The ship continued its journey through the endless stars, the steady hum of the engines a comforting backdrop to the quiet tension that lingered in the air. Selene moved through the ship with a grace that seemed almost unnatural, her every step purposeful, yet fluid. The children were still resting, a few stirring in their sleep as the ship made its steady progress, but Selene's mind was already elsewhere, her focus shifting to something deeper than the immediate task at hand.

As she moved past the sleeping children and into the narrow corridor leading to the cockpit, Neel stirred from his sleep. The young boy blinked, rubbing his eyes with a tired hand as he gazed up at her. "Are we almost home, Lady Selene?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

Selene turned to him, a gentle smile on her lips as she reached down to pat his head. "Not yet, dear," she replied softly. "But soon, I promise." Her tone was soothing, comforting, as though her mere presence could calm any fears that might have lingered in his heart.

Neel nodded sleepily and settled back into his seat, comforted by her reassurance. Selene, however, wasn't content to linger. She continued down the hallway, her eyes fixed on the cockpit ahead. She had to check on the ship's systems—attend to things that had been weighing on her for some time.

What Jod didn't know was that Selene had her own plans. She wasn't just a guardian of the children or a guide to Attuin. There was something else that drove her, something much deeper, a side to her that few had seen. And for the briefest moment, she allowed herself to indulge in a moment of calm before the journey would take them to Attuin.

When she entered her personal chamber, Selene quickly began changing out of her more practical attire. The dark, sleek clothing she'd been wearing throughout the journey was replaced by something more... seductive. She wasn't concerned with the fact that Jod might follow her. After all, she was used to people's eyes lingering on her, but this was something entirely different. The short, revealing dress she slipped into was a sharp contrast to her usual composed demeanor. It was a dress designed to make a statement, to exude confidence, power—and perhaps something more, something dangerous.

Her hair cascaded in soft curls, framing her face in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. As she stepped out of the chamber, her presence seemed to fill the hall. The dress was tight, the fabric clinging to her form in a way that was undeniably striking. The heels she wore clicked softly on the floor as she moved toward the cockpit.

Jod, who had been following her, froze at the sight of her. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes wide with disbelief as he took in the transformation. This wasn't the composed, calculating woman who had been guiding the children and keeping everything under control. This was someone else entirely—a version of Selene that Jod had never expected to see.

He stammered, struggling to find his words. "W-what are you doing?" His voice was thick with confusion, a mixture of shock and something else that he couldn't quite place. His gaze flicked to the dress, then back to her face, unable to hide his surprise.

Selene paused in the hallway, her lips curling into a small, almost playful smile as she watched him struggle. She didn't speak immediately, letting the tension linger, letting the weight of the situation hang between them.

After a long moment, she finally answered, her voice low and smooth, tinged with amusement. "What do you think I'm doing, Jod?" She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor as she leaned in just enough to make him feel the weight of her presence. "I'm showing you who I really am. Don't act surprised. We all have our secrets, don't we?"

The air between them thickened, and Selene's smile deepened as she awaited his reaction. For once, there was no mask, no blindfold, just raw, unfiltered power radiating from her, filling the space. And Jod, standing there in stunned silence, had no idea how to respond.

The ship touched down with a soft hum, the landing gear engaging as Selene stepped off the ramp, her heels clicking confidently against the floor. She looked back at Jod with a mischievous glint in her eyes, her smile both playful and commanding. "You can't join me here, Jod," she teased, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "But I'm going to come back. Watch the kids for me, yeah?"

With a fluid motion, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small shock rod, tossing it to Jod with a wink. The device glinted in the dim light, its purpose clear. "Stun him with this if he misbehaves." She chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the moment of power and control she wielded over the situation.

With that, she turned, her body swaying as she strode off toward a tall figure waiting for her just outside the ship. The man was striking, with icy blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness, and dark, curly hair that framed his face with effortless grace. His posture was confident, but there was something deeply familiar about him, something that made him seem like he belonged by Selene's side.

He extended a hand to her, his expression unreadable but full of intent. Without hesitation, Selene accepted it, and together they strode off into the unknown, their figures blending into the shadows of the planet's surface.

Jod, still standing in the hallway, stared after them in disbelief. His mind was spinning, trying to piece together the puzzle of Selene's sudden transformation. She had been so calm, so collected, yet now she was something entirely different. And then there was the man—who was he? What was his connection to Selene?

Jod didn't have the answers, but what he did know was that he couldn't just stand there, letting Selene and her mysterious companion disappear. He quickly turned his attention to the kids, who were still quietly resting. He sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.

"Just what was that?" the tall man had asked him, his voice deep and smooth, a slight edge to it. The question hung in the air like a challenge.

Jod shook his head, frustration written across his face. "I don't know, kid. But let's just... not stay here," he muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. Something about the whole situation had unsettled him, and it wasn't just the sudden change in Selene's demeanor. It was the feeling that there was so much more going on than he could see. The mystery of Selene Gojo, her motivations, her connections—it was all too much, and he wasn't sure he wanted to find out. Not yet, at least.

With a deep breath, Jod turned and headed toward the cockpit. Whatever was going on with Selene, he'd have to deal with it later. For now, he had the kids to look after, and he wasn't about to let anything happen to them—no matter what mysteries lay ahead.

SCENEBREAK

The music flowed through the air like liquid silver, weaving a seductive rhythm that made the dance floor seem alive. Selene, elegant as ever, spun with the tall, mysterious man, her body moving with a fluid grace that seemed to match the melody in perfect harmony. His hand rested gently on her waist, guiding her with a practiced ease, and as he twirled her, her laughter bubbled up, light and free. The dim glow of the room reflected in the crystal chandeliers, casting fractured patterns across their bodies, but to Selene, it was all secondary to the way Elias made her feel—like a partner in a well-rehearsed performance.

