Under Crimson Skies

Crystal wasn't invited back. That much was clear.

The air inside Onychinus' base was thick with smoke and tension, the metallic hum of machinery blending with the low murmur of voices. Members loitered around, some cleaning weapons, others running tech, but all pausing to glance at her—the outsider who had walked back in like she belonged.

She wasn't here to make friends. She was here for results.

Ignoring the stares, Crystal stepped further inside, her expression unreadable. Sylus had promised information, but promises meant nothing until they were delivered. If she had to remind him of their deal, she would.

But before she could find him, an unmistakable voice called out— mocking, amused.

"Well, well. Look who came crawling back."

Luke. And, predictably, Kieran beside him, their expressions blocked by the crow masks on their faces.

"Hope you're ready," Kieran added, leaning casually against a crate. "Because this time, we've got a real test for you."

A flicker of unease passed through the crowd. Crystal didn't move. "What kind of test?"

Luke grinned. "Simple. Pin a bow to Boss' hair." 

That's how Crystal ended up here—sneaking around Sylus' bedroom, a sparkly pink bow clutched between her fingers. This was stupid. Absolutely ridiculous. But she wasn't about to back down now.

She needed Onychinus to trust her—or, at the very least, Sylus' right-hand men.

The faint click of a door opening made her freeze. Footsteps crossed the hardwood floor, slow and deliberate. Crystal held her breath from her hiding spot behind the leather sofa, waiting, listening.

Fabric rustled. Then—the soft creak of weight settling into the couch.

This was it.

Lifting her head just enough, she saw the back of Sylus' silver hair, strands catching the dim glow of the lamp. She wasn't sure why her heart skipped a beat, but the distraction lasted just a second—one second too long for her liking. She shoved the feeling away, focused.

Steadying her breath, she carefully lifted her hand and clipped the bow onto a strand of his hair.

He shifted. She froze.

A sharp jolt shot through her—had he noticed?

But he simply scratched the side of his neck, turned a page in his book, and kept reading.

Crystal settled behind the couch, deciding to wait until he left. She hadn't expected the hum—low, unpolished, a little off-key. Sylus sings? Or, well, something close to it. It was kind of terrible, but… oddly soothing.

Maybe that's why she starts with a jolt, when a certain mechanical crow caws loudly at her.

Crystal's eyes snapped open, heart pounding. She must've dozed off—just for a moment. Damn it. Lifting her head, she saw the room was empty now. Only Mephisto remained, perched nearby, his glowing eyes fixed on her.

She stared at him. He stared back.

"Look, if you keep quiet about finding me here, I'll get you some rats to play with." Crystal says, striking a deal with the mechanical bird that goes quiet now, no longer cawing out her location. She swiftly leaves, and walks towards the meeting area.

Luke and Kieran were already there, snickering to themselves. One of them gave her a thumbs-up, the other barely holding back a laugh.

The bow was still in Sylus' hair.

"Well," one of them grinned. "Looks like you passed. Welcome to Onychinus, lady."

Sylus turned at the sound of her voice. His expression remained serious—he had no idea about the bow.

"Oh, you've arrived. For a moment, I thought you weren't going to show up."

"I stopped by earlier, but the twins said you were busy." Crystal walks over to Sylus, "So I went out for a stroll and just came back."

"I see. Hopefully the N109 zone's air was fresh enough for you." Sylus teases, before he holds out a device to her. "I compiled everything we know so far about EVER's whereabouts in this data pad. I'm sure it'll keep you busy for a few days." A smirk adorns his lips.

Crystal accepts the device and clicks through a couple screens. Holographic text floated in the air, scrolling too fast for most to process—but her sharp blue eyes locked onto the right words immediately.

"They've been spotted in Whitesand Bay? And activity has been spotted on Hat Island too?" Crystal inquires.

A smirk tugged at Sylus' lips. "Oh? You're fast."

He folded his arms, his next words casual—too casual.

"It's a little out of my way to investigate two locations in Linkon, especially with the Hunter's Association after me," he mused. Then, a deliberate pause. "But… I think I'd be considered 'covered' if I had a Hunter like you with me. Wouldn't I?"

Crystal's heart stops, how did he know? She tried her best to not let it be known she was a hunter, she locks eyes with him and his glint with amusement.

"You think I don't do my research on the people who I make deals with? I knew you were a hunter, even before you entered the N109 zone." Sylus leans back against the edge of his desk, and crosses his arms. 

"Wait, if you knew I was with the Association... then why did you agree to the deal? Aren't you worried I might turn on you in the end?" Crystal asks, raising an eyebrow, but this only makes Sylus chuckle, the sound deep and echoing in the room.

"Maybe I would've been, if you had any trace of betrayal in your eyes. But, you're as see-through as glass, your intentions are clear and not murky." Sylus unfolds his arms, "I would be surprised if you decided to turn me in to the association."

Crystal stares at him for a moment, a long moment, wondering if he was kidding, or trying to tease her. But for once, she sees no hint of mockery in his eyes, and she realizes he means it.

"Well, my presence could help with a disguise, an excuse of sorts, as long as it's not a higher up from the association." Crystal starts, "So, should we investigate Hat Island?"

"Meet me at the docks in Whitesand Bay tomorrow. We can think of a plan of action then."

Crystal gives him a slow nod, memorizing the details. "Alright. I'll be there."

Sylus smirks but says nothing more, turning back to his desk. The conversation is over. Crystal takes that as her cue to leave, slipping out of the Onychinus hideout and into the streets of the N109 Zone.

The night air is thick with the scent of rust and damp concrete, the neon lights flickering in the distance. She exhales, her breath steady, but her mind isn't. This deal with Sylus—this entire situation—was spiraling into something she wasn't sure she could control.

She passes by a shattered storefront window, its jagged edges catching the neon glow. The reflection warps her face, twisting it into something almost unrecognizable.

Just like back then.

The memory hits fast—cold metal restraints clamping down on her wrists, the blinding white of laboratory lights. A figure loomed over her, murmuring about stability tests, adaptability rates. A sharp, stinging pain bloomed at the base of her neck, spreading like ice through her veins.

"This one is promising," the voice had said. "Her Evol conductivity is off the charts. But the emotional responses... still too unstable. Perhaps another dose will correct it."

A scream—it could've been hers, or someone else's—echoed through the sterile walls.

Crystal blinks, snapping back to the present, her breath coming faster than before. Her fingers dig into her palm, nails pressing into skin, leaving crescent moon shapes in her palm. The pain is grounding. It reminds her that she's here, now, no longer a test subject in some experiment.

She exhales slowly, forcing herself to keep moving.

Tomorrow, they'd set out for Hat Island. And whatever waited for them there… she would face it head-on.