Emerald Ridge Estate – Morning, 6:42 AM
The soft hum of automated blinds lifting filled Riva's sunlit bedroom. It was her first day at Emerald Ridge Academy, and the stillness in her room clashed with the storm inside her chest.
She stood in front of the mirror, tugging nervously at her collar. The new school uniform was pristine but stiff, its embroidered crest catching golden rays from the morning light. She turned side to side, checking her reflection. "I look like a dork," she mumbled.
From the doorway, Auron leaned against the frame, sipping his coffee. "You look like a professor," he said with a half-smile.
"Not funny."
He walked in slowly, kneeling down to fix her slightly off-center badge. "You look strong."
She glanced up, unsure. "Really?"
He nodded. "You're walking into a school where every parent owns satellites, and their kids think the world bows to them. And here you are — head held high, no gold leash, no nameplate empire. That's strength."
She gave a small, tight-lipped smile. "So… no smiling?"
"Smile if you want. Don't if you don't. Just be you."
Riva took a breath. "What if I mess it up?"
Auron stood, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "Then we learn. Together."
Kara's Room – 7:15 AM
Scissors snipped with precision as Kara stood before the mirror, chopping her dark auburn hair shorter — cleaner, tactical length. No vanity. Just readiness.
Spindle leaned against her door, arms crossed. "You heading out today?"
She didn't look at him. "Old contact. Black zone. South Nexora."
"From before?"
"Way before. Back when I didn't know words like 'team' or 'trust.'"
"You want backup?"
"If I'm not back by sundown… wipe the server logs. And feed my cat."
Spindle chuckled. "Copy that. Cat first. Data second."
She gave a rare smirk.
[System Notification – Private Host: Auron Riven]
New Mission Unlocked: "Legacy of Wealth" – Establish three legal businesses with passive income totaling $5 million/year. Reward: Enhanced Credit Masking Protocols + Offshore Asset Channel Time Limit: 180 Days
Ongoing Mission: "Protect the Carrier (Riva)" – Threat Level: Rising Recommended: Estate surveillance upgrade + early system-awareness training
Auron absorbed the info, sipped his coffee, and quietly activated task delegation through his neural console.
"Time to start building a fortress they can't touch," he muttered.
Emerald Ridge Academy – 9:02 AM
The school shimmered like a monolith of wealth. Transparent dome ceilings filtered sunlight with golden tint. Clean-cut lawns groomed by drone mowers. Student shuttles hummed to a stop in sequence.
Auron crouched in front of Riva near the gate. "They may be smarter, richer, faster — but you've seen more pain than they'll ever understand. Use that."
She wrapped her arms around him. "I'll be okay."
"Of course you will."
As she ran off to join her group, he noticed a tall man watching. Silver ring on his left index. Sharp suit, too clean. Teacher? Spy? Maybe both.
He made a mental note: face scan – flag unknown observer.
Downtown Nexora – 12:30 PM
Kara slid into a booth in a café that hadn't changed in ten years. Same peeling walls, same holographic menu flickering.
The woman who entered wore a blood-red coat and combat boots. Dyed hair, pale eyes.
"Maelis," Kara said.
"Kara. Alive and mean as ever."
They exchanged no handshakes, no warmth.
"You're running with Auron now?" Maelis asked.
"Yeah. And you?"
"Omega pays better than prison."
"Still no spine then."
"I didn't come here to fight. I came to warn. Omega's hunting the girl. But this time, it's not for training. It's for cleansing."
Kara frowned. "Explain."
"They don't just want the system. They want to reset it. Erase the current lineage. Kill the carrier. Clean install."
Kara's blood ran cold. "Riva."
Maelis leaned in. "They've already sent the cleaner."
Back at the Estate – 3:47 PM
Auron sat with Patch and CrowJaw around the digital strategy table. Maps hovered in the air, and virtual revenue projections danced across graphs.
"I'm starting a legal firm. Public. Tech-sector and data logistics," Auron said.
"Big move," Patch commented. "Why now?"
"Visibility makes us look normal. They chase the shadow, not the source."
CrowJaw nodded. "Name?"
"Blackmarrow Holdings."
"Elegant. Dangerous."
"I want two city properties. One near the Trade Port, one uptown. Funnel safehouse and surplus funds into both."
"Funding cap?"
"Unlimited."
CrowJaw smirked. "Got it."
Emerald Ridge Academy – 5:02 PM
Riva ran to him, backpack bouncing.
"How was it?" Auron asked.
"Boring. They think I'm weird."
"And?"
"I like being weird."
"Anyone mess with you?"
"One boy. Said I don't belong."
"What did you say?"
"I asked if his family's company takes wire transfers in crypto or if I should just buy them outright."
Auron laughed out loud. "You're dangerous."
She grinned.
Estate Balcony – 7:45 PM
The sky dimmed. Kara returned. Her coat smelled of smoke.
She explained everything — the cleaner, the reset plan, Maelis.
Auron didn't move for a long time.
"So… they're not just after Riva. They want to wipe her like code."
"Yes."
"We're running out of time."
He looked at the stars.
"I'll build something they can't erase."
The system pinged:
Mission Progress: Legacy of Wealth – Phase 1 Complete. Projected Annual Revenue: $1.35M
Threat Alert: Tier-2 Hostile Agent flagged within 1km of Academy. Time to Contact: 72 Hours.