Chapter 6

  Manve?n, "The Eyes"

  One week earlier.

  Aaronn was aboard a spacecraft heading for his home planet: Arthémis. He was traveling there to prepare for his next mission. Just behind the command seats stood the ship’s control table, which granted access to the data shared among the various factions of the Arcane.

  Aaronn stood right in front of it. He tapped the touch screen, and a holographic projection appeared in midair. A galactic map displayed the ship’s coordinates beside a green dot. Using his fingers, he zoomed out to obtain an overview of the Milky Way.

  It appeared as a spiral of stars converging toward a single point: a massive supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s core. To the north, along one of the spiral arms—the Perseus Arm—stretched the territory of the Arcane. It was represented by an orange octagonal shape filled with countless shimmering points, each corresponding to an affiliated planetary system.

  Aaronn pointed to a yellow dot slightly farther west, still on the same spiral arm. The map zoomed in on the Anago system. With a smooth gesture, he continued on to the planet Eleusia.

  A magnificent world, whose vivid cyan oceans bathed the ship in light. Aaronn rotated the planet, revealing two vast twin continents. Just above it, a semi-transparent representation of the floating island of Eile?n drifted peacefully through space.

  With a simple touch of his finger, he selected the planet. Floating data appeared to his right:

  Planet Name: Eleusia

  Circumference: 22,323

  Population: 5,500,000

  Fauna Hazard Level: B+

  …

  Focused on the information, he vaguely sensed his father approaching behind him.

  “A magnificent planet, isn’t it?” his father began, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be going there next week to introduce them to the Arcane.”

  “What do we know about them?”

  “The exploration team reported that they are an intelligent species, with uneven levels of development depending on the region. I went there myself with your two sisters.”

  Aaronn glanced sideways at his father, Arthé?s. He shared the same medium-length brown hair, though he lacked his father’s full beard. A large brown cape was fastened to Arthé?s’s armor by golden ornaments.

  The amused smile lifting his father’s cheekbones never escaped Aaronn’s notice. Combined with the vibrant glow in his emerald-green eyes, there was no mistaking it: his father was excited about sending him on this mission.

  “What’s making you smile like that?” Aaronn asked.

  “Nothing out of the ordinary. I’ve always loved challenges. With your sisters and your mother, we agreed it was the perfect place for you to complete your Rite of Initiation to the Will.”

  What? Aaronn’s heart skipped a beat. He had suspected that sending him alone on a unification mission was unusual—but not to the point of making it the final phase of his initiation. Neither Aaliyah nor Ashe, his second sister, had been required to do theirs on a planet outside the Arcane.

  “Really? Why Eleusia? What did you see there?”

  Arthé?s tapped the planet to hide its data, then selected the island of Eile?n.

  “Their people are divided into two parts: Eile?n and the world below. The royal palace stands on the former. The ‘powerful’ versus the ‘weak.’ A familiar pattern.”

  “What do you want me to do there?”

  “I want you to destroy that boundary in the minds of the people. To advance them a millennium in less than a lifetime. For Eile?n to become a bearer of prosperity for all its people, rather than a safeguard against them. For this trial, you will receive no outside assistance. You will be alone. The only exception is that you may request Aaliyah’s intervention—no more than three times.”

  Aaronn’s eyes widened in shock. He had long awaited the final phase of his initiation to the Will, but this challenge surpassed anything he had imagined.

  “That’s the work of several generations.”

  “Correct. But you are not just anyone, and you do not come from just anywhere. The Will is the power to turn the impossible into reality. The objects you manage to create through it are merely the result of your persistence in confronting what is real with what is not.”

  “What is the lower world enduring to draw so much of your attention? I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

  “The people of Eile?n believe themselves chosen by the Gods. The people below lack their extraordinary abilities, and so the chosen permit themselves to rule unjustly, claiming divine superiority. Am I myself an exceptional being, entitled to intervene in their world? I don’t think so. That’s why I’m not sending you to judge them—but to educate them. Those who wish it. I want you to teach the people below the true power that slumbers within them.”

  Wasn’t that the same thing? His father surely knew that if he succeeded, the planet would be profoundly altered.

  “There is a resistance on Eleusia,” Arthé?s continued. “A group of men and women seeking to overthrow Eile?n.”

  “And what if I changed Eile?n first?” Aaronn suggested. “So that they would be the ones to educate their people.”

  A conflicted expression crossed his father’s face. Aaronn wasn’t convinced by his own idea—and neither was Arthé?s.

  “Follow your intuition,” Arthé?s said. “Do as you see fit. But the outcome of your mission remains the same: the people must learn to turn their faith inward. And besides… it’s a very important planet. It holds vast reserves of amarite, which could help us develop the Arcane.”

  Aaronn didn’t know what to say. The scope of his mission seemed far greater than those his sisters had faced during the final phase of their initiation. Arthé?s noticed his son’s uncertainty.

