Lucian and Iralis walked down the corridor in silence, led by Ash, until they reached another elevator. The three of them stepped inside, the doors sliding shut with a soft hiss. Unlike the others they'd taken, this elevator had no buttons for selecting floors—its destination had already been decided.
An awkward silence filled the cramped space, growing heavier with each passing moment. Iralis's quiet animosity could almost be felt in the dry air, and Lucian knew she had every reason to resent him. Still, he couldn't bring himself to care. Her feelings were irrelevant to him. Yet, Ash's earlier comments suggested that they would be working together. And if this tension remained, it would only lead to trouble when it mattered most.
'I need to break the ice,' Lucian thought, searching for a way to dispel the uneasy quiet.
"So… three sponsors, huh?" Lucian attempted small talk, offering a small chuckle and a faint smile.
His words fell into the void, swallowed by the silence. The atmosphere grew even more awkward, the tension suffocating. Mercifully, the elevator doors slid open, and Iralis was the first to step out.
"Wow, that was painfully uncomfortable," Ash finally laughed, breaking the tension.
"Then I did a good job," Lucian said, his smile fading back into the cold, emotionless mask he usually wore.
"You know she won't lower her guard that easily. Just because you can be awkward doesn't make you any less of a monster."
"I'd be disappointed if she did," Lucian replied. "But bricks build a house, don't they?"
Ash sighed, though a wry smile tugged at her lips as they followed Iralis down the hallway.
They entered a spacious lobby that looked more like a living room than a standard training area. Couches and colorful bean bags provided a stark contrast to the cold, metallic walls. A ping-pong table stood on one side, and a kitchen counter on the other, complete with cabinets and a glass-front refrigerator stocked with various drinks.
Around the lobby, several doors lined the walls, and above one, Lucian saw his name etched. They passed through the lobby, reaching a glass door at the far end. It slid open, revealing an enormous hall.
One side of the hall was filled with various training equipment, while the other featured a large platform that seemed designed for duels of all kinds. However, the true purpose of this hall had yet to reveal itself.
"Activate training simulation, level one," Ash commanded.
In response, a blue light swept across the entire hall, and on the dueling platform, a training dummy materialized. It had a humanoid shape but lacked any defining features, standing there as a blank, white form.
"Is that…"
"It's a physically interactable holographic training simulator," Ash explained. "Its strength can be adjusted too."
Lucian watched the simulated dummy move around the platform with an eerie, unnatural gait, as if waiting for a challenger.
"Before you start, let me fill you in," Ash said, turning back toward the lobby. "Soon, a squad will be sent down here. They're the best young agents we currently have. You two will be leading them on every mission. It's simple, but let me be clear: compared to the two of you, their lives are meaningless. In any situation, you must prioritize each other's survival above all else. Is that understood?"
Both Lucian and Iralis nodded.
"Good. For now, Iralis, you'll be squad leader. Lucian, you'll be vice squad leader."
Lucian tilted his head, confusion flickering across his features. "Why am I not the squad leader?" he asked.
"And why should you be?" Ash raised a brow, folding her arms.
"I'm sure you know the answer to that," Lucian shot back.
Ash sighed, shaking her head. "You have infinite potential, Lucian. But right now, that's all it is—potential. As for actual ability, Iralis far surpasses you at this moment. She's more qualified."
"Really?" Lucian turned to Iralis, curiosity lacing his words.
"You can be squad leader," she said, her tone as unreadable as her expression hidden behind the mask, "but you'd have to earn it in a duel."
Lucian grinned widely at the challenge. "I wouldn't want it any other way," he declared.
———
Lucian's grin widened as he and Iralis stepped onto the duel platform. The energy in the air shifted immediately, the subtle hum of the training hall becoming more pronounced as if the space around them recognized the battle. Lucian rolled his shoulders, his body tense with anticipation, while Iralis remained still, her gaze fixed on him with unnerving calmness.
The platform beneath their feet pulsed with a faint blue light, signifying the activation of the dueling arena. The blank-faced training dummy vanished, leaving only the two of them in the massive hall. The air became thick with expectation, and even Ash, usually carefree, watched them with a measured intensity.
"Wait…is this not a bit unfair" Ira voiced out gently "…to you I mean"