Six days had passed since the quest dropped into Xavier's vision.
He could've killed Velkhar the first night if he wanted to. He'd already been close enough, already seen the layers of security, already tasted how complacent the man was inside his own little kingdom. The problem wasn't access.
The problem was timing.
Seven days meant something. The reward was obvious, but the penalty was the part that mattered. Kylus making a deal with AIL wasn't just a consequence, it was a signal that other pieces were moving on the board whether Xavier moved or not. It also told him something else, something he didn't say out loud to anyone.
Reva and her group were going to hit Helior Prime soon, or close enough that the city's gravity would start pulling them in.
