Author Note: Sorry for the long wait honestly. A lot of stuff came up on my end and I was just really distracted. This chapter is shorter than the other ones, but it has nice romance elements to it that I think you guys would like. I do worry sometimes about writing the fic and wonder if I have the characters in character. It's a little worry of mine, but I think I am doing fine and I am just being way too harsh on myself. Still, thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy this one. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review if you want more. It may seem like a small thing but it gives me a lot of motivation!

Chapter 6

Miorine found herself exhausted, and it was only Tuesday. Midterms week was in full swing, and the entire campus was buzzing with frantic studying and last-minute cramming. She had hoped to escape during this week, avoiding the chaos altogether. But fate had other plans for her.

With a grimace, Miorine reflected on how her escape attempt had been foiled by none other than Suletta, the enigmatic girl from Mercury. And now, here they were, standing in an elevator with Suletta's teal eyes fixed on the massive window before them. The window revealed a breathtaking view of the academy, sprawling and grand.

From the elevator, Suletta could see it all—the imposing academy buildings, the dorms, lecture halls, and the majestic libraries that reminded her of her studies of old Earth campus life. The artificial rivers and ponds added a touch of realism with their crystal blue waters. And in the distance, the student body moved like tiny dots against the vast expanse of the artificial station.

It struck Miorine that this might be the largest gathering of people Suletta had ever witnessed. She couldn't help but overhear Suletta murmuring to herself, "So pretty," her voice filled with genuine delight.

Miorine, on the other hand, groaned inwardly and covered her face with her hand. Why was she even here? Why was she caught up in Suletta's orbit despite everything that had transpired? Her escape attempt had failed, her involvement with Aiden's landing had gone awry, and now she found herself entangled in the peculiar conflict between Jeturk House and Harmony House. Her mind raced, recalling the events of the previous day.

Feeling overwhelmed, Miorine longed for a moment of calm. Her "ice princess" facade, carefully crafted to maintain her reputation among the student body, wavered in times like these. She wished she could scratch her own brain out. There were plants to recover, messes to clean up—and while Suletta had offered to help, dealing with the rest of Jeturk House was simply a headache she didn't need.

As the elevator abruptly came to a stop, Miorine and Suletta turned their attention to the floor in front of them. Someone had pressed the button, bringing them to...

"Hello, Ms. Miorine... and Ms. Mercury," a voice greeted them.

It was Oscar, the young boy from Harmony House who they had briefly encountered before. His brown hair was still slicked back, and he had forgone his uniform in favor of casual attire. His dark brown eyes met the gaze of the two girls as he held the elevator door open. "Come on, guys," he called out to the others from his house.

Jack followed Oscar into the elevator, but Miorine couldn't help but overhear the hushed argument brewing between Aiden and Deacon.

"I don't want to see her, I can't," Aiden's muttered protest reached their ears.

"Well, we're already late, and I'm not gonna wait around for another damn elevator. So, deal with it," Aiden grumbled, leading the way as they reluctantly followed. He stole a quick glance at Suletta, who was now looking at him, but he immediately averted his gaze. He couldn't handle seeing her right now.

It had been a while since Aiden's conversation with Deacon, and even though Deacon understood his conflicting feelings towards Suletta, it still left him feeling disoriented. Being around her stirred up strange emotions within him. He stared at the metal plating of the elevator, slowly ascending as a heavy silence enveloped them. He caught a glimpse of Suletta's reflection, her fingers interlocked over her stomach as she awkwardly shifted her weight from foot to foot. It felt like seeing a ghost—an apparition from his past he couldn't escape or a harbinger of impending doom.

Aiden Winters had found the girl who saved his life and breathed strength into him. But there was a dark undercurrent to it. Suletta carried within her the death of his identity, his very being. As a seer, he foresaw his own demise in her presence. The moment he fully comprehended his feelings for her, he would be on a path towards his own destruction. Yet, the others in the elevator remained oblivious to this truth.

"Hello, it's nice to see you two beauties in the flesh, way better than staring at a damn computer screen," Oscar greeted with a wide grin, his steps light and bouncy as he turned to Miorine and Suletta. The two girls regarded him with different expressions—Miorine groaned in annoyance at the sight of the short boy, while Suletta seemed taken aback. Oscar didn't seem to care or notice. "Ms. Suletta Mercury," he spoke, his smile turning sly as he crossed his arms. "You've certainly made quite a name for yourself."

