The dim light of the prison cell flickered sporadically, casting long, distorted shadows across the metallic walls. Aidan sat on the cold bench, his back pressed against the wall, arms resting on his knees. The room was small and bare, save for the faint blue glow of containment fields humming at the entrance. The ship's steady vibrations reminded him they were moving, likely en route to the Aeloria branch family's home.
Aidan's mind raced as he tried to devise an escape plan. The system interface flickered faintly before his eyes, its usual calm tone echoing in his thoughts.
[System Scan: Environment Detected]
Location: Prison Cell, Aeloria AscendancySecurity Status: High-Level Containment
Aidan sighed in frustration. The system, while useful for identifying threats and providing details about others, seemed unable to offer practical solutions for his current predicament. He clenched his fists, his mind filled with a mix of fear and determination.
He had no intention of dying here. Not before avenging his family. The image of their faces, their laughter, and the warmth of their presence haunted him. Every decision he had made since that fateful day had been driven by the need to survive, to grow stronger, and to one day bring justice to those who had taken everything from him. He would not let the Darnath family or anyone else rob him of that chance.
As he brooded, the sound of shuffling footsteps drew his attention. Across the narrow corridor, another cell housed a fellow prisoner. The man's face was gaunt, his eyes sunken but sharp with intelligence. He leaned against the containment field, the glow casting eerie shadows on his face.
"You're new here," the man said, his voice hoarse but steady. "What's your name, kid?"
Aidan hesitated before replying. "Aidan. And you?"
"Call me Varn," the man said with a faint smirk. "Looks like you've gotten yourself into quite the mess."
"Yeah, you could say that," Aidan muttered. "Do you know where they're taking us?"
Varn's smirk faded, replaced by a grim expression. "They're taking us to Darnath Prime. It's the central planet of the Aeloria branch family's domain. A fortress world, heavily guarded and nearly impossible to escape from."
Aidan's stomach sank. "Why are they taking you?"
"Let's just say I've made some enemies," Varn said cryptically. "But enough about me. You don't look like the usual type they drag in. What did you do to get on their bad side?"
Aidan hesitated, debating how much to reveal. "I found something they want. Something valuable."
Varn raised an eyebrow. "Valuable enough to risk bringing you to their stronghold? Must be something special."
"It's complicated," Aidan said, avoiding the man's probing gaze.
"Complicated" seemed to be an understatement. Everything about the Darnath family reeked of power and danger. Varn chuckled dryly, sensing Aidan's apprehension.
"Everything's complicated with the Darnath family. They're one of the oldest and most powerful branches in this galaxy. Their influence spans dozens of planets, and their army is unmatched. If they're after you, kid, you're in deep trouble."
Aidan's mind reeled at the revelation. He had heard whispers of powerful families and their sprawling empires, but this was the first time he truly grasped the scale of their reach. "What about the galaxy?" he asked. "How does it all fit together?"
Varn's expression softened slightly. "This galaxy, the Naryon Expanse, is divided among a handful of dominant families and factions. The Darnath family controls the Soltherion sector, but they're not the only players. There are rival families, independent planets, and even rogue groups that operate in the shadows. It's a delicate balance of power, constantly shifting."
"How do you know so much about all this?" Aidan asked.
Varn leaned back, smirking. "Let's just say I've been around. Unlike you, apparently. What's your story? How do you know so little about the galaxy?"
Aidan hesitated before answering. "I was a miner. Spent most of my life underground. Didn't exactly get the chance to learn about politics or power struggles."
Varn's smirk faded, replaced by a look of understanding. "A miner, huh? That explains a lot. Guess you've had a rough life. But let me give you some advice: if you want to survive out here, you need to learn fast. Knowledge is power, especially when you're dealing with families like the Darnath."
"What else can you tell me about them?" Aidan asked.
"Plenty," Varn said, his tone darkening. "The Darnath family is ruthless. They've crushed countless rivals, enslaved entire planets, and conducted experiments that would make your skin crawl. And their branch families aren't any better. The Aeloria branch is infamous for its cruelty. They've been known to use prisoners like us for… let's just say unspeakable things."
"Why does no one stop them? Are they that powerful?" asked Aidan in shock.
