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Chapter Six

Astrid stared at the panel in front of her, its swirling lights moving faster now, almost taunting her. The symbols seemed more chaotic than before, like they were alive and resisting her every attempt to make sense of them.

“Focus,” she whispered to herself, shaking her hands out to calm the tension in her fingers.

Behind her, LUX stood like a statue, silent but imposing. She could feel his eyes on her, their blue glow practically boring into her back. His presence was a constant reminder of the stakes, of the unspoken consequences if she failed.

“Talk about pressure,” she muttered, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Does your ‘trial’ get harder every time I make progress, or is this your idea of encouragement?”

LUX tilted his head slightly, his glowing eyes narrowing. “The test adjusts itself to the one taking it. It is designed to challenge your limits.”

“Well, it’s doing a great job,” she said, rolling her eyes before turning back to the panel.

Her hands moved over the symbols again, guided more by instinct than logic. Something about the patterns felt almost familiar now, like the pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t quite see.

The air around her seemed heavier, charged with a strange energy that made her heart race. It wasn’t just the challenge of the task or the looming presence of LUX. It was something else.

The panel let out a soft chime as another set of symbols locked into place.

Astrid exhaled sharply, relief washing over her for a moment—until the lights began shifting again, faster and more erratic. “Oh, come on!”

“You’re progressing,” LUX said, his tone calm but distant.

“Barely,” she snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She turned to him, crossing her arms. “What happens if I don’t solve this in time? Do I get zapped into oblivion, or do you just toss me out into the wild and call it a day?”

LUX stepped closer, his massive frame casting a long shadow over her. “Failure would prove that you cannot coexist with us. Your presence here would be a threat to the balance we have fought to maintain.”

Astrid frowned. “You keep saying that—balance. What does that even mean? Balance between what?”

LUX’s eyes seemed to dim for a moment, as if her question had made him pause. “Between what we are… and what we might become.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning she couldn’t quite grasp.

“Sounds like you’re afraid of something,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“I am not afraid,” he replied, his tone sharp but lacking conviction.

Astrid tilted her head, studying him. There was something in his voice, something unspoken that lingered just beneath the surface. It wasn’t fear—not exactly—but it was close.

“LUX…” she started, but before she could finish, the panel flashed brightly, pulling her attention back.

The lights on the panel exploded into a flurry of movement, the patterns so fast now they were nearly impossible to follow. Astrid clenched her fists, her pulse spiking as she tried to keep up.

“Okay, okay, think,” she muttered, her hands hovering uncertainly.

“Trust your instincts,” LUX said behind her.

She whipped her head around, narrowing her eyes at him. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one getting tested by some alien brain-teaser.”

For the first time, a flicker of amusement crossed LUX’s features. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there. “If I were, I suspect I would have finished by now.”

Astrid snorted, turning back to the panel. “Wow, inspiring. Thanks, Your Highness.”

She pressed her palm to the surface again, letting her fingers trace the glowing shapes. This time, she didn’t try to overthink it. She moved on instinct, following the faint pull of the patterns as if they were leading her somewhere.

The panel let out another chime, and a section of the lights locked into place.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. But her victory was short-lived.

A loud, low hum filled the room, vibrating through the floor and walls. Astrid stumbled back as the panel’s lights flared brighter than ever, sending out a pulse of energy that made her hair stand on end.

“What’s happening now?” she asked, panic creeping into her voice.

LUX stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the panel. “You’ve triggered the final sequence.”

“And that’s… good, right?”

“That depends,” he said, his voice quiet. “On whether you can complete it.”

Astrid’s chest tightened as the symbols began to move again, faster and more chaotic than ever. Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to take a steadying breath.

“No pressure,” she muttered sarcastically.

The room felt like it was closing in around her, the air thick with tension. Astrid’s hands flew over the panel, her fingers moving almost on their own. Her mind buzzed with a strange, focused energy, her frustration giving way to determination.

Behind her, LUX watched in silence, his glowing eyes unreadable.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked suddenly, not looking up from the panel.

LUX tilted his head slightly. “I am not helping you. This is your trial.”

“Yeah, but you’re still here,” she said, her voice softer now. “You could have just thrown me into this room and walked away, but you didn’t. Why?”

There was a long pause before he answered. “I am… curious.”

Astrid glanced at him briefly, catching the faintest flicker of something in his expression—something almost vulnerable.

“Curious about what?” she asked.

“You,” he said simply.

Her breath caught, but she didn’t let herself dwell on it. Instead, she focused on the task in front of her, her fingers moving faster as the patterns began to fall into place.

The panel let out a final chime, and the lights froze, their chaotic motion coming to an abrupt halt.

Astrid stepped back, her chest heaving as relief flooded through her.

“Did I do it?” she asked, turning to LUX.

His glowing eyes fixed on hers, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, he nodded. “You succeeded.”

A wave of exhaustion hit her all at once, but she couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto her face. “Good. Because I was about two seconds away from smashing that thing.”

LUX didn’t smile—he never did—but there was a faint softness in his gaze that hadn’t been there before.

“You are more capable than I anticipated,” he said.

Astrid crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Is that your way of saying ‘good job’?”

“It is my way of saying… you might belong here after all,” he replied.

Astrid’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to me. I still plan on finding a way home.”

LUX didn’t respond, but the way he looked at her made her wonder if he believed her—or if he even wanted her to leave.

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