The ship sliced through the wasteland, engines humming softly in the thick air as it cut through the oppressive darkness.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy, soaked in the aftertaste of the battle they'd just barely survived. Ash, Kael, and Max sat in silence, their bodies aching, eyes tired from the brutal fight. Across from them sat the woman and the ice user, an invisible tension stretching between them. A young boy with blonde hair fixed his eyes on Kael, amusement flickering in his gaze.
The woman broke the silence, her voice sharp, cutting through the quiet. "You guys really lost control out there." Her eyes turned to Max, narrowing. "I still don't understand how you survived that."
Max wiped the last of the worm blood from his face, tossing the towel aside. He shrugged, casual as ever. "Had salt on me. Worm swallowed me, but didn't finish the job. Poured salt down its throat. Figured I'd get lucky." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Guess I am."
The ice user leaned back, his voice low but full of respect. "Defeating a Tier 6... that's no small feat." His gaze shifted to Kael, lingering for a moment. "Too bad you're with your father's team. A guy like you would be useful."
Kael's grin stretched wide, his arrogance impossible to hide. "Vortex team is the strongest. Your team wouldn't even come close to what we've done."
Max's eyes flashed, voice low, warning. "Kael…"
Kael waved him off. "What? It's the truth. Even the main team's off on some space mission. Doesn't that count for something?"
The ice user stayed silent, his face unreadable, lost in thought.
The woman cut through the stillness, her voice a blade. "Sure, your father's team might be strong. But we RISE are still top ten." She smirked, then gestured to the ice user. "I'm Mia Terra, Earth Veinflow. And that's Kevin. Grandmaster stage Ice Veinflow."
Max blinked, clearly impressed. "Grandmaster? That's huge. You're one of the strongest in the world."
Mia's smile softened, pride flickering in her eyes. "Yeah, he is."
Kevin gave a short nod, his expression unchanging.
Max leaned in, curiosity evident. "I heard RISE stopped a massive creature wave at Durnham Settlement."
Mia's smile faded, her gaze darkening. "Yeah… we lost a lot of people." Her voice dropped, a shadow crossing her features. "I don't like to remember it."
Max's voice softened, regret slipping into his words. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Mia's gaze shifted back to him, no anger in her eyes. "No need. Forgetting them would dishonor their sacrifice."
The ship hummed louder in the silence, the weight of unspoken things pressing down on the group.
Kael broke the quiet, his voice sharp. "What do you want?"
His words hung in the air, challenging anyone to answer.
The young boy, who had been quietly watching Kael, grinned. "Oh, nothing much. Just noticed you seem stronger than the rest of us. Same age, but you took down a Tier 6. Impressive."
Kael's face darkened, annoyance flickering in his eyes. "So? What's it to you?"
The boy's grin only grew wider, his voice carrying a challenge. "I want a duel."
Kael froze for a moment, disbelief flashing in his eyes. Then, a harsh laugh tore from him. "Wait, are you serious? This kid wants to fight me?"
Max looked from Kael to the boy, confusion creasing his brow. "Kid?"
The boy blinked, caught off guard for a second. "Yeah, kid. A fight?"
Kael stood, a smirk tugging at his lips, dangerous and sharp. "Fine. You want a fight? You'll get one."
Ash sighed, his eyes closing briefly as the weight of the situation hit him. 'So he's going to bully another one...'
Mia's eyes flicked toward the blonde young man, a small smirk tugging at her lips as she gestured toward him. "Ah, right. I almost forgot to introduce him." Her voice shifted, becoming a touch more formal. "This is Alexander."
Before anyone could respond, Alexander's voice cut through, sharp with a hint of impatience. "You're the only one who calls me by my full name." He turned to Kael and the others, a wide, confident grin stretching across his face. "I'm Alex. Nice to meet you."
Mia shook her head, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Yeah, yeah, Alex… Anyway, he's a new recruit. Just graduated from the academy, joined us. Don't mind him; he's obsessed with fighting. Though, I'll admit, he's pretty strong for his age."
Ash couldn't stop himself from thinking, Great, another one just like Kael.
Kael leaned back, his arms crossed, sizing up Alex with a cocky grin. "Strong, huh? What Veinflow do you use?"
