As Lyra along with Nyx, Garett, and Leona made their way through the bustling streets of Vallorien, the city hummed with life. Cobbled roads stretched between t stone buildings adorned with banners dispying the emblems of various noble houses. Magiteterns lihe streets, their soft luminite glow casting warm hues upon merts hawking wares, bcksmiths hammering away at fresh steel, and adventurers boasting of their test quests over tankards of ale at open-air taverns. The aroma of sizzlis and freshly baked bread mingled with the crisp evening air, while street performers pyed lively tunes on ented instruments, drawing small crowds of cityfolk and travelers alike. Beyond the city walls, rolling emerald hills stretched to the horizon, dotted with farms and small settlements, their faint lights twinkling uhe encroag twilight.

  A massive shadow loomed in the distaransport ship h over Castle Eldenreach. Its sleek, industrial design, mingled with some angur highlights, was unmistakably Fenralis. Its hull was adorned with the sigil of a wolf’s head. The ship’s engines hummed faintly, a low, resonant sound that carried across the ndscape.

  Lyra shielded her eyes against the sun, her gaze fixed on the ship. “Is that…?”

  “The transport from Skara, one of Fenris Lupus’ moons.” Garett firmed, his voice calm. “It arrived earlier than expected.”

  Leona crossed her arms, her expression a mix of pride and annoyaypical. They couldn’t wait for us to get back before showing off.”

  Nyx, perched on Lyra’s shoulder, let out a soft chirp. “Looks like someone’s eager to impress.”

  Leona shot the celestial familiar a gre. “And who asked you, fluffball?”

  Nyx’s golden eyes narrowed mischievously. “I don’t need your permission to speak, boobs-for-brains.”

  Leona’s eye twitched. “Oh, that’s riing from a feather duster with an attitude problem.”

  Lyra stifled a ugh, her hand c her mouth. Garett, meanwhile, sighed deeply, as if this were a versation he’d had a huimes before.

  As they approached the castle, the sheer scale of the transport ship became apparent. It was a behemoth of steel and lumis hull bristling with defeurrets and glowing ruhe FRS-04 Direhounds it carried were being unloaded, their massive forms moving with surprising grace as they were guided into the garrison.

  Lyra’s eyes widened as she took in the sight. “They’re even more impressive up close.”

  Garett g her, his tone curious. “You’ve seen mechs before.”

  Lyra nodded, her expression thoughtful. “At the Astralis Lyceum. They had a few on dispy for study. But seeing them up close and ready to deploy like this… it’s different.”

  Garett’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his sharp blue eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re not from the Verdant Vale, are you?”

  Lyra blinked, caught off guard. “I am, actually. I just… haven’t been ba a while. I retly graduated from the Lyceum.”

  Garett’s expression shifted, a flicker nition crossing his features. “You’re the Ealdorman of Elderwynd’s daughter.”

  Lyra’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away. “You know my father?”

  Garett nodded. “I’ve spoken with him several times. He’s a good maalks about you often.”

  Lyra’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and mild panic fshing across her face. “He does? What… what does he say?”

  Garett’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “That you’re brilliant, determined, and that he’s proud of you. He mentioned you were studying at the Lyceum, but he didn’t say much else.”

  Lyra let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, her shoulders rexing. “Oh. That’s… good.”

  Nyx, perched on her shoulder, let out a soft chuckle. “Sounds like someone’s embarrassed.”

  Lyra shot her familiar a gre. “Quiet, you.”

  Leona, who had been watg the exge with mild amusement, crossed her arms. “Well, isn’t this toug. we move on now? We’ve got Direhounds to i.”

  Garett nodded, his expressiourning to its usual calm. “Right. Let’s go.”The courtyard of Castle Eldenreach rawling expanse of polished stone and luminite-infused pathways, fnked by t walls adorned with the sigils of House Fenralis—a wolf’s head. The air buzzed with activity as teis and engineers moved about, their voices mingling with the hum of maery and the occasional hiss of steam. At the ter of the courtyard stood the newly arrived FRS-04 Direhounds, their massive fleaming uhe afternoon sun.

  The Direhounds were a marvel of engineering, their sleek, humanoid frames crafted from a posite alloy known as Mithrititanium. This material was a fusion of mithril and titanium, fed uhe intense heat of a starfe to create a substahat was both lightweight and nearly iructible. The alloy’s unique properties allowed it to absorb and dissipate kiiergy, making it highly resistant to physical attacks. Its surface was etched with intricate ruhat glowed faintly, eling barrier magic to further enhas durability.

  Lyra walked beside Garett, her eyes wide as she took in the sight. “The alloy… it’s incredible. How does it hold up against energy-based attacks?”

  Garett gestured to one of the Direhounds, his toter-of-fact. “The Mithrititanium is yered with a luminite mesh, which acts as a duit for energy dispersion. It withstand psma bsts, ser fire, and even some forms of are energy. The runes you see here amplify that effect, creating a barrier that absorb and redireing attacks.”

  Lyra nodded, her curiosity piqued. “And the HUD? The operating system? They don’t look like standard Fenralis designs.”

