Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths

The descent into Frontier City was so smooth that Aren sort of forgot what even happened. His body seemed to be moving on autopilot.

After everything that just happened, was it really over just like that? It just felt like...the world decided to return to normal while they were still trying to catch up.

Justus and the rest filed out slowly. Aren followed without a word, stepping off the aircraft carefully and making sure Luna didn’t shift too much in his arms.

Though he noticed that the landing zone was already filled with people. Uniformed officers were all around the perimeter as medics already rushed up to attend to his other club members.

Aren immediately spotted familiar faces, as one ran up to him immediately. Her pink hair flowed in the wind as she made her way up.

"Miu..."

"Aren!" she yelled, approaching him quickly before she stopped just inches in front of him. "I heard what happened! Are you okay? Is Luna—?"

But she stopped almost immediately as she saw the state they were in. Miu bent down to look at Luna, eyebrows narrowing before somebody else approached.

Professor Voss.

All the restraint he’d been holding onto since the mountains gave way at once.

"Professor! What do you know about Perfect Compatibility Syndrome? Can it be cured? Where would we find ingredients? What are the processes—?"

His grip tightened unconsciously around Luna as he barraged the professor with questions, each one more desperate than the last.

"I know it."

Aren froze immediately. Professor Mirel stepped closer, her eyes scanning Luna briefly before returning to him.

"Perfect Compatibility Syndrome," she continued, voice steady. "It’s rare. Extremely so."

"Then—"

"It’s not that simple."

Voss shook her head lightly. "You know how unique each Bloodline is. There isn’t any formula you can replicate or correct the same way twice. Each one is different, and each one responds differently."

"Which means...each one requires a different solution."

"...Then how do we—"

Voss didn’t let him finish. "If you’re asking for a universal cure. There isn’t one."

Aren fell silent, his fingers dug into her skin as he gritted his teeth. But after a moment, the professor continued.

"...If there’s anyone who knows, it’s her father."

"What—?" Aren looked up immediately at the mention. "Then why didn’t he—?"

"He would have known the risks the moment her Bloodline developed at that level," she continued. "Which means—"

"He chose not to interfere."

That bastard...So he knew all along. He knew she’d try to run away from home. Was this his way of controlling her?

"If you care about her, you should take her back to him," the professor said plainly. "He’s the only one who can treat it properly."

Was this the only way?

"Take her back..." he muttered under his breath.

Aren knew it was the correct and logical answer. But when he looked at Luna, he also knew what her reaction would be. She’d risked it all to get away from her father, from his control.

If he were to just send her back again...

"She’d hate that..."

The right choice...didn’t feel right at all.

Professor Voss caught on, "Right...how about you leave her in my care for now. I’ll try to see if I can do something."

"...Thank you, Professor."

Carefully, he shifted Luna into her arms. Voss took her gingerly, almost like she was a fragile object before turning and getting onto one of the cars meant to escort them out of the landing zone.

For a second, he just stood there, fingers still curled like they were holding onto something that wasn’t there anymore.

"...Aren."

He turned. Miu stood just a step away from him, placing a hand on his back before speaking. "...Professor Voss is capable."

"She’ll do everything she can for Luna," Miu continued softly. "Just like she did for me..."

"I’m sure of it."

Aren’s gaze lingered for a moment longer in the direction Voss had disappeared in before he exhaled quietly.

"Yeah..."

It wasn’t full reassurance, not even close to the level he needed. But it was enough for him to continue on.

"Come on," Miu said, giving him a light nudge forward. "Let’s go."

As they strolled over to the last few remaining cars still on site, something else caught his eye. Flowing red hair that was bright even against the harsh sunlight of the Highlands.

"Stella?"

She stood near one of the vehicles, the wind catching her and causing it to flow behind her like a trail of flames. The rest of her crew stood nearby, waiting, as she talked to High Commander Justus.

Aren’s eyes narrowed.

They...know each other?

The conversation didn’t really last that long, just a few quiet words were passed.

"Send my regards to Dominic, I hope he gets better," Justus gave her a small nod, turning to leave.

Stella lingered before she finally made eye contact with Aren.

"You’re still around? Didn’t see you for a while so I just thought you left," he said.

"Yeah, well... we’re about to head out anyway."

"Really?"

"Mmm. The search for the Miracle Herb didn’t really go well. And after all that—" she pointed in the direction of the Mountains and back to Aren’s wounds.

"It’s not really worth sticking around for anymore."

Aren nodded, but his gaze was fixed on where Commander Justus had been standing just moments ago.

"...You know him?"

The girl nodded, "Yeah. My dad works with him. He’s the Chief of Mystic Law Enforcement for the Western Dominion Branch."

Aren’s eyes widened as realization suddenly flooded into his head.

That’s right...the Mars family had always been a part of Mystic Law Enforcement...that part hadn’t changed.

But Dominic Mars...wasn’t the name I remembered in the future. Was he already gone by that time?

Aren stared at Stella a bit longer, trying to decide whether he should break the news or not. But it seemed inappropriate for him to meddle in her problems, so he refrained.

"Come on," Stella said, getting on the car before turning to give him a hand. "We’re heading back to the base for now."

Aren and Miu climbed into the open–roofed car as the engine roared to life. The next minute, they were already on the road, heading to wherever the wind would take them.

At least, that’s what Aren thought. His mind was constantly on what happened.

Saying "I’ll keep the promises" was easy. They were just words after all.

But even as he said them, he didn’t know how. Didn’t know where to begin, or even if he had what it takes to follow through.

Still...

"...I’ll figure it out. I have to."