Our trip to Finsal was uneventful, and even flying through the mountains was actionless. Not that we flew anywhere near Igneous. Instead, we took a wide berth, fifty miles or so away from their territory. The mountains also helped conceal us. The peaks are so high that our captain wouldn't dare try flying over them. He paled even at the suggestion. Invisibility was nice, but anyone on the ship wouldn't notice it. To us, the ship wasn't invisible, but to those outside it, it would look like nothing more than a slight waver of the light.

Not too far from where we left Finsal, my father's mining mountain, was in sight. This mountain was separated from the rest by about twenty or so miles. Far enough to be considered a separate entity. It's as tall as the highest skyscraper in Calypso and dwarfs those in End City. Massive groves scar its side. Or it would if it wasn't the middle of the night. No one else can see what it looks like. All they notice is the impressive scale of it.

Our ship sails to it but does not land. Instead, we float in its shadow. Bell wants everyone to get some rest before we start, so we sleep—or at least everyone but me. I stare at the shadowed behemoth, my gaze drifting to my right. Only a few miles away sat my family estate. I can't see the ground this high up, but small lights blink in the distance—the town of Tycoons, Blend. I always thought it was a weird name, but it makes sense now. Over a dozen tycoons make the town and the areas around it their home. That small town is the richest place in Titan.

Steps echo across the deck as Bell settles beside me, leaning against the railing, "So this was your fathers?"

"Yes," I reply.

"I have heard of him before," I glance at him in surprise. "He was the most important man in Finsal. I would wager, maybe in Titan as a whole. His Planatery Core operation was astounding."

I look back at the darkness. I don't know much about my father. I was too engrossed in my ego and pretending I was important. I can't help but smile. "He was a great man. And an even better father. He wasn't around much, but when he was, he made me and my brother his top priority." Tears prick my eyes. Huh. I wipe them away quickly.

Bell stays silent for several moments, "We do not use Planetary cores anymore. We came to learn they were a finite source, and while their potential was tantalizing, Titan would not share. That would require them to know we exist."

"Anymore?" I never really thought about how End City got its power. I guess I assumed they used P-cores as well.

Bell turns, resting his elbows on the railing as he stares at one of the masts. "There was a time. Our ancestors discovered them during an expedition into the Great Divide. They found the cores in a mountain the Divide had split. It is in the library if you want to know more. Long story short, they realized anything those Cores could do, the same could be accomplished with Shell parts. So, the endeavor was abandoned and left to Titan. But, it would seem they have taken a rather long time to advance. That is what never-ending peace does. It stunts growth. Innovation."

"You almost sound like you enjoy conflict."

He shakes his head, "No, conflict is troublesome. But competition is necessary to evolve. Unfortunately, conflict is often a requirement for it." We remain quiet for several minutes. The cool air pricks at my exposed arms as I turn to look at him.

"Why are you so informal now? The pressure you usually exert is almost non-existent."

He pushes off the railing, running a hand through his hair, "You have grown accustomed to pressure sickness. I did nothing, you are the one who has shed your weakness. As for my informal tone, it is to keep you comfortable. My bravado is just a mask, much like your aloof personality. We need you to keep yourself together."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

His eyes bore into mine, an intensity I'm not used to seeing him have burns in his gaze, "This library could be the discovery of thousands of years in the making, and it just so happens to be your family's grave."

I look away from his searing eyes. He's right. My family, my future, was destroyed because of that library. I'll have to face my past, whether I like it or not. I take a deep breath of the cool air, my body shuddering at the influx of cold air. I look him in the eye, "I'll be fine."

He narrows his eyes before turning away, "We will see." I watch as he goes below deck, my confidence wavering. Can I really do this? Am I ready? The image of Zack in the hospital, tubes running all over his body, fills my head. No, this is nothing.

************

Sunlight streams through holes in the cloudy sky, and there is a slight scent of rain in the wind. I watch as the airship approaches the remains of my estate. A massive, gray crater, some twelve hundred feet in diameter and two hundred feet deep, set as a perfect circle. Grass and weeds surround the rim, but the crater itself is not touched by a single bit of green or brown. Not too far away, a hill looks down as the dismal sight, five gravestones decorating its peak along with a massive dead tree.

I feel a finger run across my neck as a familiar purr whispers in my ear, "If it isn't Mr. Branded." I shudder and quickly move away from the seductive voice. Julie. She smiles at me, her eyes sizing me up. "My, you sure have grown."

I grimace, "What do you want?" Two men flank her, both only a few years older than me. The one on the left has wavy blond hair with blue eyes. He has a very soft and charming face, but his very defined and muscular body betrays his innocent look. On his back, a railgun rests. To the right is a very handsome man with brown hair in a ponytail that drops to his waist and bright green eyes peering at me, sizing me up. His face is covered in tiny scars, but does nothing to diminish his dashingly mature look.

Julie squishes her breasts together as she leans into me, "I just wanted to meet the legendary Branded. You have gained a lot since your little expedition. Will and Jarm have been dying to meet you."

The blond man steps up, holding out his hand, "I am Will. The other man is Jarm. It is a pleasure to meet you. My children are big fans." I shake his hand, and Will must have noticed the surprise I try to hide at the mention of multiple children. He laughs, "Don't worry about it, friend. I may only be a year or two older than you, but divers don't live long. I need to keep my family line alive, as is the case with most divers, so we tend to have children at a young age." He holds out his glass, a hologram of three children with his same features popping up.

Before Jarm can say anything to me, Bell taps his sword, and the entire deck goes silent. "We are approaching our base point. I ask everyone to prepare themselves. We have a long day ahead." The fifteen members not a part of the crew start bustling around, carrying gear from below deck to the top. Julie and her group leave, saying something about catching up.

Azu slides up beside me, "She has twelve children."

I look at her, astonished, "Twelve? And she still sleeps around?"

Azu nods, "Like a rabbit. But do not think she is a bad mother. We may have our differences, but I respect her greatly when it comes to children. Word of advice, never trash her children just because she is a whore. She does it willingly and happily, but there has been more than one death at men talking negatively about her children." Right. Glad she warned me. I would have definitely made a snide comment.

We settle down on the glassy crater. My heart quickens. I can still see it like it was yesterday. My father had a massive mansion with a large wrap-around porch held up by massive pillars. Multiple gardens and hedge mazes dotted the land, and there was even a large pool in the back. It was the life. As the airship sets down, only a few people disembark. Apparently, some of the researchers wanted to stop here for a few hours to mess around with the crater. Something about it being one of the few cases of a Neo Core explosion, at least one that is fairly new.

I hop off the ship as well, climbing the glassy gray surface. Azu, Hearon, and Bell follow. I trek up the hill to the five graves under the dead tree. Beside them, a smaller but vibrant little sprig has started growing. I smile. The seed I found from the bigger tree is doing well. I sit in front of the graves, resting Nebula on my lap. The other three silently watch, but I can tell they want some answers.

I touch the center one, "These are the graves of my family. All that is left of the Stone legacy." My voice wavers as I speak. "I'm back."