The walk through the streets of Kheris was a sensory overload. The curved architecture, the vegetation that glowed with its own light, and the strange sounds of the city often distracted the group. Victor stopped to watch local cargo ships taking off, while Melissa became interested in the composition of the stones used in the buildings. Even Zugiy, usually focused, found himself observing the Kherians in their daily lives, fascinated by the normality of a world so different from his own.
Lola, always one step ahead, reminded them of their objective. "Come on, recruits! The little girl isn't going to rescue herself! Stop getting distracted—"
Finally, Ling's holographic map guided them to a quieter street, a residential district where the houses were carved into the sides of rocky formations, resembling burrows, but with polished metal doors and crystal windows. They stopped in front of a door marked with the number they were looking for.
Ling took a deep breath and knocked.
The door opened almost instantly. A Kherian woman, with light gray skin marked by lines of worry and elegant horns slightly chipped at one tip, appeared. Her large, dark eyes fixed on Ling, the tallest and clearly the group's leader.
"You came!" she said, her voice trembling. She grabbed Ling's arm with her four-fingered hands, the desperation evident in her touch. "Please, you have to find my daughter! They took her! My little Lyra..."
Ling, caught off guard by the intensity and physical contact, looked visibly uncomfortable. "Ma'am, we… uh… we'll do everything we can. Please, try to calm down."
"How can I calm down? They took her!" she repeated, tears beginning to stream down her face.
Melissa, noticing Ling's difficulty, stepped forward, her voice surprisingly gentle. "Ma'am, we understand. We're here to help. But for that, we need you to tell us everything you know. May we come in?"
The woman seemed to notice the others for the first time. She let go of Ling's arm, embarrassed. "I'm sorry… please, come in."
She led them inside. The interior was like a modern, cozy burrow. The natural rock walls were interspersed with panels of light and holographic technology. Furniture carved from the stone itself blended with cushions made of vibrant fabrics.
"Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing toward a sitting area.
The group settled in, and Ling once again took the lead. "Ma'am, my name is Ling. These are Melissa, Victor, and Zugiy, and the support unit Lola. We were sent by Instructor Kira. We need all the information you can give us."
"I… I don't know much," the mother began. "They're mercenaries. They've been appearing in the city for months."
Zugiy, who had been silent until then, asked directly, "Have they been troubling you for some time?"
The Kherian woman nodded, her gaze distant. "Yes. They're not from here. They work for an outsider, a criminal named… Crismon. Ever since he arrived, the city hasn't been the same. He formed gangs, started charging 'protection fees' from merchants, from residents…"
"And you didn't pay," Victor concluded, the pieces falling into place in his mind.
"…and they took your daughter as a warning," Melissa added, her voice dark.
The mother began to cry softly. "I couldn't pay. Not after my husband…" She stopped, unable to continue.
Ling placed a hand on her shoulder, this time with more confidence. "We'll find her. That's why we're here." Zugiy nodded in silent agreement.
"Do you know where these mercenaries usually stay?" Ling asked.
"There's a bar in the industrial district, a place called 'The Last Chance,'" she replied, wiping her tears. "It's a den of criminals. They're always there, showing off, spending the money they steal from us."
"Good. That's a start," Ling said, standing up. The rest of the group followed. "We're going there. Don't worry, we'll bring your daughter back."
They left the house, leaving the mother with a glimmer of hope. Back under the lilac light of Kheris, the mission now had a face and a name. The next destination was clear: the bar "The Last Chance."