| “ | The huge conspiracy enshrouding Eruditio continues to brew, with the Sand Hunter and The Chosen Order all making their appearances. Where will Layla and Ixia's investigation lead? What story will unfold between the two girls? |
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—MLBB official social media post promoting "Erustory" website
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"Outlaw", also known as "Book of Eruditio Part I", is both a collection of written stories and visual novels released on 1 July 2023 at the start of Season 29 and coincides the launch of Project NEXT 2023. It is the sequel to the two-part comic "Bad Soul" and "Eruditio Rangers". Both of the stories revolve around the Sand Hunter Ixia and her plans to infiltrate Eruditio's Festival of Enlightenment, only it to be foiled by an unknown third party. She then covers up as an newly-recruited Eruditio Ranger as a backup plan and is accompanied by "fellow ranger" Layla.
The visual novel includes the "main story" which focuses the adventures of Ixia and Layla while backstories of Ixia, Layla and Lolita are also included.
A collection of written stories was also included on the official website and was released on 13 October 2023.[1] With 29500 words across five parts and nineteen chapters, it is the longest written story in MLBB history.
Its sequel "Savior" was released 2 months later.
Characters[]
Visual novel rules[]
Screenshots of the story shown on "1.7.94 Patch Updates" video
Outlaw Story is available in S29.
Explore the new Eruditio with Layla as you discover what happened during the preparations for the Enlightment festival alongside a mysterious guest, and learn more about the deep bonds between the heroes.
Outlaw Story Guide[]
Watch an entire chapter to claim the chapter reward. You can skip the chapter to unlock the next one, but you won't be able to claim the chapter reward.
Some chapters will be unlocked after the corresponding date.
Videos[]
Trailer[]
Main[]
Ixia[]
Layla[]
Lolita[]
Stories[]
Synopsis[]
The highly anticipated start of the yearly Festival of Enlightenment in the city of Eruditio is fast approaching. However, beneath all the excitement and grandeur of the celebration, a series of critical incidents are taking place.
What sparks may fly as Layla crosses paths with the mysterious girl hailing from the dryland's embrace?
What secrets lie at the heart of the sudden explosion that occurred in the plaza?
Could there be a connection between the clandestine Starlium smuggling ring and the two girls?
Yet amidst these intricate events, a shrouded maestro is stepping into the spotlight, poised to unleash a tempest...
Part 1: Hello, Eruditio.[]
Chapter 1: Ixia[]
Ixia had envisioned this day countless times. In her daydreams, she was standing at the top of Eruditio after accomplishing a monumental feat that had eluded all Sand Hunters before her.
Now, she was crouched inside a shadowy alley, peering through a spyglass at the surroundings of Enlightenment Plaza, observing the very place where she planned to achieve her grand endeavor. This spyglass was of her own making. It had been her companion in countless battles. In the desert, no caravan emerging over the horizon could escape her gaze.
Ixia spotted a conspicuous stall in Enlightenment Plaza below. It belonged to a fishmonger from the Northern Vale, and displayed fish with heads half the height of an adult man. The fish were still emanating an icy chill from the Frozen Sea, captivating the attention of many shoppers. The vendor wore heavy pelts from the Northern Vale. Just the sight of it made Ixia feel like she would faint from the heat.
"A garment that thick won't last ten minutes in the desert. After nine, it'll be stripped bare." Ixia imagined the fate that awaited the merchant.
Ixia shifted her spyglass to the Starlium-powered elevator at the heart of the plaza, which was the quickest route to the lectern. As she observed, several exquisitely dressed mages emerged from the elevator.
"Hah, they may as well draw a bullseye on their foreheads dressed like that. Hmm... Those gemstones on their staves look pricey. Maybe I should take a closer look."
"These Moniyan nobles have no idea how to be low-key. Their purses are basically asking to be stolen."
Laughter came from behind Ixia as a noisy couple entered the alley. Like her, they were newcomers to Eruditio, chatting away about where to eat their first meal. Ixia swiftly retracted her spyglass and stepped back into the shadows to avoid unnecessary attention. While Eruditio was a city where even the presence of a Sand Hunter wouldn't cause much of a stir, Ixia had to be especially cautious today. She didn't want any unexpected hiccups in her grand plan.
Her caution was unneeded, however. The enamored couple was utterly oblivious to Ixia, not even noticing her as they brushed against her backpack. She shot them an angry glare, but they were completely unaware as they walked away in merriment.
Ixia put her backpack on her shoulder as if she was about to open it.
"They wouldn't be smiling if they knew what's in here..."
"No, stay composed. I can't get distracted." Ixia withdrew her hand. Now wasn't the time to be impulsive.
Ixia tried to clear her mind with a deep breath. When she was in the dry desert, she could easily maintain her composure. But here, in the pleasantly humid Eruditio, her mind was constantly restless. It puzzled her. Unable to pinpoint the source of her unease, this challenge to her patience nagged at her.
"There's no going back. Hesitation isn't the Sand Hunter's way, nor mine."
Ixia got up to shake off the unease. Donning her hood, she blended into the bustling streets, becoming one with the crowd.
In a few days, Eruditio's biggest festival, the Festival of Enlightenment, would begin. Visitors from all corners of the Land of Dawn would make their way here via Moniyan thoroughfares, canal boats, or the Emerald Road's cobblestone roads, eager to witness the splendor of the festival. Traders from far and wide wouldn't miss this opportune gathering of crowds either, and would set up shops to conduct their business.
Eruditio, usually alive with activity, now buzzed with even greater fervor, orchestrated under the scholars' meticulous governance. Yet, beneath all this, something felt wrong to Ixia. There was an indescribable sense of discord lurking under the seemingly calm surface.
Ixia ascended an elevator to Enlightenment Plaza, heading towards the lectern where the city's leader, Dr. Rooney, would soon deliver a speech. Ixia planned to achieve her monumental feat during that very moment.
As the elevator started, the sudden change in gravity caught Ixia off guard, causing her to tumble over. Reacting like an agitated fox, she almost lashed out at those around her. It wasn't that Ixia couldn't endure a tumble. She'd accumulated her fair share of bumps and bruises during her years as a Sand Hunter in the desert. But accustomed to the soft sand, the cobblestones of Eruditio and the elevator's metal floor felt disconcerting, making the fall hurt all the more.
"Damn it!" An adult Sand Hunter falling over like a fool. So humiliating.
At the same time, the impact caused the items inside her backpack to jab her ribs, pushing her already bad mood to the breaking point. If anyone were to mess with her now, they'd undoubtedly be taught a memorable lesson. She'd soon make them forget everything they saw.
Unfortunately, this exact situation occurred. To make matters worse, the culprits were the very couple that had bumped into Ixia earlier. The man pointed at Ixia's backpack, yelling in an irritating tone that Ixia despised.
"She's got a weapon! It's a Sand Hunter!" The man screamed in terror, "She's gonna rob us. Help!"
Only now did Ixia notice that her beloved weapon, the "Arclight Launcher", had slipped out from her backpack when she fell over. Made by her own hands, it uses unique ammo that could hit any target no matter where they were hiding. And with its rugged desert design and intimidating paintjob, the weapon emanated a sense of danger.
Now that she'd been exposed, there was no use hiding anymore. As Ixia grabbed her weapon, her eyes and weapon lit up.
"Watch where you're going next time!"
The man was so terrified he couldn't form coherent words, letting out only a muffled scream.
Upon hearing the commotion, a woman in scholar attire hurried over. Ixia immediately tightened her grip on the trigger, bracing for trouble. At worst, she'd burn some bridges and stir up a commotion, but at least her trip wouldn't be in vain.
The female scholar wore a green half-cape that was embroidered with intricate patterns that shimmered with the radiance of Starlium. Ixia had done her homework and knew immediately that such attire indicated she worked in the social sciences department, responsible not only for research but also for the city's administrative affairs.
The female scholar surveyed the scene, and an expression of understanding gradually appeared on her face.
"I almost called the Rangers, but it turns out this is all just a big misunderstanding." The scholar adjusted her glasses and explained to the startled man, "Look, this young lady didn't harm you, did she? Just because she's from the desert doesn't mean she's here to rob you. You shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"You're in Eruditio now, so relax and enjoy the freedom. No one will label you or judge your past. Sand Hunters can go about their business and visitors can see about their research. See the dragon lizard over there? It just tried to swallow two people, yet they barely seemed to mind. Right over there. They're still wiping their hair."
Looking in the direction the scholar was pointing, Ixia spotted a medium-sized dragon lizard. With a yawn, it opened its oversized mucus-covered mouth. Its owner was apologizing and handing towels to the two innocent bystanders one moment, and gone the next.
A minute later, the owner joined the other two as they wiped themselves off.
"Friend, I recommend you heed the rules here and tuck away your weapon." The scholar then turned around and walked away with a cheerful chuckle. Ixia stowed her weapon into her backpack, brushed the dust from her clothes, and walked away. It was best to avoid further conflict with the couple. After all, drawing unnecessary attention might cause the Rangers to be summoned. What the female scholar said just now confirmed Ixia's understanding of Eruditio. Here, freedom and tolerance were extolled, though it was only a veneer of "tolerance". Still, the facade was artfully played out. In other places, Ixia might have to conceal her identity, but in Eruditio, being herself was the best disguise.
"Freedom and tolerance," Ixia chuckled. "If I were allowed to wander Eruditio's streets and do as I please, then your leaders would be in for a treat!"
Although she escaped trouble this time, her unease lingered. Thinking about the slightly comical scene in the elevator, with the naughty dragon lizard, frightened tourists, and oblivious scholar, Ixia suddenly realized the source of her unease: this is a city where anything can happen.
Everything here felt surreal here. In the desert, this encounter would undoubtedly have escalated into a life-or-death showdown, yet here, it ended without conflict, even somewhat comically. The entire situation seemed to unfold just like a story from an overly idyllic fairy tale.
This sense of surreality made Ixia feel nauseous and agitated. Her years of weathering the elements instinctively led her to believe that this place was merely shrouded in a cloak of hypocrisy. With one misstep, she might get lost within the confines of this fairy tale.
The elevator reached the lectern at the top of Enlightenment Plaza. Stepping out into the crowd, Ixia made her way toward a less crowded platform. Dr. Rooney's speech was about to commence, and she needed to secure a good vantage point for her plan. Additionally, being on higher ground could help her avoid the city's annoying damp mist, preventing her weapons from rusting.
Concealing herself in an isolated corner on the platform, Ixia held the Arclight Launcher in her bag tightly.
"It's almost time, old friend. My plan depends on you now."
Not long after, a congregation of scholars appeared. Among them, an elderly scholar with flamboyant curls and a somewhat comical monocle ascended the lectern. Ixia's gaze sharpened as she locked onto her target. It was Dr. Rooney, the leader of Eruditio and the soon-to-be victim of the grand heist she was about to pull off.
Using Starlium Tech amplification, Dr. Rooney's voice resonated through the entire square.
"Scholars, merchants, and travelers from far and wide, welcome to Eruditio! Today, we celebrate our grandest festival, the Festival of Enlightenment."
"Thousands of years ago, where the stars fell, scholars began their journey of exploration. And today, we light up the land with the stars of civilization."
"Now, this tower stands tall. This is Eruditio, a city of freedom, tolerance, and progress."
Ixia didn't pay much attention as Dr. Rooney proudly recounted the city's history. Instead, she fixed her gaze on her target, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The speech wasn't long, and Dr. Rooney's address was soon nearing its end.
"In the upcoming festivities, you can explore the city, enjoy exquisite cuisine, experience the latest technologies, and..."
"It's now or never!" Ixia drew her weapon and prepared to make her move. As the speech concluded, everyone was immersed in jubilation and would have their guard down. So far, everything was going according to plan.
To sow a bit of "chaos" for Eruditio's annual Festival of Enlightenment, Ixia had decided to abduct Eruditio's so-called "supreme" scholar, Dr. Rooney, and give him a nice tour of the desert. If Ixia could pull it off, every Sand Hunter in the Drylands would know who was truly the "Desert's Finest". Now Ixia was just meters from her goal.
Ixia struggled to contain a triumphant grin.
But suddenly—
A loud "boom" echoed through the air as an explosion rocked the square and started a fire. The scattering crowd and dense smoke obscured Ixia's view of her target.
"This isn't part of the plan!" Ixia cursed in the desert tongue. She leaped down from the platform and pushed her way through the crowd, searching for Dr. Rooney. She soon spotted him in the distance surrounded by other scholars, retreating into a secure passage.
Her chance to abduct Dr. Rooney had literally gone up in smoke thanks to that explosion.
Hours of pent-up frustration, the acrid smell of the explosion, and the fury of her thwarted plan ignited Ixia's anger. This was supposed to be the day she achieved her grand feat, and now everything was ruined.
"Damn it! Who's responsible for this?!"
Chapter 2: Bad Soul[]
On the sand dunes of the Agelta Drylands, the skull of a colossal beast can be seen half-buried in the sand. Even though it had lain dead for millennia, its imposing aura remained undiminished. Beneath the skull rested a basic structure built against the bone walls. The building itself wasn't sturdy, and the roof was worn, yet this hadn't prevented the owner from using it. After all, there was little need for a sturdy roof to shield against rain in the desert.
This building was the base of the most infamous Sand Hunter tribe in Agelta—"Bad Soul". It was also Ixia's home and workshop.
A week ago, while Ixia was fine-tuning her firearms and making the final preparations for her journey to Eruditio, the door swung open and in walked Ixia's right-hand man, "Sinful" Seven. He had brought what Ixia had instructed him to fetch—a slightly creased envelope.
"I'm back, boss. Here's what you asked for!"
Ixia opened the envelope. Inside was an Eruditio Rangers employment certificate. The creases on the paper couldn't hide the unmarred handwriting. The ink of the signature was still fresh, and the seal in the lower right corner was clearly visible.
"Looks pretty authentic," Ixia remarked, satisfied.
"Even Eruditio's leader, Dr. Rooney, won't be able to tell the difference!"
"Oh? So, is this the real deal then?"
Faced with Ixia's praise, Seven became a little nervous.
"These are Rook Eei's 'relics'. He left us to make an honest living in the city... But once a Bad Soul, always a Bad Soul.
Ixia clenched her fist. Rook Eei had been a promising newcomer she'd had high hopes for before her last journey. Now, like many other Sand Hunters who chose to leave, he was lost in Eruditio.
"Sand Hunter" was once a name that struck fear into all desert-traversing merchants—specters in the sands, unrestrained, deadly, and proud. But their glory had faded in recent years, and Eruditio's Desert Renovation Plan had made their situation increasingly difficult.
Due to the program, caravans had been equipped with cutting-edge defensive devices, rendering the Sand Hunters' proud desert guerrilla tactics ineffective. Some Sand Hunter tribes were forced to give up their old ways and eventually registered for work in Eruditio to make ends meet, and even became escorts for the very caravans they once robbed. Other Sand Hunters were swayed by scholars to carry out land cultivation work, and became ordinary farmers. And even more Sand Hunters had learned to read and master new skills to seek employment in Eruditio. Their souls had been corroded and their pride completely lost.
Now, this corrosion had spread to Ixia's tribe, making her even more determined to venture into Eruditio. She aimed to kidnap Dr. Rooney and restore the feared reputation of the Sand Hunters.
Noticing Ixia's demeanor, Seven grew nervous. What he'd said about the blank certificate was not entirely true.
Several days ago, Seven had discreetly arranged to meet Rook Eei, who'd already joined the Eruditio Rangers. He had intended to berate him and coerce him into stealing an employment certificate. However, upon meeting him, Rook Eei immediately handed Sinful Seven a blank employment certificate and persuaded him to start work in Eruditio. Seven was tempted, nearly signing up right there. Fortunately, at the final moment, he managed to preserve a shred of dignity and refused to sign, instead bringing it back to Ixia.
Rook Eei wasn't in a rush. He could sense that Seven was conflicted, and he knew the intermediary fee would eventually find its way into his hands.
As he anticipated, Seven had changed his mind and decided to seek employment in Eruditio after completing the task assigned by Ixia. Like Rook Eei, he wanted a stable life as an ordinary worker. "Boss, the way of life in Eruditio... perhaps... perhaps it's not as bad as we think. Do we really have to fight against it?" Seven asked. He had deep respect and concern for Ixia, and never wanted to see her get hurt.
However, Ixia was irked by his weakness, slamming the table and standing up. "We Sand Hunters can endure pain and death, but we can never yield!" Ixia's determination was unwavering. "'A soft sea buckthorn rots quickly.' You haven't forgotten that saying, have you?"
Ixia wasn't completely opposed to Eruditio's way of life. She had made a few impressive inventions herself, like the pulley bike her neighbor Jabier used to lose twenty pounds in two months while drawing water from underground, and other innovations like the vegetable cutting machine that guaranteed two hand cuts every ten attempts.
What she truly couldn't accept was yielding. Once someone yielded, they became an easy target for bullying, which spelled complete ruin. It was a lesson learned through the blood and tears of countless generations of Sand Hunters.
Seven had wanted to ask, "If I told you I want to go work in Eruditio, will you tear me apart?" But he swallowed the question, knowing it was better not to ask, because Ixia already answered that question by her expression.
"You aren't hiding anything from me, are you?" Ixia picked up on Seven's guilty-looking demeanor.
A chill ran down Seven's spine, and he hastened to clarify, "No, of course not! I was just gonna say those scholars are ruthless. There are only a few of us left now. The future of Bad Soul rests entirely on you, boss!"
Satisfied, Ixia nodded without saying another word. She signed the employment certificate, tucked it into her bag along with her Arclight Launcher, and set off. She left Seven behind, who was now full of guilt and fear.
"I'm sorry, boss. My soul's been corrupted as well. After this, I'm gonna take the job in Eruditio and work with Rook Eei..."
A week later, the sudden explosion shattered Ixia's plans.
"Who do they think I am?! Whoever did this is gonna pay!" Ixia grunted and walked in the opposite direction of the panicked on-lookers, her weapons already charged up. Her surroundings were in a state of absolute chaos as expected, but it was someone else who had lit the fuse. For over a decade, no one had dared touch her domain. And all those who'd wronged her in the past had faced her retribution. A lesson learned once should not be repeated. It must be nipped in the bud.
Dr. Rooney was still in Eruditio, so she could find him later. Her priority now was to discipline the insolent troublemakers.
She scanned the crowd for her target amid the turmoil. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a shadowy figure. Thanks to her intuition, which was honed by years of desert survival, she immediately knew something was amiss.
Though walking with urgency, the figure remained composed, as if they anticipated the chaos. Without a second thought, Ixia followed suit. The figure did not seem to notice, and continued moving oblivious to their pursuer. Keeping a safe distance, Ixia tracked them through the crowd while dodging and weaving through them. If the explosion had been orchestrated by this person, she was going to find out why.
