The hangar's oppressive hum seeped into Wynn's bones. He stood frozen, his breath shallow as his mind replayed the nightmare that happened to him all in one night—his first love had been snatched right under his eyes, being saved from the bandits by the masked, watching the Baron's sneering face, his mother's lifeless body, the suffocating sense of helplessness that had overtaken him, his friend Taran's detached head flinging right in front of his eyes, the strange flames that coursed through his veins, his first time killing someone and his fight with a literal noble.
His gaze flickered to the towering figure of Aldric, then to George, whose casual posture couldn't hide the weight in his eyes.
"Where am I? And what do you want from me?" Wynn said, his voice cracking but currently having an unseen maturity that previously was absent.
Aldric's violet eyes glinted, assessing. "You're aboard the Eclipse, one of Silent Dawn's spatial ships. As for what we want…" He stepped closer, each measured step amplifying the weight of his presence. "That depends. What do you want, Wynn of Grimhaven?"
"What I want," Wynn spoke calmly, his fists curling at his sides, "Is to go back to Zerith, bury my mom properly, and figure out what happened to my friends."
George, who had been standing silently in the corner, shifted his weight and stepped forward. His steps were slow, and deliberate, as though every movement weighed heavier than it should.
Wynn looked up at him, his gaze catching the hippo mask hanging from George's waist. The recognition hit him like a bolt.
"You... you're that guy," Wynn murmured,
George's lips curved into a pained, almost regretful smile. "Yeah, I'm the guy," he said quietly, his eyes darkened with something unspoken. He hesitated, almost as if gathering his thoughts, before continuing. "When I saw you there, crying in front of your mother's body... I couldn't just leave her in that shack, abandoned, not knowing if you'd come back."
His voice cracked, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through the cracks of his usually stoic demeanor.
"I made a plan," he went on, his tone steadying, though the weight of his words lingered in the air. "To give her a proper burial... if you didn't return. But... looks like you made it here after all."
George gestured with a flick of his wrist, and a subtle shift in the air followed. From the shadows, the bundle that held Maris's body emerged, wrapped carefully in cloth. The sight of it sent a tremor through Wynn's chest.
With shaking hands, Wynn took the bundle from George's grasp, his fingers trembling as they brushed the cold cloth that now held the remains of the one person who had ever cared for him. His vision blurred with the threat of tears, but he swallowed them down, refusing to break. Not now.
"I... I never even said goodbye," Wynn whispered, his voice barely audible as he stared at the body in his arms.
**********
As Wynn was silently weeping with Maris's body, the members of Silent Dawn took the opportunity to talk in peace as they left to the lounge in the ship, they all sat on simple sofas around in a square, with Aldrick sitting on what seemed to be the head armchair.
"What's on your mind, Aldric?" The one to break the silence was Jaxon, although Aldric was the leader of Silent Dawn he was still much younger than Jaxon and Vera who both could call him by his name, that aside he was still pretty scary for the both of them.
"That Boy….Wynn of Grimhaven."
This time, it was Cane's voice that rose,
"What about him Sir?"
"He reminds me of myself."
That admission hung heavy in the room. The operatives exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared interrupt.
"He has that look. The look of someone who's lost everything. The kind of man who has nothing left to protect, and nothing left to lose."
Vera, leaned back in her seat, arms crossed. "And you think that makes him dangerous?"
"Dangerous? No–No–No–that rat-faced boy couldn't possibly do crap to us even if he tried, I've already seen my fair share of people with that same look…. It's just…"
Aldric tapped his finger against his chin thoughtfully.
"Just when that unique element comes into play."
He paused, his tone deepening with intensity.
"Coupled with that look, that presence, and that element... even The Emperor can't predict where that boy could go."
The casual mention of the word Emperor hung in the air, with some members shifting uneasily.
Aldric paused, surveying the room before continuing. "I know he may not be a genius like Arthur Von Scit of the same age, who's practically shaking the very core of the empire with his talent and genius, nor the children of the dukes and the true geniuses on Earth. But Wynn of Grimhaven is still a variable." He traced a finger along his chin thoughtfully. "I just have this hunch that I need to keep him away from falling into the wrong hands."
The room fell silent again, the weight of Aldric's words pressing down on them. Aliya who had brought Wynn to ship broke the tension, her voice soft but firm. "So, what's the plan, Mister?"
Aldric leaned back, his gaze steady and unyielding. "We'll place him in one of our orphanages on Helios—specifically the one in the capital. There are a few awakened kids his age there, including Xavier, who also has a unique element. He won't feel out of place among them. Under our supervision, the chances of him falling under the Empire's grasp is slim."
