A metallic crash shattered Aaron awake, jolting him upright. His hand instinctively reached for a missing weapon. He barely ducked the twin pans aimed at his head as they collided again, ringing violently. Esnita stood over him. “You are late,” she sniffed, leaving the room.

  Late for what? His muscles were no longer aching, but this bootcamp bullshit was getting old. Clothes had been laid out—light red robes, soft yet oddly stiff, with a fringed silk belt. Underneath, the damn loincloth again. He groaned. Note to self: teach these people how to make boxer shorts. Or pants, at least. He knotted the belt as he'd seen others do, then slipped into sandals—thin leather, soles irritatingly flexible.

  Aaron stepped outside, squinting into the harsh morning sun, irritation simmering beneath forced composure. Across the plaza, Theon and the others waited impatiently. Erai’s contemptuous glare matched the male twin’s scowl. The sister stretched lazily in the light. Focus.

  "Greetings, Champion," Reha cooed, bowing exaggeratedly. "Did you sleep well?"

  They make us kill for exams and parade slaves butt-naked, but being late crosses the line?

  Theon offered a sympathetic glance.

  Esnita spoke coldly. “In the Argo, you wake on time or take beatings. Your choice—I am fine with either.”

  Damned primitives.

  Theon handed him a large keg. "Morning training begins now. By Presidential order, our squad trains separately. Only some may work with the Champion."

  Aaron squeezed his eyes shut. “Great diplomacy, mighty noble,” he hissed at Theon.

  "They despise us either way," Theon smirked. "We might as well make light of it—and them."

  Aaron clenched his jaw. More enemies, fantastic. He hissed quietly, “We’ll discuss this later.”

  Surprisingly, Theon nodded and led them from the plaza onto a shaded forest path, dark-green leaves whispering softly overhead, soothing Aaron’s irritation.

  “What exactly are we doing? A workout?” Aaron asked.

  Theon raised an eyebrow. “What do you want to work out?”

  Aaron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Are we talking about exercise, or something else entirely?”

  Theon gave a slight shrug. “Among other things. We condition body, dream, beast, and mind.”

  “I get body and mind, but what's beast and dream?” At least they're not spouting nonsense about souls.

  “The beast seeks fulfillment of animal desires—relational and carnal. We learn moderation and sophistication in their pursuit.” Aaron's eyebrows rose sharply. He suppressed a laugh. “Carnal? We literally study sex?”

  Theon nodded. “Among other things. The sexual, egocentric, culinary, aesthetic—if you don't satisfy them wisely, they'll control you.” A robed man stepped from the trees, a huge parrot perched on his shoulder, staring intensely at Aaron.

  The Grey wore a yellow sash—marking it as a Resident-class xenosophont. Technically equal. Quietly resented. Why is the Grey staring at me? A slap landed on the back of Aaron’s head. “Don’t stare at xenos. It brings bad luck.”

  Aaron rubbed his head. “How so?” Superstitious nonsense?

  Shard cut in, voice dripping contempt. “Monopolies. Certain species excel at specific tasks, and xenosophonts always band together against the majority.”

  Silence stretched uncomfortably until Theon spoke. “Their usefulness is why they are residents. Thank you for your elucidation, Master Shard.”

  Aaron cleared his throat. “What does it mean to condition the dream?”

  “Dream garden practice. Meditation. You’ve accessed it before—in the baths?” Theon’s mouth tightened. Aaron caught the hesitation—had Theon nearly said too much? Aaron glanced cautiously toward the guards and Master Shard. Are they protectors or spies? I need to understand my position here. His jaw tightened. I refuse to be someone’s pawn again.

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  Rhea slapped his head lightly. “Lost in your thoughts again. What’s that look?”

  Aaron scowled. “I’m tired of shit just happening to me. I want control. I hate being at someone else’s mercy.”

  Aaron heard it—wingbeats, faint and wrong. His gut twisted. Bug nodded, apparently oblivious. “Do not worry. Arrangements are being made., if I rember correctly.” His face was hidden by his retracted face-shield, but Aaron caught the smirk. Since when are bad jokes about mind magic code?

  They walked in silence. The hush deepened as they emerged into a clearing where a vine-strangled pagoda loomed like an abandoned shrine. Aaron eyed it warily, uneasy despite its peacefulness.

  He glanced at Theon. Why do we keep drifting off track? “What are we training today?”

