Archas stepped out onto the practice track carrying a tray of freshly baked snacks. She set it down on the table with a that made Eddie flinch. She hadn’t meant to slam it — he just wasn’t expecting her to appear.

  He’d been too focused on the scene in front of him: Chippy gleefully coaching Rin on how to handle — her sleek, rounded hoverbike capable of hitting 293 kilometers per hour.

  Rin, on the other hand, looked downright

  She wore Chippy’s full racing jumpsuit — black and pink with yellow stripes flashing along the sides. Thanks to their similar builds, it fit her almost perfectly. Almost. She was bundled in elbow and knee pads, gloves, a helmet, and oversized goggles that kept slipping down her nose.

  So far, she’d already fallen off six times.

  “Ch–Chippy! I can’t find my balance!” Rin shouted, wobbling in mid-hover.

  “Relax, Rin! Keep your eyes up!” Chippy called back, laughing as she jogged alongside the hoverbike.

  “Hey… isn’t the bike supposed to balance by itself?” Eddie asked quietly.

  Chippy whipped her head toward him, clamping a hand over her mouth as laughter escaped anyway.

  “Wh–what?! The bike ” Rin shrieked, utterly frustrated. “Then how the heck do I keep falling off?!”

  Eddie facepalmed. Archas joined in with Chippy’s laughter, unable to help herself.

  “Chippy, hon,” Archas said between chuckles, “please stop teasing poor Rin and get her ready for that race. You know how your brother and I feel about second place.”

  “Yes, Mommy!” Chippy sang before darting back to Rin’s side. Rin pouted, squinting at her with clear suspicion.

  Eddie grabbed one of the orange slices from the tray, popped it into his mouth, and walked over to join them.

  “Alright, Rin,” Chippy said, tone suddenly serious. “Hold the handlebars tight—but not tight. Squeeze the clutch, shift gears to move forward, and then push the right handlebar up and away from you to gain speed. Oh, and let go of the clutch to get even speed!”

  “Not too fast though, right?” Eddie asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

  “Nope! Not too fast,” Chippy replied sweetly, hands behind her back and a mischievous smile plastered across her face.

  “…Eddie? Please save me,” Rin muttered, following Chippy’s directions anyway.

  Suddenly, the bike began to whir louder. Jets of air burst from its sides as Rin crept forward, wobbling but steadying.

  “Rin! You’re doing it!” Chippy cheered.

  “I—I am?!” Rin said, half in disbelief.

  The bike picked up speed, its hum growing into a roar as she approached the first curve.

  “Remember, Rin! Look for the

  of the curve! Don’t look anywhere else or you’ll fall off!”

  “Right!” Rin shouted back.

  She kept her eyes up and did exactly as told—staying in first gear, gently juggling the clutch to control her speed. Her body tilted naturally with the turn, handlebars angling just enough to carry her through the curve cleanly.

  “That’s it! Keep going!!!” Chippy screamed.

  Eddie’s eyes widened. His heart pounded in his chest. She was actually doing it.

  Rin accelerated down the straightaway—until she spotted a ramp ahead. Her stomach dropped.

  “Chippy!? I—I’m gonna crash!”

  “No you’re not! Kick to second gear!”

  Rin obeyed instinctively, shifting up. The bike gave a solid before its whir rose into a higher pitch. Behind her, two panels slid open with a hiss, revealing twin thrusters that fired to life. A blast of compressed air lifted her off the ground.

  She wasn’t riding anymore.

  She had just grown wings. She was

  “That’s it!” Chippy shouted. “Now press the little pedal with your right foot! Hold it—then let go at the ramp’s edge to jump!”

  Eddie couldn’t bear to watch. He hid behind a handful of orange slices as Rin pressed the pedal. The bike slowed dramatically, tilted up, and hit the ramp. At the very edge, she let go—

  A shockwave of air burst downward, propelling her high into the air. She screamed, wind ripping through her hair as the bike descended—but it caught itself, gliding smoothly onto the opposite ramp and into another straightaway.

  “Rin! Quick! Shift back to first gear for the turn!”

  Rin fumbled with the gear selector, barely managing to downshift. She pulled the clutch just in time to round the curve, wobbling dangerously but keeping control until she finally approached the others.

  Chippy rushed forward and hit the kill switch. The bike’s whirring softened into a low hum as it lowered itself, stabilizing on its auto-stands.

  Eddie ran up next, extending a hand. Rin took it gratefully, legs trembling as he helped her off the bike. She leaned against him, exhausted but glowing with adrenaline.

