Ian quickly meets with Myrra. A few congratulatory remarks followed from others nearby. But Ian didn't linger. With a slight nod, he made his way out, heading back toward the apartment.
From a distance, the instructor watched him go.
His expression was unreadable at first, then, something like a slow exhale. Thoughtful. Focused.
He hadn't expected Ian to perform like this.
The Architect path wasn't meant for combat. Not directly. It was auxiliary by nature, meant to support, construct, reinforce.
Of course, in a universe this old, outliers weren't unheard of. Given enough time, someone strange was bound to show up. But here, on this world, it was rare. Ian was just one of those rare ones. A name that might echo for a while, maybe longer.
Still…
"Maybe he could even take on Axilya," the instructor murmured under his breath.
Then he shook his head, glancing to the side as if to dismiss the thought.
Absurd.
Axilya was something else entirely. Even he would struggle against her. That girl was terrifying, and still First Order. She made most Second Order fighters flinch. Maybe only a Third Order could reliably handle her.
No, Ian was promising, but he wasn't that.
Not yet.
Still… if this is what he could do right after stepping into the First Order, then maybe. Just maybe. When he reaches its threshold...
Outside, the news of Ian entering the First Order spread like wildfire. But since he was the second to do so, it didn't draw too much attention. For a few days, he caught a few lingering glances, being human and the second among the new entrants to break through came with its own weight. But that curiosity faded quickly.
Because others were also quickly catching up. With Yelthara entering the First Order the very next day.
Just like that, she took back her spot at the top, loud, arrogant, and unbothered. The same as always. She even challenged the instructor not long after. But instead of accepting, he straight-up ran. No fight, no pretense, just avoided her completely, like he wanted nothing to do with it.
Ian and the others had laughed at the sight. Even the instructor, who usually beat them all half to death, wanted no part of that mess.
Today was a retreat day.
The usual group from the Ial Themar trip had gathered again, this time with Yelthara joining them. They were celebrating. Ian and Yelthara's ascension to the First Order had given them the perfect excuse, and someone had managed to secure a private spot tucked away inside the greenwood cliffs of Rulmose. Hidden, quiet, and far from the academy's noise.
They talked, shared drinks, swapped stories, laughter came easy tonight. Even Yelthara, for all her usual bravado, was relaxed. It wasn't often they got a moment like this.
But Ian drifted off for a bit, eyes fixed on the firelight.
He found himself thinking of Lylva.
Of course, he was still in touch, regular calls, updates, the occasional shared joke over messages, but it wasn't the same. Oryn had entered the First Order and was now based in Efsagroth. The rest were still in Lylva. Kara and Lirian's processing facility was doing well, they'd sent their latest dividends just a week ago. Ian had even managed to get them a few new leads through his contacts here, and the expansion seemed to be moving smoothly.
Holone was still deep in his sword practice. Velke, as always, just vibing with the world.
Then there were the two little ones, Vulre and Lura. Ian smiled a bit at the thought of them. He missed their constant questions.
And we also wondered how other guys like Master Ordan or Aeson were doing.
Myrra shifted closer. She'd noticed the distant look on his face.
"Ian?" she asked quietly.
He blinked, then looked at her.
"You were somewhere else for a while," she said.
"I was just thinking about home," he replied.
Myrra nodded, her smile gentle but touched with something quieter. "Yeah… me too."
The warmth of the fire, the soft hum of voices, the distant scent of wine, it all pulled them back into the moment. The melancholy lingered, just for a heartbeat, before the laughter returned and the night carried on.
The next day, Ian and Rhys made their way to the trading facility inside the Academy. This place wasn't part of the official marketplace, it was more like a street market tucked inside the Academy itself. The official market was more regulated, pristine, and organized, but this space had its own energy. Students sold their creations, oddities, and things that didn't quite make the cut for the official sales. There were no guarantees here, but the prices were lower, and sometimes you could find a hidden gem.
It had the atmosphere of a bustling alleyway makeshift stalls with mismatched cloths, piles of materials, tools, and knickknacks strewn out on the floor. The noise of haggling, deals being struck, and casual chatter filled the air. Ian walked slowly, Rhys at his side, both with eyes open, not really hunting for anything in particular. Ian just wanted to see if there was anything Zephar Petals might like. He planned to visit the official market later, but this was a good spot to check first. Rhys was already flipping through a tray of old cores, muttering about resonance grades.
"This one's cracked," Ian said, leaning closer.
"Not cracked, aged," Rhys replied, turning it like it was fine glassware. "Might hum out a lullaby if you're lucky."
The vendor, a sharp-eyed student lounging behind the cloth-covered table, chimed in, "It hums when it's near stress. Or potatoes. Haven't narrowed it down yet."
Rhys raised a brow. "Same difference." He tapped his device and transferred the amount. The vendor's armband blinked in acknowledgment as the core disappeared into Rhys's storage.
At another stall, a pair of floating shards hovered over a velvet tray, gently pulsing with color.
"Those?" said the vendor, a woman wearing an old mining rig repurposed into fashion. "I excavated them from the Coral Ruins in Falvons Woodland. They resonate with thought. I call them Mood shards."
"They align to your mental state," her partner added. "Or try to. Had one that shattered when someone got too close."
"Like emotional therapy with a threat of laceration," Ian muttered.
Rhys grinned. "That's better than most people." He sent another transfer. The vendor's slate lit up, and three shards floated into his storage bracelet.
