Mario listed everything they would need for the journey to the desert. They would require at least six additional people besides himself and Zed, enough food and water to last three weeks to a month, and a sizable number of mules or horses to carry their supplies.

  "Mules and horses are going to be a problem because we don't have enough," Lane replied, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Most of our horses were either lost during the invasion, taken by the retreating army, or are already being used for essential tasks like farming and patrolling. We can't spare too many without crippling our own operations."

  He sighed, then added, "Food isn't an issue—we have plenty stored. But taking more people with you means packing even more provisions, and without enough animals to carry the load, that could slow you down or even cut your journey short."

  Zed, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “I can provide transportation,” he said, to the amazement and relief of both Lane and Mario.

  Mario raised a brow, smirking. “Oh? You planning on flying us there?” he teased.

  Zed shook his head. “Too conspicuous. We need something more subtle.” He glanced toward the direction of the Manufactory. “I’ll discuss it with Tek. We’ll build a land transporter, something durable enough for the desert terrain.”

  With that, Zed’s form suddenly became transparent, flickering for a brief moment before fading into nothing.

  Mario and Lane exchanged glances, both momentarily at a loss for words.

  “Did he just… leave?” Mario was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with disbelief.

  +++

  Tek was busy at the Manufactory, fine-tuning one of the assembly lines when Zed’s form materialized beside him. The sudden appearance of his figure might have startled Mario and Lane, but Tek didn’t even flinch. It was as if he had grown accustomed to Zed’s peculiar way of arriving. Without missing a beat, Tek straightened and gave a crisp salute.

  “At ease,” Zed responded, his tone calm and authoritative.

  "Something of great importance has come to my attention, so I'll be accompanying Mario on his journey." Zed stated, his voice steady and precise.

  He paused briefly before continuing, "For that, we’ll need a land transporter, something sturdy enough to endure a sandstorm and rugged enough to handle the region’s harsh, uneven terrain. It also needs to be spacious, with ample room for provisions, without compromising mobility."

  Tek nodded, his expression focused as he absorbed the details, already considering the design and materials needed for such a vehicle.

  "You can use this schematic for the vehicle," Zed said, projecting a hologram in front of Tek.

  Tek studied the design closely, quickly identifying a problem. "Sir, this will require a power source," he noted. "We have yet to develop a proper battery."

  Zed glanced at the drone hovering silently beside them, the same one that had been used to scan the northern mountain ranges. The second drone, still on its mission to survey the continent, had yet to return.

  "You can use this. Connect its batteries to the vehicle," Zed said after a moment of thought. "The other one should be back in the next few days, so we won’t be without a drone for long."

  "Understood, sir. I'll begin construction immediately," Tek said with a nod before turning toward the Manufactory, wasting no time in getting to work. Meanwhile, Zed activated his disguise and began making his way back to town, blending seamlessly as he walked.

  +++

  As Zed walked through the unpaved streets of Lina, his keen sight took in every detail. The town, still more akin to a large rural village than a true city, was alive with activity. Wooden and stone buildings, some hastily repaired after past conflicts, lined the main road. Smoke curled from chimneys as bakers and blacksmiths worked their trades.

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  The people of Lina were a hardy folk, their faces tanned from labor under the sun. Their clothing were practical—simple tunics, sturdy boots, and cloaks for the chill of the early morning. Some carried tools slung over their shoulders, others pushed carts laden with goods from the farms surrounding the town. A few children ran barefoot through the streets, laughing and chasing each other, the shadow of war already fading from their young minds.

  Despite their exhaustion from recent tensions, there was an undeniable shift in the atmosphere. Relief. With the invading army gone, people spoke more freely, bartering loudly in the marketplace, exchanging news with neighbors. There was still caution in their eyes, but it was no longer the heavy dread that had weighed on them days prior. Now, there was something else—a quiet hope.

