The moment Darius realized what was happening, his fury ignited into action.
"Stop that pod!" he roared, lunging forward.
His soldiers surged ahead, weapons raised, but before they could take another step, Eryndor and his guards intercepted them. Plasma fire erupted in the room, bolts of energy streaking across the air. Aether and Arath moved in unison, covering the console while Arath finalized the launch sequence.
Darius, undeterred, charged toward the pod himself.
But Aether was faster.
He blocked Darius' path, meeting him head-on with a brutal strike. Their enhanced speed made their movements a blur as they clashed, fists and energy-infused strikes colliding with enough force to send shockwaves through the chamber.
"You won't stop this," Aether growled, deflecting a strike aimed at his ribs before countering with a heavy blow to Darius' jaw.
Darius staggered but recovered instantly. His eyes burned with rage. "You're throwing away everything we built, Aether! You think sending your son away will save him?" He dodged a blast from Arath, then snarled. "This isn't over."
The pod's core pulsed as the launch countdown hit its final seconds.
Arath slammed his hand onto the console. "Initiating launch!"
The chamber filled with blinding light as the pod roared to life. Its stabilizers activated, lifting it off the platform. The reinforced walls trembled under the sheer force of energy building up beneath the craft.
Darius' eyes widened in realization. He was out of time.
With a fierce snarl, he activated his suit. The energy field surrounding him intensified, and in an instant, he blasted into the air, propelling himself toward the rapidly ascending pod.
Aether and Arath barely had time to react as he shot past them, streaking through the air like a missile.
For a moment, it seemed as though he might reach the pod before it could break through the escape corridor.
Then, out of nowhere, another figure intercepted him.
A powerful surge of energy struck Darius mid-flight, sending him hurtling backward. He twisted in the air, regaining control just in time to see his attacker land gracefully on a nearby ledge.
It was Ivor Caelis.
Darius froze, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
"You?" he snarled, disbelief clear in his voice.
Ivor stood tall, his expression calm yet unreadable. His armor gleamed under the dim lights of the chamber, and his stance radiated certainty.
"I can't let you stop that pod," Ivor said evenly.
The pod surged upward, disappearing through the launch tunnel.
Darius' fists clenched. "You were the traitor," he hissed. His fury was absolute, but beneath it, there was something else—betrayal.
Ivor didn't flinch. He simply watched as the pod vanished into the void.
Aether and Arath, still below, exchanged a stunned glance. They had never known who had fed them information from the inside.
Now they did.
---
The echoes of battle had faded. What remained was silence—the kind that followed utter defeat.
The once-mighty forces of Aether Lumenis and Arath Syn had been crushed, their remaining allies hunted down and subdued. Now, they were prisoners.
Aether sat against the cold, metallic wall of the detention chamber, his wrists bound by energy restraints. Across from him, Arath rested in a similar position, his expression unreadable despite the bruises forming along his jaw. Around them, their closest allies, including Eryndor and the last of their fighters, were locked in separate containment cells.
The door slid open with a hiss.
Darius Veryon entered.
His usually composed demeanor was shattered by the barely restrained fury in his eyes. His sharp, commanding presence filled the room as he stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back.
Aether met his gaze without fear. "Here to gloat?"
Darius tilted his head. "No. I'm here for answers."
Silence stretched between them.
Darius finally exhaled, shaking his head. "I should have known you'd do something reckless. I underestimated your desperation." He turned toward Arath. "And you. Always the genius. Tell me, Arath—where did you send them?"
Arath smiled faintly. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Darius' jaw tightened. He walked forward slowly, stopping just inches from Arath. "I don't think you understand your situation."
Arath didn't flinch. "Oh, I understand it perfectly. You won the war. You have all of Aetron under your control. But we both know there's a line you can't cross."
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"You can't just execute us," Aether added smoothly. "Not without trial. The Aetranites won't accept a council leader who ignores protocol. You may have taken control, but your rule is not absolute."
Darius smirked, but there was no humor in his expression. "You're testing my patience."
He turned sharply and signaled to the guards outside. The doors slid open once again, and two figures were brought in—Aelina Lumenis and Seris Syn, the wives of Aether and Arath.
Aether's expression remained neutral, but his fingers curled slightly. Arath's eyes flickered with momentary concern before settling back into calm resolve.
Darius stepped between them, glancing from Aether to Arath. "Still so confident? I wonder... will you remain silent if I choose to make an example out of them?"
Aelina held her head high, her translucent skin catching the dim light, her glowing veins pulsing steadily. "You're a fool if you think threats will break them," she said coldly.
Seris added, "You can't kill us without consequence, Darius. You know that."
Darius' smirk faltered.
They were right.
Even with his victory, he had to maintain the illusion of order. If he executed Aether and Arath—or worse, their families—without trial, it would spark an uproar. He had already stretched his power thin by orchestrating this war. The people were wary. Any reckless move now could turn them against him.
He clenched his jaw. "You think you're untouchable?"
Aether leaned back, exhaling slowly. "No. We think you're predictable."
Darius' fists tightened at his sides. For a moment, it seemed like he might lash out, but then he took a deep breath, regaining control of his emotions.
