"Alright, you can rise," Nyxander instructed, his voice smooth yet commanding, cutting through the thick air like a blade. The three sisters followed suit, though not without some resistance. "Bump." Nonara groaned, tossing her face to the side in a gesture of defiance as she stood, her body language dripping with unspoken annoyance.

"Don't be silly," Solara snapped, her patience wearing thin. She grabbed Nonara by the collar with a firm tug, dragging her back into her seat. "And sit down." The force of her grip and tone finally broke the tension like a crack in glass, and the sisters' return to their seats lifted the weight in the room, allowing everyone to breathe just a little easier.

Breaking the fragile quiet, Kal, seated between between Lunara and Solara, cleared his throat, his voice steady but edged with curiosity, cutting through the silence like a blade. "We arrived a day earlier. Why didn't you show up? I'm sure, as the rogue immortals in charge of this district station, you'd have known the moment we stepped in." His words were gentle, but the underlying challenge in his tone rippled through the quiet, like a stone tossed into still water.

Lunara, her posture poised and unflinching, responded without missing a beat. "Oh, we received anonymous information, though we suspect it came from the Flame Astro Team, that warned of newcomers arriving at the Flame Station to cause trouble. They advised against intercepting you, claiming there's no chance you would succeed if we stayed out of it." Her voice was calm, but the sharp undertone of suspicion lingered.

"I see. Boss already deduced that," Kal replied, glancing sideways at Nyxander, whose expression remained unreadable. The sisters' eyes widened, their gazes snapping toward Nyxander like moths drawn to a flame. Surprise flickered across their faces, but they quickly masked it beneath calm exteriors.

"Yes," Bako and Bili confirmed in unison, their voices steady and devoid of doubt. "I see," Lunara murmured, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her lips. "Our meeting was planned from the start." Nyxander's gaze lifted from the table, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his right thumb and index finger gripping his lower jaw. "You said you received the message anonymously, right?"

"Yes, that's true," Lunara replied, her tone carefully neutral. "What's wrong, Boss?" Kal asked, a crease of confusion forming on his brow. Nyxander exhaled deeply, the sigh escaping his lips like the release of a burden. "Nothing much," he murmured. "It just doesn't feel like Centric's usual way of doing things." His eyes darkened for a moment, as if shadows of old suspicions flickered in his mind.

Then, with a shake of his head, he dismissed the thought. "Anyway, we need to take a break and rest for the night." He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, his movements fluid and purposeful.

Bako and Bili followed his lead, standing with synchronized precision. But just as Kal moved to rise, Solara and Lunara each wrapped their arms tightly around his, anchoring him to his seat. Their grips were firm, possessive, as if afraid he might slip away.

Nyxander noticed this and allowed a faint smile to creep across his face, the amusement dancing in his eyes. The silent exchange spoke volumes, but he said nothing, merely turning towards the door.

After their tense yet revealing discussion, Nyxander, Bako, and Bili left the wooden hideout, the creak of the old door echoing behind them. The cool night air welcomed them as they set off to find an inn to pass the night, leaving Kal behind in the quiet comfort of the sisters' hideout.

An extra day was spent at the Flame Astro Station, allowing Kal to fully reconnect with his old friends. The bonds of their shared past slowly mended, stitched together by laughter and stories from their youth. Even Nonara, the youngest of the sisters, found her jealous resentment softening. The sight of Kal temporarily stealing her sisters' affection no longer burned as brightly as it once had. Over time, the tension between them melted like ice under the morning sun, replaced by the warmth of a rekindled friendship.

When the extra day had passed, the group finally strided out of the Flame Astro Station, their steps confident and purposeful. The journey back to Aqua Astro Station felt lighter, as if the weight of unresolved tensions had been left behind in the flickering shadows of their hideout.

the group finally returned, the familiar bustling chaos of Aqua Astro Station welcomed them back under the bright daylight, its vibrant streets alive with the hum of merchants, travelers, and street performers. The city's heartbeat pulsed in every corner, a reminder that while alliances may shift and past wounds may heal, the world around them never paused.