  Zed noticed groups of men and women talking in hushed voices, no doubt discussing what came next for Lina. Would another army come? How will the governor take care of it if another crisis came? He saw blacksmiths discussing new orders, merchants taking stock of what remained after the conflict, and young men sharpening tools as if preparing for the work ahead rather than for war. The retreat of the invaders had not just saved the town, it had given it a chance to grow.

  "Mr. Zed! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Emilia’s face lit up as she approached, “What brings you to town?" she asked as she adjusted the strap of her satchel.

  Zed gave a casual shrug. "Just taking a stroll, getting a feel for the place now that things have settled down," he replied before tilting his head slightly. "What about you?"

  "I'm following up on a patient who gave birth a few days ago," she explained. "Making sure everything is going smoothly for both mother and child." She patted her satchel. "Finalizing my tasks in town before I leave in a few days."

  Zed nodded, his expression unreadable. "Right. Your trip back to the capital."

  Emilia sighed. "Yeah. It's what I agreed to. I just hope my absence won’t set things back here too much."

  "Well, I have high hopes that your brother will manage things while we're away," Zed said.

  Emilia tilted her head slightly. "Wait, you're leaving too?"

  Zed gave a small nod. "Yes, I'll be accompanying Mario to meet the Binatarians."

  "Oh, is that so?" Emilia replied, her surprise genuine.

  An awkward silence followed as they walked side by side, the town’s afternoon bustle filling the gaps in their conversation. Then, as if reminiscing aloud, Emilia began to speak.

  "You know, we actually visited the Binatarians five years ago," she said. "Sarah invited us to visit her home after we got expelled from the Alliance Academy for… 'reasons.'"

  Zed glanced at her but didn’t press for details. Instead, he simply listened, letting her continue without interruption.

  “The place was like nothing I had ever seen before,” Emilia said, her brow furrowing as she searched for the right words. “It’s…” She trailed off, lost in thought for a moment.

  Then, as if deciding something, she stopped walking and turned to face Zed. “You know what?” she said, tilting her head slightly. “You kind of remind me of them. If that makes sense.”

  Her blue eyes locked onto Zed’s dark pupils, studying him with quiet curiosity.

  Emilia crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “The Binatarians… they’re different. Their knowledge, their technology—it’s like they don’t belong in this world.”

  Zed raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

  Emilia exhaled slowly, her gaze distant. “The rest of the world, even the Alliance, struggles with things like medicine, engineering, and even basic infrastructure. But the Binatarians? It’s as if they’ve already solved problems we haven’t even begun to understand. Their machines don’t run on coal or oil like ours—they use something else, something cleaner, more efficient.”

  She glanced at Zed. “I don’t know if my brother or cousin told you this, but their city moves.”

  Zed nodded, prompting her to continue.

  “I’m not really into machines, so I can’t explain how it works, but while we were there, we weren’t allowed to explore too much of the city.” She hesitated, then added, “One of the few places Sarah took me to was their botanical deck. It was…”

  She trailed off, her expression shifting as if recalling something deeply personal. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, as if embarrassed by the memory.

  She glanced at Zed again recovering from her personal thoughts, her gaze narrowing slightly. “And that’s why you remind me of them. The way you talk, the way you solve problems—it’s like you see the world the way they do. Like you’re… ahead of us.”

  Zed was silent for a moment before he finally replied, “That’s an interesting comparison.”

  Emilia gave a small smile. The two arrived at the town hall, where Emilia paused and offered Zed a small smile. “Well, I will go inside and have a chat with my brother, will you be coming?”

  Zed shook his head. “No I need to return to the Manufactory to see the transport we will be using”

  With that, she turned and headed inside, leaving Zed standing at the entrance, lost in thought. Emilia’s words lingered in his mind—her description of the Binatarians, their technology, their knowledge. It was a puzzle piece that fit too well into the bigger picture forming in his head.

  As he continued walking, he made sure no one was watching before silently activating his cloaking field. His form shimmered for a brief moment before vanishing entirely. Without a sound, he lifted off the ground and glided toward the lake, unseen by the townspeople below.