The river was drying up, leaving behind a thin trickle of water winding among the rocks. They had to follow it, go upstream. How much longer would they have to go on? How much longer could they go on? Someone was standing beside them. But who? Him... no, not him. Maybe this one then? No, not him either, perhaps it was the other one. It didn't matter; someone was there, by their side, as the river ran dry. A blazing sun scorched their pale, fragile skin. The grass beneath their feet withered, and the trees wept their leaves. A scent of death filled the air. Algae lay dying on the scorching pebbles that once lined the riverbed. The polished stones reflected a blinding light, forcing Gwenn to close her eyes, only to open them again.

Her eyelids, heavy as lead, lifted slowly, dispersing the last echoes of the dream. She woke up slowly, becoming aware of her own body. Dryness parched her mouth, tasting of blood. A throbbing pain radiated from her back, arms, and legs, tormenting her. The familiar jolts of her father's off-road vehicle shook her sore muscles. Judging by the smell, she must be in the back of the vehicle. Male voices echoed inside, whispering and arguing. She must have endured a severe punishment, as she didn't recognize her father's voice or her brother's. In fact, she couldn't recall why they were all here either. The surrounding darkness offered no clarity. She strained her ears, hoping to unravel the mystery around her. A deep, exasperated voice, speaking in the Empire's smooth language, remarked:

"This isn't good, kid... Not good at all. We're running low on fuel, and we don't have much of a lead on them. If they've found a new vehicle, it won't be long before we're up to our necks in trouble! If only you'd let me drop deadweight..."

"No way, old timer! She saved my life... I'm not going through that whole spiel again!" interrupted a younger, familiar voice.

"You want my opinion? It's her life she's saved, especially looking at her now. A fresh, clean transport. Bodyguards, no less. Some folks would pay a pretty penny to travel through the Zone with an old mercenary and his young lackey. But no! It seems we're in the charity business now. Off we go, ladies and gentlemen, all thanks to our good hearts. Damn, can't you find it strange? I mean, you get abducted by crazies – after I leave you for barely three hours – then, you're freed by the same crazies' kid, and you escape in their car with keys she handed you herself..."

"Listen..." the familiar voice tried to temper.

"And now we're supposed to take her to town!?" the other one continued without stopping. "What if it's a trick, a setup to infiltrate our defenses? Have you thought about that? What will we say when Julius comes asking? What will we say to justify being complete idiots? Because we'll be the ones responsible!" he exclaimed.

"That we didn't have a choice! That I gave my word..." replied the young one.

"Your word, your word! Do you think the council will give a damn about your word? We almost got banished, I remind you! This hole in the middle of nowhere was supposed to be our penance, a way to redeem ourselves, not create more problems!" said the older one with frustration.

"I know, no need to remind me," mumbled the youngster. "Anyway, it's pointless to discuss it. There might not even be a city or a council left when we arrive."

"What are you talking about now? You assured me the message got through!" the elder exclaimed.

"It got through! But I'm not sure it was understood..." the younger one said with concern.

"What does that mean...?" the old man growled. "

There was this senator... Arpégions. He wouldn't hear anything, impossible to reason with him," the teenager explained.

"Wait, Arpégions, you talked to Arpégions, the one from the first circle?" the middle-aged man asked, surprised.

"Yes, in person."

"And? What did he say?"

"Well... I told him that an army was going to land, that they needed to prepare to face it, to prepare for evacuation..."

"Evacuate? Why would he want to evacuate Aurumont? The city is protected by the Ether."

"Maybe, but neither Aquaflumen nor Sylvaroma, nor any of the colonies in their path are. They were going to get slaughtered..." the young man defended.

"Damn kid, what did you tell him?" The boy swallowed and reluctantly repeated,

"I might have told him that... if they didn't welcome them within their walls, or at least if they didn't warn them... I would avenge their deaths with his...".

Silence filled the cabin. The old man cleared his throat and spoke in such a calm tone that it became unsettling: "Sorry, can you repeat that, I must have misunderstood. I thought I heard you say you threatened to kill a senator."

"All those families..."

