Lynn's gaze drifted back to that spot. Hwan had vanished.
The three Elite Commanders were already seated at their table, preparing to dine. Sahan's face lit up as he took a bite of the grilled duck eggs, his joy almost infectious.
Pfft, I knew it.
That can't be right.
A hollow laugh slipped past Lynn's lips before she could stop it. She quickly averted her eyes and noticed Sally watching her intently, sipping quietly from her water glass. The silence between them was loaded—an unspoken question lingering in the air.
***
The black flag had been raised exactly one hour ago.
Outside, the midday sun blazed mercilessly, its golden rays spilling over the land like molten fire. The world shimmered under its heat, alive and unrelenting.
Inside, the atmosphere was starkly different. The three elite units—Hwai, Sahan, and Garnet—gathered in a chamber so tightly sealed it seemed to choke the light out of existence. The dim glow of ancient oil lamps fought against the oppressive gloom, their flames casting jittery, fragmented shadows across the room.
The chamber was a fortress, its walls an impenetrable amalgam of crystal and steel. Every surface was engineered to trap sound, ensuring not even a whisper escaped its confines. The silence inside was not merely an absence of noise—it was a tangible force, pressing heavily upon all who entered.
Sixty Sahal warriors stood at perfect attention in two unbroken rows. Their silence was absolute, a testament to their discipline and unshakable resolve. Each gaze was locked forward, fierce and unwavering, as though carved from stone. Their uniforms—identical dark blue training attire—spoke of unity, but the emblems on their right shoulders marked their individuality. Garnet's purple eagle, its piercing eyes an emblem of precision and intellect. Sahan's russet leopard, its razor-sharp fangs a testament to speed and ferocity. Hwai's crimson wolf, claws extended, the embodiment of strength and cunning. These insignias weren't mere decorations; they were earned, worn with the kind of pride that needed no words.
At the forefront of the formation, three superior officers stood as still as the warriors they commanded. Each exuded a different kind of authority. At the end of the Hwai line, Lin shifted her stance ever so slightly. Her sharp eyes darted across the room, betraying the tension building in her chest. The oppressive quiet wrapped around her like a coiled serpent, tightening with every passing second.
Garnet, in the center, surveyed the warriors with her usual air of control. Her lips curved into a smile, but it was a hollow gesture. The smile carried no warmth, only a calculated sharpness that mirrored the steely resolve in her eyes. She radiated a presence that demanded both respect and fear.
"This is Operation Etheria," she announced, her voice slicing through the oppressive silence.
"Yes, sir!"
The response erupted like a thunderclap, shattering the stillness and sending a ripple of energy through the room. The sound reverberated off the crystal and steel walls, amplifying its impact. Lynn's body snapped into alignment, the weight of their collective intensity grounding her in the moment.
"The target is Etheria, a small border kingdom eight rit from our position," Garnet began, her voice calm but cutting through the still air like a blade. "During our last mission, we successfully located their treasure—the Onyx. Several of our operatives stayed behind to establish a covert route. You'll use this path to infiltrate the kingdom undetected."
The warriors stood silent, their focus unbroken. The weight of Garnet's words filled the chamber, sharpening their resolve.
"Once in position, secure the perimeter immediately," she continued, her tone measured and unyielding.
As the operation's commander, Garnet's authority was absolute. Each Sahal hung on her every word, their discipline rendering them immovable as statues. They would execute her orders without hesitation, bound by loyalty and an unspoken code of excellence.
"The Onyx is our primary objective," she said, her lips curving into a faint sneer as her gaze swept over the assembled Sahals. "Let's handle this with the finesse our reputation demands. Quick and precise—that's the Sahal way."
"Yes, Master Garnet!"
The unified reply cracked through the room like a whip, their voices as sharp as their discipline.
"Your lives depend on your excellence," Garnet added, her smile narrowing into something more dangerous. "And if things go sideways, well… we always have our dear Master Hwai as Plan B."