"What do you mean?" Suletta stammered, her voice faltering. Jack and Deacon listened intently, leaning against the walls on either side. Meanwhile, Aiden looked peculiar, fixated on the door in front of him, almost as if he were silently praying for them to open any second.

Oscar shrugged, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Well," he trailed off, raising his palms and extending his fingers, "you've rescued the headmaster's daughter from her own little escape attempt."

"More like foiled," Miorine interjected.

"Sorry," Suletta replied, her smile awkward. "I genuinely thought you were in trouble, and I was just trying to help."

Jack nearly burst into laughter. "Sounds familiar," he chimed in, turning to Suletta. "Did you think Aiden was in trouble when he was trying to land?"

Suletta's face flushed crimson at his words. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her head slightly bowing. "I really..."

"Whoa," Deacon interrupted, raising both hands. "Ms. Mercury, Suletta, it's all good. We're just messing with you, and we don't hold it against you for what happened."

Suletta remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of self-recrimination as she realized the extent of her mistakes. It was only her first day, and she had already meddled in affairs that were none of her business to begin with.

"And yet, I know exactly whose fault it was," Deacon's voice rose, and Aiden could feel their eyes burning into his back. "If someone had just listened to me and not embarked on that godforsaken insect-infested space cruiser, maybe our mechs would still be in fighting condition."

Miorine couldn't help but groan at his words. "Your mechs aren't even fit for battle?" she questioned.

But it was Jack who spoke up. "We'll manage," he nodded toward Aiden. "His mech has been fully repaired and upgraded with better parts. It's the rest of us that will take a bit longer to get back in shape."

Miorine sighed, her gaze fixed on the members of House Harmony. Her steel-blue eyes narrowed as she focused on them. "You do realize that Guel and the Jeturk group are coming after you, right?"

Normally, those words would have struck fear into the hearts of many. Whether they were students or company officials, the idea of facing the wrath of one of the most powerful spacian corporations would make anyone skip a heartbeat. Especially someone like Guel, who took pleasure in dismantling opponents' mechs and crushing their pride in battle. Many had tried to challenge him, but all had failed.

Yet, House Harmony regarded her with indifference, their expressions a mix of smirks and chuckles, led by Oscar.

"Good," Oscar muttered. "Let these spacian corporations try something with us." His sly smirk stretched from ear to ear as he stared at Miorine.

"Aren't you afraid?" she suddenly asked.

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "We've been through war zones before, and a little duel with some spoiled brat from a company won't scare us much," he yawned into his palm, his gaze fixed on Miorine. "Deacon, do you want to spill the beans, or should I?"

"What do you mean?" Miorine inquired, capturing Suletta's attention once again.

Deacon spoke up, his hand firmly squeezing Aiden's shoulder. "We're not here to fight," he said. "Aiden here is going to establish peace with Guel before this situation escalates any further."

Miorine chuckled at his words, a faint smirk playing on her lips as her hand rested on her hip. Aiden caught a glimpse of it in the reflection, and for a brief moment, he felt a strange attraction, an alluring quality about Miorine, but he quickly brushed it off, banishing it from his thoughts.

"You have a fight on your hands," Miorine continued. "Guel is many things, but making peace isn't one of them. You've already engaged him in battle, and now you expect to find peace?"

Suletta's head jerked back and forth, her forehead damp with sweat. She struggled to utter a response, realizing that it was far more difficult than she had anticipated. Fear gripped her. This was not how she had envisioned her first days at the academy!

Miorine couldn't fathom why she was speaking at this moment. Perhaps it was their foolish belief that talking to Guel would solve everything. But she knew him better than that, and...

"You'll lose in a fight against him," Miorine interjected suddenly, the words slipping from her lips as she fixed her gaze on the back of Aiden's head. "You've already started something with someone out of your league. It would be best to..."

"What did you say?"

Aiden's voice cut through the air, silencing them all. Deacon's hand, still gripping his shoulder, tightened, and the young leader shot his friend a look to quell any hostility. But Aiden merely shrugged off the grip and locked his gaze on the young Rembran.

Jack whistled, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the wall. "Oh, you've made him angry," he taunted.

Aiden took a few steps closer, his focus now solely on Miorine. He no longer cared about glimpsing Suletta, the ghost symbolizing his impending doom. No, this demanded his attention.

"You assume I'm going to apologize to that prick," Aiden declared.

"Aiden," Deacon retorted sharply. "This is her fiancé, arranged marriage or not. You need to show respect..."