"You threatened to kill a senator!" the old man shouted. "Damn it, kid, what's going on in your birdbrain? Wasn't the last time enough for you? Wasn't it enough to get us thrown to the Empire's borders? You want to get us executed now? Your little hero complex has cost us enough! I assure you, this time I won't be around to take care of one more idiot senator. It was already a miracle that Julius didn't throw us in chains! But now, with this..."

"I'm really sorry..." the teenager flattened.

"You're damn right you're sorry. Did you think for a second about us? About Venig? Do you have any idea what he's risking by showing up like this after what you've done...?" the other man asked angrily.

"Listen to me, please! Okay, I didn't think about all of this at the time, but you should have heard him, with his sweet voice, it was almost contemptuous, as if he didn't care that the colonies were going to be destroyed. So, maybe, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, but how could I accept to obey an empire that doesn't give a damn about its inhabitants' lives? As for Venig, I'm sure he'll manage, he's cunning and audacious, he won't be fooled so easily. And anyway, as long as we're not there, we can't do anything to help him," the younger one pleaded.

The older man stared at him for a moment. "Very well, kid. I see you've thought of everything," he said sarcastically. "So I suppose we'll make do with whatever we find." He continued, in a stern voice. "And about your other whim, the one snoring in the back seat? Have you thought that through too?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child, please. She helped me, and I'm helping her in return, that's all. Once we get to the city, we won't hear about her anymore..." explained the boy.

"You know nothing about her," the older man interrupted. "Nothing about her intentions, nothing about the role you play in her plans. You're asking me to trust your judgment when you've just made the biggest mistake of your damn life! There's a significant risk that you're completely wrong about her. A risk I'm not willing to take!" he concluded, resolute.

"In that case, my friend, how can I convince you?" the youngster tried.

"I don't know, kid. My gut tells me this whole thing is a load of crap. I'm not sure you can..." the older one hesitated.

"Maybe I can..." Gwenn whispered from the back seat.

A violent brake sent her crashing against the driver's seat. Up front, the doors slammed shut. Hurried footsteps circled the vehicle. She sat up and pressed her head against the window to see what was happening. Outside, it was dark. The clear windows betrayed the absence of wind. The moon took advantage of this to make a splendid appearance in the sky, its bluish halo outlining the shadows. In the half-light, she could make out one of the guys pacing in front of the car. He wasn't very tall, probably the young man who had been sitting in the passenger seat. The trunk opened, revealing a second, taller figure. The man quickly rummaged through the trunk and pulled something out. Outside, the young man caught her spying and waved a conscript's hand at her. She couldn't quite remember where she had seen him before. Suddenly, the car door swung open.

She was carried away by her own weight, feeling the void swallow her. The chilly evening breeze replaced the humid warmth of the cabin. A powerful hand grabbed her by the collar. Without mercy, she was pulled outside, facing the vehicle. In the headlights' glow, she discovered an old chair, its metal corroded by rust, supporting a yellowed plastic seat dotted with strange stains. "Pop's chair?!" she thought, bewildered. She struggled with all her might, in vain. The hand gripping her neck remained firm, and the restraints were tight. She was forced to sit down. With a violent kick, she tipped the worn-out seat. The man holding her sighed in frustration. He muttered something she couldn't understand. The younger voice spoke beyond the glare of the headlights, trying to reassure her. The man in front of her mumbled again.

The next moment, a sharp pain shot through her leg. Mud filled her nostrils as she hit the ground hard, her hands still bound. Behind her, the stranger was busy. Even before she could try to get up, he returned with the chair. Clearing his throat, he calmly asked her to sit down. She remained silent, curled up like a tomb.

He squatted beside her. In a hushed tone, the Empire's smooth intonation resonated in her ears. "Listen, young lady. It's simple, you have two options. The first option," he emphasized the word 'option', "is to sit down quickly so we can have a discussion, you and I." He pointed to the worn-out chair. "The second option," the bags under his eyes widened, "is that I leave you here."

The threat brought her back to reality. Her wrists futilely rubbed against the binding ropes. Panic surged in her chest. She grimaced, suppressing the rising distress. A round tear rolled down her cheek. She turned away.

