Onweer stared at the man curiously. It’s been a long time since she’d last seen someone truly, undeniably afraid. She’d been like that once. But then, once you give up on everything, including your own hopes and dreams, things became easier.

“What are you doing here then? Did you really believe the Divers would welcome us with open arms? Even if you do trust CMAS’ intentions are benign, nobody likes being told how to live and especially not Divers. There’s a reason why we got assaulted and it’s because the wasteland is their home. They’ll protect it and after CMAS invaded it today, if they catch even a whiff of us while we’re on our own out there, they’ll hunt us down like wild game.” She realised she was probably doing very little to help the poor man’s anxiety but she’d rather him take an informed decision and not one based on fear and blind hope. She took another big bite of the jerky before she continued. “Even if we assume that the Divers’ leader and the one of Survey group alpha are working together and thus would prefer to have us alive rather than dead, their position is shaky anyway and if their don’t play their cards right and reveal themselves in front of their own people, disobedience, or even a coup, will probably follow soon.”

Again she paused to consider before she concluded. “I don’t feel comfortable taking my chances against the wasteland and god knows how many more Divers. I don’t know how much you know about me but I can assure you that you can’t depend on a feat such as the one from before anytime soon. My arcane network’s all screwed up and this is the best I’ll be able to manage for at least another day. However, I can still fight with this.” She gestured at her staff laying on her right. “With it I can probably overpower up to three people – not so sure about that Luke, but it’s possible. So what I suggest is tagging along with Yvette, playing dumb and collecting as much information as we can, waiting for the right moment to either blackmail them or run away. I can keep you, us, physically safe. That’s all I can offer.” She smiled at last. “And I would deffinitely appreciate someone having my back too.”

The Divers from all around the paradise, especially the north end, began pouring into the main square, tearing through CMAS officials with reckless abandon, shrinking their numbers greatly. They were however, vastly outnumbered. But with Alvios around, numbers would mean very little to the ignorant Soldiers of the CMAS corps. Regardless, the south eastern pillar was already in danger of going down. Flames from another fire-based squadron, almost identical to the two that perished in the north, burned into the stone and tore away at its foundation slowly but surely. These squads were more organized than the rest of the CMAS mages, who seemed to seek nothing but destruction and chaos among the various locations in Diver's Paradise.

Several CMAS soldiers eventually surrounded Par and his group of Divers, singling them out as one of the many larger, organized threats. Every last CMAS soldier seemed to be elementally attuned, firing bolts of ice, fire, and electricity at Par and his Diver allies from all directions, with reckless abandon. The goal was simply to overpower them with sheer numbers and force.



Luke had been sprinting for several minutes at his top speed (Far faster than Jenso, who'd decided to follow him) but the continued stress on his legs, and artificial heart, had nearly drained him of all his stamina. He needed a few minutes to catch his breath, if anything. This was more than enough time to allow Jenso to catch up, just before Luke was preparing to make the final stretch across the dangerous jutting chasms that made up his home, the Ulimani Crags.



Brian slowly tilted his head towards the ground as Onweer started talking again. He wasn't there because he wanted to be. Nobody was, really. At least, that's what he thought. Who would willingly delve into No-man's-land? It was his decision, though. Money made Arcadia go 'round, as the saying went, and without the proper funding, his daughter was as good as dead. Brian almost didn't hear what Onweer had said about Divers protecting their homeland, or rather, didn't acknowledge it as truth. He'd never heard that before, only shouts and cries of how ignorant and stupid they were, living outside the safety of a nation. The only thing that came to mind when he heard 'Diver' was how selfish they were. But maybe she was right about their agreement on one simple fact, No-man's-land was their only freedom to take pride in. But how was project S-S even an invasion on that? There was so much land that went unexplored! Surely they could cope with losing a fraction of a fraction of it? None of it made sense to Brian. Of course it didn't, he wasn't a Diver, nor did he care about their opinions or goals. Onweer's words were somewhat reassuring, regardless. Even if Yvette wasn't a traitor to their people, he didn't want to be part of this mission any longer, and if the opportunity for him to flee safely was what Onweer was offering, he would gladly ally herself with her. Brian didn't address any of her points, how could he? The man could barely talk despite what little respite he was granted. So he just nodded in agreement, returning her kindness with a subtle smile.

"That's good, uh- It's a good idea. I would like to assure you of my prowess, but the truth is, I've little to offer. I can't fight at all," He croaked, going over the details in his palm with one finger, "I'm practically just a giant eye."

Jenso dashed as fast as he could, having a hard time to keep up with the Diver. 'Holy shit...this guy's speed is insane!' He thought. He sighed in relief as Luke was stopping to catch a breath. He stopped beside him, catching his breath as well. His breathing was deep and fast. "Holy...shit dude...You're...really fast.." Jenso muttered, doing his best to recover from all the fast running. His heart was pounding like crazy, but began to slow down back to it's normal pace as he stood still. He was unsure what to do next. He wanted to trust Luke, he seemed like a good guy. But he just couldn't. Luke's suspicious behavior made him question what kind of person he really was.

