The morning fog clung to the factory grounds like a suffocating shroud, curling around rusted fences and pooling between the scattered vehicles. The building itself, a patchwork of steel and concrete, groaned under the weight of damp air. Inside, the tension was palpable. Conversations halted as Reid stepped into the corridor, boots echoing faintly against the worn metal floor. He could feel their stares—initiates and seasoned soldiers alike—tracking his every move.
Whispers traveled ahead of him, murmured words that swelled and died just out of reach. "That's him," someone muttered. "The one marked by the Exiles." Another voice, lower, added, "He's dangerous. The council won't let that slide." Reid kept walking, shoulders squared, jaw set, refusing to give their gossip the satisfaction of acknowledgment.
When he entered the training yard, the fog thinned enough for him to see Mara sitting on the railing, her spear balanced across her knees. Her hair was tied back tight, her eyes sharp, yet beneath that exterior a trace of worry lingered. She didn't speak at first, only studied him like she was searching for cracks.
"You've heard?" she asked finally, her voice low but edged.
Reid stopped a few feet away, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension building there. "I've heard. They're sending someone."
"Not just someone." Mara's gaze shifted to the gate, as if expecting the arrival any moment. "Selene. You've heard the stories?"
"I've heard enough," he replied. "She's council."
"That's not all she is." Mara's lips pressed into a thin line. "She's the one they send when they want answers, and she doesn't leave without them."
The distant sound of engines rumbled through the fog, growing louder. Reid felt the Bond stir inside him, a low vibration running along his nerves. "Something interesting comes," it whispered, tone almost delighted. "Let's see if she's worth our time."
The gate alarms sounded, their shrill call slicing through the yard. Soldiers shifted into formation as a convoy of sleek armored vehicles rolled in, tires hissing against wet gravel. The engines idled low before cutting off, and the doors opened in perfect sequence. Four soldiers stepped out first, their armor polished, their movements sharp. Then came Selene.
She was tall, commanding, with an aura that made the air itself seem to stand still. Her uniform was spotless, dark fabric tailored to precision, boots shining under the dim light. She walked with deliberate steps, hands clasped behind her back, eyes scanning everything. When they landed on Reid, they didn't move away.
The crowd fell silent as she approached. "Reid Veylan," she said, voice crisp and controlled, yet carrying effortlessly. "You've attracted the council's attention." Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him as if she could peel back his skin with a glance. "Attention is a dangerous thing to earn here."
The Bond chuckled deep in his mind. "She fears what she doesn't understand. Show her something to fear."
Reid remained still, his expression unreadable. "And what does the council want?"
Selene smiled faintly, though it was closer to a blade than a comfort. "Proof. That you can be trusted… or that you cannot. You will duel one of my officers. Survive, and perhaps we'll allow you to keep breathing our air." Her tone was clinical, as if his life were merely another item on her checklist.
The soldiers formed a circle, clearing the yard. Mara stepped close enough for only him to hear. "Show them control," she whispered. "Not too much, not too little."
Reid nodded, stepping into the circle. His opponent—a massive officer clad in reinforced armor—stepped in from the opposite side, gripping a long blade. The man's visor reflected the faint light, giving him an almost faceless menace.
Selene raised a hand. "Begin."
The officer moved first, a blur of steel and muscle. His blade swung in a powerful arc aimed to cleave through Reid's defense. Reid slipped aside, the movement smooth, controlled. He countered with a quick slash that the officer barely parried. The crowd murmured as the two clashed, the sound of steel on steel echoing sharp through the yard.
The Bond's voice grew louder with every strike. "You're holding back. Why? Tear him apart." Reid gritted his teeth, ignoring it. He weaved around the soldier's guard, delivering calculated strikes that pushed the man back without giving away the true edge simmering inside him.
The officer roared and launched into a series of brutal attacks, forcing Reid to dodge and roll, his knife flashing in precise counters. The Bond whispered again, almost seductively. "Let me guide you. Just a little, and it's over." Reid's grip tightened. "Not this time," he muttered under his breath.
He feinted left, then rolled under a sweeping strike, coming up behind the officer. With a single fluid motion, he brought his blade to the man's throat and held it there, his breathing steady. The crowd erupted in gasps.
Selene clapped once, slowly. "Interesting," she said, stepping forward. "You held back. That means you can control it—at least for now."
[Quest Update: Trial Passed – Council Suspicion Reduced]
[Hidden Warning: Surveillance Active]
Selene's gaze locked on his, her voice lowering just enough for only him to hear. "You intrigue me, Veylan. Don't disappoint me."
The Bond purred in his mind. "She's curious. Dangerous. I like her."
The circle dissolved slowly after the duel, soldiers dispersing in murmurs that trailed after Reid as he stepped out of the yard. Some looked impressed, others wary. More than a few avoided his gaze altogether, as though staring too long might invite the same power they'd just witnessed. He sheathed his knife carefully, forcing his breathing to steady, though the Bond's hum beneath his skin refused to quiet.
