A long month of intense capturing criminals, and killing beasts have passed.
Celestia and Rosaline stood over their prisoners. The criminals—bandits, traffickers, and rogue mercenaries—knelt in the dirt, bound and defeated. Some were trembling, others too exhausted to move.
Zoan leaned against a gnarled tree, his eyes flickering between Celestia and Rosaline. Bril crouched nearby, spinning a dagger between his fingers with a bored expression. The forest around them was eerily silent, save for the distant calls of Nyxterra's creatures.
Rosaline exhaled, her violet eyes scanning the prisoners. "We should take them to the nearest city jail." Her tone was firm, leaving little room for debate.
Zoan arched an eyebrow. "You're sparing them?"
Rosaline crossed her arms. "They deserve punishment, but not by our hands. The law exists for a reason."
Members of Lox emerged from the shadows, their black and red armor gleaming faintly under the perpetual twilight of Nyxterra. They moved with practiced precision, swiftly gathering the criminals and dragging them toward Azura Port's small jail. Each prisoner was thrown into a dark, cold cell, the clang of metal echoing through the stone walls. The Lox members continued their task, securing the perimeter of the jail, ensuring no one would slip away in the night.
Zoan exhaled, stretching as he surveyed the scene. "Well, since this is all wrapped up, I'll leave the rest to you." He gave a casual nod to Rosaline and Celestia before turning on his heel and heading toward the port to return to his room.
Bril glanced at Rosaline and Celestia before following Zoan. "I'll be off, too. Don't cause any trouble while I'm gone." His voice was flat, but there was an edge to it—one that showed how well he knew the two of them.
As the two brothers walked away, their boots crunching the leaves beneath them, Bril turned to Zoan. "So… what do you think of Celestia now? After all this time?"
Zoan let out a thoughtful sigh, looking up at the ever-darkening sky. "She's more trustworthy than I gave her credit for. And honestly, she's stronger than I thought when we first met her." He stretched his arms, placing his hands behind his head as he strolled.
Bril's expression remained neutral, though his eyes flickered with curiosity. "I don't know… sometimes, I still get the feeling she's hiding something. The way she looks at people…"
Zoan glanced at him, his expression unreadable, but his words carried weight. "Yeah. There's something about her, for sure. But I'm not sure what it is yet."
The two walked in silence, their conversation trailing off as they disappeared into the distance, leaving the quiet forest behind them.
Back at the campfire, Celestia and Rosaline sat on a log, the cool air around them heavy with the weight of the events that had just transpired. Celestia stretched, a yawn escaping her lips as she casually spread her legs, crossing one over the other. She leaned back on the log, her emerald eyes glinting in the fading light. "Ready to go?"
Rosaline hesitated for a moment, her violet eyes flickering with a mix of determination and uncertainty. She took a slow, steadying breath before speaking, her voice quiet yet resolute. "Actually… before we leave, there's something I want to share with you. My past." Her words were wrapped in a quiet confidence, though a subtle vulnerability lingered, barely visible beneath the surface.
Celestia's lips curled into a soft smile as she observed Rosaline. "Finally… she's starting to open up." A flicker of satisfaction sparked within her, but she kept it hidden behind her calm demeanor. "This is what I've been waiting for."
She leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes gleaming with quiet curiosity. "What's it about exactly?" she asked, her voice gentle yet laced with genuine interest. The warmth in her tone was uncharacteristic, but there was an underlying eagerness to hear Rosaline's story, to peel back yet another layer of the person who had become so essential to her plans.
Rosaline's gaze dropped to the ground as she gathered her thoughts, the weight of her past pressing heavily on her chest. The soft rustle of the leaves around them seemed to fade as she began to speak, her voice quiet but steady.
"It started when I was younger... it changed everything for me." She paused, her hands gripping the edge of the log beneath her as if steadying herself. Her violet eyes darkened, and she looked away, her throat tightening as the memories flooded back. "They destroyed everything—my family, my friends, my home. They killed them all in cold blood, leaving nothing but ash and rubble behind. And they did it all in the name of a twisted version of justice." Her fists clenched, her voice breaking slightly before she regained control. "I was the only one left. And I vowed to make them pay, to make sure no one else had to go through what I did."
Rosaline exhaled, her expression softening as she gathered her thoughts. "I've spent years chasing down criminals, believing that if I could put them in jail, I could stop that kind of evil from spreading. I thought that was justice—making sure they faced the law, locking them away so they couldn't hurt anyone else. I thought by doing this, I would end up finding at least one person from the group 'Salvation's Last Chime'."
Rosaline's hand tightened into a fist, her voice sharp as she spoke the name of the group that had destroyed her life. "I started all of this—Lox, capturing criminals, delivering justice—all for one goal... to catch the bastards who took everything from me. I swore to myself I would do anything to make them face the laws of Nyxterra. No matter how long it took." She exhaled slowly, the weight of her words heavy on her chest.
"It's been over three years since Lox was formed, and not a single damn trace of them anywhere." Her voice broke for a moment, but she quickly regained control. "They took advantage of my mother, they killed my father... I still remember it all. It haunts me every night. No, it haunts me every second of every day. The blood, the flames, the lifeless bodies, my baby sister, not even a year old when she closed her eyes for the last time. My older brother fought them... but he was burned alive after one of the bastards from the group threw him into a burning building that collapsed shortly after."
