Chapter 158:Last preparations.
The walk back from the library was noticeably quieter. Neither Silver nor Ravenna spoke for several minutes as they digested the information they had found.
The information they had uncovered wasn’t enough to explain what had happened at Research Station Seventeen, but it was enough to change how they viewed the place.
This was the site of an incident serious enough that the Sanctuary had sealed away the truth for years.
Silver finally broke the silence.
"I’m glad we came."
Ravenna looked at him.
"So am I."
"If we’d gone there without knowing any of this, we might have underestimated it."
Silver nodded.
"Now we know to expect the unexpected."
They continued walking through the afternoon streets. The city bustled around them as though nothing had happened. By the time they returned to the hotel, the afternoon sun had begun its slow descent across the sky.
Silver unlocked their room and closed the door behind them. For a few moments, neither moved, then Ravenna walked over to the map spread across the small table by the window.
She unfolded it completely.
"The station is here."
Silver joined her.
"And Delta Four is here."
He traced the route with one finger.
"If we leave tomorrow morning... We should reach it before afternoon, probably around mid-morning."
Ravenna nodded.
"Assuming we don’t stop for another mission."
"We won’t." Silver’s voice was decisive. "I’d rather arrive with plenty of daylight."
"So would I."
They both studied the route in silence. The roads were familiar now. They had already traveled on it on their way to Delta Four.
Ravenna folded her arms.
"We’ve stayed here longer than we originally planned."
Silver laughed quietly.
"Quite a bit longer."
Originally, Delta Four had only been intended as a brief stop. They wanted to repair the car, restock supplies, and complete a few missions, then continue go back to the research station before going on their way.
Instead, they had spent days training, exploring the city, completing Green Zone commissions and, unexpectedly, celebrating Silver’s promotion.
"I don’t regret staying," Silver said.
"Neither do I."
Ravenna smiled.
"You reached Rank Two. We’ve become stronger, and we’ve learned how to better fight together."
Silver nodded.
"It was worth every extra day." He looked back at the map. "But... We’ve definitely fallen behind schedule."
Ravenna traced the remainder of their planned journey.
"If we continue at our original pace... We’ll arrive much later than expected."
Silver thought for a moment before speaking.
"Then we’ll adjust."
She looked up.
"We’ll travel a little farther each day, just enough to make up for the time."
Ravenna considered the suggestion before nodding.
"That should work. We can still stop to train, just spend less time lingering in each Sanctuary."
Silver smiled.
"Exactly."
Their routine had become surprisingly efficient over the past days. Increasing the distance they covered each day wouldn’t require changing that routine. Only spending fewer days inside each Sanctuary.
Satisfied with the plan, they turned their attention toward preparation. Silver pulled both backpacks from beside the bed.
"Let’s make sure we haven’t forgotten anything."
Ravenna nodded. Together, they began laying out their equipment. Their swords were cleaned first. Silver carefully inspected the edge of his blade before lightly oiling it.
Ravenna did the same with practiced precision. Next came their firearms. The magazines were emptied and springs checked. Each weapon was carefully cleaned before being reloaded. Their movements had become natural through repetition.
Silver counted their ammunition.
"We’re still in good shape."
Ravenna glanced at the small pile.
"But let’s buy another box before we leave."
"I was thinking the same."
She checked their medical supplies next. Everything remained neatly organized.
"We only used a few bandages after the Green Zone mission."
Silver smiled.
"That’s a good sign."
"It means we’re getting injured less."
"Let’s keep it that way."
Ravenna couldn’t argue with that. After repacking the medical kit, she moved on to the smaller equipment. Everything was accounted for.
Once everything had been packed again, they left the hotel briefly to purchase the few supplies they still needed.
The shopping district was busy as always. They bought additional ammunition, a fresh first-aid kit to replace what they’d used, several days’ worth of preserved food, extra bottles of water, and a packet of high-energy emergency ration bars recommended by another contractor.
By the time they returned to the hotel, the sun had nearly reached the horizon. Silver placed the last bag on the table and stretched.
"I think that’s everything."
Ravenna looked over the neatly packed equipment one final time.
"Food, water, medicine, ammunition, and weapons." She nodded with satisfaction. "We’re ready."
Silver glanced toward the window. The sky outside had begun turning shades of orange and crimson.
"So..." he smiled. "We leave tomorrow morning."
Ravenna followed his gaze.
"Tomorrow."
The words carried a surprising amount of weight. Delta Four had become familiar, comfortable.
Silver chuckled softly.
"I think I’ll actually miss this place."
Ravenna smiled.
"I will too, but..."
She looked toward the packed backpacks resting neatly against the wall.
"We didn’t start this journey to stay in one Sanctuary forever."
Silver nodded.
"I know, it’s just nostalgia speaking. There are still too many places waiting for us and one abandoned research station."
He grinned.
"That too."
The two of them spent the remainder of the evening relaxing rather than training. There was no point exhausting themselves the night before setting out.
Instead, they enjoyed a quiet dinner downstairs, talked about the route ahead, and returned to their room early. Before going to bed, Silver looked once more at the vase on the windowsill. The blue flower still stood proudly beside the two white roses.
It was a quiet reminder of the peaceful days they had spent in Delta Four.
.
.
.
Silver stood by the window with a cup of coffee in his hand, watching the Sanctuary gradually come to life. Behind him, Ravenna finished checking their backpacks one last time.
"I think we’re ready."
Silver turned and smiled.
"I was thinking the same."