"That concludes your training," Quartz said, his voice flat and detached, barely sparing a glance at Saiphee and Vantheos as he quickly turned and walked away, already engrossed in his holographic tabs.

Saiphee sighed, his body feeling the weight of the intense session. He sank down onto the floor, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I do appreciate Quartz taking the time to teach me," he said, his voice soft, his thoughts still lingering on the whirlwind of the training. "Even if he’s a bit… gruff about it."

Vantheos smiled, settling down in front of Saiphee, his body still energized despite the rigorous training. "It's his duty, after all," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. "Though, I think he'd rather be anywhere else than teaching us."

Saiphee tilted his head slightly, a curious expression on his face. "So, is this training really that important? I mean, it feels like there's so much to learn, and I’m still trying to figure it all out," he said, his voice laced with a touch of uncertainty. "Humans are nice, aren’t they? I mean, Quartz may be a bit tough, but he does care, right?"

Vantheos’ gaze softened as he looked at Saiphee, his heart warming at the way Saiphee’s eyes searched for reassurance. "Training is always important," he said with a gentle but firm tone. "Without it, you wouldn’t improve. You wouldn’t be able to face what’s ahead. It’s the same for everyone, no matter where they’re from." He smiled brightly at Saiphee, the warmth in his eyes almost radiating. "As for humans… Quartz did tell me that not all of them are nice," he added with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

Saiphee raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How’s that? Are humans more difficult to beat than the other enemies you’ve faced on your journeys?" His voice was genuine, his curiosity clear as he looked up at Vantheos.

Vantheos laughed softly, his expression thoughtful. "Hahaha! Well, to be honest, I’ve never actually been to Earth," he admitted, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "I’m not exactly an expert on human nature."

Saiphee’s eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really? That’s surprising. I thought you had been to all kinds of planets. Earth sounds like such a strange place," he said, his voice full of wonder, clearly fascinated by the idea.

Vantheos smiled, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through him. "Yeah, I’ve traveled to a lot of planets, but Earth… it’s always been off my radar, so to speak," he said, his voice a little softer now. "But that’s not what you asked about. You wanted to hear about my interstellar journeys, right?"

Saiphee leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes! Please, tell me about one of your adventures!" His enthusiasm was contagious, and Vantheos found himself caught up in it, his heart beating a little faster. There was something about the way Saiphee’s eyes lit up when he spoke, something that made Vantheos want to share everything with him.

Vantheos cleared his throat, trying to shake off the strange flutter in his chest. "Oh… alright," he said, his voice warm, as if he were offering something personal. "Let me think… Okay, there was this one time when my crew and I were assigned to visit Mercury. Sounds simple enough, right?"

Saiphee nodded eagerly, hanging on every word. "Mercury? I’ve heard it’s a pretty dangerous place. What happened?"

Vantheos’ smile faded slightly as he recalled the experience. "Yeah, it’s not exactly a vacation spot. The planet is so close to the sun, the heat is unbearable, and the atmosphere is full of dangerous gases. We were sent there to investigate a strange signal we picked up from the surface. When we landed, we discovered something… unsettling." He paused, his expression darkening slightly. "There were people there—at least, they looked like people—but they were… well, not themselves. They were brain dead, moving around like they were in a daze. It was like they were driven by something else, something… unnatural."

Saiphee’s expression shifted, a mix of concern and fascination. "That sounds terrifying. What happened? How did you survive?"

Vantheos chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Let’s just say they weren’t exactly the welcoming type," he said with a half-smile. "We had to make a quick escape before things got too out of hand. The whole experience was a reminder of just how dangerous the universe can be. Not every planet is friendly, and not every life form is… well, alive in the way we understand it."

Saiphee’s eyes were wide, clearly captivated by the story. "Wow… that sounds like something out of a nightmare. But you made it out, right? You and your crew?"

Vantheos nodded, his smile softening as he looked at Saiphee. "Yeah, we made it out. Barely, but we did. It’s just one of those stories that sticks with you, you know? Reminds you how fragile everything is."

There was a brief silence between them, and Vantheos couldn’t help but notice the way Saiphee was looking at him—his gaze full of admiration and respect. It made something stir inside him, a warmth that spread through his chest. He felt a deeper connection to Saiphee in that moment, something that went beyond just shared experiences.

"You really have seen a lot," Saiphee said quietly, almost to himself. "It’s amazing… I don’t think I could handle something like that."

Vantheos smiled, his heart swelling with something he couldn’t quite name. "You’d be surprised. You’ve got a lot more strength in you than you think," he said, his voice steady but carrying an unspoken tenderness. "I believe in you, Saiphee."

Saiphee blinked, his face flushing slightly at the unexpected words. He looked down, his fingers fidgeting, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Vantheos," he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet sincerity.

For a moment, the air between them felt charged, heavy with something unspoken. Vantheos wanted to say more, to reach out, but instead, he simply nodded, his smile still lingering. He felt a pull toward Saiphee, something deeper than admiration, something that made his heart race in a way he didn’t understand.

"Anytime," Vantheos replied, his voice steady, though his heart was beating a little faster than usual. As their eyes met again, there was a moment of quiet understanding between them, something more than just friendship. Vantheos wasn’t sure where it would lead, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Saiphee felt it too.