vi - The First Step

"Fixer!" X shouted as she jolted awake, rushing out of the room without hesitation. After a hectic morning, she retrieved F6R and made her way to Sontonati's workshop later that day.

Upon arriving, she stopped at the entrance, taking in the sight before her. Sontonati lay sprawled on the floor, while Korin was slumped over a stool, his head resting on the workbench—both of them fast asleep.

X picked up one of the scattered parts on the floor and threw it at a nearby toolkit, knocking it off the table. The loud noise jolted both men awake.

"Oh, X, you finally brought him," Korin mumbled, still half-asleep as he rubbed his eyes.

"Have you two been in here the whole time?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"Not the whole time. We stepped out at night to—" Korin began, but Sontonati cut him off.

"Whoooaa," Sontonati said, struggling to sit up.

Korin quickly covered his mouth to stop himself, his eyes widening in sudden realization.

"Just leave the robot on one of the things," Sontonati mumbled, his eyelids heavy with sleep. "I'll be up in three... or maybe forty-five minutes."

"Make sure to check on him before I get back," she said as she stepped out of the room.

As she made her way through the castle gates, a voice rang out behind her.

"Freak number two!"

Saelys skipped toward her, a playful grin brightening her features. X turned, annoyance flashing in her eyes.

"Where the hell were you?"

Saelys shrugged, mischief dancing in her gaze. "You mean when you disappeared and left me all by myself?"

Before X could retort, Saelys cut her off. "Never mind that. Here's the gold I owe you—and a little extra."

She handed over a bag of gold, pride shining in her eyes.

"What do you want?" X asked, suspicion creeping into her voice as she studied her.

"I heard you have a dragon," Saelys replied, her excitement palpable.

X exhaled sharply and tossed the bag of gold back at her. "Come with me," she said, her tone heavy with reluctance.

Arriving at their destination, X and Saelys stepped off a carriage at the stables of Vanwaven's estate.

"Korin and Vanwaven managed to bring her here while I was recovering," X said as they approached the stable. "All because someone almost killed her cellmate trying to escape," she teased.

"Hey, you promised not to bring that up," Saelys retorted, a hint of regret flickering across her face.

The moment Vallei heard X's voice, the dragon burst through the stable roof, her enormous form shattering the wooden beams as if they were mere twigs.

"Oh no, not again!" the stable keep yelled, his face twisted in despair.

X stepped forward, her eyes warming as Vallei scrambled to greet her.

"Hey, girl. I've missed you too." She wrapped her arms around Vallei's massive head, her voice soft and affectionate.

Vallei nuzzled against X, her delicate feathers brushing against her in a tender acknowledgment.

Saelys stood back, her eyes widening in awe at the sight of the majestic dragon. Slowly, she approached, her fingers trembling as they reached out to touch Vallei's side. Finally, she pressed her face against Vallei's feathers, her expression turning into one of pure wonder.

"Her feathers are even softer than they look," Saelys murmured, her voice filled with awe. Then, with a playful smile, she added, "And to think I was going to try and eat you."

X's eyes narrowed, though a smirk tugged at her lips.

"Try it if you want me to kill you," she replied.

Saelys ignored the threat, her voice muffled as she buried her face deeper in Vallei's feathers.

"Now all I want to do is skin you and wear your feathers." She rubbed her face against Vallei's side, her smile softening. "They're just too perfect."

The stable keep hurried toward X, his frustration evident in his brisk pace, his brow furrowed in irritation.

"Look who's finally decided to drop by after dumping your damn dragon on me," he exclaimed, his voice rising in anger. "She's knocked over two stalls, scared off half the horses, and don't even get me started on the mess she leaves behind!"

As X helped Saelys climb onto Vallei, she shot the stable keep a reassuring smile.

"Vallei's just a little... passionate," she replied.

"Passionate?!" the stable keep barked, disbelief thick in his voice. "I can't have her turning my stable upside down every time I step away. And the feeding—she eats more than all the horses combined!"

Climbing onto Vallei, X shrugged with a teasing grin, unfazed by his anger.

"Well, the more she eats, the longer you and the horses stay alive. You should be thankful, really," she said.

The stable keep threw his hands up, exasperation boiling over.

"Thankful!? I've got enough on my plate without babysitting a creature that could eat me if she feels like it! Teach her some basic manners first!"

