"Hey, Ingrid, what's up?" Zaeryn asked, returning her steady gaze.

"Nothing, just wondering," Ingrid replied, her tone casual, though her stormy eyes held a focused intensity. "Would you like to hang out sometime?"

'Oh, so that's why she approached me.' Zaeryn was a little taken aback by her directness. Things certainly moved fast here. First, she'd claimed his lap as payback, and now she was asking him out. And they had only met like 2 hours ago.

"Sure," he responded, a slow grin spreading across his face. He definitely wasn't about to turn down an invitation from someone this intriguing, and attractive.

"Nice." Ingrid smiled, a genuine warmth briefly softening her sharp features. "We are having a gathering tonight. Me, Leia, and some other girls from the academy. You should come".

"Yeah, I would like to," Zaeryn confirmed immediately. A gathering with senior students? Perfect opportunity.

Ingrid took another small step, leaned in, and pressed a quick, firm kiss to his cheek. The gesture was surprisingly bold, given their audience, and left a faint tingling warmth on his skin.

Just then, Instructor Zelda's sharp voice resounded through the low buzz of the chamber. "Ingrid?"

They both turned. Zelda strode toward them, her crimson hair a slash of color against her dark uniform, her steel-gray eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing in this class?" she asked, her tone professional but carrying a hint of impatience.

"Nothing Instructor," Ingrid replied smoothly, stepping away from Zaeryn but not looking the least bit flustered. "I just came to have a quick word with Zaeryn".

Zelda's gaze flicked to Zaeryn, then back to Ingrid, her expression unreadable but clearly unimpressed. "A 'quick word' that requires interrupting first-year drills? You know the protocols, Ingrid. Senior students don't mingle during lower-level practicals unless assigned."

"My apologies, Instructor," Ingrid said, though her tone lacked genuine remorse. "Consider the word had. I'll see myself out." She gave Zaeryn a final, lingering look, a silent promise of 'later', before turning and striding confidently out of the Aegis Chamber, leaving a ripple of whispers in her wake.

After Ingrid and Zelda left the immediate vicinity, Zelda moving to the center platform, Jyn turned towards Zaeryn, her eyes wide. "So, are you going?"

Zaeryn nodded, still feeling the faint warmth where Ingrid's lips had touched his cheek. "Yeah".

Morticia smiled faintly, pushing her practical-cut hair behind her ear. "Nice. I was invited too. We can go together".

"Nice," Zaeryn echoed, then looked at Yuna and Jyn. "What about you two, weren't you invited?"

"We heard about it," Yuna confirmed, shaking her head slightly. "Ingrid invited some of us, but Jyn and I already have plans tonight".

Jyn's face lit up again. "Yes! You should hang out with us instead, Zaeryn! We're going to binge-watch the last five episodes of Royal Reckoning".

"Oh, that show?" Zaeryn muttered, recognizing the name instantly. It seemed inescapable; everyone at home was obsessed with it too.

"Yes, do you know it?" Jyn asked eagerly.

"I haven't watched it," Zaeryn admitted. "But, my… sister likes it very much". He thought of Aeris, her passionate debates with Ysmeine over character motives.

Then, unbidden, the image of Viora flashed in his mind , his actual sister. The thought felt strange, disconnected.

"Oh, you have a sister?" Morticia asked, curiosity in her steady gaze.

"Yes, I do," Zaeryn confirmed simply, pushing the thought of Viora away.

"Nice. Anyways, will you hang out with us?" Jyn pressed, her blue eyes hopeful.

There was no way Zaeryn was passing up an opportunity to network and potentially bond with a group of senior Warladies-in-training just to watch a holo-drama he had zero interest in. "Uh, maybe another day," he said gently, trying to soften the rejection.

Jyn's face fell for a split second, a flicker of genuine disappointment. "Oh, okay," she said, but then her bright smile returned almost instantly. She took his hand, giving it a quick squeeze. "Another day then".

"Yes," Zaeryn agreed, appreciating her easy acceptance.

