“Have you decided?” Varian asked in a worried tone.
“Hm.” Sarah propped her chin on her hands and answered.
They were sitting across a small, round dining table. They were in arm’s reach of each other.
“The Xanders are still looking for you.” Varian cupped her cheeks and looked at her seriously. “In fact, if we were a few minutes late, they’d have caught you.”
While Kyle and Maya were also pursued, those two wouldn’t go out. Edwina would take care of such things.
But Sarah…she insisted on training and combat outside. This was very dangerous.
Varian still couldn’t forgive himself for what happened to Sia, so he didn’t want Sarah to take such risks.
“Boo told me that they infiltrated my dorm.” Sarah sighed.
“Yes, so it’s dangerou—”
“So, I am going to use a good disguise. Boo gave it to me.” Sarah held up a plain mask and put it on her face.
Her beautiful face, shining blonde hair, and blue eyes changed into a rather ordinary face with grey eyes and purple hair.
“But can it hide you from powerful awakeners?” Varian said in a worried tone
“Don’t be afraid” Sarah said softly and held his hands over her cheeks. Slowly, she laid their hands on the table and interlocked their fingers.
“What?” Varian asked in confusion.
“You are very worried about me.”
“Of course, I am!”
“Because you think I’ll face…situations, like Sia.” Sarah looked into his eyes and said word by word.
“I—” Varian was at a loss for words.
Sarah pressed her hand lightly and Varian paused. Her hands were cold, like the ice attacks she always used. But he felt a sense of warmth.
As he looked into her eyes, they seemed to say.
‘I’ll be fine. And Sia…it’s not your fault.’
Varian looked away and sighed. “I have a disguise mask Enigma gave me. It works even for high awakeners. You can—”
“I don’t need it,” Sarah said.
“Huh?”
“Boo said that I can hide my identity from level 9s with this mask.” Sarah freed her hands and held up the mask again.
“Level 9? You sure?” Varian raised a brow.
“Boo made it from the…scrapped parts, apparently,” Sarah said in an awkward tone.
Ghostship nearly breaking apart wasn’t pleasant news to be reminded of.
Varian stiffened for a moment as his eyes reflected pain before he turned back to normal.
“Boo, this is very important. Can I trust you on this?” Varian said to thin air, but a cute voice answered.
“Yes, master.”
“…Fine.” Varian finally sighed.
Sarah stood up and walked to the exit. Her hands were tightly clenched. If she had a choice, she didn’t want to go.
‘For myself and for him, I must…’
When she was about to leave, she felt a warm hand holding her hand from behind.
She suppressed the sad expression on her face and smirked “Missing me already?”
Varian lightly pulled her around and said with a serious expression. “Don’t do anything too dangerous. Don’t contact master from a normal comm. Use the spare comms lavishly, but don’t take unnecessary risks.
Don’t help people without caution. And….”
As Varian continued on and on, Sarah stared at him with a bright smile.
Bit by bit, the reluctance and sadness in her heart dissipated.
She couldn’t register his words. All she saw was him concerned to the point he started speaking way more than he usually would.
‘Yes. A short separation for a better reunion. For our future, this much is nothing.’
“…and potion—” a soft hand covered Varian’s mouth and stopped him from talking further.
He was about to protest when the soft palm on his lips was replaced by a cool, softer, and sweet touch.
When Varian returned to his senses, she was already gone.
‘…We’re even now, eh.’ He chuckled to himself.
*** *** ***
Earth:
A secret realm stood in the center of a huge crowd. Tens of thousands of people were entering and exiting it each second.
It was managed by the planetary defense guard, so despite the presence of a huge crowd, there was no chaos.
The AI systems also helped maintain order, making it
In a black suit and trousers, Varian entered the secret realm in disguise. He looked at Enigma next to him and clicked his tongue.
Dr. Thomas successfully destroyed the tracker on Enigma a few days ago. It was also the last step in Varian’s plan.
Once it was done, everyone started to go to their own places. Kyle and Maya, Blue and then Sarah.
Finally, only the two of them were left.
At Enigma’s request, they were at a secret realm of the guardians—which was now turned into an honorary museum of sorts.
‘I didn’t expect I can walk freely again.’ Enigma lamented in her heart. Whether she showed it or not, the tracker annoyed her as much as it bothered her. So, when the tracker broke, she really felt the joy of liberation.
“Hey, keep your eyes straight,” Varian warned a guy who was gazing at Enigma with sinister intentions.
The guy was about to argue but his head suddenly buzzed and he experienced something more painful than death.
So, he shut up and ran away.
Varian shook his head and turned to his left.
Beside him was a lady wearing a mourning dress. A veil covered her face. Even though only her violet eyes and silver hair could be seen, she drew many gazes. Whether she was aware of it or not, she was a stunning beauty.
‘You could’ve put on one as well.’ Varian’s voice rang in her mind, referring to the face mask.
“I want to see them as myself. Not with a fake face.” Enigma replied in a tone that allowed no refusal.
“You cover most of your face. Even then, you’re stoic. What expressions do you even make?” Varian sighed in exasperation.
“…I don’t know?” Enigma replied as they stepped on a sheet of blue metal.
The sheet scanned their comms and after a flash of light, it shot into the air.
Whoosh!
