Today, the inscription tablet read. Arcturus’s signature was jotted underneath it. 

Castor smirked, swiping the message to start his reply. His finger hovered over the writing box. 

Castor knew Arcturus was never concerned with the long term. He needed the issues fixed as soon as possible. An emperor, especially one of an orange core, could only have so much leeway before his people turned against him. After news of the Ruber having their own purple star, Arcturus wanted Mira trained as soon as possible. When Castor offered himself as the new mentor, Arcturus accepted without concern for how Commander Apollo would fulfill his legate vacancy. 

Now only two weeks later, Arcturus had moved up his timetables. Castor had expected it. The month's time frame that had been given was on a whim and before the Ruber had attacked the crucial B-OBS-2 system in the Taurus sector. 

Sliding his finger down the writing box, he prepared the three-word response: See you soon. He directed the message to be sent to Ophiuchus Palace after the next bridge had been opened. Castor expected that to coincide with his departure there.

He turned the tablet off and clipped it into his waistband. His eyes moved to the range corridor Mira hovered in front of. 

She trembled, her chest hot with a purple glow as she awaited the instruction.

“Hold it!” Castor commanded.

Mira felt the searing energy continue to build up in her core. It burned. Just in front of her was a circular target at the end of the long hallway. 

“Show those stars what you think,” Castor encouraged.

The energy swelled as Mira let her emotions take control. It was ready to explode out of her at a moment's notice. 

“Now!” Castor yelled.

Mira let out a guttural scream as she cut the pressure. In a controlled beam in front of her, a flash of light scorched through the corridor. The target at the back wall disintegrated into its finest particles as the beam struck it. Dust flung around, coating the room in a gray smog. 

Mira stumbled backwards in the air. Her vision flickered in and out as she tried to hold herself up. The amount of exertion had just about taken everything out of her.

“That was stellar,” Castor applauded. “Today’s progress report is already shaping up to be your best.” 

Mira grabbed for her nebulant on her waistband. She brought it up to her lips and took a deep inhale of the nebular dust. Her body shook with the resurgence of energy. Still, she was sore, particularly in her chest. 

“So the meeting is happening today?” Mira questioned. She had been pushing herself to her limits the past couple weeks. Despite it being a relatively short amount of time compared to her extended stay at the academy, she was more invigorated than ever before. 

Castor grinned. “Arcturus insists that it does.”

The Emperor—Mira had the urgency of the Emperor. Of course, she wasn’t entirely surprised by it. Her whole life she was taught she was of importance to the Greater Systems. Still hearing his name in regard to her potential made her core ignite. She hadn’t quite earned the same amount of excitement under Rigel’s mentorship. She was glad she had a new mentor that could change that. 

“So what will you tell them? Do you think I’m ready?” Mira questioned, floating down to the ground. 

“I would hate to play with your eagerness, Mira. I’ll let you know the results of the meeting after it occurs,” he replied. He glanced at his watch, an electromagnetic vibration echoing through their earpieces. “And would you look at that? I’ll see you later, Mira. Practice some more pulses and flares while I'm gone.”

Maybe today would be the day.

*BREAK*

Stephen, Yue, and Atlas were in Leftward Hall with Rigel. They were tasked with stamina practice, trying to hold their energy in a plasma shield for an extended period of time. Stephen stood sturdy, his flames refusing to flicker as he reached the minute mark. Yue had a similar success, but her core strength limited how long she could hold it. She had a commitment to matching Stephen, though, despite her mismatched strength. 

Atlas struggled as he always did. His flames faded within a matter of 30 seconds before he had to catch his breath with the nebulant to conjure another. It's not like he cared, and Rigel knew that. Training would still be required in his curriculum, but his new opportunity would provide him plenty of leeway and, except in the worst scenarios, keep him off the battlefield. 

Rigel continued to provide them words of encouragement. He prided himself on what he considered a success. Since the lecture from Castor a couple of weeks ago, he was feeling much more confident in himself. He felt his new training regimen would keep him out of trouble with Ophiuchus, though he knew there was no chance of getting Mira back from Castor’s grasp. It didn’t seem like she would want to come back either. For now, though, he could balance his troubles, or so he thought. 

Stephen broke from his stance, the dark blue plasma shield fading. 

Yue was primed to celebrate before her smile faded as her attention was directed to the training hall entrance. 

Stephen pointed. “Rigel?” 

Rigel slowly turned around to face the disturbance to his practice. There were two guards in capital uniforms, one man and one woman, pacing over to where they practiced in the back of the training hall. Their sashes were both dark blue. Rigel gave an awkward short wave. 

Their faces remained cold. “You’re requested,” the woman commanded, not offering a reciprocal greeting of any sort.

“Sorry? By whom?” Rigel asked. He took out his earpiece and twisted it, wondering if he missed a message. He put it back in.

“Save the questions,” the guard responded, looking over to the three of his students.

“Ok, sorry, didn’t mean to offend,” Rigel responded, confused. The guards turned, expecting him to follow. He did, turning back once to look at the three of them. They looked unsure of what was happening. Fear was apparent on Atlas’s face.

When the doors shut and Rigel was out of view, Stephen turned to the both of them. “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it,” Atlas replied.

“Those were Ophiuchus soldiers. It can’t be anything good,” Yue added.