Alive

Edited by: ASaltedFish

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In the morning, Ellery saw that his terminal was lighting up with new messages, but he didn't want to look at them yet. He slowly washed his face and mouth before going downstairs to order his breakfast. 

As he sat at the table waiting, Ellery finally understood where Aster was coming from when he said his energy was drained and he only wanted to be alone. 

Even as he watched his terminal light up like a Christmas tree, he didn't want to answer any of them at the moment because he just wanted to rest by himself a little longer. 

After breakfast, he went to check up on his vegetable garden and the spiritual plants in the greenhouse and found everything to be alright. They were already watered, so all he needed to do was inject his spiritual energy into the soil. 

He already picked up what he needed for this week's stabilizers, and his workers had already picked up the vegetables that were ripe and ready to be sold or used for meals at the estate. 

It was much easier to have other people helping him. 

Once he finished his morning routine, he finally checked his terminal and saw he had hundreds of messages from friends, instructors, and his manager. 

He looked at the messages from his manager first and saw that they had already put together a schedule that would suit him. Whenever he had to guide Akimitsu and Edros, he would get a day off to recuperate. 

After that, other high-ranking sentinels had the same appointments once a week. There was also another day for sentinels who were new or could not come weekly because they lived too far away. 

What he needed to do was confirm that the amount of people he would see the following day was within his spiritual energy levels. He saw there were only six people scheduled for that day and confirmed that it was fine. 

After that, he responded to his close friends and told them that yes, he could guide Edros and Akimitsu. That was what he did yesterday at the Guide Association. 

He should talk with the Director to amp up the security so reporters could not barge in all the time… 

Once Ellery responded to everyone and saw that all of his stabilizers were successfully shipped, he sighed in relief. 

'Aster… Are you feeling alright?' He thought it was best to check in on Aster from time to time. 

[I am okay. I feel a little bit better now. Are you okay?] 

'I am glad you are feeling a bit better now. As for me, I think my social battery is catching up to me because I am exhausted. Or maybe it's just there is a lot on our shoulders.' 

[Do you need me to take over for today? I don't mind doing that until you feel better.] 

It was the first time Ellery had ever heard Aster offer to switch places. 

To some people, Aster seemed like he lacked empathy, but that wasn't the case at all. He did feel empathy; he just didn't show it like other people did. 

'Thank you, Aster. I will take you up on this offer. If you need anything, do not be afraid to call out to me. I will be here, listening to you.' 

After that, the two switched places. 

Aster opened his eyes and felt that he was fine. He texted Edros and Akimitsu that he, Aster, was fine and he was taking Ellery's place for a moment. 

He then walked into his safe room and dimmed the lights. 

Aster decided to look at his collection and see if he could find any more on the market. Maybe he could go mining on his own when he had some free time… 

He collected mostly small crystals, gems, and rocks because he didn't want to carry anything too big. He had towers, free forms, palm stones, and even sculpted ones. His favorites were the ones that were sculpted into butterfly wings. He also bought bracelets too. 

Aster put on his gloves and touched some of his favorite pieces, feeling at peace with himself.

*****

On a distant planet at the border of the Zevaria Empire, a man with a prosthetic left leg was picking vegetables on the farm, humming a song that his parents used to sing to him. 

He didn't have a terminal on his arm, but he was saving up for it. 

A couple of years ago, he crash landed on this planet, MPE02. His mecha and the terminal on his arm were completely destroyed, but he somehow managed to survive. 

His mecha crashed into an old couple's farm, and they saved his life. After that, he decided to help them with their farm while he saved up to get his new terminal and contact his little brother and wife, who were waiting for him on the Imperial Star. 

Yes, this was Orin. He was alive and well. Just… couldn't contact his family. 

This planet did have some contact with the rest of the Starnet, but only the rich did. As for the common folk, like the ones who took him in, they only had access to a more local network. What he wanted was the ability to access the Starnet, but he knew that was going to take him a bit longer to save up for, especially since he had to pay for his prosthetic leg first. 

Having two legs would make it easier to work. That was what he had to keep telling himself. As for how long it would take for him to get a terminal, he wasn't very sure, but he hoped he would be able to get it by the end of this year.

After paying 4000 star coins for his prosthetic leg, he was left with a few star coins in his account. That was a few months ago. He also paid rent and other bills, but he was not going to lose hope.

To get a terminal, he needed to pay 10,000 star coins. Since he got his prosthetic leg, he should be able to get another job to be able to earn more money… The Ineks on this planet were not strong, so he should be able to defeat them without spiritual powers. Working as a mercenary was his best bet to getting enough star coins.

He couldn't use his powers as a sentinel because he only wanted his wife to guide him, no one else. Plus, they were a bonded pair. He wouldn't be able to get guided by anyone else even if he wanted to. 

After finishing his work on the farm, he went to the mercenary guild that was in the city. He sat at the table, waiting for a job to pop up. 

He took a sip of a carbonated beverage while listening to the other mercenaries talk and exchange information. 

Orin took note of Inek groups that mercenaries saw or of rough terrain and crazy weather. Even if they were low-level Ineks, other things could kill him. 

He had learned that the hard way.

"Orin, there is a group of level two Ineks, can you do it?" The person at the front desk called out to him. 

For the mercenary guild, Orin was a godsend. He was able to eliminate groups of Ineks on his own, and he was incredibly strong. They didn't know where he came from or why he was here, but Orin completed requests that most of the mercenaries could not complete even in groups. 

No one looked down on him for losing a leg or for working on the farm part-time. He could beat everyone in the guild without his prosthetic leg. 

Orin walked up to the front desk and sat down. "What is the reward?" 

Sometimes, the reward was so small there was no point in him doing it. He had a goal that needed a lot of money. He was not running a charity.

"This time, it's 800 star coins. This group of Ineks attacked a wealthy businessman, and he wants revenge. Some of his subordinates risked their lives for him to escape. He hopes you can find some parts of them left behind as well." 

Orin thought about it and thought it was fine. He had the time and understood. As a soldier of the First Fleet, he was told that he had to bring home his comrades no matter what… Even if all they had left was their hand or a dog tag. 

They needed to come home. 

"I understand. I will do my best to bring them back and kill these Ineks. Give me their last known location and as many details as you can give me." 

The receptionist gave a sigh of relief because he was worried that Orin would turn down the request. Thankfully, his worry was for nothing. "Of course, let me send you the information." 

Everyone had something similar to a business terminal that was cheap and easy to take off. Unfortunately, it only used a local network. 

The receptionist sent the information to Orin's communication device and wished him the best of luck. 

As for Orin, he went back to his seat to look at the information on the group of level 2 Ineks. 

The group was comprised of five Ineks, and one of them was seen using a weird skill that enhanced the power of the other Ineks. Orin had seen these kinds of Ineks before. 

The group of Ineks would do their best to protect the enhancer Inek which would buff them in return. As long as you can kill the enhancer first, the rest would be easy to kill. 

With 800 star coins, he would be one step closer to buying a terminal to connect to the Starnet.

Ellery… Darya… 

He was doing his best and he wasn't going to give up… If only he could let them know that he was alive and okay.