vinelyn quickly took out a flask and handed it to him.
Halise rushed to Midia's side, relief flooding her face, while Riche stood in the centre of the compartment and recounted everything that had happened.
"The Exousia?" Vinelyn said, stunned. "You're telling me they attacked the Engine?"
"We don't know that," Riche replied. "Only that this Vidoria claims that he is an Exousia officer."
Vinelyn exhaled, rubbing a hand through his white hair. "Whatever the truth is, we got Midia back. That's what matters."
They nodded in agreement.
Then Mihel coughed.
Blood splattered across the sheets.
Halise was on him instantly, cleaning the wound and tying it tighter, her hands shaking despite her outward composure. She wasn't great at it, but desperate times led to such situations.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the overhead speaker.
"The Engine has returned to operational condition. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."
With a low rumble, the Engine began to move once more, carrying them toward their destination, the Exousia branch.
'At least we'll reach it now without any problems." Riche thought. 'Hopefully.'
Mihel had already passed out, again. Halise and Midia spoke in hushed whispers in one corner, their relief fragile and tired.
Riche sat by the window, watching the dunes slide past, sand bending and reshaping under the wind.
His eyes drifted back to Mihel.
'I wonder how heavy his Destiny situation feels,' he thought. 'He never shows it, but it must be crushing him.'
Riche looked down at his hands.
'I need to get stronger. Strong enough to protect all of them. And the other thing must be forgotten.'
The desert continued its silent march outside, and somewhere between thought and exhaustion, Riche's eyes finally closed