The courtroom was quiet except for the low hum of the energy shields on the walls. The transparent walls shimmered slightly, trapping Kael Ardyn at the center like an animal on display. Beyond the glass barrier, rows of citizens, officers, and Council dignitaries leaned forward, eager to witness the downfall of a once-celebrated pilot.
Kael stood tall even with chains binding his wrists. His uniform—once crisp with honor—was torn and stained with smoke. His dark hair fell loosely across his forehead, and his jaw was set in defiance.
The Council Chancellor, draped in golden robes, leaned forward from the bench. "Kael Ardyn," he said, his voice booming with false authority, "you are accused of treason against the Interstellar Council. Evidence shows you sabotaged the defense grid at Oryon Prime, leading to the deaths of thousands—including your own brother, Commander Darius Ardyn."
A murmur spread through the audience. Kael's throat tightened at the mention of his brother. Darius's calm, steady, protective face flashed in his memory. He forced himself to speak.
"I didn't sabotage the grid," Kael said, his voice raw but steady. "I warned command weeks ago about the system's instability. The logs were changed. You know that."
The Chancellor's expression turned hard. "Your denials won't change the facts. Logs, witnesses, and tactical recordings all prove your guilt. Even your brother's last message accused you."
"That's impossible," Kael snapped, anger flaring in his eyes. "Darius trusted me. He knew I'd never—"
"Enough." The Chancellor raised a hand. "You will accept the Council's verdict. Exile to the Astral Frontier. Effective immediately."
The crowd erupted, half outraged, half satisfied. Kael's chest tightened as the guards seized his arms. His fate had been sealed not by truth but by power. Somewhere in the shadows of the Council chamber, someone smirked at their victory.
As he was dragged out, Kael spotted a woman among the observers—her gaze sharp, unlike the others. Her long auburn hair caught the chamber light, and her eyes showed curiosity, not judgment. For a brief moment, their eyes met. She didn't look away.
He didn't know it yet, but that was the first time Kael Ardyn saw Lyra Veyra.
The shuttle to the Astral Frontier smelled of cold metal and oil. Kael was shackled to his seat, surrounded by silence. Outside the viewport, stars stretched like rivers of fire, distant and untouchable.
The guard across from him glanced at his datapad without interest. "Frontier outpost, Sector Epsilon. You'll be dropped with the other exiles. After that, it's not our problem."
Kael said nothing. Words meant nothing here. The Council had spoken; his life as a decorated pilot was over. He was nothing but an outcast.
Still, he replayed the trial in his mind. The evidence was too perfect and too precise. Someone wanted him gone. If the Chancellor's words were true—that Darius himself had accused him—then someone had tampered with his brother's final message.
But why?
The shuttle jolted, snapping him from his thoughts. The guard muttered a curse. "Asteroid field. Hold tight."
Kael felt the vibrations through the hull. This wasn't an asteroid field; it was too controlled, too patterned. His instincts, sharpened from years of piloting, screamed danger.
Then came the impact. The shuttle shook as alarms blared. A crimson light filled the cabin. The guard jumped to his feet, shouting into his comm. "We're under attack! Raiders!"
Kael's pulse raced. He yanked at his chains. The guard snarled. "Stay down, traitor."
The hull tore open with a screech of metal. Figures in armored suits rushed in, weapons glowing. Kael recognized them immediately—Frontier raiders. Smugglers and mercenaries who thrived on the Council's forgotten edges.
The guard fired wildly. A plasma bolt struck him, leaving smoke and silence behind. The raider leader stepped forward, his visor reflecting the emergency lights.
"Well, what do we have here?" His voice crackled through the helmet. "Council prisoner transport. And you—" His gaze lingered on Kael. "You're not just any exile, are you? Ardyn, the fallen hero."
Kael's chains clinked. "If you're going to kill me, do it. I'm not in the mood for speeches."
The leader chuckled. "Kill you? No. The Council may not want you, but the Frontier always needs desperate men. We'll see if you're worth something."
The raiders dragged Kael onto their ship. The shuttle behind him exploded in silence, swallowed by the void.
Kael woke to the sound of engines and the smell of rust. He lay in a cell aboard the raider vessel. His wrists were still bound, but the chains were lighter now.
Through the bars, he could see the ship's crew moving about—a rough mix of humans and aliens, scarred and hardened. Some looked at him with curiosity; others showed disdain.
The leader entered, removing his helmet. His face was sharp, with a scar across his cheek. "Name's Varrik. Welcome to the Astral Frontier."
Kael glared. "You've made a mistake. I'm not your recruit."
Varrik smirked. "Everyone says that. Until the void chews them up and spits them out. Out here, survival is all that matters. You'll learn."
Kael didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere—focused on the Council, the trial, his brother, and the woman he'd seen in the chamber, whose eyes lingered in his thoughts.
Days later, the raider ship docked at an outpost—an abandoned mining station orbiting a dead star. Kael was dragged out with the others and shoved into the crowded station bazaar.
The Frontier was chaos. Merchants sold stolen goods, mercenaries bargained for weapons, and holographic signs blinked with alien languages. The air smelled of ozone and sweat.
Kael scanned the crowd, searching for a way out. That's when he saw her again.
Lyra Veyra.
She stood near a stall, examining a strange crystalline artifact. Her auburn hair was tied back, and a scanner hung from her belt. She wore civilian clothes, but her posture revealed training. She didn't belong here.
Kael's heart skipped. What was she doing in the Frontier?
Before he could move, Varrik shoved him forward. "Stay close, Ardyn. Don't get any ideas."
But Kael's gaze remained locked on Lyra. She turned, as if sensing his eyes, and froze. Recognition flashed across her face.
She approached him, bold and unafraid. Varrik raised an eyebrow. "Friend of yours?"
Lyra's voice was calm, but her eyes burned with intensity. "Kael Ardyn. I didn't expect to see you here."
Kael smirked faintly. "I could say the same."
Varrik looked between them, suspicion brewing. "You two know each other?"
Lyra's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Not yet. But I have a feeling we will."