Lucian sat quietly in the dimly lit laboratory, his mind fully focused on the holographic projections before him. Data flickered across the translucent screens in complex layers—analysis of alien biological structures, advanced mathematical algorithms, and ongoing reports from their latest expeditions.
ROSE stood by, her body formed from nanobots and light diversion, effortlessly shifting between tasks as she handled the vast amount of information flowing into the system. Lucian was absorbed in his work, his sharp mind turning every piece of data into meaningful patterns.
Then, like a whisper on the edge of his consciousness, Zeph called out to him through their shared soul connection.
Lucian paused, setting aside the tools and projections. He gave ROSE a brief glance. "Handle the rest of this. Zeph contacted me."
ROSE nodded, her golden eyes meeting his in understanding. "Of course," she replied, her voice soft but efficient. She took over the remaining tasks without missing a beat, allowing Lucian to answer Zeph's call without concern.
As he closed his eyes and shifted his focus inward, Lucian descended into the familiar depths of the soulspace. It wasn't long before he found himself standing in the tranquil, ethereal realm that belonged to Zeph—the soulspace of the young prince who carried half of his essence.
Zeph was there, waiting. His figure, though that of a child, stood tall against the stunning backdrop of his soulspace. The land was breathtaking, like something pulled from the canvas of a masterful artist.
A serene lake stretched out at Zeph's feet, its waters crystal clear and shallow, barely touching the shore. Above, the sky was a soft blue, dotted with fluffy clouds that resembled cotton candy, and the light from the sky bathed the entire space in a heavenly glow. It was peaceful, untouched by darkness or chaos.
The two souls stood in silence for a moment, the beauty of the soulspace surrounding them like a living painting. Then, Lucian spoke, his voice calm but relieved. "I see you're awake and unharmed, Zeph."
Zeph nodded but was quick to get to the heart of the matter. "What happened while I was asleep?" he asked, his curiosity shining through his otherwise composed expression.
Lucian explained everything—their encounter with the ancient creature, the interrogation he had conducted while Zeph had been resting. He spoke of the creature's arrogance, its mysterious origins, and its disturbing ability to devour mana, souls, and even stars. Zeph listened intently, absorbing every detail as Lucian described how the creature had been subdued and captured.
"And where is the creature now?" Zeph asked, his curiosity deepening as the conversation continued. There was something about the thought of an ancient, universe-devouring entity coming after him that made Zeph uneasy—but also intrigued.
Lucian's expression remained neutral, though he could sense Zeph's growing tension. "During the fight, something unusual happened," he explained. "Our soul cores resonated with each other. I'm not entirely sure how it occurred, but the creature was drawn into your soul core during the process. It's now trapped inside your soulspace, like a prisoner."
Zeph's eyes widened in surprise and, more than that, disgust. The idea that this grotesque creature—this abomination—was now residing within his very soul made his skin crawl. He couldn't help the wave of revulsion that washed over him. "It's... inside me?" he asked, his voice laced with disgust. "How do I even talk to it?"
Lucian nodded slowly, unfazed by Zeph's reaction. "To communicate with it, you'll need to enter a meditative state," he said. "Once you do, imagine yourself entering the soulspace. From there, you can interact with anything that resides within."
Zeph frowned, the concept still foreign to him. "Soulspace?" he echoed. "What exactly is it?"
Lucian's lips twitched into a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Exactly where we are standing. think of it as a realm inside your soul. It's not something physical—it's more like an imaginary space, shaped by your essence. Yours looks like this," Lucian said, gesturing to the idyllic landscape around them. "It's quite beautiful. It reminds me of a tropical beach, something straight out of a dream."
Zeph was still confused, but he knew Lucian wouldn't talk nonsense.
Zeph looked around his eyes, he found himself standing in the heart of his soulspace. He could now fully take in its beauty—how the tranquil lake mirrored the soft, blue sky, how the warm light spread across the horizon, casting everything in a serene glow. The atmosphere was peaceful, untouched by corruption or darkness. It was as though he was standing in paradise, where nothing could harm him.
For a moment, Zeph felt comforted. But the knowledge that something terrible was lurking here—a creature of ancient and terrifying power—kept him on edge. As if sensing his apprehension, Lucian appeared beside him, stepping into the soulspace with his usual calm demeanor.
"So, this place is my soulspace?" Zeph asked, still marveling at its beauty.
Lucian, standing beside him, looked around the peaceful environment with a bitter smile. "Yes," he replied, "this is your soulspace. It reflects who you are—or at least, who you were before all this began." He paused, then added, "But mine… mine is very different."
Zeph turned to him, curiosity piqued. "You have your own soulspace? What does it look like?"
Lucian glanced toward the horizon, where the edge of Zeph's soulspace ended. "Come with me, and I'll show you."
The two walked together until they reached a shimmering barrier at the edge of Zeph's soulspace. It looked almost like a translucent curtain of energy, separating the calm beauty of Zeph's soulspace from what lay beyond. Lucian gently placed his hand on the barrier, and with a faint crackle, it split apart, revealing the landscape that stretched on the other side.
What Zeph saw was nothing short of horrifying.
Lucian's soulspace was a world of torment, a hellish landscape where abominations made of fused souls writhed and screamed in agony. The ground was rough and jagged, made from twisted, suffering souls that had been bound together to form grotesque creatures. These abominations stretched endlessly across the horizon, their tortured cries filling the air. Above, the sky was pitch black, broken only by the violent crackle of lightning that illuminated the tortured land.
The contrast between Zeph's paradise-like realm and Lucian's hellscape couldn't have been more stark.
Zeph stared, speechless. He had always known Lucian to be cold, detached from normal emotions, but this… this was something far more twisted. His soulspace was a reflection of the darkness within him—a place where torment and suffering reigned supreme.
Lucian watched Zeph's reaction closely, his expression unreadable. "This is my soulspace," he said quietly. "A place born from centuries of experiments, of twisted knowledge, of torture and death. It's not a place for the weak."
Zeph didn't know what to say. He turned back to look at the serene beauty of his own soulspace, then back to the nightmare that lay beyond the barrier. For the first time, he truly understood just how different he and Lucian were—how far Lucian had gone into the depths of knowledge and darkness to achieve his goals.