Instructor Zelda strode onto the central platform, her presence immediately silencing the remaining chatter.

Seeing her standing on the central platform, it was a signal to everyone that the lessons were about to start and they shouldn't speak or disrupt the lessons in any way.

"Alright, cadets, eyes front!" she barked, the command sharp but carrying a resonant quality that demanded attention. Her gaze flickered briefly towards Zaeryn, then Leia, a ghost of a wry smirk playing on her lips before vanishing.

Although she didn't say anything, everyone could tell what she just did there. Zaeryn and Leia exchanged a look, remembering their little spar yesterday.

"Today, we'll be using a Class F Vorthak simulation. Standard model". A low murmur rippled through the ranks. "Yes, it's practically harmless," Zelda cut off the whispers, her tone laced with dry impatience. "It won't bite. Much. Consider it a glorified target drone designed to test your basic competence".

"Your objective is simple," Zelda continued, her voice gaining a harder edge. "Neutralize the simulation. Efficiency is key. Waste energy, flail around, take too long, and you fail the assessment. I'll be evaluating core activation, application, and time-to-kill". She tapped her console briskly. "Fewer attacks, cleaner execution, higher grade. Are we clear?"

A chorus of "Yes, Instructor!" echoed through the chamber.

Zelda nodded, her gaze scanning the faces in front of her. " Linnea, you're first. Show us what you've got".

A short girl stepped into the circle, determination etched on her face. The shimmering, sluggish simulation materialized.

Linnea focused, unleashing small, crackling energy bolts. Five shots later, the construct dissolved. "Sufficient, Linnea. Your charge time is glacial. Work on it," Zelda commented curtly. "Next!"

Another cadet, taller and more athletic, used a strength augmentation, shattering the sim with a single physical strike. "Efficient, Kyra. Decent power regulation. Acceptable," Zelda noted.

The next student tried manipulating a small vortex of wind, eventually managing to buffet the slow simulation apart after several sputtering attempts. "More focus! Your output is inconsistent." Zelda critiqued.

Another cadet attempted to create a small patch of slick ice beneath the simulation, causing it to wobble unsteadily before she finished it with a hesitant energy push.

"Passable, but rely less on environmental tricks." Each student displayed a different facet of vitae use, some more successful than others, all under Zelda's sharp, critical eye.

Then it was Jyn's turn. She bounced into the circle, radiating confidence, a wide grin splitting her face. The Vorthak simulation appeared and lurched forward sluggishly. Jyn didn't move towards it.

Instead, she planted her feet. Drawing a breath and exhaling, she drew her hand back as the air around her crackled audibly and pulsed with red-orange light. With a sharp cry, she thrust her palm forward. A bolt of pure, contained kinetic force, glowing with intense energy, shot out with a faint sonic whump.

It struck the simulation dead center with a heavy thud. The Class F construct instantly buckled and shattered, disintegrating under the focused kinetic impact.

Zelda watched, head tilted with a proud smirk.

"Focused bolts, Jyn. Good power regulation and target acquisition. Execution… clean. Satisfactory".

Jyn beamed, pumping a fist, clearly thrilled despite the reserved comment, and gave Zaeryn a triumphant thumbs-up as she exited the circle.

Zaeryn gave her a nod back, impressed by the clean, powerful shot. 'System. What was that?' he asked mentally, trying to understand Jyn's power.

The familiar, cool text materialized in his mind's eye:

[ANALYZING VITAE SIGNATURE: JYN]

[ABILITY DETECTED: Vitae Kinetic Surge (Manifesting as Projected Force Bolt)]

[Vitae tier: Unknown. Estimated Class: D]

[DESCRIPTION: Jyn channels Vitae into localized bursts of kinetic energy, capable of being projected as concussive force bolts. Observed execution demonstrates good power control and accuracy for Class D, minimal energy bleed-off. Potential for melee amplification or mobility use not observed in this instance but likely part of the same core ability.]