X chuckled as she took off on Vallei, the wind whipping through her hair.

"She hasn't eaten a horse or turned you into a statue yet, so I think I'm doing a pretty good job," she called back.

"Don't you dare come back!" the stable keep shouted after them, his voice a mix of annoyance and amusement, but the fuming irritation lingered in his eyes.

As they flew further away from Sancuster, X turned to Saelys, her voice rising above the rush of wind.

"Are you ready?"

Saelys tightened her grip on the harness, excitement and nerves intertwining in her chest.

"Ready for what?" she shouted back, her eyes wide with anticipation.

X remained silent, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as they soared through the sky.

Suddenly, Vallei banked sharply to the left. Saelys let out a startled yelp, her fingers gripping tightly onto the harness.

X turned her head, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Scared already?" X teased, her voice barely audible over the wind. "You're the one who wanted to do this, remember?"

Saelys shot her a narrowed glance, her face flushed with a mix of excitement and embarrassment.

"Who said I was scared?" she countered, though her grip was still tight. "It's just... it's my first time doing anything like this."

X chuckled, patting Vallei's neck.

"This is nothing. She's just warming up. You wanted to see what it felt like to really fly, right?"

Saelys swallowed hard, her eyes widening as Vallei climbed higher, the ground shrinking below them.

"Right," she replied, her voice wavering just a little. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"Relax, Saelys." X grinned. "Trust me, you're in the safest claws on Ethryda."

Suddenly, Vallei rolled over, leaving them briefly upside down.

"Ahhh!" Saelys shrieked, her eyes squeezing shut.

X laughed, her voice full of confidence. "See? Isn't this the best?"

Slowly, Saelys opened one eye, then the other, catching sight of X's carefree expression. A smile spread across her face, her initial fear replaced by exhilaration.

"Okay, maybe... maybe it's not so bad," she admitted, her laughter mingling with X's as Vallei performed another twist, the world around them a whirling tapestry of sky and earth.

Just then, Vallei ascended higher and higher, breaking through the clouds in one powerful beat of her wings. The sun emerged above them, bathing everything in a warm, golden glow, and the endless sky stretched out like a vast sea. Saelys couldn't help but gasp in awe.

"Wow..." she whispered.

X gave a contented smile, the sight of the clouds below them almost surreal.

"I know, right?" X called back, her voice full of pride as Vallei sailed above the fluffy white expanse. "It's like we're on top of the world."

But before Saelys could respond, Vallei suddenly flipped upside down. X let out a startled laugh as her harness slipped loose.

"Whoa—!"

In an instant, X tumbled off Vallei's back, plummeting toward the clouds below.

"X!" Saelys screamed, her eyes widening in panic. She lunged, her hand outstretched, but X was already falling out of reach, her body vanishing into the dense mist.

"Vallei, go! After her!" Saelys yelled, her voice cracking with fear.

Vallei twisted her body, diving through the clouds after her fallen rider. The wind roared in Saelys' ears as they plummeted, her heart pounding in her chest. When they broke through the cloud cover, Saelys saw X below them, tumbling through the air, her cloak flapping wildly.

Then, Vallei tucked in her wings and shot downward like an arrow, her form cutting through the air. As they drew closer, X turned her head slightly, catching sight of them—and she grinned.

With a swift flick of her wings, Vallei dove close to X, allowing her to reach out and grab the saddle. X held on tightly as she climbed onto Vallei's back with practiced ease, landing in the saddle with a soft thud right in front of Saelys.

Saelys stared, her face pale. "X, are you crazy?! You almost—!"

X interrupted her with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Almost what?" she teased. "I knew Vallei would catch me."

Saelys clenched her jaw, her grip still tense. "You scared me half to death!"

X turned her head slightly, a grin spreading across her face. "Aw, you were worried about me?"

"Of course I was worried!" Saelys snapped, her face flushed. "You fell—"

"Relax, Saelys." X gave her a playful wink. "You really need to learn to enjoy the ride."

Saelys retorted, her hands still gripping the harness. "You should have just fallen to your death..."

X just laughed, giving Vallei a gentle pat. "Vallei wouldn't let that happen, would you, girl?"

Vallei let out a soft rumble, and X looked back, her grin widening as Saelys finally allowed a smile to creep onto her lips. The tension eased, leaving only the exhilaration of the wind and the endless sky around them.