"Look...I'm sorry about earlier. I was just really frustrated. I mean, we just fought a group of Junkers and CMAS, followed up by a huge snake. That kinda uh...gets your blood flowing. If you don't want to tell me some things, it's fine...I still trust you. I'm still on your side." Jenso said, taking a quick peek behind him as he scanned the area thoroughly with his eyes. "And it looks like nobody has followed us. Nobody's coming after you, just relax." He said, looking at Luke who was still taking deep breaths. Of course, Jenso was lying about the trust part. He still believed he was a good person, but questioning Luke further or making him angry wouldn't help the situation. Especially since he would probably be able to outrun him at this point. Luke clearly didn't want to tell him about his suspicious behaviour right now. "...Are you alright man?" He asked, concerned.

It wasn't funny, but deciding against going to Hyznia turned out to be incredibly fortunate for the Divers, and very unfortunate for the CMAS. Having any sort of social standing above Divers, who cherished freedom, took more than just organizational skills and charisma.

It took power, that vagabonds and wanderers could respect. That pillar was several meters thick. These CMAS magi were not. Even without using a flaming pillar for ammunition, cutting through several groups of foes at a time was a breeze; the hard part was not injuring the Divers in his wake. It was why he told them to converge towards the center. As the Divers forced themselves away, he only became deadlier, taking down dozens upon dozens of them. Eight hundred CMAS, especially mixed with the officers who were more used to leading and strategy than true combat, was a tough fight, but it wasn't impossible for Alvios to handle; just tedious, especially with having to worry about catching other Divers with the Ki waves from his blade. The lack of Luke was also making this far more difficult, as now he had to make the decision between helping the Divers fighting in the center, and defending the southeastern pillar.

He let loose a heavy sigh of frustration, and carved his way through towards the central square. His mind wandered as he made his presence further known, the CMAS who were trying to organize themselves against Par's formation lost their own in fear and chaos, the Head Diver showing that he didn't need a massive pillar to make a massive impact against their numbers.

If this place falls, we can always rebuild; it's more important to protect the Divers now. Who knows... maybe I'll be able to pick out the traitor once this fight is over. Good thing I waited on Tinon's little errand; without Luke or myself here, this place would already be history. Tinon's timing couldn't have been worse... just like the timing of this... Alvios' mind hesitated, but he shook it off. This fight was getting to him. He had no right to suspect Tinon of anything...right?

Paradise 'Par' Rapids - Diver's Paradise

For a moment, it appeared as though Par was going to die. Zig-zagging across open ground, looking and diving for cover, everything had been chaotic, as the 19-year old boy and his Divers seemed to be caught in a successful enemy counterattack. Then, Alvios had come. Alvios, the smart, Alvios, the, well, handsome. Alvios, master of Ki and also one of the strongest Divers ever known. As the man made his way towards the central square and Par, the latter impulsively knelt down.

"Mr. Alvios, sir!" he shouted, "thank you, thank you for everything!" Par had taken little damage during the fight, merely recieving several grazes and minor burns, but his compatriots hadn't been so lucky; many of them had been killed. Then, the young man saw that the Pillar Alvios had been guarding was defenseless, and realized just what the price of his rescue was.

"I...is this place going to fall?" The heartbreak in his voice was evident. "But there are children here, children like I was..."

@tex
Buttercup stood motionless, observing the human as they gave their little speech. It had been a long time since Buttercup had stood in rank and file, among scared and desperate humans. When Joshua saluted the group, Buttercup was one of the few that returned the gesture. It was surprising, really. Even after all these years it was still a reflex, automatically saluting your superiors. Buttercup adjusted his stance slightly, suddenly conscious of the way he'd been standing. He had no muscles to tense, but his stance had been that of a fighter. Balanced and ready, dividing his significant weight evenly while maintaining the capability to move quickly. It was a fighter's stance, and it was a pose he had thought he had long abandoned. But although his mind might have outgrown his military training, his body had not. Any fear he had had over losing his skills over time were abolished. The art of war had been woven into his very essence, and no matter how far he might distance himself from it, it would never be far from his reach.

Finished with this little bout of introspection, Buttercup noticed the others had left. The life of a human being was riddled with needs and wants, the constant maintenance of their bodies and their short attention span requiring them to move from place to place, stopping only when they had something to do. Buttercup saw no reason to move, as he required neither food nor water. Instead he merely stood, observing the world around him in complete silence as he contemplated the mission he was about to go on. When one has no need for sleep and an unlimited lifespan, one finds far more time for simple contemplation. Unfortunately, the local workers didn't see it that way, and after some time had passed Buttercup was rather sternly dismissed from the location.

