Frostfire Legacy

As soon as the call with Vanessa ended, Aster quickly started to contact the rest about how he had requested that she decode the symbols on the door.

"Change of plans; I'll be going out of the city tomorrow." He explained to them right after. "So tomorrow, everyone else should just spend it freely."

*Ping!*

Kali sent a private message not long after he sent that message to the group chat. He quickly opened it, reading what she had to say.

{Of course, as your assigned bodyguard, I'll be tagging along. Send me the time and place to meet up.}

"..."

Aster was expecting to go alone, but it seemed like that wouldn't be possible. "Ah, right. I need to contact Magnus too." Remembering such, he quickly sent a message to Magnus, but not even a second later, a message returned.

{You can leave the city, but I'll be sending two escorts apart from Miss Kali Norma. Of course, this isn't a suggestion.}

The speed of his reply was as if he were listening in on Aster's random mumblings in real time!

Ignoring the fact that the reply came too fast, Aster couldn't help but feel a little bit restricted. He just wanted to go out of town for a bit, and he would be taking three escorts with him!

"Well, I guess that's natural." He shrugged.

Aster was practically the only hope of extending the inevitable demise of the world due to the rapidly declining average Human DNA. As such, Magnus couldn't afford to lose him just because he skimped out on sending escorts to protect him.

Thinking that it was just the way it should be, Aster started to do his own thing and prepare for the next day, before taking a well-deserved sleep. Of course, he didn't forget to send the details of where to meet and what time to meet tomorrow.

---

The next day, May 25, 4533, at exactly 5 a.m.

Aster was already standing by the guard house near the gate he entered through the first time he came to Orinfeld City, the South Gate. Their agreed time was 5:30 a.m., but he woke up and finished his preparations too early, so he decided to just wait for the rest at the agreed location.

"Phew..."

While watching his frosty breath turn into a smoky mist, rising into the air and welcoming the faint morning light, a voice suddenly called for him from close by.

"Ah, as I thought, it's Star!"

"Huh?" Aster turned to the source, recognizing the owner of the voice. "Cassy? What are you doing here?"

"Oh! I was planning to walk around town today. What a coincidence, meeting here~!" She replied without a hint of falsehood. "How about you? You seem to be waiting for someone...? Ah!

It must be a date?! Lucky you~!"

'A date this early?'

Aster chuckled to himself lightly, thinking that she couldn't be more wrong.

"I am..."

Just as he was about to explain, another voice came from the other direction, filled with doubt.

"Stupid rabbit... Don't tell me, you're coming with us too?"

Kali came at the worst timing possible, causing Cassy to add one and one, and come to what seemed like the most natural conclusion.

"D-Don't tell me... Star, you're dating K?!"

"D-D-Date?! What the fuck are you on, you stupid, horny rabbit!"

"But you two, meeting clandestinely, isn't this what a date is?!"

"Wait, pause for a minute..." Unable to let the situation roll into chaos further, Aster couldn't help but interfere. "Actually..." He then started explaining everything from the beginning to her. Your next read is at m v|l-e'm,p| y r

It took only two minutes before she nodded her head in understanding, crossing her arms across her casual orange and black jersey. "I see. So you and K are going to visit the place where you initially woke up?" She tilted her head as if waiting for confirmation.

"Yes." Aster nodded, finally breathing a long sigh of relief.

But then, Cassy's next words made his headache worse again. "Then, I'll come with you too!"

"... You're coming with us, wearing just that?"

"Yep! You just said earlier that it's not dangerous there, right? Then I should be fine~!"

Indeed, going to his parent's laboratory wouldn't be dangerous. But on the off-chance that the Anti-Human Movement caught wind of this outing and made their move, then the danger level would be off the charts.

Aster turned to Kali for her opinion, but the silver cat simply closed her eyes with her arms crossed, as if not wanting to have anything to do with the current situation. He had to wrack his brain, consider the pros and cons, and finally come to a conclusion.

"Well, having one, two, or three targets to protect doesn't differ that much." He shrugged. "Alright, you can come with us."

"Yay~! I'm also going on an outing! How exciting!" Cassy cheered, jumping lightly. "Ah, right! Earlier, I..." And with her addition, the waiting spot became a little more lively, filled with chatting.

About twenty minutes later, two more figures wearing casual clothes came. Of course, despite wearing civilian attire, Aster could still tell who they were.

"Officer Helvetica, Officer Mistelle. So you're the ones that Mayor Magnus sent." He greeted the two as they approached, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Well, I guess it's because we're the ones with the most contact with you?" Officer Helvetica replied rhetorically, catching Aster's hand and gripping it tight. "Anyway, you can trust us to protect you with all our might. So rest assured... but why are there three of you?"

Mistelle scanned the two girls' faces and frowned. "Right, we were briefed that we're only guarding two."

"Ah, this is Cassy, one of our party members. She's also tagging along for this excursion... It's fine, right?"

Aster turned to Helvetica, who was most likely the "leader" between the two of them. He had a pensive look for a moment before sighing in resignation.

"Well, guarding two or three doesn't really matter much. As long as you don't move too far from us, then we're good."

"Alright. You heard him, Cassy. No exploring around; just follow behind."

"Aww... Alright."

"..."

Seeing that everyone appeared to be on the same page already, Aster turned toward the gate and began walking outside. As they left the wall, they quickly turned a little to the right and headed to the nearby forest.