One week.
That's how long it took for word to spread throughout the Eternal Vigilance that Admiral Azuriel's daughter had acquired a strange companion.
I should have known it wouldn't stay quiet. A ship this size was basically a floating city, and cities had gossip. Lots of it.
The first sign of trouble came during what had become our daily routine, Rayna taking me on supervised walks through the observation decks. She claimed it was for my "socialization and exercise," but I suspected she just enjoyed showing me the wonders of space.
Not that I minded. The views were spectacular.
Today, we were in Observation Deck Seven, a massive chamber with floor-to-ceiling viewports that offered a panoramic view of the cosmos. A nearby nebula painted the darkness in shades of purple and gold, and I could see smaller patrol ships moving in formation around the flagship.
I'd grown noticeably in the past week. Still small, maybe the size of a medium dog now, but I was stronger, faster, and my coordination had improved dramatically. I could actually walk without looking like a drunk toddler, which was a massive improvement.
[CURRENT STATUS]
- LEVEL: 3
- EVOLUTION PROGRESS: 31%
- BOND STRENGTH: 58%
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Rayna murmured, standing beside me at the viewport.
*Incredible,* I agreed through our bond. Our telepathic communication had improved significantly, I could now send complete thoughts instead of just emotions and vague impressions.
She smiled, reaching down to scratch behind my small horn nubs. The sensation sent pleasant tingles through my nervous system.
*That spot. Right there. Don't stop.*
Her laugh echoed through our bond. "You're like a cat sometimes."
*I am significantly more dignified than a cat,* I projected with mock indignation.
"You literally purr when I pet you."
*That's... irrelevant.*
We'd developed an easy rapport over the past week. Rayna treated me like an equal despite my current form, and I'd learned more about her in these quiet moments than any amount of observation could provide.
She was brilliant, genuinely, frighteningly intelligent. Her interest in Primordial Era history wasn't just academic curiosity; she genuinely believed understanding the past was key to avoiding its mistakes. She'd seen too many of her father's missions end in bloodshed, too many conflicts that could have been prevented with better knowledge.
She was also lonely.
Being the Admiral's daughter meant people treated her differently. They saw her title, her father's reputation, her political value. Few saw her, the girl who stayed up too late reading ancient texts, who sketched star charts in her spare time, who sometimes just needed someone to talk to.
That's what I'm here for, I'd told her once.
You're here to protect me, she'd replied.
Same thing.
"Lady Rayna?"
We both turned to find a group of three young people approaching, two men and a woman, all wearing the uniforms of junior officers. They looked to be around Rayna's age, maybe slightly older.
[SCANNING...]
[IDENTIFICATION: MULTIPLE TARGETS]
[THREAT LEVEL: LOW TO MINIMAL]
[EMOTIONAL STATES: CURIOSITY, NERVOUSNESS, AMBITION]
Rayna's posture shifted subtly, still polite, but with an edge of formality that hadn't been there moments ago.
"Lieutenant Corvax," she acknowledged. "How can I help you?"
The man who'd spoken, tall, handsome in a generic way, with perfectly styled dark hair, smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
"We heard you'd acquired an exotic companion," he said, his gaze dropping to me. "I had to see for myself. The rumors hardly do him justice."
*I don't like this guy,* I projected to Rayna.
*Neither do I,* she replied privately. *He's the son of Lord Corvax, a political ally of my father's. Which means I have to be polite.*
*Politics. Ugh.*
"This is Xiane," Rayna said aloud, her voice carefully neutral. "And yes, he's quite unique."
The woman in the group, blonde, with calculating green eyes, leaned forward. "What species is he? I've never seen markings like that."
"A rare variant from the Outer Reaches," Rayna replied smoothly, giving the cover story Dr. Ysmene had prepared. "The specifics are still being researched."
"Fascinating," Lieutenant Corvax said, though his tone suggested he found it anything but. "I heard he caused quite a stir in bio-containment last week. Something about... unusual dietary requirements?"
*How the hell does he know about that?*
I felt Rayna's irritation spike through the bond, though her expression remained pleasant.
"Xiane requires specialized nutrition," she confirmed. "Dr. Ysmene has been very helpful in determining his needs."
"I'm sure she has," Corvax replied. His eyes, cold and assessing, locked onto me. "May I?"
He reached toward me without waiting for permission.
[WARNING: HOSTILE INTENT DETECTED]
[INDIVIDUAL DISPLAYS PREDATORY BEHAVIOR PATTERNS]
[RECOMMENDATION: DEFENSIVE POSTURE]
My instincts screamed danger. This wasn't curiosity, it was a threat assessment. He wanted to see what I'd do, how I'd react.
Test me, and you'll regret it, I thought coldly.
As his hand approached, I did something I'd been practicing in private, I let a tiny fraction of my void energy leak out. Nothing dramatic, just enough to make the air around me feel wrong.
Corvax's hand stopped inches from my fur. His smile faltered.
"He's... protective of his space," Rayna said smoothly, stepping slightly between us. "I'd advise against touching him without permission."
"Of course," Corvax replied, withdrawing his hand. But his eyes had changed, there was a sharpness there now, a keen interest that made my hackles rise. "Intelligent, too. How remarkable."
The third member of their group, a shorter man with nervous energy, spoke up. "Is it true you found him in a Void Corrupted site?"
Shit. They know too much.
