ログイン17 Avi stood on the observation deck overlooking the shuttle bay. Though officially assigned to Line One, her duties still required her to take a turn on deck watch. Cameras covered every angle of the bay, but standard procedure dictated that one visible officer remain stationed above, keeping an eye on all activity. The movement below caught her attention. Cain had just walked into the bay, striding with his usual controlled ease. He stopped to speak with one of the lead maintenance techs. “Wonder what he’s doing here,” she murmured. “Did you see King Mikan?” Commander Azar asked as he approached from behind. “No, sir. The sentinel entered the bay alone,” Avi replied, keeping her tone strictly professional as she watched Cain. “He does that from time to time. Nothing to concern yourself with,” Azar said, though he kept his eyes on Cain as well. A moment later, the maintenance lead pointed up toward the observation deck. Cain followed the gesture, looked up, and spotted them. F
16 Cain followed Avi to work, making sure she arrived safely before slipping away. Once she was inside, he sent a message to Mikan, arranging to meet just outside the city. They chose a small tavern owned by one of Mikan’s old friends, a quiet place with a private room perfect for confidential talks. Mikan was already there when Cain arrived, looking calm as ever. Cain, however, was restless pacing, rubbing his arms, his nerves clearly on edge. “How are you holding up?” Cain asked, though the tension in his voice suggested the question applied more to himself. “I’m fine,” Mikan replied, eyeing him carefully. “But you seem to be struggling with the sentinel effect. Should I have Tia take over your watch on Avin?” Cain ran a hand through his hair. “If you’d asked me yesterday, I might’ve said yes. But something happened overnight, something that has me very concerned.” Mikan straightened. “What happened?” “Early this morning, someone conducted a bio-scan on the dorms,” Cain said
15 Cain flipped through one of Avi’s training manuals, pretending to read. The silence stretched until Avi finally broke it. “You said my father was excited that I’m in the city,” she said quietly. “If he was so excited, why didn’t he ever try to contact me while I was growing up?” Cain didn’t look up. “He was ordered not to.” Avi’s tone turned sharp. “So my father just does whatever he’s told?” Cain chuckled, lowering the book. His laughter surprised her. “When it comes to you and Queen Brieanika,” he said, “your father’s never been very good at following orders.” That caught her attention. She moved from the window seat to a chair across from him. “Go on.” He leaned back, his expression softening. “Your father was forbidden to see you. But he tried anyway first through comlink messages, then by sneaking into the city. The second time, Queen Rhiyana claimed you were a distraction that kept him from protecting her daughter. So she had you and your mother relocated out of the sy
14 Lees arrived at Avi’s quarters an hour later, practically glowing with excitement. “I can’t wait to see where we’re assigned!” she said, nearly bouncing in place. “With our test scores, we could go anywhere!” Avi smiled faintly, trying to match her friend’s enthusiasm, but her mind kept circling back to her earlier encounter with Cain. His warning and his strange mixture of protectiveness and intrusion still lingered. All sixty-three trainees stood in neat formation in the hangar bay. The air buzzed with anticipation. Azar and the training officer stood at the front of them. Behind them waited several department representatives including Lieutenant Finn, commander of Squadron Five, and Captain Garrik himself. The presence of such high-ranking officers made the room hum with energy. When Garrik appeared, whispers rippled through the ranks. Everyone knew what that meant: someone was about to be placed in his elite squadron. The training officer gave a short congratulatory speec
13 Brie sat on the porch of the mountain villa, gently rocking Connor as he slept in her arms. Kyle lounged nearby in another chair, a book open in his hands. The quiet afternoon air shifted suddenly and the distant rush of wings cut through the calm. Kyle looked up first. “Four dragons, approaching fast.” Brie stood, eyes narrowing as the shapes grew closer. When they landed in the meadow beyond the porch, she recognized them immediately: Mikan, Cain, Trace, and Straider. Rodic and Stryker were nowhere in sight. Whatever this was, it wasn’t a casual visit. She passed Connor to Jillian, then stepped down from the porch with Kyle beside her. The four dragons shifted the instant their claws touched earth, transforming back into their Draynor forms. “Mikan,” Brie said as she hugged her cousin, “I thought you were heading home.” “I will soon,” he replied. “But I needed to check something first.” Trace cleared his throat. “Brie, can I ask you a question?” Her gaze sharpened. “Of co
12 Mikan sat in Captain Garrik’s office, going over everything he’d learned. Garrik confirmed that there was no trace of a daughter in any of the royal or military systems just as Avi had said. Every record connected to her had been erased. But Garrik knew the truth; he had served long enough to remember that Trace once had a daughter. Mikan nodded grimly. “She really is his.” “Yes,” Garrik agreed quietly. “And whoever scrubbed those records did it perfectly. No traces remain. But if what she said about a council member threatening her mother is true, she could be in danger if that woman realizes she’s here.” “Agreed,” Mikan said. Garrik leaned back in his chair. “I can keep her safe and hidden. There’s a posting that would move her out of the spotlight entirely. I’ll have her transferred to the Slayer Bay, under your ship’s roster. Out of the public eye, and close enough for you to keep watch.” Mikan inclined his head. “Thank you, Captain. Your discretion means a great deal.”







