88. A Real Body

Anyway, since we know the Dragon Orchid is, in all likelihood, a powerful weapon, we need to figure out a way to destroy it.

Destroy it? Wait a second...

Good point. We can't just ignore its existence. If we did, who knows how many people could get hurt.

Eh...? Awakener, are you sure about that?

...? Why do you ask?

Because... you might be shooting yourself in the foot. We don't know for certain yet if the Dragon Orchid is the Relic capable of material decomposition or not.

If it is, and we go ahead and destroy it, we wouldn't be able to save Rayna...

But... from what we've discussed it seems unlikely that the Dragon Orchid is the Relic in question.

Also, the Dragon Orchid sounds very dangerous. We can't just sit back and wait for disaster to strike.

Awakener...

(Do you even realize your perspective is changing?)

(The old you would never have dismissed the possibility of saving Rayna...)

We don't have to decide what to do with the Dragon Orchid right now. We still don't understand it completely or what it can do for us.

I think our first objective should be to take a closer look at this Dragon Orchid.

Yeah... I agree. We just don't know enough right now.

See what comes up. Play it by ear. Let's find the Dragon Orchid first. If it's dangerous we can destroy it.

If it's connected to the Relic, we can think up a way to obtain it... Are we in agreement?

Okay. Teslovik has no objections.

So, where is this Dragon Orchid?

That's the question... We can't just search the whole of Eastrise, hoping we'll trip over it.

But we can't just sit here, either. We need to think of something...

Regarding the location of the Dragon Orchid... I know the general direction, but I don't have any specific information. Where should we start?

First we should start by collecting intelligence, on the ground. Start at the beginning, with places we can search. In the process we will probably uncover some new clues.

It might take a while, but we've got to keep pushing forward. Everyone here can be trusted. Let's keep working together. I'm confident we'll find the Dragon Orchid eventually.

Everyone here can be trusted...?

Huh? Snezhana...?

Yeah, Chiraha's right! Okay, everyone, let's get ready to...

...Wait. While everyone is here, I want to get to the bottom of something. Otherwise we won't be able to trust each other.

, am I right, Xen?

Ah, um... What are you talking about, Snezhana...?

Okay, Xen. You can stop playing games now.

, or should I say Sunflower. What are you doing here?

Well...

Five years ago I saw you killed in front of my own eyes, Or should I say ''almost killed''? What are you doing here now, in the Watchtower?

Tell me. Who are you?

...

Hey hey hey. Calm down everyone. Does what she was doing five years ago have any bearing on what we are doing now?

Not at all. Let's just say I really want to get to the bottom of this problem.

Five years ago, I think she was an Eastrise agent working inside Bifrost.

Do you really know who this ''Xen'' is? Even now you can't say for sure if she is colluding with Raeon or not!

...Snezhana, Xen is...

Chiraha, allow me to explain.

... are you sure?

Yes... It is as Snezhana says. We cannot have secrets between us, if we are to trust one another.

I should have come clean when Chiraha decided to join forces with Teslovik.

So, you ARE ''Sunflower''...after all?

Yes, you are right, Snezhana. Although my real name is actually ''Xen''...

I'll tell you everything; what happened five years ago... and why I joined Watchtower.

Five years ago... actually no, longer than that, I worked as an agent for Eastrise government.

My mission in Bifrost was to gather intelligence and confidential information. To achieve this, I had to do all kinds of underhanded things.

At that time, Bifrost made repeated attempts on Niz's life, and Yulia launched a campaign of revenge.

Not long after that, all Eastrise agents operating inside Bifrost received an order from HQ.

We knew Niz had survived the assassination attempt... Our orders were to find her and protect her... then help her to regain power.

... meaning?

Simply, really. Eastrise's objective was to expose internal divisions, splitting Bifrost into Niz and Yulia factions, and trigger a civil war.

If that happened, Bifrost would be powerless to wage war against its neighbors, leaving it vulnerable to Eastrise's territorial ambitions. Pretty standard fare, in the world of espionage.

That's right. But things did not turn out as planned, on account of Niz's remarkable leadership.

Eastrise did not expect her to put down Yulia's rebellion and regain power so quickly.

, as for me... not long after I got the order I stumbled across Niz who was covering her tracks.

I could protect her easily by myself. I'm highly trained and can hold my own.

The main problem for me was, how do I gain Niz's trust? That was the biggest challenge.

If someone from Eastrise suddenly jumped out of the bushes and said ''I will help you!'', I'd be super suspicious too.

So I decided to use my relationship with a Bifrost trooper to get close to her.

...You're referring to Snezhana, right? It's just as I thought...

Yes. In time... I grew closer to Snezhana...

And Snezhana... came to trust me.

...!

Snezhana made it possible for me to gain Niz's trust.

My mission complete, all I had to do was get back to Eastrise. But then something happened.

As I crossed the border, back into Eastrise, the border guards attacked me.

... Huh? You mean it wasn't a charade?

Hold on. Xen was an Eastrise agent, right? So why would the Eastrise border guard try to kill her?

The reason was simple. They wanted to make sure no intel got out.

The missions I went on weren't simple recon. They pertained to matters of state.

My superiors wanted to draw a line under that chapter. A permanent one.

It was a lot easier for the government to have me killed than to make sure I never spoke to anyone about it again.

I had been informed the attack would be a ruse intended to fool Snezhana...

But as I drew closer, I realized it was the real deal and had to figure out a way to escape.

... That's harsh.

Yeah, it was. As I fled, I didn't feel hurt or angry. I just felt upset.

Upset?

I finally understood... low level agents like me, we're nothing but tools for Raeon to use and throw away...

Knowing all my colleagues were going to share my fate... Naturally, I felt very upset.

I decided to avenge all the agents like me who had fought for their country, only to be betrayed by it.

Also...

...Xen?

Ah... never mind! Haha, really, it's nothing. Anyway, I want vengeance on Eastrise, but doing it by myself was never going to be an option.

That's why I joined Watchtower. You happy now?