Through the headlights, she searched for him. The other one. The one with the gentle voice. "He won't help you," the stranger muttered. "It's our deal," he said, clearing his throat. "If you want to come with us, you need to convince me." She couldn't take her eyes off his piercing blue eye. The stranger sighed. "I know you understand what I'm saying," he noted, scratching his neck. "So... just give me a sign if you agree to talk." He tapped his heel on the ground. "Otherwise, I'm afraid our paths will part here," he concluded.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Gwenn cast one last hopeful glance towards the headlights but was dazzled. She turned to the stranger, staring into his one eye. She nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Good," he exclaimed. "Don't move; I'll help you up," he said, positioning himself behind her. He grabbed her by the armpits, attentive to her reaction, and lifted her to her feet. In front of her, Pop's old chair awaited. She sat down, dazed. The man with the eyepatch joined her. Without a word, he pulled a long knife from his belt. She recoiled, wary. He slowly approached with the blade. The ropes slid off the chair. He stepped back, never taking his eyes off her. Gwenn massaged her sore wrists. "Thank you," she whispered, feeling slightly reassured.

"Well, well! The princess can talk," the pirate mocked. "And could she also tell me her name? That would be a good start," he added.

The young girl lifted her head. "My name is Gwenn. Gwe-nnnn," she said, pressing her tongue against her palate for emphasis.

"That's unusual... Where are you from, Gwenn? What are you?" the stranger asked suspiciously.

Gwenn found the question strange, "What are you?". What else could she be, besides herself? She simply replied, "My family and I live in these mountains," and cautiously added, "We're hiding from the Awakened."

The other regarded her with suspicion. "The Awakened, huh? That bunch of inbred zealots?" He shifted in place and inquired, "What do they want with you?"

Gwenn hesitated for a moment before answering nonchalantly, "I'm not sure, Pop never went into details. But it's nothing good, that's for sure."

Her answer didn't seem to fully convince him. His face darkened. "Listen, kid, I'm going to save us both some time. If you're going to lie to someone, make sure you know what they already know, or you might come off as a fool, like now. First mistake. Second mistake, never tell your life story to just anyone; you never know who they might blab it to, right Norm?" he said, raising his eyebrows towards the headlights. "And most importantly, when your life is on the line, don't play the talker, it never works," he concluded, turning on his heels.

He jumped into the driver's seat and started the engine. Gwenn barely had time to get up before the car began a U-turn. She rushed to the front and threw herself onto the windshield. The brakes squealed, causing her to roll to the ground. The door opened to the man's laughter. "Well, I just wanted to make you run a bit," he said between bursts of laughter, clearly impressed. "You've got guts, I'd even say panache!" A hand helped her up. "Now that we're clear, want to give it another try?"

She nodded, regaining her courage.

"Then put your butt in the seat, and you can tell us all about it on the way. The road is long, and I don't have time to stop," the man ordered in an authoritative tone. She obeyed and settled inside the vehicle, casting one last glance toward the chair that faded behind them.

*

The first few kilometers passed in an oppressive silence. Through the rearview mirror, she could sense the occasional furtive glances the man behind the wheel was casting her way. It was clear he was waiting for her to speak. As for the young man, he carefully avoided her gaze, lost in contemplation of the dark landscape passing by the windows. After fifteen minutes in this heavy atmosphere, she decided she couldn't take it anymore. With determination in her voice, she spoke up:

"What's your name, Mr. Pirate?" she asked, looking directly into his eyes reflected in the mirror.

"Lloyd, that's my name," he simply replied. "And him, that's Norman," he added, gesturing to the young man in the passenger seat.

Gwenn completely ignored the remark and continued resolutely, "What do you expect from me, Lloyd? Are you going to take me to the city?"

"Not without knowing who I'm dealing with," Lloyd emphasized. "And as for my expectations, I thought I had been clear. I want to know the truth."

"The truth..." Gwenn repeated in unison. "You want to know the truth?" She took a moment to think. "Very well, Lloyd, I'll tell you the truth. The truth is that growing up among the Awakened was hell. The truth is that hiding from them is just as hellish. The truth is that these mountains are hell. The truth is living by absurd precepts that make my life hell. My truth is that the only respite I was offered was taken away and hidden behind your Empire's walls! And I want it back." She uttered her words as if she had repeated them a hundred times.

"Hell, huh? You should look around; it's hell everywhere, my dear. Here, in the Zone, wherever you go, hell will follow you. It's better to accept it, trust me." Lloyd sighed.