Ixia followed the figure into a residential area. Suddenly, she heard a sound in the wind.
Ixia looked up abruptly as a flowerpot plummeted from above. Her body reacted on its own as she dove forward, knocking the figure to the ground. The flowerpot shattered behind them with a jarring noise.
Having tackled the figure to the ground, Ixia maintained her position. With a swift motion, she pulled back their hood and yelled "How dare you steal my show!"
Under the hood was a middle-aged man with golden hair, with a few gray strands at the temples, his handsome face laden with panic. He was clearly startled by the sudden appearance of his Sand Hunter pursuer.
"Still pretending, huh?" Ixia said as she raised her Arclight Launcher and aimed it straight at the man. "There are only two kinds of people who don't panic from an explosion. Those frozen with fear, and those who were expecting it. You seem pretty composed."
Ixia's gun pressed firmly against the middle-aged man's chest. "Don't tell me... You were behind that explosion?"
Suddenly, a sharp command from a young girl interrupted Ixia's speech. "Stop right there! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Oh great, it's the Eruditio Rangers..." Ixia muttered to herself.
Chapter 3: Entangled[]
The middle-aged man looked at the person behind Ixia with a pleading expression. Just then, Ixia heard the sound in the air. She released her grip on the man's collar and quickly took a step back as a bullet gleamed past her ear. With a grin, Ixia extended her palms, causing her Arclight Launcher to emit an ominous glow.
From a distance, she spotted the girl in uniform who fired the shot. She had seen this attire countless times—the garb of the Eruditio Rangers who were always getting in her way. "Just as I suspected..." Ixia remarked. The faint glow at the Arclight Launcher's muzzle flickered, pointing at the girl before her. "I guess the guard dogs of Eruditio must have smelled the desert sand..."
"Let that scholar go this instant!" The Ranger advanced resolutely while issuing the command, "Or else!"
"Or else what?" Ixia retorted. Ever since she was little, Ixia had always defied authority. She even dared to ignore her mother's dinner calls. Why would she heed the orders of someone like this? She paid the Ranger's threats no mind and raised her head high while marching towards her adversary.
The Ranger also remained undeterred by Ixia's provocation while advancing. As the two drew nearer, Ixia couldn't help notice the girl's hair—a cascade of golden locks, tightly bound in twin ponytails. With every movement, her hair swayed gently, reminding Ixia of a long-eared sand hare. In her youth, Ixia had enjoyed capturing those soft and springy hares. When grasped by their ears, they'd go utterly still, collapsing in complete softness—an unbearably adorable sight.
Ixia involuntarily flexed her hand as an inexplicable thought entered her mind, "Those braids must feel really nice..."
"So, the Rangers recruited a little rabbit," Ixia said while approaching the girl. The Arclight Launcher seemed even more eager than its wielder, extending forward as if searching for the girl's heartbeat. "A soft bunny like you isn't suited for this line of work."
Ixia made a gun with her hand and pressed the "barrel" against the uniformed girl's forehead. The girl gave a stare and her ponytails shook. It was such an endearing reaction that it caught Ixia completely off guard.
Ixia suddenly felt an overpowering urge to tug on her "rabbit ears".
"Who're you calling a bunny!" The girl snapped with her gun in hand, unwavering, "I'm Layla, a member of the Eruditio Rangers!"
"You're a Sand Hunter, right? Eruditio welcomes all visitors, as long as they don't cause trouble. There's been an explosion, and you're over here threatening an innocent scholar. That's rather suspicious, wouldn't you say? I'm going to have to take you in until we get to the bottom of this."
Perhaps sensing her firmness, Layla added, "As long as you cooperate and show you're innocent, you'll be fine."
"Innocent scholar? He just fled the crime scene, but look at how calm he is! Does that not strike you as suspicious?" Ixia retorted as if she'd heard a joke, "So, I'm suspicious because I'm a Sand Hunter, but he's innocent because he's a scholar? Wow, I guess Eruditio isn't biased after all."
Layla glanced at the middle-aged man on the ground, watching his struggle to sit up.
"This is Mr. Nolan. I know him. He's always unlucky and his reactions are a bit slow, that's all. In fact, most scholars are a bit absent-minded. He was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also, look at how clean he is. He couldn't have been near the explosion."
Indeed, Ixia could not see any signs of the explosion on Nolan's clothes. Combining this with the near miss with the flowerpot, it seemed that this man was truly just unlucky.
Although Nolan was cleared of suspicion thanks to Layla, hearing such things about oneself still stung. Looking a bit hurt, Nolan said, "Erm... Yes, I guess I have been quite unlucky. And I think I should thank you... erm..."
"Ixia," she said, introducing herself to the man.
"Thank you, Ixia. If it weren't for you, I'd be under that flowerpot right now."
Nolan's words proved that Ixia wasn't some morally compromised villain. So, Layla lowered her gun.
"But you still need to come with me, Ixia. There are other things you need to answer for."
Ixia could sense a lot of frustration. If she went with Layla, who knew how much time she'd lose? Moreover, revealing her face to too many people could complicate matters significantly.
The girl named Layla seemed to be quite stubborn.
Ixia decided it was time to play her ace card.
"Sure, I'll cooperate," Ixia said while spreading her hands in a surrendering pose, "but take a look at this first."
Handing over the fabricated employment certificate she prepared, Ixia watched as Layla opened it. A few grains of sand slipped out of the creases.
Layla read aloud, "Employment Certificate: Ixia is officially employed by the Eruditio Rangers. Authorized by Dr. Rooney."
"..."
"Huh? Wait, what?! You're a new recruit?!"
Ixia shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it. She'd expected some questioning, but this was going smoother than she'd expected.
Seeing Layla in a flustered state, Ixia couldn't resist teasing her, "What's wrong? Are Sand Hunters not worthy of joining the Rangers?"
"Of course you're worthy!" Layla's posture shifted. She shook her head hurriedly with her two ponytails swaying. "Erm... are you alright, by the way? Did you get hurt?"
"No, I'm fine." Even if things hadn't gone exactly according to plan, Ixia still retained control of the situation. "Can I go now?" She asked.
Ixia acted nonchalant, but Layla's concerns and guilt hadn't diminished. "You only just arrived here, and I wrongly accused you of committing a crime. You must feel a bit wronged..."
Wronged? That word didn't even exist in Ixia's dictionary. She was a believer in the ancient wisdom of the desert—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If someone did her wrong, she'd make them pay. As for being "wronged" by Layla, well, that would be taken out on Rooney sooner or later.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Ixia went to leave, but as soon as she'd taken one step, she felt her shawl being tugged from behind by the golden-haired girl.
"Now that you've joined the Rangers, that makes us family!"
"Huh?"
"Families help each other, right?" Layla chuckled, "I can tell you're really skilled, so come help me investigate the explosion! Two heads are better than one!"
Ixia frowned, "Geez, you don't give up, do you?"
Seeing that Ixia wasn't budging, Layla put on a serious expression as she said, "Look, I'm responsible for training the new recruits, so listen to me. This... This is part of your training!"
"I can't help you. I still need to find Rooney... I mean, Dr. Rooney, and discuss this all with him," Ixia replied.
Seeing that Ixia wasn't falling for it, Layla had to take a more targeted approach.
"Look, your situation just cost me a lot of time. If you don't help me now, the crowd will trample over all the evidence at the crime scene." Layla appeared genuinely vexed, with an innocent and pitiable look on her face. "Can you at least make it up to me?"
"You're the one who caused this trouble in the first place! And now you're playing the innocent card? This girl is a right piece of work..."
Ixia thought to herself. She was supposed to be a member of the Rangers now, and that meant her job was her priority.
"Darn it! She's got me!"
The renowned Sand Hunter struggled to find an excuse to refuse the young lady. If she aroused Layla's suspicion, Ixia feared she might never have another opportunity to act. For now, she could only agree to help and see if she could leverage her position in the Rangers to get closer to Dr. Rooney.
Ixia didn't need to say another word. In her brief moment of hesitation she'd displayed, Layla had already declared herself victorious.
"Great! I knew you'd help me!" With that, Layla linked arms with Ixia and started running. "I'll make it up to you after!"
"Oh yeah, goodbye, Mr. Nolan! Take care!"
As she was dragged away by Layla, Ixia's vision was filled with her swinging ponytails. Perhaps out of a sense of revenge or some spontaneous impulse, she couldn't help but tug at the golden locks.
Layla winced in pain, "Hey! Don't pull my hair!"
"Oh, sorry. I couldn't resist..." Ixia immediately let go, making a gesture of mock surrender. "In fact, this is how we express friendliness in the desert."
"Really?" Layla seemed skeptical.
"Abso-freakin-lutely!"
Part 2: Fox and Bunny[]
Chapter 4: Lolita[]
Back at Enlightenment Plaza, which had been put on lockdown by the Eruditio Rangers, people walked around in uniforms similar to Layla's. They were either gathering evidence or clearing the scene. Everything was conducted with order and discipline. For Ixia, being among so many "official soldiers" was quite an unusual experience, and caused strange feelings to boil up inside her.
Layla led Ixia toward a petite female Ranger. Ixia couldn't help but squint as she looked at her. The small girl had pointed ears and delicate features. An elf, or a half-elf perhaps. She carried a massive hammer, a weapon that was completely out of proportion with its wielder. It was hard to tell whether the hammer would lift her off the ground or the other way around. While being short had its advantages in the desert – allowing people to run faster and heat up slower – Ixia wondered just how far the elf could run while lugging that huge hammer.
As Layla rushed toward the elf, Ixia suddenly sensed an unusual sound in the wind and a faint hint of gunpowder, instantly putting her on high alert. She grabbed Layla's shoulder.
"Don't move..."
Before she could finish her warning, a deafening explosion boomed around them. Ixia instinctively pushed Layla to the ground, shielding her from the blast. Not glancing at the other members, she had acted purely on Sand Hunter's instinct—grab what's closest, not what's most valuable. This applied to saving lives as well. Layla happened to be the nearest. There was nothing more to it.
As the dust settled, Layla shot up and rushed to check on the other Rangers. Seeing Layla disregard her own safety to attend to others, Ixia covered her mouth and nose with her shawl and followed.
"Lolita, are you okay?" Layla asked the elf girl. A massive energy barrier shielded Lolita and the other members behind her.
While coughing, Lolita retracted the energy barrier, picked up her hammer, and brushed the dust off her face. "I'm fine. Just a few scrapes. Is everyone else okay?"
The Rangers began checking themselves and their companions. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, and order was quickly restored.
Ixia carefully examined the remnants of the explosion. "These are duds from the previous explosion. These bombs likely came from Los Pecados, and in a damp place like Eruditio, they tend to misfire. We need to check the surrounding areas and see if there are any more."
Despite looking a bit puzzled about who Ixia was, several Rangers followed her instructions.
"May I ask who this is...?" Lolita glanced at Ixia with one eyebrow raised, noticing her Sand Hunter attire.
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot to introduce you both!" Layla pulled Ixia next to her. "This is Ixia. She's a new Rangers recruit!"
"But I haven't heard anything about any new recruits today..." Lolita said, perplexed.
"I wasn't meant to start today. This little bunny just insisted on dragging me here to help," Ixia interjected. "Those who can help should help, right? I don't mind not getting paid a few days' salary."
"Yeah!" Layla chimed in. "Also, she saved me when that dud exploded!"
"Hmph, so you did notice," Ixia silently retorted in her head.
"She also saved a scholar on her way here. She's really skillful, plus..."
Ixia reached over and covered Layla's mouth, "Alright, enough." She didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention, especially not in front of Lolita, who seemed quite perceptive. "I think that's enough praise for one day. You're making me blush," Ixia said jokingly.
"I can see you grinning from ear to ear," Layla murmured, her chin cupped in Ixia's hand.
"You two haven't known each other for long," Lolita remarked, "but you already have such good chemistry."
"No we don't!" Both of them protested in unison.
This protest didn't seem to affect the smile forming at the corners of Lolita's mouth. However, it did sober Ixia up a bit. She realized she'd gotten too tangled up with the people here, wasting time disguising herself as one of them. "Darn it! Eruditio's damp mist must've softened my resolve," Ixia thought to herself.
She needed to leave this place as soon as possible and find a way to deal with Dr. Rooney.
"Back to the explosion... We have a lead that you should follow up on," Lolita said, finally getting down to business. Ixia's ears perked up at this, and she started to listen attentively.
"We caught a suspicious individual at the scene," Lolita waved her hand, and two Rangers escorted a struggling man forward. "He was found near the detonator after the explosion. We caught him trying to escape through a back door. He started running when he saw us."
"You got the wrong guy! I had nothing to do with this!" The suspect yelled as if he wanted everyone around to witness the Rangers' behavior. "I was just out jogging! Don't you get it? Jogging!"
Ixia couldn't help but find the absurdity of his explanation a bit bemusing. "You might as well have said you were fishing here," she retorted.
"Oh? How did you know I love fishing?" The suspect seemed to be ignited with a desire to explain himself. "You know, just last week, I caught a massive white trout in the canal. It weighed thirty pounds! I've never seen anything like it! And I caught it with a No.8 fishing line..."
Lolita showed no interest in his big catch. "Take him back and interrogate him."
Ixia felt a bit concerned upon hearing this. She'd heard about the Eruditio Rangers' interrogation process from Sinful Seven. It was methodical, polite, and far from efficient. Stubborn individuals could easily hold out for five or six hours.
Waiting that long would give Rooney five or six more hours of freedom. Ixia couldn't allow it.
The suspect continued to kick up a fuss, yelling, "I'm innocent! This is police brutality!"
"Tsk!" Ixia couldn't stand it anymore. She swiftly kicked out her leg, stirring up a cloud of dust that landed square in the suspect's chest. "Quit your blabbering! You wanna know what real police brutality looks like?"
Turning to Layla, Ixia said, "Let me have a word with this guy alone. I'll talk to him about... fishing. Let him calm down a bit, or else we'll get nothing out of him."
Seeing neither Layla nor Lolita opposing this, Ixia dragged the suspect away and stopped a distance away where their conversation couldn't be overheard. She got straight to the point.
"Don't play dumb with me. Why do you keep clenching your fist? Hmph, there are traces of gunpowder seeping between your fingers. I've never heard of any fitness routine that involves gunpowder." The suspect realized he'd met his match and immediately switched his strategy, refusing to say another word. This little tactic didn't escape Ixia's notice.
"Fine, let me tell you the truth as well. I'm a bit short on time, and when I'm in a rush, my Sand Hunter habits tend to take over me. If you spill the beans here, I won't lose my temper. But, if you insist on this continuing in the interrogation room, I'll show you just how skilled I am at deboning fish."
"Spare me the threats. There are no fish in the desert, and your idea of deboning doesn't scare me. You're such an amateur."
Upon hearing this, Ixia let out a terrifying laugh. She then proceeded to explain what she meant by "deboning desert fish" to the suspect.
From where Layla and Lolita were standing, Ixia appeared to be speaking with a smile, and the suspect's attitude was visibly softening. He then suddenly slumped to the ground and burst into tears.
Before long, Ixia returned with a calm expression and said to Lolita, "He says there's no need to take him to the interrogation room. He's ready to talk now. If you have any questions, go ask him."
Lolita nodded and went over to speak with him. Layla leaned in, "What on earth did you say?! I've never seen a grown man cry like that."
Ixia gave her an enigmatic smile, "I guess you could say it's a secret desert technique."
"Our interrogation tactics usually take much longer to break through the suspect's defenses. You should teach us your desert skills sometime," Layla said, putting her arm around Ixia's shoulder. "You're so talented, Ixia!"
Ixia softly pushed Layla away and turned her blushing face to one side. "This little girl has a good eye, but she's a bit naive. Are all city folk like this? I guess the people in Eruditio do have a charming side after all," Ixia thought to herself.
Lolita quickly returned, saying, "It's as we expected. The explosion was caused by 'The Chosen Order'. I've written down the location for you. Could you go check it out?" She then tore a page from her notebook and handed it to Layla. "Here's all the information he gave me before passing out. I'll continue the interrogation later."
Layla took the piece of paper and patted her chest, reassuring Lolita, "Don't worry. We'll have uncovered all their secrets before he can even wake up!"
"Then I'll leave it to you. There's also been an explosion in our equipment warehouse, so I need to head over there," Lolita said, her tone barely changing as if she were talking about something trivial.
Hearing about another explosion, both Layla and Ixia exclaimed in unison, "You should've told us earlier!"
Lolita waved her hand, indicating they shouldn't worry about it. "Kimmy is overseeing things over there. She's been on vacation in Eruditio these past few days, so she didn't mind helping out.” Lolita glanced at Ixia and hesitated, but decided to go on. “The explosion there might be related to the Starlium smuggling case earlier. With Kimmy's help, it shouldn't be too much trouble."
"Alright then," Layla nodded, "I'll head out now. Keep in touch!"
"Finally! An opportunity to escape! It should be easy to slip away from this dumb little bunny." Ixia thought to herself, eager to continue with her actual mission. Knowing this, Ixia spoke up, "Take me with you too."
"Of course, I'll take you! The two of us together will be unstoppable! Let's go!"
Ixia pretended to complain, "Geez, slow down! If you go any faster your little rabbit ears will turn inside out!"
To others, it would seem her fox tail was raised in excitement too.
ERUDITIO
Outlaw
Eruditio Official Season Stories The highly anticipated start of the yearly Festival of Enlightenment in the city of Eruditio is fast approaching. However, beneath all the excitement and grandeur of the celebration, a series of critical incidents are taking place. What sparks may fly as Layla crosses paths with the mysterious girl hailing from the dryland's embrace? What secrets lie at the heart of the sudden explosion that occurred in the plaza? Could there be a connection between the clandestine Starlium smuggling ring and the two girls? Yet amidst these intricate events, a shrouded maestro is stepping into the spotlight, poised to unleash a tempest...
Chapter 5: The Misfortune[]
Ixia and Layla followed the address, making their way towards the outskirts. The scenery along the road was pleasant, but Ixia's irritation was intensifying.
Along the journey, Layla acted like an overly enthusiastic tour guide, as if she were afraid that Ixia would feel bored. She even introduced the water-saving toilet in the rest area when they stopped to use it. Ixia constantly had Layla breathing down her neck, unable to find an opportunity to escape. Throughout the journey, Ixia heard more words than the grains of sand that had entered her ears in the past decade.
"Don't you think so? The Chosen Order is such a weird name. It sounds like a bunch of people who got chosen by some god or something," Layla blabbered on, "Oh, look! The cemetery of Eruditio is up ahead. Lolita said the address is near there. We must be close."
