The morning air in the Lower Tier was thick with the usual smell of wet stone and beast musk, but for Kael, the atmosphere had shifted. The "Bird-Seer" rumors had traveled faster than a Vaelstrix.

  A sharp, rhythmic rapping at the stable door brought the team to a halt. Standing there was a Ministry Messenger, clad in a stiff, charcoal-grey uniform. He didn't speak to Lyra or Taren; he looked directly at Kael and handed over a scroll sealed with the heavy, circular wax of the Defense Ministry

  "A summon," the Messenger stated, his voice as cold as the stone walls. "The Minister requires your presence. Immediately."

  The Ministry office was a temple of cold efficiency. High ceilings, polished obsidian floors, and the constant, distant hum of the city’s administrative machinery. Kael felt out of place in his worn tunic, his skin still smelling of the pungent, musky lanolinmetabolic heat

  Valen

  "Don't overthink it, Kael," Valen whispered as they approached a set of massive ironwood doors. "Just listen."

  Inside, the Defense Minister

  "The man who calls a Ravok a 'chicken,'" the Minister muttered, not looking up from his ledgers. "You’ve caused quite a stir in the betting circles, Outlander. Sabotaging the economy with 'logic' is a dangerous game."

  Valen stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Minister, before we proceed... Kael has reconsidered. He has accepted the offer. He is to be registered as a Rider

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  The effect was instantaneous. The Minister froze, his pen hovering over the parchment. He looked up, and for the first time, his eyes weren't scanning for a crime—they were scanning an asset

  "A Rider!" the Minister boomed, rounding the desk to clasp Kael’s shoulder. The sudden change in pressure made Kael flinch

  Valen placed a steadying hand on Kael’s arm, a silent assurance that it was fine. Once you were inside the system, the system protected you.

  "My apologies for the cold welcome!" the Minister continued, his voice now booming with forced warmth. "We didn't realize we were dealing with a future Pillar of the Arena! You must understand, the perks for our elite are... substantial."

  The Minister began pacing, ticking off the benefits of Kael’s new life:

  

• Living Quarters:Ministry Ward
• The Salary:3 Golden Marks per month
• The Two-Year Evaluation:
• The Grand Reward:titled land and a private estate

  The Minister leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But the real value, Kael, is your Guild RegistrationSpecialized Missions

  Kael realized what this meant. He wouldn't just be a racer; he would be the Ministry's Biological Troubleshooter

  "And of course," the Minister finished, spreading his arms wide, "the Sovereign Circuit

  Kael looked at Valen, then back at the Minister. He saw the path laid out before him. It was a golden cage, but it was a cage with a workshop, a salary, and the one thing he needed most: Access.

  "I understand," Kael said, his voice steadying. "When do I start?"