After getting past the outer factory areas, Luna's spaceship entered an abandoned vent, which gradually began to be overgrown with vines and mold, and later with large mushrooms rooted in a thick layer of yellow-grown slime.

The Luna's spaceship accelerated, slicing the fungi with the front of its silver disk. A massive rain of juices from shredded caps and trunks crashed against the forcefield. Its loud patter was soon drowned out by the rumbling river of water that rushed somewhere below the ship. The flora was slowly being replaced by several meters-long cranes, between which there were nets for catching scrap carried by the current, and right behind them, it was possible to notice pale-blue lights.

Avi slowed down to safely exit the tunnel, beyond which appeared a few hundred meters tall mushroom. It was located in a cave in a half-egg shape with sides overgrown by polypores, which were connected by bridges and ladders made of yellowed ropes. Many fungi were hollowed to serve as houses or stairs.

The city was teeming with life, as if its citizens were unconcerned by the plague, even if it was clear that most of the robots were infected by mushroom-like growths. The majority of people, likely due to the environmental necessity, were constructed from light steel frames, and their modules and cables were bare and unprotected by any armor.

Avi found a flat landing spot in the middle of the largest, central mushroom. When Luna exited the spaceship, she was watching the lively city in silence and with a depressed gaze, but Avi quickly approached and laid her hand on a friend's arm, smiling to lift Luna's spirits.

“Okay, I'm ready.” - Luna said quietly, then took a deep breath.

---

The top of the mushroom was also a sightseeing terrace, so Avi's landing was met with citizens' curiosity, many of whom interrupted their leisure time to stare at the strangers and discuss who they could be.

“Should we start right now?” - Luna asked, implying she could heal them.

“We should see the chief first.” - The Void Hermit suggested. - “It will prevent difficulties.”

Avi lowered her eyes, remembering their last attempt, and didn't protest.

“Straight ahead, to the staircase.” - The Void Hermit added.

As the group walked along the curvy path on the side of a tall mushroom, they could notice lower areas of the city, which revealed the sad truth. Layers upon layers of dead machines formed a vast, deep graveyard. New corpses continued to be thrown over the railings, to let their oils fertilize the slimy soil. A bit above it, there was a habitable, slum-like zone with thousands of diseased robots densely occupying the streets. The plague seemed to affect only the topmost city regions the least, giving a small, privileged part of society a chance to live a relatively normal life.

“We are here.” - The Hermit said when they reached a balcony of red toadstools. It was an entrance to a wide city hall with a view of the town.

Avi knocked on the door, but nobody opened it. She was only approached by a small, spherical robot with an antenna below its body, a black screen instead of a face, and a small mushroom on top of its head. The machine informed. - “We are closed, but if you are petitioners, then I can arrange a visit.”

“Yes, please. We are interested.” - Avi replied.

“Calculating. The next available date is in eighty-seven days. We can reserve a meeting during a two-hour gap in the afternoon.” - The robot answered. - “Does the date work for you?”

“Eee...” - Avi uttered.

“Let's stop pretending.” - Luna interjected and pushed her light into the robot, who backed off, slightly confused.

“What... what did you do? My readings... are normal again?” - The robot whispered. - “A moment, please, I'll call the chief!”

The robot's screen turned into a red line, which soon changed to display the face of the chief, which was round like a shield with five evenly scattered eyes, all directed at Luna.

“Did Goliath find the cure?” - The chief asked in a hoarse voice.

“Not yet, but I can tell that you're infected too. Please open, I can help.” - Luna declared.

“A moment... a moment please...” - The door to the office opened, revealing a dark room, illuminated only by bioluminescent fungi.

Once the group was inside, the rotting stench of spores invaded their nostrils. There was also a mess everywhere, and Avi kept tripping over the cables. Many data cylinders lay on the floor, and steel furniture was bent almost in half due to the weight of the fungal growths, which occasionally obstructed the path.

The office was relatively far, at the end of one of two crescent corridors. The door was opened and glued to the wall with a net of tendon-like growths. Luna entered the room and found the light switch, but before she could press it, she overheard.

“Don't switch the light on, it hurts my sensors.” - The chief informed.

Luna made her luminescence dimmer and then approached. Her weak light revealed a machine shaped like a few dozen shields welded together, with many long rods and mushrooms protruding from gaps between them. The chief's body grew into the trunk of the mushroom, living off juices pumped into him by thin tubes.

