A/N: Was worried I wasn't going to have this done in time, but thankfully I reached the deadline~
Do enjoy~
Halo
Chapter 15: Abydos
Abydos was a quiet place.
He hadn't been around to see it, but he'd heard of the day the sandstorms had come. At first they were small things, not really out of the ordinary aside from how frequent they were. Then they grew as weeks passed, becoming strong enough to deal structural damage and leave the streets clogged with sand banks, requiring countless man-hours to remove.
In time though they swelled to catastrophic levels. Sweeping blankets of sand that could and would tear down older buildings, that flooded entire streets with sand several feet high and buried anyone unfortunate enough to be knocked out by flying debris. Visibility was degraded to mere feet if that and water – a precious resource in an arid environment like Abydos – became frequently contaminated when pipes burst or were infiltrated by the endless swathes of golden sand.
A massive push was made to reclaim Abydos from the desert's grasp, but it was for naught. People evacuated the autonomous territory for greener pastures – literally – and the Student Council of the time drained themselves of all funds in their hopeless fight against nature, which in part was what caused the current de-facto Student Council, the Foreclosure Task Force, to be stuck in debt to Kaiser. All because nature one day wrecked havoc on an otherwise prosperous part of Kivotos.
As such, it wasn't surprising that Abydos was a quiet place. The majority of people had left and those that remained were either chain businesses or small local stores, the damage of the desert still visible to them all, especially since the owners lacked the spare cash to spruce them up. Not that there was much point, given how few people even lived in Abydos. There was still stuff to be had of course; many had fled or died without taking their things with them, so looting was common, especially in the areas far away from other territories. It was in part how gangs like the Helmet Gang even survived; they scavenged what they could and bought what they couldn't. In time though even they would be forced to change their ways as lootable items became scarce.
He wondered if, with time, Abydos itself would be lost to the desert, nothing but rolling hills left where a once-prosperous city reigned.
Sensei shook his head slightly to dispel the thought. Ayane glanced up at him but he waved her off, telling her it was nothing, and so with a slight smile she nodded and faced ahead once more, continuing to lead him out into the desert in the direction the drone had come from.
They had already left the cityscape proper; towering, crumbling buildings already becoming obscured by the desert haze. Beyond the city laid nothing but open desert with the occasional old structure from times long forgotten, leaving them terribly exposed to the harsh sun that reigned far above them. The heat against his back was pleasant at first, but gradually grew uncomfortable until it became borderline intolerable, sapping him of his strength. He'd even discarded his jacket to try and catch a bit of a breeze, but unfortunately such blessings were scarce in the arid environment.
His students were scattered around him. At first they'd all been chatty and curious, but with the sun wearing on them they'd all quietened down, lacking the energy to do so.
''How much further?'' He was the first to break the quiet in a long while.
Shiroko looked back at him. The wolf-girl had forsaken her jacket and scarf, leaving her in just her white button-up shirt. She looked down at the map in her hands for a moment before humming. ''We're on track. Not sure how far it came from though.''
Sensei sighed at that but didn't complain. None of the girls who had been in Abydos when the drone was spotted knew where it came from, only the general direction – assuming it went in a straight line, which for the time being they presumed was true. Nevertheless Abydos was a big territory, one of the biggest in fact, and the majority of that was sprawling desert. Even narrowing it down to a rough line still amounted to a lot of ground to cover.
He glanced at his watch then. It was just passing four now. It was slightly startling to know how much time had passed; they'd left Schale at half-eight in the morning, reached Abydos at a little past nine, then left the cityscape at about eleven. Since then they'd been doing nothing but walking for five hours and found nothing yet, though perhaps it was a bit much to hope to literally find their target within hours. If nothing else it spoke to the constitution of the girls with him... though, then again, Mutsuki looked ready to drop and Hoshino wasn't far behind.
Just as that thought circulated through his mind Sensei noticed something up ahead; shapes wobbling in the desert haze but distinct against the golden backdrop of the desert. ''Hey, what's that?''