  “Woohoo! You did it, Rin!” Chippy cheered, practically bouncing. “You’ll be race-ready in no time!”

  “Yeah,” Eddie muttered, smirking, “just as soon as you stop shaking like a soaked rat.”

  “H–How fast did I go?” Rin asked, catching her breath.

  “Oh! Let’s see…” Chippy pulled up her communicator and opened her gear’s telemetry app. “Fifty-two kilometers!”

  “That’s… not bad,” Eddie said with a hopeful chuckle.

  “That’s still nowhere near the two-ninety she can hit… or what everyone else will be doing,” Rin sighed, slumping into a chair.

  Eddie helped her sit while Archas set a comforting hand on her head.

  “You did wonderfully for your first lap, sweetheart,” Archas said warmly. “Rest a bit before you go again.”

  Rin leaned into her touch and nodded, finally reaching for the tray to grab a slice of citrus.

  Rin bit into her orange slice, breaking the skin just enough to suck out the sweet, tangy juice.

  “Hey, Rin,” Eddie said gently. “Relax. It was just a small practice track—your first try. I bet not even Chippy can reach her bike’s top speed here.”

  “Y–You think so?” Rin asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

  “Wanna bet?” Chippy said darkly.

  Eddie and Rin whipped their heads toward her.

  “Hold my communicator,” Chippy said, slamming it down onto the table. It was already open to the bike’s telemetry app, stats flickering across the screen.

  Without warning, she snatched the goggles from Rin’s face and slipped them on. Then, with a wicked grin, she bolted toward her hoverbike and hopped on in one smooth motion. The instant she started the engine, the air

  It shouldn’t have been that loud—yet somehow it was.

  Though it hovered, Chippy in a blur of pink light, the bike screaming through the straightaway.

  Eddie blinked hard, disbelieving what he saw. Then he looked down at the communicator.

  First gear.

  “Is that even possible?” Eddie muttered.

  Chippy approached the ramp at full speed. Rin froze, clutching the edge of her seat.

  But Chippy didn’t hesitate. She shifted gears with flawless timing, hit the ramp, and launched into the air. The bike spun forward once—twice——before landing hard enough to spray sparks across the track. Somehow, she recovered instantly, laughing like a maniac as she tore through the next stretch.

  At the curve, she didn’t slow down. Instead, she kicked her right leg out, leaning dangerously low. The hoverbike caught an updraft and flying wide through the curve and blasting out the other side in a tunnel of turbulence that rippled the air behind her. She was completely on side now.

  Eddie’s hands trembled as he checked the screen again.

  Finally, Chippy pulled in the clutch, tapped the pedal, and eased to a perfect stop right beside the table. The bike whirred down, letting out a soft as the stabilizers deployed.

  Chippy hopped off, smirking with her hands on her hips.

  Rin and Eddie just stared at her—completely speechless.

  “Rin? I take it back. There’s no way you’ll be able to keep up with .”

  “I agree.” Rin said fumbling to find her water bottle.

  #

  Two weeks had gone by.

  Each weekend, Archas picked up Rin, Eddie, and Chippy and took them to the private practice track Yaxon owned. Every trip followed the same pattern: Chippy would whoop and laugh like a speed demon while Rin pushed herself to go faster—always a few kilometers more each time.

  Fifty-two.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Seventy-one.

  Eighty-six.

  Ninety-eight.

  By the second Sunday, Rin was nearly keeping up with Chippy in the straightaways, though her legs still shook each time she climbed off the bike.

  She hated that trembling.

  But every time she fell, every time her hands blistered from clutching the handlebars too tightly, she’d get back up and try again.

  Eddie swore he aged five years just from watching them. Chippy, of course, called that “a win.”

  Finally, Friday arrived—bright and chilly, with the first hints of fall hanging over Kormadyne’s floating cityscape. The noon bell rang across the courtyard just as Rin and Eddie finished a light lunch. Chippy’s communicator pinged on the table.

  She nearly choked on her sandwich as she snatched it up.

  Her eyes widened. “No way.”

  “What is it?” Rin asked, mid-bite.

  “They finally approved it!” Chippy squealed, jumping to her feet. “Garage privileges for racers are open! The new structure at the Colosseum is finished—we can actually go tune our gears!”

  Rin blinked in surprise, then looked over at Eddie, who was already sighing.

  “Of course they’d finish it on a Friday,” he muttered.

  “Come on!” Chippy yelled, grabbing Rin by the hand. “We’re going now!”

  Rin barely had time to grab her bag before being dragged across the cafeteria floor.

