Second Company – Bestor

“Move it, you weaklings!”
Brutus’s voice thundered across the training field.
“Don’t tell me you’re already tired!”

The warriors were gasping, bent under the weight of pain.
Gozen and Yano were on the ground, breathless.

To Gozen, it felt impossible.
He had never trained this hard in his entire life.

The two exchanged a glance.

Gozen clenched his teeth.
He sprang back to his feet and charged.
One step.
Two.

Then, before even crossing blades with the instructor…
he collapsed to the ground.

Unconscious.

Castorian Tower – Throne Hall

At the top floor of the Tower opened a vast, circular chamber.

The great glass walls overlooked the entire Plain of Gommhon.
From there, one could clearly see:
the three Companies, on their rocky plateaus;
the black Singularity on the horizon.

Despite its name, there was no throne in the hall.

Only ancient carpets,
tapestries depicting unknown worlds,
and four leather armchairs arranged around a black wooden table.

At its center stood a single ornament:
a flower of ice.

Alive.
Imperturbable.

Seated there were the three commanders.

Beatrix of the Light — Commander of the First Company.
Young, radiant.
Blond hair carefully braided.
Blue eyes, deep and sharp.
Her fine golden armor reflected the glow of the lanterns.

Beside her, in stark contrast, sat Lawrence the Beast — Commander of the Second Company.
Two meters of muscle.
Skin the color of wet earth.
Yellow-ochre eyes of a predator.
A dark green tank top, a lit cigar between his fingers.
A permanent expression of defiance.

And then Folemix the Keen.
Silent as a shadow.
Black hair.
Gray complexion.
Dull violet eyes.
His green armor made him look like an insect poised to strike.

His Third Company did not fight.
It managed data, logistics, strategies.
Folemix was feared more for its mind than for its blade.

Lawrence dropped into an armchair.
Lit his cigar.

A thick bluish smoke spread through the hall.

Beatrix looked at him with disgust, about to speak,
but the western door burst open.

An imposing figure entered.

A burlap cloak.
Broad shoulders.
Blue eyes crackling like lightning.

Julius of the Thunder.

Supreme Commander of the Castorians.

Beatrix and Folemix bowed.
Lawrence remained seated, cigar between his teeth.

“Please, captains,” Julius said calmly.
“There’s no need for such ceremony.
We’re among friends.”

He sat down.

The council began.

“Alset claims that what took control of Nitra
is an ancient force.
Powerful.”

Julius paused.

“Almost certainly originating from Morvian.”

Lawrence snorted.
“And did he also explain why he sent an armed unit
into that stinking hole, without a Singularity?”

“Please, Lawrence,” Julius replied.
“Let’s try to understand before judging.”

Beatrix crossed her arms.
“I would like to know why the detector
pointed to that planet.”

Lawrence turned to her, a mocking smile on his face.
“Maybe your soldiers messed up the coordinates”

Beatrix’s gaze turned to ice.
“You know that’s impossible.
The coordinates are verified twice.
Kato checked them personally.”

Lawrence laughed.
“Maybe he’s not as reliable as you think.”

Beatrix jumped to her feet.

Julius placed a hand on her arm.
“Calm down, Beatrix... Sit, please.”

She obeyed, never taking her eyes off Lawrence.

“The matter is more serious than it seems,” Julius continued.
“There may be dark forces at work.
Forces we don’t know.”

Folemix spoke for the first time.
Low voice.
Precise.
“Two possibilities.
Either it was a coincidence…
or it wasn’t.”

He paused.

“If it was an accident, there’s no reason to be alarmed.
But if it wasn’t…
someone is moving the pieces.”

Silence.

“And we will have to understand who.
And why.”

Julius nodded.

“Keep watch over your men.
From today on, personally record all teleport coordinates.
Coordinate with Alset on every target planet.”

His gaze drifted beyond the Plain of Gommhon.

“I will investigate further.
For now, that’s all.”

The three commanders stood.

Julius remained seated.

Lawrence was the last to head for the exit.

“What do you really think, my friend?”
Julius asked behind him.

Lawrence stopped.
He did not turn.
“I think we’ve grown old, Julius.
Once, we crossed galaxies,
getting our hands dirty with the blood of those monsters.”

He clenched his fists.

“Now the real soldiers are those scrawny types in white coats…
this is no longer our time.”

Julius smiled faintly.

“Perhaps you’re right.
But you also know where
the old way of fighting led us.”

Lawrence lowered his gaze.
“Maybe Jinrai understood it.
Maybe he was right to disappear.”

Julius looked at him with genuine affection.
"And yet you stayed...
To protect your boys"

Lawrence turned.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“I stayed only because
I enjoy killing those monsters, Julius...
Nothing more.”

He left.
The door slammed shut with a thunderous boom.
Julius kept staring at it.

Then he murmured with a melancholy smile on his lips:
“Of course, Lawrence.
For nothing else…”