"I found him during an expedition," Rayna corrected, her tone cooling. "The specifics are classified."
"Classified," Corvax repeated thoughtfully. "How intriguing. One wonders what makes a simple exotic pet worthy of classification."
The implication hung in the air like poison.
He's probing for information. Testing to see what we'll reveal.
Rayna's hand moved to rest on my back, a gesture of both comfort and possession.
"If you're questioning my father's security protocols, Lieutenant, I suggest you take it up with him directly," she said, her voice taking on an edge I'd never heard before. "I'm sure the Admiral would be happy to explain his reasoning."
The threat was subtle but unmistakable. Go over my head, and you'll deal with my father.
Corvax's smile returned, but it was tighter now. "No questioning intended, Lady Rayna. Simply expressing curiosity. After all, we're all on the same side here."
*Are we?* I projected to Rayna.
*Definitely not,* she replied.
"If you'll excuse us," Rayna said, her tone making it clear it wasn't a request. "Xiane needs his rest."
She didn't wait for a response, turning and walking away with me at her side. I could feel the Lieutenant's gaze boring into my back until we left the observation deck.
Once we were in a private corridor, Rayna let out a long breath.
"That was... unpleasant."
*Who was that guy? Besides an asshole.*
"Lieutenant Kaelen Corvax," she explained as we walked. "Son of Lord Corvax, one of the Dominion's most influential nobles. He's ambitious, cunning, and entirely too interested in things that don't concern him."
*He knows about the bio-containment incident.*
"Which means someone talked," Rayna agreed grimly. "Commander Volten wouldn't have. Which means someone else saw or heard something."
*Is that a problem?*
She was quiet for a moment. "It could be. If people start asking too many questions about what you are, what you're capable of... it could attract the wrong kind of attention."
[WARNING: POLITICAL THREAT DETECTED]
[MULTIPLE PARTIES NOW AWARE OF HOST'S EXISTENCE]
[PROBABILITY OF INTERFERENCE: INCREASING]
We returned to her quarters in silence, both of us lost in thought.
Once inside, Rayna pulled up her personal terminal and began typing rapidly.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Sending a message to Dr. Ysmene," she replied. "We need to accelerate your feeding schedule. The faster you grow stronger, the better."
*You think Corvax is a threat.*
"I think he's the type of person who sees everything as a potential asset or obstacle," Rayna said carefully. "And right now, he's trying to figure out which category you fall into."
She turned to look at me, her expression serious.
"Xiane, I need you to understand something. My father's position means I'm constantly surrounded by politics, people who want to use me to get to him, or who see me as a stepping stone to power. Most of them are harmless, just annoying. But some..."
*Some are dangerous,* I finished.
"Yes." She knelt down beside me, her hand resting on my head. "I can protect myself from most threats. I've been trained for that. But you... you're unknown. Mysterious. And mystery makes powerful people nervous."
Through our bond, I felt her genuine concern, not for herself, but for me.
*You're worried they'll try to take me away.*
"I won't let that happen," she said fiercely. "But we need to be careful. Smart."
I pressed against her hand, letting her feel my own conviction through the bond.
*Rayna. I was literally designed to be a weapon. Whatever threats come, I can handle them. And I'll protect you from anything, including ambitious assholes like Corvax.*
She smiled, though worry still lingered in her eyes. "I know. But you're still growing. Still vulnerable. Just... promise me you'll be careful. Don't let them provoke you into showing what you can really do."
I promise. For now.
The unspoken "but" hung between us. For now, I'd play the role of harmless exotic pet. But if someone actually threatened Rayna?
All bets were off.
[QUEST GENERATED: SURVIVE THE POLITICS]
[OBJECTIVE: Avoid revealing true capabilities to hostile parties]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Identify potential threats to Rayna Azuriel]
[REWARD: Experience, Evolution Progress, Enhanced Perception]
[FAILURE PENALTY: Forced separation from Rayna, potential termination]
Great. Just what I needed. Political intrigue.
That night, I lay on my cushion near Rayna's bed, unable to sleep despite exhaustion.
The encounter with Corvax had rattled me more than I wanted to admit. In my previous life, I'd been nobody, just another face in the crowd. Threats were abstract, theoretical.
Here? Threats were real, immediate, and increasingly complicated.
I wasn't just protecting Rayna from monsters or cosmic horrors. I was protecting her from people, people with agendas, resources, and the intelligence to be truly dangerous.
I need to get stronger. Faster.
[EVOLUTION PROGRESS: 31%]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO ADOLESCENT FORM: 3-4 WEEKS AT CURRENT RATE]
Not fast enough.
[ACCELERATED EVOLUTION POSSIBLE THROUGH]
- INCREASED FEEDING FREQUENCY
- COMBAT EXPERIENCE
- EXTREME STRESS CONDITIONS
- DIMENSIONAL ENERGY EXPOSURE
I'll take option one, thanks. The others sound... unpleasant.
I glanced over at Rayna's sleeping form, her face peaceful in the dim light.
Whatever it takes, I thought. I'll evolve. I'll become strong enough that people like Corvax won't even dare to look at you wrong.
That's my promise.
And I keep my promises.
---
[STATUS UPDATE]
- Level: 3
- New Quest: Survive the Politics
- Threat Identified: Lieutenant Kaelen Corvax
- Evolution Progress: 31%