Jax let out a raspy laugh that turned into a cough. "Kid, we’re Ground-Born. Our 'aspiration' is supposed to be making it to forty without losing a limb to a hydraulic press. That Spire? That’s for the Cloud-Born. People with names that sound like silk, not grease."
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." (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. Jax let out a raspy laugh that turned into a cough
"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." That Spire
That night, Kael activated his stabilizer. The device hummed—a high-pitched, melodic vibration that cut through the industrial drone of the city. For a fleeting second, the metal frame lifted three inches off the floor, bathed in a soft, azure glow.