Kael tightened his grip on the rusted wrench in his hand. He had spent three years scavenging discarded mana-cells from the scrap heaps, slowly building a makeshift flight-stabilizer in the crawlspace beneath his bunk. Every spark of energy he harvested was a step toward a world he had only seen in blurred propaganda broadcasts.
"I’d rather fall reaching for the sky than die standing in the dirt," Kael replied. (Dub) 4 : Aspiration: Distant Dream
He reached out, his fingers brushing the light. It felt cold, like the wind at high altitudes. The Spire was miles away, protected by gates, guards, and birthrights. But as the blue light reflected in his eyes, the distance didn't feel like a barrier anymore. It felt like a challenge. Kael tightened his grip on the rusted wrench in his hand
Kael didn’t turn. He knew the voice of his mentor, Jax—a man whose lungs were more soot than tissue. "It’s not a ghost, Jax. It’s the Academy. They’re taking applications for the Pilot Program this week." "I’d rather fall reaching for the sky than
"The dream is distant, Kael," Jax said, his voice softening. "Sometimes, keeping your eyes on the horizon just makes you trip over what's right in front of you."
The dream was distant, but for the first time, it was no longer quiet.