Somewhere far from Earth, the moment Watts activated the Aeonborn Trial, a chain reaction unfolded across the vast expanse of the cosmos.
Deep within a sprawling underground metropolis, hidden beneath layers of rock and ancient secrets, stood the largest glass castle ever constructed—a shimmering monolith of crystalline architecture.
Within its heart lay the Throne Room, an opulent chamber housing twelve golden thrones arranged in a perfect circle.
The central throne, grander and more majestic than the others, dominated the room. Its intricate carvings seemed almost alive, glowing faintly as if whispering of forgotten eras.
For thousands of years, this throne had been dormant, its power sealed away, awaiting a rightful heir. But now, for the first time in eons, it erupted into radiant light.
The golden light cast long shadows across the polished floor, illuminating the intricate symbol etched into the throne's backrest—a symbol identical to the one that had burned itself into Watts' vision the day he awakened the system.
The throne's sudden activation was no mere coincidence.
It signified the emergence of a true candidate, someone whose destiny would eclipse even the gods. Someone who would once again take their place upon it.
But the greater surprise lay in the throne beside it. This second seat, meant for the right hand of the ruler, it had long ago flared to life even before the majestic throne.
Its crimson glow pulsed like a heartbeat, resonating with the central throne. The other ten thrones, however, remained cold and lifeless, their time yet to come.
Far away, across the infinite void of space, on a planet teeming with unimaginable advancements, another ripple was felt. This world, a marvel of technological prowess, was a symphony of progress and ingenuity.
Flying cars weaved seamlessly through towering skyscrapers, their metallic surfaces gleaming under artificial suns. Hoverboards zipped past bustling crowds, and genetically engineered beings walked among ordinary humans, their altered forms a testament to the civilization's mastery over biology.
In the heart of the capital, a tower stood as the empire's pinnacle, its spire piercing the clouds like a needle threading through reality. Inside, in a room painted a sugary pink and adorned with decorations befitting a child's fantasy, a young girl sat cross-legged on a plush bed.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady as she meditated, but her mind was anything but serene.
This girl, an Aeonborn descendant hiding in plain sight, had cloaked herself in the guise of a pampered, spoiled brat. Her tantrums and ostentatious lifestyle were carefully crafted deceptions, a shield to mask the dangerous power coursing through her veins.
She saw herself as a peacekeeper, a silent enforcer of balance, tasked with eliminating threats before they could spiral out of control.
Her stillness shattered. Her eyes snapped open, their irises blazing with otherworldly light. She had felt it—a surge of energy so potent, so ancient, it left her trembling.
It wasn't just any awakening. It was something akin to her bloodline, though more potent, a force she recognized instantly. But this time, it was different.
The sensation was overwhelming, alien yet familiar, as if her very existence was dwarfed by this new presence.
She felt an inexplicable pull, an innate understanding that she was no longer the pinnacle of her lineage. Worse, she felt something even more unsettling—a compulsion to serve.
Her heart raced, her hands curling into fists as the truth sank in. This person, whoever they were, represented a threat far greater than any she had faced before.
Their potential to upend the fragile equilibrium of power terrified her. She couldn't allow it.
Determination burned in her gaze as she extended her consciousness, reaching across the stars to pinpoint the origin of the awakening. It didn't take long. The energy's trail was like a beacon, calling out to her in defiance.
She stood, her movements precise and deliberate, her once-playful demeanor now hardened by resolve. She wouldn't wait for this unknown force to rise to its full strength. She couldn't afford to.
If left unchecked, this new Aeonborn could disrupt everything—her world, her carefully maintained balance, her very existence.
She steeled herself, her fear replaced by cold resolve. She would find this person. And she would eliminate them before their power grew way beyond her reach.
.........
Watts sat in the restaurant across from Crawford Hospital, staring out the window at the building looming on the other side of the street. His heart raced, his hands trembling slightly as he wrapped them around a cold coffee cup.
The nerves weren't just in his stomach; they were in his chest, his throat, his head—everywhere, like a tightly wound wire threatening to snap.
Would his family accept him after everything? Or would they push him away, lock him out of their lives forever? The questions circled endlessly, refusing to let him breathe.
He tried to reassure himself that Layla would stand by him; she'd made that clear, even to the clone he'd sent to protect her. But his aunt—she was another matter entirely.
Her bias against supernaturals was legendary in the family, a simmering hatred that sometimes flared into outright contempt.
Could she look past that? Could she see him—the real him—and love him the way she used to? He didn't know, and the uncertainty pressed on him like a weight.
The clone was gone now, its task completed. It had taken care of the assailants and left after delivering his message to Layla. She thought it had been him—how could she not?
The clone had done everything as instructed. Now she was sitting at his aunt's bedside, her hands folded tightly in her lap, watching over the woman who had just come out of surgery.
His aunt looked peaceful, her face pale but calm in the soft light of the hospital room. Was this his moment? Was this when he would finally cross the street, step into the hospital, and face whatever came next?
He couldn't tell, but the longer he sat there, the thinner the ice beneath him seemed to grow.
But he calmed his racing heart, took a deep breath, and told himself he wouldn't judge her if she no longer saw him as her son. No, he wouldn't judge—just feel the sting of disappointment.
He crossed the street slowly, his steps deliberate, his gaze fixed ahead. The hospital loomed closer, its sterile walls promising answers he wasn't sure he wanted. Without a word to anyone, he navigated the hallways, his feet carrying him to his aunt's ward.
At the door, he paused. Closing his eyes, he gathered himself, willing his heart to steady. Then, with a quiet resolve, he pushed the door open.
The sound drew the room's attention, and their gazes locked on him.
And a thick tension suddenly blanketed the air, heavy and immediate, like the calm before a storm. Something unspoken hung there, waiting.