Ten minutes later, Buttercup could be found at a local tailor. He had been informed that he needed to acquire a uniform, and unfortunately they didn't have one in his particular size. Over the years Buttercup had acquired some money, although he had never sought it out. Coins given by Divers in exchange for directions, information, or assistance, built up over the years. It wasn't much, but it was enough to pay for a custom-made uniform, if not a very fancy one.

"Well, I certainly haven't made anything on this... scale, before. But yeah, I could certainly make this." The tailor stepped back from the golem, putting away the knotted string as he gave his customer a final look over. The tailor in question was an old man, although Buttercup was far from proficient at judging ages. His hair was white and his face was wrinkled, but the spring in his step spoke of a healthy body hidden beneath the veil of age. There was a glimmer in his eye that spoke of a passion pursued, and it was that very same glimmer that had lead Buttercup to this particular venue. Those most skilled at an art are always those who pursue it with all their might. With tailoring as well as war. "Of course, it'll take me a week to put together. Five days, if we hurry."

"That is not acceptable. I require a uniform by evening." Buttercup's deep, metallic voice was incapable of emoting concern. However, he made certain to speak softly and slowly, that the man might not mistake his displeasure for anger.

"Well, unless you got some kinda fancy time magic, that's the time it's going to take." The tailor shrugged, and it was clear the issue was one of possibility rather than willingness.

Buttercup took a moment to think things over. A moment too long, perhaps, judging by the way the tailor gently rapped his breastplate. But he came to a conclusion, in time. "A full uniform is not necessary. I will merely require a cloak. The only matter of importance is that it carries the sigil that I showed you."

The tailor raises an eyebrow. "Well, that I could certainly fix up right quick, and it'll cost you a pretty penny less." He'd hardly finished before Buttercup placed the previously agreed upon sum on the tailor's writing table. The money was not an issue, whatever the CMAS were paying was more than Buttercup would need anyway. The tailor took a moment, then simply shrugged and accepted the coin. "Pick it up in bout three hours time, and I'll have it ready for you." With these words and a shooing gesture, the tailor set to work.

Having learned from his previous experience, Buttercup left the shop before sinking into contemplation once more. Of course, this didn't stop the tailor from shooing him away from his front porch after some twenty minutes, realizing that the golem wasn't exactly attracting new customers. Regardless, once the evening hour struck Buttercup would arrive at the southern gate in his new cloak. A simple thing, but it wore the CMAS insignia on the back, and the lapel of one of the uniforms had been attached to the neckpiece of the cloak. While it certainly didn't fit in with the uniformed cadets, it at the very least identified him as a member of the expedition. And with that out of the way, Buttercup was ready to embark on this little adventure.

Luke jolted upright when Jenso spoke up. He could swear he felt his heart malfunction for a split second, but upon realizing that he wasn't under attack, he smiled and chuckled at Jenso's compliment. But his joy was overcome by annoyance when he remembered how that little fire-flinger had almost exposed him not half an hour ago! Fortunately for Jenso, Luke had a soft spot for genuine apologies. Truth was, he was just an overly-trustworthy piece of shit! He nodded while still trying to catch his breath, happy to hear that nobody had followed Jenso. Hopefully he was right about that.

"I'm fine, just aint as spry as I used to be... Actually, I'm kinda glad you're here, Jenso-boy," Luke huffed, standing up and letting out a hearty sigh, "Diver's Paradise aint exactly a safe haven right now. The CMAS are attackin' as we speak." Luke stopped breathing heavily and stretched his calves, prepared to set off into a run once again. "Thankfully, Alvios is still there, but from what my sister told me through her psychic link, it sounds like a pretty rough scene... Gah, I'm so stupid!" He stopped stretching and leaned forward, grasping the sides of his hair and pulling at them. "I can't believe I got fooled like that!"

Jenso was glad that Luke accepted his apology, and his eyes widened as Luke told him that the CMAS was attacking Diver's Paradise. So this was the true reason Luke had bolted off earlier, it was because he received a psychic message. It wasn't because he was being interrogated. Or, perhaps he ran off for both reasons. This made a lot more sense to Jenso now, though. He knew that Luke was certainly no coward, so him running off before left some confusion. Jenso's hands clenched into fists, shaking a bit out of sheer anger. Flames violently bursted out of his hands. "Those damn..!" He shouted in an annoyed tone. One of the Divers had betrayed Diver's Paradise...but who?

As Luke mentioned that he was stupid for being fooled, Jenso turned to him with a confident grin as the flames around his hands dissapeared. "Hey, don't worry about it. All we gotta do is get over there and kick their asses, right? I'm sure Alvios can hold them off." He said, patting Luke on the shoulder. He was unsure how strong Alvios truly was, despite the many stories he heard about him. But Luke couldn't start doubting himself, not right now. Diver's Paradise would need him now more then ever, so Jenso attempted to cheer him up. "But uh..I can't keep up with you. You're way too fast..unless you have an idea for me to be able to keep up."

