"I, Kaire Jin, Sky Guardian Corp member, testify that Ver Fulgen Vaughan was the slayer of the Summoned one. My words, and the words of the fellow bounty hunters here, serves as the proof of his death by her hands and her hands alone. Additionally, the death of the key members of Inverted Questions are also attributed to Ver Fulgan Vaughan and Lera Huten." As the rest of the bounty hunters begrudging followed the lead of Kaire Jin, the register at the Guild of Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries accepted the deal and marked the mission complete. Hence force, the Token that Ver has sought for so long now firmly lies in her hands. As the crowd of bounty hunters scattered around and started looking for the different jobs to do, Ver and Kaire Jin slowly walked out of the Guild and watched on. The set of miners were still watching over the recovered Fuel Rock Prime, and they utilized a cloth to cover up the glowing rock, now that Wu has figured out a way to contain its power. "So...you got the Token now." Kaire said, stretching her arms and cracking her back, "What are you going to do now?" "I have a few more scores to settle within Varous..." Ver said, looking down at the proof of completion, "Then, I will return to the Ethereal Realm and to my family." "Well, if you ever want somewhere to go, the Infinite Academy is the place you are looking for." Kaire said, strolling towards her Chariot and leaving Ver behind, "Despite all its infamy, it's the place every Wave user goes to get strong. It's a complicated place, but also the best place." "Perhaps..." Ver murmured, turning and heading into the bounds of the city. When she passed through the city gates, she turned to check if the bakery's open, yet to her surprise, a sign on the door showed that it's closed for the moment. She was not the only disappointed customer, as crowds of people came and left with saddened expressions on their faces. Picking up some fried beans in fresh dough from another street eatery, Ver then headed straight towards the Sonne Security Force headquarters. Lera was never part of the deal for either Kaire, or the bounty from the High Humans, and Ver didn't exactly know how she feels about her betrayal. However, she could at least do this one thing for her, if it matters at all. Heading into the headquarter front office, Ver posted the proof of death of the Inverted Questions from the Guild before offering all of the award money under Lera's name. "Are you...sure?" The register didn't quite believe Ver when she said that, and she simply nodded before turning around. Now that the major things are sorted, all that's left are a few minor things... Sat against the stones by the street, she pulled out a communication cast for her local contacts. "Thank you for your hard work." The representative of Inner Earths bowed his head deeply and took over control of the chariot as Kaire Jin hopped right off. The smell of the Middle Sea, the ocean separating the Western and Eastern Continent, filled the air, and Kaire could already taste her future filled with relaxation and wealth, "Your payment had been processed and delivered to the relevant banks." "Pleasure doing business with you." Kaire smiled profusely before she waved a hand towards the miners that are just glad the trouble girl is going away at last. Getting back onto the next boat that will sail back towards the Western Continent from the southmost port from the Kingdom of Talonia, Kaire leaves everything behind as the Inner Earths representative pulled up the cloth and looked at the glowing Fuel Rock Prime with unhindered excitement. Taking off with the chariot, he then piloted it away further North. Before all of this started, the prevailing theory of the Fuel Rocks was that it originated from the peaks of the Titan's Spine. However, from Kaire Jin's reports, it appeared that the Fuel Rocks are more likely to have come from underground. What does this mean for the legend of the Titan's Spine? Does it mean the stories are true, and that there was indeed a mystical being that was laid to rest here? He could only imagine the amount discussions and meetings that the Inner Earths managers will have. A small pulse came from behind him, and he sensed the wobble in the local Wave. Turning around nervously, he peeked under the cloth again only to see the rock still sitting there peacefully as if nothing has happened. Perhaps he's just overly excited. The representative thought, swallowing hard and trying to only focus on his piloting. Eventually, after days of travel, the Fuel Rock Prime was delivered to the Headquarters of Inner Earths, and specialized Wave users kept it in watch in a specially designated area for days on end, until a week later, the stability of the Cast written over the Fuel Rock Prime was finally tipped over the edge. As a light flashed so bright that it lit up nearly half the Kingdom of Talonia during the night, the company's Wave Users arrived at the decimated