Part 4

After Kumo was taken away by Eiji, Eucalyptus, Zephyr, and Shaya were left alone, grappling with the shocking revelation. Shaya quickly took charge, insisting that they continue to Odarlan to meet Moki as planned. Zephyr, consumed with rage toward Kumo for its betrayal, initially refused to go on. However, Shaya managed to convince him to stay the course. Eucalyptus, usually the vibrant heart of the group, had grown quiet, lost in her thoughts. She was devastated by the realization that Kumo, whom she had trusted, was a spy. The betrayal weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow over her usual optimism.

After days of walking, they finally arrived at the Spiral’s headquarters. The sight of the blue grass, a unique and beautiful feature of the place, provided a brief respite from their worries. Their first encounter was with NaïKu, the sub-boss of the Spiral. His appearance was strange, but Shaya introduced him as a friend, which reassured both Zephyr and Eucalyptus. They then met Moki, the Boss of the Spiral. Despite his youthful appearance, it was clear that Moki was a Soul—an immortal being. Eucalyptus couldn’t help but wonder when he had died but refrained from asking.

Zephyr, hearing Moki’s young-sounding voice, playfully called him “kiddo,” a nickname that stuck despite knowing Moki was likely much older than him. The group discussed their plans concerning the Cross, but Moki seemed hesitant about joining the cause. His primary concern was Rotdon, a place he deeply cared about. Once again, it was Shaya who managed to sway him. Moki finally agreed to help, but on the condition that they first convince Rotdon to join the rebellion. 

Eucalyptus and Zephyr found shelter in a small house within an abandoned village, while Shaya stayed in a neighboring building. Moki and NaïKu remained at the Spiral HQ, a small apartment that appeared deserted.

Two days later, Eucalyptus was still reeling from Kumo’s betrayal. However, one morning, she awoke to find a letter placed in front of her door. As she read it, tears streamed down her face. She couldn’t believe it—she was overwhelmed with happiness and relief. The letter was from Kumo. In it, Kumo expressed sincere apologies and explained that it was now leading a rebellion from within the Cross itself. It needed Eucalyptus’s help to create a diversion while it worked from the inside to bring the Cross down.

A renewed sense of hope filled Eucalyptus’s heart. She sprang into action, taking command once more. She chose Zephyr and Shaya to be her sub-bosses, the three of them forming the core leadership of the newly energized Liberty organization.

Eucalyptus and Zephyr grew closer during this time, becoming best friends. Zephyr confided in her about his boyfriend, Zetsu, promising to introduce him to everyone when they returned to Syrena, where he lived. He also shared stories from his past, but Eucalyptus didn’t care about the details—he was her friend, and that was all that mattered. Despite knowing Kumo was now fighting against the Cross from within, Zephyr still harbored anger toward it. His hatred for the Cross and its spies ran deep, and he struggled to let go of his resentment.

After days of planning, the group decided their next move: they would return to Syrena to convince the Flower Organization to join the Liberty. To avoid the long journey on foot, NaïKu provided them with a strange, demonic creature known as a Velostrider. The beasts allowed them to reach Syrena in less than a day.

Upon arriving, Zephyr introduced his boyfriend, Zetsu, to the group. Zetsu was cold in demeanor but seemed trustworthy. He joined the Liberty and even suggested a symbol for the organization: a plus sign (+), representing an inverted cross (x). Eucalyptus loved the idea, and NaïKu quickly created fabrics bearing the new symbol for everyone, including himself and Moki, marking their allegiance to two different organizations united in purpose.

PART 5