Before the war, there was a profound sense of peace. Animals roamed freely, humans thrived, and the Earth—still young—flourished as a cradle of life within the galaxy. From this vibrant world came brilliant minds: philosophers, astrologists, and scientists, all seeking to unravel the mysteries of existence.
For millions of years, humans believed they were alone in the universe. They revered myths of gods—some dismissed as fables, others recounted by a select few who claimed to have encountered these divine beings. But one god remained indifferent, disinterested in humanity's achievements. To him, humans were dull, unaware of the Earth's greatest secrets: the crystals of its core, the beast crystals, and the enigmatic mining crystals. These powerful resources, once discovered, would change the fate of humanity—but only if they learned to harness their power.
Among those destined to stumble upon these secrets was a boy named Amos. Fascinated by the stars, Amos spent hours marveling at the kaleidoscope of colors in the heavens, the swirling planets, and the blazing sun.
"What powers these worlds?" he often wondered. "Planets can't just spin endlessly without energy."
Fueled by his questions, Amos spent his days mining with his father, uncovering crystals of every shape and hue. Most he sold, but the rarest—those that shimmered with an otherworldly beauty—he kept for study.
A Discovery in the Depths
One fateful day, while mining alongside his father in a shadowy cave, Amos's pick struck something unusual. A soft glow radiated from the loosened dirt. His eyes widened as he cleared the earth, revealing a crystal unlike any he had seen before.
"Dad!" Amos called out, his voice trembling with excitement. "This crystal—it's glowing!"
His father, wiping sweat from his brow, chuckled. "It's just the heat trapped in the rock," he said, crouching beside Amos. Carefully, he plucked the glowing crystal from Amos's hands. "Be careful, son. These are worth a fortune."
Amos frowned, reluctant to part with it. "Can I keep it for my collection?" he asked, almost pleading.
"NO," his father said sharply, stuffing the crystal into his leather bag. His tone softened when he saw the disappointment on Amos's face. "I'm sorry, Amos. We need the money."
Before Amos could argue, his father's gaze shifted to a strange light further down the cave. "What's that?" he murmured, rising to his feet.
Amos followed as his father moved toward the source of the light. Smooth, round crystals littered the floor, glinting faintly in the dim light. As they ventured deeper, Amos noticed an eerie sound—a soft, distant hum, almost musical.
"Do you hear that?" Amos asked, clutching a few loose crystals in his hands.
His father didn't answer. His pace quickened, eyes fixed on the growing light ahead.
The hum grew louder, resonating through the cave, filling Amos with both awe and unease. The crystals in his hands began to vibrate. Suddenly, a blinding flash lit the cavern. Amos shielded his eyes as the air crackled with energy. The crystals slipped from his grasp, shattering as they hit the ground.
"Dad?" Amos called out, his voice shaking.
When the light faded, the cave was eerily silent. Amos blinked, his vision adjusting to the darkness. His father was gone.
"Dad?" he called again, louder this time. His voice echoed off the stone walls, but there was no response.
The ground trembled beneath him. The crystals around him began to glow, their light intensifying as the cave shook violently. A deafening roar filled Amos's ears. Rocks and dirt rained down, and he fell to his knees, clutching the crystals for dear life.
"Agh!" Amos screamed as the heat from the crystals pulsed through him. The cave collapsed around him, burying him in dirt and stone. His thoughts turned to his mother, to his friend Sarah, to home.
The light from the crystals grew blinding. A surge of heat enveloped him, and then—darkness.
Amos woke with a gasp, the familiar scent of his bedroom filling his nose. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the pile of dirt and crystals scattered across his bed. His heart raced as he sat up, clutching the glowing crystals still in his hands.
"Was it all a dream?" he whispered.
His mother burst into the room, clutching a bat. "Who's in here?" she demanded, panting as she scanned the room.
Amos stared at her, confused. "Mom, it's me."
Lowering the bat, she frowned. "Amos? I didn't know you and your father were back. And why is there so much dirt in here? Clean yourself up and tell your dad dinner's ready!"
Amos froze. "Dad?" he asked quietly, but his mother was already walking away.
He looked at the crystals in his hands, their faint glow still pulsing. Dirt covered the floor and his bed, just as it had in the cave. "This… wasn't a dream," he muttered. But if it wasn't, where was his father?
