Present day

  Lyrian sat in his technomancer vehicle, tapping absently on the console as the sun still hung in the sky, just beginning its slow descent toward the horizon. The sleek car hummed quietly, the dashboard illuminated by a faint blue glow from the hologram projected by his wristband. The hologram flickered as he swiped through the data, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. A complex report scrolled in front of him, graphs and charts shifting as his fingers danced over the controls. He didn’t even notice how late it was getting, too absorbed in whatever puzzle he was trying to solve.

  A slight breeze stirred outside as Kaelen finally appeared from the entrance of his building, his silhouette sharp against the dimming light. He walked toward the car, his steps unhurried, but his presence enough to draw Lyrian out of his data trance.

  Without a sound, Kaelen opened the passenger door and slid into the seat, grinning mischievously. “Evening,” he said, voice low.

  Lyrian jumped in his seat, letting out an undignified yelp as he almost knocked the hologram off its axis. "What the—!"

  Kaelen burst into laughter, leaning back into his seat. “Did I scare you, Lyrian? I thought technomancers had nerves of steel.”

  Lyrian shot him an irritated look but couldn’t hold it for long. His usual easygoing nature kicked in, and a small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, well, if you didn’t sneak up like a damn shadow, I wouldn’t have to worry about premature heart failure. You should come with a warning sign, man.”

  Kaelen shrugged, eyes glinting. “Can’t help it. Shadows are in my blood, remember?”

  Lyrian huffed a laugh, shutting off the hologram and letting the vehicle’s normal controls reappear on the dashboard. “Yeah, yeah. Keep making jokes—one of these days you’re gonna give me a heart attack, and then who’s gonna patch you up when you piss off Andras?”

  Kaelen grinned, buckling his seatbelt. “I’ll just have to rely on my charm.”

  Lyrian snorted. “You? Charming? Please. You’re lucky people find you useful.”

  Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “Useful, huh? I think you just admitted you can’t do without me.”

  Lyrian gave him a sidelong glance, his smirk deepening. “Let’s not go that far, alright?”

  They chuckled together, the sound easing the tension that had seemed to linger in the car when Kaelen first stepped in. But it didn’t take long for him to notice something else—Lyrian’s hands had been trembling slightly when he shut off the hologram. And his usual quick wit seemed a bit more... strained than usual.

  Kaelen leaned back in his seat, his tone shifting. “Alright, what’s going on, Lyrian? You look like you haven’t slept in a week. What’s the reading material today that’s got you so tense?”

  Lyrian’s face tightened, the playfulness draining away. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, which, now that Kaelen looked closer, seemed a little more unkempt than usual. "It’s been a hell of a week, that’s what."

  Kaelen waited, knowing Lyrian wasn’t the type to dive straight into serious talk unless it really weighed on him.

  Lyrian finally spoke, his voice quieter, tinged with exhaustion. "Since the incident in the forest... Andras has been on a tear. He’s gone full force trying to track down Varyk and his entire operation. It’s like his life depends on it.”

  Kaelen frowned. “Andras? Pushing harder than usual? That’s... odd. The guy’s always methodical, but never reckless.”

  “Exactly,” Lyrian muttered, staring out the windshield, fingers tapping absently on the console. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but... it’s probably tied to the fact that they know each other.”

  Kaelen blinked, stupefied. “Wait... they know each other?!”

  Lyrian turned his head slowly, narrowing his eyes in confusion. “You really don’t remember? Kaelen, we’ve talked about this. The night you were... taken. When Andras came to get us out, he and Varyk had a pretty nasty exchange of words. It wasn’t some random encounter.”

  Kaelen’s face darkened, a familiar haze of confusion settling over him. “That night...” He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “It’s like a fog in my head. I remember bits and pieces, but everything else...” He exhaled sharply. “My power was going wild, Lyrian. I wasn’t exactly in my right mind.”

  Lyrian’s expression softened, shifting from confusion to concern. “Yeah... I figured.” He paused, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “Have you... done anything about that? About your power?”

  Kaelen stiffened instinctively, feeling the urge to brush the topic aside. But this was Lyrian. If there was anyone he could talk to, it was him. The only family he had left, really. He couldn’t keep dodging the question.

