Narrator: Logan

The relentless roar of the aircraft’s engines vibrated against my back, a constant hum that almost managed to lull me to sleep. My body still ached from yesterday’s brutal training. Cassandra never stops.

{Wake up, we’re about to arrive.}

The voice in my mind was clear, firm, but carried that undertone of camaraderie only she could give me.

{Give me five more minutes, Luna… even my soul hurts.}

{I don’t think that’s possible. If Cassandra sees you sleeping, she’ll probably have you digging trenches as punishment.}

I opened my eyes with a sigh. In front of me, a red-haired woman with pale skin and brown eyes was looking at me, though not really seeing me. She wore standard military gear, but no helmet. Luna was always a step outside protocol.

{Nervous?} I asked mockingly.

{Excited, actually,} she replied without looking at me. For the first time in our lives, we get to see the outside world… though I never imagined it would be just an ocean of sand.

I hadn’t imagined it this way either. For those of us born and raised within the walls of the Prime Zone, the outside world had been nothing but a myth, a place that existed only on maps and military reports.

I felt no excitement. Not after yesterday.

{Thanks,} I blurted out suddenly.

Luna blinked and turned to me, confused.

{For what?}

I wasn’t one to say those words lightly.

{For everything. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.}

I saw her cheeks turn nearly as red as her hair. She quickly turned toward the hatch, pressing her lips together.

{You don’t have to thank me, Logan,} she murmured. We’re a team, remember?

I smirked.

Alone, we were good soldiers.

Together, we were unstoppable.

—ALRIGHT, LADIES!

Cassandra Fénix’s thunderous voice ripped me from the moment.

—WE’RE ABOUT TO LAND AT THE FORWARD OUTPOST! I DON’T WANT MISTAKES, I DON’T WANT INJURIES, AND ABOVE ALL, I DON’T WANT ANY CASUALTIES ON OUR SIDE!

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Her words echoed through the cabin as she walked with commanding presence among the soldiers. Her black hair—shaved at the sides, longer at the top—fluttered slightly in the warm breeze coming through the open hatch.

—Commander Fénix, one minute to landing.

—EVERY TEAM KNOWS THEIR OBJECTIVE! she continued. DO NOT DISAPPOINT ME!

Luna secured her helmet as we loosened our harnesses. The moment the aircraft touched down, we rushed out.

The heat hit me instantly.

{Oh, great. We made it to hell. This is a goddamn furnace, Luna.}

{Too hot for the ice boy? Don’t be a wimp.}

She turned with a teasing smirk, gave me a wink, then laughed. I scowled and tried to lower my body temperature, but it was useless. The dry heat sucked every trace of moisture from the air.

We were twenty soldiers, split into five teams. Each group was assigned a tent where we would receive our briefing. Luna and I were with three other cadets.

As soon as we entered, the first thing I noticed was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shaved head and a gray beard. He wore a simple white shirt, military pants, and worn-out boots. Seated beside a holographic analysis table, he scrutinized us with an authoritative smirk.

—So… this is the best Lord Bragmus could send me?

His tone dripped with skepticism as he skimmed through some papers.

—I’ll call your names. Step forward when I do.

—Luna Rossi!

Luna stepped forward firmly.

—Present and ready, Commander!

He didn’t look up as he read her file aloud.

—Psychic. Agile. Good reflexes in close combat. Notable accuracy with short-range firearms. Skilled sniper lookout. Not bad.

Luna held her posture as he moved on.

—Marcus Hex!

A dark-skinned cadet stepped forward with confidence.

—Present and ready!

—Electrokinetic. Agile. Precise. Good with assault rifles and melee weapons… though your ability is practically useless here.

His voice had a mocking edge.

—Logan Fénix!

My expression hardened. I stepped forward.

—Just Logan, sir.

Silence.

The commander raised his gaze, staring at me with cold scrutiny. Luna shifted slightly, displeased.

—Excuse me?

I took another step forward.

—My name is Logan.

The man let the papers fall onto the table and walked toward me. Each step was heavy, deliberate.

—You’re a Cryomancer and a Darkquinetic. A sniper. Dependent on elemental abilities. Requires psychic support to enhance reflexes, agility, and pain resistance. Essentially, without her, you’re nothing.

He clenched his jaw as if suppressing a laugh.

—And yet, you have the balls to challenge your commander?

My blood boiled.

{Logan, don’t.}

But it was too late. My fingers tensed. I was about to raise my fist when something struck my legs and back, throwing me off balance.

I recovered quickly. Luna was next to me, staring with the kind of intensity that could break a man’s will.

—My apologies for my partner’s insubordination, sir. He’s not usually like this.

{Calm down or I swear I’ll trigger a panic attack.}

My body turned ice-cold instantly.

The commander stroked his beard before letting out a sharp breath.

—Good.

He gave me one last glance.

—FÉNIX, LET THIS BE THE LAST TIME YOU TRY TO CONTRADICT ME. I EXPECT MORE FROM CASSANDRA’S JEWEL. UNDERSTOOD?

I clenched my jaw.

—Yes, sir.

The mission was explained with clinical indifference. Recover a cargo. No matter how. No matter how many casualties. We just had to get it done.

We gathered our gear and moved toward the transport vehicle.

{Are you mad?}

{What do you think?}

Luna didn’t look at me the entire ride.

The heat was unbearable.

And then, everything exploded.

The blast sent us flying.

Sand. Smoke. Screams.

Pain.

Disorientation.

My vision blurred. I felt something warm trickling down my cheek.

The sounds of combat slammed into me like a tidal wave.

—AMBUSH! FIND COVER!

I crawled with whatever strength I had left.

I searched for Luna, desperate.

{Luna… are you with me?}

{Always.}

A gunshot.

My helmet flew off.

Darkness swallowed me.

And then, the real hell began.