[Ascendance: The Journey to Type 7. Ch_024]
After receiving perms.. from the control tower of Eternal Prison.
The Astral Vanguard touched down on the vast surface of the Eternal Prison, its crew felt a sense of awe mixed with trepidation. Before them stretched a landscape of black steel, cold and imposing, reflecting none of the distant starlight.
It was as if the prison had been forged from the very essence of darkness itself. The structure was massive, dwarfing any known ship or station, and its surface seemed almost impenetrable, crafted from a metal "Black Steel" 4x Harder Than Diamond.
Kael and his crew disembarked, their steps echoing on the steel platform. Voss, Alaric, and the rest of the crew took in their surroundings, their expressions a mix of caution and fascination. The air was charged with a sense of foreboding, as though they had entered a forbidden realm.
They hadn't walked far when a pair of guards approached, each one clad in armor as black as the prison itself, their eyes visible through narrow visors that glinted with a faint, eerie light. They were both towering, stern figures, moving with the disciplined efficiency of elite soldiers.
The taller of the two guards stepped forward and spoke in a deep, resonant voice. "Welcome, Captain Kael Ashvale, to the Eternal Prison. What brings you here, among these walls of the condemned?"
His gaze flicked briefly over Kael's crew, his tone laced with a subtle condescension. "And what business could you possibly have with criminals?"
Kael returned the guard's gaze with calm confidence, though his mind was racing with a thousand thoughts. He chose his words carefully, standing tall. "I've come on official business. I heard that Thors Ashvale, the King's Envoy, is stationed here. I would like to meet with him personally."
The guard's eyebrows raised slightly, a spark of surprise flashing across his otherwise stoic expression. He exchanged a quick, unreadable look with his fellow guard before responding.
"The Envoy is not in the habit of receiving unscheduled visitors." His tone was cold, yet guarded, as though considering something. "Especially those... unaccompanied by his official orders."
Alaric shifted uneasily, his fingers resting on his belt. "Listen," he muttered, almost to himself, "we didn't come all this way to be turned around at the gate."
The second guard, seemingly less restrained than the first, scoffed. "You've entered the realm of eternal confinement, Captain Kael. This is no place for curiosity seekers."
Kael held up a hand, silencing Alaric with a glance. He addressed the guards with an unwavering calm. "Tell Thors that Captain Kael Ashvale is here. He will want to know."
The first guard studied Kael closely, his gaze assessing. Then, he nodded curtly. "Very well. Wait here."
With that, he raised his wrist communicator and spoke a brief command. The air was thick with tension as the crew stood on the blackened platform, the silence amplifying their anticipation.
Kael could feel the weight of his crew's questions and doubts but maintained a confident facade, his mind focused on the next step.
The guard lowered his communicator and turned back to Kael. "Follow us," he said simply, gesturing for them to walk with him.
They moved in silence, the clang of their boots echoing through the hollow corridors. As they progressed, the surroundings grew more ominous. Each wall was lined with transparent cells, and from behind the barriers, condemned criminals watched the crew with hollow eyes filled with resentment or despair.
Kael caught glimpses of some, dangerous-looking individuals whose faces seemed to be permanently etched with bitterness. The crew shifted uneasily, each of them feeling the intensity of a thousand eyes tracking their every movement.
"This place is…" Zyra murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like walking through the belly of a monster."
Kael gave a small nod, his expression tense. "Remember why we're here," he said quietly, urging them forward. "Stay focused."
Finally, they arrived at an immense set of steel doors, reinforced with countless layers of black metal. The guards came to a halt and pressed a hand against a console embedded in the wall.
The doors slid open with a slow, grinding sound, revealing a grand chamber within. At the far end, seated on a raised platform like a throne, was a figure they had only seen from a distance—a man with silver hair, dressed in deep navy blue robes, adorned with the emblem of the King's Envoy.
"Thors Ashvale."
