#080. The Vortex of Desire (6)
—
A blue dot shone brilliantly, like a star in broad daylight.
At first, they assumed it was Michael’s summoned beast, but as it grew larger, they realized it was something else.
“……?”
Veronica’s eyes widened as she followed Ray’s gaze upward. Her lips parted in shock.
It was a Rockdeer.
Its entire body, including its eyes, nose, and mouth, was made of water, rendering it transparent enough to see through.
As it streaked through the sky, the Rochdeer radiated a dazzling blue light, exuding an overwhelming presence.
“……!”
Too astonished to speak, Veronica turned to Ray.
But Ray showed no reaction.
With a mesmerized expression, he simply watched the Rockdeer draw closer.
Finally, the luminous Rockdeer descended into the clearing.
Its movement was as light as a feather.
There was no sound of impact.
It landed about 20 meters behind Michael.
The water composing its body constantly rippled, creating the illusion that space itself was wavering.
Slowly, the creature turned its head.
It surveyed the chaotic clearing.
And then—
──.
Their eyes met.
The boy did not avert his gaze.
Nor did the beast.
‘So that’s what was radiating light.’
A diamond-shaped gemstone was embedded in the creature’s forehead.
A deep blue, reminiscent of the ocean’s depths.
The gemstone refracted the light within the Rockdeer’s body, scattering it in all directions.
Thump.
Ray’s heart pounded.
Thump.
It was a different kind of heartbeat—one not driven by excitement, tension, or anxiety.
It was longing.
Undoubtedly, it was longing.
Though he had never felt such an emotion before, Ray was certain of what he was experiencing.
A deep ache, a nostalgic sorrow.
As if someone were pressing a finger against a hidden corner of his heart.
‘Why?’
Why did that gemstone feel so familiar?
Why did it feel like he had seen it before, in another place, across another time?
And why, standing before this Rockdeer, did it feel like he was gazing into a vast, blue universe?
The immense blue mana radiating from the gemstone shimmered like starlight, blanketing the entire atmosphere.
‘Beautiful.’
There was no room for any other thought.
It was a beauty akin to standing among the stars, walking upon the midnight sky.
As Ray sank deeper into his emotions—
The Rockdeer shifted its gaze away from him and looked at the others.
Then, it began to approach.
“A… Ah…! Ahhh…!”
John’s eyes trembled violently as he caught sight of the Rockdeer.
“Boss…? What… Oh, my God.”
Michael turned to look where John was pointing—and gasped.
No one could speak.
No one could move.
It wasn’t just because of the overwhelming amount of mana that had flooded the area.
Nor was it simply the fear that any sudden movement might lead to death.
The creature itself was awe-inspiring.
A marvel that electrified both the mind and body simply by existing.
In the suffocating silence, the Rockdeer stopped in front of John.
“A… Ahhh…!”
John’s outstretched fingers trembled violently.
His clouded eyes welled with tears, and his painted-over soul swirled with emotions—reverence and longing.
The creature bowed its head.
Slowly, it moved forward, letting its forehead briefly touch John’s fingertips before withdrawing.
The Rockdeer gazed at him quietly.
Then, it turned and headed toward the massive pit in the center of the clearing.
Everyone watched in silence.
Kuruk!
From somewhere, Fran appeared, wagging its tail at the Rockdeer in a friendly gesture.
The Rockdeer glanced at Fran but did not stop walking.
Fran’s mother, who had been watching from a distance, let out a low cry.
Kuruk—
Hearing the call, Fran returned to its mother.
The blue Rockdeer reached the center of the pit.
Then—
A blinding blue light filled the entire field of vision.
For a few seconds, everything was swallowed by the radiance.
And when the light faded—
“……!”
Everyone gasped.
An oasis.
The once-empty pit was now filled with clear, pristine water.
And the blue Rockdeer had risen back into the sky, soaring off into the distant horizon.
“How… How is this even possible…?”
Michael’s dazed voice trembled.