"Respect for what?" Jack chuckled at Deacon's words, while Deacon's expression darkened. "You know we don't respect them."

Aiden continued to stare at Miorine, his mind drifting back to their encounter in the garden as he locked eyes with her. "I won't apologize for putting him in his place," Aiden shook his head, then turned his gaze back to Deacon. "I don't want to do this. I can fight him... I can..."

But Deacon shook his head. "We're going to try the peaceful route. Guel has already landed his blows, and getting into a fight with the Jeturk group is the last thing we need right now." He observed as Aiden's fingers clenched into fists, his features tightening. "Control yourself..."

Aiden sighed, his breath escaping his lips as he shifted his gaze back to Miorine. He stared into those steel-blue eyes, then glanced at her flowing mane of white hair and near-pale porcelain skin.

"I don't understand why you're defending him," Aiden questioned.

Miorine huffed, wrapping her arms around herself. Suletta's anxiety soared, her eyes darting between the arguing members as tensions rose. "I'm not defending Guel," she snapped, her tone laced with frustration. "If you had minded your own business, the situation wouldn't have escalated."

"Escalated?" Aiden fired back. "He pushed you to the floor. Listen, I'm not the best kind of guy, but shoving a girl and breaking her flower pots seems like a real douchey thing to do."

"Guel," Miorine paused, her voice dripping with contempt.

Miorine despised Guel. She had numerous issues with him. He was a brute who needed to be put in his place, a volatile force that couldn't be tamed. But she could still recall what had transpired. It was like striking a match; she had uttered a sarcastic insult, and he had snapped!

He shoved her to the ground, shattering her mother's beloved flower pots. Suletta had attempted to intervene, and then...

Perhaps it was her earlier encounter with Aiden Winters that left her feeling perplexed now. That boy who had shamelessly flirted with her, only to become mesmerized by the flowers in her mother's garden before she sent him away. There was a connection there, a shared understanding. Upon learning that his own mother had the same passion and had also passed away, she felt an odd kinship. She had even allowed him to take a few seeds, and...

Yet, here she saw him now—the ace of House Harmony. His gaze fixated on Suletta, rendering the girl frozen in bewilderment. Any fear or confusion that had gripped Aiden earlier vanished, evaporating like water into sand.

He pointed a finger at her, his eyes shifting to Miorine. "Look at her, Miorine," he commanded. Miorine stood dumbfounded as his gaze bore into her like a hawk. She obeyed, and even the other members of House Harmony sensed the weight in the air. Their eyes shifted toward Suletta.

The girl's face reddened, struggling to find words as she stared at the young ace of Harmony. His hand remained steady. "Guel was going to hurt her," Aiden declared.

"He wasn't. I know..."

"Shut up," Aiden silenced her. "It doesn't matter if you know him or not. He got aggressive and invaded her personal space. That was a threat to me, and I swear on my life that I will hurt anyone who lays a hand on her. Let him challenge me to a million duels, and I won't grant him the satisfaction of winning a single one."

Then, Miorine truly saw him—the ace of House Harmony. She saw him for who he was.

She gazed at his untamed, dark, wavy hair that fell partially over his right eye. His tanned, sun-kissed skin, a rarity among their schoolmates. The gleam of his dark bionics under the elevator's light, opting for casual attire—work pants, deep brown shoes, and a heavy, deep blue sweater. His blazing blue eyes locked onto hers. He smiled at those words, and deep down, she knew he relished the prospect of beating Guel into submission.

House Harmony consisted of orphans, individuals thrust into a war that ravaged their world. They were honed for innate, reckless violence, and that was all they had ever known. And Miorine could see it in his eyes.

A shudder ran through her as...

"I'm sorry," Suletta suddenly stuttered.

Her gaze shifted to Aiden, who loomed over the girl, a seventeen-year-old towering presence. He regarded her as if she were a rare painting, something to observe and appreciate but never to touch or harm.

"You," Aiden paused, struggling to find the right words. "You're okay..."

Aiden attempted to form a smile, and eventually, it emerged. A gentle warmth settled over him as he extended his hand toward Suletta. "My name is Aiden Winters," he spoke, his smile unwavering. "You're Suletta Mercury."

Suletta Mercury watched his hand intently, her mind still spinning from their earlier encounter in the greenhouse. She had disrupted his landing, and her interference with Guel and Miorine had escalated into a nasty fight between Guel and Aiden.