He paused, his voice hardening as his eyes swept over the group. "If we don't intervene, someone else will. And if that someone has darker intentions… who knows what kind of weapon he could become."
Sera, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, her slit-like eyes glinting. "And if the boy refuses to comply? If he still insists on going back to Zerith?"
Aldric's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening, his demeanor taking a complete one-eighty-degree turn. "Then we'll handle it. Quietly. Before it becomes a problem."
The room fell silent again, each member digesting the weight of Aldric's words. Finally, Jaxon let out a low whistle. "Cold as ever, kid."
*************
The members, their resolve solidified, emerged from the lounge and stepped back into the somber quiet of the main deck. Wynn sat motionless, clutching Maris's lifeless body.
Aldric stepped forward, his imposing figure radiating authority. His gaze locked onto the boy, unyielding as steel. He spoke, his voice sharp and steady, cutting through the tension.
"Wynn of Grimhaven," he began, each word deliberate. "I'll make this brief. You have two optio—"
But before the sentence could conclude, Wynn's voice cut through, raw and resolute.
"I want to be stronger."
The words, firm and unwavering, hung in the air like a challenge. Wynn's grip on Maris's body tightened as he raised his head. His white eyes, brimming with an unyielding fire, met Aldric's with startling intensity.
"If I accept what you say," Wynn continued, his voice steady despite the tremble of grief underlying it, "will you help me become stronger?"
Aldric paused, caught off guard for a fleeting moment. Then a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. The boy wasn't broken. Not yet. Instead, he was teetering on the edge of something far more dangerous: resolve forged in loss—something Aldric was all too familiar with.
The leader of Silent Dawn nodded, his voice a quiet promise.
"Stronger than you've ever imagined."
**************
Wynn sat in a room enclosed by mana-tech reinforced glass panels, forming a semi-spherical shape that offered a breathtaking view of distant planets and the endless stretch of stars above, his arms wrapped around his knees, staring out at the infinite stars. The weight of everything—the loss of Maris, the strange new world he was being thrust into, and the monumental decision he'd just made—was pressing on his chest. His mind felt heavy, tangled with questions, yet no answers were clear.
The quiet hum of the ship's engines broke his reverie, the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from behind. He turned his head to see Aldric walking toward him, his silhouette outlined against the stars.
"Ready to go?" Aldric's voice was calm, and steady, with an undertone that made Wynn feel the moment's seriousness.
Wynn nodded, but the uncertainty in his eyes lingered. "Where exactly are we going?"
"Helios," Aldric answered calmly.
"But before we head there, I need to explain a few things about the planets. Especially Zerith, Earth, and Helios. For now, that's what's most important for you to understand."
Wynn gave him a curious look, but he didn't speak, so Aldric continued, leaning against the railing beside him.
"Zerith is your home. The one you know best. It's a planet on the farthest edge of the Empire, a place where survival is a daily challenge. People there still live in the shadow of what was once a thriving civilization. The ruins scattered across your world—those towering structures, broken pillars, and strange technologies that don't quite fit with what you know right? Well, they're the remnants of the Originars."
Wynn furrowed his brow. "The Originars?"
"They were the first humans to colonize the stars," Aldric explained, his tone distant like he was trying to grasp something beyond what was immediately visible. "When humanity first reached out into the void, they discovered how to harness mana—this energy that flows through everything. Not just to power machines, but to shape reality itself. And through that power, they advanced beyond what we can even imagine now."
Aldric paused,
"One of their greatest achievements was creating the system that governs all the planets. The unified 24-hour cycle that exists on every planet under the Empire. Each planet's core is embedded with runes, ancient symbols that regulate the flow of time. They maintain the balance, ensuring each day and night lasts the same length, no matter where you are. This was the legacy the Originars left behind."
Wynn listened intently, trying to wrap his mind around it all. "So, every planet...has the same length of day and night?"
"Yes," Aldric nodded. "It's no coincidence. They installed something called the rune system using runes embedded on the core of each planet, creating a perfect synchronization across the Empire. Even on the farthest reaches, like Zerith, the cycle is the same as it is on Earth or Helios. All thanks to those runes they placed in the heart of each world."
"Then why… Why is Zerith so different?" Wynn asked, his voice tinged with confusion and a bit of pain. "If they were a part of something so mighty and great, then Why the Hell were people like me still struggling to survive?"
