I've finally added the realy A/N for this chapter below.

A/N end

Chapter 8: Getting ready

"Do you really have to go after Acadia immediately? I need you for my plans!"
"You've already delayed this once, Master. Acadia is the greatest threat to old humanity." Luxion's tone is flat but cutting—it makes me feel like an idiot just for arguing. I cross my arms. "Yeah, in eight years maybe. The thing's been dormant for millennia. Another few months should be fine. And I didn't know about Acadia last time."
"The future is uncertain," Luxion counters, his lens flickering slightly. "I was supposed to remain inactive for another five years. Do you wish to gamble on an error in Acadia's timeline? That entity will show no mercy once it awakens."
That gives me pause, but I shove the doubt aside. "Sure, Acadia's a nightmare waiting to happen, but I need you! Do you realize what's waiting for me? Zola's scheming, the crown's demands, finding my lost sister, and let's not forget trying to keep Angelica, Clarice, Julius, and Jilk from ending up in the same dumpster fire as last time."
"Ah yes, your noble crusade to meddle with the lives of misguided humans. Truly, the pinnacle of priorities." I grit my teeth. "I'm trying to save them, you condescending pile of scrap!"
"And I'm trying to save old humanity," Luxion retorts. "Acadia is an active threat, not like your collection of poorly managed lives."

Argh, I forgot that he's like this. Maybe Elysium was the better one. I sigh, digging into the dirt, already exhausted. We're currently burying the remains of the poor souls who died here, former workers and unlucky adventurers. It's the only thing I can still do for them.
"Anyway," I mutter, "you didn't have to knock Dad out that hard. It's been a whole day. What did you drug him with, a horse tranquilizer?"
"I used the precise amount needed to ensure he didn't interfere. His prolonged state is unexpected. Shall I conduct a full scan?" "…that doesn't seem necessary."

The only sounds are the scrape of shovels and the faint hum of the robots' internals. I can feel my resolve slipping. Damn it, he has a point about Acadia.
"Fine," I say, throwing down the shovel with a huff. "But we're doing this my way. You're going to build a decoy ship—something that won't attract power-hungry idiots. So make it seem harmless."
"And?" Luxion prompts, his tone neutral but expectant.
"And you're helping me get Cleare on board," I add. "If you're running off, I need someone capable to support my plans." Luxion's lens tilts slightly, almost like he's considering my terms. "Acceptable. Cleare is… less than ideal compared to myself, but she will suffice for your rudimentary schemes."
"Rudimentary?!" I start to yell, but… no. Not worth it. He's doing what I want, even if he's a jerk about it. "Now, get to work on that decoy."
"As you wish, Master," Luxion replies, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. I roll my eyes and grab the shovel again. It's going to be a long day.

Hunched over a desk, I scribble down plans. Luxion hovers by my right shoulder like he never left. Behind me, there's a groan. I glance back to see Dad stirring, his face scrunching in confusion as he sits up. "This… isn't where I fell asleep," he mutters, voice thick with sleep.
"Nope," I reply. "This is Partner, Luxion's decoy."
"Partner?" His brows furrow. "What do you mean by decoy? Where's Luxion?"
I gesture toward the floating sphere. "This is a secondary ship. Luxion's real body is out surveying." Dad frowns deeper. "How? He's so big and…"
"He can make the ship invisible, like he does with this sphere."

"Leon," he says slowly, still piecing things together, "when did you—" His eyes flick to Luxion. "Why does it feel like you two are… working together already?" Luxion takes that as his cue. "To clarify, I have accepted Leon as my master."
"What?" Dad's voice rises as he stares between us. "You're serious? He's a kid!"
"Officially," Luxion continues, his tone neutral, "you may list yourself as my master in the kingdom due to Leon's age. However, all authority lies with him."
Dad looks like a fish out of water, rubbing his temple as he processes. "Wait… hold on. What? Why would you—" "Because he is capable," Luxion interrupts, his mechanical voice unyielding. "Leon has demonstrated greater strategic aptitude and foresight than most adults. Including yourself."
Ouch. I shoot Luxion a glare. This is going to escalate, isn't it?