"The Zone..." Gwenn interrupted, puzzled. "What is the Zone?"

Lloyd looked at her, as if evaluating whether she was joking. "What is the Zone? Well, that's a first. You really don't know what it is? You've never left it?"

"Left it?" the young girl remarked. "Is it something you escape from?"

"That's exactly it, if you ask me," Lloyd smiled. He continued, "The Zone is where we are, and much farther. This is how the rest of the world calls the region that attracts meteors."

"The world...? Is there a world beyond the Meteorstand?" she exclaimed.

"Of course," Lloyd replied, surprised. "You didn't think the whole Earth was like this, did you? How do you think all these vehicles, all these weapons that circulate and land here come about?"

"I have no idea; it's you Starregards who use the lyght howts. I always assumed you made them."

"We? Starregards... you mean the Empire's idiots?" She nodded. He burst into laughter. "The United Nations have them by the balls; they're only good for strutting around in their Roman fantasies," he explained, waving his hands. "Anyway, I don't know what your Meteorthing is, but you should stay there, trust me. In the city, you'll find nothing but the darkest and basest aspects of the human soul."

Gwenn emitted a tender but bitter laugh.

"Did I say something funny?" Lloyd asked, switching his gaze from the young girl to Norman, who continued to stare at the landscape without saying a word.

"It's you who makes me laugh, Mr. Pirate," Gwenn replied softly. "There were many like you among us."

"Like me?" Lloyd repeated.

"Disillusioned. Cynical. People who think they've seen everything the human soul has to offer and despise it," Gwenn explained.

"Maybe I just have more experience in the field," Lloyd remarked, still keeping an eye on the rearview mirror.

"Well, you call them disgusting idiots, yet you obey the Empire, live with them, hunt for them. Similarly, you despised the Awakened, yet I've been sitting in your backseat for a while now," Gwenn listed. "So, what's the truth, Mr. Pirate?"

Lloyd turned his gaze away from the mirror and nodded towards Norman.

"Is he your son?" Gwenn asked, curious.

Lloyd burst into laughter. "No, originally, he was a cargo." Gwenn looked at him perplexed, prompting him to add, "It's a long story, but for now, you're the one in charge."

Gwenn pouted. "Alright, you're the boss, apparently. So, what can I do to convince you to trust me? I've already freed your pretty package and provided the keys to the vehicle... What more do you need for me to come with you?"

"I don't know, maybe you could start by telling me what you wanted with him, that would be a good start," suggested Lloyd, tapping Norman's shoulder.

Gwenn turned to Norman. "You didn't tell him anything?" she asked, surprised.

"I didn't go into detail," Norman admitted, stealing furtive glances at her. He seemed uncomfortable.

Gwenn took a few moments to think and then turned her attention back to Lloyd. "Well, we need hands, and he has two. We need descendants... he has what it takes." She winked at Norman.

Lloyd smiled at the remark but appeared doubtful. "So, you were passing by the bell tower by chance, saw him hanging there, and thought he'd make a nice souvenir for your journey. Is that what you want me to believe?" he teased. "What did we say about lying?"

"He can sense them," Gwenn confessed in a hushed voice.

Lloyd appeared confused and insisted, "Who is 'he'? Sense who?"

"My father... the Awakened ones, he senses their presence, that's how we found him," she confessed.

"Your father?" Lloyd pondered. "You mean the colossus you impaled?"

Gwenn grimaced. "No, that's my brother Haldor, he'll recover. He always does..." At these words, a shiver ran down her spine. She continued, "My father's name is Annar, he's the little man you saw."

Lloyd's eyebrows furrowed as he examined her through the rearview mirror. "Hmm, that explains the eyes," he concluded. Continuing his questions, he asked, "You say he detects the 'Awakened ones,' what does that have to do with him?" He pointed a thumb at Norman. "He never joined your crazy sect, as far as I know."

In the car speeding through the desolate landscape, Gwenn turned her gaze towards the windows and muttered in a detached tone, "That's where your Empire speaks. Being an Awakened one has nothing to do with living among us."

Lloyd, curious and impatient, reacted immediately, "Then what does it have to do with?"

Gwenn crossed her arms, fixing Lloyd with a determined look. "It's simply possessing the gift," she stated.

