Bang! The last Wanderer is flattened by an unseen force and scatters debris in all directions.

"Caleb!"

Muddy water is everywhere, but Caleb seems unfazed as he brushes aside the damp strands of my hair. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm good, but that person is getting away!"

Caleb holds out his hand, his fingers slightly extended. A barrage of stone shards chase after the fleeing figure cloaked in a dark grayish-green. "Eat some fruit. I'll be right back."

A paper bag lands in my hands. Before I can respond, Caleb vaults over the railing and disappears into the night.How did Caleb get here so quickly.

Perfect vessel my asss! It doesssn't even look as good as usss unfinished productsss.!Sharp shards pierce through half of Viper's face.And before he can even cry out in anger, a kick knocks the wind out of him.A powerful force slams him into the ground which instantly destroys the other half of his face.

"I see it's shedding season again, Viper." Caleb said

"You bassstard. I'll... I'll kill you!"

Caleb increases the weight. Immediately, the crisp sound of something cracking reverberates.Those invisible restraints are like iron that even make Viper's knees creak.

"You... Ssstop... it!"

A white prosthetic eye floats into Caleb's hand and is crushed in an instant. "Who gave you the right to approach her?"

"The Professsor sssaid... it'sss not time to go after her yet... -I wasss just playing around with her!"It feels as if a swamp is slowly squeezing the air out of his lungs, making it difficult to breathe. "There... are lesss than 72 hoursss before the Final Clean-Up. I'm jussst reminding you that...If you can't retrieve the Protocore fragmentsss, you're done for!"

"Which hand did you touch her with? This one?"He's unfazed by the threat. Click. Viper's left hand is twisted, and he almost passes out from the pain.

"Thisss... Your need to protect her... It'sss a bit much...Wouldn't you sssay your overprotectivenesss bordersss obsess-Argh!"
"
Raindrops are suddenly suspended in the air.
They're like countless silver needles that are ready to pierce him at any moment.He can't even laugh.
Caleb crouches down. Meeting Viper's gaze, he slightly smiles.

"Lay a hand on her again, and I will kill you."

Unable to find Caleb, I have no choice but to retreat to the overpass.
The soaked part of the paper bag l'm holding leaves a chaotic pattern on my hand. It almost resembles a winding labyrinth.That person knew I had an Aether Core. Is he an assassin sent by Ever?

But he wasn't planning to kill me. It seemed like he was testing his prey.

"Why are you standing here in the rain"An umbrella shields me as Caleb reappears. He frowns as he wipes away the water from my face.

"Caleb, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But I lost track of him."

Having checked Caleb's hand over and over again, my anxiety only dissipates when I confirm he's unharmed.

"It's okay. I got some of the parts he dropped. I'll take them back to the Data Analysis. Hopefully, there will be something to learn."

"We'll talk about it later. Let's go home."He takes off his coat and drapes it over my head.With his arm around my shoulders, his warmth quickly envelops me. "Give me a heads-up next time you go out. I can't help but worry about you when you're all alone."Upon returning home, Caleb ushers me into the bathroom.
I'm wrapped in the hot water's warmth. After getting out of the shower, I put on soft loungewear, the rain's chill having faded away.
In the living room, I scan the parts and upload the data to my watch. A steaming bowl of ginger soup appears on the coffee table. "You didn't dry your hair. Again."Freshened up, Caleb brings over a towel. He sits down on the couch and pats the spot next to him. "Come here."I comply and hold the bowl of soup while Caleb towel-dries my hair. It's very soothing, and I can't help but narrow my eyes.

"It's been a while since I received your "service" like this."

"Oh, so you know it's a "service." And that's why you always plop onto the bed to play with your phone while your hair's still wet."

"It's because I know you'll help me."

"Okay, pip-squeak."Through the towel, something taps my head. It's not too gentle or too rough.

"Though, don't you think you've gotten better at drying hair?

"Have I?I moved out to live in the college dorms.
Then I moved again for the DAA after graduating. Looking back, it's been forever since I was really home.  "That means it's also been a long time since I helped you dry your hair."

He tilts my chin before using his fingers to comb through the disheveled strands.

"There's no rush. We have more than enough time together."

"Yep."

With a promise made, a new thought crosses my mind. "What about the Deepspace Aviation Administration? Do they know you joined the Farspace Fleet? What about your comrade-in-arms?"

"They don't know, and they won't.It wouldn't be smart to have too many people in on this. They aren't required to know everything about me anyway."

My phone screen suddenly lights up. I see a news alert about the explosion in Cascade District.

(LAh, right. Kevi...
He removes the towel from my head and walks to the bedroom.

"I'll grab the hair dryer. Gimme a sec."

"Wait..!"Aware of the warnings Kevi's parents gave and the Fleet's close surveillance of the siblings, I realize things are in a more sinister light.Is it possible... Caleb knows something about this...?
"The Fleet has used a considerable amount of resources to deal with the explosion incident and their search for Kevi.Is it because Kevi's parents are important to them?"
"
The perpetrator and victims are Fleet personnel. That means the Fleet must take full responsibility and provide answers to the public."

"Then... What will the Fleet do if they can't find Kevi?"

To reassure me, Caleb gently pats my head. His voice softens. "Don't worry, they will find him."

As I watch Caleb walk away, a sense of guilt creeps over me like an evening mist.