Luna laid her hand on the chief's forehead and focused. The robot immediately felt how the warmth of her soothing light flooded his entire body.

“Thank you.” - The chief said, knowing that he was no longer affected by the plague.

“...and?” - Avi spoke. - “Will it help us?”

Luna shook her head. - “No.”

Avi lowered her gaze. There was sadness in her voice. - “We'll have to keep on searching.”

“Wait...” - The Void Hermit requested, then spoke to the chief. - “We come from the same Forge. I need to ask you for a favor.”

“Speak, and I might consider it.” - The chief said.

“Call Yakiri.” - The Void Hermit said. - “Tell them to hunt the fallen Valkyries with us.”

“Yakiri choose their prey alone.” - The chief informed. - “They won't come, even if you have a good reason.”

“Yakiri?” - Avi asked.

“The Hunters with diamond eyes.” - The Void Hermit explained. - “They are stronger than you. Without them, there is no point in venturing further into danger.”

Luna gazed straight into the chief's eyes. - “I can cure Anaari's plague, isn't that enough?”

“If you can cure the plague, why are other machines still sick? Healing a few, single people won't save the Goliath.” - The chief stated.

Virka felt that he wasn't playing fair. - “Let Yakiri decide.”

The chief pondered for a moment, but refused. - “No, it's still too soon. You'll talk to them when they come back.”

“...and when is it supposed to happen?” - Virka attacked. - “In a year? Ten? Thousand?”

“Just rest. We will welcome you with open arms.” - The chief avoided answering.

“You just want us to stay here and keep healing your people.” - Virka accused him.

The chief retracted his head, seeing how Virka's piercing gaze infiltrates him. He felt there was no reason to pretend anymore. - “If you want my help, it's the price you have to pay.”

“You all only care about your own needs.” - Luna hissed.

“...but ...Luna, does that mean you won't help them?” - Avi asked.

“Every wasted second means uncountable deaths elsewhere.” - Luna estimated. - “We can't just please everyone we meet. There is room here only for ironclad logic. I won't sacrifice millions of lives for a few people, just because I know their faces!” - She shouted. Her hair and dress rose, as if they were burning. - “Call Yakiri or I'll do it myself!”

The chief backed off slightly, terrified, but still responded. - “I refuse.”

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A flash of Luna's light illuminated the room, and she put her incandescent hand to the chief's cheek, melting into his steel.

Avi quickly ran up to Luna, grabbing her second arm and pulling her away. - “What are you doing!? Stop!”

“Don't interrupt me!” - Luna warned and pushed Avi to the ground.

The chief's eyes started to smoke, and sparks flew from his shields. When his head dropped limply, Luna withdrew her hand, still angry.

“You k-killed him.” - Avi whispered.

“No. He's just unconscious.” - Luna answered. - “Yakiri will come in three hours, fourteen minutes, and fifty-two seconds. We should prepare.”

“You persuaded them to come?” - Virka was surprised. - “How?”

“They invited me to hunt when they saw what I'm capable of.” - Luna informed. - “...but not for Valkyries. No, no. We'll hunt for the Warped Queen, an oracle.”

The Void Hermit was clearly disturbed. - “Yakiri are making a mistake! She survived the Anaari, their daughter won't be a challenge!”

“I don't plan to back off.” - Luna hissed, then walked to the exit. - “Either you're with me, or don't get in my way.”

---

Avi knelt on the floor, still hurt after being pushed by Luna. Her eyes were teary, but she wiped them quickly before Virka could approach.

“What got into her?!” - Avi yelled.

Charlotte joined them and helped Avi get up.

“She had to make this decision.” - Virka said. - “We delayed it for too long.”

“...that's not how it's supposed to be. We can't just hurt everyone around us!” - Avi protested.

Nicolas stared at the dark corridor. - “Most of all, she probably hurt herself.”

“I won't let her just run away! No way!” - Avi declared, ready to chase Luna. - “She has to understand her mistake.”

“Wait.” - Charlotte stopped her. - “Be patient with her. She bears the greatest burden among us.”

“I already was patient.” - Avi uttered in anger. - “She didn't listen.” - Then she made it outside, not paying attention to the opinions of her friends and relatives.

She couldn't find Luna, though, at least until she looked beyond the railings. Luna's light illuminated the murky graveyards, where she healed the ones who needed it most.