They passed a few more stalls, one claiming to sell alloys smuggled in from beyond their star System, another offering tools that "worked best when you didn't understand how." Some of the vendors wore standard Academy badges, others had patches with strange sigils and designs that didn't belong to any known division.
Ian slowed as they approached a smaller stall tucked between two larger ones. Most of the table was cluttered with standard scrap, but at its center sat something draped beneath a thin, dark cloth. It gave off a strange presence, subtle, almost soothing.
He reached out, fingers brushing the surface.
A faint warmth tingled through his hand. Calming. Pleasant.
"What's this?" he asked.
The vendor, a girl with short-cropped hair and a tired look, looked up from sorting through cables. "Oh, that. One sec."
She pulled the cloth aside, revealing a shard-like crystal. It wasn't smooth or polished, its form was jagged in places, growing naturally into a long, angled shape like something unearthed rather than crafted. Pale blue light pulsed gently from within, not flickering or bright, just a soft, even glow that cooled the air around it.
"Got it from the Entropic Divide," she said casually.
He brushed his fingers over the crystal and activated Mindbloom, letting his senses sink into it. A soft pulse, some faint luminescence, but nothing more. It just seemed like a normal crystal with some cooling and lighting properties.
"What does it do?" he asked.
The vendor scratched the back of her neck. "It used to help with cold-aligned attributes and stuff. But now… I don't know, it's kind of fizzled out. Just gives off that light now. Feels nice though. Might've run out of charge, and I don't know how to restore it."
Ian nodded to himself. That made sense.
"How much?"
"Four thousand kibna."
He gave her a flat stare.
She raised both hands. "Two thousand, okay? I can't go much lower. Look, it is from the Divide. That alone makes it rare."
Ian didn't say anything, just transferred the amount.
He didn't buy it because he thought it was hiding something special. He bought it because when he touched it, the Zephar Petals stirred lightly in response, like it found the crystal pleasant too.
After a few more rounds through the informal stalls, they finally stepped out and made their way toward the official marketplace.
The difference was immediate.
Here, everything was clean, quiet, and highly structured. No open displays. No idle browsing. Rows of staff moved with quiet efficiency behind smooth counters and translucent partitions. You couldn't just walk up and grab something, everything here was cataloged, verified, and traceable. If you wanted something, you asked, and someone would bring it to you after confirming your intent and authorization.
Ian approached one of the attendants, a calm-looking woman standing behind a semi-transparent console. Rhys drifted nearby, half-distracted by a rotating display of precision-forged components.
"I'm looking for a gift," Ian said. "Something for a flower. Or… a plant."
The attendant hesitated for a beat. "A plant?"
Rhys turned, already grinning giving him a look.
Ian gave a slow nod. "I just want to take good care of my flower."
That earned him a longer pause. The attendant straightened slightly, then began typing into the interface with professional focus.
"We do have a few options," she said after a moment. "For botanical care, especially for delicate or energy-reactive species."
A side panel opened behind her, and a mechanical arm slid out a smooth tray lined with neatly arranged items. She stepped forward, gesturing toward them.
"This one's a mineral-infused hydration vial," she said, picking up a small container filled with shimmering blue liquid. "Filters ambient particles to keep the soil's core nutrients stable. Works especially well for species sensitive to regional flux."
She moved to the next. "This is bio-reactive soil. Grown and stabilized in the upper vaults of Jarna. It adjusts to the energy profile of the plant over time, self-balancing, very low maintenance."
A third item followed, a slender vial with fine golden dust inside. "And this is a growth catalyst. Not technically fertilizer. More of a stim-reactant. Helps roots branch deeper without disturbing the natural bloom cycle. Mostly used in restoration zones, but it works wonders on smaller plants too."
Ian studied the tray without a word.
Rhys let out a low whistle. "That's a lot of effort for one flower."
Ian didn't bother replying. His gaze stayed on the display as he asked, "Any liquid-based options? Something steady, long-lasting."
The attendant nodded, retrieving a small tray lined with elegant vials and crystal flasks. "We have a few premium options," she said, her tone turning a touch more refined.
She picked up a slender vial filled with a faintly shimmering liquid. "This is Sylvaleaf Serum. Extracted from the roots of dreamwillows. It maintains ideal hydration and encourages gentle blooming, especially useful if your plant absorbs through ambient energy."
Next, she held up a flask carved from glazed obsidian, the contents thick and golden. "This one's brewed with molten thryna sap and trace Luxor pollen. It's meant for hardy species, but when diluted, it promotes resilience and steady growth. Good for anything that bonds over time."
And then a few more bottles followed, each different in texture and hue. Some had thin iridescent layers swirling inside, others glowed faintly at the bottom like something dormant. She listed them off one by one, each tailored for different growth traits, energy needs, or resilience factors.
"If you can tell me more about your flower," she offered, still professional but a little curious now, "I can find something more suitable. Resonance type, bloom pattern, anything helps."
Ian didn't respond. He just studied the line of bottles, then quietly pointed to one of them, a pale green vial with silver veins slowly moving through it.
"That one."
"Excellent choice," she said, though her brow lifted slightly. "How many?"
"Ten."
She blinked, clearly surprised, but nodded without comment. With efficient motions, she packed the ten bottles into a secure lined case, sealing each in soft-damped slots made for liquids.
Ian soon transferred the amount and left with Rhys.