Gaia Chronicles: The Integral Saga

Location: Gaia Border Outpost Theta – Interior ChambersTime: 9:45 AM – The Next Morning

The blizzard had cleared. Light now filtered through the crystalline sky, casting pale gold onto Gaia's forward encampment—Outpost Theta. Engineers moved in and out, dragging damaged drones and charred relics from recent field scans. Sentinel wards buzzed.

Cyg sat on a steel bench, shirtless, his side freshly stitched, red lines crisscrossing his pale skin. His body bore the marks of survival—not just from yesterday's fight but from a hundred forgotten missions.

Across the room, Hikari leaned against the wall, still nursing a swollen wrist.

"You're pushing too hard," she muttered.

Cyg didn't look at her.

"The creature got away. That was a failure."

"No. That was survival," she said, a little louder. "You acted with restraint. Compassion."

He didn't speak, but something flickered in his eyes.

Location: Command Briefing Room – Moments Later

Thea Synthesis 0 stood at the head of the long, steel table. Her platinum braid draped over one shoulder, armor as pristine as her posture. Seated to her left was Astron, arms folded, ever silent. Across from them sat Julius, Sylvia, and surprisingly—Harriet.

"The surveillance confirms it," Thea began. "Subject 14 escaped south of the frozen ridge. We've dispatched Tryce and Elaine to triangulate."

Sylvia leaned forward, her tone sharp.

"And Cyg? He was tracking this thing alone. Why wasn't he assigned backup?"

Thea met her gaze.

"Because he chose not to ask."

"That doesn't make it right," Sylvia snapped, her earrings softly resonating as Orisha pulsed.

Harriet rolled her eyes.

"Cyg always thinks he can handle everything alone. I'm amazed he even let Hikari tag along."

"He didn't," Hikari said, stepping into the room with a calm firmness. "I followed him anyway."

"So, the ice prince melts," Julius joked under his breath.

Cyg followed behind her, standing tall despite his wounds.

"Next time," he said coldly, "I'll disable the comm tower to stop you all from interfering."

Thea smiled slightly.

"If you do that, I'll send Astron."

Astron raised an eyebrow.

"...I would find you."

Mission Orders Issued – Southbound Operation

Thea laid down the plan: Subject 14 had moved toward an ancient rift basin buried in the tundra—a zone that once opened during the first Abyssal War. The resonance pattern in the area was spiking, and the team would deploy at dusk.

"You four," she nodded to Cyg, Hikari, Sylvia, and Julius, "will lead the strike. Harriet and Astron will reinforce from aerial positions. Elaine and Tryce will act as snipers and scouts."

"Understood," they echoed.

"This mission is not about termination," Thea warned. "It's about reclaiming. This thing… is a reflection of our sins. Bring it down. But learn from it."

Scene Shift – Pre-Mission Barracks

Cyg stood in front of the weapon locker, reloading Aetheron with new energy cartridges.

Sylvia entered quietly.

"Hey, I… brought you something."

She held out a pair of black gloves, reinforced at the knuckles with reactive fiber. Elegant. Lightweight.

"Tactical-grade. Windproof. Custom-fit. Figured you'd lose less blood this way."

He took them silently, then looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because I still remember the Cyg who fixed my gear back at training, even when you didn't talk to anyone. Because you care more than you admit."

A pause.

"Because I'm tired of seeing you bleed in silence."

Cyg stared at her. Then slowly, without a word, he slipped on the gloves.

"...They fit."

She smiled faintly.

"Of course they do."

Later – Hikari and Cyg, Final Prep

Outside the barracks, Cyg found Hikari near the stable hangars, sitting with her knees drawn up, Sanguira across her lap.

"You didn't run from Subject 14," he said softly.

She blinked. "Of course not."

"Even after it injured you. Even after it used my voice."

Hikari looked up at him, her violet eyes calm.

"Because I trust you. Because I know the difference."

Cyg hesitated… then sat beside her.

A moment passed.

Then quietly, she added:

"Do you trust me?"

He looked at her fully. And for once, no deflection. No calculation. No lie.

"Yes."

She smiled. And he looked away, ears faintly red.

"Tch. Irrational."

"And yet," she whispered, "you didn't deny it."