14 days earlier.
- Team vortex base -
Ash leaned back, sinking into the couch, his arms stretched out. He closed his eyes, letting the quiet hum of the base's machinery fill the silence. The steady, monotonous sound of their isolated existence.
He sighed, his mind foggy with exhaustion.
A faint pulse rippled beneath his skin, a warmth spreading through him, followed by a static tingle. Then, something ancient stirred in his mind—like an echo of something far older, far deeper.
"[ Your Vein System status...]"
The words weren't just in his ears. They were inside him, carving themselves into his thoughts, seeping into his very soul. As his eyes closed, the knowledge unfolded before him—not as a vision, but as pure, undeniable truth.
[STATUS]
Name: Ashley Burns
Vein: [Hybrid]
Vein Energy: 89% (300/300)
Veinflow: Initiated
Vitalforce: 5th Tier
Skills: [7]
His chest rose and fell with a steady breath.
"The same numbers. The same locked potential."
His fingers twitched, frustration rising.
He let out a slow breath, trying to shake off the feeling of being stuck. Nothing had changed.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke through the silence.
"What are you doing? We still have a lot to do."
Ash didn't open his eyes. 'When would this guy ever take a break?'
"What do you mean? We're living here now. We can do it later," Ash muttered, sinking further into the couch.
A frustrated exhale followed by quick, firm footsteps. A shadow fell across him.
"What am I going to do with you?"
Ash cracked one eye open. A young man stood over him, arms holding a box loaded with tangled wires and small devices. His black hair was messy, except for the single red streak that ran through it like a burning ember. His sharp eyes bore into Ash, full of irritation.
Before he could argue more, another voice cut in. Softer, but still heavy.
"Well, he's not wrong."
Footsteps echoed across the metallic floor, and a third figure emerged— older, wearing a white lab coat. His black hair, neatly combed, hardly shifted as he walked. Every movement was sharp, controlled. His face was calm, but the tiredness in his eyes spoke volumes. He carried another box, filled with the same tangle of wires and broken parts.
The red-streaked young man shot him a look, eyes narrowing.
"Wait. Max, you're taking his side?"
Max nodded. "Yeah. We can pace ourselves. We've done enough today. We'll continue tomorrow."
A brief silence passed.
"If you say so."
With a sharp movement, the red-streaked man dropped the box.
CRACK.
Wires spilled across the floor in a chaotic mess of broken circuits and shattered plastic.
"HEY! What are you doing?!"
Max rushed forward, tripping slightly before he caught himself. He dropped to one knee, hands moving quickly, scrambling through the mess.
"You know I keep my stuff in there!"
Frustration cracked his voice as he turned over a broken device, hoping, just hoping, it could be saved.
"Why would you do that?!"
Across from him, the red-streaked young man stood unfazed, arms crossed.
"Aren't you the one who said we should take a break? Just because Ash was feeling a little tired?"
At the mention of his name, Ash cracked an eye open. The scene was unfolding exactly as he expected. His black hair, tangled from resting on the couch, fell into his vision, but he didn't bother brushing it away.
'Don't get me involved in that argument of yours.'
Max let out a groan, pushing his hair back with a frustrated hand. "Ah, you broke something."
"Well, it's your fault for suggesting we rest."
The red-streaked man stretched, already bored of the argument.
"Since we're continuing tomorrow, I'll be in the training room."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the open doorway, his boots clicking sharply on the floor.
Max exhaled sharply, muttering under his breath. "You'll pay for this."
A smirk tugged at the corner of the red-streaked man's lips. He glanced back, his eyes flashing with mischief.
"I'll be in the training room if you want to pay me back."
And with that, he disappeared into the hall.
"That damn brat." Max muttered under his breath, sifting through the scattered parts. His fingers moved carefully, sorting the broken components. A deep frown settled on his face as he worked, the weight of his frustration settling in.
From the couch, Ash let out a soft chuckle.
"We both know how Kael is."
Max sighed, shaking his head.
"Yeah. That ego of his... and the way he keeps calling himself 'Son of Flame.'"
He mimicked Kael's dramatic tone, rolling his eyes.
Another sigh followed, this one heavier.
"I wouldn't even be stuck here if I had just won that damn bet."
Ash smirked, keeping his eyes closed but tilting his head slightly.
"I'm glad you lost."
Max narrowed his eyes, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I wouldn't want a girl on the team. Plus, you're my brother. I don't want two family members leaving on some faraway mission, leaving me behind."
Max opened his mouth, then closed it. He stared at the floor for a moment, then let out a long, slow breath.
"I guess you have a point."
Setting the box aside, Max plopped onto the couch next to Ash, rubbing his temples. For a while, neither of them spoke. The soft hum of the base filled the quiet room.
Then Ash's voice broke the silence.
"I'm really going to miss everyone back at the academy."
His words were light, but the nostalgic smile tugging at the corner of his lips told a different story.
Max leaned back, letting his arm rest on the couch.
"Yeah, same here. But I'm stuck here babysitting you two."
'Wait, what does he mean by babysitting?' Ash thought
Then turned his head just enough to glance at him.
"Babysitting? You lost the duel, so you're stuck with us. Thanks to your failure, I'm not that little kid from back then."
Max shrugged.
"Say whatever you want. I bet Dad will contact us soon, telling me to lead the team."
Ash let his head fall back against the couch, his smirk never fading.
"Would you really want Kael leading?"
"Hell no. I'd rather let you lead than that power-hungry freak."
Ash chuckled, thinking to himself,
'True. It would be a disaster if he led.'
Max stood and stretched his arms.
"Well, I'll be in my new lab. Got a lot of work to do. The cave won't fix itself, and I still need to hook up my PC to the system."
Ash didn't open his eyes.
"Max."
Max paused at the doorway.
"Yeah?"
A beat of silence passed. Then Ash spoke, his voice softer, almost uncertain.
"Do you think Dad and the others will be okay up there?"
Max smirked, his tone shifting back to confident.
"What kind of question is that? Dad's one of the strongest people alive. He's Flame, after all."
Ash exhaled slowly, his thoughts lingering on the question.
"Yeah… you're right."
Max lingered at the door for a moment longer before stepping out, leaving Ash alone in the quiet room.