The dust had barely settled.

  A single footprint in the dust-covered floor, fresh and untouched, stood out beneath Koraia’s step as she carefully weaved through the empty bookstore. She and Orin, her best friend, moved cautiously but eagerly through the once-bustling shop.

  The wooden shelves, some already stripped bare, others still overflowing with neglected texts, loomed over them. The floating display screens that had once advertised new arrivals flickered with "ALL REMAINING INVENTORY RELOCATING 02/18/2984" before shutting off, one by one. A sign of the Seraphim’s silent work.

  Orin sighed, kicking at a pile of books stacked near the counter. "I still can’t believe they’re shutting this place down," she muttered. "We used to spend whole weekends here."

  Koraia huffed, folding her arms. "Yeah, well, no one runs a store for fun anymore. Once it stops making Coin, the Seraphim just sweep it up and send everything to Lexico." She tapped an old book spine, brushing off the dust. "I liked it better when we had to actually come here to find stuff instead of just searching the Web."

  Orin gave her a look. "Says the girl who still doesn’t have a Lexicom yet."

  Koraia rolled her eyes. "Like I need one. You’re just lucky your parents got you one pre-release."

  Orin smirked, pulling out her sleek new Lexicom, flipping it open. "Yeah, and guess who gets to connect to the Web and check out every new book in the Grand Archive in the palm of their hand?"

  Koraia turned back to the bookshelves, pretending not to care, but Orin could see the slight twitch of irritation in her shoulders. Koraia, orphaned at birth, couldn't help that between the two of them, of course Orin always will have the nicer things. Koraia wasn’t jealous, at least, that’s what she told herself.

  As they wandered deeper into the shop, Koraia ran her hand along the spines of some titles, her fingers tracing over an ancient Ossari text, "Master of Heresy", a Xylearian cookbook, "Fun with Fungi", and then particularly old Chimeran book, "The Lost Worlds and Their People", she pulled it out and noticed an index that included species she barely recognized.

  "Look at this," Koraia said, flipping open a page, her eyes widening. "Ever heard of the Frek?"

  Orin leaned in, squinting at the text. "Wait, what? Are you saying that's an actual alien race?"

  Koraia nodded, scanning the page. "Yeah. Says here they’re the ones who destroyed the Chimera home system and forced them to flee."

  Orin’s mouth opened slightly, blinking at the revelation. "That’s… pretty awful."

  Koraia glanced at her, then smirked. "Well, I guess it really gives new meaning to 'get frekked.'"

  For a moment, there was silence. Then Orin let out a sharp, startled laugh, covering her mouth. "Kor! That’s so dark!"

  Koraia shrugged, grinning despite herself. "What? It’s right there in the history books."

  Orin shook her head, still laughing but also looking a little guilty about it. "Yeah, but that was their whole planet. You can’t just…" She let out another snicker despite herself. "You’re awful."

  Koraia grinned wider. "I know."

  The two of them dissolved into quiet laughter, their voices muffled by the rows of abandoned books.

  Then Orin’s elbow hit something.

  A heavy book tumbled from one of the cluttered shelves, hitting the ground with a deep, resonant thud. The impact sent a ripple of dust through the air, the pages crackling slightly as the book lay sprawled open.

  "Nice going," Koraia said, not bothering to hide her smirk.

  Orin bent down, brushing off the cover. "Huh… this one’s weird."

  Koraia barely glanced at it. "If it’s another Xyleari cookbook, just toss it."

  Orin frowned, flipping a few pages. "It’s… blank?"

  Koraia sighed dramatically. "Wow, what a thrilling discovery."

  Orin turned the book toward her. "No, seriously, it’s completely empty."

  Koraia snatched it from Orin’s hands, about to dismiss it entirely, until she saw the cover.

  A single word stared back at her, etched in ornate, darkened letters, as if it had always been waiting for her to notice.

  Hadeon.

  She whispered it under her breath.

  And the lights of the bookstore flickered.

  The streets of Ashen Grove were quieter now, the energy of the underground fights settling into a distant hum beneath the city’s surface. The group walked through the well-lit town square, passing fountains and storefronts still aglow with soft, flickering signs. The scent of sizzling food carts lingered in the air, blending with the crisp night breeze.

  Jex and Myra led the way, their skeletal Ossari frames relaxed but animated as they spoke. "I can’t believe we missed your fight with Maraxis," Jex said, shaking his head. "We watched your last two matches, and when we heard you actually beat him?" He exhaled sharply. "You got no idea how much I wanted to see that live."