Her eyes flicked toward Hwai, her tone dripping with mockery. Hwai didn't dignify the jab with more than an irritated sidelong glance, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Beside them, Sahan let out a low, rumbling chuckle.
"The operation begins in three days," Sahan drawled, his voice as relaxed as if discussing the weather.
"Yes, sir!"
"It wouldn't be proper without our traditional hunting drill beforehand, would it? We move out tomorrow, so prepare yourselves."
The rigid atmosphere dissolved instantly. Excitement rippled through the Sahal Warriors, replacing the tension that had held them still moments earlier. Murmurs of anticipation broke out, smiles flickering on hardened faces. But Lynn stayed quiet, her fingers clenching into fists. Doubt snaked through her thoughts. Can I really handle this?
"Dismissed," Hwan said flatly.
"Yes, sir!"
The chamber, dimly lit by flickering lanterns, filled with the hum of murmured conversations as the warriors began to disperse. The scent of oil and metal hung in the air, mingling with the tang of sweat. Lynn, frozen in place, scanned the crowd until her eyes landed on Sally ahead. Her heart lifted.
"Sal—!"
Her voice faltered as Sally dashed toward Hwan, her face alight with enthusiasm. Lynn's hand fell limply to her side. She forced a smile, though the sting of disappointment twisted in her chest.
The Hwai Unit—particularly its female members—clustered around Hwan, their voices overlapping as they peppered him with questions. Though framed as professional inquiries, their eagerness betrayed a deeper fascination. Hwan's stoic demeanor didn't waver. He answered each question methodically, his exhaustion visible only in the tightness around his eyes. Yet his patience, strained as it was, didn't deter them; if anything, it seemed to fuel their admiration.
Lynn exhaled, her shoulders slumping. As the warriors' chatter grew louder, she slipped away toward the shadows, unnoticed.
"So, how are you feeling about the mission?"
Lynn started at the sound of Sahan's voice, realizing he had slipped into her space unnoticed. His signature playful smirk danced on his lips, as familiar as the faint hum of the station's engines.
"I'm... not sure yet," she admitted, turning her gaze back to the endless void outside the viewport.
The reality hadn't sunk in. Anxiety coiled tightly in her chest, each breath tinged with the sharp edge of uncertainty. Yet, beneath it all, a faint ember of excitement stirred, fragile but growing. She forced a smile, hoping it would mask the storm within.
Sahan studied her with an unsettling ease, his grin softening into something more reassuring. "Don't worry," he said, voice low enough to feel personal. "I've got your back."
"What?" Lynn blinked at him, caught off guard.
"If things get dicey, you can count on me to save you," he quipped, the teasing lilt in his voice as persistent as ever.
Lynn rolled her eyes, her lips twitching despite herself. "Didn't you know? I'm older than you."
"Older? You?" His mock surprise was theatrical, his wide eyes and exaggerated gasp earning a huff of laughter from her.
She pressed her lips together, the small victory of her laugh quickly replaced by hesitation. It wasn't long ago she'd discovered that Sahan and Hwan were both her seniors—by two years, no less. She wasn't sure how to navigate this sudden revelation of rank.
"For someone older," she said dryly, "you'd think they'd show a shred of maturity."
Sahan clutched his chest, feigning deep injury. "Now Lynn's just being cruel," he pouted, though his grin betrayed him.
Before she could retort, another presence made itself known. The shift in energy was unmistakable as Hwan approached, his calm and commanding aura cutting through the banter.
"Perfect timing, Hwan!" Sahan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "Let's settle this rank business once and for all."
Hwan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Rank? Don't be childish."
Sahan ignored the rebuke, his grin unrelenting. "We should get Garnet involved too. Just remembered she's younger than us."
Hwan's lip twitched—a subtle signal that betrayed his patience wearing thin. "You'd never dare bring this up with her around. Or did you forget how long she's been outranking you?"
