What Is Light?

Chapter 16

Nella and Erudina perched themselves on the rooftops as they watched the sun slowly start to set. Nella was quiet as her friend immersed herself with the cool air and her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful this way. She was humming too. Of course, it wasn't like she didn't recognize the song as she sat down next to her. " So, claws and fireworks?"

" Do we have anything else?" Erudina asked her with a raised brow.

" Hey, not my fault you lost the knife your mentor gave you."

" Not my fault you broke yours." They exchanged a look and laughed. " They would've killed me if they found out."

" Same."

" I'm sure you've heard the rumors." Aiden began as he opted to explain for everyone. " When someone gets corrupted beyond help, the End Runners will deal with them. They're no strangers to corruption and it isn't biased as in all the corrupted cases are simply taken down, no. It's just....some things turn out for the worst. These kids, they become more and more like krill when the corruption fully spreads. These are rare and extreme cases of course. But by the time they're identified, it could be too late and they become dangerous. Cannibalistic." He finished as the Elders looked down in shame. " An End's burden is not merely for the red gems. It's because with those gems, they identify who else is corrupted, to what degree and where."

" It's funny. I haven't heard from one of our best fliers in months." Val implied.

" Eru is going to be investigating these incidents more often now. She'll be the appointed head of investigation alongside Friez and Nella."

" The End Trio." Hyde mused. " It's kinda funny. An ex guide, ex musician and an ex archivist decided to join together and be End Runners."

" Their origin story sound neat." Miko said. " Is this really okay? Why can't we help?"

" Well, I... we're helping by staying here and protecting the sky children from the threat." Ratchet couldn't even think about having to kill a child. Especially not one who's even younger than Jack and Miko. He knew the others wouldn't be able to bring themselves to do it either. The Elders, they were especially silent. Ashamed how they couldn't muster the strength to deal with this themselves.

" I should help them." End said as she rose from the couch. " My eyes can detect him before he gets any closer."

" I don't think you're needed for the moment, bitlet." Knockout blocked her way with his frame. " Besides, Eru has the same eyes. And she has her friend with her." Weslen stared down at his staff and glanced over at Val, who returned the look with a nod. They paused as the melody swept over them, a soft duet accompanied by the humms of the mantas. The children listened, eyes half closed as they recognized the rhythm. A gentle call, beckoning them with the voices. Aiden hummed along to it. The voices blended well, it was clear that it calmed the atmosphere around them. Tranquil was how some would've described the soft song as the Elders hummed along. The runes on the door and on Knockout were glowing dimly to the song. " What song is this?" He asked End as the song slowly faded.

" It's the song of The Light. I guess my seniors are telling us to keep calm." She said softly as she regarded all the gentle smiles they shared after the song was finished. On its own it was like a spell. A siren's call that beckoned them to the Light. It was also a symbol. A promise of better days. They were promising brighter days.

" We can't just sit and wait." Weslen said as he stood next to End, Val following suite. " I'm not going out to...fight that thing." He quickly reassured Wheeljack. " I wanna give this to Eru. She'll need it more than I do."

" You're still full of light, both of you would be too easy for them to detect." Arch said. " Be careful. Don't lose your light." Knockout sighed as he extended his servo for them to climb onto.

" We should be quick then, wouldn't want to distract the two hunters." He smiled as they all exchanged relieved looks.

" Return immediately soldier." Ultra Magnus reminded him as they opened the hangar with sun almost fully set.

" Thank you, Owl eyes." End smiled at him and he returned it.