Kael's heart pounded as he took in the sight of the man who shared his surname, wondering if the name held any meaning beyond coincidence.
Thors looked up, his piercing gaze settling on Kael with an intensity that bordered on recognition. His expression was unreadable, but his posture exuded authority and power.
As Kael and his crew approached, Thors's voice echoed through the chamber, deep and unyielding.
"Captain Kael Ashvale," he said, his tone laced with both intrigue and suspicion. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Kael met his gaze evenly, his voice steady. "I have come to ask you something, Envoy. We share a name, and yet we have never met. But the name Ashvale has led me to you, and I believe there is more here than mere coincidence." [Slight Smirk]
Thors's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Names are not always what they seem, Captain," he replied coolly. "But that does not explain your presence in this place. You're standing amidst the most dangerous beings in the galaxy, and you speak of names?"
Kael could feel the weight of his crew's attention behind him, their unspoken support lending him strength. "I came seeking information," he continued, his voice calm yet firm.
"Information about someone who was recently brought here—a man named Rax Veylan. I need to know his status and his location."
Thors's expression didn't change, though his gaze grew even more piercing. "Rax Veylan is here by the King's orders, serving a sentence far beyond the reach of ordinary men. His fate is sealed. Why would you risk so much to question it?"
Kael held his ground. "Because I believe his confinement might hold the key to a much larger threat. And I am willing to face any danger necessary to protect what matters. [Intentionally] If you are an Ashvale, then perhaps you understand."
For a moment, a flicker of something almost like recognition passed over Thors's face. He leaned back, studying Kael intently.
[The silence in the chamber was thick, broken only by the hum of the prison's energy field and the faint breaths of the crew standing tensely nearby.]
Thors's lips curved into a faint, almost reluctant smile. "You are either very brave or very foolish, Kael Ashvale," he said finally, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"I will grant you permission to see Rax. But know this—you walk a thin line. And crossing it may cost you more than you are prepared to pay."
Kael nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Envoy. That is all I ask."
Kael thought, "Just dance in my palm like a puppet."[Evil Smirk]
Thors gestured to the guards. "Escort them to the holding chamber," he commanded, his gaze never leaving Kael. "And Captain—tread carefully. The shadows of this place are deep, and some mysteries are better left untouched."
Kael inclined his head respectfully, though his mind was already racing with questions and possibilities.
As they were led away, Kael glanced back at Thors, his mind buzzing with a thousand thoughts.
"When will you act? The time is now."
As the crew was being led away, Thors's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Guards. Bring Kael Ashvale to me, alone. Confine his crew temporarily in the guest rooms."
[Kael. Smirked Evilly]
The guards immediately halted, pivoting back to Kael's crew, who erupted in a flurry of protest.
"What do you mean, 'confine'?" Zyra snapped, her eyes blazing as she stepped forward. "We're here on an official mission, not to be locked up like prisoners!"
Voss clenched his fists, his body tense as he glared at the guards. "We didn't come here to be held against our will," he growled, his eyes darting to Kael. "Captain, what's the meaning of this?"
Kael raised a hand calmly, signaling the crew to hold back. His face was composed, but his mind was racing. "Everyone, stand down," Kael ordered, his tone steady. "This is temporary."
Alaric, who had remained quiet, placed a firm hand on Voss's shoulder. "Trust the Captain," he murmured, his voice low but reassuring. "Let's follow protocol."
The guards stepped forward, gesturing for the crew to move toward a corridor that branched off toward the guest chambers. One guard, a stern man with sharp features, explained in a clipped tone.
"This confinement is strictly procedural, as a courtesy to Envoy Ashvale. Your rooms are secure and comfortable, equipped with all essentials. You will not be harmed or mistreated. Compliance is advised."
Zyra looked back at Kael, a mix of worry and frustration in her gaze. "This better not take long."
