Inverse System

As Emria and Saphrilla left to make refreshments for the guests, Rein began his report.

"We reached the Soot Pond at around noon, and after some investigation, we were forced in by a wave of excruciating sound. We dropped through the pond and into this cave that lead into a volcano. As we continued, we divided into a group of two. Core, Chloe, and Reggie stayed back while Clyde, Quint, and I continued forward. Something happened along the way and I split up from Clyde and Quint to go to the surface," Rein explained.

"That is what I need to know. What happened that made you want to go to the surface so suddenly?" Clyde asked.

"I heard a voice in my head… It was telling me to dig up. So naturally, I did. That's when I met him. The most formidable opponent I've ever had. He beat the shit out of me and nearly killed me. For the first half of the fight, I didn't even scratch him. I didn't stand a chance…" Rein claimed, beginning to quiver in slight fear, his expression growing weary.

"Hold on, that doesn't really make any sense… When we met back up with you in the cave, you looked fine," Chloe recalled.

"Right… Something happened during the fight. As I lay there on the ground, motionless, I suddenly awake to exceptional power. My hair turned black and my eyes turned red. I have no idea how or why it happened. My previously clean sword was splashed with blood at the tip when I awoke, but I didn't question it for long. I used this newfound power to fight him, this time, the fight was slightly more even. However, in the end, I ran out of energy and he won the fight."

"I assume that was when you saw the teleporter's light?" Core asked.

"That's right. The man I was fighting seemed distressed by the light, and swiftly took his leave when he noticed it without finishing me off. I met up with the others and when we got down to the cave, Clyde and Xenia were gone, and Quint was sprawled out on the ground, with a mysterious man was standing at the teleporter," Rein professed, crossing his legs on the couch and sitting back.

"That was when you and Reg fixed me up, right?" Quint asked.

"Right, and that mysterious man on the plate seemed to be the guilty party," Reggie added.

"That was Galo, captain of Crypt's attack squad. Quint and I were able to subdue him and place the ring on Xenia's hand," Clyde continued explaining what happened during the fight, and how they used mercury to counter Galo's Spring.

"Wow, and you came up with that plan on the spot Clyde?" Core was impressed, complimenting him as a fellow strategist, holding him in ever high regard.

"Partially… You see, I had been thinking for a long time about Galo's Spring," Clyde uttered, inducing a curious reaction for everyone except Quint and Xenia.

"What do you mean? You knew that guy?" Rein put his legs back down, sitting up to listen attentive.

Clyde briefly explained what he told Xenia in the prison cell, about his past, not going into too much detail.

"I see. So that's why you knew how to follow the code on the symbol they left in the hospital room," Core concluded.

"Yes... But shortly after we defeated him, our view was filled with a blue light and we were teleported into a prison cell. There was a window facing the ocean, and based on the sun's position, I can safely deduct that we were on the northern shore of the continent, outlooking the sea. A few minutes later, rain began falling. Based on the climate, we can assume that it was somewhere in the middle of the continent in terms of longitude," Clyde worked out, racking his brain along with everyone.

"Right, I think that's safe to guess… But if I remember correctly, Econica still controls the middle north of the continent, in the form of the capital city of Cornear. It has to be a strip of land in Orthlys territory... " Core followed up, making Chloe spread out a map on the living room table.

"North, in the middle of the continent, in Orthlys territory…" She said to herself, dragging her finger across the map, pinpointing a potential location.

"Could it be here?" She said, drawing a circle with a question mark beside it on the map in erasable ink.

"That's it. Before I came back, I saw a small village directly to the south. That must've been Sliwin," Rein exclaimed.

"Then I believe that it's safe to say that this is where we were held. Do you have any objections Xenia?" Clyde turned his head to her.

"Hmph, like I'd know. This is my first time seeing a map in 6 years," she pouted and turned her head away from him sassily, clearly angry about something.

"Okay..? Anyhow, we now know the enemy's base location," Clyde professed, confused about Xenia's reaction.

Emria and Saphrilla arrived with refreshments, Xenia taking the chance to stand up and help deliver them to everyone. She went around, setting tea at everyone's seats. When she reached Clyde, she set his drink down without even looking at him and quickly moved forward, confusing Clyde even further.

"You two looked around the base after you escaped, didn't you? Did you notice anything strange or worthy of note?" Core inquired to the two who seemed to be fighting.

Clyde explained what they saw, telling them about the 7 pods, and the unconscious soldiers.

"7 pods that lead into 1 large pod? And you say 2 of them were filled with a black light? Hmm…" Core thought to himself.

"Does that sound familiar to you Core? I'm more interested in those unconscious soldiers. You said that that red-haired guy barged in thinking you were an intruder?" Rein reassured.

"Yes. But we were not the intruders he was looking for. There was someone there before us, and judging by the fact that only the body of 1 guard was nicked, we can assume that it was one person with incredible power."