"What the hell is that?" X asked, pointing at the colossal flying creature above them.

"A leviathan!" Saelys' eyes sparkled with excitement. "I've never seen one so far inland. Come on, let's get closer!"

"Are you serious?" X frowned. "That thing could swallow Vallei whole without even noticing."

"It's fine if you're scared." Saelys grinned, a teasing glint in her eyes.

X shot her a flat, serious stare. "I'm not scared. I just don't want to die because of your stupid ideas."

"Relax. They're harmless. It probably won't even notice us," Saelys said, waving off X's concern.

"If you get us killed, I swear I'll never forgive you," X muttered as they edged closer to the leviathan.

"Come on, get closer! Who else gets to see a leviathan up close like this?" Saelys urged, her voice bubbling with excitement as they approached the massive creature.

"Whoa, look at those scars!" Her eyes widened in awe. "Those look like claw marks."

"It probably got attacked by a dragon," X replied, squinting at the creature's wounds.

"Did a dragon also cause that?" Saelys asked, pointing to a massive bite mark on its side.

X frowned. "I hope not. If a dragon were that big, nothing could likely stop it. It was most likely another leviathan."

Saelys' enthusiasm began to wane as she examined the bite mark. "Okay, maybe we should head back now. I think I've had enough of flying for today."

X chuckled lightly. "What happened to 'who else gets to see this'?"

"Shut up," Saelys muttered, rolling her eyes as she turned Vallei around.

On their way back to Sancuster, Saelys spoke up, her tone shifting to something serious. "Hey, X, do you trust Queen Aesaelin?"

"Well, I don't have a reason not to," X replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"I just think she's being too nice. I get that she's grateful and all, but to go as far as letting us stay in the castle? I mean, we barely even know each other. I don't know how it is where you come from, but that's not something people just do."

X considered Saelys' words for a moment. "It's okay to be suspicious," she said. "Just don't let it interfere with a good thing. She could be a genuinely good person—like me." A teasing smirk tugged at her lips.

"Good, my ass," Saelys shot back, her grip tightening on Vallei's reins.

"That's no way to talk to someone who gave you free daggers," X reminded her, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Hey, you're the one who—" Saelys began, but her words were abruptly cut off as a plasma beam shot at them, narrowly scraping Vallei's wing. The impact jolted her, sending them into a dizzying spiral as Vallei struggled to regain her composure, her wings straining against the pain. With fierce determination, she spreads her wings wide, steadying herself as she regains control of her descent.

"Down there!" X points at the source of the plasma beam, where a massive mine operates. Half a dozen enormous four-legged machines traverse the landscape, their anti-gravity lasers carving into the terrain. The perimeter bristles with anti-air defenses, firing relentlessly at them as they fly away, swiftly evading the barrage.

Now out of the range of the anti-air defenses, X breaks the tense silence.

"Those must be the ones supplying Sancuster."

Saelys doesn't respond, her gaze distant as anger tightens her features. X studies her for a moment, concern deepening.

"Saelys, you okay?" she calls out, her voice laced with worry.

Saelys blinks, snapping back to reality.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But when we get back to Sancuster, we should definitely get makeovers," she says, forcing a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Sure," X replies, her tone hesitant, with a flicker of unease evident on her face.

The girls made their way through the castle hallways, sporting their new hairstyles and outfits. Their laughter filled the air as they recounted their shopping trip.

"I can't believe you actually did that," Saelys laughed, shaking her head.

X shrugged. "A dare is a dare. I'm just surprised you didn't go through with yours."

Saelys held her hands up in defeat. "Okay, I'll come clean. The truth is, I let you win," she remarked with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, right. Because paying for my stuff is some sick hobby of yours," X replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"See, this is why I like you, X. You're a quick learner," Saelys said, nudging X playfully.

X pointed behind them, where guards were walking at a distance, their arms laden with shopping bags. "You really think its fine for us to do this?" she asked.

Saelys waved it off. "They wouldn't let the others follow us in, so I had to come up with something. And besides, if Aesaelin is really 'a genuinely good person,'"—she mimicked air quotes—"then she won't mind."

X let out a sigh. "Well, that's one way to find out."

Saelys suddenly turned, striking a pose in front of X. "Do you think Korin will like this?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

X raised an eyebrow. "You're asking the wrong person."