Luke nodded hesitantly before straightening his back and letting out a hefty grunt. "Right, yea, Alvios should be able to hold off until I get there!" He said confidently with a strong nod. But when Jenso commented on his speed again, he was lost for how to compensate.

...For about three seconds. Luke Grinned, bent over, grabbed Jenso by his waist, and lifted him over his shoulder. Without asking, warning him, or saying anything at all, he took off into a sprint towards the Paradise, jumping over the gaps in the ground, and bouncing from rock to rock like a grasshopper with a payload. "Problem solved!" He roared, closing the distance as quickly as possible.



Before Luke stepped into the tunnel that lead into Diver's Paradise, he placed Jenso down and readjusted his shirt. "Ok, Jenso boy. I'm going to go in, and I'm going to shove my foot so far up the ass of every last CMAS scumbag in there until they're coughing up my toenail clippings. So, yeah, if you want a front row seat, stay close," Luke said sternly, summoning a pair of gauntlets around both his hands, and a pair of steel-toed boots around his feet, "Or you could help, as long as you aint planning on gettin' in my way, we're good." With that said, Luke dashed into the Paradise, ready to crush whoever stood in his way.

And aptly so, as Luke's first roadblock was a CMAS commander turning around and aiming a large weapon as his torso. Of course, before he had the chance to fire, Luke was already upon him, throwing his iron fist through his gun, crushing its barrel before knocking the wielder's head clean off his shoulders. Luke dashed past him into the center of one pillar crushing squad, tearing through their bodies like fragile balsa wood. The fire mages turned and focused their efforts on constraining the new threat, but Luke made sure to dodge the oncoming fireballs, weaving through the soldiers with a flurry of punches and kicks aimed for vital areas. Within a minute, the south western group was torn to shreds, and Luke was relatively un-scarred, save for a heavy burn that covered his left shin. He turned his efforts to the opposite pillar, repeating the same process once again, which left most of the southern CMAS troops in Dissarray. The onslaught of Luke's rampage sent several mages fleeing into the square, where they were either met with a barrage of Diver magic/weapon fire, or Alvios himself tearing them to shreds.

"Holy SHIT!!" Jenso screamed loudly as Luke carried him off at high speeds. "YEAH IT SURE IS." Jenso responded, a little shocked by Luke's quick grab. He regained his bearings quickly however, smiling confidently as Luke sped through the rough terrain. They would surely reach Diver's paradise in no time at this pace.



As Luke put Jenso down and headed into the cave, Jenso followed right after him. "Right behind you!" He shouted. As Luke began his rampage, Jenso dashed close by his right side, launching a barrage of punches with both fists into the CMAS troops at high speed. He smiled as Luke managed to strike fear and chaos into them. As he continued his onslaught of punches, he made sure to keep an eye on Luke to make sure nobody would try to flank him.

As Luke caused even more panic among the CMAS troops, it seemed like he had everything under control at this point. Jenso decided to take advantage of the situation, leaping into the air and landing in the middle of one of the CMAS groups that Luke was engaging. He gathered flames in the palms of his hands and a flame hammer appeared, which he held in both hands. He spun around in circles rapidly, swinging his hammer wildly at the CMAS troops who were preoccupied dealing with Luke or running away.

Jäger looked over the crowd with a quaint muse and an active mind. He eyed over each individual as the mute man continued to speak, the crow of a tall tree overlooking a valley. His pale eyes evaluated each member, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, not as a prediction but a precaution. No individual is immune to treachery, not even Jäger himself. His eyes shifted as he stared at the backs of heads. Her, the one in the bright clothes and active stance suggested she was a fire mage. Her magic was powerful but after a few failed casts she would be incapacitated. The man in the middle of the crowd was built to masculine perfection; he likely utilized Ki. More difficult for Jäger to handle, but every man has a limit. Lightning was quicker than any punch, as powerful as Kho's will might be. And the golem, well. that was something barely mentioned in the tomes. Jäger would need to keep an especially close eye on that one; what an exciting learning experience the golem offered, what precious knowledge Jäger might gain.

The CMAS gave him special permission to leave with Survey Group 1 after the events of Survey Group Alpha, though he was not informed of any secondary intention this go-around. He was to keep the peace within the group and minimize collateral damage given an ambush was present. Perhaps he was kept in the dark about going-ons, or perhaps he knew everything; nothing was certain. Jäger would remain vigilant. What was certain was that Jäger had not been outside of the walls for some time, and it would be more than satisfying to test his skills against something other than novice magi and machinists. The normal mandates and orders were delivered by Joshua, something Jäger had memorized at this point and had no need to listen. No, staring at the backs of heads was more important; who was to act out, if anyone?

