Sanctuary

The Crystech Laboratory laid in ruin for days after Atlas’ outburst. Following his breakdown, he named Dex as the Deputy City Leader, and head of the Laboratory, while he took time away from work to recover.

Dex was sat at his desk, checking up on reports from across the city. There wasn’t much news aside from strange graffiti appearing across the city, but that only required a few clean up teams to fix.

Suddenly, main screen in the lab received a call. Dex stood up and walked over, he turned to Amber, who was working as an operator.

“Put it through, Miss Graham” Dex nodded, Amber nodded back and put the call through. The screen connected, the caller was Mizu Nakamura, the principle of Aquala University, the Academy equivalent in Inchaya, she had short brown hair, and a kind smile.

“Greetings, Dexter Inatalla" Mizu smiled.

"Oh, greetings, Mizu" Dex replied. "How can I help you?" He asked.

"I just contacted to make sure everything is still going fine over in Sanctuary, Atlas has kept me up to date in the past, but of course, he has named you his temporary replacement. I wanted to see you face to face, to introduce myself" Mizu explained

"It is most kind of you to check in on us, we're all doing fine over here, nothing really to report" Dex smiled.

"I hear that Rychard Pyre showed up" Mizu said, as she looked from side to side.

"Yeah, the Disceath airship is docked above the city" Dex explained.

"Hmm, all I can say is keep an eye on him, don't trust him. He will help you, but... if you leave him to his own devices, he can end up causing you trouble" Mizu warned.

"Yeah, I know that all too well, after what he did to Roisin, well, him and Skylar" Dex nodded.

"Oh, right, sorry, I'd forgotten that you were part of that incident, my apologies" Mizu bowed.

"Don't worry about it Mizu" Dex smiled.

"There is one more thing, it isn't good news, however" Mizu sighed.

"What is it?" Dex asked hesitantly.

"The darkness, it isn't stopping, as predicted, it is continously expanding, if it continues at the rate it is currently at, it will hit the Western Continent and Farenai within two years" Mizu frowned.

"Damn" Dex shook his head. "At least you should be fine in Inchaya, but what of the other settlements of the continent? New Raryst has no Crystal" He continued.

"You are correct, we have begun drawing up plans for an evacuation into Inchaya territory. We are able to hold many more than Sanctuary can, due to... special abilities of the Water Crystal" Mizu smiled.

"If you require any aid at all, please do not hesitate to call upon us" Dex offered.

"For now we should be okay, but if needs be we may ask for assistance in the evacuations" Mizu nodded. "I had expected you to ask about the special powers" She smirked.

"And I had expected you to ask how I was alive" Dex chuckled.

"Don't worry, I know all too well" Mizu winked.

"Huh? How do you mean? Are you the same as me?!" Dex asked.

"Don't tell anyone" Mizu laughed.

Dex turned to Amber then back to Mizu.

"I won't say a word, I promise!" Amber protested. Dex nodded.

"Hmm, Mizu?" Dex began.

"You want to know more about what you are, am I correct?" Mizu asked. Dex nodded. "I'm afraid you must learn that lesson yourself, Dexter. It is a path only you can travel" She added. Dex sighed and smiled.

"I see" He said, dejected. "Thank you anyway, Miss Mizu" Dex smiled.

"It has been enjoyable, Dexter" Mizu smiled, before ending the call.

"Interesting..." Amber stated, as Dex looked at his hands.

"If she can protect the whole Inchayan Peninsula with her powers, hopefully I can do the same for Sanctuary" Dex said as he examined himself.

"Don't rush yourself, Dex" Amber said as she smiled.

"You're right, at least I can tell Roisin something more about the new me, I guess" Dex shrugged.

"And maybe you can tell her to stop trying to play cupid between me and her brother" Amber laughed.

"I don't think anything can stop her from doing that" Dex chuckled. "Do you actually like him though?" Dex asked.

"I'd like to chat more with him, get to know him a little, yeah" Amber smiled.

"Then why don't you?" Dex asked. "Life is too short to wait around, you have to be the one to make things happen, trust me, I know" He smiled.

"I guess I can't argue with that" Amber nodded. "Okay, I will" She nodded.