I open my eyes as I hear the faint voice of Harko and Laven

"What were you two doing?"

Asks Harko as they seem to have gotten into Lavens room

"We slept together Harko, I asked Xavier if it was okay and he agreed!"

Harko doesn't seem to be satisfied by that answer

"Really now? you were awfully attached to him as if you two had a very nice night together, I assume that Xavier told you that we have work to do today yes?"

Laven gets frustrated

"Harko what's your problem!? you know very well that Me and Xavier have been together even before his mind's fragmentation, why are you acting so weird all of the sudden?"

Harko chuckles

"You think I do not know the reason behind you leeching yourself over to him whenever you can Laven? do you really believe that someone with limited power such as you want to get with someone of his status just cuz of love? do you forget what world we live in?"

Laven is particularly angered by this and they seem to have yet to notice me

"woohoo! So you insinuate I'm with Xavier for his POWERS?! really now Harko?"

Harko drags Laven out of bed choking her with a light hand

"You know Laven, you're not as sneaky as you think yourself to be"

I notice in Harko's hand the crest Laven gave to me a while ago.

Laven looks at Harko with a nervous glare being pushed against the door with a light hand on her neck

"Do you even think before you try to make someone obedient with void infections? this crest my dear Laven is a device to inject someone with a void disease that makes the host very gullible to the point of total obedience, do you expect me to just let Xavier get manipulated like this?"

I jolt up as Harko clenches the light hand around Lavens neck

"Hey!"

Harko looks in my direction

"Ah, there you are sleepy head, your little friend here had plans you may wanna hear about"

Harko lets Laven go after she locks the door with another light hand and holds the crest up directing attention to it.

"Like what exactly"

Harko uses light to break apart the crest which makes a grotesque parasite-like tumor fall on the ground from within the crest

"This, Xavier, is what people use the void for, manipulation, deceit, greed, and so forth, what you see here on the floor is known as the Will Eater.

A parasite that spreads an infection which makes you almost completely manipulative, having no will of your own"

I stare at the tumor as it grows an eye and begins to snail its way toward Harko. Harko stomps on the tumor, squished below their foot.

"Huh... is this true Laven?"

I look at Laven with a serious look

"You take me for a betrayer? after the stories, I told you and looking out for you?"

Harko laughs

"You may have deceived the older Xavier but your lies are forfeit, do not force my hand to put you to trial by Jathorns terms and explain yourself"

Laven chuckles

"you won't get the chance to put me under trial!"

An ethereal portal opens up behind Laven and under me, I fall and begin to descend, but the portal above me is still open, I generate a strong combustion below me to boost me as quickly as possible back into the portal, and it begins to close fast but I manage to get back but not without my left ankle cut off by the portal.

"HRGGH"

I groan from the sudden cut and rush with my fire to heal the wound closed.

"Xavier, are you okay?"

Harko rushes by my side as I lose balance on my only foot and helps me sit down on the bed.

"Xavier... I'm sorry this has to happen, but you will have to understand you can't trust people this easily, you must know that nobody is truly your friend when the power you hold is highly sought after, this world is full of people who grow greedy to gain power all for themselves"

I nod my head

"Thank you Harko, just like the first time we meet, you saved me from the void hive, the Herald, and now this, I owe you one Harko"

Harko shakes their head

"Oh dear, you don't owe me anything Xavier, you already have protected the beacon from the Herald, you've protected a lot of people by doing that and I have to thank you for it as the leader of this Beacon."

I smile

"I'm glad I was able to help"

Harko pats me on the bat

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"You will be able to help a lot more than that, I see a lot of potential in you"

I nod

"And I will, Harko, I have plans to stop the void, as I've come to learn, it seems the void was always on our tail."

Harko looks into my eyes

"And what would that plan to entail?"

I look at my left hand

"Well, I have realized that in order to take down the void, we will need more than just our power, we will need to use the void's power against itself"

Harko's face goes down to a worried expression.

"Xavier I hope you do realize the dangers of working with the void right? If not I would advise you to not do anything rushed."

My hand slowly turns to how it was before when the void creature attacked Laven.

"I'm not sure if I already have, but I need you to trust me Harko and I need to know if I can trust you"

Harko seems conflicted

"Xavier, of course, you can trust me for I trust you too but, everything that I heard about void manipulation ended in great disaster, some speak of the void hive talking to them and in the end converting them into mindless puppets."

