All I can see is a grayish-white glow with a metallic chill.
Caleb sits opposite me. He reaches for the first-aid kit as he holds my wrist, which has marks from the restraints earlier.

"Most of the Fleet's meds work immediately. It might sting. You need to tough it out." Said CalebHis tender care is completely different from the cold, intimidating façade he wore in the interrogation room. "What's up?"

"I need to be sure... that it's really you."

"You still can't believe I'm back?"He gently holds my hand. "Do I need to do a formal introduction?"He meets my gaze. And his voice softens as mirth appears in his eyes. "I'm Caleb. I'll always be by your side." Those familiar words and kind voice are truly unique.

I exhale, my racing heart finally calming down. "You were scary in that interrogation room... But now..." I shake my bandaged wrist, and then slam my hand down on the bed next to Caleb. When he's about to stand up, I get in his way again. "It's my turn to interrogate.
What happened after the explosion? The police and the Hunters Association had said..."

"I don't really remember. It was like a dream, to be honest.When I woke up, I assumed it was connected to the Aether Core."

"So you already knew it..."

"I just "knew." That's all."

"You survived. Why didn't you contact me? And you're a colonel now?

"Well..." He turns to look out of the window. The night sky resembles a dark, flowing river. "If I didn't join the Fleet, I would've been
"abandoned."

"Abandoned?!"

"That's just how things work, pip-squeak. So I couldn't contact you... I can't bear to imagine you being put through that pain again." Caleb isn't exactly interested in explaining, so l don't press him. What matters is that he's alive.

"How's Grandma? If you're here, she must be okay, too...?"

He frowns "I'm sorry. I couldn't protect both of you."As Caleb's gaze loses some of its light, the faint hope in my heart breaks. "All right, let's move on. You might start crying again if we don't."

"We finally reunited. If Gran knew, she'd want you to cheer up."
Caleb closes the first-aid kit and stands up. He returns it to the cupboard "After all that interrogating, shouldn't we relax?"
You've been running around all day and must be exhausted. Let's get something to eat."

"Colonel, the Captain of the Third Squadron would like to speak with you. He suggested solitary confinement for the traitor you captured." The medical officer said

"Come back to me when the bauble around his neck grows a brain." He orders

"Caleb, you're being really strict."

"Strict? Me?"His armband shines. Maintaining his stern expression, Caleb returns to my side. "I haven't even disciplined you. And your cover's so good that you're living in the officer barracks?" He helps me off the bed. Cradling my injured wrist, he inspects my body from my shoulders down to my waist. "Pack up your stuff. You can stay at my place, you know. I don't live at HQ, so you'll have more freedom to move around."

"Awesome! But I'm still a traitor to the Fleet. It might be weird if I'm suddenly accompanying a colonel everywhere."He lowers my wrist and taps on the other one. Understanding his intentions, I turn around to let him check my back.It'd draw even more attention. Some people might even question your authority."

"Hold on. Are you being considerate on behalf of your fellow fleetmates? Or do you actually want me to prove your guilt so you'll be locked up?"Once the inspection is done, Caleb moves over to face me.Don't worry. If anyone dares to question your identity, tell them you're my new adjutant."

"Oh... So you wanted me to use your influence anyway."

"It's an order."He chuckles. Taking off his hat, he places it on my head.The Colonel's whereabouts are classified. The same goes for the people around him. If rumors could threaten me, I wouldn't be wearing this armband."

Caleb's personal aircraft carries us away from Skyhaven's main island, and we go to the surrounding guard stations.
Golden sunlight traces the crystalline lines across the viewport. In the cramped cockpit built for two, I tell him everything that happened when we were separated for several months:
The researchers being killed one after another, the documents Grandma left behind, and the Aether Core within me...
Since Operation Aether Ordeal and the Spatium Core are confidential, I omit the details related to the Association's
investigation.
"Caleb, the one who's pulling the strings is Ever."
Behind his goggles, Caleb's gaze is unreadable. He grips the control stick and expertly guides the plane through the clouds.
"I understand. Let deal with it for now."

Ten minutes later, the scenery projected from the starship's camera shifts to a floating, fragmented island.The starship slowly descends and passes through an invisible barrier surrounding the landmass. In
front of us is a spacecraft-shaped building.

"Here we are." He said.

The white glow from the entrance's lamp disperses the darkness. The entire room is flooded with light.
I hang my bag in the closet by the entrance before running my hand along the cabinet.

"Look at all this dust... Caleb, you didn't invite me over just so l could clean your house, right?" I asked

"Pshaw. This place is usually empty, and I rarely stay here. Of course it's not exactly pretty. Move."Holding a few jackets he took from my luggage, he lightly nudges my foot. Only the toiletries are left. Go ahead and sort out your stuff.Actually, hold on a sec."After tossing my jackets aside, he takes my finger and presses it on the door's lock. "How long are you staying in Skyhaven? If you're not in a rush, why not extend your leave for a few more weeks?"

"Hunters don't get summer or winter vacations. Captain Jenna let me take some time off, but it's not because I don't have anything better to do."

"I almost forgot. You already graduated from hunter school.Pick a bedroom you like."

"How many does this place have if you're asking me to pick one."I follow Caleb into the living room. The house is spacious, nearly empty in fact. The décor is simple and consists of muted colors.
It's devoid of life.Caleb, are you planning to live in Skyhaven?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Doesn't this mean we'll be separated again?"

"You don't want that to happen, right?"

"l'll be busy since l'm a hunter. I'm just giving you a heads-up in case you'll miss me."

After navigating through several doorways, I stumble upon a bedroom with comfortable lighting. I stop before it.

"Yeah, yeah. Without our Wanderer-chasing hunter, we'd all be doomed."

Caleb leans against the doorway and looks inside. "You like this room?"

"It seems cozy."

"Okay then."His lips curl into that familiar, teasing smile as he heads toward the kitchen. "Think about what you wanna eat for dinner your personal chef will make it"

"Really?

I catch up to Caleb to jump. I wrap my arms around his neck "male all your specialties."

"Do you actually wanna eat all that or you're just naming all the menus items. You have quite the appetite."

With my weight on him Caleb pivots before putting me down. "You don't need to help out just relax in the living rob ph just so you know the room you claimed is mine.