Kai's return to the airship was a frantic search. He'd scoured the harbor, his heart a leaden weight in his chest, desperate to find his squad. Tomoya was the first he located—his usually vibrant wolf fur matted with blood, his eyes closed, still and unnervingly pale. A wave of relief washed over Kai when he felt a faint pulse beneath the thick fur. Bayu wasn't far off, slumped against a stack of crates near the port, fast asleep. Squad 9, ever vigilant, offered immediate assistance, helping Kai carry his injured comrades back to the airship. Nurses were quickly summoned, tending to Tomoya's wounds with practiced efficiency, while Bayu was coaxed awake with a potent elixir, his groggy moans echoing through the airship's infirmary.

"What... what happened?" Bayu mumbled, clutching the blankets drawn around him.

Kai pulled a chair closer, his own weariness a dull ache in his bones. "I was going to ask you the same thing. We haven't seen Isaac. Some of Squad 9 are still searching the island." He glanced at Tomoya, curled on the floor, nursing a steaming mug of sorrel punch. The exhaustion etched on his face mirrored Kai's own. "Tomoya, did you see Isaac at any point during the fight?"

Tomoya simply shook his head, his eyes downcast.

Before Kai could press further, Commander Lukas strode onto the airship, two sheets of paper clutched in his hand. "Squad 14."

"Commander," they replied in unison, snapping to attention despite their fatigue.

A flicker of something akin to a smile played on Lukas's lips—so fleeting Kai almost dismissed it as a trick of the light. "Squad 14, you have successfully completed your mission in Antigua. The island is stabilized." He pulled up a chair, his gaze sweeping over their battered forms. "You will remain as recruits at Aetherwing."

Kai instinctively reached to high-five Bayu, but the gesture was met with a wince. "Sorry," Bayu muttered, rubbing his temple. "Just a pounding headache. That witch... she infused me with some kind of dark magic. Still feels like it's scrambling my brain."

Lukas cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "You will all undergo a thorough cleansing upon your return to Alaska to ensure no residual magic remains. We've discovered the witches were using rune stones to wreak havoc in Falmouth, driven by a desire for control and profit. The magic they employed was dangerously unregulated."

"Where did they get the rune stones?" Kai asked, his voice sharp.

Lukas's brows furrowed. "We suspect a connection to the Eclipse Order, a criminal syndicate operating out of Japan."

Kai saw Tomoya inhale sharply from the corner of his eye, his face twisting in a fleeting expression of pain before he closed his eyes.

Lukas continued, oblivious. "The witches deny any involvement in Jabari's death, as well as the disappearances from the carnival. All the missing persons have been found, returned to their families, though they're still under observation. They have no memory of what happened, of being taken and... smeared in blood. We're still investigating the purpose behind that." He clapped his hands together, the sound echoing in the quiet airship. "I must apologize for my earlier reservations. You all proved me wrong. Thanks to your valiant efforts, and the use of the pearl, the island is stable. These attacks should not recur. You'll return to Alaska within the week and receive your next assignment shortly thereafter."

He extended the papers to them. "You've also received some correspondence." A rare, genuine warmth entered his eyes as he looked at Kai. "I'll let you rest. You've earned it. And Kai..." His gaze softened further. "You were... remarkable."

With that, Lukas left, the door hissing shut behind him.

Kai took the letters, one for Bayu, one for Tomoya. He handed them over, watching as Bayu sat up, rubbing his eyes and tearing open the envelope, his hands trembling slightly. A heavy silence descended as Bayu read, his expression slowly shifting through a series of emotions Kai couldn't quite decipher.

"What is it?" Kai murmured, his voice soft, laced with concern. He watched Bayu's face drain of color, his eyes widening in a mixture of disbelief and horror. The paper in his lap trembled slightly as Bayu's fingers traced the inked words.

"I've... I've been invited to a wedding," Bayu whispered, his voice barely audible. He held the letter out, his gaze fixed on the elegant script as if it held the power to physically wound him. "The wedding of... Ratih and Jaya." A sharp intake of breath rattled in his chest, and Kai saw the telltale shimmer of tears welling in his eyes. He looked as if a physical blow had landed, his entire body recoiling from the invisible force.

Without hesitation, Kai reached out, wrapping his arms around Bayu in a comforting embrace. He gently rocked him back and forth, murmuring soothing reassurances. "It's okay, Bayu. It's okay." But the words felt inadequate against the palpable grief radiating from his friend.

"I have to go," Bayu choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "My father... he'll expect me to be there." The statement wasn't a declaration of intent, but a helpless admission of an inescapable obligation.

"You don't have to go if you don't—" Kai began, his brow furrowed in worry. He couldn't bear the thought of Bayu facing this alone, this public declaration of another's happiness while his own heart was breaking.

Bayu shook his head vehemently, cutting him off. "No. I have to." The words were heavy with resignation, a weight that Kai could feel pressing down on them both.

Kai understood. He didn't know the full extent of Bayu's family dynamics, the pressures and expectations that bound him, but he recognized the unyielding resolve in his friend's eyes. It was a look that spoke of duty, of obligation, of a burden carried for too long.

A fierce protectiveness surged through Kai. He couldn't stop Bayu from going, but he could ensure he wasn't alone. He made a silent vow, a promise etched in his heart: he would go with Bayu, no matter what. He would be there, a shield against the pain, a silent source of support. He wouldn't let Bayu face this ordeal by himself.

Turning to Tomoya, Kai opened his mouth, already formulating a plan, eager to gauge his friend's reaction, to enlist his support. But the words died on his lips. Tomoya was gone. The space where he had been curled up just moments before was now empty, the only evidence of his presence a lingering warmth on the floor and the faint scent of sorrel punch hanging in the air. A sudden unease settled in Kai's stomach. Where had he gone? And why had he left without a word? And then, a niggling that had been itching at Kai the entire time. Where was Isaac?