  “Wait—hold on! I didn’t even finish my drink!” Eddie shouted, scrambling after them.

  The sound of their laughter echoed down the courtyard as the trio pushed through the sunlight, heading straight for the Colosseum.

  “EEK! I can’t believe it!” Chippy squealed, practically vibrating. “I’m gonna ask Mom to bring over right now, and I’m going to this race!”

  Rin giggled at her friend’s excitement—then froze.

  “Wait… I don’t have a gear. How would I even ride with you?”

  “That’s… huh. Never thought about that,” Eddie admitted, rubbing his chin.

  “Well, maybe we can borrow one from the school?” Chippy suggested hopefully.

  “Pause,” Eddie said, raising a hand. “Does the school actually expect to own their own gears? That’s insane! We’re freshmen! You’re the exception, Chippy—you’re legitimately crazy.”

  “Poop! We’ll figure it out later! ” she shrieked, pointing ahead.

  Before either of them could stop her, she grabbed Rin’s hand and bolted toward the Colosseum.

  The new garage sat at the center of the vast dueling stadium—an enormous metallic box glowing with blueish runes along its edges. The hum of machinery echoed through the air, and the scent of clean air mixed with the distant chatter of hundreds of students.

  Rin’s jaw dropped as they stepped inside.

  Dozens of gears—bikes, boards, and buggies—floated in the air on hovering rigs. Sparks flew, lights flashed, and the steady chorus of revving engines filled the room. It felt like walking through a miniature city powered entirely by sound and color.

  “Whoa…” Rin whispered.

  “I gotta admit,” Eddie said, grinning despite himself. “This is way beyond anything I imagined.”

  “It’s. So. COOOOL!!!” Chippy screamed, already gone before Eddie could even try to stop her.

  “Chippy—wait—!” he started, but she was a pink blur bouncing between stations.

  “Look at this! Twin turbos on a ” she gasped, leaning over a blue-and-gray machine. “You’re gonna need at least two more to keep up with me.”

  “Hey, be careful!” a boy shouted, but Chippy had already zipped away.

  “No way! Quad floaters on a So sick!!!” she squealed at another group, leaving them equally bewildered.

  Moments later—

  “O-M-G! What in the heck is ?!”

  She had found a massive red-and-black gear being tuned by a nervous boy.

  “Oh, hi!” he stammered. “Uh, it’s a Wheel-type gear—it’s like a bike, but the whole frame the wheel. It propels itself forward.”

  “What. How?!” Chippy said, eyes sparkling as she climbed right onto it.

  “Hey—wait! Don’t touch anything!”

  She poked buttons until one finally clicked. A giant luminous yellow ring spun to life, encircling her as the gear lifted several inches off the ground.

  “Whoaaaaaa,” Chippy breathed, revving it once—jets of air blasted out, but it didn’t move.

  “HEY! STOP! GET OFF THAT!” the boy yelped, running forward.

  Chippy killed the power and dashed away before he could reach her, bouncing toward another group’s workstation.

  The boy blinked at his partner. “W-Was that a freshman girl?”

  Back near the entrance, Rin and Eddie wandered slowly through the rows of machines, eyes wide and minds racing.

  “Eddie? I think I’m having second thoughts,” Rin murmured, hands clasped behind her back as she wandered between the gleaming machines.

  “Rin,” Eddie said, sighing, “at first I didn’t think Chippy could do this. Then I thought she could. Now I’m back to thinking she can’t.”

  He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, shaking his head.

  After a few minutes of circling the massive garage—passing Chippy at least a hundred times without ever catching her—they finally ran into House Master Vanessa.

  “House Master!” both Rin and Eddie said together.

  “Ah, Rin!” Vanessa said with a small smile. “I’m glad I ran into you. There’s a boy from the South House who wants to enlist as a racer for the freshman year. Something tells me Chippy wouldn’t be particularly eager to give up her spot, so… I was thinking…”

  Eddie and Rin exchanged quick glances.

  “Well,” Eddie said cautiously, “isn’t there supposed to be a for something like that?”

  Vanessa raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Sure. But do you really think Rin here would accept a trial?”

  Eddie blinked, then turned toward Rin—who was trying and failing to hide her giggles behind her hands.

  “I’m simply giving her the option to withdraw herself,” Vanessa said, straightening up again. “Saves everyone time.”

  “No! No, she’s not withdrawing!”

  All three turned as Chippy stormed up behind them, hands on her hips and goggles still hanging around her neck.

  “She’s my partner! And she’s gonna help me this race!”

