Max leaned back in his chair, one hand flicking popcorn into his mouth while his eyes danced across a wall of screens. The fight unfolded clearly—Ash darting around bursts of fire, blade flashing, his steps tight and sharp. Kael stayed on him, fists wrapped in flame, each swing sending waves of heat through the air.
Max's lips pulled into a crooked grin. He chewed slowly, eyes locked on the screen.
"He's getting roasted," he muttered, his tone more amused than concerned.
A soft chime broke through. One of the monitors lit up.
[INCOMING CALL: DAD]
Max sighed through his nose. His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
"Right on time."
He glanced back at the fight. Ash had barely twisted away from a fiery hook, coat scorched at the edge. Kael stayed on him, not slowing down.
Max tilted his head, hand already moving.
"This is fun, but yeah… it's over."
He tapped a key. His voice echoed through the training room, calm and clear.
"As much as I enjoy watching you guys fight, I have to end it here. We finally got a call from Dad."
---
The fight stopped, but their muscles stayed tight. They stood still, breath heavy in their chests.
Ash wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
"They made it?"
Kael let out a slow breath, stretching one shoulder, then the other. The glow on his skin faded.
"Looks like it."
Around them, the room lay in ruins. Walls blackened by flame. Floors cracked and stained. Training dummies reduced to ash and scraps. The heat clung to the air, thick and stubborn.
Ash scanned the space. "What a mess."
From the corner, bots rolled in. Metal arms reached out, grabbing debris, sweeping ash into neat piles.
Kael gave a small nod. "Relax. Max is handling it."
Ash picked up his sheath from a scorched bench. He slid the blade in with one smooth motion—click. Then turned, footsteps quiet as he followed Kael into the hallway.
Cool air hit them. It carried the clean scent of metal and something faintly citrus. Boxes lined the walls. Some were labeled in neat print. Others had messy scribbles across them. One box had only question marks on the side.
Ash glanced at it. 'That one's gotta be Max's.'
Kael stretched, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"You know I let you tie me up, right?"
Ash turned slightly. "Yeah? Cause it looked like you were stuck."
Kael gave him a sideways glance. "I wanted to see what you were planning."
Ash didn't answer at first. His shoulders moved with a quiet shake.
"Sure sounds like an excuse."
Max came into view at the end of the hallway. He popped another piece of popcorn into his mouth, watching them with easy eyes.
"Best part? Watching you get wrapped up like a rookie."
Kael's jaw clenched for a second. "Not you too."
Max just shrugged, still walking. "Hey, I knew you let it happen. Still funny, though."
Kael muttered something under his breath, but Max had already turned, waving them forward.
"Come on. Dad's waiting."
————
The main room opened before them—spacious, with clean lines and sharp colors. A wide couch hugged the walls, black with red trim. At the center sat a white table, smooth and circular, its surface blank and waiting. Open boxes rested along the edges. Shirts, tools, and scraps of gear spilled out, a picture of life mid-unpacking.
Max reached the table. His fingers tapped once.
A low hum rose as the screen came to life. Light bloomed across the room. Static cut through the image, jagged lines slicing across the feed. Then a shape came into view—blurred, flickering.
A voice broke through.
"Can you hear me?"
Ash leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Yeah, we hear you."
Kael stepped up beside him, gaze locked onto the screen.
"It's been a while."
A rough chuckle slipped through the static. "Still calling yourself 'Son of Flame'?"
Kael didn't flinch, but his stance shifted. "Of course. Gotta live up to the name."
Ash stood still, arms crossed. His eyes never left the flickering feed. The connection dipped. The image bent and shook.
"Signal's bad. You okay?"
For a breath, nothing.
Then the voice returned, steady and full.
"Ash, you worry too much. You really think anything out here can take me down?"
Ash let out a slow breath. "No. Just making sure."
"Good. Now for something important."
The room held still.
Their father's voice came through, calm but with that edge that meant he expected something.
"…Do you like the new place?"
For a second, no one answered.
Then Max leaned forward, tossing a popcorn kernel in the air.
"Kitchen's solid. The bot makes pancakes."
Kael rolled his shoulder, still easing the tension from the earlier fight.
"Training room's good. Could be bigger."
Ash's eyes drifted to the mess of boxes still lining the walls. Some were sealed tight. Others hung open, half-forgotten.
"Still getting used to it."
A low laugh broke through the static.
"Sounds right. You guys never unpack on time. Let me guess—you're still living out of one box?"
Max didn't hesitate. He jerked a thumb toward Ash.
"Actually, he's the only one still doing that."
Ash blinked. His thoughts stumbled.
'Wait, why's he telling him that? It's not like I meant to.'
The image of crashing on the couch the moment they moved in flashed through his mind.
'I just forgot. That's all.'
He turned his head slowly toward Max. His stare was flat.
"You didn't even bring clothes."
Max lifted his hands like it proved his point.
"Exactly. No packing, no problem."
Kael's voice cut through their bickering. "Can we focus?"
He stepped closer to the screen. "Dad, how long this time?"
The screen buzzed again, the image shifting. Their father's reply came in low and steady.
"Not sure yet. But I'll keep in touch. In the meantime…"
The feed wavered again, his voice breaking apart in the noise before snapping back.
Max tapped the table. His fingers moved fast, restless. His brow pinched.
"What's the deal? Isn't Selene supposed to handle this?"
A sigh cracked across the signal, rough and tired.
"She's working on it. Not as simple as it looks."
Max leaned back, arms folding. His mouth pressed into a thin line.
"Nah, I'd have it fixed by now. Should've taken me instead. You know I'm better than her."
A second voice dropped in—clearer, sharper.
"You? Better than me?"
Max froze.
His spine went stiff. His hands dropped to his sides. "…Oh no."
Selene's voice came cool, controlled.
"Did you forget I beat you? Or the bet you made? Winner gets to go. You lost. So stop whining."
Max's eyes narrowed.
"I know you cheated. There was water on the board. I let it slide because I thought you wouldn't pull something that low, but now…"
A dry laugh echoed back. "You think I sabotaged you?"
Max pointed at the screen like he could reach through it.
"You're the only one here with water abilities. Who else would it be?"
Ash leaned in, elbows resting on his knees.
"Max, you sound like some guy who found a wet floor and decided it's proof of a global conspiracy."
Selene didn't pause. "Yeah, genius deduction. Water exists, so obviously, it's me. Absolutely revolutionary thinking."
Max's fingers curled, knuckles tight. "Then explain it."
Kael's silence stretched out. He shifted, just a hint, his body angling away. Too calm. Too quiet.
Ash's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening.
'Wait. I know that look. He did something.'
He spoke, voice steady but piercing. "Kael."
Kael straightened his posture, all smooth confidence. "What?"
Max's attention snapped to Kael. "Wait. Kael?"
Kael raised both hands in a slow, practiced motion.
"Alright. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let's think this through. Could be condensation. Humidity. Maybe a tragic plumbing accident."
Selene exhaled, the sound carrying an edge of frustration.
"Or maybe someone set something on fire near a cooling system, caused a pressure shift, and—shockingly—condensation formed?"
Ash pressed his fingers to his temple, the headache coming on fast. "Kael."
A quiet cough followed, then Kael rubbed the back of his neck, the motion almost sheepish.
"Okay, maybe I… might've overheated a training dummy near the vents. And maybe that led to… unintended side effects."
Max threw his hands up in disbelief.
"Unbelievable."