“Enough!”

A commanding voice rang out, instantly silencing the heated clash between the feuding madams. The tension in the room was palpable as all eyes turned toward the source of the interruption. Suddenly, with an effortless grace, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the shadows, her presence alone enough to demand attention. It was none other than Ilya Bogandov—the most formidable and influential woman among the madams. Her reputation preceded her, and in that moment, it became clear that any further conflict would not be tolerated under her watch.

Her face was filled with anger and irritation, scaring other madams. As Chloe and Freya sat back on their throne silent. She looked at Vantheos and Saiphee seemingly hiding in one of the pillars protecting themselves. 

“I sincerely apologize for the disturbance they have caused,” Ilya said, her tone both firm and composed as she addressed the gathered individuals. Her piercing gaze swept across the room, ensuring that her words carried the weight of her authority.

“You are now free to step away from the pillar and make your way here for the formal acknowledgment,” she continued, her voice steady and commanding. There was no room for hesitation—her words were both an invitation and an expectation, leaving no doubt that she was in complete control of the situation.

“How utterly irresponsible of you, Katerina,” a sharp voice cut through the lingering tension, laced with clear disapproval. “Allowing them to bicker so openly in front of our warriors—have you no sense of discipline?”

The room turned toward the new speaker, and from the shadows emerged Ria Smith, her presence as striking as her reputation. She was no ordinary figure—she bore the legendary weapon from Venus, a symbol of power that few could ever hope to wield.

Katerina, however, remained unfazed by the rebuke. With a casual shrug, she leaned back slightly, her expression one of sheer amusement. “What can I say?” she replied, her voice dripping with nonchalance. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a spectacle. I figured I might as well enjoy the entertainment while it lasts.” A playful smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, making it clear that she had no regrets about her actions—or lack thereof.

Saiphee cast a brief glance at Quartz, who now stood beside Katerina. His usually neat hair was disheveled, a clear testament to the chaos the madams had caused earlier. Though he remained silent, the way he ran a hand through his tousled strands hinted at his lingering frustration.

"Let's go," Vantheos said firmly, his voice steady and resolute. Without waiting for a response, he started toward Madam Ilya, his strides confident and deliberate. He moved with purpose, yet there was a certain caution in the way he gestured for Saiphee to follow, ensuring he stayed close as they navigated through the still-tense atmosphere.

A strange feeling settled in Saiphee’s chest—a quiet yet persistent sense that something was off. Someone was missing.

As his gaze drifted toward the grand throne, he scanned the room carefully. The madams were all seated, their expressions composed as they waited for him and Vantheos to approach. And yet… something wasn’t right. It took him only a moment to realize what it was.

Madam Julia was absent.

His brows furrowed slightly as unease crept into his mind. Julia’s presence was never one to go unnoticed—she was a force in her own right, someone who commanded attention wherever she went. For her to be missing at such a crucial gathering was more than unusual; it was unsettling.

Strange… he mused, his thoughts racing. Where could she be?

Saiphee made a mental note to bring this up later. Perhaps Quartz would have some answers. For now, he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. But the question lingered at the back of his mind, refusing to be ignored. 

“We shall now commence the Acknowledgement,” Madam Ilya announced, her voice ringing with authority, carrying across the grand hall.

With a deliberate motion, she raised her hand, signaling the other madams. Without hesitation, they rose from their seats in perfect unison, each one gripping their weapon—a symbol of their might, their legacy, and the power they upheld. The air crackled with a quiet intensity, as if the very room itself recognized the significance of the moment.

Madam Ilya took a measured step forward, her gaze steady and filled with unwavering resolve. Then, with a voice both commanding and solemn, she spoke:

"In the name of our sacred order, we bestow upon you our blessings. May the strength of our ancestors flow through your veins, granting you the resilience to stand unwavering in the face of adversity. May wisdom light your path, guiding your decisions with clarity and foresight. May courage take root in your heart, so that no challenge, no foe, nor any force of fate may shake your resolve. We offer you the will of those who came before us—their knowledge, their might, their unyielding spirit. Carry it forward with honor, for you now walk a path far greater than yourself.”

A hush fell over the hall as her words settled, their weight pressing upon those who received them. This was not merely a formality; it was an oath, a bond, a sacred passage into something far more profound.

Once the Acknowledgment ceremony concluded, Quartz led the way as he guided Saiphee and Vantheos back toward the surface of the space station. The quiet hum of the station's corridors was the only sound that accompanied their steps, the weight of the formal ceremony still lingering in the air. As they walked, a sense of calm began to settle over them, though there was still an undercurrent of tension that neither could shake.

