Once Aedan returned, Lin took him back to Rick's office and gestured for him to sit down. She offered him a cup of tea, the steam curling in the air between them. Rick exchanged a look with Lin, nodded, and left the room.
Lin took a seat across from Aedan, her eyes sharp and inquisitive. "Do you know the meaning of the enigma, or what it signifies?" she asked bluntly.
Aedan shook his head. "No, I don't."
Lin sighed and began to explain. "Then later I will give you something that will with it. First I would like to clarify some things about the galaxy you may not know. Throughout the galaxy, intelligent beings have learned to tap into the energies of the universe, refining their minds and bodies in ways unique to their species and cultures." Aedan nodded, understanding the general concept from his experiences with Esethia's cultivators, though he suspected the practices weren't quite the same given the memories downloaded into his brain when he became Seph's pilot.
She continued, "What you know as cultivation is the method of acquiring power from the universe. There's also the innate abilities of each species, as well as unique mutations caused by mixing different races. These natural powers are closer to what you might know as Astral Abilities on Esethia. Normally, natural abilities aren't too complex."
They talked more about the differences between Esethia and the rest of the galaxy. Aedan had to admit Lin wasn't exactly nice; she was blunt, a little aloof, but undeniably knowledgeable.
"So, the Earthen Hall," Aedan ventured, trying to steer the conversation toward his next steps. "What can you tell me about it?"
Lin's eyes softened slightly. "The Earthen Hall is dedicated to preserving humanity's heritage and protecting our people. We're facing many challenges, especially with factions like the Northern Star Empire. I'm heading back to the Hall in the next two weeks. Given what I know about you, you're trustworthy enough to come along. We're planning to recruit new members, and you might find it beneficial."
Aedan thought for a moment. "I'll consider it."
As he prepared to leave, Lin pulled out a very old-looking book and offered it to him. Aedan took the object from her hand, having a faint idea of what it was. He noticed it was a book, and as soon as it touched his hand, a wave of information crashed into his brain. He had no trouble assimilating the new knowledge, as he had done before with Seph's memories. His mouth hung open in shock, but Lin made a sign for him to stay silent.
"Don't," she said softly. "You don't need to tell me what you've seen. Seeing the book has affected you is more than enough proof. Go back and rest for now."
Aedan left, guided by some of the station's staff to his accommodations. Sitting on the bed, he tried to think back on the book and what he had witnessed. The book's title, The Twelve Enigmas of Chaos, resonated with him, telling a story that felt both ancient and intimately familiar.
The book described how the universe came to be through the dreams of an omnipotent force of creation. Except, the universe created by this being wasn't the one they were in but one much greater, spanning the entirety of the ocean of chaos. Under the being were twelve children it created out of its tears. These children, after eons of living under their creator, decided to put an end to it and claim what they believed was their right.
The being, who was against conflict, stood in place as the twelve children pierced it with their weapons, dividing its essence into twelve fragments, each containing a truth to the being's true power. Thus, the Twelve Enigmas of Chaos came to be. Each sibling took a fragment, and just like with their creator, the universe shattered into countless shards, each sibling ruling from their piece of the ocean of chaos and wielding almost unlimited power.
With time, the twelve rulers of the shattered universe became bored. Little by little, they began mingling with the creations of their parent. The result of these interactions was some people inheriting smaller fragments of the Enigmas, known as the Lesser Enigmas. These were all branched from the Great Twelve and didn't stray from their powers.
By this point, Aedan knew this book had the exact same story as the dream he had once had, making it all the more important. There was also more information on the Twelve Great Enigmas, each bearing a name: Life, Stories, Supremacy, Karma, Evolution, Dreams, Spacetime, Soul, World, Annihilation, Void, and the Omega.
The names made sense with what he had seen in the dream, but there was the thirteenth enigma. No, he didn't think it was the thirteenth enigma, but it was an enigma, of that he was sure, but maybe it was too soon to draw any conclusions. The dream was far from clear, but reviewing more information from the book might give him a clearer picture.
Aedan sat on his bed, his mind racing as he continued to process the information from the ancient book. The intricate details about the Twelve Enigmas of Chaos were beginning to paint a clearer picture of the universe and his place within it.