Upon deliverance of the final word, the crowd began to dissipate to prepare for the evening departure. Likely to get uniforms, however Jäger brandished his CMAS uniform, unique to him, quite proudly at all times. To pride one's own strength was a thing to be feared by an enemy. Jäger's gauntlet collided loudly with his chest as he saluted Joshua before treading off with heavy pace. He would need to focus his mind through meditation, and review the word of Kho in the meantime. Kho's word was will, and his will was to better Jäger.

Evening came as a sudden realization, and Jäger collapsed the leather-bound tome he held. Perhaps he would find another's eyes to open upon this journey. Arriving at the south gate, a portion of the crowd from before sat about on benches, pathways, or stood in small groups to discuss the coming venture. Jäger chose to approach the most interesting of the bunch: the metal golem of lion face. It was often not Jäger's mentality to be cordial or to even introduce himself, however he attempted to better himself in all ways for the name of his family in Saiga and his hero-prophet Kho. The monks had shown him an ultimate kindness that Jäger still failed to understand and enact. "Hail, stranger. You are a fascinating individual, and I would know your name, if you would give it to me." His dialect was oddly formal for casual conversation. Having been raised in the temple, it was imprinted on Jäger to always speak this way. Jäger extended a bent arm as if to firmly grasp the golem's hand, fingers curved and the back of his palm towards the pink, sunset sky. His book of Kho bounced against his waist in doing this and Jäger's eyes remained locked on what he believed to be the eyes of a lion.

Life within the walls of Hyznia is anything but slow. You'd expect a giant castle city rampant with libraries to be a little quieter but today of all days made Rem wish he'd stayed outside a while longer. Which was more dangerous, listening to the rant of a master wizard who wants to snoop in on you and take advantage of your hard-fought journey or traversing the mud pits barely a few units of travel outside and praying you don't step on a trapjaw tongue. The people that get out of such a mess only walk again with body mods. Shudder the thought.

"Now, now, mister Vano. The reason we study and live together here is so that we can collectively gain from the successes of our peers." The annoying Master Pharos continued. This man was truly a nuisance to the lives of all travelers. He was part of a research library within the inner walls of Hyznia that insisted on collecting all new findings from the mages that liked to travel outside. Rem had absolutely no intention of telling him anything. After the way his mentor's theories were handled they weren't ready for his hard-earned research.

"Again. Respectfully, Master Pharos, I do decline your request. I have nothing any more valuable than Master Haedrig's own findings. If his theories have so little value to be left outside the library then so too do mine." Rem gave him a polite nod and spread out an arm, motioning for Pharos to move on.

The collector scratched his long and 'wizardly' white beard. The elder mage had his balding head covered by the hood of his purple cloak. Pharos closed his book with a disgruntled 'harumph!'. "Mister Vano, even those within great places on the council still report their findings. They are a treasure to our enclave. Perhaps one day you'll learn it's better to share and let others judge."

"Perhaps one day indeed, Master Pharos. Stay warm. It's chilly on these ramparts tonight." Rem turned to look out over the clear sky as Master Pharos shuffled down the stairs of a nearby tower. There were no clouds and the wind blew brisk and free. The world outside was dangerous but there was nothing to hold it back. In here true knowledge was stifled and thrown away. The treasures that Master Pharos insisted upon were mages that only shared small portions of their research, enough to sate knowledge seekers and earn renown as intelligent theorists. Mages that didn't hold their real secrets did not last long in positions of power. Knowledge, power, work and knowing when to keep quiet. These things ran hand in hand here.

Rem had only been back for several days but that was enough to stock up his needs; food, supplies, etcetera. Someone was to meet him here on these very ramparts this evening and that someone was not Pharos. The man probably used magic to find wizards as they returned. It was eerie how quickly he'd track you down.

Rem couldn't help but allow his thoughts to drift to the outside, to Senna prowling the outskirts. He couldn't bring her in. She'd be no more than a test animal for researchers. There's always a better way. He sat down and leaned back against the wall. It was going to be one hell of an evening.

Well, that could have gone better.

Diver's Paradise was intact, but in shambles. Debris and bodies were scattered about, several of the makeshift buildings had been destroyed, and one of the support pillars had been completely destroyed, with the other three ranging from moderate to severe damage. For a sanctuary, Diver's Paradise had never been exactly a thing of beauty, but the personal majesty it held to its people was brought down low in one fell swoop of CMAS ambition. Surviving Divers were each responding to the chaos in their own way; some were solemn, moving forward, moving bodies and debris away from the center. Some were broken, on their knees in shock, crying over the loss of friends and home, wondering how to cope. Some were concerned, checking what had been destroyed to see what could be salvaged, and moving about to help their comrades.

The most common reaction to this all though, was fury. Even fresh from the fight, many Divers were gathering together, complaining and shouting over the audacity of Arcadia to have dared attack their home. They spoke of retaliation and revenge, how the Divers were more than just scattered loners, and how they would set upon the Four Nations banded together to answer this declaration of war. "We beat 'em with less than a quarter of our guys! We should charge in and see how they like it!" "They'll pay for this in blood!" "We must show that we are not to be trifled with again."