There was a moment of silence as the group took in the information, the principal carelessly munching on the cookies and tea as the rest of them sat there in distress.

"Hey, you got anything to say, or are ya just gonna keep stuffing your face?" Raxo spoke out in annoyance.

Julianne licked her fingers and took a deep breath, regaining her composure, everyone looking at her sternly.

"You all did good!" She commented, making them drop their heads in disappointment.

"Wha? Were you even listening?" Rein replied to the careless principal.

"There's still one thing you haven't explained Rein. How'd you return without our makeshift teleporter?" Core questioned curiously, bringing everyone's gazes upon Rein.

"Ah, that. Yeah, the red-haired guy's Spring let him teleport to people whose ears come in contact with a sound that he produced with their power. I just copied that, which let me teleport to people whose vision came in contact with something produced by my own power, for example, that ring," he pointed at Xenia's finger, everyone looking at it.

Suddenly, Rein teleported around the room, tapping everyone on the shoulder, ending up behind Chloe as he grabbed her horn, teasing her.

"Like that. See? If you look at that ring when I have this Spring copied, I can teleport to you," Rein stated, the girl sitting in front of him blushing profusely.

"H-hey, let go!" She pushed him off as he laughingly returned to his seat, Chloe's red face persisting.

"I think that's everything right? Anyone got anything to add?" Rein announced, looking around to see everyone shake their heads in negation.

"Perfect! I'll be taking my leave now!" Expressed the principal, finishing her cookies and cup of tea.

"Huh? You don't have anything to say?" Quint inquired as she walked out of the room.

"Ah, right there was one thing. Rein, Clyde, and Core, come to my office on the first day of school. As for the rest, you did an outstanding job in rescuing and curing Xenia. I am proud to call you students of Ranger academy," she left them with those parting words, instilling them with great determination and inspiration, making them even prouder of their achievements.

"Oh, and we don't have a room ready for Xenia, so I'll allow her to sleep here tonight," she informed, popping her head back into the room for a second before leaving.

The girls got excited with the thought of having a slumber party, cheering up Raxo who was the only one left out while the boys bid their farewells. Quint and Reggie left, saying goodbye to Xenia on their way out. Quint shook Rein's hand as he departed, and re-affirmed what he told Rein in the bath.

"We should also take our leave Core. I do not have the room key on me, so I'll have to use yours," Clyde said as he stood up to leave the room, Xenia watching him out of the corner of her eye. That was when Core froze up, smiling nervously at Clyde.

"Ahaha… About your side of the room…"

Core explained something to Clyde, who reacted by staring at him with a deadpan expression.

"You blew up my bed?" He re-iterated, as Raxo and Core began apologizing profusely to him.

"I'm so sorry man, Greeny and Bluey told me that she was a good engineer, so when I got her to help me with the teleportation device, it kinda blew up…" Core bowed down continuously, begging for forgiveness.

"We can confirm that story," Saphrilla added.

"Yep, It was a huge boom!" Emria described.

"And why were you working on my side of the room?" He interrogated, crossing his arms and beginning to tap his feet.

"Ahaha, hey!" Core nudged the red-haired girl beside him, indicating that she should explain.

"I uhh… kinda panicked and threw it to the other side of the room. But don't worry! I promise I'll fix it… maybe…" She claimed. Clyde sighed and put his hand over his face in disappointment.

"No thank you… I'll fix it myself tomorrow," he sighed, putting his fingers in the wrinkle between his eyebrows.

"Rein, may I ask to sleep in this room tonight?" Clyde questioned, making Xenia physically twitch.

"Sure thing. Pretty sure there were a bunch of extra mattresses in one of the closets. We can have our own little slumber party," Rein said, putting his hand on Clyde's shoulder, looking at him sternly in the eyes.

Clyde nodded, furrowing his eyebrows as Core and Raxo left, continuing to apologize as they walked out the door.

"Well I guess we should begin accommodating our guests! Rein! Chloe! You go set up the mattresses!" Emria demanded, she and Saphrilla pushing them along the hall.

"Okay okay, sheesh. We're going!" Rein cried out.

"You two may make yourselves at home. Emria and I have some secret business to attend to," Saphrilla and Emria ran into the kitchen and peeked their heads out of the threshold, spying on Clyde and Xenia, who stood there without saying a word to each other.

"Don't you think those two are acting weird? They were holding on to each other when we first saw them, what do you think happened?" Emria whispered.

"According to my analysis of the situation, it was because Clyde did not compliment her on her outfit," Saphrilla concluded.

"Wow! Just because of that! My gosh, girls are so weird…"

"You are a girl as well."

"I know that! But I wouldn't get mad if someone didn't compliment me on my outfit! We need to do something to fix this," Emria whispered loudly, slapping her hand on Saphrilla's back repeatedly.

"Indeed. Stop smacking my back and follow my lead, I have a plan."