Cemetery? Ixia's spirits lifted. If they went inside the cemetery, Layla would have to be quiet for a moment. As long as she stopped talking, Ixia could definitely find an opportunity to slip away. Unconsciously, Ixia quickened her pace, and Layla, like a lively rabbit, followed suit quickly to tell her the way.
No matter her mood, Ixia's keen instincts, nurtured since childhood, remained sharp. She never missed any information carried by the wind. Just before they reached the cemetery, a faint tumultuous sound accompanied by a sense of danger reached her ears.
Without a second thought, Ixia grabbed Layla and pushed her into the nearest alley, pressing her against a wall and gesturing for her to stay silent. Layla blinked in her embrace, obediently refraining from making any sound. This made Ixia feel a bit frustrated. If she'd known that this would keep her quiet, she would've done it much earlier.
After a few seconds, footsteps could be heard coming toward them...
"Stop there!"
"Please! I swear I didn't see anything..."
The latter voice sounded somewhat familiar to Layla. She cautiously peeked out to observe what was going on and discovered that the one being pursued was none other than the scholar Nolan, whom they'd just parted with. Layla gripped her gun, ready to rush out, but Ixia firmly grasped her wrist.
"Ssh, let's wait and see what happens. In a few more steps, that scholar will run into the alley, and then he'll shake them off. Don't worry."
However, Nolan's bad luck struck again as he tripped up and stumbled to the ground, his immediate chance for escape slipping away.
Ixia sighed and rolled her eyes. Now they were forced to act.
"I don't know how many people there are. I'll draw their fire, and you'll provide me with cover."
"For the great truth! Forever hold your tongue!" One of the thugs yelled, lunging for Nolan. In the nick of time, a blaze of fiery red gunshots erupted out of thin air, hurtling toward the thug. The thug wailed and clutched his arm before collapsing to the ground.
"Watch out!"
Ixia abruptly turned around. Another thug had appeared out of nowhere wielding a club, ready to strike Ixia's head. Another shot rang out, and the force of Layla's energy blast struck the thug head-on, sending him crashing into a wall and knocking him unconscious.
"Nicely done, little bunny." Ixia approached Nolan who was once again sprawled on the floor. "We meet again, old man."
Nolan opened his eyes while clutching his head. A pair of familiar boots had appeared before him; they belonged to that girl he'd met before with vibrant purple hair.
"Mr. Nolan, are you alright?" Layla hurried over and offered him her arm. Nolan attempted to stand, but after a few attempts, he apologized somewhat sheepishly and said, "My legs are numb..."
"I've noticed that you scholars have quite the affinity for crime scenes, old man." Ixia pondered, recalling that she often encountered scholars in these sorts of situations. She herself was often the criminal though.
Layla retorted while helping Nolan to his feet, "Ixia, don't say that. Mr. Nolan's just really unlucky. It's not like he wants to get involved in these things. Right, Mr. Nolan?" Hearing this, Nolan's legs wobbled a bit, almost causing him to fall over again.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Ixia stopped teasing Nolan and prepared to return to the task at hand. "Let's take a look inside the cemetery. There might be clues about The Chosen Order there."
"Erm, you're looking for The Chosen Order?" Now steady on his feet, Nolan suddenly interjected, "I think I know where they might be..."
Layla and Ixia turned to stare at him, one expressing anticipation and the other expressing irritation, annoyed by him meddling in her plan.
"I..." Nolan looked into the distance, "I haven't been back in a long time. I wanted to pay my respects to an old friend, but on my way to the cemetery, I noticed a few people acting suspiciously in front of a house. It looked like they were plotting something. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but they saw me watching them."
"Then what happened, Mr. Nolan?" Layla inquired.
"I quickly hid inside the cemetery. I used to come here a lot so I'm familiar with the layout. I tried to escape through a narrow path," Nolan sighed, "But then I accidentally stepped on a twig..."
Layla understood immediately. "I understand. Your luck betrayed you again. That's why they were after you."
"Well... I wouldn't put it that way." Nolan tried to salvage the situation, but seeing Ixia's fierce gaze, he felt urged to get to the point. Getting back on topic, he said, "When they were chasing me, they were shouting stuff about The Chosen Order and said they needed to silence me."
"Fantastic!" Layla started to get excited, "Lolita's note mentioned that the building is nearby, matching up with your words. So, Mr. Nolan, where's that building?"
Nolan took the note from Layla's hand and sketched a rough map on the back, "I'll mark it for you. It's in a concealed location, but there are distinct markings on the nearby walls. They kinda look like doors with eyes on them."
Ixia noticed a tattoo on one of the thugs' arms that matched the description and asked, "Is this the pattern?"
She used her foot to flip the other thug over and pointed at his exposed belly. "Both of them have it."
Nolan inspected the tattoo and nodded, "Yes, that's it!"
"I remember now! The guy Lolita caught earlier also had this mark on his hand." Layla confidently concluded. "I can't believe we're making so much progress, and we weren't even trying!"
"We have a mission to complete. Let's go!" Layla raised her head and smiled at Nolan, "I've already informed some Rangers patrolling nearby. They'll be here soon. For the sake of your safety, Mr. Nolan, you should head home now."
"Yes, yes... I'll head back now. Don't worry about me, Layla." Nolan tried to pat Layla's shoulder, but after seeing Ixia's protective gaze, like a fox guarding its prey, he withdrew his hand.
Before leaving, Ixia still didn't give up her plan, pointing at the note and asking Layla, "Will we be passing by the cemetery?"
Layla shook her head, leaving Ixia feeling a bit deflated. It seemed she wouldn't be able to shake off Layla anytime soon.
Layla tugged Ixia away, but before they departed, she glanced back at Nolan with concern and said, "Mr. Nolan!"
"Yes?"
"Please take care and stay safe!"
"Okay! Thank you, Layla."
Nolan waved to the two as they left, with Layla bouncing along and Ixia striding swiftly ahead.
Chapter 6: Interception[]
In a low-rise area near the cemetery, on a balcony, Layla and Ixia concealed themselves within the shadows, observing a building not far away. This was the location Nolan had marked.
"I've found The Chosen Order's markings! Hmm... this should be it. This area is supposed to be redeveloped, but this house has been reinforced and modified." Layla observed the building through her multi-functional tactical goggles, jotting down notes in her combat journal. "The windows are blocked, and there's only one entrance and exit. This will be a bit tricky... Ixia, what do you think we should do?"
Beside her, Ixia was playing with her own spyglass, lost in thought, and not realizing that Layla was talking to her.
Layla waved her hand in front of Ixia's eyes, snapping her back to reality. Ixia quickly improvised, "That house looks suspicious with all those modifications..."
"You're just repeating what I said!"
"Sorry... I zoned out. I was coming up with a battle plan."
Ixia was lying, of course. She was actually thinking about how to shake off Layla. The scholar who'd stepped on a twig gave her some inspiration. When they entered the building later, if she "accidentally" created some commotion and sparked chaos, perhaps that would give her a chance to slip away.
But this approach would also put Layla in danger, and Ixia felt a bit guilty about doing that.
However, she reminded herself that she was a Sand Hunter, and she had come to Eruditio to commit a crime. Using Layla made sense, especially since she'd attached herself to Ixia so readily. Ixia found it bizarre that Layla, as a member of the Rangers, had been fooled so easily. No matter how she looked at it, it was Layla's problem for joining her.
She decided to go with her plan.
"If entering below isn't an option, then let's enter from above," Ixia said while pointing at the scaffolding and Starlium cranes in the street. "This area is being redeveloped, so we can use that scaffolding to infiltrate on the second floor. We don't know how many people are inside, so we'd better not charge in recklessly."
"You're a genius," Layla exclaimed, praising Ixia sincerely.
Feeling awkward about being thanked, Ixia thought, "Don't trust people so easily, little bunny."
"Alright, enough with the flattery. Let's move," Ixia snapped, abruptly ending the conversation. Together they entered the street, climbed the scaffolding, and found a crane chain suspended in mid-air.
Chivalrously, Ixia extended her hand, indicating that Layla should go first. Layla responded with a playful curtsy and grabbed onto the chain, swinging toward the target building. Layla then deftly removed a wooden plank sealing the window and slipped inside without making a sound.
"Now's my chance!" Ixia thought while loading a silenced round into her Arclight Launcher and firing it. The bullet shot through the air in a graceful arc, accurately smashing the wooden plank covering the window on another wall, creating a loud noise.
"Oh no! We've been spotted!" Ixia shouted. She didn't even know why she shouted it. It made her feel somewhat embarrassed. Perhaps deep down, she hoped that the shout would somehow serve as a pre-warning for Layla.
After yelling this, Ixia immediately scaled down the scaffolding and ran in the direction they'd come from.
"Fate will decide when we next meet, little bunny! Well, not meeting might be for the best, or else it might be quite awkward," Ixia thought.
But awkwardness arrived unexpectedly fast and exceeded Ixia's imagination.
Ixia had barely taken a few steps when she passed by the building's main entrance, which swung open with two golden ponytails peeking out from inside.
"This place is empty... Huh? Why did you come to the main entrance?" Layla seemed to have an epiphany and burst into laughter. "Oh! Are you afraid of heights? No, wait! Did you hear something and run over because you were worried? I think something just hit the second-floor window just now."
"Awww man how am I going to get out of this one... Should I say I'm afraid of heights? Not a chance! Admit I was trying to escape? As if!" Thoughts raced through Ixia's mind until she settled on the least embarrassing excuse.
Gritting her teeth, Ixia muttered, "I was worried about you."
Layla covered her mouth, evidently about to say something cheesy. Ixia was determined not to let the conversation continue, "Let's search around. We need to solve this case as soon as possible."
This time it was Layla's turn to be chivalrous. She pushed the door open, and Ixia walked into the house, her face blushing.
After a thorough search, the two of them found nothing. The place was immaculate. Apart from the markings on the wall, there were no useful clues to be found.
Out of frustration, Layla kicked a wooden crate, "Did they catch wind of something? This place is deserted. There's not a trace left here. It's as good as new."
Ixia remained silent, meticulously inspecting the ground around the furniture. Finally, in the kitchen, she found some fresh marks on the floor. She ran her hand along the floor, inch by inch, until she discovered a nearly imperceptible line on the ground. "Right here!"
She pressed the line with her slender fingers a few times, and with a soft "click", a section of the floor suddenly popped up, revealing a hidden door and a staircase leading underground.
Layla stared in amazement at Ixia's intuition. "You're amazing! How did you know there was an entrance here?"
"Because it's too tidy. The kitchen has tons of utensils, but there's not a drop of oil on the counter. This kitchen is fake. They must be eating somewhere else. Unless the inhabitants here are the most extreme environmentalists who wouldn't touch a drop of oil. But I doubt that kind of people have the moral fiber to be a criminal."
"Ixia, honestly, you could easily become a scholar at the Spire of Knowledge."
"Hmph, not interested," Ixia retorted.
With that, she walked through the hidden door. The staircase was very dark, and the creaking wooden steps sounded as if they could collapse at any moment. A pungent musty smell wafted up to greet them. Ixia took a flashlight from her bag and cautiously shone it around.
After making sure the lower space was empty, the two of them found a switch to turn on the lights. The light bulbs above their heads sputtered a few times, casting a shimmering Starlium glow.
The underground space was even more cramped than above, with only a wooden desk, a few low cabinets that doubled as dining and entertainment furniture, a metal filing cabinet, and some moldy mattresses and chairs.
Layla skillfully spread out a bunch of paper she found on the desk, sorting through the information with expertise. Growing up in Eruditio, she was certainly adept at paperwork. Ixia knew she wouldn't be much help, so instead she casually looked around, waiting for Layla to finish.
Before long, three piles of documents were neatly organized, and Layla began reading through them with a serious expression on her face.
"Any findings, little bunny?" Ixia asked, leaning in to look.
"These documents are related to the Infinite Gateway Project," Layla said, pointing at the first pile of documents. "The main members of The Chosen Order are all scholars and researchers, and they're all connected to this project."
"Infinite Gateway... Chosen Order... The scholars in Eruditio really have a knack for bad names," Ixia said, before asking, "This Infinite Gateway, besides its extravagant name, does what exactly?"
"I've only heard about it. It's been around since before I was born. Many of the best scholars were involved in it. They're trying to create a spatial gateway to open a passage into the multiverse."
"The multiverse?" Ixia repeated. "That sounds like something from a sci-fi novel."
"No! The scholars strive to turn fantasy into reality! They've already discovered that the Land of Dawn isn't alone. Beyond our universe, there are others!"
Ixia, who was initially dismissive, was now intrigued. Her eyes seemed to light up as she asked, "Cool, so what happened?!"
Layla pursed her lips. "Erm... I'm not sure exactly what happened, but apparently, there was a big accident sixteen years ago and the project was shut down."
The excitement on Ixia's face turned to scorn. "Pfft! They shut it down because of an accident? Those scholars are so cowardly. I'm not surprised, to be honest..."
"Ixia!" Layla said sternly, straightening her back. "Do you know the saying 'Don't judge others without knowing the whole story'? Well, we don't know what really happened, so it isn't fair to question their contributions."
Layla's cheeks were slightly puffed out, and Ixia felt the urge to poke them, but something about her tense demeanor made her hesitate. Instead, she settled for scratching her chin and refrained from further retorts. She could tell that Layla had a natural fondness for scholars, a subconscious sentiment that had developed over the years, and she had no intention of challenging that.
"What were they trying to achieve with the explosion?" Ixia asked.
Layla flipped through the second pile of documents and presented several complex-looking forms to Ixia.
"Let me see... These look like invoices. So meticulous... Classic scholars. Wait a minute!" Ixia's expression changed as she noticed something strange about the invoices. "There are no customs records, and the recipients are shady dealers. Are these for smuggled goods? What could be this expensive? It's even more valuable than gold! Ah, it must be Starlium, right? These scholars are involved in Starlium smuggling?"
"We don't know if these ledgers are linked to the explosion yet. It might just be a misunderstanding." Layla looked a bit displeased. Her twin ponytails drooped like wilted sand hare ears. "Lolita is investigating the smuggling case. Let's take these documents back to her and see what she thinks. I'm sure there's an explanation for all this."
Ixia sensed Layla's unease. The scholars she'd always admired might be involved in a Starlium smuggling network, which would seriously pose a direct challenge to her values.
"Erm, based on my experience, smuggling usually involves insiders," Ixia said, trying to comfort Layla. Seeing that it didn't work, she shifted her approach. "Besides, we can't say for sure if these invoices really belong to The Chosen Order. After all, if they were theirs, why would they tear them up like this?" Ixia's attempt at comforting Layla seemed to have an effect. She looked up a bit and swiftly stuffed a pile of documents into Ixia's arms before striding toward the stairs.
Ixia let out a light sigh, thinking to herself that this little bunny was so easy to manipulate. "Careful, those steps are steep. It'll hurt if you fall."
As if confirming Ixia's warning, Layla let out a small cry, nearly missing a step. Ixia quickly dropped the documents to catch Layla. However, Layla didn't seem to mind how close she'd come to danger, and instead gestured for Ixia to look at the gap in the stairs.
"Ixia, look! There's a fragment of a map there!"
Ixia picked up the thin piece of paper, wiping away the footprints on it. On the map, the location of Enlightenment Plaza had been circled, accompanied by phrases like "explosion", "chaos", and "kidnap Rooney" scribbled around it.
Ixia's mind buzzed as countless dreadful premonitions flooded her mind.
"Oh no, they are targeting Rooney!" Ixia's brow furrowed. "Layla, can you contact the Spire of Knowledge? We need to check on Rooney!"
Layla immediately activated her communication device, contacting the Rangers stationed at the Spire of Knowledge.
Ixia stood to one side with her arms crossed, waiting silently for Layla to finish. In less than a minute, Layla's green eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape. She set down the communicator and grabbed Ixia's arm. It was the first time Ixia had seen a hint of panic in Layla's eyes.
"Dr. Rooney is missing!"
Part 3: Search for Rooney[]
Chapter 7: Joint Operation[]
After receiving news of Dr. Rooney's disappearance, Layla and Ixia rushed to the headquarters of Eruditio Rangers without another word.
Layla's concern was evident on her face, revealing a mixture of worry and impatience with a smattering of anger.
Ixia's expression, on the other hand, remained unphased. After years of being the head honcho, she had learned how to maintain composure at all times. However, deep inside, a burning anger was fueling her. She felt a strong resentment towards the Chosen Order, and she had a particular disdain for two types of people: arrogant scholars and people who poached her target. Unfortunately for the Chosen Order, they checked both boxes.
Ixia was determined to do everything in her power to make the Chosen Order pay for their actions.
However...
Ixia also felt an inkling of gratitude. Were it not for her partnership with Layla, she might not have found out about Rooney's abduction until much later. She would have had to rely solely on the Eruditio Rangers to find Dr. Rooney. Getting to know Layla had opened up this opportunity for her.
Perhaps this little bunny was her lucky charm.
In some parts of Northern Vale, rabbit's feet were considered auspicious talismans. Ixia caught herself glancing inquisitively at Layla's feet, before quickly shaking her head to dismiss the absurd thought. Layla is not a rabbit. To shift her focus, Ixia began reminiscing about how she had come to know about rabbit's feet and their propitious properties.
Ixia had learned about this particular piece of Northern Vale folklore from a tome as thick as her head. Literature rarely has anything to do with a Sand Hunter's daily life. However, at the age of seven, she was given her first "job" with her tribe, during which she encountered a target about her age who held a peculiar book. Ixia had learned from her mother that anything people kept close to them was almost certainly of substantial value. Twisting and contorting her face into the most savage expression she could muster, she succeeded in giving the blond-haired child quite a fright, after which she forcefully snatched the book right out of the girl's hands. This moment was Ixia's grand debut as a Sand Hunter.
Reading the book afterward, Ixia found it contained a variety of encyclopedic knowledge suitable for children. The pages in the tome opened up a whole new world for her. Ixia, who was already passionate about creating weird contraptions, was greatly influenced by the book. It would gradually shape her into the person she is today – a great inventor among the Sand Hunters. Looking back, that meek little crying girl from all those years ago seemed somewhat familiar.
Before she could devote any further thought to it, the two of them had already arrived at the headquarters. Ixia had seen her fair share of the world, but the scene here was still enough to give her pause. Unlike the modest pastoral-style architecture of the Eruditio, the buildings here were tall and robust, resembling an intimidating and unyielding fortress more than anything. Passing through the heavy automatic doors, they entered a spacious training ground, in which various training equipment was strewn about. A few months of training here could transform even hoodlums from Los Pecados into disciplined soldiers.
The Eruditio Rangers were not to be underestimated.
They crossed the training grounds and arrived at an administration building where Lolita was waiting for them at the door. The three of them proceeded into a meeting room of sorts, sparsely populated with a few individuals. Lolita pointed to the soldier on the far left and said, "This is Kimmy, an old friend. She's helping with the smuggling case." Kimmy nodded indifferently in acknowledgment. After briefly introducing the other people in the room, Lolita got down to business.