Even after witnessing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
Was it magic?
Or some other mysterious force?
Or perhaps he was simply dreaming?
He couldn’t even begin to comprehend what had just happened.
Kuruk.
Kururuk.
The first to move were the Rockdeers.
After enduring long thirst and the aftermath of battle, they struggled to their feet.
One by one, they managed to stand on all fours and stumbled toward the oasis.
Soon, the oasis was surrounded by Rockdeers.
Only the sound of frantic drinking filled the air as the parched creatures began to regain their strength.
The sight reflected in the old man’s eyes.
Through the blur of his tears, he saw the same scene he had once witnessed in his youth.
“A… Ahhh…”
Tears streamed down the old man’s face.
Clear and pure, like the water filling the oasis.
*
*
John no longer breathed.
A faint smile lingered on his wrinkled face.
“…You were my hero.”
Michael closed John’s eyes.
He carefully laid his body on the ground before standing up and surveying the area.
The Rockdeers, having quenched their thirst, were leaving the canyon in groups.
Behind them, wrecked vehicles, fallen humans, and Rockdeers lay scattered in an uncleaned battlefield.
Michael’s mind was just as chaotic.
“…What will you do now, Ray? Are you leaving right away?”
“I’ll leave in a bit. I need to collect what I can and organize my thoughts.”
A firm answer, without hesitation.
Ray had confirmed the existence of the blue-skinned Rockdeer up close and secured John and Skyle’s Ignis cards.
His objectives were complete.
He hadn’t expected to actually see the Rockdeer John had spoken of.
‘What exactly was it?’
Where had it come from?
What purpose did it serve?
Was the gemstone on its forehead the source of its power?
Could it be connected to the Rainbow Shards?
As Ray was lost in thought, Michael’s voice continued.
“I… don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
“What I should do next… The Director told me to leave. But I am someone who cannot shine on my own.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“That I lack the ability to accomplish great things like the Director.”
Ray was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t quite understand.”
“…What?”
“You seem like someone who can achieve what you want.”
“…Me?”
Ray gave a small nod.
It was a statement with its own reasoning.
*I can’t forcibly instill emotions in Michael.*
Right now, Michael’s dominant emotion was confusion.
Ray had attempted to amplify that emotion by injecting mana from the atmosphere, but as expected, the transferred mana was unable to enter his vessel.
Ray had identified a common trait among those on whom emotional infusion did not work.
*There’s a light hovering inside them.*
Philip, Veronica, Michael, and a few others he had encountered on the streets.
At the center of their vessels floated a small, glowing cluster of light.
Each one a different color.
Each no larger than a fingernail.
*Now that I think about it, some people in Sector 50, including Niles, had them too.*
This was something Ray had only recently discovered.
As his efforts to perceive emotions increased, his sensitivity to mana had also rapidly developed.
He had speculated on the commonality among those who possessed these “stars” of light and had reached a conclusion.
*They all have a firm sense of self and clear convictions.*
They were not easily swayed by others’ words and had distinct personal values.
…Especially Veronica, who had a tendency to ignore anything she didn’t want to hear.
*She only listens to what she wants to hear.*
If he had to put the defining trait of those with stars in their vessels into words, it would be this:
**Conviction.**
The unwavering belief that what they thought was right.
*That naturally makes them far more capable of achieving their goals. Their beliefs don’t waver easily.*
That was Ray’s conclusion.
Which meant that if Michael had something he wanted, he was highly likely to achieve it.
Ray nodded and finally gave his belated answer.
“Yes. You.”
“……”
Ray’s demeanor was utterly serious, making it clear that he wasn’t just offering empty reassurance.
Michael, unsure of how to react, hesitated before quietly responding.
“…Thank you. Even if it’s just words, I appreciate it. But without my familiars, I don’t know what I can do…”
**Screeeeech—**
**Keeaaaaak—**
Just then, a sound echoed from beyond the sky.