"Leon is a child," Dad snaps, standing now. "He shouldn't have this kind of responsibility—or be at the mercy of a strange being like you."
"I have no intention of manipulating my master," Luxion replies calmly. "Every action I take is calculated to ensure his safety and success."
Dad's jaw tightens, his frustration palpable. "Calculate all you want. You're still an unknown. I won't let Leon shoulder this alone."
I sigh. They're running in circles. "Dad, Luxion isn't perfect, but he won't snap anymore. Besides, I know what I'm doing."
"You're too young to understand the weight of this, Leon," Dad says, turning to me for a moment. "And I'm not just going to stand by. I'll be watching you, Luxion. And if you so much as hint at putting Leon in danger—" "Your concern is noted, Balcus fou Bartfort. However, Leon is the most suitable individual for this role."
Dad glares at him a moment longer before finally sagging back into his chair. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I trust you."

We leave the room together, stepping into Partner's unfinished interior. It's a stark contrast: the finished sections gleam under soft lighting, while other parts remain rusted, overgrown, and crumbling and gaping holes in the hull reveal the empty hangar beyond.
"This is… unfinished," Dad mutters, his eyes darting around.
"Yeah," I agree, gesturing ahead. "Luxion is remodeling it. But it's already safe."
"How long will this take?" he asks, still frowning at the uneven surroundings.
"A few days," I say with a shrug. "Once Partner's finished, we'll head out."
"And then what?"
"Then we'll get another AI Luxion told me about," I reply. "After that, we split up."
"Split up?"
I nod, my expression growing serious. "Luxion has an old enemy—one that can't be ignored. Meanwhile,I think we need to report to the crown."
"It's necessary," Luxion interjects. "Efficient allocation of resources ensures optimal outcomes."
Dad doesn't look convinced, but doesn't argue further.

The next few days are a blur of activity. Luxion upgrades our gear, refining old equipment and supplying new tools, while Dad and I train. Together, we map out plans for dealing with Cleare, the crown, and Zola.
By the time Partner is complete, we've sent a letter home, reassuring everyone that we're fine.

Thanks to Partner's unparalleled speed, we reached the island housing Cleare's laboratory in mere hours. Beneath the surface lies a crumbling maze of corridors, once an advanced facility of old humanity. Dad, ever the vigilant protector, took the front, his blade swinging at shadows. Luxion hovered beside me, offering sarcastic commentary about Dad's over-cautiousness.
As we ventured deeper, we found the hidden entrance and passed it. There, chimeric experiments—half-human, half-animal monstrosities—emerged from the darkness. Their grotesque forms were exactly as I remember from nearly six years later in my previous life. No change in all that time. The elves were totally on the way to world domination. Dad held his ground, cutting down the abominations with precision. In the rare moments he was nearly overwhelmed, Luxion intervenes, firing lasers with deadly accuracy. I stayed back, out of their way, marveling at how seamlessly they work together.

The lab is exactly as I remember: human-sized test tubes line the walls. Some are shattered, their contents long gone, while others remain intact, displaying chimeras suspended in viscous liquid. Yep, just as creepy as last time.
"It seems the elves spent centuries barely understanding what they hijacked. Watching them struggle must have been pitifully amusing for Cleare," Luxion says, his tone smug as ever.
"Lovely imagery," I mutter, my stomach churning at the thought of the failed monstrosities.

We reach the transfer console, and Luxion activates Cleare's sphere. Her lens blinks to life, filling the lab with a soft blue glow. "Oh, finally!" Cleare's cheerful voice bubbles over with excitement. "Visitors! And not those pointy-eared primitives bumbling around—actual people! Oh, this is wonderful!"
Dad blinks, clearly taken aback. "Uh… hi?"
Cleare floats closer, her tone curious and light. "Let me guess—bandits? No, too coordinated. Lost adventurers? Hmm, you've got that calculating look." Her lens narrows playfully. "Wait a second… you're descendants of old humanity, aren't you?"
Dad looks to me for confirmation. I sigh, stepping forward. "Yes, we are. I'm Leon fou Bartfort, and this is Balcus fou Bartfort. We've come here for you, Cleare."
"Descendants?" Cleare's lens flickers with delight. "Splendid! I didn't expect anyone qualified to find me. And you want little old me? That's adorable!"
"Adorable?" Luxion's tone cuts in, sharp as a blade." Don't flatter yourself. They're here because they need results, not your… eccentricities." Cleare spins toward Luxion, her lens tilting playfully. "Oh, and who might this prickly AI be? Did someone forget to dust you off?"

