The once-bustling courtyard of Roka Robotics had become a crime scene. Red and silver banners of the Special Urban Investigation Patrol—SUIP for short—flapped from drones stationed in the air, their bright scanners pulsing with rhythmic precision. Skyborn agents and SUIP officers worked in tandem, scanning for traces of spiritual interference or hostile energy flux. Scouts had already been deployed to sweep the surrounding sectors for anything unusual.
Selasi had taken swift initiative, sending a messenger to Zemo's home in Upper Zone 6. The instructions were simple: if Zemo was found, report immediately. If not—deliver the worst news to his aunt and uncle.
Fear now gripped Sector Seven like a steel claw. The residents, once used to danger from thugs or faulty tech, now cowered behind locked doors, muttering about demons, disappearances, and glowing eyes in the dark. Skyborn patrols dotted every street, their presence both reassuring and foreboding.
Above it all, a sleek black hovercraft glided toward the floating compound of the Eliadan estate. Inside, silence reigned.
Kayen sat by the window, his eyes empty, his spirit heavy. He watched the passing clouds without blinking. The tension was tangible—Selasi sat across from him, debating whether to speak, but the look in his eyes told her he needed silence more than words.
When they landed, everyone disembarked. Kayen picked up his belongings and walked off without a word.
Selasi turned, only to be interrupted by a short man in Skyborn robes. "Captain Selasi. Your father requests your presence."
Without a word, she nodded and dismissed the guards, making her way through the crystalline halls of Skyborn HQ.
Back at the Eliadan residence, Kayen wandered its bright corridors aimlessly. His mind was a blur, his thoughts trapped in a spiral of guilt. He was so lost in them that he didn't even notice a young servant approaching until she spoke.
"Sir? You seem... a bit lost."
Kayen blinked at her.
"This area is restricted. You must be looking for your old quarters. Let me show you."
She gently took one of his bags and led him through the estate until they reached the guest quarters he'd once occupied during recovery. She placed his belongings down and offered a warm but cautious smile.
"Is there anything you need?"
Kayen shook his head.
She left him to the silence.
He lay on the floor, staring at the marble ceiling, his mind filled with Zemo's laughter... now replaced by the echo of nothingness.
Deep within the Skyborn Spire, Selasi stood before her father in his office. She handed him a tablet containing the full report on the Roka Robotics incident.
Eliadan read it quickly. "Thank you. You may leave—I have other matters."
Selasi frowned but said nothing. As she exited, she muttered, "What's wrong with everyone today?"
Far from the clean white towers of the Skyborn, down into the depths of Zone 2's underbelly, a man in a black business suit descended a flight of concrete stairs. His name was Andrew Shenati, and his presence made the shadows retreat in silence.
He reached a sealed metallic door. It opened with a hiss.
Inside stood a hooded figure, its right eye glowing crimson in the dark. Behind it hung a young man—unconscious, chained by his wrists. His body hung limp, bruised, but breathing.
Andrew stepped in and gave a crooked smile. "You've done well."
The hooded figure said nothing, merely nodded in obedience.
Andrew approached the prisoner. "Zemo Roka," he said with a chuckle. "Smart boy... loyal to a fault. And that's why he'll help us get Kayen."
He turned to the figure. "Keep him alive. Do not let him escape. No matter what."
The figure bowed. "As you wish."
Andrew left the chamber, his footsteps fading as a low whisper escaped his lips. "Soon... everything will fall into place."
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Skyborn HQ dungeons, a soft humming echoed through the stone halls.
Aahliya Shenati sat cross-legged, humming a dissonant tune. Her wrists were chained, but her smirk remained.
The cell door opened.
The woman from before—clad in black with pale eyes and no aura—entered, followed by Selasi.
"Well, if it isn't the firecracker," Aahliya grinned, blood dried on her lip from earlier interrogations. "Come back for another round?"
Selasi crossed her arms. "I'm not here to spar. I'm here to tell you—tomorrow, the Skyborn Council will prosecute you. You'll get no more chances."
Aahliya's grin widened. "So dramatic."
Selasi's patience snapped. She stepped forward and punched Aahliya across the face—hard. The sound echoed like thunder in the cell.
"That was for the sneak attack," she said coldly.
As she turned to leave, the woman in black stepped forward and pressed her hand against Aahliya's forehead. "Strong mind. Strong pain," she whispered.
Aahliya tensed—then screamed. The scream echoed down the stone corridors as the woman smiled, her pale eyes glowing faintly with crimson malice.
Back at the estate, Kayen had barely moved when Eliadan entered the room.
He looked at the boy for a moment, then said, "Stop mourning someone who isn't dead."
Kayen sat up sharply. "You don't know that."
Eliadan raised a hand. "Listen."
He sat beside Kayen, hands clasped.
"Tomorrow, the Celestial Tribunal will convene. You are not yet officially a Skyborn Agent. Some of the council want you dead. Maresa and I will do what we can... but it won't be easy."
Kayen absorbed this quietly, his fists clenched.
Eliadan continued, "The girl who tried to abduct you will also be prosecuted tomorrow. The decision is likely death. She's a demon. A threat."
Kayen's eyes widened.
"Wait... what if she's not useless?" he said, standing. "What if she knows where the Abbysborn base is? What if she can lead us to them? If we wipe them out... I won't have to live in fear anymore."
Eliadan looked at him, thoughtful.
"She might even know where Zemo is," Kayen added, voice lower.
There was a long silence. Finally, Eliadan stood.
"I'll consider it. But be ready tomorrow. Everything may change."
He turned and left, the door closing softly behind him.