Sylmae lounged on a wide branch of a tall tree. She lay on her side, propped up on one elbow, her other hand absently twirling a strand of her mossy hair. She looked down at her squad mates with half-lidded eyes, a lazy smile on her lips.

  It was peaceful and quiet here, high up in the trees, away from the hustle and bustle of the city that lay outside the walls of their new habitat.

  The squad was taking a break, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. Cerys, ever the responsible one, was sitting with her back against the tree trunk, a book in her hands. Lirielle, the sprite, flitted from branch to branch, humming softly to herself, her wings shimmering in the light.

  Myralis, the youngest dryad, sat cross-legged on the grassy forest floor, her hands gently stroking a butterfly that had landed on her knee. Sylmae watched her with a fond smile. Myralis was always so gentle and caring, even to the smallest creatures.

  Althea was swimming in the pond, her pale blue form cutting gracefully through the water. Sylmae could hear her soft, musical humming, a tune that seemed to harmonize with the gentle rustling of leaves.

  "Hey, Cerys!" Lirielle's voice broke the tranquil silence. She hovered near the elder dryad, her wings fluttering rapidly. "What are you reading?"

  Cerys looked up from her book, her emerald eyes meeting Lirielle's curious gaze. "It's a history book about this world. I'm trying to learn more about its past and the people who have shaped it."

  Lirielle cocked her head to the side. "Why? What good is the past when there's so much fun to be had in the present?"

  "It helps us understand the present," Cerys explained. "And the future. The past is a guide, a teacher. It shows us what has worked and what hasn't, what mistakes we should avoid, and what successes we can replicate."

  "Hmm," Lirielle hummed, not quite convinced. "Seems boring to me. I'd rather dance in the sun and play in the flowers. The past can stay where it is."

  Sylmae chuckled softly at their exchange. They were so different, yet they balanced each other out. Cerys was the thoughtful one, always considering the consequences of their actions and the broader context of their situation. Lirielle, on the other hand, lived in the moment, carefree and adventurous.

  "Leave her alone, Lirielle," Sylmae called out lazily from her perch. "Let her read her book. You go dance and play to your heart's content. We all have our own ways of enjoying this world."

  Lirielle grinned, "That's what I was going to do anyway!"

  The sprite zipped off, her laughter echoing through the forest. Sylmae watched her go with a smile. Despite her mischievous nature, Lirielle was the life of their squad, always bringing joy and laughter wherever she went.

  Myralis looked up from the butterfly, her eyes following Lirielle's path. "She's always so happy. How does she do it?"

  Cerys smiled, her gaze softening. "It's just her way. She finds joy in the simplest of things, and that's a wonderful gift."

  "I wish I could be like her," Myralis admitted, her voice wistful. "I always worry about things, even small ones."

  "That's also a gift," Cerys assured her, reaching out to gently touch the younger dryad's cheek. "Your care and concern are what keep us grounded and safe. Don't ever think less of yourself because of it."

  Myralis smiled, her worries melting away under Cerys' comforting words. "Thank you, Cerys."

  "You're welcome, dear."

  A splash caught their attention, and they turned to see Althea emerge from the pond. Water dripped from her silver hair and glistened on her blue skin. She walked towards them, her steps graceful and fluid, almost as if she were still in the water.

  "What are you all talking about?" Althea asked, joining the others under the tree.

  "We were just admiring Lirielle's joy for life," Cerys replied, closing her book. "And how we all have our own unique gifts that contribute to our squad."

  Althea nodded, her eyes drifting to the sky where Lirielle was performing acrobatics in the air, giggling as she went. "She is indeed a bright spirit. But we all shine in our own ways."

  Sylmae yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "Well said, Althea. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when it's time for our next task."

  With that, Sylmae closed her eyes, the sounds of her friends' voices and the forest's whispers lulling her into a peaceful slumber. For now, there were no missions, no battles. Only the tranquillity of their forest, the companionship of her squad, and the promise of more adventures to come.

  Lirielle pulled Althea by the hand, dragging the reluctant nymph along. "Come on, Althea! It's time we made some friends. The boss man said so, remember? We're supposed to get along with the others."

  Althea sighed, her pace slow as she followed the enthusiastic sprite. "I know what he said, Lirielle. But I'd much rather stay in our habitat. It's peaceful there, and the pond is perfect for swimming."

  "Please, the pond is getting boring," Lirielle whined. "I want to meet the other Agents and see what they're like. Besides, we're all a big team, aren't we? We should learn to work together."

  Althea couldn't help but smile at Lirielle's persistence. "Very well. I'll join you for a while, but then I'm heading back to the pond."

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Yay!" Lirielle cheered, her wings fluttering with excitement. She dragged Althea along, heading into the commons where they could see some of the Agents gathered. As they entered, all eyes turned to them.

  "Hey, everyone!" Lirielle shouted, waving her hand. "We're from Squad 5, and we want to say hi and make friends."

  There were a few raised eyebrows and exchanged glances among them.

  Lyssa, one of the REDLINEs, approached them with a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Lyssa. It's nice to meet you."

  "I'm Lirielle," the sprite replied, "and this is Althea. She's shy, but don't worry, I'll talk enough for both of us."

  Althea rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Hello, Lyssa. It's a pleasure to meet you."

  "You're a... water nymph, right?" Lyssa asked, looking Althea up and down. "I've never seen one of your kind before. You're very... pretty."

  Geneve leaned over Lyssa's shoulder, a sly smile on her face. "I heard you're topping the kill count among our squads. Impressive, especially for a group of... nature lovers."

