Helaine quickly dashed from one building to another, her movements sharp and fluid. The buildings had mostly smooth surfaces. Behind her, Evryn struggling to keep up with her, quick and swift pace.
From jumping from one building to another, or jumping over ledges of a building to another, they were making quick paste towards they're designation.
If anything, Helaine was very well suited for these missions or things, to put it she thrived at night time able to dash in the shadows without being seen, just how she moved back on Sythar. Wherever it was night the field was simply here battle grounds.
Helaine quickly past by a few wooden boxes and crates with Evryn following behind with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"How much long to we get there?" Calling out to Helaine.
Still moving, "Soon, we should be closing in on it soon."
Before long, Evryn and Helaine made their way to a more secluded part of the city—the far end, opposite from where the Skull loomed. As they traveled across the rooftops, Evryn noticed how the buildings gradually grew more isolated and rundown the further back they went. Cracks lined the walls, and the faint hum of life seemed to fade into silence.
Eventually, the two came to a stop near the edge of a rooftop. The surface beneath their boots was mostly smooth, though scattered with small cracks and loose debris.
"This is where the place should be," Helaine murmured, her crimson eye scanning the area sharply, taking in every shadow and shape with practiced focus.
Evryn mirrored her, surveying the dim-lit street below—until something in the sky pulled his gaze upward.
His breath caught.
Beyond the towering skeletal remains in the distance, he spotted Virealia—a distant grassy world glowing faintly in the night sky. Orbiting it was a silver moon, circling like a watchful guardian.
The light from Virealia and its moon filtered down through the towering bones—giant remains that stretched over the city like a ribcage. As the light passed through the gaps, it scattered across the desert sands, spilling between the shadows cast by the bones. The parts left exposed glowed faintly under the green and silver light, while other parts of the city lay in shade, hidden beneath the massive structure.
The result was surreal—like the city was caught between two worlds.
Evryn stared, awestruck. It was even more breathtaking than the night sky back on Virealia itself.
"Evryn."
Helaine's voice cut through the quiet, calm but precise—just loud enough to pull him back.
He turned, blinking away the moment.
She raised her right hand, pointing with two fingers at a nearby building. It looked like nothing special—worn-down, a few cracks lining the front, and a black, torn tarp hanging over the entrance.
A man sat lazily outside, slouched in a chair with the soft orange glow of a cigarette lighting up his face. He looked relaxed, completely unaware of the eyes watching him.
"I've only spotted three so far," Helaine said. "Two went inside, and this guy stayed out front."
Her red eyes narrowed on the building.
"Rin told me this place was heavily guarded… but I'm not seeing much movement." She paused, voice low. "They're probably all inside."
"It seems like that's the most likely scenario," Evryn said, eyeing the man. "How should we deal with him to get in?"
Helaine smirked. "I can handle that."
Without another word, she dashed across the rooftops to the right, moving fast and low. Before long, she positioned herself at the far side of the building they needed to reach.
The area she chose was dark and secluded—no lights, no patrols. Perfect for someone to disappear.
Helaine raised her right arm, gathering Aether into her palm. In one fluid motion, a thin web shot from her hand, latching onto a nearby trash can. She gave it a sharp tug.
Clink!
The trash can toppled over, sending scraps and junk spilling across the alley.
The man, who had been lazily smoking, immediately snapped his head toward the noise. His posture stiffened as he stubbed out his cigarette and stood up from the chair.
"Who's there?" he called out, voice wary.
No answer.
He slowly reached for his holster, drawing out a blaster as he edged closer to the fallen trash can—only to see a rat pop its head out, staring up at him with wide eyes.
"Just a rat," the man muttered under his breath, lowering his blaster slightly as he relaxed. He cursed and kicked a piece of trash aside before turning his back to the street.
That was exactly what Helaine wanted.
She and Evryn had already dropped from the rooftops, quickly and quietly making their way to the building.
Up close, the entrance looked even worse than it had from afar — cracked walls, a sagging frame, and a black tarp above the doorway fluttering slightly in the night breeze.
Helaine crouched near the door, her voice low. "We need to stay sharp."
Evryn nodded, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword as they slipped through the entrance and into the dark.
***
Inside, the air hit Evryn immediately — thick, stale, and heavy with the stench of alcohol and sweat. He instinctively scrunched his nose, trying not to gag.
The hallway was narrow and dimly lit by a few flickering ceiling lights, their weak glow barely cutting through the gloom. The walls were cracked and stained, patches of the old paint peeling off in strips. Everything about the place felt neglected, like it had been left to rot quietly behind closed doors.
Helaine pressed herself against the wall, motioning for Evryn to follow as they moved deeper inside. Their footsteps were light, barely making a sound against the worn floorboards. Every creak of the old building made Evryn tense, his hand glued to the hilt of his sword.
Muffled voices drifted from somewhere ahead, mixed with the occasional clink of glass and a rough laugh. As they edged closer to an open room, Evryn dared a glance inside.
A group of guards — maybe four or five — lounged around a battered table, playing some kind of card game. A bottle of alcohol sat in the middle, already half-empty, and a few empty cans and glasses were scattered around the room. One of the guards threw his cards down in frustration, earning a chorus of laughter from the others. Their weapons — mostly blaster pistols and short blaster rifles — were slung lazily over chairs or propped against the walls.
"They're drunk," Helaine whispered under her breath, her crimson eye narrowing slightly as she observed them. "Makes it easier for us."
Evryn gave a tight nod. It was good news, but it also meant they had to be careful — drunken idiots could be loud if they caught even a hint of something wrong.
they headed further down the hall, past the open lounge. Evryn's heart pounded in his chest as he followed Helaine, the two of them sticking to the darkest parts of the corridor.
Every step was a test of patience. One wrong move, one misstep, and it could all go sideways.
The smell of alcohol grew stronger as they moved past the room, almost making Evryn sick. His stomach churned slightly, but he kept going, focusing on Helaine's movements ahead of him.
She didn't even hesitate, weaving through the shadowy hallway like she belonged there.
At the end of the hall, another door sat slightly ajar, a faint light spilling through the crack. Helaine crouched down near it, listening carefully for any movement inside.
Evryn came up beside her, trying to control his breathing.
Helaine glanced at him, the faintest smirk playing on her lips.
"This is where things get fun," she mouthed silently.
Evryn tightened his grip on his sword.
Whatever waited beyond that door, he was ready.