"So, what do you think about this?" Aether asked, his eyes fixed on the array of gun components meticulously dismantled and arranged on the white table before them.
"Hmm... Itâs fascinating technology," Lyirrs muttered, her voice tinged with curiosity as she leaned in closer. "Look at the integrationânozzle, trigger, spring tension, the shaft assembly... every elementâs machined to a precision you donât see outside of royal workshops."
After Aether had procured the weapon from Rosavere, heâd wasted no time. He returned straight to Pyra and sought out Lyirrs.
She was the best mind for such puzzles... two heads were always better than one, right?
So, Lyirrs led Aether down to her private lab she had near the palace.
Together, theyâd worked slowly, carefully dismantling the artifact and laying out its components. Aether watched Lyirrsâ steady hands as she catalogued each part, both of them deep in silent analysis.
"I donât see any visible projectile objects," Lyirrs remarked, peering down the empty chamber and feeling along the smooth inner grooves. "Thereâs no magazine, no rounds, not even residue youâd expect from a powder-based mechanism. Yet, the presence of a nozzle and this secondary cannon port suggests an energy release system." She glanced at Aether.
Aether nodded, "Exactly. Even without ammunition, it worked. Almost blew a boulder in half back"
Lyirrs gave a soft hum, "So, youâre telling me it activated without bullets?" Her eyes flicked up, scanning his face for any sign of exaggeration. Aether nodded silently, turning the crystal core over in his palm. The weapon resembled a normal gun, but instead of a barrel, there was this... anomalous, glassy crystal, embedded at the heart of it.
"Do you have any idea what it is?" he asked.
A crystal like this.... semi-translucent, almost hollow, yet he could feel a faint hum of stored energy when he held it.
Lyirrs shook her head.
Aether nodded, sighing. As much as he wanted to take it apart further, he couldnât risk breaking itâthis was the only unit they had.
That weird crystal... Lyirrsâ family were good at their work with rare minerals. If anyone could coax out its secrets, it was her.
Thatâs why, despite his own engineering pride, he decided to defer to Lyirrsâthe professional. Sure, he was good, maybe even brilliant on a lucky day, but beside a true Master, he was still just a boy.
"Hmm... Wait a second." Lyirrs grabbed a slender brass probe, tipped with runic copper colour, from her toolkit. She brought it to both ends of the crystal, grounding herself, then touched the points with deliberate care. Instantly, a sharp spark flickered across the crystalâs core, a pulse of blue light dancing along the metal veins.
"Just as expected," Lyirrs murmured, glancing at Aether with a faint smile of satisfaction. "This unknown crystal is absolutely the charging module for the weapon. Now, as for the firing sequenceâif itâs capable of rapid discharge, we might be looking at a new class of artifact without needing for energies" She tapped the gun thoughtfully.
"Where did you get this?"
Aether managed a tight smile. "A friend of mine owed me a favour... But letâs focus. If you start the research, how long do you think before you can figure out what itâs truly capable of?"
Lyirrs tilted her head, mind already running calculations. "Given that this is the only original, and considering the sensitivity of the materials... Iâll need to be extremely careful. Maybe a month"
Aether shook his head. "Thatâs not good enough," he muttered as he made up his mind to take matters into his own hands. She was taking too long... he simply didnât have that kind of time. As he reached to gather the scattered parts, ready to take back everythingâ
"W-Wait!" Lyirrs blocked his hand, "I just said âmaybe,â right? I was considering all the variablesâthe Empireâs regulations, our ongoing investigations. If those werenât an issue, I might be able to figure it out in a week.
Aether hummed, a low, thoughtful sound, then nodded. "Well, then Iâll speak with Victor," he replied, a sly smile playing on his lips. He could already see Lyirrsâ eyes sparking with curiosity; sheâd never let another swoop in on a mystery like this.
He glanced at the gun one last time. He needed to brief the others about this find... but there was no way heâd let them probe into Rosavereâs company just yet. Not until he knew for certain who had given to her. Since he was the last one Rosavere had contacted, any rumour getting out would make her block all communicationâhe needed to hold everything back for now.
But to think... A weapon this dangerous, surfacing now of all times?
So damn messed up.
"Hmm... Are you alright?" Lyirrs asked suddenly.
Aether blinked, taken aback by her concern. For a moment, he wondered what she saw in his expression. Lyirrs pointed at his back, "You know that wound?" she asked quietly.
