By 8:00 p.m., the sun had dipped below the Caelux skyline, casting a copper glow across the Academy grounds. The air was cooler now, touched by the first breath of night.

  Eve arrived at the gates with a small duffel slung over her shoulder, nerves knotting in her stomach. She hadn’t slept much since the simution, and she’d spent most of the afternoon pacing, repacking, and trying not to repy every awkward second of the day—or the night before.

  Waiting near the gates were the familiar faces of Unit 2: Arel, cheerful and freshly braided; Kael, standing tall and quiet, a travel pack slung over one shoulder; Dax, fiddling with a snack bar and leaning against a post like they weren’t about to leave for a multi-day mission; and Levi.

  He stood off to the side, arms crossed, unreadable as ever.

  A transport vehicle rumbled into view, sleek and silver, glowing softly with interior lights. It slowed to a stop before the group, doors hissing open with a pneumatic sigh.

  Arel smiled at Eve and gave her an encouraging nudge. "Let’s do this."

  Eve nodded, her steps slow but steady as she moved to join the others.

  Whatever waited for her in Thaloréa, she would face it head-on.

  Even if the weight of everything she carried hadn’t fully lifted yet.

  They arrived at the air grounds just further outside the city of Caelux. The moonlight shimmered off the tarmac, where a small, high-tech aircraft waited—its sleek body angled like a cross between a jet and a spacecraft. Its hull gleamed under soft floodlights, etched with energy channels and reinforced panelling.

  Eve stepped out of the car and stared. "Do we not need to go through the airport or something?"

  Dax grinned, tossing his duffel over one shoulder. He slung an arm casually around her. "We’re taking our own pne, rookie. Commander had some safety concerns—but don’t worry. We’ve got one of the best pilots."

  He winked and pointed ahead.

  Eve followed his gesture.

  To Levi.

  "Wait. He’s flying?" she asked, wide-eyed.

  Dax just ughed. "Buckle up."

  They boarded the compact aircraft, which was surprisingly spacious inside—just enough room for the squad, with only one seat to spare. Levi and Kael immediately headed toward the cockpit, slipping into the control section without a word.

  Eve found a seat and strapped in, her fingers tightening around the harness. She’d never liked flying back home. This wasn’t much different—just more tactical. More exposed.

  More Levi.

  Before her nerves could spiral further, Arel settled into the seat beside her and took her hand with a gentle squeeze.

  "It’s going to be okay," she said with a reassuring smile. "We’re in safe hands. Plus... you’re going to love Thaloréa. It’s where I’m from."

  Her eyes sparkled a little at the mention of it.

  "There’s nothing like it. Waterfalls that hum with energy, mountains that glow at dusk, and the sky... gods, the sky changes colour with the tides. There are natural hot springs tucked between cliffs, and little retreats where people go to unplug, heal, and breathe again. We’re heading to Seravelle—the main city. It’s a little smaller than Caelux, but it feels alive. It sits near the central shore of a massive ke that spans nearly a third of Thaloréa’s heart. The eastern edge of the city is bordered by radiant, towering mountains that catch the light like crystal at sunrise. You’ll see. You’ll understand. It’s a pce that helps you breathe again."

  Eve rexed slightly, still nervous, but now curious.

  Maybe this trip would be exactly what she needed.

  The journey sted a few hours, the hum of the engine and the low ambient lights inside the aircraft creating a cocoon of calm. Eve dozed in and out of sleep, her head occasionally lolling to one side before jerking awake again.

  Near the end of the flight, Arel nudged her gently. "Hey. Look out the window. We’ll be nding soon."

  Eve rubbed her eyes and turned her head, leaning toward the window.

  What she saw made her breath catch.

  Below them stretched glowing peaks and vast, deep forests, bnketed in a silver-blue haze. In the distance, a great ke reflected the pale light of the moon like a sheet of molten gss. The nd pulsed faintly with luminescent remnants—energy veins glowing just beneath the surface.

  The pce looked alive. Inviting. Serene.

  Eve had never seen anything like it.

  Dax stretched out in his seat, legs resting on the chair opposite, one arm behind his head. "Oh, you’re gonna love this pce," he said, grinning. "They do the best drinks—like, out of this world. They make you feel like you’re walking on air."

  He turned slightly and shot Eve a teasing look. "But maybe I don’t have to tell you that."

  Arel reached across and smacked him lightly on the arm.

  "Ow," Dax winced, ughing. "I was just teasing."

  Eve gave a sheepish look back, unsure whether to ugh or hide under her seat. Her cheeks flushed again, but at least this time, it was for a reason that didn’t feel entirely terrible.

  The pne nded with a gentle hum, the smooth descent barely jostling the passengers. As the doors opened, a rush of cool, crisp air swept into the cabin.

  The team began to disembark one by one, stepping out onto the tarmac bathed in moonlight and the ambient glow of Thaloréan energy veins beneath the earth.

  The air felt different here.

  Charged—but calming. Fresh. Almost ancient.

  Eve stepped down st, her boots touching the stone-lined path that led away from the nding ptform. As she took her first steps, something inside her stirred.

  She couldn’t expin it—not yet—but it was there.

  A quiet hum beneath her skin, like something dormant starting to wake.

  Levi was the st to disembark, his boots hitting the tarmac with a quiet thud. His gaze swept across the group, then nded on Eve.

  Their eyes met.

  He gave her a small, awkward smile—just a flicker, barely there.

  Eve felt her breath hitch slightly. She returned the smile, but quickly turned her head, her cheeks warming with an involuntary blush.

  As they made their way across the nding pad, Levi broke the silence, his voice low and a little tired. "The transport will take us to accommodations organized by the Division," he said. "We’ve got a few hours to sleep before morning."

  He gnced at the group briefly, then added, "We’re expected to meet High Commander Vulcan from the Thaloréan Verdance Guard at first light."

  That got everyone’s attention.

  The group boarded a sleek dark vehicle waiting just beyond the pad. It hummed silently as it rolled down a winding road that cut through the natural terrain. They passed through a set of guarded gates, which opened slowly, revealing a long, ntern-lit ne surrounded by towering trees draped in softly glowing moss.

  As the car moved deeper into the estate, Eve pressed her hand to the window, watching the trees sway gently in the cool night breeze. She could sense the expanse of the property, though the dense treeline obscured much of what y beyond. The energy here felt more than ancient—it felt awake.

  At the end of the ne, a rge estate house came into view. The building was grand, yet its architecture felt at home in the ndscape. Crafted from dark-stained wood and moss-covered stone, the house blended into its surroundings. Balconies curved like tree branches, and soft bioluminescent vines grew naturally along its walls. Glowing gss panels reflected the moonlight and the shifting hues of the forest’s energy veins.

  It was majestic in a grounded, organic way—nature-made and hand-crafted at once.

  A sanctuary, but one clearly designed with purpose.

  The group dispersed quietly to find their assigned rooms inside the estate. Some wandered off down vine-lined corridors, others disappeared up the wooden stairwell that branched like a tree limb toward the upper levels.

  Eve lingered outside a little longer, stepping onto the stone path just beyond the entryway. She tilted her head up, gazing at the sky. With no city lights to bleed into the darkness, the stars above Thaloréa looked impossibly vivid—flickering like crystals suspended in ink.

  She had never seen them like this before.

  A presence moved beside her, quiet.

  Levi.

  He stood next to her for a few seconds before speaking, his voice soft and steady. "You should get some rest."

  Eve looked over at him, startled by his closeness. Her lips parted, but no words came. She just nodded once, then turned back toward the stars—just for a moment longer—before finally stepping inside.