The trio stayed in Branch 19’s office until sunset. Only then did Illusionary Feather and Koya finish analyzing every blueprint, dissecting materials and fabrication methods for each component down to the last detail.
When they finally tried to stand, their legs had gone numb. Illusionary Feather gently steadied Blazing Heart, who’d been napping against his left arm, and rose to his feet.
Koya wobbled upright—then stumbled forward, collapsing straight into Illusionary Feather’s chest. She made no move to get up, as if determined to stay there.
“Linxina, shall I walk you back?” Illusionary Feather sighed inwardly. Pushing her away felt cruel; leaving her clinging felt worse. Best to rouse her gently.
“Oh.” Koya Linxina straightened instantly, as if nothing had happened, and headed for the door.
Illusionary Feather scooped Blazing Heart into his arms and followed.
Silence hung between them as they walked back to Yayang Academy. Illusionary Feather carried Blazing Heart, trailing Koya Linxina.
“Huh? You’re a student here too?” Illusionary Feather blinked in surprise when he realized they attended the same school.
“Mm.” Koya Linxina gave a soft reply, then turned toward the girls’ dormitory—away from his path—and vanished from sight.
“Sigh… Same school, yet I’ve never seen her around.” Illusionary Feather shook his head.
“Master skips class.”
“Well… that’s true. Wait—Blazing Heart, you’re awake?” He’d absentmindedly agreed before realizing the voice wasn’t his own.
“Hungry.”
“Let’s get you fed.” He turned toward the boys’ dorm.
***
**Day 3 of the Academy Festival**
Illusionary Feather was testing the upgraded “Croaker”—now rebranded as the “Linker” for market release—when a knock sounded at the door. He ignored it. Blazing Heart saw no reason to answer. The knocking stopped.
He assumed the visitor had left. Then—*BOOM!*—an explosion at the door nearly sent the Linker flying from his hands.
Setting the device down carefully, he stepped out to assess the damage.
Smoke curled in the foyer. Standing amid charred wood fragments was a figure with golden hair—unmistakable.
*Bad news.*
The scent of burnt timber hung thick in the air.
“Illluuusionaaary Feeeeeather~ Why didn’t you open the door?” The drawn-out whine made him want to bolt.
“I didn’t know it was you, Purrs.” He kept his tone innocent.
“Whatever. I’m here to drag you to Student Council duties. You’ve been lazing around like a house cat.” Lily Purrs flopped onto the living room sofa.
“I’ll make tea—”
“Yo, underclassman! Long time no see!” A figure bounced into view before he could reach the kitchen.
“Oh, Senior Misaki. Good to see you.” Illusionary Feather offered a warm smile.
“Ribbit~”
“You have a frog, underclassman?!” Flower Grass Misaki spun around, hunting for the source.
Illusionary Feather pulled the original “Croaker” (the unmodified model he used to contact Misha) from his pocket and hit answer.
The voice that crackled through shattered the cozy atmosphere like ice.
*“Illusionary Feather, help me! Black Rock he—AHHH—”*
He didn’t even pocket the Croaker. He sprinted out the door, shouting over his shoulder:
“Take care of Blazing Heart! I’ll be back!”
Pressing the Croaker to his ear, he strained to pinpoint Misha’s location from the chaos.
*Clang—BOOM!*
The sounds of mechs tearing through structures—dozens of them.
“Only one place has this many mechs.” He leaped onto nearby rooftops, bounding toward the noise.
Misha knelt helplessly amid the wreckage. As a Mechanic Engineer, her usual confidence came from commanding her mech. Now Black Rock ignored her commands. She couldn’t process why her own machine turned against her. Without it, she was just a little girl. She’d mustered her last courage to call for help.
Around her, others pleaded with their rogue mechs to no avail. Then—horror froze her. Black Rock’s fist rocketed toward her. She lacked the strength to flee.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
A white-clad figure flashed before her. He caught Black Rock’s steel fist bare-handed, then used its momentum to hurl the mech aside.
“Attacking your master?” Illusionary Feather hauled Misha to her feet, scolding the airborne mech. “That’s no way for a good mech to behave.”
“Illusionary Feather… waaah!” Misha stared at his gentle smile and burst into tears.
He’d braced for the worst when he heard her call. But this? Worse than imagined.
Mechs rampaged everywhere, attacking bystanders. Yet one unit stood motionless nearby. *Why only some?* Illusionary Feather’s lips curled into a crooked grin. He guided Misha to a safe corner.
He could’ve carried her away—but he knew she’d refuse to leave Black Rock behind. From the perimeter, the pattern was clear: the mechs destroyed buildings but never tried to escape. *Someone’s controlling their cores. And they’re close.*
First, though, he needed to examine a core. Learn the method. Call it… field research.
He stepped back inside. Black Rock lunged at him first.
“Guess you’re first on the list.” Illusionary Feather cracked his neck. “Haven’t moved in ages. Joints are getting rusty.”
Black Rock charged, fist coiling with crushing force.
“Tch. Still green.”
Illusionary Feather sidestepped effortlessly. Misha watched, eyes shut tight, unable to bear seeing him crushed. When she peeked—black and white blurred together. The black figure lumbered; the white one danced like a phantom. Her eyes widened.
He dodged but didn’t strike back. Two reasons: he hadn’t located Black Rock’s core yet (unlike human hearts, mech cores varied in placement), and he needed to study the control method. Was it pure core manipulation? Or enhanced with speed/defense hacks?
As Black Rock’s fist swung again, Illusionary Feather finally moved. He met the blow head-on. The fist grazed his cheek—yet his smile never wavered.
His hand plunged into the mech’s torso.
“Got you.”
Beneath his palm, warmth pulsed with icy threads. Had he looked, he’d have seen a pure white core laced with serpentine black veins.
“Chaos-type Artifice.” (Artifice wasn’t magic—it fused magic with mech engineering. Core components included Artifice… and sometimes emotions. Sentient mechs were rarer than phoenix feathers.)
“Now that I’ve found it…” His grin turned sharp. “*Restore.*”
The black veins dissolved.
As he withdrew his hand, a raspy whisper echoed from the core: *“Thank you.”*
Illusionary Feather froze.
*—I actually found one. A sentient mech.*
He exhaled, eyeing the remaining rampaging giants. “Right. Still got work to do.”
Black Rock fell into step beside him, ready to charge. Illusionary Feather shook his head, pointing to Misha huddled in the corner. “Guard her.”
A white streak shot into the chaos.
Black Rock understood. It positioned itself before Misha, shielding her from the still-rogue mechs.
Above the open-air mech exhibition hall, three dragons circled. Left to right: Blaze Red Dragon, Radiant White Dragon, Thunder Purple Dragon. Riders perched atop them—Lily on red, Misaki and Blazing Heart on white, Sophia Lyster Dalian on purple.
They stared down at the white figure weaving through mechs. All but Blazing Heart wore identical shock. *A mere Inventor moves like this? He looks like a bookish boy—yet dances among steel titans.*
“We should help,” Lily said unexpectedly.
Before they could act, Illusionary Feather shot upward, landing smoothly on Misaki’s Radiant White Dragon.
“Don’t interfere. I’ve got this.” He raised his palm skyward, fingers spread. Whispered words shaped the air. “*Lock—Restore.*”
Beams of light lanced down, piercing every mech. One by one, they stilled.
Seeing order restored, Illusionary Feather sagged backward. Misaki caught him just in time.
The four carried him down, checking his condition before heading to the dorms.
As they lifted him, Illusionary Feather’s eyelids fluttered open. Across the plaza, Leilo walked in beside his sister, Lyster.
*—What rotten luck.*