  "Oh, that." Althea shrugged. "We just did what we had to do. Our lord wanted results, and we delivered. It's really not that impressive."

  Geneve's smirk widened. "Not that impressive, huh? Maybe you could show us a few tricks some time."

  "Maybe," Althea replied, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "If you're lucky."

  "Hey, hey," Lirielle interrupted, flying between them. "No need to get competitive. We're all friends here, right?"

  Geneve chuckled and stepped back, giving Lyssa a pat on the shoulder. "Of course, we're friends. Just having a bit of fun." She winked at Althea before turning away.

  Lyssa shook her head. "Sorry about that. Geneve's a bit of a tease. She doesn't mean any harm." She gestured for them to follow. "Come on, let me introduce you to the others. They're a good bunch, really."

  As they moved around the commons, meeting the other Agents, Althea couldn't help but notice the lingering gazes of some of the men in the group. It wasn't anything new to her, of course. She was well aware of her beauty and the effect it often had on others.

  But one pair of eyes, in particular, caught her attention. It was Byron, the Tank of Squad 1. He was standing off to the side, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes following her every move.

  When their gazes met, he offered a small, respectful nod. There was no leering or suggestive glint in his eyes, only a calm, steady regard that intrigued her.

  "So," Lirielle started, floating between Clare and Warren, "How do you guys spend your free time? Do you train all the time? Or maybe you play games?"

  Warren chuckled. "We do train a lot, but we also enjoy some downtime. We watch movies, play video games, that kind of thing."

  "Movies? Video games?" Lirielle repeated, her head tilted in confusion. "What are those?"

  Lyssa laughed. "They're forms of entertainment. Movies are like moving pictures that tell a story, and video games are interactive experiences you can play on a screen. Here, I'll show you." She picked up a handheld gaming device and turned it on. "This is a video game console. See, you control the character on the screen with these buttons."

  Lirielle's eyes widened as she watched the little figure move on the screen, jumping and running at the press of a button. "That's incredible! Can I try?"

  "Sure," Lyssa said, setting the device on the floor. "Give it a go."

  Lirielle hovered down and tentatively pressed a button, causing the character on the screen to jump. She laughed in delight. "I'm doing it! I'm making him jump!"

  As Lirielle continued to play, Althea observed the others in the room. Some were engrossed in their own games, while others were watching Lirielle with amusement.

  She caught Byron's eye again, and this time he pushed himself off the wall and walked over to her. He stopped a respectful distance away, his eyes meeting hers. "You're Althea, right?" he asked, his voice deep and steady.

  She nodded. "That's right. And you're Byron, from Squad 1. The Tank."

  "That's me," he confirmed, offering a small smile. "I wanted to compliment you on your squad's performance. You're doing really well."

  "Thank you," she replied, returning his smile. "We're just trying our best to meet our lord's expectations."

  "I can tell. You're a credit to your squad. I hope we get a chance to work together someday."

  "Perhaps we will. Our lord did mention something about that, didn't he?"

  He nodded. "He did. And I'm looking forward to it. I think our teams would complement each other well. You have a lot of raw power, while our squad has more experience and tactical knowledge."

  "I'd like that, too," she admitted. "It would be interesting to see how we work together."

  "Byron!" Geneve called from across the room, waving him over. "Come play with us. We need a fourth player."

  He glanced at Althea apologetically. "Duty calls. But it was a pleasure talking to you. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."

  Althea watched him go, a slight smile tugging at her lips. He was... interesting. Strong, confident, yet humble. And there was a kindness in his eyes that she found appealing. She would definitely look forward to working with him and Squad 1, though she had to admit to herself, that she was far more intrigued by him than anyone else.

  "Althea, look at me!" Lirielle cried, grabbing her attention. "I'm a master at this!"

  Althea turned to see the sprite fluttering next to the console, her tiny fingers pressing the buttons in rapid succession. On the screen, the character was running and jumping across a series of platforms, collecting coins and dodging obstacles.

  Beside her, Lyssa's slumped form lay defeated, her hands covering her face. "My high score," she moaned. "She already beat my high score... uuuuungh!"

  The others laughed as Lirielle continued her game, oblivious to Lyssa's despair.

  "You'll get over it," Warren teased. "It's not the end of the world."

  "But it took me months to get that score!" Lyssa lamented, peering through her fingers. "And she just waltzes in here and beats it in minutes. It's not fair."

  Clare patted Lyssa's shoulder. "There, there. You'll always be our reigning champion. Until Lirielle decides to play again."

  As the banter and laughter continued, Cerys and Myralis entered the room, their eyes scanning the crowd until they spotted Althea and Lirielle. They made their way over, Cerys' brow furrowed with worry.

  "There you are," she said, placing a hand on Lirielle's head. "We were wondering where you two had gone off to. We didn't expect to find you in the middle of a... party?"

  "It's not a party, it's a gathering," Lirielle corrected, her eyes still glued to the game. "We're making friends, just like the boss man said."

  Myralis looked around, her eyes wide and uncertain. "Are we allowed to do that? Won't the other squads think we're intruding?"

  "Nope!" Lirielle replied, popping the 'p' with a smug grin. "We're all part of the same team, right? So we might as well get along."

  "Besides," Althea added, "they've been very welcoming. I don't see the harm in spending time with them."

  Cerys sighed, giving in. "Alright, but don't cause any trouble, Lirielle. I don't want to have to come and bail you out later."

  "Me, cause trouble?" Lirielle said innocently, her attention still on the game. "Never."