INVI_TE

"A personal invitation from the lord himself at his private chambers," Ardine reconvened with Lyn, Dorothy, and Scabs. He side-eyed Lyn while flipping the golden gambling chip in his right hand. "Typical Kaiden, always wanting to make things interesting for himself. And he chooses you, out of all people.

"It sure spells disaster," Scabs commented. "But don't you want to see him, Ardine?"

"Well, I'm not interesting enough, it seems," Ardine sarcastically commented, flipping the coin over his head and into his left palm. "Lyn might as well be talk of the town. She's practically drop dead gorgeous in this kind of environment. Deep inside the palace is where all they all hunt for women like her. And knowing Kaiden... nothing has changed." He scoffed.

Lyn watched as Ardine shoved the chip into his pocket. He placed his foot on the base of a shipping crate off the side of the sandy alleyway, looking at his holstered pistol in thought. She couldn't say much, despite having the bloodlust to end the ones she deemed responsible for Alfaic's disappearance.

Scabs, who approached Lyn with a concerned expression, attempted to place his palm on Lyn to comfort her, but paused as soon as he remembered her killer performance.

"None of this makes sense," Ardine said, shaking his head. "It's too easy. And offering to sink another city if another face greets him..."

"He must want Lyn for something we don't know about." Dorothy chimed in.

"What do you think?" Ardine asked. "Your Lord of METIS is calling to you personally. You're quite tame about this, but then again, aren't you always?"

Lyn shook her head. "I want to see him." She nonchalantly said.

"Who? Your talking sword, or your highness?" Ardine joked.

"Kaiden," Lyn clarified. "He knows where my Blade is. I can tell, and I will kill him for it." She clenched her fist and approached Ardine with hurried steps.

"Lyn..." Ardine whispered.

"Let me do it." Lyn stated. "It is my mission and my purpose."

"Is it?" Ardine questioned.

Lyn silenced herself, gazing into Ardine's questioned gaze. A few seconds passed as Lyn stared coldly into him. "It is my purpose, now. Tell me where I can find him."

"Well, you'll find him in the center of Gietha, of course, armed and dangerous among one of the richest palaces in the METIS. He's lived there ever since conquering these lands. But walking into his palace would be a death wish," He snatched the gambling chip from his pocket and chuckled before tossing it at Lyn for her to catch. "Which is why we're going to make two stops before you go."

"Where are we going?" Scabs asked.

Ardine faced the center of the alleyway with his hands on his hips. "Why, emergency procedures. We're going to steal an trading airship from Gietha's central hangar and pay a visit to the ole' Sand Sinker."

"What?!" Scabs yelled. "This can't be something you just thought of just now!"

"No, I haven't," Ardine clarified. "I used to travel with the pirates from the Wastes, you know. They've been creating a plan to destroy the Sand Sinker ever since Kaiden seized power, and there hasn't been a single chance to enact upon it. Until now."

"What even changed?" Scabs asked.

Ardine nodded a single time and grinned at Lyn. "A chance to fight back. Our real life bargaining chip. The only one strong enough to retaliate against our opposition. Ladies and gentlemen, it's Lyn. She's the one who will save the Wastes and fight for us."

"And how would she do that without your head?" Dorothy asked. "It's too risky, Ardine. We've already discussed this with the pirates. We'll all die before we fly that ship into the Sinker to destroy it."

Ardine chuckled. "I didn't expect any of you to get it," He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kaiden has always been the pirates' biggest opposition. But if Lyn enters the palace under his discretion, his forces will already be outnumbered."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Scabs said. "Because no one dared to cross him before!"

Ardine approached Lyn and placed his hand on her shoulder. "If you want to get your sword back, you've got your chance. Accept his invitation, and we'll blast into the Sinker while you do so. Can you do it?"

"I have to." Lyn remarked a single time without another breath.

"Then at least take this with you," Ardine said, grabbing a tiny device from his leather pouch. "This is how the pirates communicate with each other, but we've got you and D on the same line. We'll ring you loud and clear once we're ready to make the move."

Lyn grabbed the earpiece and held it in her palm, not knowing what to do with it.

"Put it in your ear," Kaiden said, holding it up for her. "We've got to get the timing right for this."

"Timing's all we've got," Dorothy said, looking behind Lyn and the others in the alleyway. Several of Kaiden's guards stood near the entranceway, veiled in cloaked equipment to hide their identities. "They're here for you."

Ardine and Scabs hid their faces as they darted off. With a strong salute, they vanished into the rest of the crowd riddling the streets, with a firm Ardine whispering "Keep in touch," into the earpiece.

Dorothy placed her hand on Lyn's shoulder, uncertain about Lyn's success with Kaiden. "Don't die," She firmly stated. "Once this is all over, I'd still like to take you to Viatal, where you can witness my memories again. I just know it'll be valuable for both you and I again.

"I..." Lyn began.

"And don't worry about Krin. I know he's not strong enough to defeat someone like you. You're strong. I know it," She said before hurrying off with Ardine and Scabs. "We'll see each other again in person! Just don't take it too far!"

Lyn stood still as her mind came up blank toward Dorothy's wishes. Her vengeful attitude for Alfaic's disappearance and Krin's revival still overpowered her mind, despite her new allies attempting to remove her thoughts from it. She would not have anyone getting in her way.

Clenching her fist, she turned her head to face Kaiden's guards approaching her. The two approached her with spears straightened by their side. Their masked identities made it difficult for Lyn to read their facial expressions, which she started to slowly consider after learning how to eat an apple or shake hands.

But as Kaiden's guards, Lyn wanted to brutally tear them apart. But she knew that her bargaining chip wouldn't work. Even herself.

"You," One of the guards called, voice blackened and deep in mystery. "Present your name."

"LYN Battalion Gemma 52." She identified.

The two guards stared at each other in utter confusion before turning toward her again. "That was an impressive display of skill you presented earlier in the arena. Our leader wishes to speak with you. But the situation has become dire." One of them mentioned.

"I don't understand," Lyn quarreled. "Your lord invited me-"

"No, we are not from Lord Kaiden's regime," One of them interrupted. "We stand by the opposition to dethrone Lord Kaiden. A resistance. But our situation has been cut short by an opposition in Gietha's council."

"A young woman, by the name of Tieze of the East arrived not long ago," They continued. "Our leader believes she is the sole reason Kaiden has begun sinking cities again. If you can help us, we can restore the Wastes from his rule."

Lyn shook her head, glancing out of the alleyway. "I am not interested in saving your people," She coldly stated before looking down at her feet. "I have done it before, and I will not suffer the same pain."

The two guards looked at each other once again in silence, failing to grasp Lyn's unusual behavior. "We do not know the troubles you have encountered in your past. But I assure you, our leader will make sure you do not feel this pain ever again. You can trust us."

Lyn's eyes quivered in hesitation. What was this feeling? Doubt? Uncertainty? A feeling erupted inside her invisible chest, filled to the brim with nothingness for a heart. Trust was impossible. Krin destroyed what little remained in his hollow body. Attempting to save Cethe's people resulted in a bloody massacre where barely any redemption was gained, and the sinking of a city resulted in a maelstrom of fear and torment. There was absolutely no reason for Lyn to trust anyone at all. But with the amount of trust put into her as the exception to her rule, Lyn could not help but show a brief glimpse of empathy for those who wanted to fight for safety and security instead of an unsatiable greed.

Without another word, Lyn looked back up and nodded in understanding, eyebrows curled in focus.

"Okay," She said. "What do you need me to do?"