This battle had been both a victory and a loss. Diver's Paradise had been saved, but now CMAS knew its location. It wasn't a hideaway or safe spot for Divers. The future for this place had become uncertain.

Just like the rest of No-Man's Land, really.

Alvios didn't give any speeches yet, didn't gather them around to give them hope or reason. They each deserved to cope in their own ways for now. Hell, he wasn't 100% sure where to begin with the masses. There were other details to worry about first, details that had to be discussed with the one person he knew didn't have the heart to think about betrayal. "Luke! Making your arrival as clutch as ever, I see. Listen, I need to talk to you about something." He looked around warily, and let out a sigh. It didn't really matter if he was quiet about it or not. No doubt many of them had come to the same conclusion anyway. "Someone betrayed us, and the only reason this place is still standing is because you're a fast bastard, and because I ignored a very sudden request from Tinon to go all the way to Hyznia. ... I think we should go have a word with him and Laura."




Magi from all across Hyznia were abuzz with rumors, interest, and excitement. Hyznia's prized Arch Mage, Sulfrax Lauchlin, had returned from his meeting with the CMAS Council... on foot, no less. They speculated on whether he had regained some of his authority within the Arcadian government back, or if he had lost any more. Did they try to banish him, which is why he didn't return in an Arcadian convoy? The man had been known to be erratic since the failed artificial arcane node several years back, but travelling through No-Man's Land all the way from Arcadia without a proper transport seemed a bit much.

Sulfrax himself had decided to take some time to consider what was going on, which is why he made his way up to the rampart's walls, to walk and reflect on recent events without interruption. He found that talking to himself from the perspective of someone else was an easier way for him to think alone as of late, although first, second, or third person could vary. "Sydney wants them to fail. If he wanted them to succeed, he would have added more precautions, more preparations. Not a handful of random Junkers and some mouthy officials. It would have been like a military operation, and maybe he would have sent Sulfrax out as fodder. If he wants your nose far away though, it's something he knows you'll smell. Big things on the top shelf that I might be able to see." His mouth turned a little, annoyed with himself. "I don't have any answers to your questions. I have some ideas though. I'll get results, one way or another."

He stopped mumbling to himself, lifting his hood so he could see properly. Someone sitting up against the wall a short ways away. Unusual looking fellow, with unusual attire. Looked like he had been travelling recently, or was at least getting ready to set out. Why up here, though? The night patrol would be starting soon, and they really didn't enjoy Divers hanging around haphazardly. Actually, they didn't really enjoy Divers hanging out at all, but some people were hungry enough for knowledge or money that they'd explore outside of Hyznia's vast libraries and see what No-Man's Land had to offer, reputation be damned.

Exactly what he told himself he might need to do. What a coincidence. Sulfrax picked up his pace a bit, and pulled his hood back fully. He'd rather be recognized immediately, just in case he needed to exert some of his authority or influence on him, and approached Rem.

"You, Diver, stand up. You fall asleep on the wall and someone might consider tossing you over."

Paradise 'Par' Rapids - Diver's Paradise

Par listened to the sounds of anger, of pain, of the desire to retaliate. He can feel it within himself, the desire to make the enemy pay, to make the Quadra-Powers pay for the deaths of the men, women, and children here. But, he had to be sane, he had to calm down, he had to keep a clear head because the best way to strike back...was not what the nearby Divers were thinking of.

No, they had to be smart; the Divers were too small in number to destroy the Quadra-Powers and CMAS - those numbered tens of thousands of people, while at most, the Divers numbered a few thousand. No, the CMAS' hold on power within the various nations had to be shattered...it's just that the rift created between 'normal people' and Divers, and furthermore between Divers and Junkers, was an obstacle to that.

CMAS is a threat. Not content with lying to its own people, it's now trying to purge us. He had to talk to Mr. Alvios about it; Par knew that blind faith in any leader was wrong, but Alvios had proved himself an awesome and smart person. So, he ran in the direction the Senior Diver walked towards, shouting, once said Senior Diver and Luke were in sight:

"Mr. Maeti, sir! Mr. Juuno! Can I come with you?! My name is Paradise 'Par' Rapids, sir!"

Luke looked over the remains of the CMAS fodder mages that littered Divers paradise. He stood between the two southern pillars, on the risen path that lead between them, and met in front of the tunnel he'd entered from. There were hundreds of mages scattered across the underground, most dressed in the common CMAS uniform. Luke made his way down the ramp that lead into the main square from the southern exit, pausing only to glance at a CMAS troop that lay dead on his stomach. That wretched crest that they wore on the back of their uniforms made him cringe. Idiotic dogs, the lot of them. They obeyed without question, or remorse for those that Sydney pointed his treacherous fingers at. Luke rammed his iron-coated foot into the dead soldier's rib cage, knocking him off the ramp like a limp rag doll. "Serves them right," He grunted to himself. All sense of dread was pushed aside when he noticed Alvios making his way towards him. With a smile, he threw his gauntlets off, kicked his boots into a nearby pile of bodies, and opened his arms to grab his friend by the shoulders.