  “Are you afraid, Aaronn?”

  “I have to admit, it doesn’t reassure me, Father. How can I know what is right? How can I intervene in their world, preaching what is good or evil?”

  Outside the context of his initiation, integrating a planet into the Arcane required long negotiations. Multiple exploration and unification teams—along with his father himself—worked tirelessly to help a new civilization adapt.

  Yet today, his father told him he would go alone. He would not only complete his initiation, but also maximize the chances of integrating Eleusia into the Arcane—without any external support.

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  “This trial exists to teach you the answers to those questions,” Arthé?s replied.

  “Of course,” Aaronn sighed. “What I don’t like is you dropping this on me all at once. I would’ve liked time to prepare.”

  Arthé?s chuckled in his deep voice and tapped his son’s shoulder, leaning close to his ear.

  “I find you perform best this way. And that’s not all,” he added. “Your abilities are far too great for this mission. I’m going to place a limiting spell on you.”

  “What!? Seriously? Isn’t that a bit excessive? Aaliyah didn’t have that condition. Neither did Ashe!”

  “It’s different for your sisters… I was far weaker than I am today when I ended the Arthémian dictatorship across the galaxy. I expect as much from you. I’m certain you can succeed.”

  Aaronn regained consciousness. His muscles were numb, his head felt like it weighed a ton. He struggled to open his eyes, his eyelids just as heavy. When he finally managed, he glimpsed a stone ceiling above him. The walls and floor were of the same material.

  He painfully pushed himself upright on what appeared to be a medical table. The white sheet covering him slid down to his waist, revealing his bare torso.

  He had no idea where he was. He searched his surroundings for answers, but found only storage cabinets lining the wall opposite him. Suddenly, the door opened and a woman entered, wearing a long white lab coat that fell just above her high-heeled shoes.

  “You’re already awake?” she said, mildly surprised.

  She had blue eyes and blonde hair loosely tied into a bun. She appeared to be in her early thirties.

  “Where am I?”

  The question brought his mission rushing back—his fight against Magnus resurfacing in his memory. He had lost. And now he was supposed to bring the leader of the resistance to the palace.

  “I’m Maude, the doctor of this mining facility. We received orders from the king to keep you here. I wasn’t given any further information.”

  She opened one of her desk drawers, retrieved a small circular device, and placed it on Aaronn’s chest. It adhered automatically to his skin, numbers scrolling across its screen.

  Aaronn let her proceed. He sensed no ill intent.

  “What is that?” he asked.

  “I’m taking your readings. I’m honestly surprised you’re still alive—and even more so that I watched your wounds close with my own eyes. I’m not supposed to ask this, but… where are you from, and who are you?”

  “My name is Aaronn Karselfeni, and I come from Arthémis,” he replied without hesitation. “A planet several light-years from yours.”

  He had no intention of being discreet.

  The young woman let out a faint, mocking smile—then quickly suppressed it when she saw he wasn’t joking.

  “I find that hard to believe. This mine is mostly populated by criminals from the continent’s major cities.”

  “Then how do you explain the fact that I can heal so easily?” Aaronn asked.

  The doctor fell silent. She hurriedly removed the device and put it away.

  “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, closing the drawer without looking away.

  After a brief hesitation, she lifted her gaze. Her expression shifted into one of guilty curiosity, as though she were grasping at an explanation. Her aura fluctuated around her, unable to stabilize. She glanced toward the door to make sure it was closed, then lowered her voice.

  “Eleusians don’t recover from such injuries overnight—I know that. Only the chosen could display such abilities. Grufus of the ‘Shield’ is known for his regenerative power, without enchantment. And it’s impossible for multiple chosen to possess the same power at once. Especially since you don’t have silver eyes.”

  Her tone blended professionalism, confession, and accusation. She seemed disappointed by her own conclusion.

  “Where are you going with this?” Aaronn asked.

  “N… nowhere. Doubting the king’s word is a sin. Get dressed!”

  She quickly grabbed the clothes hanging on the door and tossed them at him. Aaronn found her reaction intriguing. For a moment, she had seen in him a possible path toward the chosen.

  Ignoring the fact that he was naked, he stood and pulled on the brown tunic and trousers she had given him. Embarrassed by his nonchalance, the young woman half-turned away.

  “Where is my armor?” Aaronn asked.

  “C… confiscated by a light warrior. Since you seem to be in good shape, you’ll be taken to your dormitory.”

  “My dormitory?”

  “Yes. As I said, this place holds mostly criminals, so the king puts them to work. You live, eat, and sleep here. You can’t leave. You’re serving your sentence.”

  “My sentence?”

  “Yes. The king ordered you to serve a sentence of 188 years here, in Mine A-6. I don’t know the charges.”

  Aaronn didn’t understand. Was this a prison disguised as a labor facility? Had Magnus sent him to the lower world as a test? To force him to escape? Or was the king trying to obstruct his progress?

  “I see. I’m ready.”

