/~Contrario~/
The first thing I noticed wasn't the softness of the bed, the scent of filtered air, or the faint hum of machinery.
It was the bright flash across my screen.
**[SERVER TRANSFER COMPLETE]**
**[CURRENT SERVER: IRISH VALLEY]**
I blinked and the glow of the notification faded immediately replaced by a smaller box hovering beside my HUD.
**[AVATAR STATUS: RECOVERY MODE]**
**[TIME REMAINING: 2 HOURS 37 MINUTES]**
I tried to sit up but immediately realized that it was a Bad idea.
Pain immediately ran through my ribs, like a thousand mini-torches lighting up at once. I gritted my teeth and took my legs off the bed anyway. The room was fancy to a fault with well-polished chrome walls and floral scent diffusing through the air, even a damn light show running across the ceiling. This was way too much for someone like me.
"I have to leave here fast, I can't afford to pay if they ask me to"
The door slid open with a soft hiss.
"Whoa there, don't fall off the bed, hero."
Arielle stepped in with her usual sarcasm that felt laced with what felt close to concern. She then walked over and ran her fingers on her interface. After she was done, I felt a sudden calming wave flow over me. A passive heal maybe.
"You're now in Irish Valley's Central Hospital," she said, settling down into the seat beside me. "Fancy, right? Jennifer had you flown in the second Vance retreated. Your vitals were fried and we couldn't leave you there like that."
I didn't respond because my mind was still catching up.
"Also, Jennifer wants to see you the moment you're discharged," Arielle added, watching me carefully. "She says it's important."
About an hour later, someone from the medical unit cleared me. My pain had reduced to painful throbs I could manage, and Stray's recovery bar was nearly full. I followed Arielle through the wide glass hallways of Irish Valley's floating Citadel.
She soon slowed down as we walked.
"Look, Contrario…" she began, awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck. "About what happened during the fight… Me and Maxi, we didn't exactly treat you like an ally. I judged you too fast. That...that was wrong and I apologize."
She paused, then looked up at me with honest eyes.
"You stood your ground against Vance. Protected Jennifer. You even had Stray nearly shattered just to save us. I… respect that now."
I didn't say anything and just gave a small nod. The truth was, I wasn't used to people apologizing or respecting me.
We soon stepped into a high chamber at the top of the tower and I could see Jennifer standing by the glass window with her arms behind her back, staring down at the city below. Tall towers of light linked with neon bridges, players zipping through the skies on skyboards. Irish Valley was very much alive, very clean and advanced. It was the opposite of everything I heard when I lived on the outposts.
All that soon cleared from my head as I was left speechless by the beauty that stood before me. With curves in the right places and silky brown hair flowing from her shoulders, Jennifer is everything I imagined my dream woman to be like.
She didn't turn to look at me.
"Contrario," she said with her voice calm and clear. "Welcome to Irish Valley. I am its ruler, Jennifer Apex. What you see before you right now is..."
"Yeah, I know what this place is," I cut in, sharp. "Why did you bring me here?"
The silence at that moment was so loud you could hear everyone's heartbeat if you listened closely.
Then she lifted her hand and gestured toward the wall, still not looking at me like I was a pest or something.
A portion of the wall hissed and rotated. Out of that direction came a grinning face I hadn't seen clearly before even during the battle. The blur, the flash of an ability… who was he?
"Surprised?" the guy chuckled, arms wide. "I tell you this, my camo is top-tier! That's one of my avatars' many perks. A cloaking field with reactive blending."
He walked over and slapped a hand on my shoulder like we'd known each other or had been teammates for years.
"I'm Renn Cyrus," he said. "Resident trickster, sabotage expert, and your new clanmate.....if you accept, that is."
Jennifer turned, finally facing me. My heart skipped twelve beats as I saw her face. It was as if I had seen an angel, her face had no blemishes at all.
"Contrario," she said with an even tone. "You showed strength, independence and loyalty when it mattered. For that, I want you in my elite clan. Here, you'll be directly under me."
I stared at her, looking deep into her eyes as if searching her soul. Who does she think she is to want to make me her soldier just like that.
"No." I said without uttering anything further.
Once again there was eerie Silence
"I work alone, Stray has been and would continue to be my only Companion" I said firmly. "I Don't need a leash or a banner over my name."
Jennifer didn't argue one bit.
She just smiled faintly and pulled up her HUD. A soft chime rang through the air.
**[+500,000 STARLOS RECEIVED FROM: JENNIFER APEX]**
I looked down at the notification, my fists slowly curling. Half a million Starlos. That was enough to upgrade Stray's blade, restore every cracked system, and still buy epic-level gear I could never afford before.
"You'd be part of something stronger," she said. "that cash? That's just one of the many perks of joining us."
I looked from her to Renn. Then to Arielle, who smiled and gave a small nod like she understood the weight of what I was deciding.
Stray deserved better. I deserved better.
"…Fine," I muttered. "I'll join. But only on my terms. No orders, no leash. The moment I feel threatened even in the slightest, I leave."
"But you're just....."
"Not now Arielle. You're welcome on your own terms" Jennifer cut in before Arielle could complete whatever it was that she wanted to say.
Renn let out a wild laugh. "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
He grabbed my hand and slapped it in a firm warrior's shake. "You're gonna love it here, my man."
Maybe. Maybe not.
But for now… I had Starlos in my pocket and that was all that mattered to me now.
That and a storm to prepare for. If Stray and I were to survive the tournament, I had to train harder.