Chapter 73: Sumeru City

(Chapter 73 Sumeru City)

As the early morning sun cast long shadows across Caravan Ribat, Tempest stood outside, watching as his caravan prepared to split into two.

On one side, carriages and Siege Engines formed a formidable convoy. The Warden-Class, the massive machine hidden beneath thick rubber sheets, loomed over the rest of the caravan like an ominous sentinel. On the other side, Urgath's sleek airships hovered just above the ground, their engines humming as they prepared for the journey to Sumeru City. House Vance's knights had also arrived, their ranks forming a disciplined line, ready to escort the group heading to Port Ormos.

Ever since Nahida had shared her painful memory with him, there had been a strange silence. The once-frequent voice in his head, her guidance, and even her occasional playful remarks were absent. She hadn't spoken since, leaving Tempest alone with the weight of what she had shown him. That memory, the sorrow she had hidden behind her gentle smile, lingered in his mind like a ghost.

"Augh! Why do I have to go to Port Ormos too? I want to go to Sumeru City instead!"

Hatsume whined, crossing her arms in frustration. She kicked a rock beneath her feet, pouting like a child being forced to follow orders.

"You'll have your chance one day, Hatsume. For now, you need to help oversee the transportation of the Warden to the Dreadnought. That's just as important."

Tempest finally said, his voice calm but firm.

"Augh, fine! Might as well go sightseeing at Devantaka Mountain. I heard there's another giant Ruin Guard there…"

Hatsume huffed, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. Her frustration shifted to reluctant curiosity, but just as she turned to leave, eager to immerse herself in her mechanical fantasies, Tempest's voice called out, halting her in her tracks.

"Hatsume."

"Chief?"

She stopped, turning back to face him.

"Did you bring the Ghost suit that the Director showed us back at the testing grounds?"

Tempest asked, his voice calm but direct as he turned to face Hatsume.

"The Ghost suit? You mean the prototype armor?"

Hatsume blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.

"Yeah, I packed it with the rest of my babies. Why?"

Hatsume asked, curious to know what Tempest wanted with it.

"No questions, Hatsume. Just bring it here."

Tempest said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Hatsume paused for a moment, eyes wide as if to protest, but seeing the intensity in Tempest's gaze, she quickly nodded.

"Alright, Chief. I'll go grab it."

Without another word, she hurried off to retrieve the Ghost suit, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a more serious urgency.

Hatsume climbed inside her Siege Engine, rummaging around for a moment before stepping back out with a large, metal suitcase in hand.

"The Director originally told me to seek out help from the six Darshans at the Akademiya, particularly from the Kshahrewar. They've got a solid grasp on King Deshret's technology, especially when this baby's power came from it."

Hatsume said, patting the suitcase lightly.

"But since I'm not heading to Sumeru City, I guess it's up to you, chief."

Hatsume added with a smirk, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.

"Just, uh... try not to blow anything up while you're at it. It's still in the prototype stage, after all."

Hatsume handed the suitcase over to Tempest with a cautious smile.

"Alright."

Tempest accepted the suitcase with a nod.

"Let's move out!"

Falric called out, his voice ringing with authority. He raised his arm to signal the group, his tone leaving no room for delay. The caravan began to mobilize, preparing for the journey ahead. It was time for the group heading to Port Ormos to depart.

"Well, that's my cue to head out, chief. In case I don't see you again before I leave, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight."

Hatsume said with a playful smirk, winking as she pointed her fingers at Tempest like makeshift guns.

Tempest simply watched as Hatsume headed towards her Siege Engine, a resigned expression on his face. It was clear that she was about to embark on yet another of her reckless escapades.

"Falric."

"Your Grace?"

Falric approached Tempest, his demeanor attentive and respectful as he awaited further instructions.

"I need you to keep a close eye on Hatsume. Make sure she doesn't get into any more trouble. If she does, take appropriate measures to contain her, lock her up if necessary."

Tempest's tone was firm, underscoring the seriousness of his command.

"Understandable, Your Grace, it will be done."

Falric said with a nod.

Shortly thereafter, the caravan set off, with Falric taking the lead. The group was accompanied by the knights of House Vance, their presence providing a sense of security as they made their way toward Port Ormos.

Tempest opened the metal suitcase, revealing the Ghost suit inside. The suit, consisting of a sleek helmet and intricate armor, bore a design strikingly similar to that of the Primal Constructs.

"Ready to go, Your Grace?"

Urgath approached Tempest, accompanied by Rohan and Penance. As they neared, Tempest swiftly closed the metal suitcase, ensuring that the Ghost suit was securely tucked away. He nodded in acknowledgment, his mind already focused on the journey ahead.

"Mhm."

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Thanks to the airships provided by Urgath, Tempest's group soon arrived in Sumeru City. Upon their arrival, each member of his group was offered an Akasha Terminal by a man named Panah. In addition, Tempest was extended an invitation to meet with the Grand Sage of the Akademiya. Currently, he sat in an office within one of the buildings owned by House Vance, contemplating whether to accept the prestigious invitation.

