"So, now that you guys finished your training let me tell you what those bracelets are for" Luther said "They are basically designed to be entertainment systems, fully attached to those bracelets, you guys want to go on a virtual reality trip?" Luther said as he pull to parts of one fo the bracelets and put them over the eyes of Beck and immediately they transformed and cover the whole eyes. "Now you can, the bracelet will take a whole scan of your bodies and everything and make sure that you guys can enjoy wyourselves to the fullest" Luther finished with a smile.

As soon as Luther left, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Without the weight of an adult's presence, a more relaxed mood settled over the group—though an underlying tension remained.

"Thanks, Luther," Aleara said, eyeing the strange prototype he'd left behind. "But... why us?"

Luther paused at the doorway, smirking. "Because you're in the age range we're targeting, and I needed people I could trust. You all fit the bill. Plus, this is a prototype from a new company, so we're treading carefully. And just in case any of you feel chatty..." He leaned back slightly, a shadow of a threat in his voice. "I'll make sure Abigail's training gets a whole lot worse if word leaks."

The warning landed hard. Abigail's training sessions were already brutal, and no one wanted to imagine them ramping up.

Victor, ever the pragmatist, shot back quickly. "Don't worry, we'll keep it quiet."Luther's smirk widened, clearly satisfied, before he turned and left. With Celine absent, he didn't have much reason to stick around anyway.

The room settled into a brief, almost awkward silence. Zola, always quick to break the quiet, turned to Aleara. "Hey, where's your brother, anyway?" Her tone was casual, but there was a flicker of curiosity that Aleara picked up on.

Aleara shrugged, her expression indifferent. "No idea. He's probably off doing his own thing, as usual."

Beck, who had been lounging off to the side, gave a scoffing laugh. "Yeah, well, it's not like it matters. He does what he wants, and we all know he's not exactly a team player." He glanced toward Zola, eyes sharp but playful. "Anyway, want to grab something to eat?"

Zola raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You trying to get me alone, Beck?" she teased, but her gaze briefly flicked to the door, as if wondering if Vas might suddenly appear.

Beck shrugged, though a bit of color rose in his cheeks. "Just thought we could all go hang out. I'm starving."

Victor, watching the exchange with mild amusement, leaned in. "Yeah, we should. Besides, we all deserve a break after today's torture."

As the group began gathering their things, Zola couldn't resist a final glance toward Aleara. "Still, I wouldn't mind seeing what your brother's up to. He's always so... elusive."Aleara smirked, but there was no real warmth in it. "Vas doesn't exactly share his plans with us. Probably off somewhere scheming."

Amy, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, shifted closer to Aleara. "Doesn't it ever bother you?" she asked softly. "That Vas is always distant?"

Aleara's expression tightened for a moment, but she quickly shrugged it off. "It's just the way things are. We've never been close."

Beck, overhearing, gave a short laugh. "Yeah, and knowing Vas, he's probably off somewhere dangerous. Guy attracts trouble like it's his job."

Lily, who had been silent up until now, stiffened slightly but said nothing. Out of all of them, she was the only one who knew the real reason for Vas's distance—and about his connection to Madeline. But she had promised to keep that a secret, and she wasn't about to break that trust now.

Instead, she quietly observed the dynamics in the group, noticing Beck's growing interest in Zola and Zola's curious fascination with Vas. It was subtle, but she could see the way Zola's eyes seemed to light up at the mention of him, even if she was trying to be casual about it.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Carmilla, who had been leaning back against the wall, finally pushed off with a grin. "Let's just go eat before we start overthinking everything. Vas will show up when he wants to. He always does."

Kairo, ever the calm voice of reason, nodded. "Yeah, he's probably off handling his own stuff. No point worrying about it."

As the group began to head out, their laughter and banter filled the air, hinting at the closeness they had developed despite their individual quirks and differences. Beck moved to walk beside Zola, clearly intent on keeping her attention, while Amy and Aleara hung back a bit, chatting quietly.