"You will both be tried," he said at last, voice sharp with restrained anger. "And when the verdict is passed, you'll face judgment. Until then, enjoy your cells."
He turned on his heel, signaling for the guards to remove the women.
Aether and Arath remained silent as they watched their wives being led away, neither betraying any fear.
Darius stopped at the door. Without looking back, he muttered, "I will find out where you sent them. One way or another."
The door slid shut behind him, leaving the room in silence once more.
___
With Aetron now nothing more than a distant memory, the two were left to drift across the stars, bound for a world they knew nothing about.
Inside the pod, a soft blue glow illuminated the compact space. The interior was minimalistic yet efficient, designed for long-term survival. Two reclining seats, a central control panel, and storage compartments lined the walls. The pod's advanced life-support system ensured they had breathable air, while a compartment near the back held a limited supply of nutrient pills and water packets—just enough to sustain them until they reached their destination.
Lyra sat in silence, curled up against the seat, her gaze fixed on the transparent viewport above. Beyond it, endless streaks of stars zipped past, distorted by the pod's incomprehensible velocity. She had remained awake since their departure, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Kael, however, remained unconscious beside her, his expression eerily calm despite the chaos they had left behind. His father had made sure he wouldn't resist.
She had tried not to think about it, but the reality was suffocating. They had been sent away. Not by choice, not by force, but by desperation.
She let out a shaky breath and reached for one of the water packets. Tearing it open, she took a small sip, the cool liquid soothing her dry throat. The nutrient pills weren't pleasant, but they were necessary. She forced herself to eat one, knowing it would be days before they arrived.
The pod continued its silent journey, slicing through the fabric of space like a blade through water.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, Kael stirred.
A faint groan escaped him as his fingers twitched, his glowing veins pulsing dimly beneath his translucent skin. His steel-blue eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light inside the pod.
Lyra turned, her voice hesitant. "Kael?"
His brows furrowed, his mind still sluggish from unconsciousness. He blinked a few times before sitting up abruptly.
"What…?" His voice was hoarse, laced with confusion.
His gaze darted around the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, his eyes landed on Lyra.
"Where are we?"
Lyra hesitated. "In the pod."
Kael frowned. Memories rushed back in fragmented pieces—the war, the council's betrayal, his father's determined gaze before everything went black.
He clenched his jaw. "He knocked me out, didn't he?"
Lyra nodded.
Kael inhaled sharply, frustration building. He turned toward the viewport, watching the blurred streaks of stars rush past. "How long have we been traveling?"
" Three days" Lyra answered quietly.
His head snapped toward her. "Three days?"
She nodded again. "The pod is moving at speeds far beyond light. Arath designed it to get us to Earth as fast as possible."
"Earth?" Kael repeated, testing the name.
Lyra reached for the control panel and tapped a few buttons. A holographic display flickered to life, showing a large blue-green planet with a single gray moon.
"This is where we're headed," she explained. "It's a habitable planet, similar to Aetron, but much less advanced. The beings there—Humans—resemble us, but they're weaker, and their technology is primitive compared to ours."
Kael stared at the projection, his mind racing. "And we're just supposed to live there?"
Lyra exhaled. "I don't know."
He clenched his fists. "They sent us away. While they stayed behind and fought."
"They had no choice," Lyra said softly. "If we had stayed, we would've been killed or captured."
Kael ran a hand through his platinum-colored hair, his expression dark. "I should've been there. I could've fought—"
"You would've died," Lyra interrupted, her voice sharp.
Kael looked at her, surprised by her intensity.
Lyra's eyes burned with frustration. "You don't get it, do you? They were losing, Kael. This wasn't just about keeping us safe. It was about survival. If we stayed, we would've been used as leverage—or worse."
Kael remained silent, absorbing her words.
The pod hurtled through the void of space at unimaginable speeds—far beyond the speed of light. Inside, the advanced propulsion systems hummed softly, stabilizing the craft as it pierced through the cosmic expanse. The journey was long, spanning three weeks in total, yet for Kael and Lyra, it felt both endless and fleeting at the same time.
Three weeks and 2 days later.....The pod's systems beeped suddenly, breaking the tense silence.
Lyra checked the display. "We're approaching Earth's solar system."
Kael glanced at the viewport. In the distance, a bright yellow sun burned brilliantly, surrounded by a system of planets.
He narrowed his eyes. "That's their star?"
"Yes," Lyra confirmed. "It provides warmth and light to their planet, just like Aetron's core does for us."
Kael watched as Earth grew larger, its blue oceans and green landmasses coming into focus. "And the moon?"
"It orbits Earth. It's much smaller than our our moon, but it affects the planet's tides and climate."
Kael studied the approaching planet, his expression unreadable. They were about to enter an entirely new world, one they knew nothing about.
For the first time, the weight of being sent away truly settled in.
The pod vibrated slightly as it adjusted its course, preparing for at
mospheric entry.
Kael clenched his fists. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"
Lyra didn't respond. She simply looked at him, her eyes reflecting the same uncertainty he felt.
The pod began its descent.