The ruins floated in the void, silent and foreboding, a relic of an ancient civilization long forgotten. Luka stared at the massive structure, its crumbling walls and jagged towers casting long shadows across the dark expanse of space. The glowing Aether crystal at its center pulsed steadily, filling the air with an overwhelming sense of power. It was unlike anything Luka had ever felt before—a presence that seemed both alive and untouchable.
Kaela hovered beside him in *Aetheris*, her voice coming through the comms soft but tense. "This place feels... off. The Aether here is different."
Luka nodded, feeling the same unease as the energy from the Aether crystal resonated deep within him. It was as if the very air around them hummed with an ancient, powerful force—one that had been dormant for eons and was now awakening.
"This is where it all started," Luka said, his voice low. "The Aether, *Vigil*… everything."
Kaela was quiet for a moment, her gaze locked on the ruins ahead. "Do you think the council knows we're here? That we've found it?"
Luka tightened his grip on *Vigil*'s controls, scanning the area around them. There was no sign of council ships or surveillance—at least not yet. But he knew they couldn't count on staying hidden for long. If the council had been watching them, it wouldn't take much to figure out where they had gone.
"They'll come eventually," Luka replied, his tone grim. "But we need to figure out what this place is before they do."
They advanced slowly toward the ruins, the ominous structure looming larger with each passing second. As they approached, Luka's connection to *Vigil* seemed to strengthen. He could feel the Aether inside the mecha humming in sync with the crystal's energy, as if the two were linked in a way he still didn't fully understand.
"We'll start with the main structure," Luka said, his voice steady. "If there are answers here, that's where we'll find them."
Kaela nodded, and together they guided their mechas toward the massive entrance at the base of the ruins. The ancient doors were cracked and weathered, but still intact, their surface etched with strange, unreadable symbols. As Luka approached, the doors began to shift, groaning open as if responding to their presence.
"That's… inviting," Kaela muttered, her voice thick with sarcasm.
Luka allowed himself a small grin. "Well, it's not like we've ever turned back from danger before."
They entered the ruins, the dark corridors stretching out before them like the veins of some ancient beast. The walls were covered in more of the strange symbols, glowing faintly with the same energy that pulsed from the Aether crystal above. The air inside was thick, heavy with the weight of untold years and forgotten secrets.
"I don't like this," Kaela said, her voice tinged with unease. "It feels like we're being watched."
Luka felt it too—an oppressive presence that lingered just at the edge of his awareness, like a shadow that couldn't be shaken. But there was no turning back now. They had come too far.
As they moved deeper into the ruins, a strange sensation washed over Luka. It was subtle at first, like a distant whisper in the back of his mind, but it grew stronger the further they went. The Aether crystal's energy pulsed through him, syncing with *Vigil* in a way he had never experienced before.
And then, the whisper turned into something more—a voice, distant but clear, echoing through his thoughts.
"Luka…"
He froze, his hands tightening on the controls. The voice was unfamiliar, yet it felt as though it had been calling to him all along. It was a voice filled with power, ancient and commanding, but there was also a strange familiarity to it, as if it had been waiting for him.
"Did you hear that?" Luka asked, his voice hushed.
Kaela's confusion was evident. "Hear what?"
Luka's heart pounded in his chest. The voice was only in his mind. "Never mind. Let's keep moving."
They pressed on, the path ahead winding deeper into the ruins. The symbols on the walls glowed brighter now, casting an eerie light on their surroundings. And with each step, the voice grew louder, more insistent.
"You've come, at last… Luka…"
The voice seemed to know him, as if it had been waiting for him for centuries. Luka's pulse quickened. He didn't know if it was the Aether itself speaking to him or something else entirely, but the connection was undeniable. The energy coursing through *Vigil* pulsed in response, growing stronger as they neared the heart of the ruins.
Kaela glanced over at him, her eyes sharp. "You're getting quiet on me. What's going on?"
Luka shook his head, his voice tight. "The Aether… I think it's trying to communicate."
Kaela's brow furrowed in concern. "What's it saying?"
Luka hesitated. He didn't have the answer—not yet. The voice was still fragmented, as if it were speaking from the distant past, barely breaking through the barrier of time. But whatever it was, he knew it was important. This place wasn't just a source of power—it held the key to understanding everything about *Vigil* and the council's obsession with the Aether.
"We're close," Luka muttered. "We need to keep going."
They reached a large, circular chamber at the center of the ruins. The Aether crystal, much larger and brighter than they had seen from the outside, hovered above the center of the room, suspended in midair. Its glow bathed the chamber in a soft, ethereal light, and the energy radiating from it was almost overwhelming.
Luka and Kaela stood in awe for a moment, taking in the sight before them. The crystal pulsed with life, the air around it vibrating with raw, untapped power. But even as they marveled at the sight, the voice in Luka's mind grew louder, more insistent.
"You are the one…"
Luka took a step forward, his eyes locked on the crystal. The connection between him and *Vigil* was stronger now than ever before, the energy flowing between them like a river of pure power.
Kaela reached out to stop him, her voice sharp. "Luka, wait. We don't know what this thing is."
But Luka couldn't stop. The pull was too strong. He stepped into the center of the chamber, his gaze fixed on the crystal, his heart pounding in time with the energy coursing through him.
And then, everything shifted.
The chamber around him faded, and Luka found himself standing in a vast, empty void. The ruins were gone, the crystal was gone—everything had vanished, replaced by a dark, endless expanse.
"You are the one who will awaken the Aether…"
The voice echoed all around him, deep and resonant, filling the void with its presence. Luka looked around, his mind racing. "Who are you?"
A figure appeared in the distance, slowly coming into focus. It was humanoid but not entirely human, its form shifting and flickering with energy. The figure radiated power, its eyes glowing with the same light as the Aether crystal.
"I am the Keeper of the Aether," the figure said, its voice echoing through the void. "And you, Luka Cross, are the one who will unlock its true potential."
Luka stared at the figure, his mind spinning with questions. "What does that mean? Why me? Why *Vigil*?"
The Keeper's voice was calm, almost soothing. "You were chosen, Luka, long before you ever stepped into the tournament. The Aether has been waiting for one who could wield it without being consumed by it. You and *Vigil* are connected, bound by the Aether's will. Together, you have the power to reshape the galaxy."
Luka's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. "And what about the council? They think they can control the Aether. They think they can use it to rule."
The Keeper's eyes darkened. "The council seeks to harness what they do not understand. The Aether is not a tool for domination—it is a force of creation and destruction. If they succeed, they will tear the galaxy apart."
Luka felt a surge of determination. "Then tell me what I need to do. How do I stop them?"
The Keeper's voice softened. "The Aether's power is vast, but it must be wielded with care. You must learn to control it, to channel its energy through *Vigil* without losing yourself. Only then can you stand against the council."
Luka nodded, his resolve firm. "I'll do whatever it takes."
The Keeper's form began to fade, its voice growing distant. "The answers you seek lie within the Aether. But be warned, Luka Cross—once you unlock its power, there is no turning back."
The void around Luka began to shift again, the ruins slowly coming back into focus. He blinked, the connection to the Keeper fading as reality reasserted itself. Kaela stood before him, her expression filled with concern.
"Luka, are you okay? You just… zoned out."
Luka took a deep breath, his heart still racing. "I'm fine. I think I just talked to the Keeper of the Aether."
Kaela blinked, her eyes widening. "The what?"
Luka looked up at the crystal, its glow reflecting in his eyes.