After that heart-stopping moment on an Outer Ring highway, Billy, Belle, and Griseo had lost quite a bit of time.
Meanwhile, the core members of the Sons of Calydon had been waiting outside Blazewood for Phaethon to arrive.
"Hey, Caesar, it's almost time. Why isn't their truck here yet?"
"Hey, Piper, you think Phaethon's planning to make us wait just to show who's boss?"
"Hey, Lucy, do you think..." Burnice held a fuel drink and peppered her companions with questions, her excitement written all over her face.
"She's a legendary Proxy, after all. Maybe she'll appear among us like a ghost—whoosh, just like that."
Piper lay in the motorcycle's sidecar, yawned, then shifted position and went back to sleep.
"Will you two take this seriously?" Lucy stamped her foot at her hopelessly careless companions. "We're the hosts. Can't you at least act like it?"
As she spoke, she adjusted her helmet and turned toward Caesar. At least their leader was dependable.
Caesar stood beside her motorcycle with her arms folded, looking stern, calm, and every inch the leader... or so Lucy thought.
In truth, Caesar was busy working out what to say first.
"Phaethon, your motorcycle's awesome?
No, no. She's from the city. What if she doesn't like motorcycles?
May the wind of freedom watch over you... Hmm, that might work? No, that sounds like something from a completely different story."
"Caesar, they're here."
Beside Caesar, Lighter opened his eyes. He had been resting with one hand in his pocket, but now he looked ahead.
A medium-sized truck rumbled along the Outer Ring's asphalt road, its wheels kicking up yellow dust.
"Piper, wake up! Burnice, put your flamethrower away. You are not welcoming them with that!"
Lucy straightened her clothes, woke Piper, and stopped Burnice before she could do anything