Avi rushed down the stairs, ran across the bridge, then slid down the ladder. She was panting, but it didn't make her fury leave her. She squeezed through the crowd until she reached Luna, who, with a sad expression, laid her hands on the diseased robots.

“Luna!” - Avi shouted.

Luna didn't answer and didn't interrupt what she was doing.

“You are well aware that you can't do things like that!” - Avi continued in anger.

“Stop. I have no strength for this.” - Luna sighed heavily.

“Stop!?” - Avi yelled. - “I never thought you would be so heartless.”

Luna bit her lip, but said nothing.

“I'm speaking to you!” - Avi kept shouting. - “Don't pretend that nothing happened.”

“Don't make me repeat myself. Stop.” - Luna hissed.

“Do you even care about the pain you make others feel?” - Avi asked.

Luna stood up, pausing her healing. With tears in her eyes, she screamed. - “So what!? My pain doesn't matter!? I don't matter to you!?”

“You? Are you even yourself after everything you have done?!” - Avi continued. - “You've crossed every line.”

“I had to do this!” - Luna protested. - “None of you. Nobody would understand.”

“What is there to understand?!” - Avi scolded. - “You did a horrible thing, and now you try to give excuses.”

“No, I don't, because I don't have to!” - Luna responded. - “Not to you, since you don't care about me at all.”

Avi clenched her fists. - “That's what you think? You really don't know how to love, after all.”

Luna felt as if her chest had been hit by a heavy object.

Avi continued. - “If you knew how to love, you would understand that...”

Luna interrupted. - “Enough of it.”

“I didn't finish!” - Avi warned.

“Enough!” - Luna shouted, her hand rose, and she slapped Avi's cheek.

Avi grabbed her swollen, red face, tears filling her eyes. For a moment, she stood motionless, with her face contorted, but she stopped herself from crying and hit Luna back. Right after that, Luna shoved Avi right into the sick robots, causing the girl to get a few bruises and whimper in pain. Avi scrambled out of the crowd and lunged at her friend, grabbing her hair and hitting her in the head. Luna immediately snapped, swung her hand, and hit Avi right in the eye.

Avi staggered, losing her balance, and fell between the robots. She touched her injury, and when she felt how much it hurt, she started crying.

“You're not my friend anymore.” - Avi hissed, stood up, and ran away.

Only after Luna cooled off, she understand what she had done. She collapsed on the mushroom, hid her face, and began sobbing.

---

Avi returned to the spaceship, and when Charlotte noticed her black eye, she asked. - “What happened to you, my child?”

Avi was initially angry, but when she was finally away from Luna, that feeling passed, replaced by bitter tears. Without a word, she threw herself at Charlotte to get a hug.

“It's okay, it's okay...” - Charlotte tried to calm Avi down by caressing her hair. - “Cry it out.”

---

Luna decided not to return. She helped everyone she could and met Yakiri. There were seven of them, and everyone was wearing black-red military uniforms with a peaked hat and a long coat.

Their leader, a humanoidal android with pearl-like, luminescent hair and diamond-like eyes, approached the girl and scanned her, complimenting. - “You'll do.”

“Your name?” - Luna requested.

“Yaegir.” - The leader replied.

“Luna.” - Luna replied shortly. - “Lead the way.”

---

Charlotte made a compress for Avi's eye, then sat next to her, asking. - “Luna did it, am I correct?”

Avi didn't want to answer.

“I can see you were arguing.” - Charlotte stated. - “Did it happen before?”

“That much, never.” - Avi replied, still in pain.

“You must have said something really hurtful to her.” - Charlotte assumed.

“Who are you siding with?” - Avi protested.

“With you, because I can see that she went too far.” - Charlotte added. - “She probably isn't hurt at all.”

Avi averted her gaze. - “I... I'm not sure of that. I'm tough. I cried a bit, the wound will heal and I'll survive somehow... but her...”

“I know...” - Charlotte said. - “...but we shouldn't be lenient with her.”

Avi crossed her arms on her knees and lay her head there. - “I don't get it, why is she like this?”

“I don't understand it too, but you know her better than I.” - Charlotte pointed out. - “When she returns, you should lecture her again. I'm sure that she'll listen this time.”

Avi lowered her gaze, staring at the floor. - “I think I'll go to my room. I need to think about what to tell her, to make sure I don't blurt out some stupid thing again.”

