Chapter 10: The Lion’s Hand
The message came through mid-meal.
TO: ROOK VALE
FROM: HEROIC CONCORD COMMAND
You are invited to a private evaluation under Zodiac Captain Leo (Virex) based on your Hero Games performance.
Report to Tower One, Sector Alpha. 0700 hours tomorrow.
Rook didn't react.
He just stared at the glowing screen as the cafeteria buzzed around him. Nico was mid-rant about drone licensing and banana-flavored protein paste. Tessa was seated across the room, eyes occasionally flicking toward him.
Aya hadn't spoken to him since the kill.
He closed the message. Finished his meal.
Left the tray spotless.
That night, Tessa caught him outside the dorms, near the training rings. The air smelled like ozone from energy discharge drills. Cadets jogged laps under floodlights. But Rook stood still, facing the tower in the distance.