The walk home felt longer than usual, the cool evening air brushing against my skin as I navigated the familiar cobblestone streets of Lumora City. The fading sun painted streaks of orange and pink across the sky, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were too full—about the drive, the Forces of Nature, Team Eclipse, and the absurdity of being part of this… group.

  Azzy bounced lightly in my arms, her soft chirps pulling me back to reality. I glanced down at her, smiling faintly. “It’s a lot, huh?” I murmured, rubbing her head gently. She cooed in response, her tiny tail swaying. It was a simple sound, but it made me feel better.

  I stepped up to the entrance of my building, pushing the door open into the small, dimly lit lobby. It smelled faintly of lavender from the old potpourri bowl Mrs. Roux on the first floor always kept by the mailboxes. Azzy chirped again, her tiny tail flicking as I adjusted my grip on her and headed up the creaky stairs to the third floor.

  Our apartment was modest, just a small two-bedroom with a view of the neighboring rooftops and a fire escape that Dad always joked was our “penthouse balcony.” I pushed the door open, greeted by the warm smell of herbs and spices wafting from the kitchen. Dad’s humming drifted through the space, paired with the faint clatter of pots and pans.

  “Hey, kiddo!” he called over his shoulder, barely looking up from the stovetop. “Solve any world-ending mysteries today?”

  “Something like that,” I replied, setting Azzy down on the couch. She hopped a few times before curling into a soft ball, already half-asleep.

  “Well, dinner’s on the stove,” Dad said, turning to flash me a smile. “Ratatouille tonight. Figured you could use something comforting.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” I said, kicking off my shoes and heading into the kitchen. The warm, savory smell of roasted vegetables filled the air, making my stomach growl. I grabbed a plate from the cupboard and scooped a generous portion onto it, the vibrant mix of tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplant steaming invitingly.

  As I added a slice of crusty bread to the side, Dad spoke up. “Oh, and don’t forget—tomorrow’s the demo at Virelia Energy Solutions. It’s a big deal for the company. You’re still coming with me, right?”

  I paused mid-scoop, glancing over my shoulder. “Yeah, I guess. You’ve only mentioned it about a million times.”

  He chuckled, leaning against the counter with a dish towel slung over his shoulder. “Because it is a big deal, Isabelle. VireTech’s been working on this collaboration with Virelia Energy Solutions for years. The clean energy initiative could be a huge step forward for the region. It’s not just about work—it’s about setting an example.”

  “Right,” I said, carefully balancing my plate. “Clean energy, renewable resources, save the world one solar panel at a time. Got it.”

  “You don’t have to go to school tomorrow, by the way,” he added, giving me a pointed look. “Your absence is already excused.”

  I shook my head. “Fine, I’ll go. At least I won’t have to deal with group project stuff for a few hours.”

  Azzy chirped from the couch, hopping down and trailing after me as I headed toward the stairs. “Just don’t spill,” Dad called after me, his tone light but amused.

  “I won’t,” I said, navigating carefully up the steps with Azzy bouncing behind me.

  I had just settled in, plate balanced precariously on my nightstand, Azzy curled up in her usual spot on the pillow, when my VireBand buzzed softly on my wrist. The faint blue glow pulsed, signaling notifications.

  "Let me guess," I muttered to Azzy, setting my fork down. "The Clique’s at it again."

  She chirped faintly, as if to agree, her tiny tail flicking lazily. I tapped the side of the VireBand, activating the holographic display. The sleek interface flickered to life above my wrist, projecting the chat log in glowing text. I scrolled back a few messages to catch up, noting the small icons at the bottom indicating who’d already seen each message. Unsurprisingly, Elliot’s icon appeared first for every single one.

  Orbital Clique Chat

  Amélie: “GUYSSSSSSSS. Tell me it’s not just me. I need a full week off like yesterday.”

  Clara: “a week off lol. sure. the day they stop letting 10 yr olds run the league circuit.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Milo: “I’m still working on decrypting the file. It’s proving to be more challenging than expected. Ideas for the project in the meantime?”

  Amélie: “Milo, do you sleep? ?? We need you functional, not fried!”

  Clara: “let him burn out. fewer lectures for the rest of us.”

  Amélie: “CLARA! ???♀? Isabelle, where are you?? You’re usually the voice of reason here!!”

