Chapter 55: Hekatryon
Across the observation platform, Kieran's arms were crossed, his usual expression of scrutiny unwavering. His sharp eyes followed every motion, dissecting each step with the precision of a master tactician. "You're still hesitating on transitions. Fluidity is key. "
Orion exhaled through his nose, shaking out the tension in his arms. He had been focusing on refining power, but Kieran was right—his flow between movements still had gaps. "Understood," he said.
Kieran tilted his head slightly, as if assessing whether Orion truly grasped the weight of his words. "Strength without seamless execution is just wasted motion. Again."
Orion rolled his shoulders, exhaling through his nose as he straightened.
Before Orion could respond, a soft chime from his wrist interface signaled an incoming priority message. A single glance at the encrypted sender code told him everything he needed to know.
Something had come up.
He flexed his fingers before deactivating the weapon and stepping away from the training pad. "I need to cut this session short."
Kieran's gaze sharpened. "An urgent matter?"
Orion nodded, already heading for the exit. "Something I can't ignore."
Kieran didn't press further, though his eyes followed Orion's retreating form.
Orion gave the briefest of nods before stepping out of the simulation doors. The activated his wrist comm, the encryption protocol already cycling as he moved.