"They are powerful, yes, but there are families as strong as them," said Varn. "But fighting against someone as big as Darnath means a war on a planetary level, and no family wants to make that kind of sacrifice. Plus, to normal people, they won't even know the cruelty of the Darnath. In their eyes, they're just heroes who protect them from monsters."
Aidan's chest tightened at the thought. "What about beast taming? How many tamers does the Darnath family have?"
Varn's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ah, beast taming. Now that's a game changer. The Darnath family has some of the most powerful tamers in the galaxy. They use beasts as weapons, tools, and even symbols of their power. Tamers bond with beasts, gaining their abilities and using them in battle. But it's not just about strength. It's about control. The stronger the beast, the harder it is to tame. And the Darnath are masters of control, especially their leader, Lord Kael Darnath, who has reached the formidable Violet level."
Aidan's curiosity deepened. "What's the Violet level? How does cultivation even work?"
Varn leaned back, a faint smirk on his face. "You've got a lot to learn, kid. Cultivation levels in beast taming are tied to the strength of the beasts you tame and the soul energy you develop. When you first tame a beast, you're at the Black level, or what we call the entry level. From there, it progresses through Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and finally Violet. Each level represents a massive leap in power and control. The stronger your beasts and the more you refine your soul space, the higher you climb."
"Black level is just the beginning," he continued. "Red and Orange are common for most tamers. Yellow is where things get serious—people at that level can tame mid-tier beasts. Green and Blue are for the elites, taming beasts that can devastate entire armies. Indigo is rare, reserved for those who can command legendary beasts. And Violet… well, that's the stuff of legends. Only a handful in the galaxy have ever reached it.""
"I was a beast tamer myself, peak Yellow rank," Varn added. "Even stronger than the person guarding this ship."
Aidan was shocked to hear that the person sitting in front of him was so powerful. Before he could ask more, Varn interrupted. "I know what you want to ask. How did I end up like this, right? It's simple. All my beasts died, leading to severe problems in my soul. So much that even a normal person could kill me now."
"Soul?" Aidan asked in confusion.
"Oh yes, sorry. I forgot you don't know about it. Every person has some amount of soul energy, which you can use for taming beasts. After taming, a person creates a soul space where they can store their beasts. The more your cultivation increases, the more your soul space expands, and you can tame more monsters."
Aidan's mind raced as he absorbed the information. The world of beast taming was far more intricate and dangerous than he had imagined. If he wanted to survive, he would need to learn everything he could about it.
Before he could ask more questions, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. Two guards approached, their uniforms marked with red accents and silver stars on their collars. The system interface activated automatically, providing details about them:
[System Scan: Targets Identified]
Target: Guard 1Name: Calen RhysCultivation: High Red StageAffiliation: Aeloria Branch FamilyRole: Security GuardAdditional Information: Member of the Rhys family, known for producing elite guards for the Aeloria family.
Target: Guard 2Name: Maira TannCultivation: High Red StageAffiliation: Aeloria Branch FamilyRole: Security GuardAdditional Information: From the Tann family, specializing in defense tactics and loyalty training.
The guards stopped in front of Aidan's cell. "Time to move," Calen said, his voice cold and commanding.
Aidan stood reluctantly, his mind racing. As the containment field deactivated, he cast a glance at Varn, who gave him a faint nod. "Good luck, kid. You're going to need it."
The guards escorted Aidan through the ship's corridors, their footsteps echoing in unison. The halls were sterile and silent, save for the faint hum of the ship's engines. Aidan's thoughts churned as he tried to piece together a plan, but the system remained frustratingly silent, offering no solutions.
As they approached another section of the ship, Aidan caught glimpses of other prisoners being escorted or confined. Each face bore a mix of fear and resignation, a stark reminder of the power wielded by the Aeloria family.
Finally, they arrived at a larger chamber, its walls adorned with the Aeloria insignia. The guards gestured for Aidan to enter, their expressions unreadable. As he stepped inside, the door closed behind him with a heavy clang, leaving him alone once more. The system's interface flickered faintly, displaying a single message:
[System Notice: Hostile Environment Detected]
Aidan clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest. He didn't know how or when, but he vowed to find a way out of this nightmare. For now, he would have to bide his time and gather whatever information he could. The fight for his freedom was far from over.