Inside the meeting room, five Salients sit in silence, their Liaison standing just behind them like a shadow bound to the wall.
I recognize a few faces immediately.
On the far right sits Petal Bloom—a seven-year veteran and Sergeant. Her posture is as composed as ever, hands folded neatly in her lap, exosuit immaculate down to the smallest detail. Long green hair tied into a neat bun. When our eyes meet, she gives a slight dip of her head—controlled, deliberate—before her gaze slides forward again, unreadable.
Across from her is Blade Psalm.
Even seated, there's something sharp about him, like a blade left half-drawn. eight-year veteran, but no one ever says it like that. Not when he earned the title Death Singer only two years in. His fingers rest loosely against the table, tapping once—soft, rhythmic—like he's listening to something no one else can hear.
The other three are unfamiliar.
Their presence fills the room in a way that makes the air feel heavier, their exosuits marked with insignias. I don't immediately recognize each one, carrying a quiet authority that doesn't need to be announced.
I don't stare. Not for long.
Instead, I follow Captain Vynn's subtle gesture and take the seat beside her, the chair colder than expected as I settle in.
She clears her throat before speaking.
"You six are some of the most promising Salient we've seen in a long time," she begins, leaning back as her thumb clicks a remote in her hand.
The table before us flickers before glitching to life. A holographic map blooms across its surface.
"We've called you here for an important mission—one that differs from the tasks you're usually assigned."
The projection sharpens, and I narrow my eyes, recognizing the landmass immediately.
Orin-Kai. The entirety of it.
"Our latest reports indicate the Echoed was last detected within the Frostveil Expanse."
The blue-haired Salient sitting across from me gasps, ocean eyes widening. The Captain sends her a sharp look, immediately silencing her, before continuing.
"Our latest reports show that the Echoed was spotted somewhere within the Frostveil Expanse." The hologram shifts, zooming toward the far north of the capital. The continent expands before us—jagged and uneven, its terrain marked by ridges, fractures, and scattered blinking points of old drone data.
"As you all know," she continues evenly, "due to the extreme landscape and atmospheric pressure, much of the Expanse remains unexplored. This mission will place full responsibility of navigation and reconnaissance in your hands."
My finger taps my jaw as I study the terrain.
The altitude of the continent alone made sustained settlement nearly impossible, the air thinning into something barely breathable. In the past, there were rumors of a group of people that resided there, but no sign of life had been spotted in twenty years, other than natural wildlife. Ice storms raged without pattern, and avalanches swallowed entire sections of land in minutes. Even long-range drones struggled to maintain stability.
If an Echoed wanted to disappear—
This would be the place.
I'm pulled from my thoughts as Petal Bloom's voice cuts cleanly through the room. Her emerald gaze is steady, unblinking as it fixes on the Captain.
"Does the system have an initial location for us to explore?" she asks. "Or are we being tasked with surveying the entire continent?" There's a faint edge beneath her tone—controlled, but there.
If the Captain notices, she doesn't acknowledge it. She simply clicks the remote again.
"The frequency of the Echo was detected originating from this region."
The map tightens, zooming into the lower left quadrant of the continent—where sheer cliffs meet the scattered remains of ancient structures.
Ruins.
Of course.
"We will be deploying all of you tomorrow morning at this location," she continues. "From there, you are to investigate, track, and identify the source. You will rely on your own senses, as well as any residual vibrational patterns left behind."
Her gaze sweeps across us, deliberate.
"Each of your Liaisons will be responsible for relaying any new intelligence we receive."
The hologram flickers softly between us, and for a moment, the entire room is silent.
Blade Psalm is the one to break it.
He rises without a word, his chair rolling back with a quiet scrape before he turns and walks out. His Liaison—a tan, sturdy-looking woman—follows close behind.
One by one, the others stand, filing out in silence.
Until it's just the Captain and me.
"I have a question," I say, still seated as she stands.
Her gaze flickers to me briefly, lifting from the remote she sets down.
"This mission…" I exhale slowly. "How long does the System intend for it to last? What happens if the Echoed is never found?"
Captain Vynn studies me for a long moment.
Then she turns, already walking toward the exit.
"You'd best hope you find it, Ms. Vyreas."
The door slides shut behind her.