Page 284 of Axis of Fire

I still didn’t fully understand the logic behind this machine.

But I accepted it anyway.

The Beckbill touched down surprisingly gently.

I still couldn’t get over how quiet it was.

Motorcycles back on Earth had always been unbearably loud.

Beckbills, on the other hand, glided almost silently.

“Shouldn’t the Beckbill be tracking my movements?” I asked.

“It scanned me, didn’t it?”

“Because our bodies are in contact,” Airis replied calmly, “it’s reading us as a single rider.”

My imagination immediately betrayed me, creating several very dangerous scenarios to replay before I fell asleep that night.

Thank God Airis couldn’t see my face.

I could practically feel myself blushing.

The moment the Beckbill came to a complete stop, I forced myself to think about something else.

Anything safer than that.

“You said I’d get to know you better during this trip,” I said, quickly climbing off before he had the chance to move.

“So how exactly is Ruel’s island supposed to help with that?”

Unlike me, Airis never rushed.

Never acted impulsively.

He moved with quiet deliberation.

“I think a person's comfort zone tells you a great deal about who they are.”

“This is your comfort zone?”

Our eyes met.

Airis nodded.

I froze for a moment.

For the first time since meeting him, my mind drew a clear line between us.

We both found refuge in art.

Whether by creating it—

Or simply standing in the presence of something beautiful.

Something that carried meaning even in complete silence.

“There’s an official route through the island,” Airis said with a faint smirk.