Aldric's expression grew serious, his gaze distant, "One day for reasons beyond us the Originars faded, and in their place, the Empire rose. Zerith was left behind when the Empire initially took shape since it was too taxing to venture too far whilst civilization was being rebuilt, Zerith was sidelined and it's been that way ever since." He paused, his eyes holding a glimpse of the knowledge hidden behind them.
"The runes of the Originars were preserved, but their knowledge was lost, their technology buried beneath centuries of dust. The people of Zerith were left with fragments—relics of a time when humanity had control over more than just their survival."
Wynn sat back on the platform, letting the weight of Aldric's words sink in. The planets were all somehow tied to a lost civilization that had once been the pinnacle of human achievement.
But why was it all shrouded in mystery?
What the Hell is going on? He couldn't help but think to himself
"Getting back on topic, we have Earth, the Heart of The Human Empire. All I can tell you about Earth is that it's perfect, almost too perfect."
He continued, "Even the commoners on Earth, though considered the lowest among the elite, are not just ordinary citizens. They hold a unique status, their position within society elevated far beyond their counterparts on other planets. Known as Luminaires, the commoners are akin to the viscounts of other planets."
Wynn's brow furrowed, trying to make sense of Aldric's words. "Luminaires? So, Earth has commoners who aren't really common? And they're like… viscounts? What in the bastard Seven Dukes does that even mean?"
Aldric sighed, his gaze shifting to the stars beyond the reinforced glass as if seeking some comfort in their distant glow. "It means Earth is not like the other planets. Not by a long shot.
Earth is the center of everything. The empire's heart, its power, its wealth—it all radiates from there. Everyone on Earth, even the lowest-born, has some semblance of influence, something that sets them apart from the rest of the universe. Luminaires, for example, may not have noble titles, but they hold a status that far exceeds the common folk of other planets. They don't have to work as hard to survive, to climb up, to get by. It's as if they were born with a golden ticket."
Wynn leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the platform. "But why? Why does Earth get all the privileges? What makes it so special?"
Aldric's lips twisted into a faint, almost sad smile.
"Because Earth is where it all began. Where humanity's legacy was forged. The Originars—the ones who created the rune system that binds the empire together—were from Earth. Everything you see now, every planet, every colony, every bit of magic… it all traces back to Earth." He paused for a moment, his voice lowering to a whisper.
"And, as much as it's celebrated for being the cradle of civilization, Earth's perfection is its greatest curse."
Wynn blinked, not fully understanding. "A curse? How could perfection be a curse?"
A pause hung between them as Aldric's gaze drifted back to the stars, his thoughts seemingly far away.
"I used to think Earth was a place of unparalleled greatness. But now, I see it for what it truly is. A gilded cage."
He continued his gaze strangely getting more and more distant, "Everything there is controlled. Everything there is designed to keep the people in check. It's almost strange, Wynn..."
"What's strange?"
Aldric continued his voice barely more than a whisper as if he were talking to himself instead of Wynn, "It's as if the planets, Earth, the Emperor...."
Aldric's eyes suddenly widened.
His words trailed off and his expression twisted in a way that unsettled Wynn to his core. His voice grew louder, more erratic as if fighting to escape something contained deep within him.
"IT'S AS IF—AS IF—…."
Wynn's heart raced. Fear crept up his spine, his mind desperately trying to make sense of the sudden shift in Aldric's demeanor. His words, half-spoken in a frantic outburst, hung in the air like a thunderclap waiting to break.
"THE EMP-"
Suddenly Aldric paused. His body going rigid.
He blinked, focusing on Wynn for the first time since his outburst. The wild energy in his expression faded,
"I'm sorry, Wynn of Grimhaven. I don't know what came over me. We'll continue this conversation later. For now... I'd recommend speaking with the others. Ask them whatever you need to know."
Without waiting for a response, Aldric turned abruptly, striding towards the exit. His footsteps echoed faintly as he left, leaving Wynn alone
Wynn sat motionless for a moment.
"Well, that was bloody messed up," He muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He gazed at the exit for a little while longer then stood up and went to the edge of the room where he had spotted a small stack of empty notebooks that served as antiques as well as a few quills. He picked one up, took a quill, and began writing.
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry for being an irresponsible child. I wish I could see you again to laugh with you all over again, but I know that isn't possible.
I'm sorry you had to die.
I'm sorry for being weak.
But don't you dare worry about me.
I've ended up on some weird fuc- spaceship, led by even weirder people, but Hey, spoiler alert?
The leader guy is even weirder
If you ask me what I think of him... Well.... He gives me the vibe of
A man who has died a billion times.