Vantheos, however, was ever watchful. Without a word, he reached for Saiphee’s hand, his grip firm but gentle. It was a protective gesture, one that spoke volumes about the unspoken bond between them. His fingers curled around Saiphee’s, as if to shield him from any danger, visible or hidden in the shadows of the station. Though the corridors were seemingly safe, Vantheos’s protective instinct never wavered. He kept a careful pace, always mindful of Saiphee’s safety.

The touch was reassuring, grounding Saiphee in the moment, a reminder that, no matter what lay ahead, he wasn't facing it alone. Vantheos’s presence beside him was a quiet but constant shield, a steadfast promise that he would be there to guard him, no matter the threat.

“Are you sure you're alright...?” Vantheos asked, his voice laced with genuine concern. His eyes locked onto Saiphee, scanning him carefully as if looking for any sign of distress or discomfort. The protective nature in him was clear—his gaze softened, a subtle but unmistakable worry flickering in his expression as he took a step closer, wanting to make sure that Saiphee was truly okay after everything that had happened.

Saiphee, sensing Vantheos’s concern, gave him a reassuring look. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me,” he replied, offering a small smile to ease his companion’s mind. "What about you? You’re not letting everything get to you, are you?" He could see the weight of the situation hanging over Vantheos, the silent burden he carried, always putting others first.

Vantheos’s gaze softened, and he gave a small nod. "I'm okay," he said firmly, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice. “But if you’re not, you need to tell me. I’m not letting anything happen to you. Not now, not ever.” His hand tightened around Saiphee's, as if to emphasize his resolve. His tone was both steady and protective, a silent promise that he would do whatever it took to keep Saiphee safe.

“Quartz?” Saiphee’s voice broke the silence that had settled between them as they made their way back to the surface. Quartz had been unusually quiet the entire time, his focus solely on guiding them through the labyrinthine corridors of the station. But there was something about his demeanor that caught Saiphee’s attention—his face, usually composed, was unnervingly pale, as though something was weighing heavily on his mind.

“Oh, um, yeah?” Quartz replied, his voice a little more distant than usual as he glanced at Saiphee, as if pulled out of his thoughts. His gaze lingered for a moment, but there was something guarded in the way he looked at Saiphee—almost as if he were debating whether or not to say more.

Saiphee, sensing that something was off, decided to ask the question that had been bothering him since the ceremony. “I noticed Madam Julia wasn’t on her throne during the Acknowledgment… Is everything alright? Why wasn’t she there?” His curiosity was mixed with a hint of concern, but more than anything, he was trying to make sense of the absence.

Quartz paused, his eyes momentarily drifting away, as if searching for the right words—or perhaps avoiding them. He seemed hesitant, a rare crack in his usual composed exterior. “I…” He trailed off, clearly struggling to find an answer. His brows furrowed slightly, his hands tightening ever so slightly on his own sides. “I don’t know either…” he finally admitted, his voice quieter than before. There was an unease in his tone, as if he, too, was perplexed and concerned by Madam Julia’s absence but didn’t have the answers Saiphee sought.

The uncertainty in Quartz’s voice only deepened the mystery, and for a moment, the silence that followed felt heavier.

“Don’t dwell on it too much,” Quartz said, his voice steady but carrying an underlying firmness as they reached the lounge on the surface. The doors slid open, and the familiar, calming atmosphere of the lounge greeted them. Quartz paused for a moment, glancing back at Saiphee. “That’s my job, not yours,” he added, his tone now more like the Quartz Saiphee was used to—distant yet somehow reassuring, as if he were trying to shield him from worrying about something that was beyond his control.

Saiphee gave a slow nod, though his brow furrowed slightly in thought. “...Alright,” he replied, though the uncertainty in his voice betrayed his true feelings. He didn’t fully understand why Quartz had become so guarded, so distant all of a sudden. But for now, he let it go, not wanting to press further.

With that, Quartz turned away, already shifting his focus to the next task at hand. His movements were purposeful, his attention already slipping back into the rhythm of work.

But as Quartz walked away, a feeling of unease lingered in the air, one that Saiphee couldn’t shake. Something about Quartz’s behavior, his sudden shift in attitude, was off—more so than usual. There was a coldness in him now, an edge that hadn’t been there before, and it left Saiphee wondering what, if anything, was troubling his companion. However, with Quartz retreating into his responsibilities, Saiphee couldn’t help but feel the growing distance between them—an unspoken tension that lingered far longer than he would have liked.

The two sat in silence, the quiet stretching between them, but there was an unspoken tension hanging in the air. Saiphee glanced at Vantheos, his gaze searching, as if trying to read something in his expression. The weight of the silence finally broke as Saiphee spoke, his voice soft yet filled with a hint of uncertainty.