#eiabt

Quick note: I was really bad at posting Deadline stuff here but shh it doesn't matter now, I cancelled the original version so I can be free of the fandom it was tied to and add it to my original universe for more creative freedom. This is the newer original version that is my latest adoration.

If you're completely unfamiliar with it, the main focus is anti-grav vehicle racing because hell yeah.

---

Valgara's setting sun illuminated its dying orange light through the windows of Crown Hall, the primary route that lead race spectators to and from the stadium. With no public race currently going on, the hall was closed to visitors, leaving Reaver and Frija the only two walking through it after their practice had come to a close.

Every window was a piece of art, stained glass portraits of previous pilots who had won the champion title in the league. They only made up a quarter of the hall, as the rest were empty designs awaiting the victors of the future. It was towards the end of the line that Reaver could recognize the champions and point them out by name, though there was one in particular they knew the best.

Reaver paused in front of their window, staring. Frija walked past them, but stopped after a few steps when she noticed that they were lingering for a while.

The figure in the window was Caelus, a hybrid of two species just like Reaver. The sun forming a halo behind their head symbolized their first win, like all the others, and the white orbs were moons that represented subsequent ones, for a total of nine victories. What wasn't depicted was the fact all the wins were back-to-back, a feat believed to be impossible.

Reaver glanced at Frija from the corner of their eye, then focused back on the window.

"You deserve to be there."

Frija chuckled initially, flattered. "And what? You don't?"

Reaver flicked their tail. They sighed and slowly looked at her, where there was a frown on her face. She knew there was something wrong, even before they spoke. "You— you're the league's first human! You deserve to be immortalized as the first human champion!"

She looked confused, looking at Reaver before she looked at the rest of the hall before them. "Well, there's always a next year."

"Yes but—!" Reaver hissed, turning away as they folded their arms and clenched their hands. "The average pilot's career is only three years! Some don't even make it past their first! What if something happens between this season and the next? And I just— stole it from you! From all of humanity—!"