Frost and Fudge, 14:20;
Rong Xinghe sat cross-legged on the hood of her HP Barchetta, facing her and Rong Xiao's childhood paradise—their favorite dessert haven—waiting patiently for the rest of her family to arrive. No one knew the streets, alleys, and hidden corners of Aelorion as well as she did.
The weight of being the nation's highest Military Authority had its toll, she mused, an internal sigh escaping her lips. Surviving countless attacks had etched every secret passage into her muscle memory. This city, with all its hidden nooks and untold dangers, was her domain.
Losing this race? A laughable thought. It was impossible.
The woman was scrolling through her e-mails, her fingers moving quickly across the screen, when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from one of the Hybrids. She glanced briefly at the empty road stretching in front of the small, cozy ice cream parlour, before she answered, her voice steady and calm, "Do we have an update?"
