Page 30 of The Divide that Binds Us

“I’m Ultima Commander Rio Shackler, and I was asked to inspect a gem in the fields somewhere that could be causing a disturbance in a dragon nesting area.My team and I didn’t receive much more information than that.It appears that you are also on your way to the same task.My order from Master Cedric was to assist you in any way we can.”

Natasha smiles sweetly, resurfacing the gentle fire in her that was once there.

“Eat shit,” she sneers.

Lynn’s tune transitions into a deep, dark melody.Natasha looks at the violinist as I watch her scan the crowd.Likely seeing Lynn’s Ultima uniform, too, Natasha gapes at me with wide eyes.

“You see, Natasha, I don’t think you’re in a position to refuse help.Sure, you can call for backup to assist, but certainly that’s a waste of time when we’re here and can collaborate towards the greater good, ya?”

Natasha swallows and flares her nostrils.A rush of pink hits the roundness in her cheeks as I keep my cool with a pleasant smile and easy pitch.Lynn strikes higher, faster notes in her tune, creating a sense of urgency.

“I uh...I should contact my Commander.W-We have to report any time someone gets involved in our assignments,” she mumbles, pulling up her phone with a trembling hand.

“No problem at all.There will be a total of four of us helping you.”

“F-Four?”she gasps.

“Oh my gosh, Natasha!Hey girl!”Derrick runs up to us with a holler, aggressively slapping Natasha’s arm like a hyperactive teenager.“So glad to work with you!”

“Yeah, thanks.”Eric rushes into the backseat of the car.

Lynn’s dark melody dies down into a slow, swaying beat until she abruptly ends with a sharp gesture of her bow.She blows her hair out of her face and bows to the cheering crowd.

“Thank you for watching!”she says, packing up her equipment to put in the car trunk.Natasha is on the phone, trying her best to hide the tremor in her voice before ending her call.

“Everything’s good,” she mumbles, not making eye contact.“Though, I gotta admit, this is a little strange for me.”

I open the driver’s side door for her, maintaining eye contact and a pleasant smile.

“No worries, this will be fun,” I tell her.

Lynn is on the passenger side, so I cram in the back seat with the twins but neither scoot over, so I end up in the middle seat.They grin with perfect synchronicity.

“Why’d you throw out the broccolini?”I ask them.

“It was gross and smelled weird,” Derrick says.Natasha backs out and pulls off.

Streets fluctuate between asphalt and bumpy dirt roads as the variety of buildings get lost in the shuffle of farms, barns, and whatnot.It’s only when we make it back to a paved road and wait at a stoplight that I notice a side street with emerald lampposts lining the stretch of pastel buildings.At the dead end of the street sits a tall golden gate with a group of Guards positioned.

Oh, King Jonah.

After some time gazing out the window, Natasha slows the car in the middle of nowhere in endless, sculpted fields.In a sloped series of carved out land lies the terraced rice fields in beautiful green dips like giant stairs.I spot a path off to the side that has been worn by many foot travelers all the way to the bottom.

“Alright, where is this gem?”I ask, relieved to finally stretch my cramped legs.

Natasha points to the pit of the field through the stalks and tall grass.It’s hard to see what’s emanating down there, but maybe I can kinda tell there’s a large patch of grass missing?

An elderly lady emerges from the slanted field path with a basket in her arms.

“Hello–oh my, Elite AND Ultima working together today, hmm?What a treat for us!I heard you needed a wheelbarrow to get that gem out of the ground.I left it at the bottom,” she says.

Natasha’s smile is forced and shaky as she side-eyes us when the woman strolls off.I finally lose my smile and relax my jaw.

“Okay, what is Elite’s plan for the gem?We were going to remove it and have it run through labs at Onyx,” I explain.

Lynn takes out her violin case from the trunk and tries yet again to distance herself from the twins who are inching closer to her for a hug.

Natasha bites her lip, still avoiding full eye contact with me.“We were just gonna inspect it.I won’t stop you if you wanna take it.”

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