His query perked everyone up, glancing around until they followed his pointing finger to the source. Ayane was the first to answer. ''Ah, those are some ruins. There's a few of them scattered around the desert, whether as earlier settlements away from the main city or from even older eras.''
''I see. Let's go check them out.'' Sensei said, picking up the pace. ''Not like there's much else to see out here.''
His students wordlessly agreed, a bit of pep to their steps now as they travelled across the sandy hills before them. The desert had a nasty habit of making distance tricky to determine though, and what looked like a short ten minute walk turned into a thirty minute one – the ruins slowly getting closer. Mercifully it was no mirage and didn't simply vanish, and eventually the group came upon them.
The ruins were old, that much was apparent immediately. Built from old, weather-worn brown stone the floor of the structure was long-since buried beneath a bed of sand, leaving only the uppermost walls visible. They formed a rectangular shape surrounded by a hill of sand, leaving it almost in a crater and with several parts of the walls forming arches; some completing the journey from one side to the other whilst others merely ended in cracked edges, the remaining sections either on the ground and half-buried or entirely absent.
''Let's take a rest.'' Sensei said – and barely a second after he had done so practically half the girls collapsed against the nearest spot of shade, groaning.
He smiled wryly and resisted the urge to do the same, opting to walk about a bit and admire the structure, looking for anything that could signal this was Elysium's base or an entrance to it. Unfortunately if it was the sand had washed any evidence away; the walls were untouched, the floor was merely sand and the few bits of interesting architecture – such as a statue at the far wall or what looked like the remnants of a railing – were barren of convenient buttons or levers.
Shiroko wordlessly joined him, the two of them doing a quick patrol around the ruins but finding nothing good nor bad; the place was, predictably, abandoned – the only life nearby being some insects in the corner or some scorpions nearby. Thankfully Abydos was home to non-venomous kinds for the most part; the more dangerous versions usually lingered closer to the northern end of the territory, something about the sand there made it easier to burrow.
By the time the two of them looped back around to the others Haruka and Kayoko had risen from their spots, examining part of the wall with interest. He glanced at it as he approached and noticed markings upon its surface; subtle things faded by time, but still legible if you looked closely enough. They were hieroglyphs he noted; various shapes and symbols ordered vertically with seemingly no order, though he knew a historian could probably make better sense of it than he himself.
''What're you looking at?'' Sensei inquired lightly as he approached.
Kayoko glanced at him only briefly. ''Stuff.''
Nonomi chose that moment to hop over, all smiles as she gazed at Haruka; the purple-haired girl eyeing the wall with open interest, more than she usually showed. ''I can't read it I'm afraid, but I recognise some of the meanings.''
''R-Really?!'' The shotgunner asked in awe.
Nonomi giggled. ''I picked up a few things. Hm, let's see... this one with the bird is supposed to represent death. The bug and desert symbols probably mean 'plague'. The others I'm not too sure though...''
''I see the same symbols over here.'' Serika called out from a dozen feet away, still by the same spot she'd collapsed in – only now she was looking up at the row of symbols above her head. ''Think they meant anything?''
Nonomi tapped her chin thoughtfully. ''Not sure... I doubt there's a plague hiding here, if that's what you're thinking.''
Serika scoffed. ''Of course not.''
''Still good to know, though.'' Shiroko added, nudging him.
''Agreed.'' Sensei said without hesitation. ''Maybe this was a temple once upon a time?''
''Likely.'' Nonomi nodded, humming. ''Maybe it belongs to... Nekhbet? I think that was the name?''
The name faintly rung a bell with Sensei during his time researching Abydos myth, on the off-chance Elysium had any connection with it. Compared to the other territories he hadn't given Abydos's myths much attention, in part due to the confusing nature of it. What he did know about it was that there was a lot of gods with various domains, mostly relating to water, life and the desert, dating back centuries upon centuries. Much like the other territories as well it was hard to say if they had ever been real, once upon a time. On one hand there was no evidence of them being around aside from some land features that could be waved off as natural, if a bit unusual.
