Misaligned Time

A few minutes after the sparring match concluded, Asher, Ironwood, and the rest of the group made their way across the training grounds to where the battle had reached its end.

The impacts and aftershocks had left the environment in disarray. Many of the cubed structures designed for the simulated terrain were fractured or completely shattered. The crater left behind by Winter's summoning—just one cube deep, but still impressively wide—bore testament to the intensity of the fight.

Thankfully, the training environment was built to take such damage and could be restored with little effort. The only notable, lasting damage was to the walls.

Asher's voice broke the lingering silence as he approached the aftermath.

"So, it seems you two have reached a conclusion?" He asked, looking toward Winter and Sable.

Winter, still catching her breath, glanced at Asher, then at Ironwood.

Her gaze dropped slightly, and she admitted, "We've agreed that it was a draw."

Her words prompted murmurs of disbelief from Indigo's group, with Liv's reaction being particularly pronounced. Winter was a licensed Huntress and a member of the Special Operatives—a title that carried significant weight. Even without a complete understanding of what her skill level entailed, it was clear she stood far above most others.

Yet, the match had ended in a draw.

Liv glanced briefly at Asher before shifting her focus to Indigo and the others.

If Sable alone could hold his own against Winter, what would happen if one of the other Insurgents had stepped in? More importantly, what would happen if the Insurgents acted as a united force like they're supposed to?

The thought opened a door to possibilities she hadn't considered before.

As for Asher, his expression remained neutral, betraying neither satisfaction nor disappointment. He gave a simple nod, then turned to Ironwood.

"Looks like neither of us got what we wanted out of our little bet."

Ironwood's response was delayed. After a short pause, he chuckled and let out a resigned sigh.

"No, I suppose not. Although seeing the Insurgent Armor in action could be considered a reward in and of itself. I never imagined anyone could develop an exosuit that could match someone like Schnee." His tone was complimentary, but it carried an undercurrent of something else—something Asher decided not to dwell on.

"I appreciate the compliment, General—but let's not sell Winter short either," Asher said, his tone even but sincere.

"I designed that exosuit and set its parameters based on my own experience with aura users. The fact that Winter brought the match to a draw means she exceeded my expectations. In other words… she's strong. I imagine it's reassuring, having someone like that at your side." With that, his gaze shifted toward Indigo and the rest of the group.

"Mind giving him a hand out of the armor? Don't worry about the suit itself—I'll have a crew come by later to return it to its chamber."

"Huh?" Indigo blinked, still a bit dazed from everything that had just happened. After a beat, she nodded and moved with the others toward Sable, who remained seated inside the opened Insurgent Armor.

Gray reached out and grabbed Sable's arm, helping him steady as he let out a breath somewhere between disbelief and a laugh.

"Still can't believe you volunteered just for a bump in your paycheck."

"Yeah… started regretting it about halfway through," Sable muttered as he climbed out of the suit, feet landing on the ground.

"Well, hey, you're still getting paid more than the rest of us, so props where they're due," Sterling said, giving him a look.

"But seriously, what was it like in there? The armor. We're all gonna be using it eventually, so I'm curious." Sterling was another Insurgent—and the one who, up until now, had ranked above Sable in combat training.

Sable hesitated, running the feeling through his mind before answering.

"Honestly? It felt... good. There's no drag when you move. If anything, it makes everything smoother. It's like the suit reads what you're trying to do before you actually do it. Movements you'd normally struggle with feel natural. I'm not even sure I noticed I was wearing it once the fight got serious—it just felt like an extension of my body."

"Woah. That's pretty cool," Ochre remarked, his expression lighting up.

"Yeah, after watching that match and hearing you say that, I'm actually kind of excited now," Sterling admitted, a flicker of energy behind his eyes. The feeling clearly rippled through the group as heads nodded and glances were exchanged.

Gray let out a low groan.

"Glad to see your integrity folds like paper the second a mech suit gets tossed into the mix."