"First, let's go over what we know," Lolita pulled up a whiteboard and began writing while speaking. "The explosion today at the Enlightenment Plaza was most likely the work of the Chosen Order."
Layla took Lolita's marker and continued, "We searched one of their hideouts and found records of smuggling activities involving Starlium. We also found plans related to the abduction of Dr. Rooney in a hidden chamber."
"The Eruditio Rangers are being targeted," Kimmy added. "It just so happens that we've recently been investigating the Starlium smuggling cases."
"So a group of scholars involved in Starlium smuggling realized they were about to be exposed, and out of desperation they kidnapped your boss," Ixia concluded while putting her feet on the table.
"Hey. Put your feet down." Layla exhorted Ixia in a hushed voice. "And you'd better address Dr. Rooney properly. He is the leader of Eruditio, which in case you forgot, includes you!"
Ixia made no comment but obediently took her feet off the table.
Lolita, lost in thought, did not notice the interaction, and continued to focus on the whiteboard.
"What are you waiting for? Send someone to investigate the Chosen Order and find Rooney. I'm dying to meet this guy." Not wanting to waste time, Ixia dished out her advice with a straightforward bluntness. She still had to kidnap Rooney again when she met him.
Layla shook her head sternly. "Absolutely not. If the Chosen Order are backed into a corner, they might harm Dr. Rooney. Could you show at least a little concern for the hostage's safety? You saw for yourself how helpless the scholars are. They're virtually incapable of defending themselves."
Ixia opened her mouth, intending to issue a rebuke, but could not muster a word. It was true that in only seeing Rooney as a target, she had forgotten her role as a "Ranger". However, Layla's way of speaking was painfully incisive. Her sharp critiques had even extended to Rooney, and Ixia realized she had underestimated her.
"An Eruditio Ranger cannot act recklessly. A large-scale mobilization could easily cause panic, and if news of Dr. Rooney's disappearance were to get out, it would result in widespread fear amongst the populace." Lolita added. "Considering that there will be people from various cultures, organizations, and beliefs gathering in the city for the Festival of Enlightenment, that's the last thing we want. Fear and unrest are far worse than run-of-the-mill criminal activities."
Kimmy nodded, "Plus, there's the military presence to consider. We need to tread lightly."
A look of vexation settled on everyone's faces.
"However, Ixia's idea has some merit. The situation is critical. Now is not the time to be overly concerned with formalities," Lolita conceded. "We need to find Dr. Rooney as soon as possible, but we must stay under the radar while we do it. It would be best not to utilize too many ranger resources. Ixia, you have some connections, don't you?"
Ixia tensed up. What did Lolita mean by that? How much did she know?
"I can trace the Starlium smuggling connections of the Chosen Order... I see what you're getting at. Smugglers usually don't make for the most professional kidnappers. Rooney is most likely being held in one of their own hideouts or warehouses." Ixia cautiously hypothesized.
"That's great. Layla is right, Ixia is indeed reliable," Lolita nodded and then addressed the others in the room. "Don't forget that this is intended to be a covert operation. If any news of it leaks, it could endanger Ixia and Layla's mission."
"Kimmy and I will continue investigating any leads we have on the surface and provide cover for you if needed," she added.
"Leave it to us. Ixia and I will handle it!" Layla exclaimed with confidence. She then lowered her voice and asked Lolita with concern, "If Captain Bruno starts asking questions, will we get in trouble?"
Lolita patted Layla's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll handle the paperwork. You guys just focus on your mission."
"You're the best, Lolita!" Layla cheered.
"All right, before we get to work, Layla will need a new look. Is there a place to change around here?"
Following the direction Lolita pointed to, Ixia led Layla to the changing room. After they left the room, Kimmy turned to Lolita and asked, "Where did you find that girl? She seems a bit... out of place."
Lolita quickly gave Kimmy a stare to signal her to stop asking questions, to which she promptly obliged.
Meanwhile, in the changing room, Layla watched as Ixia slowly picked out a shirt befitting a proper desert dweller and a durable pair of pants. As Ixia continued to casually rummage through the piles of spare clothes, Layla couldn't refrain from asking, "Shouldn't we be a bit more hasty in tracking down the members of the Chosen Order?"
"The next step of our investigation involves gaining favor with the Sand Hunters. If you go dressed like that, no one will come near you." Ixia explained as she picked out another outfit. "Trust me. If you wear that uniform on the streets, you might as well be blaring a police siren everywhere you go."
Layla reluctantly took the clothes Ixia had chosen for her. Ixia remained in the changing room, and for a moment, Layla considered asking her to leave. Upon further consideration, Layla felt bringing it up would only be more embarrassing, so she merely lowered her head sheepishly and proceeded to change.
Once she raised her head again, Layla was surprised to find that Ixia wasn't paying any attention to her. For reasons she was not entirely sure of herself, Layla was slightly miffed by this. She then grabbed her gun and was ready to go.
Ixia stopped her, gave her a once-over, then proceeded to tear off a section of gauze from her medical kit, wrapping it around Layla's neck in a crooked butterfly knot. She nodded in satisfaction, "You look much tougher now. Your hair is still giving off a goody-two-shoes vibe. That won't do."
She yanked out the hair ties holding Layla's hair in twin ponytails, pulling out a few stray hairs in the process. Layla winced, but Ixia was enjoying herself far too much to notice. "Hmmm, you don't look like a bunny anymore without your ears."
"That's because I'm not a bunny!" Layla protested.
"You're a teeny weeny rabbit running straight into the tiger's den. Be careful not to get eaten." Ixia teased as she buried her hand in Layla's golden hair and skillfully twisted several strands into a thin curl at the side of her temple. She then repeated the same technique on the other side, and finally tied the remaining hair into a single ponytail.
"Now you look a bit more like a desert dweller," Ixia said, patting the transformed Layla on the back and pushing her toward the mirror. "Come on, show me your meanest look."
Layla extended her hand and made a peace sign. Ixia sighed in exasperation. "You couldn't be intimidating even if you tried."
"Once we find Dr. Rooney, it's your turn to get a makeover!" Layla grumbled.
Ixia playfully poked Layla's puffed-up and pouty cheeks. "What kind of makeover?"
"I'm going to take you to the best clothing store in the city and make you try on every dress they have." Layla threatened.
"The desert hath no fury like a bunny scorned, I see." Ixia replied, tossing her Arclight Launcher into her bag. "I'm quaking in my boots!"
Chapter 8: Code Words[]
Ixia led Layla to the temporary market stalls below the Enlightenment Plaza. It was livelier than usual, as merchants from different regions had taken advantage of the festival to promote various unique trinkets and foodstuffs from their hometowns.
Ixia knew that Eruditio often had street vendors who, alongside their legitimate business endeavors, engaged in some less upstanding ventures, such as smuggling Starlium. Their operations, however, are nowhere near the scale of Kane in Los Pecados. To call their total output of Starlium even a drop in the ocean would be generous.
None of these vendors would let a golden opportunity like the Festival of Enlightenment pass them by.
People of this ilk filled Ixia with disgust, but the information these vendors had about their suppliers was crucial. These small-time traders had their hackles up and would sniff out a Ranger in an instant, so Ixia had taken measures to disguise Layla.
Amid the bustling market, Ixia spotted her target — a stall selling Agelta embroidery.
Casually, Ixia approached the embroidery stall and picked up a roll of embroidery. "Impressive craftsmanship."
"See anything you like? I can give you a discount if you buy it in bulk." The owner proffered congenially.
Ixia set down the embroidery and asked, "Got any seafood?"
The owner's expression faltered for but a moment, then he waved his hand. "We specialize in desert products. We don't have seafood."
"What about canned fish?"
The owner's lips twitched, "Tuna, sardines, or anchovies. Take your pick."
Layla was completely lost amidst this seemingly coded exchange, and she looked at Ixia with befuddlement. Ixia smiled with satisfaction and replied, "I'll take some sardines."
"You seem to know an awful lot about this market."
"Oh, the desert wind told me, that's all," Ixia proclaimed flippantly as she leaned forward, tapping the embroidery loaded atop the stall. "A cartload of sardines. Without bones if possible."
"We don't have a whole cartload. There were delays en route and the shipment hasn't arrived yet. We still have a few cans, but that's it."
"Same wholesaler?"
The stall owner nodded, prompting Ixia to agree without any further compunction, "Alright, a few cans will do just fine. I've been working on something lately, and I need some cans to feed it." She patted her Arclight Launcher.
"Be careful, the hounds can smell the fish."
"Believe me, I know how this works." Ixia grinned cunningly. "I'll handle any unwanted hounds that come sniffing."
In fact, Ixia had her own "hound" with her at this very moment, although she was completely lost as to what was going on.
"Take a look at this one. It's a new and innovative style, and one of our best-selling products." The owner took out a roll of embroidery from behind his counter.
Ixia bought the embroidery that the owner had recommended and left the stall with Layla. As soon as they were out of earshot, Layla piped up, "You were speaking in code just now, weren't you? Tell me!"
"Take a guess."
"Well, I suppose seafood refers to Starlium. But what was all that about canned fish and sardines?"
"You're not far off. Seafood stands for Starlium currently in stock, and canned fish represents future shipments. Sellers intentionally spout off a variety of canned fish to confuse buyers. Also, if you forget to say 'boneless', they won't sell to you. There's a whole song and dance to it."
"And what about the whole cart and loose cans?" Layla asked.
"A whole cart is a large batch, usually product from Kane, the big cheese from the city of sins, Los Pecados." Seeing Layla nodding and taking mental notes, Ixia issued an exhortation, "I'd suggest you stay away from all that, though. Not even the Eruditio Rangers dare mess with Kane."
"'Loose cans' are Starlium filched from Kane's operation. Even in small quantities, they can net you a small fortune, so there are always people willing to risk it.
Layla listened and continued to take mental notes, her earnest expression drawing a playful remark from Ixia, "So, does it feel like Starlium is running amok in Eruditio to you?"
Responding earnestly, Layla proclaimed, "With us around, we can put a stop to its circulation, no matter how prolific it is!"
Her earnestness, coupled with her slightly naive and idealistic statement, has a certain beguiling charm to it. Despite herself, Ixia grinned and refrained from teasing Layla further. She began to examine the embroidery and detected a stiffness that did not feel innate to the fabric. "This is two pieces of fabric sewn together. There's something stuffed inside."
Layla carefully tore off one edge of the embroidery with Ixia, revealing a note inside. The note marked a hidden street near the business district.
"Let's check it out." Ixia said as she walked, crumpling the note into a ball. She moved to toss it in the trash, but Layla quickly intercepted the paper ball in mid-air.
"Don't be so nervous. I've got the address memorized."
"This is an important lead, one you worked hard to obtain. We should keep it safe." Layla replied. "Dr. Rooney means a lot to me. We have to find him."
"Is it because of his prestige as a scholar?"
"No. He's like family to me. Besides my grandfather, Thomas, he's probably the person I'm closest to."
"What about your parents?" Ixia asked.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it might not have been the most tactful question. Ixia could practically see Layla's invisible rabbit ears droop dejectedly. Layla stared at her feet for a long time before uttering softly, "My mother is gone, and my father... I don't know if he's alive or not."
"Then we've got something in common." Ixia responded with a wry grin. "My old man up and disappeared too. They say he's still alive, but it doesn't make a bit of difference to me whether he is, or if he's six feet under."
"Huh?" Layla finally snapped out of her stupor. "How can you talk about your own father like that?"
"Well, my mom didn't exactly paint a flattering portrait of the guy. She said the only thing he was good for was his looks, and everything else wasn't even worth mentioning. He left when I was two or three years old and never came back." Ixia explained. "But I still have a big family, so I'm pretty happy. Just like you said, Rooney... is like family."
"Yeah." Layla responded, her eyes still fixated on the ground.
Thinking about her upcoming plan to kidnap Rooney, Ixia felt a bit guilty for seeing Layla so despondent. She felt impelled to at least attempt to lift her spirits. How about...
"When we find those smugglers, whaddya say we give them a taste of their own medicine? They're basically accomplices in Rooney's kidnapping." Ixia suggested.
"No, that wouldn't be right."
"Nothing severe. We'll just give them a scare, that's all." Ixia continued. "You know what anyone doing illegal business fears the most? Kane. We'll pretend to be with Kane, catch them off guard, and maybe even squeeze some information out of them while we're at it."
"Oh, so we get to pretend that we're the bad guys? It'll be just like you did earlier!" Layla was giddy, like a guileless child being given their favorite treat.
For Ixia, Layla's unbridled enthusiasm was cause for concern. "Um... You'll have to play the part though. Show me your meanest look."
Layla tried her best to muster the most intimidating expression she could manage. Ixia sighed, "We'll keep practicing as we walk. Try to make it look more natural."
Chapter 9: Undercover[]
On a terrace with a pristine view overlooking the business district, three scruffy Eschackan men were taking in the urban panorama as they chatted amongst each other.
"I heard the delivery had to be postponed."
"Nonsense! It's an order from Los Pecados. This isn't something you can delay just because of some minor inconveniences. Kane would be furious."
"But there's nothing we can do. Those people outside are watching us like hawks. I heard they even brought that devil with them. Trying to send out a shipment right now would be asking for trouble."
"Would you rather rot in Kane's dungeon?"
"So what you're telling me is that we're damned if we do, damned if we don't?"
"Let someone else worry about it. All we're responsible for is focusing on the gate. All concerning yourself about this or that will do is give you a receding hairline, just like those scholars from the Chosen Order who came for the delivery."
Suddenly, two energy beams spiraled out from the shadows, sending the three men crashing into one another and binding them together. The impact left them unconscious before they could even utter a groan.
Ixia and Layla stepped out from their hiding spot after eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Seems like the Rangers are giving them quite the headache."
Layla looked smugly at Ixia. "Of course. We're good at what we do."
"Right, right. You Rangers are the best."
"Hey, that includes you now!"
"Ok, ok. WE are the best. Anyway, that takes care of the scouts along the perimeter. Let's get down to business." Ixia turned to Layla. "Got your mean face sorted out yet?"
Layla demonstrated her progress from her prior practice.
"Stop, just stop. Being intimidating and looking crazy are two different things. How about we try this..." Ixia took off her scarf and wrapped it around Layla's face to create a makeshift balaclava, then nodded at her own work. "This will do."
Layla was satisfied with her new look. "What's next? Are we going to storm in?"
"There are a few more things we have to do before that." Ixia fired several shots into the wall, the sound echoing through the entire block.
"Won't that alert them?"
"That's the idea. Send them into a panic so they slip up. They'll be too scared to think straight."
"Oh, I see. I wanna try too!"
Layla excitedly joined in, firing her energy cannon at the wall. Ixia thought of stopping her, but seeing how much glee perforating the innocent wall gave Layla, she gave up and added, "Just remember to inform the Rangers. I don't want them to think that a war has broken out or something."
Inside the smugglers' hideout, the sudden and deafening barrage had everyone quaking in their boots. A gunfight of this scale within Eruditio was unprecedented, and the smugglers instinctively believed that the bullets were intended for them. Clueless about what was really happening outside, they clutched their weapons with trembling hands as they frantically used everything they could find to barricade the door.
After a while, the bombardment gradually ceased and was replaced by thunderous pounding on the door. The head smuggler pointed to one of his lackeys and then to the door, but the lackey vehemently shook his head, refusing to move. The head smuggler muttered something in desert tongue under his breath and reluctantly stepped forward, shouting, "W-Who's there?!"
The response to his question was the door being blasted off its hinges. The door and the random items used to barricade it were all blown to smithereens. Ixia, with Layla following closely behind, strode into the room, looking like a messenger of death.
"'Who's there?' You know exactly who. Kane wants his goods, NOW!"
"The goods... n-now!" Layla chimed in, though her tone of voice was far from intimidating.
The head of the operation, already scared for his life, lost whatever remaining shred of courage he had when he heard Kane's name. He began to sweat profusely and spewed out a string of bumbling apologies.
"I-I'm so sorry. You must be someone of great importance, but I... I've never seen you before."
"You got some nerve! Kane is under no obligation to send someone your little pea brain would know." Ixia continued, mocking the shriveling mess in front of her. "Would you prefer I go back and ask Kane to come here in person?"
"No-no-no there's no need for that! We'll do everything in our power to get Kane's goods out. I promise!"
"Still blowing smoke with empty promises, huh? Take everything you've got and fork it over. We'll take it from here." Ixia smirked triumphantly. "You useless worms. A few hounds outside got you cowering in here with your tails between your legs? It took me less than ten minutes to put down those patrol units sent by the Rangers."
"Less than ten minutes!" Layla chimed in.
The head smuggler, sounding more desperate than ever, pleaded, "Please, boss. You took out the Rangers, but we still need to do business here. They're sure to come back for revenge..."
"You think a bunch of bumbling numbskulls like you can continue doing business for Kane? In your dreams. Now, where's the shipment?"
"It's still in the warehouse..."
"Well lead the way. If you cooperate, I might put in a good word for you with Kane. Who knows, maybe you'll get to keep your head and your job. But if you try anything funny, you'll regret it!"
"Totally regret it!"
The warehouse was located in an underground mall in another part of town, in the back room of an old vacant restaurant. The smuggler took out the keys and pulled open the rolling door. "It's all there. Please, say a few good words for us in front of Kane..."
The warehouse had been completely cleaned out. All that remained in the empty room was a broom sitting in the corner.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Ixia lifted up her Arclight Launcher, ready to fire. "Do you take me for a fool?!"
"Where'd it all go?!" The head smuggler was also shocked to see the warehouse empty. "Someone took our shipment! It was right here!"
Ixia increased her threatening tone, feigning anger. "Don't try to play dumb with me. I already know everything. You were behind the explosion at Enlightenment Plaza earlier, and you kidnapped Rooney, all to create a ruse so you could steal Kane's merchandise. I must say, you sure got guts!"
"You sure got guts!" Layla echoed.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about! What explosion?! Who's Rooney?!" The terrified smugglers pleaded, falling to their knees and begging desperately.
Ixia could tell these people were not responsible for what had transpired. However, she had to play her part convincingly. Scaring them out of their wits now would make them keep quiet about the whole incident. This was a tactic every seasoned Sand Hunter had in their back pocket.
Ixia shook her head as if in regret. "Oh man, this is gonna get ugly. How do we explain this to Kane?"
The smugglers were trembling like leaves.
"You're useless to us now, so it's about time you all face the music."
"Yeah! Face the music!" Layla parroted.
Ixia was satisfied with how well her intimidation had worked. Even Layla's intermittent contributions were perfect.
However, just then, a great gust of wind came through and blew away the scarf covering Layla's face, revealing her identity.
