The Trip to Ultima Tower

"So, that's why we felt that pressure during the fight? It was the beginning of The Gaze of Wrath?" Charlie asked Sky. The day after Sky's birthday, the two grouped up for breakfast near a center of food distribution that Sky spent all night setting up. He structured all he could with the help of his strands and others who were willing to stay up all night.

"Precisely. I can't think of another reason that the pressure that made you and your new friends collapse was there. I think that covers everything that needed an explanation. So, your new friends, Charlotte and Asoh. Can I trust them?" Sky asked Charlie.

"Yes. I trust them with all I have. But... we need to talk about Orion and these three people who were there in Ultima Tower with us," Charlie began. Sky sat on the picnic table behind him, peering into Charlie's eyes, waiting for an explanation.

"We were jailed in the beginning, and across from Alex and me was him... it was Orion. I couldn't believe my eyes, but when I staged an injury to get myself out, he helped us. Not out of obligation... but out of the kindness of his heart. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true," Charlie stated, but Sky shook his head as if he disapproved.

"No, it's not far-fetched. Orion told me something right after I won against him. It was that, no matter what, somebody has to play the villain in every story. Somebody has to put their life on the line to get their point across and lessen the blow of those just like him. I genuinely think that as bad as Orion was, and still is to this day, the only reason I'm alive is because he drew attention to himself after he learned who I was," Sky confessed to Charlie. It wasn't a frequent thing that he admitted to what he believed Orion's actions to be, but nonetheless, Charlie still understood.

"He said he was going to face off with Ultima, but she arrived here not long after us, which meant that he must've died or lied, I'm not sure which I would prefer to think," Charlie said, scratching his head next.

"We should go looking for him. At least to where he said he was going. I don't want to trail the man, because I'm not sure what I would like either," Sky said. He sat up, stretched his arms out, and walked forward, pushing a button on his chest that Ruby gave him to communicate with others.

"It's Sky Asterio here, I'm calling upon all Arkians who are awake. I need four people with me, who's volunteering?" He asked, waiting patiently for answers to come up.

"I'll go!" Dani shouted out.

"Count me in," Tavian added.

"Just to keep you safe," Alexia agreed.

"Might as well," Troy finished.

The four people all grouped up around the gate as fast as they could, eventually merging together with Sky and Charlie to walk to Ultima Tower, or at least what was left of it.

"Sky, how long have you been awake now? It's eight in the morning, and you were up at the crack of dawn yesterday. You put up all that stuff, and now you're mobilizing to start a new mission? Don't you need some sleep?" Charlie asked. Before Sky could answer, Dani chipped in.

"Well, he had moments to rest. He quickly set up the first distribution center and then sat in my room all night to make sure nobody snuck up on me," Dani said with a gleeful smile.

"Uh, and you just let that happen? Is there something about you two I don't know?" Troy tried to tease, but in synchronization, Dani and Sky both spoke up.

"I'm in love with her,"

"I'm in love with him,"

The two said, smiling after noticing their similar pattern of speech. Troy seemed embarrassed afterward.

"So, how did you two know?" Troy asked. Sky was surprised, listening to a person he never took for being romantic ask for advice. In his mind, Sky wasn't even sure how he knew, but something started on the beach.

"I always had a fascination with him, but there was a certain point when things got bad and people died. He was injured and carried me with one arm out of a frozen-over lake, protecting me from all danger, even when he was outnumbered and knew he would lose. I asked him if he thought I would die next, and he told me he would protect me. Ever since then, I knew. What about you, darling?" Dani asked with a smile. It seemed that Sky was trapped with whatever he could say.

"Uh... after the events on the beach where we first awakened, there was a man named Raven who took Dani hostage and threatened to kill her. I'm not sure what first started it, but Dani's cries for help snapped something in my mind that alerted the entire world of my awakening. If you preemptively heard of my rise to popularity, chances are Dani being in danger caused it," Sky confessed. It made Dani red in the face and gave Troy motivation.

"Got it! So, I just have to save a girl in danger!" Troy said with confidence. After he said it, he slowly turned his head to Alexia with a dull, slick smile.

"Knock it off! I'm not in danger!" She slapped him lightly across his face, causing everybody to laugh viciously loud.

"But if you are and I save you, does that mean you'll fall in love with me?!" Troy pleaded to Alexia, grabbing onto her left arm while she dragged him further along the path. Tavian helped him to his feet eventually after Troy let go, tapping the side of his head.

"Look, kid. The trick to love isn't to go searching for it, but to let it find you. Think, if you would only help Alexia to get her to fall in love with you, is that the kind of man she would like to love?" Tavian asked. Charlie was impressed by his wise knowledge, and even Dani clapped as Troy leveled his mind, thanking Tavian for the advice.