  I smirked faintly, brushing a crumb off the hologram as if it were real. "Voice of reason?" I said to Azzy. "That’s generous of her."

  Azzy gave a soft chirp, watching the light from the display reflect off the ceiling. The typing bubble appeared under Amélie’s name, flickering a few times before another message popped up.

  Amélie: “Izzyyy, did I lose you already???”

  I sighed, tapping the chat to open the keyboard. “Alright, Azzy,” I muttered, typing as I spoke, “let’s see if I can say something that doesn’t make me sound like a total disaster.”

  Me: “Relax, I’m here. Milo, take a nap. Amélie, I’m eating dinner. Clara… just Clara.”

  Clara: “oh great. she’s back with her snark. ??”

  Amélie: “Yayyy!! Izzy, what’re you up to tomorrow???”

  I hesitated for a second, glancing at Azzy, who tilted her head expectantly. "Do I really want to bring this up?" I asked her. She chirped softly, which I took as encouragement.

  Me: “Dad’s dragging me to a demo thing at Virelia Energy Solutions. Some big deal for his company, VireTech.”

  Milo: “That’s the public demonstration for their clean energy initiative. Professor Ardene is supposed to attend. She’s been integral to the project for years.”

  Clara: “hold up. THE professor? like the big brain who knows EVERYTHING abt legendaries???”

  Amélie: “Yessss omg you HAVE to talk to her, Izzy!! ?? She’s probably the ONE person who could crack that file. Imagine if she helped us!!!”

  I let out a laugh that startled Azzy. “Oh sure, just casually chat up Professor Super Smart like we’re besties,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I typed.

  Me: “Oh yeah, sure. Let me just walk up and say, ‘Hi, Professor Genius, help me decrypt this shady file I got from a criminal.’ Great plan.”

  Clara: “better u than me. i’d probs call her a nerd and leave.”

  Milo: “Honestly, Isabelle, if there’s an opportunity, you should take it. If anyone knows about the Forces of Nature and Team Eclipse’s interests, it’s her.”

  Amélie: “Agreed! You’ve got this, Izzy!! ???”

  I groaned, flopping back on the bed and glaring at the hologram. "Yeah, Azzy, I’ll just walk up to the most brilliant person in the region and hope I don’t embarrass myself into oblivion."

  Azzy tilted her head at me, her tail swaying thoughtfully as if trying to reassure me.

  Me: “Sure. I’ll just try not to die of embarrassment. No promises.”

  Clara: “pls. ur fine. but if u die of embarrassment, dibs on ur stuff.”

  Amélie: “CLARA! ???♀? Ignore her. You’ll do great.”

  I smiled faintly despite myself. The chat was chaotic, but it was a distraction I desperately needed. I didn’t want to think too hard about tomorrow—or what the Professor might say if I actually managed to talk to her.

  The last message caught my eye. A small bubble popped up under Elliot’s icon, showing he’d seen everything but, as usual, said nothing. Still, the bubble appeared first, just like always.

  "Silent observer," muttered. "Classic Elliot."

  Just as I let the thought settle, another message popped up, and I nearly choked on my breath.

  Elliot: “If Ardene’s there, it’s worth a shot.”

  I stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief. “Did… did Elliot just agree with me?” I said aloud, glancing at Azzy for confirmation as if she could somehow validate my sanity. The little Azurill tilted her head, curious but unhelpful.

  I typed quickly, my fingers flying over the holographic keyboard.

  Me: “Did… did Elliot just agree with me? Should we mark this day on a calendar?”

  Clara: “nah. it’s like seeing a rare mon in the wild. take a pic or smth.”

  Amélie: “You two are impossible. ??”

  Azzy chirped, curling into a ball on the pillow beside me. I reached over and gently brushed her fur, the soft texture grounding me. I let the hologram blink off, the faint blue glow fading as the room grew darker.

  "Guess it’s just you and me tomorrow, Azzy," I whispered. "Let’s try not to make a total mess of things."

  She chirped again, her tail flicking once before she drifted off to sleep. I lay back, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling between the day’s events, tomorrow’s demo, and everything we still didn’t know.

  Whatever happened, the pieces were falling into place. Slowly. Chaotically. But they were moving.