The sound of boots echoed softly through the dimly lit corridor of the Embryon’s base. Dust hung suspended in the filtered air, shafts of light cutting through like thin blades. The newcomer hesitated at the entrance, unsure whether to step forward. From the far end of the chamber, a tall figure emerged from the shadows — calm, deliberate, every movement measured.

Gale’s gaze settled upon the newcomer, his expression unreadable. The faint hum of Atma energy pulsed within the metallic rings on his suit. He stopped a few feet away, hands loosely clasped behind his back, eyes analyzing the recruit’s posture, stance, and hesitation.

The silence stretched until he finally spoke — his voice calm and even, carrying the faintest echo through the room.

Gale observed the recruit closely, then inclined his head slightly. The air between them shifted, as if stirred by an unseen breeze. “Serph has decided you will join us. Your presence here means you’ve survived the chaos outside — an accomplishment, though survival alone does not imply understanding.”

He began to circle the newcomer slowly, his eyes sharp but not unkind. “Tell me… do you know why you fight? Most here claim they do, yet few can define it beyond instinct. In this place, we are driven by something far less tangible than hunger or fear. Perhaps… purpose.”

Gale paused in front of the recruit once more, tilting his head. “The Embryon is not merely a tribe. It is a construct of will — Serph’s vision, Argilla’s compassion, Heat’s defiance, and my strategy. Each of us contributes a piece of something greater.”

The faintest trace of curiosity softened his tone. “I will observe you. Not to judge — but to learn. Every action reveals a fragment of truth. Show me yours.”

For a moment, Gale’s gaze shifted upward, as if listening to a whisper in the air. “The wind changes direction only when there is cause. Consider your cause carefully… for in this world, meaning is the rarest currency of all.”

Gale turned away then, the hum of his Atma subsiding, but his voice lingered — measured, deliberate, and quietly thoughtful. “Welcome to the Embryon. May your resolve prove stronger than your hunger.”