Lower Level, Gladiator Maintenance Area
Everett Arena
Everett Arena, Lower Level, Gladiator Maintenance Area
Serra should be sleeping, but instead she slips through the darkness and creeps silently down to the mechanoid maintenance area at the lowest level of the arena.
She didn't even bring Hammer—her normally inseparable companion—with her. She came alone—because she came to fulfill her "promise" with Veronica.
Stop drowning in your childish fantasies and waiting to "fly away from this place"...
Come find me when you snap out of that.
To her surprise, Veronica hasn't powered down for the night—apparently having been waiting for Serra to arrive all along.
You've come.
I thought I'd be waiting much longer for you to show up.
A promise is a promise, yeah? And I came because I know how to answer your question from the other day.
And I've made preparations for it, too.
What preparations?
We can't talk here... Actually, I'd rather go somewhere else. Whenever I'm down here, all I can think about is "work"... My mind just goes blank.
?
Looking puzzled, Veronica stares at Serra, unsure why she's beating around the bush.
Oh, why so serious... I'm just kidding around.
Shall we go? We can head anywhere you want, but just for a little while. How about we go and check out that "simulated sky dome" I told you about?
Serra smiles, her fingers in her pocket brushing against the item she created alongside the anti-interference chip.
...
Veronica doesn't answer. The hanging silence makes Serra feel awkward again and wonder if she's said something wrong.
I mean, if you're not interested, then...
But Veronica stands up, grabs Serra firmly by the wrist, and pulls her along without a word.
Veronica moves with quick yet steady steps, keeping Serra close to the walls as they proceed. At each corner, she cautiously looks up to check for security cameras.
Their footsteps echo through the empty hallways until they come to a halt before the security door leading to the uppermost level.
The security door to the sky dome looms before them, its red light glowing to indicate it's locked.
Veronica, completely unconcerned, readies herself to take down the door with her razor-sharp claws literally, but Serra quickly stops her.
Wait, that's gonna cause a scene.
She pulls out a touch panel, connects it to the security system, and lets her fingers fly away on the keyboard.
Employee ID verified. Access granted.
The security system lets out a crisp electronic beep as the red lock indicator switches to green. Serra flashes a smug smile at Veronica.
Told ya they ain't got nothing on me.
Top Level, Simulated Sky Dome
Everett Arena
Everett Arena, Top Level, Simulated Sky Dome
An extraordinary sight unfolds before them. In this top-level area—forbidden to ordinary spectators—the simulated sky dome continuously cycles through day, night, and seasonal changes as it's been programmed to.
At this moment, the dome displays a deep, dark night sky that hangs overhead like a velvet curtain, studded with countless stars that shimmer like brilliant jewels.
Serra gazes up in excitement at the starry expanse, her eyes showing the twinkling lights.
This is breathtaking!
Meanwhile, Veronica quietly moves to the side, sits down, and gazes up at the simulated starscape.
She seems to have left some space next to herself on purpose, a silent invitation for Serra to join her.
Serra quietly sits down beside her. She carefully avoids the long tail that Veronica has casually draped nearby.
The faint yet gentle starlight from the simulated sky bathes everything in a subtle, cool glow.
Serra can sense that something gentle is quietly beginning to bloom under the tough front Veronica has been putting up.
Why did you take me here? What is it you couldn't say back there that you can say here?
Well, I just wanted to spend the day with a friend because it's my birthday...
The girl glances sideways at the mechanoid, who keeps her gaze at the starry expanse without objecting to being called a "friend."
Birthday?
A birthday is like a mechanoid's "Activation Date"... Veronica, do you remember your Activation Date?
I do. It's meaningless, though.
On my Activation Date, I woke up in the lowest level of this arena, and the rest is history.
...
Well, whether it's a birthday or an Activation Date, it should be special... And check out this little bird here. Today will be its Activation Date.
With it, Serra retrieves a mechanical bird droneDa gift from Uncle RokoDfrom the toolbox at her feet and carefully wipes away the traces of oil from its shell.
With delicate movements on the controller, Serra guides the crude-looking mechanical bird as it slowly rises and hovers above their heads.
The bird spreads its wings in flight, its silver-white shell reflecting the simulated starlight and scattering tiny specks of light over both Serra and Veronica.
...
Veronica offers no response. Her gaze shifts away from the vast simulated starscape, transfixed on the mechanical bird with its outstretched wings.
The mechanical bird's metal wings may look crude, yet they still lift the bird gracefully through the air.
She looks quietly at the "bird," lost in thought for who knows how long, until a sound she's never heard before breaks her reverie.
Sshk...
The mechanical bird makes another weird noise.
...
...It stopped. Is it broken?
Not at all! That was just the drone's shutter sound. It's hovering up to take pictures of us.
