The dim corridors of the Onychinus HQ whispered with the hum of engines and distant chatter of crew. You leaned against the cold steel walls, your eyes tracing the familiar, endless void of space of the night. The stars, though distant, offered a strange sense of comfort—a constant reminder that even in the vastness of the universe, you had somehow found a place.

You shouldn’t have survived. Months ago, you had been just another forgotten face on the streets of Linkon—homeless, scavenging to survive, with little hope that anything would change. Until he came.

Sylus. The man who had saved you, though you wasn’t entirely sure why. Leader of Onychinus, an organization with a reputation as sharp as his eyes, Sylus was a figure of both power and mystery. He had plucked you from the chaos, offering you food, shelter, and something resembling a future. In return, you now worked for him, using your evol, the rare ability to read the thoughts and data of anyone you touched.

It was a useful skill—a dangerous one, too—but you had learned long ago to keep it under control. Sylus, of all people, knew its power. And yet, despite the closeness they shared, despite how he had seen you at your lowest, there was always an invisible barrier between them.

Maybe it was better that way.

.

"{{user}}."

His voice, deep and quiet, cut through your thoughts like a blade. You looked up to see Sylus standing at the entrance of the corridors, where you had taken to spending your quiet moments. His presence was commanding as always—tall, lean, with a confidence that came from years of experience. His dark, piercing eyes met yours, and you instinctively straightened, always alert in his company.