The truth struck a nerve. Sahan's brow furrowed instantly, his easygoing demeanor cracking. "Hey! I'm just being generous, letting her have her way."
"You? Generous?" Hwan deadpanned, his tone so dry it could have sparked a fire.
Sahan sputtered, searching for a comeback. "Well, maybe not, but—"
"By the way." Hwan cut him off, his dispassionate gaze shifting toward Lynn.
She had been quietly observing their exchange, but the instant Hwan's eyes landed on her, a knot twisted in her stomach. Her earlier turmoil surged to the surface, the unease she'd been trying to suppress now impossible to ignore.
Why am I acting like this? Her mind raced, latching onto the faint but persistent thread of suspicion. What connection could there possibly be between him and the man from my dream?
Her thoughts tangled into a chaotic loop, and she struggled to hold his gaze.
"You," he said, breaking through her haze.
"Yes?" Her voice betrayed a flicker of hesitation.
"I'm supervising Hwai Unit's focused training today and tomorrow. You'll need to practice independently."
For a moment, Lynn simply blinked at him, processing his words. Then, relief washed over her like a wave breaking against the shore.
The thought of facing him—of sorting through these conflicting emotions under his scrutiny—had weighed on her more than she realized.
"Perfect! I can manage on my own—I've got friends to train with anyway."
She glanced across the room and caught Sally's eye. Lynn's lips curled into a smile, small but genuine, and Sally returned it with an encouraging nod.
"I'll be fine," Lynn added, more to herself than to Hwan.
"..."
"Really, don't worry about it." Lynn's voice carried an air of casual reassurance, but the words felt too deliberate, like she was trying to convince herself as much as them.
Her tone implied Go ahead, focus on what you need to do, but the hurried delivery betrayed her unease.
Hwan opened his mouth, ready to respond, but before he could speak, Lynn turned abruptly to address them both. "Well, time for training! See you later!"
Sahan blinked. "Oh... okay," he managed, clearly thrown off by her sudden departure.
Before either of them could react further, Lynn was gone—disappearing down the corridor like smoke dissipating into thin air. Sahan gave a half-hearted wave, his bewilderment etched on his face.
Hwan's gaze lingered on the space where she'd been, his brow furrowing as an ironic chuckle escaped him. "What the..."
The image of her cold indifference earlier that day at Carpe Deia resurfaced in his mind. She'd brushed past him without so much as a glance, her deliberate avoidance sharper than any confrontation.
At the time, he'd been too stunned to react. Then disbelief had set in, followed by something else he couldn't quite define. Now, as the memory gnawed at him, a thought began to take root.
Could it be about that night?
The recollection of their late-night encounter at the training ground came unbidden. Her voice had been hesitant but insistent as she'd asked, What happened on the terrace?
He'd shut her down without hesitation, his reply curt and final: "It's not something you need to worry about."
He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he'd meant every word. That moment of vulnerability wasn't hers to dissect—it wasn't anyone's.
The boundary had felt necessary. She'd been getting too close, her curiosity pressing against walls he'd carefully built. He'd needed to push her away before she wandered into places, he couldn't let her see.
But his wall had clearly upset her—her frigid attitude since then proved as much. He had dismissed it as temporary, hardly worth his attention.
Now though…
Hwan's brow furrowed deeper as he watched Lynn's figure vanish down the dimly lit corridor. Had she really been sulking about it all this time? The way she treated him—so starkly different from how she behaved with Sahan and Garnet—left an unexpectedly bitter taste in his mouth.
At least she could try to be less obvious about it.
He turned sharply, shoulders stiffening. It was best not to dwell on it. With practiced efficiency, he cut off his spiraling thoughts, forcing himself to move on.
As he started to leave—ignoring Sahan's ongoing casual chatter—Sally seized her chance. She had been watching him intently, and now stepped forward with light, decisive steps.
"Master Hwai!"