Over the next hour, Rayden and Lexi sat together, watching the other teams compete while making comments and placing friendly bets on which teams would win. Lexi ended up winning more bets than Rayden, but since it was all in good fun, it didn't matter—except when she enjoyed rubbing it in his face.
Lexi sipped her drink, her brow raised as she looked at Rayden. "That makes it 7 wins for me and 4 for you. I win!" She leaned back in her chair, a playful smugness in her posture, her arms crossed triumphantly.
Rayden shifted in his seat, an annoyed look forming on his face. "You were just lucky; a few of the teams I picked messed up at the last minute." His voice was laced with frustration. But he was glad, they didn't put any wagers on their bets.
She nearly doubled over with laughter when she heard him say that, shaking slightly as she caught her breath. "Don't be a sore loser, Ray. It's not a good look," she said, still chuckling.
Rayden straightened up, puffing out his chest slightly in a mock display of confidence. "I'm not being a sore loser. I can win or lose with grace and humility." His tone was assertive, but the slight twitch of his lip suggested his true emotions.
Lexi couldn't help herself and did a dramatic spit take, her eyes wide with disbelief, hearing him say something so shameless.
He took a few exaggerated steps away, hands flying to his sides as he feigned offense. "Hey, watch where you're spraying! I don't need to be covered in your spit," he called back, a playful grin breaking through despite his feigned irritation.
Lexi rolled her eyes, amusement dancing in her eyes as she watched him jump up exaggeratedly, his chair scraping the floor.
Their banter filled the air, light and cheerful, each movement punctuating their words as they enjoyed their friendly rivalry.
Lexi: "I need to go get ready for our match. I'll see you on the field, and Ray, don't worry—I'll go easy and let you get close to a flag before I beat you."
Rayden glanced back as she walked away and muttered softly, "Good luck, and may the best warrior win."
He turned around to meet up with his team and prepare for his second-to-last fight in this event.
The forest where they would be fighting was filled with tall, pine-like trees and thick bushes. It wasn't quite like Endor, but close enough.
Rayden knew that this next battle would take everything his team had to win. Lexi and her clansmen would be relentless.
==========
Rayden sprinted through the forest, clutching one of Clan Serdran's flags tightly, his boots sinking slightly into the moss-covered ground. The simulated forest buzzed with sounds: rustling leaves, distant stun blasts, and the hum of energy shields.
Over the comms, Ahsley's voice crackled, "Lexi's heading back to their base with our flag. Jacob's pinned down, but Robert's in pursuit."
"On it," Rayden replied, dodging a low branch. He glanced at his HUD, tracking Dave's position near the enemy base. "Dave, grab another flag if you can. I'll meet you halfway."
"Way ahead of you," Dave said, his voice brimming with confidence. "Got their second flag. One left."
Rayden's heart raced. If they could secure this third flag, they would win the match. But Lexi was no pushover—she had already outmaneuvered half his team. He pushed through a curtain of vines and spotted Clan Serdran's base ahead.
The last guard, a lanky boy with a stun rifle, stood ready. Rayden activated his energy shield, deflecting a barrage of shots and throwing a smoke grenade, then sliding under a thorn bush to close the distance. With a quick feint, he stunned the guard and snatched the final flag.
"Got it!" Rayden called out. "Dave, let's get these back to base!"
As they rendezvoused, Ahsley reported, "Lexi's team just scored one of our flags. It's 2-0. Hurry!"
Rayden and Dave sprinted toward their base, weaving through the misty forest.
Suddenly, a shot came from the bushes to their right, hitting Dave in the leg, making him scream in pain.
"You good Dave?" Rayden asked as he threw his body to the ground and crawled behind a fallen tree.
"I'll live, here take the flag, I'll draw fire," Dave responded while standing up and firing blindly.
"Okay, cover me." Rayden ran with all he had with all three of the clan Serdrans' flags.
Lexi emerged from the shadows, her blaster raised. "Not so fast, Ray!" she shouted, firing a sticky gel round.
Rayden dove behind a tree, but the gel grazed his leg, slowing him down.
Dave turned around and started firing at Lexi, drawing her attention before she could get any closer to Rayde.n
"Go!" Dave yelled, engaging her in a flurry of stun blasts.
Rayden gritted his teeth, shaking off the gel, and bolted for their base. Robert and Jacob cleared the path, stunning Lexi's remaining teammates. With a final leap, Rayden hung both flags on their platform just as Lexi scored their second flag. The alarm blared—Clan Knight won, 3-2.
Relief filled them as the team erupted in cheers, high-fiving as Lexi approached, panting with an annoyed yet amused expression.
"Good game, Ray," she said, a sparkle of determination in her eyes.
"Good game, Lexi," Rayden responded, catching his breath. "You almost had us."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Next time, I will."
==========
The crowd erupted in cheers for the stunning turnaround at the end of the game.
Torin jumped to his feet, his drink sloshing slightly as he waved his arms, watching proudly as his grandson hung all three flags at once.
Some of Torin's drink splashed onto Drenar, who glared at his brother-in-law in annoyance.
"Watch it, you old fool! You're acting like a little girl who just got her first kiss," Drenar shot back.
Torin refused to let Drenar's grumpiness dampen his mood. "My grandson had a fantastic game, so of course I'm excited. Unlike someone, I express my pride in my grandson."
