The air in the mecha bay buzzed with a low hum. A pair of engineers walked by in hushed tones, shooting sideways glances at the man standing beside the colossal Ravager Mk III—his silhouette unmoving, arms folded, eyes locked on the diagnostic holo-screen.
Kael didn't flinch when the footsteps behind him stopped. He didn't need to turn. He already knew who it was.
> "You're making this a habit," he muttered.
> "You're welcome, then," came Ryssa's unmistakable voice—teasing, honeyed, and smug all at once.
She stepped closer, twirling a comm-chip between her fingers, hips swaying slightly in rhythm with her boots. The artificial lights glinted off her sharp uniform and the ever-present spark in her eyes.
> "I thought you'd be busy oiling your 'beloved metal monster,' but here you are—staring at it like it's the love of your life."
Kael didn't bother looking at her. "It listens better than most people."
She laughed softly, circling around to face him. "Still so cold. I wonder what it'll take to warm you up…"
He finally turned his head slightly. "Get to the point, Ryssa."
> "Fine."
"Inter-Battleship Combat Trials are being announced. Elite units only. No backup. No cheat codes. Just steel, strength, and strategy. I want you in."
Kael blinked. "Why?"
> "Because I don't want some pampered princeling in a chrome-plated suit representing this battleship," she said flatly.
"And because watching you tear through the competition would be… delightful."
She took a step closer, enough for Kael to feel her breath brush against his neck.
> "And if you win…" she whispered, "I'll give you a reward even Ravager can't carry."
He sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Your ego again?"
> "No," she whispered, lips just a breath from his ear.
"Maybe dinner. Or a night with no ranks, no rules, just us."
Kael stepped back, eyes narrowed. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ryssa."
> "And you love danger." She winked, then flicked the comm-chip at him. He caught it mid-air without looking.
> "Think about it. Glory, power, revenge—and maybe a little fun. That's the Kael combo, right?"
She walked away but stopped at the door, glancing over her shoulder.
> "You might keep pretending you don't care, Kael… but I've seen how you fight. That hunger—that fire. You weren't made to rot in shadows. You were built to conquer."
Her smile faded, replaced by a rare softness.
> "Just… don't let your past chain you. Let it burn."
Then she was gone, boots echoing down the corridor.
Kael stood still, staring at the chip in his hand, a storm quietly brewing behind his steel eyes.
---
Elsewhere – Ziya's Confrontation
In the auxiliary barracks corridor, Ziya leaned against a railing, arms folded tight. When she saw Tyren walk by, her heart skipped. But she wasn't about to let silence linger anymore.
> "Tyren," she called out.
He stopped. "Yeah?"
> "Why haven't you said anything about the rumors?"
He shrugged. "Didn't think they mattered."
> "Maybe they don't to you, but they do to me. I'm the one they whisper about. I'm the one they watch."
Tyren finally turned to face her. "Then ignore them. We're soldiers. Not storybook characters."
> "You really believe that?"
"You're just going to keep pushing everyone away until you're left with nothing?"
He was quiet. Then, after a moment:
> "It's easier that way."
Ziya clenched her jaw. "You're not just cold, Tyren. You're scared."
That made him look up sharply, but she was already walking away.
---
Back on the Deck – The Whispers Rise
In the canteen, bunks, and corridors of the battleship, the rumors spiraled like wildfire.
> "Did you hear Kael might be joining the Trials?"
"Ryssa's totally into him. I saw her flirting with him again."
"Tyren and Ziya, though? Something's there, right?"
From hushed whispers to wild speculation, the names Kael, Ryssa, Tyren, and
Ziya were everywhere.
But none of them cared about the gossip—because something bigger was coming.
And Kael now held the key.