  “Actually, yeah,” Kaelen admitted, leaning back in the seat, his voice a little more grounded. “I’ve started... trying to connect with it. To accept the shadows instead of just fighting them off. I’ve been training, focusing on controlling it rather than letting it control me.”

  Lyrian’s eyes brightened slightly, though there was still a hint of worry there. “How’s that going?”

  Kaelen smirked, a mix of humor and honesty in his voice. “Well, I’ve gotten used to the idea of them being around. I can move them a bit—bend them to my will, but only for a short time. After that, it’s like I’ve run a marathon in two minutes. Total exhaustion.”

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  Lyrian nodded, his lips pulling into a faint smile. “So, baby steps then. Guess it’s better than nothing.”

  Kaelen shot him a playful look. “Better than you trying to zap my shadows with one of your gadgets.”

  Lyrian chuckled. “Hey, don’t tempt me. You might just find yourself glowing in the dark next time.”

  They both laughed, the tension easing a bit between them, their camaraderie as solid as ever. The weight of everything they’d been dealing with started to lift, if only for a moment.

  Then, without warning, the dashboard lit up, a hologram flickering to life between them. Commander Andras’ sharp features appeared, his eyes immediately scanning the vehicle. His gaze locked on Kaelen, who sat up straighter as soon as he noticed Andras' expression.

  “Kaelen. Perfect timing,” Andras said, his voice clipped but efficient, as usual. “I see you're already with Lyrian. That’ll save us some time.”

  Lyrian frowned, sharing a quick glance with Kaelen. “Commander, what’s going on?”

  Andras didn’t waste any time. “We’ve tracked down one of Varyk’s hideouts. It’s in a remote sector outside the city. Intel confirms it’s one of his more active locations. We’re assembling a strike team to hit it before they can relocate. I want you both in on this.”

  Kaelen’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, just like that? We’re going in tonight?”

  Andras nodded firmly, not giving them an inch of leeway. “Yes. Tonight. We can’t afford to sit on this information. We’ve only got a small window to catch them off guard, and I need every capable hand. That includes you, Kaelen.”

  Lyrian shifted in his seat, trying to process the sudden mission. “Commander, with all due respect, this feels... rushed. What’s the backup plan? What’s the recon? We can’t just charge in blind.”

  Andras’ eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained cold and measured. “I wouldn’t bring you in without a plan. We have a team on standby, and scouts have been monitoring the area for the past twelve hours. The intel is solid, but this is a time-sensitive op. Varyk’s on the move, and we don’t know when he’ll slip out again.”

  Kaelen exchanged a quick look with Lyrian, both of them trying to process the situation rationally, but the commander’s urgency was clear. There wasn’t much room for negotiation.

  “I understand, Commander,” Kaelen said carefully, his mind already working through the possibilities. “But we need to make sure we don’t end up walking into a trap. You know Varyk; he’s not just going to sit and wait for us.”

  Andras' jaw tightened. “I’m well aware of Varyk’s capabilities, Kaelen. The teams are being assembled as we speak. Once they’re here, we’ll go over the mission strategy. You have ten minutes to get to Core. Don’t waste them.”

  With that, the hologram flickered out, leaving the inside of the vehicle in silence.

  Kaelen exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “So much for a quiet night.”

  Lyrian let out a slow breath, staring at the now dark screen. “Yeah, no kidding. Guess we’re back on Varyk duty.”

  Kaelen shrugged, already mentally preparing himself. “Well, better to deal with this now than let it fester. Plus, if Andras is this worked up, there’s a good chance we might actually catch him off guard.”

  Lyrian gave him a tight smile. “Let’s hope you're right. Because if we don’t, this is going to get a lot messier than we can handle.”

  Kaelen glanced sideways at Lyrian, a teasing grin already forming on his lips. "So, you think your precious ride here can handle Commander Andras’ ‘get there fast’ orders? Or are we—"

  Before Kaelen could even finish the sentence, Lyrian’s hand shot forward and slammed the accelerator, the car responding with a sharp, mechanical hum. The entire vehicle seemed to lurch as if coming to life, the blue lights on the dashboard pulsing brighter as the new tech systems kicked into overdrive. The smooth hum of the engine turned into a low, powerful growl as the car rocketed forward.

