Chapter 6: Beneath the Surface
Kaori's Perspective
Kaori Sungwo sat in her cramped workspace, the rhythmic hum of her ancient sewing machine filling the room. Her fingers moved deftly, stitching fabric with the precision of someone who'd done this a thousand times before. The room smelled faintly of thread oil and the faint musk of old cloth, but she didn't mind. This was her haven, her little corner of order in a city consumed by chaos.
Outside, Velmont's distant noise filtered through the thin walls—the murmur of traders, the whine of drones, the occasional bark of a Confederation officer. Kaori paused, looking up from her work, her sharp eyes darting to the small window. The sky was a dull gray, the remnants of the Stellar Flare Event still casting a strange tint over the world.
Her thoughts drifted to Giovanni. He had left earlier, his hood pulled low, his posture tense. Something was bothering him—more than usual. She had seen it in his eyes, the way they darted around the room as if searching for something he couldn't name.
Kaori wasn't a genius. She didn't solve equations or build empires. But she saw things. She noticed the way Velmont shifted after the Flare, the way people whispered about Rings malfunctioning and the Confederation tightening its grip. And she noticed her son, carrying a weight he refused to share.
Giovanni had always been stubborn, always hiding things behind his guarded expressions. But Kaori had learned to read the cracks in his armor. She just wasn't sure if he knew that yet.
Kaori stood, stretching her back, and moved to the small stove in the corner of the room. She poured water into a pot, setting it to boil for tea. Her hands worked automatically, but her mind wandered.
Giovanni had his father's eyes—sharp, searching, always looking for answers. But where his father had been a dreamer, Giovanni was something else. He was a survivor. Kaori had watched him grow up too fast, taking on responsibilities no child should have to bear.
Her husband's absence had ensured that. A soldier, they had called him. A protector of Velmont. But Kaori knew the truth. He had been swallowed by the very system he swore to uphold, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She never spoke of it—not to Giovanni, not to Ayane, not even to herself. The pain was an old companion, familiar and quiet.
Ayane had been the first to leave, chasing the promise of a better life on Naris-7. Kaori had let her go, knowing she couldn't keep her in Velmont's shadow. But Giovanni... Giovanni had stayed. Whether out of loyalty, fear, or something else, Kaori couldn't say.
The door creaked open, and Kaori turned, her hands stilling. Giovanni stepped inside, his face pale, his movements stiff. He looked older than his nineteen years, his shoulders weighed down by something invisible.
"You're late," Kaori said, her voice calm but pointed.
"Got held up," Giovanni muttered, avoiding her gaze. He dropped his bag onto the floor, the sound heavy in the small room.
Kaori watched him closely, noting the tension in his jaw, the way his hands fidgeted at his sides. He was lying.
"You're not eating enough," she said, changing the subject. "Sit. I'll make you something."
"I'm fine."
Kaori arched an eyebrow. "You look fine. Like a ghost is fine."
Giovanni sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've got stuff to do, Mom."
"And yet here you are," she said, her tone light but sharp. "Running yourself ragged. Whatever it is you're doing, it's not worth breaking yourself over."
For a moment, Giovanni hesitated, his eyes meeting hers. There was something in his gaze—fear, perhaps, or guilt. But then it was gone, replaced by the familiar mask of indifference.
Later, in the silence of his own room, Giovanni sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the System's interface. His mother's words lingered in his mind, but he shoved them aside. He couldn't afford to think about her right now—not when the next mission loomed.
[MISSION PROGRESS: 1/3 CONTACTS ESTABLISHED.]
The Trust Level with Leena still hovered at a low 22%, and Giovanni cursed under his breath. He needed to find two more contacts, and fast. But the Confederation's increasing presence made every move feel like a risk.
The System chimed, its tone cold and detached:
[USER EFFICIENCY: BELOW OPTIMAL LEVELS.]
[SUGGESTION: PRIORITIZE STRATEGIC THINKING TO MINIMIZE WASTED ACTIONS.]
Giovanni scowled. "Strategic thinking, huh? Maybe you should try living in Velmont."
[STATEMENT: USER'S ENVIRONMENT IS IRRELEVANT TO PERFORMANCE.]
He groaned, closing the interface. The System was relentless, always pushing, always criticizing. And the worst part? It was usually right.
Sleep came reluctantly that night, pulling Giovanni into a restless haze. He dreamed of shadows—vast, writhing shapes that twisted and coiled like living darkness.
In the center of it all was the Architect. Its form shifted constantly, impossible to comprehend, but its presence was undeniable.
"You think you're in control," it said, its voice a jagged whisper that cut through Giovanni's mind. "But control is an illusion."
Giovanni woke with a start, his chest heaving. The room was dark, silent, but the Architect's words echoed in his ears. He glanced at the mirror, half expecting to see its reflection staring back.
Instead, he saw himself. Just himself.
But for a moment, he thought his reflection smiled.
The System chimed faintly, drawing Giovanni's attention:
[MISSION UPDATE: POTENTIAL CONTACT IDENTIFIED.]
[NEW OBJECTIVE: ESTABLISH CONNECTION WITH TARGET IN SECTOR 9.]
Sector 9. Giovanni frowned. That was one of Velmont's most dangerous districts, teeming with Confederation patrols and underground factions.
He exhaled, the weight in his chest growing heavier. Whatever lay ahead, it wasn't going to be easy.