Children of The Spheres

Chapter 25: Respite

Kassian's captain's quarters, the largest on the Morningstar, feels less like a ship and more like a cozy home on a peaceful, distant planet. Soft lamp light casts a warm glow over the space, while tapestries hang from the walls beside old bookshelves.

The aroma is thick and warm, filling the air with the smell of rich, seasoned meats, savory stews, and freshly baked bread. Plates of roasted vegetables, grilled fish drizzled with sauces, and various spreads of spices and herbs are arranged in front of us. There's a platter of seared braxen, the spice-rubbed meat releasing a smoky scent that's almost intoxicating, along with steaming bowls of spiced grain, warm and soft. Thinly sliced fruits—some imported from other worlds—glow in the light, their juices shimmering, adding a hint of sweetness to the table.

Keira, as usual, is the first to grab her plate, piling it high with food before snatching her glass of Fireveil. "To surviving," she says, taking a long, exaggerated gulp of the fiery drink.

I take a sip of my Old Fashioned, savoring the bitter edge. Not bad. Across from me, Kassian swirls his Scotch, eyes half-lidded but alert, his calm presence grounding the room. Nora, her plate modest compared to Keira's, is already a few sips into her vodka, her demeanor unusually relaxed.

"It's been a hell of a week," Nora says, cutting into her vegetables. "This... doesn't even feel real."

"I'll take it," I reply, raising my glass slightly. "Might be the last time we get to sit down like this for a while."

Keira snorts, tearing into a piece of bread. "Hell, with the way things went down on that transport hub, we might not ever be this relaxed again. We're practically on every wanted list the Syndicate has now."

"Not wrong," I say, slicing into the braxen. "It's not that big a deal, though. Syndicate makes up less than a quarter of humanity. Still plenty of free space for us."

Kassian raises his glass, his smile subtle. "To Ander and Keira. For saving us. I'm grateful, truly."

"I know," I say. "But we just did what you would have done had our roles been switched."

He smiles, because he knows it's true. We'd go through hell for each other.

Keira throws a piece of bread at Nora, laughing, already deep in her cups. "Honestly, you should all be thanking me. I single-handedly saved the day back there. I mean, did you see me? No contest." She leans back, grinning, clearly pleased with herself.

Nora, having caught the bread effortlessly, just rolls her eyes.

"I'm just saying, without me, you'd all be toast."

Kassian gives a quiet chuckle, swirling his drink. "I think I remember Ander also having a part in that."

Keira points her fork at him, mouth full. "Technicalities. Minor details."

We fall into silence for a time, focusing on the food, the warmth. I take it all in. It's moments like these that make all the chaos worth it. Even if they're short-lived.

Then, the mood shifts as Nora leans forward, her tone more serious. "But really... what are we even doing? I mean, we've been running missions for Evander for years now, but we still don't even know what the endgame is. Are we just going to keep doing this forever?"

Keira's smirk fades a bit as she nods in agreement. "We've been loyal. It's more than they should've expected from us. And yet we haven't been repaid with knowing why."

I meet Kassian's eyes over the rim of my glass, and we share a look—he knows what I know. We haven't had time to discuss it. Not properly. But now's not the time for that conversation.