Three more weeks slipped by in the rhythm of the academy.
Lian's days were his own: early healing sessions, endless solo training in restricted yards, advanced manuals on body refinement and silent movement. His Circuit Awakening Realm stabilized at Late stage, internal Qi flowing like a calm river—ready to burst when needed.
The academy gave him freedom.
Badge allowed exit and entry anytime.
No curfew.
No questions.
They trusted the Ghost now.
Or feared him enough to let him roam.
He used it.
Explored Nova Prime City deeper.
Markets.
Lower levels.
Rooftops at night.
Watched alien fights in hidden arenas.
Stole nothing anymore—academy credits enough for food.
But old habits: shadows, quiet watch.
Evenings, he returned to her private yard.
The half-cyborg girl.
Every night.
Same time.
She trained alone.
Blade silent.
Steps no sound.
Machine grace.
Human focus.
He watched from fence shadow.
Learned more each time.
Her wrist angles.
Hip micro-shifts.
Blade recovery speed.
Copied in his yard after.
His steps quieter.
Blade no ring.
She never looked.
Or never showed.
One evening, rain soft on academy roofs.
He arrived usual.
She was mid-form.
Long black hair wet, sticking to human neck.
Blue cyber eyes focused.
Blade curved black—cut raindrops without splash.
She finished chain.
Sheathed silent.
Then turned.
Direct to his shadow.
Voice clear.
Mechanical edge faint.
"Are you going to keep watching forever, or will you ever say a word?"
Lian froze.
First time spoken to.
He stepped out.
Slow.
Into light.
Rain on scars.
Void eyes met her blue glow.
Silent long.
She waited.
Blade hand rested loose.
No threat.
Just question.
He spoke low.
"Learning."
She tilted head.
Cyber eyes scanned him.
Scars.
Posture.
Blade under jacket.
"Ghost."
Not question.
Known.
He nodded.
She looked long.
"Name?"
"Lian Yu."
"Elara."
No last name.
She stepped closer.
Rain on alloy arms—no drip sound.
"You move better than last week."
He blinked.
She noticed.
Watched him watch.
"You too."
She half-smiled.
Human lips.
Cold.
"Good."
She turned.
Walked to bench.
Sat.
Blade across lap.
"You train alone?"
He nodded.
"Me too."
"Crowds waste time."
He stepped closer.
Not too.
Rain between.
"Why alone?"
She tapped chest plate.
Red heart monitor glowed steady.
"This."
"Most fear."
"Or stare."
"Or challenge to prove."
"I don't care."
"Quiet better."
He understood.
Scars like her augs.
Different.
Same.
He sat on ground.
Not bench.
Distance.
Rain soft.
She watched.
"You beat Blitz."
"Half killed him."
Statement.
He nodded.
"Good."
"Speed needs root."
She looked at his hands.
Calluses from hammer.
"You forge?"
"Once."
She nodded.
"Root shows."
Silence comfortable.
Rain eased.
She stood.
"Train?"
He stood.
Blade drawn.
Silent.
She drew hers.
No sound.
They faced.
No spar.
Just forms.
Side by side.
She led slow.
He followed.
Copied perfect.
She sped.
He matched.
Steps silent.
Blades no ring.
Flow together.
Hours.
No words.
Just movement.
Harmony.
Machine and scarred human.
When moons high, she sheathed.
"Again tomorrow."
He nodded.
She walked away.
Alloy legs silent.
He watched go.
Then left.
Heart beat different.
Not revenge.
Not greed.
Quiet connection.
First since Harlan.
He walked city night.
Badge let him out gate easy.
Lower markets closed.
Streets dim.
Rain stopped.
Air clean.
He cut through old alley.
Foot caught something.
Book.
On ground.
Filthy.
Mud soaked.
Edges burnt black.
Cover half gone.
But pages intact mostly.
He picked up.
Heavy.
Old leather what remained.
No title.
Opened careful.
Yellow pages.
Hand written.
Ink faded.
Drawings crude.
Human anatomy.
Eyes detailed.
Heart cross sections.
Veins.
Meridians marked.
Text old language—but academy study helped read.
"Forbidden Harvest Path."
"Eyes of fallen—vision Qi."
"Heart of strong—core boost."
"Consume raw or refine."
"Break realm walls."
"Steal talent."
"Shorten years to days."
Dark words.
Ritual steps.
Warnings too.
"Madness risk."
"Soul corrosion."
"Hunters come."
Lian's void eyes narrowed.
Harlan.
Heart gone.
Eyes taken.
Clean cuts.
This.
The old man.
The shadow.
They followed this.
Harvest.
Boost.
He closed book slow.
Burnt edges crumbled.
Filthy cover.
But truth inside.
Forbidden.
Dangerous.
He tucked under jacket.
Walked faster.
Back to academy.
Gate guard nodded.
Inside dorm.
Light on.
Read by lamp.
All night.
Pages turned careful.
Rituals dark.
Boosts huge.
Risks huge.
Hunters—those who police forbidden paths.
Or something worse.
He read twice.
Memorized.
Why Harlan?
Key.
Pendant.
Or eyes.
Heart.
Talent hidden.
Star Forge.
They hunt it.
The book hinted ancient progenitors.
Harvest to reach higher.
Eternal Origin.
The old man.
White machine eyes.
Not natural.
Harvested?
Or hunter.
Lian closed book.
Void eyes colder.
Truth heavier.
Revenge clearer.
They took for power.
He would take back.
More.
The forbidden book.
Dirty.
Burnt.
Found.
Not accident.
Or was.
He hid it.
Under bed board.
Slept little.
Trained dawn.
Elara yard evening.
She waited.
They trained silent.
Better together.
No words needed.
Connection grew.
Quiet.
Strong.
The book secret stayed.
For now.
Revenge burned steady.
The path darker.
But his.