Alex's grin only grew, an almost feral gleam flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand, and the air around them seemed to ripple as if responding to him. A gust swirled around his fingers, the pressure in the air palpable, thick with power. "Only the best," he said, the arrogance in his voice clear.
Max's eyes lit up. "Wind, huh? Nice."
Alex nodded, the smile never leaving his face. "Exactly."
The ship's engines hummed before grinding to a halt with a screech that vibrated through the hull. The sudden stop sent a shockwave of tension through the group, the sound of metal scraping against metal echoing in the quiet cabin. The vessel had landed on a long, rectangular platform, surrounded by ships of all sizes—each of them functional, purposeful in their design.
Mia stood, her expression shifting as she glanced toward the windows. "We're here."
Max, still reeling from the chaos they had just escaped, stared out the window. His voice wavered with uncertainty. "Where's here?"
Mia's lips twisted into a faint smile, sharp and knowing. "Ironhold Ofcus. Didn't you send the distress call to headquarters?"
Max's gaze flickered to Ash, who had been unnervingly silent, as though waiting for something. He turned to Mia and shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, we did. But I don't know anyone there." His hand gestured toward Ash, a slight nod. "My brother's the one who made the call."
Alex's gaze snapped to Ash, his eyes narrowing as realization hit. "Wait… you're the one who ran out of Sandworm Valley alone?" His voice laced with disbelief, and beneath it, a flicker of something darker. "I thought it was Kael."
Ash couldn't help but smile inwardly, 'So this is what it feels like when the weakest of the group makes a bigger impact.'
Kael snorted, a harsh laugh escaping him. "If it were me, there'd be piles of sandworms all over the place. A whole graveyard."
'Yeah, right.' Ash thought.
Mia turned her gaze from Kael to Ash, something dangerous and admiring flickering in her eyes. "You Burns kids... You're something else."
Before the air could thicken with the tension of those words, the door to the ship slid open with a soft hiss. A cold, unforgiving gust of air rushed in, carrying with it the harsh scent of metal and ozone. The stark, bitter breeze swept through the cabin, filling the space with an edge of discomfort.
The outside world awaited.
Kevin stepped off the ship first. The cold met him like a claw—gripping his shoulders, sliding down his arms. The mist didn't push him back. It parted. Like it knew him. Or feared what walked inside him.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he watched the mist swallow Kevin's figure. "Is he still mad about what I said?"
Alex didn't look his way. "He's never not like that. Ice users don't talk. They don't warm up. They just stay cold."
Max's coat hung loose. He gripped it tight, his teeth clenched. "He kinda reminds me of Elias."
Nobody said a word. For a breath. For two.
Then Mia moved. Her steps were sharp, her back straight, her face locked in stone. She reached the door. Stopped. Looked back. "Lets move. Elder Eir's waiting."
Her voice didn't shout. It didn't need to. Something hung inside her tone—quiet, heavy. Like a shadow stretched too far.
Max nodded. The lightness in him vanished. One by one, they stepped out.
The wind slapped their skin. Thin. Dry. The taste of rust sat on the air. Something else too. Faint. Wrong. Like old meat hidden under metal.
The landing platform was steel and stone. Cold and gray. The walls around it reached high, lined with lights that flickered and hummed like flies. Ships rested like beasts with closed eyes—engines quiet, hulls scarred.
Ironhold lay ahead. A place with no space for dreams. Homes stitched together with wires and welds. Cables hung above like veins pulled too tight. People moved fast. Eyes empty. Mouths tight. The kind of place where even children didn't cry.
Ash stared. The weight in the air pressed on his chest.
'Why do they look more afraid now?'
He kept walking. Eyes watching everything. His mind pulled backward—to the valley. Crushed bones. Fire eating through skin. Screams that ended too soon. Too sharp.
'This place... feels the same.'
His thoughts drifted.
'The people of Dunehaven...'
He tried to stop it.
'No. Don't think about that. My brothers are safe. That's what matters. Dunehaven gave up its own. That must be karma... or maybe worse.'
Kael cracked his knuckles. The sound snapped through the wind. "So this is Ironhold. Looks dead already."
Mia didn't answer. She kept moving.