Mara caught up to him, moving with quick strides. "You didn't have to stop just short," she said, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. "You could have ended it clean."
Reid shook his head. "That's not what they wanted to see. If I'd gone all out, I'd be a dead man by nightfall."
Mara looked away, her jaw tight. "Just don't let them push you into becoming something you're not."
The Bond laughed in his head, a sound like cracks spreading through ice. "She doesn't see you clearly. They never do."
Selene had retreated to the command building, but her presence lingered like a cold wind. Inside, she met with Holt and two council aides in a room lined with flickering monitors. "He's holding something back," one of the aides said. "No normal soldier moves like that."
Selene's expression barely shifted. "He's dangerous, yes. But danger can be shaped."
"And if it can't?" the aide pressed.
"Then we shape the grave he'll lie in." Selene turned to Holt. "Prepare him for the mission. Sector Twelve will tell us everything we need to know."
That evening, the factory mess hall buzzed with low chatter. Reid entered to a sudden hush that quickly shifted to whispers. He grabbed a tray and moved toward an empty table, only for Mara to sit across from him moments later, sliding a drink toward him. "You'll need this," she said. Her eyes softened briefly. "You've got everyone's attention now. Don't lose focus."
Before he could respond, Lira appeared, leaning casually against the table with a mischievous grin. "Well, look who's the hero of the hour. Hope you're not letting it get to your head." She winked. "Careful, Mara, if you spoil him too much, he might start thinking he's special."
Mara's glare could have cut steel. "He doesn't need you making jokes about this."
"Oh relax," Lira said, twirling a strand of her hair. "I just like to see if he blushes when someone flirts with him." She leaned closer to Reid, whispering, "Do you?"
The Bond chuckled. "They circle you like moths to a flame. Burn them, or keep them warm—it makes no difference to me."
Reid cleared his throat, standing with his tray. "I have prep to do." He walked away, leaving both women exchanging sharp looks behind him.
In the locker room, he sat sharpening his blade. The rasp of metal on stone filled the silence until Holt entered, arms folded. "Selene's orders stand," she said. "Sector Twelve, solo. You go in at dawn."
Reid looked up. "What am I retrieving?"
"A data unit from a downed scout drone. Command wants it back intact." Holt's gaze hardened. "The area is crawling with corrupted. You're on your own."
He nodded once. "Understood."
She lingered, then added quietly, "Don't prove them right about you, Veylan."
Night settled heavy over the factory. Reid checked his gear again and again, every buckle and strap adjusted until it felt like part of him. The Bond was restless, its voice curling like smoke in his skull. "Tomorrow we feed. Tomorrow they'll see what power really is."
He stood alone at the perimeter, the mist pressing close to the fence. Selene appeared, silent as the fog itself. "You leave at first light," she said, her tone unreadable. "No backup, no safety net. Prove to us you're worth the risk."
Reid met her eyes. "And if I fail?"
Selene's faint smile held no warmth. "Then the problem solves itself."
System text flickered across his vision:
[Quest Initiated: Solo Recon – Retrieve Data from Sector 12]
[Warning: Hostile Activity Detected – Threat Level Unknown]
The Bond's voice purred, satisfied. "Dawn comes. And with it, the hunt."
Reid gripped his knife and stared into the fog, knowing this mission would either silence their doubts—or bury him.
As the night deepened, the fog outside thickened, swallowing the dim lights along the perimeter until they glowed like faint stars in a clouded sky. The factory itself quieted, but inside the barracks the tension remained unbroken. Reid sat on the edge of his bunk, gear spread across the floor, each piece cleaned and checked with almost ritualistic precision.
The Bond was restless, whispering in fragments. "They watch. They judge. Tomorrow we prove who holds the leash… you or them." Its voice ebbed and flowed, sometimes sharp, sometimes coaxing, like it was testing his resolve.
The door creaked open and Mara stepped in, arms folded across her chest. She leaned against the frame, watching him in silence for a few seconds before speaking. "You're too calm for someone who might not come back."
Reid kept his eyes on the gear he was fastening. "If I start shaking now, I'll fail before I even leave."
She approached slowly, her voice softer now. "I meant it earlier—you don't have to do everything they tell you. This isn't just about proving yourself to them. You don't owe them your life."
"I owe it to myself," he said, meeting her gaze at last. "If I don't take this mission, they'll never stop coming for me."
Mara hesitated, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then at least promise you'll come back."
The warmth of her touch lingered as she left, leaving the room quiet again. The Bond chuckled. "She wants to save you. Sweet, but pointless."
Minutes later, the door slid open again, this time revealing Lira. She leaned casually against the doorframe, a faint smirk playing at her lips. "Mara's worried sick, huh? Cute."
Reid sighed, not looking up. "You here to give me a speech too?"
