Syal's eyes slowly fluttered open, his mind foggy and disoriented. He was met with the sterile white walls of a military hospital, the smell of drug and the soft noises of crowd outside his room filling his senses.
He tried to sit up, but a wave of exhaustion washed over him, forcing him back onto the bed. His gaze fell upon Puppet Proto, which was sitting quietly beside him, its glow eyes dimmed.
"Is... anyone there?" Syal croaked, his voice hoarse from disuse.
A nurse hurried into the room, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Syal! Welcome back. How are you feeling?"
Syal tried to respond, but the nurse was already busy checking his vital signs and monitoring his condition. After a few moments, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Everything looks good, Syal. You're just exhausted, but that's to be expected. No permanent injuries, thankfully."
Just then, the colonels entered the room, their faces somber. Syal's heart sank as he asked, "What about... the regular people? Did they...?"
The colonel's expression turned grim. "I'm afraid they didn't make it, Syal. The battle attack with those spy too devastating. We lost... everyone."
Syal felt a pang of sorrow and regret he feel failed to save them, but before he could process his emotions, the colonel continued.
"Don't think to much about it. Your a Fated, not a hero. In the first place, it's theirs fault to be there begin with. There's something else you should know, Syal. Vincent... he's okay. He woke up a few hours before you did."
Syal's eyes widened in surprise. "Vincent? He's... alive?" Syal think Vincent dies after got his brain violated, his whole body violated. When in Proto body, he didn't have time to check the others, assuming Vincent already fell killed by the woman. He already feel guilty that time didn't help him.
The colonel's expression turned somber again. "I'm afraid the others weren't as lucky, Syal. Mark lost one of his hands. As a shooter, it's... it's essentially the end of his career."
Syal's eyes widened in concern. "And Jacob?"
The colonel's voice was grim. "Jacob is in a coma, and we're not sure when he'll wake up. His brain even though already healed, there's no sign he will wake up. Probably the attack he withstand not only mentally injured him, but also injured his spirit and soul."
Syal felt a pang of sadness and regret. He had grown close to his teammates, and the thought of them suffering such severe injuries was devastating. Not to mention he and Jacob are the only newbie Fated.
But the colonel's next words brought a small measure of relief. "Riski is okay, though. He's the only one besides you who made it through without serious injury."
Syal nodded, He knows afterall, Riski are last man standing yesterday.
Colonel feeling a sense of gratitude towards Syal and Riski. "Good job taking down those spies," he said, his voice sincere.
The colonel added in agreement. "You and Riski's actions were instrumental in stopping the spy ring. And your actions, Syal... taking down that monster... you saved countless lives."
The sentimental colonel then disappear, changed to the serous one. Colonel explain to syal. "Today your second spin, you didn't have to tell me everything. You also need to keep everything about your wheel as secret. You see Syal, for most people, they only have three slices as start. Only you and your father is exception, probably there's others but the one I know is only both of you. Keep it to yourself."
The Colonel then leave Syal alone for recuperating.
Syal looked down, feeling a mix of emotions. He was relieved that the mission was over, but he knew that the consequences of their actions would be felt for a long time to come. Especially the guilt from failed saving those regular people.
As for about his second spin, even he eager to becomes strong. He didn't mood to spin right now.
As Syal sat in contemplative silence, Proto, who had been quietly observing him, sensed his emotional turmoil. The robot's mechanical body shifted slightly, its eyes glowing with a soft, comforting light.
Syal's focus shifted to Proto, and he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, "Do you think what we've done has meaning?"
Proto's mechanical voice responded, its tone calm and reassuring. "I didn't understand, Master. My meaning of existence is for helping Master. Everything that helps Master has meaning for me."
Syal's eyes locked onto Proto's, a sense of wonder and gratitude washing over him. He realized that Proto's existence was deeply tied to his own.
A small, faint smile crept onto Syal's face as he reached out to gently pat Proto's puppet shoulder. "Thank you, Proto. You're more than just a machine. You're my friend."
Proto's puppet body remained still, but its eyes glowed with a soft, warm light, a testament to the deep bond between Syal and his loyal robot companion.
Syal infused his spirit to Proto, there's little material here Proto can't turn into robot form. At least his dimmed eyes are glowing bright once again.
Have his own mood fixed, syal prepared to summon the second wheel.
"Fate of Humanity decided by luck. Individu-"
Knock! Knock!
While Syal chant the summoning chant of wheel of Advancement, someone knocked on door.
"Come in!"
The door to his hospital room swung open and Riski walked in, a cheerful grin spreading across his face.
"Hey, get well soon, bro!" Riski said, his voice booming through the room.
Syal couldn't help but chuckle at Riski's energetic entrance. "Thanks, Riski. I'm trying my best."
Riski sauntered over to Syal's bedside, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Proto. "Hey, Proto! Taking good care of our boy, I see."
Proto's mechanical voice responded, "Affirmative, Riski. Master Syal's condition is stable."
Riski nodded, his grin still plastered on his face. "Good, good. I'm glad to see you're both doing okay."
Syal smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his friends. "Thanks, Riski. It means a lot to me."
Riski's expression turned serious for a moment. "We make a good team, Syal. We've got each other's backs."
Syal nodded, his heart filled with gratitude. "We do, Riski. We definitely do."
Riski then continued, "I hear you just become fated? I pretty surprised that you so good at this."
"Thanks, I already learn combat long before I got power."
"Your way using your core is eye opener to me. Well I won't ask about that how you come up with it because clearly you didn't want to talk about it. I have requested, the next time you will wear proto armour, shout or at least say 'transform'. Can you do that?"
"It's kinda weird but I think I can."
Riski then bring out a piece of paper where a drawing of armored man on it. Probably armored man, those picture are bad.
"Can proto turn himself into this model?"
"Well I don't know what it is, but I think it's cool, I hope you have better picture though."
"Ah my bad." Riski then proceed to summon his short staff out of thin air. Saying some uncomprehended word, then swing his staff.
"Babidibabubiba!"
The bad picture start to change, it's become a lifelike drawing of armored man. The armored man has a sleek, high-tech design with a predominantly metallic silver and dark blue color scheme. The suit's main body is covered in interlocking, armor-like plates, with a distinctive, angular helmet that features a sharp, pointed crest.
The helmet's visor is a bright, glowing blue, with a distinctive fin running along the center. The suit's chest features a stylized, silver emblem in the shape of a winged apex, symbolizing the Rider's name and abilities.
The arms and legs of the suit are adorned with metallic accents and armor plating, with a series of glowing blue lines tracing along the edges. The suit's gloves feature sharp, claw-like protrusions, while the boots have a distinctive, angular design with a low heel.
Syal eyes widen, with how exquisite the armour design. "How is it proto? Can it be done?"
Proto blue eyes scan the picture. "Master I can turn into it if there's enough material."
"Riski can I asked something? How you do that, make the staff come out of thin air. Is that your core abilities?"
"Owh that thing? Well it's fated artifact. I see, no one explained to you about this isn't? Don't worry bro I covered you. Fated artifact are special kind of artifact that only useable by us. The biggest advantage of fated artifact it's grow with his user. The Fated artifact can be bound into one of Fated core. The Bounded artifact then can be put inside the core and can be summon anytime you need. When the core become stronger with increase of your rank, the Fated artifact also become stronger. Despite the great power, Fated artifact have one massive disadvantage. After bounded, it can't be unbound. Think wisely about what artifact you want to bound with. Well fated artifact are uncommon to begin with, especially in this nation. You may want to bound with first artifact you meet. Are you have water here? I speak to much I need water."