Thalora

Chapter Three: First Steps

The morning sun bathed the Academy's glass towers in a soft, violet light as Alyssa stood in line with the other recruits. A field of sleek, silver fighter jets gleamed in front of them, lined up in perfect formation on the Academy's massive airstrip. Each one looked like it had been pulled straight from a sci-fi holo-film—streamlined wings, glowing thrusters, and cockpits so advanced they seemed to defy logic.

The students whispered excitedly, their eyes wide with anticipation. This was the day they had been waiting for—flight training.

"Welcome to your first practical session," barked Officer Vasquez, standing at attention in front of the group. Her voice cut through the chatter like a blade. "Today, you will learn the basics of operating the Thalora-class Fighters—the most advanced fighter jets in the galaxy."

Alyssa shifted nervously. She hadn't expected the Academy to dive into something like this so soon. Most of the recruits, herself included, had only ever flown in simulations. This was real. And the stakes felt impossibly high.

A soft chuckle from beside her caught her attention. Kai Lor, the Academy's golden boy, stood beside her, stretching his arms above his head like this was just another day for him. His sharp jawline and dark hair, slicked back in that effortlessly cool way, made him look like he belonged in every holo-ad for the Academy. Kai was the kind of person who made everything look easy—and knew it.

"Hope you've got your nerves under control, newbie," Kai said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "These babies don't take too kindly to rookies who choke."

Alyssa narrowed her eyes. She'd heard about Kai. Top of the class, elite in every physical challenge the Academy threw at them, and loved to remind everyone about it. "I'll manage," she said flatly.

He flashed a smirk, leaning in just a bit. "Let's hope you don't crash. I wouldn't want to have to bail you out."

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, but despite his arrogance, something about him got under her skin. A certain confidence that made it hard to look away, even when he was being insufferable. And maybe—just maybe—there was something else there, something she hadn't quite sorted out yet.

"You will be paired off for this exercise," Vasquez continued, tapping on her datapad. "Once assigned your partner, you'll board your craft, and we'll begin the test flights. Stay within the designated airspace. Any deviation will result in automatic failure."

Alyssa's stomach sank as her name appeared on the display—next to Kai's.

Great.

Kai grinned like he'd just won a prize. "Looks like we're partners. Try to keep up, okay?"

Alyssa bit her lip, already bracing herself for what was sure to be a long, exhausting flight.

The next few minutes were a blur of hurried instructions as they approached their assigned jet. Kai was all swagger, moving with the casual ease of someone who'd already done this a hundred times. Alyssa, on the other hand, felt her pulse quickening. This wasn't a simulation anymore.

"Alright, co-pilot," Kai said, tossing her a helmet. "Don't mess this up for me."

Alyssa slipped the helmet on, trying not to let him get under her skin. "Just fly the damn thing."

Kai laughed, clearly amused by her no-nonsense attitude. "Don't worry, I'll fly circles around everyone. You just focus on not fainting."

The cockpit sealed with a soft hiss, and suddenly, the entire world became a wash of bright lights and holographic controls. Alyssa's hands hovered over the unfamiliar buttons, trying to take everything in immediately.