Amaris' POV
Just as I was finishing the last bite of my sandwich, my keypad phone—yes, the one I had so begrudgingly used since school started, began to vibrate loudly in my bag. I pulled it out, and sure enough, the name on the screen read: "Driver."
Kira tilted her head as she watched me glance at the screen. "Who's that?" she asked.
I glanced at her apologetically. "My driver," I replied.
Kira blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Driver?"
"My parents are quite…" I paused, searching for a word softer than "extravagant."
Kira beat me to it. "Wealthy?" she said, a smile tugging at her lips.
I smiled wryly. "Quite."
Her dazed expression turned into a knowing smirk. "Figures. With that kind of speech and those manners, it'd be weirder if you weren't from some influential family."
I smiled wryly and nodded. "That would be an accurate assumption."
"So what does your driver want?" she asked, leaning forward with her arms crossed on the table.
"It seems my free time has come to an end. I'm to return home now," I replied with a sigh.
There was a pause. I felt awkward leaving so soon, especially when things had felt so… natural.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kira." I said softly.
Kira waved a hand and smiled. "Don't be. I had fun."
I stood up, adjusted the strap of my bag, and offered her a grateful look. "Thank you for the treat. I really enjoyed our time together. Truly."
Kira's eyes softened. "Same here. Let's do it again sometime."
I gave a little bow, then turned and walked out of Hayley's Cyberspace. The sunlight had begun to dim, casting golden hues on the street. Waiting at the curb was the familiar black luxury car. The driver stepped out, dressed impeccably as always, and opened the door for me.
"Thank you," I murmured as I slid inside.
The drive back to the estate was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. The cryptic promise of a gift my parents had hinted, stirred in my chest. A part of me—a very small, childish part, hoped it might be something ordinary. Maybe a rare book? A collection of lavender teas? But deep down, I knew my parents didn't do 'ordinary.'
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When we arrived at the estate, I stepped out and was immediately greeted by the warmth of familiarity. The gardens were being tended, a few maids were sweeping the walkways, and the fountains hummed gently. I greeted each servant I passed.
"Welcome home, Miss Amaris," one said.
"Thank you. I'm glad to be back," I replied sincerely.
I made my way through the marble halls, each step echoing softly until I reached the drawing room. My parents were already waiting. My mother rushed over the moment I entered and enveloped me in a hug.
"My sweet girl!" she exclaimed, showering my cheeks with kisses. "Did you have a good time?"
"I did, Mother. It was quite lovely," I replied, gently patting her back.
Father stood and greeted me in his usual calm, dignified way, placing a hand on my shoulder and pressing a kiss to my temple. "Welcome home, Amaris."
"Thank you, Father."
He smiled, then asked, "Ready for your surprise?"
I looked up at him, and my eyes widened slightly with curiosity. "Yes."
Mother grinned and promptly covered my eyes with her hands. "No peeking!"
"Understood," I said with a small laugh.
"You'll love it, dear," she whispered, her tone practically singing. "We've been working on this for months."
They guided me gently down the hall, turning corners I hadn't walked through in weeks. I quickly realized they were leading me into the west wing of the estate—the one that housed the high-security garages.
After what felt like a kilometer of walking, we stopped. I heard a heavy set of doors open, and then the air shifted—cooler, with a faint hum of machinery.
"Ready?" Mother whispered in my ear.
"Yes."
She uncovered my eyes.
The sight before me stole the breath from my lungs.
In the center of the garage were two structures. One was covered with a silk tarp that shimmered like moonlight. The other, beside it, was a suspended glass capsule glowing with a soft light, like it belonged in a museum… or the future.
Father stepped forward and slowly pulled the tarp away. Beneath it gleamed a motorcycle unlike anything I had ever seen.
Its body was a deep violet alloy, so polished it reflected the light like liquid metal. Lining its frame were soft curves of silver and runes that shimmered in hues of lavender and blue. It looked alive.
The wheels didn't touch the ground. They hovered.
The front of the bike resembled the armored head of an Ankylosaurus—smooth, sturdy, and poised for impact. Small fins near the back flared slightly, as if ready to stabilize it mid-flight.
Mother stepped forward, her hand caressing the side. "We call it the Chrono Phantom."
'Chrono… Phantom?'
"It links to your Morpher," she continued. "It's keyed to your energy signature. Only you can activate it."
I approached it slowly, my fingers twitching with the need to touch it.
Mother tapped a rune near the handle. The bike shimmered, flickering in and out of visibility like a glitch in time.
"Temporal engine," she said. "It lets you slow time around you—for evasive maneuvers only. Use it sparingly. It's not meant for recklessness."
"Not that you've ever been reckless a day in your life," Father added with a chuckle.
My voice caught in my throat. "It's beautiful."
"It's yours," Mother said.
Then they led me to the capsule.
Inside hovered what looked like a board—a hoverboard. But it wasn't crude or clunky like some futuristic toys I'd seen on TV. No, this was art.
It was shaped like a swallow mid-flight. The board itself was a smooth lavender plank, etched with fossil patterns like the imprint of ancient life. Silver veins ran through it, pulsing gently, converging at a core crystal similar to the one embedded in my Morpher.
On either side, curved fins rested quietly against the sides.
"This is the Veloshade," Father said, standing beside me. "Where the Chrono Phantom is speed, the Veloshade is stealth."
"Stealth?" I echoed.
"It's nearly invisible to radar and sensors. It makes no sound. It's meant for subtle movement—covert operations."
Mother smiled as she stepped closer, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. "We designed it with you in mind. Someone graceful. Someone thoughtful. Someone who listens before she acts."
My heart swelled.
I reached out toward the capsule, and to my surprise, the Veloshade responded. It tilted slightly in midair, turning toward me as if recognizing its pilot.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Father rested a hand on my shoulder. "You don't need to thank us. Just promise us something."
I turned toward him, my expression serious.
"When you're flying—whether on the Veloshade or the Chrono Phantom—don't forget who you are. Your strength doesn't lie in how fast you move or how well you fight. It lies in how you treat those around you."
Mother nodded. "We'll always be watching. Always proud of you. No matter how far into the future you travel."
My eyes stung, but I blinked away the tears. My voice, quiet but sincere, came forth.
"Understood… I promise."
They pulled me into a hug. I melted into it.
For all their wealth and mystery, for all their experiments and eccentricities, they were still my parents. And in that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
As I stood between a temporal motorcycle and a phantom-like hoverboard, I understood something important: these weren't just gifts of power.
They were gifts of trust.
And now… it was time to earn them.