Chapter 216: Rejected

Bright morning sunlight streamed through the massive glass walls of the 80th-floor master suite, casting warm golden rectangles across the unmade bed.

Evren woke with a slow, deep breath, feeling completely refreshed despite only having a few hours of sleep. Amber was curled tightly against his side, her head resting comfortably over his chest while her dark hair spilled across his collarbone.

As if sensing his consciousness through their bond, Amber stirred. Her long eyelashes fluttered open, revealing warm brown eyes flecked with brilliant golden light.

"Good morning," Amber murmured in a sleepy, raspy voice. She stretched her arms above her head with a satisfied groan, arching her back like a cat.

Every muscle in her body felt loose and pleasantly exhausted, while the soul-bond between them hummed with pure, tranquil warmth.

"Morning," Evren smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I could conquer an entire army," Amber purred, leaning up to press a sweet, lingering kiss to his lips. "Or stay in this bed with you for the next three days."

Evren chuckled, giving her hip an affectionate squeeze. "As tempting as that sounds, we have a city to run."

They slipped out from beneath the duvet and headed into the master bathroom for a quick, steaming shower. The hot water washed away the lingering sweat of their midnight passion, leaving them revitalized and energized.

Within twenty minutes, they were both dressed in casual clothes. Evren wore a dark shirt and slacks, while Amber chose a sleeveless red blouse and fitted trousers.

When they stepped out into the expansive open-concept living area of the Sky-Palace, the rich aroma of toasted sourdough, sizzling eggs, and freshly brewed herbal tea greeted them immediately.

Zephyra stood by the marble kitchen island, humming a quiet tune under her breath as she casually flipped a pan of herb-seasoned eggs with a flick of her wrist.

Evren’s eyes shifted past the counter, and his gaze stopped dead. Sitting neatly against the far wall by the living room foyer was Calista’s custom titanium wheelchair, completely empty.

Across the polished hardwood floor, Calista was walking.

She carried a wide wooden tray set with four porcelain teacups and a steaming kettle. There was no tremor in her calves, no awkward dragging of her feet, and no reliance on crutches or walls for balance.

Her lower spine and legs moved with the natural, effortless grace of someone who had never spent years paralyzed in a chair.

Amber caught her breath beside him, her hand instinctively gripping Evren’s forearm. "Calista..."

Hearing her name, Calista turned around smoothly. Her sapphire eyes brightened when she saw them, a radiant, slightly bashful smile spreading across her face.

A faint blush dusted her porcelain cheeks, but her posture was tall and proud.

"Good morning, Evren. Good morning, Amber," Calista said softly, walking over to the grand dining table and setting the tray down without a single wobble.

Evren walked forward, his eyes tracking the micro-adjustments in her hips and ankles. His internal danger-sense and kinetic perception confirmed what his eyes saw: her lumbar and sacral nerves were fully firing.

"You’re walking on your own," Evren said, a genuine smile touching his face. "Not even a cane."

Calista looked down at her feet, then looked back up at him with shining eyes. "I woke up around dawn, and my legs felt pleasantly warm," Calista explained in an emotional voice.

"They weren’t numb or stiff anymore, just completely alive. I stood up from the bed, and I realized I didn’t need the chair at all."

"You look breathtaking, Calista," Amber said warmly, stepping up to wrap the younger woman in a gentle, affectionate hug. "I’m so proud of you."

Zephyra transferred the sizzling eggs and buttered toast onto ceramic platters, bringing them over to the table with a bright grin. "She’s been pacing around the kitchen for an hour just because she can. I had to threaten to hide her tea leaves to make her sit down for five minutes."

"I was excited," Calista admitted with an embarrassed laugh, taking a seat at the table.

The four of them sat down together, the morning sun bathing the high-altitude dining terrace in brilliant daylight as Evren poured himself a cup of rich black coffee. Calista reached into her pocket and placed her tablet beside her plate.

"Actually, walking wasn’t the only thing I did when I woke up," Calista said with pride in her voice. "Before I even came out to help Zephyra with breakfast, the very first thing I did at dawn was submit our patent applications."

Evren set his mug down, his interest piqued. "All three formulas?"

"All three," Calista nodded firmly. "The Star-Jade Cellular Regeneration Salve, the Verdant Meridian Clearing Tonic, and the Starlight Mana Condensation Elixir."

"I filed the full alchemical breakdown, stability metrics, and efficacy proofs directly through the Capital Alchemical Regulation Board’s registry network," Calista detailed, her eyes sparkling with professional enthusiasm.

Amber smiled approvingly over the rim of her teacup. "Good initiative. Getting those filings in early protects our proprietary rights before anyone can even think about copying them."

"Exactly," Calista agreed. "With Apex’s legal backing and Starlight’s corporate registration cleared already, standard automated clearance usually issues a priority filing receipt within an hour or two."

"Good work, Calista," Evren praised. "That sets the foundation for our entire production rollout."

As they ate, Evren steered the conversation toward their roadmap for the coming days. "Master Tridon confirmed Amber’s twin sabers will take seventy-two hours of continuous smelting with the Void Royal Guardian cores. They’ll be ready Wednesday at six in the evening."

"I can’t wait to hold them," Amber said, her fingers curling slightly as if already feeling the balanced hilts. "Tridon knows his craft."

"While the blades are being forged, our primary focus is securing the home front," Evren continued. "We need about one to two weeks here in the Capital to fully stabilize Starlight Pharmaceuticals when it launches. Then I’m considering taking a trip back to Veridia."

Zephyra leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "What’s on the checklist for the next fortnight?"

"First, Starlight’s manufacturing line," Evren said, looking at Calista. "I’ll need to confirm the delivery date of all Calista’s orders. Then over the next ten days, we scale automated batch production for the three formulas."

"Every other thing is in perfect condition," Calista agreed eagerly. "With our operating capital, we can produce enough inventory to flood District One and District Two pharmacies within two weeks."

"Second is corporate consolidation," Evren added. "Walter’s veterans are stationed across Floor 76 and the District Three conservatory. Between Solar Crown’s public alliance and our mining foundries running at peak capacity, Apex holds total economic dominance over the northern sectors."

"In other words, by the time we travel south to inspect our assets in Veridia and check the southern borders, nobody in the Capital will dare touch our foundation," Amber summarized with a fierce smirk. Evren nodded in firm agreement.

They finished their breakfast in high spirits, the atmosphere around the sunlit table warm and comfortable.

Calista picked up her tablet. "It’s past eight-thirty," she noted. "The registry’s automated queue should have processed our priority timestamp by now."

She opened the Capital Alchemical Regulation Board’s portal, entering the secure application tracking code. The screen displayed a spinning crest of the Regulation Board for several seconds before displaying a result.

[APPLICATION STATUS: REJECTED]

[REASON: RESTRICTED DOMAIN — JURISDICTION CLAIMED BY THE CAPITAL ALCHEMICAL REGULATION BOARD]

[STATUS NOTE: ALL THREE FORMULAS PLACED UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE HOLD // DISPUTE CODE #CARB-8802]

[ACTION REQUIRED: SURRENDER PROTOCOL SAMPLES TO REGULATION BOARD COMMISSION WITHIN 48 HOURS]

Calista’s face drained of all color, her trembling hands slowly turning the tablet toward the center of the table. "I... I don’t understand," she whispered in a shattered daze.

Amber leaned in close, her sharp gaze scanning the screen. A second later, she slammed her coffee mug onto the marble table with a sharp crack, her golden eyes blazing with fury.

"Rejected????"