"Ahaha, you know know me-" But as he leaned forward to embrace his friend, almost tripping over the body of a Diver, the serious tone in Alvios' voice froze him in place. Betrayal? Luke's eyebrows tensed up something fierce. "Tinon sent you out? Where? Why? What the fuck was he-" Luke stopped himself despite flailing his body around like an angered savage. With a heavy breath, he turned back towards Alvios and nodded begrudgingly. The last thing he wanted to do was talk things over with anyone. Luke preferred the rationale of his fellow Divers, he was just about ready to charge Arcadia head-first regardless of how idiotic that principal was. "Fine, yea-" Just then, a single Diver rushed over to him and Alvios, spewing nonsense about tagging along with the two friends, at complete random. Luke turned to look at him for the briefest of moments, not giving the tiniest of a fuck about his inquiry. He turned back to Alvios with profound confusion painted across his face. "Alvios, who the fuck is that?"

Though not familiar with the ATV specifically, Cecil was competent enough to assist with the repairs on the damaged vehicle.

When he was worried about annoying Kenny, he decided to get a drink. There was likely water in the ATV, but two other Junkers off under a tree seemed to have a cantine and food. Cecil hefted his rifle over his shoulder and walked over to them.

"Hello," he greeted wearily, not quite feeling bad about interrupting. "Could I join you? That, uh, was some... Event."

Jenso smiled as the last CMAS troops went down. A bullet grazed his left side earlier during the battle, but didn't leave a serious injury. He overlooked all of Diver's Paradise, frowning as he saw the many dead bodies scattered all over the ground. It was certainly an incredible victory for the Divers, but one that came at great cost. Jenso couldn't help but wonder if he could have done more, if he had arrived sooner. But he quickly disregarded the thought. There was no point in doubting himself, it would do no good whatsoever.

There were still several things that he had to worry about. He wanted to know what Luke was hiding from him, and if the other three famous Divers were in on it as well. But asking questions seemed un wise, as they could simply dispose of Jenso if he proved to know too much. So for now, he would remain silent about Luke's suspicious actions from before. He just couldn't trust anyone right now. Right now, there were more urgent matters at hand.

Jenso walked over to Alvios and Luke. "Wow, you two were amazing! I can see that the stories I heard about you weren't exaggerated." He complimented. As Alvios spoke of betrayal and speaking to Tinon, Jenso nodded. "Yeah...you guys should talk to him." He said, as Par walked over and introduced himself, while asking to join Luke and Alvios. "I'd like to tag along too, if you don't mind.." Jenso said, also wanting to know if Tinon was indeed a traitor.

"Diver? Quick to make assumptions aren't we." Rem pushed himself off the wall to his feet and brushed the dust from the seat of his trousers. "Well, 'tis true I'm to leave again soon. I've no more time to stay here. There's more to be done outside." Though sounds could be heard down below, at this moment the two were alone on the wall.

Despite the circumstance for greeting he kept his arms folded. A habit he'd formed since working closely with beasts. Touching of hands could be seen as more of a threat to them than a friendly gesture. "My name is Rem Vano. Could you be Master Lauchlin?" Rem had only ever seen the potent mage from afar. Even in his home city he didn't care much for mingling or official gatherings.

"Hm? Oh, it's you! Luke, this Diver helped organize some of the Divers during the battle to help get a tactical advantage. You know, Luke. Strategy. You should give it a shot sometime, eh?" Humor helped. Amidst the aftermath of the chaos, jabbing at his friend a bit would help ease the tension, even just a little. The utter devotion and respect was a little disconcerting, as was his excitement to follow them after fighting such a battle. Hopefully the kid wouldn't collapse once all of that adrenaline wore off.

He turned towards the young Diver after giving Luke a pat on the shoulder."Easy there, Paradise. Alvios is fine, especially after that showing of yours back there. You did a good job of giving organization into some of the Divers. Give it a few years, some hard work, and maybe a bit of luck, people might start thinking this place was named after you instead of the other way around!" Alvios chuckled a bit at that, and looked over at the arriving Jenso. "Luke and I aren't going anywhere at the moment. We've got enough to talk about right here. Besides, Tinon hasn't come out of his quarters yet, and I don't want to miss a chance to have him kissing my boots instead of complaining about me ignoring him." Alvios didn't immediately acknowledge Jenso outside of a quick nod. The guy was familiar, but he didn't have any actual idea who he was.