Her eyes flickered briefly toward Celestia, the hint of a tear threatening to fall, but she quickly wiped it away. "It was terrible. I thought I was always in the right, doing what I had to do. But something changed a few days ago. Do you remember the man who told us his name was Cain? He said he started doing what he did for his family, to feed them. But I took him, locked him away, and sent him to Shades. I could've just paid for the things he stole, offered him a chance to rebuild his life... let him keep that future with his family. But instead, I stole it away. I feel like I've been doing something wrong."
She shook her head slowly, her voice quiet, almost lost in thought. "I've always put my goals above everything else—justice, capturing criminals... I've always believed that was the right thing. I knew I could do it, but lately, it's been weighing on me. I can't help but wonder if there's a better way. A way that doesn't leave a trail of destruction for families. Is my sense of justice... wrong now?"
The silence between them stretched for a few minutes as Rosaline stood lost in her own thoughts. Finally, she broke the quiet, standing up and offering her hand to Celestia. "Sorry about all of that... I didn't mean to unload all of my trauma on you. Let's just... get going. We still have things to do before the day ends."
Celestia looked up, meeting her gaze. She took Rosaline's hand, standing up slowly. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that," she said gently, her tone softening. "But maybe it's not you that's wrong. Maybe it's the world around you." She paused, her eyes locking with Rosaline's violet gaze, a warmth in her expression. "Maybe what you need is to step away from all of this... To live for yourself, not just for justice. Explore the world beyond Nyxterra. You deserve more than just a life of purpose and duty."
Rosaline's breath caught slightly, and Celestia offered her a soft smile before turning and stepping forward, beginning to walk through the forest towards the port.
Rosaline stood still for a moment, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Her fingers curled at her sides, and her expression shifted as she silently processed Celestia's words. After a few moments, she sighed, a quiet breath escaping her lips. "Maybe... maybe she's right." Her voice was barely a whisper to herself.
She closed her eyes briefly, as if trying to process the truth behind those words, before taking a steadying breath and walking after Celestia. With each step she took, she felt the weight of her past, her duty, and her purpose shifting, even if just slightly, as she made her way back toward Azura Port.
As they made their way back to the port, Celestia opened the door to a building known as "Moon's Rising." The two women walked inside, the atmosphere dimly lit and filled with the low hum of hushed conversations. Rosaline ascended a flight of stairs as she approached the Lox members gathered before a large map of Nyxterra. The map was spread across a table, detailing every territory and key location, with various markings indicating potential threats and hideouts.
Rosaline stood tall in front of them, her expression firm. "Tonight is a pivotal night for us," she began, her voice carrying across the room with quiet authority. "We're hunting down a group by the name of 'Red Dusk.' This is an infamous group that has been wreaking havoc across Nyxterra. Many of you have probably already heard whispers about them. They are ruthless, and they are dangerous. Tonight, we take them down."
She moved forward, tracing her finger along the map with precision. "Our goal is to infiltrate their ranks and neutralize their leader." Her eyes scanned the room, locking onto each of the Lox members in turn. "Expect heavy resistance. Be prepared for anything."
She paused, her gaze sharp. "We're not just bringing justice tonight. We are sending a message to anyone else who thinks they can terrorize Nyxterra without consequence. They will see the wrath of Lox."
The members of Lox nodded solemnly, their determination palpable as they began filing out of the room to prepare for the mission. Zoan, Bril, and Celestia walked out together, making their way through the streets of Azura Port. They passed the familiar alleyway near "Moon's Rising" before entering the building where their rooms were located.
"Are you two ready for tonight?" Celestia asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she glanced over at Zoan and Bril. "We're going to be equipped with special gear, courtesy of Rosaline's plan. We'll fit right in with them for once."
"Pretty excited, honestly," Zoan replied, his grin matching hers. "It's nice to be on land for once. I can't even remember the last time we spent this long without the ocean."
Bril nodded in agreement, his mood light as he entered his room and found his black and red gear already laid out on the bed. Zoan did the same, finding his own attire in place.
Celestia sighed, rolling her eyes as she opened the door to her own room. She stepped inside, her gaze immediately falling on the black and red gear set neatly on the bed. She walked over and sat down, waiting for the order to get ready. The minutes dragged by in silence as she stewed in her thoughts, preparing herself for what was to come.
Three hours later, the loud clang of the port bell echoed through the building, signaling that it was time. Celestia quickly changed, donning the gear and armor, then made her way out of her room. She found Zoan and Bril already geared up and leaning against the walls of the building.
"Ready?" Bril asked, his tone light but tinged with excitement.
"I've been ready for this," Celestia responded with a confident smirk. Together, the three of them left the building and made their way toward the center of the port. They fell into line with several other Lox members, some of whom remained at the jail to secure it. The others were ready for the fight of their lives.
Rosaline's voice broke through the silence of the group as she stood at the forefront, her expression fierce as she faced the gathered Lox members. "Tonight, we fight not just for justice, but for something greater. We fight for the future of Nyxterra... and for those who can't fight."
Every member of Lox fell silent for a long moment before erupting into a unified roar. "Let's do it!" one member shouted, igniting a chorus of voices as the others joined in.