“Cosmos was exceptionally frail compared to the others. The Stars relished in battle and pleasure; constantly seeking entertainment to distract themselves from their eternal life. Unlike them, Cosmos didn’t desire much. She was content living in her small little corner of the universe, her power of creation deemed feeble by the other Stars. All she could do was create objects, a simple power, and so she spent the eons isolated from the others. Still, she was satisfied. However, one day, she grew slightly lonely. There was a twinge of emptiness inside of her that grew as time passed. “How nice it would be if there was someone that could share this eternity with me,” she thought sadly one day. Suddenly, a burst of light appeared before her, molding itself into the shape of her image. Her power had granted her wish, and thus life was born for the very first time.”

An excerpt from chapter 2 of The Nebulas

———

The Knight

The Knight looks down upon itself, covered in the blood and grime of battle, and examines the erosion on its armor.

“How long has it been?” it reminisces. But in the end, the passing of time doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that it survived.

As it always has. As it always will.

Grief overtakes The Knight as a millennia of suffering washes over it in an instant.

How long must it remain shackled to its duty? Will it ever find an end? It stands motionless, consumed by its melancholy.

A loud coo interrupts its thoughts. The baby shakes its tiny hands at the being, upset at the lack of attention. Its expression conveys annoyance, as if commanding The Knight to play with it.

Reluctance flashes across its face, realizing the identity of the baby and the duty it must complete.

“I can’t,” it whispers.

“But you must.”

A haunting voice invades its mind. The sweet sound permeates its body, gently enveloping them in a blanket of comfort. It feels ethereal, not quite of this world, an echo of the past brought forth from ancient memories.

“You promised me,” the voice pleads. “No matter the cost. No matter the sacrifice.”

“It has just been born,” The Knight replies weakly. It has committed many terrible atrocities in the past, but not this. Anything but this.

“It is your duty, my shining Constellation. As it always has been. As it always will be.”

It hesitantly unsheathes the Solga and directs it towards the baby’s throat. The Comet continues to gurgle mindlessly, innocently unaware of The Knight’s inner conflict.

It raises the blade-

And stabs itself in the leg.

A searing pain courses through it, the fiery aura smoldering in its veins, but the pain also gets rid of the voice leaving only the sounds of gurgles and coos to fill the room.

“I understand…my duty,” The Knight says between gasps. “But I’m tired. So…so tired.”

It gives a sad glance at the baby who became startled at the sudden aggression. Tears well up in its small, pudgy eyes, and a quiet whimper begins to leak out.

“I’m getting weaker,” it mutters, the realization directed towards itself more than any other. “One day, The Comet will defeat me. I won’t be there to protect your children. Nothing lasts forever; our fate is inevitable.”

The Knight gently comforts the startled baby, stroking its back and lulling it to sleep with an ancient song of old.

“Even so, this baby may just represent an opportunity. One that will allow me to finally rest. To be by your side again. Forgive me just once, my beloved, and maybe I will be able to end this baleful cycle once and for all.”

The baby slowly drifts off to sleep and snuggles himself into its arms, his previous nap rudely interrupted.

The Knight lets out a soft smile, gently rocking the bundle of warmth that lays before it.

“Your name shall be Aegis, for it is my dearest wish that you grow to shield the ones you love. Unlike I, who takes away.”

———

Xeros

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Far beyond the reaches of The Æternum, located at the very heart of Nox Caelum, an imposing man paces back and forth within his war room. Dark red energy crackles beneath his feet with every step he takes, and the air surrounding him threatens to suffocate any that draw near. Long platinum hair trails above his charcoal cloak, and a perpetual scowl adorns his face, grizzled with age and war, while a deep gash lays scarred on his right eye.

The man feels a strange sense of unease. Did Gravitas fail his mission? Or did Polus not have The Comet within the Alexandria?

He has planned this ambush for months, vigilantly waiting for The Polus to make their move. He already knew of The Comet’s location when its cry first rang throughout the world; The Æternum’s nature provided almost too obvious of a sanctuary. Even so, he did not stir. “This may just be an opportunity to get rid of one of those winged pests,” he thought to himself at the time, and so he disguised his true intentions with inactivity in order to lure The Alexandria out into the unprotected forest.

Everything should have been perfect. So just where is this unease coming from? The man growls to himself, hoping that it is but a mere bout of nerves. Gravitas is a capable commander, but his eccentricities often conflict with The Grand General’s serious nature. Still, he has his use, and he would not fall easily even if his foe is Lorelai.

He lets out a deep, husky sigh and seats himself at the end of the table. Soon, trusted advisors and adjutants from all over the empire come trailing in, each one saluting the man before situating themselves around the war table.

“…Report,” he commands.

“Yes Grand General,” the senior strategist replies. “In regards to the first matter of our agenda, the eastern front is still holding strong. It appears that The Arch Magus is unaware that Commander Gravitas has left his station, and no large assaults have been made at the border besides a few small skirmishes."

“Proceeding as planned. What about our business talks with The President?”

“Our proceedings are still at a standstill, sir. The President continues to refuse our request for more automated golems. However, we were able to negotiate a price for a number of their chemical weapons and metal ingots, although the total cost is slightly above our designated budget.”

“That gold-obsessed woman is stubborn as ever, but not unexpected. Agree to the terms and continue to pressure her into selling the golems. We will invade Futurum eventually, but now is not the time. We must first focus on obtaining The Comet.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now… what of the expedition led by Gravitas?”

The strategist swallows nervously, reluctant to read the report. Xeros notices the change in their behavior and grimaces, preparing for the worst.

“The status of Commander Gravitas is currently unknown. Our scouts have reported sensing loud vibrations within the earth, so it is assumed that the ambush succeeded in collapsing the Alexandria. For a few hours after, traces of battle could be heard in the distance with the sounds stopping completely around thirteen hours ago. However, the scouts were unable to progress further as The Æternum’s miasma drifted back above the earth, and no word has been heard from Commander Gravitas’s expedition since then.

A thunderous crash startles the room as Xeros smashes the war table into two with a single slam of his fist; A poorly veiled expression of rage covers his face.

“… And what of the Polus,” Xeros seethes, barely holding back his anger.

“Yes, it seems that the Polus aren’t making any moves for now. Scouts did report seeing some of The Seraph flying near the border, but none have entered the forest.”

“So Lorelai has failed as well.”

Xeros’s expression slightly softens. Perhaps there may be good news after all.

“I apologize for my… unsightly display.” Xeros coughs. “What are the coordinates of the battlefield? I shall conjure The Corvid’s Eye.”

“Yes sir, please direct your gaze towards the map.”

With the war table collapsed, two soldiers hastily grab at the sides of the map and hold it in place in front of The Grand General.

“The battle appears to have taken place at the northeastern outskirts of the forest, so the best location for The Corvid’s Eye is right… here.”

The strategist marks the location with a bright red x.

“I see. Everyone stand back.”

The atmosphere begins to tense and faint reddish-black energy begins to crackle from Xeros’s body. Sparks of dark lightning sizzle the surroundings, and the malevolent energy concentrates at the tip of his fingers.

He brings his hand up, and lets loose the thunderous aura straight into his scarred eye.