Orced was lost in thought as he looked out the window, his eyes momentarily catching a glimpse of that small reddish dot.
His sharp gaze pierced the darkness like a knife, unconsciously focusing on the distant glow. The drone's camera captured the moment perfectly: his eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his mouth forming something less than a full smile. It vanished quickly, but it was there.
Jellal froze mid-sip of his coffee in the Hedonas command room. "Huh? What? Did? Did this guy just gaze directly at the camera?"
Meha leaned closer to the screen, brows wrinkled. "Ain't no way he's aware! Drone's stealth coating and lack of visible lights from below allow it to fly at about 4,000 meters. He is simply gazing at the black."
Jellal peered closely at the frozen frame. The monitor showed Orced's face, white hair gleaming in the moonlight, eyes piercing and clear. "Zoom more. Examine his eyes. He is paying close attention. He seemed to have seen something."
Having been quiet, Darkas at last spoke. "Good instincts or luck. Keep the feed going either way. We have to find out why he's so aware."
Meha let out a deliberate breath. "Guy has hawk eyes. Let's pray it's only coincidental."
Back on Sky Boys Island, Orced blinked and shook his head, turning away from the window. The instant went by.
He had only a sensation of someone watching, not anything he had actively seen. He shrugged it off and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
The string lights Ema had strung earlier gently gleamed in the dim light.
Most of the group had already crashed in their rooms—Nix snoring loud enough to rattle the walls, Macker muttering in his sleep about ramen, Aftor probably sharpening knives in the dark like the weirdo he was.
Kruna, though, was still up and leaning on the counter half-empty energy drink in his hand.
Orced stopped in the doorway. "You were the first out, as what I expected. When we work this hard, you typically crash early."
Kruna shrugged and sipped gently. "I cannot sleep at all. My mind is quite active. That damn curse was too straightforward. Makes me wonder about what's coming next."
Orced drew a glass from the cabinet and filled it from the filtered jug. "Same tho. It seemed like a practice run. Tomorrow we want something larger."
Kruna gestured toward the map Ema had left on the table. "That B-class near the shore. It ought to be absorbing little ones and might reach A-class by next week. We should hit it before it grows."
Drinking his water, Orced rested against the counter in front of him. "I concur. Afternoon strike, dawn scout. We shall descend from above; take advantage of the island's height. I'll aim at the basics."
Kruna offered a little smirk. "You aim always for the fundamentals. As expected."
Efficient it is, Orced remarked with a smile. "Why spend time chipping away when you can end it in one hit?"
Kruna gazed at his can for a while. "Do you sometimes consider the courses? S, A, B, C... We're already S-class; how messed up is that?
Orced shrugged one eyebrow. "We are not 'already' S-class. Since we supposed to be S-class, we are. Age or experience have no bearing on the system. It gauges adaptability, pure power output, curse resistance, and fighting speed. Months ago, we passed that threshold.1
Kruna let out a snort. "Yeah but isn't it strange? Only genuinely intelligent curse class are S-class curses, which are both rare and quite powerful."
Orced laughed. "Our secret weapon is bad attitude."
Kruna had another sip. "Seriously speaking. S-class indicates we are at par with objects wiping off towns. We are simply us. We're simply laughing, slurping ramen, debating jackets. Sometimes it doesn't seem natural."
Orced placed his glass down. "That's the reason we put in work. The other S-class curses haven't revealed them yet, but I am pretty sure they are there! Alone but strong and deadly. They most likely lack pals to support them. Yes, we do. That's what gives us an advantage. S-class power plus real cooperation. No curse comes close to that."
Kruna stared at him for a moment. "You sure about that, huh?"
Orced shrugged. "Yes, I am like 99% certain. Like look at today. Done in minutes, seven of us. If I were alone, perhaps I would have spent more time with him. Perhaps I would have gotten hurt. With you two? Perfect kill. That's not only influence. That is synergy."
Kruna sighed, but a little smile lingered. "You resemble a motivating poster."
"Motivational posters help, aren't they?" Orced said back sharply. "Particularly if they are factual."
Kruna drank his can and then smashed it. "Good synergy. Simply avoid beginning daily friendship speeches for us. I'll puke."
Orced chuckled softly. "Deal with. Just on particular events. Like the time we'll reach our first B and A-class."
We will take care of it, Orced added, voice calm. "We are in S-class. We change. That distinguishes us from the oblivious ones. They just destroy. We consider. We're going to plan. We take first place."
Kruna nodded gradually. "Yup. You're correct".
He yawned and then stretched. "Okay, I think I'm tumbling already. Boss, try not to spend too long staring at the stars. You require rest as well."
Orced waved him away. "Go, I'll be right here."
Kruna stopped at the door as he made his way to the corridor. "Orced."
"Huh?"
Kruna glanced back, his face once more somber. "Thanks. For believing in this"
Orced's smile softened. "Every time. Go have some sleep now. We have a curse to kill tomorrow."
Kruna vanished Down the Hall.
For a minute Orced stood alone in the kitchen, the string lights softly illuminating his face with shadows.
While looking into the darkness, he turned back to the window. The drone was still there, a tiny red dot flashing in the distance.
He could clearly see it this time.
His eyes compressed once again, this time more pointedly. He bent his head somewhat, as if solving a riddle.
The red glint in his eyes seemed almost amused for a moment.
Then he turned, switched off the kitchen light, and headed towards hisroom.
The drone continued to watch.
The drone recorded Orced's sharp glances.