The group arrived at Solstice Eatery, a bustling student-favorite spot just a few blocks from the university. It wasn’t fancy—warm lights, wooden tables, and an ever-present aroma of grilled meats and rich spices—but it was comfortable. The kind of place where debates got loud, stories flowed freely, and the stress of the day faded over shared meals and drinks.

  The owner, a middle-aged man with a cybernetic arm and a sharp memory for faces, gave them a nod as they entered. "Back again? Must be sparring day."

  Lyra grinned. "You know it, old man. We’ll take the usual."

  Chris was already at a corner booth, waiting—he hadn’t even ordered yet, just scrolling through something on his holo-pad, dressed slightly more refined than the rest of them. He looked up as they slid into their seats.

  “Took you long enough.”

  Daniel scoffed. “Says the guy who probably speed-walked here like a politician in a hurry.”

  Chris smirked but didn’t argue.

  The food arrived quickly—hearty plates of grilled skewers, fragrant rice, thick-cut fries, and a sizzling hotpot for the table. It wasn’t extravagant, but it hit the spot after training.

  “Alright,” Lyra said, stretching as she grabbed a skewer. “We’ve got food. Now what? Do we all just make fun of Mark again?”

  Mark sighed. “I’d appreciate it if we didn’t.”

  Chris leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze settling on Mark. “Fine. Let’s talk about something else.”

  He tapped the side of his drink absentmindedly. “What have you been learning lately?”

  Mark raised an eyebrow. “That’s broad.”

  Chris gave him a pointed look. “You spent all day fighting. What did you take away from it?”

  Mark hesitated for a moment. He knew the answer. He just wasn’t sure he liked it.

  Finally, he sighed. “That I’m still playing the same game I always play. And it doesn’t work against everyone.”

  Chris hummed thoughtfully. “You mean against Lyra or Daniel?”

  Mark didn’t confirm it, but the answer was obviously both.

  Aria, who had been calmly stirring her tea, glanced at him. “That makes sense. You tend to approach combat from a position of control. But against someone fundamentally faster, stronger, or incompatible with your abilities, control-based tactics fail.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Lyra smirked. “I was trying to tell him that. But I guess he needs a full committee to make it official.”

  Mark ignored her. “It’s not just that. It’s... adaptation. I’m not flexible enough.”

  Chris studied him for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Noted. And outside of battle?”

  Mark frowned. “What?”

  Chris set his drink down. “What else have you been paying attention to? Learning, observing?” He paused, then smirked slightly. “Or does your brain just shut off outside of combat?”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “I pay attention.”

  Chris gave a small wave of his hand, prompting him to elaborate.

  Mark thought for a moment, then decided to bring up what had been bothering him since the lecture.

  “There seems to be a deeper connection between ether and mana.”

  That caught their attention. Even Raven, who had been quiet until now, tilted her head slightly.

  Chris raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

  Mark leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against his glass. “The way the professor talked about it—ether is everywhere. It’s in the air, it fuels the reactors, it sustains the Sephirs. But the way it functions is too similar to how mana works in people.”

  Chris nodded slightly. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning the distinction between ether and mana might be artificial.” Mark crossed his arms. “If ether is just energy that flows through the world, and mana is just the body’s ability to channel it, then what’s stopping someone from tapping into the same power source that keeps the cities in the air?”

  A brief silence settled over the table.

  Then Lyra smirked. “Are you suggesting we just reach into the city’s reactor and supercharge ourselves?”

  Mark exhaled. “I don’t know what I’m suggesting. I just think we’re missing something.”

  Chris tapped his fingers against the table, thinking. “If that were possible; if people could tap directly into the same energy source that holds up the cities… do you think they’d allow it?”

  Mark frowned. “Who’s they?”

  Chris smirked slightly. “The ones in charge. Power is only free until someone decides it needs restrictions.”

  Daniel scoffed. “Spoken like a true politician.”

  Chris leaned back. “I’m just saying—whether it’s ether or abilities, power always comes with oversight. You might find this interesting: there’s a proposal for a new security system being tested in certain districts.”

  Mark raised an eyebrow. “What kind of system?”

  Chris swirled his drink idly. “An oversight program for ability usage. They’re looking into monitoring people deemed to have harmful intent. The idea is to curb potential threats before they escalate.”

  Raven frowned slightly. “And who decides what counts as harmful intent?”

  Chris exhaled. “Right now? The system would flag people based on psychological evaluations, past incidents, and any recorded abuses of power.”

  Mark’s grip on his glass tightened slightly. “So what? You end up on some watchlist just because someone thinks you’re dangerous?”

  Chris met his gaze evenly. “Not just anyone. There are structured checks in place.”

  Lyra scoffed. “And you believe that?”

  Chris shrugged. “I believe that it’s a response to a real problem. Abilities make people walking weapons. A system that prevents potential disasters isn’t inherently bad. And it’s modeled after the current Governance election system, which—say what you will—has kept the Sephirs running smoothly for decades.”

  Daniel clicked his tongue. “It doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s bad if it gets used the wrong way.”

  Raven interjected with a witty smile “Daniel, you are only complaining because it will mean you get late to classes”

  Mark chuckled and leaned back in his seat, thoughts still turning over.

  Ether and mana. Power and control.

  Somehow, everything was starting to feel connected.