As Luka followed Kaela toward the entrance of the ancient station, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity. The woman, Kaela, was unlike anyone he had ever met.
Her presence was commanding yet strangely comforting, and her appearance—those dragon-like horns and golden eyes—only deepened the mystery surrounding her. Luka sensed that she was powerful, perhaps even more than she let on, and he was eager to learn more about her and the Draconis, the race she mentioned.
The entrance to the station loomed before them, a massive archway adorned with the same strange symbols that Luka had seen on the moon. As they stepped inside, Luka felt a rush of cool air wash over him, the temperature dropping noticeably as the station's artificial atmosphere activated.
The interior was dimly lit, with faint blue lights illuminating the walls and floor, casting long shadows that seemed to dance as they moved deeper into the structure.Kaela walked ahead, her steps silent and purposeful.
Luka kept pace, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they made their way through the corridors. The station was vast, much larger than it had appeared from the outside, and it was clear that it had been abandoned for a very long time. Dust coated the floor, and the air was thick with the scent of age and decay.
But despite its dilapidated state, the station still thrummed with a faint energy, as if something deep within its core was still alive.
"So," Luka began, breaking the silence, "Draconis, huh? I don't think I've ever encountered your kind before."
Kaela glanced over her shoulder, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "The Draconis are an ancient race, older than many of the civilizations that exist today. We are few in number, but our influence has shaped much of the galaxy's history."
Luka raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sounds impressive. What brings you to a place like this?"
Kaela's gaze returned to the path ahead, her expression unreadable. "The same thing that brings you here, I imagine. The Aether, the mysteries of the ancient past… and the Academy of Aetherion."
Luka's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Academy. It seemed that Kaela knew more than she was letting on. "So you're searching for the Academy too?"
Kaela nodded. "Yes. The Draconis have long been guardians of the Aether's secrets, but much of our knowledge has been lost over the centuries. The Academy is the key to restoring what was lost, to understanding the true nature of the Aether. And you, Luka, seem to have a connection to it as well."
Luka felt a shiver run down his spine. Kaela's words resonated with the visions he had seen, the feeling that his journey was intertwined with the ancient power of the Aether. But before he could respond, Kaela stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the corridor ahead.
"We're not alone," she murmured, her voice tense.Luka's hand instinctively went to the hilt of the energy blade strapped to his side. He hadn't expected company in such a remote place, but he trusted Kaela's instincts.
"Who else could be here?"
"Not who," Kaela replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What."As if on cue, a low, rumbling noise echoed through the corridor, followed by the sound of metal scraping against metal. Luka tensed, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint the source of the noise. The blue lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls as the sound grew louder, closer.
Kaela took a step back, her golden eyes locked on a spot just ahead of them. "Get ready," she warned.
Luka's heart raced as he gripped the hilt of his blade, his mind racing with possibilities. The station was ancient, abandoned for centuries—what could possibly still be functional in a place like this?The answer came in the form of a massive, hulking figure that emerged from the darkness. It was a machine, a relic from a time long past.
Its body was covered in rust and decay, its joints creaking as it moved with a slow, deliberate gait. The machine's design was unlike anything Luka had ever seen—its frame was humanoid, but it had the unmistakable features of a beast, with long, clawed arms and a head that resembled a snarling animal.
"An automaton," Kaela said, her voice steady but filled with a hint of caution. "It must have been left here to guard the station."
The automaton's eyes glowed a menacing red as it locked onto Luka and Kaela. With a roar that shook the walls, it charged, its clawed arms raised to strike.
Luka reacted instinctively, drawing his blade and activating it in one swift motion. The energy blade hummed to life, its blue light illuminating the corridor as Luka leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the automaton's first strike. The machine's claws slammed into the floor where he had stood moments before, sending a shower of sparks into the air.
Kaela moved with a fluid grace, dodging the automaton's attacks with ease as she drew her own weapon—a long, curved sword that glowed with a faint red light. She struck with precision, her blade cutting deep into the automaton's side, but the machine didn't even flinch. It was built to withstand damage, and it was clear that it wouldn't go down easily.
"Looks like we're going to have to work together on this one," Luka called out as he rolled to his feet, his eyes locked on the automaton.
Kaela didn't respond, but the determined look in her eyes was all the answer Luka needed. They would fight side by side, combining their strengths to bring down this ancient guardian.
Luka lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air as he aimed for the automaton's joints. He needed to disable its mobility, to slow it down so that he and Kaela could land a decisive blow. The automaton roared again, its claws swiping at Luka with blinding speed, but Luka was faster. He dodged the attack and struck at the automaton's knee, the blade cutting through the rusted metal with a satisfying hiss.
The automaton staggered, its movements slowing as sparks flew from the damaged joint. Kaela took advantage of the opening, her blade flashing as she delivered a series of quick, powerful strikes to the automaton's torso. Each strike was precise, aimed at weak points in the machine's armor.
But the automaton wasn't finished. It lashed out with one massive arm, catching Kaela off guard and sending her crashing into the wall with a grunt of pain. Luka's heart leaped into his throat as he saw her fall, but Kaela was quick to recover, her eyes blazing with determination as she pushed herself to her feet.
"Stay focused," Kaela hissed, her voice filled with resolve.
"We're not done yet."Luka nodded, his resolve hardening. He couldn't afford to lose focus now—not when they were so close. The automaton was weakened, its movements sluggish, but it was still dangerous. They needed to finish this, and fast.
With a burst of speed, Luka dashed toward the automaton, his blade glowing with a brilliant blue light as he charged it with Aether. The automaton swung its clawed arm at him, but Luka was ready. He leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack as he brought his blade down in a powerful arc, aiming for the automaton's head.The blade struck true, cutting deep into the automaton's neck. Sparks flew as the machine's systems overloaded, its red eyes flickering before going dark. The automaton shuddered, its massive frame collapsing to the floor with a resounding crash.
Luka landed lightly on his feet, his blade still humming with energy as he stood over the fallen automaton. His breath came in ragged gasps, but a sense of satisfaction washed over him. The fight had been tough, but they had won.Kaela approached, her own blade still drawn as she cautiously eyed the fallen machine.
"It seems this place still holds some surprises," she remarked, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of respect.
"More than a few, I'd bet," Luka replied, his cheerful demeanor returning as he deactivated his blade. "Nice work, by the way. You're pretty good in a fight."Kaela's lips curved into a small smile, though her eyes remained serious.
"You're not so bad yourself, Luka. But we should be cautious. If this automaton was guarding something, we need to find out what."
Luka nodded in agreement. The automaton was likely just the first line of defense. Whatever secrets this station held, they were worth protecting, and that meant there were likely more dangers ahead.
Together, Luka and Kaela continued deeper into the station, their senses on high alert. The corridors twisted and turned, leading them through darkened passages and chambers filled with ancient, dormant machines. The deeper they went, the stronger the sense of energy became, the air thick with the presence of the Aether.
Finally, they reached a massive door at the end of a long corridor. The door was covered in the same strange symbols that adorned the rest of the station, but these symbols glowed with a much brighter light, pulsing with energy that resonated with the crystal in Vigil's core.