  "We should’ve been there," Myra agreed, crossing her arms. "Maraxis is a beast. But you two? You’re something else."

  Nyx smirked. "Yeah, well, it wasn’t exactly easy."

  "Good," Myra said. "Fighting shouldn’t be."

  They arrived at Jex and Myra’s townhome, a three-story residence near the town square, built with polished steel and bone-white Ossari stone, its structure bold yet elegant. Nyx and Luminar exchanged a look, taking in the place with quiet awe.

  "This is… nice," Luminar said, running her hand along the smooth railing leading up the steps.

  Nyx nodded. "Way better than the welfare apartments we lived in."

  Jex chuckled. "That’s ‘cause Myra’s an architect. She forges with steel, helps build custom homes." He nudged her. "She built half this block."

  "Jex here does the wiring and plumbing," Myra added, giving him a side glance. "His Affinity with copper keeps everything running smooth."

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  Nyx and Luminar shared another look, silently impressed.

  Inside, the home was spacious, the interior a blend of modern Ossari design and personal touches. The walls pulsed faintly with built-in energy veins, glowing soft blue, and floating shelves lined with small custom artwork decorated the space.

  Jex motioned down the hall. "We got spare rooms upstairs. Stay as long as you need."

  "Generous," Vitaros noted, arms crossed.

  Myra scoffed. "It’s Ossari hospitality, not charity. You fight good, you don’t cause trouble? You’re welcome here."

  Prism grinned. "See? My covas are making connections already."

  Vitaros sighed. "Speaking of, we should go handle the rides before it gets too late."

  Prism stretched her arms. "Yeah, yeah. Let’s return the rental and grab your ride instead."

  Nyx raised a brow. "We’re switching rides?"

  Vitaros shrugged. "It makes more sense. No point in taking two vehicles." He glanced at Prism.

  Prism smirked. "Can I still drive?"

  Vitaros gave her a flat look. "No."

  Prism grinned wider and grabbed his arm, already dragging him toward the door. "Come on, let’s get this over with."

  Nyx and Luminar watched them go, the sound of Vitaros muttering complaints fading as they disappeared down the street.

  After everyone had settled in, Nyx and Luminar stepped onto the balcony, overlooking the quiet town square below. The air was cool, the artificial stars beginning to dot the sky on the biosphere above.

  For a while, they just stood there, leaning against the railing. The tension from the night’s fights still lingered in their bodies, but now, the weight of reflection settled in.

  "We need to rethink how we fight," Luminar said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "We’re paired, Nyx. Destined to be together forever. To fuse one day."

  Nyx nodded, staring out at the glowing streets. "Yeah… I know."

  Their bond wasn’t something that needed to be spoken about. It just was, as natural as breathing, as certain as gravity. They didn’t need to say they loved each other. They just did.

  Nyx exhaled through his nose, his dark onyx skin, enhancing his silhouette’s natural sharpness, a slight smirk forming. "While I was unconscious… I remembered the first time we met."

  Luminar glanced at him, her soft alabaster skin, capturing the starlight, amusement flickering in her golden-blue eyes. "You’re getting sentimental."

  Nyx shrugged. "Just thinking about how amazing it is, how our kind finds each other, even when we don’t even live in the same town."

  Luminar leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the railing. "I had a dream while I was out," she said. "It wasn’t a memory. It was… something else."

  Nyx tilted his head. "What kind of dream?"

  She hesitated. "It felt like I was underwater, looking up at a light calling to me. I tried to reach it, but then… something grabbed my wrist."

  Nyx frowned. "Grabbed you?"

  Luminar nodded. "I spun around, and… below me, there was an eye." Her fingers clenched slightly against the railing. "A massive eye, staring back at me. In the shape of a sunflower."

  The two of them fell into brief silence.

  Nyx broke it with a small, amused huff. "That’s… weird."

  Luminar shot him a flat look. "That’s all you have to say?"

  "Maybe you just got hit too hard on the head." He smirked.

  She rolled her eyes, but the tension eased slightly.

  They held hands for a moment, quiet, unspoken warmth passing between them.

  Then.

  "So… are they gonna fuse or what?"

  Nyx and Luminar immediately looked down, spotting Vitaros standing on the street below, arms crossed, looking completely unfazed.

  Next to him, Prism shoved her elbow into his side. "Vit, shut up!" she scolded.

  Nyx let out a small sigh, rubbing his forehead. "Do you guys need help bringing the bags up?"

  Prism grinned up at them. "Nope! Vit over here’s got it all handled."

  Before Vitaros could protest, Prism shoved all her bags onto him.