Two days after their return to Aqua Astro Station, the first light of dawn spilled over the city's rooftops, painting the streets in a pale golden hue. The air was crisp and laced with the faint scent of dew settling on stone and wood.

Nyxander stepped out of his modest residence, the old wooden door creaking softly as he closed it behind him. He stretched his arms wide, letting the cold morning air bite at his skin, a sharp reminder of the new day ahead. The silence was almost meditative, until a familiar figure began to emerge from the misty distance.

Beorn approached, his silhouette cutting through the hazy morning light like a shadow come to life. Nyxander squinted, a flicker of recognition crossing his face, and he stepped forward, meeting his old friend halfway.

"Finally, I get to see you again," Beorn called out, his voice carrying easily in the stillness of the dawn. His tone was light, but the weariness in his eyes betrayed his frustration.

"I've been coming by for the last three days, but all in vain. You were nowhere to be found," Beorn continued, shaking his head with a sigh. "Luckily, I ran into your boys at the market. They were already out rendering their services which made me realize, you are back."

Nyxander gave a small, knowing nod, his sharp eyes glinting under the morning sun. "Yeah," he replied, his voice even, but with a hint of fatigue. "I went to recruit rogue fighters from the other three Astro Stations. Took longer than I expected." He waved a hand dismissively. "But enough about that."

His gaze sharpened, curiosity flickering in his expression. "Is there something urgent? For you to have checked on my place so many times, and even this early in the morning?" His voice was laced with both anticipation and suspicion, as if bracing for unexpected news.

Beorn chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ha, sure. There is." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "The Aqua Astro leader asked me to bring you in the moment you returned."

Nyxander's brows lifted in surprise, his composed demeanor cracking just enough to reveal a glimmer of excitement. "You mean Lumina wants to meet me?" The words slipped from his mouth, his tone betraying his joy.

But Beorn's next words cut through his excitement like a blade. "She's been appointed in charge of your newly formed team's uniform."

Nyxander's smile faltered, his expression shifting from eager to serious in an instant. He cleared his throat, nodding slowly as Beorn continued. "So, your presence is needed to decide what style and fashion you prefer for your team," Beorn explained, his tone casual but amused at Nyxander's sudden shift in mood.

Nyxander sighed, the weight of mundane responsibilities settling over his shoulders. "Ha, I see," he muttered, his voice tinged with resignation. "Lead the way." As they strolled down the narrow alleyways, their footsteps echoing softly off the cobblestone walls, Nyxander's curiosity nagged at him like an itch he couldn't scratch.

"But can't they just give us the same uniform design as the other Astro teams?" he asked, his voice slicing through the quiet morning like a blade through silk.

Beorn shrugged, glancing at Nyxander with a smirk. "That's true, but the Astro Lord insists that you personally choose the design." His words drifted into the cool air as they disappeared around a corner, the shadows of the alley swallowing their figures whole as they distanced themselves from Nyxander's residence.

Their steps were fast but deliberate, the synchronized rhythm of their movement resembling that of trained soldiers. The city was beginning to stir, the distant hum of merchants setting up their stalls and the occasional clatter of carts rolling over cobblestones blending into the backdrop.

Soon, they arrived at the bustling heart of the market district within Aqua Astro Station. The streets here were alive with color and noise, vendors shouting over one another, the scent of spices and metal mingling in the air. Amidst the chaos, Beorn led Nyxander towards a building that stood out from the rest. It was slightly larger, its exterior well-maintained, with polished wooden beams and stonework that gleamed in the morning light. It had an air of quiet authority, as if it didn't need to shout to make its presence known.

Beorn pushed open the door, the hinges gliding smoothly without a creak, and Nyxander followed him inside. The moment they stepped over the threshold, the noise of the market dimmed, replaced by the muffled sounds of fabric being unrolled, the gentle hiss of irons against cloth, and the low murmur of voices deep in discussion.

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