My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 98: Breaking Bread

Chapter 98: Breaking Bread

That’s when the Chairwoman’s voice cut through the silence and stated

"That concludes today’s meeting. After the weekend, we will begin processing paperwork to officially accredit all twelve of you. Once that is complete, you will be slotted into platoon training."

Her gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on each of the shard users standing along the wall. "Until we learn more about the system’s mandated downsizing, Cube X will remain the primary housing facility for all shard users." She clasped her hands in front of her. "Any objections?"

Silence.

The massive screen behind her flickered off, signaling the end of the session. The officials began standing, murmuring amongst themselves as they slowly dispersed.

Oliver stepped forward, his tone even. "Everyone, please follow me."

The group split, with two officers leading half of the shard users back toward their designated areas while Oliver guided Elias, Kikaru, Paul, and Tidwell down the familiar corridor.

Cafeteria Encounter

As they reached the entrance to the Lettered Block Quarters, Elias turned to Oliver.

"Hey, mind if I grab some food before heading back?"

Oliver considered him for a moment before giving a short nod. "Sure. Just be back in time for training. Before the weekend starts, I want to make sure you all have a solid understanding of what’s coming next."

Elias gave a lazy salute. "Understood, sir."

With that, he broke off down another corridor, weaving through military personnel in various uniforms—some in standard issue, others in different colors and insignias. The facility was massive, a reminder that there were far more operations going on here than just their little shard-user containment effort.

After a few turns, he finally stepped into the cafeteria, the scent of hot meals making his stomach tighten.

The space was expansive, filled with neatly arranged rows of tables and a well-stocked buffet line at the far end. Soldiers and staff moved through efficiently, grabbing food, chatting in small groups, or scarfing down meals in a hurry.

Elias grabbed a tray and slid it down the line, scooping up a hearty serving of grilled chicken, steamed vegetables, and a side of buttered rice. He debated grabbing a dessert, then shrugged and added a small custard tart to the tray before heading toward an empty table.

The first bite hit just right—perfectly seasoned, warm, filling.

He had barely gotten a spoonful of rice into his mouth when someone approached.

"You’re Elias, right?"

Elias blinked and quickly swallowed, patting his chest as he looked up. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood beside him, dressed in a crisp uniform, his slicked-back black hair catching the light.

Elias recognized him immediately.

"Yeah," he said, motioning for the guy to sit. "And you... you must be Asurik, right? You’re a bit taller up close."

Asurik gave a short chuckle as he slid into the seat across from him.

"Yep, that’s me." He rested his forearms on the table. "Saw you sitting alone and figured I’d introduce myself. No harm in getting to know potential allies, right?"

Elias raised an eyebrow, noting the black creature perched on Asurik’s shoulder, its body laced with glowing red lines.

"I take it that’s your Ikona?"

Asurik nodded. "Yeah. I’ve just been calling him Magma."

"I see." Elias set his spoon down, watching Asurik closely. "That speech you gave earlier—your family had issues with the government in the past, I assume?"

Asurik let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, something like that. We had a falling out right before the first alien attack. My parents saw the chaos as a chance to push for change. The government saw it as treason." His expression tightened. "They were hanged. Our noble title was stripped. Only the adults who were directly responsible, though. The rest of us... well, we got to keep breathing."

Elias frowned. "Damn. Sorry to hear that."

Asurik shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "It is what it is. That’s why I want to restore my family’s name—to prove that not all of us were traitors." He tapped his fingers against the table. "What about you? Your father seemed like a big deal, judging by how the higher-ups reacted."

Elias nodded. "Yeah. Dorien Kael. He was a respected man, but it’s been over ten years now since he died. I don’t care much about titles or recognition, but if I can leave behind a legacy he’d be proud of... maybe even give him the burial he deserves—that’s enough for me."

Asurik studied him for a moment, then smirked. "That’s noble, if nothing else."

Elias took another bite as Asurik pushed his tray aside and stood. "I think aligning with you in the future could yield good results," he said, adjusting his cuffs.

As he turned to leave, Elias called out, "I noticed Kikaru gave you an odd look earlier. She looked... upset when you started talking. Any bad blood there?"

Asurik hesitated, then exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. Her family was the one that caught mine. We got into it a few times before I was moved to another block." He glanced toward the exit. "If we ever work together, maybe I’ll tell you more. For now, let’s just say we’re not exactly friends."

With a casual wave, he walked off, leaving Elias alone at the table.

"What did you think of him?" Elias asked, glancing down at Dot’s as she hovered beside him.

Dot’s tilted her tiny head. "Why ask me?"

Elias shrugged. "Well, other than that being a normal question, I guess I’ve noticed my perception score is low. Maybe if I miss something, you’d be able to pick up on it."

Dot’s circled him lazily before landing on his shoulder. "I mean, it’s hard to judge off a single conversation. He seemed nice, but something tells me not to trust him... though, to be fair, I feel that way about everyone."

Elias raised a brow. "Wait, really?"

Dot’s nodded. "Yeah. It’s this weird feeling in my chest. It tightens up, kinda hurts a little. I can’t explain it, but it makes me wary of people." She shrugged, her tiny hands flicking outward as if tossing the thought away.

Elias scratched the back of his head. "That’s... odd, but not surprising, I guess." He pushed the thought aside. "Anyway, let’s head back. It’s almost noon, and we’ve got a lot to do."