  Garett’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Observant. I 't tell a civilian the specifics, but the HUD and OS were sourced from several minor houses. The interface was developed by House Leonis, known for their expertise in neural iion. The targeting systems were provided by House Veyra, who specialize in precision engineering. Even the power core was a colborative effort, with House Sorius tributing their luminite refieiques.”

  Lyra’s eyes widened. “That’s… impressive. I didn’t realize the houses worked together like that.”

  Garett’s expressiohoughtful. “It’s not always easy. Each house has its own agenda, and trust is hard to e by. But when it es to maintaining our military edge, we set aside our differences.”

  As they tiheir iion, Lyra’s gaze lingered oricate details of the Direhounds. “How are these even manufactured? The precision, the plexity… it’s beyond anything I’ve seen.”

  Garett paused, his sharp blue eyes meeting hers. “The Starfe on Skara. We discovered it over a millennium ago. It’s an a site, older than recorded history. No one knows who built it or why, but it’s capable of produg teology far beyond our uanding.”

  Lyra’s brow furrowed. “A Starfe? I’ve heard only from my instructors at the Lyceum. What do you thily is it?”

  Nyx shot her a gnd then turned away.

  Garett’s voice grew quieter, almost reverent. “A massive, self-sustaining facility buried deep within Skara’s moon. It’s powered by a core of the purest luminite, and its maery is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The Direhounds, along with all Fenralis mechs—from the major houses to the minor ones—are manufactured there. The process is automated, guided by systems we still don’t fully uand.”

  Lyra’s eyes sparkled with fasation. “That’s incredible. But if it’s so powerful, why doesn’t every house have one?”

  Garett’s expression darkened slightly. “Because Starfes are rare. And they’re hotly tested. Whenever one is discovered, it shifts the bance of power. Houses fight for trol, alliances are broken, and wars are waged. The one on Skara is the reason House Fenralis rose to prominence. Without it, we’d be just another minor house.”

  Lyra fell silent, her mind rag with the implications. “So… if aarfe were discovered…”

  “It would ge everything,” Garett finished, his tone grim. “Which is why we guard Skara’s secrets closely.”

  Lyra found herself standing before one of the Direhounds, her haing lightly on its armored leg. The metal was cool to the touch, yet she could feel the faint hum of energy c through it.

  “It’s strange,” she said softly. “These maes are so advanced, yet they’re built using teology we don’t even uand.”

  Garett nodded, his gaze fixed on the Direhound. “That’s the nature of the Starfes. They’re a reminder of how much we still have to learn.”

  Lyra g him, a small smile pying on her lips. “You sound almost… philosophical.”

  Garett’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Spend enough time around aeology, and it’ll do that to you.”

  Nyx, perched on Lyra’s shoulder, let out a soft chirp. “Or maybe he’s just trying to sound smart.”

  Garett raised an eyebrow. “And here I thought we were getting along.”

  Nyx flicked her tail, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. “Don’t push your luck, Governeneral.”

  Lyra ughed, the sound light and carefree. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s not start anument.”

  After the iions,Garett retreated to his study, the weight of the day’s events settling on his shoulders. He sat at his desk, the letter from Cassia in his hands. The seal bore the Fenralis sigil, and the part smelled faintly of vender—a touch he reized as uniquely hers.

  He broke the seal and began to read.

  “Garett,

  I hope this letter finds you well. Skara is as cold and dreary as ever, but we’re managing. The new batch of Direhounds is ready, and I’ve included some potions and sweets for you. Don’t overwork yourself—I know how you get.

  Be careful, Garett. House Drais is stirring again. They have retly just quelled the Auroxa rebellion and I fear they may target the Verdant Vale . If you need help, don’t hesitate to call on me. You’re not alone in this.

  Take care of yourself. And don’t let Leona bully you too much.

  —Cassia.”

  Garett set the letter down, his expression thoughtful. Cassia’s words were a reminder of the rger forces at py, and the weight of his responsibilities as Governeneral. He tucked the letter into a drawer, his mind already turning to the tasks ahead.

  Later that evening, Lyra found herself in the castle’s grand hall, her bag of supplies resting at her feet. She had decided to stay in Vallorien for a while, her curiosity about the city—and its enigmatic Governeneral—to to ignore.

  Garett approached her, his greathelm tucked under his arm. “I’ve arranged a room for you,” he said. “You’re wele to stay as long as you need.”

  Lyra smiled, her gratitude evident. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  Leona, who had been lurking nearby, let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, wonderful. Anuest. Just what we needed.”

  Nyx, perched on Lyra’s shoulder, smirked. “Jealous, tin ?”

  Leona’s eye twitched. “I’m not jealous. I’m just… ed.”

  “About what?” Nyx asked, her tone dripping with monoce. “That someone might actually like spending time with Garett?”

  Leona crossed her arms, her expression darkening. “You know, florified winged rat, you’re really pushing your luck.”

  Nyx stretched zily, flig her tail. “And florified suit of armor, you’re really bad at keeping your cool.”

  Lyra hesitated before speaking again. “I still o turn in my quest at Elderwynd,” she admitted. “I should head back soon, but… I think I’d like to stay here just a little longer.”