Page 66 of New World

Andri’s pulse pounded in his skull.

“You were weak, Coleridge!” he whispered aloud, his voice shaking. “You and that brat that you and Nia had. He should have been mine! Nia should have been mine!” His words sounded hollow.

The laughter in his head grew.

“And yet, here you are… desperate. Doubting.”

“No!” Andri’s glass shattered as he threw it against the wall.

The room spun. The holomap flickered, as if the very ship had exhaled under his fury. His breath came in ragged bursts, his vision swimming as he turned back to the viewport.

For a moment—just a moment—he swore he saw a reflection standing behind him.

Coleridge.

Tall. Strong. Giving that damn smirk he always had when he was right.

Andri lunged.

His fists struck empty air. He stumbled forward, gripping the edge of the table, his body trembling.

His mind roared against the phantom. You’re not here. You’re DEAD.

“And so are you, Andri,” the voice whispered. “You just don’t know it yet.”

Andri gasped and stumbled back until his back hit the wall. He slowly slid down to the cold floor and clutched his head, his fingers digging into his skull as he rocked forward.

“You were never meant to win.”

Andri clenched his teeth, shaking. “I will win…”

But the silence that followed told him the truth.

Kryla Settlement – Aetherial

* * *

The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of warm spices and the faint metallic tang of starship fuel. Above, the sky stretched into infinity, a canvas of endless stars, brilliant and unfamiliar. Mei exhaled slowly, her breath disappearing into the cool night as she pulled her hood up, blending into the shadows that stretched across the settlement of Kryla.

The Aetherial Arrow had landed in one of the designated docking zones—an enclosed circular bay reinforced with thick metal walls to shield against the violent sandstorms that could descend upon the settlement without warning. The landing pads were arranged in a semi-circle, large bay doors allowing the transfer of cargo and supplies. Even now, the sounds of hydraulic lifts and the chatter of workers echoed against the high walls.

Mei’s gaze flicked toward Dorane.

He stood near a group of traders—broad-shouldered, confident, the golden light from the ground fixtures casting sharp shadows along the angular planes of his face. His hazel eyes gleamed with amusement as he exchanged stories with a rugged-looking Tesla Terran merchant and a reptilian S’vakarian with iridescent blue scales. His laugh was deep, warm, unguarded in a way that made something tighten in Mei’s chest.

Dorane looked up.

Their eyes met across the landing bay, and a shiver ran through Mei at the heat in his gaze. He didn’t need to say anything. The memories of their time together—the taste of his kiss, the heat of his hands, the whispered words between them—were already burning between them.

Mei smirked under her hood and tilted her chin in silent farewell. Dorane arched an eyebrow in question.

She turned toward the settlement, glancing back once.

He mouthed, Be careful.

Mei wrinkled her nose at him and stuck out her tongue playfully before vanishing into the night.

The main street of Kryla was alive with movement, a bustling artery of trade and commerce nestled in the heart of the Aetherial wastelands. Narrow side streets branched off into darkened alleys and staircases leading to multilevel walkways and flat-roofed structures.

---