The three emerged from an invisible rift. Pansy was the last to move, almost trembling as she set her foot on the ground. The rift behind them quickly changed shape. A small hyaline clover hovered in the air, its transparency akin to water.
"It's better to store that," Randall advised Dawn. She nodded, manipulating one of her rings. The clover was sucked into a yellowish circle, disappearing from the trio's sight.
When Dawn clenched her fist, she finally looked around, realizing where they were. Though seemingly isolated in an airfield, the giant wings of airplanes were clearly visible. It was night, and they could hear distant voices, as well as the shrill sound of engines.
"We're at the back of an airport," Randall surmised, turning to the girls. They nodded, but Pansy had a frown on her face. "What's the problem?"
"I'm not dressed for a potential battle. I didn't even come armed..." she commented, avoiding looking directly at the man. "Isn't it better if I stay here? Guarding our return?"
"Pansy," Dawn said. "There's no return spot. The return object is with me; we can go back from anywhere."
The young girl's crystalline eyes moved, almost foolishly surprised by the information.
"Really?" She scratched the back of her braided hair. Catching Randall's gaze, she swallowed what she was about to say.
"We better get out of here. We don't want to be seen," Dawn walked on, taking a few more steps. "I'll use the ring."
"Before that, let me call the cavalry," the two women quickly became alert, staring at the man.
"What does that mean, sir?" Pansy asked fearfully. "You didn't bring the..."
"Of course, I did," he affirmed, moving between them and pulling a golden device from his trouser pocket. It was small but conspicuous. Gold ornaments decorated it, and there was also a sketch of a falchion sword. "A Potestade never walks without armor. And in my case, I'm never without my apparatus or my carriage."
Dawn seemed neither surprised nor affected, but Pansy:
"You brought the carriage and the armor?!"
"Why the surprise?" Randall tossed the apparatus in the air. In two seconds, it lit up. "My armor goes wherever I go."
Not only was the burly man's body covered in robust, shimmering material, but also a richly modeled, grandiose carriage appeared near them. Its large size was eye-catching and exaggerated. The wheel axles were pointed and threatening, some pillars slightly extended outward. Even the seats were well-cushioned with fine, delicate finishing.
Randall was already in his full armor. He held a falchion in his hand, a fearsome-looking sword nearly his size. A crimson cape fell over his back, and on his shoulders, two bases were connected to a chain-link collar. There was a pressure on the ground when he had to move. Dawn and Pansy disappeared from view as he faced them.
"Get in the carriage," he said, slinging the sword over one shoulder. He looked at Dawn. "Time to use the ring."
She simply nodded in response.
In the sky, Randall led the way in his flying carriage, controlling the robust machine with a steering wheel. The strong wind swept the hair of all three passengers backward. Pansy was sitting in the back seats, trying to shield herself from the breeze, while Dawn, seated next to the man, used one of the three rings on her fingers. A small globe appeared in the palm of her hand. Two bright points emerged, but she furrowed her brow, noticing something different.
"It must be Elio and the person who followed him, right?" Randall deduced. "They're close to each other; something must be happening. Let's head in that direction, then. Right, Dawn?"
She didn’t respond, her attention fixed on the globe in her palm.
"You’re sure no one can see us, right?" Pansy squeezed in between them, visibly anxious. "We'll be breaking the law if someone from this world sees us here."
"No, no one can see the carriage or even us. But if I throw you from here, they will indeed see your body crashing to the ground," Randall retorted sharply, making Pansy gulp.
"I'll go back to my seat."
Randall then turned to Dawn beside him. She seemed to be plotting something in her head, as if speaking internally.
"Hey, sad eyes! Should I keep going this way or not? Dawn!" His loud call snapped her back to reality. She blinked several times.
"Yes! Let's go in this direction. Look, we are here and the other points..." She pointed at the globe. "We need to move quickly."
"Tell me," he said. "What's going on? What are you feeling?"
She hesitated slightly but seemed to yield.
"The ring is being attracted by a different energy," she explained, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "It's the energy of a Divine Instrument."
Randall blinked, not comprehending.
"What's the problem? We know it's Elio."
She shook her head.
"No, Randall. There are two Divine Instruments." The man arched his thick eyebrows. "Not just that, there’s something else... Another small point, a different energy, very slight, but malevolent. The ring is vibrating..." Randall's face immediately changed. "Since I used it on the hourglass, I can feel it even in my bloodstream. I think the ring wants to show me something more..."
He placed his hand on Dawn's arm. She stopped talking.