On the other hand, the Relics in Trinity and Gehenna's possession bordered on magical, that nobody could deny. Even if their use was somewhat lessened nowadays, that didn't detract from the fact they functioned on a level few truly understood – on a level that science struggled to explain. The Ring of Wrath, for example, gave enhanced physical strength by triggering the adrenaline glans and other aspects of the body, that was known. How it did that through mere physical contact though was impossible to figure out, even when put under a microscope.
Sensei shook his head slightly. It didn't matter whether magic and whatnot was real, or even if these mythical gods were real – all that did matter was tracking down and stopping Elysium. He could ponder the more mystical side of Kivotos another time.
''I think we should set up camp here.'' Sensei announced instead, earning the attention of his students. ''The walls look sturdy and if they've held up this long they'll hold up for another few days. It should protect us from the wind a fair bit and give us cover if we're ambushed.''
''Agreed.'' Ayane said immediately, almost praisingly so. ''We'll be more protected from a sandstorm if one happens to roll through as well. Should we start setting things up now Sensei?''
''Yeah, let's get started on that right away. Everyone in agreement?''
A chorus of agreements came in response, and as one they set about assembling their gear. They hadn't brought much, mostly to travel light. Five tents, most in decent condition despite their age, were to be shared between the ten of them. With haste they set about popping them up nearer one of the corners; arranging them in a rough circle with two back against a fallen pillar and the other three facing them, providing them both a cosy shelter yet also a defensible one.
The sky was already starting to turn a fiery orange by the time they finished; the sun gradually making its descent beyond the sandy hills. While the others were attending to their tents Aru managed to climb up onto the top of the ruins for a better vantage point; positioning herself on a square-ish top and settling in for 'first watch'. Being a sniper she was best suited for the task so nobody complained, chatting idly and leaving it up to Aru to sweep the surrounding dunes.
Not that she was likely to find much, but one could never be too careful.
…
Night fell fast.
The desert seemed to feel all the quieter for it. In the absence of the sun's warmth the vast dunes felt so empty, so completely still even the breeze seemed to slow, barely shifting the grains of sand across their mounds. The temperature likewise dropped with the sun's disappearance, forcing their group to huddle around a campfire positioned between their tents.
Hoshino had brought some marshmallows along and as such the group were now making some crude smores, though it was more for want of something to do than anything else – though everyone was tired from the long trek, they weren't quite tired enough yet, and the Gehenna girls in particular weren't familiar with sleeping out in the open desert; they were more at home in cramped urban environments.
That thought was what led Sensei away from the campfire and up onto the ruins that surrounded their little base; climbing up onto them where Aru remained. The red-haired sniper was in the same position as before, though by now had made it a miniature home; some snacks resting by the brick rim and various bits of old plants long since brushed aside with the butt of her sniper, affording her some comfort from any insects or creepy-crawlies. It wouldn't do much to stop spiders, but he didn't tell her that. No need to make her paranoid after all.
''Hey.'' Sensei grunted as he pulled himself up onto the weather-worn bricks, sitting on the edge. ''Anything catch your eye?''
''Nothing I'm afraid.'' Aru remarked languidly, then paused. ''Well, actually, that's probably a good thing isn't it?''
He chuckled an agreement. ''Yeah. The less problems we have to deal with while sleeping the better.''
Aru nodded at that, glancing out across the dunes idly. His gaze followed hers, sweeping over dim gold hills that shifted subtly in the night, the lack of any clouds leaving the moon to illuminate the swathes of desert. Here and there small spots of light could be seen, such as an old oil barrel that looked like it'd been burning for weeks if not months judging by the soot around its tumbled-over form, and closer to the city there was a camp of some kind; probably a gang or group of travellers. The fact they stayed close to the city was perhaps a wise decision; there was little to gain out in the desert.
Humming to himself Sensei reached into his pocket, withdrawing his phone. There was still a connection even this far out, which was good, though from what Ayane had told him the connection could be easily cut off if a sandstorm decided to roll by. He opened up a map of Kivotos and zoomed out fully to get a better picture of it all, his eyes scanning for any miniscule sign that could give Elysium's likely location away.
