The days blurred together, a never-ending loop of drills and routines, each one stacking on top of the last. The constant hum of machinery. The sharp clang of metal on concrete. Orders snapped through the air like whips. It aimed to ground me and teach me discipline. But it only made me feel like an outsider. It was like I was wearing someone else's skin—and the seams were showing.

Today, the room was dead silent. No sounds but my breath—shallow, quick, rushing in and out. The SMG felt heavy in my hands, foreign. Cold black metal, slick and unyielding. I gripped it harder, trying to force some control, but my palms were clammy. The weight of it was wrong. Every inch of it was a puzzle that refused to click into place. I took a slow breath, lined up the sights, and squeezed the trigger.

The recoil hit me like a slap. The crack of gunfire reverberated through my chest, a jolt of heat and noise. But the target? Still standing, untouched.

Frustration burned hot in my gut, a sharp, bitter coil. Sweat trickled down my forehead, stinging my eyes, but it didn’t stop. It kept coming—relentless. Every shot was a reminder of how out of place I was. How wrong this felt. How ill-suited I was for this weapon.

"This isn’t like a sword," I muttered to myself.

A sword had rhythm. Balance. A sword had flow, a connection between the blade and the person wielding it. But this? This SMG was a blunt instrument, a tool without grace. A hammer that lacked finesse.

Footsteps. Slow. Measured. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Zane’s presence was solid, unshakable, like the weight of a mountain stone.

“How’s it going?” His voice was calm, unaffected. But it cut through the silence. It grounded me.

I lowered the SMG, forcing a smile. It felt stiff, unnatural. "It’s... different. Feels like I’m trying to fight with something that doesn’t belong to me."

Zane crossed his arms, his gaze steady, unwavering. He looked at me with that same calm certainty I always envied. "It’s not a sword, that’s for sure. But adapting—that’s part of the job. The weapon you need isn’t always the one you’re comfortable with."

I looked at the SMG again, trying to find some hint of familiarity in its contours. But it felt like a stranger’s hand wrapping around mine. "I was good with a sword. I knew it, and it knew me. But this?" I shook my head. "It’s like stumbling through a room I can’t see."

Zane didn’t flinch. His eyes locked onto mine, unwavering. He shrugged, slow and easy, like he was explaining something simple. "You’ll get there. Don’t overthink it. You’ve got patrols coming up soon. With Daisy and Oliver."

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“Patrol?” The word caught me off guard. I blinked, feeling a brief disorientation.

He nodded. "Yeah. The WEO has started running regular patrols since the rifts reopened. It’ll give you some hands-on practice. A chance to get comfortable with your team."

A patrol. It felt manageable, purposeful. The tight coil of tension in my chest began to relax. "When do we head out?"

Zane checked his watch, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Ten minutes. Gear up."

I rushed to change into my uniform. The fabric was stiff, foreign against my skin. But when I stepped into the common area and saw Daisy, that discomfort faded. She was already there, bouncing in her seat, her energy radiating from her. When she saw me, her face lit up. "Rei! Finally!"

Beside her, Oliver gave a small nod, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief second before looking away, a faint hint of nervousness in his expression. I forced myself to stand tall. "Ready to go?"

Daisy jumped up, her grin widening. "Let’s do this!" She moved toward the door with a lightness in her step, her excitement infectious. I shot a glance at Oliver, who managed a soft chuckle before falling in step behind me, still quiet and a bit reserved.

“She’s like a puppy off the leash,” I muttered.

Oliver gave a shy shrug, his lips twitching into a subtle smile. "She’s… definitely excited."

By the time we reached the platform, Daisy was already tapping her foot, impatient. "You’re late! Can’t keep a girl waiting!" Her voice rang with mischief.

“Not all of us have your energy,” Oliver said softly, his voice almost lost under the ambient noise, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Daisy laughed, holding out her hand. A soft, warm glow radiated from her palm, and the fatigue that had been weighing down my muscles seemed to melt away. It was like stepping into sunlight after a storm.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered,” she said with a wink. “Healing grace, remember? No excuses!” The platform beneath us shifted while it rose toward the Astral Spire. I glanced at Oliver. "Where are we headed?"

He adjusted his gear, nodding toward the horizon. "The shopping district. Market area," he replied, his tone steady yet quiet.

Daisy’s eyes gleamed, and her excitement seemed to grow with each passing second. "The shopping district? Yes! This day just got even better!" She practically bounced, radiating joy.

When we arrived, Daisy was already ahead. "Shopping district, here we come!" she shouted, sprinting forward with her boundless energy. I exchanged a look with Oliver, who simply shook his head, a hint of a nervous smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

“There she goes again,” I muttered.

Oliver let out a small laugh, scratching the back of his head. “Guess… we better catch up.” We exchanged a glance and then followed. We braced for Daisy's whirlwind.

Inside, we reached the warp pad. Daisy was bouncing on her heels, excited, while Oliver spoke to the attendant, his voice soft and a bit hesitant. “Shopping district, please,” he said, almost mumbling as he kept his gaze lowered.

The attendant nodded and typed something into the console. The warp pad hummed to life, glowing a soft blue. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, with unease creeping in—the sensation I knew was coming.

Daisy turned to me, noticing my discomfort. "First time using the warp pad?" she asked, her playful grin wide. "Yeah," I admitted, watching the large metal rings around the glass walls begin to spin.

“Don’t worry,” she said with assurance. “I’m here.” The rings spun faster, the light intensifying. A strange tingling sensation ran down my spine.

[3... 2... 1...]

A flash of blue. My body vibrated, a strange, cold rush filling me, like ice rushing through my veins. It came to an abrupt halt. We were standing in the middle of the bustling streets, the sounds of the city slamming into me all at once. I blinked twice, disoriented. "Huh?"

“Still alive, I presume?” Daisy teased, noticing my dazed expression. “Ugh, never gonna get used to that,” Oliver murmured, clutching his stomach with a slightly pained expression.

I couldn’t help but laugh, even as the odd feeling lingered in my limbs. But despite the discomfort, despite all the uncertainty... something about this place, this team, made me feel like maybe I wasn’t as out of place as I thought.

[End of Chapter]