*Knock knock.*

"Come in."

Tempest called out, setting aside the invitation letter he had been contemplating. The door slowly creaked open, and Faruzan entered the room.

"Hey there..."

Faruzan said, her voice carrying a mixture of casual familiarity and underlying concern as she stepped further into the room.

"Hey, well, don't just stand there, take a seat."

Tempest said, gesturing toward a nearby chair. He poured a glass of iced tea and set it on the table in front of her.

"Much obliged."

Faruzan said as she settled into the chair. Without hesitation, she drained the glass of iced tea in one go. Tempest, seeing her thirst, promptly refilled the glass and set it back in front of her.

"How have you been faring in this generation?"

Tempest inquired, his tone reflecting genuine curiosity.

"It was quite surreal, you know. Stepping into Sumeru City after almost a hundred years... I was struck by the feeling that I was still trapped in the Citadel, that it was all some cruel illusion created by a device. Time really has a way of playing tricks on your mind, doesn't it?"

Faruzan said with a touch of melancholy in her tone.

"It was thanks to Cyrus that I truly believed I was in reality once more. He handed me a book from the Kshahrewar, and... well, it confirmed that my former colleagues are really gone now, that they're no longer part of this world."

Faruzan said, handing the book to Tempest with a somber expression.

Tempest opened the book, revealing a dedication on the first page:

"Much of the content in this book came from Madam Faruzan's treatises and manuscripts. We hope that her name will still be remembered by future generations of students when she returns."

"I'm sorry to hear that..."

Tempest said softly as he closed the book and set it aside. His expression, though unreadable, he felt genuine sympathy for Faruzan's loss and the weight of her past.

"It was just a failed experiment. Such things happen to us researchers, don't they?"

Faruzan said, her voice carrying a hint of resignation. She looked at Tempest with a wry smile, acknowledging the inevitable setbacks that come with the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

"Trying to fit in was tough... All my research and works from the past century are considered obsolete. I tried proposing projects to the Grand Sage, but every single one was rejected or ignored. Honestly, the hardest part is getting by with no means to earn Mora. But at least they gave me a room to sleep in... Can't ask for too much, I suppose."

Faruzan lets out a weary sigh, her words tinged with frustration and a touch of resignation.

"I-"

"Seven hells, are you so low on Mora that you couldn't even afford to nourish yourself?"

Tempest asked, a hint of concern in his voice as he looked at Faruzan.

"Unfortunately, I'm limited to the food provided by the Akademiya, and it's not even all that great. To make matters worse, if I want more than my meager ration, I have to pay an extra fee. It's quite bothersome, I must say."

Faruzan said with a grumble, she admits grudgingly.

Tempest sighed before he spoke.

"You can join me for lunch later."

"Thank you! That sounds wonderful!"

Faruzan's face brightened, and she replied gratefully.

"Well then, let's get straight to the point, Faruzan, what's your answer? Are you willing to work for me?"

Tempest said, his tone turning serious.

"I... I need a bit more time, Tempest. Just a little more, that's all I ask... Please, just give me a bit more time to figure things out."

Faruzan shoots Tempest a pleading look, desperation, and fatigue showing in her eyes.

Tempest sighed before he spoke.

"Three days... I will be departing Sumeru for Port Ormos in three days. I won't be able to wait beyond that time. Make your decision within that period, as I must proceed with or without you."

Tempest said, his voice steady and resolute.

"Three days... Alright, I understand. I'll provide you with an answer in three days. I'll weigh all my options and make a decision by then. Just give me a short time to think things through, that's all I ask."

Faruzan nods reluctantly, a hint of resignation in her voice.

"Good, for now, you should have this. Consider it as sympathy from me."

Tempest said, placing a pouch brimming with Mora on the table. Faruzan's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her face as she reached for the pouch.

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At nighttime, Tempest stood alone in his dimly lit room, the soft glow of a single candle. He faced the mirror, his reflection staring back at him as he began the methodical process of donning the Ghost suit. Piece by piece, the armor encased his body. His face remained stoic, though a flicker of anticipation lingered in his eyes. The sleek, dark suit fit like a second skin, the design bearing the unmistakable influence of the Primal Constructs.

"How do you activate this thing?"

Tempest muttered under his breath as he slid the final piece of the helmet into place, locking it securely onto his head.

"Mmpf!"

Tempest grunted as a sharp, sudden migraine surged through his head the moment the helmet was fully secured. His vision blurred, and his entire body flickered like a glitching machine. He felt disoriented as if reality itself was warping around him. In an instant, his figure began to distort, and before he realized it, his form slowly faded from sight, turning completely invisible.

Tempest's breathing became shallow as he struggled to steady himself, watching in the mirror as his reflection disappeared. The suit had finally activated, but the searing pain in his head and the flickering glitches hinted at the many flaws still left in the Ghost suit's design.

"Who will I be tonight? That's the question..."