At least, Tinon should be kissing my boots. If he isn't happy about me ignoring him... Alvios wasn't about to kill spirits by suggesting any reason to doubt the third or fourth most famous Diver around. Who knows what kind of discord that would spread? Heck, it was already killing Alvios' spirit just thinking about it. Tinon was a respected comrade, and Laura's husband. Through Luke, Laura was like a sister to him. If he had to suspect Tinon, it would break her heart.

Alvios' face had gone from being reassuring to worrisome as he thought about all of this. He didn't voice a word of this to Par or Jenso, but the two Divers could both tell that it wasn't time to celebrate yet.



"Outside. Yes. Plenty to be done in that wasteland." Sulfrax paused for a moment, going over something in his head. He hardly looked his part of an Arch Mage who had worked directly with the heads of CMAS. Thin and weak, no real posture to speak of, and much younger looking than he should have been. He was staring at Rem with curiosity, bright eyes analyzing him as though he had words on his face and could be read like a book.

He waited to a point just before the silence got too awkward before continuing. "Yes, I'm Sulfrax Lauchlin. You, Rem, have shown up at a curious time. I have some questions about that wasteland, since it likely isn't as barren as I think it is." Sulfrax's eyes narrowed, his deadpan expression slightly more serious now. "We can speak outside of Hyznia, if you'd rather be on your own land. Not far, but outside the barrier at least. If you don't want to answer, that's perfectly fine. Not very safe, but not an immediately lethal decision." Possibly the most dangerous man in Hyznia was making a rather modest request, all things considered. Something he surely had other ways to manage that didn't involve strangers on walls.



"Woe and despair! A woman of such power and grace, bewitched with a heart of stone! No smile graces her lips this day, and yet no fury crosses her lips! I plea again, fair maiden... can ya just tell us your name if we're gonna be workin' together?"

Most of Survey Team 1 had gathered around the southern gate of Arcadia by now, and a handful of them had gathered to one side of the gate, lounging about as preparations were being finished, checks and double-checks being completed. They talked a bit, introducing themselves and discussing what their actual opinions about the mission were, now that Head Arch Mage Sydney wasn't around to lay down the law. A handful had gathered around in a bit of a semicircle, watching the exchange between two of the members of the team.

One was down on one knee, dressed in some mismatch between an assassin and a jester, looking up at the woman across from him with a simple wooden theater mask on, the curved mouth and slanted eyes meant to portray the epitome of sorrow. Maybe some of them would have backed him up or said some jokes, but the woman he was talking to didn't look like the type to be joking at.

Illon didn't have a great reputation. Questionable practices, aggression, overpopulation, and a disdain for everything regulated; hell, even normal magi were scowled at, if not worse. The true slums of Arcadia... with a history of war and violence to back it up. She fit the bill of one of their old warriors perfectly, in dark leathers and tattoos, abnormal height and build, and just the right amount of intimidating. The poor kid didn't even reach her chin, and some of the others were wondering if she was about to get off of the crate she was sitting on to crack his skull. The Illon woman just watched him silently, legs and arms crossed, impatience on her face.

Paradise 'Par' Rapids - Diver's Paradise

"I...I almost got my group killed because of my lust for vengance, sir," Par said to Alvios, embrarrassed at the praise. "It was you who was the real hero of the piece." Even before Alvios' expression changed, the 19-year old boy could see how both the Senior Diver and Luke were worried. Did this have anything to do with how Alvios had ranted about a Traitor? Considering how stormy the man and Luke's face's were, it probably was.

"We'll be good, sirs," Par said. His face then turned sad, as well as a little firm.

"If you are gathering with Tinion in order to plan revenge on the CMAS, I can perhaps help. While I am angry over what they tried to do to us, I also know that even if we strike back, the CM - no, the enemy, has the advantage of numbers and resources." He looked towards Alvios for confirmation and support. "As long as the people in the Quadra-Powers support them like blind sheep, we cannot win unless we slaugther them as well."

"And none of us are willing to do that." At least, that's what I hope. "I'll keep quiet now; leave you all to discussion." He may have intruded too much, in retrospect.

Instead, he looked towards Jenso; he didn't know the man's name, but he did know that he was one of the people who had left with Luke to confront...the idiots.

"So, what were the Junkers like? Are they people as well, albeit blind sheep? Or are they evil monsters bent on murder and despoilation of all that is good?" Par had a keen sense and understanding of others' motivations, but he wasn't just angry at the Junkers willingly serving an organization bent on keeping the people of the Quadra-Powers in thrall and ignorance, but them not knowing that the CMAS were this murderous.

A sigh.

"I'm normally an advocate of negotiations and peaceful compromise, Mr. Martial Artist. But it seems to me that should we encounter those thugs again, we tell them of the atrocity they were a part of, and if they refuse to stop serving the CMAS - we hang them." Part of Par screamed inside at the words the boy was using; he should be kinder than this! But innocent children had been killed in Diver's Paradise, and blood needed to be shed for blood.