- Oliver -

  Oliver was still stunned by the match's oute in arena 12 when Katherine abruptly ehe dormitory. The door slid open with a meical hiss, and she crossed the threshold with heavy steps, her face torted in anger. Without saying a word, she threw herself onto one of the beds, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

  Oliver and Isabe exged uain gnces. A heavy silence remained between them. He wao ask about what had happe the end of the match or the fate of the recruit who had just killed an NEA officer. But Katherine's furious gre made him hesitate; perhaps it was better to wait until her anger subsided.

  Minutes passed, and the tension in the air began to dissipate. Finally, Isabe broke the silence. "Kath, what happened in there?"

  "That piece of trash had to show up right now," Katherine blurted out, her voice den with bitterness.

  Oliver's eyes widened. Katherine rarely used insults or swear words, so her inclusion of them was quite impactful.

  "Well, I think I know who you're calling a piece of trash. But could you give us more detail?" Isabe gently pressed.

  Oliver leaned forward, curiosity evident in his gaze. Katherine sighed before responding. "It's Mordred; he's the main heir of the Lot’s and a real son of a bitch."

  "And a murderer," Oliver ented.

  Katherine looked at Oliver with a puzzled expression.

  "What do you mean, murderer?" Katherine asked.

  "You haven't seen the repy yet?" Isabe asked, surprised.

  "Not yet; I came straight to the dormitory," Katherine expined.

  "You o see this," Oliver said, activating the hologram on his gauhe floating image illumihe room, revealing Mordred's battle against the Mini-Mechas and culminating with him splitting a Mecha in half with a devastating blow.

  Katherine's expression rapidly shifted between surprise and disgust as she watched each part of the fight.

  After finishing the repy, she sighed and sat on her bed. Oliver could tell from her expression that Katherine was thinking.

  "What do you think will happen to him?" Oliver asked, curious if there would be any punishment.

  "I don't know. They probably won't expel him; maybe they'll hinder him a bit, but not enough," Katherine expined. "He's powerful; the Lots have been preparing for this uping Emperor's ele ever since Maximus took over. There's not a family they haven't tried te ties with."

  As soon as Katherine finished expining, Oliver noticed that several recruits in the dormitory were trying to eavesdrop on their versation. It made sense—many had watched the battle and learhat Katherine was, in fact, a princess.

  "I think the first flht be quieter at this hour," Oliver suggested to the girls, nodding slightly and pointing toward the other recruits.

  "Sure. I o have my afternoon coffee," Isabe spoke loudly so everyone could hear.

  The trio desded the sleek, metallic staircase, heading straight for the dining area where a few cafes remained open. Sihe entrance exams were still underway, few recruits were around. Those who were seemed more ed with finding equipment or ons to purchase.

  Oliver found a table tucked away from the entrance while the two girls went to the ter to pce their orders. They returned carrying two tall cups of some kind of coffee. Oliver couldn't quite make out the fvors, but there was far too much glitter swirling ihe cups for it to be regur coffee.

  "Alright, you were talking about Mordred. Why did he approach you?" Isabe asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.

  "It's plicated," Katherine sighed. "He ressuring to colle a promise between the Yorks and the Lot’s." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "I mentiohat his House wants to secure the Emperor's seat. To do that, they he majority of votes from both Houses and Great Houses. Naturally, a Great House usually has several Houses uheir prote, ensuring even more votes."

  "But what does that have to do with you? Isn't your brother the leader of yreat House?" Isabe questioned.

  "Yes, but... the promise was made long before he became the leader." Katheriated, her gaze distant. "When our parents were still alive, they made a promise with the Lots that I would be betrothed to their son, seg our House's support for the upiion."

  Oliver raised his eyebrows, surprised. "But are you going to marry him?" he asked.

  "Of course not! That promise was made by them, not by John," Katherine replied firmly. "Besides, we still don't know what they received in exge for su agreement. However, Mordred is using this to put pressure on our family. He either wants official and public support—making the Houses of Mars vote for him—or he wants me actually to marry him, achieving basically the same result."

  They sat in pensive silence for a moment until Oliver had an idea. "Couldn't you do the opposite? If he keeps pressuring you, why not support one of his oppos?" he suggested.

  "Yes, but unfortunately, we don't have close retions with the reat Houses that are running. We'd just end up with a arget on our backs, especially during a Wave, which is the st thing we need," Katherine expined.

  "What do you mean, during a Wave?" Isabe asked, her brow furrowed in fusion.

  "Every Great House is obliged to offer at least a thousand Rangers during a Wave. Perhaps you've noticed, but the main battlefront is at Olympus this time," Katheried.

  Oliver and Isabe nodded. Oliver recalled his versation with Nico before he departed to assist House Dardanus.

  "We have sent millions of soldiers, tens of thousands of officers, and thousands ers leading endless campaigns in Olympus. Now imagihat at some point, an 'act' happens. For some reason, support from the Lots' Rangers doesn't arrive, or the supplies they're supposed to deliver get lost," Katherine eborated. "Not enough to promise the campaigirely, but enough to weaken a House for a decade."

  Isabe nodded, grasping the gravity of the situation, while Oliver's face twisted as he absorbed the harsh reality. He thought silently, hoping for Nico's safety. ‘I hope the Dardanus don't have enemies.’

  "But couldn't you do the same?" Isabe asked, breaking the sileh a hint of challenge in her voice.

  "John would never put other people at risk just to harm another House," Katherine replied firmly. "Besides, their military power could overpower us. We'd have to be careful not to turn this into an even bigger flice the Wave ends."

  Oliver's mind seemed to be boiling, trying to keep up with the political chess game the Houses were pying. They were obliged to ally during the Waves but peted fiercely against each other as soon as the attacks ceased.

  He also remembered Nico's words about doing what was necessary. If the necessary meant putting others at risk to ensure safety or the 'greater good,' would he be able to do that? Oliver didn't e up with an answer, but it lingered in his mind for a moment.

  While he was lost in thought, the se of Mordred splitting a mecha in half reappeared on his gau's hologram. "How is he s? Is it normal for someoo split a mecha in half?" Oliver asked.

  "No, not at all," Katherine admitted, crossing her arms. "trol Boons are extremely powerful. But even so, it's impressive."

  "trol Boons?" Oliver inquired.

  "Yes, powers to trol something, usually elements. Because they are purer, they tend to e little Energy, allowing you to apply much more power. In his case, trolling shadows—or like John, who trols electricity," she expined.

  "But even so, he's e. There's no way he already has the power of a Ranger or, worse, superior to several Rangers. If he had only damaged the Jelly Bean to the point of stopping it from funing, it would already be impressive," Isabe argued incredulously.

  "Certainly, he was using something. The Castors are close allies of theirs and are always developing new drugs and experiments to enhance power," Katherine ented while watg the hologram again.

  Castor, Castor... Oliver repeated mentally until he remembered it was Kyle's House. Taking advantage of a moment when the camera partially captured Mordred's face, he used his hands to zoom in on the image. He could see that Mordred's irises were red, the same color he had seen in Kyle.

  ‘Was he using that same drug? But there was no mask…’ Oliver pondered, immersed iion.

  "Even so, with or without the Castors, he has always been a genius. It's no wonder he's the heir, even though he's not the firstborn," Katherine cluded.

  "But—" Isabe began a question but didn't finish. The girl raised her arm, looking at her gau. "It's my turn."

  GCLopes