Lily, however, remained lost in thought. She couldn't help but wonder what Vas was up to—and what kind of trouble he might be walking into this time. Whatever it was, it seemed like Zola wasn't the only one curious about it. Even if Vas tried to keep his distance, the group had a way of pulling together, whether he liked it or not."Do you think Vas knows we're all going out?" Amy asked Aleara quietly, glancing back toward the house as they walked.

Aleara chuckled dryly. "If he does, I doubt he cares. He's always been... separate."Amy nodded thoughtfully. "Still... it feels like something's going to happen soon."Aleara didn't respond right away, but after a moment, she gave a small nod. "Yeah... it always does with him."

And with that, they left the house behind, unaware that Vas was already deep in his own plans—far away from their gathering, but never quite out of the picture.

Meanwhile, in a lavish office where walls of polished oak shelves held rows of ancient books and artifacts, Gerald sat behind an expansive, high-tech desk. The desk, though made of dark mahogany, had a sleek glass surface where holographic screens hovered above, displaying various reports and data streams. Blue light from the screens flickered against the walls, casting a soft glow that mingled with the daylight pouring in through the tall windows. The hum of the city outside was barely audible, the room isolated from the world outside.

Gerald's sharp gaze moved from one floating screen to another, his fingers occasionally swiping through the air to navigate the reports. His expression was as composed and calculating as ever, lost in the details of the information before him.

The soft sound of the door opening signaled Abigail's arrival. She entered with her usual confident stride, dressed impeccably, her presence instantly commanding attention. The holographic displays continued flickering in front of Gerald, reflecting their bluish light onto his face.

"How's the training going?" Gerald asked, still focused on the projections, his fingers flicking through a new set of reports.

"It's going fine," Abigail responded, eyeing the hovering screens with a casual glance. She stepped closer, her boots barely making a sound on the plush carpet. "What are you looking at?"

"Latest reports. Nothing too important," Gerald replied, his gaze still fixed on the displays as he zoomed in on one particular report with a quick hand gesture.

Abigail smirked. "Important enough to keep you from looking at your wife," she teased, her voice carrying a playful edge as she stood beside him, leaning slightly on the desk.

Finally, Gerald looked up from the holographic screens, meeting Abigail's eyes with a faint smile. "I just wanted to finish up so I could devote my full attention to you," he said smoothly, his tone genuine.

Abigail chuckled, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. She reached out and cupped his face, gently pulling him into a deep, lingering kiss. "That's more like it," she murmured against his lips, a smile breaking through as she pulled away.

Gerald's eyes softened momentarily as he let out a rare chuckle. "Anything worth mentioning happen today?" Abigail asked as she moved gracefully to the couch, sinking into its cushions with practiced ease. Her eyes remained on him, the holographic screens still flickering behind him like ghostly lights.

Gerald leaned back in his chair, allowing the screens to minimize with a flick of his hand. "Clara mentioned she wanted to ask me something when she gets back," he said, his tone thoughtful.

"Oh?" Abigail tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "And when is she coming back?"

Gerald glanced at the sleek, digital clock projected on the far wall. "In about an hour."

Abigail's expression shifted from curiosity to mild surprise. "What? Kadmon was supposed to stay there for longer."

"Yeah," Gerald replied, running a hand over his neatly trimmed beard. "Something must've happened. Not sure what, but I guess we'll find out when she arrives."

Abigail pondered for a moment, but then a sly smile spread across her face. "Well then," she said, standing up with deliberate slowness, her movements fluid. She circled behind him and leaned down, her hands resting on his shoulders. "Let's enjoy this hour while we can, shall we?"

Gerald's lips curved into a grin as Abigail's lips brushed against his neck. She kissed him gently, trailing her fingers down his chest before pulling him back into her embrace. The holographic screens dimmed around them, their glowing lights fading as the office became a private space for the two of them to escape their daily pressures.

In the soft light of the room, their kiss deepened, and Gerald allowed himself to sink into the warmth of the moment, forgetting the reports, the responsibilities, and the impending arrival of Clara. For now, the world could wait.