Upon seeing Layla's face, the head smuggler nearly jumped out of his skin. "I knew something was wrong! You're Layla, one of the Eruditio Rangers! Strap up, boys!"
Ixia was a bit surprised. "I didn't know you were so famous."
Layla sighed. "It's a long story. Anyway, pretending to be one of the bad guys was a real hoot. Be sure to take me along the next time you do it! For now, though, we've got some Ranger business to handle."
Ixia shrugged. She didn't mind seeing these smugglers get roughed up and tossed in the clink.
Ixia smiled as she cranked her Arclight Launcher to full power. The barrel glowed with red energy, mirroring the intensity in Ixia's eyes.
"You're right about that. Time to get to work."
Chapter 10: The Chosen Order[]
Few warehouses could be said to be both empty and a complete mess at the same time, but after Ixia and Layla were done with the place, it was the only way to describe it.
Ixia smushed the face of the last thug against the ground with her foot before kicking him aside. In the dusty warehouse, the smugglers who'd been swaggering about just moments ago now lay scattered and disheveled. Ixia dusted off her hands and sat on the back of an unconscious smuggler. Layla, on the other hand, began diligently searching for traces of goods being moved around.
"Not bad, little bunny." Ixia remarked. "You're getting good at this. You even thought to look for signs of the stuff being moved. But these guys are pretty cunning I'm afraid. They've covered their tracks well. I don't think that broom over there is just for sweeping."
Upon hearing this, Layla's ponytails drooped slightly. Ixia stood up and gave Layla's dejected head a rub. "Cheer up! At least we know they're professionals now. You've done well."
"I've already told the others to come secure the crime scene. Let's gather clues while we wait." Layla attempted to get Ixia to leave, but Ixia refused to budge. "What's wrong?"
Ixia sighed, then pushed down on Layla's shoulders, forcing her to sit down. "Forget about clues. Don't you think you should take care of this first?"
Ixia pointed at the bloodstains on Layla's stockings and the blood from a cut on her calf.
"Oh, this? Guess I got grazed by a stray bullet." Layla said while scratching her head. She then stood up and took a few steps to prove she was perfectly fine. However, her limping wasn't fooling anyone.
"You're more stubborn than me. You could end up with an infection." Ixia scolded her. She pulled Layla back and forced her to sit still. Rummaging through one of the unconscious smugglers' pockets, Ixia found a small bottle of liquor to use as a disinfectant. But before doing so, she hesitated for a moment. She just remembered that she needed to remove or tear Layla's clothing to disinfect and dress her wound.
However, she noticed the delicate silk stockings Layla had on. This was the first time she had come into such close contact with such feminine attire. She couldn't just rip them, could she? But how could she properly dress the wound otherwise?
Layla suddenly let out a barely audible groan of pain. Ixia gritted her teeth, poured the liquor directly onto the wound, and quickly wiped it clean. She then removed the choker from Layla's neck and used it to tie a tight knot around her calf.
Ixia's sudden actions made Layla gasp in surprise.
"So now you're feeling the pain, huh? You really should take better care of yourself, Layla. And stop acting tough."
Layla playfully stretched her leg, flexing it agilely, before suddenly realizing something. "What did you just call me?" She asked.
"Erm... Nothing."
"I heard it! With both of my ears! You finally stopped calling me little bunny!"
"You heard wrong. Both of your ears heard wrong." Ixia denied with a sense of finality.
"Hah! Don't lie to me." Layla teased. "Rabbits have long ears that can hear very well."
"Let's focus on the task at hand, shall we? We need to analyze those clues."
Unable to resist gloating, Layla started humming, apparently delighted with her small victory. Ixia reached out to grab one of her braids, but Layla agilely dodged away, avoiding Ixia's playful counterattack.
"Alright, enough. Let's get back to business. So, about those clues..." Layla said, pulling out her notebook. "We know that the Chosen Order was responsible for the explosion and kidnapping Dr. Rooney. And we know they likely hid Dr. Rooney in a place they're familiar with, such as a smuggling warehouse or trade hub."
"So, we secretly followed these smugglers to this warehouse where we found them dealing with the Chosen Order," Ixia interjected while kicking one of the smugglers who was slowly regaining consciousness.
"But there's nothing here that can help us find the Chosen Ones' other warehouses or hideouts. Plus, there's this conflict we stumbled upon here." Layla scratched her head and said. "As for who was attacking whom, we have no leads... With all this heat, the Chosen Order won't rear their ugly heads anytime soon. If they're smart, they'll have cleared out all their warehouses and moved Dr. Rooney by now, which means our leads have gone cold. All we can do is wait for Lolita and Kimmy. Maybe they've discovered something from one of their sources."
Ixia grabbed Layla's notebook and browsed through it.
"Don't you find it a bit strange? There are too many coincidences. It almost feels like one of those Cadia Riverlands novels."
"Oh, you mean the ones written by authors from MT Publishing? Vancy is my favorite!"
"What?! You like her books too? Well that makes explaining things easier." Ixia had lived in the desert for most of her life and rarely found friends who shared her hobbies, especially reading, which was very rare among the Sand Hunters. "Have you read her book Flash & Joy? The main character's catchphrase is—"
"All coincidences are merely events waiting to be linked!" Layla exclaimed, casually finishing her sentence. "The explosion at Enlightenment Plaza, the kidnapping of Dr. Rooney, the Starlium smuggling case, and the conflict that happened here... They all happened simultaneously. That's too much of a coincidence! So, I think we can safely assume the explosion was orchestrated by the Chosen Order to sow chaos so that they could kidnap Dr. Rooney."
"The Chosen Order has been involved in Starlium smuggling for a while, and they recently got busted by the Rangers, so they want revenge. To be honest though, I would... I mean most Sand Hunters would do things like that." Ixia said. Noticing Layla's expression became annoyed when mentioning the scholars' crimes, Ixia decided to steer the conversation away from this topic. "So, the key lies in the conflict that happened here. But how is it linked to the other events?"
"Well, just like any business... criminal activity and double-crossing is very high-risk and requires an extensive knowledge of the victim, the crime scene, and so on." Ixia continued her analysis.
"Do you think there's an insider among the smugglers?" Layla pondered for a moment, then shook her head, dismissing the idea. "No, that can't be. If there were an insider, they would know that their recent delivery routes were being monitored by the Rangers, and they wouldn't strike at a time like this."
"Besides, these people would never dare seize Kane's goods." Ixia added.
"Could it really be a coincidence?"
Ixia shook her head. "No, you're overlooking another faction. One that's familiar with the smugglers."
"The Chosen Order?"
Ixia nodded.
"But the goods were theirs. Why would they target their own stuff?"
"Or rather, why are they targeting themselves now?"
The two fell into contemplation, and a possible answer emerged in their minds. The Infinite Gateway, The Chosen Order, Dr. Rooney, Starlium... These key terms were slowly coming together.
Ixia was the first to speak, "If the Chosen Order kidnapped Dr. Rooney, but not for revenge, and they smuggled Starlium not for profit, but for..."
"They're scholars. Perhaps they're doing what scholars do best." Layla quickly chimed in.
"I suppose the Infinite Gateway project requires a huge amount of Starlium."
"Yes, the Infinite Gateway even has a Starlium Reactor. It's Eruditio's core facility."
"So, their kidnapping of Dr. Rooney must be related to restarting the Infinite Gateway project. Do you know anything about it though?"
"All the confidential experimental data can only be accessed by the head of the Council of Scholars. To restart the project, the Chosen Order would need Dr. Rooney's key."
In order to obtain the key, the Chosen Order would likely torture Dr. Rooney. Being a close friend to Layla, Ixia was concerned that this would upset her. She wanted to console her, but struggled to find the right words.
However, Layla looked surprisingly determined and confident. As if she knew what Ixia was thinking, Layla quickly spoke up.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Actually, I feel kind of relieved. Dr. Rooney has something they want. It means they won't do anything drastic. Also, I'm certain he won't talk."
Ixia sensed something different about Layla at this moment. She suddenly had a resolute and confident air about her that didn't quite match her appearance. Perhaps it was her self-confidence and trust in Rooney. Trust was truly a remarkable force. Ixia's opinion of Layla suddenly underwent a subtle change.
"I'll brief Lolita and the others later. But due to the classified nature of this case, Lolita will need special access to review the related intel. The last time someone applied for access, it took days. I'm worried Dr. Rooney won't hold out for that long. We need more intel fast, like the location of the Infinite Gateway project's test site back then."
"Are the classified files stored in the inner vaults of the Great Archives? I can probably think of a way to get my hands on them." Ixia said thoughtfully.
"Get your hands on them? Please tell me you aren't thinking of doing anything... illegal."
"Well... What if we find a high-ranking member of the Scholar Council and... you know... 'persuade' them to hand over the documents?"
"Do you understand what you're saying?"
Ixia shrugged, seemingly out of ideas.
After a moment of thought, Layla said, "I know a scholar who serves as a special consultant to the Eruditio Rangers. He has a very high rank. I might be able to persuade him."
"Then let's go. If he doesn't agree, I'll personally pluck out all his hair."
"Please don't do that. When you meet him, you'll understand why."
Chapter 11: The Past[]
After bringing Lolita up to speed, Layla led Ixia in search of the consultant. They moved swiftly through the bustling streets, finally arriving at the place where their story together began—the commercial district.
The air was filled with vendors' calls and the enticing aromas of various foods, all carried towards them in the breeze. Ixia licked her lips; she hadn't eaten anything since early morning. Living in the desolate Agelta Drylands, where crops were scarce and livestock were rare, she was accustomed to a very basic diet. But the selection of food before her now was almost overwhelming, and Ixia struggled to control her cravings.
Most tempting was the cool and sweet ice cream. Seeing Ixia captivated by their goods, the ice cream vendor seized the opportunity to make a sale, "New this year in Eruditio—thick milk ice cream! Made with the finest milk from the fertile plains of Moniyan, mixed with sandberries from the Oasis. Even the shaved ice at the bottom is pure, freshly-cut ice from the Queen's Peak. It's definitely worth a try! Plus, the second one is half price..."
Giving Ixia no chance to ask, Layla grabbed her clothes and ruthlessly pulled her deeper into the shopping district.
The vendors' calls continued to echo around them.
"A specialty from Castle Aberleen—tomato and grapefruit juice! It has a seal of approval from Los Pecados's top appraiser!"
"Abyss blueberry taro tower! Limited edition! Only at this price for a limited time. Fancy a taste?"
"Freshly baked Moniyan-style bread with a free special jam from Mila Bakery!"
Every call made the resentment in Ixia's heart grow, but they were in a hurry to accomplish their task, so she reluctantly swallowed her complaints and left the scent of blueberries, bread, and tomatoes behind.
But suddenly, Layla came to a halt in front of a food stall with a sizzling frying pan. Ixia looked just as bewildered as the meat patties waiting to be deep-fried in the pan.
"Can I have two, please? One with extra bay leaves from the Misty Mountains."
"Erm... Don't we have something important to do? Is it a good idea to be eating now?"
"Wait a sec... The meat patties are done." Layla winked at Ixia playfully, holding up two fried meat patties wrapped in oil paper. To avoid being scalded, she kept passing them between her left and right hands, resembling a little monkey stealing roasted chestnuts from a fire.
"You're so hungry the whole city can hear your belly grumbling." Layla teased. Hearing this, Ixia suddenly noticed how hungry she was. Layla handed her one of the meat patties and said, "Eat it while it's hot. I saw you eyeing the ice cream earlier. It's not good to eat something so cold on an empty stomach. It might make you sick."
Ixia took a bite of the fried meat patty. It was still fresh from the frying pan and was coated in crispy golden-brown breadcrumbs. The mashed potatoes wrapped around the seasoned minced beef released a fragrant aroma, and the spicy onions added a finishing touch. Meanwhile, the sprinkling of bay leaves on top was the icing on the cake. After being hungry for so long, it was the perfect, delicious way to fill her stomach.
Afterward, Layla bought Ixia a glass of chilled apple juice and topped off their feast with a serving of sandberry sweet cream. This eating-while-walking meal brought Ixia unparalleled satisfaction.
However, Layla ordered two portions of everything, but she didn't eat any herself.
Soon, they arrived at their destination, the lively "Eggshell" cafe.
"Diggie comes here for coffee every day at noon. I'm certain we'll find him here."
Walking up to the cafe, Layla swung open the glass door, knocking the wind chimes above it which rang out pleasantly. A gust of wind blew out from inside, and Ixia, with her heightened senses, caught every snippet of conversation carried on the breeze. She suddenly looked up and glimpsed a familiar figure brushing past them.
"Isn't that...?"
"Ixia, over here!" Layla waved her hand to get her attention. "Diggie's here!"
Ixia reluctantly held back what she wanted to say and walked past several tables toward Layla. As soon as she took a seat, she saw a scarf-wearing owl on the other side of the table and asked Layla with puzzlement, "Huh...? Where's Diggie? Is this little guy saving a spot for him while he's in the restroom or something?"
The owl across from her snorted with annoyance and protested by opening his wings and saying, "I'm Diggie!"
Startled by his wings, Ixia blurted out in her native desert dialect, "What the ****?! The owl can speak?!"
Layla rushed to explain, "This is Professor Diggie, a Nature Spirit. He's not a talking owl!"
Ixia had heard many stories about Nature Spirits when she was a child. This was her first time encountering a real one, and Diggie was quite different from what she had imagined.
Layla called a waiter over and took a small packet of tea leaves from her pocket, handing it to him.
"Could you please brew this tea for us, and bring us a cinnamon chicken pie with extra bay leaves?"
The waiter took a sharp breath. "Layla, this is Professor Novaria's personally blended calming tea. Is today some kind of special occasion?"
Layla responded with a bright smile. "When dining with Professor Diggie, you simply must have the finest tea, right?" The waiter nodded and went into the kitchen.
Ixia leaned in close to Layla and whispered, "Can an owl eat all this food?"
Layla whispered back, "Diggie is a spacetime expert. Apparently, he can reverse time. So, when he's full, he can rewind time a bit... Or something like that."
Diggie seemed a bit embarrassed as the tea and chicken pie were being served. "You really didn't need to go through so much trouble, Layla. Is there something you need from me?"
With a bright smile, Layla said, "We're just looking for answers to a few questions. After all, you're the most knowledgeable scholar I know, and you also advise the Rangers."
"You're too polite. Feel free to ask me anything." Diggie picked up his knife and fork, and gleefully tucked into his favorite chicken pie.
As Ixia watched Diggie take a bite from the pie and sip some tea, Layla began, "Diggie, do you know anything about the Infinite Gateway project that happened sixteen years ago?"
Diggie suddenly dropped his fork onto the plate with a "clang".
"Oh dear, this pie is really hot. We should tell the restaurant to put a note on the plate saying 'caution, hot filling' next time." Diggie picked up a piece of chicken pie and pretended to blow on it without eating. "Layla, have you eaten any lunch yet? Let me treat you both."
"No, we're fine. We had something on the way over here." Layla replied, her smile still radiant and innocent. "Oh, by the way, we brought these for you."
One by one, Layla placed the fried meat patty, apple juice, and sandberry sweet cream on the table and pushed them over to Diggie. Judging from the hesitation in Diggie's eyes, these three items were clearly his favorite. His beak even trembled slightly as he looked at them. Ixia finally understood why Layla had bought two portions of each.
"So, how much do you know about the Infinite Gateway project?" Layla asked again.
Diggie shook his head, as if trying to snap out of a daydream, and fluttered his wings to leave. "Oh my, I just remembered that I have a lecture to deliver this afternoon. I have to go now, but I'll treat you to a nice meal the next time we meet."
Ixia grabbed one of Diggie's wings to stop him from leaving.
"Oh? Is this the Rangers' new recruit? Very energetic. I like that."
"I like owls too, but I don't like owls pretending to be stupid. It makes me want to pluck out their feathers."
Layla quickly intervened, holding Ixia back. "Don't be so impolite to Diggie. He's one of us."
Diggie looked at Layla, hesitated for a second or two, and then made up his mind. Turning his head and steeling himself, he said, "I won't tell you, even if you pluck out my feathers. This is the most top secret of all the top secret information."
"Diggie, I really need to know more about the Infinite Gateway project. I can't tell you why, but when have I ever tried to deceive you? Please help me."
"Come on... Let's just do this my way," Layla suggested. "Los Pecados has people who pay top coin for talking owls. Sell him to them. They'll definitely have ways to make him talk."
Facing Layla's plea and Ixia's threat, Diggie turned his head resolutely and refused to say a word.
The situation came to a standstill. After contemplating for a bit, Ixia released Diggie's wing and looked him right in the eye. "Look, Diggie, Dr. Rooney has been kidnapped by a group called the Chosen Order. Their goal is to reactivate the Infinite Gateway." Layla tried to interject but Ixia raised her hand to interrupt her. "I know this is top secret, Layla, but I will take the responsibility... Diggie, please, we desperately need your help."
Shocked by the news of Dr. Rooney's kidnapping, Diggie stared wide-eyed for a few seconds before sighing deeply.
"I understand. I can tell you some things, but as for the rest, I'll have to check the top-secret records." Diggie said. "The Infinite Gateway project was based on a wildly ambitious theory. In layman's terms, the goal was to use vast amounts of energy to break the limits of spacetime in an attempt to access the multiverse."
"Sounds like a cool theory," Ixia commented, "and I'm guessing it ended up going wrong."
"Correct. Almost all the scholars involved in the experiment died and the project was subsequently terminated. All the data, including the list of participants, was censored, so even I don't know who was involved."
Diggie continued, "As I mentioned earlier, with only data models, the Infinite Gateway theory was eventually proven to be implausible. Beyond the spacetime barrier, there are countless overlapping worlds. Without specific coordinates, it is impossible to establish a gateway. Forcibly entering another would either tear you to pieces due to the spacetime turbulence or leave you eternally lost, wandering alone until death..."
"Ixia, did you understand any of that?" Layla said while tilting her head with a confused look on her face.
"I didn't, but it doesn't matter. He wasn't telling the truth anyway," Ixia replied. "When people lie, their eyes tend to dart around. His eyes are bigger and rounder than a human's, so it's even more obvious when he does it. It happened when he said he didn't know who participated in the project."
Diggie looked desperate. "I really can't say any more. If I do, Thomas will murder me. I promised him that I wouldn't reveal this information to you."
"Thomas?" Ixia took notice of the unfamiliar name.
"He's my guardian and my grandfather. He used to be the captain of the Eruditio Rangers. Many scholars are afraid of him." Layla explained.
Layla stared at Diggie with unwavering determination in her eyes. "Diggie, you watched me grow up. You know me. This is all related to Dr. Rooney, so I will find out the truth eventually. So why not just tell me now? I know my grandfather wants to protect me, but now is not the time for that."