"Speech? No." She sauntered closer, crouching beside his bunk. "I just came to make sure my favorite test subject doesn't die. I like my experiments alive." She tapped a finger against his chest plate, her grin widening. "Besides, who else is going to make things interesting around here?"
He shook his head, fighting the hint of a smile. "You're impossible."
Lira winked, standing. "That's what makes me fun. Try not to miss me too much while you're out there." She turned to leave, throwing one last glance over her shoulder. "And don't you dare die."
The Bond laughed quietly. "Two of them fight for your attention. Enjoy it while it lasts, host."
Not long after, Holt summoned him to a dimly lit briefing room. Maps and screens flickered with data, the air filled with the scent of stale coffee and cold metal. Selene stood by the table, her arms crossed, posture commanding. "Sector Twelve," she said, tapping the map. "You'll go in at dawn, retrieve the data unit, and return. No contact, no backup. Failure is not an option."
Reid nodded, his voice calm. "Understood."
Selene studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing as if searching for cracks. "You're an interesting one, Veylan. Dangerous, but interesting. Don't prove me wrong."
Hours slipped away until only the distant hum of generators remained. Reid suited up slowly, each strap tightened, every piece of gear secured with deliberate care. He stepped outside, the mist rolling over his boots. The night air was damp, heavy with the smell of rust and ozone.
Selene appeared from the shadows, her silhouette cutting sharp against the fog. "You leave at first light," she said. "Return with the data, or don't return at all."
Reid met her eyes, and for a moment something unspoken passed between them—a challenge, a promise, or maybe both.
System text shimmered faintly in his vision:
[Quest Initiated: Solo Recon – Retrieve Data from Sector 12]
[Warning: Hostile Activity Detected – Threat Level Unknown]
The Bond purred, voice low and eager. "Tomorrow we hunt. Tomorrow we feast."
Reid tightened his grip on his knife, the mist swallowing him as he turned toward the darkness beyond the fence. Dawn was approaching, and with it, the mission that could decide his fate.
The first light of dawn bled through the fog, turning it into a silver veil that stretched across the horizon. The factory's perimeter hummed with the sound of generators and the distant clatter of soldiers changing shifts. Reid stood at the edge of the compound, his pack secured, knife at his side, rifle slung across his back. The chill of the early air bit at his skin, but he barely felt it—the weight of the mission pressed heavier.
Holt approached quietly, stopping a few feet away. "You know Sector Twelve is a death trap," she said. Her tone was flat, but beneath it was a note of something softer. "You come back, Veylan. Not for the council. For yourself."
Reid gave her a short nod. "I plan to."
The Bond hummed with amusement. "Promises, promises. Let's see if you keep this one."
Selene arrived moments later, flanked by two soldiers who kept their distance. She walked with her usual poise, eyes sharp. "You're ready?" she asked, though it was less a question and more an expectation.
Reid met her gaze. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Her smirk was almost imperceptible. "Good. Because this mission isn't just about data. It's about control—yours. If you lose it out there, no one will be coming to save you."
He held her stare. "Then I won't lose it."
Selene stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Prove me right, Veylan. Or prove me wrong—it makes no difference to me. The outcome will be… educational." Without another word, she turned and left, her presence leaving the air colder than before.
Mara appeared as Selene's shadow faded into the mist. She walked up to him slowly, eyes glinting with something that was neither fear nor anger—something deeper. "You shouldn't go alone," she said. "Not into that place."
"I have to."
"You don't owe them anything," she insisted, gripping his arm. "You owe yourself a chance to live."
Reid softened his voice. "I'll come back. That's a promise."
She hesitated, then leaned in, her forehead briefly resting against his. "Then keep it."
Before the moment could settle, Lira's voice rang out behind them. "Well, isn't this touching." She strolled over, hands in her jacket pockets, smirk firmly in place. "Don't hog him, Mara. I still need my favorite project in one piece." She stepped close enough to tap a finger on his chest plate. "Try not to get torn apart out there. I'd be very disappointed."
Mara shot her a glare sharp enough to cut glass, but Lira only smiled wider. The Bond's laughter rolled like distant thunder. "Three women circling, and still they don't see what hunts inside you. Delicious."
Reid exhaled slowly. "You two done?"
"For now," Lira said with a wink.
The perimeter gate groaned as it opened, the fog beyond spilling in like an invading tide. Reid stepped forward, boots crunching against damp gravel. Each step seemed to pull him further from the safety of the factory and closer to the unknown. The mist swallowed the gate behind him, leaving only the sound of his breathing and the low hum of the Bond in his head.
[Quest Active: Solo Recon – Retrieve Data from Sector 12]
[Objective: Locate the downed scout drone and recover its core data]
[Warning: Hostile Activity Detected – Threat Level High]
The Bond purred, eager. "Finally, we are free of their eyes. Now we hunt as we were meant to."
The fog thickened ahead, shapes shifting in its depths. Reid tightened his grip on his knife, senses sharpening as he moved into the gray unknown. Whatever waited in Sector Twelve, he would face it alone.