Rei wandered through the endless corridors of the Sanctuary Spire, Legacy tucked awkwardly under one arm. Each hallway was a mirror of the last.polished alloy floors gleaming under faint blue light, panels along the walls flickering with streams of information and energy veins pulsating softly beneath the surface.

  He had long since stopped keeping track of how many turns he’d taken, how many doors he’d passed, or whether he was walking in circles. The map in his mind was useless, overwritten by layers of corridors, maintenance access tunnels, and administrative offices.

  At first, he had tried methodically to find the meeting room, checking the few scraps of guidance he remembered from earlier conversations. But soon, every attempt ended in frustration: a “Restricted Area” sign here, a security panel he couldn’t unlock there, and one hall that ended in an impassable bulkhead. After a few minutes of wandering, Rei’s shoulders slumped, and his steps slowed.

  “Maybe I’ll just head back to the dorms,” he muttered to himself. It was the only place he knew he could navigate reliably.

  His eyes scanned the dim hallway ahead as he walked, fingers brushing the wall for orientation, when he collided with someone.

  “Oh! Sorry,” Rei said reflexively, stepping back.

  “Don’t worry about it,” a soft voice replied. Rei’s gaze moved to the figure in front of him. She was facing slightly away, motionless.

  Rei cocked his head. “Uh… are you… looking the wrong way?” he asked cautiously.

  “I am,” she said simply, then turned toward him, only to still face slightly off-center.

  “Are… are you blind?” Rei asked, unsure how else to phrase it.

  “Yes,” she said, calm, as if that answered everything. Then, surprisingly, she reached out. Her fingers brushed against his shoulder, tracing along the edge of his arm. Rei tensed instantly.

  “Uh—what are you doing?” he stammered, stepping back instinctively.

  “I’m making a mental map of you,” she explained, her voice even and certain. “So I won’t make the same mistake again.”

  Rei froze, his mind scrambling. “Mental map? You mean… like, you’re… touching me all over to—?”

  “Yes,” she said, as though it were perfectly logical. “I need your proportions, your shape, your stance. Everything.”

  Rei swallowed, unsure how to respond, and finally held up a hand. “Okay… okay. Um… what’s your name?”

  “I’m Maelisa Rowyn,” she replied. “But you can just call me Mae.”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Rei nodded slowly, still wary. “Rei.”

  Mae tilted her head, studying him. “I need a unique feature, something to complete my map. Something that stands out.”

  Rei hesitated. Then, deciding simplicity was best, he said, “Golden yellow. My eye color.”

  Mae blinked. Then, after a pause, she let out a loud, incredulous, “What?!”

  Rei raised an eyebrow. “What?”

  “What’s your last name? And… is your father Hiroshi Moutsuki?” she asked rapidly.

  Rei’s eyes widened. “Yes… why are you asking?”

  Mae erupted, the words tumbling over each other like a torrent. “You shouldn’t have told me that! Your father is my idol! The reason I even joined the WEO in the first place! He saved me when I was a teen. Encouraged me to chase my dream. I’ve been… I’ve been his fan ever since! I even have… merchandise!”

  Rei blinked, speechless, staring at the energetic young woman who had suddenly gone from tactile cartographer to fervent fan.

  Before he could respond, a sharp, urgent voice rang out from a small radio clipped to Mae’s shoulder. “Mae! Where the hell are you? Five minutes! You still aren’t at the meeting!”

  Mae stiffened instantly, snapping upright. “Rei, follow me. Now.”

  “What? Wait—” Rei began, but Mae was already moving, walking briskly.

  “Just keep up,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll guide you. Don’t get lost, or it’ll be worse for you.”

  They ran down the corridors together, Mae calling out directions. Left at the next junction, then straight, ducking under a low archway, right by the observation platform, until Rei had to jog just to keep up. The metal floors hummed beneath their footsteps, echoing down the long hallways, and Rei could hear the faint rumble of engines far below, resonating through the spire’s structure.

  “Almost there,” Mae said, spinning around a corner and nearly colliding with Rei again. “Door’s just ahead!”

  They skidded to a halt before a reinforced door, and through the small observation window, Rei saw a man standing inside, arms crossed and clearly not pleased.

  Mae’s tone shifted from urgency to deferential. “Taro. Sorry I’m late.”

  The man turned sharply, eyes like twin green beacons under angular brows, his broad shoulders filling the frame. Dark, chitinous ridges ran along his forearms, glinting faintly in the interior lights. A pair of beetle wings rested against his back, folded neatly, and his deep forest-green eyes scanned Mae and Rei with a measured intensity.

  “You’ve got five minutes, Mae,” Taro said sharply. His voice was calm but carried authority. “And you’re still not ready.”

  Mae snapped to attention. “Yes, sir!” She motioned to Rei. “This is Rei Moutsuki.”

  Taro glanced at Rei, taking in the young man’s stance and expression with a single piercing look. Then he nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, before returning his attention to Mae.

  “Right hand man,” Mae added quickly, introducing Taro before Rei could ask. “Always keeps me in line.”

  Rei’s mouth opened, but before he could speak, a flash of insignia on Mae’s jacket caught his eye, the symbol of the Skyborn Legion. His eyebrows shot up.

  “Wait,” Rei said, finally finding his voice. “You… you’re—”

  “Yes,” Mae said with a faint smile. “Forgot to mention. I’m the leader of the Skyborn Legion. Didn’t think it mattered until now.”

  Rei’s eyes widened so much it felt like they’d strain from his skull. “You… you’re the leader?”

  Mae’s gaze softened, though her stance remained confident. “Yep. And you’re going to follow me to the meeting. No excuses.”

  Rei could only nod, swallowing hard. Legacy felt heavier in his hands now, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him more than the weapon itself. He glanced at Taro, who gave a slight tilt of his head as if to acknowledge the weight of the moment.

  The doors slid open with a quiet hiss. Mae led the way, Rei keeping pace behind her, his mind spinning with the revelation he’d just learned. Skyborn Legion leader… and all this time, he had been wandering the Spire alone, searching blindly for a meeting he didn’t even know the location of.

  Through the final stretch of hallways, the sounds of the spire’s bustling activity reached them. Metal clanking, distant voices, and the low hum of energy from various devices. Rei’s heart hammered, a mix of anticipation and nervousness curling in his chest.

  Mae didn’t look back. “Stay close, Moutsuki. This isn’t just a meeting. It’s… something you need to witness yourself.”

  Rei swallowed, adjusting his grip on Legacy. “Right.”

  They reached the large double doors of the meeting chamber, the interior glowing faintly through the narrow windows. Rei caught a glimpse of figures moving inside, silhouettes standing tall and authoritative. He felt the weight of the room even from outside, the air humming with the collective power of elite Espers.

  Mae pressed a hand against the door panel, and it slid open smoothly. Taro stepped in beside her, his presence commanding silence in the chamber as Rei followed cautiously behind.

  The doors closed behind them with a soft metallic sigh, leaving Rei standing in awe, Legacy at his side, facing the assembly that would determine the next stage of their training—and perhaps the next step in his life as an Esper.

  Mae turned slightly, her sharp smile back in place. “Welcome to the meeting, Moutsuki. Now… pay attention. This is where everything changes.”

  Rei’s eyes widened, heart racing. He had no idea what awaited him inside, but one thing was certain: he was far from the dormitory halls now, and far from being prepared for what was to come.

  [End of Chapter]

  Maelisa design

  Taro design