“Of course.” - Charlotte replied and left Avi alone in the kitchen, so she could think in peace.

---

Avi was alone for a long time. She hugged her pillow and stared at the photo of her and Luna. When she heard that someone was knocking, she didn't answer. It was Virka. She opened the door slightly and asked if she could enter.

“Yes.” - Avi let her in.

Virka sat on the edge of the bed - “Does it hurt a lot?” - She asked.

“No.” - Avi shook her head.

“I have a good ointment for stuff like that.” - Virka added, pulling out a small jar. - “It'll heal faster.”

“Thank you, Virka.” - Avi said quietly.

Virka removed the compress and applied the salve. At first, she wasn't saying anything, but after a moment, she added. - “I came here because I'm worried about Luna.”

“I'm worried too.” - Avi whispered.

“What did you say to her this time?” - Virka asked.

“Nothing. I was just angry and didn't really control what I was saying.” - Avi explained.

“You must have said something specific to her.” - Virka insisted.

“She said that I don't care about her at all!” - Avi tried to argue.

“...and ...what did you say back?” - Virka encouraged Avi to cooperate.

“That... that... she doesn't know how to love.” - Avi whispered out, feeling guilty.

“Was it honest?” - Virka inquired.

“No...” - Avi revealed.

“I can tell you have doubts.” - Virka pointed out.

“She sometimes acts like a robot. She looks at life as something that can be calculated and assessed.” - Avi added.

“Well, but isn't it true that you tend to oversimplify things based on your personal moral code?” - Virka probed for answers.

“Are you trying to tell me that what Luna did was right!?” - Avi protested.

“I don't know. Life isn't just black and white...” - Virka stated. - “...but I can sometimes understand her choices.”

“Virka? Are you taking her side!?” - Avi exclaimed.

“Tell me, Avi, what would you do if you were her?” - Virka asked calmly.

“I would figure something out.” - Avi quickly stated.

“I feel it's not always like this...” - Virka continued. - “...and I doubt it would happen in this case.”

“We were doing fine... until now.” - Avi said, still full of doubts.

“I can tell you're hiding something.” - Virka replied.

Avi hugged her pillow, clearly depressed.

“You don't want to speak about it?” - Virka inquired.

“We met someone terrible, her name was Ronra Naad.” - Avi mentioned. - “Because of us, she murdered all people in the Cross of Immortality.”

Virka almost dropped her jar. She stared at Avi in disbelief. - “This... this Ronra Naad?”

“Did you know her?” - Avi asked.

“Yes, I...” - Virka stopped. - “...I regret that I wasn't with you back then. It was possible to prevent this. I'm in disbelief, it's a miracle that you're still alive.”

“Luna saved us. As she always does.” - Avi mentioned.

“Why didn't you tell me about it sooner?” - Virka asked.

Avi squeezed her pillow even tighter. - “How could we even look you and my parents straight in the eyes?”

Virka pitied Avi. - “You're not the only person who carries this burden.” - Virka hoped that Avi would understand it one day.

“I know, Luna carries it too.” - Avi added. - “She still remembers everything bad that happened to us and constantly lives with guilt.”

“She's trying to atone for her mistakes.” - Virka seemed confident about her conclusion.

“I feel that she lost herself in the pursuit of her mission.” - Avi replied. - “I keep feeling that I will lose her because of this, that the universe will lose something more important than just a single life. She is special.”

“I can see you think highly of her.” - Virka said.

“It's not a matter of just my thinking. We... we all need her.” - Avi stated.

“That's a bit irrational.” - Virka replied.

“No. I always believed that she'll save Goliath...” - Avi kept explaining. - “...and it's already happening. She'll save the universe too, but...”

“But?” - Virka asked.

“I must be by her side.” - Avi added.

“She'll surely feel relieved once she comes back to you and you reconcile.” - Virka summed up.

Avi, however, was still worried. - “No, it can't wait. I have to go to her. I feel it. She's fighting alone. I have to support her, that's my responsibility.” - She got up and picked up her clothes.

“I will go with you.” - Virka suggested.

“No, not this time.” - Avi requested. - “I have to do this on my own.”

Avi checked the clock on her drawer. It had been three hours since Luna was gone. Avi was concerned, knowing that Luna hadn't returned yet.

“Virka, take care of my parents.” - Avi said before leaving. - “Tell them not to look for me.”