Saelys leaned in, her expression serious. "Just say yes."

X glanced at Saelys with uncertainty. "Yes?"

Saelys smiled brightly, nodding in approval. "Good girl."

Saelys opened the door to Sontonati's workshop.

"Hey, Korin—" she began, but paused when she realized he wasn't in the room. Only Sontonati was there, slumped over a workbench, fast asleep, a piece of wire stuck in his hair.

X followed her in, taking in the scene with a glance. She grabbed a rifle off the table, her eyes narrowing.

"How the hell are you still asleep?" she shouted, chucking the rifle at Sontonati's head.

The impact jolted Sontonati awake. "Ow, my nose!" he groaned, muffling his voice with his hand.

"Where's Korin?" Saelys asked.

"He's in the back with the robot," Sontonati replied, still cradling his face. "Please, just let me sleep."

"Now connect the two," F6R's voice came from the back room. He was hooked up to two other robots, wires snaking across the floor while Korin worked on an open panel in his chest.

"No, not that one—the square one," F6R said, his voice suddenly shifting to a feminine tone.

X frowned. "Change it back."

"Oops," Korin muttered, adjusting the circuits again. "How's that?"

"That's better." F6R flexed his hand, his voice now back to normal. "Thanks for the help, but I can take it from here."

"Fixer?" X's heart pounded as she saw F6R's face, memories of their last moments together flooding her mind. Relief and disbelief twisted inside her, and before she knew it, she was running toward him.

F6R turned his head slightly. "It's about time you showed up."

Without another word, she threw her arms around him where he lay on the table.

"Don't ever leave me again," she whispered, holding onto him tightly.

F6R managed to wrap his one good arm around her. "I won't," he replied softly.

For a moment, they stayed like that, wrapped in silence, until F6R's distorted voice broke through. "X? Your tears are falling into my panel."

X sniffed, pulling away quickly. "Oh, sorry," she said, wiping her face with the back of her hand. Despite herself, a smile formed on her lips.

Saelys watched them for a second before turning to Korin.

She twirled a strand of her newly styled hair, hoping to catch Korin's attention. "So, what do you think?"

She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you crying?"

Korin turned his back to her, his voice wavering slightly. "No, I'm not. I'm just sleepy."

"Right," she said with a teasing smile.

Before anyone could say anything else, Sontonati walked in, groggy and bewildered, a piece of wire still stuck in his hair. "The Queen wants to see you," he said, his voice nasal from the cloth he'd stuffed up his nose.

X glanced at F6R one last time, her eyes searching his expression as if wanting to say more. F6R gave her a reassuring nod, and she forced herself to turn away, already missing the presence she'd just regained.

"This could be important. You better still be working when I get back," she said, her tone half serious, half teasing.

F6R nodded. "Understood."

With that, X, Saelys, and Korin made their way to the door to meet with the Queen.

They entered the room to find the queen seated at the table, with Vanwaven by her right side. The group quietly took their seats, anticipation hanging in the air.

"Thank you for coming," Aesaelin began. Her expression was stern, yet a flicker of fatigue lingered behind her eyes. "I've been speaking to the alien suppliers, and through investigations of my own, I've uncovered some vital information. These aliens call themselves the Arimari, and their primary interest lies in the planet's resources—specifically, Ethral. They seem reasonably peaceful, given the technology at their disposal." Aesaelin paused, her gaze drifting across the faces before her, searching for any flicker of understanding. "If they wanted to, they could easily take the ore by force, but instead, they have opted for more diplomatic means."

Saelys sat rigidly in her chair, her lips tightening with each word.

"That said, their involvement in the unjust brutality you three endured cannot be overlooked," Aesaelin continued, her voice softening slightly. "However, the situation is more complicated than I first assumed, and defying them outright would cause more harm than good. As ruler, I have to put the kingdom first."

A heavy silence filled the room as Aesaelin stood up, her eyes meeting Saelys'. She approached her, her steps slow and deliberate. With a slight bow, she said, "Please forgive me, but retrieving your land and avenging your people will not be possible. I do, however, ask for your help going forward—from all of you. I believe that with our combined strength, we can find a solution."

"Bullshit," Saelys said, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she stood. Her face flushed with anger, her hands trembling. "You haven't even tried! Just say, 'Give me that land back, and I'll give you some other land that doesn't already belong to anyone.'"