I smile at Harko

"There is more than just the void hive, the Herald for example..."

I take a serious expression as I look at them

"Is my mother, I am a hybrid of a voidborn and human, that's the reason behind my hand, the recent attack was specifically staged so that others wouldn't believe me to work with them but the Herald told me I can trust you"

Harko appears shocked

"You mean to tell me those people died for some scenery? are you insane? And just how exactly are you able to speak with this creature?"

I shake my head

"Well for one, the Herald and the void hive are 2 different factions of the void, and the attack was made to reduce conflict between them and win void hive trust so we can deliver a stronger attack, and second, the newly acquired power allows me to understand them."

Harko shakes their head

"And what do you mean it is your mother Xavier? how could you know?"

I smile

"I remember, it gave me the first fragment"

Harko thinks for awhile

"You mean to tell me your memories show her caring for you?"

I nod

"And here is another thing I remember, there are 5 other children of the same species as me out there, the Herald needs me to find them and work with them to take down the void hive. Think how much peace would be in this world if we manage to bring that thing down! Imagine we settle racial equality and live together!"

Harko doesn't seem to believe in my views

"I understand what you wish for, Xavier, but how can you know it is not just some lies so it can control the void hive?"

I look at my left hand as I grin

"Because I will be the one to control the void hive myself, Harko, I will use the void hive to rip apart its control over the voidborn and end the madness it produces, why do you think the Herald let you live?"

Harko doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about

"What are you talking about? I did save you from the Herald and then made it back to the Beacon didn't I?"

I shake my head

"No Harko, The Herald took control of you and brought me the first memory fragment through you, then let you go after that."

Harko is distressed

"But how? I don't remember any of it"

I shrug

"I'm not sure myself, but it brought you back unharmed although after 7 days granted, and I took down the Herald before, now I have 2 new aces up my sleeves too so why not give a shot to this chance to make this world a better place?"

Harko sighs

"I will think about it Xavier and ill talk to-"

I shake my head

"NO! Don't talk about this to anyone! the Herald told me the void hive will attack us stronger and stronger if it is to find out we plan to take it out, we have to keep this a secret and work in the shadows about it until we are strong enough to survive the void hive's attacks"

Harko nods

"I suppose you aren't wrong about that... The void always manages to somehow find sensitive information about us... Very well Xavier, ill think this through myself and ill give you a response later, it is a lot to think about and process."

I smile and hug Harko

"Thank you Harko, I will need your help to make this world better for everyone"

Harko hugs me back

"I just hope you're right about this... I have been living in fear for my people and myself for years since I became a dreamer, It is hard to believe that this will work but the chance to get out of this tormenting existence is welcome"

I break the hug and then reach down to my foot to make a fire replacement for my lost foot

"We should go to the Red Star Canyon now, Xavier."

I nod

"Shall we move then?

Harko nods as they begin making their way to the door

"We shall indeed Xavier."

I get up, take my jacket on and my boots and I head out, I wonder if my fire foot will burn through the boot, we shall see.

Harko and I make our way to the Upbringing fields where soldiers are training using similar magic to that of Harkos and martial arts, Harko draws the attention of the commander.

"Belyon!"

The commander named Belyon approaches

"What is it, Dreamer of Light?"

Harko points at me and themselves as they say

"Me and the blue Dreamer of Light, Xavier, will be going on a trip towards the Red Star canyon, the Red Dreamer of Light has fallen ill from their disconnection to the red star, until we come back make sure you keep the beacon safe. Before we go we will give you reinforcement cores for you to attune the walls okay?"

Belyon bows

"Understood, I will inform the others as per procedure, Dreamer."

Harko creates 4 white spheres

"Here are the interior barrier cores, Xavier, if you may, we will need 4 other cores just the way you did before, your's will be the exterior barriers."

I nod and make 4 hexagonal cores like before

"Good, now Belyon, once we arrive back we will give you a sign, keep your signal flare with you"

Belyon nods

"Very well, I will gather scouts to deploy the cores once you have passed the boundaries of the wall"

Harko begins to move toward the gates

"Let us go now, Xavier, we've got a fairly long road to traverse"

I nod and follow them, going outside the boundaries of the walls, we then begin to walk toward the south path, Harko makes a light cloud they sit on and tells me to hop on, I do as requested and we begin to march toward the Red Star canyon with Harko. My heart beats with excitement as we will explore new parts of the world and anxiety.