  He accepted the situation. Even with his powers limited, escaping would be trivial—as long as he avoided light warriors.

  A guard came to escort him from the infirmary. He wore a pale khaki military uniform and gripped his rifle tightly. His pauldrons, knee guards, and helmet were rounded and reinforced.

  “Follow me,” he ordered.

  When they exited the room, Aaronn was struck by the sheer scale of the place and the deafening clang of tools against stone. They were inside a mountain. He stepped closer to the railing. A dark shaft plunged even deeper below.

  “Hey! Move it!” the guard barked. “Don’t make me drag you.”

  Aaronn resumed walking. The metal walkway clung to the mine’s walls, leading to the various operational levels.

  Farther ahead, at the center where a column of light descended, lay a vast platform serving as an elevator to the surface. Workers all around hauled and loaded heavy crates. Open bins held dark gray stones studded with deep blue crystals. Aaronn immediately recognized the material the Arcane needed: amarite.

  “You carve the stone by hand here?” he asked.

  The guard shot him a harsh sideways glance, still walking.

  “Yes. That’s how you serve your sentence.”

  They continued along the walkway before climbing stairs to the upper level.

  “The dormitories are at the end of this passage. You’ll spend the night there before starting your tasks,” the guard said.

  Aaronn barely listened. He looked up, gauging the distance to the surface—about forty meters. An opening roughly ten meters wide let daylight stream in.

  With a sharp snap, Aaronn shattered his handcuffs. The guard spun around, alerted by the sound of breaking steel.

  “Hey! What are you doing!?”

  Aaronn ignored him and vaulted over the railing. His feet found purchase in midair, and he sprinted toward the exit.

  “Look!” shouted several miners near the elevator.

  “How is he doing that?” echoed others from the walkways.

  Gunfire erupted behind him. Bullets struck his back, but passed straight through as his regeneration took effect.

  “Stop!” the guard yelled. “There’s no point trying to escape!”

  Aaronn kept running. More guards opened fire.

  “Idiot! What are you doing!?” another voice rang out. “It’s useless! Come back!”

  He ignored them all and burst out of the mine. Hot, dry air replaced the oppressive underground atmosphere. Once high enough, he surveyed the area.

  “No… seriously?” he muttered, dismayed.

  An energy shield formed a dome around the entire site. Could he pass through it in his current state? Beyond it stretched a desert of cracked earth and rock to the horizon.

  Below him, a metal cylinder plunged into the ground to house the elevator. Behind it, a massive circular metal structure was embedded in the mountainside, studded with antennas.

  He raised his head, searching for the shield’s power source atop the mountain—but the sun’s glare blinded him. He lifted his hand to shield his eyes, and at that moment, a dark silhouette appeared between his fingers, backlit by the star. His eyes narrowed.

  A man in armor—the same worn by the light warriors. From the back of his helmet, which concealed his entire face, two long white veils streamed behind him. In his right hand, he held a long sword with a luminous blade, shimmering like a prism.

  “No…” Aaronn whispered, caught off guard.

  The warrior descended toward him with regal calm, his armor’s rear thrusters guiding him effortlessly. His deep voice echoed down to Aaronn.

  “I am Manve?n Cr?de, the ‘Eyes’—the king’s vision. Nothing escapes me, Aaronn. I was ordered to be particularly cautious with you. Do not attempt to evade my vigilance, for I can end your life in an instant. The king confines you here for now. I forbid you from attempting to escape until he deems it time to retrieve you.”

  “Why does he want to keep me here!?” Aaronn shot back, utterly confused. “Magnus tasked me with bringing back the leader of the resistance!”

  “I am under no obligation to answer your questions. Now return to the mine,” Manve?n finished coldly.

  “I—”

  Aaronn didn’t have time to finish. Two long beams of light erupted from Manve?n’s eyes, slamming violently into Aaronn’s chest and hurling him back toward the mine’s entrance. He crashed into the metal walls, stone collapsing around him.

  Pain surged through his body, the sheer brutality of the attack leaving him unable to react. His vision blurred as he fell into the mine, crashing onto the central platform.

  A dull thud echoed as he hit the ground. Laughter followed. The damage from the energy attack was clearly visible—his clothes were torn, exposing a deep wound in his chest.

  “Look at him! Stopped by the Eyes! What an idiot!” a voice jeered amid the laughter of the other prisoners.

  “Excuse me! Let me through! Please!”

  A young man slipped between the prisoners toward Aaronn. He passed the last person and knelt beside him.

  “Hey, you still alive?” he asked, tapping Aaronn’s cheek.

  The regenerating muscle fibers and skin caught his attention. Once the wound closed, Aaronn’s eyes snapped open. The young man recoiled instinctively.

  “Move aside! Move aside!” a guard shouted. “Back to work! You—get out of there!”

  Aaronn fully regained consciousness.

  “You’re still alive!?” the guard roared. “Come with me!”