Johnny’s brows shoot up as he looks at the Alligator.

  “It’s you.”

  “Oh? So you know them?” Mami asks.

  The Alligator walks closer.

  “I heard a woman took my subordinate’s body… and carried away one of my unconscious fighters.”

  He points at Mami.

  “Her description fits you.”

  Mami smiles.

  “That makes things interesting. You’re the leader of K.B?”

  The Alligator exhales with relief and offers a handshake.

  Mami takes it.

  “Where’s K.B. and my dead subordinate?” he asks.

  “K.B left. Couldn’t hold him,” Mami replies. “The other one… we buried him.”

  The Alligator nods slowly.

  “I see. Then you’re more capable than I expected. Handling someone like Johnny isn’t easy.”

  “I’m not joining any of you,” Johnny snaps.

  Mami slams her palm against the back of his head.

  “Shut up. You’re not going anywhere.”

  The Alligator laughs.

  “I see.”

  He pauses for a moment.

  “How about we become distant allies? Supporting each other when necessary.”

  Mami studies him for a second before nodding.

  “That’s not a problem for me. As long as you're fighting for a better society, I’m fine with it.”

  The Alligator curls his lips into a faint smile.

  “Then we share the same goal.”

  He signals behind him.

  Sonia steps forward.

  “I also have a question to ask you,” the Alligator says.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Go ahead,” Mami replies.

  Sonia raises her palm.

  A ripple of air forms.

  Ellen materializes in her arms—eyes closed, breathing heavily.

  The Alligator gestures toward her.

  “Do you happen to know where we could find a Saturn?”

  “Saturn?” Mami repeats.

  She leans closer to Ellen and places a hand on her forehead.

  “Hot…”

  She studies the girl carefully.

  She’s the girl I saw the other day…

  Mami frowns.

  “Why is she unconscious?”

  Sonia steps forward.

  “That’s because she’s a Saturn. Her overwhelming power—the Black Mist—has broken her perception. Only another Saturn can revive her.”

  Mami folds her arms.

  “I don't understand,” Mami says. “What exactly is a Saturn?”

  Sonia doesn't answer immediately.

  The room grows quiet.

  Even the Alligator watches her.

  When she finally speaks, her voice is lower.

  “A Saturn… is a bloodline.”

  “People born with three gifts—Fire, Wind, and Mist.”

  Mami’s eyes widen slightly.

  The wind…

  Sonia continues.

  “Only one leader rules during each generation. When that leader dies, another is chosen.”

  Sonia’s eyes move toward Ellen.

  “Those born with the Black Mist…”

  She pauses.

  “…are the strongest. And the rarest.”

  “What do you mean by rarest?” Mami asks.

  “They are born only once per generation,” Sonia says. “There can only be one Saturn ruler.”

  Daisy steps forward.

  “So the one with the Black Mist becomes the ruler?”

  “Correct,” Sonia replies. “She is the heir to the Saturn throne—the future Saturn Queen. Their ruler is simply called Saturn.”

  Mami turns and walks away.

  Moments later, she returns carrying Tanya.

  She places her on the floor beside Ellen.

  “This one works with me. She uses wind,” Mami says. “She collapsed during a recent battle and hasn’t woken up since.”

  Sonia nods.

  “That’s Ellen’s older sister—Tanya. She’s also royalty.”

  She gestures between the two girls.

  “There are three royal daughters of the captured Saturn King.”

  She points at Tanya.

  “This one represents Wind.”

  Then at Ellen.

  “This one represents Mist.”

  She pauses.

  “That leaves the third.”

  “Fire.”

  Daisy suddenly steps forward.

  “I know the third one.”

  Mami looks at her.

  “Where do you know her from?”

  “She was with us in New Sage,” Daisy explains. “She fought beside us during the last battle—the one where we suffered heavy casualties. But after that… she disappeared.”

  Daisy tilts her head slightly.

  “But she never used any fire abilities. She mostly fought with a gun.”

  “Then her Saturn gift probably hasn’t awakened yet,” Sonia says.

  “What’s her name?” Mami asks.

  “Elina,” Daisy answers.

  Mami rubs her chin.

  “So the goal is to find Elina?”

  “Not necessarily,” Sonia replies.

  “The goal is to find any Saturn. After the Northern invasion, they scattered across the world. If we locate even one, their connection should draw the others out of their comas.”

  The Alligator nods.

  “This is serious. We can’t leave my comrade in that condition.”

  “I agree,” Mami says.

  The Alligator gestures toward Sonia.

  “I’ll assign this task to her. She’ll search for any Saturn she can find.”

  Mami turns.

  “Daisy.”

  Daisy looks at her.

  “Yes?”

  “Go with her.”

  Daisy tilts her head again.

  “Why me?”

  Mami smacks her lightly on the head.

  “Stop tilting your head like that. It looks arrogant.”

  She pushes Daisy forward.

  “Go with her. Help search for any Saturn.”

  Daisy sighs.

  “Alright… I guess I don’t have a choice.”

  Sonia nods once.

  The two of them dissolve into thin air.

  The Alligator looks back at Mami.

  “I think I’ll leave her here with you for now.”

  He gestures toward Ellen.

  “Until we find a Saturn capable of curing them. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Mami smiles.

  “Not a problem.”

  The Alligator bows slightly.

  “Thank you.”

  He turns to leave.

  “I’ll return once a Saturn is found.”