The Iron Princess's words lingered in the air like a fog as she dismissed us with a nonchalant wave of her hand. Her eyes held me for a moment longer than necessary before she turned away, her attention already on the next matter of her court. It was a clear end to the audience. A towering Ork, his muscles bulging under the strain of his ceremonial armor, gestured towards the grand doors, the dismissal was clear.

We made our way down the opulent corridors of the palace, my boots were echoing against the marble floor. The silence between us was stretched taut until we were well clear of the Orkish guard and the listening ears of the Iron court. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions as I thought of Korrok and Earth. The sense of loss for my mentor, mingled with confusion and a deep-seated worry for my family and friends, was weighing heavily on me. The possibility that my home was in turmoil, possibly suffering, filled me with a fear that clawed at my chest, a fear for those I had left behind against my will, a fear of being powerless to help.

"That was... intense," I finally said, the words escaping me like steam. "The Iron Princess, she's not what I expected."

Elyria nodded, her eyes scanning the hallway before focusing back on me. "She doesn't hide behind curtains of intrigue. I’ve heard she is capable of misdirection but does not enjoy it, In that way she is typical of her kind. The Iron Hegemony are known for being plain in their speak. They pride themselves on it. But what did you make of her talk about Korrok and Earth? And the invasion?"

I could feel my head shaking instantly. "It felt like she was dancing around something - dropping hints but holding back the real punch. She knows more about why Korrok left. But she’s keeping her cards close. I am very worried about what is happening on Earth. When this all started, I assumed it was fine there. But now it seems that’s far from true. In fact, they may be even worse off than me. I’ve got to figure out a way home." My voice cracked slightly on the last word, betraying the deep concern and desperation he felt

Elyria nodded along with me. She frowned at me when she spoke next, her lips pressed into a thin line. "She's powerful, that's obvious. And she's interested in you, Everett."

I glanced back at Elyria surprised, feeling a knot of discomfort in my stomach. The tone of her voice was serious. "Her gaze made me uncomfortable," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

"It's not too surprising," Elyria remarked, her gaze looked almost analytical and she started looking me up and down. "You're unique here, chosen for this tournament, not a volunteer. And let's be honest," her voice softened, "your height, your long limbs, your muscular build. You've got the strength and some of the build of an Ork but are also more lithe and less brutish. Most humans in the galaxy are much smaller than you. You are like a giant to the rest of the humans in the galaxy. Also, I guess you kind of look like an Ork but are less brutish, more…” She paused for a second and looked pensive. “More beautiful."

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I coughed at this, beautiful? I was taken completely by surprise at her comment and felt a flush of heat on my cheeks, probably from a mix of surprise and self-consciousness. I had thought she playfully flirted with me a bit when we first met, but beautiful? I gave her a smile and said quietly, "Is that a compliment or an observation?"

"A bit of both," Elyria said, her cheeks taking on a rosy tint that wasn't there before. "You stand out, Everett, and not just in stature and looks… There's something about you... something that even the Iron Princess can't ignore. I can’t wait to write a song about it once this all calms down. Experiences and intrigue like this are one of the reasons I left my home, my loved ones, and everything I knew. And a more powerful class, of course.”

As Elyria’s last words hung in the air, I nervously coughed, breaking the brief moment of silence, I decided to change the subject. "It's a bit weird, isn't it?" I began, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "The Iron Princess didn't mention anything about my possible discovery during meditation."

Elyria's expression shifted to one of contemplation. "You're right," she agreed, her brows knitting together. "I had almost forgotten about that. Why wouldn’t she mention it?"

I shrugged, feeling the weight of unanswered questions. "Maybe she doesn't want any more attention on it," I suggested, the thought causing a ripple of unease.

"But why?" Elyria pressed, her gaze intense.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. "I don't know. But maybe that's why Korrok is gone. He did go looking for information related to my meditation discovery."

Elyria nodded thoughtfully, her eyes showing a hint of concern. "Perhaps you are right," she said slowly. Then, her voice took on a firmer tone, "But right now, you need to focus on what’s immediately ahead. You have a fight in the morning, Everett. You should get some rest. I know getting home and figuring out what happened to Korrok is important, but none of that matters if you don’t survive the tournament."

She paused for a moment, then added, "If you win your next fight, I’ll try to meditate with you. To see if the same thing happens to me. It might help us understand more about what you’re experiencing."

Her words were a reminder of the stakes I was up against. The tournament wasn’t just a series of battles; it was a fight for survival, for answers, and maybe even a way back home. As we walked back to the barracks, my mind whirled with the day’s revelations, the looming fight, and the mysterious bridge in my meditation.

The rest of the walk was filled with more analysis of the conversation we'd had with the Iron Princess, dissecting her every word and gesture, seeking meanings within meanings. By the time we reached the barracks, the weight of the day was resting heavily on my shoulders, I could still picture that beautiful, piercing gaze of the iron princess.