The cold silence of space enveloped Luka and Kaela as they retreated from the ruins. The pulsating energy of the Aether still hummed in Luka's veins, but it felt different now—warmer, more volatile, almost as if it had been ignited by his encounter with Commander Thalia.
Inside Vigil, Luka's thoughts raced. The defeat was hard to process. They had planned for everything—except Thalia's mastery over the Aether. Her power had been beyond anything he had imagined. She had toyed with them, and now she knew just how vulnerable they really were.
Kaela's voice crackled over the comms, her tone filled with frustration. "We weren't ready for that, Luka. She didn't even break a sweat."
Luka didn't answer right away, his mind still replaying the battle in his head. The way Thalia had manipulated the Aether, bending it to her will—it was terrifying. She had complete control, while Luka still barely understood the Aether's true nature. He clenched his fists, anger welling up inside him.
"I know," Luka said finally, his voice tight with frustration. "But we don't have time to sulk. Thalia won't stop now. She'll come after us."
Kaela was silent for a moment, then her voice softened. "What do we do? She's more powerful than either of us. The way she controlled the Aether—it's like she's been using it for years."
Luka stared out at the stars, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. They had no choice but to keep moving, but he knew they couldn't win a direct confrontation with Thalia. Not yet.
"We need to learn more about the Aether," Luka said, his voice calm but resolute. "I've been using it without fully understanding what it is, what it can do. That needs to change."
Kaela glanced at him through her cockpit display, her golden eyes narrowing. "You think there's more to it than just raw power?"
Luka nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "There has to be. Thalia's control over the Aether was precise. She's not just channeling energy—she's manipulating it on a deeper level. If we can figure out how to do that... we might stand a chance."
Kaela's wings fluttered slightly as she considered his words. "Where do we even start? The Aether's ancient—there's barely any knowledge left about it."
Luka frowned, thinking back to the strange feeling he had when he touched the altar in the ruins. "There's more out there. We need to find it. The ruins we were just in—they're part of something bigger. There might be more places like that, places where we can learn."
Kaela sighed, but there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "So, what? We go on a scavenger hunt across the galaxy, searching for ancient ruins?"
Luka smiled slightly, though the weight of their situation hung heavy between them. "Something like that."
---
Back at the asteroid base, the atmosphere was tense. Orris and his mercenaries had been preparing for the council's retaliation, but Luka's encounter with Thalia had changed everything. The usual chatter and activity in the base had quieted down as the crew sensed the shift in the air.
Luka and Kaela sat with Orris in the dimly lit briefing room, the blue glow of the holographic map flickering between them.
Orris leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "So, you met Thalia and lived to tell the tale. That's more than most can say."
Kaela crossed her arms, her voice tense. "Barely lived. She's got power—real power. More than we can handle right now."
Orris grunted, rubbing his chin. "I've heard rumors about her. She's been obsessed with the Aether for years, working in secret. The council gives her more freedom because she delivers results. But no one knows how far she's willing to go."
Luka's gaze was fixed on the map, his mind racing. "We need to find out. She's not after just power—she wants the Aether for something bigger. We have to figure out what it is before she gets too far ahead."
Orris raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan on doing that? The Aether isn't exactly well-documented, kid. Most people don't even believe it exists."
Luka zoomed in on a distant sector of the map, highlighting a planet deep in uncharted space. "There are more ruins out there. More places like the one we just found. If we can find them, we might be able to learn more about the Aether. Enough to stand a chance against Thalia."
Orris studied the map, his expression skeptical. "You're talking about ancient history. No one's explored those sectors in years. You're chasing ghosts."
Luka's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'd rather chase ghosts than wait for Thalia to crush us."
Orris was silent for a moment, then he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "All right. I'll help you, but don't expect a miracle. If you're going out there, you're on your own. My people have enough on their plate without getting lost in ancient ruins."
Luka nodded, his heart racing with the weight of what was to come. "That's all we need."
---
The journey to the uncharted sector was long and filled with uncertainty. Luka and Kaela flew through the vast expanse of space, their mechas cutting through the darkness as they ventured further from known territory. The galaxy stretched out before them, a seemingly endless void of stars, planets, and forgotten civilizations.
Luka spent most of the journey in deep thought, his connection to the Aether humming faintly in the back of his mind. He could feel it—closer now, more tangible. The ruins they were searching for were calling to him, drawing him in like a beacon in the night.
Kaela, ever practical, broke the silence. "How do we even know we're heading in the right direction? There's nothing out here but dust and abandoned outposts."
Luka glanced at her, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "The Aether is guiding us. We're getting closer."
Kaela raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but trusting him enough to keep following. "You sound like you're turning into one of those old Aether cultists."
Luka smirked, though the tension in his chest didn't ease. "Maybe I am. But I've got a feeling we're on the right path."
As they approached the planet Luka had identified on the map, the faint glow of its atmosphere became visible, a pale blue against the backdrop of stars. It was a forgotten world, covered in dense forests and jagged mountain ranges. The surface was dotted with strange ruins—structures that seemed to defy time, their design ancient but eerily advanced.
"There," Luka muttered, his eyes locking onto a massive structure built into the side of a mountain. "That's where we'll find our answers."
They descended toward the planet, their mechas landing softly on the overgrown ground. The atmosphere was thick with humidity, and the towering trees around them swayed in the wind. The entrance to the structure was partially buried under vines and rubble, but it was unmistakably another Aetheric ruin.
Kaela powered down Aetheris, stepping out of her mecha and glancing around with a frown. "Looks like no one's been here for centuries."
Luka climbed out of Vigil, the pulse of the Aether stronger than ever in the air around him. He approached the entrance, his hand brushing against the ancient stone. "That's why we're here."
They entered the ruins, the air inside cool and damp. The walls were covered in the same strange symbols they had seen in the previous ruins, but there was something different about this place—something darker, more powerful.
As they ventured deeper into the structure, the glow of the Aether intensified, casting eerie shadows across the walls. The energy was thick, almost suffocating, and Luka could feel it pulling at him, guiding him toward the heart of the ruins.
"Stay sharp," Kaela muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon. "I don't like this place."
Luka nodded, his senses heightened. "We're close. Whatever we're looking for—it's here."
They reached the central chamber, a vast, open space with a massive, glowing crystal at its center. The crystal pulsed with the raw energy of the Aether, its light casting strange patterns across the floor. It was unlike anything Luka had ever seen.
Kaela's eyes widened. "What is that?"
Luka stepped closer, his heart pounding as he reached out toward the crystal. "It's the source. The Aether—this is where it all comes from."
The moment his hand touched the crystal, a surge of energy shot through him, flooding his mind with visions. He saw glimpses of ancient battles, civilizations rising and falling, all tied to the Aether. And in the center of it all, he saw Thalia—her eyes glowing with the same power, her hands reaching for the crystal.
Luka staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "She's been here."
Kaela's voice was filled with urgency. "What do you mean?"
Luka's eyes locked onto the crystal, the truth dawning on him. "Thalia. She's been here before. She's been searching for this—for the source of the Aether."