At the edge of the metal street, a figure waited. Still. Dark. Robes dragging near the floor. Hands behind his back. Eyes like glass that had once shattered but never healed.
Max leaned close to Ash, voice low. "That him?"
Ash nodded. "Yeah. That's Eir."
Eir moved toward them, slow and deliberate. His robes brushed against the ground, the fabric making no sound, like it was afraid to speak. Two guards flanked him, their muted steel armor reflecting the pale light. His smile was smooth, almost carved. Too perfect, too still. Like it had belonged there for years, untouched by time or pain.
Ash caught the smile and felt something coil in his chest. 'Oh right... I should probably warn them. He's a big fan of Dad—'
Before he could finish the thought, Eir opened his arms wide, the gesture almost reverent.
"Welcome, dear friends," his voice was low, but it reached them all, threading between the wind. "We've been waiting for you. I prayed for your safe return. I'm truly glad you made it back in one piece."
Max cut through the words, stepping forward without hesitation. "Thanks for the welcome, Elder. But—did the people of Dunehaven arrive here? Recently?"
Eir's smile flickered, just a brief shift. "Yes. They came. But… not well. Many of them looked like they'd been through something that shattered them. Some haven't spoken a word since."
Max exhaled, the breath rattling slightly. "At least they made it."
Eir's eyes drifted over the group. They stopped on Kael, his smile returning. It grew—wider, warmer, almost too warm.
Kael leaned close to Ash and muttered, "What's his deal? This guy's creeping me out. I don't know what he's thinking, but I definitely don't swing that way."
Ash didn't look at him, just whispered, "He's a big fan of Dad. Meeting us? It's like meeting royalty to him."
Kael grinned, his eyes flashing. "Another fan? This'll be fun."
Ash's thoughts twisted. 'What is he planning now...?'
Before he could speak, Kael stepped forward again. "Elder Eir, forgive us. We've had a long journey. We haven't had the chance to clean up. Could you arrange something for us?"
Eir nodded, his gaze sharpening with sudden concern. "Of course! I should've thought of that. You must feel miserable. Come with me—rooms are ready. You can wash, change, rest. You all look like a mess."
Kael bowed his head slightly, his tone surprisingly respectful. "Thank you, Elder. My father would be proud to know there are still people like you—people who care."
Ash raised an eyebrow. 'Since when did Kael become so polite?'
Max turned to Ash with the same look, silently mouthing: what the hell?
Eir chuckled, ruffling Kael's hair like he was a child. "Yes, yes! Do tell him how old Uncle Eir helped you boys!"
Kael kept the act going, flawless as ever. "Of course, Uncle Eir. I won't forget this kindness."
The group followed Eir deeper into Ironhold, the towers looming over them like silent sentinels. The air grew heavier with every step—thicker, dense with whispers of old scars.
Eir turned to Max and Ash, his eyes gleaming with something playful. "And what about you two? You won't call me Uncle?"
Max scoffed, his voice sharp. "No. Absolutely not."
Ash didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on something far off, his mind trailing somewhere beyond the walls of Ironhold.
Eir looked back at Kael, his smile curling with curiosity. "You must be the good one in your family."
Kael pressed a hand to his chest, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Yes, I am. I love my brothers, but they can be difficult. Max, for example—he's calm-headed. But gods, is he arrogant."
Max's eyes narrowed. His glare could've turned stone to ash.
Kael went on, undeterred. "And Ash? He's the worst of the worst."
Ash blinked. 'What?'
Kael smirked. "He plays the quiet, mysterious one in front of everyone. But when he's alone with us? He turns wild. Like a storm with no leash."
Eir stroked his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "Yes… yes, I sensed something like that. Even when he was here before, still in Stage 1… I could feel it. That simmering anger a fire vein user gets. Hidden deep beneath the skin."
Ash clenched his jaw, feeling the burn rise, hot and sharp. 'That idiot... I keep it buried. I never let it out. Not even at home...'
Kael glanced back at him, his grin widening. As if he could hear every thought crawling through Ash's mind.
Behind them, Alex raised an eyebrow. "Is this the same Kael I challenged to a duel? What's with this weird, polite act?"
Mia, arms folded, walked beside him. "No idea. But his brothers really want to punch him right now."