headquarters the next day to see its structures barely holding on, and the Fuel Rock Prime firmly sitting in the middle of the destruction, colored red and gold. Dealing with forces that couldn't control, and don't really understand, the Inner Earths executives only became more excited by the prospects. Moving their operation further North, they prepared to uncover the true secrets of the Fuel Rock Prime when an even bigger explosion took out the entire company base. This time, it was when a Manifester was tinkering with the Fuel Rock Prime, when a hint of external Wave snuck through the cracks in the rock, setting off an unstoppable chain reaction. By the time they tried to submerge the rock in water again, it was already too late. Perhaps the only individual suitable for studying this rock is Wu after all, being the only one that doesn't actually have any Wave within him. However, none of this drama concerned Kaire, as she kicked her feet back on the sandy beaches with dozens of cocktails sat on the table beside her. Life sure is great after retirement. Back at Lera's hometown, Lita was overjoyed to see Lera returning home safely. She hugged her daughter so tightly that she's starting to struggle for breath. Letting her go, Lita then immediately saw how big of a mess Lera is from her journey. "Come..." Lita said, holding onto Lera's hand and leaving the washing on the side of the river, "Let's get you cleaned up." "Mom..." Lera slurred her words and wiped away her tears. "It's going to be okay..." Lita smiled, caressing Lera's face, "We can talk after...I will make your favorite potato stew." Lera's stomach grumbled, and the two shared a brief smile before Lita took her back to her childhood home. The buckets of water were left on the side in the bathroom, and as Lera undressed, she finally took a good look at the scars and bruises over her body that came as a result of this crazy journey. Warming up the bucket with her Warmth Cast, she then scooped it with a smaller bowl and poured it over her head. The water flowed gently down her scalp, taking away the grime and sweat as her long black hair followed the flowing warmth and laid over her shoulders. She looked at herself in the mirror, and her grey eyes now looked greyer still. She looked over at a pair of shaving blades resting on a hanger by the wall, and she picked it up. When Lera emerged from the bathroom, all refreshed and wearing her normal clothes once more, Lita was surprised to find her cutting away the long hair, now the black and silver hair only hangs down to her chin level instead of her shoulders. Lera dried her hair briefly and tied it up into a small bun behind her head before sitting down at the table. Lita joined her with a local juice drink, and the two simply sat in silence as the steam rose from the potato stew. Lera noticed that the stew had more meat than usual today, and she swallowed hard before picking up her fork. As the soft potato melted in her mouth, the richness of the sauce and the slightest hint of rustic salty flavor exploded within Lera's mouth. She swallowed the first good meal she has had in a long time, and she took another bite. One after another, she just kept on eating. Before she even realized what has happened, half of the bowl is already gone, and Lita still sitting there beside her, watching her daughter eat veraciously with a smile on her face. Lera blinked a few times, and she realized that her vision had gone blurry. There's a slight inch of something over her face, and Lita reached over with a cloth to wipe away her tears. "Mom..." Lera said, her mouth filled with food, yet she could taste none of it,"I...so much...too much...I don't know..." "It's okay...I am here." Lita said, moving her chair and holding onto Lera's body as she trembled and slowly put down her fork. Then, Lera wrapped her hands around Lita and spilled her tears all over her mother's clothes. She told her everything that has happened. How the attack on the Pinnacle Research Institute went, how Wu saved her time and time again, and how he comforted her time and time again. She talked about how they met the Dwellers, fought back against Ver, how they adventured the Northmost part of the Endless Woods, how they pushed back Kaire Jin... And how Ver betrayed her in the end and killed Wu right as she watched helplessly. "Lera..." Lita opened her mouth, but she didn't know what she could say. "Mom...did Ver really save you?" Lera asked, hoping for another reason to hate Ver, yet disappointed strangely when Lita nodded her head slowly. "Oh...my little Lera..." Lita said, slowly massaging Lera's hair as she bit her lips and slowly curled up into a ball, "Stay here for a little while. Do something else. Talk to your childhood friends... I am just happy that you are here, and that you are safe..." Lera nodded and reached for the fork again. As she devoured the last of the food, her Book of Casts sat quietly on the shelf right by the front door, hidden out of sight.