pleasant silence of the night before had given us a rare moment of peace. But that peace was short-lived.
After the celebration, I had a good night's rest, hoping the joy of last night would linger a little longer. The next morning, I had my breakfast and strolled around the camp, enjoying the holiday. The cool wind brushed past me. I thought maybe, just maybe, we'd have one full day to enjoy the break.
But then, the call came.
Our team was urgently summoned to the central hall.
When I arrived, the rest of my team was already there. Redhawk stood in the middle of the hall with a few unfamiliar faces, and Isabella stood off to the side, her face pale, her fingers trembling slightly.
"How dare you be late!" a sharp, aggressive voice barked.
I turned my head toward the source. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood glaring at me. His expression was soaked in arrogance, his posture too rigid to be relaxed. He stared at me like I had personally insulted him.
Before I could speak, another man—his voice cold, professional—stepped forward. "Since everyone is here, let us begin. My name is Rodrick. I am the instructor of batch forty-three. This," he gestured to the group behind him, "is the elite six."
He was about to introduce their captain when the same arrogant man cut in. "I am Clady Williams. Nice to meet you," he said with the kind of smugness only someone drunk on power could muster. He glanced at Isabella like she was something beneath him.
She instinctively hid behind me.
Redhawk stepped forward to give the mission briefing. "Both of your teams will undertake a joint mission to Deimos, one of Mars' moons. It seems some Alcrians escaped from the front lines and are hiding there. Among them is an Alcrian ability user—one who can produce flames."
"Just one ability user?" Clady scoffed. "That too with the same ability as me? Why are we wasting time with a joint team? I alone am enough."
"This is a direct order from the higher-ups, sir. Please try to understand," Redhawk said, keeping his tone calm.
"Understand? Do you know who I am?" Clady barked.
I couldn't hold back. "If this mission were as simple as you claim, they wouldn't have sent two teams. Use your head."
His eyes turned wild with rage. "You insolent—"
"Clady," Rodrick interrupted, his voice low but firm. He leaned in and whispered something. I caught a few words: "...Higher ups includes someone important to your family."
Clady's anger disappeared instantly. He turned away with a scowl, saying nothing more as he stormed off.
"Sorry for our leader's behavior," said a more composed man who stepped forward. "I'm Noir, a member of the elite six of batch forty-three. Let's meet at the spaceport tomorrow at noon. We'll take off then. Normally, we'd discuss strategy, but as you can see, our leader isn't... cooperative."
They left.
Once they were gone, I turned to Isabella. "So, Captain, what's our plan?"
"I... I..." she stammered.
Sai stepped in. "Powell's the smartest among us. Let him work on strategy. Austin should pilot the spacecraft. Judas and I will save our strength for combat. Griffith, Claire—stay close to Isabella at all times. I don't trust Clady. Isabella, you're only to heal someone if their life is truly at risk. Your energy won't last if you overuse it."
The next day, at noon, we gathered at the spaceport.
We stood near our designated spacecraft, waiting.
"When will Clady show up?" Claire asked, arms crossed.
Eventually, he arrived, striding in like the ground was honored to be walked upon.
"I can't believe I'm boarding with low-class people like you," he sneered, his eyes on me.
I didn't react. There was a mission to complete. Provocation meant nothing compared to our goals.
We boarded the ship. Austin took his place in the pilot seat and started the engine.
"We're on course for Deimos," he said. "It'll take two days."
"Wow, only two days?" Noir asked.
"This is a basic R-12 model," Powell began. "Its combustion chambers are powerful enough to generate 8.45 x 10^11 joules, allowing a travel speed of over 1300 kilometers per second. The structural material—"
"No one asked for your lecture, dumbass," Clady snapped.
That was it.
My hands clenched. I took a step toward him, my blood beginning to boil.
Then, a hand landed on my shoulder.
It was Sai.
"Wait," he whispered. "Bear with it a little longer. This is a mission. We might not come back alive. Don't waste your energy on him."
I looked over at Isabella. She was watching me quietly. That gentle expression of concern in her eyes calmed me more than Sai's words ever could.
Yes, I thought. I have to protect her. I have to protect this team. Their dreams.
Clady was just noise.
Unlike the last mission, this one would be different. The enemy wasn't just another mindless Alcrian. This time, we were up against an ability user—someone who could rival our strengths, possibly outmatch them.
Could I kill such an opponent? Could I protect everyone?
I didn't have the answers.
But I knew one thing.
I can.
I would. I must.
For Isabella. For the dream we all shared.
I sat down, quietly. I began to concrete.
Deimos was just two days away.
War was waiting.