The next morning, Aric walked down the hospital corridor, his footsteps echoing in the quiet, sterile space. Despite the early hour, his mind was racing, a storm of thoughts circling back to the dream he'd had the night before. It wasn't just any dream; it had felt real in a way that haunted him. But right now, he needed to focus on something else—Loren.
Hearing that Loren had survived the attack had brought Aric immense relief. Yet, gnawing guilt remained an ache that was harder to ignore than the throbbing in his bandaged hand. The memory of Loren's body slamming into the wall lingered in his mind, an image that replayed every time he closed his eyes.
When Aric reached Loren's room, he found Elara, his mother, and his sister, Lira, already there, each wearing a relieved but tired expression. Loren lay propped up in bed, his face pale and bruised from the attack. Despite the advanced medical technology of 3023 that had stabilized him, Loren's injuries were severe, and the damage done went deeper than what the tech could reach.
Elara noticed Aric standing at the door and offered him a soft, understanding smile. "We'll give you two some space," she said gently, sensing that Aric needed time alone with his friend. "You both need it."
Lira squeezed Aric reassuringly on his shoulder. "Take your time," she whispered before following their mother out.
With the door quietly shutting behind them, Aric moved to Loren's bedside, pulling up a chair. He settled into it, his bandaged hand throbbing, though the pain was nothing compared to the tightness in his chest. The guilt of pulling Loren into that alley weighed heavily on him, making it hard to meet Loren's gaze.
Loren noticed his expression and managed a weak grin, his voice hoarse yet tinged with his usual humor. "You look worse than I feel."
Aric forced a small, wavering smile in response, though it faded quickly. "Loren, I… I'm sorry. I never should have dragged you in there. I didn't think—"
Loren cut him off with a gentle wave, his usual teasing lighthearted but resolute. "Hey, stop it. Seriously. You can't apologize for every close call we have. We're Novas—well, at least I am," he said, shooting Aric a wry look. "Getting hurt, beaten up, staring death in the face—it's part of the gig."
"But…" Aric began to feel guilt in his voice, which was hard to mask.
"No 'buts,'" Loren insisted, his smile softening. "Honestly, this was kind of a wake-up call. A reality check. I might have Super Intelligence, but what good is all that brainpower if I can't survive a single punch?"
Aric's brows knitted with concern as he shook his head. "Loren, your mind's saved us more than I can count. It's one of the most powerful tools we have."
Loren sighed, his smile dimmed slightly as he adjusted his position in bed, wincing at the discomfort. "Yeah, but all the intelligence in the world won't save me if one punch knocks me out cold. I need to find a way to get stronger and balance things out. Maybe come up with some tech to give me a fighting chance next time."
Aric watched Loren closely, a deep respect stirring beneath his guilt. Loren's determination was something he'd always admired, but hearing him speak candidly about his weaknesses made Aric feel an unexpected pang of protectiveness. "If you need a test subject, I'm in. Sparring partner, guinea pig—whatever you need."
Loren's grin returned, this time a little wider. "Careful what you offer, Aric. I might take you up on that and make you regret it."
Aric managed a soft laugh, feeling some of the weight lift. "No backing out. No regrets."
Loren's eyes gleamed with a mock seriousness. "Good. Because once I'm up and moving, you'll wish you'd stayed home."
A thought surfaced in Aric's mind as the laughter between them faded. Something he'd been avoiding but could no longer ignore. He hesitated, unsure how to bring it up, but finally spoke, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Speaking of that… Loren, do you remember that power you mentioned from the scroll? The one about Helio… what was it called again?"
Loren's expression shifted to one of mild surprise. "Heliokinesis?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the sudden change in Aric's demeanor. "Yeah, I remember. Why?"
Aric took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly as he remembered the dream. "I wanted to ask… is the person in the scroll—the one with that power—called the Galactic Conqueror?"
Loren's eyes widened, and his expression changed from interest to shock. "Wait. How do you know that name?"
Aric's pulse quickened, but he kept his voice steady. "I just need to know if that's the title."
Loren studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah, the scroll mentioned someone called the Galactic Conqueror. I didn't bring it up before because you didn't seem interested in what I was saying then."