Seeing Layla's determination, Diggie hesitated before finally saying, "I'll tell you why your grandfather wanted to keep it a secret from you. Then you can decide if you want to know the rest."
Layla nodded.
"I mentioned earlier that many people died during the experiment..." Diggie said before taking a deep breath.
"Your parents were among them..."
Part 4: Beloved Child[]
Chapter 12: The Shining Star Burns in the Night[]
Although Ixia had only known Layla for a day at this point, she still couldn't help but notice that Layla was exceptionally quiet. On the way back to the Rangers' headquarters, Ixia racked her brain trying to come up with something to say.
Should she try to comfort Layla? But she couldn't even fathom what it felt like to confront the deaths of her parents sixteen years ago. Giving generic advice like "look on the bright side" just didn't seem appropriate. Ixia's mom had always said that telling others to cheer up without understanding their pain would just invite their ire.
For now, all Ixia could do was silently accompany her.
Fortunately, it was also a good time to reflect on what she had to do - find Dr. Rooney, kidnap Dr. Rooney, and then figure out how to make an escape. However, no matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to Layla. Why had she only found out about her parents' deaths now? Had she never been curious or asked about it in the past sixteen years? And if she had, then why hadn't anyone told her the truth? If it was all because of that top-secret project, then could they really have deceived the girl for sixteen years? If that were true, it made the city seem like a living hell! And if it was Layla who simply chose not to dig deeper, then that girl must've had something seriously wrong with her.
No matter how she thought about it, Layla just seemed more and more mysterious. The girl clearly wasn't just the innocent bunny Ixia initially pegged her as. She was more like an intriguing puzzle that was hard to resist, a riddle Ixia couldn't help but want to solve. And the more she tried, the more she wanted to delve deeper, like an itch she couldn't help but scratch.
In silence, the two of them made their way back to the Eruditio Rangers' base. The moment they pushed open the door to the familiar meeting room, Layla turned into a completely different person. Even with just a slight smile on her face, she exuded a lively and passionate vibe. And as she greeted everyone, it was like they were freed from a depressed slump, dissipating all their weariness in an instant.
Then, Layla took out her notebook and methodically started sharing intel with everyone. Ixia zoned out the entire time, wondering how Layla had developed her magical vibe. She always made the people around her suddenly burst with energy. Thinking back, Ixia had spent the entire day with Layla, and during that time, there hadn't been a single moment when she'd felt in low spirits.
After the intel was shared, everyone's faces turned dark.
Lolita gave her face a good rub to snap out of it. The dark circles under her eyes were getting quite severe. "They've got a big head start and we're running out of leads."
"We might have to do something more daring. Perhaps we can lure the Chosen Order out of hiding," Layla suggested.
Ixia was startled by Layla's words, for it was not like something Layla would say. After spending a whole day together, Layla had been a bit over-enthusiastic, but she'd always played by the rules and not made any slip-ups. It was therefore rather surprising to hear her say something bold like this with such a cute expression. As she said it, a hush fell over the entire meeting room.
Kimmy was the first to pipe up, "It's a risky move, and if we mess it up, we could end up empty-handed, or even worse... But hey, all's fair in love and war, right? I'm not against the plan, but what do you intend to use as bait? We can't mobilize a ton of Starlium on short notice, or get our hands on the Infinite Gateway data they want."
"I've got that covered."
Out of the blue, an unexpected voice came from outside, accompanied by the sound of wings flapping as Diggie flew into the meeting room with a folder in his claws.
"Diggie!" Layla exclaimed with excitement, which was quickly replaced with concern. "Isn't it against the rules to bring out classified stuff like that?"
Diggie let out a sigh, "I already bent the rules when I spilled those beans at lunchtime. I'm on the hook either way, so breaking a few more rules won't hurt. Worst case scenario, I'll just hightail it back to the forest."
"Thank you so much, Diggie!" Layla gave Diggie a tight hug, brimming with gratitude.
Diggie let out another sigh, "I'm handing this over to you guys now. But be warned, there's some specialized sealing tech on it. So, whatever you do, don't crack it open. You'll definitely get caught otherwise."
"Okay!" Layla promised earnestly.
"Alright, I'll be off then. The docks are still open, so I'll see if I can snag a ticket back to the forest." Diggie said, before turning around and flying back the way he came.
"There's no time to waste! Lolita, use your connections to spread the word about the data here. Once the word's out, I'll grab it and hit the road. As for the ambush, we can set it up at..."
"Hold on a sec! You're not seriously thinking of using yourself as bait, are you? I'm not going along with that!" Ixia cut Layla off without a second thought.
"Well, what other options do we have? We can't exactly invite the Chosen Order over for tea at the Rangers' base, can we?" Layla tried to act cute, attempting to sweet-talk her way out of it. However, this tactic didn't work on Ixia, who simply crossed her arms stubbornly.
"Ixia's got a point. I should be the one on bait duty," Lolita chimed in.
"No chance! I won't allow it. Bruno's not around, and the Rangers need you to hold things together. If anything goes south, the Festival of Enlightenment security team will fall apart," Kimmy objected. "Let me handle it. I'm a military girl, and when it comes to combat, no one can go toe-to-toe with me."
Lolita shook her head. "Not happening. You're a Moniyan Empire soldier. I don't want a diplomatic incident on my hands."
As the chatter went on without getting anywhere, Ixia, the crime expert, grew increasingly impatient and eventually cut in.
"Alright, enough! I can see things clearly. The top priority right now is for everyone to catch some Z's. Lolita, when was the last time you actually slept? Those dark circles are practically up to your hairline. And you too, Kimmy." Whether it was Ixia's commanding presence or the fact that she had struck a nerve, Lolita couldn't hold her gaze, and Kimmy simply scratched her head, looking sheepish.
"Yeah, you're not wrong... We've been swamped ever since we started preparing for the festival. Lolita hasn't really had a break. As for me, since I got to Eruditio, I haven't exactly had much sleep either."
"But we have so much on our plates. Besides, I've got elf blood. Missing a few winks isn't a big deal for me."
Ixia's tone suddenly turned serious. "I've never heard of elf blood having such a nifty function. Besides, when it comes to big decisions, you need a clear head. I don't feel comfortable letting you handle things in this state."
Layla opened her mouth to speak, but a stern glance from Ixia promptly silenced her.
"We can figure out who's the bait tomorrow. For now, let's call it a night," Ixia said as she led Layla out. But then, she suddenly paused. "Erm... where do I sleep?"
Layla and Lolita paused, both wearing expressions that suggested they'd just remembered something important.
Layla apologetically said, "We were supposed to get you a dorm room, but we totally forgot... Hmm... How about you crash at my place tonight?"
Chapter 13: The Lone Star in the Darkness[]
Layla's place was in an old residential area of Eruditio where the streets were a bit more cluttered, but still clean and orderly. Starlium streetlights bathed the area in a gentle glow, which was a relief for Ixia after enduring blinding lights all day. Breathing in the air that smelled of home cooking and gazing at the Spire of Knowledge in the distance, Ixia felt like she'd stepped into a completely different world.
Layla opened the front door and gestured for Ixia to come in.
"Make yourself at home. I'll fetch you some fresh pajamas, and there are cold drinks in the fridge. Oh, by the way, do you prefer a firm or soft towel? I've only got a shower here, I hope that's okay. And..." Layla kept bustling around, which made Ixia sigh and grab her arm.
"Chill out, Layla. You should get a shower first, then I can help you tend to those wounds. I don't want you to end up with any scars." Ixia insisted, steering Layla's focus back to herself.
Layla looked a bit unsettled. "I can't possibly ask you to do that. You're my guest, so make yourself comfortable."
Ixia shook her head. She's got a better handle on Layla's character now. Layla always thought about others and neglected what she needed unless she was pushed.
"Alright, fine... But I can shower on my own. You should rest for a bit." Layla said.
"What? Who said anything about helping with that? Just go take your shower!" Ixia retorted.
Layla skipped happily toward the shower. Meanwhile, Ixia stretched her weary limbs and started looking around for a first aid kit so she could patch up Layla's wounds.
Ixia dug through various boxes and cabinets one by one. While searching, she noticed Layla's mirror, which was adorned with a few photos. One was Layla posing with an unusually tough and rugged-looking middle-aged man. It was probably her grandfather, Thomas. No wonder so many scholars were wary of him. Another photo featured a group shot of the Rangers. There were plenty of people in the photo, but Layla's beaming smile made her stand out.
There were also other pictures of Layla with neighbors at various points in her life. Many of them had heartfelt messages like, "We love you, little shining star." It was evident that Layla was well-loved by many folks in Eruditio, and her smile had been just as bright and warm throughout her entire lifetime.
Just as Ixia found the first aid kit, Layla came out of the bathroom. Ixia nudged her gently, urging her to take a seat. She then started mixing some disinfectant to clean Layla's wounds.
"That hurts, right? You don't have to pretend."
"I already feel bad enough that you're helping me. How can I complain as well?"
Anyone who heard this would sense Layla's genuine gratitude and likely appreciate her heartwarming sincerity.
However, Ixia couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The questions that had been nagging her all day resurfaced, and amidst her confused thoughts, Ixia casually blurted out.
"Why didn't you cry?"
Layla was caught off guard by this unexpected question and retorted with a hint of annoyance, "Come on, it's not that painful. Why do you think I'm the crying type? You shouldn't judge a book by its cover!"
"I meant earlier today. I've never seen someone stay so composed after hearing about their parents' deaths." Ixia clarified.
"It's not as bad as it sounds. I sort of guessed my parents were gone a long time ago... It's just that everyone kept it from me to spare my feelings."
"For sixteen years?!" Ixia exclaimed, "Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"
Layla pouted a little and didn't respond.
"I noticed those messages on the photos calling you 'Little Shining Star'."
Layla chuckled shyly, "Hehe, yeah... Everyone used to call me that. I guess it's because I've always been the nice and sweet one, you know?"
"True. You seem like the life of the party, always lighting up the room... I get why everyone sees you that way and adores you. My mom was a bit like that too." Ixia's expression turned serious. "When we look up at the stars in the night sky, we feel comforted, and happy."
"But, those who admire the stars rarely think about what the stars see. Everything else is so distant, so far away from them. They can only see an infinite darkness, alone..."
Hardly anyone had spoken to Layla like that before, and it felt as if Ixia had broken through Layla's usual cheerful exterior, diving straight into her heart and seeing the world through her eyes.
Layla's fingers intertwined, subtly lowering her head in an attempt to hide her emotions. "It's not as bad as you're making out."
As she said this, her gaze met Ixia's, who was staring at her. Ixia tenderly cupped Layla's face, preventing her from turning away again.
"I can picture it, Layla," Ixia said sincerely. "The people in Eruditio must really care about you, whether it's out of kindness, compassion, or just the way folks in this super friendly city do things. And you've returned their care with your forever cheerful, sunny persona, haven't you?"
Layla blushed a bit. "Well, yeah... Everyone here has been really nice to me, especially my grandpa. He might not look like the caring type, but he's actually pretty good at it."
"Well, that's great, but..."
"I knew there was a 'but' coming..." Layla pouted.
"Exactly!" Ixia continued, striking a lecturing pose. "You people in Eruditio are way too soft! Especially Lolita... And you too, Layla. Maybe they've looked after you, but you shouldn't feel like you owe them anything. You can bring sunshine to their lives, but nobody can expect you to be like that all the time. You're a person too, and you have every right to show your emotions."
"But... I... That..."
"It would make you feel uncomfortable, right?"
Layla nodded.
"When you catch yourself feeling down and you notice those concerned looks on people's faces, it makes you feel uncomfortable. You know they're really kind to you, and you don't want to put your burdens on them. That's why you hide your true feelings, am I right?"
Layla nodded again.
"When you were a kid, you must've had questions about your parents and asked around, right? But it seemed like people didn't know how to handle it, which made you feel uncomfortable, so you stopped asking. No matter how curious you were, you just let go of those questions, didn't you?"
Layla still simply nodded.
"But there are moments when you do feel sad, and perhaps there are times you yearn to be more like yourself and uncover your parents' fate, am I correct?"
Layla remained silent.
Ixia let out a sigh. "You know, constantly setting aside your own feelings and prioritizing others' needs is what scholars refer to as being a people-pleaser. It's like an open invitation for others to take advantage of you."
"And those emotions you've been bottling up won't just vanish into thin air. They'll find a way to resurface, and maybe they'll take the form of bold but self-destructive acts."
"Being the bait is a risky proposition. I just hope you can think it through properly, emotions aside."
With that, Ixia got up and walked into the kitchen.
"You haven't eaten anything today. You only got food for me and Diggie earlier when we were on the shopping street. So let me whip something up for you."
"But..."
"No 'buts'. You seem like the type who usually just grabs a quick meal for work and doesn't want others to fuss over you. But I'm different. I didn't grow up looking after you, and I don't see it as some kind of debt. So, you don't need to feel like you owe me anything."
"Besides, you'd prefer not to have me hovering around right now, right?"
With that, Ixia started rummaging through the ingredients.
With no one watching, Layla's emotions welled up inside her. She quietly hugged her legs, burying her face between her arms.
"Is it really okay if I just, you know, let it go?"
"No one should force you to do things or make decisions for you. You do you, Layla."
"Thanks..."
Layla sniffled softly.
"I really, really miss my mom and dad. I want to know who they were, what they were like, and why they left."
"Yeah..."
"And... I'm not always in the mood to smile. I get tired too, and have moments when I feel down."
"Of course."
"Sometimes, I just wish I could talk to someone about my worries, my fears, my... everything."
"And it's perfectly fine to do that," Ixia said, pausing for a moment. "We're not like, blood-related or anything, but you can always come to me to talk about whatever's on your mind. And I don't just mean tonight, but anytime, ya hear? Everyone needs someone like that, and I'm happy to be that friend for ya."
"Thanks, Ixia." Layla smiled, her face radiating with genuine warmth. "I'm really glad to have met you. Your MY shining star."
"Me? I'll leave the shining part to others," Ixia chuckled. "But I'll definitely be there for you. When you're feeling down, just think of me as that glimmer in the darkness, there to keep you company."
Chapter 14: Before the Dawn[]
The next day, before the sun even had the will to rise, the Eruditio Rangers gathered in the meeting room. It was here where Layla, looking like the cat that ate the canary, dropped a bombshell.
"Ixia's on board with me now! I've got the votes evenly split down the middle!"
Lolita, who had clearly been burning the midnight oil, could not mask the confusion in her voice, "Ixia, weren't you the first one against this whole plan yesterday? What made you change your tune overnight?"
"Well... she promised to do a photo shoot for me in exchange for my cooperation." Ixia then got serious and continued, "All jokes aside, deep down, we all know Layla's our best shot. Given her parents' situation, this seemingly 'spur of the moment' decision to snag the Infinite Gateway data and get a lead on her family is the most feasible option."
Layla chimed in, "Plus, I've been playing hide and seek with my grandpa in these streets since I was little. Once the Chosen Order takes the bait, I'll be able to sneak away undetected."
Unconvinced, Lolita shook her head adamantly. "Uh-uh. Since Bruno's absent, I'm the boss, and I refuse to sign off on such a risky plan, especially when not everyone's on board with it."
"Well, I'm throwing my chips in with Layla, so we're at three to one now." Kimmy chipped in, stretching her hand in the air.
"Excuse me?!" Lolita shot Kimmy a look of disbelief and irritation.
Kimmy shrugged as she began to explain herself, "Don't get your pants in a twist. Just hear me out. We've known Layla for ages, and when she's set her mind to something, it's like trying to stop a train without brakes. Even if we axe the plan, she'd just find a way to steamroll ahead on her own. So, why not just back her up?"
Kimmy then quipped, "Consider this payback for you pulling another graveyard shift last night. I woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water, and saw you toiling away."
Lolita couldn't argue with that logic and reluctantly gave in, "I knew it would come to this... Alright, at least promise me this — Layla's safety is our top priority during the operation. Also, our interrogation team is working double time to pump the Chosen Order captives for info. If the canaries start to sing, we pull the plug on this bait operation. Deal?"
Kimmy and Ixia were all in, while Layla was nodding so vigorously that her ponytails began to twirl.
Despite Layla's apparent enthusiasm, however, Lolita couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of unease.
The team quickly got down to business.
Inside the dressing room, Ixia was adjusting the straps on Layla's protective gear, cinching them so tight that Layla found it difficult to breathe as she sucked in her gut.
Layla protested, "Seriously, Ixia, it's not going anywhere."
Ixia, yanking the straps even harder, retorted, "The more snug the better. It'll add an extra layer of protection."
"Any more layers and I'm gonna look like a walking marshmallow."
Ixia ignored her protest and continued to tighten the straps.
"Enough griping. Go over the plan once more with me."
"I'll be following Diggie's clues, pretending I'm on the hunt for any Infinite Gateway leads. Lolita's on lookout duty. Once the Chosen Order decide to show themselves, I'll dart off and head for the outskirts, leading them to the old Infinite Gateway test site where Kimmy's squad will be waiting. Safety above all else, and this data bag's my BFF. If I lose this, Diggie will be in trouble."
Ixia continued to squeeze Layla into a second layer of protective gear, "Sounds air-tight to me. We're all on the same page with all that, but now, I want to ask something of you as a payback for the dinner."
"Yesterday you said I didn't owe you anything! But hey, I'm a reasonable person. Lay it on me."
"First, no matter what goes down, don't you dare switch off your communicator. I'll be around, ready to swoop in whenever you need me. If you disappear from my radar, I'll buzz in your ear, and you'd better pump the brakes when I do."
"Won't that slow us down?" Noticing Ixia's glare, Layla abruptly changed her statement, "Alright, alright, I promise."
"Good. Second thing: if the Chosen Order gets too close, ditch the data bag and leg it."
"If I do that, Diggie will never let me hear the end of it. Look, I'm sure Lolita will take care of everything." Layla glanced at Ixia's sullen expression and softened, "Okay, okay, I promise."
Ixia nodded in approval, helping Layla slip into her outerwear.
"You know, I'm starting to think that you might be bad news for me. The first day we met, you moved into my place, and the next day, you pushed me to break with the plan. I almost don't want to think about what might happen tomorrow. You might turn me into a Sand Hunter before we're through."
"What you're doing right now is far riskier than being a Sand Hunter. We're not usually into taking gambles like this, especially when it involves exposing ourselves to the enemy."
"With you around, I could probably jump off a cliff and you'd swoop in to save the day."
Ixia chose to stay silent. She took pride in her Sand Hunter attitude, and for now, it felt like the right approach. Still, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder: Did all Eruditio Rangers have such blind faith in their crew? They were an intriguing bunch, that much was for certain. If she didn't have her own plans, she'd almost be tempted to join them on an adventure.
