GATE: First Encounter

Chapter 17

As we walked down the corridor, the silence between us wasn't exactly uncomfortable. As usual, Lynx was walking ahead, and I was following a few steps behind. When I noticed her glancing at me from the corner of her eye, I could tell she was about to say something.

Suddenly, she stopped. Her tail swayed in a short motion. Then, turning her head toward me, she offered a faint smile.

"Want something to drink?" she asked, her tone lighter this time—almost friendly.

I wasn't quite sure what she meant. "Drink?"

"Yeah. There's a rest area. Quiet, peaceful. Might help you clear your head... You're no longer classified as a prisoner, so a short break wouldn't hurt."

I hesitated for a moment. Was this a reward or another form of observation? Maybe both. But honestly, after being stuck in confined rooms, the idea of going somewhere else didn't sound bad.

"Sounds good," I said with a sigh.

Lynx nodded in approval. "Great. Follow me."

We changed course, entering a dimmer and quieter hallway. Our footsteps echoed softly, but even that echo felt more peaceful than the usual sounds. After passing a few doors, we finally stopped. There were Velocironix letters above the door—I couldn't make sense of them.

"This is the rest lounge," said Lynx. "Warriors, science officers... sometimes we come here just to catch our breath."

The door slid open silently. Inside was dimly lit—not dark, but comfortably soft. Wall panels glowed with gentle, shifting colors. The tables were arranged in circles, spaced out with care. A few Velocironix sat at some of them, quietly drinking or chatting.

Lynx led us to a table, motioning with her head. "Sit here. It's one of the calmer spots."

I sat down. The first thing I noticed was how comfortable the seats were. Lynx tapped on a small digital panel at the table's edge. A menu opened. Most of it was unreadable to me, but colorful drink icons floated across the screen.

"I'm ordering my usual," she said. "What should I get you?"

I shrugged. "Whatever you're having..."

Lynx rolled her eyes. "You're younger. I'll pick something more fitting."

She tapped the screen a few times, placed the order. A few minutes later, two drinks arrived. Hers was a dark, foamy liquid in a deep-colored glass. Mine was in a transparent cup, its color somewhere between purple and blue. It shimmered faintly.

"What is this?" I asked, eyeing the glass.

"It's called Thalumea," Lynx replied after taking a sip of her own drink. "No alcohol. Has a calming effect. I used to drink it a lot during training. You might like the flavor."

I gave it a sniff. Sweet, a bit strange—but oddly familiar. I took a sip. It was sharp at first, but then it left a smooth, cool taste in my mouth. Surprisingly pleasant.

"Not bad," I said.

Lynx smiled. "That's a good sign. Means you might find a few things to like here, even if they're small."

We sat in silence for a while, sipping our drinks. The ambient hum of the lounge felt more human than the stillness of the corridors. For the first time, being in this world didn't feel entirely terrifying.

As I looked around, I noticed some of the Velocironix in the room casting glances our way. They whispered among themselves. Even when they turned their heads away, their attention lingered. I started to feel tense. I leaned in toward Lynx.

She placed her cup near the edge of the table. Her tail froze momentarily, then subtly flicked—a sign of hesitation. She glanced around the lounge. A few of the Velocironix who met her eyes quickly looked away.

"It's probably because of you," she said frankly. "But not in a bad way. They're trying to understand you. We haven't had anything like this before. You're not one of us, but now... you sort of are. And being on that boundary? It draws attention."

Her words were clear—gentle, but without avoidance. They left me with a strange feeling—like I was caught between alienation and belonging.

"Wait. What do you mean, 'one of you'?" I asked quietly.

Lynx looked at me again, her smile a little more serious now, more thoughtful. She seemed to be picking her words carefully.

"Maybe not officially," she said. "You don't have citizenship, a rank, or a badge yet. But you're under Valsera's protection. And in our culture, that's no small thing."

She paused, gazing into her dark drink, then looked back at me.

"To vouch for someone... is to take responsibility for them. For their good—and their mistakes. Valsera didn't just thank you. She made you her responsibility. That means, to some of us, you're already 'on the inside'."

Her words left a lump in my throat. I didn't know what to feel—gratitude, pressure, maybe even a little fear. "But what about the others? The ones who don't accept me?" I asked, glancing at the nearby tables. Some were still stealing glances our way.

"They will exist," Lynx said simply. "There will always be those who see you as an outsider, no matter what you do. That's true in any society. But sometimes, one person is enough. And if someone like Valsera vouches for you, others are forced to at least consider."

I swallowed hard. My thoughts were spinning. I didn't belong here. But apparently, I wasn't entirely outside anymore either. I was standing on a border. Yes. But that didn't mean I wanted to stay.

Lynx took another sip, then leaned slightly toward me. Her gaze was more focused now.

"Listen, Okan," she said. "In this universe, who stands behind you can matter just as much as who you are. If you're sitting at this table right now, it's not just because of a good deed. It might be the first step in something bigger. What you are—and what you become—is still being written."

She studied my face, then smiled again.

"And I'm curious to see what you'll do next in that story."