Aesaelin took a deep breath, her gaze dropping momentarily. "Believe me, I tried," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you have to consider the other kingdoms they're supplying. If I make the Arimari unhappy, what would stop those kingdoms from—?"

"I shouldn't have trusted you." Saelys' voice cracked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm just repeating the same mistake my people made." Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

For a moment, no one moved. The tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Vanwaven glanced at Aesaelin, his brows furrowed, while Korin stared at the table, his jaw clenched.

X sighed, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her shoulders. Pushing her chair back, she rose to her feet and silently followed after Saelys.

In the castle courtyard, X finally caught up to Saelys.

X's footsteps quickened as she spotted her.

"Saelys, slow down!" she called out, but Saelys ignored her, keeping her hurried pace.

X rushed over and grabbed Saelys by the arm.

"Saelys, talk to me."

"What do you want me to say?" Saelys snapped, tears streaming down her face. "You already know the whole story. My people were betrayed, massacred, kicked out of their homes. I worked so hard to avenge them X. The things I've done...I've sacrificed too much to get this far, and now it's all being thrown back in my face. She just wants to use us—how can't you see that? All that talk about Sancuster—"

"Fuck Sancuster," X interrupted.

"What?" Saelys replied, startled.

"You heard me. And fuck the Queen too," X added, her eyes hard. "She thinks she's using us, but we're the ones who are going to use her. Let her make nice with those alien bastards—because when we get the chance, you and I will take them down. You don't have to trust her, Saelys. Just trust me. We will get your home back."

She shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice ringing out across the courtyard.

"I SWEAR IT!"

Saelys stared at her, then let out a shaky laugh.

"Fine, I get it. You don't have to be so dramatic."

"It's called being passionate," X said, a teasing grin breaking through her intensity. "Now, how about we head back inside and keep playing politics?"

The queen sat slouched in her chair, her fingers massaging her temples in an effort to relieve her stress.

"I don't blame her, you know?" she said to Vanwaven. "You remember how I was when Father died."

Vanwaven nodded, a small smile on his lips. "You made the right choice, your Majesty. Leadership means making tough decisions, and it's only going to get harder from here."

Korin sat in awkward silence, feeling as if he were invisible to their conversation.

Just then, X and Saelys entered the room. X returned to her seat, while Saelys approached the queen, her head bowed in humility.

"Your Highness, I apologize for my outburst," Saelys said, her voice quivering. "I let my emotions cloud my judgment, and that was disrespectful. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me; I promise it won't happen again."

"Raise your head, Saelys," the queen replied warmly. "You're an invaluable member of this kingdom, and I'm grateful that you've chosen to stand with us."

Weeks later, a ceremony took place in the throne room to officially inaugurate them into the service of the Kingdom. High-ranking military personnel and nobles filled the hall, their voices hushed, though murmurs about the inauguration of a witch and an alien floated through the air. Despite the whispers, none dared to voice their objections in the Queen's presence.

One by one, they stepped forward to recite their vows.

"I swear to the Celestials, to the kingdom, to the Queen, and to myself, to protect the realm with honor and integrity. I pledge to uphold unity and display courage in the face of adversity, supporting the Queen and serving the people—my life is forfeit if I fail this oath."

After they had spoken, Vanwaven, as their direct superior, presented each of them with their rings—symbols of their commitment and service to the crown.

The Queen then stepped forward, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room as she prepared to deliver her speech.

"Honored guests, esteemed nobles, and loyal subjects,

Today, we gather to honor not just our new guardians but also the enduring spirit of our kingdom. The rings you now wear are far more than simple tokens; they symbolize your solemn oath to protect our realm and serve your Queen with unwavering loyalty.

In these trying times, we face threats that challenge our very way of life. Yet, united in purpose and resolve, we shall confront any adversity that comes our way. Your vows are a testament to the courage and integrity that define us as a people, and it is this courage that will light our path through even the darkest of days.

As you wear these rings, remember that they bind you not only to the crown but also to the hopes and dreams of our citizens. You are the shield that stands between them and chaos, and your unwavering dedication will inspire others to join us in this noble cause.

Let us march forward together, resolute and united. Together, we are unbreakable. Stand proud in your service, knowing that I, along with all our citizens, stand beside you in gratitude and unwavering support.

Now, rise and fulfill your destinies as the protectors of our realm!"