As the sun began to peek over the horizon in Eruditio, the desert winds gently brushed over the still-sleeping city, replacing the previous night's chill with a comforting warmth. Ixia had already discreetly taken her position on a nearby rooftop, and was all geared up and ready for action. Half an hour prior, a "flustered" Layla had left with the data bag. Ten minutes after that, word of her "stealing" the Infinite Gateway data was spreading like wildfire through both official and underground channels.
Layla sauntered about as if she was on a leisurely Sunday outing, and seemed to derive genuine pleasure from retracing her parents' steps. Ixia, on the other hand, was on high alert, eyeing up anything that looked even remotely suspicious. She subconsciously muttered to herself.
"If this is an act, Layla, you're giving the performance of a lifetime. If it's not, you're either incredibly brave, or incredibly reckless."
Before long, a few shadowy figures appeared and began to creep closer, but Ixia already had them in her sights. Her hand hovered just above her Arclight Launcher, but she held back and decided to stick to the plan. Ensuring Layla's safety was her sole responsibility; capturing the Chosen Order fell to the rest of the team.
However, with no sign of Lolita's crew, Ixia's anxiety levels started to skyrocket, especially when she noticed one of the Chosen Order lurking in the shadows tinkering with what appeared to be an explosive device. "They're using a bomb for a data heist, and smack-dab in the middle of the city? These so-called scholars are dumber than I imagined."
Ixia quickly switched her communicator to the emergency channel and radioed Lolita, "Lolita, where's your team?"
"We're tailing the Chosen Order who just appeared near Layla. They're heading towards the city center," Lolita replied, sounding audibly perplexed.
Ixia connected the dots instantly. These wily scholars were attempting to lure them away from Layla.
Just as Ixia pieced everything together, a series of explosions set off in all different directions, turning the communication channels into a garbled and chaotic mess. It was just as she suspected — the Chosen Order was deliberately spreading the Eruditio Rangers thin, and there were more of them than they had expected.
Layla had to abandon the operation pronto. She was walking straight into a trap!
But when Ixia looked down the street, both Layla and the Chosen Order had vanished, and the communicator screen showed her as being offline.
A chaotic mix of emotions swirled through Ixia's head, impairing her ability to think straight. Not wanting to waste a single moment, she activated her Arclight Launcher and leaped off the rooftop, bolting toward the darkness.
Chapter 15: Showdown At Dusk[]
Lolita's authoritative tone rang out on the radio and gradually began to take hold. The previously unbridled chaos was starting to settle down. The Eruditio Rangers were slowly regaining control of the situation.
But none of that concerned Ixia. Her mind was a whirlwind, and for a few moments, she began to question herself. Only a day ago, her sole purpose in coming to Eruditio had been to kidnap Dr. Rooney and make a name for herself, and now here she was, a million miles away from her original goal.
Yet, she brushed it all aside. Screw the plan, screw Dr. Rooney! She was a Sand Hunter, and she'll do as she pleases. Right now, she had to save Layla. There was no need to overthink it.
What had happened to Layla? Where could she be?
Ixia was itching to "persuade" a few Chosen Order members into talking, but strangely she had not seen a single enemy. With every passing second, her urgency intensified, and a look of intense determination ran over her features.
Her anger and impatience reached a boiling point. She stopped in her tracks, took a moment to think, then sprinted off in a specific direction.
Ixia stormed into the Eruditio Rangers' holding cells, putting the guards on edge.
"You're new here, aren't you? What do you want?"
"Where are the smugglers we brought in yesterday?"
"I haven't received any interrogation requests, so I can't tell you."
Ordinarily, Ixia might have used her powers of persuasion to sway the guard, but there was no time for tact. She opted for a more physical approach.
The ranger only had a split-second to process the fist hurtling toward him before he was knocked out cold.
Ixia dragged the unconscious ranger along and began searching the holding cells one by one. It didn't take her long to spot a familiar face. She seized the ranger's wrist and placed it against the biometric reader to open the cell.
As soon as Ixia stepped inside, the leader of the smugglers, who was huddled in a corner of the cell, knew he was in for a rough ride. He had prepared himself mentally and sworn to himself that he would readily answer any of Ixia's questions without delay.
Ixia cut straight to the chase.
"Where's your emergency stash? Hand it over."
The leader stood dumbfounded, and barely managed to stammer, "Y-You don't need to do this... Even in our business, there's a line that you shouldn't cross. And you're an Eruditio Ranger—"
Ixia delivered a swift kick to the wall behind him. The resounding thud served as a clear and menacing message: She had no desire to be lectured to.
The emergency stash was a shady practice among the criminal lowlifes of Los Pecados. In this place, putting your trust in someone's integrity was considered the pinnacle of foolishness. As a result, everyone collected information on their partners' weak points, be it their private residences, secretive contacts, personal details about their family members, or other means of tracking them down. Collectively, this information was referred to as an "emergency stash."
Using one's emergency stash was a last resort, and swiping someone else's stash was considered a despicable act which was beyond the pale. In committing this act, Ixia would be instantaneously declaring herself the enemy of all of Los Pecados and, for that matter, the Sand Hunters. Her reputation would be effectively ruined. The head of the smuggler's hesitation stemmed from an all-too-clear understanding of these consequences, and he wondered if Ixia truly understood the ramifications of what she was doing.
Of course, the person whose stash was pilfered would be labeled an easy mark, and their reputation would also be left in tatters. But right now, no one cared about that.
The sharp and resonant sound of Ixia loading her weapon chased away any of the man's lingering doubts.
Shortly after, Ixia found herself in the residential district. The apprentice working in the blacksmith shop up ahead was a close friend of one of the Chosen Order and seemed barely of age. Kidnapping him would undoubtedly draw out the Chosen Order, but making a move against an unarmed individual might be going too far, even for her.
Ixia was angry, but she hadn't lost her cool. She made her way toward her destination without any trace of hesitation or trepidation.
The sound of approaching footsteps and labored breathing caused Ixia to falter. Nolan, the traveling scholar she had crossed paths with before, was stumbling towards her, seemingly caught up in yet another sticky situation. He reached out to Ixia to steady himself.
"It's you! You're the one who was with Layla. Thank goodness... "
"I have no time for this."
"I just saw Layla!" This got Ixia's attention, and she locked her gaze on Nolan. The latter, who was still catching his breath, rapidly took in several gulps of air and frantically spat out the rest of his sentence, "She's over there. She was being chased by a group of people dressed like scholars."
Nolan pointed towards the old Infinite Gateway test site, which had been the original destination for this operation.
"...How do you know all this?" Ixia inquired. She had no time to waste on intel that could potentially send her on a wild goose chase.
"That's not important... That girl doesn't have much time left," Nolan replied, his expression implying, "After the streak of bad luck I've had, why would I lie to you?"
Ixia didn't pester Nolan for more info and commandeered a nearby Starlium-powered scooter.
Nolan's figure disappeared into the dust, mumbling almost inaudibly, "Please protect her..."
The Infinite Gateway test site had seen better days; after several alternative cycles of being abandoned, renovated, and forgotten again, it was now nearly deserted. This was both a comfort and a concern for Layla. On the upside, there were no civilians around, which meant she wouldn't have to pull any punches when the time came. The downside was the plain layout of the place which made it challenging to find proper cover. Hardly ideal for someone whose main forte is sharpshooting.
Layla moved through the area, trying to create some distance between herself and the threat. Still, the unconventional weapons used by the Chosen Order made things complicated, along with their fanatical cheers that messed with her head.
"Ignorant brat! Hand over the Infinite Gateway data!"
Layla took cover behind a crumbling wall, listening carefully in order to pinpoint their positions. She fired back resolutely, "So long as I can still fight, I'll never give in!"
The Chosen Order members, obviously lacking sufficient combat experience, did not take Layla's threat to heart. One replied in a panic, "Do you really think you can stand up to the Chosen Order? We stand at the pinnacle of science! You're in over your head!"
His outburst inadvertently revealed his location, making him an easy target for Layla. She took the shot, promptly silencing him. The others quickly stopped talking, afraid to make a sound.
A surreal silence descended over the battlefield. Meanwhile, a few clever Chosen Order members had quietly advanced behind Layla and trained their weapons at her back.
Swish—
A bullet with a radiant Starlium aura streaked through the air, aimed directly at Layla's back.
But just as the bullet was about to hit Layla, it suddenly swerved and struck a Chosen Order member who was peaking from cover.
Noticing the bullet's change of course, Layla turned to see Ixia racing towards them on her scooter. Ixia was firing both launchers and knocked over a scaffold leaning against a partly crumbled wall to create a makeshift ramp. She floored the gas pedal, sending the vehicle hurling up the ramp and into the air. Mid-flight, Ixia leaped from the vehicle, bound it with a metal chain hanging from the scaffold, and swung it towards a nearby rooftop on the second floor.
Accompanied by scattered cries of pain, the vehicle crashed into the Chosen Order members who were hiding on the rooftop, taking them out instantly.
Upon seeing Ixia's daredevil act, Layla's face immediately brightened. However, before she could extend a warm welcome, Ixia took the data bag and tossed it into the air with a flinty expression.
A few of the Chosen Order lost their patience upon seeing the data bag soar through the air. They leaped up from behind their cover, and were promptly disposed by Ixia.
Ixia then effortlessly snatched the data bag back out of the air.
The entire scene had all but lasted a few seconds. If it weren't for the fact they were in the middle of a firefight, Layla would have spontaneously burst into applause.
"Right on time, Ixia! I think that was the coolest thing I've ever seen!"
Ixia's expression remained stern, not buying into Layla's compliment. The latter tried to reach for the data bag, but Ixia withdrew it from her grasp.
"Did we not have an agreement? If things got dicey, you were supposed to ditch the data bag. Why didn't you toss it back there?"
"Well... It wasn't that dangerous at the time. Things hadn't gotten that desperate yet," Layla averred, sensing that Ixia was genuinely incensed.
Ixia's arrival had turned the tables, and the rest of the fight became a cakewalk.
An hour later, the defeated Chosen Order members were heaped into a massive pile.
Seeing that Ixia's demeanor had softened a bit, Layla decided to speak up. "Did our plan work?"
"Without a hitch. Lolita already rounded up the rest, so we can call it a day. If you hadn't muted your comms, you would have known this already," While she clearly wasn't in the mood for flattery, Ixia had eased up somewhat.
One of the Chosen Order who had been overpowered by Ixia remained defiant. "Our beliefs are the true essence of science! You're holding back human progress!"
"Manufacturing disasters and sacrificing others for personal gain could never be considered a genuine scientific pursuit." Layla responded earnestly.
Ixia rolled her eyes dismissively. "It's pointless arguing with these brainwashed fools. Focus on yourself. And from now on, you're not allowed to mute your communicator."
"I was worried that all the chatter would mess up my focus during a fight. These people are scholars, and if I'm not on point, they could get needlessly hurt."
This revelation caught Ixia by surprise, and left her with an odd feeling. It was a wake-up call she hadn't seen coming. However, she chose to push it aside and keep moving forward, just like the Agelta's relentless sands.
Today, however, Ixia's repeated boundary-pushing actions would remain within her like a lingering shadow lurking in the sands.
The wind and sand never cast a backward glance.
Chapter 16: Midnight Departure[]
In the familiar meeting room, the core members of the Eruditio Rangers awaited news from the interrogation team. Lolita meticulously checked the Chosen Order's roster and organized the follow-up assignments while Layla was buried in a report, scratching her head every now and then. Kimmy and Ixia, on the other hand, appeared rather bored, sitting there tending to their weapons.
Suddenly, a ranger rushed into the room with a stack of interrogation records for Lolita.
Everyone dropped what they were doing, eyes glued to Lolita as she flipped through the pages. After several minutes, she set the files down and let out a sigh.
"So, the interrogation is done, and the results are a mixed bag," Lolita started, trying to sound optimistic. "The good news is, we've pretty much cut the Chosen Order off at the knees. Eighty percent of their members are sitting in our holding cells, and the ones we haven't arrested are just small fry so they won't be able to stir up any trouble."
"What about Rooney's location?" Ixia, with a sense of foreboding, cut to her most pressing concern.
"That's the bad news," Lolita said without hesitation. "None of these Chosen Order members have a clue about Dr. Rooney's whereabouts."
Ixia surged with anger, "How can no one know?! Some of them must be lying! I'll go interrogate them myself!"
"Calm down, Ixia. Storming in like that will only freak out our colleagues," Layla said, stepping in and holding Ixia back. "Have a little faith in our team's expertise. They'll do a thorough job."
"This is a complex situation." After Layla talked some sense into Ixia, Lolita added, "The Chosen Order had this grand plan to kidnap Dr. Rooney, and hired a bunch of so-called pros for the job, the Desert Stingers. They're Sand Hunters so Ixia might know about them."
Ixia recognized the name and nodded. The Desert Stingers had a nasty reputation even among Sand Hunters.
"All was going according to their plan until the final delivery hit a snag. The Desert Stingers turned cloak, suddenly demanding more cash. And not just a little bit. We're talking a price tag the Chosen Order couldn't even cough up," Lolita explained.
"How...? I mean, what kind of crazy numbers are we talking about here? Even after all their years of smuggling Starlium, the Chosen Order still couldn't foot the bill?" Layla questioned with a puzzled expression.
"No," Ixia said, shaking her head. "We need to look at this from their perspective. If they're confident enough to make that kind of demand, there's only one explanation. Someone else is willing to drop an even fatter stack of cash. Somewhere in the shadows, there's a third party richer than the Chosen Order, and they bought Rooney instead."
"Sold out for a better offer... Sand Hunters... What scumbags!" Layla yelled, frustrated about the sudden twist.
Ixia frowned but remained composed. "Our top priority right now is to figure out who this mystery third party is and what the hell they're up to."
Ixia had a point. Some illusive third party had played the Eruditio Rangers and the Chosen Order like a fiddle while flaunting some serious cash. Yet, the Eruditio Rangers had no idea this big shot existed until now. Lolita and Layla, two experienced Rangers, quickly skimmed through the records. To their dismay, there was no suspicious information that pointed to a mysterious third party.
Even the most intricate and complex cases had some breadcrumbs to follow, but there they were, standing there without any leads in a room that was getting moodier by the minute.
Ixia paced around restlessly, seemingly oblivious that her footsteps were making everyone even more tense. Either she was too focused to realize the effect she was having or she just didn't care. Either way, the desert sandstorms had toughened her into the way she was.
"Nolan, that weird scholar," Ixia bluntly voiced her suspicion, "We need to bring him in for questioning. Isn't it fishy that whenever something happens in this operation, he's always lurking nearby? To pull strings from the shadows, one would have to keep tabs on our movements. He fits the bill perfectly. Even if he's not the puppet master, he's definitely connected to this matter."
Silence hung in the air.
"Why's everyone so quiet? You all want to save Rooney, don't you?" Ixia asked.
Kimmy, as a straight-shooting military girl, piped up first, "Evidence, rookie. We can't just seize someone for information without probable cause. That's not the Eruditio Rangers' way. That's how terrorists operate."
"We have probable cause, and desperate times call for desperate measures," Ixia insisted. "This guy has been shifty from the start. Unless we interrogate him, we'll never find out what he's up to. We can't wait for him to slip away while Rooney's life hangs in the balance."
"I understand what you're saying, but we still have to abide by the law. Procedural justice matters," Kimmy replied. "Remember that we are the Eruditio Rangers. Leave the Sand Hunter way of thinking at the door."
"Hmph, that's just an excuse to shirk your responsibility! All this talk about justice is just an excuse for your inaction," Ixia retorted, shutting down the argument and turning to Layla. "You in or out?"
Layla kept her head down, avoiding Ixia's gaze.
"Fine, I'll do it myself. You guys can wait here," Ixia said as she grabbed her weapon and prepared to leave.
Layla blocked her path and finally met her eyes. From her gaze, Ixia read a mixture of helplessness and guilt, but more than anything, hesitation.
This was not the first time that Ixia had seen that look. To her, hesitation was as good as betrayal.
Every time she saw it, the look left her heart colder and colder, sending her emotions to rock bottom.
The reason for Layla's uneasiness was revealed when she stood up and accidentally dropped a file she was holding. On it was all of the infractions Ixia had made that day, with glaring labels like "Person of Interest", "Maintain Surveillance", and "Sand Hunter".
Despite the life-and-death situations they had shared, in the eyes of the other Eruditio Rangers, Ixia was still just an outsider, and perhaps even less trustworthy than Nolan.
"So, you'd rather trust some fishy scholar because of his status," Ixia's tone turned cold. "While I, who teamed up with you to find Dr. Rooney, supported you, and broke through half the city's siege for you still can't be trusted because I'm a Sand Hunter?"
"It's not like that, Ixia. Please don't overthink it," Layla grabbed Ixia's arm. "I know you've got a bad history with scholars, maybe that's why..."
"I don't know what stories you've dug up from my past, but that's my business," Ixia's gaze turned even colder. "I get it now."
With that, Ixia ripped off the temporary Ranger badge hanging on her weapon and tossed it back to Layla before stepping out and disappearing into the night.
Chapter 17: Under the Starless Night[]
In the harsh climate of the Agelta Drylands, where the Eschackan people traverse sandstorms like a stroll in the park, the one thing that even the natives can't live without is the stars. Without the stars' guidance, the vast desert would become an endless, open labyrinth where none could escape. But in this arid expanse, the usual absence of clouds meant starless nights were a rare spectacle that some might not even witness in their lifetime.
Sixteen years ago, on one of these starless nights, the then-boss of Bad Soul was stranded in the desert, and she was pregnant. In the pitch darkness where she could barely see her own hand, her predicament escalated further. It seemed the unborn child was being urged by the desert's scorching winds to see the world. However, the mother could sense that this was going to be a complicated childbirth. She knew she had to get back home or suffer a miscarriage, risking both lives to the desert's wrath.
This formidable woman, after arduously trekking through the dunes for days, eventually found herself almost out of supplies and barely holding on to her sanity. But when the situation seemed all but hopeless, a single, fervently burning star pierced the velvet night, illuminating a path before her. Guided by this beacon, she managed to find her way home and give birth to a baby girl.
When she recounted this miraculous experience to her clan, she learned that no one else had seen that star on that particular night. Perhaps it was a miracle exclusive to her and her baby, or perhaps it was merely a hallucination born out of desperation.
Besides the story, the newborn also became a subject of intrigue. According to local superstition, children born on starless nights harbored destinies uncharted by the stars. Even the most adept astrologists could not peer into the child's future, which was destined to be laden with unforeseen twists and perils.
When someone actually shared this with the boss, her response echoed with hearty laughter, "Are you suggesting my daughter's destiny lies entirely within her own grasp? That's my girl!"
Henceforth, the boss named her daughter Ixia, which came from a common wildflower in the Agelta Drylands. The Ixia flower, with its diverse forms, symbolized infinite possibilities. It was the perfect embodiment of the boss' aspirations for her daughter.