  “Well… if this boy’s a better rider than me, isn’t it better to have him as your partner, Chippy?” Rin said cautiously, her voice small. “Just admit it. I’m still so far off from keeping up with you—let alone racing with the goal of winning…”

  “Besides,” Eddie added, crossing his arms, “what even happens if you win? Just… glory, right?”

  Vanessa cleared her throat softly. “Oh, I must’ve forgotten to mention—there perks.”

  All three of them looked at her.

  “Each house is represented by students from all age groups,” she explained, voice smooth and professional. “Every year level has its own race, and if an age group wins first place, their house earns bonus merits on their ledgers. Most importantly…”

  She paused just long enough for tension to build.

  “…the entire winning group receives a pass to switch houses.”

  Eddie froze, his eyes widening like twin headlights.

  “Switch… houses?!” he gasped, rising up onto his toes.

  Rin and Chippy looked at him, confused by his sudden energy.

  “That’s right, young Trofen,” Vanessa confirmed with a faint smile. “The entire winning year gets to transfer to whichever house they choose.”

  Eddie spun to face the girls, grabbing both their hands with a determined gleam in his eyes.

  “Rin. Chippy. We need to win this race. For real.”

  “Er… um…” Rin stammered, glancing between him and Chippy. “Well… if you want to win…”

  “Get the heck out, Rin,” Eddie said flatly.

  “Yup.” Rin gulped. “Consider me out.”

  #

  Vix sat in chair. Not just any chair—the one at the head of the oval table, inside the Staffire Squad’s specialty office.

  A flash of thunder illuminated the room in a stark blue glow. He preferred keeping the lights low whenever possible, letting the storm outside provide the only illumination. The thunder’s rumble was dulled by fourteen-inch reinforced crystal windows, leaving only a low growl that vibrated faintly through the air.

  He set the documents down with a heavy sigh and turned toward the window. The view should’ve been beautiful—endless waves illuminated by stormlight—but he couldn’t appreciate it. Not when he’d just tried calling Yaxon Every single one went to voicemail.

  The Staffire HQ floated almost 150 miles east of Nassau. If you didn’t look closely, you’d never notice the enchanted spike anchoring the entire fortress above the ocean.

  A buzz rang through the office. Vix groaned and tapped the glowing panel on the table to open the line. Moments later, the door slid open.

  A man in crisp white Enforcer robes stepped in, matching gloves immaculate. A One rank above Vix’s own Black Glove status.

  “Commander,” the man said with a professional nod.

  Vix exhaled slowly. “Look, don’t get any ideas. I just—”

  “WHOOOOAAAAA!”

  The shout nearly made him flinch. The man was squealing—actually squealing—over every corner of the room.

  “This is so cool! I’m actually in the Staffire HQ!” he gushed, spinning in a small circle like a kid in a candy shop.

  Vix leaned forward, elbows on the table, face buried in both palms. His groan was so deep it could’ve passed for a suppressed sob.

  “Yes, Bobby,” he muttered flatly. “Yes you are. Take a seat.”

  Bobby—still starstruck—looked around, spotted the most intricate, cushioned chair at the far end of the table, and dragged it out proudly. “This one!”

  “No! Not that one!” Vix snapped. “That’s the

  spot!”

  “AHK!” Bobby yelped, shoving the chair back into place. In a panic, he pulled out his sleeve and started furiously polishing the already spotless seat. He even spat on it for good measure before backing away in shame and hurrying to the opposite end of the table.

  “Thank you, Bobby,” Vix said dryly.

  “Actually, it’s Commander Wholewheat,” Bobby corrected, sitting up straight, puffing out his chest.

  “Commander. Wholewheat.” Vix repeated through gritted teeth. “Are you familiar with the Fairy Forest in Kormadyne?”

  “Thank you, Commander Nepton. Yes, I’m familiar,” Wholewheat said, straightening up as if to prove it.

  “I believe the true capabilities of the marker we recovered could be best utilized there,” Vix replied, sliding a file toward him. “We’d need to organize another joint mission—to escort the Grand Majestry and perform a full guardianship operation.”

  “I… agree!”

  Vix blinked, caught off guard by the enthusiasm. There was a pause.

  “…Good?” he said, uncertain whether to be pleased or suspicious.

  “Well, glad to have you agreeing with me—”

  A cut through the air.

  Vix’s eye twitched.

  Wholewheat was now lounging in his chair like a man who’d just clocked out of existence. One leg slung casually over the other, posture in ruins, arm draped lazily across the chair’s back as he rubbed his eyes.

