The next day I woke up and found the house silent. Wait. Silent? I got up and got dressed. Black skinny jeans and a blue crop top. With black high boots. Then I remembered. Fearrow and Storm had shooting practice. That explained the silence. Most of the house would be empty. I stepped into the hallway. Even the guards seemed fewer today. Something about it felt… off. Too quiet. Like the house was holding its breath. “Morning Mother ”I said and stepped into the dining room. Dusk and mother sat at the table. Talking. But they went silent when I came in. Not natural silence. Cut-off silence. My steps slowed slightly. “What?” I asked, looking between them. My mother gave a small smile. Too quick. “Nothing,” she said. Dusk didn’t smile. She just looked at me. Then away. That made my stomach tighten. “You don’t just stop talking for ‘nothing,’” I said, crossing my arms slightly. My mother calmly poured herself a drink. “We were discussing plans,” she said. “What plans?” A pause. Just long enough to matter. “Today,” she said finally, “you will be spending more time with Thunder.” I blinked. That wasn’t what they had been talking about. I sat down beside Dusk. They looked at each other and then at me. Like something they do not tell me. “Is it something else?” I asked and looked at my mother. But before my mother or Dusk could answer. “Yes ”I turned around. Father, Fearrow and Storm. “Xara please come up here” He said and held out his hand. I stood up and watched the other sit down. There was silence. “Xara” He began. “Your mother and I have been thinking” My mother nodded as an answer. “Thinking about what?” I asked. “That you are old enough to take over a Sektor ”Father said. The words didn’t make sense at first. Then they did. My chest tightened. “What?” I whispered. That have been my dream since I was three. But I am only sixteen. “Really?” I asked and looked at my parents. My voice didn’t sound like mine. My father nodded once. “You’ve been prepared for this your entire life,” he said. My mother stepped closer. “And now you’re ready,” she added. Ready. My heart started beating faster. This was everything I ever wanted. So why did it feel like this? “Which sector?” I asked. My father’s gaze held mine. “That,” he said, “is something we will decide together.” Together. I almost believed him. Almost. “Which sector?” I asked. My father and mother exchanged a glance. That was all I needed to see. It was already decided. “Sector Three,” my father said. My breath caught slightly. “Yllyv,” my mother added. The name echoed in my head. Yllyv. I had heard stories. Not the official ones. The real ones. “That’s…” I started, then stopped. Dangerous. Different. Not like the others. My father watched me closely. “It is a sector that requires strength,” he said. My mother’s voice followed, softer. “And control.”
I swallowed. Of course they chose that one. “You will begin preparation immediately,” my father continued. No hesitation. No question. I nodded slowly. This was my dream. So why did it feel like a warning?