Gwenn's words made Lloyd reflect, and he looked at the two adolescents alternately. He noticed Norman's troubled expression and decided to dig deeper. "I'll be honest with you, kid," Lloyd hesitated, "I've always thought there was something special about you. I mean, look at your eyes, your hair... Well, I figured you just spent too much time without a mask, but after seeing you emerge from that bubble, after you appeared with her... I mean, after the show you two gave us earlier, I'm ready to hear anything! Tell me about yourself."

Norman felt his heart beat faster. He didn't want to talk about those nightmares, those memories that haunted his nights. But he felt he could no longer be the sole guardian of those horrors. He took a deep breath and began to speak in a voice laden with emotion. "Lloyd... you can't understand. The experiments, the manipulations, the injections, the tests... I couldn't bear them. The doctor... he used the Ether... to alter, to modify... our very essence... all in the name of science, of discovery. It left scars, invisible scars that gnaw at me every day. First the bubble, and now you, Gwenn, I never thought I'd experience that again. I want nothing more to do with any of it."

Lloyd, surprised by this revelation, looked at Norman with compassion. "Son, I can't pretend to understand what you've been through, but I'm here for you. You're not alone in this struggle."

Gwenn, who had been listening in silence, added softly, "Norman, we all have our own stories, our own scars. But you can't reject the gift and remain a dimmer. You're a natural, Pop saw it in you."

Norman looked up, his eyes lost. "A natural? What are you talking about? Everything was fine for me before you showed up!" he blamed her.

"You were about to fall from the tower, you big oaf!" Gwenn retorted. "Listen to me... I... I hate that bastard Amor from the depths of my heart, but if there's one thing I'm willing to agree with him on, it's that this power is a blessing from the universe," she added, moved.

Norman took a deep breath, battling his emotions. "Alright, I managed to escape from a few eternity bubbles, but only thanks to the professor's advice. I've never... I don't know, materialized blades, healed the dead, or grown two meters like the rest of you. I'm not like you."

"No, you're not like us. My Pop sensed it; you're born of Ether, like him," Gwenn clarified.

"'Born of Ether?'" Norman and Lloyd repeated in unison, surprised by this phrasing.

"That's what he said when they brought you back. I can't tell you more..." Gwenn admitted. "That's also why I came to you; I thought you could teach me to be... different, but it seems I was wrong. Apparently, you've distanced yourself from the gift."

"I haven't 'distanced' myself; I never learned," Norman corrected. "You're the first one to talk to me about it this way. All I ever knew was that something in me reacted differently to Ether. It's like I can feel it, this dormant energy, more intense than the hottest sun, and just as unpredictable. That's why they chose me, the C.O.R.E."

"What's the 'C.O.R.E.'?" Gwenn asked.

"A laboratory, of the secret defense type..." Norman explained evasively.

"Is that where...?" Gwenn started to ask, but a glance from Lloyd in the rearview mirror was enough to interrupt her.

Lloyd redirected his attention to the road and said, "Forget those bastards, Norm. They're not worth it. For now, we need to focus on the present because we're running low on fuel."

Gwenn chimed in, "There are hydrogen capsules in the trunk and a filter. Just a bit of water, and we'll be able to continue."

Lloyd grumbled, "Well, I would have preferred to avoid this, but I guess we don't have a choice. Faunaralis is on our way, and the Liseraz is still flowing at this time..."

"I agree," Norman responded immediately.

Lloyd replied with a sad smile, "Of course, you agree; you've caused chaos everywhere to save them. That's why you won't like what I'm going to tell you. However, this time, you'll have to obey. We're going to see that dear old Grenoble, but we're going there only so we can finish the road to Aurumont. No stopping for anything else. It doesn't matter if the city is ravaged, if the forest is burning, or if the land is salted, we won't linger. Do you understand me?"

"But, Lloyd..." Norman objected.

Lloyd placed his hand compassionately on Norman's shoulder. "I know, kid. Trust me, I know. But whatever happened, we can't change it. You have to learn to pick your battles."

Gwenn gave Norman a small, apologetic smile. "What's Faunaralis like?" she asked, curious.

Lloyd laughed. "It's wet and stinky, with critters crawling everywhere. In short, you'll love it."