It had been a week since Florka's surprise trip to Sky Boys Island.
The days had found a pattern that seemed almost normal, if "normal" could ever apply to a gang of S-class potentials hunting curses for amusement and vengeance living on a secret sky base.
On September 22, 2034, it was a calm afternoon. The team dispersed throughout the main plaza in their typical post-training lethargy as the sun was warm and the wind was mild. Training that morning had been rigorous; three B-class and two C-class curses had been targeted and neutralized in coordinated attacks across the country. Only the normal post-fight adrenaline crash mixed with the joy of yet another good day; no injuries, no fatalities.
Catching the light as he leaned back with his eyes half-closed, Orced sat on the broad stone bench at the edge of the plaza. Though he seemed to be the cool leader, he never quite lost a subdued alertness.
Macker was lying on the grass nearby, over and over throwing a little rubber ball up and snatching it. "Man, that B-class yesterday in the mountains was a pain in the ass. Every time I thought I had it fixed, thing would revive. We nevertheless let it slip in less than eight minutes. New record?
Sitting cross-legged Nix grinned without gazing up as he played with a little explosive core. "Seven minutes forty-three seconds." I checked the timing. We are really excellent at this and it scares us.
A few meters away, Ema was lying on his back reviewing the fight film with a laptop balanced on his stomach. "Thermal readings were unprecedented. That last one nearly made A-class halfway through. It's good Sano noted it when he did.
Sano sat nearby, shield resting against his knee, gently cleaning a little dent out of the metal with a cloth. "Teamwork, nothing else will do."
Aftor rested against a nearby pillar, knife flipping idly between his fingers. Speaking of teamwork... boss, last week you still haven't told us what happened with that Hedonas guy. Still, eh? The one you ran across Kruna at the coffee shop. Almost an hour you two spent in conversation. What was that on?'"
For a minute the issue hovered in the air. As a number of heads swiveled toward Orced, the team's relaxed conversation died off.
Looking up with a slight smile but remaining silent, Kruna, who had been honing one of his blades a short distance away, waited to see how Orced would react.
Orced sat a little straighter and opened his eyes fully, the simple grin returning to his face. "Curious bunch, aren't you? It was simply a talk. But he wanted to chat. He is more of a messenger than a frontline fighter. Polite man. Concerning Sky Boys, about what we are doing, about why we are working outside Hedonas control, inquired. Nothing excessively harsh. He even paid for the coffee.
Macker sat up on his elbows. "And?" Did he threaten us? Suggest a trade. Seek to enlist you.
Orced chuckled quietly. "Not like that at all. He made sense. Said Hedonas is keeping a careful eye on us right now, particularly following the A-class we destroyed. He advised we might want to start a discussion. Neutral territory."
Aftor quit turning his knife over. "You are not really considering it, are you?"
Orced shrugged gently. "I said we would give it some thought. Offered him a meeting time and venue. Tomorrow at evening, that ancient teahouse Perpa City's north side."
Kruna at last spoke, voice steady but sharp. "Are you heading by yourself?"
Orced nodded readily. "Yes. Just by myself. "
The reaction was instantaneous.
Kruna stood up straight and forgot about his blades. "Not a good idea. I'm joining you, or never mind."
Aftor shoved off the pillar, knife vanishing into his sleeve. "You go in there alone and Hedonas chooses to pull something, you are outnumbered. At least two among us will help."
Macker had already risen to his feet. "Count me in as well. I owe them for all week's worth of paranoia caused by them."
Nix grinned, setting his explosive core down. "I'll be there if there's even a slight chance of fireworks."
Ema stood up and shut his computer. "I have surveillance gear available here. Keep concealed, watch everything.
Sano nodded just once; his large body moved as he stood. I'll go. Shield has you covered should events get ugly.
Orced lifted a hand, his motion delicate but strong. His voice remained steady, bearing that same inherent leadership that had first attracted them all to him. "I am grateful for it. Indeed. But I am traveling alone. This isn't a war. It is a dialogue. Coming with a full strike team turns a meeting into a standoff instead of stopping it. Hedonas has to realize we are not looking for conflict. At least not yet. I'll make it. I understand how to argue myself out of difficulties."
Kruna's eyes constricted. "And if they won't want to converse? If it turns out to be a trick?"
Orced's grin never changed. "I will then manage it. You all know I have the ability to. Trust me on this one."
The team looked at each other, obviously not happy but not wanting to push more when Orced spoke in that way.
Aftor murmured to himself. "I still find it unappealing."
Orced leaned back once more and deftly changed the topic. Talking about things I dislike, did anybody else hear something more about Florka and his Karkas group?
The name descended like a stone into the dialogue.
Macker scowled. Not really much. Only hearsay. Others argue he is creating something enormous in the eastern wilderness. His personal cult. Various views—preserving curses instead of hunting or anything. Sounds like a headache about to occur.
Kruna soft click. "He is S-class. That much we understand. And he obviously has a history with you. His last week approach to you... That was more than simply soured old friendship. That concerned me personally. "
Orced made a dismissive hand wave, but for a brief second his eyes sharpened. "Florka has always been dramatic. When we were younger, he was the silent child in the background, always watching but never really stepping into the spotlight. He has now established his own small kingdom and believes he can instruct me on how to live my life. It's silly. Immature. While the rest of us are trying to create something real, he is still caught in the past. Right now, I'm not concerned about him so I'm not spending effort. He knows where to find me whenever he wants to have an honest discussion. Let him play in his sandbox till then.
Ema cocked his head. "Are you certain? He didn't appear to be the sort to simply leave without a word.
Orced's grin came back, straightforward and assured. I am confident. Florka talks a big game, but he's still the same guy who used to follow me around because he didn't know what else to do. He will make noise but he will not do anything foolish. Not quite yet.
After that, the team reverted to their normal comfortable banter as the discussion strayed. Macker once again began lamenting the most recent B-class battle; Nix threatened to show a new explosion technique on a training dummy; Ema showed everyone a humorous clip from the video; Sano listened quietly with his usual small smile.
Orced sat among them laughing at the right times, making remarks when necessary, but his thoughts were already a few steps ahead—considering tomorrow's meeting with Pero, the invisible island now serving as their stronghold.
The sun kept its lethargic fall, painting the clouds beneath in vivid pinks and oranges. Hidden from the world but quite much alive with a goal, Sky Boys Island floated gently above it all.
Things would get more difficult tomorrow either way.