The moment Lexie stepped out of the room, Ciel was the first to spot her. His face lit up and he bolted toward her, throwing his arms around her waist in a desperate hug.
"You’re really coming," he whispered, his voice trembling. "You’re really coming with us."
Lexie placed a shaky hand on his head, stroking his golden hair gently as she tried to ground herself. "Of course, Ciel," she murmured softly, her voice tinged with an exhaustion she couldn’t quite hide. "I promised, didn’t I?"
From across the room, Eijar looked quietly, her sharp gaze fixed on Lexie. There was no mistaking the silent message in her eyes—a mix of pity and disbelief.
Lexie could feel the weight of Eijar’s unspoken words pressing down on her, accusing her of foolishness, of recklessness, of walking straight into destruction.
The stare lingered like a brand, but Lexie didn’t flinch. Instead, she tightened her grip on Ciel as if his embrace could shield her from the judgment and the storm that awaited her.
Astrid stepped closer to Lexie. Her piercing gaze locked onto Lexie’s fragile frame, scanning her from head to toe as if assessing her worth.
"Do you think you’re physically capable of keeping up?" Astrid asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "This isn’t a game, Lexie. You’re rebels—all of you—and leveling up ? It’s treason in its purest form."
Lexie’s breath hitched at Astrid’s bluntness, but before she could respond, Astrid continued, her words colder, harsher.
"And I," she said, her tone dropping to a near hiss, "don’t want to be caught for that crime. I hope you understand what you’re walking into."
Her arms crossed as she tilted her head slightly. "If you slow us down ..."
Lexie interjected, her eyes glowing with sadness. "You can leave me behind... I get it, Astrid. I get it."
She clenched her hands into fists at her sides.
" I know I’m not strong like you. I know I’m not... enough for any of this," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I’ll figure out my own way."
Lexie’s gaze dropped briefly to the floor .
Isiah immediately cut through the tension with his usual sharpness. "We should head on," he said flatly, his voice devoid of any warmth or patience.
He didn’t spare Lexie a glance, as though her pain and Astrid’s words were nothing more than fleeting distractions.
The plan was straightforward. Astrid, with her connections and status, would lead them to a transportation center using one of the sleek modern cars she had access to.
She was their key to navigating this transition, and Isiah, ever pragmatic, had no qualms about exploiting her knowledge and influence to ensure their success.
Astrid nodded briskly, brushing past Lexie without another word. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Isiah’s demeanor mirrored hers—cold, efficient, and utterly dismissive.
The night sky was cloaked in heavy clouds as the group moved quickly and silently toward the sleek, modern car Astrid had parked just outside her apartment.
The vehicle gleamed unnaturally in the dim moonlight.
Astrid tapped the side of her neck, activating her imprant—a small device embedded just under her skin near her collarbone. It pulsed faintly with a bluish glow as it synced with the car, unlocking it with a soft chime.
She opened the driver’s door and slid in with practiced ease.
"Get in," she ordered.
Lexie hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering near the door handle as she glanced back at Ciel and Isiah.
Ciel was already climbing into the back seat with Eijar, his small frame settling in nervously as he glanced between Lexie and Astrid.
Isiah, on the other hand, didn’t wait; he strode to the front passenger seat and got in without so much as a glance behind him.
Lexie swallowed hard and opened the rear door, sliding in next to Ciel and Eijar.
The car’s interior was unlike anything she had ever seen—sleek, minimalist, and filled with faintly glowing panels that responded to Astrid’s imprant.
The vehicle purred to life as Astrid placed her hand on the central console, the engine humming with a low, almost soothing vibration.
"The village of Krova is about thirty kilometers north," Astrid said "It’s a small settlement—barely more than a pit stop—but it has a transportation hub that can get us to the next region. Just don’t draw any attention."
The car glided forward effortlessly, its engine silent save for the occasional low whirr as it navigated the uneven terrain.
The road was barely a road at all—more a series of cracked paths and overgrown tracks that twisted through the shadowy wilderness.
Despite the rough conditions, the car moved smoothly, guided by Astrid’s skillful handling and the advanced navigation system synced to her imprant.
Lexie sat stiffly, her hands clenched in her lap as she stared out the window.
The landscape was bleak, a patchwork of dying vegetation and skeletal trees. The darkness outside pressed against the glass, a stark reminder of how isolated they were.
In the front, Isiah stared straight ahead, his expression unreadable. Occasionally, Astrid would glance at him, but neither of them spoke.
Ciel shifted uncomfortably beside Lexie, his small hand brushing against hers. She looked down at him and forced a smile, though her heart felt heavy.
"It’s going to be okay," she whispered, more for herself than for him.
After nearly an hour of driving, the lights of Krova appeared in the distance—faint, flickering beacons that hinted at a semblance of civilization.
As they drew closer, the settlement revealed itself: a cluster of weathered buildings, most of them patched together with scrap metal and wood.
The transportation hub was on the far edge of the village, its entrance marked by a crude sign that flickered intermittently.
Astrid pulled the car to a stop just outside the hub, her imprant dimming as she powered down the vehicle.
"This is it," she said, turning to face them. Her gaze lingered on Lexie for a moment. "Follow my lead, and don’t do anything stupid."
Isiah was the first to get out, his movements fluid and confident as he surveyed the area, then , Eijar followed him.
Ciel followed hesitantly, sticking close to Lexie as they exited the car. Lexie stepped onto the uneven ground, her boots crunching softly against the gravel as she took in their surroundings.
" This place is your way to the next region !" Astrid said .