[POTENTIAL FOR MIMICRY: High. Represents a valuable ranged offensive capability with concussive effects.]

Zaeryn responded. 'That's good. I could use a power like hers. And it's a good thing we are already friends, and she seems to like me.'

Yuna was next, stepping forward with her usual quiet focus. The simulation materialized. She didn't rush. Calmly, she extended one hand, index finger pointed. A thin, intensely bright arc of silver-white lightning leaped from her fingertip with a sharp zzzt, striking the simulation precisely on a dimly glowing power node near its core.

The construct seized violently for a split second, spasming as the targeted electrical surge overloaded its rudimentary systems, before dissolving into fading static. The distinct smell of ozone briefly touched the air.

'I like Yuna's too.' He thought. Although he knew he wouldn't have to wait long. Yuna and Jyn were already friends with him, and they seemed to like him just as much as he did even more, so it won't be long until things happen between them and he gets their vitae signature.

Zelda nodded slowly, her gaze approving. "Precision arc strike, Yuna. Excellent targeting and discharge control. Minimal energy expenditure. Highly effective".

This, coming from Zelda, was high praise indeed. Yuna offered a small, pleased smile, relief evident in her eyes as she rejoined the group.

From the sidelines, , Leia let out that audible scoff. "Impressive?" she muttered, dripping disdain, clearly unimpressed by either display despite their efficiency. "No wonder you two are friends. Neither approach would last a second against a real threat. Pathetic".

Zaeryn turned, leaning back with a lazy, challenging smirk aimed straight at her. "Wow, Leia," he called out, his voice carrying easily. "Bitter much? Sounds like someone's jealous they didn't get the 'highly effective' stamp from the instructor".

Leia frowned. First of all, having Zaeryn comment on her statements out of nowhere? She didn't like it. And him saying she was jealous? That was laughable.

"Jealous?" she shot back, her voice dripping ice. "Jealousy implies comparison, anomaly. There is none. Wait until I demonstrate real efficiency before you flap that mouth of yours".

Zaeryn chuckled, "Oh, I'm waiting. If your demonstration is half as impressive as your ego, we might actually see something worth watching today."

Leia opened her mouth to retort, her crimson aura flaring slightly, but Zelda's voice cut across the chamber like a whipcrack.

"You two can flirt on your own time," the instructor called out, her tone totally deadpan,"Right now, Leia, you're up."

Leia's sharp gaze moved from Zaeryn back to the center of the training floor as Instructor Zelda called her name. The disdainful look vanished, replaced by cold, focused determination.

She strode into the combat circle, her movements precise, radiating an aura of contained power that silenced the surrounding whispers.

The Class F simulation materialized before her. Leia didn't even adopt a fighting stance. She simply raised one hand, index finger extended. A tiny, almost invisible pinpoint of pure white flame, no larger than a needle tip, appeared at her fingertip. It pulsed once, humming with contained energy.

With surgical precision, she flicked her wrist. The pinpoint of flame shot forward, not as a blast, but as a perfectly controlled laser beam.

It struck the simulation's central core. There was no explosion, no wasted energy. The simulation simply melted at the point of impact, dissolving silently into static in less than a second. This was Leia just showing off her absolute control.

Zelda watched, arms crossed, her expression unchanging. "Flawless control of your flames, Leia. As expected". Her tone was flat, almost bored. "Now, show us something else. You rely too heavily on basic pyrokinesis. Demonstrate adaptability".

A slow, dangerous grin spread across Leia's face. The challenge in Zelda's voice was exactly what she wanted. "Fine, Instructor," she had an arrogant demeanor, her crimson aura flaring slightly, though this time it felt different – darker, colder. "As you wish."

She gave Zaeryn a challenging look, as if telling him to watch, and then she nodded to Zelda, who reactivated the simulation sequence. Another Class F Vorthak construct flickered into existence.

This time, Leia didn't project heat. She extended both hands, palms open. Tendrils of flickering, black-and-purple flame, disturbingly cold to the senses, snaked out from her fingertips.

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