Years passed. Amos grew older, but the unanswered questions about his father gnawed at him. His obsession with crystals only deepened. Late one night, as he gazed through his telescope, a voice startled him.
"Hello, Amos."
Amos turned to see a tall man standing in the shadows, his silhouette sharp against the starlit sky. "Who are you?" Amos asked, his voice steady despite the chill running down his spine.
The man stepped closer, revealing piercing eyes and an air of authority. "I am Helio'son," he said simply.
"And?" Amos asked, his tone cautious.
Helio'son smirked. "You've seen the power of the crystals, haven't you? You've felt it. And yet, you don't understand it."
Amos narrowed his eyes. "What do you know about the crystals? About my father?"
Helio'son reached into his pocket and held out a shimmering crystal. "Place your hand here," he said.
Amos hesitated, then pressed his palm against the crystal. Instantly, the ground beneath him dissolved. The air whipped past him as his surroundings blurred.
When the world came back into focus, Amos was standing on a massive rock floating in the void of space.
"Whoa!" Amos staggered, struggling to steady himself. "What is this place?"
Helio'son walked ahead, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "A realm beyond your understanding. But if you listen to me, Amos, I will teach you to wield the power you've only glimpsed."
Amos followed, his mind racing. He didn't trust this man—but if Helio'son held the answers he sought, Amos had no choice but to learn.
Many years had passed since Helio'son took Amos under his wing. Together, they had unlocked the mysteries of the crystals, delving into their radiant depths. Yet, no matter how much Amos learned, Helio'son always hinted at greater truths, just beyond his reach—secrets Amos was never told.
One day, Amos sat hunched over his workbench, studying the most vibrant crystal he'd ever seen. Its inner light seemed to pulse, like a heartbeat, casting shifting patterns on the walls of the chamber. He scribbled notes furiously, lost in thought until Helio'son's voice broke through the silence.
"Amos."
Amos flinched, his quill scratching across the parchment. Helio'son rarely interrupted him. When Amos turned, his mentor's face was as calm and unreadable as ever, but his eyes carried an unfamiliar weight.
"Today, I will give you my blessing," Helio'son said.
Amos straightened, his fingers tightening around the quill. "Your… blessing?" His voice wavered with a mix of curiosity and unease.
Helio'son nodded, stepping closer. "It is time for me to move on."
The words hit Amos like a blow. "Move on? You're leaving?" He rose to his feet, his heart pounding. "Why? Have I done something wrong?"
Helio'son tilted his head, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips. "You humans always assume the worst." He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze steady. "No, Amos. You have done everything right. You've proven yourself worthy."
Amos's breath caught. "Worthy of what?"
Helio'son gestured toward the glowing crystal on the table. "That crystal holds the key to a future only you can shape. You will take it to planet Haeven, build a civilization, and teach your kind to unlock the gifts they carry within. Humanity's potential is limitless, Amos—but it begins with you."
Amos's brow furrowed as questions tumbled through his mind. Why now? Why him? Before he could voice them, Helio'son stepped forward, raising his hand.
"Wait," Amos said, his voice tinged with panic. "I don't understand—"
Helio'son placed his palm on Amos's head. Heat radiated from his touch, spreading through Amos's body like wildfire. His limbs stiffened, his breath hitching as an invisible force pinned him in place.
"What… is this?" Amos gasped, his voice barely audible.
Helio'son's expression softened. "Be still," he said. "This is necessary."
The heat intensified, searing through Amos's veins. His vision blurred as the room around him dissolved into blinding light. He could feel the power surging through him, each wave more overwhelming than the last.
"I have watched you since birth," Helio'son said, his voice echoing as if carried by the light itself. "One day, you will uncover the truth of your existence. For now, take this crystal. Place it on Haeven. Shape your destiny."
Amos tried to speak, to move, but the energy coursing through him left him powerless. His body felt as though it were unraveling, every fiber burning with unbearable intensity.
Then, a sharp pain shot through his chest, stealing the air from his lungs. His knees buckled, and he collapsed, his vision dimming.
The last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was Helio'son's unwavering gaze—calm, resolute, and tinged with something Amos couldn't quite place. Regret? Hope?