According to the book, Lesser Enigmas are divided into two categories: Material and Immaterial. Material Enigmas, when manifested, take the form of a weapon or object, whereas Immaterial Enigmas are usually hidden within one's body and can be activated by the user. This distinction intrigued Aedan, as it reminded him of the cultivation artifacts and innate abilities on Esethia, though the concept seemed much broader and more potent.
Other than categories, enigmas could also grow in power, possibly even transforming, though this depended on the branch they belonged to. Evolution Enigmas, for instance, possessed an evolving factor that granted them more possibilities as they continually grew stronger, while others might stagnate at their initial level of power.
The stages of Lesser Enigmas were another revelation: Elemental, Continental, Planetary, Stellar, Galactic, Cosmic, and Universal. Each stage represented a significant leap in power and influence. Beyond the level of Universal were the Twelve Great Enigmas, whose power encompassed the essence of Chaos itself.
As he understood, each and every Lesser Enigma required different methods of cultivation and growth. These Enigmas needed to be fed with specific types of energy or materials, generally something in order with the concept of the enigma. An example in the book was the lesser enigma of fire, branch of World, it's holder had to continuously feed it all kinds of flames for it to recharge and grow. This insight made Aedan stop and think. During all this time, what had his enigma required the most? Emotions! Yes! His enigma fed on his and others' emotions to empower it.
Aedan's mind reeled as he tried to fathom the implications of these stages and categories. Could he possess one of these Lesser Enigmas? Well, category he knew was material as it takes the shape of the belt and heartsparks but stage did it belong to?
Aedan's thoughts drifted back to the story of the Twelve Great Enigmas. The names, Life, Stories, Supremacy, Karma, Evolution, Dreams, Spacetime, Soul, World, Annihilation, Void, and the Omega, while all powerful, did not resonate with him. Instead, another word came to the tip of his tongue, one that embodied his enigma far more than the others: Heart.
"How could I not see it before?!" He stared outside the door to his room, glanced at the people outside, and then at the crystals shining with emotions over their heads. Then he brought forth the belt and, for the first time, he could fully understand it. For some reason, Aedan was emotional as he grasped the belt and whispered, "Heart! Your name is Heart, isn't it? I'm glad to have you."
Not even he knew why he did what he did, but it provoked a reaction from the belt, whose light permeated his whole body as the belt changed once again. This time, it was the same milky white with nine slots, the core crystal in the middle. What changed was the wheel of colors that appeared before him, dancing from his head to toes, changing him from the inside out. When it ended, his whole body was covered by a layer of foul-smelling grime. After washing it off, he found himself with smooth and healthy bronze skin, a sharp face with almond-shaped eyes like the night sky filled with bright stars shining in his gaze. His hair was longer and, just like his eyes, white; the same went for his eyebrows and down there as well.
As he changed clothes and prepared for bed, Aedan couldn't help but feel a little bit of dread. The journey ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but he was ready to face it head-on. No matter matter if his enigma was among one of the twelve or a lesser enigma with lots of potential.
The next morning, Aedan awoke feeling somewhat more grounded, though the weight of his new knowledge still hung over him. He made his way back to Rick's office, where Lin was waiting for him.
"Rest well? You look a loot better than the sorry state from yesterday, did the book help?." she asked, her tone still blunt but with a hint of concern.
"As well as can be expected," Aedan replied. "The book... it was a lot to take in."
Lin nodded. "I figured it would be. Now, about our earlier discussion, have you decided whether you'll come with us to the Earthen Hall?"
Aedan took a deep breath. "Yes, I've decided to go with you. I think it will be beneficial for me to learn more about this galaxy and my place in it."
"Good choice," Lin said. "We'll be leaving in two weeks. In the meantime, try to get to know the station and its people. It will help you acclimate."
Aedan nodded, feeling a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He left Rick's office and began exploring Haslow Station, taking in the various sights and sounds. He visited the markets, observed the different species mingling, and even tried some local cuisine. Throughout his exploration, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the brink of something monumental.
As he wandered through the station, he found himself drawn to a quiet corner where a group of children were playing. One of them, a young girl with green skin and vines for hair, reminded him of the Zeaphin. She smiled at him, and Aedan couldn't help but smile back, feeling a sense of connection to this new world.