In truth, no one even wanted compensation for helping. After all, these soldiers, especially the imperial ones, had quite literally brushed shoulders with death just earlier. Even if military headquarters had forbidden them, they probably would’ve snuck in to help anyway.
But who was Luca Kyros?
The heir who, despite his money-grubbing tendencies, knew all too well what it was like to work without compensation.
And so, being the generous capitalist that he was, he asked the soldiers of his house about what kind of reward they would like for their assistance.
When all the votes were tallied, the answer was unanimous.
Food.
Specifically, the kind of food they hadn’t tasted before.
Marshal Julian nearly choked on his drink when he heard the young cadet’s relaxing voice over the comms—especially when Luca extended the sa offer to the imperial soldiers.
"Wait—you’re planning on compensating them too?"
Now, it wasn’t that the Marshal thought their soldiers were undeserving, but mostly, he figured that after everything, it should actually be the Empire that compensated the child
Also, what about safety?! His food couldn’t just be treated as so currency! Luca’s goods were quite literally life-changing, and that was no exaggeration.
"Yes, Marshal," Luca chirped, entirely unfazed. "It’s fine this ti. The ingredients I’m using for the reward al are from the aquaponic complex. We’ve been harvesting them for so ti now. Since it’s going to be introduced to the public soon, wouldn’t it be better to build credibility this early?"
Ah.
That actually made sense.
Perfect sense, in fact.
The Marshal couldn’t argue with that logic, though part of him still worried that anything associated with Luca’s food had the potential to cause another Empire-wide uproar.
But the question was—would the imperial soldiers even be interested?
Apparently, that question was pointless.
Because they weren’t just interested.
They were thrilled.
So thrilled that soldiers who were supposed to be resting were suddenly volunteering to help clean up. So even pretended to "accidentally" overhear the announcent so they could justify showing up.
Even if they only got a bite—just one bite—they were sure it would be worth it.
But while the people above ground mustered the energy and courage to deal with corrupted creatures, elsewhere, soone was actually in an unexpected pickle.
__
"Oh shit! We have to get out of here, Captain! I seriously think it’s about to capsize!" shouted Jax, his voice rising several octaves higher than usual as his cha’s sensors went wild.
He was still maintaining his spiritual barrier—this ti powered by banana chips, of all things—when he realized sothing wasn’t right.
"Captain?" he called again, glancing at the flickering feed.
Silence.
Not even static.
Then, finally, Sid’s calm chanical voice broke through the comms.
"Lord Jax," the guardian cha said evenly, "I believe my Master has lost consciousness after using his bloodline ability on such a scale."
"What?!"
"!!!"
A chorus of gasps followed across the communication channel.
"Tsk! I knew it!" the adjutant groaned from his position outside the bloom. "No wonder he said goodbye to Luca like that! He even turned off the comms right after—clean exit, my ass!"
"Sid, what’s his condition?" Kyle demanded, voice sharp.
The guardian cha’s sensors whirred as it conducted a full dical scan. A series of lights blinked across the internal diagnostic panel.
"Vitals are stable," Sid reported. "However, his energy readings are definitely unusual. They were, in fact, spiking despite the signs of overexertion. But while that was inconclusive, what was certain was that Master’s temperature was also continuing to drop."
"Cold?" Jax asked, horrified. "He can get even colder?!"
"It is... rather concerning," Sid admitted.
Kyle didn’t hesitate. "Sid, bring him back to the dungeon space imdiately."
"Understood, Lord Kyle."
"If I’m right, we have to make sure no one else touches him. Luca’s the only one allowed to handle him."
"Yes, Commander."
"Ollie," Kyle ordered next, "call Luca. Let him know what happened. Don’t sugarcoat it, but don’t make him panic either."
"Uhh, right," Ollie stamred, already fumbling with the comm line. "I’ll... try my best on the panic part."
"Jax, you’re with ," Kyle continued, his tone grim. "We have no choice but to finish this thing before it completely thaws."
"Seriously?!"
"Seriously."
"There aren’t exactly many other choices."
"Because there’s no one else who can handle cleanup down here. And D-64’s the only one who can safely store whatever we’re getting from this thing."
__
His brother’s call was already alarming, but the mont the guardian cha contacted him, Luca’s heart nearly stopped.
He didn’t even think twice. He rushed out of the room to et them.
At first, he thought it was sothing like what had happened to his father. Another case of spiritual exhaustion after prolonged and exhaustive use of a biocha. While he wondered why and how, considering Sid’s design, he at least had the experience with his father to rely on as a basis.
But the mont Sid’s voice relayed the full report—"Master has likely lost consciousness due to overuse of his bloodline ability"—Luca froze.
Then, his expression changed entirely.
"Everyone, listen to carefully," he said sharply, his tone slicing through the air like a command spell. "When Sid arrives, no one gets close. Not even by a ter."
"Son—" the Duchess started, already on her feet.
"No, Mom," he interrupted, firm and unwavering. "Actually, it would be better if everyone keeps away from the dungeon space for the anti. Please just stay here at the sanctuary for the ti being."
"But—"
"Please," he said quietly. "This one... It’s really sothing only I can do."
The Duchess exchanged a glance with the Empress, worry clear in both their faces. But one look at Luca’s trembling hands and determined gaze told them everything. He wasn’t asking for permission.
He was telling them to trust him.
And so, they did.
The air in the room shifted as everyone reluctantly stepped back, giving him space. He disappeared, and monts later, the familiar silhouette of Sid appeared—kneeling to make it easier for Luca to retrieve Xavier.
The cha’s chest plate hissed open, releasing a mist of condensation.
Luca’s breath caught.
He took one hesitant step forward, expecting to see Xavier slumped inside the cockpit like before—pale, maybe, but still visible.
Only...
There was nothing.
"!!!"
The seat was empty.
For one heart-stopping second, Luca’s mind blanked. His pulse roared in his ears.
"Where—"
Then a faint sound—soft, almost like glass cracking—made him turn.
And that was when he saw it.
Behind him, the air shimred faintly. A ripple, like frost spreading over invisible glass, flickered in the space where there should’ve been none.
And standing within it was Xavier.
The guide’s blood ran cold.
The man’s azure eyes, normally calm and brilliant, now glowed unnaturally red at the edges. His expression was distant, cold, and for a terrifying mont, Luca had to shake himself awake.
His husband felt like soone else entirely.
Luca’s hair rose on end, and his breathing stilled.
But at tis like this, he was grateful for every lesson his tragic past had forced him to learn.
Because as a forr guide who had seen too much loss, too much death, and too much of the world’s cruelty, he knew exactly what he was looking at.
A looming rampage.
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