Wordcount - 1126

Cordoba walked through her Wonder in silence.

T'was not often she wasn't thinking of it, not since so many visits and so many encounters. But now she knew where the core was, and she had a start... Except the core was cked wth no discernable means to access the key. Hell, she couldn't even find a key, and the Page sat on a fallen crystalline pillar, looking out towards the city center.

It was a peaceful sight and Cordoba closed her eyes, trying to imagine it lit up in full. The bikes moving - how? And people filling the streets. She inhaled, focusing on her thoughts as the familiar voice of Xifeng interrupted her, the spectre coming up behind her silently before speaking.

"Meditating, Cordoba?" The fallen one asked. Cordoba jumped, before turning, shaking her head.

"No, imagining this place in it's hey day. It's so dead here." Cordoba frowned. Xifeng nodded.

"It was more than you might envision... Though, have you solved the key yet?" The spirit asked. Her tone was almost impatient, like a Tiger mother asking a delinquent child for homework. Cordoba shook her head, and sighed.

"Not yet." Cirdoba huffed. "Look, I have work between visits. I can't devote all of my time to thinking about this. It's not pragmatic."

To that, Xifeng sighed, shaking her head before looking out herself, motioning before sitting down, sighing.

"The key," Xifeng finally said. "Is not a thing."

It was her only clue, but Cordoba's mind rolled over the clue nonetheless, Xifeng watching expectantly before Cordoba looked up.

"Us? How does it identify us as a key?" Cordoba asked. "If blood, my mother or aunt or cousin might unlock the wonder just as easily."

"Not so. The key is blood and the Knight. The lock may detect whom is using it by the energy." Xifeng said calmly. Cordoba shrugged, then looked out.

"What of your starseed?" Cordoba asked. Xifeng fell silent, before closing her eyes, sighing as she stared towards the Core building, and shook her head.

"I locked myself in the core. I knew I would not survive."

Xifeng's hand twitched, the ghostly page glaring. Cordoba raised her brows, blinking.

"Die? But how?" Cordoba asked. Xifeng sighed once more and bade Cordoba rise. The pair began walking the street, Xifeng studying the area before touching a scarred wall, closing her eyes in memory.

"The City was cleared to shelters whence a Youma struck at the end." Xifeng said quietly. "To save the people, to let them flee, I lured the beast into the Core building, and slew it. As I did however, I was slain myself. It was as I fell I realized the City could be safe... My children would be safe. It was a worthy sacrifice." Xifeng turned to Cordoba then, and shook her head.

"Back then, it was perhaps the city's data, research nd all that drew it, or perhaps so many lives. I know not - but no doubt the Wondr will not suffer an assault so, and to that you are not as at risk. Still, I know not what you will see on Earth."

To that, Cordoba was silent, looking down, before looking to Xifeng silently, and frowned.

"The Negaverse is what."

Silence. Xifeng stared, and Cordoba sighed.

"Chaos. It's hitting at every turn. We put a dent in it I hope - saved a bunch of starseeds, nearly got killed by a General Queen. Order took a lot of losses, but, we did fight. And... As I said! We saved Starseeds, some lives in that, and others are able to be reborn."

Cordoba chuckled, and sighed.

"Managed to befriend one of their Captains, he's been good company, though I'd sooner not fight him. Otherwise... I try preventing trouble."

Xifeng nodded, sighing as she nodded. She didn't agree with all of it, but Cordoba did not expect it. Still...

"Would that I could see it." Xifeng admitted. "That I could see how the world moved on after Cordoba fell, at least, on Earth."

Cordoba blinked, then reached, rubbing her ancestor's back gently as she let her have silence, the pair continuing to walk before Cordoba paused.

They had arrived at the Core entrance, woven through hall and path, and the page looked up, before looking to Xifeng. The spectre blinked, looking back before smiling, nodding some before Cordoba pressd her hand on a pad. A brief p***k on her finger made her cringe, but soon the door opened, and the pair walked in.

The air scented of damp stone and cold, almost a mix of wet soil and mountain air were it not damp stone. It remained dim as ever, and Cordoba frowned as the walked. Even from the last visit the floor was dusty-- but now the dust made since. Doors locked before were unlocked this time if but from Cordoba's 'key', and the poage unconciously sucked on the pricked finger, a chuckle coming from Xifeng as the page walked, looking around.

Soon a large door blocked the path, solidly sealed and Cordoba insytinctively reached for the pad, but a shock of cold from Xifeng's hand stopped her, the spirit shaking her head.

"Not until you are prepared." Xifeng said calmly. Cordoba blinked, looking to the spirit, who sighed.

"I know not what will occur when the Core activates. It may be safe, or it may summon Youma. T'would be unsafe totrigger it needlessly. No, you would best wait. Find allies to aid you. Then return when you are not alone and I will guide you through starting systems then."

Xifeng smiled. The eagerness was admirable, but so close... She dare take no risk and Cordoba nodded slowly, sighing.

"So what until then?" Cordoba asked softly.

"Live on Earth. Prepare, mind and body to meld to the cause, to offer your blood as the city's key. Prepare in event of battle. But most importantly, be yuourself."

Cordoba thought, then grimaced.

"That risks having help no thans to my mom and aunt's partner." Cordoba grumbled. Xifeng laughed, and pet her hair - the first affectionate gesture from the ghost and it surprised Kes considerably.

"It won't be terrible. You need not bring help from your normal life to Cordoa. Rather it may do ill to do so." Xifeng laughed, but smiled warmly.

"You will find a way to prevent trouble."

Cordoba sighed, and nodded, before pausing, and looking up.

"I hope... Then I suppose I ought to reyurn?" Cordoba asked. Xifeng nodded.

"Go. Prepare. Learn." Xifeng said gently.

"I will be here, waiting."

"Well, alright." Xordoba shrugged, and turned, moving to return as Xifeng beamed, and the page sighd to herself.

Soon. Soon she would have her Wonder at least running... And then? Well, she'd see what came next she supposed.