Kivotos itself was arranged mostly in a circular shape. Gehenna and Trinity shared borders more towards the south with the ocean expanding below them, whilst to the North territories like Red Winter and Valkyrie laid, contrasting Shanhaijing and Hyakkiyako that laid to the east. That left Abydos off to the west, not-quite bordering Millennium and with various other smaller territories scattered about the lands, but one look at the map allowed him to gauge the difference in territory sizes alone.
The city portion of Abydos was further to the east, closer to the other territories for understandable reasons. Anyone who went into the desert therefore would have only three options. West would take them deep into the desert until finally reaching the border of the dome that stretched over Kivotos for reasons beyond him. Heading south would take them eventually through several smaller territories before finally reaching Trinity, whilst to the North the sand would gradually change to snow as the temperatures plummeted in Red Winter territory. He doubted many were foolish enough to make such a journey.
As he looked at the map though, a strange thought occurred to him.
Why have a base this far out?
…
No answer came forth to his mind, but it left an uneasy weight in his stomach all the same. Something wasn't quite right.
''Sensei?'' Aru nudged him. ''Are you alright?''
''Hm? Ah, yes, just thinking.'' The raven-haired man gave her a reassuring smile. ''Any ideas where Elysium might be hiding?''
He half-expected a quip about it being in a desert but Aru gave his question some thought, her brows knitting together as she swept her gaze across the desert. Silence befell them but neither rushed to break it, leaving just the gentle thrum of chatter from the group below to fill the quiet.
After a minute, Aru started to speak. ''I'm not sure... the obvious answer is out in the desert, but there must be some sort of landmark to attract attention, otherwise those looking for it would never be able to find it.''
''I was thinking the same.'' Sensei hummed. ''We're still working with the assumption that the drone moved in a straight line, which covers a line out that way-''
He pointed as he talked, and as Aru followed his fingertip he knew she'd see nothing but sand.
''-but if the drone had changed direction during flight, then I think we're in for the long haul.'' Sensei finished with a grimace. ''Personally I'd put my money on it being to the south, nearer Trinity. Better climate and closer to civilisation. The north would give them better privacy, but put them a good deal away from anyone, which would be to both their benefit and hindrance.''
Aru nodded slightly, expression pinched with frustration. He could sympathise; they were looking for a needle in a haystack if not worse. Arguably closer to finding a grain of sand in a haystack, and with about the same chance of success. For all they knew they'd already passed it and simply hadn't noticed some tiny detail; the anxiety about overlooking something warred with the fatigue that came with living in a hot, stuffy desert. With their limited supplies as well they'd likely have to make multiple round trips.
He shook his head slightly. Even if it was going to be difficult, they couldn't give up, not when the lives of countless students were at risk – and after so many had already been lost. It would be disrespectful to them to just give up become it was a challenging task.
As silence fell over them once more Sensei spared a look at Aru. She was looking up at the moon but there a certain emotion in her eyes he couldn't quite name, a sort of regret. His mind flashed back to that night at Schale, when he was attacked. He could still remember the look of shock on her face, and he supposed in the heat of the moment she'd never really thought about what'd happen if she hit the guy, just that she wanted to get the intruder off of him. He appreciated the sentiment if it was true.
Silently he slipped an arm around Aru, pulling her close. Instantly her cheeks flushed red and she peeked up at him, demure, but he just gave her a light smile. ''Still thinking about that night huh?''
Aru looked away immediately, but she didn't try and escape his one-armed embrace. ''...is it bad that I am? I mean, I don't regret saving you, but...''
''You didn't expect him to fall out of the window.'' He finished for her.
The red-haired sniper sighed. ''Yes. I feel like I should be proud, in a way, that I took down someone involved with Elysium, but I just feel...''
She struggled fro the right word, so he floated some for her. ''Guilty? Ashamed?''
''Guilty, yes. Guilty sounds best.'' Aru affirmed. ''...I can't imagine what his last moments might've been like. Watching the whole world blurring past you, only for it to suddenly stop...''