  “Bobby,” Vix said slowly, patience cracking. “What the ?”

  “Oh, nothing!” Wholewheat said, waving a hand. “I was just thinking about what happens after the guardianship mission with you, and then honestly? Nothing.”

  “You’re a in the Grand Majestry’s Army,” Vix said, narrowing his eyes. “You always have something to do.”

  “Not when I take a break, I don’t.”

  “A… break?”

  “Yeah! I want to go on vacation. ”

  Vix stared at him. “Right. Of course you do,” he said flatly.

  “Mmhmm!” Wholewheat said proudly—then suddenly snapped upright, eyes wide with realization. “Wait! How many vacations do

  have stacked up?”

  “What?” Vix snapped, already regretting this conversation.

  “DUDE! You must have, like, of leave saved up! Oh, I know. I ” Wholewheat slammed his hands on the table, beaming. “Vix, buddy—listen to me—we’re going on a two-man.”

  “The hell?!” Vix barked, half-standing from his chair.

  “Yup. Kormadyne’s anchored in Chicago, right? Ever seen Millennium Park? The Bean?”

  “Yes,” Vix said flatly. “Countless times.”

  “Good. Then that leaves the best spot for us to hit—”

  Vix blinked. “I’m… not really into carving things, Bobby.”

  “What? No! That’s what it’s The Carving Club. You go there, have a drink, find a hot chick, dance a little—and if you play your cards right? You get laid.”

  Vix face-palmed so hard it echoed.

  “Oh, How That sounds like something I’m ”

  “Dude, what?!”

  “Dude, ” Vix shot back, pure sarcasm dripping from his tone.

  “Who says no to hot chicks throwing themselves at them?! You’re You could point at any girl in there and she’d be wrapped around your thumb!”

  “Bobby,” Vix said, rubbing his temples, “shut the fuck up. You’re talking like a psycho.”

  “Nah, man! the psycho! Either that, or you’re gay!”

  Vix blinked at him once. Twice. Then exhaled slowly through his nose—keeping the silence between them alive purely out of spite.

  “I’m not going.”

  “Yes you are! Just one drink!”

  “No.”

  “Two drinks?”

  “Bobby.”

  “Okay fine, three, but that’s my final—”

  “Get out.”

  “Aw, man.” Bobby sighed, shoulders drooping as he stood up. “So… no boobies in your face?”

  “BOBBY! I DON’T DRINK, AND I DON’T NEED A WOMAN TO LIVE MY LIFE!” Vix roared, slamming his palms onto the table.

  Bobby flinched hard, then started toward the door with exaggerated slowness. He reached for the handle—paused—and couldn’t resist one last jab.

  “It’d be a two-man, though… just you and good ol’ Wholewheat.”

  “Get. Out.”

  Just then, the door before Bobby could touch it.

  Standing there, calm as ever, was —the Grand Majestry himself.

  “Your Majestry!” both men shouted, snapping into perfect salutes.

  “Easy, gentlemen,” Kai said with his usual composed smile. “I was on my way to discuss some important matters with you, Vix—but it seems something more important has come up?”

  “What? More important?!” Vix sputtered. “What could possibly be more important than whatever it is you needed to discuss!?”

  “Well…” Kai crossed his arms, tilting his head thoughtfully. “This sounds interesting. I’d like you to go.”

  Bobby’s grin exploded. He whipped his head toward Vix, barely suppressing laughter.

  “Are you ” Vix shouted, jaw practically locking from disbelief.

  “There couldn’t be any harm in it,” Kai replied lightly. “You’re familiar with the area, aren’t you? Just go visit the club Commander Wholewheat mentioned—and report back to me about it.”

  “Wha—Absolutely not! We’re ” Vix barked, pointing an accusing finger.

  “Doing what again?” Bobby asked innocently.

  “” Vix shouted, nearly snapping his finger in half from tension.

  “Vix,” Kai said smoothly. “I won’t even require you to apply for leave.”

  “Wh—what?! Why not!?” Bobby shouted, outraged.

  “Because he’s…” Vix began, already feeling the dread creep in. He swallowed hard. “…going to —”

  “I’m him to go,” Kai interrupted with a perfectly calm smile.

  Bobby’s jaw dropped. He practically in disbelief, eyes wide as Vix stood frozen in quiet despair—because he’d seen this coming the moment Kai walked in.

  The Grand Majestry clasped his hands behind his back, amusement glimmering in his eyes as he looked between them.

  “Well then,” Kai said, tone turning back to business. “Let’s go ahead and see this Marker first, shall we?”