  “Something carnal?” Rhea interjected with a wink, earning an eye-roll from Theon.

  “Relational aspects of the Beast,” Theon replied. “It should help you handle the trials memories.”

  He motioned toward the woven mats. Guards formed a perimeter. Master Bug stayed close while Shard joined the soldiers.

  Rhea made a quick gesture—Talking hands.

  A so-so wiggle.

  Theon nodded. Aaron followed him a moment later. Safe to speak cautiously. Best let them lead—I have a history of dropping bombshells.

  “Let us ground ourselves,” Theon said. They sat in a loose triangle. Aaron closed his eyes, focusing on slow breaths—in, then out. Yet dark thoughts quickly intruded. I’m surrounded by people I can’t trust.

  Theon continued quietly, “Speak whenever you notice something new.” He gestured to the open walls, the forest, the silent guards.

  Aaron suppressed an eye-roll. Pointless mindfulness or forced bonding?

  After a pause, Rhea spoke softly. “My muscles feel tight.”

  Theon responded calmly, “The wind in the trees.”

  Aaron hesitated, then muttered, “Mostly, I’m confused.”

  Silence stretched before he added quietly, “I notice tension in the guards.”

  They continued several rounds, and slowly, Aaron began perceiving the world through others’ senses.

  When his turn came again, tension prickled down his spine. His instincts screamed just before faint wingbeats whispered in the trees.

  A flash of gray and yellow tore through the canopy—then a brittle crack as ice shattered mid-air. Something shrieked—high, alien, furious. Unnatural fog crept from the bushes, reaching toward the pagoda. Aaron’s pulse surged—Bug was already alert, heat shimmering around him, eyes locked onto something unseen.

  Did the Grey just try to assassinate me? Or just to spy on me? Panic rose sharply.

  Rhea took his hand, voice soothing. “Feel my hands. Breathe slowly. Look at me.”

  The ground shuddered. Stone spikes pierced upward around the pagoda. Master Shard knelt, hands glowing darkly against the earth. Aaron noticed he was trembling. Rhea’s hand steadied him. I hate this—feeling helpless. Aaron took a slow breath, steadying his pulse as Bug reinforced the pagoda, eyes fixed on the trees.

  “Double walls?” Bug asked Master Shard.

  She grunted irritably.

  Theon caught Aaron’s eye, silently questioning. Can I trust him fully? What's his role here?

  Yet betraying the mind mage was madness—betraying someone wielding a metaphorical neutron star as defense.

  Aaron nodded slightly. “I notice it’s gotten dark.” The others chuckled weakly, some tension breaking.

  Bug smiled thinly as he layered protective ice, carefully watching the forest. He’s setting up fragile exits—hidden from the other master. Rhea broke the silence playfully. “I notice it’s getting hot in here.”

  Aaron grinned faintly. “Thanks.”

  Six pairs of eyes rolled.

  Theon cleared his throat. “Next, express thoughts and feelings starting with ‘In your presence, I…’ or ‘Hearing that, I…’. Questions?”

  Aaron shook his head. “In your presence, I wonder what we’re aiming for.”

  Theon’s lips tightened. “Hearing that, your humor annoys me.”

  Aaron frowned. “Hearing that, you sound hostile.”

  Great—is starting a fight the point?

  Rhea tilted her head sharply. “In your presence, I notice constant competition.”

  Aaron’s frown deepened. Not insult, not praise.

  Theon exhaled slowly, jaw tight. “Being here, I remember those we killed.”

  Something flickered across ’s face. She hesitated. “Hearing that, I recall Aaron’s face after our first battle.”

  Aaron’s stomach clenched, a chill rising with his heartbeat. As the quiet continued, something inside him began to loosen.

  Theon’s voice softened. “Being here. I feel the agony of my first kill.”

  The words hit Aaron hard. His throat tightened. “Being here, I see the faces of those I murdered.” His voice was strained, barely familiar.

  Rhe pressed his hand gently. Theon squeezed his leg reassuringly. They’re here with me.

  “In your presence, I…” Aaron hesitated, then whispered, “I'm glad.” Warm tears rolled silently down his face. Theon exhaled sharply, as if releasing pent-up tension. Slowly, he rested a comforting hand on Aaron’s shoulder. The others joined silently, no words needed, just shared understanding.

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