  Kaelen barely had time to react as the car surged ahead, his body pressing back against the seat. “Whoa—!”

  Lyrian smirked, his eyes fixed on the road as they shot down the street, weaving between buildings and passing pedestrians. “You were saying?”

  The vehicle was a marvel of technomancer design—sleek, efficient, almost organic in how it responded to Lyrian’s commands. The holographic interface flickered, adjusting to the speed, and the blue arcs of energy flowing through the dashboard made the car feel like it was coursing with magic itself. It wasn’t just a machine—it was an extension of Lyrian’s will.

  They tore through the streets, and Kaelen’s eyes widened as the world outside blurred. "Alright, alright!" Kaelen laughed, gripping the edge of the seat. "I take it back! Your car’s a beast."

  Lyrian chuckled, keeping one hand on the wheel while the other flicked through the hologram controls. "Told you this thing wasn’t just for show. Don’t underestimate a technomancer’s ride."

  The city streets zoomed by in a kaleidoscope of lights and shadows, and Kaelen found himself both impressed and slightly terrified by how easily Lyrian navigated the crowded roads. The car’s engine hummed with an advanced, futuristic tone, more magic than mechanics, allowing them to glide effortlessly between lanes and swerve around slower vehicles with razor-sharp precision.

  “Do you have this thing on autopilot or something?” Kaelen asked, half-joking, half-serious as they took a sharp corner at a ridiculous speed.

  Lyrian grinned. “Please, autopilot is for amateurs.”

  As they approached an upcoming intersection, a massive turn loomed ahead. Kaelen glanced nervously at Lyrian, catching the glint in his friend's eyes. "Don't even think about it."

  "Too late," Lyrian said with a wicked grin.

  In one fluid motion, Lyrian spun the wheel, and the car drifted sharply into the turn. The tires screeched against the pavement, the sound echoing off the nearby buildings as they slid effortlessly through the corner. Sparks of energy shot from the car's base as it maintained perfect balance, the advanced tech humming and adjusting in real-time.

  Kaelen braced himself as the world seemed to tilt for a moment, his heart jumping into his throat. "Holy—!" he yelled, gripping onto the side of the seat for dear life.

  The car straightened out of the drift as if it were nothing, speeding down the next street like a bullet. Lyrian’s expression was one of pure satisfaction, a small chuckle escaping his lips as he glanced at Kaelen.

  “You alright back there, Shadow-man? Still think my car’s just for show?”

  Kaelen took a moment to catch his breath before he shot a mock glare at Lyrian. “I’m never questioning you or this deathtrap again. But I swear, if you pull another stunt like that, I’m walking next time.”

  Lyrian laughed, the sound light and infectious. “Walking’s for the slow. I thought you’d appreciate a little excitement.”

  Kaelen couldn’t help but grin, the adrenaline from the ride still pumping through him. “Excitement, sure. But I wasn’t exactly looking to become one with the pavement today.”

  They continued speeding through the city, weaving past other cars and narrowly dodging pedestrians as the futuristic cityscape zipped by in a blur of lights. The vehicle’s internal systems adjusted seamlessly, providing data feeds on the quickest routes and monitoring the car’s energy levels, all while keeping them on course for the mission.

  “Almost there,” Lyrian said, his voice now focused as the car zoomed toward the outskirts of the city. “Let’s just hope Andras has a plan that doesn’t involve us crashing into another ambush.”

  Kaelen relaxed slightly, though he couldn’t help but keep one hand on the door handle, just in case Lyrian got any more bright ideas. “Yeah, let’s hope so.”

  As they approached the meeting point, Lyrian eased off the accelerator, the car slowing down smoothly, the engine shifting back to a lower hum. The two exchanged glances, the intensity of the upcoming mission settling back into focus.

  "Remind me to never let you drive again," Kaelen muttered, though a grin was still playing at the corners of his lips.

  "Admit it," Lyrian said with a smirk, "you loved it."

  “Yeah, like I love getting punched in the face.”