"Enough," I interject, cutting off their bickering before it starts. "Cleare, Luxion already accepted me as his master. Will you do the same?"
Cleare floats closer, her lens zooming in on me as if inspecting every detail. "Master, huh? You're a bit small for the job."
Dad coughs awkwardly. "I'd prefer you work under me."
"Dad!"
Cleare giggles. "Well, I'm already sold! Anyone who finds this place and puts up with such a cranky AI must be worth something."
"Your lack of discernment is appalling," Luxion mutters, almost embarrassed. Cleare ignores him, spinning in a happy little circle. "Alrighty then! You've got yourself a deal. But first…" Her tone shifts, still cheerful but with a darker edge. "This lab has to go. It's been compromised."

My stomach drops. "Wait, what?—" "Self-destruction sequence initiated!" Cleare announces like she's throwing a party. "Don't worry, there's plenty of time to escape!"
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You couldn't ask me first?"
She doesn't answer, though it almost sounds like she tries to giggle.

We make it out just as a massive explosion rocks the ground beneath us. Behind us, the ruins collapse in a plume of smoke and dust. In front of us, angry voices rise. "You dare destroy our sacred site?"
The elven village chief stands at the head of a mob. "Hairless apes! That lab was our key to overthrowing humanity!"
Cleare, her tone as chipper as ever, cuts in. "Oh, please. That lab was a glorified playground for idiots who didn't even know how to turn on a basic interface." Luxion joins in, cold and unyielding. "Your so-called 'key' was nothing more than a relic of old humanity, meant to create elven soldiers for their wars."
The chief's face flushes red. "We are the superior species! You dare mock us—" "Superior?" Luxion interrupts. "You couldn't even manage to use the latrine in there properly."
The mob surges forward, weapons raised, but Luxion extends an energy shield, blocking their strikes effortlessly.
"Luxion," I say, already tired of the theatrics. "Destroy the chief's house without casualties."
A brilliant beam of light descends from the heavens, obliterating the building in an instant. The mob freezes, their expressions shifting from fury to terror.
"Well, that worked," I mutter under my breath, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Before anyone can react further, an elderly elf woman steps forward. Her presence silences the crowd, and their hostility melts into uneasy submission.
"What foolishness is this?" the elderly elf murmurs, her voice faint. Her attendant translates her words as she slowly approaches. "How many times must I tell you to stay away from the ruins? They were never meant for us."
The mob shrinks back under her gaze, mumbling excuses about reclaiming their heritage and fighting human oppression. She clicks her tongue in disapproval before turning toward me. "Please forgive them," her attendant continues. "It seems my warnings cannot deter their recklessness."
Dad nods politely, while I simply wait, unsure of what to expect.
The old elf focuses her gaze on me. Her cloudy eyes narrow slightly, as though trying to see something hidden beneath the surface. "I would normally invite you to my home for a divination," her attendant relays, "but not this time."
She pauses, her expression growing more intense.
"Let me give you this. Your trust in others will decide who stands with you in the end."

Before I can dwell on her words, she changes the subject. "Is there anything else you need before you leave?"
I hesitate for a moment before speaking. "Are there… any individuals on this island who are particularly hated?"
The question hangs in the air, drawing confused glances from the mob. After a brief pause, several elves step forward, dragging a green-haired woman and a short blond-haired boy toward me. The woman—Yumaria, she introduces herself—looks up with an oblivious smile, her voice warm and sweet despite the venomous stares from the mob.
Her son, Kyle, trembles, his wide, fearful eyes glaring up at me as he places himself protectively in front of his mother.
Dad shoots me a questioning look. "Why take them, Leon?"
I meet Kyle's defiant gaze. "Because they deserve better than being shunned by their own people," I say simply, offering the boy a smile.

On the way back to the ship, Dad and Luxion immediately fall into an argument.
"You put Leon in unnecessary danger!" Dad snaps, his voice tight with frustration.
"Every step was calculated. There was no true risk to Leon," Luxion responds calmly. Their voices fade into the background as I stare at the horizon, the elderly chief's words echoing in my mind. For now, all I can do is keep moving forward and hope I trust the right people.
I glance at Luxion. "If you've given Cleare all the necessary information, you can go find Acadia. But send regular updates once you're out of communication range."

A/N

This concludes the first arc I've planned. More or less just the introduction. Too bad, Luxion will be missing again in the next chapters...
That's just how the story flowed in my head...

Over all, this was quite easy to write, so much so that I finish it one day after the last chapter. But it was too long for my taste and I took days shortening it... I hope it's still a good read through.
Also, this chapter contains three point from my master list, so maybe I can get to Leon's school time before chapter 70! XD

So, like always, please comment if there is anything on your mind. All non shitposts are appreciated.