He slipped his hand over hers and gave it a firm squeeze. ''It would've been a quick death. Instant, even.''
Aru nodded, though it didn't look like the idea helped much. However he wasn't a psychologist; he couldn't say some magic words and make her guilt go away. All he could do was let her know he'd be there for her if she needed someone to talk to. For all the talk she made about being a criminal mastermind, Aru was really a softie at heart.
Glancing down at his phone again he checked the time, then spoke. ''If you want you can stay in my tent. If it'll make you more comfortable, that is.''
Aru flushed, but it took only a few moments before a smile came to her lips and she nodded. ''...Mm. I'd like that, Sensei.''
Returning the smile Sensei shuffled over to the edge of the ruin and began to make his descent – though not before catching Aru's last words.
''...thank you.''
He said nothing, though he knew she saw his smile all the same.
X-x-X
Morning felt like it came far too quickly, for Sensei.
One moment he put his head down and snuggled into his sleeping bag, the next the morning sunlight was beaming in through the tent's orange walls. He tried to ignore it at first but the bright colour of the tent and the sun's angle made it impossible, and it was thus with a heavy heart that he abandoned his dream, the memories of it already draining from him as he sat upright and stretched, groaning.
Shuffling to his right drew his eye. Laid next to him, her trusty sniper rifle only a few feet away, was Aru. Perhaps wisely she'd brought a sleeping mask to cover her eyes, though her lips were still visible; pursing slightly as she started to stir. He gave her a light nudge with his hand to speed up the process, earning a groggy groan from the red-haired sniper as she pushed the mask up – immediately squinting due to the brightness of the tent.
''Sensei...'' She mumbled out, rubbing at her eyes. ''What time is it?''
Reaching over for his phone he turned it on. ''It's... nine o'clock. We slept in a bit, but the others should already be moving about.''
As if to confirm his words Nonomi's chipper voice could be heard from just beyond the tent, the loud clatter of pots and pans only further stirring the various occupants of their campsite. Smiling wryly Sensei unzipped his sleeping bag fully and climbed out of it, finding the air much cooler than he expected – though then again, they were probably in the shade up until the last half-hour, so the sun was probably still warming their tent up. How kind of it.
''I'll step outside so you can get changed.'' Sensei remarked, glancing down at himself. Shorts and a baggy t-shirt wasn't exactly ideal clothing out in the desert, but he could stand outside for a minute or two in it just fine. He doubted the others would really care, given their duty.
His words helped Aru shake off the lingering grogginess and she uttered a thanks, prompting him to unzip their tent and step outside. Warm desert sunlight poured over his upper-back immediately, and on reflex he raised a hand to block it when it got in his eyes; squinting to look around. Predictably Hoshino's tent was still zipped up though Ayane could be heard within, probably dressing herself. Nonomi and Shiroko were both already awake and Serika was just sitting down by the fire, sleepy but at least awake.
''Ah, good morning Sensei~!'' Nonomi chirped merrily, moving what looked to him like some weird gadgets at first near the fire – but after a closer look he realised they were portable stoves. They looked a bit more modern, the design built of solid metal and without a hint of rust, and the cans of food she was popping open and cooking up were surprisingly varied.
Then again, Nonomi was deceptively strong, so perhaps the idea of her carrying a bag full of canned food wasn't outright bizarre.
''Morning.'' He greeted lightly, nodding over at Shiroko and Serika – the former giving a nod and the latter still staring into space. ''I'm guessing Hoshino is going to sleep in?''
''I'll wake her in a minute.'' Shiroko answered. ''Ayane is going to bed though. She had last watch.''
''Ahh.'' He made an understanding sound. ''Nothing seen during the night I'm guessing?''
''If she did, she didn't say anything.'' Shiroko remarked passively.
It took about another minute before Aru finally climbed out of the tent, donning her usual outfit. It was a bit messier, her hair not as straight as it had been when they first set out, but she still looked good considering the circumstances. Petting her shoulder as he passed he climbed back on in and dressed himself swiftly, listening idly to the chatter going on outside – mostly about what was for breakfast and such. By the time he emerged from his shelter, Nonomi was already starting to dish up.
