Sol took a slow, measured step inside, his muscles tense but his face carefully neutral. He was still nervous, still uncertain, but at this point, he had no choice but to take a leap of faith. His heart pounded in his chest, but he pushed forward, forcing himself to keep his breathing steady.
Darik leaned back slightly in her chair, her cybernetic eye flickering as she took him in from head to toe. There was a weight in her gaze, an intensity that made his skin crawl. "So, you're that old relic's student, huh?" she mused, her lips curling slightly. "I can see why he was so interested in you."
For some reason, the way she looked at him sent a shiver down Sol's spine. It wasn't just the scrutiny—it was the feeling that she was peeling him apart layer by layer, reading more than just his posture or expression. It was as if she saw something deeper, something he wasn't sure he wanted to acknowledge.
He clenched his fists at his sides, keeping his stance relaxed but alert. "And you're Darik," he said, his voice even. "Voska told me you could help."
Darik's smirk deepened. "Depends on what kind of help you're looking for, kid."
Sol didn't hesitate. "A way off this godforsaken planet."
Darik let out a low, amused chuckle. "Hah! That's quite the venom in your voice, boy. You really want to leave that badly?"
Sol's jaw tightened. "More than anything."
Darik leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter as she studied him. "I could help. But it's not easy, especially after the stunt you pulled with DreamCorp. They've locked down everything, scanning every damn ship that leaves orbit. They want your head."
Sol clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms at the reminder of how badly things had spiraled. Darik noticed his reaction and smirked. "But I didn't say it was impossible."
Sol's eyes snapped up, his desperation momentarily overriding his caution. "How? What do I have to do?"
Darik held up a hand, stopping him before he could fire off more questions. "Slow down, kid. If you want my help, you've got to do something for me first."
A cold feeling settled in Sol's gut. He knew she owed him nothing, and this was the best deal he could hope for, but still, hearing it made his stomach churn. It reminded him too much of his last job, the one that got him into this mess.
Darik caught his frown and chuckled. "Relax, it's nothing big. You just need to deliver something for me."
Sol narrowed his eyes. "Deliver what?"
"A package," Darik said vaguely. "And before you start getting paranoid, it's nothing illegal. Just something that needs to be handed off in the same place you're headed. That old coot Voska already informed me about smuggling you to Sage Academy, so might as well put you to work while I'm at it."
Sol exhaled slowly, considering his options. It wasn't like he had a choice. "Fine. What's the job?"
Darik called out, and a moment later, a squat, green-skinned goblin waddled into the room, his sharp features twisted into a perpetual scowl. He was roughly the same height as Darik, but where she moved with a casual confidence, he carried himself with a jittery, almost erratic energy. His narrow eyes flicked toward Sol, and the glare he shot was anything but friendly.
Darik chuckled. "Don't mind him. Gru's just not much of a people person."
Gru grumbled something unintelligible before setting a heavy package on the counter between them. Sol eyed it warily—it was nearly half the size of his torso, wrapped in reinforced polymer casing with no visible markings. Whatever was inside, it wasn't small.
Darik took the package and turned back to Sol. "Alright, here's the deal. This gets delivered to a contact of mine near Sage Academy. You'll be heading there anyway, so it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone. I'll give you the drop-off location and the recipient's contact info. You hand it off, they confirm delivery, and then you're free and clear."
Sol frowned slightly, something about this whole arrangement sitting uneasily with him. "And what exactly is in the package?"
Darik tilted her head, considering him for a moment before shrugging. "It's an egg."
Sol blinked. "A what?"
"An egg," Darik repeated nonchalantly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Don't ask me what kind. All I know is someone out there is willing to spend millions of credits just to get it safely delivered."
Sol's brow furrowed as he glanced back at the oddly large container. **What kind of egg needs to be transported like this?**
Darik smirked at his confusion. "So, any questions about the job, kid?"
Sol hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Where exactly is Sage Academy? I don't know anything about it—not even what planet it's on. Hell, I'm not even sure if it's in the same galaxy."
Darik raised an eyebrow. "Hmph. So that relic didn't tell you anything, huh? Sounds just like that asshole," she sneered, shaking her head. Sol caught the bitterness in her tone and wondered just what kind of relationship she and Voska had. But before he could dwell on it, she began explaining.
"Sage Academy is situated in the heart of the capital on a planet called White Tower, located in the IOK-1 galaxy. Ever heard of it?" Sol shook his head, and she continued. "Didn't think so. It's a unique place, got its name from a natural phenomenon that happened eons ago. Something altered the mineral composition of the planet's mountains, turning them pure white. But it's not just the color—their shape is strange, long and spire-like instead of the usual rugged peaks. Their most famous mountain, also called the White Tower, is so tall that its peak reaches into space."
Sol absorbed the information, intrigued despite himself. "And people just live there?"
Darik chuckled. "Live there? Kid, the place is a hub of wealth and prestige. Back in the day, the planet was nothing but a tourist attraction—beautiful views, strange new lifeforms, and untouched landscapes. Then, as time passed, kingdoms were built. And now? The ruling family, the Bloodravens, control the entire planet."
"Bloodravens?" Sol asked, the name unfamiliar to him.
"Yeah. Their race and their family name," Darik replied. "They look human, mostly, except for their massive black wings and the crown of raven feathers on their heads. They're the descendants of the first explorer who discovered the planet. Turned a tourist destination into their own empire." She leaned back, watching him closely. "You're stepping into a very different world, kid. You ready for that?"