Aether raised his eyebrows, glancing over his shoulder. "Oh? Right... Yeah, Iâm fine," he replied, forcing a small, reassuring smile before letting it slip into a teasing smirk.
"What? Are you worried about me now?"
Lyirrsâs lips twitched. She almost regretted showing even a hint of care for him... especially when he looked so damn pleased with himself.
"Youâre as annoying as ever," she shot back, trying to regain her composure.
Aetherâs smirk widened. "Oh please, if anything, youâre the one always asking for it... Maybe youâve finally noticed my worth." He leaned in, voice lowering with arrogance.
"After all, Iâm more valuable than your so-called Dragon Emperor~"
Lyirrsâs expression turned murderous as she glared daggers at him. "Donât you dare say another word about my Dragon Emperor!"
Aether lifted an eyebrow, "Your? Oh? When did he become yours?" His grin turned wicked as he noticed Lyirrs flinch and her cheeks flush red. "I-I didnât mean it like that... I... I..."
"You... You... You what?" Aether pressed, his smile turning predatory as he edged closer.
"Donât tell me youâve fallen for that cold-hearted bastard?"
Lyirrsâs face went beet red as she tried to stare him down. "N-No! I am not! Thereâs no way a lowly woman like me would ever fall for the mighty Dragon Emperor... If anything, I should just be grateful that he even talks to me!" Her voice wavered, her eyes darting, betraying her inner chaos. "B-But to warm his bed? T-Thatâs ridiculous... and scandalous!"
Aether inwardly chuckled... Heâd only meant to tease her.
Anyway, together, they turned their attention back to the table, focusing on whether they could replicate the other metallic parts... hours passed...
/Aether, we need your help./
Celestiaâs voice echoed in his mind.
Aether flinched. He frowned, then turned to Lyirrs and spoke quickly, "Handle the rest of this," Without waiting for her reply, he strode from the lab, his mind already connecting to Celestiaâs call, probing for details.
/Whatâs going on?/
/Didnât you see the sky? We found something./
Aether frowned deeply. Heâd been so absorbed with the gun, he hadnât looked outside in hours. Now, he glanced up through the nearest crystal-pane window and sawâ
<1. Umbrionis Void: 0000520 T.P.>
<2. Gaius Terravita: 0000100 T.P.>
<3. Aquaris Naiadae: 0000001 T.P.>
<4. Aerionis Zephyra: 0000000 T.P.>
<5. Pyra Fulgur: 0000000 T.P.>
<6. Elysiumis Aurora: 0000000 T.P.>
The Naiadae Empireâs position had changedâso had the digits. Without another thought, he activated his teleportation, shifting instantly to the Naiadae Empire palace. He landed in the grand corridor and hurried straight for the chamber Celestia had described in her mental message.
When he reached the door, he paused, gathering himself, then entered. Inside,
A man was tied to a chair in the centre, blood pooling beneath him, his body battered, his eyes swollen and barely open. Pain and fear radiated from every trembling breath. He looked utterly broken!
Celestia and Sandra stood, both watching the captive with tense expressions.
"Whatâs going on here?" Aether asked.
Hearing a new voice, the man looked up, desperation flashing in his eyes. "P-Please help me! I didnât do anything, P-Please!" His voice cracked, weak and ragged.
Aetherâs expression didnât soften. He kept his gaze on Celestia and Sandra.
Sandra answered with a heavy sigh,
"While patrolling the barriers, a few guards noticed a white, spiralling portal open out of thin air. From it, a metallic figure emergedâthe same type as the ones that kidnapped others recently. The guards engaged it, but it killed most of them. Only one managed to escape the slaughter, but this man here survivedâhe came back without a scratch, even though the escaped one said nobody was made alive. Thatâs why weâre asking what he did to survive. But heâs refusing to answerâ"
"P-Please, Iâm telling you, I donât know what happened... I... I justâ" The manâs face twisted in confusion and panic. "N-Nothing happened! Please believe me! M-Mr. Aether, please, as Archpriest, show mercy! I really didnât do anything... Please... aahhâ!"
Aether finally turned his gaze upon the captive, his expression suddenly gentleâa warm, almost fatherly smile.
"I believe you..." he said softly.
For a moment, the manâs face blossomed with hope, relief flickering through his pain.
But then, Aetherâs eyes lit up, glowing a deep crimson. The manâs pupils dilated and then dulled; his body slumped, head hanging loose.
Aetherâs voice dropped into a chilling, controlled monotone.
"Tell me what exactly happened?"
The manâs jaw slackened, and he began to speak...