Aleck watched as the group around him marveled at their new skills. Jackie, with her adventurous spirit, was practically glowing with excitement, and it seemed the skill she received, Adventure, fit her perfectly. Her trips across the globe had crafted a talent that would now make her a formidable force in this strange new world.
Then there was Ben. His story was equally fitting. As a former U.S. military soldier, his life had revolved around protecting others, and now that same instinct was embodied in his skill—Protect. The more people Ben felt the need to protect, the stronger he would become. Strength, agility, vitality, all growing exponentially depending on the size of the group he cared for. But here, in this foreign world, that power was close to zero—he didn't yet see the people of Arkellith as his own. His sense of protection was still bound to Earth, and as long as that was the case, his potential was locked away. It was clear why the hooded figures and the Saintess were taking an unusual interest in him.
From the moment Ben revealed his skill, the Saintess's attitude had shifted. They needed him. Not only because of his potential, but because they could manipulate that sense of duty. Aleck noticed the subtle changes—the extra attention, the way they fed Ben words of encouragement, almost nurturing him like a prized possession. They wanted him to see Arkellith's people as his own, to make him feel a connection to this world. That bond, they hoped, would push him to become a protector, unlocking untold power.
But what about Aleck? When he introduced his skill—Forget—there was an awkward silence. The room became uncomfortably still, the others unsure how to respond.
One voice finally broke the silence. "Well… it's kind of useless, isn't it?"
Another person mumbled, "Maybe it's good for, like, mental therapy?"
Aleck stood, stiff and tense, trying to ignore the sting of their words. The Saintess and the hooded figures exchanged glances, and though they didn't say anything, their expressions spoke volumes. He didn't belong here.
Nothing much happened for the rest of the day. Aleck noticed a group forming among the summoned, while the rest seemed to avoid him—except for Ben, who wouldn't stop talking about Aleck's skill Forget and how promising it might be in the future.. According to Ben, the more general a skill appeared, the greater its potential. The more specific the skill, the less potential it held for future growth. What an interesting way of thinking, Aleck thought.
Later that night, the summoned were invited to a lavish dinner hosted by nobles of some sort. The banquet hall was grand, with high ceilings and walls adorned with intricate tapestries. Each of the summoned attracted attention, but it was clear that their skills remained a mystery to everyone except the organization.
After the dinner, they were led to their cottages. That night, sleep evaded Aleck. His thoughts raced, wondering what he could possibly do in this world with such an odd skill. Could Forget ever be useful? The quiet, unsettling conversations he had overheard from the hooded figures continued to bother him. They had been discussing something…
Next Morning, Aleck was pulled aside by one of the hooded figures.
"The Saintess needs to see you," the figure said curtly.
Aleck's gut twisted. He knew something was wrong. Following the figure through narrow corridors, he was led into a dimly lit basement where the Saintess stood alongside several of the hooded figures.
"We need to talk, Mr. Aleck," the Saintess began, her voice eerily calm.
Aleck crossed his arms, already on edge. "What's this about?"
The Saintess exchanged a glance with one of her advisors before turning her cold gaze back to Aleck. "We can't have you here any longer."
Aleck's stomach dropped. "What?"
"There were supposed to be 16 God Capsules prepared for the summoning, but due to an error, we only received 15. This means one of you must be… removed from the assignment."
Aleck exhaled sharply. "And that's me?"
The Saintess nodded without hesitation. "Based on your skill, we've decided it's best if you're the one to leave."
Aleck scoffed. "Fine. Great, actually. I didn't want to stay here anyway. Send me back to Earth."
The Saintess's lips curled into a thin, almost mocking smile. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
Aleck's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
"We lack the means to send you back to Earth," she said, her voice devoid of sympathy. "And frankly, we don't want you here, where your presence could demotivate or negatively influence the other Titans. So, we've decided to send you into a space storm, where you will be randomly deposited on another planet in this galaxy."
Aleck's chest tightened. "You can't be serious! You expect me to just… what, wander aimlessly until I die?"
The Saintess didn't bother to respond. Instead, two hooded figures stepped forward, grabbing him by the arms. Aleck struggled, his mind racing for a way out. "No! You can't do this! Find a way to send me back to Earth! I don't want to—"
Before he could finish, he felt a sharp push, and suddenly, he was airborne, hurtling toward what appeared to be a shimmering, swirling portal. A warp hole.
In his last glimpse before being sucked into the warp hole, Aleck caught the Saintess's gaze. Her eyes were devoid of empathy—cold, detached. The welcoming demeanor they had shown earlier was nothing but a facade. To them, he was no longer a person, but a burden, dead weight they needed to cast aside. A sudden realization struck Aleck, hard: even if they had all sixteen God Capsules, he would likely have been cast aside all the same. The realization hit Aleck like a punch to the gut.
He was no stranger to betrayal and used to it, but this felt odd. Why didn't they just kill me? he wondered, confusion and anger swirling in his mind as the warp hole closed around him. Was it the Titan God? Or the Titan Serum? His thoughts spiraled as the disorienting sensation of the warp pulled him further into the unknown. There had to be a reason they hadn't killed him outright, but whatever it was, it didn't matter now. He had been discarded, thrown into the void like garbage.
He'd been stripped of everything familiar—his home, his family, his safety. The weight of isolation pressed down on him, but deep inside, beneath the fear and betrayal, there was a flicker of defiance. The thought of never seeing Alexa again crushed him, but beneath that pain, his love for his wife and daughter fueled a flicker of determination. He had to get back to them, no matter what it took. He couldn't go down, not yet. He wasn't giving up, not like this.