Kael realized very quickly that being placed on a team did not mean being accepted by one.
They met just outside the city walls.
Three Beastkin.
Three humans.
And all of them noticed him immediately.
The wolf-type was there.
Of course he was.
Kael let out a quiet breath. "I should've expected this."
"You should have," the wolf-type replied.
The others were different.
One carried himself with quiet focus, his movements efficient and controlled. Another leaned more relaxed, but his eyes remained sharp, watching everything without appearing to do so.
Their contracted humans stood beside them; each one composed in a way Kael was still trying to understand.
"This is the team," Lyra said simply.
No introductions followed.
No explanations.
Kael glanced between them, then back at Lyra. "We're just skipping the part where people pretend to be polite?"
"Yes."
"…That tracks."
One of the Beastkin stepped forward, his expression neutral but direct.
"You're the unassigned one."
Kael nodded. "That would be me."
"You are a liability."
Kael exhaled slowly. "That also sounds familiar."
The wolf-type crossed his arms. "Then stay out of the way."
Kael shook his head slightly. "You all really stick to the same script, don't you?"
Lyra stepped forward just enough to interrupt the tension before it could escalate.
"We move now," she said.
That was the end of the conversation.
Kael followed them as they moved beyond the outer perimeter, the city fading behind them as the terrain opened up once again.
This time, the air felt different from the moment they stepped forward.
Not just heavy.
Unstable.
"…You feel that?" Kael asked quietly.
"Yes," Lyra replied.
"That's worse than before."
"Yes."
Kael nodded once.
"Good," he said. "Just making sure I'm not imagining it."