The city blurred beneath him.
Buildings became streaks of glass and steel.
Hovercars drifted through designated air lanes.
Digital billboards illuminated the skyline.
For the first time in his life— Kirran was flying completely alone.
No Gear.
No Raymond.
No instructors.
Just him and Mach.
The new thrusters hummed beneath him.
His visor displayed navigation markers leading directly toward the school.
A grin spread across his face.
“This is incredible.” “I agree.” Mach’s icon appeared in the corner of the display.
“You have only nearly crashed twice.” “Only twice?” “That is significantly better than yesterday.” “I’ll take it.” Kirran accelerated.
The school appeared ahead.
Maybe he wasn’t late after all.
Maybe Christopher was still waiting.
Maybe—- Wind roared around the chair.
The alarm clock in his visor updated.
His smile vanished.
“Oh no.” He boosted harder.
The school grounds rushed closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Finally— He landed.
Not gracefully.
But successfully.
The important thing was that he landed.
Kirran immediately sped through the front doors.
The hallways were empty.
Completely empty.
No students.
No teachers.
No activity.
Only silence.
His stomach sank.
“Mach…” “I know.” Kirran rolled faster.
Down one hallway.
Then another.
Then another.
Finally— He reached his classroom.
The door was open.
Kirran stopped.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Almost afraid to look.
Then he peeked inside.
The room was empty.
Desks sat untouched.
Several chairs remained slightly out of place.
Evidence that people had been there.
Past tense.
Had.
Not were.
Had.
Christopher was gone.
The tutoring session was over.
And Kirran had missed it.
Again.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Mach remained quiet as well.
The silence felt heavier than usual.
Eventually, the Vent spoke.
“Perhaps nobody attended.” Kirran smiled weakly.
“Sure.” Neither of them believed it.
The classroom felt too lived in.
Too recently occupied.
Someone had been here.
Christopher had probably waited.
And Kirran had failed to show up.
The thought hurt more than any training accident.
More than any crash.
More than getting blasted across an arena.
Because this wasn’t a mistake made during training.
This was a promise.
And he had broken it.
“Great.” Kirran lowered his head.
“Some role model I am.” Mach’s icon dimmed slightly.
“I do not believe Christopher would see it that way.” “Maybe.” “But I’d see it that way.” The Vent had no response.
Because unfortunately…
Kirran was right.
Outside, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway.
A familiar voice followed.
“Kirran!” Raymond.
Of course.
Kirran closed his eyes.
This conversation wasn’t going to be fun.
Raymond appeared moments later.
Hands on hips.
Expression halfway between worried and annoyed.
“Kirran.” “What?” “You missed it.” “I noticed.” Raymond sighed.
His frustration softened immediately.
“Hey.” Kirran didn’t look up.
“It happens.” “Not to me.” “Actually, especially to you.” That earned the smallest hint of a smile.
Only a tiny one.
But Raymond noticed.
“Better.” “Don’t push it.” A few minutes later, they left the school together.
Raymond walked toward the hover-van.
Kirran rolled slowly beside him.
Neither spoke much.
The disappointment still lingered.
Eventually Raymond stopped beside the vehicle.
“Want a ride home?” Kirran shook his head.
“No.” “You sure?” “Yeah.” Mach’s icon appeared.
“I believe we should take a walk.
A few minutes later, they left the school together.
Raymond walked toward the hover-van.
Kirran rolled slowly beside him.
Neither spoke much.
The disappointment still lingered.
Eventually Raymond stopped beside the vehicle.
“Want a ride home?” Kirran shook his head.
“No.” “You sure?” “Yeah.” Mach’s icon appeared.
“I believe we should take a walk.” Raymond blinked.
“A walk?” Kirran smiled faintly.
“You know what he means.” “I do.” The nurse hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Okay.” He pointed.
“Don’t stay out too late.” “No promises.” “Kirran.” “Mostly no promises.” Raymond groaned.
Kirran laughed.
For the first time all afternoon.
Then Raymond drove away.
The silence returned.
Kirran and Mach continued down the sidewalk.
Neither really knew where they were going.
Sometimes movement helped.
Sometimes you just needed time to think.
The city gradually changed around them.
Busy streets became quieter.
Buildings became older.
The crowds thinned.
Soon they found themselves in a narrow industrial district.
Warehouses lined both sides of the road.
Most looked abandoned.
One in particular caught Kirran’s attention.
Not because of the building itself.
Because of the voices.
Voices coming from inside.
Kirran slowed.
Mach noticed immediately.
“What is it?” “Listen.” Both fell silent.
A voice drifted through a partially open window.
“I thought they were supposed to be here at four.” Another answered.
“They were.” Kirran exchanged a glance with Mach.
That was strange.
Very strange.
Slowly, carefully, he rolled closer to the window.
Inside, a conversation continued.
“You better be right.” “I didn’t fly all the way from France to be kept waiting.” A third voice responded immediately.
“Of course, Mr.
Belizaire.” Kirran froze.
Mach froze.
Neither recognized the name.
Yet something about the conversation felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Curiosity took over.
Slowly— Very slowly— Kirran peeked through the window.
And immediately wished he hadn’t.
Because what he saw inside was about to shatter everything he thought he knew.