Drenar gritted his teeth. He showed emotion and praised his own son, but he was determined not to act like a child.
While the two old men argued, the rest talked and congratulated Elyse and Varn on their son's hard-fought victory.
Elyse consoled Veyra about Lexi's defeat.
Elyse said, "She put up a tough fight. If she had received more help at the end to cover Dave, she likely would have stopped Rayden."
Veyra replied, "You're right, but what's done is done. We can consider this a learning moment for her. To always make sure you have your team with you to help share the burden."
Varn added, "Both teams displayed great tactics and skills. Their teamwork was commendable, but there's always room for improvement. We should incorporate this into their future training. Maybe they could train together."
Elyse and Veyra glanced at Varn in surprise at his suggestion, but after considering it, they both agreed.
Noticing their affirmation, Varn smiled. As a father, he felt proud of how hard his son trained and how far he had come. He could see that Lexi would help push Rayden to excel even further than he could on his own.
Rayden would have someone to stand by him, and she would become his motivation to keep pushing even when things get hard.
Rayden and Lexi strolled together away from the arena, as it was lunch time before the big finale.
The sun is casting a warm glow over the scene from high in the sky. The weather was nice today, and the two could smell all the tantalizing aromas of various street food from nearby stalls, making Lexi's stomach rumble softly.
Rayden glanced sideways at her. "What do you want to eat? My treat!" he said with a playful grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Lexi raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her tone. "You? Why?" She shot him a glance, noticing that look in his eyes.
Rayden shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I just beat you, so the least I can do is treat you to lunch before the final battle royale." His smirk widened, clearly enjoying the friendly rivalry.
Lexi felt a mix of frustration at his teasing about his victory and a hint of appreciation for his thoughtful gesture, which contrasted with his cocky demeanor. She shook her head, trying to suppress a smile. "Let's just walk and see what the stalls are selling."
Rayden nodded enthusiastically, his smile warming as he extended his arm in a gentlemanly motion. "Ladies first!"
"Wow, what a gentleman," Lexi replied, rolling her eyes playfully as she stepped ahead, secretly enjoying the humor in their banter. As they walked, they exchanged lighthearted jabs, the competitive spirit between them only adding to their camaraderie.
The vibrant atmosphere of the market buzzed around them, each stall offering a variety of tempting dishes, from sizzling skewers to sweet pastries, as they continued on their informal quest for lunch.
The two walked throughout the fortress of Kweving Heights, eating and laughing as they reached the fountain in the center of the square.
Looking at all the people going to and fro in the center, they both had a moment of peace after all the battles.
"You have a lovely home." Lexi sighed.
"Thank you what about yours?" Rayden asked
She leaned forward, her gaze distant as she painted a picture with her words. "Our home's on Veyrith, a moon in the Mandalore sector, orbiting a gas giant called Thalros. It's a wild place—thick forests, jagged cliffs, and mist so dense you can barely see your hand in front of your face. It's perfect for a clan like ours, where remaining unseen is the whole point. We call our stronghold Shadowveil, which is built right into a cliffside, carved into caverns so well hidden that you could fly over it and never know it's there. The entrances are cloaked with holo-projectors and covered in vines, and if you don't know the paths, you're bound to trip the sensor traps before you take ten steps."
Rayden raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sounds perfect for you guys, especially since you specialize in stealth and assassinations. What's it like inside? Is it all doom and gloom, or does it have some style?"
Lexi chuckled, splashing a bit of fountain water at him. "Style? Please, we've got plenty. The caverns have sleek dark durasteel walls and blue glow-lights to keep things low-profile. It's like walking through a shadow that's ready to strike. We've got training halls equipped with holo-simulators for knife drills and infiltration runs. I spend hours there, practicing moves that would make your head spin." She flashed a grin, daring him to challenge her.
"Hey watch where your splashing you almost got my food wet." Rayden turned his back to her to shield his food from the water. Once she stopped, he turned back and gave her a look that was between amusement and as if she had almost wronged him.
Lexi giggled when she saw his face, then ignored him to continue with her introduction to her home.
"There's an armory packed with vibroblades and silenced blasters—they're fun to practice with. And the command center? That's Mom's pride and joy. It has encrypted comms, star charts, and everything she needs to outsmart anyone in the sector."
Rayden leaned closer, resting his chin on his hand while taking a bite of his food. "Okay, sounds intense. But what about where you unwind? You can't be all stealth and stabby all the time."
Lexi's expression softened for a moment before her playful smirk returned. "There's this atrium in the heart of Shadowveil. It features a waterfall and glowing plants that light up the cave like stars. It's where I go to think, or maybe carve something out of wood if I have time.
The clan gathers to eat together in a mess hall, where they serve vrblther stew—spicy enough to make you cry. My room is simple, containing just a bed, a few toys, and some decorations. I display my carvings around the room; they help keep me grounded." She paused, locking her green eyes onto his.
"It's not as flashy as your fortress, but it's home. Every corner is built to suit our clan's liking. It helps make us sharper, stronger, and silent. You'd probably get lost in there in five minutes."
"Why would I get lost when I have a pretty guide to show me around?" Rayden grinned, taking a sip of his drink.
"I'm sure if I ever visited, your clan would send a pretty guide," Rayden replied, looking at Lexi.
Lexi blushed at his words, happy that he found her attractive.