Geez, we're taking a photo. Not even a smile for the camera? Are you always this serious? I don't think I've ever seen you actually smile...
A photo?
Yes, here, check this out.
Serra extends the controller in her hand toward Veronica. On its small display screen is a still image.
The two sit side by side, bathed in the gentle glow of the simulated starlight.
Serra's face beams with a radiant smile, while the mechanoid maintains her usual serious expression. Yet their gazes are fixed on the same point in the distance.
I bet you'd look beautiful if you smiled!
...I'm not gonna do that.
Sounding as cold as ever, Veronica, however, doesn't strike Serra as mean anymore.
In that fleeting moment, Serra senses that something between them has quietly shifted.
Under Serra's control, the mechanical bird gently descends and comes to rest on Veronica's hand.
Veronica quietly holds the seemingly weightless mechanical bird, while Serra carefully examines the photo they just took on the tiny display screen.
Hey Veronica, what do you think about changing the background of our photo to a field of flowers under sunset?
Just like... the painting on the wall in my room.
...I don't really care. The people in it will still look the same anyway.
Instead of arguing, Serra rises to her feet, spreads her arms wide under the canopy of simulated stars, and closes her eyes.
Veronica, have you ever imagined what it would be like to stand in a real field of flowers?
...
Without waiting for Veronica's answer, Serra keeps going, as if eager to pour out every thought swirling inside her mind.
I do! I dream about it every single night.
I imagine lying in a meadow blooming with flowers and watching clouds drift across the sky without a care in the world, until the sun slowly sinks below the horizon.
The sunset warming your face must feel so gentle and soothing, don't you think?
And I'd pick handfuls of flowers to weave into a wreath on my head.
I could do anything I wanted, with no schedule to follow. I'd stay there as long as I pleased.
No missions to rush through. And Overseer isn't going to tell me what to do there.
And then... I'd take another photo with you against that sunset, Veronica.
With a smile on your face, of course!
...Alright.
Serra eagerly returns to Veronica's side and sits a little closer to her than before.
On the simulated sky dome above, stars sparkle brilliantly against the backdrop. A virtual shooting star streaks across the display, as though sealing the secret promise shared between them.
I wonder what it would be like if you could grow wings, just like this mechanical bird drone?
Serra holds up the mechanical bird drone, lost in thought.
...I'm not exactly built for flying.
Hmm, that's true... Let me try to imagine what you'd look like with wings...
Serra stares intently at Veronica, deep in thought.
Ah, there. You'd look like a dragon!
Dragon?
Yes! When I was little, I saw pictures of dragons in a storybook—the kind with wings and long tails.
If your frame had a pair of wings on it, you'd look so cool—just like a dragon!
Here, let me show you what it looks like.
Right away, Serra kneels down and, with the thin layer of dust on the ground as her "canvas," starts drawing away with a finger.
As her finger moves across the dust, a simple sketch takes shape before them and slowly grows as details are added to it.
First, from what she remembers, Serra sketches a winged dragon with a long tail, then adds a drawing of Veronica beside it.
There... this is what it's like for now, and then we aDD a few more things to it...
So, what do you think? Looks just like you, doesn't it?
In the sketch, Veronica has a pair of "wings" sprouting from her back.
Though crude, the sketch in the dust captures something essential—a heroic figure that bears little resemblance to Veronica's usual demeanor.
With wings spread out, horns rising from her hair, and a long tail trailing behind, she truly resembles a dragon ready for battle.
Lance in hand, she stands as a conquering warrior—to be stopped by nothing in her way.
Lower Level, Staff Quarters
Everett Arena
Everett Arena, Lower Level, Staff Quarters
Excited, Serra hops toward her room, treasuring the "secret promise" they made. Despite the fact that it's almost dawn, not a trace of fatigue shows on her face.
She hums happily to herself, while the wing-shaped pendant dances lightly around her neck.
Suddenly, footsteps echo from the end of the corridor, making her start with alarm—there shouldn't be any human staff around at this hour.
Before she can duck into a corner, a figure appears in her line of sight. Serra only lets out a sigh of relief when she sees that it's Uncle Roko.
When their eyes meet, he shows a flash of surprise, but quickly masks it.
Serra finds it weird to see Roko here at this time because work doesn't start for him for another few hours.
Huh? Uncle Roko, what are you... doing here so early?
Oh... ran out of medicine. Been feeling awful—this cough is keeping me up all night, so I thought a walk might help... Cough, cough...
Hey, are you really alright—Wait, before I forgot, here, this is for you!
I traded in some of my work hours for this medicine! Take it for now. I'll get you more later!
...
Ah, I'm getting sleepy now. Better catch some rest before my shift starts. Give me a shout if I'm not up in time, alright?
...Alright.
Serra waves goodbye and skips away, her light footsteps fading down the corridor.