It wasn't anything incredible, given the ingredients, but it was a lot better than nothing – and if nothing else, Nonomi's skill at cooking made canned food taste delicious.
''So.'' Aru was the first to talk business, even as breakfast was ongoing. ''What's the plan for today, Sensei?''
All eyes turned to him and he hummed, directing his attention more towards Shiroko. ''How fast can a sandstorm roll in?''
''Varies depending on wind. Usually you'll see it long before it hits, but sometimes it can be on you in less than ten minutes.'' Shiroko answered without hesitation.
''I see... weather reports said there might be sandstorms up to the north, but nothing about them moving southwards. For today we'll spread out in a fan pattern. Nonomi, Haruka and Hoshino, you guys ahead straight west from here. Serika and Mutsuki, you go slightly south-west – not too far down, but enough to cover anything they might miss. Kayoko and Shiroko, you'll do the opposite and go slightly north-west to do the same. Aru you'll be staying here with me at the camp so make sure nobody messes with it, and so Ayane can get some rest uninterrupted. Everyone clear on that?''
''Hai, Sensei.'' Everyone present agreed.
''Good.'' He slurped down the last of his beans, leaving just a dribble of sauce left in his tin. ''Once you've finished take five, grab some supplies in case you get trapped in a sandstorm, then head out. Rendezvous back here at five o'clock.''
Another agreement came, and as individuals finished off their meals they did as instructed, packing some water and food rations just in case before departing.
Yet as he watched them go, he tried to smother the weird sense of trepidation he'd had since the night before – the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
X-x-X
Despite there being very little to do in the open desert other than look, time seemed to pass quickly.
Or rather time seemed to move unclearly. Sometimes Shiroko would look at her watch and notice that over two hours had passed since she lasted checked, while other times she looked and only ten minutes had. Despite all the time she'd spent out in the desert she'd never figured out if that was an actual phenomena or just the way she perceived the time passing, but it was tiresome all the same.
Just as tiresome as trekking through a desert. She adjusted her hold on her weapon at the thought, sweeping some dust from the top and raising it up to make sure the sights were clear. Once she was sure she let it fall, held onto her frame by its sling, and swept her gaze around herself once more. Nothing stood out to her beyond the distant horizon of Abydos; sand in every direction aside from to the east where the city laid. If she squinted she could almost make out the more mountainous regions to the north, but she was far too distant to make them out through the desert haze.
Dropping her arms back to her sides Shiroko cast a look over at Kayoko. The gothic girl hadn't said much during the trip, though then again she hadn't either. Neither seemed to be the talkative types and without someone to bounce off of, like Nonomi or Aru, both seemed to be at a loss as of what to say. Yet it was an oddly comfortable silence, both speaking only when needed and otherwise just going about their job as best they could. It felt... efficient, if she was to put a word to it.
She decided she liked Kayoko.
Kayoko looked at her then, one brow raising, prompting Shiroko to just shrug and continue looking about.
For a change, something actually caught her eye. The dune ahead of them was starting to dip, and as they continued walking the reason why became clear – there was a valley of sorts. Nothing too deep, probably only a dozen feet at best, but it was notable mostly because there was a set of old ruins within the small valley. It looked much like the ones their campsite was located in, identical even, with the only real changes being where the debris and rubble. Though if anything this one was in better condition than their own.
''...wanna take a break?'' Shiroko remarked, looking at the sun to determine the time. ''...it's probably about two by now.''
''Mm. May as well.'' Kayoko shrugged and started to descend the sand dune. The incline was sharp, but not enough to make either of them stumble. ''I'm guessing we'll have to head back right after though if we wanna get there on time.''
''Probably.'' Shiroko agreed.
And then once more they lapsed back into silence, the only noise the soft hiss of their shoes against sand. The archway that must've once been the front of the ruins was broken and unstable, but stayed firm as they cautiously walked under it, their eyes scanning the walls for any sign of a secret entrance. None revealed themselves, predictably, but that didn't stop them from looking all the same – poking about as much as they dared.