As the crew was escorted down the dim corridor, their voices faded, Kael alone with the guards who now led him down another hall toward Thors's private chamber.
The walk was eerily silent, the atmosphere heavy with tension. But Kael was in High Spirits,
[Kael's Thoughts] "I suspected you wouldn't leave me empty-handed."
After a few turns, they stopped before a large steel door adorned with intricate carvings. One of the guards pressed a hand to a scanner, and with a soft hiss, the door slid open. Kael stepped inside, the door closing behind him with a finality.
The room was dimly lit, with only a few beams of cold, blue light illuminating Thors, who stood at the far end, his gaze fixed on Kael. There was no throne, no display of authority—just a quiet, almost somber room that contrasted with the imposing aura of the man standing within it.
"Kael Ashvale," Thors said, his voice softer now, yet still carrying the weight of authority. "So, we meet."
Kael approached, his expression guarded, yet respectful. "Envoy Thors. I had a feeling we would, sooner or later."
Thors studied him, his piercing gaze searching Kael's face as though looking for something hidden just beneath the surface. After a moment, a faint, unreadable smile played on Thors's lips.
"I've known your name for a long time, Captain," Thors said quietly. "And I can't ignore the strange circumstances that brought us both here."
Kael felt his pulse quicken at Thors's words, but he held his composure. "Then maybe you can explain what those circumstances are. Why do we share a name, Envoy? I've searched for answers, but so far, I've found only questions."
Thors folded his hands behind his back, a contemplative look crossing his face. "That is the very question I hoped you could answer, Kael Ashvale. Your existence… it's not what one would call ordinary."
Kael raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "My existence? Envoy, I don't even know where I come from. Everything I am was built from fragments I've tried to piece together on my own. If you know more than I do, now is the time to share it."
Thors's gaze turned introspective, and he took a step closer, his tone lowering as he spoke. "What do you remember, Kael Ashvale? From before…before your rise in the ranks?"
Kael took a slow breath, feeling an odd mixture of resentment and vulnerability. "I remember fragments—shadows of a life I barely understand. I was suddenly caught in an accident, and I died that day. I know I wasn't meant to be revived, and yet here I am."
Thors's expression softened just slightly, a hint of empathy breaking through his stoic exterior. "Sometimes, fate chooses those who least expect it, Ashvale. And sometimes…blood ties can reveal more than mere coincidence."
Kael's eyes narrowed, searching Thors's face for clues. "You're suggesting we're…related?"
Thors hesitated, a look of reluctant acknowledgment in his gaze. "Perhaps. Or perhaps we share more than mere lineage. There are mysteries, Kael Ashvale, and will be answered when the time comes. But one thing is certain: you were meant to be here."
The weight of Thors's words hung in the air, a quiet intensity filling the space between them.
[A faint, steady hum filled the silence as Kael absorbed Thors's words, the quiet whir of the energy field reverberating through the room.]
"If you truly believe that," Kael replied, his voice steady, "then you must understand why I can't turn back. I need to find out why I was spared, why I was brought back. And if that path leads me to you, then I'll have to face it, whatever the consequences."
Thors's expression grew distant, as though considering Kael's words deeply. Finally, he nodded, his voice almost a whisper. "Then perhaps you are ready. But tread carefully, Captain. The truth can be both a weapon and a burden. And in this place…" He gestured to the darkness surrounding them, "it can consume you if you let it."
Kael met Thors's gaze with a steady determination. "I'm not afraid of the truth, Envoy. Whatever it is, I'll face it. Even if it means facing…you."
A shadow of a smile flickered on Thors's lips. "Then let's see if your resolve is as strong as your words, Captain Kael Ashvale."
[The room fell into silence once more, the air thick with a tension that neither man seemed eager to break.]
For now, the questions would remain, but Kael knew he had taken a step closer to understanding the enigma that was Thors—and perhaps, himself.
Thor said, "I know you're here to free Rax."
TO BE CONTINUED.