"Oh, please," Sterling shot back.

"Don't act like you're not looking forward to it—even just a little. I mean, come on. Between this and rotting in prison? I'd say we got a pretty sweet deal."

"Also… It's an exosuit, not a mech suit," Cobalt corrected flatly, earning a round of nods from the others, as if they'd all known that from the start.

Gray rolled his eyes.

"Oh, shut up. You all knew what I meant." He glanced toward Indigo, who had been watching the banter play out with a slight shake of her head and a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Hey, Indigo," Gray called.

She looked over.

"Hm? What?"

"So… now that we're officially trained or whatever—when are we actually gonna get put to work?" The question made her furrow her brow.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" She replied, shrugging.

"It's not like him or Miss Role Model over there tells me anything more than they tell you guys."

"True… but you are supposed to be our Commander now. Whatever the hell that means," Jade chimed in—the only other woman in the Insurgency besides Indigo.

"Yeah, still trying to process that," Indigo muttered.

"Unsurprisingly, our favorite Atlas heir didn't bother telling me or Gray about our new positions ahead of time—though, I guess it checks out." With a resigned sigh, she turned and looked toward Asher and Liv, who were off to the side, deep in quiet conversation.

"But fine. I'll go ask."

As Indigo approached, Asher looked up, that familiar unreadable smile already on his face—the kind that made it impossible to tell what he was actually thinking.

"Sable holding up alright?" He asked as she came to a stop in front of him and Liv.

"Yeah. A little disoriented, but he's fine," she answered, then added, "Anyway, I came over to talk about a few things. For starters… me being the Field Commander. Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"Of course," Asher responded without even pausing, eyes shifting past her toward the rest of the group.

"They all look up to you. I don't know why—probably a story there—but they listen. So why wouldn't I make you Field Commander?"

"That's different," she argued, frowning slightly.

"You might've trained us, but that's not the same as military command. I don't know the first thing about being a real leader—at least not in this kind of setup." Asher's smile tugged a little wider.

"Good thing you've got a whole year to learn, then. And I'm not tossing you into the deep end with no backup. You're Field Commander, sure—but your actual rank is Captain. I'll be the one overseeing the unit. I give the orders, direct missions, and handle strategic planning. Your job is to make sure what I've laid out happens on the ground."

Listening to him, Indigo felt like she was getting a better sense of it now. Her role wasn't to figure out the what, just the how—to take the vision and make sure it happened without falling apart.

Liv stepped in then, folding her arms.

"And even though you're technically under Atlas Military oversight, your squad has operational independence. So you won't have to follow military protocol to the letter."

Asher nodded, saying, "That's right."

He then gave her a more formal look, just slightly serious.

"That said, you will need to address me as Commander while on duty. And now that your training phase is over, you're no longer confined to the assigned living quarters. You'll still be monitored, obviously, but you're free to return to Mantle during your off hours. Just remember—when you're on duty, you're here. Understood?"

Indigo looked between the two of them, exhaled sharply, and nodded.

"Got it. So… when exactly are we being deployed?"

The answer came fast and froze her mid-motion.

"Tomorrow," Asher said flatly.

"Well, not exactly. But your first official briefing is scheduled then. Your deployment is the day after. Liv will send you the details."

Indigo blinked hard.

"Tomorrow? You're serious?"

Asher gave her a curious look, as though her reaction confused him.

"Of course. You think I spent millions on your training, equipment, and tech so you could all sit around up here? I'm not paying you to warm bunk beds. Tomorrow, you'll be briefed. The day after, you're deployed. Time doesn't wait for anyone, Indigo—and every second wasted is one more we fall behind."

She opened her mouth to press again, but this time, the answer came from Liv, her voice calm but resolute.

"You'll be helping turn Atlas and Mantle into the cities people think they're moving to." The seriousness in her voice was unmistakable. There was no posturing, no agenda—just purpose. Indigo glanced between the two of them, clearly weighing her thoughts.