  "That’s not my name," he muttered, adjusting the weight begrudgingly as he followed her up the steps.

  Nyx and Luminar watched the scene unfold, then turned to each other.

  They shared a laugh, their smiles lingering as they turned back to the city lights stretching out before them.

  The scent of freshly cooked food filled Jex and Myra’s kitchen, a blend of savory spices and warm, seared ingredients making the morning feel homey and comfortable. Plates were set across the long table, and for the first time since arriving in Ashen Grove, everyone sat together, sharing a meal that wasn’t scarfed down between fights or sipped between rounds of drinks.

  Myra set down a plate stacked with Ossari-style breakfast rolls, filled with soft eggs and spiced meats, before nudging Jex. "See? I told you I could make a better breakfast than you."

  Jex rolled his glowing blue eyes. "You just stood around while Prism did most of the work."

  Prism smirked, setting down a fresh pot of caf on the table. "I think we all know who the real chef is here."

  "Yeah, yeah," Jex grumbled, sliding into his seat. "You gonna gloat or eat?"

  As everyone dug in, the conversation turned toward what came next.

  "So, you’re really heading to the capital today?" Myra asked, glancing between Nyx and Luminar.

  Nyx nodded, taking a sip of his caf. "Yeah. Got some business with Lexico."

  Vitaros, casually chewing through his breakfast, added, "Lexico’s got a lot of pull. Getting in with them is a big deal, if they actually want you two in the official arenas, they’ll make it happen."

  Luminar set her fork down. "We’re still figuring things out. What about you two?"

  Myra chuckled. "We’re semi-retired at this point. We built enough houses to afford living however we want. And right now? That means raving at the Eclipse every night."

  Jex smirked. "You call it raving, I call it reliving my youth."

  After breakfast, they gathered their things and said their goodbyes, exchanging firm handshakes and quick embraces before stepping out into the morning sun. Before they left, Luminar pulled out her Lexicom and snapped a group photo, making sure to capture Jex and Myra standing beside them on the front steps.

  Jex gave a knowing nod, while Myra waved them off. "Safe travels, and don’t let the corpo suits eat you alive."

  Outside, Vitaros’ car was waiting, sleek and pristine, its metallic frame reflecting the warm daylight.

  Nyx and Luminar paused, taking in the vehicle.

  "You have a Z-A, Vit!?" Nyx asked, impressed.

  "Not my name," Vitaros muttered under his breath.

  The Zephyr Apex gleamed, its smooth, aerodynamic frame pulsing faintly with embedded Affinity tech. The tinted windows adjusted automatically to the sun’s glare, and the glow of its streamlined console flickered on as Vitaros approached.

  "Not bad, right?" Vitaros said, smirking.

  Prism grinned "Sure is a luxx ride. You sure you still don’t want me to drive, Vit?"

  "Not my name," he muttered again. "And no."

  She sighed, patting the hood dramatically. "Your lack of trust offends me."

  With that, they loaded their bags into the car, settled in, and hit the road.

  The highway stretched straight toward the capital, the road smooth and near-empty, the occasional automated service drone flying past overhead.

  Prism up front stretched her arms behind her head, already fiddling with the music settings. "So," she started, "what’s the actual story with you, Vit?"

  "Not my name," Vitaros muttered, eyes on the road.

  Nyx smirked. "You said you work for Prism’s cousin?"

  Vitaros nodded. "Kimba. Runs a division under Lexico, handles risk assessment, acquisitions, and asset recovery."

  Nyx raised a brow. "And that includes tracking down stolen books?"

  Vitaros shrugged. "Apparently. I don’t get the book myself, but the higher-ups wanted it back, and they wanted it back quietly."

  Luminar studied him. "And how’d you put Ralveth to sleep like that?"

  Vitaros glanced at her, then returned his focus to the road. "My Affinity is controlling oxygen in blood plasma."

  Prism lifted her head. "That’s a weird Affinity."

  "Yeah, well, Ossari blood is different. Higher oxygen concentration than most other races. I can only really control my own and other Ossari’s to a degree." He flexed his fingers on the wheel. "I don’t mess with other races’ blood because, well, I don’t know how it works. Could kill someone trying."

  Prism smirked. "Yeah, I’ll pass on asking you for help if I ever have trouble sleeping."

  Vitaros shook his head. "Smart choice."

  The conversation flowed easily, the long drive passing quicker than expected. Before they knew it, the capital loomed in the skyline, its towering structures glistening under the artificial sun, a beacon of commerce and power.

  They were one step closer to their next challenge.