Ixia's journey unfolded in line with her mother's hopes. She defied Eschackan norms, shattered stereotypes, and even challenged the conventional ways of the Sand Hunters. Every aspect of her being stood out like a flower in the desert.
From the moment she was born, Ixia regarded the world with unbridled curiosity. To her, every grain of sand held a distinctive quality, each plant was a finely tuned mechanism interwoven with the desert, and every creature that traversed the sands was a component of a sophisticated system. Through observing, emulating, creating, and refining, by the age of six, she could already adeptly repair and even fabricate basic firearms. Her clan viewed Ixia as someone with boundless potential. As she matured, people anticipated that she would forge potent weapons and cement the Bad Soul's dominion over the desert.
However, Ixia had little interest in those things. She yearned for something more radical, more creatively conceived. Perhaps she would create a firearm capable of bending bullets around corners. Or invent a drink that left one thirstier?
Her inventions, while unconventional, were both ingenious and confounding. However, most were of little use to the Sand Hunter way of life, deemed either too advanced or, as Seven put it, "good for nothing."
Ixia paid little heed to external judgments and instead faced the challenge of propelling her inventions to even greater heights.
A pivotal moment arrived when, at the age of seven, Ixia went along on her first heist. The target was a convoy comprising Eruditio scholars and civilian settlers. Despite her age, Ixia's wealth of experience in maintaining equipment made her a skillful operator on the job. Always appearing where she was most needed, the novice caused no trouble and, instead, made great contributions to the heist.
The seasoned Sand Hunters could not hide their contentment. The girl had regained her prodigious status and demonstrated an unparalleled talent for heists. The future of Bad Soul looked brighter than ever.
However, their joy was short-lived. After the dust settled, Ixia's attention was drawn to an Eruditio girl clutching a book almost half her size. This book became the first of many prized spoils in Ixia's career.
Afterward, Ixia quickly developed a "vice" for reading. The older Sand Hunters lamented this as if their future wealth had been stolen by the pages of books.
The book itself was a children's encyclopedia. A gateway that opened Ixia's eyes to a world beyond the desert's horizon. The mountains and rivers of the Cadia Riverlands, the opulence of the Moniyan Empire, the enigmatic Azrya Woodlands, and the perpetually frozen Northern Vale. "What does snow feel like?" She wondered to herself.
In these places she had never seen, people, like Ixia, drew inspiration from nature and invented all sorts of ingenious technologies. This was what Ixia aspired to, and for the first time in her life, she yearned for what was out there.
In the following years, Ixia became Bad Soul's ace. But she cared little for gold or silver and only showed an interest in literary prizes.
The more she read, the stronger her yearning for the world beyond. It was during this period that she learned of Eruditio for the first time, the City of Scholars where people passionate about knowledge were treasured. Ixia planned to someday travel to Eruditio, where her inventions would surely be appreciated. That was the life she wanted.
Although the senior Sand Hunters tried to dissuade her, claiming it was not the Sand Hunter's way, Ixia had already made up her mind. She made her way to the city right before the Festival of Enlightenment to present her creations, but hesitated when she reached its gates. Instead, she intercepted a few hurried scholars outside and modestly but passionately presented her first and most cherished invention — the Arclight Launcher.
"Huh? An arc-what?" The lead "scholar" said with contempt, not even bothering to examine the weapon before pouring cold water all over Ixia's enthusiasm. "This cheap-looking abomination? Look, we don't have time to look at junk. You sand rats should stay in your desert and leave the science to use scholars."
"But..." Ixia struggled to explain the design philosophy of the Arclight Launcher, stumbling over her words out of nervousness. To this day, she could not recall what she stammered back then.
All she remembered was the end of that memory. The so-called "scholar" threw her Arclight Launcher to the ground, shattering it into pieces along with her pride.
However, what Ixia did not know was that these scholars had been ousted from Eruditio due to academic misconduct and were in fact the exact opposite of the city's ideals.
But like her clouded destiny, this incident was another twist that dramatically influenced her view of Eruditio.
Now, Ixia found herself in Eruditio during another Festival of Enlightenment, resentfully walking the streets with this memory hounding her.
The night was full of stars, yet she felt like she was walking through a starless night of despair.
Part 5: Grit and Stars[]
Chapter 18: Blow Away the Grit[]
Ixia's mother once told her firmly, "Those so-called scholars don't know squat. Who says a Sand Hunter can't be an inventor? Just look at me, I made something amazing! Sure, it acts up sometimes and causes a lot of trouble, but it's got the potential to be anything... my little Ixia!"
Ixia always took her mother's words to heart, and thanks to them she was able to brush off her setbacks and focus on the present.
Soon after, she took over Bad Soul from her mother and became the youngest boss on the Emerald Road. Ixia was nothing like the other Sand Hunter bosses. Even after she took over, she continued working on her quirky inventions. As she grew up, her creations became even more intimidating. Some were used to improve people's lives while others caused untold mayhem.
"If there's one thing Sand Hunters are good at, it's being free! We can do anything, be anyone. This desert offered nothing, but Bad Soul made it thrive!" Ixia declared, pumping up her audience. "Who says Sand Hunters can't be scholars? And who says scholars can't be Sand Hunters?"
Thanks to Ixia's progressive ideas, Bad Soul stood out among all the other tribes and became the most feared group on the Emerald Road.
But over the past few years, Eruditio's Desert Renovation Plan had made things increasingly difficult for them. The Eruditio Rangers provided defensive equipment to caravans free of charge, making them too formidable for many weaker tribes to target.
Meanwhile, scholars who knew the desert and Eschackans sent by Eruditio rapidly improved the existing settlements. New water excavation facilities popped up all over Emerald Road, solving the water supply issue by tapping into natural underground reserves. Gradually, tribal conflicts faded and people exchanged their weapons for plows. As the desert lost its edge, so did the Sand Hunters' way of life.
Even for small-time Sand Hunters, the Eruditio Rangers threw them a bone. They were hired by Eruditio as desert guides and hunters to cull dangerous beasts along travel routes.
With this, the Sand Hunters' numbers dwindled, and Bad Soul, once the most powerful tribe, was now barely making ends meet. Even the blind could see it was time for Bad Soul to take a different route.
Despite the tribe members being grateful to Ixia, whom they considered family, they began leaving one after another out of desperation. As they departed, Ixia saw mixed expressions on their faces — sometimes frustration, sometimes guilt, but often a lack of faith that she could lead them to a better life.
But no matter how much these looks hurt her, Ixia could never accept Eruditio's help.
Slowly, Bad Soul's crew shrank to just a handful of members; those who had been with Ixia since she was a child. Knowing her grudge against Eruditio, they always avoided the topic and simply stuck by her, pretending nothing had changed.
But Ixia knew Eruditio's offer was like the blessing of rain to the parched desert. As a Sand Hunter boss, she could not accept charity, especially not from Eruditio. That day outside those gates still gets under her skin every time.
"To hell with Eruditio! It's time we made a move!"
That's when the plan to kidnap Dr. Rooney and make Bad Soul infamous again came to fruition.
Sitting on the steps to the cemetery, Ixia chuckled to herself as she thought about the past. "Kidnapping Dr. Rooney... Oh yeah, what a great idea!" As if the idea wasn't ridiculous enough, even if she did catch Dr. Rooney, what would be the point? Eruditio and science had already won. The Sand Hunters were already ancient history.
Perhaps the real battle was not against Eruditio, but herself the whole time.
It was time to let go. For her comrades, for her passion, for... all the new friends she had made.
She sighed, getting ready to return and apologize for her earlier outburst.
But as she took a step forward, she stepped on a twig which triggered a memory. In this very cemetery, Ixia had run into Nolan as he fled from the Chosen Order. She remembered he had hastily explained, "I tried to escape through a narrow path, but I accidentally stepped on a twig..."
Ixia lifted her foot and picked up the twig. It was a soft branch from the shrubs nearby. Something like this would not make much of a sound, let alone alert anyone.
Looking around, the whole cemetery was littered with these shrubs.
Nolan lied!
Ixia took a deep breath. Her accusation against Nolan earlier was just her gut feeling, but now she was certain: Nolan definitely lied to them.
But why? Why did he lie? Was he the mystery third party all along?
Something crucial must have slipped through the cracks. What had she missed?
Ixia paced around, her brain in overdrive.
Then, she felt the shrubbery brush across something. It was the bag holding the Infinite Gateway data. In the heat of the battle, Ixia had taken it from Layla. While waiting nervously at the Eruditio Rangers' headquarters, she had completely forgotten to hand it back to her.
This had to be some kind of revelation, like the star her mother saw that night.
This involved Rooney, Layla, and their lives. There was no more time for distractions. Ixia opened the bag and started browsing through it under the Starlium street lamp.
Documents...
Mathematical algorithms...
Experiment schematics...
Facility data...
Ixia blitzed through it all, hunting for the answer that could connect all the dots.
Personnel files...
That's it! Ixia went down the list, from the project authorizer to Rooney, the former head of the Council of Scholars. All of the names were familiar. And as her finger slid over the project leads, a name jumped out at her...
Nolan Osborn, head of astrophysics and co-founder of the Infinite Gateway project. Parental information: Unknown. Married, with one daughter.
Following it was the data of a female scholar.
Lillian Osborn, theoretical astronomer and co-founder of the Infinite Gateway project. Mother: Deceased. Father: Thomas Grant. Married, with one daughter.
Osborn, Thomas, Layla, Lillian, Nolan, Grant. These names swirled like a whirlpool in Ixia's head.
Then it hit her. Nolan is Layla's father! The one that had been missing for sixteen years.
Chapter 19: The Stars Unveiled[]
he came to in complete darkness.
Where was she? What the hell happened? Or was she already dead, Ixia wondered.
Then as the throbbing headache kicked in, Ixia's memory came back to her.
The last thing she remembered was looking through the data in the cemetery. She had just realized the truth that Nolan was Layla's father. Just as she took a sharp breath, a subtle sigh came from behind her.
Ixia turned around, and there stood Nolan.
"I never intended things to go this far. If you got hurt, Layla would be heartbroken," Nolan said calmly. "But you're getting in too deep. Now, I hope you can believe me when I say I mean no harm. Everything I've done so far is to save this world; to protect Layla."
Nolan shed his disguise. His former timidness was nowhere to be found, and his aura changed completely from their first encounter.
He looked upright, like a father, and someone who had experienced unimaginable things.
At this moment, he appeared like a true scholar.
Oddly enough, with just those few words, Ixia was completely swayed. The sincerity emanating from the depths of his soul was undeniable.
"Whatever you're planning, I have only one piece of advice... Talk to Layla," Ixia responded.
"Thanks for the advice." Nolan's calm expression revealed no emotions. "But I can't do that."
All of a sudden, a swift blow landed on the back of Ixia's head, knocking her unconscious.
Behind her, stood a member of the Desert Stingers.
"This is an additional request. Once my work is done, you'll be handsomely rewarded," Nolan told the Sand Hunter. "Make sure no harm comes to her. You will only be paid once I've confirmed her well-being."
The Sand Hunter grinned, "Don't drag your feet. Our boys ain't cut out for this city business. They're itching to get back to the desert with the spoils."
"It's almost over," Nolan said, picking up and stowing away the bag Ixia had dropped. "The night is long, as is the journey home, but the end is finally near."
Hearing the sound of flowing water and engines roaring, Ixia gradually opened her eyes. She could hear chatter around her, blended into the background noise.
"Is she dead?" A voice with a thick Emerald Road accent asked. Ixia recognized it. It was a Sand Hunter. "We won't get paid if she's dead!"
"Quit panicking! She's still breathing. Make sure you give her another whack when she comes to. Not too hard, this time."
Ixia blinked into consciousness and found herself tied up in a corner amidst some thrumming Starlium engines. The sound of water around her suggested that she was in some kind of water facility.
There was only one of this scale in Eruditio. The Canal Dam north of the city.
"They've bought me quite a distance," Ixia thought to herself. "It's at least a two-hour trip from the cemetery."
Seeing Ixia wake up, the boss of the Desert Stingers approached her. Ixia could not help but laugh at the familiar face.
"To go through all this trouble just to capture me... Ha! Am I really that scary?" she taunted.
"Hahaha, the infamous Arclight Outlaw. Your mouth is almost as bad as your luck," the Desert Stingers's boss replied. "But don't get too full of yourself, sweetheart. Abducting you was just to tie up a loose end."
"Thanks for the compliment," Ixia chuckled. "Remember that showdown we had a few years ago? I chased you down to Los Pecados, and you were on your knees at the city gate, begging for mercy. The good old days, right?"
"Hmph, the only reason you're still alive is due to my benefactor. Without him butting in, you'd be fish food by now," the leader of the Desert Stingers grumbled. "Speaking of the past, remember how those Eruditio scholars 'praised' you and your great inventions? They called them useless junk, didn't they? Now you've become their lapdog. What a turn of events, HAHAHA!"
Ixia's face went cold and she stayed silent. It was not about losing the argument. She was well aware that Layla and the Rangers saw her as one of them. The Desert Stingers, like most stubborn Sand Hunters, could never understand. There was no point in wasting her breath.
One of the Desert Stingers approached them. "Boss, we're almost ready."
Ixia became alert. If kidnapping her was not their main goal, then what were they preparing for?
After further observing her surroundings, Ixia realized what the Desert Stingers' were up to. This was the power room of the Canal Dam. They had placed makeshift explosives all over the power reactor. If they blow that, it would cause a secondary explosion, leading to the dam's collapse.
Ixia cursed the Desert Stinger for their madness, "What the hell are you thinking?! Blowing up the dam will kill a ton of innocent people! We Sand Hunters have a code: plunder riches, not lives. Have you all forgotten?!"
"Ha, spare me the lecture. Our client said not to off you, but he didn't say I couldn't rough you up. Keep yapping and you'll be a squirming like sandworm by the time I'm done," the Desert Stingers boss remarked, dismissing Ixia's concerns. "All tied up, and you're worried about Eruditio? That's a laugh. Eruditio will bleed for messing with Kane's Starlium business. You didn't think there'd be no repercussions, did you?"
Hearing Kane's name, Ixia understood in an instant. It seemed that the Eruditio Rangers' crackdown on smuggling routes had truly infuriated Kane.
"I have to stop them!" This was Layla's beloved home, and Ixia felt compelled to protect it.
Ixia looked around and saw her Arclight Launcher tossed haphazardly against a wall. She had a plan.
"Hahaha!" Ixia suddenly burst into laughter.
"What the hell are you laughing at?!"
"You, obviously. So eager to impress your master. Kane probably let you handle the smuggling route and you couldn't handle it. So, you came up with this stunt to earn some brownie points, huh?" Ixia spoke with the utmost contempt. "Too bad, kneeling won't earn you any favor."
The Desert Stingers boss could no longer contain his rage. "Keep laughing..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot mongrels can't understand human jokes..."
The Desert Stingers boss exploded in range and kicked Ixia with all his might.
This was her chance. Ixia braced for impact and took the kick directly, which sent her flying into a wall.
"Screw the money! She's gonna die today and no one better get in my way!"
But Ixia, with blood running down the corner of her mouth, managed to crack a smile.
"You never learn, do you old man?" Ixia slowly stood up. "Last time, it was also that hot head of yours that led you into my ambush."
"*$%@#!" The leader of the Desert Stingers could only utter a desert curse before being taken out by a barrage of bullets from the Arclight Launcher.
The Sand Hunters dropped like flies under the hail of bullets. However, quite a few were still left standing.
Ixia's situation became more dire. The kick had broken some of her ribs, and she struggled just to stay upright from the recoil of her barrage.
It appears her journey was pulling into the last station. Ixia chuckled to herself. She was born on a starless night and would leave this world in this dark, forsaken place. Everything was coming full circle.
Yet, why was this intense regret welling up within her?
It was too late for "ifs" and "buts". If she had just talked more to her Bad Soul crew, or made amends with Layla, maybe this regret wouldn't weigh so heavily.
But it was too late.
It didn't matter anymore. At least, with this last hurrah, she would not just fade into the shadows. No, she will go out with a bang. She will make every bullet a one-way ticket to hell for these Desert Stingers. This will be her parting gift to Layla and Eruditio.
The first bullet was for her mother's hopes and wishes.
The next was to thank Seven and the crew who always stuck with her through thick and thin.
And the next for Hot Dawg, Ardent, and Rook Eei, even though she had not seen him in Eruditio yet. That kid had a lot of potential... shame she would not live to see it.
And the next in the name of the Eruditio Rangers! She had never gotten to know them that well, but their sincerity made her feel like part of the family during their short stint together.
And the last bullet was dedicated to Layla. For Eruditio's shining star, and her's as well.
With every bullet fired, an enemy dropped. Each shot propelled Ixia forward, but what was her destination? She didn't know. Isn't that just like an Eruditio Ranger?
After firing the last shot in the chamber, Ixia found herself outside the power room, teetering on the edge of the dam. Behind her was a 100-meter waterfall; before her, enemies were closing in. She had nowhere left to go.
The Desert Stingers boss, back on his feet, hobbled forward with the aid of his crew.
"You wanted revenge on Eruditio, yet you're about to throw your life away for them," he spat. "What a joke. If you get on your knees and beg, I might give you a quick death and keep everything that happened here a secret."
"Ha, save your breath. My tales will always find their way across the sands."
He loaded his gun. "In your next life, save everyone some trouble and just stay a desert rat. Now die!"
Ixia laughed as she leaped off the dam. Even in death, she would steer her own fate.
The wind brushed past her. She noticed all the stars in the clear night sky.
Such beauty. When was the last time she gazed at stars? Well, at least she could see them one last time.
The stars sparkled, yet they were not for her. Her time was up.
"Ixia!"
Her eyes snapped wide open.
Below, a boat raced towards her with Layla on the bow, arms outstretched, ready to save the day.
Thank goodness.
Tears welled up in Ixia's eyes before drifting into the air like a streak of stars as she descended.
It didn't matter who the stars in the sky were for. Her star was right there all along.
References[]
- ↑ <citeclass="citationwebcs1">"Thehugeconspiracyenshrouding...-MobileLegends:BangBang|Facebook".13October2023<spanclass="reference-accessdate">.Retrieved<spanclass="nowrap">25December2023.<spantitle="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+huge+conspiracy+enshrouding...+-+Mobile+Legends%3A+Bang+Bang+%26vert%3B+Facebook&rft.date=2023-10-13&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmobilelegendsgame%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0yoi5kfvootviG1TJg1C47gx68e2cGfJEYyAoH1exUd4VeEN1aiUPqPmTG9PC9Bnil&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fmobile-legends.fandom.com%3AOutlaw+%28story%29"class="Z3988">