Extinguished

When Arix woke up again, she was hit with some news that didn't sit right with her.

"Arix, I'm sorry, but you've been disqualified from the upcoming freshman mecha competition. Your health condition just isn't fit to participate," Spears said, his tone a mix of firm and regretful as he stood by her hospital bed.

"Coach, you were praising me just a while ago. What changed? Why am I suddenly out?" Arix asked, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling from the weird dream she'd just had.

Arix wasn't one to brag, but she knew her skills were solid—top five out of 30 students wasn't a stretch. If this had happened earlier, maybe she could've seen it coming, but now? It didn't add up.

"Arix, do you really not remember anything?" Spears asked, giving her a sharp look.

"Remember what? I just took a nap and had a bad dream, that's all," Arix replied, clearly puzzled.