"I'm sorry... I really am," she apologized.

"There's nothing to apologize for," Aiden responded. When she didn't take his hand, Aiden let it fall. Suletta regarded him with a cautious gaze, and for a moment, Aiden wondered if he had already ruined things, if their initial meeting had revealed his true self.

But he dismissed that thought. She had saved him twice, and if she didn't feel the same way he did... then what exactly did he feel for her?

Once again, he shook off his doubts, drawing confused looks from those around him. His gaze settled on Miorine once more. "I won't run away from my enemies. No matter how formidable or swift they may be, I'd rather die standing than submit."

Miorine narrowed her eyes at him. "Such insolence," she muttered under her breath. She knew resistance wasn't always a bad thing, but resisting something so foolish... If they simply begged for forgiveness, perhaps they could...

Aiden chuckled, wrapping his arms around himself and flashing Miorine the same charming smirk he had bestowed upon her in the greenhouse. "I live by something, Miorine. Would you like to hear it?"

Miorine snorted. "I suppose you're going to tell me."

"If you move forward, you gain two; if you run, you gain one."

The words flowed effortlessly from Aiden's lips. Miorine nodded in agreement, recognizing the intricate simplicity of the mantra. The members of House Harmony paid little attention, having heard it for years. But the enigmatic girl had a different reaction.

Her eyes widened, fingers twitching as she pressed both palms to her cheeks. "What!" she stammered. "Why does everyone keep..."

"Oh, that reminds me!" Oscar interjected, a sly smirk playing on his lips. He sidled up to Aiden, draping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close. Oscar shot a mischievous glance at Suletta, while confusion veiled Aiden's features. "Suletta, this is the friend I wanted you to meet. The one who broke up with his fling not too long ago!"

Jack erupted into laughter, a hearty sound that filled the air. "You always know how to change the mood, Oscar," he muttered, while even Deacon struggled to stifle his chuckle.

Suletta's eyes widened, her features flushing a deep cherry red, mirroring the simmering intensity in Aiden's own gaze. "Oscar," Aiden whispered urgently, his voice barely audible. "Stop it. I can handle this on my own."

But his words fell on deaf ears as Oscar pressed on. "Suletta Mercury," he announced, raising his right hand as if quelling a raucous crowd, though there was no crowd to hush. He fixed his gaze on her, positioning himself at eye level. "Behold, the ace of Harmony House... Aiden Winters!" He elongated Aiden's name, delivering it with the zeal of a sports commentator. A faint giggle escaped Suletta's lips for a brief moment.

It was endearing...

Aiden shot Oscar a reproachful look, but the girl seemed genuinely pleased, so he decided to go along with it, curious to see where this would lead. "Look at him, Suletta," Oscar urged, relinquishing his hold on Aiden. This time, he approached Suletta, placing both hands on her shoulders. Suletta recoiled, almost yelping, as he released his right hand and gestured toward Aiden. "He's tall, he's strong, and look at him... he's got all the girls at this school swooning!"

Suletta's features only deepened in crimson. Her heart pounded forcefully in her chest, while beads of sweat formed on her brow. Her gaze started to drift downward, but Oscar's hand gently tapped her shoulder, redirecting her attention to Aiden's face, the face he attempted to hide from her view. "You want to know Aiden's type," Oscar continued, his voice laced with mischief. "Shy, short, and girls with red hair. Just like you!"

"Oscar," Jack murmured disapprovingly. "Leave the poor girl alone."

Yet, Suletta's eyes began to wander back to Aiden. Her features burned with a deeper shade of crimson as she fidgeted with her fingers, her heartbeat drowning out all other sounds. "Now, Suletta," Oscar paused, as the elevator doors chimed, signaling their arrival on the top floor. Aiden felt a surge of panic, but a part of him was relieved that he wouldn't have to face this answer. What might have happened if...

"I-I… think he's very handsome," Suletta stammered.

Aiden's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on the girl, a scene from a movie unfolding before him. He watched as the wind tousled her uniform and played with the tendrils of her deep crimson hair. Her sun-kissed skin caught the light, her teal eyes locking onto his own. "He's very handsome," she spoke with newfound determination, carefully choosing her words.

And in that moment, right before he would have to confront Guel once again, as he observed Suletta Mercury, he realized the depth of his feelings for her. She had been oblivious to his existence, but his love for her transcended time and light speed. Aiden loved Suletta Mercury, the girl who had saved him, the girl who could be his downfall.