"Hey man… You managed to make it," Remy said as he entered Chad's quarters.
Chad lay resting, most of his complexion finally returning. His head remained tucked into his pillow, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The wooden beams above him shifted in shape—old and dark one moment, young and brown the next—before turning into a full-grown tree and reverting to its former state.
"Yeah…" Chad murmured, turning his head toward Remy.
Their eyes met, and silence fell.
They looked at each other like they wanted to confront something—say something real—but neither knew how to start.
…
"I'm leaving," Remy finally said after the long quiet.
Chad sat up slowly.
"I know. Tear told me," he replied, voice heavy and tired.
"I would've liked you to come with me," Remy said, glancing around the room. "But… as you can see."
Chad gestured at the space around him—objects ageing and turning young again in rapid, unstable cycles. Even the air around him bent strangely.
"For now… until I can manage to return to a normal state, I can't even leave this room," Chad said with a hollow laugh.
Remy looked at him—sadness tightening his expression.
"No. You should stay and get better. I know you'll handle it," Remy said, his eyes burning with sincerity.
"I'm sure when I come back from the mission, you'll be back to your old self."
He turned to leave.
"Remy…!" Chad called out.
Remy stopped mid-step and looked back.
"Be careful," Chad said, tossing him a pendant. "Give it back when you return."
"Sure thing."
Remy caught it, smiled faintly, and left Chad's room, heading toward the living room.
The pendant was made from a silver coin—carved with uneven scales, one side heavier than the other, a brown string woven neatly through a small hole at the top.
Remy slipped it over his neck.
"I hope you get better," he whispered under his breath as he stepped into the room.
Caroline and Kat were seated on the sofa opposite Tear, who looked sharp as always in his three-piece suit.
"How is he?" Tear asked.
"He's seen better days," Remy replied, taking his seat.
"Sure has. Don't worry too much about him, though. I'm sure he'll gain control over his powers soon."
"Yeah" Remy thought. Deep down, the entire thing felt like his fault.
"Well," Tear continued, "I received the message from Clara. The mission is set."
Remy and Kat straightened.
"You'll meet two other members when you arrive in Santiago. They'll debrief you fully, but your main task is simple: take care of the Nausab. Everything else will be handled by them." Tear leaned back as he spoke.
Remy and Kat both nodded.
"Good. For this mission, you'll need to wear these."
Tear handed over a large box to Kat and Remy.
They both opened the boxes, and inside were coats.
"Coats?" Remy muttered, puzzled. He lifted his out entirely and inspected it. On the left breast pocket was a sigil—five lotus petals with a blade extending from one side, cutting the flower clean in half.
"Because this isn't a secret mission, you'll need a cause that stirs the common folk," Tear explained. "These coats will serve as a visual marker—something people can rally behind."
"True… the main goal is to get rid of the Nausab. The other is to rally the people, to show them we can protect them—and that they can protect themselves."
"That way, they can join our cause for overthrowing the saints when the time comes."
Remy slipped the coat on. Though it felt heavy and oversized at first, it slowly shrank, adjusting perfectly to his size.
"Whoa…" Caroline's eyes sparkled as she watched.
"They're amazing, aren't they?" Tear said, a proud glimmer in his gaze.
"They have defensive capabilities as well. Their creator is a genius."
Kat's coat shrank differently—retracting and reshaping itself into a short blazer that fit her perfectly.
"Brilliant, brilliant," Tear said, standing up from his seat with excitement.
"This is a compass. It will lead you to the meeting spot."
Tear handed over a small compass. Its needle spun once, then snapped forward, pointing straight ahead.
"You're all set now. Good luck," Tear said, patting both of them on the shoulders.
"Yeah…" Remy replied, then walked over to Caroline. He crouched down so their eyes met.
"I'll be leaving for a while. Take care of yourself, alright?"
The words felt awkward coming out—he wasn't used to saying things like that. But now she was his responsibility, and he felt he had to say something.
"Okay… I will," she answered softly, blushing as Remy gently patted her head.
"Kat… let's go," Remy said, turning toward the door.
"See you soon, Tear." He waved as he disappeared around the corner.
Just then, the familiar fluttering sound echoed through the hall—wings beating quickly.
A blur shot forward and landed on Remy's shoulder.
"And where have you been?" Remy asked, raising a brow at Raven.
Raven's three eyes darted around, refusing to meet Remy's gaze.
"I was… simply exploring the mansion," Raven replied.
"Exploring, huh?" Remy repeated, staring still, locked on him.
Raven didn't add anything else.
They continued down the mansion's dim passageways. Growls echoed now and then, along with distant banging, but they pressed on until they finally stepped outside.
"Kat!" Remy called.
Kat had already run ahead toward the pond.
There, the two strange fish were swimming in circles again,, twirling around each other, a ritual they repeated every day.
"Apollo. Selene… It's time to go," Kat whispered.
The two fish stopped their dance.
Light burst from them—one glowing bright white, the other shimmering blue.
They rose from the water, levitating as their bodies shrank, folding into small paddle-like shapes before landing gently on Kat's wrists,forming a bracelet.
"What… was that?" Remy asked, his brows tightening.
"Oh, try to keep up," Raven sighed. "Can't you see? They're like me—those are her familiars."
His three eyes flicked around uneasily.
"They're twins brother and sister, Elfatin. That means the girl's path is Life!!."
"they sure are some talented people aroun you ha!?"
Raven paused, then added in a lower tone,
"Be careful with her. If you ever become her enemy… I don't think you'd survive."
"What?" Remy blinked, confused.
"Okay, let's go!" Kat said suddenly, cutting the moment short.
"Yeah… let's go," Remy replied quickly, his eyes still fixed upon Raven.