Aric's thoughts raced as he absorbed this confirmation. The powerful, radiant figure he had seen in his dream was the same being from Loren's ancient scroll, the one who wielded the sun's power. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Loren, more intrigued now, adjusted his position despite the discomfort, his gaze sharp. "Alright, your turn. How do you know about the Galactic Conqueror?"
Aric swallowed, trying to make sense of the dream that had felt all too real. "I had a dream last night… except it didn't feel like a dream. It felt like I was actually there."
Loren's brow furrowed, his intrigue deepening. "What kind of dream?"
Aric took another breath, gathering his thoughts. "I saw a man. He was powerful, more powerful than any Nova I've ever seen. His entire body was glowing with light, and he could control the sun… or at least something like it. He was fighting these… creatures. They looked human but twisted, monstrous. And they could talk."
Loren listened intently, his expression more serious as he watched Aric recount the dream.
"This man… this 'Galactic Conqueror,' he wasn't just fighting the creatures. He was destroying them, using solar energy to wipe them out. He called himself the light that burns away the darkness. The power he had… it was like nothing I've ever seen before."
Loren's gaze sharpened, and he leaned forward as much as his injuries allowed. "That's… exactly what the scroll described. The Galactic Conqueror is the one who wields Heliokinesis—the sun's power."
Aric nodded, his heart still racing. "It was like he was real, Loren. I could feel the heat, see the destruction. It was too vivid to be just a dream. And at the end… he looked right at me. It was as if he knew I was there."
Loren sat back, processing everything with a grave expression. "Aric… this isn't just a coincidence. If you dreamed about the Galactic Conqueror, maybe there's something more to it. Something connecting you to that power."
A shiver ran down Aric's spine, his heart pounding with excitement and fear. "But why me? I don't have powers. I'm not a Nova."
Loren's faint smile returned as his mind worked over the possibilities. "Maybe you don't need to be a Nova. Maybe there's something else at play here—something we don't fully understand yet."
They sat silently, Loren's gaze still focused as he processed Aric's dream account. After a long pause, his eyes brightened with a sudden intensity. "Maybe… maybe you need to read or at least open the scroll for yourself, Aric."
Aric blinked, taken aback by the suggestion. "How? That thing's locked away in the Sanctum of Records. I can't just walk in there. Only the higher-ups in our family have access."
Loren's brow furrowed, his expression thoughtful as he mulled over the problem. "True. But…"
Aric leaned forward, seeing the wheels turning in Loren's mind. "But what?"
Loren's gaze sharpened with resolve. "What's the date today?"
Aric glanced at his smartwatch with his left hand, his right hand still throbbing. "It's the 14th. Why?"
Loren's face changed subtly, his usual humor replaced by an urgent determination. Aric noticed immediately. "Loren, what's going on? Why do you look like that?"
Loren took a deep breath, lowering his voice. "Today. Today, Agustin and David are leaving for a summit. Most of the higher-ups in our family will be away."
Aric frowned, trying to piece it together. "Okay… and?"
Loren's eyes gleamed as he leaned closer. "And this is the perfect time for us to sneak into the Sanctum of Records."
Aric's heart skipped a beat. "Sneak into the Sanctum? Loren, are you serious?"
Loren's grin returned sharper this time. "Completely. I've got access codes. I've already learned the one David uses, and even if he changes it, I can crack it. Super Intelligence, remember?"
Aric still looked skeptical, but Loren's excitement was infectious. "Think about it, Aric. If your dream is connected to the Galactic Conqueror, there's a reason. And I think it's tied to that scroll. Maybe we'll find out the reason by getting you close to it. Something might happen, something that'll explain this connection."
Aric's pulse quickened. Sneaking into the most secure place in the Valen estate sounded like madness… but Loren had a point. If there was even the smallest chance it could reveal something about the dream, maybe it would be worth the risk.
"You really think this could work?" Aric's voice was low, uncertainty mingling with a flicker of hope.
Loren's confidence was unshakeable, his grin brimming with excitement. "Trust me, Aric. We'll get the answers we need. I'm sure of it."
Aric took a deep breath, his mind racing. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, feeling his resolve harden. "Alright," he said, voice firm. "Let's do it."