When they found nothing they took a seat in the middle of the ruins, cross-legged and warily watching the walls of the ruins, seeing more than a few scorpions skittering about.
Shiroko was the first to speak. ''Don't worry, they're cautious about people. If you don't attack they'll just run away.''
''...and if one climbs on me?''
''I'll shoot it off.'' Shiroko answered calmly.
Kayoko raised a brow but didn't seem all that bewildered by the idea. Or maybe she was; it was hard to read her.
''How do you know your way about so much?'' Kayoko asked instead, reaching into her pack and taking out her water.
Shiroko opted to do the same, answering as she did so. ''I've lived here my whole life. My home was on the edge of the desert, to the south, so I grew up with the desert as my backyard. Learned what to touch and what to stay away from from my parents. I don't see them that often with school going on, but I've learned to ride a bike over long distances to see them every now and again.''
Kayoko hummed, digesting that as she took a drink. Shiroko waited until she was finished before popping a question in return. ''What about you? Where'd you grow up?''
The gothic girl was quiet for a moment, screwing the lid of her bottle on until it was tight, and only then spoke. ''Grew up in a bad area of Gehenna, near the mines. The type that Trinity thinks of when they talk about Gehenna; lawless, violent. Dad was absent for most of my life, mother wasn't a nice person.''
It was short, her tone passive, but Shiroko didn't think it devalued her words any. Though she didn't have an easy life she had the sense to know a lot of others were worse off than her. ''I'm sorry to hear that.''
''Don't be. It's in the past.'' Kayoko just shrugged. ''I don't like talking about it, but you don't need to tread on eggshells about it or anything. It's just a part of life, that's all.''
Shiroko nodded again, and the two fell into another bout of silence. The ruins made it all the more weighty, the stone around them cold from the shade they found themselves in and the temperature gradually starting to drop as the sun passed its peak. It'd be a good few hours until sundown, but that didn't change the fact that it'd get cold before the sun went. And while she doubted either would perish after a night in the cold, it wouldn't do their health any good, and the last thing they needed was to bring the others down with two patients.
'...I wish I had my drone.' Shiroko thought to herself, feeling a bit glum. She'd reported the contact with the mysterious sniper to Sensei immediately upon regrouping with him, but alas there wasn't much they could do other than send word to the General Student Council to be on the lookout for a possible rogue sniper. If nothing else, the high-calibre round they used would narrow down the search a bit.
It'd be a good few days before she got a replacement drone as well, the same going for Ayane. Time which seemed to drag on, and it was at times like this that Shiroko really missed the absence of it. She wasn't super attached to her drone like Ayane was, but she did miss it. Maybe she should name the next one. Or draw a face on it; give it some character.
Feeling like she'd rested enough Shiroko rose to her feet, idly wandering around the ruins and looking at the remnants of a statue idly. A hole was blown in the wall next to it, the structure mostly collapsed and blocked by a spider web, but as she started at the web she noticed something odd – not about the web, but about the sand behind it.
''...with me.''
Kayoko grunted and stood, not questioning her. Wordlessly Shiroko led her companions out of the ruins and into the sunlight once more – and true to her sight the sand was different. Compressed, flattened, smoothed.
Though the sand had already started to hide the finer details, she wouldn't mistake something like tire tracks.
Kayoko apparently came to the same conclusion; speaking up from behind her. ''...should we tell the others?''
''Mm. We'll follow the tracks before the wind washes them away.'' Shiroko noted, following the faint path with her eyes. It went away from the drone's expected path, heading further north-west.
The tracks were fresh, probably only a few days old. They were lucky the wind hadn't been strong enough to blow them away entirely.
But on the horizon, faint but visible, was the churning clouds of a sandstorm.
''Let's move.'' Shiroko started walking, then broke into a light jog. ''We don't have time to waste!''
Kayoko just grunted, and together the two followed the faint tracks deeper into the golden desert.
Unaware of what might await them.
[END]
A/N: I wonder what they might find out there, heh~
See you next time in Chapter 16: Night Terrors~