XX. Reaching For The Stars

— Just what the hell was that?

Nilo thought, standing outside the ruins of the cave that once housed Phaesevell, surrounded by hundreds in shock that their home and place of pleasure was forever gone. It was actually astounding how fast everything went by, how it all went down without warning. Being outside and breathing was a miracle one couldn't believe at the time. For Nilo's case, he was utterly dazed, dazed from waking up back in the manor to shifting to an empty void that lost all, only to end up back in the real world without a scratch. Calamity's Dream, as Violet called it, was truly a mysterious catastrophe.

To add in more mystery, the mayor vanished, no trace for him or his guards. The same could be said about Lejin, who fled the moment he caught wind of what was happening without bothering to alert anyone else. He didn't care about the poor souls that could have been lost. As for Violet, the most enigmatic out of all of them, she was the one who stayed behind to help those who were lost in their grief.

It was puzzling — Violet's behavior, that was. One moment she tried to murder Nilo and threw him as prey to the bloodlust stitchreaper — although she saved his skin not short after — and in another, she was helping out the commoners get through that tough time. Was she a friend or foe? Only time would tell.

But Nilo wasn't going to wait, he wasn't going to make her join him either.

After this whole incident, Nilo's lone days were over. Not only was Leslie clinging to his back now, but so was Eeira, the girl he never thought he would have to take care of. Given the situation, with her home lost and a lack of purpose, it was only inevitable. However, Nilo was still denying her to join the party.

'Trust me, you do not want to join me.' He pleaded, 'The city's right there! There are a million jobs there. You're not an average person, and you are well-educated, so I doubt that'd deny you entry.'

'But I don't want to!' She argued, 'And I know how to handle myself well, who saved you back there?'

'That woman!' He pointed at Violet, who was a good distance away.

'Technically, yes. But I was the one who performed that spell. I pulled you out of… wherever you were, and I stopped it all.'

'With the elastinum…, if you didn't have that little stone, we'd all be dead now.'

'That's why you should thank me. And that's why I should join!'

'No!'

Leslie stepped in, 'Just let her join, man. Nothing's gonna happen. We need the extra help out there.'

'Oh don't worry, I'm getting rid of you in the next town.'

Leslie placed his hand on his chest in shock, 'My god! You're gonna leave me now?! After all this time?! What are friends for… what are friends for…'

'It's not working!' Nilo knew Leslie was trying to guilt-trip him, but he knew better thanks to those years of "friendship."

Violet finished up her work and approached the trio. She overheard their whole conversation.

'Stop pretending to be the lone wolf, technorunner.' She smiled.

Nilo grabbed her by the arm, and took her to the side, away from the others. He was going to find out who exactly she was, and why she was helping him — waiting time was over.

'A little tough, aren't you?' She commented about him grabbing her arm firmly.

He let go, 'Who are you?'

'I'm Violet. I already told you. What more must I say?'

'Are you really Lejin's sister?'

'More or less.'

She was surprisingly cooperative with her answer, albeit they were quite vague. However, Nilo couldn't determine whether she was lying or not.

'What do you… What do you want?'

'Your reason!'

Her answer surprised Nilo a bit. It wasn't a bluff or a lie. This woman knew something extremely important.

'Or perhaps, did you forget it? Cipher… ringing any bells?'

She really knew what Nilo was after. The reason for why he roamed the Outlands for so long, for why he was after the elastinum's worth. He didn't want wealth or power. The technorunner was going to rewrite what's been done… to take down the most ancient dream.

He placed his hand on his holster with hesitation.

'I'm here to help you, not to fight.'

'How can I trust you? And how do you know all of this? You can't be a regre—'

'But I am, just as you. Perhaps we knew each other before, that's why it was easy to approach you. Don't you sense this strange familiarity?'

He did, but he couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept that wasn't the only one.

'Rest easy. Now, you walk over, take their hands, and let them join you. We'll need their help.'

'What do you mean "we"?'

'Don't play dumb, Nilo Ashling! The Outlands won't be too kind to that behavior.'

And so it was all set in stone. The technorunner's fate had diverted. No more lonely days. No more lost purpose. For now, the technorunner's and the lady of the lake's stories were just beginning.

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