"Calm down a bit. Just give the ring the necessary attention, alright? Besides, how could there be two Divine Instruments here?"
"The points are increasing," she said suddenly. "As if a great power is being used."
"Guys..." Pansy's voice came anxiously. "I think you're going to want to see this."
When Randall and Dawn turned their heads, a strong remnant of light appeared on the not-so-distant horizon. It came from below, lasting only a few seconds. Looking back at the globe on the ring, Dawn could hardly believe it.
"That much power. Isn't it an Iluminabant?" Pansy spoke up. "Did Elio have to use that power? Does that mean he killed someone of cursed blood?! Here?!"
"We need to get there!" For the first time, Dawn raised her voice.
"Of course."
Randall only had to move his arm, and the carriage took a path towards the light on the horizon. They flew until reaching a vast park. From where they were, they couldn’t see much. Pansy and Randall scanned the area, searching for someone or for Elio.
However, Dawn spotted something before the others. Her vision nearly blurred at the sight. A warm glow, a power emanating from her rings, burst forth from her hands. Acting on impulse, she leaped from the carriage towards the ground.
"Wait!" The man shouted, watching her land delicately on the grass. Randall took a deep breath, facing Pansy. "Hold on, we're going down."
He hurried ahead, running through the park. Much of the grass was destroyed, and an intense smell of burning hung in the air. There was no other sound in the park, only the continuous chirping of crickets. Yet, it was Dawn's heart that beat so rapidly at that moment, seeing Autumn's body up close.
Standing next to the girl on the ground, she blinked several times, trying to absorb the sight of her cousin so injured. Her knees gave way, her face emotional and stunned.
"Autumn," she called softly. Then, she used her arms to move her, laying her face-up. She was pale, the wound on her shoulder was large, and her entire body seemed injured, as her breathing was shallow. Even grown up, she was exactly as Dawn remembered. "It's okay. You're going to be fine."
She raised her hand, fiddling with one of her rings. When the object showed signs of life, awakening in shimmer, she began with Autumn's shoulder, passing over her entire body. The ring acted, and quickly the wounds began to close, as if rewinding in time.
"I knew it was you," Dawn said, blinking and letting some tears fall. Her peripheral vision caught sight of a spear and a sword together in the grass, raising an eyebrow in surprise. When the ring finished its work, she then touched her cousin's face. "What happened? Why are you here?"
"It can’t be…" Randall’s voice arrived shaken, seeing the scene before him, almost losing the grip on his falchion. Pansy was walking briskly by his side. The two stopped near Dawn, the man also appearing emotional at seeing who was on the ground. "What happened here? Where is Elio?"
"Who is the girl?" Pansy asked, confused. "And that one over there? That's not Elio, is it?"
The other two turned their heads when they heard Pansy. Not far from them, a boy was lying on the ground with his eyes closed. They could clearly affirm that he was lifeless.
"Pansy, keep an eye on her," Dawn requested, standing up and walking towards the boy on the ground. Randall followed her through the park, looking around.
"Heavens, what happened?" The man narrowed his eyes, seeing the boy’s torn chest and raw arm. "Who could he be?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" she said, noticing the material attached to the boy's arm. Dawn crouched down, resting her head on the boy's chest. It was faint and slow, but she could hear it. "His heart is fighting to survive."
She quickly used the ring again, sweeping her hand over the boy's entire body, taking a bit more time. The skin reverted to its former state, the wounds disappeared, and only the bloodstains remained, as well as the tears in his clothes. The skin on his arm recovered as if it had never been injured. In a few minutes, the boy returned to his natural color, the pallor vanishing.
"This should stay just between us," Randall made clear, referring to the use of the ring. She simply nodded in agreement.
Dawn moved closer as she noticed the boy's eyes trying to open.
"It's alright now," she assured, seeing the boy's struggle to open his eyelids. "Can you hear me? Can you tell me your name?"
The boy then responded, still with his eyes closed:
"Damian…" The word came out with effort. Randall knelt down to listen better. "Damian Montgomery."
Dawn showed a relieved smile, exchanging glances with the man beside her.
"Elio's brother," he affirmed, using the falchion as support.
"It's okay, Damian. You can rest now. You're safe." The boy didn't respond, but he seemed to relax upon hearing that.
"Guys!" Pansy called out loudly. "I think she's moving…"
Dawn turned her chin, observing her cousin from afar. However, her attention was quickly diverted. Her face turned alert when she noticed a chain flying ferociously towards Pansy's back.
"Behind you!" Randall shouted first.
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