"You know I've missed you, right, Selene?" Elias's voice was smooth, carrying a playful note as he leaned in close, his lips brushing her cheek in a brief but intimate gesture. The warmth of his touch lingered on her skin, and for a moment, Selene's heart skipped, but only for a fraction of a second.

"I know, Elias," she replied, her voice low and tinged with fondness. "But I can't spend any more time hanging around the crystalline bar. You know that." Her words were careful, measured. The crystalline bar was a place for indulgence, for fleeting encounters, and Selene wasn't one to stay long in places that didn't hold meaning.

Elias smirked, a glint of mischief in his blue eyes. "You have time to fit in under there, but not to spend time with me?" His gaze lingered on her with that ever-present intensity, a playful challenge simmering beneath his words. The air between them grew thicker as he raised an eyebrow, his grip on her waist tightening just slightly. "But that man—you could do better."

Selene laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Jod and I are old acquaintances, Elias, but we're far from being anything serious," she said with a knowing smile. Her fingers brushed over his shoulder lightly, teasing the boundary between flirtation and friendship. She had no interest in Jod beyond their shared history, but Elias didn't need to know that. "You know that."

Elias's expression softened for a moment, his smirk fading into something more contemplative, though still laced with intrigue. He took a step back, gently releasing her from his grasp. He seemed to have moved on from Jod entirely, but his attention never strayed far from Selene. With a fluid motion, he wrapped an arm around the shoulders of a young girl standing nearby, her presence subtle but undeniable.

Selene's eyes flicked to the girl, taking in the delicate features of her face—blue eyes that mirrored Elias's in a way that made the connection immediately apparent. The girl looked younger, yet there was an intensity to her gaze, an unsettling mix of charm and seriousness that made Selene pause. The girl wasn't just someone to be overlooked.

"Selene, this is my fiancée, Ebba," Elias introduced, his voice full of pride. He pressed a soft kiss to Ebba's cheek, and the gesture seemed to spark something in the air. The tension that arose was subtle but palpable.

Selene regarded the girl with a polite, stern smile. "Lovely to meet you," she said, extending her hand. Her words were cordial, but her senses were on high alert. She could feel the weight of Ebba's stare, the silent calculation beneath the charming exterior. Ebba returned the smile, but there was something behind it—something cold and dangerous that Selene didn't miss. If Selene had to guess, Ebba wouldn't hesitate to draw a sword if the situation required it. The tension was almost tangible, crackling like static between them.

The moment stretched out, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air as Selene held Ebba's gaze, her smile never faltering. Behind the cool politeness, Selene was already weighing the situation. Ebba was no stranger to power games, and it seemed that Selene was the next target in her silent war for dominance. But Selene wasn't easily intimidated—she never had been. Instead, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough for only Ebba to hear.

"I'm sure we'll get along just fine," she said, her tone sweet but edged with an underlying warning. There was no need to escalate things now, but Selene was never one to back down from a challenge. Not in this game.

The dance continued, the music swirling around them, but Selene's thoughts were already moving beyond the moment, calculating her next move. She would keep her eye on this girl—Elias's fiancée was more than just a pretty face.

Ebba's laughter filled the air, light and mocking, as she took Selene's hands in her own. "You're really the one my fiancé spoke about! Aren't you the unforgettable one?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Her laughter carried a touch of superiority, as though she were expecting to find Selene just another charming figure, easily dismissed.

Selene watched her with a cool gaze, feeling the slight discomfort in the air shift into something more tangible. Ebba's cheeky smile lingered as she added, "I can't believe it; you look so ordinary. Show me!" Her tone was lighthearted, but the challenge was clear, almost daring Selene to prove something to her.

Selene met Elias's gaze, sharing a quiet moment of understanding. He knew exactly what was happening, but he said nothing. The game was underway, and Ebba had just unknowingly stepped into Selene's territory.

With a soft, almost imperceptible sigh, Selene rolled her eyes beneath the blindfold, but her expression remained composed. She raised her hands slowly, palms open, and the air around her seemed to hum with energy. Her fingers wove a subtle but intricate motion, drawing on the power that flowed through her with such ease. Golden light began to form in her hands, swirling like liquid fire, its glow soft but intense.

Ebba's smirk faltered as the golden light brightened, her eyes widening with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. She barely had time to react before Selene touched her shoulder gently, and the burn was immediate. Ebba gasped, stumbling back as the warmth spread across her skin, the golden glow searing with a heat that left her breathless.

Selene leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with an undeniable threat. "Now back off before you hurt yourself," she murmured, her breath ghosting against Ebba's ear. The words hung in the air like a silent warning, a promise of consequences should Ebba push too far.

Without giving the girl a chance to respond, Selene turned smoothly, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor as she walked away. She didn't need to look back to know the power dynamic had shifted. Ebba, no longer the playful challenger, was left in the wake of Selene's quiet dominance.

Selene made her way to the bar, the air around her still buzzing with the aftermath of the exchange. Her hand brushed against the cool surface of the counter, and she leaned slightly forward, her expression returning to its usual cool indifference. She didn't need to look around for confirmation, but she could feel Elias's gaze on her, no doubt surprised by the shift in power, though he'd never admit it aloud.

The bar was quiet for a moment, a subtle tension hanging in the air as Selene awaited her drink. She knew Elias would come around soon enough, and when he did, they'd both know exactly where they stood. But for now, there was only the soft hum of the world around her and the weight of Ebba's retreat behind her.