Eventually, she let out a breath and nodded.

"Alright. I'll tell the others. Make sure they're ready."

Then she met Asher's eyes again.

"And I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Commander." She didn't smile, not visibly—but the dry amusement in her voice was there, buried beneath all the layers that made Indigo… Indigo. Asher and Liv both caught it.

As Indigo sauntered off, Liv watched her go for a moment before speaking up.

"I think she's starting to warm up to you."

Asher glanced at her, one brow lifting.

"Really?"

"Well, considering the first time she met us, she was thinking about killing both of us and dumping our bodies, I'd say she's at least reached neutral," Liv said, her tone casual but with a trace of humor.

"She might not like you yet, but I think she'll get there. She was the one holding everything together while you were in the hospital. Training would've been a mess without her. And even Gray and the others are starting to shift. They're not as… hostile." There was something a little hopeful in her voice now—something lighter than before.

Both of them kept their eyes on Indigo's retreating figure, though the thoughts behind their stares were different.

Asher exhaled lightly.

"Hmm. I suppose there's no harm in them liking me. We are going to be working together, after all." With that, he turned and made his way over to where Ironwood and Winter stood.

"Liv and I will be heading out now. Always more work waiting," he said as he approached.

Ironwood turned with a short nod and a smirk.

"Of course. I'll look forward to our next meeting." Asher didn't answer—he just returned the expression with a faint smile before offering Winter a polite nod. She returned it, silent but a bit more respectful than before.

Then, without another word, Asher gave a small motion for Liv to follow, and the two of them exited the training room together.

=====================================•=====================================

After dropping Liv off, Asher made his way home.

The doors of Frostvale Manor slid shut behind him with a soft click, the automation smooth and quiet. He loosened his collar as he stepped inside, pulling off his jacket and handing it to one of the maids who had been waiting near the entrance.

"Is my mother home?" He asked, his voice calm but curious.

Another maid nearby answered instead.

"No, Young Master. She left earlier today while you were out. There was an event she needed to attend. However, your father returned a few hours ago. He's in the office, if you'd like to speak with him." That made Asher pause for a moment.

It was unusual for his father to be home this early. Most days, he didn't return until just before dinner, always personally overseeing operations at the company. His mother, on the other hand, only involved herself when necessary, usually working from their home office or attending social events where only one of their presence was required.

"I see," Asher murmured.

He paused for a moment, then said, "I'll go see him. Also, let Lavi know I'd like lunch sent to my room if she's available. I've been craving fish."

"Of course, Young Master," the maid said, bowing her head.

"I'll let her know." With that, Asher began the quiet walk toward the office. The manor's hallways were lined with thick carpet that softened his footsteps, creating a calm and steady rhythm as he made his way down the corridors.

At the office door, he raised a hand and gave a light knock. From inside, his father's voice came immediately, calm and neutral.

"What is it?"

"It's me," Asher replied.

"I heard you were home early. Are you busy?" There was a brief pause before his father's tone shifted, becoming noticeably warmer.

"Come in. I'm just going over a few things." Asher pushed open the door and stepped inside, carefully shutting it behind him.

Asher stepped into the office and spotted his father seated behind the desk. Just like his mother often did, Vance was reviewing documents on a holographic display projected above the desk's smooth surface. The faint blue glow cast a light over his father's face as he scrolled through pages of information.

The moment he noticed Asher's arrival, he shut the projection off, his full attention shifting to his son.

"You look well. How are you feeling?" Vance asked, his eyes following Asher as he took a seat in one of the chairs opposite the desk.

"Better. Much better than when I was discharged," Asher replied, resting his hands on the chair's armrests.

"I have the O.M.N.I. Frame to thank for that. It's made getting around on my own a lot easier. Dr. Raye says I should be fully healed and moving without external support by the end of the month." Vance leaned back slightly, his posture relaxing as he took in the news.

