Lynae? Lynae

Sensing the return of the dorm room's occupant, the Rover and Mo Bai instinctively looked back together.

But the big golden retriever was different this time.

Lynae leaned against the door, looking more lost than ever before.

Mo Bai and the Rover rose together and went over to her.

Tap, tap.

Only when they reached her did Lynae seem to notice them. She immediately changed her expression and said:

"Oh, you're here. You two didn't have a falling-out, did you?"

Even now, she had room to worry about others, though anxiety had been written all over her face moments ago.

Mo Bai and the Rover shook their heads together. Then the Rover said:

"We've reported everything about the Remnant Star Society's operation to the Research Institute. They should be prepared now."

The Rover brought Lynae up to date on what he had accomplished.

It seemed their earlier efforts had gone smoothly.

"You probably won't be able to do much for a while. If anything comes up involving the Remnant Star Society, let me handle it."

Lynae shook her head at his words and walked over to the sofa.

"There's nothing I want to do. Rover, Mo Bai, come talk with me."

After sitting down, she noticed how messy her room was. Perhaps she shouldn't have invited her friends in like this.

"Ah, I should've tidied up."

Lynae twirled a lock of hair, looking a little embarrassed.

Mo Bai and the Rover merely smiled and sat down on either side of her.

Feeling her friends beside her, Lynae's lips curved upward slightly.

Then her smile faded.

"I want to tell you about myself. I hope you won't mind me rambling."

Lynae gave a rueful smile as she finished.

It was almost as if she were composing a farewell letter...

Lynae began to tell them how she had survived in the New Federation.

She had been a mercenary without a fixed home, so she couldn't call those years "living." It had only been "surviving."

That changed when she came to Star Torch Academy.

She discovered there were ways to live besides spending every day in dark corners, and ways to spend her life besides keeping a weapon at her side.

At first, she hadn't placed much value on her life at Star Torch Academy.

She had probably just meant to take things as they came and enjoy each day while it lasted.

But as she made more friends here, and more "useless" things piled up in her room...

She found she couldn't bear to leave.

She couldn't bear to leave this place or return to the dark life she'd known in the New Federation.

"No wonder you love it here so much."

Mo Bai couldn't help interjecting as he listened.

He remembered the conversation they'd had with Lynae on the road outside the Academy.

When Lynae had introduced the Academy to Mo Bai and the Rover, her voice had been full of joy and pride.

"Yeah."

Lynae made no attempt to hide how she felt. She nodded firmly, then stood and reached toward the window.

"Every day here has been wonderful. Painting to my heart's content, going for carefree drives, learning things from countries all over the world..."

Toward the end, Lynae lowered her head slightly, her voice growing subdued.

"In the past, I wouldn't even have dared to dream of any of it."

Then she raised her head and looked toward the "sky" of Lahai Luo.

"This place is underground in the Frozen Plains, but it's brighter and freer than anywhere else I've been."

A smile crossed Lynae's face.

"Whine..."

The Divine Dogs beside Mo Bai walked toward Lynae and finally lay down on the floor.

Sensing the furry creatures' kindness, Lynae smiled and stroked their soft fur.

"I want to know whose crimes were listed in that anonymous report. Which 'Lynae' did they belong to?" the Rover asked.

He meant the matter the investigators had questioned when the Academy sent people to take Lynae away.

As they had discussed before, there had also been a Lynae in the Remnant Star Society.

The Rover wanted to know whether the criminal record the Academy had uncovered belonged to that Lynae from the Remnant Star Society, or to the friend sitting before him...

"It belonged to the Remnant Star Society's 'Lynae.'"

Lynae spoke with her back to the Rover.

"When I faked my death and chose to become a student at Star Torch Academy, the New Federation government destroyed my mercenary records."

Her words proved her innocence to the Rover, but...

"It's almost funny. My old records were destroyed, and my academy records are fake... Even I can't prove that I'm me."

Lynae ended with a bitter smile.

Her voice was full of helplessness.

By then, Mo Bai understood what the Academy's investigation had meant for her.

With the criminal record of the Remnant Star Society's "Lynae" now attached to her, the Academy was bound to punish her. It might even...

"Just now, the Academy told me its decision."

Lynae slowly walked from the window to the dorm room door.

"Expulsion and deportation to the New Federation."

She turned back to look at the Rover and Mo Bai.

There seemed to be tears in her eyes.

"But I don't want to go back. Before the Academy confines me, this is my last chance to escape."

She turned toward the metal door again.

To be honest, Mo Bai didn't object to her choice.

If she stayed and was deported to the New Federation, she would probably return to her old struggle for survival.

It was hard to give up a better life. After growing used to the sunshine at Star Torch Academy, Lynae surely didn't want to go back.

"I'm glad I got to meet you two and become your friend, Mo Bai, Rover."

Lynae gave them her signature sunny smile.

Just as she had when she first met them.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Just as Lynae was about to step out of the room, the dormitory speaker crackled to life.

"Attention, all faculty and students! A Void Matter magnetic storm has been detected. Find safe shelter immediately!"

Mo Bai and the Rover sprang to their feet and looked out the window.

"It's the Voidworm. It didn't go to the Research Institute. It's coming to the Academy instead," the Rover said with a frown.

That meant he and Lynae had been tricked earlier.

Nearly all the Academy's defenses were concentrated at the Research Institute. There was no time to bring them back.

"We have to draw it away."

The Rover glanced at the sound trace in his hand, then turned toward the dorm room door.

"Lynae?"

He realized Lynae had already left.