The descent into Frontier City was so smooth that Aren sort of forgot what even happened. His body seed to be moving on autopilot.
After everything that just happened, was it really over just like that? It just felt like...the world decided to return to normal while they were still trying to catch up.
Justus and the rest filed out slowly. Aren followed without a word, stepping off the aircraft carefully and making sure Luna didn’t shift too much in his arms.
Though he noticed that the landing zone was already filled with people. Uniford officers were all around the periter as dics already rushed up to attend to his other club mbers.
Aren imdiately spotted familiar faces, as one ran up to him imdiately. Her pink hair flowed in the wind as she made her way up.
"Miu..."
"Aren!" she yelled, approaching him quickly before she stopped just inches in front of him. "I heard what happened! Are you okay? Is Luna—?"
But she stopped almost imdiately as she saw the state they were in. Miu bent down to look at Luna, eyebrows narrowing before sobody else approached.
Professor Voss.
All the restraint he’d been holding onto since the mountains gave way at once.
"Professor! What do you know about Perfect Compatibility Syndro? Can it be cured? Where would we find ingredients? What are the processes—?"
His grip tightened unconsciously around Luna as he barraged the professor with questions, each one more desperate than the last.
"I know it."
Aren froze imdiately. Professor Mirel stepped closer, her eyes scanning Luna briefly before returning to him.
"Perfect Compatibility Syndro," she continued, voice steady. "It’s rare. Extrely so."
"Then—"
"It’s not that simple."
Voss shook her head lightly. "You know how unique each Bloodline is. There isn’t any formula you can replicate or correct the sa way twice. Each one is different, and each one responds differently."
"Which ans...each one requires a different solution."
"...Then how do we—"
Voss didn’t let him finish. "If you’re asking for a universal cure. There isn’t one."
Aren fell silent, his fingers dug into her skin as he gritted his teeth. But after a mont, the professor continued.
"...If there’s anyone who knows, it’s her father."
"What—?" Aren looked up imdiately at the ntion. "Then why didn’t he—?"
"He would have known the risks the mont her Bloodline developed at that level," she continued. "Which ans—"
"He chose not to interfere."
That bastard...So he knew all along. He knew she’d try to run away from ho. Was this his way of controlling her?
"If you care about her, you should take her back to him," the professor said plainly. "He’s the only one who can treat it properly."
Was this the only way?
"Take her back..." he muttered under his breath.
Aren knew it was the correct and logical answer. But when he looked at Luna, he also knew what her reaction would be. She’d risked it all to get away from her father, from his control.
If he were to just send her back again...
"She’d hate that..."
The right choice...didn’t feel right at all.
Professor Voss caught on, "Right...how about you leave her in my care for now. I’ll try to see if I can do sothing."
"...Thank you, Professor."
Carefully, he shifted Luna into her arms. Voss took her gingerly, almost like she was a fragile object before turning and getting onto one of the cars ant to escort them out of the landing zone.
For a second, he just stood there, fingers still curled like they were holding onto sothing that wasn’t there anymore.
"...Aren."
He turned. Miu stood just a step away from him, placing a hand on his back before speaking. "...Professor Voss is capable."
"She’ll do everything she can for Luna," Miu continued softly. "Just like she did for ..."
"I’m sure of it."
Aren’s gaze lingered for a mont longer in the direction Voss had disappeared in before he exhaled quietly.
"Yeah..."
It wasn’t full reassurance, not even close to the level he needed. But it was enough for him to continue on.
"Co on," Miu said, giving him a light nudge forward. "Let’s go."
As they strolled over to the last few remaining cars still on site, sothing else caught his eye. Flowing red hair that was bright even against the harsh sunlight of the Highlands.
"Stella?"
She stood near one of the vehicles, the wind catching her and causing it to flow behind her like a trail of flas. The rest of her crew stood nearby, waiting, as she talked to High Commander Justus.
Aren’s eyes narrowed.
They...know each other?
The conversation didn’t really last that long, just a few quiet words were passed.
"Send my regards to Dominic, I hope he gets better," Justus gave her a small nod, turning to leave.
Stella lingered before she finally made eye contact with Aren.
"You’re still around? Didn’t see you for a while so I just thought you left," he said.
"Yeah, well... we’re about to head out anyway."
"Really?"
"Mmm. The search for the Miracle Herb didn’t really go well. And after all that—" she pointed in the direction of the Mountains and back to Aren’s wounds.
"It’s not really worth sticking around for anymore."
Aren nodded, but his gaze was fixed on where Commander Justus had been standing just monts ago.
"...You know him?"
The girl nodded, "Yeah. My dad works with him. He’s the Chief of Mystic Law Enforcent for the Western Dominion Branch."
Aren’s eyes widened as realization suddenly flooded into his head.
That’s right...the Mars family had always been a part of Mystic Law Enforcent...that part hadn’t changed.
But Dominic Mars...wasn’t the na I rembered in the future. Was he already gone by that ti?
Aren stared at Stella a bit longer, trying to decide whether he should break the news or not. But it seed inappropriate for him to ddle in her problems, so he refrained.
"Co on," Stella said, getting on the car before turning to give him a hand. "We’re heading back to the base for now."
Aren and Miu climbed into the open–roofed car as the engine roared to life. The next minute, they were already on the road, heading to wherever the wind would take them.
At least, that’s what Aren thought. His mind was constantly on what happened.
Saying "I’ll keep the promises" was easy. They were just words after all.
But even as he said them, he didn’t know how. Didn’t know where to begin, or even if he had what it takes to follow through.
Still...
"...I’ll figure it out. I have to."
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