"Good. That's good to hear," he said with a small smirk, nodding approvingly. Then, a hint of amusement crept into his gaze as he let out a short chuckle.

"You know, when you were first discharged, your mother and I were pretty worried."

"Worried?" Asher tilted his head, curious.

"About what?"

"About your health, of course," Vance said, his tone straightforward.

"But also… about how you'd handle it emotionally. Being unable to move on your own is a hard thing to adjust to, especially for someone as prideful as you. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree in that regard." Hearing this, Asher thought back to his first day home, and something clicked.

"Wait a second—was that why you and Mom were so clingy when I got back? I thought you were just worried, but… You two hadn't asked me to sleep in your bed with you in years," he said, his voice breaking into a light laugh at the memory.

Vance nodded, looking faintly embarrassed.

"That's right. And don't make it sound like we stopped because we thought you were too big for it. You just… outgrew it on your own. One day, you weren't interested anymore, so we stopped asking. But when you came back from the hospital, we thought it might help you feel more at ease. You know, if you had any nightmares or…" He trailed off, clearly searching for the right words.

The mention of nightmares seemed to settle like a faint shadow in the room. Asher's gaze dropped to the floor, his expression tightening slightly.

Nightmares… yes, I suppose that's what they look like to everyone else.

Ever since waking from his coma, his nights had been far from peaceful.

Every so often, he would find himself dreaming—dreaming of the life he had known in that alternate future. That far-off world that had crumbled under the weight of the cataclysm. He'd wake up in different states: sometimes panting, drenched in cold sweat; sometimes shouting, as if trying to fight off something; and, on rare occasions, feeling strangely content—happy, even.

Though his reactions had dulled over time, the memories persisted. He had lived so many lives there, too many to count. Some memories were vivid, others hazy. The Nexus Space hadn't given him perfect recall like usual. For reasons he didn't fully understand, it had been left out of the assimilation.

It was as if he had to rely solely on what his mind could hold.

And now, as of recently, one particular set of memories had come back more clearly than the others—his first true life in that place. Ivery. The name alone sent a flicker of emotion he couldn't quite place through him.

The silence lingered until Vance cleared his throat lightly, drawing Asher's attention. "

Sorry. I know you don't like discussing those."

Asher shook his head, brushing the thought aside.

"It's fine. I was just thinking." He shifted in his seat, his expression becoming more neutral.

"Anyway, what are you doing home so early? Has work settled down at the company?"

Vance gestured ambiguously before leaning back in his chair.

"Not exactly. We're finally starting to make some progress expanding into Vale. It's taken longer than expected, but we decided not to push too hard, which made things smoother. Right now, we're looking into opening a new distribution hub in Lulen City, near the northeast coast. Nothing's finalized yet, but it's promising."

Asher responded almost reflexively.

"Isn't Lulen in the middle of a protest? Freelancers and local dust businesses rallying against corporate interference? You'll need to address that before finalizing anything, or it could turn into a bigger issue." His father's expression flickered with confusion.

"What? Protests in Lulen City? I haven't heard anything about that. Where did you get that idea?"

Asher frowned. His father was nothing if not thorough—he wouldn't have missed something so significant. But then the realization hit him like a cold wave.

Wait… the protest happened in 2034. That's what caused construction delays on the hub until February.

But it was still 2033.

"We've heard a little unrest, sure, but no organized protests," Vance said.

"Are you certain about that?"

Asher forced a neutral expression.

"Oh. I must have been mistaken. Sorry, long day at Atlas Academy. I'm probably more tired than I thought. I think I'll head back to my room for a nap." Vance studied him for a moment, his gaze questioning but not prying.

"Sure, of course. I'll see you at dinner after your mother returns."

"Right," Asher replied. He rose from his seat and walked out into the hall, his mind a swirl of tangled thoughts. With a short, almost resigned sigh, he muttered to himself.

I've been so busy lately, I didn't even realize… my knowledge of Frostvale Enterprises has surpassed a hundred percent.