Lifting their heads, they spotted three rapidly approaching dots in the distance.
The dots soon took the form of hawks and descended to the ground beside Michael.
The metallic helmets covering their eyes had vanished.
Most likely, they had been damaged in battle and had fallen off mid-flight.
Yet, despite their newfound freedom, the familiars did not leave Michael’s side.
“They’ve chosen to stay with you.”
“……”
Michael wore a conflicted expression.
Then, he opened his coat.
In response, the familiars took flight and disappeared into the subspace within his coat.
**Swish.**
The coat closed once more.
Michael stood motionless for a moment before walking over to John and gathering him in his arms.
“What will you do?”
“I plan to bury the Director in a sunlit place… then return to the Magic Tower. There, I’ll think about what I can do moving forward. I’ve been quite a bother. And I’m grateful. For allowing the Director and me to take shelter in the barrier.”
Michael bowed his head respectfully, then turned around.
He laid John inside the least-damaged vehicle among the guards’ cars and took the driver’s seat himself.
“If fate allows… we will meet again.”
His words came through the shattered window.
The vehicle left the clearing.
“……”
“…….”
“…….”
A brief silence followed.
Among the boy and the girl, it was Ray who moved first.
Ray retrieved a sack from the vehicle and walked around the open space, collecting money and valuables from the fallen mercenaries and guards.
Veronica watched him blankly.
It seemed she had yet to recover from the shock of the battle’s horrors.
And that was only natural.
What lay before them was a gruesome scene where human and beast corpses were tangled together.
For a sixteen-year-old to remain entirely unfazed would have been the stranger thing.
Unless they had grown up in a place where death was an everyday occurrence—
Or, like Ray, possessed a limited emotional range that left no room for distress.
Ray, noticing Veronica’s emotions, spoke.
“It’s best not to harbor misplaced sympathy or worry. Not for the enemy.”
“……”
“Trying to help them will only get you ambushed or used against your own. When John charged earlier, things could have turned dangerous.”
“……”
“An enemy is just that—an enemy. A threat to be eliminated without hesitation.”
Ray continued speaking in short bursts as he looted.
Before long, the sack was filled with banknotes, coins, and trinkets.
In truth, this act of looting might not have been particularly meaningful.
Monetarily, it was likely nothing compared to the wealth he would gain through John’s card.
But for Ray, looting wasn’t just about profit—it was a routine, ingrained behavior.
In the end, the one who remains standing is the true victor.
And taking everything left behind is both the victor’s right and duty.
That was the way of the streets.
“Misplaced guilt doesn’t help you survive.”
“……”
Veronica, after listening to Ray, slowly moved closer and began to help with the looting.
It seemed she had realized or understood something.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and grab what you can.”
She even urged Ray when he briefly paused.
Resuming his looting, Ray worked in silence—until Veronica broke it.
“When you used the command spell on the Rockdeers earlier… that moment came, didn’t it?”
She gazed at Ray’s chest, where his magic circle would be.
“That moment?”
“The moment of realization.”
“Ah.”
“The mana flow was impossible to miss. It was so intense and fast. So? Did you reach the Second Circle?”
Her voice carried subtle anticipation, but her hopes were not immediately met.
“1.5 Circles.”
“Huh?”
“It’s higher than the First Circle. But lower than the Second.”
A cryptic answer.
Not First Circle, not Second—1.5 Circles?
“What does that even mean?”
“I’ll explain when we’re back at the Sector.”
Veronica tried her best to look curious.
But Ray didn’t seem inclined to answer right away.
It didn’t really matter.
There were still other unanswered questions.
And things that needed to be asked.
“That Rockdeer earlier… what do you think it was? It was incredibly beautiful.”
Veronica glanced up at the sky as she spoke.
Ray’s movements halted for a brief moment.
Just as he was about to part his lips to respond—
“Yes. Truly beautiful. So much so that I couldn’t take my eyes off it for even a second.”
A voice came from behind them.
